2 sweet things

Because It Starts with Me

2012-01-25T06:52:00.000-06:00

"He said to him, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind. This is the greatest and most important command.'" Matthew 22:37-38

The practice of Love, of internalizing and then manifesting the greatest commandment, begins with my willingness to leave everything behind. And to simply love Him. How do I love in the difficult places? By remembering how He loved me... even to His death.

I am learning to love by choosing. And the number one choice I have made is to live with deep commitment to His word. To learn it. To meditate on and study it. And to let it soak in so that it fills me up so completely that it has to come pouring out. This work (and it is work!) is by no means complete... and sadly it is not some long-running thing I've taken on. While I've for a while been what one might call a casual student of the Word, I am now a woman on fire. Because all other things hinge on this. And He is good.

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them be asymbol on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deuteronomy 6:5-9

I've been studying these verses, and I've come to understand that I can be nothing apart from Him. My main objective as a parent is to help, with His Spirit, guide and shape these little lives on a path to becoming more like Jesus, and I cannot do it without His Spirit and His Word. And what I'm realizing is it is not enough, possible even, to "Love the Lord Your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength" and then to skip ahead to verses 7-9 and try to work them into my home. Verse 6 says that"'these words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart." This work begins with my own heart because 'to the degree that a person allows the word of God to fill his heart, the spirit fills his life'. (Lou Priolo) Yes!!

Miscellany~ My weekend in Numbers

2012-01-23T06:51:00.000-06:00

48. The number of these amazing cookies I cranked out on Friday.

0. The number of amazing cookies I consumed... (but it took all the resolve I had not to cave!)

19. The number of awesome girlfriends who came to Girl's Night Out/ Craft Night at our curch despite a crazy snow blowing in.

9. The number of apples I ate this weekend.

4. Pairs of wet shoes/boots camped out by my front door this morning (none of them mine!)

3. The number of washcloths I crocheted. By the way, do you love homemade washcloths?! I'm completely addicted and keep cranking them out!

2. The number of outfits Halle had on before church yesterday.

3. The number of outfits I had on before church yesterday.

Third Thursday~ I'm cleaning house!

2012-01-19T00:00:00.000-06:00

Happy Third Thursday, lovelies! This month we're talking about running our home- tips and tricks that make life easier and also areas that perhaps we struggle with maintaining. With the new year already moving along, I have been trying to get this crazy place a bit more organized. I used to be so methodical and organized, but that was B.C. (Before Children)... it's easy to keep a perfect home when there aren't other people factored in, right?!

I think the number one thing that helps me maintain some sort of order is that I do something every day. In the days when I worked outside our home, I liked having one designated cleaning day, but I've found that this just doesn't work well for the phase I'm in. So what I do now is keep everything in my planner, and I try to write in at least one chore every day. Some of them are small, like 'pay online bills', 'dust', whatever, and some take more time. But the key for this perfectionist has been that if I accomplish the item(s) on my calendar, it is enough. I used to struggle so much with guilt for everything not being just-so, but I do not allow myself to feel guilty once I check off my to-do for the day. I also find that if I do something every day, most of the time our house is clear from looking like a hurricane went through.

The area I struggle the most with is hoarding papers. Especially now that Remy has started kindergarten, we are inundated with a stream of papers like I have never seen. And I want to keep and sob over every single one. He is writing phonetically on everything, and even Halle has started making 'mom' and hearts on each sweet paper. So I find myself stockpiling these sweet little love notes. And they can quickly take over. Now, in my defense, I have just started a new system that I'm hoping will work. I am first throwing away any page that is not an original, meaning that if it's just a coloring sheet or photocopied page, it goes. Then with the others I am keeping them in a basket until the end of each week. My goal is to then at the end of the week tell each little that they can choose one to keep and I can keep one if I want. Then the rest goes. This is kind of the first week for this, so we'll see how it goes!

Overall I'm feeling a bit liberated on the home front. I'm sticking with my Home Goals so far, and slowly but surely God is transforming this place into a place for sharing. In the week since I wrote those goals, I have been keenly aware to keep the table cleaned off, and we even had some new friends for lunch on Sunday. Halle and I also dropped off a van-load of donations this morning, which feels good. I'm so thankful for this life we have, that He's given us!

Do you struggle with getting and/or staying organized? Hearts at Home has a great book available by Karen Ehman called 'The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized', if you're needing some encouragement. I also just found that Tsh Oxenreider's (you know, Simple Mom?) book, "Organized Simplicity" is FREE right now to download to your kindle. She always has great 'hacks' and tips!

I also encourage you to check out these other bloggers~ I can't wait to read all their secrets. Praying that you're blessed today, whatever phase you're in!!

Today

2012-01-18T12:42:00.000-06:00

Some days I can't remember what day it is. But I'm thankful He knows.

Some days I brew too many cups of coffee.

Some days I let the dishes pile up in favor of playing Polly Pockets with my girl.

Some days I choose the dishes and feel guilty about it after bedtime.

Some days I wake up early and listen to God.

Some days I talk his ear off.

Some days I go to bed early.

Some days I stay up way to late watching a certain show about vampires.

Some days I have an awesome quiet time, hear from God, and still mess up with my family before 9am. That was my today. Not one of my shining moments. So I have to ask forgiveness from all, and no one was even out the door yet. This is tough. And I keep repeating eucharisteo. Giving thanks will be my stress management tool. Thanks for the reluctant little arms to put into mittens. Thanks for the coat to keep her warm. "Eucharisteo always precedes the miracle." And it's true.

This is thriving (remember my word for the year). Not that I won't screw up, because I will. But the thriving, the making steady progress is in my immediately calling my sin for what it is, turning from it, and correcting my behavior. That I am thankful for the callouses that will even more daily build on these knees of mine. Growing well is burying my face in the dirt. Because it is beneath the surface that the Water lies. Drawing deep from the Well.

"But whoever drinks from the water that I will give him will never get thirsty again- ever! In fact, the water I will give him will become a well of water springing up within him for eternal life." John 4:14

Word.

2012-01-17T07:00:00.000-06:00

Thrive:

To Prosper.Blossom. To make steady progress.

To growvigorously. Roaring.

Thrive. God’s challenge to me to live like I believe He meant what He said. Notmerely surviving. Not just living. When the word first entered my brain in ajournal entry, I immediately looked it up. I love the definition(s) for thisword. Because I am at a point when God is daring me to stop just ‘getting by’.I think that’s an easy place for Christians to land sometimes, but I don’t wantto coast.

Making steady progress… this is a year of forwardmotion, which I believe begins with my falling facedown to the ground. It’sfunny because usually when one thinks of growth, you sort of think up and out.But in this crazy, upside-down kingdom of God, my growing depends on my gettinglow, my willingness to bare all my weakness and confessing that I desperatelyneed him. And I do. In my weakness, his strength is shown all the more perfect.

So that’s it. Thrive. To not just grow, but to growwell~ to flourish. Push past these self-imposed walls and bust out withGod-eyes to move and see… to feel. To become more than I could ever be alone. I'm still sort of figuring out what this will look like in action, but I can't get the word itself out of my mind. Do you have a word for 2012?

Miscellany Monday

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

'Hope y'all had a great weekend! I feel like we didn't get to stop moving at all, but it was worth it. Saturday we had an event at our church and lead two different worship sets. It was awesome to spend Saturday and then yesterday morning saturated in music. I feel equal amounts of responsibility and gratitude when He allows us to lead others in worship~ responsibility because we are able to help usher others into His presence and just gratitude that we serve a God who is worthy to be praised and that He uses us. He is so good!

Saturday was also what Remy called 'the best day of his life' because he lost his first tooth (it's on the bottom... this picture was as good as he's give me). This is great fun for him but bittersweet for this momma. I didn't realize that he was big enough for such things!! I'm loving his sweet toothy grin! He was treated to a Happy Meal to celebrate the occasion (no tooth fairy here...). Considering I only used to get a quarter or two for a lost tooth, we figure he made out way better with his meal!

I love my table (how's that for random?). I have mentioned that I think our home and table is a big part of where God is calling us to minister right now. A lot of it is simply about the environment created around the table, but I really do love our actual table. When we were preparing to move to Illinois, our friends The Clarks were selling everything they had and preparing to go to Thailand. They had this great table, and we bought it from them. I love the benches and that it seats bunches of people, but I also love the legacy. There's not a day that goes by that I don't think of the Clarks, the time their family spent around this table, and it reminds me to pray for their ministry.

I heart Valentine's Day. Any holiday that embraces red and pink as it's colors is perfect in my book. I started decorating as soon as the Christmas lights were down, and Halle and I have already been busy painting hearts and looking on pinterest for card ideas. Celebrating LOVE is awesome, and I adore that this day has no mascot/fairy/troll that the public lies about (we all know how I feel about Santa...). A girly girl (and I'm not necessarily talking about Halle) can never be surrounded by enough pink, right?!

So what do y'all have going on this week? Remy is out of school today, so we're heading to a friend's house and then Hobby Lobby (Yay!). I've got a post in the works about my word for the year (Super Excited about this revelation!!), a Hearts at Home post for Thursday, and we're having a Craft Night/ Girl's Night Out at church on Friday night, so there's bunches to do for that... lots going on! But happy Monday~ I'm thankful for each minute!

Friday.

2012-01-13T06:30:00.000-06:00

My heart is confident, God, my heart is confident.

I will sing; I will sing praises.

Wake up, my soul! Wake up, harp and lyre!

I will wake up the dawn.

I will praise You, Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to You among the nations.

For your faithful love is as high as the heavens;

Your faithfulness reaches the clouds.

God, be exalted above the heavens;

let Your glory be over the whole earth.

Psalm 57: 7-11(HCSB)

I woke up with this in mind this morning. Confident of Him. And thankful for this quiet. This is my view this morning as I sit listening. It's such an amazing thing, being up before the world. I love resting still before Him, hearing, reading, just breathing. And then there is something so magical about hearing the house come alive... stretches and snuggles... coffee hissing. Life.

I've been reading "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp, and this book has been transformational for me. Learning to count the graces, eucharisteo (giving thanks) in all things, through her amazing words, God has been opening my eyes to really see. Much like noticing the world opening up before a new day, seeing Him and finding ways to give thanks in every moment has been such a lesson for me. Ann calls it 'thanks-living'... Love that!

So I'm being thankful as I wait for my sweet ones to rise. We have a busy weekend ahead, but I'm not so worried about it. This is sweet testimony to what God is already doing in this heart, this head, and this home He's given us... Every packed moment for minstry holds a sweet promise for seeing someone. For seeing Him across the table. Begging that I have eyes to slow down and truly see. And praying that this weekend you might see His face at your table as well.

Home Goals

2012-01-11T06:30:00.000-06:00

I'm linking up with the party over at The Nesting Place this week... I wrote a little bit yesterday about feeling like God has been showing me that He wants me to use our home to serve. And while I have always had Martha Stewart tendencies, a lightbulb moment came for me when I went to Tammy Maltby's workshop at the North Central Hearts at Home conference in November. Tammy said "Hospitality is not about showing off, but rather about showing someone how you feel about them... that you see them." This for me was HUGE. All these years my perfectionist ways have been making serving from my home about ME. I was constantly terrified when Trace would say that someone was coming over because I felt like our house was this reflection on me. If I had something out of place, it meant that I was scattered. If there was dust on the shelf, it meant that I was filthy. If my dessert didn't turn out picture perfect, it meant that I was somehow less than perfect. But what I'm learning (I think I already knew in my head, but my heart takes longer to get stuff sometimes...) is that serving from my home has nothing to do with me. God is simply asking me to be obedient to open my door, and He shows up in crazy-miraculous ways. For others. He is asking me to leave myself behind so that my eyes are clear to focus on the ones He's put in my path.

Homemaking has always been my thing. I know that some just don't lean to the June Cleaver side, but that's my normal. So I am seeing how God wants me to use that. Whether it's inviting some students over to make pie crusts or a friend for coffee, it is so much less about what's in our hands as the words that come, the conversation that's shared. But being at the table gives something to do... I'm amazed at the words that flow as one kneads bread or rolls cookies. Don't we just sometimes need to work with our hands so that our mouths and minds can figure things out? I work that way for sure! And this is ministry~ that God allows me to share sweet learning moments around my worn table. Such gifts!

So on to my home goals... (sorry, that was the long way into this, wasn't it?!) As these ideas become clearer in my mind, I was asking myself the questions "What do I want to use my home for this year?" "What do I want others to feel when they enter here?" And I have made a pretty simple list of some things I want to do.

1~ Keep a clear table. This is a big one because our table, and maybe yours too, tends to be a dumping ground for everything. It's in a sort of central location, so it's regularly piled with toys, mail, homework, and miscellaneous stuff. But this place is where I feel the most ministry is going to be happening. I want our table to be a gathering place. So I'm making a commitment to keep it accessible. I'm trying to be better organized about everything having a place, and then putting things in those places.

2~ Live with the less than perfect. I'm desperately wanting to drop the perfectionism that has for so long kept my doors closed. I'm not going to apologize for my home. We live here, and there comes with that a certain amount of lived in... I don't want something so trivial to stand in the way of inviting people in and sharing life with friends.

3~ Find a style and decorate. This one is perhaps less spiritual and just more practical. For years we had lived in apartments where you couldn't paint or do much on the walls. I think that, along with a fear of commitment perhaps, kept me from ever actually hanging pictures or settling in. We just celebrated two years in this house, and it has been for much of those two years pretty sparse. I am starting to figure out what it is that I like (and don't!), thanks probably in large part to Pinterest, and I have already begun doing some actual decorating. We are so blessed to live in this house that our church owns, and I am feeling so good about putting our personality into making it look like us.

The bottom line is that I just want to please God. I want to use our home to be Jesus to whomever might need it. And I don't want anything to stand in the way of our being used by Him to serve. I want others to feel known and cared for in my home, and I can't be preoccupied with myself. Praying that He continues to show me how to get out of the way...

Reclaim

2012-01-10T07:00:00.000-06:00

I'm trying to wrap my mind around 2011. I know, it's 10 days into 2012 already, but we're busy here, people! If I had to choose a word for last year, I think it would be reclaim. Deep awakening happened in my heart last year, and I allowed God to live in places that I had long kept locked away- some even without really knowing they were! I asked God to create margin, space in my days that already felt jam-packed, for him to come and talk to me. He started waking me up at 5 am. Once I got over the shock of really being up that early, for two months we met before the sky and littles awakened, and It. Was. Good. I learned to sit and listen. And I asked Him to open my eyes to sin in my life. Many of these nasty things were habits that I hadn't even identified as sin. But ugliness has a way of sometimes appearing as beauty, no? So I got naked, so to speak, with God. And in doing so, He reclaimed my heart in a way that I never dreamed.

Reclaim. 2011 was a year that I asked God to (again because I'm stubborn) tell me who He thinks I am, how He loves me, and I started believing it... truly allowing it to become my identity. I learned what His voice sounds like, through spending hour after very early hour listening to Him, and I realized after all these years that His voice does NOT sound the same as the ones whispering untruths into my ear. I walked with God.

In the last months of 2011, I also was revealed a clearer picture of how God has equipped and called me to serve. In my role as wife, mom, friend, and Child of God, I saw how He desires me to be a lifegiver. This was in huge part to the amazing book and class Lifegiving by Tammy Maltby. My home, which I formerly saw only as a sort-of sending-out place for ministry, I realized has a grand part to play in how God wants me to serve Him and others. Jesus ate with others, spent time with them around their tables. He knew the value of hospitality, and this is an enormous jumping off place for my own journey!

So as I tie a bow on the twelve months previous to this bright new chapter, I am deeply thankful. Many of these things aren't finished, but rather just dawning. It is such an exciting lead in to what's to come! 1 John 2:6 says "Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did." And I think that while I've said that as a goal for a long time, 2011 was a year that I started to get my feet moving and actually walk. God showed me that it's possible to live and breathe that, even if the walking just ends me right back at my own kitchen table.

I'm excited. Thrilled that you're here, and feeling very blessed that over the coming days I'll be sharing with you more about what He's doing in my life. I'm linking up tomorrow with The Nesting Place, as she's talking about Home Goals for the new year... this is a huge part of the direction I'm heading, and I can't wait to share more! I am praying that each of you lovelies will experience Him today like never before.

Miscellany Monday~ Happy New Year!

2012-01-09T08:52:00.002-06:00

So it's been a while (blah, blah, blah, I know...), and I'm trying to get back in gear. Linking up with the sweet Carissa today because our life is full of random.

1. We had a nice, lazy weekend. Remy was dealing with a fever from Friday through yesterday, so our days included lots of snuggling, footie pjs (For the littles, not for us, though Trace really wants some for himself!), and special pancakes. As a side note, these pancakes really weren't as fancy as they look. Just put some batter into a squirt bottle and fill up cookie cutters in a hot skillet. Thankfully he woke up fever-free and is off to school this morning so I can get this house put back together in time for our small group.

2. I can hardly contain myself with all the amazing things happening at our church these days. God, full of love and grace like only he can offer, is pouring out crazy blessings, and we are just trying to be present enough to be thankful without letting the busyness keep up from truly seeing. More on this to come, I'm sure!

3. Last week we chopped off most of the Curly Girl's curls!! She has taken on the new habit of twirling her hair, and we kept ending up with a giant knot at the back. Add that to a girl who hates having her hair brushed, and it was disaster. So my friend Tiffany gave her the cutest little bob. She loves it, and so do I, though it makes her look like a little girl... the 'baby' seems to be going away more quickly than I'm willing to admit.

4. We have been so spoiled by nice weather in the last weeks! We spent Christmas at my dad's in Florida, and then we came home to sun and warmness... we haven't had snow yet either, which for Illinois is crazy! Praying that this keeps up!

5. I am jumping in on Glynnis Whitwer's 15 Day Clutter-Free Challenge. Today is Day One, so there's time to jump in if you want. I'm excited to be digging out from under some of the mess and reorganizing much of our house. We don't really have a ton, but we do have more stuff than we need (that's the American way, right?!).

6. I've been wrestling with my word for this year, really digging deep and praying about the next 12 months. I've never really done this type of thing, but I feel like God is guiding me to live in a different way this year- molding and shaping me to be more like Jesus. I'm hoping to have a post on this soon, as my journal is busting since the new year.

Okay, so I guess I'm done for this morning. Halle is begging for someone to play Polly Pocket with her, so I'm off. Happy Monday, lovelies!!

