It's God Time...

Lately, God has been showing me that it is His strength that must get me through things. I had coffee the other day with the amazing Mary Roy. We sat and talked for the better part of an hour just about how if you rely on your own strength to get you through whatever it is you are dealing with, you will be exhausted and more than likely disappointed because you can't make it. God's strength is the only thing you can trust. Especially when you feel like Paul and you "...do the things you don't want to do..." and you "don't do the things that you want to do..." it seems like a burden. In my life lately, it's been a constant battle of what I know in my heart is the right thing to do, and what my flesh, my worldly self, wants to do. Reading in Psalm this morning, I stumbled on this verse...

"Thus my heart was grieved, And I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant; I was like a beast before You. Nevertheless I am continually with You; You hold me by my right hand. You will guide me with your counsel, And afterward receive me to glory. Whom have I in heaven but You? And there is none upon earth that I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart fail; But God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

Psalm 73:21-26

Oh. My. Goodness. Can God even be more clear? More perfect? More comforting? It's like He is just screaming that His strength is perfect in my weakness. He uses David's words in the Psalms to show that we are ALL weak. We are all grieved and foolish. I love how David refers to himself as a beast. Have you ever felt like you are a beast before God? Out of control? I know I can totally relate to how David's heart is feeling in this passage. My flesh fails. Time and time again. But, God is the strength of my heart. And He is my portion forever. 

Today, I feel so connected. So in love with Him. Thank goodness that His mercies are new every morning. Amen? (That's the old baptist comin' out in me!) Well, the coffee has kicked in, the word of God has kicked in, and I'm ready for another day. 

-Much Love- 

Bethany

DIY excitement...

Until recently, I had no idea what "DIY" stood for. I eventually figured it out, and now I can't get enough of "do-it-yourself" projects. So naturally, a couple of days ago I was searching for something to be artsy craftsy with and I found the perfect project... Inspired by blog.craftzine.com  I found a cute little camera bag.

After seeing this, I just couldn't resist. When I went back to look for this picture to post, there were a ton of cute bags posted on google images (I know I'm lame).

I loved it so much that I made my sister one! My mom also made my youngest sister a cell phone cover that looked similar. So stinkin' cute. I'll share the secrets....

What you'll need:

scissors

variety of felt

cute bottons

embroidery thread

embroidery needle

Step 1: Measure out the felt around your camera/phone/item in one long strip. Then cut two smaller strips of felt the same size (but leave room for stitching!!!) as the top and bottom of your item. Be sure to leave one end curved and one end straight on those smaller pieces.

Step 2: Cut out as many felt circles as desired. On my bag, I cut two circles (one smaller & one larger) for the lens. Don't forget the little squares for the flash!

Step 3: Using your device as a tool, measure where everything should be sewn on (example: buttons). It is much easier to sew on the embellishments before you sew the whole thing together. 

Step 4: After you've sewn on all of the buttons and cutesy things, use a running stitch to sew the top and bottom on. Hold the felt together tightly so that it won't move around on ya! 

It's as easy as that! Or as hard. Whichever. My mom did one in about 30 minutes... It took me more like an hour. With the excess felt on the end, I just use it as a flap and tuck it into the actual case for a nice finished look. Isn't it so stinkin' cute? Now go make something!!! Comment if you have any questions. 

-Much Love-

Bethany

Bracelets...

I was so excited to get to go home this past weekend! I got to hang out with my family and catch up on what's going on with them. I don't know if I more excited to see them, or to give them their souvenirs from California!!! It's not a lot, but I got them these sweet bracelets in old town San Diego. They are hand woven and have such beautiful colors. I was worried Ben would think it was too girly, but he loved it! So I'm relieved. Here's a visual to the left. Another one of my weekend highlights was being creative with my wonderful mom. I am always so inspired by something I see and I want to add my own creative twist, but I can never seem to get the basics down! This would include sewing, stitching, cooking, that sort of thing. She's been a pro since she was probably five years old. So I love going home and learning from her. I'm actually getting better! Check back soon for some DIY instructions of what we made! Until then.

-Much Love-

Bethany

Monday Combinations...

So... I realize this is a little bit late in the evening (slash morning) but, in my mind, I haven't gone to bed yet so it's still Monday! Lots of crazy things happened this weekend and believe me I have a ton of things to write about and pictures to post... but all of that will come later. For tonight.... it's a new combination. Last week's hint read back to the future. This has to do not with the movie, but with my obsession over vintage clothing and buttons. By the looks of it, vintage is the new future. There are so many adorable things out there that would love to be worn again. That perfect dress for a late night out on the town, or that cute little apron that your nana used to cook in. It's all just waiting to come alive again! And buttons? They are my newest love. I've made so many things with them. And they add so much to the vintage look (especially if you can go through your grandmother's old button collection). I'll post pictures soon of some lovely things I've been inspired to make. Until then!

