Around the House: February

These days I am:

~Enjoying the seasonal temperatures, which have been seldom and fleeting. Like much of the country, the weather in Virginia has been extremely unpredictable.

~Cheering as my girl plays indoor field hockey.  I still don't understand the rules, but I do enjoy watching.

~Thankful for God's grace in difficult conversations with my girl. Being the mother of a teenage daughter isn't for the faint of heart. As awkward and uncomfortable as these talks are (for both of us), they are necessary and good. (I did say I needed to grow in my willingness to do hard things!).

~Learning a lot about John Quincy Adams . Despite his fascinating career (he served under George Washington, and was a member of Congress - with Abraham Lincoln - AFTER he was President), he is still overshadowed by his parents.

~Pondering the Lamb of God on my way to work each morning, as I pass by a pasture of grazing sheep and newborn lambs. His sacrifice for my atonement fills me with wonder and gratitude.

~Anticipating a weekend away with a group of ladies of the iron-sharpening sort.

~Starting a commonplace book.  I love this idea and am thankful to Trisha for introducing me me to this practice.

~Thankful that my Dad is a talented & willing auto mechanic.

~Snuggling with my man and watching Inspector Lewis. I'm hoping to try Foyle's War or Wallander next.

~Wondering if I'll find my writing chops so I can start blogging with some regularity again. Perhaps I'll start sharing entries from my commonplace book and why they resonate with me.

What I Did During My Blog Vacation

~Witnessed God's providence as my man started a new job. We wholeheartedly testify to the truth of Romans 8:28.

~Read some great fiction. The Distant Hours, The Flight of Gemma Hardy, Hannah Coulter, and The Homecoming of Samuel Lake.

~Fell woefully behind in The Book Club at Desiring Virtue's selection of According to Plan: The Unfolding Revelation of God in the Bible. It's a great book, but I'm trying to read it slowly to soak it all in.

~Celebrated as our girl finished 8th grade.

~Enjoyed a few days at the beach with friends.

~Registered our girl for high school classes.

~A new start in high school deserves a new room.  Moved our girl into a bigger room and did an extreme room makeover while she was away at missions camp.

~Missed her like crazy while she was gone, but delighted in some alone time with my man.

~Listened eagerly as she shared her camp experiences.

~Realized (AGAIN) how quickly the years are passing. There's little time left to influence this young woman and to give her a firm foundation in the Lord. I am determined to make each day count.

~Stumbled into sin, time and time again. I am so thankful for God's grace and mercy!

~Spent hours in the car at field hockey practice (thus, the reading of good books) and on the sidelines cheering during games.

~Spent hours on the softball sidelines cheering for my man and our church's coed softball team.

~Created a guest room.  Visitors are welcome!

~Got inspired by redesigned spaces and fresh coats of paint to do even more simplifying.

~Pared down my Google Reader.

Nothing terribly exciting - just the ebb and flow of a life marked by tremendous blessings and a faithful God.

Thankful Thursday

Giving thanks for...

~the first fruits from the garden
~heart-to-heart conversations with my man
~household projects completed
~a good book - or two!
~thoughtful discussions with my girl
~hugs from my college girls
~breathtaking fireworks
~time to rest during a headache that lasted several days
~the end of a headache that lasted several days
~a girl who loves to help in the kitchen
~motivation to keep simplifying our home

Around the House: May

Turning the calendar page this morning, I am astonished that it's May. Really, truly astonished. Perhaps it's because I lost the month of March with Mama's sickness and passing. Perhaps it's because I went into shock when my girl brought home her high school registration. Perhaps it's because I'm just older. (I'm guessing it's a combination of all three.)

Somehow May is here, and I just can't fathom it. I find my soul is overcome with combination of deep sadness and indescribable joy.

In this last full month of Spring, I am:

~wishing I could fast-forward through Mother's Day weekend, which also includes both of my parents' birthdays

~praying for God's grace to see me through it

~excited to participate in The Book Club at Desiring Virtue.  I ordered my book the day Jessalyn announced it!

~enjoying fresh strawberries from a local farm (my current favorite accompaniment is plain yogurt with a drizzle of local honey...yum!)

~humbled to think that my man and I will be celebrating our 19th anniversary this month. The Lord, He is good!

