a month in review // may.

popular posts: | home // for such a time as this // instagrams & polaroids |

learnings:
- running is not my forte.
- i become super stealthy when i see one of those people selling straighteners in the mall. they see my long hair, and i feel their talons ready to sink into me and ask, "you want me to straighten your hair?" i quickly dodge into the nearest store before they swoop in. when i see they've caught someone else in their evil trap, i book it out of the store, fake calling my mama. i feel bad, but they don't take no for an answer, and some of them have been very rude to me. i know it's their job, but my $20 walmart straightener works just fine.
- one of my sunday school boys volunteered to pray last week. he asked God to be with us in the tragedies of life & then he prayed that we would not only look to Him in the bad times, but in the good times, too. // i've been teaching sunday school for almost a year, but i feel as though those kids have been teaching me as well.
- i often pray for God to deliver me from my current situation. i'm learning to ask that He be my strength IN that circumstance. a change in the weather may not benefit me as much as trusting Him in the midst of that storm. 


happenings:
- God answered my prayers before i even had a chance to ask. He is so good to me.
- hurting and healing for my home state.
- began reading the harry potter series.
- started a new series on small town fashionista instagram.
- my family and i had to load up our kitty and drive away (for the second time in the last nine months) from the place i've called home for over twenty-five years. the first time was due to a raging wildfire that got way too close. this time was because of a tornado. at the last minute, the storm turned north. all glory to God.

findings:

- the new a beautiful mess app.

- the cutest owl necklace.

- "let's talk" nail color.

- new instax 210.

tidbits of life.

>> home sweet oklahoma. after the tornadoes hit, the images of loss, sadness, pain, and hurt were unreal. the aftermath of destruction left a deep wound in the hearts of oklahomans and many others around the nation. but then the stories of survival, volunteers, and heroes took over. it showed me that there is still good in this broken world. i cried every time a survivor praised God on live tv. He is there. it will take a long time for clean-up and healing, but we will do it together because that's the oklahoma way. we are oklahoma strong. 

>> i started studying the book of ruth. what a woman of faith. i'm only into chapter three, but God is showing me areas of my life that need a change. He's working in my heart and molding me. it's not always easy to see the not-so-good things about yourself, but that's the beauty of His life-changing grace. it can take the hardest of hearts and make it new.

>> coffee time is my favorite time. [made with the new a beautiful mess app]

>> i started a series on my small town fashionista instagram and tumblr. each week, i will post what i am diggin' at the moment. join in on the fun and tag what you are currently diggin' with #STFweeklydig and follow along to see the current weekly dig!  

>> boomer wasn't sure what to think of the swimming fishies on the ipad. she hit it one time, and then decided she was over it.

>> smashchicken and smashfries. it was a party in my mouth. ahhhhh, i can't even explain those fries. out of this world.

>> rosebush at my grandma's house.

>> harry potter & a hairy kitty. can we just discuss HP for a second? i always heard about the books when i was in school. my parents never told me i couldn't read it, but i heard from other people that it was not christian-like to read it. fast forward to present day. i decided to give the first book a try. after finishing the book, i felt the same way after i read the hunger games: i need to read the other books NOW! yes, there is magic in the book. no, it doesn't make me want to go become a witch. it's a work of fiction. it kept me turning the pages because it was creative and well written. i liked it so much that i bought the other six books yesterday. so what's the big deal? if you are against harry potter, please tell me your reasons. i'm eager to hear both sides.

home.

words don't come as freely as the tears do this morning.

after hours of watching live coverage of the aftermath of the moore tornado, i had to get away from the tv.
i cried out to the Lord, letting the tears be my prayer.

my heart hurts for the families who lost everything.
for the families who lost a loved one.
and it is broken into pieces for those who lost a child.

but He is close to the brokenhearted.

people want to know "where is your Jesus?" in times like these.
He is sitting next to the family who is grieving.
He is walking along the streets with those who are lending a helping hand.
He is holding the mamas and daddies who can't hold their babies anymore.
He is the peace and comfort in the midst of struggle and turmoil.
He is right there in the middle of it all.

some of us ask questions.
others cling tight to their families.
but together, we can give our time, donations, and prayers.

on a lighter note, there are two types of traffic jams in oklahoma:
one - tractors driving down the highway.
two - when our communities come together and load their cars with anything and everything to help out those in need.
it's the oklahoma way, y'all.

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

currently.

created with the a beautiful mess app.

▲creating:
- the ladies from a beautiful mess released their iphone app, and i've been so inspired. as you can see above.
- redecorating my workspace (work & home) in the coming weeks.

▲ watching:
- season one of revenge. i'm hooked, y'all.
- i watched the princess bride for the first time this week with lauren. i thought it was so funny! i've caught myself a few times saying, "my name is inigo montoya. you killed my father. prepare to die." during the movie, i kept thinking how the guy playing wesley looked exactly like the guy who played bill's arrogant nemesis in twister. turns out, it was him. and now i want to watch twister.

▲ listening: 
- dara maclean's first album. girlfriend can saaaaaang.
- "every good thing" - the afters.
- "a million suns" - hillsong united.
- "meet virginia" - train.
- "wagon wheel" - darius rucker. totally makes me want to two-step.

▲ reading:
- still on the first harry potter book.
- re-reading chapter eight of christian zombie killers handbook.

▲ looking forward to: 
- falls creek. i leave in three weeks! (more on this later)
- VBS! the excitement i get for bible school is a force to be reckoned with.
- the weekend. ice cream and spring cleaning are on the to-do list.

▲ praying:
- for God to prepare my heart for falls creek and remind me Who and what that week is about.
- for His will to be made evident in some circumstances in my life.
- "bind my wandering heart to Thee."

