Love Brightly

My arsenal of praise. I started this project in August. I had been listening to the same praise songs for the last several years. I needed refreshment. "Sing to the Lord a new song!" Psalm 96:1 I polled friends, asking their favorite worship music. I gave one criteria: These songs must not reflect thankfulness of circumstances, but thankfulness of the UNCHANGING qualities of God. I should have made one other criteria... I probably should have said, "And I'm looking for things that don't sound like Christian music, because apparently I don't really like Christian music." I blame my high school choir teacher. She taught us to appreciate every genre of music. She had us dissect Hebrew texts, African tribal dances, Italian arias, and Underground Railroad spirituals. We learned them all in their contexts, and then performed them with gusto. Her enthusiasm was contagious. And as a result, I am rarely ever satisfied with general pop music. Thankfully, ...

This season I started my wardrobe with these 6 things that I absolutely love. I decided to build my Fall wardrobe around these 6 articles. They're comfortable, different, and in my favorite color shades for this time of year. All 6 look great with brown boots and booties--my preferred shoe wear for Autumn. I limit myself to one pair of jeans because I love variety and it helps me avoid a rut. As usual, my fashion disclaimer: I don't idolize clothes, nor do I idolize what people think of me wearing them, but I do enjoy fashion as an outlet of artistic expression. I like playing around with colors and fabrics. I enjoy finding a bargain, and even more so reinventing old items. I have found that limiting my clothing actually makes it easier to get dressed. It's also more enjoyable for me because it allows freedom in other areas--more time in the mornings, creativity, and peace of mind.  Excess = stress. I spent no money this Autumn on new tops. When December com...

It's finally here! The day of imaginary future since 1985! And so I thought I'd reflect on how I imagined 2015 for myself along the way: 1985 (age 6): In 2015, I would be a ballerina. Soft pink leotard, satin ribbon shoes. Goal: to do something that I love. 1995 (age 16): In 2015, I would be living in NYC, Manhattan specifically. A wall of my townhome would display the progression of dinner-theater productions that led to my first Broadway chorus role. In the center of the mantle sits another picture--evening gown, red carpet, pedestaled medallion, next to the Tony itself. Either that or I'd be a middle school choir director in the suburbs. It was a coin toss really. Goal: to do something that I love and do it well enough to get paid for it. 2005 (age 26): In 2015, Karl and I would be living in Texas, ministering to college students. 3 of our 4 kids would be thriving in public schools while I organized PTA events and preschooled our littlest, giving me pl...

My friend Isabella not only has great style, she is also beautiful inside and out! I wanted to feature her in Style Saturday, and since her name means beauty, I thought I'd have her share what she thinks of true beauty. She dined with our family at our favorite trattoria, and while we ate homemade pasta, we chatted about beauty, truth, and love. Sounds so Bohemian. I made some notes on my placemat. Isabella eloquently and confidently poised these thoughts: True beauty can't be about your face; it has to be something that can last.   She said she thinks beauty is rooted in spirituality--that a person's soul, mind, and attitude makes them beautiful.  I love her thoughts! I also love how she wears a bunch of grapes around her neck. It makes me think of the fruits of the Spirit, which she possesses. Isabella has confident ease in her loose leg pants and scrunchy long-sleeved sweater. She mixes blue and black and makes it work with her converse! Isa...

One of my hobbies in Italy is to admire and photograph the beautiful doors.  Whether intended as such or not, they are all works of art to me! Everything about this picture is classic Italia. Some doors have larger-than-life works of art! Some have hidden doors within doors. (Can you spot it?) See what I mean? Graffiti is a common thing. A blending of two worlds, old and new. How is one quaint and regal at the same time?! Adorable! They have fantastically large and ornate door knockers. Some doors look Medieval. Because they are. Some doors remind me of home. Some are off the beaten path and look hobbit-sized. Some are even more beautiful looking out. And they are beautiful everywhere in Italy. This is in the northern Alps. Macugnaga Bologna Rome Tuscany Pisa. Yes it is the most commercial city in Italy, but even Pisa still has beautiful architecture. Venice But my absolute favorit...

I searched Pinterest for an insert for my daughter's notebook, but couldn't find one with all the vowels on the same page. Most were posters for classrooms with a different vowel on each glue bottle. I didn't want something so spacious, so I created this 8X11 poster/notebook insert with clip art and free borders from Teachers Pay Teachers. I used handwriting font and displayed upper and lower cases of each vowel for easy and accurate copying. Thought I'd share it with you! Download for free at Scribd: Vowel Glue/Word Glue Poster

 Don't forget your sparkle. (Yep, you can also read that as a metaphor). August in Texas. Y'all, it's hot! No one wants to dress up. We are staying cool and comfy in our t-shirts, but that doesn't mean we have to be lazy about it. How do you show respect for your day and still sport your t-shirt? Put on your best lipstick and add bling! Sparkles dress up a t-shirt, but I'm not saying that I get out my bedazzler-- instead, I incorporate them in my jewelry, nails, shoes, and even a hat. I love incorporating crowns into my accessories because it reminds me of my eternal crown. Jesus wore a crown of thorns so I could wear a crown of gold! "Don't forget to wear your tiara today!" "Put off the old self, put on the new self." "Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!" 2 Corinthians 5:17 My pal Sheniqua beats the heat but doesn't neglect her style! Notice her sparkly acc...