Proverbs week 1: Grace and Adornment

Listen, my (daughter), to your father's instruction

and do not forsake your mother's teaching.

They will be a garland to grace your head

and a chain to adorn your neck.

-Proverbs 1: 8-9

What an honor to wear the ways of the Lord.

Do you love Jane Austen's writings as much as I do? Her unique gift of capturing the unchanging ways of a woman's heart never disappoints. PBS is in the middle of a Jane Austen series on Sunday evenings. Last night I watched Mansfield Park. Find all the information you need right here. Next week: Jane Austen Regrets - completely new to me!

While you wait in anticipation - find out which Austen character you are most like.

Take the Quiz here!

Well, there you have it.

You Belong in 1957

You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in!

What Year Do You Belong In?

Who knew?

Your Inner European is Swedish!

Relaxed and peaceful. You like to kick back and enjoy life.

Who's Your Inner European?

You Are 70% "Average American"

You are average because you wouldn't pay to go in space. You are not average since you have (at least) a college degree.

How "Average American" Are You?

A cure for the winter blahs

My sister just sent this wonderfully warm and delicious recipe. Mmmmmm. Perfect for this sneezing, coughing, runny nose.... well, you get the idea. Enjoy.

Chicken Noodle Casserole

1/2 c. butter
1/3 c. flour
2 c. chicken broth
3/4 c. milk
1/4 c. white wine(optional)
2 t. salt
1/2 t. pepper
1 c. sliced mushrooms(optional)
8 oz. wide noodles, cooked
2 c. chicken
1/3 c. parmesan cheese

Melt 1/4 c. butter in medium pan; whisk in flour, broth and milk until smooth and thick. Add the wine, salt and pepper; set aside. Saute mushrooms in remaining butter until tender. Add to sauce. Fold in noodles and chicken; pour into a greased casserole dish. Sprinkle with cheese. Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes.

Some thoughts from out of the blue

Here are some thoughts that have been rolling around in my head, making their way to my heart: Fruit is not for the sake of the tree. The fruit is for the sake of those around the tree and more importantly, for the one who planted, watered, fertilized...not for the tree itself. Likewise, our spiritual fruit is not grown and produced to benefit us, but to show God's glory, the One who grows us and for those that He has placed around us.

My thinking sometimes looks like this: Succeeding in struggle gets me to the next level. When I've persevered long enough, with a good enough attitude, I pass the test, get my certificate and move onto the next level. Then somehow, because I am stronger, the next level should not be so difficult. The fruit of patience is a good example. When I am patient in my current situation long enough, I become defined as more patient and don't feel so impatience the next time around.

The truth is, so often, God is nothing more to me than a means to make my life easier, better. I work really hard to do my part, then am disappointed when God doesn't follow through on his part. In all that, I miss knowing God, glorifying him. Could knowing God's delight... enjoying the relationship that He started in me... wanting Him to be known... become more important to me than using him to make my life easier. In Heb. (7:19) God says that keeping the law to make everything nice and pretty has been replaced by something better, a better hope, the new covenant, by which we draw near to God.

I usually value what God gives more than God himself. I desire the Holy Spirit to produce his fruit in me so that I'm more comfortable, then walk away, rarely valuing that the Spirit, himself, has stooped to be involved with me.

It seems obvious doesn't it? Fruit is not for the sake of the tree. But it is so natural to think about me... to want to figure out how to be happier without effort... to take the Bible (and the fruit of the spirit) and pare it down to principles that enable me to live a happier life. And miss out on God himself.

Do these ideas resonate with anyone else? Does anyone else think like this? Am I a slow-learning?:) Okay don't answer that last question. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Edit: Does anyone know why these paragraphs looked completely normal on my preview and so weird here on the blog?

SoulPerSuit Proverbs

Hi Friends,

I would like to extend to you a personal invitation to join the next round of SoulPerSuit bible study. My friend Erin, is hosting this online study of the book of Proverbs. Take a look around the SoulPerSuit website to get a feel for SoulPerSuit and this type of study.



What is a SoulPerSuit study? SPS is a Bible-based, full sensory, creative experience that explores, expresses, discovers and internalizes

Why does it exist? The creators of SPS believe that everyone is creative because God is a creator. We want individuals to rediscover and use their creative nature in their pursuit of understanding and experiencing these God mysteries.


My personal experience with SPS has far surpassed what I expected from an online study. One thing I was praying for as I began my first SPS study (Esther and then Ruth) was to see God in a new light - to worship and understand him aside from my limited knowledge and ideas. SPS has opened my heart to a new way of seeing. When I write and create as part of the weekly project, my thoughts and ideas become more concrete. I can think at a different level because what God is teaching me is being utilized outside of my head - it is being written down, crafted, drawn (okay not much drawing from me), sewn, etc., etc. It becomes real and remembered. These are the very same principles I use when I teach my children. It works for me as well!

As you can see from these pictures of past projects, they can be quite simple and diverse. I am not a great artist, but I love to create. Your artistic ability has very little to do with this study.

Come join us - the next study begins discussion on January 22. If you are interested, leave me a comment and we can then be in touch about the details.

How do we make our way?

How do we moms, make our way through a day?

Our choices add up.

Habits into hours, decisions into days, lists into a life.

The way in which we live our moments, our choices for the gift of the next 24 hours, are rungs on a ladder. The rungs take us somewhere. These moments are rungs scaling each and everyday… making a life.

Ann's words at Holy Experience are well worth your time.

Walking and Waiting

Yes, Lord,

walking in the way of your laws,

we wait for you;

your name and renown are the desire of our hearts.

-Isaiah

Photo from last summer.

The way she sees it...

Emma:

When I grow up I'm going to be a good mom.

I'm going to scrapbook pictures of my kids and blog beautiful pictures.

And when you die I will keep all your jewelry safe for you.

(That would be the cubic zirconium earrings and assorted target bangles.)

You will always be my favorite woman.

Dear Daughter, you make my heart smile.

Emma's Christmas Cards

These are just a few of the cards that Emma made this year. She certainly kept us laughing as she dictated the poems and explained the pictures. Hope you enjoy them as much as we did.

Trees are big,

Acorns are small.

When acorns hit your head,

They make a big "klunk" sound.

Mints are spicy,

Candy is sweet.

They make a whole different taste when they are mixed together.

Love, Love,

Love is the best.

Love, Love,

try to do your best.

A Shepherd's Poem by Emma

Shepherd's sheep like to run and run and run.

When shepherds are not watching, their sheep run away.

They hide in the bushes.

Don't forget to ponder the pictures as you consider the poems.

Bunny's Noisy Book by Margaret Wise Brown

Look at what I found! This extremely sweet book is all about the daily noises that surround a little bunny. From the quiet sounds of waking up and stretching...

...to the bzzzs of busy bees...

...to cock-a-doodle dos and snapping twigs of a fox. Quite fun to read!

And look at these charming illustrations ... sweet bunny faces and lovely colors.

Ethan loves to make the sounds - giggling at the stretching, yawning and sneezing.

I think that in the end, this book shall be mine, regardless of who got it for Christmas. I'll hold onto it for the grandkids, right?!