love/hate

today i must speak of coffee.

oh, coffee, i love you...and sometimes hate you.

a little history:

i started drinking coffee when i was 16 and at summer camp for the entire season.  long days and short nights for weeks on end will make you do crazy things.  like drink coffee.  even when it's yucky.  i didn't continue throughout the school year, but back at camp for the following summers, it became my routine.

bible school would seem like a good time to start drinking coffee, but my land lady ruled the kitchen and made a very unpleasant combination of ground beans and water.  so with the exception of a couple of all-nighters i pretended to pull, i didn't drink it.

it wasn't until after i was married and began working at a new job that started at 6:30am that i really started drinking coffee.  this place had the most wonderful cafeteria with delicious, fresh coffee.  all i had to do was swipe my little card and the cost would be deducted from my paycheck.  yes, sometimes it seemed like my pay went directly back to the company.  will work for coffee....

by the time i got pregnant, i was "committed" enough to my habit that going without left me with piercing headaches.  (booo, coffee!)  i continued to drink a small cup of half-caf each morning and outside of the fact that someone once speculated that my daughter was "so crazy" because i drank coffee in my pregnancy, my doctor said it was fine.  oh, and actually, she was a toddler.  that's all.  not some crazed caffeine addict.  nevertheless....

strangely, the next 2 pregnancies, i couldn't touch the stuff.  in fact, i would make it every day and pour myself a cup, but every time i walked past it, i would shudder.  ugh, don't want that!  (took me a long time to stop making it every morning....let's call it pregnancy brain.)

the times when my kiddos where the youngest is the time i drank the most.  for the caffeine, sure, but also just to have that moment - just that quiet few seconds: sip, ahhhh.... ok where are they now??

love.

but last year when this strange new thing started to become a strange common thing - this heart racing, shallow breathing, panic feeling thing - i thought about my friend beverage, coffee.  i read online and i searched my heart.  i cut back, but felt like i needed to do more.

a friend (and mentor) suggested decaf.  fearful of headaches that leave me debilitated (i really try not to make drastic changes in my life/diet that will cause my family to pay the price), i started mixing my own beans.  i found the most delightful decaf that doesn't taste different at all (to me) and now mix 2 parts decaf with one part regular.

the best result for me is that because i did it gradually, i no longer wake up (most days) feeling like i need coffee.  it's a pleasant part of my morning routine, that is all.  i'm thankful because i no longer feel mastered by it.

oooh, and i also started making my own vanilla coffee syrup, which i like better than the expen$ive types i used to buy.  thankyouverymuch, paula deen via pinterest!

how 'bout you?  do you love or hate coffee?

encouraged

I slumped into my mini van tonight at just after 5pm.  It had been a long day already and I was feeling tired.  discouraged.  disheartened.  My set list for the night's practice was not ready, and nothing about it felt right.

I've said many times that I love my job, and it's true I do.

However, there is the artistic side of the worship planning I do that can produce the same angst that any artist knows well.   Maybe for you it's when your painting looks great to everyone else, but you see the space that's missing...something.  Maybe it's your scrapbook layout that looks a little off, or your cake that is a little...different.

Art can be anything, and for me it's music and scripture.  The Spirit leads and the most days the set comes together without too much trouble, but every once in a while it comes with much struggle.  The song sheets pile high as nothing feels right or works or sounds exactly like I hear it in my head.

Like I say, angst.

But after the struggle, I humbly present my offering to the Lord and to my team and they receive it with grace.  My friend strums his guitar to the opening song (too familiar? too over-done?) and his lovely wife starts to play the piano.  The song begins to come alive and the Spirit nudges, "See? I told you it was the right one."

Another friend walks in and looks at the closing song and exclaims, "I was just playing this song earlier today!  Man, I love that song!"

Song by song we rehearse and my spirit rises with the beauty of the music, the truth of the lyrics and by the hand of the Spirit.

