There Will be a Day

The chorus of this song is amazing. Be quiet and listen. Sorry I couldn't find a more entertaining video but I am caught up on the words of this song anyway. I am finding comfort in this song right now for so many reasons. I know that we serve an awesome God and he is bigger than anything we can comprehend. But in the midst of knowing that, it is sometimes hard to understand His plan and purpose for our lives. 

It is so hard to accept that what God has in store is not always what we want.  We think it's not fair, we think it's painful, we may even think it is punishment. BUT... God has a plan, a purpose, and a gift inside every move He makes. We all belong to Him... We are all part of His perfect plan...We each have a lesson to learn in Faith.  The largest tragedy can be a testament of Faith within a family, in a closely knit group of friends, or even in a single person reevaluating their faithfulness. How can one have such Faith that they are ready to go and be with the Lord? How can someone praise His name for a life being cut way too short? How can someone praise His name for losing someone we adore? How can someone praise His name for such a loss of friendship, love, laughter, and family? 

The answer is in the song; "There will be a day of no more tears, no more pain, and no more fears." We are promised eternal life that is better than anything we could ever imagine if we trust in Him. So we must do just that. Trust in Him that we may be comforted when we struggle, trust that He has the better plan, trust that we will be changed for good in these situations. Spend every second you have breathing to gain that Faith, to accomplish that mission, to be that kind of man (or woman) that can take shake their fist at cancer and say "I won anyway."  We are not promised tomorrow here on Earth, but we are promised eternity with Him. 

This is the day the LORD has made; 

let us rejoice and be glad in it. 

Psalm 118: 24

JESUS trumps Santa!

Thinking about Christmas and all that it entails, I had to share this post circulating the blog and FaceBook world.....

Here is the link if you wanna read the entire thing........... or here is an excerpt:

"When I was in sixth grade, I received two Christmas presents I distinctly remember:

1.) The most coveted, desired beautiful "Forenza" tag on a pair of black leggings with a corresponding purple and black plaid shirt. (The outfit could've been anything, as long as it was from The Limited. Outback Red, anyone? Omg. If I could've conjured riches back then, I would've spent every red cent on OBR.)

2.) A fun, quirky red "football jersey type" sweatshirt.

I loved them both. Loved, loved, loved. I was certain these gifts were my ticket out of Dorkville. The feathered, product-less boy haircut and Bargain Selection glasses would become moot in light of my new, stylish garb. The popular kids would wonder what they ever didn't see in me. The cute boys I pined over would fight over inviting me to Sadie Hawkins, and they would say things like, "Why haven't we noticed her before? We're like Saul after the scales fell from his eyes." Or at least something very, very similar to that.

Until one very unfortunate eavesdropping session.

Supposed to be in bed but creeping in the hall listening to my parents' conversation which simply seemed like a naughty, awesome thing to do, I heard my mom say this:

"Her red sweatshirt? I found it at Walmart for $3.00."

Oh.
No.
She.
Didn't.

And just like that, the sweatshirt was ruined. In front of my eyes, it lost all its charm and it simply became something a Walmart girl would wear because she couldn't afford Esprit and her mother refused to buy her Guess jeans. All of a sudden, it communicated: I'm poor. (I was in sixth grade, people. It was a very dramatic time.)

Here's why I tell you about my persecutions: That is the only thing I remember from Christmas 1985. Not Jesus. Not reverence. Not generosity. Not gratitude. Just a selfish, materialistic reaction because every single gift of mine wasn't from an overpriced store with a namebrand I could casually brag about wearing. What a brat.

This sort of bull crap is still happening every year.

What happened to Christmas? What on earth happened to it? When did it transform from something simple and beautiful to what it is now? How insiduously did the enemy work to slowly hijack Jesus' birth and hand it over on a silver platter to Big Marketing, tricking His own followers into financing the confiscation?

We all know it. We all feel it. Every year we bear this tension. Each December, the world feels off kilter. But in the absence of a better plan or an alternative rhythm or - let's just say it - courage, we feed the machine yet again, giving Jesus lip service while teaching our kids to ask Santa for whatever they want, because, you know, that's really what Christmas boils down to.

I just cannot take it anymore, yall. I cannot.

What if a bunch of us pulled out of the system? What if we said something very radical and un-American, like: "Our family is going to celebrate Jesus this year in a manner worthy of a humble Savior who was born to two poor teenagers in a barn and yet still managed to rescue humanity." 

