The Written Word

I love writing.
There is something so beautiful to me about the written word.
Words that are spoken are important for sure. But to me they are words that would normally come out of ones mouth, and then maybe fall on ears that would remember what was said for a day or two.
Maybe if the listener was really paying attention the words are ones that a person would carry for a lifetime, but often times the words we say fall on deaf ears never to be thought of again.

Ah... but the written word.
Well, that is an entirely different beast all together.

Good or bad the written words are forever held in time.
Right now I am finishing up a book club choice called People of The Book, by Geraldine Brooks
It's a fictional book about a book restorer who is working on a book that was written in the 1400's.
The book she has been commissioned to work on is an old Jewish prayer book called a Haggadah.

Anyway, the story is amazing!
The story within the story of this book is what has got my wheels turning.
She finds in her restoration process stains and marks in the book, and then has them analyzed for further clues as to where the book got it's origins. The amazing part to me is that we have books like this.
Books that have withstood the test of time.

One of my favorite older books that I own is a book called "Cooking for Two, by Janet M Hill copyright 1909.
I bought it from my neighbor June.
It has articles in the front and back about "Being a Good Housewife" or "When Mom lets us Cook" or " Some Cleaning Secrets " and all of these and her little scribbles here and there are what make the book that much more precious to me.
The story within the story.



June was an older Scottish woman who to keep her mind sharp and get some social interaction, every Saturday morning she would open up her little garage on Minnesota St. in Carson City and sell some of her treasures that she had carried for a lifetime.
I would go down every Saturday and buy only one or two things. Usually one of her salt and pepper shakers and one book.
We would talk for a bit, mostly I would ask her a lot of questions about her life and listen carefully to this very wise wonderful woman.
I miss June.
But I carry a little piece of her with me in the books that I bought from her.

I have often thought now that we have become so digital and everything is out here in cyberspace rather than on paper what treasures will be lost when we no longer have access to this.
There are ways, I know that you can turn your blog into a book and I really have thought of doing that for my children to enjoy someday.
It most certainly is a record of events.
An out loud journal of sorts.
It makes me wonder, why we all love living out loud so much?
Those of us that blog anyway.
To me its therapeutic.



When I first started blogging it was because I was a stay at home mom who desperately needed connection to the outside world.
Now I blog because I have grown to love the blogging community and the process of getting things out of my head and onto the computer screen.
I am thankful for the written word.
I am glad that there are others out there just like me who treasure it as much as I do.

For those of you who are just like me, I leave you with this the quote at the beginning of that old cookbook;

"The best things are nearest... Then do not grasp at the stars, but do life's plain common work as it comes, certain that daily duties and daily bread are the sweetest things of life."


True, true indeed.

That and next time you are at a rummage sale, don't look over those old books. There might be a story within a story.
Oh, and when you own a book be sure to make your mark on it, who knows someday those little notes that you write down might be the very thing that makes that book so much more special to the readers of the future!

Happy Reading AND Writing Friends!

Coffee Fast Is Over...

It's a funny thing, my fast from coffee ended yesterday and I think I had about 3 or 4 very good, very full cups of coffee, but here I sit today with a cup of Green Tea and one stevia. (My replacement drink of choice in the mornings)

Giving up coffee was not an easy fast for me.
I am still not entirely sure why I did it.?
I know I wanted to give up something for Lent that wouldn't have a dual purpose.
By that I mean, often times when I fast, to be quite honest I hope that it will help me lose weight.
I mean, I don't set out going "I am going to fast from sugar so I can lose weight!"
I definitely disguise my fasts with a much more spiritual expression as to why I am fasting from whatever it is.
So a true confession I am giving you here is that, when I fast from time to time to pray, seek God's wisdom, or for a friend or whatever the reason, deep down I think this will help me too!

Shocking I know, but there you have it!

But coffee never entered any of those categories.
In fact, I think I remember telling myself that I could never give up coffee.
It was like the one thing in my life I would never do.
When others would talk about not drinking coffee anymore I would actually feel bad for them.
As though they were missing out on something so precious in life, so wonderful, so essential... why would you ever give it up?

Well, here I sit on this gloriously rainy, perfect Washington morning and although I could have coffee I want Green Tea.

Huh? I didn't see that one coming!

Fasting I have learned over the years is more a matter of choice.

And how luxurious a life I lead that I GET the choice to FAST from anything!

If there is just one thing that I really took away from this Lent season it is that.
I have the choice to fast from food, drink, television, certain clothes(free trade), stores i will shop at, etc.

And what a gift that is.

Truly we (Americans especially) are saturated with choice.
It is a freedom, I know I have taken for granted over the years.

This Lent season helped me to realize that, and so much more and I am hoping I don't soon forget it.

If there is nothing else you have to be thankful, grateful for in your life today let it be that you have the choice to choose whether to drink coffee or tea, or clean water and be blessed by that alone.

My Shoe Entry For Tasha

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I have been blessed with incredible friends who happen to be very creative.
They make my life so much richer, fuller, and downright fun!
One of my most creative artistic friends would be a lady named Tasha Gardner.
You can see just a portion of her creative genius in the blog listed on the right, VW club.
Anyhew, she put out this shoe challenge in March.
30 days.
30 shoes.
I didn't quite succeed, but I tried my hardest to document the shoes I did wear in that time.
And here is my entry.

