Hearts

Valentine's Day is coming and my blog reader is being inundated with Valentines crafts, projects and more, as I'm sure yours is too (if you have a blog reader). Right away, I pulled this Heart Garland aside and put it on my to do list. It's crochet, but you could easily whip something similar up with felt or quilted hearts.

So I re-taught myself to crochet again - I'm really terrible because I've only done one crochet work before and I didn't even finish it. My sister showed me the basics and then I watched youtube videos to re-inforce and remind myself what all the abbreviations mean. So of course I've just now after several hours of work got the hang of it, and have almost made more than I've ripped out.

I can't do anything else while I crochet. I'll instantly lose my place in the pattern and when you're making a heart with varying stitches and counts, you can likely guess what happens. I have to stay focused. Watching each stitch I make, counting, checking the pattern. It requires huge amounts of attention to detail, close inspection, sometimes backing up and ripping out what was done and starting over from that point. Careful weaving, each stitch interwoven with the others.

And then I heard God's voice.

Jesus whispered to my soul, "I'm just as careful with your heart, little one. I carefully wove it together in your mothers womb, and I'm lovingly attending to the details now, each joy, each struggle, each tear, I'm here and I know them full well."

He did not create us and send us on our merry way to navigate this dark and hopeless world by ourselves. He did not give us children and then expect we could raise them on our own. He's still here, right beside you and me, carefully attending to the details, paying close attention. Sometimes, when we let him, ripping out the parts that got all jumbled and mixed up and lovingly starting over, weaving all things together, to make something beautiful. Something worthy of Him. Something that glorifies Him.

Hallelujah! Praise God for his intimacy in our lives! I'm so glad for it!!

In case you're wondering. I did finish the heart garland! Here it is - don't look too closely!!

Laundry, Organization and other Home-making Tips

Last week the fabulous Lisa Hall came and spoke to us on Home Organization. The more organization we have the more time we have for the important things: our family and friends, ministry, our hobbies and passions - you get the drift. A little organization goes a long way.

So here's one of my light-bulb moments from the plethora of what Lisa shared and it's about laundry. I hate it. Hate. it. Seriously, if I wasn't eco conscious and didn't hate clothes buying more than laundry itself, I would just wear disposable clothes. One time use and move on. No washing ever. But alas, that's totally unrealistic. Frankly, this is all Adam and Eve's fault for eating that fruit. If they hadn't had a nibble of that fruit, then clothes never would have been invented. I digress.Back to laundry. When Lisa was talking it occurred to me that she actually STAYS in her laundry room and folds the laundry straight out of the dryer. STRAIGHT. OUT. of. the. dryer. !!

WHERE HAVE I BEEN? Why hasn't this monumentally important detail never occurred to me before? Because when you get down into the facts, what I really hate about laundry is folding. Lord help me, there better not be laundry in heaven!

I hate folding. Therefore I put off folding. Which only creates bigger mountains of clean laundry overflowing all over my house. Then they get wrinkly and as I'm sure you can guess, I'm certainly not an ironer (one who irons). Beyond the wrinkles, the cat lays in them, or the kids knock them over...sigh. I'm exhausted and irritated just thinking about it.

So I have resolved: I will no longer remove the laundry from the dryer unless I am literally folding it right then. This halts all laundry being done, so I'm incentivized (this is clearly not a word, but I'm sticking with it) to actually do it or never have clean clothes again. And it breaks it down into smaller folding sessions - which means less time folding and I hate folding, oh wait, I think we covered that already.

I also think I'll be adding four bins to our laundry room for the clean and folded laundry to go into so that little helpers can help me put it away. We'll see, for now...I'm liking this plan.

What was your favorite part of what Lisa shared? Did you have a light-bulb moment?

Just for you: Merry Christmas!

I'm sure with Christmas just days away, you likely need a break. So get a cup of tea or hot chocolate, shut the door, turn your volume up and drift away for 2 minutes. Thank God for what he's given you this year, and proclaim the joy in your own heart as you listen to Joy to the World.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Rainy Day Tip #1

It's raining. Still. It's been raining for like a week. I've lost count. Cause it's supposed to keep raining for the next week.

Where oh where has my little sun gone? Oh where or where can she be? Cause she's clearly left Southern California.

Everyone together now: "The rain came down for forty long days-ies, days-ies..."

Anyway, what better rainy day activity is there?

Dip something! Yum!!



