I can say that I have faced many deep sorrows in my life. That being said, I have to say that one of the most difficult times in my life was dealing with being single until I was 30. Don't get me wrong, I understand for each person over 30, they only wish they had been married at 30. Each year gets lonelier and lonelier. But I cried so many lonely tears, for so many lonely years. Anyhow, I wrote a letter to my friend who is single this morning. I re-wrote some of it to protect her ambiguity. But this gives the general idea. I do not forget the heartache I felt being single, and wanting to be married, and hopes this encourages some singles who may read this.....
To my dear friend,
It's is kinda crazy. Over the years I have made an observation. I can have a client who is suffereing from an illness, or losing somebody very close to them to an illness, but what do they talk most about, inspite of the heartache they are suffering from? Love. Relationship. Boys. And I have been the one who has gone overseas to serve and seen God do big things. But in the end, during those days, what did most conversations revert to at some point? Love. Relationship. Boys. And, as you very well know, you can pick up and go around the world, in an area that is poverty stricken, and what do the girls there talk about? Love. Relationship. Boys. :)
In the end, as women, we are all the same. Matters of the heart seem most important to us. :) God made us for relationship. But, in a way, now that I have been married over a year, I can look back and see more clearly some things I probably knew at the time, but couldn't articulate. So I mainly wanted to share them with you...Because I think you are great! :)
In reality, I think it is more than the fact that God made us for relationship though. Try to follow me here. Men often find their identity in their work. What I have found working at the salon is that women often find their identity in their relationships. That is why ladies will introduce themselves, not by their profession as men do, but by their role in other's lives. "I am so-n-so's mom, I am so-n-so's sister, friend, mentor, teacher, etc."
This brings me to two thoughts. The role that God made Eve for, at the beginning of time, was to be Adam's helper. I think that is still true today. The struggle comes when, as I was there not too long ago, and you are there now...when there is nobody in front of you that you are called specifically to help in the intimate relationship you are made for. We long to help a man, but when there is no man in front of us that we are called to help, we feel the void and longing.
Which brings me to my second thought. What do we do when this happens? We end up helping others. (Now, don't get me wrong. Not all women actually use their single time serving. But I write this to you, because I can see this in you, as I was once there.) In serving, there can be great satisfaction, and simultaneously great sorrow. I remember once, I was about 28 when I was talking to my cousin. She was telling me about her friend, who was also serving in ministry. And what she said brought tears to my eyes, because I couldn't say it better myself. She said that she realized something. She spent her single days, serving others. Which is such an admirable thing to do. (Scripture talks about how when we are single we have the ability to have an undistracted devotion to God!) But she realized that all these people she helped had photo albums at home with a ton of pictures in it. And in those photo albums, she is in just one of the many photos. The people she served had these lives going on around her. Then there is her. And what is in her photo album? Not the husband and kids that she wanted. It was of all the people he served. While she was just one small picture in theirs, they made up her entire album. And it grieved her. And hearing it grieved me.
And after talking to you the other night, it makes me wonder if you are there or not. If you are similar to how I was, you are sometimes totally content in life and thriving. Then other times, you are just flat out lonely.
But here is what I want to tell you. I am praying that you have perseverence. In those times, you need endurance. Because you, my friend, are really doing a job well done.
There has never been more of a time when I felt like something was wrong with me then when I was single. There were many times that I felt like my friends, mentors, etc. would all over-analyze me, and try to figure out what I was doing wrong, and why I wasn't married. In the end, I just felt like a project to be fixed and like I had no clue what I was doing. And I felt like I was the reason for why my husband wasn't there yet.
In reality, God just hadn't brought him to me. And wow, I am SO THANKFUL that God protected from ending up with somebody other than His best!!
So today I will just simply tell you that I believe for you that he is on his way. The man who God created for you to help is coming. And it will be simply and profoundly beautiful. :)
But in the meantime, you are doing a job well done, my friend. I can see you continue to direct your emotions, loneliness, tears, heartache back to God. You are chosing faith, believing that God is working behind the scenes of your life.
In the meantime, I challenge you with one thing. Because now that I am married, I realize this more clearly having (finally!) come out the otherside. The things that you struggle with now will still absolutely be there (but more apparent) when you are married. I know that this is nothing profound. But a man does not solve all your problems. And having somebody in front of you watching you each day only makes you more aware of your "issues." Trust me. :) So is it worry? Work on it now, because it could effect your marriage later. Is it stiving? Work on it now, cause your husband will want to just relax with you and enjoy you. Etc. You get it. Thankfully we are ALL a work in progress, and there is never an end to growing in our faith and lives. :) So instead of trying to figure out how to find a man, and what you need to do to find him, try to figure out how to be the best wife you can be. Cause that day is coming, I just believe it for you!
So keep on keeping on lady. You are doing good. Don't get caught up in all the distractions around you. Don't settle for "just okay." Because when I look at your life, I see God's fingerprints all over it. And he isn't going to just stop now. He is a good Father, who desires to bless you. You don't have to try to manipulate or convince Him to bless you. He just does. And you won't "earn" a husband by all the things you do for God. He, in His grace, gives them to us not by our doing.
So I will say it again...keep on keeping on. He is coming. You won't be able to figure it out until he comes. So don't try. :) Cause when he comes, you seriously will not have to over-analyze it. You will just know. God will absolutely make it clear. Nobody wants you to know God's will more than He does. Trust me. It will be amazing and beautiful! And trust me, lady, I will be there at your wedding praising God!!!! Cause it will be so awesome. :)
I love you friend. You are one special girl. God wants to bless you. Keep going. Keep the faith. Don't look to the left or the right. And one day you will wake up, by a man's side, and be like "Wow, God is awesome and He knows best!"
All my love to you, praying,
Julie :)
Monday, May 30, 2011
Saturday, May 28, 2011
a few of my favorite things
I am inspired by a post I recently read, that my friend Jana wrote. In this post, she listed a few few of her favorite things. And quite honestly, I hope the idea catches on and spreads!
In a way, just the title of the post brings me back to my childhood, when life seemed simple, and we were in the car as a family singing. We were singing one of the many songs that my grandma taught us from the most amazing movie ever, "The Sound of Music." We would sing "These are a few of my favorite things." I can only imagine me singing it off the top of my lungs, thinking I had an amazing voice. Jillene was a little bashful about her voice as she sang; somebody could only hear her if they were literally sitting a half a foot away. And then there was Janelle. Little Janelle. :) Lets just say that we thought at that age that she would literally be tone deaf the rest of her life. I am thankful (for her and us!) that her musical vocal skills are largely improved since those days! :)
But I love the concept of the song, as I think about it. It says that the simple things in life are the things we should be thankful for, even when life gets hard it, they are what we should be thinking about...."Raindrops of rose, wiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes, silver white winters that melt into spring, these are a few of my favorite things....When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things. And then I don't feel so bad." Love it!
So here is a short list of some of my many favorite things....
