Counting the Fruit

Hey y'all. It seems like I come here less and less frequently over the last year. But I have some things on my heart to say today.

So. I ordered a Naptime Diary about a month ago and I've been using it each week. I had gotten a little stale in terms of my Bible reading (or to be more honest, I had stopped reading it each day. Ouch!) and it completely affects my outlook on life. Can I get an amen?! So I checked myself, ordered a new devotional and dug into His word again. Y'all. It has completely changing my negative nancy attitude. Amazing what a little Word can do, right?!

There is a wonderful section to "count the fruit" of what God is doing each week in your life. This exercise has been SO eye-opening to me. Sometimes it feels like there isn't much fruit going on over here, or I'm not making much of any progress on the daily but this counting the fruit list has been so helpful. I wanted to share this excerpt from the devotion-

Is there fruit in your life? Can you see it? What do you do if you can't see any at all?

I'm going out on a limb here, sister, but I've got something to say. I feel like the ability to find the fruit of what God is doing in our lives may be one of the most spiritual and important things we can do all day. And I feel like the women of God that I know, starting with myself, tend to really struggle with this. I think we come by it honest, right? We want to be humble and we're just so darn close to our own issues, it's hard to see past them. So maybe we're good at being thankful and counting the blessings, but I think it's sometimes a lot harder for us to get bold and honest and say with a clear voice,    "Here is some fruit. Here is an area where God has grown me." So while I'm making these bold claims, I want to answer any nagging fears or concerns in your heart and just put a stake in the ground to say: I believe that without a doubt God has grown YOU and God IS growing you. I wish I could sit with you over coffee so we could sort it out together and find the fruit, but I believe whole-heartedly that if you're in Christ, it's there for certain.  Here's how I know:  - James 1:17 says that every good and perfect gift is from above. So ANY and ALL of your strengths come from His work in your life. - Philippians 1:6 says that He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion. So no matter how busted or broken you feel in any area, He is moving and headed somewhere. - Philippians 2:13 says that it's God who works in us, both for His will and for His good pleasure. He LOVES growing us, He enjoys it. Which means He isn't looking down on you, frustrated and waiting to get it together. Not believing that God is growing us isn't lacking faith in ourselves, it's lacking faith in God, our Father. Not looking for the fruit isn't us being humble, it's us lacking the ability to praise Him and thank Him for the work He's done in our lives. So here are a few quick tips if you need help finding the fruit:  1. Ask God. He's a good, big Father. You can talk to Him and He'll talk back. Through His Word, through His people, through His Holy Spirit revealing truth in your heart. 2. Ask people you trust. Tell them exactly what I told you: you're not being prideful or needy, you want to be able to see the fruit and give Him credit and you need their help. 3. Go to your yuckiest backstory. Listen, this one you have to be careful not to tip-toe into shame, but if you have a backstory that involves some gross sin, don't hide it or stuff it. Acknowledge it used to be there and God gets the credit for uprooting it from your life. My best example: I was a smoker, even a secret smoker, for about 15 years. FIFTEEN YEARS. First as a preteen, then all through my teenage years. After I became a believer I hid it from people, even my husband. I smoked while I was in ministry and I smoked on my wedding day. I was addicted times addicted. (for the record - I don't think the smoking was healthy, but I think the real sin was the hiding and being ruled by addiction) And then one day, through a lot of prayer and failing and trying again, I experienced healing and quit smoking. And while I could be embarrassed that I struggled with that just six or so years ago, I choose to bring it into the light and say - LOOK, THERE'S SOME FRUIT. THANKS GOD.  God is growing you. God is growing you. Say it with me: God IS growing me. And I believe it, not because I believe in myself, but because I believe in Him. Love you so much, my fruitful friends.

