Reading on Love

A few weeks ago Andrew and I were able to attend Catalyst Dallas. It was great. We heard from some remarkable leaders/teachers/preachers. The Lord truly had some words for me and had me just in the right place to break through some walls I had built. 

Thank you Lord for constant refinement (as much as it hurts)!

One of the speakers that I enjoyed more that I could have imagined was Bob Goff.  He spoke with such joy and excitement it was hard not to sit on the edge of your seat with a smile on your face shaking your head! He is hilarious! 

Catalyst gifted the attendees with a few book downloads, one of which was Bob's book, Love Does. 

I was really excited to read this one and it did not disappoint! 

Each chapter, Bob begins with a life lesson...Chapter 22 begins with; 

 "I used to be afraid that if I was authentic I might take a hit, 

but now I know that being real means I will take a hit."

In each chapter, he follows this statement with a story. Each story as fantastic as the last! I was either shaking my head in disbelief, laughing out loud, or shedding a tear. I felt refreshed as I read about Bob taking life seriously in all the "important" ways, but living fully and excitedly (and unexpectedly) in all the others.  I hope to be the kind of person that Bob is; loving people and life so much that my actions can't deny it. One of the things that I enjoyed reading over and over again in this book was the truth that when you love MUCH, it spreads. 

People want to be a part of it! 

So, if you are looking for a good read for the summer...or anytime, really, do yourself a favor and pick up a copy of Love Does. 

 

Another book that Catalyst gave out was a copy of "The Voice Bible - The New Testament".  Andrew and I have been reading this version of the Bible for our reading for the last few weeks and we LOVE it.
The Voice Bible.  This translation has so many contributors and took 8 years to complete. The tag on the front of the Bible is "Step into the story of scripture". I feel like as I read it, I am reading a story and I am reading the scriptures in a new way. I would recommend checking it out...and if you click this link, you can actually get a free download of the New Testament.  There are all kinds of other really cool things that they did in translating...like leaving you notes on the scripture...

Other than the fact that these books are Spiritual...I am going to tie them together (with love).

Here is how 1 Corinthians 13:1-3 in the Voice Bible reads;

"What if I speak in the most elegant languages of people or in the exotic languages of the heavenly messengers, but I live without love? Well then, anything I say is like the clanging of brass or a crashing cymbal. What if I have the gift of prophecy, am blessed with knowledge and insight to all the mysteries, or what if my faith is strong enough to scoop a mountain from its bedrock, yet I live without love? if so, I am nothing. I could give all that I have to feed the poor, I could surrender my body to be burned as a martyr, but if I do not live in love, I gain nothing by my selfless acts."

Right after these verses they leave this note. 

"Paul boils it all down for the believers in Corinth, Religious people often spend their time practicing rituals, projecting dogma, and going through routines that might look like Christianity on the outside but that lack the essential ingredient that brings all of it together - love! It is a loving God who birthed creation and now pursues a broken people in the most spectacular way. That same love must guide believers, so faith doesn't appear to be meaningless noise."

Have a great day!

My Brother.

My Brother, Josh. Photo from article on Saatchi Online.

I have written about my brother a few times here, and I hope I get to write many more posts like this one! I am a proud little sister. 

Josh won a contest with the Saatchi Gallery in London! 

It is so fun to be able to see his work out in the world.   

Today an interview was posted with some pretty rad photos of him and his work. 

It would be awesome if you would take a second and Check it out here!

Working in the studio.
Photo from article on Saatchi Online.

If I had a restaurant

I really need to get better at taking pics of the food I make.
Usually I make recipes that I got off of Pintrest or something that I have on hand...but sometimes, I just like to whip up something fun and different.
This post is not really about those things...but about Salads.

I am to the point now where I am one month away from my due date and the last thing I really want to do is to stand in the kitchen and cook. So, simple is KEY!

Andrew and I are mostly health conscience and love a good salad. I could go forever with out meat, but Andrew needs it. Lately we have had a "go to salad" and today we added another.

First of all, Let me say that it is unnecessary to purchase pre-made dressings. We love making them and they are so easy.  We use a magic bullet but you could totally use a blender or a food processor.

Salad 1. - Chicken, Pineapple, Cilantro and Pecan salad.
(the first "go-to" salad)
For the dressing - Dressing will be thick and will coat the spinach well!

• A bunch of cilantro
• a few tsp of rice vinegar
• a few tsp of olive oil
• a seeded jalapeño
• a chunk of fresh pineapple
• a few tsp of honey (optional)
• a dash of salt and pepper
• a few tsp of crushed pecans.

(This is totally to taste so I never measure anything...although I have been saying that I should for the sake of you, the reader.) I literally just add the ingredients into the bullet and blend. If it is too vinegary I add a bit more honey.

For the Salad

• Chicken Breasts - or Rotisserie chicken (Pulled)
• Fresh pineapple cut up
• Pecans
• Baby Spinach
• Salad topper - Crispy Jalapeño chips. they have a zing, but add a nice flavor.

Toss the chicken, pineapple, pecans, and spinach with the dressing. Top with the jalapeño chips.
VIOLA. It is soooo good!


