Happy Bloggy Birthday

Update:Thanks to all of you for celebrating my bloggy birthday with me! And congratulations to Kristina! The random number generator chose her comment as the winner for the necklace below. Kristina is a sweet friend of mine and I know you'll love her blog as much as I do so I hope you'll stop by to say hello! The necklace is still on sale at www.dayspring.com and you can use my friends and family code (holley20) for an extra 20% off too.

 

I'm heading to the She Speaks conference in North Carolina. While I'm there my blog will celebrate a birthday! I kicked it all off with this post so I'm sharing it again...

 

I recently read a story about a newly discovered underground cave. One scientist called the cave “a beautiful anomaly.” An anomaly is something unusual, or in other words, weird. The scientists were delighted with this cave and dubbed it a national treasure.

Through that story, God got me thinking about how we all have underground caves in our lives. They may be quirks, regrets, hidden habits, or any number of things.

We usually work hard to keep people away from them. But perhaps they’re actually “beautiful anomalies” (or that’s what God can make them) and we should invite people into those places.

So I’ve decided to kick off this blog by sharing some of my underground cave stuff with you. It ranges from silly to serious.

My Top Ten Beautiful Anomalies

1. I change the lyrics to eighties songs and sing them to my dog.
2. I eat really weird, spicy things that make my friends shriek “Holley!” in the middle of restaurants. 
3. When I’m thinking really hard about something I totally zone out. For example, the other day I put deodorant on my lips instead of chapstick.
4. I have trouble getting out of bed on time. I even put chocolate on my alarm clock and it still didn’t work.
5. I’m more afraid of failure than I am of snakes or spiders.
6. I wasn’t “popular” in high school…and I wanted to be.
7. I have a baby in heaven.
8. I’m unusually fond of turtles and short, fat dogs.
9. I’m named after my Grandpa Hollie and he’s my hero.
10. When I get really nervous, I sweat and think there’s something in my nose.

(By the way, all of the above are still true. I could add a few more like "11. I have an embarassing tendency to wander into the men's room--especially at conferences." Good thing there won't be any men at She Speaks!) 

Just in case you’re beginning to wonder, the point of all this is to declare up front that I don’t have it all together—and no one who comes to this blog is required to either.

Yes, I’m a Christian greeting card writer. But I’m also a wife, daughter, friend, and mixed up, messed up, saved-by-grace girl who gets by in spite of herself every day.

I imagine (or at least hope) you’re a lot like me too.

And you know what? God loves us that way. He knows all about our underground caves, our quirks, the things we think make us weird. Those anomalies may even be part of the story He is writing and we are living out.

I believe God has “beautiful anomalies” too. And His infinite capacity to love us as we are will always be one of my favorites.

What birthday would be complete without a gift? This one is for you--my fabulous readers! I'm giving away one of these sterling silver God's Heart for You necklaces from DaySpring...

It comes with a mini-card I helped create that has this message...

In God’s heart, you are…

created
I praise You because I am fearfully and wonderfully made. PSALM 139:14 NIV

chosen
The Lord has chosen you to be His treasured possession. DEUTERONOMY 14:2 NIV

celebrated
He will take great delight in you…
He will rejoice over you with singing. ZEPHANIAH 3:17 NIV

cherished
I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with loving-kindness. JEREMIAH 31:3 NIV

Just leave a comment or become a subscriber by midnight on Sunday and you'll be entered!

 

I recently read a story about a newly discovered underground cave. One scientist called the cave “a beautiful anomaly.” An anomaly is something unusual, or in other words, weird. The scientists were delighted with this cave and dubbed it a national treasure.

Through that story, God got me thinking about how we all have underground caves in our lives. They may be quirks, regrets, hidden habits, or any number of things.

We usually work hard to keep people away from them. But perhaps they’re actually “beautiful anomalies” (or that’s what God can make them) and we should invite people into those places.

So I’ve decided to kick off this blog by sharing some of my underground cave stuff with you. It ranges from silly to serious.

My Top Ten Beautiful Anomalies

1. I change the lyrics to eighties songs and sing them to my dog.
2. I eat really weird, spicy things that make my friends shriek “Holley!” in the middle of restaurants. 
3. When I’m thinking really hard about something I totally zone out. For example, the other day I put deodorant on my lips instead of chapstick.
4. I have trouble getting out of bed on time. I even put chocolate on my alarm clock and it still didn’t work.
5. I’m more afraid of failure than I am of snakes or spiders.
6. I wasn’t “popular” in high school…and I wanted to be.
7. I have a baby in heaven.
8. I’m unusually fond of turtles and short, fat dogs.
9. I’m named after my Grandpa Hollie and he’s my hero.
10. When I get really nervous, I sweat and think there’s something in my nose.

