Must Share...

Nelson's Cyclopedic Index: The Best Bible Subject Index Ever

2011-11-02T22:59:00.002-04:00

I received a complimentary copy of the Nelson's Biblical Cyclopedic Index: The Best Bible Subject Index Ever, in exchange for my honest review.

I love books. I really love small books. And books about books? Oh, yeah. This is a reference book, and it is a very helpful tool for Bible study. I mention that it's small. Why does that matter? Well, you may know of some of the other Biblical reference books and well, they are "exhaustive" in more ways than one. So to have a reference to over 8,000 subjects, names, places, concepts, etc. all contained within a book just slightly bigger than a standard paperback is something to mention! I am so excited to have this compact, yet very comprehensive subject index on my shelf. I tend to carry my Bible around with me, and this study tool may very well become a a permanent resident of my book bag, as well.

In addition to being the "best Bible Subject Index Ever", it also contains hundreds of word studies and thousands of definitions. This would be a great tool for a student, teacher or anyone who may need to find specifics in the Bible. I'm definitely not a scholar, but I find this reference to be very easy to use and understand. This book would be a great gift for anyone that reads the Bible on any level. I highly recommend it!

Thank you Thomas Nelson and the BookSneeze Program for allowing me this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review.

Nemrey Berses

2011-02-10T12:07:00.002-05:00

At our last MOPS meeting, our speaker mentioned that she started her kids working on Scripture memory at age 2 -3. I'm still trying to figure out why I hadn't already started this, but we have been hard at work ever since.

For those of you that didn't already know, Chloe is a genius.

I'm in no way biased.

Seriously, though. She is doing an incredible job of "nemorizing berses" at the speed of light. We started with Philippians 4:5 "Let your gentleness be evident to all; The Lord is near." Or - "Let your genlemess be ebident to all: The Lord is near." - if you read the Chloe version. I can hardly stand the cuteness of it all. I was floored by how quickly she picked up on it.

Our next verse (berse) was Ephesians 6:1 "Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." I didn't even realize she knew this one until the other day when she was supposed to be taking a nap, but she was actually reciting her berses to her stuffed animals. I heard her say "6:1 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right." I couldn't even believe it. I think that was Tuesday and we had just started that one on Sunday. We may have worked on it 5 times.

Next up are:

Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth."

and

Philippians 2:14 "Do everything without complaining or arguing."

I love that I am learning these verses, too! Most of these I would say I knew, but I wouldn't be able to tell you where they were without the help of Biblegateway.com or leafing through my Bible for 5 minutes.

Anyone have any suggestions for great verses for kids to learn?

A Blast From The Past

2011-02-08T08:35:00.002-05:00

I was looking for something on my old (OLD) blog yesterday. I came across my post from 4 years ago today. If ever I had a reason to be THANKFUL for where I am, this would be it. I also find it incredibly interesting how some things are so hard wired into you that years later you still struggle. Even after a post like this - where it seems like you FINALLY get it. Another funny thing: I just redid the Beth Moore study that I mentioned in here. Finished it in November.

Enjoy this blast from the past...

Let me just hang it all out there... Here's what started it all, a quote from my incredible Beth Moore study called "Living Beyond Yourself: Exploring the Fruit of the Spirit"

"Christ has a purpose in the pain you've suffered or He never would have allowed it. Until you surrender to His purpose in the specific matter at hand, He cannot work it for your good. Do you know what that means? It all happened in vain - for absolutely nothing."

The moral of the story is: If I don't surrender and do what I'm supposed to do, where I am supposed to do it, with the attitude I should be doing it with, THIS COULD ALL BE FOR NOTHING! Hello. Wake up call.

This was so eye opening for me. What a revelation from the Lord. He really helped clue me in on a few things.

1. Though I have accepted that I have to stay where He put me, at least for this year (and in my heart , especially now, I know indefinitely...) I had decided I wasn't going to like it and I was going to PRAY that I be laid off or that God get me out of there one way or the other. The point? I was not surrendered. I didn't think of it as being mad at God for having me where I did not want to be, but I most certainly had an "I'll do it, but I absolutely won't like it" attitude. How I thought I was surrendered, I'm not sure. I had just told Em Friday night that I have never so badly wished I could be outside of God's will. Why? Because I know that that is exactly where I am, I just don't (didn't) want to be there. Scary... The only thing scarier than realizing I am not surrendered to my Lord, is realizing that if I hadn't realized this fact, I could have suffered through this whole year FOR ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. I can't believe that this whole time I have been blocking God's plan to prosper me (and potentially hundreds of other people) with my negativity and all around rotten attitude. This is alarming to me.

***Just so you don't think I'm a complete moron, (though you have every right to, as I've been acting like one for - oh... 5 months now...) I knew most of the things I'm about to list, in theory. When the coin really goes down into the slot and you GET IT, it makes a big big difference. That's what happened this weekend, cha-ching. ***

2. I realized, (again, hopefully this time for keeps) that I may not be rewarded with seeing the fruit of my labor. Hello? Especially if I were to continue on the ridiculous path I was on. It is not up to me to decide if I am making a difference. It is not my call to say "I can't help people who do not want to be helped." or "These problems are too big for me, I can't do it by myself." Now - mind you, I don't mean that I didn't think God was big enough or anything like that, it's just so many times I feel like a salmon swimming upstream, at school. People who are supposed to be helping are hindering. People who are supposed to be supporting me, appear to lay awake at night thinking of ways to make one of the hardest jobs ever, even harder. The point? I take my marching orders from the One who put me there, and I need to prioritize according to my accountability to Him, not any man. I need to get over wanting my boss to "like me", "approve of me", or even just quit being a jerk. I need to learn to control what I can control, which is me and how I react and interact with the people that God has put in my path. I'm so disappointed with how I have used my influence, and how I have lost the ground I gained with people last year. Relationships that I had fostered last year have suffered, because I have stayed physically, but emotionally and spiritually, I've checked out.... Wait - did I ever even check in? God's grace is sufficient, and I plan to take my second chance VERY seriously.

3. Happiness is based on circumstances. It's okay to not be in love with your circumstances. It is even okay to be unhappy with your circumstances and situations. Sad, frustrated, upset, disappointed, etc... HOWEVER - My joy is in the Lord, who DOES NOT CHANGE. Therefore, if the joy of the Lord is my strength, then that joy should remain regardless of sadness, frustration, disappointment or being upset with my current circumstances which are always TEMPORARY. He gives and takes away, but my heart will choose to say - Lord blessed be your name. I KNOW this. I have sung it, thought it and grasp it intellectually. I have seriously FAILED to live it. Oh, for shame.

4. Love and Hate are choices to be made. Effective yesterday I LOVE MY BUICK!!! Instead of choosing negativity I am choosing to see the sunny side. THERE IS ALWAYS A SUNNY SIDE. It is your, our, and most definitely my choice to see the sunny side. Effective immediately, I will begin again to be intentional about looking for the sunny side of all things. I hadn't even realized how negative I had become. I had made so much progress in this area of my life, with a little help from my friends. I realized one of the main differences between last year and this year is the amount of time I have spent with godly truth telling women. Last year, I spent a lot of time either talking to or being with Emily and Julie. They were both instrumental in helping me to realize my level of negativity. It was so ingrained in my personality, routine, sense of humor. I never even realized how glass half empty I was. I (WE -Jesus, Julie, Emily and myself) really turned it around last year, but what do you know? Here I sit in the mud again. Prodigal me.

All of this to say -

5. I now remember why God has me where I am. I also remember that last year I learned that being in easy circumstances does not foster growth. The best thing about last year, (which was HARD, but compared to this year it was a cake walk) was how close I grew to the Lord. It was the best experience because it taught me what dependence on the Lord really was. Don't ask me where all that went this year. In some respects, I feel like a failure. I'm just thankful that God showed me the error of my ways, before the year was gone and there was no time for redemption. So, here starts the journey back across the mountain. Again, Prodigal me. (If you don't understand my reference to the song Prodigal Me, go back to a post that I wrote almost 1 year ago today. I'm sort of like Rain Man when it comes to dates, and I remembered a serious revelation I had last year around the annivesary of Jessie's death, today, which was brought on by the song Prodigal Me. The lyrics are listed in my 2-7-06 post.)

Alright already - ACTION STEPS

How, then, do I remember on a daily basis what's up?

1. Re-implement my Bible memory system. "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." Psalm 119:11 I used to meditate on a verse while getting ready in the morning, and while driving to school in a very safe manner. A perfect example of why this is necessary is, I couldn't remember the reference for this verse. I've known the verse since I was 10 but I couldn't find it. Exactly my point.

2. In addition to my Bible memory, I am also starting a little spiral bound index card booklet of things to REMEMBER. You know, those things that you highlight and write hallelujah and Amen, sister - preach it!! next to in the awesome books you read? Well - rather than just having that for a moment when I'm reading, doing a study, talking with a friend who often says stuff that makes me want to have a go-go gadget tape recorder, or listening to a message, now I will write these statements of TRUTH that I want to remember into my handy dandy notebook, and when I think what was that thing that Joyce Meyer, or Steve Andrews or Julie or one of the Emilys said? I can look in my handy dandy notebook, get my head back on straight and go on about my business. I'm excited about this one.

3. My final goal, for the moment, is to start a prayer sticky note reminder system. There are so many people that I want to pray for on a daily basis, and there are a lot of monotonous things that I do every day. My hope is that I will get in the habit of praying for certain people when I am doing certain things each day. Praying for my dad when I'm brushing my teeth. Praying for my mom when I'm putting on my make up, etc... It worked well the time I put a sticky note on the inside door of my kitchen cabinet. I prayed for that person every time I got in there. The challenge? Not causing a cluttery annoying mess of stick notes. Most of my routine stuff is done in my own room, so hopefully I can use my own bathroom, my computer and other often frequented places that will not subject Frank to this.

And just to put blogger to the ultimate test.... Here is the post I referenced from 2.7.06. This is what I was actually looking for last night when I found the above post. If you haven't already gone blind, keep reading.... :)

I am very much looking forward to church tomorrow... I feel so incredibly under attack. I think my enemy knows that I can't be taken down easily, so he is firing at me from every angle. Pray for me please.

Today is the 4 year anniversary of Jessie's accident. In a lot of ways it doesn't seem like 4 years could possibly have passed already, but then on the other hand it seems like it has been light years... It's amazing to fathom what the Lord has done in me in that time. It was today, 4 years ago that I looked up, for the first time in a long time. For the majority of these past four years, as I have made my slow trek back to the feet of Jesus, I have come from a heart of guilt and shame over the lost years. Within the last week or so, the Lord has been showing me (though He has probably been trying to show me all along) that none of our "lost time" matters to Him. It wasn't until I was really able to listen to the lyrics of "Prodigal Me" by Shane Barnard that I got it.

Here's the video. Start it playing and then read these lyrics. And prepare for chicken skin. (Aka gooseflesh, or goosebumps... :) )

prodigal me
by shane barnard

what have i done to get me here?
unraveled and undone, i need my father
what have i done? i've followed my feet to nowhere
now i'm here! as i ran, i can run no more
prodigal me

the mountains to the west, i know they laugh at me
they know i'm scared to cross and leave this life i lead
oh my pride! i give you up a barter for my freedom
what will they think as i come stumbling down to join their lives?

i need to cross this mountain and find my way home
there is no greater fortune, rescue me
oh unmerciful divide be merciful tonight
show me the other side
prodigal me

the mountains to the east, they've swallowed my beloved
this house completely incomplete, where is my mortar?
where did he go? he followed his feet to nowhere
please come home! you've done me no wrong
each evening i look down that road
i hope and i wait for you
and my servants they look down that road
we watch and we pray for you
master, master, who's that man stumbling down that road?
could it be the one? could it be? could it be?
master, master, it's Your son
coming home to join our lives!

i'm looking down this mountain, i see my way home
there is no greater fortune, i believe!
oh unmerciful divide you laugh at me no more
oh i've reached the other side!
prodigal me

could i be the one? could i be? could i be?
Father, Father, we're Your sons
coming home to join Your life

we've finally crossed this mountain, and found our way home
there is no greater fortune than Jesus
oh how merciful is our God who gave His only Son!
oh we worship You tonight!

(Disclaimer - not their best performance but this is OLD!)

The following is someone's commentary on the Parable of the Prodigal Son and it beautiful illustrates what the Lord has been revealing to me through the song.

But then look at what happens when he returns to his father, humbled, no longer feeling he had the right to be given anything, and with the intent of working for him. He is not driven away because of his previous actions and behavior....the father knew and was so overjoyed at his return he didn't even wait for his son to get all the way back...he ran out and met him! Not only did he meet him with joy, he gave him the best of what he had. The best clothes, the best food, and celebrated his return. Our Father is always there for us. He will not deny us if we come to Him, and He will not shame us for our past actions when we do. Like in the story, He knows we're coming, and is prepared and isn't thinking of our past, just rejoicing for our future.

What an amazing God we serve...

If you made it this far, I hope this blessed you!

An Anniversary, Of Sorts

2011-02-07T16:45:00.002-05:00

Today, as I flipped to the right page in my devotional book, I realized that today is that day. That day that I thought about a lot in January, hoping that a depression wouldn't threaten when it got here.

It's been nine years.

Nine years, since my best friend and her five month old son lost their lives, as a result of a car accident.

It's been eleven years since I've heard her voice. Unless you count the tape I have of us singing (badly) when we were kids. Or the time several years ago when her sister played me a voice mail that Jessie had left for her before her accident.

Which I don't.

Eight to ten years ago, I would have said that we had grown apart and that distance was the main reason we hadn't spoken in so long. We did live about an hour away from each other, and life had taken us down very different paths. Well, my choices had, if I'm going to be honest.

The choices I had been making were not good ones and by the time she passed away, I hadn't darkened the door of church in seven years. When I think about some of the ways I passed my time in the two years that I could have been spending time with her, I kinda want to shake the Rachel that made those choices. Thankfully, she slowly began to die the same day that Jessie did.

Now that I've firmly re-established my relationship with God, what made us such great friends to begin with, it's easier to admit the truth. The reason we weren't friends during that two year period was sin. My sin. Sin separates us from God, but it can also separate us from those who love Him. Even if they love us, too. Jessie never harassed me about my all-star idiocy. She was smart enough to know what effect that would have had. I know she was praying for me though... After she died, Frank's mom recounted a conversation that she'd had with Jessie on our wedding day. My mother-in-law was asking Jessie what they were going to do about us not being in church. Jessie said, "Don't worry. They'll come back." The faith that she had in me brings me to tears every time I recount it. The irony of what would bring me back gives me chills.

I remember sitting on the steps in a deserted hallway in the hospital, the day of the accident and thinking, did I cause this? Is her death my fault? Is this my punishment for wandering away?

Obviously, I hadn't read the New Testament in awhile, either.

I'm so incredibly thankful that tragedy led me to Jesus instead of away from Him. Despite my messed up theology on the stairs, I chose to run to Him. To slowly but surely find my way back to the Rachel that was best friends with Jessie. The one who loved God more than anything else.

Today, I'm choosing to think of this as the anniversary of the start of my prodi-Gal journey home, instead of one of the worst days of my life.

Even though it's both.

Now That's Deep

2011-02-03T13:20:00.003-05:00

For the first time in MY LIFE, I've been on a diet for an entire month.

Let's all take a moment, shall we?

When I was pregnant, Frank went on the South Beach Diet. He lost 40 lbs, while I gained almost that much! Not nice. I had a great excuse at that time to skip it, but I always knew I'd like to try it someday. Well - after enjoying the effects of nursing for a year, I slowly began to put on weight. There was no sign that it was stopping, so I decided I had better do it.

I started on January 3rd. Sadly, it was my sister's 18th birthday - so the first thing I burned up on the alter of dieting was birthday cake. Ouch. That one hurt.

Aside from that, it was really much easier than I expected to completely give up sugar, COLD TURKEY. I seriously thought I was addicted and truly thought it would be an absolute nightmare. Nope. What I've learned along the way is that I wasn't doing nearly as badly as I thought. I've also been reminded that I can do ANYTHING that I put my mind to. I just hadn't put my mind to any self-control where eating was concerned for quite some time.

Sadly, I didn't lose as much as I'd hoped. Phase 1 promises a loss of 8-13 lbs, and I lost 3 or 4. Even now, a month later, I still haven't hit 8 lbs. Boo. The good news is - I'm into the pants that I wanted to be in - and I thought I'd need to lose 12 lbs to get there. So, woot for that! :)

For phase 2, you are allowed to start adding grains back in. We have decided to literally make a lifestyle change where grains are concerned. I'm trying really hard to convince my intestines that this is for the best, however, they are a tough sell. Whole grains, um, cause me some, um, issues. Yeeeeaaaah. Eating an enormous salad everyday for close to 3 weeks also wreaked havoc on the old digestor, too. Yikes. Note to self. Moderation. In all things. Even salad. Ok.

I whine about not losing weight, but the truth of the matter is this diet was more about self-control and dying to self than anything else. I figure if I can't even discipline myself where sugar and other poor eating habits are concerned, how do I expect to discipline myself spiritually.

SO.

Since that was so easy, I'm now quitting facebook. Eek. It has been 3 full days, and I remember this being a lot easier the last time I did it. Apparently, my addiction has intensified. Good to know.

I was planning to give up facebook for Lent, but then we were issued a challenge to fast and pray at our last women's meeting and I knew that I needed to give up facebook. SO.... It is going to be very close to 3 months. Yikes. I'm going to try not to think about that right now.

The good news is in place of facebook - my plan is to read and study God's Word more, and pray for the people in my life that need miracles. There are a lot of them. It's so worth it. Even if I am dying to know what people I never even talk to are up to. Lord, give me strength.

Off The Deep End....

2010-12-27T22:01:00.005-05:00

Hi ya'll. How is everybody? Long time no blog, I know. I've been very busy being very busy. I've also been in kind of a funk, but I'm pretty sure that's over. Christmas was fab. How 'bout you?

So, I've been seeking God on what 2011 is going to be about and I'm pretty excited about the direction He is pointing me. By excited, I mean, 90% excited and 10% scured.

I've been sensing for awhile that God wants the theme of 2011 to be depth. Every song I hear, every book I read, every where I turn, I keep hearing deep, depth. I won't even begin to pretend that I really know where He is going with it, but I'll tell you this: I know it's gonna be good.

I know our relationship is going to go deeper. (My relationship with God, not you dearest blog readers. reader?) I am learning a lot and I hope He will help me apply, understand and put it all into consistent practice.

I am finally in a place where I am fostering deep friendships again. After I had my daughter, many of my friendships changed and some of them even ceased all together. So sad for me. About two years ago, God told me He had some new friends lined up and well, wow. He is blowing my mind. I am very much a "deep calls to deep" sort of person, especially where friendship is concerned. God has brought multiple people into my life that fit the bill for that type of friendship, and let me just tell you.... I am excited.

The next element of the year of depth is less exciting. I'm getting the sense that God wants to do some heart surgery on me this year. I understand "dying to self" as a theory, but I can't say I am truly living the life Paul describes. There are many selfish layers that need to be peeled off, and well.... Yikes. I know it's one of the main road blocks to a deeper maturity that God is calling me to, so... here goes nothin'.

Last year, (probably Sept. of '09) I started reading in Genesis and really wanted to make it through the entire Bible by the end of 2010. I did not. I'm not ashamed of myself, though. I read more of the Bible this year than I ever have in any other year. I read the majority of the New Testament, and I made it to I Chronicles in the Old. I will keep on keepin' on with that, but I think this year - I want to dig deeper, rather than focusing on getting through all of it. I want to start studying, as I feel led, and I want God to begin to show me His heart where many of my questions are. I could easily go read a book on different issues that I don't understand, but then I would just be getting some other "man's" interpretation of Scripture, and I'd really rather hear what God has to say to me about certain things. I have no idea what I'll even study, but I trust God has a plan and that He'll issue the memo when He sees fit. ;)

I also hope to explore some sort of mentor relationship. I'm hoping to find two or more older women in the faith that can be a sounding board and source of encouragement. I know that I know that I know that I need strong women to guide me in this journey. I will not attempt to be a lone ranger!! Again - I have no clue what it will look like, but I believe God has it all planned out, and when it's my turn to know, I will.

