twenty13 goals.

instead of making resolutions for the new year, i set goals for myself. i checked off four of six goals from my twenty-twelve's list. i am excited for a new year of challenges. like i said in last year's post: in the end, the Lord gets all the glory because it's by His strength alone that i am able to accomplish all i set out to do.

[2013 goals]

- become a better servant.
- memorize 12 bible verses.
- take this blog in a new direction.
- create a budget and stick to it.
- go one week without makeup.
- read 20 books.
- pay for a stranger's meal.
- more blog networking.
- stay active. 
- crochet five new things.


the biggest goal i want to achieve for twenty13 is memorizing scripture.
if i know all of taylor swift's new album in a week, i can surely memorize a bible verse every month. i mean... seriously.

2012: a year in review.

[january]
for me, january means one thing: the start of tax season.
a lot of resting and reading were happening this month. i also started crocheting.

[february]
the month of february was a warm one. spring started peeking through, prompting me to squeal with giddiness. this is also known as the month of love. instead of hating on the day of love like i normally would, i chose to embrace it. i had a single-girl night, complete with chinese takeout and sweet tea.
i celebrated the extra day from the leap year with a maple donut and vanilla iced coffee. (and then got on the treadmill for days.)

[march]
the warmer weather continued into march, bringing bradford pears into bloom. my heart overflows when i see these gorgeous trees. another great thing that happened in march was the start of my sponsorship for kwagala peace. the final week of march was a tough one. 

[april]
my favorite thing about april: the end of tax season! spring was in full bloom this month. i spent more time outside than anywhere else.

[may]
bubba and i went to the races this month. this is something i look forward to for two reasons: 1. i get to spend time with my baby brother. 2. they have the best burgers i've ever tasted. like ever, y'all. i also did something that i had wanted to do for a long while: i got bangs!

[june]
the start of another hot oklahoma summer paired with copious amounts of strawberry lemonade. one of my favorite moments from this month was when i got a text from my daddy that said, "you got your camera. found flowers. i'll come and get you. -dad" that's when i knew that (a) nature is apart of who i am and (b) my daddy is the cutest man alive.

[july]
the best thing about this month is that we celebrate our country and my mama's birthday on the same day.
cake, family, and blowing things up? i'm in! 
i started teaching sunday school this month along with being the "craft lady" at VBS.

[august]
this month, or more specifically a day of this month, will be forever etched in my mind. on august 4th, my family and i were evacuated from the place we've called home for 25 years due to wildfires.   
i also celebrated my 26th birthday this month! cake... mmm.

[september]
daddy and i went to the OU/famu game. it's one of my favorite memories from the year. BOOMER SOONER!

[october]
this month flew by, but don't they all seem to do that? this was the month that my brother raced for the first time and autumn showed its beautiful face.

[november]
i voted, ate mac & cheese at thanksgiving, and blogged about the things i am thankful for.

[december]
and to end the year, i posted a how-to video, was the lucky winner of a root canal, and completed a life-long goal.

-----------------------

i am so grateful for the experiences, lessons learned, and memories made this year. if i had to sum up this year in one word, it would be growth -- in my walk with Jesus, in relationships, in life. sure, there were some growing pains along the way, but God is molding me. i'm reminded of an old hymn that fits perfectly with my twenty-twelve:

have Thine own way, Lord. have Thine own way.

Thou art the potter; i am the clay.

mold me and make me after Thy will.

while i am waiting, yielded and still.

it's snowing!

[twenty13] words.

the beautiful casey wiegand blogged about her word for 2013 here. it has inspired me to chose a word for myself as well. but in true amber fashion, i chose three. this is a new journey that i'm sure will challenge and change me, all while glorifying my heavenly Father. i made a pinterest board to keep me inspired.


my three words are:

fear: stepping out of my little comfort bubble is terrifying. but i want to break the chains of fear and pop that bubble. in doing so, i can live in the freedom of Christ, walking in His light, love, and grace. the weight of carrying around fear keeps me from living the way i was intended: john 10:10b, "...I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Jesus didn't die on the cross so that i can walk around in fear; He came so that i may have life. an abundant life. i can't have an abundant life with fear holding me back.

perspective: everyone has a story. each one of us has a reason why we are the way we are or why we do the things we do. sometimes it's easy to form an automatic opinion based on someone's behavior or lifestyle. but we don't really know them. we see the homeless man with the cardboard sign, assuming he drank and gambled his way to life under a bridge. but what if the circumstances were out of his control? maybe you haven't ever thought this, but i have. i'm telling you this because it'a a flaw and i am human and i am wrong. i want to see people through God's eyes. in another sense of the word perspective, i want to be kingdom-minded. this world tries so hard to deter my mind from God to the temporary pleasures it so flamboyantly offers. He is my source of life. nothing in the world can satisfy my soul except Him. i want to keep my heart, eyes, and mind focused on Him. i want everything i do to be for His glory.

kindness: the other day, an older gentleman struck up a conversation with me while we were pumping gas in our vehicles. he was so nice. i pulled out of the gas station with so much joy and all we talked about was the weather! it's people like that sweet man in the toyota tundra who remind me that kindness is contagious. you know that commercial where one person does something and it starts a chain reaction of small acts of kindness? that's what i want to be: a chain of kindness. in return, i just want to reflect the love of Jesus. i feel i am always nice to others, but i want to go above and beyond.
 

sweet peace.

i got a letter and new pictures from my sweet sponsor child, kwagala peace!

this is kwagala on her 7th birthday.

this is what her family was able to purchase with my donation.

i am humbled. i don't really have words to describe how i feel. 

all i know is that i take so much for granted.

