I want to have something to say. I am drawn to come here and tap something out for you few who visit to see what we have going. It's not much, and I am finding I can't even find a funny spin to put on the ins and outs of the days.
February has always been a tough month. It's cold, the holiday season is well over, the groundhog has a nasty habit of seeing his shadow, and all I want is warm weather and for the kids colds and various ailments to clear up. I am ready for picnics and walks in the sun and the beautiful bright green of Spring.
The only redeeming thing about February is that a certain person I happen to adore was born in this month a few decades ago.
Despite the wonderful perks of homeschooling, I have almost been ready to enroll my boy in a school this week just so he can have two hours a day to play in a gym! With three little girls in various stages of fighting a cold, we aren't leaving the house much.
And that's about it. I am spending the days watching the children zing around and bounce off the walls. I am going through the motions of keeping up with laundry and feeding the noise-makers. We are squeezing a bit of school in between the boinging and bouncing, but I must confess, it's hard to get Thomas to settle in and pay attention when he has all this energy!
We are all loving each other and and learning things and even watching a snippet every now and again of the Olympics. Survival, folks. Survival at it's finest. That is what we are up to.
I could do with some fresh ideas for activities to fight the February Funk. Care to share?
Friday, February 26, 2010
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Priorities
Y'all know it's National Pancake Day, right?
I guess that is important, if you have nothing better to celebrate.
We, however, do.
This man was born on this day in 1979 (just a little math challenge there for ya, if you wanna know his age). And we are incredibly thankful. He is my best friend, the love of my life. He is an amazing Daddy. He is the most important man in our lives, and today we celebrate with him.
I guess that is important, if you have nothing better to celebrate.
We, however, do.
This man was born on this day in 1979 (just a little math challenge there for ya, if you wanna know his age). And we are incredibly thankful. He is my best friend, the love of my life. He is an amazing Daddy. He is the most important man in our lives, and today we celebrate with him.
Monday, February 22, 2010
Weddings and Perfect Love
I don't recall ever attending a wedding during my childhood that I wasn't a part of. I remember several in which I was a flower girl or even a junior bridesmaid, but I can't remember sitting and watching what was taking place. Sarah Grace, on the other hand, has now attended three weddings, and is utterly enchanted with the whole show. From the moment the music starts until the moment I drag her away from the reception, she is in her blissful little princess element.
We attended a wedding this past Saturday night. Since Joshua was the pianist, we arrived a couple hours before the procession started so he could practice with the violinist. Thomas and Sarah Grace had time to examine every square inch of the sanctuary. They went up and down every row of seats, zig-zagged around, and were generally very quiet and well behaved. Just before seating time, we found the restrooms.
We bumped into the flower girl and her mother in the restroom (not literally). Sarah Grace couldn't get over the little girls full white dress and Shirley Temple curls with the flowers tiara resting on the crown of her head.
Once back in the sanctuary, we seated ourselves as close to the front as I was brave enough. Two rows behind the grooms mother, I believe. During the 40 minutes worth of prelude music (what was I thinking? The kids could have roamed about in the halls for another half an hour!), the kids entertained themselves with I-Spy until it got too rowdy. I doled out the iPhones (mine and Joshua's!) and had them play with them until it was Time.
As soon as the men came in from the side door, Sarah Grace sat in rapt attention. She jumped up and looked around when the bride came down the aisle, and barely blinked through out the nearly hour long ceremony. Her eyes were on the bride. The Whole Time.
Thomas was pretty enchanted himself. He did great during the processional. He was interested right up until the time he got bored. Which was about seven and a half minutes into the actual wordiness part of the ceremony. The he got fidgety. I was able to pull him close to me and he relaxed. This lasted another twelve minutes or so. I leaned down and whispered words of 'encouragement' into his little ear, and bought another four minutes. About the time I was ready to pinch him a little, in the name of encouragement you understand, the pastor made this remark.
"But you can't do it. You can never love the way God loves."
Thomas sat straight up and groaned a little. My hand quickly went to his shoulder, and he slumped back against me. I relaxed just as he said, " What? Why not?"
It wasn't all that loud, but it was loud enough to send the folks around us into smothered giggles and stifled chuckles. One young lady even commented on 'how adorable' he was.
