Inspiration May: Day 9

On day 9, I have decided to share my favorite Bible verse that inspires me.

This verse has been helpful to me over the past year as I have hit highs and lows since I have graduated college. After graduating, I was afraid of the real world and finding a job. After getting a job, I was nervous about moving away from home and living by myself on my own. Now, I am back to looking for a job again and am grateful for this verse as a reminder that God has prepared my paths before me and will be with me always. Why should I be afraid or discouraged? God is in control. Always has been and always will be. And in that, I take comfort in this verse as an inspiration in my life.

Inspiration May: Day 8

Today in Day 8 of inspiration May. I find my inspiration today no further than my backyard.

I have been blessed to grow up and live in rural Alabama most of my life. For four years, I did move off to college but still used this as a refuge to come to when I needed to relieve stress from living in the city (Birmingham) and for a few months when I had a teaching job away from home. I love calling this place home. All my worries disappear once I take a deep country air breath. I love to sit on the porch reading a good book, laying in the backyard soaking up some sun, or sitting out under the carport at night listening to the crickets chirp and lightning bugs flicker. It inspires me by having me let go of my problems and struggles and take in the beauty God has created before me.

Inspiration May: Day 7

Last night on Facebook, I saw a very disturbing video about a girl who worked at an abortion clinic who created a video publicizing her experience. She actually bragged about doing it saying that she was in awe that she could create life. I wonder if she is in awe that she ended an innocent life as well. A baby who God created for a purpose, but she ended his/her life all because she made irresponsible choices and didn't want to live with the consequences and allow the child to be a blessing. So my inspiration today is March of Dimes.

March of Dimes helps parents and families of premature babies. Many years ago when children where born prematurely, there was little to no chance that they would survive. Now, thanks to March of Dimes, most children survive and thrive! Money goes toward research to find the best ways to help young babies and their families. In college, when I was in Gamma Sigma Sigma, this was one of our biggest philanthropies that we helped sponsor. I enjoyed raising money for the cause. One year, I raised over $1000 getting my family, friends, church, and high school involved. I also loved doing the walk as well with many people who wanted to the support the cause and people who were positively impacted by March of Dimes. If you would like to donate to the cause, visit the March of Dimes website here! :)

Inspiration May: Day 6

Over the last year, I have been reading a book over and over to go to for encouragement. Life had me down and I read it, then I stopped. Today, I finally finished reading this book as it has been an inspiration to me over the last year.

You're Already Amazing by Holley Gerth is a book that talks about how we as women can sometimes feel as though we just aren't enough in the world we live in. As a teacher, I see my teacher friends make the cutest decorations and wonderful class projects and I think to myself how I'm not good enough because I'm not that creative nor can afford everything. Well, God thinks I am pretty wonderful the way I am and created me the way I am for His purpose. I may not understand it all the time, and it's not really all about understanding it either. It's all about receiving the gifts and blessings He has given me and fully giving myself to Him in return to glorify Him and to use every part of me (the good and bad) in His way. You may feel like you aren't keeping up with the Jones, but God didn't make you that way. He made you as you are, to fully embrace all that He made you to be, and to give it all to Him.

Inspiration May: Day 5

Well, here we are on Day 5 of our inspirational month. I decided to tap in on my creative side into something that inspires me in many ways.

Paint! I am definitely not the most creative person, but I do enjoy painting. It is very relaxing and I always feel good after I accomplish a painting. If you read one of my previous posts, you will remember that I get many of my ideas for painting from Pinterest. There is just something fun about expressing yourself through many different colors and creating something that you are proud of. I have bought wall art before and some pieces have gotten torn or broken. When you make something, you are able to take ownership in it. I take much better care of the paintings, and crafts, I create because they mean more than just a canvas with paint on it.

This is a painting I made for my sister's birthday when I was in college. It was the first painting I did that I gave someone.

This is a painting I made for my sister's friend that she gave her for her birthday. It was the first painting I made and received money for.

This is a painting I made for my brother. I was experimenting with different medias to use on canvases, so this isn't my best work. But sometimes you just don't know what it will look like until you experiment.

The two pictures above are the first 2 paintings I made when I was in college. I was in the community service sorority Gamma Sigma Sigma. I made one of the paintings to put on my wall at my college dorm and the other was a gift for my little.

This is a painting that my brother, sister, and myself  made for our mom for Mother's Day in 2012.

This is a painting I made for my boyfriend's sweet mother for her birthday last year. It is one of her favorite verses.

I know that when you first see this, you are probably thinking "That's not paint!" I actually painted the canvas using multiple colors so that the background would be the blue I wanted. I got the idea for this canvas from reading Proverbs 31. This chapter in the Bible talks a lot about how to be a Godly woman. I cut out words from magazines (a great way to make a witness out of secular magazines) that went along with what Proverbs 31 said and modge-podged them down. I also used various stickers to add a little sparkle.

This is my latest painting. Chevron is the new pattern, so I really wanted to try it out along with using a Bible verse. This was my first experiment using paint markers, so I hope to improve as I get used to them. I used this verse with my boyfriend in mind. :)

Inspiration May: Day 4

Today is Day 4 of Inspiration May. I find my inspiration from a very special person in my life. We have been through a lot over the past year we have been together, but I am so glad to have my best friend by my side through thick and thin.

James is my wonderful boyfriend that I have been dating (off and on) since April 27, 2013. Sure we have experienced lots of rough patches, but having us both refocus on God and putting Him in the center of our relationship has gotten us through the trenches and has brought us to the happy place we are at now together. He is my best friend who I can go to for anything. When I don't feel good or have a bad day, he cheers me up. When I am happy, he rejoices with me. He is always there for me and spoils me silly.

I mean check out these gorgeous flowers he gave me for absolutely no reason except for that he just wanted to show me that he loves me. I really am a lucky and blessed girl to have him as my boyfriend. He inspires me to work hard and achieve my goals as he always has my back. I know I don't express it much because I am awful at the mushy and gushy, lovey-dovey stuff, but I am glad that I am in love with my best friend.

Inspiration May: Day 3

Today my inspiration comes from a little guy who has brought me happiness for the last 2 years.

Meet Charlie, my funny, witty, goofy dog. It was around March/April of 2012 when my family brought him, and another dog, home. I was a Junior in college and stressed out about projects I was working on. My sister was going to pick out a dog, and my dad was feeling bad about me getting stressed out, so they came home with 2 puppies. We no longer have the other dog, but Charlie has stuck with us and is the sweetest dog and is very obedient. He will sit for me and just adores being loved on by anyone. Whenever I am sad, he will come sit with me and cheer me back up. The innocence a dog has is one to bring comfort or joy to anyone. They are so carefree and live life to the fullest to please their owners. For example, Charlie hates water. This makes giving him a bath a challenge. Today, he did give somewhat of a fight but stuck it out better than I thought he would because he knew I wanted him to have a bath. It has been 2 wonderful years with this crazy puppy that I wouldn't have traded for any other dog.