Pink Christmas Trees! Can You Help Me?

Is it roasting where you are?  We're supposed to hit 100 today and tomorrow and then cool off next week.  I'm so glad fall is coming!  It's my favorite time of year!

Some of you summer girls might be rolling your eyes at the idea of me talking of fall---let alone Pink Christmas trees---but we're on the last leg of the dreadful summer heat and I can't wait for it to be over!

Today I'm asking for some help from my creative blogging friends!  Last year, I played around with these rubber cone things I had found at the Dollar Tree and constructed this shabby little rose petal Christmas tree.  I decorated it with some of my great-grandma's vintage jewelery.

This year, I want to make a bunch more for my Pink Christmas-themed craft room.  I want to use Styrofoam cones but need some ideas on a way to stabilize them.

I'm wanting something that looks sort of like an upside down meat thermometer...but with a bigger base.  Any ideas?

It's been a few weeks since I offered my Homemaking Link Up Weekend.  I'm hoping to be more regular with it now that my favorite time of year is approaching and I'm past my early-pregnancy-sickies!  I'd love for you to link up below if you've got a favorite post to share.

Have a lovely weekend!

Also linking with:

Beverly's Pink Saturday
Weekend Spotlight Inspiration @ Dear Creatives
Pearls and Lace Thursday @ FGC 

The Burden of the Blessed Life

Survivor's guilt. 

Have you ever felt guilty for being blessed in a way that many others aren't?  Perhaps you've experienced a life-threatening situation and came out unscathed, while others suffered less desirable fates.  Maybe you've been healed of a sickness that many are still suffering from.

Many times in life, we find ourselves sitting in the good seats watching, often without any ability to help, while our friends and loved ones walk through very tough times.

This is where I'm finding myself lately.

I've got parents divorcing.  I've got extended family divorcing.  I've got good friends divorcing. Even more heartbreaking, a dear friend just lost a much prayed for baby to miscarriage.

My soul hurts for these people that I love---that I have relationship with---that are going through such a very difficult time.

What can I do to help?  I can't save a marriage...or a baby.  I want to pray.  But have I been?  Not as much as I should be.

To be honest, I'm experiencing wallowing in survivor's guilt.

Of course, everyone's got problems;  but when I look at the petty things I'm walking through right now, in light of what's happening to those around me, I see there's just no comparison.

Out of my 10 pregnancies, I've only lost one to miscarriage.  Losing that baby five years ago was the most difficult thing I've ever gone through---but I've been healed--and I think 1 for 10 is pretty good odds.  The baby I'm currently carrying is, as far as we know, healthy and strong.  So why, instead of thanking God for blessing our children with health, do I feel such guilt that they're healthy?

As for my marriage, Jamie and I just celebrated 14 years!  We've known each other since we were 13 and have been very best friends since we were 16.  We have walked through all kinds of heart breaking situations together.  At times, it's been a really rough road---but we're together.  Neither one of us is going anywhere---nor can we fathom anything that would be big enough to separate us.  Why then, instead of glorying in that, instead of thanking God every day for holding us together, do I harbor such fear that this beautiful bubble that I live in is going to pop any day now?

I feel helpless to offer prayers, advice, encouragement---especially in the situations where my loved ones are, (in some cases) so easily willing to end their marriages.  Marriages that, in each instance, began in a church, asking for God's sustained blessing.  I feel guilty talking about my blissful marriage when these others are having such a hard time.  I feel guilty sharing happy milestones of my pregnancy when one of my dearest friends is mourning the loss of her own.

Can a person who is living the blessed life really imagine themselves in the shoes of their hurting loved ones?  I say yes.  Absolutely.

The reason it's called survivor's guilt is because those who feel it are the ones who've survived.  We've spent time in the same den of lions but somehow, by the grace of God, we've come out in tact.  However, unlike the Biblical Daniel, who came out of the lion's den untouched, we survivors have not come out without scars. 