Thomas, though, was very concerned. Thomas' concern manifests as 20 questions. He looked up at me, his brows knit together, and his mouth open in an 'O', words ready to tumble out. I put my finger up to my lips and shook my head a little, then leaned down and promised him I would answer any questions he had after the bride and groom walked down the aisle together.
He slouched against me and endured the rest of the ceremony.
Sarah Grace missed the entire exchange. She was too enthralled with the exchange of rings.
Today, Thomas finally remembered his questions. We had a long discussion about Christ's perfect love and how, even when we truly love someone, the love that we have will be stained with selfishness and sin, it could never be as perfect and pure as the love that Christ has for us.
A few hours later, I nearly choked as I listened to Thomas soberly inform Sarah Grace and her 'groom' (Elizabeth) that even if they loved each other very much, Christ's love was better then their love.
Oh, how I hope my children will all grasp that life saving fact. Christ's perfect, forgiving, never-failing love.
We attended a wedding this past Saturday night. Since Joshua was the pianist, we arrived a couple hours before the procession started so he could practice with the violinist. Thomas and Sarah Grace had time to examine every square inch of the sanctuary. They went up and down every row of seats, zig-zagged around, and were generally very quiet and well behaved. Just before seating time, we found the restrooms.
We bumped into the flower girl and her mother in the restroom (not literally). Sarah Grace couldn't get over the little girls full white dress and Shirley Temple curls with the flowers tiara resting on the crown of her head.
Once back in the sanctuary, we seated ourselves as close to the front as I was brave enough. Two rows behind the grooms mother, I believe. During the 40 minutes worth of prelude music (what was I thinking? The kids could have roamed about in the halls for another half an hour!), the kids entertained themselves with I-Spy until it got too rowdy. I doled out the iPhones (mine and Joshua's!) and had them play with them until it was Time.
As soon as the men came in from the side door, Sarah Grace sat in rapt attention. She jumped up and looked around when the bride came down the aisle, and barely blinked through out the nearly hour long ceremony. Her eyes were on the bride. The Whole Time.
Thomas was pretty enchanted himself. He did great during the processional. He was interested right up until the time he got bored. Which was about seven and a half minutes into the actual wordiness part of the ceremony. The he got fidgety. I was able to pull him close to me and he relaxed. This lasted another twelve minutes or so. I leaned down and whispered words of 'encouragement' into his little ear, and bought another four minutes. About the time I was ready to pinch him a little, in the name of encouragement you understand, the pastor made this remark.
"But you can't do it. You can never love the way God loves."
Thomas sat straight up and groaned a little. My hand quickly went to his shoulder, and he slumped back against me. I relaxed just as he said, " What? Why not?"
It wasn't all that loud, but it was loud enough to send the folks around us into smothered giggles and stifled chuckles. One young lady even commented on 'how adorable' he was.
Thomas, though, was very concerned. Thomas' concern manifests as 20 questions. He looked up at me, his brows knit together, and his mouth open in an 'O', words ready to tumble out. I put my finger up to my lips and shook my head a little, then leaned down and promised him I would answer any questions he had after the bride and groom walked down the aisle together.
He slouched against me and endured the rest of the ceremony.
Sarah Grace missed the entire exchange. She was too enthralled with the exchange of rings.
Today, Thomas finally remembered his questions. We had a long discussion about Christ's perfect love and how, even when we truly love someone, the love that we have will be stained with selfishness and sin, it could never be as perfect and pure as the love that Christ has for us.
A few hours later, I nearly choked as I listened to Thomas soberly inform Sarah Grace and her 'groom' (Elizabeth) that even if they loved each other very much, Christ's love was better then their love.
Oh, how I hope my children will all grasp that life saving fact. Christ's perfect, forgiving, never-failing love.
CrockPot Carnival
My friend Connie is hosting a Crock Pot Carnival over at her place today. If you are a fan of crackpot cooking, or think that you could be easily persuaded, jump over and check it out!
We are huge proponents of slow cooker meals. It leaves my attention to be on the children at that special hour of the day. My collection of recipes isn't huge, but the handful I do have completely made the cut. They are all favorites, and I love when all the little people at the table ask for seconds!!
Today, I am sharing one of our absolute faves: Crock Pot Pork Stew. It makes the house smell SO yummy! Oh, and it tastes delectable!
