A perfect day

This weekend Blake and I decided to take a day for ourselves. It was a perfect day. The weather was nice and we enjoyed a few of our favorite things. We also discovered a few new places. First we went to Pearl Cup. It's a new coffee shop off of Henderson. It's pretty cool inside and my Pearl Latte was fabulous. It wouldn't have been so great without a drive to Farmers Market for a breakfast burrito. Those are my most favorite burritos in all of Dallas.....

We then headed back to a little store off of Henderson called the Gypsy Wagon. This store is really cute! They have fun clothes, shoes and accessories. We even found a few paintings we would have bought if they weren't asking $200.00 for an 8x10. They were beautiful though. So I highly recommend this store and the little ones next to it but save your cash!

We then came home and watched the Mavs game (Game 3) which they won. We also listened to the draft. I have to say I usually hate draft day but on a day like this I hardly remember it. I was also pre-occupied while listening because I was painting. It's just a little something and you'll notice I did not take a picture of it. It was fun for me to do!

That night we went back downtown to Oak Cliff to eat at Eno's. It's a little pizza joint that is well decorated and has fantastic food. It's good for a date, girls night...you name it. So you'll see the pizza we tried below which I have to say...they go the extra mile by putting 3 diff. kinds of bell peppers on your pizza instead of just green. It was deelish...
Finally, we ended the night with the Sundae Sack from Eno's. The picture was an afterthought as you can see. We already demolished the thing. It is a block of chocolate filled with vanilla ice cream, chocolate, graham crackers, berries and whip cream. Yeah! We finished all of it. That is the end to our perfect Saturday. Can't wait for another one :)

Hillsong

Click here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZE33ejdgWIY if nothing else!

I try and pay attention to what the Lord is teaching me. A lot of the times I have to put things together over time. I believe I know my encouragement from the Lord for today. I believe it is from the Lord because it is in line with scripture, it is in line with what I believe he has given me over the last 2 years and it does not go with the ideas of this world.
A few weeks ago one of my closest friends and I were talking. She said she had prayed Isaiah 54 for me over the weekend. She felt like it was from the Lord and I could take it or leave it.

I read Isaiah 54 and decided to take it. Why? Instead of declaring earthly promises it declares promises from the Lord and his everlasting love. It also does not give me a promise of biological or adopted children yet says to enlarge the place of your tent.... This also goes a long with what I feel like the Lord has given me. We will have a family, We will have children laughing in our house but we do not know when or how they will come. I like a lot of the verses in it but another reason I believe it was from the Lord is because it includes 54:17 a very short verse I have memorized during this valley "No weapon forged against you will prevail." I've said this over and over when I am under attack from the enemy and/or of this world. Thank you friend for praying that for me.

So today I came across this song and testimony. The words are below which speak truth and caught my attention when they use parts of Isa.54 again. I hope whatever trial, valley, desert you are in this will bless you. With kids, in marriage, in death, in any situation that you will praise Him. I am challenged to do the same.

This is my prayer in the desert
When all that's within me feels dry
This is my prayer in my hunger and need
My God is the God who provides
And this is my prayer in the fire
In weakness or trial or pain
There is a faith proved Of more worth than gold
So refine me Lord through the flames

I will bring praise I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice
I will declare God is my victory and He is here

And this is my prayer in the battle
When triumph is still on it's way
I am a conqueror and co-heir with Christ
So firm on His promise I'll stand

ALL OF MY LIFE IN EVERY SEASON YOU ARE STILL GOD
I HAVE A REASON TO SING I HAVE A REASON TO WORSHIP
ALL OF MY LIFE IN EVERY SEASON
YOU ARE STILL GOD
I HAVE A REASON TO SING I HAVE A REASON TO WORSHIP

I will bring praise I will bring praise
No weapon formed against me shall remain
I will rejoice I will declare
God is my victory and He is here

This is my prayer in the harvest
When favor and providence flow
I know I'm filled to be emptied again
The seed I've received I will sow

Crafty

If you are looking for something fun to do or how to redecorate I have an idea for you. My dining room wall has been driving me crazy! The whole room is brown, brown table, brown sideboard, curtains...you name it. So I wanted to brighten it up but knew Blake would not necessarily approve of re-decorating (as he calls it) unless I could be creative and cheap. So Veronica and I went to a material store on Saturday and found the perfect material for 4 bucks. I took a frame from another picture that has also been driving me crazy and repainted it. The whole project cost me 4 bucks! So....if you need a wall to decorate go and buy yourself some pretty little fabric and have a fun day of hot glue, paint, nail gun and joy!

looking for an artist

I would like to be able to paint. The reason, well I have a vision-a picture in my mind. This is somewhat foreign ground to expose this thought to anyone who might read my blog. My close friends have probably heard me explain this before. The more I think about it the more things come to mind. Almost 2 years ago I had a picture in my head of a girl (me) standing in a field. This field was full of orange, red, yellow and pink poppies with mountains along the side. The girl in the field has changed positions at times in my head from someone who is sitting (probably thinking or praying) to someone who is standing with hands held high praising God. Probably about a year and a half ago I thought this picture in my head was telling me to "believe". Why? I was hired on the believe team at Watermark, walked into CP and on the believe poster is a shadow of a person with hands held high with "believe" under the shadow. My mom gave me a believe ornament and it became my word for the year. At the time, this is probably what it could have meant.

A few months ago someone was praying for me and I heard them pray about the valley I was in, to be able to be patient and trusting and to praise the Lord in my valley...Those words stayed with me. They turned into a description of the picture I had carried around in my head for 2 years. Perhaps the picture/vision I have had was from the Lord. Perhaps he was preparing me for a season that I would have to trust him, I would need to praise Him in the valley and not only praise Him but enjoy the smell and colors of the poppies, to breathe in the mountain air and be comforted by his mighty hand. Perhaps the picture was at first to give me the word believe, but in the end to encourage me, to give me a picture of what He is teaching me...to be able to stand under Him, under His plan and praise Him in the good times and bad.

I am a slow learner at best...It's been 2 years so far for these thoughts to develop and I'm sure He's not done with me yet. I do pray I can learn to praise Him in the good times and bad, to trust Him with my valley. For He can see the whole picture, He knows what's on the other side of the mountains that I simply can not see over.

*so if you know an artist, let me know...I have a picture!*

Medical Update

Hello! Thank you for your prayers this past month. My big cyst has dissolved! Yay. I do have a smaller cyst on my right side but it shouldn't be a problem. We will be moving forward with treatment. Please pray it goes well as we will be trying something new this month. Also, please pray for my fretful and fearful heart that I often have to ask forgiveness for. The break last month was actually restful and beneficial. As hard as some days were, I am thankful for the last 35 days.
On another note, we shaved Bentley! I know, my beautiful Bent now looks even more like a bear with her undercoat exposed. She is no longer shiny and a beautiful red color. Good thing it will grow out over the next few months!

Have a great day!