Simple Life Calendar

I love putting up a new calendar. It is so fresh and clean. So much possibility. This was written on the back on my new calendar and I just had to share it with you.

With the completion of each new calendar also comes the realization that another year has flown by! Oh, my! I am sure that I'm not alone when I say how busy life can be. The philosophy behind this Simple Life Calendar is simple - be more aware of the moments we are in. I don't think I can slow my life down, but I can certainly try to do more of the things that enrich my life. Perhaps inviting a friend for a visit or sitting in my backyard at the end of the day and smiling out over butterflies fluttering in the breeze. I can't slow down the hands of time, but I can make the most out of each and every day. Here's to a more Simple Life for us all!

FYI

Just to let you know about a couple things in Bloggerville...

Laced with Grace is having a give away so go over there and enter.

Rachel Anne is starting a new thing for the New Year. Each week or so she will post on Friday a simple idea on how to bring peace, beauty and order into our homes. She has a small supply list today and will start after the first.
!Kim is also doing a Praise and Coffee giveaway. My two favotite things - yea!

Check 'em out

The week before New Year's

Christmas is over. Whew. Christmas brings out the best and worst of my children. This year I saw our son really enjoy the spirit of giving. You see I have a rule, you have to buy a gift for each of your siblings...I don't care if it is a pack of tic-tacs but you have to get each of your siblings something with your own money. In years past that is exactly what Eli (11) would do, get whatever cost him the least (least effort, least money). This year with the help of our family's new friend Carol Eli really got into the spirit of giving and really thought about what his family would like. That was a blessing on Christmas morning to see him just as excited to give as to get, well, almost as excited to give. Hey, it is progress. I also saw the kids playing well with each other. Enjoying each other's company with games, movies, and books. There were moments I thought 'Wow, we must be doing something right'. And then there were other times.

The bickering increased. Short tempers appeared (including mine). Impatience reared it's ugly head. Greediness showed up.

I think Christmas has a way of heightening all things. Sights, sounds and smells are abundant so the senses are overloaded. It brought out the best and worst of all of us. It brought the dross to the surface. I think this is a good thing especially going into a new year. This time of year I start thinking over New Year's Resolutions and what I would like to see happen in my family and in myself. I don't have a long list, just a few things I want to work on and a few things for us to work on as a family. Last year my resolution for myself was to be more hospitable. To use my home to welcome others and make them feel loved. At a ladies retreat in fall of 2006 the Lord told me I needed to work on this area. It was fun to think over the past year and how many times we had people in our home. I hope they left with a feeling of love, welcome and warmth.

I am not sure what 2008 holds for us but I do know the ONE that holds it.

Meal Planning? Yeah, right.

Two weeks ago my hubby got the surprising diagnosis of Type 1 Diabetes. I totally didn't see that one coming. He had not been feeling all that well for a few months which we explained away with his summer schedule and then jumping right into a big production at church. Long story short...he has diabetes. God has a funny sense of humor because I has just talked at a parent meeting a few days before about meal planning, ha.

This diagnosis has not changed what we eat all that much. A few years back we had an overhaul and got rid of all processed foods and went to a more whole food diet. I am sure that the Lord was preparing us for this. I am not all that thrilled with our nutritionist who has told us not to worry what kind of carb we are eating just count carbs including processed yucky ones. So we are learning a little each day on how his body responds to different kinds of carbs. This is lots of fun for him especially this time of year with all the goodies that we are receiving from church members.

The meal planning has been simple and a bit boring. Lots of chicken breasts, veggies, salad, a little bread and a little fruit. I am hoping to expand more in the coming weeks.

This is not me at all

What Your Latte Says About You

You are very decadent in all aspects of your life. You never scale back, and you always live large. You are a very frivolous person. You don't take anything too seriously. Why should you? You have a good deal of energy, but you pace yourself. You never burn out too fast. You're addicted to caffeine. There's no denying it. You are a child at heart, and you don't ever miss the opportunity to do something playful. You are deep and thoughtful, but you are never withdrawn.

What Does Your Latte Say About You?

A Christmas Meme

This is a fun little thing. I am expecting at least 3 of you to do this on your blogs...you know who you are.

I got this over at Kim's Blog.


1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Both...With a little one bags don't work so well right now.

