this is our happily ever after

thoughts on discipline and cultivating a Christ-like life

Clearly I need to work on remembering ALL of the Fruits of the Spirit.  I have now added faithfulness and kindness and I double checked to make sure I included 9 of these Christ like qualities!!!  Sorry if you printed already....updated on 3/6/12

Discipline seems to be the word of the week in my life.  Maybe because the topic week 3 in my Brave Bible Study is discipline.  Discipline is such a two edged sword...we all want it, have it down in certain areas of our lives, but in other areas it's well....lacking.  I am really disciplined in some areas; having a daily quiet time, planning menus and cooking, getting dressed every day (as in not staying in my jammies all day).  But there are areas where I am totally undisciplined; exercise, buying stuff I don't need, picking up my shoes off the living room floor (Brian calls the area by our coffee table, the shoe farm!  He's so funny..ha ha). 

It seems like as soon as I gain discipline in a few areas I struggle with, other areas fall apart.  I wish I could just get it all together...once and for all.   I think we all struggle with these feelings.  No one has it all together...even the perfectionist you know.  I can be a huge perfectionist in so many ways, but I think it's because I'm attempting to fill in the areas of my life where discipline is lacking. 

I read this in my study today and had to share it with you...this totally spoke to me and gave me some relief and comfort. 

Holy Dependence

What if on this earth we will never be completely disciplined in every area of our lives at the same time?  And what if that's on purpose? A design element.  A Creator component.  An intentional decision by our God so that a holy dependence is require for us to mature toward each new place in discipline.

Maybe God allows my lack of discipline because it keeps me running to Him.  His strength is the source by which I will grow into greater discipline.  He makes me able to take the next brave step.  Maybe if I woke up tomorrow completely disciplined, perfected even, I would think more about myself and my great accomplishment and less about God and how much I need Him. 

I do not speak for God, and the Scriptures do not elaborate here, but what if a perfectly disciplined life was never God's intent?  What if He intended holy dependence for life-long growth toward Himself?

In this study, Angela Thomas also gave 10 practical steps on how to begin creating more discipline in your life.  She noted that she got this information from The Pillars of a Christian Character by John MacArthur. 

1. Start with the small things--do one thing that has been rewritten on your daily to do list over and over and over again.  For me, this was putting my Christmas dishes away.  I can tell you, that this was the first thing I did this morning after my quiet time and I fell SO much better!
2. Get yourself organized--  Thank God I am very organized, but I do have a basket of papers in my office that needs to be dealt with today or tomorrow. 
   
3. Don't constantly seek to be entertain--  The fact is there are some things we just don't want to do, but it's got to be done.  Turning off the tv during the day has completely transformed this area of my life.   I will only allow myself to watch recorded programs after I've done what needs to be done!
   
4. Be on Time--typically not my issue, but I know many people who run late all the time...it just stresses me out way too much to run late.  (if you saw a silver CX9 zipping down the beltway yesterday morning that might have been me, running late to the Pediatrician appointment, so yes, it happens in my life, but I detest it)
5. Keep your word--Let your yes be yes and your no be no.  Matthew 5:37
6. Do the most difficult (or dreaded) task first-- then it's finished and you can breath a sigh of relief
7. Finish what you start--this can be tough for me.  I tend to get lots of projects going in one day.  Scrapbooking, laundry, cooking, blogging, editing photos and of course playing with and caring for Karsten.  I think I need to learn to simplify my to do list each morning and not bite off so much.
8. Accept Correction-- "He whos ear listens to the life-giving reproof will dwell among the wise.  He who neglects discipline despises himself, but he who listens to reproof acquires understanding."  Proverbs 15:31-32
9. Practice self denial---make Godly and wise choices even though you would rather do the fun or easy thing.
10. Welcome responsibility--Grow up, make good decisions, and make a plan to live differently

 

Cultivating a Christ-like life, a huge part which is discipline, requires the fruit of the Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit's presence in my life there is no way I can begin to emulate Christ.  My selfish desires will take over every time.  I will want to sleep in instead of getting up early for a quiet time.  I will have judgemental thoughts about someone instead of seeing them as Christ sees them. 