~planning a quick get-away with my man to celebrate

~looking forward to my college girls coming home. We're already planning lunch dates and a Cary Grant movie night

~also looking forward to diving into this book

~savoring the last of the preserved fruit and vegetables

~eager to re-fill all the empty canning jars

~hoping the weather will cooperate to finally get our garden heading in the right direction this weekend

~learning much from the Book of Hosea

~pondering (once again) my relationship with technology and social media

~clinging to these verses, and the hope they give

In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. - 1 Peter 1: 6-7 (ESV)

The Bright Side

We didn't celebrate my birthday this year. Plans of a quiet dinner were tossed aside somewhere during the wee hours of the morning in the hospital waiting room. The Reese's Cheesecake I'd ordered waited in the fridge. Doctors, decisions, and arrangements filled my mind, crowding out any thoughts of a happy day.

Still, my birthday had come and there were presents to be opened.  And so, in the quiet of the evening after Mama's funeral, I finally opened them.


To feed my inner Brit:

~Downton Abbey: Season 1 and Downton Abbey: Season 2

~Emma (2009 BBC Version)

~Sense & Sensibility

And music to soothe the savage breast:

~Ella & Louis

~Very Best of Diana Krall

These wonderful gifts have brought much-needed bright spots and made me smile.

I continue to be uplifted by your prayers, sweet words of encouragement, and God's grace.

Around the House: March

Days grow longer. Jonquils bloom buttery yellow. Temperatures are all over the map.  Signs of Spring's imminent arrival surround me.  In this month of springing forward and celebrating another year of life, I am

Finding delight in reading The Mysterious Benedict Society.

Stretching my mind by listening to The Greater Journey: Americans in Paris.

Preparing my heart by studying Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross: Experiencing the Passion and Power of Easter and In My Place Condemned He Stood: Celebrating the Glory of the Atonement.

Nourishing my soul by planning this year's garden.

Praising the Lord for a husband who will tend the garden.

And for the growth He's bringing about in my daughter's life. 

Learning something new by watching my girl play field hockey.

Sensitizing my conscience by carefully considering my media choices.

Grappling with my sinful soul and daily seeking His grace.

And continuing to watch...

Around the House: February

An unusually mild winter is finally giving way to some seasonal weather, though not nearly enough.  I want to hop into my calendar page, all white and glistening. I can almost smell the crisp air, feel it burn my lungs. It seems as if this year, my hopes for winter evenings of reading and snuggling by firelight are all but dashed. Yet in my disappointment, there are plenty of blessings.

~A week at home, which allowed me time to clean out closets and cull bookshelves. The more stuff I purge, the more I want to purge. The breathing room and the peace it brings are a healing balm.

~A weekend trip to the beach with a dear friend, filled with long walks and even longer conversations.

~In an effort to broaden my horizons, an intentional change of pace in my reading as of late. I've already devoured Anderson Cooper's Dispatches from the Edge: A Memoir of War, Disasters, and Survival, The Hunger Games, and Catching Fire. I'm in the middle of Mockingjay now. Next up,The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks. The need for Jane has me listening to a wonderful audiobook of Persuasion.

~I am slowly and deliberately pondering The Priority of Preaching, which I was supposed to finish for a blog tour. Written for pastors, this small book offers a thoughtful approach to exegetical preaching that is also quite helpful to congregants.  I'm learning much about what I should be looking - and listening - for.

~The beginning of indoor field hockey for my girl. I know little about the sport, except that it's fun to watch. 

~An upcoming family date night to see this movie.

~The release of Masterpiece Classic: Downton Abbey Season 2 this week! I've missed the entire season for various reasons, so I'm thankful I'll soon be able to catch up without resorting to watching on the laptop.

~Carl Trueman is speaking at a nearby church at the end of the month. I'm hoping to attend.


The blog lies dormant more often than I want, yet I seem to have few words to add to this space. Various attempts to blog through books or studies have failed before they've even started. I find myself too busy living my life to write about it.

And that is a blessing that cannot be measured.

Savoring...

~football season

~Sunday mornings with my 7th & 8th grade girls

~Esther and Ruth (Reformed Expository Commentary).

~rows of canning jars, filled with ruby red tomato sauce, bright green beans, and sunshine peaches

~Chris Tomlin's Arriving. This is the only CD of his that I own. It's years old, but the songs are incredible.

~Morning and Evening: A New Edition of the Classic Devotional Based on The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. It's especially sweet to read this with my man before we turn out the lights each night.

~Yogi Peach Detox Tea

~Brown Cow Yogurt

~the last of the garden bounty. Tomatoes and eggplant have fallen to a trickle, so each new find is a treat.

~memories of a weekend with dear friends and worship at Capitol Hill Baptist Church

~the thought of bringing out the autumn decorations this weekend

What are you savoring these days?

Autumn Upon Us

The canning pot is temporarily resting, in anticipation of apples and pears that will soon arrive. The kitchen table has been converted to CJ's study area. A laptop and a stack of books rest on the dining table more often than not. We slip back into the routine that my soul needs. Autumn - with its crisp days, candle-lit evenings, and brilliant hues - is soon due. Anticipation of its arrival washes over me.

