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so pretty.

March 27, 2013

i have a fabric addiction.
i bet this is not news to you.
i am so thankful that i have found a way to be able to feed my addiction through my job. :)

i can use it for craft weekend.
i can use it for my shop.

although i order a lot online (hawthorne threads and fabric.com) my favorite way to buy it is in person.
there is something about seeing the colors with my own eyes… feeling how soft it is… putting it together with other patterns… it gets my creativity going.

i thought maybe you would like to see what i chose last week at Sarah's.

my love runs deep.

🙂

craig and i had a discussion about "art" last week.
we discussed what inspires us… art or not.
he and i are very different and that is totally fine.
the things that inspire him, do not inspire me and the things that inspire me, do not inspire him.
it was interesting to talk with him and learn more about him.

because in my brain… color and pattern and texture is supreme.

i can barely read books or concentrate sometimes on certain things because i am thinking about creating.

i see these patterns and i want to draw.

i see these colors and i want to paint.

i feel this fabric and i want to sew.

i am at a restaurant and i notice the shape of the light fixtures or the tile on the floor.

i see a sunset and i notice what colors are in it and where they meet and blend.

i LOVE these things.
i thrive on these things.
i get antsy when i am not able to find it… like gray winter days stuck in the house.

and it's fascinating to learn that other people do not think this way… and then what does make them tick?

where do they find that inspiration? what makes them happy or brings joy or satisfaction?

isn't it amazing how we are all so different and unique?

i love that God did not make us the same.

and that He gives us people in our worlds who understand us.
or that may not understand but can appreciate the gifts we each were given for our own life.
such a blessing.

Thanks God for color and pattern and ART!

what are you thankful for?

where does your inspiration meet joy in your heart?

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Penny Smith - Have you been to a “Love and Respect” conference? It was really good. Great two days. We do pretty darn well, but what they had to say helped us still! And yes. We are VERY different!!
All that fabric was wonderful-I ESPECIALLY love the wood grain!

Robin - Inspiration feeds the soul – as does your blog which is one of two that I look forward to looking at every day! No matter what – I have to see what’s up at whatever!
It’s funny you talk about inspiration – I have been mired in the muck of taxes and paperwork and “quicken” for the last ten days and am usually a right brain gal so I desperately needed a creative “fix” today. On the way to the supermarket I veered left into the Michael’s parking lot and literally, just SLOWLT walked up and down every aisle simply LOOKING for an hour. I didn’t need or want anything. I just wanted to see color, materials, inspiration. It filled me before I went to do the week’s grocery shopping and a sense of peace and calm came over me as I investigated glitter, paint, silk flowers, and such. It was completely frivolous, and pure joy. All I bought were some lime green paper straws. For someday. A lunch with friends? I imagine cutting out flower shapes and gluing Daisies to the straws…with lemonade or iced tea……
Thank you for always being an inspiration!

Wendy - Love these fabric pics! I tried to go to Sarah’s once when we were in Lawrence and it was closed. 🙁 Wonh wonh I love your pics.

rosewoodfloral@hotmail.com - Meg, I love how you put into words the things that make your heart sing…I am so aware of all the little things that make up this whole beautiful world too…. My hubbie sees almost none of what I see…he likes to be in the woods. He likes to hear birds and the crackling of leaves as critters move underfoot. I like those things too, but I would be noticing how the sun’s rays are shining thru the trees, how the patterns on the bark are spectacular, finding a kodak moment in just about everything I looked at. Hardly a day goes by that I don’t take photos, cause there is just so darned much beauty all around us and I want to preserve it!
love your blog~

denise@victory rd. - i think if you found fabric for me that would inspire me. you could be my personal fabric shopper. 🙂
i do love that God made us all so unique. it would be boring if we were all alike.
it is important that we value our unique differences and celebrate them (as you do here).

Flower Patch Farmgirl - Woops.

Flower Patch Farmgirl - FOR THE LOVE, make this sister a skirt with that first peony and the gray stripes. OR the second peony fabric and the green/white stripe. (It’s your fault for pairing them up!) See how accommodating I am? I give you options!

Blanche - Love the bicycle fabric. Who made it?

Jenny B. - So true. I went to an education seminar a while back where the speaker talked about the different ways boys and girls learn and see the world (like literally, with their eyes). One thing he mentioned was that most girls see color and texture, while most boys see lines and movement. God made us different. 🙂
Digital scrapbooking really gets me going. I stay up late creating pages, and when I finally go to bed, I lie down with a smile on my face and tell God thank you for all the pretty colors. 🙂 That’s when I’ve felt successful. When I’m struggling to make my photos and the papers and do-dads come together, I gain appreciation for God’s creativity and the fact that he SPOKE the world into being. I sometimes wish I could look at my blank computer screen and say, “Let there be a colorful, heart-warming page for my four-year-old’s birthday,” and there it would be. Ha. 🙂 I read a post recently about creativity and how we can know it matters to God, and I loved what she had to say:
http://karapaslaydesigns.blogspot.com/2013/03/design-does-it-really-matter.html

GardenOfDaisies - I’m here visiting from Jemm’s. What gorgeous fabrics. Love this explosion of color and pattern. It will be interesting to see what you make with them. I love all the wonderful color in the world, too, but I also find a lot of comfort and serenity in gray days. I think it’s my way to recharge.

Jen - YOU inspire me! Your blog, all that colour, you help me through the blah! Spring inspires and being still stuck under piles of snow D O E S N O T H E L P! Flowers, tree buds, all living things, all things imperfect and time worn, dilapadated old houses…I want to fix them ALL up and bring colour and cheer to the world. And I have a mean fabric collection too…which I don’t do enough with, but it keeps growing!

Melissa - My 4-year old niece watches tv and during every commercial for kids items, she says “WANT THAT”. This is what I said looking at your fabric. WANT THAT. WANT THAT. LOVE it!

Angela A - I too love fabric–and finally figured out I could make quilts to use it. And have a reason to buy more. I buy a lot online with good sales but also try to go to the stores, especially to see new lines and the larger scale prints. It’s harder to see those online. I am inspired by the fabric, the colors in them, by nature and travel, seeing new patterns, textures, color combos, and people. I am inspired by blogs and real life houses, seeing how others use color and decorate in new ways. I also spent a long time staring at the lamp over my table at Chuy’s trying to figure out how to make it.

Jen - Thank you so much Penny! It was an amazing day with God at the very center!

roganne - such beautiful fabrics! how could i possibly go to sleep now when i want to create something! i too have a deep joy in my heart for creating things…giving new life to something that is unwanted…planting seeds and watching them grow. He made me a nester! and i love Him for it!

jodie - Love the fabric-great choices you made there!!
me, i am thankful for the….honeycomb pattern…gets me every-time….what a great design created by the creator…so glad he thought of it so I could be mesmerized!!!(not to mention the little creatures that help make it -so amazing!)

Kelly - I love the bicycles on the white and both peony/cabbage rose? prints. I too love color and pattern and texture and notice things like tile and light fixtures. i love that my husband appreciates that about me and knows it about me. He has an eye for the visual in photography and such but also is inspired by other things as well. I am also inspired by breezes. Moving air and water are both a big deal to me. Kelly

Sharla - I thought I had spotted bike fabric – NEED now! Thanks

Kimberlee Jost - Where joy meets my heart:
The beach.
Barnes and Noble.
Recipes.
That one fabric. You know the one.
Greenhouses full of flowers.
Cheese.
Wine.
Bread.
Europe.
Love.
You get the idea. 🙂

kerry - Oh that bicycle fabric is just GORGEOUS!!!!! I’m in love 🙂
I’m inspired on a daily basis by others who fill their blogs and therefore my mind and heart, with colour, love & happiness! *wink, wink, nudge, nudge*
Kerry x

happygirl - I love that God made us all different, too, at least in the things that inspire us. I’m super glad for God’s love and forgiveness, too.

Danielle - Great fabric choices,I saw at least ten that I want right now! Sunny days, being outdoors, color, textures, pattern and my kids all inspire me:)

sharon - I am thankful for all of our senses that God blessed us with! At the moment im thankful for the wonderful fabric eyecandy youve shown us! Wow! Thankyou!

Stephanie - Oh my. There is such beauty here! I totally get what you’re saying about color and pattern and texture. I LOvE color. But since I can’t draw or paint I tend to want to express it through photography and sewing (when I have the patience). There are not many things I can get lost in, but photography of nature is one of them.
Thanks for always creating beautiful blog posts!

Jack - I always find your blog and your love and use of colour so inspiring! I always look forward to reading your blog posts and looking at your lovely colourful photos!

