Sabbath by Wayne Muller

 I rate this book 4/5

If you are anything like me- constantly feeling the need to 'do' something, always tackling several things at once, feeling like you can never really relax- then this is the book for you! One of my very favorite sites, Bloom, chose this book and it was a great read. I highly recommend this to anyone of any age. Oh, don't forget to check out the discussion videos at Bloom.

If only I had found this little jewel of a read 6 years ago.

Here are just a few of the passages that stuck to me like crazy glue.

And so we are given a commandment: Remember the Sabbath. Rest is an essential enzyme of life, as necessary as air. Without rest, we cannot sustain the energy needed to have life. We refuse to rest at our peril- and yet in a world where overwork is seen as a professional virtue, many of us feel we can legitimately be stopped only by physical illness or collapse.

We reward our captains of industry, our real estate tycoons and investment wizards with outrageous wealth and success. At the same time, people who work with those precious things that grow only in time- caring for children, making peace in troubled communities, harvesting the crops that feed us- these people are invisible, necessary but easily replaced, a dime a dozen.  This economic perversity slowly corrodes the fabric of the human family.

Jesus' most poignant prayer- prayed when he knew he was soon to die- was simply this: "Thy will be done." This is not defeat or resignation, but astonishing faith that there are spiritual forces that will bear him up, regardless of the outcome.  Often in our striving for a particular result, we are not willing to be surprised by a healing we cannot imagine, Paradoxically, it is often cowardice that makes us hold on to our own small solutions; it takes infinitely more courage to surrender.

Remember the Sabbath, and keep it holy. Sabbath time is set apart for remembering the holiness of life. If we speed up and saturate ourselves with accomplishment and worry, we may define what is sacred with our mindlessness. Time is the key. Time, and attention. If we grab a sandwich as we run out the door, this is eating, If we take a small crust of bread and a sip of wine, in a mindful gathering of other beings, this is a sacrament. It is neither the food nor the eating but the time and the mindfulness that reveal what is holy.

Note: While this book focuses primarily on the Christian faith, it does have a few ideas that stem from buddha and other religions.

E-Mealz

Warning: This post is a tad lengthy and may only appeal to some.

A fellow teacher introduced me to this. I've always planned our meals out in order to save money and ensure that I buy everything I need for a few weeks at a time.

First, I would go through my recipes and pick out things we wanted to eat.

Then, I went through our picks and compiled my shopping list. I would also check for coupons to go along with the items I needed. I generally shopped for roughly two weeks worth of meals. This was always a time consuming process.

In comes E-Mealz to my rescue. It's extremely easy to use and takes the hastle out of meal planning and shopping. You simply select the store you normally shop at (Publix, Wal-Mart, etc..). Then you select the family size you are cooking for (couples, familes etc...) and then you select your diet (regular, vegetarian, low-fat, diabetic....). 

Click HERE to see sample menus and shopping lists.

Each week the people at E-Mealz browse through the sales lists and collect coupons, then they plan a five day menu for you. Thus, when you are doing your grocery shopping you know that you're buying sale items or can use coupons. I feel good knowing that I'm saving money!

Each Friday E-Mealz sends out your menu. I love their organization! Each day has a meal, a list of items you need, and the recipe. Plus, they give you a shopping list that is organized isle by isle- no more wandering around the store like a lost person. There is a list of staple items included at the bottom of your list. It also tells you the price of teach item you are buying and how much you should expect to spend overall. I've shopped for my weekly menu consisting of 5 recipes and spent less than $40! It's incredible! I simply print out my menu and shopping list and I'm ready to go! I keep the recipes we really like, then when one comes up on my plan that I'm not fond of, I can easily substitute.

In case you need a little more convincing, it's endorsed by Dave Ramsey himself.

If you're interested in joining, it's $15 for a 3 month subscription. When joining, enter the code word Dave to receive $3 off. Remember to enter my name as the person you heard it from- in doing so I also receive a discount.

Now, I'm off to Sunday evening service. Hope this was helpful.

Happy Meal Planning!

Friday Favorites

1. Spades

Last weekend we hung out with my dear friend T and her husband. I had never played before, but am hooked now!

2. Ice Cream Cakes

For the first time ever I did not make my husband's birthday cake (insert gasp...). Instead, I bought him an ice cream cake. My husband had one tiny slice but the rest somehow disappeared.....

3. The Kennedys

Can I just tell you how much I love this show!?! In case you've missed it, there will be a marathon showing  Saturday and Sunday. Sunday night is the finale. I read a great book on the family last year entitled Grace and Power.

