I was tired, so I made tea. Though I often crave caffeine, I can only tolerate it until noon, when I must stop drinking it or risk lying awake until two in the morning. Fortunately, I glanced at the clock on the stove: just after 10:00 a.m. I had time. I spooned some caffeinated black tea into a paper loose tea filter, lowered it into the deep pottery mug, poured … [Read more...]
Food on Fridays: Slow Cooker Pork Chops
(smaller button below)For the Food on Fridays carnival, any post remotely related to food is welcome—though we love to try new dishes, your post doesn’t have to be a recipe. We’re pretty relaxed over here, and stories and photos are as welcome as menus and recipes.When your Food on Fridays contribution is ready, just grab the broccoli button (sorry for the delay on the … [Read more...]
Food on Fridays: Vacation Food
(smaller button below)For the Food on Fridays carnival, any post remotely related to food is welcome—though we love to try new dishes, your post doesn’t have to be a recipe. We’re pretty relaxed over here, and stories and photos are as welcome as menus and recipes.When your Food on Fridays contribution is ready, just grab the broccoli button (My daughter doesn’t quite … [Read more...]
Cause for Celebration
My Slow-Down Fast didn't wrap up quite how I expected. I imagined creating quiet moments of contemplation leading up to Easter, and in a way I did enjoy more moments of interaction with the Lord, but not necessarily in long stretches of quiet solitude. I haven't had a lot of down time, but I have been able to focus when I am silently interacting with the Lord, communing … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast: The Rooster
These final days leading up to Easter, we've continued to open the Easter Story Eggs and read the related passages from the Gospels.This week in our reading, we came across another critical moment in the story that's not represented in the egg collection. So, to enrich the journey, we added a symbol in another egg and inserted it directly after the praying hands. … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast: A Slow-Down Smile
After attending a bridal shower on Saturday, I drove home and changed into running clothes fully intending to get out and pound the pavement.Instead, I climbed into bed and fell asleep.Four hours later, I woke up.I needed exercise, but I guess I needed to slow down and rest even more. … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast: Easter Story Eggs
Years ago we bought a set of "Resurrection Eggs," twelve plastic eggs filled with small symbols representing moments in the Easter story, including a donkey for Palm Sunday, a tiny metal wine goblet and plastic bread for the Last Supper, and a rock for the stone rolled in front of the tomb. The kids would take turns opening an egg each night at dinner and we would read the … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast: Music and Silence
My nine-year-old son spent most of Wednesday curled up on the couch recovering from a stomach virus while I worked on the computer at my desk a few feet away. At some point, he got up to get a book, and when he returned he stuck a Mozart symphony in the CD player and pressed play.Music filled the room.I sighed. … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast: Pondering Pace
We home educate, which allows considerable flexibility in our schedules throughout the week. But we supplement with once-a-week classes in a cooperative effort involving multiple families. The parents share the teaching, and I offered to teach high school writing.This means, of course, that I assign, read and evaluate a lot of papers. Last week I finished grading the last … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast: Undivided Attention
The morning began very slowly, causing me to write and publish this later than I intended. Perhaps that is somewhat appropriate for a "slow-down fast"?Sunlight streamed through the windows as I sat at the kitchen table this morning. This is noteworthy, after countless days of sorrowful gray skies. As the heat hit my cheeks, I felt myself warming and thought of Psalm 36:9, … [Read more...]
There & Back Again: My First Ash Wednesday
I pulled my hair back this morning. Normally I wear it down, but long strands will sometimes flop down against my face, angling in such a way that it cuts right across my forehead. Today, I swept my hair back. My forehead was bare. At breakfast I told the kids I would be attending an Ash Wednesday service at a church near ours. The service was at noon, I said, so I … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast: Singletasking
As I said on Thursday, I'm trying to stay open as I prepare for this Lenten Slow-Down Fast. I'm willing to slow down in all areas, from my schedule to my spending; from my technology use to my thought patterns.As I simplify and slow down, my desire is to find the right pace for preparation—I want to slow down for the 40 days of Lent in order to walk through Maundy … [Read more...]
There & Back Again: What to Bury?
Thursday isn't my official "Slow-Down Fast" posting day, but I was inspired to think and write about Lent today, as well as Saturday. So, at risk of causing confusion, I stuck the button on this post. For more thoughts, check in again this Saturday.As I prepare for the Slow-Down Fast this Lent, I am open. I am willing to slow down in all areas, from my schedule to my … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast & Simplify: To-Do/Not-To-Do List
Join me as I embark on a “Slow-Down Fast”: a season dedicated to humbly and boldly simplifying and slowing (schedule, habits, activities, thought-patterns) in order to experience a more focused and intimate relationship with God in my everyday life.The "fast" will begin Ash Wednesday, March 9, and end on Easter Sunday. … [Read more...]
Slow-Down Fast & Simplify: Silence & Solitude
On a day when I'm considering how to simplify, you might wonder why I have not just one blog button but two in place.I'm inviting you to join me as I embark on a “Slow-Down Fast”: a season dedicated to humbly and boldly simplifying and slowing (schedule, habits, activities, thought-patterns) in order to experience a more focused and intimate relationship with God in my … [Read more...]