Stephanie Talty - Love the bicycle fabrics!!!

C - I get what inspires you. I worked in retail for 20 years and my favorite thing was to do the merchandising. Creating displays with the products and making clothing/fabric look like other things to creat the atmosphere in the space. Now I see colors and supplies and want to create. I also notice the light fixturea and tiles…i think my husband thinks I’m crazy sometimes, but he has his things too. Thinking outside the box is so much fun…CREATE!

Penny - Jen, what a beautiful wedding your family put together! You can see the look of pure joy in your daughter’s face.

Lora - Yes! I don’t “get” people who don’t notice things like… flowers, colors, furniture, gardens, home decorations, pictures, wind chime sounds, paint, textures, turquoise! 🙂 I don’t know how these people live in this beautiful world!? But, you’re right, God made us all different. I’m glad he made me this way though.

Lindsey - I too am inspired by fabric and color. I smiled when I saw your fabric choices – many were the exact same as I have bought lately! Love them! I feel the need to create everyday, even if it is something small. I am thankful that I have the opportunity to do so.

Tracy - Aaaahhh…what a beautiful post! I’m thankful for books to read and knowledge to learn! God is good 🙂

Jen - These are lovely! I am 45 years old and am just finding my “inspiration”! I was forced (by budget contraints!) to do a lot of creating and sewing for our daughter’s wedding last year. I found that I LOVED it and I’m starting to gear up to do my first scrappy quilt! I can’t wait! I’m wondering if you have a “target price” for your fabrics? Do you try to get them below a certain price per yard? Do you wait for sales? Do you use every last scrap? Just being nosy!
On another topic: we had Lynnette’s creamy ham and noodles for dinner last night. Always a YUMMY hit at our house! Thanks for sharing.
Jen
P.S. Proud momma moment: our daughter’s wedding (that I had to get “my craft on” for was featured on the fabulous wedding blog, Style Me Pretty, if you’d like to take a peek! It was SOOO much work but worth every second for the amazing day God gave us!
http://www.stylemepretty.com/2012/12/05/gettysburg-bb-wedding-by-abby-caldwell-photograph/

Heather Simnitt - I am inspired by God’s creation. I love the beauty of a sunrise, a sunset, the mountains, the beaches, the prairies. Flowers and water and all the gorgeous things God chose to place in our world – totally sets us apart from the other planets, KWIM? How you feel about fabric and art – it’s how I feel about travel. Some people don’t get it. I’m not looking for a continuous vacation from life….I want to explore, learn, and take in the magnificent creation that God blessed us with. I think about where to go and what to see and do all the time. We no sooner come home from a trip before I am inspired by what we saw to want to go out and see some more…plan another trip….look into exploring this amazing sphere!

Jenn - I completely agree! We are all so different. I’m thankful for those that love numbers, my husband gets them. I find them boring. But we need number people. I love creating. I definitely gravitate towards others that are like me. And those that aren’t, I try to convert them…hehe.

Jen - Super love the bicycle and wood grain fabric…

angela - My seven little grands….nothing gives me energy and happiness like spending time with them!

Seriously Sassy Mama - I am thankful for color. Especially color in paint and ceramics. I am thankful for dishes. They make me happy!

Mary - There is not a single pattern or color here I do not like! Color sends me too. My husband is a financial planner…my eyes glaze over when he begins to excitedly explain to me a plan…it does take creativity to do what he does…it’t just different! I am learning to actively listen…lol.
The top of my list for inspiration is color, design, pattern, books, lets not forget books…I love pulling all those together…I love arranging and re-arranging rooms…I love working in my journal and showing women how to take their first steps in using visual journaling as a way to connect with God in new ways and exploring their hearts with color, image and word!
Yes, thank God for all the ways he enables us to be creative…he provided unlimited ways to express ourselves didn’t he…
Meg, I love coming to your blog, daily. I am always inspired, encouraged and always get a punch of glorious color! Your beautiful heart shines brightly here.

Jill - Oh my! We are kindred spirits! I am exactly the same way. You should see my fabric collection. I just like to look at it! I have to stay away from the fabric stores… and there are some fun ones here in Omaha….because I can’t go in without walking out with a bag full of inspiration!
On another note. I have been a blogger for a long time… however, some life changing things have happened in the past couple of years causing my blogging to come to a complete halt. Anyway… I am ready to hop in again. Visiting you always makes me smile and inspires me so much. I want to thank you for that. I am ready to move forward again. I miss that creative outlet so much. I just hope people will find me again.
Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!
And by the way…. you are just too darn cute!!! And I love reading about your beautiful family!

shar y - Great question and beautiful post! I am thankful that I can see beauty in so many places. Just this morning, on the way to work, I was admiring the sunrise glow in the sky and how the light posts on the freeway looked so cool in front of that glow. It was so pretty!

Linda - So beautiful! Makes me happy to see all the colors and brightness. Grateful for all our differences! Have a happy day!

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twenty nine.

January 18, 2013

i kind of threw everyone for a loop when i just casually mentioned i would be traveling to Haiti next week.
as in… everyone.
my own mother texted me within minutes "WHAT!? WHY don't you tell me these things?"

all day my friends were texting me asking "how did i miss this?"
they didn't.

i think i had mentioned it to three people.

total.

it was a coping mechanism.
i knew it was coming but i also knew i had a very busy month and needed to get through it one thing at a time.
so craft weekend january is done and now it is time to think about going to Haiti.

i am nervous deep down. for my heart to break. for my world to be rocked again.
but i am not scared.
i am aching in my heart already because once you SEE and KNOW… you see and know.
it doesn't go away.
you can't UNSEE it…. and that is major.

so here we go.

i am going with Becky Straw and Jody Landers. (they are the two women in the video)

i have not met Becky yet but i am stoked about finally getting to meet face to face.

Jody was the team leader from the trip to Sierra Leone, Africa a few years back (so sad that it's been years)

there are a few others going along that i will meet there too.

we will be documenting stories and photos of the stove vendors that are part of The Adventure Project.
i am SO excited!!
i don't have any idea even where to begin with the emotions in my heart about it all.
i feel like i cried my way through africa…. it was a lot of crying.
and i hope i can be a little more composed on this trip.

hmmmmm.

pray for me ok?
that i will have a servant's heart and mind.
that i will see what God wants me to see… not necessarily with my eyes.
that i would listen when i need to listen and keep quiet when i should.

and that there will be no speed boats. (just kidding)

i would LOVE to reach my goal of 50 stoves sponsored in the next 7 days.

i would actually truly love to exceed my goal and i would really like your help.

i need 29 more stoves sponsored to reach my goal.

each stove is a $20 donation.

twenty dollars.
that is…. a disney dvd. a new cardi from target. ONE earring at anthro.

twenty dollars can provide so much good!

{{{sigh}}}

Give a Stove this Holiday – The Adventure Project Campaign on Vimeo from The Adventure Project on Vimeo.

twenty nine more stoves.

i am fully aware that a stove won't change the world.

(but... will your cardi?)

i am not trying to "save the world."
i am trying to help where i can and when i can.

the leading cause of death is from breathing smoke while their mothers cook their meal?!
oy.

lets help to change this.

thank you for helping reach my goal of 50 stoves.

if you sponsor THREE stoves your name is put in with all the others who sponsored 3 stoves and we will draw one name to win a trip to Haiti!
seriously?!
you would get to see it all with your own eyes.
i get to help pick the winner!
wouldn't it be so rad to see that YOU won?!
life changing.

but one stove is awesome.
it's super amazing.

and so much better than a cardi.

(that says a lot coming from a cardi collector….)

SPONSOR A STOVE TODAY. 🙂

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lola - sounds like an incredible trip. wow.
when you said “unseeing” is not an option, that’s powerful.
be safe.

Shara - Will for sure be praying for you and the team going. Thank you so much for your obedience to the Lord and your call to action for His followers!

ira lee - i just went to haiti in august of 2012 and it was the best experience EVA! i went with a group of friends from church. we flew into port au prince and stayed the whole week in leogone at life waters compound. we worked at an orphanage there and completely fell in love with it all! we had sketchy power, no working bathrooms after day 2, no showers (we did bucket baths just like the locals), drank warm water all day and we so hot sweaty and smelly! but i went with some of my dearest friends, the chemistry between us was so unique and that is exactly why i think the trip was so magical. we were there spreading the word of god, loving on orphans, playing with them, letting them know that they are loved. i wanted to scoop them up and take them home with me. in fact my fiance at the time told me to not sneak a baby into the luggage on the way home! i met a darling couple from here in arkansas, he was a kidney doctor and she a stay at home/home school mom. they were lead to move their family to haiti and open an orphanage there to help with the burden. hope rising childrens home was born and you can check them out at http://www.hrch.org. its amazing!!! i was moved by so much! i am certain that i gained more from the experience than what i gave. my friends are going back, some even twice this year and i cannot join them and that makes me want to cry!!! i will never ever forget it and even to this day, i am moved by how little they have yet how happy they were. that trip has taught me to be thankful, appreciate what i have, love deeply, and want little.

