laugh more - you're beautiful!

today just felt like one of those stormy days where all I wanted to do was stay inside bundled up by the fire watching old movies and sipping some hot chocolate... and that is exactly what I did


well... and I am also really behind on some book reports so I did some of that too...


well... I actually made some really cute magnets while I was at it - so after a nice long day of relaxing/reading/watching/writing and crocheting - I made something really cute and easy!

they just make me smile everytime I see them!!

Early next week check back and I'll have a tutorial uploading to show you how easy they are too make! Pretty much if you have a birthday coming up this is what you'll be getting from me!


I also wanted to share this song that totally inspired me today

i see your face in every sunrise

the colors of the morning are inside of your eyes

the world awakens in the light of the day

i look up to the sky and say

you're beautiful

i see your power in the moonlit night

where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright

we are amazed in the light of the stars

it's all proclaiming who you are

you're beautiful, you're beautiful

i see you there hanging on a tree

you bled and then you died and then you rose again for me

now you are sitting on your heavenly throne

soon we will be coming home

you're beautiful, you're beautiful

when we arrive at eternity's shore

where death is just a memory and tears are no more

we'll enter in as the wedding bells ring

your bride will come together and we'll sing

you're beautiful, you're beautiful, your beautiful

I SEE YOUR FACE, YOU'RE BEAUTIFUL!

after listening to this more than a few times today - it made everything inside of me just become so excited!  Jesus you are beautiful and your overwhelming love has just ruined me for anything other than you.  Your creation is beautiful!

I challenge you just to look for his love and beauty in creation - it's everywhere - he is calling you to him!

LAUGH MORE -- ash

happy new years!

I really am hoping for a lot in this new year - habits to be broken and new ones to be made, to see growth in my life, more time to be creative  - to stop being like a rock and see some change in my life!


As I have been dreaming about this new year and the new exciting opportunities I would love to see happen I made a new years resolution list - the very first one in many many years!!


So here it is:
- start blogging more! I have always dreamt of doing a picture blog, so I am taking the 365 day challenge so every sunday I'll be posting a weeks worth of pictures - I've seen other bloggers do this and it looks really fun


- start dedicating one day a week to sewing or some other craft - I have soo many projects just waiting to be finished!!! This has got to happen because I have also just picked up a new amy butler book and there are soo many things I want to create!


- read the bible in a year -- if there is anyone one else who wants to do this one together I would love to be accountability partners with you and just share and listen about the awesome times spent in the word!


- get healthy! my goal this year is to lose about 40lbs - its going to be tough but I started today and thats just the first step so hopefully I can stick to it and see some awesome changes towards a healthier lifestyle


So wish me luck!  


Hope you have a blessed new year full of new challenges and awesome adventures!

its been awhile...

so I'm pretty sure I haven't even looked at my blog since summer... it seems a little overwhelming to come back now but I have some fun creations to share since I've last posted so in the next few days expect to see some fun projects!

on my heart...

Take a few minutes and just soak this in -- you are BEAUTIFUL!!

A friend posted this the other day and i have come back to it and watched it about twice each day for the last 3 days.   It has totally encouraged me - He called me beautiful!!  

Do you think I’m

BEAUTIFUL?

Does anybody think I’m

BEAUTIFUL?

I do.

I do proclaims the voice that spoke the skies

And He says let me dry your eyes

I have heard your cries,

I only wish you had heard mine.

Galaxies and shooting stars

I set spinning so you would know the beating of my heart

I painted rainbows and roses so that you would know that you are a work of art.

I gave you strong winds and rushing rivers,

So would know you are my strong Sons of Thunder

I gave you the sunrise and moonlight

To let you know how precious you are in My sight.

I sent my Son to live and die and rise for you

So that you would know

I love you

And I think you are

BEAUTIFUL

I have been struggling with a few things this past month or so and the subject of beauty and struggling with self worth and just feeling completely undone by the question -- am I beautiful?

all I could think of was that beauty was tied to love - and love was for the pretty and beautiful and since i had neither what was I worth? 

So i challenged Jesus - the word says you are ravished by the sight of one glance from my eyes - so i looked up to him and asked what am I worth to you - and truth came back into my life.

I saw the Jesus on the cross and he said you are beautiful!

