New Inspiration for You

There are so many good and interesting blogs out there. I often loose hours of my day reading about the lives and thoughts of others. It's an escape. It's inspiring. Sometimes intimidating.

Here are three new blogs on my Inspiration list that you may want to check out. They are all completely different from one another, but that makes them even better in my book.

Yarnstorm is by a British woman named Jane Brocket. She's written a book called, The Gentle Art of Domesticity. She's a photographer, gardener, reader, knitter, cook, wife and mother. I found her blog through another blog I read from time to time. I was sold when she used the word haberdashery like people used it everyday. First, I couldn't get the word out of my head! And second, her observations, photography and british-ness made me smile. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Mercy Rising is by a woman who lives here in the Indy area. She spoke at our MOPs group a few weeks ago and I was really impressed by her. She is passionate about equipping people to bring justice and mercy to the world in big and small ways by incorporating these values into everyday life. Two quick examples:
1. Goodsearch.com This is a search engine similar to google or yahoo. The first time you go to this site, enter a charity of your choice. I entered International Justice Mission. Every time you search advertisers will donate $0.01 to that charity. It slowly adds up and you can even track how much has been given. The site remembers your charity, so you only have to enter that info once. It's a simple way to give.
2. FreeRice.com Instead of playing solitaire when you need a break, go to this site. Exercise your brain a bit on multiple choice vocabulary words. Each time you answer a question, rice is donated by advertisers to hungry people in the world. It's great for students as well. There are various levels and subjects.

Organized Christmas.com I discovered this site last fall. I used some of the ideas before, during and after the holidays. It's very practical and do-able. There are links to print-outs for lists to keep track of Christmas Cards, Gift budget, To Dos, etc. See if it helps you at all. It actually was my introduction to the Mayfly blog because she had a pattern for a smock that Organized Christmas suggested as a DIY gift. From that blog I discovered others and the rest is history.

Autumn Joy

No other season is as exciting to me as autumn. The colors, the smells, the temperature, the anticipation of seasons and celebrations to come. Closure on the birth and maturity of spring and summer. Harvest. Apple cider, pumpkin bread. Sweaters and quilts. Raking: I love the rhythmic sound of the rake, the crunch of the leaves under my feet. I love watching the kids play in the leaves. Each tree takes on its own voice and personality as it transforms and sheds its leaves. The shorter days remind me to make the most of every moment. The cool nights invite me to light candles and revel in the soft light under a quilt or in a cozy sweater.

What do you love about autumn? Why?

For Adam's birthday, he and I went away for the weekend to Turkey Run State Park in western Indiana. We stayed at a charming Inn. Ate fantastic burgers and ice cream at Tammy's Twist and Sizzle (pumpkin pie ice cream for me. Yum!!) We hiked and took tons of pictures. We slept in. We read and lounged on the second floor porch.

I finished a great murder mystery (The Virgin of Small Plains) and almost finished a hat.

Two thoughts from the hike: 1. I loved feeling small and noticing the colors and contours of this amazing corner of the planet we live on. I took a few minutes to pause by a small creek and listen to the water. The familiar passage from Psalm 23 came to mind: "He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul." I felt restored.


2. We came past a huge tree that had been blown over in a wind storm. The effect was stunning. There happened to be a park ranger nearby. He mentioned that this tree had no tap root to anchor it. Even though it appeared to be rooted firmly, it only had surface roots. The only root that holds a tree during the tough storms is the invisible one that goes down deep into the earth. The spiritual parallels are so clear, aren't they? I can appear connected and rooted, and so can you. It's the invisible root that holds you and me firm in the hardest storms. How are you doing on that? It's given me pause lately.

Go, go, go!

Our little guy is on the go non-stop. He is crazy about cars, trucks, motorcycles, police cars, fire trucks...you get the picture. It was only appropriate to have a "car-theme" birthday. Here's how it went down:

The cake:

"Stoplight" Jello
Bulldozer ride-on. Awesome!
Motorcycle-oh, yeah!
Bike with handy steering for the grown-up. Nice.
He also got 2 great books with lots of pictures in them to keep building that vocabulary. We read them before nap and bedtime EVERY day. I now know the difference between an excavator and a skid steer and a bulldozer. Love it! It was a fun day. We missed our dear family that couldn't share the day, but want you all to know we love you.

Birthday Boy

A big happy birthday to our handsome son.

It never ceases to amaze me how one can love another so completely and then grow in that love more and more every day, every year for a lifetime. Again I find myself the giver and the recipient of that kind of love.

A car-theme birthday party is coming on Saturday. Today there were kisses, birthday candles, singing and some small gifts before the big fun on Saturday. I'm pretty sure he said more new words today than ever before. I'm looking forward to this year with him.

Fun and Easy Craft

Check out this link to a fun craft. I'm all about the practical stuff in a fun package. The cards would be a good hostess gift (I never know what to give in those situations...do you?)

Does anyone have a suggestion on a place to buy tags or blank cards/envelopes that are reasonably priced? (as in, not more expensive than the gift itself!)

Have a great day!

Celebrating!

Today a little boy I've never met from a place I've never been is sleeping in his new bed with his new mom and dad very close by. Every journey is special. Every homecoming profound. To see his little smile, you can look here. Welcome home Joshua. We can't wait to meet you!!

And They're Off...

I've been sort of coasting since we returned from Florida. Trying to soak in the summer and my kids. It's been both busy and restful. There are more pictures and stories to come, but today, let me share the happy faces of our girls' first day of school. E was so nervous about Kindergarten for a long time. I kept trying to figure out the right thing to say. Nothing worked. Finally I realized I hadn't prayed about it at all. One of the recurring themes of parenting for me is that my kids are God's first. He designed them. He can do for them what I can't. I can't change E's fears or insecurities, but God can. How? Why? I don't know, but I've seen it happen over and over. So I prayed. She changed. She used to refuse to even go into the Kindergarten room. Today she woke up smiling and confident. So excited her little body could hardly contain her pride and anticipation. It makes a mother's heart happy. It also grows my faith a little more.


David and I took our time walking back to the car. The pace of a (nearly) 2 year old rarely gets indulged. Today was the day to go David-speed. We ended up at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. This is truly one of my favorite places. We parked and just walked the beautiful grounds. As a kid I loved the book The Secret Garden. The grounds of the IMA are like that for me...paths and wonders, sculptures and wide open green spaces that let me breathe deep. There was some outdoor construction happening, so my little guy got to see some real tractors in action. This makes him as happy as hydrangeas and flagstone paths make me. It's a good day.