Monique U. (A Half-Baked Notion) - Congrats on your project, Meg, and prayers for you and everyone whose lives you will be privileged to touch!

Laura - Our Compassion child that we’ve sponsored for the last 5 years lives in Haiti and I hope some day to meet him!!!! His name is Frantz, if you see him tell him I said hello 😉

Tonya - So excited for your trip and project. Looks like you’ll meet that goal!

Tesi - So excited to meet you, Meg! (I’ll be heading there too in 2 days.) I feel much the same way you do. Amazing work rallying your blog readers! Love to you.

the.mrs - 171 Stoves so far!!! A-ma-zing!!

Sarah - Prayers for you.
I can’t imagine…. as you said, seeing it can’t be undone, and that is scary.
Glad you are going, and I know so much good will be done because of that.

Kim - My 21 year old daughter & he boyfriend traveled to Haiti last summer to build block houses. They stayed for a week in missionary home in Carrefour. She said that it was the most life changing experience & helped her with her journey to become closer to God. They will be traveling there this summer again to build. She cries every time she talks about her trip there & the sweet children she met. Once you go there you will want to return. I made my donation at Christmas for a stove. Many prayers Meg <3

Angie G. - Hi, Meg! Miss you guys already. How awesome that you´re going to Haiti. You know it´s our neighbor country and we know how tough life is overthere. Here in the Dominican Republic things are hard, but in Haiti is sooo much worst. It so sad. My church goes to Haiti a few times each year to help too. I´ve never gone…. maybe someday I will. I´ll be praying for you… hope you a have a great time getting in touch with God´s heart through this expirience. A big hug from the Dominican Republic!

Kerstie Pederson - Was going to go to Target this am and spent some extra Christmas money……. I just bought a stove instead. Much better use of some “fun money”. Can’t wait to see what you show us.

Routhie - Have fun and good luck with your overflowing emotions. Thanks for posting about this opportunity to help. Much love and safe travels to you and the others.

Ashley - Can I hide in your bag? So excited for you. Seriously, SO STINKIN’ excited for you.

Jamie - Glad I could help… You rock!

Angela A - Oh my! My eyes completely missed you posting you were going to Haiti. I need to read better, quit skimming so much. How wonderful! Praying for you now and for the weeks ahead, even after you get back. My son and I hope to go in a few years.

Kait - I went to Haiti for the first time as a teenager. It changed my entire life. How could I complain about my parents being unfair with my curfew when at least my parents were there, and they had fed me, and given me a roof, and we were a family and things were safe? I went back twice more as a teen, giving up my summer vacations to live and work in orphanages.
That’s why when I met my husband, on our very first date, I told him I wanted to adopt. We have four kids now, none from Haiti because of their rules, but my time spent there has shaped me and my life in ways I can’t even begin to explain.
It will rock your world. It has been eight years since the last time I was there and it still rocks mine. I am so excited to see how God shapes your heart through your visit.

denise@victory rd. - 3 stoves.
the line, “that i will see what God wants me to see… not necessarily with my eyes” … yes!
i thank God that His Spirit WILL cause you to see all he has in mind for you. i pray for His continued glory in you and through you- here on the blog, there in Haiti, and in “whatever” you do in the name of the LORD (Col 3:17).

Denise Kessler - Oh, Meg…you are so right about preparing your heart. Our family has sort of adopted some young Haitian men that I met on a mission trip 2 years ago. I fell in love with the Haitian people, but on my first trip, I could barely eat and I cried for all 9 days. I just could not understand how God would allow me to be born to “this” and them be born to what they have.
I am thankful to say, it changed my life…and I am sure it will change yours as well. I love your heart and especially how you share it with the world!

Sonja - THANK YOU for telling us about the Adventure Project! I just gave my husband a stove for Haiti for his birthday. 🙂
He’s the kind of guy who’ll get excited about this… and I’m still making him a cake.
I’ll remember you in my prayers. Go bring hope and happiness to Haiti!

Monique - My neighbor is an amazing girl. She co-founded the organization Little Footprints Big Steps and has been living in Haiti for the last 2 years since she graduated high school. She runs a safe house for children and she is only 20 years old! I am so overwhelmed when I think of her and I thought you might be interested in checking out the organization.

Regina - Just donated a stove and am glad you gave us this opportunity to do so. Praying for safe travels, great health, and many blessings for the trip ahead!

Heidi Jo the Artist - Praying for you, Becky, Jody, and the others that travel there as well. God’s many blessings to you guys and all those that are doing the work of the Lord. 🙂

Kirsten J - I don’t know if I told you this before….my brother worked at the US Embassy in Abidjan, Ivory Coast for 4 years. And the stories he told absolutely broke my heart. Every time he came home, I loaded him up with stuff for his housekeeper and the street urchins he had taken under his wing, and his armed guards. I’m an empath and I would get so depressed just thinking of it all. And the thing he kept telling me was, there wasn’t enough I could do to change their reality. I needed to take care of my house first, then give to my local charity of choice, and still it was ok to give him stuff for his African friends. But I could only do so much. I still give to various charities but try to distance myself just a little. You are golden. To actually walk the walk is amazing to me. Hugs and prayers for a trip where you may feel uplifted. You will make a difference.

nicole i - just sponsored 3 stoves…wow isn’t God good…your goal has been met and you have 7 more days!

Angela Storm - Check out the song “Albertine” by Brooke Fraser! I immediately thought of it when you wrote, “…you see and know.” A line in the song says, “Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.” I will definitely be praying for you and your team members and your family, in your absence. God bless, Meg.
And one earring at Anthro…. YES. Very yes.

gina mitchell - I love your writing and your heart.

Jessica H. - I just bought the 90th stove! So excited to see how far beyond the original goal you will reach. Trips like this are life-changing, eye opening, and pull on your heart strings like no other. So do newborn babies…I have one of those :)….but I’m glad I can donate in lieu of getting to experience a trip like yours firsthand. I pray for safe travels and for you to embrace the moments that are molding you as well as those you are helping!

Taryn - So proud of you, friend, for allowing yourself to continue to live in the tension of this broken world! I have no doubt you will not only be a blessing but be blessed as you walk among some of those closest to Jesus’ heart. Will be praying and look forward to hearing about it when you’re back. Love ya!

Jen - What part of Haiti will you be going to? My husband is with a group in Pignon right now. They are helping out at a school and working on buses and vans while they are there. The ladies that went will be putting on a ladies seminar. I can’t wait to hear how his trip went. I wish I could have gone with him. He will be back home on the 27th.

Gina - “you can’t UNSEE it.” Wow! So so true. Prayers for you. 🙂

Judy@Considering the Options - Meg thank you for the prompting! I just donated your 80th stove!!! Way to go! Our family was just dreaming in the car last night about what we would do if we won the $70 million jackpot (we’d have to play to win I guess). I love that everyone wanted to do something for someone else. Then I got to thinking, we can do that on a small scale right now. I don’t have a million dollars to give to a charity the way I would like. But, I do have $20 I can give to buy a stove. I bet it’s like a million dollars to the family that will receive it:)! That makes my heart happy.
Good luck on your adventure – can’t wait to be moved by your account of it all!

Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails} - I had to laugh when you said $20 would buy ONE earring at Anthro. So true! 🙂 Praying for you as you prepare(emotionally and in the physical) to go down there. I can hardly wait to get down there in just a few months.

Lisa - So excited for your trip!! It’s been way to long since I’ve been on a mission trip. Love everything you wrote. Once you see and know, you see and know. So true!! Life changing! Praying you get all the stoves and more!

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let’s do this.

January 15, 2013

it's been three years since the earthquake in Haiti.
and then this year 70% of the crops in the South of Haiti were ruined by Hurricane Sandy.
it has been extremely hard for Haiti.

through The Adventure Project we continue to be able to help.
we have been able to provide funds to make the charcoal efficient stoves afforable to the poor.

for just $20 you can help in Haiti!

you can help families cook food in a more afforable way (less charcoal) and improve the toxic smoke in the air and protect the environment all by buying a stove.

i love when there are EASY ways to help.

