good reminder last night @ church

Hebrews 8:12 "For I will be merciful toward their iniquities, and I will remember their sins no more.”

On a different note:

Last night because a couple of you asked:

Super Quick Tortilla Soup, Traders Joe's Recipe: Heat to low boil: one "box" low sodium chicken broth. Add (do not drain any of the cans) one can diced tomatoes, one can of corn, one can black beans, *Drain can of chicken and add. Add one can salsa autentica - Then on med. heat stir about 10 min. serve in bowl, crumple tortilla chips on the top.

You're gonna love it!

rich

An absolutely lovely evening with dear friends. Getting the goody out of the cool summer nights by moon light, twinkle lights and candle light. Thank you Jesus for friendship, it makes life so rich!

help a girl out

this one's been in the works...

...for WAY too long. Like, I started this before my world flipped upside down early this summer (6/15). I had started writing this, and hadn't finished. A few days later, God used soooooo many girlfriends and families in our own lives to SHOW us how it's done during our season of grief.

The time and love and effort and prayer that was put into those acts of kindness have not been forgotten. They have ministered to my heart over and over again. I got to learn by watching and receiving from you amazing women, and I hope to be able to pass on the love to others when the need arises.

Caring for hurting (whether from death, illness, depression, stress, family situation or something else) women (people) is a divine privilege. (1 Thes 5:11; Phil. 2:1-4) And it is encouraging to the giver and the receiver's faith!

This is MaryAnn. My dear friend who over the summer came with a project, or bread, or a hug and would just talk. (some days she could tell stories and I could listen-and not have to say anything. Other days I could talk and cry and she would listen). She is one of my mentors in our churches Titus Two program-if you can, -get involved! She knows how to "help a girl out"!

Here are some very practical tips I've run across, mixed with my own, over the past spring and summer months.

MEALS

http://caringmeals.com/ OR http://www.carecalendar.org/

These are two fabulous websites that can help you organize the gift of meals for a friend. One of our friends used the carecalendar one and it would send automatic emails with updates and information for that day and outlook for the next three. It made the organization of it all rather simple. I thought the cool part was you don't even have to get on the phone to ask people to help; you create the care plan and then can send it in an email post it on facebook or blog it and thse who are interested can just signup through the link.

HOW to share a meal:

Molly has shared in such honest ways about the journey God has taken their family on. Part of that being the still birth of their daughter. Some of her posts reflecting on that season were enlightening. I found this how-to series on helping/walking with a friend through a tragedy especially helpful.

Just DO it!
Caryn says: Just do it! Sometimes hurting people don't know how to ask (or even know what to ask) for help. There is a whole series (how can I help her?) Caryn has blogged that is quite insightful. Her family has a special need child. She and her hubby are continually singing God's praise in such real ways.

Love'n PRACTICAL Polly style:

Beautiful Work Bloggers (one of the bloggers, Gretchen, is in my small group) have some neat idea's on how to encourage, love and serve fellow girlfriends or moms in super practical ways. Here they are:

Offer to watch her kids while she heads out on her own for a few hours.

Bring dinner, for no real reason…besides simply that you love them

Provide date-in-a-box for a friends who just had a baby.

When you show up for a play date, bring the other mom’s favorite coffee drink for her.

Plan a girl’s night and teach a skill you’d like to share (scrapbooking, sewing, a craft you’ve recently done…)

Head to a nearby Farmers Market and use some leftover grocery money to pick up a few inexpensive plants/flowers for your friends.

In the end:

I'm positive ya'll can dream up plenty more on your own so I won't add to this list. But the bottom line is this, just love on a friend, a sister, a brother, a spouse today. Let's strive to get outside of ourselves today and share the love that's been lavishly bestowed to us!

Hugs.

ready, set... push, shove and dig?!

So, what are all these pretty's you ask? These are my scores from my trip monday to the Goodwill Outlet in St. Paul. It is a large warehouse with about 8 conveyor belts coming from the stock area. Shoppers ("stalkers") lined up with carts up and down the conveyor belts waiting for the workers ("stockers") to fill large bins with goods (i.e.: lots of junk, but a few hidden treasures!) and roll them down the conveyor belts. We all waited patiently until given the go-ahead(they literally hold people back and then it's like "ready, set, CONVERGE!") to start rummaging! It was good fun and also an enlightening people watching moment.

I'm not sure I would've bought these treasures had I been shopping at the store. But, how can you beat buying by the pound?! And as a side note, if you ever feel like being and adventurer, give me a call and I'll spot ya. I hear Monday's are the $0.99 per lb. days. Happy hunting!

ladies, what can we learn

9/6- Addendum of encouragement link: dating

Jon and Kate Plus 8.

Minus Kate or Jon.

Minus respect, good communication, and a God-centered marriage, husband first mentality.

Plus making kids the center of your world, marriage, and reason for living.

Minus good tone of voice, honor, and humility.

Plus, caring too much about an organized and planned out house and need for control; and making life activity driven...

EQUALS= brokenness, sadness and regrets, and more than one worn out single parent; desperate need for the Lord's healing.

I used to love this show. I'm fascinated by all the kiddo's conversations and the busy/crazy life with a large family. I can't say I would have done it all perfect myself. They've done well. But something I picked up on right away was the need for more respect and better tone of voice, and an overall less bit**y attitude from wife to husband. I do hate that they're being hassled still by the media. (part of the problem). I hate to come down too hard on them, I don't know all the details; but some I do, and can't ignore.

Note to self:

• My relationship with God needs to come first. Period. Stop.
• I need to focus on my husband and be his friend, helper, and lover always. -before any child's need.
• Although I highly value an organized life/house, relationships are more important.
• I need to have an attitude of humility towards all.
• It's OK to keep/pursue goals, work, idea's, beauty, health, job, friends, (it's healthy even), but not at the expense of my family.
• I need to communicate effectively, sweetly, and thoroughly ("fight" right) no belittling.
• Pray for healing in the Gosselins marriage.

( 1 Peter 3:1-6; Titus 2:4-5; James 1:3; Phil. 4:4-9; Matt. 20:26; Matt. 20:28 )

fancy pants

This year for Christmas I made my sisters and mom "Fancy Pants" P.J.'s. I found some great deals on some cute PJ pants and then fancied them up by adding different fabrics to the bottoms.  Some I added flat on and some I gathered to make it fluffy.

If you live in your comfy clothes like I do, you may wanna try whipping up a pair.  It's super easy.

lights!

Note to self.

Pick out the new lights more quickly than 9 months. Don't remove ugly old lights until the new ones are ready to be installed. Remember you hate being in the dark after sunset for months on end- you have no need to live like Little House on the Prairie days. You're blessed to have the luxury of at will lighting - many don't.