Got Dirt?

Here is my sweet little boy, Hayden, in a new shirt that I just couldn't resist. One, because his Grandpa loves John Deere and will love to see his Hayden in this shirt; and second, because Hayden loves all things dirt, so what is more fitting than a shirt that proclaims the joy of dirt! Yes, he looks so adorable in it, but as I saw this shirt with my little boy in it tearing around the house all day doing the day-to-day things that little boys do so well, it made me think a little deeper about this seemingly simple phrase.

What if each of us had to give an honest answer to that question, "Got Dirt?" What would the honest response be? If we really engaged in some deep soul-searching and self-evaluation, how would we answer that question? Well, the truth is, we all--EVERY ONE OF US--will answer that question one day. And we won't just be standing before some farmer on a John Deere tractor or before some town gossip. No, we will be standing before the all-powerful, everywhere-present, and all-knowing creator and sustainer of the universe, God Almighty. Ok, so He might not use these exact words, but He will ask us what we have and have not done for Him. In essence, we will need to spill our dirt, and we will see the truth of our lives before us. Wow, if that isn't humbling, I'm not sure what is.

I, for one, have dirt and lots of it. Not the clean white beach sand type, but the filthy dirty type that stains and is grimy and just plain stinks. Despite my best efforts, I don't always love like I need to. I can be judgmental and critical. I often think that I can do it on my own, without God's help. I have a selfish streak that sometimes gets the best of me, no matter how I try to focus on others. And that's just the beginning of my dirt list. I GOT DIRT.

But, the story doesn't end there. I also have a Savior who specializes in washing dirt away and making people as pure white as snow. And I am washed in His blood. He sees me as perfect, as white as snow. So on that day when God asks me "Got Dirt", I will proclaim His saving blood as my Lord and Savior who specializes in deep soul-cleaning. And I will enter eternity with Him and all those who have accepted Him as their Savior, and have accepted His desire to take our dirt and use our lives for His purpose and glory. Praise God.





















So, if you're like me and "got dirt", rejoice in the fact that God wants to clean us and that he already took all of our dirt, every last grain, upon Himself as He died on the cross. I think I need to come up with a new green shirt that says "Got Dirt?" on the front, but also sports a message on the back......"Get Jesus."

Current Favorite Layout

This is my favorite layout from scrapping this past weekend with my sister.....relationships seemed to be my theme for the weekend, as most of my layouts seemed to be reflections on key relationships in my life. This layout about my daughter includes a photo that I shared on an earlier post, one that just makes me realize how fast time is going and how grown up she is becoming. The journalling reads:

WHEN I TURNED AROUND.......I almost had to catch my breath. Gone is any hint of baby, replaced by features of the beautiful girl you are. But it's still you....the flip of your hair, the slight curve of your smile, your sweet trademark dimple, those deep chocolately browns. Yes, these photos of you in your knitted pink hat give me a glimpse of an older and more grown-up you. But promise me just one thing, Sweet Girl.,.....don't grow up too fast. Promise?

One of my favorite aspects of the layout are the found vintage buttons that I stitched to the page...the perfect color scheme to match the new line of Basic Grey papers, and the perfect touch of nostalgia. I also did a layout about my Grandma and one about my son starting his preschool journey. It never ceases to amaze me how the time and attention given in creating a layout like this one helps you to focus on what is truly precious and important and worthy of our time. I love scrapbooking for that reason.......and because I get to play with some many fun, funky and just down-right pretty supplies!

I am home sick today...just can't seem to shake this thing. Hopefully, with today and tomorrow off, I can be back to full health by teaching on Thursday. I have been busy planning a "Family Adventure" for next week Thursday/Friday for my family....they are all asking lots of questions about what we are doing and where we are going....but that's my little secret. It has been fun to plan and I just know they will adore it........that will surely be a post topic for next week. Until then, my daily cup of Theraflu is calling. Have a nice and peaceful Tuesday.

Tissues, Theraflu and Monday Morning.

Well, I am still writing to you from "foggy headville", though my voice is steadily moving back toward normal. I missed my typical time in Kennedy's classroom, as well as our parent-teacher association meeting, due to just being totally wiped out by this bug. I have drank enough Theraflu for a lifetime, and, well, let's just say I've coughed up.....well, let's just not go there.

I have been trying to upload a 2-page layout that I did over the weekend--my first layout that I scanned in to post here--but Blogger is giving me some problems. If I can't get it up tonight, then I will post it as soon as I can tomorrow.

Until then, here is a thought-->If you're like me, you sometimes feel guilty when you get sick. You feel like you are letting people down if you call in, or don't show up, or just sleep for a day. But, I am trying to look at these days as God's way of getting me to slow down for a bit, focus on my body and getting back to health, and getting out of the ratrace. It has kind of helped me to get perspective.....and many people appreciate you keeping your bugs to yourself rather than sharing the wealth! Research has shown that companies lose far more money and productivity when sick employees come to work, because they spread their illness around and their productivity it so low anyway. So, if you are sick, allow yourself to take a sick day. Nurture yourself and do what you can to protect others. That's what sick days are for.

Snowy Sunday.

Does anybody else remember these? Weaving looms are such a vivid part of my childhood memories. My sister, Kendra, and I must have made hundreds of these woven potholders. Oh, the joys of wrapping those little bands around the loom, of carefully sifting through the colors to choose just the right color combination. Each finished potholder was so unique in its pattern and color. I remember loading up our little red wagon and going door-to-door in our neighborhood to sell these little gems; yes, we were quite entrepreneurs even then. I saw this little weaving loom kit today when I stopped at the Cracker Barrel for breakfast, so for a mere $3.99, I had to pick one up for my daughter. The minute I gave it to her, she starting weaving and spent a lot of the evening making her first potholder....it is so beautiful. And, I must say, these are some of the best and most durable potholders I have ever used in my kitchen. It was fun to share this little joy from my childhood with my own little girl. Who knows.....when the weather gets warmer, she may even be knocking at your door trying to fill her piggy bank.....









I had a nice weekend away at my sister and brother-in-law's home this weekend. We did a lot of scrapping and talking and just hanging out; now that we live on opposite sides of our great state of Michigan, we don't get a lot of time together. So I really cherished the weekend time together. It is a bummer, though, that I still have quite a little sicky bug that has taken my voice, filled my throat and head with plegm (I hate that word), and just sapped my energy. So, hopefully with another good night's sleep tonight, I will be moving back toward health. For right now, after a three-hour drive home through freezing rain, I'm just exhausted......

Kendie and Dan, thanks for the awesome hospitality....I love seeing and experiencing the warm home and family you are creating together....love you both....Nighty-night.

"See my Giants, Mommy!"

If you have been reading my blog for any period of time, you know that one of my joys in life is nurturing my children as artists and creative beings, and helping them to discover what that means uniquely for each of them. My son has made some amazing growth over the past couple of months in terms of his interest in artist expression such as drawing, coloring and painting. Here, you see some of his most recent drawings. He calls them his "Big Giant Goliaths" and his "little baby giants." Basically, these are his first drawings that he has identified as people......How cool is that?! I love that what he is learning in terms of Bible stories (his favorites as the moment are Jonah and the Whale and, of course, David and Goliath) shows up in his drawing. He leaves these little figures everywhere.....today, as I was giving my lecture, I ran across one of these little "giants" that he had drawn on my outline, just like his little 3-and-one-half-year-old signature.

I love that I have captured this milestone for him.....it will definitely make its way onto a scrapbook page for his three-year-old book. I love that I will be able to pull these drawings out when he is taking a high school art class, and show him his humble beginnings.