The Adventure Project is doing something pretty cool right now… sponsor 3 stoves and you can win a trip to Haiti.

so…. ready to enter the coolest contest you have ever seen?!

how amazing it will be to get to see the stoves first hand, meet the women, see the children… it's awesome?!

GO DONATE

purchase three stoves and you will be entered to win.

it's so cool!

what an eye opening, life changing, A M A Z I N G experience it will be!!

but also….you don't have to want to go to Haiti to help…. just providing a stove is super cool on it's own.

it's OKAY to be an awesome do-er of good with no intentions of world travel.

i just love that we get to give in a way that i know makes a difference!

and guess what….

i am going to be there in Haiti on January 26th to help draw the name of the winner.

i am traveling with The Adventure Project to Haiti!

i can't wait to share with you ALL that i can.
i am so thrilled to learn all that i can about the stoves, the people, the needs and ways to help.

i really REALLY hope we pick YOUR name.

let's do this!

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mollie's mom - I am so excited for you…. I left my heart in Haiti after an amazing mission trip to Port-au-Prince ( actually I was there in April before the “big” earthquake – we experienced a “small” earthquake during our trip that we now know was a “warning quake”!!) It will be a life changing trip – the people of Haiti are incredible. I cannot wait to see your pictures and hear about your trip. I wish I were going with 🙂 You will be amazed by the faithfullness of the people and the beauty they create from nothing in the midst of poverty. I have friends living and working there, we have a school we help support there and their art hangs in my home and I think about them every day when I look at it. I am sooooo excited for you – there isn’t anywhere quite like Haiti!! I blogged about it here- http://madebymolliesmom.blogspot.com/2012/01/not-crafty-post-im-afraid.html- check out those precious faces and prepare to fall in love with the children of Haiti – it’s impossible not to!!! Marcie

Jamie - I am heading to Haiti Feb 26th! I’ve never been and I am so excited to go! Would love to hear more about what you are going to be doing there! 🙂

gretchen - Exciting! Great project. My husband just got back a week ago from Haiti thru our churches mission trip. It was awesome for him. Over 20 in the group went and helped at an orphanage. The biggest help they need is clothes for all the kids. And, adopting or supporting a child at an orphanage with monthly costs. There were 80 kids at the orphanage he visited and 20 plus babies were dropped off when he was there. It’s definitely an eye opener. Hope your trip is wonderful!

Sarah{Handbags*N*Pigtails} - We just got our assignment for our next missions trip this summer(Dominican Republic) and Im so excited! Theres nothing like getting right into the midst of the people, seeing how they live, what they go through,etc… Its very humbling and makes you realize how blessed we are. Have a wonderful(& fruitful!) trip. 🙂

Lisa - I have gone to Haiti twice! So excited for you to go! Can’t wait to hear all about it. 🙂

Lorel - amazing! you put so much good in the world Megan!

Tiffany - WOW Meg! You are going to be there?! I’m so excited for you! This is just the kind of experience I’ve been wanting to have lately. Pat and I talk about taking a tropical trip somewhere, but when there are people in this world who need our help, all I can think about is traveling somewhere where we can help. I can’t wait to hear about your experience and see your pictures. What a wonderful opportunity for you!
PS- I love how you use your site to reach out to more people to help… God sure is using you in many wonderful ways! 🙂

Kate - Are you serious?! That is amazing! Happy dance for you!

Jacci in Ohio - Oh, Megan. Haiti? Haiti?! 🙂
Haiti has my heart in so many ways. Haiti is going to get under your skin in such a beautiful way… I know it. You know it’s the poorest country in the WORLD, right? That it has the most malnourished children in the Western Hemisphere? This is, beyond doubt, one of the neediest places on earth. And, yet, everyone who goes says there is such strength… such joy.
I am so thrilled for you to go. To hear your stories. To watch the Lord use you.
Amen & Amen!!!
(talking to hubby – then sponsoring some stoves!)

Tere - Such great news, I am so excited for you. You are such a brave and amazing woman, such an inspiration! Can’t wait to hear all about it. xoxo tere

chantelle - wow! only one comment so far?!?! I’m so inspired that you are going to haiti! i don’t know your family situation; but from what i can tell, you are an entrepreneurial momma who is really passionate about helping others and you use your creativity to fund your passions… thanks for inspiring me nearly each day for the past three years. kite a fe sa! (let’s do this!)

Melissa @jonahbonah - So very cool, Meg! I would LOVE to go to Haiti!!!!

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merry christmas.

December 24, 2012

i have posted this before….but it makes me so happy to watch (and listen to) that i had to do it again.

hope you have a wonderful christmas.

we are all getting on our new christmas eve jammies.
the kids are headed to bed.
craig is making our breakfast casserole and then we are going to watch It's A Wonderful Life.

it is.
a truly wonderful life….a gift to be breathing and loving and smiling.

merry christmas.

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Vivian - Christmas video was so sweet. I noticed in your picture of your living room, there was a blind string hanging down….please wrap it up out of the way….can cause child strangulation.

Stephanie - they played this video at church at christmas eve service. Love it!

Tiffany - Very cute! Thanks for sharing that. Merry Christmas Meg!!

Carol S. - I still like that video too, thanks for sharing it. Merry Christmas, every year is different but every year is good. God bless your family this Christmas.

Weza - Hi Meg, I love this clip too. The group that created it are from New Zealand and their latest one ‘An Unexpected Christmas’ is written by Simoney the author of the blog Greatfun4kids. I absolutely love it and I bet you will too.
Merry Christmas to you all.
Lisa xxx

Karen R. - Merry Christmas Meg! We loved the clip- and this one by the same church! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TM1XusYVqNY awesome!

laura b - Hope you all have a very merry day!

angie - merry christmas to you and your family!

Catriona - Merry Christmas, Duerksens! I love that ou love this clip, too. You must check out their offering for this year. It’s called An Unexpected Christmas and you can find it on YouTube. x

Stacie - Merry Christmas to you too! It’s a gift for me that our paths crossed in real life this year. You are amazing and inspiring! xo.

Leah - Merry Christmas, Meg! Thanks for bringing wonderful words, color and brightness to my life with your blog!

Terrie G - Merry Christmas Meg!
Praying you have a Blessed Christmas with your family!

Kirsten J - Merry Christmas to you – and thanks for being a bright spot on days when I sometimes need it 🙂

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God is good.

December 17, 2012

the shootings in Newtown were devastating.
it's horrible.
it's heartbreaking.
it is evil.

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

Lord continue to be with all the families affected by this tragedy.

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my friend pam is getting better and her girls are getting better too.
their health is improving.

i am praising God for that this week!
i have absolutely LOVED the amazingness of the internet and cell phones this week.
she and i can "talk" fairly easily ACROSS THE WORLD!
getting an email from Pam is cause for stopping what i am doing and reading it.
i love to hear from her.

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this is my "GET IN THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT" week.
i am determined to get it.
i will bake. i will pray. i will sing. i will craft. i will shop. i will wrap. i will plan. i will BE MERRY.

there will be kids craft posts all week long!

i have five days to finish.
oy.

how are you doing on your christmas attitude?
are you having a hard time like me remembering that christmas is about jesus, not schedulues, gifts & decorating?

i am trying.

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thankful for so many little details in my life this weekend….candle light dinner with the kids…creativity…healthy legs to run…those faces…kids who eat peanut butter like crazy…sleeping in LATE…cuddling with waffle…basketball games…silly moments like shoulder rides and running barefoot in the parking lot.

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who says she can't be a lefty after all.
she drew the whole picture with a pencil first and then colored it all in…with her left hand!!

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talby and i put together some Blessing Bags yesterday.
she said "this is so nice to do for people! this makes me feel good."
exactly.
she was reading my mind.
i look forward to her being able to pass them out.
we are keeping them in our car so we can be sure to have them when we need them.

read about how to make your own blessing bags HERE.

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this morning….

super foggy…..ran with friends in 24 degrees….breakfast – i love those! ….annie bought an AG with her own money and it arrived today. she is going to be SO excited after school!!

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I am joining The Adventure Project again this holiday to help in Haiti, Africa and India….

Go over to The Adventure Project to see HOW you can can be a part of this amazing tribe!!

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Melissa - Lisa: I just checked..she’s still there. PUNKALOTTA. She also started blogging again a few weeks ago, pieceofcakeafterthoughts.blogspot.com.
I keep sending well wishes and prayers to Newtown.
Good luck Lisa.

