I've mentioned her before - I love her to pieces . . . I have been so blessed and have grown so much with her studies and books . . . just got a new one in the mail yesterday and I can't wait to dig in . . . check out the promo video - then get you some Beth Moore!!
http://vimeo.com/12773519
FYI - I've done Living Beyond Yourself (fruit of the spirit - AMAZING!!), A Woman's Heart, Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman (very relevant and you can't help but respond to the challenges set before you), Stepping Up (a journey through the Psalms of ascent - so much great history), The Patriarchs: Encountering the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (one of the most difficult but well worth the effort), So Long Insecurity (not a study - just a book - a MUST READ for every woman - even if you don't think you struggle from insecurity - it's part of our womanly make up and this book will change the way you think about yourself and your sisters around you). Praying God's Word (an ongoing process - have the book and the box of scripture cards - they are wonderful - I use them as bookmarks so I'm looking at them all the time . . . also leave them around the house, on my hubby's night stand, bathroom counter etc. so they can encourage and remind us on a daily basis), Loving Well Retreat in a Box (we've used this fun and fabulous video and study for MOPS leadership training - it would make a fun grown up slumber party with a bunch of friends!), 90 Days with Jesus (a daily devotional in a beautiful hard bound book - it was an amazing journey - and I didn't finish it in 90 days - it took longer - but worth finishing!), Get Out of That Pit (also not a study but another MUST READ BOOK!!! It truly transformed my life - it transformed the way I looked at my past and my issues and my freedom available to me from Christ and how to avoid falling right back into the same old pit you climbed out of - I re-read this one often!!)
Amazon is a great place to buy these as sometimes you can buy a new book through the used section - people get rid of their books. Also, Christian Book Distributor is a great website to buy all kinds of encouraging books including Beth Moore at discount prices . . . lots of deals if you buy multiple copies too (if you're going to do a group study) . . . the teaching videos that go along with each study are spendy but TOTALLY worth every penny . . . a lot of churches are willing to buy them for corporate use - or you could combine resources as a group of friends (not necessary though - you can do the studies without the videos). . . enjoy - grow - learn - laugh . . .
Friday, September 17, 2010
Thursday, September 16, 2010
WELCOME FALL
The air has turned crisper, the school bus is a twice a day sight, the sun goes to bed earlier, I'm wanting to curl up on the couch each night (who am I kidding - all day too) with a good book a cup of coffee . . . it must be fall . . .
This year, we have welcomed in fall with a few bits of decorating . . .
This year, we have welcomed in fall with a few bits of decorating . . .
A new purse for momma (a $5 thrift store find . . . I LOVE LABELS - in Bellingham - worth the drive!!)
A huge crockpot full of our favorite fall soup and a crusty loaf of bread (homemade by Winco this morning) . .
SQUASHED SOUP
(can be made on the stove or in a crock pot - I prefer the later as the house smells heavenly)
4 Tbl butter
2 small minced onion
6 cups cubed butternut squash
1/2 quarts chicken stock
3 cups cubed potatoes (I leave the skins on and no one will notice!!)
2 teas paprika
After crock potting for the whole day or simmering 35-40 min on the stove, carefully blend the hot mix
To finish, stir in a cup of whipping cream and salt and pepper to taste
YUMMY!!
And my fabulous photographer friend is even offering a fall photo special . . .
Check out her website . . . www.myfocalpointphotos.com and you will see just how amazing she is! She is incredible at catching the real spirit of the family . . . no cheesy shots here! She did our family photos this year before spring and I treasure everyone . . . with the colors changing on the trees, Christmas cards coming up, and a sweet family - you really should check her out!!
All this to say, WELCOME FALL - we are glad you're here . . .
Thursday, September 9, 2010
Thursday for the Marsh Family
There is no catchy title or letter of the day today . . . it was one of those full-to-the-brim-finally-catching-my-breath days.
It started out with a 6:16am check in at the GI surgery center for an upper endoscopy (the third in a year for those keeping track at home). The reason was to check on the Nissen Fundoplication surgery I had back in August (super not "fun" in my book) as it could have contributed to the continuation of asthma symptoms. My hubby drove me in (we stopped at Starbucks to fuel his tank - torture for me as I couldn't eat or drink till after the test and you know how much I love my coffee!!!) . . . then my sweet friend Carrie picked me up at 7:30am . . . good times. The test showed that the surgery is still intact (good because I didn't want to go through surgery again - slightly frustrating as it still gives us no asthma answers.) Meanwhile, on the home front, my mom swooped in again to save the day by feeding breakfast, dressing and sending our little school girl on the bus.
