I was always Bess...

Growing up, my two best friends and I absolutely adored Nancy Drew. We devoured each book. Our play dates consisted of going straight to the computer to play the latest Nancy Drew mystery video games. At recess, we’d pretend that we had a mystery to solve- Tiffany would be Nancy, Caroline would be George, and inevitably I was Bess. Maybe my memory is off… but I always chafed at the role of Bess. She was too boy crazy, into fashion, and known as the cautious one. I was none of the above…okay, I was cautious- but that’s not the point.

There was something so inspiring about Nancy Drew. She was an educated young woman who solved people’s problems. She was a loyal friend. She was a loving daughter. She was persistent. She wasn’t afraid of a challenge. Nancy could always get herself out of the situations she found herself in.

 

All those years of reading Nancy Drew books rubbed off on me. I figured I’d share my knowledge with you, lovely readers!

1)      Come prepared. Okay, maybe not as prepared as me…I carry a purse rivaling Mary Poppins’. BUT! Like Nancy, I carry a little bit of everything and if I don’t have it, I make what I do have work.

2)      Wear sensible shoes. You never know what stone wall you’ll have to climb, how many bushes you’ll crawl through,  or what river you might be forced to wade through.

3)      Don’t limit yourself. Although mostly known as an amateur detective, Nancy dipped her toes in many jobs, including actress, archaeologist, baby-sitter, fundraiser, lifeguard, legal assistant, dancer, and treasure hunter. You have many different gifts, too- don’t be afraid to use them.

4)      Be well-rounded. Nancy was known to be keen on parties and enjoyed having a good time with her friends, but she was always willing to roll up her sleeves and do the dirty work.

5)      Reinforcements are a must. Gal pals George and Bess, and Nancy’s boyfriend Ned were always great sounding boards and often followed Nancy into adventure. They were supportive and they were willing to go the distance for Nancy. We all need friends like that in our lives.

 

 

6)      Be different. The first Nancy Drew book was written in the 1930’s- a time that wasn’t used to seeing many women in positions such as detective. Nancy didn’t go the traditional route and she rarely did what was expected of her. Her class, genius, modesty, compassion, and sense of humor are unparalleled.

Nancy Drew has stood the test of time. I can certainly see why.

With love, beth

Happy New Year, Happy New Year!

Hello dears!

 

This holiday break has been nothing but a blessing for me.

I love that my whole family is home.

I love that we fight over the remote.

I love that our Christmas ham is still providing leftovers.

 

I love that it snowed Christmas day.

I love having my dad make my coffee.

I love that I have a Savior who came to an imperfect world, just so we could spend eternity with Him.

I love that we get to celebrate His birth every year.

I love that I got to spend my Friday morning reconnecting with an old friend after a year of silence.

I love having one of my best friends visit from out of town.

I love hearing my mom talk to the tv show she’s watching.

I love that Starbucks played Pay It Forward this morning.

I love having a content dog who sits on me. (She is NOT a lapdog.)

I love singing at the top of my lungs with my sister.

I love that we leave our tree up til New Years’.

I love Itunes gift cards- materialistic much?!

I love that this has been a week of family time, laughter, and Jesus.

Undoubtedly, I’ll end up pulling a Michelle Tanner and kiss my dog again this year when the ball drops. Happy New Years, friends. Be blessed and be a blessing!

In Christ’s love, Bethany

Music & Movie Monday

There was a song in a Christmas production that my church did a few years ago, and I have the same line stuck in my head: "It's a very merry Christmas Eveeeeeeee!" Insert jazz hands.

 

Sticking with the Christmas theme, here's some music recommendations for this week-

 

 

1) Lady Antebellum's Christmas Album- "On This Winter Night" (Buy Here)

This is one of the few Christmas albums that I actually listen to. Best version of "Baby Please Come Home" in my opinion.