If you have been a long time reader of my blog you might remember some years back when Emma and I took her color challenge. Where we were asked to wear a different color everyday.
This really was a lot of fun so thank you once again Tasha for your constant pursuit of all things out of the ordinary :)

Hope you enjoy!

LOVE WINS - Rob Bell , My Take on all this Hoop-La!

I just finished re-reading Rob Bell's new book Love Wins, A book about Heaven, Hell, and the Fate of Every Person who Ever Lived.

If that isn't a dramatic title for a book, I don't know what is! :)

For those of you who run in Christian circles you know that this book got quite a bit of hoop-la( I love that word) before it was even released. People were slinging all kinds of accusations toward Mr. Bell and really behaving in such a way that if you were listening and you were NOT a follower of Christ I am sure their behavior convinced you even more so, NOT to become one.

Truly it was downright appalling to me the critics reactions toward this book.

I of course put the book on order long before it was released and then read most of it the first day I got it. Then I went back over it in the weeks to follow because I kept looking for what all the hoop-la was about?

First- if you have ever read any of Bell's previous books you know that he likes to ask a lot of questions. He comes at lots of topics that are theological by nature, with kind of a scientific approach. He gets down to the root of the words that were written in Hebrew and really studies each passage from an angle that doesn't take anything for granted. I love that about his writing.

Second- I have read only two other books of his and both of them were life changing for me. They both pointed, directed, lead, and encouraged me to draw closer to the God of my youth.

C.- This book was no different. Not only did it have a lot of questions, (which btw God can handle any and all of them) but it also directed me once again to the Lover of my Soul. Frankly, it made me fall in Love with Jesus all over again.

The book is only 198 pages long.

Around page 79 he says this,

"There is hell now,
and there is hell later,
and Jesus teaches us to take both seriously."

So, for those that were claiming he says there is no hell in this book and that is why they are calling him a heretic... umm.... read pg 79 about half way down.

There are so many more quotable things in this book, but really if you are at all interested you should read it yourself.
One of my favorite questions, one that I really think is the theme of the book is this one;

"Has God created millions of people over tens of thousands of years who are going to spend eternity in anguish? Can God do this, or even allow this, and still claim to be a loving God?"

Anyone who claims to know Christ , whose sole purpose on this earth was to reconcile all of mankind to God can't answer those questions any other way.

God doesn't choose hell for us, we do.
God chose over 2000 years ago something so different for us.

Jesus whole existence here on earth was an act of LOVE.
He lived for LOVE.
Died for LOVE.
And still reaches out in LOVE.

LOVE really does win!

Lent

I'll admit I haven't been a participator in this Lent tradition since I was a Catholic child who somewhat unwillingly participated, if at all!
I remember families giving up T.V., Sugary Treats, and a variety of other crazy talk happenings! I remember never really understanding a lot of things that were spiritual concepts back then, but one thing I did understand was that I didn't want to give up sugar right as I was selling Girl Scout cookies :)


Up until a year ago I thought the season of Lent was just another legalistic way of trying to take away from the greatest sacrifice ever made. A kind of earning your badges of being a good, better, best follower of Christ.

That was what I thought, until the church I was attending a year ago at this time had such a different take on this thing called Lent. They spoke of this time of preparation, remembering others who are suffering, sacrificing for a greater good, fasting from some things in order that other things might come in abundance, and just an over-all time to take note of your spiritual life. A time to take stock of your inventory as a Spiritual being, and prepare your house for the day of new life. New Beginnings. A kind of Spring cleaning spiritually. They inspired me to take a second look at this thing called Lent.



I remember coming home and sharing with the kids about the fact that I was inspired to do something for Lent, that it was a special time, and that I was going to give up sugar. At first they looked at me like I was crazy, eyes wide as saucers. At some point they too were all excited about this new found thing called Lent. They took an interest with mom and got on board until later that evening when Isaiah asked if he could have Hot Cocoa and I said, "Buddy that has sugar in it". He said without even a second thought, "Oh well I'm out" as though it was a game or something.
That was when I realized:
1) guess I am not that good of a teacher as I thought, and
B) it might have been too big a concept for a 5 year old to get, dunno?



So this year, I told my kids that Lent was coming, and told them what I was giving up. I gave up coffee(that's a blog post for another day), and
I didn't ask any of them if they wanted to join. But, to my surprise they all chimed in with what they were going to give up.
I think that I might have done a better job describing this Lent season to them. At least a little better than last year, because they are all still going strong with all of their fasts.(excluding Isaiah... refer to point 1. and B.)
I told them that usually people give something up, but also some people add some new good behavior or habit in place of what they gave up.


So as if I wasn't challenged enough already....

On top of participating in the traditional Lent Season of giving something up for six weeks, I had decided this year that I wanted to begin adding new challenges to my life.
The challenges I wanted to incorporate into my life are motivated by LOVE. After all, the greatest act of LOVE that the world has EVER seen is what we are preparing to remember and celebrate so what better time than this to take these; LOVE challenges.

