she sells seashells by the seashore

Don't Ask. 

Just enjoy the cuteness.

Happy Wednesday.

how to become unproductive in 6 easy steps

Step 1: Give birth to one child.

Step 2: Spend large amounts of time holding, nursing, soothing, playing with, changing, and bathing said child.

Step 3: Finally get child to sleep at 11:30 p.m.

Step 4: Stay up until 2 a.m. blogging. (This step must not be skipped!)

Step 5: Wake up at 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. to feed child.

Step 6: Try to get up at 7 a.m.

Repeat as necessary. Guaranteed to be unproductive in 1-3 days.

and the winner is...

...Keeslermom! 

Congrats...You won the mystery photo contest! Please email me with your info.

 This is indeed a burner, stove element, burner coil..whatever you call it in your neck of the woods!

Stay tuned for the next mystery photo contest coming soon!

five question friday

 

 

 

Ok, so  I'm fresh outta things to say for the moment so I thought I'd cheat a little and do Five Question Friday today. Here goes...

1. Did you pass your driver's test on the first try?

 

Yes. BUT, I did not have to parallel park. Is that cheating?

2. What is your most embarrassing moment?

 

Okay, you should know that I go to great lengths to avoid embarrassment. GREAT LENGTHS! Sadly, my four yr old did not get this memo and asks me things in public, at the top of his lungs that would make a sailor blush. Ok, not that kind of stuff. But, questions like; "What's that smell...did you just toot?!?" or (about a woman wearing guy-ish clothes right next to us) "Is that a man or a girl?....No, I think it's a man!" and my personal favorite, "Mom, I gotta POOP!"

3. What TV show would you like to be on- Oprah, Biggest Loser, or What Not to Wear?

 

Oh, please, pu-leeez, put me on What Not To Wear! I could withstand the mocking, knowing that $5000 worth of clothes is coming my way! 

4. Would you ever get plastic surgery and what kind?

 

Um, ok. Here's the thing. I KNOW I should be happy with the body God gave me. And I was (mostly) until I had kids. But now that my middle has been stretched to the sun and back, I'd gladly accept a tummy tuck if someone offered it to me. But they never will. So, no. I'd never get plastic surgery. 

5. What are your favorite jeans to wear?

 

Ones that fit! I'm no respecter of jeans. 

 

 

 

So, there you go. Now mosey on over to Mama M.'s and see what everyone else is saying. Have a GREAT weekend! 

raw(e) beauty

This week's RAW(e) challenge, BEAUTIFUL, was really hard for me.  

I mean, there are SO MANY beautiful things around me. 

My husband's eyes,

my children's smiles,

creation, 

vibrant colors, 

friends' lovely faces...

So what did I choose? 

FEET. 

Huh?

"How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

Romans 10:15b

Bringing the Good News of God's love and salvation...
what could be more beautiful than that?

oh happy day!

I love getting mail. 

Well, FUN mail. 

And the other day I received this in the mail.

This adorable knit beanie (that I WON!) from Amber over at Dawdler 101.

Thanks, Amber...I love it!

scattered thoughts

Over the past couple of weeks the Lord has been doing some really intense, deep works in and around me. With this whirlwind of activity I'm feeling a little scattered. I need to process it all and make sense of what the Lord is saying, doing, and asking of me in return. In an effort to get my thoughts collected, here are some of the things that are swirling around in my head...

I really want to desire Jesus more than anything. More than sleep, more than Peppermint Mocha Frappuccinos, more than a clean house, and even more than time to myself. But I'm not there yet, and it is a daily struggle to keep my affections focused on the Lord. The battle is almost tangible and I know that means I'm on the right path.

I have a long way to go in discovering how (and how much) He loves me. I have a very performance-oriented view of love. I need to keep reminding myself that here is nothing I can do (or can't do) that will increase or decrease the love of the Father towards me. 

I am a great pretender. Things are "great" and "fine" when just the opposite is true. I have a really hard time being vulnerable. Pride keeps me from doing and saying a lot of things. Even as I write this, I'm thinking, "What will they think of me for spilling my guts." But, I've purposed to be real so, here it is. Asking for help (even from my husband) is very difficult for me. I need to find out why.

to be continued...

stay tuned...

After being off the computer for a few days, I've got lots of thoughts swirling around in my head. As soon as I get them sorted out I'll share them with you. 

In the meantime, I've got a mystery for you.

Anybody know what this is?

If you guess correctly you could own this bracelet by Sweet P Jewels (that's me).

raw(e) distractions

This week the RAW(e) photo challenge is taking a different turn. 

The subject is distractions, or rather, 

ONE distraction. 

The one thing that keeps you distracted from God, duties, family, etc. 

 I have to say the computer is my numero uno distraction. I get distracted by blogs (mine and others'), editing photos, email...the list goes on and on.  

Why? 

Because I can turn my brain off and surf to my heart's content. 

But usually my heart is not content. 

I am overwhelmed by house work, relationships that need attention, planning that needs to be done, and time that should be spent with God.

And instead of doing those things, I go on auto-pilot and zone out in front of the screen. 

In light of all this, I have decided to go on a computer fast. This has been such a convicting exercise (thanks, Sami!) that I want to run with it and see where the Lord leads me. 

So, ta-ta for now! 

I'll see you in a few days. 

P.S. Don't forget to go over to Sami's blog and see what distracts everyone else!

pictures with a purpose

Let me be the first to say that I've been kinda indifferent about the whole Haiti situation. It was is so overwhelming that I just can't wrap my head around the devastation. We have a couple of missionary friends that were severely injured in the quake and, apart from praying for them, I've veered away from getting involved because I..just..feel..so..small.