▲ making me happy:
- my new instax 210.
- a beautiful mess app. (in case you didn't get it the other times i mentioned it).
- this little facebook break i decided to take.
- studying through the book of ruth.
- summer-like temps.
- stateframe app.

my first thrifting adventure.

what a wonderful weekend. 

one where the weather was warm enough to lay out on the deck with the kitty and soak up some vitamin d // one where computers and social media were ignored and time was enjoyed with those i love // one where i spent quality time with my brother at the races and devoured a scrumptious hamburger // one where i ate the best dinner and dessert with mama at rodolfo's // and one where i went on my first thrifting adventure! as i was browsing antiques with mama and listening to her reminisce when she saw an item that reminded her of a memory, i realized that i was doing something that i hadn't done in a long time: be present. this is my revelation as of late. i've been so occupied with living my life through social media: instagram, facebook, twitter, and even blogging. life is too short and precious to be glued to my iphone 24/7. the Lord is working overtime on me, or so it seems. and i am nothing but grateful for His discipline.

here are my thrifting finds:

owl bookends

vintage heart locket

coffee mug

the copper penny is located in downtown cushing, next to the movie theater.

i can't tell you how many times i have drove by this little gem while running errands. so excited to thrift here more often!

a note to my mama.

you have many titles: wife, mama, daughter, sister, friend, child of God, bookkeeper, treasurer, sunday school teacher, vbs director, mender of your daughter's broken heart after a boy was mean. you have the heart of a servant, always willing to go the extra mile. you are one of the strongest women i have ever met. God gave me the biggest blessing when He chose you to be my mama, best friend, confidant, and shopping partner in crime.

over the past ten months, i have witnessed a new journey in your life. last august, you made the decision to get healthy. our evening walks and new recipes brought new experiences to our relationship. our shopping trips gained a whole new level of fun and completely different clothing departments for you. when you stepped on the scale last week, and it showed your were 60 pounds lighter than when you began, i was proud of you. i am so proud of you, mama. no one told you to lose weight - you made the decision and with lots of prayer, a new diet, and exercise, you did it! you are an inspiration for all of us.

you are my best friend. you make the best turkey meatloaf. you are superwoman, and the dentist is your kryptonite. though you be little, you are a firecracker, which is true in more than one way because your birthday is the fourth of july. you keep me laughing with your little dances and intentional misuse of grammar. thank you for putting up with daddy and i during sooner football season. thank you for constantly pulling over or into a parking lot so i can get a picture. thank you for always trying new things with me, like fro-yo (which you loved) and chinese (which you did not love). and thank you for the (long) time you loved me during what i like to call 'the great rebellion', the times you told me no, the times you did what was best for me, and the times you sacrificed your own needs for my wants.

happy mother's day, mama. i love you so much! 

happy happenings.

- a sweet fb message from a friend to brighten my day.
- vanilla iced coffee.
- a fresh manicure.
- listening to a song 284 times after hearing it during worship.
- fro-yo with mama.
- finding God's fingerprints in the everyday things of life.
- spring wildflowers.
- getting new prints in the mail.
- boomer sleeping in my bed.
- a letter from kwagala.
- stopping for a few minutes to take in a starry night.
- strawberry lemonade.
- climbing into freshly cleaned sheets.
- hello, my name is  by matthew west.
- falls creek preparations.
- making lists.
- starting a weekly post on small town fashionista.
- seeing God's no as a blessing.
- hosea 14:4. My love will know no bounds.
- eighty degrees. (oklahoma finally got the spring memo).

instagrams & polaroids.

instagram: joyfulamber

instax mini polaroids

ps: for the past week, i have not been able to upload photos on blogger. 
i've had to link them from my photobucket account and i dislike it more than words can say. 
i've deleted my history and cookies and still nothing. is anyone else having trouble? please help!

for such a time as this.

"for if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father’s family will perish. and who knows but that you have come to your royal position for such a time as this?” [esther 4:14]

i like mordecai. he didn't sugarcoat a thing. he basically told esther, "homegirl, either you go to the king or we gon' die." esther had a choice to make: go to the king, which could mean death for her because she wasn't summoned by king xerxes. or she sits back and watches death come upon all the jews, including herself. 

this book of the bible is one of my absolute favorites. i did beth moore's study of esther a couple years ago, and it changed the way i approach God's Word. there is so much to learn from God-breathed scripture. did you know that God's name is never recorded in the book of esther? you might wonder why a book would be included in the bible that didn't mention the name of God. that's the beauty of this book. though His name is not noted, His fingerprints are all over the pages of esther. His timing, His guidance, His divine intervention are all present. i'm reminded of the times in life where i've wondered where God was. could He not see the pain and heartache i was facing? i would cry out for Him to show His face, to come to my aid. but, just like in esther, He was there the whole time, working behind the scenes.

so how does the story of esther end? after three days of fasting by her and all the jews, she approached the king's throne. following a series of events, esther and her people people were saved! mordecai received high honors because he foiled an assassination attempt on the king. there were joyous celebrations. 

esther made the choice to face her fear - to approach the king - even if that meant she paid with her life. victory prevailed; the people were saved. God was present in the details, working His master plan through His people. that's why i made this print: to remind you that even in the midst of your fears, God is there. He is bigger than fear. step out in faith that, though you might not see Him now, the God of the universe is always with You, going ahead of you to work out His plan for your life and for His glory. we can't always see the next step, but surely God has placed us in our current season for such a time as this. 

i have this print in an 8x10 on cardstock or a 5x5 on photo paper.

i'm thinking of hosting a giveaway. anyone interested in winning one? 

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