NYC Crayon Skyline

If you're reading this post you may have seen my previous crayon art, the melted Seattle skyline. My cousin's wife saw it and wanted a New York one to give my cousin for his birthday....It was either New York or Las Vegas and I wasn't so sure I'd be able to melt all the intricacies of the Vegas skyline! So I attempted to make a melted New York...what do you think? I figured if I could get the World Trade Center and the Chrysler Building then it would be recognizable as New York City :)

As my brother said, "It's New York, circa 2000." :)

Preschool Thankful Trees

What are you thankful for? Most of us would quickly say our family or friends, or maybe our home. But what if we think a little further. Are you thankful for your heater? running water? a soft bed? food in the fridge? The best way to think simply about thankfulness is to ask a 3 year old. This month in my classroom we have been focusing more on thanking God for our blessings since Thanksgiving is coming up soon. We find ways to be thankful year round during our chapel time and by praying before meals but now it's specifically part of our curriculum.

My favorite kind of art project is one where the kids get to personalize it in their own special way. For this project I asked them what they were thankful for...(in a variety of ways so they would understand, because I know thankfulness can be a bit abstract for a preschooler.) The other preparations for this craft included cutting out leaf shapes from magazines and brown rectangles for the tree stump. Overall a very easy craft to make, and if you have older kids they could cut out their own leaves!

My favorite is the one that says, "Mommy, Daddy, God, Jesus, and Mickey Mouse" :)

Clothes Pin Christmas Card Wreath

How do you display your Christmas cards? Do you tape them to the stair railing? Throw them in a basket? Magnets on the fridge? Last year I put ribbon around my kitchen cabinets and used mini clothes pins to hold the cards in place. I liked that all right, but I'm always looking for new ways to be creative. A few weeks ago I was inspired by {of course} the one and only Pinterest. I found this wreath made out of clothes pins to hold Christmas cards so I thought I would give it a try... I was originally inspired by Craftiness is not optional but I ended up doing a few things differently.

 First, I painted all my pins with acrylic craft paint in red, green, and white. After letting them dry I wanted a little something more so I added stripes to the white pins and polka dots to the red ones. After that I found a wire hanger and {mostly} bent it into a circular shape. Then I put the clothes pins on the hanger and sealed the ends of the hanger with my handy glue gun and added some ribbon to cover the leftover wire.

Ta-Da! My final product. What do you think? Overall I'm happy with how it turned out. Now to put it away for a few more weeks until I start getting cards in the mail!

Where, Lord, where?

Today was just another Tuesday. Another day of tantrums, pushing, screaming, poop, snot, coughing, and more. When did this become my new normal? When did I switch into survival mode just to make it through the day or even the week? You'd think that I was a mom with kids going through a crazy phase making me want to pull my hair out and hire a nanny. Could I hire a nanny to come take my place for a while at the child care? Probably not, but I've thought about it.

Work has been making me question my happiness lately. Am I happy? What in my life currently makes me happy? And how can I get more of that? I believe that happiness is an active choice and if we don't do something about being happy we will always be miserable. SO what am I doing to make myself {and others in my life} happy?

First things first, ask Jesus. True happiness will come from HIM. Lord, grant me the wisdom to make choices in my life that glorify you and also bring happiness to my heart.

What's the next step? That one question pretty much sums up my life right now. If you were someone who keeps asking me about my future I would tell you I'm planning on going to grad school next year to get my teaching credential in California. Is that what I want to do? I'm not entirely sure. Will that make happy? Not sure about that either. BUT at this point in my life its the most logical next step to take.

Earlier today I was reading an article called "Single and not waiting" and the author says,

There seems to be a deep understanding and appreciation for the gift of marriage, but not so much for the gift of singleness (if it’s treated like a gift at all). Rather, singleness is something to be cured. Like I've got a disease, and introducing me to your single friend might perhaps cure us both. Singleness is the lump of coal, the gift that is never on your Christmas list.

Hmmm. Is that how I see my life? Honestly, it's hard not to when everyone you know is getting married or having a baby. And I'm so happy for them, I truly am. But I feel like my life is missing something. Am I unhappy because I am single? {Because that is not a good reason for it if you ask me...} But I don't know how to embrace this singleness and be the best I can be in it. It's hard. I suppose Paul never said it would be easy to be single. There are tons of manuals for how to be a good wife, husband, mom, dad, etc. but the "single" books aren't exactly flying off the shelves at me.

Post-college pre-marriage life seems like a waiting room but it's not. It's life. Trying to follow God's calling but it seems there is water in my ears, making it difficult to understand. I'm reminded of Isaiah 6:8 so often lately... "Here I am, Lord! Send me!" It's just a matter of figuring out the direction I'm being sent. Where, Lord, where?

Advice to College Kids

Get Involved

I may not have always been great at this, in fact most of the time I was opposite of involved. After being super involved in high school I was ready for a break and I feel like there were things I missed out on in college. So go do stuff with people!

It's okay to say NO
While it's great to be involved, don't feel like you HAVE to do everything. It's okay to say no sometimes and watch a movie in your dorm. If you start saying yes to everything you'll be exhausted and nothing will get done. So pick and choose what you want to be a part of. Also, if any part of you thinks that something is dangerous or illegal, DON'T DO IT, because it probably is and at some point in your life you'll probably regret it.

Go to a friend's house for a holiday
Being from a different state I wasn't always able to go home for Thanksgiving or Easter. I think visiting another family for a holiday can teach you a lot about different family dynamics, about who you are, and what you appreciate about your own family and traditions.

