Eternal Outlook [with Angela]

Regaining Inspiration

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 03:31:00 +0000

Hello, Blog World! It feels good to be here. Though I haven't been able to making blogging a priority over the past several months, I have certainly missed writing. Some of you so kindly acknowledged that you missed me during my absence, and I very much appreciate that. It has been important to me that what I write on this blog comes from a place of true inspiration and not merely from an obligation to make an appearance. For whatever reason, some of that inspiration was missing for the past months, and just as some of you were patiently awaiting my return, so I was patiently awaiting my ability to. And, finally, here I am, feeling inspired once again. :-)

The past nine months were for me largely dominated by homeschooling. The beginning of Abel's Kindergarten year brought with it a higher level of time commitment, so much of my energies were focused on my role of teaching. Blogging wasn't the only thing that temporarily went by the wayside. So, too, did some of my perfectionist housekeeping ways... by necessity, of course. I'm not sure that any of us really even noticed the slip in cleanliness until this past week since our summer break began. With no school to claim my mornings, my house is regaining a more "spic and span" feel... and that feels good to me! :-)

One thing I haven't quite regained, though, is a healthy level of energy. The past couple months frequently saw Travis and me up into the wee hours of the morning completing projects (we finished our basement early this spring); and now that those projects are all done, my body seems to be begging me to get back to a proper schedule. In fact, I recently found myself so overwhelmingly in need of sleep that I even became convinced I was pregnant. (I wasn't.) But one thing is clear, that I will evidently be always seeking to find that perfect balance between all the things I must do.

It is my prayer for this summer that God will give me that balance--that He will give me wisdom in how I use my time and energy. I don't want to be here just spinning my wheels to accomplish my own agenda. I want to remember that my time and my energy, limited as they are, belong to God. I must use them to advance His purposes. I must seek His direction for my days. I must be sensitive to His leading. And I must be willing to follow.

And the thought of what He might do, my friends... now THAT is inspiring!

Take His Life, Lord

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 03:16:00 +0000

How do I begin such an important post....

The date is December 4th, 2011. It's a Sunday morning, and the Squires family is headed to church. From the back of the van comes Abel's voice. "I want to ask Jesus into my heart today."

Travis and I look at each other in surprise, and as my eyes fill with tears, all I can say is, "Really?"

"In fact, I want to do it right now."

Some mixture of joy and awe and shock washes over me. Travis and I have prayed that Abel--all of our children--would come to know Jesus at an early age; and Abel's own prayers have been giving us hints that something very important has been happening in his heart. Indeed, we have expected that Abel's salvation would come, and yet we couldn't have known it would be at this moment....

"Okay... but can we wait until we get to church so we can sit with you and talk?"...

...That particular morning, the children of the church had been invited to the stage to lead the body in singing "Joy to the World." Abel and Amariah were among the many youthful voices that together created a choir whose sound certainly caused the listeners to consider the purpose for which we were created. And looking back, I realize what a beautiful backdrop that was to what was about to happen next....

Soon after Abel and Amariah had joined us back in our seats, we reached the point in the service where we would be celebrating communion--a perfect time to talk to Abel about the desire he had expressed on the way to church that morning. During our talk, Abel confirmed his understanding that all have sinned and need God's forgiveness--including himself. And after stating in that beautiful, childlike way that he wanted to ask Jesus into his heart because "I want to show Him how much I love Him," Abel began his prayer.

"Dear God, please forgive me for all my sins, and please come into my heart...."

I remain in awe of the goodness of God towards us and our son, that He would extend His grace and grant His salvation to our tenderhearted little Abel. I realize that we (the human race) are so undeserving of this free gift of salvation which is available to all who will believe; and I feel indebted doubly--first for my own salvation and now for my son's.

As I have listened to Abel's prayers over the past several months--prayers such as, "Dear God, please help me to love You more," and, "Dear God, please give me a wise heart," and, "Dear God, please forgive me for all my sins, and please come into my heart,"--I have witnessed a miracle.

Abel's prayer has been answered, and in that, Travis and my prayers have been answered. But this is not an end. It is a beginning. It is the beginning of a life being lived for Jesus.

Oh, Dear God, I cannot express my gratitude to You for Your grace, Your mercy, Your salvation. Thank You for the work You have done in Abel's young heart, where Your Holy Spirit is now residing. As you have answered his prayer for salvation, please also answer his prayers both for a growing love for You and for a wise heart. Take his life, Lord, and let it be consecrated to You.

