preparing for fast

If you follow this blog much, you know that I mention Allume occasionally! But you see, it's not JUST a blogging conference (that's actually called Allume Social... and I still really, really want to go {anybody wanna pay my way?!?!}).  It's also a community of like minded women who are oh, so welcoming and oh, so encouraging!

And I read the blog most days... It's got a lot of great stuff. Last week, one of the contributors shared about her plan for a 21 day fast.  And she encouraged us to join her...

And it struck a cord with me and I've been thinking about it and dwelling on it a lot over the last week (is that the same as praying?!?!).

At first, I was thinking about a fast from obsessing over stats and comments on my blog... and then I thought maybe I should fast from blogging altogether for 21 days... but then I thought, "What about Five Minute Friday, and Project 52, and the JoyDare and, and, and..." And I just didn't know what to do... and not many of my "in real life" friends get this blogging thing I do, or even understand the community I find in blogging (although I'm sure a few of them read my blog and never comment), So I didn't even know where to go to ask for advice...

Then, when I read into it a little further, I read this...
"Simply stated, biblical fasting is refraining from food for a spiritual purpose."

and I'm all about following the rules...

However,
in the first 3 weekends of June I have...

• my son's birthday
• a Ladies' conference (which is known for GREAT food)
• and my nephew's high school graduation and subsequent grad party!
• (and when I don't eat... I get cranky, plain and simple, and very unpleasant to be around)

all this to say, that it's almost June 1 and I'm still not sure what I'm doing! But I want to be purposeful and I want it to be beneficial and I want God to bring Dry Bones to LIFE again!!

• I do know that I will be taking a bloggy break for the 21 days. (promise me you will come back after this?!)
• I do know that I have 2 things specifically that I will be praying about, for God to show me what the next step is...
• I do know that I will be doing a partial fast... I read and like the idea of the hours of 6AM to 3PM for a partial fast. (not from all food, but definitely something)
• I do know that I'm a little scared... and afraid of failing!

...Pray for me, would you?

Patriotic Toe Nails

So, I'm basically midlife... w/o giving away my exact age!  :) and I'm in danger of a midlife crisis...

But my conservative background prevents me from getting a tattoo or any outrageous piercing. Every October, I think of dying a portion of my hair pink, just to be rebellious... and it's for a good cause!

So when I saw this fun idea from Family Fun on Pinterest, I thought maybe that would be a little "dangerous."  I know, I know, I'm pathetic....

And I liked it so much, I couldn't wait for Fourth of July. So I painted my toenails for Memorial Day!!

Here are the supplies you need: red nail polish, blue nail polish, and White French Manicure Pen ... and a top coat to keep it all from chipping.

I know it's pretty self explanatory, but here's what you do... Paint toe nails of one foot blue, and the other foot red... Then use your french manicure pen to add stars to the blue, and stripes to the red, and seal it all with a top coat!!

 AND THEN, your thrill your little girls by painting their nails, too!  :)

So, not exactly midlife crisis crazy... but it made me happy!  So pin this great idea for Flag Day... or Independence Day!!

And it's Patriotic Week at The CSI Project... go check out more great patriotic ideas there!!

Everybody Say... Awww

Sweet Shot Tuesday...

I've been struggling in the using my camera department... it just became un-fun for some reason. And I went a whole week and took pictures of only ONE thing!  But then, Twitter (and Kent Weakley) inspired me ...and this is one of the first photos I took when I pulled my camera out again.

The "Oreo" cows on the neighboring farm gave birth this week. 

Here's one of the newborns

it was just soo cute all wobbly and enjoying a field of buttercups! 

I used my camera A LOT this week... there were a lot of blurry and deletable photos, but the point is, I used my camera!!

Now go shoot something...

May Joy Dare: Week 4

I did so much better this week at taking a moment to think through my day and count my blessings!

May 21
461. My 8YO son overcoming some fears at swim lessons today!

462. My 4YO just singing her own song while we were shopping today...
        And the smiles it put on the faces of those we passed.
463. Finding a love note from our 7YO before bed.
464. and my 5YO and her flyaway hair...

