14 Days of Love: Day Five

            Its day five!!! Today, the thing I love is one of my favorite hobbies. Painting! I absolutely love to paint, and I find it very relaxing. I think flowers are my favorite thing to paint, but I also love to paint Bible related scenes, like this one. 

 

            I do like to paint them how I see them, however, not necessarily how they actually were. My artistic license, if you will. Anyway, I love to paint because it is a great way for me to sit, relax, and be creative. I really enjoy bringing something to life on canvass, and my favorite thing about painting is that I don’t have to keep my artwork to myself. I give away far more paintings than I keep; in fact, I even painted a picture for each of my aunts, uncles, and cousins for Christmas this year.

            I am very picky about my painting tools, but then, I’m picky about everything. I have a certain type of canvass I prefer, a set of paintbrushes that I cannot do without, and I’m even picky about what paint I use. I’m not as bad about the paint, however, as I like a couple of different kinds. But, so far, they are always acrylics.

            I’m still learning how to be a better painter every day, but I hope you like the artwork I have finished now! Below are some of the paintings I gave my family for Christmas. Also, don’t forget to check out Sarah and Allie's blogs! They may not be big painters, but I’m sure whatever they did post about is not only something they love (obviously), but is interesting as well.

 

14 Days of Love: Day Four

He said, “I’ve been where you’ve been before.

Down every hallway’s a slamming door.

No way out, no one to come and save me.

Wasting the life that the Good Lord gave me

 

Then somebody said what I’m saying to you,

Opened my eyes and told me the truth.”

They said, “Just a little faith it’s all get better.”

So I followed that preacher man down to the river and now I’m changed

And now I’m stronger

 

There must’ve been something in the water

Oh, there must’ve been something in the water

 

Well, I heard what he said and I went on my way

Didn’t think about it for a couple of days

Then it hit me like lightning late one night

I was all out of hope and all out of fight

 

Couldn’t fight back the tears so I fell on my knees

Saying, “God, if you’re there come and rescue me.”

Felt love pouring down from above

Got washed in the water, washed in the blood and now I’m changed

And now I’m stronger

 

There must be something in the water

Oh, there must be something in the water

 

And now I’m singing along to amazing grace

Can’t nobody wipe this smile off my face

Got joy in my heart, angels on my said

Thank God Almighty, I way the light

Gonna look ahead, no turning back

Live every day, give it all that I have

Trust in someone bigger than me

Ever since the day that I believed I am changed

And now I’m stronger

 

There must be something in the water (amazing grace)

Oh, there must be something in the water (how sweet the sound)

Oh, there must be something in the water (that saved a wretch)

Oh, there must be something in the water (like me)

 

I am changed (I once was lost)

Stronger (but now I’m found)

(was blind but now I see)

 

                If you cannot tell by now, these are the lyrics to one of my favorite songs. In case you haven’t heard it, it is called Something in the Water and it is by Carrie Underwood. I cannot get enough of it. Not only is the music of the song wonderful, the lyrics are perfect. Go ahead, skim them again. Don’t they just bless you? “I am changed. Stronger.” Can’t we all say that God has done that for us? He turns us into new creatures, and then He strengthens us for what that ‘new life’ with Him entails. And I just love how Carrie slipped Amazing Grace in the end like that. She really does have a gift.

                I think the main reason I love this song is because it is so true. There really is “something in the water”, as I can testify. Although God changed me, not the water, He made the water, and He obviously thought baptism was a big part of the process or He wouldn’t have commanded us to do it. All I’m trying to say is, God saved me all those years ago and sent me to the water where I came up healed, and He can do that for you too, if He hasn’t already. That is what Something in the Water means to me. What does it mean to you?

                Check out Sarah and Allie's day four!

 

All credit for the above photo and lyrics go to Carrie Underwood and her producers. No copyright intended.

14 Days of Love: Day Three

 So today’s item was planned specifically for today because it is a show, and this particular one airs on Tuesday’s. Today is a Tuesday, so I thought it was fitting. The show I am writing of is one that I fell in love with the minute I saw it, and I usually don’t like these types of shows. It is called Fixer Upper, and it is on HGTV.

Fixer Upper is a show featuring a couple, Chip and Joanna Gaines, and the houses they remodel. They show families the worst looking houses in the best neighborhoods, but with good reason. After the families buy the house they pick, Chip and Joanna remodel it into the homeowners’ dream home. Sounds great, right?

The best part about the show is, well, actually, there is two things. The first is that Chip and Joanna are always cracking me up. Especially Chip. Fixer Upper displays just enough about their personal lives that it keeps you interested; it isn’t your regular home improvement show. The other thing I love about it is the fact that Joanna works best when she is decorating with rustic style. I want to decorate my whole house with rustic flair, so I love absolutely everything she does.

