A new favorite quote!

One day, I caught myself smiling, then realized that I had been thinking of you.

Portrait Photo Contest!

Polka Dot is having a photography contest over at her blog (life is too short not to) wear red shoes.  You don't want to miss out!  She has some fabulous prizes too! :)  Below are my entries...

 My beautiful friend, Alexandra...

I love this photo of her!

 And another beautiful friend, Michelle.  Isn't she adorable? :)

I love this shot too!

♥

Don't forget to head on over to Polka Dot's blog and enter!

A Review on Kerrie Roberts - self-titled debut album

New Christian artist, Kerrie Roberts, was thrown into the Top 10 category’ by her hit single ‘No Matter What’. Kerrie continues to capture her audiences and has become a great female vocalist in the Christian circle.

No Matter What –
This song has been such a part of my life the past few months. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a better song about trusting God through the pain and trials. I cry just about every time I hear this song. My favorite line is: ‘Before a heartache could ever touch my life, it has to go through Your hands.’ Kerrie captures the beauty of trusting the LORD through everything that He has ordained to happen in our lives. ‘The touch of [His] love is enough on its own.’

Take You Away –
I love the piano at the beginning of this song! :)
This song is God talking to us, His children. It’s as if He’s telling us to let go of the world, its sorrows, and its pain and He will take us away… ‘to a place where the pain won’t find you…so leave the weight of the world behind you. Nothing’s too far, nothing’s too hard. I’ll always be there.’

Beautiful to Me –
An awe-inspired song about how amazed we are by God’s love and His awesomeness in creating everything in this world – and how He loves us, even when we sin and even when we are hurting and wounded. He holds us in His hands. And through all the pain, He is making us beautiful. His plan so beautiful.

This Love Doesn’t Run –
Another cool piano piece beginning this song, and the percussion that joins it and vocalism is fabulous! Kinda gives you chills :)
Okay, I don’t think I could pick ‘favorites’ of Kerrie’s songs…they’re just all fabulous and they all have their places, you know? But this song is definitely toward the top of that list. :)
It’s basically a lot like a mix of Take You Away and Beautiful to Me. Just the same, ‘through all the pain’, ‘You’re holding me’, ‘You care for me’…and that God’s love doesn’t run and we’ll never be alone.

Keep Breathing –
Just what the title says. Keep breathing. A song that encourages us to remember to keep breathing…to keep believing…when we feel broken down and torn apart, ‘don’t give up, don’t give in, don’t let go…just keep breathing’.

Unstoppable –
Gah! Another great piano beginning – and that super-cool-percussion-that-sounds-like-clapping-that-I-love!! I think I should just hire Robert Graves for piano playing on my CD! ;)
About how anything is possible if we believe in the LORD.
‘You gotta believe and see that love is unstoppable. You can never go too far, never be too gone. That you can’t turn it around, you will see that love is unstoppable. Keep going, keep going, keep pushing, keep pushing.’
A beautiful song!

Outcast –

Ooh, this would be a good dance song, I think. Yeah…
This is the second most-played song of Kerrie’s on the radio. You might’ve heard it already.
This song really reminds of the Harris twins’ ‘rebel against rebellion’ motto.
When everyone expects you to be something different, you’re an outcast.
When you don’t fit in, you’re an outcast.
When they want to fight, you’re an outcast.
Favorite line in this song: ‘I’m not good enough. I’m not what they want. But let me tell you what, I know who I am!’
The music video to this song will be coming out soon.  I'll be sure to post it!  I can't wait!!

Maybe I’m Afraid –
I think this song is directed more towards a guy. I’m not sure, though…just a theory.
It’s called ‘Maybe I’m Afraid’, because she’s saying how, for example, ‘maybe I’m afraid to let you change my heart’…’maybe I’m afraid to open up and let you in’…’maybe I’m afraid of the questions that I know you’d raise’. I don’t know. What do you think?

Love Comes Down –
A lot like ‘Beautiful to Me’ and ‘This Love Doesn’t Run’…
‘When your heart is lost. When you’ve seen your whole world shatter and your dreams just fall apart. So lift up your voice! Let Him hear your cry! When you’ve got nothing left to hold on to that’s when love comes down.’
A beautiful reminder!
And this song has a great choir accompaniment!

Savior to Me (Sing Glory) –
A praise-filled worship song! So beautiful. I would sing this in church, if I could. :)
‘Glory to the God above, full of truth and endless love. He who is and was and always will be. Surrender to the one, gentle and most powerful. Of all the things you are, you’ve chosen to be…a Savior to me.’
Hallelujiah! Praise the LORD!

Kerrie, you are such an amazing person! Continue serving Him. Always write and sing for Him.

