Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Works in the Life of a Christian

(This was the basis of a paper for graduate school.)

Works are not needed for salvation. Salvation can only come through faith in Jesus Christ and the saving grace his death and resurrection provide.  But what do works mean for a Christian?  It is said that “faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).  What is the purpose of these works for a Christian?

Evangelism

Matthew 5 might be the most important reason for good works given in the Bible. Its summary is here: “Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you’ll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven” (Matt 5:16, The Message).    What we have here is servant evangelism.  It is not some new, modern way of doing evangelism.  This is what Jesus taught.  Investing in people’s lives allows the non-believers to “meet” Jesus in a completely loving way.  Today, perhaps more than ever, this is an especially important part of being a Christian.  Doing good works for others may give you the opportunity to share the gospel with someone who is untrusting or dissatisfied with religion.  Showing that you truly care opens their hearts to hearing the truth.  By investing in others, you are potentially growing the Kingdom.

Encourage Believers
Hebrews 10:24 tells us that we are to “spur one another on toward love and good deeds.”  Another reason for works is to encourage fellow believers.  By raking the leaves of an elderly widow, bringing dinner to a grieving family, watching a sick friend’s children…by doing this things you are reminding them in a tangible way that Jesus is with them.  While it may be your body that is doing these works , it is Jesus within you that spurs you to compassion, to put love in action.


Future Reward
In 1 Timothy 6, Paul is telling better to instruct the believers to do good works. “Command them do do good, to be rich in good deeds, and to be generous and willing to share” (1 Tim 6:18). Paul continues that good works are important because in doing them they are laying up “treasure for themselves as a firm foundation for the coming age” (1 Tim 6:19).


A by-product of good works is a future, heavenly reward. Luke 6:35 says, “Love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.”   In Mark 9:41, we are told that if we give “a cup of water in (Jesus’) name” because we “belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.”  Matthew 6 also tells us that we will receive rewards for giving to the needy, praying for others, and fasting.  These treasures will be bestowed in heaven.

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

I’ve Been Reading

I have been a reading machine lately.  I guess that is what happens when you finish the term up a week ahead of schedule. So instead of just a one week Fall Break, mine is two!  Yeah for me!! 

One of my 100x40 goals is to read 100 books.  Here’s my progress so far:

  1. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien – Started way before my birthday, but finished after. So it counts.  At first I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it, but I did.  It is interesting to pick up little bits of things that go along with LOTR.  I still have no idea how they plan on stretching this book into three movies.  But the first trailer looks pretty good.
  2. Seven by Jen Hatmaker – You’ll be hearing more about this one. A lot more.
  3. My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife by Sara Horn – I liked it in that, to me, it read like a novel. I didn’t like it in that I was expecting it to be more of a “How to Be" book.  But it was interesting to look someone else’s take on the whole Proverbs 31 girl.
  4. Almost Amish by Nancy Sleeth - Let me tell you a little bit about that last one.  Don’t you just love this cover??  It just screams, “Pick me up and read me!”

almost amish

Almost Amish is the true-story of how one Christian family took inspiration from how the Amish community lives and applied these principles in their own family. This book covers everything from technology and family to money and faith.  Nancy Sleeth shares how her family adopted practices from the Amish into their modern, “English” lives.

The main idea behind the book was Nancy’s quest for a simpler, slower life.  This led the family to downsizing their home, planting a garden, buying locally, and embracing their community.  There wasn’t one thing that I didn’t like about this book.  It actually left me wanting to be Nancy’s neighbor. 

I want to fully embrace the principles in this book.  While reading, my mind often wandered to the life I had dreamed about for myself in high school.   What I once wanted and what I now want are two completely different lives.  I once wanted a busy, glamorous life.  Now I crave an Almost Amish life.  17-year-old me never would have dreamed that I would be canning homegrown food in my 30s.  Especially not when I should have been racing with my briefcase to my next meeting on Capitol Hill.  High school me would never believe that my first sewing project was a quilt that I completed all by myself.  Not only that, but I want to learn to make actual clothes. 

Almost Amish is not about trading in your SUV for a horse and buggy (although with these gas prices, one might consider it).  It is not about unplugging completely from the grid.  It is about balancing our dependency on technology so we can engage more fully with our families and communities.  It is about taking better care of our environment.  It is about putting God in the center of our world and putting our faith into everything we do.  I encourage you to read it.  It will make you think and question and, quite possible, make some changes in the way you live.

(Tyndale House Publishers provided me with a complimentary copy of this book.)

Tuesday, September 25, 2012

100 Goals by 40

Every year on my birthday for the last few years I have set goals for myself to accomplish before my next birthday. Last year, my friend Lyndsey did this awesome thing where she made 100 goals to accomplish by the time she turned 30. Click here to view her ambitious list and the progress she’s made.  I liked the idea of taking on some goals that may take longer than a year to finish so I totally stole her idea (which I told her back in like October that I was).  By the way, Lyndsey and I just happen to share the same birthday. 

So I wrote down 100 goals for the next 7 years. They are not listed in order of importance, just the order that excel sorted them by. I did split them into categories to make it easier for me to keep track of. Did you know there are 84 months, 364 weeks and about 2,555 days in 7 years? That is the time I have to complete the following 100 goals, which I am affectionately calling my 100x40. 