 

 

2) Peggy Lee- "Christmas Carousel" (Buy Here)

Perfect for ambience; typical Peggy Lee- sultry and sassy and

 

This isn't Christmas related, but necessary to include.

 

3) Nick Lokken, everybody. Jesus loving, guitar playing, beautiful voiced new friend of mine. Show him some love. His music is ahhhmazing. Listen here!
 

 Here's some movie recommedations, for this week too!

 

 

Merry Christmas friends!

with love, Bethany



A Labor of Love

"Labor of Love" -Andrew Peterson

So often, we assume that because Mary's baby was Jesus Christ means that she didn't have a difficult delivery. That's not true. She had no doctor, no midwife, no mother, just a young carpenter who had no training in delivering babies. She wasn't in a hospital bed, or even her own bed, or even a bed. Sweet little Mary brought the Savior into the world in a barn, surrounded by animals. She would've been out of breath from pushing, she would've been sweating, she would've been in pain, she would've been moaning. Twas not a silent night until after Jesus' arrival in the world- after Mary pushed him out, after Joseph cleaned him up and swaddled him, after baby Jesus was laid in Mary's arms. The silent night came later, but first came an intense labor of love.

Merry Christmas sweet friends. ~Beth

God's Blueprints

I’ve got the coffee pot brewing, and the rain is coming down in sheets. I have soft music playing, with a blanket tucked around me, and my dog at my feet. A journal lies open, and ready is my pen. My heart is full of words, but oh where do I begin?

Over the last couple days, my mind has returned to Psalm 20:4- “May he give you the desires of your heart and make all your plans succeed.” After a period of caretaking, my heart is so open and ready to chase my dreams.

As many people who find themselves in caretaking roles do, I put my life on hold. I wanted to be there for my sick mama and my working daddy and my little sister. But after a year and half, I grew afraid that I would remain at home for the rest of my life, doing the same things, day in and day out. I had almost forgotten what it was like to dream.

One day I came across Galatians 6:9 which says, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”

That was exactly what I needed to hear. There is good coming if we do not give up. That’s His promise to us.

How faithful is the God we serve! He used different people and several quiet times to reinforce His point. I could hear God urging me to move forward. Each person I talked to reminded me of Jeremiah 29:11. I typically nod when reminded of that, but after several people brought that particular verse up in such a short period of time, I started to really listen. Gang, He has SUCH great plans for each and every one of us. Do you think that he would bring us into this world just to abandon us? No! He wants to use us and our circumstances to draw people closer to Him, not for our own glory, but for HIS glory.

This caretaking role is not my role forever. I have to opportunity dream! I have the opportunity to take the gifts that the Lord has blessed me with and use them for His glory, to do something I love. I trust in God’s blueprints for my future. I trust that he will fulfill my desires.

Isn’t it such a glorious thing that the Lord gives us the ability to dream?

~Bethany

bittersweet life.

 

“the writing’s easy, it’s the living that is sometimes difficult.”

—charles bukowski

Love, Ever After

Today is my sweet parent's 24th anniversary. Twenty-four. Is that not an incredible accomplishment?

I feel like in today's world, we're lucky if a marriage lasts 72 days, much less twenty-four years. I have no idea how they've done it. Actually, that's not true. I do know how they did it, and how they will continue to do it. My parents love Christ first. They love each other second.

My generation longs for the passion and the romance of true love. I am so blessed to see it in action everyday. It's the way Daddy gets up in the middle of the night to help Mama. It's when Mama reminds me to make dinner so that there's food on the table when Dad gets home. It's the alarm set on Daddy's phone to remind him to take Mama out to dinner, just the two of them. It's the outfits Mama sets out for Dad, so he doesn't have to dig to find his clothes. It's when one calls the other in the middle of the day, just because they want to talk to each other. You'd think they'd be tired of each other after twenty-four years! Ha.