Hope has Come~ A Review and Giveaway!

2011-12-16T06:30:00.000-06:00

A recurring theme for me this year as I entered this holiday season has been that Hope has indeed entered the world. There is such Light and Hope that awaits us as we anticipate the birth of Jesus. Seeing all the anticipation and excitement through the eyes of my littles is so much fun, but it also reminds me that we have such responsibility to teach them about how Jesus came. I was thrilled when I saw the Love Came Down collection from Dayspring and was even more excited when I was given the chance to review a piece from that collection. I immediately selected the Felt Advent Calendar. I had been wanting one of these to use with the littles, and this year is the perfect storm~ we have a lovely place for such a thing, but more importantly, they are at ages when they can both learn and appreciate these days that lead up to celebrating Jesus' birth.

I found a place for our calendar on the wall next to our Jesse Tree. (If you've been around for a while, you know I take the world's worst pictures, but here's a small shot...)

We've been using the Jesse Tree Advent Family Devotional from Ann Voskamp, and while a lot of the material is pretty deep for my 5 and 3 year olds, I have loved building the anticipation and talking about the line of people that led up to Jesus in his family tree. On Sunday we were singing the bridge to a song that repeats 'You make all things work together for our good', and I couldn't help but make it tie in to our Jesse tree. God used an amazing (and somewhat shady) group of people to lead to His coming King. Love Came Down. And if He can use those folks, He certainly can use us!

Okay, so I'm rambling... sorry. But I do love this advent calendar! Every morning my littles ask whose turn it is to move the sweet felt heart to its new pocket. Remy loves that he can tell what day it is, and every day he and Halle count the days until Jesus' Birthday. And here's the best part of this for you~ The lovely folks at (in)courage & Dayspring (who sent me this product to review) have given me a $20 gift to give away to one lucky reader to use on their own selection from Dayspring.com. Have you been to their online shop before? They have tons of great inspirational books, gifts, things for your home... I got my holiday cards there this year.

All you have to do to be entered is leave a comment telling me your favorite tradition about the holidays and why. I seriously think that this sweet calendar is going to be one of my favorite things in years to come!! I will leave the comments open until 8am Monday morning, when I will select a random winner. Happy Commenting!

**The fine print... (in)courage and Dayspring sent me this product free of charge to review in my home. The opinions expressed are only mine.**

*** Commenting is closed! The winner is Jenny V. Congrats! I'll contact you about your gift! ***

Third Thursday Again?!

2011-12-15T00:00:00.000-06:00

Hi, lovely ones! I promise that I'm still alive~ I'm just so busy living that I don't even have time to write about living... Life creates material for this wonderful space, but without the life itself, I'd have nothing to say. It's a crazy cycle~ live to blog or blog to live? Y'all are wonderfully patient with me, and I'm so thankful for you. I really do have much to say and hope to get back to a writing rhythym soon...

But in the meantime, it's the Third Thursday again, and that means that I'm hopping in with other Hearts at Home bloggers today. I really didn't even realize that it was the 3rd Thursday until Monday when panic suddenly hit that I needed to send out the info for this hop. I'm seriously drowning here with so much going on!!

Today we are blogging about the moment we realized we weren't alone in 'this thing called Motherhood'. And let me just start by saying I have had many, MANY lonely days... Especially when we were first in Nashville. Remy was almost 1 when we moved, and Trace was on the road with the band a lot. If he wasn't on the road, the guys were rehearsing or recording or he was working his construction job to pay the bills. All that was wonderful and social for him, but it meant that I was home with a baby in a place where I had few connections and we hadn't found a church that we felt connected with. Those were pretty dark days.

Then one day while out running errands, I saw a billboard for an online communtiy for Nashville moms. It seemed like a pretty easy way for me to investigate~ being online, I could hide in the 'shadows' and not actually have to put myself out there while searching to see what was happening in the community around me. I created an account on the site but had every intention of just being a 'lurker' (for those of you who might not know, a lurker is someone who frequently reads a site but doesn't comment or participate...). The more I was on the site, the more I felt like I wasn't alone. There were tons of stay at home moms like me who needed to get out. Who felt exhausted. Who were wondering if they were alone. Who needed community.

I became more active on the site and actually took the next step to join a playgroup. Through that group I met a kindred spirit, my friend Courtney (you can check out her lovely blog space here). It was one of those God-orchestrated connections~ Courtney and I made an instant connection. We had boys the same age, a similar passion for God, about a zillion other things in common. Have you had friends like that? That you meet someone who it seems like you have known forever? And it was through our time hanging out that summer that I realized that God had a greater plan for me. That God had placed me in Tennessee at that time for a reason, and also that He didn't intend for me to be alone as I walked out the journey He had/has for me as a mom. And even since then, Courtney and I have been separated by miles and life has taken us different directions, but she still is such a big part of my journey and will always be a sister. I'm so thankful for her!

So have you ever felt like you were doing this alone? Did God show you that He desires more for you? You can link up with me and other Hearts bloggers by adding your post to the hop!

Hearts at Home Third Thursday Blog Hop

2011-11-17T00:00:00.000-06:00

This month for the 'Third Thursday Thoughts' with Hearts at Home, we're sharing 5 'things' we've given up or are living without as a family so that you can have more. This is something I've thought a lot about. There is such a fine line, especially with kids I think between teaching them to be sacrificial and pounding a 'do this out of obligation' attitude into their heads. I pray daily that they would want to give, sacrifice, and live generosity from hearts that are being molded and shaped by God. That giving would be in grateful response to what they've been given.

Truthfully I don't look at how we live as going with less or living without. We've made cuts in some areas, but what we are allowed to give is so much greater!

~We don't have cable. And truthfully this one is felt the most by me because I'm a self-proclaimed tv addict. I love television. We do have streaming netflix, but those $8 pale in comparison to the cost of actual cable.

~I make lots of food from scratch. This is a pretty easy one for us because I love to bake, and I love to be able to look at the cost of the simple ingredients and see that we save from buying ready-made.

~We have cut back on spending for holidays, birthdays, and anniversaries. This is one that I love- we are really trying to be more mindful of buying meaningful, simple things that will last as opposed to loads of stuff that will fall apart or disappear into the depths of the toy box. This has also helped us to evaluate our family traditions and think of ways that we can spend time together creating memories & traditions.

~We don't eat out nearly as much as we used to. We do have a regular Taco Bell excursion because we can feed all of us for $10.53, but other than that we only occasionally go out. I am really trying to plan our menus better so that at dinner time I don't feel stuck without a plan and just grab something fast & unhealthy.

~We don't have the littles signed up for a million activities. I'm sure this is more simple now as the littles are still young, but I don't think we'll ever allow them to sign up for tons of activities just to fill a calendar.

So what is the more? We are able to give more... we support more missionaries and our Compassion child... we enjoy time together at home instead of spending hours in the car... We live life with our friends... we eat lots of home-baked treats...

So what kinds of things are on your list? Are you trying to be more mindful of living with less? I can't wait to see what the other 'hoppers' share and glean some ideas for different ways that we can save!

Finding Rhythm

2011-11-10T14:15:00.001-06:00

Hi, sweet lovelies! I know it's been ages, and I've nothing to say for myself except that life is good. God is good and gracious and has been giving me time for life. Sweet life. He's been waking me up before dawn breaks (seriously, 4:30am!!) and speaking in ways I've never felt. And I'm finding time to pray and breathe and hear.

This morning while Halle was at school I found myself knitting and praying, soothing rhythm, and the click of my needles was an awesome pace in which to get lost just in the listening and speaking, the back & forth, that comes from regular time with God. I am feeling abundantly blessed and hope to put fingers to keys to tell you more soon.

Until then, I'm praying for you all and hoping that in this season of thankfulness you're finding your own rhythm in which to live... xo

Third Thursday Thoughts~ Remember the time?

2011-10-20T06:30:00.000-05:00

Well, the Hearts at Home Blog Hop is back in action today, and the prompt for this month was 'Tell us about a time at the playground when that thing happened...' My minds went to several incidents from my childhood, but I decided that it was better to not rehash those. So I tracked a bit more into recent past and my time as a mom.

I can remember one gorgeous day in Nashville when, feeling ambitious and stir crazy all at once, I decided to take my newborn baby girl and 2 1/2 year old little dude to the playground down the street. Remy was itching to just get out of the house and run. We had a great time playing~ the drama came when it was time to go (isn't that always the case?!). I gave Remy a 5 minute warning to wrap up whatever he was involved in. The minutes wound down, and I told Remy that it was time.

At this point I'm carrying Halle in the Baby Bjorn front-carrier, and she was sweetly snoozing. I started to walk towards Remy, and he begins to scream bloody murder. 'NOOOOO!' I reached out my hand to grab his and he screams 'YOU ARE NOT MY MOMMY!'. Thankfully this particular playground was not very busy, and the few other moms who were there knew I wasn't kidnapping this child. But I was nonetheless mortified.

Halle begins to stir, and I knew that she was going to need to be nursed soon. So I lean in and grab Remy, who begins to gag himself. 'I will puke!' he yells as I take his hand and start to pull him to the car. He goes limp at this point and lets his body drag along the ground. I have never felt so humiliated. I look like a crazy, post-partum mess, kidnapping a sick noodle boy from the playground.

Thankfully I was able to get him into the car, though not yet in his carseat. I simply closed the door and walked around to put Halle in her seat first. I strapped her in and made my way again to Remy's side, where he had curled into a firm, sobbing ball on the floor. It seriously took every muscle I had to unfold him and get his buckles secured~ how are they so strong?!

So yeah, that was my finest playground moment... What's yours? I would love for you to link up and check out the other Hearts Bloggers that are 'hopping' along today!!

Under the Weather

2011-10-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

We've been spending our days a bit like this... some crazy sickness has been working its way through these little bodies. One is sick then gets better, then the other gets it. Remy's on round two, and I'm hoping that they're on the tail-end of it. He's ready to get back to school, and I'm ready to disinfect everything!

Words

2011-10-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb,

sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."

Proverbs 16:24

Our words have amazing power, don't they? I read a blog post on this very topic the other day, and it was quite the kick in my pants... As moms especially, we have the tremendous gift to shape the little ones entrusted to us. And our words can do a lot of molding. Good and bad.

I have found myself lately annoyed at Halle's attitude. At only 3, she has a lot of sassiness that pours out of that smirked-like-her-daddy mouth, and it makes me a bit crazy. I do not like to be talked to that way! But then God turns the mirror sharply in my own direction and I see~ Her words sound an awful lot like my own. My tone on busy days can be less than sweet, and I get what I give.

So I (again) begin carefully weighing each word. Words have the ability to scar or to shape. To build or knock down. And it is only when I am truly full of Him and His Word that I can clearly pour out Love to the ones around me. I have begun my days praying the words of David: "Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips." (Psalm 141:3) I never cease to be thankful for what the infusion of God's word can do for my days and my mouth.

Fear and Rest

2011-10-03T06:30:00.000-05:00

Psalm 91:1 "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty."

This week begins the newest (in)courage Bloom book study of Angie Smith's new book "What Women Fear". I must admit, by the title alone I wasn't so compelled to dive in, but as I got to thinking about it I realized that I've got many fears in my life. I've just learned to live with them, to waltz around them as though the elephant under the rug is supposed to be there. That is not the freedom that Jesus offers!

I don't rest in Him, wholly and completely, when I just ignore the things that stir in my gut. Do y'all have fears that have just become part of your normal? A very real example in my life of how fear and rest don't go together is my fear of the dark.

I was fifteen when I became afraid of the dark. I remember lying in my bed on that November night of my sophomore year in high school. Blankets up to my chin, the black in my room was the first place I felt alone. That night I can still recall a growing fear in my gut for the unknown.

Our world had just been rocked, and I can still see my ceiling if I close my eyes. Thinking how everything had changed in an instant, a letter. And the darkness was the place I realized that he wasn't. I knew my mom was downstairs, and I knew I was safe, but I was by myself, beside myself. The unseen seemed to characterize what I was feeling~ worried, uncertain, without defined boundaries.

So I learned to live with this fear by leaving lights on. By checking and double-checking locks. By staying awake until I was so exhausted that I would pass out upon my head hitting the pillow. I would sleep, but this wasn't rest!

"God is light; in him there is no darkness at all"

1 John 1:5

Psalm 91:14 says "'Because he loves me,' says the Lord, 'I will rescue him; I will protect him for he acknowledges my name.'" Learning that I can turn the light out and trust God to control my circumstances has led to peace. With this comfort I can lay my head down and experience true rest. I don't want to simply live with my fear... I want to let God take it!

So what are you afraid of? Are you willing to let it go and trust that God wants you to experience wholeness and freedom? The study starts today, but it's not too late to grab a copy of the book and dive in! You are welcome to jump over there by clicking the button on my sidebar.

Reaching

2011-09-26T06:30:00.000-05:00

I've got to tell you friends, I'm struggling. I don't speak the words very often, but I deal with depression. Something about saying it bothers me, but it's just in my makeup. The cool thing is that my God is bigger than this dark cloud that sneaks up.

For me the weight begins to fall on my shoulders when things are good. I know this must sound contradictory, but for me it's doubt that creeps in. Right now life is pretty great. I have carefully considered and said 'Yes' to Him in so many things that my plate and my heart are full. 'Yes' to my family. 'Yes' to Hearts at Home. 'Yes' to Thirty-One. 'Yes' to being a room parent in Remy's class. 'Yes' to leading worship. 'Yes' to a missions trip to Africa. God has been gracious, and opportunity abounds at this point. But then it's in the quiet moments that the voice in my head speaks louder and says 'You can't do this'. 'You are not enough to handle all this.' 'You cannot manage your time to get this done.' And I start to believe it.

So what's a girl to do? As I was preparing for worship last week, I was practicing a song called 'As We Reach'. I think I've even mentioned it here before, but the words talk about reaching for the hem of His garment in faith for healing. I opened my Bible to the story in Mark 5 about the woman who had been bleeding for 12 years (12, can you imagine?!). She heard about Jesus and through the crowd went to him and believed that He could heal her, even if she could just touch the hem of his robe. Jesus felt the healing leave Him, called out and went to the woman. Because of her faith she was healed.

I found myself this week crying out to God, and this story spoke to me. I think because through the fog of voices, I was reaching out to Him, believing that He is the only source of healing. And at those times when I wonder why it's important to memorize scripture, I am reminded of days like these. I was rocking on my bed in the dark, crying, just begging that somehow the voices would stop. And I began to speak the truths that I know about God. I spoke of His character. I know that attributes of God and can say with confidence the way He feels about me. These words that try to weave doubt into my soul may at times sound to me like His voice, but I know the way He loves me. I know who He says I am. And I know the love He has for me. When those things don't match up, I can say without a doubt that this darkness isn't from Him. And my soul is comforted.

So that's where I'm beginning this week. I don't mean to start on such a low, but truly it's not. It's about the Hope that I have... knowing that He will remain unchanged as the One who loves me beyond my wildest dreams. And He loves you this way, sweet things!! I pray that you will walk in that Hope today!

the little things

2011-09-19T06:30:00.000-05:00

Some Monday mornings are tougher than others...

These are the things that get me by:

This sweet smirk

Belly laughs with a girlfriend

Finding sweet notes from my boy~ He's learned to make hearts at school, and they just melt mine!

Dancing Queen

Poses with pumpkins

So what are your little things??

New Things Abound!

2011-09-16T06:30:00.000-05:00

I'm super excited to tell y'all that I've been brewing something behind these scenes for quite some time. You know if you've been around here for a while that mommas are heavy on my heart, and Hearts at Home is an organization that I love. Not just love in a 'went to the conference and it was good' kind of way, though I did and it was... Love, like I am so inspired by their ministry toward strengthening moms and building up families kind of way.

Shortly after I attended my first conference last March I knew that I wanted to be involved more. So I began to pray. I contacted them and have been in touch since the spring, just committed to praying about ways that I might be able to work with them. And now things are becoming clearer. These girls, Jill Savage and the team of Spirit-led women that she has on staff, are amazing! I am thrilled that I'm going to be able to be on their volunteer staff going forward. I am going to be working with the Marketing team in a few different capacities. For one I will be the Social Media Coordinator, a part of the army behind the Hearts Facebook and twitter feeds. So hop on over and say hello, even 'like' us if you can! I will also be involved in Hearts blogging, including the Blog Hop that I have been connecting with over the summer. I would love for y'all to join in~ I'll let you know when it gets back up and going!

The other part of what I will be doing is coordinating the Go-To Girls, which is pretty much a sweet name for mommas all over the country who are as excited as I am about what Hearts is doing and want to go out and tell everyone about it. These are the girls that get 'insider' info about the conferences, upcoming projects, etc. This is a pretty new area, and I'm excited to see what develops!

I am feeling very blessed that things are working out as they are... God's timing has been evident for me as I've been sorting through all the 'should I' and 'could I' thoughts. Now I'm leaping in with both feet because I feel Him directing that way~ Ready to make a splash!!

I hope y'all have a wonderful weekend! We are having our first service of baptisms at our church, and we are baptizing 5 adults~ I cannot even begin to type how excited I am!! God is so good!

Exalted

2011-09-13T06:00:00.000-05:00

For Thou, O Lord, art high above all the earth. Thou art exalted far above all Gods. I exalt Thee.

I always get this sick feeling in the pit of my stomach before leading worship... some assume that I'm nervous to be singing in front of people, but it's not that at all. I get to lead others in worshipping a holy God. It's outrageous, isn't it?! I feel such a huge weight of responsibility and am so humbled that He allows me this. Every time I sing I get teary eyed just thinking about the enormity of this 'job'. I have been in some places that I have been caught up in the emotionalism of a moment... when it feels good for me. And while those moments may have felt good at that instant, looking back I have extreme sadness for what I missed. Perspective.

Our new church is called the encounter. And we take worship seriously... but not in a 'you have to do it our way' kind of serious, but rather in that we don't want people to just get caught up in a moment... in some kind of sensational experience. Our prayer every time we meet is that someone might come to see God. That we would interact with Him. That we would come to see His character.

The song 'I Exalt Thee' is one that literally brings me to my knees when I practice. Do you know why we tell things to God that He already knows? We sing 'I exalt Thee'. He doesn't need us to worship. In fact, Scripture says that if we don't, the stones will (Luke 19:40)... but it's all about perspective. We lift Him up because we are created to do this. And in my acknowledging His Height, His Majesty, my perspective aligns and my focus becomes right. I must become less. So tell Him. Acknowledge Him for who He is~ a compassionate God who loves us in spite of ourselves. We were made for this~ to praise Him.

