Really, How Old Am I?

Yesterday, it happened. I turned 27. Can you believe it? I think my turning 27 really did surprise many people, even my dad! I am officially in my 'late twenties' and saying 'twenty-seven' just sounds older!!!! However, most people wouldn't guess that I'm 27 because I do look young, especially when I don't wear makeup which is more often now a days. I'm also guessing that most people wouldn't know how old I am based on the presents I got this year either!!!!!! Let's see if we can figure out my average age based on my presents this year:

My parents came into town last weekend and bought me a bike!!!!!! I am discovering that I might actually like riding bikes! Neil has a bike and enjoys riding and I enjoy riding along with him so it made sense to ask for a bike so Neil and I can ride bikes together!!!!
Here we are trying out my bike! Yes, its BRIGHT pink!!! Now I realize that a bike isn't a childish birthday present and the bike being BRIGHT pink doesn't necessarily qualify it as a childish bike. However, I'm not sure if I will be able to reconcile that fact that because of my height, or lack of height, I had to get a GIRL'S bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, it's true. The bikes are sized by the inches from the seat to the pedal or something like that. Well, you have either 24inch or 26inch. I had to get the 24inch. Who knew that a measly two inches would become a chasm between childhood and adulthood! So, not only do I have a BRIGHT pink bike, but its a GIRL'S bike! I feel about 7 years old.

Yesterday I got to open my birthday presents from Neil. He was SO sweet and thoughtful, but what I asked for doesn't quite match any particular age range. I got Trusting God by Jerry Bridges which I think qualifies me as a 27 year old. However, I also asked for Tangled the Disney movie that recently came out on video. We saw it before Christmas in the theaters and we BOTH enjoyed it. I got excited when I heard it was coming out before my birthday and asked for it. Again, I feel like I'm 7- but don't judge me till you see the movie. Lastly he got me
a back massage tool. I don't really know what else to call it and that is what it is for. I LOVE giving and receiving back massages. Of course it is therapeutic to receive one, but it is also therapeutic for me to give them as well. Neil doesn't really care to receive them, but he is very kind to give them without me asking. This gift is a hard to qualify an age to, but since it is kind of a 'gadget' I will qualify it with age 12 because I think that is the age when people start noticing gadgets and thinking they are cool enough to own.

Last BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST, Neil took me on a VERY GREAT DATE! First we went out to eat at Chipotle which opened here a few months ago. I LOVE IT! I asked to go there because I love it! It is a tex-mex restaurant like Moe's or Qudoba, BUT it has organic ingredients so I can eat there without worry!!!!!! It is nice to feel like you can go to a place that other 'normal' people like as well. So I think the restaurant choice qualifies me for 20 because other 27 year old's would probably choose something fancier, which I've been known to do as well. Now, the BEST part of the date is that Neil took me... SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, that's right folks! Neil Williams took me on a shopping spree!!!!! This wasn't his idea, BUT he was encouraged by our small group leader from church to consider ways to bless me on my birthday that are 'outside the box'. Believe me a shopping spree is definitely 'outside the box' for my frugal love. He was VERY sweet to me. He took me to the mall and we sat on one of the benches and told me that I was a gift to him and he wanted to treat me as a gift and do something I enjoy for my birthday. He gave me money- more than our clothing budget allows- and said let's go shopping! I teared up and it was almost reminiscent of his marriage proposal! Well, the sitting on the bench and me tearing up part was reminiscent. Anyway, He freed me up to go to my favorite stores and buy whatever the money would allow and of course he went with me. He was SO encouraging of me to find what I liked, try stuff on, go to different stores, etc. I went to GAP first because it is my favorite store and they were having a GREAT sale! BOGO free on ALL their tops, sale and regular price!!!! I found two shirts and I got them for a total of $13.00!!!!!!!!! Then we went to Forever 21 and I got two fun necklaces and Neil even encouraged me to get 3!!!!!!!!! Then we ran to T.J. Maxx- not by the mall- and I tried on a few things there but they didn't fit. Oh well. We had SO much fun together and I felt so LOVED and SO free to be feminine and enjoy clothes shopping. It was REALLY nice! And we have money left over!!! He sad we could go again another day!!!!!!! AAAHHH!!!!!!!!! I may have gotten giddy over that prospect! So shopping definitely made me feel 27. But we ended the night with going home eating cake and watching Tangled. Again I feel like I'm 7.

