Love for Etsy

Wouldn't this print be so sweet in a newly-wed home? I love the vintage paper and candy-apple-red lettering. By designer Lisa Congdon.

I would love to be artistic and make my own version of this promise on paper, with a rustic wooden frame. Oh Etsy, how you inspire me.

Couples

I love these chill, quirky couples. Enjoy!

Attached by Monjojo

Illustration by Anne Le Guern. Found via Glamour

Custom Portrait by Nan Lawson. Found via You are My Fave

A Wednesday Woman

Today, we conclude chapter 1 of Captivating, by John and Stasi Eldredge. If you missed last week's post, I encourage you to start there.

Chapter 1 (cont.) - The Heart of a Woman

*words in italics are direct quotes from the book

Every woman in her heart of hearts longs for three things: to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure and to unveil beauty. That's what makes a woman come alive. (pg 8)

To be romanced

This desire is set deep in the heart of every little girl - and every woman. Yet most of us are ashamed of it. We downplay it. We pretend that it is less than it is. We are women of the twenty-first century after all - strong, independent and capable, thank you very much. (pg 9)

Oh my - this resonates with me. Why? Fear, perhaps? Fear that my desire to be romanced will be viewed as a weakness? Fear that my desire to be romanced will go unmet? And yet, the desire remains. My heart longs to be romanced. It did when I was a little girl and it does today. Are you, like me, willing to admit it?

To play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure

There is something fierce in the heart of a woman... A woman is a warrior too. But she is meant to be a warrior in a uniquely feminine way... [she] wants to believe there is something in [her] that is needed and needed desperately. We were made to be part of a great adventure. An adventure that is shared. We do not want adventure merely for adventure's sake but for what it requires of us for others. We don't want to be alone in it; we want to be in it with others. (pg 11-12)

What would it mean for you to be needed desperately? And to be the answer in a way that only you, as a woman, could be? I want to take a risk, do something dangerous, something that matters! I so want to be a heroine in the life of others, especially my husband.

To unveil beauty

The desire to be beautiful is an ageless longing... And it's not just the desire for an outward beauty, but more - a desire to be captivating in the depths of who you are. (pg 15-16)

Oh how I want to be beautiful! How much more so do I want others to see my inner beauty? I'm praying that God constantly work on my heart so that when my husband (who else knows me best?) sees me, he finds overwhelming outer and inner beauty. This is a dream.

February Calendar

Sometimes, it's the simplest things that catch my eye. I was recently browsing Silhouette, the new blog of a college acquaintance, when I came across the calendar below. She designed this herself and offers it free for us to download here.

Each month, she will post a new calendar for your printing pleasure. I was a little late in finding February's post. I'll be sure to get March posted as soon as Jessica makes it available.

I love all the more that she prints hers on linen paper and hangs it with twine.
What do you think of this sweet calendar?

a2 in Review

Yesterday we continued the series, Unshakable. I encourage you to listen to the full message here or visit Pastor Chris' blog for complete message notes. The following includes snippets of yesterday's message and how it touched my heart.

God is Great, God is...

This message overwhelmed me with the majesty and love of our great God.

Chris explained the details of our universe in numbers impossible to comprehend: billions of stars, millions of galaxies. How much is a billion? I know how many zeros come after the one, but how many is a billion? I can hardly grasp it.

Yet, we try. We squeeze our great God into our small minds to try and grasp who He is. And for me, this point really hit home. We trivialize God. We push His majesty aside for a my-size deity.

We overlook that He is "creator, eternal, self-existent, omnipresent, all-knowing, all-mighty, holy and sovereign". We forget that we are "created, dependent, limited by time and space, limited in knowledge, limited in power, messed up".

Why does this matter?

I love the way Chris read from Isaiah chapter 40. Read the full chapter here, as I will just include excerpts.

Yes the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes.

Isaiah 40:10 (NLT)

Who is this powerful Lord?

Who else has held the oceans in his hand? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed the mountains and hills on a scale?

Isaiah 40: 12 (NLT)

God sits above the circle of the earth. The people below seem like grasshoppers to him! He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.

Isaiah 40:22 (NLT)

Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars? He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name. Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing.

Isaiah 40:26 (NLT)

Are you beginning to feel the awe and mystery of our great God?

Consider this:

Yes, the Sovereign Lord is coming in power. He will rule with a powerful arm. See, he brings his reward with him as he comes. He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.

Isaiah 40:10-11 (NLT)

Did you catch it?

This unfathomably powerful God will feed you, carry you in His arms, hold you close to His heart, gently lead you.

I remain overwhelmed by the majesty and love of our great God.

Love for Etsy

Have you seen this site? If you crave a home with handmade accents or a closet full of vintage clothing, take a moment to peruse Etsy here. Individuals posts items from colorful party decor to funky art and jewelry, to unique gifts and so much more!

Each week, I'll post a favorite Etsy find or two for your enjoyment.

This week, we'll start with the Etsy items used in our October 2009 wedding. The photos below were taken by the talented and laid-back Kellen Jacob and his wife Paula.

If you like the items you see, be sure to check out the designer's shop!

Birdcage veil and headband with fascinator
This veil comes from designer TessaKim. She did a wonderful job combining a vintage birdcage veil with a funky flower headband. Also, the veil is detachable!

Fabric Bird Cake-toppers

I wanted something to fit our style and budget and designer The Girl in Yellow was so flexible and creative. Don't you just love the fedora and veil?

Lariat Lemon-Drop Necklace
I love the pop of color and the simplistic beauty of this necklace. Wonderful job by JennyTRinh. (This picture was obviously not taken by our wedding photographers)

What do you think about these handmade wedding finds? Would you (or did you) use handmade items for your wedding?

