Coffee and Meg's Book Launch!

Good morning!

This week has been a good one.

Sam started his full time job on Monday.  It's been great for him to be in a new schedule - a regular schedule - one that gets him up in the mornings and allows him to be home for dinner.

Sam's schedule has impacted my schedule, of course.  I've been able to get up before Lizzie most mornings, have coffee and a quiet time, and once actually did a complete 20 minute workout.  I thought about exercising this morning, but had vacuumed yesterday, and apparently pulled my lower ab muscles, so I will pass on that for a few days.  Pregnancy has its perks: Sam says he'll take over the vacuuming from here on out. 

Tomorrow is a big day.  It's Meg Moseley's book launch party and her first book signing!  When Sparrows Fall was released on Tuesday, May 3, by Waterbook Multnomah, and you can actually buy it off a shelf now!  It is real.

If you would like an opportunity to win a copy of Mom's book, follow this link.


http://waterbrookmultnomah.com/bookcontests/.

In fact, you can win her book, plus a book of your choice from among these titles:
Be sure to include the contest code for the book you’d like to win.

• Lady in Waiting by Susan Meissner (Contest Code: MMLIW)
• Anna Finch and the Hired Gun by Kathleen Y’Barbo (Contest Code: MMAFATHG)
• Shades of Morning by Marlo Schalesky (Contest Code: MMSOM)
• The Daughter’s Walk by Jane Kirkpatrick (Contest Code: MMTDW)
• Indivisible by Kristen Heitzmann (Contest Code: MMIKH)
• Lilies in Moonlight by Allison Pittman (Contest Code: MMLIM)
• The Harvest of Grace by Cindy Woodsmall, Advance Reading Copy (Contest Code: MMTHOG)
• Deadly Ties by Vicki Hinze (Contest Code: MMDT)

I can't linger online very long today, since I've got to make 5 dozen Snickerdoodles to bring to the launch party, run to Costco and the bank, and ideally even make dinner. And Lizzie is telling me that I have to "fix house" made of Lincoln Logs that she knocked over for the 3rd time.

But next week I will try to get a  bit of a recap of the launch party.  It will be quite the event!

Have a happy weekend!

Would you like to join this little blog hop?  Go ahead, it's fun!

Coffee, Sparrows, and a Blessed Heritage

Good morning!

May I refer you to another blog today?  Follow this link to Christy LaShea Smith's blog, where she is giving away a copy of Meg Moseley's (my mom's!!) debut novel, 'When Sparrows Fall', set for release on May 3, 2011.  Leave a comment on Christy's blog and/or on her facebook page to be entered to win. 

While you're there, you can read a bit from my mom.  She is currently on the west coast with her own mom, who is in at-home hospice care.  Her words impressed me as she told of singing "Jesus Loves Me" together.  Jesus Loves Me is part of Lizzie's bedtime repertoire. She likes to sing and read about "Deesuss."

I am blessed to have a heritage of believers in my family.  Both of my parents were raised in loving, Christian homes.  My mom's side of the family can be traced through generations of proper Lutherans, as all good Danes should be.  My dad's family were kind, quiet Baptists, who taught Sunday School for decades.  In turn, my parents raised me up in 'the way I should go' and I'm so grateful.  Even on Sam's side, by the grace of God, his parents escaped Red China and sometime later came to the knowledge of salvation; instead of embracing the typical non-religion of atheism, they raised their sons in the church.

Now it's our turn.  I can't say what our girls will have when they grow up, except that we will do the best we know how to teach them to love "Deesuss" and as they grow, release them to learn to walk in faith.

When you're done visiting Christy LaShea Smith's blog, hop along with the Company Girls today. Coffee is always more fun with company, isn't it?

Thank you, Daddy

Good morning.

I'm sitting at the kitchen table with Sam's computer, and Lizzie in her high chair, eating "a bowl full of mush."  Recently she boycotted oatmeal, but because of her obsession with Goodnight Moon, oat bran cereal has become "a bowl full of mush" and she is stoked. 

I wrote a pretty good update of life yesterday; if you're interested hop over there.

Really, I wanted to jump on here today and record a sweet moment from last night, before I forgot it.  Since you're here today, I will inflict it upon you.

Lizzie's bedtime routine has become a long and sort of ridiculous process.  The steps are fairly streamlined: bath, the occasional attempt at the potty, diaper, pajamas, reading (sometimes accompanied by a small snack), brushing teeth, singing in the rocking chair, kisses, prayer, and being tucked in just-so with her baby doll and blanket.  Most nights I leave the room with her calmly and happily waving "bye" to me.

Last night, we skipped the bath and went straight to pajamas and reading books.  Lizzie had a stack of--no lie--about 15 books she had collected to be read.  I did my best to hide as many as I could when she wasn't looking, which still left about 10 of her favorites.

(She has given up on her mush, and is currently on the couch, reading "The Little Engine That Could" to the dog, who is also on the couch, even though she technically shouldn't be up there; but everyone is being good, so I will let sleeping dogs lie.  Lizzie is making sure Lady can see the "pishurs" and reading:  "Up! Up! Mountin.  ...  I tan! I tan!  Ah End.")

At any rate, I was settled on the couch with our stack of books, and Lizzie decided she needed more books.  She's faster than I am these days, so off she went to her bookshelf and grabbed 3 Barney books and 2 Karen Katz lift-the-flap books.  Both Sam and I protested and told her "no more books" and of course with it being after 9 PM, Liz fell into a meltdown.  "Barney!  Barney!  Peeeeaase?!"  Tears, collapsing on the floor, mournful arguments, the whole bit. 

We had to make a quick decision:  Should we force her to put the books back, when she's this tired and already mostly too far gone to reason with?  Or should we work out a compromise?  I suggested from my cozy place on the couch that we let her take one Barney book, put the others back, and I put away another handful of books I didn't want to read.  We were down to about 7, plus Barney.

