My House Favorites Wednesdays!

Its WEDNESDAY!!

That means I get to show you some more of my favorite things around the house!

Ready? LET'S GO!

The first thing that I love is this....

My $2 Thrifted little bunny.

I'm no sure what exactly it is that I love about him...

but he has found a place in our home!

On to number 2...

This little picture from goodwill!

We have it hanging in the girls room.

Reminds me of alice in wonderland for some reason!!

Oh, to go back to the flower picking days...

And last but not least....

This old quilt my grandma gave me.... I love love love it!

I hung it up because it's gotten so much love its a little fragile...

Its hand quilted and so beautiful!!

Well, guess thats it for today!

Have any thrifted finds that you just LOVE??

Until next time my friends!!

-andrea

one thing needed vs. many things

If you are a mom and a lover of Jesus I am sure this will resonate with you. Actually, if you are alive and breathing and love Jesus this will probably resonate with you.

*If by some slim chance I am the only one, Lord lease help me! :)

I am a list maker. Not that all of the things that go on my lists actually get done, but I make lists, none the less. It helps me to get all the stuff thats in my brain out on paper. Does you brain ever feel jumbled and full?? When I wake up the listing in my brain begins.

Make bed. Get dressed. think i should do p90x. Fix breakfast. need to mop . Do dishes.Talk to Jesus. Change diaper. try to read bible. ***someone calls MOM!!!***.Pickup toys. need to empty dishwasher. wonder if we have enough money. Talk to Jesus. Fold landry. Feed Rabbit. nurse baby. check email. check etsy shop. work on new prints. change diaper. read to karis. put hosanna to sleep. read bible. feel unworthy. talk to Jesus. change diaper. call eric. eat lunch. do dishes. pick up toys again....AHHHHH. and it continues....

Today my brain was feeling a little overwhelmed. There is a big difference in knowing the truth and walking in it. Financially this last month has been tight. Completely out of our control, but tight. Around the house there is a constant lis of "need to do's".Jesus has provided enough. He has supplied what we need. I remember momentaily that I have what I need, but more listing begins.

Karis needs shoes. Our bathroom needs to be finished. I need to have a garden. We need to pay off our credit cards from the house renovation. We may need another vehicle soon since our car has 170,000 miles. We need to sell our rental house. Our rabbit needs a house outside. Eric needs a raise. Need. need. need.

Before I know it, I have convinced myself of a lot of things that I need. Some of them are legitimate. Some of them are wants.

But what do I really need?

If you know eric and I, you know that one passage that we treasure is Luke 10:38-42. We feel like it gives such a clear picture of what response that Jesus wants from us. What posture He sees that I need in my life.

³⁸ As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹ Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

⁴¹ But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! ⁴² There is only one thing needed. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”

So many times I get caught up in legitamate needs and duties. Sometimes I get caught up in things that don't really need. I allow both the legitamate and illegitamate take me away from the one thing that is needed. I have found that when I am running around like martha, even if it is only in my mind, the one thing that I really need gets neglected.

According to Jesus, the posture of my life should be that of mary. Sitting. Listening. Being with Jesus.

Don't misunderstand me-- the mopping must be done. clothes must be washed... etc. But in comparison to all other things that have to be done, sitting with Him is the one thing that is needed. I need water to live. I don't need Coke. I need air to live. I don't need a house. I need food to stay alive. I don't need dessert. I drink coke. I have a house. I LOVE dessert. But they aren't needed to survive. If the mopping doesn't get done...we will survive. If I never have dessert again...I will survive ...* I think, lol*. But water. I can't live without it. Air. Can't live without it. Food. Have to have it.

Life at His feet. I NEED it. There are many things I can concern myself with in this life, but only one that is needed.

And so, today I am reminding myself again, let go of themany things for the ONE thing. In the midst of everything, quiet yourself and be with Him. Shut down the list and listen to Holy Spirit. He's waiting.

Until next time my friends!

Love you

-andrea

My House Favorites Wednesdays

Starting something new on the blog this week...Gonna share with you some of my favorite things around our house!!

So ...lets go!!

First thing that I love...OUR CHALKBOARD WALL!!

The girls both love it, as you can see by all the lovely scribbles. Over to the left you can see Karis' crosses from where she wa telling us the Easter story:) If you have kiddos, the chalkboard paint is a great investment!! I am so glad I decided to paint it in the kitchen!!

Second thing I LOVE...

