The Suels

A common ailment no amount of hand sanitizer can protect against

2013-05-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

Entitlement. Lord, how I even hate the word.

We struggle and fight and try to smash that ugly entitlement bug that creeps into our every day lives but how very invasive it is in today's world.

I feel like we are standing firm against a wave that reaches five feet above our heads.

Our kids are inundated with a world that spoon feeds them the idea that they "deserve" the newest shoes. and the "everyone else has the new game system"...etc...

When I came across this lady's blog post I did an out loud "AMEN SISTER!" and a air high five. to which I may or may not have promptly returned to myself. :)

Please, take a second and read her post. It was very encouraging in a very overwhelming time to raise kids.

We are not alone in this battle!

http://wearethatfamily.com/2013/03/raising-grateful-kids-in-an-entitled-world/

"An Ambush," said Owl, "is a sort of Surprise."

2013-04-17T08:16:00.000-07:00

For a birthday of mine a couple years ago, my husband made me an owl house. I wrote about it here: http://thesuels.blogspot.com/2011/02/owl-take-it.html

Each year, our owl comes back, sets up shop then leaves during the winter. I understand that male owls have to have a home to show a potential female. If she approves, bingo. Owls are pretty smart, huh? :)

Recently a pesky squirrel decided to move in while Mr. Owl was away at his winter home. I warned the squirrel. I even hosed the guy with a water hose to make him move on. He didn't.

Mr. Owl is back. and he dominated.

:)

We have enjoyed watching our owl. The owl house was easy to make, here are some instructions: http://www.owlcam.com/whatever/boxbuild.htm

Owls are AWESOME rodent eliminators, screech owls in particular love those big tree roaches (shudder!!) that fact alone makes him my new best friend. And makes we want to set up 78 more owl houses. {{{{still got the willies}}}} tree roaches are demonic. In case you didn't know. Here's a few pictures I snapped this morning. He's been keeping watch over the tile guys comings and goings.....

Weird kitkats and bagels.

2013-04-09T17:54:00.001-07:00

I know I am weird and this I accept- but recently my husband has been pestering me to post about a particular weirdness of mine.

So, here it is.

I normally work at home surrounded by tiny, needy but lovely, humans-in-training. Not alot of conversing happening. So things I think upon usually just turn out to be a conversation with myself. I often find I don't express where or what or why I am doing things.

But lately, I ditched my lovely family and went to work in Round Top, Texas at Marburger and surrounded myself with intelligent talkative adults. Adults with ALLLL kinds of thought patterns. Interesting. :)

Here are a few of the AWESOME people who tolerate me for a couple weeks twice a year:

The hardworking porters Rodney and Nick:

My boss sits here but wont let me take her picture. So imagine a very pretty, sweet lady sitting across from me here:

The sheriff's officers and Brad's daughter Bailey:

And operations manager Brad. (I adore his entire family!)

One day in the office, my boss' teenage daughter walked by and expressed her love of kitkats. She rummaged through the candy bowl until she found a kitkat. Well, I don't like kitkats. Haven't for YEARS. bleh.

But several weeks, months? ago I decided I STINK at empathy. My son rocks at it and I really really stink. I mean I am really awful with empathy. And a while back as I thought/prayed about my stink empathy abilities I thought about people who use tricks to remember names. Red hair, Reba... etc... I decided to make up an empathy exercise.

Still with me?

So I decided that in order to put myself in someone elses' shoes, I'd try foods they liked. Even if I hated them. Maybe Id discover new likes as well as put my mind in a place to think about a person and why they like that item, etc...

So, boss' daughter liking kitkats, meant, I'd try a kitkat. still bleh. BUT now when I see or smell or taste kitkats, I think about her. And pray for her.

All of this had been just happening in my own head. Until one morning I saw my sister make her coffee and it was what I call a "frufru" coffee. Flavored. yeck.

