*natalie alexis*

today i'm starting a friday tradition that hopefully will last for more than a couple of weeks. :o) friend friday! every friday, i will highlight a different friend who means SO much to me. so to start it off we have natalie alexis!

natalie and i met probably around 1999ish (not quite sure...). as i became friends with talia, i would be over at her house and would sometimes see her younger sister. it's interesting to me that we didn't become friends earlier, but i do remember that even two years difference seemed like SO much back in the day...she was, after all, still in middle school and i was in high school. the summer of 2007 we really hit it off. natalie, talia and i were the cool kids of condo 1716 in gresham and the three of us grew close. i loved getting to know her better and was so inspired by her faith, joy and creativity. this week i get to hang out with her for a couple days, and i'm beyond thrilled. she will soon be off on another adventure and i can't wait to see what God will be doing in and through her life in this next season.

beautiful natalie, i love ya!

*natalie alexis*

today i'm starting a friday tradition that hopefully will last for more than a couple of weeks. :o) friend friday! every friday, i will highlight a different friend who means SO much to me. so to start it off we have natalie alexis!

natalie and i met probably around 1999ish (not quite sure...). as i became friends with talia, i would be over at her house and would sometimes see her younger sister. it's interesting to me that we didn't become friends earlier, but i do remember that even two years difference seemed like SO much back in the day...she was, after all, still in middle school and i was in high school. the summer of 2007 we really hit it off. natalie, talia and i were the cool kids of condo 1716 in gresham and the three of us grew close. i loved getting to know her better and was so inspired by her faith, joy and creativity. this week i get to hang out with her for a couple days, and i'm beyond thrilled. she will soon be off on another adventure and i can't wait to see what God will be doing in and through her life in this next season.

beautiful natalie, i love ya!

building pressure & altered focus

i desire security. i would love for my bank account to have X amount of money in it. i wish that my car was like the energizer bunny and kept going and going and never quit. i want my future plans to at least have a tentative blueprint. above all, i want my heart to be fully abandoned to God.

the uncertainties of life are mounting. questions buzzing in my head are making the pressure rise. there are things that i don't even want to think about, let alone deal with. i'm slowly learning that God has me in this place to help me realize the truth.

find rest, o my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. he alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, i will not be shaken. my salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. trust in him at all times, o people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

~psalm 62:5-8~

thankfully God is helping me with my focus. things i'm thankful for are being divinely highlighted and people who need encouragement have been strategically placed in my path. as i seek God's truth to share with others, i am being blessed.

i guess irratating pressure isn't always bad. especially if you like pearls.

building pressure & altered focus

i desire security. i would love for my bank account to have X amount of money in it. i wish that my car was like the energizer bunny and kept going and going and never quit. i want my future plans to at least have a tentative blueprint. above all, i want my heart to be fully abandoned to God.

the uncertainties of life are mounting. questions buzzing in my head are making the pressure rise. there are things that i don't even want to think about, let alone deal with. i'm slowly learning that God has me in this place to help me realize the truth.

find rest, o my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him. he alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, i will not be shaken. my salvation and my honor depend on God; he is my mighty rock, my refuge. trust in him at all times, o people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

~psalm 62:5-8~

thankfully God is helping me with my focus. things i'm thankful for are being divinely highlighted and people who need encouragement have been strategically placed in my path. as i seek God's truth to share with others, i am being blessed.

i guess irratating pressure isn't always bad. especially if you like pearls.

paper bag puppets: phase 2

azariah's zebra turned out cute! he liked having it on his arm (for short periods of time...)

mari wasn't sure about putting her pig puppet on her arm. she wanted to look at it and study it.

meshach's bald eagle turned out to be my favorite. one of the first things he asked this morning is if i had brought the glue. he is so proud of his puppet.

shortly after meeting the toddlers, ms. pig and mr. zebra had limbs amputated and were quite beaten up. poor puppets...never had a chance.

paper bag puppets: phase 2

azariah's zebra turned out cute! he liked having it on his arm (for short periods of time...)

mari wasn't sure about putting her pig puppet on her arm. she wanted to look at it and study it.

meshach's bald eagle turned out to be my favorite. one of the first things he asked this morning is if i had brought the glue. he is so proud of his puppet.

shortly after meeting the toddlers, ms. pig and mr. zebra had limbs amputated and were quite beaten up. poor puppets...never had a chance.

paper bag puppets: phase 1

i used to love making these, so we had craft time today after breakfast. today's mission: color and cut out patterns.

mari loved being able to play with the crayons.



azariah wanted to show me his amazing artistic ability.

meshach worked very diligently and made auntie proud with his cutting skills. check back tomorrow to see what animals we made! oh, and click here for patterns.