tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-373268132011-04-21T18:06:09.823-05:00thoughts and reflections on daily life<br>spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.comBlogger1291100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-26319685079550308442007-07-25T22:57:00.001-05:002007-07-25T22:58:08.308-05:00

Sorry to do this to ya, but my latest post is up on my OTHER BLOG.Change those links, bookmarks and bloglines!

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-782526578738873892007-07-24T00:54:00.000-05:002007-07-24T00:57:52.328-05:00

Here's a recap of all the blogs who participate in the tour last week. 5 Minutes for Mom -”After reading the book, I realize that my parenting has already embraced some of these changes. I’m sure that if I keep my mind and heart open, I will continue to evolve with the culture in some ways, while remaining steadfast in areas which I know that the Lord would not want me to change or compromise.”

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-91144828066465953802007-07-22T23:59:00.000-05:002007-07-23T00:01:08.332-05:00

I have a new post up at my other blog. Check it out.For those of you with links to my blog, if you want to still link to me, please update it to my new blog address (spaghettipie dot wordpress dot com). Thanks!

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-29284646840435765702007-07-18T22:46:00.001-05:002007-07-18T22:58:47.544-05:00

Just three days left until the big one. Or shall I say the big 3-0?My husband asked me the other day if I felt older, and really, I don't. I mean, one day doesn't really make that big of a difference. What is crazy to me is to realize that we're no longer twenty-somethings. We're entering middle age, with a family, a mortgage and careers. I've been considering volunteering with our college

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-65812224904306177592007-07-18T00:05:00.001-05:002007-07-18T23:00:57.702-05:00

What do you think of when you hear the word "postmodern"? For me, I figured it was the current descriptor of our culture, just as we had the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, the Modern World. But evidently, the word postmodern carries much more passion and controversy than I ever knew.By definition, postmodernism is used to characterize the movement, particularly in the last 25-50 years, that arose

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-2450948866228687672007-07-16T08:20:00.000-05:002007-07-16T08:28:04.181-05:00

It's finally here! This week marks the first week of our six week blog tour for Mary DeMuth's latest book, Authentic Parenting in a Postmodern Culture. When Mary first asked me to coordinate her tour, I was excited not only to help my dear friend, but because I'm fascinated by this marketing technique. I enlisted the expert help of Marcus Goodyear to track and measure the tour's effectiveness.

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-57548806914727418212007-07-14T21:10:00.000-05:002007-07-14T21:31:54.888-05:00

If you've seen my wardrobe, you know I haven't been shopping in a while. And it's been even longer since I've actually wandered around the mall from store to store, really shopping. My sweet husband took my daughter for the morning and better part of the afternoon so I could wander the 1.6 million square foot madness that is not even one of the largest malls in America. Fortunately, I learned

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-64680210077229152792007-07-13T15:17:00.001-05:002007-07-13T15:18:19.833-05:00

Just for fun, we did this at the mall today and I thought I would share.

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-85229604902133439982007-07-12T22:56:00.001-05:002007-07-12T23:08:35.196-05:00

Okay, I hate to not deliver on something I mentioned, but I'm just not going to get that next blog on community up this week. I've got it in the works, but it's not finished. With Mary's Blog Tour beginning next week and trying to find a better balance between my family and writing, I can't get to it.Sorry for the delay. But I'll at least leave you with some fireworks.Happy Friday!Ooooooh!

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-19947552805805744802007-07-12T13:12:00.000-05:002007-07-12T23:11:38.096-05:00

Last month was the second-wettest June in recorded history in our area. While I appreciated the cooler-than-average temperatures, I was ready for the sun to come out after three weeks of thunderstorms every day. It was difficult not to complain. I mean, when you have a toddler who likes to go, a brand new swingset in the backyard and a pool down the street, and yet are confined to a few hundred

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-53484872826244660362007-07-10T01:48:00.000-05:002007-07-10T01:56:16.214-05:00

I mentioned I was working on some shower invitations. Here's a look at how they turned out:The sun came out today! The humidity was thick, but we ventured out to the zoo with a friend.Are the monkeys on the inside or the outside?Close encounter of the gorilla kind.Yes, I let her lay on the ground to feed the bird (just long enough to take a picture!)

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-16796460322813930742007-07-09T00:11:00.000-05:002007-07-09T00:13:49.402-05:00

Sorry it's been so quiet here. We've been off wreaking havoc over in LL's living room, and I've been trying to get some baby shower invitations ready to go in the mail. Definitely more on Community and other things this week!

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-36314723847724632592007-07-04T14:55:00.000-05:002007-07-04T15:01:30.908-05:00

Although this might have been a little white trash...(Yes, that's a rain gutter attached to a smoker)It sho' wuz some good eatin'!Dessert was good; but it had nothin' on this sweet moment.