My girl has started her third and final year of middle school. I think back to the beginning of her first year. We were coasting along in life, blissfully unaware that our world was about to be turned upside down. I remember how God brought us through the initial shock, and how He helped us prepare for a new life.  I can't help but think of last year, as she started her second year of middle school while we were adjusting to R being back in college. I recall how hard that first semester was, and offer yet another thanks to God for His precious grace.

And so we stand, at the beginning of the end. In three short months, we'll be celebrating a graduation and, Lord willing, a new job. Trepidation threatens to creep back into my days. Yet I know whom I have believed, and I am trusting, trusting...

Lessons Learned - About our Home

There have been many lessons learned in our new life. Some have been simple. More than a few have been hard-fought. Others continue to be a struggle. In the coming days, I'll share some of these lessons with you. Most are principals I already knew in my head, but had no room for in my heart.

Today I'll share two lessons I've learned about our home.

Breathing room is essential. 

Meaningless knick-knacks, pretty as they were, sucked the life out of our home. They are gone. We are surrounded by pictures, family treasures, and words of encouragement - things that matter.

Fewer things to dust. More space to live.

And we do live in our home. Even when piles of laundry beckon, I am able to look around at the surfaces and see space. Space allows me to relax, to breathe easier. 

Fewer unimportant things to keep track of. More time to live.

2008 was the Year of Peace & Simplicity in our home. I learned that our family functions better when life is calm. When I am calm. Not having to remember where important papers are (because they've been put where they belong) or being a slave to a complicated organizational system keeps me calm.

Homemade is worth the effort. 

Laundry detergent, dish detergent, household cleaners, apple sauce, bread, ice cream, and even mayo.  The planning and the time spent are a small price to pay for what we've gained by eating better.

Making pancakes from scratch creates room in the budget for real maple syrup. We buy eggs from pastured hens instead of boxes of cereal.

The trade-off works well for us.

There are some things I will always buy, but many I've committed to making at home because the benefit is greater than the cost.

The quality of our choices takes our focus from the quantity.

Our home is still (and will always be) a work in progress. Yet I think for the most part, my family would agree that it's a sanctuary for all of us.

 Any sacrifice I might make pales in comparison.

Around the House: May

I've reclaimed the dining room table.  Books have been banished.  In their place, bright yellow lemons nestled in a bowl.

Winter clothes, and their heaviness, are stored away.

Many things that clutter our lives are finding new homes, giving us space to breathe.

I delight in little things.

... Lady Susan by dear Jane, written in epistolary style. I love it almost as much as I did The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.

...The West Wing: The Complete Second Season

...Rose bushes bursting with color that greet me each afternoon.

...The sweet aroma of cut grass.

...Leaves shooting forth from the cool soil, the first signs of our garden coming to life.


We are enjoying the simplicity of life, and I still marvel at that.

Next week, we'll mark the one year anniversary of R's final day of employment. I wonder, have I been faithful to share how very good God has been in this past year? Not just in this place, but in my day-to-day living as well. Have I proclaimed His sovereignty and grace and mercy?

I've been quiet around here for a while now. Words often seem to fail me, and I don't know if I'll ever find any to capture things that have been on my heart. Many days find me weary, at best.  Yet I feel my heart stirring and waking from its slumber.

It is well with my soul.

Just Enough

I practically giggled, telling him of the latest item in my ever-growing repertoire of homemade household items. His eyes caught mine in the mirror. What a difference 18 years makes, he said. I never expected that you would be making so many things.

The truth of his statement cuts to the insecure part of my heart, stinging. I look up to see the admiration in his eyes.  It covers the hurt, soon forgotten. The truth is, no one is more surprised than I at the changes wrought in our lives, in my life. The young girl he married - brash and loud - turned up her nose at the word frugal. She was far too busy wanting to be somebody to think about cutting corners and looking well after her household.

People change.

Life changes.

The calendar hurdles toward the one year anniversary of my man's last day of work. I am still completely amazed at how God has proven Himself time and time again. Life is not perfect because we are not. Yet this path we never would have chosen is. We are living Romans 8:28 every day.  For it is good to have enough.


Too much breeds greed and idolatry.

Too little breeds resentment and envy.

In His sovereign wisdom, God has given us enough.

...enough to cover the bills.

...enough to have some fun.

...enough to support His work.

...enough not to worry about where our next meal will come from.

...enough to know just how much we need to rely on Him for our sustenance, because He is more than enough.

