Joanne Heim

A little Q & A

My friend Jen left a comment asking about Easter traditions around our house...I'll blog about it in the next few days. It reminded me of the Q & A trend that I've seen going around blogland.

So...anything you want to know about? Ask away and I'll do my best to answer. And, remember, there's no such thing as a silly question!

FTF BFFs

This has been a good week for making blog friends FTF (face to face) friends too. Yesterday, Teri came to my open house (which was perfectly lovely, if I do say so myself--smaller than I'd anticipated but I just told God that I'd cleaned house and made food; he'd have to do the rest of bringing people and orchestrating conversations) and it was such a delight to meet her face to face. Another Colorado blogger! Holly came so they got to meet face to face too.

And in the midst of talking and introducing everyone, it was just so amazing to see what a small world it is when God is involved. We're all family in him--and it's such a small, tight-knit kind of big family. I just love it!

(And before you ask, I totally forgot to take pictures though I did set the camera out in hopes that I'd remember!)

Then today I met Trish, Holly, and Meredith in Castle Rock for the day. We met this morning at Trish's hotel (she's from Arkansas) and immediately exchanged big hugs and started talking--and kept right on talking through coffee at a little coffee shop and then lunch at Black-Eyed Pea (mmm...fried okra!).

I've spent time with Holly and Meredith before, but none of us had met Trish in real life yet--though we've all "talked" a bunch. As Trish said, it's just so fun to meet women who are exactly who they say they are on their blogs and whom you love even more in real life than you do on...well...whatever it is the internet really is. (I just don't understand how it all works, but I'm very thankful it does!)

And Trish blessed us all--including our daughters--with lovely crocheted twirly scarves. Warm and soft and fun and happy. Don't you just love presents? Especially hand-made ones?

(And, yep, I left my camera in the car. I'll "borrow" a photo from one of the other gals and insert it when I get it!)

(Here we are: Holly, Trish, Meredith, and me--thanks for the picture, Meredith!)

By the way, Susan, everyone loves my necklace and wants you to put a link to where you got it. Trish wants to know, as does my regular check-out girl at the fabric store. Plus my friend Lisa who's getting ready to go to Israel.

On a last note, tomorrow is my retreat day for this month. I'd planned to go use the prayer room that DOES exist at my church. But Toben's going to be gone much of the day and I'm feeling worn down and tired. (I haven't slept well in more than a week--taking forever to fall asleep and when I do, sleeping for only an hour or so and then waking up for a while. Then repeating. Not good.) And, as much as I hate to admit it--like I might be fighting off something chesty and throaty. So I may just spend my retreat day in my bed, drinking tea and orange juice. I NEED some rest.

Wish ALL of you could have come with us today. I think you'd have had as much fun as we did--though we would have needed a much bigger coffee shop...

Couple three things

First, don't forget that you still have one week to enter the giveaway for a Beth Moore Bible study cover. You can enter here.

Second, look at this wonderful "Happy I Love You Day" gift I got from my mom today--awesome vintage Girl Scout goodies!

Third, tomorrow morning is my open house. The table is set, the house is clean, and now I'm worried that no one will come. Do you ever do that? Throw a party and then wonder if anyone will come?!

There are people coming, of course. But I'm not entirely sure who (except for a handfull), because I just can't remember who all I invited! Surprisingly, I didn't make a list and instead just handed out invitations to everyone I ran into. Oh dear.

So I'm just going to give it all to Jesus and trust that he knows who all is coming and will orchestrate everything the way he wants. Cause, really, it's not about learning to knit or being crafty, but about encouraging one another and sharing how good God is to us.

But--not surprisingly--I have plenty of food. So if you want to come, come on! And feel free to bring a friend.

I really needed this one!

The letter N is up on the Free Downloads page.

Family jammie pact and a movie

We made a pact this morning that we'd come home after having lunch with some new friends today after church and all get into our jammies. And everyone but Audrey did. (Not sure why she didn't have the jammie love today.)