Sam gave her one of the Barney books.  Lizzie's face lit up.  She ran to him, took the book, and then shimmied up to the couch with her Barney book and cup of water.  Then, without any prompting, she looked up at Sam, eyes full of relief and gratitude, and with her sippy straw in her mouth said, "Dint due, Daddy."

We were undone.  We never taught her spontaneous thanks.  We love this sweet little girl.  

I'm linking up with the Home Sanctuary Company Girls this morning.

Five Minutes in the Mirror

When I look in the mirror I see....

A bit more gray hair than I would like to see.
Hair that has been ignored into a ponytail more times than I can count.
Wispy "wings" around my forehead that won't cooperate, no matter how I straighten, blow dry, or try to join them instead of beat them.
Round cheeks and an overbite, but at least I have straight teeth.  Thanks for the 4 years in braces, Mom and Dad.



Again, there is a very distinct roundness in front.   Evidence of a little girl hoped for, and as yet unseen.  A little child with a promise of grace. 

I see, finally, a grown up who has replaced the quiet girl.  A woman.  A wife.  A mother. 

I've linked today with Gypsy Mama (Links and pics added after 5 minutes were up), and Company Girl Coffee.   Feel free to hop along with the Company Girl Blog Hop, below!

Coffee Cake Today

This morning I couldn't sleep, so I got up a bit earlier than usual, inspired to make a coffee cake for breakfast.  It just came out of the oven, and I am pretending I don't hear Lizzie making her, "Hey, I'm awake, is anybody going to come get me?" noises.  I am SO looking forward to coffee cake and coffee to go with it.  There's enough to share, Company Girls!

I'm here with a fried egg, to balance out all the carbohydrates I'll be consuming.  I recently re-learned that carbs without protein make for one very mean lightheaded and shaky mama, so especially while pregnant, I'm trying to make sure I don't go more than a couple hours without something with more protein.

Sam doesn't have to go in to work for another hour and a half, so I am enjoying knowing that if I hop in the shower now, he can hold down the fort.  Then I will be bright and clean, and get to enjoy my coffee cake and coffee.  This is getting better and better.

Plus, I had a quiet time, while waiting for the coffee cake to finish baking.  I've been plugging away in John.  Lately I haven't had a specific direction, so when that happens, and you're tired of psalms, you can't go wrong with John.  Granted, I have been still reading breakfast psalms off and on with Lizzie.  But that's not really going to fill my heart when I'm trying to convince her to eat her waffle.  A couple of days ago I shared a huge revelation from John 5, and if you have a minute, jump over to read all my excuses for why I don't live the life I had dreamed. 

So it's shaping up to be a great morning.  Now, it's time for a shower, then my long-awaited coffee and cake!

Morning Coffee, How I've Missed You

It's almost a novelty, drinking coffee in the morning.  And when that comes with a bit of quiet, it's even more rare.

Today it is quiet at 9 AM because Sam has already left for work, and Lizzie was up until 11 PM.  Of course, that means I was also up long after that, but as long as she stays in bed a little longer, I can deal with it.  After all, I have my coffee.

Work is still going well for Sam.  He has been working a lot of hours.  A whole lot of hours.  He's secretly going for a week with enough overtime to double his paycheck before they realize what's going on and tell him to knock it off.  He gets to meet a lot of cool people (and a lot of oddballs, but that's what a retail position will give you), and he works in a field that he has a lot of interest in.  His interest makes him an excellent salesperson; yesterday he sold over $1200 worth of product and memberships.  He came home still stoked about that.

With all the extra hours, it's been a little hard for us to adjust.  There are some days that Lizzie barely gets to see Sam.  She misses him, but most evenings she is up late enough to see him.  I actually had a meltdown a few days ago, and said that I needed him to be home for dinner once this week.  Last night we had dinner together for the first time since Sunday.  It was great.  He helped with Lizzie's bedtime routine, and she climbed and played all over him.  Hence, the 11 PM bedtime.

Wednesday morning I had my 16 week appointment, and all is well.  Somewhere in the last few weeks I had gotten ahead of myself and really thought I was 17 weeks along.  But no, 16 weeks.  Baby's heartbeat is swooshing along nicely, and I'm finally starting to actually look pregnant, not just have a little pooch.  (I recently found that I can't tie my robe unless it goes either above or below the belly.)  We scheduled the 20 week ultrasound appointment 4 weeks out, and we'll find out what we're having!  I have a feeling that will be when it all really kicks in and starts to be very real.  And between now and then I'll be feeling the baby more, so I'll have a more constant reminder.  Aside from the general fatigue and loose joints and occasional lightheadedness.

Lizzie is hilarious as always.  She pulls words out of conversation and repeats them often.  She's saying about 3-4 new words every day.  Even while fighting a nasty head cold!  In fact, "boogers" is one of her words.  Yes, I taught my little girl how to say boogers.  And poop.  But hey, they're very useful.

One word that I taught Lizzie to say, purely for my own amusement, is "wonderful."  I've been curious what she thinks is "won-doe-doe."  For the record, everyone in the family--Daddy, Mama, Zizzie (Lizzie), Yay-yee (Lady, the dog), Max, and Leo (there are no phonetic transliterations for the way she says the cats' names)--are all wonderful.  Her Duplos, some foods (particularly blueberries and eggs), and Barney, are also wonderful. 

So that's all the "stuff" of life these days.  My heart has been trying to be heard again lately.  It had been sort of stifled for a while, I think.  There's something about being physically sick that makes it hard for me to make a priority of anything spiritual.  That is, anything beyond, "Oh, God, help," which I do believe is a perfectly valid prayer.  Having time in the mornings again has helped me not feel like I'm starting every day behind, and has allowed me to have a quiet time about half the time.  Today, I admit, I got on the computer first.  I still haven't had a bona fide quiet time, but I will.

