contentedsparrow

i need it spelled out on my arm (and a coupon code for you)

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Wed, 01 May 2013 04:49:00 +0000

i feel naked....

if i leave home without the reminder on my wrist.

my wide cuff because i'm shallow and so easily forget that He goes with me.

that i'm sheltered.

always and forever.

that in Him, there is safety and calm.

that my heart is bound to my Maker's even if my temporal feelings are screaming at me otherwise.

ok, so, yes, i also love being reminded of my friend, becky, the cuffs' talented maker, the girl God dropped into my lap who felt like a soulmate that weekend once upon a time. we're far in distance but she's never far from my heart (or wrist, ha)!

miss becky has limited her cuff-making to 10 days at the beginning of every month. you know what that means, right? today's the day. it's the 1st! she is generously offering my readers 15% off their orders. awesome. just use coupon code "megan15" at checkout.
here's her shop....dream away about what you need reminding of.

happy may, y'all. it was blissfully sunny and 80 degrees here today! ahhhhhh

praying you're showered with His peace this week,

said the swallow to the dove...

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 16:50:00 +0000

today,

be still and know,

He cares.

the snail and my blog

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 17:14:00 +0000

"By perseverance the snail reached the ark."

~ Charles H. Spurgeon

this little california snail made us smile so. the way he twisted and contorted to move sooooo slowly was awesome.

he just kept on going no matter the obstacle. no matter how slow the progress seemed.

a good lesson for us all.

i suppose i should expound with a personal story BUT i only have a moment and

i wanted to say that...

instagram has eaten my blog.

i've discovered such joy in relationships over there that i'm finding it JUST SO HARD to invest time here. you know, right(?), that i've always struggled with what to type out, what to share. the words never flow naturally. the photos and the creativity, yes. but, words? not so much. that's why instagram is the perfect place for visually-minded me! also, i've opened a little instashop there and that plus etsy & everything else in life is keeping me running (at a distinctly UN-snail-like pace). i'm loving it! SO, that's why this blog has been so quiet. are you on instagram and i don't know it? find me, would you??! just search "contentedsparrow" because i'd love to connect with you there.

p.s. all that said, i DO have things on my mind and heart that i'd like to share.

and i will. eventually.

thanks for sticking with me.

hope your week is lovely!

time for a recipe: grandma's sour cream-almond pound cake

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 04:08:00 +0000

if you're trying to stick to your diet, i suggest you move right along past this post. this is a diet-buster for sure. if you like buttery-almond goodness, that is!

happy was the day when mom or grandma would make this cake. my brother and i had a peculiar way of enjoying it....squished up into little pound cake balls. a pre-cursor to cake pops! and when mom let me lick the beaters (always), i was in batter heaven. ohhhhhh, the batter. i consider myself somewhat of a batter and dough connoisseur and this one is tops. :)

what makes this recipe different than your average DRY pound cake is the sour cream that adds the desperately needed moisture and the beaten egg whites that add a bit of fluff to the cake. but the star of the show is the almond extract. you really must like almond to appreciate this recipe. theoretically, you could swap out vanilla for the almond but it just wouldn't be as special in my opinion.

something you'll want to note. my personal preference is to slightly underbake the cake. but i like most everything underbaked. i like it doughy and very moist. the picture below is when it was hot from the oven and you can tell in the top photo that it dropped quite a bit as it cooled. that's because i underbaked it by ten minutes. perfect for us but you may prefer a fully-baked cake and it's still good that way, too.

Let me know if you end up making it and what you think! Ours lasted less than 48 hours. :)

p.s. it felt good to tap out words here again. xo, megan

i exist

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Sat, 23 Mar 2013 18:35:00 +0000

life has been happening.

good stuff.....

cooking.

creating.

loving.

but goodness,

i miss this space.
tonight, Lord-willing?
a post?
thanks for sticking with me.
xo

leavin' on a jet plane

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 18:29:00 +0000

since i blabber on about it seemingly all the time, y'all know how sunshine and traveling make my heart beat fast, right? ohhhh, they do. during the michigan winter, just having something to look forward to does wonders for my whole attitude. (although gratitude is really the answer for my bad attitude!) anyways, i've been anticipating tomorrow's trip so greatly that i felt it would never come.

my man and i are flying the coop (which the chicks being cared for by the grandparents) back to stay with our friends-like-family in sunny florida. YEEHAW!!!!!!

the same place we lived it up in last year.

dead serious - i've been dreaming about that coffee for one agonizing year. tomorrow, cuban con leche, we have a date!

i suppose i shouldn't put off packing any longer.

tell me about the trips you're looking forward to

or the ones you dream about.

