All Saint's Day & My Saints

Happy Feast Day friends! For those that don't know, today is All Saint's Day, where Catholics celebrate all the saints in heaven. We believe that everyone who goes to heaven becomes a saint, which is really very cool. Definitely a good goal to strive for :)

In honor of today, I thought I would honor four very special people in my family who I am very confident are up in heaven right now partying it up!

1. Great Grandmother 

Such an inspiring lady. My Dad's grandmother went to the Lord my freshman year and I have no doubt she has been a constant prayer warrior for my family. Great Grandmother is remembered for her amazing blessings over meals at family reunions. We would all stand there, holding hands, while she praised and thanked... and maybe called a few family members out. "And Lord..." usually preceded that. To this day, we will sometimes pray over meals and say "And Lord..." to remember her. 

2. Uncle Bill 

Uncle Bill passed on surprisingly this past April. He is my Dad's brother and an incredible man after the Lord's own heart. We still desperately miss him and all the light he added to the family. A devoted Baptist, he held prayer meetings every week and was known to never ever cancel them. Uncle Bill was a huge supporter to me in Theatre and tried to attend as many shows as he could. Handel's Messiah, our annual Christmas concert, was his favorite. He was always late, always loud, and always there. Rest in Peace Uncle Bill, and please pray for us!

3. Paw Paw

Mom's Dad left us right after I graduated from high school. He was the most epic man. A WW2 veteran, engineer, devoted husband, loving father, avid gardener, amazing grandfather, & a wonderful great grandfather. He and my Grandma still flirted even after being married over 50 years, and they have given me the greatest example follow in my own relationships. Paw Paw even told me what a virgin was! At four, I was watching a movie and the word virgin came up. I asked Paw Paw what that was and after thinking about it he said "a person who isn't married." That satisfied my curiosity for a good long while! We miss you bunches and bunches Paw Paw. 

4. Lulu

Momma's great aunt lived with my Grandma and Paw Paw and was a fixture in Simenton my whole life. She left us this past July. Lulu loved her Soap Opera's and crossword puzzles. As children, she would always have lemon drops for us in her room. She watched Mass on her TV every single day. For graduation, Lulu gave me the duvet cover I had been wanting since October of the previous year. It is probably my favorite part of my dorm room, and I feel like Lulu keeps me warm and comfortable every night. 

These are my Saints and role models. They taught me so much and I strive everyday to live up to their standard. The bar is set pretty high. I am confident though that with their prayers I can do it. Thank the Lord that we will one day be together again and are connected through Him. 

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Goodness gracious I love this holiday. Back in middle school and high school, we got to dress up for school each Halloween. It was always so fun coming up with a witty idea and taking pictures! This is the first year I haven't dressed up for school and I am just a tad bit sad :( 

For the party on Saturday I was a preppy pig in a blanket (I wore a pink polo, pink bow, jeans, penny loafers, a snuggie, a tail, and a pig nose) but unfortunately I didn't get a good picture at all! :( sad day. 

Even though I am sans costume (do I really really have to grow up?) this year, I can still relive some of my old ones! 

Years 1&2: Lady Bug 

Year 3: Clown. I loved em. The Little Bro was Simba. Hakuna Matata!

Year 4: Witch. Funny Story... Mom asked me what I wanted to be and I told her that I wanted to be "wich" which she took to mean witch. But I actually meant rich. I guess this was an easier costume though. 

Year 5: Esmeralda 

Year 6: Bride

Year 7: Movie Star

Halloween is a very special part of my childhood. My wonderful Mother always made it super special for us and we always had a great time. I will definitely strive to follow her example when I have my own kids someday :) 

Maybe I'll dress one up like this:

So. Cute. Happy Halloween! 

Look what I did!

Quick post today y'all, I have a mound of homework to get to (such is college). At least its a gorgeous day and I have a nice table outside :)

This weekend I got crafty! I really shouldn't be allowed on the Martha Stewart aisle at Michael's. Its dangerous. There is so much glitter everywhere, my little girl self goes a bit insane. This time I stuck with two colors. Choosing which two was a little bit like choosing a favorite song. Impossible. And I didn't even need them for this project!

Okay enough about glitter. Remember when I was in Alabama a few weeks ago? Well the Bestie and I decided her wall needed some beautification. Oh dorm rooms. Sigh. So we went to Michaels and got the makings for three pictures: one for Louisiana (her home state), one for Bama (her home for the next 4 years), and Texas (because that's where she lives when she's not at school and boy oh boy is it great).

They turned out really well!

Louisiana:

She mightttt just be the biggest Saints fan in the world. 

Alabama:

(the final one had sweet home written on it in cursive)

"But wait," you cry. "Where is Texas?"

