A Friend Made It...

So in early May, Naptime Diaries' had a massive Motherload Giveaway, and I just so happened to be the lucky winner of this sweet little pillow case dress... 

A Friend Made It!

And it just so happens to (almost) totally fit my sweet friend Jill's big girl Carly... who happens to have two little sisters that will eventually grow into it too!!

Earlier in the visit they had water-play-time........

Sooo fun!! :)

What are you doing to protect your marriage?

Somewhere along the way I started email-following Michael Hyatt's blog.

I don't know too much about him, but that he has a healthy marriage and is chairman of Thomas Nelson Publishers.

This post caught my attention last week...

It's short, to the point, and very beneficial...

This is a crazy world, and while we need not live in fear, we must be equipped and on guard from the enemy's schemes!! (Ephesians 6:10-12).

All this is hitting especially close to home as I've just learned about a dear friend with two precious little ones who's losing her husband.

My heart breaks for them.

The devil is cunning. None of us are immune or invincible to his schemes. Lord, build us up in your armor and protection that we might not fall prey. Please bless this family and bring reconciliation, peace, hope, healing. Fight with and for them. Bring them your victory for your glory...

{{The link again for MH's post.}}

baked or fried?

no question.

I always (always) choose fried.

ahh, wrong answer, I know.

But I loooove fried.

For a snack when I got home, I devoured my sweet husband's leftover waffle fries that he saved just for me, because he knows how very much I love them... and then my dad made these for supper!!!

crispy fried goodness... it's a shame that I love them so. really it is.

SO, in the spirit of 1% changes (baby-step-size -that's why I LOVE this game!) --I want to adopt the challenge to replace fried with baked once in a while! 

I've already given up fast food this year, so that's not even my vice right now...

But, come date night or the occasional Sunday lunch out, basically whenever I'm given the opportunity, 100% of the time I choose fried -- potatoes, chicken, whathaveyou..... (sometimes may be acceptable, but 100% is just. too. much.)

So, I called my mom-in-love on the way home today just to ask how she does her delicious baked potato fries... It may be just the same way you do yours, but I'll post the steps anyway... even if for myself so that I'll be ready to DO them next time my french fry craving hits (like tomorrow;)...

Cut up potatoes and put them in a zip lock bag,
add some oil,
cheyenne pepper,
minced garlic (or garlic powder if you have none to mince)

Give it some shake-shakes.

Spread them on an oven pan.

Bake at 425 for 10 minutes.
Then switch to broil for 10 more minutes (instead of stirring them around... brilliant if you ask me... either way though!)

and voila... pure goodness.... and it's not even fried!! :)

[she mentioned too that you could soak the freshly cut potatoes in ice water for a minute before adding them to the seasoning-bag..... her fresh-out-of-the-garden-potatoes didn't need such love, but maybe when using store-bought ones, I'll go ahead and add that step:]

Bloggers, link up with a healthy recipe or 1% change??

You're invited...

Tuesday night we're having a jewelry party to benefit Bridge the Nations...

[This is the ministry Steph has been working with in Thailand for the last two years!]

If you live in this town and you're interested in supporting this ministry, you should definitely let me know so I can tell you when & where to be!!

(And even if you don't live here but want to check out the jewelry, here's a PDF of the catalogue! -minus prices)

<3

Photo apps are my favorite....

It's no big news that I've been totally enthralled with these two photo apps: Diptic (the collage maker) and Instagram (the color-effects one)....

Soooo, welcome to my faves of the week Diptic/Instagram-style.... ♥

K & M after Kayla's recital last weekend...

G-family night with the BFFs...

Bellacino's & bracelet-making with Myranda...

Before & After haircut collage...

Clearly he takes the cake
for most drastic!
Mmm...
And most handsome!;)

aaaand, a fabulous midweek datenight to Huntington Beach!

Love these sweet moments... Documenting/sharing them just makes them all the sweeter! <3

{{Don't 'cha just love these apps?? They make iPhonography so much fun!!}}


Linked up with The Anderson's (I mean Amy's) Embrace the Camera this week! ♥

Renew the Mind...

A change I've made before (way too many years ago) and I'm working on adopting again is memorizing Scripture...

For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

There's something about getting it on your mind and down in your heart...

Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is- his good, pleasing and perfect will. (Romans 12:2)

It's not about piety or works, but long-term-knowledge, and change. 

By working the truth into my mind, I am nurturing my own spirit and helping it follow God's lead --rather than leaving it to it's own devices!

So my 1% change is to RENEW MY MIND by committing Scripture to memory (1-2 verses every two weeks for now). 


