Long To Love

Friday Favorites!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Fri, 17 May 2013 06:25:00 PDT

Happy Friday!! I hope you've had a wonderful week! Here are a few fun links from the week:

My friend Anna Kate is a beautiful writer. Her little girl just turned one and I loved reading her post on looking back on the past year.

Need a flower tutorial? Check out Birchbox's guest post on Building The Perfect Spring Bouquet.

Yesterday, I co-hosted a baby shower and made this easy baked brie from Paula Dean. It's simple and delicious!

One of these days, I'm going to get around to reading Shauna Niequist's new book. Until then, I've been enjoying her blog. Like this post: The Best Moment of My Day. She makes cooking dinner seem like a treat rather than a chore.

And since it's been a while, how about an update on Little B? Little B is now 3.5 months old! Y'all, I know I'm biased, but he is the most fun baby!

We've been traveling the past two weeks, and it's as if he's grown up over night. He talks non-stop, loves to look at himself in the mirror (who doesn't?!), and wakes up smiling.

As an tiny infant, he was a big fan of Mumford and Sons, but lately his favorite song is Darius Rucker's version of Wagon Wheel.

And he loves to read. Who knew a 3.5 month baby would have books he likes and books he doesn't, but Little B is very particular. (Just like his mommy!) Some or our favorites are Silly Sally, Corduroy, and Jesus Calling Bible Storybook.

But by far, his favorite are the Jellycat "Tail" books. He tears into them and they keep him occupied for hours. I highly recommend them!!

When it comes to the ladies, he is quite the flirt. He has a girlfriend, who is seven weeks older than he is, but usually, he's more interested in catching the attention of her mama. I guess he likes the older women!

Little B and his precious girlfriend at Beach Week

The biggest news is that a few weeks ago, he started rolling over. It took a lot of takes, but I finally got a few videos of Little B in action. Here's a little clip:

As far as hair goes, he still has quite the mohawk, but apparently it runs in the family. Here he is with my dad:

Morning Mowhawks

Thanks of obliging me with a baby update. Hope you have a great weekend!!

Seven Years Later

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Thu, 16 May 2013 06:16:00 PDT

Beach Week, 2006

Beach Week, 2013

So last week, after Changing Seasons, I packed up my baby and headed to meet B in Nags Head for Darden's Beach Week. There's a sentence I never thought I'd say. Other houses were hosting neon parties and toga parties, while we hosted two babies and two puppies. We were definitely the fun house!!

It had been seven years since I was last in Nags Head and as I was driving down, I was carried away by a wave of nostalgia. Seven years ago, I went down with my friends from college for the week before our college graduation. Of particular interest to me at the time, was figuring out how to see my latest crush as much as possible. His name was Bernie.

Back then, if you would have told me that seven years later, not only would I be married to my beach week crush, but that I would be driving his baby in the back of my car to beach week, I would have never believed you. What can I say? Sometimes, life just surprises you!

Seven years later, I've thought about what I would have told my 22-year old self on the brink of graduation, ready to make the jump into the big girl world. And here are a few things I came up with:

In the next seven years, there are going to be many more questions than answers and that's okay. Stick with God and little by little He will show you where you need to go.

There will be seasons where you wonder if God even hears your prayers, but I assure you, He does. He is nearer than you think. Don't stop seeking, asking, praying, and crying out to a God who loves you dearly and has a perfect plan for you.

You're not going to find the consistency that you're looking for; there will be many changes, transitions, and times where you feel completely unsettled. In these times, you will come to appreciate and rely on the consistency of God like never before. He truly is the only consistency that you need.

Take time to invest in your old friends, be willing to make new ones, and understand that sometimes, relationships change and evolve and that's okay, too.

Listen carefully to your mom's advice. She knows what she's talking about.

Often, you only need one--one place to live, one job, one husband, etc.--have patience as you wait for the right ONE to come along.

Yes, you ARE going to marry your beach week crush and go on to have his baby. Get excited, because it's going to be amazing!

Draw Near.

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Wed, 15 May 2013 06:01:00 PDT

Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

James 4:8

Watch: Mothers & Daughters The Divine Duet

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Tue, 14 May 2013 06:01:00 PDT

So, apparently this is the week of videos here on Long to Love. Yesterday, I shared Katherine and Jay Wolf's amazing short film, and today I have another one for you!