But, I'm exercising my empathy vein so I try it. and I LOVE IT. weird. but I did. Being that she's a conversable adult and it's my rare opportunity to speak up about things rolling around in my head, I walked in her room and told her I tried her coffee and I liked it. She asked me what made me try it. I explained my new empathy strategy. She smiled. I assumed she thought, WWWWEEEEEIIIIIRDDDDOOOOO... but she's used to me... so nothing new there.

Now, macadamia nut coffee reminds me of my sister and I pray for her when I smell or taste it.

And today, my sister called me and told me that earlier she had to run an errand for a friend and pick up that friend's breakfast.
The friend had ordered a really strange concoction of bagel and peaches and something else. She immediately thought. REALLY?? But then, she ordered the same for herself. To try to put herself in his shoes and see what it was that he liked. and guess what? She liked it. But MORE than that, she said that taste will forever remind her to pray for that friend.

Empathy exercise? maybe? definitely an exercise in getting outside of yourself, trying something new, and remembering to pray for someone.

Heaven

2013-03-27T09:35:00.000-07:00

I've spent a lot of time thinking about Heaven lately. And what it will be like.

I recently read, One Minute After You Die. By Erwin Lutzer

I highly recommend it. It was so helpful to me in clearly understanding the biblical truth of what Heaven is and the choice we make.

The other day Tim and I were watching American Idol when the top ten were announced. This year, they did American Idol differently. Only Ryan Seacrest knew who was a finalist. The family and crowds did not know who would be coming through the doors until they walked through. And as they did, the friends, and family would jump to their feet, throw their hands in the air and just celebrate.

Tim paused the video right as Kree walked out to show the crowd she was a finalist. Tim turned to me and said,"You know, this is what Heaven will be like. Your dad, granddad, friends and family will be there and as you enter, they will be standing and clapping and grinning, throwing their hands in the air and saying, "YES! YES! YES!" as you see what the Lord has for you."

I was struck with how amazing that analogy is. I can just see Jesus, going over to my dad, nudging him and saying, "Come on. I wanna show you something." and as I walk into Heaven them being there, just beaming.

Let me show you:

Now, hit play

Do you have the assurance that you will be walking through those gates? You can, it's free. Christ died so you can live.

All it takes is accepting that He died for your sins and without him and his death on the cross, you would be eternally separated from Him. Believe that Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross and rose again, and that His death alone paid the price for your sins. Tell him.

If you are still on the fence, check out One Minute After You Die. and The Bible. 1 John 3:16“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. 17“For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him. 18“He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

The Bible: viewer discretion is advised.

2013-03-23T16:22:00.001-07:00

The Bible.
Have you been watching?
We have. And you know what strikes me EVERY TIME it starts? That there's a statement at the beginning. A warning.
It says, "viewer discretion is advised."
This actually makes me smile. And it reminds me of that line by C.S. Lewis when speaking of Aslan the Lion, ""He's not safe, but He's good".
Our God is powerful, right, good, and dangerous.
We are looking forward to tomorrow's episode.
The mission. This picture is from tomorrow's episode.
.
As I have become a mother, I have identified more and more with Mary. Look at her face.
That is her baby.
Her boy.
And her God.
What her heart must have been feeling is unimaginable. Remember this scene from The Passion of the Christ?
My heart stops.
My heart just stops.
As a follower and disciple of Christ, this Easter season is important.
It's holy. It's beyond words what our Savior did for us.

I love the reminder from Christ, "I am making all things new."

Even as He was being scandalized, beaten, and murdered, He encouraged US.
The ones that put Him on that cross.

I encourage you to watch tomorrow night.

The Mission.8/7 central on The History Channel.

I leave you with the song we will be doing tomorrow at church:

The Vintage Soul

2013-03-15T10:51:00.001-07:00

So I've been thinking,

What makes Mumford & Sons stop me in my tracks, cause me to tear up, and celebrate all in one split second?

And what makes Kree Harrison, from this years American Idol, make me sit up and listen? Good vocals, definitely. But it goes beyond that.