Here's to my parents, Steve and Mariana. Here's to surviving 24 years of marriage, and here's to another 24 years of marriage. Here's to love and laughter and health and fun in the future. Thank you for putting the Lord first, your relationship with each other second, and us girls third. Thank you for loving us girls.Thank you for being such an inspiration. I love you both.

Proverbs 18:22- "He who finds a wife finds a good thing and obtains favor from the Lord."

Ephesians 5:33- "He who loves his wife loves himself. For no one ever hated his own flesh, but nourishes and cherishes it, just as Christ does the church."

Hebrews 13:4- "Let marriage be held in honor among all."

"All that I'm after is a life full of laughter, as long as I'm laughin' with you
I'm thinkin' that all that still matters is love ever after, after the life we've been through
'Cause I know there's no life after you"

"Let me call you sweetheart
I'm in love with you
Let me hear you whisper that you love me too
Keep the lovelight glowing in your eyes so true
Let me call you sweetheart
I'm in love with you"

Anniversary Playlist:
May I by Trading Yesterday, Never Stop by SafetySuit, A Thousand Years by Christina Perri, Everything Is Okay by Turn Off The Stars, Falling In by Lifehouse, You And Me by Lifehouse, She's Everything by Brad Paisley, Hundred More Years by Francesca Battistelli, Bless The Broken Road by Rascal Flatts, L-O-V-E by Nat King Cole, Just The Way You Look Tonight by Frank Sinatra


Why Marriage………..by Mari Nichols-Haining

Because to the depths of me, I long to love one person,
With all my heart, my soul, my mind, my body…

Because I need a forever friend to trust with the intimacies of me,
Who won’t hold them against me,
Who loves me when I’m unlikable,
Who sees the small child in me, and
Who looks for the divine potential of me…

Because I need to cuddle in the warmth of the night
With someone who thanks God for me,
With someone I feel blessed to hold…

Because marriage means opportunity
To grow in love in friendship…

Because marriage is a discipline
To be added to a list of achievements…

Because marriages do not fail, people fail
When they enter into marriage
Expecting another to make them whole…

Because, knowing this,
I promise myself to take full responsibility
For my spiritual, mental and physical wholeness
I create me,
I take half of the responsibility for my marriage
Together we create our marriage…

Because with this understanding
The possibilities are limitless.

