My Little Corner of Creation

Etsy treasuries

2010-06-18T08:47:00.000-05:00

Etsy members can make Treasuries to highlight items they like. Etsy recently made it easier to make Treasuries and I just made my first one. It was fun!
Check it out here: Just Stripes

Towel to Poolside Robe & Swimsuit Giveaway

2010-05-27T07:30:00.000-05:00

Just in time for Memorial Day, Kathleen from Grosgrain posted a tutorial on how to turn a beach towel into a simple robe/cover up. I have been wanting a swim suit cover up and just haven't found the right one for the right price. So, I decided to try hers. At Walmart the other day, I found a $4 towel in a pretty turquoise and I got to work last night. It was a pretty simple & quick project. I didn't have enough of one size elastic so I sewed two sizes together to get the right length. So far it's working fine, but I may have issues with the elastic rolling inside the casing. I also didn't have iron on Velcro, so my plan was to use sew on Velcro. I realized too late into it that I would have needed to sew the Velcro on at an earlier step (before sewing the casing closed). After Ainsley went to bed, I made a quick trip to JoAnn for the iron on kind. Like Kathleen, I like it better without straps, so I didn't make them. I don't have any pictures of the finished product, so you'll have to look at Kathleen's photos to get an idea of what is looks like. By the way, aren't she and her daughter SO cute in their polka dot suits?!?

If you're looking for a cover up, you should really try this one!

While you're on Kathleen's blog, check out the Swimsuit Giveaway from Shabby Apple!! Shabby Apple Queensland Swimsuit Giveaway

I'm getting so excited for Memorial Day at the pool with good friends and yummy food!!

What are your Memorial Day plans?

1 hat, 2 hats...

2010-04-24T08:54:00.003-05:00

Awhile ago I found a shop on Etsy called Mani Mina and I love her clothing patterns for children. Impulsively, I bought her Reversible Child Hat Pattern, and thought it has taken me nearly a year to use it, I have no regrets. It's a great pattern. I had one small snafu with it - the first time I printed the pattern pieces, something got messed up, although I didn't know it. That is, until I tried it on Ainsley and it didn't fit!! I was so bummed. I was so proud of myself for getting a thrift store women's jacket and men's dress shirt to use for the hat, and it turned out so cute. Oh well - perhaps for another child down the road...(no, we're not expecting!)

A couple weeks ago, I picked up some cute fabric at Joann's for another go at the hat. This time the pattern printed differently and that's when I realized what went wrong with the first! I was so glad that this one fit her!! Here we come Summer!!

only a few days left!

2010-04-21T17:07:00.001-05:00

Remember to stop by my shop, The Littlest Daisy, and check out the Spring Sale! Buy any 2 items, get a third (of equal or lesser value to one item) FREE! Sale ends at midnight on April 30th!

Old to New: Ironing Board Cover

2010-04-14T08:00:00.001-05:00

My ironing board must be nearly vintage. No, it's not that old, but it - or at least its cover - has seen better days. I bought it at a garage sale the summer before Heath and I were married. I always meant to get a new cover for it because even then it was well worn and faded, but thought registering for one was not at all romantic. So, I never got around to getting one. And it has been looking very sad lately and getting worse and worse. It developed a small hole which I managed to make bigger nearly every time I used the board. See, I use my ironing board for much more than ironing when I am sewing. It turns into my table, too. As I would cut out material, my scissors began snagging the tiny hole and making it ever larger. To make matters worse, during my Onesie Project, I accidentally ironed some adhesive onto the cover. So now part of the cover was unusable as everything stuck to it. Here are some pictures of my well worn, discolored, holey ironing board cover.

All of this is why I desperately needed to either make myself a new cover or buy one. I was in the mood last night to make one, so I tried out this Ironing Board Cover Tutorial by Sew4Home. I only used one kind of fabric, rather than the two they suggested, which made my cover much less complicated to make. I like the simpler look, too. Two fabrics would have been too busy for my taste. I also like that it matches my new sewing machine cover. So someday if I have a sewing room/space, they'll look so nice together!

our new nephew

2010-04-12T06:48:00.000-05:00

We have a new nephew! Cade Joseph was born a couple weeks ago, and we are so looking forward to meeting him in May!!

One evening last week, I made these cute onesies for him. It was so fun! I think I may have found a new craft love. It's really pretty simple - all you need is Heat n Bond (I got mine at JoAnn's), some fabric scraps, scissors, and an iron.

++++++++++ A Spring Sale++++++++++

2010-03-31T18:26:00.007-05:00

just a little taste of the items in my shop

For the month of April, I am having a Spring Sale at The Littlest Daisy. Buy any two items, get a third (of equal or lesser value) FREE!

a little something for me

2010-03-29T17:29:00.000-05:00

My sewing machine came with this plastic cover which worked great, that is, until it ripped. At first it was just a tiny rip, really not a big deal at all. But then the rip slowly became bigger and bigger until it was only half covering my machine. At that point, it was really quite useless as a cover.

It's been in the back of my mind since then that I really should get a new cover. I stumbled across this tutorial for a Sewing Machine Cover on Sew 4 Home a few weeks ago and decided to try it out. I am mostly happy with the result, though I think my corners could have been done better.

front view:

side view:

top view:

now I just need to work up the nerve to try the Ironing Board Cover tutorial.

what i've been up to

2010-03-27T14:38:00.000-05:00

don't you just love this fabric? I found it a a cute little modern fabric boutique here in Dallas. If you live near here, you really ought to check out City Craf t's store.

this is my third toddler backpack; i really can't get enough of making these. they just turn out so cute!

I awoke this morning to see this

2010-03-26T06:50:00.003-05:00

if you can't see (sorry for the horrible picture!), "happy birthday" is written around the border in quite a few different languages.

isn't my husband wonderful?!

Host a Spring Party

2010-03-12T08:51:00.000-06:00

I am most excited to introduce my newest listing in my Etsy shop, The Littlest Daisy.

I have put together a charming Hostess Set with blank invitations, thank you cards, name cards, and cuisine cards. The aqua & red really say "Hello Spring!" to me.

Go check it out!

summer is a comin'

2010-02-27T12:24:00.009-06:00

I know what you Northerners are thinking - it's not even March yet! Here in Texas, though, we enjoy a very early Spring which is a full blown Summer by April or May. In fact, according to Texans, this winter has been unnaturally cold & snowy. (Just so you don't get too jealous, I'm sure we'll be having cold weather again in no time!)

All that to say - it is a gorgeous sunny day with temps in the mid 50's and it just feels like Spring & Summer are right around the corner. And Ainsley & I have spent the morning driving around with the windows down shopping for summery fabric, shorts & tanks for Ainsley, and beach toys. Almost as good as the wonderful weather is that I found all of this:

for less than $25!!

I am THRILLED!

[be watching for a post about two new homemade summer dresses for Ainsley - I am quite excited about this!]

2010-02-19T08:49:00.000-06:00

You may or may not have noticed that one of our homemade Valentine's cards was made out of fabric. Dana from MADE put together a tutorial awhile back for Quilted Notecards, which I thought looked both easy and fun. My take on it for Valentines was sewing together some fabric scraps, cutting out a heart from it, and sewing it to a little card. It was QUITE simple, yet I think the cards look pretty cool. Plus, the sound of the needle going through the paper is addictive. Try it - you'll love it!

a few of my favorites on Etsy...

2010-02-17T08:47:00.000-06:00

Click the photo to see the item in its Etsy shop

In honor of...

2010-02-16T14:54:00.003-06:00

International Pancake Day, I wanted to share my Dad's pancake recipe. He has some kind of brilliant knack for making fluffy, delicious pancakes. My siblings and I were always excited to hear he was making them. Though my attempts don't come close to his, the recipe still turns out great.

Without further ado, here it is...

Ingredients:
2 eggs
2 c. milk
1/3 c. oil
2 c. flour
5 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
3 Tbsp sugar

Directions:
Beat eggs; add milk & oil. Stir in flour and other dry ingredients. Beat until smooth (my dad says "forever"). Cook on a moderate-hot griddle or skillet. Serves 3-4. (For our family of 6, Dad doubled the recipe. If I'm serving eggs & sausage too, then I make half a batch for Heath & I.)

So, women - take a night off and make pancakes tonight! :)

everyone else has snow days; I want one too!

2010-02-11T06:17:00.003-06:00

I awoke this morning and glanced out the window only to discover that our neighborhood had been transformed overnight. The trees are frosty white and everything is covered with a wonderful layer of snow! I don't know what it is, but I love waking up to a fresh white snowfall (and it hardly ever happens here in Dallas). It makes me want to cozy up next to a fire, or at least with a yummy cup of coffee and read all day. I've probably been conditioned from all the years in school that snow in the morning may mean a snow day. And snow days are the best! I love being able to NOT do whatever it was I was supposed to do and DO the wonderful things that I love - like bake or create or sew or paint or read or just play! The danger with hoping for a snow day is that we very well may not have a snow day and the day will continue as it was supposed to. It didn't seem like a mundane day until there was the hope of something else. Funny how that works...

Anyway, here in Dallas, the roads are looking okay right now so life and work will probably continue as always. If there's still snow after breakfast though, I will be taking Ainsley out because one of the things she talks about the most is playing in the snow! And even if we don't get a snow day, the world still looks magical and clean with all that snow out there!

getting ready for v-day

2010-02-03T17:13:00.002-06:00

The wheels in my head have been turning lately, trying to think of ideas to celebrate Valentine's Day. I saw this on Made By Rae's blog and loved its simplicity. She called it "The Easiest Heart Garland. Evar." and I have to agree. I found the cheapie craft felt sheets at JoAnn, picked out some fun colors and ended up with 12 sheets - 2 of each color. All together - $3!!

So, here's how to replicate this heart garland:

Cut hearts out of felt. I used 72 for my garland.
Put them in some kind of order in a stack.

Machine sew them together. It's easiest to start with the top of the heart, rather than the point. Sew all the hearts together.Admire your handiwork and...decorate your house!

Remember the curtains in my kitchen that I don't like anymore? They've been replaced by this fun garland! And I'm loving it!!

Craft Hope

2010-01-28T08:24:00.003-06:00

So, there's this website called Craft Hope, and it's really a project that a woman named Jade started. Here's how she describes Craft Hope:

Craft Hope is a love inspired project designed to share handmade crafts with those who need them. It is our hope to combine our love for crafting and desire to help others into a project to make a difference around the world.

For example, Project 1 collected dresses for little girls and shorts for little boys in an orphanage & shelter in Mexico. Project 4 collected sock moneys to give to the Little Heroes Preschool Burn Camp through the Firefighters Burn Institute in California. Now they are on Project 6, which is collecting red scarves for the Orphan Foundation. Every year, foster kids are aged out of the program as they head off to college. The Red Scarf Program was started to send scarves to these youth in Valentine's Day care packages.

The requirements are pretty simple - basically you need some red yarn and know how to knit or crochet. The guidelines are on the Craft Hope page under Project 6. The only catch is they need to be at The Orphan Foundation by February 14th to be included in the care packages.

I think it's pretty cool to get involved in things like this. I have been wanting to contribute to this effort, but have felt under qualified for the other projects. This time, though, I know I can contribute!

I found a really soft red yarn at Hobby Lobby for a great price and I started a scarf the other day. We'll see how long it takes me to make one scarf. If I have enough time and yarn, I may try for 2!

I Love This Yarn in Cranberry

Anyone with me?

Rosette Wreath

2010-01-28T06:40:00.001-06:00

Several weeks ago I saw the neatest wreath tutorial on a blog I read, though I can't remember now who posted about it. The tutorial is here. It's a rosette wreath made from a Styrofoam wreath form, felt circles, straight pins, and some time. I found some charcoal felt that I love at Joann and I even had a 50% off coupon!! I did use the easier method of cutting out the circles with a white ink pad and a large mouth Ball canning jar. I know it made a big difference in how long this project took. I love the white wreath that she made in the tutorial, but we have all white walls, so that wouldn't work. My pictures don't look nearly as good as the ones on the tutorial, so do look at them!

the back

the top with the ribbon to hang

hanging on our family photo wall!

some random thoughts

2010-01-27T08:49:00.000-06:00

Ainsley has a fever this morning and she watching a video about the stillest I have ever seen her sit. Poor girl!

Do you ever have good ideas that flop once you actually do them? I bought one of those three-tiered hanging wire baskets for our kitchen a couple years ago. There's a place to hang it by our sink that I thought would be perfect for our fresh fruits & veggies that don't need to be refrigerated. It's been hanging there since I bought it, but has been nearly empty most of that time. I found that the sun hits the basket through our kitchen window much too often for fresh produce to last very long. Mostly it's been a place where I lazily toss an opened package of cracker or nuts, rather than putting them away. And recently, it has become an eyesore. I'm going to take it down today.

