Around the Blogosphere

Don't you just love it when you're snooping around the internet and find out about some great new blogs? I have recently learned of 3 new blogs that I am enjoying and I thought I'd share them with you.

Yeye Says is a blog written by a friend of mine from college. She has always been hilarious and transparent and that combination comes across beautifully at her new blog.

She explains her blog by writing:

"Yeye Says is where I write about my experiences an thoughts, as well as connect with other mothers for support, advice, laughs, and camaraderie. Let’s talk babies, mother-wife balance, attachment parenting, breastfeeding, cloth diapering, vegetarianism."

Stuff and Nonsense is written by Alison, a wife and homeschooling mom of 4 children. She explains how she picked the name for her blog by writing:

"Stuff and Nonsense is a phrase from the book Anne of Green Gables that I adore. It was Marilla's way of saying, "Now that's just silly." To me the phrase struck a chord as a great way to describe our everyday life. Silly. And I'm okay with that because our home here on this planet is temporary and ephemeral. But while we're here we try and fill it with love and gusto.

So you have been warned. Read at your own peril."

Christian Children's Book Review was created by a group of Christian moms who explain:

"We're Christian moms who not only love books, but love helping our kids learn to love books - and the Lord. This blog is our ministry, started because we couldn't find a comprehensive website of Christian children's picture book reviews. We hope you find it useful."

Moving From Fear to Faith

Let me tell you: the process of buying our new home was no piece of cake! In fact, I would describe the process as both long and grueling. Nevertheless, this process was one of the major life events that not only tested my faith, but brought me into a new understanding of the Lord.

Does God care about how long this is taking? Does he see how overwhelmed I am? What does he think? What lesson am I suppose to be learning? How do I get out of this test? What does God want from me? Am I believing enough? Am I doing enough? What is God's plan in this situation?

Oh friends, these are just some of the questions that raced through my mind as we went through many ups and downs during the homebuying process. I can't say that my faith was as strong as it should have been at each point. But, I continued to grow.

It would take me endless hours to really explain in great detail all the times and ways that the Lord showed up and worked out "the kinks" in order to get us to that great closing date. So, I will just tell you that he was awesome and faithful and on time;)

Furthermore, the following quote by Nancy Leigh DeMoss really captures some of lessons and insights I gained throughout the process. I love this quote and I have found it to be so true!

Worship God. Trust Him. Let Him teach you. Let Him speak.

Stop complaining. Stop wrestling. Stop doubting. Stop questioning God.

God is not indifferent, as Habakkuk had thought that maybe He was. God is not insensitive. God is not impotent. God is not passive.

God is in His holy temple. God is on His throne. God is in control, and God isn't just this great, cosmic God in control of the universe who somehow is letting the little details and circumstances of your life slip through.

He's not asleep. He's awake. He's alert. He's alive. He's active.

He's working in your life, on your behalf, in your circumstances, in your home, in your church, in your world. God is on His throne, so be quiet.

Don't fret. Don't be perturbed. Don't be disturbed. Don't be anxious.

In His perfect time, He will accomplish His purposes, so in the meantime, stand before Him in humble silence, in reverence, in awe. Trust in Him. The righteous shall live by his faith.

~Nancy Leigh DeMoss from the series Habakkuk: Moving From Fear to Faith

A sad day...

in the world of modest fashion.

Perhaps you have heard that Christa~Taylor will be closing its online store on December 30th. You can check out her blog for more details.

Her store will be greatly missed by many; however, she explains on her blog that she is trying to follow the leading of the Lord in this and that she will actually be a "personal consultant" to any young woman interested in starting a online clothing store!

If you are interested in buying anything else from the store, you will pleased to find that all prices have been slashed!

Mission: D & D

Imagine an inner-city gal turned surbanite.

What is happening here? You mean I don't have to drive around the block for 30 minutes only to find a parking space 4 blocks from my apartment? You mean I don't have to carry my groceries up 3 flights of stairs? What? No carrying 3 sleep children up those same stairs on nights we come home late? You mean to tell me there is no debris outside my door unless I put it there? Huh? No graffiti? No homeless guy sleeping in the entryway of the apartment? What is this strange land?

Okay, okay. As you can see, I am enjoying my new home and my new neighborhood. However, I do have a confession to make: after being here for a few weeks, I was beginning to really, really, really, miss one inner-city luxury: being able to walk 3 short blocks to Dunkin Donuts from my aparment.

Hubby has been driving our only mode of transportation into the city everyday to work. This leaves me home to enjoy our yard and whatever I can get to on foot: which didn't seem to be much... until today.

See, we don't live far from a major street that pretty much has everything on it once you drive west about 40mph for about 2-3 minutes. However, that street has no sidewalk and I would surely be mistaken for a pregnant hitchhiker with 3 kids if I attempted to walk down it. Not happening.

However, last week I drove east at 40 mph for about 1 minute down the same street and to my surprise, just past a long fence and a street of trees, I noticed a small strip mall. A strip mall with a Dunkin Donuts in it! "OMG! could I make it there on foot somehow?" I thought to myself.

Again, there is no sidewalk, so I knew I would have to devise a plan to take some kind of "back road." So, every time we drove home in the car, I began longing and staring in the direction of my desired destination, trying to figure out if it could be done. Today, I made my move.

After breakfast, I got the kids ready and I headed east down a residential block with fire in my eye and determination in my heart. I figured I would walk as long as I could to see if I could get to my destination in a reasonable amount of time and if not, I'd turn back. No need to torture the kids for a cup a java...yet;)

We walked about 5-6 blocks east. These blocks are not regular blocks, mind you. They are those long "suburban" blocks that equal about 1 and 1/2 city blocks. Still, we pressed on. And then: a dead end!

"Nooooooooooo!" I thought. "Its right there, but its blocked by this huge fence!" Nevertheless, I proceeded to walk toward the fence anyway. Was my plan to throw my kids and my stroller over the fence and jump it, you ask? Well, like I said, I am an inner-city gal. But no, I just still had a ray of hope in my coffee-addicted heart.

And wouldn't you know, just to the left of that fence was a small hill. And right over that hill was the parking lot of my brand new, suburban Dunkin Donuts.

Mission Accomplished.

My Biggest, Most Expensive Gift

Oh gosh. It has been a while since my last post. So much has happened since my birthday and I haven't been able to update you. No, I didn't decide that my 28th birthday would be last day of blogging. However, it was the last day of alot of things. Allow me to explain...

In response to my birthday post, Tiffany wrote:

"Happy Birthday! I hope you get the biggest, best, most expensive gift you've ever received:)"

Guess what? Her wish came true. Was it chocolate? you say? Nope. Nevertheless, hubby did come through on the chocolate by bringing home a fudge brownie cheesecake!

But, this big, expensive gift was not edible. Can you guess what it might have been?
I'll give you some hints:

1. I've been hoping to get one for a long time.

2. Hubby and I picked this one out together.

3. Writer's cramp was involved in the process of getting it. But, I was happy to have it.

Have you figured it out? Here is a picture for your viewing pleasure:

The picture is small, but I am working on taking more so you can see what I see:) God is so good, I can't even process Him! The past two weeks have been full of wonderful trips to Home Depot and delightful debates over which refrigerator to buy.

I may not be able to get the blogosphere as much as I would like as we get settled, but I will keep you updated!

What shall I render unto the LORD for all his benefits toward me?

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD.

I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all his people.

~Psalm 116:12-14