my one thousandth blog post

I told Rory, "I think this whole blogging thing isn't just a passing fancy. I think I'm in it for the long haul." That was probably clear at post number three hundred. But I wrote another seven hundred posts just to be sure.

I started thinking about how cool it would be if I kept this thing up for another one thousand posts, and how technically, when I am sixty five, I could still be blogging. What an odd thought. Though I love having life documented like this and don't plan on stopping anytime soon.

Anyway, to commemorate my one thousandth post, I thought I would tip my hat to a few of my favorite blogs. These are the bloggers I look up to. These are the ones that inspire me to keep it up. I love the blogging community. Love being a part of others lives in this way. 

For example,

Elise Blaha is one of my favorite bloggers. She is full of imagination and diy projects. She makes me feel like I can try and accomplish anything new. I love that feeling. I have never met her, she doesn't know me at all, and yet I squealed when she recently posted that she is pregnant with their first. That is the crazy-amazing thing about blogging. The strange closeness you feel to the blogger after following their life through pictures and stories. I personally love this. 

Marta Dansie is another all time favorite. Marta is a stay-at-home mom and a graphic design artist. I read her blog long before Ivar was born and I so appreciate her happiness in being at home with her sons all day, her devotion to her husband and family and the way she paints homemaking in such a lovely light. I have learned a lot from her. 

Hootenannie. Love this blog. She is so funny, so adventurous and so, so honest. Can't say enough good things. Read this post if you're looking to laugh out loud. Funny, funny stuff. This post gives a good feel too.  I have never met Annie either, though just a few weeks ago I left a comment on her blog, she emailed and said she reads my blog and it turns out we have been following each others lives for years, while not knowing it. I adore her and her blog and was so flattered to think she reads this one!

The Forest Room is a blog that has actually transformed the way I see my future. I mean that. Sarah makes homeschooling look incredibly fun. And challenging. But so worthwhile. Her pictures are amazing, and the outdoor adventures she takes with her kids are inspiring. I may or may not home school one day (this feels far, far away) and we live in a great school district, but the creativity, imagination and intention she brings to her kids education makes me excited about teaching my kids, whether they go to public school or not.

Lisa Jo Baker. I am very new to this blog, but I can't get enough. Lisa has taken on the role of Cheerleader To The Mothers. She is a Christian who writes candidly about the hardships of motherhood, while shining a beautiful, encouraging light on how important and noble the call of the mom is. I feel understood when I read her blog. Like she's watched me in action and knows the parts of my duties that I struggle with. She's a good read.

And a quick word to you, faithful readers: I want to thank you for stopping by this blog so often. Truth be told, I would write on this blog if it was just my mom and sister reading (they had better read!) but it is so super fun to have such a great group of people reading what I write. I have always seen my life in stories, but since starting this blog Rory will often beat me to the punch saying, "oh, get a picture. this should go on the blog."

Here's to many more pictures and stories. Thanks for reading.

snowman

It took us seventeen minutes to get bundled and out the door with a few tantrums yelling, "no boots! no boots!" and crying over mittens that were hard to get used to.

It took us seventeen seconds to decide it was "too cold!" and time to go "back inside!"

So we came back inside and watched Daddo build a snowman, all by himself. This was thrilling. Ivar jumped back and forth on the couch stopping occasionally to look out the window while reporting to me excitedly, "Daddo! Outside! Snowman! Carrot!"

Easy Christmas Shopping

Hold onto your hats folks. This is a good deal.

I wrote about how Mrs. Groves, my 10th grade English and History teacher became my sister-in-law here. And in that telling I wrote about how I wondered what her singing voice would sound like. I wondered what kind of music she would write.

Well, fifteen years and ten albums later, I can tell you what Mrs. Groves' music sounds like. It is awesome and the writing often has me looking for the lyrics thinking, "did she really just sing a song about that? I can't believe she just put words to that..."

Sara and Troy are offering a really, super sweet deal this Christmastime. If you're looking for some great gifts for friends, family, teachers, or neighbors this is a great idea.

Right now all Sara Groves CD's are reallysupercheap. If you buy a couple. The breakdown goes like this:
1 CD for $15
2 CD's for $20
3 CD's for $25
...and then this: EACH ADDITIONAL CD IS ONLY FIVE DOLLARS!

So stock up!

Here is my plan.

I'm going to buy lots and lots of her Christmas CD: O Holy Night. This album is awesome. My favorite on this one is To be with You. And It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. And It's True. I actually could list the whole song list here. I really like this one. Couple this CD up with some homemade cookies, and you have one really thoughtful, lovely Christmas gift.

