2011 April

On Facebook, Good Books and a Storybook {Royal} Wedding

Prince William and Kate Middleton

Howdy, Y’all! I’ve got a hodgepodge of fixings for you today! First: Chasing Blue Skies now has a facebook page. If you’d liked to connect this way, you can click here to like Chasing Blue Skies. I’ll be getting a facebook link up in the navbar lickety split.

Also, I’ve been adding books and other reads to my refreshing resources page. If you have a suggestion for something I should read and add, then for Pete’s sake, tell me!

Finally, y’all know that Will and Kate are tying the royal knot this Friday! Is anyone looking forward to this besides me?

I. Can’t. Wait!

I clearly remember that early morning when I was 7 years old and my little sister was 5, when my Mama coaxed our sleepy selves out of bed with cinnamon rolls and jelly-filled pastries. We eventually perked up and watched wide-eyed as Lady Diana became a genuine princess. We wondered what it would be like to be a flower girl in such a shindig. I even remember hearing Diana repeating Charles’ mile long name out of order.

Now my daughter is 7, and you can bet your boots we’ll be watching this wedding together.

I. Can’t. Wait!

So tell me, will you be watching, too? Or is this just not your thang?

photo credit: Mario Testino

April 27, 2011 13 Comments Filed Under: Hodgepodge

Music on a Monday

By Kristen

Between snowy weather and a daughter with an ugly stomach bug, our Easter did not look as expected. In light of this, my bleary-eyed Monday has me moving slow and feeling behind. If putting the pedal to the metal is difficult for you on this Monday, too, let some music from two very talented Okies get you jumpstarted. If it doesn’t give you goosebumps galore, then you ain’t breathin’!

While it has been circulating for a few days, I first saw this video of Vince Gill and Carrie Underwood singing How Great Thou Art at Amanda’s blog. If you are reading this in a reader or via email, please click here to view the video.

Easter Sunday has come and gone, but the Good News lives on!

April 25, 2011 5 Comments Filed Under: Easter, Music

My Stars, That’s Big Love

By Kristen

God’s love is meteoric,

his loyalty astronomic,

His purpose titanic,

his verdicts oceanic.

Yet in his largeness

nothing gets lost;

Not a man, not a mouse,

slips through the cracks.

Psalm 36:5-6 (The Message)

These words of enormous love make me stop and know: His grace is sufficient, limitless. I am seen, and so are you. I am enough, and so are you. Let that truth wash over your sweet self.

April 22, 2011 4 Comments Filed Under: Easter, Faith, Grace

When You Want to Really Bloom

By Kristen

He was the first man to tell me I was beautiful. His eyes showed complete sincerity when he said it, and he made my heart think I was pretty even if my head wasn’t convinced. He said what he felt and he meant it.

And then there was that weekend he was away from campus, he was in the reserves and had duty in Oklahoma City. We had been dating less than two weeks. My roommate was gone, too, so it was just me and a movie on a Saturday night. Then the phone rings, and I answer and about die when it’s him and he says he drove back to Stillwater because he missed me and could I have dinner with him before he has to be back in the city later that night?

I couldn’t believe this boy would drive three hours round trip for a two hour dinner. But he did. To care so much, really? Amazing. We dined on pizza while I got my first taste of love, real love that shows it’s genuine by walking the walk.

17 years later, I still cry thinking of that dinner where he cared and I bloomed.

On this week leading up to Easter, I think of how Jesus walked the ultimate, genuine walk. To face all He faced…why don’t I cry every time I remember this? He knew the cup He would drink and the suffering would be agony, but He pressed on towards Calvary. To care so much, really? Amazing. If I want to really bloom, don’t I need to really believe how much He cares?

Lord, may my heart never grow cold to your most incredible gift of Love. May the wonder of it feel real to me this week and always.