7, 5, 1

Well, I started this post on my phone ages ago (probably about a month ago), and now it's gone.  Oops.  It was really a lot (a lot) of babble - which is why I didn't post it then.  But I think it's important enough - just for my own memory - to post a little bit here about what 7, 5, 1 means.  The definition, and also why it's important to me.

1
This number is more symbolic than an actual definition, and it represents a large group study that I started earlier in the fall.  We are reading The Story, and this study will take us through the spring (we meet every other week, taking a longer break for Christmas).   It was important for me to participate in this study because I've never read the Bible all the way through, and at times it is difficult for me to understand passages without having all of that background.  The Story is a chronological, novel-type version of the Bible - still with much of the text of the Bible, though some parts are summarized.

5
Our church has been studying The Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations (by Robert Schnase) - both in small groups and with church-wide devotions.  As part of an ad hoc group that meets to specifically explore the Passionate Worship aspect of the five practices, I also wanted to participate in a small group study to learn more about what other members of the congregation thought about the five practices.  My small group has exactly two people - myself and the leader.  Not a popular time, I suppose, but she is still faithful to lead our very small study even though I would certainly give her the "out."

 
7
This book (7: A Experimental Mutiny of Excess by Jen Hatmaker) makes me want to pretty much toss out everything we own.  I think the only reason that I haven't (so far) is that I want to sell what I can to raise money for our adoption* and I have a long-standing (genetic?) history with clutter and "stuff."  I'm studying this book with a group of ladies meeting every other week in the home of a friend.  Some of the ladies I already know, some are new - as an introvert, this is the perfect setting for me to get to know new people.  But back to the book...  I couldn't really get into Chapter 1 - it was about Food.  I can't really put a finger on why I wasn't into it, except that I was chomping at the bit to get into the chapters about clothing, spending, media, and waste.  We started Chapter 2 this evening  - Clothing.  I couldn't help myself, I cleared out about 1/3 of my closet over the weekend.  Decent, wearable stuff that I'm just not wearing (Hello, Goodwill!).  I could probably eliminate about 1/2 of what's left, but I haven't decided exactly what this chapter will look like for me.  (We are each deciding what significant, meaningful actions we will take during the time period we study each chapter/topic - typically, three to four weeks.)

Why three studies at once?  Hmmm...  They all sounded good, and since I read Five Practices over the summer, I was already prepared.  I've always wanted to read the Bible, but that's a bit of a daunting task - so The Story seemed like the perfect way to get the background I have desired and that would be helpful in other studies.  This doesn't mean I won't ever read the Bible, but this makes it accessible to me now.  And 7, well, I've been trying to conquer the excess for about two years now.  I've got plenty of reasons to be motivated, but Jen just adds another layer to it all that kind of rocks my world.

Y'all, three studies at once is kind of crazy, but it is a beautiful kind of crazy.  Even cooler?  The three studies and the Sunday school class I taught last month all included the same part of the Bible - and my favorite part of the Bible at that!**

All of these studies are groups of women, though Five Practices was open to everyone.  I am really enjoying the opportunity to meet new women and get to know acquaintances even better.  As we discussed in our study this evening (7 - small group), women tend to judge each other - and we judge ourselves, too.   But once we get past that, we can be genuine with each other - and that is when our true beauty shows through.  I am so thankful for the opportunity to be genuine with these women, and my courage grows each time we meet. 

*things are progressing slowly, because we have needed to put things on hold for a bit. We are returning our focus to the process, though, and hope to have it officially in motion very soon.
**from what I've read so far - I did read the actual Bible to about 2 Kings

My Reading List

Sometimes I snap a picture with my phone, sometimes I jot down a title I read on a blog. 

Faith Journey:
Choosing to See - Mary Beth Chapman (just won this in a blog contest!)
Radical - David Platt

Reading for Pleasure:
Eats Shoots and Leaves - Lynne Truss (already have it, just need to read it)
Mennonite in a Little Black Dress - Rhoda Janzen
Eat Pray Love - Elizabeth Gilbert (loved the movie, so I'm pretty well guaranteed to love the book!)
The Help - Kathryn Stockett (just bought it - now slowly working my way through it)
Ten Habits of Happy Mothers - Meg Meeker
Blacks Heels to Tractor Wheels - Ree Drummond
(There are actually about three times more books on this section of the list - usually the cover catches my eye and I jot down the title.  But these are the ones that I am most interested in reading.  You know, when I have the time.)

