Bucket list item #47.

So far this year I've been working on Bucket List item #47:  take a picture everyday for a year. (On a side note: I would pick a leap year to undertake this, but I didn't realize it until February 29th and for me to remember that long, I was not about to stop.)

Today is day #144 so I'm not quite half-way, but I've already had so much fun with it.

I decided my common theme would be my feet. I've been posting them on Instagram, Twitter and Facebook everyday, so I get a question almost every week to the effect of, "What's with all the pictures of your feet?" Yesterday at church someone even asked me, "Have those shoes been in one of your pictures? Because I feel like I've seen them before."

For anyone who has known me for more than a few minutes knows I'm weird. People who have known me for a few years know that I've always taken pictures of my feet. I'm not sure what it's all about, really, or when it started, but it has become a part of who I am. 

I try to tell a story with each of my pictures. Sometimes, I'll admit, they're not very creative, but I can only do so much with my feet. And while I know having 366 pictures of my feet is kind of extreme, it's just how I roll ;P

Part of the reason I'm writing this post is to give a little explanation of the feet pictures so that I may not get so many questions. And I guess the only other reason I'm blogging is because I haven't posted anything in a while....

I haven't been putting them on my blog, but I plan to start putting together weekly strips, like the one below, out soon. Or maybe next year...who knows.

For the time being I'll leave you with a story about the week-strip below.

The Saturday before week 12 I was at a church work day and had some shooting back pain after lifting up a basket of (plastic) toys. I ended up going to the fastERcare that afternoon. They gave me some good drugs to kill the pain and I spent the first half of week 12 at home on bed rest. I stayed on the couch, as you can see, through Wednesday. And was well enough to be at the beach that weekend.

Week 12

Much love,

~A

Felt flowers--a quick tutorial

Here is all the supplies you'll need:
Felt (whatever color you want the flowers to be)
Scissors
Various circles items (to trace)
Marker
Hot glue gun

Trace circles on the felt

Cut felt

You will then cut the felt circles into spirals. Varying the width of the will give the flowers different levels.

         

Next, start rolling the felt from then end that you started cutting.

When you get towards the end you'll put a little hot glue on the last part.

And then tuck the end on the bottom with more hot glue. 

And voila.

Here's a video to help a little too...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xybyDQ3RsSQ&feature=youtube_gdata_player


Please feel free to ask questions of I didn't make anything clear.
Happy crafting everyone!!


~A

Thankfulness.

With all the people on Facebook taking the days of November for writing what they're thankful for, I decided to to the same. Blog-style.
Each day I'm going to add to a list and then post the blog on the last day of November.
What are you thankful for?

Amazed.

The amazement I'm speaking of above is not a good amazed.
I guess flabbergasted is more the word.

See what I'm talking about...click here...and read the 4th major listed.

I have no problems with a woman being a homemaker (personally not for me) or a stay-at-home mother....but really? This is pretty ridiclous.

That's just my opinion. Take it for what it's worth.

I was a junior in high school.

I was walking out of my 1st block Pre-Cal class and noticed a couple of teachers crowding around in the hall.
I didn't have time to stop to find out what was going on because I was going to be late to my 2nd block Health class.
September 11th, 2001.
As I got to my Health class and found out what was happening, I begged the teacher to go to the band room to call my mother.
My aunt was working at the Pentagon. We had family that had already heard from her, she was on the opposite of the building when the plane hit.

I didn't want to post this yesterday. I actually debated on posting it at all.
Tragedies happen in our lives and we'll never forget where we were or what we were doing.

I pray for the families of the people that were effected by this tragedy. Not just today, but every time I think about what happened.
We will truly never forget, but let us not be so focused on it that we miss what's going on around us.
There's nothing we can do about the people that died, but we can minister to the people that are around us every day.
Regardless of who they are...if they lost family on 9/11/01 or had no relation to anyone involved.
Let's not be so distracted that we can't see the people hurting around us.

They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven." Acts 1:10-11

Inspired

I've been inspired. My friend Kendra has started a new job...she gets paid to blog. But not only that, she gets to go to Goodwill, buy stuff, flip it and GET PAID TO BLOG about it. Talk about an awesome job.

Needless to say that I've been making a lot of stops at Goodwill after reading her blogs (which I'm pretty sure is the purpose, lol).

Below is a plain, ordinary wicker tray. Usually I would've just walked right by this item because I didn't know what to do with it.

First, a coat (or two) of primer.

Next, the aqua. I don't think I would've ever picked this color, but I was trying to be bold.

There's a possibility that I had as much fun staging this picture as the project itself. But all that in just one day...crazy. And definitely a lot of fun.

It was a ridiculously easy project. Not to mention a perfect excuse to be crafty. Look for much more craftiness coming from this girl a lot more often.

(Click here to see the blog that inspired this craft project)

Happy crafting!

~A

Blogging.

