2014

{source}

This is my verse for 2014. I also plan on studying Philippians throughout the year. But my focus is on learning to serve and be humble in all I do. Have you chosen a word or verse to focus on this year?

24 in 24

This is a list of goals that I would like to complete in the next twenty-four months. This will be the two years that we are in Kazakhstan.

1. Crochet a blanket.
2. Finish my associate's degree.
3. Finishing reading through the Bible (I'm using the ESV Chronological Reading Plan in YouVersion).
4. Learn to make jam or jelly.
5. Teach myself to can jam or jelly.
6. Perfect my snow/ice driving skills.
7. Make an exercise goal for six weeks and stick to it. 
8. Speak some Russian and do it confidently. 
9. Visit Israel.
10. Prepare a traditional Kazakh meal. 
11. Use Motivated Moms and keep up on housekeeping. {affiliate}
12. Customize blog (background, header, button, etc).
13. Art journal once a week for six weeks. 
14. Paint once a week for six weeks.
15. Do six DIY projects from Pinterest {from here or here}.
16. Try six new recipes from Pinterest {like these}.
17. Master (not like the Cake Boss or anything) cake-decorating.
18. Use a meal plan system for six weeks and like it. 
19. Build my Scentsy business.
20. Complete 30 Days to Becoming a Woman of Prayer.
21. Pray for Jason for thirty days.
22. Pray for Joshua for thirty days.
23. Pray for Nikolas for thirty days.
24. Pray for adoption for thirty days.

{For affiliate disclosure policy please scroll to the bottom of my blog.}

Sharpie Tie Dye Shirt

This was so easy and I love the end result! I'm sure I'll be making more. This week is Vacation Bible School and the boys needed to wear different colored shirts each day. Today was purple but Nikolas didn't have a purple shirt, so I ran to Target. Target had NO purple shirts for boys. I looked in the toddler sizes and even the girls' section to find something. But then I remembered the pin I'd seen about tie-dyeing with Sharpies. I love Sharpies. Here is the tutorial that I used.
First I made a stencil, then I put my cutting board inside the shirt so it wouldn't bleed onto the back. I used a purple sharpie to make "flare" marks around the border. I filled a small spray bottle with rubbing alcohol and watched the ink spread. It was really cool. The more I sprayed it the farther it spread. I put it in the dryer for twenty minutes or so. Martha Stewart said to use the dryer or a hot iron to set the color and then you can wash it on gentle cycle in cold water with dark or like colors. I haven't washed it yet, so we'll see.

And here is the result! He loves it!

Wake me when we get there

Click on photo for credit and also a great post (in Italiano)
about Astana, Kazakhstan.

I read this post entitled Bruising Seasons at just the right moment. As we are preparing to once again jet-set off to a foreign land, my heart is heavy. My husband's new career may seem like a glamorous one but it isn't all travel to exotic land and pretending we are always on vacation. Many of the places may be wonderful to visit but difficult to live in for any length of time.
This summer we are moving to a country that people have only heard of because of a goofy movie called Borat. The information about where we are moving is limited but we are talking with people that are there currently. Learning a new language is okay, if you've been exposed to it since watching Sesame Street, like Spanish. Russian is scary. It sounds scary and it looks scary.
{Most} People do not join the missions field or the military or the foreign service to get away from their family and friends. They join because they are called by God to live a different kind of life. Not better just different. We know what it feels like to be gone and miss the important things, like weddings and new babies and funerals. We know what it feels  like to be left out because they know we can't just fly in for the weekend. We know what it feels like to wave goodbye at the airport for the ump-teenth time. We have birthdays and Christmases that last a month because of all the packages and mail delays. We feel the ache in our chests when we think that this could be the last time we see a special someone. Friends' children, niece (because there is only one) and nephews grow up so fast. And shopping in a store where you can read the labels. And leaving yet another a church family that just got to know you. I won't even talk about missing the food, oh, the food.
When my husband decided to leave the military I got very excited. I thought we could buy a house and settle down somewhere beautiful and live in the trees. I could homeschool and we could plant fruit trees and build a chicken coop. For me, that is dreamy. God has a different plan for our lives. It doesn't mean I'll never get my dream house with a chicken coop. It means that God has something bigger for us... Right now. So, I will sit up straighter. I will wipe my eyes. I will pack up my warm (rated at -40 degrees fahrenheit) fuzzy boots. And we will move wherever God wants us. Because I know His plan is greater than mine. I will not fear. I will not be anxious. I will be in the Lord and lean on Him. There is no other way.
Don't get me wrong. I don't want to sound all Negative-Nelly about our next adventure. I am excited and I know we are so blessed to even get the opportunity. I would not be happier to do it with anyone else. I have the best husband that God could ever create just for me. I just want people to know that it isn't easy to say goodbye to the life you've known and jump into a different culture. And it sure isn't easy to leave your friends and family. I am really overwhelmed right now by all that needs to be done. Thinking about the short time we have left before we pack out again... I just unpacked the last box from our last international move. Wake me up when we get there.

