project inspiration (vol 2).

I've started to come to peace with the fact that I have way more ideas and inspiration than time or money to actually do them. Still, that doesn't keep me from collecting them!

Doily canvas bags from Not Lost Just Undiscovered - My friend Kate made these bags with another friend - how cute are they? She found the idea here.

Jute table runner from Tara Dennis - I want to make this for the dresser in my living room...once I get around to refinishing it (it's on the list)! I'm just trying to figure out if I can make it without sewing anything, or if I can convince my mom or dad to do it for me.

Beadboard ceiling from House of Smiths - I really want to do this in my bathroom - the only thing that's holding me back is the need to create cut-outs for the vents and lights. And the fact that installing it is clearly a two person job. And the whole time thing.

Coin art from Bower Power - I'm thinking this would be a great thing to do in the dining room with some of those coins that I brought back from Russia. If I can find them.

Winnie the Pooh plate from Martha Shmartha - Love this, but I can't imagine how long it must have taken put all of that vinyl on! I'm wondering about doing something similar, but with letter stamps and a smaller quote. They wouldn't be even, but that could be part of the charm. And I can think of some other fun quotes and images to use, like these:

What would I do, I said to Pooh, if it wasn't for you? And Pooh said, True.
- A. A. Milne

Oh, the places you’ll go.
- Dr. Seuss

It's kind of fun to do the impossible.
- Walt Disney

orphans.

I've spent a good part of today talking to my CASA girls and their families, learning more of their stories. Its overwhelming, honestly. I'm such a practical person - I see a need and want to figure out how to meet it, but their needs are so much bigger than that. There are material needs, of course, but there are emotional needs, too. And, of course, biggest of all - they need Jesus.

I'm overwhelmed, sometimes, by the loss in their lives. I'm so much more aware of the gifts that I've been given, the things I take for granted. (This past weekend, I called my mom, just because I felt the need to say, thanks for loving me, no strings attached).

I know where to start. I know that I can check in with them, and encourage them, and advocate and intercede for them. I can push for positive influences in their lives, and challenge those around them to step up.

But, I really think that God is going to ask me for more - I'm just not sure yet what that is.

Come ye unwanted and find affection
Come all ye weary, come and lay down your head
...
There are no strangers, there are no outcasts
There are no orphans of God
So many fallen, but hallelujah
There are no orphans of God
- Orphans of God, Avalon

Tonight, as I think through about these things, this song is a precious reminder that even when the world abandons us, God never does.

when God breaks through.

I've known Vince for 4 years, since he started dating my sister, Katie. And I've been praying for him for 4 years - praying that he would really know Christ, that he would surrender his life to him. I just thought that somehow, when he made the decision, it would be the beginning of a lot of spiritual changes for my family - that my sister would seek a deeper relationship with God, that my nephews Jacob and Cameron and my niece Ally would also make that decision. I can remember so many times, on my knees both figuratively and literally, begging God to save my family.

But sometimes, when you pray for something long enough, even though you keep praying for it, you stop expecting it to be right around every corner. You still pray, with desperation, but maybe not so much with expectation.

Until God breaks through, in a way that only he can. And I think he delights in reminding us that he still moves mountains.

"The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."

~ Zephaniah 3:17

I hope that I never forget even one detail of the night I saw Vince meet Christ. I want to remember being at the district youth group retreat, hearing the speaker give an altar call, praying for Ally and yet being caught off guard when she went forward. I sat there with tears coming faster than I could even attempt to wipe them away, praying desperately for her and yet not being able to think any coherent thoughts, just emotions and short phrases. I watched as Vince walked from backstage to stand beside her, and I immediately thought of all those in my family who had yet to meet Christ. And I kept watching, and crying, and praying, until the speaker asked those who needed to surrender something to Christ to put their hands up, and Vince raised his.

There are so many moments of that night that are so clear in my memory - standing for worship only to hit my knees with my face to the ground. Grasping Kristin's hand because I needed something to hold on to, and hearing her pray for Ally and Vince, prayers that echoed my heart in words I couldn't have formed just then. Holding Ally and telling her just how much I love her and have been praying for her. Turning around to the sound booth to search for my brother's face, only to see him standing in worship with his hands and face lifted toward heaven. And later, seeking him out because I needed to hug someone who understood just what I was feeling. Finally being able to tell Vince just how long I had been praying for him. And falling asleep with a headache from so many joyful tears, bursting with gratitude to God for what he had done.

"Every believer is God’s miracle."

~ Phillip James Bailey

God is always working, even when we can't see it. Our prayers are always answered, even when the answer or the timing isn't what we would have chosen. God is still in the business of holding back the waters, tearing down the walls, and calling people to himself.

And when God breaks through - well, that's something worth experiencing.

trusting in his timing.

In January 2009, I had minor outpatient surgery. It was a non-issue, really, more of a nuisance in terms of dealing with doctor visits and scheduling. Recovery was really easy, as far as surgeries go - I was out shopping with my mother the very next day.

A couple months ago, the same symptom that flagged the intial problem, started to reoccur. After talking with my doctor, she's scheduled me for further tests and referred me back to my specialist again.

I'm not nervous or worried at all. Instead, my reaction surprised me - I was really, really frustrated. Angry even. So angry, in fact, that I had to be extremely careful not to bite anyone's head off, because even the smallest thing was annoying me.

