Today was one of those days where a warning might have been really helpful. Just at any point. Any kind of warning. Maybe, something, that in bright lights said >WARNING! DANGER Ahead!< Well, maybe not danger, so to speak, but just warning that things weren't going to go as "normal". I started off my morning reading a hymn in my SRT app. I rolled back over in bed to close my eyes for 10 more minutes {dang, you SuperBowl for keeping me up late last night!}. Somehow we all got out of the house on time and to school and work on time. But then it was like I entered the danger zone. It's just busy. Everything at work is busy right now. That word is sometimes overused, but for today, it was right on track with what went down. My workload today was higher than normal. I got some news that threw me into a little turmoil for a bit {nothing bad about me or anyone else - just sent me for a loop}. The tire on my car was flat but Andrew was so busy at his hotel that he couldn't meet me at the tire place to get it fixed so I'm on a donut. A meeting ran late so while I waited to go in for my part, I was so hungry my stomach was eating itself. I was tired...like really tired. I wanted a coke so badly, but this dang wellness scorecard challenge prevents me from drinking one {no, I'm not bitter about it..}. Then, just as I was accomplishing one task and feeling like I was coming out of my funk...the skies went dark, the wind was hurling and it started to rain. About that time I also got a text. My sweet friend who is working on my new logo texted...and basically said that my website crashed as she tried to upload it. It was one of those things that I was just kind of like, ok. Now what? So I sent out a few texts and let the people who know what to do, do what they do. And I just kept going...knowing my site was going to be down for a few hours. But I had to turn to Jesus. Bethel worship is my new thing. Some of you have probably … [Read more...]
Posting From My Heart : All My Love, All My Life
My girlfriend Sheri sent this video out to a few girls in our office last week and I've been thinking about it quite a bit since then. This young couple about to get married has an incredible opportunity to be made over to see what they might look like at ages 50, 70 and 90. Can you imagine? Young, vibrant, excited individuals ready to be married. Seeing themselves how they might look at these ages, after so many years of marriage. To ponder on the things they might have experienced together in all of those years. The trials, the joys...the ups the downs. The for betters and for worses. For richer and for poorer. In sickness and in health. To love and to cherish from this day forward... The joys that overcame them in the thinking of what could have happened in all the years from when they said "I do" to when they were sitting there, side by side in their 90's. What an incredible gift! To think about how madly in love you are with your boyfriend/girlfriend at the time when you get engaged and then get married and how you're so vested in each other.... To get there, that same place when you're 90 takes undying love and commitment. A will to hold on to each other and not let go. To never look at the grass on the other side and for one second think it's greener in that pasture than where you currently stand. To know that the green grass, the REALLY green grass gets love and attention by its caretaker... If you don't "water" and tend to your own marriage, it, like the brown field dies and withers away... Valentine's Day is just a month away, and while I love a good excuse to be silly and do fun things for my loves {Andrew and our kids}, it's not the only day that I/you should make special for the one that you love. The couples that are still together at 50, 70 and 90 don't become ordinary. They don't become strangers under the same roof. They pour into each other. They remember what it was like when they first fell in love. … [Read more...]
