Five on Friday and a Favorite Song {03.13.2015}

This was supposed to go up last Friday, but it ended up being a super busy day at work and that just carried into the evening, so it never got done. So I mixed some of last week's stuff with this week's stuff and called it good!

ONE.

Last weekend, some of my best friends and I met up in Omaha for a little girl time. We all met at the mall and did a little looking/shopping and a lot of talking. Some of us then got our nails done and went out to eat at Roja before retiring for the night at Lauren's. These girls' weekends are usually very late nights, but I don't think many of us made it to midnight... we decided that we need to start our girls' weekend earlier in the day next time!
 

 

TWO.
When Mattie and Millie eat, they usually like to take turns so that they can watch each other. This really makes the whole process take longer than it needs to, but as long as it gets done, I guess... I think it's so cute and funny when Mattie's eating and Millie is watching her because Millie will get as close as she can to Mattie and her bowl of food. This happened, as usual, the other evening when I was feeding them (I usually only feed them in the morning because Trent gets home from work before me), so I had to get a picture of it.

 

THREE.

I have been thinking a lot lately about what it will be like to actually meet our baby. It's crazy to think about them actually being here (on the outside of me) and seeing their little face and hands. When I think about it, I really just feel like I am going to cry every time I see them! I just cannot imagine what it will be like to hold a baby that is all ours and we will be their mom and dad!! August really feels so far away! I love this baby so much already, I just can't fathom what it's going to be like to meet them for the first time!!! Ah!

FOUR.

Last week, I purchased the Eyefi Mobi SD Card for my camera. It basically acts as a wi-fi hotspot so when you take pictures, it can connects and uploads them right to your phone without having to get out my computer and upload them there before uploading them to my blog. Normally waiting to upload them isn't such a bad thing, but I bought it for when I take my weekly pregnancy update photos in the mornings so I can get the pictures and the blog post posted during the day without having to hassle with getting out my computer in the mornings (because I would never have time for that anyway... I like to sleep too much). It's not quite as slick as I was hoping it would be, as it kind of takes a long time to connect at times, but so far it has gotten the job done. I think it will be fun to use when I want to take pictures of our little baby with my good camera and be able to share them without having to find time to get my computer out and all that jazz.

 

FIVE.
This song is on Jeremy Camp's latest album and is, of course, a new favorite. (Is anyone surprised? I didn't think so...) I put some of my favorite lyrics below, but it's definitely worth a listen!

Same Power - Jeremy Camp

The same power that rose Jesus from the grave

The same power that commands the dead to wake

Lives in us, lives in us

The same power that moves mountains when He speaks

The same power that can calm a raging sea

Lives in us, lives in us

He lives in us, lives in us

 

We have hope. That His promises are true

In His strength. There is nothing we can’t do

Yes, we know. There are greater things in store

We will not be overtaken. We will not be overcome

 

Greater is He that is living in me

He’s conquered our enemy

No power of darkness

No weapon prevails

We stand here in victory

Five on Friday - Favorite Song Edition {10.10.2014}

Happy Friday, everyone!
I haven't done a Favorite Song Friday in a long time, but, really, I haven't had any songs in my life that were really doing it for me for a while. But now.... I have THREE!! So I'm incorporating it into my Friday Five this week!
I hope you all had a great week!

ONE.

First off, I want to wish a BIIIGG Happy 5th Anniversary to Aunt Doreen and Uncle Nick!!
I love you both SO SO much!! I hope you have a great day (and a great vacation) celebrating!

TWO.

Jeremy Camp - He Knows

The newest song by Jeremy Camp is, not surprisingly, another one of my favorites!
Just like the title, it is about how, even when we feel like we are all alone and no one understands what we're going through and the hurt and sadness we feel, HE KNOWS! More than anyone else, God understands and knows what we are going through. Jesus suffered death on the cross and He has compassion for what we're going through! It is so comforting to know that He is always holding us in His hands and is walking with us through all our days, the good and the bad.

In this video, Jeremy talks about the real inspiration behind the song and what it means to him. He says it better than I can express! :)

You can listen to the song by watching the video below or clicking here.

All the bitter weary ways. Endless striving day by day. You barely have the strength to pray in the valley low.
How hard your fight has been. How deep the pain within. Wounds that no one else has seen. Hurts too much to show.
All the doubt you're standing in between. And all the weight that brings you to your knees.

He knows. He knows. 
Every hurt and every sting He has walked the suffering
He knows. He knows.
Let your burdens come undone
Lift your eyes up to the One who knows
He knows.

We may faint and we may sink. Feel the pain and near the brink. 
But the dark begins to shrink. When you find the one who knows.
The chains of doubt that held you in between. One by one are starting to break free.

Every time that you feel forsaken. Every time that you feel alone. He is near to the brokenhearted. Every tear.
He knows

THREE.

Francesca Battistelli - He Knows My Name

My next favorite song is by my girl, Francesca Battistelli!
This song has the same broad theme as the Jeremy Camp song, that GOD.KNOWS.YOU! Even with all the people on the Earth, you aren't a stranger. God knows your name and He loves you! It gives me chills just to think about that! I want to dance around the room and tell everyone that Good News!!