I've said it before, but I am trying to blog more often.
I've also said before that I'm crazy.
I've started a tumblr account because it's a lot easier for me to blog from my phone with the app.
Yes, I will sill blog on blogger from time-to-time...but for now, follow me on tumbler to hear my rants more often.
Hope the rest of your summer is fantastic! =)
~AMC

So much change.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8
 ¹ There is a time for everything,
   and a season for every activity under the heavens:
 ² a time to be born and a time to die,
   a time to plant and a time to uproot,
 ³ a time to kill and a time to heal,
   a time to tear down and a time to build,
 ⁴ a time to weep and a time to laugh,
   a time to mourn and a time to dance,
 ⁵ a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
   a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
 ⁶ a time to search and a time to give up,
   a time to keep and a time to throw away,
 ⁷ a time to tear and a time to mend,
   a time to be silent and a time to speak,
 ⁸ a time to love and a time to hate,
   a time for war and a time for peace



I have blogged about this verse more times than I can remember.
Since I have been constantly reminded about this verse for the past 4 years, you would think that I would have no issue with change.
Change, it's true, is uncomfortable, but growing up in a military family, you would think that I would have come more accustomed to it.
Wrong-o.
I'm more open to change, I think, because of my background, but I still get thrown for a loop each time.
There are so many major changes happening in my life this year. I have several friends getting married this year: 2 weddings have already happened and there are at least 5 to come, the latest in October. Friends having babies. And that is all just in the personal circuit.
At work, as of July 1, I will be a one-woman office. The last time that happened, the girl only lasted 2 months...pray for me. Not only that, but we have new people coming in the next few weeks and some people leaving after 20 years. I know that "...in all things God works for the good of those how love him who have been called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28) But, again, this doesn't make it easier.
With those people leaving at work comes added responsibility for me. Not only will I be basically doing the work of 2-3 people, but I will be the new adviser for BCM (Baptist Collegiate Ministries) on campus.
I think I'm more nervous about that than anything else. I'm not a good public speaker...I've never claimed to be, but I'm praying that God knows what He's doing (and I have not question that He does, I just wish I knew what it was).
Wow, that's a lot to lay on after not blogging for a little over a month, but I'm sure I will be doing this way more often since I will have so much more time on my hands (haha). And as I seek advice from whoever still reads this thing.
That being said, I really should get back to work.
Thank you for those still reading, I apologize for complaining so much...that's (yet) another thing I'm still working on. Thank you for being patient with me.
I pray the Lord blesses each of you in a special and powerful way.

In Him.....
~A

Ageing? Aging?

It's been a common topic lately between various friends and myself of how many things are changing.

I was recently talking to my old youth pastor and his family...their eldest daughter, who was born on my 16th birthday, will be 10. Oh, the double-digits are so hard to believe. Their youngest will be 6 and they have another little one on the way.

My cousin, who I remember when my aunt was pregnant with him, who I held as a baby and fed him a bottle, told me in April on my trip to Ohio that he got his learner's permit....

When did all this happen? When did these little kids start growing up? When did I start getting old?

I know, I know, you're only as old as you feel, right?

I don't want to be cliche, but....it seems like just yesterday that Jack was born. Lianna and Talia too. I think part of the reason it's so weird is because I remember a time before them. A friend helped me realize that.

People get older. People get their learner's permits. They graduate high school. And college. Get married, have children. I know it's all a part of life.


"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens: a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace."
Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Embrace Beauty. Love God. Live Life to the Fullest...

Today I am reminded of a quote from Pastor Kyle Lake who was killed in a freak baptism accident in 2005.


"Live. And Live Well. 
BREATHE. Breathe in and Breathe deeply.
Be PRESENT. Do not be past. Do not be future. Be now. 
On a crystal clear, breezy 70 degree day, roll down the windows and FEEL the wind against your skin. Feel the warmth of the sun. 
If you run, then allow those first few breaths on a cool Autumn day to FREEZE your lungs and do not just be alarmed, be ALIVE. 
Get knee-deep in a novel and LOSE track of time. If you bike, pedal HARD and if you crash then crash well.
Feel the SATISFACTION of a job well done a paper well-written, a project thoroughly completed, a play well-performed. 
If you must wipe the snot from your 3-year old's nose, don't be disgusted if the Kleenex didn't catch it all because soon he'll be wiping his own.
If you've recently experienced loss, then GRIEVE. And Grieve well.
At the table with friends and family, LAUGH. 
If you're eating and laughing at the same time, then might as well laugh until you puke.
And if you eat, then SMELL. The aromas are not impediments to your day. Steak on the grill, coffee beans freshly ground, cookies in the oven. 
And TASTE. Taste every ounce of flavor. Taste every ounce of friendship. Taste every ounce of Life. 
Because-it-is-most-definitely-a-Gift"

Take some time today and this week to enjoy God's creation.  Even on a day like today when it's raining.

Have a great week! =)

~A

New Year's Resolution(s).

I don't normally have a New Year's Resolution.  Simply because I think they are kind of lame, to be completely honest.  I don't think that they are taken seriously because people (myself included) have already set in their minds that they will break them.

Instead, here are my goals for 2011:
Love harder. Live fuller. Laugh louder. Be nicer. Be intentional. Get reconnected.
Basically, be the best me.

I've become a little too complacent. I've been a bit lazy. I'm not as intentional as I once was. I don't feel like I show people how much I love and appreciate them as I used to.

I don't like that I've become this way and I wish I would have admitted it earlier to myself and not been in denial.

I pray that each of you have a blessed New Year. May the Lord continue to bless & keep you. =)

~A