tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18824134416536195252024-03-13T02:20:57.552-07:00I Will JoySharing thoughts about family, life, food, health... I'm a child of God, wife to Dan, and Mom of seven great kids. Habakkuk 3:17 I will joy in the God of my salvation!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.comBlogger66125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-26698265719683430042013-10-13T18:18:00.002-07:002013-10-19T15:17:38.567-07:00GracePoint Community Church - Nutrition Talk Notes<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">You are not your own, for you were bought with
a price. So glorify God in your body. I
Corinthians 6:20<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Eat the foods that God intended for food, in
their most natural state. (Rex Russell
MD, What the Bible Has to Say About Healthy Living)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Pace yourself!
Make small choices every day that will add up to healthier living. Buy one new vegetable (or other healthy item)
each time you shop. Taste a bite of
something everyday to acquire a taste for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Control toxic thoughts and emotions! Love this – combines Biblical wisdom and
science. </span><a href="http://www.tinlanhutah.org/eBooks/English/whoswitchedoffmybrain-carolineleaf.pdf" style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16pt;" target="_blank">Free e-book </a><span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16pt;"> called Who Switched Off My Brain</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><a href="http://www.soupmagic.com/my-24-hr-bone-broth-recipes.html" target="_blank">Chicken Broth recipe</a> (I only do the basic carrot, onion/onion skins and celery. I do my beef broth the same way except I use
red wine or red wine/balsamic vinegar and cook for 72 hours)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Books: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nourishing-Traditions-Challenges-Politically-Dictocrats/dp/0967089735/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381713131&sr=8-1&keywords=nourishing+traditions" target="_blank">Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/The-Makers-Diet-Jordan-Rubin/dp/1591857147/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1381713206&sr=8-1&keywords=maker%27s+diet" target="_blank">Maker’s Diet by Jordan Rubin</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Bible-About-Healthy-Living/dp/0830743499/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1381713278&sr=1-1&keywords=rex+russell" target="_blank">What the Bible Has to Say AboutHealthy Living by Rex Russell MD</a> *This is the most basic book. If you're already overwhelmed, read this one</div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><u>Best breakfast</u>:
Sautéed veggies (in coconut oil or butter) with an egg! Or soup! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">:)</span><span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;"> Or sometimes I cook an egg in my soup, stirring
only the white, and leaving the yolk untouched.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><u>Quick and easy sauerkraut and juice</u>: Core an organic cabbage. Place in a blender and cover about 3/4 of the way with water. Add 1 T sea salt. Blend until cabbage is fine pulp. This may take pulsing and blending for a
couple minutes, depending on your blender strength. Pour mixture into mason jars with 2 part
metal lids. Seal tightly. Leave at room temperature
for 4 days. Then refrigerate for at
least several weeks (six weeks is ideal) to age – the flavor mellows and the final
product will taste much better. When
ready to use, strain sauerkraut pulp to use in soup (add a couple teaspoons to
each bowl of soup) and sauerkraut juice (take shots of this as a health tonic!
) In the meantime, buy some raw sauerkraut at a health food store and blend it up so you can hide it in soup!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><u>Amazing blog</u> of my friend Mary www.gapsblog.com! She’s way more knowledgeable than I am about
nutrition. Be sure to check this
out. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Documentaries (most available on Netflix, but
if you google the name and “free” you can usually find them to stream somewhere
for no charge!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Hungry for Change<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Food, Inc.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Forks over Knives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Local Food Sources:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><a href="http://www.azurestandard.com/">www.azurestandard.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;"><a href="http://knowthyfood.com/">http://knowthyfood.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Trader Joes •</span><span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;"> Did I mention that I shop
here? :) If they do carry an item, I’ve
found they beat anyone’s prices.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">New Seasons – take a tour or a nutrition class
to get discounts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">Whole Foods - shop carefully both here and New Seasons - spendy! But if you can hit Whole Foods on a Monday pick up a Rotisserie Chicken for $6.99</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Corbel; font-size: 16.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Corbel; mso-fareast-language: JA;">I’m sure I’ve left something out that I said I
would put on here, so please remind me in the comments</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><span style="font-family: Wingdings;">!</span></span></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-90355667270359276412013-09-01T08:48:00.003-07:002013-09-01T08:49:12.548-07:00Breakfast Cookies<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #6d6866; font-family: 'Quattrocento Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px;">Just in time for back-to-school, here's a gluten free, high protein breakfast cookie recipe!</span><br />
<address style="color: #6d6866; font-family: 'Quattrocento Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
</address>
<ul style="color: #6d6866; font-family: 'Quattrocento Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 2.3em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">5 cups blanched almond flour (I use Honeyville - which they've had at Costco lately)</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1 teaspoon sea salt</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1 teaspoon baking soda</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1 teaspoon cinnamon</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1 package (2 sticks) of Kerrygold butter, melted</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">1-2 cups rapadura or 1 cup honey</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">3 eggs</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2 tablespoon vanilla extract</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2 cups shredded coconut</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">2 cups raisins</li>
</ul>
<ol style="color: #6d6866; font-family: 'Quattrocento Sans', Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 2.3em; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Preheat your oven to 350°F</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Combine first four ingredients and rapadura (if using rapadura) in a bowl and mix with a wooden spoon.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Add the wet ingredients, coconut and raisins and mix well (I used my hands at the end to make sure it was well mixed).</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Shape cookies into 1 1/2" balls, and flatten slightly. Freeze on cookie sheets for ten minutes. </li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Bake at 350°F for 15-20 minutes. If you want them crunchier (these are chewy), turn off the oven and leave a little longer - 5-10 minutes.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Cool slightly and remove from cookies sheet to cooling rack.</li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Makes about 36 cookies/3 dozen</li>
</ol>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-42695570879764281812013-03-13T09:37:00.000-07:002013-03-15T20:45:33.600-07:00Web Resources and Books for Moms (GracePoint Church)<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3jFJgrFizyKErj5yDt3DT3Xzi__N2JjtaxOTiQSSNc_Zj3mqYFstyQ4E3OTmXcxo7s40bQLgECuQItRTIfGNikSM30aRq1MRv_08EVz0ieiERKIDpkttcgQrU6IpTF4aqad4AsngChkH/s1600/165068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP3jFJgrFizyKErj5yDt3DT3Xzi__N2JjtaxOTiQSSNc_Zj3mqYFstyQ4E3OTmXcxo7s40bQLgECuQItRTIfGNikSM30aRq1MRv_08EVz0ieiERKIDpkttcgQrU6IpTF4aqad4AsngChkH/s200/165068.jpg" width="165" /></a></div>
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Web resources for Moms:<br />
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<a href="http://www.hearthevoice.com/files/3_year_reading_plan.pdf" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">3 Year Bible Reading Plan</span></a></div>
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<a href="http://ministry-to-children.com/30-easy-bible-verses//" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Thirty easy verses for small children to memorize</span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.jeanniesjournal.com/2011/12/quiet-time-101.html" target="_blank">How to have a quiet time</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.fathersloveletter.com/text.html" target="_blank"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">A love letter from God to you!<o:p></o:p></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://pastormark.tv/2012/01/27/low-self-esteem-or-lies-from-the-enemy" target="_blank">Don’t Believe the Lies About Yourself (Grace Driscoll)</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.proverbs31.org/devotions/?utm_source=encftdevo&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=encftdevo" target="_blank">Renewing your mind - Proverbs 31 Ministries</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2012/01/the-4-minute-marriage-habit-how-to-make-2012-the-year-you-fall-madly-in-love-all-over-again/" target="_blank">The Four Minute Marriage Habit (How to fall in love all over again)</a><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a href="http://www.aholyexperience.com/2010/11/10-point-manifesto-of-joyful-parenting-free-printable/" target="_blank">10 Points for Joyful Parenting</a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><a href="http://Flylady –getting a handle on housekeeping" target="_blank">Flylady –getting a handle on housekeeping</a></span><o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="http://thepeacefulmom.com/meet-the-peaceful-mom/" target="_blank">The Peaceful Mom (saving money, organization)</a></div>
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Books:<br />
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The Bible! ( I also love the Glo app for a free downloaded Bible on your iphone)</div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Jesus-Storybook-Bible-Every-Whispers/dp/0310708257/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363191899&sr=1-1&keywords=jesus+storybook+bible" target="_blank">Jesus Storybook Bible</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/One-Thousand-Gifts-Fully-Right/dp/0310321913/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363191950&sr=1-1&keywords=1000+Gifts" target="_blank">1000 Gifts</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Dont-Make-Me-Count-Three/dp/0972304649/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363192106&sr=1-1&keywords=Don%27t+Make+me+count+to+three" target="_blank">Don't Make Me Count to Three</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Marriage-What-Designed-Happy/dp/0310242827/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363192152&sr=1-1&keywords=sacred+marriage" target="_blank">Sacred Marriage</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sacred-Influence-Wives-Shape-Husbands/dp/031027768X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1363192185&sr=1-1&keywords=sacred+influence+by+gary+thomas" target="_blank">Sacred Influence</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Discerning-Voice-God-Recognize-Speaking/dp/0802450121/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363189298&sr=8-1&keywords=discerning+the+voice+of+God" target="_blank">Discerning the Voice of God</a><br />
<br />
Diet and Nutrition:<br />
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<a href="http://news.discovery.com/human/why-you-should-probably-stop-eating-wheat-121214.htm" target="_blank">Should I go gluten-free?</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Nourishing-Traditions-Challenges-Politically-Dictocrats/dp/0967089735/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1363405240&sr=8-1&keywords=nourishing+traditions" target="_blank">Nourishing Traditions</a> (book) - my only caution about this book is that calories do matter! We don't have to labor as hard as people used to... keep that in mind :)<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.westonaprice.org/" target="_blank">Weston Price Website</a><br />
<br />
<a href="http://nomnompaleo.com/" target="_blank">Nom Nom Paleo</a> (great recipes!)</div>
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C's Quiet Time and Parenting Tips:</div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Once you
get in a routine, she says, it's painful to miss that morning devotional. And
not even being tired can keep you from it. Get over the initial hump of
establishing a routine. Start with 5 minutes if it’s all you have. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Set the
coffee maker the night before. Light candles if it’s dark. Have a time of
romance with your groom and Savior. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->She’s found
a three-year through the Bible reading plan that is perfect. Try different
versions of the bible until you find one that suits you. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Keep a prayer
journal. Watch how God answers your prayers. Big and small. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]--><b><i>Be
the Master of Joy!!<o:p></o:p></i></b></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Say
"YES" unless you have to say no. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 81.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Be
gracious. Talk about grace. Ask for forgiveness. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 81.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Be
sensitive to how your child is "bent". <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 81.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Use a lot
more positive reinforcement than corporal punishment. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 81.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Connect
with each child every day. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 81.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Play!!!
Laugh!!! Play music and dance. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 81.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->Play games.