1. Wrapping myself in warm sheets, towel, or clothes, right after they are out of the dryer while they still smell fresh like the fabric softener sheets.
2. Listening to country music, on a 70 or 80 degree day, windows down, sunroof back.
3. Brownies. Enough said.
4. Health....you don't realize how much you appreciate it, until it is gone.
5. Naps on a blacket outside in the sun (when its not too hot/not too cold.)
6. Touch. I think many of us are touch deprived. That is why I give hugs to all my clients and friends when I see them and when I say goodbye. And massages aren't bad either!
7. The smell of the first rain of fall...yes, I am trying to remember this time of year how much I love it after summer.
8. Little kid laughs and giggles!!!
9. Going on a walk in fall, leaves changing, latte in hand, with a good friend.
10. When the house is completely clean, it smells good, and you actually have time to sit and read and enjoy it.
11. Sewing/craft/cooking days to instrumental or worship music. Even just a few hours of just being creative and letting your mind relax.
12. Quiet. It is definitely the most underrated thing there is!!!
13. Holding hands. Simple. Pure. Closeness.
14. Swinging. There is nothing like a swingset to make you feel like a kiddo again.
15. When you go so far back with a friend, that there is just an understanding between you two that you don't have to explain much. You just know and understand when you are talking.
16. When you fall in love with a song and have to listen to it on repeat...until you are finally tired of it and move on to the next..
17. Having the ablilty to help somebody who needs it, expecting nothing in return.
18. Finding the perfect piece of fabric! (Only those who sew will understand how exciting that is!)
19. My favorite pair of jeans.
20. Being able to have peace in my heart. I am right with God. I know Him. I can hope and smile at my future. And I am confident in my hope of eternity.
In a way, just the title of the post brings me back to my childhood, when life seemed simple, and we were in the car as a family singing. We were singing one of the many songs that my grandma taught us from the most amazing movie ever, "The Sound of Music." We would sing "These are a few of my favorite things." I can only imagine me singing it off the top of my lungs, thinking I had an amazing voice. Jillene was a little bashful about her voice as she sang; somebody could only hear her if they were literally sitting a half a foot away. And then there was Janelle. Little Janelle. :) Lets just say that we thought at that age that she would literally be tone deaf the rest of her life. I am thankful (for her and us!) that her musical vocal skills are largely improved since those days! :)
But I love the concept of the song, as I think about it. It says that the simple things in life are the things we should be thankful for, even when life gets hard it, they are what we should be thinking about...."Raindrops of rose, wiskers on kittens, bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens, girls in white dresses with blue satin sashes, snowflakes that stay on my nose and eyelashes, silver white winters that melt into spring, these are a few of my favorite things....When the dog bites, when the bee stings, when I'm feeling sad, I simply remember my favorite things. And then I don't feel so bad." Love it!
So here is a short list of some of my many favorite things....
1. Wrapping myself in warm sheets, towel, or clothes, right after they are out of the dryer while they still smell fresh like the fabric softener sheets.
2. Listening to country music, on a 70 or 80 degree day, windows down, sunroof back.
3. Brownies. Enough said.
4. Health....you don't realize how much you appreciate it, until it is gone.
5. Naps on a blacket outside in the sun (when its not too hot/not too cold.)
6. Touch. I think many of us are touch deprived. That is why I give hugs to all my clients and friends when I see them and when I say goodbye. And massages aren't bad either!
7. The smell of the first rain of fall...yes, I am trying to remember this time of year how much I love it after summer.
8. Little kid laughs and giggles!!!
9. Going on a walk in fall, leaves changing, latte in hand, with a good friend.
10. When the house is completely clean, it smells good, and you actually have time to sit and read and enjoy it.
11. Sewing/craft/cooking days to instrumental or worship music. Even just a few hours of just being creative and letting your mind relax.
12. Quiet. It is definitely the most underrated thing there is!!!
13. Holding hands. Simple. Pure. Closeness.
14. Swinging. There is nothing like a swingset to make you feel like a kiddo again.
15. When you go so far back with a friend, that there is just an understanding between you two that you don't have to explain much. You just know and understand when you are talking.
16. When you fall in love with a song and have to listen to it on repeat...until you are finally tired of it and move on to the next..
17. Having the ablilty to help somebody who needs it, expecting nothing in return.
18. Finding the perfect piece of fabric! (Only those who sew will understand how exciting that is!)
19. My favorite pair of jeans.
20. Being able to have peace in my heart. I am right with God. I know Him. I can hope and smile at my future. And I am confident in my hope of eternity.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Gluten/Dairy Free Tips I Have Learned Along The Way...
It has been 14 years since I have seen my friend, Jana...but I am so excited that I get to see her today! I have been following her on Facebook, and on her amazing blog, for a bit now. What is bringing us together? She is now getting her family on a gluten/dairy free diet. Her kiddos have some medical conditions, so she is a like-minded friend, who is now on board to do whatever lifestyle change is needed to help those she loves!
After reading about what she is undertaking, we decided to get together so I can hopefully help her get started with her new endeavour. It can be pretty overwhelming at first. And if you aren't careful, you can spend your entire paycheck on only food because it can get so expensive. So I put together a collection food that we use a lot. (Which I have had lots of help from friends like Pam Powell and Deanna Morse!) I just know Jana will be sharing her tips with me before we know it! I even wonder if she is already going to know everything I am going to share with her!
So....here is what I came up with. It would only be of interest for anybody who is trying to eat gluten/dairy free... Or it could be of interest for anybody who wants to see how much work I put into feeding my man. haha! :)
(Side note: although we are dairy free, we still haven't taken him off eggs. That will come. So some of these recipes have eggs in it, for those who are very strict and sensitive!)
BREAKFAST:
*Cereal & Rice Milk....
-I love almond milk. But considering Caleb likes rice milk with his cereal, and you can get a great deal on it at Costco, we opt with rice milk.
-Most of the time you can get Nature's Path "Crunchy Maple Sunrise" at Costco. If not, you can get it at New Season's or Whole Foods.
-Envirokids has multiple flavors. We usually get Gorilla Munch or the Peanut Butter kind. You can get them most places...Trader Joe's, New Seasons, even Fred Meyers.
-Chex has multiple flavors and you can get them most places. Look for coupons too!
-Rice Krispies is coming out with a gluten free one in the next month or so. (Great for making treats!) In the mean time, you can find alternative brands at the health stores.
*Pancakes & Eggs/Omelets
-Bisquick has the best gf mix by a LARGE margin!
-If omelets, we use "daiya" shredded non-dairy cheese cause it melts so well. New Seasons or Whole Foods has rice/almond cheese alternatives that are great.
LUNCH:
*We keep lunch simple....both for conscience and $$. Sandwiches.
-Udi's has the best gf bread. It is small, so you may need two for a man. I know some people who toast it for sandwiches. It is definitely better toasted. But to send with Caleb to work, I just make it normally.
-I make turkey or chicken sandwiches with dijon mustard and veggies.
-I also make tuna/egg salad sandwiches with "Best Foods" mayo.
