mixed media

I titled this "mixed media" because I feel my thoughts have been all over the place lately.

One thought that has weighed on my heart and mind for many + many + many + months now is the social networking phenomenon. I know I've mentioned it before, so I apologize for a repeat, but it's something I mull over almost daily.

What is the point of the social network? you can sum it up pretty easily what it is: social connection via the internet. Seem fairly summed up? Yah. But, the better question (and the one I ask myself): what does it mean for you?

When you post your updates, what is your underlying intent? What are you seeking? Validation? Are you flaunting? You're bored? Informing?

Uploaded pictures: why? Again, validation? Are you sharing with family and friends to keep them involved?

I'm not saying it's wrong. Don't get me wrong. I see the value in it. But I also question it, which is something I hadn't done before.

If you were to go WAYYYYY back on my blog (it actually might be on another one of mine) back when I was a new Mom to my (now) 4 year old I was extremely lonely. I used the internet and social networking to stay connected, to feel like I wasn't alone. However, in the end I found myself comparing my life with everyone else. I became extremely depressed and would sit at my window crying.

That was one of the hardest times in my life where I experienced the sense of loneliness and abandon (but it also grew me in ways I am so unbelievably grateful for - because through it all GOD never abandoned and never abandons).

But, it really started me considering what I was doing with FB.

My most recent decision via FB was that I wanted my updates to be encouraging and not about what my kids and I were doing. I slipped up (believe me, I did). But, to me, I needed it to be beyond me for my sake and, possibly, for those who are also struggling.

I've also decided it was time for a bit of a break.

I've begun to feel that there is a bondage with social networking sites that, for obvious reasons, generations before us never experienced and I feel we need to consider what might be happening in our hearts and lives via this constant comparison (Pinterest, Instagram, and Twitter - you are not off the hook and I also lump you in with this).

So, in the end, I would like to say: don't jump off these sites without considering what they are for you. I don't want to leave you with the impression that I'm saying "they're from the Satan."
They just have a place and I encourage you to consider what that place is for you.

random revelation

Random revelation: as parents sometimes I feel we take a lot of credit for our kids' achievements which I think relate a lot to their personalities (such as how they respond to certain situations - they're even tempered and may have less of a problem leaving a park, or they're an extrovert so they don't have an issue meeting new people or making friends). However, a lot of this has to do with WHO they are and who God designed them to be. Which made me think of how we take a lot of credit for what God the Father has done in our lives instead of giving Him the credit and the glory.

Now, I'm not saying that as parents we don't deserve some recognition for the hard work we put into helping our children along. What I mean to say with this is that I feel that (speaking for myself) we WANT the credit, even if it has a lot to do with who are children are. Instead of reveling in the glory that is our children designed by God, we look at how well they've acted and how we've guided them there.

Make any sense? I feel like I'm still going to get some eyebrows raised, but I'm reflecting on also how when we achieve something through God's grace we want to hold all the recognition for ourselves instead of turning back to God and saying "to God be the glory!"

Stumbled upon this thought while cleaning up after lunch and wanted to write it down to continue to chew on it (myself).

Love+d

God has created such a journey for my life and for my families.
I love seeing all the obstacles we've made it through, and continue to.
Never have I seen a time where I was ever forgotten.
Ever neglected.
God has been completely. utterly. astoundingly. FAITHFUL.

It's never the easiest journey, and it was never guaranteed to be.
But so. so. worth it.
The courage God has instilled in me through all of the trials I've faced has prepared me for so much more.
For whatever journey comes next.

Something that has been on my heart so strongly lately is the issue of: time.
How are we spending our time?
How are we perceiving time? unending? limited?

I've been so much more attuned to the matter of time being fleeting. How to take full advantage of the time placed before me. To no longer waste the time that has been given me.

I read in my devotional this evening (from Word for you Today):
" The arch enemy of spiritual growth is busyness, which is closely tied to something the Bible calls “worldliness”—getting caught up with society’s agenda to the neglect of walking with God. Any way you cut it, a key ingredient to prospering is—time. Not left-over time, not throw-away time, but quality time. Time for meditation; time for communication. Unhurried, uninterrupted time with God."

  

So. so. so. good.

I urge you to look at your life and consider how you are spending your time, just as I am urging myself to do the same. 

Do you constantly keep yourself busy without leaving time for God, as well as time for God to do miraculous, unpredicted, things? 