Lisa - I can’t seem to locate Laura’s instagram page? It keep telling me it’s been deleted?

karen - that’s such a beautiful explanation Lorraine.

Melissa - I too live in Connecticut about 30 miles away, and a Mom of four young children, and the tragedy in Newtown is heart-wrenching. My first thoughts when to Laura as I follow her too on Instagram actually. It’s so difficult to look at the children’s pictures and to hear the details of thier little lives and what they loved and thier families. I think what happened has forever changed me, and my outlook on life. I wish beyond anything time could turn back. I pray and hope that there is a god, and that these little children are with him now. Look for Laura on Instagram (Punkalotta) – she is posting some pictures of memorials around the town.

cj - I love the blessing bag idea. I posted the picture of yours and an explanation on Facebook and my post has exploded with responses. Last week it was very cold out and I saw a man at an intersection with a cardboard sign, homeless with a family. I only had a few dollars but would have given him all I had, but I was one lane over and the light turned green. If I had had a blessing bag with me I would have had the time to toss it to him, with a silent prayer that it would help meet some needs. I would rather do a blessing bag than try to buy little gifts for friends…..thanks.

Becky @ Farmgirl Paints - He is good all the time! Pure sunshine over here. Love that. Need that! Been praying for Pam and her girl. So glad to hear they are better. Yay!

Lorraine R. - I totally understand the confusion to Meg’s words….the thing is though, that God does not control people. He gave us free will to make our decisions, sadly people continue to choose their own ways instead of His. God was there with those children during the tragedy and His is with their families even now……His word says, “I will never leave you nor forsake you” It’s up to us to acknowledge His presence….trust me, He is here <3

Jennifer - I don’t know Laura at all, other than from her blog (which I greatly miss). When I heard of the tradegy, I couldn’t help but cry. I used to be a teacher and just can’t imagine what the staff and children went through. Later, when I heard this had happened in Newtown, I cried for Laura’s family. They have been in my thoughts and prayers ever since. If there is anything that I can do from here in Kansas, please let me know.

Jody - Lisa
I cannot stop thinking of Laura & her family as well. Please let me know of anything she needs or that we can do for her community. Let her know that her family is in our thoughts and prayers.
Thank you.
Jody

sam - I love your posts meg, but really,
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble”
Where was he when those poor little children needed him? How was he helping?
It is totally contradictory to say “Lord continue to be with all the families affected by this tragedy.”
Where was he when it needed to be prevented? If he is able to be “with” them in the aftermath, why isn’t he able to be with the gunman and make him stop?
“God is good”. How? Its convenient to say he is good when something great happens, but when something horrific happens, well if he has so much power, why does he let bad things happen? The whole theory that god even exists is full of giant holes.
With all due respect to you.

Betsy - Lisa, Please let me know if you do something for Laura and her family; I would be happy to contribute. I live about 50 miles away (in Simsbury), but I absolutely loved and miss Laura’s blog. She was the first person I thought of on Friday, and can’t imagine the heartache they are experiencing.

alicia @ la famille - i just really like you. i like the way you look at life. i like that you run and make breakfast. you’re a cool girl.
and yes, i agree…God IS good. even when things are bad…He’s still good.
that is all 🙂

Lisa M. - I love this. You are so right. Merry Christmas!

Lisa M. - You see, I wasn’t going to go for my run today because I have SO much to do. But then I saw your running shoes and then your picture with your running friends. You ran in 24 degree weather…if I go right now I can go in 51 degree weather 🙂 (most unusual temps for December around here in Western PA…where is the snow?!?!) Now, I have to go. Thank you, truly!
I have a seven year old, 1st grader. My heart has been hurting since I heard of the news that happened Friday. It is indescribable and I have been praying constantly for those parents. I have to literally force myself to think of something else because I am making myself sick. I know God is in control and I know He has a plan. And I KNOW He will make good out of this horrific bad. He goes before us, He knows all. His ways are not our ways and we are not supposed to understand why He allows certain things to happen. We (society) have allowed Him to be taken out of our schools and now everyone is asking, “Where is God?”. He was right there and now those lovely children are in arms, safe and happy. Easy for me to say, I know, but I also know God is in control and I pray that at some point those families experience a peace that “passes all understanding”.

Heather Simnitt - You asked:
“how are you doing on your christmas attitude?
are you having a hard time like me remembering that christmas is about jesus, not schedulues, gifts & decorating?”
Not this year, but here is why. I have learned that I can’t just *add* Jesus to the holiday that is really all His anyway. I had to get rid of some of the things that were cluttering the holiday and not letting Jesus in. We cut back the schedule. I got presents *early* (done and wrapped by 12/8), and we are making a concerted effort to give more and spend less. It helps a lot.

shar y - this was a great post, thanks. I would love to see a post sometime about how you choose your charity to help. There are so many and it is so daunting to decide. And, then, I think should I do a little here, or a little there? Or pick one and do it all for them? I love that you are involved with this. Especially now, today. Blessings to you and all of your family.

Jessica - I live about 15 miles away from Newtown. I have been thinking about Laura from Piece of Cake since I heard the news Friday morning. I started following her blog after it was linked to yours, and it quickly became a favorite. My heart is broken for Newtown. Such a senseless tragedy… If you are in touch with Laura, please tell her that I have been thinking of her and praying for her family.

hannah - saw this and thought of the sweet babies you’ve posted about…
check out sevenly’s focus this week!
https://www.sevenly.org/

Lindsey - I love the blessing bag idea! So sweet that your daughter loved the concept! Last night I declared this week to be my “Get in the spirit” week also. It is happening. The worship, the food, the gifts, the “living in the moment.”

Lisa - Meg, I’m not sure if you talk to Laura (from piece of cake) on a regular basis but two of her children attended that school. Thank God they are okay but there is still much healing that needs to be done in them and in their community. I’ve already emailed her about her immediate needs and haven’t heard back yet, but I’d love it if we could all come together and do something great for them. I live only about ten minutes away from them so I could certainly drop things off if need be. Please let me know if you’d like to help or if you have any ideas. While we can’t bring back the victims, we can help the survivors.
lisajoseph79@gmail.com

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wish book.

December 6, 2012

when you were a kid did you get the sears or jcpenney christmas wish book and look at them OVER and OVER?
i did.
i circled things on almost every page.

just like my girls do now with the American Girl catalog or Justice.

i thought i would be silly and share my grown up wish list that is some parts completely impractical/pure dreaming and some parts regular stuff.

you never get too old for that.

tissue garland….that i didn't have to make myself.
isn't it lovely??

these Nike Free shoes that i can't find anywhere in an 8.5 online anywhere!!!
but if i find them IN store again i WILL snatch them up.

i would love to learn to make doughnuts.
i would need…

a Doughnut Pan or two

and a Doughnut Cookbook to guide me into being a wonderful baker.

Bossypants i never read it and i want to.

this is my favorite scent at Bath & Body Works…. STRESS RELIEF.
i am not a smelly kind of girl but if i ever DO want to smell something this is it.
i don't wear perfume and lotions but when i take a bath… this makes me happy!

Treadmill …. a good sturdy one that doesn't rattle or shake and is not deafingly loud
for all the running i will have to do all winter to train for this half marathon i agreed to do.

because i am crazy.

Mad Men Season One,
Two,
Three,
Four and Five so i can watch Don Draper for hours on end.

i want this dress.
i would put it on and twirl all around…. my husband would take my hand and tell me how beautiful i looked… we would go to a fancy party and dance like they do in romantic movies…

ohhhh… wait…. maybe this one instead.

it sparkles. it's glittery. i can just close my eyes and imagine what it would feel like to wear this dress.
{{{ S I G H }}}
it's a very nice thought.

this hot pink velvet chair from World Market….. is this the most perfect chair ever created?!!
yes it is.
can't you just imagine wearing the glitter dress and sitting in this pink chair?!

and this beautiful gray painted dresser also from world market that would look so perfect in a room that only exists in my head at this time… but trust me… it's a gorgeous room. :)

i love yellow and i LOVE a big bold stripe…this is from west elm.

i have wanted a hot tub since… forever.
i still do.
i think it would be so relaxing.
the farm house could ROCK a hot tub so easily. :)

i always love new colorful fun running gear.
athleta is beautiful but pricey so that is why it's on my dreamy wish list.
i feel like i am supposed to want a garmin… since i run.
but i run my miles and then i don't think about it again until the next time i go again.
so i don't know if i would even use it.
what is the exciting part of garmins?

this book Decorate Workshop looks like a fun book!

