Day 17

 

Today I am going to highlight on of my most favorite, favorite blogs.

Jessi over at Naptime Diaries has kept me sane, inspired me and has such a huge heart for the Lord.

She has an awesome print shop with a mission to put scripture on walls across the world.

 

It's a funny thing to feel like you know someone and not really know them -- but I am so happy that she opens up her life to us!

 

 

Right now she has some BEAUTIFUL advent calendars for sale in her shop.

Go there and buy one. It will serve you well as we remember the real reason for the season. Mine should delivered soon...I am SOOO excited to get it!!

 

 

 

Any way we can keep

Jesus as the center of our home is GLORIOUS!!

So really-- go buy it!

Here's the link -- ADVENT CALENDAR

 

 

Until tomorrow my friends!

Day 16

 

 

Today I wanna highlight one of my

favorite, favorite, FAVORITE jello salads.

It's great anytime of the year,

but we will be having some for Thanksgiving.

If you haven't had it before, give it a try.

You won't regret it --

hopefully you won't become addicted:)

 

 

Thank you Chef In Training for photo and recipe:)

 

Ingredients 

• 2 cups crushed pretzels (I used the checker shaped ones but you can also use sticks)
• 3/4 cup butter melted
• 3 Tbsp. sugar
• 16 oz. cream cheese softened
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 16 oz. cool whip thawed to room temperature
• 1 (6 oz) box Strawberry Jello
• 2 cups boiling water
• 3 cups strawberries sliced

Instructions

1. Combine melted butter and sugar. Stir in the crushed pretzels. Press evenly on the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Bake at 375 degrees F for 8 minutes. Let cool completely.
2. In a large bowl, combine cream cheese, sugar, and cool whip. Beat until smooth. Spread over pretzel crust. Make sure to get the cream mixture tight against the edges of the pan to prevent the jello mixture from seeping through.
3. Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. Remove from stove and add jello. Stir until Jello is dissolved. Add sliced strawberries. Pour over cream layer and put in the fridge for at least 4 hours.

Until tomorrow my friends!!

 

7 day catchup -- day 9-15 oops!

This Countdown Through November was

supposed to help me with blogging on purpose...lol.

 

Being a mommy has a way of creeping into all of my time,

so today we'll do a 7 day catch up

for days 7 through 15.

Think of it kind of like the 12 days of christmas ...Ha!

And as a BONUS...I am having an EARLY black friday sale, just for you--the blog readers.
Use code COUNTDOWN for
20% off in the etsy shop through 10pm tonight!!

That makes christmas cards only $8!! GO...CHECK IT OUT.

On to the countdown!! 

 

Make your house smell WONDERFUL!!

 

 

Check out this site with some simmers that smell amazing!

 

For days 10, 11 & 12 ,

here are 3 great fall crafts for the kids!

 

 

I know that Karis would LOVE these!!

 

Alright-- so on to day 13!

 

 

Found some cute,

inexpensive table decorations!

Check these out!

 

 

Layered Corn, Beans and Peas - Here

 

\

Pretty Pears - here

 

  

Dried Corn and a candle - here

 

 

Now, your house smells GREAT, you've had fun with the kids AND decorated your table...

whats next??

 

DAY 14

 

A free print FROM 

Not Too Shabby Prints!!!!

If you have trouble printing ,

heres a link to the shop...

message me here or there and I

'll email you the file!!

 

DAY 15

 

We have officially caught up!

 

And for today, I want to encourage you

to go and get family pictures taken.

If you are local, in Virginia,

check out Locked Garden Photography here.

Locked Garden has taken all of our pictures

since I was pregnant with my first little lady.

 

So gather your families, big or small,

and make the time to get it done!!

 

Here are just a few of ours from over the years --

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Until tomorrow!

Don't forget about the sale in the etsy shop!

 

DAY 7 & 8

 

 

Alright....we are on day seven and eight today -- I missed yesterday--oops! So, let's checkout what's on for today!!