Love them with their love language. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 81.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 81.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span><!--[endif]-->PRAY for
them!!! Bless them!!! Hold hands with them. Kiss and hug them. Tell them you
love them.<o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment--></div>
Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-58476668585809507542012-06-01T12:09:00.000-07:002012-06-01T12:09:14.749-07:00Lemon Sponge Cake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrXwV5tSmNreDAQtp4FrsXNB7r0UanmmkBIyeWk8pPL0PgkWXrqQmAx0pOTwqHhH_tJ22gCq8FG785-My7JjORaMfdh37j4KTNE6KtBT0CTxmxwt-_frHOTsGOLWnlnjtBJ8s32gb4aQn/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHrXwV5tSmNreDAQtp4FrsXNB7r0UanmmkBIyeWk8pPL0PgkWXrqQmAx0pOTwqHhH_tJ22gCq8FG785-My7JjORaMfdh37j4KTNE6KtBT0CTxmxwt-_frHOTsGOLWnlnjtBJ8s32gb4aQn/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
We've been doing the <a href="http://www.gapsdiet.com/" target="_blank">GAPS</a> intro diet for just over two weeks, but of course, we've cheated a little... already dipping into a few regular GAPS foods (honey is the cheat on this one). This is one of our staples. Don't let the cake name fool you! It's a healthy treat for your kids. <br />
<br />
And so easy!<br />
<br />
Cook 3 cups organic baby carrots until soft. I measured, but baby carrots are kind of bulky and a little odd to measure, so I counted them too... 36 baby carrots. This can also be made with cooked summer squash or butternut squash instead of carrots, but carrots are easiest and cheapest. It takes about 45 minutes to get them soft, so do this step ahead, and double it. You'll want to make it again tomorrow!<br />
<br />
Add the cooked carrots to your blender.<br />
<br />
Then add:<br />
<br />
1 cup of almond flour or meal (almond meal is cheapest at Trader Joes. You can also use ground walnuts.)<br />
<br />
10 eggs (preferably from pastured, <a href="http://www.cheeseslave.com/how-to-buy-organic-eggs-pastured-vs-free-range-eggs/" target="_blank">happy chickens</a>, with golden yolks)<br />
<br />
1 teaspoon baking soda<br />
<br />
1/2 teaspoon sea salt<br />
<br />
5 packets <a href="http://www.amazon.com/True-Lemon-Crystallized-Fruit-Wedge/dp/B000V3SYCC/ref=sr_1_11?ie=UTF8&qid=1338575774&sr=8-11" target="_blank">True Lemon</a> or Lime (or the zest of a lemon, especially if want to avoid the teeny tiny bit of soy in the True Lemon)<br />
<br />
1/2 cup honey<br />
<br />
Liquify for about 20 seconds, then pour into a buttered 12 X 8 casserole. Bake at 325 F for 30 minutes.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-65387226919248383372011-06-27T20:47:00.000-07:002011-06-27T20:47:22.476-07:00Undeserved Lavish LoveThe other day I heard about a dad who has never told his children that he loves them. It broke my heart.<br />
<br />
This seems so wrong to me. I tried to look at it objectively. I know that not every family is going to be like mine.<br />
<br />
I grew up in a family that was generous with verbal praise. We tell each other we love each other a lot. A LOT. Like pretty much every time we see each other or talk on the phone, to this day. And my husband and I have continued this pattern with each other, and our children. <br />
<br />
I know that not every family is cut from the same cloth. Everyone has their own style. But I got to thinking, if we are going to pattern our families after anything, it needs to be God's family. <br />
<br />
And you know what I find in the Bible? Lavish love. Undeserved lavish love. Told to us in a thousand different ways. God's love for us, despite our sin, and poured out for us in Jesus. Which is, of course, the most important part of love. <i> Let us not love in word or tongue but with actions and in truth. I John 3:18</i> So showing love is obviously important. BUT God sure does a lot of telling about His love as well. He goes way, way out of His way to tell us how much He loves us. Just because He loves us.<br />
<br />
The main text for our recent women's retreat was Ephesians 3:18-19, where Paul exhorts us to join other Christians in knowing "what is the width and length and depth and height - to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge."<br />
<br />
Literally, that we can understand a love that cannot be known. It's an over-the-top kind of love, that can only be understood by the power of the Holy Spirit in us.<br />
<br />
Beth Moore used Psalm 103 to expand on the measurement terms.<br />
<br />
How wide is His love? As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.<br />
<br />
How long is His love? From everlasting to everlasting.<br />
<br />
How high is His love? As far as the heavens are high above the earth, how great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.<br />
<br />
We left the retreat amazed at his lavishness.<br />
<br />
I've loved Psalm 40:5. "And Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, they are more than can be numbered."<br />
<br />
His thoughts toward me are too high too count? That's A LOT of love.<br />
<br />
I have games I play with my younger children. I heard this idea once, and it's a winner. You tell, for example, your 6-year old son: "You know, if they took all the six-year-old boys in the whole world, and fit them into a football stadium, and told me I could pick any of them I wanted for <i>my</i> six-year-old boy, I would walk around and meet them all. There would be boys with black hair and brown hair and red hair and blond hair, tall boys and short boys, silly boys and serious boys, boys who like baseball and boys who like football, but when I met you I would say, 'Here he is! This is the one I want. I don't need to look anymore. I've found him. I want to take this one home!" They. Love. It. It might seem a little silly, but trust me on this one.<br />
<br />
Until our kids get older, the only way they are going to understand God's magnificent love for them, is through our love. Parents need to point the way to God for sure, but they are wired to trust us and need our love, and gradually they will, prayerfully, come to a close relationship with God. But we are their first picture of what love is supposed to be. And they need to know they are loved... not because of their performance, but just because they ARE.<br />
<br />
As for the dad who's never said "I love you," to his kids, I don't even know him, but I'm pretty sure he wasn't lavished with love as a kid. But God is our Father, so let's be like Him.<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, </div><div style="text-align: center;">that we should be called the children of God! For that is what we are! </div><div style="text-align: center;">I John 3:1 NIV</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-80108284406012101242011-06-15T21:26:00.000-07:002011-06-17T09:27:28.606-07:00Hang in there, Mommy!<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #001320; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It’s summertime! The transition feels different this year. Going from homeschooling everyone to summer break isn’t such a big deal. But going from having two kids in school, to having everyone home, is really sweet.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Seven kids, ages four to seventeen, all home, for the most part of our summer days. And it’s wonderful. It brings tears to my eyes, thinking about how thankful I am that the atmosphere in our home is what it is. That my children are who they are, by the grace of God.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I was prompted to write, as I thought about the fact that I am reaping the benefits of much labor, both my own and that of others. I want to encourage those who are still in the trenches of raising small children to keep up the good work! It will be worth it. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Let me state the obvious: We are not a perfect family. I had a dear friend describe another family to me by saying, “They are like your family. Everyone thinks they’re perfect. Until they get to know them.” </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So true. But imperfect as we are, we do enjoy our kids, and other people seem to like them too. And while sanctification is an ongoing journey, “</span></span><span style="color: #020f19;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.” (3 John 1:4)</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I love where I’m at in this parenting journey. It’s not as much work now, and there is <i>much</i> enjoyment! I just want to remind you, yes you, the one with piles of laundry and dishes and diapers, that it’s worth it!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When you are interrupted from making dinner (for the third time), and patiently give kisses and band-aids, you are loving your children and showing them Jesus.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When you have to stop story time with your two-year-old, to lovingly give needed discipline to your four-year-old, you are teaching them to fear the Lord, which will bring them joy all the days of their lives.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When it takes you three times as long to unload the dishwasher because of your “help,” you are paving the way for the day when they can do this chore independently. You won’t be the only one doing dishes and laundry and cooking forever!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When it seems difficult to get everyone to settle down for devotional in the morning, you are teaching them to persevere and prioritize what is most important in life.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #020f19;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When you hold them to the standards of the Word (Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you. Ephesians 4:32) and not the world, their sibling relationships will flourish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #020f19;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When you say no, even to good things, if life is too busy, they will know how much you value time as a family.</span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When you share with joy what God has been teaching you, they will see it’s a relationship, not a religion.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When you step away from your computer, and play baseball in the backyard, you are showing them how important they are to you.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When you take them on “special dates,” you are giving them time to ask questions alone, share their hearts, and just feel loved.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">When they see you have your quiet time in the morning (or see your open Bible and empty coffee mug on the table) you are modeling dependence on the living God.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Though you might groan inwardly when the early morning quiet is broken, your cheerful “Good Morning,” smile, kiss and hug is teaching them how to greet each day and those around them.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Are you noticing a trend here? God’s Word is invaluable.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I’m deeply grateful for instruction I have received, starting with having had great parents myself. I’ve also learned so much through parenting classes and sermons, godly women and great books. But all of these things are based on one book – the Bible – which in and of itself has taught me the most.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Because I have also received some bad parenting advice. From Christian people and Christian churches and Christian books. And I wouldn’t have known it was bad advice if I didn’t have God’s Word to compare it to.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">So if you are a mommy of young children, I want to encourage you, most of all, to be in the Word! Get up earlier than your kids if you can. Or let your kids watch a video. You only need fifteen minutes.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Just fifteen minutes. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">More is nice. But don’t beat yourself up if you can’t. <a href="http://www.jeanniefulbright.com/articles/quiet-time-101">Here’s</a> a great way to get started.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Love those babies. They grow up so fast. All the old ladies will tell you that (especially when you’re about to tear your hair out, and it doesn’t seem fast <i>at all</i>). But I heard a great quote that made sense of it. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">“The years are fast, but the days are slow.”</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I know it's not easy. You have the most important job in the world. <a href="http://download.redeemer.com/pdf/learn/resources/How_Can_I_Know_God-Keller.pdf">But if you belong to Him,</a> you have the God who created everything available to you 24/7. That’s not a bad deal. I hope you will take advantage of it!</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div></span>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-58596326442979084352011-05-14T09:11:00.000-07:002011-05-14T09:14:36.826-07:00Can't Stop Laughing and Other Thankful Thoughts<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">If anyone is new to this blog, this thankful list begins <a href="http://joyisaverb.blogspot.com/2011/03/eucharisto.html">here</a>, and is a result of reading <i>One Thousand Gifts</i> (<i>A Dare to Live Fully, Right Where You Are) </i>by Ann Voskamp. A highly recommended read!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">#0165-0188<o:p></o:p></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Cade’s sweet compassion for his younger brother<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Tender words<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Bode finally realizing that it’s not that bad to wash his hair, and announcing that he’s going to do it every day<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Boys in baseball uniforms<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Kind words from friends<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Learning to crave vegetables<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">First really warm days of spring<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Fresh produce on an old-fashioned china platter<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Double peony-tulips<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Silly texts with a girlfriend<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Projects coming together<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Bone-tired accomplishment (yard work!)<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Texting with son out-of-town, who tells me he loves me <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Late afternoon clean-up frenzies for a beautiful, tidy house to start the weekend<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Watermelon slices<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Coffee and Bible and Prayer on a quiet Saturday morning (with my newly put together quiet time basket with containers for prayer, verse and blank note cards to use with my beautiful stickers!)<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Baseball-playing boys knowing exactly where their uniforms are before the game (i.e. not having to run around madly looking for a jersey)<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Laughing so hard with Dan that I cried. Can’t stop. Laughing. Crying.*<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Godly, loving women who want to bless their friend. Throwing a baby shower with the sweetest of people for a mutual friend, who is so dear and such a wonderful mother... celebrating her fourth baby.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Roasted beets with goat cheese<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Sun-kissed cheeks<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Popsicles on a sunny afternoon<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Long walks and talks with friends<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Teaching Sunday School. Such joy in sharing the greatest gift of all. I love teaching God’s Word.<o:p></o:p></li>