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-5833900491644605802007-07-03T21:39:00.000-05:002007-07-03T23:03:02.722-05:00

Photo: Twirling, shmirling; go for two hands! (2007)

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-85584228126300799052007-07-02T21:38:00.000-05:002007-07-03T23:00:12.483-05:00

Generally speaking, I'm against bumper stickers. And I think a limit should be set as to how many you can have on your car. Like, if you can no longer see the bumper of your car, that's too many.Now I have been known to laugh out loud at a bumper sticker before, but for the most part I’m tired of seeing Calvin peeing on a truck brand (or kneeling at a cross) or a reference to your smart kid and

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-56045470487630458812007-07-01T09:57:00.001-05:002007-07-03T23:02:47.821-05:00

What could be more fun than your daughter throwing up in her carseat, two separate times, due to coughing?Oh, yeah..Spending two hours in the local children's hospital ER and getting home after midnight because your daughter needs more powerful breathing treatment than you can give her at home.Throw in a healthy fear of nurses, doctors, respiratory specialists and all other hospital employees,

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-67606898151385391802007-06-27T16:14:00.000-05:002007-06-27T22:40:14.025-05:00

LL made the following comment on the previous post: "I think it's interesting to consider that stories can either bind us or tear us apart. I hadn't really considered the latter."I just sort of threw that statement at the end of my last post, but I think it does deserve additional attention. When I said they can tear us apart, I meant it on several different levels.1) When we tell ourselves

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-17179216443730312582007-06-26T15:59:00.000-05:002007-06-28T23:46:32.373-05:00

At Mount Hermon 2007, the keynote speaker, Dick Foth, talked about a concept called “history giving.” He said that we connect with others by sharing our stories. As we give our history to others, we invite them into our lives. History giving highlights things we have in common, points of natural connection. How many times have you been to a conference or on vacation and started a conversation

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-70778246112784972802007-06-24T23:41:00.001-05:002007-06-24T23:53:54.882-05:00

On my way to and from a meeting tonight, I heard a few things on the radio that require comments.1) You cannot use the word "mall" in a rock song. It totally threw me off to hear the singer talk about seeing a girl he used to love "at the mall."2) Since when did country music start crossing over so much? I mean, just because you put a funky beat to it or add some electric guitar riffs, does not

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-73932416119978111222007-06-19T14:46:00.001-05:002007-06-28T23:46:19.943-05:00

As I continued to ponder the answer to the question, “How?”, I finally came to the point that it had to start on an individual by individual basis of casting a vision of what community could (and ought) to be, getting people excited about it and then brainstorming/working together to figure out how it practically works out. But how do you even start with that? My thoughts naturally went to

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-13603958854188454392007-06-18T15:42:00.000-05:002007-06-28T23:45:39.633-05:00

I’ve been reading a book by Shane Claiborne entitled The Irresistible Revolution (book review coming as soon as I actually finish it) and many thoughts have begun to swirl in my head, literally keeping me up at night. Among them is this concept of community that keeps coming back to me over and over. Claiborne is a co-founder of a group called The Simple Way. What attracts me to this group is

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-12570264625097685042007-06-15T14:22:00.000-05:002007-06-15T15:03:52.942-05:00

Okay, I was tagged by Mick Silva with the whole 8 Random Facts game, and I've wracked my brain trying to come up with some creative twist on it like LL or Charity. But, alas, my creativity fails me (and yet I still feel compelled to comply with the tag.) So here I go...again.1) Piano at 4. I started taking piano lessons at age four and continued through fall semester of my freshman year of

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-72706197657576160432007-06-14T00:05:00.000-05:002007-06-14T00:09:31.141-05:00

Pneumonia.I got some Kenyan coffee. My daughter got a t-shirt. My husband got pneumonia. Talk about a souvenir. Thankfully, with the miracle of antibiotics, he's already feeling a little better. But it stinks that he's been in our house for 4 days, but not really gotten home yet.

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-76065462725387725752007-06-11T23:34:00.001-05:002007-06-11T23:46:30.052-05:00

Thanks to all of you who have been praying for my husband on his trip to Sudan. He made it in safe and sound last night. Unfortunately, he began feeling extremely ill on his last flight, and spent the better part of today in bed. I think his fever broke sometime this evening, and he's feeling a little better. Tomorrow will tell if we need a trip to the doctor. Once he gets to feeling better, I'll

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-23729892590449379542007-06-09T23:15:00.000-05:002007-06-09T23:27:46.524-05:00

Galatians 3:7-18Understand, then, that those who believe are children of Abraham. The Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you." So those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. All who rely on observing the law are under a curse, for it is written: "Cursed is

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-51536157956083499312007-06-07T22:52:00.001-05:002007-06-07T22:58:25.483-05:00

