Just As I Am

a new year

Priority #1 Watch the Lamb

Priority #2 Watch the Lamb

Priority #3 Watch the Lamb

new blog

Join me  over HERE today....at a blog I'll be posting on from time to time in addition to this one.

purposefully restored

This Christmas season I am pondering the "little house" . . .

I remember the day my sister showed me the little house, thinking my husband and I might like to purchase it from her and her husband.  I was appalled.  It was dingy, dirty, stinky. The rooms were tiny.  Needless to say, I had no vision for what it might become.  The situation looked hopeless to me; you couldn't get me out of there fast enough.

I was surprised when she called a few months later and said they were going to keep the house and renovate. 

Really? 

The whole house would have to be gutted. It would be all time consuming.  It would be costly.  How would they ever get rid of the overpowering smell? Besides, they already had a beautiful home.  Why would they want another? 

Undaunted, they started the restoration process.  It was costly, it was time consuming, it was hard and sometimes tedious work, but they thought it was worth it; they would use it to minister to out-of-town travelers or to those who had moved into the area who needed shelter until they found a place of their own. 

They had vision, not only for what the little house would become, but how it would be used. 

I am happy to say that the happy little house  has been completely restored.  It is simply delightful; the dream of using it to minister to others has finally come true! 

I wonder what Jesus was thinking the day I accepted the offer He presented for the purchase of the home of my heart....

I am grateful that Christ is never concerned about the time or cost or work it will take to restore it. He has a purpose in mind for my life.  And although the condition of  parts of my heart is much like the "little house" was:  unclean, disheveled, tiny, and unsavory, He is committed to restoring it, because  He has vision, not only for what I will become, but how He will use me.

 

Little house's story offers hope and a reminder to me that, as God's tools are silently at work in the home of my own heart tearing out walls and hammering and drilling to repair and rid it of the whiffs of stench it emits from time to time, He is confident that it is being restored to a condition of beauty and usefulness.

Ephesians 2:10

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

when in doubt

Yes, I've changed my blog clothes again....because when I inquired about permission to use the elements I used to make my banner, one person said "yes" and another said "no".  I decided to play it safe and throw this one on.

If you're looking for the sidebar links....they're at the bottom of the page now. 

Speaking of changes, I really would like to get back here to blog more.  Life . is . so . busy.  I've been learning new and reminded of old things as I sit before the Lord mornings and listen to His voice as I read and pray.  I would love to share with you what I've heard and hope to find time to do so in the upcoming days.

For now, I will share a thought that I found scribbled in the sidebar of a workbook on personal discipline that I started awhile ago and am now continuing to work through.  I am not sure whose original thought it was, but it helped me see the difference between a Goal and a Desire:

A goal is something I, with God's control, can accomplish.

A desire is something I cannot control because it often involves someone or something else.

hmmm...I think I'll concentrate on goals......

mouse wars

Took this little video of the boys with my Flip....a neat little video camera that fits right in my purse. 

Before you watch it, you will want to scroll down to the bottom of the screen and turn off the blog music by hitting the || on the left hand side of the music bar. If it won't click off, right click on it and uncheck "loop" and then try to click on it again.

You can watch the video in full screen mode by clicking on the four arrows to the left of the Vimeo logo in the right hand bottom of the video.  It is not very good quality at that size but it's a larger format.

92 degrees

I can hardly believe it's fall....undaunted by tomorrow's forecast of 92 degrees, Jenna I and made pumpkin shaped sugar cookies today and had fun casually icing them with Wilton Icing Colors in Copper and Moss Green. Speaking of icing sugar cookies, we love Amanda's....aren't they beautiful?

B is for Bagel | Cooking with Kids

Trey is such a blessed little boy...because his mommy spends time doing fun things with him to help him learn the letters of the alphabet.  Last week, following directions from Pretend Soup, a cookbook for preschoolers that he got for his birthday this year, they made bagel faces for the letter "B"!

