I ♥ Thursday Linkup {No. 3}

Hello friends! My, is it really Thursday again?? These weeks are flying by - I can't believe that we're almost in June already!

I haven't posted much lately, partly because I have a couple of HUGE posts/pages in the works that have required several days' worth of effort. One of them is a tribute to some very special people in my family's history, and the other is a development of my personal mission statement that I want to share - mostly as a reminder to myself, but also hopefully as something encouraging for you to read.

And of course, there have been day-fillers that tend to sap blogging time ... work, genealogy studies, awesome TV shows about the Old West, games of "PayDay" with John and Heather, taking care of sick pets, shopping, long texting sessions with college friends who have gone home for the summer, getting sewing and knitting ideas ... good and bad stuff ... summer stuff. Stuff that's not quite big enough to post about, just big enough to keep me from posting ...  :-)

But I am here, and my blog is in the works (as I'm sure you can tell by my continually and rapidly changing blog template), and here are the things that I'm loving today:

***

Source: tumblr.com via Wendy on Pinterest

Fall!! For some reason today I can't wait for fall!

Source: toast.co.uk via Robin on Pinterest

Cozy sweatshirts

Anúna
(Song: "August" by Francis Ledwidge, arr. Michael McGlynn)

This song
("Hidden Away" by Josh Groban - this is a shortened version, but it's worth it because he looks happy while he's singing it this time, which he doesn't usually)

Source: piccsy.com via Josue on Pinterest

Han Solo
(I really don't know why, I've just had Han Solo on the brain lately)

 Siberian Dwarf Hamsters



Looking for one more thing ...


How about this, since I'm dieting and hungry:

Source: media-cache9.pinterest.com via ozie on Pinterest

And of course, my weekly Pinterest inspiration:

Source: spiritualinspiration.tumblr.com via Debbie on Pinterest

***

Have a lovely Thursday, everyone! This post looks a bit juvenile, but I promise that the weightiness of my upcoming discourses will restore your faith in my maturity ... hopefully ...  ;-)

Love,
Vicki

In Praise of Beauty

Have you noticed that so much of our 21st-century world is ugly?

We haven't followed the 1960's science fiction predictions that everything would be gray, symmetrical, and practical (yet), but even so, the appreciation of simple beauty is sadly lacking in our modern society. Look around us: cars, wires, computers, cameras, phones ... the cities are dirty and full of crime ... the clothes that are popular are all sassy, flirty, tight, short, baggy, shapeless, superfluous, or overdone, never simply beautiful ... the radios pump out acidic metal music with angry lyrics ... love affairs are short, painful, and full of childish insults and excuses for leaving.

Modern life in America can be so ugly. Sometimes, I like to think about some of the things in life that are as beautiful today as they have been for generations.

Like the powerful beauty of a pure, godly woman. Think about what that looks like - not a woman who is so passive and submissive that she has no force or power, but a woman who is beautiful in her strength. A woman who courageously embraces purity, virtue, holiness, and femininity and actively makes them part of her life. A woman who is gentle and nurturing, yet unwavering and unyielding in her faith and her convictions - a woman who does not let the world tell her how to look or how to act, but is strong in her beauty because she knows that she was created by and for the glory of God.

Like true love - love that is not made to last for a spring break fling, or a semester-long time-filler; but love that is meant to last for a lifetime. Love that not only embraces the times of laughter and joy and companionship, but the times of sickness, the times of poverty, the times of conflict and misunderstanding. Love that is so strong and abundant that it reaches out to welcome the beautiful responsibility of children into a marriage, and doesn't cut off blessings by only thinking of teenager-like fun and excitement. Love that carries on even as the years fall away - love that follows both hearts into the grave, yet continues to grow as a sheltering plant that blesses generations to come.

Like the beauty of nature, from the wild, violent expanses of the oceans to the gentle green plains of the prairies. The things that man makes are so uniform, just variations on the same themes over and over - but the things that God has created are infinite in their variety, their colors and shapes and sounds and smells. Nature is always fresh, always changing and growing, full of the beautiful things that our technology-saturated souls crave. Nowhere can we truly understand the richness and creative joy of our Lord until we let Him lead us through the beauty He has created.