Year In Review : 2015 : And Camellia’s Most Read Posts
Reflecting back on 2015 has been a bit of an emotional roller coaster for me. We've had some highs, lows and everything in between. From a trip to the Bahamas, to the loss of our beloved Lily and a fetus all in the same week, to fun family gatherings and a quick trip to NYC for Christmas! We've covered the gamut of emotions! I thought it would be fun, a little reminiscent, to check out our most read posts from 2015! First, a huge "THANK YOU!!"to everyone who has read, liked and/or shared any or all of these posts. For 2015, I wrote a total of 161 posts!! I'm going to rank the top 10 based on the number of views...and get ready for this top one. {Links are in the titles if you want to read/reread these posts!} The Sursy. This one was just short of "viral" on the world wide web!! Andrew called it a "southern phenomenon!" - over 133k views!!!!!!! Holey cow, it took off and still continues to blow everything out of the water! Is it the word?! Is it in the giving? I have no idea, but you all LOVED this post and shared it like it was on fire! SC Flood. 'Nuff said, right? Gosh it was devastating and we're all still trying to rebuild. The minor repairs we had to make are still being done: our upstairs a/c is getting installed this week and the downstairs 1/2 bath is almost finished! I'll blog about that once it's done because I can't wait for you all to see it! Talk about an upgrade from even this →slightly upgraded powder room from 2013. Pregnancy & Infant Loss Remembrance Day. Written just a little over two months ago, it was my opportunity to share with you all where we were/are with the grieving and what's next. And to share with so many of you, sisters, who have been down this road that at times seems so lonely and sad. A reminder, we are never alone. And dear friends, SO MANY of you have trod the path, we can all love on and encourage one another when this trial appears! For us personally, May is just five months away and we … [Read more...]
Coming Down From The Mountain: Day 2 of Abundance
I hope these posts have been a little bit of a blessing to you...and you've gotten a glimpse of what you could hear/witness if you were able to go to one of these Abundance conferences. Of course if you can't go, there are SO many resources available: She Reads Truth App (that I've gushed about so many times), Proverbs 31 Ministries, LifeWay Resources and so on. Yesterday's post was focused on the speakers we heard Friday night. Today's post is on the speakers we heard Saturday morning. Our facilitator was Lisa Harper - who, by the way, is hilarious! She was our first speaker Saturday morning after we had another "couch conversation" with the SRT gals. Ms. Harper spoke from Mark 13, focusing in on the times when this was written and our current times. She referenced the recent shooting in California and spoke that these are what Jesus calls the "birth pains". Jesus isn't coming back right now. We have the pains of nation rising against nation, etc. but they're just pains... Regardless of the pains...we have the hope of GLORY. Jesus has won the victory over war, hatred, sin and death!! Our last speaker was Lysa Terkeurst from Proverbs 31 Ministries. She focused in on 1 Samuel 25: David was overlooked by everyone; but he was hand picked by God {YOU may be overlooked by everyone but YOU are hand picked by God...He is your creator} God sends us back into the field of every day life to develop the character to match our calling David was annointed as the next King...but then he was sent back into the fields With regards to Abigail...she humbled herself before David; her humility {our humility} is a position of incredible strength We must exchange whispers with God {in the early morning, when our alarm first goes off} before we can give shouts to the world Watch where you pay attention; Never take your eyes off the Master; the Master knows things you don't know {an analogy she gave in talking about scuba diving … [Read more...]
Coming Down From The Mountain: Day 1 of Abundance
Well it was a whirlwind of a weekend for us {the whole family really}, especially Dana and Me. Florida and back in 24 hours. I know some of you have done that, but man, that's a lot of riding and driving in a short span of time! Ah, but it was SO worth it. Friday morning we did our normal routine, I dropped my babies off at school and then instead of going to work, I went to Publix. Sometimes I like to think I'm a good wife. I bought milk so Andrew wouldn't have to. That's it. One gallon of milk. And then I went home and did my nails. Ha! I had already packed all my bags and everything was in the car. For the next hour or so it was quiet time, prep time for me and my heart/mind. At 9 I left our home and drove to Starbucks to pick up "coffee" for Dana and me so that we could hit the road with something hot and yummy in our hands. By 9:40ish we were on the interstate, excited and expectant for what we were going to be taking part in later that day. Thankful for safe travels and sweet conversation, we were at our lovely hotel by a little before 3. We had a little time to rest and refresh before our evening began. The schedule was like this: 5:30 - doors opened 7 - event began 9:30 - dismiss for the night 9:45 - lights out....ha. That wasn't really in the schedule, but we were asleep by shortly after 10! We ate a REALLY early dinner and then walked over to the Ocean Center Arena, where the wind whipped our curls back to straight and just about took us off Mary Poppins-style. But the lights...the Christmas lights were just beautiful! I was super stoked to hear from the girls that started She Reads Truth. Two sweet, southern belles who love Jesus and want the rest of us girls {well, themselves included} to be in the Word every day and are trying their best to help us all. I was even more excited that Christy Nockels was leading our worship time. Her voice. This is one of my most favorite songs: … [Read more...]
