That one time I tried to speak ...

This is for any of you who may be interested in reading my notes from that one time I tried to share a little part of my story and heart at the Northfield Christian Fellowship women's Christmas tea back in December.

I started like Paul does with a "family chat" kind of style in sharing a little bit of my history,  relational ties, credentials, and roles. But NONE of them qualify me except the blood of Jesus by the Power of the Spirit. Nothing I say matters if I don’t have love and submit to the Spirit. (And honestly I’ve done a lot of things, said a lot of things, without love.)

     1COR 13.1-3 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.  And if I have prophetic powers, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.  If I give away all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love, I gain nothing.

     MATT 12.36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak ... BUT!!! ...

     2COR 3.4-6 Such is the confidence that we have through Christ toward God. Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God, who has made us sufficient to be ministers of a new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit. For the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

     DISCLAIMER: I’m emotional. I’m a crier. But it’s not to manipulate. I’m used to being a “worship cheerleader” singing what I'm passionate about. NOT a speaker. So bare with me.

"Giving the Best Gift"

So, pastors and teachers and theological scholars use these breakdowns to teach Scripture: Eisegesis VS Exegesis. Eisegesis is reading your own ideas/interpretation in to scripture. Handpicking verses (out of context) to support an idea, like lots of cults do. GETS DANGEROUS! Don't do it. OR There's Exegesis where there is critical explanation or interpretation of a text or portion of a text, especially of the Bible. And that is what I will be doing tonight.

    Tonight will be like unwrapping a gift. Actually we’re going to start unwrapping the BEST GIFT! Like when a parent starts to help a child peel the paper back on a present, and when they begin to realize what it is that’s wrapped up, they GO CRAZY unwrapping. Especially when we’re young and think that the gift is going to “change our lives”. But tonight, we will begin to unwrap the only GIFT that will truly change your life. It will be a gift that you can’t wait to share, or Re-Gift. Not re-gift like a White Elephant gift … But like the BEST thing you’ve ever seen or tasted or beheld and can’t HELP but give it to others.

JAMES 1.16-25

16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 18 Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures. 19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.

22 But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. 24 For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like. 25 But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing.  

 

The best Gift ever given to us, by the Best Gift Giver there has ever been, was Jesus.  And the best Gift we ever have to give is Jesus and His love poured through us by the power of the Spirit. Because baby Jesus came, we got salvation and the power of the Spirit living in us!!! Some of y’all are like “uh oh! Is she going all charismatic on us?! Talking about that Spirit?!” No, but let me share the lyrics of an old favorite song with you. I’m a southerner and have southern gospel roots that influenced a few favorite Christmas songs. One in particular is Sweet Little Jesus Boy (originally I heard it sung by Mahalia Jackson. YouTube it.) It says:  Sweet Little Jesus Boy/They made You be born in a manger/Sweet little Holy chil'/Didn't know who You wus/Didn't know You'd come to save us Lawd/To take our sins away/Our eyes was blind/We couldn't see/We didn't know who You was

Read V16&17 again.

     That means that God is constant. He doesn’t change. So we can know exactly who He is as He reveals Himself to us. We didn’t know who He was. And still today there are so many things about God that we don’t know or don’t understand, even much about the Holy Spirit. BUT We need to ask God to show us Himself instead of mindlessly letting other people fill in the blanks for us. Like when you stare at those black-n-white images and close your eyes to let some picture appear in your mind’s eye.  COL 2.8 says See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ. Unlike those illusions, don’t let your imagination or other people’s “empty philosophies” run away with you. Let the Word of God inform you about the Image of God! We’ve got to learn to stop focusing only on the parts of God that make really good sense to us and start LOVING His mystery.     

     Then, every revelation of His immensity will be like the sensation of falling in love. BECAUSE IT IS falling in love. Falling in love with the Triune God. The Creator of the vast expanses of our Universe and beyond! Oh to know Him correctly this side of eternity and one day absolutely fully!!! Love God. Love Jesus. Love the Holy Spirit. Is that your heart?

Read V18 again.

This means that when we heard the Word of Truth, we became a new creation. We chose to follow Christ but not by our own initiative. We were  drawn in and given new life or “reborn” by the power of the Spirit! So here we are back to talking about the Spirit. Some of us truthfully don’t understand much about Him. So let’s look at the tip of the iceberg of what His role is:

-       Look at the example of babies, their gestation and their birth has NOTHING to do with them. They don’t control it. Their parents are the ones!

-       So let’s LOOK AT JESUS’ BIRTH! It was all the Spirit’s work! It was the Spirit who placed a Holy Child in Mary’s womb. And after His mother gave birth to Him, He relied on the power of the Spirit to live a sinless life. He was 100% God and 100% man. He could’ve snapped His little baby fingers to rush everything by or make Mary forgo labor BUT Phil 2 .8 says being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient. to the point of death, even death on a cross. He humbled Himself by being obedient to the Father's will instead of demanding His way. So, even starting with His birth He was setting the example for the way we are to live. To rely on the power of the Spirit to bring into fruition a God-honoring, God-exalting life in us.

Read V19-21 again.

Sometimes that filthiness and rampant wickedness comes out when we lose perspective of the Gift and stop following His lead. We focus more on the things He’s built us to do instead of God Himself, and we begin comparing what The Gift looks like in other people’s lives to ours.