Like good books that expand our minds to depths beyond the stale Twitter feeds of our daily existence. Old, dusty books with hand-woven fabric covers and fragile brown pages that still remind us in their gently archaic language of faith, conviction, standing up for what is right and accepting our places as men or women in God's plan ... or even lavishly illustrated reprints, offering sacred places to rest in worlds that still believe men are men, women are women, and every Christian has a mission to touch and change the world.



Why do we spend so much time thinking about what is ugly? Crime, sin, confusion, heartache, weakness, and strife? Why don't we sometimes follow Philippians 4:8 and think about the things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, and praiseworthy? The world is still a beautiful place if we will only open our eyes to see it!

Love,
Vicki

I ♥ Thursday Linkup {No. 2}

My, that week flew by! Here is what I'm loving this Thursday:

 Louis L'Amour books ... I haven't read this one, but I'd like to

 

Anne of Green Gables

John Singer Sargent paintings

The Star Trek TOS episode "A Piece of the Action" - utterly hilarious

Dramatic ballet

Source: etsy.com via Allie on Pinterest

This ring

Source: flickr.com via Sophie on Pinterest

Lonely ocean pictures


And of course, Pinterest inspiration:

Source: in-a-dirtroadprayer.tumblr.com via Kristen on Pinterest

Happy Thursday, everybody!!

Love, Vicki

Versatile Blogger Award

I have been awarded the Versatile Blogger Award by Alex over at Alex's Corner!

***

First, I have to post seven random facts about myself:

1. My favorite Star Trek TOS character is Dr. Leonard McCoy. (I think that's already obvious.)
2. I don't like coffee, hot tea, Coke, Pepsi, or root beer. (I am aware that this makes me somewhat un-American. I try to redeem myself by liking sweet tea, hot dogs and apple pie.)
3. I have been a Christian for eighteen years.
4. I am currently wearing olive-green cargo capris and a turquoise cap-sleeve blouse and they clash terribly.
5. My definition of real music is Makem and Clancy's "Music Makers" TV special from 1981.
6. I can knit, crochet, do macrame, cross stitch, and weave baskets very well, but I'm a terrible seamstress.
7. I am currently listening to Natasha Bedingfield singing "Pocket Full of Sunshine."

***

Now I have to award up to 15 people (I have 9 lovely friends whom I would like to honor):

Angel

Katherine Sophia

Frannie

Jennifer

Lizzy

Bailey

Mary

Miss Raquel

Jessica

 

Thanks again for the award, Alex! I'm really honored that you chose to include me in your nominations - you have a very awesome blog and are definitely quite a versatile blogger yourself.  :-)

And to the ladies whom I tagged, let me take this opportunity just to say that I really appreciate all of you and the encouragement that you never fail to give me. I'm so glad to have you as my cyberfriends!  :-)

Lots of love,

Vicki

Not For Me

No, Lord. Not for me.

I am not worthy of the death You died for me.

My selfish and wicked heart is not worthy of the blood that flowed from Your head, Your feet, Your side, Your hands - the hands that tenderly formed the earth, set the moon in motion and hung the stars from the sky.

My rebellious and corrupt mind is not worthy of the anguish that tore Your body as they threw Your mangled flesh against the splintered wood of the cross that I should have borne.

My proud and arrogant spirit is not worthy of the torture that You suffered as the crushing weight of sin pulled Your body down against the nails, dragging Your purity and righteousness into the filth and grime and horror of my wickedness.

I turn away from You on the cross and hide my face in shame, shame at the thing that should not be done: the King of the universe being humiliated by His creations; the Son of God being spat on and ridiculed; the Lion of Judah being slaughtered like a lamb. God, very God Himself, hanging helpless and bleeding on a criminal's cross.

And I cry out: No, Lord! Not for me! I'm not worth it! Don't do this thing for a wicked sinner like me!

And yet ...


He did. It is finished.

Why would He do such a thing? How could He love me so much - not only knowing the things I would do before He saved me, but in His foreknowledge, looking ahead to the things I continue to do after I know Him?

I get up every morning deeply conscious of His great love and my great unworthiness, determined to serve Him better; and I end every day in a tired, discouraged heap of sharp words, shirked jobs, unguarded eyes and selfish actions. I pray every morning that I would show others the sweetness and wonder of His salvation; and I end every day bitterly remembering the willful things I did and the worldly things I said.