</ul><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">*I don’t know if this explanation will be funny to any of you, but I’ll tell you why we were laughing. We have had a LOT of water issues lately. Hot water issues, water pressure issues, water pump issues, and irrigation issues. I have had several mornings with no water = backed up dishes and laundry. We’ve had a new hot water tank and new pressure pump installed. Then Thursday morning the water pressure completely went out during Courtney’s shower. Followed by a fountain of water shooting from the ground. I called Dan on his way to work to tell him, and based on the fact that we’d had pressure issues with the shower, and that I told him I was looking out the bedroom window, he thought I was talking about the overflow valve, which would have to do with the pressure pump that had just been installed on Monday. But I was looking out the <i>other</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> bedroom window.<o:p></o:p></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">So he called the pump and well specialists. When the guy cam over to fix it, he kept giving me strange looks and told me several times that he doesn’t normally fix this kind of problem, but that he would. I’m thinking, as I run around crazy with voice teacher here, my dad arriving, and running out the door, “okay, as long as it gets fixed so I can have water again.” So late that night, all is fixed and Dan and I are getting ready for bed, and he asks me again where the water was shooting out from this morning. When I tell him, he cracks up. And we realize we called the pump and well specialists to fix a broken part on our sprinkler system. Which they kindly did. <o:p></o:p></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-27783016871750147692011-04-09T18:41:00.000-07:002011-04-09T18:41:18.472-07:00Great Report from JapanFrom <a href="http://thedelacourier.blogspot.com/">missionaries in Japan</a>, who were there before the earthquake...<br />
<br />
So happy to see that Samaritan's Purse is helping with relief <i>and</i> helping the local economy!<br />
<br />
<br />
<h2 class="date-header" style="color: #558866; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; letter-spacing: 0.2em; line-height: 2em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 43px; margin-right: 28px; margin-top: 0px; text-transform: uppercase;">MONDAY, APRIL 04, 2011</h2><div class="post" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 25px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.3em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 13px; padding-right: 13px; padding-top: 0px;"><a href="" name="4655611965495783065"></a><h3 class="post-title" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.blogblog.com/rounders3/icon_arrow.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 10px 0.5em; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 0px; color: #333333; display: block; font-size: 17px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 29px; padding-right: 14px; padding-top: 2px;">In praise of relief agencies...</h3><div class="post-body" style="border-bottom-color: rgb(238, 238, 204); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 0px; padding-bottom: 1px; padding-left: 29px; padding-right: 14px; padding-top: 10px;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="clear: both;"></div>I spent some time talking with an Asian Access missionary who has been in Sendai for the past two weeks. In his role he interfaced with<i>Samaritan's Purse</i> and <i>Food for the Hungry</i> staff and assisted in distribution of their supplies. Their experience with disaster relief has been invaluable, and their goods have been wisely chosen.<div><br />
</div><div>In the past two weeks since the first load from Samaritan's Purse arrived in Sendai, they have gone out of their way to obtain other things that become apparent as needs. They purchased large amounts of some goods from Costco here in Japan--is that why I can't find what I'm looking for? ;-) I'll gladly give those things up if they are being used for the relief effort in Tohoku!</div><div><br />
</div><div>Currently they recognize that people need transportation. So rather than bringing in bicycles from outside the country, they are going to the local bike shops to purchase the bikes. In doing this, they encourage the local economy and provide a basic need for people.</div><div><br />
</div><div>As my friend, Peter said:</div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><blockquote style="border-bottom-color: rgb(85, 153, 102); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(85, 153, 102); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(85, 153, 102); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(85, 153, 102); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.75em; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-left: 15px; padding-right: 15px; padding-top: 5px;"><span jsid="text"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_4d9a636a725a63f99313084" style="display: inline;">Learned so much over the past two weeks. I love what is starting to happen. Samaritan's Purse is contracting with local businesses to supply goods that SP will give away. Instead of bringing in everything from far away, they will support lo<span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;">cal business in a time of great need. The businesses sell to SP and SP gives it to people who lost everything. Double win. Beautiful. So amazing. Needs change daily, one day they are ordering tens of thousands of pairs of underwear, the next they are buying bikes. All going free to people in great need. But the combo of buying local when possible and giving local is great to see, especially in expensive Japan.</span></div></span></blockquote><span jsid="text"><div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_4d9a636a725a63f99313084" style="display: inline;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="display: inline;"></span></div></span></span></div><br />
I know that many times people want to do something tangible to help, and I am guilty of thinking that giving to a major relief agency is not that helpful. But I want to say that these agencies are doing a great job, and the financial donations people give are making a strategic difference in the lives of people.<div style="clear: both; padding-bottom: 0.25em;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0.75em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div></div><div class="post-footer" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: white; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-left-style: dotted; border-left-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-right-style: dotted; border-right-width: 1px; border-top-color: rgb(187, 187, 153); border-top-style: dotted; border-top-width: 1px; color: #666666; font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.5em; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px; padding-left: 29px; padding-right: 14px; padding-top: 2px; text-align: right;"><em style="display: block; float: left; font-style: normal; text-align: left;">posted by Stan and Faith @ <a href="http://thedelacourier.blogspot.com/2011/04/in-praise-of-relief-agencies.html" style="color: #334477;" title="permanent link">5:12 PM</a></em> <a class="comment-link" href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=23280078&postID=4655611965495783065" location.href="https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=23280078&postID=4655611965495783065;" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.blogblog.com/rounders3/icon_comment.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 45%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #334477; padding-left: 14px;">0 comments</a> <a class="comment-link" href="http://thedelacourier.blogspot.com/2011/04/in-praise-of-relief-agencies.html#links" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://www.blogblog.com/rounders3/icon_comment.gif); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0px 45%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; color: #334477; padding-left: 14px;">links to this post</a></div></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-45946152814160334922011-04-07T04:42:00.000-07:002011-04-07T04:42:12.974-07:00On My Way to 1000!<!--StartFragment--> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">#0141-0164<o:p></o:p></div><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Such a busy and full life, kind-of a little crazy sometimes, but thankful for quiet times in the morning that make all the difference in my day, and for <i>One Thousand Gifts</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> for helping slow down, be thankful, and appreciate each moment<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Red patchwork quilts<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Fresh, warm, floral smell of the greenhouse<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Hot bath, book and bed<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Laughing with my ladies at Bible study<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Finding the right motivation for my kids<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Seeing their “aha” moments<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">A perfectly caught pop-fly<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">The privilege of taking care of my sweet kiddos when they are sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having medicine, tea, and all I need to care for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes my heart break for mommas with sick babies who have no resources to care for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Such a good reminder to live simply, to give more to those in need.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Grant’s Ant Traps (Does anyone else get inundated with ants every spring?)<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Money to buy groceries. I never want to take this for granted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am so thankful to be able to buy good food for our family.<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Knowing that my favorite pajamas will be clean for bed tonight<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Tyler Candles, “French Market” scent<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Dinner in the crockpot<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Kat texting me about prom plans and bringing friends over after the big event<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Still feeling a little needed and wanted for advice and ideas in her life<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Courtney’s delight in her new phone, and in her friend "finally" getting a phone</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Giggles <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Dan’s team winning their first game of the season<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Courtney’s music compositions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She mailed a copy to my grandpa, a musician and former music teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He played it on the piano in his retirement home and wrote her a letter, commenting on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span> <!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">“Not only do you have some very interesting melodies, but your chord progressions are excellent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The modulations to different keys were well done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I was thrilled to hear some diminished chords throughout the composition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Keep up the good work!”</span><!--EndFragment--> </li>
</ul><ul style="margin-top: 0in;" type="disc"><li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">The bright mind and good health of my 95-year-old grandfather! <o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">The sheer delight of my littlest boys when I tell them we are going to drive-through at McDonalds to get ice cream cones and super-hero toys. (I think this was the first time I had <i>ever</i> taken them to McDonalds.)<o:p></o:p></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Tuck-in cuddles, back scratches and head-rubs with Abby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not a <i>real</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> tuck-in for her unless I get under the covers, and preferably fall asleep with her as well.<o:p></o:p></span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;"><span style="font-style: normal;">Bode's giggles (I wish I could count how many times a day he giggles or laughs hysterically)</span></li>