******************************************

so i made this whole list of things i love and "want"
but all day while i was working on it i just felt…. funny.
it's just a fun list.
i don't NEED any of it and do i even really "want" these things??
"it's just fun inspiring stuff….why am i feeling like this?" i said to myself all day.

what do i REALLY WANT?

i want Yana to have a mom & dad to take care of her forever.
to love her forever.

i saw her on Jeannett's blog yesterday and i can't get her out of my mind!!!
she is precious.
she is an orphan.
she needs a family.
it could be you!

don't you want to kiss her face?! and hug her tight and never let her go….

i was not planning on writing about this…. i was just making a silly wish list.

but God would not let me leave it at that.
he took a hold of my heart and my blog today and made sure i refocused on the REAL want…
the desire of my heart.

because all i really WANT today is for Yana to get a family this christmas.
i want to help her get that!!
that is the good stuff.

THAT is the sparkly glittery dress of real life.

jeannett has helped two other sweet babies through Reese's Rainbow find families the past two years and it is so joyous to know i was a part of that.

so let's ALL help YANA this year!!

go over to Life Rearranged, read all about Yana and you can even enter jeannett's giveaway.

AND DONATE.

it will be the best christmas gift you will give.

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Tiffany - Oh Meg. Once again, your random fun gives me a smile. And your baby portion of the post has me thinking more… I’ve always kind of felt a tug at my heart strings for adoption. It kind of flits in and out of my mind. Maybe God has that in the plans for our family. I don’t know. It’s good for you to mention this though, bringing it back to my thoughts. I just can’t imagine a baby without a home. 🙁

DanaD@BoysMyBoys - Camsmama@hotmail.com

danad@hotmail.com - BBW Stress Relief is my absolute favorite, too! I hide it away just for me! 🙂

Eryn - Saw your shoes for half off AND in your size on Pinterest right after reading your blog post. Enjoy!!
http://www.tiffanyfreeruns.com/nike-free-30-v4-womens-tiffany-blue-tropical-twis-silver-pro-platinum-p-212.html

Michelle - Check out this website for those Nike shoes. They are discounted like half off and they have an 8.5. Hope they are the ones you are looking for! http://www.tiffanyfreeruns.com/nike-free-30-v4-tiffany-blue-reflective-silver-pure-platinum-p-198.html

Ela - Ps. I gave u a gift u might like 😉

Mary - i want that baby.
really, i would LOVE to receive such an amazing gift like that precious soul.
headed over to jeanetts.

Ela - Thank you for this post Meg.
Especially theese words:
“because all i really WANT today is for Yana to get a family this christmas.
i want to help her get that!!
that is the good stuff.
THAT is the sparkly glittery dress of real life.”
You inspired me beyound words. Just the way you expressed it just descibed it in a new way, it painted a picture that will stay with me all my life. It shaked me and moved me and put words on the longing I have for my life. The real sparkly dress. And will change how I celebrate christmas, in ways I don´t know yet. But i know I want to share this with the youthgroup i´m on of the leaders in when we celebrate xmas next week. Thank you for writing this!!

Candy Joyce - LOVE your blog!!!
I feel like I can’t run without my watch!!! 😉 I don’t have a Garmin, but have a Nike one and love it. You download your runs and it maps them out, you can see your pace for every mile, it keeps up with every run you ever do, it tells you achievements you earn–blah, blah—I love it! 🙂 Would love to know what training method you are going to be using for the 1/2. I only run 5K’s—:) but after running the St. Jude one in Memphis, I am motivated to do a 1/2 for those precious kiddos battling cancer.

Amber - Love RR and the kiddos on there. Are you sure she isn’t YOUR baby? She is totally totally precious. Great list!

Flower Patch Farmgirl - She’s so squishable!! Your heart. I like it. I know of the exact tension you write about here. I feel it all the time. I NEVER used to! dangit.
Okay, HOW did the person above me not like BossyPants??? I’m sure I can guess…but I LOVED it. I shook the bed laughing.
And I hauled the JCP catalog around for months. I took it to the next level and cut out my husband, my kids, everything for our house, what we wore, my wedding dress (haha, JCP!) It was seriously my favorite “toy”.
What else???
Oh. I have that West Elm thing only in shower curtain form. It’s citrony and I love it.

Tanya - Stress relief is my one and only too. Stress + Relief = Good.

Linda - Loved today’s post! Made me smile!

Jillbeth@aol.com - Hi Meg,
I happen to be heading to the Nike Employee store tomorrow – lucky me I live in Portland and have many Nike employee friends who give guest passes – woo hoo! Want me to look for your shoes for ya???? I am SO serious! AND they would be half the price as retail, I am also SO serious about that. And you could pay me and everything…..happy to help a girl out.
xo~Jill
forever*cottage.blogspot.com
jillbeth@aol.com

Chantelle - As a mom of 5 internationally adopted kids I would like to say to someone who might be tempted but unsure… GO FOR IT!! 🙂 Adoption is a blessing and a gift. Nothing you do in life will ever compare.

Molly - Love your list. all. of. it. you kinda punched me in the stomach with the last one though. the good punch you in the stomach kind. praying for yana today. thanks!

alamama - I have had my eye on Yana for some time. I too pray she gets a forever home.

AliG - I splurge and buy swim stuff from Athleta – totally worth it as it holds up so well!

T - Have you looked on the Nike site where you can customize your shoe colors?

Lacy - You should get Bossypants on audiobook. Listening to Tina read it just put me in stitches.

Kim@NewlyWoodwards - Awesome list. I am normally just a lurker but had to suggest Bossypants on audio. I downloaded it on my iPhone and laughed my behind off listening to Tuna Fey read it while working on projects.

Gabrielle - Meg, your blog ALWAYS makes me smile. And I can see you perfectly in that neon green athleta shirt. Sounds to me like you might be wanting little Yana for your own home . . .

Tracie - I had one of those days yesterday. I was at a Stop Hunger Now meeting talking about how twenty-five cents pays for one meal. I was super humbled when I realized my $3 latte could have provided food for 12 people. Definitely makes you think about needs/ wants. I am so grateful for all of God’s blessings, and so grateful to be able to be used by Him.
Thanks for this post today.

CathyC - Oh Reeces Rainbow! L.O.V.E.
**My kids** are Beckett, and the sisters Samantha & Kristina. I have prayed for lots of kids on there & they have found their families, but for some reason these 3 kids are still there and it KILLS me. Kristina is 2 weeks older than my daughter & I cannot imagine my daughter in that place.
Thanks for bringing light to Reeces today.

jen - Meg,
I’m not sure how much of these you read, but wanted to enlighten you on the donut making. You can make the most simple and delicious podered sugar (my favorite) or cinnamon suger donuts with just TWO ingredients — pilsbury biscuits, the cheap, comes in a six-pack kind; and either powdered suger or cinnamon suger, depending on what you like.
Here’s what you do:
remove and wash the cap of any small, round lid, like the one on your soy or A1 sauce, for example. press it down in the middle of a biscuit, shaking it from side to side a bit to separate the dough. The middle circle you just cut out is your donut hole and now you have a donut. repeat this process until you have all the donuts and holes you want. The kids could do this. I used to love making these as a kid … but I digress. In the meantime, prepare a fairly deep and wide pot on the stove. Heat enough oil so that you can add a single layer of donuts wihtout having them touch the bottom. I put mine on medium-high heat, but you can adjust as you go if needed (everyone’s stove is different). Also, grab a smallish paper bag, (think sack lunch) and make sure it doesn’t have any holes in it. Dump a decent amount of powdered suger in (or cinnamon sugar if that’s what you are using) and set aside. Freedom1x
When the oil is heated, start dropping in the donuts and holes. It won’t take long for them to brown up. Make sure you turn them over to cook the other side and roll the holes around to cook them evenly on all sides. when their done, plop them in the paper bag of goodness, twist up the top of the bag really well and shake them up. Behold, beautiful, fresh donuts at home in no time. Enjoy!

Jen - I’m reading BossyPants right now. My friend gave it to me last month for my birthday. It’s all right. I don’t find Tina Fey’s writing nearly as funny as I find Jenny McCarthy’s books. SHE cracks me up! Have you read any of her’s?
I’m with ya on the B & B works Stress Relief products. Love them!!!

colleen - so i thought .. this is a fluffy, i want post… until the end…..beautiful…!

