Encouraging Words

Today I am so thankful for encouraging words. 

I was able to see first hand how a few simple words can really brighten someones day. 

" Oh Tiffany ... God makes all kinds of mommas, and God made you awesome! You have heart, brains, and beauty... you are artsy/crafty, you have made organization skills ... :) and you are helping to support your family. Kingston will grow up with an appreciation for everything you do, which will translate into him having respect for women because he has had a terrific example in you. Whether you work outside the home or stay home full time, you are a fabulous mom! "

These words brought tears to my eyes today when I read them. Happy tears. Tears of appreciation. So many times in the last 4 months I have second guessed so many things, felt guilty more times than I can count, but done everything in my power to be the best mom I can be. I know God made me to be a mom and I am so thankful. I'm even more thankful though that others can see that too. 

After experiencing how a few simple words can totally change someones day - my goal is to encourage others more. Just a few words to let them know that they are doing a good job. 

We should all try it. This world needs more encouragement. 

Crafting: Kingston's Nursery

I think it's finally time that I reveal all of Kingston's nursery to you lovely readers. Thankfully, I started working on this bad boy as soon as we found out that we were pregnant because I haven't wanted to do anything in there for a few weeks.

I knew our decor scheme was going to be similar whether we had a boy or girl: 
dark walls, white furniture with metallic and either mint or raspberry accents. 

Let me remind you of our nursery inspiration.

original details here

And here is how I tried to bring that inspiration to life! 

(Keep in mind our untraditional room setup)

Wall Color // Lowe's // Valspar - Muted Ebony

Accent Paint // Lowe's// Pantone Universe - Bay

Crib // Cherry Orchard Furniture  //  Angel Line Mary 3 in 1 Crib

Chair // Wayfair

3 piece dresser/changing table // Home Decorators

Curtains // Target 

Rug // Rugs USA 

Mirror // gift from my dad which he found antiquing
Cloud Mobile // handmade by me 

Lamp // TJMaxx
K Wall Hanging // Hobby Lobby

Puff Quilt // handmade by me

Bedding // handmade by me // crib sheet, crib skit & changing pad cover
Mint Throw // TJMaxx 

Apothecary Jar // Nebraska Furniture Mart

Little Tins // Target - dollar section

Nuts & Bolts Metallic Men // Hobby Lobby 

Basket // Target 

The World is Your Playground // handmade by me

Dream Quote & K // gift from baby shower #3

Car Bookends // Nebraska Furniture Mart

Moustache Closet Makeover // done by me

*The tutorials I used for the fabric goodies can be found on my Pinterest board. 
*Shopping at TJMaxx is always hit or miss and they stock each location differently. 
*Check out my Etsy shop if you would like me to create the perfect puff quilt/mobile for your little ones nursery. 


I'm in love with how it turned out. 

It's modern. 

It's elegant. 

It's eclectic. 

It's us! 

Kuddos

Kuddos to the moms . . . 

. . . who had bleeding of any type at anytime during their pregnancy & came out with a health baby. 

I can't imagine how scary that would be. 

. . . who had morning sickness, afternoon sickness, or night time sickness

. . . who had serious migraines 

. . . who had constant heart burn and indigestion 

. . . who became swollen . . . everywhere 

. . . who worked a job where you were on your feet the entire shift 

. . . who carried more than one baby 

. . . who had to watch what they ate because of gestational diabetes 

. . . who couldn't use the restroom if their life depended on it 

. . . who carried their baby longer than their due date 

. . . who had to go through pregnancy without help or support

You women are

You don't know how much I think of all of you ladies that had to endure any of those things. I have been one of the extremely fortunate women with this pregnancy. My only symptom in the beginning was fatigue and I've only had heartburn two or three times. 

But as soon as that 35 week mark hit - I have felt 100% pregnant and the most uncomfortable I have been in my entire life. My pubic bone feels like it's a dried out wishbone that people are pulling on trying to break. I can't sit for more than 30 minutes without getting up and feeling like I have 90 year old hip joints. And who knew that your feet would hurt when they became swollen. 

Kingston . . . your mama and your mamas body are ready for you to be here. 

All of you women are rockstars who felt pregnant your entire pregnancy - I don't know if I could have done it. We do incredible things by growing humans and it's crazy how we are all affected so differently. 

Nursery Inspiration

A sneak peak into what my vision is for Baby K's nursery! 

