A City Life For Me

On Sunday we met up with our friends Daniel & Maggy Klaus for an evening in the City.  There are many sites that I have never seen, and we wanted to get together.  We met the Klaus’ on the platform at Atlantic Station, then headed into Manhattan.  While we were waiting for the train, the Museum Train pulled in on the other platform.  It runs periodically.  I thought it was really cool looking! The next stop was Wall Street and Federal Hall.  I didn’t really want to wait in line for a picture with the bull…what’s the big deal?  Federal Hall is where George Washington was sworn into office as the first president.   Elaine and Havilah :: Ben and Me Close-up of the girls in front of George Washington’s Statue “On this site in Federal Hall April 30, 1789, George Washington took the oath as the first president of the United States of America.” The New York Stock Exchange We stopped by St. Paul’s Chapel and the 9/11 M...

Want to know how Five Minute Friday got started and how to participate? All the details are here .   So, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right. 1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. 2. Link back here and invite others to join in. 3. Visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. The prompt is: Beyond… Go. I like to know what is coming.  I like to have a plan.  I like to be prepared.  But many times, even my best laid plans go awry.  Sometimes this is frustrating to me.  Okay.  Most of the time.  But then I get to see the amazing hand of God working in my life – for my best, and His glory – and He always does things beyond what I could ever imagine. When I think of beyond I think of the verse that tells us God does exceeding abundantly, above all that we could ask or think....

I have a Kozy Carrier that I sometimes use to take both kids on the train by myself.  It is a Mei Tei style carrier. It allows me to carry one kiddo on my front or back, so that I can carry the other kiddo in the stroller up and down the steps.  Usually I put Nolan in it, but recently Elaine has been asking to be the one to go “on Mommy’s back.”  Last time she fell asleep there while riding the train home! So Elaine started asking if I could make a “tie” for Betsy {her dolly}.  I responded with a “maybe” and quickly forgot about it. At bedtime Elaine suddenly remembered, and said to me, “You never make me a Betsy tei.”  And it was the first thing out of her mouth the next morning. I guess it’s true… the squeaky wheel gets the grease …because I got out my sewing machine and set to making Betsy a “tei.”  At every stage Elaine wanted to know what I was doing and if it was done yet.  When I tried it on her to be sure the strap lengths were correct, a...

My mom stumbled upon a new blog recently and sent me several links.  I thought these tote bags were so cute!  This blog seems to specialize in tutorials on up-cycling used/too small items into something new and uber cute! I had some fabric scraps and decided to give the ruffled tote a whirl!  Here’s what I came up with!     The lighting in my pictures isn’t the greatest.  But it is a purple plaid home-dec fabric, so it is nice and “stiff” for my bag.  The ruffles are a teal colored knit that I had leftover from making my own Moby Wrap. I wanted to use this for a church tote, and possibly as my purse for outings when I need to bring my planner along.  So I added a pocket to the inside.  I made a large pocket and then stitched down the center so that it became a double pocket – perfect for my phone, keys, and a pen!   I squared off the bottom of my bag at 2 inches, so that it is wide enough for my planner and Bib...

When I was growing up my mom often did “Once a Month Cooking”.  We would spend a whole day planning & shopping, then another day cooking meals to stick in the freezer.  Then supper was easy – my mom would pull out a meal in the morning so it could thaw, and then it just had to be heated up at dinner time.  There were always meals in the freezer, and I know it saved my parents money. I have enjoyed doing some freezer cooking in the past, but I’ve been kinda “out of it” since Nolan was born.  I did some little meals here and there, but meal planning and couponing has been on the back burner.  Recently, my kids have been playing together and self-entertaining a little bit more, and I’ve had some more time for homemaking projects, like freezer cooking.  Coupled with my reason for last week’s Thankful Thursday post , we have an abundance of food & meals that can be ready quickly! I’m thankful for a mom who taught me how to cook & prepare meals....

{making popcorn} {new dump truck}

Linking up to The Gypsy Mama and Five Minute Friday today! Want to join our favorite free writing exercise of the week? It’s easy peasy: 1. Write for 5 minutes flat on the prompt with no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. 2. Link back here and invite others to join in. 3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community. . The prompt is: Story… G o. Every day our lives are telling a story.  The story of self, or the story of Christ.  Just when I think I have this “Christian life” thing down pat , I find myself going back to the basics.  Learning again to depend on Christ.  Learning again to soak up His Words and make them my guide for living.  Learning again His Will for me. Some days I really depend on Him.  I can hear Him speaking His words thr...

Today I am overwhelmed by God’s provision for us…yet again.  Things have been a smidge tights since Ben hasn’t worked full hours the last few weeks.  And he had to license himself as an independent contractor, which costs quite a pretty penny here in the City.  We didn’t tell anyone.  We weren’t starving.  But we were wondering how we would pay the rent and buy necessities too.  Until yesterday.  Pastor Bickel told us he had a few dry goods and a couple of grocery gift cards for us from the church.  I was excited at “few”.  I was overwhelmed at my trunk overflowing with bags of groceries.  And many of the items were exactly what we needed. This is what I posted on my Facebook page: To our dear friends at Bethel...you have once again blessed us beyond measure. Once again the Lord has used you to meet some of our physical needs. Your gifts of food staples came at just the right time. And how did you know exactly what we needed? Yo...

June 27: Bathroom It’s not much to speak of.  It is tiny.  Every space is filled & used – right down to the shelves in the dumb waiter.  Yes – we have a dumb waiter in our shower.  But it serves the purpose! June 28: On the Shelf Lots of home canned deliciousness!  Kiwi jam, salsa {mild, medium, and hot}, strawberry jam, and applesauce. June 29: Soft Flannel rag quilt I made for Nolan.  It is Beatrix Potter to match the “nursery”. June 30: Friend Meet Mr. Bunny.  Elaine’s “best bud” – literally since day 1.  {Yes, “he” is pink.  I don’t know why he became a “Mr.” Bunny, but it stuck}.  He was a gift from a friend who visited us in the hospital.  She still sleeps with him every night.  He was lost once.  There were several hard nights while we awaited his replacement to arrive in the mail.  He doesn’t leave the house much anymore – to ensure he doesn’t get lost again.