SNIFF SNIFF...

Today I had a few extra minutes and thought I would go ahead and decorate for Easter!  Since my kids have grown older, I have scaled back and put out a few spring things, but this time I went ahead and got down a big plastic bin I hadn't looked at in a few years.  

I quickly realized what it was:  my daughter's bunny collection from elementary school!  Plus a few other things that I wouldn't let her get rid of when she told me she was done with this stuff.  I vividly remember telling her I would just keep the bunnies and use them for Easter decorating in the future.  

The prayer list in there was the sweetest ever.  #1 was regarding my Dad, who died of cancer in 2001.  #3 is regarding my youngest, who had seven arm surgeries to help with a birth defect.  Such sweet sentiments from a 10 year old girl!

So if you're at my house and you see a lot of funny little bunnies everywhere, just give me a break!  Sweet memories...

LIFE CHANGING MOMENTS...

Recently our congregation has gone through the process of selecting some additional elders.  Nominations were taken from the members, after reminders from the Word were taught, and five were asked to consider the task. My husband was one of those.  We went through an interview with the current elders (much sweeter than scary) and much thought and prayer has been given.  My husband decided to accept the challenge, with me right beside him.

We are very close to a crossroads in our married life.  About to hit the 3-0 mark!  Our youngest, a junior in high school, will be leaving home in just over a year!  Soon we'll be emptynesters.  We have really been thinking and praying a lot about what will come next.  Some people in our position adopt or foster children.  Some downsize their homes and travel.  Some begin new businesses.  Some go back for more education and a career change.  Some build bigger homes, finally able to afford it after their children have left the nest.  Some serve as advisors on boards.  What does God want us to do? Using our gifts, what is best for us?

I believe that prayer has been answered.  He wants us to shepherd the flock.  A shepherd's life is not glamorous (and I'm sure we don't really know the half of it).  Yesterday may have been nice, with recognition and many kind words from our friends and fellow members.  They honored us with a delicious lunch.  But now it's time for the work to begin.  A shepherd has the task of protecting, feeding, and caring for the sheep.

I'm excited about the opportunities to grow spiritually.  To be more aware of service opportunities.  To get to know more struggling sheep just like myself.  Hopefully I can be like so many examples before me, with God's Spirit working in my life.  A help to my husband, a shepherd.

PLEASE PRAY FOR US AS WE BEGIN THIS NEW ROLE!

I've shared with you before that I'm slightly off on my daily devotional guide, Jesus Calling.  I decided not to let it bother me, and not look at the dates, although I'm almost through with the book.  Today I'm on December 6, and I love how it points right to our situation on February 25:  

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart 

as working for the Lord, not for human masters."Col. 3:23

"You make known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. "Psalm 16:11

"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul 

and with all your strength." Deut. 6:5

Stay ever so close to me, and you will not deviate from the path I have prepared for you.  This is the most efficient way to stay on track; it is also the most enjoyable way.  Men tend to multiply duties in their observance of religion.  This practice enables them to give Me money, time, and work without yielding up to Me what I desire most - their hearts...What I search for in My children is an awakened soul that thrills to the Joy of My Presence!

CHEVRON IS TAKING OVER...

Last fall I showed you a chest of drawers my daughter had "chevroned."  Now she is working on a chair - an Ethan Allen find at a thrift store.  So glad she is getting to do some things like this - I keep telling her all these skills will come in handy some day!

IF YOU GIVE ME A $25 J. CREW GIFT CARD...

It necessitates a trip to Denver, Colorado so I can see my daughter and let her spend it (and add some more to it, of course, everybody knows that only buys a pair of socks there) at her favorite store...

and while I'm in Colorado, we might as well do some fun stuff together, like visit the Celestial Seasonings Tea Factory in Boulder...

where you get to wear pretty blue hair nets while in the factory 

(somehow my girl lost hers when it came time for this pic!)...

then when you decide you've had enough tea they encourage you to check out the Leanin' Tree Art Gallery (another freebie) down the road, so you go and check out the cowboys...

and the incredible horses...

by that time your little dogies might be tired so you certainly have to go get them taken care of...

so you can help your girl become a true Coloradan (?) Denverite (?) by purchasing her own skis at the big REI sale...

and by that time you are WAY TOO TIRED to cook, so you have to eat at all the funky restaurants she's been wanting to try out...

and that's what happens when I earned the gift card from J. Crew.  My darling husband gave me some airline miles so I could visit my girl and enjoy a long weekend with her.  We had a lot of fun without all those boys to distract us and I enjoyed staying in her little basement apartment with her!  

GREAT MINDS THINK ALIKE...

