Life in Grace

Just wanted to introduce you all (though few!) to one of my favorite blogs, and to the woman behind it.  Her name is Edie.  I haven't actually ever met her, but I'd like to.

I had been blog surfing quite a bit last fall looking for Christmas gift and decor/craft ideas, and stumbled upon Edie's blog.  I'm not sure what landed me there, but I am so very glad it did.  Edie is a beautiful mother, wife, teacher and home-maker, and her posts are riveting.  She speaks so much truth, drenched in the Word and in community, and disciples many (perhaps unknowingly) through her poignant writing.

Well, I hadn't kept up with any blogs over the holidays, and didn't come back to hers until I decided to create my own.  As I read through the posts, I learned that she and her beautiful family were devestated about a week before Christmas when their house burned to the ground.  By God's grace, each of them escaped unscathed. 

Her response to this tragedy models better than I could ever imagine what it means to suffer well.  She is raw and broken, and so very fixed on solid ground.  A beautiful balance of brokenness and hope for the promises of the Lord.  I'm so encouraged by her.  I hope you are too.

Thank you, Lord, for your promises of love and restoration.

Snowed In (-ish)

Today we woke up to this.

Beautiful, no?

Well, this is day 2 of snow (and ICE) here in F Dub, and while it's gorgeous and all... I've caught a BAD case of the cabin fever.  That's the official diagnosis.  THE cabin fever.  Class yesterday was cancelled and I'm off work for, like, the next week or so... (this going part-time thing is slightly over-rated.) and I'm getting really sick of piddling.  That's what I do when I'm stuck inside with no agenda.  I piddle.  And do a lot of crafty things.  And piddle some more.

So naturally, I was SUPER excited when I remembered that we were meeting friends at Pei Wei for lunch. FREE lunch.  Because we were all awesome and stopped in to our favorite East of Usual bistro last week for a coupon for a their new Korean BBQ dish.  I love free food. :)

I made Mom's banana bread for b-fast.

YUM.  Dangerously YUM.

Then our power went out.  Again.  And it started getting really chilly inside.  Fortunately, I thought quick and remembered neither Andrew or I had showered (and he had just gotten back from a run...), so I interrupted him mid phono convo with a "We gotta shower or there won't be any hot water!"  I was pretty proud of my logic.

Until my hair was wet.  And blow dryers are powered by electricity, you know.

Needless to say, I was relieved when the electricity turned on shortly post-shower.  Going out in 13 degree (feels like 9!) weather like a wet dog was really gonna bite.

Thank you, Jesus, for pointing out my pride, and then for gracefully giving us electricity.

SO glad my hair was dry.  And that we didn't totally eat it on the ice.



P.S.  Pray for Andrew and his co-workers tonight- for safe driving and warm toes!  They're valeting downtown on this frigid evening!

Do What You Love

I've been inspired and blessed by Kara Paslay's "Do What You Love" art for quite some time now, and finally decided it was time for that phrase to be up on the wall where it could continually serve as a reminder to my musician husband (and to me) to make time for the things that we love.  It's a call to live with purpose in our vocations, trusting all the while that Our Father will take care of our every need.  I am challenged and inspired by it an hope you are too. :)


My version goes a little something like this.


You'll need:
4 canvas stretcher bars, assemble to form a frame (courtesy of the Hobby Lobby giftcard from my wonderful mother and father-in-law)
Leftover burlap large enough to stretch around your stretcher bar frame (mine came from a similar project, I'll have to post at a later date)
Staple gun (I have a Stanley Light Duty Sharpshooter that was probably like $10 from Home Depot a few years ago)
Black acrylic paint
Fine tip paintbrush

This is really quite easy and could be done a number of different ways.  Since burlap is pretty see through, you'll probably want to stretch 2 layers of the burlap over the stretcher bar frame, tacking each in place with staples.  Since burlap likes to unravel, be sure to fold the raw edge under before you staple, like this:

Pull it tight!  When you get to the corners, you'll probably have to do a little creative cutting and tucking to get the fabric to lay flat.  Then, just flip her over and you're done!

jk.

The next part you can do a number of different ways.  In the past, I've printed my letters out on computer paper, cut them out and then traced them onto the burlap.  While this had great results, it was a bit tedious, and not really something I was up for with this project.  Since that time, Andrew and I have acquired an overhead projector (since we're school teachers and all.  ..not.  Long story.)  So, I printed my (well, Kara's) phrase on overhead paper (using "Roadway" font on dafont.com), and then shown (shined?) the phrase up on my new canvas, traced it (with my black paint and paintbrush), and then filled in the letters in to my taste.

It's sort of a reverse bus roll kind of thing.  But way more personal and inspiring.  ...at least in my book.

Watcha think?  Have you found some fun ways to display inspiring quotes too?  Or use up leftover burlap?

And with this, I commence.

Whispers of doubt deluge me.  What will I write?  Do I really have anything noteworthy to say?  What is my purpose in blogging?  Will I really be able to share both the good AND the bad?  Can I be candid and clear?  Will I stick with it?  If not, is it even worth starting?  I'm not really much of a writer, after all...

But, God calms my heart and silences these doubts.  He has given me a story and gifts to share with you with confidence and joy. 

So, here it is:

A record of the evidences of God's grace,

a playground for new ideas, and

an environment for sharing

about

brokenness and restoration,

sowing and harvesting,

creation and beauty.

Welcome.  :)