Post #2 of the day

Must. Go. Here...

The Yellow Butterfly

Bangs and Baby Pics

Yes...I got bangs. I was in the mood for something different but not so different that you wouldn't recognize me. I didn't want to do the go-back-to-my-natural-hair-color thing. In fact, I did it once and I will NEVER do that again. There is absolutely nothing natural about it. So...I came up with bangs.

I thought it would be fun to see what I looked like the last time I had bangs. Like everyone else, I had bangs for the entire decade of the 80's. Didn't miss a year. Here's what I found...



While I was rummaging through a box full of photos, I found these...


Halloween, 1983 - I was 3, almost 4 and my brother Jonathan was 4 months!


Halloween, circa 1988


Thought this looked like another blue-eyed baby I know :)

As you can see from the photos b.h. (before highlighting), I really am a "natural" blond. Wow, this post came full circle.

Currently Kicking My Butt...

is this book...



Andrew Murray's "Humility"

A few tastes:

"It needs to be made clear that it is not sin that humbles but grace. It is the soul occupied with God in His wonderful glory as Creator and Redeemer that will truly take the lowest place before Him."

"Just as water seeks and fills the lowest place, so the moment God finds the creature empty, His glory and power flow in to exalt and to bless."

"As the meek and lowly One, He will come into and dwell within the longing heart."

"It is a solemn thought that our love for God is measured by our everyday relationships with others. Except as its validity is proven in standing the test of daily life with our fellowmen, our love for God may be found to be a delusion."

"Flee to Jesus and hide yourselves in Him until you are clothed with His humility. That alone is holiness."

"Place yourself before God in your helplessness; consent to the fact that you are powerless to slay yourself; give yourself in patient and trustful surrender to God. Accept every humiliation; look upon every person who tries or troubles you as a means of grace to humble you."

More on this later :)

Catching up...

We had an extremely eventful week. Wednesday, we went to our local high school's homecoming parade with Natalie and Lily. On Friday, we trekked down to the fair with Natalie and Lily and the Bleeckers. On Friday night, Matt and I witnessed the Battle of the Axe (a football game between two rivals in our school district). Let me tell you, we got our fill of fall fun this week!

(*note - for some reason I'm struggling with posting the pictures vertically today, my apologies)

The Parade...







The Fair...











Big Tex says, "Y'all come back now, ya hear?"

The Game...

The Pumpkin Patch

As promised...















*sniff* they grow up so fast *sniff*sniff*

Poll is Closed

...and Candy Corn is the "Best Halloween Candy!!"

Is it cheating if I voted a couple of times on Matt's computer and my parents' computer?? I couldn't resist voting when I would open my blog page and see the blank circles just begging to be selected.

The weird honey things are "Bit-o-Honey." I couldn't remember what they were called. Matt likes them. The poll wouldn't let me clarify it...I guess they were afraid I might tamper with it. Too late.



We're headed to the Pumpkin Patch tonight. Get ready for a Pumpkin Patch Picture Post soon!! (Say that ten times as fast as you can.)

Hot Glue Guns and Great Pipes

Who knew a hot glue gun could cause so much damage???

I helped make these centerpieces for our preschool ministry's event this weekend. Dum-dums, tiny painted terra-cotta pots, sticks, styrofoam balls and hot glue. They ended up looking really cute. I have to admit, mine (all two of them...I struggle with crafts, ok??) weren't as cute as Natalie's and Faith's. However, I did walk away with a mean blister on my finger. That darn hot glue. It just sticks...like glue..duh...and holds on with its fiery grip. Ouch.

And now for great pipes...go to my friend's myspace page and listen to her beautiful song. Gifted, girl!

A Night Out with The Girls

...and our friend Beau...what a trooper.

A couple of weeks ago, we had a friend playing a concert in town. She was gracious enough to give us a couple of tickets. Audrey had a blast!! She loved hearing our friend sing and play. I must admit, our friend is very awesome :)

Here's a picture to chronicle our evening with our friends!

Common Heart 2007

This is something that I am excited about being a part of this year. Our worship leader, Michael Bleecker, was involved in Common Heart 2006. He should be making a "special appearance" with me this year :) It will be a fun night for a great cause. I'd love to see you there!

Click on the image below for a close-up...

The New Look

A couple of weeks ago, I changed the look of our blog without any warning or explanation. I know all three of you were thrown for a loop. So, I wanted to explain the significance of the title image. My friend Natasha is credited with the beautiful design...thank you, Natasha!

A year and a half ago, I started a step study with a ministry of our church called Recovery at The Village...formerly Celebrate Recovery. The Lord rocked my world with it. I always knew I had issues. However, knowing you have issues and actually doing something about them is totally different. I even thought I was "dealing" with my issues. I would confess my faults to my friends and those in my close, comfortable and safe circle, but I was unwilling to be undone in front of those I didn't know. I wasn't desperate enough to take drastic measures.

Then I got desperate.

And I haven't been the same since.

The Lord has been so good to give me a picture through it all...the vision of a tree...a willowy, beautiful, fruit-bearing, shade-giving, deeply-rooted, well-watered tree. I wanted to become that. I didn't feel like I could ever become that.

In the midst of the step study, Jeremiah 17:5 - 10 was presented in all its glory and I haven't been the same since. The text says a person who trusts in the Lord is like a tree planted by water that does not fear when heat comes (and it will come) and is not anxious in the year of drought. I've written in more detail about it here.

So that explains the tree and the semi-quote at the bottom.

The birds.

I love birds. I love that they bring glory to God just by being birds. I want to be more like that...bringing glory to God just by being who He has created me to be.

That's it. If you're wondering about the grammatically-suffering blog name, click here.