11.30.2011
11.20.2011
Getting crafty
Back in the day, I was a great crafter.
Actually that's a lie. I have always tried hard and put forth great effort, and produced decent-ish little cutesies, but things never seem to turn out exactly how they are in my brain.
But sometimes, I get on Pinterest, and get in trouble. I get the crafting bug. This often seems to happen in inconvenient times, like busy weeks or when I'm sick or when I'm at work. Clearly those aren't good times to pack up and head to HobLob.
Today happened to be one of those days where I just wanted to make something. Since we all know I'm not the most confident cook in the world (though I did make Matt rice crispy treat again last night), I decided cooking and subjecting mom, dad and the bros to my food wouldn't be a good idea. It being a Sunday meant my craft store of choice, Hobby Lobby, was closed. I was sufficiently bummed, but decided to craft later in the week (taking a chance the crafty bug would strike again). I called mom as I was leaving work and she gave me the best news of the night. Michael's was having a sale, and she was on her way to meet my mom, grandma, aunts and cousins to go. My mom is not a crafter so this must have been a great sale, because she is a deal-finder (for which I am thankful, by the way). I get to my aunt's, we all load up in her 'burb, and to Michael's to go. I wish I would have got a picture of my basket, or my mom's, or the car. Needless to say, we bought a lot.
Most of my purchases were clearly going to be used for the projects occupying my brain space. I got a small glittery tree for my desk and some yarn to give to my friend Cassandra, who is super talented and is making me slippers. She made me a shrug that is perfect for AmPo games too! Anyway. I also bought lots of paint, a hot glue gun (my first one - shocker- pink and zebra), bells, ornaments, a foam wreath, ribbon and some other random small things that I can't remember.
I got home and suddenly got very nervous. I had just spent a lot of money on a lot of crafts that I am historically not the best at. I couldn't wait though, so I immediately started crafting.
I'm proud to say that two entire projects are completed tonight. The other three are laying in my floor drying. I'll try to post pictures when they're done, if they turn out as cute as these:
That's a bow. It's going on top of my Christmas tree this weekend (my tree is white with mainly pink decorations). I made that bow. By. My. Self.
That's a wreath, with bells, and a bow. I don't know where it's going yet. Probably on the wall closest to my tree. Maybe by my bed. I'll figure it out later. All that matters is once again, I made it.
Accomplishment: I didn't burn myself on the hot glue gun.
So there you have it folks. I had a productive an crafty evening. I just hope the crafty bug stays long enough to finish the projects taking up my floor!
A few things I want to make:
A headband holder. I have a ridiculous obsession with things in my hair. Minimal effort, maximum cute, that's where it's at.
A horseshoe wreath. It fits my family well. Now to find horseshoes...
Pizza balls. They seem simple. I just need the confidence to try cooking again! Haha.
That's all. If you have any easy crafty or food-making suggestions, send them my way!!
Actually that's a lie. I have always tried hard and put forth great effort, and produced decent-ish little cutesies, but things never seem to turn out exactly how they are in my brain.
But sometimes, I get on Pinterest, and get in trouble. I get the crafting bug. This often seems to happen in inconvenient times, like busy weeks or when I'm sick or when I'm at work. Clearly those aren't good times to pack up and head to HobLob.
Today happened to be one of those days where I just wanted to make something. Since we all know I'm not the most confident cook in the world (though I did make Matt rice crispy treat again last night), I decided cooking and subjecting mom, dad and the bros to my food wouldn't be a good idea. It being a Sunday meant my craft store of choice, Hobby Lobby, was closed. I was sufficiently bummed, but decided to craft later in the week (taking a chance the crafty bug would strike again). I called mom as I was leaving work and she gave me the best news of the night. Michael's was having a sale, and she was on her way to meet my mom, grandma, aunts and cousins to go. My mom is not a crafter so this must have been a great sale, because she is a deal-finder (for which I am thankful, by the way). I get to my aunt's, we all load up in her 'burb, and to Michael's to go. I wish I would have got a picture of my basket, or my mom's, or the car. Needless to say, we bought a lot.