It's simple really, melt chocolate chips or better yet melting chocolate in 20 second spurts in the micro until runny. Then dip! Everything. And almost anything.

If you're like me you might have lollipop sticks and molds on hand so do some of those too. If not, pretzels, marshmallows, Oreo's, graham crackers, holiday cookies, apples or apple slices, drizzle it on popcorn and let harden, then break and eat! So many options, so many rainy days to try them out!

Stay dray. Stay warm. Stay sane. Reply with your favorite rainy day activities.

1 Corinthians 13 for Christmas

from Intentionally Katie by "Intentionally Katie"

If I decorate my house perfectly with plaid bows, strands of twinkling lights and shiny glass balls, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another decorator.

If I slave away in the kitchen, baking dozens of Christmas cookies, preparing gourmet meals and arranging a beautifully adorned table at mealtime, but do not show love to my family, I'm just another cook.

If I work at the soup kitchen, carol in a nursing home and give all that I have to charity, but do not show love to my family, it profits me nothing.

If I trim the spruce with shimmering angels and crocheted snowflakes, attend a myriad of holiday parties and sing the choir's cantata, but do not focus on Christ, I have missed the point.

Love stops cooking to huge a child.

Love sets aside the decorating to kiss the husband.

Love is kind, though harried and tired.

Love doesn't envy another's home that has coordinated Christmas china and table linens.

Love doesn't yell at the kids to get out of the way.

Love doesn't give only to those who are able to give in return, but rejoices in giving to those who can't.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. Video games will break, pearl necklaces will be lost and golf clubs will rust.

But giving the gift of love endures.
(author unknown)

Living Nativity Video: Come and See, The Peace that Endures

Church of the Open Door

Local Christmas Events

Here's just a couple of local Christmas Events still to come:

Polar Express Movie, Cookies & Milk - Glendora Public Library, Dec. 9 - 3pm

Glendora Christmas Parade - Dec. 11, 9am

Christian Credit Union Snow Day - Dec. 11, noon - 3pm

The Living Nativity: A Peace that Endures - Church of the Open Door, Dec. 17, 18, 19 - 6-9pm

What other events are you and your family attending??

Could we please study something else?

This last year I've spent some substantial time looking over my life story. Specifically connecting the dots to see God's Sovereignty. A lot of the time we can't see all the connections or any great significance to a current situation, but when I do see them, I love it. My heart is over-joyed! There's just something about seeing God's handiwork in my life that gives me the strength to endure today. Have you ever considered God's fingerprints in your own life?

I've also noticed that often the lessons you are learning most acutely are the ones which you are currently being equipped for. I often find re-occurring themes in my quiet time, through discipleship, during bible study and in sermons. Sometimes it feels like a quilt. Smaller broken pieces carefully woven together to create a beautiful blanket. The same biblical principle from different approaches, all coming together purposed for my heart.

Now I'm not sure where this fits on my quilt, maybe it's only a small piece appliqued on one section, but I know I see God's handiwork all over it.

The last two months have been abnormally emotionally and physically exhausting as relational, business, health, and fall schedule stresses mounted. And then last week I was in what officers called, "a minor single car accident". Clearly the word minor is relative. But let me back up a bit.

I was coming home just before 11pm, turning the corner at a familiar intersection. It was dark and wet after lightly raining all day. I lost control, the side airbags deployed and I found myself on the median facing the wrong direction. I called 911. "I lost control" doesn't really carry the same meaning, unless you've actually done it yourself. I had no idea what was happening, and I had no control over how to stop it. It wasn't until I was talking with the officers on scene that we sort of pieced together what had happened.

Apparently, I hydroplaned on the wet roads, fish-tailed, slammed into the median and then whipped back around and landed on the median facing the wrong direction.

I don't recommend it.

Despite the frightening experience, I have lots to be thankful for: I was alone in the car and wearing my seat belt. There was no one else around or involved in the accident. I didn't roll. I had side impact airbags, an option I insisted on when we bought the car 5 years ago, and which likely prevented a head injury. Police were on the scene in less than 2 minutes from my coming to a stop. The tow truck was there within 10 minutes, and so was my Dad, who waited with me, helped remove the kids car seats and drove me home. Although I was sore and stiff, after a few of days the pain subsided, and I seem to be fine.

So now we wait. Considering the airbags, a brief preliminary statement from the auto body shop & some friends, we are under the impression the car will be totaled. This wouldn't be that big a deal, but in six weeks we're driving to the Oregon coast for Thanksgiving. This 'minor' accident has caused some huge waves.