2011-09-09T06:00:00.000-05:00

The unfailing love of God.

We're teaching a new song as a worship band on Sunday, and I've been practicing non-stop. The line 'Your love never fails' has been echoing in my mind... it's amazing, isn't it?! And Romans tells us that nothing can separate us from His love. That's pretty big. I fail. I let people down. Even the ones in my life that I care about most deeply... my love fails where my humanity begins. But His perfect, unending love picks up right where mine ends. Only this remains.

I'm thanking him as we head into another packed weekend. The littles are crazy excited because we're going to Chuck E. Cheese tonight. Trace and I are not so excited, but we're both glad that it was incentive enough to finish up the potty-training! Then the littles are having a sleepover together in Halle's room. I am loving these days when they still like to hang together... I'm sure someday I will look back and wonder what happened. It can all change in a second, can't it?!

Saturday I'm planning on making a giant pot of Taco Soup and eating until I pop. Okay, not really, but soup really is my most favorite thing on a long list of things that I love about fall. This cooler weather is so amazing!!

And Sunday marks the fall kickoff of all the ministries at our church, most notably Veritas, the youth ministry. We will be kicking off in style with Yuck Night, which is exactly as it sounds~ a night full of all things messy and vomit-inducing. Eating challenges like 'Happy Meal Milkshake', in which an entire Happy Meal including the drink was put into my blender (yeah, I wasn't so happy about that last time...), mixed and then drank/chewed by a couple of willing teenage boys. This is not for the faint of heart or stomach, friends, but the students love it. Would love y'all to pray with us that there is a huge turnout and that these young people see Jesus amidst the chaos.

So what do y'all have planned for the weekend? I'm desperately trying to get back into a blogging rhythm now that Halle has started school and we're finding a schedule.. We'll see you next week!

Lovely Monday

2011-09-05T04:30:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday, sweet things! I hope y'all are having a great extended weekend! Our days have been full of bunches of friends who are family, and as I publish this morning, Trace is making his famous french toast for a bunch of folks at church. He learned his recipe and technique from the one and only PeeWee Herman (I'm totally not kidding!!), and it's the best ever! This week is also a big one because this little Peach starts preschool tomorrow and dance on Wednesday. Big days ahead!!

I've been thinking, praying, dreaming a lot lately about the church actually being the Church. And the cool thing is that I've been seeing it happen. Living out the words of Jesus like He meant what he said... seeing friends, old and new, be doers of the word. We are living in an exciting time! For years I've read the words in Acts 2 about the followers of 'The Way' living in community. They shared with, cared for, and loved on each other, and I feel like we're seeing some of that come alive in our local community. God is so good!

I just want y'all to hear that and hopefully be encouraged. I know that many of you pray for my family and the goings-on here in our little piece of the world, and I cannot thank you enough. I love being able to share with you that He is indeed living and active and working. Y'all are such a part of this work~ we get to share in kingdom stuff, sweet friends! So happy Monday~ Praying mounds of blessings for each of you as you go about your day!

Two Roads

2011-09-01T09:39:00.000-05:00

The Road Not Taken by Robert Frost

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim
Because it was grassy and wanted wear,
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I marked the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I,
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference.

I woke up this morning with this poem echoing in my mind. I have thought of it often, and I still even recite it with distinct breaths and breaks pounded into my eighth grade brain by Mr. Elderidge. Two roads. And while for me this poem now means something different, when faced with choices of any kind I picture these two paths. In my adult life I have always taken the less traveled. The path of Jesus. No crossroads in this journey has been without risk, though I haven't looked back.

This morning I am facing a new kind of fork in this road. Neither path means choosing less of Jesus and more of anything. Just differences that can accompany a journey when taking a new road. I think of the leaves freshly covering the two paths, and I search for prints left by Jesus, and at this moment I'm certain He has left his mark for me to follow either way. Life has a way of twisting and turning, and sometimes I really think either path can be the one. There are so many good things... My difficulty lies in discerning at this moment, for this time, which is His best for me and which is His 'not right now'. Does that make sense?

I'm thinking as I type that this is sounding way more dark than it is... just wondering how y'all hear God's voice. Do you have a certain Bible verse you go to when making a decision? Do you lock yourself in your 'prayer closet' for hours? (Now I'm really drawing on my southern roots for that analogy!) Robert Frost truly isn't who I consult for making decisions, just love this poem and the pictures it paints. I am actually feeling quite giddy with excitement at the plans He has for me. (Remember yesterday?) He has always been so gracious to allow this girl so much room to be inspired, teach others, and grow along the way... can't wait to see what's next!

Starting Point

2011-08-31T11:47:00.000-05:00

God is in the business of new beginnings. On Sunday, our pastor was wrapping up his series on vision, and he ended with a talk about things that can distract us from moving towards the goal God has us working to. And as I was thinking about the things that get in our path, my mind was amazed at the other side of that~ the hope for us that lies in front of us when we are able to get around those obstacles.

During the series, his definition of vision has been this: Vision is a clear mental picture of what could be, fueled by the conviction that it should be. And this week he said that this 'should be important enough that it changes the way we operate'. Every day.

This summer has been a time of great transition for our church community. But the most awesome thing has been to see how God is working, and allowing us to work with Him, to change lives. I had the greatest conversation with a new member of our family, and she said that since she has been encountering Jesus, she not only looks forward to coming on Sundays, but that it is changing the way she lives Monday through Saturday. Isn't this the point?! I firmly believe that you cannot come into the presence of Jesus and NOT be changed.

So in a time when we get distracted, when things pop up that threaten to derail our future, when fear grips us and the picture of the vision we believe God has given us gets cloudy, what is it that we look to? Jeremiah 29:11 is familiar but so fitting here~ "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" Hope. The character of God is such that even distractions cannot change Who He is or the plans He promises us.

Firsts...

2011-08-30T13:35:00.000-05:00

Well, I apologize for my absence, but I've been in mourning. My sweet Remy started kindergarten last week. And okay, I'm not really mourning, though there were some sobby, tear-stained moments. It's funny trying to find a new normal, a new pace of our days. Usually around noon Halle starts asking when we can go get him from school. She starts preschool and dance next week, so I'm thinking we will get into more of a rhythm then.

Milestones are great for the most part here. Halle is officially COMPLETELY potty trained!! And that is a milestone to be celebrated! We have done much cheering for that one, and almost no crying (except for a few brief moments where I probably cried just a little thinking that it would never happen...). She has also started writing her name and is doing her best to keep up with Remy, who has had homework nearly every day. This is what life is right now...

I hope y'all are doing well! I'm looking forward to again finding my fall blogging rhythm. I have much to say, just so little time to get it out there. Love you all bunches!!

Fixed

2011-08-11T06:00:00.000-05:00

"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

This verse popped into my head today as I was praying. I opened my Bible to this worn page, and I got stuck on 'light and momentary'. I choked on it almost. Sometimes my problems don't feel light or momentary. They are heavy. And hard. And seem to last. It's hard to swallow, but the problems of this world are things that are helping to carve us into who God wants us to be. And they don't go on forever. In light of eternity, they are just blips on the radar screen. But they matter, don't they?! And as tears welled up in my eyes and I found myself asking God to change the circumstances that brought me to my knees today, I heard His voice echo the thoughts of Paul~ "Fix your eyes on me."

Praying today for eyes that are able to hold steady on Him. Feeling a bit rocked, but sure that His promises are eternal.

Stained

2011-08-09T16:09:00.001-05:00

Just a few thoughts from my quiet time this afternoon (aka my few minutes alone while baking in the kitchen). I find myself barefoot all the time. It's not unusual, just how we go about our days. When we're home, shoes are left at the door. Almost immediately~ like when the littles walk in first, you trip over their shoes as your barely inside the door.

And I was thinking about this and the whole 'holy ground' thing. The Lord told Moses that the ground where he was, where the Lord had been, was holy. And He commanded Moses to take off his sandals. And this stained carpet upon which I do life is flooded with holy. My toes can sink into the spaces that God has been. He walks before me, behind me, fills in the space I breath around me. What if I approach these sacred quiet moments as holy moments before God? A God that deserves my recognizing that the ground I'm on is holy. That He is molding me and changing my heart and making me more like Him. Like breathing? Every moment of this day is imprinted with the righteousness and awesomeness of God, like the mug I'm washing is stained with my coffee.

And I beg God to open my eyes to these holy-stained seconds that slip through my fingers. Am I stained? Is there a mark around my life that is looking more and more like the One He's pouring into this vessel?

Back soon, sweet friends, life is slipping by too quickly!

3

2011-08-01T09:53:00.000-05:00

Well, we survived the weekend... Today is the actual day of my Curly Girly's birth, and to celebrate we are going to the local water park. She insists that she already had a birthday, and today isn't it. When you're three and can't tell one day from the next it doesn't matter, I guess. Soon she will learn the value of claiming a vast blanket of time as your birthday week/month. So many things to teach her...

She was not thrilled with the singing...

Her party on Saturday was filled with much chaos, fun and love. Everyone brought gifts, even though we begged them not to, and having a Rapunzel party means that every present has scads of long blond hair. I have gotten a second job now as chief hair brusher/braider. Like so many parties before, I didn't get nearly enough pictures, but here are a couple from my phone.

Finished the cake just in time... and warned everyone that if they found a hair in their piece, it was most definitely Rapunzel's and NOT mine!

Some of the decorations. I had these braids all around the mailbox, windows, and as a table runner.

I'll try to post some more pictures of the food and games. I'm still trying to figure out what I actually took pictures of and what I forgot. In the craziness of 35 people in our living room, many of them being kids, I just find myself a little too crazy to think straight! Hope y'all have a great Monday!!

Party Panic

2011-07-26T08:08:00.000-05:00

Hi, sweet friends! Just a quick hello to tell you that we are in full party-planning mode this week... it will probably be a little quiet until I get this Rapunzel party behind me! Lots of details to share next week, I'm sure! Have a great week!

Ways I Am NOT (or Refuse to Admit but Probably Am) Like my Mother

2011-07-21T06:00:00.000-05:00

Just the idea of this post cracks me up, because if you know me and/or my mother, you have probably started a list just from seeing the title. I'm linking up with Hearts at Home again this month, and would love for you to join in!

Truth be told, I am probably a lot like my mother. And I think I have finally passed the age when I didn't want to admit that. I would like to think that the biggest way in which I am like my mom is that of her faith. My favorite 'picture' of my mom is the image in my mind that I have from 15 years ago, the morning after our world was rocked to its core. I awoke after tragedy to hear my mom playing the piano. Singing praise songs to a God Who was still the same, even after everything as we had known it had changed. She was singing the words to an old song called 'Bless God' that goes something like 'Bless God for all he's done, Bless God for Christ his son. Let us magnify him, for he's holy.' I want a faith that remains unwavering, even when life is anything but steady. Her faith legacy is something that I want and hope to also instill in my little people.

I AM crafty like my mother. She is one who flips things inside-out in the store and says 'I could make that' often. I have this same phrase in my arsenal. She has bin after bin full of random craft supplies, fabric, and other things that 'could be' something else if worked on a bit. I have quite a supply of materials, myself. You just never know when you might need a truck load of pipe cleaners...

I AM a bit of a pack rat, if left to my own devices. I am a collector like my mother and tend to store up things that 'I might use eventually'. Now, don't get me wrong, we aren't (YET) on the path to the show Hoarders, though she is closer than I am to that point. I am married to a man who hangs on to nothing, so I am leaning further away from this trait every year. But the tendency remains...

I AM NOT a crazy dog lady. Mom has a tiny little fluff-ball of a poodle named Phoebe, who she has recently taken to carrying in a sling. Yes, a baby sling. She even went so far as to take a bike ride last week with the dog in a sling. I fear she may get picked up by circus people.

I DO NOT wear colored eye shadow. This one makes me laugh just typing it. My mom has forever been one who likes to 'put her face on' before going out. I am definitely not that way. I am a Burt's Bees and maybe mascara on a fancy day kind of girl.

I DO NOT eat broccoli. Enough said.

I DO NOT play piano. This is one I wish I could do... mom started playing when she was very young and still plays. I started lessons, but like many things in my childhood, I quit.

I DO love a good tea party, or just a reason to get people together in general. I grew up with many regular reasons to get out the pretty dishes, whip up a fancy dessert and entertain. And let me just say, any day truly can be a good reason to entertain. I can remember open houses, basket parties, Bible studies, and many other occasions that we would somehow manage to stash the mess under the beds and have people over. Just for fun. And I think this has a lot to do with my love for get-togethers now.

So are you like your mom? I can't wait to see the other posts!

Calling

2011-07-20T06:00:00.002-05:00

Want to know God's calling on your life? I can tell you! (Sounds like the crazy beginning to an infomercial, doesn't it?!) Love God. Go & Love Others. Make Disciples. Sound over-simplified? Because I don't really think it is... this is what He's called each and every one of us to. (Check out Matthew 22: 37-38 and Matthew 28: 19-20) And what I'm realizing is that we (totally speaking to myself here!) spend so much time pacing the floor begging God to reveal His 'calling' to us, that it's just like shuffling our feet ignoring what we know He wants us to do. This is it!

Now 'how' we do this is as wide and varied as a day is long... but I'm beginning to think that even that isn't as tough as I make it. What has he made me gifted in and passionate about? In my case, I have a deep passion for ministry with mothers. So it's pretty natural that I am going to lean towards doing life with other mommas. That's why I teach the Bible with a group of local moms, and that's why I'm going to Uganda & Ethiopia next year, to love on some sweet babies and their families.

What I'm also realizing is that in this process of doing life and growing with God, I end up serving others in the places of my deepest need for work and healing. The healing begins and continues when I pull from my pain and weaknesses to help others. I can speak to areas that affect other moms because I've walked through them. Paul said to the Corinthian church (2 Cor. 12:9-10) "But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." I most often talk with other women about their struggles with hurt, self-image, forgiveness issues, and in walking with them through their pain, God brings healing even to my own heart. It's amazing that God can use our challenges this way, but when He is glorified all the more, why would I mask the things that show Him stronger?

This question of calling is perhaps the one that I have most often heard in Christian circles and have most often asked myself. But I truly think I was over-complicating something that God has made pretty clear. And the things in me that are part of who I am are exactly the keys to figuring out the 'how'. So how has He wired you? What are you passionate about? Do you find that the ways in which you feel led to serve are also the things that are the most healing for you? I'd love to hear your thoughts...

Her

2011-07-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

This is my beautiful Halle. And if you follow me on Facebook or twitter, you know a bit about her. She is something. No words can quite encompass all that is this sweet and perfect gift. So I document the things she does, as she does them. Because no one would believe me otherwise.

~This most recent picture is her saying "I'm not going to school ever never." because she has to use the potty if she wants to go to school. Literally an hour later she decides to use the potty before bed. Just to mess with me.

~Yesterday she tells me I'm not her best friend. I replied that 'I don't have to be your best friend. I am your mommy'. So she then asks 'Where do I go to make you not my mommy?'. Most almost-three year olds would say 'Then you're not my mommy', but not my girl... she realizes there will be paperwork involved.

~Also yesterday, when given the choice to be kind or go to her room for timeout, she says "I will choose to be kind, but only because you are making me. It's not like I want to."

~Last week as I tucked her in, she whispers in my ear "Do you know who loves you more than me? Only Jesus." That might have been the sweetest thing ever. And I may have teared up a little.

~She asks why I drink coffee if I don't like to cough.

~She also closes her eyes when she sings so she can 'sing to Jesus like mommy and daddy'.

~She calls 'dessert' 'DeZurg' because of the villain on Toy Story 1 and thinks that every other meal is called breakfast. She repeatedly asks during the day if we've already had breakfast, and some days I begin to doubt whether or not I actually fed them!

~She always needs to know if things are boys or girls and then insists on calling them 'he' because she 'likes it better'.

Just a few Halle-isms to commemorate almost-three... We love this Curly Girly of ours to pieces!!

Small

2011-07-18T06:00:00.007-05:00

I wake up some mornings and just feel like the tiniest, insignificant stone.

We're all rubble, aren't we? Broken. Some of us smooth and some rough. Some large and some small. But all pieces of things that used to be something else. Some even blown to pieces that are nearly dust, but they survive. Different. But therein lies the miracle~ that God can take all these mismatched bits of other things and build. His Kingdom.

For the past several Sundays, our pastor has been teaching a series about vision. We have been planted in Nehemiah, and the story of the Israelites rebuilding the wall is rich with lessons. But this week he said something that deeply snagged my attention: Archaeologists have said that the wall was 'just a gathering of rubble'. Hundreds, perhaps thousands of years since that wall was built, and it remains. Lasting. A gathering of rubble. And that is what we are!

Remnant of Nehemiah's wall

We come from different places and bring different baggage. We were formerly something, someone else. And in choosing Christ, we abandon the things that we used to be and the old ways that accompanied them, and we walk forward. Perhaps shattered, but together we can become again. Something. This is an amazing picture of the Body of Christ, isn't it? This morning I am so thankful that I am allowed to be a piece. Only a small, insignificant stone in a great big wall... but this wall protects and secures. And I am thankful for each blow that got me to this place, even the painful ones. Because He builds.

Monday!

2011-07-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday, sweetie pies! We had what felt like an insanely rushed weekend, but thankfully things will be slowing up a bit. Linking up with the lovely Carissa if you want to join in!

~The Cake! So it turned out pretty cute, if I do say so myself. The only thing I had to go on was that the birthday girl liked purple and flip flops, so I just went with that. My customer said that it was the hit of the party and that (perhaps more importantly) it tasted great, so I deem this a success!

~Free Time~ This week is a big one for me and Trace. Today after a short trip to the local waterpark, Trace is taking the littles to spend an entire week with his parents. He's dropping them off and heading home so we can have some child-free time before he and the youth team leave for Canada on Saturday. I'm excited to be able to have some date nights and maybe even go to a late movie or something out of character for us. (I know, we are real party animals, right?!) The kids are so excited and have been constantly talking about eating junk food and water fights... hopefully they'll limit the junk food, but I know they'll have a great time.

~God speaks~ A pastor friend from Nashville came as a guest speaker at our church this weekend. It was awesome to have someone come and spend time just taking in all God is doing here and also to encourage us. At one point we were having a prayer time, and he spoke into my heart some things that only could have come from God about who I am and where I need help. I am so thankful that God is gracious to give and that others allow themselves to hear and speak words that God entrusts to them. I feel wonderfully understood and loved by a Savior that cares for me as an individual.