The last section of Galatians 5 speaks of the power we have through the Holy Spirit.  If you believe that Christ was crucified for your sins and then resurrected from death 3 days later and you also believe that He is the ONLY way to heaven then you are a Believer, a Christian.  When you accept this as TRUTH you will receive the power of the Holy Spirit.  This week's printable is the Fruits of the Spirit.   Living out these characteristics in my life should be my daily to do list...with all of my chores at the bottom.  So, I'm going to print this out and place it several places in my house (my bathroom mirror, my kitchen counter, my office, and maybe my car) 

If you right click and save you should be able to print out a 4x6 or save it as your screen saver on your computer, or both!!!

My Favorite Meatloaf

I was the kid who loved when my Mom made meatloaf for dinner.  Some of you may be gagging and cringing at the thought of meatloaf.  My husband used to say he didn't like meatloaf until I made my Mom's meatloaf for him.  Now he's a big fan and I make it at least once a month.  It's one of my "go to" meals.  I almost always serve it with baked potatoes and steamed broccoli...why? Because that's what my Mom served it with.  Oh, and I don't want to forget...I must have a big squirt of Heinz ketchup on my plate too! 

I have adapted this recipe and finally think I have it perfect.  I love the sauce on top...

Download My Favorite Meatloaf

Ingredients:

1 ½ -1¾ lbs lean ground beef (I buy organic ground beef at Costco and it comes in 1 ¾ lb packages)

1 cup tomato sauce (8 oz can)

1 ¼ cup Old Fashioned or Quick Cooking Oats

2 eggs, slightly beaten

¼ finely chopped onion

1 tsp Northwoods seasoning—optional (found at Penzeys.com)

¼ tsp kosher salt

½ tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp ground black pepper

 

¼ cup ketchup

1 Tbsp red wine vinegar

1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

 

Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees F.  In a large bowl, combine first 9 ingredients.  Divide mixture and form into 2 small loaf shapes on a baking sheet.  Combine ketchup, vinegar, and Worcestershire.  Spread over the unbaked meat loaves.  Bake at 350 for 1 hour.  Let stand for 5 minutes and serve. 

 

***I also like to make Meatloaf Muffins.  Instead of creating 2 loaves just scoop 1/2  cup of meatloaf mixture into a greased metal muffin tin, top with sauce, and bake for 30 minutes.

                                                              

 

2012 Project Life (week 8)

This week is FULL of extra inserts and photos.  On Tuesday I documented A Day in My Life based on Ali Edward's Day in the Life Project and I just included in my Project Life album.  I highly recommend doing this exercise regardless if you do Project Life or not (it's completely unrelated).  I was quite astounded at exactly how much I really do get accomplished every day...and it helped me to focus on taking photos of little things, normal things, ordinary, everyday things. 

So here's what my album looks like when you open it to Week 8.  I continue to use Design A Page Protectors for the base of every week...then I add to it if I want to.  I'm also combining the Cobalt and Clementine kits and really like the way they work together.  I'm also continuing my week at a glance approach versus a photo for each day.

Left Page (close up and details)

Insert One (Karsten's 10 month Photo Shoot)  I have done a photo shoot of him each month, but this is the first time I've added photos to the PL album...so many of them were so cute that I couldn't resist!

Used a few old SEI tabs and added staples to make sure they stay put

Second Insert (Day in the Life Printable)

I created a photo collage on Walgreens, put it on some patterened paper,  and just slipped it into a a page protector.

Right Page

meal plan monday

I had this post ready to go last night, but after being up during the night with a sick baby and tending to him today the meal plan was modified

Monday--Fend for Yourself Night

Tuesday--Baked Penne with Roasted Vegetables (one of my favorite) served with a Green Salad

Wednesday--Turkey Wraps, Chips, and Raw Vegetables with Homemade Dill Dip

Thursday--Spinach and Cheese Ravioli with Brown Butter Sage Sauce, sauteed spiniach

Friday--Pizza and Salad

Saturday--Chicken Club Sandwiches

Sunday--Spaghetti and Homemade Meatballs, Salad, Garlic Bread

Black Bean Soup (crock pot meal)

Super easy recipe...if you don't want to eat this as a soup...it's still a great way to cook black beans to use for tacos, burritos, nachos, etc. 

