All the time

I can be a woman, but that doesn't make me a supermodel.

I can have long hair, but it doesn't make me pretty.

I can have a great husband, but it doesn't make me a great wife.

I can sleep 8 hours a night, but I don't get any younger.

I can drink milk, but I don't turn into a cow.

I can fly in a plane, but it doesn't make me a pilot.

I can love Massachusetts, but it doesn't mean I can live there.

I can tell people I love them, but it doesn't mean they'll believe me.

I can hug my dogs, but it doesn't mean they understand why.

I can say hi to a stranger, but it doesn't mean they understand my caring nature.

I can love, but it doesn't mean I'll be loved in return.

I can ask God, but it doesn't mean I'll get what I'm hoping for.

We deny him, and God forgives us 77x7.

We reject him, and God loves us the same yesterday, today, and forever.

We don't deserve him, but he calls us his own children if we will only call on his name.

Nations are like dust to him, but he still cares about our sick dog and our house payment.

Thank him.

Serve him.

Love him.

And most importantly, don't forget to do it...all the time.

Laura Kimsey Designs

Meet my friend Laura Kimsey. If you want an incredibly meticulous, detail oriented designer, who takes great pride is creating something unique that you will cherish forever, be sure to visit Laura's website at www.laurakimsey.com or visit her on Etsy! She does absolutely beautiful work. I have one sitting in my house, and I love it!

Sharae + Ade

Had the BEST time with this fun fun couple. Can't wait to show you more.

Top 5 Moments of the week

1. Boston Beauty

2. Macy's Day Parade with Grant and Lindee
3. Spending a week with my best friend, Jonathan
4. Unexpectedly seeing Justin Bieber on the Today show
5. Spending time with my family

I need your help

I've been in such a book slump lately! Can someone recommend some great new reads for a poor girl?

Top 3

Top three things from yesterday:

1. Buying a Holga (which by the way, I ruined my whole roll of FILM TODAY from all of pictures from Boston!!!!! Trust me, this will not happen again.)

2. All things pictures happened.

3. Walking through little Italy and eating a fancy Italian Restaurant with Jonathan.

Top three things from today:

1. Seeing Harvard

2. Singing Christmas Carols walking home (even though it's not even Thanksgiving...who cares)

3. Fire & Ice with the Ledbetters (Definitely try out this restaurant if you visit)

On another note, this city is so far (and I have traveled to about 40+ states, so I'm not just saying this) is my very favorite. The old school charm, movie-like homes, and restored buildings & shops are absolutely dreamy. But...I won't judge quite yet, cause I haven't seen NYC yet. :)

Boston

Friends, I meant to blog BEFORE I left, but luckily, technology is wonderful and sitting here resting my feet, I can't think of anything else I'd love to do quite as much. :) So...let me tell you about the top 3 things from today. I'll try to post pictures when I get back, but for now, every once in a while, I'll try to let you in the loop.

1. When our friends, the Bradleys, came and picked us up at 5:45am dressed up as a limo service--including suit/tie, door services, chilled drinks with STRAWS, candy, assorted nuts, a SIGN on the door of the car, and a specially mixed CD for a Meisner/Bradley dance party on the way to the airport. We have the best friends!

2. Running across the street holding Jonathan's hand, laughing uncontrollably.

3. Leaving the camera at home...and taking in the memories :) So worth it.

YouVersion Bible App

Have you heard of YouVersion? If not, today is your lucky day! This free app is sweeping the world with it's easy to use online bible translations where you can easily post verses or thoughts to Facebook or Twitter. It offers online reading plans, which you can read right from your phone, computer, or ipad, and allows you to easily comment on scripture, interact with others, and so much more. In January alone, YouVersion is hoping to have an awesome 1 billion minutes read. Can you even imagine how awesome that would be for people to be reading the bible that much?!

Goal or not, lets reach more people for Christ. Maybe consider what you can do to help spread the word. Maybe you can tweet a verse or encourage a free download of the app to a friend in the month of December. Lets get it out there!