~Time Out~ An update on the potty training front... not going so well as it started. On Thursday I took my girlie to the er after she didn't go (potty or otherwise) for over 12 hours. We were nervous about her getting or having a UTI, so we wanted to get her checked out. Of course she went in a diaper as soon as we got checked in! So we took a few steps back... all along we've said that she would initiate the whole thing, so we're just going at her pace and seeing what happens.

So what are you up to this week? I have several brunch/coffee dates planned in the time while Trace is working, but other than that, I'm thinking I'll just be lazy. I'm hoping to get in some writing time and just be quiet with God. Rediscovering what free time is...

Miscellany Tuesday!

2011-07-05T10:32:00.000-05:00

Happy Tuesday, y'all! I can't seem to get my act together on Mondays... I'll use yesterday's holiday as my excuse this week, but in truth it shouldn't count because we don't really celebrate it. But whatever. I hope you had a terrific Monday off. We were able to hang out with some good friends over the weekend and yesterday. We splurged and bought the littles an inflatable pool, (of which I've yet to get any pictures) and now we begin the task of watching it carefully to make sure the insane dog posse doesn't poke holes into it. I am so over these dogs and the mess in my house.

This week is starting to look pretty busy. We have a few playdates planned, and I've been commissioned to make a cake. I'm a little nervous, as this is my first cake that's not been for a close friend or donated for a church event. The best/worst part is that the woman who ordered kind of gave me a lot of freedom to do what I want. She gave me a color idea and one theme idea, but other than that said to do whatever. This planner would much prefer 'coloring inside the lines' and wishes she had given me a clear picture of what she wanted. So we'll see how it ends up...

Also in other 'miscellany' news is that the Divine Miss Halle is wearing panties today! I know you were really concerned about this, and I know that all you mommas out there will appreciate the enormity of this development. I'm not holding my breath... cautiously optimistic that we'll be done with diapers very soon. As with everything she does, I'm certain that my girl will do it in her own way (likely with her hands on her hips) in her own time.

So what's in store for your week? See you soon!

Coming of Age

2011-07-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

I knew my boy would grow up. In a family of rock stars (self-proclaimed, of course!), there comes a time when a young rocker needs a rocker hair cut. More specifically a mohawk. It's just what rockers do. So Tuesday was that day for my sweet boy. Truth be told, Halle wanted one of her own, but I just could quite let her shed the curls yet. Remy has been asking for a mohawk for a long time, but instead of Trace's coarse curls, he was born with my baby fine locks. It takes a lot of product, this hair, but he is oh so happy.

And just for good measure, here is the first picture of Trace with Halle. His 'hawk at that point was about 7 inches tall and bleached blonde on the tips. Is it any wonder Remy wants to follow that act?!

Keep in Mind

2011-06-30T06:00:00.003-05:00

Some scenes from our backyard... One of my favorite moments came Wednesday while the littles were playing in the sandbox. We had added water to the box for the day, and I was delighted to hear that they were 'digging wells for kids in Chad'.

I am passionate about instilling a global worldview in these sweet little ones God has entrusted into my care. I know I've written about it before, but I am often asked about how we do this, especially in a way that doesn't drive them nuts. You know, like in the way they ask to watch a show 'that doesn't want them to learn something'. Um yeah, Remy said this once, so I get it...

I've got to say that I really take Deuteronomy 6:6-9 to heart. These verses talk about living God's Commandments. Verse 7 says 'Impress them upon your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.' Conversation in our house just includes missions. Whether it's reading 'Window on the World' at dinner, which is more deliberate, or just pointing out a different way that people live on a show on tv. These littles things add up!

I once took a missions seminar, and I'll never forget the teacher saying that 'missions-minded families eat rice'. So we've just begun having simple suppers of rice and vegetables. A bonus is that it is a super inexpensive meal, but the real payoff is that this out-of-the-norm meal for us brings some great conversation about God's children all over the world. Some research says that nearly half of the world's population eats rice 2-3 meals a day!!

There are many, many resources online, books, etc. that talk about ways to help families see the world outside of their own, and we are just at the tip of figuring out what works for our family. But I love the things I see occurring already. And I must say that while these things are great in my kids, they have also done wonders for my own heart.

So what do you do in your house? I would love to glean more ideas from you about how you help engage your family to see the world around them!

Deuteronomy 6: 6-9 "These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates."

Child of God

2011-06-22T12:03:00.001-05:00

Hi, sweet things! If you knew how many posts I have in the 'drafts' stage, you would die. But I feel like each time I try to crank a post out, I have felt that God just wants me to be still. To soak in His word. And to be taught. So while it's quiet on this page, there is so much going on in my heart that I can't even begin to tell you.

I've been trying to get my mind and my pen to work together to come up with some things to say about my trip to Florida, but it's been slow going. (And yes, I do actually write everything down with an actual pen in a journal before it goes online... I'm old school like that!) I want to honor God and the miraculous things he allows me to witness, and choosing my words thoughtfully and carefully is a necessity. I owe him that.

But as Father's Day came and went last Sunday, I have been constantly singing a particular song. It's by Kathryn Scott, I think, and we used to sing this one in the days before Trace and I got married... its words never cease to bring me to my knees. I take such comfort in the love of God as my Father and am beginning to see that its in learning to receive his love as my Father that I am better able to love those around me. Don't we so often put unreal expectations on the ones around us? Once I lay my expectations in the only hands big enough to hold them, I am much less likely to be disappointed by the humans I dearly love on this earth. Anyway...

Child of God
With every breath, with every thought
From what is seen, to the deepest part
I offer all that I've come to be
To know your love, fathering me

Father, you're all I need
My soul's sufficiency
My strength when I am weak
The love that carries me
Your arms enfold me,
Til I am only a child of God

With every step on this journey's walk
And wisdom's songs that my soul has sought
I give myself unreservedly
To know your love, fathering me

Father, you're all I need
My soul's sufficiency

My strength when I am weak

The love that carries me

Your arms enfold me,

Til I am only a child of God

Thanks, friends, for being patient in my quiet here. I just feel like God is requiring my to be a good steward of my time. And if he says to bathe in his word, I want to do that. So know that I am learning and writing tons of things that I think he'll bring out on these pages... just not now, not yet. Love you bunches!!

To My Teenage Self~ Third Thursday Thoughts

2011-06-16T06:00:00.002-05:00

Hey, y'all! I just realized that I had my Miscellany Monday post ready to go and never hit 'publish', so it's been sitting under drafts... no wonder it's been so quiet around here! I'm trying to get back into the swing of things after my week in Florida. I cannot say enough how much your prayers and kind words meant to me last week. Dad's surgery went great, and he is home and healing. The trip was even more healing for me, I think, but that's for another post. I'm still trying to wrap words around all those thoughts.

Today I'm linking up again with Hearts at Home, and the question is "If you could go back in time and tell your teenage self one thing, what would you say?". At first I brainstormed a long list, including 'please do not go through this terrible grunge phase'... but the more I thought about it, I think it comes down to something that is tied up into so many other mistakes and regrets. If I could whisper one thing into those pierced up, self-centered little ears it would be this: find Love. And if I could speak beyond those two words, I would say 'it's not where you're looking'.

The hardest part of this is that I know my teenage self wouldn't listen. If I could shake me and guarantee that I would hear, I would know that so many other voices were already saying the same thing. God is Love. In Him there is no darkness, there is limitless grace and patience and wisdom and an all-encompassing, abundant Love. It isn't where you're looking at all, Mandy. Temporary acceptance doesn't equal love. Admiring glances at skinny jeans after the daily binge and purge does not equate to the abounding love of your Father. Find Love by looking deep into His pages, falling further into the arms of the One who created you. This Love will carry you through years of hurt and confusion. And this Love is there just waiting to be found.

Now if I could speak those same words to this 30 year old self and believe them as much as I know them!

So what would you tell your teenage self?

Distance

2011-06-08T06:00:00.000-05:00

"But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect."

1 Corinthians 15:10

I wish I could introduce you to my teenage self. The girl who struggled to keep up with the Joneses, the girl who used to wear nothing but high-end designer clothes and buy $20 lip gloss, the girl who choked in the bathroom to rid herself of a few extra calories... I wish so many could see the old me. And not to glamorize where I came from, but to show you the distance God's brought me. I love that verse for his grace truly has had such great effect!

Recently our church has been making some big changes, and as the wife to someone on staff there, there has been this feeling that it must be easy for me. That going out and serving, tithing, feeding the homeless, that these things must be natural for me. Oh, sweet friends, that couldn't be further from the truth. I must admit that before I whole-heartedly told Jesus that he could have all of me, I held on with tight fists. I was terrified of speaking with strangers and about sharing what's in my heart. This new, Jesus-in-me stuff, is my adapted personality, but definitely not my natural one. And there are days when the old me, the easier to be me, comes right back to the front line.

But God has not called us to be our natural selves (and thank goodness, because my natural self is pretty ugly!). We are not called to be comfortable but rather to stir in our seats until we can sit no longer and must jump up in action. Hebrews 12:1 calls us to 'throw off everything that hinders', and in Ephesians Paul says 'to put off your old self... and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness'. Do you hear those words? It's an action! It is something that we have to do. Every. Single. Day. It isn't some magic trick, but instead it's us making a conscious decision to throw away the things we used to be!!

And herein lies the miracle~ God can use you, whoever you are, wherever you're at. I just got the feeling this morning that someone reading this, one of you sweet girlies, needs to know that it's not at all just for the crazy hippie missionaries. You in the trenches, up to your elbows in dish water, play-doh, and dirty diapers~ your ministry is here. You who are still wondering what it is that God has in store for you, you are in the midst of His great mission! We are in this together and up to our necks!!

I firmly believe that often it's simply our willingness that he requires. Obedience sometimes means just letting go, saying yes, and waiting to see what you're obeying. God can take a girl who never wanted any of this 'ministry stuff' and turn my world so upside down that I can't not be completely in love with the amazing God who just knocked me off my feet. The day I said 'I'm all in' was a day that I think Jesus sighed a bit and said 'finally. Now I can begin.' I have days that I'm at home, sweeping floors and putting away toys, and in the midst of that seemingly mundane moment, God reveals some bit of his grace. And ministry isn't some grand thing but rather in that moment it's my palms simply facing up to catch that beauty he's handing me. It's there amongst the Polly Pockets.

I truly didn't mean for this to become a sermon, but I'm sure you've gathered that I'm definitely preaching to myself here. Some days I want to wear my old self like a comfy pair of yoga pants. But I'm learning to again lift up my eyes and hands to the One who fills me up and again say 'I'm all in. I want it all.' And he is gracious to give without holding back.

Sunny Monday

2011-06-06T09:51:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday, sweet things! I am writing to you from sunny Naples, Florida this morning. I woke up to the most beautiful palm trees and sunny skies. I'm also feeling a bit like the Golden Girls, and I can't seem to get their theme song out of my head. It's my first time in Florida, and truly my only frame of reference for the state is that those crazy ladies lived there. I am right now looking out on the water from my dad's 'lanai', which cracks me up because I seriously thought that was a made-for-Golden-Girls word, and then my dad tells me it's actually a Floridian word. Who knew?!

So which Girl would you be? I'm pretty sure I'd be Dorothy. I don't wear drapey pantsuits (though I could totally pull that off!), but I am more level-headed than the rest of that nutty bunch. It's more of a process of elimination at this point~ I'm not quite as racy as Blanche or as ditsy as Rose and I don't have the Italian mafia connections that Sofia had...

Anyway, I would appreciate your prayers as I'm down here helping out with some family health matters. I truly didn't just run away from Trace and the littles for the week! Dad showed me around a bit this morning before we settle in for the day. Aren't these scenes gorgeous? I even managed to snap that one shot (above) of a dolphin at the pier... My little animal 'experts' would love this!

Hope y'all have a wonderful week! I'll try to post a time or two, but as always, no guarantees. =)

The Line

2011-06-02T06:00:00.000-05:00

What is the line between guilt and action? Feeling guilty for all that we have keeps me from doing something for others. The Compassion Bloggers are in the Philippines this week, and as I read posts like this one, the lump in my throat forms, and I look at all we have accumulated with different eyes. Eyes found again when the veil is lifted.

So that line? The line for me is love. The guilt causes me to store, to stew, and to look at stuff with distasteful eyes, but love~ love for God's children~ stirs me to my feet to do something. It's not about my stuff, but my desire to have less so that others have more...

And this is how they will know us. Love. I often think in my spending in terms of what I could do with that amount. One nice meal out for our family could pay for an entire month of support for another Compassion child. Or buy enough food at a bank to feed 20 homeless brothers & sisters. I often get stuck in a hole feeling guilty... how did I get dropped down into this lavish life when others live in drastically different circumstances? But while guilt allows me to wallow, it's love that challenges my heart to loosely hold these comforts and even give them away. Many rich people feel guilty. But love is the thing that cleanses our guilt and calls us to move. Suddenly I see that it's not at all about my stuff!!

And God is doing many things~ He doesn't need me to feel guilty. He doesn't need me to pity. He has called me, allowed me, to partner with him in doing something amazing.

You Can Have Me

2011-06-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Heard this song by Sidewalk Prophets yesterday on the way to the grocery store and scribbled the lyrics that I could remember as soon as I parked just so I wouldn't forget. (Am I the only brain-challenged crazy person that does this?! Please reassure me that the rest of you are as forgetful as I am...) This is an amazing anthem, and a great thing to think about as the Church.

If I saw You on the street
And You said come and follow me
But I had to give up everything
All I once held dear and all of my dreams
Would I love You enough to let go
Or would my love run dry
When You asked for my life

When did love become unmoving?
When did love become unconsuming?
Forgetting what the world has told me
Father of love, You can have me
You can have me

If You’re all You claim to be
Then I’m not losing anything
So I will crawl upon my knees
Just to know the joy of suffering
I will love You enough to let go
Lord, I give you my life
I give you my life

I want to be where You are
I’m running into Your arms
And I will never look back
So Jesus, here is my heart

My heart breaks when I realize that Jesus' love isn't changing me some {most} days. At what point did I become unmoved, unconsumed by his grace? After writing down these lyrics, there was a momentary torrential rain that lasted only seconds, and while at first I was a bit annoyed (getting two littles into the store), it hit me that it only takes a second. It only takes one moment for me to forget who I am and Whose I am. I pray to be moved. To be consumed.

*As a p.s., it unnerves me that every time I try to type the word 'consumed', my hands automatically type 'consumer' and I have to fix it... telling, isn't it?!

Miscellaneous...

2011-05-30T21:18:00.000-05:00

Hope y'all are having a great Monday!! I am linking up a bit late, but the day of doing nothing turned into loads of fun stuff packed in, and I'm just now getting a chance to sit and think. We took the little people to see Kung Fu Panda 2 this morning~ so cute and I made it nearly to the end before crying! It has a sweet adoption story woven in that I wasn't quite expecting...

~We are at the two month countdown to Halle's birthday. (Actually 2 months from Wednesday, if we're being precise...) We are running with the Rapunzel theme, and I cannot wait. I absolutely love parties, and princess parties may be my most favorite! Let the planning begin!

~Last week was a week of experimental recipes. I tried this Italian Beef and this Lasagna, both in the crock pot. I love using it, but feel like I don't have enough to try in it. Both turned out great, and even the littles ate them. This week I'm gearing up for a trip, Trace is going on a different trip, and my in-laws will be arriving, so I don't think I'll be experimenting too much in the next few days. Thankfully my littles have low standards~ they don't seem to have the same momma-grading scale that I use on myself. On the days I'd give myself a big fat 'F', they act like PB&J is a gourmet meal!

~Our garage sale was a bust this weekend. The weather was iffy but not terrible, so I really have nothing to blame... Friday was better, but on Saturday we saw absolutely no one! It was weird, and I was almost beginning to wonder if Harold Camping had been just a few days off in his timeline. We'll try again soon!

~The days have begun when we are outside a ton. I don't particularly like to sweat... in fact, I hate it. But at this point, remembering the amazing things I got into when I was little outweighs my discomfort. We were out from the time the sun came up until time for bed, with only bathroom breaks and meals to keep us in. I want those things for the littles... so I sweat it out (and sometimes watch from inside my cool kitchen, I must admit). But they blissfully pass out in their little beds after a day of adventures. I totally love that!

So how are you kicking off summer? We went to two cookouts this weekend, and we got a grill~ super excited to have cookouts of our own!

Chocolate Cobbler

2011-05-24T06:00:00.001-05:00

Well, here it is... the recipe that had my twitter all abuzz yesterday. I didn't take a picture, because mine never turn out very pretty, but it tastes amazing and uses stuff that I typically just have in my kitchen.

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 tsp. salt
milk
1 cup sugar
4 Tbsp. cocoa
1 tsp vanilla
1 Tbsp. melted butter
1 can evaporated milk
3/4 cup milk

The process:
Combine flour, shortening and salt. Mix with hands or pastry cutter until shortening is evenly dispersed. Add milk, 1 Tbsp. at a time until it makes a smooth ball. Roll out on floured board or pastry cloth as thin as possible.

Spread sugar over dough. Sprinkle cocoa over sugar. Add vanilla to melted butter and sprinkle over dough as well. Roll up dough and place into a baking dish in circle. Cut holes in top of dough and pour evaporated milk over roll. Then pour 3/4 cup milk on top.

Bake at 350* until dough is golden and sauce is bubbly. (about 30 min?)

That's the original recipe. The only places I vary are in the rolling of the dough~ I can never seem to get mine to make a smooth roll that doesn't break. The good thing is that it works out in the end whether you have to cut holes in the top or it just falls apart as you place it in the pan. The more places for the milk to sink in the better, in my opinion!

This is perfect served warm with vanilla ice cream. Coffee is also mandatory. Enjoy!

Miscellany Monday~ Yippee!!

2011-05-23T06:00:00.001-05:00

Well, contrary to most, I LOVE Mondays! I know I've bragged about this before, but it's still true. Trace takes Mondays off, and so it tends to be a great, get-things-done-around-the-house kind of day.