(i have SO many i dream about.

i want to experience all of this world that God created.

i want to learn about and love on His people.

i want to be dwarfed by the splendor of Him.)

in which we escaped to the tropics...sort of

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Sat, 02 Mar 2013 16:44:00 +0000

that day i woke up, the sun was shining, it was freezing outside and i KNEW we needed to head out for a field trip. we had been learning about the rain forest so a trip to the warmth of the faux tropics at our awesome nearby botanical gardens sounded perfectly-perfect.

of COURSE, a field trip isn't a field trip without stopping by the doughnut shop first. the one with those ridiculously good fudge delights, wonderfully overfilled with cream.

stepping inside the garden's door away from the blustery wind and being greeted by the smell of green and the warmth of hawaii was absolutely fantabulous. my soul took and big breath and said, ahhhhhhh. we're so blessed to have this place to escape to in the winter. we need to go more often!

we hit up the desert first, then the carnivorous plants room, and ended up in the lush conservatory room complete with waterfall and freshly-emerged butterflies. what's my favorite ecosystem? all of them! i can't express strongly enough how much i enjoy all of the different flora & fauna that God filled our earth with. cacti and coconut palm equally thrill me.

i can't put my finger on why but ever since i was little, i've been especially enthralled with desert. not dessert, haha, but yes, that too. growing up in the midwest, it was and is just so foreign and mysterious to me. i can't wait to visit someday. (you should have heard me squealing with glee when i first saw real-live tumbleweeds in kansas!)

we thought that hairy guy was so funny

and crown of thorns was cool.

the cactus below looked like plaid to me.

and the fuzz on these guys was like lamb's wool.

the next room coud very well be our favorite if we HAD to pick one. carnivorous plants are

just so cool.

our mid-week visit meant that it was blissfully quiet in the conservatory, rain forest room. which was probably good because the noise level that we ourselves create isn't the lowest. every march brings butterfly time to our gardens and trying to see who can get the closest to one is our game.

those chrysalis are GOLDEN....metallic golden! amazing!

it definitely was a

best day.

#truth

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 04:41:00 +0000

"He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit,

and I will live to enjoy the light."

Job 33:28

vintage sheets anyone?

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Thu, 21 Feb 2013 07:37:00 +0000

hey there,

just wanted to let you know here that tonight (thursday) at 9:30pm est, i'm having an "instasale" over on instagram. you can find my little instashop by searching for "sparrowmercantileIG". what's an instasale, you say? i post a picture of an item and the first person to comment with their paypal email address and zip code is the winner/buyer. so, it's a bit like an auction except with fixed prices.

you can see in the photos a sneak peek of what i'm selling. i'm clearing out most all of the vintage sheets i've been ~~hoarding~~ collecting over the years. plus two quilts, one afghan, some pillow covers, and a few non-vintage linens.

and in case you are on instagram and didn't know, i'm "contentedsparrow" over there. :)

thanks for taking me....crazy seller girl and all.
xo

this i know for sure

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Sun, 17 Feb 2013 06:00:00 +0000

you're precious in His sight.

just as you are.

may you abide in His sweet love today.

abide canvas here.
snickerdoodle recipe here.

in which He says Listen Up

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Wed, 13 Feb 2013 18:56:00 +0000

HEY!

sheesh!

i've been longing to blog.

AND I WILL, SOON.
(as in, i will actually take the time to compose a post longer than a paragraph.)

but today i leave you with this.

this that God knocked me over the head with recently

(smack dab in the middle of one of those winter-grey, energy-sapping days).

"My Peace is like a shaft of golden light shining on you continuously.
During days of bright sunshine, it may blend in with your surroundings.
On darker days, My Peace stands out in sharp contrast to your circumstances.
See times of darkness as opportunities for My Light to shine in transcendent splendor.
I am training you to practice Peace that overpowers darkness.
Collaborate with Me in this training. Do not grow weary and lose heart. "
John 1:4-5; Hebrews 12:3

-Sarah Young, Jesus Calling

OK, Lord, i hear ya. loud and clear! You're always right!

thankful today for

sunshine after the dark

strong bodies

busy hands

endless curiosity

how You speak volumes

full

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 15:12:00 +0000

shelves.

heart.

thank you.

