Lesson's Learned...er...Learning

I have done much worth sharing these days.
I've done some reading.
Other than that I have led a somewhat boring life.
That's not a complaint.
Three kids add plenty of "spice" to my life.

I have learned a few things, about life... about myself lately.
A lot of what the pastor said on Sunday hit me hard.
I needed it.
I figured I'd share some things with you if for no other reason than for me to keep track of the lessons God has been teaching me recently.

Here goes... 
1. Every action speaks. Everything I do tells something about me. I wonder if what I do tells the story of a woman who is different from the world. I wonder if people see that I care more about something above and beyond this world and the "goods" it has to offer. I know that I daily show my kids what is most important to me. I try to show them that they are very important in my life. That their daddy is even more important to me. I'm not so sure I show them that God is the most important thing in my life though. I would guess they think the computer was at the top of my list these days.  Moving is up there. Taking time to read to them. To be with them. I would hope they've seen that in me. With that in mind, my goal is to see myself as others see me. I'd like to "self-check" daily and be purposeful not accidental about showing Christ to my kids and others.

2. Being in the Word is directly proportionate to my ability to feel and share joy. When I decide I'm too tired or now is not the right time or I'll do it later... my "joy bank" is depleted and it shows. I'm moody, I'm impatient, I nag, I get angry, I am everything I don't want to be. It may be in small ways like trying to control the events of my day or yelling at my kids instead of explaining or griping at husband instead of having a conversation or asking a question. I have found that it's the same way for hubs. When one of us is having a short tempered day, we often ask if we've done our devotions. On the flip side... when we spend quality time dedicated to getting to know our Savior, our marriage is sweet. We have more tender moments with one another which the kids see and we desire more one on one time with the kids. It changes everything.
We are most strongly influenced by those we spend the most time with.

3. My prayers are often too specific and sometimes a sign of how little I know my Abba. At church on Sunday, Pastor gave a great illustration of what it looks like to know your Daddy. He explained that his children know him well enough that before even asking if they can have ice cream for breakfast he's going to say know. They know him. They know his character. They know what he's going to say before he says it.  My own dad always said "ask me something I can say 'yes' to". That doesn't mean I'm guaranteed to get what I ask for but I can most definitely rule out the "no"s. At hearing that, it hit me, I need to change the way I pray. I need to start praying for things God has already promised to give me and stop praying for things that I think will fulfill me. I need to pray more for humility, slowness of anger, and kindness instead of change in others. I need to pray more for patience, confidence in God's goodness, and self discipline rather than the specific things that I'm sure would make me happy. {I've come to learn that I have no idea what would make me happy. The only certainty I have is that God, Himself, is the only thing that satisfies.} I need to pray more for joy, pure motives, and a desperation for God rather than the material things this world has to offer. I fear I've been missing the picture all along.

4. Dissatisfaction is what led to the fall of man. It was Adam and Eve's desire for more that caused them to sin. They lived in perfection and still wanted more. What could my selfish desires lead me or my family to do? If they could ruin mankind with one action, what damage could I do to my family? To my friends? To the lives of strangers?

5. I must live like I'm already dead and I must know the value of the prize for which I fight. It is easy to fight against things as a believer. Sadly, it's what Christians are most known for. To the general public we're known as anti-gay, anti-drinking, anti-fun, anti-science, anti-Semitic, anti-unbelievers/other religions... we're not known for being "for" many things. I know that I, myself, fail to show a God that is pro-love, pro-forgiveness, pro-compassion, pro-generous through my actions.
What if I lived my life my life passionately for Christ as if I had nothing to lose? Would my life look different? Would people who know me see more of Christ in me if I wasn't afraid of how they look at me? What if I was truly passionate about the prize of eternal life with Christ in heaven? Would I take this world a little less seriously or be more adamant about being a witness to the beauty of a relationship with God?
Based on my current state I can only assume that I consider my life to dear to lose and I don't know the God who died for me well enough to consider a future with Him a prize. I'm working on that.
Christ, the Son, knew that He was going to die and that His Father was going to turn His back on Him and yet He died anyway. He lived life on earth as if He were already dead. Look at the testimony His life was. Look at how effective His ministry was because of it!
Christ also knew the prize. Us. That should be humbling. He came to earth and suffered for us because He thought we were worth it. The Creator of this world thought I was worth it.
Why is it so dang hard to live like He is?

