blessed are they who are flexible…

wishful thinking

I’m tired of the cold weather we’ve been having… the snow flurries every other day… the wind… and I know I’m feeling really negative but I’m also really tired of my bare clay yard. I’m dreaming of gorgeous landscaping ideas like this awesome zen backyard:

 photo courtesy of lookiloos

Oh I know it’s not likely to happen, just seeded grass, if we’re lucky, this year! But it doesn’t hurt, and it definitely doesn’t cost… to dream…

wanna win?

Aren’t these bowls fab? I have dreamed of owning a set of pinch bowls but I’ve just never gotten around to buying a set. I love green, and I tend to decorate with pops of this exact shade, not to mention how handy they would be for baking! They could be yours – or mine! – Hannah’s giving them away on her blog. Just head over there and get your name in!

keepin it real

Barbie before many surgeries, implants and rigorous dieting. Happy 50th!

design style

 

I took it upon myself to self-tag my blog in a design style meme. I found the idea on a blog I stumbled upon recently, honey & jam. Great blog by a young baker/photographer, worth the trip! Anyway, I love all things design related… I’m constantly changing and rearranging in my own house, so this is exactly the kind of meme I actually like… And I took the liberty to add a little. Why not do one picture for each room? My design style varies greatly from one room to another so I’m going to do one for each of the following: kitchen, living/family, master bedroom, kids’ room, bathroom.

Kitchen:

Original found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Living/Family:

Original found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Master Bedroom:

Original found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kids’ Rooms:

Original found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Original found here.

 

 

 

 

 

Bath:

Original found here.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please remember, this is my design style and not at all what I actually have in my house right now! Please feel free to tag yourself and share your style. And don’t forget to send me a link!

covered up

This spring, like every spring, the local grads spray-painted “Grad 09” on the street in front of our house. Unlike every other spring, someone came by and spray-painted an ugly four-letter word multiple times down our sidewalk. Right in front of our house. And I have a child who can read. But thankfully someone had the courtesy to edit the words so all my kids ever saw was “truck”. But honestly! This week a neighbor (mom of 2 young kids) came by with grey concrete paint and a paint roller… she spent the morning sweating over that sidewalk, cleaning up some juvenile act of rebellion. What really impresses me? She’s on town council… and not afraid to get her hands dirty!

lunch time

Today is the first time Buster brings a lunch along to kindergarten. Until now, it’s just been mornings, now the next 2 weeks he’ll stay until 1:30. So I have  absolutely no clue how to pack lunches because Tech Guy always comes home for lunch and man, it’s been a long time since I had to pack my own. So I'm hoping he has enough to eat, and that he uses his manners, that he eats instead of goofing off… oh the ramblings of a nervous mama!!

At least he’ll be going off in style. I found this lunchbox (in Gecko Camo) for him back in fall, and promptly ordered it from the lovely Garnet Hill, which you’ll also find a link to in my sidebar - it’s one of my all-time favorite shopping sites! But I digress…

 

Stock photo courtesy of Garnet Hill

noodle’s a big boy too

Well, I had a lot of input on how to keep Noodle occupied so he doesn’t feel so abandoned or left out. And so this morning, at promptly 8:53 when Buster left the house, Noodle was already crying the blues so I pulled the first trick out of my sleeve. I wrote out his name several times with dotted lines so he can trace over… now he thinks he’s a “school” boy too and it’s great fun! Granted, that’s only been 20 minutes so far, but if he’s happy I’m happy!!

he did it

Last night Tech Guy spent a lot of time coaching Buster on bike riding. We just took his training wheels off and he’s a pretty cautious little guy, so he was NOT going to ride bike! But my dear hubby has the patience of Job (I don’t!) and managed to teach Buster what I never could. And the vision of my little (big) boy riding off into the sunset is not one I’ll forget. For some kids, it’s easy. For Buster, it was a huge deal, and I’m so proud of him!

green shopping

A couple of years ago, nobody would’ve dared to call me “tree hugger”, “green”, “naturalist” or any of those other words pertaining to people who pay a lot of attention to the environment. Today, I have a lot more natural tendencies, not because I believe in global warming (I don’t!) or because I believe humans can save the earth by their own power (I don’t) but because a lot of the things these people suggest really do make sense and seem like responsible (and economical) choices. One of my favorite grocery stores is Superstore (a mere 40 minute drive!) and not so long ago, they completely removed plastic bags from their stores. Until that point they were available for a small fee at the checkout. It’s taken me a bit to get used to the idea of always bringing my bags along but I’ve really taken to the idea and I love not having tons of plastic bags in my house. But what I really think is great is their Green Box. These reusable boxes are perfect for placing in the cart ahead of time and sorting your groceries as you grab them. They are built specifically to fit in the cart and I stick the cleaning products in one, dairy in another, etc. That way you don’t ever have chemicals next to food or raw meat next to produce… and when you get home, you know exactly where everything is! I keep them in the back of my van, so even when I stop at another grocery store, everything is placed in boxes and doesn’t end up migrating all over the van floor! What have you found works for you when grocery shopping? I always love hearing new ideas!

