currently.

fun designs using the a beautiful mess app

▲creating:
- fun crafts for vbs.
- a cleaner, fresh workspace.
- more designs using a beautiful mess app. that app is like cheap therapy for me.

▲ listening: 
- "furious" - jeremy riddle.
- "let it shine" - all sons & daughters.
- "rise and sing" - fee.
- "You remain" - ryan fitzgerald.
- "radioactive" - imagine dragons.

▲ reading:
- harry potter, book four. i totally get all the hype about this series now.
- soaking in verses of comfort / psalm 34:18, nahum 1:7, psalm 9:9. 

▲ watching:
- the office. i just started season three. when jim was all like, i'm in love with you - cue the gasp and teary eyes. i'm such a girl.

▲ looking forward to: 
- VBS!
- the fourth of july. celebrating 'merica and mama's birthday, fireworks, grilling, family, cake, and root beet floats!
- june 27, 2014. transformers 4 comes out! yes, i realize that's a year from now. and yes, i have already asked off work.

▲ praying for:
- His eyes to see people as He sees them. during my time at falls creek, God worked on my hard heart toward certain people. people who are rude or lash out at others. they are that way for a reason. it's not my place to solve their problems, i just need to love them.
- comfort and protection for my family.

▲ making me happy:
- a blooming magnolia tree.
- falls creek memories.
- strawberry lemonade.
- spelltower.
- deuteronomy 31:6.
- knowing that God is in control, even when life is turned upside down. 

life via iphone.

falls creek 2013.

 boulder springs (aka the devil's bathtub) // the gum tree

  tabernacle // my daily chill // cross

 cool teepee // fishtail braid

boulder springs

i'm baaaaack!

falls creek was a blast. the worship band and speaker were amazing. i drank way too many icees and slushes, climbed the massive hill that led to our cabin about seven times a day, made new friends, learned valuable lessons, barely slept, laughed until my stomach hurt, and so much more. the memories i made will always be a reminder of the wonderful ways God works in my life. you know what's crazy? i took nine pictures the entire time i was there. what?! yes, i know. i'm kicking myself now. but hey, i was makin' memories.

- after morning worship on tuesday morning, one of my sunday school boys told me he didn't know i could sing. umm, i can't. he explained that when the worship band started playing, they thought i was up on stage because the girl looked just like me. (she had bangs, so she kinda did). it was an ongoing joke all week. kids would ask me if i was going to band practice or they'd tell me i sang great that night. i got a good laugh from that one.

- on the last night, we got to sit on the front row. it was awe-inspiring. the band was so great. but the best part was at the end when people came down front to accept Jesus as their Savior. tons of kids, crying, realizing their need for Jesus. amazing.

- i'm pretty sure i drank my weight in icees, slushies, and lemon chills.

- i swam in the lake. and it. was. freeeeezing.

all in all, i had so much fun. there were a few problems, but i know it was just the enemy trying to mess with our good time. i learned a lot about others. i know what to expect next time and can't wait until next year!

to falls creek i go!

i'm soooo exciiiiited, and i just can't hiiiide it!
(if you just pictured jessie spano singing that in her room, give yourself 100 cool points. dang, i love saved by the bell.)
so why am i so excited, you ask? i am leaving for falls creek on monday!

most of my readership is from out of state, so some of you might wonder why someone would want to fall in a creek? falls creek is a youth camp located in the arbuckle mountains of southern oklahoma. each week, thousands of students and sponsors travel to spend five days of worship, fellowship, and activities with friends. i have been to FC numerous times, but this is my first year as a sponsor. i am excited to hang with my sunday school kids and spend time with Jesus this week!

so far, i have packed... nothing. oops. i have a legitimate reason: with all the severe weather in oklahoma the past few days, i have been preoccupied. but alas, i must start packing today. this afternoon. or this evening. (i have a feeling the actual answer is tomorrow.)

cell service is shady in the mountains, so i will be back online next week. if you think about it during the week, please say a prayer for us. i want these kids to soak in all God has in store for them while having fun at the same time. hope everyone has a great week!

ps: how is it already june?!

a month in review // may.

popular posts: | home // for such a time as this // instagrams & polaroids |

learnings:
- running is not my forte.
- i become super stealthy when i see one of those people selling straighteners in the mall. they see my long hair, and i feel their talons ready to sink into me and ask, "you want me to straighten your hair?" i quickly dodge into the nearest store before they swoop in. when i see they've caught someone else in their evil trap, i book it out of the store, fake calling my mama. i feel bad, but they don't take no for an answer, and some of them have been very rude to me. i know it's their job, but my $20 walmart straightener works just fine.
- one of my sunday school boys volunteered to pray last week. he asked God to be with us in the tragedies of life & then he prayed that we would not only look to Him in the bad times, but in the good times, too. // i've been teaching sunday school for almost a year, but i feel as though those kids have been teaching me as well.
- i often pray for God to deliver me from my current situation. i'm learning to ask that He be my strength IN that circumstance. a change in the weather may not benefit me as much as trusting Him in the midst of that storm. 


happenings:
- God answered my prayers before i even had a chance to ask. He is so good to me.
- hurting and healing for my home state.
- began reading the harry potter series.
- started a new series on small town fashionista instagram.
- my family and i had to load up our kitty and drive away (for the second time in the last nine months) from the place i've called home for over twenty-five years. the first time was due to a raging wildfire that got way too close. this time was because of a tornado. at the last minute, the storm turned north. all glory to God.

findings:

- the new a beautiful mess app.

