Apple Pie for School

Now three of us are battling this never-ending, slow-moving cold. So we haven't done much this week. But I did plan a few school lessons. This week was themed around this children's book, which I had never read before. It is cute. A girl wants to bake an apple pie, but the market is closed. So she packs her bags and travels the world collecting the ingredients for a pie. There are lots of repeated themes. You can try to spot the ingredients in each picture as she carries them from place to place. There are a lot of birds and cats and dogs in the pictures to count. I like books that provoke discussions. 

I picked this book because we had some apples left over from picking a few weeks ago (and we probably would have gone again this week if they had better varieties to pick from right now - they just had yellow delicious, which I'm not a huge fan of eating or baking). 

And of course I couldn't make the simple recipe in the back of the book. I had to use America's Test Kitchen's versions (I mixed their regular apple pie and Dutch apple pie recipes and cut down the sugar). I might have also made their German Apple Pancake for breakfast and we ate the leftovers for lunch. Apples all the time!  As you can tell we are obsessed with fresh fruit around here and take full advantage of fruit seasons (strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and apples!!!!!!). 

We can't wait to cut into the pie once it cools. 

Birthday travels

Yesterday he turns one. We didn't have a party, but we were visiting a friend and she had some extra party hats. James and I are both sick (sore throats and fevers). I thought about making a cake for him today, but if his throat feels like mine he doesn't want cake. His brothers probably want cake though...

We travelled to Annapolis this weekend to visit our dear friend Michelle. It was my first time going to the DC area in almost three years!!! I can't believe it has been that long. We didn't do anything "exciting". We visited some fun playgrounds (honestly, the boys are so excited about free play grounds and looking at boats in the Annapolis harbor, they don't need any paid for activities - we thought about going to a fall festival, but it was $12 a person and I wasn't feeling too hot, plus it was HOT outside). 

When the wind blew it wasn't too bad outside. The sky was gorgeous. There was a festival going on downtown and the boys got free fire truck hats and library books (yay!). We had a picnic in the park and went to Trader Joe's for a few months supply of Sesame sticks (I'm addicted). 

The boys loved crossing bridges and seeing boats. They bring such joy to life - they are excited about the smallest things. It reminds me to be grateful. 

So pretty. 

Hope your weekend was grand. 

A little paint goes a long way

See that light. I wish I had a better before picture (story of my life). I wasn't thinking. Also, don't look at the hall yet. It is blue (yay!), but I haven't finished the trim or doors yet (bleh, they are still a life-zapping-drudgery-inducing tan). 

Back to the lights...There are two of them. One in the hallway and on in the main entryway. I kept thinking that they would look better if the fixture was black. 

But first I took them both off and ran them through the dishwasher. Wow! What a difference. There was so much cat hair and grease and dish and gunk stuck to them. 

That inspired me to finally get the black paint out and paint the fixtures. I was using oil based paint and I didn't want to chance getting it on the ceiling. So I left about a half a centimeter (I'm an engineer - we like metric) gap. After the paint dried I took a sharpie and coloring in the gap. You can't even tell. :) And the line between the fixture and the ceiling in nice and crisp and clean. 

It looks so much better in person! That dull brass was so dingy. It is amazing to me how a little paint and cleaning and make something look so much better.  Welcome to 2017 little light. May you shine brightly and may I remember to clean you. 

I'm feeling inspired to tackled the brass chains in our bathrooms... They would look so much better black. 

Big truck day

The boy loves a fire truck. 

And tractors 

Excavator

Something

Saturday we visited a bunch of big trucks and got to climb all over them. 

There was even a coast guard boat!

I built a shelf!

And forgot to take a real before picture of everything randomly and precariously stacked. 

But I did get a good picture of me and the saw. Because that is important. Ha ha. 

It kind of looked like this, but worse. More stacks. 

Worthless giant cupboard. We suspect that this is the base cabinet for a sink, which would explain why there are no shelves. There are so many strange things about this kitchen and house. 

Well, I was tired of things falling over every time I needed something out of the cupboard. The waste of useful space also bugged me. I had mentioned it to my Dad and Jared, but neither of them work in this space EVERY day. 

So, after rearranging everything to get something in the back I started to think about how hard it could actually be to make a shelf. I found a few scrap wood pieces that just needed to be trimmed down to size, set up shop in the garage, measured twice, sawed them down, grabbed a few nails and a hammer, and pounded my frustration away. 