Call your parents (and grandparents)
While you may be just fine, your mom might not. Or maybe you're a wreck and you don't want your dad to worry about you. Well guess what, your parents are definitely worried about you and many don't want to "intrude" on your new found independence at college. Call them anyway, even if its just for 5 minutes on your way to class. They'll appreciate it, and odds are, you'll feel better too. (Same goes for grandparents. They're not going to be around forever and once they're gone you'll regret not spending more time getting to know them.)

Take a random class
Learn about something new! My sophomore year I took one quarter of Greek. Do I remember any of it? Not really. Do I really need to know Ancient Greek? Probably not at all. But it was a good experience and now I can say, "Yeah one time I took Greek in college..."

And most importantly...

Be a good friend
This will look differently for everyone, but college is a great time to truly get to know people. And its the only time in your life when you will be living with your best friends. Be there for them. Love them. Pray for them. And most importantly be good to them, just like you would want them to be to you.

2008- my first roomie and one of
my best friends

Can I also just say I'm very thankful that we all grow up and don't stay 18 forever? Who thought those double braids were a good idea? yikes.

Happy back to school, college kids!

Careful what you wish for...

The last month or so I have been very ready for fall weather to arrive. I was ready to say goodbye to my shorts and flip flops to greet my boots and scarves with open arms. Last week people were still in capris, maybe wearing sandals, holding on to that last bit of summer-ish weather. And bam! I'm not sure what happened, but WINTER arrived this weekend. We skipped right over fall and went straight to COLD. Its been around 50 degrees, which is not crazy cold, but when it was 80 very recently that is a big change. I suppose I got what I wanted because I'm able to wear boots and a sweater, but it seemed like an awfully drastic change.

Isn't that how life is though? You look forward to something for a week, a month, maybe even a year, and then all of a sudden it's there. And you're left wondering wait, what just happened? Wasn't it just a week ago that I was doing this or that?

Today the new SPU students are moving into the residence halls across the street and I feel old being so far removed from that stage in life. It was 6 years ago that I moved into Emerson Hall and started my journey at Seattle Pacific. Now I'm an "adult," paying rent and going to work every day. (I put quotes around the word adult because I still don't quite feel like one...I'm waiting for the moment where I don't feel like I'm playing pretend being a grown up. Although a 4th grader told me I was too old to say "dude" last night and guessed that I was 30....)

Now my question is, what's next? What am I wishing for? What change is going to sneak up on me like this cold weather? What's my next step?

I'm so thankful for the different seasons of life, but they also terrify me. Unlike the weather changing or holidays arriving, I can't always prepare myself as well as I'd like to for those big life stages. Thankfully God is with me no matter where I go or what I do, and I should always lean on him in those circumstances. But I'm still learning how to do that. How can I not think about, worry, stress over, or just be scared of what the next step is?

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you." 1 Peter 5:6-7

fall is here

At the beginning of every season I'm always excited for something. When it's spring time I'm excited to see more of the sun and all the beautiful flowers blooming everywhere. When summer comes around I can't wait to wear flip flops and lay out in the sun endlessly reading books. When winter comes...well, I love Christmas so winter is good because of that (however, by the end of January I'm at a loss for things to like about winter). And then there is fall. My favorite of all the seasons. What's not to love about fall? Cooler weather. Boots. Leaves. Scarves. PSL. Fireplace. Thankfulness. Candles. Oh and pumpkin {everything}.

Right now my house smells so lovely ~ coffee beans in my kitchen table centerpiece, new apple ale candle, and pumpkin chocolate chip oatmeal bars baking in the oven. Any time I can use pumpkin, molasses, and fall spices in the same recipe I am a very happy girl! My parents are coming to Seattle tomorrow and the whole family will be here for dinner so I'm breaking out the crock pot again to make a pot roast. Crock pot cooking isn't all that fun when only one person is eating (or I end up with a million freezer meals of the same thing!). I can't wait to have people here to cook for and to eat with. My home feels empty with just one or two people. I crave a crowd.

I blame my mother for this feeling I have. Growing up there were always people in our home- after school, coming over for dinner, holiday meals- everyone came to our house for these things. It wasn't until middle school that I started to realize it wasn't normal to have people over for dinner three or four (or more) times a week. Feeding people is both my mom's love language and her spiritual gift, and I feel that I have inherited these things as well. Making someone a home-cooked meal or bringing treats to work is my way of blessing those around me (and also feeling blessed myself). Why not make someone's day a little bit better if I have the time and ability to?

"...Remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Acts 20:35b

missing out

I'd like to host a dinner party about every other day. I think life is delicious, and I want to gobble it up in big bites, eating, drinking, reading, talking, traveling -- everything. I want everything. I'm hungry for everything, all the time. Bookstores make me ravenous, as do city streets and airports and glossy fashion magazines. So much to see, taste, touch, try, do. I can feel myself come to life, eyes open, taking everything in, fingers running over textures, ears pricked for sounds. I feel like life is so genuinely interesting, that there's so much to be tasted and tried and discovered.

We all have a kooky set of fears and loves that makes us do what we do. For me, I love experiences, and it makes me scared to think of missing out on anything at all. So that fear drives me and takes over my life, pushing me to do more, buy more, eat more, try more. But I don't want to be ruled by fears. There will be more life to experience tomorrow. And the next day, and the next day. And I don't have to be running after it all the time. Breathe, rest, practice the idea of enough. Practice the idea of living well, and a little more slowly. Practice believing that it will all still be here, waiting to be devoured freshly, after a good night's sleep.