fresh and fluffy

Every once in awhile I get inspired to share something I’ve learned along the way that makes housework a little easier. I have a couple of posts (here and here) with some of my favorite laundry tips. Since laundry seems to be my nemesis…

My biggest challenge has always been keeping my towels smelling fresh. My mom always bleached all her towels but I’m not willing to sacrifice color on the darker ones, so I ended up with some pretty stale-smelling bath and kitchen towels. Then I read somewhere, I think in a Real Simple magazine, that you should use ammonia. So I started washing all my towels in hot water with ammonia… then I take them out the very second the washer stops. This is key! If they sit in the washer even a minute or two, it seems to inherit a really rank smell. It really works, and I’m so glad I found a simple solution!

yes i can

Yesterday was my Weigh & Measure day at Curves, and I was pleasantly surprised to find out I’d lost 3 lbs! Surprised because even though I re-signed up a month ago, I’ve only worked out 4 times. We were gone 10 days and then over Easter weekend they were closed so I missed another workout. And my eating habits have been somewhat less than consistent!

What surprises me the most about Curves is this:

1. I hate working out. Really really hate it. But when I’m at Curves, it’s just not a big deal… 30 minutes pass so quickly!

2. I hate getting up early. I’m so NOT a morning person – my ideal day would start at 10 or 11 and go til midnight or 1 am. In fact, most of my housecleaning gets done after 8 pm! But you know what? I’ve been getting up at 5:55 am… and – gulp – actually enjoying it!

Now that I realize something is working and I am losing weight, I am so motivated! It definitely helps to do it with a friend; we’re accountable to each other so we gotta show up!

going green…

…or, in this case, shall we say brown? Yesterday I started a new little experiment… a frugal, earth-friendly experiment. I started my very first compost bin! I’ve been feeling rather guilty about the 2 very large bags of garbage that I haul out to the curb every Thursday evening, and figured, why not put some of that to use? So I found this article at one of my favorite blogs, This Young House, explaining a simple and economical way to begin composting. I bought a small garbage can/diaper pail for $8, shredded up some newspaper for the bottom, and added a bunch of dirt (which we have a lot of on our yet-un-landscaped yard!), some banana peel, apple pieces, coffee grounds and sawdust (also have tons of!). Then I stirred it good, sprinkled some lukewarm water over everything and clipped the lid on. I know it’s a bit late in the season to start composting, ideally I should use it in 2-3 months, but I can always put it on the garden a little later in summer, I’m sure!

changes

I’m sure you’re all dying to find out how our first week of kindergarten went… well, here’s the official report:

It was a hard week, physically… and well, yes, a little emotionally too! It’s hard for this control freak mom to let go, even just for 3 hours a day. And that’s where the physical exhaustion played in. Run to school at 9, drop off Buster, come home and try to get something done, run back to school at 12, pick up Buster. Whew! And that’s not including the rush in the morning trying to get my very non-morning-person son to get moving… and getting into the routine of making breakfast and getting it on the table in time! For all you seasoned school moms, I know this sounds trivial… but it’s a huge schedule change for our little family, so it may take us awhile!

Another aspect of this whole thing is the effect it’s had on Noodle. He’s been acting up like crazy this past week and it feels like every bit of child training has gone right out the window! Please pray for patience for me this week! People are telling me I need to think about having another baby, but honestly that’s the last thing I want to think about right now! Buster has been having his “down” times as well and I think it’s just all the adjustments and he’s probably more tired than usual.

How did you deal with the changes that took place when the first one flew the nest? What is good birth spacing for kids? (Just kidding, please don’t answer that!)

New recipe

New post on my recipe blog! Check it out here…

swiffer 360

Awhile back I was asked if I wanted to write a review on the Swiffer 360 duster (American site here). I said, “sure, why not?” I mean what could I lose, right? I get a free duster in the mail and if I don’t like it, so what? But then I got to thinking that I have no idea how to write reviews… hmm…

But I can tell you what my personal opinion is, which is actually, shockingly, what a review is anyway. Wow. So about this duster… It took me a little bit to catch on how the fluffy part attaches to the handle but I’m known for having a blonde moment occasionally, so I wouldn’t be too concerned about that! I was amazed how it picked up dirt – it’s made of thousands of tiny fibers and it was almost like it grabbed the dust! Living in a new house with ongoing construction is a great chance for me to try out this product and so far, I really have nothing negative to say about it. It’s not a single-surface duster, you can turn it any direction (thus the 360°!) and dust away!

and the winner is…

… Mothering My Miracle Multiples! Email me with your address and I’ll get your soap in the mail!

