High Five For Friday ~ Momma's Encouragement and Lots Of Preciousness

High Five Number One:

I spent a lot of time with Momma this week!  We had a pleasant week filled with Bible study and her motivating me to follow my photography dream to the next level.  She gave me so much encouragement this week and really reignited the fire in me for my business.  Needed that!  THANK YOU MOMMA!


High Five Number Two:

I have four opportunities for four different missions trips this summer.  I need prayer on where God wants me to serve.  Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, or Kenya...... all are wonderful opportunities with wonderful groups!  I just need direction on where HE wants me!

High Five Number Three:

Daisy is cute!



High Five Number Four:

 

I love my new Antonio Melani boots that I finally got to wear today!  I'm in love.....oh why do I love shoes so much....

 

 

 



 

 

High Five Number Five:

 

This morning was a neat one because Regina and I got to check out the KAMC Weather lab with Matt Posgai. 

 



Isn't she cute? I love my cousin!

and isn't he precious?? I kinda have a crush on him....shhhhh....don't tell anybody.

Gina and I learned some neat things and it was really cool!

Glad it's Friday and now it's time for a very busy weekend of photography jobs! WOOT WOOT!!!! Hope you all have an amazing weekend!

xoxo....Crystal

Crystal's Deviled Eggs

Ingredients

* 4 eggs
* 1 tablespoon prepared mustard
* 1 tablespoon mayonnaise
* 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
* 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
* 1 pinch paprika, for garnish

Directions

1. Place eggs in a saucepan and cover with cold water. Bring water to a boil and boil eggs for 10 to 15 minutes. Remove eggs from boiling water and place in a medium saucepan of cold water until cool.
2. Remove the shells and cut the eggs lengthwise to remove the yolks. Place yolks in a medium sized mixing bowl.
3. Mix in the mustard, mayonnaise, garlic salt and onion powder with the egg yolks. Scoop the mixture into the hollowed out areas of the egg whites. Garnish with paprika. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.

What I'm Loving Wednesday ~ Life is FUN and God is GOOD!!!!!

"You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord God is an everlasting rock."  Isaiah 26:3-4

I am loving all that God is doing in my life right now.  He is working so much in my heart.  I am so happy with everything right now!  I am so happy with the joy He has placed in my life and I'm so happy with the wonderful blessing of His love that He gives me every day!!!!!  He's so amazing!

I am loving that I was able to spend the evening with my cousins Regina and Sarah.  Regina made us fajitas...they were aMaZiNg!!!!!!

I am loving being able to see my Mom everyday if I want to.  Moving back home is by far the greatest decision I have made in a long time!  I asked God what He wanted me to do, He told me, I obeyed, and He is blessing me so much in every area of my life!!!!!!  He's so wonderful!

I am loving the rain today!!!!!  I was able to sport my rain boots and splash around in them!  Yes, I really did splash around outside in the puddles....fun fun fun!!!! Psalm 118:24 - "This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." 

Life is FUN!

 

 





It's All About Love



 

"There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear." 1 John 4:18

 

 

With Valentine's being right around the corner, I have been thinking a lot about the word "love".  Yes, I said it, like it or not, Valentine's really IS right around the corner.  Retailers have already started to market this day and couples have started making plans on how this special day will be spent.  As I was walking through Wal-Mart the other day and looking at all of the cute pink heart decorations and Valentine's Day cards, I started to really think about the true meaning of love and the amazing beauty that eliminates from that one little word. 

 

LOVE.

Love is known to be a human's greatest need.  We all need it.  We all walk this earth with an inborn hunger to be loved and accepted.  We want to feel valued by the people around us.  We want to be valued for who we are and not just the outer appearance but valued for who we are deep down.  We want our path in life to be honored and the struggles that we have walked through in life be noticed and accepted.  None of us want the pressure of having to be perfect.  That type of love is not of God, yet we tend to walk around wanting perfection from the people we "love" the most. 

Perfection is just not a reality.  Sure it would be nice to have the perfect family, the perfect spouse or significant other, the perfect friends, the perfect job, the perfect children.....but it just isn't a reality.  If life were perfect then why would we need God?  Why would we need one another?  Imperfections and struggles are the very thing that bring us to our knees in worship and the very thing that humble us. 

God loves us so much that He gives us the freedom of choice.  Love is freedom.  There is no freedom when there are shackles of expectancy around it.  Who wants to be covered with criticism or nagging?  Love is freedom.  Love is peace.  Love is unconditional.  That is the type of love that God bestows upon our lives every single day, so why is it so beneath us as Christ followers to offer that type of love to others as well?  Isn't that what we are called to do?  To love others as He loves us? 