Excerpt from Bittersweet by Shauna Niequist

Thankful for the seeds.

Ch-ch-ch-changes are happening and I am choosing to be thankful. I am not the first person to admit to liking change or even welcoming it without a fight, but I am learning {finally} that change is a part of life and I can't do much to stop it. The first change is that summer is coming to a close. Boo. However, that means there are lots of wonderful things about fall coming....pumpkin spice lattes, scarves, boots, beautiful leaves, scented candles, my birthday, Thanksgiving, and eventually Christmas! Many stores already have their Christmas things out for sale, and while I think it is a little early, it does make me excited for my favorite time of year.

Changes are happening at work. We've just graduated 13 (mostly) potty-trained kiddos to the next classroom and are getting 9 (not potty-trained) new ones on Wednesday. I am preparing myself for the work that is ahead, but I'm excited for a fresh start and new kiddos who are excited to learn more independence in my classroom.

Changes are happening at church (which is also sort of my work). We're starting a new year- kids in new classes, new schedules, new teachers, Wednesday night church, etc. I've actually been missing a lot of these things lately which means I know I'm ready to jump back in with both feet.

Changes are happening with my friends. Getting married, getting engaged, having babies. I am so happy to be a part of all these experiences with them and look forward to more of it happening in the next year.

Changes are happening with MY life. I've thought and prayed a lot about what my next step in life is. Where do I go? What do I do? I've told God, give me a direction and I will follow. This song by Sidewalk Prophets describes my life perfectly right now. Even if it scares me or worries me, I will trust that God is leading me. I'm preparing myself to leave Seattle next summer and move back to California and attend grad school. School? Work? Friends? Church? All of those things are up in the air, but I feel okay about it.

A few days ago I was reading Ann Voskamp and she was writing about how God has provided every plant and tree and fruit we would need, but it doesn't start out that way. Things start out small, like a seed. She prays, Lord, what would happen today if I saw all the not-enough, too-little in my life to be but a seed? All the hardly-things could be holy-things -- small somethings You are growing into more glory for You. Cause me to believe again: All feasts begin as a seed.

Wow. What if I saw my life this way also. All the small things that I think don't matter. All the frustrating moments where things don't go my way. My kiddos at work are these seeds. My plans for the future are still seeds. My life is merely but a seed at this point, growing into the feast that God has planned for me from the start. Today, I am thankful for the seeds.

3 years later.

Some moments from that day I remember like it was yesterday. Some are a total blur.

It was Friday.

I remember the phone ringing early, before 7, and rolling over thinking, "Who in the world is calling so early?"

Mom answered the phone in the hallway. Dad was in the shower. I was half-asleep, half-awake trying to figure out who was on the phone.

Mom sounded serious and worried when she went to get dad. I rolled out of bed to see what was going on.

I don't really remember what was said or how the rest happened. But it was Aunt Anne on the phone calling to say that Grandpa had passed away early that morning.

That day is a mix of blurs and things clear as day. I remember researching flights to NY for the next day, doing laundry, helping get suitcases ready, sending Mom to Nordstrom to buy a suit, etc. I remember Dad getting home from work and suggesting we go get Chipotle for dinner and maybe stop by Borders to get some books/magazines for the flight. I got so upset. I remember crying and saying that no one cared about what was really going on. Why weren't we talking about it? Why is no one packing? Nothing is done to leave tomorrow and we're going to go out!?

Everyone handles grief differently. Clearly I am someone who likes to get things done. Make a checklist and cross things off. Dad wanted us to clear our heads a little, get out of the house, and think about something else for a little bit. Some people need to talk about grief, some people never want to talk about it.

Three years later, we still miss them, but it's different than it was on that day. Every once in a while I think about how my future husband won't know or understand how wonderful these people were. My children won't know what it's like to be held by their great-grandma or think of their great-grandpa whenever they smell old spice or know the taste of cheese toast made in a toaster oven in Old Tappan.

This September my family will be participating in the Walk to End Alzheimer's in memory of these sweet people. Please consider walking or donating to support families living with Alzheimer's.

Ben Binford September 25, 1923 - August 13, 2010
Elsa Binford August 18, 1924 - September 22, 2010

Today.

Today I'm thankful for:
~ college friends visiting
~ words of wisdom
~ favorite hymns
~ baking yummy desserts
~ my bro & friends
~ new books

"This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

selfless happiness

"The belief that unhappiness is selfless and happiness is selfish is misguided. It's more selfless to act happy. It takes energy, generosity, and discipline to be unfailingly lighthearted, yet everyone takes the happy person for granted. No one is careful of his feelings or tries to keep his spirits high. He seems self-sufficient; he becomes a cushion for others. And because happiness seems unforced, that person usually gets no credit. I know a fortunate few people -- such as my father -- who seem naturally sunny-tempered. Now I wonder how effortless this really is." [The Happiness Project p.217]

Ultimately, from where does someone's happiness stem?

 

"For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy." Psalm 92:4

Happiness.

Define happiness.

No really, try and define happiness in a way that would be completely accurate for everyone. I suppose it would have something to do with having pleasant feelings toward something or someone. Or maybe it is a positive experience instead of something more negative. But what is it that makes us happy? Are we more or less prone to be happy based on are circumstances? Are certain people inherently more happy than others?