Look at all that space!!!! Such a simple project and it made a huge change. It makes me smile every time I open the door. So so so much better. 

Next to paint the bottom cupboards and change the faces of those fake plastic drawer fronts. 

About to start a new quilt

A small peak into the beginning of a quilt. 

It isn't just cut fabric and start sewing. Rarely do I follow a pattern and if I do follow a pattern I usually make modifications to use the fabric more efficiently. 

Which one?

Which one?

Which one?

The left one is my favorite, but the finished size is too small. I guess I could add thicker boarders. 

Apples

We picked apples today. The weather was so crisp and clear. They say they are open for another 8 weeks. So, maybe we will make another trip (it is about 45 minutes away). 

Now to turn all those apples into applesauce, Apple cake, Apple crisp, and all those other yummy Apple foods. :) 

Jolly

He stands and he is so proud! He yells at us, claps his hands, and laughes when he stands up. It is so fun. 

Jolly James, you make the world a little brighter. I love you. Praying that God will

Continue to use your sweet spirit and joy to glorify the God that made you. 

May I cut in?

The title comes from my sister. She is the clever, wordy one. I just steal bits of her cleverness. 

Goodbye tan! 

It is amazing how drab and oppressive tan can feel. 

We didn't refinish the stairs. This is the original color of our hardwood. You can see a bit of the refinished wood at very bottom of the picture. The stairs aren't in bad shape. Well, the landing was a favorite bathroom of cats, but the steps are okay. 

We plan to add a door to the left on the landing into our laundry room/mud room (that we hope to build in the garage - which is currently behind that wall). 

Anyhow, my husband speaks my love language (I don't really believe in those...).  I have mentioned several times recently that I am itching to paint something. So he went out and bought me SIX gallons to work with! I plan to do a lot of painting when I come home from ESL on Thursday nights. I am usually wide awake and can't sleep. 

Speaking of ESL, I finished the last thing on my list yesterday - and updated database. Postcards are in the mail, flyers have been handed out, registration night is planned and forms are printed. We have people from six churches helping this year. It is going to be fun (and stretching for all of us, but God always provides). 

Reading: A Loving Life by Paul Miller

Thoughts so far: So many good themes. What true biblical love is and the role of lamenting in our lives (and others and the church)... Only about a third in, but I recommend it already! 

Are you working on any projects this weekend? Have any book recommendations? I'm thinking of reading Til We Have Faces again. I know, a fictional book!?! I've been reading a lot of heavy stuff recently and I think my brain needs a break. 

It had been too long...

Time for a project!! 

See the paint peeling? This white part of the stairs has always looked weird to me. So I decided before the baby ate some paint, I would scrape it all off and try refinishing this little area. 

Ha ha. We will see what happens. Jared thinks I should just paint it white. But I want to give the natural wood a chance to breath. 

Strength in Weakness

The world is full of inspirational sayings, like this fake Lewis quote that floats around. 

Most of them talk about being true to yourself and believing in yourself. You are awesome and you can do anything! Instagram is full of them. And while those all sound good, I have to tell you all that there is great strength in weakness. There is amazing comfort in finding out that you can't control any situation and only the Holy Spirit can work in and through people.

Tonight is our first ESL meeting of the Fall (just a practice night), but I have to talk in front of people and explain stuff. I don't like talking in front of people that much.  So as I was walking around my house today I was talking to myself, "You've got this." "You can do it." "You will be great!" "Trust in yourself." "You can handle anything." 

Then I realized that what I was saying was completely worthless!  In a worldly sense those would all be helpful. But when the Bible tells us to preach to ourselves, it doesn't mean to encourage ourselves with how great WE are. No, it is the complete opposite.  It is remembering the promises of God and what HE has done for us.  It is remembering that we need to find strength in HIM alone and not ourselves. We can't add anything to what He has already done.  And I am so grateful for that. 

Embrace your weakness, friends! Run to the cross. He is enough for all our problems and meetings and mothering and marriage and everything that comes at us in this life and the next. He is everything. Do what you can. Work hard. But trust Him to complete your works. Glory in Him. 

