A Texan Odyssey

Pattern Mixing by valfox   This week over at Long Distance Loving it's all about mixing patterns! We'll probably see a lot of stripes and leopard print action because they look really good together! I know this is a sweater, but I'd love it if it was a little longer and you could wear it as a sweater dress. Pair it with some tights and oxford heels and you've got a comfy outfit that I think would be fun to wear for Thanksgiving with the family. I must admit, mixing patterns with a scarf like this is actually the only way I've ever done it before! Although...it wasn't even really  mixing patterns because I wore a striped sweater with a striped scarf! See? You could do the same with a cute sweater and scarf like these ones. I think it "works" because one set of stripes is closer together than the other is. If they were too similar it might look a little busy in my opinion. I do plan to eventually get adventurous and wear a legitimate mixed pa...

- Top: Kohl's - Shorts: Ross - Shoes: Steve Madden via Marshalls  - Earrings: Gift - Ichthus dog tag: ???? - Watch: Fossil Today we: - Got bags of food together from our pantry, my sister's and my mom's to take to my friend who's organizing donations for a family of eleven whose house burned down a few days ago.  (Please pray for the family.) - Took two big bags of clothes and shoes to Goodwill. - Visited my husband's grandparents who we haven't gotten to see in a while since they're often out of town. - Had dinner with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law.  - Played games together and talked a lot. Yesterday evening I: -Cleaned. -Did all the laundry. -Re-organized all the furniture in the living room. - Let Sean play in the tub for a long time and then read lots of books to him. It feels so good to be productive and giving and family-oriented. I am happiest when I am doing things that follow God's will! When I'm grouchy it usually stems from some s...

Today I wanted to share with you another wonderful opportunity to give back. World Vision is an international aid Christian humanitarian organization that helps impoverished people in almost 100 countries all around the world and also provides support to them after natural disasters. In Haiti last year when the earthquake struck World Vision was able to respond within hours because they already had disaster relief supplies ready to go in the region. We can be a part of their amazing work by sponsoring a child for 35 dollars a month!  "For about a dollar a day, you'll help provide children in need with access to life-saving basics like: clean water, nutritious food, healthcare, education, and more!"  You can visit their website, here , to start your sponsorship. God bless, Val

My mother and sister and I have donated money to Operation Smile before, and let me tell you, it is so rewarding to be able to make such a big difference in a child's life. Operation Smile is a children's charity devoted to giving free reconstructive surgery to children born with cleft palates or cleft lips. These deformities are not just cosmetic, but can cause the child to be unable to eat, drink, or speak. Thanks to people's donations Operation Smile can be there to heal these children's smiles. "It takes as little as 45 minutes It costs as little as $250 It changes a child's life forever !" 100% of your donation goes towards helping children like Fatima and Guillermo. FATIMA "This sweet baby girl was born with severe clefts in her lip  and palate that made eating and drinking difficult. Her parents were stricken with grief. As feeding her was difficult, they worried she might die. Fatima was the only  one of their four children to ...