get out the steel wool -- it's 59 degrees

{photo - hannah nicole}

That's what we woke up to this morning.  Inside our home.  Outside? It was a balmy -6degrees making the 59 feel like a faux heatwave. Yet, judging from the little ones wrapped in blankets and wandering around complaining about the cold, you'd know we weren't very comfortable.

The furnace wasn't working. 

And we were cold.

Immediately I began praying.  We didn't have the budget room to fix the furnace -- life was complicated and busy -- and we were cold.

57 degrees.

It was dropping.  The windows were starting to get ice on them.  I ran into the garage and found a space heater from my hubby's days in construction.  My little blanket wrapped babes gathered around the heater as if it were a glorious roaring fire from days long past.

We worked quickly downstairs in our utility room. Phone calls made. More prayers. More distracting myself trying to get all those loads of laundry folded in case a repair man came -- even though I was praying so hard that one wouldn't come. Socks, and t-shirts, jeans, and sweaters. The piles became higher as my worry tried to creep in.

55 degrees.

Now it almost seemed imminent - a repair man would need to be called. We called a friend -- who owned a hvac company -- and he told us to clean a sensor.  Fear crept in as I saw the bolts being unscrewed. Panel after panel coming down each with bold warnings about not messing around with the furnace. I heard the electric screwdriver whizzing and felt my heart racing.

I needed faith.  I needed to trust that my husband would be safe. Out came the steel wool.  Scrub, scrape, scrub.  More prayers. And we'd wait. Again. And again. We'd start it up, and hear it stop. More scrubbing and scraping.  More prayers from me as the piles of folded laundry grew higher.

Then we heard it. The furnace kicked in. And stayed on.

62 degrees.

The temp was going up. The little ones huddled around the once-intriguing and warming space heater gradually dispersed throughout the home. Life began to regain its normal rhythm.

I had forgotten to be grateful for heat.

It wasn't till it was gone that I realized just how thankful I am for that two inch sensor plate in our furnace.  It didn't look that dirty -- it just looked like a layer of white dust was resting on it. Yet, it took minutes and minutes of firm scrubbing and scraping to remove the film that triggered our furnace to shut off.

Isn't that like life? We get so wrapped up in our agendas and start operating out of ourselves that we forget to clean our sensor plates -- instead of resting and relying on God.  It becomes this time of self - until we burn out. And then we remember.

68 degrees.

The sun is pouring in -- the house is warm.  The boys are running around without shirts pretending to be on an expedition.  The windows are clear, and the laundry that was folded out of desperation is all put away.  But, I don't forget. It could be so different now - we could have had to pay hundreds of dollars. Our house could still be cold. In the end we just needed to take care of that sensor.

Just like my heart.

Thanks, Lord, for reminding me to look at my heart and pulling out the steel wool -- the truth in you -- to clean and scrape it and remove the grime so that it could be buffed clean of earthly lies and once again focused on you.

Warm.

5 Movie marathons for a cold winter day

If your copy of “How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days” has seen its days and you’re desperately looking for a marathon that doesn’t include the real housewives from anywhere, grab some popcorn and cosmopolitans because you’re in for a seriously good time (from the comfort of your warm, cozy couch) if you pick any of the marathons listed below.

1. The Judd Apatow Saga: The ’80s had the brat pack

these are a few of my (friday) favorite things

friday mornings

48 degree days in the middle of February

love this pic by hannah?  she's got more

warm cup of coffee in hand

little ones reading on the old plaid couch 

Udi's Gluten free bread

daughters in ballet

hannah (left) & chloe (right)

recycling and garbage day

seed catalogs arriving in the mail in the middle of winter

Lowe's $5 "oops" paints

diced potatoes with dill for dinner

(reminds me of summer)

GI Doctors who call "just to check" up on Samuel 

Trader Joes

Pathway Readers and Workbooks

markers with caps on

(can you believe it?  the caps are ALMOST all on.)

