Dude and Revelation

My kiddos crack me up!  The kids have learned the books of the Bible set to music... except they don't always get all of the names pronounced correctly : )  This morning Powell was seeing 'Dude and Revelation' instead of 'Jude and Revelations'.  Awesome.

Also, My Man and I thought the Honey Bourbon Pulled Chicken was just good.  Not really good.  Maybe b/c we live so close to KC and have very high bbq standards : )

My Devotion by Sarah Young - Jesus Calling

'Meet me in early morning splendor.  I eagerly await you there.  In the stillness of this holy time with Me, I renew your strength and saturate you with Peace.  While others turn over for extra sleep or anxiously tune in to the latest news, you commune with the Creator of the universe.  I have awakened in your heart strong desire to know Me.  This longing originated in Me, though it now burns brightly in you.

When you seek My Face in response to My Love-call, both of us are blessed.  This is a deep mystery, designed more for your enjoyment than for your understanding.  I am not a dour God who discourages pleasure.  I delight in your enjoyment of everything that is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable.  Think on these things, and My Light in you will shine brighter day by day.   Isaiah 40:31, Psalm 27:4, Philippians 4:8'

A couple of years ago I went through a season of time when God almostly solely wanted to impress on me His love for me.  Kind of wish that was the only lesson he ever wanted me to learn!  It was an awesome time.  I like Sarah Young's devotions because she really 'gets' His love.  And she writes devotions as though they are directly from Him through those lenses.  Pretty cool.  The part about this time not being for my understanding really hits me.  For some reason I want to make sense of everything - probably that control thing of mine.  And knowing that I won't be able to make sense of everything b/c He functions at a (much) higher level (the only level) of understanding frees me just a little bit. 

School's Out For Summer!

Today was the first day of summer vacation. For everyone. It was so nice. Nobody had to be ready for school. No one had to be dropped off at preschool. The house did not have to be clean for Bible study. No one's lunch needed to be made. All of the responsiblities that keep me on point - paperwork, snacks, whatever - are done for a few months.

And the kids played so nice. We went to the park. We packed a lunch. They played outside. It was the perfect start to summer.

Of course it may have had something to do with the way my day began. Apparently, my 10 year anniversary with my husband is 10 days away. I wouldn't have known this, except my husband woke me at 5 am. Normally I wouldn't be so psyched about that but he woke me with a gift. And apparently it's the first of 10. Did you hear that!? For the next 10 days I'm going to get a gift everyday! How lucky am I? Just had to share my little secret with you.

Happy Happy Birthday...

Miss Lola was 3 yesterday. We had chocolate chip heart-shaped pancakes for breakfast. :D Boy, that's a mouthful. I also made an m&m cookie cake for dessert after dinner. It was a high sugar day! I can't believe she's so old. She'll start preschool in the fall. Seems like we just brought her home from the hospital. The pictures of that day are precious. Powell still looks like a baby in them. Talk about a mess of a post. Random thoughts all over! Well, let me try to organize a cohesive thought...

I've just started a new study on the book Crazy Love. So far I love it. I've always been taught to start prayer by praising God. Telling him how awesome and majestic He is. And while He is all of those things, that doesn't really roll off my tongue well. But, in this first chapter of Crazy Love Francis Chan talks about the scripture that actually describes God in the Bible. Jewels... glowing.... angels contstantly singing 'holy, holy, holy'.... with their hands over their eyes...

And he shares this clip that I've linked to below, that shows how teeny tiny the earth is. And suddenly the few moments that I have in the morning before the house wakes up are much more focused. I don't just start throwing my stuff out at God's feet like a laundry list that needs to be covered in prayer. I just look out the back door at the stars and the snow and I think about who God is... and inevitable I think about how grateful I am. And suddenly my laundry list of worries and requests seems so insignificant and small. My God can easily care for those needs.