Last week, my mom and I had the fabulous opportunity to speak at Changing Seasons on Mothers & Daughters. We just received the video, so I thought I'd share it with y'all.

(Email subscribers, click here)

Watch: Hope Heals--The Story of Katherine & Jay Wolf

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Mon, 13 May 2013 05:52:00 PDT

Beach Week Baby

Happy Monday! I hope you had a fabulous weekend and a wonderful Mother's Day! Last year, I found out I was pregnant with Little B on Mother's Day and this year, it was a treat to wake up to his smiling face. What a difference a year makes!!

Today, I have something really exciting to share with you. Many of you know, that I'm a big fan of Katherine and Jay Wolf's blog Hope Heals. For the past five years, I've been both captivated and motivated by their miraculous story of hope and healing.

In honor of Mother's Day, they released a short film documenting their story. Yesterday, as I fed my sweet baby, I watched the whole film and was, once again, so moved by their story. I sat on the couch and cried because I just couldn't believe how not only have they managed to survive in the wake of Katherine's stroke, but they're thriving, and are now using their story to bring a message of hope and healing to so many who have been impacted by their story.

So, here it is. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have:
(Email subscribers click here)

Learn more about Katherine at Jay at http://hopeheals.com/

Friday Favorites!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Fri, 10 May 2013 06:19:00 PDT

Happy Friday! Sorry it's been a little quiet over here this week. I'm pretty behind on my blogs, but I do have three fun things to share as we head into the weekend:

My sister Cally was featured in a video for Birchbox and I'm kind of obsessed. I mean, is she cute, or what?!

Going somewhere? Josie has a great post on packing for a trip: Pack Light (But Pack Good)

Cooking for Mother's Day? Check out the Pioneer Woman's quiche. It's hearty and delicious!

Happy Weekend!!

Friday Favorites!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Fri, 03 May 2013 05:55:00 PDT

Image via Bon Appetit

Happy Friday! I hope you've had a fabulous week! This weekend is BIG. Two of my favorite days fall back-to-back. Tomorrow, we have the Kentucky Derby! I mean, who doesn't love a good horse race?

If you need some ideas on how to celebrate, why don't you don your most favorite sundress, throw on a fabulous hat, and then make the following:

For more ideas, check out Southern Living's Derby Recipes.

Then, as soon as you hang your hat up after the races, it's time for Cinco de Mayo! Here are some fun recipes:

I love Ina Garten's margarita recipe.
Bon Apepetit has a great Cinco de Mayo Recipe Guide.
Or if you really want to be adventurous, you can try to make your own chile rellenos. Now, this is our own creation, so I don't have an official recipe, but essentially, here's what you do:

Combine shredded chicken, diced mushrooms, cream cheese, and Monterrey jack cheese together and blend over medium heat. Season with cumin, coriander, and any other Mexican flavors you like.
Boil poblano peppers and create a slit down the side.
Fill peppers with chicken stuffing.
Then here's the fun part: wrap the peppers in cresent roll dough (can you tell this is totally low calorie?!)
Bake at 350 for about 15-20 minutes
If you decide to make this, and I HIGHLY recommend it, you can email at longtoloveblog(at)gmail.com me with questions!

Happy cooking!!

Need A Jump?

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Thu, 02 May 2013 05:46:00 PDT

This will come as no surprise, but I'm not exactly a car expert. In college, my roommate Josie and I were driving home from a weekend in Virginia Beach, when all of a sudden, "fuse 8" blew. Who even knows what "fuse 8" is, but there on the side of I-64, we pulled over and replaced it! I was so pleased with myself, but since then, replacing fuse 8 is about the extent of my knowledge of car repairs.

Last week, a friend's car battery died and she called asking if we had jumper cables. Unfortunately, we did not, but it got me thinking about how incredibly cool jumper cables are. Again, I'm no expert, but this is what I know: your car completely dies and won't turn on so you call a friend, hook up some cables, turn the car on, and it comes back to life!

How cool is that?! Little to no effort required.

Similarly, there are times when you may feel run down, discouraged, depleted, and completely out of energy. Try as you might to start your engine, it's just no use.

That's when it's time to call in some reinforcements--utilize your community; let them plug into you and help to turn you back on.

