7...

 

7... in 7 days a sweet friend and I start our own version of Jen Hatmaker's 7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess. We haven't laid out our specific plans yet about each area but we do know that we start this Monday, July 30th. We start with food. I am a eat whatever I can find, love to eat out foodie so here goes nothing. Here are the 7 foods I will stick to for two whole weeks. Yep- 2 weeks!

Avocadoes

Tomatoes

Pita Bread

Chicken

Bell Peppers

Granola

Greek Yogurt

So here we go...

The whole idea behind this is that it is somewhat of a fast. Not your typical fasting from food though. Fasting from the excess in our lives. The goal of this fast is not to see how hard or how easy it is to do without "stuff" for two weeks at a time. The goal is to realize our excess, realize how much we need God, come to the conclusion that we would rather have God than the "stuff." Many of you may be saying that you know you would rather have God than your stuff already. I know, I say this as well. My goal is to say this and

really

mean

it.

Mean it so much that if the stuff disappeared- I have full confidence I would still be satisfied in Him.

My other goal is that as I decrease the excess I will see, hear, and understand God more clearly. That I will see him in different areas when I am not so focused on what I am watching on tv. That I will see him in different people when my eyes are opened up to the possibility of only 7 items of clothes. That I will hear him through the sweet sound of my family's voices as I

de-stress.

This project is going to last until the week before Christmas. Each area is getting 2 weeks on and 1 week after for reflection. I'll blog a little bit here and there throughout. I'm thinking once before each area begins, and once after. Take this as my blog to begin "Food."

Comfort

Comfort: A state of physical ease and freedom from pain or constraint 

We see this word and we like it. We like to be comfortable. Ease and Freedom- those are good words. Just this morning I realized though- I'm too COMFORTABLE.

I see things like this and this and have conversations with friends who are helping women that are beaten, raped, addicted to drugs, wrapped up in prostitution. Why does it take things like that to make me realize that I am way too comfortable? I guarantee you that Chris and I don't wake up on any given day and think we're rich. We have conversations more often than not about things we can't get because we don't need to spend the money. But- we never do without. We have expensive hobbies, we have a house over our head full of nice furniture and decorative accents, we have more clothes than we possibly need, we have 2 computers, almost every Apple prouduct made, a tv in almost every room but the nursery, a beautifully decorated nursery, a closet full of clothes and toys and "stuff" for a 5 month old that doesn't even know it, a "boutique" dog. Still- we don't think of ourselves as rich. But then I go here and realize we have more money than over half of the world.

Don't misunderstand me. I don't think these things in themselves are wrong or evil. What I do think is God blesses us so that we can bless others. I think if we find our value in our "things" we are incredibly mistaken and that can lead to a scary result. So this morning, I sit in comfort but my desire is to be uncomfortable. I'm not asking that we suddenly live in poverty and I'm not saying God is calling us to give up all we have. What I am asking is that we put him first in our comfortable life to make ourselves more uncomfortable.

Open our eyes to those hurting- both those that are around us and those many many miles away

That we have an open home where people can come to feel loved

That we have open wallets and realize that God has given us what we have for a reason and to use it to help others

That we open our hearts and reach out even when we feel embarassed, shy, awkward or full of fear.

That we use our gifts like our hobbies, home, excess "stuff" to love on others, give to others, and bring people to know God's love.

My prayer today is that through our opening of our eyes, homes, wallets, hearts and more we can help others find comfort in the way the definition calls for. That others can find rest in our homes, friendships, prayers and more. And that when we can bring others freedom from physical and emotional pain. If being uncomfortable can bring other people comfort- then bring it on.

Almost 5 months in... favorite baby items!

Well Hutton will hit 5 months on Monday. 5 WOW. That is almost half a year. I can't even fathom the idea that he has been with us almost half a year. It has absolutely flown by. He has brought us more joy in five months than I could have ever imagined.


So, in those 5 months we have used a lot of different baby items and I thought I would share my 5 absolute favorites!  


#5- Canopy Float - What do you do when you have a baby under 6 months in the summertime who can't wear sunscreen? Why be the ingenius person who invented a float with a canopy. Whoever you are, we thank you! You have helped our lake and pool outings significantly!



#4- Bumbo - Honestly, I partly love this because he looks so darn cute sitting in it. But, our little boy gets in these moods where he wants to be sitting up sooooo bad but he can't yet. So we are thankful to the Bumbo that it gives him that back support so he can sit up and enjoy the scenery!

#3- Car Seat Toy Bar- Love! It makes noise, it keeps my munchkin entertained in the car and he is enthralled by it! So Bright Starts- you won us over with this! This was the first "toy" Hutton was really interested in!


#2- Summer SwaddleMe Blankets! I completely understand that there is an obsession with the Aden & Anais swaddling blankets. Maybe I'm missing something but they were a no go for us. Too big. He busted out of them. Just didn't like it. Now these bad boys though- let's just say last night was the first night he slept in a sleep sack instead of this!!