The number "30" has been on both me and my husband's mind lately!  Yes, we are approaching (GASP) the anniversary of our marriage of 30 years this summer.  Seems hard to imagine since we only feel like we should be in our mid-30's age-wise!

Our valentines to each other this year (we do not buy cards!):

SOUP OF THE WEEK...

BLACK BEAN WITH MEYER LEMON CREME FRAICHE

This would be great as a side dish for Mexican food! As a complete meal, for me it was lacking.  But I learned something, as it seems I do with every recipe.  I had never made black beans before  but they're just like pintos - they're simple and better without that "canned" taste.  Now, about the creme fraiche - couldn't find any at the store so I learned how to make my own.  All you do is buy fresh cream, let it sit overnight to naturally sour and thicken, then add fresh lemon zest + a tablespoon of juice.  It gave the soup a nice lemony fresh taste!

The Lemon Creme Fraiche is also great on dessert!

THE WEEKEND...

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly...actually it was a lot of good with some bad and ugly sandwiched in between. Life is like that sometimes!  You want the good news first or the bad???

Well, the bad news is that someone doesn't like my son (a woman scorned?? - don't know!) and Saturday this was discovered in the front seat of his car...in addition to a dead squirrel in the mailbox and ruts in the yard near his tree house.  Somebody is really disgustingly gross!  We did call the police and file a report and also talked to our son to make sure he wasn't doing this kind of stuff to anyone!!!  What else do you do?  Next step will be to install cameras outside.

Thankfully most of the rest of the weekend was good with some Valentine's pizza with my Mom and family, some nice words of encouragement from our church family as my husband has been nominated for the eldership (a humbling and scary thing for me), and a great night with my girls' CORE group making and delivering valentines to unsuspecting folks.

It never fails to amaze me how teenage girls still love markers and stickers and being creative!  It was a lot of fun and I'm sure blessed them more than our recipients!

Happy Monday!

TIME TO BLOOM...

TIME TO BLOOM

12 years in the making

you never would suspect

it would ever happen

but everything has a season

a time to grow

a time to bloom

summers on the patio

winters in the house

they say the ones in pots don't bloom

 I say you don't know my maker

a time to grow

a time to bloom

my looks may be deceiving

my flower's kinda different

you might even call me prickly

but there's good inside

a time to grow

a time to bloom

SOUP OF THE WEEK...

CHICKEN STEW WITH BUTTERMILK-CHIVE DUMPLINGS  

My boys declared this one a keeper!  I have to say it is the best SOTW so far this year, and probably the most like my regular chicken soup I've made in the past.  I did buy leeks for the first time ever!  It's been fun learning about new ingredients and buying some things that are unusual for me.  Also, this soup is good leftover!  Thought maybe the dumplings would be too soggy second time around, but no, still dry as a biscuit on the inside.  Good stuff!

TAKE THAT, SUB-CONCIOUS...

I had a dream last night.  In fact, I've had several strange dreams lately.  I was taking a test and there was a big essay question about drug cartels.  You could use your notes.  I had written bits and pieces about drug cartels but my notebook was a mess, and I couldn't find the notes.  I was scrambling.  The clock was ticking...others were finishing and handing in their tests and I still had nothing on my paper.  What could I remember about drug cartels???  What in the world is a DRUG CARTEL?  I was so panicked. Some relative of mine sat down near me and started chatting...get away from me!  I've got to figure this out!  By now, I had realized I just needed to write on that paper, "I need to drop this class."  It was a terrible feeling.  More like a nightmare.

You know how my morning devotion began?

I AM PLEASED WITH YOU, MY CHILD. Allow yourself to become fully aware of My pleasure shining upon you.  You don't have to perform well in order to receive My Love...  Sarah Young

"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast."  Ephesians 2:8-9

"Trust in Him at all times, you people; Pour out you hearts to him, for God is our refuge." Psalm 62:8

"I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.  And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge - that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."  Ephesians 3:16-19

WHEW!

THE BEST WAY TO BE A STAGE MOM...

is to keep on feeding Follies kids year after year!  Of course the teachers and kids want you!  They are some of the sweetest, most polite, creative, cool kids around!  I'm on meal #9 today and they've been great - have had about 60 parents sign up to help out by either bring desserts or helping serve. And I got to see the first show last night - where else can you watch someone play a Guzheng or a mime portraying a religious song?  We've got some interesting acts for sure!

I want this shirt!!!

Opening night cake!

Not sure what this means but somebody needs a haircut...

One cool kid!

Having fun but I'm pooped!  Next year will be my baby's senior year so I need to start looking for some unsuspecting freshman parent with a performing arts student to pass this job onto...