What makes me disappear into another world when the Avett Brothers start playing? oh and Patty Griffin. I could go on.

I don't think it's just about vocals, or lyrics.

It's about the life they've lived. Now, I don't know any of these people personally, and for all I know, they may have lived an ice cream and waffles life. but I bet not.

When I see Kree, I see pain and life.

It is the same for all my favorite gut wrenching, soul-ripping, artists. They've lost something dear. They've experienced pain.

Maybe it didn't register so fully with me before I felt life's deepest wound. Before I felt such an indescribable loss, I didn't realize how it affected you after.

I see it in people. I see the gold vain in the rocks that the pressure of sorrow has created. Yes, Ive also seen the bitterness, that those who suffer and get angry, are embracing.

But for those who don't get bitter and angry, and instead let that sorrow and pressure and pain grow them, have a new feature. It's a vain of gold that God creates in the cracks pain causes.

I see Kree's gold.

And I see the gold in my friends who have been fractured. It's in their eyes, their words, their stance, their posture, their hand motions.

I see it. Thank you God for turning the fractures into ribbons of gold. And thank you God for letting me see it.

James 1:2-4 ²Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,³because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

To hear a few of my favorites: {I dare you to listen- it'll make you close your eyes and feel every word}

Patty Griffin: Up to the Mountain

Mumford and Sons Timshel Kree Harrison: Stronger

Marburger Farm Antique Show Tshirt Giveaway!!

2013-03-11T05:38:00.000-07:00

So, y'all know I work for the greatest antique show on earth, right? Well, if you didn't know, I do.

I work for Marburger Farm Antique Show.

I help in lots of ways and recently I helped with the design of their Spring Show Tshirts. (yikes! its approaching FAST!)

And personally, I LOVE them. That works out well for myself.

Here they are:

The front has a small logo on the top left, and the back has all the names of the 12 historic buildings that are on our property.

We are so excited about them we are giving one away. Go comment HERE to enter to try to win one! I guarantee, you will LOVE it!

Baby boy to big boy.

2013-03-09T15:02:00.001-08:00

My sweet first born hooligan grew up over night. Literally.

Here he is with his signature long blond hair and curls.

We took him in to get a "new look"

And he came out 3 years older!!

I just cant believe this BOY is my baby. Im too young for this!

How to create a color palette using Photoshop

2013-03-04T12:01:00.001-08:00

There are many times I have a photo and need to create a color palette based on the colors in that photo. Here is a photoshop tutorial on how I create this:

First I open my saved photoshop color box. I have a vertical and horizontal version.

When its open it look like this:

Then I go to file->open->and I find and open the picture I need the color palette of. In this case I just chose a image of some vintage barkcloth.

Next I use my mouse and click and drag the top tab of the barckloth down an inch or two so that photoshop has both the palette form and barkcloth photo open.

Then I, using the move arrow, click on the image of the barkcloth and drag it into the center large box of the palette form.

Then I click on the barkcloth and drag it to the top left corner of the large black box.

Then I {Photoshop shortcut} click on the barkcloth image, click ctrl T (which makes it transformable) then holding down the shift key I grab the corner of the barkcloth by clicking and holding left mouse key and drag it until it fills the black box. Be sure to let the mouse key go first then the shift key- this keeps the dimensions correct.

Next on third layer down in the layer section I double click on the tiny black box inside layer 6.

It opens the color picker. Next grab the eye dropper tool and click anywhere on the barkcloth that you want the color to grab.

Continue this process for all the layers. Layer 6 to layer 1. Just double click on the tiny black box inside the layers section, grab the eye dropper and click it anywhere on your image you want the color of. It'll fill the boxes below with the color you grab.

When you are finish, you will end up with this. Save it as a Jpeg or whatever format you need.

This is so helpful when working on blog layouts, interior design, any thing that needs a color scheme. I love it!

Here is another example using my vertical color palette form.

Here are the vertical and horizontal color palette forms. Feel free to save them and open in photoshop to use.

have fun!

