Friday, March 30, 2012

Friday Things

Well, it's time for the weekend. And honestly, I'm really glad to see it here. More glad to see a weekend than normal. This week has been kinda stressful in different ways but all is good, because God is faithful.

I'm doing my top five again for this week! I thought this was a cute idea at first just to share some special moments from the week, but considering this week, it's a good reminder to me to look at the blessings that happened to me this week instead of dwelling on anything negative.

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#1 *Best Thing*  I talked to my daddy on skype for about an hour this week. Even being a thousand miles away, he always has the right things to say and knows how to make me feel better.

#2 My friend lent me a dress for a birthday party that I'm going to tonight since I hadn't packed anything of the semi-formal category when I moved up here. I went to hang it up in my closet and lo and behold! I had packed something! One of my faves - a navy blue number that I love. The thing is though...I don't remember packing it!  (do you believe in packing fairies...)


#3 Found this in my purse 
    *love*



#4 Found out something exciting this week about next week. I'm not sure I can say what it is yet but I will let you know soon! :)


# 5 Rediscovered this duo - Rodrigo Y Gabriela


Check out this music video. Its pretty spectacular. 


Did you have a good week??


*original painting by Anna Tooze - you can find her work here



Thursday, March 29, 2012

A to Z Blog Challenge

So...I heard about this A to Z Blogger Challenge from my friend Lauren over at her blog Word Art: Painting with Words.  I thought it sounded kinda cool - a fun way to connect and read other new blogs. It also seemed like a good opportunity for some fresh material on my own.







The challenge begins April 1st - that's this Sunday peoples - and it's one post a day starting with 'A', second day is 'B', and so on and so forth.

 "Etcetera! Etcetera! Etcetera!" *quick! name that movie!*

You can learn more about the challenger HERE. I've signed up, though heaven knows what I'm going to write about when I get to Q. (I already have my "X" post planned out but because I hate spoilers, lets just say I think it's gonna be fun!)






I'll be starting my blog challenge on the 1st which is only two days away.  Should be interesting! I'm excited!

Stay tuned...

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Blessings of Humility

"Meekness is not weakness of character but strength of character. It is the attitude of one who, realizing his own spiritual poverty, acknowledges he deserves nothing from the hand of God or his fellow creatures. He does not become resentful under adverse providences of God or the mistreatments of other people. He believes God will work all things for his good so he leaves his case with God." 

~Jerry Bridges (expert from the title article) 

Thursday, March 22, 2012

26 reasons why I love Thursday

1. I just don't think that Thursday gets enough love.

2. I like the word Thursday. 

3. I think I'm going to name a cat Thursday someday. 

4. #3 had nothing to do with this list. 

5. I got a Tim Hortons coffee on my lunch today. Cue much needed caffeine boost. 

5. I'm wearing one of my favorite shirts today. It's red and black plaid in a cozy polar fleece - I call it my girly-logger sweater :)

7. I heard one of my new favorite songs on the radio on the way to work this morning - totally lifted me up!

8. I'm going to do my laundry tomorrow. Clean underwear is a good thing.

9. There are over 110 repins on this Pinterest item - it wasn't even my original idea and yet I feel so famous. 

10. My boots are like wearing slippers. That can go out in the snow.

11.  The Hunger Games movie comes out tomorrow.    SO. EXCITED.

12. I could really just stop the list there. But then again, it could end up being really lame and all my   expectations dashed to pieces...

13. Someone called my cellphone today and I got to hear my ringtone. Happiness.

14. It didn't snow more today.

15. I skipped #6 and did #5 twice...did you notice?

16. Tomorrow is payday. Huzzah

17. I saw another gray hair this morning.

18. I don't really love that about today but I needed to fill up a spot.

19. #18 has nothing to do with this list either.