Next week's combination: A recipe for disaster.

-Much Love-
Bethany

It's God Time...

Don't you hate those moments where God just pounds something in until you finally realize, "Wow, I get it!" God has been really showing me that it doesn't matter how many times I mess up, He still loves me. His grace is sufficient. It's hard to know sometimes where to draw the line. That's because a line just won't do. One argument that people give as to why they don't want to have a relationship with the God of the universe is because they've been "too bad". Well, how bad is too bad? The bible says that all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. I know in my case, it's been more like a plummet instead of a fall. This morning, I heard a song that described my heart perfectly right now. It's by Aaron Shust. Get ready for this...

God of unending grace, I come to You on my face
I need to hear You speak to me, won't You make me new right now
God of omnipotent power, visit us in this hour
And may we leave here changed because we've met with You, God

You've been more wonderful to me than I could have ever imagined
You've shown more love than I could show in a thousand years
And although it seems at times like it all means nothing to me
You gotta know that I love You
You gotta know that I need You

God of wisdom and love, sent down from above
Give us all a taste of what Your Holy Spirit can do
Time and time again we've betrayed, but our debt's already been paid
And all that leaves me wanting is to live for you, God

When the world crashes down around me
I know You'll be there to pull me out from the rubble
When my enemy surrounds and I call on your name
You'll be there to deliver me from my troubled soul

Rescue me from all my selfish ways
and thoughts and deeds and plans
Lead me in the everlasting way
and I will follow you there

-Much Love-
Bethany

California Girls ((yes it's late))...

As much as I tried to keep up with the blogging, the last couple of days in California I got a little bit lazy. I'm back to wonderful, humid Oklahoma now. I will definitely miss California, but being back is good too. So as I eat my bowl of mac & cheese and catch up on some laundry, I thought I would share some pictures of the last couple of days with you.

Something that I had only done once before going to Cali was getting a pedicure. Some girls can't go two weeks without getting one, I see why. It was so good just being with the girls and getting all prettied up! After we got our toenails done and walked around a little bit, we met up with the guys and ate at probably the best little burger joint around called Knockout Burger. It was such a good atmosphere! Right off of the beach, so as the song says "... daisy dukes bikinis on top..." were definitely the style.


The last day we spent in California, we went to old town San Diego and walked around. It reminded me of a mini Silver Dollar City, except for it was real. If that makes sense. Lots of old houses and cool things to look at. There was a mini market with little trinkets to buy. See for yourself!



I bought a couple of little souvenirs at the market for a few very special people, so once the secret is out, I'll post pictures. Can't ruin those surprises!!!! Life is back to normal now though, back to good ol' work! Until next time!

-Much Love-
Bethany

Monday Combinations...

So incase you haven't been able to tell, I love to eat. Pretty much any food. But especially sweets. Also, I could spend the majority of my day in a coffee shop and be completely fine with it (and I have done this many times). So naturally, when you combine delicious cupcakes with hot coffee, you can't say no. I know it's a little bit goofy, but this combination was just too perfect not to write about. I've been dying to go to the place in OKC called Cuppies and Joe. I've never been, but it sounds like it would be just right up my alley!


Next week's hint: Back to the future.




-Much Love-
Bethany

California Girls ((day five))...

Take me out too the ball game! Today, we all loaded up and headed for San Diego to watch the Padres play Arizona. The weather was a little bit chilly in the stadium, but once the sun came out, it was wonderful! Chelsea and I sported our Padres shirts for good reason! We won!!! Six runs to three. And of course it wouldn't be a baseball game without a huge hot dog and a large coke. Delicious.



Sometimes, I like to be a little bit goofy. When I try to tell Chelsea that she is weird, she always tells me that I'm weirder. So... It's true. I can't judge her. Here's a couple of silly pictures with an ambitious guy working out, some tropical mentos (my favorite), and a military "stand up" man.


After the game, we drove the scenic route to La Jolla beach. Yes, it is spanish. I thought that it was spelled "Lahoya" which is the way it is pronounced. Wrong. It was a beautiful beach. Seals like to lay out on the sand, even though people swim around them all the time! There was even a baby seal! It was so cute!!!


What a wonderful day! Now, I'm hearing talk of some yummy pie, and we're gonna hot tub later and watch Shutter Island! It's going to be a long night. Two more days on the west coast. Can't wait to see what tomorrow holds! Until then.

-Much Love-
Bethany

California Girls ((day four))...

