tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24473239755670974902024-02-19T07:00:07.738-06:00Secrets of OrualMistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.comBlogger146125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-77317088902993214022010-04-20T11:02:00.002-05:002010-04-20T11:03:19.506-05:00movedin case anyone still checks in at this old haunt, i'm writing <a href="http://unvasefragile.blogspot.com/">somewhere else</a> these days. :)Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-9622072578941040652009-08-22T08:12:00.004-05:002009-08-22T15:26:13.155-05:00Books that changed meBetter late than never, right? I saw this at several of my favorite blogs (<a href="http://sortacrunchy.typepad.com/">Megan</a>, <a href="http://www.emergingmummy.com/2009/08/in-which-these-are-few-books-that-have.html">Sarah</a>, and <a href="http://findinghimbigger-elizabeth.blogspot.com/2009/08/books-that-influence-way-i.html">Elizabeth</a>, to be exact) and am only now getting around to doing it myself... it sure seems like we have read many of the same books!<br /><br />Books that have changed the way I. . .<br /><br />think about marriage: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mystery-Marriage-20th-Anniversary-Meditations/dp/1590523741/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250947417&sr=1-1">The Mystery of Marriage</a> by Mike Mason (*this is actually the only marriage book I've ever read, and I did love it; however, I was single both times I did read it, so I'm due to read <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sex-God-Exploring-Connections-Spirituality/dp/0310280672/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250947241&sr=8-1">this</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Love-Respect-Desires-Desperately-Needs/dp/1591451876/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250947301&sr=1-1">this.</a>)<br /><br />think about politics:<br /><br />appreciate Christian spirituality and the personal essay: <a href="http://astore.amazon.ca/wescoamum-20/detail/0785263705">Blue Like Jazz</a> by Donald Miller, <a href="http://astore.amazon.ca/wescoamum-20/detail/0310266300">The Irresistible Revolution</a> by Shane Claiborne, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Velvet-Elvis-Repainting-Christian-Faith/dp/0310273080/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250948345&sr=1-1">Velvet Elvis</a> by Rob Bell, and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Severe-Mercy-Sheldon-Vanauken/dp/0060688246/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250948640&sr=1-1">A Severe Mercy</a> by Sheldon <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">Vanauken</span> <div><br />view the writing process: Since I'm not technically a writer, I'm including the essay in college that had the biggest impact in thinking about the process of writing, Slouching towards Bethlehem by Joan <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Didion</span></div><br /><br />mother: <a href="http://astore.amazon.ca/wescoamum-20/detail/0316778001">The Baby Book</a> by Dr. Sears, <a href="http://astore.amazon.ca/wescoamum-20/detail/0849905486">Grace Based Parenting</a> by Dr. Tim <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kimmel</span> (still reading this one, but it's great), and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Easy-Love-Difficult-Discipline-Cooperation/dp/0060007753/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250947836&sr=1-1">Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline</a> by Becky Bailey<br /><br />go about my daily work: they're not books, but many of them ought to be: the blogs in my sidebar and in my favorites folder leave me inspired and convicted quite often<br /><br />feed my babies: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Womanly-Art-Breastfeeding-Seventh-International/dp/0452285801/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250948101&sr=1-1">The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding</a> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Bestfeeding-How-Breastfeed-Your-Baby/dp/B002HJ3FZ4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250948155&sr=1-1"><span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">BestFeeding</span></a><br /><br />feed my family: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Animal-Vegetable-Miracle-Year-Food/dp/0060852569/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250948489&sr=1-1">Animal, Vegetable, Miracle</a> by Barbara <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kingsolver</span><br /><br />think beyond myself: <a href="http://www.amazon.com/What-Vintage-Dave-Eggers/dp/0307385906/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1250948759&sr=1-1">What is the What</a> by Dave <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Eggars</span><br /><br />I love books so much and this is just the tip of the iceberg of books that made an impact on my life!Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-7916052614812691432009-08-04T23:09:00.005-05:002009-08-04T23:47:50.426-05:00Hey, Blog, remember me?I'm emerging... Out of the clouds and haze of having a newborn for a whole month now (really? 4 weeks already?), but also trying to solidify a few things I've been ruminating on for a while. I hate to say something as vague as that and tell you I'll be more specific later, but that's exactly what I'm going to do. My time is limited these days with caring for the older boys and attempting to nurse the wee one, so as I'm able to add to the growing drafts in my folder, I'll share my thoughts here.<br /><br />Quickly, though, I can say some blogging changes will be happening, probably piecemeal due to that whole time thing, but the first one I'll start with is my kids' names. I've thought and re-thought about their monikers, and decided that at the end of the day I'm okay using their given names. So blog, meet Shea (aka Bear), Connor (aka <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Bunkin</span>), and of course the newest Avery. These little men, along with their awesome daddy known as <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hunny</span>, are the light of my life and the happenings of my days, and as I write about them I will keep in mind their safety and what is <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">acceptable</span> to be posted on the Internet.<br /><br />There may also be some format and background changes, as well as a possible URL change, so bear with any construction issues, please!<br /><br />Other than Avery's arrival (more on that in a minute), our lives have been busy with hosting company for a week and some uncertainty with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Hunny's</span> job security. The dust of company has settled but alas, work has not. If you are a praying person and would like to pray for clarity and peace, we'll take it! Having my friend Amy here was a powerful tool to incite some action on my part. At first, I was very homesick for Memphis and friends there (church! community!), and I still am. But after some discussion, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Hunny</span> and I feel we moved here for a reason, and we want to make a good faith effort at figuring that out. We'd like to honor our lease, which still has one year, and to take that time to <em>really</em> be proactive with relationships, both for us and for the boys. So, hopefully you'll hear lots more on those successes! Down with <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">loneliness</span>!! Part of that means I continue to lie low online so that I can pursue real-life friendships, maintain some sort of cleanliness at home, as well as support <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Hunny</span> as much as I can while he seeks a new job or stays where he is.<br /><br /><br />On to the picture-heavy part of the post!! That's what you were waiting on anyway, right?<br /><br />Remember <a href="http://secretsoforual.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-many-words-for-thousand-pictures.html">this picture</a> (scroll down just a bit) of Phineas and Connor? Well, same photo-op but with Phineas and Avery:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lh0_hgZ3UtC-KXS-qehg2hubm6mHPhr8RZjatlQoQRobOOmGEUdTi-cytwVXrj0bu5YoAEb2bxgqUuGI0ZQma5-3vcsJhwde0amf2NH2-0fqu5dyDX49uVN8qfR-3g3ErcR2UKJmwAI/s1600-h/finnyavery.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366332433397833314" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8lh0_hgZ3UtC-KXS-qehg2hubm6mHPhr8RZjatlQoQRobOOmGEUdTi-cytwVXrj0bu5YoAEb2bxgqUuGI0ZQma5-3vcsJhwde0amf2NH2-0fqu5dyDX49uVN8qfR-3g3ErcR2UKJmwAI/s400/finnyavery.jpg" border="0" /></a> Yup, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Phinny</span> still thinks my lap/the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Boppy</span> is for his personal use despite being occupied. And a little side note: he's expecting a litter of his own. Sigh... yes, our other cat Mia is pregnant. The kittens should be pretty darn cute, though!<br /><br />And here is Avery's solo act; don't you love how newborns literally just surrender to sleep (even if it is on their schedule!)?<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf4NN5l06WnS5oPdrQrwH3Uf4ilRVmaynH1_5Jkvh3ofOjNqyutfCCUPfRymXQ7fMOSO9yVaj2Pp_3sG7CFPYWkhaezWPuZbM96c3F58dQi2jHSZ71RcAPj7J1NtR7KO3pe0YqUa4UNo/s1600-h/avery3wks4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5366333664434463426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhf4NN5l06WnS5oPdrQrwH3Uf4ilRVmaynH1_5Jkvh3ofOjNqyutfCCUPfRymXQ7fMOSO9yVaj2Pp_3sG7CFPYWkhaezWPuZbM96c3F58dQi2jHSZ71RcAPj7J1NtR7KO3pe0YqUa4UNo/s400/avery3wks4.jpg" border="0" /></a> And, Elizabeth, if you're looking at these pictures, I promise we don't just have Arkansas <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">apparel</span>, despite my t-shirt and the one of Avery here and on my blog! Just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">sayin</span>'!<br /><br />What I love about Avery now: his <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">faux</span>-hawk (well, it also looks like the tuft of hair, er, feathers, on a duckling called <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Fuzzworth</span>); his gas or dream induced grins-they're totally lopsided; his spindly little limbs...Shea and Connor were much more stout than he is; and his complete and utter mellow-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">ness</span>. He's so chill all the time (except when he's hungry or gassy, and those you expect and desire!), it's strange. But in a good kind of way. :) I still can't figure out who he looks like, so <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">that'll</span> be fun to watch.<br />Anyway, that's all for now... I'll be back soon!Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-54182482586094929442009-07-02T19:43:00.003-05:002009-07-02T20:23:54.896-05:00Welcome, Baby!!I'm proud to announce the arrival of my newest little man to my blog family!! Baby came supposedly 5 wks early on June 30th, and I'm so excited that I was able to have the VBAC I longed for.<br /><br />Here's my birth story... it may have bodily-related details you aren't interested in, just warning!<br /><br />I'd begun noticing my Braxton-Hicks contractions picking up over the last couple of weeks, but they were so irregular they never caught me off guard or anything. I do remember feeling impatient with the pregnancy in general, all the diabetes complications, and just the huge feeling of discomfort I'd been having. I began asking Hunny and my doctors if I could have been any further along, but the simple answer was "who knows." I didn't share all the issues that had surfaced with my maternal-fetal appointments and the huge disappointment that I felt when told I'd no longer be able to try for VBAC due to the large size of the baby, and I'll admit to feeling frustrated that I'd have to endure another surgery and still be Mama to the two at home. I even asked at my latest appointment, "What if I go into labor before the 13th (my scheduled amniocentesis date); will I be able to labor then?" with the answer being "no." Needless to say, I was crushed and trying hard to deal with the disappointment.