And when we finish, we rush down the hall to start our choir rehearsal where I introduce one of our Easter selections.  My flesh worries "will they like it?"  At the first notes of the song, the fun begins!  Everyone loves the song, enjoying the challenge of the score.  There is laughter and singing and praise to our risen Lord.  These are my friends who I also get to sing with!  Thank you, Lord!

I lock up the church and hop back into my mini van at 9:50pm.  I find myself smiling as I drive back home and then I find myself praying.  Thanking the Lord for His goodness and provision.  Thanking Him for music, for struggle, for truth and for friends.

Your love has given me great joy and encouragement,

 because you, brother, 

have refreshed the hearts 

of the Lord’s people. 

(Philemon 1:7)

ode to the laundry

O laundry you pile up before my eyes.

i blink and your baskets overflow.

i put you away clean and folded and you reappear

crumpled and worn.

O laundry you call my name.

you use the voices of others:

"i have no socks"

"where are my pants?"

"are you done the washing yet?"

O laundry you mark the time.

once you were tiny sleepers and onesies,

now you are are hoodies and t-shirts

and skinny jeans.

O laundry you are my weekly reminder

that times does indeed fly...

(oh, there it goes just now!)

and that we have much to be thankful for...

(another pair of his favourite jeans)

and that it's efficient machines i use

not rocks and a river.

O laundry.

How could I call you a blessing?

But you are.

Laundry, you are.

hope in the mail

A great surprise

(though I did order it...)

on a cold winter afternoon

of catching up on rest and household duties.

 Sevenly.org is the maker of this cozy sweatshirt, and

money from its purchase goes to 

Living Water International

to help provide clean drinking water to places that need it

and share the Good News of Christ-

the true Living Water.

(apparently sweatshirts are my new thing!) 

The warmth of this garment reminds me of the warm love

of my Saviour, and the words written across it

~hope runs deep~

remind me to never give up.

"Yes, my soul, find rest in God;

my hope comes from him."

Psalm 62:5

go team!

I had to run to the grocery store (for the 50 jillionth time this week) to bake cookies for next week, and as I drove the familiar route, I noticed quite a sight to behold.

It's not the first time I've witnessed this sight, but it's close to the last.

You see, we live very close to the football stadium (until the new one is finished being built) and so on a warm summer evening like tonight, the streets are filled with people walking toward the big game.

I smiled to myself as I saw car loads of people empty out like circus clowns all wearing their Winnipeg Blue Bombers tshirts and hats and jerseys.  I saw people walking in pairs from every direction sporting their team gear - even one guy that had his head shaved with our team logo painted onto it!

It reminded me of the explanation my husband gave the campers at Children's Camp last week about baptism.  He told the kids that to make the public stand of being baptized is like wearing a team jersey, telling the world "I'm with Jesus!"  As we walked onto the beach that evening and three young people were lead into the lake to profess Jesus as the Lord of their life, the image of putting on the jersey played around in my mind.

And tonight as I saw people laughing and walking with determination to the football field, my imagination began to run wild with this picture.

Like, what if we really did wear a jersey all the time to proclaim that we are with Jesus?  Would it change the way we interact we strangers?  Or our family?

How cool would it be to see the jerseys around and know you have something very special in common with people you don't even know?  Like that feeling you get when you see someone in the Mall of America with a Jets tshirt on? (that happened to us earlier this week!)

What about all the people who faithfully gather to watch games, either live or on tv, with friends and family - all the while enjoying the game more because of who they're with?

(this is Cass dressed in Duke gear when
we lived a block off campus!)

And then I thought about how super-fans of a team will get tiny baby jerseys and put them on their infants who somehow grow up to be fans themselves. Are we dressing our kids in lives that claim Jesus as Lord?

Truth be told, I don't know if tonight's Bomber game is over, or who won (or who the Bombers were even playing, for that matter), but it's fun to think about wearing the team jersey for Jesus.
Put it on, friends!