There are multiple verses that I've been pondering, some of them for more than a year. I love how God plants a seed and later (sometimes years), Shazam! - He shows you how it all ties together.

I have written down Philippians 1:9-11 multiple times in the past couple of years. (I've been reading through my old journals...) I think it might be THE verse for this year.

Philippians 1:9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

I memorized Ephesians 3:16-19about 5 years ago. I wish I could say that I "get it". But I know for a fact that I don't. I hope that this time next year, I have a completely different understanding when I read these words:

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

Yeah - maybe that is THE verse...

So. I hope to get a chance to share an occasional nugget with you, but I definitely think my blogging days are mostly behind me. Time is such a commodity these days, and I hear it gets worse the older you get. My commitment to a year of depth (which is hopefully the year that changes EVERYTHING) by definition doesn't allow for a lot of blogging. Or facebooking. But don't tell my alter ego who thrives on being told she is funny. She is not going to take that news well...

Until we meet again, consider His deep love for you. It's a game changer. But only if you let it be. I've decided I will.

A Christmas Prayer, By Amy Parker Illustrated by Marijan Ramljak

2010-12-14T21:18:00.004-05:00

I am excited to recommend A Christmas Prayer, by Amy Parker, illustrated by Marijan Ramlja. It is an absolutely delightful children's Christmas story. It is perfect for young toddlers and even older children. The melodic rhyming will keep even the youngest ones engaged in the story. It focuses on each main character of the Christmas story, Gabriel, Mary, Joseph, Jesus, the Shepherds, etc., and beautifully and simply tells the Christmas story through the eyes of gratitude. Each page has a simple short verse and it ends with a prayer thanking God for the character referenced on that page. It is so refreshing and sweet. The illustrations are also very simple (almost chalk like) and appealing to young children. This is the sort of book I would love to give as a gift. I wish I could afford to buy it for all of my daughter's little friends. I look forward to many nights this month reading this story before bed. It will be a new favorite, I'm sure.

Thank you Thomas Nelson and the BookSneeze Program for allowing me this complimentary book in exchange for my honest review.

It's ALIVE.....

2010-09-28T19:24:00.002-04:00

Or, I'm alive, as it were. In the words of Bob Wiley:

Barely.

It seems I may have over committed a bit this fall. Except that I have every intention to continue with everything I signed up for until May. Awesome.

Speaking of alive... My heart is actually pumping at a decent clip for the first time in weeks. I fell off the running wagon, and didn't have the gumption to chase after it and climb back on. Not that I would have time to run anyway, but if they decide to ditch daylight savings in exchange for adding three hours to our day, I might just be able to wedge it in somewhere.

Looks like the winter exercise regime will consist of turbo worship with Chloe. David Crowder is the sound track. There's lots of jumping and clapping, and well - the baptists would just have a fit. I may be in the market for a bladder lift or whatever they do for you when jumping and sneezing is problematic. Thank you, Eve.

So. Between not running, working, prayer ministry class, Bible study, MOPS, and the 17 other things I've volunteered to participate in (and bring baked goods to), the bloggy blog is probably going to be parked on the back burner. Sad but true.

Hopefully, I'll at least be around occasionally. Gotta vent the funny somewhere.

Busy As a Bee

2010-09-17T13:53:00.003-04:00

I have so much going on. All good stuff, but it still leaves me feeling like there isn't time for extra things.

Like blogging.

That makes me sad.

Be back when I get a free minute.

Fruit of Righteousness

2010-09-13T06:10:00.000-04:00

I've been reading through my prayer journal and two days in a row I've been struck by a passage of scripture I felt God wanted me to focus on for this year. Philippians (one of my favorite books, by the way...) 1:9-11 says ~

And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

What stands out to me in this passage is what results from the abounding love. We are filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ. We don't produce the fruit ourselves. We are filled with it. It's not our efforts, but what Christ can do. It's always about Jesus, and never about ourselves. How different would your life be, if you lived according to that? Mine would be unrecognizable. Here's hoping no one knows who the heck I am, sooner than later.

One Hand, Two Hands By Max Lucado, Illustrated By Gaby Hansen

2010-09-10T03:09:00.000-04:00

One Hand, Two Hands by Max Lucado is a precious children's story about how we can help others with our hands. It is illustrated by Gaby Hansen and she has added so much to the story through her whimsically detailed pages! Each page has beautiful, colorful pictures that would capture the attention of any child. This book is a delightful bedtime story, just perfect for very young children who are in the process of learning about how to use their hands. The message of using our hands as a blessing to our family and friends will be well received by families of all kinds.

My two year old daughter and I loved it. It is perfectly age appropriate for her and ties in quite well with what we have been learning and doing around our home. She connected well with the lesson of the book and I would recommend it to anyone with small children. This one is a keeper! It will be on our book shelf for years to come!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Legitimate Work From Home Jobs

2010-09-08T21:21:00.003-04:00

They're out there, yo. You just gotta find 'em.

I knew they were out there. I knew of a couple different people who had them. I just wasn't sure how to find them. The internet... Well, the internet is a peach - but there are many a rotten spot. Have you ever googled work from home? Yeah... Don't bother. Scammy McScamster is busy as a bee flooding the internet with stuff where you pay him to work from home. Hi. I need money - I'm not going to pay you money. Duh.

So I was lamenting on facebook one day about wanting a work from home job. One of my childhood best friend's dad pointed me here. And I was shocked at the number of options. Most of them don't work for me at the moment, but it was very encouraging to see that the opportunities are there. The whole "quiet work environment" is sort of a deal breaker for me... Pesky two year old. ;)

I had decided that I really wanted to get serious about blogging, but well - that is a big time investment with no compensation... I'm willing to invest, but mama needs a new pair of shoes today! Interestingly enough, it was in my research for blogging that I came across this website. He is quite the smarty pants where blogging is concerned, and I saw he had a link to work from home opportunities. CLICK! And that is where I found this company.

(PS - While I was trying to find all the links, I came across this article, too. Very helpful.)

I have been hesitant to say a lot for numerous reasons. The biggest being that they have a confidentiality policy and I can't remember what all I promised I wouldn't share... :/ Oops. So - I will direct most questions to their website.

I will say this. The test? Was HARD. It's not for sissies. Not that I'm calling ya'll sissies, but if the shoes fits, don't waste your time. I have easily invested 30 hours into studying and taking the test. That doesn't include time spent updating my resume, which I did for the sole purpose of applying for this job. I kind of had all my eggs in this basket. And you can only take it once. If you fail, well - so long sucker. No pressure or anything...

I had been praying for a specific type of opportunity. I had been praying specifically for the what the when and the how. It is very apparent to me that this is the answer to more than 8 months worth of prayer. Isn't God awesome?

And let me just say - if I've ever been patient where waiting on God is concerned, it has been here. Not because I've got it all together and have unwavering faith, either. Because I didn't want a stinkin' job.

As only God can do, He has slowly changed my heart in this area. At the end of last year, I began thinking that it might be time to start trying to find something. I didn't want to do this, and I refused to do that, and it had better not entail X, Y or Z... But as long as it fit nicely into the box I had dreamed up, - Sure! I'd get a job. Over the course of the next several months, that changed into a desire to do whatever it takes, as long as I was certain it was from God. It's cool how it took that journey, with a long stop in Surrenderville, to get me to the place where I am now. With a job that fits the exact specifications I originally had, even though I had finally opened my mind to whatever God wanted for me. Kinda reminds me of this. Oh when, when will I learn?

It is my prayer that one day (soon would be awesome) when God says, "Do you trust me?" I have an affirmative answer spouting off my lips before He even gets the whole question out. Not there yet. ;)

So, back to the job. This is the job description. If you have mostly no idea what they're talking about, then you are just like I was when I first read it. 30 hours later, I'm confident that I can do it. Well, confident might not be the most accurate word, but I will get there. Did I mention that the test was HARD? My Word. I think it might be their intention to weed out the riff raff with the long and arduous application process. I'm sure it works.

Here's why it appealed to me:

There are no set times I'll have to work. I will be able to work late nights, very early mornings, or days when Frank is here and can take care of Chloe.

The pay. I know that ya'll want to know how much. That I know I'm not supposed to share, so I'll just say this. In my opinion, it will be worth the efforts I've put forth. I am confident that I could not find a flexible part time position around these depressed parts for anywhere near the coin they are going to pay me. If you decide to apply, that information is given to you before you have to give birth. And by that I mean take that crazy test. :)

A few more things... This company is looking for highly educated people. I also think my past (non-teaching) experience really impressed them. Specifically, the year I spent as a Business Systems Analyst. (Oh, to have that pay check again.) If this particular company doesn't work for you, do some serious searching and you just might find the perfect work from home opportunity!

There you go. That's what I've been up to. Happy? ;)

WFMW - Freezing Garbage

2010-09-08T10:37:00.000-04:00

Ever come home and think - Wow, there is a rotting carcass in my house. Awesome. -? Well, the real question is - what on earth is in the garbage? Meat wrappers (especially chicken, yuck) make for some very stinky garbage.

Here's what works for me. When I make chicken or anything else that might be especially stinky, I put the waste into a plastic grocery bag and pop it in the freezer. On garbage day (when I remember), I put it in the trash. No more stinky garbage!

Now, I should clarify. I have two deep freezers along with the one attached to the fridge. I can imagine that some people might not have lots of room, but if you do - give it a try!

For more great tips, check out Works For Me Wednesday at We Are That Family.

The Boy Who Changed The World By Andy Andrews Illustrated By Philip Hurst

2010-09-07T15:21:00.005-04:00

The Boy Who Changed The World, by Andy Andrews is a book meant to teach children that the choices that they make have a greater impact than they realize. It is a full sized story book with beautiful illustrations by Philip Hurst. The book tells the stories of multiple historical characters and how their lives changed the world. It is very interesting to see how their lives are intertwined and how their interactions effected our world and how we live our lives. This would be a great resource to use in an educational setting. It is meant for older children, as there is a considerable amount of text on most pages.

This is a book that I would recommend. I would have liked to see the message of God and His purpose for our lives a more central theme in the book, but am thankful that it was at least mentioned. It is still a good jumping off point for that conversation. Probably my favorite part of the book would be the illustrations. They are fantastic! Vibrant and interesting, life-like and realistic. The story is engaging and leaves you thinking what the author intended, - "wow, what I do does matter." This book will be well received by a wide range of young readers, and whoever is reading it to them will likely enjoy it as well.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

The Butterfly Effect By Andy Andrews

2010-09-07T12:47:00.000-04:00

The Butterfly Effect by Andy Andrews is a gift book that uses the Law of Sensitive Dependence Upon Initial Conditions, which is a scientific principle of cause and effect, to inspire people to greater lives. He states, "Every single thing you do matters. You have been created as one of a kind. You have been created in order to make a difference. You have within you the power to change the world." Mr. Andrews uses true stories from our country's history to prove the point that everything you do can effect the world for years to come.

I found it odd that God was never mentioned in the book. I like the concept of the book, and agree that our choices matter and that we were created for a purpose, but there's more to the story than just that. We were created by God, for God for the purpose of worshiping Him and advancing His Kingdom to the glory of His name. Coming from a christian publisher, I would have expected that to be the punch line and it wasn't. I found that rather disappointing. That aside, I did find the facts and the way the history was told in story form quite engaging. I think history buffs and someone in the military might appreciate this gift book, but I wouldn’t use it as a ministry tool. I don’t think that it would influence an unbeliever in any way.

Motivation - Time = Frustration

2010-09-03T05:53:00.000-04:00

Yikes. Math.

I'm going through one of those hyper creative phases where I'm texting myself messages in the dark so I don't forget all my great laying-there-trying-to-sleep blog post ideas. If only I had time to put them all on paper. As soon, as things calm down you're going to have lots of reading to do...

But until then, I'm studying like a football player who runs the risk of riding the bench while his teammates play in the state championship game. Which stinks. But if it pays off, it will be totally worth it.

I'll let you know how it turns out. Feel free to pray for me.

And in the meantime, if you need a belly laugh that makes you cry, watch this video. Thank you, Boomama for posting it. If laughing extends your life, I will plan on living until I'm 114.

Just know that if I don't pass this exam (which thankfully is in English, muchas gracias) I will be spitting mad, too.

Clarity

2010-09-02T06:17:00.000-04:00

I mentioned here how I'm currently starting my day. Within the first couple of days of starting my day with this prayer, I began to feel a fog lift and it was almost as if I was able to perceive things I had been completely oblivious to before, or maybe I was just ignoring them. Either way, it has been interesting coming off of 'auto pilot'.

One morning after my extra long prayer and devotional time (what I usually refer to as my 'quiet time'), I went for a run. A two mile run. Up hill. Both ways. My road thinks that the laws of physics are just suggestions.

As I was running, with Shane and Shane blaring in my headphones, I heard something in the grassy, leafy ditch next to me. I'm hoping it was a chipmunk, because if it was a snake, it was a BIG one. I found it interesting that, despite the fact that I was focused on something else (getting up the hill while remaining alive), and even playing loud music in my ears, I could still hear and sense what was going on next to me.

It was sort of a revelation to me. There is stuff going on that is normally very easy to ignore. Until we begin to focus in on the unseen, we live haphazardly, not claiming the authority that has been given to us through Christ and the work He has done for us.

Many of the things referenced in the morning prayer that I have been using are things that I know about. I believe all of it is available to me and that there is a supernatural power that is mine for the taking. But how many years have I been running along, not taking hold of it? How much have I missed because I've allowed distractions or worse - laziness - to keep me from the fullness of what Christ has for me.

Take the armor of God. Ephesians 6. I know about the armor of God. Why I don't think about it everyday and pray that I would be clothed in it is beyond me.

Back to the fog that has been lifted. I think when we begin to focus on the unseen things or at least acknowledge that they are there, daily, we begin to subconsciously (and consciously) be on guard. We are more likely to remember to take our thoughts captive and walk in the victory that is ours. When there is a snake in the grass, we can be aware of it, even when we are engrossed in other things, because we will be engrossed in other things. I mean, come on. I have a two year old. It's not quiet around here very often. Even if you don't have little ones noisin' up your day, I have to believe you have stuff to do.

When we set our minds on eternal things first thing in the morning, we are much more likely to come back to that repeatedly during our busy and noisy days. When we let the noise start before even bracing ourselves, we often operate in survival mode. Survival is better than the alternative, but I'm looking for victory. How about you?

Get More, Pay Less

2010-09-01T01:45:00.000-04:00

We went on a little mini getaway last week. We took Chloe to a children's museum (ee-um, as she calls it) and a really cool zoo. We needed a place to stay, so I used Priceline.com as I have a few times in the past. I'm never disappointed when I do.

I thought I might share my experiences, in the event anyone is curious about how it works.

First of all, you don't have to use the 'name your own price' feature. But that's what I always use and we get a steal of a deal every time. The major downside to the 'name your own price' feature, is that you have to give your credit card info and if they accept your offer, it's a done deal. Understandably, this might scare some people off. This is the main reason I'm sharing my experience. If you understand how it works, you will likely be more willing to give it a try.

This time I decided I wanted to spend 40$ on a hotel room. Now, you might be thinking - well, stay at the Red Roof Inn or Motel 6. Not to say anything bad about either of those places, but I'm looking for more of the quality of a Hilton or Holiday Inn for the Motel 6 price.

The cool thing about priceline, is you put in when and where, and then you tell them what star level you want and how much you are willing to pay. The trick to getting a great room at a great price, is to select a high star rating and then put in your price. As long as you're specifying a 2.5 or 3 star rating, you don't have to worry about winding up in a rat trap. They might not accept your offer, but you never know... They might!

There are certain limitations, and you can't just keep upping your price by 5$ until they bite. There are different criteria that you can change and every time you are denied, you have to change one of the criteria, or wait for 24 hours before trying again with a higher price.

For instance, we stayed in Grand Rapids, Mi. There were 4 different areas you could choose from in GR. I obviously wanted the one closest to the museum, but that was one criteria that I could change to see if it made a difference. Eventually, I had to lower my star rating to a 2, before it accepted my price of 40$. I waited until the day before we left (on purpose, for weather reasons) so I didn't have the cushion to try for a nicer room at a slightly higher price.

As it always does, it worked out fine. We wound up at a Baymont Inn. It was a nice spacious room, with a king bed and plenty of space for a pack N play. It had a pool and hot tub, a work out room, and free breakfast. Not bad, huh?

I've booked rooms in NYC (twice), Grand Rapids (twice) Fort Wayne, IN, Tampa, FL, and surely a couple other places that I can't remember right now.

Go check it out. You can see everything I've talked about, and play around with it before you click accept. You'll be really glad you gave it a try!

I have nothing to do with priceline or Baymont Inn, I justed want to share my experience in an effort to help anyone who may have considered using priceline, but didn't know how it worked.

For more great tips, visit We Are That Family for Works For Works for Me Wednesday.

What A Way To Start The Day

2010-08-31T06:41:00.006-04:00

I've mentioned that I'm a bit burned out on getting up at the hiney crack of dawn and running. Here's the funny thing... I'm totally in the habit of getting up early, so it's rather natural at this point. Instead of physical exercise, I've been working out spiritually first thing every morning.

I recently heard someone say something about how she prays to cover her day and family and what a huge difference it makes in how she interacts with people and how she stays in tune with the Lord. I know this is an important thing to do, but it's not something I've ever really done. (Confession time....) I once read this great book Walking With GodIn it, the author, John Eldredge shares his daily prayer. And it is a doozie. Not sure I've ever heard a more intense prayer. Well, maybe the day my prayer counselor prayed for my DNA when I hurt my back.... ;)

A few mornings ago, I woke up bright and early with Jesus on my mind. I got up, dug out my copy of John's book and began copying it into my journal. It's long, as you'll soon see, so I broke this up over a couple of days. Each day, I've been praying it and surprise, surprise, I'm seeing great results. I thought I would share it with you here.

Kinda wish I would have known that it was ON HIS WEBSITE before I spent multiple wee hours writing it out....

My dear Lord Jesus I come to you now to be restored in you, to be renewed in you, to receive your love and your life, and all the grace and mercy I so desperately need this day. I honor you as my Sovereign, and I surrender every aspect of my life totally and completely to you. I give you my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind, and will. I cover myself with your blood—my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind and will. I ask your Holy Spirit to restore me in you, renew me in you, and to lead me in this time of prayer. In all that I now pray, I stand in total agreement with your Spirit, and with my intercessors and allies, by your Spirit alone.

[Now, if you are a husband, you’ll want to include your wife in this time of prayer. If you are a parent, you’ll want to include your children. If this doesn’t apply to you, jump to the paragraph after this one.]

In all that I now pray, I include (my wife and/or children, by name). Acting as their head, I bring them under your authority and covering, as I come under your authority and covering. I cover (wife and/or children, by name) with your blood – their spirit, soul and body, their heart, mind and will. I ask your Spirit to restore them in you, renew them in you, and apply to them all that I now pray on their behalf, acting as their head.

Dear God, holy and victorious Trinity, you alone are worthy of all my worship, my heart’s devotion, all my praise, all my trust and all the glory of my life. I love you, I worship you, I trust you. I give myself over to you in my heart’s search for life. You alone are Life, and you have become my life. I renounce all other gods, all idols, and I give you the place in my heart and in my life that you truly deserve. I confess here and now that this is all about you, God, and not about me. You are the Hero of this story, and I belong to you. Forgive me for my every sin. Search me and know me and reveal to me where you are working in my life, and grant to me the grace of your healing and deliverance, and a deep and true repentance.