One of the best days yet! Not that we did anything crazy out of the ordinary, but I'll be honest with you... shopping and food... that's the way to a girl's heart. This morning, we woke up and ate a great breakfast and then got all prettied up for the day! Shopping in California is the best. It's all really upscale, but I think that is what makes it fun. We shopped until we dropped, and then we shopped some more! We found this really cute little boutique called Papaya that I fell in love with pretty quickly. My kind of store. Shall I show you some of my finds? I'm going to anyway.




When we got home, we were starving!!! We had the best dinner yet. Yes, I was lame and took a picture of it because it was just that good. More homemade tortillas, salsa, guacamole, spanish rice and beans, carne asada, pollo asada, and grilled onions. The watermelon is still calling my name, but after trip number two to the Kincade/Thompson buffet, I'm stuffed... Gotta rest for a while before heading back to the kitchen. Doesn't it look amazing though? I'm loving being part of those Mexican roots. Italians can cook too (aka my family), but it's a whole new realm that I'm finding myself in. And I love it.



The only complaint about the day is my phone pooped out on me. So for those of you who may be trying to get a hold of me, it's a lost cause. Maybe when I get back to the place I call home I'll try and get it fixed. Or not. We'll see. Going to the Padres game tomorrow!!! So excited for some baseball. Until then!

-Much Love-
Bethany

California Girls ((day three))...

The beach! The beach! The beach! What an amazing day. Everything was just so chill. Literally. The water was freezing. But, I loved it. I only got knocked over one time... but at least Chelsea went first. There's not much to say about it other than "wow". I could live on the beach and be the happiest person in the world I'm pretty sure. I was pretty proud of myself too for not burning, until we went shopping and I realized I'm a shade of red that I'm pretty sure isn't normal. Guess the sun takes a few hours to catch up with you! Still... here are some pics!



And this next one is a little something special for someone who I miss very much... Maybe I'll actually give you a copy this time...



Well, shopping at The Forum and a day at the beach was almost as good as our home made dinner. Roast, mac & cheese, rice, and tortillas (from scratch thank you!) Uh-mazing. Well worth waiting for. Can't wait for tomorrow! Until then!

-Much Love-
Bethany

It's God Time...

There isn't much that is more rewarding than spending time with my God. This morning, I am in complete awe of his romance and his love. I heard a song recently called My Beloved by Tenth Avenue North. One of the lines in the song says, "Won't you let me make you my bride. You will drink of my lips. And you'll taste new life. Cause you're my beloved." I can't get over how much He loves me. Even here in California, the living word speaks to me (thank goodness that God travels too). I don't usually do this, but I forgot my devotional book at home, so today, I just opened up randomly to Psalms.

"Blessed is the man You choose, and cause to approach You, that he may dwell in Your courts. We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house, of Your holy temple. By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us, oh God of our salvation, You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth, and of the far-off seas..."
::Psalm 65:4&5::

He is the confidence of the ends of the earth. Of the seas. Of the mountains. Have you ever looked at the ocean? It's not far away for me to right now... Even though I'm probably three miles from it, I see it. It's still there, and it just screams power. If you've ever been to the ocean and looked out across the horizon, it's impossible to see anything but water. It's not just a shy little puddle that has self-confidence issues. God made the mountains, the oceans, everything with power. With confidence. It is a picture of who He is. Everlasting.



-Much Love-
Bethany

California Girls ((day two))...

Have you ever been told not to make a plan? Because if you make a plan, then nothing goes how you thought it would. So yesterday, I thought that we were probably going shopping or to the beach... Wrong. We did something so different than that today. And I loved every minute of it. Today, I went to the San Diego zoo with my amazing room mate Chelsea and her family! It was the most incredible zoo I have ever been to in my life. Visuals...

:: This section should probably be titled "Introduction Slash Being Silly" ::



:: Now... For some animals. ::



:: My all time favorite animal is a giraffe... And yes, I got to feed one with my bare hands. Be jealous. ::



Pretty cool, huh? Story time. While we were waiting to feed the giraffes, a lady that worked at the zoo told us that she had worked there for over twenty years, and her first job was taking care of the giraffes. So she knew all about them. Random fact: Did you know that however tall a giraffe is, that is how long (in inches) their tongue is also? CRAZY!!! The giraffe's name that I fed was Bahati and she was seventeen feet tall!

A lot of firsts today. Feeding a giraffe. Check. Eating my first churro. Check. Delicious by the way. Eating at "That Pizza Place" (yes, it really is called that). Check. Here's a few pictures of some cool stuff I found today. I love to appreciate the little things that make me laugh and the amazing things that make me smile.



Well folks, that's all for today. The hot tub called my name as soon as we got back, and now the bed calls. Until next time!

-Much Love-
Bethany

California Girls ((day one))...