May 22
465. Listening to my kids find animals and characters in the clouds. (this one's Santa's sleigh)

466. Watching a newborn calf on wobbly legs; (come back tomorrow to see the pic)
467. enjoying a preschool, K5-2nd grade choir sing cowboy songs! (focus on my 2 cowgirls)

May 23 gifts found in community:
468. encouragement
469. accountability (a kick in the pants)
470. laughter

May 24
471. homemade pizza,
472. birthday packages arriving for my son next week
473. Making cake mix cookies with the girls
474. encouragement found in the Psalms

May 25 hard gifts to give thanks for...
475. Confusing disagreements
476. disciplining children
477. being needed by 4 kids all at once

Bonus gifts

478. sticky hands from s'mores
479. the smell of campfire on my clothes
480. the sounds of summer
481. sliver moon

May 26
482. WHITE frosting on chocolate cupcakes

483. WHISPERED prayers in the midst of frustration
484. comfy jammies WORN at end of day
485. Listening to the cows on the neighboring farm through open windows

May 27 gifts found in church (but I was home sick...)
486. hearing the church bells in the valley, while I'm home sick
487. having "church" on my sun porch
488. friends missing me
489. my 7YO sharing her church notes with me
490. reading the message passage on my own

This week was not perfect by far, but I am so thankful for being more aware of the daily gifts from God!!

What can you give thanks for today?


Also want to give thanks on this Memorial Day for those who have given their lives in service to our county and our communities!

Project 52 --Favorites

This week's theme for Project 52 is Favorites.
It brings to mind the crazy list things that people used to post on facebook back in the day. So before I share my photo of the week, here's a little "getting to know me" moment! :)

Favorite color --yellow or purple
favorite food --chocolate, tacos, brownies, good steak, chicken alfredo, ice cream...
favorite animal--wildlife outside my window
favorite flower--daisies
favorite sport--soccer
favorite season--summer
favorite holiday--any one spent with family
favorite number--4
favorite tv show--changes all the time... Psych, Castle, Monk,
favorite summer activity--campfires and smores
favorite hobby--making cards
favorite cupcakes --Frosted
favorite music --country ...or contemporary worship
favorite candy --3 Musketeers or Reese's Pieces
favorite store --Target
favorite drink --coffee
favorite constellation --Cassiopeia

but it all comes down to my favorite kids in the whole wide world...

and is linked up to

 
Previous Project 52 entries 

Mothers

Still Life

Fiesta
Green
Things That Grow

PS... What are some of YOUR favorites?!

Five Minute Friday --Opportunity

Opportunity

 starting our summer at the library, stocking up on books to read.

START:

Today was the last day of school, and just a half day at that.  The whole summer is looming before us. What am I going to do with it?

Will I spend it on Facebook and Twitter and blogs and Pinterest?

Or...

Will I read to my kids? Take them to the park? Get together with real life friends?
Will I spend more time outside? Exercise...take walks?
Will I spend more time in prayer? more time in Bible reading?

Will I work with my kids to keep up on the school things they learned?
Will I look for the gifts in the every day?
Will I try new things? Will I be willing to have fun?

Will I show grace to my kids?
Will I look for ways to help others?

In my head, I have grandiose plans for doing it right this summer... but will I?

I want to HAVE FUN and make good memories. I want to bring glory to God's name.

Opportunity is knocking... will I answer?

STOP

first lunch of the summer ... #MuffinTin

What opportunities do you have before you? Take Five Minutes to write about Opportunity and share it with the Five Minute Friday community!

EDIT to add: My husband wondered where he was in my summer opportunities, so I had to take another minute to add... 

I plan to take some walks and have some talks with my husband.
and maybe take some four-wheeler rides!
and sit outside on the swing together!!
and enjoy family activities!!
...

Handmade Teacher Gifts

So, I like to make cards and I love to give cards as gifts. And it's the end of the school year, and my kids have had some great teachers.  And teachers always need to write notes.



But, I'm a procrastinator (in fact, I'm procrastinating right now) and so here it is only 3 days of school left, and I haven't given my kids' teachers a gift to show how much I appreciate their work this year. I've had this quick and easy card idea pinned in my files for a while now.

