I'm Changing The Name To "LazyBlogger"

Well, I confess, I have been an absolutely horrible blogger recently. I don't even have any excuses. I had all sorts of great ideas for blogposts, but every time I'd get on to write I ended up reading other blogs instead. If by some small chance  there is anyone out there who is missing my blog posts, you have my deepest and most sincere apologies.

 But I doubt you exist.

Why is it so hard to be a consistent blogger? I've discovered the joy of the 'next blog' button, and ever since I've been blogsurfing like there's no tomorrow. And it seems like almost every blog I come to has a recent post just like this one about how they haven't blogged in so long .What's up with that? Am I part of a mini sub-culture of lazy bloggers? It does sound like a catchy title though, and at least it would warn people as soon as they visit not to expect much continuity of posting!

Well, I'd like to put at least one thing of substance into this post, so here goes.

The Denver Public Library is now offering free online language courses to all card holders.

How cool is that?!?

I recently discovered this, and needless to say I was pretty stinkin' excited. You may not have realized this but I am pretty much obsessed with the Italian language. I wanna learn it. All of it. More than the occasional Josh Groban song that I have no clue if I'm pronouncing correctly. And guess what one of the languages offered is?!?

That's right.

And since I realize that not everyone is awesome enough to love all things Italian like I do, you'll be glad to know that there are lots of other languages offered as well! 

Just click here and use your DPL account info to log in for free! Don't have a DPL card?

Hm.... bummer.

Sorry it's so small, click to enlarge.

This is a list of the courses they offer. There are a lot to choose from, but I'll be happy if I finish one this summer! They also have a translator like the one found on Google, so....

Avere un giorno meraviglioso miei amici bella! Addio!

P.S. I just noticed that I've now told everyone what city I live in. *gasp*
I cordially request that you don't stalk me.

Hello Readers!
There is a lovely little blog party going on over at Bramblewood Fashion that I'm very excited to be a part of!!! Here is the button, and below are my answers!





1. If you could go anywhere in the world, where would it be?Italy. Italy Italy Italy! I am longing to see Florence, Rome, and especially Venice! So much history and culture... and delicious food! I was *this* close to going there last year, but we went to England instead. London is a lovely city, but I am determined to make it to Italy someday!
2. What is the oldest item you own?
The books that my great grandma gave me after my great grandfather died. Some of them date back to the 1800's! I love them because of their age and because I love books, but they are particularly special to me because they are a connection to my Gramp who loved to read.
3. If you had to pick one hero, who would it be?
Oh dear, too many to count! I think I would have to go with Paul though. What an impact for Christ!
4. If you could have dinner with any three people, living or dead. Who would it be?
Hm.... do fictional people count? =) Not trying to sound "overly spiritual" but I think I would honestly choose Jesus first, and then the other two people really wouldn't matter much. I would so love to spend time talking to my savior face to face!!!
5. Which do you like better, Coke or Pepsi?
Actually I kind of detest pop, so I'd have to go with neither.
6. What would you rather have- chocolate or a cookie?
Any time that chocolate is an option, it will always be my answer
7. What is your favorite season?
Summer and Winter. I like extremes apparently!
8. What's your favorite thing about Spring?
The smell. I love the way you can smell the flowers and the sunshine and just.... yes, the smell =)
9. What's your favorite music?
Sacred mostly, with a bit of classical, soundtracks, and a teensy bit of old-timey music (Frank Sinatra, for example)
10. What's your fashion/personal style?
Hm..... Vintage, classic, feminine, and.... unique =D

Is It Well With My Soul?

One of my favorite hymns is It Is Well With My Soul, by Horatio G. Spafford. There is a lovely arrangement of it on this cd (one of my current favorite albums btw) and I've been listening to it almost nonstop lately. Add to that the fact that we just sang this song in church and... yeah, it's been on my mind lately.

There is so much truth in this song, so much comfort, and so much conviction as well. Because as I've listened to it over and over again, I've had to repeatedly ask myself:

Is it well with my soul?

The first verse makes me think about every day instances.

When peace, like a river, attendeth my way,
When sorrows like sea billows roll;
Whatever my lot, Thou has taught me to say,
It is well, it is well, with my soul

For example: when I'm late to work and my car is out of gas and someone cuts me off on the highway, is it well with my soul? Do I walk in the Spirit and keep a good attitude, or do I scream "OUTTA MY WAY YOU MORON!!!" I have to admit, there are  times of both. Why am I so easily ruffled? I have a big God who is in control of everything, even my daily commute! So why don't I trust Him more easily and just do right? Or, as Pastor Scott preached on a couple of weeks ago, why can't I exhibit more meekness?

