Thursday, September 29, 2011

60 Minutes Ago.

60 minutes ago I found myself barefoot and slow dancing in my kitchen with a three year old.
She wanted to be held.
Slow down. Hold her. 
We didn't speak.
Minutes earlier I had been making dinner with Pandora---my sole companion.
I began to cry.
She noticed.
I told her I was happy.
She smiled and squeezed my neck.
Someday when she's older, I will hear the song again and remember the night
Talia's three, almost four year old self, held onto me in the kitchen.
This night, when our song chose us.



Edited:
9:41 pm...
The past two hours have been tough ones. I have been parentally challenged, to say the least. Timeouts, crying, and sulking...and that's just me. Just thought you should know.

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Blog Sugar 2011

When Megan asked me to go to Blog Sugar with her, I was thrilled.
I thought God's had me going to take pictures of her with other people.
I happily did that. Here's one of Megan and Mel. (By the way, Megan never mentioned taking pictures. That's totally me.)
I had no idea that I was going to get a Word, too.
More on that in a minute.
Leslie and Shauna
Jeannett and Julie

Almost two weeks ago a friend and I were having a conversation about blogging. We were kind of at the same place: wondering why we blog, what we should blog about, and if we should keep going.

At Blog Sugar, Heather shared about telling our stories. We all have them. We can choose to keep them hidden away, or we can share them. We can grow.

My Blog Sugar story is in a Word from the Lord.
It might have sounded like Jeannett's voice, but it was Him without a doubt.
This is what she said, "God doesn't just want you. He wants your blog."
I heard Him in my heart.
He wants my blog.

Some of you who are reading this write a blog. Some of you have already given God full authority over your blog. Others of you, like me, are holding onto a little bit of it. Why am I doing that?

Some of you are not writing a blog.
With or without a blog, the truth still remains: God doesn't just want you. He wants your __________.

When I keep something for myself and not give Him everything (including my blog) I miss out on living the stories He longs to write with me.

There's work to be done.
I better get to it.

Friday, September 23, 2011

WORD.

8:31 a.m. Thursday.

"Through the Word we are put together and shaped
up for the tasks God has for us."

2 Timothy 3:17
The Message

Thursday, September 22, 2011

Right now...


Right now I'm...
watching: 30 Rock reruns in Megan's guest room
eating: Nothing. I'm full. Made this for dinner.
Bruce LOVED it. Thanks, Mel!
drinking: not thirsty. Weird. I'm always thirsty.
wearing: a black hoodie, a long sleeved tee and black yoga pants.
avoiding: washing my face...I'll admit it. 
I sleep with makeup on more than I should.
 La-la-la-lazy. 

feeling:  happy to see Julie again and meet some new girlioes.
missing: 1919 Rootbeer...okay now I'm thirsty.
thankful: that I'm back in a relationship with Google Chrome.
Goodbye, Safari. It wasn't me, it was you.
weather: 63 degrees. Perfect autumn like weather.

praying: for safe travels as Megan and I fly to California 
tomorrow for Blog Sugar.
needing: more Bon Jovi in my life
thinking: I hope Bruce remembers that he's the carpool Dad in the morning.

dreaming: of the day when Ella will graduate 
lovingthis country song 

I'd love a peek into your world...right now.

Tuesday, September 20, 2011

With a Side of Grace plus Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars

The Vintage Soiree sale was so much fun. I ran over and took a few pictures on Friday before the sale actually started. All those pops of white and turquoise make my heart smile 'til it hurts.
See that white table with the lamp on it? That came home with me. My sister gave me a gift certificate to the Vintage Soiree for my birthday this year and I spent it with fervor.
Right now that lovely table is in my living room.
I'm not sure where it will land.
I never am when I buy something.

On Friday night, Bruce's mom came over, and we had our own little craft night.
I wanted to make this headband made out of old t-shirts.
I also made this one.
I ran down to the Hillsboro Arts and Crafts Fair on Saturday morning for a bit.
(Mostly to pick up some New Years Cookies for myself family.)
My knitting friends Emily and Carisa had an awesome booth.  
Those hats are so cute, it almost makes me wish for winter. 
Almost.