**Speaking of handmade, my crafty mom took the trim from her own wedding veil to make my garter. What a treasure!

It's Good to be Cookie-Cutter

I recently came across the cutest idea in sugar cookie history! If you are like me, you desire to be crafty, but it doesn't come natural. Much as I may wish to write a sweet icing message on a sugar cookie, I doubt anyone could read it.

With these cookie cutters, you can imprint the message directly onto the cookie.

The best part is, you can make up your own message! The set includes 7 words (Welcome, Happy, Birthday, Holidays, Thank you, From, I love you), 3 sets of alphabet letters plus extra vowels and commonly used letters.

My sweet husband knew I wanted these so, so bad. They are currently sold out, but will be back in March. I have my gift card ready! What a treat from my valentine. Now I only need to come up with a reason to use my Message-in-a-Cookie Cutters from William-Sonoma. How does "Happy Friday" sound?

What do you think of these cookie-cutters? Do you have a fun party coming up that you can use them for?

Words for Today

Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me - watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly.

Matthew 11:28-30 (The Message)

A Wednesday Woman

I love to read, especially when a book moves me. A few years ago, I was browsing our local used book store when I came across a copy of Wild at Heart by John Eldredge. Even though this book was written for men, I read it. I got a kick out of some of his descriptions of the male personality, thinking of my boyfriend (now husband), brother or dad. It also gave me wonderful perspective on who God created my husband to be and I longed to read a comparable book written for women.

So, I was thrilled this past Christmas to open a gift from my husband and find the book,Captivating, by John and Stasi Eldredge. Written for women (maybe specifically for me) this book has opened my heart to what God had in mind when he made me.

I've been reading it slowly, trying to soak it all in. In an effort to make the most of this book, I'll be journaling here each week, by chapter, the thoughts that stand out to me. If you don't already own this book, order a copy today and read along with me.

Chapter 1 - The Heart of a Woman

*words in italics are direct quotes from the book

Every woman I've ever met feels it... "I am not enough", and "I am too much" at the same time. Not pretty enough, not thin enough, not kind enough, not gracious enough, not disciplined enough. But too emotional, too needy, too sensitive, too strong, too opinionated, too messy... We feel unseen... unsought... uncertain. (pg 7)

Wow. This is tough to digest, because it's so true of how I feel and how I've felt. And yet, I know it's not right. God did not make me a woman to be striving. Striving is not living. And in all of my striving, I seem to fall further from God's design. God calls me to find rest in Him (Matthew 11:28-30).

A few years ago, Eric introduced me to Tom Petty, by way of a song "Wildflower". By the final chorus, I had silent tears streaming down my face. I felt so connected to the lyrics and could hardly explain to Eric why I found the song so beautiful. John and Stasi list a few lines in the opening of this chapter:

You belong among the wildflowers

You belong in a boat out at sea

You belong with your love on your arm

You belong somewhere you feel free

-Tom Petty (pg 1)

Listen to a sample and read the full lyrics here. What does this song mean to you?

Aren't we all longing for something more? To be a woman full of passion and life? To feel free to be all that God created us to be?

Every woman in her heart of hearts longs for three things: to be romanced, to play an irreplaceable role in a great adventure and to unveil beauty. That's what makes a woman come alive. (pg 8)

In Bed, Dreaming

We're loving our newlywed apartment. With two bedrooms, we have enough closets to hold all of our stuff and a spare room for guests and guitars. It's the perfect size. Now, instead of worrying about where to put everything, I can have fun making it feel like home.

I've been wanting to get new bedding and move ours to the guest bedroom. Unfortunately, I'm finding that so much of the bedding falls into one of four categories: floral, teen, masculine or white. I'm not giving up hope yet. Until then, I thought it would be fun to throw together a room based on white bedding. Next, I want to design bedding based on a masculine theme.

Let's start with the basic white bedding

Add blue sheets and a colorful throw from Anthropologie

Top it off with a few pretty blue-gray pillows and one button pillow from Pier 1

And to make sure our room is not too bright and feminine, lets add wood lettering at the headboard in our last name. Found via Design is Mine

What would you use to accent white bedding? I find myself to be very monochromatic with my accessories, but it's what I love!

a2 in Review

Eric and I belong to a vibrant church plant in Vestavia, Alabama called a2 Church. The pastor, Chris Goins, and his wife (and worship leader) Janet, have inspired and challenged us to see Christ in a whole new way over this past year and a few months.

Every week, Chris' message gets my gears turning and my heart longing for more of what God has to offer. Eric and I leave each Sunday saying "we do not want to forget that!"

So, each week, I'll post something that touched my heart, in hopes that it will touch yours too. If you're intrigued by what you read, check out itunes to download the message for free (search a2 church) or simply click here.

Yesterday, we weren't able to stay for the entire message. So, for this week's post, I am jumping back to the first message of the series Masterpiece, Becoming God's Best Version of You.

When you wish life was an etch-a-sketch

In this message, Chris encouraged us to ponder the following ten questions, originally posed by Don Whitney. Let each question sink in as you consider how the answer could change your 2010.

1. What's the one thing you could do this year to increase your enjoyment of God?

2. What's the most humanly impossible thing you will ask God to do this year?

3. What's the single most important thing you could do to improve the quality of your family life this year?

4. In which spiritual discipline do you most want to make progress this year, and what will you do about it?

5. What is the single biggest time-waster in your life, and what will you do about it this year?

6. What is the most helpful new way you could strengthen your church?

7. For whose salvation will you pray most fervently this year?

8. What's the most important way you will, by God's grace, try to make this year different from last year?

9. What one thing could you do to improve your prayer life this year?

10. What single thing that you plan to do this year will matter most in ten years? In eternity?

Which of these questions resonate with you? Why? What other questions can we ask ourselves to make sure we grow this year?