Thanks so much to everyone who has been praying for my husband. He should be on a plane, as I type, headed to Kenya and then on home the following day.The group had a wonderful trip, and as expected witnessed many amazing things. When I spoke to him briefly today, he sounded energized and very hopeful. The area itself has been fairly tough. According to an update from the trip leader, the area

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-74818149351421482182007-06-05T22:40:00.000-05:002007-06-05T22:48:41.792-05:00

I mentioned a few posts ago that I had been mulling over the concept of salvation a lot lately. I’m not quite ready to post anything on it yet, but I’m at a point where I would like to do some further study. Please don’t misinterpret this; I’m not questioning my salvation or belief in Christianity. I’m trying to understand it better, deeper.So, I’m turning to you, my virtual community, for your

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-57329654546585141202007-06-05T00:09:00.000-05:002007-06-05T00:14:32.486-05:00

About two years ago, the movie The Man (starring Samuel Jackson and Eugene Levy) hit movie theaters with underwhelming success. True, it left much to be desired, and had I seen it in the theater I might have been disappointed I couldn’t get that money or time back. Admittedly, however, I found the interaction between over-talkative, naive fuddy-duddy salesman (Levy) and cool, but angry

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-60948340650311968262007-06-01T23:49:00.000-05:002007-06-04T08:53:36.736-05:00

Chip on her shoulder

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-58724887061257087322007-05-30T08:23:00.000-05:002007-05-30T08:25:10.599-05:00

My husband leaves for Sudan tomorrow for a couple weeks. If you think of him during your day, we'd appreciate your prayers!

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-63173926290158293812007-05-29T14:12:00.000-05:002007-06-01T09:46:26.831-05:00

I’ve been pondering the concept of community lately, and I’ve come up with this hypothesis. I’m sure I’m not the first person to think about this, and I’m working on the research to back it up. But for now, here are my raw thoughts.1. God created us with a desire to live in community. He made us in His image. And as He is in community with the Trinity, we desire to be in community.2. Our social

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-42669381857240138582007-05-25T16:36:00.000-05:002007-05-25T16:37:16.582-05:00

Galatians 3:1-6You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. I would like to learn just one thing from you: did you receive the Spirit by observing the law or by believing what you heard? Are you so foolish? After beginning with the Spirit are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort? Have you suffered so much for

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-57574058428847362142007-05-22T16:42:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:18:55.408-05:00

Friends, I think I’m in trouble.Signs you may be in for a wild ride1) Even during birth, your daughter wants to assert her independence and her opinion. (example: Every time the doctor tried to turn me to help labor progress, my daughter’s heart rate dropped and I had to go on oxygen.)2) As soon as your daughter can stand, every time she holds onto a pole for support...she dances.3) Your daughter

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-81476094062775197162007-05-21T17:47:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:38:39.197-05:00

Galatians 2:11-21When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face for he was clearly in the wrong. Before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-70759697159019222902007-05-17T22:30:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:20:55.271-05:00

Well, it seems that dandelions have not only launched an assault on my yard, but they are pervasive in the blog-o-sphere right now: Craver’s busy trying to annihilate them, Charity’s reflecting on them and LL is eating them. As I stare out at the new crop peeping up out of the grass in my neighbor’s lawn (the other neighbor recently sent her son over to mow their lawn because it looked so bad,

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-13408658282686837262007-05-17T16:23:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:52:15.943-05:00

And while we're still on the topic of dandelions...here's a book review that I've been meaning to post, and now find it quite appropriate to do so.If you are looking for a book that stirs your emotions and keeps you up until the wee hours of the morning, then I highly recommend Wishing on Dandelions by Mary DeMuth. WOD is the sequel to DeMuth’s debut novel, Watching the Tree Limbs. Although it

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-30034733478238821952007-05-15T23:42:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:21:58.260-05:00

*Updated* So really, you don't have to read the book first to comment...if you have any thoughts or reactions based upon what I shared with you about the book or from the quotes, I'd love to hear them!When was the last time you read a book where you felt like you underlined most of it? For me, it was Dick Staub’s latest book, The Culturally Savvy Christian. I enjoyed Staub’s passionate appeal to

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-3678790877352496992007-05-14T08:34:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:33:36.027-05:00

Okay, this weekend I think was a pretty pivotal weekend for me. I finished Dick Staub's book The Culturally Savvy Christian and I'm renewed and energized about what it means to be a Christian in our culture. More about this later.I read a book review on Trish Berg's website about a book called Organizing for Life by Sandra Felton. I followed a link to her website and among other good things, I

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-62111490936127152302007-05-10T23:35:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:46:41.745-05:00

