Lessons in Loving

I have never been more humbled by an expression of love than in this moment...

The faces of these children are truly the face of God incarnate.

As we entered this small village in Uganda that houses Raise the Roof Academy we entered as missionaries...coming to show God's love to the people of Uganda.  What many of us never anticipated or truly understood was how much unmerited love we would be shown.

As our bus pulled up to the village we  were met by hundreds of children dancing, screaming, laughing and waving branches to celebrate our arrival.  In the midst of all this excitement they were running to greet us...completely surrounding our buses.

In this moment I was overcome with emotions...awe..joy...tears...unworthiness...and anticipation.  Who were we to be greeted with such honor?  Were we really deserving of so much love and favor when these people did not even know us?  What if we could not meet the expectations they had for our visit?  Would our presence be a disappointment?

While all of these questions raced through my mind...one thing became clear.  These children...this village...they were a walking embodiment of God's loving grace.  Even in the midst of our own insecurity and uncertainty  they welcomed us with grace.  A grace that empowered...a grace that called...a grace that changed us.

All the work and time we had spent preparing was lost in this one moment.  It was no longer about planning, executing or following all the right steps but rather it was about walking hand in hand with these children.  It was about learning to love as they loved...learning to live in a community of joy...learning to offer grace to all people at all times with faith that God is with and in and behind all things!

Sew Many Adventures This Week!

In keeping with my recent decision to start checking items off of my "one day" list, I spent the last couple of weeks scouring the internet for a cheap sewing machine.  Learning to sew has perhaps been on my "one day" list longer than almost anything else.  Of all the feats I have wanted to accomplish, sewing is by far the most intimidating and scary.

But...I am happy to report that I am no longer afraid of sewing and I have actually crafted a couple fun items with my new sewing machine!

My very first creation...a super easy summer skirt with elastic waist band!

       

With the help of two great tutorials found here and here, I was able to figure out exactly what to do to make this skirt with ease!


I loved my first skirt so much that I decided to try a second style :) Which is absolutely amazing by the way!

This skirt is made out of a recycled men's dress shirt...courtesy of my husband's closet!  This one required more skill and precision, but I think it turned out pretty well for my second sewing project ever :) So many thanks to the inspiration (and incredible tutorial) I found here!

I can't wait to wear these babies and experience the unique joy of wearing something crafted by my own hands.  It is moments like this that remind me that slow and simple can often be so much more rewarding than quick and easy.  

It is just one more way God reminds us that we are made in God's image.  We are created by the ultimate artist and we too have the desire and the need to create with our own hands.  We often forget this, but this week has shown me how important it is to use my creativity.  

I am excited to mark one thing off my "one day" list and plan to keep expressing myself in the future. Creativity and imagination are wonderful gifts from God...may we never squander them!

Shoe Box Repurpose

I love re-purposing...or perhaps more than anything I love the idea of re-purposing!  I have a tendency to hang on to items that have potential...but don't always make it a point to actually do the re-purposing.  Consequently, most of the items on my to do list are re-purposing projects. Here is one of the quick and easy projects I tackled earlier this week :) 

I love boxes! All shapes...all sizes..they just make me happy!  I have been hanging on to several shoe boxes (once home to some very cute shoes I love!) to decorate and use as additional storage in my closet.  

I decided to go with a sophisticated black theme to spice up my otherwise boring closet.  I took a trip to my local craft store to pick up some scrapbook paper and get to decoupaging.  

As you would expect, very few supplies are needed.  All it takes is some boxes needing a new lease on life, modge podge, scrapbook paper and scissors.  

  

Once your supplies are gathered, begin cutting your paper to fit your box size.  I found it best to put the decoupage on the box and then carefully place the paper...making sure to smooth out any wrinkles.  Then quickly add a thin layer of modge podge over the paper and continue on.  

This project went off seamlessly...my only real frustration was figuring our what to do on the corners.  I couldn't decide whether to overlap on a couple edges...create corner pieces for each side...or have them meet at the point of each corner.  I went with the option to have the paper meet at the edge of each corner and added an extra layer of modge podge to make sure it remained together.  

**Note: I was so excited to see what they looked finished that I put the tops on before the boxes had dried overnight.  They stuck a little bit and ripped one of the corners when I took the top off the next morning :(  Fight your natural urge and make sure they are fully dried before you put the top on!

Here was the final result...I love them!  It makes organizing my closet a much more exciting prospect!

Apparently Ziva thinks cute boxes are more exciting to lay in then plain old shoe boxes!

You know a great thing about small projects...it motivates you to tackle the bigger ones!  On to the next item on my to do list...the ceiling fan!

Celebrate Freedom!

