This week’s learned, links, and thankfulness…

My parents are involved with Amazing Grace Missions in the Philippines, and my mom hosted an event to raise money for them. Praise God the event went well and they raised $2500 to help those who are still suffering the effects from Typhoon Haiyan. I’m thankful for how my parents love and serve others. They have the gift of hospitality, which is an area that I definitely need improvement in, but their example continually encourages me.

So happy for some answered prayers for my BFF and her husband.

I love the pattern and shape of this dress.

This locket is beautiful, and this ring is one of my favorites in the Jean Jean Vintage shop.

I love this sweet pair of vintage wooden birds.

If you want to see a couple of my November contributions to the A Beautiful Mess blog, check out my paper flower bouquet tutorial or my birch wood tealight holder.

We’re mostly done with Christmas shopping for our girls. I have a couple handmade gifts still to make for them, but I think we’re good.

I had lots of parenting fails this week, and lots of parenting high-fives too. I feel like the fails weigh more than the good, but that’s just dumb to think that. Christ is greater than all, and I need to remember that His grace is sufficient. That should dictate my parenting and not my feelings of guilt or inadequacy, or even my moments of successes. It’s a constant cycle to fight my natural selfishness and pursue God in all things.

I miss my sister. She’s in South Africa now, and we haven’t had too much communication with her. In her last email, she mentioned they have to walk 40 minutes to get wi-fi, but even then, they don’t have it for long. She shares her journey here and I’m always so encouraged by her heart. Her love for God runs so deep that it just overflows in all she does.