I did some sewing for a friend who's having a baby (yes, you Ann!) and then sat on the couch to watch The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Somehow I've never seen it before. I'd put it on my Netflix list because of all the Titanic love around here.

(In addition to going to the exhibit in Phoenix, Audrey's class studied the Titanic earlier this year, and the girls and I just finished reading Tonight on the Titanic, a Magic Treehouse book, at breakfast the other day.)

It was a fun movie. Not as good as my other favorite musicals, but fun anyway. Especially since most of it took place in Denver and Colorado. I wonder how much of the movie is true to Molly Brown's real life...think there's some Googling to be done! And a trip to the Molly Brown house some Saturday too.

Saturday

Today was an empty day on the calendar with still lots to be done. But nothing urgent, nothing too hurried...

...a nice long quiet time with Stepping Up and my prayer book--by the fire, in the dark, drinking coffee, before anyone else got up

...a little blog update

...more coffee

...menu planning, including my open house on Wednesday morning

...hours spent trying to get my new Palm to talk to my Mac; but after some frustration, it's working and now ALL my lists and contacts and calendars can go with me wherever I go and whenever I need them

...a trip to the bank to deposit some $ for the Brownies

...a super quick (is it even possible?!) dash into Jo-Ann's for zippers and interfacing

...some zippy sewing

...order packaging for The Simple Wife Handmade

...getting my lists organized on the Palm

...excited that I can put pictures of my kids on the Palm too

...washing sheets and getting beds remade

...shelf cleaning in the garage (I've organized all the Girl Scout stuff with some help from the Container Store and feel like I have a handle on things)

...hamburgers and baked beans and pickles

...Tagalongs

...snuggling on the couch to finish watching season one of The Brady Bunch with Audrey and Emma (thank goodness, Cindy found Kitty Carry All--Tiger took her, just as Emma predicted!)

...helping Audrey with eye exercises as part of the vision therapy she started this week

...doing some prep for MOPS at Cherry Hills next month

...enjoying the quiet house since everyone else went to sleep (if you don't count the humming dishwasher and the snoring beagle)

...thinking it's time to take out my contacts and climb into bed

Hope you've all had a great Saturday...and will have a restful, quiet Sunday.

Love, Joanne

Zippies

Thanks for all the recent zippy orders. I just love zippy bags--I really use them for everything and all the time. In fact, I think there are three or four in my purse right now. One holding my ipod, one filled with gift cards/frequent shopper cards, a big one holding all those random things that like to float in the bottom of my purse: lipstick, tissues, extra pony holders, hair pins, girly supplies, a pen or two, and such.

While most of the purses I carry have lots of interior pockets--I don't really use them, except for my car keys and cell phone. I prefer zippies. When I switch purses or bags, all I have to do is grab the zippies and my wallet, keys, and phone and I'm done.

Holly scanned this handout for me from an Emilie Barnes talk she went to--all about organizing your purse. What does she suggest? You got it--zippies!

Thanks, Holly!

Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening...

I came to my quiet time this morning desperate for a word from God--a word just for me, about me, about all the distraction and overwhelmsion (don't you think that should be a word?!) that's been building for the past few weeks. I know that distracted is where Satan wants me. Ready to quit before I even start. And that made a HUGE, HUGE difference in my attitude. Because that's NOT where God wants me. I went to bed last night at peace.

And woke up this morning to my same life. That's not bad--and I certainly don't hate my life. But I need God's help and perspective to know what's BEST. Everything on my plate right now is good--just like Thanksgiving dinner. But if I take it all, I'm gonna be a little sick later.

Everything there is good. But God wants what's BEST.

Back to this morning. Today was day 2 of Stepping Up, and I'm still wondering if I can do that plus my prayer book each morning. Because I love them both, and don't want to give up doing the prayer book. And I know that I need it in the morning. I'm too tired and prone to distraction at night to do one in the morning and one at night.

