• 02.26.2010 Reminders from One Mom to Another
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    Every mother needs reminding of the greatness of her calling, the joy in her sacrifice, the purpose of her mission, and the reward of her investment. I am one of those mothers. During this season of life that is often overwhelming and deficient on time, I can at times, feel as though I am a drill sargeant, rather than a shepherd–commanding discipline instead of training lost sheep. Encouragement this week came through the voice of Sally Clarkson, in her book, The Mission of Motherhood, who in her chapter on Building Loving Relationships with Our Children, helped me to remember what kind of mom I want to be: It’s important to realize that spending time with kids means so much more than just getting the parenting job done. Sometimes it’s easy for busy parents to forget this. We become so focused on training our children, correcting them, teaching them responsibility, and […]

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  • 02.24.2010 Crochet Love and Giveaway!
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    A fabulous giveaway awaits you today… But first, my foray into the world of crochet: I need a new craft like I need a hole in the head. {sheepish grin} But how can I refuse picking up a crotchet hook and ball of yarn, when it’s so much of what I currently love and drool over. I asked my mother-in-law, who comes from a long line of crocheters, to teach me how to make a granny square. And now…I’m hooked. Here’s my first granny square: This crocheted doily pin and flower pin are little experiments that have made it in the shop. So, imagine my surprise and joy to find a fellow etsy artist (local too!) who crochets, and sells her beautiful creations at Jenster76 Design: My favorite of her items are these adorable slippers that come in all colors and sizes. So, you guessed it…Jenny at Jenster76 Designs is […]

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  • 02.22.2010 Silver and Gray
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    It’s an unusual (but welcomed) day of drizzling here today. I thought I’d add some jewelry to the shop, mimicking today’s serene palette. You know how much I love silver and gray. You may like these baubles as well, if you, too, share in the love of gray…

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  • 02.19.2010 Chinese for the Kindergarten Class
    Chinese for the Kindergarten Class
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    “What do people in China eat?” “Why does your dress open on both sides like that?” “There are people buried in the Great Wall of China!” “Why does their language go up and down?” “They don’t use the alphabet?” These are a few of the comments and questions asked by Number 2′s kindergarten class yesterday when I came as a special guest during their study of the Chinese culture. I wore my traditional dress in Chinese brocade, and taught them a song in Mandarin. It’s amazing how accurately children can pronunciate. Mandarin is like singing. That’s why it goes up and down. And kids are good at singing! They asked for an example of how a word, spoken with different tones, could mean different things. Chicken is a good example, I explained. Chicken is first tone. to mail something is fourth tone. “You wouldn’t want to say we’re eating our […]

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  • 02.18.2010 Up and Down
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    Number 4 loves slides. First it was head first on his belly. Then it was going down backwards. Now, it’s climbing the highest one he can find… …throwing caution to the wind… …and zooming all the way down… …with Number 1 catching him at the bottom with a big brother smile. Little man.

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  • 02.17.2010 Wordless Wednesday
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  • 02.16.2010 Blueberry Pumpkin Pound Cake
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    My flax seed obsessed friend, Trish, celebrated a significant birthday this past week, and requested that I make her recipe for this healthy, aromatic cake for her birthday bash. Who knew that so much fiber could taste so decadent…for breakfast…for dessert…for turning the big 4-0! Blueberry Pumpkin Pound Cake cooking spray 2 tsp flour 3/4 cup flax seed meal 3 cups whole wheat flour 4 tsp baking powder 1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg 1/4 tsp salt 1/4 tsp baking soda 1/4 tsp ground cloves 1/2 cup softened butter 1 cup granulated sugar 3/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 tsp vanilla 3 large eggs 1 1/3 cups canned pumpkin 1/3 cup fat free sour cream 1/2 cup low fat milk 2 cups frozen or fresh blueberries Glaze: 1 cup sifted powdered sugar 1 TBS canned pumpkin 2 1/4 tsp low fat milk 1/4 tsp vanilla Preheat oven […]

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  • 02.14.2010 Keeping It Alive
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    Blogging can unintentionally (or intentionally for some!) serve as a catalogue of the most amusing, inspiring, creative, and informative moments of one’s life. Thus, some blogs portray nothing but perfection in one’s life, and others, nothing but raw vices. This blog has never stood in the place of a personal journal, nor as a window into the private scapes of relationship that I travel. And yet, there have been specific times in the course of my 2 1/2 years of blogging, that I’ve been burdened to voice the real struggles and imperfections in my own life–ultimately for the edification of others, and to the glory of God. My marriage is not perfect. Far from it. We struggle with sin, habits, expectations, communication, selfishness, tiredness, stress…like any other couple. The Lord has done amazing work beyond anything we could have hoped to accomplish in the last 11 years of our marriage. […]

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