Margin

I dug out this book from our shelves the other day, and have enjoyed its wisdom. It is called Margin, written by Richard Swensen. It is just so practical and so counter cultural. This is in the first chapter:

Marginless is the baby crying and the phone ringing at the same time; margin is Grandma taking the baby for the afternoon.
Marginless is being asked to carry a load five pounds heavier than you can lift; margin is a friend to carry half the burden.
Marginless is not having time to finish the book you're reading on stress; margin is having the time to read it twice.
Marginless is fatigue; margin is energy.
Marginless is red ink; margin is black ink.
Marginless is hurry; margin is calm.
Marginless is anxiety; margin is security.
Marginless is culture; margin is counterculture.
Marginless is reality; margin is remedy.
Marginless is the disease of our time.
Margin is its cure.

10 Projects in 10 days

Oh, pantry
I ignore you so

Do you have as many projects as I do?

I was thinking of starting a series called "10 projects in 10 days", and showing a before picture of a drawer (for example) and then later that day, that SAME drawer totally transformed into a thing of beauty and perfection.

I thought that would really motivate me to get a move on with some of these projects that are lingering (that's a really nice word for it...pounding me over the head may be a more accurate description). Projects such as our kitchen junk drawer, under my bathroom sink, my craft table, the desk in our office, our school room, the laundry room cabinets. These are just a few of the projects I had in mind that I would tackle in the next 10 days.

hahahahahahahahahahahahaha

Why don't I forget the whole "10 projects in 10 days" thing, and do a series on "one project in 10 days" ? Hmmm, but then it wouldn't really be a series, it would be more like a single post.

But that's okay, right?

WTB: Prettiness

Today I am ignoring the gaping holes in the wall in our study and moving on to something a little more fun. Joel and Caleb had a fun boys weekend planned out of town, and I can't do anything about the holes by myself anyway, so I'm turning my attention to something I actually want to think about. Prettiness. My sister's favorite word.

Joel and I moved into our house almost four years ago. We have this one problem spot that we have never known what to do with, and I am feeling ready to tackle it. I have some ideas, and have even started painting a little something-something I got on the free page of craigslist. But, before I delve in, I thought I would ask you. Help!




What in the world do you do with that?

that kind of day

This was not on our agenda today.

Nurse Kate

For about 10 days now, we have had one child or another with a fever. It doesn't last long, but the poor child who has the fever is out for about 24 hours. The first one to fall was Kate. We were out of town, and bam, she just couldn't get out of bed. Once we came home, big sister Marie Joy took it upon herself to nurse Kate back to health, the American Girl way, or the Little Women way. If you have seen the American Girl movie Felicity, or Little Women, then you have seen someone sitting bedside, offering a cool wash cloth on the head of the sick person. Well, my little ones have taken this to heart, that this is the way to care for one who is ill. Last week, I didn't get a picture of Marie playing personal nurse to Kate. But I was on the look out for it this time around, and caught this on camera.

(I know Caleb looks pretty pathetic, but let me assure you, he was loving every minute of it. His sisters brought him his blankets and his Webkinz, and he was drinking it in.)

Afterwards, Caleb was sharing the love with his little sister who took such good care of him.

Staying Sane

Just a quick post to tell you about a great book I am reading entitled "A Sane Woman's Guide to Raising a Large Family" by Mary Ostyn. I asked for this book for Christmas after reading a blurb about it on the fabulous blog Cultivatinghome.blogspot.com This woman had four biological children and then they adopted six more! She has all sorts of practical helps in the book and all sorts of encouragment. Hannah from Cultivating Home gave this quote from the book and it stirred my interest:

"It bothers Jenni when people think she had a large family because she was born with unusual patience or organization or spirituality.

'If I do, in fact, display any of those characteristics, it is through the constant stretching and pummeling that my flesh has gone through in the process. And this is the crux of my reality...the one thing I want folks to know: I am the same as you. We all have opportunities for growth. I call mine children.'"

Haiti

We are so sorry.



We are praying.

Resting

Well, I just know that God is on the move. Don't you love it when He shows it to you? There is so much going on and I know God is for me. I guess I know that all the time, but there are times when He just shows it and says, "Do you see? That is Me."

Jesus, I am resting, resting
in the joy of what Thou art
I am finding out the greatness
of Thy loving heart

I am resting in the details of this adoption. I am praying for all the families adjusting to new little ones, for all the families about to travel, for the families waiting for approvals, for the ones at work in Rwanda who take care of these precious ones. I am resting in the fact that He has a plan for ME, little ol' me, and that I matter to Him.

God Makes All Things New

Happy New Year!

I love January 1st! What a great time to thank God for all the things He did (and didn't do) in 2009, and to thank Him for all the things He will do in 2010. By His grace, our family will grow during this year, and we can't wait!

I love to clean out the clutter and vacuum up Christmas tree needles (well, really, my husband did that). I love how empty the family room looks now that it is back to normal. I love to get rid of old stuff and make room for the new. Worn out socks. Hopeless dish towels. New things are delightful!

I love that on this day, I am reminded to praise God for the fact that He makes all things new. Don't you just love that about God? He makes all things new. He doesn't need it to be January 1st...every day is like January 1st when you walk with God. It is always a great day to begin again, receive new mercy, receive His strength to change something that continues to plague me. Oh, how I need that mercy.

God, tonight I ask You to bring a loving hand to an orphan, to stifle a cry, to pat a back, or to wipe a nose. I ask You to bring hope to people who have lost hope. I ask You to restore broken things, to make them new.

And thank You for January 1st and the reminder that the all things new idea came from You. All those magazines about getting organized and cleaning things out are just a reflection of You, echoes of Your love for beauty.