Two things I ask of you;
deny them not to me before I die:
Remove far from me falsehood and lying;
give me neither poverty nor riches;
feed me with the food that is needful for me,
lest I be full and deny you
and say, "Who is the LORD?"
or lest I be poor and steal
and profane the name of my God.
~Proverbs 30: 7-9 (ESV)
(emphasis mine)

Around the House: April

My soul lifts at the turning of the calendar. For once, I am happy to leave March behind. I stare at the field of wildflowers that bloom above the blocks named April. The spacious place is inviting. I realize just how weary I've been. How weary I am of being weary.

The empty blocks beg to be filled.  I hold strong to ignore their plea, promising myself that only good things will find their way to these spaces.

An annual girls' weekend at the beach with my dearest friend.

Various Easter services.

Spring Break.

A night out with close friends.

Four weeks from today, R's semester will be finished. We'll be 2/3rds of the way through our journey toward a new life. I marvel at how time has flown and how the One who made time has stood Faithful and True.

I want to take advantage these first days of Spring. To simplify and rejuvenate. To restore my soul.

The days still may be quiet around here.  I have a few posts brewing in my head and hope to get them out soon.  In the meanwhile, I'll leave you with something I've been pondering these past few weeks.

Follow someone who follows Christ; follow a pilgrim who insists that you live up to what you have already attained, and then press for more. ~D.A. Carson

Hello, Friend & My March Nightstand

March has indeed come in like a lion, full of sharp teeth and loud roars. I have needed some quiet and safety, away from the glare of the screen and words written for all the world to see (though there are few in the world who actually do see them).  There are too many words I cannot write.  They crowd out the ones that might find their way into this space. And so I have been silent.

The thoughts shared on this post were wonderful and so much more worthy than my lack of response demonstrates. I did intend to write a follow up post, and have some other discussion questions in mind. They will keep while I rest for a while.

Here are some things I'm pondering:

~What is Reformed Theology?: Understanding the Basics - to better understand and defend my faith

~This Is Why You're Fat (And How to Get Thin Forever): Eat More, Cheat More, Lose More--and Keep the Weight Off - to make some much, much needed change

~Nine Marks of a Healthy Church - because we should all be a part of a healthy church


~Loving the Church: God's People Flourishing in God's Family - to learn to love more

~Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross: Experiencing the Passion and Power of Easter - to sharpen my focus during this season

I'll be back soon to participate in the blog tour for The Mountains Bow Down.  Until then, you can see what others are reading over at 5 Minutes for Books.

Around the House: March

March is an in-between month. It comes with mixed emotions. I reconcile myself to the inconsistent temperatures, the spring allergies, and the growing older that March brings.

I look for reasons to rejoice.

~Spring Break.

~A weekend visit with dear friends refreshes us.

~The mailbox will soon be bulging with seeds. We are planning our biggest garden yet.

~A box of books will also be arriving, including Nine Marks of a Healthy Church and Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross: Experiencing the Passion and Power of Easter.

~In the meantime, it's still cool enough to snuggle in under a quilt and read Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.

~My husband declares that he can't put down a book he's reading. I can't help but smile at those strange words coming from his lips.

~Studying Philippians with sisters in Christ. It humbles, convicts, and makes me even more thankful for grace.

~Piano notes string together to become beautiful songs. I thank God for the gift He's given my girl.

~We read the Gospels after dinner, prepare our hearts for the Easter season.


~In the midst of some heavy complications and heartbreaks, God is pouring out His love. He is using some extremely difficult circumstances to teach, sharpen, and convict. He is breaking me. I remind myself to Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (James 1:1-3, ESV)


~I determine to celebrate the life inside the boundary lines God has placed around me, rather than constantly seeking to go outside of them. Not content to just stay inside those lines, I'm renewing my quest to find margin. I'm giving a lot of thought to the overload in my life, including my online presence. What that means for this space, I'm not quite sure. I am sure that some changes are in order, and I'm praying for His grace to make them.

Around the House: February

It's not quite as dark when I arrive home from work these days. The field behind our house is bathed in hues of pink and purple. The clothes line stands bare, beams stretched wide like arms waiting patiently to embrace its work. The garden boxes are groaning under the weight of weeds, desperate to be cleaned up and to birth new life.

These are the final days of playing games in warmth of the fireplace glow, snuggling under quilts stitched with love, and the coziness of flannel pajamas. The quiet winter evenings will soon give way to longer days marked by the boisterous chirps of spring and the kaleidoscope of colors bursting forth.

I am not ready to let go, so I cling tightly to soft music that washes over us during dinner, the conversations about middle school days and college days and work days. The Light of Life still burns brightly on our table as we read His story.