     When our eyes are no longer on The Gift Giver but on others, we whip out our measuring sticks to see how others measure up according to OUR standards. And we don’t just measure, we use those sticks for beatings. If you’re not good enough, we beat you down. If we think you’re better than us, we beat you down. We lose our focus. We lose our perspective.  And we beat the life right out of people! Stop comparing. You were made to love the Gift Giver, to love God, and then, Love People. Go read Ann Voskamp's post about this. She is SO much more eloquent and deep and moving than this little blurb here.

     You were NOT made to LOVE your passion/talent. (Some of you just came to a screeching halt, I'm sure of it.)You were made to love God and love on people. You were, however, given your talent to do things only you can by the power of the Spirit … To be in the place that you are, around the people that you are, to make an impact for ETERNITY. When your eyes are on Jesus and you see that you and everyone else only measure up by the grace of God and the blood of Jesus, you begin to treasure The Gift, Jesus, the Greatest Treasure. You begin to see that your very breath is a gift. And you begin to realize that not only spiritually BUT ALSO PHYSICALLY He is literally your very life. HE ALONE AUTHORS your breath and your life.  Give your families and loved ones a gift of infinite worth, the gift of a woman whose joy and peace effect ETERNITY.  A mother, sister, wife, friend who speaks LIFE into those who she’s around. Ask God to begin to work in you His eternal perspective = that you get to play a part of someone having ETERNITY stamped on their heart.

      As you start walking confidently with this fresh perspective, and you’re “baking, cleaning, writing, singing your guts out" for God’s glory and not your own, people will take notice and criticism will somehow find its way to your ears. If you truly want to be excellent and hone your skill, WELCOME. IT. You might say BUT WAIT, WHAT IF IT’S FROM MEAN PEOPLE. Consider the source y’all. Satan wants nothing more than for you to feel defeated and be rendered ineffective. But whether it’s from a trusted friend or a “meanie weanie,” take it with a grain of salt and continue doing whatever it is that God has called you to do.  There’s no need for self-preservation: read 1 Peter2.20b-24. There’s no need for self-promotion: read 2Cor3.1-2.  Just be at peace: read Romans 12.17-18

READ V22-25 again. A great OT example of this is Abram!

Genesis 12:1-3 The LORD had said to Abram, “Leave your native country, your relatives, and your father’s family, and go to the land that I will show you. 2 I will make you into a great nation. I will bless you and make you famous, and you will be a blessing to others. 3 I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt. All the families on earth will be blessed through you.”

    God says, "I will bless you" … and OUT OF THAT you will be a blessing to others.  HE ALWAYS GIVES US WHAT WE NEED! Are you allowing the Spirit to have His way in you so that His Presence in you is a sweet fragrance, an encouragement, … a gift? You know those people that are just life-giving to be around!  Or, do you repel and drain? Now stop thinking of anyone else here but YO SELF!

     God was saying to Abram to leave everything, lay everything down – because I (God) love you more than anything. My gift for you is the absolute greatest beyond your wildest dreams. But you have to leave everything you know, trust me with everything you have (which is simply what I’ve already entrusted to you), and you will have everything you need Because. I. Will. Be. With. You.

Look at these lyrics to another possibly familiar song that my dad used to sing - I’d Rather Have Jesus:  I’d rather have Jesus than silver or gold/I’d rather be His than have riches untold/I’d rather have Jesus than houses or lands/I’d rather be led by His nail-pierced hand//I’d rather have Jesus than men’s applause/I’d rather be faithful to His dear cause/I’d rather have Jesus than worldwide fame/I’d rather be true to His holy name//He’s fairer than lilies of rarest bloom/He’s sweeter than honey from out the comb/He’s all that my hungering spirit needs/I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead// Refrain: Than to be the king of a vast domain/Or be held in sin’s dread sway/I’d rather have Jesus than anything/This world affords today.

     If knowing that no matter what Jesus will be with you, leading and guiding you, doesn’t warm and fill your soul with hope, then maybe you simply aren’t wanting Jesus more than anything else, right now.  BUT TELL ME THIS: who here wants to wake up on Christmas morning with a heart that wants The Greatest Gift more than anything else?!!!!! WHAT JOY!!!TO WAKE UP WITH TIDINGS OF COMFORT AND JOY!!!

    So let me take the liberty to flip the words of this old carol for a little better understanding: God’s rest for you merry, gentle (wo)men! Let nothing dismay you. Remember Christ our SAVIOR was born on Christmas day to save us all from Satan’s power EVERYTIME we have gone astray, Oh Tidings of comfort and joy!!!

And with that refreshed perspective so let our prayer then become the lyrics to this familiar carol: Pray with me, please,

O come, O come, Emmanuel, And ransom captive Israel,

That mourns in lonely exile here, Until the Son of God appears.

Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee, O Israel.

He will come again. 

Amen.

my journal

Today you guys are going to get a peek inside my journal. It’s not like it’s a HUGE deal or anything, although I certainly don’t make a point to whip it open for just anyone to read. HOWEVER, a few of my friends have prompted me to share a couple of entries from over the last few months. And after seeing some threads of struggle/suffering in our lives come together for a small slice of the bigger picture and much of God’s glory, I was encouraged to impart these tidbits to help prepare us for and encourage us in the battle.

Like I said already, it’s not like I believe I have something earth shattering to give (other than the Word). I’m guessing the Lord is just pressing to share because someone needs to see it or read it a different way than before. SO, the first thing I’m going to cover are some thoughts and conclusions that I came to while studying the armor of God from the passage in Ephesians 6. So here we go with the typed out version:

Ephesians 6.10-20

The FULL Armor of God:

• “underwear” of truth (belt)
• breastplate of righteousness - integrity/ moral rectitude/ right standing with God
• shoes of Gospel of peace - prepared to face enemy with firm-footed stability produced by Good News
• shield of saving faith - covering that quenches all fiery missiles
• helmet of salvation
• sword of the Spirit - Word of God and is wielded by the Spirit (not me!)