-----THAT LAST LINE IS MY FAVORITE PART! 

If you did read the entire thing, you may have felt a number of things; selfishness, overspending, guilt, embarrassment, or maybe you felt nothing of the sort at all. I had such a range of emotions to this post when I read it off my dear Sissy-In-Law's Fbook page.  I had to contemplate the depth of it for about a week. I re-read it today (cause it was lonnnnngggg); I had not buried it amongst all the craziness going on in my life right now, I had simply put it on the back burner until another day. Why...because this post is so true on so many levels and it's a lot to think about.This girl has got it G-O-I-N' ON! - I applaud her efforts, stepping out of the box and taking FAITH far beyond where most of us would.

Occasionally, I post about great gift finds, local shopping, and some latest trendiness at times. Does that make me a bad person??? NO IT DOES NOT.  Does it mean that my priorities are not what they should be????...MAYBE...or MAYBE NOT! ! However, in thinking about Jesus, the most precious gift of all, Here are a couple things I wanted to throw out about priorities, AND this post from up there.... and these are not dents into what she is saying - these are my thoughts about the entire concept of Santa / Christmas and the most important gift of all Jesus Christ.

1. We shouldn't have that attitude just at Christmas - it should be something that we teach to our children year-round.- It should apply to Every area of our life - Not just CHRISTMAS!- This goes far beyond holidays. It is daily LIVING people!

2. The only thing I ever wanted to be (and actually knew that I wanted to do) was be a mother - and with that comes seeing joy and happiness on your child's face on Christmas morning - Santa or No Santa -I so look forward to Christmas morning and all that it brings - even if that means I spent money on gifts that she asked for..... But, I don't think that we are one of those crazy parents - that spend a ridiculous amount on our 4 year old for something that not even a middle-schooler should be allowed to have.  Memories are so precious and you cannot get them back. Do what is right for your family. This year will be our (me and GA) first Christmas with our own family; Just the three of us. What an exciting chance for us to share the story of Jesus with our daughter. And then we get to go to church on Sunday!!! 

Happy Birthday JESUS! 

And we are so STILL rocking the Santa at the Austin House!  

However, JESUS will always trump Santa!

3. Our children soak up wayyyy more than we can ever imagine. I dare to say that actions speak louder than words. I think that our actions for others weighs just as heavily as those gifts...or more.  - for example, every night GA looks forward to reading the selection from our advent calendar (and she is absorbing it), she helps me shop for angel tree gifts, and she knows that we as a family give to those less fortunate. We have an extreme responsibility as parents to drill into their tiny little heads what we want them to know about everything, and the importance of it all. So my plan is, BOTH! We can be reasonable with our children in what we purchase, give, and allow them to HAVE. We can teach them to give to others, we have to guide them to be good global citizens and good stewards of our earnings and property. We can teach them Jesus and have Santa too.

And ....

"As for me and my house we will serve the LORD!" Joshua 24:15 - What we want our children to know, grow-in, and absorb will come from what we teach them at home. I am so blessed that I was raised in a Christian home that made doggone sure that Jesus was priority. Santa or no Santa. I plan to make sure that GA and any future children (wayyyyyyyy down the road) will be brought up the same way. It is a hard thing to explain to little ones. Here are a few ideas for sharing Jesus with little ones:


1. Get an advent calendar (if it's too late for you, it's OK. Start from the beginning and "catch up") 
2. Get books that share the Good News with holiday spirit. Here are a few of my faves: 

"Jesus, Me, and My Christmas Tree"

Frazier, The Crooked Christmas Tree - This book is dear to my heart. It was written by Sheila Barrick, one of the ministers at the church I used to work at - First Presbyterian Church in Downtown Raleigh, NC - GA has her own special signed copy. I saw that they are also available online through Barnes and Noble.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 #3) TALK with your CHILDREN - tell them what you want them to know. Share with them the good news of Jesus. Children are most influenced by their parents and caregivers. We have an extreme responsibility to lead them! 

Finally, I am so thankful for the sharing of Jen's post that I shared up there. It really made me think.  It really sunk in.  More than anything, I am so thankful for the conversations that GA and I have had over the last few nights at bedtime, conversations in the car, the questions she asks me and Sean, and thankful for the desire in my heart for her to know the Lord. Thankful for the ones in my family who instilled that in me, and the friends that were Jesus accessories in my life. Now those are things to shop for! 

Merry CHRISTmas!!!!!  

Let me Explain....

