hugs & kisses

 

  

  

 

I picked up a lot of decorations last year after Valentine's day for disgustingly cheap.  There are lots of ways to add red & pink to your existing decor without necessarily using "Valentine" pieces.  I switched out a green bow for a new red one on the vintage ice skates.  Tea light candles or candlesticks are inexpensive and easy way to add a festive splash of color.  (could double for Christmas too!)  Use red (or pink) dishes that you already own- fill with valentine M&Ms or a potted plant.  The red plate was so easy to make for a special display!  Simply take a dry-erase marker and write/draw whatever your heart desires... wipes off so easy and you can change it everyday- maybe even adding a personalized note :)


At the touch of love, everyone becomes a poet.  ~Plato

The heart has its reasons that reason knows nothing of.  ~Blaise Pascal, Pensées, 1670

"A kiss is a lovely trick designed by nature to stop speech when words become superfluous."
-Ingrid Bergman

"There is no remedy for love but to love more."~Thoreau

 

"A lady's imagination is very rapid; it jumps from admiration to love, from love to matrimony in a moment." ~Jane Austen 

 
Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired.  ~Robert Frost 

 

If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?  ~Author Unknown  :)

It's a matter of life or death...

My dad preached a powerful sermon on the Sanctity of Life weekend entitled:

Importance of Life

"Life is love.  Life is precious.  Life is creation.  Life is God-given.

We give thanks for the Importance of Life as we remember 

the 37th anniversary of Roe vs. Wade." 

You can watch the video online {here}

or go to Southeast's website {here} Jan 17th sermon

 

The first 10 minutes of the video is an interview with Rebecca St. James, a multiple Dove and Grammy Award-winning Christian singer, songwriter, musician, author.  She recently starred in a movie called {Sarah's Choice} I have not seen the movie yet, but my whole family, their bible study, and many others were very impressed with it.  She sings a song on the video that she wrote especially for the movie.

I cannot tell you how powerful this sermon was because you will have to watch it for yourself.

I have never been so proud of my dad.  He speaks on the message of Christ... sharing the importance of life and offering forgiveness and grace through Jesus alone.

Have your tissues ready for the end as the service concludes with a sobering Rose Parade representing the millions of lives lost from abortions since Roe vs. Wade.  My dad also tells the end of the Roe vs. Wade story, which I had never heard before, what happened to Jane Roe.  

weekend to remember

Patrick planned a little 

getaway for me!

We are going to a marriage conference/retreat in Chicago at the end of March!

The conference is called 
{Weekend to Remember} 
and several people have recommended it to us.  I think it will be a great opportunity to strengthen our marriage by getting away from everyday distractions, learning from other

Christian couples, and spending quality time together.  The conference we are going to is in Oak Brook (right outside Chicago) but they are all year round in different places of the country.  You can look {here} for more locations.  Join us and tons of other couples as we seek the Lord's help to make our marriages stronger, healthier and glorifying to Him.

thanks {flickr}

quick and easy dog bed

I made Vali a new dog bed the same way I made the pillow in this post {here}

I finished the bed just in time for her recovery after losing her womanhood.

She did a lot of sleeping so it was the best time for her to get used to the new bed.

It's so simple to make and the best thing- it's very easy to clean!

I had leftover fabric from {this project} memoboard makeover

and some brown suede fabric from whoknowswhat...

Once you stuff the pillow inside, place the bed in the perfect cuddle spot for your pup

and I promise- they won't appreciate your hard work and will stay far away

from the comfy dog bed... or actually sleep right next to it on the carpet. 

Finally after a while, I got Vali to at least rest her head on it.  I put her toy

by the bed so it would smell more like her, then she would get a little closer :)

Obviously the bed is a little too small.  She loves to curl up in a ball and sleep 

but I overestimating her shrinking ability.  The real reason: I only had a small

amount of leftover fabric and one extra pillow in this medium size... 

She really does like it and the best part: it matches our bedroom!

  Reagan, you're next pal!  And I promise I'll make yours bigger!

 

Profaite Medeus

Profiate Medeus is a minister in Haiti.

He had the opportunity to study at CCU and learn more

about Preaching and the Bible so he could be better equipped 

 to return to his home and family in Haiti and spread the Gospel.