Click here to download Vertical Color Palette form for photoshop

Click here to download Horizontal Color Palette form for photoshop

How I make signs

2013-03-01T14:21:00.002-08:00

First, let me explain that these are treasures:

No, they aren't trash even though they came from a trash bin. :)
I make my signs on discarded wood. Doors, windows, cabinet doors, sidings, fences, etc. If I like the way it looks, it'll be painted on.

I start with a word, illustrator, or photoshop document. When I create a new page I put the dimensions of my piece of wood or size I want the sign to be. In this case, my scrap piece of crapped up wood was 16 inches wide by 6 inches tall. I needed a sign for my gate so, here is how I did it.

I used Adobe illustrator and made the document 16x6.

When I create the document of that size it allows me to see how my wording will fit. I choose fonts that I like to make the sign look good.

Here is the document I created for this sign.

Then I drew some guide lines on my crappy wood with a pencil. I had my printed document beside me to help give me guidance.

Then I "emulate" the font. Is that a technical process??! I am not sure. I can pretty much eyeball copy any font. That skill helps in this process but you could always use tracing paper.

Here are photos of this sign progressing.

I had my pencil guidelines to keep my letters exactly the same size

I just penciled in my letters, I used a baby wipe to erase when I made a mistake.

Kept writing until I had it like I liked it.

Then, now, forgive me here, I was being ultra lazy, but I used a sharpie. I just needed a sign dang it! Most of the time I use paint. Whatever kind I have. Craft, wall, left overs, I mix paints for color... etc.

So, here I have outlined the letters in sharpie marker.

Then, get ready for it, I colored them in. with sharpie. {cringe} I DO normally use paint. I suggest paint. High quality paint. Sign paint. -kidding. use whatever you have. the cheaper the better.

So I colored and colored until I have the sign below complete. Took maybe 20 minutes.

Here are a few others I have done. These are just around my house in various places. Most don't stay long. Friends and family have a way of running off with them.

I cannot tell you how lazy- er, I mean, efficient, I am. I am not exact, I make mistakes but it just adds to my "vintage" look. :)

Trust me, you can do this too.

Good luck, just grab a piece of crappy trash wood and try it out. You may surprise yourself.

Calendar Journaling

2013-02-21T11:31:00.000-08:00

I have always journaled. And I believe with every fiber of me that handwriting holds something so beautiful. No one else on planet earth has the same handwriting that you do.

The note my father hand wrote will forever be one of my most precious possessions.

I have advocated especially in this text/twitter/email age to please please please write notes to your children. Journal. They will treasure those things.

My grandmother's hand written recipe cards are treasures.

I give journals as gifts often so my friends will write their thoughts, prayers, songs, ideas, pains, and praises down on paper so their family can have it.

I also use my calendar as a journal/note place. I just don't have the time to scrapbook, but keeping a note of a special day on my calendar helps me remember special events. I save my calendars as a journal of sorts.

My calendar pages progress through the month. I never just sit down and fill up a calendar page. Its a piece here, an important trinket, page of a note from my baby boy, quotes from a sermon, lyrics from a worship song, whatever comes up. And what is always striking, is when I look back at the end of the month, it never fails to reflect my journey through the days.

Here is a look at a couple of my calendar pages:

Old welsh hymns and mo' banjo!

2013-02-18T17:17:00.000-08:00

Our precious friend Brian Runge often visits Grace Bible Church, and when he does he often records some or all of the worship set.

This Sunday he recorded Tim and Aaron preforming "Here is Love". An old welsh hymn written in the late 1800's. I love that Brian recorded it from the pew and you can here God's people singing about His perfect love.

Tim played guitar and did vocals and Aaron played the banjo.

I swear one of these days I will have a tshirt made that says, "more banjo." I will wear it to church proudly. There is never enough banjo.

ever.

Valentine's Day- Celebrating His Perfect Love.

