Food Changes

After watching Food Inc. this past weekend, there are a few baby steps I'm inspired to take....

1. Eat less meat.

2. Buy more organic.

3. Buy more whole foods. Start cutting out processed foods.

4. Reevaluate the bread we buy. [Learn to make my own.]

5. And finally, read (or listen to) this book In Defense of Food by Michael Pollan.

Pretty excited Naptime Diaries' is back with the 1% changes this week too... perfect timing! :)

Sister's heart...

Kayla told me tonight she accepted Christ at camp last week.

And she wants to be baptized.

I'm really thrilled for her and this journey she's on.

Thanks for those of you who are praying and loving her with me.

Keep keeping her, Lord. Thanks for her sweet sweet heart. May it be soft and pliable in your hands. [and mine also!] <3

Girls' Night Babies...

Lately we've been aiming to have a girls' night at least once per month. 

As if the girl-time wasn't enough, these cuties have filled the space with fun and laughter!

Sweet, sweet gifts from Heaven! <3

Columbia weekend...

We just enjoyed our second annual Floyd-family weekend thanks to my husband's attendance at the Converge SE conference...

We played ball in the house, swam, and snuggled the sweet Floyd boys in the mornings [while being served coffee & breakfast!!]...


I was also able to work on a Naptime Diaries' family photo-shoot!!



Quite the honor capturing this lovely fam!!
...I posted a few more pics on my new Photog page! ♥


Aaaand we watched the very informative, absolutely life-changing Food Inc. before heading home yesterday!!!


If you eat, ever, I recommend you watch it too. It's that important! Seriously.
(It's on Netflix and quite possibly at your favorite local library!!)

Praying for little ones...

(Anna & Kayla at least two years ago...)

My sister and her friend are away at church camp this week....

They went last year too and loved it.

I pray that more than ever they will see and hear the greatness of our God. 

I pray they realize his big big love for them this week!!

Thankful for each couselor and child there.. 

I pray they come home with a fervor that cannot be snuffed out!!

(They let us email them too.. They print the emails daily and give them to the campers! How cool is that!?)

Thanks for your big love, God. Pour it out on all these little ones!! <3

eventful week...

It's been quite the week around here...

Last weekend was mom's birthday & Kayla's dance recital... (trying on hats at random)

We had our Monday night time with the G-fam...

...aaand the Jordans came by... Kayla wanted to give them a show :)

...a Conway date with Myranda...

...a quick visit with my favorite Rogersons...

And more time with brand new Baby Cade!!

more pics from his first two days of life... <3

Thankful for this lazy Saturday to play with pictures and hang around with my love.

We're off to see the A-fam tonight and then time with Cade and our dads tomorrow!

Happy Weekend! ♥

Baby Cade came today!!!

He was scheduled for July, the second week...

buuut, when S&S went to their doctor's appointment today, her blood pressure was way up and she had apparently developed preeclampsia... So they decided to do an emergency c-section. today.

And we are thanking God all is well with the little man!

He is healthy, handsome, and we are all so thrilled to have him here!! ♥

On with the pictures already.....

♥ ♥ ♥

Pool time with Sister...

She's too much fun. Really...

She had me jumping from the side and turning my hair over like George Washington... I felt 12 again and loved it! :)

aaaand we had s'mores after supper!!

Kinda awesome.

Yay Summer!! ♥

transitions on my mind...

(basement apt. reserved for us in Raleigh)

What's on my heart really...

Raleigh... moving... clearing the clutter [simplifying before moving]... and enjoying the days/time we have left....

This apt-above-the-garage [where we currently live] has been my abode since college graduation: 10. years. ago. ((How did that many years go by already!?? They've been full and wonderful, almost every one, but ten!? really!?))

And so, as this part of our story comes to a close, we have a whole new chapter ready to be written.

I'm anticipating and welcoming The Raleigh Chapter, but of course I'm a little nervous-excited too.

(Jeremy helping with worship during our last visit. And I got to help with the song-projection!:)

My hopes and dreams for our life ahead:
continued unity in marriage
growth: spiritual & personal
community
meaningful, fruitful work
FUN
Joy & constant thanksgiving (like Ann V. talks about in her book that I'm loving)

Meet His Gaze

Chin up, Child,

Meet His Gaze.

His arms are open wide.

Chin up, child.

Look into My eyes.

Don't be shy.

Don't look away.

Let Me meet you here.

