Happy Birthday Juli

Today is HALLOWEEN!  Hope all the super sweet trick-or-treaters have a SPOOKTACULAR time tonight.  Get lots of treats but please stay safe.  I certainly look forward to seeing family & friends all dressed up.  Hopefully they stop by The Ash House!

H A P P Y ~ B I R T H D A Y ~ J U L I

This weekend we had a surprise 30th birthday party for my youngest sister Juli.  She lives in Florida now so planning a party with our large family, her friends from Arkansas and here was pretty easy.  A special thanks to Brookelyn Yi (her childhood best friend) who really pulled it off!!!  It meant a lot to me that her friends drove such a long distance to be apart of it.  Loved all the family that made it out too.  It was great seeing everyone!!  Very sweet and I know she enjoyed it! 

The picture below has now become a personal favorite.  We have not taken a pic together in a long time.  At least not one that we were all being serious, looking forward and not joking or messing with one another.  Oh and not in our PJ's.....a normal for us King girls.

 Keisha ~ Juli ~ J.C. ~ Andrea

It would not be right if I did not add this picture with our soon to be sister. 

J.C. & Tissa will be married next May.  She's already like a sister to me and such an awesome addition to our family!!!!  Love you TISSA!

Enjoy some pictures from the party:

All Smiles

This past weekend my family and I shared in yet another KING wedding.  Yes, it's been 3 in 2011!!!  Here are some pictures of their BIG day.  Very best wishes for many blessings in the years to come!  We love you!

 

It's Fall Folks

I'm not sure what puts me in a better mood than the season of FALL!  It just automatically puts me in a calm, happy-go-lucky mood.  The thought of crisp cool air, windows opened around the house, smell of warm flavored coffee, fall scented lit candles, backyard firepits and ALL THE FALL DECORATIONS that follow.  It means that spending time with my family will get to happen more often.  It also means the Holidays are right around the corner.  I can almost smell the turkey not to mention pecan and pumpkin pie.  Now tell me this does that not put you in a good mood and make you think of everything you have to be thankful for??
  Here are some pics from around my house.

This witch hat was about all the "halloween" decor I put up this year. 

It was so stinking cute I couldn't not put it up. 

Then their is the always fall favorite for the men in my life ~ FOOTBALL!!!!!  Our handsome little Cameron is playing his last year of little league football.  It's been an eventful and exciting year so far.  Best wishes for the COUGARS!!!!  I can't not mention my OKLAHOMA SOONERS.  They were ranked early in preseason to take it all.  As of today we are ranked 2nd in the BCS standings.

Cameron's first game of the season and I had to have a mommy moment.

Cameron escorting a Cougar Cheerleader

COUGARS HOMECOMING 2011

Dad ~ Peanut ~ Mom

COUGARS HOMECOMING 2011

 

THANK YOU LORD FOR BLESSING ME WITH MY FAMILY & OUR HEALTH.  THANK YOU FOR BRINGING SUCH SIMPLE JOYS TO MY LIFE!

Every Invite Counts

HARVEST CHURCH, Norman OK
(click on above pink link)

I've posted about my church in the past but I must let EVERYONE know how much Harvest continually changes my way of thinking and my way of life.  It's a feeling sometimes words can't explain but my tears often do.  Harvest has helped me not "just" cope but move forward from holds or discontent that try to bind me.  I've learned there is POWER beyond belief in prayer!    I've learned to see the greater good in myself and others.  I've been taught I am NEVER alone, no matter the situation.  It's NOT where you are at ~ it's that you are becoming who you are by where you're at....... DON'T LET THE HOLD BECOME YOU.  Meaning come out of the bitterness, anger, addiction(s), pain, debt, stress, or ANYTHING that holds you!!!  Use the sword of the word to set yourself free.  (info from podcast 123 You are out)

It's a daily change folks!  A daily feeling of immense security that has allowed me to fully know I am worth the change and you are too.  All because I have FAITH and I BELIEVE!  Knowing I have the support of my family and my church family is an AMAZING feeling.  How comforting to know I have a place to go that I am not judged instead welcomed with open arms.  I am blessed to have a place to go to worship/praise, to have fellowship, to be filled with the holy spirit and encouraged to grow further in my beliefs!  I am thankful I was led to this church by a friend and feel strongly enough to let others know where I find my happiness and strength.  These examples are just a few things I've gained.  If you want some of this too, please come to church with me this Sunday.  Let HIM work in you and through you. 

~ EVERY INVITE COUNTS ~

There's zero shame here ~ GOD IS NOT A SECRET!!

DIY Christmas Crafts

I am addicted to a website that is cram packed full of ideas for you do-it-yourselfers out there.  I wish I had time to do everything I have seen.  Here are a few ideas that have inspired me:

I thought this was ADORABLE.  SO SIMPLE & EASY!

