Making Time to Rest in Him.

A couple days this week I woke up in a panic when I saw that it was almost 7 am! You see because my kiddos are usually both awake by 6:30 am on any normal given day. A couple days this week they slept in really late, completely unusual for them. 

I sat there in my cozy bed and warm covers and contemplated drifting back to sleep myself. Then I realized that this was the perfect opportunity for me to get up and spend time with Jesus and practice resting in Him in a tangible way.

One morning this week I made Trader Joe's pumpkin rolls grabbed my coffee and opened the shades in my kitchen. It was already bright and beautiful outside. I sat and read my Bible, journaled a bit and sipped my coffee while it was still hot.

It was kinda magical. :)

I've quickly come to realize over these last few months that if I'm going to Rest in Christ and really do that I have to make time for it. I have to clear my schedule and make time for it. I have to be intentional about it. No one else is going to make it a priority but me.

And I've already seen how this practice really starts my day well. I feel more patient with my children. I feel more focused when I do this. 

In what ways are you making practical efforts to Rest in the Lord? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

My Newest Obsession; Instagram Albums.

Instagram is by far my favorite social media outlet right now! You know me pictures are my deal, I love them, I have them all over my house and I love making memory books from our yearly photos. 

I've been really trying to challenge myself to get photos off my camera and make sure I print out my Instagram photos each month. I don't print all of them, I just pick a few favorites and print those. We R Memory Keepers has the cutest little instagram albums that you can put all of your photos into, they also have coordinating journal cards for easy scrapbooking. 

I print all of my photos at home, using my HP Photosmart 7525 printer using regular photo paper. If you have a great printer choosing to print them at home is a lot more cost effective because you can size them smaller and fit more than one photo per page. After printing them I trim some of them down to the size I need them to be. 

Using the journal cards and some of the additional items in their albums made easy packs I get to work making these fun little albums. It really is just so easy to slip them into the sleeves and you have a really pretty and cute album. 

Products Used:

• Inked Rose Albums Made Easy
• 4x4 Mint Instagram Album
• 4x4 Gold Instagram Album

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Crest & Bloom Creative Meet-Ups

A couple months back I came across a beautiful creative meet up event while stalking some Instagram friends. I was delighted to see that it was here locally in Phoenix, and I knew I had to be apart of the next event! 

Crest & Bloom Creative Meet-Ups is the collaboration of Jennifer from Henny & Coco and Jenn from Sincerely Jenn. I love their heart to connect other women to each other, to inspire them to be there best. There's no competition here, just genuine women who honestly care about working together and helping each other. 

That is a beautiful thing and something I can jump on board with!

Beautiful banners created by Juney House Shop

Today they hosted their second creative meet up event for bloggers, handmade business owners and other creatives. The beautiful event was held at North Italia in Phoenix. On their beautiful outdoor patio which was perfect for this sunny October day! 

Me and Jennifer. Check out her adorable blog and children's accessory shop called Henny & Coco! 

This is Jennifer, she's one of the masterminds of this great event. I stalked her a bit on Instagram after their last event and quickly found out we have much in common starting with the fact we're both Iowa girls! I loved getting to meet her and she greeted me with the biggest hug! Felt like we'd known each other years! 

I went into this event not knowing if I'd know anyone else who was attending, which as an introvert is super hard for me to do sometimes. Because I'm not the best at small talk. But God has shown me over the last several months as he's growing me personally that it's good to get out of my comfort zone & stretch myself.

I was so pleased to find that every last woman that was there was warm, friendly and genuine about each conversation I had with them. We did sort of a "speed" networking as we sat around our tables I was able to converse with many of the ladies who attended, met some really great people and made some awesome new connections. 

Blown away by this event Jenn & Jennifer seriously knocked it out of the park! 

I'm so excited to attend the next Creative Meet-Up. BIG thanks to these sponsors for helping to make this event happen today; @floatingspecks, @camelbackflowershop, @laurenashbyphoto, @justsimplyL, @eatnorthitalia, @ruffledpaper, @jkyamzon, @urbanwalls

If you're interested in attending the next Crest & Bloom meet up follow them on Instagram @crestandbloom or you can email Jenn@sincerelyjenn.com to be added to the invite list.

Thank you Crest & Bloom for hosting such an awesome event! I loved meeting everyone today and I'm already looking forward to the next! 

Pure and Blameless.

I read this scripture in Philippians last week and it really humbled me. Let me share it with you.

Be pure and blameless until Christ's return. Filed with the fruit of righteousness. 1: 10-11

Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, pure, lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is praise worthy think about these things. 4:8

Be pure and blameless. 

Sometimes we get in situations we aren't sure what to do, or what the next step is. Sometimes those situations are sticky and we feel like there's no graceful way out. Or maybe we got stuck in the middle of something we never should have been in the first place but here we are. 

What do you do?

When I read be pure and blameless it was honestly God just saying in a small way;

"Here's what you do, you remain pure and blameless."

Some might call this as taking the high road. You've heard that before haven't you? I have many times and honestly there's times when I don't always want to do that.

But reading these scriptures reminded me that God has a much bigger plan than my own, he's got a much bigger purpose for me. And I need to remain pure and blameless. I need to remain a light of hope for those who don't know Him. 

I rest in him by resting on these virtues. 

When Complacency Grows.

noun, plural complacencies.

1.

a feeling of quiet pleasure or security, often while unaware of some potential danger, defect, or the like; self-satisfaction or smug satisfaction with an existing situation, condition, etc.

Have you ever read this definition of the word complacent? Go ahead read that, let it sink in a little bit. 

Here's the thing I've learned about being complacent before in seasons of my life; 

There's simply no room for God to move.

A feeling of quiet pleasure or security.

Unaware of the danger we're building relying on ourselves, instead of the Lord.

Seeking self-satisfaction instead of seeking to please the Lord.

When we have an attitude of complacency we have no room to let the Lord come into our lives and have control.

When I'm complacent it's all about me and my own agenda. It's all about what I want and not the Lord. And slowly you start making justifications for what you're doing, and how you're doing it so that it fits all of the above.

I want God to have free reign in my life. To let him into the messy parts of me and let him make something beautiful.

But I can't do that if I have a complacent attitude, if I'm not willing to give him a place in my life. 

A place to challenge me to the point of growth.

A place to have a voice in my life.

A place to rest in my heart.

What areas of your life would God want to challenge you in during this season of life?

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