Luke's 4th Birthday!

Celebrating birthdays is one of my favorite things about my full-time job!!  In another life I would have been a party planner for the rich and famous!  :)  I'm quite grateful for this "life" though and happily plan parties for my 3 little stars! 

 

Some of Luke's favorite "snackies" arranged like a buffet! 

 Saw this in a pottery barn magazine and recreated it.
Rolled newspaper to form a cone and filled it with peanuts.
Had some old tickets that I stuck in there to finish it off.

Made a banner from construction paper cut into triangles and strung together.

super easy. super cheap. super cute. used the leftover paper to make polka dots.

 Found some Toy Story stickers and placed them on either side of a toothpick.
You could easily do this with any stickers you may have or any theme.

 Who wouldn't want to scoop out some peanut m & m's with an ice cream dipper?

 I think balloons make the GREATEST IMPACT for little eyes,
(yet are inexpensive, easy and abundant for parents to use).
And get CrEaTiVe with them....fill their room while they're still asleep,
place them in a little blue swimming pool, put them up in the lights!

 *note to self* keep lemonade nozzle far away from curious little fingers.

 His favorite gift, a "real Buzz Lightyear".  "JUST WHAT ME WANTED" he exclaimed with such delight!!! 

 Favors. Buckets from the dollar bin at Target.  Filled them with some of Luke's favorite candy, some pencils and some gummy snacks.

 Counting his money with his Daddy.  He loves "dowers", (dollars).
$4 from Grammie, $4 from Grandpa and Grandma, $4 from Aunt Von, $5 from Aunt Shrish, $4 from Mitch!!

 His cousins and friends! xoxo.

The coolest gift from Aunt Fan.

 Thankfully this year he didn't hide under the kitchen table as we sang Happy Birthday.
Instead he licked the icing with his fingers.  He's not quite sure what to do with the attention and I think it's precious. He was so proud and felt so special even though he didn't know what to do with himself.

Speaking of precious, I had to end with this picture of my brother Leon and Paisley. She doesn't "warm up" to many guys, but Uncle Leon got her attention. 

What a wonderful way to celebrate being FOUR!!

In your home filled with LOVE, FAMILY, FRIENDS, HEALTH, FOOD AND LAUGTHER.
We will not ask for more.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET LUKE!!!!!

Favor

I think we as humans tragically equate blessings with God's favor and bad things/things not going well with His absence. Favor has nothing to do with God's nearness in my opinion. He is near to those that have nothing and are going nowhere.  I believe in favor, however I also believe that as a general rule, life is not about favor, it's about leaning hard into Him Who gives and takes away. Just some random thoughts at the tips of my fingers. 

Biblically there are some strong words about favor. One of which is most surprising to me, found in Job.  You'll remember him; lost everything he owned, his three daughters and seven sons died in a tornado while attending a birthday party, he experienced personal physical suffering, (some of which involved painful sores from head to toe that he would scrape off with a piece of broken glass). So much scraping that it left him disfigured beyond recognition. Yet this man wrote, "I am weary of my life" and then just a few sentences later he says, "You have GRANTED ME life and FAVOR, and Your providence has preserved my spirit."  (Job 10:1,12)  

What? Are you kidding me? I don't know much, but I do know that I don't want the kind of "favor" Job was getting from on high at this point in his life!  If we're honest, which I'm being right now, the kind of "favor" I'm talkin' about is found in Psalm 5.  "You, Lord, will bless the righteous; as with a shield You will surround him with GOODWILL AND PLEASURE AND FAVOR." Yes please, where do I sign up?? 

But here's the thing, is it MY WORKS that bring on HIS FAVOR?  At one time in my life I'm pretty sure I would have answered that with a nice little nod from my nice little Pharisee neck.  But I'm not into that anymore because I think it turns us/me, (Christians) into works-driven, spiritually-stressed, ceaselessly-striving individuals. I cannot ATTAIN GOD'S FAVOR BY ANYTHING I DO.

And what a relief~WHAT A FREEDOM to walk in that. 

To live in that.

To be okay with that.

To not carry that. 

Things the Lord is working out in me. Less Striving, more trusting .

 Less of me doing what I THINK IS GOOD IN GOD'S SIGHT and just allowing His love to lavish me and fill me.  HIS LOVE IS FAVOR ENOUGH!!