Well, I think I've written about all I needed to, and the girl is STILL quiet in her bed.  Now for that quiet time.... And Second Breakfast.

Weekly Plan - I Finally Have One!

Confession time:
I have laundry that was washed 2 weeks ago that is still not put away.
I have not done a focused cleaning of the bathrooms since we had company over a month ago.
I cannot even remember the last time I mopped the kitchen floor.  
The house is kept to a standard of "sanitary" (after all, no one licks the kitchen floor, right?) but it is certainly not ready for company at a moment's notice.
This is, I believe, part of why "virtual coffee" is such a great idea. :)

About 2 years ago I was home, not working anymore, and pregnant.  Following Rachel Anne's Home Sanctuary blog, I decided to create a real housekeeping schedule.  I went a bit crazy with it, using Excel, and outlining pretty much everything I would ever do to run a tight ship, right down to separating the mirrors and the bathtub from the bathrooms in general.  It was quite successful.  And then, the baby came. 

There was a readjustment period, as you would expect.  But the readjustment period probably shouldn't have lasted a year and a half.  Seriously.

So here I am again: home, not working, and pregnant.  And my house is a shambles.  Part of that has had to do with having Sam at home.  I don't know exactly what that's about, but there's something that paralyzes me when he's not working.  Maybe I think it's a perpetual weekend.  Maybe I feel obligated to keep him company.  Maybe I use it as an excuse to be lazy.  I can't get anything productive done, and if I do, it's in spurts of about 4 minutes at a time.  That, and the kitchen was always a mess because there was another adult making food and not cleaning it up.  A minor complaint, but sometimes in my head it got really major.  Oh, the joys of pregnancy hormones.  But he's working again, and all is right with the kitchen. 

This week I was inspired to get serious about making a schedule again.  It is a very simple one.  It allows for ONE major item per day, and one or two other minor items per day.  Laundry is broken up into 3 categories and takes 3 days.  My Fridays' "major item" is "catch up" - allowing myself plenty of flexibility.  There is nothing written on the weekend days.  I want to consider those my "off" days, even though there are still the daily minimum requirements to making the house function.  This is a schedule I think I will be able to maintain after the next baby comes.

Housekeeping Schedule - 2011

Not listed are those daily things.  They are:
Dinner prepared/cleaned up
Pick Up (Minimum Maintenance - or some variation thereof)
Dishes (sink and counter clear by bedtime)
Sort mail/eliminate junk papers

These things alone will make everything less stressful.  Wanna know why?  Because I haven't even been doing them.  Granted, I was too sick to stand up for a while there, but that's over and we're done with that phase.  (Thank God!)

So I have been slowly but surely making my way to getting things picked up since Wednesday when I drew this schedule out on a piece of paper.  Yep, it's just a large page, no white board, no dates.  Simple as can be.

That's the way it's gotta be to work around here.

Now I'm off to finish watching Sid the Science Kid with Lizzie.  Sid is her latest TV crush.  Oh, she loves him.

Starting Again

I'm not really one of those people who is inspired to "start fresh" with every new year.  Maybe it has to do with not being obsessed with numbers, maybe it's from being homeschooled and now being a stay-at-home-mom, where I don't deal with a calendar quite the same way that I did when I worked.  Maybe I am a non-conformist and just can't bear to do what everyone else is doing.  Maybe I'm afraid to make a list of resolutions that I can't keep maintained. 

At any rate, this year I feel different about all that. 

It's probably because I am just now recovering from my first trimester (did you miss it?  We're expecting a new Chen in July!), complete with morning sickness and the head cold from the pit of hell.  It likely has something to do with Sam starting work this week (thank you, Jesus!).  Sam really loves his job, by the way.  He comes home excited about it every day.  It is such a blessing to have him happy about work, and to have him busy.  I loved having him home, but there is nothing quite like having the house feel like my domain again.

To start with, I'm blogging again, and this weekend I'm hoping to chart out a bit of a plan.  I couldn't pass on joining you Company Girls today.  This is especially true since I'm finally enjoying coffee again!

One thing I am surprised that I'm excited about is getting back to menu planning.  I slacked off totally when I was too sick to even think about food. 

This morning I actually sat down with a cookbook and figured out several recipes that I could convert to meals that could be prepared in advance and frozen.  It is exciting.  I'll have to figure out whether to do one mega-cooking day (or weekend), or just build up a supply gradually by doubling or tripling recipes and freezing the extras.  I may do a combination of the two.  Alicia's post about once-a-month cooking and planning really got me thinking I could do it. 

Last week I sat down with my copy of Square Foot Gardening and figured out when the last spring frost is, and made a timeline of when we could plant things.  I think I could start in March.  My dad said one of our friends has an extra SFG frame that would be available if I wanted it.  I said, "Yes, please!"  Now I just have to find a place in our yard that would get enough sun to make it worth while.

I have a couple of odd projects to work on for my mom.  Her book, When Sparrows Fall, is coming out in May, and I'll be helping her with some office paperwork, mailing lists, etc.  I have some assignments to get busy with, and I'm finally feeling capable of adding that to my weekly routine.


Happy 2011, everyone!  I hear the short person singing to herself in her crib, so it is time to post and move on. 

The Explanation

I am so bad at keeping secrets.  Really.  That is precisely why I have not been blogging for almost 2 months.

Well, that and all my creative energy has been going to my uterus.

Yep, you read that right--my uterus.

I suspected the last weekend in October, and confirmed in the first couple of days of November.  (You remember that supposed "bad spinach" I ate right before the brunch we hosted?  Yeah, sorry, I kind of had to lie.  But I really did think the spinach was bad.)  Since then we have been excited and slightly overwhelmed and thankful.  The morning sickness has subsided--slightly.  The exhaustion is manageable.  The gag reflex is going strong.  Coffee doesn't taste right to me. (Sorry, Company Girls, you'll have to bring your own today!)