The past couple weeks I’ve really struggled with a case of supermomitis. You know what I mean, right? The feeling like I have to be an amazing mom who does arts and crafts with my daughter, doesn’t let her watch too much tv, teaches her the alphabet and her numbers, cooks all our meals, does laundry, doesn’t leave clean laundry on the couch for more than a day waiting to be folded, ensures

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-7992796034439648772007-05-10T22:02:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:32:21.080-05:00

Okay, so I've been tagged by both One More Writer and Craver so I guess I will play the 8 Random Facts Game too. Who makes these games up, anyway? And, even though I was technically tagged twice, I'm just going to put up 8 facts...you don't really want to read 16 facts about me anyway!Here are the rules (per Rule #1):1. Post the rules of the game. (Check)2. Each player starts with eight random

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-35246902152972640952007-05-09T23:12:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:33:21.513-05:00

I've had to deal with people throwing up three times today.1) My husband started feeling nauseated on the way to work (I dropped him off today because his car was being fixed). Literally, about a mile away, he asked me to pull over. He puked his guts out on the side of the road, and then fortunately felt much better. We now think it was due to taking some medicine on an empty stomach.2) On the

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-44538315996512239302007-05-08T01:06:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:34:22.365-05:00

Here are a few things that my daughter is saying right now that I just love:+Gotch - of course, I wrote a whole blog about that+Sure - pronounced, shooo-or. M, do you want some milk? Shoooo-or. M, did you have a good time? Shooo-or. M, do you want a spanking? Shoooo-or.+Sducks - meaning, stuck. Or better yet, I'm stuck, mom, would you quit laughing and get over here to help me?+Daddy's purse - *

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-54238679061013501452007-05-06T15:46:00.001-05:002007-05-25T14:44:02.875-05:00

Galatians 2:3-10Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. This matter arose because some false brothers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might remain with you. As for those who seemed to be important -

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-83483585587495224142007-05-03T14:35:00.001-05:002007-05-25T14:36:00.733-05:00

Recently, my daughter has really begun repeating words that I say, even after the first time hearing them. To my disappointment, though, she has yet to say “I love you” back to me. But I have become very fond of a little ritual we have, and I recently realized it was her way of saying she loves me.One day a thunderstorm blew through, and in the midst of the flashes of light and loud rumbling, my

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-553691980027483082007-05-01T23:34:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:36:34.411-05:00

I've got my next Africa "Grass Hut Reflection" blog brewing, but it's not quite ready yet. I'll try to get it up tomorrow. Sorry for the delay...if anyone is even awaiting it.Also, I've been thinking about the concept of salvation a lot, and I'm about ready to put up a post about that too. I'm really going to want your comments and suggestions on it though, so be on the lookout!I'll leave you

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-32595381033703502762007-04-28T14:06:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:37:07.442-05:00

"Every human is created in God's image, with spiritual, intellectual, creative, relational and moral capacities, and therefore cannot be satisfied with today's superficiality, whether in faith or in culture. This explains our universal longing. Today, religions and irreligious alike face the lose-lose proposition of both a superficial culture and a superficial faith." - Dick Staub, The Culturally

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-39607279077138958352007-04-27T12:16:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:37:35.508-05:00

I gave a little talk last night on envy, and I thought it might be interesting to post some of my notes here. It’s amazing to see how much envy invades our lives; more than I ever realized before I started studying it this past month. As one lady pointed out after our meeting, many of our tragedies in society - like Virginia Tech - stem from envy taken to its extreme. The root of envy is

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-83849022572319576732007-04-27T11:50:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:38:23.255-05:00

Galatians 1:18 - 2:2“Then, after three years, I went up to Jerusalem to get acquainted with Peter and stayed with him fifteen days. I saw none of the other apostles, only James, the Lord’s brother. I assure you before God that what I am writing you is no lie. Later, I went to Syria and Cilicia. I was personally unknown to the churches of Judea that are in Christ. They only heard the report: “The

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-14287177618540885502007-04-25T09:16:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:39:27.216-05:00

I met Bekah at Mount Hermon and immediately fell in love with her sweet personality and humble spirit. It amazes me that she’s still in college, and yet so accomplished and focused. She’s been writing for about six years professionally and was recently engaged to her amazing boyfriend, Ethan. She currently lives in North Carolina. I hope you enjoy getting to meet my friend, BJ Hamrick.*What is

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-30579854894485706592007-04-24T15:47:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:53:49.272-05:00

And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven…” Matthew 18:3-4During our trip to Africa, we visited a slum area in a village outside of Mbale-town. The main trade (and vice) of this area was a grain alcohol made from

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-34462623624183305722007-04-23T21:48:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:41:30.546-05:00

Okay, something more profound soon, but I just had to post my recommendation for the new NBC show "The Real Wedding Crashers." I'm laughing out loud, which I haven't done at a tv show in a while. The bride and groom are in on the joke, so it makes all the pain hilarious...check it out.