Galatians 3:27 ~ 

"for all of you who were baptized into Christ 

have clothed yourselves with Christ. 

hello monday

hello restful monday!

hello restful monday:

sleeping in,

coffee drinking,

thrift-shopping,

laundry doing,

monday.

hello restful monday:

pulse slowing,

few words speaking,

barely thinking,

happy sewing,

monday.

hello restful monday:

blog reading,

happy pinning,

nate watching,

fresh salsa tasting,

 monday.

i needed to see you.

{linking up with lisa leonard ~ hello monday}

what's new

so you may be wondering,

what have i been so busy doing that i've haven't been posting here?

well, it has been busy....

Easter weekend has come and gone - 

all the worship planning and practice was well worth it.  

the name of the Lord was lifted high as we celebrated our traditional services on 

Maundy Thursday,

Good Friday &

Easter Sunday.

ministry life has been busy as we're looking forward and planning for many

exciting changes.

we've been enjoying hanging out with some fun, young couples as

we've been doing pre-marriage couples.

we always say it's like marriage counselling for us every time we lead these discussions.

we've had lots of friends and family over to visit.

(i'm getting more relaxed about having things 'perfect' and learning better to just enjoy when people come to hang out.)

my daughter has started and completed her heritage fair project.

i'm not going to lie, it was almost our undoing....

i'm almost finished my beth moore study on james.

it will be hard to let go, it's been so good!

and we've begun planning for a certain girly-girl's 7th birthday,

which reminds me, 

i've also been uploading videos from our camcorder to the computer

for the first time EVER.  

  here's a look back 5 yrs ago at that girl:

so yes, we've been busy.

hop on!

source

Well, a little late to the party (as usual), I've finally decided to jump on the Pinterest bandwagon.

I resisted for quite a while.  I loved looking at friends pictures and got recipes from the links of people I know, but I just wasn't sure it was for me.  I doubted that I would know where to find "cool" pictures of pretty rooms, and craft ideas and wardrobe collages....  I figured anything I would do would just be a copy of someone else's boards and pins.

Those were my classic "self doubt" reasons, but there was another reason I resisted.

I was concerned that I wouldn't be able to handle it.  I think it's pretty common for people to struggle with the whole social media phenom.  Facebook drains times from a day and makes us think that everyone else is living the life I've always wanted...  Blogs (some, not all) can give the perception of perfection - parenting, exercising, cooking, organizing, loving and living with grace and beauty...inside and out... Twitter says everyone has something to say - except me?... Even Instagram can be a stumbling block - how does everyone else seem to take the most elegant photos?...

I was concerned if I started pinning, I'd start pining - haha, see the play on words?  But would it be true?  Would pinning pretty things and crafts and recipes I'll never have or do or make cause the seeds of discontent to be planted and sprout...into a beanstalk worthy of climbing?  At this season of life, can I trust myself to handle this?

And then one day, as I dragged a link to my desktop I noticed that my desktop was full of links that I didn't want to lose or forget.  I also noticed that they didn't display an image, so when I went to look for a specific link, I had to open each one until I found it (oh the humanity).  I realized that I was essentially using my desktop as a pinboard! (maybe this is how the idea was born??)

So with a prayer for strength and moderation, I set up my boards - unique to me and possibly boring to others.  I pulled together everything off my desktop and found some good ideas from friends near and far.  I've tried new recipes and gotten lots of inspiration.  I'm committed to knowing my limits - there are days that I don't click that pretty P if I know I'm tired and possibly feeling want-y, but overall it's been a super organized way of keeping track of things.

What's your favorite thing about Pinterest?

hello monday

i've seen others do this, time to join in the fun...

hello monday!

hello kids in great spirits, heading off to school.

via

hello waking up beside my best friend.

 hello chatting too long and being late for work.

via

hello good mood - long time no see!

 via

hello getting organized, catching up and making plans.

via

hello James - what do you have to teach me today?

hello online fun with friends and cousins.  

hello to blood and faith connections that make life sweeter.

via

hello Lord!  

thank You for monday.

by popular demand

I posted this picture on my facebook/instagram yesterday and apparently a few people were intrigued!