Instead of doing this all at once, I have been giving myself one week challenges.
To me it seems more attainable to do things in one week increments.
Once one week is over if I have accomplished these goals and feel inspired to keep going with them, I do.
And then I add a new challenge.

There are about 3 weeks to go until Easter Sunday, and I can honestly say that this Lent season for me has already been pretty amazing. I have learned a lot about myself and what motivates me. I would like to think I am learning even more about this amazing God that I get to serve. I hope and pray that eventually I will be able to describe/teach about this Lent season thingy in such a way that even Isaiah will whole-heartedly get on board, but until then as I am learning I am confident that one day he will too. Because isn't it so true that you can't really teach something to another person unless you fully, completely, whole-heartedly get it yourself?

Wet Logs

Something I have never had to deal with in my lifetime is Wet Logs. When I would set up a fire anywhere in Nevada I was always dealing with very dry, crispy, ready to be burned wood. But since we have moved to the PNW and we are living in a home where our primary source of heat is wood, we have had to deal with wet logs. When your heat source is a fire, and you are surrounded with an abundance of free wet wood, you take what you can get and make it work.

Now, you are not supposed if you can help it, burn wet logs, I realize this. Mostly because they just don't burn very well if at all. But also because they let off a lot of smoke(bad for the environment...PNW doesn't like bad for the enviroment) If you were in the wilderness and trying to make a fire with a wet log it would never, ever light. We are not in the wilderness(well it kind of looks like we are) and not only that, we have a blowtorch to help get things started around here. SO don't worry we have plenty of warmth.

Today while making a fire out of some wet logs, I was getting frustrated and impatient. I kept the blow torch on the logs for a good amount of time. I set up the logs just right with some wet and some dry logs. Still after several attempts no fire. Apparently these logs were more than wet, they were saturated.

It got me thinking that this is kind of how my heart can become sometimes. Saturated with worry, fear, bad attitudes, comparisons to others, and countless other things that keep my heart from flame. I keep a fair distance between my heart and God's flames because of fear.

God tries to come in with His blow torch and flames but I am just too dang wet with the world and I miss out on the warmth of His flame. I need others who have been on fire for a while now to help me out.

*** The above blog was written over a year ago on 3/4/10 - It ended there. My need for help. Little did I know a year later so much more of this blog would make sense.


Recently, some friends have really inspired me by their fire like faith, and have set a flame to these wet logs. I had here in my heart saturated logs. They had been heavy with fear, worry, and doubt. They have been watered this past year not with living water, but with compromise, creature comforts, any thing BUT living water.

But then I came across this scripture: 1 Kings 18:33-38

This is a passage in the bible where the prophet Elijah is told to set the stage for God to show up.
He tells people to set up two places where a burnt offering can be made.
One will be to the God Baal and his prophets
and the other to the One True living God.
The one that is set on fire is to be forever known as the Living God, The One True God.
He then proceeds to tell the people on his altar "wet logs" are what he wants.
Not once, twice, but three times he says pour water over these logs.
He does this to prove without a shadow of a doubt that His God, The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob WILL set the logs on fire.
After God set the logs on fire, Elijah said get ready because there will be rain in this dry dessert place.
Again another thing God told Elijah that even though there had a been a drought there was going to be a great rain.

I read this and thought this is what you were up to God.
These metaphorical "wet logs" in my heart have now been set a flame once again.
I have caught the vision of what you are doing and want to continue to do in my life.
No one else gets the glory for that but you.
There is no better blow torch than you.

"So let the rain fall on me, on me, on me.
Let it wash away all my insecurities.
Let the rain fall on me, on me, on me.
Let it wash away all my impurities.

I'm taking it all in
The sounds of beginning again.
It's starting to touch my soul.
It's starting to feel like home.

So let the rain fall on me, on me, on me.
Let it wash away all my insecurities.
Let the rain fall on me, on me, on me.
Let it wash away all my impurities."

What is wrong with the world? What can we do to change it?

With recent events in Japan,
The Brewing events in Libya,
In house events with Rob Bell's new book coming out,
My somewhat not really an event, finishing Shane Claiborne's book Follow Me to Freedom,
And with my current event going to watch with some friends the new documentary tonight, " I AM"http://iamthedoc.com/

I have got a lot on my brain.
There are so many points in this movie that I have been thinking about for a long time.
Even more points in this movie that I have heard my husband saying for years, (being the prophetic fella that he is)
I am still chewing on quite a bit of it, and I don't want to give away the ending for those of you who want to go see it, or the answer to the above question, but I will say this... the grand finale... well it ends with a four letter word.

I will give you some clues (in song of course);

What the world needs now is....(blank) sweet.... (blank)?


Where is the ..... (blank)? Where is the.....(blank) ?


His banner over me is..... (blank)??

Dances With Wolves... and some deep thoughts with Me(LOL, that title just makes me laugh)

This past Sunday night we had the distinct pleasure of sharing with our Fab 4 the old movie Dances With Wolves starring and directed by Kevin Costner.
There were quite a few scene's that were of course not appropriate for all of our children, and therefore skipped through, but as a whole I thought that the movie was a good one to share with our kids.