"Jesus Dying on the Cross" by Abel Squires, 12-09-2011

Kids Say, vol. 14

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Mon, 07 Nov 2011 01:05:00 +0000

Amariah: "Abel, I hope Ande is a boy because you don't have a brother."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Elliana (pointing at the alphabet poster): "There's the O."
Mommy: "That's right! What does an 'O' say?"
Elliana, confidently: "/k/!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amariah (praying for my parents' dog who has an ulcerated eye): "Dear God, please help Barney's eye to not fall out and not hurt so bad. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abel tripped up the unfinished basement steps a few days ago and scraped his shins on the front edge of the step. I, of course, offered my motherly comfort and sympathies; but after his crying had gone on a little too long, I politely asked, "Abel, how are you ever going to play football if you can't fall down without crying?" His smart reply came, "Mommy, that's why they play sports on grass and sand... so they don't get hurt."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abel and Amariah were looking out the front door this evening, admiring the stars in the sky. The next thing I knew, I heard them around a corner praying together. Abel passionately prayed, "Dear God, thank You for the beautiful sky that You created, and thank You for Your Son Jesus dying on the cross for our sins. Amen."

Cleaning: A New and Improved Routine

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 15:45:00 +0000

Being that I haven't blogged in so long, there is plenty I could write about today. However, I have to choose for this post that which I can't get off my mind: cleaning!

Not just any cleaning, though. It's cleaning with Norwex that is crowding my thoughts--and has been for the past few weeks.

At our Lighthouse (the name given to our church's small groups) meeting earlier this week, the group leader commented that sometimes, when lacking spiritual fervor, we need to do something new that breaks us out of our lackluster routine. Not at all to demean the truth of what he meant for a spiritual application, I was pondering my new found excitement for cleaning and realized that his statement could likewise apply to any routine... even cleaning.

I wouldn't say that I don't like to clean, but I think it would be a stretch to say that I've ever gotten excited about cleaning (until now...). It's just one of those things that you have to do, and you do it joyfully because you are thankful that you have a home to care for. That has been my attitude, anyway. You develop a routine that maximizes your efficiency, and that's just what you do... often without giving it any further thought.

That was true of me until a couple months ago. I had a certain cleaning schedule, certain cleaning methods, and certain cleaning products that together made up my cleaning routine. It was working for me... I guess... and so I didn't really consider making any changes to it. That was until I started learning about a company called Norwex and the great products they have to offer. The more I learned about how Norwex reduces the use of chemicals in cleaning, the more I questioned my use of chemicals in cleaning. As I learned that with Norwex I could save time and money while at the same time creating a cleaner and safer environment in my home, I began to question just how clean and safe my current home environment really was. I started wondering just how much bacteria I was both breeding and redistributing with the wash cloths, towels, sponges, etc., that I had been using; and I wondered just what unknown effects my various cleaning chemicals might be having on our bodies.

My learning and questioning resulted in some quick conclusions for me. I wanted to not just revamp my cleaning routine, but to make it better. And I wanted to do that with Norwex. My "Norwex Wish List" grew rather large in a hurry, and having been told of the unmatched hostess benefits offered by Norwex, I decided that the most economical way for me to get started with their products was to host a party.

That is just what I did a couple weeks ago, and having just received all my new cleaning supplies yesterday, my new and improved cleaning routine begins--with excitement, I might add--today!

I'm excited to be excited about something as humdrum as cleaning. I realize that the excitement will probably wear off as the newness does, but I believe the reassurance that I have made a change for the better of my family will only grow with time.

My new Norwex supplies, most of which I received free through the Hosting program (and all of which I will use)!

I Guess They Were Right

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 11:00:00 +0000

"You're a busy mom...."

I can't begin to number the times I've heard that statement upon making any type of public appearance with my four young children. I must admit, its overuse over the past couple years has bothered me some, mostly because I haven't felt all that "busy." I suppose I have been... busy, that is... but I guess when you're busy doing what you have to do, you don't always take time to think about how busy you actually are.

Lately, however, I can say that the common opinion that I am a busy mom has felt quite true. For one thing, the return of the school year has taken a considerable chunk of time from my days. After only four weeks of teaching a kindergartner and a preschooler simultaneously, I have found myself further behind in housework than I've been in while. Indeed, I can't deny that homeschooling is keeping me busy.

Oddly enough, though, that wasn't what changed my mind on the "busyness" assessment. It was the countless number of times in a day that I hear, "Mom, Mommy, Mom!" that caused me just the other day to stop and say to myself, "Yes... yes, I guess I am busy." I am the go-to person for four kids. I am the helper for every need. I am the answer-er for every question. I am the listener for every story. I am the entertainer of every idea. I am a mother of four, and I. Am. Busy.

