Proof that I can keep plants alive. See the new shoot in the lower left? I'm not sure what it is, but one of my plants is propagating. I'm propagating!
March 31, 2012
March 28, 2012
Make a Wish
Six months ago, my lovely friend and I commemorated the occasion of our births by hosting a clothing swap. The event was also a fundraiser for Heal Africa, a stellar nonprofit working to provide holistic care for women and families in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Highlights included an African themed meal, meeting each other's friends, and--of course--free clothes! As I was belatedly cleaning out my inbox this evening, I found a few pictures that made me smile. Actually, there were several action shots of ladies sporting some new finds, but I held back on posting because I didn't want to give Prada too much competition.
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| Action shot! Notice my epic Trader Joe's dark chocolate peanut butter cup "cake", compliments of H.G. |
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| Celebrating our lives and women in the Congo (our accessories were snagged in the swap) |
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| Rockin' some of the most vivid contributions |
March 26, 2012
Spotted today...
..on a plastic thermos: "Give up bad coffee for good."
Also spotted today on a license plate: "IT MOM" What does that even mean?
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| Source |
Also spotted today on a license plate: "IT MOM" What does that even mean?
March 24, 2012
March 20, 2012
March 19, 2012
I love me some Trader Joe's!
Enjoy this inspired tribute to one of my favorite stores. (Email recipients click here.) My favorite lyric? -- "Those darn tasty basil plants that always have to die." Glad to know I'm not the only basil serial killer. You can check out more of this duo's cavorting music at http://romanandalaina.com/.
March 18, 2012
Random Blog Round-Up
Having an inveterate need to organize and sort, my blog reader is divided into Justice, Ministry, Friends, Design, Other, and Craigslist. Here's a sampling:
This is the best article I have read about love in quite some time.
Here is a response to the question of "Should Christians take anti-depressants?" After reading the fascinating 416-pages-with-footnotes Anatomy of an Epidemic, I was intrigued that this brief faith-based answer essentially came to the same conclusion.
This awesome story about a domestic trafficker successfully stopped and prosecuted because of a call made to the National Human Trafficking hot line made me smile for many reasons:
-I understand the constant exhaustion + joy that comes from working for an organization promoting justice.
-I likewise understand the lack of closure when working one step removed from the people receiving hope and services.
-I continue to promote (in admittedly small ways) the National Human Trafficking hot line.
Vintage meets modern with this DIY project that will revitalize your lamp cords.
Finally, this cool pic below (from this blog) makes my stripes and patterns and textiles loving self happy (except that I tend to prefer stripes on bottoms, which I refer to as "stripety").
This is the best article I have read about love in quite some time.
Here is a response to the question of "Should Christians take anti-depressants?" After reading the fascinating 416-pages-with-footnotes Anatomy of an Epidemic, I was intrigued that this brief faith-based answer essentially came to the same conclusion.
This awesome story about a domestic trafficker successfully stopped and prosecuted because of a call made to the National Human Trafficking hot line made me smile for many reasons:
-I understand the constant exhaustion + joy that comes from working for an organization promoting justice.
-I likewise understand the lack of closure when working one step removed from the people receiving hope and services.
-I continue to promote (in admittedly small ways) the National Human Trafficking hot line.
Vintage meets modern with this DIY project that will revitalize your lamp cords.
Finally, this cool pic below (from this blog) makes my stripes and patterns and textiles loving self happy (except that I tend to prefer stripes on bottoms, which I refer to as "stripety").
March 16, 2012
March 14, 2012
Be Brave
One of my personal themes of late has been seek courage rather than safety. I want to make sure that my decisions are not motivated by fear. Wisdom and caution have their place, but perfect love and fear cannot co-exist. On this theme, here are two of my modern heros:
"God is calling us not to be safe but to be brave. I say, 'Sure God, I'll follow You, but I need You to give me a clear path. And I need You to tell me how much it's going to cost and to guarantee success.' Do we want to be safe or brave? We can't be both." Gary Haugen
"I once heard someone say that human beings naturally tend toward cowardice and fear – you hang around someone who's afraid, and it will breed fear. Spend time with someone who was cowardly and it impacts you, too. But! If you spend time with someone who is brave and courageous, guess what: courage breeds courage. And God knows this. He wrote the book on it. It's why he says in Joshua 1:9, 'Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.' God knows that when we are brave, we influence others to be brave." Joni Erickson Tada
"God is calling us not to be safe but to be brave. I say, 'Sure God, I'll follow You, but I need You to give me a clear path. And I need You to tell me how much it's going to cost and to guarantee success.' Do we want to be safe or brave? We can't be both." Gary Haugen
"I once heard someone say that human beings naturally tend toward cowardice and fear – you hang around someone who's afraid, and it will breed fear. Spend time with someone who was cowardly and it impacts you, too. But! If you spend time with someone who is brave and courageous, guess what: courage breeds courage. And God knows this. He wrote the book on it. It's why he says in Joshua 1:9, 'Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.' God knows that when we are brave, we influence others to be brave." Joni Erickson Tada
March 13, 2012
March 10, 2012
Lay it Down
Just now I was on Pandora glancing at the lyrics to a new song comprised mostly of the refrain: "Everything I am, everything I long to be, I lay it down at your feet." On the sidebar I saw an ad for Christian Mingle asking, "Single? Lonely?" and quoting, "Delight yourself in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Ps. 37:4." Seriously? That verse should not be quoted solo, especially for marketing purposes. In the midst of my spurt of anger, the refrain rose louder: "I lay it down, I lay it down, I lay it down, at your feet."