Black Bean Soup (crock pot meal) Download Black Bean Soup

Ingredients:

1 lb bag of dried black beans

1 ham hock

1 Tbsp chili powder

1 Tbsp cumin

1 tsp ground black pepper

1 small bunch chopped cilantro, about ½ cup (more if you like cilantro)

2 jalapenos, sliced

1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles

1 Tbsp plain Greek yogurt or sour cream for each bowl of soup

 

Directions:

Rinse beans in a colander.  Place beans, ham hock, chili powder, cumin and black pepper in a slow cooker.  Cover the beans and ham hock with water so there’s about 2 inches of water covering the beans.  Stir to mix and cook on low for 6 hours.  Remove lid and stir.  Add cilantro, jalapenos, and tomatoes.  Cook another 2 hours on low.  You may end up with a lot of broth.  I ended up taking some of the broth out so it wouldn’t be too soupy.  Serve in a bowl with yogurt or sour cream. 

 

This will make quite a bit, so I plan on portioning it out into 2 cup portions and freezing in Ziploc bags.  I can add it to chili, taco meat, or use them in burritos or on nachos. 

 

weekend creative--one little word canvas

This year I decided to create a canvas using my 2012 word of the year, Cultivate.  I've wanted to make a canvas each year, but never had the follow through.  I think I will go back and create simple canvases to cover 2007-2011...someday...maybe before 2020!!!  My creative project list grows every time I enter the world of Pinterest. 

To see how I make mixed media canvases click this post for instructions.  They really are very easy and you cannot mess them up! 

I kind of knew how I wanted it to look.  When I think of the word cultivate I think of plants, flowers, etc, so I wanted my canvas to have some blue sky and green grass.  Then I had the idea to create 5 "flowers" from paper, representing each thing I'm cultivating this year. I used some larger white, glittered chipboard letters I had and punched some butterflies from patterned paper.  I also added two felt butterflies I've had for a few years.  It took me about 2 days to do this, but I would only work on it in like 10 minute increments....these really only take as long as it takes for the mod podge and paint to dry. 

It's now hanging in my kitchen (where I spend the most time) above my pantry doors.

fill in the blank Friday

Because I'm now using Tuesday to share my weekly Project Life pages I've done away with Ten on Tuesday...but I decided to replace it with Fill in the Blank Friday.  I got the idea from this blog and sometimes I'll use her prompts and sometimes I'll make up my own.  

1.  My favorite place to sit in my house is...on the floor in K's playroom watching him play and reading to him.

2. My fashion philosophy is....We'll consider it fashion when I leave the house (at home it's comfy and quite unfashionable).  My philopophy to be cute and comfortable.  I typically have on jeans and some kind of t-shirt with comfy flats.  My favorite jeans are Miss Me and my super comfy Calvin Kleins I've had for eons... and I love Born and Nurture shoes.  I love striped long or 3/4 sleeve t-shirts and I am super happy when it's cool enough to layer with a jean jacket or another one of my cutie jackets that I've been "collecting" for years.  Now that I have The Bug I almost always have a cross body purse.  This Fossil one from a few years ago is my favorite, but the other fave is a Brighton one i got when I was working that really looks nothing like a Brighton purse!

3. My favorite lipstick is...Maybelline Colorstay in Broadway Bronze...always topped with gloss.  My lips always feel dry, so I always have gloss on (which probably makes them dry) it's a vicious cycle.

4. If you looked in my purse right now you would find...my wallet, hand sanitizer, a Vera Bradley pouch with powder, lipstick, and lip gloss, a bottle of Excedrin and Aleeve, receipts, my small Canon camera, sermon notes from last week, and likely some kind of snack for K.

6. The last movie I saw was... Courageous (very good, totally recommend it)

7. My favorite movie of all time is probably....some romantic comedy (Fools Rush In, Legally Blonde, You've Got Mail) but I also really like Shawshank Redemption and Ocean's 11.

8. If I could go on a weekend getaway with no financial restraints I'd probably go... to New York City with Kelly or Charleston, SC with Brian

9. One thing I have in my fridge at all times is....cheese, several kinds in fact!

10. The very best thing about today is...it's Friday, I get to stay at home with my baby, and the weather is nice and cool!!!

