A four hour glimpse into my life...

For the front end of this, you are just going to have to imagine it. A picture would not do it justice.

At this moment (well a couple of moments ago and in another couple of moments again), in my blue, Ann Taylor T (layered with my silk, Ann Taylor cami---which would be a nice, typical, middle-aged, white woman get-up until you get to my--- (recycled from a sari) lime green/fluorescent orange floral, silk skirt, I'm painting a gazillion cuts of wood (that I cut using a sketchy chop saw) kiwi green (which interestingly matches my outfit) for my outdoor bench while reciting the first 48 verses of the 119th Psalm (because the more I memorize, the more I seem to confuse the placements of statutes, laws and precepts) and am listening to this song (Skip to 1:35 if you just want the music...which I do.) on full blast.

Paradox. I love it. I think I need to learn how to "whip my hair". (If you know me, you know I'd have to go to the Dollar Store to buy some hair first, lol.)

Later...it's much later...(O.K...it's really only 4 hours later, but a lot can, and did, happen in my world in 4 hours. You get spared some of that.)

Who can resist pretty food?

In the midst of the nightly dinner dilemma, I remembered we had leftover chicken. So, individual pot pies (and a tart like thing since I made too much filling).

Wakey Wakey

I am expectant. I have been waiting for today for awhile. It's going to be awesome.

(I hope Diane doesn't mind I'm using her photos.)

Fast Food Friday

By 3 p.m. every Friday, during the school year, my body aches and my brain has usually turned to mush. This happens every week. Strange. I don't recall this pattern with any other job I've had. Maybe, it's because I'm older? Maybe, because I've got kids? Maybe, because my days are full of other peoples' teenagers and I'm just "done" by 3 p.m. every Friday? I don't know. What I do know is my people think dinner is "a must" (phrase stolen from Micah, lol) every night...even on Fridays.



I am especially tired today. (Maybe because I was at work for 16 hours yesterday?) I think I dozed off while flipping through one of my Moosewoods trying to figure out what to make for dinner. At some point, it occurred to me I start dinner the same way almost every night...saute onions, red peppers and garlic in olive oil. I figured if I started, dinner would shape itself.

I was right. It did. And my people are happy.

Legacy of First Born Women

There were once five generations of first born women in my family. What I mean is my great-grandma was the first born child, my grandma was the first born child, my mom was the first born child and so on...all the way down to my daughter.


Ten years ago this month, five generations became four.

The oldest and the youngest of us this week...closing in on fourteen, she has no idea how blessed she is to have had this. Someday, I hope she will realize.

Totally Random Tuesday

If I don't hurry, I'll have to change the title to "Totally Random Wednesday".

1. T'was the first day back in the mission field. (I used to think it odd people referred to my job as my mission field. I've come around.) As much as I would have liked to stay home a few more days, I needed to go back. For one, it turns out I missed the kids. And, surprise, they evidently missed me. Still processing that.

2. I finished some projects.

From this:


To this:


And the room after it went from Canteloupe orange to Tinkerbell green:

(Yes...the fishbowl seems to be in the process of being cleaned.)

3. Random Secret #1 about me: I'm generally not a fan of surprises. But, look what I found growing in my garden...the mini carrots I planted last year that never grew!


4. Random Secret #2 about me: I cry more than anyone I know when I cut onions. It's ridiculous considering the number of onions I cut per week.


The end result is usually worth it, though...tonight was red beans and rice with smoked sausage(clearly, non-vegan).

Life Lessons

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. (Ephesians 5:15-17 NIV)

As spring break comes to a close and I reflect on everything I wanted to get done, my list of "wanted to do" is much longer than my list for "actually did". Contrary to what I present and what you all might believe about me (because I take pictures of the parts of my life I'm happy about and conveniently ignore the rest), I really don't accomplish all that much. And, most of what I do accomplish isn't beautiful and perfect (otherwise, you all would get to see a lot more pictures). Instead, I abandon my dreams of perfect and beautiful and settle for "good enough" and "didn't get to it at all".

Tomorrow, I go back to work and I'm embracing the reality all the laundry isn't done, the house is a disaster, my garden isn't planted, the grass is knee-high, etc... I had envisioned returning to work with a perfectly clean and clutter-free house, planned (and possibly already prepared) meals, prepared lessons for the week, etc.. I worked on it all week and last night was brooding over the fact this work is in nearly the same state of completion as when spring break started. Granted, the rains came (and came again), but the rest? I worked. It should have gotten done. I couldn't understand it. How is it possible to spend so much time working and have so little to show for having done it?

And then, I woke up to these verses in Ephesians and the truth hit me. It is true I was working all week on getting my house clean. But, instead of following one task to completion, I would do a little of this task and a little of that task and ultimately arrived to now where I feel like I accomplished nothing. I am here as a result of my decisions and habits. The enemy wants me to be depressed I've been home for 10 days and didn't get anything done. The enemy also wants me to dwell on what I could have done differently and to waste time trying to be better. God's word reminds me I should make the most of every opportunity and be wise about what I do. His word also reminds me I can't do anything without Him.

Today, instead of being depressed and angry with myself about this situation, I can praise God for making clear to me how I ended up here in the first place. I can rest in confidence He will teach me how to live wisely and how to make choices that will lead to a better life.

Lord, show me how to adjust my habits and how to make the most of the time you have given me. Teach me how to live wisely for your glory.

Because He Lives...

There was a change of plans...we all wore (bought from the store) black/white.

Of course it isn't about the baskets or eggs or rabbits or clothes...for the first Easter in many, we've all been in church. (Is it possible I have not been to church on Easter in 7-8 years? That's crazy.) God has wrecked our house this year.

Night has fallen and the only sound is Ryan humming "Because He Lives" as he puts away the groceries. That's really all I have to say at the end of this perfect Easter.