a prayer blog...

Today's post may be a little bit more personal than my normal post, and I will be honest, I think I am being far more honest and vulnerable on here than I have to anyone in a long time.  Some things have been on my mind lately and I feel that I keep seeing signs that lead me to writing this very post. 

I don't want to bother other people with my prayer requests. 
There I said it.

I often wonder if other people feel the same as I do sometimes.  Growing up I was taught to be prayerful, faithful, and true to God and all will be well.  I constantly surrounded myself with others that have the same morals and values and I have always had that one person that was my prayer buddy.  And when I had prayer requests or praises, I always shared them with others.  But as life has gotten busier and the hours in the day just seem to not be enough,  I have found myself not being diligent in confiding in my accountability partner. And not because I don't trust her or feel that I can go to her, but more because life has gotten me so bogged down sometimes almost all the time.  That at the end of the day I just don't want to bother other people with things sometimes.  And just as of yesterday, I realized that that's not being fair.  It's not fair to me, to my prayer buddy, to God, and to those around me. 

So I sat there for a while last night...in the stillness of the night (that's a song right?) and thought this isn't right.  I realized that I need that person in my life every day.  No questions asked.  And that instant, I made the decision to be honest, and to make it a point to let you all know that I have been doing this.

I also want this be an open invitation for those who may feel the same way I do, to let me know how I can be praying for them.  I encourage my friends in the blog world to email me (lindseycleveland@gmail.com) with a  prayer request.  This is my promise to you that I will pray for you. 

I hope this post finds you well....and I promise to have a not-so-serious post next time.  Enjoy your Friday, the weekend is almost here :)

just a little invitation fun

I spent the last few weeks working on an invitation for a friend.  She is celebrating her daughter's 1st birthday and wanted the invitation to be girly but still keeping it chic.  I had a lot of fun making this invitation and I hope little Emmy has a wonderful 1st birthday!  (I removed some of the personal info)

2011 Resolutions?

"Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of the cycle." - Eric Zorn

And because this statement is indeed very true in most people's cases....I just don't make them. However, I do make goals. This year Nick and I made a (verbal) list of goals in which we wanted to accomplish:

1. Legally change my name over to Gray. This involes 3 steps. Step 1: Obtain a certified copy of the marriage license. Check! Step 2: Go to the Social Security Office to obtain your new card. Almost Check! Step 3: Sit and wait and wait and wait at the DMV to change your driver's license....and take a new picture. Check after the beginning of Feb! Made my appointment so we could try to avoid the long wait line to do this.
2. Sign up for joint checking at the bank. Because Nick belongs to a Credit Union, this process may be longer than most. We have to go out to Pasadena and because of my work schedule this may be easier said than done. But alas, it will get done.
3. Save money to go back to Hawaii. and buy a new car....and buy a house. I believe these items on this list will be one of those "New Years Goals" for 2012 and maybe even 2013 but hopefully we can check one of those items off the list right?

A couple of my goals that I have made for myself are:

1. Make more time to relax and just go with the flow...Due to my Type A, OCD personality that I have, I find myself over-stressing about just about everything. This year is the year that I will just learn to go. with. the. flow.
2. Continue to work my miles up and train to run a little faster.
3. Do more D.I.Y projects around the house (post will be coming soon of the recent updates around the house)
4. and four....probably the biggest goal on my list...build my side business and create more brand awareness. I already have told some lovely ladies that are engaged or will soon be getting engaged to come to me with any invitation ideas/designs that I could possibly help them out with.

Over the past weekend I found myself having more conversations like #4 on my list than ever. I spoke with 2 friends of mine about their upcoming wedding and the planning process. I got so excited about helping them or as some may call it, giving them un-solicited advice that I was beaming with excitement. It was hard to translate their confused look on their face but I am almost pretty sure that they were just overwhelmed with the daunting tasks of a D.I.Y wedding. I can totally relate to this by the way, because it is just that, daunting. But overall, it is fun and I tell anyone and everyone...if I was ok with giving my weekends up I would trade my sales job in for a wedding planner position. But I am just not ok with doing that. So instead I help my friends out when they need me. And not to mention, I help design their invitations. :)

Last but not least, I do need to say this, I got my first job (assignment) since I decided to make this a public announcement and currently I am designing a friends, daughters first birthday invitation. Can you say, hot pink fun girly chic inspirations? I am having a blast doing it and can't wait to post it when it's completed.

2011

Well, it is here. 2011. Where did 2010 go? I bet everyone is thinking the same thing right about now. We decided to keep it low key this year and to hang with a few friends. Our only plan was to walk down to dinner and have Sangria and then see where the night took us! It was fun!!

It is now January, my last post was sometime before Christmas.....sorry. Nick had reminded me that I hadn't posted anything for a few weeks and I promised him, I would write after the new year. So here I am, posting. My first post for 2011.

To be honest, I haven't really felt the posting bug lately...and I don't want to just post anything just for the sake of filling the page up. So on my way into work this morning I was thinking of all the goals that I set for last year.....some of those that I accomplished...which can be found here and here. Some of the goals that I set for 2011 can be found here. And most importantly, I became an auntie, a wife :), and a Godmother. 2010 was a big year to put it buntly.....but I believe 2011 will be even bigger.

I am making it a point to focus on starting my invitation suite business. I do think that starting do work on the side will be beneficial for Nick and I as we start to think about making our family a little bigger (this won't be for a few years by the way, 2 dogs is already enough for our small house). But, the idea of me working from home within the next few years is very appealing to the two of us.

Another big event for 2011 is that Nick will be going to Paramedic School in April. He will be taking on a 6 month program and will become a Paramedic Fire Fighter once it's all done in November! Most programs last a full year, which some of you may already know, that it demands pretty much ALL of your time to study, go to class, do the clinicals....It can take a lot of out of you to say the least.....we both feel that this 6 month program will be best for us and we are both very excited for this!! Though, it will be a trying 6 months, I have no doubt that it will only strengthen our marriage and God has exciting plans for us! I am very proud of Nick, during the years that I have known him, he has always been proactive to take more classes to strengthen his knowledge and career. I admire him so much, especially that he is one of the few people that I know that does something that he really is down right passionate about.

With all that said, I have no doubt that 2011 will bring us many opportunities and I am excited to see what God has planned for us!!