laundry that is completed

good friends

first grilled chicken of the spring

a family that loves each other

one month since Samuel's first hospitalization

sweet Samuel one month ago -- love those cell phone pics

facebook

old couches for memories

dish soap

unique pronunciations by a three year old named Elijah

remember that he calls pbj sandwiches pGjs :)

those days of lower gas prices

fuzzy slippers

taking down Christmas lights on a warm winter day

birthday memories

big windows for staring outside

love my window by my old couch

blogging about normal

picked up legos 

new hope

an amazing church and church family

thinking about vacations when it's cold outside

annual trip to woodland last year (when it was warm)

a good broom

time to play games

the website celiac.com

sippy cups that don't leak at all

and

laughter

yes, absolutely, laughter

laugh, Chloe, laugh

28 Awesome Wallpapers for February

28 Beautiful wallpapers for february
All of these pictures with HD resolution can be download from HERE

a rule completed

back in December I wrote a post about my rules.  This post, by the way, was one of my most hit posts of all time -- thanks to my publishing network Blogher promoting it on Facebook.  Want to know another popular one?  And it's not about the writing?  It's about the subject. It's my miscellany monday post inspired by the movie Elf.  Ha ha ha -- I get hits simply because people search Elf quotes.

Anyways.
Back to the post.

I completed one of my rules yesterday.
That would be the rule--

:: build snowforts with your children.::

It started snowing these huge puffy flakes and at 10:14 am I closed the spelling book, threw on some boots and went outside with the kiddos.  It was glorious.  There was beautiful freedom in surprising my kids with a morning buried in the Minnesota snow.

 Oh yeah, and, yes, I am really truly completely that silly sometimes.  And my kids love it.

We made it have three rooms -- including a storage room for treasure -- inspired by our study of the Egyptian Pharaohs. I mean, truly, every snow fort must have that secret room for ice treasure.

Caleb is sitting on the royal snow throne carved into the corner of the large room.

Mister Brennan resting.  Although I'm not sure why -- cause his momma dug most of the fort out with her garden shovel. :)

Want to know really why I build it?  Really?  The picture below is why.  Completely.

It's okay to take a snow day.

It really is.

late night reminders

blurry

On December 24 I drove to Walmart at 12:05 am.  In the midst of a heavy snow-storm on unplowed roads. I made that late night trek because I had realized I was short a couple presents for my boys -- and since we celebrate Christmas with our kids on Christmas Eve morning that was the only solution that Todd and I could think of.  It was interesting -- as I was reminded to stop looking at my own life and take a moment to see someone elses.

Here's why.

~As I was driving in 4 inches of unplowed snow I came up to a minivan struggling to get up the back-country roads.  I had noticed that cars were getting frustrated at this vehicle and would race around it irritated.  I came up, slowed down, and followed this van for the next 5 miles.  When it needed room, I made room.  When cars passed I slowed down so this van would have space.  As I was driving, with only the headlights illuminating heavily falling snow, I knew I was to be patient. To serve in a way that seemed so simple.

When the van finally turned right where I needed to go straight the driver waved, with a gloved hand out the window, thanks. I wonder if that was why I needed to go out.

Who was that man? Why was he driving through the snow? I wondered.

~When I was at Walmart -- by this time it was 12:30 -- I noticed all these people wandering around, checking prices, shopping, and looking downcast.  Really.  It was this energy in the store.  I had never felt it before, and I began to think about the reasons why so many people filled the aisles on Christmas Eve morning.

When I went to pay, I pulled out change for the 2 Toy Story 3 puzzles, a couple of  Lego sets, and a checkers game.  As I was fumbling for 65cents a couple of guys behind me loudly stated -- maybe next time I should just come here and pay with a bag of pennies.  I ignored them.  My cashier looked mortified.  She mumbled an apology, and a -- merry Christmas -- and then sadly turned back to deal with those guys.

Who was she?  Why was she working in the middle of the night at Walmart?

I thought about her the entire time I drove home.  I thought about how I needed to be reminded to remember others in the midst of the holidays.  Here I was just hours before frustrated that I had to leave my warm home to buy a couple more presents to add to the already wrapped stash under our tree.  How quickly I was humbled -- how blessed I was to add extra gifts -- and just as quickly my frustration turned to thankfulness.

~So I said a prayer for that cashier.  And those impatient guys.  And the mom with the 3 kids wandering around at 12:47 am.  And the lone man in the green minivan with the bad tires.

It was a reminder to me that Christmas really isn't about all that stuff.  All that stuff that so quickly irritates us as we have to find new homes for it.  Christmas is about Jesus -- His birth.  And in remembering that it brings eyes to see others. My vision was blurry.  All I could see when I left my house was my own needs. I was selfish. I wish that I could always have my eyes open.  I wish that I could do more. Give more. Not just look at me.  When I arrived back home at 1:16 am  I could only be grateful as I wrapped those new Walmart gifts.

