A strange gift

Have you ever received a strange or odd gift? One you are just not sure why the person chose to give it to you? We definitely received several of them for our wedding! When you are the recipient of an odd gift, it makes you wonder why the person took their time and money to choose THAT for you? What did they think that I would like about it?

One such gift that we got from a very extended family member (actually no relation) was a fryer to cook food with. We do not enjoy fried food. I do like fried chicken, but that is basically all. I do not make chicken nuggets, or my own fried chicken and have no intention to. We do not live in the south, where fried foods tend to be more common. I just think that as a wedding gift to a brand new cook, that giving something more practical would have been more appropriate. I do not want to sound begrudging by any means. We are always thankful to get gifts. But it does make me wonder why...

Another such gift that we were given was ceramic painted peacocks that were mostly black with very little green on them. We were not sure if they were hand-painted by our acquaintances or not. They were not pretty. They were just figurines. They were not useful. They were just ugly. We kept them for maybe a year before we decided that the givers would never come to our home to visit us, so we got rid of them.

For our wedding, a few of the gifts got separated from the cards, and it took us a bit to figure out who gave us a few things. We did eventually put a few things together. I love receiving and giving good gifts. It is so fun for me to give someone what they really want or need, and being able to surprise them with it. Last year, I gave my husband a pair of jeans for Christmas, and he needed them. He didn't know that I found a pair that he had told me a few years ago that he liked. I took a picture of the tag on the jeans at the store and found them again.

Have you ever given a really good gift? I would love to hear all about it!

Ecclesiastes 3:13
That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

Matthew 7:11
If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!

James 1:17
Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

New fun, curly haircut!

While we were visiting family, my baby niece's baptism landed on the same weekend as our Spring Break trip. My parents also came to visit, which nearly never happens. We don't usually all visit my sister (and brother) at the same time! Since my mom was in town, she decided I should get an early birthday gift from her (and my Dad) of going to my sister's salon and get a "curly girl" haircut. My most diligent readers will remember my other posts about my curly hair. We do not have a really great curly hair stylist where I live, so my haircuts have been mediocre for a while. (My hubby's been cutting it the past few times and does great! But he's not a stylist...)

It was really nice to go to a stylist that works with lots of curly hair and has been trained to style it. It really is different than cutting and styling straight hair. The gal used great products, explained what she was doing, showed me how to style it better, and trimmed it to frame my face and be sculpted better all around. I love it!

 Look at all of those defined curls! So fun!

 Of course, I did sit under a hood dryer to get it to look like this, and I certainly don't have one of those at home. But I can flip my head over, apply a generous amount of gel from root to tip, clip it where I'd like it to stay, and let it air dry at home (most days). She tried to eliminate some of the weight I have from parting it on the side of my head.

Not the best smile, but I am thrilled with my new 'do! I've had great days with my hair --styling it at home-- ever since! What a blessing! (I feel like I look more like my mom and sister who both have had their hair done there!) My daughter Rebekah had her hair cut and styled too, but I don't have many pics of it. You can see some on her blog here.)

Thanks, Mom!


2 Samuel 14:11

She said, “Then let the king invoke the Lord his God to prevent the avenger of blood from adding to the destruction, so that my son will not be destroyed.” “As surely as the Lord lives,” he said, “not one hair of your son’s head will fall to the ground.”

Isaiah 46:4

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.

Matthew 10:29-31

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground outside your Father’s care. And even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. So don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows.

Luke 7:38

As she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.

Mothering: Full & Empty

As a mom, I feel one of my main jobs is to keep things filled. I go to the store so the refrigerator is filled with food. I fill the pantry with good food and snacks too. I fill the freezer with food to be eaten later. I fill the toilet paper, paper towel roll and scotch tape holder. I fill cereal bowls with milk for my children. I fill the dishwasher with loads of dirty dishes. I fill the washer with dirty clothes several times a week. I fill the dryer too.

I go to the store and fill my carts with clothes, toiletries, and other needs for our home. I help kids fill their toy bins after they empty them. I fill children's dressers with clean clothes that I've folded and washed. I fill the plants with water a few times each week so they can grow too.

I don't just keep material things filled though. I make food to fill my children's bellies so they can grow and do all God has planned for them each day. I give them good books and read them the Bible each day so they can learn, fill their heads with things of God and His amazing world. I try to fill them with educational media and positive relationships.

All of this filling can leave my quite empty. I do have alone time each day, where I am refreshed and filled by God. As Ann Voskamp discusses in her book, One Thousand Gifts, when I serve Christ, He is really the one serving me. I never serve out of my own strength. If I did, I'd be exhausted by noon. But Jesus, "who came into this world not to serve, but to serve others, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Mark 10:45) will one day come again and "put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat" (Luke 12:37). Even on this day that He faithfully serves that we might say, "The LORD is my helper." (Hebrews 13:6).