And by the way, when we read the story of David and Goliath, my son usually says something like, "Mommy, I have Jesus in my heart. And, Mommy, I want Goliath in my heart, too." So, I guess we have a little work to do on that one, but his heart is in the right place. May this upcoming weekend bring with it some creative time with a child, a shared Bible story, and some rest and relaxation.

Bubbles in February.

Have you ever had one of those moments where you felt that God had just hand-picked a miracle and plopped it into your lap, just for you? It happened to me this morning, Praise God! I took some Nightime Theraflu before bed last night to combat an oncoming sinus infection and, coupled with a headache, I was pretty much out for the night. So, when I rolled over as saw "5:14 am" on the clock, I wasn't sure how I was going to get myself up and get my daughter off to school. Then...the miracle came! A fog delay! Praise God! Three more hours of sleep later, I was a brand new person and much more ready to face the day. Thanks for that one, God....so needed.

Our day was filled with lots of errands.....CompassKIDS planning, getting groceries, getting an oil change....etc, etc. The weather was beautiful and sunny again, so the kids and I decided to get out some bubbles and blow some bubbles outside....a sure sign of spring. You have to love Miracle Bubbles....lots of bubbles, and big ones at that!

I can't believe tomorrow is Thursday already.....these weeks are just flying by way too fast. I am looking forward to a weekend with my sister and her husband, while my kids and husband spend some time at my mother and father-in-law's house. Some scrapping will certainly occur, and lots of good connecting time with my sis.

Kale Adventures.

The highlight of my day was trying KALE for the first time in my life. Tonight, I attended my first even cooking class focused on integrating more whole foods into one's diet. On the menu: KALE. I have seen it in the stores and wondered what you could ever do with such a substance.....and now I know! Saute it in olive oil, add a bit of spicy turkey sausage, and call it good and healthy.....I also sampled some baked cauliflower along with some whole grains with some funky-yet-healthy dressing......my only question for the chef was "Where are the recipes for the healthy chicken nuggets?" I plan to make the kale for my husband tomorrow, which should be an adventure in itself given that my husband is totally a meat-and-potatoes man. I also plan to try some other greens such as collard greens, mustard greens, and turnip greens, which all pack a strong nutritional punch.

I had a treat last night in the form of a night out stamping with some new friends. I made an adorable little paper bag album, along with an accordion card. It was a nice night of meeting new friends, creating, and sharing some Diet Coke and brownies.

Well, this will be short and sweet tonight....I am fighting a bit of a cold and want to battle it with an early-to-bed night. Sweet slumber.....maybe I'll dream of kale dancing in my head?

Sunny Monday.

"Wake up, Mommy. It's sunny out and it's not dowk (dark) anymore. It's a nice day!" Those are the words--uttered from the mouth of my precious 3-year-old son--that awoke me from my slumber at 9:23 this morning.......that is nearly 3 hours longer than I typically sleep, so what a treat it was to be able to catch a few extra hours of rest this morning. If only every Monday could begin so leisurely......but, then again, if this happened every week it wouldn't seem like such a savored treat now, would it?

Today at our house is all about errands and tasks.....cleaning each room of the house, finishing laundry and putting it away, getting groceries, finishing one of my lectures for tomorrow. Basically setting the stage for the rest of the week. I used to do this type of stuff on Sunday afternoon, but as I reflected on in a previous blog entry, I have made a renewed commitment to setting Sunday apart as a day of rest and reflection and renewal. So, Monday has become a catch-all day. Right now, we are watching the tail end of "Wonder Pets" while my kids are pretending that they are wonder pets, before we head off to Meijer for groceries. We are out of chocolate milk and toilet paper and have several light bulbs in our hours that are burned out, so today is the day to stock up for the week. It is so gorgeous that we might just take a walk through our neighborhood today.....feels almost like spring!

I ran across this quote on another blog--Rebecca Sower--that I often read. It is resonating with me today, particularly in light of our family's desire to recommit to healthier eating habits and daily work outs.

"Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

This is very much a Biblical idea.....Jesus, through the pen of his authors, instructs us to leave the past in the past "....to forget what is behind" and "press on toward the goal to which He has called us." How many times do we miss the blessings of the day, the richness and joy of our immediate circumstances, because we are trapped and mired in past mistakes and failures and broken promises and missed opportunities? Yes, we certainly need to learn from our mistakes and own our failures.....but we don't need to be imprisoned by them.....Jesus set us free from all that junk. This is a good reminder to me to live each and every day FREE because I am, Praise God! Finish each day and be done with it. Period. Have a great Monday.

Pondering Feet.

Jesus washed feet. And, he asks us to do the same. That was the lesson of the day today in CompassKIDS, and it has been on my mind all day. So what better topic for today's blog entry than to do a little thinking and reflecting on what we can learn from feet. First, I made a little promise that this picture of a friend's feet would debut on the blog.....so here you go, Chad! You have to love a pastor who is willing to have his feet photographed ..... and they are very well manicured, I must say! Most people who were able to identify these as Chad's feet said it was the toes that gave it away....so we'll leave it at that! Thanks, Chad, for playing along and being such a good sport.

Feet. I don't really necessarily like the looks of feet, especially in the winter time. However, I always love it when barefoot weather returns to Michigan and I can resume my tendency to go either barefoot or in sandals or flip-flops until the next snow hits. My feet are very ticklish, which makes for some interesting tickle matches when my husband holds me down and tickles my feet.....even the hint that somebody is going to touch my feet is enough to make me start giggling! While most people would consider a pedicure to be a pampering treat, it takes a very good pedicurist with a firm touch to lure me into the pedicurist's chair. While I don't necessarily like feet in themselves, they serve a very utilitarian purpose in our lives. They carry us to where we need to be. They allow us to complete the tasks of our day. However, we don't rely on our feet nearly as much as people in history had to.

Let's think about this for a moment. In Biblical times, people relied on their feet as their main means of transportation. People walked for very long distances and often did so either with simple sandals or bare feet. They walked dirty and treacherous terrain; that included dust and mud and thorns and animal dung and who knows what other nasty substances; when they arrived at their destinations, their feet were undoubtedly filthy and stinky and right-down disgusting. Crusted mud. Smeared feces. Think the bottom of a pair of barn boots fresh from an animal's stall, and that's probably the kind of feet we were talking about. Enter Jesus. A king. The son of God. What better way for Jesus to give us a picture of a servant-leader, a leader of the people, than to wash feet. Today, I was privileged to work with a group of kids who participated in an illustration of Jesus washing feet. Granted, the "dirt" on their feet consisted of chocolate pudding, which, by the way, got on their feet when they were challenged to use their toes to find the gummy bears swimming in the pudding. Below, you see a picture of my daughter with her pudding-covered feet, as another student is cleaning her feet with clear water and a towel.

What a powerful picture of servanthood that is. Not just serving in a way that puts us in the spotlight, but finding the dirty job, the job that noone else wants to do, and doing it in Jesus' name. I'll admit, I like to receive credit when I have worked hard. I like to hear words of encouragement and affirmation. However, Jesus calls us to serve even--and ESPECIALLY--in those times where the job is dirty and the thanks is non-existent.

