hot water happiness

i may not have hot water for the fifth time this month  .. but i'm still a happy girl. 


here are five simple reasons. 

1. today a sizeable box waited for me patiently on my doorstep. 
Full of BOOKS. Read.Alouds.. . writing books and of course, books about food -  glorious food. 


2. this month, i got a lot of sister.. . family. time. 
Surprise 70th for my dad and then a family wedding this past weekend in Ohio. 




in the city @Eataly..  pure food heaven
.all senses come alive when you step through the doors

Could Aidan, my nephew be any cuter? 

Writing his well wishes to the bride and groom.

i love him to bits, pieces.. . little dustlets.

3.   my hair hitting my collarbone. 
      year after year.
      cut it, grow it, cut it, dark, light, dark.. . back and forth.  
      my hairdresser won't be seeing me any time soon. 
      i'm enjoying this growing season.

4.  this sound 

     these words. 

You were waiting at the door. 

I let you in. 

Nico and Randolph

i'm in love with this man

 

.all of his words

21 windows open, waiting to be shared.

i have been waiting for my computer to show Error messages, with all the windows I've kept open the past couple of days.

All of them patiently perched at the bottom of my screen for their release date. 

.today.

Albert Einstein was one smart man.

Mossiere

.Book Exchange idea from Reid Girls. 

All the details HERE

wool and silk Marni coat 

Gilt Groupe

:BB Dakota:
Halsey Party Dress

Blowfish Shoes for the Spring

Java: Rust Roughout Canvas

Brunch at Saks

I could spend all day here.  .. daydreaming and wishlisting my life away.

Iced Honey Mascarpone and Almond cake with fig salad

{via Gourmet Recipes}

Wiley Valentine Blog
Delicious Food inspired
 take a look @ 3.10.11 post

{click WV to find all the links to these lovely recipes above}

.wildflower bouquets. 

{via frolic!}
every different color. 
.matched by nature.
wrapped simply with plain ribbon. 
i'd take these any day over a dozen roses. 

these humorous and attractive cards by Sapling Press

This idea from @stickyJesus
"Three Words"
YOU WILL WANT TO SHARE THIS ON YOUR
FACEBOOK STATUS AND TWEETS.

to READ the full article click HERE @stickyJesus.com
1. He. Turns. Tides.
2. God. Fills. Gaps.
3. His. Hands. Hold.
4. God. Is. Love.
5. Be. Still. Know.
6. God. Is. Bigger.
7. Therefore. Be. Holy.
8. He. Is. Able.
9. God. My. Portion
10. God. Whispers. Grace.
11. Fixed. On. Heaven.
12. Ransomed. By. Love.
13. God. Hears. You.
14. God. Patiently. Waits.




:Geocaching: 

This is all my sister's doing. 
I don't know a thing about this.. .yet. 
But when I watched the video, i was intrigued. 
.a current day treasure hunt.


i'm headed to the getting started page for more details. 

Click to Look Inside -> the Bookstore

i could spend my life at the bookstore.
cups of fancy coffee
.my laptop.
Delivery sandwiches in the aisles.
you need good food, of course?!

. ..Surrounded by Endless books.
: all at my fingertips

 i am continuously uncovering books that spark my interest 

and "basketing" them at my wishlist over on Amazon. Found this one tonight: a book of all lost and found grocery lists. 

This author stole my idea. You know how many times I have wondered about this very thing.. .. 

my imaginary bookshelves shoot to the sky. 

i don't have near enough time to read them all, unless, that is_  i actually lived at the bookstore.

i suggest you head on over and create your own wishlist. 

if not just to keep track of all your next "bookshelf reads". 

my father

the devil creeps in some days.

whispering _


you're good enough. 
you are not smart enough
your mom isn't going to make it til next christmas... 
THAT decision was the wrong one
you are not a good teacher, or daughter, OR sister
you should be at THIS place in your life.. . and you're NOT.. you NEVER will be
you are weak. 


when i was growing up, my mom always used to say: whenever you feel evil around you.. or the devil tearing you down to call out:: :

In the name of JESUS, get behind me satan. 

she told my sister and I, that at Jesus' name the devil cowers.

In The Wisdom of Tenderness, Brennan Manning relates a story about an older nun he met on a retreat. She needed guidance in the late hours of one night.

