creative birthday girl

Me and Steph (above) Baby Will (below)

I've been meaning to share pictures of these fun earrings for a while now. What a perfect day for it.....the creator's birthday! Stephanie has an art degree with a concentration in painting. Nowadays she spends her time raising little Will (age 1) and creating lots of fun things in her home (lots of fabric work, modern quilting, felt, etc.). I admire my dear friends' commitment to buying handmade things as well. I'm considering taking the handmade challenge myself! Here are some pics of the cute earrings I've fallen in love with:) Watch out...you might find yourself craving a pair, too! You can shop at her Etsy store.

Cute squiggly printBirdies:)

Happy happy birthday Steph-my wonderfully creative friend!

psalms to silence the heart

trust (trst)n.

1. Firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing.

2. Custody; care.

3. Something committed into the care of another; charge.

4. Reliance on something in the future; hope.

I'm encouraged to fully trust my heavenly Father with our future when I read these poetic and heart-felt Psalms...

16:7-11 I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.
I have set the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy;
at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

61:8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your heart before himl
God is a refuge for us.

145:15 The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food in due season.
You open your hand; you satisfy the desire of every living thing.

103: 1-5 Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all this is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits,
who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy
who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Sam Bear-Hugs a Cholla

Here is my studly husband after a fight with a cholla (type of cactus). I don't know who won. Although Sam's body looked like acupuncture gone wrong, the cactus was definitely demolished so.... maybe they both got the crap kicked out of them. Oh the joys of living in the desert.

Dear Ruth

I don't know why I should feel a tad bashful about sharing this. There's no shame in loving people and being loved in return. And I know you're not one to hide your heart for others either...oh how I admire that about you :) On your special day I think you must know how much your one life has touched mine; how much I look to you as a source of godly wisdom and example. No, I don't put you on a pedestal, but I celebrate the work of Christ IN you. Just as you create things as an artist and look upon them with great joy, so your Father looks upon you as his masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." You are loved dear friend.

Happy Day of your Birth!

Love,
Libby

Shhhhh

The countdown begins....all are welcome!
Now we wait and pray and believe that by the time this party comes we will know what exactly that "new door of opportunity" will look like.

party hardy!

Ok, this 25th birthday party like totally speaks to me! The 80's were some good times! And is it just me or is it freaking out the rest of you children of the 80's to see some of the trends coming back! I think the prom photo backdrop is genius and I'm in LOVE with the pac-man cake! I also think it's like totally awesome how we included Pop Rocks and Slinkies for the kids- totally 80's touches! This party was psychedelic! Like, FOR SURE!

And to top it all off I opened like, the most RADICAL sewing machine ever. Now I can like, make my own totally tubular costume for next time!

Clothes Swap

In an effort to simplify and share the love (of clothes), my lovely lady friends came over for an all out clothes swap. My hope was to take less than what I brought to share...otherwise, I would have been shifting, not simplifying! We chose a few things from the piles and took the rest to the nearest Goodwill. Ahh, sweet relief!

It brought me such joy to bless friends with clothes and accessories that have long sat in my closet. Going though my bins and drawers really opened my eyes to just how much I own... and how little I need. I want to be better at living simply.

So, what's in your closet?