As long as we're talking about that kitchen window area by the sink...I think I'm tired of the current curtains, too. Perhaps it's time for a new window treatment?? Keep an eye out for a before & after post...

in light of the previous post...

2010-01-27T07:12:00.001-06:00

Obviously there are many ways to help in crises like the one in Haiti. These are a few of the options that I have heard about:

Through a CHURCH - our church is taking donations for MAF (Mission Aviation Fellowship), an organization some members are working with in Haiti.

Through a large ORGANIZATION - like The Salvation Army or the Red Cross or Compassion International

Through an ART SHOP - the Craft Hope shop on Etsy is selling donated items from the crafting community in order to raise funds for Doctors Without Borders in Haiti. As of Monday, they had raised over $27,000!!

Through an INDIVIDUAL - a friend of a friend is raising funds to go to Haiti this Spring. She is uniquely situated to go as she's been there before and she is a nurse. Check out her blog!

Most of all, let's pray for all the mommies & daddies, grandpas & grandmas, aunts & uncles, boys & girls, and friends who are hurting in Haiti - and for all those who helping & serving them.

the honest truth

2010-01-27T06:15:00.000-06:00

I'll admit it. Since the earthquake hit Haiti, my reaction has been merely a passing thought here or a twinge of compassion there. I think I have subconsciously steered myself away from the news and pictures, kept myself busy enough to not think about the effect of such a disaster on that country. The past few days, though, things have been changing, opening in my heart. Heath & I were talking about Haiti and our reactions this weekend. As we asked ourselves, "What do you do when disaster hits one place after another?", the answer came loud & clear.

You help. You help however you can. And you keep helping.
How can I turn my back on those who are crying out for help?

For he has not despised or disdained the suffering of the afflicted one; he has not hidden his face from him but has listened to his cry for help. Psalm 22:24

Valentine's Day Cards

2010-01-22T06:24:00.003-06:00

I can't believe Valentine's Day is just around the corner! I just listed two new sets of cards for Valentine's Day on my Etsy site - The Littlest Daisy. They are quite different from what I have done before, but I really, really like them!

I think if it were up to my husband, Valentine's Day would go unnoticed around here. Not because he doesn't love me or want to show me so - just because it's such a commercial holiday (what holiday isn't these days??). The roses are astronomically priced, the boxes of chocolates and the teddy bears seem cliche, but the kicker is that it feels mandatory.

Now, I can't just let a holiday pass us by...so I think I'll continue what my mom started and what I've heard quite a few women talk about. We'll have a Family Valentine's Celebration! You know - finger jello shaped like hearts, heart shaped cake, Hershey's kisses, and hand made cards to say how much we love each other!

the longest lasting roses - EVER!

2010-01-15T09:08:00.002-06:00

Heath brought home the prettiest pink roses last Wednesday (more than a week ago!) when I was sick...and they are STILL GORGEOUS!! Every morning I half expect to see them wilting in their vase, but every morning they surprise me with their beauty. Thanks, Heath, for the thoughtful gift. I love them!

Christmas Projects

2010-01-15T08:42:00.008-06:00

Well now that Christmas has passed, I can post about the projects which became gifts. It was so hard to keep them a secret before Christmas! I know you are all DYING to know what I was making after I posted a picture of the fabrics. Haha! My brother was disappointed that he didn't get a spelling bee blankie!

I found the cutest pattern for a Toddler Backpack on Made by Rae's website. I can't remember how I got there, now, but it was well worth it! I think I bought the pattern nearly as soon as I saw it! I decided to make one for Ainsley and one for her cousin Drew for Christmas. Here's Ainsley's, but I don't have any pictures of Drew's. Silly me, I forgot to take pictures before packaging it up!

The pattern was pretty simple to follow, although I am glad that I made Ainsley's first. I always do better on the second try than the first. I did discover that she's right when she said that you should use a medium to heavyweight fabric or it won't hold its shape. I only used a lightweight fabric for Ainsley's and it sure doesn't stand up on its own very well. For Drew's I used interfacing to give it some structure and that helped immensely! And even though I don't have pictures of it, I have to show you the fabric I found because it is just TOO cute! I saw it on Whipstitch Fabrics, my new favorite place to find fun fabrics.

Alexander Henry: Traffic Jam in Blue (from Whipstitch Fabrics)

My second project was to make matching child aprons for Ainsley and her friend Sanaa. Also on Whipstitch Fabrics, I found the perfect apron material - Metro Market Apples in Red. I was SO excited when my package of material arrived in the mail! I made up my own pattern for the aprons and I think they turned out pretty well. I think the neck strap may be a little long on Sanaa's and I think both have too long of a torso section. But overall, I'm happy with the finished product.

My third project for Christmas was a purse for my sister Kendra. Of course I had to make a practice one for myself (and I LOVE it!). I found the FREE pattern for this purse on Made by Rae's site, too. She calls it the Buttercup Bag. Here are some pictures of Kendra's I thought it would be the perfect little purse to take to her sorority formals and other dressy affairs.

Darling Blouse Giveaway

2010-01-13T16:36:00.000-06:00

I love this blog that I've been keeping up with for awhile now; it's called Grosgrain and she posts the neatest things. I am always a bit jealous of her skill, but more often, I am challenged and inspired to do something creative on my own. Her latest giveaway is this cute Estate Sale Blue Blouse - here's the link - Estate Sale Blue Blouse GROSGRAIN GIVEAWAY!!!!

Check it out and be inspired!!

a cute new purse?!?

2009-11-30T17:56:00.000-06:00

I have been eyeing the purses that are in this store for a long time and now a blog that I read is having a giveaway! Oh I hope I win! Check out Charm Design's store and see all her stylish bags!!

Charm Design Bags and Totes $50 gift card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Little Ivy #3: An Update

2009-10-27T08:56:00.000-05:00

If you remember, over a year ago I wrote a post describing my lack of ability to keep ivy plants alive. Well, I'm proud to announce that Little Ivy #3 is doing very well. I have had to cut it back once already and need to again as it is invading my kitchen counter. Let's just hope I haven't jinxed the poor plant by bragging on it!

2009-10-25T07:54:00.003-05:00

About a month ago, the ideas for Christmas presents started rolling and I just couldn't stop them! I picked out the perfect fabric for each project; just recently I realized how strange all these fabrics look together without knowing what they will become. I just had to snap a picture!

And the WINNER is....

2009-10-01T06:13:00.005-05:00

...HORN HERD MOM, who said "Love your fall cards! Fall is my absolute favorite time of the year..the crunch of falling leaves, pumpkin spiced lattes, getting to wear sweat shirts again!"

Congratulations, Horn Herd Mom!!

Please send me an email (kristen.munson@gmail.com) and let me know two things:
1) Which set of Fall Thank You Cards you would like (the Bouquet set or the Wildflower set)
2) Where to send your cards

Now, since I love to try to win things and never do and I know the disappointment of not winning, I'm offering a one-time-use 20% discount at my store to EVERYONE who entered this giveaway contest. You can use this discount now or later and I will make a note of who entered. Just to make sure, though, enter AUTUMN1 in the "notes to seller" when you checkout. The discount is good on your ENTIRE order (excluding shipping). If you choose to take advantage of this offer, I will refund the 20% after receiving the order and payment. Happy shopping at The Littlest Daisy!

As for what I love about fall - it's the coolness in the air, especially since we live in HOT Texas now. I love baking apple pies and peach pudding. I love the crunch of leaves under my feet (I actually picked up a habit from my first college roommate of intentionally crunching through the leaves). I love a hot cup of coffee on a crisp morning. Oh - and I love the birds singing. I think they are happier this time of year, too. I have noticed that their songs seem livelier lately. (Perhaps that's my imagination, but I like the thought of it anyway). I love all the spices associated with fall and I can hardly wait to get baking!!

Autumn GIVEAWAY at The Littlest Daisy!!!

2009-09-23T07:36:00.006-05:00

Yesterday was the first day we've had cooler temperatures here in Texas for, well, a long time. I don't think the temperature reached 70 degrees, and it was wonderful!! Ainsley and I enjoyed an evening walk; I cannot tell you how much in the mood for Fall I am!!

So, in celebration of its coming arrival, I am having a GIVEAWAY of one set of my NEW Fall Thank You Cards. To enter to win either one (1) set of Fall Wildflowers Bouquet Set of Three Thank You Cards or one (1) set of Fall Colors Bouquet Set of Three Thank You Cards, just leave me a comment below letting me know what you think of the new cards or your favorite thing about fall. I will put all the names in a hat and draw one at random on October 1st. I will announce the winner on the morning of October 1st.

That gives you until midnight on Wednesday, September 30th to leave a comment. Good luck!!

flower picking skirt

2009-07-06T22:17:00.004-05:00

Awhile ago, I found a simple tutorial for a skirt on my favorite sewing blog, and I decided to try to make one for Ainsley - and if all went well, one for me. Here's my second try at Ainsley's (the first was a little too small).

I really like this fabric with its tiny tulips!

fresh produce....REALLY fresh!

2009-06-18T17:32:00.001-05:00

A week or so ago, I picked the first ripened tomatoes off my plant. Just a couple days ago I decided to try one. It was SO good! I have never, ever eaten most of a tomato in one sitting, much less eaten almost just a tomato for a meal. I have never really wanted to eat that much of a tomato by itself. But, I cut a slice, paired it with a little mozzarella cheese and some pesto - and oh my! It was wonderful! I even tried it with just salt and liked that too. I couldn't believe it! Now I understand why my mom, aunt, and grandma always say that they love homegrown tomatoes. I do too!!

Finally Finished

2009-06-18T08:45:00.001-05:00

I found the coolest vintage bird illustrations on Etsy not long ago and thought they'd be the perfect touch for our living room update. They're kind of an odd size, though, so it took be a bit to figure out what kind of frames to get for them. Finally I picked some out this morning and here's the completed look. The photos don't quite do it justice, but I am really happy with the finished product!

The top photo is a robin from a 1913 book, and the bottom is a Lady Gould Finch from a 1906 book.

The Littlest Daisy - SALE

2009-06-10T08:48:00.000-05:00

Check out my shop as I am participating in the Yart Sale on Etsy! (Art + Yard Sale = Yart Sale)

life is good.

2009-06-02T07:55:00.004-05:00

new mercies streaming from heaven. gorgeous summer weather. a bouquet of sunny yellow daisies on my counter. a gracious & loving husband. anticipation of visiting family. quiet morning with "Sunshiney Day Blend" coffee. a deliciously fresh grapefruit. a so far untouched budget for June. soundly sleeping daughter. the finishing touch on my updated living room ordered & in the mail. promise of a call from my mom. the beginnings of a summer tan. a healthy family. one remaining year of Heath's seminary. the happy prospect of Ainsley's "good morning" smiles. good friends. a "new" car with working air conditioning. money enough for our expenses. the love of the Father.

life is good.

My Love/Hate Relationship With Change

2009-05-21T06:48:00.004-05:00

When it comes to change in my life, my usual instinct is to duck and cover, stick my head in the sand...you get the idea. But, I love to mix things up in our home - new decor, a little touch of color here, a new picture there. I've been dreaming and planning and searching for awhile now for new fabric to liven up our living room. I found some gorgeous fabric at Hobby Lobby (quickly becoming my favorite craft store - they have GREAT sales!) for curtains and some coordinating fabric for pillows. AND I found lovely curtain rods at Bed, Bath, & Beyond for less than half their original price! I finished the curtains recently, and Heath helped me hang them last night. I wasn't too sure about them when I went to bed, but this morning I keep looking at them and smiling. This is a good change!

Here's a peak at the results:

the curtains

the pillows
and the pillows-to-be

Mark's Brothers Big World Coffee Roasters

2009-04-01T08:23:00.000-05:00

My dear friends have started a coffee roasting business in the Dallas area. When my parents & brother were here visiting, we made a trip up to their location and bought some coffee beans. I was excited to try it because the descriptions on their website just sound amazing. The two I most wanted to try are the Ethiopia Sidamo, which is said to taste like blueberries, and the Sulawesi Torajaland, a bold coffee. So far, I have really enjoyed the Sulawesi Torajaland. This is a great coffee - bold & dark & great in the morning!
Greg also gave me a sample of the Tanzania Peaberry Songea; before I even read the description, I thought it tasted fruity. Yum!!

Seriously, if you like coffee, even a little, you should really try these coffees! Not only are they fabulously tasty, but the beans have been purchased at a fair price and roasted right. I love the "Big World" philosophy behind this business! Check out Mark's Brothers Big World Coffee Roasters website for all their info!!

Officially...

2009-03-27T06:41:00.003-05:00

I am now 25 years old! This is, despite popular emotion, a very exciting thing for me. I love birthdays, and I love being one year older. Seriously. I have no qualms about being "one year closer to 30." Birthdays are my New Year's, when I reflect and pray about the last year and look forward to the next one. I am a diligent goal setter, so I always take time to write out a list of things to work on.