</ul><!--EndFragment-->Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-59156122961101072532011-03-28T16:33:00.000-07:002011-03-28T16:33:08.040-07:00Home Sweet HomeAlways so good to be home!<br />
<br />
Though for the first time in many years, I could have stayed on vacation longer. With no babies in the house, it's a lot easier to travel, and I wasn't <i>dying</i> to get back to my normal routine. It made me a little sad to leave beautiful, warm Maui.<br />
<br />
It was a huge blessing to wake up Sunday morning and go to church and hear a great sermon on contentment from Philippians 4. It was also much needed <s>ammunition</s> devotional material for my youngest kids today as they had the "I've had too much vacation" attitude. God's Word is amazing! Our morning had a complete turn-around after we read about Paul's contentment in any circumstance and the only true satisfaction (Jesus!) that doesn't leave us longing for more (John 4).<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.</span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-29456" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">13</span></i></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">I can do all this through Him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12-13</span></i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></i></span><br />
And the thankful list continues... a few with photos...<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">124.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Bantam rooster in the morning<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">125.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Daffodils, anemones, hyacinths and camellias blooming (and bouquets of them in the house, made by my sweet mother)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">126.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Not having to think about where the light switches are<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">127.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Jack, willing to wake up before 5 a.m. Hawaii time our first morning back, because he’s so excited to play some basketball<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">128.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Worship, great sermon, and sweet friends at church<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">129.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Lots of sun breaks<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">130.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Birdsong in the morning and frogs at night<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">131.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Everything familiar, especially my bed<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">132.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Cooking (I love the combination of making recipes that call for lots of vegetables and making chicken <a href="http://joyisaverb.blogspot.com/2008/12/joy-of-stock.html">stock</a> - adding the unusable or less desirable parts to simmer with a chicken carcass. Beautiful color!)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowLl1DzEbXwRKYneKxgVNTnoJeFeR8tgd6jdQvc-10g4O5Yxkbrq3UCqdS4Jx-zqvPK6TBaFw0KEkKrrA38gDf6MdgZulscgChuG8hlQh9g6TPgKlu7fLfS-A1Nv_M65irtDok4-bKUep/s1600/IMG_1468.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgowLl1DzEbXwRKYneKxgVNTnoJeFeR8tgd6jdQvc-10g4O5Yxkbrq3UCqdS4Jx-zqvPK6TBaFw0KEkKrrA38gDf6MdgZulscgChuG8hlQh9g6TPgKlu7fLfS-A1Nv_M65irtDok4-bKUep/s320/IMG_1468.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">133.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Buds about to burst open on the magnolia tree outside my bedroom window (I think of this tree as the “Hope of Spring” as I see it’s big, fuzzy buds all winter long)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">134.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Clean laundry<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">135.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Teaching Sunday School with Dan<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">136.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Sweet hugs from kids we teach<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">137.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Early work-out with my best friend, laughing, catching up – always a great start to my week<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">138.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Brother buddies<o:p></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRABAgh5uTvwhMAW_5rpAWYp09HqChM_pUhL0YuMqVuCy9_xICVrgDsxYlk70Wo9XFbPn5l1-SJIij5rZYmHakMna31Qp_Lh1FAyV8l-ArAV9tOIZMQKj34RthBWLawoBWMXTWx6pHdKM/s1600/IMG_1471.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGRABAgh5uTvwhMAW_5rpAWYp09HqChM_pUhL0YuMqVuCy9_xICVrgDsxYlk70Wo9XFbPn5l1-SJIij5rZYmHakMna31Qp_Lh1FAyV8l-ArAV9tOIZMQKj34RthBWLawoBWMXTWx6pHdKM/s320/IMG_1471.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">139.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Homeschooling moments<o:p></o:p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdFdWHhn4zotZ14SEsbN8lBD5fyEmTIaDaWxrCaflOXzrFaNdCJh_p0iNZS2wBwQn2GNONnXrFURR5w6IOz2VLvf3xFAoN0iU4hVoshMLpDPL-eSYbhyphenhyphenbiZ4Ket3zd0lXVg-beBcLBAWh/s1600/IMG_1472.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghdFdWHhn4zotZ14SEsbN8lBD5fyEmTIaDaWxrCaflOXzrFaNdCJh_p0iNZS2wBwQn2GNONnXrFURR5w6IOz2VLvf3xFAoN0iU4hVoshMLpDPL-eSYbhyphenhyphenbiZ4Ket3zd0lXVg-beBcLBAWh/s320/IMG_1472.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY5kXJqBimeKhDboL3osA7xpNuYc78c6y02NJH81zV0OAHAdExMjX6rgDrPmkz-S7Dc6hoSZi9K567N1SIj7bSLVpxM0qyGPRiQF1wvclHZuXtGuZOS_8NCxM7pk3hMoBOXGvQTJzaS2o/s1600/IMG_1473.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRY5kXJqBimeKhDboL3osA7xpNuYc78c6y02NJH81zV0OAHAdExMjX6rgDrPmkz-S7Dc6hoSZi9K567N1SIj7bSLVpxM0qyGPRiQF1wvclHZuXtGuZOS_8NCxM7pk3hMoBOXGvQTJzaS2o/s320/IMG_1473.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="238" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">140.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span>Logistics working out for tonight’s two baseball practices, one parent meeting, one basketball practice, one gymnastics lesson, one piano lesson and one play rehearsal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone is able to get where they need to go thanks to a third driver in the family and a little help from our friends!<o:p></o:p></div><!--EndFragment-->Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-7756586306396073582011-03-25T18:09:00.000-07:002011-03-25T18:09:27.876-07:00Bright-eyedToday at lunch I saw a woman with the most joyful eyes. She was probably close to 70, white-haired and more than pleasantly plump. My instant thought upon seeing her was that I don't mind the thought of growing older if I can look like her. She was with family, and while they went in to order food she sat outside at a table. <br />
<br />
I had to tell her. She was just so beautiful. She was surprised, a little embarrassed,<br />
pleased and more than a little doubtful about my eyesight, I think. But I went on to tell her it was the joy in her eyes, such a brightness about her. Then she looked at me, a little deeper, and with a more knowing voice and said, "Well, I do love the Lord." I smiled big and nodded, "Of course you do. That's it."<br />
<br />
I saw Him in her eyes.<br />
<br />
She grabbed my arm and gave a little hug, her family came out and the moment was gone.<br />
<br />
That's who I want to be. So full of his grace that I shine His love without saying a word.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-41328971974223965112011-03-25T11:43:00.000-07:002011-03-25T11:47:43.755-07:00Almost AlohaI am looking forward to our last full day in Hawaii, but also looking forward to home!<br />
<br />
Yesterday I finally got to swim in the ocean. One of my favorite things in life. I was trying to figure out why I hadn't done it before, and then I remembered! I'd been so busy watching the kids I couldn't get in myself. Now they are all ocean-ed out!<br />
<br />
Here's a few shots from the past few days:<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpVaf4cGiW9jZUtzi3pUjuHsZcXWja0UZgZUjD3eJUWncmqoikBW9fJTMPKYZldrDukgRdoKfHsx8RMMn48jcqnOnAvhoOyy0deu6HLK2qR2PGk6EEmgTF1RxGNV0uwlXo8rqyf5E-RcP/s1600/IMG_1384.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqpVaf4cGiW9jZUtzi3pUjuHsZcXWja0UZgZUjD3eJUWncmqoikBW9fJTMPKYZldrDukgRdoKfHsx8RMMn48jcqnOnAvhoOyy0deu6HLK2qR2PGk6EEmgTF1RxGNV0uwlXo8rqyf5E-RcP/s320/IMG_1384.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ghfh9bpOI-b8PtAIK2kuh1TPutkYtYu6PDx0uen9rL44dEk8x915cexamGbB4qiTcJvLYkD9BL8C6ijfCiLBhd9FVkhEXpNxuI9QJPA8HaV18MR2LP0QQSX0pJiY1_7CfxTZ5qSSehJ7/s1600/IMG_1394.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Ghfh9bpOI-b8PtAIK2kuh1TPutkYtYu6PDx0uen9rL44dEk8x915cexamGbB4qiTcJvLYkD9BL8C6ijfCiLBhd9FVkhEXpNxuI9QJPA8HaV18MR2LP0QQSX0pJiY1_7CfxTZ5qSSehJ7/s320/IMG_1394.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrVKJvhq1V_ehMFbyIophluwaVKBdaFIlVnaumdaUBLRu9aOYDelwcTC12HgQGet0ww9uXqp2VmThsdvUsajgP-VU850ttH8D9tdltA7wSmyxUh-ZhkLD9blE3NrC4YFrzmdaPfgKT1Ec/s1600/IMG_1440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSrVKJvhq1V_ehMFbyIophluwaVKBdaFIlVnaumdaUBLRu9aOYDelwcTC12HgQGet0ww9uXqp2VmThsdvUsajgP-VU850ttH8D9tdltA7wSmyxUh-ZhkLD9blE3NrC4YFrzmdaPfgKT1Ec/s320/IMG_1440.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
That last one is Cade playing his DS under a towel. Ha! Really appreciating the moment and all the beauty around him.<br />
<br />
We did a family photo session with a photographer last night on a beautiful beach a few miles from here. I can't wait to see the pictures, but for now, here's a glimpse of the scene.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP43-U6XMTJBHuu8stANQ9m7vbSCBjScWzpJFMx4RmjNpbkIOe74vla1P0sLxqwb2mSW4yQe9lcpdmrXYxez9COWpEpph7ME8WhCImnvlpJ3_ks9_RO9lMDsiwc6tSKl0bHmQS5iy9qLQu/s1600/IMG_1444.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP43-U6XMTJBHuu8stANQ9m7vbSCBjScWzpJFMx4RmjNpbkIOe74vla1P0sLxqwb2mSW4yQe9lcpdmrXYxez9COWpEpph7ME8WhCImnvlpJ3_ks9_RO9lMDsiwc6tSKl0bHmQS5iy9qLQu/s400/IMG_1444.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYM7ZObQUY2Vbg50KxpSVOTgrp4LYPbYkptheLy9RwVonSGjCDp30U0hDqtD1T46UMkZ6zoiRcMcUTTIVA6_al1dvDyCJnAYQBv8LuXVL4QzlzxsRGSngT2h64TGnaJUQgrUl3ZmkLQCx/s1600/IMG_1446.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIYM7ZObQUY2Vbg50KxpSVOTgrp4LYPbYkptheLy9RwVonSGjCDp30U0hDqtD1T46UMkZ6zoiRcMcUTTIVA6_al1dvDyCJnAYQBv8LuXVL4QzlzxsRGSngT2h64TGnaJUQgrUl3ZmkLQCx/s400/IMG_1446.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIaVDUsrYN5f34sUjtU-5jZBlrqCwjVynmXimGkENpN90_9XIpnxPAO2-FtiwxOSVcROzRnv77yW8t-R5xyIgzHxFlC6zKiU2YpmG2ItLyMC9IjF3r-50dl014KPb-hfNr8GWnrKvePye/s1600/IMG_1450.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisIaVDUsrYN5f34sUjtU-5jZBlrqCwjVynmXimGkENpN90_9XIpnxPAO2-FtiwxOSVcROzRnv77yW8t-R5xyIgzHxFlC6zKiU2YpmG2ItLyMC9IjF3r-50dl014KPb-hfNr8GWnrKvePye/s400/IMG_1450.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JFalq9wmbloRGhO_asN-8F2Bqvmt8sQnLqsP51qGuekLJcrPD78CXFWtBXkwAOdPZ1_eTy4O-ztRxG2wZsSTXARJHJ27HGQh6A_cBKD_QI3a0mU5ssC924v9T6Y26aQchN6BPihLcrKS/s1600/IMG_1451.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1JFalq9wmbloRGhO_asN-8F2Bqvmt8sQnLqsP51qGuekLJcrPD78CXFWtBXkwAOdPZ1_eTy4O-ztRxG2wZsSTXARJHJ27HGQh6A_cBKD_QI3a0mU5ssC924v9T6Y26aQchN6BPihLcrKS/s400/IMG_1451.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdG29YAbiMgbQrlPzCmKapQUVGDqKuzznJy6vWhwGTTR7xGeLGFZ2BpGeiBe-udETgmQdvpHz6JypKh3gHKqgxcMYabvcxutBS-16AsziiNGTFVpTgbkT2pb0cgOUrqGXsabS31FBCQO5a/s1600/IMG_1453.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdG29YAbiMgbQrlPzCmKapQUVGDqKuzznJy6vWhwGTTR7xGeLGFZ2BpGeiBe-udETgmQdvpHz6JypKh3gHKqgxcMYabvcxutBS-16AsziiNGTFVpTgbkT2pb0cgOUrqGXsabS31FBCQO5a/s400/IMG_1453.jpg" width="298" /></a></div><br />
And of course, I couldn't end this post without some thankful thoughts. <br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -27.0pt;">100.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Perfect bird shadows (such cute little feet!) above my head as they walk across the cabana roof</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -27.0pt;">101.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Torch-lit flagstone paths along the beach</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -27.0pt;">102.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Wolfgang Puck’s amazing food</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -27.0pt;">103.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Sunset dinners overlooking the ocean</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -27.0pt;">104.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>That Dan and I both love to talk and make new friends when we’re out to dinner</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -27.0pt;"><span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 32px;">105.</span></span> </span>Glorious mornings</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -27.0pt;">106.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Birdsong</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -27.0pt;">107.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>First thoughts of day are thanks to God</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: 45.0pt; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -27.0pt;">108.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Birds in pairs<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">109.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Tan feet in flip-flops<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">110.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Polka dots of light on the page of my book; sun through the brim of my sun hat<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">111.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Amazing convenience and efficiency of email, camera, texting, games for kids to play, the Bible, Internet, note-taking all in one place. Oh, and it's a phone too!<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">112.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Bougainvillea everywhere<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">113.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Swimming in the best wave pool ever (the Pacific Ocean)<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">114.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Watching liquid gems of sapphire, aquamarine, emerald and peridot cascade toward me again and again<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">115.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Gardenias<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.25in;">116.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Sashimi<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">117.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>God-appointed conversations<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">118.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Psalm 25<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">119.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Running, dancing, posing, and kissing on the beach at sunset for family pictures.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">120.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>So tired of eating out that everyone is overjoyed at cereal, fruit, bread and lunchmeat in our hotel room.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">121.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Praying together.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">122.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>A red cardinal on the railing not six feet from me.<o:p></o:p></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; margin-left: .5in; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list 45.0pt; text-indent: -.25in;">123.<span style="font: normal normal normal 7pt/normal 'Times New Roman';"> </span>Wet sand between my toes.<o:p></o:p></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-71599119726694814522011-03-22T23:47:00.000-07:002011-03-25T11:48:09.432-07:00Eucharisteo IIII realize it's really not hard to put together a thankful list while in Hawaii. And I'm actually looking forward to more of a challenge when we're back to regular life.<br />
