• 08.30.2007 Phonics, Distractions, and the Word of God
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    My eldest has a way with words. He says the funniest things…that seem so sophisticated for a five year old. He is an avid inquisitor and investigator of all things unexplainable, making him a studious but easily distracted homeschooler. The rule studied today in phonics was: “if there are two consonants preceding a suffix, the vowel is short; if there is one consonant preceding the suffix, the vowel is long.” It’s fascinating for me, as English is my second language and I really never learned any rules for English at all. Caleb is a good kid. He does what I ask, and for the most part, has a great attitude doing it. But phonics can be challenging–row upon row of words to practice reading followed by sentences to use them in. I’m the one that gets impatient at times: “rid-ding, not ri-ding.” It’s not enough for Caleb to just know […]

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  • 08.28.2007 Geranium on Canvas
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    This painting of a geranium was done in honor of my friend Gen’s 35th birthday. She is redecorating her living/dining room in dark gold and red tones. I love how this painting marries the glamour of gold with the neighborliness of the geranium. How all the more perfect that the meaning of the geranium is “true friend.”

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  • 08.27.2007 Devotion and Discipline
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    My kids love family devotions. That is the time every morning after breakfast, when the family piles onto the couch with our Bibles and start our day praying and reading together. We usually begin with a story out of Liam’s Read And Learn Bible. Then we read out of Caleb’s The One Year Bible for Children (Tyndale Kids) and also a page out of A Faith to Grow On, which teaches through the fundamentals of our faith.  We talk about all that we have read, and usually the kids ask to sing a song. (And if you haven’t experienced what that is like, go to my video pod below, and click on “The Lord’s Prayer.”) Growing up family devotions often became a forced and unknowingly legalistic ritual. We could not miss a single day without feeling guilt and concern over our spiritual welfare. My parents were young Christians and did […]

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  • 08.25.2007 Naptime Sewing
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    Ever since I discovered Bend-the-Rules Sewing: The Essential Guide to a Whole New Way to Sew, I have been all keyed up to craft and sew. I’ve always enjoyed sewing, but have never learned to follow patterns (as with cooking.) This book is perfect…it gives simple directions for super stylish projects that don’t rely completely on impeccable sewing skills. It teaches you all the things you’ve wanted to know about sewing, but didn’t know who to ask. My favorite projects from the book are those that elevate domesticity to an all new level of detail and cuteness. Napkins, coasters, tea cozies, aprons, pillows, just to name a few. I sewed an apron and a clutch today, mostly during naptime. The much coveted afternoon naptime was cut short significantly by the three-year old’s resistance to going down, and then by the one year old’s early wake on the wrong side of […]

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  • 08.24.2007 "The Unsearchable Riches of Christ"–Ephesians 3:8
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    Charles Spurgeon blows my mind. He puts into words the very thoughts I cannot form. I just had to share this with you–may it be a blessing and anchor for your day… “My Master has riches beyond the count of arithmetic, the measurement of reason, the dream of imagination, or the eloquence of words. They are unsearchable! You may look, and study, and weigh, but Jesus is a greater Saviour than you think Him to be when your thoughts are at the greatest. My Lord is more ready to pardon than you to sin, more able to forgive than you to transgress. My master is more willing to supply your wants than you are to confess them. Never tolerate low thoughts of my Lord Jesus. When you put the crown on His head, you will only crown Him with silver when He deserves gold.” –Charles Spurgeon, Morning and Evening: Based […]

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  • 08.21.2007 Make Your Own Erasers
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    Homeschooling with three kids under five is a challenge. One is always trying to concentrate on math, one’s always concentrating on making a mess throughout the house, and one has no concentration at all. It’s joy and chaos all at the same time. There’s not a day that goes by that I don’t ask myself, “What was I thinking?” The feeling usually subsides as the drama of the moment wanes and we are off to a new adventure in learning. Today was the second day of first grade homeschooling. We got through with no permanent damage to the house, all fingers and toes intact, and everyone still enjoying school at home. To reward the kids (and myself) for a good attitude, we pulled out a special arts and crafts project we’ve been saving: Eraser making! Our kit was purchased from Target for under five bucks, and served as fun modeling […]

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  • 08.20.2007 Insalata Caprese
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    This is truly one of my favorite things. For those of you who only know mozzerella in pizza form, this will will be an adventure. The cold, fresh, salty, tangy, and sweet flavors meld to form a delectable appetizer or salad. 1/2 pound fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced 1/4-inch thick 2 large ripe tomatoes, sliced 1/4-inch thick 1 cup fresh basil leaves Coarse salt and freshly ground pepper 2 tablespoons drained capers (optional) 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil dash or two of balsamic vinegar Alterate layers of mozzarella, tomato slices, and basil leaves, overlapping them as you go. Drizzle oil and vinegar. Season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle on capers if you like them. Serve immediately.

