Where I'm from...

I am from small town life, from safe streets and unlocked doors. I'm from walks to Kent's Kones for blue smurf ice cream and bikes and friends from kindergarten through 12th grade. I'm from my brother's little league games and the Old Time Farming Festival, small town parades on Memorial day and the 4th of July. 

 

I am from snuggles and laughter, two brothers and my sister. Never without a playmate. I'm from Butchie's buckeye tree and the Hess Addition's sledding hills.  From pool barns and catching crawdads in the creek. I'm from safety in my dad's arms and wisdom in my mom's words. Devotionals as a family, "Tell Me the Story" by Max Lucado.

I'm from church pews and fellowship halls. Acapella singing and Sunday morning Bible class. "Blessed Assurance, Jesus is mine!" and "How Great Thou Art!" I'm from out to pizza after church and in home group Bible studies. From baptisms and church camp - singing around the campfire with friends for life. "Lord to give up, I'd be a fool, You are my all in all."






I am from homemade pizza and roast and potatoes. From spills and messes that were no big deal. From light brights and Cabbage Patch dolls, climbing trees and building forts. I'm from "truth always wins in the end" and "no dating till you're 16." I'm from cousins and grandparents, never a dull moment. 

I'm from hopping along Peter Cottontail's bunny trail each Easter, warmth and purpose each Christmas. From up too late and sneaking to the kitchen for a snack after bedtime. From hopscotch and girl scouts, bean bags and Uno. From my dad's distinct laughter and my mom's gentle answer. From Cici and Sam, Boxcar Children and American Girls. 

I am from unconditional love and high standards. From strangers in need becoming fast friends. I'm from giving groceries away and inviting people in, a place to belong. From "you can't see that movie" and Little House on the Prairie. I'm from "you can never outstretch my love," and believing it to be true. 


Where are you from, friends?


Linking up with A Holy Experience here.

my lovies

22 months already...

saying new words every single day

running into the laps of anyone nearby with a smile

catching attention every.where.we.go.

giving each other kisses all day

reciting the colors of everything they see - and getting them right almost always

pure joy

overwhelming blessing

grateful.

Linking up!

(please forgive me if this post is packed full of typos... this is the current condition of our laptop,

thanks to some very curious, sometimes totally destructive, but always cute toddlers...

I won't name any names.)

;-)

I'm linking up today with Abby at Akers of Love!

Each month, she has a list of questions for bloggers to answer and link up!

So here goes my inaugural 10-4 Good Buddy!

1. What is your go-to meal to fix? It always seems to be some kid of Mexican food.. tacos, taco soup, quesadillas... or spaghetti!

2. What piece of furniture in your home do you love the most? hmm.. probably would have to be my papazon chair. I bought this at Pier1 for an extra room that eventually became our nursery, so now this chair has had a home in many rooms. Since moving here, it's right in the middle of the living room and I kinda like it there. A little loud, perfect for cuddling the whole family, super sturdy..I'd say this is one perfect piece of furniture! (sorry for the poor photo quality!)

3. What is your favorite picture from last month {February}? When did my girls get big enough to love on babies? And I love that the babydoll on the right - in Kaylee's arms - is wearing a preemie onesie that they both wore just 20 months ago!

4. What household chore do you dread doing? I usually dread ironing. But once I start it, I realize it's not so bad.. till next time and then I dread it again, haha!

5. What was your first car? I didn't have a car in high school (oh except I did for a couple of weeks... I had my brother's green Dodge Stealth. Pretty cool car, but I wasn't very good with the stick shift or the payments. Didn't last too long!), but I paid a pretty small price to buy my parents' '98 Ford Taurus when I went to college. Till that one was totaled my junior year. ugh.

6. What is your favorite bible verse or favorite quote? This changes so often for me, as the Word always says something new. But one that is always a favorite and water to my soul is Hebrews 11 - the faith chapter. I'm always encouraged by how God works through people who just say, "yes, Lord." I have written in the margins of this chapter, "By faith, Lindsey..." just as a reminder that God uses our faith to accomplish mighty works!

7. Spring is coming.  What are you looking forward to most?  Spending our days outside at parks or the zoo with sweet friends or together as a family!

8. What is the first blog you remember following? Kisses From Katie, I think. And I, of course, highly recommend it!

9.  What is your favorite post that you wrote last month?  Probably The Mommy who Jesus Loves

10. What's the last book you read? I'm about to finish Shepherding a Child's Heart and Don't Make Me Count to Three - both great books about training our children and leading their hearts. Tripp's book has the theory and Plowman's book gives good practical advice from the theory. These books have really helped give us direction with discipline. The over-arching point is that discipline is not about just changing behavior, but about shepherding the heart that causes the behavior. Good stuff!

Linking up with

May I introduce....

Officer Thrasher!

I'm so proud of all his hard work in the academy,

but way more than that, 

I am so in love with his heart and love for people.

