Prayer Not Pinterest

This year I began writing in a notebook solely for prayer time. It has amazed me how some intentionality and quiet time has increased what I hear from God through the Bible and prayer. 

 About a month ago, I read a chapter in Arlene Pellicane's book, "31 Days to Becoming a Happy Mom," that discussed how we should go to God, not Google when trials first arise and it convicted me. I often run to my search engine to discover an ailment or parenting strategy before going to my Heavenly Father. I have made an effort to correct this by asking God my question first and quietly wait for a reply. Since that change I have been amazed by the answers I have heard from our Lord. 

One morning I was praying for a way to discipline common issues we face in our home. I wanted a solution I could also participate in when I made a mistake so I could model my mess-ups and corrections as well. God gave me an idea! 

This idea would have been something I could only have dreamed to have populated my Pinterest feed. What provision! I quickly got to work. 

I highlighted five issues we often encounter: 

Treatment of Others, 

Our Words, 

Need for Gratitude (When you have an attitude, you need gratitude), 

Fear and 

Anger. 

 I used popsicle sticks and divided them with food coloring (1/4 c rubbing alcohol 40 drops food coloring) solution into said categories. Once the sticks had soaked and dried, I then wrote the category on one side and a scripture reference on the other. 

Treatment of Others - Undyed 

Our Words - Blue 

Need for Gratitude - Green 

Anger - Red 

Fear - Purple 

Once all of them were completed I added them to a jar and positioned it on the kitchen table. 

We have since added a Bible to the counter, because some days we are looking up a lot of passages. My prayer is that our family will learn scripture as we discipline our lives in these key problem areas. I know if I continue to pray, this can be a fruitful exercise. 

Afterall, Isaiah 55:11 tells us, "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." 

Here are just a few more verses on the power of the word of God. 

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness. 

Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.

Joshua 1:8 This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. 

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 

Psalm 119:11 I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

LeighAshley's One-derland

Yesterday, was historic for me. Why, you may ask? Because, while I have experience in event and wedding planning, whenever the event is personal, I end up so stressed out in the minutes leading up to the big event that I volcano on all around me.  I hate it! I've tried to change but it's been my own Everest that's pinnacle evades me.  Yesterday, with the help of a few friends, I pulled off a great event without the freak out!!! I happily leave my flag at the peak, knowing it can be done! Now, that we have that virginal experience behind us, let's move on to the best part, THE PARTY! 

I love Alice in Wonderland! As a girl, my mom and I sang "I'm late" as we sped out the door in the morning.  I love the tea cups at Disneyland and love the Queen's rose bushes.  So turning that theme into my baby girl's Onederland seemed a given when planning her first birthday! I started with the invitation. (I've blurred personal info). 

Then it came time to plan. I overpopulated a Pinterest board with a plethora of ideas before selecting my plan.  I'm usually on a budget which means my ideas have to be reigned in a bit.  I'm apart of a great group of local people in a "For Sale" group on Facebook and I reached out to them and got a lot of great props on loan.  Then, I searched garage sales and finally sought out my missing pieces on Amazon. Here is the final result:

In this picture are two borrowed pieces that really added to theme! 

I made this banner above the door.

As people entered they could sign a copy of Alice In Wonderland for LeighAshley to read over her life.  

The party had both kids and adults so I decided to do one long table for adults like the Mad Hatter Tea Party, Vintage Style. Then I had kids tables on the side with coloring pages and toys. 

The long table was decorated with a variety of objects to include plates I found on Amazon that I couldn't afford to use for the whole party so I added them to the table along with matching napkins.  I used moss runners I found at Hobby Lobby, log rounds spray painted gold, skeleton keys from Amazon, a collection of tea cups and tea sets, vintage books, real and silk flowers, floral card stock and added some amazing cookies that my step mom procured from a talented friend.  

The set that goes with this pot is very special, it was given to me as a wedding shower gift from a surrogate mother figure who died from cancer a little over a year ago and having that set integrated brought her spirit to the event. 

This last set is was a gift from an older women in our church, who was a friend of my husband's late grandma.  This will be a special set to have future tea parties with! 

I love the sentimental elements to a party!

Our drink table:  

The food

Our marshmallow and strawberry toadstools. 

Fruit was cut out in bunny and heart shaped. 

Sandwiches were cut into spades, hearts, diamonds and clovers.  

One of my youth group teens helped me with rose cupcakes. 

For the smash cake I had another student, who does professional cakes duplicate the cake in the invitation. 

This table also had her growing garden. 

Each flower had her monthly photos. 

The Queen demanded, "Off With Her Gifts" as the banner says. 

I loved making the Rose bushes! 

Our favors was a Mad Hatter Make & Take Tea bar.  I found fill able tea bags on Amazon and made tea tags and then founds black and green tea, dried herbs and dried fruit. I loved this idea! 

I wanted to hang paper lanterns over the long table, but the ceiling was way too high so I thought the tea bar was a good fit.  

Then there's the birthday girl in her Alice inspired tulle and striped pants 

She watched the big kids bounce outside.

She sampled the food

She hung out with her guests. 

She enjoyed her cake! 

She played! 

All in all it was a great party! It was a great memory and a lot of fun! We were blessed by all our friends who came to celebrate with us! 

 

This special guest is exactly one day younger and we got pictures of them in the hospital together.  Fun to celebrate together! 

She loved her gifts and even her cards!!!

Thanks to everyone for making it special!