Better than a Hallelujah.

God loves a lullaby
In a mothers tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
God loves the drunkards cry,
The soldiers plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah.

The woman holding on for life,
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done,
The silence when the words won't come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

Better than a church bell ringing,
Better than a choir singing out, singing out.

I heard this song on the radio today and it really touched me. God loves us when we are happy, but what an amazing thought to know that He loves us when we are sad, disappointed, or angry as well.

I love that God likes the honesty of those other emotions. Sure, He loves to see us happy, but on this Earth, we will never be truly and fully happy. I love that we can be honest with God with whatever emotions we are experiencing. He understands. We live in a broken world and God hurts when we hurt. He doesn't create our pain, but He wants to hold us when we hurt. He wants to mend our brokenness. In our brokenness, He is complete. I pray for God to find me in my brokenness and find in Him that completeness.

In our other emotions besides the happy, feel good ones, we are ourselves, the version of ourselves we don't like. The one we don't like other people to see. The weak. The angry. The bitter parts of us. God loves it when we are upfront and honest about those feelings. When we give them to Him, that's when we can begin to heal.

Be honest with God about where you are. He loves it when you are.

[If you want to listen to this song, it is by Amy Grant.]

xoxo,
Heather

Hats!

How fun are these hats?! They are part of the new Eugenia Kim for Target collection.

Never heard of Eugenia?


Per Wikipedia:
Eugenia Kim is a New York accessories designer best known for her line of hats. Her hat collection began with orders for her own cloche hat made in millinery class at Parsons School of Design.

She opened her first retail store in the East Village of downtown New York. Her line of hats can be found in over 100 boutiques around the world, as well as in department stores such as Bloomingdales and Barneys New York.

Eugenia Kim won the Perry Ellis Award for Accessories Design from the Council of Fashion Designers of America after launching a shoe line in 2004.

You can get any of the hats above, along with the remainder of the collection at Target!

PS. I am the proud new owner of the black pretty with the black rhinestone strands band. :)

xoxo,

Heather

A Memorable Saturday..

Sigh.

So, let me tell you about today.

First of all, I have been dog sitting two extra dogs this week, battling a cold, and without my sweet hubby, as he is at a training.

So, today was the first real day out I was going to have after doing things around the house and taking care of dogs and myself..

I was not completely sure where I was going, but I had directions, so I felt pretty confident. (J took the GPS with him, since he needed it to get around where he is right now.) I started driving in the general direction of where I needed to go, and looking out for the road I needed to turn onto. And, I kept driving. I eventually went so far, I almost had to pay a toll, and then I KNEW I was too far gone. I wish I could tell you this was as far as I went and then I found where I needed to be. NOPE. I drove over an hour to get to a destination that should normally take about 30-45. Yup.

I had someone 'steal' a bag by using the 'buy it now' feature from me on eBay. So sad.

AND, had someone I was being sarcastic to, think I was being sweet. I think that's a first. :)

Despite all of this, and everything else this not so fabulous week brought with it, I am really happy and have so many more things to smile about. I am enjoying living here for the time we have left. I am spending time with friends who have become more like family. And, tomorrow, I am going to a church I am dearly going to miss when I leave here. And, I pray God meets me there.

AND, I am enjoying chocolate from Vosges, which I have wanted to do for over 5 years. I love Whole Foods.

I hope your Saturday was memorable, but in a good way! :)

xoxo,
Heather

What I Love Right Now..

Here are some things I am loving right now, most of which will get me through a summer partly spent in DC and partly spent in Texas.

[Image courtesy Stylehive]

Maxi dresses. They are perfect for a slightly chilly summer night. And, if you get the right cut and fabric, they are really great for camouflaging areas that you might be trying to hide, that more skimpy summer options only amplify.



[Essie]

Essie nail polish in Punchy Pink. I fell in love with this bright pink color in Kate Spade's fall and spring ads. Of course, I never shy away from BRIGHTS, especially in shades of pink.


[Nordstrom]

Fun, funky, colorful scarves to add a punch of color to any outfit. I love pairing a fun scarf with a t-shirt and jeans and adding a hat to the mix.

[Lose It app for the iPhone]

This app lets you track your daily exercise and food. You can set a weight loss goal and time limit and it will set you up with a certain number of calories you can eat each day to reach your goal. I love it. It keeps me accountable for what I am eating. Also, it shows you how many calories you are actually burning depending on what exercise you are doing.



[kate spade]
Kate Spade's Belvedere Mini McGuire bag

How perfect is this bag for the summertime? It is a fun spin on red, white and blue. I love it!

xoxo,
Heather

Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts.
Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth.
--Mark Twain

I recently stumbled upon this quote, and I think it perfectly describes how I feel about living in a place so different than where I spent most of my life. And, also how I feel about moving where the military sends us.

Growing up in a small town, it was not uncommon for people to be those things listed on the first line of this quote.

I do think that you have to see the world to learn to fully appreciate other cultures, especially. Not to say that people from my hometown don't appreciate other cultures, do not get me wrong.

I love to visit places and just people watch. Since I love fashion, I love to see what people wear in certain places and how styles vary from place to place.

I love to try to local foods that places are known for and places the locals like to go.

I love traveling and it's a good thing, because that tends to be the norm in the military. ;)

I am so blessed to have seen what I have already seen in my 24 years. Living in Washington DC, Jason and I have been able to experience so many different cultural festivals and experience things and places I could never have dreamed of. I know DC is only the beginning of the wonderful adventure we have in store as a military family and I so look forward to what is ahead.

And, soon, I will let you all in on a little news that Jason and I are waiting a little longer to share.

PS: I'm not pregnant.

xoxo,
Heather

Life is too short.

Life is too short to keep people in your life that do not have your best interests at heart. Too short for people who cannot grow up enough to understand that sometimes people need to go their separate ways for the good of all involved. Too short to keep people around who only bring you down.

In the last few years, I have changed, for the better. I am by no means perfect, but I choose not to waste the short amount of time that I am blessed to be on this Earth, being miserable.

I do not expect people to always understand or agree with the decisions I make, but I don't feel that anyone needs to understand. I make decisions that I feel are best for me and my little family. That is what matters to me.

I do not intentionally set out to hurt people with the things I do or say and if they have, I do apologize for that. I do hope if I have, you will tell me. I truly believe unless you are aware of something you are doing that is hurting other people, you cannot fix the problem.

Life is just too short to waste time being angry or upset. So, I choose not to let things other people do bring me down. There is far too much good in this life to waste it by not appreciating all the wonderful things God has given me.

Life is just too short.