Some people might look at our past year and think,

"wow, they must have become bitter about ministry,"

or

"why isn't Logan still doing ministry?"

or

"I wonder why he gave up on ministry?"

But you would be so wrong about this man.

His heart is to serve. 

He is a minister.

on the streets day in and day out - 

bringing peace and defense to the vulnerable and victimized,

bringing light and direction to hurting people,

and shining the light of Christ to fellow officers.

I just love how he does everything with all his heart,

working for the Lord and not for men.

 he's teaching these girls to be tough... ;-)

 I am one safe woman with this guy by my side!

:-)

an amateur's frugal ideas...

Over the past year - crazy as it's been - I have been learning a lot about frugal living. Cutting back from two good incomes to one "in training" income has been quite an adjustment. I've honestly enjoyed seeing how far I can stretch a dollar and finding lots of new - mostly very simple - ideas to cut back on expenses. But it's definitely a whole mindset change. One I'm willing to make, as staying home with my sweet ones ranks pretty high on our priority list. However, this is not going to happen without some serious changes in how we plan, organize and spend money. So I'm brand new on this journey, but I thought I'd share a few of the things that have been helping me out as I try to make a dollar by saving a dollar. ;-)

First, the biggest place we can save money on our tight budget is with food, both groceries and eating out. How far can we really stretch that grocery bill and still feed our family healthy foods? That's been my big question this year. Here are a few of the best ways I've found for really saving week to week.

1. planning and organization have been the #1 money-saving tricks for us, believe it or not! Instead of going to the store with a list of what we might need and then not really sticking to it as I see what's on sale. Instead, I plan out our week's menu beforehand by planning around the food we already have at home. It's amazing how much I actually have in the cupboards that add up to a meal. I found these cute free printables to make it a little more fun. :-) I make a list of what we'll need for the dinner menu, then add in things for breakfasts, lunches and snacks for the girls. I make a tight list and keep to it. I try to keep my pantry and cupboards organized so that I can see plainly what I have before I make a trip to the grocery store.
2.  We often go vegetarian. Of that weekly menu, I try to have at least 1 or 2 meals without meat. Such as breakfast for dinner - french toast and eggs, or black beans and rice (I have a great recipe for those here!) or soup and grilled cheese, etc. And of those meals that have meat, I try to stretch that meat out a little. I like to buy the healthier, leaner meats which, of course, cost a little more. So I try to buy them on sale and make them last. We are big fans of Mexican food. So when I cook up our lean ground beef or turkey, I add in a can of black or pinto beans and a can of rotel (or off brand tomatoes with green chilies). And you know, it actually adds a lot more flavor than just the meat itself - super yummy! Then I use that meat for a Mexican casserole one night, tacos or taco salad another night, then add it into the taco soup another night. Seriously, 1 pound of ground beef for 3+ meals? score!
3. eat those leftovers! One night a week, left over night. always.
4. No eating out. obvious, right? We still eat out if we need to, but we don't make it an option for our family dinners. And since I'm planning now, there's not that ohnowhatarewegoingtohaveforsupperiguesswejusthavetoeatout nights. simple. And on the rare occasion that we do eat out, we check out the restaurants where kids eat free (if you live in Louisville, this is a great website to find them), get waters, and sometimes just share an entree between us. Never skimp on the tip- I've been a waitress. :-)
5. Make more food from scratch. Okay, I had no idea that most things you buy to make from a box are actually made with things already in my kitchen. Okay, maybe I knew that, but never really put it into practice before. And making things in your own kitchen is almost always healthier, too. So I make a batch or two of waffles - with whole wheat four, flaxseed meal and cinnamon - and stick them in the freezer. voila! eggo waffles at their finest. Other ideas are cakes, cookies, quick breads, etc. 
6. Aldi. I kind of feel like a dummy for not shopping there until now. Why pay more when you can get great fresh produce and some really yummy and healthy options for a fraction the cost of other grocery stores? flour, sugar, pretzels, spices, oils, produce, milk, butter, canned foods, are at just unbeatable prices. Plus I found some great hummus, fresh salsa, granola, and cereal there too. Not to mention delicious and cheap blueberries, strawberries, grapefruit, red/orange/yellow peppers, just to name a few. There's honestly not much I need that I can't get there. I always go to Aldi first. If they don't have something, I'll go to another store. But this has been a HUGE place for saving for us. Also, dollar stores are great for toiletries at fractions of the cost of grocery stores.

Okay, I have a few other areas I've been able to penny pinch or get creative with money saving too!

