Spring Showers

So far we haven't had too many of the spring showers. The weather has been amazing despite the large amount of pollen on the ground and cars. However, as with every spring, I am sure some spring showers are headed our way. I guess it'll be nice to wash all the pollen away though.

This spring also brings another form of showers-Bridal showers! I am honored that I have such amazing friends that have planned these for me and Blake. We haven't really had to do anything or ask anything of anyone. We have our first shower this Saturday night. It is just a celebration dinner and I am thrilled to stop for a night and surround myself with my friends and family who have supported Blake and me through our relationship.



According to the all knowing Wikipedia-Bridal showers began when a father couldn't give his daughter a dowry and her friends and family would instead bring gifts to compensate. I wonder if my Dad is wishing my friends would pay for the wedding instead of buy us dishes right now?


Needless to say, this tradition has stuck and now every bride gets the chance to be showered. I am looking forward to this upcoming shower not for the gifts but for the friendship. To finally include the best part of my wedding planning-my friends and family. To look around a table and to be showered with joy at the amazing friends, parents and soon to be parent-in-laws that we have as a couple.

Isn't it funny that we don't share that same excitement and joy for all the amazing things God showers down on us? Instead when any anxiety creeps in my knee jerk reaction is to complain and whine and cry. I don't stop and thank God for the other awesome things he has showered down on me. I fret and worry and miss the blessings. Maybe the blessings are just time to talk with him, a roof over my head, food on my table. Simple things that he showers me with everyday. Like manna from heaven, God gives me the sufficient daily bread that I need until I start a new day with new blessings.

I think this spring, I will begin to first thank God for his showers. Last year my Mom was still struggling to use both arms and hands. Feeding, cleaning and other simple tasks were a struggle now she is helping me plan a wedding and traveling back and forth to Birmingham for fun things like meetings with the florist, dress shopping and now showers!

Spring is here in more ways than one. As someone just said to me today-He is making all things New! It almost brings tears to my eyes to realize how New we are from just last year. I don't thank my Heavenly Father enough for the showers he pours over me every day!

Spring showers are coming from heaven's skies-get ready to rejoice

Joel 2:22-24 (New International Version)

22 Be not afraid, O wild animals,
for the open pastures are becoming green.
The trees are bearing their fruit;
the fig tree and the vine yield their riches.

23 Be glad, O people of Zion,
rejoice in the LORD your God,
for he has given you
the autumn rains in righteousness. [a]
He sends you abundant showers,
both autumn and spring rains, as before.

24 The threshing floors will be filled with grain;
the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

Unveiled

So it’s been a little over a month since we got engaged and much has happened. I think we have all the big ticket items in place and now it’s all the fun details that get a tad bit overwhelming if you start to list them.

Luckily, we have some pretty amazing people around us that have offered help when we need it!

Blake picked up his suit last Saturday and I just got the call today that my dress is ready! For some reason now that my dress will be hanging in my closet makes this all more real to me.

I still don’t have all the pieces of my wedding day attire. I have my shoes of course and sadly-I bought those maybe before I was even engaged-sssh don’t tell! They were just too perfect not to own! I now have my dress. I may have just seen the perfect necklace online today and I even have the garter. But I don’t have a veil!

I have looked at plenty online-bubble veils, blushers, and the adorable birdcage veils. I have tried a few on but I have yet to find the one I want.

For as long as I can remember I have always thought a veil was necessary. Otherwise you are just a girl in a big poufy white dress. It’s putting on the veil that pulls it all together. When else are you going to wear a veil?

It hit me this week-Holy Week-that the need for the veil is even greater. I love the idea that I’ll be walking down the aisle wearing a veil over my face with my father approaching my bridegroom. My father will give me away to my future husband and lift my veil. No longer will there be separation between me and my groom.

Does that sound familiar to you? If you get a chance this week pick up your Bible and read Luke 23. It’s painful and you will cringe and perhaps cry as you read the suffering that our Savior endured for us on the cross. However, take note of one of the last things that happened right before he breathed his last breath.

44 Now it was[l] about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour. 45 Then the sun was darkened,[m] and the veil of the temple was torn in two. 46 And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said, “Father, ‘into Your hands I commit My spirit.’”[n] Having said this, He breathed His last.

Did you catch it? The veil was torn in two. What does that even mean? Why is that even important to know?

