All you need to know about New Years.

I won't hide it, I'm a New Years nut. I like it more than Easter (which is saying something) and definitely more than my birthday (because it's for everyone). I'm writing this post a week before January 1st and I've already got all my new paraphernalia. Goal planning worksheets, a total of seven new notebooks (they all have a purpose!), a new water bottle, and four fresh bottles of vitamins. I buy into the hype, I plan my little soul out, I pick a verse for the year and everything. The way I cast vision for the year has changed - it used to involve hyper-planning and scheduling and now I've learned that really honing in on the end result that I'm desiring works best. I plan out some intentional action steps to get there, with some measurable benchmarks along the way, but the fun part - it's thinking about the end result. I won't hide it from you or shy away. At the end of 2014, I do want to be different. Even a better version of myself. I want to be more well-rested, have a more balanced schedule. I want to be a more-bendy-healthy-wild-and-free me. I want to grow. 

Do you feel it in you? Do you read about it or hear it from the more negative people in your life? That inconsiderate and unloving voice that says it's silly to set goals, it's dumb to believe that a new year will all of a sudden make you consistent and amazing? If you couldn't do it in November, what makes you think you can do it January? As Christians, should we even be trying to get better anyhow? Shouldn't we just be grateful for who we are and what we have and leave it at that? 

I believe we have confused contentment with complacency. I believe we can redeem the hype of the calendar and let the Holy Spirit capitalize on the very real shift that happens when the last day of December turns into the first day of January. I believe in fresh starts because I believe in grace. Grace that picks us up in March when we've screwed it all up and the exact same grace that nudges us at the end of December and says, "Maybe... just maybe you could try something new? Because what if it DOES work this time?" I believe in the grace that catches us and the graces that spurs us, and I believe it all comes from Jesus. 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 has been my battle cry for a few years now. Occasionally it grows stale for me and doesn't seem as powerful, and in those moments - I fear I'm usually relying far too heavily on my own strength. 

"'But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 

You see? It's not that it's January first and you'll suddenly be perfect. The fact is that the year is new and the rest of the world is on the same page of grace that we get to live in constantly. Next Tuesday and that random Thursday in September when you have an awful day, this grace is here for you, to meet your eternal and daily needs when even you just can't do it. The grace will be there and will turn your feeble efforts into strong Christ-infused movements of God in your home and community. No matter the day, we can boast in our weaknesses and walk in contentment because He is strong within us and around us. 

But today? Everyone is on the same page. Today, everyone is seeing the grace and the fresh start. And we can lead the charge today because as women of God, we can bring the grace in the days to come. We can speak as hopefully and encouragingly to ourselves and our people today as we can six months from now. 

That grace is ready to catch you like a net when you fall off the wagon or lose sight of the goals and that same grace is whispering to you this morning, "Try. Why not just try? If you know you don't have to be perfect, if you know your weaknesses are purposeful and perfected - just try." Turn off the negative voices (especially if they're your own) that tell you it will never get any better. Buy the fresh notebooks and write down the goals. Reread this post when you need pick-me-up in March or October, or maybe even write a note to yourself to remember how you felt today. If Christ is in you, your weaknesses are being made perfect, and you are strong. 

You get to lead the charge today. 

This is your fresh start. 

sweet refresh RELEASED!

Today is a day I'm really excited to share with y'all. 
I mentioned yesterday that when Hayley and I started writing The Refresh Book, it was kind of just a good idea. Hey! Let's turn this into an eBook kind of thing. 

Truth be told, I've got no business writing or launching an eBook this week. We're about to move and plant a church and I've got a baby who doesn't sleep through the night. My life isn't conducive to 2am writing sessions, but this book was SO worth it. 

We start at the heart, our stories and why we're so desperate for refreshment. We move on to repentance and weave our way through the rest of our worlds - from our hair to our homes to our friendships. 

It's a community book. It's written in community and meant to be read in community. Read it with some friends, or read it with us and experiment along side of us. We'd love to have you along for the ride and we'd be so honored if you'd share it with your people. 

In fact! If you head over to therefreshbook.com, you can trade a tweet for a sample chapter or you can just go ahead and buy it since it's only $4.99:) 

AND on top of that, Hayley and I love this book so much that we decided for anyone who buys The Refresh Book THIS weekend (5/31-6/2) and shares about it on some form of social media, you get The No Brainer Wardrobe and Be Quiet and Say Something (our other ebooks) for FREE.  Just buy the book, tell your friends, and let us know in the comment section of my blog or Hayley's that you did and we'll send you the other two eBooks!