The third verse gets me thinking a little more deeply.

My sin, oh, the bliss of this glorious thought!
My sin, not in part but the whole,
Is nailed to the cross, and I bear it no more,
Praise the Lord, praise the Lord, O my soul!

My sin, not in part but the whole!!! Wow!!! We have so many reasons to glory in Christ. He has taken all of my sin on Himself and set me free from the bondage I was in! He has sealed me with His Holy Spirit and will never, ever let me go!!! He WILL finish the work that was started in me at salvation! So why am I so weighed down by this life? Why do I allow myself to grow so weary, so busy trudging down here that I forget to look up? I think a big part of the problem is addressed in 2 Timothy 2:4

No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

Even after reading this verse again and again and again,
I get so entangled with this life.
I worry and stress and struggle and focus on things of this earth. With what I'm going to do here, where I'm going to go, how I'm going to get there. I have problems with this relationship. I won't be able to afford this need. I bury myself under a load of anxiety, and instead of casting my cares on Him, I try to carry them all by myself. Then, after living my day to day life barely acknowledging God because I'm so focused on the things of this world, I wonder why I continually fall into sin. Why can't I get the victory? Maybe it's because I'm not being a good soldier.

I heard an incredible message on Sunday night entitled He Is Able. It was based on what is quickly returning to a 'favorite verse spot'.

Now unto Him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.          Jude 1:24

It was one of the best messages I've ever heard, and I'd suggest you listen to it here. (Sermon from 05/08/2011 Evening) I think the biggest encouragement is in the title itself. He IS able!!! He can keep me from falling! He can give me victory over sin! I just need to 'untangle' myself from this world and and focus on Him, and "the Only wise God" will take care of the rest.

My Two Cents Worth

Well, this post won't be terribly wrong, or terribly original either. This is what everyone is talking about right now, and others have waaaay more wisdom than I do on this matter! But I haven't done a politics post in a while and this has been on my mind, so I thought I'd put in my two cents worth.

What am I feeling over the death of Osama Bin Laden?

If I said I was feeling only righteous sadness over the loss of his soul, I'd be lying.
If I said that I was only rejoicing in complete celebration over his death at the hands of our soldiers, I'd still be lying.

The truth is, I'm torn.
See, I have dual citizenship. I'm a citizen of the United States of America (The greatest country on earth!) and I'm proud to be so. But I'm also a citizen of Heaven, and have been since the day I was born again. So, the American in me wants to jump up and down saying "yes yes Yes Yes YES!!!" But the Christian in me.... is glad that God's justice has prevailed, but also sad that a soul was just condemned to Hell for all eternity.
I can't deny the sense of satisfaction at the justice of his death, who killed so many of my countrymen. But neither can I think of where he is now without a twinge of regret at the waste of a life, and without wishing that at some point in his life he had turned to the Savior. This leads to something else I've been thinking a lot about, something my cousin Luke brought up yesterday-

Do I feel that same regret over every person that dies without Christ?

This is such a high profile case that it's easy for everyone to pass judgement and have an opinion, we are all thinking about it. But am I daily grieved because people are lost and dying without a Savior? Witnessing isn't just something to do when you get around to it. I need to feel a sense of urgency! People are dying every day, and they need to hear!!! So, while it is too late for Bin Laden, the best thing that I can do is go out there and tell everyone I can, before it's too late.

My 'Easter Dress'

He Is Risen!
It's a bit late to do an Easter post I know, but isn't that something to be excited about all year? =)

There's something else I get excited about, (though on a FAR smaller scale than the resurrection!) and that's.... *Drumroll please*
Clothes! [Shocker, eh?]

I was talking to Emily and telling her that I think all the fashion posts I see other bloggers doing are so cute, but I just don't like the idea of posting all kinds of pictures of myself! {not to mention I don't have all kinds of pictures of myself in the outfits I'd want to share}

Sooooo I came up with a compromise, Moodboards showing either what I wore or something very similar =)
So here's my Easter outfit:
The dress is from JC Penney, and it's the actual one I wore.
The Shoes are just an image I found on Google, (sorry for the poor quality) but they're almost identical to mine! Same with the bracelet and the shrug.

What do you think, good Easter outfit? =D



I was super excited about the dress because *gasp* it was long enough! Aaaand cute! Aaaaaaaaaaand half off!!! Oooh, and it came with a shiny belt, which kind of made my day.

I love shiny belts.