I am not worthy.

That is the great mystery of my salvation. That I am not worthy - but that He is. He is so utterly good, so utterly merciful, so full of perfect love, that His love transcends my complete unworthiness. His love is even greater than the fact that it is utterly shameful for the King of the heavens and earth to have given His life in place of a vile, rebellious sinner like me. He went to the cross, despising the shame, and out of His shame rose the greatest glory that He could possibly have won - He is the ultimately Good One, the One Who is full of a greater mercy than any human could ever comprehend. He is Love - pure, shining, powerful Love Who was willing to endure the darkest hour in history to win life for me.

I cannot understand. I can only thank Him - cast myself at His feet in complete awe, love, and worship. The Worthy One has redeemed this unworthy one; and she will give Him all of her meager life in exchange.

I am not worthy of His love. But He is worthy of mine. He is worthy of my everything; and I give it with all my heart.

I ♥ Thursday Linkup {No. 1}

Hi everyone! Ashley over at Bramblewood Fashions is hosting the first-ever linkup version of "I ♥ Thursday"! Here is my entry:

***

 

I ♥ Thursday

I'm loving:

Denim skirts and dark tees

Source: etsy.com via Katherine on Pinterest

Hand-knitted baby blankets (I'm making one right now and having so much fun!!)

Source: purlbee.com via Lauren on Pinterest

Pictures that tell stories

Source: mykindafairytalee.tumblr.com via Sandi on Pinterest

DISNEY

Source: thedisneyprincess.tumblr.com via Angel on Pinterest

The Wind in the Willows

Source: google.com via Cyndi on Pinterest

Old trains (thinking of "City of New Orleans" by Arlo Guthrie)

Source: notesondesign.tumblr.com via Jonathan on Pinterest

Things that make me say WOW

Source: californiaa-english.tumblr.com via Jonathan on Pinterest

My Darling Clementine (1946)

***

Happy Thursday!

Love,
Vicki

My Blogging Creed

My Blogging Creed

I promise:

----------

1. I will only write posts that are glorifying to God. While they may sometimes be about mundane things like my daily life, or cover sensitive topics such as marriage and purity, or even deal with sin, with God's help, His righteousness and love will shine through everything I post.

1 Corinthians 10:31 (KJV): "Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God."

2. I will only write posts that are worth the time it takes to write them. Even when I deal with topics such as entertainment or fun and games, my posts will be helpful and encouraging in some way.

Proverbs 10:21 (KJV): "The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom."

3. I will never tear anyone down in my posts. My blog will be a place of encouragement, and that includes mentioning my blog friends and others in a positive and loving way. I will never use my blog space to say anything rude, discouraging, or unkind about anyone. If I receive a hurtful comment and choose to address it on my blog, I will do so in a loving way; and if I accidentally say something that hurts someone, I want them to let me know.

1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV): "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

4.  I will always acknowledge right as right, and sin as sin. There is much confusion in the world today, and I refuse to let it creep into my thinking and my posts.

Isaiah 5:20 (KJV): "Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!"

Proverbs 17:15 (KJV): "He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord."

5. I will not shy away from controversy if I feel that it needs to be addressed. In the past, I have avoided topics like marriage, abortion, discrimination, and sin because I didn't want to deal with them. However, I refuse to let fear of what others think keep me from posting about what is on my heart and what needs to be addressed.

Proverbs 21:13 (KJV): "Whoso stoppeth his ears at the cry of the poor, he also shall cry himself, but shall not be heard."

6. I will always be sensitive to others' spiritual freedom in things that I post. There are things that I feel free to watch, do, or listen to in my life that others may not have the spiritual freedom to partake in, just as others may feel free to partake in things that I do not. I will always be sensitive to others when I post, especially in the areas of entertainment, and not post things that could be a stumbling block to others.

1 Corinthians 8:9 (KJV): "But take heed lest by any means this liberty of yours become a stumblingblock to them that are weak."

Proverbs 10:32 (KJV): "The lips of the righteous know what is acceptable: but the mouth of the wicked speaketh frowardness."

7. I will always try to leave my readers with a smile! It may not always be possible to write happy, or even joyful, posts; but as a Christian, I have joy, peace, and hope even in the middle of unhappy and difficult days, and I will try to always reflect that joy and peace to my readers.

