Thursday Thank-yous

I am thankful for. . .

171. seeing the world through a 4-year-old's eyes.

172. open windows.

173.  safe travels.

174.  popcorn.

175.  tree buds popping, new flowers planted, gardens planted (although very muddy!)

176.  sunshine!!!

177.  technology.

178.  cinnamon toast.

179. the news that friends are expecting a baby.

180.  shelter from storms of all kinds.

What are you thankful for?

Day #24

#24—Something you wish you could change

I wish I could change my love for all things junk food.  I love cooking healthy dinners, and I try my best to teach my children good eating habits.  But when the kids are in bed, and all is quiet, those junk foods call my name.  And so I don't buy them.

And then I bake a cake.

And eat the whole thing by myself.

I am really doing better in the exercise area, and about 90% of the time I am really good about my food choices, but I can't ever seem to lose my love for snacks!  Thus, I will not be wearing a bikini any time soon :)

Day #23

#23:  favorite book

I love books.  Love them.

I love the library, love bookstores, love Amazon, everything book.  I still haven't decided what I think about moving to the digital era in books.  There is something about holding a book in your hand, turning the pages, marking the parts you like.

I can't even begin to tell you what my favorite book is. (Of course, I could write about the Bible, but that one goes without saying, right?)  Some books I like because of the storyline (And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie).  Some because there is a character who I just fall in love with (Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte).  Sometimes a book touches me because I read it at a specific point in my life where it really affected me (Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom).  Some books are great because they are an escape, while some are life-changing. 

All that being said, I will share a few of my faves:

Radical by David Platt
The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom
Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller
The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
The Lion, the Witch, & the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis
1,000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
Through the Gates of Splendor by Elizabeth Elliott
Say You're One of Them by Uwam Akpan
Sex God by Rob Bell
Crazy Love by Francis Chan

Here are some authors who I will read whatever they write/wrote:
Jodi Picoult
Anne Lamott
Henri Nouwen
Sophie Kinsella
David Foster Wallace
Lisa Samson
Read on!

Day 22

Bear with me.  I'm almost done with the "30 Day Picture Challenge" that somehow has lasted for much longer than 30 days.

Day #22—something you wish you were better at

I talk a lot.

A lot.

And while I have come to understand that sometimes my words have been helpful, I also realize that I need to think before a say things.

Oh, the stories I could share.

How about the time I made fun of men who cross-stitch, in front of a lady whose husband cross-stitches?

Yeah, that was a good one.

I have offended and embarassed myself and others because the old yapper just doesn't stop.

Think, Beth!  Think before those words come out of your mouth!

5 Minute Friday

On Fridays, I take the "5 minute Friday" challenge.  Write for 5 minutes about the topic given.  No editing.  No second drafts.  Just write.  If you want to take part, read about it here.

Today's Topic:  The Hard Love.

GO

Sometimes love comes easy.  When everything is going well.  When people love you back.  When it doesn't involve much effort or sacrifice. 

But how strong is that love?  Has it been tested and proven?

Today, of course, being Good Friday, my mind is on the cross.  Hard Love.  Jesus took my ugliness, my sin, my filth, and died for it, knowing full well that I would not always reciprocate that love.

I can't even begin to describe that love.

I think about my children and what I would do for them.  But I can't even begin to think about what I would allow someone else to do to them for the sake of someone else. 

Hard Love.

Thank you, Jesus, for never giving up on me.  For not just loving me when it was easy.  May I be an example of your love to others, especially when it is hard to love.

Today, may we remember His hard love and be changed because of it.

STOP

Thursday Thank-yous, in pictures

I am thankful for. . .

161. Elise's Elmo cake that we made, thanks to my friend, Autumn.  It turned out so well!

162.  Someone enjoying her birthday celebration!

163.  These sweet'ums

164. Father-Son time over the weekend.  Noel could not get enough of David.

165.  Easter Egg hunt at the Dean's house!

166.  Spending time with Grandma Linda.

167.  CANDY!!!

168.  A dear friend who hand made these benches for the kids.  So special!

169.  My Mini-Me turning 2.  Such a ball of fury, emotion, entertainment, and spunk.

170.  warm weather on its way??!!  Please?!!

What are you thankful for?

Day 21

Day #21—something you wish you could forget


I have been blessed with a very good memory, and usually it is something I am thankful for.  However, sometimes I wish I could forget my mistakes.  The ones that come to mind especially are some that I made in college.  I was so desperate for acceptance by a guy that I threw myself all over any guy who gave me any attention.  I cringe when I think about the way I acted during those years.  In hindsight, I wish I had just been myself and enjoyed every moment in college instead of pining away over a guy who didn't want to be with me. 

P.S. This picture is one taken in college when we were pulling pranks in the middle of the night.  For obvious reasons, I didn't want to post a picture of one of the boys I pined over.  Ha!

5 Minute Friday

(The goal of "5 Minute Friday" is to freewrite on a given topic for 5 minutes.  No editing or going back.  Just write and share.  You can read more about 5 Minute Friday here.)

On Distance

When I think about the word "distance" a few different thoughts come to mind.

First off, I have been training for my first (and maybe only) half-marathon.  This weekend will be the first time I attempt to run double digits.  That's right, 10 miles.  I never thought I would even consider that being a possibility, but I have learned that running is as much mental as it is physical.  If you can push yourself, you can do it.  It has been a real learning experience for me.  Plus, it gives me time to just be completely alone with my thoughts.  I'm not sure if I'll keep running this far once the half-marathon is over, but I am so glad I have done this.

