Eyes of a Dove

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Did you know that when doves mate, they mate for life? Once committed, they don't ever go looking again ... ever. And their eyes? They only look straight forward. They have no peripheral vision. They only have eyes for what is right before them.

I spent some time at a women's retreat this weekend. We worked through the Song of Solomon as seen as an allegory between Christ and His bride. Between Christ and us. I was far, far, more touched by the study than I ever expected to be.

He speaks in relationship to us. He calls us beloved. He calls us beautiful. He tells us our eyes are like doves. He knows the real us and He still tells us this.

Not distracted by all that is in the periphery. Not wavering in commitment. And beautiful to Him. This is who I want to be. This is who He sees me as. This is a choice for me to believe.

God is so good. The rains come and the rains ... they do go. Winter passes away and there is an ushering in of springtime. And the doves are heard in the land. Praise God. Praise God. Praise God.

Rejoice with me. God has ended a long season of rain in my life. And more than ever, I claim eyes of a dove. I choose to have eyes of a dove. Praise God.

"See! The winter is past, the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth, the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." 

Song of Songs 2:11-12

It's Already Melted, But It Was Fun While It Lasted ...

A Good Use for a Common Thing

 Need to set that orchid stem straight? Pull out one of the chopsticks that your father-in-law brought back from Japan and a plain ol' bread-bag tie. Voila!

Busy Days

I just can't get up any gumption to post, as of late. The days have been so, so busy. Lots of good that God has placed in front of us, just needing to scale back and focus on using my time on that which is most important. Ever have that feeling?

Taking an on & off approach for a bit. Hugs.

Shazaam! Simple Solutions To Common Conundrums

Happy New Year! While I've never been one for radical resolutions, I do love the fresh-start feel to January. 

Perhaps that is why I so enjoyed this post on this blog. While I have known how to fold a mean fitted-sheet for years (thank you, Mom), I never even considered most of these brilliant solutions to common conundrums.


Read through and tell me which are your favorites!

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Via: amy-newnostalgia.blogspot.com

Why didn’t I think of that?! We guarrantee you’ll be uttering those words more than once at these ingenious little tips, tricks and ideas that solve everyday problems … some you never knew you had! (Above: hull strawberries easily using a straw).
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Via: apartmenttherapy.com

Rubbing a walnut over scratches in your furniture will disguise dings and scrapes.
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Via: unplggd.com

Remove crayon masterpieces from your TV or computer screen with WD40 (also works on walls).
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Via: athomewithrealfood.blogspot.com

Stop cut apples browning in your child’s lunch box by securing with a rubber band.
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Via: marthastewart.com

Overhaul your linen cupboard – store bedlinen sets inside one of their own pillowcases and there will be no more hunting through piles for a match.
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Via: realsimple.com

Pump up the volume by placing your iPhone / iPod in a bowl – the concave shape amplifies the music.
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Via: savvyhousekeeping.com

Re-use a wet-wipes container to store plastic bags.
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Via: iheartnaptime.net

Add this item to your beach bag. Baby powder gets sand off your skin easily – who knew?!
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Via: realsimple.com

Attach a velcro strip to the wall to store soft toys.
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Via: flickr.com

Look up! Use wire to make a space to store gift wrap rolls against the ceiling, rather than cluttering up the floor.
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Via: instructables.com

Gotcha! Find tiny lost items like earrings by putting a stocking over the vacuum hose.
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Via: realsimple.com

Make an instant cupcake carrier by cutting crosses into a box lid.
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Via: stephmodo.com

For those who can’t stand the scrunching and bunching: how to perfectly fold a fitted sheet.
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Via: sprwmn.blogspot.com

Forever losing your bathroom essentials? Use magnetic strips to store bobby pins (and tweezers and clippers) behind a vanity door
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Via: realsimple.com

A tip for holiday packing. Store shoes inside shower caps to stop dirty soles rubbing on your clothes. And you can find them in just about every hotel!
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Via: familyfun.go.com

A muffin pan becomes a craft caddy. Magnets hold the plastic cups down to make them tip-resistant.
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Via: unplggd.com

Bread tags make the perfect-sized cord labels.
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Via: kiboomu.com

Bake cupcakes directly in ice-cream cones – so much more fun and easier for kids to eat. Definitely doing this!
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Via: squawkfox.com

Microwave your own popcorn in a plain brown paper bag. Much healthier and cheaper than the packet stuff.
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Via: jengrantmorris.blogspot.com

Brilliant space-saver: install a tension rod to hang your spray bottles. Genius!

