In His Grip

Five Years of Blogging -- Really?

Wow, I cannot believe that I have had this blog for five years now.  My actual first post was in December of 2006.  But I did not really start blogging regular until January 2007. My original reason for starting this adventure was to keep friends and family up to date when I went on a second mission trip to India.  I have since returned to India for a third trip along with trips to the Philippines, Haiti, and Mexico.  My own personal mission focus over the last two years has been here in our own community, specifically, Gardner, Kansas.  This does not mean I will never travel internationally again, in fact I really hope not, just that my efforts and focus have been right here.  

Since the beginning of this blog my life has changed quite a bit.  We have had two high school graduations, two college graduations one from Doane College, the other from Pittsburg State University, and a soon to be graduation from Kansas State University.  We have celebrated our first family wedding, Ryan and Paula, on August 19, 2011. Jeff and I have been part of the beginning of a new church campus in Gardner, Kansas.  We went from having two teenage girls at home to empty nesters, to one summer all three kids back at home, back to empty nesters. We have walked the journey of losing my Dad, but now have the privilege of having my Mom stay on and off over the winter months.  We have vacationed, in Minnesota, California, Florida, Los Vegas, San Antonio, Branson, and celebrated a family wedding in Mexico, driving to most of these locations and taking in the scenary in between.

I haved share my heart and been as honest as a gal can be about a number of topics. I have let you in on what God is teaching me as well as little Godly discipline.  

In the beginning, I had no idea what a creative outlet this adventure would be for me. However, the creative part of this blog has been my greaest joy. I love inspring others to not only try new things, but also let others in on the secret of how easy some things can be that look really complicated.  Thank you for reading and all the encouraging comments along the way. Here's to another five, inspiring, creative, and learning years of being a gal  who wants to live "In His Grip". 

Scab Dab Miracle

I have found this fabulous miracle cure for a wicked blister I got from my "mother of the groom" shoes over the weekend.  The shoes that I wore were a beautiful light bronze pointy toed pump and to be honest with you I spent more on my shoes than I did my dress.  I was bound and determined to wear them the entire night so I did not even bring any change of shoes with me to the reception.  Half way through the night I just could not even walk because not only did I have a blister but the skin had torn as well.  Luckily our hotel was right across the street and my niece Rebekah was willing to go over and get my bronze flip flop, urgh!  I went from a very sophisticated pump to $2 Old Navy flip flops, seriously?  Unless, I was going to sit the entire party this was the only option and I am not a barefoot kind of gal.  However,  Scab Dab to the rescue.  I just dabbed a little on my blister and the pain is gone and it is almost totally healed, yay!  This is the best stuff ever and it is natural too, if that matters to you.  All I know is, it really does work.

Featured Friday

Once again, In His Grip is being featured on another blog.  Go on over and check it out at Five Sixteenths.  I love it when people show my stuff off on their blog.  I have to say it kind of gives me a little boost and I think in my head, "Wow, people out there in blog land like the things that I do!"  Okay, now that is not only in my head I have said it out loud on the world wide web.  It makes me wonder if there is something more I can do with this little blog that I started there years ago.  Hmmmmm......

Size 15 and "Skinny?"

"Skinny jeans" have been in for about a year now.  I like it when they call them Audrey (Hepburn) jeans, like that is supposed to make one feel better about the fact that jeans are skin tight and you need toothpicks for legs to wear them.  I have to say, that I do admire the look of long legs and these jeans certainly accentuate this.  I have several friends that are a lot younger than me.   They have been wearing skinny jeans and I do say that they look great on them.  So the other morning at our body boot camp they were talking about these great "skinny" jeans at Target on sale for $12.99.   They were talking about how they needed to buy a size bigger then they normally buy.  So I asked if they thought they might come in my size.  I wanted to buy a pair to wear with my boots so that I don't have a wad of denim around my ankles when I want to tuck my jeans in.  I have never had the confidence to even try a pair on, but they assured me that they did come in my size even though they were in junior section.  How bad could it be?  So as I needed to go to Target anyway for some other purchases, I decided to swallow my pride and try to squeeze into these jeans that they call skinny.  Remembering the gals from boot camp having to buy a bigger size I grabbed the size bigger than I normally wear as well as the next size up.  It's crazy!  They are called "skinny" for a reason because I could not get these stupid jeans on.  Feeling absolutely ridiculous that I even thought I could possible wear something that my "young" friends could wear I left the dressing room determined to put this humiliating experience behind me.  I shopped for my other items but kept thinking there were a couple more sizes I could try and after all they were only $12.99.  I went back over to the jeans and tried a couple more sizes and found one that they did actually fit, but they were not only a muffin top, I had a full out cake top going on.  Knowing no one wanted to see a 40 something behind in jeans that tight, I once again swallowed my pride and tried the next size up.  Shocker, I did like them.  If I wear them with a longer type blouse this could work.  Now here is the question, can you really call them "skinny" jeans if you have to wear a size 15? 

Is Fake Good Enough?

I am so ready to have the sun kissed skin that comes with warm weather places.  At this point I am so desperate I have opted for the fake kind.  Yes, I admit there are times I think if you cannot have the real thing maybe the next best thing is a fake.  Maybe no one will notice.  Then I got to thinking are there other things in my world that I have settled for the fake.  Do I often decide that a fake will be good enough?  What if I have done that on something that God has out there for me?  If I am willing to settle for a fake tan, would I be willing to settle for something that is second best to God's plan for me?

10,000 Views

Today my blog made it to 10,000 views.  Because I can not see exactly who it is that is looking at my page, I am not sure who was the 10,000th person to view my page.  However, if I had to guess it would be my Mom.  I am sure she accounts for a good number of the hits to my blog especially when I am traveling. 

I am amazed as to who it is that is even interested in what I have to say.  I was at an event that my niece was in and met a couple of women who came up to me and talked to me as though they knew me, it was a little weird.  Then they mentioned that they were faithful "In His Grip" followers and enjoy hearing of my life adventures.  I do wonder, occasionally, if there will come a time when I am regret being so honest and real for "anyone" to see.