2013-02-14T12:52:00.001-08:00

Let me start with this: I didn't know how to deal with today, Valentine's Day.

Because my dad always treated me and my sisters, and my mom so well on Valentine's Day. He always sent chocolate covered strawberries to my door. So, honestly, since my dad died unexpectedly 3 1/2 months ago, I wasn't sure how today would go.

I woke up broken hearted. I missed my dad so much. And I knew I wouldn't get that phone call today.

A package came to the door yesterday from my mom. When it arrived I smiled because I knew my mom was sending us treats. I set it aside and thought to myself I'd open in later.

I had a few moments alone this morning so I decided to open it.

The first thing I saw was an envelope with my name on it in my mom's handwriting. I thought she'd made me a card.

I opened it and I just froze.

I saw my dad's handwriting. The only thing in the envelope was this note:

He wrote this and two other notes on February 14, 1990. One to each of us girls. Mine read:

Tara,

Happy Valentine's Day Tara! Are you happy? Do you know you are loved dearly by your Mom and Dad? Do you know we like you and find you to be a pleasant thing in our life- a real joy and blessing! I'm so glad God brought you to us. I'm so glad I got to be your Dad. You are very special Tara. You are very tender and sensitive. We love that about you. Keep a careful watch on yourself- your life. Be true to what you know. We will always love you.

Your friends,

Mom and Dad

I was 14. The line that stopped me was "I'm so glad I got to be your dad." It's past tense. He wrote this note 23 years before he died. He had no inkling his life would end early.

23 years ago God pressed on my dad's heart to write this note. My dad tucked it securely away where it stayed undiscovered and untouched for 23 years. Two weeks ago my mom uncovered it. Perfect timing for me to receive it on this very tough Valentine's Day.

This is a very touchable, very specific example of God's love. He loves us enough to tuck notes away to minister to our broken hearts. He loves us more than we've ever even known.

Our love here on earth is a shadow of His perfect love for us. For our family, Valentine's Day is a celebration of God's love for us.

Tonite we start a tradition in this family. On Valentine's Day we go out and celebrate that God loved us so much he sent His only Son to die for us. The ultimate act of undeserving love.

Prayer changes us.

2013-02-10T15:40:00.000-08:00

Y'all know I cant sit still at church, so I again, I took notes.

Today's sermon from Brian Fisher was incredible. You can listen to them here

It was about Prayer. He had some really amazing and insightful points. One thing he hit on was how prayer is a discipline. It takes time and effort to get out of the noise and distractions of our lives today. Hang on, my iphone is buzzing....

He noted in the end why it is we don't pray like Jesus did. He had four reasons. The one that stood out to me the most was #4. He said it gently, "We don't realize how much we need it." If I had been wording it I think my words wouldn't have been so gentle.

I probably would've said, "we don't know how desperate we are."

My reason is this: I never never never viewed prayer before like I do now. Prayer was a way of communicating and asking for something.

Never before had I been in the place where I didn't care about sleep, or food, or friends, or obligations. These things interfered with my praying time. When someone would say, "Tara, eat something." or "Tara, go sleep." I never thought my answer would be "no, no I don't care about those things."

I now know to pray like Jesus is to understand desperation. Jesus knew His situation in the garden was desperate. He knew only God could understand. Only God had any impact on the situation.

In my most desperate time, I knew praying like Jesus. To pray with every fiber of your body. For it to be more important than food. or sleep. or air.

I was desperate for my dad to live. God's answer wasn't yes. He answered No.

But I think in that desperate time, it wasn't just about pleading with God. It was about God changing me. Because in the most heart crushing "No", I saw His Glory.

If we truly understood how desperate our situation was, and how desperately lost we are without Him, we'd pray like Jesus.

Worship Sneak Peak

2013-02-09T13:15:00.003-08:00

My house is LOUD. All the time. Seriously, I will put it against any other noisy house and we will win. Hands down.

Most of the time I choose to block out the screeches, the banging on various music instruments, the squalling, etc. I only begin to listen when I hear laughter, giggles or worship. and occasionally when I hear "help".

