Holla!

Do you recognize his hottness? Rob Thomas. Sigh. I like him a lot. Do you too? Beauty at it's finest. Ok, ok... but he really is hot!

Why am I randomly writing about him??? My friend Jennifer bolted into my office a couple days ago with news that she'd won tickets to see him - HERE - today! Typically we have to drive at least an hour to go to concerts, but this was a promo and only ~100 people could go - she was one! AHHH!!! No fair! I can say that because she has a habit of stripping down the people she sees in concert. I don't do that. Granted Jessica Simpson is the only person I've seen in concert (don't laugh, I wasn't allowed to see NKOTB when I was younger and Shawn Mullins might not technically count since he sort of fizzled out, so I took a friend's daughter and we saw JS a few years ago - and had a blast I might add) - but still, I wouldn't strip him, promise!

I'm excited to get the scoop tomorrow! So far, all I know is no one was allowed out to go to the bathroom once they were in the concert room. Hmm... I'd have probably peed my pants when he came out, ha!

Remember when I made this quilt? Wow, it's already been a year!!! Well, THIS is sweet Miley - finally! :) Jennifer's Apple, in all her adorable cuteness:


Baby fever anyone?! She really is the cutest!!! Maybe me and Rob Chandler will have cute babies too one day!

Giveawhaa? Giveaway!

Next week, I'll take allllll of the boxes I've tossed my junk in carefully packed, load them into a moving truck, and drive a lot of miles somewhat north to unpack at my new house. Not too long after that, I'll head back down to NC where I'll tie the knot with my betrothed on the Atlantic shore. I would love to be able to go back to our fresh house after that, but the job situation is still in the air. I'm waiting as patiently as I possibly can to hear back from a couple of bites. Prayers are greatly appreciated...

With so much going on (there's more but I didn't want to completely make you insanely bored!), I'm in need of a little encouragement - and I have FIVE brand spankin' new copies of Bono's book On the Move (fitting, no!?) to give away.

I need you. Like, really need you!

I would love your favorite scripture(s), quote(s), words of encouragement - anything! I've come across some really motivating things lately but I still get caught up in my own head at times and it can be very frustrating up there! I KNOW that things will work out and a job will come along, but this has been quite the exercise in faith!

Leave me your favorites in the comments section. For the giveaway, I'll enter each comment so feel free to leave as many as you'd like. I don't necessarily have a 'spread the blog love' motive, however I'd LOVE as many encouraging notes as I can get so with that said, pass it along!

I'll post the randomly generated book winners on Monday.

Circus Puppy - LIVE!

One morning last week my big girl was WILD at 7am and it was so random that I stopped getting ready for a while to play with her. She was being so funny that I decided to take advantage of her early morning flip out.

Hoop jumping!!! (Arms, hoop...same thing!)

This is HUGE for her because we had to quit agility due to her fear of going through the hoops. She is really fast and can jump high so I was really bummed that we had to stop - now I'm thinking about trying it again because she can clearly do it - and she loves it!

She is the BEST circus puppy EVER!

(Did anyone else watch the Duggars tonight? I hope Josie can come home soon - she's been in the hospital for months!)

2 Francs

We took a break from wedding projects to hit up a Pirate/International Festival this weekend. It was a gorgeous day! We saw a good number of people we know and enjoyed tasting lots of good food. There were craft booths set up along one of the streets and I bought the neatest earrings - they're Belgian Francs and they have adventurine attached with small wire. When I saw them, I asked if she had a shop on etsy and told her I'd take a card and look online - but before we left, I couldn't help myself and totally splurged! I wear pearls every day and have been thinking about changing it up - these are perfect. I love them!
After spending the morning running around and walking in the sun we were pooped! Chandler and Luka took a nap while me and Belle went out to play.

I can't believe we only have one more weekend here! We've been so busy getting things packed or built or painted, etc... that I haven't really had time to enjoy the little bit of time I still have here. Hopefully it will be an easy transition...

It's another beautiful day and projects call.... happy Sunday!

Pages of my journal

I've been meaning to post this for a while and finally got around to uploading pictures. Several months ago, I read about Ann Voskamp's gratitude community and loved the idea. It has been such an experience for me to reflect on things I am thankful for each day. I've actually stretched it to include things that just mean a lot to me as well.
Do you journal? This would be a great addition to your pages. I have thoroughly enjoyed it! I actually don't necessarily make myself write each day and rather write when I have something on my mind or that I want to remember. I started my One Thousand Gifts in October and I'm up to 403. Some days I have one or two things and other days I have two pages full!

The journal I use is from 1998! I didn't start writing in it until around 2003 though. I'd originally gotten it for a trip and then ended up using another one. I don't know why but I didn't use it much because the first part spans four years from 2003-2007 and then picks back up in 2009 when I started writing again. It was fun to look back!

(I can't take credit for the above image, it's from a t-shirt that I've always loved and decided to draw it out rather than buying the shirt!) I usually have my book (I don't really call it a journal!) with me and pull it out at the most random moments! I also have quiet time at night too though. Colored pencils in hand!

I'd love to know what you write about. The pages of my journal have so many things: memorable dates, prayers, notes from scripture, lists of books to read, song lyrics, doodles, quotes, goals for the future, encouraging prose; I've also taped sweet email snippets from Chandler, photographs and other memorabilia ... pray in color!

My journal is from Barnes and Noble. I love it so much I have a few blank ones I bought several years ago in case they stopped making them. Thankfully, they didn't and can be found right here.

Oh the years...

I hate packing. I hate unpacking even more. But it's been fun going through files and hat boxes (my storage method in the office) to find really old stuff! Below is one of my first packets from Compassion. Aside from the obvious age of the materials, check out that country profile - Zaire! Zaire lost existance at least 13 years ago! (Now Democratic Republic of Congo, cus that's better, right?!)
I took some time to read through some letters from children I've sponsored over the years. In doing so, I pulled out the first picture I ever received of Princy. She's from India.

The picture on the left is the first one, the one on the right is four years later, and below is the most recent photo that I received last month. It has been 8 years! She's 16 now and simply amazing.

I have over 60 letters from Princy and it was fun to sit down and read them all! Do you sponsor?

We've come a long way baby....

...still a couple more things to do but the countertops and hardwood was done today so the only things left are upstairs carpet, toilets, mirrors, hardware, and appliances. Oh, and the door color and wood between the exterior windows... and all of our stuff, of course!