Bless Your Nest

Update: Kimba from A Soft Place to Land won the giveaway this week! (Thanks, random number generator.) I hope you'll stop by Kimba's wonderful blog and say hello! And if you still want the print, it's on sale at DaySpring.com and you can use my friends and family code for an extra 20% off anything you order (holley20). There are several other fun designs by Jeanne!

I've been appreciating my home a lot more lately. Perhaps it's because I've spent so much time away from it during the last four years of grad school. Whatever it is, I find myself smiling as a wash dishes (weird--I know), enjoying the view into my backyard, and thinking of new colors to paint the walls. So I'm doing a little giveaway of this print by DaySpring...

It was designed by a very talented friend of mine, Jeanne Winters. She has a wonderful site and I hope you'll stop by for some inspiration and creative ideas.

Here are some other fabulous women who do a great job of making home a place I want to be. I think you'll really enjoy them too!

Jen - Balancing Beauty and Bedlam

Melissa - The Inspired Room

Nester - The Nesting Place

To enter the giveaway for the print above, just leave a comment by midnight on Sunday. Or if you're not a subscriber already then sign up and you'll be entered as well (if you leave a comment and subscribe that's two entries).

Wishing you a happy weekend, heart, and home...

Simple Summer Suppers (and a give away too)

Update: I loved all of your recipe ideas! Thank you so much for sharing them. I'm going to have fun trying them out (and I'm sure my husband will be grateful to you too!). The random number generator (www.random.org) chose Jennifer's comment as the winner. If you still want the platter, you can find it on www.dayspring.com. It's on sale right now and you can get an extra 20% off with my friends and family code: holley20!

I enjoyed your answers to the Life Collection give away last week so much that I've decided to do round two!

Finding time to cook is a challenge for me (and I'm sure many of you too). So this week I'd love for you to leave a comment sharing a simple summer supper!

You can type out the recipe or link to it on a site (allrecipes.com is one of my absolute favorites). You can also just say something like, "We love to have breakfast for dinner in the summer."

I'll kick things off with a recipe I came up with a couple of years ago...

 

Quick Chick Southwest Salad

1 lb chicken tenders (from the grocery deli or you can buy them frozen to cook at home)

1 bag salad mix

1 avocado

1/2 purple onion (or whatever amount you like)

1 tomato

1/4 cup cheddar cheese

Cut chicken tenders, avocado, purple onion, and tomato into bite-size pieces. Combine with salad mix. Top with cheddar cheese and your choice of dressing.

Now it's your turn! If you share a simple summer supper (remember it doesn't have to be a complete recipe like the one above--just an idea) you can win this platter from the DaySpring Life Collection...

It has the word "life" in sixteen different languages and John 10:10, "I have come that they might life, and have it to the full" in the middle. You can serve your dinner on it or just let it sit there and look pretty while you go out to eat.

So leave your simple summer supper idea as a comment by midnight on Thursday and you'll be entered to win! And we'll all be forever grateful that you helped us out in the kitchen!

Life poured out...all sweet and summery

Update: Thanks to all of you who entered the giveaway! I loved reading your comments. The random number generator picked Nancy's comment--she wrote about how she loves to pick up sea shells in the summer. If you still want the pitcher, you can find it on DaySpring.com. It's 15% off right now and the rest of the Life Collection is on sale too. And I'm giving you my friends and family code for another 20% off everything you choose. Just enter holley20 when you check out. Have fun!

What is it about summer that makes life feel more present, vibrant, closer than the rest of the year? Yes, it's hot–blazing hot–but somehow even that heat is a reminder that winter has been banished and all is new again.

My thoughts are feeling lazy today and my words seem to be napping in the sun so I'm turning my pages over to you for a bit.

I'd love for you to share one thing you enjoy about summer by leaving a comment. And if you do so before midnight on Thursday, you'll be entered to win this pitcher from the Life collection by DaySpring. It's one of my absolute favorite things ever.

You can make lemonade in it, showcase fresh flowers, or just let it sit there and look pretty. It also has John 10:10 ("I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full") around the middle.

