Little Things

You know there are times when I go all out and rearrange a room and drastically change its layout. Sometimes that can take hours or even days...or longer...to ever reach completion.

Then there are times that I do something little...something that takes just a few minutes, but makes a big difference in the room or just in my attitude about the room.

This project is a little of both. I found these picture frames at IKEA (oh, how I love and miss IKEA) and had a fun idea to put pictures of my family eating in the frames and hang it in my kitchen. I gathered pictures, but fell short of the nine pictures needed to fill the frames. I don't remember what happened, but after Meredith was born, I quickly gathered pictures of our family - really any pictures and filled the rest of the spots. That is how the frames stayed for the next FIVE years!!!

Here's the killer part, even after we moved I still hung them in my kitchen knowing that one day they would contain food pictures. But every time I walked past them (a million times a day) they would just whisper to me, "still haven't finished this project." or "see just another project you started but haven't finished" or "so you have pictures of four children - six children are too many for you to handle". Silly how a picture frame can breed such guilt!!!

Well, I am here to say that last week I took 10 minutes of an afternoon and finished my project. I know, ten minutes. Seriously, all that grief for just ten minutes.

The difference? I had to give up. Give up my original idea and allow God to give me a new idea. How many times do we hold on to an original idea when God has something better for us to experience? Too many in my life!

The end result...

...those are my six beautiful children that God gave me and intended for me to be the mother of, all eating their first birthday cake. The spots in between are some of our families favorite recipes or recipes written in someone special's handwriting.

There is my dad's mother's meatloaf recipe; my aunt's Sweet Potato Souffle; my mother's mother's Scotch Shortbread; my mother's BBQ sauce; my Texas chili; and my friend Elaine's banana bread. Not to play favorites, but my favorite is my grandmother's shortbread. As far as shortbread goes, it really isn't very good. In fact it resembles my play dough recipe. But she would make them into balls and press them down and put a red or green m&m in the middle. I would eat around the m&m and save it for the last bite. And the recipe is written by her. I'm sure she is now making Christmas shortbread cookies for Jesus!

And tonight, I made my other grandmother's meatloaf. It just says comfort and homey and is perfect for this cold day with fresh snow on the ground.

A simple project, made complicated by me.

Consistency...or not...but maybe...

I have thought long and hard about this post...so long and so hard that it has taken me ten days to write. I know...crazy!

Here's the thing, I have discovered that everything I struggle with comes down to two things - pride and consistency. And since no one really wants to talk about pride, I'm focusing on consistency.

I read my Bible, but not consistently.
I clean my kitchen, but not consistently.
I discipline my kids, but not consistently.
I pay attention to my husband, but not consistently.
I care for my friends, but not consistently.
I exercise, but not consistently.
I am thankful, but not consistently.
I am generous, but not consistently.

You get the idea.

About the only thing I am consistent about is caring about me. That's the pride...we aren't talking about that right now. Well, I'm also consistent about eating chocolate.

So I have been spending time in November developing my consistency. I have been setting aside time to read my Bible. Sometimes that means I read with Jeffrey laying on my bed next to me. Sometimes that means I read with Morgan asking me questions every two seconds, "Mommy, what is your favorite color? What is your next favorite? And you like pink too?" Here's what I figure...we are supposed to meditate on His word all day. Not just carve out 30 min of utter uninterrupted silence in which to focus on just what He has to say to us. And we are supposed to pray without ceasing. I'm sorry, I am a mother of six beautiful, but very needy children and the wife to one amazing, but very busy husband. Some days I'm just happy to take a shower without correcting a child or answering questions. To find time to read and study and pray seems impossible.

So I picked a book of the Bible and am reading maybe a chapter, maybe just a few verses each morning. After I am dressed and have eaten breakfast - otherwise I fall asleep on God. For me, this is the time of day that I can focus. But it also meant that I said no to just about everything that happens first thing in the morning. I knew I needed to get this part of my life under control. Most mornings, I have read my Bible by 9am - its not like it has taken me forever.

The other thing I have done is started writing out what I am praying for. And then those things are on my mind all day, and I can pray for them throughout the day.

The funny thing is that as I have started to become consistent with these things, the other things are starting to fall into place. Not perfectly, but its a start. I am keeping up with laundry. I'm keeping the kitchen clean. I am focusing on talking with my kids not just disciplining them (harder to do with the four year old - God love him!!) I'm trying to find little ways to show my husband I love him and am so thankful for all he does for our family.

The other thing that has happened is that I am reading my Bible and seeing themes without a Bible study aide. Don't get me wrong, there is nothing wrong with devotionals - I think many of them are wonderful and really help. But I wanted it to be just me and God. Not Oswald Chambers, not Chuck Swindoll, not (gasp!) Beth Moore. Just a conversation between God and me.

This week I have been reading through Ezekiel. I have no clue why I chose to start there. Really it is quite the depressing book of the Bible. God has asked Ezekiel to lay on his side for 390 days, to eat food cooked over dung, and to not appear to be mourning after the death of his wife. Not the most encouraging. God has pronounced judgement on just about every people in existence (okay not sure that is true, but it seems like it), but here is the cool part...God's goal with all of this is so that we will know that He is the Lord! That is my goal... I want to know that He is MY Lord!

My New Favorite

When the world seems to be crumbling around me, this song says it all...



I'm not saying life is horrible, but sometimes our circumstances can be overwhelming. Then the next day they aren't so much. I've discovered it is all perspective. Do I have a kingdom perspective? Do I remember that life here on earth is temporary? Do I remember all the blessings God has given me? Do I trust that He loves me? Do I trust Him to provide for me - physically, emotionally, spiritually?

