Jewelry Storage

So for me, functionality and cuteness are equally important. I really don't like having just one without the other. There are tons of cute jewelry storage ideas out there, but it took me awhile to settle on what I wanted to do for mine. (I don't want to have to fish my earring backs through tiny wire holes every time I take them on or off, I don't want it to look like incomplete artwork should I take a necklace out of a frame to wear it, etc... I just knew those things would bother me.) I also wasn't into spending money on this... and total I spent $1.99. Not bad. So I already had this wooden piece that I painted white and used as my base. (I painted it white back in july.. took til now to finally hang it up!) I think it is originally supposed to be used as an entryway organizer to hang keys, stack mail etc. But we already have hooks on our wall for keys and a bin for mail and didn't really have a use for this. Plus in its original wooden state it wasn't a finish I would've chosen. White paint can fix anything ;) 

I used the hooks for my long necklaces and statement necklaces that don't fit in my jewelry box. They worked perfectly. 

In addition to this wall organizer I also have a jewelry box in which I keep my earrings and finer bracelets and necklaces that are small. All my head bands and cute embellished bobby pins are in that glass vase on my dresser. 

On the top center part of my white shelf I have a little silver sequin box that I keep all my regular bobby pins in. And that little silver mercury dish is what I spent the $1.99 on. I keep little extras in that... lip gloss, rings, my ipod.... stuff like that :)

On the left side of my shelf I used a pretty blue bottle to hold my bigger cuff bracelets and a blue cup for my more flimsy, smaller bracelets. Right side of my shelf is all my perfumes. 

I love that my dresser itself is now free from clutter and everything is corralled in a pretty and easily accessible way close to wear I finish getting ready. So that's my jewelry storage solution... I'm sure you could find something similar or a shelf of some kind at goodwill. You can always attach hooks yourself... and don't forget the power of white paint :)

Getting this project done now has me super inspired to get our master bedroom completely finished.... On my list for finishing pieces: a tufted, curved back chair, a tiny crystal chandelier to replace our ceiling fan, and one more bedside light (this adjustable arc sconce in the silver finish- I already found one at the outlet for only $49!!) I'd also love to put a fun circular rug in the center of our room and thrift a tiny table to complete the cozy corner of the room where the chair will be. I'd love for our master to feel slightly elegant and definitely luxurious... a bit different than the feel of the rest of our house. 

We'll see where this leads :)

The Moment vs. Eternity

Theology. So fun to talk about, but it can also be very divisive. I don't hold to a particular theological view because I believe that if a theology is rooted in Scripture and can be backed up Biblically then it has merit, however there are many contradictory theologies. I also believe that the Bible in its original manuscript is free from error and does not contradict itself. Lost yet?? ;)

After lots of recent theological conversations with my sister trying to define what it is that we believe, and one really fun car ride with my mom this morning, I think I can finally tell you what it is that I believe.

I believe that God is good. All the time. Even in his judgements. I believe that he has plans to prosper me not to harm me. I believe that He works all things together for my good. I believe that He is true to His word. I have faith that in the end He wins, and I don't need to be able to understand or explain everything in human terms. I believe that He is eternal and sovereign. I believe that though a thousand years are like a day to Him, He still cares about the sparrow and the lily in a single moment of time that is like vapor in the grand scheme of things. Though He is vast beyond measure, He is intimately involved in the tiniest of details. I believe that He sent His son Jesus as a sacrifice to cover all my failings and adopt me as His daughter. And that single fact reduces me to tears even as I type it. I am unendingly grateful that He would come for me in all my imperfection.

For some people, that would be enough. If I told them that was what I believed of God they would not ask for more. But to some, that doesn't answer the harder questions. For example: Freewill vs. Predestination. Limited atonement vs. Universal Atonement. Being able to lose your salvation vs. Once Saved always saved. You know, things like that. ;)

I'm not going to take the time to explain the train of thought behind each of these views, but if you're not sure what each is or where they take their argument from Scripture feel free to look into them for yourself. This is how I have come to see things (at least at this point in my life... but it's a continual growing process and I am open to where the Lord leads me in the future).

If I put a coin in your hand, can you see both sides at once? No.... But does it mean that there aren't two sides to it just because you can't see them both at the same time? No. Does it mean that just because you choose to look at one side more often than the other, that side makes up more of the substance of the coin? No. (Hang with me.... I'm getting there....)

This is where it gets a little tricky.... I believe in freewill and predestination. (Just for slight clarification, basically freewill is that we choose God when we get saved, predestination is that God chose us when we got saved.) They seem opposite, right? But I think they are two sides of the same coin. Imagine that on one side of the coin it says "In this moment" and on the other side of the coin it says "Eternity." I think that theologies seem to be contradictory because one of them is viewing things from the perspective of time on a timeline and this moment right here and now, and one of them is viewing things from the perspective of eternity. Both are real things, but in our finite human mind it is incredibly difficult (maybe even impossible) to consider both at the same time when trying to explain God.