Having a friend in it with you can make allll the difference. A few weeks ago I emailed a girl from my last book-study and mentioned that I was wanting to work on memorizing but was having trouble getting off the ground.... She immediately accepted the challenge with me and now we have a quick phone/recital date every other week.... Sweet, huh!? :)

We're working through this Armor of God passage from Ephesians 6.

Looking forward to reading all your changes this week.... {Naptime Diaries' link up}

♥ ♥

Twin Birthday Parade...

This time last year our friend-cousins the Jordans were at MUSC where their babies were born twelve weeks premature!! Naturally, they were suuuper tiny and still had a lot of developing to do, resulting in a grueling [yet hopeful!] three months there in the NICU...

{{Pictures from last May...}}

BUT NOW... they are healthy, happy, and sooo stinkin CUTE!!!

And I had the sweet privilege of taking pictures at their birthday party Saturday... Enjoy! :)

cousins:)

sisters & friends... a few road trip pics

Steph and I hit the road this Thursday to see these twin beauties in Columbia... They were way too sweet and kind-- amusing us with dinner, hilarious sister stories, 30 Rock via Netflix, and brunch on Friday before we came back to the beach & they headed for Charleston...

It was great getting to spend some quality time with these dear ones Kristin & Kelley...

Kelley & Steph... brunch at The Gourmet Shop

so cute in their matching sunglasses

Friday AM walk with my new camera friend...

mmmm... Moe's for the ride home<3

Fun times! ♥

Eat Right for Your Type...

A few years back, I came across this book... Eat Right for Your Type by Peter J. D'Adamo ...I kinda love it! Not everyone agrees with the guy's research & philosophy, but I found it helpful for getting me on the right track with food choices.

Being that I have type A blood, D'Adamo encourages me to get my proteins from beans rather than meats.... this bean dip recipe has been one of my favorites...

[I'd like to say it's better with black beans (b/c they're my favorite), but personally I think it's way better with pinto beans]....

Happy changing, friends! ...Hope you too have been encouraged by all this to keep making those small, consistent, baby-step-ish changes for the greater good...... I certainly have appreciated the challenge!!

{link up with Naptime Diaries!}

the reason...

The fact that I have the last three mother's days documented here in blogland feels like part of the reason God made blogging!

I love a good memory...

especially a visual one...

so as not to break tradition, I must declare yet another sweet mother's day has been had..... this year was suuuper nice.....

Just about every Sunday, you'll find the Alford's at Nagoya's... this Sunday was no different. I absolutely love when we get to join them.

Good food and really good times with this sweet family-in-love. (They're such good sports with me always taking their pictures too... glad for that!!:)

Stephanie was 31 weeks this Monday.

Seriously can't wait to meet Baby Cade!

So very thrilled for them (last year was rough)!! ♥

This is a seriously blessed family.

Gary is basically a third brother to Shannon & Jeremy.

Rare jewels -these two. Right here in the flesh.

Sooooo glad she loves me. This sweet lady has been a blessing of a mom like I've never known. Her heart is a deep well that never runs dry (as in a 'living water' kind of well like John 7:38 talks about).....


So after church & lunch we came home for a quick nap before dinner with the Granchellis..... always a good time with this bunch..... Kayla was our waitress for the evening..... (and it was awesome!:)

As far as I can tell, Mom felt good and spoiled with cards, presents, burgers from the grill, and Kayla's homemade fruit salad (sliced fruit, plus our choice of whip cream &/or carmel drizzle... nicely done, Sister!!!!)

We topped off the night with a bike ride around the neighborhood... Seriously good times.... Hope yours was good and that you felt loved. Lots of hurt and hard stuff happening every day. I know at least two neighbors that lost their moms this year.

Thankful to get to seize these moments and spoil ours a little....

Much love, bloggers...

1% changes tomorrow..... :)

(Mom's Day archives... 2008 // 2009 // 2010) ♥

embracing the camera...

A few of my very favorite things this week....

I got to visit my former kiddos at Teach My People!!

Jeremy and I got to enjoy a sweeeeet bike ride through Huntington Beach State Park.

And we had my BFF over for supper again... (If you don't know Steph, she's been living in Thailand for the past two years and is home visiting for about a month, so we're trying to get in as much hang-time as possible!!)


I linked-up this post to The Anderson Crew where Emily invites bloggers to Embrace the Camera... (I haven't been following these guys very long, but long enough to know they're an adorable, Jesus-loving, adoption-practicing family.)

on life & death and a best friend's legacy..

My heart and mind have been heavy this week as I've considered and prayed and mourned the loss of a sweet girl I only met twice.

Even though I barely knew Mary, I've had the saddest, somehow beautiful, priveledge of walking through this tragedy with her closest friend, Claire...