I was blessed to go to a Christian elementary school and one of the big things that stood out was our study of the Jewish temple in Bible class. We learned all about the way it was built, the symbolism and the role of the priests within the community. One of the things I remember my teacher pointing out to us was the temple veil. The veil separated man from God or from the “holy of holies.” (Ex 26:31, 33) Even the high priest was only allowed to go into the sacred area once a year on the Day of Atonement.

But that all ended when Christ died for you and me on Good Friday. The sky went black, the veil was torn in two and Jesus breathed His last breath.

Man and God were no longer separated. Jesus ended the separation. The veil was torn in two. The Bride was united with her Bridegroom.

What an amazing image that is for me as a bride-to-be but also as a child of God. I don’t have to be afraid or approach with caution or be a high priest to come close to the throne of God. Christ ended all of that at the cross.

This Easter I am going to reflect on what that means to me as the bride of Christ. I have full access to my King. His Death and Resurrection made that possible. May you enjoy the freedom this week offers you. The sorrow of the cross allows you to rejoice in the torn veil and approach the holy of holies any and all the time!

Bought with a Price!

I’m engaged! My best friend and the love of my life asked me to marry him last Wednesday night-February 24th. I knew it was coming at some point but I was definitely thrown off guard.

Well it was a typical Wednesday for me-working out and babysitting. I ran a hard 4 miles at the gym. For some reason it was really exhausting and I was so glad to be done with it. So covered in sweat I went to the Janas’ like I always do on Wednesdays. I had a feeling it was coming this week but Tuesdays I have Bible Study and Wednesdays I babysit. I thought maybe Thursday or even Friday because my parents were coming into town.

So the dog was barking while we were finishing up dinner. I had just wiped off yogurt on my sweatshirt from cleaning up with the kids. I go to the front door and 2 Men and a Truck are there with the biggest box ever. They had a delivery for “Emily Adams.” Um…weird since I don’t live here. This isn't my apartment?! So I immediately got nervous and figured something was up but it was all a blur after that. I had to sign for the box and they kept asking me where I wanted it and I was like um…right here I guess. They also kept saying over and over it's really heavy! I was like -fine okay!?

So then as they go to move the box, Blake popped out of the box and got down on one knee and said, "I love you for making me laugh and for waiting on me even when I’m late, will you marry me!!?" I of course said, "YES! I WILL!" Flashes were going off and I was like who all is out there??? And so Alex his old roommate was taking photos. I have the entire proposal and Blake in a box captured for a lifetime!

However, I was still babysitting so I was like-come in we are playing Wii and finishing dinner! I showed Lily and she was proceeded to tell me she has a ring upstairs that’s bigger. And then Sam began attacking Blake for being his "futuristic man sitter!" Mass chaos until Mike and Mary Ann got home-which wasn’t too long after. Sorry, I fell down on my job and didn't bathe or read to your children that night!

As we were leaving, he gave me a bouquet of flowers and the sweetest card ever. I am sure I have read as many times as I have gazed at my left hand. I finally got to shower!!! And we went to cheesecake at like 10pm because of all people he had not yet eaten!! Ha.

The ring is perfect. He custom made it to look just like a little costume ring I have had for like 7 years but way better!



So once the dust settled down from the weekend and whirlwind of wedding activity I decided to reflect on the ring. I love to look down at it and see it there on my finger! It sparkles in the sunlight. Sometimes lights overhead catch the spectrum of color in the perfect cut and shape. I love having people ask to see my ring. I gush when I hear comments about how unique it is and how it is so my style.

Someone loved me so much and wanted to spend the rest of their life with ME! I have read the card he gave me over and over again and looked at pictures online of the proposal more times than I should. I get to look at the daily reminder that my future husband put so much time and effort into having a ring custom made for my finger.

Best of all I’m spoken for. I’m no longer available. I have a fiancé!

I went back to my favorite book, Lover of My Soul, and read the chapter entitled “The Cost of A Diamond.” The first line is quite simple, 1 Corinthians 7:23 “You were bought with a price.”

It’s interesting to think about how instead of a diamond on our left hand we have a Savior that has scars on both of his hands. That he went to great lengths to make sure I knew how much he loved me by dying for me. The cost of “my diamond” wasn’t money but an innocent life.

The empty tomb sparkles in the sunlight. Rays of sun bounce off the beauty of my perfect risen Savior. I gush when I hear comments about how special I am to him and how I was perfectly made.

He loved me so much and wanted me to spend the rest of my life with him that he was nailed to a tree. I read passages in the Bible over and over again about how much he loved me and gave himself for me.

Best of all I am spoken for. I am no longer available. I have a Savior!

