My Resting Rock

'If you cannot be settled within yourself when you are alone, you may seek out a wrong relationship that will increasingly unsettle you.' 

A friend on Facebook shared this quote. It made me think about when I met my husband and of the relationships since we have been together that have come and gone. Not just in our immediate circle of friends, family, and church community but in the world as a whole. Marriage just doesn't seem sacred anymore. Not as God intended it to be. In my life, it was not until I spoke with God and said I was at peace with being alone with him and desired him alone, it was not until then did God give me Chris. It is not always easy, marriage, but when it is Christ-centered, He will see you through if you give it all to him. He is jealous for us; He wants us alone but he also wants to bless his children. He desires for our marriages to last and our children to grow up with their mother and father. For all my life and my marriage, I will rest in my God and seek him out in my times of need and in my times great joy and peace. When I am settled with Him alone, I can be settled in my relationships even if the relationships are not settled. 

Psalm 62: 5-8

"5 Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him. 6 Truly he is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will not be shaken. 7 My salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. 8 Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge." 

Infinite Possibilities

Do you believe it? 

In the deepest part of your soul, do you believe in the awesome power of God and his great love for you? 

He is able to do more than we can fathom. 

Trust in Him and He will be faithful!

Television Wisdom Wednesday: No Fear of the Dark

From the show 

Criminal Minds: 

Kirsten Vangsness who plays Penelope Garcia speaks the opening quote: 

“Hope is faith holding out its hands in the dark.” – George Iles.

When I heard this quote the other night while watching a re-run of Criminal Minds, it reminded me of a scene from M. Night Shyamalan's movie, The Village. Ivy, the main female character, is blind but can 'see' more than most. And what she can 'see' is that a young man named Lucius loves her and she knows it before he can admit it. One night one of the creatures from the surrounding woods comes to the village and it sends the villagers running for their shelters for protection. Here we find Ivy, standing on the front porch, in the dark, with her hand out, waiting in faith that Lucius is coming for her. She knows, without him ever saying it to her, that Lucius loves her so much he will not leave her alone in the dark but will come take her hand to show her the way to safe haven. This quote and this movie scene reminds me of my Savior and a bible verse in Deuteronomy 31: 6 that says, 'Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”'

Radiating Elegance in a Culture of Magazine Cover Beauty

I love to look at fashion magazines. To see the latest fashions from all the famous designers and how they are being worn. I also love to wander the mall 'window shopping' the latest merchandise. And what woman doesn't like to get 'fancied up' {as my husband would say} to go out on the town. I would also venture to guess that most people love a great bargain! I know I do. Thrift store shopping is one of my most favorite past times. But do the clothes in the mall or in the fashion magazine define beauty? Does the price of something decide what kind of person I am? Who am I aside from the clothes I wear and the price I pay for them? 

Well... I am a child of the one, true God. I am an observer, a listener and a helper. I like simple and traditional looks. I love stripes and polka dots, glitter and ruffles. I strive to be respectful, thoughtful, graceful and elegant.

Let's talk about that last word: Elegant. The dictionary defines Elegant as showing good taste; graceful & attractive; simple & clever; classy & fine. As a woman, these are all descriptive words that I would be taken aback if someone used them to describe me! What a compliment that would be, no? But does that elegance come from what or who I wear? Does it come with the price I paid for what or who I wear? Or does it come from somewhere else? 

I believe elegance radiates from the inside out. I believe you can be the most elegant person in a room in a tee-shirt and jeans if you have grace and class and love on the in side. For those are things of the heart that shine through and people take notice of. 

This is why it is something I strive for ~ elegance ~ and something I will try to pass on to my daughter. What is elegance to you? 

Change is coming in my 2014

Well Hello There Friends! 

It's been a while since I was on here. Welcome to a New Year! I hope your holidays treated you well. Ours was fun and exhausting, full of friends and family and yummy treats. And gifts....! 

So.... 2014

Here we are a couple days in to the new year. Do you create resolutions or goals with the new year? Some say, 'bleh!', to making goals with the new year. I love it! I need it. I am always revisiting it, adding to it, marking things off and rolling things over to my new Goals list. I think it is good and healthy to think back on what you can improve on and to look forward to what you would like to do and learn and invest energy into. And, I like to pick a word for the title of my New Year's Goals. This year's word: 

Change. 

