Did Somebody Say Weekend?

Ah Friday night, the start of the most delightful part of my week. Can you just feel the glee coming off this post right now? It's the weekend! After five long work days it has finally arrived. I make no small issue of my love of a good Saturday around here. Tomorrow feels especially special since I have no pressing appointments, responsibilities or errands to run. I am sleeping in, working on the great closet cleanout of 2009 (part II of the great organization of 2009), going to a movie, watering flowers if doesn't rain, but people that's about it. And I am head over heels giddy about that.

Sunday afternoon several of my co-workers are heading to Southlake (a lovely suburb of Dallas) for some retail and cheesecake therapy. Praise be to God we are going to Cheesecake Factory. It's almost as if God has said to his beloved one, I know Weight Watchers is starting back on Monday, enjoy of my bounty on this the Lord's Day, take and eat of this cheesecake. I will, oh yes, I will. And then I'm going to go to DSW shoes and Anthropologie and possibly the Container Store for further organization inspiration. But the real delight will be the cheesecake. Make no mistake. This may be in part that I have very little money to actually spend at these places, or maybe it's just because it's cheesecake. Glory be.

Wednesday night's travels to Durant were great. We enjoyed one of the finer fast food establishments in Bryan county, Taco Casa. As soon as I took a bite of my burrito it took me back to my college days, and the flips my stomach did hours later reminded me I'm no longer a nineteen year old. Apparently my stomach doesn't remember those days as fondly as my mind does. Oh well. Beyond such culinary delights the church service was awesome. The speaker was truly encouraging and uplifting and he gave me some points to ponder for these last few days. One of those things was to encourage us to be who we are in Christ, not try to be like anyone else. He said we needed to be comfortable in our own skin because Jesus is comfortable in it. I thought that was pretty cool.

As we drove home that night Rachel and I discussed his message and all other sorts of things as a brilliant thunderstorm lit up the sky in the distance. Don't you love conversations with your best friend? Ours go round and round in random circles but seem to make perfect sense to us. We talked personal intimate stuff and fluffy lighthearted stuff. We talked baby names and childhood memories and church stuff and family stuff and about people we both knew and loved, about things that frustrate us and struggles we are going through. We crammed as much into a fifty minute drive as anybody could and still managed to come up with all the names of our potential children.

Happy Weekend!!!

Caffeinated Randomness: iPod Randomness

I fully believe that any Caffeinated Randomness that revolves around music is about as awesome as it can get. I'll have you all know I've been waiting with baited breath for Friday to roll around again so I could present to you this soon to be beloved itunes meme (but you can think Christy for inspiring me, she's the first one I saw do this one), and you will see just how random I can be when it comes to music.

Number of songs: 3611
Number of albums: 104
Most recently played song: Honeydew Melon by Mandy Mann
Most played song: Jealous Kind by Jars of Clay

Most recently added album: Come on Let's Go by Mandy Mann

First song alphabetically: ABC, Jackson Five
Last song alphabetically: Yours is the Kingdom, Hillsong

Biggest song numerically: 500 miles, The Proclaimers

Shortest song: Go Tell it on the Mountain, Sara Groves

Longest song: Come Fall on Us (Psalm 18, 50) 100 Portraits and Waterdeep

First album alphabetically: A Collision or (3+4)=7, David Crowder Band
Last album alphabetically: Woven and Spun, Nichole Nordeman

First album numerically: 13 Going on 30 Soundtrack
Last album numerically: 40 Acres, Caedmons Call
First five songs that pop up on shuffle:
1. Rock Me Amadeus by Falco (Umm, I may or may not have a large selection of 80's songs)

2. He Said She Said by Joe Purdy (Oh Joe why does your voice have to sound so heartbreaking and fragile so that every moody song of yours sucks me in, oh why?)

3. Friend of God by the Women of Faith Worship Team (I gathered a lot of Women of Faith cds as a music buyer at the store I work in, love this song.)