So, today, I have been challenged with this question: How can I wash feet? How can I apply this lesson to my life in 2007? People don't typically arrive in my home with dirt and feces crusted on their feet, but I'll tell you this: They do arrive with a lot of emotional and psychological "dirt and dung" sticking to them. People in today's world carry a lot of hurt. They bear a lot of scars. So, one way that Jesus has shown me that I can "wash feet" is to do what I can to heal and build up people.....to allow God to work through me to wash away the dirt and grime from people's spirits. I can start with my own family, seeking ways to build them up, to encourage, to use words of affirmations, to overlook faults, and to find ways to help people to more fully embrace themselves as made in the image of our awesome Creator. I want to be known as a feet-washer who washes feet in Jesus' name. Challenge: So what can YOU do to wash feet?

The kids have school off tomorrow for President's Day so I'll be sleeping in a bit....Hooray! Enjoy the rest of your Sunday night and be sure to thank Jesus for showing us how to wash feet.

One Winter Friday.

Today was a pretty low-key day in our house. The kids had no school due to mid-winter break--they have Monday off, too--so it was nice to enjoy a leisurely morning. Some of the highlights of the day........

Cleaned the kitchen, which looked like a tornado struck.
Organized my junk drawer and bill drawer......feels so good to be ordered.
Watched the tail-end of Rachael Ray.
Wrote a Stats exam--oh, they're going to love me for this one!
Paid bills.....always so much fun. A sense of satisfaction that we are paid up for another 2 weeks.
Took the kids to McDonalds for lunch on our way to the sledding hill.
Enjoyed several trips down a very slick sledding hill......including a few jumps.....OUCH!
Watched a bit of "Robin Hood" with my son while my daughter played at a friend's house.
Talked and bickered a bit with my husband before he left for tonight's ball game....GO BULLDOGS!
Thought about going to the game but opted for the couch instead.
Caught up on some of the favorite scrap blogs.
Updated my calendar for the next month...looking forward to five days in Traverse City with my husband in mid-March and four days in New York at the end of the month.
Caught the end of the Jeopardy Teen Tournament. I have become my parents.

All in all, a nice Friday. I'm getting read to make some frozen yogurt shakes for my kids before we settle down to a nice Disney movie. Looking forward to some scrapping tomorrow while my husband spends some quality time with the kids. There's just something so cozy about a Friday night at home with my family.

The Ugly Truth About Cancer.

Cancer is on my mind today. Cancer is so ugly, so mysterious. So powerful and all-encompassing in its ability to send individuals and families into a reeling, buzzing confusion. It steals a lot of joy from a lot of people in a lot of different stages of life. I have a very cherished colleague, Professor Ron Meyers, who was diagnosed with cancer 2 weeks ago; last week, he had surgery to remove part of his pancreas and totally reconstruct his digestive system. In less than 2 weeks' time, he went from the everyday of teaching courses and family life to a post-surgical operating bed. The bed where he is now fighting for his life.

Ron is one of those people who is so selfless and genuine. This man would give you anything--I mean ANYTHING--that he has to meet a need. I had him as a professor in my first year of college over 15 years ago, and I have been honored to work with him for nearly 10 years now as fellow university professors. Ron is a true servant of Christ, a true servant-leader. So kind and loving. So, so committed to others. So willing to pour and pour and pour himself into the lives of young people as he partners with them in learning. Ron just became a grandfather for the first time a few months ago. His youngest daughter, a student of mine, is getting married in a few short months. And now this is the reality of his life. Cancer.

Yesterday, while we were all celebrating the day with ones we love and enjoying treats and gifts and festivities, he was writhing in pain as doctors and nurses tried to get his pain under control. His family was sitting at his bedside, undoubtedly still in shock at what is now their reality. Ron was also told that while his lymph nodes are clear for the time being, the cancer has spread to parts of his stomach and to his liver. After he recovers from surgery, he is facing a long battle that will include chemotherapy, radiation, and who know what other types of treatment. And the odds that these will be effective in eradicating the cancer--short of a miracle--are very slim. It makes me sad. It makes me angry. I've cried for Ron, and for his wife and daughter, and for that precious little grandson whom he has only begun to get to know. It makes me want to scream at the top of my lungs "Why God? It's not fair."

The statistics for this type of cancer are not pretty. Less than 5% of people diagnosed with this type of cancer survive 5 years past their time of diagnosis. Ugly. Stark. And very sobering.

But, Ron is one of those people whose faith surpasses even the ugliest of diseases. While I am sure that Ron is scared and confused and has moments of anger, I also know without a doubt that he is continuing to place his trust and confidence in Christ. That he is continuing to worship and glorify his creator. That he is impacting those around him in powerful ways. That he is praying for and, even more important, expecting--EXPECTING--a miracle. That he will accept the road to which God is calling him.

So many are praying that God will work a miracle in Ron's life and body. That Ron will be completely healed, that he will return to our campus next semester, and that others will stand in awe at the miracle they witness in Ron. I am praying fervently that this is God's will. Ron and his family would greatly appreciate it if anyone reading this would join the fight by praying, praying, and praying.

It has caused me to ask myself the question, "What if it were me?" Would I have enough faith to be willing to accept God's will, WHATEVER THE PRICE? Would I cast my cares completely upon Him? Would I seek to use the experience to grow spiritually and reach others for Him? Would I be willing to embrace possible death, if that's what He had planned for me? I would like to think that like Ron, I would keep this faith-centered perspective, though I don't think we can really know until we are faced with such a situation. Today, I am praising God for a healthy body and for one more day with my husband and kids. For truly, we never know what the next day, even the next moment, will bring. We think we know, we think we will always have "in a minute" or "tomorrow." But the truth of the matter is WE....JUST....DON'T....KNOW.

But we do know that God is faithful. He will see Ron and his family through this, whatever the outcome. He has promised that we never walk alone, whether through cancer or whatever circumstance is ours. And we know that one day, we will live with God in a place that has no cancer, no pain, no tears, and no injustice. Only God in all of His glory, with us reigning at this throne. I don't know if I will ever have to deal with myself or one of my close family members having a serious life-threatening experience with cancer. But I do know that deep valleys will come for each of us. And, thankfully, I also know that God promises that His mercies are new every morning, yes, EVERY MORNING. Even in a deep, deep valley, people like Ron can teach us new perspectives on what it means to trust, and to call upon the Lord, and to wait on Him, and to carry on for His purpose, and to be faithful to Christ's cause. Thanks, Ron. I am honored to join with you in this fight.

Hearts, Red, Jewelry, Treats, and Tired Mommy.

Wow, what a chock-full Valentine's week we have had. It seems that it now takes over a full week to prepare for and celebrate Valentine's Day....whew. It was fun, but this tired Mommy is ready for a break and a few holiday-free days (weeks? Months?). In the past week, we have done lots of fun, red, creative activities including but not limited to:

Creating a Valentine's scrapbook for my daughter's kindergarten teacher.
Helping my daughter make her valentine box.
Planning and leading my daughter's school party--fun but LOTS of work.
Making valentine's treat buckets for my son's preschool class.
Helping my daughter hand-stamp and write her valentine cards.
Helping my son write his signature "H" on his cards.
Shopping for valentine's gifts for the kids (DVDs, books, and chocolates for each).
Making treats to bring to my university students.
Making and helping the kids decorate this huge cherry chocolate chip cookie for a Valentine's Day dessert.
Dipping pretzels for at-work treats.
Cooking my husband's favorite dinner of meatloaf, cheesy julienne potatoes, green beans, corn, and dinner rolls.
Wrapping my husband's favorite--Clementine's--to go along with his new commitment to health and wellness.
Decorating the house with hearts and flowers and all things red.
Whew.....no wonder I'm tired and having a hard time focusing on my Spanish lesson tonight. Yo estar....I think that means "I'm tired" but at this point, I can't be certain. I need to fall back on Me llama Nicole.....at least I still remember my name!