The recipe comes from a great book that I was given last year.  Here's the back-story I told my cousin that you simply must sit through to get to this coveted recipe! (haha)  I've added a few edits to make it understandable for the masses. (double-haha)

ok, so i got a recipe book from [my dear friend] Carla a few years back called Grazing. It is the greatest cookbook for easy (and somewhat healthy) appetizers and dip-type things. I make the spinach artichoke dip, cinnamon sticky buns and black bean and mushroom quesedillas ALL the time, among many others. I use it so much that I buy it as a shower gift for many people! The last time I did, the lady who helped me find it at [the book store] Chapters told me about the follow up (by the same author) call One Smart Cookie (julie van rosendaal). [My brother] Johnny & [his lovely wife] T gave it to me for my birthday last year!  I LOVE this book because there are tonnes [that's how we spell it in Canada] of recipes for squares (which I never used to make) and most of them are made in an 8 x 8 pan, so it's not like having a 9 x 13 of something that mama is the only who likes and then eats it all.... i feel free to try new things because the squares won't be sitting around forever. i've made the date squares a few times and Gav and my dad both love them.

Long story longer, the other day I really felt like baking but didn't have any eggs, so I was flipping through the book to see if there was anything without eggs and found the granola bar recipe. I'm not sure why I didn't notice it before, but G and I had JUST been talking about granola bars (and the cost of them) when I said I could probably find a recipe and make them and wouldn't that be better for the kids, anyway? Tonight was the first time making them and they are literally as easy as making rice krispie squares! There are a few variations. I'll give you the one I made, most kid friendly, s'mores! 

GRANOLA BARS:

In a medium-large sauce pan combine 1 Tbsp butter, 1/4 cup packed brown sugar, 1/4 cup honey. Bring to a boil over medium heat and cook, stirring frequently for 1 minute.

Remove from heat and stir in 1 1/2 cup rice krispies and 1 cup quick oats. Transfer to a bowl and set aside to cool slightly. When the mixture is almost at room temperature, stir in 1/3 cup coarsely chopped chocolate chips (I used mini choc chips, no chopping) and 1 generous cup mini marshmallows (those I cut up a little). Press into ungreased 8 x 8 pan and chill until set.

that's it! next time I'm going to double it and put it in a 9 x 13 so they last a little longer. my kids said they were better than store bought. high praise indeed! 


So there it is friends.  Feel like a rock-star, stop buying prepackaged and make these granola bars!


And better yet, go buy the book One Smart Cookie (and you might as well get Grazing while you're at it!).

bread goodness

who doesn't love a church cookbook?

I have two from my own church, and this recipe is from my girlfriend's church in another town.  I chose to try it for one reason - it's name!  Something about the name "herbed peasant bread" sounds so beautifully rustic and downhome.  It also appealed to me because I always have every single one of these ingredients on hand, which means I can whip it up an ol' time (as long as I'm home for the afternoon!).

Yeast breads are time consuming only because of the waiting, but this one is worth the wait!  So without further ado, I introduce to you the accompaniment, nay, the star of yesterday's dinner....

HERBED PEASANT BREAD

submitted by Lydia Krahn (who I don't know)

1/2 cup chopped onion

3 Tbsp butter

1 cup plus 2 Tbsp warm milk

1 Tbsp sugar

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp dill weed

1/2 tsp dried basil

1/2 tsp dried crushed rosemary

1 pkg dry yeast (2 1/4 tsp)

3 to 3 1/2 cups flour

melted butter

In a skillet on low heat, saute butter and onion until tender, about 8 minutes.

Cool for 10 minutes

Place in a mixing bowl.

Add milk, sugar, salt, herbs, yeast and 3 cups of flour;

beat until smooth (I used a wooden spoon).