Here is a picture of our adorable little alien creature, taken earlier this month, at 9 weeks.  I promise, it looked cuter on the sonogram screen than it does here.

Lizzie, at 18 months, has no idea that her shirt says Big Sister, but she likes that the little girl on the shirt has hair.  Or as she says it in her drawl, "hayah."

She will be 25 months old when the new one arrives in July.  Oh, little girl, you have no idea what awaits you!

Come to think of it, neither do we!

Hopefulness

It's late tonight, so there's no coffee this time.  We have bottled water.  And apple cider.  We can heat it in the microwave for a treat.

In the past few weeks, my mind has been preoccupied.  Not with anything bad, not even with worry.  And since the appropriate time to share what's been going on has not yet come, I have been trying to think of other things to write.  But with no luck.  So here is the brief update on life in the Chen household.

Thanksgiving was lovely.  We scorched a turkey in the fryer.  It turned out fine on the inside.  We (collectively--all 7 of us) ate an entire block of cream cheese.  We made mimosas.  We confirmed that our favorite dish of all is green bean casserole.  Not turkey so much.  My mom and I are already plotting how to make it even simpler next year.  We're thinking that Publix will make your whole meal for you, if you just order it ahead.  I know, there are all these domestic goddesses blogging about their homemade from scratch turkeys and pies and casseroles and sauces, and then there's me.  But you know what?  That's me right now.

We have a new deep freezer!  I am loving it.  The last three times I've gone to the grocery store I have come back heavy laden with frozen goods--vegetables, chicken nuggets, meats to freeze, and toaster strudels.  Yes, toaster strudels.  I had forgotten about them until recently.  Ah, with the little frosting packet to drizzle on top.... Sorry.  I think it's almost time for a snack. At any rate, I am looking forward to planning out an intense cooking weekend during which I will make meals and meal-parts to make my life so much simpler.

Target was fun to shop last week.  Old Navy was a zoo.  The weather has been exciting--tornadoes in my parents' neighborhood (maybe you saw it in the news on Tuesday) and freezing temperatures and t-shirt weather, all in the same week. 

Unfortunately, Sam heard from the company that we were kind of banking on hiring him.  They sent him a letter, bearing the good ol', Thanks, but no thanks.  That has been hard on him.  He's continued to apply to different places, but it's getting frustrating having no solid leads and no paycheck.  And nothing to keep him focused day by day.  It is hard for a man to be unemployed.  It is not particularly easy for his wife, either.

I know there's got to be more I can do; more I can pray; more I can help scour CareerBuilder.  But I get so tired of praying the same thing.  I get discouraged praying for this job and that job to be the one, and then his being turned down.  I know Sam is tired of hearing that he is not the candidate they're looking for.  I know he's tired of being home every day.

I know there is a good job for Sam somewhere.  I know that God is able to rearrange whole corporations to make room for him.  I know that until He does, we're going to have everything we need.

Deep breath.  Change gears.

I'm looking forward to Christmas.  We're hoping to make it out to visit Sam's family this month.  I am slowly motivating myself to do the cleaning and rearranging that will be necessary to make a space for the tree.  Lizzie will really enjoy Christmas this year, being 18 months old.  She has had a delightful sense of awe at decorated trees when she's seen them in person.  She saw a picture of a lit garland around a front door and called it a necklace.  She insists that she wants one.  I want to pull the decorations out of the attic and put a garland up around the front door, just to hear her say "wow!"

We bought (half off at Target!) a Thomas & Friends beginner train set, which Lizzie will be thrilled to open and play with.  She still has an outrageous crush on Thomas.  She squeals with glee when the show comes on TV.  I want to fill her stocking with bouncy balls and new socks and hair bows and bath toys.  I hope we'll get at least enough snow for Lizzie to understand what it is.  I hope we'll make fires in the fire place and light Christmasy candles and make cookies.  I want to host another cookie exchange.  I'm thinking it may be a simplified version this time. 

What are you most looking forward to this Christmas?

Pure

The Word of God is pure.  Prov 30:5

I have been meditating on that word today.  Pure in motive.  Pure in purpose.  Pure in love.

My words are less than pure.

They have an undercurrent of need.  A need to be understood, to be appreciated, to be right, to be heard.
If they aren't driven by need, they often have a want in there.  I want you to do this for me.  I want to convince you of something.  I want to receive a certain response.

They have a great deal of self.  Self-love.  Self-satisfaction.  Self-awareness.  Self-doubt.  Just hearing myself talk.

They often lack faith.  They sound like a stormcloud threatening rain.  They're quick to confess lack, and slow to profess hope.

The words the Lord speaks are only uttered in love.  Even his rebuke is in kindness, to correct in a way that draws me back to Him.  My corrections are often unnecessary, and not usually with the other's good in mind.

The words of the Lord have purpose and accomplish what they are sent to do.  My words don't usually have much thought put into them, let alone an abiding purpose.    

The words of the Lord are timeless.  Eternal.  Mine?  I don't feel like many of them will last beyond the second in which they're breathed.  

Yet our words, while not omnipotent, are potent.  (not original to me; one of our church's elders spoke recently and said this, and it's stuck with me since.)   They do have, after all, the power of life.  They have the power of death as well, and no gray in between.

But focus on that for a moment -- our words, when infused with the Holy Spirit, have power and life.  Power to build up.  Power to mend.  Power to transform.

I have to remind myself sometimes what we often hear mothers tell their toddlers:  "Use your words."  May I make use of my words today, in love of God, for the purpose of the kingdom of heaven.

May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, oh Lord, my rock and my redeemer.  Psalm 19

More thoughts and encouragement can be found if you follow back to Company Girl Coffee. :)

Have you seen my Nap Time Warriors post?  Please take a gander at it, and link up if you have something to share!