Self

1. Wear a skirt/dress every day for a week.

2. Wear a skirt/dress every day for 30 days.

3. Work to become debt free – pay off at least 1/4 of student loan.

4. Take some sort of class – dancing, painting, workout, sign language…just learn something new.

5. Get a mani and/or pedi.

6. Blog every day for a month.

7. Complete Master’s degree.

8. Complete a 5k.

9. Weigh 150 lbs.

10. Buy a cute pair of heels & master them.

11. Send a card every day for 30 days.

12. Learn to drive stick.

13. Conquer the drive to Columbus.

14. Do 40 things I’ve never done before.

15. Purchase a LBD (little black dress) & wear it somewhere.

16. Write a book.

17. Be open to love.

18. Collect all the Grace Chapel Inn books.

19. Own a pair of boots.

20. Get really good at painting nails.

21. Figure out makeup.

22. Craft a personal mission statement.

23. Finish paying off vehicle.

24. Start an adoption fund.

25. Learn to change a tire.

26. Run a mile without stopping.

27. Own a smartphone.

Spiritual

28. Be on staff of a church or ministry.

29. Celebrate Passover.

30. Read the whole Bible.

31. Memorize 100 Bible Verses.

32. Lead someone to Christ.

33. Read a book by C.S. Lewis.

34. Do a prayer retreat.

35. Go on a mission trip.

36. Spend at least 30 minutes in prayer for 30 days

37. Complete 50 hours of servant evangelism.

38. Do 30 random acts of kindness.

39. Complete the 7 Challenge (based on the book by Jen Hatmaker).

40. Memorize Psalm 23.

41. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity or another faith-based project.

42. See small group grow to 12 regular attendees (at least 3x a month for 4 months)

43. Organize a prayer walk.

44. Do 5 mission projects (possibly with small group).

Entertainment

45. Watch 100 movies.

46. Read 100 books.

47. Throw costume party.

48. Host a murder mystery dinner.

49. See a play or musical.

50. Go 3 months without TV or movies.

51. Karaoke.

52. Host 80s game night.

53. Host a Girls-only Camp weekend.

54. Purchase a projector for watching movies/sports outside.

Hobby

55. Take a picture a day for 365 days.

56. Take 100,000 pictures.

57. Knit or crochet something.

58. Paint my own pottery.

59. Complete December Daily.

60. Learn to play guitar (& play song).

61. Paint a picture.

62. Make 100 things.

63. Make a quilt for myself.

64. Make a quilt for Bean.

65. Finish Oh! Shoot class.

66. Complete Portraits class.

67. Sell something on Etsy.

68. Make a skirt.

Homemaking

69. Make a pizza from scratch.

70. Organize photos and get them out of my drawer.

71. Finish bedroom.

72. Finish living room.

73. Succeed in making bread.

74. Clean/organize basement.

75. Clean/organize garage.

76. Make 10 soups.

77. Try 30 new recipes.

78. Host Thanksgiving.

79. Frame & hang the cross-stitch pictures that I’ve had done forever.

80. Plant a tree

Others – this category was inspired by my cousin Danette.

81. Scan the rest of Mom’s family pictures.

82. Help Danette start a garden.

83. Take Beaner to a home Ohio State football game.

84. Scan family pictures from Aunt Bonnie.

85. Turn Jim’s slides into digital picture files.

Travel

86. Visit Wilmington, NC.

87. Visit World War II Memorial.

88. Get a passport.

89. Use passport (even if it is just to get into Canada).

90. Visit 7 states I’ve never been to.

91. Spend a winter weekend in a cabin in the woods.

92. Experience NYC @ Christmas.

93. Visit an art museum.

94. Stay in a B&B.

95. Road trip to an Ohio State game.

Emmy

96. Sleepover or camp out with Emmy.

97. Craft with Emmy 20 times.

98. Write a book for Emmy.

99. Go to a zoo we’ve never been to.

100. Take Emmy to Ohio Stadium.

Monday, September 24, 2012

32 Goals Wrap-Up

Times up on the 32 goals! Completed goals are in purple. Those with progress made are in red. Here’s how I finished:

My 32nd Year Goals

1. Save $1000 – I have the $. I just need to go and open a savings account.

2. Donate blood – Got my donor card in the mail the other day.

3. Read the entire Bible – Didn’t happen. Definitely on the next list.

4. Weigh 150 lbs. – LOL

5. Dress more girly – I think I am doing this. Most days I’m even wearing a little mascara & eyeliner. 

6. Finish my bedroom – Didn’t happen. But I’ve written a list of things needed to be done to complete this.

7. Finish Oh! Shoot class – Nope

8. Finish Portraits class -  Nope

9. Visit a new state – Nope, though we did entertain the idea of going to Delaware…until we found that there is not much to really do in Delaware.

