Momma's Birthday

Shhh, don't tell anyone, but my Mommy turned 50 years old last weekend! Almost a week ago we celebrated the life of one of the best woman I will ever and have ever known. My dad planned a surprise party for her, because well, my family loves to surprise one another, it's a thing we like to do. We're famous for it.

It was an amazing gathering, and my mom cried like a baby, because she likes to cry. We're criers to, me and my Mommy. You tell us something nice, we will cry. You give either one of us a surprise party we'll cry. There are many reasons why we cry, usually its because we're so overwhelmed that's the only way we can express ourselves. She cried when she saw videos of her other kids and her grand kids  She cried when she got gifts. And she kissed my father, and it was adorable.

I love my Mommy, and if I grow up to be even a little bit like her, I'll be on a good route. As Proverbs 31 says, her children do indeed call her blessed.

²⁹ 

DIY Paint Sample Craft, Ok Sure!

Hello People, I'm not dead yet. But look, it was Christmas time, we all know how that is! Granted I had some down time, but I used a whole bunch of that for Crafting! So today, I bring you your very own Craft DIY yourself blog post from yours truly! You should also know that this is not the only one that you will be seeing here!

So today's project was done on the first Snow Day, and it was all done with things I just happened to have laying around my room. The first thing I had laying around? Paint Samples.

So after searching the internet for forever, I decided to use them to make a picture for my house that said "Ok Sure" because when a certain someone asked me to be his Bride, that's what I said (articulate, right?!). My 15 year old little sister thinks this is hilarious, therefor, I needed to have it somewhere in my house. So I grabbed a cup of coffee and went to town. 

Great coffee cup, right?! Ha!

What I did was cut out circles. Big circles and then smaller ones. And then I started to combine colors. I'm not a really good craft planner, so most of these were just hap-hazard, and I wasn't really going for a color scheme. If you are more OCD (like my Beloved) I'm sure you could spend hours getting just the right color combo! Me however? I just threw them together. I did place them together BEFORE gluing them down (this was a big deal for me ok people!) It started to look a little something like this:

I used clear glue just because it was there. In hindsight, using a sturdier paper would have made for less wrinkles. After I got the circles glued together, I started placing them on the paper where I wanted them.

After I did that I used several green paint sample chips to make the letter Ok Sure. I glued those onto OTHER paint chips and THEN I glued them down to the paper. The final product looked a little something like this:

I had a lot of fun with this project, and the glue and frame and paint samples are all FREE! And if you really needed a frame, the Dollar store has some good ones! 

I'm excited to get to hang this somewhere in my house. I like the idea of making things to make my Beloved and I's house look like our home. I'm learning the difference. He likes the idea of me making things for OUR little house. I can't help but smile at all these wedding pictures I see where the bride is holding a sign that said, "I said yes" or the groom is holding a sign that says "she said yes". 

Me, I said, "Ok, Sure." :)

And I'm so glad that I did. 

The aftermath!

Take Time to Play

My blog post tonight is about playing. Yes, playing. When was the last time that you played? And I mean, really just played? It doesn't matter what it was you played, it doesn't have to be dolls or toys or things you did when you were a kid. Are you passionate about kids? When was the last time you got to go hang out with some kids you love at a play ground? Are you passionate about biking? When was the last time that you just went for a pleasurable bike ride? Do you like to cook? When was the last time you played, and tried a new recipe? I think that when we get to that "grown up" point, we stop feeling like we can "play". But the other day, I was reminded that this isn't true, it isn't true at all.

It happened last Saturday when I got to spend most of the day with one of my best friends. We've had some tough times this year, I might have hurt her a little, her mom might have texted me, you know, it's whatever. I want to still spend time with her though (she's important) but this goof ball walks up into my room with a NEW CAMERA. And (might I add) ONE BETTER THAN MINE! So of course when I left the house I had to bring my old (and less shiny looking) camera with us.

After we were all done with our outing (which included Micheals) (and the purchase of Tye-Dye) we stopped at the park, pulled out our respective cameras and we....played. We walked in the cold around a park and took some photographs. And it was so much fun.

As I've started to take pictures for other people, I'm starting to realize how hard it can get some times, how it can literally be a chore, a job, work. So to keep that initial spark alive, to challenge myself and keep that passion I have for good quality pictures in my heart and head, I've decided to start playing.

Here are some pictures from that day, and a picture of one of the most beautiful wonderful young woman I have even been privileged to know, who, in my opinion is one wonderful piece of Art.

Obligatory Christmas Post

This is what I did today.

I love Christmas, I love spending time with family, and you know, this year, it was hard. It was hard because my almost four year old nephew wasn't her, or his little sisters, and his parents. My brother and sister (in-law) and their goof ball 6 year old weren't here with their foster son. My classy amazingly wonderful sister (in law) wasn't here either with my brother who played barbies with me. I miss them. I miss them a lot. It was hard because I had to be very unselfish and go out and serve breakfast to people who might not even care that I was "giving something up". I cleaned tables, and swept a floor, and wandered around like a chicken with my head cut off because I wasn't quite sure what to do. It was hard, because I fought with Blair. Well, maybe fought is to hard a word...I got irrationally (he says I was being completely rational) angry at him for going to help someone. (It's a long story...let's just say we both had a right to be angry at each other...but we've both spoken about it and forgiven one another. And when I say forgive, I mean we say that, out loud)

Growing up is not easy, and while I thought it was great that Blair and I would be living near both sets of parents (and I'm sure that one day when we have kids, we'll really feel that blessing) it also poses some challenges. I want to do stupid Carrigan traditions (we always watch THE Santa Clause, and the GOOD one, not that Tim Allen crap) and we always open presents youngest to oldest, and we also bum around Christmas Day. Traditions. I have to make room for a new family, and new traditions, and new things and that's hard sometimes. I don't always want to. But we all know I'm working on this selfish thing...

