Lilley of the field

Anyone noticing how I'm writing much more? Probably only my mom, dad, and Nana- thanks faithful readers. I know you all are enjoying my increase of time here. - - - - - - Her pepper and salt hair framed her face nicely and her modern, square-rimmed glasses pulled it all together. She sat in the corner of the booth, her husband next to her and her twenty- something son sitting diagonally from her, his leather jacket hung on the back of his chair. Her son and husband were on their smartphones- heads down, pausing occasionally for a sip of good coffee. She quietly looked around the restaurant, at her napkin, at her family sitting at the table with her. The classic American family of 4 sat the booth to my right. The mom and dad positioned across from each other with their elementary aged children huddled together around a tablet next to their dad- his own eyes on his smartphone. The light of their tablets lighting up their faces under the soft light of the hanging pendant lamp ab

I made this advent calendar for Aaron one Christmas when we were dating. I remember hoping we'd get married when I made it so that I could light it one day too with our family because I liked it so much. I got quite lucky. I'm more grateful for the awesome husband than the candle of course, but that doesn't mean I'll enjoy the candle any less. We have a traditional advent wreath, but light that one only on Sundays and this one throughout the week. Each week I tie on jute with the meaning for the week to this big white candle. Those taper candles wouldn't last all month for us on the traditional advent wreath. My week ended in so. much. joy. After a busy last two week of school filled with tons of sickness, last minute decisions, and nights going to bed at 7:30, I breathed a sigh of relief as I walked out Friday afternoon. An exhale of I made it .  I came home with the most energy I've had all week and started to get the curriculum for our child

We're just two teenage girls racing against the beat of the song and the fading evening. Racing toward a glimpse of His glory. Her old beat up jeep is grinding forward. We jumped in the car on a whim. We glimpsed the pinks and oranges of the fall sun setting out the window and we're racing to that crest at the top of our high school school. David Crowder has just released a new album and that song is blaring through the speakers:  He set me on fire. I am coming alive. With this breath in my lungs. I am coming undone.  Window down. Hair blowing. Mouths grinning. Time ticking. Sun setting. And we reach it. Just in time to see the brilliant colors lighting up the sky. And just in time to hear the climax of the song: You are my joy. You are my joy. You are my joy.  God's creation and man's song joining together in perfect harmony to bring a glimpse of heaven to two teenage girls. Then the sun finally sets ushering in the piercing dark blue night. The song finall

I am currently obsessed with this version of The Little Drummer Boy by Pentatonix. Go watch it and be amazed if you haven't already. I am almost embarrassed to admit that I just replayed the last 30 seconds or so about 20 times when the beatbox guy starts doing the stomp clap beat. I tried to learn that stomp clap part, but alas I am left only wishing I was cool enough to do it without a painful thinking/ terribly trying look on my face. Oh well. It doesn't matter because I play my best for Him. Before I found this ridiculously awesome song, I just just playing regular ol' Pandora while a good friend sat at my kitchen counter while I cooked. A different version of Little Drummer Boy came on and she commented briefly about the beauty of that song.  A little boy comes to Jesus and he has nothing to give. All he knows how to play is his drum and so that's what he does. As good as he can. And he's waiting probably. Terrified. The king of the universe could rejec

Well, merry christmas to me from my awesome husband. Our farmhouse table is finally finished. It was enjoyed for the first time last night at the infamous Pancakes and Ice Cream held during finals week at our house each semester. After months of looking at plans, Aaron mostly followed a plan by  Ana White . We stained it with a stain called "Dark Walnut" and used a satin polyurethane. For the legs Aaron used 4" x 4" posts from an old fence thing found in our backyard. Then he bought the rest of the wood. If I was graded on this whole document-every-stage-of-your-pinterest-projects-so-you-can-put-it-on-your-blog I would be failing. Here's the finished product only! A million other people have pictures out there of every stage of their DIY farmhouse table.  I must put a little side note here about this table too. About our dreams for it. I sat the other day staring at it wondering who would be sitting at it years from now. Little children hopefully- maybe fro

I just finished Out with it by Katherine Preston. It is an autobiography about her life as a stutterer. I found it beautifully written and intriguing to see into the mind of someone with a  "disability" that doesn't affect them intellectually, but has great impact on their confidence and view of themselves. She writes about her journey growing up believing it was her fault that she had a stutter and always wanting to be fluent- thinking she was a failure if she couldn't be fluent. It was simply an encouragement to me because the book is about embracing the way you were made, finding courage in laughing at embarrassing moments, dismissing critics who believe you won't amount to anything, and ultimately learning that sometimes we are our biggest critic. I love how the Lord can put simple things together in one moment. On Wednesday night during house church we were reading through some scripture to celebrate Advent together. We lit each candle on the advent wreat

I was able to name my emotion today- pin that elusive, crazy guy, look him straight in the eye, and feel liberation because I had finally identified him- defeated. He couldn't lurk around in the shadows of my mind anymore. He was brought to light. Defeated. I racked my brain for creative ways to motivate one particular student today- came to school armed with  some new ideas. I prayed for angels to surround him on his way to school- for peace, protection, wholeness. The morning seemed successful, but after lunch it went spinning downward fast. I was losing it. I was filled with frustration. I was so disheartened and discouraged. It breaks my heart to see kids progress and regress with so little warning especially when so much of it seems out of my control. It's also a tough time to evaluate the school year. December hits and I realize we're about halfway through the year and of course, like every year, I'm no where near the point I thought I'd be. Well, that'