And the winner is....
#1- The Nap Nanny! To say this has been my best friend is an understatement. I give the nap nanny almost all of the credit for the fact that our sweet boy started sleeping through the night at 4 weeks. So here's to the nap nanny... thank you for the precious sleep you helped me enjoy :)

Worship Wednesday

I have a slight obsession with this song. Phil Wickham happens to have an amazing voice but I love his reference to us joining in with the worship of the universe. I mentioned a few weeks ago about listening to Louie Giglio's talk about how the universe is constantly worshipping...

Trees, Wind, Rain, Thunder, Birds, Bees, and so much more!


God made all these things and made them to constantly make beautiful sounds and I love the idea that when we worship we're joining in with their sounds!

It's falling from the clouds
A strange and lovely sound
I hear it in the thunder and rain
It's ringing in the skies
Like cannons in the night
The music of the universe plays

You are holy great and mighty
The moon and the stars declare who You are
I'm so unworthy, but still You love me
Forever my heart will sing of how great You are

Beautiful and free
Song of Galaxies
It's reaching far beyond the milky way
Lets join in with the sound
C'mon let's sing it loud
As the music of the universe plays

All glory, honor, power is Yours amen
All glory, honor, power is Yours amen
All glory, honor, power is Yours forever amen 

Measuring up

If you're a normal reader of my blog or follow me on facebook you may know that I've taken up the hobby of sewing. My husband gave me a sewing machine last October for our 1st Anniversary and I wanted to learn because I was pregnant and wanted to make something for our little Hutton on the way. Well Hutton came and I still hadn't even turned the machine on. Thankfully, I've been learning from a sweet friend for a little over a month now. I'm almost done with my third project except for buttonholes. Buttonholes currently feel like my enemy. I dread them.

As I talk to more and more people who I know that sew (TONS of friends, my sister in law, my mother in law, read blogs, etc.) I can start to feel very overwhelmed and feel like I just don't measure up. Most people I know are way farther than me. Most people I know have way nicer machines than me. Most people I know can smock, hand sew, embroider and applique. But, I'm not most people and I have to remind myself that I just started. I plan on learning to embroider and applique (can I please have that embroidery machine hubby please?! :) and I plan on learning to smock, that hand sewing stuff is for the birds though :) By that I mean, I don't have enough sewing confidence for that just yet! But, all those things can come in time. For right now, a bib, a bubble, and a diaper set have made me very proud of myself! And honestly, I love it. It is so good for me. I get to get away from everything for a little bit and just throw myself into that. I have fun and it feels very rewarding to make something and then see my little man wearing it. And if I shall brag... according to my awesome teacher I sewed my best stitch ever last night!

So, if you ever feel like this is anything you do- just keep trucking and don't compare yourselves to others. You may catch up and even if you don't, you're doing something you enjoy and that is what is important!

So I found these quotes and thought I would share...

Sewing mends the soul. ~Author Unknown

Stitch your stress away. ~Author Unknown

I'd rather be stitchin'
than in the kitchen!
~Author Unknown

Until next time... May your bobbin always be full! (Am I a cheeseball or what?)

Dealing with Hurt

I'm a sensitive person. Ask anybody that knows me. I'm so much so that my sensitivity was one of the first things Chris told my in-laws about me. While I am still sensitive, I feel that I get tougher every year. I hope that part of it is because I am no longer as concerned with what people think about me. 

Do you want to know the biggest secret?

I 

don't

want

to

be

different

Okay okay, well in some ways I want to be different. I want to hurt people less. I want to NEVER gossip again. I want to never assume the worst in people and always give them a chance first. I want to trust more. But- I have no desire to be less sensitive. Why? Because although I am very sensitive about how others hurt me or make me feel- I'm also very sensitive about how others hurt those who I love and even those I've never met. That- I never want to change.

So, if I'm going to continue to be good old sensitive me, how do I deal with those times when my feelings do get hurt? Those times when I feel like I don't fit in. Those times when I feel left out. Those times when others make comments that tear me down. Those times when I feel as if people don't see the real me. I'm asking this... because I've felt this way a lot lately.

I know the preachy answer. I'm well aware that my confidence should come from God and that he will always be there, always support me, says that I'm wonderfully made, is a shoulder to cry on. But come on, we're human and its not always that easy! I will get hurt, I'm human. But what to do?

Confrontation?
Vent to my husband?
Vent to my friends?
Cry by myself in my room/office/closet?
Just accept it?

I don't know the answer- do you? My choice is that I'm going to lean on God for support. Yes people will probably make comments, but I'm going to lean on my husband when I'm hurt instead of being sad alone. I'm going to parent the way I feel called to parent no matter what anyone says. If you're close to me and hurt my feelings, I'm going to assume it wasn't your intention and move on. If I feel left out, enjoy the extra time to spend with Chris and Hutton.

Is this the best way- I don't have a clue. But, it's the way I've chosen for now.