Summa-summa-summa time!

Been thinking a lot about summer lately.  Only 4 more weeks, yay!!!  I enjoyed a conversation with a dear friend today and she shared this article with me. What an encouragement that even just a little planning will help foster an enjoyable summer for all. As ideas pop into my brain, I try to jot them down in my master list notebook so I won't forget.

In our culture,  it is a temptation to over-program our children, sometimes without even realizing it.  I think that the fear of boredom and that somehow our kids might "miss out" on some special activity, camp or experience can be overwhelming. I have felt the pressure even more now that I have two school-aged children. Our parents small group at church is working through this material on maintaining margin. It is SO challenging and encouraging. I highly recommend it if you find yourself struggling in this area.

In summers past, it's been pretty low key around here. (Except last summer when we were in the middle of a move and re-model.) The idea of enjoying a relaxed, steady-paced summer day is so appealing to me. In the busyness of life, I think we all crave some down-time. Even if it takes a couple of weeks of redirecting the occasional "I'm bored!" surely the rest and relationships built will be worth it.   I can tell the kids are ready for some down time, too.  Today Graham said "mom, let's not go anywhere today.  I just want to stay home in my pajamas!"  You got it sugar. 

We have a few activities planned to break up the routine like a short roadtrip, Vacation Bible School, and swim lessons...but other than that we're going to make space for freedom.  Freedom to play, freedom to think, freedom to create, freedom to rest and be.

I fully expect the first week of debriefing from the rush-rush-rush, to be a little tricky. To encourage the kids, I plan to have a list of "what-to-do-when-you-don't-know-what-to-do's" posted on the fridge with ideas for self-directed, imaginative play.  Things like: blow bubbles on the porch, playdough, re-read an old favorite, play catch with Charly, listen to a book on cd . I'll probably schedule in a little mommy-directed activity once or twice too.  For example, when we are cooking together or reading books together. 

Speaking of simpler days, I have to link up to this post.  And these thoughts are also very encouraging as we strive to simplify all of our days and create healthy margin for our families.

What are you looking forward to this summer?

Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.

Proverbs 19:21

Sweet Tooth

techno-crisis

I'm having a little blogger crisis over here.  After 3 years of blogging, I've maxed out my g**gle photo storage space.  So I'm trying to figure out how to get more and how much more??  Looks like the only way is to cough up a little dough.  I really prefer not to do this, but it would be nice to have an online "back-up" for photo storage.  Sorting through all of the options...any suggestions or advice on how to keep blogging for free (or for very little?)

Living and Active

Mulling over Psalm 94 and 95 this morning.  These passages are interesting and thought provoking in light of current events. I got to them by searching "vengance" and "revenge" in Bible Gateway.  Evil is God's to avenge, and I'm wrestling with all of this today. 

I realize that many Americans and many in the world feel relief knowing that this notoriously evil person has perished.  Honestly,  I'm not overwhelmed with relief as much as I am with growing concern, and an urgent desire to pray for God's will to be accomplished.  I just can't imagine that this person's demise will lead to a more peaceful world?   My heart is also overwhelmed with grief for those folks who lost loved ones in 9/11 and in this long awful war.

Dan and I were in Jamaica just 9 months after 9/11, leading a group of teenagers on a mission trip there.  I will never, ever forget some of the images there.  It was my first time to travel "abroad", and what an eye-opener.  Sentiments like like "Go *sama!" and "D*wn with the U.S." and other such anti-American rant were scrawled across car windshields, storefronts, even outside of the tiny shanty dwellings where many Jamaicans abide.  This blew my mind.  Why?  For the first time, I was able to witness and consider the impact we Americans have on other countries.  We spent almost the entire trip cleaning mounds and mounds of cruise ship waste from the otherwise beautiful Jamaican beaches.  On the second day of cleaning up bottlecaps, plastic flatware and other junk that literally overtook these local beaches,  it hit me.  Is this what the global community thinks of us Americans?  As consumers who "use" others for our ends?  I hope not.  One thing I do know.  I want to hold all of these events in tension with God's Word.  How can I truly "love my neighbor"?