Did you get to see my Guest Post this week???? It pulled me from my blogging slump!!! 

Thankfully, I was rescued here by my sista-in-bloggin'. Thank you Beef!

Being away from blogging is kinda like skipping church for a while...it's hard to get back into it because you have missed so much and it's hard to catch up!

So....what in the world have I been doing for the last 3 weeks or so????

First:
Major Announcement......I cut my hair....TWICE. Here's the remnants...

these were the first remnants...then I went back for round 2!!! 

 

 

 

 

 Next: 
This book is going to be the death of me.....

I have been gettin' my Sunday School teachin' skills on the past few Sundays.... Seriously, who doesn't want to learn about being an excellent wife???? I mean, keeping a "joyful heart" while doing the laundry, cooking and cleaning, vacumning, and making sure your child's little tail is clean is all easy right....and SO fulfilling????? Of course it is.. So, I am pledging faithfully to this book. Reading...Soaking up the scripture. TRYING to let it play out in my life. I am convinced that God has a plan for me to be content in all of those and that's why he blessed me with this little shugar pie :)

and this one...

And the hubby and other men folk in our class are studying this...

I mean, the woman who wrote The Excellent Wife should have written The Exemplary Husband. We would have it made gals! BUT........ Jesus has another plan!!! If you want to hear more, join us on Sundays! We actually have a lot of fun!! I think God is working in all of our lives as well! DOUBLE BONUS :)

Next:
I have been crafting on the real... here are a few faves:

We also had Relay-for-Life here on the Rox.....Representing all the lovies we have loved and lost, and those we are still fighting for. I made some of these...which were a hit!!!

One thing to remember about the Rox is people pull together for the things that are important. This is what makes our community GREAT!

RELAY is one of those events. 

It's like a magical social hour, fundraisin', and remembrance all wrapped up into one. It was my first time actually attending RELAY this year...I know...the shame. So naturally, me, the hubs, and GA did it up right!!!

And here ya go...A Taste of the ReLaY

my fave MIL and one of her besties!

a little community action...cancer walkers united!

Ga gettin her face painted up by miss Aiko!

GA's first ever - sportin' a weave (a pink one)

adorb....makin me kinda jealous

Mimi and Sam

Kids Walk!!!

my widdle shug pie nephew gettin his snack on...

GA...not so sure...

Clifford is growing up fast...that suit lookin' a little stretched in some personal areas

is my hair shorter than this...oh yes it is...this was round 1!!!!

classic facials here from my girl

 That same weekend...we joined our fave family friends for this little shug pie's 1st Birthday celebration.

Have you ever seen anything any sweeter? Please ignore the ECU paraphernalia from the background. We love her Mimi and Papa anyway.

So, now you know that I haven't just been sittin' around eating Bon-Bons and watching Grey's in my nite-nites. I have been fo' real catching up on some good times with friends, family, and making some memories. I like to think of it like my new fave biblical reference....Courtesy of the K-Love....

So I recommend having fun, because there is nothing better for people in this world than to eat, drink, and enjoy life. That way they will experience some happiness along with all the hard work God gives them under the sun.

~ Ecclesiastes 8:15, NLT

 I have certainly been right on track..........Love to you all! Have a great weekend! It's Friday in 16 minutes!!!! Which means in less than 36 hours (and countin') I'ma be practicin' this verse a little further with these lovelies....

 It's gon' be a Tailgatin' good time!

You think you know someone....

Long time..... No blog. I have missed it for sure. I have been such a busy girl this week and I am hoping this week will leave more time for writing!

This one is ABOUT ME. One of my favorite things to do is learn about other people and what their interests are. I love finding common interests with others and I love meeting new people and making new friends. I am also a list-person. I love making lists as you can see in number 16 below. While searching FB over the weekend, and catching up on some blog reads, I copied these from  a note I had posted on FB back in January of 2009. Good Gracious how time flies and how things CHANGE. I know I have updated these since my original post on FB as well. I still think it is interesting to see how things change. I think everyone should journal or keep some sort of written journey of their lives. Looking back on how far we have come is very refreshing and can be a good way to assess goals and priorities. Now, I choose to keep mine through blogging :) I think this is fun but you may be completely bored and just simply need sources of entertainment which you find from Life...On the Rox! 

