{ sleeping beauty }

I need new bedding! Aye, but bedding is soo expensive! I’m torn between colors AND which brand to buy. Prices are way different but why not spend a little bit more since I sleep almost everyday? ;) Feedback is much appreciated!

Credits: Vera Wang Bedding, Dweel Studio

{ Layla Vue }

Hello, I would like you to meet Layla. Layla is chorkie (Chihuahua/yorkie mix). She will be 2 years old on March 22 and absolutely great company. I first met her in February of 2008. I actually met her sister first at a local pho restaurant and found her so adorably cute that I began to consider having a puppy of my own.

It wasn’t until 2 weeks after serious contemplation that I decided to call her breeder and set-up a meeting. I can remember the night clearly, Tracy (my former roommate) and I were leaving Riverside evening church service and we scheduled to meet her. On the drive there we got lost; we weren’t too familiar with the area. I believe added to that was my nerves that were steering me the wrong way. ;) When he brought over the litter there were 3 puppies total; Layla along with her two brothers. One looked identical to her and the other was fairly chubbier and lighter in color. I automatically eliminated the chances of the boys, because I didn’t want to hassle with cleaning after them.

She was sooo tiny! As soon as we started to drive off she started crying. It was clear that she knew she was alone; her brothers would now be complete strangers to her. I impatiently waited to hold her on the hour long drive home. You could clearly smell puppy on her but I wasn’t able to bathe her until the next day as I didn’t have her puppy shampoo. The first night she was completely exhausted so she slept well. On the second day I bathed her and she smelled as fresh as a spring tulip!

She sleeps with me every night and I love it. In the summer she sleeps at the corner of bed and in the winter she lays under the covers right by my side. She is very smart and vocal. She performs the basic tricks on command; sit, shake hand, jump, lie on stomach, wait, walk. When something is wrong, she cries for help. If you ask her what’s wrong she’ll make sure you understand what she needs.

I talk to her a lot, a lot more than I ever thought I would. I share scriptures, my thoughts and views with her. We run and play, I try to take her out as much as I can. Though I am usually very busy throughout the week, I try to my best to make time to be with her and show her affection. She’s really my baby and I extremely love her.

Sometimes when I talk to her, she responds with a wagging tail and a tilted head. Staring at me, I can tell she’s thinking “I have absolutely no idea what she’s saying but I love her anyways”. I wonder sometimes, do I love God the same? Do I trust Him in all that He does in my life? When I am unsure of what He’s doing, do I wait patiently and respond obediently? Do I absolutely love Him and trust Him whether I understand what He says? Most of my answers are yes’s but there are the few that I realize are no’s. It’s hard to realize and admit what you lack, but reflect on your reactions and your answer will be clear.

Let’s strive to love and trust in God more family. I believe that Layla loves and trusts me because I’ve displayed to her exactly that. If an animal such as Layla can interpret my love for her, how much harder can it be for us to understand God’s love for us?

This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. – 1 John 4:9-11

{ learning to walk }

When a giraffe baby (called a calf) is born, it drops to the ground head first, about 6 feet. The fall and landing doesn't hurt the calf, but it does cause the baby to take a big breath (similar to when a doctor spanks a newborn after exiting the birth canal ;) ). "Why 6 feet?" you ask because giraffes give birth while standing. The next thing that happens may surprise you: the mother giraffe kicks her calf. Take in mind, a kick from a mother giraffe is powerful enough to kill a lion or predator; this is one of their defense mechanisms they have to protect them their predators. So picture this; the calf struggles to stand and mama kicks baby again. Mama watches baby as he fights to stand, struggling to balance and pushes himself up on all fours. If she see any signs of struggling or weakness her you can bet she'll give him another kick. This process continues until the baby giraffe is able to stand up on his own. It is when he stands on his own swiftly, she starts to love her child.

The baby stands up enforced by the hurt and pain from the kick. The mother worries for her child since carnivores will aim to harm him if they see him slow and weak. Once the child can stand up, only then it can run to save its life. When I picture giraffes, I see them amble, graceful and slow. But when they are being hunted or pursued, they can run up to 35 mph. You see, once the baby giraffe stands up, he will be more independent, and the speed of a mother and child would be same. The mother has taught the child first lesson to struggle in life.

Family do you see a similar pattern in your life? Do you sometimes feel like you are faced with trails that are never ending? As if even when you’re already down, life seems to just kick you in the butt? Have you ever asked, “God why are you allowing this”? You struggle to stand and it seems as it’s just in time for the world to knock you off your two feet again. Something I’ve learned from this dear little calf, struggle is everywhere in nature. Trails will come and go, whether you are a Christian or not but the hope is that in Christ, you will be comforted, strengthened and promised greater things. God did not say walking with him would be “easy”, but yet that it would be “worth it”. Are you facing something in your life that seems as though nothing good can come from it? Do you struggle to believe that God can use the bad to bring out the good? Let me remind you, God is omnipotent (unlimited power, ruling over all things) and omniscient (unlimited knowledge, aware of all things and understanding).