But for some reason, I managed to make it complicated, so it took me over FOUR hours, to make 16 of them... and I have at least 3 teachers to give gifts, too! So I might have to add some of my favorites from my stash so I can thank them properly... and maybe some support staff, too!

So the original idea used some sort or pre-printed accent, but I wanted to stamp (and I didn't have any pre-printed stuff), so I tried the overlapping technique, but it took me forever to find the right color (not too dark or too light). I ended up mixing it up a little with designs and colors.

Then I decided that plain cardstock was... too plain, so I decided to glitter mist the 1 1/2 x 4 inch papers. I had to spray it, then let it dry and press it between heavy stuff overnight, so the paper wasn't all wrinkly!  But I really like the effect of glitter mist, so I'm glad I did it!

And then, every card needs accents stamps to match on the inside of the card and on the envelope to tie it all together! :)  I really like the simplicity of the black ... simple elegance!!

So it took me a while, but I complete another pinterest idea and I have a gift for my kids' teachers!!

 
What do you give your kids' teachers? 
Do you like simple or more jazzed up when it comes to handmade cards?

and which one of my pins would you like to see me try for next week's PinFTW?  check out my boards and let me know! :)



And linked up to The CSI Project for Pinterest Inspired Week! I love pinterest for my card ideas!

It's complicating

Why is it that I always try to make things harder than they are? I feel like I must be the only person on earth that can take a really easy (pinterest) idea and complicate it!

I love to make note cards and most of the time I get great satisfaction in seeing a card idea come together... But last night, I decided to take a really easy card idea and conclude that it was too easy, and that nobody would like it if I didn't spend three hours on it. So I made it way more complicated. I think it's finally coming together...and if it does, I will share it with you tomorrow. UPDATE: Here's the cards!

The same is true in my Christian life. God says, "whosever believeth in him... "  And I say, but I must read my bible more and I must never get angry and I must remember to give thanks every day and I must give to the poor and do this and do that. And I rush here and I try to do this, and try to do that. And I'm always in a hurry. And I keep rushing and reading more and trying and failing and trying. Or not trying because I can't do it perfect(and I'm a failing perfectionist). But God says, "Be still and know that I am God."

Why do I feel the need to complicate things? Why does it have to perfect?

May JoyDare: Week 2 (&3)

Recurring theme here is that I'm struggling with the counting of the gifts, of not quitting on the JoyDare.  Lately the pessimism is reigning (or is it raining) supreme, and I'm having a hard time sticking with it... pray for me?

Here's my attempt to keep going, even when I don't feel like it.

430. the ACRES of land we have to enjoy
431. huge bay window in our living room
432. the 4 kids who fill our home
433. movie date night at home with hubby
434. half-price frappuccinos at Starbucks ... more than once! :)
435. coloring with my girls... not something I do often.
436. having my mom come to visit
437. a great chorale concert at my kids' school
438. Inside: cookies made by mom.
439. outside: forgetmenots to plant.
440. Upside down: helicopter seeds spinning all around.
441. days of sunshine, days of rain
442. Saturday morning laughter with my family
443. dinner on the grill
444. Mother's Day gifts
445. free e-books
446. corn on the cob
447. memories of growing up
448. parents who prayed for me... and still do
449. reading Psalms and Proverbs
450. Window open,
451. cool breeze blowing in,
452. birds are singing
453. finding needed paperwork in the clutter
454. listening to Seeds Family Worship... great verses put to song!
455. enjoying summer temps
456. kids playing outside all day long
457. a Sunday afternoon nap
458. kids saying I love you
459. fresh cut grass
460. second chances

Project 52 --Mothers

Mother...

Although I make handmade cards on a regular basis, I am terrible at actually mailing cards on special occasions, so I'm sad to say that my mom and my mom-in-law did not get cards for Mother's Day.  This is just a belated card to my mom! :)

Mom,

Thanks for giving me life, and for giving of yourself to teach me how to live. Thanks for making us do chores, and reading the bible to us. Thank you for reading your bible where we could see. Thank you for spanking me (yes, I said it).