 "In Him we have redemption,
through His blood, the forgiveness of sins,
in accordance with the RICHES and GENEROSITY OF HIS GRACIOUS FAVOR." (Ephesians 1:7)   

Of course, there are principals to follow and His commands are for our GOOD.  But perhaps it's more of a sin issue then a favor issue. Sin separates. Sin is not favorable. I had some light shed on my heart the other week while at a meeting.  You know the verse, "the wages of sin is death" and we always say, "God is out to get your sin" and "repent God is near to judge you" yada,yada. But it's SIN THAT KILLS, not God that kills. The wages of SIN is death, not the wages of God is death.  We get in the way of our selves, by BEING OURSELVES.  Doing stuff OUR way.  Building the structure of our life with OUR inferior materials, 100% man-made. 

"Yet He gives His UNDESERVED FAVOR to the low in rank, the humble, and the afflicted."  Proverbs 3:34 If it wasn't culturally unacceptable/laughable I would name our child that; Undeserved Favor Stoltzfus!!  Just so I would have to call it out 43 times each day, "Hey, Undeserved Favor come here." 

 I am blessed and highly favored BECAUSE I'M HIS. not because of what i do. A wise woman once told me "through the maze of life, God is the One writing the bigger story and God is more interested in the PROCESS than in the results."  Watching MS, (multiple sclerosis) take over the life of my sweet friend Anna does not seem favorable in the least.  And yet, the process of this has resulted in a beauty I never knew existed.  Faith in living color. 

As I scurry around her living room every other week; cleaning, straightening up, vacuuming, she sits in her blue chair watching Rachel Ray.  Her love of cooking is alive and walking all over her home, though she be bound to a wheelchair all her waking moments, unable to even move her hands.  Her husband graciously takes the recipes she sees and loves, and under her watchful eye, faithfully brings them to the small round dinner table in the corner of their kitchen.  She speaks in broken sentences that I strain to understand, her very voice being scraped away, "people say I need to have more faith to be healed, but I say I have faith even when I'm not healed and THAT is true faith."  Yes, Anna. You are the one with faith unshakable and full of GLORY.  You are the FAVORED one and one day, YOU WILL BE LIFTED UP. 

"O to grace how great a debtor

daily I'm constrained to be!

Let thy goodness, like a fetter,

bind my wandering heart to thee."

Celebrating my Shrish

For my sisters birthday, (we call each other Shrish) this year I gave her the "gift of high tea." She listed a few of her dear friends and I invited our two other sisters and our Mom. There were some really neat invitation kits at Target the other week so of course I bought four boxes.  Like I've said before, I'm a sucker for stationary, in all it's forms!  Invitations were sent and tea day arrived.

The table was set the night before, (after all the kids were in bed), so as to avoid curious fingers! One of my favorite things is to set a lovely table. Keeping in mind the person being honored. Their personality and likes.  And yet using what I have, not going out and purchasing new dishes or decor.

The centerpieces came to mind as I was perusing the local greenhouse. I knew I wanted something unique yet inexpensive.  I had these old bread pans, (used at an early tea this year).  The larger flower, (ranunculus) was purchased and set into the pan, still in its pot.  The grass was also purchased at that greenhouse. (Perhaps I shouldn't talk about pot and grass in the same paragraph). Nevertheless, it came together nicely.

The little nametag nests are from Pottery Barn. The red chargers were an after Christmas steal from wal-mart for .50 each. I really like the scalloped edge, not something you see very often on chargers.

Friends gather 'round.

One of these times I will take pictures of the food that is served.I didn't get very many this time in the midst of serving, eating and talking.

This one was captured after I had taken several bites!

Banana Pineapple Torte with cream cheese frosting and zested chocolate.



Yet to be named "Chocolate Balls", I daresay they need a more proper name.
Suggestions welcome in comment box.

Beautiful Ladies~from the outside~in.

