Living on Purpose

I have always been a "vision" person. I have to know why I am doing what I am doing. Without having a "big picture" of my life, I can easily become sad, confused, and aimless. My husband knows that about every three months I'll say, "where are we going and what are we doing?"

It reminds of the verse that says "without vision, the people perish". I am definitely one of those people. I like to know that what I am doing matters. That it has significance in some way. That I am living life well and intentionally and in a way that I won't regret. I regularly envision myself being about 70 years old and looking back on my life...and having this backward-glance of my life helps me make better decisions as to how I want to spend my time now.

As I have thought about my purpose the past year or so, I have wrestled and questioned and wondered. I live a quiet life and sometimes that is unsettling to me. Sometimes I think I should be doing more or be overseas or something that sounds grand or spiritual. But this quiet life has taught me about faithfulness. To do the right thing when no one is watching. To serve the "least of these"...young ones under my feet. To live my life simply unto the Lord and not unto others or societal standards or internal/external expectations of the church. That He is glorified in my simple acts of service every day. He sees.

But I have also seen that he has placed in my heart two specific purposes for this time in my life. And these two purposes give me the sustainable vision that I need when those seasons of questioning come.

Loving God and Loving Others Through Homemaking and Hospitality.

Homemaking is the platform in which I am called to love...my gentle Savior, my dear husband and four little ones. It's also a place for me to grow and mature as a woman. To explore my creativity. To create beauty and order which grace my family. Homemaking is the most challenging job I can imagine...the myriad of tasks and hats and responsibilities and skills are incredible. And instead of viewing any of that as drudgery, I view it as a really fun challenge. Learning to decorate, sew, cook, plan, celebrate, preserve, nurture, tend, heal, help, transform, manage, delegate, steward... these are amazing and life-worthy tasks. A high calling. Rewarding and fulfilling. I am learning how to do new things all the time and I have never been so satisfied. Embrace your home and you will be embraced by it.

Hospitality is the platform in which I am called to love...my gentle Savior, my neighbor, my small group, the stranger, the acquaintance, the lonely, the discouraged, the seeking. I have always thought of ministry being somewhere else...away from the home and from family. But God has given me a home as a haven-place to bring others in. To love them where they are. To welcome and receive. To offer and to listen. To be myself and to invite others to be themselves. It's not necessarily about grand meals or spotless floors (although I love grand meals and spotless floors :) but about community and connection and authenticity. We reach the world by starting with our neighbor. We can reach the world through having an international student over for a meal. We reach the world by inviting "the world" over for a simple meal.

So when I get my vision panties in a wad, I now come back to these two simple callings. Am I being faithful where I am right here and right now? Am I blooming where I am planted? Am I reaching my fullest potential by loving God and others through my home and hospitality? Am I learning and growing in these areas instead looking for so-called greener pastures?

I love being around people who are passionate about what they do. It's contagious. I want others who are around me to be inspired and encouraged towards living well and intentionally in their callings. And I pray that when we are seventy, we can look into each other's eyes and say "well done, friend!"... knowing that our dear Father in heaven is readying to tell us each that very same thing.


photo by Andrew.

Frayed Edges

My soul seems to have frayed edges today. I feel undone and unraveled. Misty eyed and tired. Too much of election drama that has left me disillusioned and almost unwilling to vote for either. Too much economic turmoil which leads to stirrings of fear and panic. Too many voices. Too many opinions. Too much confusion. Too many distractions.

My husband and I were talking about all of the world happenings earlier this morning on the phone. His soul is weary and tired from it all and he decided on a self-imposed media fast beginning now. I immediately chimed in that I would follow him in that decision. No more news shows or online news until the election night. I found encouragement here and here that others feel the same way as I do and are saying "enough!"

I need to take my time back into my own hands and enjoy the daily beauties of my life. The turmoil in the world has distracted me from really seeing all the daily blessings God is granting all around me...pumpkins and pretty leaves and giggly toddlers and health and friendships and good food. The election rumblings have distracted me from the sureness and sovereignty of God and His unchanging promises to me as His child. There is nothing to fear. Truly. And only good to gain from His hand. Even if it seems disguised at times.

So here is to living in the now and not in the what-if. Mindful of daily grace. Looking for beauty and His steady hand. Focusing on loving others and loving Him. Respecting all. Asking for wisdom. Giving Him glory in all things. It's the only way to live...especially in times like this.


photo by clementine's shoes

Laundry Stuff

I love all-natural detergents. No overpowering scents of artificial flowers or the headache smell of bleach. Nothing toxic I need to concern myself about. No potential damage to the environment. Just the great creativity of a person or company to take what nature has already given us and convert it into something useful that will help keep my clothes clean.

My recent favorite has been the Mrs. Meyer's Baby Blossom for my laundry detergent. The scent just makes me want to go snuggle with my kids and brings out the mama-nurture instinct in me. And that's always a good thing. They sell it here at Bed, Bath, and Beyond so that's what I use their constant barrage of coupons for. A bottle of detergent is $11.99 so I love taking in the "spend $30 and take $10 off" coupon and coming out with three bottles for almost the price of two. It works for me.

I also love the Mother Natural baby stain remover (link not working!). It removes every stain I have ever put the stuff on. And it's not expensive either and lasts a long time. You could probably find it in your local health food store.