And this is what is RED in our home tonight. Matt and I had agreed to no gifts this year....hand-made Valentine's cards only. Well, I splurged a bit (a very little bit) and bought him a huge box of Clementine's for his bedtime snacks. He, in turn, splurged BIG and bought me this gorgeous heart-shaped ruby necklace. I was shocked. I thought that he was out shoveling the driveway and he was actually running to the mall to pick this up. Now, those who know me know that I typically prefer simpler basic shapes like circles and squares over hearts, but I truly adore this necklace. It is beautiful and, most importantly, he selected it because he thought that I would really like it, so it reflects his heart. Such a thoughtful gesture.....though he did break our agreement. Oh, well, I won't be too hard on him this time!
These are so fresh, juicy and yummy.....a nice splash of sunshine in the dead of Michigan winter.








Hayden was truly our little Valentine's man all week long. He must have said "Happy Valentine's Day, Mommy" or "Happy Valentine's Day, Daddy" at least 10 times every day this week. He was SO excited to receive his valentine cards from his preschool friends and to open cards and packages from both grandparents. He even slept with this card and $2.00 bill from Grandma on the night before Valentine's day. Today, it was "Happy Valentine's Birthday, Mommy." I love this kid.

And Kennedy could read all of her valentines this year with only a small bit of help on some of the big words. She is reading bigger and harder words every day--this princess card contained the words "beautiful" and "wonderful"--and she is just blossoming before our eyes. What a precious, lovely little girl she is to our hearts.

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope your day was filled with RED and LOVE and LITTLE KID HUGS and A FEW GOOD CHOCOLATES and EVERYONE HELPING CLEAR THE TABLE AFTER DINNER and MAYBE EVEN A GORGEOUS PIECE OF JEWELRY.

100 Points for my 100th Post.

When I made my very first post on this blog back in October, I wasn't at all sure of how long I would keep this up or if I would even like the whole world of blogging. And now here I am, celebrating and making the 100th post milestone! I had tried keeping various written daily journals before, but never seemed to last more than a week. Quite frankly, it has surprised me how much I enjoy and look forward to my daily writing time on this blog. It has been a great way to reflect, record, document, and share a bit of myself. I have connected with old friends, made new friends, and just really enjoyed exploring various subjects and experiences. Expressing myself in this way has truly enriched and changed my life. As I was thinking about a good way to mark this 100th post, I decided that I would compile a list of 100 thoughts, photos, lessons I've learned, miscellaneous points, etc. So, Happy 100th post, thanks for joining me in the journey so far, and here goes..........

1. Messes are evidence of fun, creativity, and abandon....what psychologists sometimes call FLOW. Don't sweat the messes of life.

2. I never buy paper towel without designs. And I never buy paper towel with designs that I don't like. I would much rather pay more for a roll with a design that I like and that matches my kitchen than to buy the roll that is on sale.

3. During my college years, I was ranked nationally for three-point scoring in basketball.

4. Enjoy the journey. Sometimes, there is more joy and growth in the journey than in the destination.

5. Inject as much RED! as possible into your life, home, wardrobe and scrapbooks.

6. sell out to Jesus....110%!

7. I am fearfully and wonderfully made! So are you! And Jesus, the Savior of the world and son of God, calls us by name! BY OUR NAMES! I would even venture to say that He calls us by our nicknames!

8. When you are out looking for worms, don't miss the beautiful dragonfly that crosses your path.

9. Kids--young and old-- need unstructured and unplanned time to just be. A little bit of boredom and alone time is great for stimulating the imagination.

10. Create something with your hands every day.

11. Be mindful about the words that come out of your mouth. Words are powerful and can either cut and scar someone's soul, or build them up with great encouragement. Be known as an encourager. Use words to build up and not destroy.

12. Commit Random Acts of Christ-Centered Kindness as least once per week. It will radically change your life!

13. Sing your Heart out!

14. Download favorite songs from different times in your life onto your i-Pod. Let your i-Pod become a musical scrapbook of your life. Mine contains 80s flashbacks such as "Eye of the Tiger" and "Grease"--ah, such memories. It will make your heart smile every time!

15. Children grow so fast. Take the time to savor every day, every new skill, every diaper change, every mischievious act, every three-year-old tantrum, every teenage mood, every new discovery. Don't wish days away, for those wishes quickly come true.

16. Eat a small piece of good chocolate every day. Savor it in your mouth and let is melt slowly and wash over your tastebuds.

17. Be involved in a church plant at least once in your life. Our family was part of such a church in my early teen years, and my husband, family and I are now part of Compass Church which just launched in October. It is quite a ride!

18. So many things in life are uncertain. Be certain of at least one thing in your life--that you are loved deeply and passionately and fully by the God of the universe. And that He desires strongly to be in an intimate relationships with you. Yes, you.

19. Everyone is an artist.

20. If you really want to experience passionate worship, spend some time in the kids' program in your church. Watch them dance to the music, sing their hearts out, ask the hard questions....I have been deeply affected by spending time with children worshipping kid-style.

21. Take a long, hot uninterruped bath at least once per week. I have the hardest part with the "uninterrupted" element of that equation, but such time is good for the body and soul. Oh, yes, and I'm not suggesting that this should be your only hygienic activity of the week....please shower on the off-days!

22. Every now and then, trade in your Starbucks favorite for a simple cup of tea. Kind of like periodically de-cluttering your morning routine.

23. Savor one hour of quiet time every day. Read, nap, write, let the kids choose quiet time activities to do in their rooms by themselves....it is good for the spirit. Do not feel guilty about this....it is good for you and for the kids.

24. Dress up and make believe. Feel free to don your favorite dress-up clothes, dance around and be silly, and just enjoy the freedom of following your imagination. This is good for adults as well as children!


25. I vomited every day on our honeymoon to Kauai, Hawaii....yes, I was pregnant. We were married in May but didn't take our honeymoon until December. So, I was sick most mornings, craved the tuna sandwiches from the pool bar in the afternoons, and was exhausted by mid-evening. But it was still a spectacular trip!


26. The best thing a family can spend is TIME.

27. When the storm comes, don't take cover. Learn to dance in the rain.

28. Playing in the snow can make even the coldest day much more enjoyable.

29. The shortest verse in the Bible is "Jesus wept." That is such a powerful verse to me. Jesus hurt, as we do. Jesus felt pain, as we do. Though He was perfect, Jesus knew that if He experienced what we do, we would be much more likely to relate to Him, accept Him, and grasp His truth.

30. Use your pain. Pain and hurt are holy. What does that mean? I believe that one of the reasons that God allows tragedy and hurt and pain is so we can connect more intimately with others who are also experiencing hurt and tragedy and disconnection. Hurt is often the most powerful connecting point between souls, and can be the seed through which God's hope sprouts.

31. Go barefoot. Socks and shoes are very overrated.

32. Give yourself permission to buy a bouquet of fresh flowers. Especially in the winter time.

33. Wow, it's a long way to 100, isn't it?!! Press on toward the goal......

34. You can never display too many photos in your home. Photos garb the walls of your home with heart and connection and love.

35. If you can, buy a Dyson vacuum sweeper. They are awesome and never get clogged....and not having to deal with replacing bags and that whole business is priceless!

36. Buy locally. Art, produce, clothing.....let your money work to develop your community.

37. Surround yourself with things that you love. I am in the process--a very LONG process--of trying to declutter our belongings and reduce them down to the essentials of what we love and really need. This is a hard--very hard--and slow process and we are not there yet, but I think the end result will be very worth it.

