Snowflakes and Starfish

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Love Improved

My house/town must be having internet issues. I am having issues on my computer and my phone, (usually if it is just my computer my phone will be fine, but today it is not). ugh

Google+ and Blogger are not letting me post new pics, so I am pulling from my Picasa Web Albums- the only thing Blogger is letting me do.

I got a new camera yesterday and Annie and I tried it out today. That was what I was going to post today, and there were some really fun pics. :/ I will continue to try to post.

For now, (to keep with my goal of posting everyday of 2012), here is a project that you have seen before, but it is finally complete!

I found the LOVE canvases on Pinterest. (I do not know the link, sorry to the awesome person who made this orignal!)

Here was the one I made... not finished and taken with my camera phone....

The original has swirls adn other fun accents. I am not good at doing that, (not putting myself down just being real). ;) so I was at a loss as to where to go next. I ended up just adding glitter to the letters, adn I think they are done. Glitter is always better, right?! ;)

Monday, November 5, 2012

In my defense

May 2008 - Happiest Place on Earth (mentioned a promise of going to Disney yet plans must have changed because there was no further mention of this) ,First of all, it was a hopeful vacation. Vacations fall through. Get over it, we did. And yes, I did mention why we did not go- we were planning on going January 2009- we ended up building our first home with a close date: ding ding ding, January 2009.

March 2009 - Growing Pains, Part 6 (talked about how she was giving up TV and Movies because "God told her to" (there's a whole other topic of conversation), I do not know why this is referenced. If you knew me personally, you would know that I got rid of TV then and still do not have it in my home! I got rid of all of my movies that were not godly. However, after the fact, I have gone back and seen some movies that are not necessarily godly, but they are good morally. Nothing wrong with watching them- for instance Cinderella. There is no mention of God, but she endures abuses and loss and yet still is happy and loving to all. Who can't learn something from that?! So I do not know why this was even brought up? I am still being obedient to God in this aspect.

October 2009 - Rolla Coaster (where she talks about moving to California, Dallas, and how she was going to Africa to adopt a baby). Have you ever changed your mind?! Have you ever felt you were to do one thing, and then decided to do another?! We felt God was calling us to California, but then we decided it might have been us wanting it more than He did. That is what deciphering the will of God is all about. Nothing wrong with that. We have talked about moving to Dallas for years and we still do. That will never change. We are very happy with where we live right now and have no desire to leave, but if the opportunity to move presented itself we would definitely move to Dallas.

Adoption. Oh boy, even bringing this up shows you do not know/understand me at all. I have mentioned adoption since the inception of this blog and our plans have changed a million times. From the time we were newlyweds (April 2007) to the time we decided to officially adopt (June 2008), I spoke in person and on this blog about building a family. From birth children, to the number of birth children and adopted children, etc. In June 08, we decided to only adopt and have never changed because that was from God's leading. How we chose to adopt was another story. From June 2008 to about February 2010, we were on the fence about where we would adopt. Africa, Korea, Haiti, newborn, foster care...etc. We were not sure, but we were dreaming and planning. What is wrong with that?!

By February 2010, we finally landed on foster care, and we ended up with Annie after a rough road there.

We wanted to adopt again in 2012, but have since felt God leading us to keep Annie an only child. We are beyond content as parents, but if God tells us to adopt tomorrow, we will be obedient. So, consider yourself warned. We try to live in accordance of God's will, so our plans change a lot- from our will to God's.

Everything you mentioned here changed because we were trying live in accordance of God's will. Sometimes we got it wrong, choosing things that we wanted more than He did. Sometimes, we followed His leadings and then He lead us in a different direction. I do not question God on this. It is His way of teaching us obedience.

I am not even going to give you the time of day in regards to me needing help. As I said, I am having hormone issues. How much more clear on that can I be? The only reason I am responding to this at all is because I was accused of being a hypocrite, and I needed to prove that your accusations were false. Saying I am a hypocrite and have insecurities that require help are so far from each other it proves that you are not saying this out of love at all. I am ignoring what you have to say. You will not steal my joy.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

"thanks" for "being kind"

I really don't know if I should be replying to this at all- someone was just unnecessarily hateful, and probably will love that it bothered me. But, I must respond.

If she read my post properly, she would have seen that I said that I USED to hate my body. It was only by the Grace of God that I can have a little extra fat on my body and still feel comfortable in my skin. Nothing short of a miracle! Every time I share my story of how I used to feel about myself and how I feel now I am WITNESSING to the redemptive power of Jesus.

I felt the need to share my weight gain because I am about to see friends and family for the first time in almost a year, and the last time the saw me I was a size 6- def not a 6 now. I know I will be around people who will be shocked to see such a difference so I told them instead of letting them be shocked and me worrying about their reactions.

I did not post that to get attention. I gained weight. I would like nothing more than to PRETEND I did not gain weight! It is the last thing I would like to share with the world.

I am being real. If I candy coated everything, I would have people saying that I am fake. I think many would say that that is why they like my blog- for my transparency. If I only posted the good, I would be criticised for pretending my life was perfect.

