#70

#70 Turn 30









Well. I'm 30! And...how...boring! Haha. It was just an ordinary day...kinda sad, huh? I guess that's what life is like now that I have children! But...I'd like to thank everyone for the birthday wishes!

...TIL...

...sweet baby smiles...

...goodbye...

Well...this is it...my last few hours to be "in my 20s"...tomorrow will start a new decade in life for me...and I've got to admit...I'm kinda excited! I'm looking forward to watching my children grow...seeing the type of pre-teens they will become...I'm looking forward to growing older w/ DLo...seeing where God will lead us...

...but...I've had a good run in my 20's...I'll never forget:

* my first breakup...
* my first car accident...
* graduating from ASU...
* my first real job interview...
* my first "real" job...
* getting engaged...
* filtering out friendships...and discovering friendships that will last a lifetime...
* my first house...
* getting married...
* "trying"...
* vacations vacations vacations with my best friend...
* getting fat ::sigh::... ;)
* DLo's siblings getting hitched...
* PVC...and the story of the guitar...
* Aryanna...
* Daisy...
* buying my first car...and calling my dad a zillion times b/c I was nervous (and didn't trust DLo's judgement...sorry DLo)
* buying my second car...
* sacrificial giving- and God's blessings...
* sacrificial LIVING- and God's blessings...
* 2 lines...
* annual passes to DLand...
* Jude William...
* watching my parents become grandparents...
* Emme Ann...

It's been a good time... :) Bring it on 30s!

#10

#10 Help Derrick launch "Our Response"

Back in November...Derrick had this sort of "spiritual awakening"...He had been wrestling with a bunch of questions- "Is there eternal significance to what I'm doing?...Am I completely missing the point?...What does being a worship leader mean?...etc" One night, the Holy Spirit spoke to his heart. (You will have to hear the full story from DLo) Derrick had a new understanding of worship and a renewed vision for his life. What he discovered is that worshipping isn't just about singing a song...but that it's MORE than that... Worship is our response to God.

So. As Derrick began sharing his heart...his vision has become my vision. Part of how we are changing our lifestyle is to be a champion for the hurting and the oppressed. What does this mean? Oh...well, it will look like different things at different times of our life...but an example might be to take sandwiches downtown and pass out to the homeless- or working a Saturday morning at the Arizona Haitian Disaster Relief bagging up medical supplies- or sponsoring a child- or not doing Christmas gifts, but adopting a family instead.

Recently, Derrick came across the story of Scott Harrison. He's the founder of charity: water. The long and short of it is that this man was living it up in the Big Apple but ended up in Liberia- where there is no public electricity or running water...or even sewage. He was able to see first hand what poverty looks like (-the world currently has 1.2 billion people living in poverty-). Why water? One in eight people on this planet do not have access to clean drinking water- which is the cause for 80% of all sickness and disease. Wow. Many children miss school- walking more than 3 HOURS a day to fetch water...dirty water that will more than likely make them sick. Why NOT water? (check out charitywater.org to read all about it...it's heartwrenching)

Last night, Derrick was able to share his heart with his worship team- thus launching "Our Response". He shared some powerful scripture (Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 22:36-40, John 6:1-14, Luke 10:25-37) and then presented each member on his team with a gift: a bracelet. (each wristband can give one person clean water for FIVE years)

Derrick plans on launching a website for "Our Response" soon...I'll let you all know when it's up and running! :)

...TIL...

Okay...New random topic: Things I Love
...kinda like a "status update"...just a lil blurb about things that make me smile and brighten up my life. :)...

...when Jude plays his guitar and sings his made up songs- and they're about me (I know b/c he says "mama" here and there!)... :D

...emme's room...

Okay...So the room is practically done! I have to buy some holdbacks for the curtains and the gallery wrap to go above her crib...and I have a spot of touch up paint to do and then we're finished! :) Here's what her room looks like:

(This is the view from the door)

(Her closet is along this wall too!)

(Here's her crib again- I'm going to get a wrap of her in the tutu and hang it on the pink wall)

...skillz...

So. My friend, Brooke, sent me a WHOLE bunch of bows for Emme...which is super exciting b/c I get to girlie up my princess...and I was on etsy looking for a bow holder...but GOOODNIGHT they are expensive! So. I took matters into my own hands and MADE my own bow holder! :) I think I did a pretty darn good job, if I say so myself! Haha!