Lately I've been dwelling on Psalms 92:1-2, and it has been speaking to my heart. I wanted to share a few thoughts that are really just encouraging me right now-

"It is good to give thanks to the Lord,
And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High;
2 To declare Your steadfast (lovingkindness) love in the morning,
And Your faithfulness every night"

His Steadfast Love
His Faithfulness

And, I did a bit of research on steadfast love, and what it really meant in context, and it is "lovingkindness"- or the Hebrew word "hesed". Hesed can be defined as the following-

In general, one may identify three basic meanings of hesed, and these 3 meanings always interact -- strength, steadfastness, and love. Any understanding of hesed that fails to suggest all three inevitably loses some of its richness. Love by itself easily becomes sentimentalized or universalized apart from the covenant. Yet strength or steadfastness suggests only the fulfillment of a legal (or similar) obligation. Hesed refers primarily to mutual and reciprocal rights and obligations between the parties of a relationship (especially Jehovah and Israel). But hesed is not only a matter of obligation but is also of generosity. It is not only a matter of loyalty, but also of mercy. Hesed implies personal involvement and commitment in a relationship beyond the rule of law. (Vine, W E: Vine's Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words. 1996. Nelson) (Bolding added)

Strength
Steadfastness
Loyal Love 

I have this scripture written on our big chalkboard in the kitchen. Every time I pass through the kitchen and glance at it- I make a point to thank God for something out loud. How amazing is this?! God seeks after ME with unconditional tenderness, kindness and mercy! And it makes me want to dig in deeper, soak up His word a little more so I can continue to be stretched and grow.

I'm counting the fruit of God showing me through His word that He is seeking a relationship with me. I love this (not a new concept) but definitely new to me. It changes my perspective from one of obligation to desire. That's FRUIT!!

I hope you guys are counting the fruit (even this itty bitty fruit) in your own lives too!

Spring Tulip Wreath Tutorial

Happy New Year, friends! I hope 2016 is off to a great start. I can hardly believe how quickly February is zooooming by. Wasn't yesterday just Christmas?! Crazy talk.

This year I put up our Valentine's decor really early. Like before the New Year early. So of course I got tired of it quickly (crazy holiday lady over here) and I've already started pulling out the Easter decor. We are a month away so I think I can slide??

I decided to make a new Spring wreath for our front door and wanted to share. It is so easy, y'all. I purchased my supplies at Michael's. The tulip bunches were 40% off and I also used an additional 20% off any purchase coupon (grab it online) to bring my grand total for the wreath to a whopping $26 dollars. Praise hands.

Supplies you will need:

• 1 green foam wreath form 11-13"
• 1 package of floral pins (the same pins I had left from Jonah's birthday balloon wreath) this only takes about 10-15 pins max. You could also use wire, tape, pipe cleaners... you name it!
• 11 bunches of tulips (I used a small tulip bunch at $3.99 each)
• 1 clippers or strong scissors (I used garden clippers after my cute pink scissors weren't strong enough!)

Start by removing the price tags from each bunch of tulips and pushing the "leaves" of the tulip up towards the top of the tulip head. Clip the bottom of the tulip bunch off and pin the entire tulip bunch into your foam form.

Continue around the wreath pinning each bunch to the wreath form until you complete the circle. This was by far the EASIEST wreath I've ever made. And so pretty on the front door!

White Chocolate Peppermint Mousse Pie

Each year at Thanksgiving my sweet Mother in Law gifts all of the women in our family with a Southern Living Christmas Cookbook. I've been in the family since 2008 and I love getting the cookbook, it is the best little treat right before the Christmas holiday! 

This year I spotted the Peppermint Mousse Pie in it and knew I needed to make it ASAP. Sooo, I did. And y'all. It is TOTALLY the best mousse pie ever. Ever ever.

Not going to lie. It was a lot of work, but worth every minute. If you like peppermint, oreos and white chocolate. Get to work! ;)

While at Mom's I noticed these three gems hanging on her fridge. 

2013/2014/2015 Santa pics. 

Oh time, won't you please slow down....

Christmas Cookies

On Christmas Eve (at my Mom and Dad's house) my Sister, Mom and I made cookies with Jonah and Korie, my sweet little niece. It was the first year for us to do this together and I hope it becomes a fun tradition each year. We definitely had just as much fun (okay, probably more fun) as the kids!!

I used this sugar cookie recipe again and they turned out perfectly (and tasted really good).