Anyway, I wasn't sure I was going to do both, but I did (he just multiplied the time and made it all fit without being rushed), and WOW! am I glad I did. Because he spoke to me all through it, but had such a word for me--right there at the very end, with minutes to go before it was time to get Audrey and Emma out of bed. He spoke to me, just like I asked him to.

Don't you just love that God talks? As I told a friend today, my prayer this morning was that even though he tends to speak in a still, soft voice, what I really want is for him to shout louder than all those voices in my head telling me all that needs to be done. Because his is the voice I really want to hear.

And don't you just love that God talks to you, about you? What he spoke to me just before I had to run upstairs was so specific about what I'd been praying about. If I told you, it probably wouldn't mean anything or nearly as much because it was specific to my need.

But the thing is, he knows YOUR need too. Tell him all about it, ask him to speak, and sit back and listen. Ask him to give you ears to hear him, ask him to help you be still and focus, ask him for wisdom, for help--and he'll give it. Scripture promises that. It may not happen right away, or be what you want to hear (isn't that so often the truth?!)--but he will speak.

DON'T GIVE UP. DON'T STOP LISTENING. KEEP ASKING.

Because he has a word for you, too.

If I could...

...I would sit down and write each of you who comment a long letter on pretty stationery with my favorite fountain pen. I love hearing from you and learning about your lives. I appreciate your prayers and am humbled by them. Thank you.

Please know that I read each comment--usually more than once. That I look forward to them and cherish them. That I lift you up in prayer and visit your blogs (if you've got one).

So while I don't have time to respond to each and every one, please keep them coming!

Overwhelmed and distracted

Daisy and I took a walk this morning! And listened to the first segment of Mary of Bethany, a CD set by Beth Moore that sweet Holly lent me. (Well, I listened to Beth and Daisy listened to my comments on what she was saying.) Then caught up on email and such before heading to Girl Scouts this afternoon.

I've been thinking about viewing Girl Scouts as more of a ministry, wanting to arrive earlier to pray for each of the girls in my different troops, wanting God to use Scouts to do good work in these girls' lives. I mentioned it to Toben and finished doing my hair and by the time I was done, I was totally in a snit.

Do you ever feel that way? Just annoyed and upset and not sure why. It hit me out of nowhere. So I drove to school and prayed for God to transform my attitude and change my heart and change my mood. He answered, but not right away.

I came home three hours later still in my snit--a worser snit, even. A snit and a pity party combined. Feeling overwhelmed by my life, like all the simplifiying we've done has worn off. (Nature--and any empty space in a house--abhors a vaccuum! You clean out, clean up, sort, and organize, and then stuff starts creeping slowly in. So slowly that you don't notice at first until one day it feels like everything's exploded.) Feeling like I want to erase everything off of my calendar and hole up in my house for a month--or two.

Then while we were eating dinner, I heard again what Beth taught this morning about Martha being worried and distracted by many things. That Satan uses distraction to hinder us. And I thought, That's it. I'm completely distracted to distraction. Discouraged. Disheartened. And wanting to "dis" everything and everyone.

I don't think it's coincidence that I listened to that CD this morning. That I started a new Bible study journey this morning. That I want to see Girl Scouts as more of a ministry than an activity. That for the past few days in my quiet time I've been thinking about "one thing" kind of living. That today I suddenly felt overwhelmed and wanted to quit everything.

Yes, I still feel like we need to sort through things again. That I need to think long and hard before adding anything else to my weekly calendar. That life has been uncomfortably full lately. But instead of feeling pulled hither and yon, in a million and one different directions, I need to choose that one thing that Jesus talked about. I need to pour it all at his feet and then sit back and listen to what he has to say about it. Because he cares about all the details of our lives--from how we fill our calendars to what we teach at Scouts. It matters to us so it matters to him.

