it's hopeless, or is it?

I have so many posts that need to be typed up....it feels hopeless! But there is one less post I'll have to do, cause I'll just direct you to my friend's blog, where she is hosting a giveaway! We got together at the end of January for a much longed for and planned event, soap making! Many hours were spent searching the web for recipes, techniques, etc. Then we finally got our things together and did it! We had a blast! And now that the soap is cured, we are enjoying using it!
I'll let you get all the details on her blog, but I MUST warn you of some hideous pictures! OH MY!

Here's a sneak peek....lining the molds {note the Sonic Strawberry Limeade...a very necessary ingredient...or not! MMMMmm!}

I wish you the best! Hope you win some soap!

fabulous giveaway at FPFG

You simply MUST scoot on over to Flower Patch Farm Girl's blog and enter in her fabulous giveaway! A $50 certificate to Lisa Leonard designs!
How cool is that?! Don't say I didn't tell you :0)

I'm not exactly sure how I ever came across FPFG's blog....but I'm hooked. We have a little bit in common...I'll let you figure out what. She has the neatest taste in easy, crafty decorate-y stuff! Stuff I never can quite make myself do, but I still like it anyway. Whatever that means. She makes me laugh...and sometimes cry.... She loves her family and her Savior. And boy can she write!

I hope you enjoy! Be blessed!

Feliz Navidad!

He Made A Way In A Manger

Longing for a Savior
A hopeless world would wait
Sin demanded justice
At a price we could not pay;
But God displayed his mercy
The greatest gift of love
When we could not reach heaven
Heaven came to us.

Chorus:
He made a way in a manger
A way to the cross
Messiah the promised
Before time had begun;
For God so loved this world
Though he knew what love would cost
He made a way in a manger
To make a way to the cross.

In Bethlehem a stable
Became a throne of grace
As God himself our Savior
Drew near to take our place;
His mother smiled in wonder
As shepherds stood in awe
The sacrifice of heaven
Lay sleeping in the straw.

Bridge:
He is the life that died our death
The precious Lord Jesus
Laid down his sweet head.

Chorus:
He made a way in a manger
A way to the cross
Messiah, the promised
Before time had begun;
For God so loved this world
Though He knew what love would cost
He made a way in a manger
To make a way to the cross.

Away in a manger, no crib for his bed
The little Lord Jesus laid down his sweet head.
The stars in the sky looked down where he lay
The little Lord Jesus asleep on the hay.






May the light and love of the Lord Jesus Christ bless you and keep you!

early winter musings

It was 3*F. this morning when I got up.

But the sun is shining. And now it's 20*!

As I look outside at the beautiful white blanket covering the ground, I wonder why I bemoan the coming of winter when it's fall.

I've been spending some time in Proverbs 31. This particular verse stuck out to me (it wasn't the ONLY one!), especially since I knew that I've been less than excited about it being winter.

Pro 31:21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, for all her household are clothed in scarlet.

I am cozy and warm inside our home (our mostly messy and chaotic home, but hey, it's warm!). We have plenty of clothes to keep us warm. Fuzzy socks. Blankets. Coffee or mocha's for me and hot chocolate for the kiddos. Candles to burn. A Christmas tree with lights. Plenty of excuses to snuggle under warm covers with the children and read books or play "I'm thinking of..." games.

But mostly I am warm in my heart because I know that all we have is a blessing from God.



Winter is not that bad. Not yet anyway. I'll let you know how I feel about it when it's February or March. I'd much rather it be well below freezing than right around freezing....30-35* temps tend to cause wet, slushy muck. I don't care for that.

So for now, I won't fuss (too much) about the cold or the snow. I just want to focus on the things to be thankful for.

what I've been up to

Eric was pretty much gone over Thanksgiving weekend. They were putting in a new server at work. He got very little sleep. The kids and I didn't get to see much out of him except most of Thanksgiving Day and a little on Saturday morning. We didn't even go to church on Sunday morning because he finally crawled in bed at 6am! He needed a real 'day of rest'!

