Hermosa familia

This family stayed with us over the weekend. They are in the middle of making a huge life-altering decision, whether to move out of the country or not. Through teary eyes they told us amazing stories and showed beautiful pictures of Honduras. They are torn between loving their family, friends, and life in America and being led to a special place that they feel called. The people embraced them while they were there and they told stories of a woman that threw her hands up and praised God when handed the equivalent of a $5 bill, a man that invited them into their dirt floor home and served them a supper of tortillas and beans, the translator that couldn't wait to tell her friends that she knew how to fix American caserolas, the neighbors that shared a yard and had children the same age, and many more. We only got to talk to them for a few hours, but I was enthralled. My favorite part was the sprinkling of Spanish that the kids used like Elisa rubbing her eyes and whispering "Buenos Días" while coming down the steps in the morning. Say a prayer that God will open doors for them and give them a clear answer of His will in their life.

Sk8ing again...

Macy's "friend" and Drew's hero

Funny how much more attention we get when there are two teenage girls with us at the skate park...

Nazarite Vow

Today at church we heard about the church at Ephesus that had lost their first love. One quick thing that was mentioned in Acts 18:18 was that Paul cut his hair before going to Ephesus. He had taken the Nazarite vow (Numbers 6) and that included not cutting their hair and abstaining from alcohol. You know Samson? He was a famous Nazarite. (Delilah, you're so mean.) The minister's opinion to why he cut it was because Paul did not want to seem hypocritical on preaching the end of the law through Christ and then still be practicing it himself. I like Beth Moore's opinion in her book To Live is Christ. Paul had just been in Corinth and the city was immoral with pagan practices, perversion, and lust. He had taken the Nazarite vow, because a) he was a Jewish Christian and at times he still applied Jewish practices as wise choices, not legalities and b) he was faced with a difficult situation and needed extra help and concentration on God. She says if they would forget, all they needed to do was glance in the mirror and remember their vow. Do you picture Paul primping in front of a mirror? Not me. Anyways, he took the vow for extra help while at Corinth, then on his way to Ephesus, he cut it off signifying the end of the vow. Okay, the funniest part and the reason I told this is because Drew leaned toward me grinning, when he heard this and said "Cool, Mom! I'm a Nazarite! Can I grow my hair longer, pleeeeease?" This coming from my son who refused to sign the "Say No to Drugs and Alcohol" pledge at school because he would like to drink a beer someday when he's older.

P.S. He did finally sign the pledge after a frantic phone call from another mom who's child didn't sign and we explained the legal drinking age and that this pledge was for kids.

Lights Out, America

Are you participating in Earth Hour tonight from 8:30-9:30? We are attempting it, even though we're expecting overnight company and I'm trying to finish getting ready. I finished the breakfast casserole and my church ironing by lantern. Nate's getting some guitar practice in by a teensy light from the window. The boys have a lantern with their Tech Deck stuff and are thinking it's pretty cool and want to do it every night. Now I'm getting ready to do a little Beth Moore by candlelight. Good night, ya'll.

Batik blocks

I've been looking at these blocks in my windowsill for years now. Until I watched this video of Lotta Jansdotter on Etsy, I thought the process was going to be a lot harder. My sister-in-law's 30th birthday is today, and because she is the one who got me collecting them, I wanted to do something fun with them.I used gold linen and black fabric paint, rolled paint on block, and stamped the design. It was fun and easy and I can't wait to do some other projects. (dress for Meg, tablecloth, hand towels, etc.)

I used the fabric to make a simple messenger bag with an inside pocket out of Amy Butler fabric.

I added her gift, a Beth Moore workbook, and sewed my tag on handle, and project complete.

Oh yeah, out of my practice piece, I made Katie a headscarf.

Party time...

Menu:
Straw Hats
Soft Pretzels with Cream Cheese
Mixed Fruit Tray (from Grandma)
Jellybeans (from Grandma)
Cheesecake Squares (from Grandma)
Bakerella's Cake Pops


Finn and I had so much fun making these. He thought that they were way cooler than a cake. Mainly because he got to make them into balls and jam sticks into them. It was like Play-Doh that you could eat.

I realized at the last minute that I needed something to hold up the pops. I nervously called Nate two hours before everyone arrived and told him I needed a barnwood board with holes drilled in it. He said, "Absolutely, you know I would do anything for you." I thought Awww, how sweet, I figured he would be irritated. Then he said. "Baby, I would walk through fire if it meant keeping you happy." And I began to wonder. Then he said, "I would walk barefoot over glass so that you can have everything you could ever want." Then, I realized, he was being extremely sarcastic.

Just so you don't get me confused with Pioneer Woman:

This is my kitchen when I'm cooking.

No more stitches.

Update: Finn's stitches are now G-O-N-E, thanks to Aunt Alisha (a dental assistant) who came and removed them for us. She was very patient and brave for doing this for us. He whimpered a few times but stayed pretty happy through it all. He got a little nervous, but she would let him get up and take a break before cutting another one. It was so much better than going back to the hospital. BIG thank you.

I lift mine eyes unto the hills...

Praise You In This Storm - Cas...

Today in Stepping Up, I heard about songs greatly enhancing our ability to memorize. Also, songs can express things that we dare not say out loud and their ability to break through our hard exteriors. When I first read Psalm 121, the psalm that Beth M. asks us to memorize, I realized that I already knew the first two verses, thanks to this song. When I first heard and loved this song, I had no idea that Casting Crowns quoted this psalm. I only knew that it ministered to what my soul needed, and I still cannot listen without tears pooling in my eyes. Now the song is extra special, because it not only ministers to me every time I listen, it is a song of my pilgrimage.
Anyone else have a favorite?

