Sunday Sentiments

 Ryan is home from his men's retreat. I did something to the tune of 80-some scrapbook pages while he was gone. Phoebe and I sat on the couch and watched Hallmark movies and counted down the hours until Ryan returned. And he did return - all safe and sound. He's refreshed and challenged by what he learned there, which makes my heart so happy, because that's how a retreat should leave you! 

Last night, after I stopped scrapbooking for the night and settled down to read my Bible and study, and I spent some extra time in prayer, asking God for fresh wisdom and fresh perspective.

I'd happened upon an article on Pinterest (earlier) that challenged me so deeply, and I spent some of that prayer time mulling it over. The writer had suggested maybe it's time to put away our devotional books and spend time IN THE WORD. As a writer of studies and devos, that can sometimes be a sticky thought to ponder, but I pondered it anyway. After all, one of the things we've noticed in our time in this job is that it seems to be much more palatable for everyone to read a fast, easy devotional and move on with their day than to sit and dig in the Bible itself. We've been trying to change that, but it's hard to recondition minds.

But perhaps it's my own mind that needs some reconditioning. A fresh hunger. A fresh perspective. Fresh vision from words I've read before.

You all know that I've talked often on here about the Bible studies from The Daily Grace Company. I haven't changed my mind about their depth or goodness, but lately I've been looking into some of the inductive studies from Precept Ministries. And as I sat on our couch the other night, I found myself drawn to the very first one in the series. The one on Genesis...and creation itself.

The foundation of it all, as it reminded me in the description.

And while I generally don't tell people to take spiritual advice from The Sound of Music, I found myself singing, "Let's start at the very beginning...a very good place to start."

Yes.

I've studied those chapters so many times. I've even done some writing over the creation account. But it wouldn't hurt me at all to go back, dig in, and see it all with fresh eyes. 

I'm grateful for the nudge from the Lord. And I'm sharing it in case you need a nudge too. Maybe you've been feeling stuck, in a rut, silenced, paralyzed, or some other similar frustration as you've tried to study and learn. Maybe you need to start at the very beginning, too? 

The Saturday Six

 

One.

This post just utterly fascinated me. The writer rents out her home for filming (commercials, TV shows, movies). Getting to see behind the scenes was really fun!!! I'm not sure I could handle the invasive nature of the renting, but I probably could handle the paycheck just fine!

Two.

I know it's popular to gift hot chocolate mix at the holidays. Check out this twist for some additional flavors beyond regular hot chocolate! (I don't think I've ever heard of vanilla powder before. It intrigues me too! I guess today is my day to be intrigued.)

Three.

Ryan and I haven't done our dream national park tour (yet?) but I still think this is so cool! You can submit pictures you've taken (even ones with your family in them!) to this site and they'll create national park-style posters for you to hang in your home! You can even have filters put on them to make them look like traditional park posters. So cool!

Four.

Watched this story last night...and it is worth the time. I knew bits and pieces of it from along the way, but this is the first time I've ever heard the whole thing. This is the story of a brave young woman named Lizzy who has been battling cancer since 2012. Her husband, Joel, went to church with me when I was much younger, so that's my connection to the story. 

Five.

One night this week, as I was finishing my steps, I happened upon this video of David Phelps' kids singing together. The video is a few years old, but the harmony is outstanding. I've never heard his kids sing together before! 

Six.

Anyone else love a walking taco? Boy, I do!! I love this so much...a walking taco charcuterie board!

To Do...

 One of the things we are looking to teach our tenants more specifically is how to better manage their time. The truth of it is, most of them have not lived consistently in environments where time management was taught or modeled regularly. It's one of the things that has pushed me to take a step back and be grateful for things I learned somewhat by osmosis.

I grew up in a home with two parents who were timely, organized people. I grew up understanding (by observation) what it meant to get up in time to eat breakfast, get dressed, and be out the door on time for wherever we needed to go. I understood how to be aware of what plans we had in evenings and budget enough time for homework, playtime, etc. I even started setting and sticking to my own enforced bedtime when I was in junior high. (In bed at 9:45 for devos and journaling...lights out at 10:15. Not 10:16. 10:15.)

