Thankful Thursday: Gifts

The fun things about this outfit:

Sweater - Free, Jeans - Buckle, Shoes - Target, Bracelet - Thrfited, Necklace - HomeMade

This necklace started from an old chain found in my mom's garage and a short skirt 

that makes a tall girl like me look like I'm showing a little too much badonkadonk.

Here's how I created it:

1. Pick some materials.

2. Cut strips of fabric. (try to choose something that doesn't fray) 

3. Get your piles of fabrics set out and ready to go.

4. Tie lots of knots!

5. Wear that thing like a boss!

All this brings me to what I'm thankful for...

I'll be joining my sister Rachel for her monthly theme of Thankful Thursdays. 

So appropriately kicking off today on Thanksgiving!

I'm so incredibly thankful for having the ability to cut strips of fabric. And that I'm able to tie a knot. 

I love that I have a mind that can be creative when I see an old skirt and a bulky chain. 

I'm just so incredibly grateful that God has given me the gift of craftiness... I know it's not on

the list of spiritual gifts, but I'm claiming it as God given anyways! 

James 1:17

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the

Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

Hit by a Bug

The fun thing about this outfit:

Dress - Target $7, Sweater - Free, Earrings - OldNavy, Shoes - Target $7, Bracelets - Thrifted

So the bug has hit.

As the leaves fall from the trees in this beautiful season... 

So does the cold season fall on my sinuses.

That's right, I'm sick. I'd love to blame some sticky fingered child or standing in the rain or something, but I haven't been around many children lately and I'm pretty sure that when it rains I duck for cover. So the only thing left to blame is the season. 

So with my tissue box by my side, I'm riding it out.

1 Peter 1: 14-15

As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, 

but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 

“You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

Middle 2 in the Bunch of 4

The fun things about this outfit:

Sweater - Thrifted, Pants - 2nd Hand, Bracelets - Thrifted, Shoes - Target, Earrings - Old Navy

Everyone warned me about jet lag... Now everyone is asking me how I'm feeling...

Truth is I'm feeling fine. I'm not feeling jet lagged at all. 

And I think I know why. I slept a very broken up 2 hours out of a total of 24 hours of travel. 

When I got back I stayed awake for 3 more hours then slept for 10 hours, woke up, and went to work.

I'm guessing that being exhausted and sleeping at night instead of crashing when I got home was what helped. But all this is meaningless without a little tale of why I only slept a measly 2 chopped up hours.

Have you ever been on one of those lovely oversees flights that has 4 seats in the middle of 2 isles?

You know the two seats in the middle... Yep, the ones every hopes and prays they don't get stuck in for 9.5 hours... Guesses anyone? Yes, I ended up in the middle of the 4 seats. 

It began with boarding... My travel buddy and I went back and forth between both rows thinking we were entering from the wrong isle for our two seats. (we thought we had 2 on the end of the 4). Soon we figured out we were in the middle with two strangers on either side. Her side of our cozy sandwich was topped with a man who had his ear buds in from beginning to end, and apparently up full blast because he didn't hear anything anyone tried to say to him, flight attendant or otherwise. And my end was capped with a youngster calling himself Elder. He spoke German and English while he studied a paper of some sort of Asian language. (I don't know what because I don't speak any language with the characters he was staring at.)

I ended up becoming a nerd for the public to see and watching The Hobbit on that flight.

Yep... Not even ashamed because I loved it! Still mentally frollicking in the shire at this moment.

Romans 8:15

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” 

Back to the Blog

The fun things about this outfit:

Pants - Old Navy, Sweater - Thrifted, Shirt - 2ndHand, Boots - Nordstrom, Bracelet - 2ndHand

I'm Baaaaack!

Words cannot gather all the thoughts that are running through my head to summarize my trip to Basque Country. It was wonderful! God is really amazing! I met some great new people, saw some incredible things that I never imagined experiencing, and walked way more in 10 days than my legs and feet thought possible.

All I keep thinking of is that God does things I don't expect all the time. He uses people in ways I don't expect. He puts me in places I don't expect. And He opens doors before I even see that they exist!

Looking forward to sharing a few pictures soon!

Matthew 5:14-16

 “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

Chase Me Again: A Unique Thrift Shop for You {Three}

The fun things about this outfit:

Skirt - Thrifted, Sweater & Bracelets & Earrings - Chase Me Again, Shoes - Ross

I just want to make a disclaimer before you read on...

I edited these photos. 

So don't be hatin' on the photographer, she did her best in an indoor, no natural light
dressing room and sent me the photos to edit. Yep, Worlds Apart Photography still rocks...
in case you were worried.

Now to talk about Chase Me Again! But I will keep talking about their fitting room.

It's so adorable. They've taken old pattern paper and used it as wall paper. I love it!

It doesn't feel like a thrift store fitting room at all! It's clean and cute!

After I asked how the store started, I asked Sue, owner of Chase Me Again, 

where all the proceeds go if so many of the worker bee ladies are volunteers.

Check out what she said (you're about to love the store even more!):

My Father's House, the homeless family shelter, gets a check from us every month 

that is based on our sales. Plus the shelter also sends over their residents (up to 30

 families) to get to shop in our clothing store free of charge once a month. We even 

have a volunteer that will drive a van to bring them over if they don't have their 

own transportation. The residents are in the shelter's program for an average of 

3 months. Once they have jobs and housing they love to shop in our home store free 

of charge to help supply their new homes.