-Then we just add a snack or two with his sandwich in his lunch.
SNACKS:
-Lara Bars (Cashew is the best flavor. But Costco has the best deal. The cherry ones in it aren't so great tasting though...don't know how kids would like that flavor.)
-Grapefruit cups from Costco
-Peanut Butter & celery (We use Adam's all natural peanut butter)
-Peanut Butter & apples (Caleb eats this after his workouts)
-Peanut Butter & bananas (My favorite)
-EnerG gf pretzels (I get them at Fred Meyer)
-Chips and salsa (We get Kirkland brand salsa, and Mission chips both at Costco)
-Smoothies!! We make in our magic bullet...frozen blueberry/ frozen strawberry/ spinach or frozen mango/ banana/ spinach smoothies...both with rice milk and raw honey.
DINNER:
*Spaghetti! (At least once a week)
-Trader Joe's has the best brown rice pasta for the price.
-We get Classico spaghetti sauce from Costo, again for the price.
-Or you can put some olive oil, shredded non-dairy cheese, garlic, and basil for a pesto with chicken. (If you are short on time, I just defrost the grilled frozen chicken from Trader Joe's)
-Throw some ground turkey and onions or veggies in it!
-You can make garlic bread by toasting Udi's bread, Earth Balance non-dairy butter spread (I use it all the time and it tastes great!), and garlic powder.
*Hamburgers
-You have to get used to the gf bread instead of buns. I have more trouble with it than Caleb, believe it or not.
-Harvest Breads has some good gf buns too. We just use the bread to save $$.
*We do huge salads!
-all sorts of toppings...and don't forget Quinoa for added protein!
-I got a recipe off my friend Amy Hickman's blog for a homemade dressing we have been using this week...
1&1/3 cup oil, 2/3 cup red wine vinegar, 1 tsp sugar, 1 clove minced garlic, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1 tsp dijon mustard, 1 tsp gf worchestershire sauce, 1 tsp paprika
*Quinoa, with roasted veggies, and meat (fish is great with it!)
*Soup!!! I have a great lentil soup family recipe. It is pretty easy to make soups gf now. Just use beans or rice pasta in place of regular noodles. And make sure the soup base (broth) is gf.
*Chicken Quesidillas/Nachos/Tacos
-corn tortillas/chips with "daiya" shredded cheese melted on it with chicken!
-every once in a while we have recently got the frozen chicken tacos from Trader Joe's. They are super good...kids would like them. They just aren't too low fat.
*Chicken Nuggets
-This one is for on the go. Ivan's is the best brand that kids would love too. I get them in the frozen section at Fred Meyer.
*Rice Bowls
-You can get a great deal on wild rice at Costco.
-Throw black and pinto beans, onions, garlic, salsa, chicken in it!
-Cafe Yumm's sauce is gluten and dairy free too!!
*Bob's Red Mill gf bread mix makes great dinner rolls
*You can never go wrong just having meat on you. Adding veggies. Then a starch...brown rice (you can even buy it pre-cooked at Trader Joe's), quinoa, garlic bread, etc. It saves time and money to just buy a few meats and a few starches and mix and match them throughout the week. We do this a lot...
*Then....about once a week...I make a more difficult meal. One that requires more ingredients or work. That would take too long to post all those recipes all at once. :)
DESSERTS:
-Coconut IceCream! (We get Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss)
-Kinnikinnick donuts (in the frozen section...I get at Fred Meyer)! All flavors are GREAT!
-I make peanut butter cookies a lot...I got the recipe from my friend Becca. It's EASY and CHEAP! 1 cup peanut butter (I use crunchy), 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 egg. Make sure you smash them down with a fork or they will cook into little balls. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes on a dark pan. YUM!
-Enjoy Life pre-made, box cookies. Caleb like Snickerdoodle.
-Bob's Red Mill Chocolate Chip cookies I heard were good. Haven't tried them cause Caleb can't eat chocolate.
-Pamela's baking mixes are good. Anything in that brand is good.
-"The Craving's Place" coffee cake & scone mix (I get it at Fred Meyer).
Anyhow, I am hoping this helps Jana. She is such a researcher, that I am sure she has already learned a lot already. And I am super excited to trade recipes and ideas with her in the months ahead! But for today, it will just be so great to see her again!
After reading about what she is undertaking, we decided to get together so I can hopefully help her get started with her new endeavour. It can be pretty overwhelming at first. And if you aren't careful, you can spend your entire paycheck on only food because it can get so expensive. So I put together a collection food that we use a lot. (Which I have had lots of help from friends like Pam Powell and Deanna Morse!) I just know Jana will be sharing her tips with me before we know it! I even wonder if she is already going to know everything I am going to share with her!
So....here is what I came up with. It would only be of interest for anybody who is trying to eat gluten/dairy free... Or it could be of interest for anybody who wants to see how much work I put into feeding my man. haha! :)
(Side note: although we are dairy free, we still haven't taken him off eggs. That will come. So some of these recipes have eggs in it, for those who are very strict and sensitive!)
BREAKFAST:
*Cereal & Rice Milk....
-I love almond milk. But considering Caleb likes rice milk with his cereal, and you can get a great deal on it at Costco, we opt with rice milk.
-Most of the time you can get Nature's Path "Crunchy Maple Sunrise" at Costco. If not, you can get it at New Season's or Whole Foods.
-Envirokids has multiple flavors. We usually get Gorilla Munch or the Peanut Butter kind. You can get them most places...Trader Joe's, New Seasons, even Fred Meyers.
-Chex has multiple flavors and you can get them most places. Look for coupons too!
-Rice Krispies is coming out with a gluten free one in the next month or so. (Great for making treats!) In the mean time, you can find alternative brands at the health stores.
*Pancakes & Eggs/Omelets
-Bisquick has the best gf mix by a LARGE margin!
-If omelets, we use "daiya" shredded non-dairy cheese cause it melts so well. New Seasons or Whole Foods has rice/almond cheese alternatives that are great.
LUNCH:
*We keep lunch simple....both for conscience and $$. Sandwiches.
-Udi's has the best gf bread. It is small, so you may need two for a man. I know some people who toast it for sandwiches. It is definitely better toasted. But to send with Caleb to work, I just make it normally.
-I make turkey or chicken sandwiches with dijon mustard and veggies.
-I also make tuna/egg salad sandwiches with "Best Foods" mayo.
-Then we just add a snack or two with his sandwich in his lunch.
SNACKS:
-Lara Bars (Cashew is the best flavor. But Costco has the best deal. The cherry ones in it aren't so great tasting though...don't know how kids would like that flavor.)
-Grapefruit cups from Costco
-Peanut Butter & celery (We use Adam's all natural peanut butter)
-Peanut Butter & apples (Caleb eats this after his workouts)
-Peanut Butter & bananas (My favorite)
-EnerG gf pretzels (I get them at Fred Meyer)
-Chips and salsa (We get Kirkland brand salsa, and Mission chips both at Costco)
-Smoothies!! We make in our magic bullet...frozen blueberry/ frozen strawberry/ spinach or frozen mango/ banana/ spinach smoothies...both with rice milk and raw honey.