What you will need:

• Large Bagels sliced in two halves
• Cream Cheese
• Carrots sliced about 1/4 inch
• Black Olives sliced 1/4 inch
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Red Pepper sliced 1/4 inch strips from the top of the pepper to the bottom
• Cucumbers
• Bean Sprouts

Spread the cream cheese on the bagel, and arrange the ingredients according to the picture below...[mommy's is on the right]... 

the others were made and served to the family by Trey :)

They're Back....

The wedding pictures from the photographer are here....and they are beautiful.  I wish I could share them all...but here are a few:

letter fun

I spent the afternoon making these fun rag quilt letters with Jenna and the boys.  Here are a few that are ready to be washed to give them that raggedy look.  What a great way to teach little ones the alphabet!

 

I have to tell you that Trey didn't actually help with the sewing....when I asked him if he was going to help....without batting an eye, he said, "Boys don't sew!"  hmmmmmmmmmmmm wonder where he heard that?  He was content to carry stacks of cut out backing and batting to the table though.

america you really are too young to die

the beauty of small

When I was young I never realized that
personalities come in sizes
and that some take up so much space
they often overrun and overlook
the quiet, enchanting beauty of
the 1/2's.

Lord, make me content to dwell in small spaces.
Photo Credit: Tom Brumley

wedding pictures

The wedding was beautiful and very God honoring.  I was so proud of the job that Katy and Joel did putting it all together.
Here are a "few" pictures that my sister and son-in-law took.  They did a great job. I wish I had a really good close up of Katy and Joel...but am grateful for what people have shared. I will share more when the photographer's come back... I can't wait to see them!

You can click on them to see them at a larger size.
WARNING:  There are lots of pics here.


The setting was beautiful...

outside in a sculpture garden at the Joslyn Art Museum






I loved the reflecting pool




and the color of the girls dresses....and especially the flowers

Trey loved playing in the water which is not frowned upon at all


 
It was wonderful having my mom and sisters there to share the special day




Leah and Jenna looked so lovely


Their cousin, Hannah, was in the wedding too


Brenton was sporting his nice suit


This is the second time John has walked one of his girls down the aisle


Katy has such wonderful friends
Sigrid [left] flew all the way from Japan to be there
Carrie and she and Katy met in college


Laura [third from left] is expecting her first little one next month.


I know Katy was blessed that John's sister, Joan, and her husband, Marc, came all the way from Florida


and Aunt Cindy and Uncle Jim from IL


Uncle John and Aunt Donna had promised Katy they would be at her wedding and they were! They came from SC


Josh and Mary Alice flew their family up in their own small airplane


Cousin Daniel was an usher...he and his wife, Beth, were married in October so all this was very fresh in their memory


Cousin Aaron came too :)




Cousin, Emily, takes a few pics of her own


Joy brought a lot of joy to the day....she is well named :)


Katy made such a lovely bride!


She and Mary Alice enjoying each other
Wonder what they're talking about?


Nolan took care of the boys while Jenna did her bridesmaid thing


He had a little help from our friend Tom who came
all the way from FL too


It was a wonderful day!

it's time

 

for the wedding!


Back with pictures next week ;)

safely home

 

I've come here so many times during the last month, wanting to share my heart.  But somehow, I arrive without words.
Today is not much different; I feel quiet.
On June 22nd my father walked his last steps on the narrow path he chose to travel in this world and safely stepped through Heaven's gates.
He invested so deeply in my life.
If you are ministered to in any way here it is because of him.
He paid for my first camera; he gave me my first copy of Photoshop; he introduced me to the internet. He shared spiritual truth with me.  He prayed for me.
I miss him...
not for what he gave me, but for taking the time to see who God was making me to be and joining Him.
Almost everyday, at any given moment, I stop and wonder what he's doing now.
It just so happens that I overhead him say during his last conversation with my husband a few days before he left us:
"You keep coaching and I'll cheer you on from the sidelines!"
Cheer on, Dad!
Cheer on!

surprised

[ for a larger view click here ]

I was so blessed to find a package waiting for me on my doorstep when I got home from shopping today...
Inside were these yummy smelling handmade soaps with a note from Laura.
How thoughtful!
Thank you, Laura!