A large part of my frustration, I knew, was in the timing. Last year's surgery came the month before I went to Russia, and now we're less than six weeks away from our trip to Africa. Add to that, August is going to be an extremely busy month - in addition to all the preparations for Gabon, I'll also be traveling to Maryland twice - once for Kelli's graduation, and once for Katie and Vince's wedding reception. I just didn't want to add one more thing to a schedule that already felt pretty maxed out.

I know that my life is in God's hands. I alternately rest in that and cling to it with a death grip, depending on the situation. But, thanks to the well-timed words of a friend, I was reminded of something pretty important - that the timing of my life is also in God's hands. He is never surprised or caught off-guard - in fact, every day of my life was mapped out before I was even born (Psalm 139:16).

Sometimes, maybe, trust is instinctual, but I think more often its a conscious choice. So I'm choosing to trust.

looking forward to august.

You thought of us before the world began to breathe
And you knew our names before we came to be
You saw the very day we'd fall away from you
And how desperately we need to be redeemed

Lord Jesus come lead us
We're desperate for your touch

Oh Great and Mighty One, with one desire we come
That you would reign, that you would reign in us
We're offering up our lives, a living sacrifice
That you would reign, that you would reign in us

(Reign In Us, Starfield)

the power of your name.

It's been a while since I've posted a new favorite song:

It resonates with me that the world we live in, is the one we've created rather than the one God intended for us. And yet, he still moves to fix the mess we've created, and in the way that only he can, he sometimes uses us to do it.

Real religion, the kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption from the godless world.
James 1:27, The Message

new recipes, part 5 (and done).

I finally finished my recipe goal for the year - here are numbers 22-25.

Slow cooker chicken with salsa and cream cheese

This is a variation on salsa chicken tacos - a recipe I make frequently because its easy and so versatile. Sometime ago I saw a version that included cream cheese, though I can't remember where. It wasn't bad, but I'm not sure I liked it enough to make it again.

Grilled stuffed zucchini

I loved this - it was so good that I've already made it again twice, including a veggie version with brown rice instead of the Italian turkey sausage. I've also used leftover filling to stuff bell peppers, which was also amazing.

Bacon-wrapped green beans

I had some green beans in the refrigerator that I needed to use, and was kind of bored at the idea of just steaming them like I usually do. So, I wanted to try this recipe for bacon-wrapped green bean bundles - except all I had was turkey bacon, and I didn't have the rest of the ingredients for the sauce, so I skipped that part. Very good, so next time I'm going to actually try the way the recipe.

Red beans and rice

I'm undecided on this one. I know that red beans and rice is one of those traditional regional dishes that comes with really strong opinions on the way its supposed to be made. It was okay - not bad, but also not amazing. So I'm kind of wondering if I'm just not wild about red beans and rice in general, or if it was just this version.
For more recipes and reviews, see part 1, part 2, part 3, and part 4.

funny paint guy.

I stopped by Lowes tonight to pick up paint for the dresser (goal #6) and some sample colors for the front door (stripping it isn't work out the way I was hoping). While he was mixing everything, the guy at the paint counter chatted with me about the projects I'm working on. I asked him about recommended finishes (eggshell, satin,semi-gloss) for exterior doors, and he reminded me that when I buy paint for the front door, I need to let them know what I'm using it for.

Me: I know, I'll need exterior paint for the door.
Funny paint guy: Okay, so you're not just a dumb blonde.
Me: Nope, I painted that on, too!

charging station.

Since I first saw this jewelry box turned charging station, I've been keeping my eyes opened for the right box to do something similar. Here's the before :

The first thing I did was to rip out the lovely yellow velour dividers (even before I took the photos), then I used the end of a flathead screwdriver to pull off the rest of the lining. I primed and painted the whole thing white, then distressed it and added a dark stain on top as a glaze (the distressing shows up much better in person).

I cut a hole in the back using a large drill bit, then lined the sides with pieces of patterned scrapbook paper. At first, I planned to just leave the drawer, but then decided that it wasn't necessary and would get in the way, so I cut off the front of the drawer and used Liquid Nails to glue it in place.

I added the quote to the inside cover, partly because I like it and have always wanted to have it somewhere in my home, and partly because I think its funny that a charging station contains a quote about resting.

Every house where love abides, and friendship is a guest,

is surely home, and home sweet home; for there the heart can rest.

~ Henry van Dyke, Home Song

This is what it looks like inside the house, with the power cord and all my chargers. I'm actually using it here to charge my camera battery and my cell phone, which is why its open - when its not in use, everything fits well enough to close.

gabon. and balance.

A couple months ago, I mentioned that my sister and I had just registered for a short-term missions trip to Gabon, Africa. We leave in a little less than two months, and we're ankle-deep in planning. We've written and mailed out support letters, we're looking into visas and anti-malarial meds, and we've started shopping for all the little things we need.

I am so excited about our trip, that I'm actually struggling to make sure that the next two months aren't all about Gabon, even while we're doing all the necessary prep work. There are a lot of good things going on in between now and the day we leave, and I don't want to be so focused on the future that I miss the present.

I often find myself trying to achieve this balance, sliding from one extreme to the other. I don't want to spend my life planning to live and never living, and I've learned the hard way that my plans aren't always God's plans. I don't want to slide through life flying by the seat of my pants, either - constantly reacting because I failed to put in the work now. Its not always an easy line to walk.

Either way, as I strive to make sure I'm living today well, if you'd like to read more information about our trip, including the reasons we're going, you can view our support letter here (page 1 and page 2). We'd love your prayers!