Cookbooks:
Our Best Bites: Mormon Moms in the Kitchen - Sara Wells, Kate Jones
Cooking Light - pretty much any version that's for families, that's quick and easy, and that's tasty
Don't Panic, Dinner's in the Freezer - S Martinez, V Howell, B Garcia (and they also have another one, I think it's Don't Panic, More Dinner's in the Freezer)
The Good Neighbor Cookbook - Sara Quesenberry and Suzanne Schlosberg
No Whine with Dinner - Liz Weiss and Janice Newell Bissex

Books about Running:
Hot Sweaty Mamas - Kara Douglass Thom and Laurie Lethert Kocanda
Mile Markers - Kristin Armstrong
Train Like a Mother - Dimity McDowell and Sara Bowen Shea (coming soon!)
(More books about running on my list, too - but these are the ones that I consider 'musts.')

So, have you read any books lately that I should add to my list?  What's on your list - that you may or may not get to read any time soon?

What I'm Reading

I'm working my may way through Hinds Feet on High Places with an every-other-week study group.  I love that I have plenty of time to get through the reading for each session.  I also love that it's the perfect time for me to be reading this particular book.  And I love that since it's an allegory, I feel kind of smart for enjoying it and understanding it.  (Just being honest there....)

image from here

We met in small groups for the first time last week, so I'm looking forward to getting to know the ladies in my group a bit more as we continue to meet and study together. 

Slow Down

Conversation with my son this morning:

"Mom, what was that word you said after you wrecked into that other car?"

Well, I couldn't remember, except that it was likely, "Crap!" or something relatively mild - after all, my kids were right there with me. 

The good news is that we are all ok.  Oh, and the kids got to watch Toy Story 2 while they waited for Daddy to come pick them up and take them on to school. 

I was very fortunate this morning.  First, that we were all okay - though I was mortified that this accident happened while my kids were with me.  Second, that it was just a fender-bender. And truly, just an accident.  I was not a distracted driver.  I was not talking on the phone or doing other non-driving activities when the car in front of me stopped unexpectedly.  It was on an odd little stretch of road where my lane of traffic did not have a stop sign, but needed to stop - quickly.  And I just wasn't quick enough.  Third,that there was only cosmetic damage to the vehicles.  Fourth, that no citation was issued.

After all of the necessary phone calls were made, information was shared, and reports were written up, the police officer who came to the scene said something to me that has stayed with me all day.

"Slow down." 

And while she surely meant it in the "you were probably going just a wee bit fast on the curvy exit ramp" sense, it translated a bit differently in my heart.

I'll explain....

We are at the beginning of a new school year, facing a very busy fall.  Now, that is of our own choosing.  We have scheduled one after-school activity for each of our children and I will be training for a 5K.  I'm going to do my best to participate in a book study with friends.  Doesn't sound like much, does it?  But the kids' activities just happen to be on the same night - one before dinner and one after.  That night will turn into a "fast food or leftovers, adults are lucky to see each other in passing" kind of day.  The trade off is that I'm committed to have lunch with my husband that day.  We will have together time during the day, and the kids will get some one-on-one time with one of us adults.  So far, not bad.  But then there's this - the coached 5K training sessions are two nights per week.  And book study?  Yep, it's the same night as - and on the heels of - one of those training sessions.  I've already been told that I can "come stinky" by my sweet friend Muffy who is hosting the study.  My hubby will be taking over solo that night - and I am already so thankful!  (I'm an "Acts of Service" - can you tell?)   

We are feeling the Gravity of Motion.  None of these activities has even begun, and we are already feeling stressed.  This will be the biggest balancing act we have ever managed.  I also have some big commitments that wrap up this fall (one of which wraps up next month and one that goes to the end of the year).  I cut back on activities when I was preparing to take on these commitments - and turned a couple of other requests down - but I'm still feeling the effects of 'busy-ness.'  So, what to do?  Well, I'm not sure.  Which is why, along with my book study book (Satisfy My Thirsty Soul by Linda Dillow), I've ordered a copy of this:

Not So Fast by Ann Kroeker

to help me find some answers.

I'll also be cutting back on some things (Facebook, Twitter, blogging) in favor of family and my own fitness.  It's all about priorities - isn't it always?  And it's just time to re-evaluate.  I hope you'll stick with me even when the blogging slows down.  I've had quite a run of posting these past couple of weeks ((waves to two new followers)), which is a bit unusual, but I've just had a lot to say!  I hope to continue mobile blogging if time allows.  I also hope to post about my 5K progress, the kids' milestones and firsts (will that tooth ever fall out?), and some of the funny stuff they do and say.  Probably less about lunches.  And I'll let you know what I learn from Ann.

