LV is here!

LV (Liessa) is here! We were suite-mates at Freed-Hardeman University and hadn't seen in each other in 13 years until last week! She's a traveling nurse and got a job in Kirkland (of all places) for 3 months. I'm so excited that she's here - I've loved catching up with her! She's a ball of energy and so fun to be around! Maybe she'll rub off on me while she's here. :)

Liessa rolled into town on the same Friday Ivan did (April 17th), so I didn't see her that weekend, but we have since spent some fun times together. Last Sunday afternoon, we decided to go to downtown Seattle. We walked the market, saw the fish tossing, went to the first Starbucks, walked the boardwalk, and had a nice dinner at Daniel's - my favorite place! It's delicioso and pricey, but oh so worth it! I snapped these while we were down there.

This is LV. Isn't she beautiful?

The flowers are so inexpensive, fresh & gorgeous!

Bear hugs!

We've become workout partners and enjoy working out with Jillian, Bob, Carmen, and yoga gal. It's fantastic starting our days together with coffee and sweat. I've taught her the simple joys of a french press and she's given me some energy and a new outlook on life! She's here for a reason, and that reason could just be to give me a lift and snap me out of this funk!

Review of The Shack

Book: The Shack
Author: William P. Young

The Shack is stirring quite a controversy, which I hadn't paid any attention to until my mom asked me to write a little more on it. While I will not spend much time on it, according to James B. DeYoung's review, author William P. Young used a fictional book to serve his universalism theology.

I originally said that this book changed my life, and it did. Although I do not agree with the theology of Universalism , I was challenged to look at my own life and confront a sin that I did not realize I had. No matter how many times I've read, memorized, or heard Matthew 7:3-5, I did not realize that I judge people so harshly and unjustly. This is one of my many sins, but the Holy Spirit revealed this to me as I read it.

(Matthew 7:3-5 NIV)
(3) "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? (4) How can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? (5) You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother's eye.

Although many disagree, I found this a positive read and because God used this to reveal my sin to me, I see it in a positive light. I viewed this book as fictional, just as it was marketed.

If you read it for yourself, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

With love,
Bellawhoop!

A Fun Weekend with Ivan

Click on the photo for the gallery.

We've had absolutely gorgeous weather this weekend, so we trekked on over to Whidbey Island via the Mukilteo ferry, and visited Fort Casey State Park and Deception Pass. We hiked to the summit above Deception Pass for some great photos of the area. On our way back home, the guys spied some "long yellow plastic things" which I had to prove to them was actually fields of flowers! They didn't believe me until we got right up to them! :) It was a fun, long day!

This just makes me smile!

Bald Eagle Nest - Live webcam

The Shack

Wow. This book has changed my life.

Doodled Inspiration Challenge

This certainly isn't the most fabulous thing I've done, but it's certainly different! I was inspired by this apron from French Bull.
(I didn't realize that this photo was NOT completely focused, so I'll have to redo it tomorrow.)

Stamps: Can Ya Dig It? from MFT

Paper: Real Red, Whisper White

Ink: Versafine Black, various markers

Accessories: American Crafts Elements Ribbon (Popsicle collection)