If this is you, don't be afraid to ask your friend to help give you a jump. That's what they're there for!

Or if you have someone in your life in need of a jolt, be quick to plug into them, even before they call on you.

Pray for them without ceasing--if someone's battery is dead, prayer can be a challenge. Intercede for them.
Go out of your way to love them and make sacrifices to help make their lives a little bit easier.
Set aside time for them and make sure you're up for anything--a walk, a chat on the couch, dinner, a movie night--just be with them.
Come to their house with something, anything in hand--a bottle of wine, a worship CD, a bouquet of flowers, a bag of sour patch kids, a latte...who doesn't love an unexpected gift?!
Send them a note in the mail to let them know how much you love them.

What a gift that when we feel empty, God can bring people into our lives to lean into and carry us along until we're up and running again. Don't be afraid to take advantage of it!

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help.

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

Personal Bravery

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Wed, 01 May 2013 07:30:00 PDT

"The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!"

Habbakuk 3:19 (AMP)

Grace Makes Beauty Out Of Ugly Things

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 07:05:00 PDT

(Modified Post From August 2, 2010)

In our household, when it comes to our plants, B is the head honcho. He is much more attentive to their needs. You know, little things, like actually remembering to water them.

Recently, we came back from out of town and our herbs were looking particularly parched.

Behold the evidence:

As you can see "Minty" is not doing so well. If I were her sole owner, I would have chucked her right when we got home. But lucky for Minty, she has two parents, and one of them believes in her. (If this is a glimpse into actual parenting, I may be in serious trouble).

Each day, B gives me specific instructions for our fledgling little herb. When to put her outside, when to bring her inside, when she needs water, etc. Rather than giving up, (as I would have done long ago) he sees her future potential. When he comes home, one of the first things he does is check to see her progress. I love how B refuses to give up on her.

On a MUCH larger scale, I love how God refuses to give up on us. When we're weak, dry, and shriveled up, God never thinks about chucking us. Rather, He nourishes us, feeds us, refreshes us, and sees our potential. He believes in us.

U2 sings a song about grace and one of the lines is, "Grace makes beauty out of ugly things." Now, when I see that little plant, that is the first thing that comes to mind.

For when we're like Minty, only through God's grace can we be transformed into something that is beautiful, flourishing, and thriving. Minty's future is still unknown, and while she may not make it, praise God that in Him and through Him, our future is established. We are loved, valued, restored, redeemed, new, re-purposed, and set apart.

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor...and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor."

Isaiah 61:1,3

"See, I am doing a new thing!
       Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
       I am making a way in the desert
       and streams in the wasteland."

Isaiah 43:19

Graciousness of Uncertainty

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 06:38:00 PDT

Babies' First Foxfield

Happy Monday! I hope you had a fabulous weekend! Little B had a big weekend--his first Foxfield! I can't say I ever imagined I'd be bringing a baby to Foxfield, but he did great!

As most of you know, it's no secret that I love me some Jesus Calling. If I only have two minutes in my day to pause, Jesus Calling offers me the perfect exhale. I've been loving it so much, I almost forgot about another fabulous devotional: My Utmost For His Highest. Since it's been a while, I thought I'd share a little excerpt from this morning on the "Graciousness of Uncertainty:"

To be certain of God means that we are uncertain in all our ways, we do not know what a day may bring forth. This is generally said with a sigh of sadness, it should be rather an expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we are certain of God...Leave the whole thing to Him, it is gloriously uncertain how He will come in, but He will come. Remain loyal to Him.

Friday Favorites!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 05:12:00 PDT

Foxfield Races, 2012

Happy Friday! I hope you've had a fabulous week! Here are a few favorites!

I loved Mary Elizabeth's post, Stuck in Plan B.

Once again, I loved hearing Trish's perspective, "On Trying To Be Boston Strong."

My mom sent me an article this morning especially for "Friday Favorites" on the power of habits.

Anyone coming to Charlottesville for Foxfiled? Molly sent a great Food & Drink Guide to Charlottesville.

Sale Alert: Tory Burch is 25% off everything! Just enter TBSPRING at checkout.

Need a new recipe? Try these Thai Chicken Enchiladas...they are delicious!!

Stabilized.

