creative fun

I recently found that I really enjoy making aprons. I can add my own unique twist to them and be creative with colors, fabrics, and designs. Below is my latest creation, contrasting stripes with a floral pattern, but keeping the color scheme the same. I added a few ruffles to make it feminine (not that the flowers weren't obviously something most men would shy from wearing). It has two pockets in the floral section.

40 days

I have felt this year I need do a specific study during this 40 days before Easter and journal together with other believers.  I am inviting you to join me in reading a chapter a day from the Bible. Below I have listed the chapters I will be reading each day, starting Wednesday, February 22.

When I was younger, I created a way to journal that fit me: I call it L.E.A. L – listen to what the Holy Spirit is telling me through the Scripture; E – evaluate myself and areas in need of change or needed course of action; A – act on those changes or assignments from the Lord. My entry looks like this:

Date: xxxx xx

Scripture:  Xxxx  xx:xx

Listen:

Evaluate:

Act: short take-away statement

Please use whatever method works best for you. If you join me in this time, I would appreciate updates as to what the Lord is telling you during this time so I can pray for you as well. Remember this does not include Sundays.

1.       Mark 1     (Feb 22)

2.       Mark 9     (Feb 23)

3.       Matthew 5     (Feb 24)

4.       Matthew 6     (Feb 25)

5.       Luke 15     (Feb 27)

6.       John 3     (Feb 28)

7.       John 14     (Feb 29)

8.       John 17    (March 1)

9.       Matthew 26     (Mar 2)

10.   Matthew 27     (Mar 3)

11.   John 20     (Mar 5)

12.   Luke 24     (Mar 6)

13.   Acts 2     (Mar 7)

14.   Acts 4     (Mar 8)

15.   Acts 17     (Mar 9)

16.   Acts 26     (Mar 10)

17.   Romans 3     (Mar 12)

18.   Romans 7     (Mar 13)

19.   1 Corinthians 13     (Mar 14)

20.   1 Corinthians 15     (Mar 15)

21.   Galatians 5     (Mar 16)

22.   Ephesians 3     (Mar 17)

23.   Philippians 2     (Mar 19)

24.   Matthew 3:1-4:10     (Mar 20)

25.   John 16     (Mar 21)

26.  Titus 2   (Mar 22) 

27.   Acts 10     (Mar 23)

28.   Romans 8     (Mar 24)

29.   Romans 12     (Mar 26)

30.   1 Corinthians 2     (Mar 27)

31.   1 Corinthians 12     (Mar 28)

32.   1 Corinthians 14     (Mar 29)

33.   Ephesians 4     (Mar 30)

34.   I Peter 4     (Mar 31)

35.   1 John  4     (April 2)

36.   Colossians 3     (Apr 3)

37.   1 Thessalonians 4     (Apr 4)

38.   Hebrews 10     (Apr 5)

39.   Hebrews 13     (Apr 6)

40.   James 4     (Apr 7)

He bids me come...

"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer

I have been blessed this January to have spent time with two of my favorite people, both missionaries home on short leaves. Kim Smith is a missionary in Liberia - a godfearing, peaceful man, and I respect him greatly. He has given away his possessions and made Liberia his home, sharing Jesus with the people and starting many churches. The Liberian people are hungry for Jesus. (www.wordsowerliberia.com) My other friend, Noel Garrett, spent a few months in Ethiopia before returning to the Czech Republic, where she has spent the last 7 years as a missionary teaching English through the Bible. Noel recently has been called to start a new mission in Prague. The Czech people are spiritually hungry after being oppressed for generations.

Here in the land of plenty it is easy to loose sight that we are on mission. I have been very challenged of late to ensure that I am teaching my children what is most important in life, and that is Jesus Christ. I want them to know what it looks like to give it all for the service of Jesus, to not be afraid to loose their life for him. I remember growing up that my parents would be very frank with us about the cost of following Jesus. Mom would say, "If someone shows up in the middle of the night, drags us outside, threatens to kill me or Daddy if you don't deny Jesus...", she would stop, "you do not EVER deny Jesus. We will die first." That ingrained in me a deep obedience at a young age. Now that I am a mother, I respect how hard that was to say to a child, especially how protective a mother is of her children. I want my children to know there is a cost to follow Jesus, and that we must rely upon him to guide and direct our lives.

Obedience. Compassion for the less fortunate. A willingness to give. Give even when it hurts. My friend Shawn once asked me to list ten things I would tell a new Christian - I keep it with me, as it reflects much of my walk with Christ.

1. It is about relationship. Without communication there is no relationship.
2. Read Bible daily.
3. Talk to God as if you could see him sitting next to you.
4. Find someone to be accountable to.
5. God is loving.
6. The Bible is truth; everything in it is truth.
7. People will let you down, even Christians. God will not.
8. Never deny Jesus Christ.
9. The devil is real. He is a liar and he never sleeps.
10. God has already won!

He bids us come and die. Don't loose sight of the value of a soul. It is more valuable than any earthly possession. Two of the biggest highlights from 2011 were when my daughter Claire was born, and when my daughter Elauna asked Jesus to live in her heart. My sweet son Frederick is learning to pray, trying hard to keep his eyes closed. My job as a mother is to teach my children the ways of the Lord, and let God convict their hearts. Hopefully I am doing my part in making fertile soil.

Unexpected Blessings

Sometimes when you start on a journey, you never know how the Lord will choose to bless you...and that was the case this year for our family. This past Monday we had the ultrasound for our little blessing on the way. My daughter, Elauna, has been praying for a baby sister. (She also prayed for twins in the beginning....I wasn't sure I was ready for two, but then she decided a sister would be fun). We kept telling her we would be happy with whatever God decided to give us. She would smile and say she would be happy, but that she still wanted a sister. We tried!!!