While watching it, one of the things that Mo mentioned to the kids that I found so interesting, was the fact that the women were the ones who in many, if not most tribes, built the Tee Pee. She also had complete control over what went on in her Tee Pee, what came in or out of her Tee Pee, and she could even kick the man out of her Tee Pee if he didn't "bring home the bacon" so to speak!
I found this so intriguing.

I think for one, because general carpentry is not something that I do in this house. Outside of putting in an occasional light bulb or putting batteries in my children's toys, I leave the fixing and or building of things to my hubby.
So the notion that the women not only built the Tee Pee, but put it up as well was a foreign concept to me.

I also think I found it interesting because today you often hear phrases like;
"The woman is the heart of the home" or
"If momma ain't happy ain't nobody happy!"
So in a way I suppose you could say this is a cross cultural theme and an aged-old truth.

Either way, it made me then think about my home.
What have I allowed to go on in my home?
What have I promoted to be a good or bad thing in my home?
Who have I allowed to influence my home?

And also do I really need all this stuff ?
That question leads me to my other thought about Tee Pee Life.
Those families were on the move quite a bit.
The women I am sure were very careful about what kind of things they let become permanent fixtures in their homes because having the life of a nomad does not work well, with having the life of a pack rat!
They "traveled light" I am sure.

Finally, it made me remember one of the choices that my book club picked last year that I never got to thank them for choosing;
Daughters Of A Copper Woman

And then I read this, just this morning;

"Every wise woman builds her house, but the foolish one tears it down with her own hands." Proverbs 14:1

Hmmm....

I want to be a woman that carefully builds my house.
And if I do tear it down may it only be for the purpose of moving with my family on to the next great adventure!

The Gum Wall

Here is a game of where's Waldo only its where's the VW in gum?


Seattle Washington 2011



Uncle Greg and his girlfriend Tanya came for a visit and this was just a minor pit stop in all the sights we saw while they were here.




As Gregs face says it all, this wall is really gross and yet somehow, somewhat, very, cool.




It sure does provide for some pretty great pics.




Here are some of my favorites.




I hoped you enjoyed :)

Life is in the Details

There are two camps in life, those that are detail-oriented, and those who are not.
Can something really be that black and white?
Really only two camps?
Okay, maybe three, but for the sake of my little post here just indulge me on this.
I used to be of the camp that didn't care too much about most details.
I used to also think that being an overly detailed person meant that you were kinda anal, and that this was not a good thing to be.
I no longer think this way.

Life is in the details.
Not just some details but every detail is important.
Like when given a menu with so many choices on it, I used to quickly read it over instead of reading the description or details of every menu item. It would overwhelm me sometimes to see all those choices and descriptions.
I thought it took too much time to read them all, and in the end I usually just went with what I knew I would like, rather than take the time to find out if I might like something new.
This in turn has made me become a very boring person where food and appetite are concerned.

Recently, I have had the very scary experience of realizing that God is in the details.
I say scary because it is a very a frightening awareness to realize that the God of the universe is very much aware of every detail of YOUR little life.
It is scary, not like in a horror movie scary, but like a fear that causes you to realize just how little you know of the universe that surrounds you.
Fear like that of an awe-awakening experience that makes you want to know more.
Awe-inspiring, fear, captivating, yet scary at the same time.

It's not like I didn't know this before.
It just makes me want to be more like this now.
I want to be concerned about the details.
I want to take the time to figure out what little details I can change in my life.
Especially if it will help make someone else's life better, or even just my own.

God is so detailed about every aspect of our lives.
He cares about the smallest details and of course the big ones as well.

Being detail-oriented means you have taken a little extra time to really care about something.
So whether you are of the "naturally detail-oriented camp", or the "not so much details" camp
I would just like to say that details are important.
Details matter, some more than others of course.
And...

Life really is, lived out in the Details.

More than...

More than Clarity, I need Wisdom.

More than being Happy, I want Joy.

More than Comfort, I need Peace.

More than, More than, More than.

More than just Being, I want Life.

More than Food, I need Living Water.

More than Friends, I want Family.

More than, More than, More than.

More than Possessions, I want Memories.

More than Places, I need People.

More than Books, I want Knowing.

More than, More than, More than.

More than the air I breathe

I want moments to take my breathe away

More than the sun I see

I want warmth in my bones

More than silence

I need gut-wrenching, belly laughs.



More than my wants given,

I need, my needs to be met.

I resolve to regain my voice

I am sitting here on a Thursday morning alone in this cabin in the woods.
The air is cool but the sun is out (one of my all time favorites on the weather wheel) and it's shining through all these wonderful windows.
I have candles burning and smelling up the place like cinnamon and vanilla.
I have coffee in my cup and I am listening to some of my favorite musicians.

The stars have all aligned and given me this day to myself.

A day off.
How will I spend it?
What to do with all this free time?
Well, I have laundry going.
The house is clean.
The dogs have been walked.
Now what?

Well... usually time to myself gives me time to think.
I don't get much alone time to think.
Thinking is good.
Pondering is good.
I am relishing in my moments this morning to think and ponder.

