in a new place

It's been two whole weeks since I last posted.  A lot has gone on.  With one of my best friends here in IL, and with the Mister out of state, we set out to clean a farmhouse we would be renting.  We have since moved into said farmhouse and are loving the country life here.  Oddly, I miss the loud train horn but, there is the howl of coyotes in the corn fields at night and the red flashing lights of the wind turbines off in the distance.  While we can faintly hear the train horn, at night, you can see the train moving along the tracks a mile or so from us which is somehow mesmerizing.  The stars are brighter than ever.  (OK, not brighter than they were in Arizona though.  Hint, hint Mr. Jim!)

We have a sprawling old four bedroom house with a big kitchen and a huge yard complete with two tire swings, a tree swing, sandbox and an enormous garden.  Nana will be arriving for a visit soon and we can't wait to get her out to the middle of nowhere.  While, we are still acclimating ourselves to life here in the Midwest and there's no place like home (in Virginia), there's plenty of God's country here too.  For us, I do believe it's found in the middle of these cornfields.

I admit, after living in town for three months, I was accustomed to the constant sounds...barking dogs, tractor trailers on the main road a street over from us, etc.  The first day I came out to this house, I was alone and stood in the yard and it was complete dead silence!  It strangely felt a little eery, but I have since grown accustomed to it.  It's a great place to be, large, airy, open!

I'll try to meet you back here soon.  I've been busy playing house - making curtains, wreaths; organizing; planning our Christmas vacation, etc., etc.  Bye now.

the gift of life

On Jan.20th, this man will visit our church to speak about the ministry he founded, the Juna Amagara Ministries, and the efforts of an upcoming mission trip to Uganda.

Steve showed a video this morning and laid some heavy stuff on our hearts about rethinking our Christmas gifting.  "Americans will spend $469 billion on Christmas this year."  We have sooo much stuff that we have to store it in extra rooms, our basements, attics, and garages.  Is that not enough?  Do we need more?  We have so much that we take our old clothes to thrift stores and give them away?

What if you had nothing?  No family, no money, barely any food to eat.  Now imagine a 7-year old in that situation.

Webster’s dictionary defines the word orphan as a child deprived by death or abandonment of one or both parents; one deprived of protection.  Do you know how many orphans there are in this world?  One hundred forty three million.  If you lined up the 143,000,000 orphans shoulder to shoulder do you know they would reach around the earth over 2 times?

I know what you're doing.  You hear that number, 143 million, and it numbs you.  You think to yourself, I can't possibly begin to make a dent in that number, why even try?  And it saddens you for a moment but, another minute goes by and you've forgotten them already.  It's easy - out of sight, out of mind.  So, I challenge you to watch this video...

Now, you're thinking $35 isn't much?  It's $1.16 a day.  Say it again, one dollar and sixteen cents a day.  It's a soda, a bottle of water at the gas station.  It's a couples' night at the movies.  Two pizzas from Domino's.  You get the picture, it doesn't take much.  Imagine if every family sponsored one child, just one for $35 a month.  What if your heart broke and you sponsored 3 for a total of $105? 

What would the world be like if we gave instead of trying to hold on to everything we have so tightly? Imagine how blessed our lives would be if we gave freely, cheerfully even?  Imagine, instead of stuff, this Christmas, stuff we don't need, we gave the gift of life to a child?
 

 

(By the way, today is nationwide Orphan Sunday.) 

Small Group Week 1: Becoming a Cheerful Giver

Inside every Christian is a God-inspired desire for a generous life: a life tailored around His example of selflessness and sacrifice.
 
I don't write every week about our Small Group meetings but, tonight marked Week 1 of November's "Hitting Play through Disciplines of Action - Becoming a Cheerful Giver" and it hit me like a ton of bricks.
 
We have been fortunate throughout our life together, the Mister and I.  We've tried our best to be responsible with money.  I think I can safely say, for the most part we have.  There are always those instances when hindsight is 20/20 and you can't help but say "That was silly.  We should've done this..."  We've never had to borrow money from friends or relatives.  I don't say that in a high and mighty sorta way, but am humbled by the things that've allowed us to live and give the way we have.  We've been extremely blessed in many, many ways.
 
What are some ways that God has been extravagantly generous to you?
Wow, how do I count the ways?  Recently, we have experienced so much in part to so many people. 
 
We came to this little town to start a new life together.  It all began with a dream after an unfortunate turn of events.  People called us crazy but, once on the path, friends helped point us in the direction we needed to go.  We never knew how well-received we'd be as outsiders into a new place.  It was a bit off the beaten path, a little out of the way but, he came to church here.  He told me of the town and I was blown away once I experienced it for myself.
 
