on this next adventure....

May the force be with you!

We are in the wonderfully HOT state of Arizona... and these were what I gave my 4 crazies as travel gifts. I also taped more candy inside the cards. Aren't I such an awesome sister!?
I think I actually like star wars more than them. Oh well, they loved them! I got the idea from pinterest and spent over an hour trying to get the sizing and margins just right. (Then I was in a rush to get them done, so sorry that Obi Wan is larger than Darth. oops!)

Click here to see the document!

Here is what I used. I printed mine out on cardstock, and cut a slit at the base of the light sabers to slide in the pix stix candy. FYI, you might have to tape the pix stix to the the back so that they don't slide out and so they lie flat.

Luck, I wish you. ;) (get it?!)
Sophia

Women of excellence

Do you hear that sound? That sound of chains falling off?? Yes, that's right! School's officially OUT!!
So now I really don't have an excuse to not blog... I'll try to be more loyal to you lovely blog readers!

Tonight is our awards ceremony for AHG, and guess who gets to MC? Yep, that's right- ME!! And my mama is giving a speech. Her speech has 3 challenges for the AHG girls, which I think apply to ever christian lady.
The speech is titled "Women of Excellence"
OK, here are the 3 challenges to work on this summer: (with excerpts from mama's speech)

1. Being Hospitable

"I have a friend, Linda. This friend always has tea ready for anyone who visits. I am not kidding you. She is ready for everyone and anyone. She  give her best treats,she is super active. Of course everyone loves going to her house.  I am sure she did not just wake up one day and become super hospitable. she like you and me, must worked on these skills of being  hospitable. She gives her friends all of her attention and stops whatever she is doing so that she treats her visitors like Jesus would treat us"

2. Working hard

"One time I called one of my sisters to get some advice on how I can get out of working so hard. I thought she was going to sympathies with me.  I was hoping she would say, 'Take a rest, don’t work so hard, have a candy bar and take a nap.' Instead, this is what she said, 'You are so blessed that you have two hands, that you are healthy. Just keep working and work some more.' " 

3. Doing what God is pressing on your heart

I have this friend. My friend would always be talking about going on the mission field and giving up everything. God just kept pressing it in her and her husband's hearts. She tried to delay it, resisted it, and prayed and prayed and cried a lot, but she knew that God was calling her to the mission field. Me, being the inspirational friend that I am, said, “Seriously, you can just stay here, don’t be a missionary.” She turned to me and said, “This is not our home, our focus needs to be in heaven. Heaven is our true home.” My friend has now been a missionary for ten years. She talks about eating red ant eggs soup and having little critters on her pizza. I just saw Joy a few weeks ago. She shared that being a missionary is super hard but that is where God has called her and her family. That is the best place to be

I'm taking the challenge this summer to live out these challenges. Are you going to take the challenge, too?

Put it in perspective.

For all those people who complain about having little girls who sing Frozen's sound track 24/7, you are blessed. So blessed.
Because those little girls try to sound at least a bit like Idinia Menzel and Kristin Bell. Those mini Elsas and Annas are actually kind of cute.

But I wasn't so lucky. You see, I have four little brothers who are Frozen addicts. Yet they don't care if they don't sound good. They just sing at the top of their lungs for hours on end. Then they jump on my bed to wake me up at 6:40 to turn on Frozen... On the one day I get to sleep in.

They can quote any line from the movie. Then another brother will tell everyone else who said the line and at what exact moment to who pertaining to what. I'm not sure how much more I can handle.

Oh yeah, then they made multiple board games... complete with Olaf and the big snow monster. It would all be okay, but then they ask me to play their games any time they aren't singing. Seriously.

So I'm not telling you all this so you can feel sorry for me. This is for 2 reasons. Just put it in perspective.

1) You are so blessed if you have little girls who sing like angels. I know, I know, they may sing it over and over again, but it's still (a little) better than 4 little boys singing in obvious unharmony.

2) I seriously apologize for the ten million times I sang "let it go". Now I know the horrors of hearing this song on repeat.

On a different note, I still love my brothers. I bet those little angel girls don't sit down and watch the extend version of the Lord of the Rings with you.

it's a big deal.

Sometimes great things start super small. 

If you happened to pass by us 4 Radiant Rubies the past couple Fridays at church, you probably wouldn’t have known we were planning something great. Sometimes we would be embroidering or crocheting, sometimes we would be laughing, and sometimes we would be talking about random things that had nothing to do with what we were supposed to be planning. However, we put together an event that made a difference.

On Saturday, March 29th, we spent the day crocheting washcloths for an organization called Days for Girls, which provides hygiene kits for girls in third world countries.Thank you to all the people who came and helped us make a difference! Our event wasn’t big, but we used our time to serve, and serving is always big. Imagine the smiles on the girls faces when they receive the blessings that we take for granted. Our washcloths that we made for them aren’t perfect- some are too big, some are crooked- but they will make a difference. 

So next time you worry because your service project seems too small, remember: service isn’t about the quantity, but the quality. When a willing heart chooses to serve the Lord through service to others, it’s always a big deal.

  

#longingforheaven

It doesn't matter.
It doesn't matter how many times I've watched this. I always cry.

#iheartzion




But that's okay. Because on earth, there will be tears, there will be babies dying, there will be families broken.

It's only for a little while.

Come, Lord Jesus, come.
#longingforheaven

Sometimes I wish I was a Duggar.

It's been a long time since I've posted. Too long.

Well, life at our homestead has been busily moving along... Too fast.
Recently, when I was lookin' at my mama's facebook over her shoulder, I saw one of her friends had shared this~

I've admired the Duggars for a long time, but two things about their family really always gets me.

1. There amazing family relationship. I love how the older girls talk openly with each other, and how Mr. and Mrs. Duggar always make time for the kiddos.

2. Their modest apparel. Sometimes, when I watch stuff, I long for their cool clothes, fashionable clothes, etc. When I watch the Duggar's show, I'm always encoutaged to strive for modesty. Oh yeah, and it's not that they dress frumpy. In fact, I think they are some of the nicest dressed ladies.

Sometimes I wish I was a Duggar. I mean, from their show, they seem pretty awesome. But then I remember that I have a crazy wonderful family and I'm happy with being me.

See Jinger's (center left) outfit? That's what I wore to church today.

See? Oh, and that crazy necklace that i'm wearing? That's my mama's style rubbing off on me. ;)

And there's all my random thoughts for the day. So, I haven't read their book yet, but I'll be sure to read it and tell you about it!
Have an awesome week!

<3 Sophia

what i learned in florida

i love florida.
going there was crazy, (picture the seven of us in our minivan for 24 hours straight) but it's just so amazing there!! like seriously, it's like a taste of heaven to stare at the ocean for hours for a midwestern girl.

 in florida, i learned that you can be carefree once in a while, without having to worry so much about your assignments, your piano competitions, etc. etc.

in florida, i learned to love my siblings with all my heart. i learned {again} that you really can have fun with four crazy brothers.

in florida, i was struck with the amazing, awesome, powerful creativity of our maker. 

we found so many jelly fish! aren't they just amazing!

i happen to adore palm trees. 

there is nothing quite as beautiful as a beach sunset. period.