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  • 08.19.2007 Married to a Preacher
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    Some would not envy my life as a pastor’s wife. Relationships, counseling, working weekends, spiritual warfare, expectations from others, expectations from yourself, expectations upon your children, around-the-clock ministry, receptivity to your husband’s preaching: these all come to anyone’s mind when I say that I’m married to a preacher. My husband, however, is not weighed down by any of these notions. He’s concerned, yes, for the needs of his family and for the church, but is consumed with only one burden: the humbling responsibility of the pulpit and his personal love affair with Christ. Today is Sunday, and I was glad to be at church this morning. I often wonder as I settle in to the worship service, what other pastor’s wives think about when they listen to their husbands preach the Word. Are they distracted by what they actually know of their spouses when not in the public eye? Or […]

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  • 08.16.2007 Pretty Things to Come…
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    Spring is in the air…in my mind. I know the leaves are turning and storefronts are announcing back-to-school sales, but new ideas are in bloom in my head. Everyone, including myself, goes through seasons of feeling creatively anemic. Until recently I was unable to paint, draw, organize fabric, pull out my sewing machine, craft a little this, or embellish a little that. I was just not motivated. Then, I met the blogging world. Blogging is akin to having a bunch of same-feathered friends who always want to talk about what you want to talk about, when you want to talk about it. Don’t get me wrong, my real friends are by far superior, but I currently have no girlfriends who are crazier about crafting, sewing, decorating, cooking, eating, and dressing (clothes, not turkey) than I am. If I sound insanely chipper about being slavishly domestic, don’t be fooled. It is […]

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  • 08.14.2007 The Fishing Trip
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    The best part of taking a vacation is sometimes the anticipation of its eminent arrival even more than the trip itself. The thought of being away from the everyday routine. The eager expectation of lazy afternoons sipping lemonade with no cell phone calls. The excitement of staying up late and indulging in special treats and privileges (like junk food and movies, for us!) The memories that will be made frolicking at the pool or visiting friends. All these feelings of anticipation build and build until the trip is actually in progress, and then something strange begins to happen—letdown. No, not what happens when you hear babies crying…I mean an anti-climatical sadness that this perfect trip you’ve anticipated for so long is somehow not perfect. I just came home from a fishing trip with my husband, three boys, and my out of town guests (my uncle, his wife, twin five yr. […]

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  • 08.11.2007 Why I Am Not An Orchid
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    If I were a flower, I’d want to be an orchid. I’ve always loved orchids–any and all varieties, but especially the Phaleonopsis. I have one that is classic white and stands as one of the only things in my house seemingly unaffected by dust. This plant has presence. It’s pristine blooms gracefully arch and linger over it’s broad glossy leaves. An orchid is effortlessly exquisite. Some are stunning in simplicity while others fascinate with mesmerizing detail and color. No matter what pot you put them in, they always look graceful. They have been unfairly characterized as tempermental or difficult to care for. This is not true. While they are generally tropical plants that do best in humid climates, the orchid is rather compliant and acclamating. Most impressively, most orchid blooms can last up to three months before they gently fold and float off their branches. I shudder to think that […]

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  • 08.09.2007 Baked Tilapia with Mango Salsa and Cream Cheese Wontons
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    Summers seem to be for those who live on the beach, by the lake, or along a river. I live in the desert where it is a special occasion and a luxury just to send the kids out with the slip ‘n slide. Nevertheless, one can pretend. For me, basking in the glow of summertime is less about home fashions and decor, (who can redecorate her house seasonally?!) and more about serving up flavors that celebrate the cool-warm-spicy-sweet-tropical-fresh taste of beach volleyball and collecting seashells. This is one of my faves if you are looking for oceanfront property in New Mexico: Baked Tilapia with Mango Salsa and Cream Cheese Wontons 6 filets of Tilapia olive oil spray salt/pepper rice For Mango Salsa: 2 ripe mangos, cubed into small pieces 1 1/2 cup diced tomatoes 1 cup diced red onion 1 large avocado juice of one lime 1/4 tsp. tikka masala […]

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