1. Children's consignment sales. If you have anything you might want to sell, sign up with a consignment sale in your area. Having two girls, I've got about half of their clothes to sell, as I'm only saving one set for another baby girl. (although mom often teases me that I'll have another set of twins since they run in our family...:-)) Not to mention any baby or children's equiptment, toys, books, linens, etc. At the sale I'm currently using, I'll make 70% on everything sold. That means I can buy all next season's clothes for my girls there from the money I'll make selling our stuff. Kind of like a clothing swap! And I've always bought great quality from these sales. Two I know of in Louisville are KidStuff and Little Treasures - both happen twice a year and are coming up soon!
2. Budget, budget, budget. We've always had a budget, but never really stuck to it religiously. But we've found that if we don't control where our money goes, it will just disappear. So we have a budget and we record every little bit we spend. If we meet our limit for a line item, we either have to take it from something else or just go without. 
3. Homemade laundry detergent. Works like a charm and is super easy! Here's the recipe I'm using:
   1 cup Borax powder
   1 cup super washing soda (arm and hammer)
   1 bar of soap (like Ivory) grated
   use 2 tablespoons per load
   easy schmeazy and it lasts a long time!
4. Use any extra money, like a tax return, to eliminate any outstanding debt. By God's grace, we are able to live on less because we have used this extra money to pay off loans, credit, cars and we live in an apartment. It's amazing the freedom this has given us. When our monthy income isn't already given to pay off debt, we can live on way less.
5. And finally, never skimp on generosity. The Lord loves a cheerful giver and we've always experienced His blessing when we are open handed with the material blessings He's given us. We're trying to learn creative ways to be generous and hospitable. It's definitely much harder now than ever. But I try to remember that "true generosity isn't measured by how much we give but by what we have left." I want to give the way the widow gave her last pennies. I'm not there by any stretch, but I know that it's in lean years that a generous heart is truly weighed.

Okay, there's the beginning of my list of saving secrets. Please, comment and share your ideas! Like I said,  I'm no expert on this, but only just beginning this journey. Okay, financial wisdom, please?

I love....

 the way it feels when I first walk into my parents' house after not being there for awhile.

the way my children are so loved by so many.. it's really overwhelming to this mommy's heart!

having all my sibs and parents in one place, really felt like my heart could explode with thanks.

missing my sweet man... but I only love it for short spurts, few and far between. :-)

late nights with my sister

laughing till our stomachs hurt with my mom and sister.. 

over things NO one else would find funny

wedding plans!

that my girls are big enough now to go run errands with their uncles... 

and come home with goodies, of course. :-P

the way my man shows his love... a completely clean apartment surprised me when we got home...

I mean even the floors, the stove, the sinks, the laundry. He really loves me! <3

sleeping beside him - that's my home.

crawling out of our window into our "back yard" to play! (yes, really)

sunshiny days and a sweet friend to accompany to the zoo

digging into the Word and finding new messages and convictions to change

 lent and the anticipation of my ransom and my King's death-defeating resurrection!

"a mama!!!" when I pick my sweet ones up from Bible class

my babies loving on their babies

when she wears my shoes

seeing my man in his new uniform (ow ow!)

being proud of him for all his hard work as he's getting ready to graduate

valentine's dinner with my 3 valentines

having my whole little family in my arms at once

all but skipping winter :-)

so many reasons to be so thankful

The upside-down Kingdom

A Kingdom where the greatest must become the slave of all.

where the most intelligent and awarded is told to become like a child.

where the only way to truly receive is to give it all away.

where we are made perfect by confessing our faults.

where we are made as white as snow only after recognizing our own filth.

where we are filled up to be poured out

where we are called to boast in our weaknesses

where serving and brokenness are the way to wholeness.

where you must lose your life to find it.


This is the Kingdom of God.

This Kingdom, of course, is actually right-side up. It's the way to truly live. 


Because all of us, at one point or another, have lived in total opposition to this Kingdom. We've lived for ourselves. We've lived as if we are the most important, the center of our own universe - pouring our thoughts, relationships, money and time into making our own names great. And if we are wise, every one of us can see that that kind of living only resulted in pain, in more brokenness. That old way is actually the one that is upside-down. 


There are few places this Kingdom is seen more tangibly than in marriage. Because the only way to truly love is to lay down your life. But it's in this laying down of our rights that we find true fulfillment, pure joy. It's the way of Christ, the only road to real and lasting contentment. Don't we all need this reminder?

"Marriage is not a place to 'stand up for your rights.' 

Marriage is a decision to serve the other.." 

(1 Corinthians 7:4 - the Message)

And just because she says things so well, here are a couple of quotes and links to Ann Voskamp's recent posts about marriage...

In this first one, she shares a love note to her hubby...

 "That you can’t wonder why love’s wearing thin when you’re wearing a thick layer of self."

 "If the highest love gives the best gift – is the best gift the gift of the everyday?"

This post is a must-read...

"Love is not passion. It is the pulse of sacrifice."

"This is how to make love out of a marriage: 

Love lays down it’s own wants to lift up the will of another."

"Love let’s go of it’s plans — to hold on to a person."

Happy Valentine's week! I pray that my marriage - your marriage too - will point to a Kingdom of true joy. May our loves grow more and more as we learn the way of the Kingdom! <3