Salad 2 - Balsamic Italian

For the dressing

• almost equal parts Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic Vinegar - I like a little more vinegar. And a note - the better the EVOO the better the flavor. We don't buy cheap evoo in our house because we use it so much. 
• a dash of salt and pepper
• a few basil leaves
• a dash of crushed red pepper (depending on spice level)

Blend in the magic Bullet.

For the salad

• Baby Spinach
• Shredded mozzarella
• Pine Nuts
• roma tomatoes - chopped
• salami  chopped up - we just use the cheap lunch meat. 

Toss the salad ingredients with the dressing! I like to add just a pinch of Kosher salt and crushed red pepper once its on my plate!

This is the simplest salad to make. We had it with lasagna for lunch and as a main meal for dinner today. Making it for dinner took me about 4 minutes flat. We will definitely be having it again soon.


I give you these salad recipes/ideas to say that every once in a while while I am eating something that I concocted or threw together, I think.

"If I had a restaurant...I would totally serve this."

Have a great day!

Snapshots of a baby's room

Here are some images of little portions of the baby's room. The colors are the colors of the beach and ocean. If it is a girl there will be some bright pops of coral added and if its a boy we will add more navy. These colors will come in the form of pillows, most likely. 

There is a set of bunk beds in the room too, but they aren't ready to be photographed yet. 

Itso cubes from Target. Old box fan re-painted, striped bins from the container store, and that is a lamp from Homegoods.

That painting is a beautiful one of a kind purchased from our dear friend, Scott Erickson.
The circles are old placemats we didn't want to get rid of. Rug from Ikea, crib from Ikea.
Desk is from Andrew's Grandparents.

These boats were handmade gifts from another dear friend, Krista Miller. 

The desk is actually the changing table, but we are waiting on our changing pad to arrive. 

The bookshelves aren't full yet...and the glider is tucked away.
Bookshelves from Ikea. Glider was a gift from Colleen Carrico (THANKS) from Baby's R Us. 

That time of year

Tomorrow brings a day that stirs some crazy emotions.
Just click here and scroll down...you will see the 4 or 5 posts from Mothers' Day last year.

I have no idea how I really feel about mothers day this year. The truth is, I still have many friends who long to be moms and I am really sensitive to the way people speak about motherhood. I don't want anyone telling my friends, "until you have kids you can't understand the biggest blessing in life." (in so many words)

 I recently heard a John Piper quote that says,

"Treasuring Christ is more important than bearing children."

I guess I just feel like, "YES, I want to be celebrated as a mom." I am praying that I will be the best mom to this little life. Yes, I am honored, and I am definitely THANKFUL!
But still it is a hard day for so many and I want to remember always that being a mom does not and will not "complete" me or anyone else.
I believe that it is true..."Treasuring Christ is more important than bearing children."
Those are sweet words.

Love to you!

Free-Lensing

Most people who follow blogs, follow Elsie's Blog. I do, and I love it. Ever so often something strikes me and I think, "YES I HAVE TO TRY THIS!" 

A few weeks ago, she posted this free-lensing tutorial.  Do to the fact that I have a degree in photograph, this was one of those things that I was immediately inspired by. Anything you can do inside the camera is such a cool thing to me. (the less post-production, the better) 

I by no means have nailed this, but here are some of the images I have taken. 

In case you don't go read the free-lensing tutorial, the whole fun of this technique is the focus.

This is my favorite

My Small Group

I lead a small group of beautiful 10th grade girls with a sweet college student, Jennie Pearson. These girls are absolutely wonderful. One of the highlights of my week is Wednesday nights when we gather in a room, they talk really loud (and over each other)...and then they settle down and we have great conversation about the sermon. I love hearing about their lives and their thoughts on Christian living.
They are so excited about baby Beard and I am so excited for this baby to have so many people who will love it. This weekend they threw me a shower and it was so fun to just be with them. They got me the sweetest gifts and made me feel super blessed!
Here are some pics!

pins

cupcakes

cupcake toppers

drink tray

decorated with sweet books

those are trix crispy treats! Thanks Mer.

The sweet girls. Some had left before we took the pic - sorry girls! 

wrapped in ribbons...and my high chair they bought me!  

Thanks girls, you are a blessing! I love you each dearly! 

Last weekend, April 28th

Last weekend, 5 sweet friends in Dallas/Ft. Worth, threw me a shower.
Hillary, Ethun, Amber, Meggie and Jessi all took a task and threw me the sweetest shower. I feel like I have said this before, but just in case, the baby's room is a very neutral "beach side" theme. 3 of my showers have been some sort of beach themed. It has been so fun to see what each take on "beachside" looks like! So stinking fun. At this shower we hung out outside and had delicious foods and as the sun set, we played some fun games like latter ball and bocce ball. If you have not played bocce ball, you totally should, cause it is one of my favorite outside games! Here are some pics of the day!

Table scape! 

the longest flag bunting ever! Thanks Meggie and Dexter! These will be going up in the nursery!

The Hammock was there specifically for the gifts! So cute!

The spread

This book is a "blessings for baby Beard book"

Latter ball

Mark, Kari and Andrew.

Kari and me!

The hostesses with me and andrew! 

Stephen and Andrew

Dex and Andrew. Andrew is clearly close to his friends here. 

These boats were made for me by my friend Krista Miller. They will be hanging above the babes bed.

Friends, thank you so much for the awesome shower and the awesome friendship! We love you guys!