Consistently Inconsistent

Well, I haven't been on here for such a long time. I'm really not a blogger, I guess...ugh.

I love magazines. My mom brings me stacks of them and I am a sucker for a new one when I am in the checkout line at the store. I will go through the magazines and tear out all kinds of articles...decorating ideas, parenting tips, recipes, and brilliant ideas. I destroy the magazine! I have a three-ring binder full of these great ideas that one day I'll get to. Well, there is something new; something exciting, fun, addicting. Check it out at

www.pinterest.com/jsheafer/pins

Yes, I am obsessed with pinning. It is my new 'tear-up-the-magazine' way of finding and saving great ideas! Try it out. I'm sure you'll love it, too.

Simply Covered

I grew up in the church. I was surrounded by family and friends who accepted Him, who loved Him, and who believed in His love for them.

I didn't get it.

I believed in Him, loved Him, and believed in His love for me...with conditions (be nice, read your bible enough, pray enough, etc.). I think so human. I forget that His ways aren't like mine. He doesn't think like I do. He is Jesus.

After so many years of self-condemnation; condemnation that I let myself believe was from Him, I finally get it. Well, I at least get part of the puzzle. (and for the many parts that I still struggle to understand, I trust Him to reveal them to me when, and if, it is necessary...until then, I simply trust Him.)

Jesus died for me. His blood covers me.

                            I am righteous because of the blood of Jesus.

I am imperfect, impatient, and sometimes I wallow in the muck.

And then I stand up. I remember who I am. I shut up the condemnation and I talk to God and love Jesus for his covering. I fall in love with Him more every single day. I desire a closer relationship with Him and not because I have to, but because of the great gift of my rightousness.

I believe in Him, love Him, and believe in His love for me. Simple.

Grace for Self

I love to listen to K-Love Christian Radio, 90.7 in Neosho, MO. Early in January, I heard Dr. Meier talking about loving self. Mark 12:31 tells me to ' love God with all that I am and love my neighbor as myself' - there is no commandment greater than these (paraphrase). How easy it is to love God, it is usually pretty easy to love those around me, but oh the struggle of loving self.

We all make mistakes. We are all imperfect.

Most of the time, I am quick to offer grace to those around me when they mess up; when they live imperfectly.

Most of the time, I am quick to offer condemnation to self when I mess up; when I live imperfectly.

How is your relationship with self?

I am determined to love me. I am worth the same grace and mercy I offer to others; the grace and mercy offered to me by God.

You are worth it, too.

Quiet Life & Busy Hands

For years I have watched my girls crochet and knit. My 13 year old son has crocheted hats and bags. My 15 year old used to fingerweave scarves. My great-grandma made the best crocheted slippers. My mom crocheted quite often as I was growing up, too. All the while, I would sit and watch. It wasn't for me.

Then I met Kate. She is, in my opinion, the Knitting Queen. She can knit anything! She is a fellow homeschool mom and at co-op each week, she chats and knits...at the same time! ;) I was inspired.

She taught me how to make a dishcloth, of which I made four, or rather, three and a half. Now I am working on a scarf. It is actually a simple pattern, knit two/purl two, that I learned on Ravelry.com. So simple, but I am so excited about these amazing rows coming off of my needles!

1 Thessalonians tells me to lead a quiet life and to work with my hands. I can do this. Yes, I can.

I'll keep you posted on future projects. I hope there will be many.

Blessed Stuff

Do you ever experience the loss of breath in your throat, like the beginning of a sob? You know, that feeling you get when pride wells up in you for your children and you catch your breath and stifle emotion....or when your spouse takes your breath away...?

Well, a few days ago I looked around me and I felt that same loss of breath over my 'stuff'.

Truth: I'm struggling with want for new stuff. I want new lamps, new pillows, new paint on the walls, a new van, etc. YET, I am amazed at what I own, as little as it is. For the most part, my home doesn't really reflect me...I feel in limbo waiting for my forever home. But there are little places in my home that do reflect me; places that have character, history, and a bit of whimsy.

