Beautiful Indeed

Walmart: $4.95

Accidentally found this magazine one day last year.

Intentionally love it.

psst...love it so much I bought 8 copies for Christmas gifts!

Perfect Sunday

Church, lunch at my sister's (and bringing home heirloom family treasures from her attic!), putting sweats and wool socks on (it's COLD), and spending the afternoon on the couch with our daughter...watching this movie.

Life is good.

Psalm 86:5

You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you.

Discerning the verse that encompasses everything we do in the Alaskan village always takes longer than we expect. Yesterday, a friend and I finally settled on Psalm 86:5. Phew.We've been sensing that we are supposed to center our dramas, puppet shows, Bible school and adult fellowships around a theme of Darkness and Light.

God invites us into the process of extending hope to others. He puts His light in the containers of our personalities and asks us to hold it out that people might see Him and bring their unlit life to Him for hope. Elisa Morgan

As we prepare I sometimes ask God "is this for them or for me?"

And I think He smiles, winks, and whispers in my ear "both."

"Our conversion is not entirely our conversion. God is continually in the process of converting us -- from our will to His way; from our fear to His assurance; from our efforts to His sufficiency; from our pursuit of the Christian life to an abandonment to His life within us."

-Wayne Brown

Alright.

Have your way with me.

I don't want the Christian life. I want you.

Way Better Than Flowers

Forget the roses. Manual labor sweeps me off my feet.

1980's PINK wallpaper (90's installation!).

What were we thinking?

New Wainscoting...Old World Charm

White. The new SPRING.

Even new switchplates.


Cereal in the same spot.

I LOVE everything.

Especially my husband.

Ordinary Day

The sun is shining. My handy husband is installing wainscoting in the dining room for me. I've been the kids' taxi this morning in between laundry and puttering.

Ordinary Days*. I love them.

PS--the Frenchie sign in our living room? A steal from Home Goods yesterday.

(Used up my mad money but it was worth it!!! O0h-la-la.)

*Lola B's has the most happy music, which is where I first heard "Ordinary Day"

Aromatherapy

photo: Country Living

Love's Baby Soft. Anais Anais. Chanel #5, White Linen. Amazing Grace...these are the perfumes I remember as I gaze back on my quest to find a signature fragrance.

I yearn for a scent that I can make all mine. A scent that, when smelled 20 years from now, my children and husband will close their eyes, smile, and think of me. I want a scent that is unique from all the competing scents in this world. A scent that draws people in, a scent that is a

breath of fresh air.

This morning it dawned on me. I know the perfect fragrance. A scent that even my husband -- who dislikes artificial fragrances of any kind -- will love.

The fragrance of Christ.

In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, He brings the knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go people breathe in the exquisite fragrance.

(2 Corinthians 2:14)

I sit here smiling as I think of all the perfume counter ladies I've called on to share with me the illusive fragrance I've yearned for.

When all the while, Jesus -- unique-breath-of-fresh-air-fragrance HIMSELF -- was standing there, grinning, saying "come, follow me" (Matthew 4:19).

The aroma of Christ? L-O-V-E.

Feeling Warmer

You know that Jesus fire in our hearts which can sometimes burn so bright and fierce that it takes the breath away?

My fire was smoldering. A flicker here. A lick of flame there.

Mostly smoke.

Smells like there was once a big fire here...

Faith is not a feeling. I know what I need to do. Because this poor beggar has felt lukewarm before.

Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith (Hebrews 10:22)

And so I've been drawing near.

The consuming fire (Hebrews 12:29) consumes me.

And I am warm again.

(Real) Easter Decorating

nichole's bunny

I don't know why I didn't think of it.

I mean, years ago I decided to limit any new Christmas decorations to ones that reminded me of the meaning of Christmas.

But Easter? What else is there besides cute bunnies (which I adore year-round) and chicks and eggs? (I've seen crowns of thorns but I keep thinking I can make my own someday. Yeh, right.)

