Day 16: Dream House

When I first skimmed through the subjects for the blogging challenge, one of the subjects I was most excited about was today's post. It is an area I have put a lot of thought into.

We live in a small, 3 bedroom 2 bathroom home. When we first moved in I had the mindset that this home would "do for a while" until we could move up to a bigger home. These days, however, as my priorities have changed, my mindset has too. First I analyzed why I was wanting to live here only a short time and then move to a bigger house. My realization? I was just following the flow of culture and trying to "keep up with the Jones". As I questioned my motives, God got a hold of my heart and Dave Ramsey got a hold of my logic. Instead of thinking we will move out of this house as soon as we can, I now look at it in a "how many kids can we fit in this house" mentality. Staying in a smaller house means we can afford for me to be a stay at home mom, and that is something I wouldn't trade for anything in the world, not even a mansion. Don't get me wrong, I don't think it is wrong to live in a large house, I just think as humans we need to constantly be examining and reexamining our motives and priorities. If we have to sacrifice time with our families or deal with huge amounts of stress in order to live in these nice homes, is it really worth it?

Now that I have accepted my humble abode, it has become my dream house. I love interior design and I am constantly trying to make my world a more beautiful place. Things that make my house my dream home are whimsy, charm, character, romance and color. I play with these elements daily and have enjoyed the journey of personalizing our home. We may one day live in a larger house, but until then I am fully content with our cozy little love nest!

Day 15: Favorite Bible Verse

It is tough to narrow this down as I am head over heels in love with God's word as a whole, but I have managed to pick one. This particular verse is one that I actually had tattooed on me when I was 19 because it resonated with me so deeply.

Proverbs 31:30
"Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised."

Growing up in a very visual and appearance focused culture is so hard on women. We observe time and time again how important looks are to this world. Attractive people even earn 12% more in the work place than "unattractive people"(see www.independent.co.uk). And it just gets worse from there. Plainly put, to this world, looks matter.

To God, beauty is very important. He wants us to have beautiful hearts full of compassion and kindness. I struggled growing up with not feeling "pretty enough", and I am positive I am not the only woman who has ever felt this way. It is hard to shut the world out and focus on what God thinks, but that is why I so love this verse. External beauty is here today and gone tomorrow. A women who worships and fears the one true God, she is who really deserves praise in this backwards culture we live in!

Day 14: A picture of you from last year and how you have changed

This blogging challenge is starting to make me feel a little narcissistic! I am looking forward to the days of the blogging challenge that are a little less self focused, but until then I will be a good sport and play along.

This is a picture of me last March.



Oh wait, that's Posh Spice. I'm always confusing myself with her, probably because my husband looks like David Beckham. Okay, here I am last Easter. Really no change this year except for my hair is finally getting longer again. Brooke has changed though, she is twice the size!

Day 13: Something that means a lot to me

MY FAITH
This is an old note that I had posted on facebook almost a year and a half ago. I am reposting it here because it talks about the things that matter most to me in this life; kindness, grace, mercy, forgiveness, and most of all, LOVE.

You know, I really don't care for "religion" in a legalistic sense. Christianity is not so much a religion either. Not for me. It’s a way of life, and Christianity (living in a Christ like way) looks a lot of different ways for a lot of different people. Of course Christians should all be kind, forgiving, humble, gentle...but as far as how we worship, what we look like, our attitudes and even our beliefs, we vary. We don't all have gray hair, glasses, a long skirt, and drive around in a mini van saying "God bless you". That is what's beautiful; we are all so very different, but all united through LOVE.

I have heard plenty of people give the popular argument that Christians are hypocrites, and that's true (sometimes). BUT the difference between Christians and non Christians is that we are simply striving to be like Christ. Let me make one thing clear; WE FALL SHORT. We will disappoint ourselves, our friends, and our God. Even so, our God loves us and accepts that we are flawed as mankind.

I work with some people who know I'm a Christian and yet hear me when I slip up and say something bad about a customer or know about some huge mistakes I've made. I hope by working with me they see not that Christians are hypocrites, but that we are simply like every one else, just trying to do right in an imperfect world.

Since my beautiful baby girl was born three and a half months ago I have learned so much about God's love for us. His love is unconditional. Sure, I knew that because I had heard it in church a lot. However, I didn't know what unconditional love was. I didn't even love my husband unconditionally because when he would make me mad I would treat him horribly. (He is much better at unconditional love than I am!) Now I am trying to love him unconditionally in the same way I love my daughter and in the same way our God loves us. Nothing my daughter does, not anything, could ever make me stop loving her. She could become a prostitute, a murderer, a thief, wouldn't matter...my love for her would not change. I would be disappointed in her, sure, BUT only because I want happiness for her and I know those particular life choices would only lead to heartbreak. That is, I believe, the same way God feels about us.

I try to encourage my coworkers, friends, and family with being positive, kind, humble, and gentle, but in reality I fall so very short on most days. I know that since I am claiming the title of being a Christian, I need to work very, very hard to properly represent my loving Father. I suck at this, representing God that is. But but but, I’m striving.

I watched Angels and Demons last night and there was a quote I really liked, "Religion is flawed because man is flawed". And this is true. Religion is flawed, God is not.

So as Christians it is not our place to judge the world or the people in it. It is not our job to fix the world either (although I wish I could). Our job is simply to live in a broken world and show others what God's grace looks like. One day I hope when people look at me, He is all they see