A Long Awaited Reunion

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Fri, 09 Sep 2011 11:00:00 +0000

I think our busy (but fun!) summer is unofficially over. This past weekend saw us traveling once again, this time on the road to my hometown for my 10-year high school class reunion. I have looked forward to my class reunion(s) since before I ever graduated from high school, and I can say that 10+ years down the road, I enjoyed being there just as much as I had anticipated.

I grew up in small town Nebraska, and though I now live neither in a small town nor in Nebraska, a piece of my heart will always remain there. It's part of who I am. My past is there, and that means a lot of memories are there.

Obviously, I have been back home many times over the past 10 years. However, when the purpose of the trip was to attend a class reunion, more memories and emotions were evoked than what I would get from the typical we're-going-to-Grandma's-house trip.

Reuniting with old friends--people who share so much of my past--really was a most unique feeling. We engaged in good conversation almost as if it hadn't been 10 years since we last did so. There was a sense of camaraderie in the comfortableness of it all. It felt good to be back together again.

Some of the girls at our reunion luncheon

Two of my best girlfriends from high school

11 of 35 classmates

Summer Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 00:10:00 +0000

Boy, has it been a fun-filled summer in the Squires household! I haven't blogged in a little over two months, and I guess that's in part because we've been so busy having fun. (According to my last post, June was a fun month, too, so I guess I didn't even miss a beat in my blogging absence....) ;-)

Are there any other sun-loving moms out there who feel like they need to cram as much fun into one summer as possible? Perhaps it's partly because I don't like to go out in the winter, or perhaps it's because summer brings a break from school... but for whatever reason, this mom is heavy on the "summer fun"--this year, at least.

In early July, we made a trip to my sister's house in Omaha to celebrate both the Fourth of July and Amariah's 4th birthday (July 3rd). While there we not only went to the best fireworks show we've ever seen (and put on a little backyard show of our own that wasn't too shabby!), but we also took our kids to the theater to see the newly-released Cars 2 movie and to Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo.

July also provided each of our kids, two at a time, the chance to visit their grandparents (my parents) all by themselves for a week. The kids had been begging to make the 400+ mile trip for a while, and we were glad for the opportunity to make that happen for them.

That wasn't the end of our July travel, though. The month also saw us making the trip to Minneapolis twice--once for Travis' business meetings (which gave the kids and me an entire day to "waste" at the Mall of America!) and once for personal reasons (my long awaited shopping spree at IKEA! More to come on that later!..).

The first part of August has also brought lots of fun, as we took our first real family vacation AND started our second year of homeschooling! But, both of those exciting things deserve a post of their own, of course. So, stay tuned, because there's more to come at Eternal Outlook as soon as I can take a break from having fun (oh... and from all the other things that keep me busy... ;-)) and find some time to blog!

Fun is Good for the Soul

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Tue, 14 Jun 2011 11:00:00 +0000

So far, the month of June has brought Travis and me a couple of what I think have been the most fun weekends we've had in a really long time, and I think it's due in part to the fact that we are moving beyond the baby stage of parenthood.

I'm certainly not saying that parenting babies isn't fun. In fact, saying goodbye to the baby stage has been bittersweet for me. I will definitely miss all the pleasures of babyhood, and yet, I am excited by the prospect of moving on (presuming that is what God has in store for us...). I think our recent weekend fun has been a foretaste of what I was sure would come someday--an increased ease in getting out....

Saturday, June 4th, was Travis and my sixth wedding anniversary, and we celebrated it as a family. After a nice dinner out with the kids that evening, we decided on a whim to visit Bass Pro Shop. A store recently opened in our area, and since we hadn't all been there yet, we thought it would be fun to walk through it. We joked that it seemed kind of redneck-ish for an anniversary date (Ha!), but we really enjoyed looking at the fish, the stuffed animals, the camping supplies. We even tried out the little shooting range/hunting simulation thing. (Okay, so I don't even know what it was called, but it was fun! It was actually my first time ever holding a (fake) gun!)

This past weekend brought lots of fun, too, but this time of the kid-free sort. (Thanks, Mom and Dad Squires!) Thursday night, Travis and I went out for dinner and a movie and had a wonderful time. (We saw Water for Elephants--pretty good!) When we got home at 1:00 a.m. in the middle of a hard rainstorm, we went directly to the backyard to put a tarp over our new and as of yet un-shingled shed. By the time we were done we were literally dripping with water, but I tell you what... it was fun. We were together, we were laughing, and it didn't matter that we were wet and cold because we were simply enjoying our friendship.