Something that I think is adorable...

I don't know who this couple is/was, but I think this is one of the cutest and most romantic things you could do together.  So adorable!

Music Video Monday!

I just realized that I am almost to 300 followers!  Yippee!  How exciting!  BTW, when I reach that super fun, large number, I am going to have a very.very.very cool giveaway, so...you can try spreading that word around ;)

So...for today's music video...a song that gives me chills and makes me cry. ♥  Not really a music video, but... :P

Christos anesti!

'The angel said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified.  He is not here; He has risen, just as He said.  Come and see the place where He lay.'

~Matthew 28:5-6

Happy Resurrection Day, friends!!

He is RISEN!

Blogger of the Month Award!

I was so honored to receive an e-mail from Mary, telling me that I had been awarded the April Blogger of the Month Award!

Thank you so, so, so much!!  I feel so amazingly special.

Praise the LORD that my blog has been such an encouragement to you and so many other girls!!  That is God's Daughter's mission.

Read my award post here at Mary's blog.

Giving Thanks in All Things

 

‘…always give thanks for all things in the name of our LORD Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.’

~Ephesians 5:20

How often do we put this into actual practice?  Answering for myself, I must say, sadly…not often.

We don’t tend to praise God as the first thing we think of when something goes wrong in our lives, we tend to complain, cry, and make a pity party for ourselves.

‘Why did you let this happen, God?’ we ask.  But what we should be saying is, ‘I still love you, LORD.  And I know You can see me through this.’

Giving thanks in all things reminds me of a story I once heard...

Two sisters were captured by Germans, during WWII.  Bibles, of course, were prohibited in the concentration camps, but the LORD granted them one through a sympathetic commanding officer.  That Bible had been through thick and thin, and the two sisters clung to it as reassurance of the love that their LORD had for them.  As often as possible, the sisters would gather together a group of fellow prisoners and privately hold Bible studies in their cells.  Many lives were touched through these women’s testimonies and faith…and the reading of the Word.

One time, though, the women were taken to another concentration camp.  It was known as one of the most frequented ‘extermination camps’ and everyone there was on edge, knowing that they would probably die very soon.

Through being inspected by guards, showering, and dressing in ‘clothes’, the Bible still survived in the sisters’ possession. 

Their new cells were large rooms.  More than a dozen women were kept in each cell, and it was crowded and smelly – and was infested with fleas. The bunk that the sisters were assigned to was already occupied by three other women.  They all laid on their sides to make room for all of them.

On that first day, the sisters took each other’s hands and prayed – for themselves, for their fellow prisoners.  The older sister also prayed for their situation. 

   ‘Thank you for this new cell.  Thank you for the new women that we will meet here.  Thank you for the opportunity to witness to more women about you.  Thank you for the fleas - ’

   ‘The fleas?’ the younger sister interrupted.

   ‘Yes, sister.  God says to give praise in all circumstances – not just the pleasant ones.’

   ‘Sister, there is no possible thing about fleas that I am thankful for.’

A few days later, after being able to hold several Bible studies in their cell, the sisters and other women gathered in a large building for their daily ‘meal’.  A friend, from another camp (whom they didn’t know was also in this one), sat with them and they talked low.

   ‘God has been good in letting us continue with our Bible studies,’ the older sister told the friend.

   ‘The guards only come once or twice to our section of the prison building,’ the younger one said.

   The friend chuckled softly.  ‘I know why that is.  They don’t want to catch any of those fleas that infest that part of the prison camp.’

   The older sister turned to the younger one and said, ‘See, Corrie?  We must be thankful for the fleas.  Through them, God has kept the guards away from us and we have been able to continue with our studies.’

   ‘Yes, Betsie,’ Corrie nodded.  ‘You were right.  Let us thank God for our fleas!’

   

A Review of Britt Nicole's - Say It

Britt’s first CD, released in 2007, titled ‘Say It’, was one of the biggest that year in Christian music.  By her voice and lyrics, audiences were captivated by this beautiful, young (22-year-old...now almost 25), Christ-centered young woman. 

I was so privileged to see her live in concert at the Revolve Tour a couple years ago!!  She is one amazing young woman.  A great role-model for teen girls in a world that only has a few worth mentioning.  Britt Nicole is one of those.

Holiday –

Haha  This song is really fun!  It’s just talking about how we work all day; we can’t just stop and think for a second; life is moving way too fast.  And suddenly, she’s like ‘I’m going on a holiday!’  I can picture myself driving down a highway, windows down, on my way to the beach, and just blasting this song! :)  (Check out the video too!!)