So what’s being protected:

• my most intimate/ private parts (what’s closest to me) are being protected by (knowing) Truth
• my heart is being protected by integrity & righteousness
• my feet are given stability by the Gospel
• my whole body is covered by my faith
• my mind is protected from forgetting God & His Word by salvation
• my whole being is defended by God’s Word in me by the power of the Spirit

And sometimes when we grow weary of not only fighting but also just prep for battle alone, we need to remember this as well:

Go to church. Be in the midst of the body. God will bless even your act of obedience in showing up. Something happens when you’re there. Healing. Restoration. Just by being obedient to come. So think what the Holy Spirit will do when you come with EXPECTANCY. Waiting for Him to move. And if God is going to do this (because He is), don’t be shocked at the battles that will take place to keep you at bay. As much as it is possible, do not forsake meeting with other believers. To worship. To commune. To enjoy Him, His presence, together.

For references to check on that quote, look at Deut. 28, Psalm 24.1-6, Matt. 18.20, Gal. 6.1-2, and Heb. 10.19-25, just to get ya started.

***And just to keep it real. As I was just finishing writing this, my son dropped my iPhone into my cup of coffee. Hello, trial. Hi there temptation and opportunity to sin. This battle just got real again y’all!!! I was almost lured away by my desire to blow up on my kids and give up and not finish this. But I pressed in to the Lord with a fierceness and fought through for YOU whoever you are reading this and ultimately for God’s glory. Big Hugs from my crazy self to yours! ;)

grace and grief

My grandfather passed away yesterday.

He was my Paw Nick, and I was his Peanut. I was his only granddaughter. And I have never in my life suffered loss like this before. Heartache, yes. Trials, yes. But deep loss? No one this close yet.

Unitl now I would deliberate for great lengths of time on how to say the right thing at the right time. I worried about sounding sincere and not being trite.  I wanted to do right by the words and the receiver the best I could.

But yesterday, I realized I had never truly been on the receiving end. And I was overwhelmed. Not only with the onslaught of emotions harassing me and the inability to grieve (because I have three VERY NEEDY LITTLE PEOPLE who are currently all under age three) but also with every tweet of a text and ping of a notification. I was overwhelmed that I would even be thought of.

Somewhere, at some point, God allowed someone to share a piece of the ache that I feel. And so much so that it motivated them to reach out to me. And it didn’t matter then the verbiage they used or how eloquent or moving their words were. I knew that their act of reaching was sincere. I was humbled to be thought of and cared for in that way. Their words put some sturdy legs back underneath me so that my faith didn’t give way.

They healed. They held. And they are STILL the vessels that are ushering grace in to hold me.

So I want to encourage you, whoever you are reading this, that when a time comes for you to give comfort and words are all that you have, give them. I promise you most people aren’t going to be picky about what you give. And I sat there yesterday thinking of all the sad hearts who have mulled over who didn’t say this or that or do this or that. I pray that grace comes in and softens that hardness to receive and be humbled by such sweet love. I pray that we can continue to be thankful and rejoice and graciously receive what gifts of healing are sent our way. Because they are all from a great and gracious Father and King who has given far more than we could ever deserve.

And there lies my Hope. There lies my Joy.

Thank you to those of you who have already been willing to keep pointing my eyes back to my Helper. He is the Lord, the Issuer of every breath I breathe, and I will rest in Him now and one day for eternity!

a new (ad)venture.

Just a lil sum-sum that a friend and I decided to do that may be turning quite rapidly into a bigger sum-sum. Check out why I haven't been bloggin' (minus my three kiddos):

ze vinners.

If you’ve never given StitchFix a little look-see, then you may not know that you get sent five items in a box ranging from jewelry to blouses to skirts to shorts to jeans to scarves… etc. Women’s. Apparel. And they unknowingly make it in to a game where you get not only $20 off your order from your styling fee, but also a 25% discount if you keep all five items. THEN if you refer friends, you also get a $25 credit for every friend who tries it out. So, you get MEGA bonus points for wearing and sharing. :) Cause sharing is caring, right? So, these past two fixes I have been SO close to keeping all five items. I mean oh so close. But there is always just this one that I absolutely CAN NOT justify. I mean, y’all, the struggle is REAL to want to keep all five items and get that discount! But alas, only two survivors outlasted this present struggle. The three that got away were a pretty neat maxi dress that just wasn’t quite long enough for these ol legs of mine, a long gold coin medallion necklace, and a pair of army green cargo shorts. (They really were cuter than they sound, I just couldn’t get past feeling like I was in junior high again.) The two that made the cut were:

So we’ve got some Ikat and Aztec prints going on up in the Camie Risinger wardrobe now. If you follow me on Pinterest, you may have noted some crazier pins of edgier styled items, because I do wish to work that in a little to keep me not-so-serious. Steve will not allow me to buy the insane wedge sneakers that I somehow have a not-so-secret love/hate relationship with these days. BUT he did encourage this purchase of the off white and aztec print v-neck! Which in shape and cut isn’t THAT edgy (it’s actually quite flattering and extremely comfortable), but the print … let’s be honest. Who’s going to be wearing that print in two years?! No. One. Not one body. And I KNOW I will look back and say, "WHYYYY in the world did anyone let me wear that?” But hey. A trend is a trend, and it’s fun to jump on the bandwagon instead of running along beside it all out of breath and whatnot. So here’s to a trendy splurge. 

