Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Which is Which? {Happy Birthday}

Happy Birthday to my husband Bruce and his brother, Travis.
Care to guess which is which?
I'll tell you tomorrow.
When I do a long catch up post.
It feels like forever since I've been here with you.
And I miss you.
But today I'm wrapping gifts and eating cake.
You know, important stuff.
See you soon.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

30 Thankfuls

In no particular order...
Here is my thankful list.
Bruce, Ella and Talia are a given.
Here are the next 30 lovelies that came to my mind after them...

 1. Greek yogurt. Why has this only come into my life in the past year?
 2. Ella's "Morning, Mom" every. single. day.
 3. Friends who know when your love tank needs to be filled up.
 4. Texting.
 5. Long sleeved t-shirts from the Gap.
 6. Candy corn.
 7. Peanuts.
 8. Candy corn mixed with peanuts.
 9. Ruffles
10. Sonic happy hour.
11. Skype
12. The smell of Ella and Talia's heads right after a bath.
13. Chicken Caeser Wraps with croutons.
14. Adele.
15. Peanut butter.
16. Chocolate.
17. Peanut butter dipped in chocolate.
18. Heated mattress pads.
19. Mulled cider candles from the Wal-Marts. :)
20. People who laugh easily
21. the Message Bible
22. Helium.
23. Limes mixed with Dr. Pepper
24. Fireplaces lit.
25. Nutella
26. White sandy beaches
27. Cartwheels in the living room
28. Books
29. Etsy
30. My Pastor and his Wife.

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you wherever you are reading this.
What kind of lovely are you thankful for this year?

Monday, November 21, 2011

Hello Monday

Hello coffee and conversation with a friend passing through.

Hello giggling girls.
Hello vacation from work, school, and all things routine.
Hello memories to be made.

Hello making lists and checking them twice.

Hello neighbors who share.
Hello sleeping in.

Hello reunion made up of Josts too many to name.

Hello hand holding. 
Hello Monday....I've been waiting for you.

Linking up with Lisa Leonard today.

Friday, November 18, 2011

WORD.

"What I'm interested in seeing you do is:
sharing your food with the hungry,
inviting the homeless poor into your homes,
putting clothes on the shivering ill-clad, 
being available to your own families.
Do this and the lights will turn on,
and your lives will turn around at once."

Isaiah 58:7-8
The Message

Thursday, November 17, 2011

PinterTest Kitchen: Ginger Cookies

Jessica held another PinterTest Kitchen this month...two weeks ago.
I'm totally on top of it like that.
So today, when I made Ginger Cookies, I thought I would post it next month, but then I decided I couldn't wait.
Oh. My. Word. These are so good.
I rolled them in Sugar in the Raw, which puts them in the out of this world category.
And bonus! They smell better than any Fall candle I've ever owned, making my entire house smell wonderful.
Bake some soon.
These totally passed the test!
Click here for the recipe.



Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Baby Names {we are not having a baby}

Talia brought home her singing assignment for the 
preschool Christmas program last week.

All of these wonderful names caught my attention even though naming 
anything (including a dog, apparently) is not in my future. 
I just love to name people.
And dogs.
And cars.
 I love finding out what someone has named their newborn.
Don't you?
That was my favorite thing about being pregnant...the thrill of talking names. 
So if you're talking baby names, I'm just a wee bit jealous. 
Not jealous enough to get pregnant, but all too eager to play the name game.

Let's start with girls...I could kick myself now, that I never had a Meryl. I know. I know. You're thinking Meryl? Yes, as in Streep. I had a Grandpa named Merrill, and he would have loved having a great granddaughter named after him. 
I also currently love Dane (the spelling would change)and Anya.

Boy names have always been tough for me, but as soon as we found out we were having girls, I didn't give much thought to them. Bruce tried to talk me into Axel during both of my pregnancies.  I finally got so worried about his obsession for the name (Axl Rose) that I made him promise me that if I died in childbirth, Talia's name would not be Axel. 
He was that serious about the name---boy or girl.
But today...if I had to choose a boy name...maybe Axel. 
I kind of like it now. 
It's grown on me.
But don't tell Bruce. 
 Because seriously...
I couldn't pull the trigger and give the name Axel to any... 
Sweet Child of Mine.
Maybe I could have a... 
Sweet Dog of Mine.
Most likely the name Axel is perfect for that...
 Sweet Van of Mine.
Nothing says "Take me home" like a van named Axel, does it?
That's what I thought.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Anything But Strong

Talia was happy to see Saturday come.
She wasn't alone.
When I woke up this morning I sort of exhaled.
I had the kind of week where there were several days in a row that I couldn't make sense of anything.
In my weakness He is strong.
 I couldn't express myself well. In my weakness he is strong.
I knew what I was trying to say. In my weakness he is strong.
I certainly knew how I felt: tired, weak, anything but strong.
 I couldn't get my thoughts and emotions to present themselves into anything anyone else could understand.
This morning I woke up and still felt weak. In my weakness he is strong.
But I was at peace.
I laughed so much today.
I cooked and prayed.
 And ate by candlelight.
I am held together by His strength when nothing, including me, makes sense.
That realization was the gift of this Saturday.
He is far too good to me.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Ten on Ten: November 2011

