My New Kitchen

I can't sleep tonight. I've got a million things on my mind that I HAVE to get done at work tomorrow, HAVE to get done at work before I leave for good and several bazillion (yes, I know I said bazillion) details to get worked out before our move....not the least of which is what am I going to do with my dog?
Anyway, since I'm up I thought I'd share with you a picture or two of our new place, specifically my new kitchen! Here is my current kitchen.....

Now admittedly, I have some fond memories in this kitchen but it is soooo tiny and the burners don't heat evenly and the cabinet doors don't shut all the way. Here are some pics of my new kitchen.




(Good grief, I just spent 2o mins trying to figure out how to get these stupid pictures to stand side by side) Anyway, as you can see, I'm going to have a much larger kitchen. YEA ME!!! I'm very excited and can't wait to try out my new oven.

I'm going to try to get some sleep now. I hope you all have a wonderful week.


ps....After the 20 minutes, I still can't get the stupid things to stand side by side on the actual blog, although that's how they look to me as I'm writing the post. So if someone can help me out with that I'd greatly appreciate it....I am most definitely a severe amateur at all of this

What A Message!!

This morning I was doing my quiet time. I'm going through The Search For Significance with my friend & mentor Cindy Tafoya. This particular chapter is on Justification and it had me searching back and forth through the New Testament for things like "What is justification?" "Are you really holy & blameless, and if so why?" I doubt I need to tell you that my brain hurt after about 45 minutes but my heart was just thumping with excitement. It had been a while since I just let it sink in that I stand before the King of Kings as a holy and blameless daughter....wow.... And it's not just "in God's eyes" (as I have spent my whole life saying.) I assure you that none of the scriptures said, "In God's eyes...." Nope, they just very emphatically stated that because of Christ's sacrifice WE ARE. God is not blind to who we are because of His love for us, rather, His love (and sacrifice) has changed who we are...WE ARE BLAMELESS. How can that be? I don't know but I am so thankful for it!
What I wanted to share with you this morning is from The Message. I used it to help wade through all the complex theology of Romans. It's a trip...I highly recommend reading it sometime. Anyway, here is Romans 5:1-2 in the NAS (for those of us who consider ourselves scholars)
"Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand: and we exult in hope of the glory of God."
I hope you find these verses from The Message as thrilling as I did this morning. I pray they rest on you and change your day....God your grace is beyond amazing!

"By entering through Faith into what God has always wanted to do for us-set us right with him, make us fit for him- we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that is not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand-out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.


Ya'll this is for all of us, the worst sinner among us. If you're like me, when you think of forgiveness your mind takes you back to your lowest and most awful moments. You're reminded of just how depraved you really can be. But the very miracle of justification means we are "fit for Him!" And when we throw open our doors to God, we find Him there with His already opened before us. THIS SHOULD CHANGE US...If we acknowledge this as truth it should mark us!


So our question for today is: Do our lives reflect the truth of our justified status? And if you are like me and your answer is no; your life has been marked by defeat, self-loathing, depression or worse, let's trade in the lie. Let's throw open our doors to God, and find Him there with His already wide open, waiting to receive us. We are fit for our King because of Christ's sacrifice. Let's live this ya'll.....

My Man

For those of you who may not know, my little brother got married recently. He married his high school sweetheart of six years & the love of his life, Amandy Faye Hall. They had a beautiful wedding & one heck of a party for their reception. I saw people dance at that reception who I thought I'd have to wait until the other side of glory to behold that site. Some of those unnamed miracles *coughs DAD* included my husband. Jason and I had a blast! But absolutely the most memorable of those moments was the train. I had John call Jason out and ask him to lead the train. (I had heard rumors for years that he was a very good at this job in particular, but I had never witnessed it personally) So Jason, being the good sport that he is, answered the call. And being an even better sport, let me post this picture...so enjoy!!

Treasure Hunting

I don't have any new or exciting news about our move yet. We actually don't even know when or where or any other details yet. And yes, under normal circumstances that might be a little unnerving, seeing as I have already given notice at my job, but I'm leaving all the details in the same Hands that opened up this opportunity in the first place. I know He'll work out all the details soon enough (Although, the sooner the better Lord, if I get a vote in the matter)

Anyway, the point of this particular blog was to brag about my new treasure....Oh yes here it is. Are you ready? Ok, open your eyes!

I found these babies recently at Charlotte Russe. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Charlotte Russe, it is a very trendy store for pre adolescent girls who like to dress like they are 25 or 25 year old women who can still shop in the Junior Department. *scowls at you in envy* So I'm about twenty years too old and *$&#*#* sizes too "grown" for that store but I saw them in the window and couldn't resist.
Now here is the part that makes them a "treasure." I had been eying a pair almost exactly like these in Banana Republic (that is a store meant for me!!) just five minutes earlier. The pair in Banana Republic was $135.00 on sale. Thank you Joy & Tamara for dragging me out of there by my ear in order to save me from temporary shoe insanity and inevitable buyers remorse. These babies were only $22.00...OH YEA!!! MOMMY LIKEY! (just for you Joy!) Anyway, you don't have to lecture me on the difference, I could write that lecture myself. But I'm telling you they look almost identical and as hard as I am on my shoes I'd be insane to pay the B.R. price. So as you can see, I'm all too pleased with myself. I don't usually find bargains (mostly because I don't have the patience to look) so when I do it's a Christmas Day miracle in my book.

I promise to post again soon and it won't be nearly this superficial and will inspire you to greatness, I almost guarantee...so stay tuned! In the mean time if you live in NC, feel free to run right out to Charlotte Russe and nab a pair. If you live in NM, don't even think about it.....HA!