4. Tiny Prints

5. I Love Lucy
I am a fanatic for all things I Love Lucy.

6. Upholstered Head Boards

I found a great DIY guide and plan to tackle this project during my summer break.

 Photo: Pottery Barn

7. E-Meals

Stay tuned for a detailed post on this.

8. Extreme Couponing

Has anyone else seen this?  This coincides with #7. It shows how shoppers can purchase hundreds of dollars worth of items for mere pennies. It airs on TLC.

9.Purex Linen and Lillies

I have always been a Gain or Arm and Hammer girl. That is, until a few weeks ago. I've been on the lookout for ways to save. While browsing the detergent isle I decided that my days of paying high prices for detergent were over. Smells great, works the same, and it's cheaper- that's what I'm talking about!

10. Avocados

 

As always, Happy Friday.

Old Post

I journaled about this on 1-2-11, but haven't been emotionally able to publish it until now. For the sake of my journal I back-dated it.

1-2-11

Claudere

The Latin word 'claudere' is a verb in its infinitive form. It may mean to close, to shut, to stop. It also may mean 'to make inaccessible, to conclude, to bring to an end'

This weekend has been marked by tears, sadness, and worry over my Brother. Saturday while browsing the news, I came across the riots in the Middle East, particularly Afghanistan- specifically Kabul.

My brother is in Kabul.

I immediately called my close friend Chickadee. I told her my heart was skipping beats and began reading to her what some of the news reports were saying. I even went so far as to watch a video of the riots- people were holding signs cursing Americans- specifically American soldiers in their city of Kabul. 

They're not just talking about some soldiers that I don't know anymore. It hits home.

They're talking about my brother. My brother.

During my panic, my dear friend said something that went through the phone and straight into my heart.

When I asked her what to do, she replied, "Turn it off."

I have to turn it off. Please don't misunderstand me. I want to know if there are riots and conflicts. I do not want to be stupidly oblivious. But I can no longer read in depth on the issues, hear the gory details, see the signs bashing our troops- my brother.

I'm going to close the door to panic. I'm going to shut out the details that will keep me up at night. I'm going to stop fear from gripping my heart. Instead, I will do as I have since Jan.2.....

 

I will pray. 

Because I know that he's safer in God's hands in Afghanistan than he would be in mine here at home.

Happy Birthday To You

I want to wish two of my dearest friends a very happy birthday. These are two of the most amazing women! I'm blessed to be able to call them my friends.

Chickadee

You are so much fun to be around. I love our shopping trips together and I miss our weekly lunch dates at "Cheese Dip". I love how you never take things too seriously and you are always there to bring me back to reality when things go crazy. I love our fishing adventures! You give the best advice and I'm so grateful to have someone like you to turn to when I need a friend! You're friendship is such a blessing to me and I'm so thankful to be able to call you friend!

T

The Lord knew just what I needed when he brought you into my life. Its funny how we went to church together for so long and never really realized just how close we would one day become. I love our long chats, Bible studies, and crafty trips to Mobile. You truly are my soul sister in Christ. Thank you for your many prayers, support, and encouragement throughout the years. I thank God for you daily. I pray the Lord blesses you just as much as you've blessed me.

Family Under Construction

Has anyone else been watching this series? It is based on the Bryks family who purchased a nearly 75 year old home and are fixing it up themselves. Can I just tell you how much I would love to do that??? Well, I guess we did in a way. Our house just wasn't 75 years old.  Any who, this season is over and they're taking applications from families for the second season. I just hope the next family will be as creative and inspiring as the Bryks!  I loved this show! It usually airs on Thursdays at 10 PM ET on DIY.

Letters To A Soldier

On Thursday I let my students make cards to send to my brother in Afghanistan. These cards show the  sweetness and purity in a child's heart. I thought I would share a few with you. They brought me to tears.

Front: Dear Sgt. Carter, This is a book for your team.

Inside:  I will pray for you and thank you for fighting for Amarica. All of you are great and God will take cair of you. Thank you Lord.

Front: Amracn Fllag! thak you for fing! (fing= fighting in first grade language)

Inside: Sgt.Carter  I hope you are ok over their. get the bad gy's. We pray for you. We love you!

Front: sgt. carter  you'r brave!!!!!

Inside: Im prayIng for you de safe thak you fou keeping us safe you'r so congeneyole!!! (Congenial was on of our robust vocabulary words this week. Several students used the word).

Friday's Favorites

1. Seeing My Brother
 I've been able to video chat with my brother twice. It's so good to not only hear from him, but to actually see him.

Last Saturday my Dad, Kris, niece, and nephew came over to talk with him. I was able to snap this picture.