"The best things in life
are always handpicked~
like friends."~unknown author~



MYSPACE.MOM

Some days I just want a place that's all mine. A place to put all my "stuff"; my little notes, quotes, reminders, papers, magazine clippings of things I love.  I've been like this as long as I can remember.  Ask my sister with whom I shared a room most of my life.  I was constantly being told to "clean up my corners", (by my Mother and by her).  I would do my best to "organize" ALL.MY.LITTLE.STUFF.  My "portant, (important) stuff" as I use to say as little girl! {And now, having a son that is JUST like me I have a new compassion for my sister. I cannot imagine HOW ANNOYING all the crazy things were being piled, pinned, hung and situated in the four corners of our room!}

And if you could see our homes now, it's quite amusing and fascinating and delightful.  For instance, she has 2-3 pictures on the front of her refrigerator.  I have about 20-30.  She has a very clean color palate in her home.  My home ate a bag full of skittles.  She is fierce in getting rid of things and has such wonderfully organized closets and cookbooks.  You can barely push my hangers apart and I have 40 cookbooks which I never use. I LOVE PERSONALITIES and the way we are MADE!!  "We are just the way we're suppose to be", my Mom's words ringing true in my ear. 

And so, it continues.

Except I'm almost 33.

I have a thing for things. Visual things.

Looking at things that make me happy or wishful or inspired. I cut pictures out of magazines quite often, hanging them in random places.
I write quotes on pieces of paper a few times each week, also hanging them in random places.
I  save "thank you" notes that I receive, and they too end up in random places.

And so one day I thought, I'm going to create a MY SPACE,
a MOM space. a MYSPACE.MOM.
I found this old chair at goodwill and gave it a second life.

Primed it.
Painted it.
Distressed it.
Recovered it.
I had found a few large pillowcases at Pottery Barn and used that for the seat,
(actually my husband did that part).  Jake's Mom also made pillows for our new couch from this material, (pictures to come someday of our "new" living room. I thought it was complete, but I've changed my mind on our newly purchased couch!  So, it's on craigslist and we're hoping to find another one that is more suitable.  My husband is unending in his patience)!! 

         We had an entertainment armoire that we were trying to sell.
Instead I turned it into my little getaway.
A perfect place for all my "portant stuff!"

It's the back of this chair that captured my attention first.
So elegant, the lines of the legs.

 And so, several times each day you'll find me here in my corner.
Among the thin pieces of paper and glossy magazine pictures, quotes, verses and to do lists. Pictures of my babies when they were babies. Just so I don't forget what they looked like when their heads where smaller then mine.

 We all need a place to call our own.
Most of the world doesn't have that.
Welivelifecrowded. 

Some women have beautiful rooms, entire retreats all their own.
Others have a single bedside wall, a place to hang pictures with a piece of scotch tape or a favorite verse scribbled on a piece of paper. Or a picture that you love to look at, that makes you feel good inside.

Find it.
Make it.
Create a SPACE all your own!
You can do it.

"If you don't like how things are,
change it!
You're not a tree."

~Jim Rohn~

8th Annual Campout

Each Summer we host our annual CAMPOUT for our younger nieces and nephews.  And each Winter or Spring I realize I never posted the pictures!

We begin the night with PIZZA!

Get all the tents set up!

ENJOY the summer night.

Roll out the CANDY, thanks to good ol' Sadie, (my bike).

"The Feast" kid style!!

Jake created a HUGE outdoor theater on the side of the carriage house,
with speakers on either side.

They watch movies until they can't keep their eyes open!
Always being sure to fit in "The Parent Trap", (THE ORIGINAL)!!

We make mass amounts of POPCORN & SMORES

and live life through the eyes of a child.

It doesn't take a lot to make a child feel special.

A little effort for a lot of memory!! 

"Please, let them be little,
'Cause they're only that way for a while."~Billy Dean~

Previous years of fun....they grow up so quickly,

soon they are "too cool" to come to our campout, (makes me sad, but maybe once they hit college age they will come back for the FREE FOOD!!!  That's your invitation Mitch, Carson, Tessa, Lance, Linds and Meg!!  XOXO. Aunt J.2007

2008

2009



projects and parties

So, somehow I got the idea to completely renovate our living room.

blame it on the latest pottery barn magazine and spring fever!

Here was one of my inspiration pictures.  I really wanted to create a space that Jake loved!  Our whole house is such an OBVIOUS expression of who I am.  I am trying to change in that way and make this home more about US, not just about ME.....(and mind you, this does NOT come naturally as our styles are as different as our personalities).

However, this past weekend we jumped right in!  With 3 children under our feet......now our living room is chocolate brown & tan with new furntiture, new carpet.  I'm all the way in!  Each morning I like it more, but it's taking awhile to "grow on me" because IT'S SO DIFFERENT then what I'm use to or what I lean towards. 

He's never really said anything to me about our living room.  In fact at first he wasn't so sure about changing it around.  But I want the space he spends the most time in, (living room and bedroom) to be a reflection of HIM as well.  Something I feel more then I ever did. Maybe I'm growing up a little.  Maybe I'm starting to care more about what he DOESN'T say.

 pottery barn magazine

Secondly, we celebrated Luke's 4th birthday last Saturday, (I've got a whole post of delightful pictures).  I'm feeling a little *behind* in posting all I want to share. There are other things calling my name though.  So, for tonight, it's just this one picture of our kitchen transformed to LIGHT UP THE EYES OF A CERTAIN FOUR YEAR OLD BOY!! 

Lastly, I hosted a tea party today for my sister, as a birthday gift to her.  It was a delightful time.  It's something I truly enjoy, despite the time and effort it takes....preparing, serving, decorating, presenting, pleasing.  It's the good and bad of my personality I guess.  I love to make others happy and feel LOVED, I want to serve, yet I don't want to base my VALUE on what I DO.....part of the core of who I am BELIEVES SO STRONGLY that you are not what you DO, you are WHO you are!  And when you give something with ANY kind of selfish motive attached, it isn't really a gift afterall.That's not how I felt today, it's just something that I keep in mind because of my tendencies toward performance orientation.  More on that someday.

now, onto purging our home for things to sell at our yearly yard sale!    DON'T MISS IT IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO!!!! MAY 6TH-7TH It's going to be ONE. BIG. TREASURE. HUNT. 13 ladies and 1 man with italian ice, (that would be Mr. Rice for all my LMH pals out there)!!   *IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN HAVING A SPACE AT OUR SALE, THERE ARE 2 OPENINGS LEFT!! PLEASE EMAIL ME WITH ANY QUESTIONS OR TO RESERVE YOUR SPOT!  JJ9702@JUNO.COM

"We tend to forget that happiness
doesn't come as a result of getting something we don't have,
but rather of recognizing and appreciating what we do have".
~Frederick Keonig~

flowers in the rain

 the care and kindness I have received over the past 2 weeks has truly been LIKE HEALING BALM to me.  thank you.  I think I understand in a new way why my God asks us to be kind to one another.  CARING FOR SOMEONE CAN LITERALLY BRING HEALING TO THEM.  in a very real way.  It isn't hard to show someone you care and it doesn't take much time these days either:
  *A quick "how are you today?" text.*

 

*A little facebook note on their wall.*

*A quick email.*

*A voicemail* 

There are ways to "check in" without having to meet for dinner or coffee.  

write it, sign it, put a stamp on it!  Oh, the lovely cards that people have sent.  They have warmed my heart.  BROUGHT HEALING TO MY MIND.  There is POWER in truly caring for others.

"And you saw how the Lord your God
cared for you again and again here in the wilderness,

just as a father cares for his child...."

Deuteronomy 1:31

Paisley~March, 2010.

I am feeling really good physically and emotionally.  of course there are moments and hours when I am still so sad at what took place over the last 14 days. We are sad that we will never know this Baby Stoltzfus.  Breaks my Mother heart.  I love my babies so much, (even though they drive me crazy some days)!!  And that is what tears at me the most. Not knowing.

I am not burdened with the "why me" feelings. I mean really, "why NOT me?" Who am I to expect everything to always go the way I want it to? I am not my own afterall!  Who am I to PLAN MY WAYS, the paths I think I should take? 

I'm back to my "old ways", blogging at midnight, so that's one sure sign that I'm getting back to normal!  I have to stop staying up so late!  Yet, as many of you know, there's nothing like these night hours when NO ONE NEEDS YOU and the world is yours, so to speak. You can eat whatever you want without being sneaky or without open-mouthed beggars at your fingertips!  And the QUIET.....oh, it can't be beat!  

It feels so warm and cozy in our living room tonight with the fire crackling, the slushing sound of cars driving by on wet roads, the freshly planted purple pansies smiling here beside me.  I planted pansies in the rain tonight.  I didn't care!  SPRING WILL COME TO OUR HOME, it's been decided!  I wore my new anthro hat.      



Paisley~ March, 2011.

Sometimes life is a journey of

planting flowers in the rain, isn't it?!

"The violets in the mountains have broken the rocks."

~Tennessee Williams~