Meet Me.

Meet Love.

My Love,

My Grace,

It is Sufficient.

You are fully loved.

Do not fear;

Take courage.

Keep walking.

I will be with you;

Always.


I will never leave you.

Though man may forsake you,

I will never forsake you.

You are Mine.
I am yours.

Remember.

Always:

Everytime you eat,

Everytime you drink,

Remember my love.

Remember my sacrifice.

It is for you.

I am with you.

Always.

Forever.

You are mine.
I am Yours.

Chin up.

Embrace.

Speak up.

Call out.

Speak Life.

Love.

Nurture.

Go in My strength,

And power,

And might.

[Inspired by a challenge one Sunday during our visit to Raleigh... a Triangle Vineyard Church member spoke up, "Many come with our eyes downcast [ashamed or weary]. Let's lift our eyes and meet His loving gaze."]

mmm...

Thanks for that, Dear Woman.
♥

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Jewelry for a reason...

Super fun having Steph home for a little while!

And a lot of fun having a party to sell the jewelry that supports the ministry she & Jen do in Thailand.....

A few pics from the party....♥

the hostess with the mostess ;)

Mom's smart idea...

The best part is, they raised $1000 for BTN, just with the two jewelry parties she had during her visit home!!

...dollars for BTN translates to discipled leaders, protected girls, and orphan care (in the works)!

Embracing the Camera with Sam...

It was an eventful week for my good friend Sammie...

I'm so thankful she was in town for her birthday/engagement day (and that I got to be there for both)!!

Then Jeremy & I came back for more for her family's annual(ish) Crab Fest!!

One day left... jump in the shot and go link up with Emily!

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Compassion Doers...

Be doers of the word, and not hearers only... (James 1:22)

This is the real deal...

These laborers are DOing... not just thinking about, or being inspired by someone else's story (although they probably were at some time).

They have gotten off the couch, or out of the office, away from their homes and comforts and have decided to act and work and hug and see and do.

And I am completely awed, inspired, and praying God, keep making me a doer too!

Teach My People, Summer 2007 {{more}}

When you have a few minutes, do read some of these stories...

I kinda hope you have tears as thick as mine while reading their accounts of their trip to the Phillippines with Compassion International...

(Then come back and let me know and maybe we can talk about some things we can do together!) ♥

Emily @ Chatting at the Sky... 
I read Day 3... (I'd say it was as good of a place to start as any!)

Kat @Inspired to Action... 
I started with The Power of Being Known (plus I've read some other excellent posts by her along the way!)

and Keely @ keelymariescott.com... 
She's a photographer, ya'll... oh my. If you only have time for one: Please, go check out those pictures!!

((There are more people blogging with Compassion [on the same trip] but I didn't have alllll day, so you'll have to go check them out if you want to find more Doers from the trip!))

Freedom Readers, June 2010 {{more}}

And if you're so inclined, do go pray for [or SPONSOR] one of these precious ones through Compassion.

**The pics in this post are of times when I felt like I was really DOing, being the gospel, and loving [little ones] like I'm called to do.

Keep me DOing, Lord. Let me not be stagnant or content to stand-by, inspired, but still. Put me to work. Here I am, Send me. (Why does it scare me to say that out loud!? Maybe because I know how hard this work can be.) Little ones are not easy. (neither are big ones) But they're worth it. They're worth every bead of sweat, every tear. So here I am, trusting in His Good plans and purposes (Jer.29:11)! Help my unbelief. Pick me!

I linked this up with Casey for What's on Your Heart Friday link-up... 

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JK News (and a stolen 1% change)...

Remember that time we had a little Sunsets & Sushi site where we published updates for friends & family??

Yep, that one that doesn't get a whole lot of love all the time -mostly because I'm too busy playing over here in blogland -and with life in general! :)

Well, there's finally a new update over there!!

Some news you may or may not already know about our location and life for the next few years...

Are you curious yet???

Go see what we're up to already! ;)

PS-- I decided I loved Naptime Diaries' 1% change this week so much, that I will just be adopting it as my own... verbatim. So if you're curious about that too, you can head over there and read her challenge to make an extra meal once in a while & bless somebody with it...... a very good challenge indeed!

(Clearly I love that lady and think she has some pretty great ideas!! Hope you're encouraged and spurred-on too!:)

[I do have my own next 1% change welling up in my heart and mind, I just need to carve out some time to write it...]

♥ ♥