Add enough flour to form a soft dough.

(keep it tacky for the softest bread)

Turn onto a floured board;

knead until smooth and elastic, 6-8 minutes.

Place in a greased bowl (I use a tiny bit of olive oil),

turning once to grease top.

Cover and let rise in a warm place until doubled, about 45 minutes.

Punch down, shaped into a ball (I like an oval shape)

and place on a greased baking sheet.

(I used stoneware, so it wasn't greased.)

Cover and let rise until doubled, about 45 minutes.

Bake at 375 F for 25-30 minutes.

Remove to wire rack (oops, I didn't do that);

brush with butter.

Cool. Yields 1 loaf

Perfect with anything and everything, as well as on it's own, if you ask me!

Here it is on the side of yesterday's crockpot wonder:

an extra hint:

If you don't always spill flour on yourself like I do,

might I recommend that you purposely sprinkle some somewhere on your person

to prove your bread is homemade! :)

also - see John 6:35

go forth, and bake!

sparkle for sparkle's sake

Barely a month into the fall routine, and I'm already in a rut.

Style-wise, that is!

Maybe it's the almost-shift to fall clothes (the weather's been cool in the morning and warm in the afternoon) - or maybe it's because my husband's been away for days at a time.... I'm just feeling so BLAH in clothes.

The trouble for me is, if I feel blah on the outside, I generally feel blah on the inside too.  Or maybe it goes the other way around?

Either way, today I decided to change that!

I put on a t-shirt and jeans (come on moms, it's just what we wear!).  I thought I'd "spice" it up with a t-shirt material cardigan of sorts.

I look sad, and not just because my mirror is so dirty!

It just wasn't doin' it for me.

Inspired by a friend who wore a similar necklace in a casual way, I popped on some *sparkle* that I've had for a year and have barely worn.

look at the radiance, notice the happiness!

Much better!

It's all in good fun, friends.  Of course JOY comes from the Spirit of God within! :)


What's YOUR favourite way to add sparkle to your day?

vintage finds

alternate post title:

things i'd like to steal from camp.

a camp that has been around since the '50s and has been on the receiving end of many a household purge has loads of cool stuff.

let the record show that i am not one of those people who enjoy refinishing furniture 

~it's a loathsome task, in my opinion~

but i do agree with Nate Berkus, Sarah Richardson and others who tell us that old furniture has more "soul" than new pieces.  

and so i've been known to scrape and sand, prime and paint a thing or two over the years.

if camp ever wanted to purge some of it's things, i would be first in line for these:

i'd paint this RED for my son's room - it's so nautical-ly cute!

the curvy top drawer makes this one special -
 maybe in the hall for linens?

this lamp base could be a fun pewter or maybe eggplant colour with
a little spray paint, perfect for our bedroom.

not sure if i'd even paint this - it would sure be great in my
dining room...my table linens would love it!

and maybe it's because i so wish for a small table for an eat-in kitchen,

or maybe it's because these cute tables were so plentiful....

cute drop leaf!

this one has already been refinished - now we're talking!

can you tell this one is metal?
love!

don't worry - i'm not about to steal from our bible camp

(my daughter saw the "alternate title" at the top of the page and was a little concerned.)

dreaming requires no sweat equity!

new camera!

i should be folding laundry,

but instead i'm playing with my 

NEW CAMERA!!!

my old point and shoot was fine 

(though the lcd display had a huge blotch...

and it was incapable of taking pictures from far away...)

but when my hubby surprised me with an early anniversary gift,

this lady was thoroughly delighted!

a perfect and much needed pick-me-up:

hours playing with the most enthusiastic model. :)

and since my friend (KENT) said i should tell you about this 

new thing - can we call it my new pet? - 

here you go!

thanks to my sweetie.

(love)

mission accomplished!

I have a little quirk in my personality 

~I know, shocking! :) ~

call it determination...

call it a dog with a bone...

call it obsession....