As it says in Isaiah 58:10-11:
Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
The LORD will continually guide you, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.
You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring.

It's the lavish radical nature of the upside-down economy of God. Empty to fill. (ibid, p. 162)

As I pour out my life into the life of my family and my home, I can go to God each day to be filled. I can give and give so that He will increase and do it all for the love and glory of God. (1 Corin. 10:31)
God has no end, He can give and fill when I no longer can. I am so thankful that He gives us all we need to serve Him.

God's upside-down economy doesn't make sense in this world. God pays back everything we give and exactly in the currency that is not in the world but the one we yearn for. Joy in Him. (partially taken from One Thousand Gifts, p. 163)

So today, as I try to count each task a gift, these endless jobs in my home and give thanks to God at every opportunity (Col. 3:17, 1 Thess. 5:18), I pray you will join me. I pray He will fill you up today.

Recipe: Hard lotion bars

Last summer, I pinned a recipe for handmade lotion bars on Pinterest. I finally got around to trying them in November, and we loved the bars we made instantly! I found one recipe here and another recipe here. I printed both recipes and I liked having two because they each gave different ideas of what to do and how to make them.

We made them as Christmas gifts, and have heard great things from friends and family members. We have several bars around our house-- in the bathrooms, in the kitchen, in the front room where we sit often. I even have one in my nightstand by my bed!

Here is the basic recipe that we used:
1 part each, by weight:
Cocoa butter or shea butter
Oil (we used coconut oil or olive oil)
Beeswax

We melted the ingredients together in our own homemade double boiler that we use for lotion making too: a pan of water with a jar in it. The jar is what we mixed up the ingredients and stirred them while they heated. When everything was melted, we poured them into molds, let set until hard (at least an hour, or overnight), unmolded them, and put them in fun-colored baggies! They smell good enough to eat, especially with the cocoa butter in them... yum! But since they have beeswax, it's probably not safe to ingest them.

We found molds at Hobby Lobby, and I have a bunch from years ago when I used to make soap, so that is what we used. If you're in the area and want to borrow them, let me know! I also used my mini- muffin pan from our favorite kitchen company... :-D They popped right out of it, and it is nice to have smaller bars too!

The one made earlier... getting smaller... by the kitchen sink.

These bars are a lovely way to combat the winter dry skin! The kids can use them too, and even could have helped making them... but we made them when we were in bed. The shea butter tends to feel a little bit greasy, but they still work great and soak into the skin. You could add scents to them, but I liked the cocoa butter scent, so we didn't add any extra aromas. We ran out of beeswax beads when we made these-- we will have to buy some more! We bought our cocoa butter online through amazon.com, by searching cocoa butter.

Let me know if you make them, I'd love to hear your review!



Psalm 55:21

His talk is smooth as butter, yet war is in his heart; his words are more soothing than oil, yet they are drawn swords.

Ezekiel 37:6

I will attach tendons to you and make flesh come upon you and cover you with skin; I will put breath in you, and you will come to life. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

Job 10:9

Remember that you molded me like clay. Will you now turn me to dust again?

Wordless Wednesday: 1000 Gifts Journals!

Many of my readers know that I am counting 1000 gifts in being thankful this year. Before Christmas, I made some journals as gifts for my sister-in-law and my daughter (and one for me too!) The journals were pretty simple to make. I bought three blank composition notebooks, and used supplies that I have at home for the rest.

 I used scrapbook paper to decorate the front and back.  I used coordinating colors, double-sided adhesive and a brown or black marker. I used colors that I like, and I knew my sister-in-law and daughter would like. I added the year in the corner.

On the inside, I wrote a note to my sister-in-law about how to use the 1000 gifts thankfulness journal-- to write down three gifts from God each day for the year. I thought it would be a nice addition to their quiet times with God, as it has been to mine. I will enjoy this journal, since the one that I used last year was a smaller notebook. I had seen something similar online for another journal, but thought it would be better for a thankfulness notebook. It is easy and pretty-- I won't mind having it on my bedside table this year!

 front (above) and back (below)

How about you? Are you counting 1000 gifts this year too? It is a wonderful challenge, and a great habit to foster-- being thankful!

Psalm 105:1

Give praise to the Lord, proclaim his name;
make known among the nations what he has done.

Psalm 107:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Ephesians 1:15-16

For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God’s people,  I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers.

Christmas Eve traditions

I've written before about some Christmas traditions that we have and do each year, but I wanted to post about my favorite Christmas EVE traditions... So here goes!

 We like to have "Christmas" pasta-- red, white and green sauces, with a green salad and bread to begin the evening. I loved my sister-in-law's festive plates!

