beautiful words I didn't write

Donna left a few minutes ago, and I'm oh-so-glad she was here with me this weekend.  Sometimes when the sad is so big you don't want to be by yourself, even if you're me and often revel in Alone.


I thought maybe I'd catch up with you a bit, but my heart is still in Connecticut with those 20 mamas, and I guess it's just too soon for me to go on and on about Pepsi and cookies and the joyous drivel that often fills my days.


I did, however, want to share with you a few lovely reads I've found over the last couple of days. They might fill your heart up just a little bit, as they surely have mine.  
Each and every one of them is full of beautiful, glorious Hope.  (Thank you, Jesus!)
 
 
Lisa-Jo's When Parents Have Nightmares

Jamie lives in Newtown and shares here:  Newtown as I Know It

...and oh my! how Ann Voskamp brings it all home in  The Truth About Sandy Hook- Where is God When Bad Things Happen



Finally, as someone who loves so many of you sweet girls personally, might I gently suggest you join me in stepping away from the neverending onslaught of (miserable) media and embrace some quiet time praying for those 20 mamas today?



I love you and I'm not even kidding,

 

"only spring can say what survived"

Hi guys :) 

Beth wrote this lovely post a few days ago and I keep meaning to share it with you. 

It's so wonderfully gentle, and oddly soothing...and filled with nuggets of truth, that it made me want to cry in that really good way :) 

I highly recommend you give it a read, ideally when the babes are napping and after you grab your iced tea.

You'll be really glad you did :)


Love you!

Three Babies and a "Link"

So I totally stole this photo off Kari's blog.  Except both she and her sister have given me free reign over such shenanigans, so it seems that would negate the criminality of my behavior.

Either way.  They have better photos than I.

Partly because they live with those awesome babies and partly because well, you know me and cameras.


Whatever.  Isn't he cute??  Just so's ya know, the sun was in his eyes.  He doesn't always sport the evil eye.



I had promised both my daughter and my sister that I'd send them this link and it occurred to me that you might enjoy it too.  Have you heard of Jen Hatmaker's new book, "7:  An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess?"  This book is on my short list to read and by short list I mean very next. 

I've been trying (and trying!) to win it free on various blogs to no avail.  It would appear I am no winner.  Therefore, I schlepped to Lifeway today to pick it up...and they are sold out. 

You know what this means, don't you?  Yup.  I now have to wait for Amazon. 

*sigh*

Anyway, I first heard about the book on her blog a while back and was amazed at how her post resonated with how I've been feeling.  I immediately wanted to read more so I did what we do in 2012 and read part of the first chapter online.  Some Good Stuff is what it was.   I'll keep you posted after I really dive in.  Of course it would be even better if you dove in with me. 

Whatcha think, wanna come with?


(p.s.  Becca & Lauren - Jen has children born in Ethiopia.)



Oh yeah!  There's also this!

(Commence swooning here.)


(But only if you want.)



Happy Weekending!

A Couple of Links and a Recap in a Pear Tree

I've been meaning for over a week to mention this link to ya but in usual me-fashion, time keeps sliding away from me.  Of course this is completely understandable with all the TERRIBLY IMPORTANT things of which I speak ;)  Anyway, better late than never is what I'm thinking.


That being said, y'all, Ann Voskamp's Jesse Tree Book is wonderful!  It's a free printable Advent devotional.  I'm reasonably sure it's intended for families with children but I don't care one bit.  I'm marching right through all by my lonesome and loving every minute of it :)  You can print the whole thing out, and she even includes appropriate little printable ornaments for your Jesse tree.  Each day is very short, filled with scripture and very doable applications appropriate for both three-year-olds and old(ish) grandmothers alike.  I'm not a little kid but I'm "decorating" my Jesse tree anyway.  

That Ann.  She's somethin' else. 


I was going to tell you all about my simmering Christmas potpourri but a few days in I'm not quite sure what to say.  I found the idea/recipe on Pinterest and loved it for the first few days, but now I'm on the fence about the result.  The idea is you throw cranberries and a few other odds & ends and sit it on the stove on very low heat and let it fill your house with delight.  She said she just kept refilling with water and used the same original concoction for the whole Christmas season but I'm not sure mine will make it that long.  BUT, I totally think it's a great "recipe" though, even if you only used it for a week or so & then switch it out.  
If ya wanna give it a try I found it here.  


