{FeaturedLovely}Meet Elise from Dear Family

Hi everyone! I'm Elise and I blog at Dear Family, I'm so happy to be over here today, but I am not happy about the circumstances. Pray with me for Courtney's wrist please! Feel better soon.

 

Today I brought some cake with me. Not just any cake, chocolate cake, chocolate butter cream frosting, whipped chocolate ganache and on top, chocolate curls.

Recipe here.

The reason I brought this chocolate treat over here today, is because I needed a little "pick-me-up".

My goal for this year has been:

Do one thing everyday that scares you.

-Eleanor Roosevelt 

Now, I can't pretend that every day is full of exciting adventure that has a heroic ending. But until yesterday, all these brave/scary things had quite (to my surprise) happy endings! 

Last night, was to be my first class of a two week "maintenance summer class" with the Milwaukee b
Ballet School. After quitting ballet for over 5 years and joining again this winter, I have had quite the difficult task of remembering french, remembering the positions, remembering combinations and the ever-so-difficult task of attempting to make my body move like it used to, or at least how it should. 

I nervously made the drive downtown, parked my car and paid the meter (all while sweating profusely) I was 30 minutes early, just what I wanted although everyone inside gave me looks that made me rethink my decision. I wandered around the Jodi Peck Center, wishing that if I had to take an advanced class "couldn't it at least be at the Milwaukee Ballet campus I take class at, the one by my house?" In a new building, I stumbled through several different doors until a kind girl pointed me upstairs to the dressing room. I quickly changed and the second I stepped foot into the studio, where other dancers were already warming up, I knew. This class was definitely above my level. I knew right then, I would be making many mistakes. At that very moment, my confidence left me. Confidence in ballet class is crucial, I promise you will make a mistake if you do not have it. 

From an outsider's perspective watching the class, they would probably tell you that the combinations were lovely. The dancers were lovely. The jumps, turns, barre and pointe work, absolutely stunning. They would also probably tell you that there seemed to be one girl in class that was just not yet ready to be taking this class - I'll let you guess who that was.

I left pretty embarrassed, in fact the entire class I was trying to figure out a way to slip out without being rude to the teacher. But, this was my scary thing for the day. It took courage and loads of prayers. On the car ride home, I repeated to myself "My worth is not in my performance or talents". I am so happy this is true. As for next week, I will be joining in a slightly lower level. I'm certainly not giving up!

See why I needed some chocolate today?

I hope you have some too, while trying something that requires courage. 

And you can always let me know how it goes!

Love,

Elise

***

Courtney here:
Thank you so much Elise for helping me out as I give my hands/wrists a rest, and for sharing this story!  It is so hard to share some of the let downs and discouragements we face, and I admire your boldness and courage, not only in sharing, but in persevering through the class even though you knew it was beyond your current skill level.  XOXO

{Tending Your Marriage}Garden

I am not a gardener.

But, last Spring I decided throw a few seeds in a few pots, 

almost like a science experiment.

I hoped that perhaps some of them would grow.

My Father-in-Law also gave me a couple of Tomato plants.

They grew like cedar trees, tall and strong.

They flowered, filling me with visions of homemade salsa.

And then…

No fruit was found on them.

Gardening is not an easy task.  

I'm not even sure that I would claim to enjoy it,

but there is something in my nature that desires to do it, 

and to succeed at doing it.

Marriage is a lot like gardening.

For most of us, we start out with a grandiose vision of what our garden will look like.

We envision an abundance of brightly colored blooms,
all flourishing together under blue skies and sunshine.

But, often to our shock and dismay, we find ourselves frustrated by the lack of fruit we are producing.

Like gardening, Marriage takes hard dedicated work.

The work of humble hands and hearts.

When I look at the old weathered clay pots sitting on my patio, I am reminded of God's word.

We are the clay, you are the potter, we are all the work of your hand.
Isaiah 64:8

Each of us is like a clay pot being molded and shaped as we seek God in our lives.

In our Marriages we start as two clay pots,
but over time God allows us to be broken down and re-formed together into one.

As He fills us with the new fertile soil of His spirit living within us,
He gives us the responsibility to sow good seed.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.
Proverbs 18:21


We have a choice, we can either sow good seed into our marriage or bad seed.  

When we sow strife, discontent, misunderstanding, resentment and unforgiveness,
our marriage, like a delicate flower wilts and withers.

When we sow good seed: quality time, love and respect, empathy and compassion, and most of all, GRACE, our marriage produces new life.

How blessed we are to have God, the master Gardener,
to continually reveal to us the condition of our marriages by the fruit He brings forth.

How is your garden growing?

Are you seeing the fruit that you desire or is God revealing some weeds that need to be pulled out?

God wants your marriage to flourish like a beautiful garden, ripe with fruit.

by Alicia Jo McMahan

Invite Him into your garden today…

You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.
Isaiah 58:11

Images used in this post have been licensed for my use with permission from their owners, 

please do not use these images without approval.