*Note: Please excuse the cluttered desk.

2. Bible Study

On Tuesday/Thursday nights a few ladies at my church get together for Bible Study. We just finished One in a Million by Pricilla Shirer. I enjoy being able to dig in and explore God's word with my sisters-in-Christ. We've had the month of March off, but I'm looking forward to starting again in April.

3.  Running

Those of you who've followed my blog for the past few years know that I love running. In the Fall I was so busy with adjusting to a new school that I didn't have much time for this part of my life. Since Christmas I've been able to get reacquainted with it. I look forward to my evening runs around the lake. I just wish I had a jogging partner..... any takers?

4. The Smell of Fresh Cut Grass

 5.Orange Tic Tacs

These little things are addictive!

6. Towel Hooks

I loathe, despise am not fond of towel rods. I've never had much luck with them. They always end up wobbling around and eventually pull the screws out of the wall. Plus, you have to fold the towel before placing it on the rod, otherwise it looks messy. I will add that my husband is not the fold-the-towel-so-it-looks-neat kind of guy.  A few years ago I started using regular hooks. Much less hassle!

Master Bath

 Guest Bath #1

 7. Daylight Savings Time

I love  having more time in the evenings to spend outdoors. However, I hate that it's now dark when I'm getting up. Guess we can't have everything....

8. Flip Flops

Yellow Box is my favorite!

9. Crawfish
I look forward to these every Spring. I justify my overindulgence by the fact that they are only in season for a short while.

10. Green

Green is one of my favorite colors. Seeing the trees put on new leaves reminds me of just how much I love it.

Happy Friday!

To Everything There Is A Season

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 is one of my favorites!

Spring has finally made its debut! Along with the extra time in the evenings, we're also enjoying the warmer air, blooming flowers, and cheaper light bills thanks to the mild weather! :) Life on the Little Lake couldn't be sweeter!

Notice the new plantation shutters :) They make me smile every time I see them.


Remember my lovely topiaries from last year.... well, unfortunately they did not make it (as predicted by my husband). So, ferns will have to make do until I can swing into town and get more. We're also on the lookout for a simple iron bench to go on our front porch.

This was a little project I finished over Spring Break.

And these little red beauties are great for attracting hummingbirds. I'm proud to say that I've already spotted a few checking out my feeder ( and these flowers).


I love seeing God's creation in bloom this time of year!

Happy Spring!

Love Never Fails- by Big Mama

I recently came across this post and loved it. It's definitely worth taking time to read. Such good stuff!

Here are a few excerpts that I loved:

My walk with Christ is as uniquely mine as my personality. I’ve spent a lot of time believing I should be more like this Bible teacher or more emotional like this person or hear from God in a certain way or adopt a child from Africa or sell all my earthly possessions, but He’s made me to be me. And He’s made you to be you. If God was only after one type of relationship with one type of person, it probably would have been a whole lot easier for Him to just create one person and be done with it.

I do not want to serve a God who fits into my limited understanding. I don’t want to serve a God who can be completely explained in the human realm. I want a God that is so much bigger than me that I’ll spend the rest of my life trying to know Him more, love Him more, and serve Him better.

I believe in a God that removes my sins as far as the east is from the west because that’s a distance my mind can’t comprehend. I’m doing Beth Moore’s study of Revelation and she talks about when John has his vision and sees the throne room of God. He describes so many incredible, unbelievable things, but he never describes God. Most likely because God defies description.

Welcome Back

Ahh.... it feels good to be back. I had several people comment on my extended absence from blogging. Please accept my apologies. I'm not going to give an excuse, because to be quite frank, I don't have one. Unless I can plead my recent bout with laziness.

Hopefully the quick blog design update will motivate me to blog more. I'm really digging the new header and how quickly I was able to do it.

Any who..... Here's a brief recap of what Sylvia Grace has been up to lately.

• Jan. 2- Said good bye to my brother who has deployed to Afghanistan.
• Jan. 5- My vacation was over, it was back to work I went.
• Jan. 18- Contractors began work on our master bath. (I cannot wait to share this with you!)
  
• Jan. 19- Turned 25! (Insert gasp) Along with realizing that I'm half way to 30, I was struck by the fact that, for the first time in a very long time, I'm completely content with every aspect of my life. I love who I am and where I am in life.
  
• Feb. 11- Enjoyed a marvelous weekend away in B'ham with my hubby. It was a weekend full of awesome worship, good food, and relaxation.

Around the House: 1) Finished master bath, 2)Updated our pantry (remember this post), 3) The last of the plantation shutters were installed
I cannot wait to post before/after pictures of these projects.