I grew up in a school system that taught us how to use day planners to manage our homework and tests. (And clearly I still love those!!)

But the young adults we work with haven't learned all that just yet. Like I said...most of them didn't have those things consistently modeled. Part of how we can teach them is to model this behavior ourselves, and we do, but part of it will require intentional teaching, which the teacher-nerd in me absolutely loves.

* We're planning to teach them how to keep a calendar (their choice of paper or electronic...we've seen different tenants love different forms) so they can have in front of them a reminder of classes, work, church, Bible study, appointments, and anything else they need to make sure they don't forget. 

* We're planning to teach them how to count backwards in their days so they can make sure they allow enough time for anything that precedes an event. (Work at 8? What time do you need to get up to get ready, have breakfast, pack lunch, and transport to work?) 

* We're planning to teach them how to plan ahead when they need a ride, since most of our driving volunteers also work or have families to tend to - in addition to providing transportation.)

You get the idea...

I guess I say all of this today for two reasons.

First...thanks, Mom and Dad (and all the other responsible adults in my life) for showing me by your example how to manage my time well. I didn't even realize that was a foundation you were laying until...well...now. But thank you!

Secondly...never underestimate your ability to be an example to others in your life simply by the way you live. Even though we haven't been super intentional up to this point about teaching time management, we know our tenants have learned it (to a degree) by our example. They have been known to say "Early is on time and on time is late" because they've heard us say it a few (hundred) times. 

And now...back to my to-do list...to teach to-do lists...

Thankful for No

 

Last night, Ryan and I watched the first episode of the new show, Ordinary Joe. It was actually pretty interesting! I'll give you the synopsis (without spoilers, of course) so the rest of this post can make sense! The show opens at Joe's college graduation, which he shows up at so late that he doesn't even get to sit with his class. Instead, he bumps into a young woman - also from his class - who is also late for graduation and the two of them talk throughout the entire ceremony. 

After the graduation, Joe has to choose whether he will celebrate with his family, the new girl he met, or Jen, who has been his best friend throughout all of college. The rest of the show shows his life following a completely different path, depending on who he spent time with most in that weekend after graduation. 

I thought back to my own college graduation and some of the choices I could have made along the way that would have made my life look completely different in this moment than it does. 

* I thought about a relationship or two that I probably would have followed right into marriage if they'd asked. I'm so thankful now that they didn't. As I've written before, I don't regret those relationships, because each of them molded me to become the person I am today, and I'm grateful for that, but I am also grateful for my marriage to Ryan and this life we share. (For the record, I truly never spend any time on the what-ifs of previous relationships. I gratefully accept God's no for those and am so thankful for Ryan!)

* I thought about a job I applied for a few years before I went to the radio station. They didn't offer me the job, but if they would have, I probably would have taken it, and I can't even imagine how different my life would have looked. I would have ended up in a city that I am quite sure I would have hated, and when everything crashed economically back in 2008, that entire department downsized and the job I applied for was eliminated. I would have been stuck in a city I hated with no job and few options for new ones. I'm so grateful God said no. He knew.

* I thought about what would have happened if I had chosen to do a phone interview instead of an in-person interview when I was invited to be a guest on Mid-Morning back in 2010. I never would have met Jamie. We never would have become friends, and I would have missed out on a powerful encourager and prayer warrior in my life. Plus, I wouldn't have ended up applying for the producer job and enjoying that career so very much for four years. I wouldn't have blossomed the way I did without that opportunity! 

* I thought about what would have happened if Ryan and I had purchased the coffee shop a few years ago. (Sometimes God's closed doors still sting even if you trust He had His reasons) or ended up at any of the other jobs we chased after over the years. I think some of them could have had truly pleasant paths, and others might have ended in great difficulty - especially during all the lockdowns last year. 

Ordinary Joe has a point. We just never ever know how one decision made differently - even the tiniest little thing - might have the biggest impact on our futures. 

