we're moving!!

Well, folks....for the past 10 months, my little family and I have been living in my parents' basement apartment. Scoff all you will at our presumable laziness, but I am grateful for parents that have been understanding and supportive of us during a very difficult and trying time in our life. I don't know where we would be without their offer to let us live here while Aaron was looking for a job and we were trying to get back on our feet!

And now......our feet are back under us, and we are loving the view from up here! We have finally found us a great house to rent! Which is super exciting! I will post some pics later, but for now I just want to ask for your prayers as we prepare to start a new chapter in our life. I've gotta round up all of our stuff out of every nook and cranny  of this sweet apartment and out of storage, and get it all over to our new place. The task seems rather daunting with two under three and one on the way, but I can't wait to get started. There will be many changes when we get there.....most, if not all, for the better! And I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for our little family in the coming months and years at this new home!

More on all this later....but I was just too excited to not post something TODAY! :)

summer sweetness!

I love summer time....if for nothing else, because of the variety of local, fresh produce! Summer brings with it my grandmother's bountiful yard - berries (both blue and rasp), squash, okra, tomatoes, and peppers. My mouth is watering! I also love the prices in the stores. Peaches? 10 lbs for $10! Strawberries? $1.98 a pint!

Here's a pic of what we got today! Thank you Grandma!!

This year, I've started a little mini-garden of my own. Aaron built me some planter boxes this spring, and I have filled them with bell peppers and tomato plants. They just started blooming is week, and even though I know it will be much later in the season, I can already taste them!

I will post later about getting these started! Such fun with the little guys around!

seasons

A dear friend of mine helped me to really get a hold of the concept of seasons in our life and walk with God. As time goes by and things change, so does your walk.....and THAT'S OK!  In college, when I was single and had minimal responsibilities, I had time to pour over the scriptures and dig deep as God spoke and revealed some of the more hidden truths. That was such a sweet time! I had hours to put into memorization, and would attempt to memorize chapters at a time. I kept journals, and I read books. God really used that time to grow me in knowledge, and I'm so thankful for that - and for the mentors and friends in my life at the time who were encouraging me to do those things!

And now, I look back on those days longingly. I wish I had that kind of time and passion for the Word of God. I miss the fire that it fueled. And when I drag myself out of bed at 6:30 in the morning to the sound of screaming babies, I'll admit that at times I resent this stage. I miss popping out of bed early because I wanted to, not because little bodies were demanding me to sustain their life. Such pressure and stress!

Then one day, I was reading in Ecclesiastes and this sharp verse cut me right open:

"Say not thou, What is the cause that the former days were better than these? for thou dost not enquire wisely concerning this."

Gulp. Oh! Ooops....


For two years, I've had this attitude! Jealous of all the free time I'd had to give to the Lord, that I thought made me more valuable to Him. But the Gospel tells me that I am accepted......as I am. There was nothing I could do to earn salvation, and there is nothing I can do that lets me keep it, or that even gives me more worth. I am to rest in Christ and what He has done for me, and I need to accept this time in my life as it is, living in the now.

Things are different than they were - I have a husband, a home, and two babies under three (and another one on the way)! Of course I don't have the time I once had!! But ya know what, my relationship with my mother has changed since then. She doesn't make a chores chart for me and make sure my room is picked up. I no longer ask her permission to go out to the mall with my friends on Friday night (let's face it, I don't even go to the mall on Friday night these days). We talk much more openly and about more adult things. While she is still my mother, and many things are the same about our relationship, a lot has changed. And that's ok! That's how things are supposed to go!

So why am I depressed when my walk with God has to change with the season? I should not be. I should hold on to the sweet times that I do get to have with Him, and embrace the challenge that this season of my life presents. If I treat it properly, I will come out stronger.

So, I am making some adjustments.

One thing that has worked well for me is to keep my Bible marked in the Psalms. They tend to be short, but they are so packed with encouragement! David and other psalmists are so real and honest about what they are going through, that I can really relate to how they are feeling. But they always bring it back to God - how mighty He is, how glorious He is, and how good is it do dwell with Him and follow His way! A few of my favorites include Psalm 1, 25, 51, 111, and 126.

Another thing that helps is to play spiritual songs. Many days I default to leaving the tv on NickJr all morning long. While it does keep my toddlers entertained, it does nothing for my spiritual walk nor theirs. When I do put in a Shane and Shane cd (or Passion, or Third Day, or Kids Sing Hymns) it helps me to remember what matters - to focus our thoughts and attitudes on eternal things rather than earthly.

One final idea I love is incorporating scripture into the decor of my home. I think this is so helpful for me, and I know it will have an impact on my family as well as those who visit our house. Right now we are in a temporary apartment, so I don't have as much around as I'd like. But there is a verse in my boys' room that I love. Psalm 25:4-5.

This sweet picture was a gift for Elijah when he was born. A precious and godly lady at our church made it for him. I don't know how well you can tell in this picture, but the outline of the baby is Psalm 139 in calligraphy. Beautiful! And such a creative display of Scripture. You don't have to just stick to a simple design if that is not your style.

My pastor's wife displays scripture all over their home as well. It is such a blessing to visit their home and see all the scripture around to encourage and remind all those who enter what is important!

I've listed a handfull of things that have worked for me, but I am by no means perfect nor have I exhausted all the options. What has worked for you in keeping your walk with Christ strong during a time-pressed and stressful season of life??

southern sweet tea

The secrets of true Southern sweet tea had always eluded me. That is, until I married my dear husband. About three months into our marriage, my mother-in-law - north Georgia mountain native - unlocked the vault and let me in on the precious southern secret.

