Things that Make Me Smile

Picture notes:

*my friend Ro sent this to me one day.*

Singing, making music and worshiping my Creator:

*Andy Melvin Band*

The loveliness of a flower in my margarita:

*Vivo's TexMex has AMAZING margaritas. Cool Vibe.*

Dance Parties:

*My sweet love, Lily Margaret is taking a dance class and she calls them her "dance party"*

Purple Flowers:

*my walk to the post office for work*

The smell of old books:

*my 1970's version of Valley of Vision*

Rug Rats:

*My nephew Max & my sister Jill. CLASSIC*

Fullness

'Fullness' from Valley of Vision:

Heavenly Father,
Thou hast revealed to me myself as a mass of sin,
and Thyself as the fullness of goodness,
with strength enough to succour me,
wisdom enough to guide me,
mercy enough to quicken me,
love enough to satisfy me.
Thou hast shown me that because thou art mine
I can live by thy life,
be strong in thy strength,
be guided by thy wisdom;
and so i can pitch my thoughts and heart in thee.
This is the exchange of wonderful love -
for me to have thee for myself,
and for thee to have me, and to give me thyself.
There is in thee all fullness of the good I need,
and the fullness of all grace to draw me to thyself,
who else could never have come.
But having come, I must cleave to thee,
be knit to thee,
always seek thee.
There is none all good as thou art:
With thee I can live without other things,
for thou art God all-sufficient,
and the glory, peace, rest, joy of the world
is a creaturely, perishing thing in comparison to thee.
Help me to know that he who hopes for nothing but thee,
and for all things only for thee, hopes truly,
and that I must place all my happiness in holiness,
if I hope to be filled with all grace.
Convince me that I can have no peace at death,
nor hope that I should go to Christ,
unless I intend to do his will
and have his fullness while I live.

Things that Make Me Smile

Freckles:

**My nephew Noah**

Jimmy Johns for lunch:

**My friend Whitney brought me lunch today**

Messy Cheetos lips:

**My nephew Max**

Listening to live music:

**with my sweet Ani**

African Dancing:

**precious Ugandan children that I want to keep forever**

Picnics on the trampoline:

**with my sweet Staci**

Rockstars in training:

**Deacon Ivey...the son of Rockstar Aaron Ivey**

Amy's Ice Cream & Jesus Convos:

**with my sweet Faith**

A Good Kick in the Pants.

So I have this friend. She is amazing.
She gets me.
We break out into a crazy dance when we see each other & get weird looks from people, but it doesn't matter.
She has great fashion. She is absolutely adorable. She loves Jesus with a strong passion. She loves people well. She loves to snuggle. She has a great TX accent. She loves discipleship. She loves food and beer.
She asks me how my heart is and sometimes I don't want to answer. But I do. Then she speaks amazing truth into my life.
Over the last several months we have gotten close. Like, talk everyday...hold each other accountable, ask tough questions kind of close. Like...this is how to live life close.
I'm not quite sure how it happened. I feel humbled and blessed.
Today's convo had something to do with me spilling to her about how I was struggling with my insecurity last night. (this isn't an uncommon thing with me)
I found myself comparing myself to other musicians, wishing that I had songs like that...or sounded like that... feeling prideful, jealous and feeling like I wanted to give up, that I wasn't good enough, that I could never do what I see other people doing.
LIES! insecurity, pride, sin and LIES.
It was ugly people.
This was Ani's response:

"it's hard to not compare. but you can't let yourself go there. for one, you do what you do because god gave you your voice and writing abilities, and two, you sing and write for him and his glory. ems. (she calls me ems and I love it) you are unbelievably talented. but what makes you special is your heart for the lord behind that "raspy" voice of yours. every time you start to think that she is better, or they like her better, or i wish that i had written that, or that my words were like his/hers...you have to stop your thoughts and choose to believe that all that you have is for him and when we try to make it ours we diminish the glory that he could be getting out of it.
pray that the Lord will show you how to see yourself the way HE sees you.
pray that you won't be moved by the praise or rejection of man.
pray that your heart will be content in him alone.
pray that you will rejoice in other's talents, and not compare.
pray that you will be inspired by other artists and musicians, but not made insecure by them.
pray that your security will be found in the fact that your identity is soley in christ. you are not validated by your voice, your talent, your platform, your guitar, your anything.
you are validated because you are a child of the most high god."

uh. who is this?
miss annie hanks being used by my sweet faithful God. Words of truth spoken.
SO thankful. God knew what I need to hear. He is good.
I'm also reading this today
1 Peter 2:9 "But you are the ones chosen by God chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God's instruments to do his work & speak out for Him to tell others of the night & day difference he made for you, from nothing to something from rejected to accepted."
So good.
Thankful for friends who remind me of truth and who love me to ask hard questions and not be afraid to speak out.
You know I love a little sass too...she's got some sassiness...Love you sweet Ani!

"the Pipes & Pints Brotherhood"

So I have these friends. They are some of the most Godly men I know. They have taught me so much about true character and living out the gospel. I'm SO thankful for them.
They have this thing they like to do called "The Brotherhood" or "Pipes & Pints". It's basically an open ended invitation to any guy who wants to come hang out with a bunch of guys, talk life, talk theology, have some brewskis and smoke pipes. Not gonna lie...I'm a little jealous & sad that girls aren't allowed. I would be right there alongside them with my pipe. (ok...I don't actually have a pipe...but I really want one!)
I may just start my own "Sisterhood".
Anyway...the point of this post.
I came across this OLD picture of my dad and I'm pretty sure he would fit right in with these guys.Love it. Can you imagine?
My dad went to be with Jesus in 1997.
I miss him.
I daydream about him still being here...coming to visit...smoking pipes with my friends, talking photography, art, Jesus.
I miss him.

I Don't Want My Children To Be Happy

I read this amazing post this morning.
READ IT!
A parent writes a letter to their kids explaining why they won't be paying for their college...they are adopting. so good.

I Found My New Best Friend

What in the world is happening?!?!
My friend Angie popped up on facebook chat and said "you will appreciate this" and posted the link to this video.
I almost peed my pants. I appreciate this on so many levels. When he started hittin the high note I about lost all business.
Just sayin'...he would win at the laughing game and I sometimes sing like this for fun. I'm pretty sure he and I would be good friends.