26.10.11

Pretty Happy Funny Real

round button chicken

This is a fun link-up. I like how they subtitle it,
"capturing the context of contentment in everyday life."

{Pretty}

Fall mums, Pittosporum and Wandering Jew.


{Happy}

This amazing plant is Perilla and when you wrap a few Perilla leaves around a Vietnamese eggroll, your tastebuds will rejoice and you will be happy.


{Funny}

Johnny accidentally hit the accelerator and the Gator took off as I snapped the picture. We were both surprised.


{Real}

I was not joking about the laundry situation.
It is dire and real. : )

Visit Like Mother, Like Daughter for more PHFR.






The Million Dollar Question

Y'all, I don't pretend to write earth-shakingly important things on this blog or aspire to reach Piperian depths of meaning, nor do I adequately chronicle the comings and goings of my family (as do SO many of my friends with their precious scrapbook-blogs--which is a brilliant idea I should try).

I blog and write because sometimes words, thoughts and ideas simply need to come out and land somewhere. Sometimes I shouldn't say things and sometimes I should say more . . . today is one of those days I just want to write.

This year we committed to attending Wednesday night church. With sicknesses and comings and goings and T's job, we seem to be on an "every-other-week" pace right now. We decided to do this because being involved in the body requires more than Sunday morning attendance--at least for us. I'm so glad we made this commitment! It is great for J to participate in children's choir and for A to have more time with the three's. We also enjoy our discipleship group and studying King's Cross with them. The indescribable benefit of dinnertime fellowship is also sweet.

I must be honest though.

By the time I get to discipleship group at 6:30, my brain is shot. Fried. I feel more like a bump on a log during the discussion than a meaningful contributor.

I have the joy of leading a small group on Wednesday mornings for our MOMS Bible study. It is exhilarating, encouraging and I LOVE going every week, but leading the discussion requires a lot of mental gymnastics and that plus getting up early, wrangling three kiddos to church (and preparing all their stuff), getting them home, fed and down for rest time is draining.

We accomplish nothing on Wednesday besides church. Homeschool does not happen; laundry does not happen. Church and driving happen. : )

Also, naps happen. Well, naps happen until my children who have no concept of the sanctity of naps pop into the room and wake me up with a request for me to help button their pants. Then, I'm awake, but groggy, with no hope of returning to the land of nod and stumbling around the kitchen eating 72% dark chocolate and tidying up while I wait for the coffee to brew and all the while feeling like I need to blog about something instead of tackling household projects and getting us ready for Church.

So this is the Million dollar question--literally. What would you do if you came into a significant amount of money? How would you spend it and how different would your life change? What do your choices say about who you really are? Would a sudden increase in funds change you very much?

T and I have talked about this lately. A friend of his Father recently won 11 Million in the Louisiana Lottery. Shazam!

Okay, here's what I would do--

1. Tithe to the church.

2. Invest half in a safe, interest bearing account and the other half in a more aggressive mutual fund.

Using the interest (I have no idea how much my supposed windfall is, just so ya know):

3. Eventually upgrade my van to a 2004 with three seats in the middle. I'm VERY content with our used cars, but I really wish our van had three seats across the middle.

4. Hire someone to do our laundry. I don't mind cleaning, but if the laundry could be magically done and put away, I think I'd be satisfied.

5. Have a regular baby-sitter for a regular date night.

6. Buy all organic foods

7. Travel. Instead of owning a place on the beach, I'd much rather take all kinds of trips to different places. We'd stay in hotels and I would go to spas. I love spas.

8. Buy art!

9. Frye Boots

10. Give lavishly and generously to people and causes.

I've been analyzing these things lately because I've wondered what these things say about me and what is important to me. In the midst of this, I've been in a blessed place of DEEP contentment with my calling and vocation as a wife, mom, teacher and camp wife. I really and truly LOVE where God has placed me and what I'm doing. In the past I've experienced contentment, but not on this level. So, I'm thankful and grateful without the windfall, but it sure is fun to think about!

What would you do? How would you answer the million dollar question?

21.10.11

Christmas in October

I have Christmas music playing in October and I have no shame whatsoever. While this is the first time I've played music, I was belting out some tunes with the kids the other night. They are the only peeps who get to"enjoy" the gloooo---o-o-o-o-rias that I love to sing. : )

I remember when the giddy, magic-y feeling of Christmas began to diminish and how I struggled for so long to catch it again. Having children helps so much, but I've learned that when the weather turns and I get that little inkling of the giddy, magical feeling, to embrace it no matter the month.

So Pandora is playing Chanticleer and Sleigh Ride Radio and the Cambridge Singers channel today and I'm beginning to make mental lists of goals and, yes, thinking about Jesus : ) .

11.10.11

Durn Give Out

Truly, I am durn give out. My head is full, body: exhausted. Heart: glad. Luggage: still packed. Housework: dented. Laundry: heh, change the subject.

I had the amazing and blessed opportunity to attend the Women in the Church International Conference. This year's theme was: Amazing Grace 360.

Amazing is right.

I remember my mom going to a huge WIC conference in the early nineties with our pastor's wife and another woman in the church. They had a wonderful time and I had sort of filed it away in my head that if the opportunity ever came to attend one, I would jump on it.

I'm so glad I did!

I signed up in May, not quite sure who I'd room with or ride with or hang out with--talk about blind enthusiasm! God knew the details and he PERFECTLY provided room mates and traveling companions and a group of women with whom to fellowship.

I rode to Atlanta with two wonderful women (who homeschool and are "real" and love the Lord!). I don't think the conversation ever dulled the whole seven hours. Not a magazine or book was cracked. : )

One of the riding companions roomed with one of my dearest friends and me. All three of us homeschool, are crazy about our husbands, adore our children, love the Lord and are in/married to ministry in various ways. We laughed, shared, and wore ourselves out.

Several girls who are "staff wives" of our church were in our group--it was such a privilege to get to know them apart from a quick hello in the halls.

I haven't even mentioned the seminars, the worship, the renewing of long-ago friendships, the teaching, the MUSIC! (and shopping and food, although not nearly as important). I hope to share more in the coming days, as I came home inspired and renewed (and with a long list!).

Oh, and I did have this strange expectation that was totally not real. My mind-picture of PCA women as a whole is VERY nineties: helmet hair, oversized pastel pink sweaters, denim jumpers and Keds. I am pleased to report the PCA has kept up with the times. :)