Randomishness

• Offspring.
  Directions: Wash. Rinse. Repeat.
  Applications: Endless. The most obvious is their grubby little spring-is-here-lets-roll-in-the-dirt physical bodies. But it seems, at least to me, to apply to so many other areas. Their roller-coaster emotions. Their mental I'm-10, 8, 6 or 3-and-I've-arrived attitudes. And their curious spiritual beings.
  Indications: I'm tired.
  

• I teach a scrapbooking class for high-school students. I shared some family albums with them this week. A few of the girls told me I looked like Catherine Zeta-Jones. Ok. So the pictures were from like 10+ years ago. But I'm gonna hold onto to Catherine for a little while because I coulda' swore that Russell Crowe was looking back at me from my bathroom mirror this morning.

• Some things I'm thankful for and/or blessed by right at this moment.
  
  1. A day spent with a friend. We are deepening our friendship and our understanding of God together. We are unalike and very alike. This journey is a little scary but promises to be exciting. It felt like God hugged us today.
  2. The AMAZING, BRILLIANTLY BEAUTIFUL, SUNSHINY DAY!
  3. Oh. And coffee.
     

New Blogger & Long-time/Far-away Friend

Technology often amazes me and sometimes it thrills me. Each time I am able to re-connect with and keep in better touch with a friend, new or old, I am thrilled. Recently my friend, Betsy, invited me to her new blog, My Five Men.

There are so many things about Betsy that I admire. She is one of my heroes.

She has a killer decorating style. You can see a bit of it in the many photos that she posts such as here and here.

She can bake like nobody I know. She isn't afraid to play with or display her food. (Tiff, it's Betsy who is responsible for that cookie recipe that Tim loves so much!)

Oh, and she makes and sells these great vintage charm bracelets too!

Here is where she ranks as a hero with me. All her gifts, even her decorating/own personal style, she uses as ways to express her love for God, her husband, her teenage son and her 3 boys who have autism. This is a particularly poignant and wise post.

So, check out My Five Men for inspiration, thoughts to reflect upon and often a good drool.

Bloggers who make me think...

Ok...this felt a little like homework...but I did it anyway!

Here are my "5 Blogs that make me think!"

1. Tami at livingpalm. She introduced me to blogging and I wouldn't have become hooked if it weren't for her well written posts that come from deep thinking, honesty, and real gut-check writing. But don't worry, it isn't all 'heavy.' It's often humorous and informative. Hop on over and check it out!

2. My very dear friend, Kerry, shares her heart as she serves with her family in Malaysia at Rich & Kerry's Blog. I'm giving her the Thinking Blogger Award for her more recent posts where she has shared personal insights about her family's experiences while drawing strong parallels to her walk of faith. They have challenged me and really....well...made me think!

3. Zephaniah317 at God Is A Warrior is a new blogger-friend. I've appreciated his honesty. He shares what God is teaching him in a real what-you-read-is-what-you-get kind of way. His posts often get me thinking and digging into God's word.

The only reason I hesitate over the last two is because they have been given the award before and one gave the award to me! But, as I stated in my last post, I don't read very many blogs...maybe because the ones I do read are so good!

So...

4. Writer, Ann Kroeker who I know has been given the award before, makes me think in many different ways. We are both mothers with 4 kids and she has lots of good ideas for families our size. She has called her blog "zig-zaggy" and that is one of the reasons why I keep reading...something new all the time...and always very well written!

5. And last but not least - Karen Hossink at Surviving Motherhood. She has been so friendly and kindly introduced herself to me through our blogs not long ago. Her screen name is Irritable Mother. I knew right away - we are kindred spirits. I'm learning so much as she shares the ways God is making her more set-apart, more His through her mothering...and less irritable! And lest you think we are members of the Mutual Admiration Society I must say that regardless of who gave the award to me...I would still be giving this to Karen!

Award Recipients: You can go to this post at the thinking blog to read the exact origin and participation rules for the Thinking Blogger Award. If you wish, you can copy the award icon from there or from my site.

I'm excited to introduce my reader-friends to these great blogs...and great people!

Happy clicking!