Kari's coming over for a while today so my house will have littles in it and that just feels right.  A house sporting a Christmas tree should have small children running through making the appropriate mess.


So far (two whole days into December) the sounds of the season are not on my nerves.  I have no explanation.  I don't understand but I'm just rolling with it and feeling thankful that I'm not feeling the desire to smack sweet old Bing upside the head.  I even watched the CMT Christmas special last night and found it SIMPLY DELIGHTFUL.  It felt really old school somehow, ya know?  Full of the host flashing really large smiles, and little interviews with various families chatting it up, and all of our Christmas favs.  I must say I was particularly delighted with Faith Hill's Little Drummer Boy.  Personally I think she might have a future in the music industry because that girl can SING.


Oh! One more thing!  My Christmas "party" was lovely last night.  I say "party" because it was a party in the truest sense only if you're not 17 or 22 and do love carbs, because we sat around a table and ate all manner of tasty things I do not have in my own home.  and then the boss paid for it all.  and then I brought home the leftovers.

Well yeah, now that I put it that way.  I'm thinking it was one of the best parties ever!


Okay guys, I'm outta here.   Have a great weekend!

Perhaps a Little Perspective is in Order

So I ran to the laundromat yesterday to wash up a little something that I needed ASAP.  As I loaded up my one tiny little load (because I was just there days ago, mind you), I'm not gonna lie.  I felt all suffer-y and, embarrassingly enough, a touch martyr-y, and also a bit put out.  After all, that would be approximately 40 minutes and around two dollars and seventy-five cents I would never get back and also LIFE IS SO HARD.

As it turns out it was a beautiful day in that the sun was shining and it was a delightful 62 degrees, and also the ladies inside that boiling hot warm & sunny space were all just as nice as could be.

Well imagine my shame and chagrin as I started catching up on my bloggy reading.  Several of my daily favorites are in Ecuador together for Compassion International, and I found myself looking into some of the sweetest faces I've ever seen while processing the fact that they live their every day with basically nothing.  

And by nothing, I mean nothing.

Kinda makes taking the trek two stoplights away to kill a few minutes while enjoying my laptop seem a little less...suffer-y.

Today I'm praying that God will shake me up from my feelings of entitlement and also my cranky ways.  I'm awfully thankful that He's so patient with me as I  kinda/sorta try to get over myself.

Personally I'd probably just try to smack some sense into me.

Let's all go love on someone today, ya wanna?

p.s.  You can keep up with Amanda, Kelly, Sophie, Melanie, & Ann and all their adventures by visiting their blogs or by clicking on the Compassion button on the left.  You'll laugh...you'll cry...you'll, well you get the idea ;)

To Aid in Your Pumpkin Eating and Girlfriend Appreciating

 

It's downright shameful how I chafe at boundaries.

sigh.

It is for this reason I'm sure that I feel such an abundant sense of freedom today.  Suddenly I have all manner of rabbit trails and irrelevant details that could fill our time for the foreseeable future.


Go figure.


Anyway, my little October experiment is behind us and it's time to get back to normal around here.  And by normal I mean I throw some words on the page when I'm inclined to do so and you pretend I'm fascinating.  

Just the way I like it ;)

 
Today I wanted to share some linky goodness with ya before trudging way over to my sofa to work.

You're welcome.



First things first.  This!  Y'all it was so yummy I want to have another one.  Like, right now.  If you like pumpkin pie at all I think you'll be pleased.  This is one of those recipes that sounded so good to me I was really afraid it wouldn't live up to my expectations, BUT IT DID.  This little delight was utterly creamy and wonderful and pseudo healthy.  All my favorite things.


Shannan's post on Sunday was one of my favorites in a long line of favorites.  As I was reading I kept thinking of so many of you who are involved in various aspects of ministry and family and whathaveyou and have been feeling discouraged.  Her thoughts on Letting Go of Results was such an encouragement to me.  I suspect you may agree.


Finally, Lisa Jo's post on girlfriends made me so happy and thankful while leaving me with a overpowering desire to hug on my people.  


High praise in my opinion :)




Happy Thursday!