<br />
Thought this was a great quote from <a href="http://onethousandgifts.com/">the book</a> today:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">One act of thanksgiving,</div><div style="text-align: center;">when things go wrong with us,</div><div style="text-align: center;">is worth a thousand thanks when things</div><div style="text-align: center;">are agreeable to our inclinations.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sant John of Avila</i></div><br />
But I still like documenting our trip through random thankful thoughts.<br />
<br />
80. Holding hands and snorkeling<br />
81. The wonder of another world under the surface of the water<br />
82. Two proud little boys emerging from their room, <i>very</i> early morning, in matching outfits: “We’re all dressed and we packed!”<br />
83. The fun of a new location (moving to a hotel today).<br />
84. My capable, caring husband; packing the car up for me since he was golfing when we moved to the hotel.<br />
85. Ahi Poke from Safeway, all packaged up in the meat department just like chicken or beef, with an expiration date. Only in Hawaii…<br />
86. The scent of plumeria<br />
87. Ceiling fans<br />
88. All the ends of the world shall remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations shall worship before Him. Psalm 22:27<br />
89. After four days in Hawaii, Kat and Cocoa are talking about missing their jeans and Uggs… that’s a little strange, but I’m glad they love living in Oregon!<br />
90. Jack’s new love for Ahi Poke<br />
91. But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God; I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever. Psalm 52:8<br />
92. Today Abby told me she wants to go home. Do you mean back to the hotel? “No, home. I miss doing my kitchen jobs and cleaning my room.” Again, really? But I’m glad she likes her life at home (and cleaning!) :)<br />
93. I always tell Dan he does too much, but I have to love the fact that he pre-programmed my GPS while we were still in Portland for every location I would need while in Hawaii (including Whole Foods).<br />
94. Abby told me her tummy hurt as we got out of the car at the hotel, and threw up in the bushes! I'm so thankful it didn't happen a moment earlier. Poor girl, now she’s worried the bellman is going to recognize her every time we go somewhere in the car. (She’s fine, was just a little carsick.)<br />
95. Seeing friends and meeting new people, all from Portland, but here in Maui for spring break. A party put together on facebook. Thanks, Wooleys!<br />
96. Arbonne “Glow With It” after-sun lotion. <i>Saves me</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> when I’m sunburned.</span><br />
<span style="font-style: normal;"></span>97. Fresh sheets.<br />
98. Sunsets on the beach.<br />
99. Flower leis.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-23144751557503734992011-03-20T12:10:00.000-07:002011-03-20T17:58:39.966-07:00Eucharisteo IIFrom <i>One Thousand Gifts:</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>"A nail is driven out by another nail; habit is overcome by habit." Erasmus said that, contemporary and admirer of Martin Luther. When I read this thought, I am surprised because I had never known and I am sad for all that would have changed if only I had.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>I look down at the pen, this pen I keep wielding, one writing her way to one thousand. This pen: this is nothing less than the driving of nails. Nails driving out my habits of discontent and driving in my habit of eucharisteo. I'm hammering in nails to pound out nails, ugly nails that Satan has pierced through the world, my heart. It starts to unfold, light in the dark, a door opening up, how all these years it's been utterly pointless to try to wrench out the spikes of discontent. Because that habit of discontent can only be driven out by hammering in one iron sharper. The sleek pen of gratitude.</i><br />
<i><br />
</i><br />
<i>I hammer.</i><br />
<br />
And so my list continues.<br />
<br />
58. Enjoying different family dynamics when our oldest three are elsewhere<br />
59. Dinner for 6 on the lanai<br />
60. Tucking in tired, sun kissed children<br />
61. Not knowing or caring what day it is<br />
62. Early morning cuddles.<br />
63. Kissing soft chubby Bode cheeks.<br />
64. Wondering what deep thoughts Cade is thinking.<br />
65. The strange feeling of having a child that is smarter than I am.<br />
66. God’s goodness in giving me everything I need, mostly a relationship with him, to raise these children to His glory.<br />
67. Contentment<br />
68. Simple habits of coffee, Bible, reading the Psalm of the today’s date.<br />
69. The spiritual disciplines of adoration, confession, thanksgiving, supplication (ACTS).<br />
70. Leather journals<br />
71. Bode sideling up next to me, asking me what all the highlighted verses in my Bible say<br />
72. Blond highlights coming out in my children’s sun-kissed hair.<br />
73. Bode back for round four of morning hugs.<br />
74. Early morning TV for kids so I can have some uninterrupted quiet time.<br />
75. Dan waking up right when I realized I have no idea how to operate the TV<br />
76. Working out in a breeze<br />
77. The feel of a good stretch<br />
78. Post workout pineapple juice<br />
79. More time to read <i>One Thousand Gifts</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> on the deck</span> <br />
<ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"></ol>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-72021900129032592362011-03-19T21:59:00.000-07:002011-03-19T21:59:23.695-07:00A Prayer for Japan from John PiperTwo blog posts in one day! After six weeks of silence. I know, it's a miracle. That, or I'm on vacation. But this is so beautiful, and too long for a facebook status, so I had to share.<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #2c2b28; font-family: helvetica, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Father in heaven, you are the absolute Sovereign over the shaking of the earth, the rising of the sea, and the raging of the waves. We tremble at your power and bow before your unsearchable judgments and inscrutable ways. We cover our faces and kiss your omnipotent hand. We fall helpless to the floor in prayer and feel how fragile the very ground is beneath our knees.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">O God, we humble ourselves under your holy majesty and repent. In a moment—in the twinkling of an eye—we too could be swept away. We are not more deserving of firm ground than our fellowmen in Japan. We too are flesh. We have bodies and homes and cars and family and precious places. We know that if we were treated according to our sins, who could stand? All of it would be gone in a moment. So in this dark hour we turn against our sins, not against you.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And we cry for mercy for Japan. Mercy, Father. Not for what they or we deserve. But mercy.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Have you not encouraged us in this? </span></em><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Have we not heard a hundred times in your Word the riches of your kindness, forbearance, and patience? Do you not a thousand times withhold your judgments, leading your rebellious world toward repentance? Yes, Lord. For your ways are not our ways, and your thoughts are not our thoughts.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Grant, O God, that the wicked will forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts. Grant us, your sinful creatures, to return to you, that you may have compassion. For surely you will abundantly pardon. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord Jesus, your beloved Son, will be saved.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">May every heart-breaking loss—millions upon millions of losses—be healed by the wounded hands of the risen Christ. You are not unacquainted with your creatures' pain. You did not spare your own Son, but gave him up for us all.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In Jesus you tasted loss. In Jesus you shared the overwhelming flood of our sorrows and suffering. In Jesus you are a sympathetic Priest in the midst of our pain.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Deal tenderly now, Father, with this fragile people. Woo them. Win them. Save them.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And may the floods they so much dread make blessings break upon their head.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">O let them not judge you with feeble sense, but trust you for your grace. And so behind this providence, soon find a smiling face.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In Jesus’ merciful name, </span></em><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Amen.</span></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">John Piper</span></em></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-89340947832480801522011-03-19T14:06:00.000-07:002011-03-20T17:59:13.808-07:00Eucharisteo<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; margin-top: 0px;"><img alt="imgres.jpeg" src="webkit-fake-url://C6D4F2C7-8789-4F9B-9B4F-D59AD436CBF4/imgres.jpeg" /></div><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">It’s one of <i>those</i><span style="font-style: normal;"> books. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">All of a sudden everyone is talking about it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Two friends, who rarely text, both texted me the same week to ask me if I’d read it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Another <a href="http://www.karipatterson.com/">friend</a> is blogging about it.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">It’s featured on the book table at Barnes and Noble.<br />
<br />
And one of the texting friends bought it for me to take to Hawaii.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I haven’t even finished reading it, but I love the ideas in it. I can’t say that I love the book perfectly. I’m not a huge fan of flowery, wordy writing. But I love lists. And I love being thankful. And I love it when something that is already a part of me is so well expressed by someone else.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">So here it is – the key to a joyful life. Let Jesus rescue you first. Then practice thankfulness.</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">Make a list of a thousand things you’re thankful for. Work on it everyday. When you’re done, do it again. </div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal">I’m going to attempt a list while in Hawaii… I may not make it to a thousand. But when I get home I’ll keep going…</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><ol start="1" style="margin-top: 0in;" type="1"><li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Feeling the sun on my face, while still in the Northwest, but flying at 30,000 feet</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Five hours of quiet time on the plane - reading, sleeping, journaling</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">My kids filing past me as they walk back to their seats, and getting the often asked question, “Are those ALL your kids? How many are there?” Knowing how thankful I am for the answer of so many blessings.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Remembering what it feels like to be hot</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Bode running with abandonment and delight on the beach</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Everyone’s joy in body surfing, getting braver moment by moment</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Dining al fresco</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Beach walker’s faces lighting up with smiles as Bode runs across their path, concentrating on his shovel of sand</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Being home from the beach, so I can stop counting to seven over and over <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Wingdings;">:)</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Early morning cup of coffee</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Quiet time outside, full moon lighting the ocean</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Lemons and limes on a black bamboo tray</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Pineapple in a wooden bowl</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Eggs in a weathered basket</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Getting my work out done early</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Early morning on the deck, seeing Ryan and Abby through the window, both reading in bed</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">A luxurious second cup of coffee</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Everyone’s delight with individual servings of microwaveable white rice</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Katherine’s eyes</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">The laughter on my children’s faces as they preview the beginning of another family music video</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Morning sun lighting up big, white, puffy clouds</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">A day of nothing planned… except swimming and beach time… settling in for quiet time, round two</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Grapefruit piled in a pedestal bowl</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Remembering that my big kids need hugs too and feeling them relax into my arms</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">An almost 180 degree view of the ocean from my bed</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Palm trees blowing in the tropical wind</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Jack’s deepening voice and growing height; mistaking him for Dan from across the way.