There is nothing more amazing than spending the first day in California just relaxing by the pool, hanging out at the house, and eating some amazing homemade mexican food. Day one in Cali has been sooo good! The very first thing I noticed was the WEATHER!!! Going from hot, humid, 99.98798 degree weather to nothing but sunshine and a light breeze is beautiful. I didn't get to California without some craziness though! Two plane rides with the Thompson family. Need I say more? I love them so much.

1. My beautiful room mate Chelsea and I waiting for our final flight to Cali...

2. We're here! California!

3. My newest place of residence (I could definitely get used to this)...

What will tomorrow hold you might ask? I think maybe a trip to the beach, shopping, or a pedicure? Possibly even all of the above. I'm so excited! Until then...

-Much Love-
Bethany

So Much to Tell...

A little bit more about me... Incase you didn't know, today is a very special day for me. No, it isn't my birthday or anything like that. But it IS my one year and five month anniversary. Normally, my boyfriend and I don't celebrate "month" anniversaries because we both think that is too much lovin'. However, he surprised me on this 13th for some reason, and I'm not complaining! I smiled so big when I found the card that he hid in my house. I'm pretty much completely in love with him! Picture? Yes please.

So there he is. Just the person who I can't live without. No big deal. The funniest thing about the card is that the front said "To my wife..." But, he crossed out wife and put girlfriend. Silly boy. I got a good laugh out of that one. You could say we're pretty serious. And at the same time, we still act like we're five together.

As if the day couldn't get any better, tomorrow I am leaving for California with my beautiful room mate Chelsea! I've never been to the west coast before, but as the song says, "California girls, we're unforgettable!" We shall see! I'm not sure how much blogging will be done in the wonderful, sunny, seventy degree weather, but pictures are a definite yes. Until then!

-Much Love-

Bethany

Monday Combinations...

One thing that will hopefully keep up with on here is what I like to call "Monday Combinations". Explaining further... I love to picnik. It's what I do. Sometimes I get the urge to just edit, edit, edit! So, I decided it would be awesome if I started posting a series of things that go together just splendidly. My personality can be a little bit out there. I probably wouldn't be described as "normal", but abnormality is what makes us all unique, right? So.. Monday number one. You just can't go wrong with a cup of hot cocoa, Jack Johnson, and a rainy day. If the real Jack Johnson could come serenade me, I would probably pass out. However, this is a stretch when it comes to reality. I usually have to settle for listening to his music on a CD or through iTunes. His new album "To the Sea" is phenomenal, by the way. In the end, this series is mostly just a picture (or two) of my personality. I'm really not one to be high maintenance. Don't get me wrong, I love to shop and hang out with the girls. But a rainy day cuddled up on the couch is right up my ally.

Look forward to next week's combo! (Hint: It's going to be delicious.)

-Much Love-

Bethany

It's God Time...

I try to make it my goal to wake up and have time with God first thing in the morning. Just talking with Him and reading His word; truly getting to know more about Him. Some mornings, it doesn't always work out, but just so happens that this morning (over a bowl of Lucky Charms) I had an amazing time hearing what God had to say to me through the Word. Should I share? I think so...

"For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification and redemption, so that, as it is written, 'Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.'"

There is so much power written in 1 Corinthians 1:26-30. This passage just speaks so loudly to me. I could pick it apart and really share everything that God is telling me through Paul's words. But, the big picture painted for me shows that basically, we as humans are not wise. We can't even comprehend the things that God will do. He uses the weak things. When the world tells us nothing but a message of health, wealth, and prosperity, I don't think that they understand this passage. Why would they? Jesus became our wisdom. That is the beautiful thing. From the time that I started walking with Jesus, he has been revealing to me the nature of God. He is God. He became my wisdom. If it weren't for Him, I would still be preaching health, wealth, and prosperity like the rest of the world who is still in darkness. There is no greater love.

Wow. Such an awesome morning already. Lucky charms and a letter from my God. Amazing. On a more random note, I'll probably write more about the wonderful me later today. (Am I getting a little blog crazy? Probably...) 'Till then.

-Much Love-
Bethany

It Had to Happen Sooner or Later...

I knew from day one that a blog would be either a very good idea, or a very bad idea. On one hand, it could be something that I would end up substituting for homework or being productive or sleeping (this is the bad end of the deal). On the other, more positive, end of the spectrum, blogging could help me keep record of all sorts of opportunities and experiences that life will throw at me. I choose to believe the second option and try to keep a handle on the first possibility described. So, here I am. I hope to share with you, and also continue to remind myself of who I am. The title of my blog defines how I want to live. "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly." These words were taken out of the book of John. I have been given the gift of eternal life by my Savior. Not only life, but abundant life.

Hopefully, as I begin to write, this will show through. Keeping a blog of my random, crazy, and abundant life will hopefully remind me not to take anything for granted. It will be random at times, yes. But also, I hope to share how my amazing God is working in my life each and every day.

-Much love-

Bethany