Lord, please give me Your eyes to see the world around me, to appreciate every little detail, to know that i am blessed beyond comprehension --  not because kwagala has little, but because she is so happy with so little. i want to be content in You, without the distractions of this world. thank You for all you are teaching me through this precious girl.

tidbits of life.

 

- pine cones & instagrams.
- new scarf & white button up.
- keurig & penguin snowman mug.

- beautiful winter nature.
- last minute Christmas shopping.
- black and white.

i see everyone posting pictures of their new dslr, and i'm all like, "when was the last time i picked mine up?!"
i'm thinking of doing a 365 project. i did one in 2011 and had so much fun. maybe i'll make this one dslr shots only. 
any of you lovely readers starting a project 365 in 2013? 

gettin' crafty.

over my long weekend off, i decided to make use of all that extra time and do some diy projects.

the first one was a pinecone garland. i used rope, real pine cones, and Christmas ornament.

since Christmas is over, i decided to add some of my favorite instagrams.

if you love instagram as much as i do, then get the postal pics app! you cannot beat their prices.

the second diy project was something i saw on the news: scarves made out of old t-shirts.

if you have little girls, this is a very fun project. my younger cousin had so much fun making hers!

i started blogging HERE now! make sure to follow along!

Merry Christmas!

“for a child is born to us, a son is given to us. 

the government will rest on His shoulders. 

and he will be called: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” 

[isaiah 9:6]

the most meaningful gift ever.

for the month of december, i made the decision to sponsor a blog for the first time.
it was a no-brainer to choose erin of sweetness itself. she has a heart for the Lord that is beautiful.

as a sponsor, i got to answer a question and be featured in a blog post.
to read about the most meaningful gift i've ever received, click HERE.

tidbits of life.

- a masterpiece by the Master Himself.

- rockin' my new walk in love t-shirt.

- peppermint mocha.

- eyeem app. with instagram's uncertain terms of service, i found this app to be a good alternative.

- tiny flower of hope.

- i went pine cone pickin' last night for a DIY project i'm making.

- my cousin, joey, had a dentist appointment, so he came to visit us at work afterward. love that kid!

- frosty. 

cottonmouth.

i had a root canal last thursday. instead of worrying or being scared, i decided to trust that God had everything under control. worrying accomplishes nothing and reveals distrust in the Lord. 

i learned a valuable life lesson that day: don't worry. pray. thank God. & take funny pictures of yourself at the dentist.

[philippians 4:6]

ps: no laughing gas was administered; this is just my normal, goofy self.

life goal: check.

the only way i know how to start this post is to glorify the Lord.
with His help, i finished reading the bible cover to cover last night.

for as long as i can remember, i have wanted to read all of the bible. at the beginning of this year, i set out a few goals for myself. reading the bible was the biggest one, but i didn't know just how much it would change my life. i'll admit: i began with the mindset of "i want to say that i've read the bible all the way through." what i didn't know is the heart change that would take place. there were stories i had never heard; words that penetrated deep in my soul. i needed more of His words, craving it more and more each day. God knew what He was doing when He set this goal in my heart.

if you are wanting to read the bible, i suggest a reading plan. i used youversion's bible in a year plan. it has you reading three different books of the bible at the same time instead of starting from the beginning and making your way to the end. this method kept me intrigued and helped my stay on course.

pretzel kisses.

one of the best things about this time of year is baking. i love to bake! i like to find a new recipe each year and test it out. this year i found a cute idea on pinterest. shocker. this year's sweet treat is one of my new favorites: pretzel kisses. normally they're called pretzel hugs, but since there's only one pretzel, i feel like it's more of a side-hug. so i renamed mine pretzel kisses. i found two recipes with differing instructions, so i improvised. recipe one / recipe two.

instructions:
-preheat oven to 200 degrees.
-place parchment paper on cookie sheet.
-put pretzel squares on cookie sheet.
-unwrap hershey kisses and place on top of each pretzel.
-pop in the oven for about three minutes or until kisses look soft.
-remove cookie sheet from the oven and lightly press the m&m's on top of each kiss.

VIOLA! pretzel kisses. these were a big hit at church.

i used the peppermint hershey kisses, but any flavor will work.
i also placed the cookie sheet in the freezer for 5 - 7 minutes to harden the chocolates.

little notes.

my dearest Jesus:
You are the source of my hope and strength. i am amazed by Your grace. You are my joy and my song. thank You for being the true meaning of Christmas. 

dear peppermint mocha creamer:
i don't believe in love at first sight, but you have made me a believer in love at first taste.

dear kwagala peace:
sweet peace, you are my favorite little girl. your letters always bring joy to my heart.

dear root canal:
my God is bigger than a silly tooth. you don't intimidate be. i ain't scuuuurd.

dear cold weather:
finally. i was beginning to wonder if we would meet this winter. your presence brings hot cocoa and chunky sweaters.

dear amazon:
i banned myself from buying books until after the new year. but then you send me e-mails with "great deals, limited time only". how am i supposed to pass up a good book deal whilst on a book ban? you make it so hard.
(and yes, i caved.)

dear readers:
thank you for your continued interest in my little corner of the internet. your comments brighten my day.

happy birthday, daddy!

i am so blessed to have such a kind and humble daddy who loves Jesus and his family.

thank you for always being there for me and sharing your love of sooner football with me!