And remember those I met on my snowy trip to Walmart on Christmas Eve. 

clear
(thanks to my daughter, Hannah from Aspire, for both of these pictures)

the light yoke

The snow has fallen many times this winter.  We've had four winter storms in just over four weeks -- not little storms, but large snowfalls exceeding 8inches at a pop.  And with it? Dark skies.  Overcast.


Where is the sun?


The sun has become lost in a blanket of clouds -- to the point where my little Elijah wonders if it's truly morning. This lack of sunshine wears me out.  


Where is the light?

There are seasons in life where everything is dark and dismal.  Perhaps it's finances, or health, relationships, or just the daily grind of life.  Here there back and forth move move move.  It is difficult in the midst of trials to look beyond the present reality and set of circumstances.  Society and human nature can apply pressures to our lives at an unrelenting pace so that after awhile the future seems to be tainted a dismal and cloudy gray.

Come unto me, all who labor and are heavy,and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you,and learn from me,

for I am gentle and lowly in heart,and you wil find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:28-30

In the NIV I believe labor is replaced with the word – weary.  Oh, how true those words of Jesus are for us today. Especially now at Christmas time we can seem to labor endlessly -- dishes, laundry, phone-calls, email, cleaning, driving, teaching, cooking, preparing, and on and on and on.   Our work doesn’t cease when the skies of life become overcast, no…we simply press forward.  And yet, after awhile, if we only wear the yoke of the world we'll burn out. I've done it.  So many times.  I was simply wearing the wrong yoke and "too busy" to replace it with the light yoke. Or I was too full of my own pride that I didn't want to let go...

Jesus tells us to come to Him.   In Him is true rest.  I always chuckle when I think about a yoke being called easy.  When is it easy to be constrained?  But, when I read these words I don’t picture life with Jesus being constrained…rather in yoking myself to my Savior I know there is real freedom even in the midst of overcast and weary days.

Who knows when the skies here will finally part and the sun will shine?  I know it’s under there, waiting to shine.  I have faith that there will be sun again.  I also have faith that our Savior is always there, wanting us to release our fears and anxieties to Him and that He will give rest.  A rest that cannot be found in self or in this world, but a rest that is sweet and peaceful…in any weather...in any season.

such a sweet and smiley day

1) You know it's Christmas time when breakfast consists of the words, "just grab a couple cookies from the garage."  Why, garage?  Well-- we've got a deep freezer out there that works great as a storage table for keeping Christmas cookies cold.  Remember.  I live in Minnesota.  Land of lots of lakes. And snow. And, now, freezing temps.

a small sampling of my cookie tins. And Payday.

2) Speaking of snow -- we had our 3rd snowstorm within 4weeks.  Let me tell you -- this one was crazy.  Remember in the Little House Books -- The Long Winter -- where they had a rope between the barn and the house?  Now I know why.  There were certain points where I couldn't see my neighbor's house behind me because the wind was whipping the snow around like crazy.

3) So I stayed indoors and baked.

4) Always wear an apron when baking cookies.  I learned that lesson years ago.

yes, I'm using a tea bag holder to cut those cookies.  It's the perfect size.

5) The more variety of Christmas cookies the better.  Several years ago I started writing all the cookies we make on the chalkboard in our kitchen.  The tradition stuck.  And, by the way, this list is incomplete.  We've added some more. Brownie, Bark, Jam filled and more...

our chalkboard sans math problems

6) These are the Cherry Chocolate Kisses. Or #4 on the list.  My sweet and beautiful chef Chloe made me these.  By the way, those cookies were my breakfast this morning.  hee hee hee

cherry chocolate kisses

7) We have to frost several varieties yet.  I also have some to make.  However, today, I am incredibly burnt out from making cookies.  Get it?  Burnt out.  Okay -- I thought it was funny.

8) Hannah documented our entire cookie making day.  We'd have to redo things, move to better lighting, smile incredibly, look like we were having fun -- that was easy, add food coloring at specific times, and more.  I am so grateful to have a daughter who loves photography and who's documenting our lives beautifully.

any guesses to the type of cookie?  

and ignore my messy counter -- we were making cookies.

9) This weekend Hannah's camera broke.