4. We Come to Praise by Michael James (This song is from one of my favorite cds from college, Songs from the Loft, and hearing it come up on random took me right back to 1996-97)

5. Overjoyed by Jars of Clay (The version on their Furthermore album, not the original on Much Afraid, it's a really good version)

I knew my shuffle would not disappoint, pretty random, huh? I went a little further with the shuffle and the next song that came up was You Can Fly! You Can Fly! You Can Fly! from a Disney Greatest Hits cd. I thought you would all like to know that. And in the interest of full disclosure that isn't the only Disney song on my iPod.

You can find more wonderful Caffeinated Randonmess at Under Grace and Over Coffee.

Happy Soon-to-be weekend to you all!!!

A Few of My Favorite Things: Worship Songs

I love being on a worship team. I used to lead one for eight years, and I'm happy leading and in the background, just as long as I can be a part. Here are some of my favorite worship songs, though some I've never actually had the privilige of singing at our church, they are often used for that Audience of One behind closed doors at home.

1. Revelation Song by Kari Jobe. I don't care how many times I hear this song, it is anointed every. single. time. And Kari Jobe is amazing when she sings it.

2. You Are God Alone (not a god) by Billy and Cindy Foote. Just repeating the refrain unchangeable, unshakeable, unstoppable that's what you are, gives me goose bumps. I cannot dismiss the sovereignty of God when I sing or listen to this song.

3. You are Good by Rita Springer. Rita Springer is one of my favorite worship leaders. She has many wonderful songs but this one has been on my heart a lot lately. Believing God is good and trusting Him go hand in hand, and since I am in a season of trust I have been letting this song minister to me as I worship Him.

4. Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall. Into marvelous light I'm running, out of darkness out of shame, by the cross you are the truth you are the life you are the way. Enough said.

5. Psalm 145 by Shane and Shane. I love the Psalms album. I love singing scripture. Psalm 145 is one of my all time chapters in Psalms (right behind Psalm 139 actually) and getting to sing it just makes my day.

6. Desert Song by Hillsong. I love everything about this song. Everything. I will bring praise, I will bring praise, no weapon formed against me shall remain, I will rejoice I will declare he is my victory and he is here. I will bring praise I will bring praise no weapon formed against me shall remain, I will rejoice I will declare God is my victory and He is here.

7. Everlasting God by Brenton Brown or Chris Tomlin or maybe even our worship leader, who is awesome. I love a rousing anthem, and this one definitely fits the bill.

8. O Praise Him (all this for a King) by David Crowder Band. From the sweet tingly piano sounds in the beginning I get all excited about praising Him. Such good stuff.

9. Counting on God by New Life Worship. Well, because I am.

10. The More I Seek You by Christ for The Nations. This song is so intimate and beautiful it would be hard for me to sing it in front of anyone without crying. Kari Jobe has the voice of an angel.

I could go on, but I'm running late already this morning. I love worship songs! What are some of your favorites, leave them in the comments!

You can read about more favorite things at Amy's blog Filled With Praise.

Just A Couple of Things

If I could put these thoughts into coherent posts I would, but that just isn't happening today. And even though it's not Caffeinated Randomness Friday, I thought the middle of the week could use a little random. So here are just a few of things rolling around in my mind lately:

• Thanks to a couple of sweet tweetin' friends (thanks Patty and Critty!!) I have decided to do a personal in depth study of the book of Joshua. Some time this fall we are going to do the Beth Moore Esther study, but I needed something right now, during the in between time. I was leaning toward a New Testament book like Colossians or Philippians, but when the girls recommended Joshua I was intrigued. I've read the book a couple of times, but never really sunk my spiritual teeth into it. I'm so glad I've decided to study this book now. I'm just in overview mode, where I read through the book a couple of times before I dive in deep. I've gotta tell you I'm really excited about Joshua. Already I'm overcome with the hope, courage and promise tucked in this book. And verses like Joshua 5:9: "Then the Lord said to Joshua, "Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you." which had me bawling in my bed last night as I read. I. cannot. wait. to see what God is going to show me through this study. Cannot. Wait.



• Rachel (the bff) and I are making a road trip tomorrow night to Jubilee, this really awesome church revival meeting thing over in Durant (which is about an hour from where I live). I am really hoping to hear a now word from God there. And since I have the pre-release of Hillsong's latest worship cd Faith+Hope+Love, we will also have some awesome music to guide us there.


• I am still working on the organization at home. Phase II is about to be in effect, which involves unmassing (is that a word?) the cave, AKA my closet. It is insane ya'll. I might post before and after pictures because I don't think you'll believe me otherwise. Pray for strength and endurance.


• Watched More to Love tonight. The jury is still out for me. And that's all I can really say about it right now.



• I am rediscovering the joys of yearbookyourself.com. Not that I enjoy distractions or anything, but seriously, it never seems to get old. Enough said, or shall I let the pictures do the talking?

For real ya'll this one makes me think of Designing Women and not the class of 1996, which was the year my sister graduated high school. Don't ya'll think I could be bff's with Julia Sugarbaker with that hair?

I do love me some Julia Sugarbaker.

Paint, Sweat and an Epiphany (aka Extreme Makeover: Kara Edition)

I was still smelling paint fumes when I went to bed Saturday night. I'm pretty sure that's not a good thing, but I thought I'd share just the same. What stuck with me more than the smell of semi-gloss Sherwin Williams Whitest White was the sweet fellowship of working side by side with my brothers and sisters in Christ. I cannot describe how my heart swells when I think about my church family. There were seventy five year olds painting next to thirty year olds. I was shocked that some of the oldest people in our church came out to help. My best friend and I talked about that later, how there were a lot of people there that we normally don't hang around with, and it was so nice to get the opportunity to do so. Nothing says bonding and fellowship like getting your hands dirty and putting in some hard labor for several hours. I was so touched at the sacrifice of a Saturday that these people gave up (you know I love my Saturdays). People with busy lives, people who took off of work, people who were on their hands and knees for practically eight hours, people who have foot and back pain but chose to work through it. It was beautiful. And I'm not just talking about the paint job.

I learned more about my precious family in Christ, and I learned a lot about myself. I sang Amazing Grace and You are My King with two of the prettiest voices in the church (and we found out that one of the most acoustic places in the building was right outside the men's restroom. Go figure). We talked about old boyfriends and brain aneurysms and grandchildren and songs on the radio and whether it's better to paint the walls or do the trim first. I found out I am better at painting than I thought. I found out that paint fights are a fun stress reliever. I found out my best friend and her husband are tireless servants who can handle huge projects with an excellence that is way beyond me. I found out I don't know some of these people like I thought I did. But I want to know them better. I need to know them better.

I've gone through a period of time where I felt I didn't feel like I fit in at my church. We are a small body, less than a hundred people. And that's being generous. There is a handful of people in my age range and all of them are married. The only other single woman is in her fifties. Yeah. That would be the extent of our singles program. Two people. I had gotten to the point where I had isolated myself from the rest of the church. Note I did the isolating. No one else did it to me. Working next to people so drastically different from me kinda shook me up from my personal detachment. I learned we are more alike that different. And the differences that are there are beautiful, not isolating. It was supposed to be a church makeover, and I left feeling like it was a Kara makeover.

To be honest I was dreading the work day. I don't like giving up my precious free time. Being a single girl for so long I've become accustomed to having all my time to myself. Calling the shots for my days, nights, weekends. Getting up before 7 am to paint all day just wasn't at the top of my list of how to spend my favorite day of the week. But I did it. And those 8 or 9 hours have changed me. I realized my days and my hours and even my social calendar don't really belong to me. And when I give it over to work for God's kingdom, I am blessed beyond what a typical Saturday could ever hold.

We need each other. We really do.

For Meditation This Weekend

Because I need to keep the Word of God fresh in my mind, soul and heart these are the scriptures I'll be pondering:

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:3

Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had the power to do what he had promised. Romans 4:20-21

Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:14

And thanks to LauraLee I have added: But I am trusting you, O Lord, saying, "You are my God." Psalm 31:14 NLT

Enjoy your weekend friends!!

Caffeinated Randomness: This Girl is Totally Bringing the Random Today

Because today feels especially random, my caffeinated randomness should be too:

I hope potato chips are alright for breakfast because they sure did taste good just now.

When I listen to Christy Nockels' Life Light Up cd I think to myself I want a heart like the one belonging to the writer of these songs.

It's not the organizing I'm afraid of, it's the upkeep to follow that is frightening me lately.

My dreams are getting weirder and weirder. Just a smattering of last nights: dorm living (with my mom), car bombs and childhood crushes. But the night before I had two weddings and an almost wedding. One was at an airport. I have no idea why.

Tomorrow is a work day at my church. My best friend Rachel and her husband are heading it up and to make it sound snazzier Rachel titled it Extreme Makeover: Church Edition. Basically we will be doing a lot of painting. I have yet to tell her I am a lousy painter. Lousy. But the bonus is my dad is cooking us lunch: brisket, potato casserole, baked beans and my mom is making brownies. So I am overcoming my painting issues to enjoy one of my dad's best. meals. ever.

Enjoy more caffeinated randomness (because I know this taste has left you hungry for more) at Under Grace and Over Coffee.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Some weeks are just blah. And when I look around and start to take inventory of those kind of weeks I realize there is a lot more to be thankful about than I first realized. So that is what I am attempting to do this week. So A Few of My Favorite Things this so-so week are:

1. July days that feel more like mid-September. We have had some great weather this week. I think we peaked at only 90 yesterday. And there was an awesomely cool breeze from the north as well.

2. Finding missing jewelry. So I'm not always the most organized person. I lose stuff. Sometimes in plain sight. But this getting organized thing has been quite the blessing. I've found lost earrings I thought were gone forever. And now I'm storing them altogether in a nice container.

3. Re-reading old cards and notes from loved ones. In addition to being somewhat disorganized, I am also a bit of a pack rat. I can't bring myself to throw away the sentimental stuff. Again this sorting business of organization had me finding things I had forgotten about. Like the last Christmas card ever from my Nanny, or funny cards from my best friend from college, Deidre. Reading those made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. And seeing my grandmother's handwriting again made me miss her just that much more.

4. Seeing my mother's faith in action. My mom has always been a woman of strong faith. The cynic in me has often called her a Pollyanna, but this week I've come to realize Pollyanna and my mom are not the same. What she has is of the Hebrews 11 stock. And I love her for it.

5. Realizing a so-so week is actually kinda special. Thanks to all the above and more. It has to be said, God blesses us way more than we take the time to realize.

You can read more A Few of My Favorite Things at Amy's.

On Droughts and Trust

"Kara, do you trust God? Do you believe He can work things out?" My mom shot this out as soon as I answered the phone. I kinda knew what was coming next. I don't know why, but I did. Without going into much detail it had to do with some financial stuff with my family. Basically, something I've staked a lot of my future on. Things don't look good right now. My heart sank.

Do I trust God?


It's easy to say yes when it's just in theory. It's a whole different thing when you're called to walk in the midst of it. It's difficult. As all manner of walking by faith can be. Do I trust God?


There has been a verse that has been popping up everywhere around me. It seems everywhere I turn I see it. So I know God is trying to tell me something, since, you know, I'm so perceptive that it has only taken a half a dozen times for me to get the picture.



"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in Him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; it's leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Jeremiah 17:7-8



I've enjoyed meditating on trust and this verse has really been stuck on my heart. Perhaps it's the five or twenty times it's been thrust before me over the last couple of weeks, or something like that. Still. I've immersed myself in the idea of trust and confidence, no fear of heat, no worries in drought. I understand heat. I get drought. This summer in Oklahoma has been no less than hot, dry and drought like. I think about my garden, which I diligently water in efforts to stave off the effects of this horribly miserable summer weather pattern. I worry about those plants and flowers not getting the water they need to sustain them through the rest of the summer (we've got at least two good months of it here). That image of a tree planted by the water is vivid in my mind. I can just imagine what it looks like. Fearless under a dry August sun.

And that's what I can be when I place my full confidence and trust in the Lord. Which is now what I am challenged to do. The heat has come unexpectedly, the drought may be on it's way. Do I trust God? Am I a tree planted by the water, that has sent out my roots by the stream? Time will tell. All I know is that God has never failed me yet. And he prepared me with this verse and countless others over the last month or so. I know my God sees the end from the beginning. I believe He is intimately acquainted with the details of my daily life. He knew the moment that news would come. He expected the heat to rise and anticipated the upcoming drought.

I believe He has prepared me. How could I not trust a God who would do that for me?

Do I trust God?