How much will the insurance company reimburse us? Will we be able to replace the car before our road trip north? What options do we have? The list goes on and on and is added to by all those other details of life, relationship and ministry. And I admit it, I'm worried.

It is no coincidence we decided months ago we'd be reading, Calm My Anxious Heart this year in Growing Up Mom. God's timing is perfect. I wouldn't have guessed my next life lessons would be about contentment, patience, or trusting in God's perfect and complete provision; in fact I would have graded myself pretty high in those areas. But then apparently life is relative too.

So here I am, asking God, "What are you teaching me?" Looking for the bigger picture on the quilt and waiting patiently (or not so patiently) for Him to point it out. Wishing I wasn't reading about contentment so my lessons could be in something else. And I just want to scream, "Could we please study something else? Something a little less painful, hard and exhausting?!"

My pastor once asked me if I thought the next sermon series should be, "5 reasons Jesus wants you to be rich, happy, and totally satisfied," or "40 days of irresponsible bliss on earth"? I had been lamenting that every series he'd done in the last 5 years, has pulled, stretched and grown me, despite my protesting. I was hoping he could preach some light fluffy sermons to give us a break. But I see his point. What would God be teaching me while my days were blissful? How many would His fingerprints be upon my soul if I was totally satisfied here on earth? Instead I long for him to teach me his ways.

Psalm 86 ¹ Hear, O LORD, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. ² Guard my life, for I am devoted to you. You are my God; save your servant who trusts in you. ³ Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I call to you all day long. ⁴ Bring joy to your servant, for to you, O Lord, lift up my soul. ⁵ You are forgiving and good, O Lord, abounding in love to all who call to you. ⁶ Hear my prayer, O LORD; listen to my cry for mercy. ⁷ In the day of my trouble I will call to you, for you will answer me. ⁸ Among the gods there is none like you, O Lord; no deeds can compare with yours. ⁹ All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name. ¹⁰ For you are great and do marvelous deeds; you alone are God. ¹¹ Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name. ¹² I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart; I will glorify your name forever. ¹³ For great is your love toward me; you have delivered me from the depths of the grave.

How about you? Are you tired from the lessons? Encouraged by how He orchestrates the events of your life? I hope you're seeing how He's weaves it all together and finding strength for the day as you trust in his provision.

Fung Fu Anxiousness

Have you ever overheard your children's movie and thought, "wow - okay God. I hear you." No? Okay so maybe not that common if you're watching Caillou or Disney princesses. But this did happened to me the other day.

I was cooking dinner and the kids were watching Kung Fu Panda.
"Everybody was kung fu fighting..." Oh wait. That's not where I was going.

Okay, so I was cooking dinner and Oogway and Shifu were talking by the peach tree.

"My friend, [you] will never fulfill [your] destiny, until you let go of the illusion of control. ... I can plant the seed in the ground, cover it with soil, and nurture it with water and sunlight. But I cannot make the tree blossom when it suits me nor make it bear fruit before its time."

"Let go of the illusion of control." Immediately that still small voice said, "Who's in control? You?" And then gently and tenderly, "Certainly not." You can plant and nurture, but YOU can not make that tree bear fruit.

I can worry about my finances, or my kids education or social skills. I can plan and strategize about where we're going today, tomorrow and next month. I can micromanage the details until I'm sick of my own calendar and schedule. But it's still not going to put me in any more control over the un-controllable.

Those things I'm worried over, like my mother-in-laws aging health, I can't control one bit.

Anything sounding familiar here?

Sounds a lot like the monks story in Calm My Anxious Heart, "Thou hast made it and Thou dost know." God made all these things that weigh me down, these things which cause my anxious heart to spiral out of control, and feel completely overwhelmed. He knows exactly what's going on. Not only does he causes the peach tree to grow and bear fruit, but he does it for me too.

Who better to put my trust in than the one who knows me fully?

Psalm 139

1 O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. 2 You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. 3 You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. 4 Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD. 5 You hem me in—behind and before; you have laid your hand upon me. 6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain. 7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? 8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. 9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, 10 even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. 11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," 12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you. 13 For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, 16 your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. 17 How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

Sweet Sisters! Why do we worry so. He made us. He knows us. He is with us. His hand is upon us. He has ordained our days. What in the world is there to worry about?

So take whatever it is He's whispering to you about right now. And let Him handle it.