Yesterday was a splendid day of fun, and I was ridiculously spoiled! My wonderful parents and littlest-almost 6 foot brother came to visit this week, so I decided to take 2 half days off from work. It was a blast for me to see them play with Ainsley. We went swimming in the indoor pool at their hotel and tried to teach Ainsley to blow bubbles in the water. She enjoyed the water just as much as ever! After swimming, we rested and stopped at Starbucks for a little treat.
They took us out for dinner last night to the restaurant of my choice - that means no cooking for me! I chose Applebee's because I wanted the Maple Butter Blondie for dessert. And it was so good - all of it! Plus, my sweet husband showed up with a bouquet of brilliant sunflowers for me! I adore getting flowers!

Last, but not least, I was in bed and quickly sound asleep at 10:30pm and didn't even wake up until 6 when the alarm went off! (And if my excitement over that doesn't make me sound one year older, I don't know what does!!)

What a great birthday! Thanks to everyone for the birthday wishes!!!!

St. Patrick & a New Tradition

2009-03-18T08:43:00.006-05:00

While browsing for new recipes last week on my favorite recipe website (AllRecipes.com), my attention was arrested by the link for St. Patrick's Day recipes. I decided then and there to start a new tradition in our home - to make new & different foods on holidays. And why not begin with St. Patrick's Day? I began to look through the main dish options and quickly realized that a typical Irish dinner consists of Corned Beef and Cabbage. Having never had such a dish, I opted for the recipe that had the best reviews and added it's ingredients to my grocery list. Soda bread also seems to be an Irish staple, so I grabbed the "Amazingly Easy Irish Soda Bread" recipe.

After getting home from work yesterday morning, I pulled out my crock pot and gathered the potatoes, meat, carrots, and spices that the recipe called for. Less than 30 minutes later, our main dish was cooking it's way to perfection - hopefully! About an hour and a half before Heath arrived home, I mixed up the easiest batch of bread I've ever made Seriously, there was hardly any kneading required and no rising time since you use baking soda instead of yeast. (Hence the name "Soda Bread". Cool, right?) It was all ready only minutes after Heath got home, and we were pleasantly surprised at the result. The corned beef had yummy flavor and the suggested dijon mustard dipping sauce added just the right touch of tang. I think we decided that the soda bread tastes most like corn bread, so that was an instant success in this home.

All in all, I enjoyed finding a couple Irish dishes to make, and I can hardly wait for the next holiday to do this again. Plus, all day I was thinking about St. Patrick and the way God used him to turn the hearts of the Irish many centuries ago.

"Please help me!"

2009-02-12T08:42:00.000-06:00

Now that Ainsley is able to sign "help", it seems that she does so very often. I haven't taken the time to count how many times in a day, but I would venture to guess at least 10 times just during one playtime. It is one of the sweetest things to see her struggling to open the Lego box, then look up at me, and pat her tummy (that's her sign for "help"). Oh and now she signs "thank you" after you help her, too! Oh the joys!!

I was contemplating these things this morning - how quick she is to ask for help, no matter what situation she is facing. Not only does she know how to ask, but she knows that I will respond favorably to her request. Most of the time my attitude is only as it should be - that I would LOVE to help her. But late in day, as my body slows down and my gracious attitude fades, I find that I am less eager to help her; though this does not prevent my helping her, my response time is significantly slower. While confessing this sin of selfishness this morning, a glorious thought appeared. The Lord, of who I ask many things, does not grow weary of my requests; no, He delights always to come to my aid. What a wonder!! This is a whole different view of His kindness than I have imagined before. He is infinitely kind, even to me, bumbling, selfish woman that I am. All praises and thanks to Him, the Father to whom I should run with every care or whim - for He cares for me.

How I desire to exemplify this kind of love to Ainsley, so that when she looks at me, she'll see the kindness of God instead.

NEW Wildflower Bouquets

2009-02-07T08:04:00.006-06:00

Last night I created a new type of bouquet for my note cards - the wildflower bouquet! I've painted them before, but it's been awhile and Keenan's request to see some reminded me of how much I like them. While they may not be exactly what you were thinking, Keenan, it's a step in that direction!

I listed two sets of two at my Etsy shop this morning. Here's a sneak peak:

The Littlest Daisy

2009-01-19T17:10:00.000-06:00

Well, guys, I finally did it - I found somewhere I could sell my cards. Etsy.com It's really a neat place to find all sorts of handmade items. Here's the link to my shop: thelittlestdaisy.etsy.com I haven't gotten it fully set up yet, and there are only two listings so far, but please look anyway and tell your friends!

It has actually been quite the drama this week. I had a name all picked out and when I finally got up the nerve to register, the name had already been picked! Heath and I agonized over options for the rest of the day but to no avail. Then today, "The Littlest Daisy" just came to me and I love it! I think it's fun and it embodies my philosophy of sending cards to people. It doesn't always take a lot to cheer someone up or let them know they're special; even the littlest daisy will do wonders!

I'm nervous about whether or not this will be a success, but I won't know without trying. So here goes! Whatever the Lord wants to do with it, I'm ready!

Helpless

2009-01-04T19:21:00.004-06:00

Heath will be back from his Iowa trip in about an hour, and I am just about counting the seconds. There are two minor situations awaiting his return, the first (and most horrifying to me) being a not-so-small roach sitting under a bowl downstairs. Why did it have to attack me today, of all days, when my husband was completely unable to come to my rescue? (It really did attack me; it crawled out of my pant leg - of the pants I was wearing.) Second on his to-do list, is to un-do whatever Ainsley did when she hit a button on the DVD remote. I've been watching the remainder of my West Wing episode with French subtitles and with the menu still on the screen. For the life of me, I can't figure out how to fix it!

Seriously, when did I become so helpless?!?

3 Years

2008-12-31T16:16:00.004-06:00

Heath & I celebrated our third year of marriage yesterday. Perhaps it wasn't the most elaborate celebration, but it was wonderful nonetheless! We went out for dinner at Cheddars' (they have the best & cheapest appetizers!) with Ainsley. After dinner, we picked up Italian gelato to enjoy at home after putting Ainsley to bed. With our ice cream and a fresh pot of coffee (for me, of course!), we settled in and watched the first episode of Season Six of West Wing.

I've been asked what I like best about marriage, and I'd have to say it's just so much fun to be friends with Heath. I love that I don't yet know everything about him and that I have the rest of our lives to learn! I love you, Babe!! Thanks for 3 great years and for the hope of many more to come!

My 5 Things

2008-12-05T21:15:00.002-06:00

Sorry, Danielle, I keep forgetting to post this. Shantel actually reminded me by posting hers - thanks!

The "5 THINGS GAME" The rules are to write 5 things under each of the 5 headings, and then tag 5 other people.

10 years ago...
1. I was fourteen years old.
2. I had never been on a date, much less met my husband, Heath.
3. I was looking forward to the Spring Band & Choir trip to San Antonio.
4. I was adjusting to a public high school with a class five times bigger than my 8th grade class.
5. I was scared to drive, even though I had my permit.

5 Things on Today's "To-Do" List
1. Go for a walk.
2. Fold the towels.
3. Plan Saturday's "To-Do" List.
4. Give Ainsley a bath.
5. Make pizza for dinner.

5 Snacks I Enjoy...
1. Chocolate & strawberries
2. Coffee & a bagel
3. Cheese
4. Kettle corn (only the Boy Scout brand)
5. Fresh fruit

5 Things I Would Do if I were a Millionaire!
1. Pay off our student loans.
2. Buy a house that we love.
3. Save for Ainsley's college fund.
4. Save for our future.
5. Help out our families & give a lot away.

5 Places I Have Lived...
1. West Marion
2. East Marion
3. Ames
4. Bangkok
5. Dallas

5 Jobs I've had/Still have...
1. Babysitting
2. The PretzelMaker
3. Gregory's Coffeehouse
4. MU Cafe
5. Joshua Expeditions

5 People I'm tagging:
1. Kendra
2. Emily
3. Dan & Lynn
4. Rosa
5. Karen
5. Kelly

finally!

2008-10-23T17:25:00.000-05:00

I've been asked what I decided to name the scarecrow I made. Well, the poll was not all that helpful because it ended as a three-way tie. But while my parents were visiting, Dad said he didn't vote but he liked "Mifflin"; Heath would have voted the same way. So, there you have it - Mifflin he is.

For those who are wondering where the name came from, I'll indulge your curiosity. George Mifflin Dallas, the Vice President under President Polk, was also the man for whom the city of Dallas was named. Fitting name for my scarecrow, I'd say, seeing as how Dallas is where we are living!

Happy October 1st!

2008-10-01T06:39:00.002-05:00

For three years now, I have anticipated the first day of October with both dread and excitement. You see, there is a huge deadline for all the students who will be traveling with my company this year to turn in their paperwork by October 1st. While they feel excited, perhaps, or relieved, to have the ball rolling for their trip, I am met with an avalanche of work. This time of year excites me because I thrive on being busy. On the other hand, having worked at this company for the past 2 years, I also know exactly what is coming. There is no way of preparing to make it easier or doing work ahead of time. I just wait for the dreaded October First.

There is, I think (in my imperfect knowledge on the subject), a fine line between drowning and keeping your head above water - somewhere between all-out panic at the first sensation of water lapping your nose and being so tired of treading water that your whole body aches. For the next month and a half, my goal is to keep my head above water. Not finish the work at the end of the day, for that won't happen for several weeks. But I will outlast the stormy waves.

I try to keep life as normal as possible - shower every morning, eat breakfast, lunch & dinner, workout, hang out with friends on the weekend, love on Heath & Ainsley. But I'll also get up a little earlier and stay up a little later. This actually works out well. Since I'm working from home, I can work while Heath does homework and during the day I get to watch Ainsley's antics out of the corner of my eye and hear her sweet, playful voice while I type away. And, for this month and a half, I'll swallow the perfectionism that says everything needs to be done at the end of the day. I'll leave a mountain of work for the next day - although hopefully it will be smaller than earlier in the day; and I will work steadily until I can finally say at the end of the day that there is nothing more to do.

I hope I haven't given the impression that I'm complaining or wishing October never came. As in every season, the good is often found in the difficulties. Besides that, each day is brand new; it has yet to be lived in; today's sunrise has never been seen before.

With that, I'm off to begin work for the day! Have a great one, dear friends!

Dirt-Covered, Yet Beautiful

2008-09-24T08:45:00.000-05:00

A quick drive or cursory glance down the streets of our neighborhood would give you the image of unkempt lawns, overgrown weeds, garish & badly done paint jobs, broken sidewalks, discarded trash, and bars on windows. Not the kind of place that says "Beauty" or "Grace" to a passerby.

But that would only be part of the picture, for it takes a slower pace to see the beauty. As Annie Dillard wrote:

"As I walked along...I got better and better at seeing frogs both in and out of the water. I learned to recognize, slowing down, the difference in texture of the light reflected from mud bank, water, grass, or frog."

A slower, closer look at our neighborhood affords visual treasures, things like:

the startled butterfly who flew on ahead;

the nearly hidden, but well tended rose garden;

neatly potted plants along a porch;

the earthy green front door which perfectly compliments the stone house;

the elderly gentleman who waters and weeds his wildflower garden nearly every day;

a well placed decorative wheelbarrow filled with dark, rich soil and crisp, white petunias;

large, shady trees lining the street;

the way the morning sunlight flickers through the trees, creating soft shadows;

a pair of cream rocking chairs inviting company;

sweet smelling honeysuckle climbing over a fence;

a vine-covered wall.

It has taken awhile, but I am learning to find the beauty in the broken & dirty things of life. I am broken, dirty, needy, sinful but God is making me sweet smelling, full of His beauty and grace.

There is so much that is unattractive in this world - Lord help me to view it all through your eyes of grace.

What's in your cupboard?

2008-09-24T07:29:00.003-05:00

RealSimple magazine has a neat section called "New uses for old things." Partially inspired by their creativity and partially by Ainsley's need for challenge & discovery, I started my own list of ways to use common household items as toys. It is in no way exhaustive nor do I claim to be the first to have thought of these things. Each day I think of something else, but I have not used all of these ideas yet. Feel free to both use my ideas and suggest your own!

Plastic kitchen serving/stirring spoon
Empty & clean individual size plastic juice bottle filled with pennies (or beads)
Empty, clear plastic hand soap dispenser filled with water (bath toy)
Nesting Tupperware containers
Tupperware container with a lid filled with pennies (or anything that makes noise)
Sponge & container to squeeze water into (bath toy)
Empty, clean diaper wipe container with a top that opens by pushing a button

Sparkling Names

2008-09-22T07:20:00.000-05:00

I laughed out loud this morning on the way to work. As I passed a car dealership, the sign on the building caught my eye. It read, "Pre-Loved." I love it - I'm still laughing. Normally, I wouldn't think twice about any car in a lot, especially if we're not in the market for a new car. But today my interest was peaked by who might have previously loved each car in that lot.