SO many people tell me that I have the perfect life.  Many see me as having a perfect marriage. Perfect children.  They say I am doing everything right to ensure a "til death do us part" marriage and children who grow into godly, law-abiding adults.  As flattering as that is, it's not true.  Nothing, outside of God and his plan, is perfect.  As much as I desire those wonderful outcomes, I'm human---as is the rest of my family---and we all make mistakes that tarnish our lives and leave scars.

The reason that people probably see me this way is that I don't share my personal problems publicly.  When I have issues with my husband or kids, I go to them.  Not to Facebook.  Very rarely do I share a personal issue with my own mother---other than that, there's no one that hears our private junk.  I am, however, very quick to praise my husband or brag on my kids.  I want others to see them in the best light possible.  Would I want my husband or kids broadcasting my flaws outside these four walls?

The problem with all of this, and the burden of the blessed life, is that others think I can't relate.  They think I have this "perfect life" because I have steered away from every possible sinful thing out there.  They think that devastating circumstances have passed me by.

The truth of that matter is very far from this thinking.  I am very much able to offer support, advice, sympathy.  I can very much relate because I have survived.  More than that, I've been healed of the hurt that many of my loved ones are experiencing right now.

I remember the devastation, self-blame, anger, and fear that come with the loss of a child.

I know the feelings of confusion, hard-heartedness, and inadequacy that follow a betrayal.

I have thought the grass was greener in someone else's pasture and have even tested the theory to find it sorely lacking in substance.  More than once.

I recognize the scary cycles of an addiction that seems impossible to overcome.  I'm still cycling.

I've experienced a depression so deep that leaving my family or even ending my life seemed like very logical answers.  Several years of it, in fact.

Many people think that those who are living the "good life" are unable to be of any assistance to them when they're going through tough times.  They think that we live in some la-la land and can't relate.  They're sick of hearing, "well, just trust God and it'll all work out fine."  (In reality, we should all definitely trust God---but that doesn't mean it's all going to work out fine.  Sometimes it all falls apart and it really sucks...but he's still worthy of our trust.)

While there are many who will read this and either relate to where I'm coming from or will roll their eyes and say, "she has NO idea", what I really want is for those who know me to read it and understand something.  I can relate.  I want to help you. 

When you're going through hard stuff, don't be so quick to make assumptions about the people around you who want to help.  There's a reason they've survived and their survival skills might be just what you need.

I'm Back!! VTT, Pink Saturday & Homemaking LinkUp Weekend

Thank you so so much to everyone who has been so sweet and patient to check on me these past few weeks!  I'm alive and well, just getting through my first few months of pregnancy with our sweet NUMBER NINE!

This weekend, I'm participating in my three favorite linky parties: Coloradolady's Vintage Thingie Thursday, Beverly's Pink Saturday, and my own Homemaking LinkUp Weekend!

To celebrate Vintage Thingie Thursday, I'm showing off the beautiful antique jam jar and spoon that my mom gave me last summer as a gift when I had Kynthia.  This was my favorite thing in her home!  This very delicate jar came from my great-grandma Annabelle.  It's such a tiny little thing---only about 3 inches high!

In honor of Beverly's Pink Saturday, I want to show how I displayed my favorite blue Ball jars.  These are sitting on top of a hutch in my living room.  So pretty!

Finally, for my Homemaking LinkUp Weekend, I thought I'd show off one other pink sweetie.  One of my favorite parts of homemaking is watching my kids be cute and silly.  Here's Avalon with her new pink sunglasses.  She's so proud!

How's the weather where you are?  We are ROASTING---but feeling so blessed with our air conditioner!  Hope everyone has a blessed weekend! 

Linking up with: 

Coloradolady's Vintage Thingie Thursday 

Beverly's Pink Saturday
Show & Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home 

Muesli Bread and Homemaking Link Up Weekend

Happy Friday Everyone!  Hope your weekend plans are fun and relaxing!  Mine include: having fun, and relaxing.  Yay!