2. Real tree or artificial? Aritficial, we got a new pre-lit tree this year. I am so happy the old one has past on.

3. When do you put up your tree? First of December.

4. When do you take the tree down? The day after Christmas. I like to be rid of the extra 'stuff' around the house aka clutter.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, and I discovered eggnog lattes at Starbucks this year...yummy.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? A Charlie McCarthy ventriliquist doll.

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? Yes, several.

8. Hardest person to buy for? Brother in laws family.

9. Easiest person to buy for? My children.

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I plead the 5th.

11. Mail or email Christmas cards? Only mail.

12. Favorite Christmas movie? The Nativity Story and Miracle on 34th street.

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? It is never the same year to year. This year we started at the end of October and are just about done, just a few little things left to get.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Again, I plead the 5th.

15. Favorite things to eat at Christmas? My Mother in Law makes a breakfast bread that we call 'Bubble Loaf' that is wonderful and we look forward to every year.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Carol of the Bells is my favorite. My daughter always plays it for me Nov-Dec as she is practicing her piano.

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? This year I want to STAY HOME!

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? You know Dasher, and Dancer, and Prancer, and Vixen. Comet, and Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen. But do you recall the most famous reighndeer of all... Rudolph the red nosed reighndeer...

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? Usually an angel that we purchased the first year of marriage. This year nothing on top.

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Morning...but maybe a gift of jammies on Christmas eve.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Comercialism.

23. What is the "corniest" family tradition you do, or miss doing? ???I don;t know.

24. Ugliest Christmas Decoration ever invented? Fiberoptic trees.

25. Which looks the best, theme trees or homey trees? I like both. Both can be done well.

26. What does Christmas mean to you? Christmas is a time to celebrate God becoming flesh! Christ left his throne and place at the Father's side to become a helpless baby in a poor, poor family - to grow up despised and rejected by men, and live a perfect life and die a sinless death in order to completely absorb all of God's wrath against my sin! Now when God looks at me, he sees me through Jesus! (This is what Loraena said...I can not say it better...so what she said!)(and I am copying it from >Kim)

My heart is full

If you are tired of hearing about adoption you can skip reading today's post.

Today is our one year anniversary of receiving our daughter Ella. As I woke this morning my heart was full with the thoughts of not only this day last year, but all that has transpired over the past 12 months.

Often I am asked if I love Ella any differently than my other children. I have to say yes and no. 'No' in the sense that she is every bit my child as any of the other children. I feel completely bonded to her. I love her so much. 'Yes' in the sense that adopting her has taught me so much about God and His love for us. Our biological children have taught me of how great God's sacrifice was to give freely His son for our salvation. How hard that must have been for Him. How much He loves His children and want the best for them.

But adding Ella to our family has brought new insight. God has shown me through this process how He pursues us, not because we deserve it. Not because we can give back what He has given. Just out of love for us.

Certain words have new meaning to me. Grafted. Chosen. Predestined. Fatherless. Orphan. Every tribe, nation, and tongue. All people. Go into all the world. Although we did not go to China on a organized mission trip, I think of our adoption as a similar calling. Ours just didn't have an ending point. It is a lifetime commitment.

I have been so blessed this past year to be able to be this sweet little girls' mommy. It has been by far the hardest thing I have ever done...but far exceeding the difficulty has been the joy and blessing. Nearly always when God asks us to do something for Him it is hard. Hard to sacrifice our selfishness for Him. I think of the hard things that God asked some of His people to do. Moses, Daniel, David, Mary,Paul, John,... Jesus. We so often think that if something is hard it is not of God and that is just not true.

We have come so far this year. A year ago Ella would wake up (several times a night) screaming. Now she gently calls "Mommy, Momma, Mommy, Momma" Last night was the first time when I was tucking her in that after I said 'I love you' she replied 'Love you'. God is so good.

One year ago today
Today

Your Christmas is Most Like: A Charlie Brown Christmas

Each year, you really get into the spirit of Christmas. Which is much more important to you than nifty presents.

What Movie Is Your Christmas Most Like?

This is kinda fun.

The perfect tree

I hope you all had a fabulous Thanksgiving. We celebrated with lots of friends and family and it truly was an occasion to be of thankfull for the people that the Lord has blessed us with.

We are doing well with our gatitude journal. We are in the 200's and it amazes me some of the things that the kids come up with to be thankful for. They have put a lot of thought into it and I am proud of them. Well, almost all of them. One of the kids has not added much with substance so we are working on that.