What's distracting you? What's pulling you apart? Pull up a spot of the floor, and let's park ourselves at Jesus' feet, listening to his gentle voice instead of the loud ones in our heads driving us to distraction.

A little shop update

Kristen took some pictures for me, so I've updated some things over at the shop. Or, shops, I guess. Since there's now a page just for books and another for The Simple Wife Handmade.

I need to get sewing again. It's been weeks since I've spent time in the mad workshop. But the Girl Scout cookies are worth it. (And that reminds me, I've got to start walking again in the mornings. Daisy and I are getting, well, soft would be the nicest way to put it!)

Stepping Up

We started Bible study this morning--after panicking because the gal who was bringing the DVDs was out of town (something I completely forgot about) and calling the Lifeway store across the street for help, which they did!--and I'm so excited. It's gonna be good!

It's been so fun to get comments from you all who've entered the giveaway. I especially love hearing which study you're doing. I have to say, each one is my favorite while I'm doing it!

In the introduction today, Beth talked about pilgrimage--about the fact that we're on a journey and that we're not staying where we are. We're not stuck, but moving on, moving up to whatever God has next. I love that. I can't wait to get up tomorrow morning and dig into the homework. (Especially because I've heard from so many of you about the great things coming in this study!)

Isn't it great that it's not about getting to where someone else is--but simply about taking the next step where God is leading me, leading you? It's not about comparing ourselves with others--is she a better Christian/wife/mom/person/friend than I am?--but simply about being authentic with God and others.

I'm excited about each woman God has brought to our group--and I'm anxious to see how he's going to use this study to work in each of our lives. I love to study the Word on my own, but also to see how God is speaking to others.

One thing that I have prayed for a couple of years now is to love God's Word--to have an ever-increasing hunger for it. For it to "dwell in me richly" as Paul says in Colossians 3:16. I still have a long way to go--wish I could memorize Scripture more easily, that I could recall it more quickly--but this is a prayer that he's answering. I really believe that it's one of those prayers that God will ALWAYS answer with a resounding YES!

P.S. Last post for today--I promise!

Sorry about having to type in a wacky code to leave a comment now. But I've been getting all kinds of spam on old posts and I don't want to close comments or get any more weird spam stuff. So...just think of it as good practice for touch typing.

And if you've NEVER left a comment, go ahead and leave one! I'd love to hear from you.

Bible study GIVEAWAY!

I'm starting Bible study in the morning--hooray! hooray! We're doing Beth Moore's new study, Stepping Up. I bought the workbook this morning and headed over to Kinkos to have it spiral bound--that way it lays nice and flat when I'm doing my homework.

So...

Anyone want to go to Bible study in style? Leave a comment and you'll be entered to win a cover for your Beth Moore workbook. You can decide which one you want (new fabrics will be up soon) when you win.

I'll draw a winner (well, Audrey and Emma will) on Tuesday, March 4. Only one entry per person.

One last vacation thing...

On Saturday night, our friends John and Stacey had an incredible dinner party and we got to meet so many of their friends. Toben and John have been working together a ton on a book that John is writing, and Toben usually has dinner at their house on Wednesday nights when he's in Phoenix.

Among the friends I got to meet was my blogging friend, Linda. Linda and I have emailed back and forth and commented on each other's blogs quite a bit. It was so fun to meet her in person! Yet another blog friend I've now met face to face. See? Think it won't happen? It will. It's just a matter of time.

Anyway, Linda has the most amazing craft room ever--I have total craft room envy. Go check her blog to see the pictures.

Next time I'm in Phoenix, we're going to go shopping together and she can teach me how to thrift. She gets amazing things--and the best I can find is sewing patterns. I think I must be doing something wrong. As I told her, "Teach me!" (You can see the amazing apothecary jar she got recently for only $12. Yes, $12!)