38. Never stop learning new things. As readers of this blog know, I am in the middle of learning Spanish. And if you know anything about second language acquisition, I am WAY past the optimal time to learn a second language. But I am learning and enjoying the process, and I love the prospect of being able to communicate more effectively to a broader range of people. My next conquest: The guitar.

39. Set aside one 2-hour time slot per week to create together as a family. This could be making a meal, or designing Valentine's cards, or painting a canvas together, or working in your family flower garden. Cooperation and collaboration as a family can totally change the tone of family interactions.

40. Read the Bible every day, even if it is only one verse. Ponder on the truth of one verse and ask God to teach you something through His words.

41. If you want something, tell your Father God. How many blessings do we miss because we don't pray to God the desires of our hearts?

42. Empty toilet paper rolls have many different uses--tunnels for Matchbox cars, sand toys, telescopes, binoculars, hiding places for Little People, sculpture material.....my kids have shown me that the possibilities are endless!

43. Try to always clean your sink spotless every night. This is some advice of the Fly Lady that I have tried to heed. It gives you one little spot in your house that you can feel good about, as if it is totally spotless and sparkling. It can bring a sense of settlement before going to bed each night. And if you miss a night, just eat a piece of chocolate (See # 16 above) and call it a day!

44. Wait until after Thanksgiving to decorate and start buying for Christmas. Thanksgiving is increasingly getting passed over on the way to December 25. Thanksgiving should be a very holy and meaningful time of connection and reflection. Don't give in to the retailers' desire to make Christmas commerce a three-month affair. Take time to give thanks, reflect on God's bounty, and cherish life's blessings.

45. Never let a birthday pass without a big celebration! This is the day to celebrate you and all God has made YOU to be.......celebrate big! Do what you love to do. With the people you love most. Eat your favorite foods. Take a break from normal routine. Let people give you gifts. Celebrate you!

46. Seafood is always best when it's fresh.

47. Give children their own space to create. Even if it's a small bedtray with a drawing pad and crayons, give them the tools they need to explore their creativity. We have an easel in our library room (right off the kitchen), a mobile creation station made out of a wooden bed tray with compartments for all types of creative tools, and an artspace in the basement playroom where a table and supplies are designated just for the kids, to create whenever they want to. It doesn't have to cost a lot of money.....and the benefits will be tremendous in the life of your child.


48. Give the gift of books. Not a holiday passes in our family without giving our kids books. At Christmas, we always have a book basket which we fill each year with books about their particular interests. Valentine's bags and Easter baskets always contain books, and one of their birthday gifts is always books. Give to your child a personal library which they can then pass on to their own children. Make reading a legacy.

49. Kindness matters....and so does nice.

50. Keep Sunday sacred. A few months ago, I committed to doing no work on Sunday. No grading. No laundry. No dishes. I gave myself permission to rest....nap as long as I needed to, create, play with my kids, watch movies. It has made a huge difference in my mental clarity and productivity the rest of the week. Half-way to 100!

51. Bloom where you are planted. Choose joy. And decide to be a "glass half full" type of person. Remember that the grass is rarely greener on the other side of where you currently are.

52. Take time every day to play, whatever that means to you. Play replenishes the soul and energizes us for the tasks of the day.

53. Always, always, always keep your camera handy. I cannot tell you how many times I have captured a precious moment or a one-of-a-kind experience just because I thought to throw my camera into my purse. And I have also been disappointed when moments have occurred and I didn't throw it in.

54. Be Jesus to those around you. As the saying goes, you may be the only hint of Christ that someone ever encounters.

55. Look for miracles all around you. Jesus promises that they are there.

56. Take the time necessary to learn about and celebrate the diversity in our world. Teach your children about diversity and how important it is to embrace and connect with people different than themselves. Expose them to various cultures and foods and traditions. Answer their questions honestly as they arise. Teach them to love and befriend people regardless of their skin color, disability, religious belief, or other characteristic. Help them to foster peace and harmony.

57. Accessorize! Even the oldest and plainest clothes can look new and trendy with a fun necklace and earrings, a colorful scarf with a coordinated pendant, or even a unique handbag. For extra fun, I like to tie my colorful scarves to my purse and maybe even pin a brooch to it for an instant splash of bling.

58. Embrace the joys of Play Dough! Don't let the mess scare you off! Play-dough is so good for kids' development and is just plain fun for all ages. Even the very smell of playdough is sentimental for many of us......I bet I can make a bigger Play-Dough snake than you can!

59. One of my very, very favorite movies of all times is the original "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory." I remember that when we were growing up, the kids in our neighborhood would get together to watch it when it was shown once per year on TV. It just reminds of a perfect childhood fantasy....however, I could do without the Johnny Depp remake. Why mess with a good thing?

60. Everything tastes better with a little salsa....especially when it's fresh!
Except eggs......I don't go there.

61. I love making fresh homemade guacamole. Combining fresh bright green avacados, fresh diced tomatoes, lots of garlic, lime, and fresh cilantro. The secret is to throw all the ingredients in a Ziploc bag and start mushing everything together with your hands. Then, when everything is melded well, cut a corner off the baggie and squeeze into a festive bowl. So yummy!

62. I have a collection of handmade pottery pieces that I have gathered from various places we have traveled. Currently, I have pieces from Atlanta, Las Vegas, New Orleans, Toronto, Kauai, Hawaii, Cabo San Lucas and Riviera Maya, Mexico, and various small studios throughout Michigan, and my very favorite Sturgeon River Pottery in Petoskey.

63. I love ketchup. It drives my husband crazy that I love to eat ketchup on a good steak.

64. Savor and record the sweet things kids say. Example: This morning, I was cuddling in the chair with my 5-1/2-year-old daughter, Kennedy, when she says out of the blue: "Mom, won't you ever be done with college? Me: "Well, I teach at college, that's my job." Kennedy: "But don't you want a different job. Or you'll NEVER be done with college! ME: "You're right, I'll probably be in college FOREVER!" Kennedy: "But don't you want to be a vet. I do! Because I don't want to be in college forever like you are." ME: "I don't think I'd make a very good vet, but you will! I'll stick to college." So sweet!

65. Embrace the promise of Christmas.....never underestimate the power and significance of the birth of the perfect Jesus as a gift to save the world. And never, ever lose sight of the real reason we celebrate.
66. {Give what you got}. This was the main message at church from Josh today. Don't limit your giving to money. Think about your talents, abilities, interests, passions....and give them to God! He will do amazing, amazing things with whatever you got. I plan a full post on this at a later time.

67. I really love Rachael Ray's cooking style....though I think she needs to stick to cooking shows and stop trying to be a talk show hostess. She cooks with creativity yet keeps it simple, doable, fun and semi-healthy.

68. Never pass up the opportunity to hug a child and let them know how wonderful and unique they are. Some children go a lifetime without hearing these words.

69. I love watching old episodes of shows like Gilligan's Island, Love Boat, the Brady Bunch, and I Dream of Jeanie. So full of nostalgia.

70. Zoos are some of my very favorite places. I just love observing animals of all types, learning about their behaviors and habitats, and just wondering at the diversity of God's creation. Some of my favorites are the hippos, polar bears, giraffes, elephants, monkeys, penguins, and any kind of marine life.

71. I truly believe that Lake Michigan is the most beautiful body of water in the United States, if not the entire world. We are so very fortunate to have this gorgeous lake nearly in our backyard, just minutes away.

72. The year I was born.

73. If at first you don't succeed, maybe you need to redefine success! Every time you put yourself out there and do your best, you are a success. Many times, success as defined by the world is very over-rated anyway.