While waiting for my fabulously entertaining procedure, I finished another book entitled "Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding Time - my life doing dumb stuff with animals." It was a random selection made at the library as it was set up in the new book display. It was a true story of a writer for national geographic. Each chapter is another animal that he has traveled for, spent time with an expert in the field, and written an article about. Although I must admit I was over my head with some of the scientific specifics of some of the chapters, I was also surprisingly entertained. Most unbelievably was how extreme some peoples lives are . . . like the man who spends his entire life categorizing levels of pain for stings and bites . . . or the lemur lady who has sacrificed her whole life and family and comfort to live in a jungle and count lemurs all day . . . It was a definite journey in which I learned more about animals and more about the wide world of writing for such an interesting magazine.
The highlight of the whole day, however, was when Hannah got off the bus and began educating Haley and I on the ins and outs of the new pop star . . . for our moms and grandmas it was Elvis, for us in the 80's New Kids on the Block, for the younger ones out there, Backstreet Boys . . . you know - the ones the girls scream over? Apparently, second grade is the point in which you begin to discuss such heartthrobs on the playgrounds and buses of the public schools of America. The humor came not in the remix sung in my kitchen or the silly giggle Hannah got telling me about one girls binder covered in admiring pictures but when Haley, the little sister quietly taking it all in the background, finally spoke up and said, "What's so great about this Justin BEAVER anyway?!" (For those of you our of the loop, his real name is Justin Bieber, he's 16 but looks 12 on you tube - which of course, I had to look up later) . . . I wish I could post the laughter that exploded in my kitchen . . . I had to literally wipe tears from my eyes . . . and as I enjoy a moment of quiet tonight as Travis is at a late coaches meeting and the girls are finally in bed, I can't help but chuckle at the irony of finishing a nature type book then having a four year old deconstruct the "now" pop star into a furry stick biting animal . . . and I ask you - what's so great about a beaver anyway?!
It started out with a 6:16am check in at the GI surgery center for an upper endoscopy (the third in a year for those keeping track at home). The reason was to check on the Nissen Fundoplication surgery I had back in August (super not "fun" in my book) as it could have contributed to the continuation of asthma symptoms. My hubby drove me in (we stopped at Starbucks to fuel his tank - torture for me as I couldn't eat or drink till after the test and you know how much I love my coffee!!!) . . . then my sweet friend Carrie picked me up at 7:30am . . . good times. The test showed that the surgery is still intact (good because I didn't want to go through surgery again - slightly frustrating as it still gives us no asthma answers.) Meanwhile, on the home front, my mom swooped in again to save the day by feeding breakfast, dressing and sending our little school girl on the bus.
While waiting for my fabulously entertaining procedure, I finished another book entitled "Swimming with Piranhas at Feeding Time - my life doing dumb stuff with animals." It was a random selection made at the library as it was set up in the new book display. It was a true story of a writer for national geographic. Each chapter is another animal that he has traveled for, spent time with an expert in the field, and written an article about. Although I must admit I was over my head with some of the scientific specifics of some of the chapters, I was also surprisingly entertained. Most unbelievably was how extreme some peoples lives are . . . like the man who spends his entire life categorizing levels of pain for stings and bites . . . or the lemur lady who has sacrificed her whole life and family and comfort to live in a jungle and count lemurs all day . . . It was a definite journey in which I learned more about animals and more about the wide world of writing for such an interesting magazine.
The highlight of the whole day, however, was when Hannah got off the bus and began educating Haley and I on the ins and outs of the new pop star . . . for our moms and grandmas it was Elvis, for us in the 80's New Kids on the Block, for the younger ones out there, Backstreet Boys . . . you know - the ones the girls scream over? Apparently, second grade is the point in which you begin to discuss such heartthrobs on the playgrounds and buses of the public schools of America. The humor came not in the remix sung in my kitchen or the silly giggle Hannah got telling me about one girls binder covered in admiring pictures but when Haley, the little sister quietly taking it all in the background, finally spoke up and said, "What's so great about this Justin BEAVER anyway?!" (For those of you our of the loop, his real name is Justin Bieber, he's 16 but looks 12 on you tube - which of course, I had to look up later) . . . I wish I could post the laughter that exploded in my kitchen . . . I had to literally wipe tears from my eyes . . . and as I enjoy a moment of quiet tonight as Travis is at a late coaches meeting and the girls are finally in bed, I can't help but chuckle at the irony of finishing a nature type book then having a four year old deconstruct the "now" pop star into a furry stick biting animal . . . and I ask you - what's so great about a beaver anyway?!
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Preschool "O" Day . . .
Hannah is having a fabulous time in second grade . . . has already made some new friends, enjoying the projects and papers and comes off the bus each day with fun stories from her classroom.
Haley and I are still having a wonderful time with preschool . . . and today was "O" day . . . did I mention before that the picking of the letter is done completely random each morning by Haley?!