- the cutest owl necklace.

- "let's talk" nail color.

- new instax 210.

tidbits of life.

>> home sweet oklahoma. after the tornadoes hit, the images of loss, sadness, pain, and hurt were unreal. the aftermath of destruction left a deep wound in the hearts of oklahomans and many others around the nation. but then the stories of survival, volunteers, and heroes took over. it showed me that there is still good in this broken world. i cried every time a survivor praised God on live tv. He is there. it will take a long time for clean-up and healing, but we will do it together because that's the oklahoma way. we are oklahoma strong. 

>> i started studying the book of ruth. what a woman of faith. i'm only into chapter three, but God is showing me areas of my life that need a change. He's working in my heart and molding me. it's not always easy to see the not-so-good things about yourself, but that's the beauty of His life-changing grace. it can take the hardest of hearts and make it new.

>> coffee time is my favorite time. [made with the new a beautiful mess app]

>> i started a series on my small town fashionista instagram and tumblr. each week, i will post what i am diggin' at the moment. join in on the fun and tag what you are currently diggin' with #STFweeklydig and follow along to see the current weekly dig!  

>> boomer wasn't sure what to think of the swimming fishies on the ipad. she hit it one time, and then decided she was over it.

>> smashchicken and smashfries. it was a party in my mouth. ahhhhh, i can't even explain those fries. out of this world.

>> rosebush at my grandma's house.

>> harry potter & a hairy kitty. can we just discuss HP for a second? i always heard about the books when i was in school. my parents never told me i couldn't read it, but i heard from other people that it was not christian-like to read it. fast forward to present day. i decided to give the first book a try. after finishing the book, i felt the same way after i read the hunger games: i need to read the other books NOW! yes, there is magic in the book. no, it doesn't make me want to go become a witch. it's a work of fiction. it kept me turning the pages because it was creative and well written. i liked it so much that i bought the other six books yesterday. so what's the big deal? if you are against harry potter, please tell me your reasons. i'm eager to hear both sides.

home.

words don't come as freely as the tears do this morning.

after hours of watching live coverage of the aftermath of the moore tornado, i had to get away from the tv.
i cried out to the Lord, letting the tears be my prayer.

my heart hurts for the families who lost everything.
for the families who lost a loved one.
and it is broken into pieces for those who lost a child.

but He is close to the brokenhearted.

people want to know "where is your Jesus?" in times like these.
He is sitting next to the family who is grieving.
He is walking along the streets with those who are lending a helping hand.
He is holding the mamas and daddies who can't hold their babies anymore.
He is the peace and comfort in the midst of struggle and turmoil.
He is right there in the middle of it all.

some of us ask questions.
others cling tight to their families.
but together, we can give our time, donations, and prayers.

on a lighter note, there are two types of traffic jams in oklahoma:
one - tractors driving down the highway.
two - when our communities come together and load their cars with anything and everything to help out those in need.
it's the oklahoma way, y'all.

currently.

created with the a beautiful mess app.

▲creating:
- the ladies from a beautiful mess released their iphone app, and i've been so inspired. as you can see above.
- redecorating my workspace (work & home) in the coming weeks.

▲ watching:
- season one of revenge. i'm hooked, y'all.
- i watched the princess bride for the first time this week with lauren. i thought it was so funny! i've caught myself a few times saying, "my name is inigo montoya. you killed my father. prepare to die." during the movie, i kept thinking how the guy playing wesley looked exactly like the guy who played bill's arrogant nemesis in twister. turns out, it was him. and now i want to watch twister.

▲ listening: 
- dara maclean's first album. girlfriend can saaaaaang.
- "every good thing" - the afters.
- "a million suns" - hillsong united.
- "meet virginia" - train.
- "wagon wheel" - darius rucker. totally makes me want to two-step.

▲ reading:
- still on the first harry potter book.
- re-reading chapter eight of christian zombie killers handbook.

▲ looking forward to: 
- falls creek. i leave in three weeks! (more on this later)
- VBS! the excitement i get for bible school is a force to be reckoned with.
- the weekend. ice cream and spring cleaning are on the to-do list.

▲ praying:
- for God to prepare my heart for falls creek and remind me Who and what that week is about.
- for His will to be made evident in some circumstances in my life.
- "bind my wandering heart to Thee."

▲ making me happy:
- my new instax 210.
- a beautiful mess app. (in case you didn't get it the other times i mentioned it).
- this little facebook break i decided to take.
- studying through the book of ruth.
- summer-like temps.
- stateframe app.