happy miscellany monday (and halloween).

write random and join in below.

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1. i took over 300 pictures this weekend.  all in one day.  can't wait to throw them at your face.  : )

2. i am in an exceptionally good mood today.  my money maker (aka my husband) has the entire week off!  this has not happened in a year.  it. is. time!  we are going nowhere but here and will enjoy every minute of the sweet rest.

3. is it weird that i wear purple eye-liner? i mean, on most days i don't wear make-up, but when i do, it's purple eye-liner.  supposedly it brings out my amber brown eyes.  someone told me that and i believed them.

4. am i old because i wear dansko shoes everyday in the fall/winter?

5. i do switch up the physician looking style of the danskos with the nurse looking style of crocs every so often.  it keeps me young.  maybe.

6. can you say TOMS?  it's time.  i hope.  i have them on my wishlist.  along with a pair of skinny jeans.  i tried on well over 20 pairs this weekend, jeans that is.  unless you're under 100 lbs or 6 feet tall, i think skinny jeans just don't work.  am i missing a mom version somewhere?! where should i look?  i want to be cool again. ; )

7. or maybe this makes me old: function wins over fashion.  there, i said it.  i never thought the day would come.  i guess the mom in me is winning. i went into forever 21 a week ago and my head started spinning with a "is this what they're wearing nowadays?!" speaking of which, give me some style advice.  i try to make my wardrobe multi-seasonal.  does this work below... the long-sleeve underneath the sun-dress?  be honest.  don't let me look like a girl from the olden days if it does look old-fashioned.  

8. sometimes i get my pouty daughter to stop crying by giving her chocolate or jewelry. don't judge. 

9. oh, do i have a surprise for you tomorrow.  don't miss out.  be back here at 7 am sharp.  SHARP!!!

love, carissa

{miscellany monday}

a must.

Grace for the Good Girl is my favorite book as of late. 

this is a review of sorts.  although i've already told you twice that i highly recommend this book.  now to just share more of why.

emily freeman intricately weaves together Scripture and stories that magically transport you to a corner coffee shop, sitting right next to her.  the book rests around the free gift of Grace from Christ and how to truly live in that, rather than finding our goodness in ourselves.  and even when we know there is no goodness inside of us, we wear a mask, to "prove" there is.  emily's book helped me see how i have done this in my own life. here is my personal story ~

standing in my pudgy, fifth grader body with my boyish haircut, i pulled out my mask for the very first time.  school was back in session and a friend came up to me on the playground.  with youthful recklessness she said, "i heard your dad died a few weeks ago.  we read it in the newspaper.  is that true?"  all i could muster was, "yeah, but i am okay."  because i did not want to have a breakdown right there next to the popular crowd and be called a cry baby. 

and so it started.  saying i was fine whenever asked, being as strong as a just-turned-ten-year-old girl could.  hiding my weeds and only showing the pretty blooms.  the mask of responsibility and maturity and strength was firmly fixed in place. 

i married a widower and cried myself to sleep many nights because of it.  how could i be good enough or what if he is comparing me or what if this is too painful or what if i am not equipped for this sort of baggage?  yet, i trodded on, strong, responsible and mature, hardly letting anyone know the depth of my fears, the mask glued tightly to my tear touched face.  in my parent's divorce, my dad's death, a cross-country move, seizures, an emergency c-section, the mask was a companion. 

"There is no magic formula to living life free of masks.  There is no automatic mask remover.  The masks will never disappear completely as long as we live in a fallen world (Grace for the Good Girl, page 220)."

i'm learning and being reminded again and again, that Jesus was perfect for me.  it's okay if i am weak.  He is strong.  He is on the throne and pouring out ceaseless grace for me everyday. and tons of blessings... there is nothing like looking into the eyes of my honey or kids and seeing that very grace.

"Jesus Saves is not just a religious slogan; it is my present-day reality.  He saves me from every girl-made inclination I have to make this life work and from the fleshly mask I hide behind when it doesn't (Grace for the Good Girl, page 220)."

i'm carissa, letting go of my hurts, my inner good girl, being freed from the try-hard, taking off my always strong and responsible mask, and resting in the sweet grace of Jesus.  i invite you to do the same.  

i have received no compensation for this.  i like emily's book that much and want you to enjoy it, too. 

linking with my girl rach, who happens to be at the relevant conference right now with emily freeman.  and i am not jealous at all.  ; )

miscellany monday

write your randoms and join in below.

