Tea Parties, Glasses, and MRIs (Sounds exciting, huh?)...

This is one of those random posts. I've been so busy with life lately, that I really haven't had the chance to sit down and write a well-thought-out post. So instead you get this: a glimpse into our life as of late...

Lily recently turned six so we had a tea party for her and a few of her friends last week. Of course, it was all about pink and frills other girly things. They had fun...



Ian got glasses. He's been a little far-sighted for a year or so, but when I took him last week to the eye doctor, we found out it has gotten worse. He. was. devastated. However, we picked his glasses up yesterday, and he just told me this morning that he likes them because they make his eyes feel rested. Whew!


Also with Ian, if you could all say a prayer for him. I take him back to Children's Hospital at the beginning of April for another MRI. The spot that they had found on his brain a couple of years ago was still there on his last MRI last March (they thought that maybe it was just a shadow or artifact two years ago when he first had it done.) So, his neurologist wants him to get annual MRI's to make sure that there are no changes. I know God loves my little boy even more than I do, but sometimes it's hard not to worry. I'm sure all of you mamas know exactly what I'm talking about.


Today is a day of school lessons, laundry, and cleaning out the kids' clothing drawers. Then tonight my sisters and I are going out on our annual Valentine's date with our dad. He's such a sweetheart! He started this annual tradition four years ago (maybe longer, time goes so fast) and it's always so much fun. Us three girls always sit there and talk the whole time, and my poor dad just sits there and listens, probably most amused at our conversations. Fun time!

Oh, and don't forget that today is the last day to sign up for the $20 Dayspring giveaway. You can enter up until midnight tonight, and then I will randomly choose a winner tomorrow morning.

Blessings!

Just checking in with some updates...

So here's the short story...



We've had some trials here in our home over the last couple of weeks. Consequently, my mind has been elsewhere, and, at times, purely in just survival mode. That doesn't leave much room for inspiration, you know?



Also, my darling husband bought me a laptop and has been in the process of copying and transferring all of my files from our old desktop to the laptop. So, I haven't been able to download any pics because they haven't had their new home set up on this laptop. And it really irks me to write a post that is void of pictures. Just a little pet peeve of mine, I suppose.



But, I do want to let you know that very soon I will be doing a review on an awesome Dayspring product and also hosting a Dayspring giveaway for my readers. Maybe next week some time? So stayed tuned for that, I guess!



Have a blessed Thursday!

A Post in Which I Share a Little Bit of Everything...

Remember the post in which I said that I just needed focus? Well, I still have not found it. And I'm trying to come to terms with floating here in this space of quiet. I'm feeling slightly uncomfortable with this lack of focus. Ever been there?

However, I do know there's some purpose hiding in the folds of this quiet space. Now I just need to quiet my mind enough to hear what He's trying to whisper to my soul.

I've been slightly perturbed this week because I've sat down at this computer every morning this week only to find that the words just refused to come. Not being one to force words, my index finger became quite familiar with the delete button on my keyboard. Was it possible? I had nothing to say?

Not so much. I've got a lot to say. It's just that none of it wants to show itself. It's all part of that lack of focus I've been obsessing about so much lately. This crazy swirling of thoughts; it's quite perplexing to me.

Moving on...

I thought I would share some things I've been enjoying lately. In case you're curious. : )

I LOVE reading. Brad tells me that I'm obsessed with books and reading. He's right. A friend of mine has an eight-year-old daughter who loves reading so much that my friend has a hard time getting her to do anything else. I can totally relate to this sweet little girl. Reading is an obsession for me. And I would most definitely call myself a book collector.

I'm a few pages short of finishing A Heart for Freedom: The Remarkable Journey of a Young Dissident, Her Daring Escape, and Her Quest to Free China's Daughters right now. I'm going to finish this today or tomorrow, I've decided. And then I'll be giving a more detailed book review here on Making A Home sometime soon.

I really enjoy biographies and memoirs. I find other people's lives and experiences fascinating. And this book has held me captive. Check out Chai Ling's foundation she founded to fight out against China's one-child policy and forced abortions. A worthwhile cause for sure. You can read more about Chai Ling and her amazing story here.
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Four books are sitting in my "to read" pile. I typically have several books going on at one time. However, since I started reviewing books, I have found it much more beneficial to completely finish one book before starting the next unless one is a nonfiction and one is a fiction.

Because I'm all about learning how to capture my life's lessons and weave them into a beautiful story.

Because who doesn't experience life's disappointments. And don't we often have questions when staring face-to-face with hard times?

I always appreciate a Lucado book. His narrative, story-telling style of writing always flows so beautifully and effortlessly from the page to the reader's mind and heart.

Who doesn't need a little lesson in apologetics? It's good to know why we believe what we believe. We're called to defend the truth.


And what's on my wishlist? Can I share with you?

Found a recommendation for this book on Ann Voskamp's website A Holy Experience. It definitely appeals to the writer in me who is also a busy wife and homeschooling mama. How do I balance my faith-art with my life?

Isn't it easy to lose our vision as mothers? I have already read and highly recommend Sally Clarkson's other mothering book,The Mission of Motherhood: Touching Your Child's Heart for Eternity, and I just know that this book will also be a blessing to my mothering soul.

This woman here (speaking of myself) has a lot of experience in the fear department of life. I've lived through, have conquered, and continue to conquer many fears in my short life of thirty-two years. And I'm super-excited to have the opportunity to hear Angie Smith this weekend at Women of Faith.

