Digging In

 Today's warm weather inspired me to go work in the garden. We are so close, folks! I was really pining for some good winter weather, but after today, I think I'm ready for spring. I love the life and color it brings with it. Veggies, fruits, flowers, leaves, grass! Know what I mean?

 I guess it's warm enough for weeds to start sprouting up, because I spent most of the day picking them out of the dirt. Gotta get some newspaper and mulch down to stop those suckers.

Hope you all had a restful weekend. Let's get to livin'!

p.s.- Major props to all you fashion bloggers! I was embarrassed just having Kevin take these photos for me.

Resolution Check-In

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I thought it'd be fun to check-in and update on how my resolutions are going so far. Am I the only one that can hardly believe it's almost March? I am looking forward to daylight savings on the 10th; an extra hour of daylight!

Talk less, love more. Well, maybe you should ask Kevin and my friends and family on this one. I can only say I hope I am doing better at this. I have realized I haven't said many things that make me feel extremely guilty right after they escape my mouth, so I guess that's good. Onward!

Have a successful garden. I've got my online cart all loaded up with organic seeds from High Mowing Seeds. Just waiting til payday (tomorrow) to purchase them. Erika has so enthusiastically offered to help me garden, so I am doubly pumped to get started! We hope to be sewing some seeds indoors within the next 2 weeks.

Get more involved with my neighbors. Wah-wah...FAIL. Well, I have talked to my neighbor to the West more than I have in the past. He is very kind. He looks kind of mean and rough, so I guess that shows me not to judge a book by it's cover. 

Go to school. I haven't done it yet, but by gosh, I plan on doing it in the fall. I just haven't decided if I want to get my BS in Horticulture or if I just want to get a certificate of Horticulture. What should I do, bloggersphere?

Learn to knit. Oh gosh, I wish. I need at least 2 more hours in the day! 

Read more. PEOPLE. I have read more in the past 2 months than I can ever remember reading. So far I've read Love Does by Bob Goff (I CANNOT RECOMMEND THIS ENOUGH!!!!), I'm almost finished with Beth Moore's So Long Insecurities, and I'm almost done with Pride and Prejudice. All these books I highly suggest.
Kevin and I were going to try to read through the whole Bible for lent. We've read every day, but just not the suggested 30 chapters in order to meet that goal, which I've decided is OK. It's not about how good I am at keeping that goal, it's what God does to me and through me and how he is glorified in the process. It's been good to get into the Word every day. I love learning more about God's character. Next on the list: 7 by Jen Hatmaker and Follow Me by David Platt.

Give more without complaining or worrying. I'm not sure about this one either...Kevin would probably be a better judge of this than myself. After reading Love Does, Bob Goff has inspired me to be, as he calls it, "secretly awesome." So...maybe it's a secret how I'm doing with this goal!

How about you guys? Are you being too hard on yourself? Or not disciplined enough? Or your resolutions brought on even more resolutions? I'd love to hear!

Hello, 2013!

 This is my verse for 2013. I don't usually tend to reflect back on the year and make resolutions for the one ahead, but for some reason, this year has been different. I was actually overjoyed when 2013 began. I'm only 2 days in so far, but it's already been a fragrant reminder of God's grace. He has given me another day/month/year to begin anew. Another opportunity to live the life of love and freedom He designed for me. I'm just feeling so thankful for that, because this past year was not my best "loving"-wise. So, yes...Paul, thank you for reminding me that I am a new creation in Christ. The old is gone, the new is here! That is good news my friends!

Without further adieu, here's some things I'm hoping to work on or even accomplish in 2013:

Talk less, love more. I mean talking in all ways possible. But mostly talking less about me loving people, talking less about wanting people to love other people, etc. and actually LOVING PEOPLE! It's a revolutionary idea. And one I need to do, Lord help me. I did too much talking in 2012.

Have a successful garden. Corn, carrots, tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, okra, kale and much more. I've spent a long time dreaming about this, and dang-it, I'm gonna do it. I've got my garden plot about 75% complete. If I can get it done by March, I'll be on a good track for getting things planted on time to have a fruitful harvest.

Get more involved with my neighbors. I'm sad to say I only know the names of 3 of my neighbors. I'm hoping I can step out of my little bubble and be bold enough to talk to strangers right across the street. Maybe I'll bake them cookies...

GO TO SCHOOL! This one is in all caps because I never thought I'd want to go back to college. I'm planning on taking a few classes this fall for horticulture. It sounds nerdy, but I love everything that involves getting my hands in the dirt. I can't wait!

Learn to knit. Sweaters and mittens and hats, oh my!

Read more. I'm talking everything: The Bible (most importantly), the books I got for Christmas, and more nonfiction. I just don't read enough nonfiction. It's good for the imagination! Maybe I should finish Harry Potter. I'm on book four, and have been...for 2 years. Whoops.

Give more without complaining or worrying. More money, more time, more resources, more of anything I can. I want my heart to be transformed to look more and more like Jesus. And like Anne Frank said, no one ever became poor by giving. God's always been so faithful to provide, so I need to be more faithful with what He's given me.

I'm sure I'll think of more throughout the year, and gosh, I sure hope to be able to progress in most of these. It's going to be a great year for seeing how God molds me further into who I'm created to be.

Welcome, 2013. It's going to be a good one!

p.s.- Thanks to Meg, Mandy, and Catherine for inspiring me to make a list!

A Weekend in Pictures: Eureka Springs

 Kev and I stole away to Eureka Springs this weekend. We went back in March, but it was so cold and it wasn't a popular time to visit, so hardly anything was open. The weather was still a bit brisk this time around (we even got sleeted on, what?!), but the town was much more hoppin'. It's definitely a beautiful time of year to go with the fall colors starting to poke through.

 Let's talk about how awesome that tree house is. There are about 5 or 6 houses similar to this that you can rent out. We wanted to this time, but they were all booked. I would love to live there!

 Traveling with Kevin is probably number one on my most favorite things to do. Sometimes we talk about selling everything we have, getting an RV and traveling the U.S. to tell people about Jesus. Who knows if that will ever happen, but it's fun to dream!

Did you have a good weekend? I hope you're getting to enjoy this weather, too. It's so good for the spirit!

Fair Time (because there's not a better title)

 Bet you thought I was never coming back here, didn't you? I guess that's been partially true. I just haven't been in the mood to blog because  a) I thought of nothing interesting to share and b) maybe I'm lazy. So, I'll make no promises. It makes it more suspenseful if I don't blog everyday, anyway...right?

 Kev and I took Brandon and Thomas to the fair on Tuesday night. It was B's first time to go, and I think he loved it, minus all the walking. "Uhhhhhhhhhh my legs are gonna fall off," after he sits on the dirty and cricket infested pavement in the middle of the midway. What a kid.
 And when did Thomas get 6 inches taller than me? STOP GROWING UP, THOMAS! I don't want to be the shortest in the fam, but it's looking like I am going to be... unless Brandon stops growing for some reason.
 Oh yeah, I forgot to mention we collectively ate: donut burger, pineapple whip, giant pretzel, corn, slushie, and a funnel cake. Terribly delicious.

Adios, friends. WEAR A SWEATER TOMORROW AND ALL WEEKEND BECAUSE IT'S GOING TO BE COLD!