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">A vacation house on a hill in an unfinished subdivision, surrounded by empty lots = not having to worry about the noise we make</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Browsing contentedly at the bookstore for almost an hour before dinner</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Seeing my husband help in random situations – moving displays at the bookstore when the water starts to leak from the ceiling </li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Dinner out with my man</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Ordering salad and soup (which is all I really want, but liking helping him justify his Surf and Turf) and sharing bites of his steak</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Surprising my little ones with legos in the morning</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">A stunningly bright red bird in the bush</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Cade’s look of concentration as he builds his legos</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Doting on my kids; having nothing to do but bring them juice in the hot tub or pick up their towels.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Hearing “I love you <i>more</i><span style="font-style: normal;">” from Cade, every time I tell him I love him</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Surprise hugs from behind; my husband’s arms around me</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">My sweet friend Jenni, for buying me this book, <i>One Thousand Gifts</i><span style="font-style: normal;">, by Ann Voskamp</span></li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Katherine and Courtney’s closeness when there are no other friends around; knowing they will be best friends for life</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Abby’s dimples</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">The bright sapphire blue ocean</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Whitecaps</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Sailboats</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">The flower in Abby’s hair</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Cute new cork wedge heels</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">A rainbow</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">“Look, Daddy! A blue ladybug,” says my fifteen-year-old daughter.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Cade’s arm around Bode; their sweet friendship</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Kids in matching bathing suits.</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Courtney’s curls</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">All my girls piled on my bed with me</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">My parents examples of thankfulness; living a life of trusting God and His Word</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">My dear friend Dayna, for living a life of joy with me and teaching me to beautify and simplify</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">How much bluer Cade’s eyes look when his face is tan</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Seeing gigantic tropical versions of plants I know and love from home</li>
<li class="MsoNormal" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: list .5in;">Hearing that the sun is shining in Portland!</li>
</ol>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-86790019745703144162011-02-07T14:20:00.000-08:002011-02-07T14:39:04.770-08:00"Trader Joe's" GardenI know this doesn't look like much.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlhoM_i9V8m4wUT2BnXHqCLOxV_Pg804CSn3zw-G9hUxert2xc2zZKm9TuvdObOjJkeYCfzgL0ApgQ7WoN9FTAcmdRm6m6gxLAbyFg0Y4Fn2PEfe37CYdu0L9KeXf7RJEICo2rC-URwm9/s1600/IMG_1105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwlhoM_i9V8m4wUT2BnXHqCLOxV_Pg804CSn3zw-G9hUxert2xc2zZKm9TuvdObOjJkeYCfzgL0ApgQ7WoN9FTAcmdRm6m6gxLAbyFg0Y4Fn2PEfe37CYdu0L9KeXf7RJEICo2rC-URwm9/s320/IMG_1105.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>But it's filled with hope!<br />
<br />
This garden bed is used for veggies in the summer, but is also home to all kinds of bulbs, most of them purchased at Trader Joe's in springs past. You know, cute little 4 inch pots of daffodils, tulips and hyacinths. Always a great deal at TJ's. You can pop them into a pretty container and enjoy them for a week or two. But after they're done blooming, you can also save them, because they will come back every year!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpIkCcYL1zjIn_iQ8oZb6miC3fnJmFN56VWU73U2YrAfFQLIa8XgbNlbQDFWEgTsIuApGKN3DmYDdmvE2p6A7Sytls_WPUQrt0NC_LkJ4Glr3uRWH1XNgE1vrwxpmtQ7NkD4ydajV_c5w/s1600/IMG_1106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggpIkCcYL1zjIn_iQ8oZb6miC3fnJmFN56VWU73U2YrAfFQLIa8XgbNlbQDFWEgTsIuApGKN3DmYDdmvE2p6A7Sytls_WPUQrt0NC_LkJ4Glr3uRWH1XNgE1vrwxpmtQ7NkD4ydajV_c5w/s320/IMG_1106.jpg" width="238" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTd5vyB20oU5dJWIB0uzrTwzBd_xpDL46larBpDl5Asj-A48S1ttc3EPPT81VuIUECVfwEcP-ZR9IjRVaxkIdHHhtF6nOT1ahVVujUFizUyHh-gnXRSJq-bLLx1fAs5jmZ_i7je1F_suLs/s1600/IMG_1109.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTd5vyB20oU5dJWIB0uzrTwzBd_xpDL46larBpDl5Asj-A48S1ttc3EPPT81VuIUECVfwEcP-ZR9IjRVaxkIdHHhtF6nOT1ahVVujUFizUyHh-gnXRSJq-bLLx1fAs5jmZ_i7je1F_suLs/s320/IMG_1109.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>As the flower buds get larger and closer to opening, I dig them up, stick them in a pot, and bring them in the house to enjoy. I've also experimented with burying spent bulbs in the plastic pot, digging it up again a year later, wiping it down, and placing it inside a decorative container. It's worked, but as the years go by, they will probably not thrive without more room to multiply.<br />
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This little pot is on year two - just pulled it out of the ground yesterday.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5k8bfvTFQtXQZUAGdyJJeHbtAxX8mqV-B1aBwocHLHfeABzUA3OsO0LQb0kTdr9fGBohexORUMdekH6KJBOwstxoCBZ5CbL8Kd3jDmfAxcNZPypsObN-mHXa1ueEejuATIXcl4hQ9wmAE/s1600/IMG_1110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5k8bfvTFQtXQZUAGdyJJeHbtAxX8mqV-B1aBwocHLHfeABzUA3OsO0LQb0kTdr9fGBohexORUMdekH6KJBOwstxoCBZ5CbL8Kd3jDmfAxcNZPypsObN-mHXa1ueEejuATIXcl4hQ9wmAE/s320/IMG_1110.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>And just in case you were wondering, my desk is STILL clean! :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfRni2BNuuELVcvrpPPiRd6AcEFfj2Dmn4mJZRoks40TPO2Npqv75ZqfxrRPUUb9B2TS1YjCmSSg228J8qEW7oSUCMyR8RjWw0KGoGcSq0to7rJgbATbNDEwZ8vghLx_R-smAEQ8aPCoV/s1600/IMG_1111.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjfRni2BNuuELVcvrpPPiRd6AcEFfj2Dmn4mJZRoks40TPO2Npqv75ZqfxrRPUUb9B2TS1YjCmSSg228J8qEW7oSUCMyR8RjWw0KGoGcSq0to7rJgbATbNDEwZ8vghLx_R-smAEQ8aPCoV/s320/IMG_1111.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>And on an unrelated note, here's a close up of the card leaning against the "flowers" box.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCsXWrFcfwXPN9N6xsAF9_978-l_ZOgCoM4RejgAlP85_0wWamO-LUkqn_iGFYRq_716E-CW_lYIwZAOG5JJxVPnGGoUuBctKTm5XfT2IVAq0lbd_yGMDGX-93fGtCUGLRZCULo3_tz2w/s1600/IMG_1112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYCsXWrFcfwXPN9N6xsAF9_978-l_ZOgCoM4RejgAlP85_0wWamO-LUkqn_iGFYRq_716E-CW_lYIwZAOG5JJxVPnGGoUuBctKTm5XfT2IVAq0lbd_yGMDGX-93fGtCUGLRZCULo3_tz2w/s320/IMG_1112.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>I love my new bird and nest stickers! For the "Anointed, Transformed, Redeemed" Bible study I'm doing we have had lots of opportunities to write down verses for meditation and to pray for our families. I love God's Word, but my flesh is weak, and having them on cute sticker-ed notecards makes me more likely to memorize and pray them!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzw7z-zP-T_Zfc2QRznmhELXQusHS8mOoJLz1Z_DGxUkZqmE7PgOQEwk-fGui8QjJbslq3jS_paYibf-D-sPFZFt5yiOwbL8c9jvUs4hNRtdxfLrwjnGucNixsU9YuuKBq1RJn5KF-qxg7/s1600/IMG_1113.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzw7z-zP-T_Zfc2QRznmhELXQusHS8mOoJLz1Z_DGxUkZqmE7PgOQEwk-fGui8QjJbslq3jS_paYibf-D-sPFZFt5yiOwbL8c9jvUs4hNRtdxfLrwjnGucNixsU9YuuKBq1RJn5KF-qxg7/s320/IMG_1113.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-30864147175226041312011-01-28T10:57:00.000-08:002011-01-28T10:57:03.804-08:00Food ConfusionAre you confused about what's really healthy to feed your family? <br />
<br />
Me too. <br />
<br />
I'm still learning, but <a href="http://www.karipatterson.com/?p=1456">here's a few basics ideas</a> based on the way people ate for thousands of years before the rates of degenerative diseases skyrocketed. I'm guest blogging today over at Kari Patterson's.<br />
<br />
Happy Friday!<br />
HeatherHeatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-84864510391861457632011-01-25T20:42:00.000-08:002011-01-25T20:42:26.526-08:00Inspiration for OrganizationI've always loved organization. But as I got into this wonderful world of having kids, I stopped being any more organized than I absolutely needed to be for survival.<br />
<br />
Now that Bode is four and a half, I feel like this January has been my best ever. <br />
<br />
And if you're in the mood to get organized, I'll share what has helped this crazy mother along.<br />
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First off for me was January's issue of Better Homes and Gardens. I perused it during the Christmas break, and it made me itch to get back home and clean off my desk.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14_h3ZAvFZPTV4_cUn4uG31-mxLkKizEPxwqwVIL64vY67bPgH3oRDdpmum-fpN_uyiB8oGcAeS_KX_ARZs9hrToRc_W5sSTPnbNZcJbXFevaN9eNPEgxsaAlageA0mWBdNoTL3fV3gkB/s1600/8807d5e4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi14_h3ZAvFZPTV4_cUn4uG31-mxLkKizEPxwqwVIL64vY67bPgH3oRDdpmum-fpN_uyiB8oGcAeS_KX_ARZs9hrToRc_W5sSTPnbNZcJbXFevaN9eNPEgxsaAlageA0mWBdNoTL3fV3gkB/s320/8807d5e4.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br />
My desk has always been the thorn in my side. I've never been able to stay on top of the paperwork. It has certainly <i>never</i> stayed clean longer than a week. And while this may not seem monumental to you, I am proud to say that it's been perfectly clean before bed, every night, for three weeks. I sure hope I have turned over a new leaf.<br />
<br />
I think the secret is that I've applied the <a href="http://www.flylady.net/pages/FLYingLessons_Shine.asp">Flylady's shiny kitchen sink theory</a> to my desk. It must have taken me three years to consistently get the kitchen sink clean before bed each night. Prior to that I didn't try at all, due to the fact that I was nursing babies, changing diapers, not sleeping through the night, etc. <br />
<br />
Of course, the Flylady wouldn't <i>quite</i> approve of my sink. Only the left half shines. The right half usually has dishes from late night snacks, but I don't mind... as long as they're covered in a mound of Mrs. Meyer's honeysuckle dishsoap bubbles. Somehow that makes it okay.<br />
<br />
So applying the kitchen sink theory to my desk is simply this: It must be clean before bed. Every night.<br />
<br />
To get things started, I put away all the stuff that I didn't really need (and probably should be filed, but I never got around to it) in a remote file drawer under my desk. And only kept out the stuff that really matters.<br />
<br />
I reclaimed a cute container from my gardening armoire to be my catch-all, and this is all I'm allowing myself to keep on my desk. My desk, by the way, is one half of a country pine table. It's roughly one quarter of the office that is shared by four or five of us, so I have to be content to keep my little corner of the world tidy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSCG2gDy_ZnOaxlqxuVNXMfkOqzh-dT5r24_HMoMPaXumTn4OvltEJM0WJPwBrNiP6dgKn8ASVsXdvdJNufW55dMepkEPVgtWP_Uwm6e4G-ywJXvs6EKX4_w-mCvjCBr2Z9AXeT8VN3Hv/s1600/IMG_1050.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbSCG2gDy_ZnOaxlqxuVNXMfkOqzh-dT5r24_HMoMPaXumTn4OvltEJM0WJPwBrNiP6dgKn8ASVsXdvdJNufW55dMepkEPVgtWP_Uwm6e4G-ywJXvs6EKX4_w-mCvjCBr2Z9AXeT8VN3Hv/s320/IMG_1050.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
I have a few active files on the side of my storage armoire.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVybwhHy1kQxjSUCXXUPo2FeC9ZhrYydeLI1IZF-CsaGqo-bSWO6bAQVci4im78UZsayNtVbQvsIvGP6LbgWYvXvJSAz0B4fZ9rOT4urK1XAFUk3Kwf01LclPvp1XHzr6wIwxbNSxHLcW/s1600/IMG_1051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVybwhHy1kQxjSUCXXUPo2FeC9ZhrYydeLI1IZF-CsaGqo-bSWO6bAQVci4im78UZsayNtVbQvsIvGP6LbgWYvXvJSAz0B4fZ9rOT4urK1XAFUk3Kwf01LclPvp1XHzr6wIwxbNSxHLcW/s320/IMG_1051.jpg" width="239" /></a></div><br />
And pretty new things always help me get organized. I love these antique-looking butterfly file folders.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyBMs27DdmMH9f9vQgkSq_VjRb3BnDD4c9H5TCtsvYNpEZCZ1bJtntS5z4kMlrX9SKtYF4NWRZTvF2LaqygvAX7jLSoPXKx74DBvEQbmaKPRFoTh5u24EYmt48mNsAgeGEV9x7MAOSWaq/s1600/IMG_1054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmyBMs27DdmMH9f9vQgkSq_VjRb3BnDD4c9H5TCtsvYNpEZCZ1bJtntS5z4kMlrX9SKtYF4NWRZTvF2LaqygvAX7jLSoPXKx74DBvEQbmaKPRFoTh5u24EYmt48mNsAgeGEV9x7MAOSWaq/s320/IMG_1054.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>This is it. It may not be much, but it's tidy and I'm happy.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqdgw6S_D3sJXvPbO9qo6-noP4w69j5f2trcmsQuPffNWw0ujsrbfO4GTX9_voY98k3SETwn5G4gaFeq30snchyphenhyphenwaJPZPdzFFn5FxCXvXZ-fbSp28HvceAbUDyZeuHyjmEYgxqzo-TdSq/s1600/IMG_1052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSqdgw6S_D3sJXvPbO9qo6-noP4w69j5f2trcmsQuPffNWw0ujsrbfO4GTX9_voY98k3SETwn5G4gaFeq30snchyphenhyphenwaJPZPdzFFn5FxCXvXZ-fbSp28HvceAbUDyZeuHyjmEYgxqzo-TdSq/s320/IMG_1052.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>I take care of paper work daily, instead of weekly, monthly or when I'm in trouble :-)<br />