DINNER:
*Spaghetti! (At least once a week)
-Trader Joe's has the best brown rice pasta for the price.
-We get Classico spaghetti sauce from Costo, again for the price.
-Or you can put some olive oil, shredded non-dairy cheese, garlic, and basil for a pesto with chicken. (If you are short on time, I just defrost the grilled frozen chicken from Trader Joe's)
-Throw some ground turkey and onions or veggies in it!
-You can make garlic bread by toasting Udi's bread, Earth Balance non-dairy butter spread (I use it all the time and it tastes great!), and garlic powder.
*Hamburgers
-You have to get used to the gf bread instead of buns. I have more trouble with it than Caleb, believe it or not.
-Harvest Breads has some good gf buns too. We just use the bread to save $$.
*We do huge salads!
-all sorts of toppings...and don't forget Quinoa for added protein!
-I got a recipe off my friend Amy Hickman's blog for a homemade dressing we have been using this week...
1&1/3 cup oil, 2/3 cup red wine vinegar, 1 tsp sugar, 1 clove minced garlic, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1 tsp dijon mustard, 1 tsp gf worchestershire sauce, 1 tsp paprika
*Quinoa, with roasted veggies, and meat (fish is great with it!)
*Soup!!! I have a great lentil soup family recipe. It is pretty easy to make soups gf now. Just use beans or rice pasta in place of regular noodles. And make sure the soup base (broth) is gf.
*Chicken Quesidillas/Nachos/Tacos
-corn tortillas/chips with "daiya" shredded cheese melted on it with chicken!
-every once in a while we have recently got the frozen chicken tacos from Trader Joe's. They are super good...kids would like them. They just aren't too low fat.
*Chicken Nuggets
-This one is for on the go. Ivan's is the best brand that kids would love too. I get them in the frozen section at Fred Meyer.
*Rice Bowls
-You can get a great deal on wild rice at Costco.
-Throw black and pinto beans, onions, garlic, salsa, chicken in it!
-Cafe Yumm's sauce is gluten and dairy free too!!
*Bob's Red Mill gf bread mix makes great dinner rolls
*You can never go wrong just having meat on you. Adding veggies. Then a starch...brown rice (you can even buy it pre-cooked at Trader Joe's), quinoa, garlic bread, etc. It saves time and money to just buy a few meats and a few starches and mix and match them throughout the week. We do this a lot...
*Then....about once a week...I make a more difficult meal. One that requires more ingredients or work. That would take too long to post all those recipes all at once. :)
DESSERTS:
-Coconut IceCream! (We get Luna & Larry's Coconut Bliss)
-Kinnikinnick donuts (in the frozen section...I get at Fred Meyer)! All flavors are GREAT!
-I make peanut butter cookies a lot...I got the recipe from my friend Becca. It's EASY and CHEAP! 1 cup peanut butter (I use crunchy), 1 cup granulated sugar, 1 egg. Make sure you smash them down with a fork or they will cook into little balls. Bake at 350 for 8 minutes on a dark pan. YUM!
-Enjoy Life pre-made, box cookies. Caleb like Snickerdoodle.
-Bob's Red Mill Chocolate Chip cookies I heard were good. Haven't tried them cause Caleb can't eat chocolate.
-Pamela's baking mixes are good. Anything in that brand is good.
-"The Craving's Place" coffee cake & scone mix (I get it at Fred Meyer).
Anyhow, I am hoping this helps Jana. She is such a researcher, that I am sure she has already learned a lot already. And I am super excited to trade recipes and ideas with her in the months ahead! But for today, it will just be so great to see her again!
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
Operation Make Skirts
I have recently taken my sewing to a new level....making my own clothes! My friend, Crystal, and I have been marking out time in our schedules to have "sewing days." And the last couple of times we have got together, I have made my first skirts.
The first one I made was this... (It even has pockets in the side, and a zipper in the back!)
The second I made was this.... (Although the picture doesn't look as good, it is much cuter than the first!)
If only it would get sunny enough to wear them now... :) Bring on summer!
The first one I made was this... (It even has pockets in the side, and a zipper in the back!)
The second I made was this.... (Although the picture doesn't look as good, it is much cuter than the first!)
If only it would get sunny enough to wear them now... :) Bring on summer!
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Food....
Food for our tummy's...
We continued to try to add raw food into Caleb's diet today. So this is what we came up with....Caleb asked for hearty and full of protein, so this is the best I could do for him. Lettuce, black beans, egg, chicken, peas, corn, avocado, cucumber, and a homemade vinaigrette. (Not necessarily low cal...) :)
We continued to try to add raw food into Caleb's diet today. So this is what we came up with....Caleb asked for hearty and full of protein, so this is the best I could do for him. Lettuce, black beans, egg, chicken, peas, corn, avocado, cucumber, and a homemade vinaigrette. (Not necessarily low cal...) :)
And then I have a citrus mint fruit salad chilling in the refrigerator for later tonight. It is super yummy...I got the idea from my dear friend, Melissa McDonald. It is an amazing treat during the winter, when citrus fruit is in season. But it is so refreshing, you can't beat it during the summer. I used only pink grapefruit and oranges. But you can use yellow grapefruit as well. And I may drizzle lime juice over it next time too, I just didn't have any on hand today. Then, you put just a tiny bit of sugar over it and minced fresh mint leaves. This is how it turned out....
Food for thought.....
When I was working on things last night, Caleb came in and read me a quote from the book he is reading. He is reading "The Complete Works of E.M. Bounds on Prayer." It is amazing and says...
"You can do more than pray after you have prayed...but you cannot do more than pray until after you have prayed."
Food for the soul....
I am having my friend Cammie, who designs the most adorable signs, make a small little plaque to put on display at my work. It is going to say, "No Gossip Zone." I have been thinking about our speech recently, and how powerful it really is. The saying that "Sticks and stone can break your bones, but words can never hurt me" is the an absolutely lie. That being said, these are some verses I am trying to hide in my heart, and make a part of my own speech...
James 1:26 "If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless."
1 Peter 4:11 "If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ."
Colossians 4:6 "Let your conversation be always full of grace..."
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Our Continued Quest for Health...
I am proud to announce (drum roll please!).....that Caleb went to the gym for the first time today, since last September!! (Yeah yeah!)
For the last couple of weeks, he has been going up and down regular sized stairs, as well as using my 10-15 lb. dumbbells at home. But as of today, he is officially back at it. Although I have made him promise not to increase his weight more than 5 lbs. a week from here on out. He will be back to using 100 lb. weights again before we know it!
I wanted to also say that we really believe that the gluten free/dairy free diet is working. For instance, one of the symptoms during his flare-ups is on his feet. Not only did all his toes turn purple and look like they were breaking from the inside out....but his toenails turned pure white with ridges. Totally icky and disgusting. But since we have put him on this diet, there is literally a line growing up his toenail showing healthier nail growing in. The line marks the time frame where we started this diet! It actually is quite remarkable. I didn't think I would ever get my skeptical husband to agree to go on this menu plan...but even he is a believer now!