Believe –

(I love how this song starts out!)  I think Britt wrote this song after something happened in her life that was very heart-breaking.  She’s just talking about how her heart feels broken.  She’s tired of living this way.  And she wants to believe in love [again].  By the end of the song, she says ‘You found me.  You were looking for me.  You were waiting for me.  I can see Your love...I believe in You.’

Set the World on Fire –

Ah!!  One of my favorite songs by Britt!  Talking about how she wants to make a difference – to set the world on fire for Jesus!  Awesome song! 

‘I, I am small, but You, You are big enough.  I, I am weak, but You, You are strong enough to take my dreams.  Come and give them wings.  LORD, with You there’s nothing I cannot do.’

Sunshine Girl –

Britt is so sweet. :)  This song is just talking about how we may feel like we’re not loved, not needed, we don’t feel welcomed.  But she’s like ‘I could be your sunshine girl or the company of your misery.  I could be the quiet one or the life of the party.  Whatever you need, I’m your girl.’

 

Ready –

I’m pretty sure she’s talking to a guy in this song.  Just telling him that he hurt her and their relationship is over.  She’s ready to ‘put you behind me.  Ready to go!  Ready to show you the doorway.  I think you need to know that taking your time is out of the question.  You’re moving way too slow.  I’ll never stay down.  I don’t want you around.’  Song has a great beat! 

You –

Oh.my.goodness.  This is in my Top…20 favorite Christian songs!!  It’s just plain and simple.  Talking about how she realizes that it’s all God.  Everything in life, everything she lives for.  And she’s coming back to Him.  Coming back to that realization.

‘You.  I’m coming back to You.  The only thing I know worth living for.  Will you take this heart and make it more like – You.  I give it back to You.  It’s obvious that no one can love me more.  I’m Yours.  And I’m coming back to You!’

When She Cries –

This song is so sad, because you know that this is real.  This girl who cries is in this world – and there are hundreds of them.  Girls who are hurting.  Girls who live in families who are all torn apart.  Girls who think that hurting themselves is the only way to let the pain drain out.  We need to stand up for these poor human beings.  And do what Jesus would have us do to/with them.  Thank you for reminding us, Britt!  Oh, and for some reason…I think it’s the guitar and the beat, maybe, that just reminds me of a Taylor Swift song or something.

Good Day –

Just basically a lot of like ‘Ready’.

Don’t Worry Now –

Britt’s parents divorced when Britt was very young.  She and her dad had a very sweet relationship…and still do.  This song is just about how much pain she and he went through during the divorce.  When we ‘can’t see the picture of God’s plan’, and we wonder why He’d let us go through such pain.  But He has everything designed and He loves us more than ‘the sand on the beaches’.    

‘When you feel like you are all alone.  Just like your best friend up and gone.  Don’t worry now.  I’ve been there, yeah, I know how it feels to wonder if love is even real.  Don’t worry now…don’t worry now.  It’s gonna be okay.’

Say It -

We let life slip through our fingers so quickly.  We don’t take time to make a stand, to say it.  Britt is just encouraging us to remember that ‘life is short and quickly passing by’.  We should make ‘the time mean all that it can’… ‘with every second of every minute I’m livin’ in it and that’s how I say it’.  I feel like dancing to this song whenever I hear it! :)

World That Breaks –

This world is sinful.  This world is dark.  This world is full of humans who don’t know their Maker.  But God loved us so much that He sent His only Son to come and die for us, so that we may have the eternal gift of salvation. 

‘You are the answer, the hope and the end to the searching.  You are the portrait of grace.  You’re the one steady thing in a world that aches.’  Thank you, Jesus!!

Stay strong, sister!!  Keep your eyes always focused on the LORD.  You are such a blessing.

Owl City Love

So, did I tell any of you that I'm going to Adam's concert in July? ;)

With Matt Kearney and The Unwed Sailor opening up for him.  It's going to be an amazing concert!!

A few people that I know, sorta 'doubted' Adam's salvation, but...I think the two songs/videos above annul that theory. :)  Honestly, I believe that Adam - even though he's so famous now (has over 1,000,000 fans on Facebook - JUST on FB!) - he has made ever so much money (we'll not even try guessing the average)...he still has not forgotten his Savior.  And for that, I am proud of!  The two songs above are two of my worship songs.

A new favorite quote...

 

If you live to be a hundred, I want to live to be a hundred minus one day so I never have to live without you.

~A.A. Milne 

"Piglet sidled up to Pooh from behind. "Pooh?" he whispered.
"Yes, Piglet?"
"Nothing," said Piglet, taking Pooh's hand. "I just wanted to be sure of you." 

 

 

Promise me you'll never forget me because if I thought you would, I'd never leave.

I'm a little child at heart :D

I love Winnie-the-Pooh :)

Music Video Monday!