I admit I had to work on my attitude a little! You see, I had BIG plans for us for the weekend.....plans like cleaning out the garage, organizing the desk/files, and such like things. Plans to do things that I need help with. Big, strong, man help. And support. But since that was out of the question, I tackled something else entirely.

About a month ago...maybe longer...I made a trip to the fabric store and came home with quite a pile of fabric and a few patterns. So, on Friday I decided to finally take the fabric out of the bag, preshrink it, and get started sewing!

These are the results.......

2 skirts for me

A jumper for Miss G.

And a dress for me.

The sleeves gave me much grief. Let's just say I was thankful for extra fabric. That is all. Oh, and I was having a bad hair day.

Miss G and I also painted our toes for Christmas.

And right now, that's the only Christmas decor you'll find at our house!

sometimes...

Be. That's what this blog is about. Simply being who I am and who we are as a family. Being real and being transparent. Sharing this journey of life.


Sometimes being real and being transparent opens yourself up to being hurt.

Sometimes being hurt makes it hard for me to be joyful. I confess that it is my natural tendency to withdraw when I am hurting. Especially from the one or ones who caused the hurt.

Sometimes that is good. Sometimes I just need to process what happened.

Sometimes it is not so good. Sometimes it just causes bitterness.

Bitterness is not welcome in my heart. It cannot co-exist with Jesus.



Jesus tells us to love those who persecute us. To pray for them. To forgive them even when they are not repentant or don't think they did any wrong. I confess that it's a real struggle for me sometimes. It can be real hard to love back when love is/was not shown.

When my conscience is clear, it doesn't matter what anyone may say about me or to me. That doesn't mean it doesn't hurt though. Sometimes the hurt comes to you indirectly. When one you love is hurt, that hurt affects you as well.


I am in process. I am a process. Sometimes it's two steps forward and one step back. Sometimes I am amazed at how far Jesus has brought me in the process. Sometimes I am grieved at how much I've resisted the process. The process of being transformed into His likeness.



Sometimes we are hurt by those who love us. Sometimes we hurt the ones we love the most. When this happens, it causes a breech in trust. It can cause walls to form in the relationship.

Then, it is a process to rebuild the relationship that was there before the hurt. Sometimes this can take a very long time.

Sometimes after the healing has taken place and the trust regained, hurt happens again.



My Savior and Lord, Jesus, felt every hurt I will ever feel. He understands. He was rejected by many...some of them were family members. He was betrayed by one of His close friends. If I run to Him when I am hurting, He is waiting and ready to heal. It isn't always an instant healing. Sometimes it is.

But He is all about relationships.

Especially the relationship between He and His bride.



Sometimes, many times, I am just so ready to leave the hurts behind and enjoy being in His presence for eternity.

Sometimes, in the midst of the hurt, I can still enjoy His presence. Even though I can't see or feel Him, I know He is with me.


After all, His love and acceptance and approval is all the love, acceptance and approval I really need. No one can fill His place. His love is unconditional. It is everlasting.

I live to please Him alone. No one else, just Him.

And no, I don't always please Him. But I try. That is the desire of my heart.


Sometimes I think He allows hurt in our lives just to drive us into His arms.

And that is the best place to be when we hurt.


Sometimes just being transparent in the midst of hurting can be healing.


Rom 8:31-39

What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?
He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies.
Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died--more than that, who was raised--who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword?
As it is written, "For your sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."
No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers,
nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

hairstyles by miss g.

I have a new in-house hairstylist.

She doesn't charge a thing.

Just love, care, food, a place to sleep, etc.

She specializes in abstract styles.

Isn't it grand?!

I'm sure she would be thrilled to practice on you if you'd like. Come on over!

You may experience a little hair pulling.

But I think with practice she will improve that part.

You also may hear things like, 'hold still your head!' or 'I'll be right back, don't you move'.


But the end result=priceless!

I LOVE YOU MISS G!