Samuel Johnson says, "The business of the wise man is to be happy." Does this mean wise people are happy? Or are happy people wise?

Recently I have been reading the book The Happiness Project, by Gretchen Rubin, thus, my thoughts about happiness. The author conducts all this research about what makes people happy and how she can use that information to make herself happier in a 12-month experiment. (She admits that she's not really unhappy, it's more that she wants to truly appreciate life by being happy.) Each month she sets a goal for things that she wants to do- boost energy, lighten up, make time for friends, etc. and then keeps track of what she actually does and how it affects her happiness. I'm about halfway through this book and I'd recommend it!

All that to say, what makes me happy? Why am I a happy person? God has blessed me with a wonderful family, a job I love, great friends, and so much more. Would I be so happy if my situation was different? Am I more naturally inclined to look at the glass half-full or did I learn how to do that? Don't get me wrong, I definitely have my moments of sadness but generally I'd say I'm a rather happy person.

So what makes me happier or unhappier than the next person?
My head hurts from trying to figure happiness out.

Undeserving Love

After reading Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts, a few years ago I have been trying to be much more intentional about finding things in my life that I am thankful for. To tell you the truth, its hard not to find things that I am thankful for! Once you start looking you realize that there is more to be thankful for than not and that life is really much better than we ever would deserve. Thank you Jesus for your blessings even when we fall short of deserving them.

At church today we watch an episode from this series called What's in the Bible? and it was all about King David and King Solomon (talk about some guys who really didn't deserve God's grace!). These are always tricky stories to teach to elementary school kids...What do you mean he had more than one wife? Why did he kill that man? Isn't David a man after God's own heart? Does that mean it's okay for us to do that stuff too? (Okay so maybe a kindergartner wouldn't ask some of those questions, but a 3rd or 4th grader? Absolutely.) I am always so impressed with this series because they don't gloss over anything and are still able to tell it in a kid appropriate way. For example, this episode talks about David committing adultery, which means he stole someone else's wife. And then to cover up that adultery he had someone killed, or committed murder. BUT they also explained that he repented, asked God to forgive him, and wanted a clean heart (Psalm 51). While God still loves us when we sin or make bad choices, that doesn't mean there won't be consequences. If we lie to our boss, God will still love us but we might lose our job. If we hurt a friend, God will still love us, but that person might not trust us to be their friend...etc.

What a great way to describe these stories in a kid-friendly way. Just because God will always forgive us and always love us doesn't mean it is okay to hurt someone or do something God told us not to. We must also suffer the consequences of our actions. In the end we talked about which king we would want to be like, David who repented? or Solomon who turned away from God?

Neither of these kings deserved God's love or mercy, just like we don't deserve it either. I can't even wrap my mind around these kinds of things. Why does God keep loving us crazy people who continually do stupid things? I am thankful for these examples of people who lived before us. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to repent when I make poor choices. And I am thankful that God is always there and is always faithful. Most of the time I'm not even able to describe what it means that God is faithful, but there is a peace about it, that I know everything will be okay. I know that I am not responsible for planning my future alone. I have the ultimate designer and creator guiding my future.

"You are my God, and I will give thanks to you; you are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!" Psalm 118:28-29

This season of life.

Let's start this post by saying my apartment smells gloriously like peanut butter because I just made a double batch of these peanut butter oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! Oh.my.word. SO good!

Life has been busy and calm all at the same time lately. And since a picture says a thousand words, I'm going to let my pictures speak for me.

My best friend got married!! Everything was absolutely beautiful- the bride, the ceremony, the marriage, and of course the bridal party ;)

So thankful for my daddy. 

The roomie graduated from SPU (oh, and she's TEACHING there in the fall) Ridiculously proud of this girl!

Mom and Dad came for a visit in June. It was great to spend time with them in Seattle.

I've been loving the Magnolia Farmer's Market just a mile or so away from my house. A few weeks ago I bought fresh raspberries and made yummy jam. Farmers market fresh homemade jam...makes me feel like the pioneer woman. haha

4th of July weekend was full of food, family, and friends in California. I'm SO glad I got to see these two wonderful women while I was home!

Flying back to Seattle from the Long Beach Airport. Seriously, my favorite airport ever.

Celebrating a new baby!! Loved showering this family and sharing this journey with them as they anticipate the arrival of their little girl. 

Another celebration! But this time for a birthday...half a century right, Meg? ;)

Less then a dozen pictures and so many important people in my life! Seriously, these are the people who have helped to shape me into the person that I am today. They have laughed with me, cried with me, and been there for me no matter what is happening in my life. I am truly blessed by the people I call friends and love being able to celebrate their weddings, babies, birthdays, and more.

It seems like everyone I know is getting engaged, married, having a baby, buying a house, or doing something else exciting and life changing. What am I doing you ask? Welp, I'm still trying to figure that out. I've been researching grad schools in California to get a Master's in Teaching and a teaching credential...So that's the current plan for next year-ish. I'm really excited about the idea of moving back to California and becoming a teacher there, but it also terrifies me. Seattle has finally started to feel like home and where I thought I would be for a while... and now I'm looking at changing ALL of that.

But isn't that what life is about? Get comfortable and bam! life changes! Through all these changes and unknowns I know that one thing stays the same. God is faithful. He will not leave me or forsake me. I know that his plans are bigger and better than anything I could come up with by myself. I am thankful for this confidence because I couldn't imagine going through life without knowing that there is a God who has taken care of everything for me. No matter where the future takes me, I am thankful for each season that the Lord provides.