(i'm off to play now!)

tomorrow

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Fri, 01 Feb 2013 03:08:00 +0000

my eyeballs are sizzling from staring at this screen.

seriously...burning. upon returning home from Bible study this morning, the first thing i did was pluck my contacts out and put my glasses back on. ahhhh.

(random fact about me....i've had glasses since 2nd grade, contacts since 6th grade and can't see a LICK without them.)

i don't know if it's the same for every etsy seller but listing takes me an inordinate amount of time. tell me it's not just me?? not complaining, though.

thanks for all your encouraging words and support, friends.

y'all are the best.

i'll start clicking "publish listing" at 9am est tomorrow morning.

just hey.....and a peek

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 01:41:00 +0000

hey guys,

well, you know that beautiful snow we tromped through on saturday?

it's gone.

completely.

save for a few parking lot piles. is it unusually warm where you are, too?

not only was it warm but there was a thunderstorm with lightning! on january 29! crazy!

i KNOW weather talk is OH so exciting but

i was really just popping in to give another sneak peek of some more goodies that will be listed in the shop on FRIDAY. it's just short and sweet because this girl has to get BACK TO WORK! during this time before a big shop update, i always question why i do this to myself. meaning, list everything at once instead of trickling things into the shop every now and then. and my answer? i don't have one. really.....no idea.

anyhoo....

here's your peek.

& hope you had a lovely tuesday.
(it was my firstborn's 11th birthday today. he and i snuck out for starbucks and doughnuts this morning. i made lemon pie bars. and then the restaurant he chose to go to tonight gave him/us the most ginormous strawberry shortcake free birthday dessert. blahhhh. full. i die.)

too bad for me that that hoop is going in the shop. it matches my paintings pretty well, if i do say so myself.

in which He blessed: snow and sun

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Mon, 28 Jan 2013 21:50:00 +0000

saturday we awoke to that glorious, elusive thing. that thing that makes my heart SING! the sun! a cloudless sky! joy of joys! i was almost manic with happiness. winnie, the girlie and i headed out for a snowy hike. winnie's endless enthusiasm and bounding-through-the-drifts glee was so fun to watch. girlie snow angels. birch trees. buried birds' nests. those kind of days draw my heart back to where it should be. grateful. content. praising Him.

we stopped to visit with the chicken ladies before heading inside. ms. mabel was all, "for heaven's sake, get my feet OUT of this snow. ick!"

to ensure that our ladies stay warm and keep on laying through the dark winter months, we use a small heat lamp inside their coop. which also keeps their water from freezing.

doesn't the snowy bird bath look mushroom-like?

today & tomorrow we're having a strange heat wave so the snow's turning back into water and melting away. it rained last night and my husband had a snow (or rather ice) day today, which is always awesome. except us homeschoolers still had to have school. which the kids did not think was so awesome. but they did hurry through their work to get to the daddy-pull-us-behind-the-snowmobile fun.

i'm kind of a crazy lady getting ready for the big shop update on friday.

you'll come take a peek at what's new, right?! pretty please?

every day this week, i'll post a little sneak peek of some things that will listed.

THIS FRIDAY, feb. 1 at 9am EST.

naturalist hoop....hoop frame.

grace groweth best in winter

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 23:20:00 +0000

this morning.

when it's 4 degrees, i must leave the house and the truck's tank is below empty.

when on the way home i stop for a coffee treat, brave the wind, slip & fall and lambast my hip on a snow-covered curb. (but i managed to keep my coffee-like-gold upright! which explains why i didn't brace myself for the fall.)

when i feel as cold as her face looks.

when this contented sparrow struggles with discontent.

and what feels like SADS.

there's but one thing to do.....

the one thing is to OPEN my eyes to His grace. to the joy all around. to His love poured out in gifts all around me.

"So if you’re serious about living this new resurrection life with Christ, act like it.

Pursue the things over which Christ presides.

Don’t shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with the things right in front of you.

Look up, and be alert to what is going on around Christ—

that’s where the action is. See things from His perspective."