Now that black Ikat print blouse is a bit more classic to me because it is black after all. And the print is so small that it can be paired down with a jacket or cardigan and not be glaring at you with the trendy evil eye. It’s got a cute little pocket and gold shiny button closure for the keyhole in the back. And I really enjoyed the detail of the neckline almost looking and feeling like a really soft tee.

So, there ya have it. Two more shirts that are totally wearable for summer and even layered up into the fall and early winter months! Cheers to year round wearability! Thank you, StitchFix. You gals rock.

getting fixed.

Ladies and … ladies! (I don’t think I have any gentlemen readers!) Here is how I’ve been Stitch fixed previously…

And here we go again…

If you’re curious about size and fit and what to put in your own Stitch Fix style profile, leave a comment and I’ll give you my stats and sizes and how things fit to give you an idea!

well hey there.

Months have gone by without a peep! I guess that is what life with three under the age of two will do to ya. So I’ll do a quick recap. Please forgive my brevity, and leave a comment to let me know if you’d like more info on the happenings in our little fam’s life.

After Ezzy’s birth my body had a hard time recovering. Our sleep was great, but my hydration and hormones apparently were not. So after weeks of antibiotics and doctors visits, putting a sad and abrupt end to nursing, a colonoscopy, and a cystoscopy later, I now have a clean bill of health! Which is nothing short of a huge 'Thank You, Lord for your graciousness and provision.' I mean really though, what am I? 50 years old already? Oh, I received another Stitch Fix box in the mail so be looking for my update on my most recent ‘fixes’. We’ve traveled to Arkansas for a wedding. My parents have been here and back twice and got a dog. My brother and sister-in-law and their little fam moved. Steve’s youngest sister graduated high school, middle sister went to Slovakia, and brother got word that he’s to head to officer flight school in August. (I think that’s all right!) Our girls got to move in to big girl beds which proved to be a hard transition for Lola. We had their birthday party Saturday for their SECOND birthday which is tomorrow! Hot snot, I can’t believe the party has already come and gone. I don’t think I even remember really planning for it. Honestly, it feels like it just sort of happened without my knowing. Ezzy is sitting, eating real food, holding his own bottle, and trying his hardest to crawl. And Zekers is still alive.

And in the midst of all of this, we’re finding a greater richness in our pursuit of God and our knowing Him is bringing our lives to the brink of being shaped more drastically than ever before. Oh, I LONG and pray for the day that my littles know Him. I pray that I guard, through the Holy Spirit dwelling in me, these treasures that have been entrusted to me (2tim 1.14). And I pray that for you and whatever your treasures may be as well!

my new fav: part 2

Aaaaaaand here she is! The piece that I knew I would keep the moment I turned my little tissue paper sandwich sideways and caught a glimpse of her beauty. The piece that was dead-spot-on “Me” to a T. The piece that will be dressed up and worn out probably before summer is even over with.

5. An off-white/cream crocheted tank. Perfect for year-round wearing. Perfect for my skin/hair tones. Perfect for my budget. I had a $25 credit, so I only payed $30 for this tank. Worth. It. Perfect cotton fabric that is oh-so-soft to the touch and just lightweight enough that it will be super comfy in hot weather but not see-through. I’m just a sucker for all things winter white/off-white/cream. I love the look of white jeans, white blazers, and white linen pants. (I’ll be wearing robes of white one day, so I guess I’m just really excited about that already!!!) I like this tank so much that I’ve worn it twice this weekend already! I wore it the day I got it, and then I wore it today to church. Here is what I paired with it today:

From head to toe: coral earrings from Charlotte Russe, light grey scarf from Wal-mart (pretty sure I used it as a table cloth at my wedding), coral skinny skimmers from Target, and nude snake skin flats from Old Navy which are barely visible. When I wore the tank Friday night, I was wearing the earrings and scarf with a grey shawl collared cardigan, army green straight leg pants from Target, and grey crocheted Toms. My Style Suggestion card that came with the tank showed black skinny jeans or a blue chevron maxi skirt which are both ways that I look forward to wearing it as well!

Shout out to the hubs for taking my picture for me. Excuse the slightly disheveled look. We had just unloaded the three littles from the van and were wrestling them down for lunch and nap time. 

So, there ya have it. The results of my first fix. I hope you were inspired to maybe rethink the way you shop and hopefully save yourself (or your family) some extra dollars! This is one really cool way for me to honor my husband and give God the glory. So maybe it’s time for your First Fix or to find some accessories with a greater purpose!

***EDIT: What you don’t want to keep, you send back in a big ole plastic bag at no cost to you that looks like this:

Shout out to Eisley for being a great model!

my new fav

Friends! Romans! Countrymen! Lend me your ears, er, eyes!

About a month or so ago, I came across a nifty little company called Stitch Fix. If you’ve ever heard of Birchbox, it is very similar. It’s like a Birchbox for clothes. Now, if you’ve never heard of Birchbox, no worries. This post is all about explaining my super fun suprising exciting Christmas-in-April experience. (My friend Candice also blogged about her Stitch Fix experience if you would enjoy reading another point of view.)

Here’s how it works. You go to the sweet little website and create a style profile, filling out info such as your height, weight, occupational status, general tastes in style, likes and dislikes in various fits and styles, price range, and a little bit on the wardrobe you already have. Creating this profile places you on a waiting list to be assigned a personal stylist who will then pick out 5 items based on all your criteria that will be shipped to you when you get to schedule your first ‘fix’. Ok, I could ramble on and on about how it all works, but I’ll let you go explore and discover the rest on your own. I really want to just show you my first fix!!! Let’s go.

