Books Are Multiplying!

I have discovered something very interesting.

Ever since I posted this reading list I think I have become magnetic for books - whatever that is called!

Here is why I am suspicious of this phenomena:

I have found 2 more partially read books that are partially read because I lost track of them!

I have added at least 3 books to the drawer where I had stashed all the books together, and did I mention there were already books I wanted to read in there?

Plus our church is reading an excellent one for the adult Sunday School class, and even though we cannot go, I am reading it and it is excellent.

Plus 2 more books that I simply HAVE to read are out, and I had to order a book for Miss Pear, so those two kind of fell into my amazon basket. Umm...oops, I think.

And then I won a book I am eager to read over on a friend's blog, and I am not listing it here because she did not list the winners on her site, but you will probably figure it out when I update my reading list. Hysterical thing is that she is a great friend and it is a book on friendship!

It is becoming apparent that I don't have time to read fiction right now because there are so many non fiction books I want to read! And a lot of them are in the house!

New Goal - keep reading and start doing word studies again! And get my address book updated finally!

And while I will probably regret asking this because it will make my list longer, what are you reading RIGHT NOW, the book on your night stand or wherever you keep it, and is it any good?

Multitude Monday 26

Last week was a long, hard week. My list isn't as long this week because everything I am thankful for defined that day.

January 17 - An offer we made on a house was accepted after a particularly amazing time of prayer.

January 18 - Our classical conversation community of dear friends.

January 19 - No change on a echogram which is both good and sad, but for the good I am thankful,

- and for the sad I am so thankful that God is sovereign

January 20 - A thorough home inspection

January 21 - a God who is big enough to bear my pain and tears, offering comfort when there is none to be found anywhere else.

January 22 - Fun family night after a day of just doing nothing but being home together

- All the friends who email and comment saying they are praying for Miss Pear.

January 23 - Worshipping and praying with our Church family

- Date night!

312 - 321

Long, long week

Hey all, it has been a long, long LOOOOOOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNG week. Did I mention it has been a long week?

I will spare you all the details but the most important one, the one that makes my head hurt and my heart break.

Miss Pear was at the cardiologist this week. About a year after her open heart surgery.

The good news is that the surgery did exactly what it was supposed to - it removed a subaortic membrane and it has not grown back.

The bad news is that there is still narrowing there. Basically, that portion of her heart is just narrower than it should be.

They have a fancy name for it. A name I hate, and refuse to type here tonight because it makes me cry.

But the doctor basically said that at this point we wait and see. Eventually he expects that some medical intervention will be required, but right now it is not impacting her life or causing damage, so we wait.

The best case scenario is that the narrowing would widen, but the doctor says that never happens.

I think that is great, because that is exactly what we are asking God to do, to widen that area of her heart to the perfect width. This way when it happens God will get all the credit.

The doctor says that now we wait.

I disagree.

Now we pray.

Not good....

....or epic fail if you are between the ages of 15 and 21 or spend lots of time with those who are.

I just printed out a paperbackswap mailer with all the postage on it...and cannot find the book ANYWHERE! So I have to cancel the request, and the mailer is not refundable.

Epic fail.

Of course, this is just exhibit A and ignores all that happened before then!

Clearly my brain is not functioning as well as I think it is, so I am sending myself to bed. Will be back when clear brain function begins...probably Wednesday...Thursdayish...or Friday at the latest. That's decisiveness for you!

Multitude Monday 25

January 11 - I am getting better at trimming little girl bangs!

- the snow that was supposed to start at lunch held off so I did not have to drive in it!

- MIL made supper and cleaned it up, very firmly but politely kicking me out of the kitchen

- A return to Classical Conversations and girls with such tender hearts that we could not possibly stay for lunch and let Grandma eat alone!

January 12 - the roads are not icy after that snow last night!

- Bedtime - too much snow excitement!

January 13 - husband is being given a great opportunity at work. I can write this here because when it posts on Monday it will be officially announced!

January 14 - gatorade, soft wipes, A&D ointment, and Amazon diaper delivery

- Skating class for everyone else.

January 15 - house hunting - even though it has been hard, we are grateful we can even be looking.