(personally I like the first one the best!)

My little quirk is that when I get an idea for something I plan or need to purchase, I must MUST search high and low, left, right and centre for the perfect item.

Perfect for me means:

the absolute best priced,

super quality,

long lasting,

and

personality suiting

item.

This problem great affects me when it's time to purchase a new parka for my kids because then

warmest,

most wind resistant,

and

a colour that won't show the dirt so fast,

get added to the criteria!

So several months ago I decided to buy a new bed spread for myself  my husband and I.  It was over a year ago that I noticed where my quilt had become threadbare, but at the time, I wasn't ready.

(do you wonder if EVERYthing in my life is a really big deal??)

As my birthday approached, I decided that a new quilt would be a good gift for me my husband to give me,

so the search intensified!

I've never searched so long and hard for anything...

not even a parka!

But today ~finally~ I found what I was looking for

(cut to U2 music)

ta-Da!

creamy and heavily quilted coverlet with pretty damask sheets in lilac!

(thankfully my husband is very secure in his masculinity...)

I found the accent pillow first (love!) and it helped build "the look."

The best part is that my treasured afghan from my aunt fits perfectly!

Overall, the look is very B&B, I like to think!

And all those hours (and miles) spent on the hunt?

totally worth it.

yay!

something bigger

Last night I had the joy of being able to go to a really big show - I mean really big!  Apparently it had been 14 years since U2 came to town...I was there and I'm pretty sure it hadn't been that long!  (you know how time flies the older you get!)

I happen to get to go to these concerts with the biggest U2 fan around, my sweet husband.  This time though, we also went with a great group of friends and though I didn't sit with my man, I had an awesome time sitting with the girls (who aren't all present for the picture), dancing, enjoying the music and being cold!

As we waited for the main act to come on, I looked out across the stadium at a sea of people: everyone there for the same reason, energy bouncing.  I couldn't help but think of the Church.  I thought about followers of Jesus across the world - living, serving and waiting for the Kingdom to be fulfilled -and what it would be like to be all in one place for just one night.

I surveyed the huge crowd on the floor and saw a small group of 6 people waving in my direction.  I reluctantly waved back, not knowing if I really was the one whose attention they were trying to attract. When that little group started jumping up and down I realized (finally) that I did know them! They were my eagle-eyed friends who spotted us up in the stands.  How cool is that?!

And maybe that's more like the experience we're meant to have in the here and now of the Church.  Small clusters of people - call them churches, assemblies, gatherings - in a sea of unbelievers, shining our Light.  All seeking to share the love Jesus and jumping up and down at the sight of someone they "know."

We are not alone.
We do not need to be separated by small doctrinal differences.
We are part of something bigger.
We are a part of God's plan for the world.

And just like the lights from the stage at the concert that filled the sky and were seen from miles around, we must shine where we are and seek to serve God together.

"You are the light of the world-

a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden."

Matthew 5:14

call it what you will

We started a great discussion yesterday, and I've responded to some of the comments on yesterday's post in the comment section.  Today is part II - written at the same time as yesterday's post (but I didn't want to break any records for the World's Longest Blog Post!).

-------------------------------------------------------------------------- 

I know a person who always seems to see the bright side of things.  Who always seems happy to see you - and everyone else, who loves kids - even the annoying ones - and loves to bring fun into any and every situation.  People sometimes think this person is goofy or oblivious or a pie-in-the-sky Pollyanna.  I have thought it must be exhausting to feel compelled to be so positive and optimistic.  People - Christians - I know have openly mocked this happy-go-lucky attitude and I have rolled my eyes (to my shame) at this person's unending enthusiasm.

Are some people naturally like this?

could be.

I am not naturally positive and optimistic - does that mean I'm destined to a life of negativism, of being a life-sucker rather than a life giver?

maybe not....

