to be a winner

i am so excited! i never win anything ... ever.

for the past week and a half i have been reading thru this blog i found, flourish. its loaded with do it yourself projects, vintage jewelry and fashion. now, im sure many who know me would not think i am into these things ... because of my usual appearance. but i do love beautiful things, even if i am too scared to incorporate them into my home and wardrobe. i long to have my own unique style, or just style would be nice. i am hoping to talk it out with my inner hippie, 50s house wife, grunge, "polka dot mom," preppy, glamour girl and see what we can come up with (no wonder im confused).

oh yeah, about me winning. so i commented to win her 100th post giveaway, and i won. i cant wait to get my box filled with all sorts of goodies {vintage finds, handmade items, packaging accessories, and little something special from MODAGE}.

to nest

husband and i have found a home to rent that we love! yes, it is quite a bit smaller than the apartment we are in now, but we could use a little downsizing. with all the space we have had over the past two years, we have accumulated quite a bit of stuff. we have been praying to find a place that includes our "needs" nothing else really. "needs" include a fenced back yard for mailey the pup, a safe neighborhood, affordable, and enough space where we can live comfortably with 1 toddler. and thats pretty much it. and oh how God provides :)


all i am waiting for now is a verbal agreement from the owner. she has a tendency to avoid saying "yes" or "no" and it confuses me. im thinking this is just her nature though. i am a woman of confirmations ... i give them (in order to make myself clear) and i ask for them (in order to get a clear answer). we are not actively looking for another place and we know if this place falls through, its not meant to be. she met us and gave us the lease agreement and rental application to sign ... she even told us when the deposit is due (not until move-in day). so why do i still feel like a cant get too excited. i was able to go a couple of weeks without telling everyone and now i can hold it no longer.

so heres for getting my hopes up, its official, IM EXCITED!

mailey dreaming of her new backyard.

michael & dana ... and aydan makes 3

yay! i finally get to post michael and dana's pics. they have a little one on the way and asked me to take some photos to help announce the gender and name to their family and friends. because it was a surprise, i had to wait, which im not very good at.

michael is my cousin and i love him dearly. we moved to raleigh together about 7 years ago. we have laughed and cried ... and laughed so hard i cried on several occasions. his happiness means so much to me, and when it comes to dana ... i dont think i could have picked a better one myself. these two are going to be such a great parenting team, im hoping to watch and learn :)

below, are my 6 favorite pictures from that day. i cant wait until dana's belly looks like its about to pop! i will have to bully her into letting me take more photos ... i need more practice and i love pregnant bellies.

michael and dana, i love you so much and cannot wait to meet aydan kerry hancock!!!

oak island

husband and i spent last saturday moving furniture to oak island for our weekend employer. we were completely finished with the manual labor by 5:45 pm. after we hopped in the shower we headed for the pier. the sunset was beautiful!

i absolutely love pier fishing. its like a small community were everyone has known each other since they were young, even if they just met. you never have to reel in the "big one" all by yourself ... there is always help close by. you are able to pack up and leave satisfied knowing that even if you caught nothing, you shared in the excitement of others good luck.

meeting new people, sharing stories, getting a little fishing advice and encouragement is what i have been looking forward to all winter.

... because i have been forgiven.

forgiveness is tricky. have you been in a situation where you thought you had forgiven someone? you think "i finally have a hold on this." but what happens when this "forgiven" person or situation comes up in conversation? even if you refrain from sharing hateful thoughts out loud, do these thoughts consume your heart and mind?

i have struggled with forgiveness in the past, and i am sure i will in the future. the difference is the perspective i have now. its really hard to assume that someone is unworthy of my compassion when i am so unworthy myself.

romans 5:8 says "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."

colossians 3:12-13 says "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patients. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

i forgive because i have been forgiven.

the art of learning, the learning of art

somewhere deep inside me lives a tree hugging artist. the only downside is, i do not possess the skills to actually create art ... i am talentless. or am i? i cannot play an instrument or sing (ask anyone who knows me) and a cant really draw or paint either. what i can say is art moves me and i have the desire to create! i love the way i feel when i see or hear something beautiful and interesting. i have decided i might have "an eye" for beautiful things instead. maybe this is my talent, or a new hobby i have become slightly obsessed with.

anywho, i wanted to share the handful of photos i have taken so far that i really like ... i hope you do too.

seeking

i seek to be a better wife, sister, daughter, friend, aunt, cousin and employee. above all, i seek God with all my heart. there is comfort knowing that if i seek Him daily, everything else will fall into place.

i wanted to start blogging for several reasons

1) i am so blessed! talking to people about the things God is doing in my life makes my heart smile, period.

2) i have been blessed with a new camera. there is so much i have to learn about taking photos and capturing moments. so please bare with me.

3) my mind is full of "random thoughts by elizabeth" ... maybe someone out there cares what they are :)

this blog will be a documentation of my growth in faith, life and hopefully some talent as well.

enjoy!