We can take comfort in is God's Word.  It is truly living and active.  (Hebrews 4:12)  I'm reminded of this as I run to scripture for peace and truth.  Here are a couple of verses that stood out from Psalm 94.

20 Can unjust leaders claim that God is on their side—
leaders whose decrees permit injustice?
21 They gang up against the righteous
and condemn the innocent to death.
22 But the Lord is my fortress;
my God is the mighty rock where I hide.

My heart is grateful for the protection God's provided in our military and special forces as they physically put their lives on the line to protect our freedom, day in and day out.

These passages from scripture are a stark reminder to my heart that ultimately, God alone is our fortress, he is our hiding place in times such as these.  Whether the battle is for freedom from terror, or the battle is one waged in our hearts to overcome struggles, the LORD GOD is our mighty fortress, our place of help and hope for life beyond this earth.  What areas of my heart need to be surrendered in order to fully enjoy his protection and peace here and now?

Anniversary Gift

Dan and I are not big "gifters" when it comes to expressing our love to one another.  I mean we love each other, but I know that "gifts" does not qualify for a major love language for either of us.  But this year, I was inspired to make (yes make!) something special for Dan for our anniversary.  

I love the Nester, this is no secret.  I love that she is so resourceful and decorates by shopping her house and is thrifty and makes curtains out of random textiles without sewing them and.....well, you get the picture!  Plus, her yard sale rocked.  But sometimes, once in a blue moon, she features something really cool, something I think I want to incorperate in our home that is WAAAY out of my price-range.  So what does this have to do at ALL with our anniversary? We (like Nester) have moved quite a few times in our married life.  Not all of these residences are by any means amazing, beautiful dwellings, but one thing each abode had in common.  Our family loved and grew there.  Something like This typography seemed like such a neat way to commemorate these places where we once called "home". 

Only one tiny road block to my must-have-one-of-a-kind-custom-typography.  A 12x12 piece was out of my budget.   Time to get those creative juices flowing!  

I gathered up:

• a $7 print I found at Target, it was the perfect sized frame for what I needed.  (Approx 9"x9")
• tiny alphabet stampset that I picked up months ago on J*Anns $1 aisle
• white, red and black cardstock that I already had
• pop dot adhesive stickers that I had in my stash

That's it!  Here's how I did it.

 

Here's the frame in all of it's original glory.  Sorry, I only like you for your outsides.



After I ripped the back paper off with an exacto knife. 


I stamped letters onto the paper, hand cut them, and stuck each letter on with a pop-dot, which added a little dimension, even under the glass.  Very scientific.  :)  Then I framed her up!



The finished product, it's not perfect...but I think I like it that way!

 

On our way out for a quiet meal for two.  A rare and treasured occasion!  :)

He has risen!

In CHRIST we have the hope of eternal life!  Hallelujah! 

Happy Easter, dear friends and family, we love you!

13 months

Random fun fact: Yesterday's post marked my 200th post!  :)  And this month marks 3 years of  blogging.  I love having a little spot to record for posterity and to share a bit of our lives with you, our friends and family.  {tap, tap, tap}  I'm talking to you!  Anybody out there?  :)

I picked up this basket at T*rget about a month ago.  It came with the little chalkboard paint tag on it already, I love that!  So far it's been a hamper, a blanket basket (current use) and now it will double as a photo prop.  My favorite stuff is stuff that can be used lots of ways.  (Wasn't that a profound thought?!  :)  ha!)  But seriously, if it's gonna take up space and collect dust that I have to clean off, it better be a useful dust-collecting-space-taker, right!? 

I thought it would be fun to have a monthly photo "prop" for Camille's 2nd year of life. I started this with our silver chalkboard-painted platter when she was teeny. At 3 months, we packed up and moved...and I still can't find that dern platter! I continued to take monthly photos, but without a prop.

She was so cute posing in the basket. After updating the chalkboard label thingy, I opened up the slider doors to let the sunlight pour in.  Then, I draped the blanket you see in the basket over the back of the sofa for a little make-shift backdrop and plopped my baby in the basket.  The end. :)