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 06:06:00 PDT

"He is your constant source of stability; He abundantly provides safety and great wisdom; He gives all to those who fear Him."

Isaiah 33:6 (NET)

Booked.

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Tue, 23 Apr 2013 05:24:00 PDT

In the midst of the heavy, heartbreaking news we have going on around us, you may have neglected to notice that over in the shallow land of celebrity gossip, America's Sweetheart, Reese Witherspoon, was arrested for disorderly conduct.

Did anyone see that coming?!

Sure, lots of A-list, Hollywood stars get arrested and it's not really a shock, but not Reese. In my eyes, Resse was supposed to be different.

I didn't put my trust in Reese per say, but I have always admired her from a far as a class act--balancing the struggles of Hollywood with the difficulties of parenting three children, all the while looking effortless and totally put together. But just like all of us, even Reese has her moments.

The truth is that everyone, no matter who they are, how impeccably dressed they may be, how high up they are on the corporate ladder, how robust their social life is, or how perfectly well-behaved their children are, will eventually let us down. Even godly, Christian leaders, who we respect and admire for their strong faith and daily inspire us, can easily fall flat on their face. We are all imperfect.

That's why we need to look up and place our hope, trust, and admiration on the One who is perfect. The One who won't let us down. And the One who loves us even when we're the one falling flat on our face making, yet another, mistake. Because lets face it, we might not get arrested, but each of us has plenty "mug shot" worthy moments throughout the day, but thankfully He loves us through them.

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Psalm 20:7

Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal men, who cannot save.

Psalm 146:3

Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.

Romans 10:13 (NLT)

Friday Favorites

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 05:24:00 PDT

Little B's First Fish!!

Happy Friday! I hope you've had a fabulous week. Here are a few favorites worth checking out:

Boston native, Trish Ryan, shares her thoughts after the Boston bombing here.

Sara Hagerty has some hugely exciting news over at Every Bitter Thing Is Sweet.

My cute sister, Cally, aka Caroline, was featured on Levo League. It's definitely worth checking out!

As the mom to a new baby boy, I enjoyed Mel & Liza's guest post: "Life With Boys."

Virginia Beach friends, my mom and I are speaking at the next Changing Seasons event on May 7th. Get all the details here. I'd love for you to come!!

Have a great weekend!

Keeping Watch

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 06:00:00 PDT

Bath time: Little B's favorite time of the day!

I've mentioned this before, but I always heard that once you become a parent, you're increasingly aware of God's love for you. Here you have this little baby totally dependent on you for everything. A little bundle who keeps you awake, takes up all of your time, and frequently covers you in a variety of bodily fluids that you could certainly do without, yet you love them more each and every day.

Don't get me wrong, it's definitely tiring. The other night, I was on baby duty by myself while B had something to do for school. It was the end of the day, I was exhausted and wasn't quite sure if I had enough energy to stay awake long enough to give Little B a bath, feed him, and clean the kitchen. As I mapped out my game plan, I thought to myself, "wouldn't it be nice if I could just plop Little B in the bath and leave him there while I clean the kitchen?"

Now, before you go calling CPS on me, I'm fully aware that would never work. Right now, unless he's sleeping in his crib, my eyes have to be on Little B at all times. (And even when he's sleeping, I still watch him with our fancy video monitor, because I just can't get enough!)

And in my weak, tired state, I was reminded of a Father who never tires of watching us, no matter what we may put Him through during the course of the day. One whose eyes are on us at all times leading us, guiding us, and protecting us.

What a loving, faithful Father we have!!

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.

Psalm 32:8

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary..."

Isaiah 40:28

Look Up.

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 05:59:00 PDT

We do not know what to do, but we are looking to you for help.

2 Chronicles 20:12 (NLT)

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
    he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel
    will neither slumber nor sleep.

Psalm 121:1-4 

Over Par

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 06:47:00 PDT

Photo from The Associated Press

Happy Tuesday! Did anyone watch the Masters over the weekend? Since I still have golf on the brain, I decided to re-post a post I wrote two years ago after watching the Masters. Enjoy!

Yesterday, I actually watched golf on television. I used to think golf was the most boring thing in the world, who could ever spend an afternoon watching it? Yet, somewhere in the midst of the lush scenery and the rainbow of pastel polos from the crowd, I was hooked. A close golf match is actually pretty entertaining. Every shot counts.