Mary & Claire, 2006

Claire's words on their friendship and a life-giving, clean water legacy of these two friends:

WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 2011

A Tribute to a Legacy Leaver

What legacy are you going to leave? Several months back I asked that question on this blog, and I hope it was something you honestly wrestled with. Now I would like to share with you the story of the legacy of my dearest friend.

About five years ago, I was living in an apartment in Myrtle Beach. One day I was taking the water dog for a walk, and we met some new neighbors who had moved into the apartment below ours. Darcy thought Piper, their dog, was friendly, and I was impressed that Mary knew immediately who my male dog was named after. A few nights later, I went completely against my character and decided to take a risk on this potential friendship. I walked down to their apartment, knocked on the door, and asked if they'd like to hang out. From that moment on, Mary and I became practically inseparable. We only grew closer after Mary and her family moved to Savannah and then Alabama. I have had many great friends during my life but Mary was an especially precious gift. I can't remember a single fight we ever had. She always accepted me for who I am. She never hurt me. She taught me so much and helped me become more like who God wants me to be. And, I have never laughed as hard or been as happy as I was in her presence. Plus, I got her amazing and big hearted husband, Corey, and Darcy got his two best friends in the world, Piper and Bogie.

If you've followed this blog at all, you know Mary's name. Mary was the one sitting next to me at Catalyst when I heard God tell me to raise money for a well, fast for a month, and write this blog. When I turned to her and told her this, she immediately told me she believed in me and how could she help. I'd like to say that I would have gone forward with this project even if she had not been supportive but I know that would be a lie.

Mary didn't just support me in this project; she actively worked for its success. Every client she saw at her salon during those three months heard about the water project and the water situation in our world. She wore the charity:water bracelet every day and told whoever noticed it what it meant. She celebrated with me when donations were coming in, and she cried with me when they weren't. She encouraged me when people weren't supportive and questioned what I was doing. She listened to rough drafts of blog posts over the phone, and she let me talk out ideas I had with her. At the end of the campaign when it didn't look like the money was going to come in, she supported me in my big leap of faith and reminded me that she believed in me and in this project. My joy was her joy, my anger her anger, my tears her tears, and in the end, any success I can claim was also hers. I can honestly and without a doubt say that I could not have done what I did without her.

This past Sunday Mary was killed by a drunk driver at the age of 28. In one worlds destroying moment, Corey lost his beloved wife, a family lost their precious daughter, and I lost the Jonathan to my David. The last few days have been ones of deep pain and heart crushing brokenness.

I thought it only fitting that the well Mary worked so hard with me to build be built in her honor. So, yesterday I called charity:water and asked if this would be possible. And now, when our well is finished, there will be a plaque on it that reads "In Honor of Mary Whitfield."

Someday children will dance in the water of that well, the same children who are healthy and in school because of that clean water. Women will be safe from the dangers of walking miles to and from clean water sources. And, the economic situation of a community has the increased potential of improving because of access to clean water. I can think of no better tribute to one of the best people I ever known and one of the most precious people to my heart.

I won't see Mary again until she greets me at Heaven's gates but I find joy amidst all this pain in knowing that her legacy is continuing and the world is just that much better because of her. I see her smiling, joyful face in my mind and know that if I do nothing else in my life, I have done something to honor the best and truest friend I have ever had.

If you would like to contribute to Mary's growing legacy, please consider donating to charity:water at http://www.charitywater.org/donate/ or an anti-drunk driving organization of your choice.

(You can view Claire's original post here.)

Prayer closet

But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret... (Matthew 6:6)





My 1% change this week is simply this....going into my room or closet, closing the door, and spending some quality time with God in prayer each day.

Tenderly inspired by Matthew 6 & Bill Hybel's Too Busy Not to Pray.

Beth Moore's Praying God's Word

Another great resource... It's a topical prayer guide, and it's seriously great stuff!

{Link back to Naptime Diaries' 1% change this week}

life is short but sweet for certain...

My sweet friend Claire lost her dear friend Mary today.

The details are still vague, but apparently she was hit by a drunk driver.

Mary was a young wife, a daughter & baby sister to three brothers. She doesn't live here, but she and Claire get together several times a year to travel, shop, eat ice cream for lunch, and all around encourage each other.


I'm thankful Claire called this morning...

Thankful I was able to go be with her.

Thankful for Mary's life.

28 years.
Just a blink.


A few of our closest friends came over after church.

So we walked.

and talked.

and cried.

and laughed a little.

It was a good, sad day.

Still trying to wrap my head around the finality of this physical death.... Mary loved the Lord, and I'm thankful for the thought of her in Heaven with Jesus. I pray her family and husband are comforted and know His peace. I pray it is thick and tangible to them... and to Claire.

Praise be to God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ. (2 Corinthians 1: 3-5)

{post title credit: Dave Matthews Band, "Two Step"}