Heavenly Father, thank you for loving me and choosing me before you made the world. You are my true Father—my Creator, my Redeemer, my Sustainer, and the true end of all things, including my life. I love you, I trust you, I worship you. I give myself over to you to be one with you in all things, as Jesus is one with you. Thank you for proving your love by sending Jesus. I receive him and all his life and all his work, which you ordained for me. Thank you for including me in Christ, for forgiving me my sins, for granting me his righteousness, for making me complete in him. Thank you for making me alive with Christ, raising me with him, seating me with him at your right hand, establishing me in his authority, and anointing me with your Holy Spirit, your love and your favor. I receive it all with thanks and give it total claim to my life—my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind and will. I bring the life and the work of Jesus over (wife and/or children, by name) and over my home, my household, my vehicles, finances, all my kingdom and domain.

Jesus, thank you for coming to ransom me with your own life. I love you, I worship you, I trust you. I give myself over to you, to be one with you in all things. And I receive all the work and all of the triumph of your cross, death, blood and sacrifice for me, through which I am atoned for, I am ransomed and transferred to your kingdom, my sin nature is removed, my heart is circumcised unto God, and every claim made against me is disarmed this day. I now take my place in your cross and death, through which I have died with you to sin, to my flesh, to the world, and to the evil one. I take up the cross and crucify my flesh with all its pride, arrogance, unbelief, and idolatry (and anything else you are currently struggling with). I put off the old man. I ask you to apply to me the fullness of your cross, death, blood and sacrifice. I receive it with thanks and give it total claim to my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will.

Jesus, I also sincerely receive you as my life, my holiness and strength, and I receive all the work and triumph of your resurrection, through which you have conquered sin and death and judgment. Death has no mastery over you, nor does any foul thing. And I have been raised with you to a new life, to live your life – dead to sin and alive to God. I now take my place in your resurrection and in your life, through which I am saved by your life. I reign in life through your life. I receive your life – your humility, love and forgiveness, your integrity in all things, your wisdom, discernment and cunning, your strength, your joy, your union with the Father. Apply to me the fullness of your resurrection. I receive it with thanks and give it total claim to my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will.

Jesus, I also sincerely receive you as my authority, rule, and dominion, my everlasting victory against Satan and his kingdom, and my ability to bring your Kingdom at all times and in every way. I receive all the work and triumph of your ascension, through which you have judged Satan and cast him down, you have disarmed his kingdom. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to you, Jesus. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to you, and you are worthy to receive all glory and honor, power and dominion, now and forevermore. And I have been given fullness in you, in your authority. I now take my place in your ascension, and in your throne, through which I have been raised with you to the right hand of the Father and established in your authority. I now bring the kingdom of God, and the authority, rule and dominion of Jesus Christ over my life today, over my home, my household, my vehicles and finances, over all my kingdom and domain.

I now bring the authority, rule and dominion of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the fullness of the work of Christ, against Satan, against his kingdom, against every foul and unclean spirit come against me. (At this point you might want to name the spirits that you know have been attacking you). I bring the full work of Jesus Christ against every foul power and black art, against every human being and their warfare. I bind it all from me in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ and in his Name.

Holy Spirit, thank you for coming. I love you, I worship you, I trust you. I sincerely receive you and all the work and victory in Pentecost, through which you have come, you have clothed me with power from on high, sealed me in Christ. You have become my union with the Father and the Son, become the Spirit of truth in me, the life of God in me, my Counselor, Comforter, Strength, and Guide. I honor you as my Sovereign, and I yield every dimension of my spirit, soul and body, my heart, mind and will to you and you alone, to be filled with you, to walk in step with you in all things. Fill me afresh. Restore my union with the Father and the Son. Lead me in all truth, anoint me for all of my life and walk and calling, and lead me deeper into Jesus today. I receive you with thanks, and I give you total claim to my life.

Heavenly Father, thank you for granting to me every spiritual blessing in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus. I claim the riches in Christ Jesus over my life today, my home, my kingdom and domain. I bring the blood of Christ over my spirit, soul, and body, my heart, mind and will. I put on the full armor of God – the belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, shoes of the gospel, helmet of salvation. I take up the shield of faith and sword of the Spirit, and I choose to wield these weapons at all times in the power of God. I choose to pray at all times in the Spirit.

Thank you for your angels. I summon them in the authority of Jesus Christ and command them to destroy the kingdom of darkness throughout my kingdom and domain, destroy all that is raised against me, and to establish your Kingdom throughout my kingdom and domain. I ask you to send forth your Spirit to raise up prayer and intercession for me this day. I now call forth the kingdom of the Lord Jesus Christ throughout my home, my family, my kingdom and my domain, in the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ, with all glory and honor and thanks to him.

Do you cover your family in prayer each morning? I'm praying that this will be my new normal.

I Hoard, Therefore I Am Scared

2010-08-30T05:46:00.001-04:00

This has been the summer of almost no TV. I was a little obsessed last winter, what with Lost and 24 and American Idol and whatever else I'm forgetting to admit. I declared this summer a TV free summer, and aside from plenty of Curious George (and other PBS Kids) and some very occasional Food Network, it has been just that. I'll watch a movie occasionally or flip through looking for something to watch about once a week, but I'm really quite proud of myself for not getting hooked on any new summer shows.

This past week, when I was flipping through the channels, I landed on Hoarders.

Oh. My. Word.

Now. I am a self-proclaimed clutter bug and I have almost no shame in that. I save too much stuff, but my house is clean (ish - most of the time). Every closet and drawer I have is currently in 911 need of re-org, but we have been having entirely too much fun this summer to sort socks and alphabetize spices, yo.

Then I watch this Hoarder show. As I'm sitting there listening to these people explain why they do what the do, and the therapist (THERAPIST!) try to help them work through it, I am appalled that I think (all.the.time.) what they are saying out loud.

Well, I might use that someday.

It was a great deal.

But it was my grandma's.

It was a gift.

I almost broke out in a sweat.

Two summers in a row I have gone through all of my stuff in hopes of selling unused items in a garage sale. Here are a few things I have kept, and my reasoning behind keeping them:

A sweater. That I will never wear again, for various reasons. Why keep it? Because it was what I had on when I said a final goodbye to a dear friend. (My mind is a steel trap, I tell you. I can't remember what plans I have for the day, but I know what I wore 8 years ago. Yikes.)

A picture. That my husband (before he was my husband) bought for me, even though I will never hang it on the wall again. Why? Because I'm sentimental. It was a gift.

Baby clothes. You know what, don't even get me started on the baby clothes.

This tiny little clock thing. It was my grandma's. And while I have it in a drawer because it doesn't match anything in my house, I know she loved it and so I can't seem to part with it.

I went to bed after watching that show, VOWING that the first chance I got - I was going to go medieval on the storage area. It was the most pressing matter in the house, and I couldn't even get to the back of the room without climbing a little. Eek!

I'm happy to report that within an hour and a half - it was completely clutter free, everything was back in it's place, and several things had been placed in the garage sale pile. And by pile, I mean mountain.

It's a start.

Lost: Motivation - Reward For Information Leading To Its Return

2010-08-25T09:25:00.004-04:00

I should have seen the burn out coming. I should have known better than to run/workout 6 days in a row. That was our bright idea a couple of weeks ago and now I'm dangerously close to being over it.

The early mornings are definitely out. I'm not sure who that person was that seemed to enjoy getting up at 5 am to run, but whoever she is, she has left the building. Or maybe she has fallen and can't get up.

My crazy running buddy is a teacher and goes back to work soon, so that is going to change things up and I hope that ends up being a good thing. I don't want to quit, but I'm definitely flame broiled, burnt out to a crisp.

Maybe if Jillian Michaels wasn't such a big mean bully. Or maybe if my running shoes actually fit me and didn't smell like mold. Or maybe if there were 36 hours in the day.

It's not just exercise, either. I had grand plans for an enormous garage sale, and I can't get it in gear to work on that either. Summer's almost over, so unless I can convince the die hards to trek all the way out to the middle of nowhere to buy my grandma's silk tree and my stained t-shirts, I'm not even sure it's worth the effort.

And the poor blog. Have you noticed? Running out of steam. Running out of ideas. Forgetting to write down the rare idea I do get.

I think I just need a long winter's nap.

Not to be confused with the daily summer nap I've been taking, because when you get up at 5 am to run, there's not a lot of choice in the matter. Momma gotta sleep.

And baby gotta have clean underwear, so I have to hide this Macbook and lock myself in the laundry room.

No time for a clever ending.

The End.

Jesus Calling - Deluxe Edition: Enjoying Peace in His Presence By Sarah Young

2010-08-18T07:49:00.004-04:00

Jesus Calling - Deluxe Edition: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, by Sarah Edwards is a devotional book unlike any other I've ever used. The author takes things that God has spoken to her in her quiet times and has made them into a letter from God to her readers. Each short devotional has two or three scriptures referenced, directing the reader to the biblical truth that is being shared in the daily devotional. I have found this book to be very beneficial in my daily reading. This particular version is a gift book and I would highly recommend it as a gift for any occasion. I think any adult or teen in a serious pursuit of the Lord would enjoy this devotional, regardless of how far along they are in that journey. I know that I will be using it for many years to come.

Softening Butter Quickly

2010-08-18T05:30:00.000-04:00

I love to bake. Especially cookies and muffins. Anything with a chocolate chip in it, really. The one down side to baking is the whole softened butter business. I'm more of a spontaneous baker. I don't usually think to myself - Hmm... I think I'll bake cookies in about three hours (or whatever the ample time for a stick of butter to come to room temperature is). Nope. It's more like - Mmmmm, I think I need to get my Tollhouse on, how can I get this butter the perfect texture to make an amazing cookie?

The past few times that I've done this, I have been softening my butter in the microwave. That sound you hear is everyone on the Food Network collectively gasping. But, whatever. It works for me. I put one or two sticks of butter in the microwave for six seconds. Then I turn it to the next side and then give it another six seconds. I think it takes a total of three times, but I'm sure microwaves vary, so continue to do this until you can feel that the butter is soft enough. You may even want to do smaller increments, if you have a turbo microwave. Make sure to turn it each time, though. It's a fine line you have to tread. You don't want melted butter. Better to err on the side of too hard. Especially if you use a stand mixer (does anyone still stir cookies by hand?), once you cream it with the sugar, it'll be fine!

For more helpful tips, visit We Are That Family.

A New Way To Worship

2010-08-17T06:38:00.000-04:00

I'm reading The Battle Belongs To The Lord, by Joyce Meyer. That woman is smart. And God is amazing. He is amazing in the way that He delivers what I need when I need it. He's never early. He's never late. He's always on time. Oh, how I love His timing.

Here is one of the paragraphs that has totally rocked my world and flipped the switch on how I worship:

If you are not the way you want to be in some area of your life, begin to worship God in that area. As you worship Him for any of the attributes of His character - His faithfulness, His loyalty, His goodness, His kindness, His love, His graciousness, His longsuffering, His slowness to anger, His plenteousness in mercy, His patience - whatever you worship Him for will begin to be manifested in your own character.

It works, yo. I've been doing it and am noticing such a huge difference.

This is my new theme song. I've loved it since the first time I heard it, but given my new mission in worship, it's pretty much my battle cry. If you're not familiar with the artists, they are Shane and Shane and if I had to pick one artist/group to listen to for the rest of my life, they would win hands down and I wouldn't think twice about it. I would miss David Cowder and Misty Edwards, but I wouldn't think twice about it.

Enjoy.

The Dreaded To Do List

2010-08-16T07:45:00.002-04:00

As I shared on facebook yesterday, I've "noticed that there is a direct correlation between the amount of fun had over the weekend and the state of my house on Sunday night. Current status: Disaster of epic proportions. We done had some fuuun this weekend."

So, yeah... Here's a list of what MUST get done. Before the health department shows up and shuts this operation down.

Laundry - I wore dirty work out clothes today. Neat.

Dishes - Um, who has time for dishes when there is FUN TO BE HAD? Well, if we want to eat stuff off of plates this week, I'll have to unload and reload that there dishwasher.

Clean Out Fridge - Well. This has been on the to do list for, approximately, ever. Lord, give me strength.

Vacuum - I refuse to do another push up in the basement until the vacuum is put in high gear. And since we shred it up down there on Tuesday morning, I should probably put this one closer to the top of the list.

Bathrooms - Nuff said.

I'm sure there's more, but I'm losing my will to live sitting here thinking about it. I hereby vow not to look (to not look?) at this black hole of time sucking de-motivation, also known as, the Apple Crackbook, until my house will pass the white glove and I have spent some quality time with Jesus.

The end.

No Pain No Gain

2010-08-12T06:37:00.000-04:00

Running is one thing, but now I'm actually doing The 30 Day Shred. I have heard horrifying things about it, and it wasn't until a friend told me that it's only 20 minutes long that I even considered it. My work out buddy, L (also known as the most stubborn, refuses to quit, even when death is laughing at us hysterically, person I know), happens to own it and given her personality disorder where pain is concerned, she is the perfect person with whom to enter into that commitment. (Can't I just say to enter into that commitment with? Does that make me sound dumb? I am a rule follower by nature, so I feel compelled to follow the rules that I know. You're on your own for the many that I don't. Never mind that I majored in Language Arts, which is what we old farts used to refer to as English. Apparently.)

Anywho.

The girl is crazy. That's my main point.

I'm just going to be honest. I wasn't entirely on board the first day we did it. You see, I enjoy being able to move about the cabin without pain shooting through every muscle I have, including all of the ones that I didn't even know I had, since I haven't used them since 1999, when I had a short fling with Billy Blanks before the wedding. So. It's entirely possible that on Tuesday when Jillian said "engage those abs!" and whatever other things that I can't remember because I was terribly busy trying not to engage anything so that I could get out of bed the next day, I may not have followed the orders she was barking at us. I'm more interesting in easing into this one, Jillian. Unless of course you want to come take care of Chloe and empty my bed pan, I think my way will work best for the time being.

Today, I stepped onto the scale and realized I had gained two pounds (Curse you, Tollhouse and your cookie recipe of perfection! That I doubled.) since I first weighed myself last week for my starting weight for Operation Lose 10 lbs. by 10-10-10.

I may consider trying it Jillian's way.

I'll keep you posted. If I can type.

What Does Not Work For Me Wednesday

2010-08-11T09:49:00.003-04:00

Did I say that I was going to go low carb? Well, I must have been delirious. I hereby strike that one from the record. I was looking at the P90X diet and saw that carbs are your friends when you are working out a lot. Which compared to every other time in my life, right now I am. Couple that information with the sale on Asiago Cheese bread at VGs today, and you have the official end to my 2 day (One of which consisted of caramel apple pie - self-control? No, you have me confused with someone else.) low carb adventure.

I've decided instead to attempt to find balance. I'm such and all or nothing kind of girl, and I know it wouldn't be long before I switched gears from NO carbs to NO dieting whatsoever and possibly NO exercise, either. I so know how I roll.

So, the new plan. Greatly reduce my carb intake and make healthier choices, especially where carbs are concerned.

Dear Tim Horton, I think we might have to break up.

I know that I know that I know that if I completely deny myself of all of the things I love, I will never stick with it and the efforts that I put forth will be wasted anyway. My hope is to change some habits, tone up this ol' carcass and live in freedom, rather than be a slave to some diet.

Because, people, a life without carbs is not a life I'm interested in living. Ever.

My Favorite Weekend Of The Year

2010-08-10T06:11:00.000-04:00

For the past four years, we have been invited to go sailing with an awesome group of friends. We have gone three of the four years and it has become the weekend that I most look forward to every summer. The other year would have required excessive amounts of quality time with a breast pump, so I decided to stay home. I was only slightly bitter...

My friend's parents have this fantastic sailboat that sleeps 8, and they are so kind to have us for a super fantastic fun filled weekend every summer. The first couple of years we sailed to Mackinaw Island, but this year we did something a little different. Normally, it's about a 45 minute trip and for me, that's a long time. I'm usually car sick by the time we even get to the marina, so sailing is actually a pretty risky adventure for me.

This year we ventured to a new destination, about 3 hours from Mackinaw City. Or 1 hour by car, which is how I opted to travel. It worked out really well, and while I didn't technically do much sailing, it was still really fun. The wind didn't cooperate much, so no one did much sailing, but I rode in style in Dr. C's BMW and met the rest of the group at the destination. To say I felt super cool would be an understatement of epic proportions.

So, I could say that I went sailing this weekend, but that would be lying. I slept on a sailboat and ate obscene amounts of snack foods while hanging out with friends on a sailboat, but I did not go sailing. It was still my favorite weekend of the summer. No question.

363 until the next sailing trip! Woot woot!

Low Carb And Loathing It

2010-08-09T10:17:00.002-04:00

I've been on my low card diet for about ten hours. The first six hours I was sleeping, so that was pretty easy. Once I got up and ran TWO MILES, it got a little harder. I had scrambled eggs and cheese for breakfast and now I'm sitting here trying not to think about the toast I didn't eat and the juice I didn't drink.

I'm planning to eat a turkey sandwich on lettuce leaves for lunch. I bought sunflower seeds for snacking. I'm taking dinner to book club tonight, and I'm making sloppy joes. They are kind of sweet, so I guess my carb consumption will take place at the dinner hour. Maybe I'll jus tuse half of a bun.

I'm not crazy enough to think that I can go completely carb free, but if I can cut them down considerably I will be very impressed. I've never truly dieted, so this is uncharted territory for Madame Eats A Ton.

My goal is to lose ten pounds by 10-10-10.

Clever, I know.

Since The Hubster lost forty pounds while doing South Beach, I figured that might be a good place to start. I'm not looking forward to it. Feel free to pray for me.

And pass along your low carb diet survival tips. What did you eat for breakfast? What did you snack on? I don't mind eating meat and veggies for lunch and dinner, but eggs will get old for breakfast. I welcome your suggestions!

Too Much Fun

2010-08-05T07:05:00.002-04:00

Hi Friends....

I'm having far too much fun to write up in here. For once, I have lots of great ideas and no time to get them on paper. Hopefully, next week will be better. If I get a chance, I'll post a recipe tomorrow. We're going sailing this weekend, (AHOY!) so that may or may not actually happen.

Here's hoping.

I also hope you're having at least a minimum of half the fun I am this summer. If so, you're having plenty. :)

Skuntastic

2010-08-03T06:00:00.000-04:00

For thirty three years, I could say that I had never had a dog that had been sprayed by a skunk. Not anymore. Apparently, getting up close and personal with a skunk was on Kiley's bucket list. Oh that dog, I'm telling you.

It was, of course, while The Hubster was away on his annual golf weekend. Chloe was at her grandparent's house and I had the house all to myself. I was really looking forward to a glorious night of sleep. It was 11:30 and I was just in from a fun night of second hand shopping and eating delicious food with my bestie. When I let the dogs out, I thought I could smell a hint of skunk in the air, but honestly I didn't think too much of it. We live in the middle of nowhere, so it's not out of the ordinary for a skunk to be in the hood.

Well, when I let Kiley back in, there was no denying something had happened. It really didn't smell like skunk at all. If it hadn't been for smelling that a few minutes earlier, I never would have made the connection. It totally smelled like burning rubber. It was very strong and very stinky, but not skunky at all. She kept licking her paws and trying to wash her face, which is right where she got sprayed.

Did I mention it was bedtime? Grrrr.... I don't enjoy giving dog baths ever, let alone at 11:30 on MY night. Alone. With all the awesome sleeping. Seriously, dog?