 

What is Lent? (and a Scripture printable)

Since I was raised in the Catholic church (until I went to college) I always heard about Lent.  It was the time that we ate fish on Fridays, we were supposed to give something up, and we prepared for Easter...that was about all I knew...I was a kid...not a deep thinker at the time and I just rolled with it.  I liked fish, especially fried fish from our local church fish fry every Friday.  In fact, I remember working many of those fish frys with my Mom.  But that's about as far as it went. 

As I've gotten older, matured in my faith, and married Brian (my very theological husband) I've realized that Lent is so much more than giving something up and not eating meat on Fridays.  It's a time to reflect, repent, and pray in order to prepare my heart for Easter weekend; Good Friday through the Celebration of Easter.  Lent begins on Ash Wednesday (yesterday) and culminates on Easter Sunday.  Ash Wednesday commemorates the beginning of Jesus's 40 days of fasting and temptation in the wilderness.  Easter commeorates His resurrection from death, after He was crucified on the cross to atone for our sins. 

In our family, Brian and I both choose to give something up and/or add something into our lives during Lent.  For several years, Brian has done a variation of the Orthodox fast--giving up all alcohol, lots of dairy, sweets, and eating a lot less meat.  (Because I'm the cook, and cooking vegetarian, without dairy is challenging I'm allowed to use dairy and meat in our dinner meals.  However for his breakfast and lunch, he's cutting out meat and dairy)  He is also putting down the iPad for this season.  I am giving up sleep by committing to rise at 6 am every day (even weekends) in order to spend more time in prayer and Bible Study.  I'm also cutting out soda and not using the computer at night, when Brian is home. 

Spiritual things are very personal things...so what we might add into our lives or abstain from are not necessarily what will make an impact on you.  I encourage you to consider what God might be calling you to fast from?  Sweets?  Television?  Alcohol?  Caffeine?  Shopping?  Swearing?  Or maybe you really need to add something into your life?  Quiet times with God?  More time with your kids?  Exercise?  Getting back to church?  Prayer?  The whole point is to return your focus to God, His Son Jesus, and the ultimate sacrafice He made so that we may have eternal life.  What you give up or add should require sacrafice, otherwise there's no point.  Sacraficing meat for me wouldn't be that big of a deal, but sacraficing my sleep will be a challenge...it will require my dependence on God for energy and focus as well as discipline to get to bed earlier. 

In my current Bible Study, Brave, we're learning about how to become more disciplined...let me tell you...there are SO many areas of my life where I'm undisciplined.  Here are a few:  completing the laundry cylce in one day (as in washing, drying, AND putting away...and putting away is not in the laundry basket!), washing my face EVERY night (most nights I do, but sometimes I just lazy!), exercising, getting to bed on time...the list goes on and on.  I think this topic joins in with Lent in a great way because discipline is needed in order to not give into our every desire.  It's needed in order to get up early and spend time with God.  It's needed in order to give up our luxuries in life. 

I read this verse this morning and decided it needed to be my next memory verse....will you join me??? 

Right click, save image as, and print out.  It will be 4x6 :) 

 

Dear Karsten (10 months old)

Dear Karsten---

Let Mommy begin by saying that she can hardly believe she's planning your 1st birthday party.  It seems like just a few months ago that we brought you home.  Mommy and Daddy are enjoying you so much.  You are beginning to understand games like Peek a Boo and you love when we "chase" you...I'm sure that will continue to the point that it is no longer a game for us!  You have a great sense of humor and understand silly faces and funny voices.  You think it's hilarious when we talk to you in a funny voice or say "peeeeee U" when we're changing your stinky diaper.  You currently love playing with most of your toys and you love dragging certain things around like your barn.  You'll also try to crawl while holding things in both of your hands.  You love pushing a plastic bottle around on the wood floors.  You still use your pointer finger to feel textures and scrape at things. 

You are a great traveler and have no problem with your car seat.  Most of the time you will fall asleep in the car if the trip is over 10 minutes.  When you do stay awake you're interested to look outside, play with your toys, and babble to yourself.  You also enjoy taking your socks off during car rides!  You still love books; holding them, flipping the pages, and chewing on them.  We read to you everyday, although don't always sit still for the story.  I know, however, that it's good for you to hear us read books because of the repetition of words and the cadence in how we read. 