But you know what? God never wastes anything - even a decision. He has carried, pruned, taught, disciplined, and blessed me through the good and the bad of the decisions I've made throughout my life. 

I'm grateful for all the times God has said yes. But I'm also grateful for all the times He said no.

A Case of the Randoms

 Monday was a long day. It wasn't a bad day. Just a long day. It felt like it lasted eighteen hundred literal hours. I made a comment about that to Ryan shortly before we went to bed and he said he didn't think it was unbearably long. 

But then in the next sentence he said, "You're doing laundry tomorrow, right?" I paused, so he added, "Tomorrow is Thursday, right?"

No. Tomorrow is not Thursday. Tomorrow is Tuesday. It only feels like tomorrow is Thursday because today was eighteen hundred literal hours. ;) He decided maybe it had been a longer day than he realized.

(Keep in mind that the above conversation happened on Monday. If you're reading this in real time, tomorrow is indeed Thursday. Do your house chores as appropriate.)

So that's how our week began. 

Then yesterday morning someone texted our work phone at 6:15 in the morning. That sound always sucks the air from my lungs when it awakens me, because I presume the worst. (We have protected hours in which no one is supposed to call or text unless it's an emergency.) Thankfully this wasn't an emergency, but it jolted me awake so hard that I couldn't go back to sleep forever. When I did go back to sleep, I had the most realistic work dream that was actually kind of terrifying. I sure was glad to wake up and find it had been a dream!

Then we had a community night scheduled for last night...some outdoor fun. And then guess what the forecast showed? 95% chance of thunderstorms! Ryan worked hard to figure out a plan B for us, and I think everyone had a lot of fun, even though it wasn't what we had looked forward to!

By the end of last evening, our brains were fried and our bodies were exhausted. We collapsed on opposite ends of the couch with Phoebe somewhere in the middle, and just stared.

In fairly short order, my staring was directed at lake cottages for sale (because a girl can dream, right?) and I found the most adorable tiny one on a perfectly sized little lake. I wondered if they would take ten dollars for an offer. ;) It was cute enough to send the listing to Ryan. He was kind enough to look at it. He hears a lot about lake cottages, so I always appreciate it when he indulges my window shopping. 

So I'll have to beg your pardon for today. I have nothing of depth to share. Just a mostly pitiful peek into my brain that may not even be all that interesting. 

Here's to a full night of sleep, no six a.m. wake-up texts, a little less rain, and maybe a big pot of chili. I think today might just be the day for it! 

What's Up Tuesday

 

Know what I haven't done for a while? A What's-Up-On-The-Wrong-Day-Of-The-Week! They're always supposed to be What's-Up-Wednesday, but I almost never do them on Wednesdays. But since I worked an extra long day yesterday, my brain is fried and I'm going to do this for fun today!

1. What we're eating this week...

Welllllll, let's see. Sunday one of our tenants had a birthday, so we had a special lunch for him. Ryan grilled chicken and brats, and I made macaroni and cheese. We still have some of the chicken and brats left, so we've been enjoying leftovers! I also made spaghetti and meat sauce (homemade marinara in that) using regular spaghetti for Ryan and edamame spaghetti for myself. (I found it at Aldi and thought I would give it a try. It doesn't taste weird to me, and it doesn't make me feel overly stuffed, so I like that!) Also on the docket for this week: Ryan's chili and a pork loin with asparagus. 

2. What' I'm reminiscing about...

High school!! Last night, my high school buddy Pat spent forever on Marco Polo with Ryan and me and we were telling all kinds of stories from back in the day. Musicals and crushes and all kinds of stuff. It was a really fun walk down memory lane! (And of course we talked about Ryan's wrestling picture on the hall of fame wall at school!!

3. What I'm loving...

My pretty fall decor being back out to enjoy. I am especially enjoying the leaves on our little twinkly tree in the corner. I cannot believe how much those leaves change the look of the whole tree! And the real trees are juuuuuuuuuuuuuuust starting to turn here. So pretty!!