I will say, however, for someone like me who tends to get easily anxious, I had pits in my stomach watching these players go for their putts. What if they mess up? The day was filled with make it or break it shots. Some of them made it, some of them didn't.

I never realized how nerve-wracking the PGA is. I mean, you have crowds, cameras, and a leaders' board to constantly remind you of where you rank. There's no teamwork, no timeouts, it's just you, your clubs, the ball, and the fairway (is that what it's called?) trying to get as far below par as you can.

As the scoreboard listed each person's score with how far below or over par they were, I paused for a minute to think how incredibly grateful I am that when it comes to God, there is no scoreboard. He's not following us around with a little pencil writing down how many strokes it takes us to go through life. He's not One to judge when we're over par and feel like an utter failure.

And even when we do miss the shot, He doesn't dwell on our missteps and failures. When it comes to God, our mistakes do not define us, nor does He use them to judge and condemn us. How powerful and reassuring are the verses below. Today, may we rest in the incredible promise that we are powerfully loved and embraced by our Jesus.

"THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus."

Romans 8:1 (Amplified)

"Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ's love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture...I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."

Romans 8: 35, 39 (MSG)

Friday Favorites!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 04:36:00 PDT

Happy Friday, Friends!!

Happy Friday! I hope you've had a great week! Below are a few favorites:

Shauna Niequist's new book, Bread & Wine is out this week! I've only gotten through the first two pages, but I'm pumped!

Caroline McCain wrote an incredibly real and vulnerable post on depression, mental illness, and her own story that I definitely recommend.

My friend Josie, who I heavily rely on for pregnancy/new mom advice, wrote a fabulous post on using your baby's name.

BIG NEWS: Kate Spade's Friends & Family Sale starts today! Take 25% off everything with the code S13FFUS. Enjoy!

Looking for a good recipe? Yesterday I took my favorite enchilada recipe here, but modified it by making extra salsa and cooking the chicken in the crock pot, with the salsa covering the chicken. It was delicious! Just make sure you save some of the salsa for covering them in the pan!!
Here are the modifications:
-Make extra salsa (I made 1/2 more)
-Cook chicken with salsa on high for 4 hours, or low for 6
-Shred chicken and put back in the pot with the sauce
-Assemble enchiladas

For any Google Reader fans, I'm sure you're as sad as I am to find out that Google Reader is coming to an end. In an effort to transition, I've been using Feedly. I'm still getting the hang of it, but it's not so bad. Check it out here.

Have a great weekend!!

On The Road Again

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 05:59:00 PDT

Image via Pinterest

Yesterday, I talked about walking with God as a great way to exercise your body and your soul. In addition to walking, another great place to encounter God can be your car.

Don't get me wrong, there's no substitute for setting aside a part of your day and getting some alone time with God, but let's face it: life is busy. Even with the best of intentions, that doesn't always happen.

Thankfully, the great thing about God is that He's always with us and even if we can't snuggle into our favorite chair with a good cup of coffee, a Bible, and a journal, doesn't mean we can't spend time with Him during our day.

Pretty much all of us get into our cars at least once a day, and with the exception of paying attention to the road, there aren't the same distractions that we might have in our house (computers, dirty dishes, laundry, etc.), so why not take advantage of it?!

Pray--talk out loud to God about your day--thank Him, praise Him, and tell Him what's on your mind.

Praise--put some worship on and simply rest in God's presence.

Listen--listen to a sermon--there are SO many great podcasts you can load onto your iPod for FREE. I love Joyce Meyer, Beth Moore, and Priscilla Shirer. It's a great way to take advantage of your car time.

Walking With God

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 07:54:00 PDT

Little B all bundled up for his first walk!

As a new mom, my schedule looks drastically different. Post-baby, I no longer have an hour to myself each morning where I can slowly sip coffee, peruse blogs, journal, pray, read, and blog.

Now, it's more like downing a cup of coffee just to keep my eyes open, perusing blogs during baby feedings, and sadly the journaling and reading has become few and far between.

My days are now shared with someone else and it's such a fabulous thing, but it is certainly an adjustment.

So what's a girl to do? Similar to crock potting, I'm learning new ways to multitask and weave everything together.