My prayer for my marriage is that I will remember what it symbolizes. That I won’t forget it is the amazing picture of Christ and his Bride. The love we have for each other needs to reflect that pure unconditional love that Christ has for his children.

I am not perfect; we don’t have a perfect relationship. We will fail, hurt and disappoint each other more times than we care to admit BUT we have a perfect Savior who showed us how to love at Calvary. And that is True Love!

ps if you click on the photos you can get a bigger image of them!

A Whale of a Time

Mimi’s surgery went really well yesterday and is expected to go home this afternoon. Thank you for all of your prayers! They are always appreciated and felt!

I also wanted to share something that has been on my heart for a few weeks. It is very personal and honest but I think we need to be more honest. I think too often we try to let the world see this image of the perfect Christian under control and everything is together and awesome and great. That isn’t always the case. As a matter of fact, I am a little frustrated with God.

There I said it! I am angry and upset. I am cringing as I type this because there is that fire and brimstone mentality that I will get struck by lightening. But it’s not the case-eek at least I hope not.

Without saying too much on the internet, I just am going through an experience that looks, tastes and feels a lot like something I have been through before. I thought all the pieces were in place for God to bless me. It’s funny to type that but I’m being honest here. So in my human mind, I had all the “godly pieces” in place. I did all the right things and this time I thought it would be different, amazing, perhaps heavenly even.

But instead even though the outcome isn’t like last time, the feelings are very similar. Fear, sadness, insecurity, anger, frustration. And when I try to label the “who” and “why” of my frustration, the finger points back at God! Can I be mad at God? Can I be upset with my creator like that?

Well I decided to go back to an old friend. It’s a book I have had since my junior year in college. It really is one of my favorite books. It’s called Lover of My Soul by Alan D. Wright. The chapter I decided to read was entitled “Pursued.” You can order it here: http://www.amazon.com/Lover-My-Soul-Delighting-Passionate/dp/157673269X"

The chapter begins to talk about how no matter what we can never get away from God’s love. It tells the story of Jonah. God told him to go to Nineveh and instead he went the complete opposite way. God pursued him in the form of a scary storm. The sailors were fearful and scared, finally Jonah confessed it was his fault because he disobeyed God and he told the sailors to throw him overboard.

God pursued Jonah yet again and sent a big fish aka “whale” to swallow him up. In the book the author talks about how he told the story to his son and said-okay now a big whale will come and eat Jonah up! The little boy stopped and said matter of fact, “No, Daddy the whale doesn’t eat Jonah he saves Jonah!”




What an a-ha moment that was for me in college and even now! God loves me so much that he continues to chase and pursue me to get my attention that even what I think is a horrible scary whale coming to swallow me up maybe it is just what I need to save me.

I can’t see it that way now. I don’t get it just yet but I am paying attention. And I think its okay to say I’m angry right now and still confused but I’m all ears God for what you have in store!

I think the best part is the way God gets Jonah out of the whale is by having the whale throw him up onto the sand. Check out verse 10 below. Again not something that sounds very nice but God has a funny way of making things work out for the best.

Jonah 2
Jonah's Prayer
1 From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the LORD his God. 2 He said:
"In my distress I called to the LORD,
and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave [a] I called for help,
and you listened to my cry.
3 You hurled me into the deep,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers
swept over me.
4 I said, 'I have been banished
from your sight;
yet I will look again
toward your holy temple.'
5 The engulfing waters threatened me, [b]
the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
6 To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you brought my life up from the pit,
O LORD my God.
7 "When my life was ebbing away,
I remembered you, LORD,
and my prayer rose to you,
to your holy temple.
8 "Those who cling to worthless idols
forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
9 But I, with a song of thanksgiving,
will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
Salvation comes from the LORD."
10 And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

You Are So Good

***Update***
I have been meaning to post this sooner but Mimi's cancer came back and she is having surgery tomorrow to remove another lymph node. Please keep her in your prayers and let's pray this eradicates the cancer this time!
***Update****


I will post a longer blog later but I started my morning with this song from Enter the Worship Circle-Third Circle! It's called For My Ashes. I think I need to invest in all of the Enter the Worship Circle CDs. They have changed my life because of their lyrics. Thanks to my big sister for giving me the first CD!



For my ashes You give me beauty

For my mourning You give me joy

For my tears, Lord, You give me kisses

Oh, yeah, that`s how good You are

Oh, yeah, that`s how good You are

Gracious and Compassionate

You are so good, You are so good

Slow to anger, rich in love

You are so good, You are so good

In the Homestretch

As a runner, one of the favorite parts of almost every run is the homestretch. The last mile or so when I know I'm almost done with a grueling run. I mentally feel better just knowing I am headed towards my car or apt and that means I'm even closer to a shower, food and elastic waist pants.