10. Make a pumpkin pie Sure did!

11. Take 10,000 pictures –  I don’t have all my pictures upload from the camera. But I think I got close to 3/4 done.

12. Learn song on my guitar – Guitar string still broke : (

13. Fix supper 2x a week – I’ve been doing some cooking here lately. Made some pork chops last week and Chicken Parmesan tonight.  Did up the chicken for chicken enchiladas later in the week.  Progress, people : )

14. Finish Emmy’s 2nd year book – Done

15. Do Daily December book – Got plans together for this year’s book.

16. Start Project Life – Done! 

17. Read 20 books – Almost finished with The Hobbit. It’s been a much easier read than the LOTR.

    1. I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp (which I read completely on my birthday)
    2. Middle School Ministry Made Easy (for school)
    3. Courageous
    4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
    5. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley (for school)
    6. The Castle in the Attic (read w/ my 4th graders)
    7. The Hunger Games
    8. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
    9. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
    10. The Help
    11. The Search Committee
    12. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
    13. The Lucky One
    14. The Vow
    15. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
    16. Catching Fire
    17. Jane Eyre
    18. Mockingjay
    19. Stand By Me (a House of Hope book)
    20. That’s Why I’m Here by Chris Spielman
    21. The Last Song
    22. Safe Haven
    23. Roadside Assistance
    24. Among the Imposters (to read w/ my 4th graders this year)
    25. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning (1 of the kids said I had to try it.)
    26. Mrs. Kennedy and Me

18. Watch 20 movies – Done!

  1. The Grace Card
  2. Madea’s Big Happy Family
  3. Little Fockers
  4. 12 Dates of Christmas
  5. Something Borrowed
  6. Flypaper
  7. Water for Elephants
  8. Courageous
  9. Miracle of the Cards
  10. Crazy Stupid Love
  11. Breaking Dawn
  12. Abduction
  13. The Smurfs
  14. National Treasure: Book of Secrets
  15. She’s the Man
  16. Alice in Wonderland
  17. The Hangover
  18. In Time
  19. Hunger Games
  20. The Help
  21. The Way
  22. Footloose (2011 version)
  23. The Muppets
  24. Like Crazy
  25. A Warrior’s Heart
  26. Jane Eyre
  27. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
  28. The Vow
  29. Footloose (the Kevin Bacon version)
  30. Soul Surfer
  31. Good Deeds
  32. New Year’s Eve
  33. The Lucky One
  34. Mirror, Mirror
  35. The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

19. Complete 5/K – Going to start training

20. Try 12 new recipes Done!

    1. Loaded Baked Potato Soup
    2. Homemade bread – failed
    3. Apple Pie
    4. Pumpkin Pie
    5. Pumpkin Fudge – failed
    6. Buckeyes
    7. Homemade Pop Tarts – for Christmas Eve brunch
    8. Green Monster Spinach Smoothie (it actually is not as bad as it sounds)
    9. Hawaiian Sweet Roll Ham Sandwiches – for the Super Bowl
    10. Mexicorn Dip – for the Super Bowl
    11. Wendy’s Chili – tasted just like Wendy’s chili
    12. Corn & Potato Chowder – it was ok. I guess I’m not a chowder girl.
    13. Crockpot Pork Chops
    14. Chicken Parmesan

21. Daily prayer time – Got my prayer book ready

22. Go camping – Went camping with the Fords at Dillon a couple weekends ago. We had a great time!

23. Make an apple pie – Got apples to make another one with Emmy this weekend…yum!

24. Sew a skirt – got the material to make a few, actually.

25. Build craft armoire

26. Make 10 crafty things – Ok, so I had to stretch to make this goal complete. In my defense, 32 was an extremely busy year for me.  A new job. Grad school was tough, especially five classes squeezed into 14 weeks this summer…I still can’t believe I survived that!

    1. Christmas quilt for Maggie
    2. Christmas quilt for Cooper
    3. Christmas quilt for Emmy
    4. Baby blanket for Peyton
    5. Pigeon T-shirt for Emmy’s birthday
    6. Glitter Christmas ornaments
    7. Quilt top (that’s counting, ok…don’t judge me)
    8. Emmy’s 2nd year book (yep, I’m counting it on this list twice)
    9. Ohio State-M*ch*gan book 2.0
    10. Made a card for Scott for Father’s Day (so counts…I had to upload the picture)
    11. Mini Moo Cards

27. Do 10 things I’ve never done before – What I’ve found I love about this goal is when my sister reminds me that something could be added to this list. It makes me happy that she helps me with this.

    1. Be a gym teacher & music teacher (I filled in a class each)
    2. Cooked pumpkins and then froze the meat.
    3. Went to a midnight movie premiere…The Hunger Games with Nick & the Schaumleffels.
    4. Hair professionally colored.
    5. Climbed a lighthouse.
    6. Gave blood (so counts for 2 goals!)
    7. Went and saw Danette finish Pelotonia ‘12
    8. Purchased season ticket for high school football (brother is playing)
    9. Ate at Tlaquepaque.
    10. Ate asparagus that I planted myself the year before.
    11. Cut nearly 10” of hair off and donated it to Pantene’s wig program.

28. Mani &/or pedi – nope : (

29. Start living room makeover – Painted the walls is as far as I got. But I’ve totally written down a plan to get this done.

30. Be intentional with my time – This I think I’ve done better with.  I think my overwhelming summer helped me see how important time is.

31. Clean/organize the basement – Bean got a little bit done. Hoping we can work together and get this done.

32. Clean out the garage – haven’t done anything since it was discussed.

I completed 14 and made some progress on 7 others. I’m happy with it. I think that was great for the crazy busy year I ended up having. And look at the book list…what I did there was not easy. The Lord of the Rings trilogy was difficult and then I also read Jane Eyre. Bonus points?  Those that didn’t get done have been moved over to my new list. And I’m so excited about sharing my next set of goals! 