My favorite words of the song are in the chorus. "I don't need my name in lights. I'm famous in my Father's eyes. Make no mistake. He knows my name. I'm not living for applause. I'm already so adored. It's all his stage, He knows my name."

Here's a video of Francesca giving a little insight behind the meaning of the song.

You can listen to the song by watching the video below or clicking here.

Spent today in a conversation. In the mirror face to face with. Somebody less than perfect. I wouldn't choose me first if. I was looking for a champion. In fact I'd understand if. You picked everyone before me. But that's just not my story.
True to who You are You saw my heart. And made something out of nothing, so...

I don't need my name in lights I'm famous in my Father's eyes
Make no mistake He knows my name
I'm not living for applause I'm already so adored
It's all His stage He knows my name
He knows my name 

I'm not meant to just stay quiet. I'm meant to be a lion. I'll roar beyond a song. With every moment that I've got.
True to who You are You saw my heart. And made something out of nothing.

He calls me chosen. Free, forgiven. 
Wanted. Child of the King. 
His forever. Held and treasured. 
I am loved!

FOUR.

Carrie Underwood - Something in the Water

And for my third and final favorite song for today, my girl, Carrie Underwood. 

(Yes, both Francesca and Carrie are "my girls")

She released her new song Something in the Water last week, but I didn't listen to it until I was on the way to work on Wednesday morning. After that, I think I listened to it at least 20 more times that day.

This song also makes my heart happy. The part of the song the song that says "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 side. Thank God Almighty, I saw the light." makes me so giddy. And then the song is layered with the words from the hymn "Amazing Grace" and that just brings tears to my eyes. One of those things I can't explain, but I just feel it. It makes me want to put the song on repeat, lay on the floor with my hands open and my eyes closed, and just smile!

You can listen to the song by watching the video below or clicking here.

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 a 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'll 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 side. Thank God almighty, I saw 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.

FIVE.

This next week will be the fifth week of the Women's Bible Study I've been attending on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. I love how each week (and, really, each day in between) I can learn something that is so simple and something I may have known, but it is presented or said in such a different way that it seems just like the most amazing thing I have ever heard. Things that stir up emotions inside me that I didn't know I could feel from just reading "a book".

Just the other night, I was sitting at the kitchen table doing one of the daily studies. This day was centered around 1 Thessalonians 4:13 - "We do not want you to be uniformed, brothers, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope."

I always knew that I could have hope in Jesus, but it wasn't until I read the statement below in  my study, that I really realized how thankful I am to be able to put my trust in God and to be living my life for him! Without hope, what would be the point?!? There would be no upside. 
It said,

Nothing is like hopelessness. No feeling of loss, as terrible as it may be, can compete with it. 

 That is so true. It just puts everything in perspective. No matter how big the loss or how bad the pain, I can and will overcome it because Jesus has overcome the world! I have hope and a future in Him!!!!!! I pray for all those who feel hopeless... I pray that they can come to know the hope that they can find in Jesus!

Yee Haw! Happy Friday, Everyone!! :)

Linked here

Favorite Song Friday #2 - Overcome

The song that I want to share as one of my favorites this week is "Overcome" by Jeremy Camp. This song came out way back in 2010, but it's just one of those songs you can close your eyes and listen to and really feel the meaning of it in your heart.

Jeremy Camp is one of my all time favorite artists, if not my real favorite. I love his story and I love his music and I love the truth and conviction that he shares in his songs.

I have seen Jeremy Camp in concert twice. Once with Trent and my BFF, Lauren, and once with my Mom. Both times, he sang this song, and it was one of the most special parts of the evening. When he gets the part in the song where he sings, "We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony, we will overcome" several times over and over, everyone in the crowd hold hands and raises them up and sings the words together. It is amazing how much lifting your hands and closing your eyes and singing words like that can bring you to a totally different place. I don't know how to explain it, but it's like it just makes everything okay. All that has happened and is happening to us in the world can just disappear. It's like you can feel God saying, "Don't worry. I have this under control. I know you're hurting now and sometimes life can suck, but I've got this!" (Sorry for saying "suck," Mom)

After I chose that I wanted to share this song today, I Googled what the story behind the song was, and the song was actually written by Jon Egan, who leads the Desperation Band, right after the 2007 shooting at New Life Church in Colorado Springs, the church where the band led worship. The song focuses on the fact that Christ, who is perfect, suffered and died for us, but has overcame death and we, too, can overcome our hardships here on Earth.

John 16:33 says "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on Earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world."

In other words: 
The power of the world, the realm controlled by Satan, was defeated when Jesus accepted his Father's will to go to the Cross. He broke and defeated the power of sin and death. He brought life and immortality to light. He insured that death would not have the final say. So in the middle of sorrows and trials, we can take heart and have peace. Not because things are easy, but because the hard things of this life are temporary and are preparing for us an eternal glory. Our peace is not in the absence of strife or troubles, but in Jesus and what he has done to make our future sure! (source)

And how amazing is that!

