Miscellany Monday

~Typically I would begin with a 'Happy Monday' or other such greeting, but it's not so happy right now... MY COFFEE MAKER HAS DIED. I thought maybe I just did something stupid like forgot to turn it on or put water in, but no luck. This is not a good development. Must have coffee.

~In other, way better news, my sister had her new baby boy on Thursday, and I am an aunt again~ yay! Baby Miles Ryan joins big brother Reese and is doing great at home. 'Can't wait to see him sometime, though they are really far away... not sure when it will be, but I'd love to get my hands on the little guy!

~At last count, which was before bed last night, Remy had a total of 5 pieces of cake/cupcakes this weekend. When in youth ministry, graduation weekend is a constant stream of parties, and we also threw in a birthday party. The frosting was flowing, and my children were in heaven (and let's just admit it, I was too!). 

~I spent a good part of this weekend's free time (which wasn't much) converting the littles' winter things into summer clothes. I blogged about this last year, I think, and I will hopefully have a post with pictures this week. My theory is that I wouldn't get more than a quarter for pajamas or a pair of leggings at a garage sale, and I totally couldn't buy new ones for that, so I just convert long pjs into shorts & short sleeves. And bunches of Halle's leggings became shorts or capris. 'Gotta love a cheap new wardrobe!

Okay, that's it for now. Feel free to join in on the 'Miscellany' by clicking the link to Carissa's blog above! Have a great day!

**Updated: My sweet husband picked up a new coffee maker for me this morning! **

Friday Love~ Our Week in Pictures

At the Playground...

Halle finally let me paint her toe nails. And she shows them to everyone we see!

A $7 Slip 'n' Slide is still the coolest summer toy! (And great for the budget!)

'Hope you have a wonderful weekend full of the people and things you love!

The Perfectionist Trap

Nap time yesterday was one of times when it's amazing to me how God orchestrates my day to teach me something. I absolutely love seeing things happen, like he is speaking right to me. And thankfully I stopped to listen.

I had finished my homework from my Fruit of the Spirit Bible study and was just opening another study I am working through as I heard Halle begin to stir. Nap time was over. I paused with my breath held, willing her to go quiet once again, and she did (God move #1). Then I moved into today's lesson, where the words came off the page and might as well have been God's audible voice to me (God move #2).

I have been neck deep in studying lately my role as a wife, on my small scale, and my role as servant of God, the large scale or grand scheme, if you will.  I struggle with wanting to 'be something great' in a sort of undefined, vague sense and yet living a somewhat 'simple' life. My view is evolving, but some days it's difficult to see that my life truly is great.  I haven't missed out on the great thing by choosing to walk God's plan for me. From the pages of my lesson jumped this sentence: "To live for the greatness of God is to live a great life." (Beth Moore)

Let me expound a little... I am one of those people who grew up with {Potential} hanging over her head. (I am NOT saying that all children don't have potential!) I've lived with the nagging feeling that something big must be around the next corner, because this certainly can't be it... Can it?! Today's lesson was like a splash of cold water to my system! Beth went on to say "What if we awakened to how pitifully small and unworthy a goal personal greatness is? We were meant for so much more. Everyone of us who embraces the glory of God as our purpose will end up doing great things because we do God things."

I have lived under a dark cloud of perfectionism and seeking personal greatness, by the world's standards, for too long! It's time to experience some freedom- and the amazing thing is that it comes from the posture of a servant, bowing low to the ground before God and others. Mark 10:43-44 says "Whoever wants to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all." So what am I living for?

(With right hand raised) Hi, My name is Mandy...

... and I drive a mini-van. (Can I get a "Hi, Mandy!"?) On May 24th, 2010, let it be known in the record books as the day I joined a very exclusive club... Here's the newest addition to our family~ Isn't she pretty?!

Thanks for all your well wishes yesterday~ we are getting over the soreness and drama of the weekend. We did have to spend the better part of yesterday looking at and test-driving our next vehicle, but in the end we found this lovely girl, and I am thrilled!

I am thankful to just be home today. Tuesdays are our Mondays, as Trace has Mondays off. I know several of you are pastor's wives- Here's a question for you: Do you find that weekends are the least relaxing part of your week? I know for us, the weekends are crazy- full of worship practice, services, meals, etc. and then even on Mondays I have Bible Study. Tuesdays are the day for me when I tackle the heaps of laundry and dishes and all the other planning for the week. 

I have been thinking of doing some posts on this and would love to know if Time Management is something you would like for me to post on. I am by no means an expert, but I am more than a little obsessive/compulsive, which really works in our favor because I keep us on a pretty regimented schedule, budget & cleaning system. Would some posts on this help y'all out?