Lee Ann - Ach! That chair! I have almost the EXACT chair – torn apart in my office. I paid $5!!!! It’s as sturdy as can be with steel springs. It’s OLD and I’m going to re-do it. I can’t believe how much it’s the same.
As for the garmin. For me it’s a total mental thing. If I need to run 6 miles – it helps me count down. You can really do the same thing by “getting to the next corner” or the “next fence post”, but it’s all about knowing where I’m at and how much further I have to go.
Such a fun list!

alicia @ la famille - your list is my list…maybe except for the gowns…unless they come in maternity 😉
love LOVE mad men!! when’s the next season coming?!?!
that stress relief scent is my favorite.
i have a bunch of running stuff from athleta because it comes in longs. and i need that!
great taste, chica 🙂
and that baby?? melt my heart already.

Lindsey - I love your wish list! I have a wish list of both small and extravagant things also. I think the pink chair could definitely be on mine also! Thanks for brining light to Yana.

Laura - nick and i saw a young mom with her tiny baby at mass this morning…and i told nick i wanted a baby.
he said “its a lot of work”
i said “i know. you pull up the car…and i will grab that baby and run…”
i didn’t steal the baby
and i am pretty sure another baby is not in the big plan for us
but who knows….
i came home and cradled the dog
that’ll have to do

Jill Franklin - oooohmygosh I want those shoes too!
I know in my heart Yana will have a family to love her. I hope it’s soon. I’ll be praying & hoping & praying & hoping some more.

Sarah H. - I asked for a donut pan and running clothes this year too! Also, I read BossyPants, well some of it, but didn’t like it so took it back to the library.
That baby is way too precious. I will be praying God puts her in the perfect home He already has picked out for her. Please keep us posted on her!

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friday.

November 16, 2012

aren't you loving my incredibly unique and thought provoking post titles this week?!

🙂

my mind seems a bit blank to come up with anything more.

with craft weekend ending for the year…
and most of my big projects winding down…
i had one more big thing to check off the list.

talby's birthday party.

she invited a bunch of girls to the little hotel here in town that has a pool and a party room.
it worked out perfectly.
annie brought a friend along to keep her busy (didn't work) and sean was not supposed ot be there
but he was and when i asked talby if she wanted me to send him home with Dad
she said "he can stay. i don't mind"
so he did.

he loved all the attention.
he was the KING of chicken.
🙂

they ate pizza, opened presents, ate cake and LOTS of very LOUD time in the pool.
12 girls and 1 boy is VERY loud.

thankful for all of it.

happy birthday sweet girl.

———————————————————————-

i know there were a lot of ads here this week.
it's just how it goes sometimes.

but the good news….next week i have several giveaways!!!
i am excited for you.

———————————————————————-

after a 10 day laziness break….
i went running this morning.
it was hard!
i am so glad i went though.
i have been so cranky and not sleeping well…

i think i am suffering from pre-menstrual syndrome (you have to say that dolly parton in steel magnolias)

———————————————————————-

i need a new bible study or great book that is biblically grounded.
i was going to Bible Study Fellowship but going to wichita every week just doesn't work with my schedule this year.
so i am studying on my own.
what books or studies do YOU suggest?

spill it!

———————————————————————-

happy friday to you.

ps…i am currently rocking out to Home by Edward Sharp.
(and singing loudly because i am alone)

show hide 68 comments

add a comment

kristy - I’m in BSF right now. But I have to say that Beth Moore studies have changed my life. My favorites were James, Living Beyond Yourself, Breaking Free, and To Live Is Christ (life of Paul) is also a good one.

Tfab@new.rr.com - Meg, it’s Tara from wisconsin. Can u please tell me where your bracelet is from? The one that I loved with the bible verse on it? I wanted to ask for that for Christmas from John and te kids.

meg - 1,000 Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Beautiful and life changing.

ira lee - i want a birthday party like that!!!! who cares if im 33! lol looks like a blast. grown ups should have parties like that too!

Sallie - Meg – Your blog so makes me smile and I love how you share your family with us! So many good Bible studies have been recommended and I can second a few of them; anything Kelly Minter has been great for our small group. Beth Moore’s studies are always thought provoking. Working through her James study right now. Absolutely love Lysa TerKeurst and her studies. Lysa’s ‘Made to Crave’ study changed my life and health habits! Just finished her ‘Unglued’ study and got to see her in Western KY, last weekend! Our group loves Priscilla Shirer as well, God brought her study ‘Life Interrupted’ to our small group @ just the right time last year! Have in line for this year, 7 by Jen Hatmaker, Stuck & Anything by Jennie Allen and Nehemiah by Kelly Minter. cbd.com and Amazon carry almost all of these DVD studies and books! I always compare to see who has best price! Enjoy and have a blessed Thanksgiving! Looking forward to Craft Weekend’s 2013 hoping to get to ‘meet’ you! :p)

liz - hi meg- pretty faithful reader of your blog, but don’t comment much. sorry:) LOVE your writing & photography!
anyway- i’ve been really wanting to check out this book:
A Woman’s Wisdom: How the Book of Proverbs Speaks to Everything
By Lydia Brownback
it was recommended by Elyse Fitzpatrick. and i’ve really gleaned a lot of wisdom from anything Elyse has written, esp her books Give them Grace and Women Counseling Women.
(i think you might really like Elyse’s books as well!)

Candy - Stuck by Jennie Allen, it is amazing. I have never been so impacted by a bible study. It is life changing. Seriously.

Sue Groff - Our Women’s Bible study just finished Beth Moore’s “James”. WONDERFUL!!!

lisa - She is beautiful. Happy Birthday to your sweet girl!

amy - Beth Moore’s James is great, I have the disk to the study if you would like to have them. {Love her}
I am almost finished reading Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst, & really like it.
My next one is going to Make Over by Jen Hatmaker, I hear it is really good.
Can’t wait to hear which one you decide to do.
Amy

Linda - Priscilla Shirer is awesome. Our Bible study group did that earlier this year. HIGHLY recommended.

Linda - Just finished Breaking Free by Beth Moore, unbelievable!

Ashley - I agree. It’s what I’m reading right now, too.

Kate - It’s not a Bible Study – but I am ready Cold Tangerines and I am in love. so, so good.

Christina - Love about Sean…such a sweet picture of part of their relationship. 🙂
I have started a book twice, and am now going to finish it…Reordered Love, Reordered Lives. It is good…I just get distracted and
Like right now, I forgot where I was going with that sentence. I’m going to finish the book. From what I’ve read, it’s highly recommended.
Two friends have told me to read When Life and Beliefs Collide by Carolyn Custis James, which I did read many years ago. It seems like Someone is hinting to me…so I will likely be reading that one again, too.
I need to get to running too. I haven’t been in months, so…you should feel pretty good about ten days! ha! 🙂

Tiffany - Great Idea For the PARTY!!!
I’m looking for a NEW Bible Study too.
I am leaning towards Beth Moore.
I always get so much out if hers.
I truly enjoyed “Esther”.
Excited about giveaways next week. : D

Carol S. - Fun party!!! Looks fab. And just my two cents, but NO APOLOGIES for ads and recommendations, you wouldn’t promote something you didn’t like and you are an inspiration to many. I started a blog this year just to keep family up to date on our move to TN…and OMG as much as I would love to post more often, it takes time and work. I keep saying if I could blog my thoughts an pictures while carpooling I’d blog way more often. God bless you and your family Meg.

Amy - Closer Than Your Skin, by Susan D. Hill. You feel like you are getting first-hand insight from someone who knows. Comforting and encouraging and thought provoking. you don’t want to put it down.

Danielle Thompson - RADICAL It is currently changing my life!

Angela - I second “Grace for the Good Girl” by Emily Freeman. I’m also a big fan of anything Lysa Terkeurst or Angela Thomas. And on the plane back home from Craft Weekend I finished “Hope for the Weary Mom”. I’m currently reading “A Confident Heart” by Renee Swope.
Looks like the birthday party was a FUN time!

Kayla - I am in the middle of Discerning the Voice Of God, by Priscilla Shirer right now and loving it! Happy Birthday, Talby….I think it is awesome that big brother helped entertain at the party….lots cheaper than a clown!

Julie - I suggest the Book of Mormon. You won’t find a more powerful Christ-centered book. It changed my life for sure.

Erin - Ah, I love reading that you had been doing BSF! But understand the schedule thing.
One that is always in the recommended reading list at the end of the year is Praying the Attributes of God, by Rosemary Jensen. I really have wanted to get that book for a personal study time each summer. I always get in the summer rut between BSF years. But it has caught my attention several times because it is more geared to an individual study time.
Can’t wait to see what you land on!