The next day, Travis and I attended our first homeschooling conference, and I don't think "fun" is a big enough word to describe it. Tons of useful information, books everywhere we looked... this information-seeking, book-loving couple was on Cloud 9. I already knew going in that I'll be using Sonlight Curriculum again this year, so that took all the stress out of weeding through vendors and sifting through books. Instead of looking to buy, I could simply enjoy the browsing! (Although, I did heftily buy from one vendor.... :-))

Saturday we were without childcare, so Travis and I took turns attending portions of the homeschooling conference. That afternoon, our family was honored to attend the beautiful wedding of our neighbor followed by a most lovely reception and super fun dance. We haven't been able to really enjoy a wedding dance since our own, but this one was different... because we have exited the baby stage. Instead of our children having to be held during the dance, they were right there beside us dancing the night away. I can't remember the last time we've had so much fun together as a family as we did on that dance floor.

All that being said, I'm feeling a little lighter than I have in several years, and I'm enjoying that. My responsibilities as a mother, homemaker, and wife have by no means lifted; but the ease of leaving the house--with or without kids--seems to be finally setting in. I hope that as I find more freedom this summer I can strike a proper balance between work and play; because though there is work that has to be done, a little fun--even if it's just standing out in the pouring rain--is good for the soul!

Published with Blogger-droid v1.7.1

Women "Knead" Power Tools, Too!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Mon, 13 Jun 2011 11:00:00 +0000

I have some new power tools, and I can't wait to use them!...

A little over a year and a half ago, I started making my own bread; and after several months, lots of practice, and many failures, I finally started turning out loaves I wasn't embarrassed of. Going into bread-making, I had no idea how much of an art it really is; but my perseverance eventually began resulting in consistently good bread, and I began feeling like I finally knew what I was doing. I even got confident enough to try a different recipe and was extremely pleased when I found quick success with it.

But the success was fleeting. After several good batches of bread with the new recipe, I suddenly began having problems again. Lots of troubleshooting revealed a couple adjustments I could make to possibly return to better results--and though they did help some, I still wasn't happy with the loaves I was producing.

It was only just a few days ago that I finally realized my 18-month old KitchenAid mixer was the true problem. It started acting up a couple months ago--dragging at times during both the wheat grinding process and the kneading process--but I didn't know how much this was affecting the quality of my bread until I finally broke down last Thursday and hand-kneaded my dough, producing the best loaves I've made since switching recipes.

This was proof enough to me that my mixer needed to be replaced. I had in mind to buy another KitchenAid one with a little more wattage, but perfect timing stopped me from making that mistake before it was too late: I attended a bread-making presentation by Paula's Bread, an authorized Bosch distributor, the next day.

"Kneadless" to say, I was sold on the Bosch Universal Plus Kitchen Machine before the presentation's end, and my awesome husband bought me one later the same day! (He bought me a L'Equip Nutrimill, too! :-)) I am putting my new power tool to work for the first time today, and I anticipate some great results!

Photo Credit

Kids Say, vol. 13

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 18:58:00 +0000

Me (after reading a children's poem about Jesus' death and resurrection): "Where is Jesus now?"

Amariah: "In heaven!"
Abel: "In your heart."

Me: "Yes, Jesus is alive, and the Bible says He is in heaven at the right hand of God the Father! And, He wants to live in your heart! So, how does he get inside your heart?"

Abel: "You have to believe."

Amariah: "No, you have to open your mouth like this... and hold real still, and then close it when He gets in."

24-Month Stats

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 20:33:00 +0000

Isabel and Elliana had their two-year well child exams this morning. Their stats are below. (Notice that Isabel has finally made it onto the charts with her weight!)

Isabel (24 months)
Weight: 22 lbs (3rd percentile)
Height: 32 in (10th percentile)

Elliana (24 months)
Weight: 24.5 lbs (25th percentile)
Height: 33.5 in (50th percentile)

Double the Pleasure

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 20:39:00 +0000

I think there may be nothing cuter than the way a 24-month old child talks. Well... maybe there is--the way two 24-month old children talk....

Isabel and Elliana are in the cutest stage of communication right now. Their speech is still slightly unclear, and many of their sentences consist of about one word; and yet I can understand almost everything they say. In their innocent and imperfect two-year old way, they ask me questions and tell me stories, they converse with each other and with Abel and Amariah, and they get better at it every day.

That's what panics me a bit. It's not so much the fact that they are outgrowing their clothes or learning to dress themselves or climbing ladders or keeping up with their big brother and sister that gets me. No, it's their developing communications that make me confront the fact that my "babies" are becoming "kids," and they'll never be babies again.