We each have a past and we each have made mistakes in life that we are not proud of.  That is why it is so important to have loving and supportive people in our lives.  We need others in our lives to help us with life's struggles.  To help us if something in our lives need to be corrected.  Love heals, repairs, and supports.  Love does not lecture, nag, or criticise.  Love prays.  Love accepts all.  Acceptance is loving a person for all they are and all they have been through in life, whether it be good or bad.  Love is accepting a person's history and a person's general makeup. 

People all to often are quick to reject another person.  Parents reject their children for not going to the right college or getting the right career or even marrying the "right" person in their eyes.  Friends reject one another because somebody said the wrong thing or didn't wear the most stylish outfit.  Marriages are ending and families are being torn apart every day because a spouse is rejecting the other because they aren't perfect or because they allow stress to step in and take over.  Relationships end every single day because we simply do not know how to LOVE!  Love should always replace rejection and we should always hold back from being critical towards one another. 

At some point in life we all have a moment where we just need love.  We want somebody to accept us for who we are and all the imperfections we come with.  In order to give this type of love, we must first accept Christ's love for us and be able to love ourselves with this unconditional type of love.  I have learned over the last few months that love is so precious and so fragile.  It is only from God that we can truly love others the RIGHT way.  The "love" word is thrown around every single day but to truly love somebody we must truly be willing to accept His love above all!  If you are reading this today, I pray that you take a moment to close your eyes and just feel His love surround you and know His mercy and love are in your soul!  It is a part of your makeup!

Be Blessed Today All!!!!!

xoxo...Crystal

High Five For Friday ~ First Week Of 2013

High Five For Friday Number One:

Got notification Tuesday that I was selected to be a part of the missions team to go to Guatemala in the summer to help with an orphanage there!  I'm so excited!  Mission work is my dream!  I'm truly excited to see how God will use me to work in other's lives!

High Five For Friday Number Two:

It's a new year.  A time to reflect on last year and to refocus!  I'm so excited to see what 2013 brings!  It is going to be AMAZING!  I already know this!

High Five For Friday Number Three:

Watching Justin Bieber Takeover while sick all day has been sweet.  Hush, I know I'm old enough to be his mother, don't judge....it's Justin Bieber. 

High Five For Friday Number Four:

This was the first week that I felt at HOME.  Since I have moved back to Texas, I have felt like I was visiting and would be returning back to Arkansas in a few days.  This week, I finally felt at home and I love the feeling of HOME!

High Five For Friday Number Five:

The first week in 2013 has been pretty good even though I have been sick.  My eyes were opened this week to several different things.  Who I really was and who another individual really was, it wasn't a pretty eye opener but I now know what I can work on to be a better me and I know 2013 is my year to be the best me and I will only get better from here!   SO EXCITED!!!!!!!

Bacon Crisp Recipe

Ingredients

· 1/2 cup freshly grated Parmesan

· 1 sleeve buttery rectangular crackers (recommended: Waverly Wafers)

· 1 pound sliced bacon cut in 1/2

Directions

Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F.

Place 1 teaspoon of the cheese on each cracker and wrap tightly with a strip of bacon. Place the wrapped crackers on a broiler rack on a baking sheet and put the baking sheets on the oven rack. Bake for 2 hours, or until the bacon is done. Do not turn. Drain on paper towels. Serve hot or at room temperature

Cook's note: You can also bake at 350 degrees F for 40 minutes if you're in a hurry. Happy cooking!

Thanksgiving 2012 ~ Family and Childhood Friends Always Heal A Broken Heart

I know Christmas is already over but I haven't had a chance to even share Thanksgiving and all it's joy! 

My sister, brother-in-law and I drove to Texas to see the fam for Thanksgiving!  We had an enjoyable meal with uncles, aunts, cousins, and the parentals! 

Then the next day we were able to watch a second cousin get married and see MORE family, which is ALWAYS A PLUS!!!!!

Later that evening I met up with some of my bestest high school friends for a Thanksgiving Friends night!  I needed this night! 

The trip was really short but it was one of the greatest ones! 

It's Ok Thursday ~ Last One Of 2012

It's ok that I have been SO lazy today!!!!! 

 

 

It's ok that I have been reflecting a lot on my past year and not really knowing how I survived it.  2012 has been by far the worst year I have ever had.  However, even though it has been the worst as far as "events" go, it has definitely been a good year as far as growth goes.  I learned so much about myself this year.  I learned the importance of life in many different ways and I learned the value of love and the importance of faith.  I learned more of who I really am and the things I want to change to be who I really am supposed to be and THAT is something I would not take back for the world.  I hope 2013 is an amazing year!  I hope it is one that will by far be the greatest for me!  I hope to become closer to my amazing friends in both Texas and Arkansas, I hope to find true love and to be valued, I hope to become a better Christian woman and become closer to Him in all areas of my life!  

