Five on Friday - On Tuesday {11.11.2014}

I missed the boat last Friday to post my randomness, so I'm just going to do that today!

ONE.

We handed out candy at our house for Halloween again this year. It was quite chilly, so we did it from inside the house rather than sitting on the front step, but it worked! We were open for business from about 6:15 to 8:00 and counted around 179 Trick-or-Treaters. It was about 100 less than last year, but that could have been because of the weather or because we closed up shop around 8. We got rid of the majority of our giant box of Peanut Butter M&Ms, so it was successful on our end. I did the candy-handing-outing while Trent was the tally-er of the Trick-or-Treaters and Mattie just wanted to get outside to see what everyone's costumes looked like!

TWO.

On Halloween night, we left our house around 8:30 and went to Ankeny, so I could go to the annual craft fair there with the girls bright and early in the morning. Trent and his dad went hiking in the morning and then watched some football in the afternoon.

Here's our one picture from the day! The kid taking it really didn't do a very good job (like, really, dude, back up a little bit!), but we'll take what we can get!

Here's one of my purchases that I got at the craft fair from a little business called Summer Snow. I can't wait to hang it up this winter!!

THREE.

Last Tuesday was the last of the nine-week Beth Moore Bible study on 1 & 2 Thessalonians that I was a part of at Christ Community Church. I am SOOO glad that I chose to do it! I met some of the most amazing women that I am so thankful to have met. It's amazing how much life can happen in just 9 short weeks and how relationships can blossom in that short of a time! There is another Beth Moore study starting in January called A Woman's Heart that explores the building of the Old Testament tabernacle and most of us are planning on doing that one as well, so I am already looking forward to that! 

On the last night of our study, Beth asked everyone to take a pen and write on the palms of their hands - On the left hand "For not all have faith" and on the right "But the Lord is faithful". (As we were doing that - I said "My dad would NOT like this!") Those phrases are taken from some of 2 Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 2 and the beginning of verse 3. She then gave a list of about ten scenarios where something bad may happen like: a bank is robbed, someone we love is sick or hurt, someone says something unkind to us, etc. We then could answer that scenario with the words "For not all have faith, but the Lord is faithful!" It's so true that we can not put our trust in the things of this world, because those things may fail us, but the Lord never will! The Lord is always faithful!

FOUR.

We painted our bedroom on Saturday. FINALLY! It's crazy how just a coat of paint can change the way you feel about a room. It's pretty much just a lighter tan than what was in there, but it sure did brighten up the room and make it seem more clean. Much better than the flat, gross tan that had been on the walls for the past 8 years that the house has been standing!

We painted it a color called Hopsack by Valspar. It's the color that is one shade darker than what we have in our Living Room/Dining Room/Hallway, so it goes nicely!

One of our big motivations for getting the painting done was so we could rearrange the furniture in our room at the same time and make a space for another dog bed/crate that will be in there at the end of the month!

FIVE.

Speaking of another dog! Our puppy is now 5 weeks old!! We are still getting updates in the form of pictures, videos and emails each week and the puppies are getting cuter and cuter every time we see them! We will be going the Saturday after Thanksgiving to pick up the new member of our family and I'm getting more and more excited as the day comes closer!

There were 5 girls in the litter that our puppy is in and two of them have already been chosen, so after the next family picks out their girl, which will hopefully be before the next update, we will know what two puppies are going to be in the Fredericksen family (because Trent's sister's family is getting a female puppy from the same litter) and know that one of those two will be living with us!! YAY!

Here's a picture of one of our puppy's siblings at 4.5 weeks (it's not ours because it's a male) and a video of the puppies from this past weekend!

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!! :)

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Iowa State Fair 2013 - Nothing Compares!

Just one short week ago, I was off having fun at the Iowa State Fair with my mom. I love the fair and I was so happy that I got to go again this year after having to miss a few years due to being a "grown up". The day went WAY too fast, but I think we got some of the important stuff crossed off our to-do list while we were there... We both agreed we could have spent several days there and still found enough to do, though!

 

 

We made it to the fairgrounds a little before noon and not even five seconds after walking in, we saw the Big Green Egg tent. I happen to be married to a so called "Egghead" who loves his Big Green Egg grill. So we took a gander around their tent and listened to the salespeople talk up the Egg and all of the Eggcessories before going on our way. They do have a lot to offer and I do love all that Trent cooks for us on our Egg, so it may or may not have convinced me a little more that we should upgrade our medium sized egg to a large... someday ;)

 

 

After stopping to fill out some forms to try to win a new car (fingers crossed!), we made our way to get some lunch and then find a seat at the Bill Riley Talent Show. My mom had a corn dog and lemonade. I had some cheese curds and a Dr. Pepper! Yum!