I know as well as any other mother that each stage of childhood has joys of its own--and, because of that, I've never had much trouble saying goodbye to babyhood in the past. I suppose what makes this time a little different is that, as far as we know, this is our final goodbye to babyhood. As I say farewell with reminiscent eyes, my heart rejoices in the blessing it has been to be able to enjoy each special stage doubly this last time around.

Our Last Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Fri, 27 May 2011 03:49:00 +0000

Today in the Squires household marked the final day of a great first year of homeschooling! Bringing something so big to completion is always super exciting and rewarding; yet the kids and I have enjoyed our schooling so much that we all seem to have some mixed feelings about it being over for the year. The last day of school was always a little bittersweet for me when I was a student because I loved school so much, and I guess I'm finding out that the same is true for me even now as the teacher.

As we've been finishing up several different books over the past few weeks, Abel and Amariah have already been making plans for reading them again. I must say, going back through such great books won't bother me any. I tell you, I never knew children's books could be so lovable and so educational! In fact, one of the best parts of our homeschooling journey so far has been the fact that I'm not only the teacher--I'm a student, too! I have learned and re-learned so much! Learning alongside my children even as I teach them has re-ignited in me my love of books and learning, and I am so excited to be on this learning journey with them!

Indeed, Summer Break is just beginning; but this 28-year old Mommy-Teacher-Student is already asking...

Is it time for Kindergarten yet?... :-)

Family Pictures 2011

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Sun, 22 May 2011 21:33:00 +0000

(L to R) Isabel, Angela, Amariah, Travis, Elliana, Abel

Our 6-year wedding anniversary is coming up on June 4th!

(L to R) Elliana, Amariah, Abel, Isabel

Abel Ray, 5 years

Amariah Grace, 3 years 11 months

Isabel Hope, 2 years

Elliana Faith, 2 years

Abel and Amariah, our "A Team"

(L to R) Elliana Faith and Isabel Hope

Travis Ray and Abel Ray

Angela

My Beautiful Girls

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Mon, 02 May 2011 02:53:00 +0000

Isabel Hope, 23 months

Elliana Faith, 23 months

Amariah Grace, 3 years 10 months

Amariah's first up-do

Isabel and Amariah

Kids Say, vol. 12

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Fri, 29 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Me: (singing)
Abel (in an irritated voice): "Mommy, don't sing! You're making me dance!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amariah: "Mommy, did you know that mouths are like 'chewing trashcans' because the food goes into your tummy and turns to poop?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abel: "This motel only has a toilet and toilet paper. Can you imagine that they don't have poop spray or fart fans?"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Abel: "If you obey the Lord, He will do great things for you. John 25:4."
Me: "Where did you learn that?"
Abel: "I just made it up in my head."

Snippets of Life

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Hands busy in the soapy dishwater, I glanced out the kitchen window from where I stood working. A couple blocks down an elderly couple walked side-by-side, both of them moving in a manner that told of the number of their days. As I watched them, my eyes flooded with tears while my mind flooded with thoughts. How long have they been married? What experiences have they come through? What were they like in the vibrance of their youth? I pondered these questions while internally battling the conflicting emotions they produced in me. Oh, Lord, will Travis and I have the privilege of living to a ripe old age together? What experiences will we go through in the days and years ahead? What will it be like to live in a body racked with age?...

....

It was late. The kids had been in bed for several hours, and I was sitting at the computer catching up on the day's Facebook statuses. My mom, who worked as a nurse for 20 years--and in a nursing home for 19 of them--had penned a status that struck me and stuck with me: "When I visit my mother in the nursing home, I talk to so many who never get calls or visits from their families. They tell me about the loved ones they miss so much and long to 'just get a call from them. Have they forgotten me?' Please, if you have an elder in your life, take time to talk to them. If you don't, adopt one as yours. Their days are difficult and lonely. You can make a difference."

....

I sat in the local nursing home while the residents were being brought in for the church service which was about to start. It was my third time volunteering to help with the monthly service led there by members of my church. The times before had been only joyful and rewarding; but, this time another emotion began to play in my heart. I looked across the room full of women and men--mostly women--whom I assumed had probably known Jesus for many years, who each had lived unique lives full of real experiences, with each of whom God is every bit as intimately acquainted as He is with me. I looked at these people who needed help because they could no longer help themselves, and I began to fight back tears.

....

"But if a widow has children or grandchildren, let them first learn to show godliness to their own household and to make some return to their parents, for this is pleasing in the sight of God." (1 Timothy 5:4, ESV)

"But if anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for members of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (1 Timothy 5:8, ESV)

"Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world." (James 1:27, NASB)

....