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-23415664816520941372007-04-21T14:17:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:42:02.266-05:00

My friend, Llama Momma, is participating in the Walk for Life event in her area. She has a touching blog about why she is involved and a link to sponsor her, if you are interested. I'm posting in support of her because I have a long history with this issue...nearly 30 years, in fact, so it obviously holds a special place in my heart. Additionally, my mom started a Crisis Pregnancy Center in my

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-88487553403861389552007-04-21T13:47:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:42:30.859-05:00

For those of you who do not already read The Master's Artist, I want you to go read this debut post by my friend Madison. Then come back and tell me your thoughts.You're still here? Go! Go read it!

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-29128147644251870642007-04-20T22:08:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:43:40.059-05:00

“I want you to know brothers, that the gospel I preached to you is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. For you have heard of my previous way of life in Judaism, how intensely I persecuted the church of God and tried to destroy it. I was advancing in Judaism beyond many Jews of my own age and

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-6230756524794692902007-04-19T13:58:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:45:11.946-05:00

As promised, here is my last interview from Mount Hermon. I met Mick two years ago through my friend Jeanne. Besides just being an all-around nice guy, I was struck by his authenticity and genuine interest in people. At the time, I was feeling overwhelmed and way out of my league. I met with Mick to ask my naive little questions, and he made me feel like I was just as important as the

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-46374406786151485182007-04-16T21:55:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:58:23.749-05:00

Where do I even begin? I don’t know exactly how to sum up in words everything I learned and experienced. For me, this conference was more about spiritual growth and myself as a writer than it was specifically about the craft of writing or the publishing industry. But as I mentioned before, I think it was a necessary part of my journey in being a writer. I walk away from the conference with three

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-65686939158765918292007-04-16T20:53:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:47:24.954-05:00

Okay, as I mentioned before, I have some unfinished Mount Hermon blogs to wrap up. First is a group of bloggers from Mount Hermon. We all met together one night for a Blog-o-rama, and shared tips and ideas on blogging. Here are the people who attended (and wrote their names/blogs down). Check out their blogs; there's some good stuff there.Actual Unretouched Photo and The Amazing Shrinking Mom -

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-82845154204384089982007-04-14T11:54:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:48:04.007-05:00

I am currently at the women’s retreat for my church, and the theme is “renewal.” We attended sessions on renewing your heart, your strength and your mind. Now I sit here during a private time allotted to renew my soul, and I’m left to ponder what that word renewal really means to me, today, at this point in my life. Truth be told, I didn’t come here because of the topic. Oh, it sounded

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-48871913732432753062007-04-10T23:49:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:48:32.350-05:00

A few more photos to share, while I'm working on a wrap-up blog about the experience.No conference is complete without it. Particularly when you're attending prayer and praise at 7:15am each morning. Llama Momma, this one's for you.I'm guessing you've noticed by now that I like to take pictures of flowers...This circle of trees created a natural chapel. Gorgeous.A conferee. No, just kidding of

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-69813847529537728672007-04-10T22:36:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:49:40.466-05:00

Galatians 1:6-10I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel, which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-44989934988691603982007-04-09T21:45:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:50:20.923-05:00

I still feel like I'm catching up from being gone for nearly a week. And while I want to go back and bring myself back up to speed, the thought of it exhausts me to the point of not wanting to do anything. I'm trying to get there, but we'll see how it goes this week. I still haven't even finished our taxes! Hang with me. My normal self should be back sometime soon. Hopefully.

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-78526619836317301972007-04-05T21:32:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:50:37.738-05:00

The verses for this week are Galatians 1:1-5 "Paul, an apostle, sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised him from the dead, and all the brothers with me to the churches in Galatia: Grace and peace to you in God our Father and Jesus Christ who gave himself for our sins to rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of the Father to whom be the

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-40338049854095599002007-04-05T21:22:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:51:28.490-05:00

At Mount Hermon, I had the opportunity to meet some amazing people, with wonderful stories to tell. I first saw Marilyn from across the room, and her smile immediately captured my attention. Her warmth and laughter attracted me, and I was determined to meet her at some point. I had the privilege of sitting at her table during lunch one day, and I asked her for an interview. I hope you enjoy

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-36293305133325429342007-04-05T21:21:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:53:23.769-05:00

I met Kay two years ago, at my first Mount Hermon conference. She encouraged me greatly with her heart for the global Body of Christ, and her courage to travel around the world to gather the stories of persecuted women. She's written an awesome book called Daughters of Hope that I highly recommend. I'm pleased to introduce to you, Kay Strom.Kay Marshall StromFreelancer, married for 8 years,

