miscellany monday

write random and join in below!
phone photos! find me on instagram @carissa_graham

one.

cooking, grocery planning and shopping has long been a struggle of mine. mostly because i hate cooking. i want to be like the people that love to cook. but i just can't seem to. so, i thought, duh! why not pray it over. why not pray my way through the grocery store, asking God to take my clumsy hands that burn toast and scattered mind that forgets the grocery list at home and make it something healthy, delicious, and budget friendly. if He can calm a storm and part the sea, surely He can help me with this little task! no matter what, as hard as it is to find the time for it, meal planning is always helpful. here is a great resource for meal planning - i have done bits and pieces of the meal plans when i'm in a rush and need help or when i'm too tired to come up with my own. i also want to get the Bread and Wine cookbook. i think a new cookbook is inspiring and get's me more excited about being in the kitchen. (also! i created my very own recipe last night and can't wait to share it with you. very versatile - very easy - very delicious. verily, good, i tell you. miracles are in the making.)

two.

Hunter is all finished with 3 year old preschool. it was so good for him. he made his own friends and blossomed. he went from a very shy boy to a friendly little guy who engages in conversation with kiddos on his own. i will miss sending him twice/week. he is going to drive me crazy at home begging to make crafts. they/re his favorite. preschool was a good way to get that out of his system. so, if you need me this summer, i'll be crafting with my boy.

three.

this man of mine happens to be one fine assistant. we had a wedding on friday evening and i've decided i like employing him. he takes darn good pictures too, for the win! also, this sweet man took the kids and let me work for a whole entire day. normally i work at naptime or stay up wayyyy late to get photo processing done. not on this day. i have a mighty good man.

four.

so i do have a recipe for you today. surprise! this is too easy it truly feels like cheating. whole wheat tortilla + basil pesto + mozzarella + fresh basil + red peppers. 8 minutes at 350 degrees. i have also cooked it a little less and rolled it up like a wrap. my kids like it with plain cheese and a few veggies. the possibilities are endless and it's a great way to use up extra tortillas leftover from mexican night.

five.

beach time! i didn't have to work saturday afternoon or evening for what felt like the first time in an eternity, so we trekked out to our favorite beach fishing spot, built sand castles (or something like that) and put our line's in the water. only sister said the water was "meanie" and instead threw her line in the sand. whatevs. it all worked out in the end.

LINK UP BELOW-

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telling it real; risk is right. + a winner

we don't sugar coat things around here, unless we're talking cupcakes that is. when big events happen, we tell our kids. we tell them about persecution. we tell them about evil. we tell them about sin. because not only is it in our world, it's in our hearts. and if they don't understand their sin, how will they see their need for a Rescue?

i want to bottle them up, these little hearts of mine, tuck them away, remove all dangers that could possibly touch them. but is that really living?? instead i just let them run around railroad tracks. ; ) these are barely in use any longer, fyi. 

"safety is a myth. you can't put enough padlocks on your door or bars on your windows to keep from having a heart-attack. any safety nets we may use, are ultimately an illusion; there are no guarantees. our life is in God's hands. Jesus said, if they persecute me, they will persecute you. Paul said you enter the Kingdom through many afflictions. Peter said don't think it's strange when a fiery ordeal comes upon you."

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, (2 Timothy 3:12, ESV)

everyone who decides to live a Godly life will be persecuted. there are continual promises in the New Testament of suffering...

And he said to all, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. (Luke 9:23, ESV)

so why should we teach our children otherwise? why should we live otherwise? we cannot avoid risk; let's embrace it for Gospel purposes.

all quotes are paraphrased from John Piper's Risk is Right.

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the winner of the Lemonade Makin Mama giveaway is: TARA!!!  she's a light, go visit her. congrats, sweet lady. (email me! lowercaselettersblog at gmail)

LEMONADE MAKIN' MAMA GIVEAWAY + misc. monday!

write random and join in below.

1. folks. i was tired five days ago. now i'm plumb expired. forgive me if anything said here is senseless. it's quite possible. i finished wedding #4 in seven days on Saturday and therefore have mostly phone photos for you today. you understand, right? find me on instagram @carissa_graham.  here's a phone photo preview from a recent wedding. swoon.

2. and here is a real wedding image from last week, to even things out. this was taken with an on-camera flash and an off-camera flash held behind the gorgeous couple. also? kelly was my 2nd shooter and flash holder. he's officially hired. i love my husband.


3. i don't deserve to be mom to two precious babes. His grace is endless and He is exceptionally kind.

4. it's not an airstream, nor is it mine, but still. completely photo worthy.

5. chick-fil-a has a new line of salads. which is really amazing because the old ones were getting so old. i've tried the asian one, and it only has 330 calories of good, fulfilling nutrition. it got me through an 8 hour wedding day without even feeling hungry. success!

6. if you don't know Sasha, the Lemonade Makin' Mama, you should. she's all kinds of talented, has a sweet soul, and a huge heart.

you have a chance to win one of her most popular items, an Antique Ball canning jar flour sack dish towel from her lovely shop. just leave a comment here saying you want one and you're entered to win. yay! hurry... giveaway ends on Wednesday, 5/15/13 at 9pm EST.  GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED. WINNER ANNOUNCED FRIDAY, 5/17/13

it's your turn. link up below!

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