Ingredients
For the Pork -
1 to 1 1/2 pound boneless pork, cut into cubes
2 tsp olive oil (or whatever oil you prefer to cook with)
1 cup of flour
1/4 teaspoon each of
salt
pepper
onion salt
garlic salt
For the stew -
at least 2 pounds of potatoes cut into chunks (we use red potatoes and lots of them)
at least 4 carrots cut into chunks (we use way more of these, too, as my kids love carrots)
32 oz of chicken broth
1 whole dry bay leaf
1/2 onion (chopped, or just used dried minced onions)
1 1/2 Lowry's seasoning salts (or whatever your favorite seasoning salt is)
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup water
Salt and Pepper to taste
To Prepare
Put potatoes, carrots, and the chicken broth into the crock pot.
Heat 1 tsp of oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. While it is heating, toss about half the pork in a ziploc baggie with flour until well covered. When the skillet is hot, put your floured pork in the pan and season with salt, pepper, onion salt, and garlic salt. Cook until pork starts to brown a bit.
Transfer the browned pork to the slow cooker and then repeat the process with the other half of the pork. Add the onion, bay leaf, and seasoning salt.
Cook on low for about six hours, or until pork is done and veggies are tender.
Combine cornstarch and water, and stir into the stew. If the stew thickens immediately, season to taste and serve anytime. Otherwise, turn heat to high and cook stew for an additional 30 minutes.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Old Technology
Two things I am not.
1.) A tip blogger. Not because I'm against it, but because I utilize the tried and true and am not innovative enough to think of new things.
2.) A frugal blogger. Not because I don't try to be frugal, but because I don't feel like I really have anything to share.
Bearing those things in mind, this post contains tips for a how to project, and a frugal adventure/challenge for myself.
There are about eleventy-gajillion different ways to keep track of your expenses. From the check book register (which I quit using about, oh, four days after I opened my first checking account) to iPhone apps, and all manner of things in between. Living on one income and having a largish family have really tested me in the area of making and sticking to a budget. I can't even begin to count the number of failures I have had, searching for the one answer that suits our family.
Of course, we all know the answer is discipline. I can spell it really well, but being a living definition is kinda kicking my tail. Just getting that out there so none of us are in the dark.
I think the hard thing about sticking to these budgets for me is how much of a cashless society we live in. Checks, debit cards, credit cards. You don't need cash to make a purchase, and I kept finding out when I went to balance the budget (when it's already too late!) that I had overspent in one category and had to essentially steal from another category.
Finally, it hit me. Just convert it all to cash. Go by the ATM, pull out the amount of money set aside for groceries, go to grocery store. By not using plastic or even checks, I am majorly cutting into my spending power.
Because I like systems and organization, I really thought about purchasing one of these, but it flew in the face of my struggling inner-frugalista. I was just sure I could come up with something that would be just as effective and cost less.
It was a very short search that lead me to this tutorial. I love pretty papers and projects like this, and had all the supplies on hand. I was incredibly pleased with myself when I turned out the finished project in less that an hour. Okay, fine, four hours. But I crammed a lot of kid chasing, meal making, laundry, and Adult Conversation in those four hours, too. So you do the math of the reality of how long it may have taken. I am thinking an hour, but who's counting?
And I have these little lovelies to show for it:
And some folded laundry.
Joshua and I have tossed about taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University for a few years now. Our church offers it every summer. However, we have always opted to take one of the other classes on the menu. This year, we are definitely going to be sitting in the Financial Peace class. Our family isn't getting any younger, and habits aren't going to get any easier to change. I am super excited about the class, really, and have been reading as Simple Mom outlines the Baby Steps.
So, here's to an answer that is working quite well for us so far. One of the things I have already learned is that my budget categories were entirely too broad, so I am shuffling around and re-examining things. I intend to keep this up for a period of three months and then review our progress and learned lessons. Be sure to come back for the next exciting installment in May.
Of course, I do hope you'll visit often in the weeks to come, too.
What are some thing you are doing to help stretch or better manage those hard earned dollars??
1.) A tip blogger. Not because I'm against it, but because I utilize the tried and true and am not innovative enough to think of new things.
2.) A frugal blogger. Not because I don't try to be frugal, but because I don't feel like I really have anything to share.
Bearing those things in mind, this post contains tips for a how to project, and a frugal adventure/challenge for myself.