In chapter 11 of Gretchen Rubin's book, The Happiness Project, in discussing keeping a contented heart, she comes around to idea of choosing to "give positive reviews."  By her definition this means to be more enthusiastic and to become one of the "joyous ones."  She quickly realizes how very difficult it is to abandon a lifestyle of  enjoying the "delicious satisfaction" of criticizing.  She readily identifies how being critical made her "feel more sophisticated and intelligent" and how studies have shown that "people who are critical are often perceived as more discerning."[p. 268]  As she seeks to keep her resolution to "Give positive reviews," she attempts an intensive approach - no negative comments for one week. 

Could you do that?  I'm not sure I could (certainly not without the Lord's help!)....

Here's what she learned:

"Once I started trying to give positive reviews, though, I began to understand how much happiness I took from the joyous ones in my life - and how much effort it must take for them to be consistently good-tempered and positive. It is easy to be heavy; hard to be light. We non-joyous types suck energy and cheer from the joyous ones; we rely on them to buoy us with their good spirit and to cushion our agitation and anxiety.  At the same time, because of a dark element in human nature, we're sometimes provoked to try to shake the enthusiastic, cheery folk out of their fog of illusion....instead of shielding their joy, we blast it." [p.270]

And I thought of the person I know who is consistently good-tempered, who is one of the joyous ones.  And it occurred to me that this person might not "naturally" be like that.  Perhaps a lifetime of choosing to be positive and enthusiastic has led to the seemingly effortless fun and delight that defines them.  As I continued reading, I was convicted by the realization that it takes a great deal of humility to lay aside the desire and impulse to use "sarcasm, ironic asides and cynical comments" to make myself appear smart and discerning. "A willingness to be pleased," Rubin says, "requires modesty and even innocence - easy to deride as mawkish and sentimental."

Having "ready laughter" is something that I've valued in others and have desired to bless others with.  For me this often means delighting with someone in the "obvious" joke, rather than just smiling out of courtesy.  To be there for those around me, laying aside my personal preferences in humour or entertainment styles.

I've never preferred the word "happy."  Something in me has always considered it unspiritual.  JOY - yes that is good and godly, but it isn't something that is necessarily reflected on the outside.  It's a deep sense of peace and satisfaction that comes from the security of a relationship with the Lord - but doesn't mean you'll be happy.  Happy is fluffy.  Happy is circumstantial.  Happy is for morning people.  Happy isn't necessary for Christians....

found it here
notice the vacancy sign??

I'm thankful for this book because through Rubin's writing, the Lord gave me peace with this little word.  Happy is ok.  Happy is not a feeling in and of itself, it's an external view of my heart.  (Be joyful in hope... Rom 12:12)  For me, happy is the outward display of being joyful.  Happy will draw people in instead of pushing them away.  Happy will reflect the character of a loving God as it reflects that deep sense of joy that comes from a meaningful relationship with Jesus. Happy will enable me to speak joy into the lives of my family, friends and community.  And maybe I'll never achieve the kind of happiness displayed by "the person I know" but I am sure that every time I lay down my pride to show more of what God can do in a person like me, I will make Him happy (pleased, joy-filled, delighted, glad - call it what you will) too.

May the righteous be glad and rejoice before God;

may they be happy and joyful.

Psalm 68:3

choosing

It's been a while since I've posted and I'm not entirely sure what's been stopping me...

ok, as soon as I finished typing that line, I realized that I do know, I'm just not going to talk about it.

Regardless, I need to return The Happiness Project to the friend who let me borrow it but before I do, there are a couple of things I feel compelled to process a little further - and have on "paper" for me to refer back to. 

If you've taken a peek at my "new gadget/widget/whatev" you have seen that I really identified with the author (Gretchen Rubin) of this book, but there was one chapter in particular that actually made me stop reading and think.  This was followed by re-reading, more thinking, reading aloud to my husband and discussing in small chunks for several days (with 3 kids, that's how you discuss just about everything!).