So each year I drag out my spring! decorations in remembrance of Calvary.

(oh my).

But then I swung by my friend Nichole's the other day and WHAM!

Look what graces her dining room table...


Be still my beating heart. "Easter?!" I exclaimed.

Yes. Easter.


So I ran to the Hobby Lobby (which is Christian-owned, by the way) and got myself 3 crosses (which were 80% off --- I think it was a sign (smile)) and made my very own "rugged cross" vignette.

"And when they were to come to the place, which is called Calvary, there they crucified Him." (Luke 23:33)

But the cross, to me, doesn't just symbolize death.

It symbolizes LIFE.

...He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. (Matthew 28:6)

Thank you, Nichole. I'm glad you thought of it.

Signs of a God Adventure

Our family lived in a remote fishing village in the Alaskan bush one summer back in 2005 and we have spent time there each summer since. That first summer was a refining summer for me (to put it lightly) and I didn't think we would ever return.

But God has a way of changing minds and hearts, doesn't He?

We ship materials into the village and the villagers enjoy using the empty tubs for hauling water, bathing children, storing clothes, and cleaning fish, among other uses. A new Target opened and these green beauties were $5.39 instead of $8.99. Woo-hoo!

I've been praying about themes for Bible School and other stuff AK-related, but I've felt like a lukewarm Christian lately. I don't really like persecution (at all) but being a lukewarm Christian is worse. SIGH.

"It must be understood that there are no nominal, halfhearted, lukewarm Christians in Russia or China. The price Christians pay is far too great. The next point to remember is that persecution has always produced a better Christian -- a witnessing Christian, a soul-winning Christian. Communist persecution has backfired and produced serious, dedicated Christians such as are rarely seen in free lands. These people cannot understand how anyone can be a Christian and not want to win every soul they meet."

-Richard Wurmbrand

Strong words for me to read on a Monday morning, but just what the Good Doctor ordered. And so I fix my eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen (2 Cor 4:18)

l

Again.

l

Thank you, Lord, for being patient with me.

Treasure

What a delightful discovery I made while on vacation to see my Dad! I love old things -- always have. I was the only teenager I knew who had an oil painting (painted by a relative in the 1800s, no less!) hanging in my bedroom.

I love thinking about whose hands touched something old...how it was used...was it well loved?

So as I sat down to share my new/old typewriter with you, I got to thinking about its history.

Letter Press

I wonder whose fingers touched your pretty keys,

Were they fingers full of pressure and strength?

A rough journalist's? Whose fingers paused to puff on cigarette as deadline inched closer?

Or were they gentle, light fingers who touched you after tucking children into bed?

You are so dainty, that I believe the fingers who touched you were much like mine.

A mother -- daring to move her struggles and prayers...and joys, from heart to paper.

Perhaps a mother who, by the soft glow of candlelight, found in you a listening ear of sorts

when the house was perfectly quiet.

Except the rythymic clack-clack-clack-clack.

The words pouring from her heart,

diligently being recorded on cream-colored parchment paper that

was carefully slipped out of your grasp as the candle burned low.

I bet she felt lighter in spirit as she laid head on downy pillow.

You were a reliable friend to another woman who lived somewhere in time.

You inspire me this afternoon as you grace our home.

Y-o-u _ A-r-e_A_T-r-e-a-s-u-r-e.

Gone and Back

We've been to Florida and back! Here are some words to summarize our trip...

Sunshine! Fevers. Seeing my Dad! Poolside with a book! Fevers. Coughing. Sleeping feverish husband. Shopping at "Retro Rosie's"! Golf! Fevers. Clorox wipes. Cancelled flight home Sunday. Another cancelled flight home Monday. Are you kidding?! Sunshine! Fevers. Avis Rental Car (I love you Avis). Satelite radio! Robitussin. Reliving college with 80s music on the satelite radio! Great kids on a 17 hour, spontaneous car trip! Finally home!

Good Night.

The End.