Proverbs 17:22 (KJV): "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones."

----------

This is my blogging creed. I will do my best, with God's help, to abide by these promises and keep my blog a joyful, uplifting place for people to come visit!

Signed,
Vicki 

Monday Morning Randomness!

 Good morning everyone! Welcome to another week!

Did y'all have a nice weekend? Mine was VERY busy - I played in the band at all of my college's commencement ceremonies, which lasted for a combined total of about 18 hours. Wow!

I did take a few helpful things away from watching all those students graduate, though - first of all, I want to get more involved on campus and look for opportunities to help people and make changes like they did. Thinking on this, I also have been working on what direction I want to take my education - specifically, right now I want to use what I learn in my major, speech pathology, and work with other students and professors to do some interdisciplinary research on the neurological foundations and expressions of autism. Now, that's still very vague, but it's the direction that I want to go.

And secondly, I want to make sure that I don't get to be an inflated academic stuffed-shirt.  :-)  Because I saw a lot of people yesterday whose big heads more than filled up their caps and their puffed-up chests more than inflated their voluminous robes!

-------

What do y'all have going on this week? I am working at my two summer jobs, and also knitting some little socks for a friend of mine who is going to have a baby - yippee!!! I was just wishing someone would have a baby so I could make some little things, and voila! My wish has been granted!

-------

In other random news, I came across this opinion piece on the theology of the Narnia movies (as opposed to the books) this morning and thought it was extremely interesting:

http://www.theologynetwork.org/theology-of-everything/getting-stuck-in/narnia-invaded--how-the-new-films-subvert-lewiss-vision.htm

I don't know anything about the website or its theological reliability, but this article is very good. It talks about how C.S. Lewis' beliefs on hierarchy, and how God's hierarchies are good and that Christians should grow and thrive within the order that God provided for the earth, not seek to disobey and make their own rules (as the characters do in the movie, which I never noticed before). It's very thought-provoking even if you don't watch the movies or read the books, because unfortunately we Westerners do have a penchant for independent (rebellious?) thinking and a desire to "be our own boss," which may not always be the most Christian way to think.

-------

And here's one more random pic to make your morning sunny:

 

Have a super-happy day! Remember - the Lord is writing the story of your life, and He will make the ending beautiful!!

Love and blessings,

Vicki

In Honor of our Lost Brothers and Sisters

My local pro-life group on campus sent me a little informational video in my email today about a national student pro-life organization, and in the middle of the video, a respected authority was speaking about the passion of teenagers and college students for ending abortion in our country; and he said this sentence that blew my mind:

"They [college students] understand that they're a surviving generation. One-third of their generation has been wiped out by abortion."

Think about that - one-third of our generation! There are, on average, about 3.8 million babies born every year in the U.S. - so while our generation was being born, the years between 1981 and 1991, there were about 38 million of us born in the United States alone; and so 12.7 million people of our generation were killed through abortion. Think of the vastness of that number!

And bring that down from the statistical level to the personal level - think about the impact on our lives, those of us who had parents who cherished us and wanted us to live. Who knows what relationship we might have had with the ones who died? Maybe one of those young women would have been my best friend ... maybe one of those young men would have been the young leader that my campus and my church and my community so desperately need!

Our generation has been robbed of millions of people and the light that they could have brought to us - and members of our very same generation, other young women our age, are robbing our children's generation of men and women just the same way that women of our parents' generation robbed us!

It's time for us to protest against what society has done to our generation and what it is doing to the generations to come - God places each and every one of us here for a reason, and it is not up to us to decide whether another human being is worthy of having his or her purpose fulfilled! Father, let me always speak on behalf of my lost brothers and sisters who were never given the chance to raise their voices!

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.
Open thy mouth, judge righteously, and plead the cause of the poor and needy.

~ Proverbs 31:8-9

Love,
Vicki

Ten People/Characters Who Make Me Smile

Are there any people (real, on-screen, or fictional) who just always make you smile? No matter what mood you're in or what's going on in your life?

I know a few characters like that, and I'd like to acknowledge them on this happy Tuesday (since I am on summer vacation, WOO-HOO) in a little smile-inducing post.  :-)

***

1. Gene Autry

 I put him #1 for a reason - nobody in the whole world makes me as happy as Gene Autry! Every time I see one of his movies or hear his voice on my iPod, I have to smile!