1// Million Dollar Baby - Ashbury Crib (all white furniture)

2// lots, and lots, and lots of patterns

3// dark grey walls

4// Owl wall hanging - gift from an art festival (original color inspiration)

5// Black/White Chevron Rug (talked about here)

6// Mamaroo Swing/Rocker (modern everything)

7// Mint or Raspberry accents based on gender (still talking CT into this)

8// Reflections 3 Piece Cabinet (storage + changing table)

As you can see our theme is black/white/metallic + an accent color. I am SOO excited to see how this turns out. It's very modern and not the most kid friendly, but it's so our taste. I told CT that this is a preview of how our forever home eventually someday look like. 

Lots of patterns, metallic anywhere we can get it, but still keeping in mind simple is better. I've seen too many nursery's that are super cluttered, so I think this is going to be our biggest challenge. Well . . . besides the fact that we are technically transforming our dining room into a nursery. Complete with having to create a closet and some sort of separation between the nursery and the hallway. 

Let's not get started - that's a story for a whole other day. 

What are your thoughts on the inspiration? 

It's a Tiffany original!  =) 

It's definitely not most people's taste for a nursery, but it's ours and I can't wait to see how it all turns out! 

linking up with Serenity Now.

Sunday Inspiration: Soon

Soon  

Hillsong United ft. Brooke Fraser

This song is so full of promises, it brings tears to my eyes every time I listen to it. 

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

Soon and very soon

My King is coming

Robed in righteousness and crowned with love

When I see Him

I shall be made like Him

Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon

I’ll be going

To the place He has prepared for me

There my sin erased

My shame forgotten

Soon and very soon


                                      

I will be with the One I love

With unveiled face I’ll see Him

There my soul will be satisfied

Soon and very soon


                                           

Soon and very soon

See the procession

The angels and the elders 'round the throne

At His feet I’ll lay my crowns My worship

Soon and very soon


 I will be with the One I love

Soon and very soon

My King is coming

Robed in righteousness and crowned with love

When I see Him

I shall be made like Him

Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon

I’ll be going

To the place He has prepared for me

There my sin erased

My shame forgotten

Soon and very soon


                                      

I will be with the One I love

With unveiled face I’ll see Him

There my soul will be satisfied

Soon and very soon


                                          

 Soon and very soon

See the procession

The angels and the elders 'round the throne

At His feet I’ll lay my crowns My worship

Soon and very soon


                                    

 I will be with the One I love

With unveiled face I’ll see Him

There my soul will be satisfied

Soon and very soon


                                   

 Though I have not seen Him

My heart knows Him well

Jesus Christ the Lamb

The Lord of heaven


                                     

I will be with the One I love

With unveiled face I’ll see Him

There my soul will be satisfied

Soon and very soon

Soon and very soonlove

With unveiled face I’ll see Him

There my soul will be satisfied

Soon and very soon


                                   

 Though I have not seen Him

My heart knows Him well

Jesus Christ the Lamb

The Lord of heaven


                                   

  I will be with the One I love

With unveiled face I’ll see Him

There my soul will be satisfied

Soon and very soon

Soon and very soon

                                                

Do It Anyway

Inspiration from the online devotional 'She Reads Truth' in regard to Ruth's story. 

2 Samuel 11

Today in church, our pastor started a new series titles "The Thing". 

The Thing = Satan. 

The Thing is lurking, stalking us . . .daily. 

He has a daily goal to disrupt our lives with temptation, but he ultimately has a strategy to blow up our lives. Because God loves us, we have a huge target on our back. 

Take a moment to read about David's sinful story in 2 Samuel 11.

It's a story about David and his affair with Bathsheba while her husband was away at war. David was tempted and Satan won. Bathsheba became pregnant and when David found out he sent for her husband, Uriah to come home from the war. David figured Uriah would come home for a little rest and relaxation and everyone would believe it was Uriah's son. When Uriah chose not to go home to Bathsheba, David sent for him to be put in the front lines of the war. This was his death sentence. When Bathsheba was done mourning, David took her as his wife and she bore him a son. In the end, it looked like David was a hero, comforting and saving a women whose husband died at war. 

At the end of this chapter the bible states:

"But the thing that David had done displeased the Lord."

This is such a scary and unnerving statement. 

When we sin God still forgives us and He will never bring up our wrongs again. 

Even though He forgives, the sin still punishes us. 

The monster we created still lives on.

Our sermon today was on affairs.

How common they are.

How easily they begin.

How much destruction they cause.

Pastor Hoover gave us some advice on how to avoid The Thing.  