You can't handle this life alone. No amount of self-encouragement will change that. Give up and turn to the one that holds the stars in place. I can't even keep my kids in their beds for quiet time. Here they come. :) 

Psalm 42

Why are you downcast, O my soul?

And why are you in turmoil with in me? 

Hope in God; for I shall again praise Him, 

My salvation and my God!

My soul is cast down within me;

therefore I remember YOU!

Another year

It's that time of year again. While everyone else in my house took a two hour quiet/nap time I dug into a new ESL book and started some lesson plans for this fall. Can you believe that it is already September?!? I'm teaching the first four weeks of the semester. I'm trying to get a head start on these lesson plans before life happens. 

I'd like to have time to plan some schoolwork for the boys too instead of just making it up off the top of my was each day. In case you didn't notice, I'm a planner. Ha ha  we've been doing lots of puzzles, games, reading, and flash cards when they ask, but it feels disjointed.  I'd like a little more structure two or three days a week. Nothing big. Maybe an hour or two of planned activities that sort of relate... 

We'll see how that goes... I'll blog about it if it goes well or if it completely fails.  But for now, ESL. 

Beach bag tip

For those of you that don't enjoy the beach (raises hand), but have kids that do. And you dislike all the work it takes to get to the beach and clean up from the beach afterwards. I have a small tip that has kept me sane this summer before and after beach trips. 

1. Wash everything right away. 

2. Pack it all (suits, towels, sunscreen, sunglasses, hats, water shoes - everything!) back in the same bag. Stick in closet and forget about it until the next trip to beach or pool. 

Done! Your towels and swim suits are all ready for the next trip. You just pull them out and put them on the kids and off you go to the beach. Okay, you have to pack a few more things like food, but it makes it so much easier. 

Hi!

Wow. It has been crazy around here.

First there was my brother's wedding:

(All the family - the wedding was at my sister's gorgeous house!)

Then there was a week of vbs and multiple family members visiting. 

(Uncle Barry reads the boys a devotional)

Things started to settle down to a bit more normal for a few days. Jared took the boys to a baseball game. 

Then Jared decided to have an infected appendix on August 10th. 

(The boys stayed with my parents at said it was a happy day). 

He had a week off work to recover. We tried to stay quiet and go on trips to give him time to rest. It was painful. The boys and I got some nice beach and pool time (if you like that sort of stuff - ha). 

(He walked around with a pillow to protect himself from the boys)

Around the week mark, we went to the county fair. Saw some chickens. Missed our chickens.  

Watched the solar eclipse and did some science things. 

Our friend the moth came out. 

We made a motorcycle helmet or two. 

And were generally crazy...

It has been some long weeks, but God has brought us through and continues to uphold us. We are so grateful for friends and family that love us and encourage us to press on.  

Also, we've been busy spending time with people. Unfortunately our good friends are  moving this week. That makes three sets of good friends in less than a year. :( I helped pack yesterday and we'll be helping some more on Saturday. Busy. Busy. Busy. 

Hopefully, I'll be back to regular blogging soon and some fun house projects. But then again, I have an appendix surgery to pay for now and so the fun (aka ones that cost money) projects have all gotten bumped back another 6-12 months. 

I'm cleaning my house today. Not a little cleaning, but a good deep cleaning. I don't think I have touched my bathrooms since Jared had his surgery. So gross. And I've had a new dresser set up in the boys room for over a month, but haven't put clothes into it. So that is on the agenda too. 

Hosea

From time to time I think, "if I had to get a tattoo, what would it be?" Most of the time I can't think of anything. Sometimes I think it would have to be an ampersand because I collect them, but it doesn't really mean anything to me. I know that I would want it to be a testimony to God's faithfulness in my life or a reminder of His grace and power. 

Quickly becoming my favorite passage in Hosea is chapter 6 verses 1-4. 

"Come, let us return to the Lord;
 for he has torn us, that he may heal us;
 he has struck us down, and he will bind us up.

2 After two days he will revive us;
    on the third day he will raise us up,
    that we may live before him.

3 Let us know; let us press on to know the Lord;
  his going out is sure as the dawn;
  he will come to us as the showers,
  as the spring rains that water the earth.”

So there it is. Right now, that is what I would choose. :) in someone else's

Handwriting, of course. 

1. I am struck by how much God is doing in this passage: tearing/healing, striking/binding, reviving, raising, coming, going, refreshing as the rain. 

