Taste of Summer

YUMMM! You know you want some . . . my recipe for Mediteranean Cavatappi with Green Beans

I'll post it soon . . . promise!

Just one more photo . . . their favorite "afternoon snack" (Stoneyfield Yogurt-frozen-mmm) - especially good on a hot day
(which has been every day for a while, until this weekend : )

Really want to blog . . .

BUT I need to find my way out of this pit first. Well, clean it up anyway. AND deal with crabby kids (as you can see in the corner of the top photo). SO, hopefully today . . . at some point (maybe at midnight) . . . I'll have some sort of blog posted. I see story telling about the rain last night and maybe a scone recipe in (near?) future blogging. Stay tuned! In the mean time enjoy a dose of real life in my constant mess -that is the dining room and kitchen (where we live most our life). : )

Something that may inspire more creativity . . .

TheCreativeConnectionEvent.com  (to visit - click on title of this blog)

I really, REALLY want to go to this event just to be inspired more.  I've always had this deep desire to be creative and a confidence that God desires for me to create for His glory.  It's only been in the last 6 months that my creative juices have really started to flow and I believe it's because I've been exposed to so many awesome blogs.  Seeing other's creativity really helps me to come up with my own ideas for cooking, organizing, decorating, sewing, baking, refinishing-furniture, etc.  So, does anyone else want to go with me?

Where have I been?

I've been HERE, home, doing all the normal activities . . . so . . . why haven't I blogged in a while? See those two sweet little kids above - it's their fault! : )

Let me explain by sharing my journal entry this morning:

Wesley is one as of 2 days ago. He is such a delight to have. He is ALL boy, ALL the time -- ALWAYS moving "full-boar," a steam engine that never stops (until he hits the mattress and falls instantly asleep-most of the time). He climbs through and over everything - ALWAYS looking for the most difficult way to get from point A to point B. It's as if he's running, but in a crawling form! Cement or other hard surfaces don't slow him down, he just crawls on his hands and feet! He makes all the "boy sounds" you can think of and is constantly experimenting with new ones. He eats with vigor usually leaving a disaster behind. Don't even try to wipe him down or clothe him or change his diaper without a wrestling match! He's getting stronger and stronger by the day - maybe I'll withhold the "spinach" for a while : ) Wesley almost always has a smile on and a giggle to go with it. I'm so thankful to God for giving me this sweet, wild animal for a son!

Madison also loves her brother and always greets him with an enthusiastic, "Hi/Good-Merning, Wes-e-ley!" in her best "talking-to-baby-voice." She's very rough - sometimes mean, but Wesley likes the rough play - it makes me crazy. She's a very passionate, busy, relational, manipulative, controlling, with a little sweetness here and there. Madison is learning to obey right away, all-the-way with a "Happy Heart" - love how clear that is to understand for a 2 1/2 year old and for mommy to decipher when she is disobeying!

I am still loving Mommyhood, but I constantly feel SO scattered, crazy, confused, and just relationally, emotionally, and mentally TIRED! Praise the Lord, at least physically, most days I feel up to the task! BUT there is no escaping - as all you mommy's know it's a 24/7 kind of job! AND I can't keep up - probably so I always realize my need for Jesus . . .
The kitchen is always in disarray, the dining room and kitchen floors have remnants of every meal of the day scattered all over. (AND of course when I go to sweep, sweet-Wesley wants to be the family dog and clean the floor for me - another wrestling match). The bathroom is always on the verge of smelling like a port-a-potty with training and accidents every day. Wesley's room is one big diaper genie. Laundry seems to always be in baskets, whether dirty or clean - always a scavenger hunt to find clothes! AND toys somehow always explode into every room!

In the midst of the mess there's always screaming, crying, whining, begging - or naughty silence, discipline that needs to be done, clinging children or suspicious disappearing children - or children that just need Mommy to stop obsessing about the chaos and bend down to hug and cuddle - or tickle/wrestle on the floor - one or both sweet little children!

