the big wedding project

Remember this?  

It was suppose to be a tease into my latest crafty project.

I think the pictures explain themselves.

My mom made this quilt about 13 years ago out of the leftover 

fabric she had used to make my bridesmaids dresses. (Go mom!)

It has sat around most of the last 13 years.  

After looking through our wedding tub on our anniversary this past January, I fell in love with it  

Thanks Phil!

 That's me and Phil, a genuine smile after we were married.  So young and so happy.. and still are!

sick and snow days

Like most people around here, it's been awhile since we've had a full week of school.  Between holidays, sick and snow we have been home more than usual.  And we're loving it for the most part!

Happy Valentine's Day! 2013

 'single and lovin' it'       what r u looking at?        cheese!

 HOW TO HAVE A HAPPY VALENTIN'S DAY



1. make a box to your love notes in

2. make yourself pretty for the party  (she actually did this last night while at home)

3. have a party  (school is a good place!)


Harlie first

then Wendell

 

4. time to crash!

I made homemade cards this year but didn't think to 

take a picture ofany of them, ergg.  Maybe I'll snag one 

from my mom as there is a great story behind it!  

Hope you all had a great Valentine's Day!

Genesis 6-8 and Matthew

Well, if I keep writing about the Bible then I need to reference what  part I'm reading or I'm going to get lost.

Genesis 6 - in my notes I wrote down, it reminds me of 'tales' like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter.  I'm not sure J.R.R. Tolkien had a great imagination along with J.K. Rowling or if God did.  Well, I know the true answer but it's still amazing to read things and to image - imagination - not so much truth.  I feel wrong in saying that but it's true.  There was a lot of adventure in the Bible and a lot of things that stretch our reality.  For example, the people who lives 800-900 years long, or the great flood, or Satan as a serpent.  I see these things in the movies I watch.

baptism - I was amazed to find (as this has been a common question in my life) that there was baptism in the OT.  My question has been, why did John the Baptist baptize?  Where did the idea come from?  I know God but why didn't they talk about the why part in the Bible.  Anyways.. review Ezekiel 36: 25-27 to find some history, behind the history.

baptized with holy spirit and fire - this makes me shiver.  In my commentary it gives a visual of cleaning and refining which leads me to imagine sand being made into glass. Made into something beautiful.  John the B baptized with water and Jesus baptized with the holy spirit and fire.

temptations and tests by God are made for two things 1. to test us or 2. to work on character.  I felt one of my strongest tests by God was about 2 years ago with my job.  It was simple 'math'.  I wasn't sleeping well due to a lady that lived there, I need/ed the job for income.  This was a huge mental battle for me as I was exhausted, drained, turning towards anger, not reacting well, and turning to God whom I felt left me.  I remember for a few months I did not turn my back on God but I did not face him. I declared in my heart that I would stand by him (like a marriage) but I would not talk to him, I did not worship him at church, I did not  like him.  I would love him deep in my soul and I would wait for him to face me.  This was a very hard time for me.. and looking back I know we all go through this.  And we all make a decision whether to 'weather the storm' or turn our back.   Have any of you been through this?

The word midrash came again in my commentary.  This is a word I need to learn more about.

Putting God to the test.. vs trusting God.  I have in the past put issues on a pedestal, handing it to God, watching from below to see what God would do.  Some might say I tested God.. I say I was going to wait and see what God had planned.  Putting God to the test is a big sin in our faith.  Sometimes its hard to let go of issues and not demand an answer vs truly letting go and trusting God.  Letting go is something I need to work on... I think it gets easier with age.

In Matthew when Jesus is tested it says 'he learned to resist the devil'.  In my notes I ask:  How can I recognize him?  How can I resist him?  Many of us christians know how to 'face God and talk to Jesus' but do we know to look for Satan?

A note from church 2 weeks ago... What did I do for God this week?  Is my life a mission trip?  I'm not sure how intentional every decision in my life is to do something for God.  But I know that Phil and I have made A LOT of decisions based on our life being a mission trip.  We just never really looked at it that way.  Something to be more intentional about.

A few more words in the Bible I need to investigate.  What exactly is a blessing and a curse when referenced in the Bible?

more books

I've been reading more books and loving my Goodwill stack of surprises!

Just finished English by Wang Gang.  A memoir of growing up in China.  This man had a very tough childhood as they were very violent.  Kind of an odd book but still good to read.

What do you do all day? by Amy Scheibe is a book about a stay at home who lives in New York City.  Nothing personal to the author but it was a bit trashy for me but I did finish it so it made the list.

Miracle at St. Anna by James McBride was very educational in a fiction way as it talked about the Buffalo Soldiers of WW II.  After reading it I learned there was a movie made out of it which is neat.  The book was a bit odd but in the end a good read; the movie was okay but did follow the book well.