All trails do not come from God; sometimes they can be a result from our actions, the action of others, or our own desires. (Genesis 50:20 “You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.”). But the beauty is that God is sovereign and can certainly turn it for the good in you. (Romans 8:28 “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”). As the mother giraffe tries to teach her calf, the enemy is among them and will wait for a fall. She shows the calf that he is to be on alert. She already has an expectation that her calf will encounter the predator, so she teaches him to get up quickly so that the enemy may not be able to attack him when his guards are down. It’s just the same for us, God knows the enemy waits and watches for an open door to stumble us, and when he does he will turn on us and accuse us of horrible things. In the bible it tells us exactly the same, “Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” 1 Peter 5:8. But the awesome thing about God is he has more grace and mercy than we have sins (that’s a lot, I know!). We can come to him humbled and in humility, repent and we are confident in knowing he forgives. He cleans the slate, as if it never happened.

I encourage you that whatever circumstances you are facing, keep your feet rooted in Christ Jesus and He will bring beauty and blessings out of your trails. Dust yourself up, and with God’s hand upon you, ask for strength and continue to serve and glorify Him. He is molding you into being who you are meant to be, building your character. The world may abandon you, but He has never and will never leave your side (Hebrews 13:5 “"Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."). The world has ridiculed and insulted you; He will sustain you and provide the strength to lift you up. The world tells you that you are not enough, lacking of many things, Father tells you that you were perfectly formed by His hands, beautiful, flawless and precious. Do not let the enemy steer you from the truth, do not let their false accusations and discouraging words block out the tender whispers of your King (1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not a God of disorder but of peace.”). Family I encourage you that when you grow weak and weary, cling on to Jesus. Do not fall at the feet of the enemy yet kneel at the throne of you King and He will lift you up. May His face shine upon you.

Credits: giraffe kiss , baby giraffe , hands prayer

{ well-rested }

Verse for the week:

The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, But a wise man is he who listens to counsel.
- Proverbs 12:15

Friday went to The Well, (amazing worship, discipleship and fellowship as always), Cheesecake Factory afterwards. Saturday I had plans to go out but only ran out for a few errands than found myself comfy in bed with my laptop and baby Layla :) Sunday went to morning service where Pastor Greg Laurie interviewed Randy Alcorn, author of a number of books, including “Heaven”. Then later on that night went to Day7 where Abandon was there and they put on a GREAT performance! To view any of these sermons feel free to visit http://harvest.org/.

On my day off Saturday I had a pleasant conversation with my mom. I didn’t know but they were throwing a birthday for my nephew, Christian. He was turning one and he is the first born, so you KNOW his parents completely spoiled him with gifts. Anyhow, my mother brought to my attention that by the end of this year I will be an auntie to 15 kids! Yep, 15!! So far 7 boys, 7 girls and we have yet found out the sex to #15 yet. :D Pretty mind-boggling, right?

Ok so this weekend, because I was in for such a long period of time, I realized my living room is pretty “blah”. So I was searching online for alternatives as I didn’t want to buy any paint and didn’t feel like stressing about a specific design. I wanted character but I didn’t want to put long days of work laboring on it. So! This is what I found! Let me know your feedback and what you think. I’ll try my best to give brief directions ;)

1. Select 4-5 different designs that will fit with not only the colors but style of your room. Also keep in mind, sometimes solids are good to add too!

2. Arrange your design how you would like then take a photo so that you can reference to it later when mounting it on the wall.

3. Layout newspaper and craft paper face down. Apply adhesive to the entire back surface (I chose spray adhesive because I had it handy, I attempt to buy some rubber cement but the store was completely out of stock.)

4. Carefully align the craft paper to your poster board. Try your best to start from the any corner, this way you can align with the left and bottom to ensure it’s even.

5. Leave aside for adhesive to dry and bond (approximately 15-20 minutes). While doing this you can repeat steps 3 to 5 for the others.

6. Cut out the dried craft paper and trim the access edges. I’ve found that because the paper is larger, it’s a bit difficult to cut as close to the edges when you’re closer to the middle. To make it easier slightly roll the craft paper up, this should shorten the paper and allow more space to maneuver your scissors.

7. Apply 1 ½ “ double sided tape to each corner and mount onto wall. Reference back to your photo to remember your original layout.

The craft paper I purchased was from Michael's Craft store (which I am in LOVE with). The card stock is $19.99 but I believe it was on sale 25% off. I was strolling up and down the aisle trying to find something modern and fitting with the colors/theme of what I already had. I came across American Crafts Patterned Paper Pack and was sold from there. They have vivid, rich, modern and bold colors that I absolutely ADORE! I used almost all of my blue/green/beige/brown combos and the plan is to use the pink/white/orange for my room! Make sure you stop by their website to view their selection!

Have a blessed day!