The Week in Review

This nap time has been long-awaited. Sick toddlers do not pleasant company make.

Having a cup of Starbucks' Espresso Roast in my Texas flag mug, while searching for conversation points to jot down for your perusal, has been helpful to my sanity.

That obnoxious ice cream truck driving by is not currently helping my sanity in any way. But I digress.

Digression is mentioned frequently in blog posts, isn't it? That and coffee. And time management. Or the lack thereof.

Making use of my time, particularly of my mornings before the rest of the house gets up and begins making demands, and of the nap time in the afternoons, has been on my heart. And rightly so. I decided to start a regular post to keep me accountable to my commitment to "redeem the time." Check out the Nap Time Warrior post if you have a chance.

Today I have been very thankful for my crock pot, happily simmering away with our chili for tonight. The earlier portion of my day has been so long and so full of sniffles and slimy kleenexes and tears that I am not sure I could have spent the nap time making dinner without going into deep frustration mode. But in a few minutes I will also start rice in the rice cooker, and let it do its magic, and we will have a cozy dinner tonight. I'll open a can of pears and call it a day.

This week I have met some of my goals from Monday:

I did exercise twice this week. Wednesday night I put the little girl to bed and did a complete workout from Matt Roberts' New Body book I have had for a few years, but have not taken full advantage of. I am still feeling the burn.
This morning I walked around the block, pushing Liz in the stroller, and working some of the lactic acid out of my aching legs and backside.

I went to bed at midnight once this week. The rest of the nights, I finally hit the pillow sometime after midnight.

However, I did have a quiet time every day! Some longer than others. But it was quiet, and it was time spent. And my outlook and attitude have been much more gracious because of it. Oh, the struggle to get out of bed, though!

I posted on the blog once each weekday. I had a lot of fun writing our engagement story. I found that I did a better job if I began writing it a day ahead and scheduled it for the following day (or later). Having the ability to edit made a big difference in the quality of what was published. I also didn't sit down to a blank screen and stare at it until some drivel came out; I had an idea to work with.

While I walked the neighborhood this morning, I called a friend to catch up and to invite her family to brunch next Saturday. She will also bring her coffeemaker. It is one of the fancy ones that doles out one cup at a time. Just thinking about it makes me smile.

I'm also inviting the families in our home group. Whoever can come, can come, and whoever can't come, will just have to come the next time! My hope is to do this once a month.

My menu for brunch is shaping up:
Pumpkin waffles
Ham and onion fritatta (or frittata?)
Fruit Salad
Hummus, veggies and crackers or pita bread
Coffee, juice, milk

When you host a brunch, what do you serve or what do you enjoy eating if someone else serves it? I will be looking for other options for coming months.

Ah, Sam is home from helping a family from church dig out their collapsed swimming pool. I should greet him. Have a happy weekend!

Life's Simple Pleasures - Afternoon Coffee

Light blue feathers of flame in the gas range.

The tarnished and warm and well-loved kettle
rumbling with near-boiling water.
(No percolator for me; it has been banished to the garage for being dank and difficult to clean.)

The long 5-minute wait for the coffee to steep in the French Press.



Foaming hot coffee poured into a colorful mug,
a gift from my thoughtful young friend.

All these pieces culminate in afternoon coffee;
Sometimes a simple necessity to make my afternoon work for me;
it's also a simple pleasure.

My First Guest Posting!

Grab a cup of coffee and meander on over to Meg Moseley's Blog to read my guest post there today! I manage to reference coffee at least 3 times. You would be impressed.

Here's a teaser:

Ten lessons I learned from having a writer as a mother:

• Prioritize what you’re passionate about. A writer cannot help it; there is no escaping the creative process in his or her mind. With a novelist, that means there is a continuous story with full conversations with imaginary people. And sometimes those imaginary people take precedence over the real ones living in her house. Please understand, we were always loved, clothed, fed, and cared for, but we knew that we could reheat our own lunches and clean up our own messes; her characters needed her full attention just to exist. Who can compete with that?

Read the rest here.

I am hoping to make it to a Mark. (the young, hip version of Avon) party tonight, and maybe even get to buy something there! Or win a door prize! Or eat some snacks! Any one of those sounds exciting at the moment. Like these pretty little rings on "last chance."

The week has been a pretty good one. Here is a statement I never thought I would make:
I am so thankful that we qualify for three different forms of government aid right now.
But we are exceptionally grateful for God's provision while we wait, and wait, and wait for a job to become available for Sam.

We are living on chicken soup right now, because a lack of sleep and an increase in temperature changes have messed a little bit with all our systems. We're feeling better. And I'm getting really good at making chicken soup.

My lack of sleep is partially due to my absorption The Unlikely Disciple, subtitled "A Sinner's Semester at America's Holiest University" by Kevin Roose. I found it through a mention at Jade Keller's website, read the review, and was intrigued, so I put it on hold at the library. Now I can't put it down. It's definitely hilarious, thought-provoking, infuriating and convicting in turns.

I'm going to run out and hit the grocery store. Have a happy weekend!

Coffee Update 10 8 10

Hey! Thanks for visiting! I'm joining the Company Girls again.

It's time for the 2nd cup of coffee. The 2 o'clock pot.

Let's see, this week . . .

I locked Lizzie in the truck.

We made it to home group.

I have written a blog post every day.

Sam applied to 2 jobs.

I finished and put away all the laundry.

Lizzie turned 16 months.

I bought 4 shirts, 2 pairs of pants, a set of empanada presses, and a pyrex bowl for only $6.81.

I haven't been to the grocery store yet.

I have $10 to spend at Kohl's, $5 at Walmart, and $10 at Target!

I read the entire "Complete Idiot's Guide to Raising Chickens" from the library.

I'm picking up "Unlikely Disciple" at the library today. Looking forward to reading it.

