My love, My king.

I'm in love with a God.
I'm in love with a man.
He found me in my hopeless place
And takes me as I am.

As a babe he chose me
Filled my broken lungs with song.
Forever i know he's faithful.
Same in battle as when it's won.

He wrote me into being
As he did all men and stars.
And he broke for my redeeming.
So I find comfort in his scars.

Daily I'm reminded that I'm as cracked as these streets.
But he has filled my gaping emptiness, that others wouldn't crash because of me.

Sing a song as babes of God!
Lift your eyes, Detroit, to HIS fist!
So what if we are crippled, unarmed and alarmingly unfit?!

Oh, he is mightier, no avenger so fierce.
No story lovelier, it brings grown men to tears.

A feared king is my love. He is my destiny.
He is my courage. When all stamina has left me.
He is Jesus. And he leads me by my cold little hand.
He is the blood father, the proud father, the longing father, the loving father,
of this run-away land.

{Hearing Through A Deaf Girl}

Disclaimer: this will be a long post, but one very well worth reading. (so grab your knitting and tea). Ok here we go...

   Since January i have had the privilege of hugging, dancing with, and ministering to the bestest kids in the world in our Encourage service in Hamtramck alongside some pretty cool folks.

   One little munchkin in particular has become so endeared to me. Her name is Myra. When we first met her she was shy and unstable but now as you watch her run around and laugh with the other kids you would hardly suspect her great challenge. Myra is deaf. A deaf child, though incredibly intelligent, requires extra love and patience and i get to be the key person to spend time with her. I've learned so much about communication, patience and prayer through interacting with her. 

  She's spunky though. Girl's got personality, which often means calming her down poses as a difficult task. But one thing i discovered last Sunday that really calms her down is rocking and humming. She can feel my voice in my stomach when i hold her and she LOVES it. Her eyes twinkle when she feels it cause she knows that it goes with whatever my mouth is saying. So now she'll jump in my arms and press really tightly so she can really feel my song and sometimes she'll hum along. It's magical. And once she's calm, we'll play a game of slide and she'll read my lips as i count aloud. Needless to say, these times are super important to both of us. 

  Last night as i was praying for Myra and thinking of those beautiful moments God pointed out an amazing parallel. (gettin to the juicy stuff here, folks) Just like Myra, humans can't hear God with normal senses. And in our deafness we're aimless and confused and unstable. We'll make games of running away from him (Myra thinks hiding from me is so fun). And we pout and throw fits when he doesn't chase us or give us our way. 

  

  But if we'd run and throw ourselves into God's arms, we could feel his voice, read his lips and feel his rhythms. The tighter we hold, the more distinctly we'll feel it, in all of it's calming wonder. Sure, it means giving up running and screaming and playing naughty games. 

But we'll learn his games of slide, grow familiar with his features and smell. 

And we'll hear him.

  I don't know how long i'll be in Myra's life or really, how long i'll get to have her in mine. But as long as i am, i will work to not only communicate MY love for her, but Christ's love for her. We're all deaf unless we're living on God's lap. And i don't know about you, but i prefer his songs over my confusion.

  So yeah. If you read all the way to here, props to you. I hope this post didn't inspire you; but instead challenged you to hear God more. You have the same need that Myra does. Lucky for you it's not a girl who learned sign language from blues clues trying to teach you;)

XOXO,

Courtney Ann

6 things in Spring

Spring has sprung (I actually hate that phrase) in Detroit. Yesterday was warm and sunny, today is rainy and crisp. Much to my mother's chagrin, I think today is beautiful. So here are six rainy day things I love about spring.

1. Little green things. Grass, crocuses, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, I love watching their little kelly green heads poke up all around.

2. Mud. I have many fond memories with mud. Who doesn't love a good mud pie? And though I don't play in it anymore, it's still fun.

3. Apparel. In spring you get to wear nearly all of your wardrobe within a few months and in every combo. Sweaters and sandals, boots and tees, it's great.

4. Puddles. Again, I'm not exactly hopping through a ton, but I love the way the trees on my street reflect in them.

5. Smell. I know a lot of people don't like how early spring smells, but I love the smell of new grass and rain. It's like the earth just woke up and spritzed perfume.

6. Rain. Don't hate me for it, but I love spring rain on sorta warm days. Probably because it makes me pretend I'm in England...

Here are some pics from my lovely walk with my pup this afternoon.
Happy spring everyone!
Xoxo, Courtney

Happy Lovie Day

http://m.youtube.com/watch?desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Db3x_XavMp54&v=b3x_XavMp54&gl=US

Found this cute video that captures the sweet moments spent with the sweet hearts in your life.

Xoxo,
Courtney

On The Needles

Knitting is an art that produces such beautiful garments even using the simplest stitch. But it's also a very picturesque process. Thousands of knots shaping one continuous piece.

So I decided to share with you every project currently on my needles. Some will be finished by next week, other ones are more complex and will get my random few minutes over many weeks. Pictured are a mitten, a cable scarf, a mens scarf, an infinity scarf, and a beanie.

Have a lovely evening and an awesome weekend!

Xoxo, Courtney

Tremble

We all tremble
Even the mother herself.
We cry "it's unfair!"; utter curses under breath.

Yes, I tremble.
With every vibration in my throat.
Every time I laugh out loud, or call goodbye as I put on my coat.

I've seen you tremble.
As you reach for another glass.
Your eyes were shaking the same way as the new face I saw on the telecast.

We all tremble.
Cause we're unstable on these feet.
We weren't meant to stand.
We'll tremble til we fall, if it'll bring us to our knees.

xoxo,
Courtney Ann

Wide Leg Delema

Last week I purchased Gap wide leg trouser jeans for $10. An easy steal. But shortly after i got home I realized that pulling them off would not prove to be as easy. I'd done skinny, flare, bell bottom, and crop. But this was a whole new fit.

After discussing my dismay with my mum, I did my research via google and pinterest. And after trying stuff on came to a couple conclusions.

1. Shorter shirts or tucked in top. Anything too long makes weird bunching.

2. Chunky heels. Make sure the hem rests on the toe so your feet don't completely disappear.

So yeah! Here are my research pictures. Hopefully I'll do an outfit post soon!

Xoxo, Courtney Ann