I recently made this yummy Granola Bread using Muesli that I got at the co-op. It was super good and really dense so it went a long way (ie: actually fed everyone with one loaf!)

 

Ingredients:
1/2 c. butter 1 c. brown sugar
2 eggs 2 mashed bananas
1 3/4 c. whole wheat flour (OR 2 c. white)
1 tsp. baking soda 1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. granola 1/2 c. chopped nuts
1/4 c. raisins

Cream butter and sugar; add eggs and bananas. Stir in granola. Add flour, soda, salt, nuts and raisins. Pour into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 for about 40 min. Cool on rack.

I'd love to have you link up for my Homemaking Link Up Weekend!  Have a wonderful weekend and be blessed!

A Day at the Lake --- Homemaking Link-Up Weekend

Hello my dear, sweet, PATIENT readers!  Can you believe I FORGOT to put up the link up post today?  Ugh...pregnant brain!  Anyway, it's here now and I'd love to have you all link up your home-related posts!

I was going through some of our pictures from the last couple weeks and found all these adorable pictures from Elisha's birthday a couple weekends ago.  He wanted to go fishing at the lake for his big day so we planned a fun trip to a nearby mountain lake.  It took about an hour and a half to get up there so it was just right for a day-long get away!

Here are some of the highlights from our day.  Be sure to link up below and visit some of the other participants with an encouraging comment or two!

Elisha wanted a fishing-themed cake...it sort of melted on the way to the lake!

He was really thrilled with his birthday gifts.  This was a detective fingerprinting set he had been wanting.

This gift was a knife he's been looking at for about a year now!

Everyone was quick to point out the candle that he missed on the first try!

After the party, Jamie and the kids were ready to start fishing!  This is Penland Lake in Eastern Oregon's Blue Mountains.  This has been a favorite fishing and camping spot in my family since before I was born.  In fact, this is where I was when Mt. St. Helens erupted.  I wasn't quite 1 year old yet!

I was probably baby Kynthia's age, actually!  She had so much fun playing in her walker...until she got sleepy.  Then she slept the rest of the day on our laps.  We took turns! :)

This was also Liam's first fishing trip.  He had a good day all day long!

Avalon liked to walk a little trail that went back into these trees a ways.  She always likes to go off exploring on her own.

Selah spent most of the day keeping Mr. Darcy busy.

Here's the birthday boy and mighty fisherman with his Weed Fish.

My favorite part of the day was watching my kids enjoying a special and memorable place from my childhood!

Have a lovely weekend!

Chinese Style Pork and Rice & Homemaking LinkUp Weekend

Hope everyone had a great week! Today, for my Homemaking Link-Up Weekend post, I'm featuring a delicious recipe.

This is one of our family's favorites and it's pretty easy to make.  Let me know if you give it a try!

Chinese-Style Pork and Rice Dinner
 
2 lb. tender pork loin or shoulder roast
1/2 c. soy sauce
1/4 c. honey
3 cloves garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp. salt
4 c. cooked rice
1 c. scrambled eggs
1/2 c. green onions

Mix soy sauce, honey, garlic, and salt together and marinate pork 24 hours, turning every 6-8 hours.  Remove pork from marinade and bake at 400 for 1/2 hour.  Turn heat down to 300 and bake until internal temperature reaches 170 or the packager's pre-inserted plastic thermometer pops up.

Let pork sit on top of stove or counter about 45 min.  This will help the juices to settle (so the meat stays juicier) and will cool it off for easier slicing.

Slice almost all of the meat, saving a portion for adding to the rice.  Cut the saved portion into small pieces and set aside.  

In a large bowl, mix cooked rice, chopped scrambled eggs, green onions, and reserved meat.  Add salt, soy sauce, and, if you wish, garlic and other seasonings to taste.

Enjoy!

Please link up all Homemaking posts below and have a lovely weekend!