We pray you are blessed, entertained, + inspired by this book and of course - REFRESHED. 

*** We'll email out all of the free eBooks by Tuesday night**

two sweet things.

Hello sweet friends! I'm up to my eyeballs in boxes as we're gearing up to move, but I wanted to pop in to say two things. 

1. Remember our Refresh Series that Hayley and I did a few months ago? 

We intended to extend the series into a whole eBook and we finally got that baby cranked out. I'll tell you what, it started out as a good idea and it's turned into a project that's been very life giving and that I'm truly excited about. Tomorrow it will be for sale (for just $5!!!) and we'd love for you to check it out! It is a really fun, encouraging, and life giving read for ladies looking for refreshment in anything ranging from their hair to their homes to their marriages. We're praying it will truly bless some gals. 

2. I'm so excited to be a part of this great giveaway 

over on Lisa Leonard's new blog today! 

And it is a SWEET, HUGE giveaway! I am such a fan of Lisa's and 

so excited to partner with her on this. Head to her blog to enter! 

See y'all here tomorrow? 
Ready to refresh? 

Delight + Create + Give // a giveaway from JayAmyCreations

Today, Amy from JayAmyCreations is sharing a snippet from her heart. 

Be sure to check out a giveaway from her shop below! 

When Jessi asked me to share on what I do to refresh I immediately thought of two things:
The first thing is to delight myself. When I say “delight” I don’t mean in myself but, delighting myself in the Lord. Do you know what the word delight means? I LOVE it’s meaning. To delight is to enjoy, to have joy in, satisfaction, etc. Doesn’t this sound wonderful! This is something that is very dear to my heart right now. My husband and I have gone through a lot of transition in the last year. We have relocated to a new town, joined a ministry that is new to us, and started homeschooling our son. Don’t get me wrong we love our new town, new job, and homeschooling but, sometimes it’s not always the easiest. 

It can be hard and lonely at times! Me delighting in the Lord often takes the form of a walk on the beach or escaping to observe God’s creation. It is a time to reflect and thank HIM for what he has done and what he is going to do in my life. I think that is why I find delighting myself in the Lord so refreshing. See when those times of difficulty and loneliness come i think of the word delight. I find joy and satisfaction in who the Lord is in my life. I DELIGHT myself in the ONE who created me, rescued me, and restored my relationship with HIM. So there it is my first and foremost “refreshment”: To delight myself in the Lord!

The second thing would be to create and give! Ok so I have two things for the second but, these are two of my many passions that I have been able to combined into one (JayAmyCreations). See I love to create new twists on anything that I can get my hands on and give it back to others. Birthdays, Baby showers, Weddings, Christmas, Mother’s Day, etc. (honestly anything I get to call a celebration) gives me the excuse to break out the sowing machine or jewelry tools to create, make, and give! Two of my favorite things in the world. This is so refreshing to me. It is a way to get lost in my own little creative world and then see the joy that it brings to others.

So here I am refreshed. I am delighting in the Lord and creating and giving!

If you would like to see more of my creations and how we give please check us out at: my husbands blog (OnTheRoadtoSomewhereGood), our shop (JayAmyCreations) and facebook page (JayAmyCreations). 

Amy is giving and creating below in this awesome giveaway to her shop. 

Fill out the steps below to enter to win a $50 to her shop! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Jessi Refreshes | Why is the Dead Sea dead?

Today is a don't miss post from Jessi at Suzie Studios. 

PLUS a giveaway to her amazing shop. 

Win. Win. Win. 

Last week Jessi and Hayley introduced their refresh series with these words:

"If you feel a little lost, fragmented, not quite yourself...

If you feel dusty and tired, or frozen and locked up...

we understand."

Those words met me while I was 35 weeks pregnant and exhausted. They met me during a long, long winter that just wouldn't (and still won't) go away. I was feeling frozen. I was feeling locked up. I wasn't feeling like the wife, the mom, the friend, or the Christ-follower I wanted to be.

They invited us all to refresh and we joined. 

This is where my journey led me.

Driving home from our date night on Friday my world stopped for a moment. Through the snow blowing I saw a man step off the city bus, his sleeping son draped over one shoulder. In his other hand he carried several bags. His feet shuffled under the weight of his load. I could see the exhaustion in his eyes. He only caught my attention for a moment, but something grabbed my heart.

