A penny for your thoughts?

Dear friend Hannah visited last night. She is on a mini-Indiana vacation to visit family and friends, and I was so blessed by her company.

Hannah was married almost two years ago and moved away from her Indiana cocoon shortly after. I was able to talk to her about her experiences of living away from the place she had called home for many years, as well as about living on a budget, which is what David and I will have to adamantly do together in about 2 months. It was so refreshing to talk with her about life, marriage, finances, Jesus and future plans :)

Thanks for visiting, Hannah!

Today is Thoughtful Thursday. I really can't think of anything to write about.

I'm reading a book for work called "Invisible Kids" by Holly Schlaack. She writes and discusses things we can do in our own lives, and in the social service field, to better advocate for and take care of kids who are in the foster care system. She also shares stories (absolutely gut-wrenching, inspirational and make-you-want-to-sob ones) about children who were in foster care and how they fell through the cracks of the system. It's a very important book, and I'm glad our CASA program ordered some for us to pass around and read. Co-worker Jennifer and I agree that this book makes us want to be foster parents, which is actually something David and I have seriously discussed recently. :)

I really don't have anything else to say today.

Do you have any thoughts?

Wacky Wednesday

I've have received the following video from three different people in the past week.

It has made me laugh, cry and smile...all at the same time. I would LOVE to do something like this at the wedding, however I know my fiance's family probably wouldn't get into it. It's a little too wacky. :)

Random dancing makes me happy.

A revolution without dancing is a revolution not worth having.

Click the Link and Enjoy :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4-94JhLEiN0

Tuesday Togetherness

"What on earth does he mean?" she pondered as she shut the phone late Thursday night.

Two things she was sure about after their late-nigh conversation. (A) David does not know how to pick out fashionable clothing and (B) David doesn't know what size of dress she can squeeze into.

It was nearing their six month anniversary, although it felt like they had known each other their whole lives. They are two parts completing each other, he told her occassionally. "You have what I lack and I have what you lack." he said. "We were made for each other."

What could he possibly be planning, she thought again as sleep ushered in.

Little did she know that she would be living her dream a few nights after...

David arrived a little behind schedule Saturday night. He called her when he was about 20 minutes away and told her, again, that he was bringing her something new to wear. Worried about his taste, she gracefully agreed to be ready to put on her new something before he wisked her away to a banquet.

"Princess" he called when he got in.

She rushed to the door with tights and a sleep-shirt, ready to go slip on what he brought her to wear.

Much to her amazement, he had brought her the dress she had picked out weeks earlier at Dillards. She had always wanted a fancy black cocktail dress, but they were usually too expensive or too irrational to buy. This particular one was on clearance at a ridiculously wonderful price. She bought it and stashed it in his closet, wanting to wear it to the opera they were planning to attend a few months after the purchase.

When she brought the dress to his house, she proudly showed him her "great deal" and casually mentioned that when she gets engaged, this would be the perfect dress.

A few weeks later, standing in her doorway with her dress in hand, he smiled and came forward to kiss her.

"Well, what are you waiting for. Go put on the dress," he said as he came inside her apartment.

Confused and excited, she put the dress on and picked out a pretty maroon wrap to wear with it.

"I'm coming out" she said with excitement..."Maybe we're going to go somewhere special after the banquet, or maybe we're going to go get cool pictures taken?" she thought as she exited her room.

David had moved further near her room. "What are you doing?" she said as he pulled out a little green box from his jacket.

Woah, she thought, is this really happening?

"Will you marry me?" he asked.

"Ahhhhh!" she screamed as she was shaking her head "yes yes yes".

"Hey, you're not down on one knee" she realized, laughing.

Graciously, he got down on one knee and asked her again.

"Yes, of course I'll marry you."

He slipped the ring on her finger, stood up, hugged and kissed her... all with a new-found passion.

And that, my friends, is how David and Kayla became engaged - Nov. 18, 2008.

And now, my friends, is wedding planning insanity. Just two more months...and I can't be more excited.

Meaningful Monday

To help myself keep this blog updated, I've came up with a list of categories for each day of the week.

Meaningful Monday (meaningful stuff)

Together Tuesday (stories about David and myself)

Wacky Wednesday (things which make me laugh or say "woah, that's wacky!")

Thoughtful Thursday (suggested by co-worker Jennifer - things like "why is the sky blue?")

Favorite Friday (a list of favorites)

and...

Sensational Saturday! (all things extraordinary)

So...onwards we go with Meaningful Monday!

:)

I have a quote/blessing by Mother Theresa hanging in my office. No matter how often I read it, study it and pray it, I still am deeply touched by her words; and I am reminded that life is not as stressful and crazy as I create it to be!

I hope this blesses you!

"May today there be peace within

May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content in knowing that you are a child of God. Let this presence settle in your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love.

It is there for each and every one of us."

the girl in the shabby world

I have not blogged in a long time.

In fact, I don't think I've ever kept a blog updated. I do enjoy writing and creating; however, I find I am either too lazy or too paranoid about my words to keep on writing in the public world. So, if you're ever offended of bothered by these (hopefully) forthcoming words in future blogs, I am sorry.

I decided to name this new blog "tattered femininity...and a pursuit of Godly womanhood" for two reasons. First, I don't have a clean and beautiful past (If you ever discover someone who does have one, please point her my way. I would like to take lessons.). I've been broken, beaten, bruised, knocked down, stretched, stained, scared and torn - thanks to my flesh. So, technically,

I believe that makes me a tattered woman.

Secondly, I find that I struggle against the history I carry around. Most of us women can relate. I believe that if I can work to accept this history, move on and continue to pursue Godliness and Holiness in my life, the freedom I have in Jesus will be even more freeing as I discover more of His plan and His word.

Can anyone relate? Am I making sense?

So here i am. A tattered woman becoming restored daily through the freeing power of Jesus Christ.

I plan to blog about everyday things, events, recipes, my future husband, and about my own walk. I hope it inspires you, gives you some good ideas and even helps you out as you pursue your own walk with Jesus. :)