There are about eleventy-gajillion different ways to keep track of your expenses. From the check book register (which I quit using about, oh, four days after I opened my first checking account) to iPhone apps, and all manner of things in between. Living on one income and having a largish family have really tested me in the area of making and sticking to a budget. I can't even begin to count the number of failures I have had, searching for the one answer that suits our family.
Of course, we all know the answer is discipline. I can spell it really well, but being a living definition is kinda kicking my tail. Just getting that out there so none of us are in the dark.
I think the hard thing about sticking to these budgets for me is how much of a cashless society we live in. Checks, debit cards, credit cards. You don't need cash to make a purchase, and I kept finding out when I went to balance the budget (when it's already too late!) that I had overspent in one category and had to essentially steal from another category.
Finally, it hit me. Just convert it all to cash. Go by the ATM, pull out the amount of money set aside for groceries, go to grocery store. By not using plastic or even checks, I am majorly cutting into my spending power.
Because I like systems and organization, I really thought about purchasing one of these, but it flew in the face of my struggling inner-frugalista. I was just sure I could come up with something that would be just as effective and cost less.
It was a very short search that lead me to this tutorial. I love pretty papers and projects like this, and had all the supplies on hand. I was incredibly pleased with myself when I turned out the finished project in less that an hour. Okay, fine, four hours. But I crammed a lot of kid chasing, meal making, laundry, and Adult Conversation in those four hours, too. So you do the math of the reality of how long it may have taken. I am thinking an hour, but who's counting?
And I have these little lovelies to show for it:
And some folded laundry.Joshua and I have tossed about taking Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University for a few years now. Our church offers it every summer. However, we have always opted to take one of the other classes on the menu. This year, we are definitely going to be sitting in the Financial Peace class. Our family isn't getting any younger, and habits aren't going to get any easier to change. I am super excited about the class, really, and have been reading as Simple Mom outlines the Baby Steps.
So, here's to an answer that is working quite well for us so far. One of the things I have already learned is that my budget categories were entirely too broad, so I am shuffling around and re-examining things. I intend to keep this up for a period of three months and then review our progress and learned lessons. Be sure to come back for the next exciting installment in May.
Of course, I do hope you'll visit often in the weeks to come, too.
What are some thing you are doing to help stretch or better manage those hard earned dollars??
Friday, February 12, 2010
And So It Goes
It started like any normal day. I guess, in fact, it was a pretty normal day. Because, really, normal has been redefined. With the addition of each child to my life, my sense of normalcy changes.
Normal today included the oldest two running around with their beloved blankets tied around their necks super hero style. They zipped and zoomed and squealed and screamed about rescuing stuffed animals, crayons, stranded citizens of all kinds, and the remote control.
Then they came dashing up the steps to inform me that my super hero powers were needed. The toilet was backed up. Again. I grabbed the plunger and began to utilize it when I was told that I needed my super hero cape to make everything work.
Um, thanks, can you just hand me a wet towel? I am sure it will make a great cape. Then I can drop it in the washing machine as soon as I wrap up the potty plunging.
Two birds with one stone. Now THAT'S what I call a super hero!
The possible disaster was narrowly escaped.
After days of having been trapped inside due to the kinds of cold weather that we Southerners are too delicate for, I called a halt to all indoor activity and commanded that the Munchkin Brigade don some warm clothes andget the heck out of my house before I had to strangle somebody go outside to burn off some of their pent up energy. They jumped at the chance and a mere forty minutes later, they were off!
All was well and peaceful for a whole half hour. (If you are a Mama, you get that 'a whole half hour' is a precious prize!) Elizabeth came in declaring that 'it's too told to pway out dare' and I mixed her up some hot chocolate. Because I truly do aspire to be June Cleaver.
Then I got busy with stuff. Diapers, laundry, dishes. I glanced out the back window to see Thomas and Sarah Grace tromping around in the wooded area behind our house and went about the business of being a Mommy. I was totally unaware of anything until the car horn started blaring in our front drive way. The mail man was sitting there, laying on the horn. Must be a package, I thought as I ran barefooted across the cold ground.
'I saw your kids over there by the pond. 'Bout scared me to death. You know they are there, right?'
Um, no. Thank goodness for mailmen with sharp eyes and kind hearts.
I ran out on the back deck and yelled for the kids, who never even looked up. I scrambled back inside and gathered Anna and Elizabeth, tossed them in the van and went around the block to, um, shepherd those of my flock who had gone astray.
