Temple | 5 Year Old Portraits

To say this is one of the coolest kids in the world is an understatement! Her JJ asked me to take some shots of Temple for a painter to refer to.  JJ gets portraits painted of the children once they are five years old.  These photos were quite the challenge to get, because this little lady wouldn't quit dancing.  And that is what I absolutely LOVE about her.  She is constantly laughing, dancing, and being silly. I really hope that I have kids that are just like her and her sister one day.

Lessons From My Grandmother

Recently my husband and I having been talking through ways we can best love our neighborhood and the people around us. As we've been sifting through different ways to serve others it has reminded me of times that others have served and loved me well. Specifically, it has reminded me of the many lessons I learned from my grandmother.

Grandmother would pick us up from school every day, and kept us during the summers. She was constantly teaching us, though I am sure she didn't always know it. Now 87 and still kicking, she has way more friends than I do, and she is quite the firecracker. But most importantly she continues to love the people around her well.

I wanted to share with you some of the lessons that I have learned from her, hopefully you too can learn something from a pretty awesome lady.

1. Pray for the small things.
   I remember one day when we had gone to the Crumley Chapel walking track to walk some laps and wait on my cousins school bus. Once we got back in the car Grandmother could not find her keys. She immediately started praying out loud, “Oh Lord, I'm old and cant remember where I put my keys. Please help me find them.” A few moments later she found them and stopped to thank God for the help.
   There are many memories of her praying for little things, like lost keys. I know to some this may seem ridiculous, but it made a huge impact on me. It taught me that the smallest worries in my life were important to the Lord, it taught me that nothing was beyond His reach, and it taught me that I can go to Him at any moment.
   God cares for me in the little moments and He cares for me in the big moments. Don't neglect calling on God for help because you think that He doesn't care. He does care, and you are important to Him.
   
   
2. Remember the Hymns
   Sometimes Grandmother would drag me to her choir practice. It was the worst. I guess I looked pretty miserable during one particular practice, because she turned to me and said “You need to pay attention to these hymns and remember them. It will do you good when you get older.” At that time I thought she was lying, but as I get older I've realized how important it is to remember the hymns. There have been many days where I didn't feel like I had the strength to open the scriptures but I had the amazing words of Louisa M. R. Stead heavy on my heart:
   
   
   Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
   And to take Him at His word;
   Just to rest upon His promise,
   And to know, “Thus says the Lord!”
   
   
   Jesus, Jesus, how I trust Him!
   How I’ve proved Him o’er and o’er;
   Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
   O for grace to trust Hm more!
   
   
   Just the other day My husband and I realized how much of what we know in the Psalms comes from the songs we sing and listen to. Often, the amazing thing about hymns is the help the provide to remember the promises of God, and comfort they bring in the darkest of times.

3. Take In The Needy
   Grandmother would pick up her four grandkids from school everyday, and many days there were more than just us. She couldn't stand to see a child walking home alone, and when she did, she would pull over to give them a ride. Not only would she take them home, but she would take them to church as well. She was the first to jump into action if there was a need, even if it didn't seem like a need to the rest of the world.
   
   (Grandmother dressed up like a race car driver, and then showed up to the family reunion on a four wheeler. Her sponsor was sweet tea.)
   
   
4. Use Your Life To Serve Others 
   Once a week Grandmother would deliver meals to those that could no longer drive or make meals for themselves. Staying with Grandmother in the summer also meant we would serve meals on wheels with her. She would give them their lunch and visit with them for a while. Even as a child I could see the joy that those people experienced just by having a visitor.
   It may seem like an easy job, but there were cases where it required a great deal of bravery. One particular house had a fence you had to go through that held in two german shepherds before getting to the front door. I remember grandmother looking at me and saying, “Don't pay attention to the dogs, just look straight ahead until we get inside.” She was willing to walk through anything to serve others, even if it meant an uncomfortable situation.
   What a great picture for how Christians are to serve those around us. It can be tempting to only serve when the situation is easy and we're well within our comfort zone, but Christ calls us to more. He calls us to step outside of comfort, to take risk when it comes to serving, and sometimes He calls us to walk straight through vicious german shepherds to share His great love.
5. Don't Waste Your Body
   Once a week my Grandmother would go to a senior citizen exercise class offered at the church down the road from her house. Now maybe that doesn't seem like a spiritual thing at all, but I believe that it is. The Lord has given our bodies to us as a precious gift. In 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Paul says, “Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.” We are to glorify God in our bodies, and one way we can do that is to take care of them. I'm not saying that you have to hit the gym 5 days a week, I sure don't. Honestly, I think it looks different for everyone. My grandmother strived to glorify God with her body by walking around a gym twice and lifting a foam ball abover her head. I encourage you to think about what that may look like for you.
   