Incidentally, I found out about Ann Kroeker's book through Jane Anne's blog, and I now also read Ann's blog (and sometimes participate in her blog carnival, Food on Fridays).  Small, supportive, bloggy world.

Mother's Day 2010

I spent my Mother's Day doing what any mother wishes for - resting.  Literally.  We came home after church, had an easy lunch, and then I fell asleep watching Superman with Big J and Mister J (Miss M was napping).  Big J even took the kids out of the house for part of the afternoon so I could enjoy some quiet time of my own.  That evening we had dinner, put the kids to bed, watched a little TV, and I went to bed a little earlier than 'on time' - which I rarely see anymore, anyway. I know it may sound crazy, but it really was a wonderful, perfect-for-me day. 


My sweet kids had insisted that I open my gifts from them early.  I opened my gift from Mister J on Saturday - he insisted - a handprint flower he made at school.  I just love it - I am a sucker for handprint art!  I opened my gift from Miss M when she brought it home from school on Wednesday.  Inside the bag was a cute little basket - made from a strawberry basket with ribbons woven into it.  The tissue stuffed into it should have given it away, but when I said, "What a nice basket!" Miss M didn't tell me to keep going.  I should always know there's a little more to the story when Miss M is involved!

When we were at church on Mother's Day, I saw the mother of one of Miss M's classmates wearing a handmade lapel pin.  I thought, "Oh, I bet her little girl made that for her!" - and still didn't put two and two together.  On Monday, Miss M was playing with the basket and brought me the yellow tissue paper that had been stuffed inside.  There was a gift hidden inside the tissue - a handmade lapel pin very similar to the one worn on Sunday by the mother of Miss M's classmate!  At least it'll make for a cute story to share the next time the mom and I have a chance to visit!

My 'big' gift was something I did on Friday - I went to The Pioneer Woman's book signing!  It was fun to take a little road trip and meet up with grad school classmate S and her friend K for dinner, the book signing, and dessert!

My Mother's Day started on Wednesday and ended on Monday - I don't think a girl could ask to be celebrated any more!

I Got My Picture Taken With Ree!

I was so excited to find out, a couple of weeks ago, that my grad school classmate S had an extra ticket to a book signing that I was hoping to attend.  She kindly offered it to me, and I gladly accepted!  As you may already know, this little getaway was my Mother's Day gift.  And if you don't already know, I took a little roadtrip and went to Ree Drummond's, aka The Pioneer Woman, book signing.

I met S and her friend, K, for dinner and had a great time visiting with them (it was the first time I'd met K).  After dinner we window-shopped as we got lost on the way to moseyed over to the book signing, knowing we'd have a bit of a wait.  We managed to get a great spot to see Ree during the brief Q&A before the signing, so we stood there and visited a little more.  I was caught by surprise when the crowd got a little excited and S told me that Ree was right behind me - 

 but still managed to snap a photo! 

 It was still a few minutes until the Q&A began.  We had the opportunity to submit questions for Ree, but I can never think of anything good until it's too late.  If I could ask Ree anything, I'd ask her what she did in Charlotte on Thursday (she was in town the day before the book signing).

Through the brief Q&A time, Ree seemed funny and self-deprecating - just like she is on her blog!  Ree took a few pictures of the crowd, answered some questions, and even sang for the crowd.

In a couple of hours, it was time to get my cookbook signed.  I took my own tomato-juice spattered copy of The Pioneer Woman Cooks.

If we hadn't been asked to "open your books to the title page" before we got them signed, she'd have noticed that I was using the dust jacket to mark the recipe I'd used earlier in the week, Marlboro Man's Favorite Sandwich.  And she might also have seen some of the yummy sandwich juices splattered on that page, too. 

I got a photo with Ree, but I guess I should have checked a mirror before I sat down with Ree.  I'm glad a got a snapshot, but I'm choosing not to post it here.  If you want to see Ree close up, check out S's post on the signing.  Hers photos turned out great!

I can't forget the rest of the evening, which included a little more window-shopping and dessert!   S and K, thanks for including me!

What I'm Reading...

I've been drawn in, and I don't want to put it down. Up next, I'll be re-reading this....

I already know the story. I already know how it ends. I suspect I'll be drawn in again, it will tear at my heart, but I'll still be glad for having read it.