<br /><br />On Sunday the 28th I began noticing a pattern to my Braxton-Hicks, but while they were still "weak," they were very noticeable. I contracted from 6:30 pm to about midnight, and remember getting very excited and telling Hunny, "This could be it!" However, they completely stopped after midnight, and I went to bed and woke the next morning with no new changes. I assumed I'd just experienced "false labor," and Hunny was golden in gently reminding me that all contractions are practice and thus a "forward" motion, not backwards as I was making them out to be! :)<br /><br />On Monday, my back was hurting all day, which I just chalked up to sleeping fitfully (wondering if I was in labor or not), and the contractions came back, but they were on again/off again so I didn't think much of them. I asked Hunny what he thought of me trying some of the so-called "natural induction methods" out there, and he admitted some skepticism but was willing to do whatever I wanted to do. We'd already eaten a spicy curry on Sunday, I'd increased some of my physical activities, and I was getting so ready to be unpregnant, so I asked him to pick up a bottle of castor oil. (DISCLAIMER: this was not sanctioned by my OB (I didn't ask her opinion) and thus I in no way offer this as medical advice!!) I took a tablespoon in some juice right after dinner, and proceeded to clean the house a little more vigorously (vacuumed and swept, etc), and waited for the horrible bowel symptoms that are supposed to result from the castor oil. They never showed up! I was tired and decided to lie down, and when I did I realized my contractions increased. Seeing if they would help, I started to manually stimulate my nipples, and sure enough, the contractions both increased in intensity and regularity. I wanted to stay lying down in case it was the real deal and in case it would be a really long night, but I found that my anxiety and excitement kept me from sleeping at all! I called Hunny to pack some things (because as of this point, I'd only made a to-do/to-pack list, not actually packed anything for the hospital!), and this is when the light clicked on in his mind/heart and he just KNEW this was when we'd deliver! Unable to sleep, we traded places so I'd be out in the living room and he'd try to sleep as long as he could. I spent the next few hours surfing the Internet for first stage labor symptoms (!), and my water broke at 3 am on Tuesday the 30th. When this happens, I go wake Hunny up to tell him, and we spend the next bit of time trying to figure out what the best course of action was regarding the boys and me getting to the hospital: do we wake them up or me drive myself? We chose the latter, much to Hunny's chagrin. So, around 4 am I drove myself to the hospital, and it's funny the things I thought! I remember being happy there wasn't any traffic, being happy it was June and not July (Bear's birthday is in 2 weeks), and just happy that driving was a pretty decent distraction from the definitely increased contractions (they got much worse after my water broke).<br /><br />I get to the hospital and check in, and of course am immediately subjected to all the IVs, and monitors. I was literally tethered to the bed, and even though I knew (and remembered from Bunkin's birth) this would make labor more difficult, I was still attempting a natural labor. I kept asking the nurse if it was okay if I continued to try to VBAC, and that's when she was like, "oh, there was an issue with this?" DOH! keep your mouth shut, Misty!! :)<br /><br />After 7 am I began doubting my ability to keep going med-free. I hadn't heard from Hunny and I was beginning to panic if he'd even make it to the hospital since I had the car. My nurse was awesome at encouraging me to do whatever I needed; she helped me breathe and low-moan through the contractions, but I began to lose control because all I could focus on was Hunny not being there for the birth! I finally got a hold of him and he let me know that my sister B was coming home from work to pick him up, take the boys to her house and drive them to the hospital. At this point I gave in and asked for medicine because I just didn't feel I could do it without help anymore. I am actually really happy I got the epidural; it helped me relax, and I went from a 3 to 9 within an hour!! (I'd arrived 80% effaced and 3cm dilated) When my OB showed up she said it would be okay to just let my body keep working and see if we could wait for Hunny to show up, but I got to a point where I couldn't resist the urge to push any longer, so the nurse directed me to push a few times, and in walks Hunny and B, just in time to actually see me deliver Baby!! I was so glad they got to be there! I didn't tear and the delivery itself was mostly uncomplicated (I had a little extra bleeding than they normally hope for, but it was well-controlled quickly).<br /><br />Baby was allowed to nurse pretty soon, but when they checked his sugars (required because of my diabetes), they were way too low: 22 out of minimum 45. They took him to the NICU, and he's been there ever since, but I'm so glad the hospital has been so supportive of my desire to breastfeed. I've been on a strict schedule (every 3 hrs) to attempt to feed him at the breast, but we've supplemented every feeding to maintain his sugars, which he now has (PTL). We are getting him weaned off the glucose IV, and while I'll go home tomorrow, he'll prayerfully join us this Saturday!<br /><br />I'm so blessed and happy that despite all my fears and obsessing over the "worst case scenario" that God saw and met the desires of my heart and allowed me to deliver this little boy with a normal vaginal birth with no complications other than Baby's sugars. He is a beauty and so sweet, and we are so in love with him!! Welcome to the world, sweetheart!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpFlrZgz6sPPj9uFpHFf0KXW1zjZh8NYPOWCCptidurJi6sb79RxDxMKgNxgssGvs8hvmIl8yodW3wRPXP4QxPGEA0Hj-0gVnQ-pXwb84L-VP2_TPTXdFqrBBNf7OHmkfg2zNZM-x0a0/s1600-h/avery1.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5354038243151030914" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHpFlrZgz6sPPj9uFpHFf0KXW1zjZh8NYPOWCCptidurJi6sb79RxDxMKgNxgssGvs8hvmIl8yodW3wRPXP4QxPGEA0Hj-0gVnQ-pXwb84L-VP2_TPTXdFqrBBNf7OHmkfg2zNZM-x0a0/s400/avery1.jpg" border="0" /></a>Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-73571253529618631702009-06-24T08:23:00.002-05:002009-06-24T08:40:14.936-05:00Leave of absence, sort of...As is obvious by now, I've not been a very good blogger in terms of frequency! Part of it is simply being summertime, there is more to do, and part of it is just where I am in life right now. I've had spurts of things to say, but a lot of it would have been complaining, and I didn't want to drag anyone down with me so to speak!<br />To update everyone in my personal life, I have about 4 weeks til we deliver this baby, which I'm greatly looking forward to, even though I'm quite disappointed it looks like I will need a repeat c-section. I'm grateful that Hunny and I have two friends willing to come all the way to Texas to help us out, but I'm still battling fearfulness for surgery recovery (if it comes to that) and still needing to be Mama to two little guys at home as well. I'm also nervous about what 3 kids look like in "real life"--I thought going from one to two was hard!<br />Speaking of real life, this is actually my main incentive to take a decisive break from blogging (as opposed to the accidental beaks I keep taking). I need to get stuff done. I just got done reading an excellent article about being a calm mother and "getting off your butt parenting", but while I read those posts, I yelled at Bunkin at least twice without physically diverting his attention and redirecting him, and I ignored a plea or two from Bear for me to help him do something... also while having my couch covered in laundry that's been sitting there for two days not folding itself! I can make a hundred excuses for why I don't feel up to doing certain activities, but the truth is, often I take the lazy route, leaving me with disgruntled kids and myself highly frustrated as well. I need to take a season, especially with this new baby, to reprioritize balancing real life and all the other things that take up my time (<del>crackbook</del>facebook, anyone?). I have a girlfriend who refuses to get on the computer at all while her kids are awake... I'm on mine all day long for various reasons. Instead of reading about parenting, I need to DO parenting. It's great to be inspired and convicted and read about spiritual disciplines or healthy/natural living, but to what avail if I'm not actually DOING any of those things?<br />So... I need a break. I'm sure there may be random posts here and there if I'm particularly inspired by something or just want to show off my latest crafty adventures, and certainly I'll post when the new little man is here, but til then, I'm going to lie low both in my own blog and in the rounds I make reading others' blogs (in fact, I'm going to clean up my sidebar and narrow down to the blogs I truly love and get something from instead of trying to keep up with the blogging Joneses and link to everyone).Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-50994606762536969712009-06-11T12:19:00.004-05:002009-06-11T18:23:04.958-05:00In which she cringes.....On my way to the doctor yesterday, I had a bit of an "aha!" moment.... but not exactly in a good way. More of an "I really thought that?" moment. I've had the idea of social justice on my mind a lot, mostly because of reading Shane Clairborne's <em>Irresistible Revolution</em>, and just thinking through the so-called practicality of a missional mindset (while my kids are young and as I wrestle through my own opinions and beliefs) and wishing fervently that Hunny and I found a place we could worship and find fellowship. Anyway, driving through downtown, I saw a woman standing on a corner where I normally see the same homeless guy holding his sign. I've driven past this same man for 10 weeks in a row (I see the maternal fetal doctor every week, thanks, Diabetes!), and it kind of shocked me to see someone else in his place, maybe especially because she was a she? No sign, no expression, just standing there, and I have no idea if she was homeless or just there.<br />For some reason I recalled almost simultaneously two things I participated in at college. The first was a class that fulfilled my Life* requirements, called <em>Hunger, Plenty and Justice</em>. It was both a philosophy and religion course taught by one of the most brilliant professors on campus. And I barely passed. I struggled so much in that class, and at the time I simply said that I couldn't wrap my brain around the philosophy side of the class. That's true (I still struggle to think through logic or other forms of rhetoric), but I think there was also a spiritual implication I just refused to "get" at the time. I was trying to figure out my own faith, and the Life course (among other things) certainly did much to shake me! I wish I'd let this class impact me more then and grow me up, instead of me backing down and refusing to internalize the issues we discussed: the idea that there is an inequality of food distribution in the world and the implications of those who choose to tackle such a huge project. <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>[*At my college, before Freshman year, you had to declare Life or Search, a 2-year "religion" general education requirement, the difference explained at the time was the "Bible" course or the "History of the World" path.... in retrospect, despite its being billed as biblical, the Life course was very secular, and the Search course was not nearly as boring as it sounded at the time. However, Search students seemed to have twice as much homework as I did, so I don't regret that particular decision! Not to mention 2 of my all time favorite classes were taken as Life requirements.. so there!]</em></span><br />The 2nd thing I thought of was a servant-leader group I joined to help fulfill some of my volunteer service hours for the Bonner Scholarship I was a member of. Besides the preposition at the end, what's wrong with that sentence? I only did it to fulfill a requirement: to log hours of community service. The group was called Micah 6:8 (He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.), and their purpose was to learn to be servants by being leaders in the effort to promote social justice. I was so clueless. I thought life was pretty good back then, so I didn't really understand the term social justice (or inequality) at all... I knew that I was poor compared to some of the other kids on campus, but who cared, right? I didn't even end up completing the internship, and again, I desperately wish I could go back and be moved by others' true desire to be servant-leaders and to give to their community.<br />As if that were not enough, I then remembered an evening I'd been out on a date and ordered a very expensive fish sandwich of some kind. I don't remember why I got a fish sandwich, because the mere idea makes me want to gag now. If I remember correctly, it's because I was at a fancy seafood restaurant, and I was trying to mask my distaste of fish (which I don't normally care for), so I thought, "bread will help this." Needless to say, I still didn't care for it, and I did my best to nibble the bread and make it seem as if I enjoyed the food, and then was too "full" to eat it all, so please box the rest for me, thankyouverymuch. Walking back to the car, a homeless man walked up to my date and me and asked for change. Truthfully, I told him I didn't have any, but would he be interested in leftovers? He GLADLY took that box of nibbled-on fish, and I remember how relieved I was not to just throw the food away (and thus admit to my date I hated the food) and pity that he would eat a sandwich I'd been more than wiling to throw away. And I was proud. Proud of my solution to the not wasting food and proud that I'd helped this man out.<br />WHAT???<br />Yes, all this passed through my mind very quickly as I took my turn at the light, but I cringed as soon as I recalled feeling that prickly sensation of self-congratulation for offering a half-eaten sandwich to a man who deserved a sit down meal and a decent conversation. I treated him as the dregs of society and patted my own back for it. How foolish!!! How humbling?! What if God gave me that kind of grace? "Here. I'll let my Son's sacrifice cover about half your shortcomings, but really, I was just gonna throw it away anyway, so you'll be fine." SHIVER.