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Via: 9gag.com

Win friends at breakfast with this heart-shaped egg tutorial. Aww shucks!

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Via: wilton.com

Turn your muffin pan upside down, bake cookie-dough over the top and voila – you have cookie bowls for fruit or ice-cream. Click here for recipe.

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Via: realsimple.com

Freeze Aloe Vera in ice-cube trays for soothing sunburn relief.

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Via: lifehacker.com.au

Gutter garden: Create a window-box veggie patch using guttering.

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Via: re-nest.com

Use egg cartons to separate and store your Christmas decorations.

Treasures Abound

Christmas Eve baking, music listening, excited bouncing, and pinecone glittering. Treasures abound.

Merry Christmas.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, 

where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven ...   

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Matthew 6:19-21

Clean-It-Out Day

In expectation of all the Christmas extravaganzas, today has been "clean-it-out" day. Boxes from Amazon shipments and scraps from wrapping have all been isolated and pitched with verve.

And while we're at it ... the children were enlisted into service as well. Since they are undoubtedly getting new goodies, it is time to cull out the old. Empty bins and shelves in the closet? This is a good thing. Kids are remarkably willing to clean when it involves making room for anticipated treasures.

A kid tip? Collect 3 empty bags. A big ol' garbage bag in the hall for trash (there will be lots ... why is this always so??) and two other bags for each kid (paper grocery bags work great). One for giveaways and one for "I don't know what to do with this so I'll ask mom."

Is the house now a picture of tidy perfection? Of course not! But it's better than before we started and that is a great thing.

Operation Smile, Chocolate Style

I've begun to feel challenged, lately, to find more opportunities to smile with my neighbors. A quick wave as I drive by or a chat at the mailbox are easy to do. But in the wintertime, when we are all clustered indoors, we see each other very little and it's too blasted cold outside to really visit on the sidewalk over recycling bins.

But yet, I've had this nudge. Reach out. More. Keep it simple. Show you care. Bring a smile.

I can do this.

So this year we mixed up a ridiculously easy hot chocolate recipe that slaps together faster than a bejeweled Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye musical number. (Have you seen "Sisters"?? Watch the ladies first and then watch those boys. One of my favorite old-timey movie scenes ever).

Once made, we spooned into containers, wrapped in string and tied on a little note. The girls and I delivered small tubs of hot chocolate mix to our frosty and hermited cul-de-sac. And you know what we got? A lot of smiles.

We pray for opportunities to show His love, right? Here's a nice, simple, chocolately one that's a sure-fire winner.

• Pass-It-On Hot Chocolate Mix •

8 c. powdered sugar (1 c. more if you like it on the sweeter side)
4 c. cocoa
10 c. powdered milk (or one 8qt. box)
4 t. salt
8 t. cornstarch
a couple good shakes of cayenne pepper

Mix all together, spoon into air-tight containers or baggies. 2-3 T per mug of hot water or milk.

**Takes me two batches to make up enough to pass out to neighbors and friends.

Skipping Rocks and A Mama's Heart

 At first, while rummaging his closet, I thought I had just been negligent. How can he have grown out of all of his long-sleeve shirts? What has this poor boy been wearing these last months?

But then later, while watching him skip rocks with more skill than I'll ever muster, I realized ...

... he's just growing so quickly. My mama-heart is both wistful and joyous all at once.

A Christmas Thank-You Gift

Personalized pencils for teachers along with a little festive zippy pouch (made from a vintage table-cloth and red ticking!). Affordable, practical ... and still awfully cute.