Here is 40 random things about ME in NO particular order(via January 2009) ~ new responses are in red : ) 
1. My daughter is also my lifesaver
2. I love to shop at thrift stores
3. I take naps like it's my day job (this was when GA was smaller and I had time in-between classes at MC - now naps are only reserved for Sundays)
4. I love Jesus (even more!)
5. I'm an obsessive cleaner ~ I vacuum EVERY day (yea right...now I'm lucky to do it 1-2 times per week. I do love some clean hardwood floors though! )

6. When I am mad at you, or nervous, or if you are getting on my nerves.... I can't make eye contact with you (hasn't changed)
7. I seriously think I have ADHD - at least a little - I can't sit still!
8. I LOVE to clip coupons! It's like shopping with NO money! (Better at this now)
9. I think that family is important over all things
10. I eat salad with no dressing at all (dressing is disgusting, slimy, and it makes your food sloppy)
11. I love to get my nails done even if I have NO money for groceries ( I don't get my nails done anymore. Now I only buy groceries...with a coupon of course!)
12. I like to take really hot baths until the water runs out (shhhhhhhh...Don't tell Sean Austin about the water!)
13. I love Diet Coke like u would not believe!  (some things never change...)
14. I love NC State (Go Pack!!!....You 'da Bomb.com, Love me some red & white!)
15. I go to Meredith for all the nice jewelry - The Curse of the Onyx :) - (got it and graduated since then- Go me!)
16. I make a to-do list every day on recycled paper scraps
17. I am rarely on time for anything unless it's real important (I typically run 10-15 minutes late for work almost every day. I really want to be better at morning routines. I am NOT a morning person and never have been)
18. I have a bad habit of saying I'll do something, then I won't do it...like come by your house to visit... ( I forget, what can I say???...)
19. I love a little text message even though it takes me forever to write back ( I semi hate texting now and talking on the phone is one of my not-so-faves!) - Have you read my Pet Peeves on Voicemails? )
20. I like to eat a lot of carbs..then take a long NAP...I LOVE NAPS!
21. My favorite Candy is Circus Peanuts (Standard!)
22. I am addicted to Smashbox cosmetics (thank you random person at ULTA) - (this was a slight disagreement while I lived in Raleigh and experimented outside of my classic Merle Norman regimens....Thank goodness I'm back to my senses now. )
23. I organize my closet according to color and length of clothing.
24. I procrastinate like it's my day job (but I still get it done!)
25. I own SEVERAL large Rubbermaid containers of ribbon
26. My nicknames are Ber, Baby-D, and Baby Dunk
27. I think Mayonnaise should be banned from use on food (don't even get me started!)
28. I cannot sleep unless I know what I'm gonna wear the next day
29. I love Lean Cuisine's (ewww... what was I thinking? - clearly this was post 10-pound loss)
30. I love to write people notes and cards
31. I love to get notes and cards
32. My favorite color is pink (any shade)
33. I eat an apple every day (banana too!)
34. I love walking at Reedy Creek Trail behind Meredith (miss these days for real - now I walk in Lochridge, not nearly as fun or pretty)
35. I hate going to the post office (DANG I hate the post office!)
36. I secretly love moving...anywhere..I love to unpack and organize in a new place (not even kidding...as long as I don't have to actually move the boxes ;)
37. I hate talking on the phone...unless I really love u
38. I cannot go to bed before 12:00AM ..it's impossible
39. I wear heels every day to work - I'm getting too old for this....good for your calf muscles though.But flats make me feel short and dumpy!
40. I love ketchup with almost everything (Standard!...Sometimes I eat certain foods just so I can consume ketchup. Its full of licopene? which fights cancer and gives you youthful skin so I should be well preserved in several more years.)

I stole this part from Momfessions) This list was "100 things about me" but I condensed :)

 Things about me and my bloggin’ self:
- well there was 40 things up yonder so...I think that was enough.

Things about my relationship with Jesus:
1. There have been times in my life where the relationship was stronger or more powerful in my life. I think God works in us that way. It cannot be easy all the time or we would never feel his presence when we need it most. 

2. I accepted Jesus as my Savior when I was in elementary school at Grace United Methodist Church. Although I don't fully think I understood it then, but I do now more than ever. The relationship has always been with me which I believe has protected me from many things. I have still experienced a lot of heartache which most people will go a lifetime without ever experiencing. But, I got through it because of my relationship with the Lord.

3. It is a daily learning experience.

Things about my family:
- should I even go there? ? ? ? ?

- I come from a divorced family, which doubled into 2 more families. Geez Louise. Holidays are crazy busy for me. 

- I also have Sean's family to consider which makes Holidays even more FUN!