~In a strange twist (no thanks to fate, all the glory to God!) I actually finished most of my Monday to-do list on Sunday. I'm truly not sure how it happened, but I finished all the laundry and some of the cleaning yesterday. All that's left is to get my 'fake house' ready to host our Fusion group tonight, and as this is our last meeting, I've quit trying so hard to make things spotless. I am so thankful that God has put such wonderful friends in our life whom I know won't judge whether or not I have dust on picture frames! *that being said, I will probably go and dust... they won't judge, but now that I've mentioned it, it will probably make me crazy.

~T-ball is going great, and I am so proud of Remy. We haven't had an actual game yet, but he's been doing well at practices and participating. And he looks so cute in the little get-up with the hat, cleats, and mitt! Pictures are tonight- praying it doesn't rain!

~I am so excited to share with y'all about some huge ministry stuff that we have coming up, in fact, I could burst! More details to come, but remember how I said I dreamed about going to Africa? Yeah, it's that big...

~After posting last week about my Granny's pecan pie, I started digging up more passed-down recipes. Yesterday I made my other Grandma's Chocolate Cobbler, and it was sinfully good. I didn't take a picture because, frankly, it's not the most beautiful dessert, but it tasted like heaven! I'll try to post the recipe this week~ you're going to love it!

~Purging. I'm getting things around for a garage sale next weekend and listing bigger items on Craigslist. We just have so much. I listed our double stroller on Saturday, and 4 hours later it was sold. I love that! The hardest part is that while exhuming things from the deep, dark places in the littles' rooms, they see them and exclaim 'I was just looking for that!'. Every single time. (sigh) We're trying to teach them about excess and giving, but it's so hard. I'm ready for this to be over. I love the results from a good garage sale, but I hate the execution...

My Favorite Homemade Dish

2011-05-19T06:00:00.002-05:00

Hi, girlies! It's Third Thursday, so once again I'm joining in the hop with Hearts at Home bloggers. The question this month was 'What's your favorite homemade dish?'. I struggled with what to say, because I don't consider most things I make homemade... I make and bake a lot, but I use lots of quick cheats and shortcuts. When I think of 'homemade', I think of slaving away for hours in the hot kitchen... climbing uphill both ways in three feet of snow... Okay, maybe I'm just being hard on myself.

I decided to share with you today a SUPER TOP SECRET recipe that was handed down to me in my sweet Granny's handwriting on the recipe card. (I only call her Granny behind her back~ she hates that. Something about her mother being Granny, but the name totally fits her!) My Grandma is a small, southern pistol that makes a ton of wonderful things when working in her little kitchen. Her Pecan Pie is my absolute favorite.

Pecan Pie

Beat 3 eggs slightly, add 2/3 cup sugar, 1 cup white corn syrup, 1/4 tsp. salt, 1/3 cup melted butter, and 1 tsp. vanilla. Stir in 1 cup pecans and pour into unbaked crust. Bake at 375* for 40-50 minutes until knife inserted in middle comes out clean.

This is my grandma's original recipe... now for my variations~ I use halved pecans (granny uses chopped). I also use 1/2 cup corn syrup with 1/2 cup maple syrup because I like the darker, nuttier flavor. For the crust, you can use a purchased, frozen pie crust. I typically make Martha's simple pate brisee or basic crust like this if I don't want to use butter.

Sorry the only picture I could find right now is this terrible yellow one, but you get the idea~ this pie is gorgeous every time! I'd love for you to link up and check out the other H@H bloggers today~ I can't wait to see what awesome things they're cooking up!

Tea Party!

2011-05-17T08:42:00.001-05:00

So I am no photographer (not news to you, I know!), but I like to think I know how to party! I have such great memories of fancy teas with my mom and friends that she included, so I decided to gather a few of my girlies together on Saturday for a tea party of our own. We get so little time to just hang out without little ones, husbands, agendas, etc, and it was wonderful just to sit and chat for a bit. I was really hoping to have things set up out on our patio, but the sky that had been threatening rain all week decided to open up on Friday night and continue on all day Saturday. Thankfully I had reserved the church just-in-case, and it all came together!

~The Menu:

Chocolate Cake Balls

Sweet Scones with Peach Butter

Cucumber Sandwiches

Lemon Pound Cake

Berry Tarts with Mascarpone and Fresh Whipped Cream

and of course, TEA!

*PS, I've decided to try the disqus format for commenting. I think it's just a nicer way to keep the conversation going... hopefully it's an easy transition! Thanks so much for your awesome feedback!

Monday, Monday

2011-05-16T07:40:00.000-05:00

Good morning and Happy Monday!

~I almost always begin the week a bit tired... life in ministry doesn't allow for the weekends to be times of rest or relaxation, but they are most always filled with tons of people we love and time encountering God. It's a worthy trade-off!

~ My boy is loving t-ball. So far (unlike with soccer) there hasn't been any talk of quitting, so that's progress! He loves the hat but refuses to wear the team t-shirt. I think this secretly makes his non-conformist daddy proud.

~I love seeing my littles with their friends. I love the hand-holding of little girls while they play, and Remy and his buddies become ninjas every time they see each other. On one hand I can't believe how big they seem, but on the other I'm so thankful that we are surrounded by so many awesome families.

~Speaking of friends, Remy attended a birthday party on Saturday of one of his friends from school. The party was at Monkey Joe's~ have you heard of this place?! It's filled with inflatables, and the insanity was almost more than this momma could handle. It was a dark rainy Saturday, so that meant everyone in town decided to go... Needless to say, my boy spent a looooooonngg time in the tub when we got home. But he had so much fun~ another worthy trade-off!

~My tea party was on Saturday! I'll try to get some pictures up tomorrow. It was a dark rainy day, so we were forced inside, but it was so much fun to spend some agenda-free time with some friends of my own with no one asking us to clean anything up, chauffeur them anywhere, or wipe hands or noses.

~Today is zoo day with Remy's class, and it looks like the rain has stopped. The sun is finally shining! We've yet to explore the zoo here, so I'm as excited as the littles, I think!

What are your plans for the day, lovelies? I'll be back soon!

Not Quite

2011-05-11T13:20:00.000-05:00

I was thinking the other day about the Shel Silverstein poem called 'Almost Perfect... But Not Quite'. I'm not sure why it popped into my head, but living under the perfectionist cloud that I do, I often am frustrated by the almost, the things that should be better. But today, I'm living in the 'not quites', shaking off the feeling that I should be doing more, and concentrating on being just who God has called me to be today.

My laundry is folded but not quite perfectly stacked... Because Halle wanted to get her own towel to wash her face and took one from the bottom of the pile.

Remy's bed is made, but his comforter isn't quite perfectly spread out because that's where Starbucks likes to burrow.

My table is almost cleared off, but not quite because we left the Slip n Slide box there when we decided to use it yesterday afternoon. There's also a stack of papers listing Remy's memory verses for T-Ball.

The play room is almost clean, but not quite because Polly Pocket and some of her Pet Shop friends were 'taking supplies to friends in Albania, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh'. (Remember, we're alphabetically making our way through praying around the world... so far we're at 'B'. You can read about the book we're using here.)

I realized today, that sitting in the not quites is exactly where I'm supposed to be... because the trade off, perfection in some areas, would mean there would be a gaping hole in others. I'm speaking to myself here, but also to you, sweet lovelies, who read this and then email me asking how I do it all... I don't!! And please forgive me if I ever come across that way. I can do all things through Christ, which today also means leaving some things undone to be a mom. What are your not quites today? Do you realize that the trade-offs are so much more valuable?

As For Me & My House {My first Review!}

2011-05-10T12:44:00.000-05:00

Joshua 24:15 "But as for me and my household we will serve the Lord."

So I love, love this verse! When I saw that this was the theme for the May specials in the (in)courage shop at Dayspring, I was so excited, especially when I saw that they were giving bloggers the chance to review one of the products. Have you checked out the (in)courage blog and shop before? I subscribe to their daily emails of blog posts, and it is truly one of my favorite emails to get every day~ loaded with encouragement and great writing from bunches of different contributors.

I received the As for Me and My Household Charcoal 5x7 frame, and I sincerely love it! It is much bigger than I expected (I know, the site gives dimensions, but I'm one of those who just needs to see it...). I also really like the texture on the charcoal part. it's hard to see in the pictures, but the finish almost looks brushed. After a little debate, I decided to put it on the wall in our kitchen where we will see it every time we sit down for a meal or fly through on the way to somewhere else. Deciding which picture to put in was the hardest part! I've also intentionally placed it off-center above my new (to me) buffet because I have an idea about some sconces or iron thing-a-ma-jigs on the right, but that will have to wait.

The kitchen is definitely the most used space in our house, and we can always use this reminder. I've always loved the first part of this verse that says 'Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve'. It reminds me that we get to choose to serve Him and need to be intentional about living this way... How awesome that we serve a God who isn't forcing us into some sort of slavery, but rather He lovingly shows Himself to us and allows us to willingly follow Him.

As an added bonus for readers, You can use the coupon code: MAY20 for 20% off your order at Dayspring.com! You should check out their shop for tons of cute stuff for gifts, your home, even your little ones!!

(*disclaimer* I was given this frame at no cost from Dayspring in exchange for my honest opinion about their product. All opinions are completely my own!)

Miscellany Monday

2011-05-09T13:04:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday!! Linking up again for the randomness over on Carissa's blog... click the button and take a look!

~1~ Remy's school had their annual 'Mother's Special Day' program on Friday, and it was just as sweet as last year. Though, also the same as last year, when it came time to act out the nursery rhymes, my little shy guy chickened out. Not sure where he gets that from, but he just doesn't seem to like the spotlight like his mom & dad. But he shines regardless to me! Here he is serving me cookies and juice:

~2~ The weather is finally getting nicer, which means we spend lots more time outside. This also means I spend twice as much time sweeping and mopping the kitchen, but I'll gladly do that to have the fresh air and worn out little ones! I am amazed at how much time the littles spend treasure hunting, 'training' the dogs, and building things.

~3~ I've been using my pioneer coffee pot, and I have to tell you, I love it. It cracks me up every time, but something about not using the electricity and the way the coffee tastes is extremely gratifying. (Okay, I admit I am a HUGE dork...) Trace still refuses to drink anything I make from it, and I think he's going to borrow a pot from the church for our small group tonight. I suppose it would take six years to make coffee that way for our group... But I have no intentions of spending anything on a new coffee maker for a while.

~4~ Jello-palooza was last night at our youth ministry. Going into it, I had no idea what Trace had come up with, but I knew enough to put on old clothes. The games went from a relay in which you sifted through a giant bowl of gelatin with your feet to find pieces of candy to speed eating. The finale consisted of liquid gelatin being poured into a length of plastic tubing. One person stood at each end, and when the 'referee' said Go!, each contestant blew as hard as he/she could trying not to get the gelatin in their face. Disgusting, right?! Kind of like tug-of-war, but with jello and blowing... I'm not sure where my darling husband comes up with this stuff. It turns out that all my days singing have well equipped me for a game involving hot air, and I actually won this one. So happy!

So what did you do this weekend? Hope you have a great day, lovelies!

One of Those...

2011-05-06T06:00:00.001-05:00

Yesterday was one of those days... I know you know the ones. I woke up tired, wasn't feeling all that great, the littles didn't seem to want to listen, and the coffee maker broke. I know, that last thing is a big one. In truth, it's been on its way out for about a week, but I have been in denial. A broken coffee maker isn't something easily acknowledged to this coffee addict, but a new coffee maker isn't quite in the budget either. So I was at an unusual crossroads... what to do at 7 in the evening when I just needed a cup. So here is what I came up with:

AND IT WORKED!!!

All I did was take an empty glass jar and put a coffee filter and coffee on the top, fastened with the ring-thingy (that's the technical name, right?!). Then I poured hot water slowly into the top. The pouring part took a while because I was trying to avoid an overflow, but the wait time was well worth it. The coffee tasted amazing, and Remy was completely amazed at our little 'Little House' experiment.

I was then reading a post about God speaking through His word, and Jen talked about Psalm 121. I love this Psalm. In my Bible I've penned 'Remy & Halle's Psalm' across the top of this one because I often whisper this sweet song in the darkness as they sleep or quietly speak it to scared little ones in the night. It reminded me that even in my crazy days God is with me. And seriously, who am I kidding about rough days?! My broken coffee pot and moments of parenting stress are fleeting and trivial... But regardless, my God is the same.

Psalm 121
I lift my eyes up to the hills- where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip- he who watches over you will not slumber,
indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you- the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm- he will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

So I enter into this weekend in gratefulness. I am thankful that in my broken-pot-moments, God is never sleeping, never taking his eyes or his hand from me. 'Loving God loving me... is that selfish? He loves you too, you know, As do I, sweet lovelies! Hope you're weekend is full of things you love!

Sow Love

2011-05-03T12:23:00.000-05:00

I was reading this post the other day called 'One Better', and the concept really took me sort of captive. I encourage you to read the whole post, but the quote that had the most take away for me was this: "It’s hard to do everything, but it isn’t hard to just do one better. " True, isn't it? God is calling us even in the midst of difficult moments to try harder. To do one better. I have many moments when I feel like giving up because I can't move mountains, and this isn't necessarily what God is asking me to do. But as Jesus shapes and refines my heart, as I take in His words and trust Him that He is working in me to make me more like Him, I can do more. I can do one better.

Let me illustrate how I am thinking here... My Halle is prone to waking up between 3 and 4 in the morning. Almost every morning. The sweet little thing can't tell time, so some mornings it's just 'Is it time to get up yet?' and others, like last night, it's that in waking up, her diaper has soaked her bed. I am tired. And other than for the Royal Wedding, I do not usually want to get up at 3am. Last night, as I heard that precious voice from across the hall I didn't have warm fuzzy feelings. But I heard God say 'Sow Love'. He was telling me that even at 3am, I had a choice to make. I could silently rush through the motions of changing her jammies and sheets, or I could do one better and show my girly the love of Jesus. Before my bare feet hit the cold floor I had determined to do the latter. I walked into her dark room to see the smile of a two year old who was genuinely excited to see me. I grabbed a clean diaper and baby lotion, changed her and gave her a massage before putting clean pajamas on her. I asked her to be my helper and change the sheets with me~ something she loves but makes the job take twice as long as when I do it myself. I tucked her in underneath fresh covers, and as I kissed her soft cheek, she whispered 'Thank you for saving me'. She fell asleep quickly, knowing that I love her.

When I woke up this morning, I was reminded of how Mother Theresa said that 'We cannot do great things, only small things with great love.'. I love that! It takes some the pressure off from trying to attain some perfect ideal, and at least in my life, allows me to embrace who God is making me in each moment. We are often faced with a choice to make, and I am finding that I am (ever so slowly) taking the high road more often. I encourage you, as did the author of the original post, to try it... I am amazed at how this concept is changing me. Happy Tuesday, Lovelies!

Friday Love

2011-04-29T06:00:00.008-05:00

I haven't done one of these posts in forever, which is crazy because I have so much I'm loving right now!

~First of all, I'm adoring this girly girl. Yes, she has her very two-year-old moments, but when she begs to have those tiny toes painted pink, I can't resist... These are the exact reasons that I wanted a baby girl! And those little nails are so sweet (even if they are so small that I can't help but get paint all over... fortunately she isn't picky!)

~Mail! I love ordering everything online because I do the super happy dance when each package arrives. Although I really would love it if the delivery guys wouldn't come during nap time and make the dogs bark like mad.

~Speaking of mail, yesterday I received a shipment of some things I ordered for a tea party that I have coming up. I'm excited to share the details once it gets a little closer... I've invited a bunch of my girlfriends, and I also gave them each an extra invite to encourage a friend to come. I used to love having fancy tea parties with my mom, so this should be super fun. Plus, it's new to most of my friends, so it's a party and an adventure all in one. Now if the weather holds out for me to do it all outside...

~The Royal Wedding- I am actually one of those crazy people who set my alarm for 3am just to see it... I seriously can't wait to scoop every detail of William and Kate's big day. I'm so nosey!! I've been dying to see her dress since they announced their engagement. And in honor of their big day, I think I need to use a British Accent all day... that should go over well (because, of course, my accent is perfect).

Hope your weekend is full of things you love! xo

WooHoo Granola!

2011-04-28T06:00:00.001-05:00

Well, I was really excited about this one... as you can tell by my title. I was in the mood yesterday for some granola and went digging in my pantry, thinking that I could just wing it and create something. I am thrilled with the result (though not so much the pic from my phone)!

Ingredients (all measurements are approximate, since I really just threw stuff into a bowl...)
~2 1/2 cups oats
~1 cup flaked coconut (not sweetened)
~3/4 cup sliced almonds
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter
1/3 cup brown sugar (I used half dark and half light)
1/3 cup honey
1/8 cup maple syrup
1 Tbsp pure vanilla extract

Method:
Heat oven to 300*. In a bowl, mix together oats, coconut, and almonds. Pour into greased roasting pan and place in oven for about 25 minutes, stirring several times.

While that's in the oven, in a small saucepan on the stove, mix butter, sugar, honey, and syrup over medium heat. Stirring pretty often until butter is melted. Remove from heat and add in vanilla.

Remove oat mixture from oven and pour syrup mixture over it, stirring to coat. Then spread this out on a cookie sheet that's been covered with parchment. Return to oven for about 5-10 minutes. (This last time is a guess because my oven quit working on me... My granola was a bit sticky but still tasted delicious... just leave in there until it sets up a bit.

I'd love to know if you try it! This recipe is pretty exciting to me because I can think of about a zillion ways to change it~ adding chocolate, dried fruit, different nuts, etc. Happy Thursday!

Wednesday Wish List

2011-04-27T06:00:00.001-05:00

You can find this print here.

Several holiday seasons ago I had a recurring Wednesday post here, in which I highlighted my favorite handmade finds of gift ideas for friends & family. Well, as priorities have changed, so have the things that I am wishing for... I am thanking Him today that as all things become new, my heart changes and I find myself dreaming less about stuff (because it's not mine!!) and dreaming more of things that will make my heart happy and more like the heart of Jesus. Hallelujah for growth, right?! Even if it is inch by tiny inch...

So here is my question for you today~ What do you dream about? In quiet moments between you and a listening Saviour, what do you find yourself asking Him to allow you to fulfill?

This is Katie Davis, who founded Amazima Ministries in Northern Uganda. Awesome, AWESOME ministry!

I have two that come up quite often, if not several times a day. The first is to be a missionary in Africa, specifically Uganda. I really do believe and try to live out that we are all missionaries in our current context, but going to Africa and serving children there is something that I can't get out of my head or my prayers. Often I plead with God to make a way for this to happen, whether it be for short or long term. And I absolutely know that it would take an act of God to make this come to fruition because logistics (the littles, time, money, etc.) make it impossible to carry out on my own.