What a sweet, simple illustration that though the world may constantly pervert God's words, His truths prevail.
What a sweet, simple illustration that though the world may constantly pervert God's words, His truths prevail.
Marvelous Mamas
Lately it seems the majority of my friends and family members are undergoing significant life changes: college, pregnancy, home ownership, new jobs, moves, weddings, and so on. The "common yet unique" paradox of the human experience increasingly fascinates me in this season.
Yesterday I ran across these stories about a mom creatively leading her kids in the foundations of activism--education, compassion, and sacrifice. It made me proud to read about Laura, a woman whose faith motivated her to embark on unconventional motherhood, and I started thinking about other mothers I've run across in my blog hoppings. (That's right, blog hoppings--not bar hoppings. I may stay up until 2am, but it's pretty tame around here on Friday nights.) They are not intentionally seeking to be unconventional, but rather emerge as such because their faith propels them intentionally towards the least and lost.
In the same spirit as Laura, this young mother of two likewise integrates activism into daily life. I stumbled across Amy's blog over a year ago when she was receiving unanticipated press for wearing the same grey cotton t-shirt dress for six months. Why? To raise awareness about local sex trafficking in Ohio.
Robin, a mother of three and dedicated abolitionist founded this anti-trafficking website after much consideration of the best way for her to personally combat human trafficking.The last paragraph of her "about me" states:
Married to Tom for almost 15 years, Robin is the proud mother of 3 socially conscious children aged 12, 9 and 8. As a family they are committed to conducting their lives with a focus on social justice.
These women are marvelously infusing their passions and personalities into their roles as wives, mothers, global citizens, and committed daughters of the King of Kings. Again, common roles but unique expressions=beautiful human paradox.
March 2, 2012
All-In
“We must
come to terms with the reality that there is no hierarchy of Christian
discipleship, no acceptable ‘levels’ of commitment. From day one, being a
disciple of Christ has been an all-in, all-or-nothing proposition. A call to
completely give up the life we have planned so as to have the life awaiting us.”—Brian
Klammerzelt
March 1, 2012
Count it all what?
Joy--most people would agree that it transcends happiness, but what does that actually mean? I think that we so rarely experience true joy that we mistake it for an elite feeling of happiness. Yet, happiness is based on circumstances, whereas joy comes from understanding and experiencing truth and purpose. When our friends undergo changing circumstances, we ask if they are happy. Does the new car, job, or cute boyfriend make them happy? What about the move to Texas? Excursion to Boston? Eggplant and pumpkin Thai food dish? Maybe yes, maybe no. (Disclaimer: eggplant and pumpkin stir fry makes me happy 98% of the time.)
Joy comes from being connected to someone and something greater than yourself. It comes from fulfilling your purpose, from living out who you were created to be. It comes from expressing truth. It comes from seeing beauty in brokenness. This is why we hear stories of joy from prison, poverty and pain. It may manifest as satisfaction, as contentment, as elation. The feelings themselves are not the point so much as much as the deep life and health that comes from knowing that nothing is beyond purpose, beyond redemption.
Joy has unexpectedly burst into seasons of sadness when I realize that I am connected to stories of hope worldwide. Due to the grace of God, the impact of my simple life is more than the sum total of my actions. Thai food can't hope to compete with that.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4
Joy comes from being connected to someone and something greater than yourself. It comes from fulfilling your purpose, from living out who you were created to be. It comes from expressing truth. It comes from seeing beauty in brokenness. This is why we hear stories of joy from prison, poverty and pain. It may manifest as satisfaction, as contentment, as elation. The feelings themselves are not the point so much as much as the deep life and health that comes from knowing that nothing is beyond purpose, beyond redemption.
Joy has unexpectedly burst into seasons of sadness when I realize that I am connected to stories of hope worldwide. Due to the grace of God, the impact of my simple life is more than the sum total of my actions. Thai food can't hope to compete with that.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. James 1:2-4
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