Thank you for teaching us how to sing... and to look for a man that sings in church. :)  Thanks for making me cheesecakes for my birthday desserts.

Thank you for sacrificing to send us to christian school. Thank you for dressing me funny (if only I could find that picture).  Thank you for race tracks and remote control cars for Christmas.

Thanks for midterm exam study breaks with a game of Chinese Checkers. Thanks for coming to my soccer games. Thanks for listening to my graduation speech... even if I was third.

Thanks for dragging me to the strawberry fields to learn a taste of hard work. Thanks for praying for me; for letting me go off to college and make some mistakes.

Thanks for loving Wes, and calling him "ruggedly handsome." (15 years later, I still think he is).  Thanks for coming to visit me and help with my babies, when they were born. Thank you for letting us come and visit you and doing such fun things with me kids!

Thanks for coming and visiting us now... even when they exhaust you. Thanks for bringing me flowers for my gardens; and Sahlen's hot dogs for my freezer.

Thanks for loving Dad and sticking by him. Thanks for being a great example of a wife... and a pastor's wife. Thank you for being you!

I love you, Mom


This post is a way late entry to the 1000Moms Project

and is linked up to

 
Previous Project 52 entries
Still Life

Fiesta
Green
Things That Grow
Sacrifice

 

 

Five Minute Friday --Perspective

It's time again for Five Minute Friday.  although it's almost Saturday! I've been struggling in my writing lately... as my Five Minutes will show...  Many Thanks to The Gypsy Mama for the incentive to write.

Perspective

START:
From where I sit, I see a turtle--one who reached out her head in March and tried her hand at writing. But then the incentive was gone, even though the encouragement was still there. And she quit writing or even trying to write.

She's afraid to try again, afraid to fail. Not sure there is time for writing, when there is laundry to fold, dishes to wash, meals to prepare, children to raise. The urge for community found in blogging is mostly what drives her, makes her long for Allume.

But the turtle's head has retracted back into her shell. And she wonders, what does God see from where He sits? What's the big picture? Where is He leading? And will she follow willing if it doesn't look like she wants it to?

STOP

I wrote in my head all day, but none of it made sense. Not even sure this does... But I WROTE!


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Summer Fun

Sponge Balls, water balls, summer fun, reusable water balloons, Sponge Ball Water Fights!

I don't know what you want to call them, but when I saw the idea (on Pinterest, of course) I knew I wanted to try it out!  My kids are always looking to use the hose when it gets hot, but I think this might be a fun alternative.  Problem is, when you have four kids, you can't just make 2 or 3... so I had to buy a lot of sponges. I really should have gone to the Dollar Store first... If we have lots of fun with this, I might check there next!

Anyway, the original idea came from Martha... here is the original pin!

It seems to be getting harder and harder to find plain old sponges without the scrub side of it, so this project cost more than I wanted it to, but I think that it will be a long term fun, so I'm okay with that!!

I actually bought 24 sponges Total!  So you need sponges, string (or dental floss), and scissors. I confess, I did not get exact and measure and mark with pen and ruler... I just eyeballed it and cut each sponge into 5 strips lengthwise.

Then I assembled with 12 strips of sponge and dental floss.  Wrap it around, squeeze it tight, and knot it!  I found that it was easier to use a little volunteer finger to hold down the first loop through to help keep it tight for the knot.

Then I filled a bucket with water and threw all the sponges in

and then I snuck outside and waterbombed my kids!  I even let them get me back... and then I said "No More!" and pulled out the camera to try to capture some shots of the fun!

All loaded up and ready to go!

I never checked the damage, but I know at least one sponge ball fell apart and I gathered the pieces for re-assembly. Considering that I made 10, I think that's a pretty good ratio. I am looking forward to school being out, so the kids can do this again... maybe even this weekend!

Finding fun ways to refresh on hot summer days, Works for me, so I'm linking up to Works for Me Wednesday.
Because I found the idea on Pinterest, I am linking up to Pin for the Wednesdays!
Also linking up to Made by you Mondays with Skip to my Lou.