When I received this first little email, I seriously got so giddy like a little kid at Christmas. I felt like someone was sending me an awesomely thoughtful birthday present a whole month before my birthday because they just loved me THAT much! 

Then yesterday, a day EARLY, my present came packaged in this neat cute box.

Please understand that it was extremely hard to be patient enough to stop and take pictures at every transition in opening. So, some things just kinda got skipped. 

When you open up the box, the wrapping is immaculate. All of your belongings are in a perfectly folded little tissue paper sandwich, and the above photo is a prime example of my hastiness. I tried to put it nicely back in the box, but I just jacked it up. Ha! So, I went ahead and unwrapped everything to find these items:

1. Super cute mint leather and gold medallion snap bracelet. Great colors. My sylist figured me out quick. However, I realized that I don’t want jewelry in my fixes, because I am a straight up cheap skate when it comes to jewelry. I would rather buy a lot of cute cheap things for $30 instead of one bracelet. So this little gem got sent back.

2. Ok, I’m a little frustrated with this picture because it is just not doing the color of the blouse justice, which happened to be my favorite detail. It looks faded, which was not the case at all. It was a really pretty ivy green color that I was shocked to find looked good with my hair/skin tone. I never buy anything this color but will definitely keep my eyes peeled from now on. What I did not enjoy about this tunic was the cut. It was just awkward. Too big, maybe? I felt like if they kept the width, it needed to be longer. But for the length it was, I preferred a more tailored fit. The giant tube sleeves and short wide cut made me feel like I was trying to pull off an odd kimono/tunic hybrid thing. I thought just maybe the detail of rolling and buttoning up the sleeve would help. Negatory. Still awkward. So this little ditty got sent back. I will give my stylist a thumbs up for going a bit outside the box for me on this one. Spot on with the color choice.

**COOL THING : With each piece comes an attached styling suggestion card. Genius!!! Sometimes you just get stuck, or really like a piece but have no clue how it would fit in your wardrobe. Bam. Problem solved. I would’ve never thought to tuck that big ole boxy thing in. Aaaaand another side note, that picture still isn’t the true color of that blouse. What up wit dat?!

3. Hey-o super cute maxi skirt! True colors. Little big on the fit. Great pick. So great in fact that I already own a skirt almost identical to this one. And it was a lot cheaper than $98. (Seriously? $98? Come onnnnnn. I’d buy a leather jacket for that. But an ole maxi? No way.) Got. Sent. Back.

4. Cute flouncy black and white sleeveless blouse with a great little pin tuck detail at the neckline. Loved the little geometric print. Great light weight material for summer, but definitely sturdy enough to be layered and pair with jackets and sweaters to wear year round. One of the most impressive things about this blouse was that it came with an attached camisole. And this camisole was unlike your typical attached cami that’s made of that funky material that is almost see-through itself and smells like horrible B.O. after you’ve worn it only once and didn’t even sweat. Ladies and gents, this camisole was a legit cotton blend cami. I loved the little mother of pearl buttons. And I even enjoyed the fact that the hem of the blouse was a reverse hi-lo. It was like a tunic in the front and a normal length blouse in the back. (This would be GREAT transitioning into your second trimester of pregnancy! haha) My hubs even said it looked like me. But despite the fact that there were so many things I really enjoyed about this piece, yes, you guessed it, it got sent back. And the main reason was the price. I just flat out couldn’t afford it. Because of…

5. My favorite piece that I’m waiting to blog about tomorrow that I KEPT!!!

Lessons learned: Price range is definitely a determining factor for me. Although great things don’t come cheap, I believe this way of shopping for me is worth every penny. I waste money and sanity driving around from store to store trying to find that ‘perfect’ item only to buy a few different items that I really don’t love. After being a little bit lot more specific in my style profile by adjusting my price range to the cheapest side of things (of which I am unashamed. The name of this game is saving money and sanity for me!!!) and asking to refrain from jewelry, I fully anticipate keeping all five items in my ‘fix’ one day. I trust my stylist’s ability and her knowledge of me THAT much. There are so many women in my life who I believe would enjoy and greatly benefit from shopping with Stitch Fix. So follow this link and see for yourself: Get my first Fix

And don’t forget to check back on the blog tomorrow for the big reveal of my favorite piece that I kept!

guest writer: katy

Who knew that stress was so stressful???

I mean, really. It had me at the doctor's office twice last week with stomach issues, and we all know Ain’t NOBODY got time fuh DAT! And you know how it got me there? It had me forgetting that 'I don't do it.' You say,”Whaaaat?! Camie, you are crazy.” Well, I already know that. But on the heels of some of the most trying days of my life, stress had me forgetting some integral truth that I'd been rehearsing for almost the past two years of my life. And when I read the blog post that I’m sharing with you today, it was absolutely a balm to my weary soul (after being a glass of cold water in the face), a resounding victory cry, and a call to remain faithful in pressing in.

Let me fill you in on my sistafriend, Katy. God brought our lives together through some fun circumstances with our husbands; and after finding out we were both from the south, had a handful of mutual friends and a mutual love for some good tex-mex, we knew were destined to be together. (chuckle chuckle) Katy has been my friend that, even though physical distance has always separated us, God has seen fit to continuously knit our hearts together through sharing the truth of His word with one another during our (sometimes insanely) similar life circumstances. The latest and craziest has been both of us finding out that we were pregnant (both unanticipated) putting us in the situation of having three kids under the age of three. We’ve laughed, and cried, and been angry, and been honest with each other in every season of life we’ve been through together, and I truly can’t thank the Lord enough for her. She has such a fun gift for writing and I LOVE that I get to share that with you. And while you’re at her blog, take a look around. I have no doubt she will bless your socks off.

