October Favorite Things: Books I'm Reading

Today I picked up two new books that I've been hoping to read.  Daring Greatly by Brene Brown seems to speak to where I am personally in life right now.  Her call to live wholeheartedly resonates in my heart.  I've heard great things about this book and can't wait to dive in!


Daring Greatly by Brene Brown

Crucial Conversations, on the other hand, is more of a necessary read for me.  I don't handle crucial conversations very well. I often feel like I failed miserably, did not communicate what I had hoped to communicate, and made matters worse.  Obviously, I have work to do in this area.  Communication is key to all areas of life including my marriage and family life, work, teaching, and so much more.  I'm already two chapters into this book and look forward to being challenged to be more effective in this area of life!

Crucial Conversations by Patterson, Grenny, McMillan, and Switzler

October Favorite Things: Noonday Collection

I am so excited about today's post! Noonday Collection is one of my all-time favorite fair trade companies to buy from!  I love the heart behind what they do and how they help to bring social responsibility along side the designing and selling of beautiful, inspired jewelry and accessories.

Noonday has ambassadors who help to tell the stories of each piece of jewelry or accessory that is created.  Behind every piece is a person who is valued, appreciated and justly compensated for the amazing work that they do!  I had the privilege last spring to meet a local ambassador here in the Tulsa area, Emily Collins! She is beautiful inside and out and has a contagious passion for what she does! At the beginning of the summer I hosted a Noonday Trunkshow with her! It was so much fun!  I enjoyed hearing some of the stories behind the Artisans who make the pieces as well as seeing many of the pieces in person.

I will be hosting another Trunkshow in 3 weeks!  This one is extra special because 10% of the show sales will go towards the adoption costs of a sweet family in the middle of the adoption process right now! Noonday Collection was originally started to help fund raise for adoption and the company is passionate about supporting families who are in the process of adopting!

 The Howard Family, who will benefit from the show, are friends of friends and they live in TX, not too far from where we used to live in Allen, TX.  I am so honored to be able partner with them to help raise funds for their adoption! If you want to learn more about the Howard Family and their adoption story, click here!  If you want to help support their adoption in other ways besides the Trunkshow, click here to learn more.  

**And if you want to participate in and shop at the upcoming Trunkshow, comment below and I will get the info to you!!  If you are in the Tulsa area, please save the date (November 5th) and join us!  If you are out of town, no problem!  You will still be able to shop online!  Hope to see you there!  

Here are the boys and I out getting donuts awhile back...and I'm wearing one of 

my favorite pair of Noonday earrings, the Calypso Earrings!

October Favorite Things: Learning a New Language and Duolingo

My family and I have started learning Spanish together as a family.  Though there are many great resources and games out there to help learn languages, Duolingo is my current favorite.  We all have our own accounts through Duolingo and move along at our own pace.  The boys usually practice 4 times a week. My  husband and I practice almost every every day. It's amazing how even 15 minutes a day can make a language start to come alive!  

There are other things that the boys and I do together to practice learning Spanish.  I check out dual language story books from the library that help us to become familiar with a broad range of words.  I also have them learn basic vocabulary such as the days of the week, months of the year, numbers, etc. As we progress, I hope to include some immersion type conversation to start practicing our new skills!  

If you are looking to learn a new language, or want to brush up on one that you already know, check out Duolingo!

Promise #2 - Strength to the Weary

This promise couldn't have come at a better time.  Do any of you out there feel weary or weak?  Then rest in the words of Isaiah.  

God gives us the strength that we need to make it through each moment of each and every day.  He gives power to the weak...to US when we feel weak and overcome.  I know it's not popular to think of ourselves as weak.  I like to be independent and to do everything in my own strength.  But I'm beginning to believe that it is better to be weak, and to live through HIS power and HIS strength than through my own.  :)

I don't know about you, but last week was a long week.  Good, but long.  Between my husband being out of town on business, the boys having a snow day, having to be at work nearly every day, and having an event finally come to fruition after months of planning...whew, I was weary.  I can't say that I sought out God's strength at all times.  In fact, I know I did not. But, in the times that I trusted Him for his promise, the days were not perfect, but they were Better. With Jesus, everything is Better! 

Promises - A New series!

During the IF:Gathering, we talked about the promises of God.  That IF God is real, than we should be able to trust Him.  That also means that we should trust His Word, and the promises he gives us in the Bible.  I was strongly convicted that, even though I've been a believer for many years, I didn't really know His promises.  They weren't written on my heart, so to speak.

In an effort to know God better, to know the promises he gives us, I'm starting a series on HIS promises! What better verse to begin with than Joshua 1:9! (And what better use of left over name tags from IF!)

I don't know about you, but I've been faced with many discouraging thoughts this past week. Today I choose to remember to not be discouraged because God is with me!  My hope is that as I walk through this series, that you will be encouraged as well!

P.S. - We just started a new study of Hebrews on IF:Equip.  It's not too late to join us. Just click on the IF:Equip link. Yesterday was the introduction and today we started in Hebrews 1.  This is a great way to stay in the Word, and to be encouraged in your spiritual journey!

Take a Step

I'm not a writer.  I'm not eloquent with words. Often, I say the wrong thing, or the right thing in the wrong way.  I don't have a huge following on my blog.  I don't exactly know what I want to be when I grow up.

But, there are few things that I do know.  I am passionate about people.  I long to see people walk in freedom.  Especially women.  We are so bound up and tangled up with the past, with fear, with feelings of inadequacy,  that sometimes it's hard to move forward.  I know this because I've been there.

This past weekend, I sat in a room with about 20 other women, along with thousands of other women across the screen and around the world, and watched freedom come, chains be broken, and hearts be encouraged.  The IF:Gathering wasn't and isn't about a specific speaker, agenda, or religion.  It's about women around the world gathering together, being equipped, and then being unleashed to live fully their purposes...purposes that God has set on our hearts. It was beautiful.  It IS beautiful.

I am choosing to take a step in faith toward what I feel God has put on my heart.  And I challenge you to do the same.  "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified: do not be discouraged, for the LORD you God will be with you wherever you go." -Joshua 1:9

If you want to find out more about IF:Gathering, click here.

I will announce soon what one of my next steps is, as you'll see it on the blog!

**A new study of Hebrews starts Monday (2/16) through IF:Equip and I would love for all of the women in my life to be a part of it!  Let me know if you have questions! :)

What did God make?

Tonight as I was getting Joshua ready for bed, he asked me if God created the trees, frogs, children, our family, and the list goes on... This went on for several minutes. Then he asked me HOW God created the trees. I told him that I didn't know how, but I knew that He just did. Then I told him that one day, he could ask God that same question. Joshua answered, "I think God made the trees, one by one"! What a wonderful answer from such a sweet boy. It is refreshing to hear him talk about God and ask questions like this!