I had a morning quiet time twice.

We went to bed before midnight once.

I got my first jury summons.

I took oodles of pictures.

I uploaded a dozen videos of the grandchild for the grandparents. They were thrilled.

I made lemon bars.

I "followed" a ton of new blogs.

We went to a friend's house for dinner last night, and had a terrific time.

I straightened my hair once.

I went for a 1+ mile walk once.

And, I think I'm quite happy.

I'll write something with more substance a little later. Now I am off to the grocery store, library, and Kohl's! Probably in reverse order.

Coffee and a Purpose in Writing

Good morning.

I'm linking up with the Company Girls again today.

Sam is interviewing right now. Well, actually it's a meeting, which may have a large pool of additional interviewees, but it is a start. And it is for a job that he is very excited about. I am, too.

It's been an interesting few months. Having no real income is a drag. Yes, we have been OK, and we thank God for His provision. And thank God for our families and dear friends who care about us. We are blessed.

Having Sam here nearly every day has been great. It will be different when he starts working again and I won't be able to just leave Lizzie at home while I run errands. I'll have to actually take her with me to Kroger. Poor Lizzie won't know what to do with herself with only one parent around all the time. She will miss having Dada at her beck and call all day. I'll miss having him around to bounce ideas off of, and to ask him questions right away, instead of having to wait until he comes home. And to have him available to change a couple of diapers, refill a sippy cup, or take Lizzie out when she goes crazy asking to swing.

And as much as I love having him around, it will also be nice to have the house to myself, work out my own schedule, and only clean up after myself and Lizzie for most of the day.

What else, what else?

It has been cool this week. Highs in the 70's, lows in the 60's. We have had quite a bit of rain. But when it hasn't been rainy, it has been perfect. Sunny, breezy, perfect. We have had the windows open more often than not.

The cool weather has brought one of the cats onto my lap. He's such a wimp, and can't stand being the slightest bit chilly.

Lizzie is still sleeping. I am so glad. We had a late night, and she had no nap. So if she sleeps until 10, I will not complain.

This past week I have been really considering this blog, its purpose, and its use of my time. As I have been praying and thinking about it, I have done reading and research, and have felt very purposeful about it. That has never happened before. I have always felt it has been some kind of hobby, almost a waste of time (but not quite).

Yesterday - or maybe Wednesday - I finished categorizing my posts. There's a list of them on the sidebar. I'm pretty sure that there are too many tagged as "miscellaneous". And most of the posts are far too long. However, doing that helped me see where I have emphasized different things, different subjects, and different aspects of life.

There will come a day when I change my blog name and move it over to a different format. Not right now, and not until I really have it set up, planned, and ready.

The idea of a new, shiny, purposeful, professional-looking blog excites me. If I set out to compose a blog, I want to do it well. I want it to be more than just ramblings. Of course sometimes I will "flap my gums" via the keyboard, but I hope there will be substance and something of worth in the pages.

I picked out a name for it. I even googled the name, and it's not copyrighted. So I claimed it already.

I am hammering out a vision for it. I know that it will grow, and it will change, as I do. The beauty of a blog is that it is not static.

I believe that the opportunity to write is a gift. I believe that I am truly called to write. I believe I have something to share. Something to say. Something in my hands to hold out to the world.

While you are reading, do you have any words of wisdom, experience, or constructive criticism to add? What has spurred you on to blog? What have you learned about the creative or technical aspects of blogging?

What to do?

It's a quarter to 3, Liz just fell asleep, and Sam is napping, too.

I have at least an hour in which to do something without interruption or distraction.

Here are my choices:

Behind door number 1, whip together dinner so I don't have to worry about it later. While I'm at it I can do a little prep work for some of the other dinners this week (cook a little extra chicken, chop up the green peppers that I have a feeling are starting to get a little on the slimy side).

Door number 2, go to the grocery store so I don't have to do it tomorrow. The list is made, I just have to go out there.

Or door number 3, sit down with a cup of coffee and the new books from the library. The ones that are not about ducklings, hippos, or puppies.

Hmm....

Bloggy Versatility

Versatile, huh? I don't know about that, but I'll take it.

I was just awarded with the Versatile Blogger, a peer award, though the one who awarded it to me is hardly my peer. And I mean that in the best sense--she is my mother. Yes, yes, moms do tend to award for unnecessary things ("best pancake mixer" and "fastest Lego picker-upper" or "quietest at the library"), but I appreciate her nomination of my blog to join in this love-fest. I think she means it, because otherwise I don't think she would have put my name up there with the highly intelligent bloggers she listed herself. Thanks, Mom! It's my first blog award! Don't worry, I won't let it go to my head.

For those of you who do not know, my mom, Meg Moseley, is an actual novelist. Meaning she has sold a book! When Sparrows Fall will hit the presses in May 2011, and I hope you look it up. Several months ago she allowed me to read one of the many drafts, and I was begging her for further installments as I flew through the chapters she gave me. It is a great story and I enjoyed all of it--I really couldn't wait to find out how it ended!

Since I don't participate in these very often, er, more like never, I'm excited about the idea. Here is how this blog fest works.

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you the award.
2. Share seven things about yourself.
3. Pass on the award to up to fifteen deserving bloggers.
4. Contact the bloggers you chose for the award.

Alrighty, rule #1, check. Now, #2.

1. When I have a spare hour (which I do more because I am a procrastinator, not because I get work done so that I can play), I am more likely to sit down with a sudoku puzzle than an actual book. But I have to wait until Sunday for a new puzzle in the newspaper because the lame county paper that is delivered free only comes on Sundays.

2. My favorite sound is my 15 month old jabbering about whatever goes through her little head. I don't know what it is about, but it is very serious, and sounds a lot like, "Ieeeeez ein, nnnn ha einnnah, hey ahy aye-aye, nud da da!" What can I say? She's so smart.