Katy Tullos: I Don’t Know How You Do It

a step back

These two notes were brought to my attention this morning with the new updates to Facebook. So, I thought I would move them over to the ole bloggity blog. Reading these two blurbs has refreshed my love and appreciation for my godly, hard-working husband and has made me ever so thankful that the hard days of itty bitty twinkies are long gone.

Monday 8.1.11 - a reason to celebrate
I woke up this morning next to the man of my dreams. He is better than the best husband I could've ever imagined, and now I am witnessing him step into the roll of dad and am amazed. His love for me and his love for our girls is only an outpouring of his love for our amazing God. I couldn't imagine making it through this past week without him and am blessed to celebrate making it through two years of marriage with him today! Steve Risinger, I love you. Happy Anniversary. :)

Sunday 8.7.11 - monitor conquered. almost.

Last Monday afternoon Steve and I received the best anniversary gift ever. Our 'littlest little' (as we love to refer to Eisley now) got to come home with us! However, this joyous occasion was marked with stress and heartache because we were sent home with an apnea monitor that to our dismay was constantly going off. We were doing good if we made it a solid hour without hearing the alarm sound multiple consecutive times. Friday morning we found that the amber colored data light was lit notifying us to take the monitor to have her info downloaded. So, I headed to the OSF sleep lab only to discover (to our dismay and also soon to our joy!) that our monitor had been given to us with the wrong settings for her breaths-per-minute! The sweet ladies in the sleep lab corrected all the settings and told me that we should not be concerned about any episodes because 99 percent of the alarms were false. Since that glorious correction, we have only heard an alarm sound 4-5 times, and it is Sunday! Praise the Lord. Fears have ceased. Sleep (ok at least 15 minutes of it!) have been restored. We have almost made a complete turn around with the monitor situation. And we are well on our way into week three of their tiny lives working hard at a consistent schedule to get these twinks to sleep through the night sooner than later! They are eating and pooping and sleeping and even doing a pretty good job of holding those heads up!!!

Steve (aka: I like it when you call me Big Poppa) spent last week working half days (on very little sleep and lots of coffee) while I spent my days loving on these little munchkins (on very little sleep and lots of coffee) while trying to do as little as possible around the house to heal properly, only being enabled to do so with the help of my mom. What a great and perfect gift that she took care of Steve and I so that we could best take care of our little ones. And again, we want to send out our greatest thanks to our friends and family who have prayed for, loved on, and fed us in these past weeks. Never have we witnessed the provision of our Great God in a more tangible way.

my itty bitty ladies

creatures of comfort

In the wake of a longer season of suffering than I’ve experienced in years, I am earnestly (and frequently) reflecting on a quote from Randy Alcorn’s book Safely Home that simply says this:

Real gold fears no fire.

     Oh! The implications of those words for the children of God. Have you been trusting Him through your light and momentary affliction? Do you consider yourself worthy to be called to suffer for His name and glory?
     Through this season I’ve seen friends suffering the absence of life due to physical and eternal distances, the emotional and physical stresses of sleepless nights, families being tried as marriages are attacked, and even myself suffering from the consequences of my sin and bitterness. I found myself not rejoicing in this suffering and burden bearing nor delighting in my reproof, but pleading with God for comfort. I wanted it all to end promptly. I especially longed for closure before I actually had to reach out and trust God in trusting someone else to see this ugliness.
     BUT of course that was not what God had in store. You see, something amazing starts to take shape when life seems to be out of my control and falling apart. My clouded eyes and calloused heart begin to see more clearly and become softened to behold God’s sufficiency and grandeur. And it takes place only by way of clinging, in faith, to the words, person, people, and purposes of Christ. Why do we believe that sometimes it is OK to suffer and walk our lives alone? I believe it’s pride, believing in self-sufficiency rather than Christ’s sufficiency.
     Oh, brothers and sisters! Are you clinging to someone who is just a hobby or shopping buddy during your season of suffering, or are you clinging to someone who will bring scripture to bear on your life? Are you believing the Word of God and acting on it no matter how you feel? Or are you giving up and giving in? What God says, He will do. Go on. Reach out. Don't be deceived into thinking that health in the Body and its members is defined by a lack of issues. Health means that when issues arise (cause they will), the body can and will battle the attack without becoming ill and overwhelmed. Praise God that He is victorious before us, dwelling in us, and reigning over us! He WILL bring a good result. I will trust Him. I will worship. I will follow.
     I want to leave you with one last quote to ponder from Thomas á Kempis who wrote, "Jesus now has many lovers of His heavenly kingdom, but few bearers of His cross. He has many who desire consolation, but few who desire tribulation. He finds many companions of His table, but few of His abstinence. All desire to rejoice with Him but few are willing to endure anything for Him or with Him. Many follow Jesus to the breaking of bread but few to the drinking of the cup of His passion. Many revere His miracles, but few follow the humiliation of His cross."

wo-OAH here he comes

36 weeks and 4 days.

This time last pregnancy I was holding two little teeny weeny babies in my arms. I can’t believe that I’m already at this point with little brother. I had what I believe will be my last check-up yesterday. My heart rate was great. Brother’s heart rate was great. He is head down and VERY low. And wouldn’t ya know, I’m already progressing. 2 centimeters dilated and 50% effaced.