4. What we've been up to...

...working! We were off last Thursday and Friday, but we hit the ground running yet Friday night and have been going nonstop ever since. We've gotten a lot done, though! Meetings and documents and brainstorming and...a two hour round of Skip-Bo. I lost every game. Ryan won one, though!!

5. What I'm dreading...

Ryan being gone this weekend. I'm super excited for him. He gets to go to a men's retreat, and I know it will be great for him! But I miss him like CRAZY when we are apart (which is why we only do the apart thing every couple of years or so). I plan to sit with Phoebe, scrapbook, drink coffee, watch Hallmark movies, and probably cry. ;) 

6. What I'm working on...

All the WillowBridge stuff! We are revamping the way we do a few things, so I'm busy rewriting a bunch of content for that. I'm also brainstorming what I'll talk about at a fundraiser event next year, and at a church service where Ryan and I will be sharing about the work we do!

7. What I'm excited about...

Our annual pictures coming up next month! What are we going to wear? NO EARTHLY IDEA! I need to work on that one PRONTO. 

8. What I'm watching/reading...

Not much time for reading right now, other than my Bible and devo materials. Watching? Usually at lunch we watch episodes of Mad About You and at dinner we watch America Says. We're the coolest. 

9. What I'm listening to...

Phoebe snoring. That girl. She sounds like the train that runs through Grabill! It actually kind of cracks me up!

10. What I'm wearing...

It's that uncomfortable time when the clothes I need when I first wake up in the morning do not match what I need in the heat of the day. Long sleeves? Short? Pants? Skirt? WHAT DO I WEAR? So I do the thing I hate the most: change in the middle of the day. Ugh. 

11. What I'm doing this weekend...

You remember. Scrapbooking. Crying. Drinking coffee. Playing with Pheebs. Missing Ryan. ;)

12. What I'm looking forward to next month...

One more camping adventure! Our engagementversary. The aforementioned pictures. Hopefully some bonfires?

13. What else is new...

We actually do have something new in the works, but I don't think it's time to unveil it just yet. But I will absolutely say as soon as the time is right - and I'm super excited about it!

Lovin' the Hand-Me-Downs

Last Thursday, I went along with Ryan back to our old stomping grounds so we could see family and have a couple of appointments. I wanted to be comfy, yet look a little bit on the nicer side for the appointments. So...I pulled out this great shirt I purchased not long ago when Ryan and I went to the Goodwill. I realize Garfield is covering most of it, but you get the general idea.

When we stopped to see Ryan's family, his grandpa and uncle were painting a shed and in a weird twist that I'm not even entirely sure of in full detail, I ended up with dark brown paint right in the middle of the front of my shirt. I didn't even see it for a while. When we finally discovered it, Ryan's uncle was so sad about it! He apologized repeatedly, and I felt bad for him that he was so upset about it. 

Trying to make him feel better, I said, "It's really okay. I got this shirt at the Goodwill." He shook his head and said, "You may have gotten it at the Goodwill, but that is a really nice shirt, and I feel terrible that you got paint on it!" 

(Update: he used mineral spirits on it before I left, and I treated it and washed it when I got back home, and it's as good as new!)

I've not had that shirt too long and haven't worn it a ton yet, but I get great compliments on it every time I do!

And then yesterday I wore white pants (yes, after Labor Day) to church and to our tenant's birthday lunch. I would love to show you a picture of them, but alas, sweet little Isla (the daughter of our former co-workers) learned after lunch yesterday that she can't handle a combo of hot cheetos and ice cream. Had to change my clothes. 

Her mom was also mortified and bemoaned my beautiful white pants. I changed immediately, treated the pants, put them in the washer and texted her later to tell her everything was back to normal. She said, "They were such cute pants! I was so worried!"

My answer? "Got them at the Goodwill."

I love reading fashion blogs...not because I'm fashion conscious, but because I like finding ideas. Sometimes I click on links bloggers provide, but I always choke over the price tag of the clothing. I'm so cheap frugal!

