DNOW 2011! "Shaped to Serve"

February 18-20

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Last weekend we took some of our students out of town for this year's DNOW!

They had never been anywhere besides Falls Creek, so it was great for them to get out of their little box. We didn't have a lot of participation this year (long story) so Nate and I made DNOW about building stronger relationships and group unity.

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It was a great weekend! Complete with awesome worship times, led by three former students from Rogers: David, Durgan, and Jason (man it was so good to see them).... some dodge ball where the adults finally won!... some ropes course time.... and an impromptu karaoke night. The greatest time we had was outside around a camp fire on Saturday night, followed by some great worship and a call to action. God was knocking down walls we all had built up. Sunday morning two students that we have been praying for accepted Christ as their Savior and we are so excited about watching them grow in the Lord and become a regular in our little group. . . . Our God is greater than we deserve!

Hope

"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not on so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." ~Romans 5:1-8

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Hope [hohp] noun 1. the feeling that what is wanted can be had or that events will turn out for the best .

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Last week I would have told you something that I haven't felt in a while. I was hopeless. I was searching out God's will and was feeling like nothing was going to change.... Like Nate and I were patching up holes in a sinking boat and once we would fix one hole, another would pop up.... Was it worth it? Were we helping the situation? What on earth is going on? What is God doing here?

In my quiet times I would write out pages of questions I had about our life, our church, our youth, and so on. What I have slowly been learning is that my hope should not, and is not found in situations at church (thank goodness), my hope is that God's love has been poured out into my heart through the Holy Spirit. I should boast in that! I should brag, have joy and pride in that! I have been letting situations that seem hopeless make me hopeless, when really it is these times that build perseverance, character, and hope.

Do you let hard situations steal your hope?

I am learning to let those selfish, worthless feelings of hopelessness in a seemingly hopeless situation fly away. I don't want to put my mighty God in a box. We serve a huge, mighty, powerful God that loves us unconditionally and there is always hope in that.

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Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours

Let everything I am work for Your Kingdoms cause

Things that make you say, "Wow!"

In my spare time I read through a lot of blogs. I didn't realize that there are soooo many great blogs out there with some awesome craft ideas.

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I just wanted to share a couple things I found that might make you say, "wow!"

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Decoupaged Back splash

Yeah, that is scrapbook paper people.

Check it out HERE .

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Faux Metal Filigree Frame You will never guess what this is made of.... TP tubes. Craziness. Check it out HERE . . . I will continue to search for great crafts and things that make you say, "wow!" Be looking for my next tutorial. I am really into fabric flowers right now ;)

Tale As Old As Time...

For Valentine's Day this year we went to see the Broadway play of Beauty and the Beast. It was so great! I almost cried at the end. It was definitely my favorite play to date. It was like a dream come true to see my favorite childhood movie come to life. I mean doesn't the above picture just make you want to say, "Ahhhh."

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This is us before we left for the show.

We started dating in March of 2001, so I guess 2011 was our 10th Valentine's Day together, and we couldn't be happier. I am so blessed to have my Nate. We fall more in love everyday, and God is continually showing us how we are meant for each other.

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My handsome driver . . . My snack on the way. Can't beat 45 calorie bread toasted with sugar free grape jelly. This has become my favorite weight watcher snack. . . . The "free program" . . . In our seats, on time, and waiting for the show. . . . Dear Nate, You will forever hold my heart.

Snow My Goodness!

February 1st we had another blizzard. For Oklahoma that's a little weird, but I welcome the snow days. I love to be stuck inside with Nate...... especially since we have our own house this year!

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The church office was closed for two days one week, and then when we got some more snow the next Tuesday it was closed one day.

We had a great little mini vacation. I was craving some "be at home" time so I especially enjoyed it.

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Here are a few of my favorite pictures from the snow.

Miss Claire Bear didn't mind the snow but hated the wind. Nate had to go outside and shield her from it.

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Nate and Claire... both with their heaviest coats. haha

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When the winds died down, Nate shoveled the whole driveway. It was a good thing too because we went to work the next day.

It has been two weeks since the first big snow, with some days in the 60s and there is still snow in our yard. .

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Axis and Allies.

Nate was excited, but after setting the game up for 45 minutes we found out it is a little boring with two people.

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We are looking forward to the spring weather now! (But I won't be sad if there is more winter weather to come... and I will look forward to more snow days next year!)

Taco Soup

Taco Soup

Great for these cold days. Mmmm...

• 1 lb. lean hamburger meat
• chopped onion
• 2 cans ranch style beans
• 1 can corn
• 1 can chopped tomatoes
• 1 12 oz can tomato sauce
• 1 can water
• 1 pkg. taco seasoning

Cook hamburger meat with onion and drain. In a large pot mix together all ingredients. Do not drain vegetables. Simmer over low heat for 30 minutes.

Easy and so delicious.

3 points for a cup on weight watchers.

Flower Headband Tutorial

I know what everyone has been thinking... Man, I wish I knew how to make a cute headband since I'm going to be snowed in and have all day to do nothing.

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Well, you are all in luck. I made this a couple weeks ago and thought I would share.

It's my very first tutorial. Yay!

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For this project you will need:

• 3 strips of fabric cut 1/2" wide and 35"long
• 3 strips of fabric cut 1/2" wide and 22" long
• Needle and thread
• Scissors
• Hot glue gun (with some hot glue)
• Felt
• Headband

Now on to the instructions:

Choose a fabric and cut to the sizes above.

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Sew them together at the top.

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Now, get someone to hold the end, or tape it to the table like I did, and braid the strands of fabric together.

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Once the entire strip is braided, sew that end together also. Then trim it up so it is nice and tidy.

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Now, roll the braided fabric to make the "flower." Be careful to keep it tight.

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Make some strategic stitches in the back to keep the "flower" rolled up.

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Turn it over and you have one finished "flower." You could use how ever many "flowers" you like, but for this head band I used two.

So, repeat all this again to make the other "flower".

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Next, you will need to trace your "flowers" on the felt and cut two circles a little smaller than your "flowers".

Get everything ready, cause you are about to glue. Woo Hoo.

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Put the headband on and make sure you know where you want your "flowers" before gluing. You don't want it directly on top of your head.... or maybe you do.... It is your headband, so do what you want.

Anyway, glue the "flowers into place with your hot glue gun.

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Next, glue your felt circles on the back with your hot glue gun to cover everything up.

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And, there you have it. A fun headband to brighten up your day!

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I like how it doesn't stand out too far from my head. I don't want people looking at my head thinking "what was she thinking?" haha.

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The end. What do you think? . . Let me know if you make one of your own. I would love to see it.

Plastic Cup Necklace

Can you believe this is a plastic cup?

I think next time I have a sleep over with the youth girls we will make some of these :)

To check out how to make them, look HERE!

10 lb. Pedi!

Weight Watcher update!

Last weekend Hollie and I went to the mall for a celebratory pedicure. That is what we said we were going to do when we lost 10 lbs. Ah! Losing weight has never felt better.

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We went a little crazy and got matching purple toes!

My sweet, awesome, great friend Hollie.

Don't know what I would do without her listening ear sometimes.

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Now we are so looking forward to our 20 lb massages! Oh yes. Just 5 more lbs to go.