I also had another small world experience. Before we left, I got an email from Stephanie, who lives in Denver but moved here from Phoenix. Turns out she's friends with Stacey. And Angie, another blogger I sat with at dinner on Saturday. Hey Stephanie, Angie says hi!

M is for...

The letter M for The ABCs of Living Simply is up on the free downloads page.

Libby Lu on Saturday

On Saturday morning we went to Libby Lu for makeovers. Well, Audrey and Emma had makeovers and I took notes so I could recreate their "Libby Dus." It's quite the girly place and the girls LOVED it. Glitter, glitter, everywhere!

It took me three "shampoo, rinse, and repeats" to get all the hairspray out this morning. Then a whole bottle of hotel conditioner to get it soft again. And then I did my best to recreate their dos. Not quite the same, but pretty good for my first try--considering all the compliments they got at the airport today!

Phoenix zoo on Friday

We went to the Phoenix Zoo on Friday--one of the top five zoos in the country for families and kids. And if it had been sunny and warm, and if I'd had shoes other than flip flops, it would have been.

(Note to self, no matter what the forecast says, pack some warm clothes just in case! Phoenix has 360 days of sun each year, someone told me. We just happened to get two of the cold, rainy days.)

Gorilla kiss:

Lion roar:

Anteater tongues:

Jeep wreck:

A frog and two princesses:

Despite of being cold, we had fun. And saw the zoo in record time!

Clipboard stuff

Okay, since you asked...

The inspiration for the clipboards came from this magazine. The clipboards came from Office Max (or was it Office Depot? I can never remember!) and were totally cheap. Like $1.50 or something like that. The paper is stuck on with Mod Podge and then once dry, I coated it with another two or three coats, letting it dry completely between each coat.

That's it. I also covered the back with fun paper too. And I used legal-sized clipboards...just because.

Valentine love

Just a quick peek at the clipboards I made for the girls for Valentine's Day...along with packages of fun pencils, these will be great for drawing, or for doing homework.

Cute, huh? While I don't really scrapbook, I do love scrapbook paper!

Hello from Phoenix!

While Toben played golf yesterday (and shot a 79--his lowest round ever!) the girls and I headed to the Arizona Science Center to see the Titanic exhibit.

Yes, it's the same one that just left Denver. But though Audrey saw it on a field trip with her class, I never managed to get there. So I was excited to have a second chance. The exhibit is wonderful--if it comes to a town close to you, go see it!

As you enter, you're handed a boarding pass for an actual Titanic passenger and it's fun to look for anything that mentions your identity as you go through the exhibit. I loved reading the stories about various passengers and seeing the artifacts collected. Clothes, dishes, even papers that are still legible. It's incredible. They have staterooms set up, menus of meals served aboard, an even an iceberg you can touch.

The rest of the museum was fun too--though a little sparse. Seems like much of the museum was empty. It was fun to see how a house is built and play with design software, plumbing pipes, and circuits. And they did have some fun and very hands-on stuff related to the human body.

And while it's not as warm as we'd like here, it is warm enough for flip flops. So considering there's snow in Denver, we're pretty content!

Thank yous and comments and such

Oh, you all are such a blessing to me. Knowing you were praying made all the difference today--I felt so encouraged and excited and comfortable. Thank you a million.

Traffic was fine, it didn't snow, and I had such a good time meeting some wonderful women and sharing with them this morning at Angie's MOPS group. I started talking, and the next time I looked at the clock I realized that I'd been talking for well over 45 minutes and needed to wrap it up--quickly!

The past four or five days have just been crazy. Not bad, but so very full. Most of it is seasonal stuff--Girl Scout cookies to be delivered, parties at school--or last-minute random things, but even after a great night of sleep last night I'm still tired and ready for our trip to Phoenix tomorrow. I'm going to float around the lazy river, lay by the pool, and enjoy not being cold!

