Apr 14, 2009

Our Easter

EASTER'S one of those holidays when I just don't want to miss what God has to say to me. Yes, it is fun to dress up, go to church, have some yummy candy. That part is easy.

The hard part?

Imagining what it would have been like to be Jesus, hanging on a cross for hours for something He didn't do. Now that I'm a mommy, I understand, if only a tad bit better, the dynamics of Father/Son. How the word "excruciating" not only described the pain Jesus was going through on the cross, but described what was going on in His and God's hearts. If I let myself explore what that may have felt like, I begin to weep.

And the whole time Jesus was on earth He knew it would culminate into an execution on a craggy hill. A hill dotted with selfish, greedy, people. Let me correct myself. His people. His creation. That which He loved and cherished. His lambs. His forgiven lambs.

I could walk in shame every day, hour, minute. I know I contributed to the sneers and taunts  at the cross. I may as well been there with the way I've behaved in the past, and even now, amidst those things I've yet to surrender. But this large part of me feels so sad to think that any more shame should go on given what Jesus endured (bearing the shame of the, uh, entire world). I have to remind myself that His payment was enough and I don't need to wallow in shame now that I'm free.

And in a world whirring with consumerism, emphasis on outward appearance, and the pursuit of the American dream, I so vividly see that it isn't enough. It will never be. 

All the brawn and beauty this world possesses could never compare to my Savior's love. My heart beats to adore Him. 

He adores me more than I adore Wilder.

Woah. 




Happy Easter (again)! Be blessed this week. If you are going through a rough patch, let me know how I can help/pray. 
It will be ok!!

Apr 12, 2009

Apr 11, 2009

Browned Coconut: better tasting than I had anticipated!

Don't you love a holiday as a superb excuse to BAKE?

I do!

Aren't these cute?



Oh, and isn't he cute?


Cupcake how-to:
Pick your favorite cake and frosting recipes and bake/frost per the recipe. Brown about 1 1/2 cups of shredded coconut on 350 degrees for 8-10 minutes. I piled too much coconut on the tray so mine took longer--then it got a little too brown. But after a taste test I decided that was ok. Perfection is boring anyhow. Place three egg candies (I used Whoppers and Reeses Pieces) atop the cupcake, then sprinkle with coconut to form a nest!

Baby how-to:
Ummm...well...
Just get your own!

Apr 10, 2009

You made it to Friday!!

...pat yourself on the back.

Then go buy yourself a new pack of underwear.


You know you need to.

Apr 7, 2009

WinfieldDexterCemeteryCandyBarn

It was time.

Time for a little getaway for this tired husband/wife team.
We went to Winfield so Wilder could stay with Grandpa and Grandma Harris. He behaved splendidly and maintained his streak of sleeping through the night. That's my boy.

We got to stay in a B & B, go "country cruising", shopping, photo-taking, champaign-drinking, Mexican food-eating...I think that's what we used to do before Wilder arrived? Sometimes I just can't remember what life was like!


That's ok!


Gear up for some pics, folks.
Alot of pics.

I'm going to learn how to sew little aprons. I am, I am.
So many owls...so few coins with which to purchase them...
One of those stores where I just wanted everything!

This was in rural Dexter, KS, off K-15 (we found it while exploring); they don't have a website. Pretty cool place; take your kids to watch them make candy!
This made me think of: NURSING!
We bought peanut clusters, peach rings, saltwater taffy, and candy corns! All for less than $10!

Also on K-15 are these little cabins one can rent for $75 a night. Our guess was hunters probably use them since they were out in the boonies.
Boy, were they cute (the cabins--we didn't see any hunters).

Stone Barn Mercantile
I could've lived in that barn. Not a lot of inventory but the barn was great to gape at.
Visit the barn's website here.

Shawn made the locker pic my header!
The only new thing about the barn? the windows.

candles, anyone?

Junk shop pictured below was closed; it, too, was in the middle of nowhere...I peeked in the windows and found it was packed floor to ceiling!

I think Kansas is purdy. There. I said it.

On our way to a cemetery; we saw a sign and decided to make our way down the dusty road.



Sign out front of the Iron Gate Inn. Click here for their website. You should stay there.
The breakfast was divine; a real proper tea party.
This is the side of the house; my favorite part was chatting with Shawn on the front porch, pretending like it was ours!
Glad you could get a glimpse into our adventurous weekend.
Give us a camera and a map (er, uh, Garmin), and we're set!