Colossians 3:1-2

The Message (MSG)

lately whenever i slip into that....the getting absorbed with the ground beneath my feet & all i'm seeing is loneliness, fear, & grey, i find He whispers to me, "look up...look out, I've given you all you need."

sunday morning when i was particularly feeling the weight of missing my friend who moved away until june (snowbird-style :), i walked into our church bookstore and found His word of comfort through HER* right there on the shelves. "she knew that when her affections were set on things above nothing could steal her joy." my eyes were lifted off the ground and the weight fell off.

*she's the artist. :)

what in my life can be counted as all joy?

→snuggly, sweet secondborn←

→little girl's love of going away to classes one day a week←

→warm & cozy home←

→cinnamon stick and clove concoction bubbling away on the stovetop←

→i get to BE home where i've always wanted to be←

→facetime to keep faraway friends close at heart←

→the quiet of falling snow←

→how it covers all the earth's mud and grime←

→kids and dog snow-playing-glee←

→a husband/father who protects & serves us well←
→the swish-swirl of the dishwasher←
→instagram encouragement←
→satisfying work←
→color....simply color makes me happy←

i could go on and on (and i'll continue the count). it's truly an endless list.

some other things that help me stomp out winter blues.....

eating cleaner is like sunshine for my insides.

exercise....i'm not saying i'm doing this well but i know it's a proven mood booster.

and a big one for me is springifying my/our space.

even if winter has sort of just begun here in michigan.

my number 1 way of doing that is by buying new plants. springy ferns, succulents, colorful, flowering things.

i switch over from wintery&spicy to sweet&citrusy candles.

and i recently felt the need to eliminate (almost all) red from my decor and replace it with cheery pink and coral and orange. i took down the red lanterns that had been hanging from my ladder-turned-pot-rack forEVER and hung up a hastily spray-painted pink basket filled with plants and candles. {that pink paint is going to town once it warms up a bit outside.}

any linens with pink were pulled out of the stores and put to use.

i shifted and rethought wall decor. finally hung up prints that had been waiting.

made plans to paint more walls white (way down the road).

freshening up does my mental health good.

and lastly, i MAKE myself brave the cold and the snow because once i DO get out there, i always feel a bit better. the fresh air and all. :)

it was zero degrees when i snapped that photo below but, ohhhh, that sunshine was worth it!

here's to keeping our eyes up, friends!

much love,

megan

+title quote by samuel rutherford

it is well with my soul: printable

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Wed, 16 Jan 2013 06:40:00 +0000

whether sorrows like sea billows roll

or peace like a river,

this is truth.

a reminder of my anthem, my prayer, my hope.
i'm going to be washi-taping this one to my wall.

to print, just click below to get to the 8x10 pdf

(feel free to link back to my original post but not directly to the pdf, please)

printable here

in which i share the etsy love

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 06:28:00 +0000

thought i'd share a morsel of frivolous fun on a friday. {snicker}

amidst a rough-and-tumble, first day back to school after a long break on monday, this beauty arrived on my doorstep. happy mail, indeed! a gift from my thoughtful friend, erin. ( p.s. thoughtfulness is something highly, highly value in people. not gift-giving but the kind of thoughtfulness that tucks words into the memory bank for later use.) she remembered that i love all things deer-related. she saw deer fabric. her first thought was, "megan must have that pillow!"

that deer fabric was/is the backing to that lovely pillow below. the first time i saw a paisley sprouts pillow was at craft weekend and i oohed & ahhed when meg put that baby on her couch. i do believe that becky flew home and ordered two the next day! owning one was on my wish list and my sweet friend made my wish come true. {{thank you, again, erin. :)}

look at the straight lines on that thing! allison of paisley sprouts is one amazing seamstress. i've seriously never in my life seen such a well-constructed pillow. for REALS! the cover is removable, as well. if you follow her on instagram, you get sneak peeks (like erin did) of pretties before they're listed. she's "paisleysprouts" on ig.

anyhoo, i thought you'd enjoy this little tidbit of loveliness.

now carry on with your day.

there's that deer fabric that caught erin's eye.

and allison's packaging made me feel like i was unwrapping a special birthday gift. well done, allison.

Links for 2013-01-09 [del.icio.us]

Thu, 10 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

to love
andrea @the flourishing mother on love and les mis. she puts into words the reasons why i had to sit and recover in my car after seeing that movie.