I didn't know the man nor did I know his story, but in that moment God gave me a glimpse into his pain. Aching with sympathy I started to cry. Through my tears I tried to explain to my husband what I was feeling. My heart, which had been feeling a little frozen after the long winter, melted at the sight of this man. The months of self focus that had left me feeling a little locked up had finally been cracked open. He got it, and he put his finger on something I had been missing. He asked, "Why is the Dead Sea dead?"

The Dead Sea is dead because there are no outlets. The water flows in, sits around, and becomes stagnant. All of those things I had been feeling: tired, frozen, locked up, the waters had become stagnant. Keeping with the analogy, the waters of my heart needed to be refreshed. My moment with the man on the bus was the Holy Spirit stirring the waters. The waters needed to pour out.

Just like this winter, being shut up in our house waiting for Spring I had let my heart become locked up: crying for my circumstances, praying for my own needs and feeling pain for my hurts. My journey to refresh led me to Friday night and to that man on the bus, a man that God used to call me outside myself, to remind me that being refreshed comes from pouring my life out for others. For the hurting, the poor, the lonely and the broken.

His invitation for me and maybe you, "The waters are stagnant Beloved, and its time to refresh."

In the spirit of pouring out I am excited to offer a special 

Naptime Diaries Giveaway for a $50 credit for my shop!

a Rafflecopter giveaway  

The Giveaway is open thru Friday. Enter as many times as you would like.

Enter/find me here:

Facebook/ Instagram/ Twitter/ Bloglovin/ RSS/ Suzie Studios

He will guide you | how Amber refreshes

Last week was all about refresh and it was a joy to talk through it with y'all. This week, I'm going to let some other precious ladies use this space to talk about how THEY find refreshment. Today is Amber from Intentional Living Today. 

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On the day that Jessi asked me to do a post on how I get refreshed, I literally laughed out loud to myself. I was having one of the toughest days, and I was thinking, “Lord, how do I get refreshment? How can I write about this?”

It is so true to say that the Lord is a gracious, merciful, and loving Father, who even in the moments of my despair, and doubt, looks on me with immense love, and says “here I am.” Starting at the end of that day, and throughout the rest of the weekend, the Lord did refresh my heart in so many ways.

That night I was starting my ten month old daughter, Brookelyn’s bed time routine. We read The Big Picture Bible by David Helm, and the chapter we were on was the birth of Jesus. Brookelyn loved it as we flipped through the pages and she pointed out the baby over and over again. It was in that moment that the Holy Spirit reminded me that He is the source of my refreshment. My heart was filled with overflowing joy, as I was able to share with my daughter why the shepherd’s were singing with the angels on the night that Jesus came into the world. When I think about my Savior, the springs of my heart cannot help but flow with rushing waters of joy, knowing the work He accomplished for me.

After Brookelyn was asleep, I then preceded to pray. My husband and I minister to the youth at our church and our challenge for the youth this week was to spend 30 consecutive minutes in prayer every day. I have trouble with concentration, so when I pray I like to write out my prayers. As I was writing out the heartfelt prayers for my students, and family, my heart was once again refreshed. The knowledge that the creator of the universe delighted to hear my broken heart’s prayers was healing to my bones. 

The verses in Isaiah then rang true in my soul. It says if we pour ourselves out for others, even when they can’t give anything back in return, “then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up speedily; your righteousness shall go before you; the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard” (Isaiah 58:8).  We are healed when we serve. Our light breaks forth when we practice true, undefiled religion. It is then that the glory of the Lord becomes our rear guard.

These two things began to change the tone of my entire weekend. I was able to lay aside my fears and disappointments that I had faced at the beginning of the week, and the Lord granted me a peace that surpassed all understanding that then guarded my heart so that I was able to find contentment. My fears were dispersed and I sat down to read a book with warm tea.

I was able to find refreshment in other ways as well throughout the weekend. My husband came home on Saturday watched the baby and offered to cook dinner for us. I went out for a run during this time, and found the Lord’s presence once again. For me, there is nothing like hitting the pavement and clearing my head during the midst of a run. I worshiped while listening to Hillsong, and I came back to sit down to a meal full of vegetables and fresh chicken, and a healthy meal is something that I had not had in a long time.

