Beautiful Things

It's time to play catch-up. Only 2 posts in, and I'm already behind on all this!

I was excited a couple weeks ago that our friend from college was visiting us. It was so nice to have the company, and I know Alex really enjoyed having some "guy time." (Ladies, you know what I mean - they need it!). Life's so busy that sometimes that sort of stuff falls by the wayside.

Anyway, after the guys spent some time chatting and catching up, we decided to head out to Malibu to go on a hike that a coworker of mine had recommended. It was STUNNING. I know any pictures that I took will definitely not do the views justice.

The hike started pretty close to a busy street, and winds it's way through a residential area... and this is Malibu, so we weren't complaining about the views of these beautiful homes! Once it seemed like we were never going to reach any sort of trail head, there it was! it looked like it was just going to wind down into some trees and not be very exciting, but as soon as we started, we were quick to change our minds.

Back-story: I was not really one for hiking prior to meeting my husband. I am from a very low desert town that is absolutely a pit. It's hot, not very pretty, and definitely not a place where people "hike." Now that we live in an area where hiking trails are readily available, I can see the appeal Alex had with it growing up in Northern California.

So, we made our way down the trail and just truly experienced nature. It got quiet. And at some points we could hear trickling water and we crossed little creeks. By the time we were approaching the end, it was getting dark, and we all knew we needed to head back before it was really dark and scary. We kept going though; we reached the end which was a waterfall. It wasn't fully flowing with water, but so beautiful nonetheless. There were frogs ribbiting and birds chirping and we just stood there and soaked it in.

The last picture of the end of the trail is a little dark, but you can make out the waterfall and the pond, and just imagine lots of nature noises and moist air and the smell of the woods. It was wonderful.

I wish I took more time to soak in the beauty of this world. God created a wonderful thing, and I truly don't think I appreciate it enough. Alex and I are in a place right now where appreciating the small (though extremely significant) things in this world are only going to benefit us. God's blessings come in many forms, and I definitely think that his beautiful creation is a big big form of a blessing. Why else would He make such a beautiful place if not for us to take joy in it?

Take time to really pay attention to what He has created. It's really shocking when you think about how much beauty came from dust!

The Song "Beautiful Things" by Gungor was written as an expression of hope that God would make beautiful things out of the "dust" in our lives. I am learning that this is so true. Even if we can't see it right away. He's there, making beautiful things out what seems to be the worst things. Because He's God.

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away. Then He who sat on the throne said 'Behold, I make all things new."  - Revelation 21:4-5a

xoxo

Saturday Musings

Saturday. I love Saturday. Not in the way I used to, though. Saturday is much more sacred to me now. When I was younger it was because it was the day I got to do fun things, hang out with friends, not be in school, go shopping, etc. Saturday’s are still wonderful for those reasons, but I am truly beginning to understand the concept and necessity of the Sabbath now that I actually have reason to slow down and rest. It is incredibly easy for my work week to exhaust me to the point of dead laziness on Saturdays, but I want to work on using this day each week to please God with my time. I may not be at work, I may not be cooking or cleaning or running around being crazy-productive, but this is an excellent time to breathe deeply and meditate on what He has been trying to teach me throughout the past week. I want to use this day for this purpose so I can go to fellowship and learn on Sundays, open and ready to whatever God needs me to hear.

In other news in the world of the weekend. We have a friend visiting! Alex (my wonderful, handsome, stud of a husband) has his best friend from college visiting today and it’s really nice to catch up and have some company. The guys are out and about, and besides my thoughts on the Sabbath and resting, I also wanted to share an exquisite muffin recipe I just tried today. These are melt-in-your-mouth-give-me-more delicious. Especially when they’re warm, mmmhmm. Thanks to Pinterest, I took this recipe from Velvet Lava. She has many, many good words to say about these muffins, so I was left with no choice. And we happened to have all the ingredients in the pantry already. Even better! The guys were playing chess so away I went.

