heavy hearted

Seems like this week I have heard so many stories of loss and of grief.

These seasons are difficult, and honestly they just down-right suck.

But they challenge me.

My verse-of-the-day today from my iPhone app is Colossians 3:2...

"Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things."

Think on HIM, on His plan, His glory, His joy, His peace, His comfort, His grace, His understanding, His desires, His value.

They are much better than our own plan, our own glory, our own understanding, our own desires.

Its so hard to think on those things when the fire comes.

We cannot always see what He's doing.

He may reveal it in that moment, or maybe later, or maybe never.

(pause for a deep breath)

But there is one certain thing. One thing I know (I know that I know that I know):

GOD IS GOOD.

Its His nature, His character.

(in other words, its how He rolls).

This week my sister-in-law lost her dad very unexpectedly.

From something that, in the world's eyes, should not have happened.

This was my brother's father-in-law, grandfather to their 3 kids,

and a performer loved by many people.

He knew Jesus, so He is now free and singing in Heaven.

But it sucks.

It has brought up a lot of emotion for Parker and I as we toil through the memory of losing Parker's dad (my father-in-law) so suddenly 18 months ago.

Again from something that, in the world's eyes, should not have happened.

He also is free and playing guitar with Jesus now.

But it sucks.

BUT... Its not through the world's eyes that God

makes His plan for us.

Its not though the world's eyes that He loves us.

Its through His heart, His Kingdom, His Son Jesus.

In these times, I am sad. But I know in my heart that God is Good.

It takes more than just believing IN Him, we must BELIEVE Him.

Believe what He says. Believe His character,

that He KNOWS, that He LOVES, and that He is GOOD.

Lord, will you remind us today that this is not our home. If we are yours, then this is all temporary.

Touch us God. Touch those we love that are hurting and walking through fire and trial. May they know your character better. Give us strength to believe you.

Reveal your goodness and your peace.

pizza at home!

So this is not a beautiful fancy recipe like so many of you amazing bloggy ladies post all the time...but I just had to share it bc its

my new favorite little d-i-y meal!

Some friends out of town made this for us when we visited

them recently and I LOVE it now!

(thanks J&C!)

I think people often forget that homemade pizza is an option,

because there are so many yummy pizza places around.

But this is a way you can make it more your own,

(and maybe a little healthier too)!

...and its way more fun than tipping the pizza guy at your door.

super quick and easy...here ya go:

pizza sauce and crust (I use whole wheat to make a it a little better for ya)

fresh toppings of your choice...

I used fresh mozzerella, fresh basil, tomatoes, pineapples, and pepperoni.

Other fun toppings we've used are grilled chicken and fresh bell pepper slices.

(be creative - is YOUR pizza and its not 2 bucks for every extra topping!)

spread your sauce on, put the cheese on 1st, and then add your toppings!

put in the oven at 450 (or whatever your crust says), bake for 10 minutes...

and EnJoY!!!

goes great with a Ceasar salad....and a glass of wine of course. :)

Well, thats all! simple, right? thats how I roll.

one more idea: we recently had 4 other couples over for dinner, and I set up a "Pizza Bar". I pre-cut a bunch of fresh toppings and put them in bowls, and set out a crust and sauce for each couple to make and split their own pizza.

it was a hit :)

Hope yall can enjoy a homemade pizza soon!

Happy Wednesday, love yall!

P.S. it blesses me a lot to know that so many of you actually read what I have to say...I love your comments and I love having new "followers" (scroll down to the bottom of the blog to become a follower!) Thanks for sharing life with me!

some afternoon caffeine...

I know its a little past "coffee time",

but hey, who couldn't use a little mid-afternoon caffeine kick?!

I myself am enjoying a Coke Zero right now, my new favorite attempt to cut down on sugar.

makes me feel better about the bowl of chocolate ice cream with chocolate syrup I ate after lunch (yes, you read it right)....lets just say its that lady time for me,

so I feel completely justified.

If we were meeting for cokes this afternoon, I'd tell you that even though I'm sad it got cold again (its supposed to be Spring!), Im kind of glad because I really don't have many short-sleeved clothes right now. Hoping to be able to get some soon, depending on $.

Speaking of $, the Lord is reminding me this week about the amazing ways HE has provided for us. In our times of having almost nothing, He has always come through. ALWAYS. It has sometimes been in the form of a gift from friends (we had some precious friends buy us a brand new dryer when ours went out and we had no money), or as an anonymous check (lots of stories about that), or even just an unexpected payment from a client. I am forever thankful for the people He has used in our life and for the supernatural ways He has provided for us.

(we literally had coolant appear in our car after several days of no AC, and no money to fix it, in hot August a few years ago...I will blog about that story someday soon)

all that to say, GOD IS GOOD. He NEVER fails us.