When the doctor told me the update, I was SO excited and even relieved to a certain degree. Then my brain started going through every detail that ‘needs’ to be in place for this baby to come. I’m scheduled for my last sonogram on the 27th, but of course I’m constantly wondering if I’ll even make it that far. I’m currently washing carseat and changing pad covers. I realized that if I go in to labor before friday, Steve’s parents are out of the country and mine are 8 hours away, so we kind of need to have someone lined up to come take care of our girls at a moment’s notice. Before last night, I didn’t even have a hospital bag packed or a ‘coming home’ outfit picked out for brother. Obviously, we haven’t settled on a name. I have in my own heart. But we’ll see what happens. ;) My floors are disgusting. My guest bathroom is overrun with the girls’ toys and toothbrushes and lotion and conditioner, and I would rather it have fresh clean white linens hung and stocked up in the cabinets! Haha I need to go on a huge grocery trip to stock up on meal supplies for both the girls and my parents when they come stay with us. We need to hang the door to the guest room so that they have some privacy! I would like to buy one of those cozy little carseat inserts and strap covers for brother so he stays snug as a bug this winter. The mattress to his crib just shipped yesterday. I’d like to have his cool IKEA leaf hung in his room, but we can’t seem to settle on a great placement for it. I’d like to stock up on a few more diapers and wipes for all the kids. I would love to have a few freezer meals prepared and tucked away. Oh, I’d really like to snag a moby wrap to be able to wear brother around. I want to find a good deal on a mirror to hang over the sink in the basement so it feels nice and new and clean down there as a guest area. Shoot, I’d just love to redo the whole sink area… Oh yeah, laundry. Ha!  I want to hold my girls all day and climb in to their little cribs and snuggle them while they nap. I want to freeze every moment they do something sweet and cute and ornery and never forget the way they look right now.  I would love for it to just snow. I’d like to give Zekers a REALLY good bath and cut his mangy little claws and wash his bed so that he smells/looks/feels great. I want to go on a date with Steve. I want to serve him an awesome meal and rub HIS feet and shoulders and not have him feel like I’m going to fall to pieces every night when he gets home! I’m REALLY excited about seeing a little boy in our house. I am overwhelmed with imagining what he looks like. I want to know his personality and kiss his little lips. I’m so thankful for every time that I’ve gotten to hear his heart beat, but I cannot wait to FEEL it! I am ABUNDANTLY thankful that my girls are sleeping soundly and my house is quiet right now.

..this has been my brain since yesterday afternoon..

I cried out to the Lord, and He heard me. His mercies were new again today, and He has poured out His grace on my crazy little heart. He keeps whispering to me, “I’ve got it. I’ve got you. You need only be still.” So be still my wayward heart, and know that He is God.

in everything ...

… give thanks.

When your plans go awry JUST as you are about to walk out the door for a 7 hour trek, give thanks.

Because, ya know, I was just going to empty my bladder like a good pregnant wife before we loaded the car to hopefully reduce our number of potty breaks. And lo and behold that pee was not right. Not to mention that after I stopped to think about it, I had been having lower back pain all morning long. So, after a phone call to my OB, Steve and I were on our way to the ER instead of Memphis.

Instantly, my fear was that my incision from the c-section with the girls had ruptured causing internal bleeding and I was going to be en route for another emergency c-section to deliver my 33 week old lil buddy. I was not ok with that scenario at all. No section. No NICU. No baby yet. And this is why I am thankful that

it’s just a kidney stone.

After a round of IV fluids and testing some urine samples, the doc ruled out anything to do with pre-term labor and was confident that my culprit is a stone.  He proceeded to explain that according to Murphy’s Law, if I made up my mind to head on south, I would of course end up being in the worst pain of my life in the middle of nowhere needing to pass the stone. But if we stay home (which he very strongly suggested), I would rest and hopefully pass this bad boy with little complication. So we opted for what seemed to be the wiser of the two choices and with heavy but hopeful hearts are going to be thankful with our midwest family instead of the southerners this year! 

mullings

I just recently completed the “Get Real” bible study with some of the women of Harvest Bible Chapel Peoria, and I am so thankful for the willingness and humility of the ladies who taught and how God used them to speak (some hard) truth to us. But times of refreshment and learning are usually followed by times of sifting and trying. And though I feel like I could have written multiple blogs after each session, I have found that my priorities have desperately needed shifting to do what best worships God instead of my self throughout the day. So, I had to forgo blogging until this morning. [Ok, I have to just stop and say that I really wish I could expound on everything that’s led to this post, but I am just going to have to ask you to go and listen and read for yourself. Go taste and see that the Lord is good and that His Word proves true.]

Now that I'm a few weeks out from having been poured into immensely, I am finding myself being tested on wether or not I can/will accurately handle the truth to which my eyes have been opened. I’m sure most of you who read this will identify with me that when God lays parts of you open, you become very sensitive to that sin and shortcoming not only in your own life but also other’s as well. So you are then given the chance to walk in humility and be a vessel of the grace that is being poured out to you, IF you are willing. And then there are times where we’ve been illuminated to something that resonates so deeply and moves us so powerfully that we are quick to share it and let it go instead of letting that Word take root as we meditate on it and really let God work it into our bones so we can live it out. It’s like we hear it, think it sounds great and clever, and regurgitate it back out and then it’s gone. We haven’t let it take root for the Spirit to nourish and water and prune that truth for it to bear fruit in our lives.