When we got back to the house, I tossed food at them and put all the girls down for nap. Thomas opted to do 'house blessings' rather than sleep, and he set about cleaning the kitchen. He very thoughtfully refilled the salt shaker, swept the floor, then wiped down the table (where he had filled the salt shaker). Then he took the rugs outside to shake them out. The big one is still on the ground from when he tried to shake it and dropped it over the deck.
Next, he decided to put all the puzzle pieces in the proper puzzles. But only after he dumped them all out on the table and scrambled up the pieces. About halfway through that project, he got distracted with the pillows and blankets that were all stuffed into the tent (an indoor variety for the kids to play in) and ousted them into the middle of the living room floor.
To his credit, he did get living room in pristine condition, ready to be vacuumed after all the girls get up from nap. The puzzle pieces were left for the both of us to work on.
He proudly came over to me, as I was re-sweeping the kitchen floor to rid it of the salt he wiped of the table, gave me a big hug, reiterated his love for me and said...
'Aren't you glad you have me to clean this whole big house for you? It would be too messy if you didn't have kids to help you clean it!'
I hugged him and bit back my laughter, thanking him for his initiative and hard work.
Yeah, I just can't imagine how messy my life would be without those kids to grow me into a responsible Mama.
But I can vividly imagine the lack of puzzle pieces strewn about and salt studded floors...
Normal today included the oldest two running around with their beloved blankets tied around their necks super hero style. They zipped and zoomed and squealed and screamed about rescuing stuffed animals, crayons, stranded citizens of all kinds, and the remote control.
Then they came dashing up the steps to inform me that my super hero powers were needed. The toilet was backed up. Again. I grabbed the plunger and began to utilize it when I was told that I needed my super hero cape to make everything work.
Um, thanks, can you just hand me a wet towel? I am sure it will make a great cape. Then I can drop it in the washing machine as soon as I wrap up the potty plunging.
Two birds with one stone. Now THAT'S what I call a super hero!
The possible disaster was narrowly escaped.
After days of having been trapped inside due to the kinds of cold weather that we Southerners are too delicate for, I called a halt to all indoor activity and commanded that the Munchkin Brigade don some warm clothes and
All was well and peaceful for a whole half hour. (If you are a Mama, you get that 'a whole half hour' is a precious prize!) Elizabeth came in declaring that 'it's too told to pway out dare' and I mixed her up some hot chocolate. Because I truly do aspire to be June Cleaver.
Then I got busy with stuff. Diapers, laundry, dishes. I glanced out the back window to see Thomas and Sarah Grace tromping around in the wooded area behind our house and went about the business of being a Mommy. I was totally unaware of anything until the car horn started blaring in our front drive way. The mail man was sitting there, laying on the horn. Must be a package, I thought as I ran barefooted across the cold ground.
'I saw your kids over there by the pond. 'Bout scared me to death. You know they are there, right?'
Um, no. Thank goodness for mailmen with sharp eyes and kind hearts.
I ran out on the back deck and yelled for the kids, who never even looked up. I scrambled back inside and gathered Anna and Elizabeth, tossed them in the van and went around the block to, um, shepherd those of my flock who had gone astray.
When we got back to the house, I tossed food at them and put all the girls down for nap. Thomas opted to do 'house blessings' rather than sleep, and he set about cleaning the kitchen. He very thoughtfully refilled the salt shaker, swept the floor, then wiped down the table (where he had filled the salt shaker). Then he took the rugs outside to shake them out. The big one is still on the ground from when he tried to shake it and dropped it over the deck.
Next, he decided to put all the puzzle pieces in the proper puzzles. But only after he dumped them all out on the table and scrambled up the pieces. About halfway through that project, he got distracted with the pillows and blankets that were all stuffed into the tent (an indoor variety for the kids to play in) and ousted them into the middle of the living room floor.
To his credit, he did get living room in pristine condition, ready to be vacuumed after all the girls get up from nap. The puzzle pieces were left for the both of us to work on.
He proudly came over to me, as I was re-sweeping the kitchen floor to rid it of the salt he wiped of the table, gave me a big hug, reiterated his love for me and said...
'Aren't you glad you have me to clean this whole big house for you? It would be too messy if you didn't have kids to help you clean it!'