<br />I still have no idea what I think about worldwide justice. Politics make things muddy. My own priorities make things uncertain at times. I do know, however, that I have a passion to not just BE in my own little world, ignoring the sufferings of others. I want to offer myself and expect nothing in return. I want to serve soup in a homeless shelter and not feel superior. I want to teach my kids that there is more to being frugal than trying to be millionaires. I want to have my own eyes and ears opened so that I can see other people and hear their true needs as Christ would... and love them as He would love his bride. This feels like a tall order, and I fear falling very, very short of this. But it's the journey I'm on, and one I'm still figuring out what it looks like. I'm also fairly sure I'll mess up along the way, but at least I know that His grace looks a heck of a lot better than a half-eaten fish sandwich, eh? It might look a lot more like 5 loaves and fishes turned into 5000, and that kind of grace is pretty awesome.Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-32618124894521868102009-06-05T17:14:00.002-05:002009-06-05T17:23:42.849-05:00Cloth diaper giveaway!Oh my, way too much time has passed since my last post, but please, if you are praying for Josiah and his parents, continue to do so! I know <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Merri</span> and Stephen have appreciated everyone who has lifted their sweet family in prayer!!<br /><br />I have so much to write about and catch things up, but I'll start with OH MY GOODNESS, I have less than 50 days til this baby is born!!!! There's a lot that goes into that (while I'm technically 31 weeks, I'll be delivering by 38 weeks at the latest... so soon!), which of course means my mind is in overdrive!<br /><br />One of the things I'm most excited about doing with this little man is starting him in cloth from the beginning. Since potty training is <del><span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">nonexistent</span></del> not working at this point with Bear, I may have three kids in diapers, which means a lot of money! One of the reasons I never started Bear and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Bunkin</span> in cloth from their hospital days was my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">prefolds</span> were just so huge on them. As I wrote before, I have some newborn sized <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">dipes</span>, and I'm very excited to get going with them!<br />As an additional boon, <a href="http://simplemom.net/">Simple Mom</a> is giving away some cloth diapering options on her website. She has an EXCELLENT series on cloth diapering if you haven't heard me <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">laud</span> them enough! She has a <a href="http://simplemom.net/the-simple-mom-cloth-diaper-review/">great review</a> of several of the major brands, and you or I could potentially be a winner of one of these brands, so go on over and check her out!!Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-6571836573211834152009-05-16T09:25:00.002-05:002009-05-16T09:31:25.959-05:00PLEASE PRAY FOR JOSIAHDear friends, I know I've been away from my blog since my trip to Memphis, and part of that was because Meg came to visit (we had a lovely time together).<br />However, I only wanted to share a huge prayer request for my sisters and brothers to lift up with me. One of my friends from Memphis, Merri, and her husband are going through quite a lot right now, as their 6 month old son Josiah has been diagnosed with a brain tumor and had surgery. His care will now be through St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, which is right there in Memphis, and so God is already providing in huge ways for this sweet, young family. Please, take a moment to go to their <a href="http://josiah-updates.blogspot.com/">blog/update site</a> and pray big prayers for Josiah's recovery and healing.<br />When things finish settling down here, I'll be back to blogging, but I'm kind of in full-out nesting mode, trying to find an OB mode, and in general trying to stay away from the computer a whole lot. I've missed reading everyone else's blogs, though, so I'll also try to make those rounds this week and figure out what everyone has been up to.Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-32861824829265563682009-04-28T17:24:00.005-05:002009-04-28T17:32:37.266-05:00"Ahhh Deee"Ahh dee in Bear and Bunkin speak means "all done" and is accompanied by their little attempts at signing the phrase. Adorable. Almost as cute as them is the completed baby sweater set I finally finished, so thought I'd share here. Again, this was such fun to knit because it was so quick, even with my accidentally sewing up the legholes and having to undo that! Here's the set laid out--forgive my unvacuumed floor, please. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMh_dtBUzSkBCykJ4f2L-1ztEQK0jldHKOHBSj2jbEAN-EXj771qrHF0-zhR989LIp6pQL1ET13554YCZb5P6xXcfUhyphenhyphenH8ecFEvu-J-U-yinb_qJdtWBtqM7-K6wgMujgHocR2hcqwZs/s1600-h/babysweaterfinished.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329872162068936754" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMh_dtBUzSkBCykJ4f2L-1ztEQK0jldHKOHBSj2jbEAN-EXj771qrHF0-zhR989LIp6pQL1ET13554YCZb5P6xXcfUhyphenhyphenH8ecFEvu-J-U-yinb_qJdtWBtqM7-K6wgMujgHocR2hcqwZs/s400/babysweaterfinished.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br />And here is the little model showing off his baby rolls. That is, of course, me and my big ol' belly trying to stay out of the camera but needing to keep Bunkin still.... By the way, Brownie, that's a shot of our "new" furniture... at least you can see it!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-ZBQaTGUQMbiu30zgXKQm6OTxyQqcl-kKG_nxq3Rdp7c7ydjaERaTGKdLjgkxw1QAKOZ1eonU705-_cNil9UgsUK6-CXSR7CaqWkCAGwho7jDmA7OHJm-WQH22VtjKiQnzqBWxPy8i4/s1600-h/babysweateronconnor2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329872604567599602" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-ZBQaTGUQMbiu30zgXKQm6OTxyQqcl-kKG_nxq3Rdp7c7ydjaERaTGKdLjgkxw1QAKOZ1eonU705-_cNil9UgsUK6-CXSR7CaqWkCAGwho7jDmA7OHJm-WQH22VtjKiQnzqBWxPy8i4/s400/babysweateronconnor2.jpg" border="0" /></a> This will be my last post for a while as I'm visiting Memphis this weekend. I'll be back in a week or so--have a great rest of the week and weekend!Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-72690191934211989022009-04-26T23:28:00.009-05:002009-04-27T00:12:43.789-05:00You can call me (domestic) DivaOh, my, where to start? How about a little randomness? I'm a member of a local AP mom email group, which has been a pretty good source of information on things like natural-minded <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">pediatricians</span>, etc. Every once in a while a mom will share that she's getting rid of cloth diapers or that she wants a partner for a co-op, that type of thing. Well, the latest cloth diaper advertisement caught my eye, <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">because</span> the mom was selling her gently used <a href="http://www.fuzzibunz.com/"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">FuzziBunz</span></a> for at least half off retail price--that's a GREAT deal, and I really love them. (We just have a few large sized and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Bunkin</span> and Bear can both wear them; at this age, they're just a lot easier than <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">prefolds</span> [especially since I lost my <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Snappis</span>], and with <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Bunkin's</span> rash of rashes [ha!] lately, the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">microfleece</span> liner keeps him dry and is soft without chemicals sitting on his skin. All that being said, I love them!) She was selling 7 small size, and I told her I was interested. She invited me to her home to look through all her leftover diapers. She lives about 30 minutes from us, and let's <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">just</span> say I got terribly, terribly lost on the way to her house. And the GPS in my phone was not working that particular day (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">grrrrrr</span>) and she hadn't given me a home phone number, just her address. Just when I figured all my time was lost and I'd have to drive until I could ask for directions, I saw <a href="http://www.woolieewe.com/">The <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">Woolie</span> Ewe</a>. I even recognized it because it's where I bought my latest yarn for my friend's recent baby arrival (they are the closest yarn shop to where we live). I had to stop in... you know, for directions! Well, let me just say I walked away with a crazy deal, but still spent way more money than I ought to have. I bought this gorgeous angora yarn made by Classic Elite called Lush, and it is indeed one of the most luxurious and luscious fibers I have ever touched, and the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">Ravelry</span> raves have been extremely positive on how wonderful it is to knit (though, apparently, it sheds like crazy). Very exciting. I even have a <a href="http://www.sweaterbabe.com/knitting-patterns/lush-and-lacy-cardigan-knitting-project.htm">sweater</a> in mind.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPFW2OydEinOOReZlTyFAxfN2R0W270HI3UWzOlSRFV2F1LIZGCOWG3NUDxSOkyqxwqnxwoynGGRiElVrp4YbKAZ-3UkFlEW00sghjX_Ljtp_RA8YEYliQnna2VQOv7IPk95FUw79eXw/s1600-h/newyarn.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329226982269553346" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCPFW2OydEinOOReZlTyFAxfN2R0W270HI3UWzOlSRFV2F1LIZGCOWG3NUDxSOkyqxwqnxwoynGGRiElVrp4YbKAZ-3UkFlEW00sghjX_Ljtp_RA8YEYliQnna2VQOv7IPk95FUw79eXw/s400/newyarn.jpg" border="0" /></a> Oh, and just for the record, I did end up finding her house and buying some cloth diapers, though not the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">Fuzzibunz</span> I'd set out for. She was asking a bit more than I'd hoped, and after spending money at the yarn store, I felt I got a much better deal with some of her infant fitted diapers and contour diapers that I'd been wanting to try. Bear and <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">Bunkin</span> had so much fun playing with her 5 and 1 year old sons, so it was a trip well worth it all around!<br /><br /><p>And of course, as you can see from my yarn picture, I'm still in love with my new <a href="http://secretsoforual.blogspot.com/2009/04/crafty-love.html">fabric</a> for Bear's quilt. In fact, the night I originally posted about it, I cut out all my 3" and 6" squares. I can't believe I made the math part so difficult! Just cutting it was so much easier! Tonight I cut out the 9" squares, and thanks to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">Hunny</span>, we got a picture of a layout that makes me very happy. It is so bright and so colorful, and it was so cute watching <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">Hunny</span> poring over the layout to make sure there wasn't too much "color clumping" going on! I'm so excited about this quilt (and I'm sorry I keep saying that!).</p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaydDJgd17jXFxBe8IVrsMH0j1_JbuRm03CDbkMk0gyjpGFweZk3v8VAeSwVihZQ1f9mWY9lbC4A4vncm_vxdfDKRX4nXT4jmKBGvMphZDW7E3htqhhe3KadHDWTnhzwxszysQUSE21qI/s1600-h/quilt3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329230090649766722" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaydDJgd17jXFxBe8IVrsMH0j1_JbuRm03CDbkMk0gyjpGFweZk3v8VAeSwVihZQ1f9mWY9lbC4A4vncm_vxdfDKRX4nXT4jmKBGvMphZDW7E3htqhhe3KadHDWTnhzwxszysQUSE21qI/s400/quilt3.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />And of course, Phineas had to "own" my newly cut out fabric pieces, and was not happy about me trying to shoo him off!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8h9qZQCWcn8q_d0GL_DigVVaq60X8PTBu3j0Oe1Ex1b3Aqp3LPLK1_gyJFApcZaqlKvibw5FvSdIzOe5rOFVfjuKL1kcQRPjECTRQeVcy3Rg3YyBXVtaEnZpJJ-ldZM30r8t_evRNUk/s1600-h/quiltfinny.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329230628151395714" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo8h9qZQCWcn8q_d0GL_DigVVaq60X8PTBu3j0Oe1Ex1b3Aqp3LPLK1_gyJFApcZaqlKvibw5FvSdIzOe5rOFVfjuKL1kcQRPjECTRQeVcy3Rg3YyBXVtaEnZpJJ-ldZM30r8t_evRNUk/s400/quiltfinny.jpg" border="0" /></a> Love those legs, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">Hunny</span>! </p><br /><p>After my long evening of cutting and arranging, I was ready for a break, and thanks to our trip to Central Market today, I had the perfect snack waiting for me:<br /></p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQ3BD_hDCYweuPQggvG9zPT2msSKhVf7ZcNYXr06CUrZTFOg3FTmXIoJ-iFk4dzWjEkbExcVWRamwaGGcgV9pIq7F-yEuie8uVyt3vm0O5Wp_o116s014fbn9OvxzDG2IdEgq9H5I624/s1600-h/yummy.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329231227784765522" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQ3BD_hDCYweuPQggvG9zPT2msSKhVf7ZcNYXr06CUrZTFOg3FTmXIoJ-iFk4dzWjEkbExcVWRamwaGGcgV9pIq7F-yEuie8uVyt3vm0O5Wp_o116s014fbn9OvxzDG2IdEgq9H5I624/s400/yummy.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />Don't worry; I didn't actually drink the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">Lambic</span> OR eat the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">Lindor</span> Balls... they were very tempting, though!! (G, that cheese is divine; It's a New York triple cream cheese; I'll find the name for you--it was heaven and the very reason I'll not be a vegan!) </p><br /><p>Last, but not least, I have two superfluous Cute Baby photos... I mean, this post doesn't have nearly enough photos just yet, does it? :) Here is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">Bunkin</span> wearing the sweater I made; ignore that it's a girl sweater and obviously too small. I wish he were looking at the camera so you could see how pretty his blue eyes are, but clearly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">Desitin</span> is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">waaaay</span> more interesting! (Don't you just want to cuddle those rolls!)