I'm Proud to Be An American!

4th of July is my all-time favorite holiday! I love the many ways in which we can celebrate just because it's a summer holiday. We can cookout, go to the beach, sit on a lawn and listen to a symphony under the stars, watch fireworks, etc., the list is endless! And while I do love this holiday for all those reasons above, I love it the most because of all that it stands for. Freedom is not something to be taken lightly. There's a saying that states "Freedom don't come free" and lately I'm understanding that more and more. It's amazing when you think back to all the men and women who have fought to protect and preserve our freedom since our country's Independence - the sacrifices that were made, the lives that were courageously given . . . I just don't see how any American can take this holiday lightly. It's so much more than hot dogs and baseball, it's our freedom, it's our soldiers, it's our faith. When I listen to the lyrics of old patriotic songs, I'm amazed at how far out of touch we are from the principals and morals that are the very foundation of this country. There's no room left for God. How tragically sad. It's hard to believe in an America that doesn't honor Him anymore. My eyes fill up with tears when I listen to beloved songs about our God and country. Mostly because I'm so proud to be an American, but also because I'm so heart broken about the status of our country's spiritual existence. How have we let it wander off so far from the foundations upon which it was originally created? I love my God. I love my country. I love the soldiers who fight for my freedom every single day. The words "thank you" just don't seem like enough, but they're heartfelt and sincere. To my Papa who fought in the Korean war, thank you. To my brother-in-law who has chosen to live his life in service of our country, thank you. To my friends who are dedicated to this country and constantly being deployed overseas, thank you. You are the reason our country is still free today. You are reason we can sleep peacefully in our beds at night. Thank you.

Rappelling Anyone?

Every year our church puts on a big 4th of July performance called "Celebrate America". This year they asked Chris to be involved. You might think, with all his wonderful gifts, he was asked to sing on the praise team or play his guitar with the band, but instead, he was asked to rappel 60 feet from the top of the church sanctuary during a medley of Patriotic songs. Needless to say, I was a little nervous about this :) He'd never really done anything like this before. But he did a GREAT job, and there were no injuries involved :) Here are a couple of shots I got of him on his way down.

It's So Audrey! A Style Icon

Audrey Hepburn: Tribute to an Angel

"Wait" by Russell Kelfer

As I sat down to read last night before bed, having no idea what was in store for me, I read this excerpt from "Hannah's Hope". This poem, so beautifully and accurately written, pens the very nature of my heart at this particular season of life. While I know it speaks to me directly, I imagine that it will speak to anyone who has ever had to learn to simply wait for something . . . anything . . . which basically applies to all mankind. So I knew that I could not just sit on this poem and keep it to myself when the very words, a mere outcry to God, contain miraculous healing within themselves that we all could benefit from once in a while.

"Wait"
Desperately, helplessly, longingly, I cried;
Quietly, patiently, lovingly, God replied.
I pled and I wept for a clue to my fate . . .
And the Master so gently said, "Wait."

"Wait? you say wait?" my indignant reply.
"Lord, I need answers, I need to know why!
Is your hand shortened? Or have you not heard?
By faith I have asked, and I'm claiming your Word.

"My future and all to which I relate
Hangs in the balance, and you tell me to wait?
I'm needing a 'yes', a go-ahead sign,
Or even a 'no' to which I can resign.

"You promised, dear Lord, that if we believe,
We need but to ask, and we shall receive.
And Lord I've been asking, and this is my cry:
I'm weary of asking! I need a reply."

Then quietly, softly, I learned of my fate,
As my Master replied again, "Wait."
So I slumped in my chair, defeated and taut,
And grumbled to God, "So, I'm waiting for what?"

He seemed then to kneel, and His eyes met with mine . . .
and He tenderly said, "I could give you a sign.
I could shake the heavens and darken the sun.
I could raise the dead and cause mountains to run.

"I could give all you seek and pleased you would be.
You'd have what you want, but you wouldn't know Me.
You'd not know the depth of my love for each saint.
You'd not know the power that I give to the faint.

"You'd not learn to see through clouds of despair;
You'd not learn to trust just by knowing I'm there.
You'd not know the joy of resting in Me
When darkness and silence are all you can see.

"You'd never experience the fullness of love
When the peace of My spirit descends like a dove.
You would know that I give, and I save, for a start,
But you'd not know the depth of the beat of My heart.

"The glow of my comfort late into the night,
The faith that I give when you walk without sight.
The depth that's beyond getting just what you ask
From an infinite God who makes what you have last.

"You'd never know, should your pain quickly flee,
What it means that My grace is sufficient for thee.
Yes, your dearest dreams overnight would come true,
But, oh, the loss, if you missed what I'm doing in you.

"So, be silent, my child, and in time you will see
That the greatest of gifts is to truly know me.
And though oft My answers seem terribly late,
My most precious answer of all is still . . . Wait."

Summer Vacation Part 2 (Topsail Island)

A Great Summer Recipe

If you find yourself in a hurry and don't have a lot of time to make a nice meal for supper, or if you aren't in the mood for anything too heavy, here is a great recipe to use! I kinda just threw a bunch of things into one dish and mixed it up, but the combined flavors are a wonderful surprise!

Ingredients:
Mini Pasta (I use farfalle)
boneless, skinless chicken - boiled & shredded (or cubed)
Red bell pepper - sliced or diced
cucumber - sliced or diced
black olives - sliced
fresh mozzarella cheese - cubed
fresh basil - chopped
salt to taste
balsamic vinaigrette dressing

After the chicken and pasta are thoroughly cooked and cooled, throw all ingredients into a mixing bowl, stir it up real good, and transfer to a nice serving dish.

