Is It Friday Yet?

Here it is, Sunday and I am already needing a weekend. This was one busy weekend.

Friday was homecoming....what a fun atmosphere! We had a great time at the parade, and the kids snagged a huge bag of candy and trinkets.....there is nothing better than a community coming together to celebrate tradition and to support their team. Then on to the football game, where was won 21-10 to raise our record to 4-2. Only 2 more wins to qualify for the playoffs. After the game and crowing of the new BCHS king and queen, we came home to grill burgers for the coaching staff. It was after 1 am by the time I got into bed.

Saturday was time for scrapping! I got up before 6 to finish packing my things to head to our local scrap store to meet up with some new friends from Scrap in Style.....what a fun and playful group! While some of us got more scrapping done than others (:)), a great deal of fun was had by all! After scrapping all day until 9 pm, we had a late dinner at Perkins, where we continued the fun and even met a new friend, waitress Susan. We learned a little too much about Susan, including that she had 5 ex husbands and liked to give away free pie! I got home after 10 pm and then stayed up until 1:30 am finishing some pages for my in-laws' anniversary scrapbook.

Today, I was up before 6 am to head to Mt. Pleasant, where we were celebrating my in-laws' 50th wedding anniversary with a big open house. We all attended church together at 10:30 and then spent the day hosting the open house, meeting people from my husband's childhood, and honoring my amazing mom-and-dad-by-marriage. After the festivities, we got home around 9:00 pm, in time to read stories, practice spelling words for tomorrow's test, and get into bed. My word, I am exhausted all over again just recounting the weekend!

Oh, and did I mention that today is my husband's 44th birthday?? It kind of got lost with all the anniversary festivities going on, but we did sing Happy Birthday at the Open House. We are going to celebrate with dinner and cake tomorrow, but for tonight......Happy Birthday, Honey. You are still my soulmate, my hero and my knight.....my partner, my confidant, and my best friend. I love you to the depths of me.....how special it was to dance today to "Grow Old With Me".....the song we danced to on our wedding day.......may we some day be able to celebrate 50 years together just like your parents did today. Photos to come.......

W-E-D-N-E-S-D-A-Y.

T-o-d-a-y I spent most of my morning in f-i-r-s-t grade. Can you g-u-e-s-s which subject I was working on w-i-t-h the k-i-d-s??

Counting My Blessings.

Today, on a regular type of Monday in September, I found myself flipping through photos of the last few months.....and counting the many, many blessings that God has given me and my family. So check out some of my real-life, so-thankful-for-God's grace type of blessings.

THUMPED.

That is what we got last night. Blown out. And the worst part about it......we gave up. Just handed it over to them. I'm pretty sure this is my husband's worse loss of his 15+ year coaching career. So now it's in the kids' hands.......will they call it a season, or will they grow from this experience and turn it around for good.........time will tell.

Heavy Stuff.

When it comes right down to it, some of the things that we are called to face in this life are just heavy. Right down heavy. I just got off the phone with my childhood best friend, and she and her family are facing some heavy stuff. And I mean heavy. It was good to reconnect and to support her, but I can't help but feel her burden. And it....is.....heavy.

And after all, isn't that what life is all about? Sharing each other's burdens. Isn't that what God calls us to? So while my heart is heavy and my mind is concerned and I am feeling quite distracted from my own life right now (which is a good thing!), I am also feeling blessed that God calls us to be His hands and hearts to each other in times of need.

For I believe this to the depths of me.................The church is not a building. The church is not the attenders at a particular place on a Sunday morning. It is not a group of people who call themselves "members" or "attenders"........it is not a group of people led by a pastor under a particular denomination and a particular constitution.......The church is what happens in the day-to-day as followers of Christ share experiences and get dirty in the hurts and burdens of life.

