Sunday, December 30, 2012

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

Friday, December 28, 2012

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

Monday, December 24, 2012

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


Sunday, December 23, 2012

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

Friday, December 14, 2012

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

Thursday, December 6, 2012

bittersweet life.


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

Monday, December 3, 2012

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