Saturday, August 18, 2012

32 Goals {1 month to go}

 

How am I doing on my goals, you ask?  Not too bad. Eleven are completed. I think 6 are in progress.  And like 7 could still be possibly done by the b-day. I think that’s better results than I’ve ever had in the past. I’m already working on the next list. It is going to be a 7 year list!  And it’s going to be so awesome!

My 32nd Year Goals

1. Save $1000 – Surprisingly, this might just happen.  I won’t know for sure until closer to time.

2. Donate blood – I totally did this!  At the end of July, I gave blood for the first time.  I didn’t even feel the needle go in.  It was great…until I almost passed out at the end.  It was so hot in there and I think with the blood draining from my body it got to be almost too much. But I survived.  Not sure if I’ll do it again. Maybe??  Still waiting for my donor card so I can find out what my blood type is.

3. Read the entire Bible – So not going to happen.  I hate to make excuses, but grad school was just a little overwhelming this spring (2 classes at once) and this summer (5 total with 2 weeks off having all 5 classes at the same time).  It’s already on the next list.

4. Weigh 150 lbs. – I was hoping with all this free time I was going to have this summer that I could dedicate a lot of that time into getting into better shape.  Guess what?  I didn’t have any free time.  Most of my days & nights were spent with the laptop or a course book, sometimes both.  Now that I am heading back to a better schedule, I’m going to start working on this, including going back to the fitness center with my sissy & starting to train for a 5/k.

5. Dress more girly – I think I’m heading in the right direction with this one.  I actually have two skirts for the new school year.  I’m not calling this one done yet until I wear at least one of them to the school.

6. Finish my bedroom – Not happening.  I said I wanted to finish the finishing touches (pictures & shelves on wall, new bookcase, ceiling repainted & a rug I want to make). My wonderful sister did paint my ceiling as a birthday present. Best. Present. Ever. (so far)  It kills my neck to do that.  I did cut up the white tees I had for the rug, but I need tons more white shirts (hint, people – send me your old white tees).  I’m questioning the bookcase.

7. Finish Oh! Shoot class – Didn’t even work on the first lesson.  I really can’t wait to get back into photography again.  I love the feeling of walking into a room at someone’s house and seeing a picture I took on display.  I don’t think I will ever get used to that feeling.

8. Finish Portraits class -  I’ll be getting these classes done soon.  Maybe I can get Bean to work through it them with me.

9. Visit a new state – Didn’t happen.  We took Emmy to VA Beach for her first trip to the ocean.  Well worth not having visited a new state.  Was hoping to squeeze in a quick trip to MI or KY.  But my weekends are looking pretty busy between now and the b-day. 

10. Make a pumpkin pie

11. Take 10,000 pictures –  I think I am close to 4,000.  Can I squeeze 6,000 pictures into a month. That’s about 200 pictures a day.  We’ve got soccer games every Saturday.  Football most Friday & Saturdays.  Still need to take Emmy’s 3 year old pictures.  Have family from out of state visiting next week. They possibly are getting a family picture taken. Plus just general everyday, Project Life pictures. Don’t count me out. It could very well happen.

12. Learn song on my guitar – Emmy discovered my guitar one night and we played around with it…until a string broke. Anyone local know how to string a guitar??

13. Fix supper 2x a week – So did not happen. But with school starting up, I’m planning on doing this. If I do it for a month, it still counts, right??

14. Finish Emmy’s 2nd year book – She is getting this for her birthday tomorrow.  It’s crazy how much she has changed!

15. Do Daily December book – While I ended up not having time to do this last December, I decided that getting it ready for this year’s December would count. Well, I’ve decided on how I’m going to do the project and I have a girl who makes this great books that I love. I emailed her to see if she was doing a Christmas one this year and she is!  They are not up in the store yet, but I’m going to go ahead and count this baby done.

16. Start Project Life – Done!  And not only that, I’m pretty up-to-date on pictures.  I don’t have a week completely done yet, but I’m going to work over Labor Day to get the little things I need to do completed.  Then I’ll share some things with you.

17. Read 20 books – I started The Hobbit this summer, but I didn’t get it done before it was due back so I’ll be checking it out this fall to finish up.  There were a couple books I read for school this summer in their entirety (including the like 1,000 page theology book) but I’m too tired to look up their titles so they’re not making the list (plus, I really don’t want to remember all the work I did this summer).

    1. I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp (which I read completely on my birthday)
    2. Middle School Ministry Made Easy (for school)
    3. Courageous
    4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
    5. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley (for school)
    6. The Castle in the Attic (read w/ my 4th graders)
    7. The Hunger Games
    8. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
    9. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
    10. The Help
    11. The Search Committee
    12. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
    13. The Lucky One
    14. The Vow
    15. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
    16. Catching Fire
    17. Jane Eyre
    18. Mockingjay
    19. Stand By Me (a House of Hope book)
    20. That’s Why I’m Here by Chris Spielman
    21. The Last Song
    22. Safe Haven
    23. Roadside Assistance
    24. Among the Imposters (to read w/ my 4th graders this year)
    25. A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Bad Beginning (1 of the kids said I had to try it.)
    26. Mrs. Kennedy and Me

18. Watch 20 movies – This isn’t even counting the couple times I had Twilight and Lord of the Rings marathons. They are my quilting, cutting fabric & painting walls go to movies.  And I also watched The Last Song after reading the book, but having already read it, it doesn’t count either.  But I am hoping to be one of the first ones to get a hold on The Lucky One at the library so I can watch it soon!