The second dream of mine is to write. This blog is a place I write some, but I literally have volumes of journals and loose sheets of paper that are never seen. I pray that God would see fit to use my words, inspired by Him, to further the kingdom... to teach... to help someone find Him. My deepest struggle is also tied to this one because I never want to do anything with a heart that is less than pure in it's intention. I don't want to make a name for myself! "He must become greater, I must become less." (John 3:30) weighs heavily on my heart daily.

So what do you wish for? What are the {seemingly} far off things that you would love to see happen in your life? I would love to hear from you, lovelies!

Abandon

2011-04-26T06:00:00.004-05:00

In my journaling and study recently, God keeps prompting me with this word: Abandon. It sounded sort of daunting at first... my mind goes to abandoned houses, things left behind, my teenage years... So many things that prompt me to fear what He's telling me. But I press in, because I truly believe that knowing what God has to say to me is worth it.

I'm still diving into Luke 9:57-62, which in my tried and true NIV is a section entitled "The Cost of Following Jesus". This text is about living radically, and Jesus calls us to give up comforts, agendas, and even our yesterdays. His call is to stop hanging on to the things that keep us tethered to this place and to look forward to his Kingdom. I was also reading in Hebrews, and chapter 11 verses 8-10 talks about the faith and obedience of Abraham. It says "he lived in tents... For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God." I was thinking about his 'tents' as it pertains to my own 'abandon'. God was his permanent city, so he lived in a temporary home on earth.

I have to abandon my roots in the ground, my hands clinging to stuff because it's not mine. And it's not permanent. 1 John 2:17 says "the world and its desires pass away...". Then yesterday I came upon this quote by Jean Nicolas Grou, and this idea of abandon in a more figurative way came to mind again.

"When in his mercy God leads a soul in the higher path of sanctification, he begins by stripping it of all self-confidence, and to this end he allows our own schemes to fail, our judgement to mislead us. We grope and totter and make countless mistakes until we learn wholly to mistrust ourselves and to put all our confidence in him."

This quote reminded me just how temporary it all is. And that the only way in which we can be left not grasping at straws is if we remain tied to the only One who has roots enough to hold us. God wants to strip me of everything that ties me to this world, to myself even, and admit that apart from Him I can do nothing! I am reminded of Jesus speaking in John 15 of the vine and the branches. So what am I clinging to? What am I confident in that is temporary and will keep me from being truly rooted in the Vine? Is it my kids? My voice? My checkbook?

Praying today to learn to let go... and that you who are on this journey with me will too if you need to. Is this lesson just for me?

Miscellany Monday~ Easter Edition

2011-04-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday!! I hope y'all had an awesome Easter weekend! Ours was full of miscellaneous things, so it fits in well with today's post...

~The weather was perfect for the weekend. It rained on Friday, which I always feel is perfect for Good Friday... helps remind me what we are remembering. And then after a so-so Saturday, we woke up this morning to a glorious sunny sky for celebrating a Resurrected King. Hallelujah!

~The littles loved the egg hunt at our church on Easter morning. It was pretty chilly, and the ground was still a bit soft, but that didn't stop them from hunting for tons of candy. Another parent told Trace that as a parent you get 10% off the top... And truthfully, Halle is just as excited to find the eggs without knowing anything about what's inside. The thrill of the hunt, I guess...

~ We also took some time to make Resurrection rolls, color eggs, and have a spring scavenger hunt, but my crazy self didn't get any pics of those. The spring scavenger hunt is what we do on the Saturday before Easter in lieu of Easter baskets. I struggle because I have a hard time with traditions vs. the actual reason for the holidays. (You can see my thoughts on Santa here.) I don't want to be the parent that keeps my kids from doing fun things, but I also want to keep them constantly mindful of why we do what we do. So on the Saturday before Easter I hide eggs with clues around the house that lead to small prizes that I've collected.

Image from here

~I've started watching Glee from the beginning on netflix. I love this show. I started watching it in Nashville, but when we moved for some reason our antenna doesn't pick up Fox. So along with Glee I've gotten used to not seeing some shows I really like, like 'So You Think You Can Dance' (is that even on anymore?!), 'House', and 'American Idol'. But Glee really is my favorite. I watch and relive my glory days from high school show choir. And any show that has Josh Groban guest star is on my list anyway... I'm only on episode 5, but I see a lot of this in my future. Any other Gleeks out there?

So what did you do this weekend? Today will be highlighted by taking both little ones to the dentist and doing some shopping with my momma. Happy, happy! See you soon, lovelies!

How Great is His Love!!

2011-04-24T13:49:00.000-05:00

Happy Easter, sweet friends! "Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)

I Believe in Miracles

2011-04-21T11:13:00.000-05:00

I'm so excited to be blogging with Hearts at Home today! Hearts at Home is a wonderful organization for moms, and I'm thrilled to be blogging along-side them for the first Third Thursday Blog Hop. You should definitely check out their site if you aren't familiar with H@H... I have been so blessed by the wealth of resources and support they offer!

Today's question was: Have you experienced any miracles in your life?

I think, had I been asked this question several years ago, I might not have answered with certainty. I absolutely believed that God works miracles, but I think my small mind was on the lookout for grandiose things- you know, pillars of smoke and parting waters.... But what I am discovering as I live out these days with my sweet little ones and family and friends is that there are miracles all around us. And God is doing things, big and small, that can only be accredited to Him. And the thing is that some of the tiniest things are, to me, the most miraculous!!

In an effort to change my attitude and cultivate an attitude of everyday gratefulness in our home, I am trying to note the miraculous everywhere. While pulling a splinter out of Remy's finger this morning, I noticed his tiny fingerprint. The thought that God intricately printed my boy with tiny creases on his fingers that are like no others on earth?! That is amazing!

And while brushing the soft ringlets in Halle's hair, I can't help but think that God knows their number. Those same curls that seem to get so tangled and take forever to comb out (and admittedly don't get combed out on crazy days!) have been counted by our Maker.

I love knowing that He hears our hearts! Several weeks ago as our Fusion group met, I received a text that one couple wasn't going to make it because their 9 year old, Faith, had a 104 temp and splitting headache. They were on their way to the ER. Our group stopped the study and began to pray. Later that night I received an update that just when we were praying, Faith's fever immediately dropped to 99 and her headache went away. They didn't even have need to go to the ER. God is good and is faithful to answer! I'm just pretty sure I haven't been looking for the things that were right in front of me all along!

So what about you? Have you witnessed any miracles in your life? In what ways do you see God working around you? I have found that as I have been keeping my eyes open to see Him, they are everywhere. I would love to hear your stories and for you to link up! (I've never tried one of these hops, so we'll see how it goes... we all know I'm a bit technologically-impaired...)

Powered by Linky Tools
Click here to enter your link and view this Linky Tools list...

He Sees.

2011-04-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Some days I struggle to see God. Not because life is terrible, but rather the opposite. Life is comfortable, and I don't need Him like I do on really rough days.

Some days I don't know what to read in my Bible.

On rough days I just want my mom. Just to talk. Just to sit down and laugh while my kids act silly. Just because when she's here I'm not the Mama Hen. And I can breathe.

And then I read a post like this one from Amanda at Visiting Orphans.

And I am shaken back into the uncomfortable place that I always hope to be in. The place God wants me.

Strong God Who Sees. And thankfully He doesn't look away when I walk in the wrong direction. And His love covers all the sweet little ones who have been abandoned. His gaze holds on the ones who have been forgotten.

And His Spirit living in me prompts me to love. And to become more like Jesus. And He reminds me of the things in my life that separate me from Him. And I pray that at the end of each day I only want my Father. Because He is teaching me to see Him.

Miscellany Monday~ Easter Week

2011-04-18T06:00:00.003-05:00

{one} My 2 year old Halle made a declaration yesterday morning, and it certainly started my week on a good note. She said: "Mommy, guess what?! Jesus isn't on the cross anymore~ He's alive!". This momma's heart swelled to the point of bursting... They get it, don't they?!

{two} We may have to change Rueger's name to Shamoo. This poor baby dog wails and cries like a crazy whale or sea-cow or something. Nights are getting long, and we aren't sure what to do... Most info online says that he may just be bored and need attention. Are you kidding me?!

{three} Our spring pictures are in! And in a stroke of Divine Interference, neither little person was scarred or screaming. God is Good!! The bottom right is my absolute favorite. Our photographer apologized, saying that she didn't capture any of Miss Hallelujah smiling. But after looking at them, I had to laugh because she perfectly captured my girl!

{four} I am very excited about Easter week! For many, many reasons, but certainly on the list is the fact that my mom is coming into town on Thursday! I am definitely a momma's girl, and can't wait for her to spend some time here with all of us. Halle is already making her list of books to read with 'Grammy', and I'm sure Remy has some show and tell on a list too. So much to fit into four days!

{five} Lastly, I just want y'all to know that I am thankful for each of you. I have been glad to be back in this sweet spot, and the emails, tweets, & comments I've received have been wonderful. I love this 'community' and am so grateful for it! I pray so often for each of you as I read your blog posts as well as comments made here, and I love that God is able to knit us all together over one thing or another. Such blessings to me you are!!

Happy Monday, Lovelies!!

In the Garden

2011-04-15T06:00:00.000-05:00

I use the term 'garden' loosely. This dirt pit is the site of what was to be the garden last year, but I failed miserably at getting that going. So now the kids have a great place to dig and get messy (as though they needed help with that...). The weather has been glorious for the last few days, perfectly warm in the sun, so we've been out a lot. Halle, of course, is wearing her ruby red sparkly shoes, because who doesn't wear all her finery in the dirt?!

And I won't forget about these boys... Rueger is all pup and wants to wrestle poor Starbucks all the time. But we've started calling Starbucks 'The Godfather' because he's definitely put Rueger in his place a time or two. We know who the boss is here, and being a quarter of the size doesn't keep him down one bit. So what have you been up to now that it's warming up?

Weight

2011-04-14T06:00:00.016-05:00

"Your eyes have seen, now you are responsible."

I received this response while I was tweeting with someone yesterday, thanking him for the recommendation to watch the documentary called 'God Grew Tired of Us'. Have you seen this? It's available on netflix... It follows of the journey of several of the Lost Boys, which is the name that has been given to the more than 27,000 boys who were displaced or orphaned during the second Civil War in Sudan, as they travelled from a refugee camp in Africa to the US for the first time. Their perspective is awesome, but it is also deeply convicting. I urge you to watch this. But don't just watch it... don't you want to do something?

If you would like more info about refugee communities near you, or ministries that work with refugees and homeless folks, Joshua Read at Ragamuffin Life (http://ragamuffinlife.org) would be a great guy to get in contact with. He's the guy that I was tweeting with, and he is allowing God to use him to do some amazing things!

I'm sure if you have read around here for any length of time, seeing the title of this post you most likely assumed it was yet another post about my struggle with my own physical weight. But today it is more philosophical. I feel this tremendous calling to DO because I know. I beg God that I will never be a comfortable Jesus-follower. And that quote from Josh is so true because Christ has given me this knowledge, this heart sensitive to His calling, and that calling is to use it~ To fulfill his commission out of love and obedience.

... But the greatest of these is Love...

I also want my children to know that it's not about me... and it's not about them! We recently found a huge world map in our basement, and we hung it on the wall in the playroom. We have just started (and I seriously mean 'just' because we're only on the first country) is using a book called 'Window on the World: When We Pray God Works'. We have some friends in Michigan who recommended this book to us, and it's a family-friendly alphabetical guide of countries around the world. It gives some basic stats, interesting facts, and prayer requests and praises about each country. I love the section of requests and praises, because it guides us in exactly how to pray for the people there. After reading some stuff and praying, we took the littles to the playroom and found Afghanistan on the map.

Most of it is admittedly over Halle's head, but some of it is sinking in to Remy. They both love the map, and we have friends all over the world right now, so it's awesome to point out where they live, where they're from and how far it is from us. We are also going to make some arrows or something to mark different spots, like where Nthiani, our Compassion sponsored child lives.

We're trying to teach them about love by loving others, praying for others. I would love to hear what you are doing to help your kids get outside their own world! It rocked Remy's little brain that there are kids who can't go to church, who don't have video games, and who don't eat the insane foods that we have. (The video game thing was the most amazing, but we're getting there...)

Rueger

2011-04-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

This is Rueger (and coincidentally my messy kitchen...). He's a sweetie, though he doesn't know his own size... A doggy wrecking ball. But Trace is so happy, and that's what matters, right?

Come As You Aren't?

2011-04-12T09:44:00.000-05:00

Last night at Fusion (which, if you haven't been around here very long, is what our church calls small groups) we got on a topic that I have given a lot of thought. We were talking about how each of us struggles, and the sad thing is that everyone in our group agreed that at this point in America, church is the last place we feel like we can show those struggles. I think often of the story in Philip Yancey's book 'What's So Amazing About Grace' when he told a prostitute who was wanting life change that she should go to the Church, and she said 'Why would I want to go there? I already feel bad about myself.'. This is what it's become.

If anything, it should be the opposite. If there is one community I should be able to bare it all and be myself around, it should be my brothers and sisters. But strangely it's not... we come on Sunday in our 'Sunday Best', cleaned up and spotless. So I'm calling for a paradigm shift... what about our Sunday Worst? Why do we feel pressure around other believers to sweep all our brokenness under the proverbially rug?

I find it interesting that even Paul said to the Philippian church 'Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect...'. If anyone would have had grounds to appear somewhat perfect, it would have been Paul, right?!

But his transparency helps us heal. His humanness helps me to come before God just as I am and beg for change.

So couldn't my apparent brokenness help someone else? As I thought about this last night, God was definitely speaking right at me~ especially about my kids. I am in a constant state of fear that my littles will do something crazy or offend someone on Sunday morning. But shouldn't it be that I come in with kids in tow begging that everyone would see them as they are and pray for God to mold them into the world changers they are born to be? Couldn't our community be the kind that sees an imperfect family and prays for a different heart in my kids but also in me as I teach them?

I think in the year that we have been here I've taken steps in the right direction on this one. When we first moved, my self-conscious self felt that I had to appear perfect. I was so afraid of the 'church ladies', as I call them, that I didn't want to appear as anything less than 100% in front of them. (And come on, you know every church has their group of 'church ladies'...) But who was I really fooling?! No one really is perfect, and frankly it's exhausting keeping this up when we all know that everyone else is as flawed and human as the next person. So little by little I've been making changes. I've been coming to church in whatever state I might be in. I cry during worship as I talk to God and He speaks to me. I don't always stand & sing or answer the usual 'good' when someone asks me how I'm doing.

And God is changing me for that.

Suddenly as I allow myself to be more transparent I'm becoming more keen to see others as they are. With less judgement and more prayer. More seeing a need and asking God to heal them or allow me to serve them in His name. Allowing Him to increase as I decrease (John 3:30).

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:12-14

Miscellany Monday!

2011-04-11T10:15:00.000-05:00

Well, it has been a super long time for this... and this is my favorite, because when nothing else works, I can always be random... Happy Monday!

1~ Newborns are hard work! I know I have had two little ones of my own, but you really do forget how crazy it is! I am watching the sweet new baby of a friend two days a week until school is out, and she is perfection~ That sweet baby smell, those tiny little clothes, and precious first smiles. But man, I had forgotten how constant new babies are... by the end of the day I am so tired!

2~ Rueger Well, our home has increased in number again... I may have mentioned before that Trace absolutely loves BIG dogs, and I guess Starbucks doesn't count. So yesterday we drove a little ways to bring home crazy Mr. Rueger. He's a pure bred Doberman and just a puppy at 100 pounds. Poor thing is crying constantly missing his brother, but he's awesome with the littles, and Trace is enamored. No pictures yet because he moves too fast for me to capture!

3~ Jumbo Egg-mallows Have you had these?! They're huge, vanilla-flavored, egg-shaped marshmallows, and you can have like 4 of them for 90 calories, I think. Halle and I are eating them like there's no tomorrow! (okay, maybe I'm eating more than she is, but whatever...)

4~ Pink Panther Thanks to netflix, a new crop of old cartoons have come into my house, and we are all loving it! Remy had pink eye last week and decided to stick with the 'pink' theme and start watching Pink Panther. He laughs until he cries!

5~ Training Yesterday afternoon, we had the privilege of welcoming Bill Allison from Cadre Ministries at church to do a training called 'Ministry is Relationships' with many of our team leaders and also youth student leaders. It was a great session, and if you're involved in ministry in any way (and even if you're not technically, being a Jesus-follower is ministry, right?!) you should check out his sight!

So what have you been up to? I'm linking up with Carissa, and you should stop by her site and say hello! See you soon!

You.

2011-04-07T12:59:00.000-05:00

From flickr. Sorry, I couldn't find the link again, but if it's yours, i'd love to credit you!

God loves you deeply. Constantly. Consistently. Without abandon.

2011-04-04T06:00:00.000-05:00

I stumbled upon this quote from Jonathan Edwards while studying Luke 15: 57-62 and was amazed by it. I have begun praying this, and I truly hope that I can begin to embrace this in my life. I am finding that day by day God is molding me and indeed claiming deep, dark places that I thought were hidden as His. Such freedom in this kind of 'slavery'. I hope it speaks to you this Monday morning!

"I have been before God; and have given my self, all that I am and have to God, so that I am not in any respect my own. I can claim no right in myself, no right in this understanding, this will, these affections that are in me; neither have I any right to this body or any of its members; no right to this tongue, these hands nor feet; no right to these senses, these ears, this smell or taste. I have given myself clear away... This I have done. And I pray God, for the sake of Christ, to look upon it as a self-dedication; and to receive me now as entirely His own, and deal with me in all respects as such; whether he afflicts me or prospers me, or whatever He pleases to do with me, who am His." ~ Jonathan Edwards

Recycled Crayons

2011-03-22T12:57:00.000-05:00

Worst picture ever, I know... but I wanted to share these sweet little crayons that the littles and I made over the weekend. Like many of you, we have an ever growing pile of broken crayons that are too small to use (or, in the case of my Curly Girl, that she broke to make too small for her brother to use...). Either way, I hate to just dump them, so we made some new rainbow crayons.

