Laying Them Down

I have recently been thinking about what it really means to lay down my desires. I have so many dreams and ambitions and most of the time (as many of you should know), many of those dreams and ambitions never really come to pass. I'm not complaining. I'm merely expressing my observations thus far in life. You may be wondering what got me thinking about this. Well.... The last few weeks have been filled with crazy things that just have to get done and everything seems to be on a time schedule. Ummmm...like taxes, and deciding about our lease and whether we want to stay here for another year or move. Like the decision on whether I should go on a month long business trip with my hubby. Doesn't it seem like our lives are full of important decisions? Isn't it hard when it seems like a thousand of those decisions descend upon your shoulders at the same time? Not only do you have to make a choice, you have to deal with the nagging thought of, "what if I had chosen the other option? Would things be better if I had?" We've had to make decisions and stick with them and sometimes it is hard. I really wanted to move from our apartment so that we could rent a house with a back yard for gardening and for my dog to be able to get out and run around. I wanted to be able to go with my hubby on this trip, but hasn't been able to work out that way. I wanted to have our taxes done and taken care of way before now, but it looks like we may end up needing to file for an extension. Well...things aren't really going my way are they? Nope. But how much does that really matter in the light of eternity? Last night I had to ask myself that question. I was crying. I was tired, and I knew that things were not going my way. I was upset about everything and how 'all' my plans were being shattered. The Lord spoke to my heart and I was able to examine my attitude. I knew I had two options: Keep crying and feeling bad for myself and maybe obtain a small amount of "feel-good-poor-me", a headache and swollen eyes, or I could stop and think about things and lay everything at the feet of Jesus. By His grace, I chose the later. God continued to speak to me as I shed tears of repentance and gratefulness. I thought about all my hearts desires and took each of them and laid them down saying, "Lord, You know the desires of my heart and you know what Your plans are. You alone can make me content. I want to lay these things down and make them something beautiful at your feet. If I don't let go and lay them down they will never sprout into something beautiful and living. Lord, do whatever you will with these dreams. Refine my heart and make my plans Your plans." It felt really good to let go. It was freeing, a lot more freeing that having a tearful pity party! I pray that the Lord would continue to allow me to lay down my wants and desires, to be able to sacrifice them at His feet. He is so good y'all, and He cares so much. Don't ever think that He isn't watching or caring about what you are going through. He loves you enough to give His Son for you! Blessings, Rachel H. P.S. Excuse the crummy format! I've tried to fix it, and it will not work....Well...remember what I said about plans?

Tears

Here I sit on the couch in our living room. My iPod is playing Rita Springer and I'm trying to keep a few tears from melting makeup down my face. I am tired, lonely and I have a headache. I want to give in to my emotions and just throw myself on my bed to cry. I know this sounds completely irrational, but it makes sense to my throbbing and weary head. 

My husband is out of town and I am really missing him. I miss that smile of his and the sweet laugh he lets out when I finally find his ticklish spot. I miss cooking him dinner and kissing him goodbye in the morning.

I know he will be home soon, but it is so hard to wait...

The Morning Center

If you have yet to hear about the work that the Morning Center is doing in Memphis Tennessee, please read this post!

The Morning Center is a Christian pregnancy clinic that was born from the idea that a free Christian pregnancy hospital would be built next to every abortion clinic in the nation. Right now, Morning Center is in the growing stages. 

Right now they are reaching out to women in the Memphis area. They provide free prenatal care to anyone who comes in pregnant. From the time they first find that they are pregnant to the birth of their baby, Morning Center is there to provide professional medical care at no cost to the patient.

The gospel is shared and displayed in a relational and loving way. We strive to make every woman at home in the clinic no matter who they are or what their background is.

The Morning Center is seeking to grow and plant more clinic locations in the Memphis Tennessee, Arkansas, and Missisipi areas. We are searching for more ministry partners, volunteers, and volunteer staff. We are also in need of financial support and voices who will spread the word.

Maybe you are confused...I keep saying "we" because I am a volunteer at the Morning Center. I greet ladies and talk to them and try to make them feel at home. I also "counsel" and make certain resources known to the precious women who come to the clinic.

Well, the reason why I am writing this post, is so that y'all can be praying for Memphis and the Morning Center. I also would ask for you to be spreading the word so that more people can learn about the work of the Morning Center and support us in our mission.

Feel free to visit the Morning Center website listed here:

http://morningcenter.org

Or please do not hesitate to contact me via email or blogger contact form! I would be thrilled to help answer any questions that you have!

Changing Brakes

It seems like our Saturday's are always filled with things to do...things that have to get done. We did get to sleep in, which was really nice. Once the relaxation of the morning was over it was time to put our noses to the grindstone. The brakes on both vehicles needed to be changed and we weren't ready to pay $380 dollars to have someone else do it for us. So....we learned how to change brakes.

After studying up on how to do it, my hubby went to Auto Zone to work on the car.

Six hours later...

...there is still work to be done. But we called it a day and went home, cleaned up and went to Applebee's for a nice evening out. 

All that to say, the brakes still need work, but my wonderful husband is sure to figure it out :) He is so good with stuff like that.

I made the switch! - Natural Makeup

 So...I finally did it!!! I cleared out my makeup cupboard and made the switch! I took everything with parabynes in it and stitch it out with natural makeup. I had been meaning to do this for months, because I knew that parabynes were a synthetic chemical that can tamper with hormones.

As a woman, I have no need to to have more hormonal problems!

So, I will give you my thoughts on each of these products.

Gabriel Moisturizing Liquid Foundation:

This is one of the lightest shades that Gabriel sells in the liquid foundation, but it matches my fairer skin perfectly. It goes on smooth and dries in a beautiful matte finish. It gives me a medium coverage that works well with my complexion. I would recommend this makeup to anyone who is looking for a medium coverage foundation free of parabynes and good for sensitive skin.

Mineral Fusion Pressed Powder Foundation:

I have grown to love this simple pressed powder. It goes on like silk and leaves my skin feeling soft and fresh. If I don't have time to do my full makeup routine, I will us this as my coverage foundation and go. It makes things easy and fast. I would also recommend this product to anyone who likes a smooth powder foundation that provides a medium coverage when applied with a thick powder brush.

Mineral Fusion Two Tone Concealer:

This two tone mineral concealer is thick but goes on for a professional blemish "concealer". The lighter of the two colors works awesome on red blotches, pimples, and under eye circles. This is THE BEST concealer I have used to date! I apply with a small brush and smooth in.

Well, there it is. I'll tell you my routine so you can have an idea of what I do when I go out. On a regular basis, I usually apply the concealer with a small brush. Then I take a large powder brush smooth the pressed powder foundation over my cheeks, chin, temples and forehead. After this I usually apply mascara if it is a day when I feel like wearing it. On a special occasion I will usually apply the liquid foundation after the concealer and then brush over it with pressed powder. I also will wear earth tone eyeshadow with a little bit of light shimmer.

So there you have it! My new makeup and my simple and easy routine.