Weza - Im currently onto my third Beth Moore study for this year. They are life changing, full of wisdom, bible based and meaty. So so good.
The Esther study is very very good. You can get all the videos online and then do your daily study which takes about 30mins. Trust me you will love it!
PS Im happy to show you live kangaroos here in Aussie (post from a while ago) we have this great little park down the road where wild ones hang out with their babies. Its spectacular.

Jenny B. - I don’t have a book to recommend, but I really enjoy the daily devotional magazine, Journey. You can buy copies at Lifeway stores, or order an individual subscription here: http://www.lifeway.com/Journey-Magazine/c/N-1z140ew

Dori - I’m hosting a women’s small group this semester, and we’re reading Grace for the Good Girl by Emily P Freeman. It is amazing. Emily’s blog is awesome, too! http://www.chattingatthesky.com/the-books/grace-for-the-good-girl

Karen Gerstenberger - I have loved “Believing God” by Beth Moore.

Lisa M. - “Not a Fan”. My husband’s small group just finished it and loved it.

Erica - Out of your list, I’ve only done the “CrazyLove” study… but oh, what a good one.. not just good… life changing… (for me, anyway)

Ashley - That last photo is the best…she looks so genuinely happy. Good stuff friend. Good stuff!

Tanya - I really liked Unglued by Lysa TerKeurst.
I didn’t think I’d be able to relate but I could and it spoke to me.
Good one.

casey - radical!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OR radical together.

casey - yes! we just did the multiply webcast at our church! great!

becky - Looks like she had a ball. I’ve read seven. I’ve started the Donald Miller book. Both were good. Seven was humbling. Convicting. I’m not great at studies. I’ve been working on Beth Moore’s James study. I hate homework. Personally my favorite read is my kid’s Jesus Calling. Simple and speaks right to my heart.

Janna - Anything my Nancy Leigh DeMoss–like “Choosing Gratitude” but she has a lot of great ones. And I just read “The Fruitful Wife” by Hayley DiMarco (sp?) all about the fruits of the spirit–it was awesome!

Tiffany - Looks like a fun time for Miss Talby! Happy Birthday to her!

Sarah H. - I would recommend the Good Morning Girls studies. They are online studies that you can do by yourself or join an online group. I am in a facebook group of girls and we all study and share (or not) what we are learning. There are weekly videos to watch about the study (we just finished the book of Colossians) I loved really getting into the Word. We are getting ready to start a 2 week study preparing for Advent. Check them out! http://www.goodmorninggirls.org

Jenn - Oh that song… I love that song… Home is wherever I’m with you… Love it. Rock on sister.

blu - “anonymous” by Alicia Britt Chole
“…Jesus appears to have walked unstressed and unhurried. His peaceful pace seems to imply that he measured himself not by where he was going and how fast he could get there but by whom he was following and how closely they walked together.” {page 33}
so. good.

katie - have you ever read “The Hiding Place” by Corrie Ten Boom? it is my all-time favorite book. it is an auto-biography, but it is beautifully written in a way that will challenge your faith and stir your heart to be thankful in any circumstance.

julia - I love the LifeChanges series by NavPress. I did Romans last year and it was amazing.

Amy K. - THANK YOU for asking the bible studey question of your many readers!! It is awesome to have so many suggestions in one place.
Also, the pictures of Talby’s party make me feel 11 again – that tired, waterlogged, hungry feeling and how GREAT pizza and cake tastes when you feel that way!

Patty - Kelly Minter’s Nehemiah study was great. I downloaded the video through lifeway (they were only 2.99 each week) and thought it was one of the most transforming studies I have done it quite a while. Both the homework and videos were terrific. I loved reading all the suggestions in the comments and making a list for myself, too.

Alison Vaclav - “Hosting the Presence” by Bill Johnson is awesome.
http://www.amazon.com/Hosting-Presence-Unveiling-Heavens-Agenda/dp/0768441293

April R - Elisabeth Elliot – anything by her 🙂 although ‘Passion and Purity’ is a favorite.
Hell’s Best Kept Secret by Ray Comfort and Kirk Cameron.
Totally sweet bday for Miss 11 and how cool to find a way to swim in November! I have a December baby and she’ll be 11 this year, wonder if she’d like a pool party…

Bethany Faucett - Try reading Spiritual Warfare for Women by Leighann McCoy. It has opened my eyes and is amazing!

cassie o - “this momentary marriage” by john piper

alicia @ la famille - right now i’m doing beth moore’s patriarch study by myself and you can download all the videos at lifeway.com/women. you just have to go buy the book. i love her studies. you can do any of her studies that way now…online. you do have to pay for the video download each week. it’s like 5 bucks.
have a fun weekend!!

Lisa - Talby just seems like a really sweet, down-to -earth girl. Happy Bday Talby!

Karen - “Choosing Gratitude” by Nancy Leigh DeMoss – book has a 30 day gratitude challenge/devotional at the end – fairly quick read but well worth doing – very convicting/challenging! and if you’ve never listened to her podcasts “Revive our Hearts” I would recommend them as well – I often listen to that while I’m running – feel like I excercised body & spirit!

Candice - Check out “Sacrilege” by Hugh Halter. It’s not very long, but very thought provoking. Really makes you want to dig in to Jesus, be like him, and love others like he did/does.

Shiloh - Just finished “Not a Fan” by Kyle Idelman and loved it.

Mandy - David Platt and Francis Chan recently wrote a book together called, “Multiply” about disciple-making. I haven’t read it yet, but I heard them speak about it…AWESOME!

Nicole Franks - Beautiful Outlaw! It isn’t a study, but an amazing book about our beautiful Savior. A fresh perspective, and I was so challenged, and more in love with Jesus after the read!! Highly recommend =)

jen - just finished the lineage of grace. loved it

Amy@littleforalittlewhile - What a fun party! Love that she let brother and sister come along, sweet kids you have Meg. Also, those mismatched ones on the cake made me smile. So awesome.

Holly - My girlfriends and I have done Kelly Minter’s bible study books, each one is about 6 weeks. They are about Ruth, No Other Gods and Nehemiah. Jennifer Rothchilds Me, Myself and Lies is good too. Beth Moore’s are AMAZING, even if you do it without the DVD lessons.
Good luck!
Sometimes we just do the SOAP method of a particular book of the bible when we need a break from a person’s book study.

Juliana Whisman - I agree with Gina…anything Beth Moore! I really loved her Fruits of the Spirit one.
Love seeing how you guys celebrate your kids’ birthdays! Simple but so incredibly fun!!

Jen Boyd - We are currently doing “Not a Fan” by Kyle Idleman with our Church. Love it! Quite thought provoking.

Lia - Looks like a fun birthday party! I like the balloons – fun colors! I’ve been following along with the She Reads Truth plans for the last few weeks: http://shereadstruth.com
Speaking of running…I better get out of this house and go on one. So important for my mental health. Plus, I’m supposed to be training for a 12k on Dec. 1st. Yikes.

Stephanie - As someone who picks out Bible studies all the time, I recommend Stuck by Jennie Allen. It’s good to do with a few friends, it doesn’t cost much, and I had the most positive feedback from the group as a whole when we did it. Seriously, in all of the studies we’ve done at my church, usually I have 50-60% positive feedback at the time; with Stuck, I’ve had about 80% positive feedback, which I continue to get months later (I’ve never had such lingering results). http://jennieallen.com/projects/stuck

angela - Happy Birthday to your Talby! Love the pics! She is adorable!
There is a new book (or new to me) called *Not a Fan* that i want to do as a bible study…check it out!

Jennifer - Knowing God by JI Packer is so so good–different from those you have listed though. and i’ve heard feminine appeal by carolyn mahaney is great. let us know what you pick! 🙂

Gina - Happy Birthday Talby!! Anything by Beth Moore is awesome!! I have done a few of her Bible studies with a group of friends so we all pitch in to buy the DVDs and workbooks. My favorite study of hers so far was Daniel. I did it about 5 years ago and would love to do it again. I learned so much!! Have a good weekend!

Lorraine R. - Crazy Love was amazing, 7 was also amazing but in a totally different way than Crazy Love….next on my list are Radical and Interrupted!!!

Amy - Happy Birthday to your girl 🙂 Looks like a great party!
I suggest Romans. GREAT stuff 🙂

shar y - Discerning the Voice of God by Priscilla Shirer. Just finished this study and it is awesome! Teaches how to listen for God’s voice and ways to find His voice that you never think of. You would really like!

Kristina - Although I haven’t gotten into it quite yet, everyone is suggesting “She Reads Truth”. It’s something you can do via Instagram which I looooooooooooooooove.

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