Today I bought a trial package of Maggie's Soap Nuts. I can't wait to try these things!! Soap nuts are the dried fruit of the Chinese Soapberry tree. You take a handful and put them in a cotton sack...tie a knot and put it in your washer. The bag of nuts should last for five washes and then you refill. It says that they have been "tested by humans on humans for 2500 years". Sounds proven to me! Easy on the earth and easy on the body...key ingredients in the products I desire. And as a side note, I love reading the ingredients on ultra-earthy packaging...on these soap nuts it says "Ingredients: Chinese Soapberries, cotton wash sack, and Love." I'll take some Love :)

And don't forget about dryer balls. These are a good alternative to fabric softener sheets that have cancer-causing chemicals in them. They reduce drying time, minimize wrinkles and can be used as a stand-in toddler toy.

What are some of your favorite all-natural detergents?


photo by McMorr

Holiday Preparations

If you want to begin to make gifts for others for the holidays, you really need to begin now. At least the planning, list-making, contemplating part. I had fun making a gift-giving list on Friday and feel like I have a great game plan. That plan means that I can begin purchasing the supplies that I need now while I can find them on sale. If you need a place to find some great ideas, this link and also this one will start the creative juices flowing with all of their wonderful ideas!

With these crazy economic times and the wisdom of spending with cash, it makes good sense to make some simple yet meaningful gifts. Not to mention the joy that comes with creativity and the message of care that a handmade gift brings.

And it may be also time to prep your home for the holidays...slowly but surely. Declutter old toys and clothes. Repair things. Stock up on batteries. Prepare storage/organization solutions. Give thought and care to how your home can be a place of hospitality and service during the holidays. Planning a little bit now can ensure a meaningful, stress-less holiday season where you celebrate the way you REALLY want to and not by the demands of the culture, advertising, etc.

So now I am off to continue making wellness baskets for many teachers and family...filled with these goodies, some hot teas and dark chocolate. And some library totes for children with their names embroidered on the front with a book tucked inside. Gifts that I pray will nourish and inspire.

What are your gift-giving plans this year??


photo by sleepy terry

Stitch School

I have been busy embroidering again. And I love it.

I found this darling pattern and wanted it on this dishtowel-turned-sewing machine cover. I used my standard stitches like the back stitch, split stitch, and stem stitch...along with a few lazy daisies and french knots. But I was intrigued by the wheatear stitch and found this wonderful stitch school.

So if you are like me who is adding embroidery to any bit of cloth that moves, then learn some wonderfully-lovely vintage-y stitches that you may not have tried before. Learning new things is good for the mind, the fingers, and for the soul :)

Happy Stitching!

Parenting By The Golden Rule

I have been slowly reading Gary Chapman's book "Love As A Way Of Life" and he gives seven character traits/actions of loving people...

kindness
patience
forgiveness
courtesy
humility
generosity
honesty

Then this morning as I was reading Colossians, these words in Chapter 3 really jumped out at me:

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.

As I have been thinking about so many ideas that I hear about "Biblical Parenting" and "training Godly children", I am always rubbed and chafed and saddened by much of what I hear. So much of these "Godly principles" sound incredibly angry and harsh and controlling. Not much grace, not much compassion, not much of anything resembling that verse in Colossians. And if that's the way that God is and wants me to be, then I find myself running in the opposite direction (or succumbing out of deep fear!)

I have had a real sense of the Lord's discipline in my life the last few years...His allowing consequences in my life for choices that I made that did not honor Him or others. But His kindness is what continually leads me to repentance...and His gentleness and guidance along the painful path was sure and absolute. I have felt deeply loved and cared for and tended to by Jesus the last few years and yet I know that He has been a faithful parent to allow the pain so that I won't make these choices again.

I have been thankful to have been exposed to gentle mothers along the parenting path and great books that have shown me and challenged me to respect my children on the path of discipline and treat them the way that I want to be treated. No verse helps me more in parenting than the Golden Rule. And my kids hear me ask them daily how we are to treat others (namely their siblings!)...their response? "The way that I want to be treated."

I am far from being this kind of mom. I pray all throughout the day for a greater understanding of how God parents me so that I will be that kind of mother to my kids. And the more I get to know Him, the more I see that He is all of those beautiful Colossians traits in abundance when it comes to parenting me. As I sense His love and grace and patience in deeper ways, the more that love, grace, and patience bubbles over to my children without my even "trying".

My heart is to treat my children the way that I want to be treated by the Lord and others. My heart is to treat my children like I would my dearest friends. Not to excuse fleshly tendencies and selfish ways, but to recognize their youth and immaturity and see that of anyone children need more understanding and compassion and grace as they learn what it means to love God and love others. Gentle teaching, firm boundaries, inspiring stories, and compassionate course-correction will go far to secure trusting relationships with our young ones...and then the prayer is for the Grace of that trusting relationship to transfer to their relationship with their Heavenly Father as they move into adulthood.

I don't have a lot of parenting answers or very helpful how-to's. But I do know the kind of mother I want to be. One who loves my children as a way of life and gives my children a glimpse of the kind of magnificient, lavish-loving Father that He is.


photo by janoid