Today, on the Changing Seasons blog, my mom wrote a fabulous post on Noah and how Noah was a man who walked with God.

In my family, the girls love to walk. When we're together, we throw on our "tennys" and hit the neighborhood loop, walking and talking about anything and everything. Walking is a great way to exercise your body and your mouth--it's a win, win!

Now, in my new stage of life, like Noah, I'm working on becoming a woman who walks with God.

Though my time might look different, I'm still a woman with a lot on my mind, and I have PLENTY to God about, just not the cozy, quiet mornings to do it like I used to. So, I've started to walk with God.

It keeps the baby happy and entertained, it gets me out of the house and moving, and it keeps the lines of communication open between me and God.

I thank Him and praise Him for His endless blessings--beautiful days, a healthy baby, His faithful promises. I talk to Him and work through what's on my mind--unknowns, friends who are hurting, future plans. I ask for wisdom and guidance in this new season of life.

I still try to have concentrated quiet time with God throughout the week, but on the days when that's just not possible, walking with God helps keep me connected to Him.

If you're looking to get out of the house and enjoy this beautiful spring weather, but just haven't found the perfect walking buddy, why not try taking a walk with God? It might feel awkward at first, but once you get going, you'll see that it's a great way to exercise your body and your soul.

Pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.

Psalm 62:8

More than extravagant

noreply@blogger.com (Meg Kelsey) — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 03:00:00 PDT

Meg here! Recently I had the opportunity to see one of my good friends, Jenn, get married ... in South Africa. Jenn has been living in Kenya for the past 2 years and met her future husband while volunteering at a missions camp her parents run outside of Pretoria, South Africa.

Jenn and I lived together in Argentina and we have tried to connect whenever possible- she made the trip to Virginia for my wedding and more recently we had 10 minutes together in the Miami airport when she had a short layover. So when she asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding, I knew it would be worth making the trip to Africa.

The trip was amazing and we got to go on a safari, do some serious hiking, see beautiful beaches and meet really interesting people. But the highlight was definitely the wedding. Symps is South African of the Xhosa people and the wedding was a hybrid celebration that integrated both American and Xhosa culture. Jenn started the day in a traditional American "white dress" and later changed into traditional Xhosa dress. When she entered the ceremony, everyone stood and the African women showed their praise and excitement by loud ululation, or high pitched trill/wail. The wedding party entered the reception by choreographed dance. The bridesmaids taught everyone the very American electric slide and the Africans led us in a wedding march dance. Jenn even received a new Xhosa first name in a formal naming ceremony. The whole day was a beautiful, joyful celebration that I was honored to be a part of.

Jenn, Symps, me and a lovely flower girl.

Jenn's faith has always encouraged me. She is a woman of substance; confident and secure in her identity in Christ. I loved meeting Symps and his friends and learning about how he has pursued the Lord and grown into a man of such strong character. Jenn and Symps individually have already made such an impact on friends and family across the globe, literally. And together they have brought such joy to everyone who knows them.

Seeing them together, I was overcome by how sweet the Lord's plan was to bring them together and to match them so perfectly.

During the reception, I found myself thinking "I can't believe I get to be here." I love travel and experiencing new cultures. The time of worshipping, dancing, eating, praying and toasting with such a diverse group of people really felt like a heavenly celebration. I didn't have very much in common with the groomsman I was paired with, whose name I couldn't pronounce, yet together we could praise the Lord and celebrate the Christ-centered union of Symps and Jenn Ndlovu.

The following verses are some that I prayed over the new couple and for their joint ministry to come. This scripture is also an awesome reminder of how God provides for each of us to the point that our lives can bless those around us. We live for His glory and to invest in the lives of others.

2 Corinthians 9:8-11 (The Message)

God can pour on the blessings in astonishing ways so that you're ready for anything and everything, more than just ready to do what needs to be done.

As one psalmist puts it,

He throws caution to the winds, giving to the needy in reckless abandon.

His right-living, right-giving ways never run out, never wear out.

This most generous God who gives seed to the farmer that becomes bread for your meals

is more than extravagant with you.

He gives you something you can give away, which grows into full-formed lives, robust in God, wealthy in every way, so that you can be generous in every way, producing with us great praise to God.

Cape Town, South Africa

Friday Favorites!

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 04:44:00 PDT

Happy Belated Birthday, Cally!! We love you!!