Here’s where the total now stands:

  1. The Grace Card
  2. Madea’s Big Happy Family
  3. Little Fockers
  4. 12 Dates of Christmas
  5. Something Borrowed
  6. Flypaper
  7. Water for Elephants
  8. Courageous
  9. Miracle of the Cards
  10. Crazy Stupid Love
  11. Breaking Dawn
  12. Abduction
  13. The Smurfs
  14. National Treasure: Book of Secrets
  15. She’s the Man
  16. Alice in Wonderland
  17. The Hangover
  18. In Time
  19. Hunger Games
  20. The Help
  21. The Way
  22. Footloose (2011 version)
  23. The Muppets
  24. Like Crazy
  25. A Warrior’s Heart
  26. Jane Eyre
  27. Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
  28. The Vow
  29. Footloose (the Kevin Bacon version)
  30. Soul Surfer
  31. Good Deeds
  32. New Year’s Eve

19. Complete 5/K – Not happening, but going to start training after school starts.

20. Try 12 new recipes – I’ve found some great recipes to try this fall. Can’t wait!

    1. Loaded Baked Potato Soup
    2. Homemade bread – failed
    3. Apple Pie
    4. Pumpkin Pie
    5. Pumpkin Fudge – failed
    6. Buckeyes
    7. Homemade Pop Tarts – for Christmas Eve brunch
    8. Green Monster Spinach Smoothie (it actually is not as bad as it sounds)
    9. Hawaiian Sweet Roll Ham Sandwiches – for the Super Bowl
    10. Mexicorn Dip – for the Super Bowl
    11. Wendy’s Chili – tasted just like Wendy’s chili
    12. Corn & Potato Chowder – it was ok. I guess I’m not a chowder girl.

21. Daily prayer time – Got my prayer book done and going to build it into my morning routine.

22. Go camping – Didn’t happen…boo!  Maybe there is a weekend the Fords could squeeze it in. Or maybe they would haul their camper, set it up, come back and load us up for me & whoever I could get to camp with me.  Seriously. I’m not kidding.

23. Make an apple pie – So ready for some more this fall!

24. Sew a skirt – got the material, just need to do it.

25. Build craft armoire

26. Make 10 crafty things – Looks like I’m going to have to squeeze in a few more things.

    1. Christmas quilt for Maggie
    2. Christmas quilt for Cooper
    3. Christmas quilt for Emmy
    4. Baby blanket for Peyton
    5. T-shirt for Emmy’s birthday tomorrow

27. Do 10 things I’ve never done before

    1. Be a gym teacher.
    2. Cooked pumpkins and then froze the meat.
    3. Be a music teacher.
    4. Hair professionally colored.
    5. Climbed a lighthouse.
    6. Gave blood (so counts for 2 goals!)
    7. Went and saw Danette finish Pelotonia ‘12
    8. Purchased season ticket for high school football (brother is playing)
    9. Ate at Tlaquepaque.
    10. Ate asparagus that I planted myself the year before.

28. Mani &/or pedi – not yet and not looking like it will happen.

29. Start living room makeover – Well, I did start it. I painted the walls this great Wild Turkey by Martha Stewart color back in November.  I’m going to be putting shelves up and I got a print for fall to frame and display in this room.

30. Be intentional with my time – I think I did ok with this. The summer threw it off a bit, but since I finished my huge paper & final I’ve been spending a lot of time with Emmy.  We spent two whole afternoons on the porch.

31. Clean/organize the basement – Bean started this a bit. Now we just need to finish.

32. Clean out the garage – haven’t touched at all though it was discussed.  That’s a step closer…lol

Monday, June 18, 2012

the one where I climb a lighthouse

The first time I went to the Outer Banks in September 2001, I fell in love with the Hatteras Lighthouse. I’ve since been to the Bodie Island Lighthouse and one in Florida (Sanibel perhaps?). But I have never went inside one. That changed today.

We are in Virginia Beach this week. I had never been to the Cape Henry Lighthouse.  We decided today to go and check it out. Emmy was too short to go up so Todd stayed behind with her. There is actually two lighthouses.  The old one – which is the first lighthouse that the US built – and the new one across the street that still lights the way to the entrance of the Chesapeake Bay.

         2012 Jun 18_7151Bean in the doorway to the lighthouse. 

  2012 Jun 18_7152

Bean after seeing the stairs – what did we get ourselves into???

2012 Jun 18_7174

 

     2012 Jun 18_7154   2012 Jun 18_7156

We made it to the top!

Now here’s how to get back down.  First go down this small set of spiral stairs:

2012 Jun 18_7162

Then you have this crazy ladder:

2012 Jun 18_71632012 Jun 18_7165

 

Stop to take a picture in the window.

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Proceed down this crazy spiral staircase that never seems to end.