I am thinking about a lot.
Last year at this time I had declared a month of love notes.
Some of you might remember my constant posting on FB, love quotes.
Looking back I now realize that to tell all the people I love, how much I truly love them it would take much longer than a month of love notes.
Still, that was a really special month last year because I realized that often times in life we don't tell people how much we truly love and appreciate them.
It stretched me to do that little self-imposed exercise.
It also made me realize how much I love writing.

Words.
I love expressing myself in written word.

So this day that I have to myself what did I turn to first.
Writing.

In a recent conversation with a new friend she asked if being a Preschool teacher was something that I was passionate about?
I told her that yes, on a good day!
I do love to teach little people.
Little people are amazing and they are truly my most favorite people to hang out with.
Still, I feel teaching is like an old trusted friend that I can fall back on anytime I want.
And I don't know if that means I am passionate or not about it, but that's how I feel about it right now.

But writing.....
Well, if I were to choose a career that I could transition out of teaching and explore more fully it would be writing.
I attempted to write some children's books, and well in the move those have taken a back seat.
Still they call to me every once in a while in a quiet moment like this I remember that, that is something I really do want to pursue.
I currently live in a place that would make it quite easy to actively pursue this dream of writing.
My time to think and ponder has now come to an end.
The laundry bell has rung.
Thanks for listening.

Music and Me

I am sitting here having church with Amos Lee this morning.
His song Black River just really gets to me every time.

Thinking about all the things I have to be thankful for.
One of those things would be music.
Not only do I come from a musical family that I am grateful for, but
The ability to express myself with my voice in song is something I don't ever take for granted.

There is something strange that happens when the emotion to sing comes over me.
It is a like a deep gushing wave of water that pushes it's way to the top and I just can't stop it.
I love to sing.
I love to sing best when no one but my Creator is listening.




I love to hear my children sing.
One of the many other things I am thankful for is my children's talent in music.
Emma is currently writing a song for her Auntie Jenny's upcoming wedding and it just makes me smile to hear her practice this.
Isaiah got an electric guitar for Christmas, and I have an old acoustic guitar(thank you Uncle Jimmy) that the kids have been having jam sessions with.
I can't even begin to tell you how happy this makes me.

I should say that,
I am sure because I am their mom it sounds beautiful to me, but to the average ear it would just sound like noise.
So don't go knocking down my door ready to be their agent (BIG SMILE)


If I were the type of parent who lived out their dreams in their children I would have already exploited these
beautiful gifts.
Alas, I am not so the rest of the world will have to wait to hear these Fab 4.

Everything is always made better with music.
Music is powerful.
So powerful in fact that, that is why often times back in the day the musicians would lead the army onto the battlefield.(Glad I wasn't a musician in this day and age)
I remember an old friend told me that certain notes even had the power to break things in us, or fix things (whatever way you want to look at that) spiritually.
I believe this to be true.

So as you prepare for this week ahead
whether it's been one you have been looking forward to for a long time
or one that you have been dreading
don't forget "to put your records on and sing your favorite song"

Dieting, Puppies, and Other MoNoSco Updates

A funny thing happens when you go on a diet.
Food just becomes a tool, rather than something you enjoy.
To some extent life changes entirely and I find myself getting kind of depressed.
This of course makes me realize how much food and drink(can't forget the drink) has become somewhat of an idol in my life.
The diet I am on is extreme, and I would tell you the name but... the only reason I am not sharing it with you is because I don't want that to become the topic of our conversation, but needless to say, it is limited what I can and cannot eat... BUT it's working!


Having a puppy in the house after several years of not having a baby of some sort has made me realize how selfish we all are.
Barley( our new Yellow Lab pup) has pushed us all to the brink of exhaustion.
He is so high energy that even our Jack Russell, Bella (supposedly the most hyper dog around) is wiped out and tired of him by the end of the day!
Still, in the end he brings me so much joy, as does Bella and well Joy is a rare commodity these days!
Those 4 legged friends sure are something, can't quite put my finger on what, but they are SOMETHING all right!

We had a communion moment at church last Sunday.
It started out bad and painful, but I hope ended up good and memorable.
We came home and let all 4 of our kids watch Passion of the Christ.
We of course edited quite a bit and actually only showed them bits and pieces.
This movie still makes me bawl like a baby.
Jesus without a doubt is SO AMAZING!
I know it made a lasting impression because they are still asking me questions.

We, Monosco are still having moments,
sometimes whole days ...
where we are wondering what the H E ..double hockey sticks we are doing in Washington??
But today when the sun is shining and we recently got to visit with a good old friend that feels like family I feel happy to be here.

I miss my mom.
Can you at 36 years old still miss your mom?
Is that legal?

Well, even though the sun is out this cabin has turned into an icebox.
I must go start a fire now to cozy things up in here.
Sure wish I was having this conversation face to face with those of you that might read and comment on this.
If we were, I would have already put the coffee pot on and the smell would be divine because...
Raven's Brew is what I am brewing these days. If you haven't had this brand of coffee go out... RIGHT NOW and get some.
It is Divine!