Each of the chapters in this book is a month dedicated to a specific goal - of course, this I love!  In my world goals = gooood! (but more on that in another post).  The November chapter was called: Keep a Contented Heart.  As a Christ-follower, this is not a new concept - who hasn't memorized Philippians 4:11-13 at some point or another?  But one of the things that really struck me as Rubin unfolded what keeping content was going to look like in her life, was how far off the mark I really can be!  I mean, I'm content with my home and possessions, my appearance (most days of the month), my lot in life, my ministry and spiritual gifts - so that's it, right?  Well, look at this....

She breaks down her monthly goals into sub-goals (and of course, this I love!): i) laugh out loud, ii) use good manners, iii) give positive reviews, iv) find an area of refuge.  The first has been something I've been working on for quite a while.  If you have kids, watch their faces when they are able to make you really laugh, with complete abandon - you've never seen such delight!  Choosing to find the fun/funny in things is a gift you give to others.  Here's a quote that will take you right to the point:

found it here

"Responding with laughter meant that I had to give up my pride, my defensiveness, my self-centeredness."

 (page 264)

This is one I had to chew on for quite a while. This doesn't just mean being able to laugh at yourself, though that's part of it.  It means making the choice to let go and just enjoy instead of seeing the down-side of things, or thinking that this world is all about me. 

Yesterday after school, my kids were talking about how they'd spent their indoor recesses, and the younger two were demonstrating their "mad skillz" in dance having played Just Dance 2 on the Wii in the gym.  Please believe me when I say I'm not usually so indulgent, but I actually went out and got the game, just so I could see them dance.  As we broke out some moves (myself included, I'll have you know!) my oldest kept choosing a game and then refusing to dance to it.  This poor sweetie - first born, potential perfectionist - could not let go.  She heard us all laughing together and assuming we were making fun of her.  My heart broke, because I know what that feels like.  It can be so hard to let yourself just be silly for the sake of fun.

As I quoted a while ago (and Rubin quotes often in the book):

It is easy to be heavy; hard to be light

G.K.Chesterson



Do you think it requires giving up pride, defensiveness and self-centeredness to be more fun and laugh out loud?

Do you think making this choice would help you feel more content in life?

I've always thought it was a personality-related thing - that there are just certain types of people that do this naturally and easily.  But is that really the case?

More on that next time....

dun, dun, duuunnnn.....

(cliff hanger music!)

monday

One of the goals I set for myself this new year was related to FUN.  I saw myself getting bogged down with just "getting things done" and found I wasn't really showing many signs of enjoying the process.  I also resolved to Smile more.  I'm very careful to not frown too frequently (how I loathe those lines between my eyebrows), but noticed that my go-to facial expression was just neutral...not a smile, not a frown, just nothing.

I think I've been doing pretty well with the smiling so far, I've been more aware and have been able to make the effort and think it's had a positive effect.  This fun thing, though....

I'm wondering if I've become a little like the psalmist who wrote: "My friends and companions avoid me because of my wounds; my neighbors stay far away." Psalm 38:11

If I take more time to engage - will that make me more fun?  Of course I'm mostly thinking of my kids, but there are times I have struggled to be light and fun....even here, on this blog.  I certainly can't wait for everything in life to line up perfectly before I can find joy! 

{10 minutes later....}

Have I ever mentioned how much I LOVE Biblegateway.com? After I typed the word joy I checked out the same word at my fave bible search engine and came up with a dozen verses that spoke the TRUTH of God's joy into my heart!

Habakkuk 3:17-19

Though the fig tree does not bud
and there are no grapes on the vines,

though the olive crop fails

and the fields produce no food,

though there are no sheep in the pen

and no cattle in the stalls,

yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will be joyful in God my Savior.

Why?  I'll tell you: it's because...

The Sovereign LORD is my strength;

he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

he enables me to go on the height!

And the special ending that made my smile even bigger:

For the director of music. On my stringed instruments

...if you don't know, "director of music" is my job title in ministry!

now, how fun is that?