74. Caffeine Free Diet Coke is my vice, my beverage addiction. Milky, spicy, hot chai tea runs a close second.

75. Cherish and display your children's art work...or should I say heart work. They are precious representations of your child's creativity and unique perspective on the world. Don't hide that artwork in the garage or closet.....give it a prominent place in your home and maybe even its own frame!

76. Be the change you want to see in the world.

77. Mentor. Find a way to share yourself and your life experiences with a young person in your community. You can never make a better investment....and the dividends are a lot better, more fulfilling, and more guaranteed than those offered by the stock market.

78. I indulged in four little Valentine's chocolates tonight.....a couple of days early, but I couldn't resist. My new favorites are the Lindt valentine truffles with the white chocolate melty centers. Divine.

79. Every lunch tastes better when it is part of a picnic. The kids and I often picnic with our lunch--whether it is out on the lawn or at a park in the summer, in the middle of the kitchen floor for a tea party/lunch, or a "carpet" picnic in the living room in the dead of winter.

80. We had lunch today at a Chinese restaurant. When I tried to sneak a few fresh green beans on my son's plate, he started screaming "I don't like green beans! I don't like green beans!" Now, most of the diners were obviously executives having business lunches, so I quickly moved the beans from his plate to mine. What can I say: I guess the kid doesn't like green beans!

81. A great white t-shirt is the staple of my wardrobe. Now if I could just figure out a way to keep it white and kid-finger-print free! Actually, I have discovered that the clear color-safe bleach type of Dawn dishwashing liquid is quite effective for laundry stains (thanks for this tip, Suzie!).

82. I am awed....completely awed....by flowers. Take time, I mean REALLY take time to look at the small details of flowers and how they are constructed. The tiny protrusions and the amazing patterns they make. How something that looks so delicate can be so strong to withstand wind and rain and little kids running through them. Totally amazing. Through the lens of my camera, I have really gained appreciation for the awesome beauty of flowers in God's creation.

83. The old adage is true: Laughter is the best medicine for a lot of life's woes. Research tells us that kids laugh hundereds of times per day, while the average adult laughs less than 10 times. So, take the time to laugh and don't worry about how silly or unsophisticated you might sound. And the best target......laugh at yourself!

84. Drink milk (this is for my good friends, the Dykemas, who operate a dairy farm!).

85. Send at least one hand-written note per week. Who in your life would be encouraged by a handwritten note amidst all of their bills in their mailbox? Who do you appreciate but have not taken the time to tell? A few hand-scrawled words have the amazing power to change the course of somebody's day.

86. Never take your refrigerator for granted. I always have, never thinking about the convenience. We just got a new one after living out of a dorm-sized refrigerator for over 2 weeks......for the first time, I can say that I honestly appreciate and am thankful for this amazing appliance.

87. Seriously, for all you non-blog-writers out there, I urge you to try blogging as a means of creativity and self-expression. You just might find yourself celebrating your 100th post sooner than you think and cherishing it as an important part of your day.

88. In my senior year of high school, I owned and wore a full-body-outfit that was bright pink with white polka dots. My mom actually sewed it for me after I selected the material. And I mean BRIGHT PINK! I wore it with a bright white wrap belt and a white banana clip in my hair. Oh, my. What was I thinking? I look forward to seeing Kennedy's reaction to that outfit when she gets into her teen years.

89. Tell your story. However it makes the most sense to you, share your story with others. Whether on a blog, through a scrapbook, making a movie, or writing a book.......we are meant to use our stories to intersect and connect with others. Tell your story.

90. The year I graduated high school from good old MHS. Yes, I was one of those over-achievers who was valedictorian, senior class president, student council vice president, athlete of the year......etc. But, it's funny how those awards--which seemed so important at the time--mean very little to the actual course and fabric of my life today. It reminds me to see the bigger picture and realize that time really has a way of giving us perspective.

91. Soak in the sunshine whenever you can.

92. As a child psychologist, I am often asked about toys that I recommend for children. My very favorites: A set of play silks. These are basically 3-foot squares of silk that can be used by children in so many ways--costumes, baby blankets, leashes, tents......stimulates kids' imaginations. A great, great investment. These can be sewn or purchased from places like Magic Cabin.

93. The day that I married my wonderful husband, Matthew, was the happiest and most amazing day of my life. To be loved so fully by the man of my dreams, and to be surrounded by those who had influenced us through our lives, was just such a privilege and wonder to experience. So good.


96. Nothing changes you to the very core of your being like becoming a mother. Parenthood has been at once the most joyous and the most challenging experience of my life. It forces you to search to the core of who you are and rearrange your priorities. It also gives you new perspective on how deeply God loves us, in spite of our utter failure and inadequacy and constant rebellion.

97. Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you've imagined.

98. Puppies take as much work, patience, and consistency as having a human baby. Think first--long and hard--before getting a new puppy when you have a newborn in the house. Yes, there is a story here about a young couple with an active young toddler, a pregnant Mommy, and a very mischievious chocolate lab puppy named Kooper. I'll tell you the whole story some day........

99. I am so proud of my husband for his commitment to the football players that he coaches. This photo shows his greatest professional accomplishment--leading his team to a state championship. One of my proudest moments was watching from the sidelines as he won this championship. I will never forget how proud I was of him at that moment. This is a memory and experience that can never be taken away or minimized for Matt or for our family.

100. Wow, what a journey this post has been. I tried to interject a little more of my story here, along with some of my random observations, life philosophies, and favorite photos sprinkled in along the way. I look forward to continuing this blog as a way to creatively document, explore and communicate the substance and fabric of the everyday life of me and my family. Until tomorrow ...... Happy 100th Post, Half-Baked and Firefly Free! It's been an awesome ride so far, and I am better for the journey.

Happy 100 Day!

As mentioned in yesterday's post, today was the big 100th DAY OF KINDERGARTEN! Of course, I had to join in with the festivities and snap lots of pictures of the day's events. Highlights of the day included writing a "100 story", playing games surrounding the theme of 100, making a snack mix with 100 different types of ingredients (well, not really 100, but lots of variety!), and the highlight of the day--making and wearing these crazy, funky fruity 100 hats out of pipe cleaners and Fruit Loops. Even the school principal made and donned a fruity hat! It was a lot of fun to see the kids' excitement and to see them working together so well. I am so proud of my daughter for how she works and how she helps those around her....it just warmed my heart to see her interact with her friends. It has been so amazing to witness these kids' grow in their learning and work habits in such a relatively short period of time. Here is where I get on my soapbox about the importance of parental involvement in children's school experience--parents need to know what is going on in their school and with their child's individual, unique learning experience. Children thrive when there is continuity and integration between home and school; they suffer when the two are treated as separate, non-related entities. Kennedy loves to have me at school--she brightens up when I enter the room. I love not only being involved in her school experience but also being involved with her little friends as they learn and grow--I am not only excited about the learning and development that I see in her, but I get to be involved in the growth of each person in her class, and that is so rewarding and a privilege to see. Even one little hour per week can make all the difference. Research overwhelmingly shows that parental involvement is critical--ABSOLUTELY CRUCIAL--to children's academic and social success. So, 100 day is important but every day is an opportunity to share in your child's at-school world. Just do it!

