My go to

Recently, I was inspired by a dear friend of mine, Kristyn Ellen, to share some of my "go to" outfits. If you don't know Kristyn, you should visit her blog, read July. You should also read her go to outfits post. After reading hers, I decided that it's time to step away from some of the heavier topics and talk about clothes! I love to shop. But, it's not nearly as fun to shop when you have to stay within a budget so I don't do nearly as much shopping now that I'm an "adult".

Below are some of my likely go to outfits for relaxing, work, and play time. I'm apretty  simple, girly girl to put it best. So here are some of my favorite.

Most likely what I would wear just on a regular day. So pumped its getting to be boot season. I am breaking them out this weekend.

This is pretty similar to a fall/winter work outfit. Summer usually includes a skirt or dress. Pretty simple, but girly and still comfortable, since I live in my work clothes.

This could possibly be for some fun time activities. You just never know...honestly depends on my mood.

But thank you Kristyn for inspiring me. You always do in some way or another.

Also, today is my Friday. Yes, it's Wednesday, but no work for this girl for the rest of the week. Thank you, Fall Break.

Oh yeah...and my birthday is in 16 days!!

Monday Inspiration

See your thorns as necessary for revealing the beauty of Christ in you.

~Rest Assured by Nancy McGuirk

When I read this today, something struck me inside. It was one of those moments when something just clicks. As I was reading along, the idea of the thorn in your side challenged me with a new thought.

My thorn is used to keep me humble, reminding me that I am not always strong, and that I need God.

I realize that might seem simple, but it struck me in a new way today. It reminded me that we all have a thorn in our side of some sorts. This is what keeps me so close to God. This is what reminds me that I am not in control. This is what reminds me that I am not able to do everything on my own. I need God. I need him to give me grace, mercy and peace to survive this life on earth.

What's your thorn? Where do you need God to cover your weakness?

Something to think about.

In the meantime....how was my weekend? It was awesome. Let me show you why...

Girls night

Best friends coming together. Nothing better.

We went to a wedding. In the woods

Stunning bride. She is also the reason I am so blissfully happy.

Spent the day with these people.

Tailgating, Football, Boy.

 I had a incredible weekend. I have so much funness planned for the month of October. Yay.

Happy Monday!

Fall into the season

This past weekend was the kind of weekend that just warms my heart. Not only did it include all things fall, it included people who I love.

My brother and his fiancee, Kayli, came to Indiana for the weekend

Side story: Freshman year of college, I met this tiny sweet southern girl from Kentucky. She was a cheerleader, just like me. We become the best of friends, then later roommates. And on June 23, 2012...we'll be sisters. Pretty awesome, if you ask me.

 Back to the weekend...they came to visit. We spent Friday grilling, sitting, talking, and laughing. It's usually a laughfest when we get together and it's the kind of laughter that is good for the soul. Then Saturday we enjoyed a beautiful day at the pumpkin patch. We even took the pupster. She loved it. We picked out pumpkins, went through the corn maze (which is where Winnie got extremely dirty) and enjoyed a great fall day. We finished with another great meal, pumpkin pie and pumpkin carving.

Jake loves it when we match.

Leading the way.

This is what I look like all wet. No more fuzz.

Mini pumpkin pies

Needless to say, it was a wonderful weekend. Just right for this girl's soul.

Without fear

She laughs without fear of the future...

How often do you find yourself laughing without fear of the future? Fear of anything? Career, finances, relationships, children, and on and on and on.

I'll be the first to admit that I fail at this, a lot. I have found that I am driven a lot by fear. Fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of the what ifs.

Fear -- it's not a very pretty word.

When I think of the woman portrayed here in Proverbs 31, my heart resonates to be that woman. To be clothed with strength and dignity, to laugh without fear of the future, to be wise, to be kind, to be a blessing to others. My heart desires to be this kind of woman.

The good news is I think it's an attainable goal. I think it's a process and I think that with God's power and grace it is attainable. I often think that I can accomplish this sort of feat now. That if I do this or that, then I will be like the Proverbs 31 woman. Truth is, that is not true. I have to remind myself that it is a process and that it may take my whole life to continue to strive to be like this woman.

I've been intentionally working on letting go of my fears and trusting. I think in my life fear is used to enable me, to keep me in a place of stagnant. To keep me from attaining my potential. But if I let go of the fear, surrender and trust, I'm sure I'll find that beautiful freedom.

It's hard to retrain your mind after years of a certain way of thinking. But with God all things are possible. This is my truth and hope.

It's been a long week. Lots of traveling for work. I am so looking forward to the weekend. My brother and his beautiful fiance are coming for a visit. There are plans of pumpkin patches, grilling out, relaxation and lots of laughter. I can't wait....pictures to come.