Psalms of Ascent

Click on picture to watch video introduction

After a two week break from Beth Moore, I have begun my next study. I'm going all the way this time. I downloaded the video sessions from Lifeway and have started the homework. The theme is celebrating our pilgrimage. (Hebrews 11:13-16) It covers the Psalms 120 through 134, which are called the Psalms of Ascent or Songs of Degrees. The Jewish people traveled to Jerusalem three times a year to celebrate feasts and they sang these 15 psalms on the 15 steps of Solomon's temple and while they were traveling. I worked on Psalm 122 NLT today and I appreciated the prayer for Jerusalem. I thought the prayer could apply to our country, our churches, our families, and our home.

I was glad when they said to me, "Let us go to the house of the LORD." And now we are standing here inside your gates, O Jerusalem. Jerusalem is a well-built city, knit together as a single unit. All the people of Israel - the LORD's people - make their pilgrimage here. They come to give thanks to the name of the LORD as the law requires. Here stands the thrones where judgment is given, the thrones of the dynasty of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. May all who love this city prosper. O Jerusalem, may there be peace within your walls and prosperity in your palaces. For the sake of my family and friends, I will say "Peace be with you." For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek what is best for you, O Jerusalem.

Peace be with you.

Pretending it's summer...

Blocked trail.

Boys. I'll never understand why this is cool.

Sandcastles in March.

The walk through the woods was a great reminder of God's faithfulness to replenish the earth after a long winter. We pushed the warm weather a little, but the boys had a great time.

For, lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing birds is come, and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land; the fig tree putteth forth her green figs, and the vines with the tender grape give a good smell. Song of Solomon 2:11

Hallelujah!

My baby is (gulp!) five years old...

Happy Birthday, Finn. You are an amazing boy that we are so blessed to have in our family. We enjoy the glimpses of Jesus that you have inside of you. Thank you for your heart that is big enough to carry all the ones you love inside. Don't stop loving your brother, forgiving easily, helping others, giving me tight hugs and "smoochy-woochy" kisses, praying without embarrassment, telling me "I love you" at least twenty times before bed, caring for your friends, and learning about Jesus. I can't believe you're starting school in August, I will miss having you around all day. Praising God for the boy you are and praying for the man you will be...

PBR and FITA

Nate took the boys to the rodeo Saturday night as part of Finn's birthday gift. I went out with friends, which was a dilemma for me because both were blog-worthy events and only one camera.

The girls and I went to Valley View, Fork in the Alley, by far the coolest restaurant in Roanoke, and Mill Mountain Star. Luckily, there was a hottie there that offered to take some pictures for us. Thanks, Nate, for the patience that is required to snap the "perfect" shot.

Tracy, you are still an awesome and beautiful friend. I am so blessed to know you. I can't believe that it's been ten years since I moved away, it felt like no time has passed. Kim, it was awesome getting to meet you. Maybe some of the Virginia "fellers" took notice.... Thanks, Donnelle, for the invite. We need to get babysitters again sometime. I loved getting to spend time with all three of you. I'm still giggling to myself at things we talked about. Thanks for making the trip down T&K, come back anytime.

Men Working

For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withereth the grass... James 1:11
Yeah, no kidding.
Nate seeded his devil patch of grass on Saturday. He's tried sod, fertilizer, and reseeding to no avail. That patch just enjoys being an eyesore full of two inch weed patches and red mud. He's determined that it WILL grow this time, so he added more fill dirt and fenced in the area with CAUTION tape to keep dogs and boys away. It looks like a crime scene. Thanks, Ryan, for your help. Hopefully, this grass will grow.

To the jokester who so kindly added the signs, you've provided a lot of entertainment for the family. Paybacks are in order if we could just figure out who....

Sorting, Folding, and Cutting

I tackled Laundry Mountain today. The peak of it reached my waist. Nate wondered if I needed a map to find my way through it. I began with the clean? socks on top and ended with the rumpled dresses on bottom. Folding the last washcloth was more thrilling to me than being on top of Mount Everest. Sometimes I say a prayer for the person whose clothes I am folding, but I finally quit after the fiftieth time I said "Lord, bless these little feet and keep Finn safe when he wears these socks."

I also am working on a new maternity dress pattern for a friend of mine. She wanted something different so that means starting from scratch. We're going for the look of view E

I think the pattern just exploded due to exhaustion.

From: Drew

Every day, me and my brother when I get home from school we go down to the pond and catch some salamanders in our underwear.So far I've caught 10 salamanders. Then we go to our fort and cut some trees down with a ax and a old timer saw.After that is done we go to the house and play with tech decks.Then we play with our light sabers. Then we go to our fort again. March 19,09 today we made a hide out close to the fort so no one could see it.The fort was made by Finn,Jack,Will, Clark, and me Drew.

Not what I had planned...

Brave little Finn.

Special visitor.

This actually looks peaceful with the glow and all, but trust me, it wasn't.

Finn. March 2009.

Deja vu. Drew. October 2002.

I've never quite understood the term "Lord willing" as much as I did today. My plans were made. Finn and I were going to story hour and McDonald's. I called two people and told them I would see them at the library, and ten minutes later, my plans changed. Finn was getting out of the bath, stepped up on the side, and was preparing to make his usual superman leap onto the rug. He slipped and fell against the commode (Finn uses this word thanks to his southern roots, I say toilet) and put a nice-sized gash on forehead. Thankfully, my motherly instinct kicked in and I did not panic. Just kidding, I called my mother-in-law. She drove us to hospital and stayed with us the whole time. The end results were an irritated doctor, a sweaty nurse, queasy Grandma, teary Mom, busted eardrums, terrified little boy, and 12 stitches.

Big thanks to Grandma Lucille for being our ambulance, waitress, text messenger, and supporter.