 

~~~~~~~XO, Bethany

pick a little, talk a little.

 

 

"I know I chatter on far too much... but if you only knew how many things I want to say and don't. Give me some credit."

 

-Anne Shirley, Anne of Green Gables

Mentally Incapable of Dressing Myself

As of late, Texas weather has no idea what it wants to do with its life. In the mornings, it is chilly, but by the afternoon it's hottttt and by evening it's cool. Can we pick a temperature, please?

A friend of mine and I were discussing how we are mentally incapable of dressing ourselves for weather like this. You start out with pants, only to get hot and have to change. A couple hours later, it's too cool for shorts but too hot for pants. So you change, again. It's enough to drive a person crazy.

Here's to stable weather. I pray you come soon.

~Bethany

"the most beautiful people..."

 

"The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These people have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with a compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen."
 

 

Dear New York,

Ah, New York City, we will have to wait until spring to meet. It seems as though Hurricane Sandy has foiled our rendevouz. 'Tis too bad; I was rather looking forward to it.

Broadway, I anxiously await the day I can skip into one of your theatres. 9/11 Memorial, I can't wait to stand in awe of you. Times Square, please don't blind me with your lights.

My dreams have been filled of crowds and cabs, subways and singing, gawking and gazing. I will happily wait til spring if it involves my safety. Here's to spring, NYC. We shall meet soon.

love, Bethany

Chasing Mavericks

I consider myself a picky movie goer. I don't go to just any movie. It has to be a story that pulls me in. A movie with life. A movie so good that it can suck the reality of your life away and sweep you into a beautiful world of fantasy.

About a year ago I heard of this film called Of Men and Of Mavericks. You see, an actress/author/creative idol of mine, Abigail Spencer, (find her here and here!) mentioned it on her Twitter page. So I did some International Movie DataBase searching and discovered this beautiful story- a movie based upon the life of surfing extraordinaire Jay Moriarty. A kid with a dream. A sixteen-year-old kid who set out to conquer Mavericks with the help of his mentor and guide, Frosty Hesson.

I mean, c'mon, with that storyline and a cast that includes Gerard Butler, Elisabeth Shue, Leven Rambin, AND Abigail Spencer? I'm in.

What's a maverick, you ask? Mavericks are HUGE waves, found in Half Moon Bay, California. For years people didn't believe in their existence. They build and build, crashing and colliding and racing towards shore. They can be anywhere between 25 feet and 100 feet tall. It takes practice, training, and courage to surf those suckers. Would YOU want to surf that kind of wave?

So anyways, the storyline got me, hook, line and sinker. I was convinced it would be a great movie, and based on everything I had heard about the production, it was a great movie. Over the months between filming and release, the name was changed from Of Men and Mavericks to Chasing Mavericks.

October 26th could not come fast enough. I've been waiting for this movie for a while, people. I had a free night the Saturday after the release, so I took myself to the movies, to see Chasing Mavericks.

It was AWESOME. Blow you out of the water, leaves you astounded awesome. Beautiful and moving and heartbreaking and healing. I left the theater a mess.

Here's the trailer. Chasing Mavericks Official Site.

Read THIS and then read THIS. Then, go see Chasing Mavericks.

with love, Beth

Psalms 16

 
^"1 Keep me safe, my God,
for in you I take refuge.

² I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing.”³ I say of the holy people who are in the land,
“They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”
⁴ Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.
I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods
or take up their names on my lips.

⁵ Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.⁶ The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
⁷ I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
⁸ I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

⁹ Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,¹⁰ because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,
nor will you let your faithful one see decay.
¹¹ You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

Psalm 16:1-11, New International Version
(blue highlighting my own)

A Little Bit of Controversy

I apologize for the delay. I have been sick sick sick, and I haven’t felt like doing much.

Hollywood never ceases to amaze. An actress I thoroughly admired until now, an actress who claims to be a Christian, asked on Twitter, “Why aren’t Christian women doing more for women’s rights globally and locally?”

Uh, excuse me?!

She  went on to ask, “Why do Christians as a whole seem to be one of the largest anti-women’s lib groups?”

Whoa! Back the truck up. Making generalizations, aren’t you?

Obviously, these questions caused a mini stir in this actress’ Twitter world. A fan pointed out that men and women were created to be equal, but their differences complement each other, before pointing out that men are supposed to be the head of the family. The actress stated that men shouldn’t be the head of the family; that the husband and wife should be equal in everything.

