Wordless Week. {Classic Car Show.New Carpet}

Uncomparable.

 

 

 

Hello friend.

 

Hope you are having a wonderful weekend in this beautiful sunshine. :)

 

This morning I woke up with a word echoing on my heart.

 

COMPARISON.

 

I think as humans we all fall into this pattern of comparing to others, and ladies, I think we do it more often. It’s so easy to look at the woman across the room, across social media, across the classroom, across the playground at the park, thinking: “I should be more like her.” or "she's got it all"

 

We compare clothes, talents, our current stage in life, how many friends we have on Facebook. We crave validation and surely if we can be like the people we admire then we will have it all.

 

Yet God doesn’t compare you to anyone else.

 

 Not that friend whose house looks like a feature in Better Homes & Gardens magazine.

 

Not the woman at the friend get-together who knows how to make everyone laugh at just the right moment.

 

Not even someone who seems to have a direct line to Jesus while you feel like you’re dialing the wrong number.

 

 Not to any of those—or any other woman who has ever been or ever will be.

 

When you gave your life to Jesus you became a “new creation.”

 

Listen closely: it doesn’t say “a new human being.” A new creation.

 

In other words, God made you into something the world has never seen before and never will again.

 

I think it’s important enough to say this to you because women struggle so much with comparison:

 

You are a one-of-a-kind masterpiece, a custom design, a work of art.

 

And when there is only one of something, it’s impossible to compare it.

 

That means since there’s only one of you, you can’t be compared either.

 

When God looks at you, He sees His handiwork and the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. That’s it. The only standard He ever asked you to meet is the one Jesus met in your place.

 

So you are free from being compared.

 

What do you do instead?

 

Be the you He has created, called, and redeemed you to be.

 

Develop your strengths. Discover your gifts. Do whatever you can to serve those around you with what you have. Display His glory by living fully alive, by beautifully reflecting the part of His image He has crafted into you.

 

Give yourself permission to stop comparing. Instead, start celebrating who you are and the God who made you that way :) Then let your heart feel His response…and His incomparable joy.

 

XOXO, Kess

 

The Tuesday Ten. {vol 5}

Hello lovelies! Good gracious, I just noticed I haven't wrote a Tuesday post in a month...good grief!  Here it goes:

1. Five Months.

Henry is 5 months old on the 27th, and I am in deep denial. Because that means he is 6 months in June,  and THAT means we are half way to his FIRST birthday. Nooooo way :"( My mommy heart just aches. Time needs to slow down. I find myself constantly cherishing and taking in the moments, counting my blessings with each day Henry grows; time is still flying by! I want him to stay my little one, my cuddly, tiny, little one. I truly don't take him for granted; he is so special ♥

2. Oklahoma.

I woke up early this morning, flipped on the tv, and instantly my heart dropped. ABC had an exclusive news story about twisters in Oklahoma. My stomach was in knots just watching the footage of home after home demolished by this monsterous twister. If you are able to, you can donate to Red Cross, Salvation Army, or Operation USA to give relief those families.

1 Peter 5:7 ♥

3. Proverbs.

I started reading my bible again, reading a chapter of Proverbs a day. I really like the book of Proverbs because it acts as a guidance on a multitude of situations you face on a regular basis...dont we all need that advise or what?! It teaches us that our words are carriers of either life or death, that a happy heart does us good like a medicine, and to trust in the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.

"Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind, and do not rely on your own insight or understanding. In all of your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths ."
 -Proverbs 3:5-6

4. CARPET.

We bought our house in August 2011 and we have really enjoyed having a home. The house had a really bad eye sore....the carpet!! Its this nasty light green (i think its green?!) color and is extremely stained and worn down. I think the kids that lived here previously mustve rolled in mud and then sat down with cups of koolaid while painting haha its so dingy! No vaccueming or carpet cleaning we have done has done any justice. Well we finally are getting it replaced and I am SOOOO excited. You know you are an adult when home improvements make you giddy haha! We are getting it installed on Friday and I can't wait to see how our home will look. It will be so nice for when Henry gets crawling and stuff too :)

 5. China Hutch.

 Hanks mom had a china hutch, and it was passed down to him. It has been sitting in our garage for months now needing to be restored. Does anyone know how to restore or paint a hutch?! If so I really could use the tips!! I really want to restore it to a cherry red color and collect vintage Pyrex to display, as well as a china set from Hanks grandma. Here's some ideas of what I want! If you have any old dishes like this or know of where to get some, hook a sister up! :) 

6. Strength.

I have a sweet friend of mine that recently had her husband deployed and has moved back to Pocatello. I cannot seem to fathom what a mix of emotions and hardships that her heart must be feeling. Denial, fear, anger, loneliness, anxiety, I bet you feel it all at once, and each at intensified levels. Yet, despite all circumstances, she has shown true strength and support for her husband. Im so proud to call her a friend, and blessed I can be here for her the 9 months he is away. These men arent just gone for a weekend, or a simple work meeting, far from comparison to that!! They are across the globe, seeking and fighting for America and the home they protect and believe in. Youve got this girlfriend, you can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens you ♥

7. Graveyards.

Hank is going to be starting up the ultimate crummy shift soon, working 9PM to 7AM :( UGH! Need I say more?! This is going to be rough.

