Is it really more fun, to have fun?

"Well yeah, of course", you say.

Hypothetically, it's more enjoyable to be the one having the fun,
than the one with the disapproving glare.

You can say all you want, but I've got to try it out on my own...
it's time for an experiment!

I've already tried being the one with the disapproving glare and trust me,
I've mastered it.

It's time to try the opposite...

See ya on the flip side, because life's too short to glare. 

Part 1: Of the Faithless & Faithful One

I like to think back in years. For example, I like to think, what was happening one year ago, today. 

Of course, sometimes thinking back to the past, dwelling on anniversaries and specific events can bring grief back to the forefront and suck the joy right out of our present circumstances.

 That's not my purpose of this post. 

I'm not going to review the past for the purpose of grief but for the purpose of joy and for the purpose of moving forward and beyond. For change.

A year ago today, I'm sure I was wallowing in self pity and most definitely doubting God's goodness and plan. That's pretty common for a girl named Grace. Worry seems to be her best friend. 

But why does it need to be so? 

Why must I be the polar opposite of what I should be? 

God has always proven more than faithful, more than good. 

He's been my opposite. When I was faithless, He's been faithful. 

Here's the proof:

Husband & Wife

Even amidst my doubting, fearful, even angry heart... God has provided every last blessing that I have NOT deserved. And that is a whole other conversation for another day. 

So the reason for looking back are two lessons for today. 

1] What am I worrying about?  Whatever it is, I need to give it to God and have faith in His goodness, because His plan is so perfect. 

2] God has blessed me far more than I deserve. Part 2 coming on that soon. 

Where is God proving opposite of you in your life today? 

Six on Sunday: List #1

1. I operate in lists. I have a list for any aspect of me: work lists, grocery lists, menu lists, chore lists. If there is something to do, it's probably on a list. That's why I heart Six on Sunday. It's easy and organized. 

2. Creative outlets overwhelm me. I get discouraged because I want to do it all, and do it all well. If I can't do it well, I end up nothing at all.

 If I didn't have anything else to do with my life besides creating, each day would have it's own creative assignment. My dream world would look a little like this:

Monday: Grace is photographer
Tuesday: Grace is graphic designer
Wednesday: Grace is baker and owner of Miss Gracie's Sweet Shoppe
Thursday: Grace is interior decorator 
Friday: Grace is barista at Miss Gracie's Sweet Shoppe
Saturday: Grace is Cleaning, budgeting, creating spreadsheets and overall being Type A
Sunday: Grace is TIRED

Well, I tried to make it through the week without letting the clean freak/nerd make it's way back into my life. But my sweet husband would remind me that Type A is WHO Grace is.

3. Lifehouse = best band ever. Right now I am listening to every last one of their songs on shuffle.

4. I am satisfied with a 1000 sq foot townhouse. Cleaning eats up my life as it is, why add to it?

5. My picture entry of one of our wedding photos made it as a finalist last Sunday. See it here: http://thepioneerwoman.com/photography/2011/03/sister-photo-finalists/. If you are looking for a wedding photographer, there is none other I would recommend than Jamie Hudson Photography.

6. I want a new dress for each day of the week. Nothing says spring to me like a fun flirty dress with flip flops.

Six on Sunday: Kitchen Gadgets I Wouldn't Cook Without

Chopping Mats

These are worth every penny of the whole $5.00 you will spend for 3-5 mats. Imagine chopping some onions,
picking up the mat, bending and letting the onions fall gracefully into your pot. No mess required. 

Bench Scraper

A bench scraper makes clean up pretty much as easy as it gets. Scrape up dough pieces that are stuck to the counter, excess flour and all, and dump into trash.

Kitchen-Aid Can Opener

You'd better believe I bought a brand name can opener. The $3 dollar cheapy I first bought at Wal Mart lasted about 3 weeks, and KILLED my hands & wrists every time I opened a measly aluminum can.

Rada Cook's Knife

Chopping with dull knifes?
Now you don't have to, because Rada Cutlery makes a really great product! I literally ordered a set of knifes
the day after we got home from our honeymoon. Good knifes make cooking so much better.

Oven Liner

BEEP BEEP BEEP. That's the sound of our smoke alarm going of because,
yes, 
the pie I baked last weekend 
ooed and gooed all over the bottom of my oven.
I don't have time to scrub my oven after every baking escapade, but this makes it so all you
have to do is remove the liner from the oven and gently wipe all the burnt particles into the trash.
Again, clean up made easy. 

A Good Whisk

You call that inflexible 3 wired thing a whisk??? Really?
I don't have ALL day to froth up my eggs for the ooey goodness of pastry cream. 

A Bride Adorned

Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth,

 for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. 

Also there was no more sea. Then, I, John, saw the holy city,

 New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God,

 prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 

And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, 

"Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, 

and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain for the former things have passed away".

Then He who sat on the throne said, " Behold,  I make all things new." 

 And He said to me, "Write, for these word are true and faithful." 

And He said to me, It is done!

 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End.

 I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.

 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and 

I will be his God and he shall be My son. 

Revelation 21:1-7

______________________________

Sometimes life has a way of getting you down, even when things are going UP.

 Eternal perspective changes everything.

 When you read of God's love, 

His ultimate plan for our future,

 all of the sudden the plans of earth no longer matter. 

In heaven, we will be HIS bride, HE will wipe away the tears, HE will take away the pain,

 and HE will ALWAYS BE PRESENT WITH US.  

Did you know God can do all that for you today? It's your choice. 

Are you lonely?

Run to His arms. 

Is life more than you can bear?

Run to His arms.

Are your crying?

Run to His arms.

He is waiting.