"For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

This is my life...

Okay, yes, I sound dramatic. BUT if you knew all the people in my life you would agree! More blogging to come later. When I'm not about to fall asleep and my computer isn't about to die.

Good night, world.

A melted skyline

Last summer I decided to make some melted crayon art for my office at the daycare. Well, I no longer have an office, but the art is hanging up in my classroom now. One of my moms noticed it a few weeks ago and suggested that I make more to sell at the upcoming school auction and carnival. I suggested it to my director and she wanted to know if I could somehow make it go with the Seattle theme...so I set out to make a Seattle skyline...using melted crayons!

All my supplies: canvas (16x20), crayons, glue gun, hair dryer, tape, and a picture of the skyline.

It took a while, but I finally got a taped off version of a Seattle skyline.

For more specific directions on how I melted the crayons, you can check out my previous blog post here. This time it took about 45 minutes to melt the crayons and get all the area covered, but I think it was worth it! (the wax did melt through the tape in a few places, but I fixed that problem with a bit of white paint)

Drum roll please.......

Ta-da! What do you think? Anyone have a suggestion on how much we should sell it for?

Sweet Cinnamon Cherry Granola

Despite the fact that I completely loathe, abhor, and despise yogurt in all forms, I really like granola. The problem is that the two are normally assumed to go together, kind of like peanut butter and jelly. So it's sometimes difficult to find a good granola that can stand on it's own as a cereal.

Enter, The Kitchen is My Playground. I was browsing different granola options on pinterest and came across this blog with lots of yummy looking granola recipes.

Like any recipe that I attempt, I ended up changing it a bit, but that's the best part of granola right?

The original recipe for Chai Granola can be found here.

This is what I did:
Sweet Cinnamon Cherry Granola
3 c. old-fashioned oats
1/2 c. sliced almonds
1/2 c. chopped pecans
1/3 c. shredded coconut
1 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp. ground ginger
1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/2 c. honey
1/3 c. canola oil 
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. dried cherries

1.  In a large bowl, combine oats, almonds, coconut, and pecans.  Stir in cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg.

2.  Place honey, oil, and vanilla in a small bowl; stir to combine. Pour honey mixture over oat mixture; mix together until oats are evenly coated with the honey mixture.

3.   Spread granola mixture onto a baking pan lined with parchment paper. Bake at 300 degrees for 30 to 35 minutes, stirring about every 10 minutes.

4.  Remove from oven and stir in dried cherries. Let cool completely. Store tightly covered.

I've had this for breakfast, with a bit of almond milk, every day this week and I'm addicted! It has the perfect balance of sweet and spice, a good crunch, and its filled with things I love. I can't wait to try making more variations of granola. Once again I am thankful for new recipes!

Up, Up, and Away

It doesn't matter how many times I fly across the country, it still amazes me that a giant aluminum object can carry 200+ people (and all their stuff) thousands of miles up into the sky. Something about flying also greatly increases my prayer life momentarily...even though I know it is more dangerous to drive in a car or ride a train or whatever the statistics say about accidents, flying in an airplane still worries me every so often. Especially when the plane starts making funny noises. I want to knock on the pilot's door and ask, "Is that supposed to be doing that??"

Friday night as my flight was leaving from Seattle I was praying for the pilot and flight crew (as per my usual pre-flight prayer) and what popped into my head? None other than the theme song from last summer's VBS.

"Up, up, and away we go,

Into the great beyond,

Wherever we go and whatever we do, 

We're trusting God all along."

Suddenly I was thinking that being a passenger on an airplane is somewhat like following God. I am trusting that the pilot and crew are trained to fly this huge thing and land it properly in my final destination. Shouldn't I also be trusting that God is directing my life in the way He sees fit? When I'm sitting in an airplane I can't see out the front window, I can hardly see the ground for most of the flight. If its a clear day maybe I'll get a glimpse of a mountain or the ocean and as the plane gets closer to the ground perhaps I'll start to recognize a few landmarks. When God is directing my life, its true that I can't see the whole picture, but I do get glimpses of what the future holds. And looking back I can see that I where I ended up is right where I should be.

Sometimes I'm frustrated that I can't see out the front window or that I don't understand why I'm experiencing such turbulence. I think that maybe if I was flying the plane I would be able to do a better job, when really I have none of the qualifications to do so. In the end I'm so thankful to not be in control of that plane.

No matter where I am, what people do, or how I feel.... trust God!

Thanks VBS, for still teaching me things as an adult.

You are good.

When the sun starts to rise and I open my eyes
You are good, so good.
In the heat of the day with each stone that I lay
You are good, so good.

With every breath I take in, I'll tell you I'm grateful again.
When the moon climbs high before each kiss goodnight,
You are good.

When the road starts to turn around each bend I've learned,
You are good, so good.
And when somebody's hand holds me up helps me stand,
You are so good.

With every breath I take in I'll tell You I'm grateful again
'Cause its more than enough just to know I am loved,
And You are good.

So how can I thank You, what can I bring?
What can these poor hands lay at the feet of a King?
I'll sing You a love song.
It's all that I have, to tell You I'm grateful for holding my life in Your hands.

When it's dark and it's cold and I can't feel my soul,
You are so good.
When the world is gone gray and the rain's here to stay,
You are still good.

So with every breath I take in, I'll tell You I'm grateful again.
And the storm may swell, even then it is well and You are good.

