Tuesday, June 14, 2011

DIY: Simple n' Sweet Favor Tags

Wedding planning is in full swing, and I thought I'd post a DIY as i'm working on some details for our big day. Instead of ordering them, or ordering labels for them, I decided to look around for everyday items with which to make our favor tags. 

#1: Shipping tags w/ a reinforced hole. [You can get these at your local office supply store.]

[The ones I chose to use are 2 3/4" x 1 3/8". There are bigger ones if you prefer to make larger tags.]
 #2: Get a stamp that suits your personal style and gets your point across. I found this adorable little thing for a buck at Michael's. Make sure you have one of the tags with you, so you can make sure that your stamp will fit on the tags. 
#3: Get ink--feel free to use one of your wedding colors or a complementary color of choice.
#4: All you need to do is ink your stamp (make sure to do a test run on a scrap piece of paper), and press down firmly. Voila:

These are so easy and affordable to make! Have fun!

P.s. I stamped mine on both sides, so I wouldn't have to worry about having to twist and turn the tags to get the right side to show on the favors. 

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

I am a cheater.

My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
I cheat you of your God-given destiny...because
you demand your own way.
I cheat you of contentment...because you
"deserve better than this."
I cheat you of knowledge...because you already
know it all.
I cheat you of healing...because you're too full of
me to forgive.
I cheat you of holiness...because you refuse to 
admit when you're wrong.
I cheat you of vision...because you'd rather look 
in the mirror than out a window.
I cheat you of genuine friendship...because
nobody's going to know the real you.
I cheat you of love...because real romance
demands sacrifice.
I cheat you of greatness in heaven...because you
refuse to wash another's feet on earth.
I cheat you of God's glory...because I convince
you to seek your own.
My name is Pride. I am a cheater.
You like me because you think I'm lways looking
out for you. Untrue.
I'm looking to make a fool of you.
God has so much for you, I admit, but don't worry...
If you stick with me
You'll never know.


-Beth Moore

I'll start and end with that.  I'm going to chew on this. 
You know--we all have "friends" that struggle with this... 



May we experience grace that will lead us to freedom through humility.



Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Today in Pictures: Staycation.

I'm still very much adapting to living at my parents' again. As i'm trying to figure it out, i'm exploring places that i've already known with new eyes.

With that being said, here's how I staycayed today...

---a good read in a good seat---




---sun-basking---
---vitamin D dosage---


---lovely little beauties--- 

...all in the comfort of the backyard.

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Solitary Refinement


Although it can feel like a prison, solitude is actually a discipline that has its main function in being a means of grace. This is very much where I am right now with all the transitions in my life--leaving things, moving out of places, ending jobs, saying goodbye's... I'm not telling you this in a "poor me" kind of tone, but rather I say it because I know that despite what I feel (both justified and some unjustified emotions), God is at work. By no means is the process easy, but I know it's well worth it. And in the midst of it all, I am learning (though sometimes i'm not the most gracious learner) to trust Him despite the illusions my uncertain external circumstances may paint for me.

Henry Nouwen eloquently states what i'm going through quite well in these few snippets (emphasis mine):

"As soon as we are alone,...inner chaos opens up in us. This chaos can be so disturbing and so confusing that we can hardly wait to get busy again. Entering a private room and shutting the door, therefore, does not mean that we immediately shut out all our inner doubts, anxieties, fears, bad memories, unresolved conflicts, angry feelings and impulsive desires. On the contrary, when we have removed our outer distraction, we often find that our inner distraction manifest themselves to us in full force. We often use the outer distractions to shield ourselves from the interior noises. This makes the discipline of solitude all the more important." 

"It is this nothingness (in solitude) that I have to face in my solitude, a nothingness so dreadful that everything in me wants to run to my friends, my work, and my distractions so that I can forget my nothingness and make myself believe that I am worth something. The task is to persevere in my solitude, to stay in my cell until all my seductive visitors get tired of pounding on my door and leave me alone. The wisdom of the desert is that the confrontation with our own frightening nothingness forces us to surrender ourselves totally and unconditionally to the Lord Jesus Christ." 

"solitude begins with a time and a place for God, and God alone. If we really believe not only that God exists but also that God is actively present in our lives-- healing, teaching and guiding-- we need to set aside a time and space to give God our undivided attention. (Matt 6:6)"  


We are not confined in solitude--but rather, we are being refined. I pray that by His grace, we--I-- give Him room to do so. 

"They that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength. They will rise up on wings like eagles. They will run and never faint." Thanks for the reminder, Isaiah.