Mother Letters

So, I received this book about 2 weeks ago... and I fell in love from the beginning. These women... these mothers, they spin art with their words and make me fall in love with being a mom again. They weep with you through the hard stuff, rejoice in the victories, and laugh with you over the messes.  They speak right to my heart. 

So I wanted to share a few of my favorites with you... and then I want to strongly encourage you to go buy a copy for yourself! You won't regret it... and the proceeds from the book support a wonderful cause... The Mercy House!

10 (of many) lines I highlighted in Mother Letters

1. "I bet nobody else loses their temper eight times before school starts." Mary Carver  

 Yes, Mary, someone else does... and it's me! And I'm thrilled to know that I am not alone! :)

2. "The laundry basket that is never empty--my basket is piled so full that you can't see the basket." Jessica Turner

I want to take a picture of my laundry basket right now and add it to the post, but that would take to long... but seriously, you can NOT see the basket, towels, shirts, etc hanging all over the edge!

3. "parenting with intention requires intention." Robin Dance 

Seriously, I know this in my head... but intention requires discipline and motivation and planning and consistency!!! And that is sooo hard! But I will keep working at it, thanks to the encouragement of other moms!

4. "I am learning that being a mother isn't about being perfect, but it is about trusting your instincts and making confident decisions." Heather Manifold

yeah, I'm not so good at letting go of perfection, or being confident in my decisions, but I am slowly learning that although I'm not perfect, I am the perfect mom for these kids... God and I are working together on this thing.

5. "Revel in the snuggles after dark that provide the chance to hear the softly spoken thoughts from the bottoms of their souls. Breath them in deeply." Kari Clark

Sometimes I just want to punch out the time clock when it's their bedtime... but sometimes they need just one more hug from mom... one more reassurance that all is well... one more story they need to tell. And on a rare occasion, I get it right!

6. "Yet I find myself the mother to four little ones who, to my amazement, continually forgive me." Rachel McAdams

Yes, Yes, Yes... a child's continual ability to forgive... even for the same thing over and over is amazing to me!  Where do we let go of that and hang on to wrongs done to us? My kids are a wonderful example of forgiveness to me... just not always to each other! :)

7. "Isaiah 40:11 promises us, 'He tends his flock like a shepherd; he gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young."  "The God of the universe, The Master Creator,... whispers, 'Mom, I know it's hard, But I will lead you. And I will lead you gently'." Shannon Lowe

Oh, some days it's so good to know that He is carrying me... and carrying my little ones... and gently leading me, each step of the way!! Thank you, Jesus!

8. "Enjoy every single moment. The good, the bad, the beautiful, the ugly, the inspiring, the not-so-glamorous moments. And thank God through it all."  Meghan Matt

I am learning to thank God through it all... maybe not in the middle of the ugly moments, but to look back and appreciate their part in the tapestry of our lives.

9. "instead of making 'to-do' lists we should make 'people to love' lists. Nearly everything we do affects someone." Brooke Bruderer

Oh, this is good advice! Who cares if my laundry gets folded... if I have failed to LOVE my kids!!

10. "When we serve and love our children, we also serve and love our God. The trials of motherhood are not only opportunities to train our children, but they are opportunities to grow in the Lord as well." Amber Oliver

Every day, I have to remind myself that I am not reading books to my kids, folding laundry for my family, scrubbing toilets for the company, making meals for my husband... I am doing these things FOR God and to God.


Oh, there is so much more than just these ten points... I had to limit myself, so I can link up to Top Ten Tuesday! :)  This book was such a joy to read... and it includes some great mom-submitted photos that will make you laugh and cry... :)



So, go check it out... you don't want to miss it!
Happy Belated Mother's Day to all the great moms out there!!

Project 52 --Still Life

Life with 4 kids isn't often STILL, but this week's Project 52 theme is Still Life. So when I think of Still Life, this is what I think of... :)

a coffee/cookie break!

and by the way, Project 52's Linky home has moved; be sure to check it out!

Previous Project 52 entries
Fiesta
Green
Things That Grow
Sacrifice
Foolin' Around