20. I had a cookie today. It kinda made me feel better about the whole gray hair thing.

21. There are skeins of yarn in my closet calling out to be used up... patience...Friday is coming.

22. I'm going to sleep in tomorrow.

23. Tomorrow is Friday.

24. I can't think of 26 things.

25.  The end.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

It's the first day of spring...

...and it's snowing here. *sigh*

Where I grew up spring generally looked something like this: 


complete with the gray clouds in the background 
(hey, it's the Pacific Northwest...) 



Here, it's looking more like this: 


ok, maybe a *little* less snow than that. 

I'm not really complaining. Just observing the differences. And being thankful for even rainy weather because it means there is green.

And flowers. 

Friday, March 16, 2012

Finally Friday!


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The High-Five Friday is featured on From My Gray Desk & The Small Things Blog.
*These two gals are sisters and if you haven't check out their blogs, you should. Fun fashion tips, makeup reviews and awesome hair-do tutorials. They satisfy the girly-girly-need-to-feel-pretty part in me.*

Here's my five in no particular order


1. Thursday I came home from work and  my 10 month old nephew came crawling towards me as fast as he possible could then held up his arms with a smile no heart can resist.   *sigh*  love me some smoochable babes


2. Bought myself an Earl Grey latte from Starbucks after a droll day at work


3. I stayed up way too late with my sister watching Community a couple nights this week. Laughed our heads off. :)


4. My sister made these AMAZING Cake-Batter cookies with sprinkles. They're dangerously delicious.


5. I got to be at the barn twice this week and work with both the ponies and kids. Seeing these kids growing each week and overcoming different fears and becoming more confident, watching their partnership and teamwork with the horses is so incredible and inspiring.


So how was YOUR week? What are your top five? Write 'em and link up with Lauren at My Gray Desk

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Canadian Adventures

Have you ever read the Little House on the Prairie books?

Remember in Little House in the Big Woods when Pa is out hunting or something and Ma goes out at night to milk Sookie, the cow? *pretty sure Jersey Shore stole that name.*
She goes out to the pen and can't open the gate because Sookie is in the way so she starts slapping the cow and trying to get her out of the way.

Only it wasn't the cow.

I kind of had one of those kinds of moments on Monday night. It went something like this:

Monday nights I volunteer at a local therapeutic riding center. I'm usually there for about 2-3 hours depending on how much work there is to do during or in between lessons. That said, it's usually been dark (or close to dark now as spring approaches) when I leave. Monday night was no different and I had spent a little time after lessons finishing up some stalls. As I turned out the last lesson horses to their paddocks, I could see the family of deer in the field next door alternately grazing and frolicking. Turning to walk back to the barn I noticed Fiddle, the large 16-plus-hand, bay, Standard-bred (ie: big horse) standing in the corner of the paddock by himself watching the deer's antics. In the barn, the instructor and I closed up doors and left the barn locking it behind us, chatting as we moved to our cars. While we stood there talking a minute or two in the growing dusk, I looked over to the field where the deer were.

"Oh great!" I exclaimed, in an exasperated tone. "Fiddle's gotten out."

Sure enough, there was Fiddle in the field, standing next to the fence, grazing along side the deer.

"The hot-wire must be down" I commented as we stood there for a moment, thinking that could be the only way he could have gotten out. (Either that or he had jumped the fence...he was a OTT *off-the-track* Standard-bred and pretty athletic I'd been told).

I put my things down preparing to go back to the barn, get a halter and leadrope to bring him back, mentally going through how we were going to get him back through the down hot-wire and then reset the fence, all in the quickly gathering darkness.

We took about  5 steps forward and as we did, Fiddle moved a little, changing the direction of his grazing.

We stopped cold.

"Umm...uhh....that's NOT Fiddle." I said slowly.

"THAT is a moose."

Sure enough, what looked like a large bay horse in the little light that was there, was really a young moose, grazing calmly with a cohort of his ruminant counter-parts.

We stepped back, both laughing a little nervously, thankful that we hadn't gone any closer or had gone straight to get that halter and leadrope and marched out to "bring Fiddle back".

