For all of you local DFW readers -- I'd love you to join me at the Drive it Home Show in Plano on Thursday, May 23!
The Drive It Home Show is presented by the National Safety Council and Allstate Foundation and is perfect for parents with tweens or teens OR for people who are concerned about teen driving safety -- like me!Please feel free to share this post with anyone who might like to attend.
Details for the event are as follows:
WHAT: Drive it Home Show, presented by the National Safety Council & Allstate Foundation
WHEN: Thursday, May 23 from 7pm to 8:15 pm
WHERE: Plano Courtyard Theater (1509 H Ave, Plano, TX 75074)
PRICE: FREE! No tickets required
BONUS: You can enter in the sweepstakes at the event for a chance to win gas cards AND a brand new car!
How awesome would winning those things be?!
If you'd like to attend, click here to register and when checking in, let them know that Clever Girls Collective sent you. Hope to see you guys there!
I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective, and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.
Wednesday morning we spent most of our morning playing with toy fire trucks on mine and Cody's bed, and then that afternoon we visited Dad for several hours at the fire station. I'm pretty sure it was every little boy's dream day.
We have no big plans for this weekend, just a graduation party and our typical Sunday of church and small group. I imagine I'll start making the epic cleaning list to get ready for our home study.
Welcome to week twenty-five of Copycat Linkup! If you haven't heard already, this week is the last week of Copycat Linkup. A HUGE thank you to everyone who has linked up with us for all of these weeks!
Today, instead of sharing my own copycat outfit, I decided to highlight a few of my favorite outfits that have been linked up by other bloggers through out the many week of Copycat Linkup. It was so very hard to choose because I honestly loved the outfits that were linked up week after week. All of the looks that I chose are ones that I am dying to create with pieces from my own closet. Enjoy these lovely ladies and their looks!
Again, thank you, THANK YOU for linking up with us for so many weeks! I hope you'll stick around and keep up with us through our blogs. I've really enjoyed getting to "meet" so many of you.
Now, let's see those last copycat outfits!
GUIDELINES:
1) Follow your hosts -- Texas Lovebirds and Trusty Chucks.
2) Everyone likes comments! Please visit at least one other blog and leave a comment.
3) Link to a specific post about your copycat style. Linkups not following this rule will be deleted.
4) Please link back to the linkup post or grab a button! Let your readers know what's going on.
5) If you'll be sharing your post on social media, we'd love for you to use the hashtag #copycatlinkup.
We've officially scheduled our home study for May 28th. The fact that that's less than two weeks away is pretty crazy to me. You probably shouldn't count on hearing from me very much by the end of next week...I've got a lot of deep cleaning to do.
With the step of our home study being done, that means we're getting so close to being introduced to the sweet little guy that will become or son. The referral process for our agency and the country we are adopting from is 2-4 months. And once we've accepted our referral? Well, honestly, we've got a HUGE payment to make and a lot of waiting to do.
It has been amazing to watch God meet every need and every payment in time for us to pay it. Once the craziness of the home study is over, I hope to write a post on how He has moved in our finances thus far. But guys, this next one coming up after the completion of our home study and referral...it scares me, for real. I am doing my best to put all of my faith in Him, but also putting my own feet to the ground and working for this.
In case you have missed any of my current blog fundraisers, here they are...
I hope I don't sound like I'm harping on and on about the fundraisers we currently have going on. I really don't want to come across that way. It's just that...one, I know in that you are constantly bombarded with different blogs and posts, and it's quite possible that you've missed a fundraiser we're doing. And two, so many gracious, Godly people have come along side us to help us raise funds, that I just can't help but mention them again (and again).
Today, Carrie of Waiting With Joy will be sharing her heart on generosity...and not just generosity in regards to money. It's funny that I've been feeling a push from the Lord to be more
generous in many areas of my life and here He is speaking to Carrie
about the same things. It was so refreshing to hear her heart on the
matter too.