The journal has really helped me keep a clear focus on the season. I don't feel the pressure of the holiday season that I usually feel to buy or to preform to a perfect ideal. Ahh....freedom.

A couple nights ago I was painting a couple chairs and listening to one of my favorite Christmas albums, Ray Boltz, Bethlehem Star. The song 'A Perfect Tree' got me thinking. It talks of picking out and decorating trees with all the wonderful decorations. These words got me thinking:
The perfect tree grew very long ago
And it was not decked in silver or ornaments of gold.
Hanging on it's branches was a gift for you and me.
Jesus laid his life down on the perfect tree.
So I proposed for my family that this year we not put ornaments on the tree. Just as a symbol to remind us about what Christmas is about. Hopefully each time we look at the bare tree we will think about the true meaning of Christmas. Since it is a pre-lit tree, we are using the lights...just a little sparkle. I hope the kids will be able to talk to their friends that come over and ask why our tree doesn't have any ornaments on it.

Monday Menus

This weeks meal plan is fairly easy. Really just a couple big meals.

Monday: Spaghetti
Tuesday: Church wide Thanksgiving meal and Tree of blessing
Wednesday: Snacks
THANKSGIVING: Traditional meal
Friday: Leftovers

Each year our church does a traditional Thanksgiving meal. After the meal we all meet in the sanctuary and participate in the 'Tree of Blessing'. Each family, person, or group of friends comes up and has an ornament the symbolizes some blessing that they have received in the past year. Some of the blessings are lighthearted and fun and others are quite serious. It is such a great tradition for our family to listen to all the things that God has done not only for our family but for our church family too.

This year our blessing that we will share is our daughter Ella. That is a common blessing when families add a member. I hope we will be able to articulate the blessing though, because it is not just Ella. Of course we have been so blessed this year by Ella. More than we ever could have imagined. She is a wonderful joy and addition to our family but it is more than that. Through our adoption process God has given us such a clear understanding of what He did for us by adopting us into His family. I don't know that I could have fully understood it without the adoption process. Truly excepting one into your family, making them yours. Your complete responsibility. Pursuing them before they even realized their need. The sacrifice financially, emotionally, physically, mentally, and spiritually. Giving so much of oneself for someone that has done nothing to deserve the adoption any more than any other orphan. The symbolism is amazing. When I look at our daughter she truly is one of us. A part of our family just as much as any of our other children. I never would have thought I would love her so much or so completely. God is so good! And we are so blessed! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Another new look

Emma created another new look for my blog. This one is closer to my personality. i love the tin stars at the top! We will keep tweaking this one and see what we can come up with. Thanks Emma! I know you put a lot of time into this one. I really appriciate you!

Monday: French Dip Sandwiches
Tuesday: Taco Soup
Wednesday: Football Banquet
Thursday: Spaghetti/bread/salad
Friday: Chicken, veggies and rice

I love seeing all the slow-cooker meals over at The Organizing Junkie

Last night my man was so good to me. He ran me a hot bubble bath and rubbed my feet. While I was enjoying this pampering it caused me to think about Jesus and the foot washing, since my man was being such a humble servant to me.

I was wondering what would be the modern equivalent to a foot washing today since we don't do that unless we are getting a pedi and we pay for it? What jobs to we look at as lowly...we are too good for...they are saved for the lesser of society. I am wondering, is mothering one of those jobs? Just the other night someone asked me why I didn't go to the annual Ladies Retreat that our church does. The person went on to comment that they thought I would jump at the chance to 'get away from all those kids.'

I love my kids and enjoy them very much. We are seeing the fruit of our parenting labors more and more often. When they are little your really work the soil of their hearts with much prayer and hope. My thought is this: even in the christian community we value parenting, nurturing, training little. Although it would never be verbalized we say it with comments like the one above. Or how about 'I'd rather shave my eyebrows off than to be with my kids all day', 'Your pregnant again? Don't you know what causes that?' Our society says it is not valuable in how we pay our teachers so little, we want degrees for our girls so they can supports themselves 'just in case'. We complain at the cost of daycare, preschool/private school or lessons. All this to say our children are not worth our money, or at least not much of it.