Let’s pause right there for a second.

I am not a burn-your-bra feminist. My mindset is more of “If boys can do it, girls can do it”. That being said, I realize that men and women ARE different, and we were created to fulfill different tasks. I acknowledge the fact that I was not around for many of the huge markers in the feminist movement. I appreciate the women who fought to get laws changed so that women could vote. I appreciate women who insisted upon getting an education. I appreciate the women who clawed their way into a male driven world and made careers for themselves. I appreciate the men who supported them. I appreciate the husbands who made sacrifices so their wives could work. I appreciate the fathers who paid for their daughters’ education.  

What I don’t appreciate is being sold short. I am the oldest of two girls, with a dad and a mom who both worked outside the home. I was taught that Jesus puts desires in our hearts. I was taught that we are to seek His will in our lives, and we are to obey that. I was taught to do my best in life, from school to sports to choir to relationships. I was taught to put others before myself.

My parents never put limitations on my sister and me. We were never expected to grow up and be a certain thing. We weren’t placed in a box and told to stay there. We were given room to grow and flourish. We were given love. I grew up with wonderful examples of a family rooted in Christ and dedicated to serving others.

I have been blessed to travel in my life, from family road trips to destination vacations to mission trips. Traveling takes you to places beyond your home, places that are often way outside of your comfort zone. I know how blessed the women of America are. And I don’t even think they realize how blessed they are! I sure didn’t. It took seeing desolate souls, who live in pitiful places, before I was broken and on my knees, repenting of everything I’ve ever taken for granted. Those same souls have less than half of what I have, yet they wake up every day and put one foot in front of the other to take care of themselves and their families.

Many times, mothers are left to fend for their children alone. These mothers are often denied the right to vote, jobs, food, and homes just because they are women. These mothers are more concerned with feeding their kids than worrying about the voting for a man who won’t help them. I’m sure that if they didn’t have kids to feed, then they would fight like banshees (Indians, for you non Texas folk) to get what they are denied. There comes a point where every day is a battle, just to put food on the table and find a bed for their babies. They put their lives on the line every single day, just to provide for their families.

I see the fight here in America too. We are in the twenty-first century, and women still get paid less than men for doing the same job. Many people feel that women ought to drop their educations and careers as soon as they marry and have a family. Even the church expects women to put their families above themselves. (I’m not disagreeing; I’m just stating the facts.)

I find it insulting that the afore mentioned actress had the audacity to accuse Christians of not doing enough for women. Of course we could do more; we can always do more. We can always try harder. We can always aim higher. We can always step one foot further out of our comfort zones to do God’s will.

There are MANY Christians who are doing what they can for others with what they have. And not just for women’s rights, but for families, and children, and the sick, and the homeless, and the jobless, too. From their homes and neighborhoods to third world countries, people are trying to change things. People are trying to lead the lost to Christ. People are trying to teach single mothers job skills. People are trying to find fathers work. People are trying to love on and raise orphans. People are trying to help others get through their day to day lives. People just like you and I, who believe in a faithful God. People who have trusted God to provide and seen him follow through. These are people who believe that God has a beautiful plan out of all this chaos.  

Maybe you don’t know their names; maybe you live and breathe alongside some of these people. Maybe you have been affected and influenced by them. They might not be as well-known as other men and women who’ve impacted the world, but let me assure you, they are here.  Maybe that is something the afore mentioned actress should’ve taken into consideration before generalizing all Christians. Maybe enough people stood up to her that she’s thought twice about it. Who knows. I am just here to say that as long as I’m living, I will be fighting for the women and children and families and the sick and the jobless and the homeless of this world, because as a daughter of the King, I am called to serve others.

~Bethany

Full House

I will preface this post with a warning- NERD ALERT.

 

This is a post only intended to bring a smile to your face.

 

I grew up watching Full House. Literally. I might have been born in '93 but I love that show. My sister and I own almost every season on DVD. So when I found out that this weekend was the 25th anniversary of the premiere of Full House, I was insistent that we watch a few episodes in honor of it. And then I got on Pinterest...and well, ya know...

 

 

 