Take it away, Carrie! xo
{I took this photo during church this past week.}
I am one of those people you'd categorize as frugal. Cheap. Maybe even a tight-wad.
I adore the teachings of Dave Ramsey and I look for ways to save money.
You might even say I find some of my security in having money available. I am not talking SUPER WEALTH or anything. But just knowing I have something in case I need it, that gives me peace.
And for many years this has brought me guilt (okay, the Holy Spirit has convicted me).
My husband is quite the opposite of me. He loves to give gifts to others and bless others in monetary (and non-monetary) means. I have always wished I could give that freely without feeling scared or worried that we might need that money down the road.
{Photo Credit: worthyofthegospel.wordpress.org}
Then this past Sunday, my church began a series entitled Content in All Things. My worship pastor, Brian, spoke last week, and shared the story of the rich young ruler from Matthew 19 --
Jesus told him, “If you want to be perfect, go and sell all your possessions and give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”But when the young man heard this, he went away sad, for he had many possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is very hard for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of Heaven.I’ll say it again—it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the Kingdom of God!” -- Matthew 19: 21-24
Immediately, I became convicted again because I knew God has been working on me to surrender this area of my life to him. I have certainly come a long way. But this continues to be an area of dis-trust for me. In his message, Brian argued that one of the major issues facing Christians in the West is that we may be missing the mark in the area of generosity. He discussed how in the U.S. we value the idea of scarcity and attaining more things to equal ones worth as a person rather than being generous with others.
However, I don't think this missing the mark with generosity necessarily means monetarily/material things only. We may be missing the mark if we hoard our money, for sure. But what about not being generous with our time? Our giftings? Our knowledge & wisdom?
Jesus asks us to forsake ourselves and live fearlessly for His glory. This means forsaking our agenda, our plans, our 401k plans, our savings accounts, our to-do lists, and yes....even our lives. And it is SCARY. It requires major TRUST because it involves great risk in the eyes of man.
{Photo Credit: worthyofthegospel.wordpress.org}
One of the resources Brian mentioned in his message last week was the book Radical by David Platt. I have had the opportunity to read it, and it shook me to the core. David Platt does an excellent job of analyzing some of the issues/problems with the lack of generosity, lack of missional mindedness, lack of discipleship and community building happening in the current American church today:
"This is really the core issue of it all. Do we trust him? Do we trust Jesus when he tells us to give radically for the sake of the poor? Do we trust him to provide for us when we begin using the resources he has given us to provide for others? Do we trust him to know what is best for our lives, our families, and our financial futures?" -- David Platt, Radical
Ultimately, Jesus was communicating to this man [rich young ruler] that there was nothing he could do to enter the kingdom of God apart from total trust in God. It is impossible for us to earn our way into heaven. In the process, though, Jesus was exposing the barrier that this man’s wealth was to seeing his need for God. His wealth on earth would ultimately keep him from eternal treasure. -- David Platt, Radical
So, what do you think? Personally, I don't think Jesus is calling everyone to sell everything they own and move into poor neighborhoods. I think Jesus is asking believers to lay down their choke-hold on their stuff and surrender fully to Him. This may mean you go through times of plenty or times of dire need. In both circumstances, give thanks and fully trust/surrender to Him. Allow Christ to lead you. And may you be encouraged by Paul's account of the matter in Philippians 4 -
"Not that I was ever in need, for I have learned how to be content with whatever I have. I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything. I have learned the secret of living in every situation, whether it is with a full stomach or empty, with plenty or little." -- Philippians 4:11-12
Please take a listen to the sermons mentioned above. Listen to the one by Brian Wages first, then to Jeff Henderson's second. In addition, take a listen to the song "Rich Young Ruler" by Derek Webb. It puts to song the message behind the story in Matthew 19. Extremely convicting but necessary for our growth as Christians.
Today, I am giving away a copy of the book Radical here!! I hope it can bless someone else like it has blessed me!