It was just on her head so I lathered it up a bit and tried to wash it off. I even rubbed baking soda on her face. It was tolerable so we went to bed. The next day, once I was pretty much used to the stench, The Hubster's parents came over and the first thing out of his mom's mouth was, "I smell skunked dog."

So that cleared up that mystery...

The next day, The Hubster came home and said the house reeked.

Did I mention I was having a party at my house within a few days? Super fantastic.

The Hubster did some research and washed her with a dish soap, baking soda and peroxide cocktail, and I wish I could say it worked. I really, really wish I could say that.

Since it was on her face, it was hard to really apply it well, and honestly, I think her mouth was wide open when that skunk let loose. It's almost like it's ingrained in the plaque on her teeth. For the most part the fur on her face is back to just a normal smelly dog, but her breath?

Oh. My. Word.

It's like triple turbo tuna breath. Now mind you, she is a 13 year old dog. Her breath is not likely to smell great anyway, but skunk breath on an eldery dog is not something I'd recommend turning into a candle fragrance. Unless you are Shrek, in which case you would probably find it delightful.

So. The moral of the story is if that skunk shows it's stripped face around these parts again? He's going down. And, as if I need another reason to say this, NO MORE DOGS.

Don't Give Up

2010-08-02T06:00:00.002-04:00

Ever feel like disciplining a toddler is a waste of your time? I've so been there. A lot lately.

I really like the idea of "yes, mom." When I say something to anyone, I like some sort of confirmation. Being ignored is not my favorite thing. So when I give a command or even state a fact to my 2 year old, I want something in response. Many times, I'll say - "It's time for lunch, okay?" (Not to be confused with "would you like to eat lunch now?" Because that's not what I'm asking.) Whenever I say something ending with an okay, I have been saying to Chloe, "say okay." Now. It kind of defeats the purpose if I have to tell her to say it, but you have to start somewhere, right?

I also say to her often, after telling her what to do (or not do), "do you understand me?" When I first started saying it, I would say, immediately afterwards, "say, yes mommy." And while it took forever, and I again felt like it was a waste of time, and that she would never catch on, she finally automatically says, "yes, mommy" every time I say, "do you understand me?" And more often than not, when I say something with an "okay?" at the end, she replies with "okay".

When she was small, I started this with saying please and thank you. Even before she was able to say it. I'm so glad I did, because now that she can say it and does understand it, it's like second nature. Of all the things that people say to me about Chloe, I hear that she is very polite most often.

I say all of this to say, don't give up! When it seems like your correction and teaching is fruitless, know that with time and consistency, it will pay off.

Galatians 6:9

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

What have you had to persevere in that truly paid off where discipline is concerned?

Running Just As Fast As We Can

2010-07-29T09:36:00.002-04:00

Oh, that title makes me giggle... For countless reasons, not the least of which is how slow we actually run. Whenever I mention that I'm running, I say that it's neither far nor fast, and that is a very accurate assessment. Today, while we were running I was thinking, if I ran any slower I would be walking backwards. Needless to say, if someone were chasing me, they would not have to exert much energy to catch me.

But I've stuck with it for an entire MONTH! Did you hear that? I have been consistently running for a whole entire complete 30 day month.

That's a big deal, yo.

Here's another one. I'm thinking of trying to lose 10 pounds. A friend of mine wants to lose 10 pounds by October 9, but I think I'd rather shoot for 10 by 10-10-10.

I'm a sucker for a gimmick.

I'm not, on the other hand, a sucker for a diet. I think I've talked about it over the years, but I've never actually committed to a diet before. See, here's the thing, home girl likes to eat. So this new development could be just as monumental as the new adventures in running.

Feel free to quiz me on my chocolate intake at any time. I will confess that I bought a carton of Ben and Jerry's yesterday, and I do plan to eat it. Hopefully not all in one sitting... It's on this list and well, I haven't been able to find it anywhere, so when I saw it yesterday and it was on sale, I completely disregarded the little diet conversation I had just had. Lack of follow through is somewhat of a gift with me...

Wish me luck. And check back often. I love to tattle on myself, so I'm sure it will make for some entertaining posts. :)

Desk In A Milk Crate

2010-07-27T20:04:00.003-04:00

I'm one of those people who loves to stack stuff on surfaces. If there's a chair in my bedroom, give me a week and you won't be able to see it for all the clothes heaped on top of it. When it comes to desk space, oh my, it's not a pretty sight. In our old house, we had a dedicated room for our office and The Hubster and I each had about 6 feet of desk space.

Not a good idea, for The Stackmaster...

So when we moved into our new house, I made a point of not making desk space for myself. It's always a looming pile of doom hanging over my head and I just didn't want to go there. So I didn't.

Junk mail, recipes and the 15 books I'm reading at any given time just have to find another place to live. Unfortunately, that ends up being the dining room table a lot of the time, so that poses a new problem.

Never fear, I have the solution! I started designating a milk crate as my desk about a year ago. When I want to go through coupons, or meal plan or something like that, I get out the crate and spread everything out. When I'm done, or even if I'm not, everything can easily go back into the crate if I need the space it's currently occupying. I can take it into the living room and plop down in front of the TV and sort through everything when I need something or when it starts getting a little unruly.

It has really worked for me! For more great tips, check out We Are That Family.

A Scraped Knee And Lesson

2010-07-23T14:08:00.004-04:00

There is a little splash pad not far from where we live. We went for the second time today. The first time we went Chloe was slow to warm up, which is normal for her. I had my doubts about today, because it was just her and one of her favorite friends, Sammy. There were no bigger kids to encourage her to get wet and have fun. This resulted in Chloe wanting Mommy to "come on!" Finally, the mommies decided to get a little wet and it made for a very enjoyable time for the little ones.

Then Chloe fell. As always, it looked worse than it was, but it did result in the worst scraped knee she has had to date. She also has little scrape on her cheek. And Mommy has a tummy ache. Do you feel me, mommas? That ick in the pit of your stomach when something happens to your little one. We praised Jesus all the way home and that helped immensely, but when I asked her if she had fun at the splash pad, all she said was "boo boo." I got very serious and said this, "Chloe, I know that you fell and hurt yourself. But that does not take away from the fun time you had. Remember how you ran through the rainbow and got soaking wet? Remember how much fun you had?"

I smell a lesson for me in this. This morning, before we even left for the splash pad, I was reading in I Kings chapter 9. The Lord appears to Solomon and says, amongst other things:

I have heard the prayer and plea you have made before me; I have consecrated this temple, which you have built, by putting my Name there forever. My eyes and my heart will always be there.

As for you, if you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David your father when I said, 'You shall never fail to have a man on the throne of Israel.' - I Kings 9:3-5

Here's what I find so interesting. God refers to King David as being upright and having integrity of heart. In fact, David is known as a man after God's own heart. Now, I don't know about you, but I just read First and Second Samuel, so I know that King David fell at the splash pad. He stole a man's wife, and then had the man killed. Not the first thing that springs to mind when you think of integrity, right?

What a relief to know that when God looks back on our lives and choices, He chooses to see the good in us. He chooses to remember the good times instead of letting the poor choices define how He thinks of us. We could do well to follow suit. Everyone makes mistakes. What God wants to see, is us picking ourselves up, vowing to WALK instead of run, and continuing to enjoy our lives and trust Him. Isn't that what David did? I hope in the example of the splash pad, that Chloe will literally do that. And in my life, I pray that I would learn from my mistakes, and choose better for the future, but not allow my life to be defined by them and not put a crick in my neck looking over my shoulder dwelling on them.

Keep It Simple

2010-07-22T07:35:00.004-04:00

Something has been brewing for awhile... It's so interesting to me how far the pendulum can swing when it comes to my relationship with the Lord. I'll just go ahead and be honest here.

I'm lazy.

And I hate it.

I go for long periods where I am focusing on God and seeking His face regularly. And then I get lazy. And then things go downhill. Fast.

Lately, God has been revealing some things to me. He is simplifying and streamlining some things that I was making more difficult than they needed to be. No wonder I was having a hard time with it! Prayer equals praise. Okay, got it. God's will for my life? Too big picture. Important, yes. But not for me to know and understand and dwell on. (Ahem. Control.) Staying in step with Holy Spirit minute by minute is more important and, though hard, truly way more doable.

Think of a road map. If you live in Michigan, you can pull out your poster sized mitten map. If I want to get from the Mid-Michigan area, to say, the Mackinaw Bridge, it's a long hike. At least a 4 hour drive. When we leave our driveway, I'm not going to be focusing on northern Michigan. I will direct my attention on the map to where I will be immediately. First go here, then go there. To stare at the destination would not be the best use of my time. The longer I stare (or obsess over or fret about) the destination, the longer it will take me to get there. It's so much smarter to take baby steps, and enjoy the journey.

So that's where I'm at. Trying to slow it down and not think so hard and just enjoy the presence of God while I'm doing laundry. What is the benefit in making something WAY more complicated than it has to be? I'm looking back at all the stressing and fretting I've been doing my whole life, worrying about the big picture, the whole map, and I'm not seeing where it ever did me any favors.

Where are you headed and how can you simplify?

A Letter To The Spider In My Window

2010-07-21T06:52:00.000-04:00

Dear Big Scary Spider,

I would like to commend you on your ability to weave a web that would leave Charlotte's jaw hanging open in jealous astonishment. You are a marvelous creature. How you managed to unweave your amazing web and then reweave what appears to be the exact same one in another window within 12 hours is beyond me. I notice you are hard at work again, so I'm more than a little anxious to see what spot you have picked out for tomorrow. Please be warned that if you bring your little side show inside, I will have no choice but to murder you. In fact, I cannot guarantee your safety if you insist on hanging out in my windows, even if it is outside. I would greatly appreciate if you would head back to one of the many barns, or even a horse lean to on our property would be super fantastic. The neighbors have a fountain in their yard. Maybe you could head over there for a vacation of sorts.

Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

What I'm Reading

2010-07-19T21:40:00.006-04:00

And

and

The Bible

The first book keeps telling me to read the third book more, so as soon as I'm done with the first and second, I'm going to stick to mostly the third.

I think I'm a little (or more likely a lot) addicted to books. Though I say with my mouth that I want transformation, I think I'm actually more into information. Tsk tsk tsk... Gotta do something about that. I think more # 3 is the answer to that dilemma.

What are you reading? Or maybe I don't want to know... Wait, I do. I will just have to exercise my self-control to not immediately order it from the library. Yes, tell me. My self-control could use a work out. Along with it, what's your favorite book of the Bible? That is information that I can use to work on the transformation.

The Better Thing

2010-07-19T07:33:00.004-04:00

I'm in the process of reviewing this awesome gift book by Sarah Young, called Jesus Calling - Deluxe Edition: Enjoying Peace in His Presence So far, I love it! It's a daily devotional book and Sarah shares what God has spoken to her, so it's written in the first person from God's perspective. It's not the Bible, but it's very cool to hear the truth and life God has spoken to his daughter. She references all of the scriptures that apply, and it makes for an awesome devotional tool. I just had to share one from this weekend. It really hit home.

(All caps and italics are her emphasis, and all bolded words are mine.)

COME AWAY WITH ME for awhile. The world, with it's nonstop demands, can be put on hold. Most people put Me on hold, rationalizing that someday they will find time to focus on Me. But the longer people push Me into the background of their lives, the harder it is for them to find Me.

You live among people who glorify busyness; they have made time a tyrant that controls their lives. Even those who know Me as Savior tend to march to the tempo of the world. They have bought into the illusion that more is always better: more meetings, more programs, more activity.

I have called you to follow Me on a solitary path, making time alone with Me your highest priority and deepest Joy. It is a pathway largely unappreciated and often despised. However, you have chosen the better thing, which will never be taken away from you. Moreover, as you walk close to Me, I can bless others through you.

Isn't that awesome?

The verses she references are:

^{Song of Songs 2:13}

The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me."

Luke 10:42

but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her."

What is God speaking to you?

Black Beans and Yellow Rice

2010-07-16T07:08:00.000-04:00

I'm having a wild love affair with all things cilantro and lime. When I came across a recipe for beans and rice that called for, you guessed it, cilantro and lime, I had to make it. I made a mental note to pick up a saffron rice packet, which I did. Then I proceeded to completely forget where I even saw the recipe. Then weeks went by. Then I was searching high and low for a CD and I could no longer ignore my desk-in-a-milk-crate, so I dumped it out and sorted and tossed and filed and almost cried at my complete inability to throw things away. And then I rejoiced because I had finally found the recipe. (The CD is still #1 on my most wanted list. You can't have it all people, you can't have it all.)

And now, so that it doesn't happen again - I give you, from Southern Living Quick and Easy Weeknight Favorites:

Black Beans and Yellow Rice

1 (5 ounce) package saffron rice mix

1 (15 ounce) can of black beans

3 tablespoons lime juice

1 teaspoon chili powder

1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro, divided

Garnishes: sour cream, sliced green onions

Cook rice according to package directions, keep warm. Meanwhile, drain beans, reserving 2 tablespoons liquid. Combine beasn, reserved liquid, lime juice, chili powder, and cumin in a sauce pan. Cook over medium heat until thoroughly heated, stir in 1 tablespoon cilantro.

Serve beans over rice, and sprinkle with remaining 1 tablespoon cilantro. Garnish if desired, Yield 3 servings.

Huh. Now that I read through the recipe, I realize I totally made this wrong. I dumped all of the other ingredients into the cooked yellow rice, stirred it and served it. It was extra limey, and I bet it would have been better had I READ THE WHOLE RECIPE. Nice.

Als0 - I bought a 10 ounce package of the saffron rice, so I doubled everything else and it made a ton! I served it as a side with steaks, but it would make a very hearty lunch or would be fine for a vegetarian dinner.

Ultimately, It's About Trusting God

2010-07-15T06:51:00.002-04:00

What is?

Everything.

I've known this for a long time, but it's been coming up a lot lately.

I'm reading The Battle Belongs To The Lord by Joyce Meyer, and let me tell you - it's good. I'm only a couple of chapters in, but it is already worth it's weight in gold.

One of the things she talks about a lot is waiting on the Lord. Was that a collective sigh that I just heard? Oh, I've been there, friends. Honestly, I'm perpetually there in some way, shape or form. I feel ya. Every time I find myself in that place, AGAIN, I think, "Hmmmm..... Really should of learned this lesson last time." I honestly think Waiting On The Lord is a class that we, as believers, will NEVER graduate from in this lifetime. I think it will get easier, as we either A. graduate to the next level. or B. retake the class that we fail. (Ask me sometime about my four summers in a row of waiting on God for basically the same exact thing. It's a great story, now that's over.)

Joyce says, "the sooner we depend entirely on God, the sooner we will have the victory."

What are you trying to control? As a dear friend says a lot, (which is funny, considering this post that was written long before I met him) what's in your hand? What do you need to lay at the feet of Jesus, so He can bring the victory, like He has been waiting to do?

Any time I'm talking with a friend who is struggling with something, or working through something of my own, I (we) can always trace a straight line back to something that I've (we've) not surrendered.

Joyce talks about how the enemy whispers and sometimes screams in our ears, "What are you going to do?"

For someone who has always been the git 'er-done type in life, that is the right question to send me off in the wrong direction. How can I fix this? How can I control it? How can I make it what I want it to be?

But God says, wait. Let me do it. I already know what I'm going to do. It's all planned out. My way is better. You will benefit more, it will have a happier ending and you won't be as exhausted at the end. Let ME be God. You're terrible at it.

And He's right. What are you waiting for? Or holding onto? Or holding out for? Don't give up! Know this: No matter what it is, it's truly about trusting God, and you can DO that! It's easy. Look at His track record. It speaks for itself.

I think the hardest thing to wait for is for God to change someone else's heart. I have been praying for God to move in the life of someone VERY important for a long time. I have the 5 year old journals to prove it. I speak from experience when I say, the sooner you take your hands off of it, the sooner God can do what He does. I can also speak from experience when I say, we miss the lesson when we don't lean into God in those times of waiting and learn what God has for us to learn, and allow Him to make us more like Him while we wait. When we try to bring about change that only God can bring about, we miss the opportunity to see how He can work ALL things together for our good.

There are lessons in the waiting, and though they are not fun to learn, they are the lessons that we will never forget. They are the lessons that we carry for the rest of our lives.

In everything, wait and trust. Trust and wait. He is so faithful, you will never look back and think, shoulda done it my way.

I pinky promise.

How I Remember to Pray

2010-07-14T06:40:00.000-04:00

I try to be in a constant conversation with the Lord. I fail miserably, but I sure try. I'm not sure if having a two year helps or hinders more. It definitely adds to the need for constant prayer. Can I get a witness?

Especially when I have a friend or family member who I want to pray for often, I need a reminder. Something that prompts me to lift up the need more than just once or twice a day.

I don't wear a lot of jewelry, and bracelets in particular kind of drive me crazy. Over the past year or so, I've been using a bracelet as a prayer reminder. Whenever I have an important prayer request that I want to be focusing on often, I wear a bracelet and every time I notice it, I pray. This has been such a great way to remember!

Another thing I used to do a lot is put up sticky notes. In the cupboard, on the bathroom mirror and by the changing table. When Chloe was a tiny baby that was the prime real estate for the most important prayer requests. If you made it to the changing table, you were getting prayed for at least 10 times a day! ;)

How do you remind yourself to pray? For more great tips, check out We Are That Family.

Cheap Entertainment

2010-07-13T06:53:00.000-04:00

My bestie and I got some quality time out together last week. We thought about doing dinner and a movie, but there was nothing we were dying to see. We were going to head to the mall after the delightful middle eastern dinner, but as we drove past the Salvation Army, it was as though a magnetic force field was drawing us into the aisle upon aisle of rejected, decades old fashion. It didn't even occur to us to fight it.

In we went.

Oh my word.

We had so much fun, it was ridiculous. Totally ridiculous. One of the highlights was when I tried on this homemade house dress circa 1970. It smelled funky, but I powered through for the comedic value of modeling it. As I took it off, (it fit me like a glove, by the way) I noticed the atrocious arm pit stains. Yikes! I'm pretty sure it came straight from some dear deceased granny's closet. Do not pass go, do not stop in the laundry room, go straight to the Salvation Army.

The things I'll do for a laugh...

Like Breathing

2010-07-12T07:34:00.000-04:00

One of my life long goals is to learn to think before I speak. It's good to have goals, right? It's even better if you can see progress. I can't say that I'm seeing a lot...

Sigh.

Another thing that I desire more than anything is to be considered a gentle person. Especially when you don't think before you speak, gentleness isn't always the most natural thing to fly out of your mouth.

As I mentioned here, I tend to be a complainer. The good news is, I'm realizing it more and more, so the likelihood of improving it is much more than it once was.

Here's what I would love. I would LOVE it if thinking before I spoke, gentleness, and gratitude were like breathing. Automatic. Something my body did on it's own with no effort on my part required. Ah, if only.

The good news is that I'm more than a conqueror in Christ Jesus, so there is hope.

Recently, we were talking about 'dying to self' in life group. A man in the group said something really profound. He was saying that when we decrease, by our own strength, it kind of defeats the purpose. We have something to be proud about and even though we've decreased, it doesn't necessarily allow Christ to increase. Another man made this great point: when we are seeking more and more of Jesus, we begin to be filled by His spirit, and when we are completely filled by God, there is no room left for self. So the answer, as always, is surrender. Surrendering our desires, surrendering our plan and allowing God to fill. When there is more Jesus, by definition there has to be less me. Less me will get me a lot closer to the goal. More Jesus equals more self-control, gentleness and gratitude.

Among other things.

Isn't It Ironic?

2010-07-09T08:49:00.001-04:00

It's so much more enjoyable to run with a friend. Even if it is at 5:30 am. Also known as dark thirty... We have strict rules though. No talking while running. Why? Thanks for asking. Because it takes complete concentration to not keel over, and if I lose my breathing rhythm, I also lose the ability to be alive.... So we listen to our iPods for the very short period of time while we are running, neither far nor fast. I usually go for the shuffle option and sometimes find it incredibley amusing which songs come up.