Jeremy Camp has a book, I Still Believe, that he wrote about his life and testimony and how he came to be where he is today. One of the bigger events in his life was losing his first wife to ovarian cancer just months after they were married. Just like his songs, this book provides inspiration, insight, and encouragement to anyone who has experienced loss. I started reading this book just a few weeks before my dad passed away and finished it shortly after. It has so many comforting and thought provoking things within it that really put things into perspective, and I really recommend it to everyone.

Take a moment and close your eyes and just sit and listen to this song. I hope this song brings comfort to you as it does to me.

You can listen to the song by clicking here or watching it below.

Seated above, enthroned in the Father's love
Destined to die, poured out for all mankind

God's only Son, perfect and spotless one
He never sinned but suffered as if He did

All authority
Every victory is Yours
All authority
Every victory is Yours

Savior, worthy of honor and glory
Worthy of all our praise, You overcame
Jesus, awesome in power forever
Awesome and great is Your name, You overcame

Power in hand speaking the Father's plan
You're sending us out, light in this broken land

We will overcome by the blood of the Lamb
And the word of our testimony, everyone overcome

As a side note for my Favorite Song Fridays - I have decided that I am not going to do it every Friday. I don't want to share just ANY song that I like, I want to just share songs that really mean something to me and really are my favorites. So instead of doing it every week, when I have a song that I do want to share and post on here, I am going to dedicate Friday's as the day to share them.

Favorite Song Friday #1 - "All You've Ever Wanted"

I read quite a few blogs each day because that's a fun thing for me. Probably because they are always showing off the cool projects they do and their beautiful houses and their good ideas and I like to try to replicate what they're doing if it's something that I like. I'm not a very creative-minded person (hence the job dealing with math and numbers - just facts... not much creativity here!) but I do like to do some creative things, if someone else gives me the idea and shows me how to do it!

A lot of the blogs I read have recurring, weekly posts that have some theme: like to share about food or recipes, to share fun new products that they like, workouts they're doing, an encouraging story they've heard, etc. Here's some examples of some of the ones that pop up on my blog feed throughout the week:

Menu Monday with Lovely Little Snippets

What I'm Loving Wednesday with This Kind of Love

She Loves Me, She Loves Me Not with Michaela Noelle Designs

Workout Wednesday with Skinny Meg

Thriving Thursday with Serving Joyfully

Proverbs 31 Thursdays with Raising Mighty Arrows

Five on Friday with Hello! Happiness

Confessional Friday with A Blonde Ambition

High Five for Friday with The Small Things Blog

I have been thinking lately about a lot of songs that I like and how I occasionally like to share them on my blog. Not only to share them with my friends and family who read my posts but also so I can go back in time and see what favorite songs I had throughout time and read about why I liked them at that moment.

Therefore, in my head, Favorite Song Friday was born!

So without further ado... I bring you the first edition of Favorite Song Friday!

My first favorite is Casting Crowns' song, "All You've Ever Wanted." This song has been one of my favorites since it was released about 5 months or so ago and it has never gotten old to me. On top of just being a beautiful song (and the fact that Casting Crowns is one of my favorite groups), the song has such a simple, clear, and impactful message. The song is about the fact that most of us live our lives every day fighting battles with ourselves that are already over and won for us by God. I know that is something I have struggled with. Some days I am overrun with the guilt that I feel about my past sins. And this song, which, many times, seems to be played at just the right time, reminds me that God doesn't want anything from me but for me to give Him my heart. All I have to do is ask Him to forgive me, and it's done. He doesn't hold on to the memories of what I've done, so why should I? God doesn't need me to go out and do any good deeds or cure cancer or convince every person on Earth that I am wonderful (not that all those are bad things to do anyway), he just wants me to lay my life down for Him. The thought of that takes my breath away and brings tears to my eyes. God doesn't want anything from us, he just wants us to give ourselves to Him and live our lives each day for Him. It's just that simple. God is so good!

The lyrics that I love are:
"But all my deeds and my good name
Are just dirty rags that tear and strain
To cover all my guilty stains
That You already washed away"

You can listen to the song by clicking here or watching it below.
I hope you enjoy and I hope it makes an impact on you like it has to me!
Happy Friday!

Full Lyrics

I just looked up today
And realized how far away I am from where You are
You gave me life worth dying for
But between the altar and the door
I bought the lies that promised more
And here I go again

Lord, I know I let You down
But somehow, I will make You proud
I'll turn this sinking ship around
And make it back to You

But all my deeds and my good name
Are just dirty rags that tear and strain
To cover all my guilty stains
That You already washed away

('Cause) All You've ever wanted, all You've ever wanted
All You've ever wanted was my heart
Freedom's arms are open, my chains have all been broken
Relentless love has called me from the start
And all You wanted was my heart

I was chasing healing when I'd been made well
I was fighting battles when You conquered hell
Living free but from a prison cell
Lord, I lay it down today

So I'll stop living off of how I feel
And start standing on Your truth revealed
Jesus is my strength, my shield
And He will never fail me

No more chains, I've been set free
No more fighting battles You've won for me
Now in Christ, I stand complete