First change that came for my new year: we turned off our Dish service and are going back to bunny ears. That change came two days early! Why? Well, looking back over the past year, I realized God was talking to me through different avenues telling me that it was becoming too important in my life. I realized I had become addicted. I loved my television time. I have my favorite shows and would even watch reruns over and over again, wasting precious time and getting angry if my T.V. time was interrupted. My addiction was effecting our family life negatively. 

Second change to work on this year came to me after I read a post at Hands Free Mama. In her post, About Hands Free, Rachel writes, 

"Finally after years and years of over-commitment and meaningless information overload, I began to see those things for what they were: Daily Distractions. And with much regret, I realized I’d been holding on to “distractions” tighter than I had been to my own family, my own health, my own happiness–my own “things that matter.”

After reading this post and others on her site, I broke down in tears. God was speaking to my heart. I needed to hear this. I had to take a hard, close look at my daily life and swallow that I am not allowing much time for God or what He desires to be important in my life. And no matter how hard it was to read it and admit it [to myself and others], I needed to make some big changes in my life and choices. Thank God for people like Rachel to share these things and Thank God for his perfect timing!

So.... 2014 for me is Change!

Change how I spend my time. Change who I spend my time with. Allow Change to happen naturally and gracefully. Change.....

What is this New Year for you? What is your word for the year? Let God speak to you and stop long enough to truly hear what He is saying. 

Matthew 6: 19-21

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

30 Days of D.I.Y. Gifts and Decor: All Wrapped Up!

Well Friends, this is the last post in my 30 Days of D.I.Y. Gifts and Decor. Yes, it is a day late but when family is in town and last minute trips to the beach are planned, those are more important (in my opinion) than whether or not a post is on time. Because family time matters! We all will be spending more time [hopefully] with family and friends this holiday season. Give them hugs and kisses, tell them you love and appreciate them because you never know when God will call you or them home! And, if you are giving gifts to your loved ones too, as my last post, I wanted to share some of the creative ways I have found online through blogs and Pinterest to wrap them up. I sincerely hope that the last thirty days have encouraged you to be creative this holiday season both in your decor and gift giving! 
From me to you all ~ Happy Crafting!

All Wrapped Up!

How to make a modular bow from UsefulDIY. This looks so simple it makes me shake my head and wonder how I never figured this out on my own before. ; ] You have to stop by and check them out!

A simple and quick wrap idea for a last minute gift ~ wrap up a candy bar. Check them out at The Frugal Girls 

Rebecca at Older and Wiser has a TON of awesome ideas for wrapping including this beautiful one from her Dollar Store Wrapping post!

Love this wrapping idea for the fashionista in your life. Wrap with a shirt and pin for a bow! Check out this and other wrapping ideas at Kollabora.

How to make a bow from anything at the blog 100 Layer Cake. Another great use for all those extra magazines I have lying around....

My favorite wrap idea from the list at Urban Farmgirl ~ old t-shirt ribbons.

If you are a paper-crafter, here are some super cute options from the blog, Stamped - Bettina and Mary.

30 Days of D.I.Y. Gifts and Decor: 7 Days-7 Ways to DIY a Christmas Tree

Hi All! Due to this being the week of Thanksgiving and I have family over, I have fallen behind on my 30 days. So Sorry! This week I decided to do seven different ways to D.I.Y. a Christmas Tree. I hope your holiday will be filled with family and friends, love and laughter, giving and receiving! I would love to hear if you try any of the projects and how they turned out. <3 Erika

7 Days-7 Ways to DIY a Christmas Tree

Day 1 ~ Layered Felt Trees 

Tutorial at Thistlewood Farms

Day 2 ~ A beautiful array of trees made with pearls, feathers and felt. Check out all the how-to tutorials by Mel at Bliss Bloom Blog. 

Day 3 ~ A rustic twig tree from countryhome.com.

Day 4 ~ Book Page Christmas Tree

Find how-to link HERE

Day 5 ~  For the wine lover in your life, a Wine Cork tree! Check out the full post, with the tutorial, at Ask Anna.

Day 6 ~ Don't forget the little ones! Here is a tree they can play with and decorate themselves!

By Sol and Rachel do a Blog

Day 7 ~ My most Favorite..... Magazine Christmas Trees!

So easy and lovely for those like me who always have magazines laying around. You can leave them plain, spray paint them or (my favorite way!) glitter them!

Check them out at Splish Splash Splatter.

The Last Day: All Wrapped Up