I realise that this post will officially class me as a jogger, not a runner, but I don't care.
4 miles, 40 minutes. I am so proud of me.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
All my byself
Addien is actively asserting her independence as often as possible these days, and our favourite saying around the house has become, "I do it my byself!"
Contentment
According to Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary:
CONTENTMENT
a state of mind in which one's desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be (1 Tim. 6:6; 2 Cor. 9:8). It is opposed to envy (James 3:16), avarice (Heb. 13:5), ambition (Prov. 13:10), anxiety (Matt. 6:25, 34), and repining (1 Cor. 10:10). It arises from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility, and of an intelligent consideration of the rectitude and benignity of divine providence (Ps. 96:1, 2; 145), the greatness of the divine promises (2 Pet. 1:4), and our own unworthiness (Gen. 32:10); as well as from the view the gospel opens up to us of rest and peace hereafter (Rom. 5:2).
According to Greta:
CONTENTMENT
a state of being okay with the fact that your greatest accomplishment today may be taking a shower. It is opposed to envying your friends who actually get days off; wanting anything for yourself, even your own breakfast; ambition for a career, or any sort of recognition for the mundane work you do every day; worrying about your children's health, safety, future, and anything else that is completely out of your control; and wishing you had been a little more careful with the birth control when you'd had the chance. It arises from deep within your soul, where you know that this is the life God chose for you, and that despite all your moaning you actually love being a mom and are in awe of the responsibility and blessing given to such an undeserving person. It comes from getting to the place where you don't need recognition because you know that you are doing Kingdom work in serving the very people Jesus said were at the center of his Kingdom (Matt 19:14).
CONTENTMENT
a state of mind in which one's desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be (1 Tim. 6:6; 2 Cor. 9:8). It is opposed to envy (James 3:16), avarice (Heb. 13:5), ambition (Prov. 13:10), anxiety (Matt. 6:25, 34), and repining (1 Cor. 10:10). It arises from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility, and of an intelligent consideration of the rectitude and benignity of divine providence (Ps. 96:1, 2; 145), the greatness of the divine promises (2 Pet. 1:4), and our own unworthiness (Gen. 32:10); as well as from the view the gospel opens up to us of rest and peace hereafter (Rom. 5:2).
According to Greta:
CONTENTMENT
a state of being okay with the fact that your greatest accomplishment today may be taking a shower. It is opposed to envying your friends who actually get days off; wanting anything for yourself, even your own breakfast; ambition for a career, or any sort of recognition for the mundane work you do every day; worrying about your children's health, safety, future, and anything else that is completely out of your control; and wishing you had been a little more careful with the birth control when you'd had the chance. It arises from deep within your soul, where you know that this is the life God chose for you, and that despite all your moaning you actually love being a mom and are in awe of the responsibility and blessing given to such an undeserving person. It comes from getting to the place where you don't need recognition because you know that you are doing Kingdom work in serving the very people Jesus said were at the center of his Kingdom (Matt 19:14).
Sleep
I miss the comfort of your sweet embrace
as my head hits the pillow and I surrender to your spell.
I miss the feeling of waking in the morning having rested in your arms through the night
in such a deep trance that not even dreams can wrest me from you.
You tease me with your company for a while,
but you keep leaving me when I need you most.
Dear friend, would you introduce yourself to my Macy?
Would you woo her as you have wooed me?
Would you be a friend to her as you have been to me?
For the better acquainted she becomes with you, the more you and I can be together.
And what a happy day that will be
when once again I wake in the morning
to find that you and I have made it through a night
with nothing separating us from each other.
And I can cheerfully say goodbye to you until night
instead of tearfully clinging to you as my children shoo you away.
as my head hits the pillow and I surrender to your spell.
I miss the feeling of waking in the morning having rested in your arms through the night
in such a deep trance that not even dreams can wrest me from you.
You tease me with your company for a while,
but you keep leaving me when I need you most.
Dear friend, would you introduce yourself to my Macy?
Would you woo her as you have wooed me?
Would you be a friend to her as you have been to me?
For the better acquainted she becomes with you, the more you and I can be together.
And what a happy day that will be
when once again I wake in the morning
to find that you and I have made it through a night
with nothing separating us from each other.
And I can cheerfully say goodbye to you until night
instead of tearfully clinging to you as my children shoo you away.
Saturday, January 05, 2008
New Year's Breakfast
This was my version of a French Toast Strata. Another one for you, Mrs.
1 loaf (1 kg.) Panettone, cubed
8 oz Wensleydale with cranberries
8 eggs
2 1/2 cups whole milk
6 T butter, melted (if you can find Cointreau butter, even better)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1. Grease a 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Place half of the bread cubes in the dish. Top with crumbled Wensleydale and remaining bread cubes.
2. Combine remaining ingredients and pour evenly over bread and cheese. Slightly press layers down to moisten, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours.
3. Bake, uncovered, in a 325 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until the center appears set and the edges are lightly golden. Let stand about 10 minutes before serving. Serve with a dollop of mascarpone and maple syrup if you're feeling extra-indulgent, but it's pretty rich as is. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Oh, so good. Mmm.
1 loaf (1 kg.) Panettone, cubed
8 oz Wensleydale with cranberries
8 eggs
2 1/2 cups whole milk
6 T butter, melted (if you can find Cointreau butter, even better)
1/4 cup pure maple syrup
1. Grease a 3-quart rectangular baking dish. Place half of the bread cubes in the dish. Top with crumbled Wensleydale and remaining bread cubes.
2. Combine remaining ingredients and pour evenly over bread and cheese. Slightly press layers down to moisten, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 2 to 24 hours.
3. Bake, uncovered, in a 325 degree oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until the center appears set and the edges are lightly golden. Let stand about 10 minutes before serving. Serve with a dollop of mascarpone and maple syrup if you're feeling extra-indulgent, but it's pretty rich as is. Makes 6 to 8 servings.
Oh, so good. Mmm.
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
Peace, Fruitfulness, and Passion
Looking back on 2007, I came across the three words I used to describe what I hoped 2007 would be.
It was a year of peace. Tim and I got along so well this year. I feel like we really hit a stride in our communication. We lived in a peaceful neighborhood. We enjoyed peaceful sleep with a baby who started sleeping through the night at 12 weeks.
It was also a year of war. We fought depression. We fought fear and worry with Macy's hernia. Tim had stress at work.
It was a year of fruitfulness. Our third child was born. Elliottyoung grossed record revenues. The children grew. Addien learned to talk, Macy learned to move, and Cerys started preschool.
It was also a year of want. Tim worked too hard and wasn't home enough. I missed my friends and family in America. We spent too much time watching tv and not enough time working on our to-do lists. My stint with Creative Memories came to an end.
And passion. We celebrated our five year anniversary. I feel more in love with my husband every day. I was passionate about finding God in my everyday life. I was passionate about being a good mom.
I had lots of days that were just hum-drum as well. I struggled with feeling stuck in my life, feeling like everything is on hold until my kids are a bit older. I don't know where a lot my days went--they seemed to fly by without my participation.
I guess that's life. Full of light and dark, good and evil. That's what I learned in 2007. I learned to let some of my boxes go, to let some color into my black and white viewpoints. I found peace amidst turmoil, joy through sorrow, passion in mundanity.
For 2008 I hope for more of the same. I'd like to see my boundaries of faith, love, and grace pushed further open and to be challenged in those areas. I want to grow as a mom and develop my skills as a leader and teacher. I want to find one new thing to explore, either cooking or writing, I haven't decided. And I want to have joy. Much, much joy.
It was a year of peace. Tim and I got along so well this year. I feel like we really hit a stride in our communication. We lived in a peaceful neighborhood. We enjoyed peaceful sleep with a baby who started sleeping through the night at 12 weeks.
It was also a year of war. We fought depression. We fought fear and worry with Macy's hernia. Tim had stress at work.
It was a year of fruitfulness. Our third child was born. Elliottyoung grossed record revenues. The children grew. Addien learned to talk, Macy learned to move, and Cerys started preschool.
It was also a year of want. Tim worked too hard and wasn't home enough. I missed my friends and family in America. We spent too much time watching tv and not enough time working on our to-do lists. My stint with Creative Memories came to an end.
And passion. We celebrated our five year anniversary. I feel more in love with my husband every day. I was passionate about finding God in my everyday life. I was passionate about being a good mom.
I had lots of days that were just hum-drum as well. I struggled with feeling stuck in my life, feeling like everything is on hold until my kids are a bit older. I don't know where a lot my days went--they seemed to fly by without my participation.
I guess that's life. Full of light and dark, good and evil. That's what I learned in 2007. I learned to let some of my boxes go, to let some color into my black and white viewpoints. I found peace amidst turmoil, joy through sorrow, passion in mundanity.
For 2008 I hope for more of the same. I'd like to see my boundaries of faith, love, and grace pushed further open and to be challenged in those areas. I want to grow as a mom and develop my skills as a leader and teacher. I want to find one new thing to explore, either cooking or writing, I haven't decided. And I want to have joy. Much, much joy.
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