 After dinner, we attend our church's Christmas Eve service-- a Christmas carol singing and Bible story reading, Candlelit service! It is my favorite service each year. I love, love, love the candlelight lighting up the dim church. I don't like getting wax on my pants, which inevitably happens while holding the 4-year- old! :-D There is something so sweet and simple about the light being passed from one person to another, gradually lighting the dim church, much like Christ came to light our darkened hearts!

A simple candle, yet so beautiful!

After church, we open one gift-- new pajamas! I liked my daughter's polkadot fleece pants that she received this year!

Matthew 2:11
On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

1 Corinthians 12:31
Now eagerly desire the greater gifts. [ Love Is Indispensable ] And yet I will show you the most excellent way.

John 1:4
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

John 8:12
When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”

*Christmas 2012 Highlights*

We had another wonderful Christmas this year at our home. We had a lovely Christmas Eve service, dinner with family, opening pajamas, and we hosted my hubby's family here on Christmas Day. We had a delightful time opening gifts, playing games together (King & Pauper... Ha!) and eating delicious food. Then my mother and sister-in-law headed home (they had to work the next day -bummer!) My father-in-law came over for a while and we decorated cookies with our kids and their cousins. In all, it was full of love, family and fun! Enjoy the pics!

 New pajamas!

Kids gave Daddy a COWBELL for his races-- to cheer him on at the finish!

 A new game!

Gift bag on his head-- silly boy!

A mini-American doll--Julie! Yeah!

A drum pad for his drum lessons beginning in mid-January!

New winter coat- yay!

Running/ trails books!

New dress from Grandma!

A great new book- thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

Nice sweater-  thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

 Nice shirt- thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

Pete the Cat book and stuffy- thanks Grandpa and Grandma!

The last big gift from the parents for the family- a stash of Nerf guns!

Opening gifts with my MIL & SIL- love their new hats!

Cookie deco

The real reason for the season- hanging on our tree! (And who all of these gifts are from AND for... to glorify HIM!)

Matthew 7:9-12

“Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him 
a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much 
more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!  So in everything, do to others 
what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets.

Thankful Thursday #11: Simple Pleasures

We are all so caught up in the rush and clutter of modern life, that we have forgotten to delight in the day-to

-day simple pleasures in life. Small simple delights may seem nothing at the time, but when you look back

 or look deeper, you will realize it is the accumulation of these simple pleasures that make life enjoyable 

and memorable. (Quotes found here)

"That man is the richest whose pleasures are the cheapest." - Thoreau

"We do not remember days, we remember moments." - Cesare Pavese 

"Enjoy the little things, for one day you may look back and realize they were the big things." - Robert Brault 

"You have succeeded in life when all you really want is only what you really need." - Vernon Howard

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 I have been trying to find joy in the little things lately, such as...

A new free sink on the deck...

An inexpensive new ceiling fan for our bedroom...

A sweet bouquet of flowers from a friend when I was feeling blue...

A new teapot found a Goodwill this past week. I've been looking for one for a while...

Fresh, homegrown tomatoes and pepper from our garden...

More pretty flowers from an arrangement at church, I love the ladybug!

I made a sweet little strawberry garland for my kitchen-- it matches pretty well!

Psalm 37:4

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Psalm 31:19

How abundant are the good things 

that you have stored up for those who fear you,

that you bestow in the sight of all, 

on those who take refuge in you.

Romans 14:6

"Whoever regards one day as special does so to the Lord. Whoever eats meat does so to the Lord, for they give thanks to God; and whoever abstains does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God."

Thankful Thursday #6: Gifts

Recently I was thinking about how everything is a gift, as Ann Voskamp discusses in her book, in Chapter 11. It is a common phrase in Christian circles to hear, "Love the Giver, not the gift." This is so true, we need to give glory to God for His blessings, and not be happy only with the "thing". He is the blesser, giver, financer, creator of all things.

Each day is a gift, full of so many blessings. He gives us each breath, each morsel of food, safety on the road, comfortable beds, couches and furniture. He gives us so much more-- computers, phones, each paper, book, piece of music. It's all God's. Have you shown Him how thankful you are today?

I've heard that grace is:
God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense

He gives us His riches and bestows them upon us, because of Christ! Ann Voskamp talks in the end of her book (p. 187) that "All is Grace". If we are given His blessings, His riches because of Christ, isn't that true? All IS grace. (See Eph. 4:7) That is the only way we can truly LIVE, because of Christ. And live eternally! As Romans 8:32 says, "He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?" What a great truth to be thankful for!

I love gifts. Gifts big and small fill my love tank. Even a little note in the mail will make my day. Now I think about God giving me each day as a gift to open and honor Him with... such a privilege! Then I can thank Him for His blessings each day, and He blesses me again. What a cool process! I hope you've discovered the joy of being thankful too!



Proverbs 2:6
For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.


Psalm 107:21
Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.


Isaiah 45:3
I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name.


1 Corinthians 15:57
But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.