Hope you have a great day! It just started storming here, which I love, so I'm going to turn this computer off and do some quiet time listening to the rain. 

Miscellany Monday

Good morning! I apologize that I wasn't around much last week, but I'm back and have a few things planned for the ol' blog this week... On with the random (and if you want to join in, you can click on over to Carissa's blog and link up!)!

~My dad came to visit last Wednesday, and we had a wonderful visit. My sweet Remy kept saying that he "sure must be lucky to have two Grandpa's". We had a lovely time just hanging out... Dad introduced the kids to the Toy Story movies, and a new obsession was born.

~While the first three days of my dad's visit were less than eventful, the last was not. On our way to lunch on Saturday we were in an accident. I had never been in a crash of any kind, but thankfully everyone in our car and the other guy's was okay other than some soreness and seat belt burns. My car, sadly, did not come out unscathed. We are now in the market for a new vehicle...

~I watch a ton of crime scene investigating shows and had always wondered what an air bag feels like. I wonder no longer... it's like being body-slammed by some giant dude. Ouch!

~Yesterday I woke up to the realization that I was out of coffee filters. I have been daydreaming about sewing one out of muslin, but at 7 am when I must have coffee to function, that is hardly an option. So my eco-friendliness reached new heights out of necessity, and I reused the one from Saturday. Yup, that's how I roll. And my coffee has never tasted better! (I'll let you know if I get one sewn... I'm super-excited about that!)

~Yesterday I tried this frozen meal that you put in the crock pot and leave for 8 hours. It was chicken and dumplings, and it was not good. We had some friends over, and they were nice enough to try my crazy, experimental dish. I wasn't at all offended when the littles asked for sandwiches, and I won't be trying that one again. Every Suzy-Homemaker bombs once in a while, right?

I'll be back tomorrow, have a great day!

Hi!

Just a quick 'Hello' today, as this is the scene that awaits me. Most nap times I have my necessities (Bible, journal, planner, Bible study workbook or two, and of course freshly baked cookies and coffee!) spread out on the couch or table, and God meets me in the quiet. I love having the doors wide open to let in bird songs and light and His voice.

Daddy Clean

If I have mentioned this before, please forgive me... I can't remember a thing! Growing up there were two kinds of clean in our house: 'Mommy Clean' and 'Daddy Clean'. "Mommy Clean' was the preferred request, as it entailed simply putting things away, perhaps only out of sight. Under the bed and in the closet were the stash spots for 'Mommy Clean', and you did not go into these places unless you had a death wish.

photo from Rebecca Drolen

'Daddy Clean' was the tougher job. My father required a more thorough cleaning, and one might say that this method was a bit more like a white glove inspection or something. If 'Daddy Clean' was expected, one could expect to spend a considerable amount of time cleaning... under the beds, closets, and hidden areas were not off limits. This was not our favorite.

Well, now that I have my own home, I live in a state somewhere between Mommy and Daddy Clean. There are definitely days that I just sweep a certain amount of mess under the rug, but for the most part I like a good therapeutic scrub down. (Yes, for me scrubbing is good therapy at times, though this would lead my husband to question my sanity...) The reason this all comes up is that my dad is coming to visit, and though it's been a while since we've been under the same roof, I feel a certain amount of pressure for our house to be 'Daddy Clean'.  So I've been scrubbing and laundering everything, and frankly, I'm exhausted! But the house feels so nice, and I wonder why I don't clean like this every day.

So here's the question: Do you clean like crazy when people come over? Do you show off the 'fake house', or do you let it all hang out?

Miscellany Monday

Happy Monday morning! Our weekend was pretty random, so we'll fit right in with Carissa's Miscellany. If you want to join in, just click on the picture!

~I spent much of the weekend in the figurative dog house. A few of the youth kids pranked our house on Friday night, and I was kind of an accomplice, keeping the dog quiet and Trace in the basement. I went along with it for a certain amount of protection and the guarantee that the prank would not effect me or my car. Trace was not so much bothered by the prank as he was that I didn't tell him about it or tell him who was involved. I was just surprised that I could keep the secret, as I am the world's worst at that (well, me and my mother-in-law...)!

~It's a sad rainy day here this morning. Remy's preschool class trip to the zoo was scheduled for today, but it is pouring outside. It hasn't officially been cancelled yet, but it's looming. The lunches are already packed, so Trace and Remy are still going to set off on some kind of adventure.

~I did some fun sewing this weekend! I finished up Halle's curtains (we've only lived here for 5 months...) and a new dress for the Curly girl too. I didn't get any pictures, and it's too dark today, but they will come soon!