 

PUMPKIN ROLLS!!

 

classic fall desert....and SUPER DELICIOUS!!

 

Buy one to help minister to veterans here, if you are local...

if not, make one. Here is a recipe for one off of a blog.

It looks delicious!! You will be so glad that you did!!


AND FOR DAY 8...

TEA!
 

 

Tea Kettles, Pots, Pitchers...I have become increasingly fascinated by tea kettles and pots.

Buy one and drink some tea today.

AHHH. It will feel like fall!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Countdown through November- Day 6

If you are just joining us,
we are on DAY 6 of Countdown through November.
Each day through November we are going to find something
cute, crafty, fall-ish or fun for the kids to highlight during my FAVORITE season!

Lets see what we've found for DAY 6!!

 

 

This is one of my most favorite things I have stumbled upon to do with the kids for Thanksgiving! We haven't done it YET, but we are...as soon as I can buy some aprons. These would make great early thanksgiving gifts for grandmas from the grandkids to use for thanksgiving cooking...

Check out the cuteness!!!

 

 

 

Here is a link to the plain aprons .

You can order from hobby lobby for only 4.99!!

 

Just for more fun, throw together that little turkey kitchen towel...

for those who don't sew, I am sure hot glue or fabric glue

can accomplish the same thing!

 

Love you guys much...enjoy this fall day with your families and kiddos...

and GO VOTE!

 

Come back tomorrow for some

FREE stuff

and DAY 7!!

 

 

 

Countdown Through November

 

Been brainstorming a way to help myself to blog on a more regular basis...

life seems to take over...

I'm sure you know all about that!!

Today I'm gonna start countdown through November!!

I know I'll have 5 days in one today, but then we'll be caught up.

Get your coffee, lunch or midnight snack and let's do 5 days worth now!!!

We'll find some fun fall crafts, food, clothes and house stuff...lets go!

 

 

 

Buy a SWEATER

I LOVE sweater weather. Will definitely miss it in Hawaii!! 

You don't have to spend a lot of money on one...YAY...

take a trip to Goodwill or Salvation Army 

and buy a sweater!!

 

Make a card and Mail it to a friend!

I love getting cards or mail in general.

Take some time to send snail mail! And... MAKE A CARD!!

 

Get some free thanksgiving printables

 here at Kind over Matter

 

Make your house pretty with these FREE printables!!

 

 

 

 

Eat some fun veggies!! A TURKEY TRAY!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mommies...do something for yourself today. Get this:

LIP STAIN

 

 

 

 

You will be glad you did!

 

I Needed This Today

My devotion this morning has wrecked my life again. Wanted to share it with you.
May Jesus keep wrecking it over and over again until He comes.

“God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world” (Gal. 6:14).
They were living to themselves; self with its hopes, and promises and dreams, still had hold of them; but the Lord began to fulfil their prayers.
They had asked for contrition, and had surrendered for it to be given them at any cost,
and He sent them sorrow;
they had asked for purity, and He sent them thrilling anguish;
 they had asked to be meek, and He had broken their hearts;
they had asked to be dead to the world, and He slew all their living hopes;
they had asked to be made like unto Him, and He placed them in the furnace,
sitting by “as a refiner and purifier of silver,” until they should reflect His image;
they had asked to lay hold of His cross, and when He had reached it to them it lacerated their hands.
They had asked they knew not what, nor how, but He had taken them at their word, and granted them all their petitions. They were hardly willing to follow Him so far, or to draw so nigh to Him. They had upon them an awe and fear, as Jacob at Bethel, or Eliphaz in the night visions, or as the apostles when they thought that they had seen a spirit, and knew not that it was Jesus. They could almost pray Him to depart from them, or to hide His awfulness. They found it easier to obey than to suffer, to do than to give up, to bear the cross than to hang upon it. But they cannot go back, for they have come too near the unseen cross, and its virtues have pierced too deeply within them. He is fulfilling to them His promise, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me” (John 12:32).
But now at last their turn has come. Before, they had only heard of the mystery, but now they feel it. He has fastened on them His look of love, as He did on Mary and Peter, and they can but choose to follow.
Little by little, from time to time, by flitting gleams, the mystery of His cross shines out upon them. They behold Him lifted up, they gaze on the glory which rays from the wounds of His holy passion; and as they gaze they advance, and are changed into His likeness, and His name shines out through them, for He dwells in them. They live alone with Him above, in unspeakable fellowship; willing to give up what others own (and what they might have had), and to be unlike all, so that they are only like Him.
Such, are they in all ages, “who follow the Lamb wherever he goes.".”
Had they chosen for themselves, or their friends chosen for them, they would have chosen otherwise. They would have been brighter here, but less glorious in His Kingdom. They would have had Lot’s portion, not Abraham’s. If they had halted anywhere–if God had taken off His hand and let them stray back–what would they not have lost? What forfeits in the resurrection?
But He stayed them up, even against themselves. Many a time their foot had well nigh slipped; but He in mercy held them up. Now, even in this life, they know that all He did was done well. It was good to suffer here, that they might reign hereafter; to bear the cross below, for they shall wear the crown above; and that not their will but His was done on them and in them.
–Anonymous.

Moving on...5,500 miles on.

"Here am I, send me; send me to the ends of the earth;
      send me to the rough, the savage pagans of the wilderness;
      send me from all that is called comfort on earth;
      send me even to death itself, if it be but in Thy service,
      and to promote Thy kingdom."
                                                     - David Brainerd

We have waited a few months to share what the Lord has been stirrng in us.
The necessary waiting has brought on lot's of questions from those around us,
as we appear to be selling all we own,  moving in with Erics parents and
seemingly missing at our local church.

For those of you who have been waiting and wondering, or have been concerned
about us, hopefully this blog post will clear up any confusion and answer your
questions:)

Around the spring of this year Holy Spirit began stirring our hearts about moving.
If you know me, I LOATHE moving. What a pain! So we kind of pushed the prompting
to the side -- I mean, we have lived back in Virginia for only about 2 years.
We just bought a house. Our families are here. Our kids were born here. All of our
ministries have been here. Moving didn't sound like such a great idea.

After multiple meetings with Pastor Kevin at Crossroads between January and May,
Eric and I stepped down from all leadership positions to more adequately seek the Lord
and hear Him clearly. We felt that this next decision in our lives would be a major one--
likened to the seriousness of choosing a spouse. We adjusted our lives accordingly. From
the outside looking in, it probably seemed that we dissappeared, but the time away was
necessary and fruitful.

Following a lot of seeking and heart searching -- some major cutting away of what is
comfortable and easy for us, we have heard his voice clearly and will obey.

As many of you know, we are expecting out third baby in March of 2013. Following
our new additions arrival, in late May/early June, we will be moving over 5,500 miles away
to Kailua on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. We will be a part of  LifeChurch Kailua.
(click for church website)

We have been called to be missionaries to Hawaii and to the Philipinnes. If you are like
the majority of people your response probably is, "wow...tough job. Really suffering for Jesus."
If that is your opinion or feeling, you have greatly misinterpreted the main purpose of the gospel--

                                        Go forth an make disciples of all nations --That all may know Jesus. 
                                        Whether that be to the richest or poorest of all people. Whether on a beach
                                         orin a desert.

              "I care not where I go, or how I live, or what I endure so that I may save souls.
              When I sleep I dream of them; when I awake they are first in my thoughts…
               no amount of scholastic attainment, of able and profound exposition of brilliant
               and stirring eloquence can atone for the absence of a deep impassioned sympathetic
               love for human souls."
                           -David Brainerd

With that directive, from Jesus Himself, we are selling everything we own.
We will leave behind our families and what is comfortable for the sake of the gospel.
"Sell all you have...and follow me," has become a reality for our little family.
There have been tears and fear of the unknown, but we know at the end of the day,
His way is always good. It's always right. It's always perfect and has our best interest in mind.

We will be helping to direct an internship, helping oversee a K-12 private school,
helping with the youth in that district and connected to issions in the Phillipines.
We are so excited to see what the Lord has in store.

Eric was able to visit in September for about a week, but the rest of us probably won't get
to visit before our move next year. God has also graciously provided us with a 3 bedroom house
on the church property for an incredibly small amount, in comparison to the rental rates in Hawaii.

We will be traveling to churches each Sunday from November throug April,
sharing in a little more detail about what we will be doing and where we will be.
Please pray for as we learn to walk in a completely new level of faith -- trusting God for all
we willl need, As we are going as missionaries, none of this comes with a paycheck:)

Please call or email us if you still have questions or want more info about whats going on.
Love you all and glad to be serving King Jesus alongside of you.

Shades and magic.

I have gone back and forth over whether or not to post this.
It is an obvious controversial topic even within Christian circles.

After some praying and heart seeking, I feel like I need to share.
This is not out of judgment, but out of a desire to expose truth!

Unless you live under a rock, I am sure you have heard ALL about magic mike and shades of gray--good and bad. I was very confused though when some of my christian friends were raving over the 2 and calling anyone who spoke out against them "Judgemental".

The friends reading this book and seeing this movie are in great marriages or are single young women who are a part of the body. They are walking out loving others, serving wherever they are needed, defending 50 million babies who have bee murdered, standing up for the ending of sex trafficing and raising families. These same women are reading and praomoting this movie and book series. And yes, I am still confused over it.

I want to adress the thinking that I have heard that says, "We all sin and if you don't feel convicted of it the it doesn't matter." OR "Its just  a book." or..."Its just a movie."

If all of our christian walks were based on SOLEY our convictions (the things we "feel" are right or wrong), then wouldn't "truth" look different to all of us?
Some dont feel convicted that abortion is wrong, but the church still stands against it, and voices Jesus' opinion concerning life.
And that is only one example.

While there are things we encounter in this world thatare not directly addressed in the Word, and we have to be led by holy spirit in descerning how we are to live, related to those things (like smoking, for example).
Sexual immorality is not one of those things left unaddressed.
It is one topic that is addressed over and over and over in the new testament.

I am unsure how women are taking the scripture into account and yet justifying these books,
 that the secular reviewers have called "mommy porn".
I guess my thinking is this--the word says in eph. 5:3:
 "But among you there must not be even a hint of sexual immorality, or of any kind of impurity, or of greed, because these are improper for God's holy people."
Is there a "hint" of sexual immorality being portrayed in these books/movie??
 Becasue even if it is only a hint (A slight indication ,A barely perceptible amount)...then according to the word, whether i FEEL convicted or not, it is wrong.

And that is only using one verse. As christians we are supposed to live careful lives-- keeping a close watch over our lives that we dont stumble. Does that mean we dont sin? Of course not. But niether does it mean we blatently go against Gods word with the excuse that we all sin.

I hope this hasn't been offensive, but that encourages you to seek out what the word has to say concerning 50 shades and magic mike.

The devil isn't stupid. He's gonna seep into our lives any way that we allow him to.
Stand firm in truth my friends, for it is only the truth that brings true freedom.

Mini Vacation .... gone bad.

It all started with a great idea: Let's get away for a few days--
away from laundry, phone calls and work.
We really wanted some time to just seek the Lord!

We planned to go and visit our friend Molly in South Carolina from Saturday to Tuesday.
 A little lakehouse in the woods, in a tiny town. Sounds great!.
 Eric would have wednesday off for the fourth as well and could recouperate.
Unfortunately the dates couldn't work...

That plan fell through. Strike 1.

We then made plans to go stay in the mountains at a church conference and retreat center.
The mountains were calling our name.
Saturday comes.
We find out that power is out from the storms and could take a week
to be restored at the retreat center.

Great. That plan fell through. Strike 2.

So we decide to go to Lynchburg...we can see the mountains, go fishing, visit the dollar theater.
It'll be great.
We reserve our cheap hotel room and start the drive with the two littles.
We get to to hotel...the kids are dying to get out. We all have to pee. And then we see it.
A sign on the door that says NO POWER.
*Deep breath*

We pile back into the car and rethink this whole thing.
Should we go home? Look for another hotel?
We end up at Arbys with an orange creme milkshake searching for another hotel.

We find one. In Roanoke--another hour away.
We make the reservation and start going to roanoke.
Nice Howard Johnson with an awesome view of the mountains. Breakfast. Good deal.

To make a long, frustrating story short, we spent the WHOLE next day searching for a place to fish and trying to find worms.
One place had no power.
One river was full of people swimming.
And the "stocked"duck "pond"--- that was a joke.

Our A/C in our car wasn't working through all of this and
we found out our insurance won't cover our windshield that got cracked in the storm.
We came home tuesday and were glad to be back.

I feel like I need a vacation to get myself back togther. lol.
At least we got to be together.

Karis still loved it--despite all the setbacks:)
In it all, Jesus is always faithful!!
Looking forward to hearing His voice.

Giving Up On Good: My Time With Jesus

Linking up with Jessi at naptime diaries for her series Giving up on good:) She's my new-best-friend-who-doesn't-really-know-me-at-all-but-seems-like-we-could-be-great-friends. lol. Check out her blog and her etsy shop...its awesome and inspiring and just....just a true reflection of Jesus! Here's my Giving Up On Good contribution!

I really do love Jesus.
I really love sitting down with the Word and my journal and talking to Him.
I really love having my little blocked out hour(s) with Jesus.
With one child it was completely doable everyday. But I have 2 kids:)

And the truth is, I RARELY get that blocked out time anymore.

With 2 kiddos-- one who is still nursing -- that BLOCK just dosn't fit in anymore.
Hosanna--my 14 month old little beauty- takes ONE nap a day, for one hour.
In that hour, there are so MANY things to be done -- housework, etsyshop upkeep, emails, phonecalls, laundry folding, toy pickup, reading with Karis...etc.

The block doesn't work.
So I say, I'll just get up early. Everything will be quiet.
It can be just me and Jesus.
Nobody will need their bottom wiped. Noone will need lunch. Noone will be asking any questions.
Well-- it's was great idea, in theory.
And it WOULD work EXCEPT that Hosanna still sleeps with us and nurses to go to sleep and nurses several times through the night.
This littl snugglebug does not like when I get up...or she wakes up! Glorious.
Scratch that idea- at least for now.

So I have given up on my "block" with Jesus,
but what I have found in its place are some sweet moments with Jesus.

When I am washing dishes, I talk to Him.
When I'm folding laundry, I pray over the kids and my husband.
When I am cleaning the toilets I ask Jesus to come and clean me up again.
When I am changing diapers I pray over hosannas feet, that she woul walk in paths of righteousness and that she would walk with the Lord all the days of her life.
When I am making beds, I pray that He would send revival.

My relationship with Jesus is more than a block of time anyway.
Its about how I respond to Him each moment.
How Iopen my heart to Him in the mudane, everyday, normal life.

And to be honest, my best Bible reading usually happens when I'm in the bathroom...lol
I know you can relate as a mom!

It is a freeing thing to not be trapped by the idea that my time with Jesus has to look a certain way.
He just wants my whole heart. All the time.
All I want is more of Him.
All I want is to hear whats on His heart.
All I want is to be a mom that my kids can say, I know she loved Jesus because she talked to Him all the time.

Do I fail? Yes.
Do I get too wrapped up in life some days?? Oh yes.
But His grace is sufficient for me to walk out being a mommy and a lover of Jesus andan incredible wife!!

One prayer at a time. One moment at a time.
The season of the block has ended...Thank you Jesus!

To the mommies....

Hello my lovely friends....

I really am trying to keep up with this thing!

Between the kiddos, house, rental house and etsy shop, I seem to be busy. Imagine that.

This week both of the girls have had the flu. Yuck.
Have I ever mentioned that HATE the flu.
Eww. It's just gross.
Enough said.

For those who don't know- we are collecting cloth diapers to send to haiti for babies with NO DIAPERS.  I can't imagine the messy messy mess. But Jesus is faithful to provide! If you want to give money toward this, heres the link. We'll also take diapers, covers, inserts, snappi's... etc! Basically whatever Jesus puts on your heart to give. Heres the event page link on facebook with all the info!

This weekend is mothers day. Thankfully growing up I had a mom (and dad) who loved Jesus and raised my brother and I to love Him with all of our lives. She gave up nice clothes and nice cars to stay home and raise us. If you stay at home with your children, you know what a sacrifice it is, but what a return you receive on your investment. And yet, at our best, on our greatest days as moms we fall so short of the glorious standard.

I think parenting was and is Gods way of teaching us
selflessness, patience and utter dependance on Him.
I'll never have enough on my own.
I'll never give enough out of myself.
I'll never be able to fulfill the standard of Proverbs 31.

But with Him all things are possible.
Through Him my weak and feeble attempts leave a mark on my childrens life.

I am learning day by day that the greatest ministry impact I could ever have is right here in my home.
If children truely are a reward from the Lord, what an honor to have been given the two that I  have here on earth, and the one thats with Jesus.

Maybe you are raising the next Leonard Ravenhill. Mike Bickle.
Tim Tebow. Misty Edwards. Karen Wheaton. David Brainerd. Billy Graham.
Maybe you're raising a son that will change a nation.
A daughter that will prophesy and bring healing to her school.
Maybe your raising a Joseph who will impact where He works with the favor of the Lord.
Maybe your raising a daughter who will adopt children who are abandoned.

They aren't inconveient. I'm just selfish.
They aren't expensive. He provides everything we need.
They aren't too little to understand. They see and hear everything around them and take it in.
They don't take my time away from Jesus. They teach me to walk with Him each moment.

I have much to learn from them and from Jesus about them.
Thankful to be a mom and to be surrounded by women  who embrace their role as one that is great.

It's not small. You're not insignifcant. You're not invisible.
What you are doing will stand through eternity.
Heaven is cheering you on as you wipe faces,change diapers,
spank bottoms and repeat Jesus loves me.

You are making an impact.
Believe it and give your life to teach your kids chase Jesus.
It's worth it.

Covering Bottoms

I have a friend who lives in Haiti.

She helps take care of orphans. She cares for the sick.

She shares Jesus with people who have no hope.

Who have little food.

Who have few clothes.

My sister in law recently went to visit  her in Haiti. 

Since you can not mail things there, she packed a suitcase FULL of things that Krista needs there.

 I wanted to send diapers because they are 

few and are between there in Haiti.

They use strips of cloth to cover the babies .

I didn't send the diapers but since then  each time I pray for my sweet friend, I think, she needs diapers.

Holy Spirit truly knows all things.

How often does He speak that I completely miss it.

Ignore it.

Dismiss it as just me.

Yesterday I posted a new print in the shop.

I got a post from Krista in Haiti asking for one when she comes into the states in June.

I asked her if there was anything we could collect for her that she needs there--since you can't mail anything.

Diapers.

And so, I am  collecting cloth diapers. Any kind. All sizes.

If you have some you want to donate,

that would be INCREDIBLE.

If you want to donate money to purchase the plastic covers or diapers you can give through my etsy shop thats linked to paypal. There are buttons to give $10, $20 and $50.

All the money will go to diapers to cover baby bottoms in Haiti.

It will help so much to keep things sanitary and they will be REUSABLE!

If you want to help, heres the link to the facebook event page and it has all the details.

Thank you so much for your help ahead of time.

Let's show how Jesus loves the babies in Haiti.

HE EVEN PROVIDES DIAPERS!!