One of those days?

Have you ever had one of those days? It seems like everything that could go wrong, has. Your children were up earlier than usual. You spilled coffee {ahem, espresso} grounds all over kitchen counter. One of the kids wet the bed. You slammed your arm into the counter... again. Everyone wants to argue. There is yelling. Words are said. Hurt is done. All before breakfast.
I have had a few of these days. Sleep was short. Patience is thin. Life seems a mess. What do you do? Can you push reset? Literally? No. But you can step back and re-boot.

1. Take it to God. Ask Him to forgive you, or if you don't think you're in the wrong, then ask Him to show you what you did wrong. I know this one can be tough but we are all sinners. Asking God to show us our own sin can lighten our load. If we know we are sinning and God points it out to us then we are ready to make a change. It can also point us in the right direction to forgiveness. Ask God to help you forgive the counter if you have to because you know you had ill feelings and every time you see the bruise on your arm those feelings are going to bubble up again. So, just get over it now. Then ask your kids or husband or whomever it may be for forgiveness. Apologize. I don't care who started it, ask God for help and then do it!
2. Take a minute (or 30) and do some deep breathing. Even if you have to lock yourself in the bathroom.  Get that heart rate back under marathon pace. Drink some cold water or some hot tea. Lay down. Do some stretches. Read a good devotional or head to Proverbs or Psalms to refresh.
3. Get out! Really! Go get some fresh air, weather permitting. Heck, why not go dance and play in the rain? Do something fun. Plan a picnic for lunch. Take a walk. Play at the park. But also take a moment to appreciate the world around you. We have so many gifts that God gives us each day but a lot of us have a tendency to overlook them. If we stop each day and search for the simple things that we usually take for granted that can help us fill our hearts with joy.
4. Call a friend. Read this! Don't just skip the explanation, because this is important! Do not call your friend to complain or moan about your day. If you are in the same area, invite her to coffee or lunch. If you are far away, have a good heart to heart or even send a note. Put the focus on your friend. What does she need? How was her morning? Take the focus of yourself and your rough morning. Putting others first is sure to help your heart re-boot.
5. Remember that this is only one day. You'll have so many days that you look back on, you're not going to remember the stupid counter that nearly ripped your arm off. You'll remember the picnic, the dancing in the rain, the coffee with a friend. Vow to get to bed earlier and wake up refreshed tomorrow. Talk to God and ask Him to help you tomorrow. Be careful how you word your prayer. You might just get what you ask for. 

He is Risen!

"For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, 

He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. 

The death He died, He died to sin once for all; 

but the life He lives, He lives to God." 

Romans 6:9-10

Writing the Word

I was inspired by Sam over at Sam's Noggin to start writing the Word.
Why write the Word? Here is a video to help explain that part.
How do I do it? In the picture, you'll see my ESV Bible and my Frixion pen, along with my Luke Journible. I take some time each day and write it out. I use Frixion pens because they are erasable, like, seriously erasable. This may sound simple but have you seen how many words are in the Word?? It is time consuming, this is not a weekend project. More like a marathon than a sprint, much like our Christian journey.
Why use a Journible? Here is another video for you to watch. Close by, I keep a notebook to use for personal prayer and as a study journal, as well as a separate, small journal for prayer requests. But my Journibles will be a keepsake of the handwritten Word.
You can learn more and purchase Journibles at Heritage Books. This is not an affiliate link. I am sharing because I really love this idea. This is the verse that inspired Journibles, from The Message.

Deuteronomy 17:18

The Message (MSG)

^18-20 This is what must be done: When he sits down on the throne of his kingdom, the first thing he must do is make himself a copy of this Revelation on a scroll, copied under the supervision of the Levitical priests. That scroll is to remain at his side at all times; he is to study it every day so that he may learn what it means to fear his God, living in reverent obedience before these rules and regulations by following them. He must not become proud and arrogant, changing the commands at whim to suit himself or making up his own versions. If he reads and learns, he will have a long reign as king in Israel, he and his sons.

Go get inspired by Sam, like I did.