I get so frustrated when people and writers and pastors and professors argue over whether "THE CHURCH" includes places like Christian colleges and social activist organizations and para-church organizations. Or when people get all tied up in knots regarding whether people give their money to a particular church or whether they instead choose to give it to a variety of other active Christian organizations that spread the Gospel. Aren't these the wrong types of questions? I do not think in black-and-white that way. THE CHURCH IS YOU AND ME. The church living and breathing......it is about people reaching out to people in the name of Christ....in whatever context.....whatever the need......no matter the hour.......no matter what age you are........whether you are part of an established group or not.........whatever the building (or maybe no building at all)......What our society views as "church" is totally a social construction. The church, as I read my Bible, is people in different walks of life and in different roles and in different ways reaching out to the lost. Sinful people, redeemed by Christ's blood, being His hands and feet to the world. I would argue that very little of that happens in a lecture-style meeting on Sunday mornings.

Now before you think I am "anti-church", let me just clarify. I believe that Christian people need to belong to a local body of believers where they can be encouraged and challenged and fed and held accountable. I believe that God created us as social beings and that we need each other to fulfill His calling. However, I think that in the effort to "do church" and "be church", we often lose sight of the spirit of God's calling.

And so, today as I am choosing to help carry my friends' burden, I believe that the church is in action and that Jesus Christ is being praised. I am humbled that God would use me, in all my faults and shortcomings and sinfulness and pride. To Him be the total Glory.

Off the soapbox.....GO BULLDOGS!

Busy Week.

This week has just flewn by.....our family is facing some big decisions. Looking at making some changes....praying for God's guidance. It's an exciting time but also a time of some uncertainty. We are asking God for clarity, and waiting on Him. I had a great, great 2-hour conversation with a dear sister in Christ today......she reminded me of so many truths. How important it is as a wife to support your husband in his leadership of our home and the spiritual heartbeat of our family. How worthwhile it is to spend time making your home a safe, secure haven for your family. And how important it is to spend time just being quiet with God. Being still. Removing ourself from the striving....from the drive to succeed.....from the pressure to go and go and excel and achieve.....To......Just.......Be. Thanks, Marcy, for your words and just being a great friend today. You were a well-timed blessing from God to me today.

Tomorrow brings a preschool trip to the apple orchard. Hayden is so excited, and I am looking forward to some fun together time with my little guy. Now, I'm off to take a Tylenol PM so I can get some sleep despite this nagging head cold. Sweet legal drug-induced dreams!

Savoring Saturday Pleasures.

Today has been the kind of Saturday that I love. Sleeping in until 9:00 and then cuddling for another hour with my kiddos in bed. Getting up to a crispy bright fall morning, with just the right touch of chill in the air. Today, I am celebrating so many simple pleasures, things like......

Peanut butter toast and spicy warm chai for breakfast;
2 hours of kid-free time browsing Hobby Lobby;
Spending a gift card at Jo-Ann's--thanks, Kelli and Jason--I got lots of new scrapbooking goodies and the cutest little pin cushion!
Lunch out at Olive Garden, savoring lunch with a new scrapbooking magazine (Play);
A yummy Chai Chill, my new favorite drink at Beaners (skim with no whip makes it OK!);
A victory for my Michigan Wolverines!;
Time with my 3-month old niece...savoring her silky skin and sweet baby coos;
Yummy spaghetti pie for dinner, coupled with whole grain garlic bread;
Watching my husband wrestle with my kids out on the front lawn;
An e-mail from my daughter's first grade teacher telling us that she has already far surpassed the END-of-the-year reading goals for first grade, so she will be working in a special enrichment program. You Go, Sweet Girl!
Our first fire of the year crackling in the fireplace tonight;

Enjoy tomorrow.....worship, rest, and thank God for His rich blessings. Sweet, sweet dreams.

First Loss.

We had our first loss in football tonight....we had the win within our grasp, but we just couldn't put it away. And to make matters worse, it was against our same-town rival with whom we share a field. Ouch. So tonight, we are kind of licking our wounds and tomorrow, we'll shift our attention to a new team and new hopes of improving our record to 4-1. I get to watch my little 3-month old niece, Samantha, tomorrow, so we are planning a little photo shoot with her. Other than that, we are just looking forward to a low-key early-fall Saturday. Night-night.

Scars.

Not too long ago, I read an article about the significance of one's physical scars. We all have them. Maybe they are reminiscent of a bad accident or a burn or an old injury. Maybe they are fresher, more recent. Maybe they remind us of something painful in our life experience, or maybe something joyful. So today's thought......what do the scars on your body say about you?