-He loves me - He who knows me more than anyone else said I was worth it - says I am His and I am precious!!! Take in this truth!!

It is so easy to get lost in the world's way of thinking.  To get disconnected to the point where you look at life through the prospective of the world but jesus just says YOU SHALL LOVE ME - forget what the world says YOU SHALL LOVE ME!

His Son’s scars was the call
And this is His children’s response
With hands in the air
With voices together that drown out the enemies lies

I am
BEAUTIFUL
I am
BEAUTIFUL
I am
Washed in the blood of the lamb
Washed away the soot and sin so you and I can
Clearly see that

I am A new creation
A new sensation
I am a floodgate of heaven,
Made to reveal heart of God to the heart of Man
Showing brothers and sisters what they are so they can
Join in our war cry shouting

I AM YOURS LORD

--mike young

So if you are struggling with this - let the truth soak in! let it change you - shout out "i am beautiful" and let jesus make it so real to you.  Ask him to tell you all the things he loves about you - how he made you perfect.

on my heart...

Ah today has just been one of those days where I got nothing done but did so much!!  Most of my day has been spent cleaning, finishing up some projects and listening to music.

One song in particular I totally just put on repeat check it out  here -download it!!

Make us ready

Let there be oil in my lamp, let the fire not go out,

When I hear the bridegroom comes

Let there be oil in my lamp

Make us ready

So take my lamp and set it on a hill

Set it on a lampstand 

And I won't be hidden

I'll be dripping with the oils of love

The song is so simple yet spoke to me so much and sent me into a time of just seeking God.  It also confirmed to me the importance of oil - how I would love to stand in front of the bridegroom  dripping with the oils of love!  And the quickening in my heart of the need to be ready, to have my lamp burning when the bridegroom comes.

Also it challenged me - I know my lamp is nestled closely among many other lamps, pleasantly hidden.  The idea of asking Jesus to take my lamp (my ministries, gifts, and just fire for him) and set it on a hill - and it caused me to ask what does this look like in my life?  Where is my hill?  How do I get to this place to be ready?

It got me to thinking about dreams and desires - how he knows the desires of our hearts and sometimes its so scary to actually think that he wants to give us the things we want, but really they are what he wants for us!  When we are saying yes to him through our path - we are getting the oil!

What is your ultimate dream in life? God places desires in our heart for a reason! He wants us to be at the center of his will, pursuing the passions that he has placed in our heart

Jessica's Bridal Shower!! (i forgot to post this on June 1st like I had planned)

My amazingly beautiful and fun friends Jessica and Derek are getting married soo soon!!

I was so excited to be asked to be a bridesmaid and just share this super exciting day with them!! But before the wedding comes the bridal shower!! and man o man was I sick of tissue paper after this!!

The pom-poms were actually really quite fun and quick to make and I suggest them to anyone who is looking for a quick and inexpensive way to make some decorations!! Check out this tutorial from Martha Stewart -- just click here - mine to not look  quite as beautiful as hers... but still I think they were so pretty.

Check out the some pictures!

 I think there was over 20 tissue pom-poms made!!

 There was also a little station set up to leave some words of wisdom to Jess for married life!  

 I just really liked this little corner!

 Jessica's mom made a surprise trip to Powell River for the shower!! Made the night!!

 Praying into Jessica and Derek's life and for many blessings to follow them!

 The amazing chocolate fountain!!

and the night ended with a huge bowed bra!!

Baby-in-the-hood Jacket!!

This would have to be the most advanced sewing project I have ever tackled and it turned out amazing!!  Check out my baby in the hood jacket I made for baby kaiden.  I used a pattern from my favorite book right now Handmade Beginnings by Anna Maria Horner.  For the most part the pattern was pretty easy to follow - it did show me I need to practice my top-stiching a little more and the next time I make one I think I'll try to make it a inch or two longer.


Buying fabric here in Powell River seems like quite a challenge most days as we only have one fabric store! The one we do have is ran out of the basement of the owners house and everytime I go I always feel slightly uncomfortable... But I was able to pick up this amazing polka-dot blue and green novelty fabric and have been holding on to this bright orange for quite some time, and when I saw the two together I loved it!!


I wish the pictures turned out better - but I was in a bit of a rush...