a full recovery...

a couple weeks ago, mari had minor surgery to remove her tonsils. after about a week and a half of feeling pretty miserable, i'm happy to report that she is back to her normal, talkative, mischevious, crazy self. here she is showing off some of her vocabulary...

black friday and a photo shoot...

good news:  i got a new camera!
bad news: target opened at 4 am...

while waking up at that time of morning is not usually welcomed, my sister and i ventured out to have a little black friday excursion at about 3:30 am.  usually there are only two moods when i'm sleep deprived...grumpy and goofy.  luckily i woke up a little goofy and ended up enjoying the long lines.  i made new friends and instigated a cheer as the line started moving.  after about a 45 minute wait inside of target, my new camera was in my hands.

today was the first chance i had to play around with it due to a LONG nap after shopping on friday.  here are some of my favorites...

i am choosing...

i am choosing to be thankful.

at this moment i would much rather make a list of things i want...or things i would like to be doing...or people i wish i could be hanging out with.

it seems fitting that i would remember that thanksgiving comes before Christmas.

::: i am thankful for :::

.technology to communicate with the people i love.

.the freedom that being single allows.

.an opportunity that i never expected.

.fresh perspectives.

.clean water to drink.

{such a random, short list...but it reflects where my thoughts are lately}

refreshing times are coming.

For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land.  I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.  I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.  And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

Ezekiel 36:24-27

this scripture jumped out at me last night.  perhaps a new promise to hold on to and anticipate.  change is in the works...

next year...

i am bursting at the seams with a possibility for an adventure next year.  after being slightly discouraged about plans not falling into place and seemingly no direction, a new idea was illuminated last night.  it's a different direction than i would have expected, but it seems to fit better than i could have imagined.  seeing as though i haven't told anyone about it since i stayed up WAY too late "researching" and looking at the website of information, i will delay spilling the details to my blog until more thought and prayer have gone into the process.

i had to say something before i exploded with excitement...

grrr...

remember back in the day when after you took a picture, you couldn't look at it until you finished the roll of film and had it processed?  well...until further notice, i will be taking that step back in time electronically.  my camera's LCD screen decided to quit on me tonight.  apparently it still can take pictures because i snapped this one right after the white screen of nothingness appeared...

just lovely...

beauty in the changes.

i don't always welcome change with open arms...

...but new paths bring you to new places...

...things that you have never seen before will be highlighted...

...and when the day is done, you can rest in the fact that tomorrow is a new day...

Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.”

Lamentations 3:22-24

i need this...

So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill.  As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.  When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.  So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword.

Exodus 17:10-13

so often i just try to fight through everything on my own.  relying on others requires vulnerability and allows for a greater potential for disappointment if/when people don't follow through.

why did God place Moses in this place knowing that his arms couldn't handle it?

why am i in that same place?

please pray for me as i am fighting a battle against feelings of worthlessness and distrust.

i splurged...

God has been teaching me a lot about my worth throughout the past couple weeks and a while ago i came across a necklace that i fell in love with. the amazing thing about it is that it falls directly in line with the two scriptures He has given me this season.

now i normally do not splurge on jewelry or even wear necklaces for that matter, but i'm super excited to have this simple reminder of the scriptures to wear daily.

the first verse i posted a couple days ago here...

the second one i have known for a long time, but God revealed a different perspective on it the other night.

The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking fine pearls, and upon finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.

Matthew 13:44-46

i had always pictured myself in the man/merchant role having to sacrifice everything for the treasure.  but what if God is the one who gave everything to save me... and i am that fine pearl.

go check out my new necklace here and browse her other beautiful creations!