1. Don't toy with temptation

2. Watch out for your vulnerable seasons

(change, boredom, and anger)

3. Don't develop an unhealthy appetite 

Weekly Inspiration [8]: She Reads Truth Daily Devotional

I was just introduced through Instagram to the wonderful devotional: 

She Reads Truth. 

It is a community of women that strive to have a better relationship with the Lord through a daily devotion. What I like most is it's not just a daily devotional but a place where women can interact with one another. There is a place for comments and questions so you can converse with other ladies about what you had read that day. 

They are currently working on Women in the Bible- Part 3, but because I just started, I went back to the beginning for Women in the Bible- Part 1 and I am just now finishing it up. 

So far we have discussed Eve, Sarah (Sarai), Hagar, Lot's Wife, and Rebekah. 

All these ladies have their own struggles, that most any woman can find similarities with. Well I know I can. I fight the same battles as they did, and reading their struggles has really made me more aware of what I need to work on to be a better Christian woman. 

Just some note taking from the talk on Sarah:

On Lot's Wife:

I myself am a lot like Sarah: I have a major struggle with patience. 

I myself have similarities to Lot's Wife: I sometime look back thinking 'what if'.

Do you have any of these same struggles? 

What woman in the bible are you most like?

Weekly Inspiration [8]: When Commitment Meets Challenge

Last month CT and I attended a marriage conference. We thought this would be an awesome opportunity to keep things fresh and be pro-active in our marriage!

I have been recapping the various sessions the last few Sundays. 

Check out To Love & To Cherish and God's Design for Marriage to catch up!

1 Corinthians 7:28 states that you will face trouble in your marriage.

 Everyone does.

When two people are bound together in marriage, the problems of human nature are then multiplied. 

Everyone goes through crisis.  

In your life you are:

going through it

coming through it

or almost to it

Most crisis are caused by changes. 

Time

Distance

Desire 

Just remember, these are season's and they will pass. 

Romans 12:12 states that we need to rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, and be constant in prayer. 

I think if you take that verse right there, and apply it to your marriage only good things can happen! 

The two most important things I took away from this weekend conference were:

1) that marriage isn't something you find, it's something you work for

2) marriage is not primarily about finding the right spouse, but being the right spouse  

Weekly Inspiration [7]: To Love & To Cherish

What is love?

Love is patience. 

Love is kindness 

{try and be as polite to your spouse as you are to other people}

Love is selfless & sacrificial.

{it does not brag and is not arrogant}

Love is having good manners.

{let them know they are appreciated}

Love is being a servant with our hearts and our hands. 

{it says I love you with your actions}

Love is having a short memory.

{not easily angered, and remembering that forgiveness is a decision}

Love is being truthful, always. 

{it's easy to do what's not right. true love strives to do what's right according to God, even when it's hard. }

Love is ALL IN. 

{there is no plan B}

What is not love?

Love is not words alone.

{our actions must match our words}

Love is not knowledge. 

{love is practiced}

Love is not actions alone. 

Love is not jealous.

{trust and communication is needed to be successful in love}

Do you love your spouse? 

Does your actions match your words?

Are you being truthful and doing the right thing even if it's hard?

Are you as polite, kind, and good mannered towards your spouse?

Are you all in? 

When you spend every day and every night with your spouse, why would you not try and have the best relationship possible? My hope is that you read this scripture and realize you only live one life, you only have one time to get it right, so we need to make the most of it. 

Be happy and love hard. 

Check out last week's post on God's design for marriage.

Life Lately: According to Instagram

If you aren't already following me on instagram, you should totes go and do that, I'm tiffross5!

What's going on lately you ask?

I got a new macbookpro this past weekend and I'm having so much fun decking it out! I love the great deals you can get on Amazon. $1.99 for the chevron keyboard and $10.99 for the blue case, keyboard, and screen protector = awesome!!

My hubby does a fabulous job at picking out jewels for me. 

I'm obsessed.

We had lunch with one of my best friends this past weekend and her little girl Aynslee. She makes my heart happy. 

CT and I are currently working our way through all the Harry Potter dvds. We have gotten through 2/8 so far. 
Then if I get around to it, I'll start to re-read the books. Wishful thinking!

Last weekend we went to a Vows Marriage Conference hosted by our couples pastor at our church. It was extremely interesting, and it feels good to invest in your marriage and to be proactive.
Read about some of it here and check back in the next few Sunday's to learn more about what we learned! 

I have a picture of this quote on the home screen of my phone. 
A daily reminder that we all live a beautiful life. 

Nice little day date we had.
 Picnic, feeding the ducks, and some golf range!
 Cheap and fun, you can't beat that!


Linking up with Life Rearranged.