Reflective Ramblings on Robinson

Tonight I went and saw the new movie about Jackie Robinson, 42, and it gave me the same feelings I always have when I watch (or read) something about someone who struggled through such strong prejudices. I feel angry. I feel sad. I feel mad. I feel determined. There was more than one occasion during the movie that I wanted to yell at someone or throw my popcorn at the screen. How could people be so cruel? How could they say such hurtful things? More importantly, how could you think that God loves someone less because of the color of their skin? One of my favorite lines in the movie is when Branch Rickey, President of the Brooklyn Dodgers says something along the lines of, "How are you going to feel when you meet God someday and he asks you why you wouldn't play baseball with a black man? What are you going to say then?"

How many situations in my life does that apply to? What am I neglecting that God wants me to see? How would I have responded if I lived in 1947 and was raised to think differently than I have been now? I struggled with this when I read and saw The Help two years ago and when I first saw Hairspray five years ago. So much segregation. So much prejudice. How can I make a difference, even today, when there are still prejudices out there that need someone to stand up for them? Lord, help me to see these needs and do something about it.

The most redeeming part of the movie for me was not actually part of what I watched on screen, but what I saw (and heard) in the theater. There is a scene in the movie where Robinson and the Phillies coach are going to shake hands and Robinson picks up a bat and suggests that they shake the bat so the coach wouldn't have to touch a black man. A few seats down from me a young boy, probably 10 or 11, turns to his dad and asks, "Why would he not want to touch him?"

Prejudice and racism are things we learn. Not things we are born with.

Knowing that this little boy didn't understand what was going on meant that he is living in a world where prejudice does not rule (or so I am assuming). We are not born with the instinct to think less of someone because they are a different color, race, religion, or ethnicity. How we interact is a learned trait from parents, friends, culture, and more. My prayer is that each generation would know less and less prejudice in every aspect of life.

"And he answered, 'You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.'"

Luke 10:27 ESV

Cookies and a Cabinet Mount

So I saw this recipe on Facebook (not Pinterest, shocking right?) and thought I would give it a try (and, of course, alter it a bit). They were advertised as cookies, but I don't know if I would necessarily call them that. Maybe more like granola bar bites? I think they would be good for breakfast with a cup of coffee, but maybe not for dessert...

Healthy Oatmeal Cookies

3 mashed bananas

1/3 c. applesauce

1/4 c. almond milk

2 c. oats

1/2 c. raisins

1/2 c. chopped pecans

1/4 c. cranberries

1 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. vanilla

Combine all ingredients and scoop onto a cookie sheet. Use your fingers to press the cookies down, otherwise they will just bake as a ball and won't flatten out. Bake for about 15-20 minutes at 350 degrees until they look like this:

Only 57 calories per cookie. Not bad!

On another note, I finally got a kitchen cabinet mount for my iPad! It was in the clearance bin at Target for $20 so I bought it and I'm so excited to use it while I cook. I had it up today and it was incredibly helpful. It can be adjusted to different size tablets, so anyone who uses their tablet for recipes or music or anything in the kitchen...buy one!!

Pinterest, Pinterest, Pinterest

Bored during a commercial break? Pinterest. Waiting for someone? Pinterest. Kiddos napping at work with nothing else to do? Pinterest. Long evenings home alone? Pinterest. Need a recipe? Pinterest. Nothing new on Facebook? Pinterest.

Whatever would I do without the Pinterest app on my phone?

Probably have a lot more time to do other things and feel a lot better about myself. ha!

I was reading an article recently about how so much social media stuff is making people depressed about their own lives. Which makes sense for anyone who has ever been on pinterest....the dream weddings, clothes, homes, craft projects, meals, and more that are all perfect. Or so it seems. They don't show the whole picture: the mess of the kitchen after making that meal, the money it took to create that wedding, the hours spent at thrift stores to find the perfect item to upcycle into something crafty, etc, etc.

I have to keep reminding myself of these things. NOTHING is perfect. Why am I comparing myself to people and things that are only portraying the good {perfect} parts of their life, job, family, etc.? Sometimes I have to intentionally not be around any source of internet access and, ya know, actually read a book or talk to someone face to face without technology distracting us to remind myself that my life is full of blessings.

All that to say, it's fun to go on Pinterest and get new ideas for things, but I try to remember not to take it too seriously....otherwise I'll just get jealous and sad and lonely. And that's no good! SO tonight's pinterest trials are as follows:

#1 Vinegar/Orange cleaning spray.

You can find this on a million different websites and pinned all over the place, and I finally decided to try it since the kiddos ate oranges at work today. I had a whole bunch of orange peels and didn't have to eat tons of oranges to get them. Score! You're supposed to let this sit for two weeks (say a prayer I remember to get this out of the closet then...) and then pour in a spray bottle and clean away. Some websites advised mixing water in with this mixture, so we'll have to see how potent it ends up.

#2 Coconut Peanut Butter Magic Cake Bars

So many good things in one small bite! After work I whipped these up to take to an Alumnae Falconette Board meeting tonight and they were a big hit. SO easy to make, the recipe can be found at averie cooks. I used white chocolate chips instead of the butterscotch chips and I think they were just as yummy. 

All in all, I don't think Pinterest or social media of any kind is bad, as long as I can remember to keep everything in the proper perspective. Should I spend all my time browsing things that I wish my life was like? No, because that's not healthy. Is it okay to browse every once in a while and try new things? Yes, absolutely. 