Okay, here are the numbers: 7, 27, 7, 12, 20, 27, and 7
so the average age that I act is: 15

Great, I can't even drive on my own... well maybe next year I'll be old enough to vote.

Matt Maher - Christ is Risen

I just wanted to pass on this video and song because it has served my soul in my recent 'dark night'. This song has warmed my heart to the Lord when nothing else did. I've italicized my favorite lines. Please enjoy and I hope that it will stir your heart as well!
Here are the Lyrics:
Let no one caught in sin remain
Inside the lie of inward shame
We fix our eyes upon the cross
And run to Him who showed great love

And bled for us
Freely You've bled for us

Christ is risen from the dead
Trampling over death by death
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Christ is risen from the dead
We are one with Him again
Come awake, come awake
Come and rise up from the grave

Beneath the weight of all our sin
You bowed to none but Heaven's will
No scheme of Hell, no scoffer's crown
No burden great can hold You down

In strength You reign
Forever let Your church proclaim

O death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
The glory of God has defeated the night

Sing it, o death, where is your sting?
O hell, where is your victory?
O church, come stand in the light
Our God is not dead, He's alive, He's alive

Being 'Kept' and 'Keeping'

As I sat down to write today I was reminded of the book of Jude and the sermons that C.J. Mahaney gave at my church last summer. I've included the messages below because they are VERY beneficial. Please take time to download them and listen at your convenience. I also included the passages he taught from. The summary of his sermons is how Jesus' blood keeps us in the faith and because of that we are to contend and keep ourselves in the faith. C.J.'s passion for the Gospel is very challenging and encouraging.

How thankful I am that Jesus' blood permanently keeps and has secured my salvation and standing before the Lord because I am terrible at 'keeping' myself in the faith. I too often ride the waves of my emotions and circumstances instead of the steady daily and momentary fighting for faith in God's consistent character and His Word. To 'keep' yourself in the faith is knowing and walking in the Gospel daily and fighting for faith daily amidst your temptation and circumstances.

I've been through a period of about 2-3 months of not fighting for faith and not really caring. I've been angry and bitter at God for not giving me what I want: children and pregnancy. There has been another cloud reigning over me fogging up my perspective and reality. I think the cloud this time was resignation. I had resigned to the fact that this season is hard. I had resigned to the fact that I am not promised children or pregnancy. I had resigned to the fact that these, children and pregnancy, are joyous things but I cannot find everlasting joy in them. I had resigned to the fact that I cannot be in control and that God is the only one who brings life. I had resigned to the fact that God was bringing life into this world, just not through me. I resigned to the fact that God was working good for all my friends who were pregnant. I resigned to the 'fact' my circumstance was a bigger indicator of God's love for me than the Gospel. I resigned to the 'fact' that God was good, just not to me. I resigned to the 'fact' that God was Sovereign, but not loving-to me. I resigned to the 'fact' that in His Sovereignty I was a pawn for him to use for his glory. I resigned to the 'fact' that his glory was separate from my good. I knew that something was going on that wasn't quite right but I didn't really care. It seemed too overwhelming to sift through the cloud to find my thoughts and I didn't think it would really do any good. I had resigned.