My husband just finished a huge event at work. There were lots of extra hours logged in and so I was at home a lot with the kids to my self. I pondered my value. Is I am doing enough? It doesn't feel like it. Why is raising my kids not enough? Why do I long to do big things for God when what He has called me to do for now is right at home? Because I don't get dressed in heals to go to work everyday? Is it because there is little recognition? I don't know. Probably some combination of all that. I found myself envious of the woman that was working with my husband on this big event. She did something big with huge results for God. And here I was at home, doing laundry, fixing meals, cleaning faces and bottoms. All in my jeans and t-shirt. God is speaking to me on this. He seems to work in themes in my life and this one has come up several time over the past week or so. I am reading Passionate Housewives Desperate for God. I am just getting started so I will let you know how it is. I also found this last night on youtube. So pause the music on the sidebar and enjoy. PS I love SCC!

I've been inspired!

Thank you to Ann @ Holy Experience! Since reading her post I have decided that this is just what I need for this holiday season to keep my eyes on the Lord. The Author and Giver of all things good. I am going to keep a 'Gratitude Journal' and try to reach 1000 things that I am grateful for by the end of the year. I am inviting my family to join me and write in the journal too. Hopefully this will be a wonderful time for us to really think about how awesome God has been to us. Hopefully this will help us not be self-centered during this holiday...His holiday...season.

I have already set some other things in place to try to keep our eyes on Jesus. I hope that Ann's post will inspire you too!

Monday Menus

EDIT:Last week we had Artichoke Chicken, a reciepe I found from new blogger Tricia. The family really enjoyed it!

Monday: Chicken Chili...didn't get to this last week
Tusday:Herbed Crock-Pot Chicken
Wednesday: Dinner at church (Ham and scalloped potatos)
Thursday: Shepherd's Pie
Friday: Chicken, veggies and rice
Saturday: Taco Soup
Sunday: Gone all day casserole (From Taste of Home Crock Pot edition)

I thought I would give you something to smile about. My husband is a youth pastor and one of his students dressed up like him for Halloween. I am not sure if that is a commliment or not. You decide.

Mega Churches

For the few readers that may not ususally go over to see Praise and Coffee I wanted to point you over that way. Sue always has something thought provoking to say.

This is a great post. I have been feeling this in my heart of a long time. Thanks Sue for posting such a great article and pointing us to the original source. Check out the comments at Praise and Coffee. One gal said 'we don't need more bible studies, we need to study our bibles'. AMEN to that! The conversation is great with both the pros and cons of a mega church. To give you a taste of what it is about Willow Creek and some of the other mega churches have come to the conclusion after study that programs and activities do no make disciples. Read the article...it is fantastic.

I am hoping to get back to some regular posting this week. Life has been unusually busy around our house, but I think I can see some light at the end of the tunnel!

Monday: Leftovers
Tuesday: Mexican Chicken Chowder
Wednesday: Church dinner
Thursday: Artichoke Chicken
Friday: Fajitas
Saturday: Chicken Chili
Sunday: Pot Roast
Enjoy more meal planning at Laura's

New Song

I created a new playlist. The other song was getting a bit old. I heard this song over at Where My Treasures are and I loved it. It is such a happy song! It is by Sara Groves FYI.

This week's menu

Monday - Homemade Mac & Cheese
Tuesday - Chicken & Wild Rice (didn't do this last week so I'm trying again here)
Wednesday - Dinner @ Church
Thursday - Mexican Stack
Friday - Soup & Bread (either Fall Chowder or Chicken Chili)
Check out more at The Organizing Junkie

Works for Me Wednesday

What works for me? Clicking on other women's blogs to find out what works for them! I have picked up several helpful hints and ideas. Thanks Ladies! Keep em coming!
Rocks in my Dryer

I am late getting this posted. But better late than never!
For those of you new to 'Menu Plan Monday' (Tricia & Lori) Women post their families meals for the upcoming week. It is a great way to gather new reciepes and ideas for meal planning. Take a look over at The Organizing Junkie

Monday: Spaghetti & Bread
Tuesday: Corn Chowder & Bread
Wednesday: Eat at church (BBQ Chicken)
Thursday: Chicken, Wild Rice and Veggies
Friday: Fajitas

Thanks Em!

My wonderful, beautiful, thoughtful daughter designed my new layout. Isn't she grand!

The God of benefits

I watched this the other day over at Lifesong. This has had me thnking for days. I want to recieve all of Jesus. Not just the benefit part.

Northwest Living

I recently was sent a funny through the email. It was a 'You know you live in the Northwest' thing from Jeff Foxworthy. No, Jeff did not send it to me...you get the picture.