Thanks, Pinterest, for inspiring me and helping me out when I'm stumped about a food/craft/decorating idea.

Spilled Milk

Excerpt from Just a Minute by Wess Stafford....


A famous research scientist was being interviewed by a newspaper reporter, who asked him why he thought he was able to be so much more creative than the average person. What set him so far apart from others?

He responded that, in his opinion, it all came from an experience with his mother that occurred when he was about two years old. He had been trying to remove a bottle of milk from the refrigerator when he lost his grip and it fell, spilling its contents all over the kitchen floor -- a veritable sea of milk.

When his mother came into the kitchen, instead of yelling at him, giving him a lecture, or punishing him, she said, "Robert, what a great and wonderful mess you have made! I have rarely seen such a huge puddle of milk. Well, the damage has already been done. Would you like to get down and play in the milk for a few minutes before we clean it up?"

Indeed, he did. After a few minutes, his mother said, "You know, Robert, whenever you make a mess like this, eventually you have to clean it up and restore everything to its proper order. So, how would you like to do that? We could use a sponge, a towel, or a mop. Which would you prefer?" He chose the sponge, and together they cleaned up the milk.

His mother then said, "You know, what we have here is a failed experiment in how to effectively carry a big milk bottle with two tiny hands. Let's go out in the back yard and fill the bottle with water so you can discover a way to carry it without dropping it." The little boy learned that if he grasped the bottle at the top near the lip with both hands, he could carry it without dropping it. What a wonderful lesson!

This renowned scientist then remarked that it was at that moment that he knew he didn't need to be afraid to make mistakes. Instead, he learned that mistakes were just opportunities for learning something new, which is, after all, what scientific experiments are all about. Even if the experiment "doesn't work," we usually learn something valuable from it. (151-152)


What a powerful image of giving kids an opportunity to make mistakes and let them know that it's okay. I pray that I can remember this story when my kiddos make a huge mess or spill something. Instead of responding in anger, I hope that I can respond with patience and the kindness of this mother.

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

Things I love about Sunday:

• My ritual of listening to worship music on Pandora while I get ready in the morning
• The sound of an excited "Hi Miss Emily!"
• Catching up with people after a busy week
• Singing with the kids
• Chatting with a puppet about Jesus and things we can learn from Him
• Problem solving when something doesn't run smoothly
• Sitting in the back of the church foyer chatting with a mom and their baby who doesn't want to be in the nursery (or quietly sit through the service)
• Seeing happy kids leaving KidTown, excited to come back again
• Taking naps on the couch

Things I love about THIS Sunday:

• The comfort of gray skies and rain that is still coming down, making the earth a lovely shade of green
• New curriculum to teach the K-3 kids
• Lunch with my brother at Orrapin on Queen Anne
• Chocolate Chip Brownie Cookies
• Laying on the couch and reading my newest book, Just a Minute by Wess Stafford

Praising the Lord for all that is good and right on this Sabbath day.

"I say to the Lord, 'You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.' Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body will also rest secure." 

Psalm 16:2,9

Easter Blessings

        Easter has recently become one of my favorite holidays. (I know I say that about every holiday, but this year Easter has been especially meaningful for me.) Yesterday we celebrated the Easter EGGstravaganza at the church with almost 100 kids! A very fun day of pancakes, egg hunting, crafts, bounce house, games, and a puppet show. This year I had the opportunity to host the puppet show and it was great. Working with our puppets is always fun, especially when they start ad-libing. I definitely had to keep from laughing a few times! The main message was based off m&ms.... Miracle of Mercy, Worthy of Worship, Eternal Life for Everyone, and 3 days in the tomb (or God is 3 in one). If you keep turning a package of m&ms they'll become w's, e's, and 3's. The kids were a little mesmerized by that idea, but I think the parents thought it was clever. It was such a joy to watch the children's faces as they enjoyed the puppet show and hopefully learned something about Jesus!

        Easter is a holiday that I haven't been home for in over 5 years. It was always right after spring break so it didn't make sense to travel back to California for such a short weekend. I have spent this holiday in many ways, with various family members and friends, but one thing that has been consistent is my opportunity to worship at First Free Methodist Church on this special morning. I have been reflecting lately on how blessed I am to be surrounded by a community that loves and cares for me as one of their own. Whether it is through a hug or a kind word, I know that there are many people who care for me (and whom I care for as well). I may not have friends who are my age or who are in a similar life situation, but the beauty of community is that it can be made out of any group of people who are intentional about loving each other and living life together. Better yet, living life together with the common purpose of loving Jesus and following him daily.

Christ is risen.

He is risen indeed, Alleluia!

Cuddles and Easter time

Monday nap times are the best because the kiddos are all worn out from the weekend and from not taking naps for their parents at home. We're required to provide a two hour rest period, but there is usually at least one or two children who don't ever fall asleep. My co-teachers and I try and use nap time to prepare lessons, clean toys, and get things done around the classroom. But today was a little different. All the kiddos were sleeping so we definitely could have gotten things done, but I felt like we were in a good place for the week. As I sat and watched the children sleep I felt like a proud parent filled with love. Some of the kids were rolling around a lot like they were having trouble, a few were coughing, and one little boy kept making frustrated faces like he was having a crazy dream. It was all that I could do to not pick them up and just hold them while they slept! One little girl did wake up and came crawling into my lap for a few cuddles and ended up going back to sleep. Probably one of my favorite moments of today. Post-nap cuddles are the best.