The sign reminds me of the tendency of Amy Carmichael & Anne Shirley to give ordinary and plain places more imaginative names. Instead of "the bathroom or restroom", Amy called it The Place, creating mystery & politeness around something unremarkable. Barry's Pond became The Lake of Shining Waters to Anne, allowing the simple pond to take on a romantic and magical element.

It's the art of naming, a skill I don't possess - as illustrated by my scarecrow name poll!

A Bit of Fall Nostalgia

2008-09-21T17:07:00.000-05:00

Cooler temperatures have awakened my senses to the approaching fall. Somehow the light seems different - warmer and softer, rather than the harsh, beating sun of the summer. It's long-sleeve t-shirt and jeans weather - my absolute favorite! My nose is just tingling, waiting for those autumn smells - spiced apple cider, pumpkin bread, dew covered grass, warm apple pie, a wood burning fireplace.

Fall decor has been on my "to-do" and my shopping lists this past week. I found a very cheap small pumpkin the other day which made its home on the bookshelf in our entryway. Two other very cute miniature pumpkins nestled on my kitchen counter, but they needed one more friend. I decided a scarecrow would be perfect, and since I was planning on going out yesterday, thought it would be a good time to look for one. But then I remembered making rag dolls and rag rugs out of strips of leftover material when I was a kid. It's been many years since then; even so, my hands had an itching to try it again. So out came the big sewing tub and I began to dig through it, searching for pieces of fabric that would be long enough. Ainsley was playing on the floor with the toys I brought downstairs for her, but she wasn't really interested in them. Instead she discovered (again) the fabric that used to be my living room curtains which is now tossed under my sewing table. I don't usually let her play with it, but yesterday was different - it was crafting day. And she needed a "craft" as well. While I cut strips of cloth, Ainsley rolled around with that fabric, pulled it this way and that, and even caught her leg in it a couple times.

"Together" we created a rag doll scarecrow with a little set of overalls, patches included; a shirt; a handkerchief; and a straw hat. He took his rightful place by the two pumpkins on my kitchen counter. The only thing left to do is to give him a name. I'm terrible at giving names - really terrible. I think it took me at least a week to name my kitty once I brought him home and then I called him "Bashful", the complete opposite of what his personality turned out to be. So, I need some help - please vote in the poll to the left and help me name this little guy!

Four Things - Belated

2008-09-17T08:00:00.001-05:00

I was tagged by Emily a long while ago and forgot to post my Four Things. Here we go...

Four Things...

Four jobs I've had:
1. Babysitter
2. PretzelMaker worker
3. Church Youth Intern
4. Barista

Four movies I've seen more than once:
1. You've Got Mail
2. While You Were Sleeping
3. Aladdin
4. Pride and Prejudice (the long BBC version)

Four TV shows I watch:
1. The Office
2. CSI
3. Monk
4. Chuck

Four places I've been:
1. Thailand
2. Maine
3. Niagara Falls
4. Monaco

Four people who email me regularly:
1. My Mom
2. Brandi
3. Rosa
4. ??

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Cheese
2. Strawberries
3. Chicken
4. Dark Chocolate

Four things I'm looking forward to in the next year:
1. My 25th Birthday!
2. Ainsley's 1st Christmas
3. Fall
4. Christmas in Iowa

And now I'll tag Steph.

The Weathermen were 100%

2008-09-14T16:47:00.002-05:00

WRONG!!! (I know, I know...imagine that?!) Not only did we not get major storms or wind yesterday, but Ike didn't even pass over Dallas. It went to the East of us, leaving us with just a couple mild rain showers.

There are still plenty of people who were affected and could use your prayers for safety, quick cleanup & restoration of their property. Two of my cousins are in South Texas with my aunt & uncle waiting out the storm, and friends of ours have families' in the Houston area. Our prayers are with you!

Hurricane Ike

2008-09-13T08:04:00.010-05:00

Probably all of you know that there is a hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico ravaging the coast of Texas. But did you know that experts anticipate North Texas being affected as well? Okay, you might think it would be obvious that we'd see the effects in some thunderstorms and windy days. What they are anticipating, though, seems to be a little worse than what Heath & I are accustomed to. When we first heard the news report a couple nights ago we were skeptical at best. The news report showed a lady with an emergency backpack. She explained what we would need if our electricity was out for several days.

Say, what?!!

That's right - a few days.

I still might have ignored the newscaster's advice had there not been something else that confirmed their story. Yesterday morning, I had emailed some girlfriends to see if anyone was up for hanging out today since Heath would be at class all day. At first, they were all gung-ho about doing something fun, but as the day wore on, emails trickled in...

"...I saw the weather report, and well, uh, maybe we should hold off on making plans."

"Yeah, it looks like it's going to hit around noon, so maybe this isn't such a good idea."

"Let's play it by ear."

Skepticism meets Worry. All of these girls are seasoned Texans and know much, much more about hurricanes than I do. Since the storm is supposed to hit us around noon or 1pm with the strength of a tropical storm, I decided it would be better to be safe than sorry. I made an "emergency" run to Walmart at 6:30 this morning. My goal - non perishable things to eat. Not my forte. I try to stay far away from packaged foods 1) because generally they aren't extremely healthy and 2) because if it's in the house I will eat all of it! I wandered the aisles of Walmart and here's what I left with:

Besides the food, I picked up a couple more candles and topped off my tank of gas. Of course, if the anticipated deluge of rain hits us, our street will be flooded, and my full tank of gas rendered useless. Heath filled up our giant camping water jug. Now we just wait. Mostly I hope we don't have to go without electricity for too long. Which reminds me, I better do some laundry, take a shower, and make coffee now, just in case.

All this fades in comparison to what the people of Houston & Galveston and all the cities in between are facing. Many of them had to evacuate their homes, leaving precious things behind and taking only a few essentials. And now they get to wait out the storm in some warehouse or gym with 300 other people. When I think of that and of what they might have left (or not have left) when they return to their homes, I'm ashamed of my worries, humbled, and ready to get on my knees for them.

"Who has measured the waters in the hollow of His hand,
measured heaven with a span
and calculated the dust of the earth in a measure?
Weighed the mountains in scales and the hills in a balance?"

"Trust in Him at all times, you people;
Pour out your heart before Him;
God is a refuge for us."

Isaiah 40:12; Psalm 62:8

Fabric, Fabric

2008-09-10T11:43:00.004-05:00

Before Ainsley was born, I got a hankering to make her a baby quilt. You've probably seen it in the background of pictures we've posted, but here's a better look at it. Well, sort of a better look. As I was getting ready to take the picture, Ainsley decided I was having way too much fun without her.

I made another one for a friend at church who had a baby girl this summer, but it was more of the typical girl blanket. I didn't think to take a picture of it, but I think it turned out very pretty. Then last week, I made a third - this time for a friend in Iowa who is due mid-October to have a baby girl. This one was especially fun because I took Ainsley to the fabric store with me to pick out fabric. She sat so big in her stroller and enjoyed looking at all the brightly colored fabric. Anyway, here's the finished product. (And a note: their theme is more green & yellow and animals than pink & purple, so that's the direction I went with their blanket.)

I tend to have creative spurts, mostly because it costs money (not a lot, but still money). So whenever I get an excuse to make something new, I run with it! After I thought of making the most recent quilt, it was finished in 2 days and in the mail within a week. The downside of that is I'm back to not having a project to work on! Actually, that's not true - I have some photos of Ainsley that need to be scrapbooked...perhaps I'll work on that tonight!

"Not Even A Sparrow...

2008-08-27T09:42:00.003-05:00

falls without the Lord knowing."

Lest I forget that the Lord watches over and cares for us, I had an alarming reminder on Monday morning. I left earlier than normal for work, hoping to have time to stop for coffee. It didn't happen exactly as I imagined. About 20 minutes into my drive, I heard a horrible "WAP WAP, WAP WAP" and knew I had to get off the highway immediately. (I have no idea how to describe the noise I heard in letters, so just use your imagination.) For the past week or so, I've been thinking that my car was making more noise than usual, but after mentioning it to Heath, I chalked it up to paranoia because of the recent trips to the mechanic. So, I was driving unusually & tediously careful. The Lord watches over us. Since I had left so early, the traffic was light and it was easy to move quickly from the far left lane to the right shoulder. The Lord watches over us. I called Heath from my cell. The Lord watches over us. He not only was home, but not terribly busy, so he left right away (after waking Ainsley up and gathering a bottle & diapers for her). The Lord watches over us. He pulled off the left rear tire, noticing that the tread had slowly started to come off - rather than blowing all at once. The Lord watches over us. This was the same tire which the mechanic had noticed was soon in need of replacement and had kindly moved it from the front of the car to the rear. The Lord watches over us. The offending tire removed, the spare was replaced, without either Heath or I (or Ainsley in the backseat of Heath's car) being run over by the speeding Highway traffic. The Lord watches over us. We were able to get to a nearby Discount Tire and get a new tire, which would be ready in an hour. We had time to go out for breakfast and coffee!!! The Lord watches over us. So, a couple hours later and a spontaneous date, we were back home safe & sound. (I had called work to tell them I wouldn't be in after all.)

Yes, the Lord watches over us!

Keeping Busy

2008-08-21T11:42:00.013-05:00

You may have noticed that my blog has been a wee bit short of posts lately. I've been sitting here typing excuses and erasing them the moment I do. As soon as I write a sentence, I notice the lameness and immediately backspace over it. So I guess the best thing to do is to move on.

Besides working and watching, playing with and trying to teach our little girl, I've been creating a few things of my own. In the evenings, I hop onto AllRecipes.com, which is a fantastic place to find any sort of recipe to you want - simple, different, easy, international, homecooking, desserts. You can also sign up (for free) for an account and get a digital recipe box. It's wonderful! My sister-in-law introduced me to the recipe box, and I can't get enough of it.

I love to find and try new recipes. In the past week or so, we've tried Bacon Wrapped Chicken, Chicken Pot Pie, Roasted Red Pepper & Tomato Soup, and Turkey Shepherd's Pie for dinner. Each turned out great and were put in the "Definitely Will Eat Again" category. Dinner is something I have to make (at least several times a week) so it's imperative to make it fun.

I also like to try new "just for fun" recipes - those that you don't have to make every day. Things like desserts, breads, and appetizers fall into that category for me. With zucchini in abundance and cheap these days, I've been craving zucchini bread. After searching AllRecipes, I found two promising recipes. I tried the first and didn't even glance at the second. The best part about it is it's relatively healthy. The recipe calls for brown sugar and honey rather than white sugar and uses some whole wheat flour. Yummy and healthy?! Awesome! And the recipe was huge, making enough to put in the freezer and give away!

Another recent craving necessitated a recipe search - lemon bars. The first ones I made - no good. They had WAY too much lemon in them. I like the kind of lemon bars that just barely have a lemony hint. So I searched again, this time striking gold. Another fantastic recipe!

Cooking hasn't been my only creative outlet. I've also been painting quite a bit, making new card designs and building up my stash. I don't like to be out of note cards - I never know when I may need one. Here's what I've been up to:

These are the "classic" cards that I've been making for years.

For this one, I used a brown paper sack to paint on and attached it to the white card stock with a bit of ribbon.

This is my new bouquet design, in a variety of colors.

I also tried a single flower; I'd love to know what you think about these!

All in all, I'm having fun trying new things while I take care of our little family and home!

Surprise!!

2008-08-13T13:20:00.003-05:00

Heath told me last night that he needed to make a couple stops on the way home from work. I assumed he meant that he would deposit his checks at the bank. Instead, he walked in the door with these flowers and chocolate ice cream for me!!! Two of my favorite things! What a wonderful surprise and a fabulously thoughtful husband!

Pretty Useful

2008-07-25T17:12:00.000-05:00

I love all things adorable & practical and this skirt is a perfect mix of the two!!

Another Favorite from Grosgrain

2008-07-17T19:36:00.000-05:00

Okay, this new dress on Grosgrain's blog is definitely my favorite so far! It's so cute & stylish, with little girl written all over it but with a hint of grown-up flair. (I hope I win it!)
Click the link below to see it.

Train Stop Shirt Dress GIVEAWAY !!!!!!!

return of the prodigal cd

2008-07-08T14:41:00.004-05:00

Woohoo! My Coffee Lands CD emerged from it's hiding place. I'm so happy to have it back! I just want to dance...