My favorite of them all was The Dive From Clausens' Pier by Ann Packer.   This book was written from a young woman's perspective.  Her boyfriend got a brain/spinal injury from diving off the pier and she had to work through the issues of the now what?  It makes you question how you would handle this life altering event.  Although I don't condone all she does, it was written in a way that was easy to read.  It kind of reminders me of the Tayler Morris story.

Anyways, that's it for now. I will now take my usual day off from reading and then start a new one in a few days.

Some other books I've been picking through are...

The Five Love Languages by Gary Chapman - I've read this before but it's been awhile so Phil and I plunged in and read it with another couple.  Nothing too shocking or exciting but it's fun to talk with to other people who have read it AND it's been fun getting the kids involved and learning about them.  This book was a big contributor in our family mission statement: fillin' love tanks, yep that it's 'filling love tanks.  So simple but neat.. filling Gods', each others/family, friends and strangers' love tanks.

Two more books I'm picking through The Explosive Child by Ross Greene and Parenting Beyond Your Capacity by Reggie Joiner and Carey Nieuwhof.  Ironically they both have a similar themes, listen to your kids and talk to them about the problems.  Don't just try rule them, respect them and it will come back to you.

On the horizon are two books JESUS CEO: Using Ancient Wisdom for Visionary Leadership by Laurie Beth Jones.  I had started this last year but had to return it to the library, I liked it so much I bought myself lf a copy so I can pick through at my leisure.  And Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life which I've also read before but we are going to read it through with another couple.

That's enough for now... now I just have to figure out what to do with my old fiction books (from above).  Any other readers out there that would want them?  Or have ideas?

more of the Word

Here's a few tidbits from my latest readings.

1. 'the first worship' was mentioned in Genesis.  I believe that after Adam and Eve ate the apple, the decline of 'walking with God' began.  So the progress from 'walking with God' to 'worshiping a more distant God' began.  I can see God being happy yet saddened by that moment.  Happy to receive honor and praise, but to not have the same companionship would be a heartbreaker.

2. This is just a thought but I've been stewing (hah!) over the issue of not eating meat.  This isn't the first time I've thought about NOT eating meat but now it's almost like the perfect storm.  First off, I have a co-worker who talks about being vegetatarian so I have access to an experienced person.  Then recently, reading the OT and how God blessed the living creatures... and later talks about an eye for an eye and my commentary says very clearly this was about prevention not consequences .. just makes me think about me not eating meat would be the prevention of the taking of life.  And lastly, and oddly, we recently watched the GREAT movie How to Train a Dragon and it had a part where the little dragon's are carrying off all the livestock to the 'mother dragon' and in the movie it makes you mad because the little dragons are stealing from the people but really.. the big one is just eating it too.  I feel like I'm the 'mother dragon' and I could stop the stealing of the 'livestock'.  

Now with this said, I realize my thinking is a bit out there but I am not the only one to ponder this.  So I'm thinking about starting a new 30 day challenge and trying to NOT eat meat for 30 days.  What can it hurt? It also dives into the thoughts of eggs, milk, etc.. and it's a bit overwhelming.  Phil and I have already had some good discussion on this and I'm sure it'll continue.  I'm so glad to have a supportive husband, although he will not be partaking in the journey.  Any thoughts from out there?

3. Psalms - for some reason, I am just not a big fan of these.  I want to know who wrote it, why, who they're talking to, and what are they really trying to say.  So, as I read through these little bits at time.. I will wonder what in the world were they thinking?      : )

4. Proverbs 1:9 What you learn from them (your parents) will crown you with grace and be a chain of honor around your neck.  Makes me hope that I can be this kind of parent. Also gives me strength as I make tough choices.

5. Enoch - such a strange and wondrous guy.  All we know is he walked with God (quite a while after the fall) and God just took him.  What did this guy do that was so special?  He's a role model we don't know much about.

6. Isn't it odd how long people lived in the OT?  A common dispute among people..  what do you believe, did they really live that long?

That's all for now!

good start to 2013!

goofy?  oh yes... 

You know those cabbage patch babies with the little tuff of hair?  

I always wondered why they looked like that... now I know.  Our little baby has a tough that sticks up too.  

This is my FAVORITE kind of donut and it's hard to find.  

Cream filled, butterscotch topping with peanuts on top.  Yum! ** found it at Hy-Vee**

This little girl loves her pull-ups!

Wendell's first 'shave'...  and he loves it!  

He got a plastic kids razor, shaving cream, comb, and brush (for shaving) for Christmas. 

We just pulled it out and he's hooked!  

Daddy had to show him how to do it but now he can do it on his own. 

Peek-a-Boo! Having fun at the mirror, again.

Harlie and I like to play pictionary.  I was pretty proud of my drawing.

A new recipe - a veggie pizza with onions, some green leafy thing, red something or other, tomatoes, garlic, balsamic vinegar, olive oil, and monterrey jack cheese.  Interesting!