But what is really striking a chord with me, and has since I surrendered my life to the Lord, is that spiritual maturity and wisdom aren’t just reserved for the older. No one is just rewarded those things because they have more years in their life than another. And the older that one gets, the easier it is to cast judgement on someone younger than yourself just because you believe they haven’t had the years in their life yet to know things or gain wisdom. And let me just say that I will always go to bat for the young. Shame on me for showing disrespect to a brother or sister in Christ because they are younger, and I assumed that they didn’t have the capacity to see the wood for the trees. If their heart is the Lord’s, He can teach and move and show them what He pleases! Historically God used the young. He shames the old with the young. He calls for the young to come to Him and for the old to be as the young in their faith and trust in Him!!! 1 Timothy 4.12 says to not let anyone despise or think less of you because of your youth. And even in the face of that condescension to still be an example in your speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity. 1 Corinthians 3.18-19 warns that no one deceive themselves supposing that they are wise in their age. They should become a fool by discarding worldly discernment and recognizing their self as being dull, stupid, and foolish, without true learning and scholarship. Walk in humility! Then comes wisdom. Worldly knowhow is foolishness, absurdity, and stupidity with God, and He WILL lay hold of the ‘wise’ in their own craftiness.

Proverbs 1.7 also says that reverential and worshipful fear of the Lord is the beginning, the starting point, the essence of wisdom. BUT fools despise skillful and godly wisdom, instruction, and discipline. (Especially when it comes from a younger believer.) Brother and sister, let the latter not be you!!! My heart cry, my plead, my challenge is this:  that we let Ephesians 4 be true of us; that we are walking in a manner worthy of the calling to which we’ve been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace.

That is my heart this morning. I pray it’s to God’s glory.

willing

Earlier this morning I ventured out of the house with the girls and into the blinding fog to join some women from Harvest for a new five week study called ‘Get Real’. Although the girls protested being there (even after we were leaving Eisley tried to wriggle her way out of the stroller in protest, and I almost ran her over…), I am beyond thankful for throwing us in the car to go, and I look forward with great expectancy to the weeks to come.

I was hesitant to sign up because I knew it would be hard work to get us out the door and back in time for lunch not to mention it meant the girls were now missing morning nap two days out of the week instead of just one. I was also a little concerned with how I was going to maneuver two toddlers with a baby boy belly that is getting bigger every day. However, I couldn’t get away from hearing about this study group, and I have been aching to dig in deeper with other women before I’m disconnected for a bit when little brother comes. So, we went.

Jonna, pastor Tim’s wife, taught the opening session today and posed the question, “are we willing?” She reminded us that we can learn and regurgitate Truth all day long, but unless we are actually willing to do something about it/live it out/let it change us, we will just be wasting our time. The study progressed and God very gently began pointing out the flaws in me that He is wanting to change into His image. However, it wasn’t until our breakout group time that my eyes were very clearly opened and my heart felt the weight of conviction as my own mouth spewed out ugly truths about my sin. Instead of running to God’s Word for truth and waiting in quiet strength, I confessed that I’ve been running to technology in my alone time to peruse the web, check (and subconsciously compare my life to) social media, and catch up on meaningless shows.

God had started chiseling away as I read the honest words of a friend from college and realized that I and so many others were blindly falling and sometimes even WILLINGLY walking into Satan’s traps and distractions instead of choosing to live in the truth of God’s Word. Without even realizing it, I had begun to choose to wait for my family to mess up and disappoint me in their disobedience instead of looking to my Father and following His example of waiting to be GRACIOUS and show MERCY in my disobedience! (Is 30.18) I pray that if you read this, you would allow God to reveal what He wants to change in you. And when the question is asked, ‘are you willing?’, you will have an unwavering trust in God to boldly answer with a resounding ‘Yes!'

This God—his way is perfect;
    the word of the Lord proves true;
    he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him.

Psalm 18.30

and Babe3 is ...

Around 9am this morning we had our 20 week sonogram, number 2 of 3 that will be had with this pregnancy. It’s still crazy to think that there will only be three sonos after having one at every appointment last time around. But alas, here are some photos of el bambino.

I’m not gonna lie, I can’t remember where eyes and nose are, but you can have fun trying to figure it out!

Sweet little legs crossed just like big sissy, Eisley. The feet are actually by the face even though you can’t see the face. There is PLENTY of room to stretch out, but bambino just loves to cuddle I suppose.

Woop! There it is.

Babe3 is little Baby Boy Risinger!!!

We’re beyond excited and looking forward now more than ever to having this little life join our family.

refurbish

Thanks to a certain website that is full of DIY ideas and renovations and redo’s and hairdo’s and recipes and … well, you know? Pinterest. Yeah, thanks to some time spent perusing its vastness, I came across this nifty little blog.

Most of my time spent searching on Pinterest is either to find something to help save money/time in my home or someone else’s. And when I found this little ditty, I knew it was a keeper. I could finally stop feeling guilty about keeping my very first pair of TOMS that I never wear anymore. I hate keeping extra stuff that takes up space or serves no purpose for me (us). SO, when I saw that I could give new life to one of the most comfortable pair of shoes I own, I was all over it.

This blog gives an EXTREMELY easy tutorial to follow. I really want to emphasize this because I read it once, WEEKS ago, and recovered my shoes today in a few short hours without ever referencing the blog. I used remnants of fabric from my girls changing pad cover and some old sheets, scissors, a pen, and some almighty E-6000 Industrial Strength Adhesive. And this is what I got:

The sides are actually a slate gray color. I just snapped a few quick pics on my phone to get on the blog. I plan on going back to mimick the stitching around the panels by hand. I’m sure I’ll probably use an ivory or cream colored thread. But other than that, they’re finished. Thank you Eisley and Lola for letting momma craft today!