   
6. Encourage The Gifts You See In Others
   As a believer it's vital that we seek to encourage those around us. One way we can encourage others is by recognizing their gifts, and helping them to strengthen and utilize those gifts to the fullest. When I was younger my Grandmother would buy my countless art supplies. She was constanly pushing me to be creative, she even went as far as to display my terrible art in and around her house. Once, she even bought me the 64 pack of crayola crayons... BEST DAY EVER! I spent the rest of that day drawing pitures in order to convince her (and myself) that my art had gotten exponentially better because of my countless color choices.
   Now, I don't consider myself a great artist by any means, but I know that with the little bit of skill I have I can use to glorify an infinitely creative God. And that's the whole point - to glorify God. We should want to glorify Him and we should want those around us to glorify Him as well. Maybe you notice that your friend is a great cook, or maybe they're great at sports. Encourage them to pursue those passions as gifts and then use the gifts to advance the kingdom of God.
   
   
7. Never Neglect the Word
   Like clockwork, every morning my grandmother would go the the back room in her house and read her Bible. She never neglected her time in the scriptures, and that spoke louder than any words ever could. She could have just told us everyday that we needed to be reading our Bibles, but she didn't. She showed us the importance of spending time reading the Bible, and she showed us that her first priority was to spend alone time with the Lord.
   
   
   
   
   
   (Here she is trying to be the center of attention... just kidding, we made her lay across us.)
   
   
   
   
8. Never Stop Exploring
   Grandmother was and is constantly exploring the world around her. She loves to travel and has been doing so for years. She is not by any means a rich woman that goes on lavish vacations, but she uses her money wisely in a way that allows her to explore this world. That's inspiring to me. We don't have a whole lot of money, but that doesn't mean we can find an adventure and explore this world God has given us.  
   
   
   
   
   
   
   Who are some people that have inspired you? What are some lessons that you learned from them? 

DIY Headboard For Under $100!

This weekend we decided to build our own headboard!  It was so easy until it came time to assemble it, but more about that later. 

First, we found this 100 year old oak door. It is absolutely beautiful, and absolutely heavy.

 The door was 80 inches tall and our bed was 60 inches, so we had to cut it down a bit. 

 At first my plan was to sand it and stain it for a sleek look, but once we started sanding we realized we really liked the "roughed up" look. 

 Next, we cut and "L" shape into some posts.  This creates a shelf for the door to sit on. 

 We had our first snag when it came time to assemble the headboard. We made the mistake of using zinc screws at first.  They all snapped on us faster than small town gossip. The 3 inch nails we tried, didn't make it through either.  My Father-in-Law informed us that the first Navy ships were built out of oak. Which means you either need STAINLESS STEEL SCREWS or a cannon to get through the wood. 

Once we got the right tools, assembly went quickly. Be sure to pre-drill before you put the screws in.  Also, be sure to take your time as you are drilling.  The screws will heat up quickly and still snap on you. Do a little bit at a time, and all will be well.  

It really is amazing how much a room can be transformed by adding a simple headboard! 

 Step one in our bedroom renovation is complete! We love our sweet little headboard.  It makes our room feel super cozy, and the best part is we made it ourselves! 

The whole project came in at under $100, which is great news for these newlyweds. 

Hamman Baby Announcement

I absolutely LOVED getting to be apart of this baby reveal! This is such a precious couple and they are going to make wonderful parents. Congrats again you guys! 

Taking Time For Detours

2014 was quite the whirlwind for us. We started the year in Nashville, and thanks to my husbands job promotion ended it in Louisville.  During our transition to a new state (again), we had to make several trips back and forth. We decided that if we were going to be traveling a lot, we should take the backroads as much as possible.  It was always the right decision.  Sometimes we would make pitstops in little farm towns and just walk around,  or sneak around creepy old abandoned houses... you know, just normal things.