January 16 - worshipping and praying with our Church family

- our church family praying for Miss Pear's cardiology appt on Wednesday

300 - 311

CSA Box Change

For the 8ish months my husband has made a detour to stop and pick up our CSA box. Sometimes it has been out in the afternoon heat longer than we would like, but it has always been fine, I just had to prioritize using stuff occasionally. When the days started getting dark before he left work, he started picking up the box at lunch time, and this worked great until the truck was delayed until the normally promised hours, so he went and the box was not there yet!

Getting to the box is not hard, getting out of that parking lot is. It is a busy 2 lane road where you have to cross both lanes!

So starting in 2 weeks we are having the box delivered to our home. Instead of getting it Wednesday evening, it will be delivered to our door by 6AM the following morning. There is a $3 charge for this service.

$3

Yes, you did read that right.

This begs the question of why we have been picking the box up all this time! Well, technically the home delivery was not an option in our area until we moved, but still.

This makes my husband very happy, so I am thinking this might be the best $6 a month I spend.

This reminds me that sometimes in our quest to save money it is important to not lose sight of our overall goals and plans.

This Week's CSA Box

It has been a while since I posted about my CSA box, and that is surprising because I love it dearly, and it helps me so much! No running to the grocery store for fresh produce and then buying other stuff!

Today we will receive:

Cucumbers, Organic - 2 each

Garnet Yams, Organic - 3 pounds

Celery, Organic - 1 each

Red Onions, Organic - 3 each

Eggplant, Organic - 1 each

Bunched Carrots, Organic - 1 bunch

Green Leaf Lettuce, Organic - 1 bunch

Green Kale, Organic - 1 bunch

Fairchild Tangerines, Organic - 6 each

Kiwi, Organic - 6 each

Mangos, Organic - 2 each

Cameo Apples, Organic - 6 each

To round this out I picked up 6 peppers and a bag of onions at Costco. I would have liked some bananas as well, but it was Friday evening when we stopped for milk and a few other necessities, and all the bananas were gone.

I have a few new recipes in mind to try, and will be making fruit salads for lunch desserts as well as an apple crisp to use up a case of apples I bought a bit ago and some Christmas satsuma mandarins.

So if this box was being delivered to you what would you be thinking? And what would you be doing with the eggplant...or would you have swapped it out?

My Reading List 2011, part 1

Remember I mentioned that I am going to be intentional in my reading this year, reading the Bible twice this year as well as a biography and spiritually challenging book each month? Well, I guess you could say this is where the rubber meets the road - my list.

I did not go very far out because that is a recipe for disaster as far as I am concerned as a new book catches my eye, or I feel the need to read about something or other for some reason and then my list is impossible and I get discouraged. So instead I will just have a few books on my list and will just keep adding to it as I go along.

Let's start with Books I have finished in January 2011:

Celebration of Discipline: The Path to Spiritual Growth

What I appreciated about this book is that it was about encouraging the reader in the disciplines for the express purpose of growing in God. It took each discipline and explained it clearly making you confident that you can indeed do this!

Gospel-Powered Parenting: How the Gospel Shapes and Transforms Parenting

This one was from our Church book table, with all the books being carefully selected by our pastors. It was on my list to read before, but the ease of picking up a copy and my daughter reminding me certainly helped move it up the list, and I am so glad it did! It is basically about parenting in light of the Gospel, of parenting with a high view of God. It sets a high standard for parenting, no question, but makes it clear that as children of God, we can do it in His power. I seriously could not put this one down!

Currently Reading:

Bible - I am reading on a 6 month plan that I made up and am on track.

Believing God Day by Day: Growing Your Faith All Year Long

This devotional was a gift and I am loving it! I start with this one, and no, it is not uncommon for me to use two devotionals to start my quiet time!

My Utmost for His Highest - Deluxe (DELUXE CHRISTIAN CLASSICS)

I love this devotional - at the end of last year I simply moved my bookmark back to the beginning. Unbelievably rich!

The Complete Tightwad Gazette

This is a huge book, and I am almost half way through it. I read a bit, then put it aside for a bit and then pull it out again. Lots of great tips for saving money - I can see why it is referred to as the top resource for making changes to save money! While some of the ideas are a bit extreme, she is up front about saying that not all the ideas work for her either! It is about finding what works for you and your family.

Inkspell (Inkheart)

I picked up this whole series at Costco in hardcover with each book being under $7! I had read the first one while Miss Pear was recovering from her surgery last winter, and loved it, but I had to finish the first one up fast when we were suddenly moving and I had to return the borrowed copy. So now I have the full set and am slowly reading through it. While this second book is good, it is not as good as the first book, Inkheart, or at least not yet. I had buried this book under other ones and was pleased to discover it under my stack of books and look forward to reading it again!