These areas of my home hold the 'stuff' that took my breath away. Crazy, isn't it? No, not really. I think God is so good at taking me out of my pity parties...He reminded me of this stuff, the history of some of the pieces, and my heart was glad. Every good and perfect gift is from above. James 1:17. Oh, my blessed stuff.

It's Multitude Monday!

This morning I woke up with thankfulness in my heart. That is a wonderful way to start the day. I heard the alarm at 7am and faithful husband got up...I didn't. At 7:45 he was rushing around to leave for work and I realized, 'Wow, he does this everyday!' Isn't that amazing? No matter the weather, no matter the mood, he goes to work around the same time everyday. I am so thankful for him and his determination to take care of his family.

As I was going through my morning, still in awe of the goodness of my day, I was reminded that my favorite book in the bible is Colossians. I sat the kids down and read to them the first chapter. Good stuff. I am thankful for the Word of God that is in my heart and in my hand...for the freedom I have to open it whenever I want.

Reading Colossians reminded me of Psalm 18. Last week a sweet friend encouraged her facebook friends to read from that chapter, beginning with verse 16. Amazing. God rewards me according to my righteousness! It isn't about my perfection...but my righteousness. I am thankful! I am free to be the girl He created me to be, and to know that I am loved...all the time.

So, I'm going to my 1,000 Gifts page to add these. I challenge you today; look around you. What are you thankful for?

So much food...so little time.

I finally did something I've been wanting to do. I went shopping (got some great deals) for groceries and, after we put it away, spent a couple of hours (so little time) to make some great meals (so much food). With the help of my amazing kiddos, we filled the freezer and have dinner ready for days to come.

Here is the list of what we made and have in the freezer:

1 gallon of 5-can bean soup

1.25 pounds of browned ground beef

2 meatloaves

2 turkey cornbread casseroles

8 hamburger patties

8 bacon wrapped stuffed chicken breasts

2 gallons of hamburger soup

80 meatballs

In addition to the above, we made chili for tonight and some seasoned oyster crackers. I made suet/bark butter for the birds and filled their log, too.

It has been a great day...the kids enjoyed it as much as I did. What a blessing to have a freezer full of such bounty.

If you are interested in of these recipes, message me. I like to share.

Multitude Monday - 1,000 Gifts continued

I'm headed to my 1,000 Gifts list. Here are some things I'll be adding: snow covered hill, sleds, Mr. Cardinal sitting in the evergreen tree, Uncle and Auntie...home from Africa, the quiet beauty of a snowy day...what else will I add? You better click over to my list page and see. :) What are some things on your list? What are the gifts in your life...the things you are thankful for? I'd love for you to share some with me.

Uncle Denny and Aunt Marie - we're so happy that they are in America.

I'm a Caterer

Faithful husband and I were chatting a few days ago and I said something that later came back to me in a strange way.

"I won't cater to an alcoholic."

That's a good thing, right? I'm not going to go out of my way to make sure an alcoholic has what they think they need or what they want.

Later, as I was driving my van I realized...'but, I'll cater to a glutton!'

I'll go to the store and purchase all kinds of great food and follow whatever recipes are necessary for a feast. Sometimes I am sure a vomitorium would be a great thing...then we could just keep on eating that fabulous food. OK, I know that a vomitorium wasn't really for the purpose of vomiting, but you get my point.

Reality, gluttony is the act of eating and/or drinking immoderately.

As a society, we look down on alcoholics, but to the gluttons we lift our glasses and say, "Cheers!"

Both are a lack of self-control, which is a fruit of the Spirit, and both lead the body into slavery and misery. I want a life of freedom! I don't want a life controlled by fleshly desires.

I was, in my heart, being judgemental when I said that I wouldn't cater to an alcoholic (a glutton). I'm thankful that God let me see that, in reality, I do.