How cute are these little Christmas elves?!?!

My sweet Grandmother "Meme" stopped by to see the cookies and visit for a bit! 

Christmas 2015

This year Jeremy and I decided to celebrate Christmas with Jonah the weekend before Christmas in our own home. After much (and loooong) discussion we both wanted Jonah to have this experience at home as we would be traveling all week to both sets of Grandparents. Sooo, we started a new tradition and wrote a letter asking Santa to please make a special, early delivery just for Jonah.

Santa wrote Jonah back and told him that he would be delighted to make a special trip because Jonah has been so nice this year (wink), so on Saturday morning we celebrated as if it were Christmas Day!!

I've always been a huge (HUGE) stickler for celebrating holidays ON the actual event. In fact, Jeremy and I miiiight have gotten into several arguments about this over the years. I have just felt so strongly about it. But I reconsidered and am SO GLAD I did. Best decision ever, and Jonah could have cared less about it being on Christmas Day. The very best memories were made.

This year Jonah didn't ask for anything specifically. When he visited Santa at school he told him that he had enough toys, and every time I tried to pull things out of him he wouldn't offer up any help. SO. I used my special Mom-Santa powers and picked out a few things I thought he would love. He's really into space, and rocket-ships so Santa brought him an astronaut costume as well as the cutest back pack and lunch box. Santa also kindly dropped off a wooden food cutting set and Jonah and I are both obsessed with it. It makes the best crunching noise when you slice the veggies and fruit. This will totally come in handy when Jonah wants to help me cook (every night). Thanks, Santa! 

wink-wink

We had a donut picnic on the floor in the living room and made the very best memories!! 

Fancy Christmas Date

On Saturday evening we went to church (love that our church offers a Saturday evening 6pm service!) and then planned a fancy family Christmas date. It was my favorite thing we've done together this Christmas season. We got dressed up and were all so excited to go eat dinner at a nice restaurant. Jonah kept calling it "fancy dinner". And, he requested "ska-betti" so we went to Maggiano's by the Galleria for a late dinner. We had to wait almost an hour (even with a reservation) but he was SO good, and he looked adorable to boot.

While inhaling his dinner he told Jeremy with a grin, "Dad, I'm tearin' this ska-betti UP!!". It was THE CUTEST. He is such a little ham.

Making the effort (and it does take effort) to create special memories with Jonah and Jeremy is something I will never regret. These are really the special times in our life.

Jonah Knox- Christmas 2015- 3 years old

Pre-K3 Christmas Party

This past Friday, December 18th Jonah's 3K preschool class had their Christmas party. I was responsible for the party (my first!) and couldn't wait to come up with couple of fun crafts and games for the kids.

I ended up making each child a salt dough ornament they could paint and take home with them. For our second "craft" type activity I made homemade cupcakes with frosting and the kids got to decorate their own cupcake and eat it. Both of which are table/sitting activities and were really great to keep a handle on their rowdiness!

After the craft and pizza lunch, we went outside to play frosty relay (taking turns tossing "snowballs" into the cardboard Frosty the Snowman that I made) and then a fun put a bow on your teacher contest.

Overall it was a rousing success. The kids, teachers and parents all participated and it was loads of fun. Jonah was asleep before we even made it back to the house!!

We treated Jonah's teachers and friends to homemade M&M cookies (so, so good) and made Hand-print ornaments for his Grandparents later that afternoon. We made extra cookies and delivered them locally to our friends. It was a fun surprise to show up with warm cookies fresh from the oven!

Packing our Shoebox

This was our first year to pack a shoe-box for a child in need. Operation Christmas Child is an awesome charity that delivers the boxes to children that would not get Christmas otherwise. It was incredibly humbling to think that whatever we packed, would be a child's only Christmas. What an amazing opportunity to bless a sweet baby! 

I explained the process to Jonah and he completely got it. When Jeremy got home and asked what we were doing he said, "we bought toys for my new friend because his parents can't buy him Christmas presents". I loved that he was able to pick up the concept behind our actions. 

