Resolutions and Reading Lists

I'm still thinking about some things I want to change or improve this year. One of those is my morning / night routine. Okay, I know that sounds really nerdy to some people, but what I'm doing now is just not working for me. I know I need to get up early enough to get myself pretty much completely ready before I start my day with the kids. Once they're up, my day is off and running, and a lot of times I feel like it's leaving me behind! And, in order to actually get up on time, I know I need to get to bed earlier. Which leads me to my second "resolution" : doing some reading before I turn in for the night. I love to read, have learned so much from reading, and need to make sure I do more of it! Doing some before-bed reading (kinda like Mike and Carol Brady, lol) instead of plopping down on the couch in front of the t.v. or computer is better for me. Plus, it usually insures that I get to bed at a decent hour. So, that being said, here's a list of books that I've enjoyed over the last few years. Of course I can't endorse every premise made by these authors, but these books have either helped me or entertained me!

A Heart Like His by Beth Moore
It's a Wonderful Life by Terrie Chappell
Under the Shadow of the Almighty by Elisabeth Elliott
Lies Women Believe and the Truth That Sets Them Free by Nancy Leigh DeMoss
Born to Win by Kevin Leman (interesting read for first-borns; not that I buy into all the birth-order psychology)
Bringing Up Boys by James Dobson ( the best parenting book I read!)
Creative Counterpart by Linda Dillow
Following God with All Your Heart by Elizabeth George
One Nation Under Therapy by Christina Hoff Sommers and Dr. Sally Satel (interesting; again, definitely can't say I agree with everything....)
Churchill by Paul Johnson
1776 by David McCullough

Right now, I'm working on Esther by Charles Swindoll and Choosing Gratitude by Nancy Leigh DeMoss.
I would love to hear what others have read and can recommend for the upcoming year!

Good Things

"But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing." Psalm 34:10

This verse is from my favorite passage in the Bible, Psalm 34 . I've read this passage probably more than any other chapter in the Bible. And it never gets old to me. (It was a special treat when Thomas, my six year old, memorized a good chunk of this passage in first grade this year. I loved listening to him recite it to me.) This week, as I read this passage, God took my mind to James 1:17: "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning." I'm so grateful to serve a God who knows what we need, when we need it, and exactly how it should be given to us. I can truly say the Lord has blessed me with many "good things." As I start a new year with Him, I can't help but think of the gifts he has given to me in years passed.

- His preparation in my life - It amazes me to look back at my life and see how God has prepared me for the ministry He has allowed me to serve in so far. When we came to the church and school where we serve, there was a need for a church pianist and JH/HS English teacher. I could do that! Yes, I was fresh out of college, but I had to start somewhere. And, no, I wasn't the best pianist in the world, but I was capable and willing. My husband was already serving in this ministry; I simply came on board. No resume or interview! My qualifications fit the vacancies. That is nothing but God! God had given me excellent teachers and role models to train me and prepare me for areas where I could be used to fill a need. Now I mostly stay home and he has brought other people (and better ones, in my opinion) to fill those spots. But that is also a gift! Presently, I can stay home with my children most days while seeing a ministry that I "babied" now flourish.
- His provision of our home - God literally dropped this home in our laps! Almost ten years ago, we went to see a loan agent to find out if we qualified for a loan. While we were sitting in her office, her real estate agent husband called, and upon finding out we were at her office, said he had a house we needed to see. It was close to the church, was a price we could afford, and was in a quiet little neighborhood. A few weeks later we were home owners! Has the home itself been perfect? Of course not. But living HERE has undoubtedly been in His will! We have had opportunity to be a testimony through our lives and words to a few families. Additionally, our next-door neighbors have become some of our dearest friends - whose boys are a GOOD influence on my boys. THAT in and of itself is a gift!
- His Peace - When I was in graduate school, I attended one summer session in which I was the only student! The university usually did not proceed with the class in that situation, but the Department Head insisted the class be offered anyways. For the next two weeks, the university's American Literature scholar led me in an intense study of American Colonial literature. I know that sounds like torture to some, but I loved it and thought I understood what a blessing I was receiving. Actually, I had no clue. You see, much of early American literature was written by the Puritans. The truly godly ones had great faith in God and proclaimed in their writings the blessing of His control in our daily lives. This particular professor pointed out several times that God's control over our lives was considered a blessing, not a constraint. I listened, took notes, and wrote the right answers on that test. The real test would come a couple of months later. At the end of that summer, we discovered (unexpectedly) that we would be having a baby. We were so excited! But when I was ten weeks along, we were told there was no heartbeat and I would need a D&C. After the shock, disappointment, and sadness had subsided just a little, my mind went back to the lectures and discussions of that class. God is in control! That brought me such peace. And, not ironically, the day I returned to teach my American Lit class, we were scheduled to cover Anne Bradstreet. For non-English buffs, Bradstreet is part of Puritan literature. Several of her poems express sadness at the passing of grandchildren (one even "in the bud" as mine was) but reassure the reader that there is comfort and rest in God's sovereignty. What a comfort to me! While I hesitate to call the miscarriage a blessing, I did consider it a blessing and a gift to stand in front of those Juniors and be able to teach that particular poem. God enabled me to get through the lesson (with dignity I believe); but more importantly, I believe I was given the gift of displaying the gift of PEACE to those kids because God had reminded me that HE was in control.

God has given us many "good things." But those are the few that have come to my mind often in the last several years and for which I am so thankful!

Our Christmas Snoop

I love this look of surprise and delight on Daniel's face.

Does he really know exactly which toy it is?