Links for 2013-01-08 [del.icio.us]

Wed, 09 Jan 2013 00:00:00 PST

the crazy good things you can expect from God in 2013
yes! be encouraged! (ht:ann :)
homeschooling:a gentle transition
aimee @living, learning, & loving simply is one wise mama....her words on getting back to work after an extended break.

making His deeds known: 2012 in review

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 06:36:00 +0000

abide: verb

1. to remain; continue; stay;

2. to continue to be sure or firm;

2. to wait for; await

our word for the year. a close runner-up was dwell. i'm looking to "continue to be sure" in my faith. to lean into Him. to wait on Him. to listen, really listen for His direction. and ACT on it. not just BE sure but to GROW in that assurance. and out of that assurance, to bear fruit that will bless others. starting with those in my own home and spiraling outwards.

what's your word for the year?

God's goodness, mercy, love, and faithfulness overwhelmed us in 2012. like always. looking back over my instagram photos, i see them as all grace. it was hard but i gathered up some favored moments from the year. and i use this first (real) blog post of the year to continue on with my list of thanks.....

#1,452 - 1,550

color surrounding us everywhere, all the time!

creativity because we're made in your image, Lord

the taste of a sweet orange on my tongue

kids with cookie dough on spoons

Your wildly wonderful world

palm trees and dripping moss

her hazel eyes and pink lips

boys with crab traps

opportunities for adventure

riding a bike with him in the sunshine

Your promises painted across the skies

her

boating boys

the beach and heat and friends during a michigan winter? now that's heaven on earth

weekends away with him

cuban cafe con leche, ohhhhhh my

laughing until we cried

stitches in fabric

the joy of watching kids experience things for the first time

camp where they experience You

him by my side forever & always

a beautiful wedding and the happiest flower girl that ever was

women that yearn after You

friends to know & be known by

sand dollars and underwater things You created for no other reason than our enjoyment and Your glory
the promise that You go with us always

learning as lifestyle
sunny mornings
firstborn hugs
instagram friends
with etsy shops! :)

that daughter You gave me!
amazing architecture and city squares that ooze history
babies with rolls. i mean, seriously, is anything jollier than mr. henry up there?
kids who venture a new-food taste
how He uses this crazy internet to bring people together

the endless, astounding, amazement i find in Your creation
being this close to a dolphin.....eeeek!
treehouses and chidhood
blue angels BOOM

their first time skiing and loving it

joy to the world

patient dog

his kissable lips

the gift of her friendship

Your loving hand evident

this is the day the Lord has made. EVERY day
his fishing joy
celebrating another year
girlie besties with hot cocoas

days full of beauty
and You right there in the midst of storms
her, her, her, her, her, her, her, her, her
and so many other enriching relationships He's given
(too many to list out. you know who you are!)

a fluffy companion who's brought SUCH joy to our days
a garden that feeds us
the smell of lemon in my nose
her spunk
saying "yes" to things that bring him happiness

another anniversary celebrated...15 years
art in our city
beach days!
unexpected soul sister
a friend that mentors me in the wonderful grace of You

an outlet for creativity

being able to contribute

coffee in morning

traditions

cheese farm!

secondborn's dimples and sweetness

sunsets over water
discovering unforgettable places
solo travel that fills my emotional tank
his connection with that goldendoodle girl

school on the trampoline!
a new chocolate chip cookie recipe that's the best yet
celebrating the marriage of a boy we've known since babyhood
friends that are like family
getting connected in the church body
6-year-old birthday girl

"So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three;

but the greatest of these is love."

1 Corinthians 13:13

"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name;

make known his deeds among the peoples!"

1 Chronicles 16:8

as you can see....

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Thu, 03 Jan 2013 23:54:00 +0000

...i'm majorly freshening things up around here. rearranging furniture is one of my favorite pastimes. change is good. especially in january.

so, your grace please if things look wonky for a few minutes (hours?)?

thanks!

p.s. do you like it so far?

i'm still here

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 17:43:00 +0000

and doing well!

i promise!

i'm itching to blog.

500 photos taken in the last 20 days came off my phone last night.

my husband is still home this whole week so we're all still in vacation mode.

well, if you can call organizing every nook and cranny of this home a vacation.

it feels SO good though. someone is going to score big time at the thrift store this week after i drop off my goods.