As a child, the 4^th of July was always one of my favorite holidays because of picnics, family and of course fireworks!  However, it has only been in the last few years that I have truly come to appreciate the full meaning and message behind the 4^th of July.  In 2009 I began working at a church in Clarksville, TN.  Clarksville is home to Fort Campbell Military Base and the church I worked at was blessed to have many military families as a part of our congregation.  It was my first real experience being close to those who serve in the military and seeing the incredible sacrifices they and their families make.  We had several parents in the children’s ministry who raised families of 2 or 3 kids for months at a time while their spouses were deployed.  We had fathers who were not able to meet their newborn children until they were almost 6 months old.  We had families who were always afraid to put down too many roots, because they never knew how long they would be in one location.  Growing close to these families I realized how passionate our military personnel are about the work they do and saw that evidenced in the many sacrifices they and their families make to serve and protect our country. 

As a way to remember, honor and offer up prayers for those in the military as we approach the 4^th of July, I would invite your family to take the time to write, draw and decorate thank you cards that will be sent to those who have served in the military both past and present.  Also, I would invite you to spend this week offering up prayers each night for those in the military and their families.  I have included guidelines below for the cards...you can also go here for more details.  Thanks for your support and prayers for our troops as we approach a celebration of our freedom and many blessings! 

Guidelines:

1. Do not put letters in individual envelopes. Send multiple letters together in the same envelope or box, but please bundle the letters in stacks of 50 with rubberbands to keep them together.
2. Do not send edible items.
3. Do not use loose glitter, confetti, or anything that is not attached to the letter or card.
4. Only include positive messages. Any negative messages will be discarded.
5. Be creative! Draw pictures, talk about you, and let them know their service does not go unnoticed.
6. Include your address or email address if you wish. Most military will write back to you!
7. *Attention parents and/or teachers of young children: We ask that if children are too young to include a message of thanks, please write one on their behalf so our service members get a message along with a drawing.

Letters can be sent to the address below: 

A Million Thanks
17853 Santiago Blvd. #107-355
Villa Park, CA 92861

Today is the Day!

One Day...it's a phrase I (and I suspect many others) say frequently.  One day when I finish school...One day when things at work slow down...One day when I have more time...One day when the house is paid for...One day when I have had time to research...One day when I learn how...One day...One day...One day...

In many ways I feel like this becomes the mantra of my life.  However, I want to claim that today is the day!  Not the day I will do everything I have ever put off, but the day I begin to live in the here and now.  The day I change my priorities to make time for what matters most to me.

Over the last few days I have begun to start some of those projects I have put off for various reasons over the years.  I am making it a point to turn off the tv, shut down the computer and live my life intentionally.  It is time to make a change and the change begins today...not one day!

Consider today the One Days in your life.  Are there promises you have made yourself...your kids...your family?  Even if it is just one small step...make today the day that One Day ends!

Christian Music for the Family

          The other day I found myself unknowingly singing the lyrics to a song that had been on the radio earlier in the day. It struck me as strange because it was a song I had only heard on a couple of occasions, yet I knew it well. This event got me contemplating the great power music has in our lives and how we can cultivate that power to be beneficial to our faith. 

I have been a fan of Christian music/radio for many years because I generally feel happier and more excited about life when I listen to music that is positive and encouraging. However, I have also come to realize how formational Christian music can be, for children and adults. Charles Wesley penned many of the hymns Methodists sing today as a way of teaching about the Christian faith to those who were joining the Methodist movement. 

Christian music, whether contemporary or traditional, offers a space for us to learn about God’s love and action in the world in a less formal way, but in a way that can impact our understanding of faith greatly. In moments of struggling I have often found the words of Christian songs speaking to me and offering hope. Words such as, “…when sorrows like sea billows roll; whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, It is well, it is well with my soul” remind me of the ever present love of God in my life. 

We are blessed with a variety of resources for Christian music today and I would encourage your family to try to incorporate Christian music as a part of your family’s routine. This does not mean your family has to listen exclusively to Christian music, but set aside some car time you would normally listen to other music to turn on Christian radio or pop in your favorite Christian cd. There are several groups that make Christian music geared towards children that can be found in stores/itunes such as Hillsong Kids, Veggie Tales, Crazy Praise and Praise Baby (for infants and toddlers).  For older kids artists such as Chris Tomlin, Fee, Hillsong and David Crowder are wonderful options.

  I can only imagine how powerful it would be to hear families singing songs of praise in the car instead of songs about things with little substance. Challenge yourself this week to incorporate Christian music into your family’s daily routine and see what difference it can make!

He Gave it All

 

My husband wrote this song for Good Friday last year...the video above is his band, Twelve Ounce Jar, performing "You Gave it All." It is quite beautiful!

Good Friday...I often marvel at the irony of the name.  We term a day "good" in which such great suffering, pain and death occurred on our behalf.  Yet, while seemingly inaccurate, good becomes the most appropriate term for this day. 

Alexander Schmemann says it this way, "In him death itself has become an act of life, for He has filled it with Himself, with His love and life."

On this day where we remember Christ's death, we remember that death is transformed and overcome in Christ.  In Christ's death we have new life...not just eternal life, but a new and transformed life in the present.  This is the joy and the good we celebrate on this day.