Will he really like it?

Well, I think the better question is "Is he really surprised?"

You see, the word on the street (or at least at Grandma's house) is that we have a Christmas snoop in our house. It seems that someone went snooping in mommy and daddy's room. And just happened to see under the bed (by accident). And just happened to see the Imaginext Batcave that Daniel has been staring at longingly in the toy magazine. And, well, might have accidentally told Daniel what he was getting for Christmas. Then the little snoop confessed it all to Grandma.

And there he is. The snoop.

So was Daniel really surprised? Knowing Daniel, he might have forgotten what he was getting. I guess we'll never know.

But I guess I'd better start looking for a better hiding place for presents - because wrapping them as soon as I get them is not going to happen. The joys of Christmas! :)

Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme...

I love rosemary! I think I started loving it when I planted a bush several years ago - mainly for the reason of having a few sprigs here and there for random recipes. But that bush has done far more than offer up a couple of sprigs a few times a year. I credit it with (finally) jump-starting my labor with Thomas (after three weeks of "home rest"; then permission to have the baby, but, of course, no baby; and then walking multiple laps around the backyard close to midnight). I do not recommend chomping on raw rosemary, by the way. Desperation brought me to that point. But since then, I've found better ways to use that bush. Here's a few of them.

1. Southern Living had this suggestion in one its latest issues. Tie up several long sprigs with a pretty bow and - Ta-da! - some pretty greenery to hang on a door, mirror, or whatever else needs a little sprucing up. I hung mine on my front door for a couple of reasons: a.) My home is not large and doesn't require something huge (although something big does look nice). b.) My Christmas wreath has had it, and I needed something to prove to the neighborhood that we do celebrate Christmas. I also cannot bring myself to buy Christmas decorations that are not on clearance. I know I'm a cheapskate, but I'm okay with that. So the rosemary got me by this year!

2. Another idea comes from a sweet lady named Karen that Catherine Pendley and I met at the boys' swimming lessons last summer. Karen is a very interesting lady who has lived many different places and traveled extensively throughout Europe. I loved hearing her TELL me this recipe because she pronounced everything so beautifully. Just be glad I'm typing it.

Make a roux (equal parts butter and flour, mixed over medium heat until smooth) and then add about 1 1/2 cups of milk. Heat until thickened and add salt, pepper, and one or two chicken bouillon cubes. Yes, this is really cream of chicken, but it is sooo much better than what's in the can! Simply pour this mixture over chicken breasts, throw a few sprigs of rosemary on top, cover with foil, and bake for about an hour on 350. So good!

3. Our family's favorite bread to have with an Italian meal is definitely Becky Gunnoe's Rosemary Bread. We think it's famous. It's that good.

Mix 1 T. dry yeast, 1 T sugar, and 1 C. warm water in large bowl and allow mixture to become bubbly. Mix in 2 cups of all-purpose flour and 1 tsp. salt. Add 1 T. fresh rosemary. Knead until it's smooth and elastic (add more flour if necessary). Oil bowl, cover, and let rise in warm place for 1 hr (until doubled). Punch dough down, divide in half, and let it rest for 5 min. Shape into two loaves and place on baking stone or "sprayed" cookie sheet. Melt 2 T. butter and brush on top. Sprinkle 1 T. rosemary on top. Let loaves rise until doubled, about 45 min. Lightly sprinkle course salt over tops. Preheat oven to 425, and bake bread for about 20 min.

I love a good edible evergreen!

That Kohl's Ambience

A few weeks ago I had to run into Kohl's for something. Addie had just gotten her 1 year-old check-up, and, to be honest, it wasn't a great visit. Besides her getting five shots, the pediatrician said that she's behind in her walking (which I knew - all of my children are late movers. Our doctor has joked that maybe we have a "late-moving" gene). But since the boys had turned out fine, I really wasn't concerned about it. However, there were some other developmental questions I was unsure of and had just answered them with "no."

Bad decision. She ended up looking like she was behind in several areas. So the doctor sent the questionnaire home with me and said to try those activities with her. In other words, "Since you're such an hands-off, BAD mom, you need to do this again!" No, I like our doctor, and knew that's not what he was saying, but that's how I FELT when I left his office. So needless to say, I really just felt like going home and sitting on the couch and eating chocolate AFTER making my baby go through a battery of activities to test her "normalness" - whatever that is.

Going into Kohl's somehow made me feel a little better, though. I didn't even buy anything! (So I know it wasn't retail therapy.) Pushing the stroller through the store while smelling cinnamon and spice candles, hearing Harry Connick, Jr. softly singing Christmas songs, and (since it was early in the morning) seeing neatly stacked displays - somehow it all seemed to calm my nerves a little bit. And prevented me from going home and eating through a whole bag of Ghirardelli chocolates. Who knew Kohl's had such impact? As I was finally leaving (after strolling through aisles of things we don't need and restraining myself from buying a Pumpkin Pie Spice Yankee candle and a winter scarf - such weaknesses for me!) God, in that still small voice, reminded me that my husband deals with stressful situations on a weekly basis. When he comes home from work, he does not want to open the door to a chaotic home and a grouchy wife and fighting kids. (ouch!) No, my home doesn't have to be perfect - it is fa-a-a-r from it! But, I can try a little harder to make it a pleasant place to come into after the pressures and stress that he has dealt with that day. So, as odd as it may sound, now I remind myself to make my home a little more like Kohl's. I know it will pay off in the long run! "Every wise woman buildeth her house. But the foolish plucketh it down with her hands." (Proverbs 14:1)