Mighty to Save

In the words of Louie Giglio from this past summer, "Mighty to Save" is one of the most powerful songs written in this generation.

And, I think he hit the nail on the head.

Listen and read the lyrics below. Be blessed. Be touched. And, worship our MIGHTY GOD!




Everyone needs compassion,
Love that's never failing;
Let mercy fall on me.

Everyone needs forgiveness,
The kindness of a Saviour;
The Hope of nations.

Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.

Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

So take me as You find me,
All my fears and failures,
Fill my life again.

I give my life to follow
Everything I believe in,
Now I surrender.

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

Shine your light and let the whole world see,
We're singing for the glory of the risen King...Jesus (x2)

My Saviour, He can move the mountains,
My God is Mighty to save,
He is Mighty to save.
Forever, Author of salvation,
He rose and conquered the grave,
Jesus conquered the grave.

My Saviour, you can move the mountains,
You are mighty to save,
You are mighty to save.
Forever, Author of Salvation,
You rose and conquered the grave,
Yes you conquered the grave

Out With The Old...

Goodbye to you -

and a great big Hello to you!!!!

I've already washed about 947 loads of laundry (Oh, I kid...it's probably only been about 736) since since yesterday afternoon when my new Samsung Front Load Steam Washer and Dryer were delivered, and are now settled into their new home. Consensus: They are FABULOUS. They are both ultra quiet and super duper FAST!

And, they must have magic powers, because Brad sure has been excited to help with laundry!! I have found him several times in the laundry room standing and watching the washer go through it's cycles - OH, THE EXCITEMENT! - and, as soon as the dryer sings - and, yes it plays a little tune when it's finished! - he jumps up to get the clothes and start folding. It's mind boggling, I know.

Wonder if new dishwashers have the same powers....

Good Riddance...

Dear Boot,

In the past 8 weeks we have spent a considerable amount of time together. You have been great to support me and take care of protecting my weak foot. But, it's time to break up - officially. The doctor says it's time, and I agree; frankly, I'm ready for a change. I hate to say it, but I've already been looking around for someone a little less bulky and a whole lot more fashionable like:

this fabulous red wedge at Macy's I have major Brighton love :)
and, this turqouise Born sandal is calling my name!
Thanks for the memories - they were not my fondest memories, but were memories no less that will be sure to bring laughs in the future.

Don't worry though - I'll let you stay on the top shelf of my closet - just in case I need you ...which I PRAY does not happen!!!!! But, you never know...

Footloose and Fancy Free,

Hayley

A Little Sunshine and Loads of Laundry

Good grief at this Alabama weather! Less than 2 weeks ago, we had the biggest snow of the season...then, this past weekend was absolutely beautiful and sunny high 60s. It's such a tease because it has already been back in the 20s and 30s partly-cloudy-typical-winter-weather this week, but how wonderful it was to see a little sunshine even if it was short lived!! I may have jumped the gun, but the beautiful weather nudged me to go ahead and take down my Winter Decor (which I would have put away in a week or two anyway) - my snow village and snowmen - and break out just a few Spring things, starting at my front steps:

Can you say SPRING FEVER?? Because, yes, I have it - in the worst way. I'm ready to see daffodils and tulips and Cherry Blossom Trees blooming!! I know, I know - I may have said before I HEART Snow, but even still winter is just starting to get, well...too long.

In other news, Brad and I spent approximately 2.5 VERY LONG HOURS looking, deliberating, and finally spending a small fortune buying a new washer and dryer Monday night due to our dryer deciding it was time to officially STOP. Why on earth these machines are so expensive is just beyond me - I'd much rather spend money on something fun, but it's kind of a necessity - having clean clothes - ya know! A great big gigantic Thank You to the Redmond Laundro-Mat (aka Val and Rob's house) this week for allowing me to bring in my piles of laundry and take over both their laundry rooms (yes - rooms - as in 2. Valerie enjoys laundry so much, she decided to have double the fun :))

Thankfully, I will not have to bag up my laundry to take to wash much longer. Take a look at these beauties that will be arriving at my house on Friday:

I mean really - I am officially OLD...I'm actually excited to get a new washer and dryer. Never thought this day would come. I have a feeling though that as the mounds of laundry pile up, the excitement will fade and the newness will quickly wear off...

Hey, Suga' Suga'...

Yesterday was Ash Wednesday - the beginning of Lent. (In case you don't know what Lent or Ash Wednesday are all about, you can read about it here.)