I hear my heart sing back a resounding yes. And the water refreshes me. I will bear much fruit in this season.

Let's See

I really am missing my boring weekends. It seems I haven't been able to find one since returning from vacation. Considering next weekend is a church work weekend, I don't think I'll be getting my wish anytime soon. But I long for one, I really do. Especially after the last few days. So what happened to me this glorious non-boring weekend?



Oh yeah. I passed (what will heretofore be regarded as THE. EVENT.) a kidney stone. On Friday. So yay me, I'm officially a 60 year old man. But seriously, that was the most excruciating pain of my life. When the pain first started I thought it was something else and when my mom called my workplace for me she told one of my co-workers I was having some "female problems", which somehow got translated fingernail problems. Needless to say my boss was a tad bit confused as to my ailment, and why it necessitated a day off. My mom was able to clear up the confusion later that morning. Considering my boss once had an employee call in because she felt hot one morning, I guess fingernail problems aren't the most ludicrous excuse for missing a day of work, so I was all good.

After enduring what some have said is the closest thing pain wise to labor, all I can say is, Lortab is a gift from above. And I rescind my previous views about natural childbirth. Me and the anesthesiologist are going to be on a first name basis when I am finally blessed with children.

After THE. EVENT. I had to work on Saturday. At a tent sale. In 90 something degree heat. For the entire day. Hot fun in the summertime, indeed. I also did this all day on Thursday and thanks to THE. EVENT. on Friday, I was saved that day. Having experienced 8 hours of blistering heat and several hours of excruciating pain, I think I would take the heat. But that's just me. All I can say now is I'm glad it's over. Both of them.

Sunday was all normal with church and a day of rest and all. We had our monthly fellowship after services with hot dogs and hamburgers. My bff Rachel's daughter Addie kept asking my dad for chips off his plate. You have to realize my dad is one of those people who missed the Sunday school lesson on sharing. Especially his food. But with the cuteness that is Addie, resistance is futile. She saddled herself right next to him and ate to her hearts content. I cannot wait for the day when my parents become grandparents. They are going to rock.

This month's fellowship had a definite lack of all things sweet so Rachel, Addie and I headed out for some ice cream. Rachel's husband had a board meeting so we figured we had plenty of time. Addie entertained us with stories of her friend Evan who she said loves her. In the sweet voice only a three year old can muster she kept saying "And I was like.... and he was like....and I said....and then he said....and I was like" She can hold her own in the conversation world. We were no match. And it must be said that her friend Evan was a boy she just met yesterday. I'm thinking she will not lack for friendships when pre-school starts. A social butterfly that one is.

I have been organizing at home ever since I was inspired by the professional organizer at work. It has been a process. And it is taking quite awhile. But I have faith I will arrive on the other side, where container store product filled closets rule. I do a little bit here and a little bit there. But my desk is the cleanest I've seen in years and my furniture has never been quite so happy to be dust free. It's a start.

So that was my weekend. How was yours (pain free I hope)?

Caffeinated Randomness: Bandwagon Edition

Sometimes I see a bandwagon and I just have to jump on it. And even though Andrea is gone on vacation I still had to bring some kind of Caffeinated Randomness this week, so I bring you my own version of If I Were...



If I were a movie I'd be Sense and Sensibility






If I were a song I'd be Just Showed Up For My Own Life by Sara Groves

If I were a flower I'd be a daisy

If I were a time of the year I'd be the part of Autumn when the changing of leaves are at their peak.

If I were a color I'd be the shade of the sky on the horizon that is peachy yellow pink at dusk

If I were a food I'd be homemade lasagna

If I were a piece of jewelry I'd be this lovely bracelet from Emily Ray

If I were a holiday I'd be Christmas

If I were an article of clothing I'd be this cardigan (and though I'm worth every penny, I'd be on sale, because I'm generous like that)

I must add that locating some of these images made me feel a bit of longing for the October-November-December portion of the year. This is no good considering today I'll be braving the "cool front" induced 98 degree heat. Pray for me! Happy Friday, all!

A Few of My Favorite Things: Summer 2009 Music Edition

I love music-y goodness. This summer has been in no short supply for me. So I thought I'd spread the love for this week's edition of "A Few of My Favorite Things". You're welcome.