This is the easiest project in the world! All I did was spray my crafting muffin tin with some cooking spray and fill each cup with pieces. I did try to break the bigger chunks in to smaller, similar sized pieces. I wanted to stick with similar colors, but the littles did a few of their own, and we have several rainbow chunks that they love. Then I placed the tin in an oven heated to 275* until they were melted. Sorry, I don't remember how long they were actually in there... you know how that goes. Once melted, I let them cool on top of the oven, and once the tin was cool, I moved it to the freezer until they were solid. They popped right out, and we colored with them right away! We sang the ROYGBIV song from Cat in the Hat as we did it, so I think it counts as a lesson too~ LOVE that!

So what have you been up to lately?

Shaking the Dust Off

2011-03-16T14:01:00.000-05:00

Hello, my lovely friends!! I'm feeling a bit chatty today and have a few moments before my sweet girl awakens, so I thought I'd say hello! I can't believe it's been three months of silence on this page, but I can't say that I regret it... life has been pretty good. We've done a lot of growing & playing, making & baking, and I even took on a new business just to keep things jam-packed. God has been gracious in keeping us relatively healthy (nothing but the yuck that sort of comes with the season...). We've seen Him all around us, and for all these gifts I can't even for a minute say I'm sorry for not posting more often. Y'all know how it is, and we've been living.

We have had some milestones~ Remy turned 5, and promptly thereafter I signed him up for kindergarten... I cannot believe that day has come!! In the same week, I registered Halle for preschool next year. Just two mornings a week for her, but it does make it seem like time is falling through my fingertips faster than I can hold on. (sigh)

I do hope that you have all been doing well! Thanks so much to those of you sweeties who emailed to check in on me and mine~ you're darling!! I'll try to post more often, but I won't promise!

Happy Friday!

2010-12-03T11:37:00.000-06:00

Hi, sweet friends! Happy Friday/December! I promise I'm still alive, though my lack of posting may have left you to wonder... just busyness that the holidays bring~ preschool field trips and parties, shopping, decorating, just life that happens. I adore you all and hope today finds you doing well, surrounded by people and things that you love! xo

Friday, Friday

2010-11-19T07:00:00.006-06:00

Well, this week has been full of drama... sorry I haven't been around, but I just couldn't do it. I do have a few pics from the last week, though. Last Friday Halle got her first haircut (just her bangs, but still a notable occasion!), and Remy got his first ever short hair cut. To us, it was a sign of our being mid-westerners, but to Remy is was such a big deal, having a haircut like his friends. (And this isn't a jab on mid-westerners, it's just always been funny to us that here he is the only boy in his class, team, whatever that had long hair...) He looks so cute, and he loves that he and Trace can put gel in their hair together! Ahh, a bonding moment for father & son.

of course, sticking her tongue out

so handsome with his tiny faux-hawk

This week I have also been loving the Peppermint Mocha Creamer from Coffee-Mate. Have you tried this stuff?! Amazing! And believe me, I have had a ton of coffee in the last seven days!

I hope you have a great weekend! I have my last craft show tomorrow at a local school, but other than that I am hoping that ours stays pretty calm and that I'll get back to my normal schedule next week. 'Until next time...

Friday Love

2010-11-12T07:00:00.001-06:00

This week consisted of a lot of slowing down. It turns out that 'Making Room' translates into a lot of time away from the computer, which is great for me and the littles, but means less posting on this space. (Not that I spent tons of time on here, but as in every area, there's always room to improve...) I have so much to love!

This is what happens when I try to get a nice picture of my wee ones who were snuggling on the couch. One is happy and the other is just goofy... These were also the shots of Halle's first pigtails. I have been begging her, and she finally let me put some in! Don't worry, the curly girl's bangs and shaggy boy's entire mane are getting chopped this morning.

As good as it gets...

Remy and I also had a date yesterday. We went to see a movie and then out to eat at a 50s Diner. It was fun to hang with my sweet boy, even though he made it clear he would rather be with his daddy, and give Halle & Trace some time together. I'm looking forward to a quiet weekend, though that almost never happens that way... I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of people you love!

Quiet

2010-11-09T06:43:00.000-06:00

" Be still and know that I am God"

Psalm 46:10

I am tired. I wanted you to know that I'm still here... just waiting. And I am not good at waiting. I am excited, as I said last week, to see what's next for me, for our family, but I think at this point God is just calling me into stillness. And it's hard because while I can sit and read/blog/write, I don't do the 'God wants me to just wait' kind of stillness very well. And the craziest thing is that I know personally how awesome it is to hear his voice. Isn't it strange how we can know something and yet continue to fall into old ways? (or maybe that's just me...)

So while I don't have much to say today, I thought I would share something I wrote a while back about being still. I may have shared it before, but it's a prayer I come back to when I need to remind myself just to wait.

God, how often do I forget to be still! But you love me even then. Give me strength to exalt you, God, because sometimes I lack even that. But I love you. I praise you because in chaos or in stillness you are an Irrepressible God. An Unshakeable God. A Sweet Tender God.

Your word moves me. I fall at your feet because that is all I can do. My heart is full of your love. You fill me up and I am deeply happy. In this quietness I exalt you. My heart of loud praise shatters the silence and I can nearly hear your laughter. Because you are. And I do know. Is this the thing that in the stillness you reveal? Because my only regret is not being quiet before this moment.

Caramel Apples and a Lesson Learned

2010-11-03T07:00:00.011-05:00

Happy Wednesday, lovelies! I adore when a simple project looks amazing... Caramel apples are one of those treats that look really beautiful and are so easy to make.

Remy and Halle were my chief caramel unwrappers. 'Unwrap one, eat one' was the motto of the morning!

Buttering the parchment

The finished product~ Lovely!

We used the easy directions right on the caramel package for dipping the apples, and the littles chose nonpareils and Halloween sprinkles for the toppings. I also chopped up some nuts for good measure. They had a great time from start to finish, and I was thankful that they were still in their pjs because it was super messy! My one mistake was that I didn't refrigerate them overnight, and in the morning all the caramel had melted to the bottom of the sweet little cello bags I had put them in. I'm still a bit disappointed about that, but our friends were good sports and ate them anyway! (They know I'd be mean if they didn't, and no one wants me to stop making for them!)

Make Room

2010-11-02T07:00:00.001-05:00

Make Room

This two word phrase has been so powerful in my life for the past few months, this year even. (I blogged a bit about the Kelly Minter study 'No More Gods' that inspired this phrase here.) 2010 is the year I have emptied out the ghosts in my closets. Shaken the dust out of the rugs and truly given God over even the hidden corners of my figurative house. I kind of see the idol metaphor like this: At the beginning of the year I had a mantle. And on it were several trophies/idols that I loved. I put them up there so they would be safe. I could look at them, show them off to friends even, but there they stayed, exalted. Then God said "Make Room.". And one by one I obeyed... removing the trophy, dusting the spot it had occupied and letting only Jesus remain.

The 2 sweet things shop is my last 'trophy'. The shop is my attempt to do it myself... my own way. And now I've taken the last ten days to reevaluate and recognize that God again is saying "Make Room". Inherently good, but taking time and space that he wants to fill with other things~ things that help me fulfill the calling on my life to love Him and love others. That is my singular purpose. So I do it willingly... wholeheartedly... joyfully. Knowing that I was made for more than this.

I'm not calling it quits entirely, but I do just need to step back. The perfectionist in me is constantly screaming that I should do more, make more, sell more, and that isn't the kind of 'more' I was made for. So while a lot of this 'Make Room' talk is figurative, I am literally making room as well, and many things in my shop are marked down~ get them while you can! I will continue to leave my etsy shop open, but I will only occasionally post new items... I'll let you know when that is! My Big Cartel site will only be open for about two more weeks (until my current subscription runs out), and then I will be transferring what is left there into the etsy shop. I will also continue taking your custom orders as my schedule allows, so feel free to send me an email with a request, and we'll see what we can work out!

God is calling me to live. And I will still be living here on these 'pages', and I am excited to craft, write, pray, and dream with you still in this space every day. In fact, it probably won't look much different around here, the difference I anticipate will be mostly in my home & my head, which is terribly exciting! (As a boss, even my own, I am so demanding... so I'm quitting that job!) I hope you will continue to come here and live with me~ I do have so much fun here!

I said on Friday that I had been reading Joshua 3:5. "Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.'" Of this verse, Kelly Minter said 'My spirit is convinced that these are the things we have to look forward to when we, by faith, move from the idols of our hearts.' I believe this with everything in me~ we are on the brink, and I want it all! God has put amazing blessings in front of us!

The one where I steal her idea...

2010-11-01T12:00:00.002-05:00

... and I should have stolen her picture! (My problem is not that I don't make tons of beautiful desserts, I'm just a lousy photographer!) Last Monday, Carissa posted her 'Death by Chocolate' as part of her miscellany- a gorgeous brownie topped with chocolate icing. Divine! Her post said that they only eat dessert once a week, which is a rule I think we all know I don't abide by. Anyway, we had friends coming for dinner and needed a quick and simple dessert that was also kid-friendly. I whipped up a batch of brownies, per the 'cake-like brownie' instructions, popped them into my mini muffin tins to bake and made up some chocolate icing while they were in the oven. The icing recipe was straight from the Nestle Cocoa can and mixed up easy-breezy. Aren't they cute?!

I do make brownies pretty regularly, but the frosting was the perfect touch to change it up a bit. Do you have a go-to dessert you make when expecting company? What do you do to keep it from becoming mundane?

Miscellany Monday

2010-11-01T07:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday and First Day of November! I'm once again linking up with the darling Ms. Carissa for Miscellany Monday~ I have too many random thoughts not to!

~one~ I had an email in my inbox this morning that said 'Now that November is here, the holidays are officially beginning. Are you ready?'. Frankly it kind of freaked me out... I absolutely adore this time of year, but I want to breathe it all in and enjoy it. Don't rush me!

~two~ My craft show on Saturday was a wild, surprising success! On Friday when I went to set up I was a bit nervous because I was definitely a minority (young & pierced), but on Saturday the crowd was great. I had a fantastic day selling and talking to customers and other vendors. It was so good to get out and meet some people!

Wolverine goes to preschool

~three~ Remy spent most of the weekend as Wolverine, beginning with school on Friday. He had a wonderful fall party with his class and brought home a ton of treats! On Saturday our church had a block party with petting zoo, treats, and games. Remy was waiting in line for one of the games, where he told the ladies that 'We don't need treats, we have a bunch, so we're just here to play. That's our motto.'. I swear I didn't prep him with that 'motto' line, but I loved it! On Saturday Halle wasn't feeling agreeable about wearing her costume, so when people asked about hers we just said she was going as 'fourteen'. Her Scooby Doo did make an appearance at church on Sunday morning, and she had a blast barking in her class.

~four~ I got to drive Trace's stealth on Saturday because he needed my van for some errands. I was not impressed, and my thirty year old self is definitely happy with the minivan. No sports cars for me!

Well, that might be it for this morning... How was your weekend? I have lots of posts lined up for the week, I think (or at least lots of ideas in my head at this point...). Until next time...

Cold Weather Favorite~ Taco Soup & {Almost} Homemade Tortilla Chips

2010-10-29T12:00:00.001-05:00

I mentioned this soup the other day and couldn't stop thinking about it... I love that it's inexpensive, and mixes up in just a few minutes. I add my (Almost) homemade tortilla chips, and it's the perfect meal in cold weather.

~First the Chips: These are one of my favorite kitchen 'fakes' because they taste way better than chips from a bag, and people always think you went to some crazy measures to make chips. (And I say, let them believe it!) All you do is buy a pack of extra thin Corn Tortillas. (I have done it with any kind of tortilla, but the extra thin works best in my opinion...) I use my pizza cutter to cut through several rounds into the desired shape (My kids prefer triangles so we stick with that, but I love strips in soup!). Spray a baking sheet with oil, and lay the pieces in a single layer on the sheet. Put into a 350* heated oven, and bake until the edges start to turn up, about 12 minutes. Flip the chips over and put back into the oven until golden brown, about 5-10 minutes. Remove from oven and salt, if desired.

The only catch is that timing is key. You do not want the chips under baked because they will be chewy (trust me). I always have to force myself to leave them for a few more minutes than I think they actually need.

~Now for the Soup~
Ingredients:
   2 cans kidney beans
   2 cans pinto beans
   1 can corn, drained
   1 can ro*tel
   1 can diced tomatoes
   1 packet taco seasoning
   1 packet ranch seasoning
   1 pound ground beef
   1 medium onion, diced

Simple directions: In a large stockpot, brown beef. Drain. Return beef and add onion, cook until soft. Add everything else to the pot plus 2 cans water. Cook on high until boiling then lower heat and simmer for about 30 minutes. Serve. So easy, right?!

This week's Writer's Workshop prompt was to create a how-to, and I already had this one ready... Yippee!

The Love List

2010-10-29T07:00:00.001-05:00

This week has been pretty amazing, and I have a lot to love!

~This verse: Joshua 3:5 "Joshua told the people, 'Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.'" (emphasis mine) I'll definitely elaborate more next week, but I am just living on the expectancy of this one today.

~ Give Every Day- Have you seen this?! I recently discovered Steph & her family and am so loving what they are doing. You really should check it out!

~Tricks + Treats - Elsie always posts amazing things, but in the weeks leading up to the opening of the new Red Velvet Shop, she has been posting tons of great DIY projects from great blogger guests. Everything from cute Halloween Nail Art to soft braids. This acorn garland (pictured above) by Rachel Denbow is my absolute favorite! Now I just need to find the time to try them all!

source

~Legwarmers. Okay, so I am a child of the eighties... Something about all the chunky knits makes me super happy. I think I'll have to live vicariously through Halle on this one~ chubby baby legs look way cuter in these than chubby momma legs.

I could go on, but my quiet was just interrupted by two screaming little ones. (Isn't it strange how happy play can turn to drama in an instant?!) I hope your weekend is filled with people and things that you love!

Dream in Gray & White

2010-10-28T07:00:00.003-05:00

Given the state of my house and all that's associated with getting ready for the show on Saturday, I thought I would keep it simple today and feature some of my current favorite etsy finds. To match the skies, perhaps, I am loving accessories in gray and white. It's funny, I am crazy in love with headbands and hair pins, though I rarely wear anything in my hair~ maybe this is a sign that I should!

Dotty Headband

Gingko Skinny Jersey Scarf

Gray Foldover Clutch

Stormy Vintage Button Hairpins

Hush Headband

Vintage Houndstooth Coat

What are your favorite accessories right now? I'll be back tomorrow with a whole lot of love!

Stolen Moments

2010-10-27T07:00:00.000-05:00

We woke up Tuesday morning to a gray sky after a night of storms. I love the fleeting moments when the outside world isn't quite awake and my littles are content to play together. Something about these sweet, snuggly babies with sleepy eyes and footed jammies makes me feel really content. And it's getting harder and harder to find the footed kind for Remy... one more sign that he is growing up, I guess, whether I like it or not!

Lost

2010-10-26T07:00:00.001-05:00

As a church, we've been in a sermon series called 'Under Construction' for the last few weeks. Our church is in a time of major transition, and God is doing some awesome things, but as a church that has been here for 150 years, there's a lot of dust shaking around as we move into what God is calling us to right now. So we pray and work and dream. I love this kind of construction!

Several weeks ago, the sermon that particularly hit home was on being lost. Our pastor used the parables from Luke 15 about the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. The next night in our small group, we were to elaborate on if we'd been in a situation of losing someone or something. I retold this story about Remy that really caused a huge stirring in my soul:

When we lived in Nashville, our Sunday afternoons were occupied with something called 'Church in the Yard' (CITY). CITY consisted of a short service & communion and then serving a meal to the 100 or so homeless brothers that had gathered. We looked forward to this time every week and loved taking the kids with us to just meet and love on some of our homeless friends. One Sunday I was serving in the food line and Trace had both littles and was talking to some guys in the yard. Suddenly he rushed over to me, threw Halle into my arms and said 'I can't find Remy.'.

Have you been there? That lump in your throat. The panic... the feeling that life won't go on without them. And five minutes seemed like an eternity. Thankfully after a few panicked minutes searching, Remy emerged from the church building with Brett, who is practically family, happily holding his hand and carrying a cookie. I have never held my boy like I did in that moment. And for him, he never even knew he was lost.

As our group shared stories (we all had them, and looking around we remarked that 'Man, we are terrible parents!'), I had the amazing realization that this is what God is calling me to feel for his people. Jesus demands it of us, and I'm praying that he would ever increase that gut-wrenching ache in me for the poor. the abandoned. the far from God.

This morning I was praying through the Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9-13), and verse 10 resounded within me in a new way. "...your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." I have such hope in my eternal home, but Jesus is begging us to live not as one just waiting for eternity but bringing a glimpse of his kingdom here to the very ones he came to save. I hope, my sweet friends, that you see some of this today, in the lives you lead and in the people you meet!

Miscellany Monday

2010-10-25T07:00:00.012-05:00

Hello, lovelies! I hope y'all had a good weekend. You know the drill~ I'm linking up with Carissa because I have a plethora of random thoughts this morning!

{one} I learned last night at youth that it isn't recommended to ingest a spoonful of dry cinnamon. This was the game that my darling husband came up with for the students. Of the eight that played, six threw up... but as gross as that is, in youth ministry, a game that makes even one kid throw up is considered a success. So last night was super successful! (YUCK!)

{two} I took the trend of wearing tall boots with jeans tucked into them on a test drive on Saturday. I was afraid that I would look and/or feel like a jockey, but I actually think it looked pretty cute. I didn't gallop even once!

{three} If you have little ones and have yet to discover the awesomeness of a good pediatric dentist, I urge you to search for one in your area. An indoor playground and super fast service make it totally worth it. Last week I had to take both littles for a 9:00am and 9:30am appointment (not exactly something I was looking forward to...), and we were done with both by 9:20!! Both kids were troopers~ and no cavities!

{four} I'm thinking that this week is going to be the perfect week for a giant batch of taco soup. I love that the weather seems to have finally turned for good and coolness has moved in... lots of soup recipes will likely find their way into my kitchen and here on the blog.

{five} My first craft show of the season is coming up on Saturday. I love doing the shows once I'm there, but the week before is typically insanity for everyone in the house. I'm pretty sure I have all the last-minute sewing finished, but piles of goodies wait to be priced, folded and loaded.

{six} One more picture from my phone that I thought I had already posted. Last Monday Remy's class took a trip to the fire station. This is a big deal, as on most days if you ask Remy what he wants to be when he grows up it's either a fireman or Spidey. Rem, in his typical style, did his best to act unimpressed, but when offered the chance to spray the hose, he could no longer remain nonchalant.