Most of my purchases were clearly going to be used for the projects occupying my brain space. I got a small glittery tree for my desk and some yarn to give to my friend Cassandra, who is super talented and is making me slippers. She made me a shrug that is perfect for AmPo games too! Anyway. I also bought lots of paint, a hot glue gun (my first one - shocker- pink and zebra), bells, ornaments, a foam wreath, ribbon and some other random small things that I can't remember.
I got home and suddenly got very nervous. I had just spent a lot of money on a lot of crafts that I am historically not the best at. I couldn't wait though, so I immediately started crafting.
I'm proud to say that two entire projects are completed tonight. The other three are laying in my floor drying. I'll try to post pictures when they're done, if they turn out as cute as these:
That's a bow. It's going on top of my Christmas tree this weekend (my tree is white with mainly pink decorations). I made that bow. By. My. Self.
That's a wreath, with bells, and a bow. I don't know where it's going yet. Probably on the wall closest to my tree. Maybe by my bed. I'll figure it out later. All that matters is once again, I made it.
Accomplishment: I didn't burn myself on the hot glue gun.
So there you have it folks. I had a productive an crafty evening. I just hope the crafty bug stays long enough to finish the projects taking up my floor!
A few things I want to make:
A headband holder. I have a ridiculous obsession with things in my hair. Minimal effort, maximum cute, that's where it's at.
A horseshoe wreath. It fits my family well. Now to find horseshoes...
Pizza balls. They seem simple. I just need the confidence to try cooking again! Haha.
That's all. If you have any easy crafty or food-making suggestions, send them my way!!
11.18.2011
I give you my Orange.
Tonight's loss to Iowa State certainly wasn't in the plan for the seemingly national-championship bound Cowboys.
Last night's loss of four members of the Oklahoma State community wasn't in the plan for anyone either.
Tonight I am thankful for the perspective of the Oklahoma State University family. Remembering the most important thing tonight isn't football, but rather, honoring and remembering the four people who were tragically lost in a plane crash. Knowing that winning a football game, having that dream season, is incredibly enjoyable, but knowing that the most heartbreaking loss this week didn't happen on a football field in Ames, Iowa. It happened in an airplane outside of Little Rock.
My prayers are with the families of Coach Budke, Coach Serna and the Branstetters. With the ladies of the Cowgirl Basketball team. With the University administration, Coach Littell and others who will be called upon for leadership and guidance in the coming days, weeks, months. With all those wearing orange.
All of us wearing orange in our hearts know that orange is more than just a color.
Orange is love. Orange is hope. Orange is family. Orange is strength. Orange is support. Orange is perseverance. Orange is together.
Orange is powerful.
I have no words to truly express my emotions and thoughts. It is heartbreaking. I pray those affected will find their source of comfort, strength and peace in God.
Last night's loss of four members of the Oklahoma State community wasn't in the plan for anyone either.
Tonight I am thankful for the perspective of the Oklahoma State University family. Remembering the most important thing tonight isn't football, but rather, honoring and remembering the four people who were tragically lost in a plane crash. Knowing that winning a football game, having that dream season, is incredibly enjoyable, but knowing that the most heartbreaking loss this week didn't happen on a football field in Ames, Iowa. It happened in an airplane outside of Little Rock.
My prayers are with the families of Coach Budke, Coach Serna and the Branstetters. With the ladies of the Cowgirl Basketball team. With the University administration, Coach Littell and others who will be called upon for leadership and guidance in the coming days, weeks, months. With all those wearing orange.
All of us wearing orange in our hearts know that orange is more than just a color.
Orange is love. Orange is hope. Orange is family. Orange is strength. Orange is support. Orange is perseverance. Orange is together.
Orange is powerful.
I have no words to truly express my emotions and thoughts. It is heartbreaking. I pray those affected will find their source of comfort, strength and peace in God.
11.16.2011
Ephesians 4:29.
"Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." Ephesians 4:29.
My struggle on this isn't necessarily what comes out of my mouth, but rather what doesn't come out of my mouth or what occupies my thoughts. I'm challenging myself to be intentionally positive...something that generally comes easily to me has not recently (being positive), and that needs to change. Encouraging others and bringing joy to their lives is what I've always wanted to do, it is what I enjoy doing. Recently, I've let things steal my joy, things that really shouldn't matter - like people, or work, or whatever.
I miss being the girl who was always smiling, always laughing, always loving, always living her life to the fullest. Just because circumstances might not be ideal - which if I'm honest, most of my life is pretty ideal - I've never let that affect me.