1. Christy Nockels- Life Light Up. In my dreams I sound like her. Those pipes are truly from the Lord above. On her new album I am particularly fond of No Not One, Life Light Up, Song of the Beautiful, By Our Love, and oh, who am I kidding, the whole thing is marvelous. Love this cd.

2. Glory Revealed II. I just downloaded this one two days ago. I loved the first Glory Revealed. Basically it's a bunch of different Christian music artists like Mac Powell (of Third Day), Bear Reinhart (of Needtobreathe), Amy Grant, Bethany Dillon, Kari Jobe, Matt Maher and Shawn Lewis singing the Word of God, and it is oh so good. It has practically been on repeat since Tuesday. I'd say Never and How Great have gotten the most play from me. But the whole thing is wonderful.

3. Mat Kearney- City of Black and White. Particularly Here We Go and Lifeline. I heart this guy, I really do.

4. Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors. Their music may have been around longer than this summer. I really don't know. But it's this summer that I discovered them on Brite Revolution's website. I am in love in love in love with the song Live Forever. It was a staple of the soundtrack of my Port Aransas vacation a few weeks ago.

5. David Crowder Band- How He Loves. So it's just the single for the upcoming cd Church Music. But it's a darn good one, and it makes me anticipate the rest of the album all the more. You can never hear the refrain "He loves us, oh, how he loves us, oh how he loves us" enough.

6. Hillsong United- Across the Earth. I love practically everything Hillsong United and Hillsong does. And Desert Song is one of my favorite worship songs right now. Brooke Fraser, Joel Houston, what's more to love?

You can find more "A Few of My Favorite Things" at Filled With Praise

Tis So Sweet

As much as I love a good Saturday, today I reveling in my day off in the middle of the week. I don't like that it means I'm working Saturday, but since my theme for today is to live in the moment, I'm not worrying about that, or the 98 degree (and I say 98 degree because a cool front is headed our way, I'm thankful it won't be 108) heat I'll be working in that day.

God and I have been talking with each other a lot about trust, worry and being in His presence. Trust has always been an issue with me. I can't really pinpoint the why in that issue. I have great parents who raised me well. I am a cautious person by nature, and have many a control-freak's tendencies. Perhaps that has a lot to do with it. Nevertheless. I worry. I fret. I don't often trust God in simple and ultimately huge issues in life. But we're working on that, me and God. Better said He's working on it, and I'm cooperating with Him.

So a lot of scripture that I've been pondering has been trust related. This morning in particular I've been dining on Philippians 4:4-9. I read a devotional this morning that said the crux of this passage is one simple sentence: The Lord is near. And because the Lord is near, I can rejoice in him (v. 4) have a noticeable gentleness (v. 5), not get anxious about anything (v.6) and instead pray about everything (v. 6). Then because He is near, I can experience his understanding surpassing peace (v. 7) and then meditate and dwell on all things true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy(v.8). Simply put I can trust him completely, fully, assuredly, and wholeheartedly because He is near. He is present. He's gonna hear me when I pray, He's going to soften my anxious heart so that peace and gentleness are the mainstay. He's going to be my focus, not my anxious thoughts, and of course he is all things lovely, admirable, true and pure.

I was listening to a Beth Moore teaching from Life Today about the Presence of God. If you haven't listened or watched these you should go to the Life Today website and watch! They are filled with Beth Moore goodness. One of the things she said in teaching about Moses and the presence of God was that God's goodness and his glory are inseparable. How can I not trust a God whose nature is always good?

Then I read a book this weekend called Never the Bride. I won it on Christy's book blog and I got in the mail on Thursday. I read one chapter Thursday evening and the rest of the book on Friday evening. Until 3 in the morning. That lighthearted, easy read of fiction has seriously impacted me and my relationship with God. It's about a thirty something single woman who has obsessed over getting married. Not that I can relate to her or anything. She's dealt rejection after rejection and then this mysterious guy keeps popping up and that mysterious guy turns out to be God. Without giving too much away, because if you haven't read it yet you seriously should, she embarks on this relationship with God that is all about her giving over the rights to her own life story so that God can write it. This book was hilarious, but I kid you not I was sobbing some serious ugly tears throughout. You could say I got it. Trust. Trust. Trust.