One more final thought and then I really am going to go , okay maybe two
I am reading;
Fiction-Salamander by Thomas Wharton
and
Non- Fiction-Follow Me to Freedom by Shane Claiborne and John Perkins
both great books so that alone makes me happy to have good books waiting for me late at night.

and really here it is my final thought...
New All Time Favorite Tea
Stash brand Licorice Spice, it's like dessert in a cup

Economy of Love- Latest Greatest in the book Department for Me

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed." Mahatma Gandhi

The King will reply, " Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matt 25:40

I am sitting here thinking about who might be "the least of these" in my neighborhood this morning?
I am thinking how do I go about helping "the least of these"?
Am I one of the "least of these"?
I don't feel like I am although, I know I live well below what America would deem the poverty level for a family of 6, I don't feel poor.
I know when I drive my kids over to friends houses that are significantly bigger than my own that there is a difference between the way I live and the way they live, but still I don't feel like they have more than me(well... maybe a second bathroom would be nice (JK) because honestly, my life is rich in so many, many other ways.
I feel rich in love and protection, health and hope from my Creator, love from my husband, love from 4 children, these are things I measure as far as what I have and what I don't have. My "have nots" list is pretty slim and really I feel as though I want for nothing!
I feel I have a lot to give in the love department, but only because of the love that has been given to me. I would venture to say that most peoples love banks are more bankrupt that this Country right now and that is where I feel rich.
SO, what can I do for "the least of these"?



These quotes and the one to follow are all still coming from the book, Economy of Love. They have got me thinking again about what it looks like to live communally and what it is that God might be asking of me now.

"I'm not anybody's savior; I'm just another vulnerable human being. To remember this fact was to be rescued from my own self-sufficiency and from an inflated sense of my own importance. This experience of seeing myself as one of the least was both painful and beautiful at once, which is often what it feels like to be ushered a step further into the kingdom of God."

Well, those are my big thoughts for today.
I pray I can turn them into more than words.

A Quote

"Among us English-speaking peoples especially do the praises of poverty need once more to be boldly sung.

We have grown literally AFRAID to be poor.

We despise anyone who elects to be poor in order to simplify and save inner life.

If he does not join the general scramble, we deem him spiritless and lacking ambition.
We have lost the power even of imagining what the ancient realization of poverty could have meant; the liberation from material attachments, the unbribed soul, the manlier indifference, the paying our way by what we are, NOT by what we have, the right to fling away our life at any moment irresponsibly- the more athletic the trim, in short, the fighting shape."
William James

I have been reading everything that I can get my hands on written by Shane Claiborne for quite some time now.
The most recent book that this quote came from is out of a workbook that goes along side a video titled, Economy of Love. I got the workbook first and read it quick. Then I went back and realized that almost every page was tagged for me to return to some day. You know you have your hands on a good read when the top corner of your book starts to fan out from all the folded corner tips. And that is what I have here. There were just so many good tid-bits I felt compelled to share. Thank you for obliging me in this.

So this above quote was just the first quote of many that got my attention. It reminded me of some things that God had stirred in my husbands heart quite some time ago and I was too afraid to admit that those stirrings might be prophetic.

He told me that he had a dream or vision that black birds were flying out of his eyes so quickly that he could no longer see. When interrupted the dream was said to be about our finances and us loosing everything of financial value. This scarred the crap out of me. It still does scare me. This was a dream given 1 year before we were to lose our home through a foreclosure.

Sitting here now, I am no longer afraid of losing everything because the funny thing is once you go through something like what we experienced last year you realize two things;

1 God is still on the Throne
2 We survived

I am not saying that I would wish what happened to us on even my worst enemy(of which I have none) but still we not only survived, I feel by the grace of God we thrived.
Why this was our story I am not really sure. I can only attest to God's grace that covered us like a big bubble in the midst of some of the hardest months that MoNoSco has ever faced.

More thoughts on this topic later

Facts for my 2011( or I guess some you could say are Resolutions)

Here I am re-capping the first week of 2011 and thinking, "WOW what a great week!" Okay, so only one week in does not = a great year already, but you know me, the eternal optimist that I am I think it really will be a great year.

In this year ;

I will have an official teenager in the house, one of my own this time. Not just one of those random teens that show up on my door step! That's right the Scofield's head into the official teen years on May 28th as Emma turns 13.

I will no longer be "forsaking" hanging out with some of the coolest people on earth on Sunday mornings just because I don't
feel like it, or my bed seems more attractive, or because truthfully I just don't want to be vulnerable. I am done with the theme song being "I am a Rock... I am an Island" so not true!

I will have only one child left that is NOT in double-digits, when Solomon turns 10 in October. This is a really, really big deal considering that some of my favorite people on earth are those that don't belong in the double-digit club!

I will reclaim not only my waist, but more importantly my physical health! I am over being lazy and carefree about what I eat. I am done not caring about myself because frankly, if I don't care then no one else will ! BBKH- here I come!

I will see my oldest sister Jenny get married to her "Mr. Brownskin" in June. And will be in the Brown state for that month as well :) Looking forward to this , really so much. WOW, what a treat this will be!

I will master the art of crocheting.

I will have lived 2 years outside the state that I was raised in. Some said,( Alyse Locke) we would be back after 2 years. We shall see!! Tempting for sure, happening probably not, sorry Weezer.

I will be going back to school in the Fall to finally, FINALLY get a stinking piece of paper that says I am an official teacher now ;)
Sheesh, that will change everything!! NOT!! But at least I will have the sense of accomplishment there that is long overdue.