We selected a little boy that is around the same age as Jonah, 2-4 years old, and filled it to the brim with prizes and essentials. I let Jonah pick out some of the toys. He selected Ninja Turtle pjs, and tooth brush, a play dinosaur, suckers and matchbox cars. I also packed dove soap, a tooth brush cover, crayons, a crayon holder, a sweatshirt, socks, blow up balloon toys, and other fun things. Jonah painted a pretty Christmas Tree and we wrote a letter on the back of the painting. We also included several envelopes with our address inside the box so he can write back if he wants. 

It was such a fun project that I hope we continue to do each year with Jonah!

Follow the Star (2015 Christmas Program)

Last night was Jonah's pre-school Christmas Program, Follow the Star. It was such a cute little play and Jonah did a wonderful job. Jeremy and I were so proud of him!!

His class (three year olds) stood right up front and I was able to watch him in action. It was seriously the cutest moment when he spotted us in the crowd. He was waving and yelling "MOM!!! DAD!!! I'm right here!!". So precious. In that moment I thought, this is what parenting is all about. It is worth the hard and long days because it gives you this J O Y and pride that is so amazing. Right? I teared up watching him because he was so proud of himself, too. Love watching our boy shine!

Once the program was complete we vistited his classroom, he showed us a few things he's made and then we let him choose dinner. He selected Whataburger, because he wanted a grilled cheese, fries and fruit snacks. Duh! Saw that one coming. 

............
12.17.2015

Jonah,
We are SO proud of you every single day, but tonight we are especially proud. You stood with your class and participated in your first Christmas program and did such a great job! We love your enthusiasm for singing, and you are an awesome student. Your teachers both complimented you on how well you listen during class on a daily basis and have the sweetest heart. Daddy and I love you to the moon, dude!!
Love,
Momma

Christmas Cheer around the Casa

I basically started decorating for Christmas waaaay before it socially acceptable to admit. I'll leave it at that. Since moving back to Texas in early 2013, decorating has kind of been a sore subject with me. I'm a decorator. My degree is in Interior Design. I am passionate about interiors. And we lived in an old (but manageable. ha.) two story apartment. Interestingly enough, Jonah still talks about missing our old home. A child's perspective has a way of putting things INTO perspective, right? Anyhow, I have been on the struggle bus because the apartment wasn't permanent. I couldn't paint to my hearts content so I just made do. It was fine. But now that we own our own home again, I AM THRILLED. Yes. Loud voice. THRILLED to decorate for the season (really. ALL the seasons).

Here's a peek into our home during this holiday season. I've had such fun pulling out our Christmas treasures this year!!

I used burlap placemats from The Royal Standard, and layered them with my vintage (thrifted) china and vintage Shiny Brite ornaments. When we cut our tree I asked if we could keep the branches they trimmed off the bottom and I used them throughout our home. They make the house smell AMAZING and add a fun touch. Plus, they're free. Hollaaa.

The vintage ornaments I tied to our chandelier is my favorite part of our decor. I miiiiight leave it up after Christmas. Love it that much!

We made the felt ornaments hanging from the mantle garland in 2009. It was our second married Christmas together. It was such a fun night that I'll always remember. My Mom and Sister came over to my Mother in law's house and we had so much fun sewing the sequins on and stuffing the felt ornaments. Love making special Christmas memories.

I'll do another post about the Oh Holy Night painting on the mantle. I whipped that up one afternoon. It was my first time to try painting on a canvas. It turned out pretty cute (for a newbie).

The last photo is of our entry area. I really tried to use things that we already had this Christmas, in a new way to decorate for the holidays. The Farm Fresh memo board was hanging in Jonah's nursery, but I decided to use it for holiday cards this year. I also used the Celebration Tree for vintage ornaments my Great Grandmother's and Mom made through the years.

In our kitchen I tried to make little "moments" of happy using little ornaments, trees and vintage inspired Santa mugs. I spotted the mugs on a recent trip to World Market and I didn't get them and thought about them for a solid week. So, we went back the following weekend so I could bring them home with me.

When we walk into the house it feels SO cozy and festive! And seriously. I can't believe it is nine sleeps until CHRISTMAS!!!!!