So this means I am on to my next step in making him a healthier man. :) My next task??? Make him a more "raw diet." So as of the next week, we are going to have at least one huge salad every day, with a ton of healthy toppings, and homemade dressing. In addition, I am making up raw smoothies everyday for our evening snack too.
Tonight's smoothie consisted of raw spinach, blueberries, strawberries, raw honey and rice milk! :) We are calling it Caleb's "Popeye Shake" cause of the spinach! haha!
For the last couple of weeks, he has been going up and down regular sized stairs, as well as using my 10-15 lb. dumbbells at home. But as of today, he is officially back at it. Although I have made him promise not to increase his weight more than 5 lbs. a week from here on out. He will be back to using 100 lb. weights again before we know it!
I wanted to also say that we really believe that the gluten free/dairy free diet is working. For instance, one of the symptoms during his flare-ups is on his feet. Not only did all his toes turn purple and look like they were breaking from the inside out....but his toenails turned pure white with ridges. Totally icky and disgusting. But since we have put him on this diet, there is literally a line growing up his toenail showing healthier nail growing in. The line marks the time frame where we started this diet! It actually is quite remarkable. I didn't think I would ever get my skeptical husband to agree to go on this menu plan...but even he is a believer now!
So this means I am on to my next step in making him a healthier man. :) My next task??? Make him a more "raw diet." So as of the next week, we are going to have at least one huge salad every day, with a ton of healthy toppings, and homemade dressing. In addition, I am making up raw smoothies everyday for our evening snack too.
Tonight's smoothie consisted of raw spinach, blueberries, strawberries, raw honey and rice milk! :) We are calling it Caleb's "Popeye Shake" cause of the spinach! haha!
I have a feeling we will be attending many more farmer's market this summer than we ever have!!!
Friday, May 13, 2011
The Facebook Dilemma
A few minutes ago, I sat down at my computer, quite inspired to write about something I had been thinking about all day. However, after a quick scroll down the list of blogs that I follow, I came across one that made me stop. And now I can't stop praying for a friend of mine. Without going into too much detail, she has come face to face with a trial that could change the course of the rest of her life. She wrote so beautifully, and so transparently, about the process she is taking as she comes to terms with the issue at hand.
And I had no clue. Absolutely none.
To explain, I haven't actually seen my friend in years. But I have followed her on Facebook quite regularly, as of lately. I always appreciate a genuine person. And from her Facebook statuses and her photos, she seems as real as you can get. She always seems to have it together and seems to have the most beautifully simple life. Beautiful lady, beautiful family, beautiful style, beautiful heart.
But I had zero clue as to the emotions she has been dealing with lately. None.
And I think this proves my point as to what I have been chatting with some friends about recently. I have mentioned that I think I may just start using Facebook in a totally different way than I have in the past.
I want to preface what I am going to say by commenting that I have loved Facebook. Unlike my husband, I check it every day. I love scrolling through pictures of my sisters who live far away. It is a great way to see what is going on in their lives, as well as my in-laws, extended family, and out-of-state friends. I try to use it to encourage people. And it is a way to keep in touch with many people we would never see again, if not for Facebook.
But there is a "but"....
It started with reading an article that came out not too long ago. The whole premise of the article was that some studies have shown that the numbers of teens who are suffering from depression are on the rise since the rise in Facebook's popularity. Let me explain...
A person logs on and the first thing they look for is if they have any notifications, messages, or friend requests. If there is none, whether they realize it or not, there may be a itty bitty sense of disappointment. Then they scroll down the newsfeed. Here they see tons of pictures where everybody is smiling, with their friends, doing fun adventures. They see other friends who have logged into being at different locations, or tagged friends in their statuses. And to the person looking at this, if they don't feel a part of it, are left feeling lonely, unpopular, and left out.
The study was done on teens....but I have to say that, for many people in my generation, I would not doubt if it was the same numbers as in those same statistics of young adults.
This has got me thinking of how I use Facebook myself. What is my real motivation when I write something? Sure, some statuses, like announcing the sun is out, are absolutely harmless. But is everything else?
I have to say that I have always tried to be balanced. I love posting pictures so that my sisters, Caleb's family, and long distance friends, can have a peak into what is going on in our lives. It sure saves money on printing up pictures and mailing them to everybody! And it is a lot more fun than waiting to see each other, to show each other, as we would have probably even a decade ago.
I have thought, since reading the article, that sometimes I tag friends in my statuses. And I have checked my motivation for doing so. Sometimes I just want to honor a friend and let them know that I appreciated hanging out with them, or talking to them after being much over-due. But is there a need to tag people I was with in every post? Absolutely not.
Caleb thinks Facebook is kind of ridiculous in some ways. In fact, I am the one that checks it for him. While he is doing other things, I call into other room where he is, "Sweetie, do you know so-n-so?" and then I accept or decline based on if his response.
I am not saying we should approach Facebook like my husband. He is just a guy who doesn't care if he keeps up with every single person he has ever met. He is content keeping up with the a small number of people, and doesn't like people knowing everything about his life really.
Anyways....this all makes me contemplate....
I never use Facebook as a tool to vent. That is immature. So what does that mean the world thinks of my life? Sure, I have an incredibly blessed life. And I am not going to begin to write negative stuff on it either! In a way, I really feel like I have given a great representation of my life. But so much is left out...the tears, fear, and uncertainties I face.
And I think it is a good reminder to step back sometimes and realize that people delete the bad pictures of themselves. And they don't (at least they shouldn't!) vent and complain, and make their life sound horrible. Every single person has good and bad in their life. Often times, Facebook only shows the good.
I think we all need to check our motivations for writing what we write. I think we all (myself included) should really re-evaluate the time we are investing into it. Are we spending hours looking in, on only part of people's lives, who we actually don't talk to? We should really have old-school friendships, where we call each other to find out what is really going on with each other. After all, I had no clue what my old friend was dealing with from just looking at her Facebook.
All to say....(after much over-thinking the topic! haha!)...as my husband would say, there is way too much of an emphasis on social networking. It has sometimes replaced good ole' fashioned quality time and depth of relationship.
And a friend of mine said, as we were discussing this, that this is the direction that our society is going. And maybe it is the best time to check ourselves.
I am just processing externally these thoughts. I can't say I have come to any concrete conclusion. But I think they are worthwhile, none-the-less.....
And I had no clue. Absolutely none.
To explain, I haven't actually seen my friend in years. But I have followed her on Facebook quite regularly, as of lately. I always appreciate a genuine person. And from her Facebook statuses and her photos, she seems as real as you can get. She always seems to have it together and seems to have the most beautifully simple life. Beautiful lady, beautiful family, beautiful style, beautiful heart.
But I had zero clue as to the emotions she has been dealing with lately. None.