If God really is in the details, and I firmly believe that He is, then I will tell you right now: He has a sense of humor.

One day, I was seriously about to burst into flames. It was the only day that I actually ran in the middle of the day. And it was a scorcher. Right at the worst part of the route, an old alternative song that I used to LOVE came on. One of the lines that is repeated through out the song is, "Pardon me, while I burst into flames." It was all I could do to contain myself. If it wasn't for the fragile life or death situation I found myself in, I would have burst out laughing...

Then yesterday, we were running a different route and had gone the furthest we had gone up to this point. I really wanted to stop, but was trying to break into the record books by running over a mile. (That is huge for me, and just as a snarky aside, I'm convinced that people who run actual marathons are liars. I think they all go watch a movie somewhere and all agree to lie about the fact that they ran 26 miles. How in the WORLD is that even possible?!?!?!?) So back to me wanting, yet totally not wanting to stop... I'm seriously ready to cash it in and the song Run It comes on.

I also firmly believe that God can speak through anything, including Hip Hop music.

Thankfully, not far into the song, my partner-in-torture grunted or gasped or something signaling she was about to burst into flames, too.

So we stopped.

And that's the only reason I lived to blog about it.

Do you run? My apologies (and mad props) if you are a marathon runner. If they ever show a chic flick, let me know. Maybe I'll join you. :)

Things I'm Loving Right Now

2010-07-08T10:27:00.002-04:00

Air Conditioning. God Bless You, Freon.

The movie, 27 Dresses. Especially when watching it with my sissy.

New friends.

Premier Jewelry.

My new dish washing apron.

Wearing my hair curly. Who knew?

Cherry Limeade From Taco Bell. Yum.

How Chloe knows h - p of the alphabet. She knows most of it, but she seems to enjoy h-p the most. Way too cute.

That my room is clean. It usually looks like a teenager lives there, but I opened a can of whoop-tail on it last week, and in an unexpected twist, I have managed to keep it picked up!

This song.

Southwestern Rice Salad

2010-07-06T20:14:00.005-04:00

One of my favorite blogs for delicious recipes is Cooking During Stolen Moments. I've never made one of her recipes and regretted it. One of my all time favorites is this Southwestern Rice Salad. It is such a departure from the typical summer salads. If you're like me and are a little burned out on the classic potato and pasta salads, you will LOVE this!

Southwestern Rice Salad

1 can black beans
1 1/2 c. frozen corn, thawed
1 5oz. can diced green chilies
1/2 c. mayonnaise
2 t. cumin
1 t. chili powder
1 t. salt
2 c. fully cooked brown or white rice
1. In a large bowl, combine rice, black beans, corn and chilies.
2. In a small bowl, stir together the mayonnaise and seasonings. Add to the other mixture and stir to combine.
3. Refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to let the flavors start to develop.

Click here for a super yummy bean salad, and click here to see all the other great recipes at We Are That Family.

Attack Of The Sleeping Mommy

2010-07-06T06:27:00.003-04:00

The list of things that change when you become a mommy is vast. I'll just make it short.

1. Everything.

That mostly covers it, I think.

One of my more entertaining changes is in my scary dreams. No longer do I dream about falling, or going to school/work without pants. Nope. I dream that Chloe is falling. Or running into traffic. Or drowning.

The funny part is what I do when I have these dreams.... The first time it happened, I sat straight up in bed, leaned over and slapped Frank.

Oops.

Thankfully, he laughed.

Last night, when I had the drowning dream, I sat up and dove for him. Apparently thinking it was her? I don't know. He just kindly asked, "What was that about?"

"Chloe drowning." I replied.

And then we went back to sleep.

What do you do when you have a startling dream?

Happy Freedom, Yo!

2010-07-05T07:21:00.000-04:00

Holy Exhausting Weekend, Batman!

I go to a church called The Freedom Center, so when it comes to the holiday where we celebrate freedom?

Yeah, we don't mess around.

So when I recover from all that, it'll be back to business as usual around here. Including finding my running shoes. They haven't been used for a few days...

Okay, almost a week.

This Little Piggie Is Delicious

2010-07-02T07:00:00.001-04:00

When I was little I spent a lot of time with my maternal grandmother. She was the picture perfect grandma. She got down on the floor and played, she told the greatest stories, loved to play cards and games and best of all - that woman could cook and bake.

I made a chicken pot pie for dinner the other night and had some leftover pie crust and it made me think of my Gram. She would always take the excess crust and make what she called "piggies" with it.

They are so simple and so delicious. I hadn't done it in ages, and they were so good, I just might be making a full batch of pie crust just for the piggies sometime soon!

All you do is roll out the dough and spread butter over it. Next, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar on it and roll it up. Cut it just like you would a cinnamon roll. Bake at 400 degrees until golden and delicious.

So very yummy.

And nostalgic.

I miss you like crazy, Gram.

It's Getting Hot In Here

2010-07-01T06:50:00.002-04:00

You may have seen this information in an email forward, many years ago. I printed it out when I got it in 2005. It has been such a comfort to me during difficult times. I hope you enjoy it! (I apologize for the wonky formatting, not sure how to fix that...)

Malachi 3:3

"And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver"

This verse puzzled some women in a Bible study and they wondered what
this statement meant about the character and nature of God. One of the women
offered to find out the process of refining silver and get back to the
group at their next Bible study.

That week, the woman called a silversmith and made an appointment to
watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her
interest beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.
As she watched the silversmith, he held a piece of silver over the
fire and let it heat up, He explained that in refining silver, one needed to
hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as
to burn away all the impurities. The woman thought about God holding us
in such a hot spot then she thought again about the verse that says: "He sits
as a refiner and purifier of silver." She asked the silversmith if it was true
that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was
being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there
holding the silver, but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the
entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left a moment too long in
the flames, it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silversmith,
"How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"
He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy--when I see my image
in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has
His eye on you and will keep watching you until He sees His image in you.

Works for Me Wednesday - Paperbackswap.com

2010-06-30T07:27:00.000-04:00

I absolutely love books. I could spend the rest of my life in a book store and be perfectly happy. These days, I frequent the library a lot more than the book store, but if funds weren't an issue, I'd much rather have my own book so I can write all over it!

A friend of mine recently turned me on to paperbackswap.com, and let me tell you - it's really working for me! Here's how it works:

1.You post the books that you are no longer using and are willing to ship at your own expense to another member. Once you have posted 10 books, you automatically receive 2 free credits.

2. Using your credits, you can choose any of the gazillions of books listed by all other members and have it shipped to your door completely free.

3. Once you receive an email from paperbackswap.com requesting a book that you've posted, you ship said book at your own expense to the member requesting it. Every time you ship (and the requesting member receives) a book, you are given another credit to use.

It's that simple! Easy as 1 - 2 - 3!

For other great tips, check out We Are That Family.

Kiley, The Elderly English Setter, Strikes Again

2010-06-29T07:00:00.000-04:00

From the very beginning, our oldest dog has been a handful. I guess when the breeders named her Sassy, that should have been a clue. Now don't get me wrong, she truly is a great dog. And cuter than a bug's ear. But that dog? She has been a handful.

When she was only a couple of years old, she jumped two fences and went in the neighbor's doggie door. At 2 am. Thankfully, they were friends, dog sitters, the above mentioned breeders and my boss and his wife. It's a lot funnier now than it was then...

She has always been a runner. English Setters are bird dogs and they are born hunters, so this is not entirely her fault, but her sweet little sister (same mom and dad, different litter) manages to stay home, so part of it is definitely temperament.

She loves to steal stuff off the counter. Once, she ate a pound of Mackinaw Island Fudge. Okay, that would make me sick. She mostly has a stomach of steel, but she once swiped a chocolate cake off the counter that resulted in an overnight emergency vet stay and I won't even tell you what that cost us. Let's just say if I had that money back, I wouldn't be looking for a job...

Speaking of swiping food off the counter... Just a few weeks ago she took off on on of her adventures and when she came home, she was carrying a loaf of bread! Not our bread, either. I have no idea where it came from.... It's a long way to the grocery store, so I'm guessing a neighbor was missing a loaf of bread. Unbelievable.

A couple nights ago, I go to let her in the back door and she has the skull of a deer in her mouth. And thought she would go ahead and bring it into the house! Um, yeah... NO.

That brings me to the attempted murder today. I took off for my daily run and let the pooches come along. When we got out to the track, I saw that the neighbors guinea were in our yard. I probably should have tried a little harder to call the dogs off, but I thought the birds would, ya know... FLY AWAY. They went the opposite way that I did and I decided to let nature take it's course. Bad idea. I get around the track and head back to the house. As I'm running up through the yard, I see one of the birds in the yard. Alive, but unable to move. Awesome. I get up to the garage where The Hubster is working and let him know. I later find out that he knew, since Kiley was trying to bring IT into the house, too. When I was done with my run, the bird was gone so I come find Hubs to see what the verdict was. Apparently, it was just suffering from the upside down turtle syndrome. Once he flipped it over, it took off. I'm hoping it went back and shared with it's little friends the top 10 reasons to STAY OUT OF OUR YARD. I guess we'll see...

What is the craziest thing your pet has ever done?

Mark It Down

2010-06-28T07:00:00.000-04:00

For the first time in I don't even know how long, I am running.

And no one is even chasing me.

I hate running.

I hate exercising.

I even hate the stairs in my house, that I find myself running up and down multiple times a day.

But I'm not getting any younger. In fact, this very day, I'm a year older. (Feel free to send cash. I also accept checks.)

So back to the exercise... I just don't like it. I especially don't like to do it alone. A gym membership is not in the budget, and I wouldn't go even if it was. Unless it was right next door, and then I still probably wouldn't go.

A few weeks ago, some dear friends and I went up north for a weekend away from life... Everyone except for one of us who was pregnant and one of us who is lazy (me), exercised every day that we were there. One of the days, I power walked with them and thought I might die. I know I need to exercise, but like many other things including dieting, if you don't really want to do it, you just won't. No amount of anyone telling you that you should can make you do it. Especially since I KNOW that I should, I just don't want to.

Here's the funny part. I get the urge to exercise about twice a year. I refer to it as the semi-annual urge to exercise... I'm usually able to resist it until it passes. I've honed that skill... ;) But this year, when the spring urge struck, as hard as I tried to ignore it, I continued thinking about it and even began wishing there was some way I could incorporate it into my already hectic life. If anyone is thinking, "how hectic can the life of a stay at home mom be - thanks for asking. I dare you to try it and then we can chat. ;) I didn't think too much about it though, until I went up north with the girls. (If you're not from Michigan and don't know what or where up north is, read this....)

We have a horse track on our property, so I decided after Mommy's Weekend Away, that I would start walking. I figured twenty minutes of exercise a couple times a week would be better than the zero minutes of exercise that I was currently doing consistently.

The first day I walked for a bit. Then I thought, well, if I'm trying to exercise, I suppose I should try to get my heart rate up there. So I ran. And nearly died. But the next day, I did it again. Believe this one or not, I even started looking forward to rolling out of bed early. One day I even posted on facebook that I needed a running buddy at 5:30 am, and actually got a bite! I'm loving that more than I ever thought possible. The days The Hubster goes to the office, I have a small window of opportunity and well - it opens at 5:30... My sweet friend Lindsay and I are running twice a week at the obscene hour! You can't imagine what you can accomplish with a little motivation, a little free time (even if it is at the booty crack of dawn) and a healthy dose of endorphins. Dust bunnies beware!

So, there you have it - I'm running. Consistently. And since it's only been a couple of weeks and history dictates that this comet will be fizzling out very very soon, I thought I would share with the whole entire universe, (at least those on the internet that find their way to my little slice of the interweb) so I'd have some accountability. Hold me to it, dear friends. My little heart depends on it!

Super Delicious Summery Salad

2010-06-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

I love love love beans. So. Bean salads? Oh yes, they make me happy. I'm also really kind of tired of pasta salads and potato salads. So, when my friend Grace (the one who looks EXACTLY like Lacey from American Idol) made this amazingly delicious salad last summer, it carved itself on my heart and I finally asked her for the recipe. And when I made it, angels sang, confirming what I already knew, this salad is heavenly.

The original recipe is here, but I will share my rendition.

1/3 cup fresh lime juice
1/2 cup olive oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1//2 teaspoon chili powder
1/8 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper
1/2 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1 (15 ounce) cans black beans, rinsed and drained
1 (15 ounce) can cannellini beans , rinsed and drained
1 1/2 cups frozen corn kernels
2 avocados - peeled, pitted and diced
2 roma tomatoes, seeded and chopped
6 green onions, thinly sliced

Combine the first 8 ingredients in a small mixing bowl. Toss the avocados in the dressing. Mix the rest of the ingredients in a medium sized mixing bowl. Finally, pour the avocados and dressing over the rest of the ingredients and mix well to coat. Enjoy!

What's you favorite summer time salad?

Who You Are

2010-06-24T06:40:00.004-04:00

I'm sharing something from The Trysting Place archives again today. It definitely bears repeating. Who or what are you allowing to determine your worth? You are worth what someone is willing to pay for you. Jesus paid it all, so to Him - you are worth everything. Anything anyone else has to say is a lie from the pit of hell. Send it home, friends.

Consider this: A crumpled up 20$ bill is still worth 20$. Because it's pretty? No. Because it smells nice? No. Because people like money? No. Because it's a 20$ bill and the people who make 20$ bills say so. Until the person who made it decides it's worth something different, it's worth 20 bucks. God made you and HE alone gets to decide what you're worth. If you're the type to say, "God never did anything for me." I would encourage you to take a deep breath. How's that oxygen working out for you? He made that, too. If you haven't met Him or haven't touched base with Him in awhile, He's waiting to hear from you. He doesn't force Himself on anyone, so you have to take the first step. If you have any questions about what that might look like, I'd love to answer them or direct you to some resources.

The following is from the original post. Soak it in. It's the Truth.

God has written us the most beautiful love letter ever written. In it, He tells us who we are and whose. Let me challenge you to read through what He has to say about you.

*The following was copied from a paper that I got a few years ago. The source is not listed, so I can't give any credit - but you'll note that it is simply the Truth of God's Word. So, mad props to God. :)

God says that, in Christ, you are:

A New Creation

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! I Corinthians 5:17

²²You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; ²³to be made new in the attitude of your minds; ²⁴and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness. Ephesians 4:22-24

Adequate In Christ

⁵Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God. ⁶He has made us competent as ministers of a new covenant—not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:5-6

Totally Forgiven

When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature,God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, ¹⁴having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. Colossians 2:13-14

Of Great Worth and Value

And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. ³¹So don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Matthew 10:30-31

⁸For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, ¹⁹but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. I Peter 1:18-19

God's Child

²Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God— John 1:12

¹How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! The reason the world does not know us is that it did not know him. ²Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. I John 3:1-2

God's Co-worker

For we are God's fellow workers; you are God's field, God's building. I Corinthians 3:9

As God's fellow workers we urge you not to receive God's grace in vain. 2 Corinthians 6:1

God's Masterpiece

For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:10

Jesus' Friend

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. John 15:15

One Spirit With Him

¹⁷But he who unites himself with the Lord is one with him in spirit. I Corinthians 6:17

Perfect And Complete

and you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority Colossians 2:10

because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Hebrews 10:14

Free From Condemnation

¹Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus Romans 8:1

Holy And Blameless

But now he has reconciled you by Christ's physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation— Colossians 1:22

⁴For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. Ephesians 1:4

Completely Accepted

Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God. Romans 15:7

Partaker Of His Divine Nature

Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. 2 Peter 1:4

Empowered With His Strength

I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,¹⁹and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength,²⁰which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, Ephesians 1:18-20
I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Unconditionally Loved

As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. John 15:9

No, the Father himself loves you because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God. John 16:27

Dead To Sin

¹¹In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:11

²because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. Romans 8:2

Being Transformed

Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. ²Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:1-2

Joint Heir With Christ

Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory. Romans 8:17

Reconciled To God

And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. I Corinthians 6:11

¹Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, wehave peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:1

Never Alone Or Forsaken

God has said,
"Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you." Hebrews 13:5b

Indwelt By God's Spirit

Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you? I Corinthians 3:16

Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; I Corinthians 6:19

No Longer Under The Law

For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. ²⁰I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. ²¹I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!" Galatians 2:19-21

Precious In His Sight

Since you are precious and honored in my sight,
and because I love you,
I will give men in exchange for you,
and people in exchange for your life. Isaiah 43:4

Eternally Saved

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— Ephesians 2:8

¹¹And this is the testimony: God has given us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. ¹²He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.¹³I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. I John 5:11-13

Safe And Secure

You are my hiding place;
you will protect me from trouble
and surround me with songs of deliverance.
Selah Psalm 32:7

Psalm 91

But now, this is what the LORD says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
"Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.

² When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.

³ For I am the LORD, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;
I give Egypt for your ransom,
Cush and Seba in your stead. Isaiah 43:1-3

Chosen By God

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. I Peter 2:9

Absolutely Righteous

But if Christ is in you, your body is dead because of sin, yet your spirit is alive because of righteousness. Romans 8:10

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21

Uniquely Gifted By God

I Corinthians 12

⁴Just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵so in Christ we who are many form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man's gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. ⁷If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach;⁸if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully. Romans 12:4-8

A Victorious Overcomer

But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. 2 Corinthians 2:14

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37

You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. I John 4:4

Blessed With Every Spiritual Blessing

He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. Ephesians 1:3

Soak in that, dear friend. Do not listen to the one who has come to kill and steal and destroy. Listen to the one Who came to give you life. Abundant Life.

Works for Me Wednesday - The Ultimate Crib Sheet

2010-06-23T09:27:00.001-04:00

Listen, friends. The irony is not lost on me that last week, I shared what was working for us with potty training. But this week, I can share with you what is not working. Little Miss Chloe has decided that she is too lazy, or busy or bratty to be bothered with putting her potty in the toilet when we are at home. When we're out and about, no problem. I probably ask her about it more, especially now that a little smidgey of paranoia has started to creep in... She had been doing so well for a month. A MONTH, PEOPLE. So I had gotten very lax about asking her while we were at home. She would always tell me. Especially in the morning. She would say, "Mom - Imma potty!" I'd hear her over the monitor, spring out of bed wondering what day it was and everyone lived happily ever after.

Then I went on a Mommy's Weekend. A long, fun, GLORIOUS Mommy's weekend. I want to believe the timing was purely coincidental, but I'm just not sure. Regardless, she hasn't been doing so hot ever since...

Once upon a time, when Chloe was a tiny baby, also known as seventeen seconds ago, a friend recommended the Ultimate Crib Sheet. Come to think of it, I think I was still pregnant, and had no clue about half of the baby contraptions and paraphernalia. Anyway, I bought the thing and totally didn't understand how to use it.

Short aside: I wonder if it was the hormones? I am a smart person. Now that I'm finally using it, 2 years later, I can't figure out for the life of me why I never used it when she was younger, but I distinctly remember being confused about how it worked. Buy it. Use it. Then laugh at me for my inability to use the most simple and useful thing in my nursery.

Back to it... So, Chloe started having accidents and I remembered this sheet protector type thing and got it out.

It is the easiest thing ever. Still shaking my head about my dunceyness.... It is a water proof sheet that snaps onto the spindles of the crib. That way, when there is an accident, wetness from a diaper, spit up or in our case, a potty accident; we just unsnap the sheet and the bed is alreay made underneath. All that has to be washed is this one easy to remove sheet. It's genius!

Check it out.