2. Secondly, look at what we still have to do: return, live before Him, press on. 

I'm asking the Holy Spirit for help with my  tasks today. And resting in His perfect plan. 

3. It is hard to return to someone that has struck you down, unless you know that they love you. I'm glad that I know a Soverign God who is in control of all things. 

Hosea is refreshing my soul. I can't wait to dig into the other minor prophets! 

Ps. I remembered the other book I've read this month. A Praying a Life by Paul Miller. It was excellent!! I'll probably resd it again in a few years. So many helpful ideas about prayer. 

On my nightstand...

I've been on a bit of a reading kick. It doesn't help that I just got my newest order from Westminister Bookstore. Seriously. I go on there to buy one book and end up with four or five or ten. :) 

1. Bible Reading with Your Kids looks awesome. I only briefly flipped through it. But I'm looking forward to reading all of it. 

2. Thoughts for Young Men - I've wanted this for a while and finally put it in my cart this time. I have boys that will be young men. They need good solid thoughts. :) Also I am looking forward to it. 

3. Peacemaking Family - my kids fight. I need help. I'll let you know if I like this book. 

4. The Heart of Anger - I have angry kids. I don't understand anger very well. So far this book has been very helpful. 

5. Crazy busy - pretty ordinary. There have been a few interesting points, but not revolutionary. It is short thankfully, I'm almost through. It is worth the quick read. 

6. Readers Bible!!!! Love it. The more I use it, the setter it gets. I love not having verse numbers. It is so not cluttered. It is wonderful!

7. Latest Piper Book - this one is like most Piper books, a little hard to read, but so so so so worth it. 

8. Wrinkle in Time - I got talked into reading some fiction again and I thought it was a waste for time. I enjoyed it while I read it...until the end. Then I just felt like I wasted good reading time with fluff that didn't matter. 

9 and 10. I know I've finished two other books this month and I can't remember what they are... 

5 Things

1. These three keep me busy. Especially now that they all move. They were watching Dad leave. 

2. It has been in the 90s for over a week. And it is supposed to be 97 on Saturday. We've been hiding inside a lot. The boys are getting antsy. 

3. My brother's wedding is Saturday!!

4. I've been planning the rehearsal dinner. 

5. I made a runner and almost finished a book this week. Pictures of the runner coming soon. 

Five things

1. I finished the whole Bible in six months. It was a rush at the end of June, but I did it and I am glad I did!! I really liked reading through whole chapters at a time. I'm soaking in some Old Testament minor prophets right now. I'm reading entire books repeatedly and slowly. It is balm for my soul. I'm learning to love the Old Testament the more I read it. 

Oh, and once again, The reader's Bible is amazing!!!! 

2. I am potty training Warren. He's a champion potty trained. It is so much easier in the summer time. But still, it is such an exhausting part of parenting. I sent him in underwear to my parents last night, but he wasn't ready for that challenge. So great at home. Great when I take him to church or the store, but not if I leave him places... Oh well. It is going well. 

3. It is hot and humid and the boys want to be outside All. The. Time. Why? Tomorrow maybe we will do water balloons. 

4. I've been to the beach 3 times already this summer. That is more times than the last four or five years combined. 

5. I'm almost finished two books and it is only the middle of July. Yay, for having some time for books again. 

As Long As You Are Glorified

Shall I take from Your hand Your blessings
Yet not welcome any pain?
Shall I thank You for days of sunshine
Yet grumble in days of rain?
Shall I love You in times of plenty
Then leave You in days of drought?
Shall I trust when I reap a harvest
But when winter winds blow, then doubt?

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

Are You good only when I prosper
And true only when I’m filled?
Are You King only when I’m carefree
And God only when I’m well?
You are good when I’m poor and needy
You are true when I’m parched and dry
You still reign in the deepest valley
You’re still God in the darkest night

Oh let Your will be done in me
In Your love I will abide
Oh I long for nothing else as long
As You are glorified

You all know I love my Indelible Grace CDs. Let me recommend another all-time favorite. This song is from an album called Come Weary Saints by Soverign Grace Music. I bought it in college and it has been on my favorites ever since. This song gets me every time. So good. 

Have you discovered any new or old music recently? We put our Rain for Roots CDs back in the car a few weeks ago and are loving them just as much as before.