The highlight of Hayden's day was painting! Yes, anything that involves making a potential mess and he is there, 100%! He took the task very seriously and created a "vawentine howt" for me....precious. We have seen so much growth in him in this short month that he has been in school. He LOVES to go to school, especially looking forward to the part where he gets to bring show-and-tell items from home. Each school night, he fills his backpack with his most cherished treasures--dinosaurs, his binoculars, his pirate telescope, a little baby phone that he played with when he was a baby--so many treasures get stored lovingly in his backpack. When he gets to school, he hangs his coat up but has to keep his backpack on until he is good and ready to take it off. He is SO attached to that little backpack--I even shot a photo of him the other day sitting on the potty with nothing on--buck naked--except for his yellow school bus backpack. I won't share that one here but it will definitely be one to pull out in a few years! Hayden is starting to write the "H" and "A" in his name and now will sit and color or paint for more than a few minutes.....we are so proud of the maturity and engagement he has shown. He brings a lot of enthusiasm and energy to his classroom, and we couldn't be more excited about his introduction to formal schooling.


Well, tomorrow is a big day........my 100th post on Half-Baked and Firefly Free. So, my plan for tomorrow is to share 100 tid-bits, thoughts, mottos, quotes, etc. that I feel are central to my life. So, I'd better get thinking about that......now we are off to enjoy some fish for dinner. Blessed Friday night.....watch a good movie and cuddle close to those you love.....and don't forget to say "I love you!"

Slippers and Pre-100 Day.

These are probably the coziest red things I own. I am really not a slipper person--I would rather sleep outside in the cold than wear something on my feet to bed. Seriously, I just typically like to go barefoot, whether in the summer grass or on my cold wood floors in the winter. But these slippers are different. They are made of wursted red wool and are just right--not too fluffy and not too stiff. They have formed to my feet perfectly. I love the little felted flowers and the simplicity of the design. I bought a pink pair for my sister for Christmas last year from Garnet Hill, and I just couldn't resist getting a pair of my own. They are high quality and should last for a very, very long time. Similar to the red shoes that I shared on a previous post, these slippers just make my feet and my soul happy when I look down at them.

Well, tomorrow is the big 100th day of kindergarten, so I am heading to school with my daughter in the morning to help with all the festivities. I can't believe that my little girl is more than half done with her kindergarten year. She has learned and grown so much.....she is now reading bedtime stories to me. She reads signs as we go along the road. She is reading hard non-sight words such as "beautiful" and the other day read "sponsorship" from a piece of mail. It is so fun and rewarding to see her literacy unfold right before our eyes. I'll share photos from the big 100 day tomorrow. Night-night.

Creative Day.

This is another favorite red piece that I have in our kitchen. It is a antique red stoneware pitcher that I use to hold this collection of paper sunflowers and random red flowers. This stoneware sits in my kitchen window right behind my sink, so I see it when I do dishes. Surrounding the stoneware are some of my other favorites, things that make the mundane task of washing dishes a bit more pallatable. Let's see....there is that adorable snowman tile that Kennedy made and gave me for Christmas....this is a definite "keep it forever" project. And that little pink stone.....Kennedy and I have this thing about pink stones. We always look for them and collect them when we are at the beach or out for walks. This is one of the very first stones that she found and gave me, when she was right around 2 years old. Such precious, precious memories are held in this stone. Kennedy painted the little pig when she was three....we were at a birthday party at a paint-your-own-pottery shop, and I just love how here work turned out. And now, I am seeing that I need to get some of Hayden's creations in this space! The hanging family plaque was given to us by a very special family who was in our small group at our previous church....it reminds me of the importance of family and of families connecting with other families....thanks, Brad and Toni!













We spent a good bit of time just creating today....so fun and good for the soul. I made this simple little heart out of cardstock, a Heidi Swapp flower and heart, and some simple hanging ribbon stapled on both sides. So simple yet such a fun way to add a splash of red and love to our home.














Kennedy also came up with a really cool project idea....she wanted to make heart puzzles and then piece them back together like heart quilts. How her mind works! So, she picked five pieces of patterned paper out of my collection--mostly pink, of course--and we cut them apart into various shapes, then worked at piecing them together like puzzles. So cool! She called hers "Broken Heart"--she is really into titling her art, which I love, because it represents her pride and ownership of her creative work--and I called mine "Fabric of my Heart." I just love creating with my kids and don't even mind the huge mess that is typically left after our creative sessions. I even pulled out my sewing machine and was going to stitch around the hearts for yet another homespun touch; however, silly me, I am all out of thread so that will have to wait for another day.













We even had a creative lunch today--Make-Your-Own-Pizza! The kids love it when I buy these little Boboli crusts and give them toppings to make their own lunch. As you can see, they each approach the task quite differently--Hayden thought the pizza needed eyes and a nose, while Kennedy was very careful to spread her sauce evenly across every centimeter of the crust--but they both really enjoyed this activity. They love spreading the sauce, sprinkling the mozzerella and then the grated parmesan.....they usually go for the simple just-cheese approach. Then they like watching through the oven door (of our new oven!) and can hardly wait for their yummy and handmade lunch. They both gobbled them down, so it was an obvious hit. It is fun and so important, from my perspective, to involve kids in the kitchen--again, realizing that there will be a bit more mess than usual. Little ones really benefit from learning about the importance of nutrition and enjoying eating and the connection that comes in the kitchen and over meals. This is a good precursor to the Valentine Cookie baking to come this weekend.......Bon appetit. Now, I wonder how you say that in Spanish?

Thoughts of Spring.

After so many days of snow, this little flower makes me yearn for spring and warm sunshine and flowers growing outside, nurtured by the warm spring rain. Yes, we had our second snow day in a row today, so coupled with being virtually snowed in for the previous three days, we have now been cooped up for five days straight. The kids seem to be handling it OK, but I am going a bit stir-crazy. More mentally than anything. The snow is gorgeous--like a fluffy pure-white down blanket--but it is bone-chilling cold. The kind of cold that makes your nostrils stick together. The kind of cold where you definitely don't want to be putting your tongue on the cold metal swingset pole (OK, this story is for another time!). This red flower sits on the counter in our bathroom and has become a symbol to me, in the last few days, of the promise of spring. I painted this bottle at a create-your-own art studio that has since closed, but I love the colors that it adds to our otherwise chocolate brown bathroom. It was kind of a "spash every color that you can on this bottle" kind of moment, and I love the way it turned out. It reminds me to take time everyday to create, even if it is just painting on an old recycled bottle. I have come to realize that when you surround yourself with things that you love and that have meaning to you or that you have created with your own hands, it is far, far more valuable than the latest look from Pottery Barn or Restoration Hardware. And, I could have picked a yellow or green or pink or orange or any other-colored flower to go in this bottle, but I went with the red just because....well, just because! Come, spring, come quickly!

Well, the deadline for the CK Hall of Fame contest is Saturday, and once again, I have decided not to enter. I really wanted to this year, and I am very disappointed with myself for procrastinating, but life has just happened over the past month, and I just didn't have it in me to pull the all-nighters it would have taken this week to finish my entry. So, I will save some of these pages for next year's contest. For me, the idea of "deadlines" for scrapping goes against the very essence of why I scrapbook....to get lost in the flow of creating, to bypass the pressures of the everday, to focus intently on the true fabric of life.....so I'm not sure about this whole contest thing. I create for me and for my family, ,and I really don't want my satisfaction with my creative work to hinge on the approval of others. So, we'll see how I feel about it next year.....

Have you ever had one of those days when the day-to-day grind just really gets to you? That was today for me. The pressures of work and parenting and finances and upcoming trips and budgets.....it just really piled up today. Around 5:00, I had to take a break from my task and just say "God, change my heart. Help me see You right now. Reassure me that you are in control. I need your presence now." And, you know what? He delivered. As He always does, time after time. I don't understand the peace. I don't understand His grace to be with us in the everday mire. But He is there. Thank you, God.