And I think this proves my point as to what I have been chatting with some friends about recently. I have mentioned that I think I may just start using Facebook in a totally different way than I have in the past.
I want to preface what I am going to say by commenting that I have loved Facebook. Unlike my husband, I check it every day. I love scrolling through pictures of my sisters who live far away. It is a great way to see what is going on in their lives, as well as my in-laws, extended family, and out-of-state friends. I try to use it to encourage people. And it is a way to keep in touch with many people we would never see again, if not for Facebook.
But there is a "but"....
It started with reading an article that came out not too long ago. The whole premise of the article was that some studies have shown that the numbers of teens who are suffering from depression are on the rise since the rise in Facebook's popularity. Let me explain...
A person logs on and the first thing they look for is if they have any notifications, messages, or friend requests. If there is none, whether they realize it or not, there may be a itty bitty sense of disappointment. Then they scroll down the newsfeed. Here they see tons of pictures where everybody is smiling, with their friends, doing fun adventures. They see other friends who have logged into being at different locations, or tagged friends in their statuses. And to the person looking at this, if they don't feel a part of it, are left feeling lonely, unpopular, and left out.
The study was done on teens....but I have to say that, for many people in my generation, I would not doubt if it was the same numbers as in those same statistics of young adults.
This has got me thinking of how I use Facebook myself. What is my real motivation when I write something? Sure, some statuses, like announcing the sun is out, are absolutely harmless. But is everything else?
I have to say that I have always tried to be balanced. I love posting pictures so that my sisters, Caleb's family, and long distance friends, can have a peak into what is going on in our lives. It sure saves money on printing up pictures and mailing them to everybody! And it is a lot more fun than waiting to see each other, to show each other, as we would have probably even a decade ago.
I have thought, since reading the article, that sometimes I tag friends in my statuses. And I have checked my motivation for doing so. Sometimes I just want to honor a friend and let them know that I appreciated hanging out with them, or talking to them after being much over-due. But is there a need to tag people I was with in every post? Absolutely not.
Caleb thinks Facebook is kind of ridiculous in some ways. In fact, I am the one that checks it for him. While he is doing other things, I call into other room where he is, "Sweetie, do you know so-n-so?" and then I accept or decline based on if his response.
I am not saying we should approach Facebook like my husband. He is just a guy who doesn't care if he keeps up with every single person he has ever met. He is content keeping up with the a small number of people, and doesn't like people knowing everything about his life really.
Anyways....this all makes me contemplate....
I never use Facebook as a tool to vent. That is immature. So what does that mean the world thinks of my life? Sure, I have an incredibly blessed life. And I am not going to begin to write negative stuff on it either! In a way, I really feel like I have given a great representation of my life. But so much is left out...the tears, fear, and uncertainties I face.
And I think it is a good reminder to step back sometimes and realize that people delete the bad pictures of themselves. And they don't (at least they shouldn't!) vent and complain, and make their life sound horrible. Every single person has good and bad in their life. Often times, Facebook only shows the good.
I think we all need to check our motivations for writing what we write. I think we all (myself included) should really re-evaluate the time we are investing into it. Are we spending hours looking in, on only part of people's lives, who we actually don't talk to? We should really have old-school friendships, where we call each other to find out what is really going on with each other. After all, I had no clue what my old friend was dealing with from just looking at her Facebook.
All to say....(after much over-thinking the topic! haha!)...as my husband would say, there is way too much of an emphasis on social networking. It has sometimes replaced good ole' fashioned quality time and depth of relationship.
And a friend of mine said, as we were discussing this, that this is the direction that our society is going. And maybe it is the best time to check ourselves.
I am just processing externally these thoughts. I can't say I have come to any concrete conclusion. But I think they are worthwhile, none-the-less.....
Sunday, May 8, 2011
Still Learning From Mom
I think that Mother's Day has to be one of the most bittersweet days of the year for me. There are very few days, like today, when the void of not having a mom around anymore is more apparent. But at the same time my heart is overflowing with thankfulness.
It is interesting hearing the things everybody is thankful for....for the example their mom was to them, the things they taught them, the meals they made, the times there shared, the list goes on. And I can absolutely and completely relate!
But, again, it is bittersweet. Only a third of my life was my mom healthy. The other two-thirds my mom has been sick, dying, or gone. And so the memories we had together are so precious. But in a way, I am realizing how blessed I really am. The years I had were literally so full. And the impact she made was incredibly huge. I am only who I am today, much in part because of the mom God gave me. Although most people in my life these days never knew me when I had a mother, her presence in my life is still so real. And although most have not met her, she was beautiful.
So today I think about Mom. Proverbs 31:28 speaks of a woman with noble character. And it says "Her children rise up and call her blessed." Now I have often wondered if that means that her children say she was a blessing or that she lived a blessed life. I have tried going back to the Hebrew meaning of the word, which was the original language this was written in. But I can't really tell. But to be honest, today in my mind, this statement is so true in both senses of the word.
I hope you can follow my thinking here. It may seem as though I go off topic for a moment, but I hope in the end I make sense. :)
Not too long ago I saw a statement, on somebody's status on Facebook, that said in effect that we are blessed, not by the quantity or presence of many good things in our life. Rather, we are considered blessed by our response and attitude of thankfulness of what we are given, whatever that may be. In that sense, my mom was one blessed lady! And as a result, she blessed me, and everybody around her.
Why is this, you may ask? When I think back to why I am thankful for my mom, I am thankful for many of the same things many others are thankful for. But today, I am thankful that Mom lived a life characterized by contentment.
Contentment is not something we find very often these days. In a world where mother's, whether they realize it or not, are teaching their children to look for a better house, better car, better body, better friends, better image, better husband, better job, better life...my mom chose to be okay with what she had, who she was, where she was at, what she was given. Not to say she didn't strive to be the most she could be. She absolutely invested in growing as a woman of God and in what she did! In fact, she always seemed to do everything with excellence. But there was a quiet contentment about her. You could hear it in the way she spoke, the way she served, the way she loved, the way she lived. She didn't strive for an unreachable "more," and had a peaceful joy about her life each and every day, no matter how simple or difficult it was. As I look back, it made for a very uncomplicated life really.
Mom's contentment allowed her to be at peace. She was calm when she interacted with people. Her words were gracious. I think this was because her contentment allowed her to have a confidence that was not striving or threatened. And she didn't let toxic things like jealousy or envy or competition get in the way of her relationships.
Mom's was content with how she looked. She wasn't the most trendy dresser. She didn't wear any make-up when she was home. She wasn't thin, she wasn't fat. But I am thankful for this because the example she set for me as a young girl was not an example of a woman striving for perfection, materialistic, self-absorbed, or overly conscientious of her body image. She was self-assured. And that confidence was balanced, healthy, and naturally beautiful, because she was content in how she was made. And Mom focused on what she did have, not on what she didn't have.