10) I am so upset about this -- she's been saving for a DSLR for quite a while.  She's given some of her money for different things for the family, thus making her ability to get her camera longer.  And yet, she holds her head high and waits.  And now her camera broke?  My momma's heart broke along with it.

my beauty -- Hannah

11) Read her post here.  You'll be blessed. And offer her an encouraging word.  Please.

Okay.  Now, I must know if you make cookies.  And, if you do, what is your absolute fave?   Cause, you know, I'll be baking within a couple days....

Link up with my sweet friend, Carissa, with your own miscellany.  (I had to use the word sweet -- after all this was about making cookies....)

Beautiful Wallpapers With Calendars For December - Free Download

All wallpapers with high resolution can be download HERE

snow, time, the vote, and cocoa

It's just one of those miscellany type mornings. I've got thoughts churning in my head, but they're not quite yet ready to make it to a blog post.  Soon.  Thank goodness for my miscellany day -- plus it gives you a glimpse into my sarcastic and silly self. :)

1) I woke up today at 5:19 am due to the time change.  I actually love the daylight savings time switch because I wake up earlier and thus feel more productive. It's all a mindset, right?

2) I still have to figure out whether I fall back or spring forward -- you'd think I deciphered the time change by now.  Nope.  Thank goodness for all those little rhymes and tricks.  I'd be lost without them.

3) See this pic?  Right now, us Minnesotans are living on borrowed time.  Once November rolls around you cannot predict whether it hits almost 70 degrees or you get 15 inches of snow.  That's why the meteorologists are payed the big bucks up here.

last winter

4) Most times the weather forecast is wrong (despite being paid the big bucks).  I still watch it. I'm kind of a weather junkie.  Even Caleb, my five year old, loves to check the radar with me.  He's such a great kid. :)

5) If there's a huge snowstorm it becomes the local stations top story.  Seriously.  Sometimes we can have snowstorms each week.  They'll put reporters on bridges over the interstate throughout the metro area, and another by a snowplow, and another in the weather backyard, and another riding with a sheriff.  Snow is big news here. I feel worse for the reporters when they put them in all those places when the temp is 35 below zero.  By the time the camera gets to them they can hardly talk because they're so cold.

6) Even though we homeschool I grant my kids snowdays.  Do you remember, if you lived where there was snow, the excitement of finding out school was closed?  Homeschool kids deserve that as well. We are a snowday friendly homeschool family.

freedom

7) My kids are still sleeping.

8) Never mind.  I hear Elijah upstairs talking about how he's awake and needs food.  Still, for the kids to sleep past 6 am on the fall back time switch (see I got it right) is impressive.

9) Brennan went with me when I voted last week.  As we were leaving the polling place he stated, "if it's a choice to vote, then why doesn't everyone vote?"  He's pretty wise.

10) Then I got Brennan some cocoa from Caribou. He is trained.  Well.

love the sticker

Have a great Monday.  I've got a crazy busy day -- like usual.  Remember to keep your eyes on Jesus even through dishes, diaper changes, laundry, car rides, cooking, reading, cleaning, more dishes, more laundry, more reading, more diaper changes, more car rides, and more.  :)

i'm melting

It is so hot.

It is so humid.

It is hot and humid.

And I'm melting.

Now, I know I don't live down south where they truly deal with heat, but as a Minnesotan, I can truly tell you we are hardy individuals.  Why?

We melt & freeze within six months of each other.

For example - this was my temp gauge in the truck in January.

yes, that is a negative sign in front of the 19

And now my temp gauge just this month.

and no, the 95 does not reflect any humidity level

Notice the difference? (Since it's summer I'll do the math.)  The number? 114 degrees.  Coupled with wind chills and high humidity and blizzards and tornadoes I must admit that I understand ways to deal with extremes in weather. I understand and can empathize with moms who are doing the dreaded seasonal clothes switch.  I get having bins in the garage that store boots and hats next to bins storing the slip-n-slide and water guns.

Solutions for my current melting dilemma?  Looking at the below pics.  And remembering that in six months I'll be craving high temps and high humidity and all things iced besides the roads.

snowstorm 1 out of 10

frost

the road to ballet

ha ha ha -- cold & coffee

Now, off to refill the pool -- again.  Off to get an iced coffee.  Off to mow, to garden and to enjoy these warm temps. Because, truly, those pictures above will be me in just six short months. And honestly?  Knowing Minnesota it could be much less time. :)

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