Because I didn't get enough of the Barn/Mill last week, I decided to go again with my friend Megan H. 
I didn't remember seeing these yellow chairs and table before. The gorgeousness of it all is going to make somebody very happy. 
The chairs...such soft buttery goodness.
Beautiful.
I haven't been so in love with such buttery lovliness since the last time I made Bruce's favorite Cookie Bars. 
I grew up making them and have no idea what church cookbook they are originally from. I'm sure it's a great church because something as buttery as this doesn't come from people who don't dole out grace in extra large portions. 

Here's the recipe.
Serve it with a side of grace.

Chocolate Chip Cookie Bars
2 sticks cold butter (I use salted.)
1 cup. brown sugar.
2 cups flour
1 tsp vanilla.
a shake or two of salt
5-6 ounces chocolate chips. 

Preheat Oven 350 degrees.
Beat cold butter (you might have to soften for 20 seconds in microwave, but you really want it somewhat cold or the bars will be too greasy) and brown sugar together. Add flour, vanilla and salt. The dough might seem like it's not going to come together, just keep your mixer going and it will. Stir in the chocolate chips.

Press dough into 9x13 pan and bake 15-20 minutes.
Cut while warm.

A couple of extra notes:
1. These are really really good served warm with a scoop of ice cream and have been my "go to" dessert for last minute get togethers.
2. Pregnant women of the world rejoice! There are not any eggs in this recipe, so if you have a hankering for cookie dough, this is the recipe for you. 

I'm just curious...
What's your "go to" dessert for those last minute get togethers?

Friday, September 16, 2011

WORD. {for the Weekend}

"But you, O God, are both tender and kind, 
not easily angered, immense in love,
and you never, never quit.
So look me in the eye and show kindness,
give your servant the strength to go on, 
save your dear, dear child!"
Psalm 86:15-16
The Message

Thursday, September 15, 2011

The Vintage Soiree Sale

I'll be shopping at the Vintage Soiree sale on Friday.
And most likely on Saturday, too.
One visit is never enough for me.
See you there!

Wednesday, September 14, 2011

The First Day of School...Again.

Talia started preschool yesterday.
When I asked her if I could take some pictures of her she said, "Just like Ella?"
Right, just like we did on Ella's first day of school.
When I offered her a new backpack, she said she wanted to use Ella's old one.
She asked how many more years it would be before she got to go to Ella's school.
"Two more years."
{insert her heavy sigh here}
Yesterday, I was given a glimpse of seeing her wait, dream, and 
plan for the day when she and her big sister would be in the same school. 
Many are the days where I feel like Ella is learning more from her little sister. 
And few are the days when Talia doesn't eagerly embrace the big sister role.
But yesterday was Talia's day to be the little sister...to look up to her big sis.
Seeing Talia be the little sister so full of wishing and hoping was an unexpected gift.
I'm not sure if the gift had my name on it, or Talia's, or Bruce's, or Ella's for that matter.
I just know it was a gift that our family could share, and today, I'm thankful to the Sender.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Whatever Craft Weekend {Part Two in Pictures}

Today I'm letting the pictures (mostly) speak for themselves.





Melissa made that camera strap this weekend.

Antiquing at the barn...also known as the Mill.


I love this picture of Megan.
And I thought Blythe's glasses were rad...just like her.
If you want to read more and see even more pics 
from Craft Weekend, click over to these blogs:

There's a rumor that another Craft Weekend is in the planning stages.
I can hardly wait.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Whatever Craft Weekend {Part One}

This past weekend I helped Meg host Whatever Craft Weekend.
We set up most of Thursday and all day Friday.

Ashley, and our guests, most of whom we'd never met, moved into the craft house Friday evening.
After some initial introductions, cupcakes and dinner (in that order), we got down to the business of crafting. (By the way, I was the cook for the weekend, but I gave up trying to take pictures of the food due to the lighting in the dining room and kitchen. Grrr.)
See that apron Meg is wearing? That was our first project.
The ladies got down to business right away.
Some of them had never sewn, while others were quite comfortable behind a sewing machine.
We crafted into the wee hours of Saturday morning.
We ate the best cheesecake ever.
Meg and I fell into our beds happy.
I couldn't fall asleep, which is unusual for me.
I kept thinking about these incredible women who were becoming such good friends of ours.
I lay there thanking the Lord for each one and thinking about His creativity displayed in each.
Women were created to be awesome.
Can't you see it displayed in each one?
More awesomeness from Craft Weekend tomorrow!
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