Today, I listened.

Here's a sneak peak for Sunday. Go to church y'all! :)

The Land

2013-02-03T14:32:00.000-08:00

There are a few places on this earth where I can go and feel like I can breathe. For years now, Ive been going out to this special place and I feel my spirit slow down and my mind take a breath. I just feel at home.
This past week when we went out there it struck me....

Who would've thought that this is the road I can feel myself unwinding on...

and that Id pass this sight on way...

Or that these guys would make me smile for the first time in ages. Really smile. Who knew?

or that this cow barn would mean I can jump out of the truck, and walk slowly and breathe, and begin to feel all is going to be alright.

Or that this pile of gorgeous doors and windows discarded would make my heart skip a beat?

Its hard to put into words how magical it is to see this little boy sitting beside me in the back of the truck just taking in every gorgeous sight.

And to watch Cora and Lockett run around and hear all the sounds. That is breathtaking.

To watch the boys explore...

And to share it all with this man. I am blessed.

My Super Heros

2013-01-28T09:45:00.002-08:00

When we found out our third and last baby was a girl, I was scared. I dont know what to do with a girl!! I am a boy mom. I get boys, I know what to do, I can handle boys. But a girl!? My first question was, "does that mean I have to do BOWS???"
But as Ive gotten more experience with my daughter Cora I realize more intensely how very different boys and girls really are.
Let me show you:

GIRL- playing with her mimi, strapped to her in her "baby carrier" She carries babies around and changes her shoes constantly.

Now, BOY- playing super "destruction" hero. The face says it all, huh?

They are all super to me.

The cape is a batman/superman reversible cape from etsy. It has been one of the best Christmas gifts!

Downton Abby

2013-01-27T15:34:00.000-08:00

Downton Abby is, perhaps, maybe, my all time favorite series.

I blame my sister for getting me hooked.

Three hours until the next episode. I cannot wait.

No, I did not name my daughter Cora for the character on this series. My great grandmother's name was Cora. But I do love it.

Its hard after I watch an episode not to spontaneously break out into my British accent. Or say things like, "Don't be defeatist, dear, it's very middle class".

I absolutely love the characters, all of them, but you probably cant guess which is my favorite.

Go ahead, try. Just try to guess.

ok, I'll tell you. Its Lady Violet. Shocked? Maybe those who know me aren't entirely shocked.
I love her quit wit and how she says things like they are. Just whatever comes to that girl's mind comes right out of her mouth. {SOOOOO different than me....}

Here are a few of my favorite Lady Violet lines:

"Edith dear, you're a woman with a brain and reasonable ability. Stop whining and find something to do."

"No guest should be admitted without the date of their departure settled."

"I don't dislike him, I just don't like him. Which is quite different."

"I'm a woman, Mary. I can be as contrary as I choose."

"Edith! You're a lady, not Toad of Toad Hall."

"Well, so what? I have plenty of friends I don't like."

Who's your favorite character? Why? Favorite moment so far?

QuickZip Sheet Set GIVEAWAY! WINNER

2013-01-18T07:59:00.000-08:00

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER!!
ok, sorry, there's no chicken dinner, but we have a winner!!!

Cheyenne! You have won the sheet set! Email me Harley168@hotmail.com to let me know where you want me to send the set!

Congratulations!

Okay, you guys know I have my "mom must haves" list and honestly, my very top pick, the QuickZip sheet sets are a game changer. Some of you can picture it, and some of you have lived it.... having to change the crib sheets with a crying, exhausted baby, fighting the bumper pads or crib rails.. it's ridiculous. After I had Harrison and began to understand how often I'd change those sheets, and the incredibly, laughably hard, challenge it is, I knew there was a better answer. And I stake my very reputation on it. These sheets will change your life.