It was such a great reminder that taking the quickest route isn't always best.  Sometimes it is better to slow down, explore a new way, and get lost in a place you have never been.  I will always treasure the memories that we made while taking the backroads.  

      

Nannying and the Gospel: My Time as a Childless Mother

I've spent the past three years working as a nanny in various places, for several families. I've provided childcare for bible studies, community groups, and taught a children's class at church. I'm currently in my last week as a nanny here in Nashville before we move. When I reflect on the past few years, I realize there's been forced learning and growth in areas of my life I didn't expect to encounter until much later on.

Though I have no children of my own, I've been able to grow as a mother, that is, a spiritual mother. Currently I do not have any children of my own. However, this does not acquit me from my calling and duty, as laid out in scripture.

As women we are all called to be mothers. Titus 2:3-6 says: “Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slave to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled, likewise urge the younger men to be self-controlled.” I believe this verse is written to all women, those with children and those without.

Women who are mothers have the incredible mandate to raise children that look to Christ and go out into the world to preach the gospel. Women who are not mothers have that same mandate. I think about the countless times I have explained that Jesus has forgiven us, and that is why we forgive our brother... Or the many times I've stumbled through trying to explain the Trinity to two very inquisitive little girls. I also think about the time that I was reading the crucifixion story to a little boy who looked at me and said, “I deserve to be on the cross instead of Jesus” (hearing that will stop you in your tracks). I am not a parent to these children, but I can be a spiritual parent. I can wipe noses, put on bandaids and have dance parties, but most importantly I can point them to Christ and encourage them to turn and preach the gospel to others.

Am I excited about the thought of having children of my own one day? Absolutely. But I do not want to waste my childless days not being a mother. Maybe you are thinking to yourself “I'm pretty terrible with kids and I have no idea how to do this.” That is totally understandable! Maybe for you it looks like hanging out with an eighteen year old girl who is about to go to college. I know the times I grew the most were when I was invited over to a family's house (the Sitton's), and we simply talked about what was going on in our lives. There is no need to have a vast knowledge of theological terms. There is only a need to love and give your time to others. 

Wether you are single or married without children, there are plenty of opportunities for you to be a spiritual mother.  Start by praying!  Pray that the Lord leads you to younger people to care for, and pray that the Lord teaches you how to love them well.  

It may seem like a daunting task, but remember: the Lord will give you grace.  He loves you and will help you to love others. 

A Journey Through the Psalms | Delighted Brokenness

Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice.

Psalm 51:8

Psalm 51 was written after David had committed the sin of adultery and murder. In the realization of his sin, David confesses it before the Lord. He asks the Lord to cleanse him and make him pure. David knows that because of his sin, he must experience discipline from the Lord; but in the same breath, he must also experience healing from the Lord.

Often, in order to purify and change us, the Lord must discipline us. Proverbs 3:11-12 reads, “My son, do not despise the Lord's discipline or be weary of his reproof, for the Lord reproves whom He loves as a father the son in whom he delights.” This is precisely what David is experiencing in this Psalm. The Lord has disciplined him in such a way that his inner being feels totally destroyed, but he beauty of our Lord is what comes from that crushing discipline. It is healing, it is growth, and it is a sense of belonging that we receive when the Lord disciplines us. He restores us to Himself, and delivers us. He makes us new, and gives a song to sing.

Remember, Christian: If you are walking through a season of discipline from the Lord, it is out of His great love and mercy.

I leave you once again with words from Charles Spurgeon
"Yet if he who crushed would cure, every wound would become a new mouth for song, every bone quivering before agony would become equally sensible of delight." 

Recently, my husband and I were traveling south on I-65, and decided to take the 31W instead. It runs along 65, but with views of farm land and small towns instead of interstate. It's currently season to start harvesting and hanging tobacco. Many of the farms along that road are tobacco farms, and they all had this year's bounty hanging in the barns. I started reading more on tobacco and the harvesting process; as the plant grows it will begin to develop a flower on the top. In order to keep the plant growing bigger and taller, one must remove the flower by breaking or cutting it off. In the same way, the Lord will often remove things from our lives to discipline us. It is not to destroy us, but to help us grow and flourish.