Wild love

Sometimes I think about my life, and about what God has done in it, and I really can't help but cry. I'm going to be completely honest and just say that I am a baby when it comes to God. I usually don't cry during sad movies, I can sometimes make it through Extreme Makeover Home Edition, but when it comes to God, I'm a goner. I can't pray, I usually can't talk about Him, and I certainly can't write this blog without...tears. I love Him so much. If He were sitting here with me, I'd probably lean over and squeeze His face until He told me to stop. He means everything to me, and no one can ever take Him away. He's my best friend and He loves me enough to show me discipline, give me knowledge that I don't feel like I deserve, and hope for a lifetime. I've learned to love His still small voice and He shows me the way to go if I just stop and listen. I really really love quiet times with Jesus before bed, in the car, and in the morning before anyone in the house is up. He's my quiet friend. If you ever want to talk, email me. Love you all. Praying for my readers tonight. God is insanely wild about you. :)

The Jacobsons

Here is a sneak peak of the Jacobson Family. I've loved this family since the first day I ever met them. If you know them, you know what I mean don't you?

Christmas Gift Tags

Go ahead and print some adorable Christmas gift tags here on 8.5 x 11 paper and string them to any or all of your packages this year! Special thanks to inside the black apple for sharing these adorable little tags. Your gift to us is so appreciated. :)

McKennon

It was bathtime with my nephew last night. Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhh LOVE!

Statzney Family

Sneak Peak! Had way too much fun with this family. Adorable.

Before and After

$100 Office makeover. Yes, it can be done.

Here are the before and after pictures of our home office from our mini-makeover in October. :) So sorry for the delay in posting. I didn't get my way with BLACK, but Jonathan negotiated pretty close. I think it was a significant improvement overall. Offices are funny places, aren't they? Because really, they never look "cute" to me. They can't be cute with papers and crap laying around, but hey, I can try!

(Special thanks to my sweet Aunt Carol for funding this project!)

At Our House

We do second chances.

We do real.

We do grace.

We do I'm sorrys.

We do hide and seek.

We do family.

We do dancing.

We do loud.

We do hugs.

We do laughter really well.

We do awesome.

We do love.

What do you do?

MORE Jessica

As promised, here are a few more! This girl is b-eautiful!

Believe Me

You are everything to him.

Did you know that God can't get enough of you? You can't ever make him so mad he'll stop loving you, you can't run so far that he can't find you, you can't yell at him long enough--he's not going to yell back...ever, and you certainly can't ignore him and expect to be happy. You need him--just like the air you breathe. God loves you. Like deep down, true, gotta have it love.

Have you royally screwed up again and again? Oh good. Me too. I knew I wasn't the only one out there! Good thing he doesn't judge us and count our mistakes. He forgives...and forgets. Should we try to live our lives to please him? Well absolutely! Isn't that how you should live toward anyone you truly love?

We are worth more to him than our shady past, our stupid mistakes, and the problems we create daily. If you rang up the entire grand total of everything you've ever done wrong, there's no way you would ever be able to pay it in your entire lifetime, so God stepped in, and paid the bill for you. He stands patiently, waiting for us to get up after we fall down and run back to him. He's waiting every time. Don't let him down.

He's given everything to you. You mean the world to him. He literally gave up his son to save your life. Love him back already. Let his love fill your life and rule your world. You'll never ever be sorry. Wow.

I say it, cause I believe it. I believe it, because I know him.

Boot Love

My word, I love the smell of fresh leather! I got some fabulous new boots today, so naturally, I feel the need to show them to you. :) This particular style is made by Zigi, but I'm sure you can find a boot that fits your style perfectly. Trust me, there are more than enough choices to go around! Have fun shopping! It's okay, go boot shopping!

Sneak Peak // Jessica

This girl is awesome! And I'm in love with her scarf. :)

Check back for more later ...as always! :)

True that!

Christ's power in our lives enables us to choose others over self, purity over compromise, forgiveness over resentment, hope over despair.

-Dennis King