2. Fred Astaire

 
Fred Astaire was happy and funny in the movies, but you could tell that he was really sweet and gentle underneath - he makes me smile every time I see him, too.

(This is my favorite Astaire-Rogers dance ... he is a psychiatrist and he has supposedly hypnotized her for this dance. It's quite romantic.)


3. Jean Arthur

It isn't just Jean Arthur's funny scratchy voice that makes me smile - I love all of her movies and how she was always a little rough around the edges. She was a great actress!

4. DeForest Kelley

Dear old grouchy Dr. McCoy. You'd never guess that underneath that fussy exterior, DeForest Kelley was actually quite the sweet, charming Southern gentleman.

5. Angela Lansbury

I've only seen Angela Lansbury in a few movies, but she never fails to make me smile - either as a coarse Cockney girl in her early movies, or as the awesome Jessica Fletcher, or as dear Mrs. Potts.

6. Clopin

While we're on the topic of Disney ... this guy is completely awesome and ALWAYS makes me smile.

6. Alan Breck

And while we're on the topic of fictional characters, dear Alan Breck always delights me with his arrogance, charm, and wit.


7. Aslan

Well, Aslan actually makes me cry almost as often as he makes me smile, but ... they're just wet smiles.  :-)

8. Tommy Makem

One of the most awesome singers in Irish music history - every one of his funny songs makes me laugh!

9. David Niven

How can you not smile at someone who once declared that his life's mission was to help the world feel "chirpy"?


10. Buster Keaton

 For being "The Great Stone Face," Buster sure knew how to bring smiles to people's faces. He is my favorite comedy actor ever!

***

Hopefully this little post will bring a smile to YOUR face today!  :-)  Have a beautiful day, my friends!

Love,
Vicki

Think About It

Lord, help me to keep my eyes on You, to find my fulfillment in You so I am not tempted to run ahead of Your timing for my life!

Love,

Vicki

Let us take a flight of fancy ...

I was recently inspired by Jennifer's post over at Where The Green Grass Grows to invite you to spend a few minutes of "girl time" and let me indulge myself a bit ... 

I've never done a post like this before, but I'd like to share a few of my dreams for my (hopefully) future wedding. 

(Drops the dignified authoress tone and becomes a dingbat - *squee!!!!!*)

Because although I am quite independent, not too unhappy being single, full of grand career aspirations, and enthralled with the adventure of living in love with my Savior ... I do still love weddings. I can't wait for my wedding. And I can't wait for the day when I'll meet my forever best friend and he will sweep me off my feet to work and live and love together forever. I want to be strong for him - an asset, a partner, a fellow laborer in the Lord, as well as a sweet, submissive, feminine wife. Looking at wedding things helps me remember both of those things, to remember the seriousness of it - but also to look forward to it with joy and faith.

So, let's dream, shall we?

My dream dress - from BeautifullyModest.com



Blue for loyalty, with white and yellow centers for a pure and joyful heart



To match my bouquet ...



Bridesmaid dresses (only in royal blue), also from BeautifullyModest.com

Little country Baptist church

This is way too pretty! Like royalty!



Must figure out a way to have either an engagement photo or a wedding portrait that looks like this ...



I'll have to have both of my little brothers be ring bearers, or I'll never hear the end of it from the one I didn't pick ... no, these are not my brothers ...



... Aaand I'll have to find me a flower girl somewhere ... any of y'all have a little sister you would loan me?



Oh yes, and there's one more piece of the puzzle I need to find ...



***

And of course, there will be music (when have you ever known me to be without music?)

"When You Say You Love Me" by Josh Groban

"You're Still You" by Josh Groban

(I kind of see this one as being from my perspective, to my husband, even though Josh sings it)

"The Parent's Prayer" by Steven Curtis Chapman

(be prepared to cry if you listen to this)

Well ... you can kind of see what this song is called ...  :-)

***

Now, just you watch - someday I'll get married and I'll put the wedding pictures up here on my blog, and it won't look a thing like anything I've posted here! Whaddya wanna bet?  :-)  :-)  :-)

But it's fun to dream anyway!

Have a wonderful day, my friends! I'd better go start studying for my final exams!!!  :-O

Love,

Vicki