Recently, it's the little things, the things that used to not matter a bit to me, that will steal my joy. It's the cattiness, the pettiness, the disrespect shown by people who really shouldn't, in the grand scheme of things, matter. It's things that at the end of the day, I should walk away from, not take home with me, and not let get in the way of my life, my relationships, my joy.
My God is so much bigger than all of this. My God overcame the world. In the end, He is the only one who matters. Why, then, am I letting those who don't matter, matter?
It's a battle...the battle between good and evil. It's a battle that unfortunately I've tried to fight on my own. It's a battle that I know I can't win on my own, so why try it? Why let Satan get in the way and try to steal my joy? That's all these "outside" things are. Why be who I am not? I know my identity can only be found in Christ.
"I want to live His plan for my life. I hate the chaos that ensues when...I was trying to do life on my own. I realized I'm nothing without having God as my everything." (A message I sent to a friend a while ago while discussing life plans.)
Maybe this is all just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo Shae thoughts to you, but as you've read this, I hope you see I need prayer - for strength from God to be who He wants me to be, to carry His great name, and to live the life He has planned for me, to follow His path. Being encouraging and being positive, building people up, that's more than just the nice thing to do - I have been called to live out my faith in the environment I am in, with the people I am living life with.
This being positive and encouraging thing, not letting any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth, is different than what the people I am around are used to seeing on a daily basis from others they encounter, and it is what God has called me (all Christians) to do! I've been put here for a purpose. How long I will be in this particular situation, I don't know. Is it comfortable? No. Actually, I'm sure it will not get any easier or more comfortable. But while I'm here, I want to live out that purpose. I know there are many people I am in close contact with daily who do not know Christ.
If I'm not living any different from the world, how can I make a difference for the kingdom?
My struggle on this isn't necessarily what comes out of my mouth, but rather what doesn't come out of my mouth or what occupies my thoughts. I'm challenging myself to be intentionally positive...something that generally comes easily to me has not recently (being positive), and that needs to change. Encouraging others and bringing joy to their lives is what I've always wanted to do, it is what I enjoy doing. Recently, I've let things steal my joy, things that really shouldn't matter - like people, or work, or whatever.
I miss being the girl who was always smiling, always laughing, always loving, always living her life to the fullest. Just because circumstances might not be ideal - which if I'm honest, most of my life is pretty ideal - I've never let that affect me.
Recently, it's the little things, the things that used to not matter a bit to me, that will steal my joy. It's the cattiness, the pettiness, the disrespect shown by people who really shouldn't, in the grand scheme of things, matter. It's things that at the end of the day, I should walk away from, not take home with me, and not let get in the way of my life, my relationships, my joy.
My God is so much bigger than all of this. My God overcame the world. In the end, He is the only one who matters. Why, then, am I letting those who don't matter, matter?
It's a battle...the battle between good and evil. It's a battle that unfortunately I've tried to fight on my own. It's a battle that I know I can't win on my own, so why try it? Why let Satan get in the way and try to steal my joy? That's all these "outside" things are. Why be who I am not? I know my identity can only be found in Christ.
"I want to live His plan for my life. I hate the chaos that ensues when...I was trying to do life on my own. I realized I'm nothing without having God as my everything." (A message I sent to a friend a while ago while discussing life plans.)
Maybe this is all just a bunch of mumbo-jumbo Shae thoughts to you, but as you've read this, I hope you see I need prayer - for strength from God to be who He wants me to be, to carry His great name, and to live the life He has planned for me, to follow His path. Being encouraging and being positive, building people up, that's more than just the nice thing to do - I have been called to live out my faith in the environment I am in, with the people I am living life with.
This being positive and encouraging thing, not letting any unwholesome talk come out of my mouth, is different than what the people I am around are used to seeing on a daily basis from others they encounter, and it is what God has called me (all Christians) to do! I've been put here for a purpose. How long I will be in this particular situation, I don't know. Is it comfortable? No. Actually, I'm sure it will not get any easier or more comfortable. But while I'm here, I want to live out that purpose. I know there are many people I am in close contact with daily who do not know Christ.
If I'm not living any different from the world, how can I make a difference for the kingdom?
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