Pasta

2008-06-25T15:28:00.005-05:00

When I made up my meal menu for the week and my grocery list on Friday, I decided to try something new. I recently learned that my brother's girlfriend, Chelsea, makes her own pasta, and I was incredibly impressed. My Better Home & Gardens monster-of-a-cookbook had a recipe for Homemade Pasta, so I thought I'd try it. I knew it would take me a few hours because the estimated time on the recipe said "1 hour" and everything always takes me longer. I would have made it Monday night but I forgot until late afternoon. The same thing happened yesterday. I finally remembered early enough today to get started on it. While the recipe instructions are quite straightforward and seemingly easy, I had a few snafus. (By the way, it turns out that "snafu" is a real word! I thought it was just one of those things people say.) First of all, the amount of kneading required is well, let's just say that my hands are going to be super buff if I keep this up. It seemed terribly difficult to roll out the dough and why in the world did I have to separate it into 4 equal pieces? Why couldn't I just roll it all out together? My cutting of the dough into noodle-like strips went quite about as well as the rolling out. My noodles lay drying on my wire rack, and it is such a pitiful pile. All that work for perhaps 2 servings of noodles?! Needless to say, I've learned a few things:

1. I am incredible impressed with anyone who makes their own pasta.
2. Next time I do this (if ever) I will make a bigger batch.
3. If I ever do this again, I would like a noodle cutter machine to be in my possession.
4. Buying a 16 oz box of noodles for $1.25 never sounded so great!

Lest you think that I am completely discouraged from trying new things, think again. Despite the work and little frustrations, this was a delightful experience. Besides, now I can say that I've made my own pasta!

Coupons That Actually Save Money

2008-05-30T13:53:00.004-05:00

I am all about saving money. I scour the ads to find the great deals, laboriously clip the coupons, and even put the necessary ones in my wallet before I head to the store. The problem is, I almost always forget to give them to the cash register attendant when I'm checking out! Coupons certainly don't do much good sitting in my wallet as I get in the car and drive back home. Sometimes, I figure that it doesn't matter that much, I'll just use the coupons next time. Yesterday was the rare time when it was imperative that I use the coupon. I had seen Target's ad which had a coupon for a $10 Target gift card when you get a new prescription filled. It was perfect because I had a new prescription from the doctor, and I wanted a new pharmacy. However, had I not possessed a coupon, I would have filled the prescription at Walmart because that's where I do my grocery shopping, and as a result most of my other shopping. Since Ainsley was born, I've learned to consolidate trips as much as possible! Carrying her in and out of stores gets very tiring!
But alas, I completely spaced when the pharmacy dude asked if I wanted him to ring up all of my items. I guess that threw me off because I did not give him my $1.50 off kitty litter coupon or my get-a-free-$10-gift-card-coupon.

I realized my blunder after arriving home, but couldn't turn around then and it didn't work out to return the rest of the day. Instead, Ainsley and I headed off this morning hoping for favor from the Customer Service representatives. I think they would have liked to help me; there were four women working on it and trying several different options. They gave me a $1.50 for the kitty litter coupon, but they just couldn't swing the $10 gift card. They couldn't return the prescription and then re-sell it because that's unethical (I guess) and also because it would look like they were giving out more pills than they're getting paid for. I couldn't argue too much with that because Heath & I have a friend who is a pharmacist and I would hate for him to get in trouble for something like this. Still, it was quite a bummer. I walked out of Target with tears brimming - mostly out of frustration that I had forgotten the coupon in the first place. And now I have a perfectly good coupon that I can't use (since I already filled a new prescription).

Ah well, perhaps that's the kick in the pants I needed so I won't forget again!

all about me

2008-05-23T15:07:00.002-05:00

I've been tagged by Steph to complete this list describing myself. She tagged me more than a week ago, but I've been putting it off because, to tell you the truth, I'm not crazy about these types of things. I have a terrible time filling them out and usually feel by the end that I'm a pretty pathetic excuse for a human being. However, I finally got over myself enough to fill it out and post it. Here are the results:

I am…an artist wannabe.
I want…a soy latte.
I wish…that I loved to run.
I hate…bugs in my house, especially the unmentionables (roaches) which grow much too large in hot places.
I miss…the fields of Iowa and my family.
I fear…failure.
I feel…content.
I hear…baby Ainsley “talking” as she plays.
I smell…the glorious fresh air!
I crave…chocolate ice cream & fresh strawberries. (together of course!)
I search….for great bargains.
I wonder…at the miracle of a baby.
I regret…misplacing my favorite CD – Music from the Coffee Lands.
I love…rising early.
I ache…when my daughter cries.
I care…about my family.
I always…take a shower, even on Christmas morning.
I am not…a risk-taker.
I believe…that the grace of God is enough for me.
I dance…when I’m feeling giddy and silly.
I sing...when I’m alone.
I cry…most often when I’m extremely tired.
I don’t always…turn off the lights when I exit a room. I’m getting better, though!
I fight…rarely, but when I do, it is generally when I’m tired and over insignificant things.
I write…letters. Call me old-fashioned, but I still love snail mail more than email.
I never…floss. I really should start.
I listen…to the morning traffic reports on the way to work.
I need…the words of God throughout the day.
I am happy…with a cup of coffee in hand & sitting across the table from a good friend.

Now I'm tagging Emily!

Danger! Watch for Falling Objects!

2008-04-28T17:25:00.008-05:00

My kitchen was getting on my nerves last week. The Number 1 reason is that my counters have been cluttered with dishes whose cabinet homes have been under repair. The Number 2 reason is that I've been noticing how dirty the inside of my cabinets have gotten - how does that happen? They are closed most of the time.
Anyway...
I have this wonder of a corner cabinet which has a three tier spinny thing in lieu of regular shelves. It used to work great; I would spin it and find whichever measuring cup or leftover dish was needed. Recently, it has randomly fallen out of it's groove thereby dumping its contents into my surprised and clumsy hands. Luckily nothing has broken. It had become so hostile towards me that finally I removed everything and stacked it as nicely as I could on the counters. This temporary solution, however, had reached the end of my patience this weekend. I decided to tackle my Number 2 problem - cleaning out the cabinets. The thing is, in the process of cleaning, I decided to rearrange a few of my cabinets. It may take a few days for me to open the correct cabinet! Toward the end of this project, my sweet husband hauled his toolbox upstairs and began to look into my Number 1 problem - the leaning tower of Pisa. We were shocked to find out that the reason the spinny thing had been falling more often lately is because the bottom of the whole cabinet was slowly falling out. It's a good thing it didn't - can you imagine the disaster?! He got right to work. Just a few minutes and a handful of screws later, all was fixed. The spinny thing is sturdier than ever! Yea! All thanks to my brilliant husband!

So, my kitchen is organized, clean, and no longer a hazard zone. I keep glancing in and smiling. It's quite satisfying to finish a project and get to enjoy the results!

Ironically, as I was putting the finishing touches on the kitchen, Heath said,
"Wouldn't it be funny to take a picture of your sparkling clean kitchen and then compare it to a picture of my not-so-sparkling clean office area?"

Laughing, I said, "Why, yes, it would. It's funny, though, that each means we've been working hard - your desk area is covered with stacks of monster books because of the papers and projects you've been working on. And the kitchen is clean because I've been working to clean it."

That begs the question: Is cleanliness really next to godliness?

Nevertheless, when I arrived home from work this morning, the desk and its surrounding area was looking much less cluttered. Thanks, Babe! He knows how much happier I am with less clutter!

By the way, Mom, I found two lids that belong to you. I'll try to remember to bring them up this summer.

a lesson in power

2008-04-24T08:58:00.003-05:00

Earlier this morning I wrote this by pen & paper. I would have posted it then, but our electricity was not working.

Our power is out again. I really need to stop giving it fun money and time off. (see last post) When I realized at 12:45am that the intense thunderstorms had once again knocked out our electricity, my heart sank. The first time this happened two weeks ago it was rather fun, but today I just thought, "What in the world am I going to do with myself all day?" Most days the time flies as I make breakfast (toast and coffee, neither of which I can have this morning), begin the work day on the computer, do some laundry, and fix dinner. Some days I am up for a little spontaneity. Today is not one of those days. Nonetheless, I tried to gear my mind into creative mode. What beneficial things can I do today which don't require electricity? So I pulled out my paints, brushes, and cardstock and got to work on building my supply of notecards. Other tasks on today's to-do list include: reading more of "The Grace Awakening" by Charles Swindoll, going to the church to lend an administrative hand on a project, perhaps organizing my art supplies, making a grocery list for next week, and spending extra time playing with Ainsley - maybe we'll even go for a walk! Hmmmm...all of a sudden, it sounds like a productive and energizing day. I can't wait to begin!

P.S. Almost as soon as I had finished writing the above paragraph, I heard the beep of the microwave clock, the humming of the refrigerator, and the whirring of the ceiling fan. Bummer, now my plans are changing again! What do you suppose I did first? I turned on the computer, reset the clocks, and made a strong pot of coffee. I gained something valuable this morning - 30 half finished notecards and a better appreciation of how little control I have over my life. With just a word, the Lord send thunder & lightening so powerful that the electric power which runs everything upon which I depend is rendered ineffective.

Does the rain have a father?
Who fathers the drops of dew?

Do you have an arm like God's,
and can your voice thunder like his?

What is the way to the place where the lightning is dispersed,
or the place where the east winds are scattered over the earth?

Who cuts a channel for the torrents of rain,
and a path for the thunderstorm,

to water a land where no man lives,
a desert with no one in it,

to satisfy a desolate wasteland
and make it sprout with grass?

Only You, o Lord! Only You!

life in the olden days

2008-04-11T11:26:00.004-05:00

Yesterday morning I awoke with the familiar feeling of needing to use the restroom. As I slipped out of bed, I curiously glanced at the clock on the nightstand. A black screen stared back at me. Confused and half asleep, I reached out and touched it, I suppose to confirm what I already knew - there were no numbers. Walking into the bathroom, I flipped both light switches although I was now fairly certain that nothing would happen. I was right - our electricity was out. It was "out", as if it had decided to go for a leisurely morning drive to pick up the newspaper, a coffee, and some bagels. I hoped it would return quickly. In the semi-dark, I climbed the stairs, feeling that there was something unfamiliar in the air. I checked my phone - 6:32am. Phew! It was only 17 minutes later than we were supposed to get up. On my way back downstairs, every "no electricity survival tip" that my parents had taught me came rushing into my mind: grab a flashlight, light some candles, don't open the refrigerator any more that you have to, be careful not to use all the hot water in the shower. I woke Heath up and while he prepared for the day, I fed and changed Ainsley and put her back in bed. And then it hit me, the unfamiliarity - it was the unusual stillness of the morning, no whirring ceiling fans, no gentle hum of the refrigerator, no drone of the AC. It was so quiet, it was almost creepy. Is this what it was like before electricity? I never really think about how noisy my life is with it.
I began to think through my normal morning activities. Which of them, if any, could I actually accomplish? I definitely could not work because I had to access my work computer from the home computer which would not run without the electricity. Laundry and dishes were off the list; I was glad that I was caught up with both anyway. I couldn't work on budget stuff because I needed my laptop for that. It seemed that I was down to the basics...take a quick shower and then read. I was glad. I've had books piling up that I want to read; this was the perfect chance to just read guilt-free. So I did - I relished my quiet, distraction free day. I finished two books, which were both wonderful in their own ways. I played with Ainsley more than I usually do, which was quite fun! If she were older, we would have spent the day pretending we lived in the days of Laura Ingalls Wilder and her Little House in the Big Woods. Those days will come quickly enough, so for now she sat in her Bumbo and grinned. And I had time to think about how I love the little things in life - wildflowers growing beside the highway, a monarch alighting on a twig, watching Ainsley play with her hands, listening to the birds sing their sweet song. I don't ever want to get to the point where I ignore these things.

When Heath returned from class & work, we all went for a walk and out for dinner. We even stopped to talk with our neighbors, something we are usually too shy or too busy to do. Not having electricity made us bolder, more alert, and more compassionate toward our neighbors. It was great to connect with people so different from us.

The day began unlike any other day and ended in the same way. And despite my dislike of change and spontaneity, it was surprisingly refreshing. It made me wish that I was born in the olden days...almost. I really like that we have plumbing.

In Memorium

2008-03-27T17:23:00.003-05:00

Heath and I visited Dallas in the Summer of 2006 to find an apartment before our big move. When we saw our current apartment, I was very excited about the deck that is right off the living room. I had visions in my head of creating a luscious secret garden which would be my calming get-a-way. The first semester here, being fall, was not the best time to plant a garden besides the fact that we were still trying to catch our breath financially. So I decided to wait until the Spring. It came and I excitedly bought pots and researched the best kinds of plants to grow in Texas. I looked up local garden shops in order to get the best plants, and I created a spreadsheet to keep track of my expenditures. If the success of a garden was based on passion, organization, or research, I would have an A+ no problem.

Before I continue, I should give you a little of my background in botany: Every summer when I was young I helped my mom plant, weed, and harvest a vegetable garden in our backyard. But somehow, there's a difference between helping with mom's garden and owning my own plants. I think it was my freshman year of college that I got my first ivy plant. I thought it was beautiful and couldn't wait for it to grow. And it may have sprouted a little, but mostly it just turned yellow and finally died. I couldn't understand what had happened. Here's to you, little ivy - I'm so sorry I didn't know what to do for you.
Then there was ivy #2; I guess I thought I would do better the second time around. Instead of improving, my little ivy fared much worse than the first one. Poor ivy #2; I'm sorry I was just too busy to pay any attention to you.