Happy Friday! Ready for some favorites?!

I loved Mary Elizabeth's latest post, The Pictures We Don't Show.

Along the same lines, Shauna Niequist has an article in Relevant Magazine: Stop Intagramming Your Perfect Life.

And while technically Easter is over, I loved Lysa Terkeurst's post, Easter, Might You Linger A Bit Longer.

Nina and Anna Kate both have fun baby product posts. Nina's is some of their favorite toys and Anna Kate's is all about baby essentials. Both have some great recommendations!

Not sure if any of you ever read Big Mama's blog, but Melanie has a new book: Sparkly Green Earrings. It's basically a sweet and hilarious take on motherhood. As a new mom, I appreciated this light, easy read.

In addition to crock potting, I've been on a big kale chip kick lately. This recipe is easy and delicious.

Happy Weekend!!

Slowly Cooked.

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 06:31:00 PDT

Pork Carnitas via Decor Chick

In an effort to simplifying my life and make things as easy as possible, I'm trying to become a crock-potter.

When we first got married, we received a fancy crock pot that I was so excited about! However, due to limited space restrictions the crock pot hasn't typically made regular appearances in the Williams household...until now.

How amazing is it that you can wake up, throw some stuff in a pot in less than 5 minutes, press a button, and then come dinner time, you have a full meal ready for you?! It truly is miraculous!

Yesterday was my first attempt at becoming a crock-potter and I have to say, I passed with flying colors! I made pork carnitas using this recipe I found on Pinterest and they were delicious!

But here's the thing about a crock pot--there's really little-to-no effort involved. All you have to do is get the ingredients together, press the button, and wait.

Who would have thought that after 8 hours on low, something literally called "pork butt" at the Whole Foods meat counter could be transformed into something so delicious?

The key is having the time and patience to wait, trusting that the end result will be worth it. With the exception of finding the recipe, you really can't take credit for the finished product--it's all about the crock pot.

Sometimes, we may find ourselves going through seasons of change and transition--seasons where we're called to be still and wait. Aren't those the worst?!

It can be tempting to get frustrated and impatient, but don't lose heart.

Much like the pork butt that is slowly perfected in the hands of the crock pot (that's right, I'm comparing our lives to pork butt), we need to be still and trust that even in the midst of waiting, God is still at work. And though the waiting can be tough, the transformation that takes place in the midst of it is always worth the wait.

"Look at the nations and watch— and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told."

Habbakuk 1:5

"Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart."

Psalm 27:14

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him"

1 Corinthians 2:9

Be Picky.

noreply@blogger.com (Elizabeth@LongToLove) — Tue, 02 Apr 2013 07:36:00 PDT

As I mentioned yesterday, our Easter morning always consists of a delicious brunch. A buffet brunch to be exact. Call me crazy, but I just love a good buffet brunch. The options are endless and you can eat as much as you want!

So on Sunday, like any professional buffet-er, I first surveyed the territory to see what we were working with. There were all kinds of breakfast foods, meats, cheeses, salads, and seafood. Delicious!

As a hearty eater, it's hard for me not to walk through and put everything on my plate. But the key to successfully mastering the buffet is to be picky and make sure you go straight for the good stuff. Why waste your time on a simple romaine salad when you can make that at home? Instead, you need to fill up on the fancy options like cheese blintzes, lobster and cheddar grits, oysters, and lamb. Save the salad for when you're home alone and have to cook for yourself.

With unlimited options and limited stomach capacity, you have to be choosey. And the same can be said for our lives.

Even today, when information has never been more easily accessible, and the options are endless, we still have a limited capacity for what we ingest each day and how we spend our time. Are we settling for lettuce leaves when beef tenderloin is just a few steps away? (Don't get me wrong, I do love lettuce, I just don't think it's the creme-de-la-creme of a good buffet!)

Are we ingesting things that bring life, or things that yield no real impact in our lives?

In John 4, Jesus is talking to the Samaritan woman at the well and tells her, "Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life."

How are we filling up our days?

In Jesus, we have Living Water that can quench our thirst and satisfy us completely. Be picky--take time to feed on His faithful love and incredible promises.

"Trust in the Lord, and do good;
Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness."

Psalm 37:3

"He satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things."

Psalm 107:8-9