"The Help" ... Have You Read It?

My reading list has gone to the birds this summer.
I figured I'd have loads of time to read since summer was always so relaxing and a vacation from the norm.
False!
I have been gone more than I've been home and when I've had time to sit down I've spent it sewing or sleeping.
CJ's going into preschool starting in two weeks, Miss Mak still takes two naps, and Bean naps about 8 hours of every day so I'm hoping for more time to read starting soon. {Don't let the school thing confuse you. We're trying out preschool so CJ and I can have a break from one another and so he can get a little socialization. We're planning to start homeschooling for Kindergarten.}

Okay! All of that is just to get me to the point that I picked up "The Help" from the library the other day.
I'd heard that it was good and saw a movie was coming out, or came out, about it and wanted to see what all the hype was about.

Which led me to wonder... "Since it's such a big hit in the real world, who else has read/is reading this?" and "What are their thoughts on it?"

No real reason. Just curious.

So... are you? If not, why not? If you are, what do you think?

That's all.

Have a great day. I'm going to be doing some reading!

{Apricot Kielbasa}

  Apricot Kielbasa

This is a great go to meal if you're short on time but still want something tasty

What You'll Need: 

Kielbasa link
1 12 oz jar apricot jam
2 T lemon juice
2 t dijon mustard
1/4 t ground ginger

What To Do: 
Slice the kielbasa link into 1/4 inch thick slices.

Brown the slices, drain and set aside. In the same skillet, add the remaining ingredients and cook on low for 2 to 3 minutes until the jam becomes runny and smooth.

Return the sausag to the pan and reheat for 5-6 minutes until thoroughly heated.

We really like these with mashed potatoes. The sauce is really yummy when mixed in with them.

Finished!

The tutorials page is now up and running.
And it only took... nevermind.
I'm doing a happy dance right now.
It looks something like this...

So if you're looking for some fun ideas, head on over and check it out.
Yup, right there on the right hand side.
Go ahead...
You know you wanna!

As for me... I quit!
I'm tired.
I need a cup of coffee.
A large one.
And a chocolate chip cookie.
A large one.

Next up... recipes!
It's a sad looking page.
I'm going to fix that.

Keeping Perspective with Social Media

I love when people keep things in perspective.
Even when I can't.

If you struggle with too much computer time and not enough living... check this out by Passionate Homemaking

Under Construction...

Do you see that? That teal tab to the right that says "Tutorials"? The one I've been ignoring because I haven't been able to figure out how I want to do it.
Well yesterday I stumbled across a woman's site who gave me a great idea {No, I don't remember what site because I was so excited that I closed it immediately and got to work. I'd look for it to give her due credit but she was an inspiration and I'm not copying. In the land of blogging, that's okay. Right? Oh well.} 
So I don't have much to say today. I'm going to be working on getting that page done and I'll be back Monday!

 Have a lovely weekend!

Other People's Genius {re-purposing pallets}

I'm a huge fan of re-purposing. HUGE.
I'm all about efficiency.
Pallets are apparently in excess these days because I've come across more and more pallet projects.
I figured rather than making you hunt for them, I'd pull them all together and give you some ideas.
You can likely do these same projects with barn wood and scraps from your projects.

Pallet Headboard

from Lovely Crafty Home

Accent Wall

from Bower Power

Pallet Shelf

From Ana White

Storage Crates

From Ana White

Bookshelf

also From Ana White

$2 Work Bench

by Handy Andy

Worn Sign

from WhipperBerry

Soda Crate Caddy

from Ana White {this girl's good!}

Want more? Practical Enlightenment's got even more! Check it out

Now... go find some trash!

We're Going to The Beach...

and we're going to bring...

 assuming there's sand...

blanket or large towel for sitting

beach umbrella that you can twist into the sand

sun tan lotion {if using}
baby powder {squirt some on and sand just falls away from your skin}

assuming we'll want to eat... 

loaf of bread

jar or peanut butter

jar of jelly

knife
juice boxes
water bottles

bag of gold fish or chips

resealable container or bag of easily traveling fruit, rinsed

{grapes, sliced strawberries, peaches, pineapple, bananas, apples}
grocery bag for trash

assuming the kids will be joining us... 

change of clothes for kids

extra diapers, water diapers, underwear 

hats that cover ears

t shirts or bathing coverups for when not in water

sand toys with extras for kids on the beach whose parents forgot theirs

water wings to keep little ones afloat {water temperature permitting}

 assuming I'm bringing the teeny one...

a pak'n'play or changing pad with cover for naps

backpack carrier, mobi wrap, or sling for carrying

{seriously, skip the stroller, even the lightweight frame kind}

packed neatly into a flea market wire basket on wheels, wagon, or some other large means of transportation to pack it all in

some extras that are nice to have...
cooler with ice packs
camera

beach chair that's low to the ground

potty chair and plastic grocery bags

{line the seat with the bags to dispose of later}

extra beach chair for the good friend you bring along to help you on your crazy venture
inflatable kiddie pool and large bucket {fill with water and put under shade for little ones}

Little Lady's Smock

 I've been hanging on to this oil cloth for well over a year to make a smock or bib.
I've also been hanging on to this pattern from Homespung Threads for a while now because I was determined to make it. First it was for CJ, then my niece... it never happened... so guess what, Miss Mak! It's all yours!... {until you outgrow it and it becomes Bean's, that is}

This took about an hour of my Sunday afternoon while the little nuggets napped. 

Totally worth it!

Heaven is Like Home Buying

Okay... so... {enter giddy giggles here}... we're moving!
I've been patiently trying to avoid telling you, not because I didn't want to, but because we have been waiting on the seller to find a new home first. The rumor is that she is going to make a decision maybe as soon as this week so my sharing could still be considered premature but if something happens and we don't move, God is still God and He is still good, so why not share the excitement?
Anyway, I'll tell you more about the house when it's "ours all ours" but for now I'll just say that Hubs and I created a mental list of things we wanted in a home never expecting to find it all in one place and in our price range and yet this house checks off almost everything on our list down to the tiniest details.
I really couldn't be more excited!
I've done several "happy dances of joy" over all this.
{Good thing my kids are too young to be embarrassed!}

Okay...
Moving on...

Last year, my brother and his wife bought a new home of their own {our family is apparently doing it's part to stimulate the economy} and Hubs and I were able to watch the process so that we knew what we were getting into. I talked with my sister-in-law often about what she was going through and how she felt about it all and through it all something hit me that I haven't been able to shake...

Heaven is like home buying.

When the search became serious for Hubs and I, and we knew that moving was in our future, something changed in us. I felt it. You may have had this experience too. Once I knew that I was going to be packing up and heading to a future home, a place better suited for our family's needs, I stopped caring about "the unimportant" in our current home. I don't mean that I stopped taking care of what lay inside these walls. We still don't let the water run over the tub to rot the floors. I still vacuum often to save these precious wood floors. I still maintain the gift that we have been given in this wonderful place but my heart isn't longing to make this place perfect anymore. I've stopped caring that we didn't finish painting the mudroom. I've stopped worrying about how we were going to arrange the kids' sleeping setup. I've stopped making plans for adding on to make this place comfortable or buying new furniture to seat more people. My treasure isn't stored up here anymore. I still live here, but my heart is no longer here.
My heart longs for our new home. My daily activity is here but my mind often wanders to our new home.
I can't help but think that's how we're supposed to feel about heaven.
This earth and our life on it is a gift. We have been handpicked and placed here to give God glory. In being a gift, God allows us to enjoy it and find happiness in it's beauty. Because of sin, earth has it's unpleasant parts too. There are ugly things about being here but we are to maintain it. We are to subdue it.
But this isn't it. This isn't all there is.
We have a hope for our future! We have a reason to be excited!
There is a place in our future that isn't only "better suited" to meet our needs. It's perfection. We have a place where we won't want to make changes and adjustments. We won't have to "make do" with what's in store for us. It will meet every expectation and supply every need we have!


I know that my heart doesn't long for heaven in the same way that it longs for our new house. I know that I am often caught up in the day to day here and forget about the promise I've been given of not just a better future but a perfect one! I also know that it's because my understanding of heaven isn't what it should be. I feel that if I could just hop on Zillow.com or Trulia.com and read the descriptions or see a few pictures of heaven I may be able to begin to get excited about my eternal homestead that God has prepared for me. The reality is that I do.
The Bible.
Once again, the best resource that I fail to use like I can and should.
But my lack of understanding and appreciation doesn't mean it's not there.
My goal is to gain a new understanding, a new ferver for my new eternal home.
I pray that you, along with me, can feel the excitement for what is to come and to be prepared for the move whenever it may come.
See you there!

Other People's Genius {embroidery}

For a while there, embroidery seemed a bit dull to me. Like cross-stitching, I've always associated it with "country" or "knick-knacky". I pictured women sitting over an embroidery hoop, in their parlors, while drinking tea and waiting for their men to "come to call".
NOT SO!
I have recently stumbled upon some of the cutest ideas.
I was wr... wr... wrong.
With some super inexpensive embroidery floss, hoop, needle and a bit of plain fabric, the sky's the limit.
See?

from Beyond Beyond

from Katrinshine

by oh meaghan

by Little Lovlies

 

by OhHiShop on Etsy

 

by sukenart on Etsy

from Sew Mama Sew

by Waterrose on Etsy

Now... if only I could find the time! 

Oh well...

Have a Happy Weekend!

{Camp Potatoes}

I assume I call them camp potatoes because they're easily made over a fire but to be honest, this is a recipe from mom so she may have just made it up...
No matter what you call them, they're a fantastic recipe for hot days when turning the oven on just seems silly.

What You'll Need: 
This recipe is a bit subjective based on the number of mouths your feeding but for the four healthy appetites in our house, this is what we use...
2-3 medium sized *organic potatoes, scrubbed and sliced thin
1 small onion, diced
3 T butter
salt
pepper
herbs of choice {optional}
*If not using organic potatoes, peel them first. Potato skins are sprayed to prevent sprouting so it's best to do without the peels if you aren't using organic.

What To Do:
Cut yourself two sheets of aluminum foil about 18" long a piece.

Pile the potatoes into the center of one piece of foil, sprinkle with onion, dot with butter, add salt and pepper and close up the foil around it all making a ball.

Wrap your second piece of foil over the top of the ball you just created.

Place directly onto heated grill set at medium heat for 30 minutes. {Flip halfway through cooking.}

What's even better?... Lay the foil packet on a plate to serve, toss the foil, put the plate away clean.

{Zucchini-Mozzarella Patties}

I don't know about you but our garden is overflowing right now and mostly with squashes and cucumbers!
My parents have also been inundating our home with more oversized zucs that they can't eat quickly enough.
I almost always default to one of our two favorite zucchini recipes...

 Chocolate Zucchini Bread

 Breaded Parm Zucchini Chips

but this year decided to add to our repitoire.

 I found the recipe for Zucchini-Mozzarella Patties and made a few adjustments. 

So far, so good since all of our in-home critics happily gobble these up!