All you need is fabric or ribbon containing the colors you are using this Christmas.  Add the strips to the strands of lights and there you have it ladies & gentlemen.  I like how they did it a little different with a variety of colors.  This would be neat if you had several trees in your home and all had tons of colors.  I think mine will be different shades or reds & greens.  Might add some white here and there just for pop.

I have seen these for several different occasions.  I have seen where scrapbook paper was used in the background or painting the white canvas and then the colored buttons were added on top.  I think holiday scrapbook paper would look great then use a solid color of buttons for the main show.  OR I think I might get matching colors of the same shades of greens & reds I plan to use on the project above so all of it can go around my mantle and look so stinking awesome!!!

This is different and would look great anywhere in the house.  Just spray paint the pinecones to match your decor and that's all it takes.  You could add spray glitter to make some of them pop even more.  Too simple and adds a nice look.

Can you say EASY???  Just buttons and a foam shaped Christmas Tree.  It looks like they used fall colors.....You can use anything your like.  I've seen these with fabric or scrapbook paper also on the background then the buttons added and they were just as stinking cute.  My favorite part of this project is the pearl stick pins used.  Just adorable.

This project does not have to be for just the holidays but I thought if you have a mantle you could take the first letter of each name in your househould, add fabric or scrapbook paper as your background, find a cool wood or metal letter.  Maybe even use a cricket machine to make a paper letter, paint the frames and use them behind the stockings that hang from your mantle.  Or spell out Joy, Holy, Peace, Love or something like that and just add different colors and sizes of framed projects for a really neat looking collage on your mantle or wall.

Here we go again.....I MUST HAVE A THING FOR BUTTOMS!!!!  Tons of green buttons and all the colored push pins.  LOVE!  LOVE!  LOVE!

Anyway!

It would be nice if we didn't have to associate with negative people. Sadly the most negative people are those in our own circle of family and people we think/thought were friends. Have you noticed that you can be feeling great, day going smoothly until a negative person comes along with a crappy comment about you?  Regardless of it's merit, let's face it, those people and comments can be hurtful. Most often it's not to your face but to others behind your back or the most shallow a post on facebook.  Then out of nowhere you can start doubting your efforts and worse even doubting yourself as a person?  I think we all have dealt with this or had similar situations. I feel like, and I've said this a lot lately that the closer I get with God the more these types of personal attacks seem to come.  I can't lie, some of those comments dig deep & get super personal and it makes it really hard not to just blow up and react.  Again, I won't lie..... I have reacted, even recently.  I'm human and felt at my limit which is no excuse but a lesson learned.  Here's the deal folks.....You give them exactly what they want by reacting.  It's attention they are seeking, nothing more and we all know misery loves company.  Don't buy into it!  It's NOT worth it!  Something else I have learned is you CAN'T focus on their negativity about you or what they think they know about you.  It requires too much wasted energy.  Focusing on their negativity can be physically exhausting, emotionally draining and even spiritually destructive.  Do not let these people deplete your efforts, energy or mind-set.  When those situations come along I reach for what I know works for me like laughter, my immediate family, calling a supportive girlfriend, smiling, surround myself with positive people, going to church, become more active in other areas or I read my bible and certain books that I find inspiration and encouragement from.
.
So, today I was looking for positive quotes, affirmations and prayer to help me and possibly others when it comes to dealing with negative people and the chains that bind us.  I found this and wanted to share.


People are often unreasonable, irrational and self-centered. FORGIVE THEM ANYWAY!


If you are kind, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. BE KIND ANYWAY!


The good you do today will often be forgotten. DO GOOD ANYWAY!


If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. BE HAPPY ANYWAY!


What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. CREATE ANYWAY!


If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. SUCCEED ANYWAY!


Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY!

IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS ~ IT IS BETWEEN YOU AND GOD. IT WAS NEVER BETWEEN YOU AND THEM ANYWAY!

The key here is the last statement, you will find that in life you will be much happier when the main
basis of your communication is with God. Focus on developing a special relationship with God and the rest will take care of itself.

What made me smile this weekend?

This weekend (Saturday 09.17.11) we attended the wedding of my cousin Brandon King to the beautiful Raegan Rogers. Might have been the most gorgeous, attention to detail for an outdoor wedding I've ever attended. I loved the setting. I adored the colors and all the thought that went into this elegant wedding. The pictures were BREATHTAKING!!! Thought I'd share some of the pictures with you.....












I think after seeing the pictures yourself you'd agree with me.
JUST BEAUTIFUL!




On Sunday morning, Mike and I became members of The Harvest Church Family. We have been attending this church for roughly a year and decided this is where we belong. For the first time in my life I feel apart of something big. When I'm not there I feel like I've missed out. I feel accepted and know without a doubt this was meant to be! I look forward to growing and learning more with this church family. If you are looking for a place to worship please consider Harvest Church in Norman, OK. It will change you, I promise. You can also watch podcasts just log on to http://www.harvestnorman.com/

Harvest Church is located at the NW corner of Indian Hills Road and 36th Ave NW.