I am running the Mercedes Half Marathon on Valentine's day in a few weeks. It'll be my 3rd Half, my 2nd Mercedes and my 1st time running the new course. Training wise-I'm in the home stretch. I have about one more long run left and then I can sort of taper off in my training. I know that when I round mile 12 on February 14th, I'll really be in the homestretch of these past 8 weeks of training.

I think in a lot of ways my parents are in the homestretch. My Mom just got the go ahead to drive again and is hopefully rounding her mile 12 and headed to the finish line of recovery. My Dad is in the homestretch of his career and heading towards retirement. My prayer for both of them is that they will mentally and physically enjoy the homestretch.

The best part of the homestretch is the mental relaxation that takes place. Thoughts of water and BBQ (every Birmingham race serves BBQ at the post-race party) fill your tired mind and it allows you to just enjoy the last mile. To just push on to the finish line and let the wind blow through your sweaty hair as you finish the task.

However, I think a lot of times I fall into this homestretch mentality with my Christian walk and that is a huge mistake. I mentally let my guard down and dream of my life beyond the one I am called to live. I don't think the homestretch ever occurs for us on earth. I think as Christians we must constantly be running this race. We are called, chosen people!

Ephesians 1:4-6 (New International Version)

4For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5he[a] predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

In Bible study and even in my own personal time with God, I have been reading a lot about taking up our cross daily. DAILY being the key. We can't become complacent and say, "Well I took up my cross on Monday and it's Friday so I'm in the homestretch."

The beauty of "taking up our cross daily" is that the cross is where restoration, redemption and grace can be found and instead of dreading the idea of taking up our cross let us revel in the beauty that the cross represents and know that we are chosen.

I am reading "Into the Word" by Anne Graham Lotz and she said something so thought provoking. I am paraphrasing here but she said something along the lines that-If we take up our cross daily be ready because after the cross comes the power, resurrection and the glory.

So how can we not take up our cross? The homestretch is waiting for us in the afterlife and I have a feeling there will be a lot more to be excited about than just BBQ and elastic waist pants!

Luke 9:22-24 (New International Version)

22And he said, "The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life."

23Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. 24For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Ashes to Beauty

I named this blog after the verse in Isaiah:
Isaiah 61:3 (New International Version)

3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

It was such a beautiful picture in my mind when I was feeling utterly hopeless in the days after my parent's accident. I wanted to experience beauty from these ashes, gladness for my mourning and praise in place of my despair. I wanted and craved all those things and I knew the only way to find beauty in the madness and calamity my family was experiencing was at the foot of the cross.

In the hours, days, weeks, months and now a year, I found moments of beauty. Whether that came from a phone call, email, visit, prayer, good reports from doctors or laughter from my parents, I knew that ultimately there would be gladness for mourning.

I have tried to start 2010 more positive. I have a running joke with some of my friends that whatever resolution or goal you want this year just insert it into the year. For example 20honest10, 20loseweight10, and so on. Not sure why we think this is so funny or helpful but it works!

20beautyforashes10!

I am ready for the beauty AND I am seeing the beauty! In weird small ways God is showing me that He is here and has been all along and the days ahead won't be so hard. The days ahead will have trials but He has already overcome those.

Mom is doing really well for having two recent surgeries. She is in less pain and is ready to start healing. Thank you to all who have read my blog and responded. She is always in such good spirits when I call and talk to her. She either has just gotten off the phone with someone, read a note in the mail or has someone coming over to visit or bring food.

You are all too kind to my family! I hope that my words express the gratitude in my heart. I am so amazed every day by the love shone to them and your care and concern. 20thankyousomuch10 (okay sorry enough with that).

Anyways-I wanted to share a song with you. It really translates what Ashes to Beauty looks like. It is when we find Beauty no matter what at the cross where he suffered for us.




Kathryn Scott
At the Foot of the Cross

At the foot of the cross
Where grace and suffering meet
You have shown me Your love
Through the judgment You received

And You've won my heart
Yes You've won my heart
Now I can

Trade these ashes in for beauty
And wear forgiveness like a crown
Coming to kiss the feet of mercy
I lay every burden down
At the foot of the cross

At the foot of the cross
Where I am made complete
You have given me life
Through the death You bore for me

I'm laying every burden down
I'm laying every burden down