I think that's all I've got for now, and I'm off to Bible Study. Have a great day!

Oh, Friday

Happy Friday, lovelies! This week I'm loving:

~It's sort of bittersweet, this one, but I had to include the whole story to get to the 'love'. Remy has reached the point where I no longer get to pick out his clothes. Oh, how I continue to try, but he won't have it! He has two or three shirts that he really loves, including one Transformers tee that I detest. I'm so not big on characters on clothing, but someone gave it to him, I hid it in the back of his closet, and he found it. (Why didn't I throw it away?!) He hasn't even seen Transformers in any form, but they look robot-like and fierce and really appeal to a crime-fighting boy, darned marketing department. He has even nick-named the shirt his tramps shirt, which is strange, but it seems to have stuck. Every time he wears it the end of the day arrives like the climax of a romance novel- Remy is heartbroken... not wanting to take it off and certainly not wanting to put it in the laundry bin. I reassure him that he will indeed see the shirt again, but it's almost as though he doesn't quite believe me. And then it happens... the moment I love- he and the shirt are reunited after it's time in the laundry, long-lost soul mates. The surprise in his voice gets me every time: "My tramps shirt is clean!" I love this boy!

~That God is faithful!  2 Timothy 2:13 says "If we are faithless, he will remain faithful, for he cannot disown himself." It's who he is! Last week I told y'all that I was challenged to pray that God would increase my desire for Him, to love Him with everything that's in me and that it would grow. Well, even in a week, that's just what he is doing. I have been deep into my Bible this week, and not just reading but devouring the Word of God, and I am so excited for the things He is teaching me!

~Turtle Brownie Cookies- Y'all also know how I love a good cheat, a dessert that looks really fancy but is super easy to whip up, and I have a fantastic one for you today. After the response I got over Chocolate Cheerios, I think you chocolate-loving-kindred spirits of mine are going to be in love with this one too! It was actually on the box of the Turtle Brownies I bought, but I think it could be tweaked with several kinds of mixes. All you do is take the brownie mix, add 4 Tbsp softened butter (half a stick), and 1 egg. Mix that all together until it forms a dough and then drop by tablespoons onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment. Onto each dough mound, press a thumbprint into the surface. Using the included carmel packet, squeeze just a bit of carmel onto each cookie and put a pecan on top (I only had chopped pecans on hand, so I just dropped on a few bits.). Bake at 350 for about 12 minutes. So good!

~HomeSpun Threads Blog~ You can see on my sidebar a link that says 'Meet Me in the Laundry Room', and I would love for you to check it out. Aimee, over at the HomeSpun Threads blog started earlier this week a 40 day challenge concentrating on creating better marriages, beginning with us as wives. You can check in every day for a challenge that builds on the previous day and is Christ-focused on becoming the wives God has called us to be. Today's only day 3, so there's plenty of time to jump in and see what God wants to do!

~Hope you have a great weekend! I am right in the middle of updating the 2 sweet things shop with several made things from this week, so be sure to check it out!

Coming to the Surface

Sorry for the double post today, but I just couldn't do it in one... My 'workout' for these last two weeks has been a brutal one, but only in ways that I can see God working some immediate positive changes in my life. Bear with me... it's about to get deep. "Good does not equal easy", as Beth Moore would say definitely applies here. Patience. My study on the Fruit of the Spirit landed me on patience, and going in I would say I was not looking forward to it... I was always told not to ask for patience!

During the course of the week, Trace and I entered into a conversation where I voiced that it frustrates me that the place where I act the ugliest is home. Around the people I love most, cherish, and care for is also the place I spend the most time and in turn is where some serious U-G-L-Y can bubble up to the surface. It actually makes sense because home is where we spend the majority of our days. But that doesn't make it any less unsettling. Looking back on my day I am deeply saddened by the moments I reflect upon that are less than Jesus-like, and I hate that my family sees me at my darkest.

The final point in the lesson on patience was that the practice of patience often helps complete something lacking in us.  I didn't like this point... could it be that the purpose is just as much about me as it is being patient with them? Certainly not! Beth used the example that we often say 'But they bring out the worst in me!' as an excuse to why we can't be patient with someone, and this is where the lesson on patience came full-circle for me: God is using the people around me to bring about the exact change he is desiring in my life. Not that I am justifying an ugly response on my part (there is no excuse for that!), but perhaps those with whom I am asked to be patient with are supposed to bubble up to the surface the exact ugly thing that God wants me to examine and eliminate. I began thinking about the analogy of the refiner's fire: Gold in its natural state is brought under some high heat, at which point the impurities bubble up to the top and the refiner then scrapes them away leaving behind pure gold.  And that, my sweet friends, is exactly where I want to be~ Pure and Spotless before God. And painful though it may be, I'm willing to endure some extreme heat and uncomfortable cutting away to remove the ugly.