As far as physical scars go, I have a few. I have a scar above my right knee from a silly fall that I had back in my college days. I had just gotten my first "real" job as a professor and was moving from the Lansing area to Grand Rapids; I was cleaning my apartment before we moved out, and I decided to be efficient and combine cleaning the shower with taking a shower. Well.....the combination of the water and the shower cleaner and bare feet made for a very slippery surface. To make a long story short, I ended up falling and slashing my leg on the shower door track. The injury was rather gaping, and I probably should have gotten stitches, but because we were in the middle of moving, I didn't go to the doctor. Hence, a scar. To me, this scar always symbolizes my transition from college student to professional...the start of my professional career. A whole new exciting world of possibilities.

My second scar is from a wart on my right hand that I had removed. I remember being horrified by this wart when I was in high school. I tried every kind of wart removal medication that there was...the wart was on my writing hand, and I felt like everyone was staring at it. In actuality, it was quite small and not really that noticable, but it mattered to me in those years where image is so important. That scar reminds me of my school years, and also reminds me that our appearance is only a small part of who we are. Our image needs to be rooted in something and someone so much more than the physical appearance.

As I was growing up and playing almost every sport imagineable (no soccer for this girl!), I was always getting scars. I was a very aggressive player, so I always had some sort of huge floor burn or scab or oozing wound. I think that I left several layers of my skin on softball fields around the state of Michigan. My mom was always patching my softball pants and warning me that someday, I would have legs that looked like ground meat. Nice. And often, even before a wound had a chance of healing, I had re-ripped it open with some slide into home or crash into the bleachers saving the ball or dive to save a volleyball. That's just the kind of player I was, and I have the scars to prove it. My knees are so scarred that to this day, I usually don't wear skirts above the knee. These scars remind me of the role that athletics have played in my life, and the value of doing everything and going after your goals with your whole heart and being.

And my most valued scar is one that changed forever who I am and how I define myself. It is located on my lower abdomen, and it is the scar left when doctors lifted my children from my body into this world. I never expected to have Cesarean births with my children. But it is how it ended up, and I wouldn't trade that scar for anything. After more than 24 hours of labor, it is where I first become a mother when my daughter was born. And two years later, it is where I became a mother again when my son came into the world. Everytime I see that scar, I remember what a significant calling it is to be a mother, and how I would give anything to see my children live lives of significance for Christ. It is my scar of identity. It is a symbol of the sacrifices that I have made for my children, and that I would never, ever regret.

These reflections on scars and what they say about a person causes me to think about another person's scars. This person has more physical scars than I, and they are more intense. This person has a scar where He was pierced in his side by a sword. He has scars on his forehead, where a thorny mass was pressed mercilessly into His head. And He has scars in His hands and his feets, where they were nailed to a cross and hung, flesh ripping and tearing. Who is this man with these scars? His name is Jesus Christ, and He is my Savior. These scars speak so clearly about His identity, His mission, His love. These scars speak of a love so deep that He was willing to endure torture and death for me and for you. These scars speak of how He was willing to endure physical pain and psychological humiliation that we might have eternal life with Him. And these scars speak of a King who was willing to humble himself that we might have Hope. Some day, I will see Him face-to-face and see His scars and hear Him speak of His sacrifice. Until that day, in my own physical scars I see just a glimpse of His.

So, what do your scars say about you? And what is your response to He whose scars were given so that you might live forever?

I Remember....

• Sitting on the couch nursering my then-newborn daughter, Kennedy, in the early morning hours of Sept. 11, 2001
• Flipping the TV on and hearing Matt Lauer's voice....the towers have been hit. And then seeing in horror as the footage showed a second plane.
• Just holding my little one tight, praying to God, asking Him what type of world we had brought this precious little one into
• An incredible wash of patriotism; I immediately got out a flag, laid my baby on it, and snapped some photos as she slept peacefully. I will cherish those photos forever as they remind me of God's protection of her, our family, and this country.
• Visiting Ground Zero in April, 2007; crying almost immediately upon approaching the site.
• Wondering how the people around me could be laughing and joking. For me, this was a place to be silent, serious, reflectful, thankful, hopeful.
• Seeing the artwork of the children who had lost parents; thankful that someone had given these children such a powerful way to express their hurt and loss and anger....and HOPE.
• Never looking at the US flag the same way again.
• I will always remember.....and always, always HOPE.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

RECIPES.