- Overall, lots of people who have supported me through the years and more people to love GA 

- there are many people I consider my family even though they are not blood-relation.

Things I like to do:
- BLOG...duh. 

- Garden and can things 

- organize things

- make craft projects ( I love any kind of project)

- visit aquariums (one of my faves)!

- coupon shop

- Hang out with Sean and GA

- Plan parties and events! 

- Sew

- recycle 

- make photobooks :)

Movies I Enjoy:

- Fireproof

- The Notebook

-The Blind Side 

- One Night with the King

- The Other Boleyn Girl

- Wedding Crashers

- Double Jeopardy 
- The Help (oh my It was so GOOD!) 

 
Five books I enjoy:

- The Help (oh my It was so GOOD!) 

- The Awakening

- Rebecca

- Olivia

- The 5 Love languages

 “Favorites”:
- photographs & photography

- #7 Combo from Chic-fil-A with Fruit and Diet Lemonade

- Lady Antebellum & Jason Aldean

- Girl's Night Out 

- Burts Bees Chapstick

- Spaghetti with Garden Sauce (no meat)
- I love to drink Ginger Ale 

Verses I love:
- Proverbs 31 
¹⁰ A wife of noble character who can find?
   She is worth far more than rubies.
¹¹ Her husband has full confidence in her
   and lacks nothing of value.
¹² She brings him good, not harm,
   all the days of her life.
¹³ She selects wool and flax
   and works with eager hands.
¹⁴ She is like the merchant ships,
   bringing her food from afar.
¹⁵ She gets up while it is still night;
   she provides food for her family
   and portions for her female servants.
¹⁶ She considers a field and buys it;
   out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.
¹⁷ She sets about her work vigorously;
   her arms are strong for her tasks.
¹⁸ She sees that her trading is profitable,
   and her lamp does not go out at night.
¹⁹ In her hand she holds the distaff
   and grasps the spindle with her fingers.
²⁰ She opens her arms to the poor
   and extends her hands to the needy.
²¹ When it snows, she has no fear for her household;
   for all of them are clothed in scarlet.
²² She makes coverings for her bed;
   she is clothed in fine linen and purple.
²³ Her husband is respected at the city gate,
   where he takes his seat among the elders of the land.
²⁴ She makes linen garments and sells them,
   and supplies the merchants with sashes.
²⁵ She is clothed with strength and dignity;
   she can laugh at the days to come.
²⁶ She speaks with wisdom,
   and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
²⁷ She watches over the affairs of her household
   and does not eat the bread of idleness.
²⁸ Her children arise and call her blessed;
   her husband also, and he praises her:
²⁹ “Many women do noble things,
   but you surpass them all.”
³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
   but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
³¹ Honor her for all that her hands have done,
   and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
- Lamentations  Chapter 3:

22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
   for his compassions never fail.
²³ They are new every morning;
   great is your faithfulness.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The LORD is my portion;
   therefore I will wait for him.”

Things I’d do if money were not object:
- Buy a monogramming machine 

- add another bathroom to my house (or sell it and move to the country-side of the Rox)

- Spend money on services for children that needed it. 

- Travel More

Cool things I’ve done:
- traveled across the country in 2 days driving (from Atlanta to Seattle), gone for 6 weeks while visiting Atlanta, Seattle, Los Angeles, and San Francisco - all for work but it was a good experience!

- taken my photograph at the "booked-in" section of the Person County jail, just for fun. I wanted to wear an orange jump suit and have my picture taken in front of the big ruler....DONE!

Five places I would love to visit:
- Savannah, Georgia 

- Charleston, SC

- Disney World with Georgia Anne 

- All the NC lighthouses...I have never seen any :(

- The Aquariums in Atlanta and Australia

Things I dislike:
-mayonnaise

- salad dressings 

- seafood

- shopping carts that make noise or wobble 

- conversations before 9 AM or breakfast, or Diet Coke

- The News and Observer 

- prejudgments 

Things I don’t think I’ll ever do:
- bungee jump 

- sky dive

Things I say every day:
 - I love You 

- Seriously? 

- You have got to be kidding me...

- congratulations (inside joke in our house)

If you made it through all this "congratulations." I am sure there were plenty of times you wanted to click the little red X in the upper right of your screen. Otherwise, you may quite frankly be stalking me because I don't know if this was even entertaining. However, I would love to know you!!! Write your own "about me" blog and post! I would love to read it! 

I had such a great weekend and I hope you did to!