Dewey Diddy Diddy Dum Diddy Dew

Hello!  Welcome to the Weekend!  I hope everyone has something fun and relaxing planned!  We are headed to the lake on Saturday to celebrate Elisha as he will be turning 9 years old!  Everyone is so excited---it's not often that we get to take an outing like this and I just pray it will be a wonderful day for all!

For this week's Homemaking LinkUp Weekend, I'm reviving a post I wrote in 2008 when I first started blogging.  I'm reposting it because there's been a new development in this lifelong dream of mine!  I'll show you the post and then tell you the update!

Please feel free to link up your posts below!  The theme is Homemaking---but it's very general.  Just link up what you want---as many as you want---and I'll come around and visit you this week!  I even plan on picking a post or two to feature so show me your stuff!

Here's the 2008 post:

Last night my husband and I were watching the Stargate SG-1 episode where Sam's new boyfriend is teasing her about quirkiness. He makes a comment that goes something like: "as long as you don't have alphabetized bookshelves..."

My husband looked at me and grinned his "you have weird quirkinesses" smile.

You see, I not only want my bookshelves alphabetized---I want them arranged according to the Dewey Decimal System. This has been a dream of mine ever since I began collecting books in my early childhood.

People keep telling us we need a bigger place because we have a lot of kids. They're all only half way right. Yes, a bigger place is needed...but not for the kids' sake. If we were to have one more bedroom than we have now, it would not be for kids---it would be for my dream library.

All arranged as Dewey would do it.

So... Are you ready to hear the good news?  My husband, in his Software Developer Geniusness, is creating a program for me so I can arrange all my books according to THE DEWEY DECIMAL SYSTEM!! Isn't that awesome?!!  Ha!

I'll be able to store information for every book in our home library on my computer and search for books according to several different categories like title, author, and keyword.  You might think this is a little extreme...but, what you may not know is...we have about 1,600 books in our home!!  An organizational system is very much needed!

And, on that nerdy note, I invite you to this week's Homemaking LinkUp Weekend!

Also linking with:
Tesha's Encouraging Link Up 

School Book Shopping & Homemaking LinkUp Weekend

**NOTE**  This week has been a wild and crazy one so I did not get a new post up for today's link-up!  However, I've extended the time on this one from last week so please link up below!

 Good evening!  It's almost time for the weekend!!

Tonight begins one of my most favorite times of the year:  school book shopping!  While many kids are just finishing up their school year, our family is just settling into our routine for this year of homeschooling!  In our family, it works best to school all year, taking breaks of a week or two at a time, as needed throughout the year .  We usually start our school year about the first of February and do a little here and there up until the middle of May.  Then, we really get rolling and do the majority of our school-related activities throughout the summer and fall.  We stop completely right around the beginning of November and take the holiday months off.  This works well for us!  Since we have a baby coming in January, I'm hoping to do a little extra this summer so we can extend our winter break out a bit more than usual!

Our lesson on mummification!

I thought I'd share a few of our most favorite schooling resources so you can get a glimpse of some of the fun we have learning together!

The majority of our lessons are done as a family.  This is the most sane way that I have found to school a family of 11 with children ranging in age from 12 down to infant!  The kids do have their own Math and English studies that are geared toward their specific abilities though.  I don't assign the kids a grade level---they just work along in each subject at their own pace.

For Math and English, we use books from Rod and Staff Publishing.  These are very sweet and gentle books that challenge my kids with concepts presented in a very basic and straightforward way.  Written for use in Mennonite schools, I love how the lessons incorporate God's word and proper courtesy and manners.  My kids really enjoy the "old-fashioned" illustrations as well.  Lynzie, 12, is currently working through the level 4 books in both subjects.  Michael (10) and Elisha (9) are working through level 3 in Math and level 2 in English.  Cainan (7) is just about finished with level 2 in Math and is also working through level 2 in English.  I really like that this curriculum requires copying onto notebook paper.  While the books are inexpensive to begin with, (especially when they're found on eBay.com, paperbackswap.com, or curriculum-sharing websites) the fact that we can reuse these books every year is such a blessing!