Sometimes God has to beat an issue oh so lovingly over my head for me to get it.

I'm okay with that.

I trust He knows what He's doing.

I'm Pretty Sure There is No Show for This on HGTV

Last week my boss brought in a professional organizer to help us get the office in order. I knew it was coming. Still, that didn't make me any less nervous. I know that my office isn't mine. It belongs to my boss. I'm a steward of everything in that space. Nonetheless, I feel protective and possessive of every file, every note, every invoice that is in that little cubby of an office. So needless to say it was difficult to let a stranger come in and invade said space. To ask questions I didn't feel like answering, to watch as I rattled off the details of my (works for me but no one else) filing system. I get all flush just writing about it. I just wanted the session to be over.

But that was last week.

This week I am reveling in the joys of a clean, organized, efficient work space. I know where things are. My to do lists are actually getting done before 6 pm. The short bit of awkwardness and discomfort brought on by someone coming in and doing what needed to be done, asking the questions that needed to be asked and implementing a solution that was workable pales in comparison to the lasting goodness it has brought about. Miss Organizer lady has completely altered my workday for good. I felt less stressed at work today than I have in a long time. My desk is a thing of beauty.

Which got me to to thinking.

Sometimes my life is a big cluttered mess. I know that I'm just a steward of everything I've been given. This body? His temple. These gifts and talents? Given in the measure He determines. Every article of clothing, piece of jewelry, flower in my garden, book on the shelf, the car in the driveway--all generously given from the giver of all good things. I have no rights of ownership to any of them. Still, I'm possessive and protective. I've been doing things my way for a looooooong time and while any observant bystander can clearly see it ain't working, I still want to stomp my feet and put the One who can fix it all at arms length.

It's uncomfortable to have your space invaded. Even by the great organizer of life. To answer the questions as to why this irrational thinking has been in use so long, or why that fear has had a foothold in your mind. To stand exposed with all your sins and weaknesses hanging out. To have a completely open heart before Him and let Him work on all the countless things that need fixing.

It might hurt a little. Maybe even a lot. But one thing I'm sure of, even if I'm still a bit hesitant: the hurt, the discomfort, the embarrassment? They only last a little while. But the outcome? It's a thing of beauty.

Caffeinated Randomness: Random Music Stuff

I've noticed that sometimes the iPod in my head is set on random. Perhaps I should explain. I wake up every morning to music. Then I usually crank up iTunes for my morning jaunt through blog and facebook world. I'd fully expect one of those songs to pop up in my head later in the day. For me that's a given. But no. Lately it's been completely from out of nowhere. Like songs from the Wicked soundtrack. Seriously, I'll be filing paperwork in the office and Dancing Through Life or Popular is going through my head. And I haven't listened those songs in forever. Me thinks I need to get my mental iPod to go off shuffle. It's weirding me out.

I have another music related confession to make. I cannot, CANNOT, listen to the song Footloose without wanting to break out with some sweet dance moves. Especially when it gets to the bridge. Cut footloose waaaaoooh, cut footloose waaaaoooh, cut footloose. If you can contain yourself for those jammin' four minutes which are Kenny Loggins in rare form, then congratulations, you are a master of restraint.

I am fine paying .99 for a song on iTunes. But 1.29 is so. not. cool.

Sometimes the best taste of sunshine on a cloudy day is Amos Lee's Bottom of the Barrel and Keb' Mo's Life is Beautiful. When I hear the line "Life is Beautiful/ Life is Wondrous/ Every star above is shining just for us,/ Life is Beautiful on a Stormy Night/Somewhere in the world the sun is shining bright" When I think back to my vacation these songs are part of the soundtrack. They just make me smile inside and out.

Brite Revolution = Happy Girl. $4.99 a month for some really awesome cure for the common ccm radio kind of music? Priceless. I am particularly digging Drew Holcomb & The Neighbors, their song Live Forever is stuck on repeat in my iTunes. There is also the fabulous Joy Williams, the always enjoyable Andrew Osenga and Matthew Perryman Jones and Andy Davis and more and more and more.