[46]She began to cry. A small, frail woman, she shook with the sobbing.  

After a long discussion about her emotionally and physically abusive childhood, Manning asked if he could pray with her.

I prayed with her for several minutes for inner healing. Then I asked her, 'Sister, would you be willing to go off to a quiet place every morning for the next month, sit down in a chair, close your eyes, upturn your palms, and pray this one phrase over and over: 'Abba, I belong to you'? 


She looked skeptical, so I explained it further. "It's a prayer of exactly seven syllables, and seven syllable correspond perfectly to the rhythm of our breathing.
Inhale on Abba; exhale on the I belong to you.


At the outset, you'll say it with your lips alone, but as your mind becomes conscious of the meaning, you'll push your head down into your heart in a figurative sense, so that 'Abba, I belong to you' becomes what the French call un cri de coeur, a heartfelt cry from the depth of your being, 
establishing who you are, 
why you're here, 
and where you're going.


It's a prayer you can pray while working in the garden, 
listening to music, driving a car, crossing the street, 
watching television, reading a book, baking a cake, lying in bed. 
When you pray it dozens and dozens of times each day, and it becomes syncopated with the rhythm of your heartbeat, you can, as Jesus says in Luke 18, 
pray all day long and never lose heart.


I asked the nun, 'Will you try it?'
She replied,'Yes'

Hoping on days when thoughts haunt you, or the devil tosses doubts in your direction  _ this prayer places you in His arms.
where you've never left.

Abba, I belong to You.

pete wilson's plan

If you haven't gotten your hands on a copy of Pete Wilson's book Plan B, head over amazon and find yourself a copy quickly. i mean really quickly. ok?

just do it... 

you'll see why... 

we'll talk later.. when i'm finished in a day or so. 

i just started tonight.

page 22 

Now, I would never wish this on you, 

but there will be a moment in your life 

when you feel like everything you have is starting to slip away. 

You will be tempted to run, but I pray instead you will persevere. 

Because no matter how things seem, God is still with you. 

And things will turn around, one way or another. 

Maybe not the way you planned. 

Maybe not the way you assumed God would handle it. 

Maybe not even the way you hope. 

But you will see God's hand at work - if not in your circumstances, 

then certainly in your heart. 

Crazy Love

There sat only two copies on the bottom shelf. It was the funky maroon cover that caught my eye. The back read,

"It's crazy, if you think about it. The God of the universe - the Creator of nitrogen and pine needles, galaxies and E-minor - loves us with a radical, unconditional, self-sacrificing love. And what is our typical response? We go to church, sing songs, and try not to cuss... Are you hungry for an authentic faith that addresses the problems of our world with tangible, even radical solutions? God is calling you to a passionate love relationship with Himself. Because the answer to religious complacency isn't working harder at a list of do's and don'ts -

it's falling in love with God. And once you encounter His love... you will never be the same. Because when you're wildly in love with someone it changes everything."

Last night, I began reading this well before I got into bed. Sitting at the dining room table with my dinner, I devoured each page one by one. But even as it got late, I couldn't put it down. I nestled into bed, the down comforter crinkling all around me and continued. I woke up in the morning to find the book beside my pillow.

Some points in the book where I underlined or starred - paused, cried - prayed.

"We forget that we already have everything we need in Him." 30

"Isn't it a comfort to worship a God we cannot exaggerate?" 31

" 'Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!' (Phil. 4:4) _ You'll notice that it doesn't end with '...unless you're doing something extremely important.' No it's a command for all of us, and it follows with the charge, 'Do not be anxious about anything.' (v.6)" 41

"[Worry] and [Stress] declare our tendency to forget that we've been forgiven, that our lives here are brief, that we are headed to a place where we won't be lonely, afraid, or hurt ever again, and that in the context of God's strength, our problems are small, indeed." 42

"When Jeremiah voices his hesitation and fear, God-the God of the galaxies - reaches out and touches his mouth. It's a gentle and affectionate gesture, something a loving parent would do. Through this illustration I realized that I don't have to worry about not meeting His expectations. God will ensure my success in accordance with His plan, not mine." 60

"The greatest knowledge we can ever have is knowing God treasures us." 61

http://www.crazylovebook.com/