Best served when chilled. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving.

This recipe makes for a great meal, side item, quick snack, or party food.

Hope you enjoy this simple, yet delightful, summer meal :)

My Mailbox Surprise!

It's not often I get anything in my mailbox other than a bill or netflix dvd, but today I got a special card from my sweet friend, Sophie Noble. Sophie and I met nearly a year ago when they first visited our old sunday school class. We instantly became friends! She and her husband, Israel, have a lot in common with Chris and I and we have loved getting to know each other better during this time. One of the things Sophie knows about me is how much I adore Audrey Hepburn! I talk about her all the time :) So it was such a treat to receive this beautiful card of Miss Audrey from my dear friend Sophie! Two of my favorite things all wrapped up in one simple metallic envelope :)

Thanks Soph! I love you so much for this thoughtful gesture!

What I'm Currently Reading

I have A LOT of time to read everyday, so reading multiple books is no problem for me! Here's what I got going on right now:

What I've Been Reading Lately

Ever since I was laid off from work, I have rediscovered my passion for reading. Actually, I hated reading when I was growing up. You couldn't even bribe me into doing it! But then I found some really great authors and I can't stop reading now! Here are some of the books that I've read over the last 2 months:







I found this Real Simple Cleaning book in the bargain bin at Hrris Teeter yesterday and just couldn't resist. It's like the bible for home cleaning. I LOVE IT!



All these books are great reads! I am very fond of Nicholas Sparks' books for their overall messages of pure romance and first loves. However, Emily Giffin's writing is very funny and provides great stories about friendship and life. Both authors have new books coming out soon and I, for one, can't wait to read them!

Ode to My Husband

It's not often enough that I brag about my wonderful husband. Last weekend at our marriage retreat we studied how we are each different by design. How God created us to be different from each other, yet equally complementary as well. This fact was proven in the Harrell household last night. I have been struggling with a situation for many months now that I've foolishly allowed to govern many of my thoughts, actions, and emotions for way too long now. Last night it came to a head. I felt hurt, betrayed, sad, and a little heart-broken. I knew it was time to say goodbye to this particular situation. I came home mad and angry about the events that unfolded before me not long ago and I just yelled (not at Chris, but TO Chris) for 10 minutes about this situation. And while it is in his nature to want to fix the problem for me and offer the advice to help push me through it, he just let me yell. He knew that I had reached my limit and he just let me get it all out in the open. Then, after the yelling came the breakdown. I started to cry because the anger had transformed into hurt and disappointment and at that point, all that was left to do was cry. And even though I was in a completely different room in the house than Chris, he came to me, wrapped his arms around me, and didn't say a word for 10 minutes. There I was snotting all over his shirt, crying my broken heart out, and he just held me. A little while later, he looked at me and simply stated "you can always depend on me." This statement, of course, was completely relevant to the topic at hand and were the words that I just needed to hear. I was so moved by the way he just recognized a need, stopped what he was in the middle of doing, turned a deaf ear to what reaction comes naturally to him (regarding fixing the problem), and met me in my sorrow. What a sweet, amazing man! I feel so fortunate to be married to a man that constantly exemplifies gentleness, patience, and love. After 6 years together, he just knows what I need. I am so thankful for that.

Summer Vacation - Part 1: Marriage Retreat at Ocean Isle Beach

Here are some pics from our marriage retreat at Ocean Isle beach:

learning how to work together (excercise no. 1)

going out to dinner at Beck's Seafood Restaurant

Sunrise on the beach


Herman the blue-claw crab :) He's praisin' Jesus too!
our morning java will never be the same again



Chris and Israel enjoying some lunch on the beach

Well, today's our last day of vacation. I'm writing to you this morning from the top floor (3rd level) of our rental house overlooking the intracoastal waterway on Topsail Island. This house has been the perfect location for us! The front opens up to the roaring beach and the back opens up to the serene waterway. It's been gorgeous! Each morning we watch the sun rise (I realize that this is too early to be awake while on vacation, but it happened naturally) and each evening we watch the sun set. We joined my parents here on Topsail Island on Monday. This vacation has been desperately needed for my parents. Right before they drove down to the beach, my dad spent 5 hours at Duke Brain Center getting the low-down on what's happening to him and the steps to follow toward his treatment. While there was some encouraging news to be heard, he also had to make the decision to start chemotherapy. The doctors are very confident that this method should work best for his situation. The 3 tumors are continuing to be a threat, and surgery will never again be an option for my dad. They weren't even sure he could be a candidate for chemo, but thankfully he is! I know it sounds out-of-place to praise the idea of chemo, but for my dad, it was his last hope. We all know that it's going to kick his butt over the next year, and MANY things about his life are going to change, but we're confident that the Lord placed this in front of him for the purpose of healing . . . and that's what we're waiting for now. He begins his treatment tomorrow and will go into the hospital twice a month (every 2 weeks) for as long as he needs to until these tumors go away. The very best news out of all of this is that the Lord is completely watching over my parents financially. My dad has been "un-insurable" for several years now b/c his tumors were becoming too much of a threat to the medical world and they completely cut him off (which seems so opposite to me). However, Duke is exhausting ALL their resources for my dad and we just received the news yesterday that they have found insurance for him and that the cost of all his treatments from here on out will be covered! PTL!!!! So instead of paying $40,000 a month for treatment, he is now only responsible for $500 a month! Is that not amazing?? That is ALL the power and control of GOD! I am so thankful!
So, needless to say, he, my mom, and the rest of us really needed this time away together to spend as a family.

The Lord is GOOD!