AND I'm trying to at least remember all day, THIS IS my spiritual act of service to the Lord! SO that is what I've been doing and the thought of having time for blogging is almost impossible, hopefully I will have more time soon!

update my buffet

Come on people, I know you have an opinion! Tell me what you would do to this buffet to update it!

Please I need ideas, leave a comment below!

Early Summer

Can you believe this? This is my garden already as of last week (April 14th-ish) - in Minnesota! There are already buds on my peony plants! I am anxious to plant my veggie garden. I love this early warm weather! Happy gardening!

A treasure

I have been so in love with this book I've been reading for Ladie's Class at my church.  You could say it's "one of my favorite things!" It has transformed my thinking and affections.  Let me explain.  Before this book I would look at the "emotional Christian" with envy and would not understand.  "Why do they have so much joy?  How do they seem so genuinely affected by the love of God?  They cry every time they talk about what Christ did?"  Yes, I've always agreed with these truths that these people were so emotionally affected by and that they are amazing.  My very faith rests on these things, too, BUT why was my heart not affected like that?

THEN I read this book: Because He Loves Me, by Elyse Fitzpatrick
I was not understanding how the Gospel changes my every day life.  Now, I'm still a pretty stoic person, but in my heart I feel moved to tears about Christ's perfect life, His sacrifice, His death, His resurrection, His ascension, etc.  I've still felt inadequate to describe the affects of these truths to others.  (especially when I know I haven't arrived at believing this every day-not even close)  BUT I was challenged this morning by Elyse in her book by this, "Don't worry about sounding simple; after all, the apostle Paul determined (1 Corinthians 2:3-5) to know NOTHING but a crucified Jesus."  SO I want to say to all of you the Gospel is where it's at.  Here are some more quotes from the book to whet your appetite:

"The hope of the gospel is simply this then: that Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son, was born in a lowly manger, lived a perfect life, suffered from the moment of his first breath, was indescribably shamed and cruelly tortured, and then died without the comfort of his Father or the angels on Calvary's cruel tree.  After three days in darkness and the tomb he rose again, still in human flesh, and then after forty days he ascended to the Father.  Because of this, we have an entirely new identity, not one based on our accomplishments, our self-respect, the accolades of others, our own good works.  We are completely and irrevocably justified; we have been entirely forgiven, reconciled, redeemed.  We will have eternal life with him, and everything we go through now is in some way tied to these truths.

What does Paul mean when he cautions us against 'shifting from the hope of the gospel'?  Simply that we must 'ponder anew what the Almighty can do, if with his love he befriend [us]!'  We must ponder and be consumed with the thought of his sacrificial love, mercy, and grace.  May we never think that pondering the Almighty's love is only for beginners.  No one ever moves past the need to learn and then relearn this over and over again."  (pg. 191)

"Failing to concentrate on God's love for is in Christ isn't a trivial thing.  It will always eventuate in apathetic living.  Only the gospel can so invigorate us that we burn with ardor for him in all that we do." (Pg. 195)

"we're mor sinful and flawed than we ever dared believe, but more loved and welcomed than we ever dared hope."  (pg. 145)

OH, how I wish I could continue typing qoutes for you!  (BUT my 2 year old is standing at my side, begging for breakfast-real life is begging for me to apply the gospel in this situation - as I am frustrated that I can't continue blogging . . .remember Jesus' patience for us . . .) Because He Loves ME is so rich, challenging, and God honoring!  I praise the Lord for using a humble servant like Elyse to record such wisdom for other believers to treasure!

PLEASE consider reading this book!  I know that I want to read it yearly to constantly remind my weak heart of these truths!  I desire that everyone I know would read it and be encouraged in the faith as I have.  I know that God can work in many other ways and you don't need this book to grow in the Lord, but I just want to share it with all of you.  I'm so excited about it and I want to be able to talk about it with all of you-so we can hold each other accountable to the truths of the Gospel-more effectively!

I'm sure you haven't heard the last from this book, but please seek it out for yourself!