BUT GOD slowly started to life the cloud of resignation. He began to thin out the fog of anger and bitterness and has helped me see clearly. It began by crying after the sermon at church on Sunday. Neil held me and prayed for me (again) and listened as I tried to find my thoughts. Then two of our pastors came to us separately and prayed and counseled me in what was True. They encouraged me in the fight of faith that this big swing of doubt to faith, but usually a daily, moment by moment fight to believe what is True. To find the little 'nuggets of gold' in Scripture that speak to you that day and cling to those promises throughout the day. This served me as I sensed a slow turning in my hardened heart, maybe God wasn't what I was believing him to be. My heart was still hard but I began to see and claim that certain things, such as the two pastors praying and caring for us, were God providing for me and breaking through the cloud to dissolve my unbelief. I clung to these tangible examples of his care for me. A few weeks ago I shared at our care group what I had been going through. They had us sit in the middle and they prayed for Neil and me. Another example of God breaking through my cloud and showing me his care for me. My emotions weren't soaring with elation, but I wasn't anger, bitter, or resentful either. These past few weeks the clouds have dispersed. I have felt renewed joy in the Gospel and by God's grace I am attempting to 'keep myself in the love of God'. There is a fight for faith today and God has only called me to have faith for today and today he is giving me grace for that faith. He has not given me grace for my imagination (this is a quote from some really great author, but I don't remember who and it was something my friend told me anyway. NOT SOMETHING I CAME UP WITH). Every morning is a new supply of His grace for the fight of faith. Hopefully tomorrow will be another day fighting, but all I can do is focus on the grace God has given me to fight for faith right now. And you know, I think that truth gives me sufficient hope.

Listen Here to Part 1
Listen Here to Part 2
Listen Here to Part 3

"To those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ ²May mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you.

³Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

²⁰But you, beloved, building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, ²¹ keep yourselves in the love of God, waiting for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. ²²And have mercy on those who doubt; ²³save others by snatching them out of the fire; to others show mercy with fear, hating even the garment stained by the flesh.

²⁴Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, ²⁵to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen."

Jude 1b-3, 20-25

If you made is this far, thanks for sticking with me!

OH MY VEGGIE POT PIE

I made this recipe Saturday night and it was AH-MAZING so I decided to share! We couldn't wait to dig in so the picture was taken after dinner. Sorry about the bad lighting in most of my pictures, its those energy saving bulbs again... Anyway, I thinkI got the recipe off of Keeper of the Home's blog so she is who I'm going to credit for it. Neil immediately said this recipe was a keeper. I didn't add chicken to it this time, but I think next time I will so it can be a solo meal. It really isn't hard and I thought it was fun to make it because it looked so complicated, but it's not! Just some chopped veggies and some chicken broth! The sweet potato biscuit crust is SSSSOOO GOOOD. It made me want to just make sweet potato biscuits and I don't really like sweet potatoes! Here is the recipe and I hope you enjoy!!!!!

(I call it Oh My Veggie Pot Pie because that is what I said when I took my first bite! Oh My!)

Piled-high Veggie Potpie

(Don't be intimidated by the fairly long list of ingredients- it's really quite easy, and because it's so hearty and full of veggies, you don't need to make much else to go with it!)

Filling:
1 cup each chopped onions and chopped red bell pepper (I've used celery instead)
2 cloves garlic, minced (more is good, too)
2 1/2 cups veggie or chicken broth (I use homemade chicken broth)
2 cups peeled, cubed potatoes (I don't peel mine, just wash them well)
1 cup sliced carrots
1 1/2 tsp dried rosemary (I've also used Italian herb mix- oregano, basil, rosemary)
1/2 tsp. dried thyme
1/2 tsp. salt and pepper
1 cup sliced asparagus pieces or sliced green beans
1/2 cup frozen green peas, thawed (frozen corn works also)
3 Tbsp flour (any kind is fine)
1/4 cup chopped, fresh parsley
However much cooked chicken you have- it can be 1/2 cup or several cups- both taste fine, and it's still a filling meal either way!

Biscuit Crust:
1 1/2 cups flour (again, whatever you usually use- I use spelt)
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3 Tbsp butter, softened
3/4 cup cooked mashed sweet potatoes (very easy- I take a large one and peel it, and toss it in a small pot with boiling water before I start making the filling- once it's done, I drain the water, leave it in the pot and use a fork to quickly mash it)
3/4 cup milk, plus extra for brushing top of crust (oops, I usually forget to brush the crust)

1) Add some butter to a med. sized pot. Saute onions, pepper (or celery) and garlic, until softened.