If you really read back to my posts you will see that I write about how I USED to hate my body. How I am comfortable in my skin now! I am 26 now, and it wasn't until I was 23 that I was comfortable in my skin. So, if I put myself down in the beginning of my blog, (I started the blog at 21) it was because I hated my body. I struggled with that for years- even getting counseling for it- and finally at the age of 23 God released me from those chains. I have shared that story numerous times to show what HE can do. So other women may not have to suffer in the way I did.

How am I hypocritical? I write about the good and bad in life, and how God carries me through everything. If I only did posts about how awesome I think I am people would be mad about that. I try to be humble in this blog- when I post pics I took or paintings I painted- I am proud, but I am aware that I am not the best there ever was. If I wasn't humble, I would be branded as thinking I was better than everyone else.

I am not even going to address what you said about my daughter. I'll say this though: humility aside, I am a great mom. Annie is beyond blessed to be my daughter. Everyday she says how beautiful/gorgeous/pretty she and I are. Gee, where did she learn that from? I will protect her from bullies, like the way I was bullied, and not let anyone tell her that she is not perfect. I think you would have to look far and wide to find a child more loved by her mother than Annie is by me.

But yes, I am humble. I am redeemed sinner that needs God everyday. If you don't like my blog then don't read. I love my readers and I love that I can meet people I have never met, but if you have hateful things to say, then goodbye!

Please be Kind

Annie and I are heading to Houston on Wednesday, and we are so excited!

There is one thing that I am hesitant about. My weight. With the stress I have experienced this year and my crazy crazy hormones, I have put on weight. I do not plan on keeping this weight on, but I have not yet fixed my hormones and therefore am still fighting the bulge.

Until I was about 23, my entire life I hated my body. Like, stood in my closet crying because all my size 3 clothes made me look fat. I was so tempted to becoming bulimic.

By the grace of God I was released of those chains, and even at my heaviest I am not upset about it. I want to lose weight for my health, but my looks do not rule my life like they used to.

However, I am a little hesitant to come to Houston with the way I look. I know people will pass judgement and such. My looks no longer rule my life, but like any other woman, it is a bit of an issue sometimes.

I just ask you to be kind and to remember that much of my weight gain was out of my control. Last year I lost 25 lbs and it was super easy, (though I have put all that back on). Once I get my hormones in order, I plan to get back on that track and hit my goal weight in 2013.

Just to explain what I am going through a little further: I am very happy- I love where we live, my husband, Annie, etc. But my hormones make me feel almost depressed. I know it is just hormones and not true depression because I have done the research, but feeling this way is awful. You know when Aunt Flow is in town and you get weepy, sad, etc for no reason. That is how I feel a lot right now. I hate it! I almost feel bipolar because I am so so so happy, but that sadness creeps in out of nowhere. It's so lame. I hate you hormones!

So, just please be kind and enjoy our company. We can't wait to see YOU! :)

Saturday, November 3, 2012

Sentimental Saturday

here is a pic of us from June 2007- married for 2 months- Steven Leonard Photography

Friday, November 2, 2012

Flashback Friday

3 Trick or Treat Octobers with Annie

2010

we didn't get her a costume, but I got her this monster outfit to go in her monster bathroom :) 2 days after her Gotcha Day

2011

The Happy as can Bee Family

When even got Daddy to wear wings and antenna- what a trooper! :) 2 months after she was officially adopted :)

2012

Super Family

Thursday, November 1, 2012

Super Girl

Our lives revolve around Disney. We also watch a lot of Veggie Tales and Annie loves the 4th Shrek, but we always go back to our beloved Disney.

Next week for her November birthday, (are you coming?!), she will be Dorothy at her Wizard of Oz party. I chose the theme before she saw the movie, but never fear- she loves it now! We are watching it right now actually. :) Whenever we saw a little girl dressed as Dorothy this past week she got really excited. :)

For Trick or Treating I wanted her to have a costume that she doesn't wear everyday- like I said we are surrounded by princesses and Minnie all day. Well, we have been on a super hero kick, and Annie's favorite is Super Man.

Perfect family theme- especially for poor daddy who is surrounded by two very girlie girls. :)

Meet Super Girl- and if anyone deserves to be a super hero it is this little girl! Am I right or what?!

She would say, "I'm Super Girl! I'm Super Man Girl!"

Someone called me Wonder Mommy- I like that better than Wonder Woman. ;)

We were all dressed up on Saturday to go to a carnival at a school. There was a pink super girl costume, but I chose the red and blue one so we would all match.

showing off her red and blue nails :)

drying them- they had been dried for awhile now, but whatever lol

When I dressed her yesterday, she reached up and said, "pick up Super Girl, Mommy!" She loved being in costume and totally got it this year! She loved seeing other kiddos dressed up. :)

Yesterday we went Trick or Treating at Daddy's office, (followed by a carnival at our church). I had low expectations for the Trick or Treating, but it was pretty cool! And it was during business hours so Daddy got a little break. Have I mentioned how much we love his company?!