We met him a couple years ago and Profaite and Patrick

became good friends.  He returned to Haiti over a year

ago, ready to share Jesus with the lost in Haiti.

 Patrick has been in contact with him over the past two weeks

and Profaite emailed these pictures recently...

 

 I was amazed by these pictures 

building crumbled, homes destroyed

this next picture is of their church:

There were some cracks in the concrete and 

they were being careful to make sure the roof was stable

but overall I think it looks pretty good compared to the rest

There have been 3 deaths confirmed in their congregation but I imagine

it will be awhile until they know for sure how many they have lost.

This is part of what he said in the last email:

"First, please keep  praying for us. Secondly, Since many people, including our church members are in big needs, anything that can come down to Haiti, especially money, can help."

This past Sunday Profaite preached to a large crowd 

that gathered in the yard outside of the church.

I wish I could have been sitting on that white blanket 

next to that little boy, front row, hearing Profaite share a

message of true hope to a desperate and hurting crowd.

I'm sure most of you have already donated 

(maybe even some of you crafty ones to CraftHope on Etsy)

but here is some information if you are interested:

G.O. Ministries- donate $ on their website {here}

and select Haiti Relief Fund in the program box

100% of the money will go directly to Haiti relief

If you are in Louisville, {here} is the link where you can find

the list of urgent needs and location to drop items off

or {here} on Southeast Christian's website

We are waiting to hear back from Profaite Medeus

about an address in Haiti and what exactly would 

be the best items for his church to receive.

If you are interested in donating directly to Profaite and his church, 

let me know and I can try to get you his information when he sends it.

I'm sure you all feel the same way, but I feel like I can't do enough 

for these people in Haiti.  I want to get on the next plane

embrace every orphan, offer clean water, 

and fill every aching stomach with a warm meal

but unfortunately that is not possible.

I have needed to remind myself of the amazing power of prayer

prayer for those who need food, those who need rescue,

those who need strength to continue helping others,

those who need a family, a friend

and while all of those people need our prayers

all that really matters are those people who need the ultimate Savior.

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 

2 Thessalonians 3:1

Finally brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord

may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it is with you.

Psalm 33:20-22

We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield.

In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.

May your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD,

even as we put our hope in you.

take me away

I have been daydreaming about the beach all day.

the beach and our honeymoon.

can we please go back?

Just when I think my mind is back on my school paper

about the Roman Empire, Julius Caesar, Caesar Augustus

 I read about ships on the Mediterranean Sea and
I'm now on Crete with my toes in the sand.

freshly painted toes I might add-

(just in case, I wanted to be ready.  the shade is "continuous cocoa")

this next picture is one of the few we have of Patrick's wedding ring

a few weeks after the honeymoon it sank to the bottom of Nolin Lake.

don't worry, he picked up a walmart special 

so his left hand still shows he is taken :) 

o seaside how I love you, your little shops and live music.

hope to see you soon.

Dear Cincinnati gray skies,

please go away.

A dark rumbling thunderstorm would be fine

a sparkling knee-deep snow wonderland is okay too

but misty gray sunless days are depressing

they make my hair quite frizzy

my cozy bed so inviting

and homework impossible.

a little ray of sunshine would be 

greatly appreciated.

gracias

arhaus

I have looked online and in the catalog of Arhaus Furniture

but I had not been in the actual store in a long time.

The store was way better than what I had remembered. wow

oh so expensive, but beautiful ideas.  

Stop by the Kenwood Mall (in Cincinnati)

or your local Arhaus for decorating inspiration

Does God hate Haiti? article

a very powerful and well written article by Dr. Al Mohler

you can read it {here}

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, 

that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.

John 3:16

hurry!

Some of you asked where my best friend Chels got this adorable art for me...

well you can find it on etsy {here} but I think there is only one left!

There is also a cute blogs and tea one for those of you who prefer tea :)

Thanks again Chelsea!!

desktop findings

 

I really needed to clear off my desktop of all the pictures

I had saved while perusing everyone's blogs and websites...

These are several that I really liked :)

Sorry I have no idea where they all came from

feel free to link to them in a comment if you know their origin.

enjoy!