Pink Blossom Photography

Do you remember the beautiful pictures from this post from our Easter Weekend?

As much as I would love to pretend like I have some mad skills behind the camera the truth is I don't.

The fact that I just used the term "mad skills" pretty much proves my lack of talent.

Those beautiful pictures are the work of someone I'm proud to call a friend, Christina Bryant, owner and founder of Pink Blossom Photography
She is very talented, natural light photographer who is just getting her buisness off the ground. But don't take my word for it...see for yourself!

I encourage you all to go check out her site and see some more of her work. And if you like it....you never know....maybe we can talk her into traveling for some on site jobs.

Anythings possible!

No Blond Sister Left Behind

A couple of weeks ago, due to a death in the family, my favorite Aunt came into town from Dallas. It had been three years since I'd seen her, so to say I was excited would be a huge understatement!
Meet my Moms younger sister, and my favorite aunt Karen.
Just so you know I my other Aunt Kandee was with Karen, but for whatever reason I don't have a picture of her.

(Kandee, I need a picture of you woman! Don't make me get all nasty, because I. Will. Go. There!)

Anyways, so on Friday night we all decided to go out to eat together. There was seven of us and three babies so needless to say we had to take several cars. On the way down there my sister Stacee and I rode with our aunts, Michele rode with my Mom and the babies, and my Dad rode with Stacee's husband.

We had a great dinner. We talked, laughed, reminisced, and ate like never before. So, after dinner when it was time to go my sister Michele decided that she wanted to ride with Karen this time. So, we got in the car and left. My Dad and Stacee's husband got in the truck and they left.

As we were leaving Michele asked:

I hope Stacee knows to ride with Mama, what if we leave her?

I responded with my super concerned, "I'm a great big sister response":

OH, one could only hope we do, cause I would never stop laughing!

Not to soon after that (about two miles down the road) my Mom calls. The conversation went a little like this:

Mom-I wanna know how all three of you girls fit into that back seat?

Me- What are you talking about? OH MY GOD MAMA!! IS STACEE NOT WITH YOU?!?!

Mom-NO SHE'S NOT WITH ME!!!! I THOUGHT SHE WAS GONNA RIDE WITH KAREN SO I LEFT!!!

Me- OH MY GOD!!! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

I seriously started laughing so hard at that point I couldn't talk!

We had just left Stacee at the restaurant! I was seriously about to pee all over Karen's leather interior.

I finally get calmed down, and then I hear this noise. I look around to find that I have Stacee's cell phone! I. Lost. It.

So, not only did we leave her sitting at the restaurant, but I had her cell phone so she couldn't even call anyone!

My mom finally got back to get her, and she was wondering around the parking lot still looking for Karen's car. She had no idea that she had been left. Which only makes it that much funnier because how long can you wander a parking lot without wondering whats up?

Not long for normal people. About 7 minutes if your Stacee.

We finally made it home all safe and sound, the only casualty was Karen's leather seats!

Meet my sister Stacee, whom I love dearly! No really I might abandon her and laugh hysterically at her misfortune, but I love this girl!!!

The Beautiful Touch

This is my 100th post!

I have taken my time writing this one because I wanted it to be something special. (I don't know why I want it it be special now, since I have been bringing you a whole lot of nothing for the past 99 times, but bare with me here)

I didn't know what I wanted to do with it, and to tell you the truth I was kicking myself for not saving the giveaway until now.

So, I have thought and thought and thought and...well you get the idea. There has been one story that has continued to stick out in my mind over and over and...well, you know.

I don't know why this story(actually I do) because I haven't thought of this story in years and years and....OK I'm gonna quit now :)

Its the story of the woman that touched Jesus' robe as he was walking to heal a sick girl. It can be found in Mark 5:21-35.

Jesus was at the height of his popularity and large crowds followed him wherever he went. He was on his way to heal the dying daughter of a friend. When a woman that had been bleeding for 12 years heard of his arrival she said "If I can only touch his garment I will get well". She stood behind Jesus and touched the hem of his robe and was immediately healed. The blood stopped.

Jesus felt the touch and asked "Who touched me?"

His disciples, confused, told him there was no way to know who had touched him because of the throngs of people that were following him. With that many people I would venture to guess that people were bumping into each other all the time. But this time was different. Jesus already knew who touched him and why. He was giving her the chance to come to him.

The women then walked up to him, and she was afraid. Because she had literally had her period for 12 years. She had been shut off from society, her friends, her family, she was an outcast. She has not had contact with another human being for the past 12 years. She was ceremonially unclean.

So, in a sense she defiled Jesus when she touched him. She was afraid that he was angry, and now she would have to be killed for her treachery. But here is the beautiful thing about this story...

Jesus looked at her and said "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction"

So why is this story weighing heavy on my mind? Well, you see it's two fold.

First, this woman had incredible faith. She didn't need to speak to Jesus. She didn't need to meet with Jesus. She didn't even need him to acknowledge that she existed. She believed he was the son of God, and she believed in him enough that touching the edge of the clothes he had on was enough. Can you imagine faith like that?