 

 

We watched a majority of the sprouts competition which included some singers, dancers, a piano player, and a hula hoop performer girl to name a few. We decided that if we wanted to make good use of the time we had that day, we'd better get on our way and miss out on the Senior Division performances.

After we left the Bill Riley Stage, we made our way to check out the livestock. We didn't stop to look at anything much, but got to see some pigs, cows, an ostrich and a llama among other things as we walked to the back to meet up with some people who were there from our area to show their cattle. And, of course, we took their picture as they were reading The Observer.

 

 

Cows

Our next stop was the Agriculture building. But on the way in we had to stop by the outside of the building to locate Grandma and Grandpa Jons' brick.

 

The view from the top of the stairs in the Ag Building

Probably my favorite thing about the Agriculture building is walking around the upper area and checking out the real live infomercials. Of course, the Quick n Brite stand was there. Unfortunately, we didn't feel like we had time to stop and listen to the schpeel (especially since I've heard it quite a few times before) but it sure does make me happy to think about standing there and watching it do its magic!

 

 

We DID stop and watch the end of the Vitamix show and got to have a sample of the smoothie they were making. Totally worth it! Someday when I'm grown up, I think I'll get one of those.

 

As we finished walking through the building, I figured out how tall I was...

 

...we saw the Butter Cow and the other Butter sculptures...

 

 

...and finished it up with some ice cream on our way out! (I LOVE ice cream!)

 

It was then time for us to head over to the Varied Industries building for our time slot volunteering to package meals for Meals from the Heartland.

 

 

We ended up at a table with 8 other women. At each table, the same process was done to package the meals. First a small pack of vitamins is put into a plastic bag, followed by a scoop of rice, one of soy flour, and a smaller one of dried vegetables. The bag is then weighed and sealed and then packaged, 36 bags to a box. The process was actually quite fun. It was easy and it was definitely something I would do again. I can imagine that it would be a lot of fun to do it with a group of 10 people you know and can just enjoy spending time with them while doing something for a good cause! During that one day, about 1,500 volunteers packaged 255,096 meals that will go to feed children throughout the Midwest as well as overseas.

 

 

The bins of the different stuff we put into the bags

 

 

After our volunteering was done, we made our way through the Varied Industries building, picking up a lot of catalogs and business cards and posters and sporting schedules... you know - the good stuff!

 

(I had to grab a flier for the Sam Clovis for U.S. Senate campaign from the Republicans' table. The guy at the table laughed at me when I took a picture of them but I just smiled back and said that Sam was my advisor in college and told him I thought Sam was awesome. He thought I was cool then... or something...)

 

 

By the time we got through all of the aisles of the Varied Industries building, it was about time for us to head to the concert. We made a quick trip to the car to drop off all our goodies from the day and then made one more stop for some supper before heading into the concert. For supper I had a corn dog this time and my mom had a tenderloin sandwich. Both good choices again!

 

 

Trent told me to have a turkey leg for him at the fair...
There was absolutely no room in my belly for that,
so I just took a picture of a sign instead :)
It's the thought that counts, right?

And then IT WAS TIME! Time to head into the Grandstand for the Jeremy Camp and Casting Crowns concert. We were lucky enough to be in row 5 and were able to experience the great concert from up close! And just like the rest of the day, the concert went way too fast! It was absolutely awesome, though. I can say without a doubt that they are two of my favorite artists and I could listen to their songs all day long. Their songs say so many things that I think relate directly to my life and have such great messages. Being there with thousands of other people, singing together and praising God and worshiping together really fills up my heart. 

 

(Lots of pictures... I couldn't pick which ones to use, so you get to see them all!)

 

 

Both Jeremy Camp and Casting Crowns not only had great messages in their songs but they also spoke great messages to the crowd. Their encouragement to us all as Christians was absolutely uplifting and I honestly believe everyone had to have left there ready and pumped to spread the greatness of God through their words and actions.

 

 

Not only was it a great experience to have to be there with all those thousands of people, singing together and praising the Lord, it was a great experience to share with my mom. I'm so happy that I got to spend the day with her and top it off with the amazing concert. It was a perfect day! There really is nothing that compares to the Iowa State Fair!

 

"I want all who I meet to see you through me.

I want all that I speak to be You.

If there's anything that I would pray.

It's that the whole world would seek Your face.

And in spite of who I can be.

Please reign in me"

Reign in Me - Jeremy Camp