Now, you're up to date and we can continue with the Dallas plant saga. For a short time, I had several plants - a sweet smelling Jasmine; a fragrant Rosemary; some kind of flower that I never saw sprout, much less bloom; and I'm sure there was another one, but I just can't remember it. None of these plants lasted too long, either. The Jasmine was left out in the scorching Texas sun for too long. The Rosemary was over watered or under watered - I don't know which. And the flowers, well, the poor things just never got a chance. Soon all I had was a pile of empty pots.

What's funny, though, is that despite my obvious bad luck or irresponsibility or black thumb, I still relish the idea of having a deck covered with wonderful green plants! So, last year when a woman at work said I could snip a bit of her ivy, how could I pass up the opportunity? This was my chance! She said if I put it in water for a few weeks, roots would grow, and then I could plant it in a pot. So I got a styrofoam cup, filled it to the brim with water and gently placed the ivy in it. Days went by and I began to see little roots, then weeks, then months and the ivy was still sitting on my desk in its styrofoam planter. Finally, I brought it home, put it in a pot, and set it on the windowsill above my kitchen sink. I'm sure I haven't given it any more attention than any of my other plants, at least not on purpose. But a couple weeks ago, I noticed a tiny leaf forming on the end of it. Oh boy, was I excited! Not only have I managed to not kill it, but it seems to be growing!

Here's to you, Little Ivy #3, I truly hope you have a long and luscious life!

an unusually exciting day

2008-03-04T15:47:00.003-06:00

In the past couple of hours, I have gotten 2 emails each notifying me that a brand new baby has entered the world! How unlikely is it that I would know two pregnant women (due only a few days apart) whose babies would be born within 2 hours of each other (and neither of them on their due date)?? Hopefully, I'll be visiting babies tomorrow!

Welcome Jillian Marie Anderson & Anthony Mammina!!

Congrats to the Mamminas & Andersons!

something new

2008-03-04T08:00:00.006-06:00

I bought a new coffee mug yesterday. For those of you who don't drink coffee, don't read further because you'll just think I'm crazy. But for those coffee lovers out there, you know the necessity of the "perfect mug." You know that it's gotta fit nicely in your hands, the handle must be easy to hold, and most importantly, it must have it's own personality. (If you're not a coffee lover, this is where you're thinking I've gone off my rocker, so please, do us both a favor and stop reading!) Seriously, though, am I right, coffee lovers? Of course, the quality of the coffee is important. But, at least in my mind, the best tasting coffee deflates without the right mug. The mug I bought yesterday had been eyeing me for a couple days (yes, that's what I meant to write). It's bright, bold, confidant, and inspiring. And I think it knew that I need a little bit of those things every once in awhile. So, here I am enjoying a wonderful cup of coffee in the perfect mug for today.

You non-coffee lovers, I know you're still reading, so I'll say it for you. I may be a little bit crazy.

I've been sitting here for 5 minutes trying to think of a title, and this is the best I've come up with; please humor me and keep reading!

2008-03-04T07:19:00.011-06:00

This past weekend temperatures hit 80 degrees here in the lovely metropolitan city of Dallas. On the way to church, Heath pointed out how many of the trees were budding already. I was shocked! Most years, I am the first one to notice any hint of Spring, whether is is the first robin or the earthworms on the pavement after a rain or green shoots in the flower beds or tiny new buds on the trees. But this year, apparently I had completely missed it! As we continued driving, this newfound information heightened my observational skills. I began to see trees all over the place that were showing signs of Spring. I kept thinking "it's only March 2nd; how can this be true?" Yet, the evidence was clear and I was not about to dispute it. Besides, the weather people were saying that the mild winter was bringing on an early Spring. I was just going to have to live with the fact that Spring had begun! I was not at all disappointed about this! I love Spring!

But then, the inevitable happened; my fairy tale ended, the bubble burst, hopes were dashed. For late last night, as Heath and I were headed to bed, we saw a light dusting of snow covering the grass, rooftops, and vehicles. "What?!" I exclaimed. A woman at work had mentioned that the weather people were now expecting snow, but I mean, really, what were the chances that we'd have snow now in March when there's been not a single ice or snow storm all year? Content with my fantasy of Spring, I had easily dismissed the thought.

Faint in my memory are such days in Iowa, where an unexpected snowstorm would interrupt Spring's arrival. At least in Iowa, everyone knows that snow is possible even through April (even though its not often welcome). I just thought Texas was bigger than that. Texas is independent, the only state to join the Union voluntarily, and the only one that can legally cede at any time. Can't someone here decide that when Spring comes, the snow stays away?

This is all in jest, really, because I know just as much as the seasoned Texan that the snow will melt by 9am, and we probably won't see another hint of winter until next November.

So, stubbornly, with the snow covered roofs in plain sight, I gleefully exclaim, "Welcome, Spring!"

once upon a time, there was a perfect morning...

2008-02-18T19:28:00.000-06:00

Today was a big day around here, or maybe just for me. It was my first day to actually go into the office where I work. I was supposed to be there from 8-10 this morning. And not only was I going, but I was planning on taking Ainsley with me. Don't forget that my office is 45 minutes from our house. This was going to be a BIG trip.

Naturally, last night around 6pm I started thinking about everything I would need to do and take with me this morning. I put the box of papers that need to be filed at the office by the stairs so I wouldn't forget them. I got a bottle for Ainsley ready to go in the refrigerator. I made sure I had diapers, wipes, and a changing pad in my purse. I reminded Heath that I'd have to wake him up early so he could move his car from behind mine. I even planned out what both Ainsley and I would wear on this BIG day, all the way down to shoes and socks. For those who may be interested it was a classic black shirt and jean jacket with comfy khakis for me and cute green and white outfit for her. I thought through how long getting myself ready and fed and Ainsley dressed and fed would take and set my alarm clock accordingly. And then I went to bed assured that everything was just right, planned perfectly so that the following morning would go off without a hitch.

I awoke this morning to my lovely alarm music and only dilly-dallied for a minute before getting out of bed. The morning went exactly as planned; both Ainsley and I were dressed, fed, and ready to go by 7am. I was quite pleased to be walking out the door right on time. (If my life was a B-rated movie, this is the point where a song going something like "pride goes before the fall" would start playing.) After backing the car out of the driveway, I put it into drive and looked up into a completely fogged over windshield. Immediately frustrated, I pulled the car over, blasted the defrost, and impatiently leaned back to wait until I could once again see the oncoming traffic. All you who live in the North are shaking your heads at me right about now - how could I, a good Iowa girl, forget that a cold car needs time to warm up?! My justification is that it is so rarely cold here, it is usually safe to assume that I won't need to utilize my cold weather common sense. Anyway, a full twenty minutes later, I was finally leaving our neighborhood. I was fuming as I merged with the early morning traffic on the nearby highway. I mean really, what Dallasarian would ever think to add more time in their schedule to allow for car window to defrost?

And then I realized "I'm such a control freak!" I've never thought of myself as a control freak, but I can hardly deny it after such a performance. It had absolutely destroyed my mood to have one relatively small unexpected event disrupt my perfectly planned morning. Hmm...what a discovery! I guess it's true that you learn something new every day.

hi, my name is...what's my name, again?

2008-02-15T10:38:00.005-06:00

It's been awhile since I've written and though I could give excuses such as "I just had a baby!" to explain my long absence, the real reason is that my thoughts of late have been a little muddled and lacking creativity. So if this post seems random and disorganized, please know that I'm processing a mountain of thoughts that have accumulated over the past 5 1/2 weeks and are now avalanching their way out. Here goes...

Unconsciously, I think I've been trying to figure out where I fit into this new role as "Mother." (Doesn't just the name sound daunting and intimidating?) Even though I've been able to lay claim to this title for over 5 weeks, I am just now "feeling it". No one told me it would take this long before I'd feel comfortable considering myself "Mother." From everyone's comments, I assumed I would just slip into the role naturally, without any confusion as to where "I" come in. What I mean by that is this: Pre-Ainsley (from here on out, PA) I knew who I was and what sorts of roles and activities characterized my life. I was wife, daughter, sister, friend, employee, co-worker, neighbor. I took care of the house, cooked, worked, hung out with Heath, enjoyed many creative outlets. Adding "Mother" to my established list threw a wrench in things, to say the least. Suddenly I had become feeder, bather, diaper changer, put-er to bed, story teller, teacher...you get the picture - a whole new list of activities and roles which til now were altogether unfamiliar to me. During those first weeks, my days and nights were quite consumed with feeding, waking, diapering, and playing with Ainsley. I had neither time nor energy to think much about my PA activites like cooking, cleaning, working, reading, shopping, going for walks, being creative, hanging out with friends. Was the new role "Mother" supposed to trump everything now? Are my PA activities and roles supposed to go into hibernation until the empty nest period?

Only in the past several days have I been able to begin processing all this to discover again how it fits together. True, I've added "Mother" to the top of my list of roles (after child of God and wife), but the PA me that I knew is still there. I still like to read, paint, scrapbook, cook, decorate, sew, crochet. My heart is still refreshed by creativity, deep friendships, a good book, and a cup of coffee. I am still interested in a great bargain, in hunting down the perfect gift, in trying new & different recipes. I am still Me. Me just also happens to be "Mother" to a precious baby girl named Ainsley. And I'm so glad to discover that I am and can be both! I love the new "Mother" emotions I'm experiencing - hurting when she's in pain, glee when she's happy, relief when she falls asleep, anticipation of her next milestone, the desire to protect her, hope that she'll understand her need for a Savior, pride in her accomplishments, and a deeper trust that the One who made her and gave her to me loves her more than I ever could. I love the idea of teaching her how to tie her shoes, color in the lines, bake cookies, and write a research paper. But most of all, I love that I've been given the awesome joy and responsibility to teach and train this little one to be a godly woman who will be a refreshing light in this dark world.

Hi, my name is Kristen, and I am a Mother.

Ainsley's first 2 weeks

2008-01-21T16:22:00.000-06:00

a few of my favorite photos...

A Wonderful Christmas

2007-12-29T15:41:00.000-06:00

My parents and siblings came to Texas this year for Christmas. We had a wonderful time together!

We cooked....and ate...

(I really did help, but at this particular moment, I had been instructed to sit down and put my feet up. Mom was wonderful in all she did to help, as was the rest of the family!)

We played games...

We opened a lot of presents...

We even had time to relax...

Merry Christmas Everyone!!

hippopotamusses

2007-12-13T09:46:00.000-06:00

Some friends recently introduced me to this great hippopotamus Christmas song. They couldn't believe that I'd never heard it before. In case you also fall into that category, I've included a link of a You Tube version of the song below.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=KtqIM_bPTws

I think this song is particuarly entertaining for a couple of reasons. First, the pronunciation of "hippopotamusses" cracks me up! Isn't it so like kids to be convinced that they're saying it right, but really be so wrong? But it doesn't even matter because it is so cute! I'm telling you, kids are the only ones who can get away with horrible grammar and pronunciations.

My parents tell me that when I was young (but still much older and wiser than my little brother), one such situation occurred. Keenan was asking for more "sghetti"; I firmly corrected him saying, "it's not 'sghetti', it's 'p-sghetti'!" And of course in my stubborn little mind, I was absolutely right!

The other reason I like the hippo song is because it accentuates how children can get obsessed with something and be absolutely sure that it would work out. I remember telling my parents that of course there was room for a horse to live in our backyard! (and I still think, why not? it'd be so much fun!)

the golden compass, part 2

2007-12-10T15:59:00.001-06:00

Well, here it is a week and a half later, and I've finished listening to "The Golden Compass." Actually, I finished it last Wednesday, but I've been having a rough time getting my thoughts organized concerning its merit. It definitely left me hanging, and I already requested the next book on CD from the library. Hopefully it comes soon!

As far as fictional stories go, it is great - truly intriguing and fun to read (or listen to). At best, I would say that my thoughts are inconclusive. While I thoroughly enjoyed the story, I am hesitant to regard it as worthy literature for children. I suppose the main reason for my confusion is that I've heard so very much from various Christian organizations basically condemning it. Focus on the Family's Plugged In representative gave the movie 1 out of 5 on the family friendly scale. Even Dr. Darrell Bock, a noted Dallas Theological Seminary professor whom Heath & I both admire, was shown on TV last week saying that Christians should at least be wary of the books. Do you see my dilemna? Do I dare disagree with such wise men and women?