But you know what? In the end, today was awesome. I got to see his family open gifts, and we all got to talk to a loved one who is far away from us in a physical sense, but never far from our hearts. I got to be with Blair, and you know, I love him, I really do. I got to watch movies with my family. I got to serve others and it was awesome. I loved helping and running around and seeing people come and eat and enjoy themselves. I got to let my little sister play with my hair. She did like three different hair styles on my head. :) She's my wedding hair stylist. It's awesome.

I am blessed. I had presents to open. I got to give presents. I have a bed to sleep in, and an almost husband who knows how to let me be angry. I am blessed.

And this was a darn good Christmas.

"Merry Christmas ya Filthy Animal, 

And a Happy New Year. "

:)

ten points to whoever can tell me what movie that quote came from...

A Quick Love Note

I found some pictures that I just wanted to share. :)

Have a Merry Christmas Everyone, and enjoy some pictures of my Beloved and I. (and our delicious home made pizza that was EPIC!)

This could be a Christmas card
right? 

Before Marriage Counseling

See!? How can't you love that face!?

My favorite cup at our house, the
Owl Cup

The first pizza we made together, it was GOOD!

I just like to take pictures of everything, and I spend a lot of time with Blair, so go figure I have a million pictures of him. In fact, he's here now!

Good bye!

I Am A Work In Progress

I have no pictures for you tonight, only a semi heavy heart and willingness to share. I've been thinking a lot, and much has happened in the past week, but then again, something is always happening, right? Life doesn't stop, ever. It rolls and moves and undulates, like an ocean. At times, it is glassy, smooth, and reflects the light above it (like our lives), and at times, it is dark, and choppy, moving and changing direction and devoid of the light that lives above it (like our lives). What I've been thinking is not necessarily bad, but it's something that I've noticed in myself, that is not of Christ, and needs to be addressed.

When Christ was dying in the cross, in some of his last breaths, he tells a thief that his sins are forgiven, and that he'll be with him in paradise soon (Luke 23:42&43) In the midst of pain and suffering Jesus sees the needs of others again, and reaches out to that person.

I ask myself, what would I have done...and I don't like the answer. 

See, some people have told me I'm to hard on myself, that there are things that it's ok to be working on and reaching for, and I shouldn't be so hard on myself. But why not? Shouldn't be want to be better people, better friends, better daughters, better wives, better Christians? Shouldn't you want God to point out anything and everything to you that makes you not quite like Him?

If I call myself a Christian, I should always want to be better, should always seek to be more like Jesus.

I am selfish. And selfishness has nothing to do with who Christ was. I get selfish about my car that doesn't always work (even though I have enough people who are willing to make sure I get to work), I get selfish when my Beloved goes anywhere with out me (knowing he'll be back in how ever many hours), I get selfish when other people have nicer things than me (petty, but true), and I get selfish with my time. I would rather be doing something with Blair than helping someone else. I would rather be reading my own book than reading my Bible.

Maybe these things seem small to you, but they are everything to me, and I constantly shaping myself and allowing God to shape me into what he wants to be. So that is someone else is suffering the same as me, maybe more, I put aside everything I was feeling, and comfort and minister to them. I've fallen short on this many times, have hurt so many people who needed me. And while I don't believe that I can do everything or save any one (that is something that Christ alone must do), I just think that I could have been a little less selfish.

So I'm working on it.

And I felt led to share, because, well...we all have things. We are all trying to become what God wants of us, and if you aren't, then I pray that God is working in your life to pull you to him. I don't try to hide the fact that I'm bad at being a Christian, I am, we all are, we kinda suck at this, and you know...that's ok. Because Christ is constantly forgiving me and loving and pulling me closer and closer to him.

I find that the more that I serve him, and love him, and become less focused on myself...the more I fall in love with him, the more I see his character revealed.

What more could one ask of a King?

Thunder Baby Rotruck!

Every day that I go to work I get to see my god son, Rayden Thor.

I have many friends who have children, and there are a few who are extra special to me. Juliette, Conner, Elijah, Jack, Arianna, and little man Rayden. I have the joy and privilege of being part of these little kids life, a few of them I even got to see them be born. Some of them I refer to as "my babies" and Rayden is one of them.

His mommy and daddy are good friends of mine, I was even in their wedding! When I found out Hannah (Rayden's Momma) I had to go outside and shout into the January air because her own younger siblings didn't know yet. I took picture of her when she was adorably pregnant and it was in that car ride that I was asked to be his god mother. I take it seriously. To asked me be part of a child's life is no small thing. I look forward to seeing him grow, and watching him learn...it's exciting.

Well now, Rayden's Momma had to go back to work...and her mother and her family (who think that Rayden is the best thing since sliced bread) get to watch this little bundle of joy. Everyday, I send his Momma a picture from my phone. I've never been so happy that I have a phone and technology is as advanced as it is. I get to bring a smile to Hannah's face with a simple text message.

I get to change my own attitude too.

I woke up today on the wrong side of the bed. I was angry and grumpy and didn't want to care about any one, any where. But at some point, when I was looking at this little guy,

I realized how incredibly blessed I am to get to be around Rayden. I also realized that I have million pictures of his cute little self on my phone! 

I wanted to share a few of those pictures, and I wanted to send a special to his Momma;

"Blessed are you among woman, and blessed is the fruit of your womb!" 

It is wonderful to be a part of this little family! I pray for them all daily, and I can't wait to see Rayden grow up. (I'm also gonna be there when people start making fun of his name...let's face it, at some point Thor might get a little old for him...so I'm gonna be there when he has to fight kids at the play ground! Don't worry Momma, I'm a good scrapper!)