I hugged him and bit back my laughter, thanking him for his initiative and hard work.
Yeah, I just can't imagine how messy my life would be without those kids to grow me into a responsible Mama.
But I can vividly imagine the lack of puzzle pieces strewn about and salt studded floors...
Thursday, February 11, 2010
BlissDom Thoughts
BlissDom. I went, I saw, I conquered.
Or rather, I went, I experienced, and I stuck my foot in my mouth a few times, but still enjoyed myself to the hilt.
I really don't have words. The conference was fantastic. The speakers were captivating. The official events were awesome (hello, I am now a fan of Harry Connick, Jr, thanks to his super performance just for us BlissDom gals!). The 'un-official' events were, well, those are where I made my deepest connections and had conversations with ladies that I now call friends.
True to myself every step of the way, I made a mockery of 'first impressions'. Thankfully, the ladies flat out chalked it up to humorous, hugged me, and the conversations flowed. Upon being introduced to Amber, I made The Stupidest Remark Ever (one that shall not be uttered by my hand on this blog), stuttered in horror at my tongue and the brain that was certainly not attached to it at that moment, and almost ran away like a scared little rabbit. She laughed, at me more than with me, since I was so embarrassed, threw an arm around me and then we chatted.
After the giggles died down and I quit trying to justify my mouth, that is.
And y'all...there are so many bloggers in my area!!! I met several girls that I can't wait to meet up with again!! Hillary, Dedra, Myra, just to name a few. I met bloggers who I have been stalking for ages, and once I put a face with their name and found out how real they are, I totally have piped up on their blogs. There are folks within driving distance that I can't wait to introduce my family to. And there are ladies across the country that I look forward to keeping up with and seeing at BlissDom in 2011!!
There's Ashleigh and Annie. Connie and Kimberly. Amy and Tammy. Robin and Kara. And all the ladies at (In)Courage.
People, if your missing my point here, BlissDom was great! The people and the connections are my biggest take away. Ladies that are now a part of the network of folks I call friends.
They are what has me saving my pennies to go back next year!
And here you have the only picture out of all four that I remembered to take that isn't blurry or too dark to matter! The Bible in Ninety Days gals who met for breakfast on Friday morning.
Or rather, I went, I experienced, and I stuck my foot in my mouth a few times, but still enjoyed myself to the hilt.
I really don't have words. The conference was fantastic. The speakers were captivating. The official events were awesome (hello, I am now a fan of Harry Connick, Jr, thanks to his super performance just for us BlissDom gals!). The 'un-official' events were, well, those are where I made my deepest connections and had conversations with ladies that I now call friends.
True to myself every step of the way, I made a mockery of 'first impressions'. Thankfully, the ladies flat out chalked it up to humorous, hugged me, and the conversations flowed. Upon being introduced to Amber, I made The Stupidest Remark Ever (one that shall not be uttered by my hand on this blog), stuttered in horror at my tongue and the brain that was certainly not attached to it at that moment, and almost ran away like a scared little rabbit. She laughed, at me more than with me, since I was so embarrassed, threw an arm around me and then we chatted.
After the giggles died down and I quit trying to justify my mouth, that is.
And y'all...there are so many bloggers in my area!!! I met several girls that I can't wait to meet up with again!! Hillary, Dedra, Myra, just to name a few. I met bloggers who I have been stalking for ages, and once I put a face with their name and found out how real they are, I totally have piped up on their blogs. There are folks within driving distance that I can't wait to introduce my family to. And there are ladies across the country that I look forward to keeping up with and seeing at BlissDom in 2011!!
There's Ashleigh and Annie. Connie and Kimberly. Amy and Tammy. Robin and Kara. And all the ladies at (In)Courage.
People, if your missing my point here, BlissDom was great! The people and the connections are my biggest take away. Ladies that are now a part of the network of folks I call friends.
They are what has me saving my pennies to go back next year!
And here you have the only picture out of all four that I remembered to take that isn't blurry or too dark to matter! The Bible in Ninety Days gals who met for breakfast on Friday morning.
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Defining and Refining
mag-ni-fy - verb -
1. to cause to be held in greater esteem or respect
2. to increase in significance: intensify: exaggerate
3. to enlarge in fact or in appearance: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are.
I am a relatively 'young' Christian, having come to Christ 13 years ago. There are terms in the Christian verbiage that I use occasionally but have only a loose understanding of what I am saying. The word magnify is certainly one of those.
