i am yours

Every darkened crevice
Every hidden place
Every secret that’s inside of me
Though I run from You
I don’t get very far
In my weakness You speak tenderly

You heal this heart of stone
I am not my own

I am Yours....

How can I resist a perfect love like this?
It’s like sunshine and the smell of spring
When I’m covered in Your forgiveness
God, it’s overwhelming

You have called me out of shadows....
Out of darkness into light....
Hemmed in by the hands of mercy....
I’m completely satisfied

Bethany Dillon: I am Yours Lyrics

Songwriters: Bethany Joy Adelsberger;

Edmond Martin Cash

summer!

it's the first day of summer

at our house!

no more school until september...

and i am filled with anticipation for this summer.

if i could put my vision for our holiday

 into one phrase it would be:

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God's love,

lovin' my family,

friends that i love,

transforming and

life-changing love!

don't get me wrong, 

i'm not expecting all sunshine and roses

(although i love both).

but love has a way of bringing

the good out of even the 

most difficult situation.

so here's to amazing times...

summer of love,

bring it on!

happy list

books

(so hard to pick just five!)

56. father tim

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57. birth books

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58. yada yada

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59. no. 1 ladies detective agency

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60. sisterchicks

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just the knowledge that a good book

 is awaiting one at the end of a long day

 makes that day happier.  

~kathleen norris

married

if i'm married only for happiness,

and my happiness wanes for whatever reason,

one little spark will burn the entire forest

of my relationship.

but if my aim is to proclaim and model

God's ministry of reconciliation,

my endurance will be fireproof.

just sticking it out 

is a victory in and of itself

and creates a certain victory.

~Gary Thomas, Sacred Marriage

outlive your life

somewhere in the midst of it all, it hit you.

you realized that these days are more

than ice cream trips,

homework,

and pimples.

This is called life.

And this one is yours.

you've been given your life.

no one else has your version.

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live in the right way,

serve God,

have faith,

love,

patience,

and gentleness.

fight the good fight of faith,

grabbing hold of the life

that continues forever.

you were called to have that life

when you confessed the good confession

before many witnesses.

we are created by a great God to do great works.

He invites us to outlive our lives,

not just in heaven,

but here on earth.

God has not given us what we deserve.

He has drenched His world in grace.

it has no end.

it knows no limits.

it empowers this life 

and enables us to live the next.

here's a salute to a long life:

goodness that outlives the grace,

love that outlasts the final breath.

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may you live in such a way that your death

 is just the beginning of your life.

~Max Lucado

happy list

51. blue skies

52. sunsets

53. little diggers

54. forts

55. skipping rocks

live in the sunshine,

swim the sea,

drink the wild air.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

ready for summer

thought i'd share a little cuteness.

tonight we've prepped for summer 

with some adorable haircuts!

here's what they looked like before

here's moo after

and here's the boy-boy

it didn't cost us a dime,

just took a little time 

and a little know-how.

the girly-girl has opted to grow her hair out 

and is pretty proud of how long it's getting!

cute, cute and more cute!

welcome summer!

birth rights

it's a battle.

it shouldn't be,

but it is.

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for some reason (many really)

there is much opposition to women choosing 

how they will birth in america.

most other countries do not have these issues.

and most of those countries have 

lower maternal and infant mortality rates to boot.

but i digress...

the latest issue is about birth pools.

yes, inflatable pools in which women labor and/or give birth.

the fda has declared these 

unregistered/unapproved medical equipment

and, therefore, confiscated a shipment of birth pools

 and placed a "hold" on all others.

want to find out more?  try here.

in my view, the whole thing seems so ridiculous...

surely it must be fictional?

alas, no.

this has ramifications for all of us.

even if you are not a "home-birther",

we are talking about birth rights here!

if you think that moms should have choices 

about where and how they birth,

i urge you to make your voice heard!

how? find out more here.

we all have the right to make our own informed choices

 about how we give birth and where we give birth.

if we don't stand up for ourselves and for one another...

where does it end?

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plastic baggies

so, regretfully, i had to buy a box of ziploc baggies yesterday.

you must understand...
i have not purchased plastic bags in over a year.

we have reusies.  we have glass "tupperware".

we reuse the bags that food items come in.

i have a real problem with buying things to

 use once and then throw away.

particularly plastic that will spend 

500 years in a landfill before decomposing.

but in my childbirth classes i do an ice exercise

where expectant moms and their partners squeeze ice

 in their hands while trying out a number of comfort techniques.

i LOVE the exercise,
but it presents a problem.

the ice melts.

depending on the kind of ice, sometimes it melts very quickly.

then it drips and is no longer as cold.

so we need baggies.

i have searched for a creative way around it,

but have found none.

so while i regretted buying the baggies,

i was rather happy to have the lightbulb moment...

dry out and reuse the baggies!

of course!

i am happy seeing the little plastic baggies drying on 

my clothesline (handy for SO many purposes)!

sometimes it's the smallest solutions 

that are the most profound!

playdough

second time's the charm...

homemade play dough success!

the best cooked play dough

1 c flour

1/2 c salt

2 T cream of tartar

1 c water

1 to 2 T oil

food coloring or kool-aid

combine flour, salt, and cream of tartar in a saucepan.  mix liquids and gradually stir them into dry ingredients.  when mixture is smooth, cook over medium heat, stirring constantly until a ball forms.  remove from heat and knead until smooth.  can add some essential oil (we added lavender) or sparkles.  sprinkle in a little at a time whilst kneading it until you reach the desired effect.

thoughts: it's tough to stir while you're cooking it!  

i think we overcooked it just slightly...

it is just a wee bit crumbly.

the kids loved helping make it, 

choosing colors for it,

and playing with it!

garden progress

our first attempt at a garden is growing!

we have tiny strawberries

and our lettuce is sprouting!

boy are we excited!

(at least i think that's what he's saying...)

happy list

46. the smell of rain.

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47. woodsmoke.

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48. lavender

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49. baking cookies

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50. lemongrass

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ahhhh...

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recipe alert

i tried out a new recipe the other day,

for chicken and potato soup with bacon.

it was a hit!

Chicken and Potato Soup with Bacon

2 T butter

1 t garlic, minced

1 white onion, chopped

6 bacon slices, sliced

2 leeks, washed and sliced

2 T flour

4 c chicken broth

1 lb new potatoes, chopped into 1/2" pieces

2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cubed

4 T cream

salt and pepper to taste

1/4 c parsley, chopped

Melt the butter in a large stock pot over medium heat.  Add the garlic and onion and cook, stirring for 3-4 minutes until slightly softened.  Add bacon and leeks and cook for another 5-7 minutes, stirring.

In a bowl, mix the flour with enough of the broth to make a smooth paste and stir it into the pan.  cook, stirring for 2 minutes.  Pour in the remaining broth, then add the potatoes and chicken.  Season well with salt and pepper.  Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer for 25 minutes until the chicken and potatoes are tender and cooked through.

Stir in the cream and cook another 2 minutes, then removed from the heat and ladle into bowls.  Garnish with parsley.

the feedback?

yum!

but perhaps use a little less leek

and make it a bit more creamy?

enjoy!

we scoot

it's evening, 

the house has exploded

and we really should be cleaning up.

but the sun is shining 

and we cannot resist the call.

so, we scoot!