Wet + Cold = Escaping to my Hideaway

Today's been one of those days that the need to leave the house goes FAR, FAR away even if I did need something. Wet, rainy, cold, nastiness...it's literally been raining ALL day long. On days like this I don't even want to get out of my PJ's. I was reading a new book I got this past week this morning all snuggled on my couch I had the grand thought of running away and escaping in my hideaway. My craft room is my hideaway and many times serves as my therapy room! I decided today I wasn't going to finish something I had started or waiting in the wings. I decided that I was going to start AND finish something NEW. My sweet friend, found here http://jenniferstewarts.blogspot.com/ inspires me ALL the time. We used to swap craft stories all the time but I don't see her or talk to her as much anymore as our paths in life have gone elsewhere, however, I follow her blog and keep up with all of her projects on Facebook. She travels teaching workshops at scrapping conventions and has written for magazines, etc...and a few years ago she led some classes for Donna Downey's Inspired. I had bought one of her projects and there it sat at the top of my closet so TODAY WAS THE DAY! I have to say that I didn't really follow Jen's instructions or do it the way she taught the class but she was my inspiration because I'm not sure I would have EVER come up with something like this on my own. What she had used to display pictures I decided to display several of my favorite scripture verses. I LOVED the Christmas lights being used to highlight it as a "soften" feature and I have to say I enjoyed every minute of my crafting today. It was very needed and timely.

Friends...

One of my most favorite things about serving at Gateway are the people that God has brought into my life. I have, in such a short time, created heart-friends for life. It's been so neat to watch how God has allowed each of us to share our stories, pray for each other, challenge each other, but above all enjoy each other. Last Saturday we were able to celebrate Ericka's birthday. She is, by far, one of the SWEETEST new girlfriends and is such a blessing to my heart. I wanted to MAKE something for her birthday and so I came up with a simple canvas project. I was so glad that she liked it and I have to say it brought a smile to my face when I saw that she hung it on her wall next to her desk at work! We had fun spoiling her at Cheesecake Factory that night...

Gateway's Imagine Christmas

God's AMAZING blessings have been pouring over me since October after I accepted a new position on staff at Gateway Church in Austin. I absolutely LOVE serving alongside the staff and leadership and joined the staff at such an awesome time with the largest Christmas Production they've ever done being planned. My position is Guest Services Manager and so I immediately began my first assignment of overseeing the ticketing for Imagine Christmas. It was quite the challenge but such a rewarding one. I had shot this short video to send to my lil' sis to give her a "preview" of what was to come when she came to see the performance. We "sold" (it was free) 15,000 tickets and had 12,000 in attendance. We also collected 11,000 pounds of food for our Feed the Community Ministry that we have every Wednesday at our McNeil Campus. I'm SO thankful for God leading me to Gateway to call my "church home" earlier last year. It makes life sweeter for it to come full circle and him opening the door for me to become part of the staff. Totally a God-thing!

Apple Family

It's been a L.O.N.G. road but officially at the end of this month everyone in my immediate family will own at least ONE thing with the Apple brand- my Dad is caving in for an iPhone! Several weeks ago I took this picture in Starbuck's. 2 1/2 years ago I decided to go back to school to finish my degree in Christian Counseling. The fall was my LAST semester before I graduated and I had a HUGE paper due for my proctorship of logged hours and describing psychological characteristics of those observations based on counseling theories. The Friday my paper was due I reigned in the help of my lil' sis and mid-way through the day Mom showed up to help edit my paper so I could get it turned in by midnight. It was hilarious because my Mom and I were both on Macs and my lil' sis was on an iPad. I think people thought it was hilarious! One thing's for sure....paper got done, edited, and turned in and I'M DONE!

WAHOO! These have been 2 1/2 very long years but I've graduated and was smiling from ear to ear when I hit the submit button one last time!

2011--ROCK my Socks OFF!

I honestly can't say how many times blogging has come to my mind the past year and even more the desire to sit down and actually blog-- but as you can see it simply didn't happen. My journey this past year has not been easy and while I wouldn't wish it on anyone else I've learned so much about myself and my relationship with my Heavenly "Daddy" is so much deeper because of it. I am humbled and awed at such a loving and caring Savior and he continues to amaze me with his goodness, grace, and mercy every morning when my feet hit our earthly ground for another day of living.

One of my goals for 2011 is to begin blogging again. Should be a simple thing to accomplish. Whether it's a craft I've done, places I've been, people I've enjoyed spending time with or something God is showing and teaching me. So, my first post is sharing some scripture that God has placed on my heart in my journey the past year. These served as daily and sometimes moment by moment reminders for me. I'm continuing to claim them and pray them over me for the new year and am excited to see what 2011 will hold for me and my journey with the Lord. In the first verse I emphasized in parenthesis and used "me, my, and I" to personalize the scriptures as well.

Ephesians 3:14-20 (NLT)
"When I think of all this, I fall to MY knees (with my face to the ground) and pray (plead, ask, make my requests known) to MY Father (Daddy), the Creator (the originator, maker, designer) of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from his GLORIOUS (splendid, brilliantly beautiful), UNLIMITED (infinite, endless, countless and vast) resources he WILL empower (encourage, equip) ME with inner strength (courage, might, momentum) through his spirit. Then Christ will make his home (dwelling, take residence) in MY heart as I TRUST (rely, believe, lean) in him. MY roots will grow (increase, enlarge) down (DEEP) into God's love and keep ME strong. And may I have the power (know-how) to understand (grasp, comprehend, realize), as all God's people should, how WIDE, how LONG, how HIGH, and how DEEP his love is (for ME). May I experience (encounter, enjoy) the love of Christ, though it is TOO great (immense, extraordinary) for ME to understand fully. Then I will be made complete (whole, absolute, thorough) with ALL the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Now ALL glory to God, who is able, through his mighty (strong, grand, massive) power at work within ME, to accomplish (fulfill, carry out) infinitely MORE than I might ask or think (or imagine)."

Lamentations 3:20-26; 31-32 (NLT)
"I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over MY loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this: THE FAITHFUL LOVE OF THE LORD NEVER ENDS! His mercies never cease. Great is HIS faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each (and EVERY) morning. I say to myself, "THE LORD IS MY INHERITANCE; therefore, I WILL HOPE IN HIM!" The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him....For NO ONE is abandoned by the Lord forever (not even ME). Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion because of the greatness of his unfailing love (for ME)."

God's love letter to us is so personal. His Word speaks straight to our heart and our circumstances. God ALWAYS has a plan and his plan is AMAZING! My personal prayer for 2011 every day when my feet hit the ground is, "OK...God, I'm YOUR girl TODAY (and everyday). Use me, mold me, teach me, and send me to accomplish YOUR great things!"

What's yours? And what has God shown you in your life personally to challenge you through his Word? I encourage you to spend some time writing out a prayer and promise for 2011. It's a great reminder for us to grab when we need it most.
Here's to a GREAT, AWESOME, and AMAZING year!