Secondly, I think about those I love who are far away.  I have friends who are all over the country and all over the world.  Thanks to the internet, we can still keep in touch, but it's never the same.  Never the same.  But I am OH SO THANKFUL for those few friends who bridge any distance (time, miles, age) and can truly be a lifelong friend.

Lastly, we are heading out of town today.  I love traveling.  I love getting away from home, going different places, getting away from home.  It's not nearly as stress-free as it used to be now that there are two young ones involved, but I still love it.  I know I will blink and these kids will be going to college, so I'm trying to enjoy every single moment.  Some days I'm better at that than others, but I AM trying to enjoy every stage of my children, even the crying, frustrating, temper tantrum times (for me as well as them.  Ha!)

Time's up!

Thursday Thank-yous

I am thankful for. . .

151.  walks through the neighborhood with the kids.

152.  a safe trip for my my friend Lesley to and from Haiti.

153.  getting to put the winter coats away, hopefully for a long time!

154.  our upcoming trip to see family in Ohio.

155.  hand-me-down clothes.

156.  filling out "thank you" booklets with the kids at dinner time.

157.  people who live with passion and conviction.

158.  new recipes from blogs I follow.

159.  old recipes from church cookbooks.

160.  Easter.  Without Jesus, our lives mean nothing.

What are you thankful for?

Day 20

Day #20—Somewhere you’d love to travel

For the past several months I have been involved with collecting donations for the Mercy House.  Mercy House is a maternity home that is just getting started in Kenya.  This ministry will take care of pregnant women physically and spiritually in a country where so many are hurting, neglected, and forgotten.  Someday I hope to travel to the Mercy House and see this love in action.

Day 19

19—me when i was little

Okay, Just kidding



Kidding again.

The truth is, I don't have any pictures of myself scanned in, and I'm too lazy to find any.  So I will leave you with this number from about 12 or 13 years ago.  And I wondered why I was single for so long. . .



Day #18

18—your biggest insecurity

I'm not sure if this represents my biggest insecurity accurately, but overall I am most insecure about my appearance.  I am embarassed to say that, but it's the truth.  Most of the time when I look in the mirror I don't like what I see.  Some days it's my hair, some days it's the way my clothes fit, sometimes it's just a general feeling of ugliness.  I recognize that this is all silliness and it really doesn't matter what I look like.  And over the years I have come to appreciate the blessing my body is, but if I am being brutally honest, it is still my biggest insecurity.

5 Minute Friday

This is a five-minute writing exercise.  Try it, and then link your blog post to this blog.  No editing, no going back, just writing for 5 minutes. 

Today's topic:  If you met me. . .

If you met me, you will find that I love (in no particular order)

teaching
reading
my kids
coffee
traveling
being a high school youth leader
cooking
Haiti
running (is it really considered running, as slowly as I go?)
laughing
watching tv
reading blogs
my husband
Jesus

and you will find that I am not very good at

being organized
keeping my living room clean
being patient
keeping my thoughts to myself (aka keeping my big mouth shut)

I have an uncanny memory for all things pop culture (like the fact that the girl in the latest McDonald's commercial was in the movie "To Save a Life"), and it is a completely useless skill.

I am doing what I can to help those all over the world who are in physical and spiritual need. 

I talk a lot.

I love to be with my husband and kids.

And my time is out.

What about you?

Thursday Thank-yous

I'm going to admit, it's been a rough week.  Sick kids.  Sick husband.  Everyone is gone on spring break.  It is times like these where I am tempted to start focusing on the negative.  But it is times like these where I need to focus on all of the blessings that I do have and hang onto that.

Today I am thankful for. . .

141.  good sleep.

142.  Jeff Newton, director of Kokomo Urban Outreach.

143.  the joy of disciplining a strong-willed almost-2-year-old.  Celebrate every little success.

144.  sunshine, especially after a very long, gray winter.

145. bike rides.

146.  8 miles in training for the half-marathon.  Only 5.1 miles to go!

147.  cinnamon-sugar pretzels from Sam's Club.

148.  sharing secrets and inside jokes with my little man.

149.  jellybean season.

150.  time with a very good friend, and watching our boys become friends.

What are you thankful for?

Day #17

17—something that has made a huge impact in your life recently

I left a piece of my heart in Haiti.  I see the world differently, and for that I am glad. Use your life to make a difference!

Day #16

16—someone who inspires you

Several months ago I stumbled on this blog, written by Ann Voskamp.  I must admit, I don't always want to read it.  Not because it's not good, but because it's THAT good.  It's convicting, thoughtful, honest, touching.  And when I saw she had a book coming out, it was the only thing on my Christmas list.  It's taken me a while to read it because the book is very intense. I know I've written about this blog and the book, but Ann Voskamp inspires me.  She inspires me to seek God in every moment of the day. To slow down and marvel at God's love.  To be thankful.  Always thankful.

What inspires you?

Day 15

#15—something you want to do before you die

Well, I would have never considered this a few years ago, but I am currently training to run a half-marathon.  I have run several 5K's, and one 5-mile trail run (which would make a great blog post sometime), but it will be an accomplishment to get my lazy self out there and run 13.1 miles. So far my longest run has been 8 miles, which is a huge feat for me, so we’ll see how the next 6 weeks go.  My goal is to run the entire race.  I don't care if I finish last (okay, I care a little bit), I just want to push myself to see what I an do.  I always tell students that they can do whatever they put their mind to, and I want to walk the talk, or run the talk, I guess.

Day #14

Day #14—someone you could never imagine your life without

No words today.  Just pictures.  And lots of love for him.