French Breakfast Muffins

1/3 c. butter, melted

1/2 c. sugar

1 egg (preferably room temperature)

1 ½ c. all purpose flour

1 ½ tsp. baking powder

½ tsp. salt

¼ tsp. nutmeg

½ c. milk

Topping

½ c. sugar

½ c. butter, melted

1 tsp. cinnamon

In a medium-large bowl, sift together all dry ingredients. Add wet ingredients and stir just until combined, but still a bit lumpy. Do NOT overmix; scoop batter into muffin tins that have sprayed with cooking spray. Using a large spoon, I got 9 medium-large muffin out of this batter; I think you could get 10-12 smaller muffins by distributing the batter a little less generously. Bake for 20-25 minutes (mine were done in 18 minutes), or until they just start to turn a bit golden at the edges.

Yes! These are incredible. I don’t think the picture of my finished product does them justice.  These were really easy to make and the boys loved them too! My favorite part is it resulted in minimal dishes/clean up because they were so simple to make. So make them!

Lastly, a verse I have been meditating on the last couple of days. This verse speaks volumes about the kind of women we should be as Christ followers and just a really good reminder of who God is calling me to be as a woman, and a wife.

Titus 2:2-5 

Older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love, and in steadfastness. Older women likewise are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine. They are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled

Let's give this a go!

A couple of weeks ago, I decided I wanted to try this, ”blogging” thing. So I set out to create the page, make it pretty, add some pictures and what-not; then here I am, a week and a half later – barely writing. This was why I hesitated to become a blogger in the first place. I’m busy with so many things it seems like when I finally have time to sit down at the computer, I find myself just catching up on what’s going on on Facebook, Twitter, News, etc.

Then I realized the key. I try in my life to share the things a learn, and to learn from others, but even socializing and chatting with girlfriends has become less of my weekly routine than it used to be (oh, the college days of living with other females and having endless hours to talk every day…). This phase of life I am in is amazing, and I am sure to make mistakes, but I want to share the things God teaches me through being a brand new wife, putting my husband through school, integrating into a brand new church body, cooking dinner every night, struggling to pay the bills and ohhhhh, the list goes on. There is a lesson in almost every daily task it seems. More importantly, I want to be a wife that is virtuous.

I want to urge every woman to read Proverbs 31. Have you read it? Good. Read it again. I find something new every time I read it and I am going to make it my goal to have it memorized (I’ll keep you all updated on how that goes..). Whether you are a wife, girlfriend, best friend, or doing the single thing – I believe there are no better qualities that we can aspire to gain than those of the Proverbs 31 woman. I am pursuing life as a virtuous wife, and I hope that in my pursuits, I can help others pursue it too.

“An excellent wife who can find?
    She is far more precious than jewels.
 The heart of her husband trusts in her,
    and he will have no lack of gain.
 She does him good, and not harm,
    all the days of her life.
 She seeks wool and flax,
    and works with willing hands.
 She is like the ships of the merchant;
    she brings her food from afar.
 She rises while it is yet night
    and provides food for her household
    and portions for her maidens.
 She considers a field and buys it;
    with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard.
 She dresses herself^[b] with strength
    and makes her arms strong.
 She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
    Her lamp does not go out at night.
 She puts her hands to the distaff,
    and her hands hold the spindle.
 She opens her hand to the poor
    and reaches out her hands to the needy.
 She is not afraid of snow for her household,
    for all her household are clothed in scarlet.^[c]
 She makes bed coverings for herself;
    her clothing is fine linen and purple.
 Her husband is known in the gates
    when he sits among the elders of the land.
 She makes linen garments and sells them;
    she delivers sashes to the merchant.
 Strength and dignity are her clothing,
    and she laughs at the time to come.
 She opens her mouth with wisdom,
    and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.
 She looks well to the ways of her household
    and does not eat the bread of idleness.
 Her children rise up and call her blessed;
    her husband also, and he praises her:
 ‘Many women have done excellently,
    but you surpass them all.’
 Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain,
    but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
 Give her of the fruit of her hands,
    and let her works praise her in the gates.”