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oAyl5JqC3Lq_VwUFJJa6vICRrsb2SXlIv9ICL-_wK_9EFUwOPYgv1G0p31wNwIBl-vbj-MVfRmO_dGHmkAj6eCpfUZChMk4LjXs_6823gaz0oML5l3eflMBoLELfgr_SSFXZ8KrOid4/s1600-h/babysweaterconniemodel.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329232340140468274" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7oAyl5JqC3Lq_VwUFJJa6vICRrsb2SXlIv9ICL-_wK_9EFUwOPYgv1G0p31wNwIBl-vbj-MVfRmO_dGHmkAj6eCpfUZChMk4LjXs_6823gaz0oML5l3eflMBoLELfgr_SSFXZ8KrOid4/s400/babysweaterconniemodel.jpg" border="0" /></a><br />One more, because he's just so stinking cute<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaRmG6Sp4NDQIIobAieljblqgtObEbCVQ5v6caKVvshL5NKzmy1IARPyg4PJqkTdkpA_llZl2souaTlqndjTa4s4KAqn3n6eLv6OrAyLfCOaMhT8Xm_KvugDjA4tBByetSNEoiXaRme4/s1600-h/connie16mo.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5329232890309696546" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLaRmG6Sp4NDQIIobAieljblqgtObEbCVQ5v6caKVvshL5NKzmy1IARPyg4PJqkTdkpA_llZl2souaTlqndjTa4s4KAqn3n6eLv6OrAyLfCOaMhT8Xm_KvugDjA4tBByetSNEoiXaRme4/s400/connie16mo.jpg" border="0" /></a> Well, I've had a blast being crafty and showing off, but I have an EARLY doctor's appointment tomorrow and it's after midnight... Off to bed!!!<br /><br /></p>Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-81196981389289075672009-04-25T20:41:00.003-05:002009-04-25T20:56:49.565-05:00Crafty LoveI've been wanting to try my hand at quilting for so long, and there are so many fabulous quilting blogs out there for inspiration that I've felt <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">simultaneously</span> inspired and intrepid to even begin. However, nothing quite pulls you in like the draw of the Stash, or in my case, the fabric store with its eye-candy: bolt after bolt of simple and designer fabrics, each with their own personality begging to be discovered. We do not have craft stores where I live. It's been amazing for me to discover this, and I keep thinking I'll wake up within walking-distance to a yarn store or some such miracle, but alas, I do not think this will be any time soon. However, one of the great little communities about 20 minutes away does have fabric and crafting stores, so today we went to Joann, and I was very overwhelmed with choices! <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Hunny</span> took the boys to look at pets while Mommy browsed many different fabrics. I sort of had a tone-on-tone look in my mind, but when I saw a certain fabric section, I knew immediately I wanted some bright, happy colors. <a href="http://crazymomquilts.blogspot.com/2008/10/how-to-make-ragged-squares-quilt.html">This</a> is the quilt I want to make, and these are the beautiful fabrics we picked up today. (I'd love to disclose how much I spent on material, because I truly have no idea if it's a fortune or a deal, but it IS less than I'd spend on a quilt for a twin-sized bed. Oh, this is for Bear, by the way, as part of his birthday and graduation to big-boy bed coming soon! I can't wait to begin making this, but first, ironing fabric, and lots and lots of cutting--pray I don't have any snafus because I'm not sure I can handle that!<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqGtoamJ1Zc7HbFS2ZVZuZoOhHdlkPbMC7TUM1A0HttEm5czOMnVA9KKw2irMYS5_dnHbo9oQXMa9JH9U768WaZEtgZqTqBfB-DQSAYDlL6PGKHfn2wDr1qunU-Jqgh9SJwjuUlLlJhs/s1600-h/shea+quilt+fabric.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5328811573345696450" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqGtoamJ1Zc7HbFS2ZVZuZoOhHdlkPbMC7TUM1A0HttEm5czOMnVA9KKw2irMYS5_dnHbo9oQXMa9JH9U768WaZEtgZqTqBfB-DQSAYDlL6PGKHfn2wDr1qunU-Jqgh9SJwjuUlLlJhs/s400/shea+quilt+fabric.jpg" border="0" /></a>I wish I could portray the backing fabric better, but I was too impatient to wait for tomorrow in the daylight. It's sort of a cross between a mint and a pale lime (it's not blueish like mint green is in my mind, but it's not vivid like lime would be, either). I just love the rainbow colors, and I think it will be so bright and happy when it's all assembled. I'm <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">SOOOO</span> excited, I can hardly wait!!! I also intended to machine piece this together; however, I have no idea how to work my machine. That's a problem isn't it? I might be so ready to get this started that I decide to hand-piece it, which may not be the best in terms of neatness, though. Hmm.... Off to iron now!Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-71864787150341017662009-04-20T08:00:00.000-05:002009-04-20T08:00:00.556-05:00101 List updateCompleted things are in <strong>bold</strong>, and newly finished things are in <strong>bold CAPS</strong><br /><br />Health and Wellness<br /><br />1. Lose enough weight to be in my BMI target range.<br />3. Go vegan for 2 weeks<br />17. Try at least 5 fruits and 5 vegetables I've never tried before- <strong>Pommelo, CHAYOTE SQUASH, and Brussles Sprouts</strong>.<br />18. Exercise 30 minutes a day (weekdays) for at least one month <strong>I DID THIS IN MY FIRST TRIMESTER (GO FIGURE, BUT IT COUNTS!)</strong><br />16. Drink nothing but water for a week<br />27. No fast food for one full month (even for kids)<br />92. Follow Tio's diet for one week - <strong>I have decided to just pay for this one. There is no way I can go from a carb-heavy vegetarian to his meat-heavy diet. It just won't work for me!</strong><br />53. Take tennis lessons<br />83. Stop drinking soda entirely<br />84. Have acupuncture done<br />86. Complete the Couch to 5k program<br />100. Abstain from sweets for one entire week<br /><br />Spiritual/Faith<br /><br />4. Finish reading the Bible (as of start date, NT has been read)<br />6. Start journaling again. <strong>I'm so pleased to be journaling again. It's amazing how theraputic this is. 5/30/08 </strong><br />11. Take a seminary class that I will enjoy.<br />23. Read the Bible daily for at least one month (can include #4)<br />29. Pray for immediate family and friends daily for one month<br />7. Finish my Banner Pole of Remembrance<br />61. Read the holy book of another world religion<br />73. Memorize ten of my meaningful "life" verses/passages<br />93. Initiate and tell one person why I am a Christian<br />98. Find a church to join<br /><br />General<br /><br />2. Go to a "hot" beach (during warm weather!)<br />5. Go 1 week with no television<br />10. Finish the 1000 Challenge to get rid of 1000 things in my home (as of start date, 500 things remain) <strong>Nov 08 1000 things gone!</strong> <br />12. Grow and maintain a veggie patch (current tomato plants do not count)<br />14. Bake bread on a weekly basis (this only counts when I have successfully done it for at least 2 months in a row)<br />15. Train Pele and Sugar in obedience<br />19. Take a full spa day<br />20. Buy lingerie<br />21. Get fully dressed every day for at least a month.<br />22. Get my teeth professionally whitened<br />24. Get my nose pierced<br />25. Build something (a bookcase?)<br />26. Knit something for myself<br />28. Find a wine that I actually like (will take suggestions!)<br />30. Finish knitting that silly pair of socks <br />31. Learn to sew 5 practical things<br />32. Buy a bed and a living room set <strong>OOH WE BOUGHT A NEW LIVING ROOM SET, FEB 09</strong><br />33. Wake up before the kids by 15 minutes every day for 2 weeks<br />34. Buy an original painting to hang in my home<br />35. Travel internationally for 30th birthday<br />36. Take pottery lessons<br />38. Bring no plastic into our home for one month<br />42. Learn to whistle with my fingers (loudly!)<br />43. Ask the Chef at Automatic Slim's for a recipe I love (if he says no, ask another professional chef). <strong>Cayenne Moon's Remoulade</strong> <br />44. Read 10 books I currently own but have not read <strong>1. Sheperding a Child's Heart. 2. Velvet Elvis. 3. Blue Like Jazz. 4. Ascension 5. How to Raise an Amazing Child The Montessori Way. 6. Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline. 7. </strong><br />45. Get my children's clothing line going <strong>DONT THINK THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN B/CS OF THE WHOLE LEAD TESTING JUNK. BUT I'D STILL LIKE TO DO AN ETSY SHOP OR THE LIKE. </strong><br />50. Research and narrow down which home-(un-)schooling method I want to use <strong>THIS ONE IS PRETTY MUCH A WORK IN PROGRESS, BUT SINCE I HAVE BEGUN READING MY MONTESSORI BOOKS AGAIN, I’VE FALLEN IN LOVE WITH THE IDEA OF INCORPORATING SEVERAL OF THE TYPES OF LESSONS IN OUR DAILY ROUTINE WITH THE BOYS AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS FROM THERE.</strong><br />51. Utilize nothing but the farmer's market for family produce needs for one full month <strong>NOT SURE IF THIS COUNTS, BUT SINCE JOINING OUR COOP DELIVERY, WE HAVE ONLY GOTTEN THIS PRODUCE AND A LITTLE BIT MORE FROM CENTRAL MARKET (LIKE WHOLE FOODS), SO IT'S FRESH, AND MOSTLY LOCAL.</strong><br />52. Change the oil in my car one time<br />59. Make a family tree or trace my genealogy<br />60. Replace at least 3 cleaners with environmentally friendly versions (for home or body) <strong>use mrs meyers clean day and vinegar/baking soda for house needs. stopped using soap for me (better than a natural equivalent, for me anyway) </strong><br />67. Go ice-skating<br />70. Go camping as a family (if we have small babies, then camp in the backyard)<br />71. Design and bake a wedding-worthy cake<br />72. Pose nude for a photo shoot (after goal weight is achieved). <strong>CHANGED MY MIND. GONNA DO THIS WITH MATERNITY PHOTOS INSTEAD, EVEN THO MY GOAL WEIGHT HASN’T BEEN REACHED. PREGNANT BELLIES ARE BEAUTIFUL BELLIES</strong>.<br />75. Minimize energy consumption by only using clothes line, no lights before 6 pm, etc.<br />77. Change ten bad habits into good habits <strong>I am currently trying to stop cussing. I would like to change that into being a better encourager. TRYING TO STOP SLEEPING IN AND FULFILL MY GOAL TO WAKE UP BEFORE THE KIDS. STOPPED WATCHING TV SO MUCH IN THE DAYTIME, AND HAVE BEEN CLEANING OR PLAYING WITH THE BOYS INSTEAD. </strong><br />79. Bake a perfect souffle<br />80. Try 5 cheeses I've never tried (even if I don't think I like it). <strong>cottage cheese, some melty cheese from whole foods, AN UNNAMED AGED IRISH CHEDDAR ON ST PADDY'S DAY</strong>. <br />81. Go to and play at a casino<br />82. Make limoncello<br />87. Ride a real roller coaster-no kids!<br />101. Take voice lessons<br />46. Finish quilting my square<br /><br />Relationships<br /><br />7. Go on a weekend getaway with no kids<br />8. Go 1 week without getting on the computer. <strong>Nov 08</strong><br />54. Go to lunch with a friend once a month for 4 non-consecutive months <strong>Had lunch with Amy. Had coffee with Christina</strong>. <strong>TRYING TO FIND NEW FRIENDS</strong>. <br />55. Learn to and play a video game with Hunny.<br />68. Plan a romantic night for Hunny, and surprise him with it several times over the course of this project. 6/22/08; 8/9/08;<br />90. Become proficient in non-violent communication <strong>I've been learning to deal with some of Bear's obstinance by redirecting and helping him to put his feelings into words. ONGOING</strong>.<br />91. Study and understand Generalized Anxiety Disorder <strong>found an excellent website with great information. Already feel more compassionate towards Hunny and understanding his needs/fears. 6/29/08</strong><br />94. Write a letter to mom <strong>I sent her a jar of peach preserves and a note. She didn't respond. 7/14/08</strong><br />89. Spend a night at the Peabody or the Madison for anniversary<br /><br />Financial<br /><br />9. Save $1 a day, saving $1,001 by the end of the challenge.<br />78. Start a savings account for Bear and Bunkin <strong>Hunny started this 8/24/08</strong><br />85. Cut my college loan debt in half. <strong>LESS THAN 1/3 LEFT!!!</strong><br /><br />Community<br /><br />39. Practice acts of kindness for a full day (pay for an expired meter, pay for the next person's coffee, etc) 5x<br />40. Take a daily walk, picking up trash along the way, for one week<br />41. Walk (or run) for a cause: <strong>I’VE CHOSEN THE CAUSE BUT NEED TO WAIT TIL THIS YEAR’S RUN. I WANT TO RUN/WALK FOR WATER IS BASIC</strong>.<br />47. Continue growing my hair and donate to Locks of Love <strong>have to grow hair out again.</strong><br />48. Meet at least 4 neighbors, and pursue conversations at least 2 more times each talked with one neighbor after giving him herbs, but we moved after that. Will have to start over in our new neighborhood. <strong>NEW HOUSE UPDATE: MET ONE NEIGHBOR SO FAR</strong>.<br />56. Send a birthday card to all immediate family and friends for a full year<br />64. Research how to join (and if I qualify, join) a bone marrow donor registry<br />69. Rescue a pet from a shelter (if we have small babies, then donate money instead) <strong>rescued sugar Oct 08</strong><br />74. Research how to donate breastmilk and if there is a local bank<br />76. Have a conversation with a homeless person/volunteer at a soup kitchen <strong>TALKED TO A GENTLEMAN FOR A WHILE OUTSIDE OF THE GROCERY STORE. (YES, I GAVE HIM MONEY, TOO). STILL WANT TO DO THIS AGAIN. </strong><br />96. Buy a TWLOHA shirt to support that cause <strong>got my shirt!! 6/08</strong><br />97. Find a friend or group with which to barter services B AND I ARE GOING TO TRADE BABYSITTING SERVICES.