I used them through Lockett and Cora and give them to every new mom I can.
And here's the best news. They are having a HUGE sale this weekend! On their outlet store page HERE, you can find incredible savings PLUS I happen to have a coupon code. :)
And because I LOVE you, and never want anyone shedding tears over changing crib sheets again, and the wonderful staff over at Cloud and Stars want you to save money, I will share it.
The code: MLK3 will be active TODAY (Friday) 1/18 through Monday 1/21, and it is for 30% off the already reduced prices on the outlet store page (only).
I have the starter set and one extra top sheet. So, when I need to change the sheet, all I do is unzip the top sheet and zip in the new one. No hassle, SO easy. Game changer.

And more good news. I'm going to give away a set! The very, very good people at CloudandStars.com want to give one of you your choice of a crib or twin Starter set in the ecru/brown/white dot print!

All you have to do is leave a comment. Which set do you want? The twin or crib set? I will randomly draw a name from those who comment Sunday night and announce the winner Monday morning. Check back on Monday to see if you are the winner!

Good luck. I'm about to change your life. :)

Safe in the Arms

2013-01-07T11:01:00.004-08:00

This is a song my husband, Tim, wrote a few years back. He wrote it with some words Fanny Crosby wrote. He added a few verses and the music. He recorded it on his album. It has been sung at every one of our family member's funerals. I think its just such a sweet reminder, we are safe.

p.s. I dont know who posted this on youtube, but thank you! you can check out more of Tim's music on itunes.

be still

2013-01-02T12:11:00.001-08:00

Some days are tougher to steady my soul than others. Some days I need extra reminders, encouragement and "steadiers". I needed this reminder today:

Just this simple truth-

2012-12-21T11:10:00.001-08:00

"Our calling is to make the afflictions of Christ real for people by the afflictions we experience in bringing them the message of salvation. Since Christ is no longer on the earth, He wants His body, the church, to reveal His suffering in its suffering. Since we are His body, our sufferings are His sufferings."
- John Piper

Cookies in a jar

2012-12-18T08:24:00.001-08:00

Need a last minute teacher or coworker gift? These are great fast easy YUMMY gifts. Chocolate chip cookies in a jar- this is a tried and true recipe my family loves!
I used quart sized jars, put the ingredients in, cut out a paper round to put over the lid, screwed the rings on, tied the instructions to the jar and done.
Here's the recipe:

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups (9 ounces) Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar

Directions

COMBINE flour, baking soda and salt in small bowl. Place flour mixture in 1-quart jar. Layer remaining ingredients in order listed above, pressing firmly after each layer. Seal with lid and decorate with fabric and ribbon.

RECIPE TO ATTACH:
PREHEAT oven to 375° F. Beat 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) softened butter or margarine, 1 large egg and 3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract in large mixer bowl until blended. Add cookie mix and 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional); mix well, breaking up any clumps. Drop by rounded tablespoon onto ungreased baking sheets. Bake for 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on baking sheets for 2 minutes; remove to wire racks to cool completely. Makes about 2 dozen cookies.

Calendar doodles

2012-12-12T05:58:00.000-08:00

I was standing here in my kitchen studying my calendar to plan out my next couple days and I was planning a blog post about my favorite pens when I thought, I wonder if everyone's calendars look like mine? I hope my calendar isn't the only jumbled mess of doodles. One way to know how much time I've spent on the phone is take a gander at my calendar. If its filled with doodles you can bet I've spent more time on the phone that I wanted to. (I hate talking on the phone! But sometimes my jobs demand it) So, this month, I've been on the phone a lot as you can see.....

Trying to relax on a sinking ship...keep steady...

2012-12-08T11:41:00.001-08:00

I've been very busy lately but there are times when I just need to do something to relax. I enjoy handwriting and practicing calligraphy. I journal all the time and I practive in my journals and notes taking. Below are a few of the pages from my most recent journal.

That last one is something my dad and I used to say. Somedays it definitely feels like I'm rearranging furniture on a sinking ship- I struggle with keeping focus on the eternal and not getting hung up on rearranging furniture.