The other thing that has worked is a sticker chart, if you call a blank piece of paper with 'Chloe's Potty Chart' written in crayon across the top a sticker chart, that is. (Crafty, I am not.) She gets to put a sticker on the chart every time she uses the potty when we are at home. It has actually helped a lot. She's only had a couple of accidents since we made it. It had become apparent that something needed to be done, and I refuse to bribe my child with candy until she's 25. Stickers, fine. It's working, so I guess that's the point.

What did you do when your child had set backs after doing really well for a long time?

For more great tips, click over to We Are That Family.

Surely There Is An Age Requirement For Back Seat Driving

2010-06-22T07:00:00.001-04:00

Chloe, my two year old, was barking orders at me from the back seat the other day. Are you kidding me, right now? I thought I had a good 5 years before I'd be dealing with that.

Faster, momma!

Go, momma!

Almost home!

This way!

To borrow a hilarious line from a Beth Moore video I recently saw, You better hush child, before I snatch you bald headed. I don't even know what that means, but I. LOVE. IT.

Would You Like Advice With That?

2010-06-21T07:00:00.001-04:00

I talk a lot. A lot. I love to jabber. It runs in my family. I'm also a good listener. When I take a breath or a drink, and someone gets a word in, I'm a great listener... I always find myself giving advice. Not offering advice, but just serving it up unsolicited. Now honestly, I would imagine that most of my friends know better than to share anything with me if they aren't interested in hearing my opinion. They would also probably say that I usually give helpful and solid advice. But lately, I've been feeling a need to step back and listen more and talk less.

Maybe I'll just run a marathon instead. It might be easier. (If you know me, laugh. If you don't, just know this: I would be as likely to walk on my hands for 26 miles as I would to run it.)

For a long time, it has been my prayer that I would think before I speak. Novel idea, right? I struggle so much in this area. I'm way better than I used to be, but I still have a long way to go. (Wow, that statement applies to so many areas of my life... Thank you, Jesus, that you will not give up on me until you've finished what you've started. Hallelujah!) These days, I'm more app to say, "Well, if it were me, I'd blah blah blah." Or, "Well, for me, yada yada yada." For the most part, gone are the days when I would bluntly, and in the most non-gentle way possible, say, "Girl, you need to tell him this, this and this. And quick!" Or, "What were you thinking? You should yada blah blah." My filter has gotten better, but there's definitely room for improvement.

A couple of years ago I had a serious Aha!! moment when I read this verse:

Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

I realized that just because I feel like saying something, doesn't make it beneficial. Even if it's timely, sound, life giving advice. If it isn't asked for, appreciated or wanted? Well, it could do more harm than good. Especially in relationships where no accountability has been agreed upon. It is so not cool to try to hold someone to a standard that they haven't asked you to hold them to.

While it would be awesome if someone read a lightning fast disclaimer (not unlike the horrifying drug commercials) before or directly after venting about this, that or the other problem, stating: This grouch session is solely for my benefit and your only requirement is to listen, nod and agree with how wretched my life is; I'm guessing more often than not that won't be happening. So it is my job to listen, nod and (possibly) agree with whatever, but it's also my job to ask...

Would you like advice with that?

Either way, bless you, drive through. :)

Snickerdoodle Blondies

2010-06-18T07:00:00.001-04:00

I found this recipe while I was avoiding chocolate. They are not brownies, but they are SO GOOD! I made them again this week for our end of the year MOPS picnic, and several people made comments about the deliciousness...

Ironically, the site I found them on is called My Baking Addiction, and I would say that's pretty accurate. I could easily crawl into the 9 X 13 and spend the entire day with these delicious blondies...

The best thing about them is that all of the ingredients are things that I keep on hand. Including freshly grated nutmeg. (I triple puffy heart ::LOVE :: nutmeg.) This is a great recipe to throw to together for a last minute gathering or even for an impromptu snack.

From My Baking Addiction, I give you:

Snickerdoodle Blondies

Ingredients
2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon grated or ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups packed brown sugar
1 cup butter, room temperature (Half the time, I warm mine in 10 second increments in the microwave until it's softened but not melty.)
2 eggs, at room temperature (I normally use cold eggs.)
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons granulated sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
a pinch nutmeg

Directions
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease and/or line a 9×13 inch pan. Combine the flour, baking powder, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt and set aside.
2. In large bowl, beat together butter and brown sugar for 3-5 minutes. Add in the eggs one at a time, then the vanilla, and beat until smooth.
3. Stir in the flour mixture until well blended. Spread evenly in prepared pan (mixture will be very sticky, I spread it out with my hands). Combine the granulated sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a little bowl. Evenly sprinkle cinnamon sugar mixture over the top of the batter.
4. Bake 25-30 minutes or until surface springs back when gently pressed. ( I baked mine for 35, but I like my brownies/blondies chewy. My oven is also misbehaving, so start out at 25 min.) Cool before cutting. Makes 20-24 bars.

5. Feed them to your friends who will want this recipe.

6. Send them to my blog. :)

Deep Thinkin' Thursday

2010-06-17T07:00:00.004-04:00

In an effort to merge Must Share.... and The Trysting Place, I thought I would repost some of my favorite posts from there over here.

I absolutely love this post from last November.

Delight

I love Psalm 37:4.

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.

I once had a conversation with a friend where this verse came up. We talked about how it's highly unlikely that this verse is meant to be taken literally. More than likely God will not just give you the desires of your heart. If by that it's meant that we will get whatever we want. My friend suggested that maybe what this verse is actually saying is that He will put His desires in our hearts, so that our desires will be what He desires for us to desire.

Does this make any sense? I hope so.

A few years later, another friend and I had a conversation which referenced this verse. This time, it was the beginning of the verse that was the focus of discussion. "I wonder what is meant by 'delight'?" she asked.

Well, I have a concordance and I'm not afraid to use it.

This is what I found. The word that is translated to delight is Anag or anawg. The definition of that word is to be soft or pliable.

Pliable:

1. Easily bent or shaped. See Synonyms at malleable.

2. Receptive to change; adaptable: pliable attitudes.

3. Easily influenced, persuaded, or swayed; tractable.

Soak that one in for a second...

Be easily bent or shaped

Be receptive to change

Be adaptable

Be easily influenced

(by) the Lord and He will give you the desires that He wants you to have in your hearts.

Wow.

So.

The moral of the story, as always, is surrender. Surrende r and He will work it out. He'll even make it so you are totally fine with how He works it out. Overnight? Maybe. Maybe not.

But He does work all things out for the good of those who are called by Him. I've seen it over and over and over.

Is He awesome or what?

Potty Training - What Worked For Us

2010-06-15T23:00:00.001-04:00

Well. Potty training was much easier than I thought it would be, so I thought I would share what is working for us. We're only a month or so in, so I wouldn't say we've arrived, but I have to believe that the hardest part is over.

When my daughter, now 2 years old (26 months) was 18 months old, I thought she might be ready to start. I was concerned about confusing her, concerned about missing my "window of opportunity", and more than anything horrified at the thought of potty training. Soon after deciding I would try it, I hurt my back and scrapped the whole idea.

Looking back, she very well may have been ready - but I'm still glad we waited.

Shortly after she turned 2, she was really showing signs of readiness. Honestly, almost all of them. The only one she wasn't showing was an ability to tell me that she had to go, before wetting her pants. Kind of frustrating, but I decided it wasn't that much harder to wash multiple pairs of underpants than it was to wash cloth diapers. I also had this feeling that she wasn't going to figure out how to hold it or understand the sensations without just jumping in head first.

So that's what we did. Within a day or two, I was really questioning if the time was right. She didn't seem to be getting that she had to tell me before she went. She would wet her pants, then tell me, "poopy?" Everything is poopy to Chloe, which makes things a little confusing, and embarrassing. Especially when we're in a public restroom and Chloe yells, "Mommy poopy too?"

The joys of motherhood are endless, are they not?

Every time she would wet her pants, I would say "that's what I want you to do in the toilet!" All of this whilst sitting on the toilet doing nothing, because of course the deed had already been done...

Here is my advice to you and myself, if I ever have to do this again.

1. Do some research. Before you start. I made the mistake of winging it and then out of frustration, doing research. Mind you, I took bits of this and pieces of that and didn't use one technique exclusively, but for consistency's sake - I should have thought ahead.

2. Try what sounds good and forget the rest. Everyone has an opinion. About everything. Potty training is no different. One of my ABSOLUTE pet peeves is when people try to force their experiences onto you. I understand that you believe wholeheartedly in what worked wonders for you. However. That does not mean that what worked for you is going to work for me. Anyway.... I appreciate input, and value knowing what might work, but ultimately - every child (or person, for that matter) is different. Do your blood pressure a favor and just smile and nod.

3. Be consistent. This is one thing that you can't get around. Inconsistency will confuse and confusion will result in frustration and set backs. Ask me how I know.

4. Don't give up too easily. I am completely and utterly blown away by my daughter's ability to learn. And quickly! One day I was thinking she might not be ready and totally baffled about how to teach her something like how to know when it's time to go potty and what to do physically to make it come out, and the next day she just figured it out. Honestly, about the only thing I did was direct traffic.

5. Decide what terms you will use. Think it through. Another mistake I made. We use poop and potty. Unfortunately, I also started out calling the toilet "the potty". So I would say you have to put your poop in the potty, or you have to put your potty in the potty. Wait, what? Confusing. I know. When I realized that I had fumbled yet again, I started calling the toilet, the toilet. I think it helped and would have made a big difference if I had thought this all through from the beginning.

6. One of the best tips I received was when a friend told me that she would make her child sit on the potty for 5 minutes, and if they sat there they got a treat (I used chocolate chips, because it's what we had and again - I hadn't planned ahead.) if they sat there the full time and put something in the potty, er... toilet, then they got two treats. This made a world of difference for us.

7. Pooping. Okay, I know many would disagree with this - but the first time that she had to poop and got upset/scared, I made her stay on the toilet. I didn't know if it was the right decision, but I felt like it was. In my opinion, if we were to give in to the fear the first time, it would set the stage for a long battle. If we went through the difficult time once, then hopefully it wouldn't be extended into the next time and the next time. It worked. She was literally spitting mad, but once she finally went - she was very excited and then next couple of days, it got easier and easier. I also offered a bigger reward for pooping on the toilet. A big, delicious homemade chocolate chip cookie. Which is a huge treat, as she doesn't get stuff like that terribly often. Especially not for breakfast, but that didn't stop us one morning when she pooped bright and early! :)

8. The single best piece of advice I got was when someone told me to pray about it and ask what would work for my child. If you're the praying type, I would strongly suggest you start here. Especially where #7 was concerned, I just felt it was the right thing to do. When I did read through a couple different techniques, there were certain things I liked, and certain things I didn't like. Some of the things that were already working for me were FORBIDDEN in some techniques. Again, there is no perfect thing that works for everyone, and if you try to force your child into the wrong box, I'd be willing to bet the result will be epic failure. Ask God and then trust Him. Or if that's not your thing, skip to #9. ;)

9. Be positive. I won't lie and say I never lost my cool. A couple times it got a little ugly, but by and large, I only made a big deal of her successes.

10. I wasn't in a rush. Now obviously, I wanted it to work as fast as it could, but I think I'm most proud of myself for managing my expectations. Some techniques guarantee a time frame. That just sounded like too much to expect for me. And I'm the queen of high expectations.

11. Be prepared for accidents. Literally, and mentally. We are about a month and a half into it and Chloe has occasional accidents. I have friends who have 8 to 10 year olds that still wear pull ups at night. This is not a quick, cut and dried process.

12. Night time. Because I love sleeping, I wasn't planning on worrying about night time potty training for awhile. I didn't know if she was ready for it or not, and in the spirit of keeping my expectations low, I opted to wait on night time training. But Chloe didn't want to wait. Once she really got it, she woke up on her own and asked me to go potty. Now, I usually wake her up before I go to bed, and she is able to make it through the rest of the night. About 7 -9 hours. She does have accidents some days, but this comes in really handy for that. Chloe was always happy to lay in bed for awhile after waking up (she is still in a crib), and that is something that I have had to let go of, since potty training. She doesn't always call me to come get her when she wakes up in the morning, and leaving her in there when I hear her stirring is just asking for an extra load of laundry...

13. I could go on and on, but I'll finish up with this one. Don't feel like you HAVE to stay home until it's done. Especially in light of #11. There will be accidents, so just make sure you're prepared. Some techniques recommend that you THROW AWAY your diapers when you're serious about potty training. I get that some people might need that extra push in order to follow through, but all I needed to do was post it on facebook to make me stick with it. I have hundreds of dollars worth of cloth diapers that I'm not getting rid of, so that wasn't an option for me anyway. We worked on potty training when we were home, but since I didn't plan ahead, we had some commitments that we had to keep, so until she was ready, I put her in a diaper if we had to go out. I didn't want to wash the car seat cover, so I waited awhile before taking her out in underdrawers (I hate the word panties, so I go with underdrawers.) For the first few weeks this worked really well for us, and I was confident by the time we started taking the show on the road. Lest there be a #14 after all, let me just say this: Don't forget to take the potty seat or chair or whatever you use with you. We went to a park one day and forgot the little seat that goes on top of the regular seat, and we had to come home early. Chloe is very used to that little seat, and we seriously don't leave home with out it. I feel super cool walking into the mall with a toilet seat in my bag. I mean, SUPER cool.

I really hope you find this novel helpful... It truly was much easier than I thought, though like I said here, there are plenty of things about now that make me wonder what the rush was.... If you are about to dive into potty land, I hope you have a great experience. May the force be with you!

For more helpful tips, visit We Are That Family for Works for Me Wednesday.

Now

2010-06-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

Now. I use that word a lot. I want what I want and I want it now. But lately, I've been thinking about now in a different way. As I move through the stages of parenting, (are there stages of parenting or am I completely making that up?) I realize how hard now is.

Chloe is our first child, so every stage is new. I don't know what to expect, and the unknown is not my favorite. When she was born, everything changed. I knew it would, but it was still a shock. I know now, what I didn't know then, that I was depressed on some level, so I'm sure that factors in, but having a newborn seemed really hard. Really, really hard. Nursing was hard. Getting up in the night was hard. Staying home because it was too hard to go anywhere was hard. Eventually, that passed.

When she started crawling, that was hard. I could no longer turn my back for a second. Many things needed to be safety-fied in our house of death. When she started walking, that brought on new challenges. I always thought it was so hard with her not talking. Until she started talking. Then when she got to the point where she felt like she could sufficiently communicate her wants and needs, yet I was still less than fluent in Chloe - that was even harder.

My point in all of this is that whatever is going on right now seems to be the hardest part in parenting. The challenges today, running away from me, not eating, telling me no 17,532 times a day, etc. etc., make nursing a baby that slept most of the day seem like nothing! It has made me realize that the stage that you are in, no matter who you are or what stage that might be, is the hardest. Now is the hardest.

I can't speak for anything beyond two years old. I hope at some point I will be able to say that the worst is finally behind me, but I have this funny feeling that now will continue to be hard for various reasons for many years to come.

Where are you now? If you have survived the young years, what do you think was the hardest? If you're still in the thick of it, what is your biggest frustration right now?

Toddler Travel Take Two

2010-06-13T23:15:00.001-04:00

After our little trip to Georgia, I thought the three hour trip *Up North would be a cake walk. There I go thinking again...

*Up North is not a place. It is a general direction we Michiganders drive until we feel sufficiently away from home and then we spend the weekend there and then we come back to the real world. We eat pasties and fudge and go fishing and canoeing and it's just more fun than you can even stand.

So, my sister and I take Chloe Up North last weekend, and let me just tell you how very much the opposite of a cake walk it was. The Hubster was driving separately, as Sissy and I thought it a great idea to stay for five days. Again with the thinking...

Please join me on a bunny trail. I will leave crumbs so we find our way back.

Once upon a time in a land far far away, The Hubster and I used to go Up north for the weekend. We would leave right after work and almost exactly three hours later we would arrive at our destination. Our destination being a quaint little house in the very, very middle of nowhere, owned by The Hubster's parents. Who are awesome. And let us use their quaint little house in the very, very middle of nowhere anytime we want. For free. Awesome. So we leave our driveway, then three hours later - SHAZAM! We arrive at our destination.

Enter Chloe.

We've only gone Up North with her once a year since her arrival on the scene and I was reminded why this last weekend. Deep sigh. No, I really just did the deep sigh just thinking of it.

Vacation is supposed to be relaxing. Up North is supposed to be relaxing. Sleeping is supposed to be relaxing. Add Chloe to any of the above and suddenly, it's no longer relaxing.

We now return to our previously scheduled program. I left the house at 2:15 last Friday. Pretty awesome, considering I was shooting for 12. And hoping against hope that we were at least pointed north by 1:30 so Chloe would, please Jesus, take her nap in the car on the way. Ahhhhhhh HAHAHAHAHAHA. Deep Sigh numero dos.

So we get to Grandma and Grandpa's to pick up Sissy. Chloe feeds the fish, we go potty, I raid the snack cupboard. Sissy gets loaded up and we're off. Over the next couple of hours, we have to stop for a spanking. And go potty. Meanwhile, there is no napping going on. Only excessive whining and blood pressure skyrocketing. Eventually, we give in and stop at McDonald's. Five minutes before a bus load of hyperactive elementary schoolers. By this time, The Hubster, who left the house two hours after I did, has caught up with us. We pawned Chloe off with him and approximately one gloriously peaceful hour later, a mere SIX HOURS after leaving my house, we arrived Up North.

Dude. We could have been half way to Georgia by that point.

Get Behind Thee, Writer's Block

2010-06-12T00:18:00.005-04:00

In January, I blogged about writer's block. I just reread it and still feel the exact same way. Apparently, it's an extra tough case. Once again, I'm really wanting to blog more regularly, and once again I'm having brilliant ideas at night and forgetting them by morning. Surely there is a pill I can take for this.

I always keep my cell phone by my bed. I use it as an alarm when needed and a flash light to make my way in there when The Hubster is already sleeping. I had the thought that I could hide under the covers and type a text message reminding myself of my awesome ideas when they hit at night. We'll see how that goes.

The other thing I mentioned in January, was moving The Trysting Place over here. So I think I really will do that. Maintaining one blog is hard enough, and I've always felt like I should try to combine them, so now, I will. Worst case scenario? I will have one blog that I never update instead of two.

Wow, this post is riveting. I bet you're so excited about more of this! Stay tuned. It'll get better, I promise. But for now, I'm off to bed for a mind blowing brainstorming session. Phone in hand.

This Is Your Brain In Love By Dr. Earl Henslin

2010-06-01T22:12:00.004-04:00

This is your brain in love, by Dr. Earl Henslin incorporates brain research with marrage counseling and explains many of those frustrating marital issues that directly impact the love life of married couples. The main premise of the book is that there are 5 types of imbalances that impact marriages. They are the Scattered Lover, the Over-focused Lover, the Blue Mood Lover, the Anxious Lover and the Agitated Lover. I found Dr. Henslin’s descriptions of the different imbalances very informative, and it was interesting to see where my husband and I fit. Much of the rest of the book, I found very technical and hard to read. The idea that many of the marital problems (and the five imbalances) stem from some sort of brain injury, although not necessarily serious, seemed very unlikely to me.

One of the things I really enjoyed about the book was the final chapter, The Secret To Lasting Love. I found the advice in this chapter to be very uplifting and I’m inspired!

Thomas Nelson has provided me with a complimentary copy of this book, as a part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

American Idol Top 9 Again

2010-04-13T20:04:00.004-04:00

Oh dear. Adam is the mentor and I'm sure many are appalled by this. I'm sure he'll perform tomorrow night and that promises to be nothing short of scandalous. All in true Adam form.

Can I just say that I'm glad that the save has been used? I've never really been on board with it anyway. It seemed kind of an odd addition so late into the game. And Frankly, it just adds something for Ryan to be excessively dramatic about.