But as I scoured through some bags of hand-me-down clothes given to me recently, I realized just how much of my wardrobe really has come from thrift stores, garage sales, or well-to-do shoppers who tire quickly of their clothing. I often find hardly-worn clothing for little (or no!) cost. 

Here are some of my favorites!

I love this pink shirt. It's got fun crosses in the back, little ties on the arms, and counts as a dress-up shirt for our work. I got it absolutely free from a hand-me-down bag!

Another of my favorite tops - and this one was a gift from Ryan! And if you're wondering about the location...photo scavenger hunt. ;) Anyway. I love how loose the top is and the little ruffle sleeves make me so happy!

Hey look what I found! The Goodwill white pants!! And the blush top? Free in a hand-me-down bag from my sister!

I get more compliments on this sweater than I can even tell you. (One day, a lady stopped me in Hobby Lobby to ask me where I got it, and when I told her it was a hand-me-down, she asked if I minded if she peeked at the tag! Ha!) It has a hood and is so comfy. And it was totally free. 

Super comfy thrift store find - with sparkles!! (Mine, not Ryan's.)

Throwing back to a lifetime ago in Kokomo - with a purple dress I got for absolutely free! It's the only long-sleeved dress I own - still to this day!

Yes, the thrift stores and hand-me-downs have been good to me. I am grateful. How about you? Do you like clothes that are easy on the budget??

Sunday Sentiments

We received a blessing in the mail this week. One of our friends sent us a gift card for coffee and the kindest note of encouragement. It came at a perfect time, reminding us that the Lord sees us and wants us to remember that people around us see us too.

After it arrived, Ryan said thoughtfully, "We need to do more things like this for others. It's always such an encouragement when it happens to us. We need to do more of it ourselves."

And while I don't disagree with him, the Lord laid on my heart the ways He has given us to help those in need in other ways.

* One of our friends is due with her second baby any day now, and a few weeks ago, it occurred to me that I wasn't sure if they had anyone close by to watch their two year old when labor arrives. I sent a text offering to watch her, and they said YES! Our friend went on to say that she had been worrying about who to ask, and she didn't want to bother us because she knows we are so busy. Well, yes we are, but the beauty of this job is that we can watch a baby while we work if we need to! Regardless of when she goes into labor - day or night, we're here, and we can easily and happily watch a little girl until family arrives in town! It meant so much to me that simply offering to be a stopping point for their daughter was offering a blessing they needed. 

* I spent yesterday working on a birthday party for one of our tenants, whose big day is today. As I baked the cake and spread the frosting over the top of it, and as Ryan went to the store to pick up all the food for the party, I thought about the beauty and responsibility of throwing birthday parties. I remember when I was a kid and my mom planned great parties for me and my friends. She always asked what food I wanted and made sure I had balloons and cake and presents. Even though I didn't know how to express it at that time in my life, I felt loved because I had family who acknowledged my birthday. And now, for a short season, we get to be those people for our tenants. No, we're not family. But we're the ones doing life with them, and we're the ones who get to try to remind them how valuable they are as we acknowledge their lives.

* One of my friends wasn't feeling well last week, so I checked on her a few times by text. To be honest with you, I felt like a pretty lousy friend. But out of the blue, she sent me a message saying what she needed most was a friend who cared, and I did that with my texts. I really felt like it wasn't nearly enough, but in her mind, it was exactly what she needed. Such a little thing...with a bigger impact than I knew.

I don't say any of these things to boast at all, but I say them to remind all of us that little things can mean more than you know. And in the moments when you feel like you're really not doing anything...you actually are.

The Saturday Six

 

One.

I clicked on this post (found it on Pinterest) because I wanted to see her fall decor, but what I ended up loving most was the gate she hung over the fireplace, which she then used to feature wreaths. So cute!! Ideas I'm filing away in case I ever have a fireplace...

Two.