Recently though, I was over at my friend, Amy's blog. She shared a link to Jeremy Cowart's photo blog, Voices of Haiti.

WOW. It is powerful.

Jeremy posts a picture a day of a Haitian person (or family) and asks them, "What do you have to say about all this?" The answers are thought provoking. But more than that, he has offered to sell these photos and give the proceeds towards buying tent-homes for these families.

Buy a print, give a family a temporary home.

This, I can wrap my head around.


{Sigh} I'm feeling better already.    

Please go check Voices Of Haiti out for yourself. You will not regret it.

are you resting?

A note about resting, here.

sweetness

he makes me laugh

Sam.

He does it every time.

He is the most random, hilarious boy that I know.

Example: We were driving in the car the other week and he says, "Momma, how old is Jesus?"
Me: Ummm, well He's been around forever. He's older than everybody!
Sam: Wow! Then, is he like, TEN?!?

And today, I found him like this...

Doing what, pray tell?
Well, Bouncy Ball Demolition Derby 

with "imaginary Daniel"...of course! 

Ready, set, go!

Wipe out! 

Looks like "imaginary Daniel" won this round. 

I tell ya, no mercy from those pretend friends! Sheesh!

raw(e) crayons

It's Monday, and that means another RAW(e) photo contest from Sami!

Just point and click. No touch-ups, or modifications.

This week the theme is crayons.

Now hop on over to Sami's and check out the other photos.

Freebie Friday

I know, I know...it's Saturday. But "Freebie Saturday" just doesn't sound as catchy. Anyway....I found this great offer from Picaboo for a free 20 page photo book, and I thought I'd pass it along to you.

So here you go...Picaboo Photo Book

You're welcome.

dear Lisa - part 2

Several days ago (challenged by a blog friend, Sami to journey together back to our First Love) I wrote a letter to myself, from God. In an effort to be completely vulnerable (something I'm working on with fear and trepidation) I have written a letter back to Him here.

wordless wednesday

                               

Sam's "football outfit."

losing my balance

When I was 4 yrs old, a neighbor girl, Angie, came over to our house to display her newly acquired cartwheel skills. Being the novice that she was, she fell and then promptly announced to me and my mom that she had lost her balance. Immediately I began looking under pillows and behind chairs, inside cupboards and on top of counters. When my mom asked me what I was doing I said, "Looking for Angie's balance!"

These days I am looking for balance in a different way. It seems like ever since Ava was born I cannot get back into full swing. I try to juggle my time between keeping the house, doing pre-school with my son, running errands, spending quality time with my kids and my man, and sitting at the feet of Jesus (not in that order...hopefully). Not to mention church stuff, family get togethers, pre-school co-op and play-dates. Oh, and blogging. ;O)

The problem is, something always gets dropped. And it's usually not the fun stuff! I let the laundry pile up. I put pre-school off for "one more day." I neglect my husband's physical needs (well, that is fun, but still...), etc. And all the while I'm thinking, "Lisa, get your act together!" 

So, I've been asking the Lord to show me what I can do to find my balance again. And this is what I'm hearing:

God: "Fruit of the Spirit." 

 Me: "Huh?" 

God: "Fruit of the Spirit. You know, love, joy, peace, self control..."

Me: "Ohhh..."

God: "Yep. If you're letting my Spirit control your life you will have the time and energy to accomplish everything I want you to do. And, you won't be wasting your time on things that I don't want you to do. Like spending too much time on the computer. And getting to bed waayyy too late." 

Me: "Okay. But you're gonna have to help me. I am so weak."

God: "I know. And I have fresh grace for you every time you need it. I AM the balance you are looking for."

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things! Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives."

Galatians 5:22-25

So, as of this moment, I am making a new commitment to be led by the Spirit in all aspects of my life. Please feel free to hold me accountable (yes, Marko...that means you too!) to being the Spirit-led woman I'm supposed to be.

raw(e) chocolate

 

What is RAW(e)??

A weekly photo contest from Sailor & Company! The object is to capture a themed photo each week and post it sans modification... no editing, no picnik, no photoshop, no lightroom, no boost....etc. Just click and post. The winner each week will have their blog featured on Sami's RAW(e) link...and maybe a tangible prize as well!

So...this week's theme is chocolate! Yum!

 

Now, head on over to Sami's blog to see the rest of these yummy photos!

sweet & savory mashed potatoes

Oh. My. Word.
This takes mashed potatoes to a whole 'nother level! It has become a new staple at our Thanksgiving Dinner.

 

Ingredients

• 3 1/2  pounds  baking potatoes, peeled and cubed
• 1  tablespoon  salt, divided
• 1  (29-ounce) can sweet potatoes in syrup, drained and mashed
• 1  (8-ounce) package 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
• 10  bacon slices, cooked and crumbled
• 3/4  cup  light sour cream
• 2/3  cup  chicken broth
• 1/2  teaspoon  pepper
• Garnish: crumbled bacon

Preparation

Bring potatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, and water to cover to a boil in a Dutch oven ( or large pot); cook 30 minutes or until tender. Drain.
Return potatoes to Dutch oven. Add sweet potatoes and cream cheese; mash until smooth with a potato masher. Stir in 2/3 of the bacon, next 3 ingredients, and remaining 2 teaspoons salt. Spoon mixture into a lightly greased 11- x 7-inch baking dish.
Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes. Sprinkle remaining bacon over the top.