I have elders in my life. It's about time I invest in theirs.

I've Been Occupied.

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

I haven't been here to share my thoughts much lately. So, what's been on my mind? Shopping, American Idol, and Heaven, mostly....

Shopping
I've admitted before that there is something about the change of seasons that makes me want to shop. New clothes, outdoor toys, lawn and landscaping enhancements... Spring never leaves me short of ways to spend money. And, yes, I have been doing some spending. I've hit a couple huge consignment sales during the past month and have pretty much taken care of my kids' clothing needs for spring and summer. Travis and I have also purchased a new outdoor playset for our kids to replace one that a storm destroyed last summer. The kids are dying for us to build it, and if the weather will cooperate this weekend, we are hoping to do just that!

And, I suppose I should admit that I've done a little shopping for myself, too. In Dave Ramsey style, Travis and I allow ourselves a certain amount of "blow money" each month; and, anticipating my Spring Shopping Fever, I let my blow money accumulate through the winter so that I'd be able to get a few new things for spring. My best find has been a cute little black dress off Von Maur's sale rack, marked down from $68 to $17--a deal which, as my mother-in-law teasingly chided Travis, left plenty of room in the budget for a cute new pair of shoes. :-)

American Idol
I admit it. I'm kind of obsessed with American Idol this year. I've watched many of the past seasons, but this one is different for me. I am totally awestruck at the talent, and I've gotten pretty wrapped up in the show. Each week I can hardly wait for Wednesday to come, and I'm disappointed when Thursday is over. One of my favorite performances of the season, though it's not necessarily my style of music, was Haley and Casey's duet performance of "Moanin'."

To hear the unique and extraordinary talents of the contestants makes me stand in awe of the Creator God from whom such beautiful gifts come. If singing can be this good on a fallen Earth, what will it be like in Heaven?! Which, brings me the last thing that's been on my mind....

Heaven
I never had much motivation to understand what Heaven will be like until I had a baby go there. I knew it's real, that God is there, that I'm going there, and that it's wonderful beyond my comprehension; and, I guess I thought that was enough. In July 2008, however, I suffered a miscarriage, and I began longing for Heaven more than I ever had before. While still in the acuteness of my pain, a sister in Christ who had also lost a baby offered me just the comfort I needed--a better understanding of the Place I was longing for. She told me about Randy Alcorn's book Heaven, and I've been working my way through it since. Most of my free time over the past couple months has been spent reading Heaven. The more I read, the more I think. The more I think, the more I wonder. The more I wonder, the more I long. To think that everything good in this world is only a dim reflection of the glories that await us in Heaven! To think that I will one day meet Ande Lynn there for the first time! To think that we will have eternity to live, work, play, eat, worship, enjoy, and discover on the New Earth! Now that's enough to occupy my mind for a very long time....

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.8

This is Me

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Tue, 05 Apr 2011 11:00:00 +0000

Frugality is this: using a badly broken hand mirror for 7 1/2 years by choice.

Wisdom is this: going to Wal-Mart during the NCAA Men's Basketball Championship to replace it. (Empty parking lot, empty store.)

Stupidity is this: discovering that my long-delayed expenditure would total a whopping $2.28.

Embarrassment is this: realizing when I returned home that I had barbecue sauce all over my face.

Expecting a Visitor!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Mon, 21 Mar 2011 11:00:00 +0000

I. Am. EXCITED! My mom is on her way to my house today for a week-long visit, and I can hardly wait! With 400 miles in between us, we don't get to see my parents as often as we would like to; so when we do get time together like this, it's all the more special.

Mom and I have been looking forward to this week for over a month and have been talking about all the things we want to do during it, so we started joking that we needed to make an agenda. Well, the list-maker that I am, I decided to do just that. I sent Mom an email last week with my proposed plan and entitled it, "If the Lord Wills...". :-) Some of the things on our schedule include going out to lunch for my birthday, going to the Mother's of Multiples Garage Sale, going to the mall, attending my church's Women's Retreat, and, of course, spending lots of time with the kids.

And, speaking of the kids, I'm clearly not the only one excited about my mom's pending visit. Abel called Grandma Tammy last night to ask her what time she would get here today. When she told him it would be around supper time, he said, "How about closer to breakfast time?"

I'm with him, Mom.... Are you here yet?! ;-)

Right Where I Belong

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Tue, 15 Mar 2011 20:42:00 +0000

During school today, I gave Abel several word cards--dad, cat, can, lad, rat, pot, sis, pan, mom--and asked him to divide them into like categories. Providing a little hint, I began by asking, "Which words are animals?" Abel easily located 'cat' and 'rat' and separated them into a pile. Moving on to the second category, I asked, "Which words belong in the kitchen?" Abel quickly glanced over the cards and then held one up, saying, "'Mom' belongs in the kitchen...."