2) Add 2 cups of the broth (save 1/2 cup for later), potatoes, carrots, and seasonings. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer for 12 minutes. Stir in asparagus and peas. Cook 3 more minutes.

3) In a small bowl, mix 3 Tbsp flour with remaining 1/2 cup of broth until smooth. Add to mixture, and cook until bubbly and thickened. Stir in parsley. Transfer to a casserole dish.

4) During the 12 minutes (see #2), I make my crust. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking powder and salt. Cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Whisk sweet potato mash and milk together, then add to flour mixture. Stir until a soft ball forms. Personally, I find it a bit too gooey to roll out (although that's what the recipe says to do), so I just form it with my hands and lay it in pieces on top of the casserole. You could also add a bit more flour to make it easier to roll out. Brush with milk.

5. Bake for 20 minutes (I baked it at 350), until crust is golden and somewhat puffed up.

Random Updates

I haven't written in awhile because I've been busy with random things going on. So I just thought I would update you guys on the not so significant activities that have kept me busy lately.


This picture is one of the many reasons why I got my hair cut a few weeks ago.
Yes, this is hair, MY HAIR, cut from our vacuum cleaner. I occasionally have to cut mass amounts of hair from the belt of our vacuum cleaner because it gets clogged up and makes a horrible high pitched squealing sound. At first I thought the squealing sound was because of the quality of our carpet. NOPE! Its my hair. So, I said enough is enough, I'm chopping it off, my hair that is. Well, I didn't actually say that and it wasn't actually because of the vacuum that I got my hair cut, but I think cutting my hair has helped. I hadn't cut my hair in a YEAR and have been wanting to get it cut since the fall. I wisely decided to wait till winter was over before exposing my neck to the elements again. So, yes my hair is chopped, twice actually which makes me feel SO HIGH MAINTENANCE, but if you don't like something you got to try and fix it right? Anyway its much better now.


I made these cinnamon/sweet rolls for a Bible/book study I'm in with a few other young wives.













We had the study at my house and we meet in the morning so I decided to make some breakfast food for us to munch on during our time together. This was my first time to EVER make any kind of pastry from scratch. I'm use to the canned cinnamon rolls that you pop out, bake, and put on the pre-made icing. But I decided to be bold and daring and try it from scratch. It actually wasn't that difficult, but yes it was time consuming. They were kind of a bust at first. Neil tried one and said they didn't actually taste very sweet!!!!!!!!! Well since that was the whole point of them I didn't serve them and quickly made some muffins. But I have served them to others and eaten plenty of them myself since and I made a 'sweet glaze' to put on them which is delicious! So they have been redeemed and there have been many compliments! One guy declared himself a 'sweet roll connoisseur' and said they were the BEST he had ever eaten! So that was VERY encouraging!

Also in the kitchen I had another first. I cooked a WHOLE chicken and made broth!


I had a coupon from EarthFare for a 'free' dinner. If you spent $10.00, which is not hard to do because its a pricey store, since its an organic store, you got a 'free' dinner of a whole chicken, mashed potatoes, and carrots. So I used my coupon and got those items. Well, what you may not know about me is that I'm SUPER grossed out by chicken which is weird since its the only meat I'll really eat. But I'm SUPER paranoid of getting salmonella so I wear gloves when handling any raw chicken. Don't even get me started on dealing with a whole chicken and its bones and insides... My gagging reflexes start flaring up just writing about it. Well anyway I broke down and thought it was time for me to be a 'big girl and wife' and cook the chicken and make chicken broth. I even had to rinse the chicken out myself! I asked Neil but he said he thought it was something I should do... So I held my breath and tried to calm down my gagging reflexes and away I went. It wasn't too bad, still not my favorite thing to ever do, but there wasn't much to clean out and I just put the chicken in my crock pot with some spices and onions and carrots and let it do its thing. We had quite a bit of chicken meat!! Out of a two or two and a half pound chicken I was able to make two HUGE meals that we ate off of for two weeks! Not to mention the chicken broth/stock which was super easy and made quite a bit. I still have a 32oz left to use whenever I need it! So it was SUPER cost effective to do this and not real time consuming since I used my crock pot and I boiled the broth while I made dinner one day. However, I'm still not sold on doing this because I'm not sure my stomach can handle this method!