I nearly forgot about Ten on Ten today.
Here are ten random shots from my day.
This tree is in our backyard...it is the glowing highlight of every day right now.
Public apologies to my massage therapist, who nearly broke her thumbs
trying to get the tension out of my right shoulder blade this morning.
I met a friend for lunch.
Which was followed by a meeting at school. 
We nearly locked up the place.
Then, we were greeted by the moon.
I am very sorry that this picture doesn't do it justice.
It was a gift to see it tonight.
I always wonder if either of my girls will ever be able to look their Dad in the eye...perhaps if he's sitting down.
My kids will not remember much of their life before the iPad...I remember when I learned this new thing called "E-mail".
This craft is from preschool today. The first time I saw it, I read, 
"We are His Helpers."
It's good to be home.
Kickin' up my feet in my $3 boots from a local thrift store.
This picture is for my brother in law who said upon seeing these for the first time, "You're really going to wear those?"
All. Day. Long.

Happy 10th, all!

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

C'mon Get Happy {the Happy Day project}

Monday and Tuesday were filled with hard things for several friends close to me.
I spent time listening.
I spent time hearing their hearts.
When I was with them, I was really with them.
I thought of very little else...The Happy Day Project had been derailed.
Or, had it?

No, I didn't bake anything on Monday.
My baking time was spent showing someone how much I loved them by saying very little, but spending time with them.

No, I didn't write a handwritten note on Tuesday.
Instead, I sat down with a friend to hear her heart.

Today I baked some goodies for our neighbors. {Monday's project.}
I sat down and wrote a handwritten note to someone who has been on my mind for months. {Tuesday's project.}
And I watched a friend's baby whose regular daycare provider is on vacation.
When my friend asked me if she could write me a check for watching her baby for the day, instead of taking the money and running off to buy myself a new shirt like I usually do, I asked her if she would make a donation to Compassion International as payment. She was more than happy to do so! {Wednesday's project.}

There are opportunities to do good everywhere.
When we do them, we get happy don't we?
If you want to do something to make a difference, but need a little direction, check out the Compassion Christmas Catalogue. It's filled with all sorts of things to meet the needs of people all over the world, and it's fun to look through!


More Happy Day projects to come...but first a little Partridge Family because I've been singing this song all week.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Right now...

Right now I'm...
watching: Give Me the Banjo on PBS with my father in law.
drinking:...water with lots of ice.
wearing: a lavender v-neck tee and skinny jeans
listening: to Talia scream at squirrels in the backyard.
avoiding: meal planning...no one's eating anyways these days
wishing: that I were in Portland right now
feeling: excited about this.

missing: the guy whose name rhymes with goose.
thankful: for long showers, lively conversation, and strong coffee
craving: pumpkin cheesecake
wondering: what Christmas will bring
weather: 65 degrees and gorgeously sunny.
praying: for Blake (he's officially part of the Woods family!), Rachel, and my friend Carol.
needing: a massage.
thinking: iphone....which gig to get?
dreaming: same as above...
loving: Ella's mad puzzle skills.


See you tomorrow for The Happy Day Project!
Happy Sunday, friends.

Friday, November 4, 2011

WORD.

Blessed be the Lord----
day after day he carries us along.
Psalm 68:19
The Message

Thursday, November 3, 2011

It's Just Sleep.

This morning I read this post by my friend, Anna...I'm not sure if you remember her, but I'll bet you remember Blake. 
She and Jerad are overseas right now waiting to officially become Blake's parents.

They are asking for prayer:
Tomorrow at 11:30 am (4:30 am central time) we will petition to the court to be named Blake's parents.  We ask for you to pray for the Holy Spirit's presence in this time, for His will to be done.  For our words to speak to these people, to this country that every child deserves a family.  No matter what their race, color, or disability.  Pray that the court's decision is favorable upon us.  Pray that we can be transparent in this setting as God's hand moves over the hearts in the people in this court room, as He glorifies Himself.  Pray His love will shine through.  Pray that the judge finds it in her heart to grant us the 10-day wait as just that...10 days in a row, including weekends.  Different regions follow this 10-day wait rule differently.  I would love to be able to bring our son home before Thanksgiving, if it is in God's timing and will for us.  So please pray. 


Tomorrow morning, I will be getting up to pray at 4:00 am to pray on their behalf. 
This afternoon I started wondering if any of you would be willing to give up some sleep and get up and pray, too. I'm not asking you to come over to my house, although you can if you want to! 
I'm asking you to set your alarm to wake up early and pray. 
I don't care where you live... 
Together we can pray in one Spirit and plan our naps later.
We will, won't we?
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