We met incredible, incredible people who opened their home to us without even knowing them.  It was nothing short of amazing, their hospitality, their love.  Fast forward, after relaying a conversation Mister C and friends had, I could only think of how I would do this differently if given the chance again.  Tears flooded my eyes and I realized quite a bit of my angst and troubles here have been over the details of it all.  How this all seemed incredibly unfair.  In addition to feeling far, far from home, I've felt like we were a burden, such a burden.
 
After tonight's study, I realized a few things.  Through their tremendous blessings, we've been able to pay it forward.  It's not always been a financial sacrifice, some times it's been giving of my time or my skills but, because of them I've been able to...

• bake pies for the Fall Festival (eleven to be exact) with proceeds benefiting our church
• make casseroles, pies, desserts and other food for the 2nd Monday Meal
• watch the W kids when needed (but not nearly as much as I'd like)
• collaborate on meals so that we may fellowship with the W family and lessen the burden of feeding 10 mouths
• donate a generous amount of money to a family in need
• lastly, my children are ecstatic to see me at school events and performances

I'm sure there are more Mister could add but, that's a start.  I hope our friends find it honoring that we haven't squabbled away money on frivolous things but, allowed God to use us as conduits of His love, poured out into the world and into the hearts of all those who we touch daily.  This community which has so warmly embraced us deserves to see, feel and hear the love of God each and every day.

While this makes me see our time here in a different light, it doesn't lessen the heaviness that's lay so long on my heart.  I plot in my mind how to make this up to them.  I try to smile but, really, I want to hug them and weep on their shoulder and tell them how regretful I am that we've been here this long.  Again, I am reminded that we've been able to accomplish many acts of generosity because of them.  And so, I try not to dwell on this.  I try to see how generosity has trickled down from one to another to another.  That the generosity and patience shown to us is undeserving, like the love of The Father, who sent his only son for us.  This is the kind of love and generosity, we should show others daily.  Watch this...

we skipped...

Halloween this year.  We didn't dress up, we didn't trick or treat.  I didn't miss it one bit.  It's been a decision in the making for a couple years now.  I know, you're rolling your eyes, calling us freaks under your breath.  It's OK, we expected that.
 
Instead, we roasted weenies, smores and sipped hot apple cider.  We sat around the fire on hay bales warming our fingers and toes.  And after a while, we women made our way back to the house with the chillins.  We stood around the kitchen talking and eating chocolate cobbler.  Miss E and me, we talked about sewing and homemade cleaners and diy laundry detergent long after the crowd was gone.  She so reminds of my friend Martha.  They would be great friends.
 
Miss E is soft spoken, tall, has good taste.  She makes her own baby food, puts it in little plastic condiment cups and they're all neatly stacked and labeled in her freezer, makes her own cleaning supplies and uses cloth diapers.  They are so alike.  So alike.  They need to meet one day.  For certain.  It's funny how people here resemble people there.  Not in their appearance, but in their likenesses.  It's comforting.

Tonight was another fantastic night spent with friends.  I've had a shower to clear my hair of camp fire smell and tomorrow, I'm off to visit some schools.  I was up way too late last night and ran and ran and ran today.  So, I'm turning in early.  Hope your night was as pleasant as ours!

a new do + sewing & a recipe

Saturday meant guitar and violin lessons, laundry and haircuts.  I've been thinkin' for a while now I wanted my hair short again.  It's been three years growing it out and I craved change, something new.  It goes along with life these days.  So, I told Miss Stylist to hack it off.  To stack it in the back and do whatever with the rest.  And so she did.  And I was pleased.  Although I admit to being a little fearful when she cut. and cut. and cut.  

No smile.  I'm all cheek bones and big teeth and half moon eyes when I smile.  So, today, I spared you that.  Instead, you get a smirk, giraffe neck and a wonky shadow.  Stay with me here, focus on the hair.

There's been talk of not coming home for Thanksgiving.  I'm a little saddened, but it would be a short trip of hustle and bustle.  It's tiring enough making the fourteen hour drive but then to run from house to house gorging ourselves on turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy whilst trying to keep conversation in between fighting off cat naps.  It does sound appealing though, doesn't it?  Until you realize that the number of days visiting = number of days driving, ughh.  Negative brother.

I've also been catching up on sewing...