Ah yes. well. uh. you see I was having a very off day so my Texas one looked horrible. I am ashamed to call it mine. So I promised the Bestie I would paint her a new one this weekend.

Here it is!

The canvas was white which I painted to look like the Texas flag, and then I used cardstock cut in the shape of Texas which I filled with all of her favorite things about our home!

Some favorites:
-Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo
-Escalantes
-Long car rides to David
-DASH
-Y'all
and of course, Rachel!

And that is the tale of my Texas picture! The canvas came in a two pack, so I most likely will be doing something else crafty so prepare for more crafty-ness in the near future!

Coming Back to the Heart of Worship

Source: google.com via Etta on Pinterest

Have you ever forgotten what it's all about?

Been so stressed out learning vocab for a spanish test that you forgot how beautiful the language is?

Been so concerned about eating healthy that food becomes a burden?

Been so aprehensive about doing the right thing that you don't do anything at all?

Been so filled with trepidation about your future that you stay stuck in the past?

I've been there y'all.

This past week was rough for me. It started out wonderfully, but I strayed from the meaning and without the meaning, life got hard. I didn't read the Word, I didn't go to Daily Mass, my prayers were spur of the moment and rushed. There were times I was so concerned with talking about Him, that I forgot about Him. And without the Lord guiding me through the week, I became so very very lost. Life is hard without His guidence.

Thank the Lord for new chances. Thank the Lord for Monday's. Thank the Lord for forgiveness, and mercy, and grace.

Source: chasingafterjesus.wordpress.com via Meleah on Pinterest

Here's my prayer for the week...

Dear Heavenly Father,

Thank you for the blessings you have bestowed on me, even when I fail to recognize them. Thank you for the path, even when I stray. Thank you for the morning, for the chance to love you more. Father, please guide me this week. Keep my eyes, mind, heart, and soul fixed upon You alone. Show me the path that I should walk, for to you I entrust my life. I'm running to Your arms Father. Please catch me and hold me and walk with me this week. It's all about You. Help me remember that it is all about You.

In Jesus's Name,
Amen.

Week 10: What I Wore

I had some new pieces to work with this week thanks to the shopping trip I took with the bestie. It was a lot of fun to get dressed this week that's for sure :)

This weekend has a couple Halloween-ed themed events. I'm really pumped for my costume!!

Have a great weekend!

We're Breaking Free!

(We're soaring!!! Flying!!! Sorry I couldn't resist.)

I'm pretty sure I have the desires of a four year old. I always want to stay up late, eat junk food, play instead of work, take a nap, and be pink and sparkly.

On the other hand, my concious is somewhere between a 19 year old and an 80 year old. I strive to  be productive, a morning person, eat well, exercise, learn, and inspire.

They fight a lot.

Yesterday at bible study, we talked about how typically we are slaves to our passions. If it feels good, do it! At least that's what society tells us. The media constantly shows the stuggle, yet 9 times out of 10, the desires win out.

If it feels good to eat the chocolate cake, you should definitely eat it. Nevermind the fact that your pants might not fit as well, you deserve that cake.

Source: Uploaded by user via Kris on Pinterest

If you want to stay up until 3 watching old episodes of One Tree Hill on Netflix instead of going to sleep, you should do it! Nevermind the fact that you have a class at 9 am and if you don't get 7 hours of sleep you are cranky all day.

Source: quid-est-veritas.tumblr.com via Rachel on Pinterest

The list goes on and on. We put off the things we should do, that will benefit us in the long run, for the instant gratification.

I fought this last night, and I am sorry to say that I lost. I had a really hard spanish essay to prepare for, 2 assignments for costume design, a philosophy essay to write, and a long list of other to-do's. 

Source: oddee.com via Rachel on Pinterest

I quit in the middle of my spanish essay.

It was hard! And it was late, I was tired, cranky, and all I wanted was my bed. I still went to sleep late, and now I have to spend today playing catch up. Y'all, I have to quit that. I cannot let the four year old win. I have a to-do list, and it must get done.

Growing up is hard.

Stationery

Something I love: Handwritten notes. Such a dying art and it's a shame! I think that when someone takes the time to pen a note, thank you, birthday, or otherwise, it is one of the nicest gestures to receive. My father and I actually were just talking about this as he was driving me to the airport Thursday. That, and the thank you note/birthday notes I wrote today have me wanting some cute new stationery! I would definitely write more notes if I wrote on these:

Source: paper-source.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: paper-source.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: paper-source.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: paper-source.com via Rachel on Pinterest

Source: katespade.com via Rachel on Pinterest

They are all pink....tee hee I'm not surprised! I will most likely be adding these to my collection soon. Which are your favorites? Hope your day is going well!