#thebackofthesuburbanisfull

#ilovehashtags

did you get an iphone for Christmas?

then hurry up & join instagram....my favorite virtual place.

you can find me by clicking on the little polaroid camera in my sidebar or search in instagram for contented sparrow or megan modderman. because making time to blog is hard for me, instagram is something i do daily.

ok, i just wanted to check in to say that i will be back! soon, Lord-willing!

and just like the house, this space is getting a fresh makeover, too.

thanks be to Him for new beginnings!

happy new year!

hope

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 08:07:00 +0000

"So with you: Now is your time of grief,

but I will see you again and you will rejoice,

and no one will take away your joy."

John 16:22

praying for CT

Links for 2012-12-14 [del.icio.us]

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 00:00:00 PST

southern fried
i heart their signs.

come in for a visit, won't you?

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 13:50:00 +0000

hey there!

happy thursday to you.

i'm chipper because of the 11 hours of sleep i got last night. ahhhhhhh. it was SO needed. climbing into bed at 8:30 with a book (and falling asleep 2 pages in) was something WAY overdue. busy doesn't suit me.

i wanted to let you know that i'm sharing a holiday home tour over at heather's life made lovely blog TODAY. like i said in the post, i truly wish i could have you all over for my grandma's lemon fluff and some strong coffee with a titch of peppermint creamer. but since i'm not so sure that's possible, my virtual door is wide open.....

c'mon over for a visit!

(*just click above)

p.s. my post over there is photo-laden so you may want to let it load for a few. :)

Links for 2012-12-12 [del.icio.us]

Thu, 13 Dec 2012 00:00:00 PST

lovely december desktop calendar
geninne has done it again. better late than never!

hello second week of december

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Mon, 10 Dec 2012 06:37:00 +0000

i fear i have completely lost my blogging mojo if i ever did indeed have it!

just as i don't have time to write

(and am shirking my nighttime etsy duties to tap this out),

i'm quite sure you don't have time to read!

but maybe you chose to spend your one free moment today catching up with me?

thank you. :)

it's just a tidbit and

a few photos today.

all my in-real-life peoples can tell you that i've

always been a Christmas-tree-the-day-after-thanksgiving

kind of girl.

but we didn't cut our tree down until this week.

and my main floor looks like a glittery, sparkly bomb went off.

i truly only have two bins of Christmas decorations but it's the

undecorating that slows me down.

THIS is what keeps me productive at night....

every night as of late.

and it tastes so much better, don't you know, with a flea market silver spoon. :)

the tree farm where we go every year is kind of pricey and the frasiers have been sorry-lookin' the past two years but it's hard to change tradition. and i don't want to! the kids love the marshmallows with a bit of hot chocolate (wonder WHO they inherited that from??) and the farm dogs and getting to use the saw. the trees were still short and expensive but it was another deposit in their memory bank. "remember that place we always got our Christmas trees from? the one with all the marshmallows you could eat?!"

on a completely unrelated note, all i really want to do lately is to be stitching or knitting or digging into my Bible or baking or reading aloud. hmmm, i think i may have mentioned that in my last post.

i stumbled upon these two stitchery patterns below on etsy. they make me laugh. maybe you'll find me stitching away in the cold of january.

this downton abbey embroidery pattern pdf makes me smile.

i'd love to sit and stitch away on these fun downton samplers. pdf pattern here.

ok, i'm off to deal with the mess downstairs. to turn the Christmas jumble into Advent peace.

in my heart most of all.

blessings to you today.

in which i long for slow

noreply@blogger.com (contentedsparrow) — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 15:47:00 +0000

"for You have been my help,

and in the shadow of Your wings

I will sing for joy.

My soul clings to You;

Your right hand upholds me."

psalm 63:7&8

i'm here.

all is well.

i'm busier than i want to be but i say that knowing full-well that it's all self-imposed and i have the power to change it so i shouldn't have even mentioned it at all!

my soul LONGS for a quiet advent.

a slowed-down waiting on Him.

sitting still in front of the lit tree. (which we haven't cut down yet.)

being creative with the kids.

playing games with hot chocolate in our hands.

and most of all, i'm hungry for Him and His story.

Lord, help me to slow to see You.

Links for 2012-11-21 [del.icio.us]

Thu, 22 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

on the news....
craft weekend on TV

Links for 2012-11-20 [del.icio.us]

Wed, 21 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

love looks like this today
what does your love look like today? gentle wisdom from my friend erin @tweet potato pie

Links for 2012-11-19 [del.icio.us]

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 00:00:00 PST

craft weekend
meg's post about the weekend over @whatever