{Outside the Box}

I am by no means a crafty lady, but occasionally I do like to try things that stretch me outside my comfort zone.  I've really enjoyed seeing gallery wall ideas on Pinterest, and other people's blogs, as well as in homes of some friends in my neighborhood.

I have been collecting items for a while to add create my own interpretation of a gallery wall, adding a little bit of a comfortable homey feel to our NYC apartment.  It is a bit of a struggle when living in NYC to allow yourself to be settled enough in one place to actually make your space "homey."  

Over the last couple of years we've moved three times, so I've been somewhat reserved to put in the time and energy to decorate and get comfortable.  But, alas, I've begun my gallery wall which I'm happy to be sharing with you here today!

 I've literally been throwing miscellaneous items into a box since before Christmas in anticipation of getting my wall started.  I've done a couple of Michael's runs, plus had miscellaneous craft leftovers from various projects I've attempted previously.

 I took all of my "frames" which were simply shoebox lids of varying shapes and sizes and covered them with scrapbooking paper.  I tried to pick a variety of colors, designs and textures that would still correspond with each other in some way.

 Next I added photographs using double sided tape, and dressed up each frame with scrapbooking stickers, and other fun things.  

Here are a few more examples:

 For the backing I used yarn and felt squares with hot glue.  

Make sure you measure your nails or picture mounts to help determine where you should place the yarn so that the actual mounts are hidden behind the pictures.

 Once you have a good collection of different items to hang, go ahead and put them up, you can always experiment with hanging them in different places until you find something you like.

 Here is my before:

 And after:

I still plan on adding a few items to my wall later on, including a few decals, 

and possibly some painted toilet paper roll flowers.

And of course more pictures over time.

What do you think?

{ReadingList}

I've decided to make a concerted effort to get more reading time in.  

Instead of my usual technology cut-off time at 10pm, 

I'm attempting to push it back to 9pm, 

giving me a full hour of reading before I get in bed.  

(I try to be in bed by 10pm most nights…

you don't want to mess with the sleep-deprived version of me!)  

Here are the next 10 books in my reading list:

Borrowed this from a friend late last year and started it but haven't finished it.  

I loved the movie, I'm a HUGE Rachel McAdams fan.

Also started, but not finished.

This book has actually helped me in ALL of my relationships.

Not even finished and highly recommend it!

Recently bought the Kindle edition of this book.

I'm extremely nervous to delve into this one, so not sure when I'll start it.

I will be doing a few workbooks alongside it.

Jerry and I are almost finished with this.

We also have the companion workbooks.

When we don't have time to do a full "Love Talk" exercise, 

we turn to this wonderful devotional.

We are always amazed by the profound wisdom expressed in these short 2 page devotions.

We've read through the Five Love Languages for Singles & Couples.

Looking forward to reading this and starting to identify Zion's love languages.

I watched the movie Fireproof and wanted to read "The Love Dare"

but believe that I should probably read this one first.

I haven't read this yet, its sitting on my stack,

mostly because I know I'll get sucked in and have to read the entire series.

This is an amazing devotional for moms.

It is funny, light-hearted yet poignant.  

I started it, but couldn't keep my focus so it is shelved for now.

I've only had the pleasure of reading one other Beth Moore book,

however; I know this lady goes deep in her writing.

I'm really looking forward to getting into this one!

What books are you reading?

Anything you simply cannot put down!?

{Priorities}

by Kristin Smith

Finding balance in my life 

has always been a

challenge.

I'm the kind of person that takes on a lot,

even when maybe 

I shouldn't.

I know I'm not superwoman,

and 

I know how to say 

"No."

It often seems that 

just when I think I have everything

under control

something always 

tips the scale 

in the other direction.

But, the truth

lies in my 

priorities.

Often when things feel like

chaos,

I find that I've allowed my priorities to

shift out of their rightful order.

I've stopped 

keeping the first thing

first.

Lately,

it's been 

Writing, Family, then God.

And it's not working 

for me.

by Andrea Brancaccio

I know what I must do.

I've discovered the 

secret:

Time spent 

with 

God

is time

multiplied.

When my priorities are right

there is

harmony.

When there is harmony,

there is 

rest.

Is your life in balance

or are you 

struggling

amidst the chaos?

The Lord says:

"Come to me, 

all you who are weary and burdened, 

and I will give you rest.  

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, 

for I am gentle and humble in heart, 

and you will find rest for your souls.  

For my yoke is easy and 

my burden is light."

Matthew 11:28-30

by Jesse Therrien

The Loveliest May

WINNER!

Congrats to Meredith 

for winning the mark. cosmetics giveaway, 

generously offered by my Featured Lovely in May, 

Michelle from Heartfelt Balance, Handmade Life!!

Now sit back and enjoy, some of the Loveliest posts from May!

(Click a thumbnail to read a post!)

   
   

And Lastly,

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