Heart : Keeping it all in perspective...or at least trying to.

via

Hello Friends,

What an eventful few days it's been!  A packed weekend, with lots of fun things, followed by a little disaster and frustration on the home front.  

Lets start with the good, shall we? 

This weekend I had the privilege of hearing Joyce Meyer in San Jose - what an encouragement that was!  Her book Battlefield of the Mind was the topic of the weekend.  We can control our attitude and outlook on life...always a good reminder.  Little did I know, I would have plenty opportunity to exercise this only a few short days later. 

Sunday evening we had an almost front row experience at a Carrie Underwood show with friends of ours...she was spectacular.  What a voice!  I can only dream of having the vocal chops she has!  Maybe in heaven, right?? ;)

{I'm not much of a country music fan [but I do love Carrie], I don't even own cowgirl boots [gasp! I know!] So my blonde curly locks was the most "country" I could muster.}

Sounds like a great weekend?  I know... it truly was.  But yesterday afternoon we came home to a small drip from our bathroom ceiling and didn't have time to mess with it cause we had a concert to be at.  So we called maintenance, left a vm and put a bucket under it.  Problem temporarily solved, right?

Well, this morning we woke up to soggy carpets, a musty smell and water dripping from several areas of our ceiling.  I don't know what it is with me and flooding apartments.  This isn't the first time I've been through this.  

While we love the little place we call home, we're rethinking the situation.  In the mean time, I'm trying to keep my Joyce Meyer advice in the forefront of my mind.  Attitude and outlook has everything to do with this.  Lord help me...

XO

- images via instagram

"Birthday Weekend"

So "going off the grid" for the weekend was more challenging than I imagined it would be, but it was so worth it!

Hubby and I had an amazing weekend together. We did gifts Fri morning, went to pick out a sleek new pair of basketball shoes {that was one of his big gifts}, caught a matinee showing of Brave {so cute! I loved it!}, had burgers at a great local burger spot {it's like a build your own burger place - they serve you the meat and bun (or lettuce in my case) and you head to the toppings bar to stuff it with whatever your heart desires...delish!} and then finished off the evening with cake, ice cream and games with a great couple of friends. Whew! What a day!

Sat was a little less packed - we did a few fun things together and then had a bonfire and s'mores on the beach with a handful of friends. What a stunning night it was - the sunset was gorgeous, the fire was perfect and the s'mores were ooey, gooey! I told you...it was a great weekend indeed!

Here's a peek...

Weekend : Quick Pic

Happy Weekend to all!  

Blakely, hubby and I are headed to run some errands and then off to a cook out at the park to send some sweet friends off. 

Lots of love,

Easter Recap

Good afternoon dear readers!

I so hope you all had a lovely Easter weekend.  We certainly did.  While it was busy, it was wonderful.

You didn't hear from me all last week because from sun up to sun down, I was scrambling to complete our new Calvary West building.  I had the privilege of transforming a large multi-purpose room into a beautiful and welcoming video sanctuary.  {I promise, before and after pics are coming.  I'm still adding a few finishing touches to the place.}  Easter Sunday was the launch of Calvary West and it was a hit!  We had a few bugs to work out during our first service {unfortunately}, but our second service was full - we had to bring in extra chairs.  Nothing warms my heart more, than to see (1) a FULL sanctuary, with people still streaming in & (2) people enjoy a space I created.

Here are a few weekend photos I snapped on my iPhone....

{Main Sanctuary Stage}

{Calvary West}

{Arrangements I made for Easter}

{Chalkboard signage that hangs above Calvary West info center}

{Blakely desperate for attention after a long week of me away from home}

{Brunch hubby and I had yesterday as we rested}

{My new Know Your Value print from the wm boutique!  Thanks Allie!}

{Driving around town today....it's a bit gloomy}

Our Life Group is having a potluck dinner tonight and I need to come up with a yummy gfree side, so I better get to it!  I would love to hear about your Easter.

Lots of love...

- all images via danya collyer

Bathroom Scale Makeover....

I saw this post in my blog feed today from Beach Vintage and thought it was a clever little diy project.  I couldn't help but share.  It's just your regular ol' bathroom scale, covered in a beautiful oil cloth print.  Visit the link for a discount on your oil cloth for your own scale makeover.  :)  I'll have to give my scale some attention in the very near future.

Until then, I will return to PPS next week after "birthday weekend" {as my husband calls it}.  Hope you have a lovely weekend!




-image via beach vintage

Bloglovin...oh and sweating!

{This is what I feel like doing. ;-}

Happy weekend friends!

It's been a great weekend thus far, however, our ac went out sometime Thursday evening and I have to say it's been a bit warm and sticky.  We were hoping to have it fixed today, but you know how reliable those repair men are.  It's looking like we may just have to wait until Monday.  On the upside, tonight is date night and I always look forward to that.  We're trying a new restaurant in town called Jacos - it's a cute little place on the pier.  Also, PPS is on Bloglovin, so go follow if you're a bloglover!  :)  Hope you're less sticky than I am and enjoying your weekend.

Monday Musings & Weekend Recap

After running errands and spending some time with my mom this afternoon, I was happy to come home to a package with my name on it.  (Don't you love mail? Well, fun mail?  Usually it's just bills and credit card companies after my business, but every once in a while I get fun mail. :)  It was my much anticipated order of tree branch buttons!  Aren't they fun??

I started crocheting these gorgeous cowls last winter for friends as Christmas gifts and totally meant to make myself one, but I was crocheting till March for other people before I even had an opportunity to think of myself.  Needless to say, I wasn't ready to face a needle and yarn till September.  A few weeks ago I finally decided to break out the yarn and make myself one, but it didn't come easily.  I was half way done with MY very own beautiful cowl, when my Blakely (yr old Yorkie) got a hold of it and chewed a nice large hole through the middle of it, washing it down with half of my needle (no worries, he didn't actually swallow it...just chewed it to pieces).  Nothing motivates me more than frustration - I headed straight to JoAnn's the next day, bought a new needle and several spools of yarn and made my little fingers busy.  I was finally able to make the project complete once my buttons arrived today.  A little larger than I anticipated (see below), but I think I like the oversized buttons made from a maple tree branch.  Now I need the weather to accompany it.

{Button on right was the size I was anticipating.}

{Finished Product!}

Here's the pattern if you wish to make yourself one.  I won't lie - it's time consuming.  Oruaka Cowl

Changing the subject - we had a fabulous weekend!  Made a big gfree brunch on Friday, did some painting, had a double date night Saturday with my parents at one of our favorite restaurants on the beach followed by gfree brownies and card games, and enjoyed a beach baptism and picnic with friends and family from our church.  It couldn't have been better!  Here are a few photos from my phone...

{Painting & watching chick-flicks}

{Date Night!}

{G-Free Brunch}

{Candid pic of me and my nephew Sawyer...most precious kid ever!}

And The Winner Is....

Congratulations to Rachel from This Side of Eernity!  She is the winner of Courtney's adorable Owl Necklace.  Thank you so much for participating in our giveaway, it's always fun to hear from friends & fellow bloggers.  Also, a big thanks to Courtney for sharing her beautiful jewelry!  If you didn't have a chance to check out her etsy shop, you can visit it here - Courtney's Makings. 

Hopefully we'll have more giveaways to come.  In the mean time, it's Friday and I hope you have a fabulous weekend planned.  It's a gorgeous day here in the south - I've already been to Zumba, then brunch & yogurt with my man, I'd say I'm off to a great weekend!  Happy Friday....

{Doesn't this look like a lovely little place to escape for an afternoon?}