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1. best $15 consignment purchase yet... a little girl's pink patagonia jacket for my little girl.  i want one in my size and for $15.

2. if i had an entire day to do whatever i wanted for leisure, it would include sitting outside, reading page after glorious page of all the books on my to-read list.  right now i'm about to finish Grace for the Good Girl, 11 Secrets of Getting Published, and will start on these below.  so much to read and such little time.  also, if you are looking for a devotional book, buy Morning and Evening.  i always come away challenged by the Truth in Spurgeon's words.

3. you're going to think i've gone crazy on you.  kelly says i am representing my home state (california) quite well with this one.  chia seeds.  ever heard of them?!  five hundred years ago (so i am told) these seeds were a staple in the Aztec diet.  they called it their running food, because a handful of these seeds provides enough energy to run all day.  i am a runner, training for a half marathon; why not give them a try?  my step-dad ordered this superfood (which is exceptionally funny, since he is the least earthy food type person evah!) and gave me a week's supply to try.  i do feel energized and i think they could be possibly working.  yes, before you ask, these are the seeds used to grow those hairy chia pet creatures (have i lost all credibility yet?).  check out the low-down to see if you're convinced.

4. since i told you last week about Charleston's status as the #1 spot in the U.S., voted by Conde Nast, we figured we should venture downtown to enjoy it. 

it is pretty with palm trees on the streets, next to the southern colonial feel of the buildings and charleston row houses.  

then we picnicked in the comfortable square of the park.  

and then we moved on to things like figuring out how to hold hands.

since he had her by the hand, he was trying to make her jump on command.

attempting a try at hide and go seek.

it was a simple, laid back, downtown kind of time.  i'm starting to like those kinds best.

-carissa

{miscellany monday}

a tale of two kiddies.

there once was a boy named john, after his daddy.

everyone calls him by his middle name.

to the world he is Hunter.

calm, compassionate, tells his mommy sorry about ten times a day even though he has nothing to apologize for.  he's tender like that, never wanting to offend.

his parents thought they really must have this parenting thing down.

it's not so hard after all.  what are all the other parent's talking about?!

until this brother had a sister.

her name is Sage.  

she is more often spicy than sweet.

to say this feisty gal is attached to her mama is a complete understatement.

she even still (she is 16 months) likes to cry most of the time in the nursery on Sunday mornings.

her dimply smile, though, will cut through all the rest and melt your very heart.

but the cool thing is?

Hunter's parents love her just as much as they love him.

they are both their parent's favorites.  their love is based simply on the fact that these are their children.

kind of like our relationship with the Heavenly Father.

He loves us not based on our merits or behaviors.

he doesn't love us more if we're like Hunter and less if we're like Sage.

this is really good news.

"See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are..." 1 John 3:1

- carissa

linking with my real life friend, the amazing rach ~

it's always something

we left the stride rite outlet, and conveniently located outside is a whole carnival of kid's rides.  suddenly the outlets become something i have to psych myself up for.  is today going to be a special day with a ride?  or not? if not, their hearts are crushed and life. is. over.

the day was a 75 cents ride kind of day.  the kids sit in the probably uncomfortable, hard plastic seat of the shiny yellow school bus, "driving" it as their tiny hands turn the wheels as fast as they can while giving an obligatory horn honk every so often.

all is well until Hunter decides the school bus is not good enough; it's not what he really wants.  the police car suddenly looks more appealing because it's what he doesn't have.  he exits the moving school bus to go sit in the police car that is not moving, or honking or doing anything cool.  and he sits there.  bored.  most likely wishing he was back on that school bus.

i give him a "you should be thankful for what you have and then you would've enjoyed your school bus ride a lot more" talk.

and with that, i instantly get knocked hard in the heart.  i sit in that very school bus all the time, wanting to be in the police car.  it is something different, something that is seemingly better than what i already have.

and so it is with contentment...  being settled with what you have been given and being okay with it.  it's time to start enjoying the big yellow bus, folks.

that police car tends to look like a lot of different things.  if you're waiting for the right mister to come along and sweep you off your pretty feet... or maybe you're already married and waiting for the kids to arrive in order for you to really feel fulfilled.  heck, you may be married with kids and are still longing for more of something.  instead you may be in the carolina's wishing you were in california (that one's for me. ha!) or waiting for a house to sell, or waiting to buy a house, or, or, or.  because it's always something. 

Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition. - Jeremiah Burroughs

"Contentment is the direct fruit of having no higher ambition than to belong to the Lord, at His disposal." 1 Tim 6:6 - Sinclair Ferguson

what if that it's always something was replaced with"having no higher ambition than to belong to the Lord, at His disposal?"  i know life would be more enjoyed this way.

-carissa
 

miscellany monday

recap your weekend, or plain write random, and join in below.

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one.

because of my littlest man's dietary restrictions due to his severe egg allergy, if we are going to eat out, we have one option; mexican fare. 

there's no egg in chips, salsa, queso, tacos, burritos, and quesadillas.  

it sounds like we have a whole shebang of variety to choose from, but when it's basically the same ingredients slightly reconstructed it gets o.l.d. quick.  

if there is a new mexican restaurant in town, it's big news for us.  {enter zocalo: mexican street food}

we drive ten minutes down the road while i hope somehow their tacos are better and different than all the rest. 

and... my taco tired tastebuds are proud to say that zocalo's tacos were better than all the rest.  their queso was fresher tasting and full of veggies (what a nice healthy surprise!).  note to self: you could put beets in queso and your kids would eat it.  and so, if you live near me, head over.  they did not even pay me to tell you all that. 

dear me. their corn is better than the midwest's.  it's a crazy good combination of cheese, chipotle, cilantro and spice.  a must.

two. 

as much as i miss my sweet home of california, i am really fortunate to live in conde nast's number one city in the united states: charleston.  the atmosphere, ambiance, culture, sites, friendliness, lodging, restaurants, and shopping all qualified "us" to be the best.  want to visit? 

three.

in case i fool you and appear to have "things together" please know that i have not had a hair cut in over 17 months (liz, shoot me now.) and i only wear make-up to church on sunday mornings.  i feel like the lack of haircuts and make-up-less-ness both caught up with me this weekend.  so with that, i will break the think of all the money i'm saving mindset and make an appointment to clip my whole lotta dead ends. 

four.

my niece, camryn, turned four and we celebrated on saturday.  as we left the party, my sister-in-law (camryn's mama) gave my hunter and sage a balloon.  camryn later said it was the "worst birthday ever because she had to give her balloons away."  oh to be four... when a terrible day merely consists of having to give two of your five balloons away.

 five.

i thoroughly enjoy the feeling of clean teeth.  there is something so satisfying knowing your teeth are not rotting away while you live. i prefer to brush my teeth after i eat or at least chew trident gum.  but, i can only chew the gum for a few minutes (five is the record) before it makes me nauseous.  i have to spit it out immediately before i puke and have to drink tons of water to feel better. i am not even pregnant!  (promise!) this is just normal me.  my normal is weird.  all that for some clean feeling teeth.  this story is brought to you by my dentist. ; )

have a wonderful week.

-carissa

{miscellany monday}

as little as they are today

this week is baby week around here.  

my bff's daughter was born two days ago.  i held beautiful nora and gawked over her tiny hands, small arms and precious cheeks.  i was so enamored that i forgot to take any pictures.

then last night, we had a baby shower for one of my dearest friends.  they adopted a brand new baby girl that will melt every piece of your heart with one look.  

when you've been around teeny babies it only reminds you of one thing:  yours are not as small as they were.  actually, a two year old looks like a giant after holding a newborn.  

and then my heart bleeds a little.  because these babies, these toddlers, these children, these gifts from heaven will never be as little as they are today.

it could be that i am hormonally emotional right now, or it could be that it's just plain hard to see your kids grow.  i savor the menial moments of block playing, doll pushing, and train track building while concurrently thinking these savored times are passing by in lightning speed.

today will be normal like any friday.  however i am in tune with this lightning speed of life reality and i am going to soak up all these moments doing normal things because they will never be as little as they are today.

linking with my friend, rach.

we take nothing

recently, i have been thinking a lot about earthly stuff.  i need some reminders, so i write this to myself.  i meant to share this a while back, but maybe there is a reason i didn't until now.