My email box is full again--though I really did have it all cleaned out last week some time--and I keep thinking I'm going to have time to respond to each one of the sweet comments ya'll have left. But I don't think it's going to happen before we leave--there's still laundry and packing and housecleaning to be done before taking Daisy and Joey to the kennel and heading to school for Valentine parties and getting the girls.

So, thank you for your kind words, your prayers, your friendship. I cherish your comments and love hearing from you. I know I say this a lot, but I really do love you all and am blessed beyond words to "know" you!

No ABCs tonight...

...in fact, maybe not until next week. Yep, definitely not until next week.

Today didn't go quite as I expected--I was gone all day subbing at the last minute at school for someone this morning and then running errands and delivering cookies this afternoon. Luckily, I started the laundry last night--something I've never done before. But God knew I needed a head start on my day.

I'm speaking in Boulder tomorrow, and then we're headed out of town on Wednesday--and there's still lots to be done--housecleaning, packing, more cookie deliveries, and such. It's just not going to get done tonight. I'm tired--weary, even. And I can tell I need some extra rest in order to stay healthy. Toben said I have to be in bed by 8. (Something I know isn't that unusual for me, but lately I've been staying up late--10:30 even!--and still getting up by 5:30.) I need to go take a shower, spend some time hanging out with the girls, and then review for tomorrow.

I'd covet your prayers for tomorrow--I'm excited to share some of the things God has been teaching me about marriage. Not because I've got it all figured out, but because God is so wonderful. I just love how all of his plans fit together perfectly for our good.

Love you all lots and lots!

Joanne

God answers prayer

A group of moms gets together every Thursday morning at school to pray. We pray for students, staff, families, the school itself. And we pray for each other. A lot.

We laugh and visit, we cry, we hold hands, we read Scripture.

I love these women deeply. I don't think you can really pray with other people and hide behind a mask. Pretend to be someone you're not. Fool anyone for long. Prayer with others makes you vulnerable and creates intimacy so quickly it almost leaves you breathless. How did I get to know her so quickly, so deeply? I sometimes stop and wonder. But then I think back to her prayers and remember that I've seen her soul bared before God.

And God is responding. I shouldn't be surprised, really, because I know that God answers prayer. That when we call to him, he listens. That especially when we pray Scripture, when we pray for those things that we know are his will, he responds.

But God's timing is so rarely our timing. And the ways in which he responds are often not what we're expecting. And some of the things we pray for are things we've prayed for week after week, for more than a year. But then one day, it's the day. And God answers in such an overwhelming way that we're stunned--almost speechless.

Almost, but not quite. We cry some more; we praise God; we say "Thank you, Jesus!" over and over. And we laugh hysterically. Because he's so good. And his timing is perfect. It's pure, crazy joy to look back and see how God used those things that seemed hopeless at the time to make the answer that much sweeter, that much better.

And why wouldn't he do it that way? God does not share his glory. He gets all the praise.

Don't give up. Don't give up--yes, there are things you've been praying for years. There are things I've been praying for years. Things that don't seem to be changing. But keep praying. Keep asking. Keep pressing into the heart of the Father. It's never too late for him to respond. Even if it seems too late, even if it seems hopeless, keep asking.

Venite puts Psalm 30:3 like this: "You brought us up from the dead as we were going down to the grave." We don't go down to the grave unless we're dead. But rescue, answer, relief can come from God even when it seems like it's too late from our perspective. After all, God is all about raising the dead.

Cookies, cookies everywhere!

This weekend is Girl Scout Cookie weekend! I picked up all the cookies yesterday and we spent time this afternoon organizing all the orders and deciding when we'll deliver them. Emma wanted to sort Toben's order first so we could eat some cookies--and we've already gone through two boxes of Tagalongs... Luckily, there are many, many more boxes left!

Right now...

...I'm sitting here in the family room waiting for Toben to come home. He's been in Phoenix for the past two days, and should be home any minute.