I'm not a big Elvis fan at all, so I'm not anticipating loving tonight, but right out of the gate CRYSTAL does something really unexpected and sings a song that I've never heard before. And the electric guitar? Woot!

And G - did you see Sue right behind the judges? Ha ha!!!

I really like what ANDREW did with his song. Changed it up just enough so it wasn't the same boring song that we've heard 12.5 million times, but didn't change it so much that it was unrecognizable. And Randy - I'm pretty sure karaoke would be trying to copy the version with no changes and doing a poor imitation. Just my opinion. And after hearing what the rest of the judges said, I would NOT want to be Andrew. He can't win no matter what he does. He either changes it too much or not enough - never the amount that would make the judges happy. He is FOREVER being compared to a performance that he obviously can't duplicate, because if he could have - he would have by now. I like him, but I don't think he has a lot of time left.

Turban? Really? Now that's just rude, cracking a (stupid) joke right before TIM sings. Lame, Seacrest. I'm not sure about this performance. I like the idea of it. I don't think he quite pulled it off, and I really wish he'd taken Adam's advice. At least then if he bombed, he could blame in on Adam. But as it stands he just gets to wonder IF it would have been better IF he'd taken the advice of the guy who went to the finals last year.

I think I might be back to undecided where LEE is concerned. He's good but boring. Tonight's performance? Good, but boring. However, 1327 bonus points for not inviting the bagpiper back. Am I right or am I right?

One word, AARON. Awkward. At least the beginning. Killer vocal, though. I must say. I agree with Randy - then end was better than the beginning.

SIOBAHN. I like that her scream wasn't full force. And her hair was very Elvis. Not my favorite performance of hers.

MICHAEL kinda killed it. Boy can sing.

Those shoes would be a guaranteed wipe out for me. Mad props to KATIE for staying vertical. Vocals weren't bad either. Pretty brave to sing 'what do you want from me' to the judges. Nice work.

Bluesy is definitely Casey's hometown. I thought it was good but a little boring. he definitely could have done more.

I have a hard enough time guessing one person that's leaving, no clue who the two will be.

Click on over to Boomama to see what everyone's saying.

Road Trippin' With A 2 Year Old

2010-04-06T21:32:00.003-04:00

As mentioned here, my family and I enjoyed a lovely extended vacation in Georgia. Well, my daughter and I hijacked my husbands work trip and called it a vacation. Regardless, it was a very enjoyable trip. My hubby golfed, I shopped and Chloe went to the Monkey Joe's, The Georgia Aquarium and Imagine It! Children's Museum. We also spent some time serving some awesome people as they begin an amazing journey planting a church. We also spent a lot of time with dear family. It was truly a wonderful time.

The downside was the drive. It was a 10 hour trip under normal circumstances. Add one very wiggly 2 year old and it becomes a 14 hour journey.

Here's what kept me from jumping out in Ohio.

1. Low Expectations. We had very low expectations. We allowed enough time to stop and stay over, if necessary. Thankfully we didn't have to, but we were prepared to.

2. Lots of snacks. And a variety of snacks. My daughter will wait (semi) patiently while I peel an orange. I'm a little obsessive about getting all the pith off, so this kills lots of time! I also made some bags of homemade trail mix. On the way there, I thought it was a bad idea, because she only wanted the chocolate chips (Apple doesn't fall far from the tree) and she made a mess. On the way home, I didn't care about a mess - I was more concerned with distracting her... I'm not gonna lie. I had a stash of candy for an emergency back up plan on the way home, and I used it. Twice.

3. Grab bags. I had mini purses, make-up bags and other small bags and I filled them with necklaces, small toys and books, stickers and a note card to stick them on, and anything else I could think of to fit in there. When she would get bored, mad or beg to get down (Me Down!?!? = Heartbreaking) I would break out a grab bag and it would entertain her for a bit.

4. Balloons. I would blow them up, let them squeak, blow the air in her face and let them go and fly all over the truck. This killed A LOT of time. I got sick of it WAY before she did. (I tend to get a little car sick, and the turning around to look at her in the back seat was not helping matters.)

5. A Mirror. A friend recommended this and I'm really glad I took it. Girlfriend LOVES to stare at herself... ;)

6. A portable DVD player. Obviously. What kid doesn't love to watch movies? We used this as an absolute last resort. Mostly because we didn't want to listen to it for 10 hours and we knew that when everything else failed, this would still distract her for at least another hour. We did bust it out both on the way down and the way home, but not until the end of the trip. It totally did the trick.

7. Glow sticks. God Bless whomever invented glowsticks. And God Bless The Dollar Tree, where I bought said glow sticks. Genius. Genius. Make Einstein look STUPID, Genius. If you will be in the car at night, RUN! Do not walk to the nearest dollar store (or Roller Rink) and get ya some glow sticks.

8. Bead threading kit. Another dollar store find. I'd been looking for something like this for a while and hadn't found anything age appropriate. Apparently Jesus is the buyer at the Newnan Dollar Tree because He saved me once again. Wooden blocks with holes in them and a large shoe lace = awesome way to kill about an hour. She couldn't thread them, but she sure gave it the ol' college try. For an HOUR. God BLESS the Dollar Tree.

9. Allow time for stopping. All day in the car is just too stinkin' long. On the way down we stopped twice. Once at a McD's playland, which was totally not age appropriate... I wouldn't know because I'm a huge germophob and have never let her in one. Gasp! Unless there are different ones, we haven't been missing anything. Later that day for our dinner stop, we went to a mall play area. (Another first experience, I know - we didn't have to drive all the way to Knoxville to go to a Mall Play Area for the first time.) Way more age appropriate. She was able to run off tons of energy. This was a great decision. On the way home it was GORGEOUS, so we went to a park, played on the equipment, kicked a ball around, blew bubbles and ran ran ran. I think this made all the difference in the world. She didn't have nearly as much energy to say - Me Down!??!? Praise God.

10. Children's Music. It makes me a little crazy, but not nearly as crazy as a screaming child. It was either walk home from Kentucky or listen to Elmo. I don't exercise, so the choice was an easy one.

So. Those are my secrets for surviving a road trip with a 2 year old. Happy Trails!

For more great tips visit We Are That Family.

American Idol Top 9

2010-04-06T20:21:00.005-04:00

I'm baaaaack!

Please excuse Rachel @ Must Share... She was on VACATION and could not be in attendance to the American Idol blog carnival for the past two weeks. Thank you for understanding.

I did watch the majority of both shows, and was very excited to see Paige go and very sad to see Didi go... But I won't miss the judges destroying her self-esteem bit by bit.

Aaron

He is strong enough vocally, that I think he could sing the song from the Meow Mix commercial and be fine. I agree with the judges, though. Pretty old and boring.

Katie

She is another super strong vocal performance, but it wasn't more interesting than my computer. I wasn't as wowed as the judges.

Andrew

I think he changed it up just enough. I like what he did with it, but I'd have to agree with Randy. Slightly corny. But I'll tell you what. I want to know what product is in his hair. I want to go to there.

Michael

I'm surprisingly blown away by this. I still wish Michael would drink Humble Potion #9, but brotha can sing, for sure. This is the first performance that has drawn me in. Props, Michael.

Side Note: I hate hate HATE when the singer tries to punch the air, or jump or swing their arms in time with the last drumbeat, or guitar I don't know... whatever. Okay, I don't even know how to put words to this, but I know that I know that you know. A. They nearly always fail. B. Even when they don't, it's still stupid. C. A.N.N.O.Y.I.N.G.

Crystal

Love that they call her Momma Sox. Too cute. Is it me or this not her strongest vocal? I love what she's done with the song and in spite of it not being her absolute best, it's refreshing to see her growing and improving through out this competition. I definitely see her getting better and better as time goes by. Honestly, I didn't think that was even possible!

Tim

I'm kind of impressed tonight. So far, I think he's sounding great. Again, I'm no pitch master, but sounds good to me! I like the straight hair, too. Kind of a sudden and undramatic ending. I feel like he could have made more of a statement.

Oh Simon, God Bless you for that nice speech. Tim will be floating home tonight smilin' wide!

Casey

Um, wow. That was captivating. I'm pretty sure I've never heard that song before, but I want to hear it again. That was totally brill, yo. And I have to agree with the angelic comment someone made.

Siobhan

I'm having the strangest visual... That skirt reminds me of a peacocks tail, and I'm just waiting for the song to pick up in tempo, her to stand up and the skirt to turn into a true peacocks tail. And there you have it. I'm either really tired or that was very boring. I think it's the boring one. Yes, Randy. Super sleepy.

Lee

YES!! I was totally going to type that I think he would ROCK Hey Jude. Homeboy read my mind!!!! Hmm... Except for the part about rockin' it. Ohmyword at the bag pipes! This is so strange. Oh, Lee. This was not what I had in mind. In my opinion, he should have broke into the more rockin' style way earlier. The slow parts were rough, and while his gravelly tone is growing on me, it's still just a little too much. The beginning was just... Ah! I'm trying to like him, but this was a big disappointment for me. SOOOOO interested to hear what the judges say. Oh Ellen, you are hilarious! The parade comment. Yes, totally. Thank you, Simon, for saying what everyone in the room (and in rooms all around the country) were thinking. When they panned to the audience when the bagpiper who got separated from his parade came out, no one looked impressed... Weird.

Bottom 3... Katie, Tim and Andrew? No idea, really. Maybe they'll vote the bagpiper off.

And oh sweet mercy did you see Lee and the bagpiper both do the last note thing?!?! Unbelievable. And I hope that this is the last time I ever have to use the word bagpiper in an American Idol post. Seriously.

See what everyone else is saying at Boomama.

American Idol Top 12 FINALLY!

2010-03-16T20:46:00.002-04:00

Rolling Stones Night. Okay. I'm going to try really hard not to be negative tonight, so before I get started working on that goal...

Remember how once upon a time there was a little "wardrobe malfunction" that forever ruined the Super Bowl half time show as we knew it? Remember when someone thought it would be a good idea to have the Rolling Stones play? Remember when they all but limped around the stage and Mick Jagger sang I Can't Get No Satisfaction, but I twy and I twy? Nope, not a typo. That's what he sang. Anyone else remember that? Show of hands. I hope were not in for a whole host of awkwardness tonight.

Here we go....

Michael

He started the night off well, I'd say. I felt like he had a few rough spots in the middle and the dancing (can we call it that?) was a bit distracting for me, but overall I thought he did a nice job. Just to reiterate, I'm not over the moon about him, even after last week's tear jerking performance. I think if there is a pill for humility he should order a bottle and swallow them daily. I don't know... He doesn't come off that way every time, but when he thinks he did a great job on a performance, he seems to have a hard time containing himself. Arrogance = turn off. At least for me. I don't care how good you are.

Didi

I don't know that I'd ever heard that song, which is usually bad news. A performance has to be dy-NO-mite to suck me into a song that I don't know. Surprisingly, I really liked it. I don't think it was flawless by any means, but I thought it was very strong. She connected strongly to the song, sang it well. I think it worked for her. But I may be a little like her momma, in that I'm nervous to watch her get judged. I sure hope the four stooges liked it!!!

Casey

Love the tearful momma. Precious. Solid performance. I almost think that it can be a disadvantage to contestants who come in already polished and ready to go. There's just something awesome about watching people mature and improve. There's even something cool about watching people endure harsh criticism and learn from it and come back and wow those same judges. So for me, the Casey's and the Crystal's, though I think they're GREAT, get a little boring for me. I just want to buy their CD, I don't want to watch them on American Idol. Does that make any sense at all? There's just really no anticipation and it's not as fun. End Rant.

I need a snack. I'm very hesitant. I hurt myself with some girl scout cookies last night... Definitely don't want to go down that road again. hmmm... What to do? I ended up going with what I like to call the "ghetto peanut butter cup" spoon with peanut butter + bowl of chocolate chips = ghetto peanut butter cup. Yummy, but very hard to execute. I'm forever trying to find the perfect balance of chips and peanut butter. Tonight was no different. Needed 1 tsp. more peanut butter, but alas the kitchen is just too far.

Lacey

Did we know she was a preacher's kid? I don't think I knew that! Ugh. I want to like her, I really do. Okay - the middle was much better than the beginning, but the end went downhill again. Not sure why she would sit during the most upbeat part of the song. That was weird. I'm trying to pin point what the issue is with her. Is it lack of confidence? Something is just not right. Thank you, Ellen. Totally agree! I typed my thoughts before I heard the judges. Simon and I are sharing a brain, apparently.

Also - I'm perplexed (and not in a good way) about the whole shirt under the strapless whatever that is. Someone else did this with a dress this year too. Now listen, I'm all about the modesty, friends. But if you're not comfortable with the strapless, then pick a different get up! I'm not feeling the layering look. Peculiar.

Andrew

Oh, the parental preciousness is going to push me clean over the edge! I'm not sure if I love anything more than a tender hearted emotional daddy. Love it. Ain't nothin' better than a man that can cry. Hmm. That performance was kinda rough. Parts of the vocal were good, but not all of them. It seemed really awkward for him. I was excited for the contestants to have to choose from a narrower song list. I think it will really show who can bring it. I would have expected Andrew to be one of those. From the auditions, I was really expecting him to be like Adam Lambert and be able to wow us no matter what type of song he had to pick, but that certainly hasn't been the case thus far.

Katie

Another strong performance by Katie, that I just didn't love. I haven't forgotten my goal, so I'm struggling with what to say. She has a great, strong voice and is talented beyond her years. I think she'll be in the competition awhile, especially since she's young and I've just always had this feeling that it's mostly younger people who vote. That's based on nothing but the fact that I've voted approximately 4 times in all of my viewing history. And the fact that some very young people have stayed in the competition far far too long....

Tim

He is a perfect example of the spirit of American Idol. I totally have that anticipation with him. What will he sing, how will he do, what will the judges say? This arrangement is kind of weird for me, and for some reason I was thinking that he'd gone sort of the way of country. Am I remembering that wrong? The reggae thing is definitely unexpected. Strange. I think vocally it was pretty ok, but the phrasing (maybe? look at me thinking I know how to technically describe what bugged me) or something was off. I will be shocked if the judges like this.

Siobahn

I love what her dad said at the very end "you have to be proud of any child that endeavored this, and the way she's held herself the entire time, it's any parent's dream." Love it. Way to affirm your daughter, daddy! And, because I backed that up 10 times to get the quote right, my ears are ringing from that note and I've looked at the shirt under the strapless dress 10 times. Seriously. No. Oh man, speaking of no, that crazy note (in tonight's performance) was not as successful as the other one. Eek. She may owe someone some money for some windows. Girl can blow, that's for sure, but when you go for that, there is always the chance that it won't work and I don't think it did that time. Maybe if she hadn't held it so long? Other than that, I thought it was a great performance. Maybe my favorite of the night so far. I even like the combat boots with the dress. Super cute. I mean, I ain't wearin' it to church or anything, but it worked with the whole dramatic thing she had going on. Sweet. Seriously no one is going to say anything about that screechy business at the end of the note? At the risk of waking the baby, I watched it again and there was definitely some problems with that. Eek.

Lee

Another strong performance. I think he will be successful regardless of how far he goes in the competition. Oh, yes. I totally agree with Ellen. I was expecting a crazy rockin' performance by Lee tonight. So this song choice was a bit of a let down, though he did really well with it. PS - I really appreciate Ellen's balance of serious and funny. She's a comedian so she's not about to leave the funny sitting on the table, but she doesn't go overboard with it.

Paige

This was sort of a surprising song choice. In parts, it seems a little too low for her, but at the higher ends she is really able to showcase her power. I suppose that's a hard choice to make... I would say that this is one of her better performances in awhile. How in the WORLD do you sing like that with laryngitis? Oh my word! Can you imagine doing that without rehearsing? Holy snap, I have a whole new respect for that performance.

Aaron

More sweet momma tears. Aw. He is totally reminding me of Frankie Muniz tonight. Ha! I really like the scratchy thing his voice is doing. I don't recall that from past performances. This was a great song choice for him. He really nailed it.

Crystal

I don't know if I've ever come closer to blubbering during American Idol. These moms and pops are pulling it OUT tonight! Funny how being a parent changes so many things! I LOVE THIS SONG!! And sing it often to people who can't get their own way. Namely, myself. And my sister. She loves it. Yeah, she doesn't. And I'm laughing HYSTERICALLY at myself, because for some reason I thought this was a Beatle's song. Neat. As usual, Crystal nails it. See my comment on Casey, as much of it applies here as well. I'll say it again, just make the record so I can buy it. But oh no, you'll have to tour the country side doing incredibly awkward performances with 9 other people and by the time you get a chance to make a record, I will have completely forgotten who you are. The unfortunate downside to being very successful on American Idol....

Well - there you have it. Everything you never wanted to know about what I think about American Idol. If that didn't satisfy your AI itch, head over to see what Boomama and friends have to say.

American Idol Season 9 Top 8 Guys

2010-03-10T23:51:00.003-05:00

Oh my, I've waited until much to late to watch this... Better get right to the point. Out of character, I know.

Lee -

He kind of reminds me (looks only) of Danny Gokey. Anyone else? His performance? Eh. He's good, but I definitely don't think that was his best performance. What is with Simon and his "moments" this week? Sheesh.

Alex -

He is the cutest darn thing. Mullet and all, I just want to squeeze him. That being said, is it me or was that nasally? Or just his pronunciation? Good, not great. Ellen. Enough with the banana business. Horse. Dead. Stop. Beating.

Tim -

This started out good. A little pitchy, to be sure. He definitely seems nervous. The hallelujahs didn't make me say hallelujah. The ending was much better than the middle... It seems to me he switched up some notes, I hope he gets credit for that. PS - His hair is more annoying to me than Alex's sweet mullet. Seriously? I do not get boy hairdos these days. Not a fan.

And Ellen makes Idol history and GOES ON STAGE AND HUGS HIM!?!?! Cute. Hilarious. You go with your bad self, Ellen.

Andrew -

Interesting. Can't wait to hear what the judges say. I think he could have done more with it than he did. I agree it was a good idea, but didn't really work like he hoped... I really like him, I hope he can pull out the Straight Up Vibe soon. And I really hope he makes it to the point in the competition where he can choose his favorite performance to repeat, so we can hear the entire song!

Casey -

I'm predicting that at least one judge is going to say that he doesn't know who he is or that he's bouncing all over with song choices. I say if you can do it all that well, why not showcase it? I think it was a very strong performance.

Aaron -

He sounds really nervous again, and it seems to me that it's negatively effecting the performance. Doesn't sound super in tune to me. Oh - nice big finish. Though his voice sounds pretty tired. Who is Ellen watching? I would not say he's super confident. At all.

Todrick -

Singin' Queen. Sweet mercy. This could really go either way. Hmmm... I just don't even know what to think about that. Especially since every time I watch him, all I can think is how much he looks like a guy I dated for 5 minutes, 70 years ago. Which wouldn't be nearly as weird if it wasn't for the fact that the dude I dated had blonde hair and blue eyes... So perplexing. Anywho, I think it was a strong performance, but a pretty strange song choice for me. I have to totally agree with Kara, kinda made me want to laugh. But that could be the old bf flashback too. Hard to say.

Mike

What language is he singing in? Mumblish? I swear I didn't understand half of what he just said. Weird. Boy can sing, can't argue with that, but a little humility goes a long way too... I don't know. Kara is blubbering, okay - maybe I should rewind and try to listen a little more closely. Dude. I'm having some Pauler flashbacks with the bawl baby. Watched it again, and well. I'm not crying. I guess I didn't get it.

I'm kind of thinking Tim and Todrick should be nervous. Maybe Andrew, too? I don't know.

Check out Boomama for more American Idol fun...