 

So with that I will end my last "It's Ok Thursday" of 2012 with....

 

It's ok that I'm SUPER DUPER excited for 2013!!!!!  

What I'm Loving Wednesday ~ Blessings And Lubbock

I am loving that I spent my Tuesday night/Wed Morning helping deliver my best friend's baby!  Words cannot express what an experience that was.  If moving back to Texas was all just for that ONE moment, then it was well worth it!  Words cannot express what a blessing it was to be in the same room and to literally watch Andrew be born!  I am not sure  how anybody walks out of an experience like that the same person!  To actually see a life brought into the world.  It's amazing!  Makes me even more excited to become a mother one day!

It's ok that I have been laying around all day.  I'm tired, feeling sick, and there is a major dust storm outside.  While some are waiting on a white Christmas, Lubbock Texas is getting a brown one! YIKES!  Welcome Home Crystal!

It's ok that I'm totally in love with a one Kliff Kingsbury.....whooooa nelly!  So excited to see what he does for our Texas Tech Football program!!!! WRECK EM!

It's ok that I'm still feeling totally lost.  I feel like my heart is in two places, here in Lubbock and back in North West Arkansas.  I have really been missing my friends over there and I do miss Michael.  All I can do is just keep praying and allowing God to guide me.  I know He is going to work it all out and bless me!  I just need to keep stepping back and allowing Him to fight this battle for me.  It's a battle of confusion and heartbreak.  I know He will plant me somewhere and I will be OK! =)

It's ok that I am loving the wedding photos of my sweet friend Elly's wedding!  So happy for her and Robert and glad I was able to capture the moment for them!

We Need To Trust Him

 

 

God's wisdom supersedes all human wisdom.

 

 

Lately I have really had to put my faith out there.  I have had so many ups and downs over the last few months, that emotions have left me at a loss. I have made some pretty drastic moves in life, literally, moves.  I left North West Arkansas to spend some time with my family.  I prayed and prayed about this move and my flesh fought it as I had always told myself "I will never live in Lubbock again,".  God reminded me quickly that I had said that, not Him.  I made the leap of faith and obeyed him.  It was a hard decision as I have NO idea what I am supposed to be doing.  I know I want to do a long term missions trip and have been looking into discipleship school in Colorado but that would not be any time too soon.  I know more than anything, I need to spend time with my family and friends here in  Lubbock.  I need to find ME again and remember where I came from and get a grasp of who God wants me to be.  Most importantly, I need to continue to follow Him and trust that He has His reasons for having me here. 

 

 

In all of life's ups and downs over the last few months, I have held strong to His wisdom.  I can't see what He can.  Only He knows why He has allowed things to happen in life.  He is such a great God! I don't always understand the whys or the hows and I don't know why certain things happen but I know He is a God of comfort and peace. 

 

 

I have asked myself over the past few days why there is such evil in the world.  Why would God allow such evilness but then I remember that we live in Satan's play ground.  My heart aches for the children in Connecticut and for the parents.  I know there are lots of questions but I hope through it all, God's comfort isn't questioned.  I don't know why things are allowed to happen but I do know that we have to trust Him.  We have to take tragedies and allow them to change our hearts.  Take the time to cherish our loved ones and for parents to step up and love your children.  We have to understand that there is evil in this world and we have choices. 

 

 

"A hot furnace tests silver and gold, but the Lord tests hearts." Proverbs 17:3

 

God was taken out of most of our schools years ago.  Why?  He has even been taken out of the Christmas season when it IS about Christ.  It amazes me that people do not see how this world is falling into Satan's hands more and more and that if we don't get a grip and allow Him back into our schools, jobs, lives.....then it will only get worse! How can we expect Him to protect us and protect our children if we are not allowing Him to?  God is a gentleman and He will not force Himself on us.  We must ask Him to come in.  Invite Him back into school, work places, our homes.  It is a CHOICE!

 

I normally do not write about world news but considering the journey life has recently taken me on, I have realized how important His light and protection is in our lives.  I am not sure how I would have made it through certain events in the last few months with out Him.  I have needed Him physically, financially, spiritually....I have needed His healing in every aspect of my life and He has been there but I had to ask Him to be.  I had to obey and trust Him!  Sometimes, that is all He really wants, is our trust.

 

Trust Him today.  Trust Him to guide you, help you with those changes you should make, lead you to where HE wants you to be, trust Him to help you forgive somebody today, trust Him to ask somebody for forgiveness today, or trust Him to just simply be there to comfort you.  We can't do these things on our own.  It is impossible.  I have tried.  It doesn't work that way.  We need Him. 

 

We need to trust Him.