Then I'll get a bunch of Station Wagon CD's. Because this is the perfect gift for a new mama. And this CD with a little baby outfit would be a really classy shower gift. Favorite songs on this one: Beautiful Child and Especially when that baby is Mine. I'm actually off to Target in a minute and am going to dig this one out. I miss those songs right now!

Then I want a bunch of Fireflies and Songs on hand. This one is Rory's favorite. And I adore it too. Lots of songs are about marriage. I remember the first time I heard it I kept backing it up and thinking, "she really just said that. I am so glad she just named that." A really beautiful album, quieter, lots of piano. Beautiful. Favorite songs Love and From this One Place

I am about to list off every one of her albums. But I'll stop after this one. I really do need to get to Target. But this album is my favorite. Start to finish. Love it. I remember driving home from a writing workshop once and listening to Just Showed Up on repeat. Probably eleven times. Favorite songs on this one: Well, the whole thing. No kidding. But I will tell you my AbsoluteAllTimeFavoriteSaraGrovesSong is on this album: Kingdom Comes. Oh that's a good song. And strangely there is no youtube video for this one. (And there are some really odd handmade youtube music videos out there...)

I could list each one of her albums. I love each one, and they sort of each represent a season of my life...funny how music can do that.

Anyway, click on over to get your collection of great Sara CD's to give away this Christmas. And yes, I buy my CD's. I used to have a sweet hook up with my mother-in-law when she was fulfilling the CD orders...she'd give me all of the cd's with cracked jewel cases for free to give away. But now that she doesn't do the order fulfillment I proudly pay and support Troy and Sara! :) And seriously, for five bucks a CD, I'd be really lame not to.

How about you? What is your favorite album or Sara song?

the snowy day

 

 

 

We woke up yesterday to a winter wonderland. I lifted Ivar from his crib to look out the window and he wiggled down saying, "Oh! Snowy Day!" And went and got his book. We've been reading it all fall, telling him that one morning he would wake up and everything would be white.

So we went out after church and naps, made snow angels, dragged sticks, ate some snow (he looked at me amazed) and then he decided we needed some toys in the snow. He went to the garage and got his blue ball and digger truck and we sat in the snow and played with toys. A new snow activity for me.

Things took a turn when he got snow in his boot. And then it was time to go back inside. But we made things right with some warm, dry clothes and a mini mug of hot chocolate.

church shopping and hopping

                                                                                                                                             image source

When Rory and I lived in Montana we started attending a tiny Methodist church of earnest believers. The preaching was great, the community was warm and loving and the music left a lot of be desired. A lot. So much that on the way home from church I regularly let Rory know how hard it is to worship when the songs were sung like that. I let Rory know the songs I would have chosen instead. I let Rory know a lot of things.

Finally Rory told me I should get up there and lead the music myself. He said it sounded like I knew how to do it best.

A funny thing happened though. That guy leading the music, the one I had many opinions about...he reached out to us. In big ways. He always came to say hello after service. He and his wife invited us to their house for supper. Turns out he lived on the area ywam base and told us we should come for the weekly community worship. That guy, the one who I was so very quick to critique, became our friend.

Humble pie. Take a big bite, Becca.

I had a little transformation. Once I knew the heart behind that microphone I was endeared to this guy for trying. No one else was volunteering to lead the music. He was trying his best. He was brave. He was singing for an audience of one and leading us to do the same.

Since moving to our new place Rory and I have visited four area churches. And we've critiqued each one on the drive home. Because clearly we had arrived each Sunday morning to be catered to.

Finding a church is tricky stuff. Or it can be. A husband and wife come with their own church backgrounds, their own idea of what a fulfilling Sunday morning should feel like. Rory and I have talked about how there are four main components that make a church feel like a possible church home for us: the preaching, the music, the people and the children's programming. And if any of those are sub par then we might just take our church consumer selves and find a place that meets our every single need.

Well, good luck with that.

Today we stayed after service for an introduction to a church we've frequented since moving here. And they made a good clarification. God wants our commitment to the work of his kingdom. He doesn't want us to be consumers. He wants us to contribute.

Obviously I knew that. But I wasn't living it. Suddenly I saw the church for what I can bring to that place. Not with any huge ideas to change anything...but I realized what I have to contribute. I have a mouth. I can welcome people and introduce myself to a stranger. I have kids. I can sign up to work in the nursery once a month so the steady help in there can get into the service themselves. I have gifts. I can help.

I can contribute.

So we are parking our shopping cart. There certainly is a season to look around and find a good fit. And we took our time looking around. But then there is also a time to park it. To enter in. We have found a good group of people serving Jesus and striving to share His good news to the world and we're going to join in. We're done looking for a church. Now we're going to be the church.