I am sorry this music video is a little late in being published today.  I shall explain, though. :)  Today, I just returned home from a weekend at the beach!!  Pictures to follow :)  Anyway...enjoy!

I'm All About Romance

I am probably one of the most romantic-thinking people you will ever meet. :)  I know that I may not seem like it at first, but I guess it’s just because I try not to think about it too much because it’s gets my longing-feelings going. :D  But every once in awhile, I like to ponder on it.  I mean, God invented love and romance…we shouldn’t ‘run away’ from thinking about it.

For a while, I termed myself a ‘hopeless’ romantic.  Even then, I always thought that putting ‘hopeless’ before ‘romantic’ never really sounded right.  I mean, afterall, the word ‘less’ coming after a word means…well, for example:

Tasteless – no taste/flavor

Heartless – no heart/mean

Careless – no care/irresponsible

‘less’ isn’t exactly the nicest thing, you know?

So…I decided to change that ________ into ‘ful’.  A hopeful romantic sounds so much better! (which reminds me of a fellow blogger who goes by that title ;)  Nice job, girl!)

Anyway, being a hopeful romantic gives you…well, hope.  Hope for a bright and romantic future.  And I can guarantee that your future will be romantic if you hand the pen of your love story over to the most amazing Author of romance EVER!  You see, this Author knows you better than ANYONE else.  He knows your likes and dislikes.  What you’re looking for in a future spouse…and what you’re not.  He knows what is best for you.  

And you know what always gives me chills just to think about??  He had your romance story all planned out before He created the world.  Isn’t that just…awesome to think about?

I believe that when we give our love story pens to God, romance takes on a sweeter stance in our lives.  Like I said, I’m a diehard romantic, and so, naturally, I love reading and hearing about the romantic how-did-you-two-meet, how-did-he-propose, etc. stories.  But one thing that I’ve noticed – and continue to notice! – is that the sweetest, most romantic love stories are ones of couples who gave their love story pens to God.  Now is it just me or have you noticed that too? ;)

Well, anyway, I was in one of my I-want-to-think-about-my-romantic-future moods today and decided to write this for you.  Hope it wasn’t boring! :)

Stay strong, my fellow hopeful romantics!!

Gentleman...what we love about you

So…this post is directed more towards guys, but, girls, you are welcome to comment and back me up on all this…because I know that you’ll agree with just about all of these. ;)

Gentlemen, we love it when you…

open doors for us.  I know that some feminist women out there don’t, but don’t let that discourage you.  The more times women (who don’t know what they’re talking about!) snap at you for holding a door open for them…the more times you should.

ask if you could help us with anything.  This can either be carrying a bag (not necessarily heavy) to the car, taking something for us, holding something for us…you name it.  We appreciate it.

  

offer to help make dinner.  You have NO IDEA how much we love seeing this in a guy.  No, kitchen duty isn’t ‘girlie’ or ‘for women’.  Honestly, a guy who enjoys cooking and being in the kitchen is…a good catch. ;)  My Dad (and I’m not saying this to put him down or anything!) cannot make anything more than some eggs and toast.  And HE has told me to marry a guy who can cook – because he knows how much of a help it would be to Mama if he only knew. ;)

                 

offer your arm.  So what if this is old-fashioned?  And it doesn’t have to be ‘romantic’ or anything.  People make it out like that all the time in this flirty culture.  But honestly, I think it is romantic (in a pure way!) when a guy courteously and gentlemanly offers his arm to a girl – either to walk her into a building, out to her car, up to the door of her house, etc.  Of course, this also depends on how far the girl’s family’s standards on guys-girls-touching…maybe you guys could ask the dad. ;)

ask our dads for permission to be in contact with us.  Okay, so don’t freak out. :)  You may be thinking, ‘wow! But I’m just e-mailing this girl as friend.  I’m not interested in her or anything’.  Okay, I think that’s great! :)  But we feel honored and respected when a guy takes the time to contact her dad for permission to e-mail/talk on the phone/be friends on FB – and you can just be sure the dad understands that there’s no serious intention or anything. :)  I mean, if there is, then by all means, say something!  But if not, you can just ask ‘you know, Mr. ___, I really enjoy talking with your daughter and I was wondering if you’d give me permission to be in contact with her.  There’s no serious intention.  We’re just friends’…okay, that’s an example of how you can put it. ;)  But, I know, personally, that I really, really appreciated when guys did that for me.

So, anyway, these were just a FEW points of things that we love about you gentleman. :)  Know that girls DO appreciate these acts of chivalry!  There aren’t many TRUE men out there…or so we think.  Prove us wrong. ;)

Stay strong, brothers!