I think this recipe looks really intriguing! I love anything that includes a sheet pan these days...makes cooking go so much faster! I confess to being a bit scared at first - I thought the pasta went on the sheet pan too. Didn't seem like that would make it very tender. Turns out you do boil it separately. ;) 

Three.

I was talking to a friend of mine this week about healthy lunches that aren't boring. They can be tough to find, whether you're trying to pack lunches for your kids or for yourself! (Or, like us, you might not be packing lunches at all, but you have to have quick options! I found this post particularly helpful! Lots of good ideas in there. (PS: any of you experts in making sourdough bread? It intrigues me.) 

Four.

This isn't the brand of oils I use, but I did enjoy learning a few more things about some of the essential oils mentioned, and I always love finding fall-themed recipes for my diffuser. There is something extra amazing about using our diffuser in the fall. I probably am more consistent with my usage then than any other season. Check it out! :) 

Five.

Hey Fixer Upper fans!! The Harp House is for sale! The price tag is a few (hundred) (thousand) dollars above our price range, but it sure was fun to see it again!!

Six.

Today marks 33 years since my little nephew was stillborn. You've read so much about him over the years, and his life still marks mine in such profound ways. It was the joy of my heart earlier this year to meet his namesake. (His nephew now bears his name!)

Two babies. One name. Thirty-three years apart. 

Over the years, I've also told you about different organizations that walk with grieving parents. I wanted to mention a few again. My biggest hope is that you never need to know this information. But if you do, I want you to have it!

* Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep: Volunteer photographers who provide families with photos of their sweet babies. This organization didn't exist 33 years ago, so our photos are a bit grainy. What a gift this group provides to people now! 

* Cuddle Cots: These are cooling pads that can be placed inside Moses baskets so parents can be given more time with their babies before they have to say that final physical goodbye. If you Google, you can find many foundations and organizations that collect for Cuddle Cots in memory of specific babies, but my link here is straight to their site. 

* Bridget's Cradles: I learned about this organization relatively recently. They provide hand-knit tiny cradles to hold babies born during the second trimester. This makes it easier for their grieving parents to hold them, even though they are so tiny and fragile. 

* Angel Gown Program: I haven't written about this one before (and again, there are multiple organizations that offer something similar to this) but I have heard about it and wanted to mention it! This organization makes burial gowns from bridal gowns donated by brides after their wedding day. If you have a dress you're no longer using, you can donate it for baby gowns. 

* No Footprint Too Small Bears: I also haven't featured this one before, but I have heard the concept presented. These bears are handmade to carry the same weight as the child lost. Their name and vitals are added as an additional memorial. 

I'm so glad that so many bereaved families have allowed their losses to share hope with others facing similar pain. I'm so glad this has grown so much since we said our goodbye 33 years ago!

Offering Framily

 

I remember all those years of my single days when people around me welcomed me in to be part of their family. It's not that I didn't have my own family, of course. I did, and I do, and they were/are good to me! But it was also a blessing to have other people that would allow me to be part of their days, celebrations, holidays, and more. 

I called them my framily. Friends who became so much like family that there didn't seem to be a line between the two anymore.

We feel like this work we do here is much like framily. Our tenants are not our family, but we do life with them as though they are. And we love it even more when we get to continue those framily ties after they move out. Not every one wants to keep us as part of their every day life, but those who do give our hearts a blessing!

Yesterday was a day off for us, and we were able to spend it with one of our framily members. It gives us joy to be able to share blessings with her like other shared with us back in the day!

We were even able to stop and see my parents as part of the day!

We were able to share meals with them, take them to the store for some essentials, and spend time just enjoying life together.

And on the way home, we introduced them to Ivanhoes!!!

It was a good, good day. (LONG! But good.) 

We were grateful to be able to share people we love with people we love. And Sean and Sarah blessed us by keeping Phoebe for the day so we could have a day out!

Sometimes all you have to do is offer part of your day and things and people you know and love. It doesn't have to be an all expenses paid trip. It doesn't have to be a lavish gift. It just has to be sharing who you are and what you love. That's what makes a framily.