365.129: Pillow Forts

365.128: The Chart

Life in our home currently revolves around this:

365.127: Inheritance

After every Elevate class, I feel like I have so much I want to share with y'all on here. Like maybe I should just transcribe my notes, but I think the message may lose some of its power that way. Anyways, tonight we watched this video at the beginning of worship. I love it because it is TRUE.

365.126: Love Affair Workshop

Today I had the amazing opportunity to go to Dallas and do makeup for the Love Affair Workshop. Love Affair was in Atlanta last year, and was such a blast that when I heard it was in Dallas this year, I just had to offer my services! It takes quite a while to get all the images sent to me on a cd, but I found some shots one of the photographers, Sharon Nicole, posted on her blog from my 80's-inspired model! I love what she got:




These are my before/after pictures of another model,Sydney, who had a 60's mod vibe going on. Obviously, they are not professional, but I just cannot resist a good Before and After shot!

Here are some of the faces I painted last year:

365.125: A GREAT Day!

Holden had a GREAT day at school today! Praise Jesus! I know so many people are praying for him, and I feel like God really helped him excel in obedience and good behavior today!

Last night during worship at Elevate, one of the staff members, Ashley, came up to me and said that she felt like God was wanting to tell me, "You ARE making a difference." Ashley doesn't know me well, and she didn't have any idea what I've been going through with Holden, but she was obedient to tell me exactly what I needed to hear. I just started crying. I felt so encouraged and affirmed in my parenting.

So today is a day of celebration for Holden and our family! After school, we picked up Turner and Ryan from home and headed to Dairy Queen for lunch. And I even let the boys eat their ice cream first. Then I let Holden stay up from his nap and watch a movie instead. And I think the Montgomerys may stop by in a bit to celebrate a little more with us!

If you think about it, please continue praying that:

• Holden continues to process through the move well,
• Holden falls into a routine of following instructions and having FUN at school, and
• we would be faithful to parent him well, asking God every morning what it is that Holden needs for that day.

Thanks for all of your support on the phone, through texts, and emails! You are invaluable in the lives of the McCormicks!

365.124: Just In Case You Don't Know

Do you know and believe that God has a huge plan and purpose for your life? Because He does. He loves you so much and wants only good things for You. He made you, everything from your personality to the size of your pores, on purpose, and just because you bring Him joy!

And God wants to interact with you through a personal relationship on a daily, hourly, by-the-minute basis. He wants to guide your steps and lead you into a life that will be the most rich and satisfying life imaginable. The Bible tells us in John 10:10 that Jesus says, "My purpose is to give you a rich and satisfying life." His purpose.

But there is one thing standing in the way. God is a Holy God. That means He is set apart in His purity and goodness. And we are a fallen people. From the day we are born, it is our natural inclination to do bad things. Just look at a toddler. They don't naturally share toys or give away candy. They unashamedly display the selfishness that naturally exists in all of us. And this selfishness results in sin. God hates the sin. But know that He loves you.

So there was this problem. Man was separated from God through the problem of sin. We try to do things to get closer to God. We do good works, get involved with charities, try to be nice to others, try to be a "good person." We work and work and work. But you know what? It is so much easier than that. God knew that man could never try hard enough in his own will to be good and holy, so He sent His son, Jesus, to bridge the gap. Jesus, being fully God, became fully man in order that he may take the sin of the world on his shoulders and die on the cross to make atonement for that sin. When he was hanging on that cross, he actually had you, by name, on his mind. He suffered that you may live in rich abundance. Because he loves you.

And here is the best part. Do you know what you have to do to receive all this grace and all this mercy and all of this forgiveness? Just ask for it. That's it. You tell God, "I am a sinner. I sin all the time, like, every day, and I don't want to anymore. I am asking you to forgive me of my sin. I'm asking you to come into my life and be the Lord of my life so that I can live in relationship with you."

Seriously, that. is. it.

Like for real, if you have never prayed that prayer before, and you feel like it is something you want in your life, you can do it now! Please let me know if you do, because there are so many people who would just love to help you understand more about the richness and fullness you are now walking in!

I love you and I just wanted to share the truth that has changed my life, just in case you didn't know.

365.123: Simmer Down Now

Here is the EASIEST, fastest recipe I've got! It's delish, and also very healthy. So healthy, in fact, that it qualifies as a "Lean and Green" on the Medifast diet! I don't have a name for it, so ideas are welcomed!

Ingredients:

• package of thin-sliced chicken breasts, seasoned with salt and pepper
  
• large can of diced tomatoes that comes flavored with basil, garlic, and oregano
• eggplant, diced
  

Brown chicken breasts on stovetop, then add eggplant and saute for a couple more minutes. Pour tomatoes on top and simmer for at least fifteen minutes. Serve over rice.