<br />95. Buy 25 flowers for 25 random strangers<br /><br />Enrichment/Learning<br /><br />62. Read the rest of Shakespeare's plays (those not read in college)<br />63. Learn calligraphy well enough to nicely address envelopes<br />65. Learn to identify 10 (local) birds by sight and sound<br />66. Re-memorize the times tables (no laughing at me! I need to!)<br />57. Re-learn Spanish (become conversational again) <strong>This is only a start, but I had a short conversation with a mujer in the laundromat! </strong><br />58. Read a book in Spanish<br />13. Read classic works of fiction every couple of months (list to be determined). <strong>Farenheit 451</strong>.<br />49. Be able to identify 3 non-Dipper constellations<br />88. Rewrite a college paper and submit for publication in a journal<br />99. Get pregnant! 3<strong> months to go!</strong>Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-87087817718512866402009-04-18T21:46:00.005-05:002009-04-18T22:07:58.032-05:00Baby SweaterI just haven't felt like I had anything to say lately, so that's why I've been keeping quiet (quality, not quantity, right?). However, I've gotten over my knitting funk by knitting a super quick and super easy little girl's sweater and diaper cover. I'm quite thrilled with how the shirt turned out (I'm still knitting the bloomers), and think it is just darling if I do say so myself! It made me wistful that I don't have a little girl of my own to knit for--it's just so much more satisfying to knit girly things!<br /><br />Anyway, here are some pictures of the sweater, the front, detail, and back. I tried to get an "action" shot of it on Bunkin, but at 16 months, he's wearing 24 month clothing, and this sweater is sized for 12 mo (tho possibly a bit smaller because the turquoise yarn was a smaller gauge than the white). The pattern is from <em>The Expectant Knitter</em> (thanks, again, Biz, this book is my new fave knitting book!), and the yarns are Debbie Bliss eco cotton (white) and I can't remember who made the turquoise yarn; I think it might be a Rowan cotton. [If this yarn looks a little familiar, it's from a baby sweater I made for a friend, so handsomely <a href="http://secretsoforual.blogspot.com/2008/02/latest-fo.html">modeled</a> by the unsuspecting little Bunkin, and yes it is indeed Rowan Cashcotton.] Oh, and the little lazy daisy is stitched in yarn from my <a href="http://secretsoforual.blogspot.com/2009/03/why-diabetes-sucks-and-projects-to.html">recycled sweater</a>.<br /><p><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6hhiLD-9DM2joyV_kC2KOmiEhSZhA3uGOh9zBjZmgKRpBA10LQRu20_ZfoU8Q8n-UIN1JBYW5f7xsACNAJ66cl0_nuXXo3lrjw3nj-U-0UPCwrLL4vKJm8IPIrP8Mh6eRlZikgB0XJk/s1600-h/babysweater2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326231379380856146" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix6hhiLD-9DM2joyV_kC2KOmiEhSZhA3uGOh9zBjZmgKRpBA10LQRu20_ZfoU8Q8n-UIN1JBYW5f7xsACNAJ66cl0_nuXXo3lrjw3nj-U-0UPCwrLL4vKJm8IPIrP8Mh6eRlZikgB0XJk/s400/babysweater2.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmFmzKbJg9QPwiBuVjyGjGv1zfxf3e_E-50_qANLMvOTe65uUQ_PU4TXkkObo9YLfO_761Nf06MsHXy5gjU06YiJg-s17iBfHTGJx3Qyzh6ii1U0me3AIMo2Z3ptgm4s0ZVdpM88l7OI/s1600-h/babysweaterdetail.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326231674476467746" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSmFmzKbJg9QPwiBuVjyGjGv1zfxf3e_E-50_qANLMvOTe65uUQ_PU4TXkkObo9YLfO_761Nf06MsHXy5gjU06YiJg-s17iBfHTGJx3Qyzh6ii1U0me3AIMo2Z3ptgm4s0ZVdpM88l7OI/s400/babysweaterdetail.jpg" border="0" /></a> Should I put a french knot or some beads in the middle of this daisy? should I add two smaller daisies on either side? It looks very plain to me (this was my first lazy daisy--way easier than I thought it would be!).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCVjQltqrRegwmfFiW8sI69CrQNK2MuRDXIaAIGbNJ090Eiy7gafMvQRTvP0o6OKSLRrdGMXPRCANwziGlkKGelaQihVSPOWP9J3f0ag1d70JUOKv4feiQgt4ctndhiGhgLBP6DS9gNI/s1600-h/babysweaterback.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5326231869618387202" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxCVjQltqrRegwmfFiW8sI69CrQNK2MuRDXIaAIGbNJ090Eiy7gafMvQRTvP0o6OKSLRrdGMXPRCANwziGlkKGelaQihVSPOWP9J3f0ag1d70JUOKv4feiQgt4ctndhiGhgLBP6DS9gNI/s400/babysweaterback.jpg" border="0" /></a> (Yup, those are my rubber ducky PJs sticking out at the bottom of that last pic! Ooops!)</p><p>Can I make a confession about this sweater? I feel like I *should* give it to my sister K for her daughter Skylar. However, K is..... unappreciative of the time, effort, and joy involved in knitting for me. I truly do not think she would appreciate it. But something in me thinks that shouldn't be the merit for offering a gift, huh? I asked her when she was pregnant if she wanted something, but she pretty much said it didn't matter, which is why I've yet to make her anything, despite my love of a chance to knit for baby girls. The other problem is the sizing issue: Skylar turns one year in September, but is very petite. She's in 3-6 month clothing right now (much of what K says is still loose on her), so even come September, while it'll be warm enough to wear this, I'm not sure it'll fit. What do I do? Offer it in love and not grimace if she doesn't take care of it or appreciate it, or find another little girl to give it to? </p>Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-7670281629535170542009-04-07T20:09:00.002-05:002009-04-07T20:46:27.754-05:00Managing Chaos, part IIPhew! I'm finally back to blogging my Managing Chaos posts, and if you missed the first one on Beauty, you can find that <a href="http://secretsoforual.blogspot.com/2009/03/managing-chaos-part-1.html">here</a>. The second part of my thoughts refers to the idea of Quality. I actually wrestled with what to write, partly because I'm still stuck on the notion of Beauty (the 2 can very well be interchangeable at times), and partly because quality seems to speak for itself. However, the more I thought about what Quality <em>means</em>, one concept came to mind. When I go to a restaurant or make a phone call needing sales support (or the like), I expect quality, demand it even. I know there are times that I have pitched a fit mentally or otherwise simply because I didn't get what I thought I deserved. Yet, how often am <strong>I</strong> the one with less than satisfactory service to my own family? I've served food with a bad attitude, I've cleaned the house with a grumbling spirit, and I've pitched my own temper tantrums with the slightest provocation. Thinking about the quality of service I offer to my own family has been humbling, particularly in this season in my life when I've been pretty selfish and frustrated. I am not going to freak out with unrealistic expectations, but I am going to attempt to think about serving them in a manner that tells them I love them enough to pull out all the stops for them and give them the best. I can offer the best quality food (whole, nutritious things with very little processing), I can offer the best room service (ha!) with natural ingredients instead of a bunch of scary chemicals, I can provide the best we can afford in terms of environment and toys, and I can put their needs over my own. I bet life wouldn't feel as "chaotic" as it does sometimes if I simply remember why I'm serving them and the best way to do that! This was a good lesson for me this week.<br /><br />(And on a completely separate note, would you please pray for me as I have to make a big decision this week about my prenatal care?! Thanks!)Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-66696197789561453242009-04-01T21:45:00.003-05:002009-04-01T22:15:02.269-05:00Commercial breakJust kidding-it's not a commercial, but that's what I kept thinking when I thought of starting this post off with "I'm going to interrupt my series with an Easter post..." I am going to finish the Managing Chaos posts, though, but I'd mentioned this particular "tutorial" to a friend via email, and she wanted pictures and the like, so I figured I'd post here so others could do it if they wanted to as well.<br /><br />When I lived with Meg, one of the things I loved was learning various traditions she'd taught her boys, and I think besides the Jesse Tree ornaments, this one is my favorite. It is a tactile and visual version of the Easter story, and it works kind of like doing an Advent calendar in that you open an egg a day for the 12 days before Easter. Since today is the first of April, I'm late in getting this out there, but my kids are still a bit too young for this project so I'm saving up for next year.<br /><br />Without further ado....<br /><p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGpg4dSzDEVt8n9SkyeCaLdbikKUOpNDsyxFad1f6rRYdX620W3W2Eaoyf-Dm0PNbAoeO2FTsiWblrgeka7UTheAA8MMsywRQWOQxfG9jT3pAod6_TFPbsLvOaQE7-zNwaQ1hTLsRVeI/s1600-h/easter+eggs.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5319921957475545874" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGpg4dSzDEVt8n9SkyeCaLdbikKUOpNDsyxFad1f6rRYdX620W3W2Eaoyf-Dm0PNbAoeO2FTsiWblrgeka7UTheAA8MMsywRQWOQxfG9jT3pAod6_TFPbsLvOaQE7-zNwaQ1hTLsRVeI/s400/easter+eggs.jpg" border="0" /></a> Oh, and sorry for the shabby picture. It's from my cell phone and on a spread out t-shirt with lots of shadows. Oops. The back row is eggs 1-7; front row eggs 8-12. The little brown papers inside the eggs have the corresponding verse for reading aloud together (and conveniently on the back it lists the objects and egg number in case things get mixed up). This set is one that Meg made for me before I left, and the asterisk denotes things that Meg actually made herself as opposed to using an actual object or prop.</p><p>1. Luke 19:29-40 (colt and palm frond*)</p><p>2. Luke 22: 14-20 (loaf of bread and cup)</p><p>3. Matthew 26:14-16 (30 pieces of silver)</p><p>4. Luke 22:39-51 (sword)</p><p>5. John 19:1-16 (purple robe/cloth*, crown of thorns*, and I also have the vinegar swabbed stick* that was offered to Jesus)</p><p>6. Mark 14:66-72 (rooster)</p><p>7. Luke 23:33-44 (cross*, 3 nails)</p><p>8. Matthew 27:35-37 and 27:45-48 (black cloud*, dice)</p><p>9. Matthew 27:57-66 (stone)</p><p>10. John 20:1-10 (burial cloths*)</p><p>11. Luke 24:1-9 (nothing for the empty tomb)</p><p>12. Acts 1:1-11 (cotton cloud* and silver cloth* for shekinah glory)</p><p>I hope someone else is inspired by this fun and inspiring little project, and if you do one, please let me know! Also, if you have questions about what materials were used in these eggs or how Meg made them, leave a comment and I'll get back to you, but despite my fuzzy picture I do think by reading the verses and seeing the correct object, you could easily come up with your own ideas! </p>Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-8582679037578756512009-03-29T22:34:00.003-05:002009-03-29T23:26:48.665-05:00Managing Chaos, part 1I read this <a href="http://unclutterer.com/2009/03/24/ruthless-simplicity-how-to-ward-off-doing-more-and-burning-out/">post</a>, and while much of it didn't really relate to where I think I am right now, this line completely connected with me: <em>Managing chaos with beauty, quality, and ruthless simplicity.</em> In my last post I mentioned how I can feel overwhelmed with Life with Littles, and it is precisely this concept of managing chaos that makes me say, "Aha! That's what I need!" But not only do I want to contain some of the craziness, I want to do it with Beauty, Quality, and (this is my favorite part) Ruthless Simplicity. Because I want to figure out in real terms what these three components look like, I'm going to blog a separate post for each of them, detailing how specifically they will work in our life.<br /><br />In this season with my little guys at home (and one on the way, of course), I want to be diligent and faithful both, not only to them, but to my home and husband as well. And that can feel a bit like juggling puppies at times, let alone seem unsightly (say, when the house is a wreck and Hunny's due home in two hours). That's where Beauty comes in. If you're surrounded with beautiful things, don't you want to take care of them and keep them beautiful? Having finally just bought some new (via Craigslist) furniture, Hunny and I have laughed that we have "grown up" furniture, but the truth is that it's nice! We want to keep it that way, and Hunny's turned into this crazy cleaning machine... he has to straighten the living room every night, and I think that stems in part from the "let's keep this nice" theory. (Well, that and the "hey we spent $x on this and don't want to throw it away!) I've culled the boys' toys from time to time (cross-country moves are a nice incentive), and have decided to do so again so that I can replace some of the <del>obnoxious</del> bright plastic toys with some more classic wooden varieties, or even just toys that encourage more imaginative play. Not that we have to get rid of everything; I'm sure the silicone, oversize "lego" type blocks are just as good as a more natural version; I am, however, looking to get rid of battery-operated thingamajiggies as soon as the batteries no longer cooperate! Following with my last post, I'd also like to set up a specific space for Bear to work with some of the more hands-on activities I'm planning for him, and continue encouraging him to clean up when he's done.<br /><br />I think I'm learning that beauty can come in several forms, too, for instance, just turning the classical music station on more often than the chatter-filled radio or another pet-themed kid's variety show. I love classical music, but rarely turn it on, so I'm going to aim to choose this musical choice a little more often. I go through phases where I <del> need less sleep</del> just keep the house cleaner than at other times, but I'd also like to go back to my <a href="http://www.flylady.net/">FlyLady</a> days, most specifically the idea that I want to "bless my home" (that's what she actually calls it; I love that it's not "chores," or "housework," don't you?). I'm also going to be a little more proactive to teach the boys to clean up after their first activity before moving on to the second-I get lazy and it's often easier to just do it myself, but that's robbing them of an opportunity to learn.