8. Playdates.

Recently, I met a gal around the same age as me, and she has a little baby boy 2months younger than Henry and it has been an extreme blessing. We have gone to the zoo, as well as out to dinner with our husbands. Its nice to meet new people and for Henry to have a little guy to play with as well:) We are going to start up working out together and even scrapbooking our little guys pictures really soon! We are going to have a fun summer with these guys!

9. Wise Words.

Need this as a daily reminder!

10. Argo.

Hank has been wanting to see this movie for a LONG time; so we finally redboxed it and I must say that it was a WONDERFUL movie. I highly recommend it; the suspense will about break you! Haha! Its also a true story, I really really enjoyed it. 

There is my Ten for Tuesday :) Have a blessed week, be kind to one another!

《Xoxo, KESS♥》  

Hey You ♥

Hey You,

I’m thinking of you today.

Maybe you’re out running errands, behind a desk, or curled up on your couch.

Wherever you are, if I asked you how you’re doing I imagine “tired” might be part of your answer.

We live in a rush-rush world. 

So in this moment, this quiet space, can I invite you to simply be still for a moment?

Exhale.

 Let the worries go. Tell God what’s on your mind, what’s happening in your day, what your heart needs.

Inhale. 

Listen for His voice in return. Receive what He has to give you. Feel His love. Remember He’s with you in every moment, including this one.

What did you say to Him?

What did you hear?

Let it change the rest of your day.

And maybe even the rest of your life.

Happy weekend to you, sunshine. :)

XOXO, Kess

Wordless Week. {Zoo.Dedication.Mothers Day}

》H A N K 《

My husband has always been someone I hold near and dear to my heart, but lately I've opened my eyes to just how much he means to me. We have now been together for five years, and yet I still feel that excitement and joy to be in his company. 

Recently I've been having a rough time; I'm just dealing with a lot of battles emotionally and just want to close off from everything all together. My husband sees that, he hasn't had to ask me, he already knows and has stepped in with kindness.

 A lot of the time I feel I don't deserve the companionship that I have with Hank, but I am truly grateful for it each day.

What's neat to me about our relationship is that we are truly each others best friend, and we were best friends that fell in love. I remember both of us had recent heartbreaks when we first met, and it's as if mending each other and caring for each other through the process sparked love for each other. I feel like I can share my heart with him,  the good, the bad, crazy, silly, or confusing,  and look over and he is there. Always is ♥ He just loves me through all of it.

Whether we are goofing off dancing to funny songs in the kitchen cooking dinner, or watching the sky out on the back porch at night, I feel content with him and content with his company.  He is a wonderful father to Henry, and a wonderful husband to me.

I'm excited to see where this crazy adventure called life takes us. What will we become?  Where will we go? What places will we see? Will our family grow? What opportunities will arise? All I know is as long as he is who I share those with, life will be quite the blessed ride.

Sorry to go all mushy gush on y'all. I'm normally pretty private about lovey dovey stuff. I just woke up this morning feeling extremely blessed to wake up to that sweetheart, and the little one that's added to our family :)

Have a wonderful weekend and Happy Mother's Day ♡

♥xoxo, Kess

Broken.

Lately I feel its been easier to just act on my emotions rather than justify them.

Its easier to cry rather than understand the reasons why I am sad.

I feel tired, empty, and lack motivation.

I'm tired of feeling in general actually.

For the longest time I've been hypersensitive with my heart, which can be a good thing, but can also create a problem that isn't there.

I don't want to be depressed and lose these days, robbed of the joy I can be having.

But then I think of how similiar that is with nature. We see life and beauty in the spring and the appearance of death in the winter. Yet in the time of darkness is when the roots of all plants, trees, and flowers are growing deeper.

So maybe in the most challenging and saddest of times is when my soul will grow the most.

Maybe I will develop more compassion, humility,  understanding,  and wisdom.

Maybe I just need to rest, rest in God's love and rest in this season, knowing it won't last forever.

Right now I just feel broken.

I feel everything and nothing at once.

And right now, I need assurance that I'm not nothing. Because I just can't seem to convince myself otherwise.

Wordless Week. {The Wedding}