Today Haley decided to make an O with her body, a puzzle of the Ocean, learn how to write an O, color Oscar the grouch the color Orange, break an Orange crayon with an uh Oh, Open the mailbox and ride her bike Outside . . .
The funniest part to me after a few days of the letter theme is how much Haley is getting into thinking up activities and making sure we "take a picture for our bloggety blog" . . . enjoying the time together!
Haley and I are still having a wonderful time with preschool . . . and today was "O" day . . . did I mention before that the picking of the letter is done completely random each morning by Haley?!
Today Haley decided to make an O with her body, a puzzle of the Ocean, learn how to write an O, color Oscar the grouch the color Orange, break an Orange crayon with an uh Oh, Open the mailbox and ride her bike Outside . . .
The funniest part to me after a few days of the letter theme is how much Haley is getting into thinking up activities and making sure we "take a picture for our bloggety blog" . . . enjoying the time together!
Weekend Project . . .
We all enjoyed some sort of relaxation this weekend including movie watching, dinner dating and playing outside but we also decided to take on a family project . . .
We have been talking about painting our walls since we moved in three and a half years ago and have never done it . . . not sure what prompted this decision but we went to Loews, picked a color and got to painting. Everyone had turns and it looks great! Yesterday, my fabulous decorating friend Melissa came over and set everything up - it is sooo cozy and warm and I love it sooo much!! Only 20 more walls to paint and areas to decorate!! (Has anyone read "If you give a mouse a cookie"?)
We have been talking about painting our walls since we moved in three and a half years ago and have never done it . . . not sure what prompted this decision but we went to Loews, picked a color and got to painting. Everyone had turns and it looks great! Yesterday, my fabulous decorating friend Melissa came over and set everything up - it is sooo cozy and warm and I love it sooo much!! Only 20 more walls to paint and areas to decorate!! (Has anyone read "If you give a mouse a cookie"?)
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Preschool "B" Day . . .
Today Haley informed me that it was "B" day . . .
We started out the day eating homemade Bread and Butter (Brought By a friend yesterday) . . . watched little Bear . . . practiced writing the letter B . . . played Bingo . . . put on our Ballerina outfit . . . Bought a Betta fish . . . made sure he was Blue and named him Beauty . . . then made a pan of Brownies for dessert tonight . . .
I am having so much fun exploring the world through the eyes of a 4 1/2 year old and the letter theme has been a kick!
As it is the Beginning of the month, I should probably Be Bothering with the Bills . . . BUT it's much to Boring . . .
We started out the day eating homemade Bread and Butter (Brought By a friend yesterday) . . . watched little Bear . . . practiced writing the letter B . . . played Bingo . . . put on our Ballerina outfit . . . Bought a Betta fish . . . made sure he was Blue and named him Beauty . . . then made a pan of Brownies for dessert tonight . . .
I am having so much fun exploring the world through the eyes of a 4 1/2 year old and the letter theme has been a kick!
As it is the Beginning of the month, I should probably Be Bothering with the Bills . . . BUT it's much to Boring . . .
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Second Grade and Preschool . . . Day One!!
Today was a big day . . . Hannah's first day of second grade!! She woke up at 7am, dressed herself and had her backpack already on by 7:15am!! Here are some photos of the morning . . .
The first picture is definitely a high fashion photo - with the number two in the air for second grade . . photos three and four are waiting for the bus with friend Kaylee and the fourth is Hannah getting off the bus at the end of the day and Haley RUNNING to hug her - sweet sisters!!
And while Hannah was at school, Haley and I had our first day of preschool together. We decided the letter of the day was "P" . . .
We Put together a Pirate Puzzle . . . ate Pirate booty . . . Practiced the Penmanship of the letter "P" . . . Put our hair in Ponytails . . . Painted a Project . . . Played cards . . . and read about a Pigeon . . .
Over the top? Probably . . . Worth every minute? Absolutely . . . and now, as the girls are watching a movie, I am officially POOPED!! Can't wait to see what tomorrow holds!
The first picture is definitely a high fashion photo - with the number two in the air for second grade . . photos three and four are waiting for the bus with friend Kaylee and the fourth is Hannah getting off the bus at the end of the day and Haley RUNNING to hug her - sweet sisters!!
And while Hannah was at school, Haley and I had our first day of preschool together. We decided the letter of the day was "P" . . .
We Put together a Pirate Puzzle . . . ate Pirate booty . . . Practiced the Penmanship of the letter "P" . . . Put our hair in Ponytails . . . Painted a Project . . . Played cards . . . and read about a Pigeon . . .
Over the top? Probably . . . Worth every minute? Absolutely . . . and now, as the girls are watching a movie, I am officially POOPED!! Can't wait to see what tomorrow holds!
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