I mean, I know what it means. I was among those kids on the playground who used a magnifying glass to catch things on fire. I even understood that magnifying glasses had other purposes, but I had decently good eye-sight, so mainly it was a tool for catching things on fire.
When I started attending church regularly, I heard that phrase 'magnify yourself in us' and just flowed with it, not really giving a second thought as to what that really meant. I am not the insatiably curious type, to say the least. I often forget to ask the most basic of questions. Anyway, while 'magnify' never really became a term in my Christian vocabulary, I heard it. And frequently.
However, I had one of those 'ah-ha' moments this past weekend while I was at Blissdom. I attended the prayer and praise time that Robin so graciously put together for us one morning, and there, in the middle of thirty or so women, who were essentially strangers, God started revealing things to me.
That's how it is for me. Little things that add up to big things one day. Eventually. Right now, it is dwelling on a word. Magnify. It's specific meaning with the God connotation. To ask Him to magnify Himself in my life is just like asking Him to make me smaller, make Him bigger. To beg that people will see Him through the actions I carry out, the conversations I have, the way I treat my children and my husband.
There is so much more that went on in my head this weekend. Things that I really think God is preparing me for. And He needed me to really get that one little word. To remind me that it is all about Him, for His glory. Not about me and what I can do.
So, yeah, it seems little, but it's not. There are places yet to go, things yet to be uncovered, but I have to know the lingo and really understand the ramifications of what it means in order to make the most of the things God lays in front of me.
...My soul doth magnify the Lord
Luke 1:46
1. to cause to be held in greater esteem or respect
2. to increase in significance: intensify: exaggerate
3. to enlarge in fact or in appearance: to have the power of causing objects to appear larger than they are.
I am a relatively 'young' Christian, having come to Christ 13 years ago. There are terms in the Christian verbiage that I use occasionally but have only a loose understanding of what I am saying. The word magnify is certainly one of those.
I mean, I know what it means. I was among those kids on the playground who used a magnifying glass to catch things on fire. I even understood that magnifying glasses had other purposes, but I had decently good eye-sight, so mainly it was a tool for catching things on fire.
When I started attending church regularly, I heard that phrase 'magnify yourself in us' and just flowed with it, not really giving a second thought as to what that really meant. I am not the insatiably curious type, to say the least. I often forget to ask the most basic of questions. Anyway, while 'magnify' never really became a term in my Christian vocabulary, I heard it. And frequently.
However, I had one of those 'ah-ha' moments this past weekend while I was at Blissdom. I attended the prayer and praise time that Robin so graciously put together for us one morning, and there, in the middle of thirty or so women, who were essentially strangers, God started revealing things to me.
That's how it is for me. Little things that add up to big things one day. Eventually. Right now, it is dwelling on a word. Magnify. It's specific meaning with the God connotation. To ask Him to magnify Himself in my life is just like asking Him to make me smaller, make Him bigger. To beg that people will see Him through the actions I carry out, the conversations I have, the way I treat my children and my husband.
There is so much more that went on in my head this weekend. Things that I really think God is preparing me for. And He needed me to really get that one little word. To remind me that it is all about Him, for His glory. Not about me and what I can do.
So, yeah, it seems little, but it's not. There are places yet to go, things yet to be uncovered, but I have to know the lingo and really understand the ramifications of what it means in order to make the most of the things God lays in front of me.
...My soul doth magnify the Lord
Luke 1:46
Thursday, February 04, 2010
To Make Me Smile...
I leave for BlissDom in just a couple of hours. Squeeeeeeeeeelllllll!!!! I am cramming in hugs and cuddles in between my flurry of running around to get everything done. These are my people. My sweet faces... seeing as how I never remember to make prints of these sweet faces, I am posting them here. For me to return to and blow kisses at.
I wound up pulling an old favorite of my sweetheart...there are a few more recent than this, but my boys just both are so happy in this picture...
And this is for me.
I wound up pulling an old favorite of my sweetheart...there are a few more recent than this, but my boys just both are so happy in this picture...
And this is for me.
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Pics of My Peeps
My stupefied excitement is still in full swing about my Oh-So-Quickly-Coming trip to BlissDom (my heart pitters a bit faster just thinking about it!!)!!! I am listing and working on odd projects just to keep my mind busy and not counting down the very seconds until I am in the lovely Opryland Hotel partying learning new stuff with my favorite bloggers!