It wasn't quite the answer I was expecting (and probably not an answer that our feminist society would appreciate...); but, it was a good answer nonetheless. After all, I do spend a large majority of each day in the kitchen--right where I belong, apparently.... ;-)

It's true, though, isn't it (in most cases, anyway), that the kitchen is Mom's territory? When Travis and I were house hunting in early 2007, we laid out some must-haves for our new house; and, right at the top of my list was a kitchen with lots of cupboards, plenty of counter space, and good lighting. The kitchen would be my primary work space as well as what we deemed the "hub of the household"; so, having the right kitchen was imperative.

And, I must say, the kitchen is what sold me on the house we bought. I loved the kitchen. I still do love my kitchen. On occasion, while working in my kitchen, joy and thankfulness will suddenly overflow from my heart and I will randomly say to my husband, "Honey, I love my kitchen." I do. And, I enjoy caring for it. Scrubbing the floors, polishing the stove top... it truly gives me great joy to maintain the kitchen ~~which belongs to me~~ to which I belong.

Maybe that's why I spend so much time there. Or, is it because I have four hungry little mouths to feed?... Whatever the reason, I am thankful. No matter how many times a day I have to sweep the floor, no matter how many fingerprints I have to scrub off the refrigerator door, I will enjoy being in my kitchen. After all, it's the hub of our household, and it's right where I belong.

Doing It Without Debt!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Last Friday, Travis and I made our first significant purchase since becoming debt-free; and, boy, did it feel good to do it without "fleasing" (Dave term) or financing!

A couple years ago, Travis and I looked into getting both a water conditioning system and a drinking water system installed in our home; and, as much as we wanted the goods, our quest for debt-freedom stopped us from making the purchase at the time.

Once we were debt-free and able to make the purchase in cash, though, there was nothing stopping us! We re-researched companies last week, settled on Culligan, and on Friday became the outright owners of both a water softener and a reverse osmosis drinking system! No talk of lease terms or interest rates or down payments--just the signing of a check and the shaking of a hand!

I tell you, as much I'm enjoying my new water, I'm enjoying the fact that we made a pretty significant purchase WITHOUT DEBT(!) just as much. And, I think Dave would agree that that makes good water taste and feel even better!

Toy Storage

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0000

Toys. They are a never ending problem around here. Well, not the toys themselves, but the organization and storage of them. Every toy has a place, but I've never been quite satisfied with the look of those places. In my eyes, the kids' bedrooms and the basement family area, though they be picked up and tidy, just never really look good.

I'm itching for a solution. Just ask my husband. He knows. :-)

Part of the problem must undoubtedly be that we have never spent any money on toy storage solutions barring two inexpensive wicker baskets and a used cabinet, all of which I purchased to provide hidden toy storage for our living room (the look of which I am well pleased with, mind you :-)). For the bedrooms and the basement family room, however, we have basically relied on two plastic dressers which Travis had in his college apartment, a couple empty ice cream pails, and a few empty Velveeta boxes to adequately house the kids' toys. Admittedly, these frugal solutions worked well for a time; but now that the kids are growing and beginning to accumulate toy collections which will be kept and loved for years to come, I feel that the purchase of some practical, flexible, presentable toy storage solutions is moving beyond justified and verging on necessary.

Okay, maybe "necessary" is a little too strong a word... BUT!... In my defense, I am the manager of this household and I do hold a certain responsibility and desire to make my house be welcoming, accommodating, and eye-pleasing; and the lack of appropriate places to keep various toys is becoming an obstacle for this already decorating- and organizing-impaired woman. :-)

So...

I've been doing ~~a little~~ a lot of online shopping (the kind where you look but you don't spend... ahem... yet...); and I've come up with some reasonably priced ideas that I think might just work! Ah! Just the thought of having every toy in a place that makes sense and looks good makes me smile!

Now, onto the next obstacle--convincing my husband to take me to IKEA.... ;-)

Time

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Fri, 04 Mar 2011 12:00:00 +0000

This has been one of those weeks for me where the days just slip by in busyness that can't even be accounted for. At the end of each day, I felt like I still needed an extra five hours, and I wasn't even sure why I had run out of time.