We also use Rod and Staff books for our group studies in Science and Health.

Since we're a family of history buffs, we do a LOT of different history lessons.  Most of these lessons are taught from "living books": novels and historical accounts, as opposed to textbooks.  Currently, we're discussing a couple different periods of history.  One resource we are using is H.E. Marshall's Our Island Story, which covers the history of Britain as far back as anyone has recorded. 

A second WONDERFUL series we are going through is the Mystery of History curriculum.  These lessons take portions of the Bible and match them up with what went on in other parts of the world at the same time that Jacob and Esau were fighting over their birthright or the Israelites were marching on Jericho.

The thing I love best about our homeschool is the way we can just run with an idea.  While I do have specific goals for the kids and somewhat of a routine to follow, we are free to spend a whole day reading about the many King Henrys or watching a mother squirrel give her baby climbing lessons.  What a blessing to be able to give my kids the resources and freedom to learn about things that are interesting to them.  I wouldn't have it any other way!

Please link up your favorite posts below and have a wonderful weekend!

Linking with:

Raising Homemakers' Homemaking Link-Up 
Loving Our Children Tuesday
Tesha's Treasures

A Treasured Heirloom: Homemaking Link-Up Weekend

Welcome to this week's Homemaking Link-Up Weekend!  I spent some time yesterday rearranging some of my decorations and things and wanted to share with you all one of my most treasured heirlooms!

My great-great grandmother, Cora Jean Lasiter Bradley, made this for her son, Efeard, in the early 19-teens.  Efeard was the father of my grandpa George.  Recently, my mom had the chance to meet grandpa George's step-sister who passed this quilt on to mom---and mom passed it on to me two years ago when I had our son, Liam Bradley.

Aren't there some neat fabrics in here?

I have been keeping it in my bedroom so it didn't get messed with, but today I decided to move it out to the living room for everyone to enjoy!

Have you heard my GOOD NEWS yet?  Head over to my announcement post to check it out! 

Also, as a reminder, I'm teamed up with Anitra from The Mama Zone in a fun twist on the old-fashioned bloggy giveaway!  Please visit my Hop & Hunt for all the details and enter to win some of my yummy homemade carmels!

Please join the link up and show off your favorite posts!

Linking with: 
Coloradolady's Vintage Thingie Thursday
Beverly's Pink Saturday 

Organizing Happiness by Mrs. Lorrie Flem: An Excellent Resource for a Beginning Homemaker

I recently had the opportunity to read Mrs. Lorrie Flem's e-book, Organizing Happiness.  What a great resource for training an older daughter in the basics of running an organized home!

Do you know a new homemaker who could use a crash course in the basics?  Organizing Happiness is an excellent tool with great ideas for practical application.

A few great things that stuck with me about Lorrie's e-book included:

• "Just Say No":  Don't you hate that feeling of obligation for saying, "yes" when you know you should have said, "no"?  Think of how much more peaceful our lives, homes, and families would be if we stopped taking on more than we can handle!


• "Progress Not Perfection":  We should strive to get the job done well---not perfectly.  As Lorrie says, we can always go back and do the details later.


• "Never Give Up" on your family.  Trust God that your husband and children are ultimately God's children.  Have faith that the seeds we plant today have great potential for future success!


•  "Visualize the Victory":  having a mental image of our goals can really help in following through with our organizational plans.  When I was a new homemaker, I used to make a chart of how I wanted my living room set up when I was ready to rearrange it.  I didn’t get overwhelmed because I knew just what I was doing.

My favorite part of this blessed little book is her section on Spiritual Weapons for Happiness.  These truths are great to apply to my life as a wife, mom, and homemaker.