I have had a couple of requests for my salsa and guacamole recipes, so this posting is all about yummy fresh fixins' to accompany tortilla chips, burritos, and your favorite Mexican fare:

SALSA (this makes a big batch....plenty for canning and sharing)

20 lbs. of fresh garden tomatoes
3 cups chopped onions
1 Tablespoon of oregano
2 cloves of garlic, minced
1 cup diced assorted mild peppers (red, yellow, orange, banana, whatever you have)
1/4 cup diced, fresh cilantro
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup diced celery
1 to 4 diced jalapeño peppers, more if you like it HOT!
1 tablespoon salt
3 (6 oz) cans of tomato paste - if you like a richer thicker flavor and texture
1 cup 5% apple cider vinegar (or 2 cups of lemon juice)
Optional: 1 Tablespoon ground cumin

Place tomatoes in boiling pot of water; leave for 30-60 seconds; immerse into cold ice water, and skins will fall off.
Chop tomatoes, using a knife or a food processor.
Put all other ingredients into a pot
Add tomatoes.
LEt salsa simmer....you are not cooking it, just helping the flavors to meld.

This recipe should make 12-14 jars of salsa. I made extra and canned it, or you can make this huge batch and share it with neighbors (my neighbors have ranted and raved over this yummy salsa). To can, either call your mom for directions (!) or sterilize all jars and lids. Fill jars, cap tightly with covers and rings. Submerge jars in boiling water for 30 minutes, or until cap "pops". Remove jars from boiling water carefully, and allow to cool for 24 hours in room temperature conditions. Enjoy!

GUACAMOLE:

3-5 avocados

1 small chopped onion (I like to use red onion)

3 tsp chopped

Fresh chopped cilantro (to taste)

1 large chopped tomato (discard juice & seeds)

juice of 2 large limes

2-4 cloves of garlic

In a bowl, using the back of a wooden spoon, thoroughly mash chopped onions, jalapeno, and cilantro together with salt. Split the avacados lengthwise and remove pit. Scoop avacado from the skin. Place all ingredients in a large Ziploc bag. Mash with your hands--this is the fun part! Add tomatoes and lime juice. Mash a bit more. I like my guacamole chunkier, so I don't mash everything into a paste.....but you certainly can if you prefer a smoother texture. Cut one of the corners of the bag and squeeze into a serving bowl. SO, SO yummy and fresh!

On a Gloomy Monday....

....we have been all about catch-up, laundry, dishes, lesson plans for tomorrow, playing a little of this and that. Today has been about practical everyday things, sprinkled with some simple pleasurss. Pleasures like having a hot cup of chai this morning with a beloved friend. And picking my little guy up from preschool and sharing lunch at Panera with him. I must say.....I had the handsomest lunch date in the place, don't you agree? He enjoyed a bread bowl with onion soup, while I opted for the vegetarian harvest queso soup and a half-chicken sandwich. And one of the best parts..........lunch was a gift of gratitude. A thank-you. So, thanks, Pastor Chad, for this entirely unnecessary but nonetheless appreciated surprise.......Hayden and I enjoyed our little lunch date, as you can see:

Family Wedding.