We also have helped the Warming Shelter for Human Solutions. The homeless 

families check into that shelter at 7 at night and then have to leave by 7 in the morning.

 They sleep on cots, and bedding can be provided if available. When the family 

finally finds housing they are allowed to take bedding with them. We went into 

their facility and donated 9 metal shelf units into a storage room and organized 

them with emergency clothing and bedding. We take them all of our bedding that 

is donated plus have provided some meals and toiletries. 

We have two volunteers that work for local hospice groups. We had a fashion show that benefited the two hospice groups. They received all of the money from the event and also all of our love and support for the families that are traveling through such an emotionally charged journey. When we receive bright and happy lap quilts we send them to one of the hospice groups that love to take them to the patients.

We have also given money to Meals-on-Wheels and a children's home in Thailand. 

The animal shelter gets our older towels.

After our three year anniversary we are proudly able to say that we have given away over $43,000 in profit. Plus the general public gets to shop at a really fun store.

I told you! Don't you just love Chase Me Again even more after reading that!
Don't forget to go visit them. Find more info on their SITE.

Chase Me Again {One}

Chase Me Again {Two}

Romans 5:20-21
Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace 
abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, grace also might reign 
through righteousness leading to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

Lil Black Tank Dress

The fun things about this outfit:

Dress - Maidenform, Belt - Old Navy gift, Shoes - Target, Pink Bracelet - Thrifted

Ok I have a confession...

This was not meant to be a dress. I'm a little frightened to admit that on a blog post but hey, 
I'm known in my circles for making thing work, so no harm in just going with it here too!

Yep... It was meant to be a "night gown" from Maidenform. 

Three things though... 

ONE: who wears a gown to bed anyway? 

TWO: this is clearly not a gown! 

THREE: its not see-thru so it makes an amazing summer go-to!!! 

{if only I'd found it at the start of summer!}

Psalm 103:1-5
Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and all that is within me,
bless his holy name!

Bless the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits,

who forgives all your iniquity,
who heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit,

who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy,

who satisfies you with good
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Pink Pants & A Quick Talk about Fear

The fun things about this outfit:

Pants - B-Day Gift, Shirt - Hand Me Down, Bracelet - $1 Target, 

Earrings - Old Navy ($2 sale), Shoes - Who Knows?

Just real quick I want to shout out to my lovely mom!

Yay for birthday gifts...aka: these pants!!!

Secondly... This is a long one... So sit back and relax.

------------------

Now down the the "deep" thoughts of my afternoon as I sat in a coffee shop with way to many books and notebooks open in front of me. {Sometimes I can't stick to just one... ya know?}

In general I do not consider myself very easily frightened. Startled...YES. But frightened? Nope.

Did I jump when I saw the thumb sized spider while I showered in a 2ftx2ft box that my basement apartment has? YES. But did I quickly gain my composure and smash that lil sucker with my bare hands?... Also, YES.

See the difference? Being Startled vs. Being Afraid?

People have phobias, right? I suppose I do, too. I mean I'm not super fond of heights, deep murky open water, or fire being right up in my personal bubble. But if I absolutely had to deal with those things, I could. Cross that bridge when we come to it sort of attitude I guess. 

I've been realizing in the past year or so that the intangibles are more where my real fears are held. Things like the what the future holds, or having stability, or if the solid true friendships now will actually last. I suppose though that I've been realizing those fears because I've been learning about the solution to them. You see I used to think I could use sheer will power to think fear away. Or maybe if I plan everything super well, then everything will work out how I hoped that it would. But... That's just not how it works.

You know what is amazing?

To NOT be afraid!

If you've ever read my rambling before, you know that I follow Jesus. And guess what! Because of Jesus, I've found something out. I don't have to be afraid. There are some things that we DO have though. You know... Instead of fear.

{2 Timothy 1:7 says, "for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and sound mind."}

That's right! when I place my life in the holey {and holy} hands of Jesus He takes away any ounce of fear I had. And in place of it, He empowers me, enables me to love, and develops in me clarity and discernment. Fair trade? Heck no. But I'll take it!

What this means though is that when I am afraid, I can be confident it is not from my Savior. And in that I am also confident that I can run to Him for help, reassurance, and peace. I can rest and know that He is trustworthy and I can without hesitation, let Him do His thing. 

Now some fears are still going to arise, however irrational they may be.

You know... like the time I mistakenly agreed to go to the haunted corn maze and the masked man, revving a chain saw chased me screaming into the arms of some guy...some poor girls boyfriend no doubt...cause she sure gave me the stink eye as I came to my senses. Yep! Sometimes I forget to run into the arms of Christ. 

I suppose it's a long road and not a cul-de-sac. There will be potholes and speed bumps in the form of chain saws or unknown choices, but I know the road keeps going after and there is power, love, and sound mind ready to be taken advantage of!

Here are a few things I was reading today.

Psalm 56: 3-4

When I am afraid,
I put my trust in you.

In God, whose word I praise,
in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
What can flesh do to me?

Isaiah 11:2

And the Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him,
the Spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the Spirit of counsel and might,
the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.

Romans 8:15

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, 

but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!”

2 Corinthians 2:12

Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, 

that we might understand the things freely given us by God.