Our art-from-my-parents-old-fence:) This is a line from one of our favorite songs, "More Than Ashes" by Merchant Band. Its my great reminder everyday to refocus on what really is important and why we're really here. Listen to the song...it'll change your lfe:)

And last but not least for this wednesday....

my little ladies:)

I love them. They keep me on my toes and keep me trusting Jesus, because at the end of the day, I really have little to give them apart from Him.

Love you guys...what are some of your favorites in your house!!

-Andrea

The Lord is My Shepherd

Have you ever read a scripture that you've read a hundred times or more and you read it again. And then it just HIT'S you in a way it has never hit you before?

Psalm 23. I have few words for this ncredible passage of scripture. The revelation of who Jesus is and how He feels about us and what He gives us...yeah. It's all in this little passsage-youv'e-heard-a-million-times-since-you-were-a-kid-in-sunday-school.

I don't think I'll ever be quite the same.

Passages like these have changed my life

"I shall not want...[ I shall not lack....I have everything  need]"

"He refreshes and restores my [life...my self....my soul]"

"I will fear or dread no evil, for You are with me"

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies"

This is Jesus.

The Good Shepherd.

My perfect leader.

In Him, I will lack nothing.

I have no need to fear ANYTHING.

Although my enemies may surround me, He has prepared a banquet for me.

He is so good.

He is better than any other leader.

He is wiser.

He is stronger.

And His concern is for ME.

Again. I have no words.

Read it again if youhavent in a while. I pray you see Jesus again as He is.

Our good good shepherd.

A Year Later

Has it really been over a year since my last posting??

I can't believe it! Guess I should do a quick catch up!!

Our Karis Rayne is 4. Four!! Already?!? I keep saying that to myself. She has such a happy heart...and such a funny little imagination. She has 3 imaginary friends, who make their appearance most days - Monster, Zoe and Dabby. Monster was stuck in a tree out in the backyard for about a week recently. I tried to get the "fire department" to come, but Karis insisted that at her birthday party, he could jump down if all her friends were out there. And He did. Bet he was hungry after a week in a tree! She loves to play outside, pick flowers, tell hosanna what to do and help in the kitchen. She has started to help unload the dishwasher now-- thats her "job to do". The time has surely passed quickly.

Zanna, Zanna, Zanna Hosanna...our smiley, cool-as-a-cucumber, still nursing ALL night little lady. Her toothy grin brings a smile to our little family and everyone she meets. She follows karis EVERYWHERE! She has grown so much since her first days in the NICU last year. She's still a petite little thing, but keeps us on our toes. She has rejected the traditional way of crawling and scoots around like a little chimpanzee. It is really HILARIOUS! She is always investigating, always picking up something off the floor to eat, yuck, and talking in gibberish. She has brought another ray of light into our lives.

Don't know what I did before these two little beauties:)

Well, I know the floor got mopped more often. lol

We have spent the last 2 months working outside on cleaning up the yard...much progress has been made-- Eric has cleared out most of the jungle" that surrounded the house. Maybe we'll get to have a garden...*maybe* . We've started painting the outside of the house...it has really needed it! Now it looks like we actually live here!!

This year has met us with financial challenges, spiritual challenges and health challeneges. Karis has been sick every month since october. Asthma...allergies...bronchitus...sinus infections...antibiotics...Without insurance all this adds up quickly. We also found out that the couple that rents our other home will be moving. A lil more financial pressure. Then we received an $800 electric bill this last month. Yeah. $800. Really. A little more pressure. And all of those things seem to be the icing on the cake of what has been this year. But in this verse I have found refuge:

No matter what the pressure may be, because our lives are given to Jesus, the pressure is WORKING FOR US! Money may come and go. Illness will come and go. But Jesus remains faithful. He remain at the right hand of the Father praying for us!! And that is and encouraging thought in the midst of what could be discouragement. He is so faithful.

Until next time my friends:)

Macaroni Nursery Works Crib Bedding

I have a set of Macaroni Nursery Works Crib Bedding for sale...it is like brand new--it was rarely used since the baby ended up in our bed:)

Here is the link where it is listed on ebay

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Nurseryworks-Macaroni-Crib-Bedding-Children-/120850726913?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c2343c001

Leave me a message if you have any questions!!

Big Bang Photo Giveaway!!

CHECK IT OUT!!

http://beautifulphotoprops.typepad.com/my-blog/2011/07/the-big-bang-photographers-dream-giveaway.html