<br /><br />So, in short, I'm going to keep nice things nice through home blessings, cull the toys to replace lesser quality with a more beautiful and imaginative choice, and be intentional about the sounds and sights of beauty in our home, from cut flowers to music, and most importantly teach my children to love beautiful things and desire to take care of them. What do you think of managing chaos while keeping beauty, simplicity, and quality in mind? How do you keep your home beautiful?Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-82369687913887560962009-03-23T23:27:00.002-05:002009-03-24T00:03:18.983-05:00Catching upI've been blog hopping with the Ultimate Blog Party, but now I have to say I'm a bit pooped with it all! Not because there are bad blogs, just MANY blogs to see and check out! It's been fun, but I'm also in a time of needing to balance* this whole internet + real life thing. I mean, the kids, they hafta eat I hear. However, Hunny has been brilliant in this <del>hellish</del> interim time that I've been sick, so I've been lying low and being a little more still than normal this past week in <del>vain</del> hopes of getting better. [Insert imaginary whine HERE about how much I hate being sick. Because surely an adult woman doesn't complain, especially when she's being taken care of hand and foot?!?]<br />*Regarding balance: Hunny said something today that I thought was quite profound. We were discussing a blog <a href="http://sortacrunchy.typepad.com/sortacrunchy/2009/03/as-he-leads-us-on-marriage-part-one-1.html">post</a> I'd read that asked for tips on keeping communication alive in marriage while during the parenting-of-littles stage, and I asked him what advice he'd give. He basically said something to the tune of "yeah, communicating is really important," but then he referenced something I said in <del>another bout of me complaining</del> a conversation about needing to find balance. He said it's not actually about finding balance (apparently, it's over-rated anyway), but rather, it's about finding the happy median. Hmmm..... that makes so much more sense when I think about that. We are in a season of two-under-two-with-one-on-the-way, and there are days (and weeks) that I feel completely overwhelmed with just the everdayness of it all: the laundry that never ceases, the kitchen that won't clean itself, and of course trying to maintain some semblance of peace and order in the home. I've felt pulled and pitted, always thinking in terms of "can't," "not yet," or even "won't" when I need to be thinking in terms of what I CAN do now, which is finding a place that is "good enough" for NOW and be in the moment. I was talking the other day to a friend about being intentional, and I really need to think (and pray!) more about how I can be intentional in each of my relationships right now.<br />Which brings me to why I'm posting tonight at 11:30 pm. :) I was mindlessly browsing through some Montessori blogs tonight (hello-I cleaned up my Internet sidebar and re-found all these awesome sites!) and <a href="http://artfulparent.wordpress.com/2009/03/02/an-activity-a-day-for-march/">this one</a> caught my attention. The idea of making an activity box of things for Bear and I (and even Bunkin) to do together is BRILLIANT, I say! Why did I never think of this before? So often I muddle through my day, admittedly spending way too much time on the computer, and at the end I'm left wondering what the heck I even did all day, let alone how did I spend quality time with Bear. This is why I was even perusing my Montessori blogs; I was looking for age-appropriate activities to start incorporating into our days as well as begin honing in on some ways we can apply a little Montessori-inspired activities for home preschool. The making of our Activity Box is going to be an activity itself, but some of the other ideas that I pulled from that list are:<br />(disclaimer: I'll paste permalinks later; I'm just trying to get this info down, but most of them are on her list)<br />-tissue paper candle holder<br />-bird seed pine cone treats<br />-stamps/nature stamping<br />-petting zoo visit or feed the ducks or pet store<br />-make wool felt balls<br />-marbleized paper<br />-dye white flowers<br />-draw with washable markers and spray with a water bottle<br />-bake<br />-glue cotton balls to paper plates<br />-make ziploc icecream<br />-make playdough<br />I'll also put in some Montessori activities for more structured playtime, and of course I'll add those as I read more. Bear is such a routine kid that I think once he gets used to activity time, he'll love it so much. We've never really done this at home, and I'm very excited. I've just got to figure out how to occupy Bunkin while we do some of the not-so-appropriate for his age activities.<br />Ok, it's officially midnight, and I actually need to be awake early in the morning. Sigh. I'll post more about our activity box and fix the permalinks later. For now, though, I'm going to be praying through being intentional and trying to complain less!Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-77557321942138195482009-03-19T22:30:00.005-05:002009-03-20T01:36:15.131-05:00Ultimate Blog Party 2009!IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN!!!!<br /><a href="http://www.5minutesformom.com/5654/ultimate-blog-party-2009-instructions"><img title="Ultimate Blog Party 2009" alt="Ultimate Blog Party 2009" src="http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k210/5m4m/buttons/events/ubg1.gif" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.5minutesformom.com/">5 Minutes for Mom</a> is hosting their annual and awesome blog party for mom bloggers (and readers) everywhere! Last year, I hardly knew what I was doing since I'd only been blogging for a couple of months, but I still had so much fun and met so many great ladies--some of whom I now consider great virtual friends! Please, go check out 5 Minutes for Mom; there's even an awesome prize list, something for everyone!!<br />Of all the fabulous prizes to win, I'd love to win #7 Ergo Baby carrier by <a href="http://nateandjakeandme.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">A Giveaway Addicted Mommy</a>, #19 $50 Target gift card by <a title="Blog Site" href="http://www.shoot-me-now.com/" target="_blank">Shoot-Me-Now</a>, and #118 Old Navy gift card by<a href="http://www.manicmother.com/" target="_blank">Manic Mother</a> as my top 3 picks. If those are taken, I'd appreciate #2, 21, 22, 28, 30, 49, 50, 52, 91, and 106 in any order, or gifts relavant to young babies/toddlers.<br /><br />I absolutely LOVE to entertain, and have been known to host dinner parties that absolutely stress me out! I wish I could say I were hosting a shin-dig like this one<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWA4Sd9u12tcH09iuOje1nwYqpWgGQkU_iZyy-K0PKNSWDy3Sg3Zipcd4AMdlBMlMV5D37I1J9NMg_Ibrc0TqPxwCPGZgKuNZ9EX1taJm9Ug2zUhGzBnss8SCUO6eXq6mcGZK1WNh0EkU/s1600-h/dinner+party.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315116004615501010" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 282px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWA4Sd9u12tcH09iuOje1nwYqpWgGQkU_iZyy-K0PKNSWDy3Sg3Zipcd4AMdlBMlMV5D37I1J9NMg_Ibrc0TqPxwCPGZgKuNZ9EX1taJm9Ug2zUhGzBnss8SCUO6eXq6mcGZK1WNh0EkU/s400/dinner+party.jpg" border="0" /></a> but sadly, you're more likely to get this right now.<br /><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlGREILxpNwTTMnQuV5VSJYPbExXAh02pDNBcT_QFRUfIHv9XwEG8LMZYH9NPx1PlkjGhIekxQbZ9_JceD1fIDdCxo6lRxgDBsTFbC1dbkldQDc8-_3Qo1Rll0bEq9EkKe9JjVfq-ErE/s1600-h/fingerfood.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5315117416118395858" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtlGREILxpNwTTMnQuV5VSJYPbExXAh02pDNBcT_QFRUfIHv9XwEG8LMZYH9NPx1PlkjGhIekxQbZ9_JceD1fIDdCxo6lRxgDBsTFbC1dbkldQDc8-_3Qo1Rll0bEq9EkKe9JjVfq-ErE/s400/fingerfood.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><p>Life can be kind of busy as a stay at home mom to two toddler boys with one on the way! When I'm not chasing Bear and Bunkin around, I can be found knitting, reading, catching up on my DVR'd shows, obsessing over quilting (which I've yet to begin), and in general <del>wasting time</del> being productive on the computer! </p><p>While you're nibbling on yummy fruit, let me tell you a little about myself and my idiosyncrasies. I'm a sort-of crunchy mama who is interested in cloth diapering, babywearing and breastfeeding, but who also has plenty of Kraft and plastic toys in my house; we do what works for us! I would love to consider myself a domestic diva, but frankly, I'm just as likely to be wearing Hunny's t-shirts and PJ pants while puttering around the house! (I'm also a mixture of wannabe organized and downright messy, though to be fair, I'd love it to be clean and neat all the time!) I'm a poultry-eating vegetarian because of my recent Diabetes diagnosis (I need the protein), and I'm proud to be married to my Beautiful vegan Hunny. I absolutely love to knit and have recently gotten <del>obsessed</del> intrigued with quilting. (I worry it might go against my whole frugal mindset because there are some amazing fabrics out there.) So, in short, I'm kinda crunchy, kinda disheveled, kinda crafty, and above all, grateful for my sweet family. </p><p>If you want to know more about , check out my <a href="http://secretsoforual.blogspot.com/2008/03/it_08.html">100 Things List</a> I wrote for last year's UBP or just browse around my blog; I'd love to get to know you, so leave me a comment so I can stop by your blog! Thanks for coming! </p>Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com45tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-18464028173040612512009-03-17T23:24:00.002-05:002009-03-17T23:30:59.664-05:00Boys, boys boysJust a very very quick blog update.... we are having another little boy!!!! I'm very excited, and Hunny is .... beyond thrilled! I think he may have smirked a little. He, at least, has a clue of what is to come, whereas I am completely <del>naive</del> sheltered! So, here's to the next half of our pregnancy. Oh, and I did meet with my dietitian today, and she wasn't as alarmed by my glucose readings as I have been, so I hope that is good news. I'm still trying to be diligent.<br /><br />On unrelated notes, I'm about to pull out my hair with this silly baby romper, and if anyone wants to volunteer to make it for me, help yourself! Lastly, if anyone wants to pray that our house gets well soon, we'll take it; I'm just very very ready for all of us to be healthy and well and stay that way for a while!Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-39415832482694778862009-03-08T23:38:00.008-05:002009-03-09T00:32:56.267-05:00Why diabetes sucks and projects to distract me<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Ok</span>, I rescind all that about being fine with the whole diet thing. I was trying to be fine, but I'm not. Can I just rant for a moment and shout out to no one in particular that I HATE DIABETES. HATE IT. I was still encouraged by <del>ranting</del> talking to G (who also has this stupid disease), but after a whole weekend of eating correctly and my numbers still being out of whack, I feel like giving up, or to be more precise, drowning my sorrows in the largest slice of cake I can find. (That would be "happy <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">birday</span> to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">Edah</span> cake," if it were Bear speaking--he's obsessed with blowing out candles and singing happy birthday to his cousin Ethan since his birthday a couple of weeks ago). While that kind of indulgence is highly impractical, it's also completely wrong, but I'm so aggravated that doing things the "right" way still isn't yielding the results I need. In fact, it's even more annoying given that I have to count calories, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">carbs</span>, proteins, and all the while try to feed two little boys and menu plan for a family. Oh, and did I mention the whole pricking your finger thing? At first it doesn't hurt, but now every one of my fingers is calloused so I have to use the larger needle size and it does hurt! If you want, you can imagine me stamping my foot in a moment of childish <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">petulance</span>.<br /><br /><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Ok</span>, ranting done. Just needed to explain why I've been in a Lurch (again, a la Dr. Seuss; can you tell what I've been reading to Bear?) and terrible food-related mood. Chocolate chip cookies anyone?<br /><br />However, I have been keeping my over-pricked hands busy today doing a project I've wanted to do for a long time. And that would be unraveling a sweater to recycle the yarn. Yes, I'm that amazing. :) I first read about it <a href="http://chaoticcrafter.wordpress.com/2008/01/21/reclaiming-yarn-from-a-thrift-store-sweater/">here</a>, then read about it <a href="http://www.neauveau.com/recycledyarn.html">here</a>, then was reminded how much I wanted to attempt this after reading <a href="http://golightlyplace.blogspot.com/2009/02/latest-creative-pursuits.html">she's</a> doing it, too. A couple of weekends ago B and I went to the local Goodwill and there were a ton of sweater choices. I bought 3 for $12 and while I'd hoped to go with 100% cotton or wool, I did get two all-cotton sweaters and one mohair/nylon blend. I took a picture of all three sweaters, but then accidentally deleted it from my phone. I do, however have my first sweater, a lovely butter yellow cotton sleeveless turtleneck:<br /><br /><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PspKRUaquawTzOhUqkVdy1qjo05qSc9PO_5n79JkfHtN1JZ6IrvrLUWRxwI5TjJvc2tmNJ8kPNTwwaPMB1oezZyhC-m1JZxbvYRFPlyzM1ZNSOhDccCXkeK7tfDqfTr1diRoUdAbC-w/s1600-h/sweater+unraveling5.