And lastly, my friend Rebecca asked me to make her some more burp cloths! I was happy to oblige! Here are my four latest creations:













The first two are my favorites because I love making the little rosettes! I love having something pop off the fabric and I can't stop loving the first fabric. I do actually feel greed rising up in me saying I HAVE TO HAVE THAT FABRIC! Which is weird and wrong in SO many ways! I feel like I didn't get to be as creative as I wanted with these because I couldn't think of anything fun to do with the last two, I was running out of time because I gave myself a deadline, and I'm trying to teach myself that 'less is more' sometimes. Anyway, I still love making them and have been thinking of branching into other baby related items so we will see!!!!! For the two of you that read the blog, Lacy and Lauren, if you had made it to the end, thanks for hanging in there!

A Tiny Glimpse

I babysat for a friend on Monday who has a 4 month old. It was only for a few hours, but I think it gave me a tiny glimpse into staying home with a baby. The baby girl started crying right after her momma left, but I think it was because it was her nap time. I figured out how to settle her down and not be intimidated by her crying. I had to keep reminding her and myself that she was going to be okay. Some of her crys were the hard, silent type where her face would start to turn red and I would have to tell her to "BREATHE!" and she would and we'd start over. She fell fast asleep and it was so sweet to hold her and rock her. While she napped, I did a few things around the house and had my quiet time, but I didn't get to everything-like I had planned, naive' and overly ambitious I guess. She was suppose to have a good, long nap for about an hour to an hour and a half, but she only slept for 45 minutes. Then I was a little late in feeding her because I got her bottle too hot, so I was consoling her and trying to cool down her bottle at same time. I fed her and burped her and then we played a little which mostly consisted of me carrying her around the house and talking to her. I was able to sit her up and read to her and play with some of her toys for a little bit, but she didn't last too long. She started crying again because she was getting tired. Maybe since she hadn't slept well for the first nap? So I held her and rocked her till she fell asleep and every time I would try to lay her in her pack 'n play she would wake up and cry! I thought it was kind of funny and it felt like a game-which i was losing. Then, her momma came and picked her up and it was all over, just like that.

Through all the tears (hers, not mine), holding, napping, feeding, consoling, playing, and walking around there was still a very present silence throughout my house. Since I'm an extrovert silence isn't always a welcomed presence for me. And I thought, "So, this is what its like being a mom of a baby. This is what my days could consist of: no other adult, no other person to talk with or get the 'to do' list done for me, or hold the baby girl because my back is starting to ache." Now, I know this is not a perfect picture, it is after all just a tiny glimpse into a small part of a young mother's day. But I can see where even through the all joys of motherhood this could get hard and tiresome. However, I will welcome it any day and there is a longing in my heart for this stage.

Even though this is only for 3 hours this morning, my eyes have been opened to the world where so many of my friends live currently and I understand. No, I don't understand fully and I may never understand fully, but on this day I feel like I scratched the surface of understanding and I just want to encourage all my 'young mother friends' that you aren't alone and what you are doing matters and pleases the Lord because this is where he has called you presently and he desires your faithfulness to rest and trust in Him and His faithfulness.

You NEED this c.d. TRUST ME

Come Weary Saints
is AMAZING!
It has ministered to my soul so much when waiting for children has proven to be a trial.
The songs are a perfect mix of recognizing my struggle with my circumstances, weary faith, and roller coaster emotions while pointing me to God's Word and refreshing me with the truth that I will rejoice and can rejoice during this time.
I've had it for awhile and have continued to be comforted with songs like:
Hide Away in the Love of Jesus
Oh, the Deep Deep Love
You Have Always Been Faithful
Healing in Your Wings
and I Have a Shelter

I'm challenged by songs like:
As Long as You are Glorified
and It is Not Death to Die

and I these songs help me claim the Truth:
So I Will Trust You
Through the Precious Blood
and Joy in My Morning


YOU NEED THIS C.D.