Sing To The Lord A Joyful Song

So, my friend Emily (who is leaving me to travel to another state for the whole summer. *sniff sniff*) recently did a blog post entitled "Barbossa Is Hungry." Pretty interesting huh? Turns out she found a list of questions, put her ipod on shuffle, and then used the songs that played in order to answer the questions. [This used to be really popular on facebook] She came up with some pretty funny answers, so I though I'd give it a try! Here's what I got.....

If someone asks "are you okay" you say?
Let Me In (Rigoletto)
What would best describe your personality?
Don't Forget (Laurie Beachell)
How would you best describe yourself?
Part Of Your World (Original Broadway Cast)
What do you like in a guy/girl?
Thou Wilt Keep Him In Perfect Peace (Mac Lynch/Tim Fisher) haha!
How do you feel today?
Gone With The Wind (Prague Philharmonic)
What is your life's purpose?
When I Survey The Wondrous Cross (Majesty Music)
What is your motto?
The Legend Spreads (James Horner)
What do your friends think of you?
Sorcery and Sudden Vengeance (Prince Caspian Soundtrack) Oh dear!
What do your parents think of you?
Count It All Joy (Mac and Beth Lynch) you'd have to ask them about that =/
What do you think of most often?
High Wire Stunts (John Williams)
 What do you think of your best friend?
How Shall They Hear? (The Herbster Trio)
What do you think of the person you like?
Lord I Need You (Northern Lights)
What is your life story?
Count Me (The Wilds)
What do you want to be when you grow up?
The Duel (Prince Caspian Soundtrack)
What do you think when you see the person you like?
Mozart: Ave Verum Corpus, K 618 (Robert Shaw) Everytime! haha
What will you do at your wedding?
Embraceable You (George Gershwin 101 Strings)  =/
What will they play at your funeral?
Amazing Love (The Wilds)
What is your hobby/interest?
I Am Thine O Lord (Soundforth Singers and Orchestra)
What is your biggest fear?
The Turtle Lope (Thomas Newman)
What is your biggest secret?
The Bassingstoke Assembly (Adrian Johnston)
What do you want to do right now?
The King Of Love My Shepherd Is (Galkin Evangelistic Team)
What do you think of your friends?
When Love Came Down (Soundforth Singers and Orchestra)
What is the worst thing that could happen?
Joy (The Wilds) Not really! lol
What is the one thing you regret?
 My Fathers Love (Soundforth Singers and Orchestra)
What makes you laugh?
Pass Me Not O Gentle Savior (Galkin Evangelistic Team)
What makes you cry?
To The Pirates Cave! (Klaus Badelt)
Will you ever get married?
A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes (Jack Jezzro) Ironic....
What scares you the most?
Be An Example (The Wilds)
Does anyone like you?
Do You Love Me? (Original Broadway Cast) Ironic again!
If you could go back in time, what would you change?
With A Voice Of Singing (The Wilds)
What hurts right now?
The Secret Life Of Daydreams (Jean-Yves Thibaudet)
What would you want to say to the person who tagged you?
All Creatures of Our God and King (The Wilds)
What will you name this note?
Sing To The Lord A Joyful Song (Soundforth Singers and Orchestra)

It's All About The Cross.

I'm having a wonderful day!
A) There was free breakfast in the office;
B) I'm going to get a free Starbucks drink by bringing in a reusable cup;
C) I get off work at noon instead of five;
D) I'm going for lunch and shopping with my mom, just the two of us;

Simple equation:
A+B+C+D = Absolutely, positively, fabulously wonderful day! (And there are even more factors I'm not listing!)

I've been pretty excited about it all morning.

But then I got to thinking:
Today is Good Friday, when many people celebrate the crucifixion of our Lord Jesus Christ.
This may not be the actual day he died, but it is the day when much of the world takes time to remember and reflect on it.
I heard a message yesterday morning in which the preacher said that the whole Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, all points the message and power of the Cross. I got so excited! Christ died for me, shed His blood to atone for my sins, and rose on the third day to conquer death and give me eternal life!

But this morning when I was soooo excited:
It wasn't about the Cross.

I'm easily stirred to passion for the gospel when it's repeated to me or right in front of my face, but why am I not passionate about it all the time?

My 'wonderful exciting' days are few and far between.
Why?
I serve a Risen Savior, each and every day!!!
There is ALWAYS something to be excited about, the Cross! It should affect my life in every way. Every action, thought, and word. Every aspect of my life should be changed and transformed because of the cross. It should be my focus, my passion, the object of my devotion and gratitude. It should be everything!!!

Is my life all about the Cross?
Is yours?