The music continues, ushering in our nightly routine of study. He pours over the business books while she works through The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and I think long on the spiritual journey of a past President.

Sometime during the evening, I drink in the sound of piano keys playing the same tune again and again. I pray for this gift to grow, thankful for her eagerness to use it for His glory.

I soak up the mornings dark when he reaches for my hands and says, "Are you ready to pray?" I listen intently as his voice changes before the throne of grace and I choke out whispers in agreement.

I wonder if I will just pool into tears at the beauty of these sacred moments.

Then laundry and dishes demand attention. Floors need sweeping and surfaces need cleaning. Bills have to be paid and apologies have to be spoken. Real life invades hard, splintering the image of the perfect home I have conjured in my mind.

But in those last moments of consciousness, after we've kissed goodnight and declared our love, I smile at the memory of the day He made and know that it was good.

Thanksgiving - Day 17

Peace came first.

Then Faith, followed by Amazing Grace, Trust in the Lord and Simplify.


I've just added Great is They Faithfulness and Give Praise.

Small signs scattered around our home, touchstones that remind me of truth and Truth.

As I remove clutter and leave only items of true worth and significance, these words stand out more. I notice them more. I cling to them more. I am challenged to live them more.

Today, I am thankful for these words and the comfort and conviction they bring.

Finding Margin

After the crash, it was time to reevaluate.

I recently heard Dr. Richard Swenson on the radio.  His book Margin: Restoring Emotional, Physical, Financial, and Time Reserves to Overloaded Lives is on my wish list.  I most certainly need to find some space in my life.  I've spent the last week trying to be more intentional with my life, in practical (and maybe not so practical) ways.

My watch battery died.  I didn't go to the jewelers to get a new battery because, for one thing, I have 5 watches. When the battery died, we were in the middle of 3-day rainstorm and I didn't go anywhere but work and home.  I decided I'd wait until I could see land again.  I pulled out the other watches, only to find they all had dead batteries.  So, I just didn't wear a watch.  By the time the rain subsided, I'd found that I really enjoy not wearing one.  I don't constantly check it to see how long I've been waiting in line (and tap my foot and roll my eyes).  I don't look at it to see how quickly I've got to be at the next place or do the next thing.  I'm more relaxed. I may never wear a watch again.

After reading this post of Ann's, I pulled out a dry erase board and put it on an easel.  Each day, we write down what we're thankful for. This practice reminds me to stop and look for God throughout the day.

More classical music, less television in the evenings. It's amazing what a difference that makes in the atmosphere of our home.

We have 30 minutes of designated family time each evening.  After CJ's in bed (if school work allows), I have an hour of uninterrupted time with my man.

I go to bed earlier.

I lowered expectations I had for myself. I've given myself permission to let some things go.

All small things, added together to give big results.

What about you...do you have enough margin in your life? What are your tips?

Around the House: October

I am: 

~Wishing that cooler weather would arrive already! I have an aversion to temps above the 60s in Autumn. I'm ready to put out my fall decorations and start cozying up with hot tea and flannel sheets.

~Enjoying pumpkin spice creamer in my morning java.  Yum!

~Dreading the seasonal clothes swap that comes with the falling temperatures, but it is the only thing I dislike about Autumn!

~Giving serious prayerful consideration to what next year's theme will be. I think I know the answer.

~Looking forward to being at the beach by nightfall. Our family needs this respite, even though R will be studying for midterms and CJ will be hanging out with her cousin who's accompanying us.  I plan to whittle away at the stack of books I'm in the middle of so I can concentrate on Surprised by Grace: God's Relentless Pursuit of Rebels, which we're blogging through at Southern Baptist Girl.

~Thankful for the prayers of faithful friends

~Thankful for the grace of a loving Father.

Happy October, friends.

By the Numbers

13 days until CJ's birthday - she'll be 12

11 months since we learned R would lose his job.

10 days without complaining, so far. Now that I'm being intentional about it, I realize just how much I do complain!

9 x 4 = 36, the number of items on my Amazon wishlist.

8 days until a family beach weekend, and I. cannot. wait.

7 loads of laundry done each week (approximately). I'm still loving the homemade detergent & our clothes line.

6 writing instruments on the table in my Bible study corner. Have you tried the new Sharpie pen? It's divine.

5 books I'm in the middle of - why do I do this to myself?

4 girls in my Sunday School class last weekend, and it was a blast!

3 weeks until R's fall break. We'll be taking a family trip to Washington, DC.

2 bushels of apples to preserve this weekend. I'm thinking apple sauce, apple pie, and apple butter. Yum!

1 month since R returned to college. It's been a hard month in many ways, but really good in others. How great is our God!