I really do love my kids at work like they were my own. After all, I spend 30 or more hours a week with them! Today we had chapel and afterwards one my boys kept telling me, "Jesus rode on a donkey. Jesus rode on a donkey because it is Easter time and Jesus is here!" It was so sweet. We did a stained glass window (tissue paper) art project and I decorated the classroom windows with flowers and eggs. Tomorrow we're doing a sensory table with Easter grass, eggs, bugs, animals, and whatever else we can find to throw in there. Easter has definitely arrived in the Orange Giraffe class! 

A Joyful Vacation

This past week I was blessed with the opportunity to take a trip back east and visit many people who are near and dear to my heart.

I started my trip in Boston with my bestie for life, Kayla. I can't believe we met so long ago and have continued to be such good friends no matter where life takes us. We could go months without seeing each other or even talking and when we're together again it's like no time has passed at all. She is a huge blessing in my life and I'm so sad there is a whole country between us, but I know we will always be there for each other.

From Boston, I traveled to Connecticut where I got to meet my sweet baby "niece" and spend the day with some family I don't see very often. Growing up we would travel back to New York/Connecticut at least 2 or 3 times a year to visit my grandparents and dad's side of the family. I remember loving these trips and now wish that we weren't so far apart. It's fun to hear stories of my grandparents or things that happened when my aunts and uncles were growing up. There's just something about getting together with family that makes my heart happy.

I ended my quick trip with a stop in Philadelphia where I spent the day with the Gupta family. This sweet family encourages me so much and I'm so thankful for their continued friendship even though we're far away now. The Guptas are always in my prayers, being on the move and with little Libby going through chemo. I wish I was closer to help babysit and get good advice (on just about everything) from Amy :)

Lemon Bars

Tonight is one of my favorite nights on TV- Oscar's night! I'm so excited to watch. I wanted to make something different for a sweet treat and found a variety of easy recipes for lemon bars on pinterest. Some used lemon curd, some lemon creme pie filling, some added water, but I just stuck with two basic ingredients: angel food cake mix and a can of lemon pie filling. That's right, easiest dessert ever!

Ta-da! Once it's cool you can sprinkle with powdered sugar and then cut into squares.

I've never used angel food cake mix before, but it is very powdery! As I was mixing the dry ingredients were flying everywhere. When I was done my kitchen looked like I was installing drywall. Again though, let me reiterate how easy this sweet treat is. Once the TWO ingredients are combined, pour into a greased 9x13 pan and bake for about 25 minutes at 350, until it browns around the edges and pulls away from the side of the pan.

Don't be expecting traditional lemon bars, since there is no crust or cream cheese or anything else you may find in a bakery lemon bar. But they are very light and delicious! Almost like a lemon sponge cake, lighter than pound cake but heavier than angel food cake. I am going to have to share them otherwise I will eat every single one... Look out NQACC, the break room will have some yummy treats tomorrow.

And for dinner, currently in the oven....Cheesy Chicken Tator Tot Casserole. Thanks to The Country Cook. Can't wait to try this tator tot creation and watch the Academy Awards!

Even The Winter

Whenever I am feeling down or find all kinds of other music annoying, I can always listen to Audrey Assad and connect with the words that she is singing. I love her songs "Known" and "Sparrow" but recently I have been listening to "Even the Winter" a lot. Part of that has to do with the fact that I've gotten to that time of year where I'm ready for spring, but it's still going to be winter for a while longer.

Another part of it is that I feel like I am currently in a winter phase of life. There are a lot of good things about winter, but you don't want the winter to last forever. For example, things like snow and darkness are great because then you can put a fire in the fireplace and watch a movie snuggled up on the couch. But what about flip flops and going to the beach? I am in that strange in between phase of life- I've graduated from college, but am not sure exactly where the Lord will lead me in my life. Many of my friends have gotten married and/or moved away. My days are now filled with 3 year olds and my schedule is very much the same each day. No more classes, meetings, clubs, being surrounded by friends 24-7. 

There is an endless stream of questions running through my head at all times: Will I stay in Seattle forever? Will I move lots of times? How long will I keep my current job for? Should I be looking for a different job? Which church community is the best for me to be a part of? When will I get married? How old will I be when I become a mom? When is the next time I will be in California? On and on and on... Just a different phase of life, full of unknowns. This phase will not last forever, but, just like the winter, it seems at times like the spring will never come.

Even The Winter
What if we find ourselves beneath the snow?
Our warmest words all frozen in our throats?
And all we feel is left out in the cold?
You and I?

What if the days grow short and lose their light?
What if the coals burn black and the embers die?
And we can't find each other in the night?
You and I?

Well, even the winter won't last forever
We'll see the morning and we'll feel the sun
We'll wake up in April, ready and able
Holding the seeds and soil of our love, of our love

What if the ice we tread is just too thin?
What if we can't escape the squall we're in?
What if our hearts of stone are permanent?
You and I
Even the winter won't last forever
We'll see the morning, we'll feel the sun
We'll wake up in April, ready and able
Sowing the seeds in the soil of our love, of our love

What if the spring comes soon and we're surprised?
What if the seasons help us realize, some things are only proven over time?
You know

Even the winter won't last forever
We'll see the morning, we'll feel the sun
We'll wake up in April, ready and able
Sowing the seeds in the soil
Of our love

Even the darkness cannot disarm us
We'll break up the earth, because we know
that it's worth it
Sowing the seeds in the soil of our love.