And here I am, sharing it with you! I feel kinda like that dog on the Bush's baked beans commercial, wanting to sell the family secret. But its not really like that at all. If you asked her this afternoon, I'm sure she would be happy to share it with you.  :)

A few things before we enter the "vault":

First, I can only make this tea in one gallon batches. Its the way the recipe was given, and no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to half or double (or any other fraction or multiple) this recipe.

Next, my mother-in-law will tell you that you have to use the Luzianne brand (and I do recommend this). But if you are like me, trying to save pennies by buying the store brand, it will get you by.

Ok, here's the list you'll need to get together:

tea kettle, or small pot
water
4 family sized tea bags
1 cup sugar
a one gallon pitcher
more water
a spoon for stirring


Fill your tea kettle with COLD water, and bring to a boil. Get your tea bags ready while you are waiting. You need 4 family sized bags for one gallon of sweet tea.

Also, while waiting, get your gallon pitcher out, and go ahead and pour your sugar into the bottom. A note about the sugar - feel free to exaggerate the one cup - a heaping cup will do you well. I always scoop in a cup, and then go back for a little bit more just for good measure. Maybe it would be more like a cup and a quarter. Feel free to add more or less to your liking.

Once the water has boiled, remove the kettle from the heat, and place the tea bags right inside. Allow them to steep for 15 minutes.

You can now remove your tea bags from the kettle, squeezing as much tea from them as you can with a spoon. Be careful, though....it will still be hot!

Now, pour the concentrated tea into your pitcher. Stir gently while the water is still hot in order to dissolve all of the sugar. Once your sugar is dissolved, you can now add the rest of the water - enough to make one gallon. Continue stirring until well combined.

If you plan on enjoying your sweet tea soon, you can add some ice to the water you are pouring in to help cool the hot tea down. That way when you add ice to your glass, it won't water your deliciousness down so much because it will already be cold.

You are now ready to enjoy! Get yourself a tall glass of ice, maybe some mint leaves or lemon slices, and pour you a glass.



Now that is some sweet southern goodness. Sigh!

bluegrass and babies

Every year on Memorial Day and Labor Day weekends, the sweetest little bluegrass festival is held in Armuchee, GA. My husband's family has been involved in putting on this festival for over 25 years now. And while I have only been going for the past five or six years, it holds a special place in my heart as well!

Aaron grew up going to this festival (and all around bluegrass) and now our boys are growing up at it as well. Stuff like that just makes my heart smile! :)  We had such a great, family weekend. Sitting around, pickin' (or at least tapping your feet along to the pickin'), snacking, and laughing. The weather was hot, but what sweet memories we made. I hope my boys look back on these festivals as fondly and my husband and I do. 

Here's just a few snapshots of those fond memories collected:

Clint is actually strumming along with the guitar, can you tell?

Elijah is gonna be our little musician

Look at that stud over there....I think I'll go home with him tonight ;)

Clint loves Poppie's pen

The boys with Nonnie and Aunt Candy

whaahappend??

On Thursday of last week, I devoted my precious "naptime" hours to finishing up a couple posts I'd started. I was so proud of myself, as I completed TWO whole posts - pictures and all! One was very journal-y, and I was looking forward to revisiting it and regaining the strength and encouragement that I'd found right before writing it. The other was kinda crafty, and I was excited to have posted my first crafty post. I published them just in time to hear my little guys on the monitor laughing at each other.


Wow! I am awesome! I thought to myself.

But alas, God must have sensed my haughty attitude (as He always does....thankfully),  because when I went to view my blog a couple days later, they were nowhere to be found. Nothing even SAVED!

WHAT?!?


I still don't know what happened...maybe some of you have had a similar experience and can fill me in on what I did wrong????....or maybe I really fell asleep while my boys where napping and it was all just a dream.

Either way, I just wanted you to know that I have not forgotten about you, blog (and blog readers). Please don't give up on me.  A fresh (and more interesting than this) post will be up soon! :)

strawberries

What a cute little fruit strawberries are!

This time of year they are always on sale... and always delicious! While enjoying some at breakfast, I decided that I just had to blog about them. So, here are seven of my thoughts about strawberries:

1. A favorite breakfast of mine is a side of bacon, a slice of oatnut toast with butter, and a big ole pile of sliced strawberries! Something about the way the textures and flavors compliment each other....I don't know. But try it, I'm sure you'll agree!

2. This year I am going to try growing my own strawberries in a container on our patio. I never have tried before, so this should be interesting. But aren't the little blooms they have are so adorable!?! More on this as the summer progresses!

 

solitary strawberry bloom

3. My Papa had a favorite dessert, and I must say it competes for my top three (I just don't think I could commit to saying any one of them was my absolute favorite, because the next time I had another of the three, I would be changing my mind - I just can't decide!!). Anyways, its a version of strawberry shortcake. A post coming on it soon, detailing how to prepare such wonderfulness. In the meantime, its my grannie's recipe for pound cake, covered in sweetened strawberries and vanilla ice cream. (Excuse me while I wipe the drool from my chin....ahem).



4. I saw this idea on Martha Stewart for these adorable little strawberry pincushions ages ago. Maybe one day I will get around to making one or two. Get the how-to here. Let me know how they turn out!

5. I learned this little idea from my Pampered Chef consulting days - slice up a bunch of strawberries and put them in a pitcher of water and give 'em a stir. Very Kool-Aid like. No sugar even needed! You might want to strain it before pouring, but not completely necessary.

6. My mom uses an egg slicer to slice them. They come out so perfect and with such little effort! My mom is so clever!

7. And how could you talk about strawberries without mentioning that sweet little childhood icon, Strawberry Shortcake? Who else grew up scratching and sniffing her stickers and wanting to be her?

What about you? Any strawberry inspirations??