Archives for October 2015

Time for Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway!

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*Since my husband will be on Fall Break later this week, I’ll be skipping my midweek post. See you again next Monday!

Have you subscribed to Life Notes, my free quarterly inspirational newsletter? If so, you’re in luck. Why? Because it’s time for my annual Life Notes Subscriber Appreciation Giveaway! If you haven’t subscribed yet, you can join the lucky bunch right now. Just sign up for Life Notes to the right under “Free For You.”

One lucky subscriber will be awarded a $25 gift card to Barnes & Noble in mid-November—the perfect time to give a gift of thanks. And, of course, I’m hoping the giveaway will help grow my subscriber list, too! :)

Here’s how the giveaway will work. All those who are currently subscribed to Life Notes will automatically be entered in the giveaway, and any new subscriber who signs up by 6 p.m. (CST) Nov. 11 will be entered as well. Sign up is to the right on the blog sidebar—and yes, it’s free! You don’t even have to leave a comment on this post. Just make sure you’re signed up for the newsletter. I will announce the winner in my November 12 Midweek Morsel post.

So have you all joined the lucky bunch of Life Notes subscribers now? My heart’s desire is that it will be a blessing to each one who reads it—and I hope that includes you!

“Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants. I will proclaim the name of the LORD. Oh praise the greatness of our God!” Deuteronomy 32:2-3

*I’m thankful for each and every Life Notes subscriber. Who are you thankful for today?

*Flickr photo by kissyface, Creative Commons License

Custom Sneakers for the Bride (and Groom!)

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Mother of the Bride, everything the bride wears on Wedding Day will be noticed—and photographed—and that includes her shoes. Have you discussed the style she’s interested in for the ceremony and formal shots? What about the reception and party? Almost without exception, a more comfortable pair of shoes than her dressy heels will be needed before the dancing is over and she dashes off to her honeymoon.

A great choice of shoes for the reception (or at least after you get past the important photos) is custom sneakers. Not only will they be comfortable and fun, but both the bride and groom can sport them together. And what a cute photo that will make, right?

How do you get sneakers customized? Check the shoe manufacturer’s website to see if they offer a custom shoe service. For example, check this “Design Your Sneakers” page on the Converse website. Also this Etsy page shows all kinds of wedding Converse shoes. You could also try a Google search for custom sneakers to find other possibilities out there.

Run this (pun intended!) past the bride and groom, MOB, and see if custom sneakers strike their wedding-shoe fancy. Go ahead an encourage them to get comfortable and thoroughly enjoy their party—and don’t forget comfy shoes for yourself, too!

*You might also like to read Rustic Wedding Bridal Shoes: Boots—What Else?, Bridal Shoes: The Lacy Look, Bridal Shoes: The Cute Factor, and Comfy Shoes—Add This to Your Wedding Day List.

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early November. Sign up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by Villa de Amore, Creative Commons License

Midweek Morsel: Pleasing to God in the Desert

120398547_bb63b7affd_z“And a voice came from heaven: ‘You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.’ At once the Spirit sent him out into the wilderness, and he was in the wilderness forty days, being tempted by Satan.” Mark 1:11-13a

Anyone going through a desert time spiritually? Desert times can look and feel different at different times to different people.

I’ve been experiencing some desert times myself the past couple of years. God sometimes feels distant to me, even though I know he’s not. And even though I’ve heard him speak clearly through his Word, I don’t always hear his voice as clearly in my spirit as in times past. Like my friend Nancy described it, God is being quiet.

When we’re going through desert times, it’s easy to feel like God may not be pleased with us, but I’ve been encouraged by the above scripture and the example of Jesus in his desert time. Notice how just before God sent Jesus into the desert, the Father declared his pleasure with his Son. In fact, God was well pleased with Jesus but still sent him into a desert time.

Friends, isn’t it good to know that even when we feel like we’re in a spiritual desert, we can have the assurance that we are God’s dearly loved children and that he is still pleased with us? So if we’re not in a desert of our own making because of our sin and poor decisions (and thus needing a restored relationship with God), let’s rest in the knowledge that God is not displeased with us. As always, he still loves us.

“How great is the love the Father has lavished on us that we should be called children of God!” 1 John 3:1

*How do you stay close to God when you find yourself in a desert time spiritually?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early November. Sign up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by HORIZON, Creative Commons License

My Father’s World

Fall 2011 284My Father’s world is an amazing place. The wonders of his creation never cease and never grow old. They inspire fresh worship every day. Not only did God create the magnificent world we live in, but he sustains it. And he alone is ruler.

The old hymn “This Is My Father’s World” beautifully expresses the miracle of God’s world. When I sing it my heart swells in worship. And gorgeous fall days provide the perfect backdrop to just such worship.

Let’s step outdoors this week and lift our voices in praise. Let’s sing to our Father about his amazing world!

This Is My Father’s World

“This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
he shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!” —Maltie D. Babcock

“The earth is the LORD’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;” Psalm 24:1

*What in God’s creation are you enjoying this week?

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early November. Sign up is free and to the right!

*My photo

Outdoor Wedding Aisle Decor: Fresh Flowers!

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Mother of the Bride, is your daughter planning an outdoor wedding for next spring or summer? If so, the two of you may want to come up with some ideas to spruce up the folding chairs you’ll probably be using.

Fresh flowers provide the perfect aisle/chair décor when the ceremony is held in the great outdoors. Not only do they fit right in with the outdoor/natural world setting, but they add gorgeous pops of color to the sea of seats. And colorful flowers look especially striking when the chairs are white (as pictured above).

Fresh flowers along the aisle will also result in some beautiful wedding photos. Just think of all the shots that will be enhanced by this touch of floral beauty. Not only will the bride enter down that aisle, but parents and grandparents will be seated, bridesmaids will enter, the flower girl and ring bearer will make their trip down the aisle, and then, of course, before all of that, the photographer can snap a shot before any of the guests arrive. That just-before-it-all-starts shot will look so pristine and full of anticipation.

So MOB, if an outdoor wedding is in your future, share this idea with the bride. She may think it will add the perfect touch to the seating area—and she’ll be right! It will look very romantic and everyone will enjoy the beauty!

*You might also like to read Wedding Arch for Book Lovers and Pew or Chair Décor Idea: Sunflowers!

*The next issue of Life Notes, my quarterly inspirational newsletter, comes out in early November. Sign up is free and to the right!

*Flickr photo by Corey Ann, Creative Commons License