Controlling planner

Do you ever have one of those moments when you feel like you're being controlled by your planner?

I do.

I love my planner. Kind of weird, but it's true. Right now I'm obsessed with my Moleskine planner. I used to just use them for my journals, but I've branched out and now have a planner. I love it probably  more than I should. You should get one. Just sayin'.

I love  being able to write and mark and make plans. I love to make plans. I love the thrill of a new plan or a new adventure. Nothing gets me excited like a new plan does...and then getting to write it in my planner. When I was in college, I would make it an activity in some of my none favorite classes. Plan making in my planner! Woo...I'm cool.

But sometimes I can get sucked into being controlled by my planner. Controlled by the plans I've made, the commitments I've promised. Sometimes I get overwhelmed by it. When this happens, I have to take a step back and plan to stop planning. I have to mark out time for just me. I have to plan out time to take a break and rest. I can get so caught up into planning and busyness. It can be my worst enemy. Calendars, planners, cell phones, computers. Whew. I get tired just thinking about it.

Today I must remind myself to PUT THE PLANNER DOWN and just enjoy each moment, especially when it starts looking like this....

Chaos.

This past weekend, I had one of those unplanned moments. Actually the plan was to go to church and the sit on the couch all day. Then I had one of those "I love my life moments." We got home from a great church service, put on a sweatshirt, grilled up some hot dogs, and sat on our butts in front of the TV. I just sat there looking at my life in that moment and my heart smiled. The beauty of a moment. You can't plan for that.

Think like my puppy

Sometimes I can be a worry wart. Just one of those personality traits that is a character builder. Not something I particularly enjoy, but I've learned a lot about myself and life through it.

The past few days I've been thinking, wondering, worrying about all sorts of things. What's next in life? What's next for my career? Should I go back to school? Should I wear purple or blue? Skirts or pants? Big, little. It usually doesn't matter.

A dear friend of mine gave me a new devotional book, Jesus Calling written by Sarah Young. It is beautifully written as if Jesus is writing and talking directly to you. This is what Jesus was saying today...

"Trust me and refuse to worry, for I am your strength and your song. You are feeling wobbly this morning, looking at difficult times looming ahead, measuring them against your own strength. However, they are not today's tasks - or even tomorrows.  So leave them in the future and come home to the present...Among all My creatures, only humans can anticipate future events."
~Sarah Young

As my puppy is playfully jumping around me playing with her lowly blue monkey, I had a eye opening moment. I need to be more like my puppy. I need to live in the moment, enjoy each moment, appreciate each moment just like my adorable little puppy does with excitement and eagerness to embrace the moment I am in. This simple thought brought me peace. I'll just be more like my puppy, right?!?

We'll we shall see, but I'll at least try. Trust and don't worry. Trust and don't worry. Just another thing I've learned from my precious pup.

And my favorite season starts tomorrow. FALL!!! I love all things about fall, especially candy corn.

Freely blessed

I've recently been on this kick of listening to old hymns. Pandora has everything, seriously. I grew up in a church that still plays the piano and where we sing out of hymnals. Every time I hear a hymn, it brings me back to a place that my heart so quickly recognizes. It's what I grew up on, it's the food that feeds my musical soul. There is nothing more glorious than hearing a verse of Amazing Grace, or my personal favorite, Pass it On.

So maybe I've just been missing home, or maybe my soul is craving some spiritually musical nourishment. Either way, there is something simple and classic about hymns.

Next thought: this past Sunday our church started a new sermon series on Romans Chapter 8. Just chapter 8...basically the good part.

"Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death."

~Romans 8:1-2

Basically, what Paul is saying is that if you know Jesus, you're free. Free from guilt. Free from shame. Free from condemnation. Free from sin. Free from your past. Free from mistakes. Both now and in the future. You are free.

If you're anything like me, I have a really hard time wrapping my head around this. Free. Freedom. We live in a country where we are free. We have freedom of religion, freedom of speech, but freedom from our sins? For some reason, I still struggle with this idea from time to time.

I often find myself working for my salvation. Trying to do the right thing, say the right thing, do this and not that, be like this, be more like "that" person. But what Romans 8 is saying is that, that is nothing but a waste because there is nothing that I can do, or say, or not do that will earn my salvation. It is free to me. It's a gift. All I've got to do it take it.

Seems pretty simple, almost too easy. Right?!? But that's what happens when you have a God who loves you. He blesses you with gifts, and freedom from condemnation is probably the best gift I'll ever receive.

This message is something that is meant for me to go through right now. God's timing is so perfect. I don't know why it surprises me but sometimes it still does. We're starting a new small group this week, so I am encouraged with what will come of it. I'm hopeful for good fruit to continue to grow and blossom in my heart.

Thankful for freedom.