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311052164046001810" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8PspKRUaquawTzOhUqkVdy1qjo05qSc9PO_5n79JkfHtN1JZ6IrvrLUWRxwI5TjJvc2tmNJ8kPNTwwaPMB1oezZyhC-m1JZxbvYRFPlyzM1ZNSOhDccCXkeK7tfDqfTr1diRoUdAbC-w/s400/sweater+unraveling5.jpg" border="0" /></a> Following the above tutorials, I got out my scissors and starting ripping away. I ended up having to just cut out the neck because of all the "bad" seams, but I still yielded quite a bit of yarn for the $4 I paid for the sweater! Here's an in-progress shot:<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-c5ukObEK_nrWOXMGAFZmCCPWOKWisunxkWVZnaWtIjO9wNuGqchInmQE3MHKMgcnV1kV_zZFOJfywgpn1CJVSQKDAI7SmbgrahUyWCAO3_paU405NZ33V0muyzc8qAsU5AKT1VaPCs/s1600-h/sweater+unraveling4.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311053179195843170" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI-c5ukObEK_nrWOXMGAFZmCCPWOKWisunxkWVZnaWtIjO9wNuGqchInmQE3MHKMgcnV1kV_zZFOJfywgpn1CJVSQKDAI7SmbgrahUyWCAO3_paU405NZ33V0muyzc8qAsU5AKT1VaPCs/s400/sweater+unraveling4.jpg" border="0" /></a> And the final outcome! The only problem is I don't know exactly how much I have, and I can only guess at its <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">gauge</span> (I'm thinking <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">dk</span> or sport weight if you're curious).<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB0G6Gwd1YtsXmwcAAaWj84xJRIQJcvQ17Ma7cH1EI24C6wG8PuIZ_3N-s3vMBg3ItPNta-S0BE4urrAtkbGOrg-HVYzqsykRNcB404S3ItiNXkbEcii8w7aPCqabFzpmUzIEuxlGwr0/s1600-h/sweater+unraveling2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311053460596849634" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNB0G6Gwd1YtsXmwcAAaWj84xJRIQJcvQ17Ma7cH1EI24C6wG8PuIZ_3N-s3vMBg3ItPNta-S0BE4urrAtkbGOrg-HVYzqsykRNcB404S3ItiNXkbEcii8w7aPCqabFzpmUzIEuxlGwr0/s400/sweater+unraveling2.jpg" border="0" /></a> This was way easier than I thought it would be, and I've already started my second sweater, which I thought was a beautiful <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">variegated</span> maroon and baby pink yarn; however it's actually two strands: a maroon wool and a baby pink thread. It was a little tricky beginning the unraveling of the sleeves, but once I figured out I was dealing with two strands, it made a lot more sense and went much faster. So far, I've done both sleeves and have two sizable balls to work with.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBVD7U3ZDO8OBeMgxOtIY1kK-AUzCxCPIeGQl-GDe0ZN2cko2r6EViYmZ9VncBwqjiGz5J0QvoPM5TM65VujOhNoFMXwgZsq1-N-A3NXn6ZP19dEijO7uVtpWujzGS9gFufPRBp5E0Ww/s1600-h/sweater+unraveling3.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5311055431259761506" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 300px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaBVD7U3ZDO8OBeMgxOtIY1kK-AUzCxCPIeGQl-GDe0ZN2cko2r6EViYmZ9VncBwqjiGz5J0QvoPM5TM65VujOhNoFMXwgZsq1-N-A3NXn6ZP19dEijO7uVtpWujzGS9gFufPRBp5E0Ww/s400/sweater+unraveling3.jpg" border="0" /></a> Now the fun part will be deciding what to make with my cleverly <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">repurposed</span> yarn, eh? The yellow will probably become a baby garment, and I'm thinking the pink would actually make a really nice scarf and hat, maybe some mittens?<br /></p>Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-73836773556271554702009-03-07T22:51:00.004-06:002009-03-07T23:23:05.186-06:00CornucopiaOk, one doesn't normally think of cornucopias in the middle of spring (it IS spring here in the Big D, even if you are getting cold weather everywhere else!), but I feel like we are in an abundant season, both physically and emotionally.<br /><br /><br />Case in point, after our typical week of shopping and my first-ever delivery from a local fruit and veggie co-op, we have so much produce on our countertop! Oh, and the picture doesn't show the HUGE potatoes we also scored--after I bought a 5 lb bag of them!!<br /><br /><p><br /></p><br /><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS2a7Nu6kGRSgYN9FEYlqScR3ktqw6TyI8_bAWyJUdYf7Nh0vh4z06Q6NuUgVmKp1kBHfVOKET8eO5PmObilvST3bNL3j9QFo1nCAp5o7iAkoweihBBTsFoQwxMoIL3BnroWm52WihSg/s1600-h/fruit.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310675915651687426" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS2a7Nu6kGRSgYN9FEYlqScR3ktqw6TyI8_bAWyJUdYf7Nh0vh4z06Q6NuUgVmKp1kBHfVOKET8eO5PmObilvST3bNL3j9QFo1nCAp5o7iAkoweihBBTsFoQwxMoIL3BnroWm52WihSg/s400/fruit.jpg" border="0" /></a></p><br /><p>Funny note: we have taught Bear to call grapes "uvas," the Spanish word, and he thinks all small round fruit are uvas. And don't cherry tomatoes just look so inviting? He sure thought so, but I guess that acidic taste was not quite what he had in mind!! </p><br /><p>In terms of emotional security, I was in rather a Slump (a la Dr. Seuss) late last week because I've really struggled with eating well and making other healthy choices and then reeling from the ensuing guilt. However, I got a very encouraging email from friend (yes, G, that's you!) and I got a much-needed kick in the heiney so to speak. I feel much better now, even after a day of eating the right kinds of foods, even if my glucose readings haven't quite reflected that yet. I think I'm finally at a point where I want to do this diabetic diet for Me rather than even the baby inside me. I need it. I want it. </p><br /><p>This is going to seem so unconnected, but I cleaned house like mad tonight, and that did so much to lift me up! I'm not sure if it was nesting, per se, but I <em>needed</em> the tops of counters, shelves and all surfaces to be cleaned off, and I made that happen tonight. I feel like I'm in a clean haven, and it's lovely!!! (I should say that Hunny ritually cleans the living room every single night, and it is so nice to wake up every morning and come out to a picked up space, even if it only stays that way for a mere few seconds!)</p><br /><p>I've been keeping my hands busy with knitting the romper for Gilia's baby boy, whose arrival should be in a few weeks if he doesn't come home early. I'm not sure it's going to be the going home outfit she wants it to be--it looks huge to me! We'll see. Pics to come. </p><br /><p>And one more randomness, we made the yummiest dinner tonight: very easy, very quick, delicious, nutritious, and relatively kid-friendly! (Was that a commercial?) I've had so much marinara-themed things lately that I'm just bored and sick of anything tomato-based right now: pizza, pasta, whatever. I saw this idea on a blog (I'm so sorry, I can't remember where), and thought we need to try it out! So stinking yummy. Seriously. And so adaptable, so if you don't like the ingredients we used, do your own!</p><br /><p><strong>Mediterranean Pizzas</strong></p><br /><p>whole wheat pitas, your favorite hummus, feta cheese, fresh baby spinach, red onion, artichoke hearts, cherry tomatoes, kalamata olives, etc. Take the pita (I got the pocket-less kind), spread with hummus (I recommend roasted red pepper, but Hunny and the boys ate roasted garlic), leaving a little edge for a "crust." Then top it off! Hunny liked all of the above and also included some portabella mushrooms he needed to eat. I ate mine with just spinach, feta, artichokes, and olives (by the way, I made <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chiffonade">chiffonade</a> with my spinach to avoid that whole one-bite-means-you-eat-all-the-toppings-at-once-syndrome.) I made the boys' version pretty plain: hummus, olives, spinach, tomatoes, and feta. Bear didn't eat much at all tonight, so I'm not sure I can say either way if he liked it or not, but Bunkin approved. </p><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHm7BlqDWgSUjPS5Y4_qw1Oe7g0woKBq7gE-Cd3iKTxuAaW-QE2O2k0ojg8Ypl5R_7B_OkkeJrHKDSSj9Ig1SO4a0LMYxBXxcUKm8Pasbg9gfTuEwLf4hj4PyrNQJa2gpSpHTAfEynl80/s1600-h/connie+pizza+14+mo2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5310680976538413922" style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHm7BlqDWgSUjPS5Y4_qw1Oe7g0woKBq7gE-Cd3iKTxuAaW-QE2O2k0ojg8Ypl5R_7B_OkkeJrHKDSSj9Ig1SO4a0LMYxBXxcUKm8Pasbg9gfTuEwLf4hj4PyrNQJa2gpSpHTAfEynl80/s400/connie+pizza+14+mo2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Anyway, I'm back to blogging a bit, after my accidental hiatus. Writing my letters was good for me, but was also emotionally wrought, so I needed space afterwards. And of course, knitting has been taking up a lot of my spare time, so if I'm absent in the weeks to come it's because this romper is making me go crazy! :)Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-85036586130966483282009-02-24T12:52:00.002-06:002009-02-24T13:08:36.434-06:00Letters to Myself, Part 4This is the last letter in my series, and I'm sorry for the delay!<br /><br />Dear 26 year old Misty,<br />You are in the somewhat unique and certainly precarious-at-times situation of being a new bride and an expectant mommy. Remember this first and foremost: God is faithful, even when His followers do not seem to be. The Church is full of people just like you who have sinned and who sin against others. Please don't let the condemnation you and Hunny have experienced make you so bitter you lose your trust in Him. But also own up to sin, be honest and real about it, and free yourself of the guilt that you carry. You have been given a wonderful gift-a precious baby boy growing inside of you. You're not going to believe how much life is going to change once he's on the outside!!<br />Love Hunny. No matter what. Remember how perfectly paired you two are, and seek to serve him in the little things. He loves you more than you even know, and he's going to be a pretty amazing daddy. Times are going to be hard for you two. There isn't much of a honeymoon period when you're hormonal and exhausted, and, um, you're going to be this way for several years. In a row. So rest in your husband's arms while you can before the little one(s) come, and when times seem too hard, pull those memories out and dust them off, display them on the shelves of your heart to remind him, too.<br />You know how you always compare yourself to everybody? Please quit that. It's not as much of an issue as a bride and wife, but as a mommy, you're going to face the toughest competition if you keep cutting yourself short. You will make mistakes. Plenty of them. But you'll also do some things correctly, and you'll even figure out that what works for you doesn't have to be what other mommies do, and that's okay. Use that god-given brain and mommy intuition!<br />And having a boy... what can I say? Your hands will be full. You will scream at him. He won't seem to have an off button. You will fall short. So will he. But He doesn't. There will be a moment very early on, where you will get a true glimpse of sacrificial love. Yes, my dear, it will be you doing the sacrificing. And as hard as it is, it's also the truest thing there is.<br />I wish I could tell you things will be easy and you'll get the hang of it sooner than later. I wish I could tell you that you'll always feel supported and secure. I wish I could tell you you'll never feel lonely. But I think you know why I can't tell you these things.<br />Just trust. You're not very good at it, but you need to get better. Trust Hunny. Trust the Father.<br />You've got some amazing times on the way, but I don't want to spoil them!<br />Love<br />Your 28-year old selfMistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-65402878010729979962009-02-18T07:00:00.000-06:002009-02-18T07:00:04.296-06:00Letters to Myself, Part 3Welcome back to my 3rd installment of my Letters to Myself Series.<br /><br /><br />Dear 20-year old Misty,<br /><br />Wow, in college, and a Junior! At Rhodes. You are having the time of your life, aren't you? You've made the best friends of your life, been out of the country twice now, and are knee-deep in a college ministry that is central to how you are developing spiritually. You're also not doing so great grade-wise. You really should stop going to The Ugly Mug when you NEED to study; that's what libraries are for, and you know you won't work at the coffee shop! So stop pretending. Your GPA depends on it.<br /><br /><br /><br />Other than being the best time of your life, you are also experiencing new lows. But they're good lows, I promise; they're the kind that mold you and shape you, your beliefs, and your views of God. I'm so proud of you for talking to Elin and getting some counseling. Talking is good, even when it is hard, and please, keep sharing what you're sharing with Bet. She needs to hear it, even if she doesn't think she does. She's listening, I promise.