February 8, 2011
We have a new NIECE!!!
We have another addition to the West family....Parker Olivia West. Congratulations Jason and Ana on your first baby girl. :) We are so proud of you guys and can't wait to make tons of fun memories with little Miss West.
February 1, 2011
Happy 6 Months!
Jack and I have officially been married over six months and it has been absolutely wonderful. I love him more and more every day that I am blessed to share my journey with him. He is the best husband I could ask for and I am blessed to have him in my life. Here's to many more months and years with the most amazing man I know.
Picture Entry
I decided to take a break from Facebook in December. It is now February and I'm doing well with it, although I do miss posting pictures about my life. I like being able to share with my friends and family what's going on in the West household. I hope you enjoy the following pictures!
January 2, 2011
A New Year, A New Year of Surrender
Happy 2011. I believe that this is going to be a WONDERFUL year. Last year was fabulous. In 2010, I traveled to several different places and was blessed to have married the absolute love of my life. It was a year that will be remembered very vividly for the rest of my life. I was given the humbling gift of becoming Mrs. Jack West. At this point, we have been married for five months and have loved every minute of it. We put in so much work towards our relationship prior to marriage and it has been an investment that served us well. We are excited about what is to come for us in 2011.
My heart is dedicating 2011 as a year of "surrender." I am surrendering my life to the son of God, my Redeemer, my faithful Father. I am surrendering my marriage to God in hopes that he will continue to bless us as we put him first and foremost above ourselves. I am surrendering myself, my heart, my desires, my needs, and my wants to the One whose will is above and beyond more than I can even imagine.
I have decided to start my year off a little differently than other years. I am dedicating myself to a newness that brings me peace, hope, and energy. I am sorting through the thoughts and emotions and finding the REAL ME this year. My prayer is that I will no longer conform to the ways of this world, but will follow the One who created me and therefore find who I am. There have been so many times in my life that I have shifted my thinking to become who others want me to be instead of finding out who I really am and surrendering it to God. I am dedicating more time to reading, crafting, and finding what really energizes me. I want to continue to create a home for Jack and me. This means finding what we love, what works for us, and going with it.
I am starting off this year with a new book. It was a Christmas present from my husband. I know this book truly changed Jack's focus of thinking and I am excited to experience what God wants me to learn through it.
Interestingly and ironically enough, the first chapter is called "The Freedom We Surrender...and the Heritage That Sets Us Free."
Here's to another year, but one that will hopefully be different, one that falls closer to God.
Happy New Year!
My heart is dedicating 2011 as a year of "surrender." I am surrendering my life to the son of God, my Redeemer, my faithful Father. I am surrendering my marriage to God in hopes that he will continue to bless us as we put him first and foremost above ourselves. I am surrendering myself, my heart, my desires, my needs, and my wants to the One whose will is above and beyond more than I can even imagine.
I have decided to start my year off a little differently than other years. I am dedicating myself to a newness that brings me peace, hope, and energy. I am sorting through the thoughts and emotions and finding the REAL ME this year. My prayer is that I will no longer conform to the ways of this world, but will follow the One who created me and therefore find who I am. There have been so many times in my life that I have shifted my thinking to become who others want me to be instead of finding out who I really am and surrendering it to God. I am dedicating more time to reading, crafting, and finding what really energizes me. I want to continue to create a home for Jack and me. This means finding what we love, what works for us, and going with it.
I am starting off this year with a new book. It was a Christmas present from my husband. I know this book truly changed Jack's focus of thinking and I am excited to experience what God wants me to learn through it.
Interestingly and ironically enough, the first chapter is called "The Freedom We Surrender...and the Heritage That Sets Us Free."
Here's to another year, but one that will hopefully be different, one that falls closer to God.
Happy New Year!
December 23, 2010
JCrew, you've broken my heart.
What in the world happened to the "old" JCrew with styles of southern charm, simplicity, and affordable purchases throughout the store? My heart is broken. My favorite store in the entire world is now too expensive for me to afford. It is outrageous and I just don't understand it. Were they not doing well enough or did they feel that in order to keep up with the times they had to raise their prices so unbelievably high. Agrh. For example, one pair of pants from JCrew now costs anywhere from $89 to $1,200. Are you kidding me?? And... what's up with this new style?
I mean, if I want to go hunting with my husband and want to look cute- I guess this will do.
And this? A $540 orange vest? Seriously? It's cute, but not worth the money. I'll take the money and buy me a new couch.