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And you know how it goes... you organize one spot, and it leads to more! You should see my bathroom. And schoolroom! I'm sure I'll keep it up... until gardening season starts.<br />
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Happy January!<br />
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P.S. I can't help myself. I have to post pictures of my bathroom. Look at those cute bird stickers down below!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApmn5uvhxXPtg1BOEIPsGWzT5-EskY0E-Y00XawK3pOj0_REKBh0K7wjzXIy4fgUaL2hRyuBuXwUPGQsBMgBl2R5XtXaBsmJGcH4ROVdTm2i4UynE9m1O1tz4mGS75SN_TiTMa2AVbFuU/s1600/IMG_1036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjApmn5uvhxXPtg1BOEIPsGWzT5-EskY0E-Y00XawK3pOj0_REKBh0K7wjzXIy4fgUaL2hRyuBuXwUPGQsBMgBl2R5XtXaBsmJGcH4ROVdTm2i4UynE9m1O1tz4mGS75SN_TiTMa2AVbFuU/s320/IMG_1036.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-8264799739682909052011-01-13T19:40:00.000-08:002011-01-13T19:40:51.744-08:00A New Way of ShoppingI have continued to enjoy this new pursuit to shop fair trade. It's kind of like when I woke up to the reality of how badly I ate. I started reading labels and switching to whole foods, and it hit me: <i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What was I thinking before? </span></i>When I would stick anything that tasted good in my mouth without thinking about what it really was and where it came from and what it was doing to my health.<br />
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<i>What was I thinking</i> when I cared only about the cost of an item? Why did I never consider the benefit of buying a costlier item from an ethical company? That you really do get what you pay for and<i> </i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><i>I want to pay for workers being treated fairly. </i></span><br />
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So it's adventure every week, in some way or another. I still have lots to learn, but I am enjoying the journey. One of my favorite finds so far was prizes for Abby's birthday party. I purchased bottle cap necklaces made by eleven-year-old Sami on the east coast. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">All of the proceeds go to buy shoes for orphans in Ethiopia, including our </span><a href="http://joyisaverb.blogspot.com/2010/12/best-before-and-after-ever.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Adanu</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">. </span>Sami's dad pays for all her materials, so 100% of the proceeds go to buy shoes for kids who are being cared for by <a href="http://www.hopechest.org/tom-davis/">Children's Hope Chest</a> and learning daily about God's love for them!<br />
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<div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">She also has cute polka-dot backgrounds with an initial of your choice, </span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">and other styles, so be sure to check them out here!</span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><a href="http://littlegoody2-shoes.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Little Goody 2 Shoes</span></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-80857415361898727692010-12-25T07:48:00.000-08:002010-12-25T07:48:20.836-08:00Stocking Stuffers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtKEgbwDUalineGgCW5j4tBIOL2Cp9mhYAq9xAFO6AeVaHRwo5T890Mktl-jir3prvAt8hIkc1QLfaq6j_gSu24jYKqn1DSTipgIdgqu-yi0tfd27ojXMC5phakb0kr_ijQFYNllbv9jh/s1600/photo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtKEgbwDUalineGgCW5j4tBIOL2Cp9mhYAq9xAFO6AeVaHRwo5T890Mktl-jir3prvAt8hIkc1QLfaq6j_gSu24jYKqn1DSTipgIdgqu-yi0tfd27ojXMC5phakb0kr_ijQFYNllbv9jh/s320/photo.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>During last Christmas season Cade was very into making me proud of his healthy choices. We were walking through the candy aisle in some store, and he declared with much enthusiasm that he didn't want candy in his Christmas stocking. And even went so far as to add, "I'd rather have Popi's chicken salad in my Christmas stocking."<br />
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Well, of course I couldn't pass that one up. Too cute. Somehow chicken salad has become a signature recipe of my Dad's and all the kids love it. I told Dad, and he was all over having a little rubbermaid container of chicken salad for each of the kids stockings.<br />
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Well this Christmas my parents are in South Africa visiting my brother and family (they relocated there for a few year with Heinz). That chicken salad had already become a relied upon tradition would never have crossed my mind, especially with the recipe calling for quartered grapes. (Really now? Who has time for that?)<br />
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But as soon as we pulled out the stockings after Thanksgiving, Bode's eyes lit up and he turned to me and said, "Remember? Santa brings us chicken salad for our stockings!"<br />
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So here I am in the kitchen before the crack of dawn on Christmas morning quartering grapes. And tucked in or under every stocking is Santa's gift.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSctYGkzf8IQsYGf32SJYFLipv_ttul3yqJ90zOvXSIihr9r7ekdfT6SG4kdZlhxO99tY45jk4H5BUUEY0l7ivedcm-2bO0xz-7Od7zADO7g2v-gyVeph4jZsz3lYL_aTtrRMnmShLj-5/s1600/photo_2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqSctYGkzf8IQsYGf32SJYFLipv_ttul3yqJ90zOvXSIihr9r7ekdfT6SG4kdZlhxO99tY45jk4H5BUUEY0l7ivedcm-2bO0xz-7Od7zADO7g2v-gyVeph4jZsz3lYL_aTtrRMnmShLj-5/s1600/photo_2.JPG" /></a></div>Oh, the funny things we do for our kids to make Christmas magical.<br />
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May your day be filled with love, and the knowledge of the true miracle of Christmas. That God humbled Himself to be born into this world, so He could show us how to truly love, and then made the ultimate sacrifice to pay for our sin, that we might have a relationship with Him. To be His children and His friends. Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!<br />
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Merry Christmas everyone!Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-15467727721810918602010-12-09T22:31:00.000-08:002010-12-09T22:31:58.199-08:00Simple Christmas Traditions<span id="goog_1129701491"></span><span id="goog_1129701492"></span><br />
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I am finally content with our Christmas traditions. It's our 20th Christmas as a married couple and our 17th Christmas with children. I guess it's about time.<br />
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I have learned my limits, and no longer come into the season with goals to make new ornaments for the Jesse Tree or bake ten types of Christmas cookies or have special gift boxes to open each day for the twelve days of Christmas (all failed experiments from my past).<br />
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I am good for one big day (or weekend) of decorating, and whatever does not get done then will not get done at all. Our tree doesn't have a theme or much organization. Just a lot of white lights and all the ornaments added over the years. Each year we buy each child a new ornament that they can take with them someday (sniff!) to start their own tree. <br />
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I'm not really into crafts. But I print out Christmas coloring pages and crossword puzzles and phonics worksheets and math worksheets to do "Christmas School."<br />
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I am <i>really, really good</i> at reading (impressive, I know!) Christmas books and buying a few new ones each year to add to our collection.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-223BsmL7OVghKBQlJMKjB-offyJKNxv8IqTQC7X-ucIKKa2aJQYsMk6Mkddod_giKebs0P67m4x7Zj6kC65LTmazxffSG1ItMc71jVxIfd0OXIxCGNGF1pzzdsRdKXX_dZGTfHHihqRo/s1600/IMG_2147.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-223BsmL7OVghKBQlJMKjB-offyJKNxv8IqTQC7X-ucIKKa2aJQYsMk6Mkddod_giKebs0P67m4x7Zj6kC65LTmazxffSG1ItMc71jVxIfd0OXIxCGNGF1pzzdsRdKXX_dZGTfHHihqRo/s320/IMG_2147.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">(I'll list some of our favorites at the end of this post.)</span></div><br />
I'm also <i>really good</i> at buying a fun variety of Christmas cookies at Trader Joe's. I buy a new kind every week in December! But we only bake cookies once or twice.<br />
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I love making Jesus the center of it all. One of our favorite long-standing traditions is to set up the manger scene with the animals and shepherd, but the baby Jesus gets hidden away until Christmas morning. Mary and Joseph "travel" throughout the house on their way to Bethlehem and the kids love searching for them every morning. They move from bookshelf to counter to under the piano... in no real order... throughout the season. On Christmas Eve they will be in the stable. And on Christmas morning at least one small child will melt my heart when the first thing they ask is "Is baby Jesus here????" <br />
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(Even this simple tradition isn't always perfectly done. "Mom, Mary and Joseph haven't travelled since yesterday." "Oh, okay, sorry, uh, close your eyes!" And then I stomp all around the house to throw them off track as I move them to their new spot. ) <br />
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Here they are today, hidden in the base of one of the advent trees.<br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">I do love the Jesse Tree, but I finally had to break down and buy the ornaments. You can read more about it <a href="http://christianity.about.com/od/christmas/qt/jessetreeadvent.htm">here</a> (minus the part about homemade ornaments), but it's a daily advent devotional that takes you through the highlights of the Old Testament and the geneaology of Christ. The name comes from Isaiah 11:1: "Then a shoot will spring from the stem of Jesse, and a branch from his roots will bear fruit." It's a beautiful reminder of how much we need Jesus - He is our Rescuer!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">I love our very traditional stockings. Even though we've added many over the years, they all go together.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DP7ebX0EbcBHRsi3LnFJNaugDu5mE9SZ6wH9o1JKH5w1xr68Onv2b-XXkrAvPQ0HYqhjaBvp5yH9FhiEewioleT4fmgtzeKkYLca8rJtNBPDKjen7jmqrdnLtUyhHoVpi6P8PGQnTWec/s1600/IMG_2155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DP7ebX0EbcBHRsi3LnFJNaugDu5mE9SZ6wH9o1JKH5w1xr68Onv2b-XXkrAvPQ0HYqhjaBvp5yH9FhiEewioleT4fmgtzeKkYLca8rJtNBPDKjen7jmqrdnLtUyhHoVpi6P8PGQnTWec/s320/IMG_2155.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I love having at least one nativity that the kids can play with. It's fun to walk through the living room and see that the animals have been rearranged. They might even be on the roof. But I know the kids hearts are thinking about the real meaning of Christmas as they play, and they always ask such good questions.<br />
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Most of all, I love to take time to be quiet. To turn out all the lights except for a few candles and the tree lights and sing carols on the couch. To have days with nothing planned except to sit and read Christmas books. And reflect on the beauty of God's precious gift to us.<br />
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</div><div>Picture Books:</div><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">Christmas in the Country by Cynthia Rylant</div><div style="text-align: left;">Apple Tree Christmas by Trinka Hakes Noble</div><div style="text-align: left;">Christmas with the Mousekins by Maggie Smith</div><div style="text-align: left;">Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree by Robert Barry</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Legend of the Candy Cane by Lori Walburg</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Christmas Miracle of Jonathan Toomey by Susan Wojciechowski</div><div style="text-align: left;">One Wintry Night by Ruth Bell Graham</div><div style="text-align: left;">The Pine Tree Parable by Liz Curtis Higgs</div><div style="text-align: left;">Christmas Day in the Morning by Pearl S. Buck</div><div style="text-align: left;">Silver Packages by Cynthia Ryland</div><div style="text-align: left;">A Little House Christmas (Holiday Stories from the Little House Books)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Chapter Books:<br />
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</div><div style="text-align: left;">Jotham's Journey</div><div style="text-align: left;">Bartholomew's Passage<br />
Tabitha's Travels<br />