<br /><br /><br /><br />Breaking up with John is not nearly as hard as you are making it out to be. I'm sorry he cheated on you, but even when he says he's sorry, don't go back; you need to move on. And don't skip a whole week of school just because life is hard. Damaris will help bail you out of English, but you have two professors who don't care. And that is bad news. This is not the time to do it all yourself. It is ok to ask for help. People love you and want to help. Trust them even when it seems like you've only ever been hurt--you're just thinking that right now because of your depressed fog. Reach out. <br /><br /><br /><br />I'm sorry to say your relationship with Mom and Dad does not get any easier. In fact, it's going to get worse. They are feeling threatened and insecure, and you don't know what to think anymore. But living a lie is not worth it. Please trust me on that. Right now you just don't want your family life to have been a lie, but it was, and will continue to feel like a lie if you don't get healing and move forward. <br /><br /><br /><br />You are still struggling with self-worth and external values. Being on the ladies' ministry team is not going to make you feel like you're contributing anything. Being on leadership team is not going to cement you as a spiritual conquistador. Stop trying to be more than you are, and stop worrying about what other people think of you. It's not about them, or you; it's about God. Try talking to him sometime. You'll be surprised.<br /><br /><br /><br />Oh, and about Canfield. Stop worshipping him. He's a brilliant professor, eh? But don't let him get so much in your head. Grow a little more, take a few English classes by some <em>other</em> professors. However, don't shirk your duty to figure out where you stand on some of the issues he's raised; they are going to crop up later in your life in a way you didn't think possible, and it's good. Oh, it's different than what you're thinking now. Let's just say social justice is possible-necessary?-as a Christian, and you will still have to wrestle with how you marry your brain and your faith.<br /><br /><br />Unfortunately, dear Misty, you have not seen your end of heartbreak in the relationship world. You're going to meet a guy next year and the summer after you graduate, you will be engaged to him. It's going to be a roller-coaster from here on out, because you are going to make some mistakes. You are going to move to his parents' house, and you are going to think you are going to die sometimes. But you're not. And Meg and Larry will be there in ways you have never known before. You're going to get even more wrapped up in Nick, physically, and emotionally, and your relationship is more dead than you know. You have placed him upon a pedestal where he doesn't belong. When he comes crashing down, your whole faith is going to crumble because of your misplaced idolatry. The recovery is brutal. But you will recover. You are even going to "get over him," I promise.<br /><br /><br /><br />You have stopped talking to Mom and Dad because they continue to call you a liar, and you will even go through a period where you and Bet don't talk because of it. You will never feel more alone in your life, ever. But God is bigger than you are (you are only now making this your mantra in your life) and He will send a friend to help you, and a real counselor to help make new progress. And he gave you Meg. I know that you are worried that there is no way you and she can truly still be friends, but I promise, your relationship will be sweeter than ever in a few years, and she loves you as if you were her own daughter.<br /><br /><br /><br />You will get married, and have children. That will seem a lifetime away to you now. But it's closer than you think. You won't join the military (I think you knew deep down that it wasn't going to happen), and believe it or not, you will move back to Memphis (it's ok, Mr. Right is waiting for you). You will feel pretty lonely adjusting to your friends who seem to have moved on without you, but you will make new friends, too. And you will emerge from all of this with a real relationship with Jesus. That is going to rock your world, I promise.<br /><br />I don't want to leave tips for this entry because so much emotional territory was covered, but I'll write again in a few years.<br />Love,<br />Your 28-year old selfMistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-14463454387114055702009-02-16T07:00:00.001-06:002009-02-16T07:00:01.565-06:00Letters to Myself, Part 2Today is the 2nd installment of my Letters to Myself series. To see the first letter, click <a href="http://secretsoforual.blogspot.com/2009/02/letters-to-myself-part-1.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Dear 15-year old Misty,<br />You are in high school now, and it's not all you'd thought it was going to be, eh? (You're going to have a professor in college who will forever embed "eh" in your vocabulary, just FYI.) You won't automatically get a boyfriend, get a car, and get thinner when you're 16 either. Just sayin'. You're in the process of trying to figure out who you are and who you want to be. It's hard at times, and you will second-guess yourself a lot. But please, don't obsess over the ridiculous.<br /><br />You've already figured out you don't want to be in the "in" crowd, but don't allow that to become pride and a sense of know-it-all; it pushes people away. Gilia's boyfriend is going to tell you when you graduate that he knew a couple of guys who would have asked you out, but they knew you'd say no so didn't bother. Don't let that kind of wall build up around you all the time. I know it feels safer that way, and in some ways, I guess it is, but don't forget to trust. You're going to need lots of practice, and starting younger sure would make my life easier!<br /><br />Speaking of boyfriends, you're not going to have one in high school at all. But you're still going to go to prom with a huge group of friends , (Bet will be your "date") and you will have a blast, stay pure, and not get into any trouble. And you'll actually remember it, which I hear is a good thing.<br /><br />Please don't get so caught up in external values for your worth. You do not equal who your friends are, what clothes you wear, how thin you are, or even how smart you are. And yes, you are smart, except in math, and that sure doesn't change. But you have already learned to use words as a weapon, as a way to not feel so vulnerable, and even when you hurl insults at others and it feels good momentarily, you feel worse inside. This is going to take you a while to figure out; you do, after all, have justifiable hurts that lie deep beneath the surface. I wish you believed that God loves you. You tell people He does, but you don't truly trust that yet. I wish you were beyond being just good to being a child of His; there is a difference.<br /><br />I also want to know that it's ok to be confused about things right now, about family, future, and God. There will not always be straightforward answers, and you're going to realize soon how much of a control freak you are, and how much you thrive on knowing things and having it all together. But you don't. He does. He has a plan for you, including your past, all headed for your future. He is good, even though it doesn't feel like it. And start opening up your ears when you hear the word grace: it's fixing to knock your socks off!<br /><br />Here are the tips I'm going to leave until the next time I write:<br />1. Try a little harder at math; it could make your college experience a tad better.<br />2. Stop obsessing about your weight. You're actually a very normal size, and you will long to wear a size 8 later.<br />3. Stop trying to compete with Bet. You will each come into your own and you'll survive.<br />4. Don't alienate Kathy now. She needs you and Bet more than ever.<br />5. Don't be mad at Mama and how much she's affected by what's happening to Michael right now. You'll understand a little better later.<br />6. Get a job. Save some money.<br />7. Don't expect grades to always come so easily. They won't.<br />8. Sing more.<br />9. Play a sport or spend time outside. It really is good for you!<br />10. Cooking dinner isn't that bad; when you are a wife, you will be so grateful you know how to cook!<br />11. You really should research more college grant applications. You are going to owe a lot of student loans.<br />12. You will get kissed, I promise.<br />13. This will be strange to you, but Gilia and Sonny are going to be the only HS friends you keep up with. But treasuring your new-found sense of identity while still being moldable will become important with friends in the next season of your life.<br />14. You are going to grow a lot in the next few years (read: have some really, really tough times), but go with it. Seriously.<br />15. Love yourself more. Quit procrastinating. Quit self-deprecating. Quit cheating yourself of the self-love you deserve.<br /><br />Love<br />Your 28-year old self<br />p.s. I'll write again when you're 20Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2447323975567097490.post-24821111823561381542009-02-14T08:50:00.004-06:002009-02-14T20:47:16.144-06:00Letters to Myself, Part 1This is a project with many inspirations. I originally came across the idea at <a href="http://becomingmethruhim.blogspot.com/2009/02/letter-to-my-15-year-old-self.html">Becoming Me</a>, but <a href="http://afuturepastorswife.blogspot.com/2009/02/old-age-wisdom.html">Musings of a Future Pastor's Wife</a>, <a href="http://www.bayoubelles.com/2009/02/letter-to-my-20-year-old-self.html">Mama Belle</a>, and <a href="http://notabowinsight.blogspot.com/2009/01/things-i-would-tell-myself-at-20.html">Not a bow in Sight</a> all did one. I read them all, and you should, too. They're funny, poignant, and I can relate to various points in all of them. And so, like Angela, I'm going to do a series of letters to my younger selves. I think the original goal was to write a letter to yourself 20 years younger, which puts my initial entry at much younger than some of the above letters, but it's actually a critical age. This first one will probably be my hardest letter to write, as it lays the groundwork for my older selves as well.<br /><br />Dear 8-year old Misty,<br /><br />I'm going to say some things and use some words that may not make sense to you now, or that might make you uncomfortable, and that's OK. Eight is going to be a hard age for you. Mama just got married to a man who will sweep your family off its feet, and it's going to seem like a whirlwind. You're going to go from calling him Mr. Richard, to Pops, to Daddy as he encourages you to truly think of him as your dad. You are going to long for his love like nothing you've ever experienced before, and (oh, this breaks my heart to tell you) he is going to hurt you. He is going to tell you he loves you and give you things, and even tell you that you are his favorite, but this will cost you a lot in terms of your sense of self-worth and fuzz out your ideas of black and white truths.<br /> He is going to teach you who Jesus is, and that is a good thing. Listen to your heart's stirrings; you really do want to be a Christian, even though it seems scary, and even though you will feel guilty for being too shy to tell other people about who your new Savior is, a seed of faith has been planted deep inside of you. But your view of God the Father is going to get muddy because you're not really sure what a good father is.<br /> Daddy is going to touch you in places that make you uncomfortable. He is going to want to kiss you in ways you don't like. He is going to ask you to touch him in places that you know is wrong. And this is going to happen for a few years. You aren't even going to know that it's happening to Beth and Kathy as well. You think you are alone, but you're not. And you're still going to love him, because you honestly don't know any better, and because you want better for yourself. And that's OK, too.<br />You will eventually tell Mama, but she's not going to believe you. You will not know how bad that hurts until you are much, much older. And you're never going to talk about it again after that night until you are a Freshman in college. And by the way, that castle that you see on your way to the zoo? It's not a castle--it's where you're going to college and where some of the best things in your life are going to happen to you!<br /> Chin up, sweet Misty. Be strong. Don't get so caught up in fantasy and reading that you are numb to what is going on around you. I wish I could encourage you to tell someone else, but I think Our Father had a different plan. And one last thing: you will share your story to a girl in China (China!) in a few years, and she is going to love the Lord because of it. So maybe that was the whole reason you're hurting right now, I don't really know.<br />Now that I talked about some heavy things, I'd also like to give you some tips to help you in this season of your life.<br />1. Stop being a couch potato. Being outside is a good thing. But wear sunscreen: you will only ever burn and freckle. And yes, you will be called FreckleFace many more times in life.<br />2. Stop eating junk food so much. You really will get cavities. And a little pudgy. Sorry.<br />3. Try to get to know Kathy a little better. She's just as much fun as Beth, just in different ways.<br />4. Don't be so shy!<br />5. Stop smiling with closed lips; you have a lovely smile.<br />6. Do enjoy Callie; she's going to teach you that you are a dog person for the rest of your life.<br />7. Stop eating onions; you're just going to throw up when you eat them, and it's not true: you won't like them when you're older.<br />8. Ask the librarian for better books than <em>The Babysitter's Club</em> and <em>Sweet Valley High</em>. There is a whole world out there of classic children's literature that you will love until you are old.<br /><br />Love,<br />your 28-year old self<br />p.s. I'll write again when you're 15.Mistyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06971852036197350639noreply@blogger.com3