And I'm halfway through Beth Moore's Bible study, Beloved Disciple: The Life and Ministry of John. I'm leading this study in our women's Bible study group at church. I don't know if I'm the only one, but this study has spoken volumes to my heart. I mean, it couldn't have meant anymore to me at this present state of my life if I wanted it to. God knew exactly what I needed to hear right now, and I pray that the other women in the study are reaping as much as I am through this study.

I'm thoroughly enjoying the beauty of this music. Peterson's music is very poetic and lyrical. He writes and sings about the stuff of life and family and faith. I love the rawness of his music. It is very reflective, and being a very reflective person myself, I really appreciate his musical poetry.

Feeling hungry?


Do you know how long it's been since I had a really yummy chocolate chip cookie? Being on a gluten-free diet really restricts my access to desserts (which is, honestly, a good thing.) My dear friend, Masumi, sent me a box of this Cherrybrook GF chocolate chip cookie mix to try out. Oh. my. Lily and I made them last night. I ate six. And, gulp, had three for breakfast this morning. They were yummy! Masumi, you are such a sweet, sweet friend.

I've been enjoying consciously and intentionally seeking out God's beauty gifts to me during this fall season...

What else do I love? Anything nostalgic. Anything that brings back the warm memories of my childhood. And chestnuts are one of those nostalgia-evoking things for me. They remind me of my Papa, the farmhouse where I spent so many of my childhood days, and the snack of boiled chestnuts I'd always find for myself at the farmhouse in the fall after school.

Thanks, Carmen, for providing me with some much-needed nostalgia. I savored each memory-packed bite.

Praying that you all would have a most blessed day in Him. My you bask in the glory of His deep, deep love for you.

Breakfast...

Yum.

Am I the only one who eats things such as mango salsa and guacamole for breakfast? I am the one who eats the leftovers from dinner the night before for breakfast the next morning. So much better than toast...

Reminiscing...

The weather here was absolutely beautiful yesterday. Ian's been sick with the H1N1 virus since last week. So we decided to get a little bit of fresh air since he was feeling a little better and it was so warm and sunny. So we hopped on the quad and took a little ride around the family property.

And sitting in the midst of the old family farmland, is my grandparent's old farm house. It has been unoccupied for the last eleven or so years and it has definitely seen better days. But without fail, when I look at this very old structure, my mind goes back. Back to my elementary and teen years. Back to when I spent hours upon hours inside the warmth of this home. Back to family dinners at the holidays when all the family came back to gather together.

It never fails, my mind goes back. And it often saddens me to see the state of the place now. I had always dreamt of living in this house when I married. Of fixing it up and adding a big huge porch onto the front where I could sit out on my rocking chair! I even went as far as designing how I would remodel the inside.

Even to this day, I still wish that that big old farmhouse was ours. The inside of the house held so much character - the big crown molding, the fireplaces, the mural that my Papa had painted on the ceiling of the dining area. Every door had big thick, detailed trim. The windows were long and tall.

And so as we rode past the farmhouse today, I couldn't help but stop and let my mind go back. Freely. As I peeked into the windows, I saw myself sitting at the dining room table eating salami and onion sandwiches with my Papa and helping my Gammy make pascha. I saw myself in the informal living room surrounded by my family while my Gammy handed out Christmas gifts and my Papa very carefully cut the tape on his gifts so the wrapping paper could be spared.

I saw myself running down the field from the bus stop and running into the side door of the house, where my Gammy waited for me and my sisters. I saw us climbing the big old chestnut tree that was perfect for climbing because of all its low thick branches.

I saw the mountain laurel plants that were always so beautiful to me and my Papa's roses right outside the side door. I saw myself sitting on the front porch on the old metal glider rocker with my Gammy. I saw my husband, who was then just my boyfriend, helping my Papa fix the brick under the steps leading up to the front entrance.

I saw myself climbing the stairs to the upstairs on the many nights I stayed over while my mom was out of town for work. I saw myself sitting on the living room floor in front of my Gammy while she braided my hair.

Oh, the memories. And I just wanted to capture some of them despite the peeling paint and dirty glass. I just wanted to take a picture of the beauty that maybe is visible only to me. And I reminded myself how wonderful it was to have these warm memories of all that lived on in that big old farm house. But it is just that. A house. An earthly, temporary dwelling. And I'm reminded of that now as I look at its dilapidated state. God has given me these beautiful memories, and they will live on.

And this kind of reminds me of life. How easy it is to get caught up in the earthly things. How many times have I obsessed over something transient, something that could be burnt up and gone tomorrow? And this reminds me that I must make it my goal to focus my eyes toward Heavenly things - the things that will last eternally. The things that really matter in the eyes of my Father.

And so it does sadden me that the old family farmhouse has seen better days, but the state of the house does not affect eternity. What's more important is the family that filled the rooms of the house. And the many wonderful memories that we all made together, and that each of us still holds within our hearts. And these memories made at this home, will bind us together forever.

Simplify

What does that word mean to you? Have you ever thought of that? I have.

The word "simplify" has become a staple phrase in the decor business. Have you noticed? Some, including myself, have this word hanging on the walls of our homes. But do we really believe in the word or even understand it?

It seems so hard to simplify today. We have so many things. And many of those things we take for granted, and, instead, desire to acquire more.

And what about our thought lives? Do we take the time to recharge spiritually by laying aside our concerns, worries, and ambitions and instead filling our mind with the Scriptures? Sometimes we become so boggled down with our to-do's that we live frustrated and discouraged because we can never stay ahead of those lists.

So what does "simplify" mean to you. How can you simplify your life? And I only ask 'cause I'm trying to figure this out myself...

Amber