it was the end of july. i left the 100 degree hot humid days of the southern sun to head west, to california, greeted by comfy 70 degree weather, the cool pacific ocean and mornings of ocean-side fog. i passed the glorious in 'n out burger (why can't they go nationwide already?!), headed a few blocks north to arrive at my grandparent's house.

pulling up in the driveway, things look like they have all my life.  i could paint it by memory.  the front flower bed is full, probably with more weeds than usual, the grass is soft and green, a new fence is up, and the front door is painted just as blue as ever.

i open that blue door and smell the comfort right away.  there's always something so precious about the familiarity of grandma and grandpa's house, it is comfortable, it is home.  for a girl who grew up never living in the same house for more than a few years, it is the only place that remained the same.

until now. this time it is different. my grandfather is no longer here. i traveled 3,000 miles to attend his funeral. it feels like he is here, i go to the back closet and see his shoes lining the floor, his shirts and pants hang clean and unwrinkled. his license and wallet are in a drawer. his wedding ring is in my grandmother's purse.  all these items that gave him at least an earthly identity are here and remain untouched.  it hit me like a ton of bricks.  something i know to be true and base my life on.

the earth is not our home.  

and we take nothing with us, not even the things that identify us here, when we go.

i watched this reality play out when my dad passed away.  i was nine and saw all his possessions get divvied up.  but that was over seventeen years ago.

it's easy to lose sight of eternity in the here and now, lightning speed of this world. however, i'm certain Christ is bidding us to be rid of earthly possessions, to "lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal (Matthew 6:20, ESV)." because "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (Matthew 6:21 ESV)."  Christ wants our hearts set on Him and eternity.

as Christians, i think we know this, but sometimes there is a disconnect.  we read this in the Word in our devotion time or on Sunday mornings, yet spend hours on pinterest looking for things we want, things we are going to make, or things we want to fill our houses and lives with.  (i'm not saying pinterest is wrong. ha!  not at all.)  how do we keep eternity in our mind and set our eyes on Heaven?  letting go of earthly wants?

i think it is a battle of our mind.  we have to be renewed by the Word.  we have to love Jesus more than things (anything!), even our families.  and thankfully, because we are full of evil and wants, there is grace that covers us.

miscellany monday

recap your weekend, or plain write random and join in below.

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1. when a white bottled, blue lid-ed, shampoo tells you that it will make your hair 100% frizz-free, it's a total lie.

2. i know this vintage radio flyer was so last week; i can't help but love looking at that tiny boy hand with still sunken in knuckles.  it's only half as wide as the seat.  one day, they will be man hands, hairy and holding onto a girl's hand that is not mommy's.  precisely why i'm treasuring this, now.  : )

3. in case i forget that i do live in a beautiful place, this reminds me.

4. i was born and raised in the former chicken capital of the world in northern california.  the farms are a plenty there right along with the rolling hills.  now that i have little kids that want to go pumpkin picking, i've been interested in farms around here.  and let me tell you, they are interesting.  

we entered a large grassy area that was filled with what seemed to be an endless amount of boxes with small garage-like doors, some spare car parts scattered about, a refrigerator freezer sprawled open; eaten alive with rust, barrels of something, and then you'd see a random horse gallop by.  or a donkey.  or an albino donkey.  or two.  

and then there were cages of chickens.  the kids got a kick out of them.

this is the hayride part which is equally as weird as the random animal/storage field...

you go on a two minute long hayride to an area with about twenty-five cows, some had diseases pouring out of their eyes, the cows come right up to your face and you are supposed to hold out a cow treat.  their tongues are as long as the mississippi and tend not only to get their treats but also you.  even Hunter was grossed out.

all that for only $10.  what a bargain.

5. i'm now reading this and after only getting to chapter four, i am convinced it is going to be a really good book, to remind me what it means to understand that salvation is from Christ alone and depends nothing on my own merits.  we can forget that in all of our "doing." 

6. when you encounter a yellow door, what better thing is there to do than take a picture with it?  the whole experience was almost worth the twenty bug bites i got... now that the weather is slightly cooler the bugs are in full swing here in mosquito central.  

7. change is coming this way.  you will see it soon.  my lips are sealed until soon arrives.

-carissa



{miscellany monday}