This month we've introduced you to many new foods.  We had to take a little break the past couple of weeks because you're tummy was upset from antibiotics you were taking, but you like lots of different things:  Black beans, cooked carrots, potatoes, zucchini, peas, avacado.  We've started also feeding you plain Greek yogurt with baby fruit mixed in.  You really like that and it's so good for you.  You're not big on pasta or bananas. Mommy has also started buying Magic Pop rice crackers, at HEB, and you love those.  You like bigger pieces so you can hold onto them.  You still love your bottle, but are doing great drinking out of your sippy cup.

We've also been taking lots of walks using your big boy stroller.  You just chill out and look around.  Sometimes you even fall asleep.  We live in such a beautiful neighborhood with walking paths, lakes, fountains, a playground, and lots of turtles in the lakes. You really like your big boy stroller when we're shopping or running errands as well. 

I believe you're at the beginning stage of talking.  You'll see Zoe and say something that resembles kitty.  Sometimes you will say mama and dada or baba.  I think when you figure it all out you'll never stop.  You love when we sing to you and you continue to enjoy watching Baby Einstein. 

Sadly, this month was also the first time you've been sick.  You ended up having a sinus and ear infection that resulted in your taking antibiotics for the first time.  Thankfully, you never ran a fever, but you struggled to get a good night's sleep because you were having a difficult time breathing through your nose.  You are so attached to your Wubby (pacifier) that you really struggled when you were trying to sleep and suck on your pacifier, but couldn't breath.  It made for some late nights with you, but you're totally worth it!   

Not only are you absolutely adorable, your personality is really beginning to develop.  You continue to be easy going, sweet, and very social.  You love spending time with both of your parents and having people pay attention to you.  You get upset when you don't get your way, but you quickly get over it and move on.  The few times I've had to raise my voice at you because you we're trying to play with the outlet and you bit me, the sound of my "teacher" voice startled you and hurt your feelings. 

When we went to the Pediatrician a few weeks ago (when you were sick) you weighed 19lbs 14 oz. You probably aren't going to be a big kid, but your personality will surely be larger than life!!!  You have 7 teeth and crawl around very quickly.  You can pull up on furniture and stand and are slowly learning to move around things while standing. 

Darling boy, you are the sunshiine in our lives....making everyday full of joy, happiness, and unexpected moments.  We are so blessed to get to raise you and watch you grow and develop into who God created you to be.  You are our greatest treasure and we love you more and more every day!

Love,

Mommy (and Daddy)

serious face (something we see more than many would imagine!)

and hands down, one of my favorite photos of Karsten

2012 Project Life (week 7)

Happy Project Life Tuesday-- I have made a goal to get up at 6 am every morning in order to have a longer quiet time before the Little Bug (or this week we'll call him the Little Flirt) gets up, but at 5 am this morning I woke up to him crying.  Wet diaper + Diaper Rash = an upset baby.  Changed his diaper and gave him a bottle so I could coax him to return to sleep..it worked!!!  I figured if I were going to get up at 6 it would be a mistake to go back to sleep at 5:30..so I've been up since before the crack of dawn.  I had an hour and a half of quiet time (much needed) and finished up my week 7 Project Life. 

I did a little more of a Valentine theme for this week, adding the Page Protector F (cut down a bit) to fit the photos of K's Valentine photos.  I used the blank spots for patterned paper from this pack

As you can see...I don't stick to one kit, I use a combination of Cobalt and Clementine as well as supplies from my stash. 

Left Page

Design F addition (using an Avery file tab)

the photos are a bit difficult to see...the bottom three are of Karsten with his Valentine balloon I bought him.  He gets it in his hand and then crawls all over the house with it.  It totally delights him and has the potential to make some great photos!

Right Page--I love photographing the current book I'm reading...right now it's Mockingjay.  If you haven't read the Hunger Games Trilogy you must...it's awesome!!!  Also took a photo of my weekly laundry, blackberry cobbler, beautiful birds in our lake, and a few of K-bug