What was going to be a stay at home, watch movies, relaxing kind of day ended up being different. I had coffee this morning with the communications director at church--it was fun to meet her and hear a little of her story and talk about church and ministry and worship. And she showed me the prayer room that does exist at my church. It's beautiful--and I'll be spending my next retreat day there.

I came home and started a movie--Robin and Marian with Sean Connery and Audrey Hepburn. Then Kristen called and said she and mom were going to Patina, one of our favorite antique stores, and did I want to come along? Well, duh! So I went and found the coolest treasure...pictures coming. (Patina is located here for all you Denver area people. Sorry, couldn't find their website--they may not have one.)

Then it was time to pick up the girls from school. Audrey had a swimming birthday party to go to at the rec center, so Emma and I went to Target to get new flip flops for our trip to Phoenix next week. Plus some new towels for the girls' bathroom, some games (I really want to be a family that plays games and the girls love to play games, but I'm tired of Mancala, UNO, and Connect 4--fun, but those seem to be all we ever play), boring stuff like shampoo and saline solution--then a quick trip to the library (something that doesn't cost money--hooray!), over to Mom's to figure out her scanner, then back to get Audrey, home for 35 minutes for her to shower, back to Mom's to get her and go to a jewelry party, and now we're home again and it's 9:30. Phew.

On top of yesterday where I was home for only one hour all day, I'm ready for the weekend. And being home. And I'd like to finish my movie!

Time for a little open house...

You may sew or crochet or embroider or knit.
You may patch, darn, or mend—or just chatter and sit.
You may sew a fine seam or make a dress fit.
Whatever you do, please come and do it.

Wednesday, February 27
8:30-11:30 a.m.

If you would like to learn to knit, you will need to bring:
Size 15 straight knitting needles
1 skein of Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Yarn

Wanna come?

Just 'cause she's so beautiful

Because Emma just had a birthday ya'll got to see that darling picture of her that my sister took. Here's the matching one of Audrey... We just had them framed and Toben put them up in his office.

I'm telling you--if you live near Denver you need to call her for some pictures. This was just a spur-of-the-moment snap in my mom's kitchen. Just imagine what she could do for you!

Overwhelmed

One of the things I'm really enjoying about my new prayer book (A Guide to Prayer for All God's People) is the quotes included each week for reading and reflection. I recognize a bunch of the people quoted, but a bunch are new to me too.

This morning I read a quote from James Fenhagen's book, Mutual Ministry. He's one of those I'm not familiar with, but this quote really jumped off the page at me:

The more aware we become of the range of human need that surrounds us, the more overwhelmed we can become to the point that we end up doing nothing. The secret of the compassionate life is to focus our care on a few things that we can do something about, including in our intercessions those concerns that are beyond our reach.

Starting before Christmas, I became aware of so much suffering going on around me. It felt totally overwhelming to me--so much so that I felt almost paralyzed by it. What can I do about divorce, about dads who abandon or hurt their children, about mothers who are alone and struggling?

I've heard it said that the county we live in has the highest divorce rate in the nation. What can I do about that? It's all too easy to do nothing.

The thing I like about this quote is that it reminds me that I can do something. No, I can't fix the overwhelming problem. But I can reach out to a single mom who is lonely and be her friend. I can offer a hug to a hurting child. I can pray specifically for couples I know who are struggling.

And in my intercession, I can give the big, overwhelming picture to God. Because he's bigger than the problem. And he's not overwhelmed by it.

As I journaled this morning, I thought about all of the problems in our world that seem overwhelming--those things that make us wonder, What difference could I make? World hunger. Homelessness. War. AIDS. Problems that are so much bigger than just one person.

But what if we all recognized "the few things we can do something about" and then did them? Sure, my action might just be a drop in the bucket, but when we add it all up, a lot of individuals doing those few things could make a huge difference. I think that's exciting.

I'm praying that God would open my eyes to those "few things" in my life that I can do something about. Those "few things" that my family can do something about. To see the smaller parts of big problems, the little but important ways we can help.