We just returned from a weekend away to attend the wedding of one of our nephews on my husband's side of the family. Now....weddings in my husband's family tend to be quite the events. And this one was no different. Because most of my husband's family is Catholic, there is always a LONG mass.....and I am always intrigued by the rituals and chantings and other elements that go into a traditional Catholic marriage. The psychologist in me just stood back and observed people yesterday as they engaged in all of the ceremony....the standing and sitting.....the rituals surrounding the Catholic communion....the songs.....the role that the priest plays in the ceremony. Having grown up in evangelical Christian churches all my life, entering my in-laws family was really my first exposure to Catholicism. Much different than the weddings I grew up attending....and to tell you the truth, I feel that a lot of JOY was left out of yesterday's ceremony. But, nonetheless, it was a great time with family celebrating Jason and Kelli as they move to Denver and become the first grandchild in our family to marry. My sister-in-law and I were the photographers for the wedding, so it was a very busy and pretty stressful day.
I am convinced the wedding photographers are not paid anywhere near enough for what they do, WHEW! But we were happy to do it for this young couple as they work to establish themselves. Here were some highlights from the day:

The wedding was in an historic Catholic church (right next to my in-laws house) with the most amazing architectural features and pressed tin walls and ceilings. It is where my brother and sister-in-law (the groom's parents) were married over 25 years ago). While I do not align with many of the elements of the Catholic ceremony, I certainly appreciate the history and tradition surrounding the wedding.

Hayden's First Day.

After getting Kennedy off for her second day of first grade today....it was Hayden's turn. Hayden is going to have 3 half-days of preschool per week this year, and the nice thing is that his teachers and classroom are all the same as when he was three. So, today seemed really comfortable as we picked out his clothes, put on his favorite yellow school bus backpack, and drove the short distance to his school. Funny......my daughter has always loved picking out a new backpack each year, but not Hayden.....he wanted to keep his beloved yellow school bus backpack and wanted nothing to do with a new one. So off we went to see his teachers and meet his new preschool friends. Hayden seemed like an "old pro" as he hung up his backpack and made a beeline for his favorite toy bins.....the cars and trucks. As you can see from the photos, he was in rare form and I got several "truly Hayden" shots of him making funny faces and just enjoying being a 4-year-old boy. Have a great year in preschool, Sweet Boy.....Mommy is looking foward to how you will learn and grow and thrive this year

A Good Message.

This is a layout I did that was just recently honored as one of the week's favorite designs over at ScrapinStyle, an on-line artist community in which I am involved. This is Kennedy at 3 years old, playing in the rain. Enjoy.

September 4th.

On Sept. 4, 1970.....37 years ago today....my parents were married. They have been tremendous role models of what it means to center your marriage on Christ and to create happiness through commitment and perseverence and faith. Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad.


On Sept. 4, 1999......8 years ago today......my then-boyfriend led me into a darkened gym. In the exact spot where we had met after a ball game just 7 months earlier, there was a chair surrounded by flickering white candles. Our song "Love of My Life" was playing over the loudspeaker. As I cried, he knelt on one knee, professed his forever love, and asked me to be his wife. Happy Engagement Anniversary, Honey. I love you even more than I did that day.
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And today, Sept. 4, 2007, I dropped my daughter off at school for her very first day of first grade. Her first day of all-day school....eating lunch at the cafeteria....all those "big kid" things that come along with first grade. I'm so glad you had fun today, Kennedy, and I know that this year holds so many wonderful and challenging things for you. I am very proud of how brave and hard-working you were on your first day of first grade, and how you were a nice friend to your new classmates.

Happy 34th, Sister!

Today's post is a "Happy Birthday" tribute to my 13-month-younger-than-me sister, Kendra. She is one person in my life who I count as a constant--no matter the distance, no matter the challenges--she is always on my side. This is a photo of Kendra and her husband, Dan; they have been married for almost 2 years, and this photo was taken on their honeymoon in the Dominican Republic.

Kendra, you are a constant inpspiration to me. How you face challenges and maintain your optimism is amazing, and I have learned a lot from you. Know that I love you very much, count you as one of God's richest blessings, and hope that you have a very, very wonderful birthday. And, Dan, don't forget to pamper her a little! Happy 34th Birthday, Sister!

Post #250.

It is hard to believe, but I am nearing my first anniversary of this blogging journey I call Half-Baked and Firefly free. Today is post #250, but unfortunately, I am very tired as I stayed up until 3:00 am working on scrap projects last night.....so, I am not in a very philosophical or reflective mood. Rather, I think I will share some of the projects I have been working on the past few days and save the deep stuff for my one-year celebration. So here is a sneak peek of what I have been creating: