A litle Easter sewing...

I LONG time ago I promised I would have this project done in a week. Whoops. I need to work on my deadlines. This was the first "real" pattern I've followed while sewing. I learned a lot, but man was that hard. This sucker has a LINING! I hope she appreciates it (nothin' like instilling a little guilt in your daughter!).

He is risen, indeed!

I just finished the Lineage of Grace series (on my list of books to read for this year). While I realize that while there is a lot of “fiction” in this genre, I still do love to read historical fiction. I think often times we study history (even in the Bible) and it’s hard to make it personalized. It’s hard to really get a sense for who the characters are. But, when I read historical fiction I appreciate that the author has taken an opportunity to explore the time period through the intimate details of a character and his/her life.
The final two books in Francine Rivers’s Lineage of Grace series looked at Bathsheba and Mary’s role in fulfilling the coming of the Messiah . I didn’t plan to finish this series on the day that our Lord has risen, but it was oh, so appropriate.
While reading about Mary I often got the sense that she found it difficult to completely give up her motherly control over Jesus. She knew he was coming to fulfill a prophecy, yet her human nature and motherly tendencies (at least in this perspective) constantly wanted to protect him. She felt hurt by him when he wanted to go do what his Father wanted him to do (i.e. be in the Temple and leave to talk with people). I know in my head that Little Belle (and any other kids we’re blessed with) are not mine. God has complete control to do with them what he wants, and yet I , like Mary, so badly wanted to protect her physically and emotionally. But, my heart feels something different. To be in a position like Mary and know that my son/daughter would have to die in order for a prophecy of the Lord to be fulfilled would tear me to pieces.
One of the questions at the end of the final book in the series asked us to make a list of the things that distract us from hearing the voice of God. Unfortunately, I think doubt is one of my distractions. ‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus, but how hard it is to REALLY trust him. I tend to be one who likes to have a nice amount of control over what’s happening around me. During my final full year of teaching I was on a control high. I had just about full control over everything that happened in my classroom. If I didn’t have control I voiced my opinion until the reins returned to my hands. It was really strange, actually, that that year I would approach a complete reliance on me when a few short months later God revealed to me that I need to stay home with our daughter thus losing my prime arena to hold everything in my hand.
Saying or writing that I have doubt in the ability of God is really scary to me. I know the truth. He has proven that He knows His people from leading Moses to raising Jesus. There should be no doubt that he will lead me as well. At the end of the book Mary was reflecting on her relationship with her son, and she realized that she herself was a source of temptation for Jesus. She questioned where he was going, and tried to persuade him to go places he didn’t need to go to avoid hurt and possibly death.
I have no idea what God has in store for Little Belle. I don’t know how she will be used to turn others to Him, but I know that I don’t want to be the person who stands in the way of God and His perfect plan.

Countdown to Easter

It's REALLY hard for me to just stay home. But, that's what we're doing this week due to needing to be close to a potty for the little one. I needed some type of structured activity for us to do. Something not super messy. Something Little Belle could get and help with. Easter egg coloring with water? Yes, please.

I found this at DLTK's Growing Together website.
Resurrection Eggs seem like such a cool way to "count down" to Easter and help your child learn what it's REALLY about. I've been told I could purchase these, but why not just make my own? I may have to modify as we're a little closer to Easter than I realized, but for a toddler that shouldn't be a problem. I may see if her toddler Bible has a correlating story and read that as she's really into "Jesus Stories".

And, Big Spring Clean update: we worked outside ALL DAY on Saturday and got a portion of the list completed. Maybe another round of work this weekend.

It smells like spring!

I love middle schoolers. I taught 7th grade for a little over five years and it was always around this time of year when I just knew that it was spring. I didn't have to look outside, I didn't have to feel the thaw of the winter for myself, all I had to do was take in a deep breath of that sweet scent. This era of life exhibits such self-conscious behavior, but yet, not quite so self-conscious enough to actually give a little swip, swap of the ol' Teen Spirit (do they even make that anymore?)

Then, the teachers are so tired of their stored up energy they release them out into the wild to roll around in the grass and allow the warmth of the sun to mingle with their newly developing hormones,and the result is breathtaking. Literally. It's a distinct smell. A smell that can only be emanated from a group of these youthful souls. The smelly combination of the mass produced lunch, the sour disinfectant from cleaning up said lunch, and these sweaty little bodies is so overwhelming that not even a gallon of Axe body spray could cover up. (But, believe me. They. Will. Try.) It's only THEN that you know it is truly Spring.

Thanks Gilbert 6th graders for the reminder today.

Big Spring Clean: ALMOST DONE!

Monday: Hallways
1. Dust and vacuum hallways (clean wood floor)√
2. Murphy Oil wood trim and doors √
3. Dust ceilings and corners √
4. Wash walls with warm, soapy water √

Thursday (if it's nice outside!): Outdoors
1. Wash outdoor furniture and toys/stroller
2. Sweep back porch
3. Spot paint screened porch
4. Sweep front porch
5. Rake up leaves from under bushes, flower beds √
6. Spread mulch in flower beds √

Friday(if it's nice outside): Windows
1. Vacuum window sills
2. Wash windows, if possible

SOME kitchen updates

Between taking out a giant tree that's growing into the side of our garage (I know, awesome.) and insulating some areas of our house, there isn't much left for redoing a ton in the kitchen. However, I am SO tired of that 90's forest green, meets honey oak, meets brilliantly ugly brass fixtures. I'm ready for them to dance off to the tune of Roxette's "It must have been love, but it's OVER now". When we looked at the house it was one of those, "Hey, the kitchen has been updated. That's a bonus." But, now that we've been here a year, I am over it. 1995 called and they are dying for some more brass, and I'm ready to give it back. Will you help me?

Here it is in all its glory:


We can't get a new counter, sink, floor, appliances, or cupboards. So, I'm focusing on removing wallpaper (seen in other pictures), painting, and creating some kind of cheap back splash. My biggest set back is the forest green counter. I wish I could ignore it, but it's kind of like the ugly, green monster. How can I coordinate with it, yet not accent its nastiness while creating a little more modern feel?

We got this clock for our wedding from a cousin of Kipp's, and so I started liking the orange/green combo.


Then I bought some dish rags in a package from Wal-Mart, I think, that had orange, red, teal, deep purple, brown, and green. I like some of those concepts, but I really don't want to accentuate the dark colors. That room doesn't get a ton of light, so I want to brighten it up a bit.

oranges, eggplants, dark green, light green? Kind of like in this wedding...


And this bouquet...


To save more money, we would love to use leftover paint from other rooms in the house. We have almost a full gallon of this:



What do you think? What else could I do with the ugly, green giant?

Fruits of the Spirit Discipline

A little break from the soapy water, pledge, and windex...

 

I have a particular friend who has great practical things to use to help her little girl understand right from wrong. I love hanging out with her and picking her brain about parenting. She will tell you that she gets her information from dear friends who have a bit older kids. Isn't is awesome to have friends like this?

Our goal is to parent Olivia, so that she will continue to grow in her desire to be like Jesus. When I first introduced this chart to Olivia, she was so excited. I guess that's a good reaction. As a visual learner myself, I just assume my kids will be as well. The conversation goes something like this:
A behavior is happening that you don't approve of, so you pick 'em up and take them to the chart.
Me:Olivia, you are whining. (point to whining on the chart) What color is whining?
O: RED one
Me: Whining is in the red one, and we don't want to be in the red one. Where do we want to be?
O: YEYO one
Me: Yes, we want to be joyful and loving. (pointing to the words when you say them)

8/10 times that's as far as I have to go with regards to discipline. If she continues to whine (or whatever), I take her to the chart and go through it again and then provide a consequence.
It has really seemed to work for us, and I love having words to say readily available at each time of discipline. I like categorizing her behaviors and providing an opposite more Jesus-like characteristic to teach her about. As she gets older these behaviors in red will change, and the conversations will get a little more in depth. But, for now, I think she's getting it as much as a 2 year old can get it. And, it provides a conversation each time she does something we don't approve of.