^{Phillipians 4:6-7} Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

May it be so for you and for me, today!

Fire Station Tour - Pint Sized Adventure

This morning we toured Fire Station 97 as a Pint Sized Adventure and was it ever! Some of us (perhaps more than others) got more than they bargained for!

I was so excited to be able to make this Fire Station Tour work. This was the third one I'd scheduled in 2010, and I'd been wanting to do it for about a year longer. The Captain's up at the station were very nice, friendly, accommodating and we just all had a blast!

Here's the link to all the pictures, you'll definitely want to click the picture to view them all! But you might want to read all the way to the end of this blog post before you do!


Of course, today's visit wasn't without calls either. We had only been there about 5 minutes when the alarm went off and they had to head out to a call! Kindly Fireman Chris stayed behind to get us started on the tour while we waited for the big truck and the firemen to return.

We saw the Captains office, the dormitory, the kitchen & lizzard lounge (think living room). All very interesting. Chris did a great job talking with us and the kids and answering all our questions.

When the Captain, the men and the truck returned they joined the group and finished out the tour with us.

Somewhere along the way I got pegged as Ms. Adventurous. Now, I won't lie. I do like me some adventure. And I don't mind being in front of a crowd (at least not that much! - anymore!) and so I agreed to be the volunteer. To do what you ask? Volunteer to race the rookie putting on his gear!! Um...wait, you want me to put what on?

In case you've never worn fireman's gear (I mean, I hadn't before) you start with your boots. Step in, pull those yellow pants up and get those suspenders over your shoulders. Then the head hood (which goes over your head and neck to make sure there isn't any exposed skin in a fire). Next the jacket, axe, oxygen tank pack, mask .... WHAT?!!

Hold on there one second. I'm good with boots, pants, jacket and a hat! What's this about a mask and tank?!

Here's where I let you in on my Kryptonite secret...I'm a little bit claustraphobic.

I mean, I don't mind most small spaces...unless its dark. Or scary. Or I'm locked in and seriously really can't get out. But things on my face, tight things on my face, things that involve a fireman repeating over and over, "You can still breathe. Just breathe normal." Um...no thank you.

Now for you mamas who were there, you'll have to let me know if you could tell. I mean I thought I put on a brave face. You know, for the kids. (Not that my kids wanted anything to do with me once I was in full gear, mind you!) Despite my calm, collected, exterior demeanor - I was about 30 seconds from panicking and passing out.

No Lie.

Passing out!

I mean it was hot in there! That gear is heavy. And HOT! Like seriously blazing hot. Remember the 115 degree weather we had a few days ago? This was worse.

I don't think that the panting and the profuse sweat dripping off my body (and into whomever's fire gear that was! - eew!! and I'm so so sorry!!) was helping.

So I concentrated on my breathing. And not passing out. And breathing. And telling myself this was not a good time to have a panic attack. Rinse and repeat.

And so as I concentrated on breathing, I put on a smile and bravely stood and took pictures with the kids for almost an entire millenium, before I turned and calmly tapped my closest man in blue to please. remove. the. mask. now.

I don't think I yelled, but maybe that's just cause no one could here me if I had tried.

With the mask removed it was like the heavens opened. Air. Fresh air! (Not like that crazy gas they were pumping in the mask to me!) Sweet beautiful, God created, fresh air. Exhale. End scene.

So you might be asking yourself, "what did Karen learn in this little exercise?" Hmm? Hmm. Me too. But here's my reflections. I learned I was not meant to be a fire woman. No way. No how. It. is. not. going. to. happen. Ever. I also learned that being the adventurous one can sometimes get you in a pickle - oh wait, I already knew that (thank you to everyone who has ever volunteered me for anything).

And more importantly, I learned I have no idea how those men do what they do. To all my firemen friends, past and current. My fire hat is tipped to you. Not only do you face real danger all the time, you do it under crazy circumstances and with huge amounts of gear on!! THANK YOU for what you do!

After I had recovered from my near death trauma (or slightly sooner) all the kids got to stand in the boots and pants and jacket and helmet too! (No claustrophobic mask for them - the wimps!)

And of course we climbed in and around the fire truck, and they even let us spray a hose!

Overall - GREAT Pint Sized Adventure!!

By the way. I totally blew rookie Tim out of the water. One minute, 20 seconds into full gear. (Ignore the other two firemen helping me gear up!) Beat that rookie man!

Anyone want to visit the Police Department?