Mom was content with her place in life. She was a wife and mother. Because of her contentment, she found joy and purpose in cleaning floors, doing lots of laundry, and making dinner. She didn't feel like she needed to be out doing a ton of stuff, and to be a part of everything, taking her away from her main priority all the time. Because of her contentment in her place in life, her roots went deep down. She did great in her main priority, instead of just okay in a lot of things.
Mom was content with her cancer. Don't get me wrong...she grieved the fact that she would die young. And she sure battled that cancer for a lot longer than the doctors thought she would! She never dreamed about saying good-bye to us so early. But she did not complain one time while she suffered. She had faith. And that faith enabled Mom to be content with whatever happened, trusting God was in control and knew what was best.
Looking back today, I believe this contentment is what allowed her to get the most out of the short life that she lived. Discontentment leads to always wanting more, and something different, and missing out on the life in front of you.
So today when I read the passage about the woman of noble character, from Proverbs 31:28, that says "Her children rise up and call her blessed," I am thankful. I can say that my mom didn't have many extras by the world's standards, but she was thankful for and made the most of what she did have. And because of that she was a blessed woman. And because she had that attitude, she blessed many around her. My mom, even today as we are separated for a little while, is still blessing me by her example.
My mom was one blessed woman.
***One last side note, because I want to make sure I always have it recorded... I want to include a little message my friend (who was Mom's friend first!), Karen Broome, wrote me today about my mom. It was about the word that came to mind when she thought of Mom...
God's Student Teacher: She knew practically how to explain God so that all could understand and relate to him. She did not make Him seem threatening or unapproachable or judgemental. She took her knowledge of him and would use visuals, relatable personal stories, and everyday current life issues to teach other's about God's character. She was strong, compassionate, made an excellent ham dinner, soft-spoken, tender-hearted, and saw the heart of people and drew them out from behind their masks or fasads they put on so that they could be honest and real with her and she in turn would be the same with them. She was a beautiful woman...
I have to whole-heatedly agree with Karen! :)***
It is interesting hearing the things everybody is thankful for....for the example their mom was to them, the things they taught them, the meals they made, the times there shared, the list goes on. And I can absolutely and completely relate!
But, again, it is bittersweet. Only a third of my life was my mom healthy. The other two-thirds my mom has been sick, dying, or gone. And so the memories we had together are so precious. But in a way, I am realizing how blessed I really am. The years I had were literally so full. And the impact she made was incredibly huge. I am only who I am today, much in part because of the mom God gave me. Although most people in my life these days never knew me when I had a mother, her presence in my life is still so real. And although most have not met her, she was beautiful.
So today I think about Mom. Proverbs 31:28 speaks of a woman with noble character. And it says "Her children rise up and call her blessed." Now I have often wondered if that means that her children say she was a blessing or that she lived a blessed life. I have tried going back to the Hebrew meaning of the word, which was the original language this was written in. But I can't really tell. But to be honest, today in my mind, this statement is so true in both senses of the word.
I hope you can follow my thinking here. It may seem as though I go off topic for a moment, but I hope in the end I make sense. :)
Not too long ago I saw a statement, on somebody's status on Facebook, that said in effect that we are blessed, not by the quantity or presence of many good things in our life. Rather, we are considered blessed by our response and attitude of thankfulness of what we are given, whatever that may be. In that sense, my mom was one blessed lady! And as a result, she blessed me, and everybody around her.
Why is this, you may ask? When I think back to why I am thankful for my mom, I am thankful for many of the same things many others are thankful for. But today, I am thankful that Mom lived a life characterized by contentment.
Contentment is not something we find very often these days. In a world where mother's, whether they realize it or not, are teaching their children to look for a better house, better car, better body, better friends, better image, better husband, better job, better life...my mom chose to be okay with what she had, who she was, where she was at, what she was given. Not to say she didn't strive to be the most she could be. She absolutely invested in growing as a woman of God and in what she did! In fact, she always seemed to do everything with excellence. But there was a quiet contentment about her. You could hear it in the way she spoke, the way she served, the way she loved, the way she lived. She didn't strive for an unreachable "more," and had a peaceful joy about her life each and every day, no matter how simple or difficult it was. As I look back, it made for a very uncomplicated life really.
Mom's contentment allowed her to be at peace. She was calm when she interacted with people. Her words were gracious. I think this was because her contentment allowed her to have a confidence that was not striving or threatened. And she didn't let toxic things like jealousy or envy or competition get in the way of her relationships.
Mom's was content with how she looked. She wasn't the most trendy dresser. She didn't wear any make-up when she was home. She wasn't thin, she wasn't fat. But I am thankful for this because the example she set for me as a young girl was not an example of a woman striving for perfection, materialistic, self-absorbed, or overly conscientious of her body image. She was self-assured. And that confidence was balanced, healthy, and naturally beautiful, because she was content in how she was made. And Mom focused on what she did have, not on what she didn't have.
Mom was content with her place in life. She was a wife and mother. Because of her contentment, she found joy and purpose in cleaning floors, doing lots of laundry, and making dinner. She didn't feel like she needed to be out doing a ton of stuff, and to be a part of everything, taking her away from her main priority all the time. Because of her contentment in her place in life, her roots went deep down. She did great in her main priority, instead of just okay in a lot of things.
Mom was content with her cancer. Don't get me wrong...she grieved the fact that she would die young. And she sure battled that cancer for a lot longer than the doctors thought she would! She never dreamed about saying good-bye to us so early. But she did not complain one time while she suffered. She had faith. And that faith enabled Mom to be content with whatever happened, trusting God was in control and knew what was best.
Looking back today, I believe this contentment is what allowed her to get the most out of the short life that she lived. Discontentment leads to always wanting more, and something different, and missing out on the life in front of you.
So today when I read the passage about the woman of noble character, from Proverbs 31:28, that says "Her children rise up and call her blessed," I am thankful. I can say that my mom didn't have many extras by the world's standards, but she was thankful for and made the most of what she did have. And because of that she was a blessed woman. And because she had that attitude, she blessed many around her. My mom, even today as we are separated for a little while, is still blessing me by her example.
My mom was one blessed woman.
***One last side note, because I want to make sure I always have it recorded... I want to include a little message my friend (who was Mom's friend first!), Karen Broome, wrote me today about my mom. It was about the word that came to mind when she thought of Mom...
God's Student Teacher: She knew practically how to explain God so that all could understand and relate to him. She did not make Him seem threatening or unapproachable or judgemental. She took her knowledge of him and would use visuals, relatable personal stories, and everyday current life issues to teach other's about God's character. She was strong, compassionate, made an excellent ham dinner, soft-spoken, tender-hearted, and saw the heart of people and drew them out from behind their masks or fasads they put on so that they could be honest and real with her and she in turn would be the same with them. She was a beautiful woman...
I have to whole-heatedly agree with Karen! :)***
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Mi Esposo Es Muy Inteligente
Woo hoo! I am so proud of Caleb! Let's just say that I married a very goal-oriented husband. In only six weeks, as of today, he has officially completed three levels in the Spanish Rosetta Stone! If you were to have told me he would be able to accomplish this when he first started, I don't know if I would have believed you. There are literally only five total levels even available, and it takes most people a year to complete. But after working on it nearly two hours a day, every single day (never missing a single day), he has finished all three!