Second, even though she "defiled" him, even though she was "unclean", even though she was a social outcast, He loved her, and accepted her. Did you notice that he called her daughter? the wretched woman who no one loved. This disgusting creature who deserved death for just touching him. Not only did he love her, but he healed her! No matter where you are in your walk, what you are going through, or what you have done HE loves you as a father, and he accepts you for who you are. There is not one of on this side of heaven that is any cleaner, or deserving than that woman. Sure, we may not have been bleeding for the past 12 years (THANK GOD) but we are just as unclean, and disgusting as she is. We also deserve death like she did.

But, what sets us apart from her is she was willing to take a huge chance based on faith.

Are you?

Our Easter Weekend

How was yours?

And The Winner Is...

Well the contest has come to a close. The good people over at random.org have chose the winner!
They chose comment number 16!

Allyson & Jere said...
Stopping by from SITS. I would totally have to go for the stroller. I need something lightweight and easier to lug around. Fun giveaway!

Congrats Allyson! I have a brand new stroller coming at ya!

Please e-mail what color you want, and your info to jennie.newland@yahoo.com by tomorrow at noon!

Thanks for playing!

A Big Man In A Little Boat

From the insistence of Angie I bought Zach The Jesus Storybook Bible. I can only think of one word to describe this book. Wow. This book has touched me in ways I would have never expected from a children's book.

Angie actually wrote a post on this about this time last year. I urge you to go read. She writes far more beautifully than I could ever hope to.

In this book they put the point of what you are reading so simply that it just becomes so clear! I feel like when I read it that its stuff that I was already aware of, but until I read it "dummed down" I didn't really know it. I was reading in it yesterday and came across a story that made me put the book down and spend a few minutes at my Father's feet.

(Just as a side note...is that not a beautiful image? To be kneeling at the Holy nail scarred feet of the one who gave his life for us? To me, its an image that is just so humbling like that's exactly where I'm supposed to be...)

Any who, back to the original post...

It's a story that I have read a million times. I had it pounded into my head at Sunday School for years. But I haven't thought of it this way before. It is the story of Jesus calming the storm. It says this in the book:

The fishing boat was blown and buffeted and tossed and turned-back and forth and up and down and left and right and round and round!

And in the middle of the storm, Jesus slept.

Now Jesus' friends had been fisherman all their lives, but in all their years of fishing on this lake they have never seen a storm like this one. No matter how hard they struggled they couldn't control their boat. This storm was to big for them.

But the storm wasn't to big for Jesus.

"HELP!" they screamed. "Wake up!" "Quick, Jesus!" Jesus opened his eyes. Jesus stood up and spoke to the storm.

"HUSH" he said. That's all.

And the strangest thing happened... The winds recognized Jesus' voice. Immediately the wind stoped. The little boat bobbed gently up and down.

Then Jesus turned to his wind torn friends. "Why were you scared?" "Did you forget who I am?" "Did you believe your fears instead of me?"

Jesus' friends had been so afraid, they had only seen the big waves. They had forgotten that, if Jesus was with them, they had nothing to be afraid of.

No matter how small their boat-or how big the storm.

Wow.

I can't begin to tell you how many times I focused on the storms of my life, and forgot that if Jesus was with me I had nothing to fear.

It's almost as though I can hear my Lord say:

Jennifer, why do you focus on the waves? My child have you forgotten who I am, and what I can do

No matter what type of storm you may be going through right now, we serve a God that no storm is to big for. He is with you, and you have nothing to fear.

Tonight I choose to rest in the presence of a Lord that can speak and calm the storm.

Who Dosen't Like Free?

I am excited to announce a first here at Everyday *Mis* Adventures....A GIVEAWAY!!!!!

Yesterday I was contacted by Sean at CNS Stores. This great website that has over 200 online stores! They have Counter Stools, Anything For Baby Stores , and Furniture Stores !!! Pretty much any item that you need they have a store for it! Right down to Bar Stools! It really is a great company that has way to many good things to mention! He wanted to know if I wanted to do a giveaway, or a review (aka I get something for the cheap price of writing a review of whatever I get. Also known as free) I chose to share with you guys and do a giveaway!

Pure sacrifice people, pure sacrifice.

So lets take a look at what you could win:

You can win this beautiful 16 piece dinnerware set. It has a beautiful design that would go great with any decor! I love this set!
Or this 9.5 ounce Wine Glass set. It has a cute dragonfly motif and comes in a set of 6!

This just about made me go with the review! I have made it no secret that I LOVE my coffee. You could win this 2 cup espresso/cappuccino maker!

Or, you could also win ONE of these strollers. They are super lightweight and super cute!

So, what do you do to win? Well its actually really easy...

LEAVE A COMMENT TELLING ME WHICH ITEM YOU WOULD PICK IF YOU WON!

That's all.

The contest will end Tuesday March 30 at Noon Eastern Time.

Good Luck!