My best friend Rachel is taking me to see David Crowder Band in Tulsa in October. I love DCB but have yet to see them in concert. I. CANNOT. WAIT. And Church Music, their newest cd, will be coming out soon (August or September, I think?), Yippee!!

For more caffeinated randomness head on over to Andrea's blog

A Few of My Favorite Things...

I just found her blog, Filled With Praise, this morning (thanks to Andrea), but I am already jumping on Amy's bandwagon. Because, you know, I'm cool like that. On Thursdays she hosts A Few of My Favorite Things and the follower that I am, I just had to join in.

My favorite things today are random, but so am I:

Thunderstorms that pop out of nowhere (is this just an Oklahoma thing?)

Flowers that I planted and watered, but God made them grow

A Best Friend who invites you to dinner on a random Thursday

Meeting new people and feeling like you've known them forever

God's mercies that are new every morning

Facebook. Seriously. Being able to reconnect with childhood classmates, high school and college friends has been nothing short of amazing to me. And the occasional silly quiz doesn't hurt either.

Quiet mornings that give me a chance to blog a little before going into work.

Vacation with my wonderful family and knowing that we all plan to do it again next year.

Sunrises on the beach.

You can find more "favorite things" at Amy's. So what are you waiting for?

Amazing What a Little Truth Can Do

I had intentions of leading a Beth Moore Esther bible study this summer at my church. Good intentions. Didn't happen though. God knew ahead of time the summer our small church would have, death, unexpected tragedy, crazy stuff, awesome stuff, lots of stuff. Anyways, it didn't happen. Pushed back to fall. I'm okay with that. I love to teach, but I want it to be in God's timing. But I really wanted to sink my spirit and soul into some kind of study this summer.

Before vacation my mom stopped at a Lifeway store and called me to see if I wanted anything. That is like asking a kid what candy they'd like you to bring home from a candy store. Sheesh. I practiced great restraint. I had just heard from Christy that I had won the book drawing for Never a Bride, so I didn't need that. I had a couple other novels in mind and rattled them off, and then she mentioned a Bible study, Me, Myself and Lies by Jennifer Rothschild. I had read that Beth Moore and the Siestas were doing that one this summer over on the LPM blog. She read the back cover and we immediately decided to do it. She picked up three (for herself, and Jenna and I). Our intentions were to begin while on vacation. Oh those pesky intentions. The sun, sand and sea somehow distracted me.

But yesterday I was ready. Or undistracted (so not a real word, but let's go with it). I can already tell this study is going to mess me up. In a good way. I went to bed last night with this on my heart:

"Who I am and what I struggle with are not the same thing."

Oh the revelation.

I don't think I even realized until I had read that truth that I had been defining myself by my struggles. By my weaknesses. By anything but the truth. I define myself by my reluctant singleness, by my control-freakish nature, by my battle with weight, by my complaining tongue, by my temper, and so on and so on. I know this isn't anything abnormal.

But the truth is.

God doesn't define me the same way. And neither should I.

I can truthfully tell you that it has been a long time that I have felt this liberated. The truth will set you free indeed! I started pondering what God says about me. I am chosen. I am beloved. I am the righteousness of God in Christ. I am a child of the King. I am part of a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people. I am blessed (as in happy and to be envied, kind of blessed). I am a servant. I am an ambassador. I am more than a conqueror. I am thoroughly equipped for every good work.

I am changed.

Vacation All I Ever Wanted

I'm baaaack.

You know that feeling after returning from a stinkin' awesome vacation, the mixture of happiness to be back home and sadness that the vacation really is over? Yeah. I'm feeling that in triple doses. I truly truly loved our time in Port Aransas. Even though I had a wicked sunburn. And poison ivy. It still rocked.

Because for the whole vacay I was with this girl

And these people

Hanging out mostly here

And sometimes doing silly stuff like this

But occasionally stopping to marvel in the peace and breathtaking beauty of this

While never forgetting to enjoy this

We ate great seafood, swam in the ocean everyday (found out my favorite spot in the ocean was the same spot that sharks like to congregate for feedings, so yay me for not becoming lunch!), played lots of skip-bo and uno at night, went to the Southern Living Idea House (more on that later, I have lots of pics!) and did a little shopping. We all want to go back next year. Sunburn and all.