2012 Jun 18_7170

Take a second to cool off. The breeze through this window is so nice.

2012 Jun 18_7171

 

Here’s another look at the staircase that made you a little dizzy going up. It is so much fun to have to pass someone on these steps.  The trip back down is so much easier.

      2012 Jun 18_7175 

We made it back down!

           2012 Jun 18_7178    2012 Jun 18_7181

 

2012 Jun 18_7184

Well, who would have guessed? There was a sign on the way up that Benjamin Franklin, John Hancock and I think John Jay & Thomas Jefferson also were volunteer firefighters.

2012 Jun 18_7196

Bean, Emmy & Todd with the New & Old Cape Henry Lighthouses.

Here’s two things I learned today: 1. Even though they allow it, you probably shouldn’t wear flip flops while climbing up the wrought iron stairs of a lighthouse that is over 200 years old.  2. If you or anyone with you is wearing an Ohio State shirt, everyone will talk to you. And I mean everyone – from the military police checking your car for weapons (the lighthouses are on Fort Story) to the people you meet at the top of the lighthouse to that ladies sitting on the bench at the beach front playground to the people in the elevator.  Bean said that everyone seems to have an Ohio connection.  Well, duh – we are the heart of it all!  LOL

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

just a couple completed projects

 

I spray painted some flower pots last summer, but never planted anything in them.  They were just your basic terra cotta pots in varying sizes.  Some are this pretty turquoise and some are a basic black.  Emmy helped me plant a few of them Memorial Day weekend. I like the punch of color these give the front porch. 

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My step-cousin had a baby boy a couple months ago and I finally mailed out this blanket I made Baby Peyton. I’ve had it done for well over a month…oops. Hopefully, he’ll get to enjoy it for a little bit.  It has been pretty cold here.  This was the first blanket I have ever made and I was very intimidated by it.  But I think it turned out pretty good. I followed this tutorial.

Emmy wanted to help me out. She had just gotten up.

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I got this fabric at Joann.com. I thought it was pretty cute for a baby boy.

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The backside has this light brown flannel.  I love how the dark brown stitching pops on it.

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Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Short Goals Update

 

#14. Finish Emmy’s 2nd year book

We had a scrapbook day Saturday. Not only was it lots of fun, but I also got several layouts done for Emmy’s 2nd year book.  I even worked on a few more Saturday night and Sunday. Now the scrapping bug is back. Everyone wants to have a scrapping day again so hopefully here soon we’ll do it.

#18. Watch 20 movies

While scrapping here at home, I like to have the TV on.  Because of that I finished 3 new-to-me movies: National Treasure: Book of Secrets, She’s the Man & Alice in Wonderland (the Johnny Depp version). Here’s where the total now stands:

  1. The Grace Card
  2. Madea’s Big Happy Family
  3. Little Fockers
  4. 12 Dates of Christmas
  5. Something Borrowed
  6. Flypaper
  7. Courageous
  8. Crazy Stupid Love
  9. Breaking Dawn
  10. Abduction
  11. The Smurfs
  12. National Treasure: Book of Secrets
  13. She’s the Man
  14. Alice in Wonderland

#17. Read 20 books

I also finished reading this little book called The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King.  Here’s a note to students who think they can watch The Lord of the Rings trilogy instead of reading the books. Besides the first book, they are very different from what Tolkien wrote. However, I do recommend watching at least the first movie before one would delve into the books. I think it made it easier to keep track of things because I already had a visual image for each character/setting while I read. Here’s the updated book list:

  1. I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp
  2. Middle School Ministry Made Easy (for school)
  3. Courageous (the novel based on the movie)
  4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
  5. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley (for school)
  6. The Castle in the Attic (read w/ my 4th graders)
  7. The Hunger Games
  8. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
  9. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
  10. The Help
  11. The Search Committee
  12. The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King

Friday, February 17, 2012

5 months in to my 32nd Goals

I can’t believe this year will be half over next month. I’m feeling pretty confident in the progress towards some of my goals.  The bad thing is I’m already thinking of things for the next list, which is going to have a different look thanks to Lyndsey. I’m real excited about it.

#1. Save $1000 – Just not going to happen this year. A part-time job is not conducive to saving $.

#2. Donate blood – Still need to do this.

#3. Read the entire Bible – I printed off a great list of the books with each of their chapters listed that I can mark off as I read. I just folded it in half and put it right in my Bible (I have The Message/NIV version and just love it).  Click here to print the list off for yourself.

#4. Weigh 150 lbs. –  I have taken a major step to this goal – I joined the gym!  Bean & I have been going the last two weeks.  Last night I managed to run 4 laps around the track!!  The scales are only saying I’ve lost a pound, but I put my jeans on today for casual Friday and realized that they were not as tight as last week.  They say muscle weighs more…

#5. Dress more girly – I’ve been trying out some new color combos. I don’t know if it’s working, but I tried.  I even wore a scarf yesterday.

#6. Finish my bedroom – Well, the armoire is done. I have a plan for my jewelry storage issue. I have a feeling I’ll be yard saling for some picture frames this summer as my walls are still very bare, um, like completely bare.

#7. Finish Oh! Shoot class – I’m going to try to do this by the end of March.

#8. Finish Portraits class – need to finish #7 first.