Nothing outward should effect my trust in Him!

Weekend Wedding

Last weekend my cousin, Kristin, a cousin I remember being born, got married. Talk about making me feel old!!! On top of that, I took my thirteen year old daughter to the wedding with me! It was such a special time of visiting with family and I think Mikalah enjoyed the time of feeling like she was "grown up".

Looking over the pictures we took, I realized I need to be better at taking pictures. I am glad that my cousin's wife (would that make her my cousin-in-law?) was taking a ton of pictures too!

The view from our plane ride to Minneapolis.

When we arrived at the hotel we were greeted with lots of family. The hotel manager gave us a list of local restaurants. Perkins was on that list. As soon as I saw that I knew that was where the crew would want to eat. Yummy food, homey atmosphere. Not Bucca di Beppo, but at least we were staring at large naked women while we ate!

When we got back to the hotel the game between the Yankees and Twins was on - don't remember which game, but the one that went into many extra innings. My brother, Jon is a Yankees fan, but the hotel was full of a football team that was vocally cheering for the Twins. Here is Grampy, his sister, Aunt Ellen, and his good friend, Nessie, watching the game.

My cousin's wife, Amanda. She's the one with the awesome camera that took lots of pictures. It was great to get to spend some time with her and get to know her more. If you want to see more pictures, bug her for them!Even though we were celebrating Kristin's wedding, it was also Grampy's 85th birthday.Nessie, Cousin Sean, Cousin David (married to Amanda), and Grampy. However, we discovered there were many October birthdays and Grampy wanted to spread the joy!

Uncle Kenny - next year he turns 60! That makes me feel a little younger!Nessie. Grampy brought the crown all the way from Jersey with him. What a fun prop!My mom, Sherry. It was so good to see her! I wish we could have had more time to visit, but I know that she was visiting with family she hadn't seen in over two years. And I know I will see her soon...I hope. This was her 31st anniversary of her 29th birthday!Grampy's sister, Aunt Ellen - she turned 80!That night we - the cousins - went to the Mall of America. We really only saw about 1/4 of the mall, but we did get to enjoy some of the amusement area in the middle.

Jon, Sean, and Dave chose to try the rope course. Basically get into a harness, clip yourself to a cable, and climb to the ceiling following beams, ropes, and rope bridges. Especially since both Sean and Dave are nervous about heights. I think Jon gave them confidence. Of course he was confident because he couldn't see. His glasses dropped fairly near the beginning. Thankfully we were able to find them and he could still wear them.Hard to see, but Dave at halfway back down.My sister, Juliet, and I and our purses at the MOA.The cousins! Jess, Jon, Dave, Sean, Me, Amanda, Mikalah, and Juliet.

That night we got to stay up way too late and played games. It was a very neat time to connect and realize that even though we don't have a lot of contact on a regular basis, we can really just have fun together. I am so thankful for grandparents that instilled a wonderful family heritage.

Now...on to the wedding!

Cousin Scott, Kristin's baby brother. He's now taller than her!Kristin & Ryan. The wedding was at a country club and we watched the ceremony from our reception tables. It was nice to have a comfortable seat and a drink while you watched. Pleasant setting for a wedding. And cost effective! Bonus points!It was very fun to watch Grampy and Nessie together. They took good care of each other. Amanda got a cute picture of them holding hands...again...Amanda...we are waiting for your pics now!!!Kristin and Ryan are such a cute couple. I'm looking forward to getting to know them as a couple. Sean and Uncle Kenny - you can tell they are father and son!Kristin and her sister, Amy. Talk about family resemblance! Kristin made her dress - beautiful! And the brides maids all wore "little black dresses". Finally a brides maid dress that might get worn again!On their way to Hawaii.After the wedding Mikalah and I headed to the airport and home. The Colts were playing Sun night football and we were able to watch until halftime. They were trying to board the plane with 45 seconds left in the the half (which we all know means 5 minutes) and no one would board. We were all waiting to see Peyton drive the Colts down for another touchdown. We actually left 15 minutes late. Priorities people!!!

New Hair

Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow

I know I have posted about Morgan's sweet curls. I just can't bear to cut them! I just know that once they are cut, they won't come back! They are sweet ringlets! Can you see them?

But alas, the decision has been taken out of my hands! This afternoon, Morgan was cutting paper into tiny shreds - a common activity in our house and one that neither Mike nor I can stand. However, this time she must have decided that she didn't want hair in her eyes and cut off her pony tails...both of them!!! It is about six inches of hair gone.

Nicole, the most wonderful lady that cuts my hair, assures me that we can do a sweet emergency cut for her tomorrow. I'll post an after picture then...

Travelling

Back in the Denver airport - love the free wifi!

I am headed home from MOPS convention & then a few way-to-short days in Indy. There were so many people I didn't have time to see! I hated that! But I was thankful for the few I did connect with.

You see lots of interesting things when you are travelling. The lady that flew behind me on one flight wearing her pjs and big pink fluffy bathrobe was one of the odd ones.

The flight I just got off of...well, two hours ago...two more hours to this layover to go...I sat in the row behind the exit row. I have no problem with sitting in the exit row and on this flight I think I would have preferred to. The woman sitting in the exit row was probably about 65. The flight attendant asked her if she was okay lifting the 40 lbs door and throwing it out over the wing. She said yes...WHAT??? There is no way she could have done that - she may have broken a long hot pink fake nail or lost one of the seven gold rings she was wearing on her fingers!

But have no fear, my safety was reassured after she had three OJ and vodkas.