One last way that the Lord has practically given me refreshment is through No Makeup Monday. It was something that I started about 3 weeks ago on my blog in order to work on my inner beauty. Every Monday I set out to not wear makeup, or make the focus on my outward beauty, but to work on an imperishable beauty. Throughout the day I seek to memorize scripture every chance I get no matter what I am doing and dedicate the day to seeking the Lord in any and every way I can. I cannot tell you how great this has been for me spiritually.

My encouragement to you is to seek the source of refreshment, once you find Him, He then will guide you in practical ways to continue to find waters that do not fail. He will guide you continually and satisfy your desire in scorched places.

How Sarah Refreshes + some family news

Last week was all about refresh and it was a joy to talk through it with y'all. This week, I'm going to let some other precious ladies use this space to talk about how THEY find refreshment. First up today is Sarah from Messes & Moments. After you read her sweet heart, check out below for some totally unrelated family news we have below. 

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I have a shirt (or tunic?) that I’ve been waiting to wear for a couple of months now.  It’s one of the only truly cute maternity shirts that I have bought for this second pregnancy (I would call it stylish but I don’t really pretend to know).  I’ve been holding off on wearing it - not even removing the tags - until I could really be sure I’d have my makeup and hair done and possibly have enough polish on my toes that people wouldn’t gawk at me.  I didn’t want to waste cuteness on my everyday look.

Honestly though, I don’t know that if I hadn’t been reading Jessi’s series on practical ways to become refreshed last week that I would have ever torn the tags off of that shirt before having this next child.  The culprit for my infrequent attempts at refreshing: guilt. 

We are in full-time ministry, and I’m a full-time mom, and I daily convince myself that a messy bun will definitely cut it, and these jeans don’t have that much dried banana on them, and I have bigger issues to worry about than being sure to make for time to change these things.

But last week, I found myself nodding with stinging eyes, reading honest words here from another weary mom, and I opened my hands up to just a sprinkling of grace, a gift I don’t let myself receive as often or as freely as it is available.  I let the lie that self-care is equal to selfishness play it’s drum loudly, drowning out where rest and renewal could be my song.

I fought it all last week.  

It took me until Friday evening, right before we went on our date, to finally straighten my messy mane into something fixed, and I finally wore that shirt.  Seriously, I almost ended up with a messy bun and a loose, frumpy t-shirt, but I forcefully reminded that I am important too - not the most important, but still, I’m worth a little work, and I need a little grace. 

For me, it’s not so much in the act of hair-fixing and cute-shirt-wearing and rest-taking as it is in giving myself the space to need the refreshment that those things offer.  I have to force myself to remember that I can offer a much better mom, wife, and friend when I am feeling refreshed, put together, and rested.  I get more done, feel less messy and more ready to face the day, and I avoid less reflective surfaces when I allow myself to have needs and to pay attention to those needs and perhaps to wear non-fruit-stained jeans - sometimes.

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Amen to all of that. I love this, Sarah! 

Ok, one more short tidbit I wanted to share. My husband has a blog! 

And some news about what our family is going to be up to next. 

Go check it out. 

refresh, day five | the soul + what's next

We made it through the week. 
Anyone feeling some refreshment breaking through? I sure am. 
It feels all kind of hopeful + fresh up in my heart. 

Today we thought we'd talk a little about intellectual and creative refreshment. No matter what season of life you're in - sometimes your brain just needs a good old shaking up, right? As a blogger, business owner, mama, housewife, friend, etc - I find that if I'm not living in full color and content, things get wonky. 

So here's how I'm hitting refresh in my soul. 
I talked Monday about my heart getting refreshed with the Lord, but my I'm talking about my soul. My color-needing, music-loving, deep-thinking soul. 

Step 1: I started running again. Against my doctor's orders. I even skipped the whole "ease into it" using the Couch to 5K program. I don't recommend this, obviously - but I DO recommend what's behind it. My husband and I talked it out and realized, I feel most alive when I'm running consistently. It's not about weight loss or exercise for me, it's about feet hitting the pavement, loud music in my ears, and checking something off my list FULLY. Parenting, blogging, ministry - those are never done. But I can get away and have some introvert time and check something off my list when I run. And that is good. 