Let the celebration of summer begin...

 

(Subscribers, remember to come to the site to leave a comment here instead of replying to the e-mail. And check back here on Friday to see who won–I'll be updating this post.)

Sweet Freedom

Update: The winner of the Set Free necklace giveaway is Abra! If you still want one for you or someone you love, you can find it here on DaySpring's site. Enter coupon code holley20 for an extra 20% off! 

I am feeling freedom today...do you know that weightlessness I mean? The sort that makes your heart feel as if it can fly. The kind that makes you laugh on the inside and cry on the outside because it's such a sweet relief. I have learned these last few weeks that guilt weighs much but grace is lighter than air.

My lovely friend Heather Steck designed this Set Free necklace for DaySpring about a year ago.

 

It comes with this beautiful card featuring a message I wrote...

I am set free—
Released from the past
and all that held me captive…
welcoming each day
with my wings spread wide…
Soaring into the future
and all God has for me!

I cried to the LORD,
and He answered
by setting me free.
Psalm 118:5 NIV
 

When I put those words on paper I had only begun to understand what freedom meant. I was more like the baby robins hopping about my backyard with fluttering wings. Now I feel I know so much more of what it means to have your spirit soar.

To celebrate my newfound freedom I'm giving away one of these necklaces. Just leave a comment by midnight on Thursday (and if you're a subscriber remember to click here rather than replying to the e-mail).

Sweet Freedom, you were not free at all...Love bought you and will not let you go.

Hold Out Hope (Busy Day Giveaway)

 

Update: Congratulations to Jana! She's the winner of this week's giveaway. If you'd still like to get a pack of Colors of Compassion cards, you can find them on DaySpring.com by clicking here. There are 14 different designs to choose from and part of the proceeds benefit Compassion International. If you use coupon code LIFE20 before June 1 you'll get an extra 20% off!

Hope is more than just a word—
it’s a state of being.
It’s a firm belief that
even if you don’t know how,
even if you don’t know when,
God will come through
and better days are ahead.
Life sends rain...
Hope dances in the puddles
until the sun comes out again.
—Holley Gerth

Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. HEBREWS 11:1 NIV

 

I'm still catching up from my trip so I'm just doing a quick giveaway today! To win a pack of six of these cards ($20 value) from DaySpring's Colors of Compassion line leave a comment before midnight on Thursday. Part of the profits from these cards help Compassion International.

God's Heart for You

Update: The random number generator picked comment number 13 which came from Sarah Markley! Congratulations, girl! I hope you'll all take a moment to visit her fabulous blog. If you'd still love to get the necklace go to DaySpring.com. And you can use discount code LIFE20 for an extra 20% off your entire purchase until the end of this month.

As I start a new week, I'm feeling the need to be reminded of how God's feels about me. About a year ago, I put together a list of everything I could find about that in Scripture. I'm sharing a few of those verses here and if you want the whole file, you can click on it below (there are about 60 all together!).

God created you

God saw all that He had made,

and it was very good.

GENESIS 1:31 NIV

 

God accepts you

Accept one another, then,

just as Christ accepted you,

in order to bring praise to God.
ROMANS 15:7 NIV

 

God knows your heart

The Lord looks at the heart.

I SAMUEL 16:7 NIV

 

God’s presence is with you

My Presence will go with you,

and I will give you rest.

EXODUS 33:14 NIV

 

God delights in you

For the Lord takes delight in His people.

PSALM 149:4 NIV

 

God cares about you

The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble.

He cares for those who trust in Him.

NAHUM 1:7 NIV

Download God's Heart for You

 

I really debated about whether or not to do a giveaway because I know I've done a lot lately, but this sterling silver DaySpring necklace is just so perfect that I couldn't resist. It's actually called "God's Heart for You" and has a word on each side--Chosen, Cherished, Created, and Celebrated. It comes with a little card that has a Scripture for each word. So just leave a comment before midnight on Tuesday and you'll be entered to win.

I'm praying for you right now (and for me too) that we'll know and live in the truth of just how much we're loved!

Winners and Whiners

I'm excited to anounce that we have three winners and one whiner! Let's start with the winners.

Thanks to all of you who entered the journal giveaway. The random number generator came up with comments 2, 41, and 43. Here they are...