The meaning behind Lent is so important for anyone that is a Christian: a time for sacrifice - a time for fasting - a time for prayer - a time to reflect on the Cross and Resurrection....

Brad and I talked about what we wanted to give up for Lent and decided to give up sugar. Candy. Desserts. Sweets of all kinds.

And, we both love sugar. So. Very. Much. I mean really - my "Food" picture folder is full of pictures of baked goods - cakes, cookies, candy. I LOVE to bake!!

It's gonna be a long 40 days without sugar of any kind, but together we can do it and it will be so worth it!! This sugar fast will be a way to prepare our hearts and minds to focus on Christ and the meaning of Easter for us as followers of Jesus.

Are you participating in Lent?? What are you giving up?? I would love to hear from you!

Again, so soon???

So, it seems that Bradley just can't get enough of the Orient...

He's going back in March!! But, this time only for (hopefully) 10 days.


Truth be told, I think he just really misses eating Asian cuisine...

or, maybe seeing beautiful Mt. Fugi outside his hotel window...

or, maybe he's taking this trip because he didn't bring me back any pearls from his first trip to the Orient, and he feels so bad about it he decided to go back. Isn't he the sweetest??!!

**Sigh**

Or maybe (as in - the only reason) he's going back is because of a gargantuan project/business deal that has dictated our lives for the past 6 months...

But, I would really totally completely - and, oh so subtley - would like to get some pearls this time much like, a hum - this set of coin pearl beauties: I'm just sayin'. I mean if he's having to go, he might as well...

Love Day

Valentine's Day...when I think of Valentine's Day, I have a picture that almost instantly pops in my head of being in Mrs. Hale's 3rd grade class at Corley Elementary. I remember so distinctly getting to decorate heart shaped sugar cookies with red and pink glittery sugar, heart sprinkles, and lots and lots of icing. I thought that was probably the best thing that had ever happened at school in my entire life! HA! Much like these sweet girls thought when Aunt Hayley brought in cookies to decorate Friday night:

Kailey giggling at Taylor having icing all over her! She thoroughly enjoyed her cookie :)


Kenedi was all into icing her cookie!



Loadin' up on sweet goodness!
I have very sugary sweet, happy, fun memories of Valentine's Day. The day of love.

I have always felt like Valentine's Day is just a time to be reminded to say "I love you" - not just to the romantic love in your life, but to family and friends.

To give an extra special hug.

To tell someone how much they mean.

And, ...an excuse to eat an extra piece of chocolate :)

Besides, we are told REPEATEDLY in God's Word to "love one another", so why not celebrate the love we share?

Well, tonight we did just that! We celebrated LOVE at our Valentine's Banquet at church. We had such a good time!

Meg and Milly - LOVE these girls!!

Edith, Deneen, and Donna - I ADORE these ladies so very much!

These are the remains of the Cake Pops I made! They were such fun to make, and everyone seemed to really enjoy them. I can't wait to make some more...

I also made Red Velvet Cookies. Brad LOVED these with a capital L, so I'm sure I'll be making more of these soon too! I gave some of the cookies and pops away for gifts:

Once again, I have sugary sweet memories of another Valentine's Day spent with so many friends and family that I love. Dearly love.

And, I hope each of you enjoyed Love Day 2010, and I want to tell each of you that read these random thoughts of mine - I love you! I would love to give each one of you a hug, and say thanks for sticking around to read about my crazy life. I feel honored to share it with you!

I Heart Snow

Well, unless you have been living in a deep dark cave you should know by now that it SNOWED yesterday!! I actually heard on the news that every state in the United States except for Hawaii had snow on the ground yesterday...isn't that incredible??

We got out of school at lunch, and my car was already covered. I went home, and started cooking. I have no idea why, but when it snows I feel this need to cook. I remember my mother doing the same thing, so I guess it's normal. HA! I made some Cake Pops and Red Velvet cookies...I'll share more about that later...

Despite my still "foot-in-the-boot" state from the last snowfall, I was determined to go enjoy the snow. So, while my Cake Pops were setting up I very carefully put on Brad's hunting boots, and went outside to the Winter Wonderland in our yard!! I paid for it later because my ankle hurt sooo bad, but it was soooo WORTH IT! I HEART SNOW :)

All of our neighbors, young and old, had been building snowmen in their front yards...it was really so very Norman Rockwell on our street! I couldn't be left out, so I made one too. Meet Frostette, my snowgirl :)Yes, that would be an orange hairbow on her snowhead...I think Frostette was the cutest on the street!