The Best Christmas Pageant Ever</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-247940044024218802010-12-08T09:58:00.000-08:002010-12-08T09:58:26.215-08:00The Best Before and After EVER!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">We began sponsoring Adanu at the Trees of Glory care-point in July. The picture below was taken in June.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEHLOtJmMdL2qLXN7aVPI1APC3HF1a-71nRXcI2vtDjtdbIzfNJ0XTqGeGApjkEaJJ7E0hF316JY2I8gHlsaPYQ7PQpWVOQie13XOX_W5fFR35KEMqhwoh5dQIodRIORo-LjDb037_Jv3/s1600/ET2119057+Adanu+Reta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilEHLOtJmMdL2qLXN7aVPI1APC3HF1a-71nRXcI2vtDjtdbIzfNJ0XTqGeGApjkEaJJ7E0hF316JY2I8gHlsaPYQ7PQpWVOQie13XOX_W5fFR35KEMqhwoh5dQIodRIORo-LjDb037_Jv3/s400/ET2119057+Adanu+Reta.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>This next picture was taken in November. Just five month later!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcHNckpZdc3Ckas4O65JwT6KyRnklJ51NanNreXckAzqcWEYnBTurAWK3CkZx-BSfVp5cAjCHCTshFAutvUGuIwsW_NOG-uRAmnMQ8UrrU6K7bzwma143jQOBj_Bg7blRq4tM6dNPjGGV/s1600/IMG_3463.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLcHNckpZdc3Ckas4O65JwT6KyRnklJ51NanNreXckAzqcWEYnBTurAWK3CkZx-BSfVp5cAjCHCTshFAutvUGuIwsW_NOG-uRAmnMQ8UrrU6K7bzwma143jQOBj_Bg7blRq4tM6dNPjGGV/s320/IMG_3463.JPG" width="259" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I can not get over the difference. I had e-mailed Karen, our contact with Trees of Glory, telling her I couldn't wait to get a new picture of Adanu when she (Karen) went to visit in November. I wanted to see Adunu's smile! And I couldn't wait to take that sad picture down. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">But I had to leave it up on the fridge. It's lower now, and to the side of the new picture. But I can't get enough of seeing those two pictures next to each other.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">What a difference sponsorship makes!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">In the new picture Adanu is holding the care package we sent with Karen. All the love we could stuff into a gallon size ziploc bag. A new shirt, other small gifts, and letter and a picture of our family.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">18 more kids are joining the care-point, and need sponsors! Please e-mail <a href="mailto:kjwistrom@yahoo.com">Karen</a> if you can help. $34 a month makes a world of difference in the life of a child!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Below is more information from <a href="http://family-from-afar.blogspot.com/">Karen's blog</a> about Trees of Glory.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3a1f00; font-family: 'Century Gothic', Verdana, Georgia, serif; font-size: 15px;"><i>"Trees of Glory" care-point is located about a 2 hour drive North of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. It is a semi-mountainous area of Ethiopia that has been greatly affected by famine and drought The care-point is located on 27 acres of land that can eventually be developed to help the care-point become more self-sufficient. There are 13 buildings on the property that are being renovated to provide shelter for the kids when they visit the care-point.<br />
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The local government identifies the neediest and most destitute children in an area, and provides the opportunity to attend a care-point to meet their basic needs. 84 orphaned and destitute children have been assigned to "Trees of Glory" as we develop a sponsor program here.<br />
</i></span></div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><i>Most of these children are orphans, and are living with a relative or guardian that is barely able to provide for their basic needs. As a result, many of the children are severaly malnourished, and are vulnerable to illnesses like malaria and pneumonia. Local livestock owners employ many of the children as herders, and pay the child's guardian a meager wage of about $12 per year.</i></div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><i>Your sponsorship will provide your sponsor child with nutritious meals every day, along with clothing, medical care, Christian discipleship and EDUCATION. Without a sponsor, these kids will never have the opportunity to go to school and they will continue "working" to pay for the roof over their head.</i></div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><i>Ginia, with Children's Hopechest, spent a day with the kids at "Trees of Glory" in May 2010 and she emailed me: </i><span style="color: #351c75;"><em>"Trees of Glory is WONDERFUL. It's a 2 hour drive into the mountains from Addis. We gave kids bread and bananas today. Most of the kids are orphans and are living with relatives or on the streets. They work as "herdsmen" of sheep and cattle. The relative is paid 120 ETB (equivalent of about $12 dollars) for year by livestock owners for the kids to work. It's very sad. Simret's (the director) vision is very big. She is a beautiful Godly woman. Very sweet and you can feel the presence of God in this place. There are no Christians living in the area. They are mainly Ethiopian Orthodox and live by superstitions and witchcraft."</em><i> </i></span><i> A sponsor program will make a dramatic and lasting impact for the kids at "Trees of Glory"!!</i></div><i><br />
</i><div style="border-bottom-color: initial; border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: medium; border-left-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: medium; border-right-color: initial; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: medium; border-top-color: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: medium;"><i>If you are interested in sponsoring a child at "Trees of Glory", please contact me at </i><a href="mailto:kjwistrom@yahoo.com" style="color: #743527; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: none;"><i>kjwistrom@yahoo.com</i></a><i> and let me know if you have a preference for a boy or girl, one child or a sibling group of 2. I will email you with a child's photograph and biographical information and instructions on how to register as that child's sponsor. </i></div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-79556473066628859562010-12-05T00:05:00.000-08:002010-12-05T00:19:05.779-08:00Crazy Fair Trade DayToday was a serious test of my new commitment to buy only fair trade. <br />
<br />
As a community group we have adopted some families who are hurting for the very basic needs. Our part was to do pajamas, maybe a few sweatshirts. I wasn't too worried; I knew I could find something online that was fair trade. But then I got an email that everything needed to be turned in by this weekend! I looked around a little this week, but didn't have much time. Today had to be the day.<br />
<br />
I was headed out to Sherwood for a birthday party at Safari Sam's. My plan was to drop off the boys then hit a consignment store. Which I hoped existed but I hadn't found anything on my google search. So I called my friends at Sweetest Thing Cupcakes and got the name of Pitter Patter in Newburg. Yea! <br />
<br />
But then I got a phone call from Courtney. She needed 5 Christmas presents for a gift exchange. Tonight. Okay. I can do this. God, I pray I can do this.<br />
<br />
Pitter Patter was a great success. I pulled every quality item I could find in each of the two kids' sizes: jeans, pajamas, shirts, sweatshirts, mittens, hats, scarves. It was a load. And the price? Less than taking the family out to dinner. I think I like this thrifting!<br />
<br />
Then a quick cup of coffee and yummy gluten-free cupcake with Ann at Sweetest Thing (it WAS on the way back to Safar Sam's). And supporting local businesses, double yay.<br />
<br />
Got the boys and headed to the new Finegan's Toy Store at Bridgeport. I wanted to have at least one brand new shiny toy for these kids. But EVERYTHING was made in China. Almost. I finally settled for Playmobil advent calendar toys. Made in Malta? I don't know, but I had more hope for that than China. And the boys had the most fun there playing with a remote control helicopter toy!<br />
<br />
Now back to the Courtney challenge. Five moderately priced gifts. After dropping Bode off for a Noni and Popi date and before Cade's basketball game, we stopped at a craft fair but there was nothing that teenage girls would find exciting. I wish hand crafted stuff didn't look so, well, hand crafted.<br />
<br />
But I found what I needed at my beloved Market of Choice. Along with the best price on organic grass-fed beef in town, they also had.... Fair trade wool hand warmers! You know, like gloves, but with the tops of they fingers missing so they can still use their phones, itouches, etc.<br />
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All devices that use conflict metals, a whole 'nother issue.<br />
<br />
But anyway! It was a successful fair trade day, and I'm thankful. But tired.Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1882413441653619525.post-21184191009602819412010-11-09T16:42:00.000-08:002010-11-09T16:42:53.575-08:00Me, An Oppressor?I have to confess that I have been oppressing people. Maybe not directly, but I have.<br />
<br />
We've been studying James 5:1-6 this week in Bible study.<br />
<br />
Here it is in <i>The Message</i>:<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-MSG-12820" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">1-3</span></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">And a final word to you arrogant rich: Take some lessons in lament. You'll need buckets for the tears when the crash comes upon you. Your money is corrupt and your fine clothes stink. Your greedy luxuries are a cancer in your gut, destroying your life from within. You thought you were piling up wealth. What you've piled up is judgment.</span></span><br />
<div style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-MSG-12821" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">4-6</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">All the workers you've exploited and cheated cry out for judgment. The groans of the workers you used and abused are a roar in the ears of the Master Avenger. You've looted the earth and lived it up. But all you'll have to show for it is a fatter than usual corpse. In fact, what you've done is condemn and murder perfectly good persons, who stand there and take it.</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;">We learned today that James is not addressing Christians here, but still, I want to examine myself. At first I felt pretty good. I think I deal fairly with others, and try to be generous. But I couldn't stop thinking about the "exploited workers." The ones I don't see when I buy something at the mall. The ones who made the clothes under possibly inhumane conditions.</div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 16px;">In the past I've gone back and forth on this issue, sometimes refusing to buy things made in China because of human rights violations, and then getting tired of the effort.<br />
<br />
This week I did more research, and my eyes have been opened. As the songs goes, "Now that I have seen, I am responsible."</div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 16px;">At the end of our study we were asked to write James' indictments in our own words, applicable for today. These were my thoughts:</div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><i>You care only about <u>your</u> bottom line and spend your money on cheap food harvested by oppressed workers, some of whom have lost their family farms because of your demand for perfect, plastic, convenient, name-brand food.</i></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><i>In the same way, always looking for the best deal on clothes (so you have plenty of money to eat out and entertain yourself with the latest movies, music and video games), you think nothing of the children who were sold by their parents to work for no pay, 16 hours a day, sewing tiny little beads on a t-shirt for your daughter.</i></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><i><br />
</i></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><i>You have lived on the earth in wanton pleasure and luxury, always wanting to have a better house, a nicer vacation and a fancier car.</i></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 16px;">So what am I to do? In general, I need to be content. Live simply. Be busy giving and doing good.<br />
<br />
But specifically in the area of clothes for my (slightly) large family?<br />
<br />
Honestly, it will be pretty inconvenient. But I can probably clothe the nine of for about the same price as I do now, if I:</div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 16px;">1. Buy less. I mean how many clothes do we really need?</div><div style="font-size: 16px;">2. Buy used. I will miss the Nordstrom smell.<br />
3. Buy from fair trade - socially responsible - ethical companies. Yes, they are more expensive, but they will be balanced out by less clothing and used clothing. And I am so happy to support companies that are doing things right and the people that will be blessed with good jobs.<br />
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As far as food, I've been trying to buy quality, local, and organic for quite some time but there are probably a few things I need to tweak. More on that another time.<br />
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In all of this study and soul searching, I am so thankful to God for how tender He has been with me. I have truly felt a change in my heart that can only come from Him. He has made me really want to do this. I would have done it out of obedience, and done my best to have a good attitude. But His Holy Spirit has changed my heart, and I am grateful. I'm actually excited to do it!<br />
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He's also given me a song to inspire me. We've been watching a lot of Les Miserables with both Abby and Kat in the musical for three weeks, and I love "Do You Hear the People Sing?" You might have to listen to it yourself to fully appreciate it, but here are a few of the lyrics.<br />
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<br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">Do you hear the people sing?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">Singing a song of angry men?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">It is the music of a people</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">Who will not be slaves again!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">When the beating of your heart</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">Echoes the beating of the drums</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">There is a life about to start</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"> </span></span></div></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><br />
</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">When tomorrow comes!</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"> </span></span>Will you join in our crusade?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"> </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">Who will be strong and stand with me?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">Somewhere beyond the barricade</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"> </span></span></div></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;">Is there a world you long to see?</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #656565; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 23px;"> </span></span></div></span></div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 16px;">And for more information on the global sweatshop crisis, <a href="http://www.behindthelabel.org/pdf/Retailindus.pdf">this</a> is by far the best, easiest to read article I have seen.</div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-size: 16px;"><br />
</div>Heatherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09883271907594484567noreply@blogger.com1