Of paint, little girls in smocks and ice cream.

Last Saturday our church left the building – we scattered across town and did projects for The Christian Mission, The Soup Kitchen, yard work, picking up trash, and so on. It was an awesome day of loving our community! John and I got to paint at the Christian mission with some of our friends from life group which was way too much fun.
The girls getting decked out in their little smocks. :)


Some tunes to entertain us as we worked.. :)


Anna and Emily would have to be the cutest little workers ever..

We ended the morning by stopping in for some delicious ice cream at the brand new Deluxe parlor. If you live in the area and haven’t tried Deluxe yet, you absolutely must. It’s so so incredibly yummy.

A dancing horse and a blue ribbon.

I love watching my sister perform in dressage shows with her horse. It’s beautiful, artful and graceful. I don’t understand all the moves and the complex steps and lead changes and all.. but even to my ignorant eyes a girl and horse performing dressage is beautiful.

Notice in the picture above – no feet touching! That is dancing… or is it soaring?


I was so proud of my sister and her horse..! She was in two shows and got first place in the first and third in the second!

{beth}

A tent, a lake, a book and a campfire.

Reading through 2012: week 15

I love reading. I’m obsessed with reading. I can literally keep myself entertained all day long if I have a good book. If you have been following me for awhile, you’ll know that I’m on a challenge of reading 52 books this year. That’s one a week. So far, I’m right on track! Here’s what I’ve been reading since my last update. (Click the book title to see it on amazon.)

#9 Sister Freaks Stories of Women Who Gave Up Everything For God by Rebecca St. James:

#10 The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

#11 Out of the Silent Planet by C.S. Lewis

#12 The Help by Kathryn Stockett

#13 The Magician’s Nephew by C.S. Lewis

#14 Captivating: Unveiling the Mystery of a Woman’s Soul by John and Stasi Eldredge

#15 A Grief Observed by C.S. Lewis

To see books #1-8 click HERE and HERE.

Any book suggestions from you readers? What are some books that have changed your life or have inspired you or are just awesome reading? Let me know in the comments!
Happy Reading!
-beth

Blue Like Jazz opening weekend!

The movie to one of the most life-changing books I’ve ever read is in theaters! I cannot wait to go watch it.. and I hope you do, too. Bring your friends.. :)
Blue Like Jazz challenges your view on God, life, and other people like few things ever will. I discovered God in a more real way than I ever had known Him before.. and I haven’t been the same since.

Click HERE to purchase tickets to the movie!

Go. For real. Watch it.
-beth. :)

Birthday, cupcakes, tulips and… a parrot?

My birthday was on the 10th, and my family loves birthdays. We seriously do. It’s an event, a celebration.. time to be together and have fun.. do things we don’t normally do. My family really went all out for me and it made me feel so loved.
They know how much I adore cupcakes.. so that was the theme. And spring. Tulips.. hyacinths. :)

The name places were real tulips in miniature pots. The “dirt” was chocolate bunches. I probably ate a 1/4 of my dirt before dessert.

We played Yahtzee. I got second! And I never even got a yahtzee. And here’s where the Parrot comes in. See him on my dad’s back? His name is Tarzan.

He’s not very smart. He dances though. Makes you laugh like a fool cuz it looks so funny and cute. He’s a show off.
Like I said, they know my love for cupcakes. Check out the wrapping paper! Its just edible. :)


My cake. My littlest sister made it.. isn’t is beautiful?

All these pictures are iPhone.. as I forgot my camera at home. I’m starting to realize I do that a lot. =/ Anyway.. I had such a wonderful party with my amazing family.. I hope you all are blessed to have a family who loves you like mine does me.
Keep calm and have a cupcake!
-beth

Give a gift. Change a life.

Today is my birthday! And this year I’m asking for something a little different. Instead of presents, I’m asking for gifts for the children around the world through my gift catalog with World Vision. There’s a large variety of gifts to choose from: a goat, medicine, school books, fruit trees, clean water, a soccer ball… and the list goes on. If you feel lead to give towards my birthday catalog, please click HERE. Even if you don’t feel like this is the time or place for you to give personally, I have a request. Please share my gift catalog with your family and friends via Facebook, twitter, email, reblogging this or any other social media outlets. The more people who known about it, the more people who get a chance to give! This gifts are literally life changing and not just for the child who receives the gift, but for the whole community as well. It’s life changing for the giver, too.

“And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.” Matthew 25:40

-beth