Consider.

Missin' you

I've been missing posting fashion pics on here for a while. I haven't been getting pictures of what I've been wearing (which seriously, is a total bummer because I feel like I've been rocking my own socks off lately). But here a couple oldies, but goodies. I realized I never posted what I wore on my GOLDEN BIRTHDAY! So, here's the pic ;)

Missing you all!

Mrs. One Row

my apologies

So, I need to start this off by apologizing about my being absent on here. I know I've been MIA, and honestly, that wasn't planned. I just ended up needing an unexpected break from some things, and keeping up with my blog ended up being one of those.

Mr.OneRow and I have been busy with life and work and balancing it all. I have a sense of big transition and some things that are sort of hanging in the balance at this point. They're not bad things, just a waiting game. But, through the years, we've gotten really good at this, and have become so much more patient through the wait. God is so good.

I recently read the book, "Heaven is for real." I know there are a lot of you out there who have also read this book, and I have to tell you, its changed my perspective. Reading the experience of this young boys in Heaven and meeting Jesus and his tangible experience of meeting the One who hears our prayers, it has made me feel so much closer to the One I'm praying/talking to. My prayer life has changed.

My love and desire for those around me to know the Truth of Jesus Christ is stronger than it was before, because now, I see Jesus so much more tangibly. How His love for us is unending.

I have the Hope of meeting my beloved Emery. In the book "Heave is for real" the little boy who experienced Heaven recounts meeting his sister that his parents miscarried, and how she came to him, gave him tons of hugs, and told him that God adopted her. The boy asker her, her name and she said she didn't have one because their parents didn't give her one.

I cried. and cried. and cried.

We named Emery. He has a name. I was so overjoyed at knowing, we named him! And that, God adopted him.

I ran across a journal entry of mine from a few years back: 03/09/10: during prayer I saw a vision, "When we were praying with my in-laws before they left my FIL prayer over our family and our future kids. I felt God say "3 more" but almost like triplets, like they'll all come together or one right after the other."
I took a moment after reading this to think about it. I realized that we miscarried Emery in July (he was 9 weeks 5 days) and in September we became pregnant with Audrey. They came one right after the other. Almost like twins.
I was shocked when I realized this.

God prepares us. I am always amazed looking back on visions and words from God in my journals to realize they have come to pass. He is with us. Preparing us. Guiding us.

Thank you Father.

Make something Monday: Counting

So, this isn't a tutorial on how to make a homemade dress or blanket or something like that, but a project to do with your kids who are learning to count.

 This morning I spent some time with my 3 1/2 year old to work on her numbers and counting. I pulled out my muffin pan, some dry beans (I keep on hand for projects), a marker, and some sticky notes. SUPER easy way to throw together a counting exercise. 

My daughter really enjoyed looking at the numbers and figuring out what corresponding pile of beans went with the right number. We also took the large tub of beans and I had her count out her own bean amounts and then put them in the corresponding number. 

I hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

What you'll need:

muffin tin

sticky notes

marker

dry beans

scissors (to cut down your sticky notes if they're too big)

My little busy body counting out her beans

Enjoy!

Fashion Tuesday: GOLD!

OK, so it's my Golden Birthday tomorrow! 

For some of you (or most of you) a golden birthday means you're the same age as the day you were born. For me, I'm turning 27 tomorrow on the 27th of June!

I would love to share a Gold Birthday story with you.

When I was really little (lets say about 7) I heard the term "Golden Birthday." Somehow I got it into my head that you actually were GOLD on your birthday. Like, not just gold pants or shoes, but actually painted Gold! I've always thought that this particular birthday was a super big deal, only to find as I've gotten older that a large majority of people don't even know what a Golden Birthday is. So, this birthday, I decided I wanted to be Gold. But, I'm not going to go so far as to paint myself Gold (even though I admittedly would LOVE to) but I'm going to wear some super shiny, awesomely gold leggings (brought to me by mine truly - my husband). So, I wanted to highlight the awesome gold outfit possibilities out there because gold is on my mind!

I will be wearing gold leggings similar to these. Woop!

P.S. 

I want to apologize for the links to these images. I found the majority of these on Pinterest, and discovered that when I went to find the actual source a lot of them were either linked improperly or only took me to another pinterest site. So, again, I apologize. I would have rather linked them back up to their original sources but unfortunately, it didn't work out for me that way.