Yet Another Snow Day.

Today, I am sharing a set of red vintage-style cannisters that we have on our kitchen counter. For some reason, these remind me of my grandparents, so they are an important part of my home. They are labeled flour, sugar, coffee and tea, though the contents right now go something like this: Flour (actually fruitsnacks), Sugar (actually Yo-Gos), Coffee (actually teabags) and tea (actually my stash of Cinnamon Dentyne gum). Maybe someday I'll be organized enough to actually match these canisters' contents to the words on the outside, but for now, I'll keep 'em guessing. To my little 3-year-old-boy, these cannisters are the "candy jars", regardless of what the letters say!

Well, we in Michigan are still working to dig out from this incredible amount of snow. Several of the schools are canceled again for tomorrow given the sub-zero temperatures, but we will see come morning whether my husband and kids will head back to school. Even my university canceled classes for today, which is unheard of. Of course, I don't teach on Mondays anyway, so it was technically not a true snowday for me. Nevertheless, we did get to sleep in a bit since I didn't have to be up to get my daughter ready for kindergarten....two days of getting to sleep in until 9:00, and I am feeling pretty rested. It's funny....I was feeling pretty burned out last week, and I almost feel that God sent this blizzard just for me to give me a chance to rest and refresh and just have some down time. Maybe my own little miracle of sorts. God answers prayers in some pretty unique ways sometimes!

Some of you have been after me to post some samples of my scrapbook work. Usually, I find that I don't have a lot of extra time to do the whole scan and post process, so I'll try to get better. Above, you will see a snapshot of a layout that I quickly completed today. I entitled the page "Snippets of Me" and it contains photos of things that I see as definitional of me at this point in time. I completed this page in response to an assignment for a new Play and Creativity scholarship group that I am leading at the university. This is a group of faculty and staff who are prioritizing play and creativity in their lives, and our inaugural meeting is tomorrow. On this page, I have photos of: my husband; my red vintage kitchen cannisters; my son creating a birdhouse; starbucks; Compass Church; scrapbooking; my son; my daughter; paint; my scrapbook studio; potterybarn; our pet bunny Daffodil; the entryway to our home; a dying sunflower that caught my photographic eye; a group of awesome CompassKIDS; our dining room; my extended family around the Thanksgiving table; my camera; books; a gorgeous sunset that really spoke to me one ordinary (yet extraordinary) morning and made me stop and thank God for his creativity; my computer; laundry, laundry and more laundry; scrapbook supplies; my initial "N"; target; "mom" in my daughter's handwriting in chalk; my homemade vegetable soup; my worn pair of red leather shoes; our new library room and my leather reading chair; and the "PLAY" space in our basement. Interestingly, I created this as a self-portrait yet there is no portrait of me, and that was quite intentional. I really like how the page turns out and it feels like it is a good representation of me and my life on February 5, 2007.

Blizzard...with splashes of red.

When we first purchased this house a little over a year ago, nearly every wall in the house was some shade of white or ecru. Very dull and colorless and blah. No personality, and certainly not the warmth and welcome that I like our home to speak both to our family members as well as to anybody who comes through our door. Now, this is the room that greets those who enter our home. I was very sure that I wanted out entry to be red, because it is a color that just speaks warmth and boldness and comfort and life. This shade of red--Barn Red from Sherwin Williams--is the perfect balance of red without being too shocking. By combining it with black accents--such as the antiqued black letters than combine to spell HOME and FAMILY--I have been able to create a look and a feeling that I love. Nearly every visitor to our home comments on the color and the letters, and I really hope that they feel embraced immediately.

Here is what we woke up to this morning....billowing pile upon pile of snow, with no end in sight. My only question is this: Where was all of this six weeks ago when we were all dreaming of a white Christmas? It is truly beautiful but there is SO MUCH OF IT! We actually ventured out today to have breakfast and get groceries so we could burrow into the house in our pajamas for the rest of the weekend....oh, yes, and we had to make a quick stop at the scrapbook store. I know, we are totally in a blizzard, and I had to make sure I had enough scrapbook supplies for the weekend.....I know many of you can relate! The roads were VERY bad, with several white-outs along the way, but God delivered us safely and we are planning to stay put until this mess subsides. It is so cozy to sit inside and watch the snow blow out in the fields. God's handiwork is so amazing....when I take the time to really ponder the depth and breadth of his creativity, it reminds me that everytime we create something--whether crafting a scrapbook page or building a bookshelf or cooking a meal or designing a display in our home or composing a song or writing a story--we are intersecting with the very peron and character of God. Just another reason to take the time to create every day! So, I snapped a few pictures of the snow, and I was especially drawn to the one below. If you look really closely, in the bottom right of the photo, you can see some tiny red berries. I was drawn to the stark contrast of the red with the white blankets of pillowy snow hanging on the branches. The picture really doesn't do the scene justice, but suffice it to say that it is gorgeous in our little piece of the world today. Church has already been cancelled for tomorrow, so we are planning to watch some movies and play a few games tonight, sleep in tomorrow, do a little scrapbooking, throw in a batch of my husband's infamous nacho cheese crock pot dip, and gear up for the SuperBowl. My husband--who is a football coach and basically lives and breathes football--looked at me today and said, "What if we lose our cable and can't see the SuperBowl?" OK, so we won't even go there. Good Saturday night from the land of endless snowdrifts, swirling snow, and chilly temps. My footballs and snowflakes dance in your heads tonight.....

Happy Half-Birthday, Sweet Girl.

Here, on the first day of my February red-fest, I wanted to share with you my very favorite pair of shoes. I love them first and foremost because they are the richest shade of red. I love them also because they are made of the supplest, softest red leather and have these cute criss-cross ties. Every time I wear them, I have people compliment me on them and ask where they can be purchased. Honestly, I bought these at WalMart. Yes, WalMart. I think they were like $17.93 or something like that, and they have been the best investment ever. These shoes just downright make me happy. I smile every time I put them on and everytime I glance down at my feet when I wear them. I especially like to wear them with all black--a black turtle neck sweater and black flowy pants....and then this surprising, unexpected flash of red! I think they add instant character to any outfit, and they just made me happy.
It is a cold, snowy--VERY SNOWY--day here in our little part of Michigan, and it is exactly six months until my daughter's sixth birthday. Yes, my little girl is five-and-one-half today. She came into our lives on a hot, sweaty, sweltering August day, just a few days after my own birthday, and changed us and our lives forever. Because she has a summer birthday and won't get to enjoy all of the birthday specials in school, we have decided to make her half-birthday--what some call her "unbirthday"--a day to celebrate. After all, who needs an excuse to celebrate a girl as special and precious and beautiful as she is? Bring on the cake! We made these fun cupcakes--cherry chip cake with vanilla frosting, candy sprinkles, and Skittles--and brought them to school. Kennedy beamed as her teacher placed her birthday crown on her head, led the kids in Happy Birthday, and gave her five and 1/2 big hugs. In kindergarten, it's the little things that are so special to the kids.....things like getting to pass out a birthday treat and picking three friends to help you pass them out. We then had a nice Mommy-daughter lunch at a Chinese restaurant of her choosing--great choice!--followed by an afternoon of a Scooby Doo movie, sledding, and just having a relaxed winter day. I'm sure that August 2 will be here before we know it and we will be celebrating her sixth birthday, but for today and each day leading up to that, we are celebrating all that is special and one-of-a-kind about being 5 (and one-half!). Happy un-Birthday, Sweet Girl. We love you so much and thank God for the gift of you.