And this?? How much do you think this is? Oh get ready.... $1,145. I'm cringing as I am writing that wondering how anyone in their right mind could spend that much on a single jacket. Wow.
What happened to preppy belts, amazing khakis, colorful, yet cozy wardrobes? Oh JCrew.... I am about to turn my back on you. And am I sad about this? Yes, truthfully I am. Please come back to me. Please bring my snappy, preppy, simple, southern style back to me. I've missed you and I will continue to.
I mean, if I want to go hunting with my husband and want to look cute- I guess this will do.
And this? A $540 orange vest? Seriously? It's cute, but not worth the money. I'll take the money and buy me a new couch.
And this?? How much do you think this is? Oh get ready.... $1,145. I'm cringing as I am writing that wondering how anyone in their right mind could spend that much on a single jacket. Wow.
What happened to preppy belts, amazing khakis, colorful, yet cozy wardrobes? Oh JCrew.... I am about to turn my back on you. And am I sad about this? Yes, truthfully I am. Please come back to me. Please bring my snappy, preppy, simple, southern style back to me. I've missed you and I will continue to.
December 20, 2010
If you fail...try, try again!
I keep failing at blogging. It always sounds like such a wonderful idea. I am going to try...yet again to blog! I was blogging about advent and will continue to do so, but I wanted to change my blog look to a "softer look." So, here's to yet another attempt! I am going to go finish the night up with watching House Hunters. :)
December 4, 2010
Advent 2
Matthew 3:1-12
A hairy, often smelly, flea-bitten, insect-eating, sharp-tongued wilderness man. Not at all like the well-mannered softies that lived in the king's palace. But they were coming from all around to hear this John. Many would be so shaken by his message that they would be baptized. Some people hear this today and still get shaken up. John the Baptist was human roughage. But Jesus called him a prophet.
John the Baptist was full of the Holy Spirit. That's why his words hit home with so many. But he knew there was a greater power and greater effectiveness than he could ever have. For however much he was inspired by God, he could not send that Spirit into anyone. Could he cause them to put their sins behind them? Yes. Or strive to be holy? Yes. But he could not give them the presence of God; he could only tell them to prepare for the One who could and would give it.
It was John's job to tell of the One to come, the Messiah, the One who would send the Holy Spirit into those he baptized. One whose words and deeds would have even more impact than John's. One who would separate out or winnow the good from the bad, the fruit from the waste materials. One that John knew as friend and family, whom John had already come to respect and highly value, but didn't know as the One. The One was Jesus. Throughout His ministry, and in the early years of the apostles after Jesus' death, Jesus and his followers would keep coming across people who had come to love God through John's work. Some who heeded John's call soon took up their crosses and followed Jesus. But John's call for repentance helps us prepare, too, for John was just trying to get people to do what God wanted, and that's how anyone can be prepared for the presence of God-with-us.
Send Your Spirit, Lord, to fill everything about us. Drown our sinful selves in the waters of repentance. Give us the power and guidance to live as You would have us live. Amen.
Bob Longman
A hairy, often smelly, flea-bitten, insect-eating, sharp-tongued wilderness man. Not at all like the well-mannered softies that lived in the king's palace. But they were coming from all around to hear this John. Many would be so shaken by his message that they would be baptized. Some people hear this today and still get shaken up. John the Baptist was human roughage. But Jesus called him a prophet.
John the Baptist was full of the Holy Spirit. That's why his words hit home with so many. But he knew there was a greater power and greater effectiveness than he could ever have. For however much he was inspired by God, he could not send that Spirit into anyone. Could he cause them to put their sins behind them? Yes. Or strive to be holy? Yes. But he could not give them the presence of God; he could only tell them to prepare for the One who could and would give it.
It was John's job to tell of the One to come, the Messiah, the One who would send the Holy Spirit into those he baptized. One whose words and deeds would have even more impact than John's. One who would separate out or winnow the good from the bad, the fruit from the waste materials. One that John knew as friend and family, whom John had already come to respect and highly value, but didn't know as the One. The One was Jesus. Throughout His ministry, and in the early years of the apostles after Jesus' death, Jesus and his followers would keep coming across people who had come to love God through John's work. Some who heeded John's call soon took up their crosses and followed Jesus. But John's call for repentance helps us prepare, too, for John was just trying to get people to do what God wanted, and that's how anyone can be prepared for the presence of God-with-us.
Send Your Spirit, Lord, to fill everything about us. Drown our sinful selves in the waters of repentance. Give us the power and guidance to live as You would have us live. Amen.
Bob Longman
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