I also thought back to that conversation with Trace and thanked God that there is so much security here in my home. I am thankful that my family loves me and has to is willing to put up with me while I'm being refined. Colossians 3:12-13 and Ephesians 4:12 (NIV) use the term 'bearing with one another' in context with being patient, and the Greek word anecho used both times means 'to put up with'. I can see a great correlation to this within the home as well~ I'm much more likely to put up with (and they with me!) in the context of my own home. So God is strategically using those closest to me to test and practice the work of the Holy Spirit in my life! Amen!

Inspiration Follows

I was pleasantly surprised that after my lack of inspiration last week, I had a burst of sewing energy and made a few new things. I love creating when it just comes naturally. I used the same teal cotton canvas to make this sweet little clutch. It was completely experimental but came out just like I had pictured in my mind, and that doesn't happen often!

I also made this dress using the same Freebird fabric that I used for my giveaway skirt. The top is a new design for me, and I loved the way it came out.

Lastly, this pile of baby boy goodies was actually made last week, but I wanted to share with you now that my sister has received them. I have a new nephew due in 2 weeks, and we are so excited for his arrival! I used Riley Blake's Wheels prints and pieced the cloths together. I also made a matching pair of booties because I just couldn't resist.

I'm hoping to have time to get a shop update happening in the next few days, and hopefully some of these new things will be in it plus some other goodies I've been working on. What are you making?

Wordless Wednesday...

Mama's Got a Brand New Bag

Have you ever tried to be inspired? This weekend I was feeling particularly un-creative at my sewing machine, and forcing it wasn't helping the issue. I had the terrible urge to sew something and remembered this shoulder bag tutorial on Melissa's blog, tiny happy. I had been wanting to try it for quite a while, along with a bunch of other beautiful things that Melissa posts. I also had been itching to see if my sweet machine could handle sewing something heavier, like this teal cotton canvas that I've had in my stash forever.

I tweaked the pattern a bit, adding a little length to the body of the bag to make it a bit slouchier. (Okay, so spell check says that isn't a word, but I'm going with it. Slouchier= from the root word slouch, and meaning more slouchy.) I also made the handle wider so that I could fold it in half. I'm not sure why I wanted to do this, but I really like it and love that it shows off the Alexander Henry Fashionista print I used for the lining. The pictures don't do the colors justice, but it's bright and bold, perfect for summer. Sigh... someday I will take good pictures, I will!

Miscellany Monday

Happy Monday morning! Mondays always tend to be a little miscellaneous anyway, so I thought I would link up with Carissa and share the love. On with the random thoughts:
~The weekend was great, though it was pretty cool (47 degrees on Saturday!), so we didn't get out much.
~While testing the smoke detectors this morning (because they had been unplugged due to my setting them off last week, ahem...), Remy comes running into the room in his hat and cape telling us he heard the 'Super Hero Signal'. He asked if there was an emergency- if that's the signal, there will be plenty more opportunities to save the day, I'm sure.
~Yesterday we had two of Trace's students come over to do yard work at our house. They are earning money towards the summer mission trip to Nashville, and they did a great job. They even volunteered to clean out gutters (not on the original list!) and scooped out the gunk with their bare hands. There was talk of performing the Chimney Sweep song from Mary Poppins with the broom up there, but being the adult, I had to veto it. Truth be told, I was excited to hear that two teenagers knew the song and would have loved to join in. Since when did I become the adult!?
~I am addicted to Chocolate Cheerios. I couldn't remember if I mentioned this before, but I couldn't resist. The are incredible, and I've polished off more boxes than I'm willing to fess up to. Thankfully they only have 100 calories per serving.
I guess that's all I've got for now. you can link up by clicking on Carissa's icon above and join in the randomness. Have a great Monday~ I'm off to Bible Study!

Friday Love~ On being a mom

This morning Remy's preschool had their 'Mother's Special Day' program to honor all the moms. Sadly, the following picture is the only one I got of the little man that didn't have him either looking behind him at the other boys or in a blur of motion. It was a sweet celebration, and the little people served cookies to us and gave out flowers. Remy was his usual, shy self and didn't participate in the actual program, but it was fun putting faces to all the names he tells us about after school.