And you know what? The last few days have been really hectic. But, I have been very content, and even patient! There's a part of me, the realist I suppose (although my husband would tell you that I don't have a realist inside anywhere), that says the answer to day to day contentment and peace and patience isn't that simple. But, what if it is? Doesn't it make sense that if I just keep my priorities lined up with how big God is they won't get out of whack or overwhelming?

Stay tuned...

Crazy Love

My Little Brother the Homecoming King

It's 8 am and I'm expecting about 12 women for a bible study in 30 minutes. And I'm still in my robe. Oh well. Look at these pictures!

If one more person tells me how cute he is I'm gonna vom. He's 10, People. He's 10. And I'm not delusional.

Spinach and Bacon Quiche

As always, in a pinch I just google Paula. This is what I got, and the ladies at the Bible Study were asking for the recipe!

Spinach and Bacon Quiche

6 large eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups heavy cream
salt and pepper
2 chps chopped fresh baby spinach, packed
1 lb bacon, cooked and crumbled
1 1/2 cups shredded Swiss cheese
1 (9-inch) refrigerated pie crust, fitted to a 9-inch glass pie plate (see my pie crust recipe)

Preheat to 375

Combine the eggs, cream, salt, and pepper in blender. Layer the spinach, bacon, and cheese in the bottom of the pie crust, then pour the egg mixture on top. Bake for 35-45 minutes until the egg mixture is set. Cut into 8 wedges.

Fall is coming!

Maryanna starts preschool again in less than 2 weeks and both my kiddos are going to play soccer this fall. They're so excited! My Man is coaching :-) This is going to be so much fun!


I'm always excited for fall to start but a little sad to see summer go, knowing that by January I will be wishin' for some sand and sun. But this year, in a new/old town I'm anxiously awaiting the beginning of all of the activities. I can't wait to meet Maryanna's classmates and their moms. I can't wait to find a Bible Study to plug into here in town. Football games... Soups of every kind... Sunday afternoon naps while My Man watches football on tv. The crisp fall air in my new home. Ooooh, decorating my new home at Christmas time!


Uh oh now I'm just wishing the year away. What's your favorite thing about fall?


You may have noticed the scripture I've been posting. I've been trying to be faithful in that even if I don't manage to write about life around here or post pictures.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalm 34:18

Lola

This child, this child! Lola is very, very loving and very, very ornery! You know how God slowly reveals more and more of their personalities as they grow? With every little bit this little girl shines a little brighter. It is truly breathtaking... and she's only 14 months! Lola Marie is truly a destroyer. Smart. Hefty :-) Her latest nickname is Heavy Duty. Or according to Papa - Pot-licker. Maybe we won't tell her about that one. She is NOT a picky eater. Of course, at this point no one's afraid to give her cookies and cake!


Bright blue-eyes and white-blonde hair, she blows me away. She sleeps in, takes long naps, and goes to bed early. She's so funny. She follows M and P around and loves to play with them. She'll do just about anything for a laugh and she is doted on by all of us. Wherever I take her - Sunday school, Bible study nursery, M's preschool or the gym, she is loved! Friends gather 'round at church hoping to hold her - even though it's work!



She's walking and into everything. She took her time about it but when she decided to do it she had a one track mind. At first she would fall and then crawl the remaining distance to her goal. It didn't take very long before she was falling, but then standing back up several times in a row even if her goal was only a couple of steps away. She seems as though she will be very determined.


She doesn't have a lot of words right now but I think it's only a matter of time (and the fact that she has so many people able to speak for her). She signs a little, but vehemently :)

She is a MANIAC in the bathtub. Literally, does log rolls and dowses her head repeatedly. Can't turn to refill the toilet paper roll when this ones in the tub!!!


Her hair seems to be in a hurry to catch up with her body at this point. Since her birthday its' doubled in length, it seems.


She is in such a hurry to grow up...and it's gone so fast already. Our baby isn't going to be a baby much longer!