• 07.27.2010 Granny Hexagons and Dreamin'
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    You are familiar with my crush on Crochet Adorned. You’ve seen how inspired I can get, and how slow I can be in finishing a project. I’m happy to say I’ve finished my husband’s hat… But don’t ask me about the pillows. Eek! Summer isn’t over yet, is it? It’s unfortunate that sewing machines don’t travel well in the car or at the pool; otherwise, you know my pillows would be done by now. {smile} I’ve oft praised the portability of crochet, and therein lies the secret to completing my current long-term project. The daydream that accompanies this menagerie of color is the hope that I may one day have a daughter to give a hand-made afghan to. So, here you’ll find me: crocheting hexagons and praying with contentment. God is good. He knows just what we need. And, if it turns out that what I need is not a daughter someday, […]

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  • 07.25.2010 12 Years
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    12 years 4 boys 1 miscarriage 3 homes 4 vehicles 3 towns 8 countries 3 dogs 4 churches 2 trips to the ER 300 pounds of coffee 1800 hours in late night talks 4000 hours staring at our newborn babes Hundreds of forgivenesses asked A billion prayers of thanksgiving Thousands of prayers of repentance A million glances of love and admiration for a man who has chosen to love me every day for the last 12 years of our lives. Happy Anniversary, Love.

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  • 07.23.2010 Perspective Through Suffering
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    1. Many imprisonments 2. Beaten innumerable times 3. In danger of death 4. 39 lashes, 5x 5. 3x beaten with rods 6. 1x stoned 7. 3x shipwrecked 8. A night and a day spent in the deep 9. Danger from rivers 10. Dangers from robbers 11. Dangers from the Gentiles 12. Dangers in the city 13. Dangers on the sea 14. Dangers among false brethren 15. Labor and hardship through sleepless nights 16. Hunger and thirst, often without food 17. Cold and exposure and, if that were not enough… 18. Daily pressure of concern for the churches (from 2 Corinthians 11: 23-28) Do you relate to Paul’s list? I don’t either. At least not as I read through the first 17 of his sufferings. Why, then, do we often feel our struggles so severe and overwhelming? Perhaps the Apostle Paul summed it up clearly when he saved the most poignant […]

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  • 07.21.2010 Summer (Baby) Blooms
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    These, and others, are in the shop now.

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  • 07.20.2010 Out the Door
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    Pick up some milk. Gas up the car. Don’t forget the library books! Meeting at 8 o’clock. Water the flowers. Don’t you have lists like this around your house? I recently found the neatest little chalkboard for my front entryway. ( I highly recommend the 1 minute installation process!) So much traffic goes in and out of our front door that it seemed practical to have a decorative place for lists, reminders, and important info for the kids. I stared at the blank slate, my mind racing with all the things I could make note of. But as I considered what reminder our family needed the most today, as we all head out the front door,  this is what I came up with: Grocery lists and reminders can wait. Today, we need the exhortation to trust in the Lord and leave the fear of man far behind. Can’t leave home […]

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  • 07.19.2010 All That Boys Need
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    …is heavy machinery and construction workers. Mr. Worker had an audience for a long, long time.

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  • 07.16.2010 Overnight Shrimp Gazpacho
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    Now that you are harvesting the fruits of your labors out in your garden, I’ve got but one word for you: Gazpacho. I don’t know of an easier, healthier, more refreshing summertime meal! Paired with crusty artisan bread and some broiled goat cheese, this meal is effortlessly chic! There are so many ways to make gazpacho. Some like it chunky, some like it pureed. I personally, like a combination of both. I also like to forgo using a recipe…as experimentation produces great combinations. Here are the basics of how I make mine: From the garden (or grocery store): 6 tomatoes 1 small zucchini, divided 1 yellow bell pepper, divided 1 red bell pepper, divided 1/2 yellow onion 1 large clove garlic 1 English cucumber, divided small sprig of fresh basil a few leaves of mint From the Pantry: 1/2 tsp of dried tarragon red wine vinegar (to taste, but I’d […]

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  • 07.15.2010 First Family Pics
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    I really have no good excuse for why our family has never invested in professional photography for ourselves. I think it has something to do with being continuously pregnant or nursing, gaining weight or losing weight, buying diapers or buying curriculum…there’s always a reason. That is, until our good friends gifted us a session with Tracy of Fully Alive Photography. Ironically, two days before our appointed session, Number 3 managed to fall off a seesaw and turn his face black and blue in spots. Like I said, there’s always an excuse. Thankfully, the bruises and scrapes cleared up in time for us to squeeze in a session with Tracy before she returned home from her visit. We had such a fun time on this photo shoot. Um…some of us had more fun than others, I should say. And, ahem…some of us posed with or without being directed to. Nevertheless, this […]

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