Day 21: Favorite picture of yourself of all time

Okay, I fell off the wagon but I am getting back on. There are 9 more days left of this challenge and I am going to finish strong. Mainly because I hate to start something and then not finish.
Favorite picture of myself? Here it is:



This is the day after I had Brooke. We hadn't left the hospital yet. I had been up for 48 hours straight, having a baby for twelve of those hours, and then up with her the whole first night trying to learn how to breastfeed. I was exhausted, in pain, and thirty pounds heavier than I normally am, but I didn't care. I slapped on some lip gloss and held the love of my life as close as I could. I was proud of myself for surviving child birth and amazed by God's grace. The days ahead would be more challenging than anything I had ever experienced, but all I knew was that I was in love!

Day 19: Something you miss

This is the perfect weekend to end up at day 19's topic. This weekend was Potter's House Alumni weekend. The Potter's House is a non-profit coffee house across from the Missouri State University campus. They are more than a coffee house though, they are a ministry. Coffee is how they get students in the door, and then once in, the wonderful owners, staff, and volunteer that run the "Po Ho" (as we call it) minister to the students. They don't hand out tracks or tell every one they see to get saved, but they do live out love and are always there so that students have a place to go if they don't feel like going out drinking with the rest of the college population.

When I was a freshmen in college I was pretty new to trying to live out my faith. I would hate to see the direction I could have gone in if it hadn't been for The Potters House, its founders Berna and Steve Proffitt, and all of the wonderful friends I made there...not to mention all of the bible and book studies I attended there that helped shape my faith.

As I think about something I miss today, I think about the countless late nights I spent learning what Christianity really looks like at The Potter's House. I learned so much during the four years I was in college, but I would venture to say that the most important things I learned during that time were taught to me outside of the classroom.

By the way, if you live in or around Springfield Missouri and have never been to the Potter's House, you have got to check this place out. They have the most amazing ( & most affordable) coffee and specialty drinks in town, not to mention a one of a kind atmosphere!

Day 18: Favorite Food

Here's the thing, I really do enjoy eating healthy, so when I tell you that I love salads, broccoli, and other veggie loaded dishes, I'm not lying!
I guess I just enjoy eating foods that I know are wonderful for my body. After all, the body is a temple. Nutrients are usually found in colorful foods so when I eat, I have a "the more color the better" outlook. I have an insatiable sweet tooth too though,so I'm not a saint when it comes to eating. Let's just be honest here, food is amazing and it is wonderful that God has given us our taste buds to enjoy the nourishment He provides.

Favorite Fruits:
Strawberries, cantaloupe, apples, peaches, pears, pineapple and dried fruit of any kind.

Favorite Vegetables:
Broccoli, romaine lettuce, spinach, tomatoes, zucchini,spaghetti squash, black olives, artichoke hearts and red peppers.




Favorite Sweets:
Trail mix with chocolate chips, frozen yogurt, pecan pie, and cookies of any kind as long as they are the right texture. Is that weird?



Well, I don't know about you but now I am hungry.

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!