 

on routines and a winner!

Buster’s first week of Kindergarten is officially over and I’m so glad tomorrow’s a holiday! I feel absolutely wiped from all that’s been going on… Getting the kids up earlier, getting breakfast on and getting Buster out the door. We’ve never really eaten breakfast together before but it’s been really good for us to get into more of a routine! So I’ve been trying to get up early enough that I can be dressed and ready for the day before breakfast. And beyond that, I’ve been heading out the door to Curves every Tuesday and Thursday at 6:30 am. Have I ever mentioned I’m not a morning person?? I’m feeling pretty fragile right now because I don’t do real well with lack of sleep… and tonight Tech Guy’s dad is arriving, so I have beds to change and a bathroom to clean. But the silver lining is that he’s helping with the electrical work downstairs. Baby steps… but it looks like there will eventually be a livable basement!

On a side note… we’ve been scraping together enough for the basement project and possibly a bit of landscaping… today we find out that it will cost $3000 to fix our main vehicle, so that’s causing a little stress! I do realize we have an incredibly blessed life so I’m not going to complain any more…

Oh yes, and the winner of my lovely 200th post giveaway is…

...to be announced tomorrow!

{Gotcha}

lifesong

Empty Hands held high
Such small sacrifice
If not joined with my life
I sing in vain tonight

May the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to you

Let my lifesong sing to You
Let my lifesong sing to You
I want to sign your name
to the end of this day
Knowing that my heart was true
Let my lifesong sing to You

LORD, I give my life
A Living sacrifice
To reach a world in need
To be your hands and feet

So may the words I say
And the things I do
Make my lifesong sing
Bring a smile to You

Thanks to my friends Shari for pointing me to this Casting Crowns song… the prayer of my heart…

wordless wednesday – road trip

so much more

What exactly is our purpose here? Isn’t there more to life than existing the way I am? Surely there’s something out there, something more…

These are some of the questions I’ve been asking myself lately. And the words of this song by Switchfoot keep echoing in my head:

Fumbling his confidence
And wondering why the world has passed him by
Hoping that he’s meant for more than arguments
And failed attempts to fly, fly
We were meant to live for so much more
Have we lost ourselves?

And I think I’ve found the answer… our purpose here on earth is to reach out, to love God and our neighbor as ourselves. To love unconditionally, to serve tirelessly… to use our pain and struggles as a way to help others who are still suffering and struggling.

So many times lately I’ve had the opportunity to visit with someone and share some of the heartache I’ve experienced in the last year… and I find they’ve been suffering through some of the same valleys but had no one to talk to, wondering if God really truly cared. And I tell them that I know how they feel. Because I do.

In my darkest hour, just before Christmas… I felt like life was so dark and there just simply was no light… I finally wept in bed, praying, begging to God, “I can’t do this anymore – take it away, I give it all up to You!” And the most incredible calm surrounded me. No, it wasn’t a huge feeling of peace… it was the total absence of darkness and fear and sadness. Calm, light, free…

Now I know, God does really care about little old me. And beyond that? He uses me. Uses me. Me! The same ‘me’ who has turned God away so many times and tried to do it on my own. The same ‘me’ who has saddened my Father more times than I can count. I am God’s creation and I am useful to Him. In the words of Ken Ham, founder and president of the Creation Museum, “Isn’t it exciting to be a Christian?!”

on creation

A lot of people have asked me what inspired me the most at the Creation Museum… it’s a hard question to answer because there was so much to absorb and we came away feeling so inspired about so many different aspects of the Bible and creation. I think the main long-term effect was my desire to study more in the Bible, and ground my faith more solidly. A sampling of other things I learned:

1. We need to take the 6 days of Creation literally. I used to think that since the Bible mentions a day with the Lord is “as a thousand years” (2 Peter 3:8), it didn’t necessarily mean 6 physical days but they bring out Genesis 1:5 - God called the light "day," and He called the darkness "night." Evening came, and then morning: the first day (HCSB). Reference to night and day, as well as a number is our clue that is was, in fact, a literal day. Also John 3:12 was quoted where it says, “If I have told you about things that happen on earth and you don't believe, how will you believe if I tell you about things of heaven?” If we can’t believe the literal 6-day Creation, how are we going to believe the rest of the Bible?

2. None of the animals were meat-eating or had venom before the fall of man. Therefore it is very possible that dinosaurs did in fact roam the earth at the same time as humans, but they were vegetarians at that point. It is believed they perished after the flood because the climate changed so drastically.