Happy, Happy Crazy Day

2010-10-22T12:00:00.002-05:00

A very Merry Birthday to my Tracey!!!

I'm always at a loss on what to get Trace for his birthday, and this year was no different. But a few months ago (I was seriously starting early because it always seem to come down to the wire...) I had the brilliant idea that I would try to get Brett, Trace's best friend, to come up for his birthday to surprise him. Well, Brett is pretty hard to pin down, and I had been playing email tag for weeks. So imagine my surprise on Monday when I get an email saying 'Friday doesn't work, but how about we leave for your place late tomorrow night to get there Wednesday morning? I'll have 6-7 guys with me.' Umm, okay.

A little back story is that Brett is our friend in Nashville that works extensively with the homeless community through Lambscroft. He lives in a house that he shares with several guys at a time who he is helping get off the streets, through discipleship, finding a job, etc. So the guys he was bringing were the guys who were living with him right now. I, of course, responded with an excited 'YES, please come!!!'. But then the chaos ensued~ where was I going to sleep all these people? (thankfully friends had many sets of bedding and air mattresses) feed everyone? (Hooray for easy breakfast recipes and our favorite WalMart pizza!)

Given the time that they were arriving, I had to tell Trace early about them coming (was there really a way that I could have hidden bedding for 7 extra people?!), but other than that, the day was wonderful! The gang arrived about 5:30 am on Wednesday morning, and it was soooo good. We knew two of the people that Brett brought with him, so we got to reconnect with some friends and make some new ones. It never ceases to amaze me the ministry God works in the lives of those who truly love him. I loved hearing stories of men overcoming addiction, getting through a prison sentence, and discussing parts of the Bible with so many different view points represented.

I think Trace was pretty happy. The day ended with a great birthday cake, which Brett and some of our students promptly smeared on Trace's face. The only thing that wasn't great was that they had to leave Wednesday night to get home on Thursday... the work in that kind of ministry doesn't stand still for very long. So the whirlwind is over, but the effects are lasting.

Happy Birthday to the funny & sarcastic guy that puts up with my craziness... XO

Friday Love~ Guest Post by Abbie of 'Greening Sam and Avery'

2010-10-22T07:00:00.006-05:00

Happy Friday, lovelies! My week has taken a turn for the crazy, and I am so thankful to have a guest author here for the day. I'll fill you in on all my insanity soon, I'm sure! Abbie is the author of an amazing blog called 'Greening Sam and Avery' where she shares her journey to help her little ones appreciate the world around them. Every day she shares a green project that she does with her littles and walks out the step-by-step, or the 'nitty gritty', as she calls it. You will love the things she comes up with (like those amazying tree blocks below)! On with the love!!!

Hello 2 sweet things readers! I am a new reader and Mandy has graciously allowed me to invade her space here as a member of the SITS Hedgehog Tribe. Super excited to be here and share some of the things that I am loving right now.

We are in love with our tree blocks. My girls have played with them almost every day since we got them and the ideas are endless.

Fantasy football! (didn't see that one coming did you? ha!) My husband and I are in a couples league with a bunch of our friends and while I have always been a football fan and willing to sit and watch a game this has taught me much more about the sport, made it even more fun to watch the games and know some of the players and the smack talk between the spouses and friends is hilarious! We don't live in town with the friends that are in the league anymore but we use to get together on Sunday afternoons for great food and to watch at least one game together. We have some great memories from those afternoons spent watching the games and chatting with great friends. Who knew you could bond and have so much fun over Fantasy Football?

Loving pick-your-own farms! We just recently moved to a bigger city and the amount of local farms we have near us is amazing. We have done so much fresh food picking this spring, summer and fall. My daughters are in love with every part of the process, including all the great food we are making and eating!

My girls. Okay, not every day and not every moment of every day (is there a mom out there that doesn't get frustrated every once in a while? I don't think so!) but for the most part I am loving my daughters right now. They are both in pretty amazing, yet challenging stages (2.5 years old and nine months!) but we have a blast with outings, games, music and just playing with each other at home. I cherish these days because I know that before I realize it they will both be off to school and not home with me every day.

Thanks so much for letting me share with you all today! It has been so good to look at life and the things that are really sticking out as "my loves" right now. Happy Friday everyone!!

Why I don't do Halloween

2010-10-21T07:00:00.001-05:00

I don't think my answer is what you'd expect. I'm not going to give you the "because of all the dark, devil-inspired" Christian response, though that's totally not something I like. There are a few reasons the holiday doesn't sit well...

Source

~The first is perhaps the most ridiculous, though the most prevalent. I do NOT like people wearing masks. Since as far back as I can remember, I haven't been a fan of clowns, the Easter bunny, or {especially} those weirdos dressed up like cartoon characters at theme parks. I'm not necessarily afraid of them, but I don't like not knowing who is behind the mask. I am always bothered that it could be some strange pervert hugging on my kids. I don't turn on my light or open the door on Halloween... So don't come knocking.

~Second, I hate supporting gluttony. Call me over-dramatic, but I don't think that any child needs a huge bag full of candy... As someone who has always struggled with my weight, and who has a crazy relationship with food, I want to model good behavior for my kids. With our (Americans as a whole) children having so many health-related issues due to the obesity epidemic, I can't stomach just pitching poison to our little ones. If I ever did decide to answer the door, I would be the weird lady on the block handing out tooth brushes or apples.

~Third is the whole ritual itself: Why am I the only one who thinks sending my kids around the neighborhood knocking on doors and begging for food is strange?! We say 'Don't take candy from strangers.', so why is it okay on this one night?

I know, Every Party Has a Pooper... I'm okay with that.

Just Because... {Writer's Workshop}

2010-10-19T12:32:00.000-05:00

Just because I'm a Stay-at-home Mom doesn't mean I am sitting around eating bon-bons (what is a bon-bon, anyway?!) and reading romance novels.

(To my children) Just because I'm in the other room doesn't mean I don't know exactly what you are doing.

Just because skinny jeans, ultra-low-rise jeans, and jeggings are trendy and in stores doesn't mean you should wear them.

Just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean I vote for a particular party (or any party, for that matter) or support certain issues. *My only candidate is Jesus. Just putting that out there...*

Just because we're Facebook friends doesn't mean that I want to see the most intimate details of your life on my wall.

Now it's your turn to fill in the Blanks~ Just because ____________ doesn't mean _____________. What first comes to your mind?

Well hello, monday! {Miscellany Monday}

2010-10-18T07:00:00.001-05:00

Nice to see you again... This weekend felt like it happened at light speed, and we packed so much in!

Friday night was another sleepover/spa night with some of the youth students. Let's just say that I am getting way too old for 2 am! I do, however, love watching sappy romantical movies and the chatter of young people~ that at least helps me to feel like I'm young again. We made cookies and painted toe nails and even pranked some fellow youth leaders who were away on their honeymoon... Ahh, life is grand!

Saturday brought another visit to another apple orchard/pumpkin patch. The weather was windy but gorgeous, and we had a great time.

My sweet baby bee!

This is the only 'posed' picture I managed to snap... not quite Christmas card material.

Sunday included a great morning service and then Veritas, which is our youth service in the evening. I never would have thought that I would enjoy working with teenagers, but that's an area that God has changed in my heart so much in the past year.... and we have an awesome group of friends who volunteer to watch my little people so that I can serve. I feel so blessed by all the amazing people God puts in our life!

This week is certain to be busy. Today Rem's preschool class is taking a trip to the fire department, and I get to tag along~ so excited!! I have also connected with a MOPS group from another church and am going for the first time. I really loved the group that I was a part of in Indiana when Remy was first born. It will be great to get out of the house and meet some other moms!

Lots of sewing is on the horizon too. I have spent weeks trying to find local craft shows to no avail, and then last week within 24 hours two, and a possible third, almost fell into my lap. The best part is that they are literally just down the hill from my house. Love it!

Okay, so I hope that is random enough for this Monday. As is my usual custom, I'm linking up with the lovely Carissa. Click the link and show her some love! Happy Monday!

Friday Love~ Guest Post by Lindsay of 'Just My Blog'

2010-10-15T07:00:00.001-05:00

**Happy Friday, Lovelies! As a challenge for a blogging community I'm a part of I am actually posting my regularly scheduled Love List over at Just My Blog, which is where my guest writer today, Lindsay, usually blogs. If you're visiting from Lindsay's site, welcome! I do hope you'll take a few minutes to look around, check out the cookies (which I bake nearly every day) and/or the insanity that is my life... If you're not new around here, I'd love for you to get to know Lindsay and jump over to her neck of the woods to say hello. xo, M**

The SITS Girls have brought Mandy and I together (along with many other bloggers) as a tribe. The Hedgehog Tribe to be exact. We are a group of bloggers who all have young children. One of our challenges as a tribe was to swap some guest posts...So here I am! I normally blog over at Just My Blog, but today I'm giving Mandy a break and holding her hostage until she bakes me some chocolate chip cookies. Also, you can find her at my blog today giving me some awesome guest post love. So, what do I love?

I love the Fall. I didn't used to love Autum or Fall or whatever you want to call it. As a matter of fact, I loathed Fall because it meant that a freezing winter was just around the corner. Then I moved to Georgia....and winter isn't as terrible as it was in Illinois. Now I can finally enjoy the leaves changing color and the nip in the air.

I love shops like this one. I even love them when I have no money to spend in them. I love imagining their pretty things in my not pretty {yet} house. I love knowing that most of the items in their shop were lovingly made by hand by someone who loves making them (like Mandy).

I love blogging. I love all of the amazing women I've connected with since I began blogging. The Hedgehog Tribe has turned out to be a pretty awesome bunch of women who I know I can really relate to and get along with. As a matter of fact, if you get a chance, go check each of them out. They're all different types of blogs and designs...our tribe was put together because we have young children, but it is not necessarily the defining focus of each of our blogs.

Lastly, and probably most obviously, I love my children. My girls make me smile at least 17 times a day. They bring me joy, love, frustration, psychosis, confusement and hugs. The hugs make the rest of it all worthwhile. Their smiles are contagious. Their cheeks are totally pinchable. Their voices are magical. The complete innocence and compassion they have are overwhelmingly beautiful. I am so thankful for them each and every day.

~~~

Okay, so I've told you a little of what I love...now tell me, what do you love? What is making you smile today? What is reminding you to be thankful?

A Bit of House-Wifery~ Chocolate Chip Cookies

2010-10-13T07:00:00.005-05:00

I've decided to stick with blogging about my favorite house wife things... Last week I blogged about my dream 'uniform', and today I thought I would share a Top Secret recipe. I've said it many times, but I truly feel like a qualifying skill necessary for being a good mother and housewife is making perfect chocolate chip cookies. (If you aren't a baker, please don't send me angry emails... this is actually not mandatory~ just something I had in my crazy brain!) I searched just to make sure I hadn't posted this before and couldn't find it.

Sorry for the picture with bright flash... I have serious lighting issues!

My recipe really isn't anything fancy, but it consistently makes the best chocolate chip cookies I've ever had. I use the best ingredients I can and have made it in variations with organic, non-organic, name brand, off-brand, and this recipe has never failed me. I think it's from Better Homes & Gardens, though I have it memorized and am too lazy at the moment to look for it in a book.

Ingredients
1/2 cup shortening
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup packed light brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour (I use unbleached)
12 oz. semisweet chocolate chips
1 1/2 cups nuts (optional)

~Heat oven to 375*
~ In large bowl, mix shortening & butter. Blend until smooth. Add in sugars and baking soda. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Mix in flour a little at a time until well blended. Stir in chocolate (and nuts, if using).
~On baking sheet lined with parchment, scoop out dough with plenty of space between. Most of the time I use a 1/4 cup cookie dough scoop and make fewer, giant cookies. I can fit about 16 on a cookie sheet this size. You can use whatever size scoop you like, just adjust the baking time accordingly. I think it works better to leave them in a ball shape, as they will cook up softer in the middle and won't be cracker-like. (If that's your thing, press them out a bit!)
~Bake for 12-15 minutes, pulling them out when they begin to brown around the edges but still look soft in the middle. leave on sheet for about 5 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack to ~~eat~~ cool.

Ours usually don't last long enough to have to store them, but I recommend keeping them in an airtight container after they've completely cooled. And if you really want to be June Cleaver (because who doesn't!?), put a piece of bread in the container with the cookies to keep them soft. Trust me, if you haven't heard of this, it works! The cookies steal the moisture from the bread and stay extra soft.

I'd love to know if you try out this recipe!! And I'd also love to know if there's anything in the vein of homemaking that you'd like to talk about~ recipes, organization, cleaning, laundry... I'm thinking this will be a regular Wednesday thing, and I'd love your input! 'Til next time!

Miscellany Monday

2010-10-11T10:08:00.000-05:00

Participating again in Carissa's randomness... I love starting the week with a good emptying of the brain!

{un} My wee ones are growing up (sniff...) and this was a big 'moving on up' weekend! Trace finished building Remy's new loft bed, so he is officially in a twin size bed 'way up by the ceiling'. He's thrilled! As he moved out the toddler bed, Halle was more than eager to take his place. I was a little nervous, thinking that keeping my wild girl in her cage for a bit longer would save my sanity, but she did great. We're only two nights in at this point, but she went down like a champ! Every time they move into a new phase I get a bit sentimental, but at the same time, I think it's a sign that we must be doing something right. Right?! God in his tremendous grace has so richly blessed us with these little people!

{deux} I have to share that I found the cutest fabric collection for my new winter line. That's all I'm sharing for now, but I'm so excited and hope you will love it too! More details to come as I have them~ patterns are being drafted and samples made at the moment...

{trois} I can count in french. However, I did begin to doubt myself and googled the spelling just in case. I should trust my memory more... I was correct!

{quatre} I love this time of year and the fact that new t.v. is on every night. I am a dork, and I think I'm okay with that.

{cinq} I adore Martinelli's apple juice in these sweet little bottles. Trying to think of a craft to make with them... So cute (and I think it's the best apple juice ever. EVER.)!

{six} My new boots arrived and are so fantastic. I was pretty sure that you were wondering about that.

{sept} I have been thinking about doing a weekly devotional sort of post around these parts (sounding a bit 'country'... perhaps due to the wearing of the afore mentioned boots?). Is that something y'all would be interested in? I write a ton, but only occasionally post them on here. Any thoughts?

Hope you have a blessed Monday~ I know it's a holiday for some!

Love~ Together

2010-10-08T07:00:00.000-05:00

Desperately in need of a hair cut, but oh well!

There are few things that make me happier than moment when Remy & Halle have fun together. And yes, sometimes those fleeting moments turn quickly, but I relish them while I can. Something about the fresh air, the smell of fall and the sounds of leaves crunching under our feet is so magnetic to wee ones (and not-so-wee ones!). Happy Weekend!

Ten Things I Believe

2010-10-07T12:00:00.001-05:00

source

{one} I believe that Jesus meant what he said.

{two} I believe that 'Love your enemies' does not mean guns or fighting or killing.

{three} I believe that 30 is going to be my best year ever.

{four} I believe that my littles have the most glorious laughs.

{five} I believe that sometimes cookies do make everything better.

{six} I believe that sometimes cheesecake is a need and not a want.

{seven} I believe that my husband must be some kind of man to tolerate me.

{eight} I believe flip flops go with everything.

{nine} I believe peanut butter sandwiches do not go with a steak dinner. (You'll have to ask Trace about that one...)

{ten} I believe that I need to act like I believe number one. every day.

What do you believe? If you want, make a list of your own and leave it or link it in the comments!

Made!

2010-10-07T07:00:00.002-05:00

There have been many instances since I began sewing a zillion years ago that I have attempted to make something for me to wear. And I believe that until this weekend, each trial has been a miserable one and I have never been happy with anything I've made. I have been on a mission to change this! So a few weeks ago, I made this great tunic for someone else and it turned out so cute that I decided to give it a try for myself. It's the Schoolhouse Tunic from Meg at Sew Liberated. The pattern is super easy to read and put together, and my tunic came together in probably just about 2 hours (it's hard to judge the time because I start and stop a lot due to the demands of my sweet things). The fabric is from a sheet set that I found on clearance a few weeks ago. I didn't change the pattern one bit, but I did add a navy blue sash, just to add a little definition to my waist.

I wore this to church with some straight jeans and ballet flats. It's a super kid-friendly outfit, I might add~ I ran and danced all over! Maybe someday I'll be one of those cute 'What I Wore Today' bloggers... but for today all I've got is this blurry cell phone shot. You get the idea...

Oh, and as you know I've been on the hunt for some brown boots. Over the weekend I ordered this pair from Ruche. Why had I never heard of this site before?! Sooooo excited to get them this week~ Yippee!

2 sweet things

Because It Starts with Me

Miscellany~ My weekend in Numbers

Third Thursday~ I'm cleaning house!

Today

Word.

Miscellany Monday

Friday.

Home Goals

Reclaim

Miscellany Monday~ Happy New Year!

Hope has Come~ A Review and Giveaway!

Third Thursday Again?!

Hearts at Home Third Thursday Blog Hop

Finding Rhythm

Third Thursday Thoughts~ Remember the time?

Under the Weather

Words

Fear and Rest

More Questions than Answers...

Reaching

the little things

New Things Abound!

Exalted

Lovely Monday

Two Roads

Starting Point

Firsts...

Fixed

Stained

3

Party Panic

Ways I Am NOT (or Refuse to Admit but Probably Am) Like my Mother

Calling

Her

Small

Monday!

Miscellany Tuesday!

Coming of Age

Keep in Mind

Child of God

To My Teenage Self~ Third Thursday Thoughts

Distance

Sunny Monday

The Line

You Can Have Me

Miscellaneous...

Chocolate Cobbler

Miscellany Monday~ Yippee!!

My Favorite Homemade Dish

Tea Party!

Monday, Monday

Not Quite

As For Me & My House {My first Review!}

Miscellany Monday

One of Those...

Sow Love

Friday Love

WooHoo Granola!

Wednesday Wish List

Abandon

Miscellany Monday~ Easter Edition

How Great is His Love!!

I Believe in Miracles

He Sees.

Miscellany Monday~ Easter Week

In the Garden

Weight

Rueger

Come As You Aren't?

Miscellany Monday!

You.

Recycled Crayons

Shaking the Dust Off

Happy Friday!

Friday, Friday

Friday Love

Quiet

Caramel Apples and a Lesson Learned

Make Room