What You'll Need:

4 c coursely grated zucchini

2 large eggs, slighlty beaten

1 small onion, finely chopped

1/2 c all purpose flour

2-3 cloves of garlic, minced

1/3 c grated parm cheese

1 t salt

1 c mozzarella or cheddar cheese

black pepper

What To Do:

Set oven to 350. Wrapping the zucchini in a paper towel or strainer, squeeze as much moisture out of the zucchini as possible and place in a large bowl. Add all remaining ingredients and mix till well blended. 

Drop zucchini by large tablespoonfuls onto parchment or silivone lined baking sheet and bake for 15 minutes or until bottoms begin to brown. 

Take out of oven, let cool for a moment, flip, and return for another 5 minutes. 

I prefer them hot but they can be eaten cold too. 

So how 'bout you...

How's your garden looking this year?

Pinterest {a danger to families everywhere!}

Some of you, via facebook, may already know this but I made a new friend this week.
Her name is Pinterest.
My, oh my! Is she addictive!

{image source}

Imagine this... you're online, you've found something amazing that you want to save up to buy or buy supplies to make. Now... where do you file that product/image/idea away until you have money/time to buy/make?
You guessed it!
PINTEREST!

Up until now I've been emailing myself everything I've found, putting it all into a long word document, then printing that and storing it all in notebooks.
Not no mo'!
I installed the "pin it" button on my bookmarks toolbar and anytime I come across something on the web I just click that cute little button, pick the picture I want to save, and the image and link to it are on my board.
Just like that.

If you've not discovered this thing of beauty, I advise you of one thing...
Be sure you don't start looking around until you have time to do so.
I spent most of the afternoon watching Cosby Show reruns with Hubs while surfing the web as the munchkins slept.
You can EASILY waste an entire day with this!
Ok.
You've been warned!

Other People's Genius {Backsplash}

I have always L.O.V.E.D. white subway tile as a backsplash. No matter the kitchen or the color, that's what I planned to do once I had a "for ever and for always house". {Waiscotting is my second choice.}
Well, I'm not ready to share the details just yet BUT, I think my "for ever and for always" house is coming sooner than I thought.
I promise. More details when the time is right.
ANYWAY... I've been toying with ideas for backsplashes and have come across some really neat ones. Some are super cheap, others are just simple, and still others are just plain smart.
Enjoy!

The Simple...

Board and Batten: Using thin strips of wood you can add a little something to your wall. This is great if you want to be non-commital about your backsplash or if you're saving up money for something a little more expensive down the road. Some great tips can be found at Funky Junk.

Painted Glass: Looking for something a smidge more modern? How about a glass background. Pick your paint color, paint the back of a piece of custom cut glass and put it up. How? Okay, I don't really know exactly how, but at least the idea is simple!

Wainscoting: So clean and classy with a touch of country. You can go wide board or thing beadboard. This involves some patience but all you need is a sheet of wainscoting that you can buy from Home Depot, a saw, caulking, and possibly small trim, depending on your space.

Tin Tiles: You can purchase tiles like these at Lowes or Home Depot and make it simple or go all out.

{from Do It Yourself.com}

Paint: If you have a color you LOVE, why not show it off? I particularly like the small bit of tile backsplash beghind the stove to change this kitchen up a little.

{found at InspiringDesigns.org}

Chalkboard Paint: Fairly inexpensive and fun! I'm not sure I'd ever actually write anything on there but if your handwriting is nice and you're forgetful, this may be for you!

{from Apartment Therapy}

 {from HGTV}

Wallpaper: As much as I don't love putting up and taking down wallpaper, I kinda love this idea. Especially when it's done in fun prints like these.

The tried and true...

{from Kitchen Tile Backsplashes} 

Tile: Oh, dear while subway tile... how I love thee. 

Then again, why stick with boring white when you can have these?

 

 {also from Kitchen Tile Backsplashes}

{from Bedrock Industries}

 

{from Kitchen Clarity}

 {from Coastal Kitchen}

Bon Jour!