Today I am especially thankful to be a mom. I do adore my littles! I hate the yearly holidays, mostly because I think it's pretty much always Mother's Day around our house- I am very spoiled! I am so blessed to have these wonderful wild things underfoot and to be entrusted with caring for them. Such joy and responsibility all wrapped up in two magical little miracles.

This is my very serious little sewing helper. 

She quickly moved on to unraveling all the pink thread...

I'm trying to love every trying moment... I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of people and things that you love! Happy Friday!

Flooded

"For who is least among you all- he is the greatest." Luke 9:48b

Photo courtesy of http://tennessean.com

I am heartbroken for Nashville. Many of you know that we moved from there in January, and we still maintain many contacts there. The rains that came last Saturday and Sunday created a huge mess (quite an understatement, but I couldn't think of a better word!) for everyone there but especially devastated the homeless community in an area of town usually referred to as 'Tent City', where people literally camp out in tents and homemade shelters. These are our friends, and people that we, especially Trace, knew quite well. At last update from one of our friends, Tent City was waist high in water. The people who called that area home have lost everything, and most likely won't be allowed to move back into that part of town because of the risk & damage. Our friends have taken in 30-40 of the displaced into a gym at Woodbine Presbyterian Church and are working around the clock to care for, feed, comfort and just be there for those that are staying there and have no where else to go. Our friend Jamie made this incredible video of some of the homeless guys actually giving out supplies to the 'homed' people who suffered loss in the storms. To see these incredible people serve perhaps the very ones who have ignored them countless times is amazing to me and truly captures the heart of Jesus. Their story is awe-inspiring. I would love for you to join me in praying for the people of the city, who aren't sure things will ever be the same or that they will ever re-attain what little they had to begin with.

Busy Making...

Trace is a doll running the outdoor 'rides' and keeping the littles occupied while I am trying to get some things knocked off my to-do list. I have several projects in the works, and I'm excited to tell y'all about them as soon as they are at stages I can reveal.  Several gifty crafts too, but I hate to spoil the surprise. =)

Halle 'making bird soup'.

I love her curls in this picture... 

We also squeezed in a trip to (my least favorite place) Chuck E. Cheese to use up some gift cards. The kids loved it, but Trace and I... not so much.

Back with something hopefully more interesting soon! have a great day!

And the Winner is...

Michelle  who said...

I would love this in a size 3/4 for my youngest daughter, Avery. It's so cute. Thanks for the chance to win!

Thanks so much to everyone who entered! I'll send you an email, Michelle!

Ready for a Workout?!

Good morning, and happy new week! This weekend I had some time to really dig into my Bible, and I thought I would just share a few things... In our small group last week we were studying 2 Timothy 4. In verse 2, Paul exhorts Timothy to "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage- with great patience and careful instruction." Later as I was looking back at the passage, the words "Preach the Word" really stood out (again!) to me, and I feel like God was saying 'To preach the Word, Mandy, you have to know the Word.' Sounds pretty elementary, I know, but that's exactly what I need sometimes!

I feel like at this point in my life I have a distinct calling to be someone who teaches God's word to other young moms who are in this same phase in life as me. In the last week I came across this post at The Simple Wife Blog about God leading us through some "strict training".  (It was actually a Beth Moore teaching that Joanne, the blog's author, sat in on... I highly recommend you dig into it if you want to be challenged!) I don't know about you, but I definitely need some more training and discipline in this area of my life!

In 1 Corinthians Paul talks about how athletes go into strict training before running a race (1 Cor. 9:24-27). I do not want to run "like a man running aimlessly" (v. 26), and I think that even as Christians we have times like this- I want to devote more discipline and strategy to my Biblical training than I do my crazy workout schedule, and I realize that if that's not how my schedule looks, then my priorities are out of proper alignment!

For a while last year I was doing "Memory Monday" on here, but the problem with that, for me, is that I have a fantastic memory. I can tell you what I wore the first time I met Trace's parents, what the first meal I cooked for him was, or my second grade locker combination... but that's head knowledge, and that is kind of how I read Paul's "running aimlessly" thought. Yes, it's great to commit verses to memory, but I think the training I desperately need is the kind that converts head knowledge into true heart knowledge and then into action!

At the end of the lesson, Beth pitched a one year challenge: To pray every day for one year for a heart to love God more than anything else. To commit to this training for one year and be prepared for the work God will do if we commit. I know it has been a while since Joanne posted this, but I am totally in- and it starts today! What about you? I hope that in the coming weeks I can bring y'all some of my 'workouts'- I know God has so much for me and for you!

I hope you had a good weekend! Don't forget that today is the last day to enter my Twirly Skirt Giveaway- I'll announce the winner tomorrow!