Step 2: Analog Weekends. You don't need to be connected all the time. You just don't. It will rot your soul. For the past few weeks I've been joining Hayley in analog weekends. I don't use twitter/facebook/instagram from 5pm Friday until about 8pm Sunday. I laugh with my family. I watch movies. I call old friends. Sometimes I even work. But I don't put my life on the internet during those hours. I just live it. 

Step 3: Create new content. I needed refreshment? We started a blog series about refreshment! If you're feeling dull, it's always a good idea to just start from scratch and MAKE something. Write an essay, bake some cookies, dream up a new idea. Even if it feels impossible, ideas beget other ideas. 

Step 4: Grab a friend, sister, mama, and a cup of coffee or tea. Drink. Talk. Repeat. There is not much in this world that a full pot of coffee and a friend cannot help. If you're feeling special, go for this super cute coffee set from Jessica N Designs and NS Pottery. 

Step 5: Go buy, or even make, a cute new notebook. Jot down those ideas, dreams, woes, poems, whatever. I literally just went tonight and got a new one from Target. It was $3.99 and worth so much more than that. 

Step 6: Study something. Head to the library and check out a mass of books on one subject. Fill your brain and expand your thinking. I'm doing that right now with femininity and wrote a little about it over on the Influence blog. Is there something you've been dying to know about or understand? Research it up. 

And that's how I'm refreshing the soul. The creative, intellectual part of me. 
Don't laugh that I just called myself intellectual, y'all. 

Well. There's one thing I need to say to wrap up this week! 
As Hayley and I got to writing, we realized we had a LOT more to say about refreshment. Moreover, we have a lot of other areas of our own lives that need refreshing and we need this experiment to keep going. And we're so blessed by how many of you have been blessed by this week that we're not going to stop here. 

It's true! In the next few weeks, we'll have an eBook coming out - with all these topics and more, expanded - detailing our quest for refreshment and the tips and tricks we're picking up along the way. Marriage, home, friendships and all the other things - we're going to talk about them!

We'll keep you posted but we're really excited to share this with you ladies!
I pray you've been blessed by this week, I know we have been. 
And now, it's time for this girl to head out - it's analog weekend! 

refresh day four | it's a no brainer

Ok gals. We're still in refresh week and today is the wardrobe today. 

Besides a heart refresh, I've been struggling MOST in the wardrobe. 

I'm 10 weeks past my fourth baby and only about 1/10th of my closet fits me. Spring is coming and I've been wearing yoga pants and sweatshirts for months on end. Not like once or twice a week. EVERY SINGLE DAY. 

The other day I texted my friend, "Running late! Getting dressed and I'll be right there!"

I had to immediately text back, "By getting dressed I mean I'm cleaning the spit up off my 3 day old sweatshirt", just to keep it real.  

I really can't take it any more. It's time for a wardrobe refresh. 

In this case, there is no better place to turn in this situation than The No Brainer Wardrobe. 

Hayley wrote this fabulous little eBook about how to revamp and redo your wardrobe simply, on a budget, in a way that helps you feel fresh EVERY DAY. If you don't already have it, go over there and spend the few dollars to read her wisdom. It will be the best investment you ever make in your wardrobe. 

Here are the major things I'm taking from it today. 

So, I did both those things. 

I humbled myself and let my most stylish friend April loan me some clothes. 

Hallelujah, thank you Jesus. So, it wasn't really a swap but more of a dear friend pushing a bag of her beauties in my hands when she knew I was desperate. But in the No Brainer Wardrobe you can find out more about clothes swapping in case you don't have a fairy-god-fashion-mama like April. 

Secondly, I made some inspiration boards. 

I made three realistic outfits for staying at home, casual weekday meetings + errands, and a datenight out. I took about $50 and looked for the things I didn't have in thrift stores and on sale. And now, one week later, I have a really complete transitional post-baby-body wardrobe. And my sweatshirts are going to the back of the closet. 

Lisa Leonard earrings + Better Life Bags laptop bag + tshirt + boyfriend jeans + funky sandals

MaddyNBella bracelet + chambray shirt + sundress + 

Lisa Leonard necklace + bright sandals

Rouge + Whimsy clutch + bird shirt + cigarette pants + wedges

And I really did go buy a bird print shirt. 
But my mom called it a bat shirt. 

Alright, y'all. I wouldn't do anything without checking out The No Brainer Wardrobe, but if you're stuck in a yoga pants rut - join me. We can make it through the other side. I believe it. 
What tips do you ladies have for wardrobe refreshment?! 
Let's talk!