I think I'm beginning to understand why prayer is needed so much as we learn to live righteously and teach our children to do the same!

the golden compass

2007-11-30T06:41:00.000-06:00

Recently, I received a message from a Facebook friend that directed me to a website about the movie "The Golden Compass." I'd heard nothing previously about this movie, and I'm generally one to ignore such messages, but on this particular day curiosity won out and I clicked the link. Snopes.com opened and the question posed was whether or not the new movie "The Golden Compass" is "based on books with anti-God & anti-religious themes". (For those who may not be as nerdy as my husband and I, Snopes.com is a website devoted to researching urban legends.) This particular legend was deemed "true" and from what I gathered from the article, there is a debate among Christians about the danger of letting our children both see the movie and read the book. Sources said that the author (Philip Pullman) of the three volume series "His Dark Materials" of which "The Golden Compass" is first, is decidedly athiest, and that his books are meant to be actively opposed to C.S. Lewis' "The Chronicles of Narnia." Apparently, the movie is a tame version of the books, which causes alarm that children will see the movie, love it, read the books, and be indoctrinated with all sorts of anti-God ideas. By this time, my curiosity was aroused even further and since I very belatedly joined the search to discover for myself the quality of the Harry Potter books, I decided I would not fall behind on this one. Immediately I found the audio recording version of "The Golden Compass" in the Dallas Public Library's system and requested the next available copy.

I've been listening to it since Monday on my drive to and from work (an easy 45 minutes one way). I am about halfway through, and I won't deny that the story is intriguing. I feel constantly pulled in by the plot and all the unknown factors. It is a magical, fanciful story, and already I have come across several great themes. Themes like the desire & need to rescue those who have been lost or enslaved; prophecies of one to come who will save all life; the battle between good and evil; the knowledge that there exists another world, one that cannot be seen. And I'm sure there are many more. Although it isn't a Christian book, so far I can't say that it is anti-God any more than I can say Harry Potter is anti-God. As of yet, I cannot rate this book as either a "bad" or a "good" book; only that it should be read with the understanding that it is a fictional work of the imagination of an imperfect man. Just as anything must be held up against Truth, so must this book.

As I continue to listen to the story and finish it, I'll keep you posted on any further thoughts...

If you're interested in finding out more, here's the link to the Snopes.com article, as well as a few other news articles:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21595083/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305487,00.html
http://movies.about.com/od/thegoldencompass/The_Golden_Compass_2007.htm
http://www.christianpost.com/article/20071105/29957_'Golden_Compass'_Author_Denies_Promoting_Atheism_in_Books.htm
http://www.familylifeculturewatch.com/2007/11/the-controversy.html
http://www.bpnews.net/BPnews.asp?ID=26849
http://www.oneplace.com/Ministries/Family_News_in_Focus/archives.asp

a little Thanksgiving, a little Christmas

2007-11-25T15:23:00.000-06:00

Our day of thanksgiving was spent at one of my co-workers' house. The day promised to be entertaining and comfortable with the company consisting of my co-worker, his wife and 2 college age boys, their air force friend, and my co-worker's wife's niece from Korea and her 3 friends. We watched a little football, played a little Wii, ate too much food, talked and laughed a lot, and generally had a wonderful time!

Saturday was our day to pick out the Christmas tree and get out all of the holiday decorations. I was incredibly excited and made plans to cook the extra turkey in our refrigerator. However, morning brought with it a messy, dreary, rainy day. And then began the deliberations on whether or not we'd go ahead with our plans. We decided to take the risk and went to Home Depot to pick out the perfect tree. Since it was raining, though, we were some of the very few who wanted to stand outside and look at the trees - shocking, I know. Even the sales associates were nowhere to be found. Seriously, it took the customer service lady about 10 minutes and 3 or 4 intercom calls to get someone with a coat on up to the front of the store to help us! (The gate around the trees was locked, thus necessitating us waiting for the sales associate.) Finally, we followed the rather unwilling Home Depot dude out to the tree lot and began our search. It didn't take too long because we were quite cold and getting wetter by the minute. We found the perfect tree, got it wrapped and in the car, and went home.

Heath cut off the lower branches and got it set up in our living room to let it dry for awhile before we began decorating. In the meantime, I made some stuffing and sweet potatoes, put my first turkey in the oven, and rested after all that work!

I'm not sure why the kitty is so exhausted, but I sure was tired!

Later that evening, we had a wonderful time decorating with Christmas music playing and our bellies full of Thanksgiving goodies. Truly we have a lot for which to give thanks!

Our first turkey turned out very yummy! I think the turkey bag and some advice from my mom saved the day!

Didn't it turn out pretty?

a flock of friends or foes?

2007-11-02T11:57:00.000-05:00

On my way to Bible study last night, my attention was caught by a large gathering of little black birds at the corner of Marsh and Preston. It must be a yearly occurrence because I remember seeing them last fall, too. Around dusk, they begin to gather by the hundreds, filling the tops of every tree lining the street, as well as all of the telephone wires. It is almost a creepy sensation to drive through the intersection as their chirping and cheeping and cawing fills your ears, but last night I was merely curious. What makes them gather every year only in the fall and only at dusk? Why these trees at this intersection? Who organized this meeting? Is there a city bird council to debate important matters concerning safe aviation and the successful marking of cars? Maybe it's a secret meeting to discuss an overthrow or uprising against the current goverment...Or maybe they're interested in helping us humans keep our city clean and they're going to organize a trash pick-up day.

Whatever it is, I really would like to know...

my down-home hair salon

2007-10-27T09:32:00.000-05:00

This may sound arrogant, but I think I found the coolest hair salon in Dallas. Notice, though, that I did not say "the most upscale hair salon." The upscale salon is probably easier to find in this rich metropolitan city. My salon is only about a 7 minute drive from our apartment. It has a fun, family atmosphere where everyone seems to know each other; somehow, even though I know no one and should feel out of place, I feel strangely at home. It's a comfortable little salon with no pretentious decor. It's probably more likely that the furniture all came from a second-hand store down the street than a fancy Dallas store. That's what I love about it - it has character. All the stylists are Hispanic, as are many of the patrons, so there is very often a lovely mixture of Spanish and English coversation floating around. It seems that the majority of the customers are elderly women getting their weekly or bi-weekly hair setting. I think they're adorable! I love to just sit back and watch from my conveniently centered perch. And then there's my stylist. The first time I called for an appointment, not knowing who to ask for, she was the one with an open time slot. Her name is Rosie, and she is a hip Hispanic mother of 2 children. From my first apppointment with her, I have appreciated her ability to cut my hair quickly and exactly how I wanted it (that's a feat because I struggle to communicate exactly what I want). In fact, this morning I went in for my normal 2 month cut, and I walked out 15 minutes later completely satisfied with the result!

It probably was a combination of the early morning coolness and the wonderful fall smells that put me in such a great mood. But I still love everything about my hair salon - even the dirty floor, water spotted ceiling, and furniture with cracking paint. But especially, I love the people that I get to come in contact with; it's easier to believe that they are real people with real problems than any of the upscale mansion owners that I see.

tag, you're it

2007-10-26T14:31:00.000-05:00

Apparently, there is a grown up way to play tag that is less, shall we say, physically demanding. I have been tagged by my friend Kelly. The rules in this game are such:

For each letter of my middle name I must:
- share 1 unique characteristic about me and
- tag 1 person for each letter of my middle name.

Here goes....
my middle name is MARIE

M usic lover. I can't get enough of it!

A rtist wanna-be. Read my first post to find out more about this...

R eader. For lack of anything else interesting about me...I love to read all sorts of books.

I ntrovert. By this I mean that I would prefer to spend quality time with a few close friends than go to a huge and crazy party.

E xpert Nerts player. It's a two or more player very fast game of solitaire.

And now I am supposed to tage 5 people. The problem with this is I only know of about 5 people who are blogging, so I apologize for any double-tagging that may occur!

I choose Greg H (it's been awhile since you were tagged), Karen, Jenna, Emily S, and Keenan (you'll have to start blogging!).

(That was much easier than chasing kids around the blacktop and potentially falling, as much fun as that is.)

the texas state fair

2007-10-25T11:16:00.000-05:00

I know, it's been a long time since I've written anything here. In my defense I have been extremely tired as I've been putting in some overtime at work, and my creative juices just have not been flowing - lame, I know. But it's the truth. I'm sure some of you mothers out there are thinking, "Oh boy, how is she ever going to make it being a mother?" (I wonder that myself!!)

In the not-so-recent news....Heath & I went to the Texas State Fair on October 13th. It was a big deal for me as I had never been to a state fair. Last year I was quite disappointed that we weren't able to go with all the moving expenses. So this year, I decided to start a State Fair fund months in advance to make sure we had enough cash to cover the exorbitant cost of just parking and walking in the front gate! Not only were we able to go, but it turned out to be beautiful weather - sunny with a cool breeze.

Highlights of our day include:

* being some of the first people there in the morning

* visiting the animals in the barns - especially the baby goats!

* eating corn dogs & loaded nachos

* seeing the Cotton Bowl and Big Tex

* tasting free food samples

* marveling over the biggest sand sculpture I've ever seen

* enjoying it all with my wonderful husband

rainbows and patience

2007-09-27T09:50:00.000-05:00

I wasn't feeling particularly happy when I set out for the drive to work this morning. Neither was I all that sad or angry. I was just BLAH.

All that changed as I drove down a less crowded than usual highway. I looked up and saw a tiny sliver of a rainbow, peeking through the clouds, its beauty enhanced by the brilliant sunlight. It was like a sigh of relief to my soul as I remembered the famous words:

"Never again will I curse the ground because of human beings, even though every inclination of the human heart is evil from childhood. And never again will I destroy all living creatures, as I have done. I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant betwen me and the earth."

This God, who has the ability to crush the entire earth in his hands, has promised to be patient with all of us perverse humans, at least for a while longer. Now that is worth some celebrating!

hello, Morning

2007-09-22T08:23:00.000-05:00

I love mornings. I love the coolness of the air, the rising of the sun, the birds singing melodies. I love that there is nothing wrong in the day; everything starts afresh. All the worries and troubles from the night before have diminished before the newness of the dawn. It is especially true for me this morning that the sorrow may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning.

Yesterday was not a great day. Without intending to, I hurt a co-worker's feelings. I had a minor (and I repeat - MINOR) fender-bender. (Give praise to Jesus that everyone is okay!) And I broke my favorite sunglasses, the ones that I found for $5 at the flea market after years of searching. So, yeah, I was in tears last night and ready for a fresh start.

It's a new day. Welcome!

pet peeve #1

2007-09-21T10:22:00.000-05:00

Ok. I have to stop working for a minute and just share a HUGE pet peeve that I have: wasted time, especially when it is my time wasted by someone else. It is my job to answer the phones at work, but generally they consist of just transferring the caller to the appropriate person. However, in the last few days I have received the following thoroughly frustrating phone call!

Me: Joshua Expeditons, this is Kristen.
Automated Voice (aka Time Waster): There is a minor delay in connecting your call, but your party wishes you to know that this is a very important call. Please hold to be connected.
[hold music]
Me: I'm not calling anybody...!
Time Waster: This is a very important call. Please hold to be connected to your party.
[more hold music]
Me: Maybe you didn't hear me the first time - I'm not calling anyone!
Time Waster: I'm sorry, I have been unable to connect you to your party....
Me: Good riddance! [click]

What a waste of 2 minutes of my time & energy!
Now, I know this is not a very godly response, but it's my response nonetheless, and I thought it was worth blogging about.

two groups of people

2007-09-19T11:47:00.000-05:00

A couple weeks ago, I was enjoying a lovely morning at Panera and saw a group of men who must have been having a Bible study. It was quite refreshing to see them discussing the Word and applying it to their lives. I was too far away to listen in but felt the common bond between believers in Christ. I love to see groups like this in the mornings because it gives me reason to believe that middle age & the real world (aka out of college) don't have to deflate one's love for Christ.

This morning, I had quite the opposite experience at the same establishment. While I was sitting in what I thought would be a secluded booth, a group of white haired women sat down at the large table nearby. At first I was pleased to have them sitting so close, so that I could, of course, overhear their conversation - which I was sure would be quite enlightening. I couldn't have been more disappointed. They expressed shock over a departing man's braided pony tail, related stories and concerns about friends and relatives, and discussed the cost of gas in the olden days. While it isn't wrong to sit around and chat about whatever, I was just hoping to hear something from them that would encourage me to stand strong in the faith.

I suppose I set myself up for disappointment this morning. And I suppose that I did learn something important by the absence of what I was hoping for. But I don't want to fall into that category in my old age. I want to be like the respected man of God who is still teaching seminary classes at 92 years old.

valuable age

2007-09-16T17:29:00.000-05:00

Society has a certain fascination with old things. Oftentimes, the older an item is, the higher its worth. Take classic automoblies for example - they are decades old and sport none of the most sought after convenient trappings. Yet they are ogled over when seen on the road. And what about antique anything? In my book, "antique" is a synonym of very expensive! Old baseball cards of famous players are worth a fortune. And don't forget the writings of Shakespeare and Dickens that have been taught in classrooms for decades.