Release the Power of Jesus

This book was highly recommended to me as it talks about healing and how sharing our testimony of what God has done glorifies Him and teaches others about Him. "Remember, in every story of what God has done, there is an unveiling of HIs nature and an invitation to know Him experientially in the same way." (pg 80)

On the To Be Read Pile (prioritized, the whole pile would be a book in itself!)

The Normal Christian Life

Hearing God: Developing a Conversational Relationship with God

The Spirit of the Disciplines: Understanding How God Changes Lives

The Magnificent Obsession: Embracing the God-Filled Life

Ruth, A Portrait: The story of Ruth Bell Graham

Reluctant Saint: The Life of Francis of Assisi (Compass)

The Hidden Art of Homemaking

For the Family's Sake: The Value of Home in Everyone's Life

Thank you for the suggestions of books to read, I am enjoying looking into them! This list is the books I want to read that I have copies of! But it is always being added to, so I always love hearing what others are reading and loving, or not loving, it is sometimes good to know what was not as good as one thought it would be!

I am Booking It in 2011...

Multitude Monday 24

January 3 - A dear friend calling with words to encourage us in our walk with the Lord.

-Dear little girls who want to play with Mommy's Christmas present - a Stomp Rocket

January 4 - A mother in law who really listens to me and hears what I say, and what I don't say.

- Miss Pear crying because she wants to be a good girl, she doesn't want to sin.

January 5 - Little girls tending my hurt hand with kisses and love

- The fact that I did not break my hand when I somehow bashed it into the doorframe while carrying a basket full of laundry.

- Homemade pasta for lunch (already made before the hand injury)

- My rice cooker - probably the only way we got supper that night. It saves me time all the time though.

January 6 - Little girls so eager to help mommy when she is injured.

- I did not break a single dish, and considering my clumsiness, that is amazing!

January 7 - Skating night went so well, Miss Pear is doing great! And seems to be building momentum in her ability! She is working so hard and having so much fun!

- Home safely in the rain with a quick stop for milk with the storm in the forecast.

January 8 - Waking up to bright sunny skies and news that the storm is delayed

- Clear roads for the trek to the airport to pick up my mother-in-law.

- A new snow shovel and de-icer, along with 2 child sized snow shovels and the two delighted girls who had to demonstrate how to use them...in the living room.

January 9 - Worship with our church family

- Following my daughter to the Lord's Supper knowing God has done a mighty work in her and is doing a mighty work in her.

- Listening to baby sing the Lord's prayer after she has been put to bed tonight

- The joy of a hot bath, a good book, and a cup of tea before bed.

Blessings 281 -299, and continually counting.

Bible in 90 Days - Encouraging Post

Good morning, I am over here today sharing about my experience with the Bible in 90 Days this last year.

I specifically asked for a link back to my blog not to be included because I blog anonymously but have been telling lots of friends and family about reading the Bible in 90 days! So please keep my secret!

Emergency Meals

I had an excellent (at least in my mind) post all written in my head for today. I will write it up for next week. But something more pressing came up I wanted to share with you.

Yesterday I did something very foolish. I was rushing, I overloaded my laundry basket and in the rush to stash it away and get back downstairs I was not paying attention and jammed my hand into the door frame badly hurting two knuckles on my dominant hand. I know it was an accident but I feel so foolish!

My hand is fine. It is just bruised and sore. It is also wimpy, I am dropping lots of things...my husband requests that I leave emptying the dishwasher for him! :-)

But this has reinforced three habits very firmly in my mind, and again shown me the importance of them.

1. I always keep meals in the freezer that are thaw and cook, or easy to prepare. So we are not at the mercy of take out or toast and cereal for supper (although that is fun, but not when it is cold and rainy). Today I am pulling out orange chicken for supper. It is as simple as put in plan, cook, pour sauce over top, return to oven for 5 minutes, serve over rice.

While I usual make my own freezer meals this particular one is one I pick up at Costco once in a while for a treat. When we want Chinese food without the bill.

Along with the staples for quick meals like cooked beans, cooked chopped chicken, broth, stuff for soup and the like I try to keep meals in the freezer that are quick and easy, and it has been a blessing! Even if I am healthy and someone else in the house is sick it is wonderful to be able to not worry about meals knowing that something is there!