3. If you asked me where I want to go to eat and I had full freedom to name any place at all, without deferring to anyone else (which is rarely), I would almost inevitably say, "Five Guys Burgers & Fries" for one of their "little cheeseburgers." Their "little" burgers are normal sized burgers. Their "hamburgers" are two hamburger patties. And they don't charge anything extra for any topping you could ask for on your burger. Their fries are worth every penny, too, especially because they not only fill a Styrofoam cup heaping with fries, they fill it up, dump it into your paper bag, and then refill the cup and put it in the bag upside down. That's even when you order a small fry. It seems so generous, even though potatoes are like the cheapest thing in the world to give away. That's part of why I love them so.

4. I have a cowlick in my hairline on my forehead, which I got from my mom (thanks, Mom), and apparently I passed on to my daughter (you can thank me later, Liz). This makes anything a hairstylist would think of doing with my hair kind of a disaster. At least that's what I get for going to places that charge less than $15 for a hair cut.

5. There is a horrible stingy, rationing side to me. Yes, that's helpful when you're trying to save money or be creatively frugal with leftovers. But it comes out as meanness. "No, you can't eat that bacon as a snack! What if I were going to make BLTs for lunch tomorrow?!" That's well and good, but I usually say something like that when there is neither L nor T in the house.

6. By the time I was 16, our household and/or yard had hosted 1 horse, 1 dog, 12 pigs for 4-H, 10 rabbits (well, first there were 2; you know how that goes), 2 cockatiels, 2 parakeets (OK, the 'keets were my brother's), and 7 cats. This may have had something to do with us homeschooling. If I remember right, we called it 'animal husbandry' if all we did that day was pick up our pigs for fair.

7. It's after 3 PM and I am drinking coffee right now, even though last time I did this I didn't sleep well until after 2:40 AM. But that also had something to do with toddler canines breaking through toddler gums. Hence, more coffee.

8. I can't stand that when you type "gums" it says it is spelled incorrectly. Even the computer should know that the pink flesh that your teeth live in is called your gum, and you really should be able to pluralize it. OK, this one was a freebie.


Now rule #3. I will pass this on to a few blog friends. The last thing I want to do is to pressure these folks into any kind of "chain blogging" trap, but I'm giving The Versatile Blogger to these particular blogs because I follow them, and I think they're cool.

1 - Magen @ evangeline - This is one of the sweetest, most peaceful and honest blogs on the web. And Magen makes beautiful hand-crafted clothes, hair clips, and accessories. I "ooh and ahh" at the items in her store.

2 - Rachel Anne @ Home Sanctuary - I don't know how I stumbled upon this blog, but I have followed her for at least a couple of years. And I join the gals for her Friday "Company Girl Coffee" when Fridays and my blogging coincide.

3 - Pop @ Go, Pop, Go! - His blog is truly versatile, because he covers being a dad (Pop), working out, making food (though sometimes more often he talks about food than about working out. hmm....), and flipping off the things he can definitely do without, which is balanced on another day by things he is thankful for.

4 - Bethie @ Bethie at home - I love Beth, and she loves Jesus and her family and her friends, and she tells great stories, and her chili recipe is the best. You will have to go through the archives to November 2009 for her crock pot chili recipe, but I promise it is totally worth it.

5 - Alicia @ Alicia's Homemaking - This girl amazes me. Really, you have to look at her blog, because if she didn't have photos to prove it, I wouldn't believe that she really has a baby, a husband, a neat apartment, an exercise routine, homework that she finishes, a budget she keeps, homemade food she prepares, a blog she maintains, and friends that she actually relates to regularly. I'm thinking she might have a twin she's not telling us about, who does her slave labor.

6 - Keith & Patricia @ Wednesday Wisdom - This is a collection of parenting wisdom, and it is written by the parents of friends. Their words can be taken seriously because they have 6 kids, and all of them are normal, healthy, productive members of society, for the glory of God.

7 - Joyce @ Keeping up with the Moys - We started following each other's blogs after "meeting" via Company Girl Coffee. We were both pregnant with our little Chinese babies, due within a month of each other. If we didn't live on opposite sides of the country (almost), we would surely be in play group together. If she had time.

8 - Elisa @ The Not So Pharaoh Farrows - Elisa is adorable; I met her when she was a wee camper and I was a young staff/counselor at camp. Now she and her husband have just been married for a year, and they are an adorable couple, who have brave and caring hearts. Her blog is beautiful and cute.

So, have at it, guys. You're all versatile, and award-worthy in my eyes. **golf clap - because Liz is asleep on the other side of this wall**

Now, on to rule #4.

Love and Fear

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect (complete, mature) in love. We love because he first loved us. (1 John 4:18-19 NIV)

For several days I have been focused on love. Not love in the generic, touchy-feely, warm-fuzzies kind of love, though that's not bad in and of itself. I'm focused on the way I love. Do I love well? What is my motivation for what I do? Is it love, or is it something else?

When I get up and take care of my family, wash their clothes, talk to them, prepare and serve food to them, what is truly my motivation? I know there are women who really, purely do whatever they do because they love their families. Don't get me wrong, I love my husband and daughter more than anyone else in the world, and would do anything for them. But when I am sweeping petrified rice and cheese off the kitchen floor for the third time today, is it done out of love?

I have found that often my love is imperfect. In fact, it is almost always imperfect.

I do things out of a sense of need, duty: "If I don't do this, it won't get done." There is care and love involved, but it's not the major motivating factor.

I do things out of a sense of obligation: "I said I would do this."

I do things out of a sense of responsibility: "I have to do this; it's what a good wife, a responsible adult, a good mother, a mature Christian, etc., would do."

Or out of fear of rejection, or of failure to live up to certain expectations, whether real or imagined: "What if they saw the mildew growing around the bathtub?"