One of my favorite verses, Ecclesiastes 3:11 says "He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart, yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

Notice, it did not say that God has set eternity in the human mind. I think that's interesting :)

Ok but seriously, maybe this isn't making sense to you. Let me give you a real life scenario to show you how you could look at one situation from two different perspectives. Here's another theological issue you might have a hard time with: Does God cause bad things to happen in people's lives, or does Satan? If you believe the former, you probably think along this line of thought: In the beginning, God created everything, including Lucifer, the angel who fell and became Satan. Because God is all-knowing, He knew that this would happen when He created the angels, and He didn't stop it. Because nothing can happen without God's permission, even if it is Satan that causes the bad thing to happen in your life, God must have given his permission, so ultimately he allowed it, so it was from Him. BUT! If you believe the latter, you probably think much less about the grand scheme of things and think more about the actual moment you are living in. You probably think that although God knew Lucifer was going to fall, that's in the past, and what happens now is either Satan's doing (bad) or God's doing (good). You probably quote many scriptures that were part of Jesus' teaching when He walked the earth. John 10:10 "The thief (Satan) comes only to steal, kill, and destroy, but I (Jesus) came that they may have life, and have it to the full." Or maybe Matthew 7:9-11 is a favorite. "Which of you, if your son asks for bread will give him a stone? Or if he asks for fish will give him a snake? If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Or how about what Jesus' brother James says in James 1:17. "Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, who does not change like shifting shadows." You probably believe that Satan causes bad things, and God redeems and works them for good in your life (Romans 8:28)
So here's the real life scenario: You've just been diagnosed with a serious illness. Who do assume it came from? God, or Satan? If you believe it came from God, is your reaction to be angry with Him, or to trust Him? If you believe it came from Satan, what is your reaction?
If you believe it came from God you are looking at things on the scale of eternity, that He knew it would happen before time was set in motion, and maybe that regardless of what you do the outcome is in His hands. If you believe it came from Satan, you are looking at things on the scale of the moment. That the evil thing happening to you is coming directly from Satan at that moment, and maybe that you need to fight. You see the battle happening at that very moment, you maybe don't think about the fact that God already sees the outcome of the battle. Both ways of looking at that situation are legitimate. But which one will increase your faith more? Which one will cause you to press into Jesus more? I think that only you can answer that question.

So here's what I propose. God actually gives us permission, through Scripture, to look at things on the scale of eternity, or on the scale of the moment. We have to decide which way causes us to draw closer to Him, which way increases our faith, which way causes us to love our neighbor more, be a more intentional witness for Christ, which way causes us to spend more time with Him, or which way causes us to trust Him more. If you tend to think very in the moment, this is probably making a lot of sense to you. If you tend to think more along the lines of eternity, you're probably thinking "God already knew she'd write this post today and already knows which way I'm going to choose to think....  So really it's Him choosing, not me..." ;)
I would venture as far as to say that all Biblical theological stances that seem to be at odds with each other are actually just looking at the same thing but through either the lens of eternity or the lens of right here and now (the moment).  And as I said earlier, it's pretty near impossible to look through both lenses at the same time. Hence the two sides to the same coin. And we've come full circle. :)

Eternity vs. the moment. I'd love to hear what you have to say, as I find all of this extremely fascinating. :)

Weightless Moments

So I'm putting all three boys to bed tonight so Shaun could have a break. That means laying in the middle of their double bed with Drew on my left, Isaiah on my right, Jaden nursing in my arms.

We had a little conversation before they fell asleep. I asked Drew if there was any way I could be a better mommy to him. He said no he liked how I am. Then he said, "Oh wait, I have an idea! You could clean up my toys for me!" I explained to him that sometimes I'd love to do that for him, but that my job as his mommy is to teach him things, and that cleaning up his toys teaches him to take care of what he has, be responsible, be organized, and complete tasks. He actually seemed to really understand that. Then I asked Isaiah. He said he liked me too. It was a really sweet little moment laying in the dark in their bedroom and having this serious conversation. When we were done talking I gave them both a kiss and told them to go to sleep.

Once they were sleeping peacefully I laid there listening to the sound of their breathing. One sighing in his sleep. One  breathing deep and slow. And one making the little squeaking newborn sounds in between his tiny puffs of air. And My heart experienced that squeezing, breaking, aching because it's so full sensation that happens so often in motherhood. I wanted to bottle it up, freeze it, just stop time for a minute and soak in this ordinary (but so not ordinary) moment snuggling with my three sleeping babies and being so close to them while they're still so little. But I couldn't do it. No matter how hard I tried those weightless moments just kept right on slipping through my hands. With all my might I was trying to stop them. Hold onto them. But it's impossible. There might have been a few tears with that certain and undeniable realization that time just keeps on moving. You know how sometimes things just hit you with more reality than normal?

But as I thought about it I realized the irony. These weightless, fleeting moments that pass by like a breath are actually the most weighty and substantial thing in my life. These sweet moments of loving bigger than you ever imagined yourself capable of are deep and real and heavy and heart breaking and wondrous all at the same time. They are not really weightless at all.

While I can't hold them in my hands or stop them from passing, they are filling up my heart to the top with this indescribable feeling of fullness.

Sometimes the things you can't see or touch or feel are the most real things of all.