Anyway, one of the top ten was 'If you can order coffee at least 10 different ways'. Who knew this was skill, a talent even? I have a friend from Texas, she has lived here for 4 years but still insists she is a Texan (the girl needs to bloom where she has been planted). She thinks you either order coffee black or with cream and sugar. I have to order for her here. But I digress. This Texas woman thinks we are all coffee snobs. Coffee Snobs? Just because I like a grande white chocolate mocha iced non fat no whip? Just because I like my Black Tea Lemonade? Just because I like a little Blended Carmel Latte? Just because I know all the Starbucks employees at my favorite one (there are 3 in my town) by name? Just because my kids know the difference between a Dutch Bros. and Starbucks?

OK maybe we are snobs after all. But it doesn't get much better than sharing a coffee and a molasses cookie with my Wednesday Night Coffee Girls. I look forward to it all week. It is a group of about 15 women. We are not all there at the same time, but each week some of us are there. The Starbucks empoyees call us their 'Church Ladies'. I love that! We talk about what the Lord is teaching us, what are kids are doing, and sometimes what we are struggling with our how we are really blowing it. We lift eachother up and encourage one another to press on. We come from all different walks of life and different places too. We are not all like minded. Often sometimes the only thing I think we have in common is our love of Jesus. But that is good. God uses these women to challenge me and cause me to search for myself.

Building Cathedrals

I found this at Unmistakable Imprint. Danni's mom was an amazing source of encouragement and guidance for me as a young mom and new Christian. Now Danni inspires me as I read her blog. Enjoy!

My Cathedrals

I'm invisible. It all began to make sense - the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone or cooking or sweeping the floor or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.


Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going, she's going, she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England . My friend had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it. I was feeling pretty pathetic, when she turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe . I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Danielle, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything. A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it." And the workman replied, "Because God sees."


I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Danielle. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You a re building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become." At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.


When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there." As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

There is a song on the new Casting Crowns CD that has been permeating in my head for the past week. It is called 'Somewhere in the Middle.
These lyrics in particular have me thinking...


Just how close can I get, Lord, to my surrender without losing all control

Fearless warriors in a picket fence, reckless abandon wrapped in common sense
Deep water faith in the shallow end and we are caught in the middle
With eyes wide open to the differences, the God we want and the God who is
But will we trade our dreams for His or are we caught in the middle
Are we caught in the middle

Somewhere between my heart and my hands
Somewhere between my faith and my plans
Somewhere between the safety of the boat and the crashing waves
Somewhere between a whisper and a roar
Somewhere between the altar and the door
Somewhere between contented peace and always wanting more
Somewhere in the middle You'll find me

This is so where I spend much of my time. Striving for complete surrender without losing all control. Those two things cannot happen together.

Reckless abandon but I fight within myself trying to make worldly sense of what God is up to.

Fearless warriors inside a picket fence. I love the picture this paints inside my head. I imagine Braveheart warriors staying behind the safety of a picket fence. Which means they really are not fearless warriors at all.

Will I trade my dreams for His, or am I stuck in the middle? Do you know what middle means to me in this song? Luke warm. Wanting the benefit God offers without the sacrifices He demands.

I wonder if I will ever really learn the lessons God has taught me enough to make it out the door and impact my little part of the world that He has in trusted me to or if I will always be battling Him for control and safety.

Challenging thoughts

Apparently God is still has some work to do on me.

Sunday night I met an amazing woman at Awana. She and her husband are getting ready to go to Ethiopia at the end of the month and adopt 4 children that will bring their number to 11. 11 kids. Wow! She told me of the work God had done in her heart. How when she had 5 kids and was completely overwhelmed and thought God was done working adoption in their family God asked more of them.

God really challenged me as I listened to her story. Had I told God 'no'. We participated once in adoption, but not again? Yeah, I did that. Not that I sense God moving us to adopt again, I think the point is I need to ask where have I told God 'no'. Are there things I just don't want to do? For whatever reason. Laziness? We already have participated in a work with Him? I don't want to look any stranger than we already do? I am sure the list could go on. God is so good to show me I still have so much work to be done in my life. I am so grateful for His patience in me and continuing to work in my heart and not leaving me to my own. I think now is a good time for me to revisit the book Surrender by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.

I am so glad I had the opportunity to meet this beautiful family and I look forward to meeting their new children. Here is a link for you: No More Counting the Cost