31 Days: I Love Reading other People's Words

 

There are more than 700 bloggers taking part in the 31 Days Challenge, and frankly that's just too many funny, bright, and creative "homes" to visit on any given day, week, month.

Fortunately, blogs are a little on the permanent side, so I can always go back later & find whatever topics strike my fancy at the time.

Cool, huh. 

Anyway, I thought I would share just a couple of the blogs that have grabbed my heart (or my stomach?) thus far.  These would be just three that I'm checking in on each day :)

In the category of YUMMY I would have to say that Elizabeth at Yes They're All Ours had me hooked as soon as I caught sight of the title of her series, 31 Days of Pumpkin.  I haven't actually tried the recipes yet because of my aforementioned under-the-weather condition (and also the apple cake temporarily distracted me).  But  I will.  Soon. 

NOTE:  If you live local you might want to drop me a line because OH YES there will be sharing :)

Shannan, aka Flower Patch Farmgirl, made me cry.  More than once.  Her bittersweet (more sweet than bitter, mind you) offerings in 31 Days of Letting Go have reached deep.  I'm not quite sure why they've resonated so.  I s'pose letting go is letting go, be it a house or a dream.

Anyway, they're just moving for Heaven's sake, and she seems to be handling it beautifully.  I, on the other hand, am kinda mourning the farm, ha!  

I'm so weird.

Finally, remember Edie from last December?  I asked y'all to pray for her.  She's the blogger whose family lost everything in a fire just a few days before Christmas.  They moved into their fabulous new home this weekend & her 31-Day entries seem to be a bit random right now...but I'm loving every one of them.  

She also takes gorgeous photos and has lots of good decorating ideas. 

and she makes me smile.

and she lives in the Knoxville area, the place from whence I came :)

Happy reading!

**You can catch up on the rest of my 31 Days of Things I Love series right here

A Suggestion or Four

Yesterday was full of Internet goodness, and I read a couple of delicious posts that I think you will enjoy...

Shannon over at Flower Patch Farmgirl shared some really sweet thoughts about these Dog Days of Summer in Sink into Monday, Slide into August, leading me to reconsider all my whining and complaining about the large quantities of HOT we have been experiencing recently.

In her post Why You Should Be Kind to the Mom on Your Flight Lisa-Jo made me shed a tear or three as she contemplated mamas and the challenges and complexities associated with their job.  Of course the lyrical way she strings her words together speaks to me every single time I visit.  Lisa-Jo hosts our Five-Minute Friday adventures, and I just love her heart.

In a somewhat unrelated and and yet also FULL of the worldwideweb-y goodness, I share with you my love of all things Pinterest.  

The more time I spend with this site the more I find myself GIDDY with inspiration.  

It's rather like browsing through a giant magazine that never ends and has none of those cardboard-y ads stuck in between the pages that drive me up the wall.  

I'm not ashamed to tell you that I now have approximately a lot of recipes and DIY projects "pinned" to my boards that I have not yet tried.  It is also interesting to me that that my wordy "board" is by far my fullest.  

I'm a word nerd.  Can't be helped.

Anyhoo, if you're interested in giving Pinterest a try, drop me a line and leave me your email address.  I'd be happy as could be to send ya an invite.  I'm not even exaggerating when I say it's BIG FUN.

Finally, if you're hot and tired and in the mood for a little movie-viewing, may I humbly suggest either Driving Miss Daisy (1989) or Witness for the Prosecution (1957).  I saw them both on Netflix last weekend and between Morgan Freeman's sweetness and Witness' humor and yummy melodrama I was in cinema heaven.

Two thumbs up is all I'm sayin.

Happy Tuesday!

A linky suggestion

I meant to share this link with you a while ago but it slipped my mind.  This afternoon as I was catching up on how this sweet Katie is doing I came upon it again.  A lovely Sunday afternoon seems like the perfect time to suggest you take a peek :) 

This young woman is doing hard things with joy and seeming abandon.  She's nearly half my age but is teaching me a thing or twelve about how to love Jesus and bring honor to His name. 

I, too, want to see Jesus!  ...and I very much want my family and others in my day to see Him in me.

Love,
Renee

p.s.  For future reference, her blog is The Journey listed on the right under People I Would Like to Meet.  Just so ya know ;)