3. There is no way I can doubt a global flood when the evidence is so clear. Here’s a quote from the Answers in Genesis website by the founder Ken Ham:

Many people believe fossils and/or fossil-bearing layers were formed over millions of years … but is this true? Or are many of the ‘billions of dead things buried in rock layers laid down by water all over the Earth’ the result of the Flood of Noah’s day, which occurred just a few thousand years ago?

4. As a mother I couldn’t help but be amazed at the lecture by Dr. David Menton called Fearfully and Wonderfully Made. Check out his credentials… this guy’s done his research and spent plenty of time in school… a Creationist Anatomist who gave us the details of what happens in the first 7 days after conception. He said the question “When does life begin?” is irrelevant, because that implies that life has ended, which it hasn’t. There has always been life, the mother is living and the key word is we ‘procreate’ not ‘create’ life. Abortion, anyone? That little cell is alive from the very beginning!

I think I’ll leave it at that, but I would highly encourage anyone to visit the Answers in Genesis website, or even better, the museum itself. Even if you don’t believe in creation, you will appreciate the science and research that went into this project… and may you be touched by a greater Hand…

200th post giveaway

To be perfectly honest, this is my 204th post, but with packing and leaving I didn’t get all the details ironed out. 200 posts, not including my previous blog or my recipe blog, feels like quite an accomplishment so I’d like to show my appreciation to my faithful readers who stick by me even in the times of drought…

My friend and reader Amy makes the yummiest handmade natural soap and she’s agreed to supply a bar of Lavender Lemon 100% natural soap for this giveaway. Doesn’t that sounds positively delish?!

All you need to do is leave a comment on what your favorite part of my blog is, or what you’d like to see/hear more of… and you’re automatically entered! You get an additional entry for each of the following, but ONLY if you leave a comment telling me about it:

1. Tweet about this giveaway

2. Blog about this giveaway, or

3. Subscribe to my RSS feed (there’s a link at the top of the page)

Giveaway ends Thursday night at midnight, MST.

Thanks, y’all… and good luck!

new beginnings

Tomorrow I send my firstborn off on his own… Buster’s first day of Kindergarten. (He will be attending a private Christian school in our community and they run a 4-week Kindergarten curriculum through the month of April.) I have very mixed feelings… the control freak mother in me doesn’t ever want to let go of my child. And yet, the mother in me that has run out of ways to occupy my 5-year-old is more than happy that he will find a place to challenge and encourage his growth. A place where he can mingle with his friends and make new ones, a place where he will not only learn the 3 R’s but also the basics of the Bible. A place where I know I can entrust him because I personally know the teachers and their beliefs. So it is bittersweet… sadness for the mother who watches her first bird fly the nest but happiness as she understands the time has come…

a summary

I have no idea what happened – yesterday I posted a little summary of our vacation, and it has totally disappeared into thin air… it’s not on my blog or saved in Live Writer… wha…?! And the weird thing is, it appeared on my feed yesterday, but now it’s gone!

So I get to start over. Yum.

Anyway, we got back late Thursday night, 1:00 am but our bodies were still telling us we were 2 time zones ahead so we were exhausted! The 50 minute ride home from the airport was brutal for both of us… Tech Guy was driving and fighting to stay awake, and I felt responsible to keep him awake. Ack.

We had a great time… the first week was spent with friends. Tech Guy and his dad were installing a church sound system and they worked pretty long hours so we didn’t see a whole lot of them. The family we stayed with has 12 kids so it was an adventure for the boys! Always activity, always something going on… we had the guest house to ourselves which was awesome! It was complete with kitchen, living area, etc. so it quickly felt like home. The incredible mom of all these kids is a dear friend of mine, so we had a lot of great talks and I tried in my small way to help her out… but she is so incredibly organized that there often wasn’t a lot that needed doing! And I think I can hardly get it all done. With 2 kids. Huh…

On Monday morning we got in the rental car and headed south for Cincinnati. Our destination was the Creation Museum where we met friends from Ohio we hadn’t seen in over 2 years! We hung out at the motel until late, catching up on so much… Their kids are ages 4 and 18 months so they got along famously with ours.

The Creation Museum was awesome, a great faith builder actually. I think I might do another whole post, or three, on that subject. It’s huge, it’s new, it’s beautiful. But more than that, it’s spreading the Word… truths from Genesis that are too often ignored. Even by Christians. We came away so inspired!

We spent another couple days back in Ohio with our friends, just hung out and let the kids play. Great memories… special times… many late-night talks… These are friends we see only once in a couple years or so… but somehow when we’re together again, it’s like no time has passed. The best kind of friends!

check those seatbelts!

This is really scary. And sad.