American Idol Season 9 Top 8 Girls

2010-03-09T20:18:00.005-05:00

Katie Stevens

I think this could have been a good choice for her, but it seemed really low to me. And pitchy. I agree with Kara, when she says she just needs more experience. Sometimes, there is a 16 or 17 year old that just blows us away with his or her voice/stage presence/ability to shine etc... Katie is not doing that for me.

Siobhan Magnus

Girlfriend can sing. What an original performance. I haven't been taking notes for the past 8 years, but if that's ever been done - I don't recall... I really enjoyed it. Oh - and that is a super cool skirt. Except that it's a dress.

Lacey Brown

She always makes me wish I could do a smokey eye... Have I said that before? If so, it's still true. I think Lacey is a beautiful girl, I think she has an interesting voice, but I'm just not a huge fan. I consistently find myself bored while she is performing. It doesn't seem to matter what she sings.

But check this out! She seriously looks like my friend Grace. Grace is the one who isn't about ready to burst with the pregnant. Oh my word. My poor face was double it's normal size.

Katelyn Epperly

I thought this was fun, upbeat, sounded great. I do have to agree though, strange choice for this juncture and it really did look like she was fake playing the, whatever that thing is. Love Katelyn, though. I think she's got skilz.

Didi Benami

Oh, Didi! I'm so happy for you! I gotsta tell ya, I'm not a fan of the Fleetwood Mac, but I really liked that performance. I agree - that vibe is exactly what we fell in love with from the start, though I stand by my post from last week, I thought that was great, too. I have to say, I was really expecting a retraction from at least one of the judges at some point, but they all seem to stand by their opinions, rude though they may seem. You go, Didi! I sure hope you are here to stay!

Paige Miles

Oh, hunny. I fear you will be even more emotional while singing it Thursday. As bad if not worse than The Climb, from yesterweek. Different girl, equally dreadful and kiss of death. Has anyone else ever noticed that often the farewell song is super fitting? I'm telling you, I would take that into account every week when picking my song. Not that I would ever find myself on American Idol, and not that I am superstitious at all, but if I was and I was? Totally avoiding the kiss of death song choice.

Crystal Bowersox

Great song choice, great vocal, great electric guitar (read: geetah, a la Simon). I'm with Ellen. I'm tired of hearing myself gush with the same old words. I need new words.

Lilly Scott

I try so hard to listen and give her a chance, but I just can't get into her. I think she is very talented, but her brand of interesting just doesn't do it for me. On another note, she also looks like someone I know.

Do you see it? Lilly's hair has more of a "got caught in a rain storm" feel, but other than that....

Well. My prediction is that Katie and Paige are going home. Maybe Lacey?

What do you think? Check out Boomama for more American Idol fun (and the song titles.)

American Idol Season 9 Top 20

2010-03-03T21:07:00.004-05:00

20 people is a lot to review. I couldn't take it last week, especially since I was the Queen Negative Nellie and just couldn't bring myself to hit publish...

Until it's a more reasonable number of folk sangin', I'm just going to cover the highlights once a week.

I thought the boys were far and away better than last week last night. Big Mike rocked the casa. I fast forwarded through What's His Name that sang Gravity and I agreed that Casey could have sounded better, though it was entertaining. I'm really rooting for Mr. Mullet, and hope that the 16 year old picks something less overplayed next week. And. If I'm being totally honest, I don't get what the big dang deal is about that Lee fella. He's okay, but I'm not in love. If I remember correctly, ahem, I think I said that a lot about Kris Allen last year until the very end, so I'm keeping the ketchup handy for when I get to eat my words.

Yum.

Crystal is a serious favorite of mine. I'm glad she skipped the harmonica this week. She has got mad skillz where the singin' is concerned, and I think she should wow everyone with that and leave the harmonica to Kid Rock. Or whoever else does that. OH - and PS - does anyone else think she looks like Drew Barrymore? Uncanny.

Man. I really like Haeley. And I actually really like that song. Unfortunately, I think chances are good we'll be hearing it again tomorrow. I hope not, but those lyrics are typical American Idol kiss of death foreshadowing if I've ever heard it. And the fact that she didn't sing it very well, well - that certainly doesn't help.

Lacey Brown is another one that I'm just not sure of... I don't particularly love her tone, and while I thought she did switch it up a bit, it was pretty karaoke... She needs to start blowing people away, or she will be going home.

I heart Didi Benami. She might be one of my favorites. I think she has a great voice, amazing control and she is just so purty! :) Seriously, judges? I liked it. Maybe I'd better rewind it, I apparently saw a different performance. Watched it again, and stand by my original reaction. I hope that tomorrow they say that it wasn't that bad after having watched it back. I just feel terrible for her. She is absolutely devastated.

I forget who he said it to, but I am SO THANKFUL that Simon is aware of the fact that they tell someone to do something and then hate it when they do. I've known that they do that for years. Good to know that they know, too.

Katelyn Epperly. Girl, wow. Wow. Chills? Check.

Paige is good. She is a beauty. I still feel like she is all of a sudden in this competition. It just irks me that she had no air time until now, but what can you do? I'm totally invested in other people who I have been rooting for and thinking about for weeks. I hope she doesn't go home too early because of it.

Man. There are so many people! I thought Katelyn was number 10. Now I'm wracking my brain for who is even left? There's 10, right?

Siobahn - I don't even know about her. She is crazy talented, but Simon is right. She is very strange. And can I just ask one question? Why is it that they sometimes scold people for screaming the song and then they sometimes practically give them a grammy for it? I find that strange.

I know I skipped some people. I actually said more than I planned to, so... There you go.

I'm ready for it to be the guys and girls together. I'm a little bored. Or overloaded. I'm not sure which.

I think Haeley, Lacey, Michelle, and Paige should be nervous.

American Idol Season 9 Top 24 Ladies Night

2010-02-23T22:56:00.005-05:00

Disclaimer: In the following 85 paragraphs, I say a whole lot of nothing. Be Warned. Some people critique each performance and give you intelligent and insightful commentary. I'm not one of them. This is more of a stream of consciousness type of Idol recap. If you were in my living room with me, this is what you would hear me saying...

I'm so stinkin' excited about this season!! I know I said this last year, but everyone is so super talented this year!!! I'm geeked to see how they do live. It never fails a few of the folks that seem amazing totally choke.

What are ya'll thinking about Ellen? I think thus far, (Hollywood week) she has done a good job of balancing funny and sticking to the job at hand. I'm anxious to see how she does tonight. I'm not noticing Pauler's absence as much as I thought I would… I'm always resistant to change, but it seems like this might be really good. I really don't miss the third grade antics between Pauler and Simon.

Paige Miles ~ “It’s All Right Now”

I don't remember anything about Paige. And I'm really not feeling this performance. Not that it's not good, because I think she's doing well - I'm just not blown away. Hmmm. I COMPLETELY disagree with Simon. I can think of several other girls that are way better. In my humble opinion, of course… I guess I'm the only one that didn't love it. Sewn into her outfit? Oh no, ma'am. That's what I would have said to that seamstress.

Ashley Rodriguez ~ “Happy”

Now Ashley is memorable. I remember loving her! And I think she is stunningly beautiful. Ugh. I'm not loving this song at all. I don't know if it's because I don't know it or if it's just a poor choice. She sounded okay, just not rockin' my world. Oh, poor girl. That can not be fun to hear that from them. Let's just hope she doesn't take all of their advice and then they berate her for that next week. I hate it when they do that!

Janell Wheeler ~ “What About Love”

Oh boy. Am I hypercritical tonight? I really like this girl, but I feel like she is doing a terrible job. I definitely think she is uber nervous, so maybe that's all it is?

{Okay - I was so excited to watch this ALL DAY, but I cannot stand sitting through commercials. I'll take a super sized bowl of ice cream and an episode of 24, please.)

And I'm back.

Lilly Scott ~ “Fixing A Hole”

Wow. Is it me or is Lilly the most original girl we've ever seen on American Idol? In every sense, she is super unique. Her look, her sound. Now, I wouldn't leave the house looking like that, but somehow it seems to work for her. This song is not my favorite, and I can't say I've ever even heard it, but I'm guessing she is putting her mark on it, and based on feedback so far tonight, I can only hope the judges will appreciate that. I should say - I love her dress tonight. Past outfits, I definitely wouldn't wear to the mailbox. 4 stars for Lilly according to the judges. I love when I'm right.

(Hip Hip HOOOOray for fast forwarding through commercials!)GOOOOO TiVo!)

Katelyn Epperly ~ “Oh, Darlin’”

Girly can sang! I love her voice! I remember her, for sure. It would be hard to forget that hair. I don't recall loving her, but I could see myself loving her. Very soulful. I liked it.

Haeley Vaughn ~ “I Wanna Hold Your Hand”

Oh My Word! I'm just loving the originality of the girls this year!! I think back to Blake Lewis, one of the original originals, if you will. David Cooke. Adam Lambert. Oh, stop hissing. Adam was/is a lot of things and original is one of them. I can't really think of any girls who did super cool, super original things, and this year it looks like we'll be making up for lost time! I've been pulling for Haeley. I just think she is the cutest. Wow. I think that was awesome! Love her love her love her. Oh, stuff it Simon. I'm with Ellen. Or E, as Randy so affectionately refers to her.

Lacey Brown ~ “Landslide”

Hey! I just realized that she totally reminds me of my friend Grace! First things first. I am not a fan of the Fleetwood Mac, and I'm especially not a fan of this song. She is definitely mixing it up. Seems very nervous, but it sounds pretty good. My prediction is that at least 3 out of 4 judges are going to love it. Oh and I don't love it when I'm wrong. I should say, I don't know squizot about the technical side of anything. I just know when I think it sounds good and when I don't. Sometimes I think someone is totally singing in the key of off and then the judges are like THATWASAWESOME. All that to say, what do I know? PS - I could have just deleted my little prediction, but I'm keepin' it real, yo.

Michelle Delamor ~ “Falling”

How funny that she's singing an Alicia Keys song. I think she looks a lot like her. I thought that the first time I saw her and every time after! I love her hair. Sounds good, but not amazing for me.

Didi Benami ~ “The Way I Am”

Ok. Let me just say that I really connect with Didi's story. The beginning of this month marked the 8 year anniversary of losing my oldest and dearest friend and so, let me just tell you when she cried at her audition, I did too. I also loved the audition where she sang Kara's song. I think she is beautiful and has a great voice. I'm really pulling for her. I don't know this song, though I feel like someone (her?) sang it during auditions. Something about this performance is reminding me of Megan Joy (was that her name?) who I LOVED at the beginning of last year right up until the point that she got incredibly annoying and then wouldn't go away. Please don't do that to me, Didi. Please.

Siobhan Magnus ~“Wicked Game”

Is it me or is this a weird song choice? I feel like she sang it well. Very low. I feel like she is one that didn't get a lot of airtime until the end of Hollywood week, so it seems like I'm not as acquainted with her as I am with many of the other gals, tonight. The producers have definitely honed their skills of drawing us in to the contestants… People like her (read: Kris Allen) really get robbed when people don't know them as well as other contestants. Okay - I guess Kris Allen didn't get robbed. What with the winning and all...

Crystal Bowersox ~ “Hand In My Pocket”

She is hands down one of my favorites from the auditions. I think she could skip all this silliness and go make an album and start counting her money now. I can't wait to see what she does. Great song choice. (She hasn't even strummed a note yet and I know it's going to be awesome!!!!!!!!) Ok. She sounded great, and while I find it incredibly awesome that she can play two instruments when I sometimes struggle playing my iPod effectively, I think she should chill with the harmonica. That was like an entire verse she could have sang (sung?). I don't think it will hurt her. I'm very anxious to quit typing and unpause to see if the judges comment on that. Nope. But I think it had to do with some of their constructive criticism.

Katie Stevens ~ “Feelin’ Good”

I could have sworn this girl didn't make it through. Didn't she cry and wail because they said it wasn't her time? Did something weird happen or did I bump my head? Maybe I'm confused. Okay - I must be confused. I was thinking maybe there was some drama like one of the contestants that got through ended up having a rap sheet longer than what and got booted so they called her back in. Oh I can hatch up a good conspiracy theory, can I not? Apparently, it's door #2 and I bumped my head. I'll have it looked at. Wow. She's like a female David Archuletta. Child prodigy. Very good!

Well - not bad for the first night. My predictions for the bottom 2... Ashley Rodriguez and Lacey Brown? I really don't know. I certainly can't wait to find out, though!

Thanks for reading!

I'm A Crock Star!

2010-02-01T21:54:00.003-05:00

I have pretty much given up on real cooking. If I can't fling it in the crock pot, we're probably not eating it. Seriously, it's less mess, less standing there chopping, stirring, backing etc. etc. etc.

I know part of the problem is that it's really no fun trying to do any extensive cooking (or anything else, for that matter) with a 22 month old under foot. So, if I can literally fling 7 things in the crock pot by 12 noon and know that not only will we have a hot dinner, but I will also likely have the energy to clean up afterward? Uh, yes please! Sign me up for Monday through Friday. Well, not Tuesday. My step-mom cooks for us on Tuesday. I know, how lucky am I?

Yesterday I fed Chloe kidney beans and corn for lunch. Well, I should say I served it to her. She mostly threw it on the floor, resulting in more time out than lunch. Are we having fun yet?

Anyway - needless to say there was plenty of leftover beans and corn, so I thought I'd make some rendition of taco soup or something similar. I have had a bag of bean juice (broth from making black beans in the crock pot to freeze) in my freezer for, let's say, awhile, so I thought that would be a good base. I popped that in there and cranked it to high. Once that was about thawed, I added the kidney beans, corn, a can of tomatoes with green chillies, and a can of black beans. I put in a tablespoon each of cumin, garlic powder, and chili powder. I put a chicken bouillon cube in there too. I had planned to brown some ground beef, taco it up and fling that in there, but I had two very old, very freezer burned ziplocks of beef that were past the point of no return. Probably because I started browning my beef before freezing it, so of course, I always use that instead of raw. We went ahead and said bye bye to the bad beef.

Hmmm... Veggie soup? Not sounding terribly filling. I pulled out a few boneless skinless chicken thighs and let them thaw for a few. I diced a red onion and sauteed that and the chicken, which I cubed when it had thawed a bit, in olive oil. I then put the entire contents of the pan into the crock pot cranked it back up to high to finish cooking the chicken and about 2 hours later? All three of us cleaned our bowls! I had no idea what to expect, but it was delicious! I just had to write it down, so I can be sure to fling it all together again someday!

I also made my rendition of Red Lobster's Cheddar Bay Biscuits. Here's the recipe. Prepare to swoon:

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp. salt

3 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking powder

Mix these ingredients well in a large bowl. Once combined, add:

6 tbs. very cold butter and work it in with a pastry blender or a large fork. You want it to be the texture of coarse meal.

Next, add 1 cup of cheddar cheese and stir.

Finally, add 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups of milk. You want very moist, though still sticky dough. You will then drop the biscuits about 1/4 cup each onto a baking sheet. Bake in a 400 degree oven for approximately 15 minutes or until the begin to turn a golden brown.

Once they come out of the oven, using a pastry brush, brush each biscuit with this mixture:

This is where the magic really happens:

3-4 tbs. melted butter

1/2 tsp. dried parsley flakes

1/2 tsp. garlic powder

1/4 tsp. salt

These biscuits are delicious and really go perfectly with this soup or anything similar.

Enjoy!

American Idol Season 9 Chicago Auditions

2010-01-19T20:39:00.002-05:00

Here we go again! For the record, I do not particularly enjoy this part of American Idol and I used to boycott it completely, but my love for the show has deepened to the point that I am willing to sacrifice things, like time and the ability to watch something far more entertaining.

That being said, I will try really hard not to complain about the ridiculousness that I know without a doubt will ensue as soon as I push go on this here remote...

Side note* I just realized there is a 2 hour episode of 24 on the Tivo. How did I not know that it was on yesterday? Choices... Maybe I'll go back and forth.

Love Shania! I'm the opposite of what you would call a country fan, but I did like Shania for a minute back in the 90s.

Does anyone else wonder how the logistics of these back stories work? I mean, they must go get all of their details and footage after they've given them the golden ticket, right? It's always fairly obvious that this contestant is actually good, since someone has gone to the trouble of digging up some back story.

The good news is - we're kicking it off with someone who can sing! Yay. Love Kaitlyn's sound. And her hair. I so wish I had curly hair. Confession: I broke out my curling iron last week and I've been using it. If my hair didn't grow at lightning speed, I would seriously consider getting a perm.

Broadway girl with the weird chest thing and the passing out. Yep. Let that be a lesson to you, young lady. You actually can sing. And you blew it.

Charity. Very different. Very young. It's always fun to see people that have raw talent that needs refining. She is immediately reminding me of the girl from several seasons ago (Carmen?) Simon stuck his neck out for her and she just never really improved like he thought she would... Not sure why but that's all I can think of with this girl. I hope for her sake that I'm wrong...

It's not unusual to be loved by you? Oh My Word. Not often do I laugh out loud, but there is just something about that bow tie...

I love that Simon says (after the medley of awfulness) that this is a complete and utter (utta) waste of time.

No kidding.

I'm pretty sure that is not the fault of high pitch singer girl in yellow dress. Take it up with someone who can do something about it!

Moving on.

Wow. This Tip Toe guy really seems to be serious. I really wonder sometimes if there are different levels you can be at to get in front of the judges. Those sent specifically as a joke and who are fully aware of that fact, those who are sent in specifically as a joke who are unaware of it, and finally those who actually can sing but have to be impressive to this panel of judges that have seen amazing talent and are not easily impressed. I'd really like to be a fly on the wall and know exactly how all of this goes down...

Well, friends. Jack is back, and I gotta go see what sort of mischief he's stirring up tonight!

Writer's Block

2010-01-17T20:31:00.002-05:00

How annoying is writer's block? I finally get a chance to sit down and blog and can't think of any of the great ideas I've had over the past few weeks. I've tried writing ideas down in the past, but honestly - I feel like my best ideas come at night when I'm just about to fall asleep. You know the ones, the ones that are so good that you think you couldn't possibly forget them, even if you get the best sleep of your life.

Well, you would be wrong.

Or at least I am whenever I think that. This seriously happens more often than not.

One night, I actually turned the light on, grabbed a pen, that thankfully was right on my night stand, and jotted down a phrase that was supposed to be able to perfectly jog my memory the next morning. I forget now what it said, exactly, but what I remember clearly is this: It was worthless. The next day I looked at it and thought, "Yeah? So?" I had no idea what I meant and couldn't possibly think why I would have thought it was worth turning the light on to write down, let alone write a blog post about it.

Sigh.

Most mornings, after having a great idea and not bothering to write some cryptic (worthless) phrase, I just wake up thinking, hmmm.... another idea gone, never to be recovered.

Anyway - I share all of this to say that I once again would like to try to start blogging regularly. Probably not every day, but 3-4 times weekly would be really awesome. Anymore, when I think of Must Share... I think of things that I, well, just must share with you. Now if you come for the random and the witty, I'm sure there will be plenty for you. But I hope to start refining this blog a little and making it a little more predictable and helpful.

You know I can't resist blogging about American Idol, so I'll be doing that for sure. Trying my best to keep the snark factor to a minimum... ;) I've been in the mood to try some new recipes, so if I ever find my way to the grocery store,and come across anything I feel like I Must Share... then I will! For those of you that have visited The Trysting Place, I'm thinking of incorporating some of my Must Share... wisdom and revelation over here, rather than having a separate place. It's overwhelming to say the least and I've decided not to let myself be so obsessive about keeping things separated and categorized. This blog will now be all things that I feel I Must Share....

Make sense?

I hope you bear with me. I promise to carry a go-go gadget notepad every where I go, including my cozy bed, in an effort to capture all my totally brilliant ideas.

It's okay, you can chuckle.

We'll see how it goes!