It's so easy for you to get your own FREE copy of Organizing Happiness!  Just visit the Eternal Encouragement website and sign up for Lorrie's newsletter, Snippets from Lorrie's Diary.  You'll be sent an email with a link to download the free e-book!

Should you be interested in purchasing a copy for yourself or a friend, you can find Organizing Happiness by following the link to her website as well!

Elmer's Painters Paint Markers Canvas Shoes Project #CBias #SocialFabric

  
Sometimes it's fun to relive our best childhood memories through the eyes of our own kids.  I had that chance today!

This afternoon, Lynzie and I took the opportunity to try out Elmer's Painters Paint Markers. Recently, I was thinking back on when I was about her age and how I'd always love to decorate inexpensive canvas shoes from Payless. (We didn't have a Walmart back in those days!) I'd use puffy paints and buttons and make some really cute creations. They'd often end up being too stiff to actually wear, but the fun was in the creating!

I thought Lynzie would have a good time with them too, so I took her to Walmart this afternoon to pick out her supplies. I had been wanting to try out Elmer's Painters Paint Markers, but when I went to look for them in their usual spot, I found that Walmart was clearancing them out.

Luckily, we found some really cute colors on the clearance rack.  Lynzie chose a pack of pastels and an individual gold marker.

When we got to the shoe aisle, we were a little worried because the kind we needed was just about cleared out!  We did, however, find her size!  After that, we shopped for some shoes for Elisha and birthday presents for Liam.  He'll be 2 on Saturday!

When we got home and got all the presents hidden, Lynzie assembled her supplies and got to work.

She removed the laces to get them out of the way, and I primed all of the markers.  I just needed to press each one down on a piece of paper until the paint flowed freely into the tip.  I explained to Lynzie how easy it was to get the paint flowing again if the tip needed a refill. 

She's so creative that she just began and didn't stop until they were adorable.  She even did the laces!

I was really impressed with how quickly the acrylic paint dried and how it didn't affect the flexibility of the shoes at all.  I just think these are the cutest things!  They remind me of Punky Brewster!

Oh yeah, and Mr. Almost Two asked me to include a picture of his foot as well!  Adorable!

To learn more about Elmer's products, visit:

Elmer's Website
Elmer's on Twitter
Elmer's on Facebook

I am a member of the Collective Bias™ Social Fabric® Community. This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias.  #CBias #SocialFabric.  All opinions are honest and are my own.

#ExpressYourself

Food Photography by Sony from SoFabU

I don't know about you, but my most favorite go-to places for recipes are my online friends' blogs.  In fact, my own most visited posts are those in which I've posted recipes and food tutorials.  Our networks of blogging friends are excellent resources for creative meal ideas and kitchen tips.  The biggest hindrance to my posting more recipes is the fact that my photos leave much to be desired!

It is for this reason that I'm so very, very thrilled to tell you about a 6-week course I'm taking through Social Fabric University called Food Photography by Sony.  In this class, I'll be learning and improving my skills in the area of food photography.  Before I found out about this class, I didn't ever consider that there was a specific profession of photographers that focus on food.  Awesome!  

My favorite "food photo" so far!

I'll be learning tips about food presentation and how to get the lighting right.  I'll even get the inside scoop on how professionals use certain tricks when they're taking photos for advertising.  (Like why a Whopper seems to really be a WHOPPER in the photo, but it's just a whopper in the package.)

What I'm really hoping to learn is how to make my food look as good as it tastes!  

Some of my favorite posting themes are those I do with a pretty tea party setting and dainty little treats to nibble on.  I want to learn better angles at which to capture the beauty and peacefulness of the setting.  

How do I capture the prettiness of this setting?  I guess getting the high chair out of the photo would be a good start... :)

One problem I have with my photography now is that I usually get the "hot air balloon view" on everything.  I'd like to learn how to get closeups of the majority of the spread.

A not-so-great view from above!

Very soon, you can all look forward to an improvement to my photos---especially those featuring food---and, therefore, more great recipes!