I like, I love, I want

I had a friend who did "I like, I love, I want" post and I decided to copy her! The deal is that I am tyring to post with more regularity and some times I just have posting lulls, ya know? Times when I even know that I have things that I want/should/could/ put up here, but for some reason I just .... don't. Why does that happen? I have posts from Christmas (awesome burlap stocking tutorial, Christmas wreath tutorial, KILLER IKEA hack) that for some reason I just can't get around to posting. But I think some regularity within my posts will help me be better. Help me help you. How does that sound?

So.....I like, I love, I want

I like: The Crank Book Series by Ellen Hopkins. Here is the truth about this book series. Its dark. And it wasn't something that I particularly wanted to read. But I think its a good, true, and important read. For anyone who has teenagers, knows teenagers, works with teenagers, is a teenager, or (like me, hopefully) will someday have a teenager. The story is loosely based on her own daughter, "Kristina." As a teenager she was a straight A student and seemingly perfect. However; she was exposed to meth on a court ordered visit to see her father... I don't want to give the point of the books away, but it is a powerful story about how quickly addiction can take hold, and what it means not only for the addicted, but for their friends and families. I think the visit was only 14 days, but at the end of the 14 days her life was completely turned upside down. There are 3 books in the series: the first two are told from Kristina's perspective and the third is told from the perspective of her 5 children she had while using meth. To make it more powerful, the entire book is written in verse. The words have a beautiful rhythm and the pages fly past you.

 I love: Our house. I love our house. and I'm feeling sentimental about our house because, its on the market. We will likely be leaving Lubbock sometime in the near future and so we decided it was time to let go of this house. In light of all of these things, you should maybe (?) start expecting some before and afters of our house, because I truly love our house. {have I mentioned I love our house?} It was the first house I ever purchased (I say 'I' instead of 'we' because I bought it before we got married). Its 930 sq feet of libby and travis. We have painted every wall (some 2 or 3 times) we have refinished wood floors and old couches, DIY'ed upholstered headboards, and just had a blast. The only few things that we weren't able to accomplish before putting the house on the market are in the extra room, but thats ok! If you know someone who is looking for a well maintained 2/1 with a detached 1 car garage in lubbock, you should show them our listing:
http://www.usamls.net/techterracewebsite//default.asp?content=expanded&search_content=results&this_format=1&mls_number=9985378&page=4&query_id=117693240&sortby=2

I want: Stella & Dot's Waverly Three Way Cross Body Bag. Its named that way because it can be worn three ways. A full or half cross body bag, and as a clutch. I think its beautiful and the Dove leather is truly gorgeous. Feels like butter.

http://www.stelladot.com/sites/elizabethahall





New Addition

Well, I have some long over due introductions to make. As some of you now we have a new addition to our family of three! Penelope Jane Hall was born August 16, 2011 and in December of 2011 she finally came to know her true home! We felt like Sydney has become independent enough that we were ok with taking on the extra responsibilites of another puppy, and that Sydney was still young enough to want to play with a puppy! 

The actual truth is that we just love our new little one! She is nothing but sweet and cute. Sometimes it feels like Sydney has done most of the work! Sydney plays tug of war, wrestling, and thanks to Sydney our little one is pretty much outside trained {with the occasional accident}. Well I could just go on and on about how much we love her, but I should just as you to please,

Meet our Penny Puppy!

this picture was taken just before we got her, shes already grown so much!

on the ride home

The interesting thing is that she is kinda Sydney's opposite in many ways. She doesn't like to curl up under the covers as much, she LOVES running outside even in the wind/rain/snow (Sydney is a baby when the weather is bad), and she HOOVERS all of her food when Sydney generally picks at it! They are SO different, it is amazing to watch them play and love each other. 

our cuddle bugs

What I really think

You know when you are facing a really big decision its instinct to think, alot. How do you do it? Do you make a pros and cons sheet? Do you have an excel spreadsheet where you weigh different aspects of each option and assign points? Do you drive around for hours and talk to someone, anyone, who will listen to you?

At some point or other in my life I had done all of these things, this time around I am determined to be different. Because the truth of the matter is...I'm not really gaining anything from these sessions. I already know all of the information. I'm not bringing anything new to the table, I'm not gaining perspective or deeper understanding. I'm spinning my wheels. And in some way, I believe that when we over analyze things we are telling God we aren't sure He really knows whats best.

Reason Number Two why I will not over analyze: It's not my job to think, It's my job to listen.

But the one who enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep recognize his voice and come to him. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. After he has gathered his own flock, he walks ahead of them, and they follow him because they know his voice. They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.
John 10:2-5

Hi friend

I realize I've been silent lately. Its been a long time since you've heard from me. The truth is that I was over whelmed during the interview season, and then after that I didn't feel like I had anything worth saying, but now I have found something. Throughout this season of interviewing I have known that God was leading Travis and I toward His will, but even so it is easy to become caught up with distractions and worries. So, here is what I have to say about that:

Sometimes the only thing that will shut up my mind is filling it with the bible. Making no room for myself in my thoughts is something that I seek after. To stop the hurrying of my brain, to make still the torrents of thought and emotion. What a gift that the Lord gives us in His word. That is what I will do now, I will be silent, and HE will be heard.

Why I will not over analyze and why I will just shut up:

Reason number one: he doesn't need my advice.

Isaiah 40:12-15 :: There is no equal to the 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?
Who is able to advise the Spirit of the LORD?
Who knows enough to give him advice or teach him?
 Has the LORD ever needed anyone’s advice?
Does he need instruction about what is good?
Did someone teach him what is right
or show him the path of justice?
No, for all the nations of the world
are but a drop in the bucket.
They are nothing more
than dust on the scales.
He picks up the whole earth
as though it were a grain of sand.

I am nothing but dust on a scale, and yet HE cares enough for me to be intimately involved with the details of my life. Perhaps I should just shut up.