What can I say? Life in the Great White North is never boring. I've seen my first live moose in person and lived to tell the tale.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Why I Love Pinterest

Well, it's one of the reasons I love Pinterest . I like DIY stuff and it's chock full of DIY ideas. *does anyone else feel like saying 'DIY' makes them feel kind of crunchy and urban and so chic and hip-with-it? 'cause I do...* 

I found a picture of this bracelet on Pinterest and I LOVED it. 

So very much. 

And I though to myself  "Hey! I could totally do that!". 

And so after a few weeks, I dragged  myself to the craft store (it was hard really, but I managed), bought the beeds and totally did it. And I'm pretty pleased with the results. 



 Granted, I had a different kind of lace and it was a trial and error sort of project but it worked! I'm working on a second one for my sister, different kind of lace and pattern. I'm kind of thinking about adding a tutorial for making one. 


I love that Pinterest has all kinds of ideas that  make me feel like I can actually DO them. 


Are you on Pinterest yet?  :-) 



Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Want to go here:

It's been a few years since I've been to Sunset Bay on the beautiful Oregon Coast. I'm thinking this summer might warrant a road trip back for a couple days of camping and hiking.

I need to walk these woods again...

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

"How to"

Do you ever read those "how to" articles? I love DIY and How-To stuff.  While so many things in life can be done on your own, living never is. I believe God has called me to live a life that's less than ordinary. There are so many overused life-sayings that are meant to be 'inspirational'. Without God's Word though, those inspirational sayings fall flat for me. So I came up with a few of my own. None of these ideas are new by any means, but they are lessons I have learned/am learning and take with me in my life.

ALWAYS speak of Jesus Christ in both your words and actions. (Matt 5:16)

NEVER be ashamed of who Christ is and who He has made you in Him. (Romans 1:16, Eph 2:10)

DON'T be afraid to make new friends -even if you're not going to be around 'permanently' (Eph 2:19-22)

DO make the most of every moment, take every opportunity to be with friends and family (Ruth 1:16-18, 2 Cor 13:11-12)

LIVE for others by dying to yourself (1John 3:16)

LAUGH out loud and rejoice (Phil 4:4)

LABOR for Christ's Kingdom in the work He has given you (Col 3:17)

LOVE the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength and your neighbor as yourself. (Matt 22:35-40)


Blessings!

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Poetry Thursday

I enjoy poetry, most often in lyrical form. I do have my favorite non-musical poets though too. Below is one of them.

THE FOOL'S PRAYER

by: Edward Rowland Sill

The royal feast was done; the King
Sought some new sport to banish care,
And to his jester cried: "Sir Fool,
Kneel now, and make for us a prayer!"

The jester doffed his cap and bells,
And stood the mocking court before;
They could not see the bitter smile
Behind the painted grin he wore.

He bowed his head, and bent his knee
Upon the Monarch's silken stool;
His pleading voice arose: "O Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!

"No pity, Lord, could change the heart
From red with wrong to white as wool;
The rod must heal the sin: but Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!

"'T is not by guilt the onward sweep
Of truth and right, O Lord, we stay;
'T is by our follies that so long
We hold the earth from heaven away.

"These clumsy feet, still in the mire,
Go crushing blossoms without end;
These hard, well-meaning hands we thrust
Among the heart-strings of a friend.

"The ill-timed truth we might have kept--
Who knows how sharp it pierced and stung?
The word we had not sense to say--
Who knows how grandly it had rung!

"Our faults no tenderness should ask.
The chastening stripes must cleanse them all;
But for our blunders -- oh, in shame
Before the eyes of heaven we fall.

"Earth bears no balsam for mistakes;
Men crown the knave, and scourge the tool
That did his will; but Thou, O Lord,
Be merciful to me, a fool!"

The room was hushed; in silence rose
The King, and sought his gardens cool,
And walked apart, and murmured low,
"Be merciful to me, a fool!"