2. I keep my rice cooker on my counter so I see it. This might seem silly, but I have the room, and it encourages me to get it ready early, and then set the timer for supper, it takes guess work out of making sure everything is ready at the same time. I use it for a lot of things, much more than rice. But I had set it up for supper last night before I hurt my hand. One thing done. And if it is a nutty day I throw in some frozen veggies and we have veggie rice - two things taken care of!

3. Keep up with the dishes. Yes, our dishwasher ran last night and has to be emptied and reloaded, but because I was caught up on our dishes this is not a big deal, I am just stacking the dirty ones in the sink. Plus in my quest to get the plastic out of the kitchen we picked up some Corelle plates for the girls so I can use those too and not worry if I drop something...which I have...dropped something I mean...

I am so thankful that before Miss Pear was born that a friend introduced me to the concept of freezer meals, and that I learned the importance of keeping up with the kitchen early in my marriage. These things are blessing me so much right now!

What are your favorite tips for being prepared when life throws you a curve ball?

The Rest of My New Year Goals

I have to confess that I am at a loss on the rest of the areas I usually set goals in. With the firm knowledge that we will start looking for our new home in January it is hard to get worked up about much else!

I also don't necessarily wait for the new year to set goals, if something comes up I feel needs to change, I do it. I don't think the Lord waits for the new year to say, "Okay, here are the things we need to work on!", although, of course, He sometimes does! I think very often He nudges us along whenever we need it, encourages us to grow continually, and shows us things that need to change in His good timing.

But just to be contradictory, I think there is also said for taking time to sit down and evaluate certain areas and make goals to help you go in a certain direction. And that time between Christmas and New Year's Day often lends itself very well to that.

Most of my goals were already set. I knew that after I finished reading the New Testament Chronologically, which would conveniently end December 31 I wanted to read the Bible cover to cover again, but after reading the Bible in 90 Days, reading in a year was not enough for me! So reading the Bible twice in one year was a no brainer for me, and a goal set in November.

The goals I am going to share today are ones that I am already working on, or know I either want to work on or need to work on. Some have been ongoing since the summer! But I need to have them all in one place, and this seems like an excellent place.

Homeschooling

I love homeschooling, I adore the mini-culture it creates in our home, and I love seeing the curiosity in the girls! While I do want to stick with the curriculum and schedule we have, I also am looking for ways to start Baby on her path as she is so eager, but still very little, even though she tries so hard to keep up with her big sister! I am carefully considering what subjects to add for Grade 1 next fall, focusing mainly on what we are interested in (Astronomy!) what would help us! (Spelling! Miss Pear has great distain for those naughty words that don't follow the rules! It makes reading difficult! Mama has a hard time disagreeing with her on this one!), and what would glorify God. We want to continue gently and lovingly.

Kitchen

This one has a nice long list I have been working on!

- Completely update my kitchen recipes binder - neglected since before Baby was born!

- Perfect the art of homemade pasta, especially whole wheat soaked pasta! I think my pasta makers from Christmas should be a big help, one extrudes for things like fusilli and macaroni and one makes the nice sheets!

- Become an expert at using up our CSA box each delivery! This is an ongoing one and I am working hard at getting some new ideas and methods in this area!

- Develop a rough monthly menu guide to help us follow our eating goals. This is a work in progress. The things I would like to do weekly are in place, but I want to stretch it out monthly for a little bit more variety.

- Continue to remove plastic from the kitchen where I can!

- Find a reliable but simple pasta sauce that is loaded with veggies, can be made in large batches, and freezes beautifully.

- Find a simple pasta sauce that can be made in large batches an freezes beautifully (I am kind of thinking more of a seasoned crushed tomatoes idea

- Continue to move towards a healthier diet while maintaining our budget.

Home

Let's just start with the big one:

- Find a new home in our price range that we love in January/February.

- Move in April!

- Make our new house a home (April and beyond)

- Set up a workable housekeeping schedule once we move and follow it reliably! Includes updating homemaking binder.

- Set up a freezer system and freezer stocking system that works and MAINTAIN it. Of course, this is also part of the pasta sauces thing!

Beyond that I don't know. I anticipate sitting down in May and thinking hard about things - or maybe God will make it easy and just give me the list. Either way, at least I have a start!