As I thought about the constant race against the clock that this earthly life seems to be, I began pondering what it will be like in heaven when we are no longer constrained by limited time. Time will still pass, but as Randy Alcorn says in his book Heaven, "[its] passing will no longer threaten us" (pg. 269) because "[it] won't be a diminishing resource about to end" (pg. 269). "When the Curse is lifted... time will never work against us. We won't run out of it. Time will bring gain, not loss" (pg. 268-269). How incredible is the thought of time working with us, giving to us instead of taking from us?! I, for one, can hardly wait for that!

Blog Party: Meet Me!

noreply@blogger.com (Angela) — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 06:01:00 +0000

Lynnette at Dancing Barefoot on Weathered Ground is hosting a blog party that begins today and goes through March 8th, and I'm linking up! If you would like to get in on meeting some other bloggers and even be entered in a drawing for some fabulous prizes, click on the button below to see how!

Welcome to Eternal Outlook! I'm Angela, and this is my blog. I love to write, I love to learn, and I love to share; and, I strive to do it all in the light of eternity. You can learn more about me and about this blog by clicking on the About Me link near the top of this page, by perusing the archives, and by checking out the answers to Lynnette's party questions which follow!

How would people describe your personality (if they could use only ONE word)?
Positive.

What celebrity/celebrities would create in you a "star-struck" feeling if you saw them in real life?
Michael Jackson would have. And, I think Lynnette would, too, because she is well-known in Blogland while still being real and approachable. :-)

Who is your favorite blogger? Why?
Of course, I love Lynnette. I don't know her in real life, but her blog tells me that she is loving, sincere, wise, and fun. But, how can I pick just one favorite blogger? I also love September--another sweet, smart, caring woman whom I would love to know personally--and Amber--my best friend in real life.

What is your comfort food/drink?
I suppose that would be chocolate, although I try not to eat much of it these days.

Be brave--tell us something very weird and random about yourself.
I wash and reuse Ziploc baggies.

Movies: Action, Drama, Romantic Comedy, Documentary, Comedy? What are your favorite genres?
I like Dramas, especially those that are based on some historical truth or event.

Books: Fiction, Non-Fiction, Romance, Biographies, True Stories, Self-help, Devotional/Study? What are your favorite types of reading material?
I enjoy Bible study books, certain non-fiction books (if the topic is right), and some Christian fiction (specifically, Francine Rivers!). Several of my favorite books are listed under the My Bookshelf tab near the top of this page.

Music: Funk, Rock, Country, Jazz, Classical, Film Score, Blues, Classic Rock, Crooner, Alternative, Heavy Metal, Techno? What are your favorite types?
I mostly listen to Christian music for the sake of lyrical content; but I do enjoy the sound of pop, rock, and some country. Oh, and I recently discovered that I love the sound of African music! (Check out this song by the Soweto Gospel Choir. I love the harmonies, the energy, and the way it builds!)

If you inherited a million dollars, what is the first thing you would do with your money?
After taking at least ten percent off the top for a tithe, I am certain that my husband would agree that we would immediately pay off the remainder of our mortgage! Then, we would be completely debt-free!

Name one weakness of yours.
I tend to get lost in my own thoughts--especially when I am writing--and not hear others who are speaking to me. I am aware of this and have been working on it, because I know it hurts those whom I love the most.

If you could live anywhere at all (and take all your loved ones with you), where would you go?
I would love to live where the temperatures are in the 80s all year round.

Do you have a strange talent?
I suppose my strange talent is that I can write with both hands. When I was in college, I slowly and mysteriously began losing the ability to write right-handed (I was eventually diagnosed with a focal point dystonia of the forearm, more commonly known as "Writer's Cramp."); and, out of necessity, I taught myself to write left-handed. I am thankful to say that the effects of my dystonia have now greatly subsided to the point that I am able to once again write with my right hand.

What is something you consider yourself to be good at?
I consider myself to be a good writer.

What is one of your favorite things to catch a whiff of?
My husband. :-)

If money wasn't a factor, what stores would you shop in?
Honestly, I'm not really aware of the stores that are outside my current price range since they aren't an option; but there are a few specific items that I would buy right now if money were no object. :-)

a right-hand ring
fashion jewelry from Lia Sophia
a gym-quality treadmill

What is your greatest accomplishment?

Well, I recently potty trained my 20 1/2-month old twins in a total of eight days, and I think that's pretty amazing! Oh, and... my husband and I just became debt-free (besides our mortgage) at the young age of 27!

What are your favorite animals?

I love horses. I grew up with them; and, as much as I enjoyed riding, I even more enjoyed just being with them. I used to think that I would one day try to work part-time in a stable. I also thought I was going to go to Law school.... :-)

What movie or book character can you most relate to?

I don't know that I necessarily relate to her, but my all time favorite movie character is probably Meg Ryan in You've Got Mail.