Abundance
One evening this Summer I went out to check the mail and found a lovely little packaged envelope, from LifeWay, amidst all the credit card offers and fake keys that might just be the winner! of a new car! Curious about what this "Abundance" envelope was all about, I quickly opened it. There were several cards...with wonderful reminders: In Him Little is Much. In Him Less is More. In Him Hardship is Blessing. In Him Wrong is Made Right. ...You Have Brought Us Out to a Place of Abundance - Psalm 66:12 His Love Multiplies. His Mercy is Boundless. His Grace is Gratuitous. His Forgiveness is Excessive. His Kindness is Generous. His Faithfulness Overflows. In Him, Our Lives Can Be Abundant. His is the More For Which We Long. There's Plenty In Him. He is More Than Enough. I took a picture of one with the conference info and sent it to a few friends with, "I'm going. Who's in?" Without a doubt I knew I was going. It wasn't a question of if I was going, but more of, who was going with me? This year has been hard in so many ways. Yes, the Lord has been faithful. He has been loving and He has been so incredibly kind. But I need an event. It's been several years since I've been to an event.... To go on top of the mountain and worship, uninterrupted. To be with the Holy of Holies. And what better time of year to do that than at Christmas. So, tomorrow morning...I am picking up my wild and crazy, sweet Jesus-loving friend Dana and off to Florida we will go! For one full day. One night and one morning of hearing some amazing speakers. Of being with a bunch of crazy women {moms gone wild!} who love Jesus madly. I can't wait. It's going to be awesome. Tonight I'm packing my little bag and getting ready for the trek to the top of the mountain! Pray for mine and Dana's hubs...they're single dads for ONE whole night! I hope you have an amazing weekend! I can't wait … [Read more...]
Advent Season & She Reads Truth
I'm not entirely sure which rock I lived under for so many years, but I had no idea that Christmas was called "Advent" until just a few years ago. Honest to goodness truth. In the last 12+ months I've seen more in the Instagram world about Advent, and the preparation thereof than I have in my whole life {thank you, social media!}. For example, in July of this year one friend {whose husband used to work for the same company as me}, who has started an amazing Bible study group/following/ministry, was showing previews of the study she and her team were working on for this year. I was kind of like, what's this Advent thing all about anyway. Well then, I've shared with y'all my love for the She Reads Truth app {get it!!!} and the wonderful studies that are available via your mobile {tablet, anyone?} device. And come to find out they were working on an Advent study too! This is just too good! So when I saw →this announcement← via SRT way back in October I was super pumped. Then I got a message from a sweet sister-friend "DO NOT buy the SRT Advent study!! DON'T ask questions either! Love you!" I laughed at her and figured I knew she was up to something sneaky. My hunch was right. Last Wednesday I got this amazing gift of the She Reads Truth Advent Study Book and I am beyond thrilled to pieces. It's beautiful. It includes recipes! And sheet music! And beautiful prints {that WILL be framed!} 4 Memory cards to help us memorize Isaiah 9:6-7 And of course, the GOOD Word. It is meant to go along with the app that I will still read on my phone every morning, first thing, when I wake up. There's no better way to start my day than with one eye open {barely}, reading scripture and getting my heart and mind ready for the day. Um, and these molasses cookies...what the what?! Are you doing an Advent study? If so, would you share about it? If not, would you consider purchasing the SRT Advent study via their app on your mobile … [Read more...]