Xo, Bethany

To Sum Up September

The other day I found myself balancing on an antique dining room chair to hang a Phineas and Ferb sign for my sister's birthday. It wasn't my smartest idea. Let's just be grateful tha my parents didn't name me Grace, since I was sorely lacking it in that moment.

It's been above 95 degrees daily lately. Welcome To Texas. We're still waiting on fall temperatures to kick in...still hasn't happened yet.
 

WWould you believe that I volunteered to take three high school sophomores homecoming dress shopping for six hours last Saturday?  (Don't tell them, but it was actually fun! That's huge, considering this is the girl who doesn't like to shop.)

And then, on the night of the dance, it RAINED. The girls were great sports though.
 

{Alex is in red annd Rachel is in gold!}
 

One of my favorite nights was staying up and watching movies with one of my bests, Rachel, also known as Wraptonstall. On a school night. Katherine Heigl and Josh Duhamel anyone?! Wraptonstall blessed us by spending the night and taking Sissy to school in the morning, so that I could take Mom to the doctor.

Speaking of Wraptonstall, she has THE cutest nephew who turned 6 months old this month. Be prepared for baby cuteness yall.

I got to catch up with sweet Kristen and Brooke! Love these girls and their hearts.

 

 

My phone is a spaz. I was trying to catch up with a friend who lives in Oklahoma, and my phone dropped the call. Not once, not twice, but FOUR times. Yeah that was fun. My bad Stef.

 

There are days that you just need to eat cupcakes, in a park, with your best friend, who lives out of state. That is all.

We cleaned the garage!!! Yay for neat and tidy spaces :)

 

I arrived home to a guilty looking dog the other day. Turns out she had tipped the kitchen trashcan over...third time in two weeks. Oh Chloe, you drive me crazy.

And I got to babysit Little Man twice this month. Love him. The day he can say "Gig "Em" I'll be happy. 

Look who's walking all by herself! Take that, Multiple Sclerosis! It's very possible that I sing, "Go Mama Go Go GO!" when she walks.

Now that you're tired of homecoming pictures, and I've exploited children without their parents approval, and considering I told you how I about broke my neck, I think I'll sign off.  

 

Xo, Beth

This Is Our God

If church was just worship music, I'd be fulfilled. It's such an awesome way to connect with the Lord, a way to praise him whole heartedly. There is nothing more beautiful than a church worshipping the Father together, with voices raised and arms outstretched.  

 

{And I will fall at Your feet
I will fall at Your feet
And I will worship you here

Freely You gave it ALL for us
Surrendered Your life upon that cross
Great is the love poured out for all
This is our God

Lifted on high from death to life
Forever our God is glorified
Servant and King, You rescued the world
This is our God}

 

~Hillsong, "This Is Our God"

Xo, Bethany

Pens and Paper

There is something about writing that is so freeing. It is a way to express yourself through the power and wonder of words. Watching ink flow onto paper, with your hand trying to keep up with the outpour of ideas, is such a sight to behold.

I love buying pens and collecting notebooks, imagining the journals that they will become. The pages await to be filled, filled with dreams and thoughts and devotionals and stories and accounts of our days. Marked with song lyrics, quotes, and Bible verses, my writings are my own.

To know that somewhere, someone can't read and write breaks my heart. Where would I be without books and blogs? Without letters and journals? I can't imagine a world like that.

Yet I've seen those worlds. Places where children, sometimes adults even, can't spell their names. They might have a Bible, but it is of no use to them because they can't read it. Many, many people have to rely on word of mouth to hear news. Stories are passed down through generations.

This is a blessing that I take advantage of daily. I grew up in a country that is blessed to give education and recieve education. A country that teaches children to read and write. A country that has the technology to keep the East coast connected to the West coast, to connect one side of the world to the other. A country that has recorded history in words and in movies.

Since I have been blessed with these gifts, I choose to read and I  choose to write. I read to learn. I read to explore. I read to be transported to a different time and place. I read to gain experience. Someday, someone will be reading what you read. I write to record who I was, when I was here, what I did. I write to make sense of myself. I write to find clarity. I write for myself, and I write for others. Someday, someone will be reading what you wrote. Life keeps marching on and my pen shall race to keep up.

Xo, Beth

The Sweetest Thing

Here are this week's sweetest things, in my opinion.

Quote:

“Most of our life is a series of images. They pass us by like towns on the highway. But sometimes a moment stuns us as it happens. And we know that this instant is more than a fleeting image. We know that this moment, every part of it, will live on forever.”

Song: "One Day" by Trading Yesterday

 

Verse:

"For God is not the author of confusion, but the author of peace." ~1 Corinthians 14:33

 

Goal:

 

Knocked My Socks Off:

 

 

Funny:

 

 

Xo, Bethany