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-27886661602794402752007-04-03T02:02:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:54:48.840-05:00

Here are a few thoughts as my conference comes to a close. I promise to have more detailed updates once I get home, and a few more interviews.1) To truly find my contentment and acceptance in Christ, and nothing else. I truly feel God changed my heart in a way I’ve never been changed before and uprooted seeds of envy and self-doubt.2) To let my writing be the result of my heart, overflowing out

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-15639595921785972422007-04-02T01:52:00.000-05:002007-05-25T14:56:27.572-05:00

My theme today is authenticity, and I have so much to share about what God revealed to me and how he has grown me. However, in the spirit of being authentic, I have to say I'm exhausted - physically and emotionally. I'll write more tomorrow, so stay tuned.Photo: Flower on the way to Editor's Panel, Mount Hermon (2007)

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-86422759562521217772007-04-01T01:27:00.000-06:002007-05-25T14:57:11.454-05:00

I tried to select one theme for today, but I just couldn’t narrow it down past two. Speaker after speaker reminded me to keep an eternal perspective. Certainly that’s valuable to remember in light of rejections and tough feedback, but even more importantly as I approach my writing. As Dick Foth mentioned last night, the truth of what we speak is of eternal significance. If what we are writing is

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-61090616807280241652007-03-31T00:57:00.000-06:002007-05-25T14:59:43.879-05:00

The recurring theme for me today was service. My writing is a gift from God to serve in ministry. The outcome of my writing may or may not be a book. My service may be to write encouraging notes to people I encounter. But the point is, I am supposed to serve others with my written words. I don’t think this theme is completely revolutionary to me, but I constantly need to be reminded of my true

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-54388865205572090232007-03-29T23:30:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:00:36.287-05:00

Phew! After a long day of traveling, complete with weather and traffic delays, we’re here. Our shuttle ride ground to a halt due to a burned bus on one side of the highway, but the conversation inside was lively and engaging. I felt like the conference started inside that van, as Steve Laube shared his wisdom and stories along with my friends Leslie Wilson and Mary DeMuth. We laughed a lot, and I

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-35278139761695094832007-03-28T22:17:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:00:58.383-05:00

I intended to post a review of Mary DeMuth's Wishing on Dandelions today, but I'm just too busy getting ready to go out of town. I'm off to Mount Hermon tomorrow morning, and I will be posting blogs daily (hopefully) from there about my experience. If you're going to be there, please leave me a comment and let's meet up at some point! Off to finish packing...

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-38130045375343017782007-03-27T14:18:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:02:19.849-05:00

For me, the sufficiency of Christ was the most profound lesson I learned on our trip. Let me approach this from a couple angles.1) As I mentioned in my last post , we expected to minister to the people we encountered. After all, we were from the United States. We own plenty; the Africans have little. I don’t think we realized the arrogance of our mindsets until we realized how little we did have

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-2949566455547792372007-03-27T13:03:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:02:48.101-05:00

Another reflection from Africa later today, but I wanted to share a cool thing that's going on in my church. We just started a 22-week series (pulpit ministry) on the book of Galatians. I'm really excited about it because I studied it in depth with a women's small group Bible study, and it was awesome. But the coolest thing is that we are encouraging the entire congregation to memorize the

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-35883660110391132152007-03-26T12:07:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:03:08.082-05:00

We've redone things a little over at Headlines. I'm posting on Mondays, so catch my blog over there today (to be posted shortly).

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-67637400246543997532007-03-23T20:48:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:03:55.726-05:00

It looks like we’re trying to create an elaborate canal system in our backyard, but really, we’re just having our sprinkler system retrofitted to our new landscaping plan. Originally, we thought we might try to do it ourselves. We later came to our senses, as we decided it was better to be sure the sprinkler system worked correctly and that it was worth it to pay someone who did this all the time

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-19360002362256627882007-03-23T13:36:00.001-06:002007-05-25T15:04:33.248-05:00

Something really strange is happening at my house. In fact, if I tell you about it, I’m not even sure you’ll believe me. And I hope it doesn’t give you nightmares or make you afraid to be alone in your house because if it could happen to me...it could happen to you. Grab your security blanket, ‘cause here goes: I could do every load of laundry waiting for me - I mean, every stitch of clothing -

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-37713845256777155962007-03-20T23:07:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:05:17.272-05:00

Three years ago in July, our team of nine boarded planes in Texas and California headed toward Minneapolis, MN to reunite, and then on to Africa for a six-week exploratory mission trip. We were eager, excited and ready to take on anything that came our way, just so long as we got to see first hand the needs in Africa and minister to the people we encountered. Little did we know that our first

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-71133511307350645012007-03-20T22:32:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:05:50.739-05:00

A recent post by Craver reminded me of a little book I started to write about my experience in Africa a couple years ago. My working title was “Grass Hut Reflections” because it was while lying in a grass hut in Sudan that I hit my lowest point (and greatest spiritual insight) during the six-week trip. I haven’t done anything with the work I started on that book (which wasn’t much more than a

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-63327250635115813812007-03-17T20:51:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:06:11.798-05:00

Words tomorrow, but today I leave you with a view of Spring.This bud fell off the bush and landed on the ground exactly as you see it.This is a beautiful tulip tree next door to my parents' home.Another shot of the tulip tree.A lone daffodil in my mother in law's backyard.Redbud in bloom.Tulips are beginning to bloom.Some hyacinth peeping out from under a LOT of mulch.