What is it that makes a worn, weather-beaten book full of dust and crinkled pages so enchanting? Why is it worth more to a family to have great-grandma's dining room table refinished than to buy a brand new one from Pottery Barn? I submit to you that it is the very fact of being old that makes an item worthy of attention. It has survived the test of time and "lives" to tell the story.

However, the craze over old items ends when you start talking about old people. Here in America, where we're known for prizing time, money, convenience, and business profitabilty, old people rate very low to us on the scale of worthiness. This is an incredible mistake, a significant loss to our society.

I was reminded of this great falacy during our new building dedication at our church. As part of the service, the history of the church was told by video interviews of the founding members and pastors. Hearing their pieces of the history gave me a fresh appreciation for their lives and wisdom present among us. By their prayers and sacrificed time, the church I now enjoy was formed. It was they who taught the children to fear God and obey Him; now those children are the pastors and teachers whose words God is using to change my heart.

I am just beginning to understand what it meant for the Israelites to worship the God of their forefathers - of Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob; what it meant to hear the old, old stories of crossing the Red Sea, or conquering Jericho; why the apostles quoted the teaching of the prophets. These were the men and women who had gone before them, whom God had used, despite their failings, to accomplish His purpose. These, like the elderly in our congregaton today, were the people who had experienced the joys and frustrations of life, and through it all clung to God as their only hope.

And that perseverance seen in a life well lived is worth noticing and worth following. For it is not just that a person has lived to be eighty years old, but that they have walked with God for so many of those years. It is the righteousness that God has wrought in their hearts and lives that is worth noticing.

And that is what I should value.

a strange paradox

2007-09-14T09:09:00.000-05:00

The non-profit student travel company that I work for recently moved 27 miles from a north Dallas office to a growing and affluent community in McKinney. There is nothing more paradoxical in my life than entering a property surrounded with a low stone wall similar to what you would find in the English countryside and walking into the double wide trailer that is our new office. This is a picture of the other buildings near our lovely "mobile mini."

Now don't get me wrong...I think it is quite appropriate that our company work out of a trailer in the midst of such a gorgeous complex. For this group of people gathered by God to inspire students to do His work, everyday is a reminder of the humility that is required in such a ministry. Just as our Savior did not come to be served, but to serve, so are we to be servants to an arrogant, but dying world.

an evening with friends

2007-09-14T09:00:00.000-05:00

This morning my cup is overflowing (evident by my watery eyes). The sky is more vibrant, the sun brighter, the air crisper. The reason is that last night I had the wonderful blessing of seeing a couple of old friends. These are not just any friends - they are to me like Paul must have been to Timothy. Their faith is real, their love sincere, and although they haven't said it in so many words, their lives say "follow us as we follow Christ." It was these friends that the Lord used to make an incredible impact in my heart during my high school years. And even though the time we had last night was short, it was more precious to me than any number of things that money can buy. Thanks to you, Greg & Kelly, for an evening of refreshing conversation!

the thorn in my flesh

2007-08-22T11:33:00.000-05:00

concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. and He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

may I only learn to rest and be satisfied in His bountiful favor.

in the words of a. w. tozer

2007-08-21T16:07:00.000-05:00

Recently, while reading Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy, these words struck me with their simple truth.

"When the Scripture states that man was made in the image of God, we dare not add to that statement an idea from our own head and make it mean "in the exact image." To do so is to make man a replica of God, and that is to lose the unicity of God and end with no God at all. It is to break down the wall, infinitely high, that separates That-which-is-God from that-which-is-not-God. To think of creature and Creator as alike in essential being is to rob God of most of His attributes and reduce Him to the status of a creature. It is, for instance, to rob Him of His infinitude: there cannot be two unlimited substances in the universe. It is to take away His sovereignty: there cannot be two absolutely free beings in the universe, for sooner or later two completely free wills must collide. These attributes, to mention no more, require that there be but one to whom they belong."

There is nothing I can nor want to add. He articulated it perfectly.

bugs, bugs go away

2007-08-20T12:48:00.000-05:00

If there is one hard and fast rule that governs my home, it is this: Bugs do not belong. Beware any creepie-crawlies: you will be smashed and flushed without a second thought. I do not bother you in your space, don't you bother me in my space. (Besides, it gives me the willies to imagine any little creature crawling about my home just waiting to surprise me!)

My cat - and newfound hero - and I had an interesting experience last week. I had just come inside and much to my chagrin, a little gecko was resting on my living room wall! (I should mention here that I've had several traumatizing encounters with geckos). Now, of course it was not in the most convenient place for me to remove it. It was above the stairs just out of my reach. By now, Bashful had also spotted the creature and was eyeing it hungrily. At that point, I decided the two of us must become partners in order to catch the invader. I began pounding on the wall, trying to scare the gecko over to a wall where either of us could reach it. I even tried throwing a plastic cup at it, hoping to knock it off it's perch on my wall. No such luck. My attempts only caused the gecko to move further into the middle of the wall. Now what? I asked Bashful.

And then I had a brilliant idea - Bug spray! It had to do the trick! While shouting at Bashful to keep a watchful eye on the gecko, I ran downstairs to get my can of tropical splash bug spray. I ran back upstairs and joined the kitty on the living room banister behind the couch. Gingerly, I hung over the banister, pointed the spray can at the gecko, and pushed the lever. A very stunned gecko fell off the wall. Woohoo!! The job was almost finished. Bashful raced down the stairs and pounced on our prey. It was only a few minutes later that I was able to scoop up the poor gecko (minus his tail) and toss him outdoors. Phew! Mission accomplished!

(for those of you who like to read the epilogues of books, here is a quick note: I was shaking with relief at the end of this episode, Bashful got a handful of kitty treats, and he became my hero - at least for the day.)

the forest hides behind the trees

2007-08-02T11:28:00.000-05:00

I love visionaries. I have known a few in my life, my high school youth pastor being one of them. I am always amazed at the inspiring effect people like him have on me. Every so often, I need to be reminded why I'm doing the what and how. My personality is definitely Type A; details are my speciality. In fact, Heath & I discovered a curious difference in our personalities while we were on a photography date in downtown Dallas. He wanted to get panoramic shots of the downtown skyline, while I was only interested in the up close and personal shots of a mailbox, a sign, or the crisscrossing bars in a fence. My favorite photographs are those that hone in on a certian aspect of the overall picture. Needless to say, the details that I am so interested in and pretty good at noticing tend to narrow my vision. In doing so, I begin to only see the things that are my responsibility and not how crucial they are to the overall picture. Not only that, but I tend to get sloppy in my work.

This is why that I need to be reminded of the why of life.

I had just such an opportunity yesterday. It was my company's annual training day, and we had the pleasure of hearing both of the Co-Founders and the Director of International Leadership speak. This was a new experience for me, since my first day of work was a couple weeks after the training last year. Now I understand a little more why these men have accomplished what they have - they are wonderful visionaries. They see the big picture, and it is constantly the why behind the what of their work. A few minutes into their talks, I remembered first finding out about JE when I was applying for jobs last summer; I was very excited about their mission to "bring the world to young people and the Gospel to the world." It is simple and straightforward. It was a vision I could get behind and support, something that would make my work meaningful and worth doing well.

And I realized yesterday that I have forgotten this very important vision that is the goal of my work Monday thru Friday 9am to 5pm. It's an incredible trajedy that for many months my job has been an isolated project to me. The reality is this: for months I've been doing a lousy job of answering the phones and being the office assitant here just because I forgot the why behind the what. The truth is that my job (however menial it can seem some days) is crucial to the smooth operation of this company, whose mission is to teach the Word of God and disciple young people to do the same through their specific gifts.

Lord help me remember that whatever I do, it ought to be done in Your Name and for Your glory.

north, south...which way?

2007-08-01T16:03:00.000-05:00

My husband can get himself pretty much anywhere from wherever he is, even if he forgets to look at a map. He has a sort of internal compass that doesn't necessarily point North (reference to Pirates of the Caribbean), but somehow he ends up where he wants to be...every time! I have given up trying to figure out where his magic wand is hidden and now I just am amazed by his obvious ability!

I, on the other hand, am completely lost if I don't:

1. know the street name that I am on
2. know the street name that I am headed to
3. know some landmarks along the route
4. have a map in my hand
5. understand the general layout of North,South,East,West in relationship to the streets & destination that I am working with

So you see, Heath has the better deal here. He needs basically zero information to survive, while I need one of those GPS systems strapped to me!

As long as I'm with him, we'll arrive at our destination. That's really why I married him! :)

learning to drive...again

2007-07-30T09:38:00.000-05:00

I guess this is my time to be a student again...our recent purchase of a 5 speed Ford Focus has given reason for me to learn how to drive once more. I really thought I was done with the scaring feelings of being behind the wheel of a vehicle which could do more damage in a few wayward seconds that I could do in my whole life. I remember being scared to death as my dad taught me to drive when I was only 14 years old - I felt completely out of control when I was supposed to be the one in control! What is it about being out of control that I hate? Why does it scare me? Probably because I have no idea where I'm going or how I'm going to get there...but wasn't it Abraham who "when called...obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going"? Oh to be a woman who will go when called, even when I am completely out of control!

Saturday was the day all those emotions came racing back, when Heath drove to a deserted parking lot and switched places with me. It was hard to focus on all the directions he was giving me, especially after we started moving. My mind was overwhelmed just trying to keep my hands on the wheel, but he was giving me more things to do..."push the clutch down...now put it into 2nd...ease up off the clutch...do you hear that?...give it some more gas...keep the engine high like that...good...more gas, more gas!...clutch!!!"

With all these instructions, I could barely think, much less follow them as quickly as I needed to. After making it around the parking lot once and killing the engine a few times, my eyes started to well up and it was time to go. But overall, I'd say it was a good first lesson. We didn't get in a fight over it, nor do I hate the thought of trying again.

midnight musings

2007-07-25T13:02:00.000-05:00

Every night I am awoken several times by the nagging pain of nature's call. Additionally, somewhere between 5-7am, our kitty wakes me up with his piercing . I stagger upstairs with him perched in my arms somewhat precariously and give him a change of scenery in the bathroom. During these frequent nocturnal awakenings, I have started to wonder what it will be like to arise to a fussy or screaming baby who needs to be fed, changed, or just cuddled. Will I be immediately wide-awake, ready to fulfill my child's every need? Will I just stare in amazement at the precious child the Lord has given to us? Will I be reminded of the fragileness of life and our dependence on the Father by his or her tiny fingers and toes?

I guess you could say that my ideas of motherhood are still very idealistic. However unrealistic my thoughts may be, I'd like to believe that these "romantisized moments" are not so few and far between!

(I know that it's more likely that I'll be struggling to keep my eyes open and my thoughts coherent, just as I do now!)

the (almost) distastrous haircut

2007-07-23T15:27:00.000-05:00

Saturday morning Heath & I decided to tackle the somewhat overwhelming job of learning to cut his hair. Well, I was the one doing the cutting, but he was in charge of explaining what I ought to do. Despite his years of experience with getting his hair cut and his immense knowledge on the subject, the time arrived when he no longer knew exactly what I should do. The sticking point was the blending of the different lengths; he wasn't quite sure what the next step should be, and I had absolutely no idea. We were at a standstill...

...and enter one very emotional pregnant woman! The tears started flowing as my frustration grew with my lack of knowledge on the subject and a job half completed. Despite the seemingly impossible situation, everything ended up just fine, his hair looks pretty good (it'll be even better next time, I'm sure!), and we both learned a couple of things. Heath realized just how sensitive I am right now and how easily I'll cry! And in the midst of my obsessive perfectionism, I understood that learning something new rarely happens without failure. Experience is one of my greatest teachers!

introducing: bashful, the tabby cat

2007-07-18T16:12:00.000-05:00

Heath & I share our one bedroom apartment in north Dallas with a very sociable orange and white tabby cat. Though he was born on a farm, my family's adoption of him for my 16th birthday led to the loss of both his claws and his freedom to chase the birds outdoors. Needless to say, his energy did not just disappear with his claws; we are the glad recipients of the amusement he provides.

It's a morning ritual that I give him a good brushing as soon as I go upstairs. He has learned this so thoroughly (who said that cats have a pea-sized brain?) that he whines for as long as I wait to brush him. It doesn't fail to amuse me to see him leap over to the brush in my hand to show me where he likes to be brushed. He rubs his face and whiskers along the brush, almost so that I have to do very little work at all. Curiousity is his downfall, though...as I am brushing his back, he noticies the basket only barely out of reach. He edges nearer and nearer, causing me to lean forward in order to continue his massage. Finally, I pull back and wait for him to realize that he must come back to me for further attention.

One morning this week, I was shocked at the parallels between me and my kitty and my relationship with Jesus. More often that I'd like to admit, I fall prey to distractions and wander just a little bit out of the care of the Father. Then, like my kitty, I wonder where He has gone or why I no longer sense His presence. The truth is that He hasn't changed one bit - only I have gone away from Him. All that is left to do is to retrace my steps until I am once again under His wings.