In reality, working on his Rosetta Stone has become a part of his daily routine. Every single day he wakes up, makes me my coffee, reads his Bible, then goes into the study and works on on it before he leaves for work. Then when he gets home, I make us dinner, we eat together and watch a show, then he goes in an works on it for about an hour. Then he ends up going back to it for another 20 minutes or half hour before we go to bed. This was because it was recommended, by the man who sold it us, that to gain the most of it you must do it everyday. And he said you should really work on it three times a day, at different points in your day, so you are hearing/learning it throughout your day.
So the next step is to surround Caleb with Spanish speakers. He says that is the main thing he needs now. He understands more than he can speak...because he has not been able to practice any conversational Spanish with an actual speaker of it yet. Plans are in the works, however, to get together with a few different people. I have a feeling this summer will be FULL of having people over for Mexican food and practicing it. Which means these meals could be interesting for me, being that the only Spanish background I have is the two years in high school that I took, and the couple trips to Mexico! :) It may just be the incentive I need to catch up with my husband! As he goes back through the lessons again, for review this time, I may just have to join in on the fun! :)
Anyhow, all to say, I am so proud of my husband! He is one smart muchacho! (Y muy guapo!) :)
In reality, working on his Rosetta Stone has become a part of his daily routine. Every single day he wakes up, makes me my coffee, reads his Bible, then goes into the study and works on on it before he leaves for work. Then when he gets home, I make us dinner, we eat together and watch a show, then he goes in an works on it for about an hour. Then he ends up going back to it for another 20 minutes or half hour before we go to bed. This was because it was recommended, by the man who sold it us, that to gain the most of it you must do it everyday. And he said you should really work on it three times a day, at different points in your day, so you are hearing/learning it throughout your day.
So the next step is to surround Caleb with Spanish speakers. He says that is the main thing he needs now. He understands more than he can speak...because he has not been able to practice any conversational Spanish with an actual speaker of it yet. Plans are in the works, however, to get together with a few different people. I have a feeling this summer will be FULL of having people over for Mexican food and practicing it. Which means these meals could be interesting for me, being that the only Spanish background I have is the two years in high school that I took, and the couple trips to Mexico! :) It may just be the incentive I need to catch up with my husband! As he goes back through the lessons again, for review this time, I may just have to join in on the fun! :)
Anyhow, all to say, I am so proud of my husband! He is one smart muchacho! (Y muy guapo!) :)
Thursday, May 5, 2011
I LOVE Sewing!
So I am officially addicted....to sewing of all things! :) Little did I know a month or so ago, when I first learned, how hooked I would become!
I love it for so many reasons....I turn on music and can "just be" as I sew. It is just SO therapeutic (unless the machine is being temperamental!) to be creative and have something to do that is so peaceful. And I find myself relaxing and praying a lot when I sew. I have concluded that every woman needs something in their lives that slows them down! For me, that something is sewing.
Caleb's co-worker was laughing at us the other day. This was after hearing that a typical night at the Barnes' consists of eating dinner together, then Caleb practicing his Spanish on Rosetta Stone while I sew. His co-worker said, "You guys are like an old married couple....What are you going to do when you are 60!?!?" To be honest....I hope it is more of the same!
And I am so thankful that Caleb supports me in my new hobby. In fact, yesterday he told his co-worker that I would make him and his wife some bibs for their little girl. So, after dinner, almost 8:00 at night, we got in the car and took a family field trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics to get supplies. I wish I could have video taped our trip there...it was so funny watching Caleb! He humored me and was so great at giving me his input in my selections. And then, he found the camouflage fabric....and now I think I am going to hear about it until I make him some type of clothing in it! haha!
Anyways, in the end, we left with the supplies. And an hour later, I had a couple bibs made. I didn't have a pattern, so I made my own. I have to add that Caleb told me I should get the floral print for the bib because it has (and I quote) "a really laid back feel." (Hence, he sweetly humors me!) But here is what I came up with....
And tomorrow a different project goes in the mail! :) It was a request from Liz...and in reality, it was my real motivation to learn to sew. She is having her first little girl in the next 7 weeks or so. She told me that the latest thing in California, where she lives, is BYOG (Bring Your Own Gown) so that your pictures with your new baby are in cute fabric, instead of the boring gowns the hospital gives you! I thought it was a fun idea, so I went at it. In the end, this is what I came up with (along with a cute pair of earrings to match!) :) Oh how I love Liz and cannot wait to meet her and Mike's new baby girl! :)
I love it for so many reasons....I turn on music and can "just be" as I sew. It is just SO therapeutic (unless the machine is being temperamental!) to be creative and have something to do that is so peaceful. And I find myself relaxing and praying a lot when I sew. I have concluded that every woman needs something in their lives that slows them down! For me, that something is sewing.
Caleb's co-worker was laughing at us the other day. This was after hearing that a typical night at the Barnes' consists of eating dinner together, then Caleb practicing his Spanish on Rosetta Stone while I sew. His co-worker said, "You guys are like an old married couple....What are you going to do when you are 60!?!?" To be honest....I hope it is more of the same!
And I am so thankful that Caleb supports me in my new hobby. In fact, yesterday he told his co-worker that I would make him and his wife some bibs for their little girl. So, after dinner, almost 8:00 at night, we got in the car and took a family field trip to Jo-Ann Fabrics to get supplies. I wish I could have video taped our trip there...it was so funny watching Caleb! He humored me and was so great at giving me his input in my selections. And then, he found the camouflage fabric....and now I think I am going to hear about it until I make him some type of clothing in it! haha!
Anyways, in the end, we left with the supplies. And an hour later, I had a couple bibs made. I didn't have a pattern, so I made my own. I have to add that Caleb told me I should get the floral print for the bib because it has (and I quote) "a really laid back feel." (Hence, he sweetly humors me!) But here is what I came up with....
And tomorrow a different project goes in the mail! :) It was a request from Liz...and in reality, it was my real motivation to learn to sew. She is having her first little girl in the next 7 weeks or so. She told me that the latest thing in California, where she lives, is BYOG (Bring Your Own Gown) so that your pictures with your new baby are in cute fabric, instead of the boring gowns the hospital gives you! I thought it was a fun idea, so I went at it. In the end, this is what I came up with (along with a cute pair of earrings to match!) :) Oh how I love Liz and cannot wait to meet her and Mike's new baby girl! :)
I am also sending along a set of burp cloths and a reversible bib to match. It was my first set I have ever made!
And, of course, being the hairstylist that I am, I needed to send something along to be the first to invest in this little lady's hair. So I am including tearless shampoo and detangler! :)
Anyhow, all to say...I LOVE sewing!! I cannot tell you how many people have told me they want to learn how to sew since I started this hobby up! I love sharing my love of it with people...now I just need to get good enough at it to actually teach others! :)
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