Let go of stuff

Hey all,

Thanks for being patient! The letter L is up for The ABCs of Living Simply. Just click on the link over there on the right.

And while you're at it, go visit Melissa here. She's been doing some major purging and getting rid of stuff. It's been fun to read her tallies for each day of what she got rid of. The thing that struck me is this--for "Most Difficult to Part With" she didn't really have anything to list. As she's said, it was nice stuff, but just stuff. And what's left is what adds to her home, tells a story, makes her smile.

You know, one of the things that has helped me with the whole stuff thing is to have the freedom to take things out of my shopping cart. So often I rush through Target (or somewhere else, but mostly Target!), throwing things in the cart because it caught my eye and was on a great sale. I've learned to give myself the freedom to walk around the store with it in my cart, and the time to think about whether it's something I need, something I want, or something I'm buying just because it's on sale.

More often than not, I head back around the store for a second pass, putting things back where I found them--or even giving them to the checkout person and being comfortable enough to say, "I changed my mind."

Tired

I know it's Monday and I should be putting up the letter L for The ABCs of Living Simply. But I came home from Brownies--16 first grade girls running around and having a ball--made dinner, took a hot bath, and I'm having a hard time putting thoughts together coherently.

So, I need a day's grace. Tomorrow's calendar is completely empty. So check back tomorrow!

Retreat

I mentioned a while ago that Toben's mother gave me a new prayer book that I've been doing since the beginning of the year. (Mine doesn't quite look like that; I made a pretty cover for it to match the cover I did for my prayer journal!)

Anyway, in addition to being a daily prayer guide, it also includes 12 day-long retreat models--one for each month. And one of my goals for this year is to take a day each month to retreat. I've put a day on the calendar--a school day, so I can leave when the girls go to school and be home by the time they come home. That way our weekends are still set apart for being together as a family.

I took my first retreat last Friday.

I looked and looked for places to go, but it's hard to find something close enough--I didn't want to spend an hour or two in the car--and free. I did find a place not too far away, but their suggested donation was $80 for the day. That seemed a little steep.

At the last minute, I decided to go to the coffee shop at our church. I figured I could sit all day with my Bible and not feel too out of place. The coffee shop has a big fireplace, huge windows that look out over the mountains, and soups and salads for lunch.

It was a good day, though not quite what I expected. I followed the retreat model in the book and spent a lot of time going back through the journal I write in each day during my quiet time. I noted things that had stood out to me over the past month, seeing recurring themes of things God is bringing to my attention.

The day went by so quickly; I was surprised. But it wasn't quite what I expected because I was in a public place. I'd envisioned some rest--a nap, even--more prayer (I usually pray out loud, so I didn't with so many people around), and more privacy.

I need to have a better plan in place more than a day before my next scheduled retreat. Seems like a church somewhere should have prayer rooms available for people. Seems like my church should--it's big enough!--but the person I talked to on the phone said no.

Anyway...

It was incredible to see the past month as a whole--how God has brought different things to mind and how they fit together in what he's teaching me. Isn't it amazing that in God's Word to his people, there's something just for you, just for your life and whatever circumstance you're facing? I love that.

Someone said to me recently that she doesn't think God speaks to people today. When I just smiled, she said, "What? God speaks to you?" My answer was that God doesn't speak in an audible voice--I'm not hearing things. But he does put things on my heart that I know don't come from myself.

Mostly, he speaks to me through his Word--bringing teaching or encouragement or even discipline through what the Bible says.

Much of what he's teaching me, what I saw come together as a whole during my day away, is between the two of us right now. But I will share these verses from Isaiah 61--verses that God keeps bringing to our time together:

The Year of the LORD's Favor

The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,

and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the LORD
for the display of his splendor.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins
and restore the places long devastated;
they will renew the ruined cities
that have been devastated for generations. Isaiah 61:1-4