Multitude Monday 23

I count the blessings, the big and the small, the funny and the silly, and give thanks. The more I count the more I find and the bigger my heart feels, the greater the well of gratitude, the deeper the love for my Lord.

So each day I look for reasons to say thank you, and each day as I do I am reminded to be more vocal in my love for God and my family!

December 14 - We were safe and our power stayed on during a fierce wind storm. The wind was so strong that the rain sounded like hail as it pounded against our home.

December 15 - Wonderful surprise of Christmas place mats arriving in the mail!

December 16 - Baby said "I love you" all on her own, she initiated it, and followed it up with a hug.

December 17 - Big sister sharing her reading reward with her little sister because she is too young to learn to read yet and should not be left out!

December 18 - We are gifted with a piano that will be delivered tomorrow. It is a beautiful piano that is 105 years old.

December 19 - Baby says, "Worship, worship, I worship!"

Plus God prompted me to call and pray with a friend, and the timing was perfect, exactly what she needed.

December 20 - Buddy skate day with Miss Pear at her skating lesson! So much fun!

I stayed up to see the lunar eclipse and to wake everyone up. I sat reading my Bible at watching. Just as it was almost time for it to start the clouds moved in and we could not see anything! So I finished up reading and went to bed.

December 21 - Feeling so relaxed and Christmas is only a couple days away!

Plus a Christmas package we look forward to each year arrived! Despite the temptation I stashed it under the tree!

December 22 - Cookie baking afternoon - not that we need more cookies, we just wanted to!

Dear husband asks me what I need him to wrap, I say nothing, it is all done!

December 23 - Cookie decorating morning! We make a beautiful manger scene with mommy applying a layer of icing and the girls applying a layer of colored sugar!

Another special package arrives from friends!

The stack of Christmas cards

December 24 - The last 2 quilted Advent wreaths arrive. They are beautiful. Now both girls have their own and so do I!

Walking around during afternoon rest time looking for something to do - it is al done, and for the first time I know what it is like to be eagerly anticipating Christmas rather than racing to the finish

Christmas Eve service was beautiful and Miss Pear curled up next to me trying to sing a long to all the songs with her new reading skills.

December 25 - Jesus

The girls stopping in the middle of opening presents to sing songs to Jesus for His birthday.

December 26 - Miss Pear takes Lord's Supper for the first time, and we move our membership to our new church

December 27 - A day at home laughing, playing, and being silly - such a joy!

December 28 - The gift of my family

December 29 - Snow! But it stayed warm enough that we could pick up our CSA Box!

December 30 - The girls continuing joy in snow - they had not played in it or even scene it in person until we moved here.

December 31 - Chinese Food to Celebrate!

January 1 - Rose Bowl Parade

NHL Winter Classic hockey game

All the decorations come down

January 2 - Buttermilk pancakes, little girl smiles and husband's jokes

January 3 - A husband who does not feel great, but uncomplaining goes to work to provide for our family.

Numbers 249-280 and counting.

Bible in 90 Days...

...starts tomorrow!

And I honestly cannot recommend this enough. Last year I did it, and I can often be heard telling my friends that I did not read the Bible in 90 days because I am super-spiritual but because I know exactly how much I suck...plus I was desperate! (Miss Pear had her heart surgery last year on January 11)

At the end of the day, I knew I needed more of God, and the only way that was going to happen was to give Him more of me, more of my time, more of my attention to His Word.

Reading the Bible in 90 Days is one of those things that has changed me and helped me grow so much I cannot help but strongly recommend it to everyone I know and everyone I know wants more of God in their life or wants to go deeper in their relationship with God. It is not always easy, but God is always faithful.

We Wish You A Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

One thing I love about the New Year - besides the fact that we order Chinese food for supper to celebrate its arrival and then spend New Year's Day watching the Rosebowl Parade and the NHL Winter Classic - is thinking about my priorities and my goals.

As I write this it is not New Year's yet, but I am starting to think about my goals. Actually I am thinking about where I want to be, what I want to accomplish so I can then set meaningful goals.

Here is what I have so far for my reading goals:

1. Read the Bible twice this year (I am making my own reading plan for this, it is half done, and I need to finish it ASAP)
2. Read 1 Biography a month - I am saying 1 because sometimes finding good ones will make even this a challenge - post your recommendations!
3. Read 1 Spiritually Challenging book a month.
4. Read good books in between!

What are you reading? Do you have any suggestions for me?