- I made a flat iron case because that's become kind of essential when you're straightening and then need to jump in the car because it's 6:05am, you have 14 hours of driving and you needed to rock out at 6 (yes, I'm prompt like that) - now, you're stuck waiting for the flat iron to cool so you can pack it.  No longer a problem!  (Although, I don't require the flat iron anymore thanks to Miss Stylist and Miss K does no straightening that early!) Can you tell I have traveling on the mind?

- I busted this hat out tonight.  I admit, I'm pleased.  And not.  All at the same time.  (Thanks to the lamp for modeling it.  giggle.)

It was supposed to look like this (except on an adult and not so cutesy).  The pattern was an adult small yet only covered half my ear(s) and was a little too snug on top.  Not cool for the Illinois weather we've been having.  It all went awry somehow.  Only me.  The ruffle, which was not part of the look at all, is somehow cute in a 1920's sorta way.  In any case, it'll find a home with a happy little person somewhere.

-  Miss K asked for a new headband with a felt flower.  Though my glue guns are - you guessed it - at home and yes, this is a project requiring glue.  Figures.  So, it stands, unhappily unfinished.

 

Switching topics now...Instead of Terribly Terrific Toffee, this should be called Sin on a Platter because #1 - it's a sin not to make it, having only 4 ingredients that everyone has at home and minimal cooking required and #2 - it's a sin to eat only one.  My mom used to make this and I'd forgotten all about it until my addiction to Pinterest began.  So, today, I kicked out 2 batches and shared one with a friend.  I had to fight the munchkins off the second batch which we'll be sharing with more friends at a bonfire tomorrow night.  We call this "adult snack".  {Recipe follows.}

 

 

Terribly Terrific Toffee

1 cup unsalted butter (NO MARGARINE ALLOWED!)

1 cup brown sugar

1-12 oz. bag (or 2 cups) semi-sweet chocolate chips

40 saltine crackers

 

Preheat oven to 350ºF. Line a 15x10-inch jelly roll pan with foil and spray with non-stick spray. Place a flat layer of crackers out on the foil. In a small saucepan on medium heat, melt the sugar and butter until it reaches a boil. Reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, for 5-6 minutes or until mixture is thickened and sugar is completely dissolved. Pour this mixture over the crackers and spread to coat evenly. Bake for 8-10 minutes, or until the toffee becomes bubbly. After removing the pan from the oven, let it sit for 3-5 minutes. Sprinkle on the chocolate chips, let them soften and melt, and then spread them into an even layer. (You can add nuts, cracker crumbs or whatever else floats your boat at this point.) Let cool in refrigerator until hardened. Break into pieces the size of your choice.

 

(Recipe courtesy of A Southern Grace)

 

if i didn't know any better

i'd think it was going to snow.  but i do.  the sky has that creepy winter gray look, but it's not nearly cold enough. 

 

it's only the rain creeping in.  

 

and then, the sun just merely sneaks out for a few glorious moments and it's gone again.

 

a little red scarf

I scored big yesterday when I found a lovely piece of Christmas-red flannel - almost 3.5 yards to be exact - for $1.99! at the South Side Mission Mart (equivalent to the Goodwill.)  It was perfect and fuzzy and warm.

Today, my mission was to wash clothes, take out the trash, clean the bathroom and empty the dishwasher.  Early this morning, I showered, got the kids off to school, had a relaxing breakfast, sorted clothes and was completely prepared to hit the laundromat.  (Did you know it was spelled that way...laundr-o-mat?  Hmmm.)  Well, let's just say I emptied the dishwasher and fed it some more; cleaned out the fridge and put on appropriate clothing for roaming around town.  I got to the staircase and stopped dead in my tracks.  I wasn't feelin it and decided I had other plans for today.  Really, I didn't know what I was gonna be doing, but it definitely wasn't the long mental list I'd made myself.

This flannel was givin' me a hard time.  It whispered my name and so I returned my town appropriate clothes to their home and put on my hangin-at-home-clothes.  (Miss V'd know what I was talkin about.)  I had plans for this flannel but, with 51 degrees being our high for tomorrow and a brand new black fleece jacket (for $4!), I was thinkin SCARF!  (OK, maybe all that wasn't necessary for just 50 degrees but it felt right at the time.) 

I pulled out the flannel, grabbed all kinds of lace and tried them on for size.  None of them really worked for me (and that's not even all of 'em) and so I grabbed the computer and searched for a satisfying scarf tutorial. I found one, with flannel specifically in mind.

And after lunch, it was finished...

 

I know I'm gonna have to fight Miss K for it.  Seems my closet is her go-to place, my scarves, jewelry.  It's good that we can't wear the same size clothes.  Yet.