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-84405085955985909892007-03-14T14:58:00.001-06:002007-06-15T18:24:49.688-05:00

Just a couple random thoughts today, and maybe I’ll write a more coherent or meaningful blog later.1) I love my new Mac. I’m still getting used to it, and being nerdy taking the tutorials online, but I already love it. It really does open up a whole new world of possibilities for my creative energy.2) You would’ve laughed at me this afternoon if you had seen me sneaking around my house. I

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-17638125371325838082007-03-14T14:06:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:07:17.137-05:00

As I was folding laundry today, I thought it might be helpful to share a couple of the household tips that I’ve learned, and see what others have to share.1) Laundry - a) When folding clothes, separate them by type before you fold. I typically start with undergarments (not including socks), and begin folding them as I go. As I pull out clothes that are not unders, I place them into piles:

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-50972540501900576092007-03-12T22:24:00.001-06:002007-05-25T15:08:35.457-05:00

It’s been a while since I sat down to read a book that I could not put down. Watching the Tree Limbs is exactly that type of book. Author Mary DeMuth hooked me from the moment the book opens with “Folks like my friend Camilla have lofty goals before they die, like stealing a kiss from a movie star or seeing the Sahara. Mine’s quite simple. I want to tell my story unsevered, as if it was

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-82601097888417557082007-03-11T20:20:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:07:35.787-05:00

We’ve been pondering converting for some time now. When it got down to it, it just made more sense on so many levels, and it really seems like the right thing if you’re really serious. We ventured for a little taste, just to see if it seemed to be all it was cracked up to be, and everything that was offered seemed so easy and relevant. Well, that and the catchy advertisements did us in.So we

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-27511333398927445572007-03-09T23:19:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:17:52.500-05:00

My friend LL recently posted another agricultural concept over at Seedlings in Stone, this time on the practice of fallowing. We usually think of allowing a field to go fallow as doing nothing to it: letting it rest. In actuality, a farmer still conducts activity in that field; it is just not focused on producing a crop but on restoring nutrients and improving soil structure.As I ponder this

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-6842273313435898032007-03-09T22:47:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:09:59.152-05:00

My friend D'Ann has entered an online contest for fiction writers. Register on the site here, and then check out her first chapter of Monkey in the Middle and give her a rating. She is being judged by the ratings as to whether or not she moves on to the next level of the competion. You have to register to read and vote, but it is free. Good luck, D'Ann!

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-35055834984274071562007-03-09T22:34:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:10:23.917-05:00

1. You have more than one idea for a blog floating around in your head.2. You check your blog several times a day to see if anyone new has left a comment.3. You are depressed when they haven’t.4. You leave a comment on a blog and are disappointed when you check back to find that the blog author hasn’t left a comment on your comment since you posted it 10 minutes ago.5. You gauge your

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-57782657567421214442007-03-07T22:38:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:10:56.331-05:00

I have several blogs floating around in my head right now, but I’m just too tired to organize them into some semblance of a coherent string of words. My husband just returned from a week-long trip, and I am worn out after staying with my daughter. I know, I’m being a weenie – I just have one child…but she is a busy little girl and lately has been a mama’s girl (meaning she constantly demands my

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-83088330237941552152007-03-03T15:06:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:11:14.064-05:00

As many of you may know, I am an aspiring writer. I am currently working on my first series of magazine articles, focusing on maintaining positive relationships between married women and single women. As more women are marrying later in life, the number of friendships between married women and single women is increasing. And yet, it is often difficult to maintain those friendships once

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-18523830907598681132007-03-02T22:13:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:11:38.836-05:00

5. You know what time it is based upon what is currently on PBS.4. You do things with one hand, even when there is no toddler on your hip.3. You cannot say the name of an animal without immediately making the corresponding noise.2. You see an unidentifiable, gigantic object on an 18-wheeler, and your first response to your friend's question "What is that thing?" is "Looks like a doghouse for

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-56240464794046731342007-02-28T23:31:00.001-06:002007-05-25T15:13:51.556-05:00