Elauna had big eyes in the office as the doctor started the ultrasound, and when the picture of baby showed up on the screen she was very excited. Frederick wasn't sure what he was watching, but at least the picture kept moving so he was interested. It didn't take long to find out baby's gender. I am always amazed at how God answer's little children's prayers, because we are having a girl. Elauna is SO happy she is having a baby sister. She was calling her Sissy Baby today.

Our little blessing is due December 1, but we are expecting somewhere around December 12 since I always go late....12 days late to be exact. They all have been healthy, so we are thankful.

Here is our beautiful girl!!

26 for the heart

Have you ever had times when you are so overwhelmed or burdened that you cannot remember simple things? I had a situation like this years ago where I woke in the middle of the night, and while I was trying to pray Scripture, I couldn't bring it to mind. This just made my situation worse. So I spent the next day putting a verse to each letter of the alphabet. (I use the alphabet as a mental trigger). I designed cards with each letter, so I could carry them with me, but I also memorized the 26. The Bible says to hide God's word in our heart so we might not sin against him. Now I always have at least 26 verses that I can pull to mind using the alphabet.


A - All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Romans 3:23
B - Believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved - you and your household. Acts 16:31
C - Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3
D - Depart from evil and do good. Psalm 34:14
E - Even a child is known by his actions, by whether his conduct is pure and right. Proverbs 20:11
F - For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish but have everlasting life. John 3:16
G - God is love. I John 4:16
H - Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up. James 4:10
I - I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
J - Judge not and you shall not be judged; condemn not and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven. Luke 6:37
K - Know that the Lord is God. It is he that made us and we are his. We are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Psalm 100:3
L - Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. Mark 12:30
M - My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me. Psalm 63:8
N - Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you. Hebrews 13:5
O - Obey your leaders and submit to their authority. Hebrews 13:17
P - Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Psalm 103:1
Q - Quench not the Spirit. I Thessalonians 5:19
R - Remain in me and I will remain in you. John 15:4
S - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. I Corinthians 10:31
T - Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6
U - Understanding is a fountain of life to those who have it. Proverbs 16:22
V - Vengeance is mine; I will repay sayeth the Lord. Romans 12:19
W - Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind your saying, "This is the way, walk in it." Isaiah 30:21
X - eXamine me, O Lord, and prove me. Psalm 26:2
Y - You give me your shield of victory, your right hand sustains me. Psalm 18:35
Z - come and see my Zeal for the Lord. 2 Kings 10:16

a grateful wife

Jeremy had the opportunity to go to Whistler, BC for his birthday and ski where the 2010 Winter Olympics were held. He had such a wonderful time. Jeremy was powder skiing and had fresh snow on some of the mornings; the mountains looked amazing. (I'm not the world's greatest skiier, so I am glad he enjoyed himself.) Jeremy makes it look so effortless. 

Today is rather a quiet day, as I have just Frederick with me. Elauna was invited to help her Daddy deliver mulch today. She gets so excited about being Daddy's helper, and it is such a help to me as well. She is very proud of her Daddy, and is the only 3 year old I know who can name construction equipment and farm machinery when she sees them. My favorite is when she says excavator, as it comes out "es-cuh-bay-dor." What a doll.

I so appreciate all the hard work Jeremy does for our family, and the countless hours he puts in working. It is special to me that he takes our children with him, to teach them the value of hard work...which is best learned first hand.  Thanks honey, for being a great hubby!

gardening 101

I remember when I was growing up that my mom would plant a garden, and I seemed to take for granted how she did it. When I finally started planting on my own, I was a little in the dark about annuals versus perennials, zones, and other gardening basics. After my beloved flowers did not come up the next year, I learned the difference between an annual and a perennial. I love fresh produce, and am trying each year to get a better grasp on the green thumb, because it is my desire to grow my own food, preserve it, and provide fresh, healthy food for my family. I think there is great value in being self-reliant, and knowing the value of hard work. These are things I would like to pass on to my children.

So here are a few of those things in which I needed a refresher course:

• Annuals last only 1 year and the frost normally kills them. Most vegetables are annuals. Think petunias, geraniums, and sunflowers.
• Perennials come up every year. Think coneflowers, lilies, columbine, and hostas.
• Here in Ohio, we are in zone 5.
• Bulb depth matters here where it freezes, or your pretty flowers may not come back the next year.
• For those saving their seeds each year to plant for the next, you need to buy heirloom varieties. For example, tomato variety Mortgage Lifter is an heirloom variety that was developed in the 1930s. You can save the seeds and replant the following year. Non-heirloom varieties, or hybrids, will not reproduce. Heirlooms seeds are great for homesteaders planting each year. Check out www.heirloomseeds.com
• Sometimes you will come across the terms "determinate" and  "indeterminate" when ordering tomatoes, beans, etc. Determinate means that all the produce will be ripe at the same time...there is a determined end time. Some tomato varieties are determinate. Indeterminate means that the plant will continue to produce, either until the plant dies or there is a frost. (for Ohioans) Most bush beans are indeterminate. When a label says they will produce "all season long," they are indeterminate.
• Self-pollinating fruits trees are wonderful, because they do not need another tree to help them produce. If you buy trees that need a pollinator, make sure you get the correct match, and appropriate for your zone. We like fruit trees from Stark, as they are hardy and well grown when they arrive. www.starkbros.com

Happy planting....