My blessing today is I will not have to miss work, have another surgery and only need to go to physical therapy for my knee!! WOO HOO. I loved this blog entry because I too tend to lean towards the negative. My mind races through all the things that could go wrong. God is teaching me how to slow down and listen, to "Be still." Blessings ~ Angela

My blessing for today was a phone call from my mom. We live only 25 minutes from each other and we talk every day but today I realized how lucky I am to have her in my life. She's always been one of my best friends. SusanB

Well.... since I haven't officially said anything on my blog yet, let's just say I got some REALLY good news today that counts as a huge blessing ;) At the risk of sounding irreverent, God "knocked my socks off" today. Mrs. H

Congratulations, ladies! Look for another giveaway coming next week!

Now let's talk about the one whiner. Don't worry, it's not you. It's me. Yesterday I was in a funk. You know the kind. You're just going along through life and then out of nowhere "Wham!" the moody blues hit and everything turns upside down for a bit.

In my case it was brought on by 1) exhaustion 2) not enough exercise 3) too much alone time (I'm an introvert but you can still have too much of a good thing) 4) the weather 5) eating too much sugar, oh, and a bunch of other stuff.

Today I feel much better. But I wrote this little prosey-poemy thing yesterday and I wanted to share it anyway. Warning: it feels a bit "junior high girl writing in her notebook" but I suppose even grown-up writers are allowed to revert now and then. 

p.s. If you're my rlf (real life friend) please don't yell at me for not telling you I had a bad day. It was weird, I didn't know what to say, and now I'm okay. And yes, I'm also stubborn and independent. I'm working on it--promise.

Funky blue…

deep and wide

as the ocean.

I visit you occasionally,

like an unwelcome vacation.

You are the opposite of R&R—

instead you drain me, low,

like an emotional funnel

leading to who knows where.

I resist you, silly thing,

and tell you that you aren’t real—

an imaginary friend I can wave away

with a nap, cup of coffee, piece of chocolate.

But you remain, drawing me in,

asking me to sit on your shores

to turn my back on the world

and everything, everyone in it.

I will not give in to you.

You want me, I know,

want me so fiercely I can feel it.

But you can’t have me.

No, I belong to the King,

and His unending love is

Crystal blue…

deeper and wider

than the ocean.

Anyone else out there ever visited my funky blue friend?

Giveaway Winner and "Found it!" Friday

Thank you for all of your wonderful responses to the travel mug giveaway! I loved hearing the different ways you deal with busy days. If you haven’t read all of the comments yet, I hope you’ll take a moment to do so. You ladies (and a few brave guys) are amazing!

I used our dear friend the random number generator and the official winner is comment #42:

When I'm too busy to think straight, I tell everyone in the house that I need 5 minutes of alone time. Then I go into the bedroom and go to my knees to pray. I then start listing all the things that I have to be thankful for, and before I know it, all seems calmer. Somehow just remembering all of my blessing seems to take care of the frazzle of the day.

Cindy, you can now add a new travel mug to your list. Let's congratulate her!

 

I’m heading to Christian Book Expo in Dallas for the weekend. If any of you will be there, please let me know! I’m seeing some dear friends, doing a book signing, and of course, working in the real priorities (aka shopping and eating). I'm sure I will do something ridiculous before the weekend is over and I promise to tell you all about it on Monday.

 

This week I discovered a couple of fun new blogs with the word “coffee” in their titles. In honor of the travel mug giveaway, I’m passing them along to you. (It’s also insanely early for me to be up and I’m not a morning person so coffee is definitely on my mind at the moment.)

Sip. Savor. Share…

 

Under Grace & Over Coffee: I Take My Coffee with Milk, Sugar and the Joy of Knowing Jesus

 

Like a Warm Cup of Coffee: A Place to Curl Up and Begin Your Day

 

(And I’m throwing one with chocolate in just because I like the two together in real life too--any time of day. In fact, I may go have a piece right now.)

 

Stop and Smell the Chocolates

 

Enjoy!

Busy Day Giveaway

Hello Dear Readers! Thanks so much for all of your kind comments about my book signing mishaps. I appreciate you and love you for all the grace you give me--I need it!

I'm starting a busy day, and I'm sure you are too. So I've decided to do a fun little giveaway of this travel mug (we are on-the-go girls, after all, even when we're at home).

 

The mug includes the verse, "I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10). And it comes with a handy little lid too.

To be entered, just leave a comment sharing one thing that helps you when life is really busy. Teach me, ladies, teach me!

The winner will be announced on Friday.