Title: “Don’t Make Me Count to Three!” A mom’s look at heart-oriented disciplineAuthor: Ginger PlowmanWhere Ted Tripp leaves off in Shepherding a Child’s Heart, Ginger Plowman picks up. If you agree with the philosophy of parenting being more than just correcting your child’s behavior, but guiding them to love God and make wise choices, but you struggle with how to incorporate that into your

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-54722709830119567742007-02-28T23:29:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:13:34.275-05:00

Title: Shepherding a Child’s HeartAuthor: Ted TrippThis book, I imagine, is (or will be) considered one of those modern classic parenting books. Ted Tripp draws on his vast experience as a pastor, counselor, school administrator, speaker and father to share with us his perspective on raising children. His underlying principle is that our role as a parent is to guide our children to understand

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-60699016824648627092007-02-26T22:15:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:17:09.018-05:00

In continuing the conversation on LL’s post about Terracing, I have a couple observations:1) The quote from the book claims that the Incas’ excellent workmanship is caused by their intention to build permanent architecture. Although slightly off the point she is trying to make, I have to question – is that really true? Did they work with excellence only because they aimed at permanence? Could it

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-90137253338205819922007-02-26T08:32:00.000-06:002007-06-15T18:25:26.495-05:00

The sky was an eerie haze of yellowish brown as I returned home from East Texas this weekend. My friend and I saw the beginnings of two huge (but separate) fires that - oddly enough - both began behind gas stations. Meanwhile, a 60-mile an hour wind ripped through my back yard, taking down three sections of our fence. At least one section was not a surprise as it was greatly weakened during our

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-18675861051653583592007-02-26T00:30:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:16:42.515-05:00

My friend LL Barkat, over at Seedlings in Stone, recently began a series of posts on an agricultural book that she is reading. As usual, LL does a great job of applying seemingly unrelated topics (like farming techniques) to our every day life. Since I’m behind in commenting on her blog – and since I realize I have more to say about her topics than is probably appropriate for a comment – I’ve

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-90807836154790987552007-02-22T10:56:00.000-06:002007-06-15T18:25:58.673-05:00

It feels almost like the beginning of summer here! The temperature has been in the 80's the past two days. M and I love being able to get back outside to play in the yard and dig in the garden. It may be unseasonably warm (can Texas really be "unseasonably" anything, though?), but for me it sure beats the 20's of last week. We had some fresh grapes for a snack this morning, and I started

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-49494968776974095442007-02-21T16:13:00.001-06:002007-06-15T18:26:38.578-05:00

I suppose I should not be surprised that we all got sick. Really, we haven’t been that sick this winter, so I guess we’re due. But the excuse this time for my short hiatus is the common cold. First M got sick (thanks to a friend coughing all over her), and then I got it this weekend. Poor hubby picked up the cough early this week, and now we’re all sort of pathetic. M is taking it like a

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-78685991551475436392007-02-17T16:12:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:19:30.788-05:00

As I rocked my daughter tonight, in the quietness of her room a surreal feeling swept over me. I looked at myself (not physically, this isn’t some out of body experience tale…well, kind of but not really) and I wondered when I became old enough to be the mother of a toddler. Am I really at this point in life? Diapers, station wagons, play dates, toys constantly exploded all over the living room,

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-36537045857722984282007-02-11T14:25:00.000-06:002007-06-15T18:27:04.610-05:00

I know every mom thinks they have the smartest, cutest, best kid in the world – and I’m no different. M is at an age where she is constantly learning, and I am amazed. Kids like her truly are little sponges, soaking up everything (including things I don’t even realize).Just for kicks, we started writing down the words that she consistently and correctly uses. In part, because we wanted to

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-31261485391623684512007-02-10T15:28:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:22:18.295-05:00

Last month I wrote about my experiment in submission. Since then, I continue to learn through experience that submission does not come easily for me. For some reason, at the time I wrote the first blog, I thought I had cracked the code to being a submissive wife. All I had to do was follow the formula, and I would live in harmony, intimacy and (I’ll be honest here) perfection with my husband.I

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-34103906115218430822007-02-10T13:51:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:22:53.950-05:00

Scrapbooking has dominated my life during the past 16 days. This project began over two years ago when one of my best friends and I decided to explore starting a business together. My friend’s aunt volunteered to be our first customer. Neither my friend nor I had ever really scrapbooked before, so we gave her a good deal (probably too good of a deal) on her albums so we could learn. We began with

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37326813.post-26781770401515824152007-02-08T22:48:00.000-06:002007-05-25T15:23:13.302-05:00

I've posted over at Headline Girls to catch up on my articles. There's even a nice little haiku, for those poetry fans. I'll be back up and running on my blogging this weekend! Stay tuned!

spaghettipiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11902077982034676653noreply@blogger.com0