This was the snowman that the elderly couple across the street had made together. I watched them from our living room window work to build the little guy. It. was. PRECIOUS. They worked so hard, and when he was finally complete, with hat and carrot nose in place, they hugged and stood back looking at their creation. PRECIOUS. I hope that's exactly what Brad and I are doing in 35-40 years!!

Brad finally got home, and we had a snowball fight - well, basically Brad threw snowballs at me while I screamed and tried to dodge them - before we had to go to his grandmother's for a birthday celebration. It was such a FABULOUSLY wonderful, snow-filled day!!

Loudly, I Live

I have become deeply and madly in LOVE with this song. When it comes on the radio, I feel sure you can hear it playing outside of my car because I have the volume up SO LOUD!

It's most definitely one of my most favorite random joys lately!

This song's name is "Alive", but oh how I wish they had named it after the phrase in the chorus - "Loudly, I Live" - because I just ADORE how profound that statement is of how we should live our lives for Christ...but, they didn't ask me.

hmmm, maybe next time.

Anyway, PLEASE take the time to listen and read the lyrics - I'll just bet you'll be blessed, encouraged, and you might find yourself doing a little dancing (GASP)!

Oh Father, how I pray that I am living LOUDLY - sharing YOUR Love that's made me so ALIVE."

"Alive" by Pocket Full of Rocks

There was a time I was dead inside.
You'd call my name and I'd try to hide.
My heart was dark and so full of shame,
Full of shame.
But like the dawning of a brand new day
Your love has chased my shame away.
How amazing, now to hear You singing over me!
Over me!

Loudly, I sing
Loudly, I live
Giving You all I have to give,
Until the world knows the Love that's made me so alive
I'm alive, I'm alive!

Well, every day I find Your mercy new.
And every moment that I spend with You
I am overwhelmed by Grace I can't keep to myself!
To myself!

Loudly, I sing
Loudly, I live
Giving You all I have to give,
Until the world knows the Love that's made me so alive
I'm alive, I'm alive!

Loudly, I sing
Loudly, I live
Giving You all I have to give,
Until the world knows the Love that's made me so alive
I'm alive, I'm alive!

Out of my sorrow, out of my night,
You called me into Glorious Light.
Where all of the lost, lonely and broken
Find Your Light.
Shine Your Light.

Loudly, I sing
Loudly, I live
Giving You all I have to give,
Until the world knows the Love that's made me so alive
I'm alive

Loudly, I sing
Loudly, I live
Giving You all I have to give,
Until the world knows the Love that's made me so alive
I'm alive, I'm alive! Yeah,
I'm alive, I'm alive, yeah!

Home Sweet Home

After 39 hours of flying across oceans, delays in airports, and waiting for pilots (don't even ask), Brad finally made it to Birmingham at 7:00 last night!!

One of my most all time favorite moments ever - me waving like a crazed maniac as Brad came down Concourse C, him grinning from ear to ear; tears welling up in my eyes and finally spilling over.

Just another reminder that Lord have mercy, I love him so!

So glad My Love is home, safe and sound :)

Weekend Wrap-Up on a Tuesday

So, I seem to be a little behind! I have been busy getting ready for Brad to come home (only 2 more days!!), and haven't blogged! Since I had not been able to cook the past several weeks, I had not been to the grocery store since before Brad left almost 4 weeks ago! How crazy is that??!!?? So, I've been doing some MAJOR grocery shopping, cleaning, and cooking the past couple of days.

This weekend, I had lots going on. Friday we had ice and snow, so I stayed put and worked on some projects. I made 2 different Valentine wreaths. This is one that I made for my door at school:I made another one with red and chocolate brown for my house. I thought they turned out great!

Saturday morning, we ate breakfast at my parent's house to celebrate (my brother-in-law) Robby's birthday with one of his most favorites - pancakes! And, they were fabulous!

Saturday night, Valerie, mother, and I went to Lori's church for their annual Ladies' Banquet. We have went for the past several years, and always have the best time, and this year was great as usual!

The speaker for the night was fabulous! Her name is Mary Kay Beard, and she is the founder of the Angel Tree Ministry. She has an INCREDIBLE testimony that the Lord has given her to share with others. Valerie bought her book, and I can't WAIT to borrow it :)

I hope that everyone is having a good week!!