Our ever-so-deceitful enemy always tries to make us fear.

but....

HE is our Protector and Provider.

always.

On to lighter things, if we were sharing cokes this afternoon, Id tell you that i have LOVED watching my little girl play with my My Little Ponies that I had as a girl.

My mom busted a few of my fav ponies out the other day,

and I just had to pass them to Abigail!

SO cute and such a neat feeling to watch her play with something I enjoyed so much myself.

(sad thing is that several of my ponies used to be "scratch n sniff",

but now they just smell kindof old) :(

but regardless, SO fun!

Id also tell you that I redid a little area in the back of our house to be a play place for Abigail, now that she's getting bigger.

Its not much, I just used things we already had,

but tried my best to make it feel girly and fun for her.

Her own space.

So it MELTED my heart when the first morning after I set it up, she walked back there immediately after getting her up and was SO excited to play in her new space!

Speaking of her play place, little princess just woke up from her nap and I am being summoned to play. Glad I just had some caffeine with you! :)

Hope to catch up a little more and share more soon.

Have a blessed day!!

for some more coke or coffee,

visit here...

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my little lovely

you just cant get much lovelier than this...

This little diva makes my heart melt!

Abigail's new fun thing is to walk around with all Mommy's accessories on...

So little, yet so girly!

that killer smile just melts right through you, doesn't it?!

O man, we're in trouble.

Daddy's already making plans to scare away the boys. :)

such a lovely little girl....

Have a LOVELY MONDAY!!

head over here for a little more lovely in your day...

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cheering each other on!

I get choked up when I watch a marathon pass by.

(if you've race-watched with me before, you know!) :)

I've considered it a blessing to live near/on the major marathon routes here the past several years. Those 2-3 times a year when race day comes, I get so excited when they start posting the traffic signs to let everyone know that the road will be closed that weekend!

This morning was the Dallas Rock and Roll Half Marathon, and I was excited to wake up to the sound of a band playing just a few blocks over (in the Rock and Roll series, there are bands at mile markers along the way). We got all bundled up and headed out to the action. Before we even got to the runners passing by, my eyes were welling up.

So excited!

There's something about a sea of people (as far as you can see), all running towards the same finish line. Each of them with their personal goals in mind, each with their victories, each with their own struggles. Each with with a different training plan and strategy for racing. Each with a desire to complete this race, and each with a voice in their head reminding them of why they are doing this in the first place.

Each one different, but all of them running together.

This is why I get overwhelmed by watching it, and by taking a part in it myself.

The unity there is between so many different people, so many shapes and sizes, ages and races.

Some running for a certain cause or a certain person, some with that cause written on their shirt, reminding them of why they are putting themselves through it.

Its amazing.

If you think I sound cheesy, go stand on the route of a race sometime,

you'll know what I mean.

Abigail blew kisses to the runners, she clapped for them, and waved hi for an hour! I think her smile gave a little light moment to a few racers as they rounded the halfway point right by our house. I'm one of the annoying onlookers that yells really loud for the racers.

"Keep it up!", "You CAN do this!", "Good Job!"

I do it because I know they need it.

The triathlon I completed a few years ago (my first real race) was one of the most challenging things Ive ever done. I dont remember much positive about it (except finishing) because it was such a physical struggle for me...but the one thing I do and will remember is the volunteers and local people standing out on street corners, cheering for me. I know they werent cheering for ME. They dont know who I am. But man it felt like they were there for me.

Their words of encouragement were so helpful.

I distinctly remember riding up a big hill in the bike portion, just completely exhausted

(telling myself pedal sarah, pedal sarah, dont stop....pant pant pant).

There was a girl there just yelling her heart out for the racers going by, and as I pedaled ever so slowly by her, she yelled "You did it! You finished the hill!"

I didn't even know I had until she yelled it.

I was amazed and surprised.

and so thankful for her encouragement and cheers.

It gave me the push to keep going.

I needed someone to point out to me that I had completed that hard part, because I was so focused on just getting through and not falling or stopping.

This is why we should cheer each other on in this race, in this life of faith.

We need it.

God designed it that we would race with each other,

and cheer each other on.

"Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works."

Hebrews 10:24

"So encourage each other, and build each other up..."

1 Thessalonians 5:11

"Two people are better than one, for they can help each other succeed.

If one person falls, the other can reach out and help..."

Ecclesiastes 4:9

"If one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it.

And if one part is honored, all the parts are glad."

1 Corinthians 12:26

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, and the sin that so easily trips us up, and let us RUN with endurance the race God has set before us."

Hebrews 12:1

HAPPY RACING. Im cheering for you.