TGIF

I am so ready for the weekend:

Quality time with mom- check!

Long enough roadtrip to listen to an entire cd- check!

Lots of new jewelry at the lia sophia workshop- check!

Get the engine replaced in my Saturn- check!

Shopping with my niece and nephew- check!

check out the jewels at www.liasophia.com/karj

New catalog comes out Feb 1st!

tuckered out

I have had kind of an exhausting day..one thing after another. No energy to write tonight. I leave you with this:

cheer up, charlie

I'm a little sad about my current car situation. But I have learned some valuable lessons.

1. a lease is not for me

2. warranties are not all they're cracked up to be

3. and Saturn went out of business for a reason

Ok, I vented. Now some of my favorite pictures--sure to cheer me up!

Good times:)

This girl always puts a smile on my face

Baby Layla. She was so irresistable.

This pic always makes me smile.

Another fave. A pretty accurate depiction of us on a happy day!

...I feel better already.

Irresistable

Women, we ARE irresistable. Always have been- since the dawn of creation. Adam was made in the image of God; he was His masterpiece. He walked through lush gardens, talking with God. Adam had not a care in the world. Pain and discomfort didn't exist. Eden was perfect- except one thing. God knew it wasn't good for man to be alone (Gen 2:18), which is why He created Eve. She was the icing on the cake; the final work of God. Surely, we all are the finishing touch. We learned through the Rubies Series that we are inviting, powerful, important,-the essence of God in human form. No matter how you feel today, remember you are irresistibly desired and all of creation wouldn't have been complete without you.

Temporary Home

Anybody like Carrie Underwood? Aside from some of her risque costume choices, I do. I think she has a beautiful voice, and everytime her new single comes on the radio I can't help but turn it up. (Sometimes above children's screams..) It's comforting to know that whatever is going on in your life at this moment, how uncomfortable or hopeless things seem, you're simply passing through this life. You don't belong here; this isn't forever. It's your temporary home.

"Temporary Home"

Little boy, 6 years old


A little too used to bein' alone

Another new mom and dad, another school

Another house that'll never be home

When people ask him how he likes this place

He looks up and says with a smile upon his face



"This is my temporary home

It's not where I belong

Windows and rooms that I'm passin' through

This is just a stop, on the way to where I'm going

I'm not afraid because I know this is my

Temporary Home."



Young mom on her own

She needs a little help got nowhere to go

She's lookin' for a job, lookin' for a way out

Because a half-way house will never be a home

At night she whispers to her baby girl

Someday we'll find a place here in this world



"This is our temporary home

It's not where we belong

Windows and rooms that we're passin' through

This is just a stop, on the way to where we're going

I'm not afraid because I know this is our

Temporary Home."



Old man, hospital bed

The room is filled with people he loves

And he whispers don't cry for me

I'll see you all someday

He looks up and says "I can see God's face"



"This is my temporary Home

It's not where I belong

Windows and rooms that I'm passin' through

This was just a stop,on the way To where I'm going

I'm not afraid because I know this was

My temporary home."



This is our temporary home

laundry woes

If there's one house chore I don't mind doing, it's laundry. I like emptying that overflowing basket, tossing our clothes in to be soaked, tossed, spun, and rinsed. Not to mention, I love the smell of laundry detergent. And the fabric softener doesn't stink either. But when you save a week's worth of laundry for Sunday evening, it can be a little overwhelming. Especially, if you have a husband like mine who wears three outfits a day and manages to somehow dirty all of them:) The task can be a little daunting, and we don't even have children yet! I'm thinking if I had a beautiful laundry room my attitude would surely change. These rooms turn my frown upside down:

Of course I like this one, it's purple.

So fresh and so clean.

A laundry room with a chandelier...I'll take it.

Love the brightness. And the television.

This one has great wallpaper and a lovely light fixture. I could do laundry all day in there.

Here is my laundry "corner", in all its boring glory.

Someday I'll own my own home...you will hear me say this a lot.

Rubies Series-Day 4

The King is enthralled by your beauty.

-Psalm 45:11

The third and final heart characteristic to be covered is women's desire to unveil their beauty. "The desire to be beautiful is an ageless longing." It innocently begins in our little hearts as children, and rapidly grows into womanhood.

I am a nanny to an independent, fiery, four year old. Like a lot of little girls, she absolutely adores her daddy. Once in a while, he will treat her to a "date", which she anticipates all day long. A few days ago, we were up in her room, desperately trying to find the perfect outfit for her to wear later that evening on her date. I asked if she preferred pants to keep her little legs warm against the frigid temperatures, and she said,

"I just want to look beautiful."

Which resulted in a pink polka dot dress, and tights.

Let's go back to Cinderella...She was beautiful. Who doesn't love Cinderella? And all the other well-known princesses. How about the leading ladies of the bible- Ruth, and Esther? They all have two things in common, beauty and goodness.

"It's not just the desire for an outward beauty, but more- a desire to be captivating in the depths of who you are. Cinderella is beautiful, yes, but she is also good."

Inside and out, we desire to posess a beauty that is worth pursuing, worth fighting for, a beauty that is core to who we truly are. The essence of a man is strength, while the essence of a woman is beauty- another God-given characteristic of ours. This doesn't mean we are all blessed with the "perfect figure" or a slim waistline, but we all posess a soulish beauty. He gave every woman this trait. But this is part of the misunderstanding of all our female qualities. Some women use their beauty for good, and some use it for evil, but let's take a look at God's message to the world-in the feminine form.

Ever heard someone say, "Wow, she's well endowed"? I have. "So, God endows Woman with certain qualities that are essential to relationship, qualities that speak of God. She is inviting. She is vulnerable. She is tender. She embodies mercy. She is also fierce and fiercely devoted. As the old saying goes, 'Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.' That is just how God acts when He isn't chosen. 'I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god!' (Ex 20:5) A woman's righteous jealousy speaks of the jealousy of God for us."

Don't be ashamed if you desire to be beautiful. Just remember, your soul is what will make the eternal difference, because beauty is powerful. And to posess it we must be willing to suffer. "Yet, if Christ Himself was perfected through his sufferings, why would I believe God would not do the same with me? Women who are stunningly beautiful are women who have had their hearts enlarged by suffering." Consider your trials and tribulations a blessing- You're becoming more like our precious, Jesus. And remember, ladies, you have a stunning beauty that's just waiting to be unveiled....