However, excited as I am, I am leaving my favorite people for four-ish days. My Way Awesome People. I don't think I have ever been away from my husband and children for more than a night. I have just a bit of panic over this! What willthey do without me I ever do without them??
With that in mind, there are some hilarious and fresh pictures coming to the blog the next couple of days. So I can pull up my Favorite Faces when I need to see them.
Oh, and show them off to all my new Blissdom Buddies!!!
However, excited as I am, I am leaving my favorite people for four-ish days. My Way Awesome People. I don't think I have ever been away from my husband and children for more than a night. I have just a bit of panic over this! What will
With that in mind, there are some hilarious and fresh pictures coming to the blog the next couple of days. So I can pull up my Favorite Faces when I need to see them.
Oh, and show them off to all my new Blissdom Buddies!!!
Monday, February 01, 2010
Surprise, Surprise, Surprise!!!!
I am SO excited!!! Sunday morning brought about a very nice surprise for me!! After putting in more time than I ever responsibly should have, I won a ticket to BlissDom!!! MomGenerations generously held a giveaway of two tickets and I won their BlissDom Lotto!!
Ironically, I totally missed the Tweet that announced I had won. I just rechecked the website to see if the winner had been posted, and saw where Jessie, the other winner, had congratulated me! You better believe that sent me flying through Tweets to see for myself the announcement!!!
Oh, yes, the list making has begun. I *heart* Excel. It just makes me entirely too happy!
I am also super pumped about meeting the gals who generously offered to let me room with them. Paula of Boogers&Burps, Jody of Have Kids Will Travel, and Kara!!! Y'all...there from Iowa! I am thinking they might know what Real Snow is...I'll have to ask about that. I mean, there have been a few Southern Blizzards this year, but I heard that the snow we saw doesn't amount to a hill of beans compared to what our Northern friends experience regularly. Maybe I should ask those ladies to bring pictures...
I have had to pull myself up by the boot-straps several times in the last 24 hours and give myself a reminder that I can't completely put my life on hold while I research all the wonderful fun that BlissDom has to offer. It has been tough. But I head out Thursday!!!
AND!!! I was thrilled to find out the there will be several ladies who are doing the 90 Day Bible reading attending this blogging conference. In fact, there is a breakfast planned for Friday morning...guess where I will be??
This post would absolutely not be complete if I didn't thank my super-wonderful-and-great husband who patiently put in time to help me win and never batted an eye when he agreed to take the kids for the entire weekend so that I could go off and play with the Big Girls! Sweetheart, you rock! Y'all give him a bit shout-out, will ya?
Oh, goodness, I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited! All this and list making, too! What more could a girl ask for?
Ironically, I totally missed the Tweet that announced I had won. I just rechecked the website to see if the winner had been posted, and saw where Jessie, the other winner, had congratulated me! You better believe that sent me flying through Tweets to see for myself the announcement!!!
Oh, yes, the list making has begun. I *heart* Excel. It just makes me entirely too happy!
I am also super pumped about meeting the gals who generously offered to let me room with them. Paula of Boogers&Burps, Jody of Have Kids Will Travel, and Kara!!! Y'all...there from Iowa! I am thinking they might know what Real Snow is...I'll have to ask about that. I mean, there have been a few Southern Blizzards this year, but I heard that the snow we saw doesn't amount to a hill of beans compared to what our Northern friends experience regularly. Maybe I should ask those ladies to bring pictures...
I have had to pull myself up by the boot-straps several times in the last 24 hours and give myself a reminder that I can't completely put my life on hold while I research all the wonderful fun that BlissDom has to offer. It has been tough. But I head out Thursday!!!
AND!!! I was thrilled to find out the there will be several ladies who are doing the 90 Day Bible reading attending this blogging conference. In fact, there is a breakfast planned for Friday morning...guess where I will be??
This post would absolutely not be complete if I didn't thank my super-wonderful-and-great husband who patiently put in time to help me win and never batted an eye when he agreed to take the kids for the entire weekend so that I could go off and play with the Big Girls! Sweetheart, you rock! Y'all give him a bit shout-out, will ya?
Oh, goodness, I am soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo excited! All this and list making, too! What more could a girl ask for?
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