Some of these you could call resolutions, some you could say are promises, and some of this is just plain hard-core FACT! I am one determined person so I am gonna go with FACT- this will happen! And then of course I do plan on doing the work that will make it so!

Generosity

“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” Luke 6:38

A few weeks back on Thanksgiving weekend I was asked by a homeless man for a little help and I ignored him. Hoping he would just go away, I turned a blind eye to his begging and thought he would get the clue. He didn’t. He continued to say, “I am just down on my luck and any little bit would help”. I didn’t hear this. I heard, I am just lazy and I don’t want to get a job, hold down that job, and pay my bills like every other grown-up. My deaf ears were gently interrupted when my 6 year old son reached into his pocket and gave the man what little change he had. I was angry at first that the man had begged so long, and so loud that it caught the attention of my 1st grader. But then later something happened. That man’s face stayed in my head and I kept hearing him say all the things I was thinking like, “I’m not a drug addict, or an alcoholic, I just hit some tough times”.

And then I realized,somewhere along the way I have stopped having a generous spirit.

It got me thinking about what a cynic I have become and why? I could say that it’s because I have come to my senses in my old age and am no longer taken for the fool with “those” homeless people. I could say that if I gave to every homeless person that stopped me in Seattle I wouldn’t be able to feed my own children with what was left. I could say that I am practicing tough love. But all of this would just be an excuse.

The reality is that a part of my heart has become hardened to the troubles of others. I have enough troubles of my own and at some point my capacity for “troublesome” life must have just gotten overloaded and hardened.
I know it seems cliche but this holiday season I am wanting a heart that is softer, kinder to those in need. Not just those in need of money but also those who might just need a friendly face, a hug, a listening ear. I know these are goals I can’t manage on my own. I know this will come with a change of heart and so I am asking My Creator for help.

This reminds me of a worship song;

“Purify my heart let me be as gold and precious silver.
Purify my heart cleanse me from my sin deep within.
Refiners fire, my hearts one desire is to be holy, set apart
for you Lord.
I choose to be holy set apart for you my Master ready
to do your will.”

Today as I sit and type this and remember that man on the street all over again, I pray a blessing over him. For although I didn’t give one at the time I am wanting to give one now, and I know God knows exactly who I am talking about. I also know that it is NEVER too late to have a change of heart.

Generosity.

What a beautiful word.

An Update In Pictures

Happy Holidays to all who are reading this, from our family to yours. SO thankful for the family and friends that keep up with me through reading this little blog here. To those of you who do mostly read these post for little updates, I know it's going to seem quite crazy, almost totally bonkers to read this post that includes a picture of the newest member of the Scofield family, right after I just posted a complaint about Bella. BUT don't judge me!



It seems the time is just flying by and I can hardly catch up to the rate at which time is traveling now.Can't believe Uncle Jeremy graduates this coming year, and that my daughter Emmers will be an official teenager soon. Jeremy if you are reading this, I am beyond words proud of you and can't wait to hoot, holler, and go crazy nutts on your graduation day.



This Thanksgiving we had the absolute pleasure of hosting 13 people at our dinner table. And what a table it was. When discussing with The Giant how we were going to fit all of these loved ones around our little IKEA table that we bought when we first moved into this tiny cabin he said, "Why don't I just build us a new bigger table?" This he said to me the day before turkey day and the same day that some of our company was arriving that night. I know better to question him on these things, my only concern was the timing.... because we all know timing on Thanksgiving day is everything. Well once again My Giant came to save the day. The New Table that Moses built the day before Thanksgiving is amazing. Still can't believe the skills that boy has.



And Finally the moment you have all been waiting for, Newest Member of the family; Barley Bambino Boo Scofield.

Bad Dog Bella!!

WARNING- venting ahead... ARRGHHH!!

Dear Bella,

If you continue to make HUGE messes for me by getting into the trash as punishment for us all leaving you in the morning, I will be forced to leave you outside, IN THE RAIN!!

Not really.

Sincerely,
CEO Scofield Home

Sidenote- I know that my dog doesn't actually read my blog but ... it just feels good to vent to someone, so thanks for being someone.

My Veteran's Day Tribute

I am sitting here watching the tail end of the CMA awards, and my brain just got thinking about Veteran's Day tomorrow and all things USA.

I am thankful for the day off of work.

I am thankful that I don't have to get up at the butt-crack of dawn to get my daughter off to Jr. High.

But so much more than that I am thankful for the Veteran's out there.

The Veteran that hit's home for me tonight is my Uncle Jimmy featured in the above picture on the left. (Sorry it's a small pic, but it's the only one I could grab in a hurry)

Uncle Jimmy fought in the Vietnam war, one of THE most unappreciated soldier's wars out there. In the midst of so much confusion and in a time when going to serve God and country was what was absolutely excepted of you, my Uncle Jim went to war.

He wasn't happy to go to war , to quote him he said "I am a musician not a mortician". And with that quote I couldn't agree more. War what a tragedy, but my Uncle Jimmy made the best of it. His stories astound me from this time in his life.

I can't speak for him, but I know the time he spent there was a time where he saw things that I know I can't even imagine, let alone even begin to write about.