So in all these examinations of my heart, I have found more than ever that the verse is true: There is no fear in love. And fear has to do with punishment. Or at least with consequences. Love is expressed by the things we do. If I do because of love, then it is pure, free from these other motivations. If I do because of fear, then it's not really love at all. There's no faith in it.

Where does this pure love come from? It has to come from the deep and abiding conviction that He loves me. That the Father loves me enough to give His son Jesus, who loves me enough to submit Himself to death, and who loves me enough to be raised to life by the Holy Spirit, who loves me enough to dwell in me and pour out His love in my heart.

Then perfect love drives out fear.

The Weeks Go On

It's been a week since I wrote.

The Ladies Book Day was a great success. My presentation went very well, and with a little scrambling and a couple of phone calls to my brother (who works the audio/video most Sundays at church), the PowerPoint made it to the projector screen. Everyone was mucho impressed by my technical skills, just because I made a bunch of slides. So because I did that, the woman organizing the women's retreat next month asked me to find out about whether it's possible to record speaking sessions. Like I know? So now I have to ask some other people who actually know and report back to her.

The possibility of making it to the retreat next month is becoming much more real. Lizzie is just about down to nursing only twice a day--first thing in the morning, and last thing before bed (except brushing teeth.... usually). This has to do with the retreat in that I can drive up in the morning, stay for the day, and then come home, and not have to worry about Sam having a total disaster on his hands.

This week she dropped the mid-day feeding, and has been drinking whole milk from the sippy cup. OK, really, she's drinking flavored yogurt smoothies mixed in with her milk from the sippy cup, but still! We're making progress. And as the day goes on and she drinks more and needs refills, I add more milk so the flavored yogurt to milk ratio goes down. I don't think we're totally there, though, because today she was having a really rough afternoon, and begged to nurse before going down for her nap. Of course, darling. She is cutting more teeth; she has 12, and is apparently working on the canines (eye teeth) that have to come in between the front and the molars. So I have a feeling these are the worst, because not only do they have to come through, but they have to push between the other teeth that are already there - possibly bringing pain not unlike having orthodontic braces adjusted. My poor baby; no wonder she hasn't been sleeping as well.

Sam had a 3rd interview with the company that he's been talking with. There are still no solid signs that they're ready to hire him, but at least they keep calling him back! We're now praying that they offer him a job, and offer him the one we want: without travel. Hopefully we'll hear more next week.

Tomorrow is the last week of our Believing God Bible Study. It has been fantastic. This is the first time I have actually done every single day of homework, and filled in all the blanks. This is the third time I have attempted this particular study, and the first time I have made it past week 6 or 7. I have never made it to the last week. I am processing what has happened in me, so maybe I will manage to articulate it better in another post. Or maybe I won't have to; maybe the coming months will just show a more active faith. Maybe you'll watch me take God at his word, and see fruit along with me.

Actually, this week has started something pretty amazing in regard to faith and believing that 'God's Word Is Alive and Active In Me' (point 5 in the pledge of faith from the study we've done). For almost 2 years I have been a part of an online forum of women; it is set up for pregnant women who are due in a particular month. They compare symptoms, issues, hormones, questions, doctors appointments, and birth plans. Then their babies are born and the forum stays there for women to discuss everything under the sun pertaining to their labor and delivery, feedings, parenting, the cute things their babies do, and life as a mom. They joke, cry, tell stories, and share a bond of motherhood. I depended on them to "get" me when I had questions, concerns, and experiences to share while I was pregnant and a new mom.

This forum has been remarkable; there is nothing that can be a breeding ground for more drama than a bunch of overtired, hormonal, insecure women on the internet. However, by some amazing miracle, there are at least a couple hundred women who are part of one particular month's forum, and there is a depth of understanding and respect that is hugely unexpected and unusual. At the moment, there is a discussion started when one Christian woman asked one Orthodox Jewish woman, out of pure curiosity and desire to understand, about her faith and practice. It has nearly 100 responses, and every one of them has been thoughtful, respectful, and beautiful. Following that discussion, a thread has opened up a place where the Jewish woman has asked, 'what is your religion?' and well over 100 women have also shared their particular perspectives and stances on faith, religion, and how it affects each one's own life. Through all of it, every one has been careful, honest, and purely offering her own view. There is no name-calling, no defensiveness, and no drama. I am honored to be among such strong and dear women.

In the course of the religion discussion, I befriended one of the women who is in a stage of seeking. She's on the verge of believing; she wants to trust the Lord. I am praying for her, and doing my best to encourage her to look to Jesus, and read the Bible. So far she has been greatly encouraged and comforted by the scriptures I have shared with her. My prayer is that she will come to know Jesus truly, and will have her eyes opened to the truth, discerning any lies for what they are. Besides the joy of knowing that someone is so close to trusting Jesus, I have so enjoyed having a passion in my heart to share the truth of the Gospel. It is not hard. The Word is alive in my heart, and with the Holy Spirit at work, drawing her to the Lord, it is the easiest thing to find the verses that come to my mind while I type. It's easy to have faith when I pray. It's easy because I know that God is involved. It's not me trying my hardest. I am not arguing, just opening the word via links on biblegateway.com and saying what is in my heart, gently, with compassion.

Another comforting thing is this: All I need to do is what is in my heart to do. I don't need to save her. I don't need to convince her. That is the Holy Spirit's job. If she believes, then I will rejoice. If she does not, then I will trust that I have done what I could. If I say something that she does not agree with, and she "unfriends" me, then so be it. If she goes one way and I go another, but we talk about Jesus from two different perspectives, that's great. If I don't see fruit, that's fine. If I do, then glory be to God!

Well, the little girl who has not been sleeping so well has just gotten up. Sam turned on the radio in her room and it's playing "Agnus Dei" - "Aleluia, for the Lord God Almighty reigns."