#9. Visit a new state – I think I need to plan a long weekend to M*ch*gan or Tennessee. Of course, I’m debating now if I can put Kentucky back on the list of places to visit. We did only stay across the river for Reds games. We never actually did anything but sleep in Kentucky.

#10. Make a pumpkin pie – Done!

#11. Take 10,000 pictures –  Probably should count and see how many I’ve taken.

#12. Learn song on my guitar – Emmy discovered my guitar. A guitar string needs replaced. I’m sure we can all figure out why.

#13. Fix supper 2x a week – Well, this really hasn’t happened.  Our schedules are just not in sync.

#14. Finish Emmy’s 2nd year book – No where near being done, but I have a big scrapbook day scheduled next month.

#15. Do Daily December book – I think this summer I’ll work on getting an album together so I’ll be all ready once December hits. It’s always pretty busy between September and December 1st.  Getting that done ahead of time will help me stay on top of it once December rolls around.

#16. Start Project Life – While I don’t have any weeks completely done, I’m plugging along.  I find that I either have a ton of stuff for a week or not enough. 

#17. Read 20 books – So I’ve started The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King this week.  I’m also reading a great book called Wrestling Prayer by Eric & Leslie Ludy. It’s been pretty good so far. And all the books for my courses that start in March have started to arrive.  Now if only the weather would warm up so I could go out on the porch and read.

  1. I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp
  2. Middle School Ministry Made Easy (for school)
  3. Courageous (the novel based on the movie)
  4. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
  5. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley (for school)
  6. The Castle in the Attic (read w/ my 4th graders)
  7. The Hunger Games
  8. The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers
  9. Among the Hidden (read w/ my 4th graders)
  10. The Help
  11. The Search Committee

#18. Watch 20 movies – So I finally got to watch Breaking Dawn!  Even though I liked the book better, the movie was pretty good.  I may have watched it like four times since it came out on DVD.  Emmy Jo even likes it.  I also watched Crazy Stupid Love. Hilarious!  I was laughing so hard that Emmy came in and yelled at me to be quiet and go to bed at one point.  Going to flashback to the 80’s this weekend with The Smurfs.

  1. The Grace Card
  2. Madea’s Big Happy Family
  3. Little Fockers
  4. 12 Dates of Christmas
  5. Something Borrowed
  6. Flypaper
  7. Courageous
  8. Crazy Stupid Love
  9. Breaking Dawn
  10. Abduction

#19. Complete 5/K – Well, since I’m back to doing some training again this could happen!

#20. Try 12 new recipes – DONE!

  1. Loaded Baked Potato Soup
  2. Homemade bread – failed
  3. Apple Pie
  4. Pumpkin Pie
  5. Pumpkin Fudge – failed
  6. Buckeyes
  7. Homemade Pop Tarts – for Christmas Eve brunch
  8. Green Monster Spinach Smoothie (it actually is not as bad as it sounds)
  9. Hawaiian Sweet Roll Ham Sandwiches – for the Super Bowl
  10. Mexicorn Dip – for the Super Bowl
  11. Wendy’s Chili – tasted just like Wendy’s chili
  12. Corn & Potato Chowder – it was ok. I guess I’m not a chowder girl.

#21. Daily prayer time – I found an idea for a prayer journal to help me with this.

#22. Go camping – Spring is just about here!!

#23. Make an apple pie – Done!

#24. Sew a skirt – So a skirt for Emmy is probably going to come first (I have material for it). But a skirt is a skirt no matter how small.

#25. Build craft armoire – I’m going to claim this one done. It just needs a little touch up around one of the knobs and another magnet to keep it closed. The next step is getting all the stuff in there organized.

#26. Make 10 crafty things – Got my list of ideas…and it keeps growing.

#27. Do 10 things I’ve never done before – I’ll think of things and then I forget by the time I make the list out. I’ve done more than two things.

  1. Be a gym teacher.
  2. Cooked pumpkins and then froze the meat.
  3. Be a music teacher – had to sub for the last class one day. They were playing recorders and it was pretty fun. I had just enough musical experience to direct them.

#28. Mani &/or pedi – not yet

#29. Start living room makeover – Next on my list is to hang the shelves I was going to put in my bedroom in my living room instead. Then I need to look for a ceiling fan.

#30. Be intentional with my time – I have been trying to spend some more time with Emmy – like watching videos of animals on YouTube or watching Breaking Dawn. (LOL)  Does that count?

#31. Clean/organize the basement – Bean got a good start on this last month. Our ancient deep freeze is now gone.

#32. Clean out the garage – Coming this spring!

Lord, I Lift Your Name on High

 

This praise song was in my head one morning last week as I got ready for work. It got me thinking about the scripture behind this chorus. So I looked some up.  Sometimes I think we just get used to the words and don’t think about what they are really saying.

Lord, I lift your name on high

Hallelujah! You who serve God, praise God! Just to speak                                         his name is praise!  - Psalm 113:1-3

Lord, I love to sing your praises

Come, let's shout praises to God, raise the roof for the Rock who saved us! Let's march into his presence singing praises, lifting the rafters with our hymns!  - Psalm 95:1-3

I'm so glad you are in my life

The God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this very day… - Genesis 48:11

I'm so glad you came to save us.

But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. – Titus 3:4-7

You came from heaven to earth, to show the way

I came down from heaven not to follow my own whim but to accomplish the will of the One who sent me. – John 6:36
 

From the earth to the cross, my debt to pay

Because of the sacrifice of the Messiah, his blood poured out on the altar of the Cross, we're a free people—free of penalties and punishments chalked up by all our misdeeds. And not just barely free, either. Abundantly free! He thought of everything, provided for everything we could possibly need, letting us in on the plans he took such delight in making. He set it all out before us in Christ, a long-range plan in which everything would be brought together and summed up in him, everything in deepest heaven, everything on planet earth. – Ephesians 1:7-10

From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky

After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God…As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. – Acts 1

Lord I lift your name on high.

I will praise you as long as I live, and in your name I will lift up my hands. – Psalm 63:4

Monday, January 16, 2012

32 Goals Update

 

#5. Dress more girly – I’ve been wearing earrings to work everyday since New Year’s, even the day when I couldn’t find my gold pair that would have matched my outfit much better. 

#10. Make a pumpkin pie Done!

#16. Start Project Life – I’ve been slowly working on this.  Slowly because I decided to switch the kit I was working with.  I had decided at first to use Clementine. But then a blog friend was using Cobalt and I thought it looked good so I ordered it.  Well, after putting the weekly cards in I just couldn’t like it enough to use all year. So I put in an order for Clementine so it should be arriving in the next couple days.  Yea!  The good news is that I didn’t pre-date the cards so I’m hoping to pass the Cobalt kit along to someone else to use.  I’ve also ordered a few things to help me along, including some 4x6 multiple picture collages.  PL is my scrapbook for 2012 so I want to include a lot of pictures when I want to. 

#17. Read 20 books – I decided I needed to read The Hunger Games since we can’t keep it on the shelf in the library.  It was ok.  I’m also still plugging away at LOTR: The Two Towers.  It’s pretty slow right now as Frodo, Sam & Sméagol work their way towards Mordor. 

  1. I Still Believe by Jeremy Camp
  2. Middle School Ministry Made Easy (for school)
  3. Courageous (the novel based on the movie)
  4. Through My Eyes by Tim Tebow
  5. The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring
  6. 7 Practices of Effective Ministry by Andy Stanley (for school)
  7. The Castle in the Attic (read w/ my 4th graders)
  8. The Hunger Games

#18. Watch 20 movies – I watched two movies this weekend – Something Borrowed & Flypaper. They were both pretty good.  Courageous will arrive this week.  Can’t wait to finally watch Breaking Dawn next month!

  1. The Grace Card
  2. Madea’s Big Happy Family
  3. Little Fockers
  4. 12 Dates of Christmas
  5. Something Borrowed
  6. Flypaper

#23. Make an apple pie – Done!

#25. Build craft armoire – almost done. I finished the painting this weekend and just need to get the doors back on and then load it up with all my crafting goodies.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

Send a Card Challenge & Giveaway

UPDATE: Contest is closed. Congrats to Lyndsey on winning $20 to spend at the DaySpring store!


Recently I got the opportunity to review a package of cards from DaySpring. I was very excited when these Peanuts – Encouragement & Friendship cards arrived. They are all super cute and some even have textures added into the design. And something that surprised me about this particular collection is that the envelopes were not white. They were made from brown craft paper. I love colored envelopes. Yes, I’m that girl who stands at a card rack looking for a colored envelope instead of the white one that goes with the card I’m buying. And who doesn’t love Peanuts, right??

Jessica Turner over at The Mom Creative is encouraging everyone to send a “thank-you-for-being-you” card. She’s sending one to her children’s pediatrician. So that got me thinking about who I could send mine to. The other night I was going through some things in my bedroom and found the vintage makeup case that I use to store cards and letters from throughout the years. I had to take a few minutes to go through it. One of those stacks included multiple cards sent to me by my Aunt while I was a freshman at Ohio State. She consistently sent me cards throughout that year. I was 18 years old, away from home for the first time in a place about 25 times bigger than my hometown. Going to my mailbox every afternoon was my favorite time of the day and anytime I got a card or letter it totally made my day. My mom actually got me a mailbox ornament that year for Christmas. I’m glad she did because it reminds me every year I place it upon the tree of all the people who took time to send me a card or letter that school year. I chose to send my Aunt one of these Peanut cards to thank her for her encouragement and thoughtfulness. She’s just one of those people who are really great about sending cards. Like so great that she sent my niece a Halloween card. I aspire to be like her (:

So I want to challenge you to join Jessica & I and the other in(courage) readers in sending a “thank-you-for-being-you” card to someone in your life. Who could you encourage with a card?

Now for a Giveaway, my very first one! Want to win a $20 gift code to spend at DaySpring? Simply post a comment below about a time you’ve received a card that meant a lot to you or who you would send a “thank-you-for-being-you” card to. Want to get another chance to win? Go look around DaySpring and come back here and write a new comment on what you would buy at DaySpring if you won. For a third chance, follow me through Google Friends Connect on the right side of my blog and leave another comment that you did. Giveaway closes on Friday, January 20th @ 5 p.m. Winner will be notified by email.

{I was provided these cards by DaySpring for review. All opinions are my own. Post may include compensated affiliate links.}