For this sacrifice I say thank you Uncle Jimmy.

You are amazing.

YOU are inspiring.

You are loved.

You are appreciated.


I wish I could put into words all the love I have for you in my heart, but just know that this niece of yours is thinking of you tomorrow on Veteran's day.

Although to be a Veteran of any war is not a happy thing, to you I say Happy Veteran's day because I am happy you made it through the living hell that we call WAR!

Just Because

Just because....


I found this the other day

M + N

engraved on a tree stump outside our house.

It reminded me of a few years back when I found this cave man writing scribbled on a rock in San Gregorio.



It made me smile to think that after all these years

we are still making our mark as MoNoSco.

It made me smile to know that not only does my honey know that I love notes,
but he has given me notes that will last forever.

It also made me think what does M+N = equal ?

The obvious answer would be E+C+S+I

but beyond that what does it equal?

Moses was/is my life choice.

I chose him over college, over career, over parents, siblings, over everything and everyone.

I made a good choice.

Rebuttal to 1 year later

(Cabin in the woods where we are making new memories)

After my last pity-party post I felt I should quickly post a rebuttal.

I am thankful for my new neighbors here in Washington.


(Favorite row of trees this fall, but the picture doesn't quite do it justice)

Tonight we went trick or treating with our neighbors.
Neighbors from Russia, Brazil, Mexico, India, and L.A.



(Pea Patch Preschool class on Orange Day!)


It has taken some time to find our niche here in Redmond, but tonight actually made me feel like it is starting to happen.
Definition of Niche- " a place, employment, status, or activity for which a person or thing is best fitted b : a habitat supplying the factors necessary for the existence of an organism or species c : the ecological role of an organism in a community especially in regard to food consumption d : a specialized market"

It is an interesting thing meeting new people. We have been here in Washington a whole year now and this is just now starting to happen. There is just a glimmer of the beginnings of finding a niche here.

I am thankful for people who share their gift of hospitality with me and my family. There have been all kinds of gestures to welcome my family and I and for everyone of them I am thankful.
Whether it's a walk up my hill, a pie brought over, a free week pass at the gym, a birthday party, a night out , a night in, a book club, an invitation to anything cannot be overlooked when you are the new comer.



(Sol the cowboy, Friend Irene the Witch, and Isaiah The Hulk)

More now than ever I have realized that I want to cultivate my gifts of hospitality and make my home one that welcomes strangers.

Funny side-note, tonight while trick-or-treating I saw a welcome matt that said "GO- AWAY" it made me LOL :)
That matt would be the opposite of what I am trying to convey... still it is pretty dang funny!


(Pic of some branches on the Big Daddy Tree in our yard with some moss and just a speckle of sun)

I am thankful for new neighbors, second chances, new friends, new jobs, a new home, and a new lease on life.

1 year later

I had a total melt-down moment tonight.
It has been a start to finish beyond busy Monday.
The kind where you don't have time to really eat, pee, or even breathe!
From 6:30 this morning until almost 8p tonight I didn't have one single moment alone.
Then while waiting in the car for Sol to come out of Cub Scouts, all alone at approximately 7:55p, it hit me.
We have been living here in Washington for a year now.
I felt at that moment in the car alone with no one but me and my Creator a deep sigh of grief.
I breathed in and out, 3 long breaths and the floodgates opened up.

It's hard to believe that one year ago, I was arriving here in Washington with my family of 6 to live in a tiny little cabin in the woods. The Pacific Northwest still doesn't feel like home, but at least I don't feel like we are on just a really long vacation anymore :) Whether that is a good or a bad thing I don't know.
What I do know is that putting down roots in a new home takes some time. Time is something we mark with birthdays, holidays, and other such traditions. So this time of year especially always reminds me of a few things that are just not the same anymore.

Tonight I realized this time of year will never be the same anymore.
For a moment I had it really great.
Now I will just have to redefine great.
All of my immediate family living in one state as grown-up adults that was great.
Now great has to be at least that we all live here in the States again :) and also that none of us have passed away.
I can still call anytime I want to hear a voice on the other end and that is something great that I took for granted before, something really great is being able to hug my family whenever I want to. I just now have to buy a plane ticket to do it.

A good friend reminded me recently of the importance of grieving and so I guess that's what I am doing tonight.
I feel like I have been grieving for while now, and not just about moving away from all my family and friends, but about a lot of pain and sorrow that I have seen all around me.

I realize that this post is one that might get deleted because I don't usually like to grieve publicly.
I guess I have always been a private crier and therefore a kind of a private griever.
I think it mostly comes from not liking to be too vulnerable, but also because chances are after a good night sleep it will all feel so different in the morning.

Tonight though it feels good to cry.
I am crying over being too far away from friends and family.
I am crying over the struggles in marriages around me.
I am crying over the failing health of loved ones.
Over loneliness, brokenness, and despair that I see on the faces all around me.
And then over my own selfishness and humanity.
It feels selfish to cry when I have a roof over my head, my health, food in my belly, and the love of my amazing family, but still here I sit with tears and it really also feels SO good.

Happy 9th Birthday Solomon

Oh My, how you have grown.