The show really is wonderfully entertaining, and it gives me ideas for my own house. There is always something to laugh about, mostly Chip’s antics, and it is just an all-around great thing to watch. I would have to say it is one of my favorites! But I say that a lot, don’t I? Anyway, it’s worth watching, so check it out! Tuesday’s at 9 (eastern time) on HGTV! Wouldn’t miss it!

Don’t forget to check out Sarah and Allie's posts!

Creds for the photo go to HGTV and Fixer Upper.

14 Days of Love: Day Two

                I am so sorry this is late (I know day two was yesterday), but, better late than never. Today’s item I love is an amazing book I call one of my absolute favorites. When I say favorite, in this instance, I mean favorite. I have only read a handful of books that I can say I loved as much as this one.

                I know, I know, what is it called, you ask? Whispers from the Shadows. Amazing title, right? It is by a wonderful author named Roseanna M. White, who has impressed me with every one of her books. The ones I have read, that is. And I have read most of them.

                Anyway, Whispers from the Shadows is a book based during the war of 1812 about a young man named Thad and his family, who run a spy ring, for the US, of course. His parents, Bennet and Winter Lane, were spies for the Revolution when they met, and their story is told in Ring of Secrets. They formed an unlikely friendship with Colonel Fairchild, a colonel for the British army, in that novel, and they continued their friendship through the years in-between the two stories.

                Because of circumstances I cannot tell you without spoiling the book, Colonel Fairchild, who had moved back to England, sends his daughter, Gwyneth, into the care of Bennet, Winter, and Thad at the beginning of Whispers from the Shadows. Through war scares, a mystery, and the pain of the separation from her father, Gwyn struggles to adapt to life in the US. Eventually, though, she finds her place, in Maryland, and in the Lane family. I don’t want to give anything away, but I will say the book is full of comical scenes, suspenseful chapters, and sweet moments that will keep you hooked until the last page. It is absolutely worth the read! Go check it out!!

{ Below is the synopsis, and yes, that is my copy of the book above (: }

I love her... can I trust her?

I love him... is he safe?

          1814—England and America are again at war. Sudden and implacable treachery causes Gwyneth Fairchild's world to crumble in a moment's time. The daughter of a British general, she barely saves her life by fleeing London aboard a ship bound for America. Her goal is to find refuge with the Lane family in Maryland. Yet after meeting the Lanes' son, Thaddeus, Gwyn wonders how safe she is. For she discovers that this family trades in a dangerous commodity—espionage. 

Thad Lane is a prominent citizen in the city of Baltimore. He has the ear of everyone, and he is in a unique position to pass on to leaders of government exactly what he hears. Not long after the beautiful and British Gwyneth Fairchild finds safe haven in his community, he experiences the tug of love, though he fears it may blur lines of loyalty. With family playing the part of enemies and enemies proving themselves friends, a future with Gwyn is more than uncertain—it could be life threatening. 

          In the end, with the British advancing relentlessly on Baltimore, Thad and Gwyn have to trust in their shared faith in God to be a shield about them. To give them a future and a hope.[1]

          Don't forget to check out the blogs my sisters, Sarah and Allie, have as they do 14 Days of Love along with me!

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[1] All credit for the above synopsis and for the wonderful book go to Roseanna M. White and her publishers. No copyright intended.

14 Days of Love: Day One

                This February, my sisters and I decided we would all post one thing we love a day for the next fourteen days until Valentine’s Day. We thought it would be a nice way to share the things we enjoy and spread the love as we get closer to Valentine’s.

Today I wanted to write about one of my favorite movies—Sleepless in Seattle. Although that may not be a very recent film, it is one of my top movies of all time. Sleepless in Seattle is such a sweet, funny movie that I consider a classic. It is about a boy named Jonah and his dad, Sam, as well as a woman named Annie and her fiancé Walter. The gist of the story is that Annie isn’t completely happy with her serious fiancé, and Sam is still grieving from the death of his wife, which makes Jonah sad enough to do something to help. I don’t want to spoil the movie for anyone, but I will say it has a very happy ending. I would recommend it to anyone looking for a sweet, sappy movie that will touch your heart.
Now, I know I am only supposed to share ONE favorite thing a day, but I had to mention, since it is February first and the movie is based in Seattle, GO SEATTLE SEAHAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!! I happen to absolutely LOVE football, and the professional team I cheer for is playing in the Super Bowl today so I had to give them a shout out. So, once again, GOOOOOOOOO SEAHAWKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Don't forget to check out my sisters' blogs over the next few days as they do 14 Days of Love with me!

Bows and Clothes
Spreading My Joy