May I never make church "work"

Hanging on my fridge is the following quote, given to me by our former worship pastor (our church is in the 16th month of a music pastor search process.)

"The greatest impediment to your spiritual intimacy is your giftedness. Because you are gifted, you are going to be able to make life work within the church without ever knowing God well."

As I use this post to archive and compile old worship packages, I want this to be a constant reminder that I am nothing without Him.
May I NEVER stand before a congregation giving a spoken word, leading through music or even holding a child in the nursery by just making church "work." If I begin to lean in that direction, may my hypocrisy ring so thoroughly through every fiber in my being that I can't continue on, and that I am literally brought to my knees.

Each of us have been given unique gifts to reach others. Gifts that He uses (through us) to be a blessing, whether that be to your family, neighbors or maybe even a friend you've never met in blog land.
May you never doubt the impact you can have on the lives of those around you.
So, how are you using your gift this week?


0104 - Worship from WAV Technologies on Vimeo.



Christmas Eve 2008 from WAV Technologies on Vimeo.


1116 Worship from WAV Technologies on Vimeo.

"Are they all yours?" cabinet redo

This is my sis-in-laws cabinet.
My brother and sis that have ten children...all their own, and all within 14 years.
Yes, it's true- don't you love it?
Below is something that needed help.
Oh yes it did, and we were there to rescue it.
Do to the late time, and the fact that my chandelier is vibrating above me from some unknown source I believe they refer to as children, I invite you to read the whole post in its entirety. The original post includes all the pictures, how we redid this so simply that even children can do it (and they did), and the answer to the most common of questions -
"Do they know what causes it?"

OH MY ....isn't it gorgeous....
and it was so easy! Any single one of you could do this to your old hutch/cabinet with a few hours of time.

The full effect is fabulous. They have a really wonderful cottagey feel in their home. It's SO cozy, and the walls are a soft green...which isn't evident here.
I love when something so simple makes such a dramatic difference in a home!

Thanks so much for viewing my mini presentation...for the full length feature, click here.
Scroll near the bottom of the page for how we did the cabinet.
This post was done in my first month of blogging...I had so much to share, and did it in WAY too many words. I had yet to realize that bloggers break up topics into multiple posts...hee hee
I'm still working on that!

The burger of a lifetime...literally!

I love me a great, big, juicy burger.
In fact, I would honestly bypass a steak.
Yes, I said it!
I would bypass the meat among men, for a scrumptious burger and fries.
It's become quite a longstanding family joke, since I did just that years ago at my brother's rehearsal dinner.
But come on, I was just a mere 14 years old then.
Well, admittedly, some things haven't changed...

AND NEITHER HAS THIS BURGER!

WHAT?

In the spirit of new healthy eating resolutions, and the attempt at disengaging my love of all things fried -
I am reminding myself what happened TWELVE YEARS AGO when this burger was ordered!
Beware, I am warning you that this is the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

No lie - No exaggeration!
That date is correct!
See you see it? Scrawled right there on the bun?
The date was written in 1997 to document a little experiment that I was trying.

Purpose: To determine
If it doesn't rot, is it still food?

(And yes, I was going through an all things natural phase in my eating habits.)

Procedure:
This cheeseburger, from an anonymous food chain (don't be fooled by the biscuit wrapper), was purchased and left to sit on my kitchen counter.
It was NEVER, EVER refrigerated.
What was the result?

It did not rot.
It did not mold.
It did not smell,
but it did preserve itself quite nicely, if I don't say so myself.

Why?
You tell me!

I didn't consume a fast food burger for two years after this experiment.
But please note...that was a decade ago.
I have found my way back to those drive thrus.
LOVE me some $.99 double cheeseburgers!

So, if Wendy's, McDonald's, Burger King etc. want to lavish my family with a years supply of goodies....I promise, I will not turn it down, and we'd be a great spokesfamily - really, check out our picture...pretty please!

I know many of you are asking, "why in the world did you save that all these years?"
Meet me in person, and I'll tell you.

But can you only
imagine my great, great, grand children's surprise when they open up my hope chest and find this little bit of legacy laying there for them to .......?

Ponder? Preserve? Preheat? hee hee

Ah - I know, I get excited about the little things. :)

*Stay tuned for more detailed results of our true scientific findings.
I am truly hoping that in the last 12 years some things have changed in the fast food industry.
My 8th grade son's science experiment will be asking this same question, that I asked years ago.
He is using three varying burgers, along with free range beef that we bought, and a homemade roll (better get the wheat grinding).
Oh, by the way....we're a bit behind on this, so any help from you science guru's would be much appreciated. ;)

A Sunday Moment

SIMPLE OBEDIENCE

We've determined one of our 2009 family mottoes to be
"Simple Obedience". *

It seems...well...so simple, but it's...not.

One act of obedience is better than one hundred sermons.
Dietrich Bonhoeffer

Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.
True OBEDIENCE is true freedom.

"Endurance is long obedience in the same direction," from Jo's pastor.

Wendy has encouraged me,
"One of my favorite Truths on obedience from Scripture is that blessings ALWAYS follow obedience. It is a promise from God, and I have experienced over and over again."

Isn't that a wonderful reminder, even in the midst of the seemingly mundane moments?

*(based on our pastor's last sermon)

Decorating dilema solved... inexpensively

You ladies crack me up.
Many of you inquired as to what decorating inspiration hit me for my
washing machine dilema.
Can I mention that reading your comments was a highlight - you are some funny women!

My husband got home right before my friends arrived, but he assured me that having the oven and dryer right where they were was just fine.
( I left out the part about our oven also having been replaced. I've been cooking on only two burners for two years - it was about time. That oven was on our back deck...yep, it was.
Just tellin' ya - had to have a bit of confession time).
Across the dryer, I spread out a long table runner with an accent napkin, and then lit a beautiful jar candle. It was glamour at its finest, and such a cozy welcome.
Some thought it was a memorial, and others responded, "only at Jen's." :)

On to better things....
My quick and thrifty Tablescape.

I must preface my post.
Typically, when we have family gatherings, we line up the food like a feeding trough and herd them on through. I mean... line up in a single file line and help ourselves buffet style.

Christmas Eve, we were going to have a very small group since two of my three brothers' families were not joining us. Seating, and serving 19 is a breeze, and I really wanted to make the kids feel special with their own themed table.

At their table, I went with the candy cane theme since I could put it together in five minutes.
I already had the red table cloth on the table, and I purchased all of the candy cane candles (ten in all) at two different yard sales this summer at the staggering price of $0.05.
That's right...five cents a candle, and they were brand new.

The elevated glass bowl - $2 - yard sale.

I am going to say something about the tacky plastic covering glaring through the camera lens.

First of all, it's not very noticeable in real life.
Second of all, a few true designers read my blog and will CRINGE in contempt at what I am going to say.
Adding this to my daily table was a great decision.
AHHH....I know, stop throwing tomatoes.
I thought it was going to seem like I was taking up residence in an '80 tacky diner as well, but it's not so bad...at all!
This comment is for those ladies with small children.
I LOVE a pretty table and tablecloth.
I change them out nearly every month and have different themes that go along with our varying traditions.
BUT life, kids and cloth covered tables were NOT cutting it until I splurged on this top of the line addition.
Now I can decorate to my hearts content and just wipe the spills right up. Yes, my kids have stopped cringing in terror everytime they drop taco dip from their plate.
"NUFF" SAID!

I did double duty with the dining room.
First, for my family, and then for the ladies who made it past the warm "dryer" greeting.

My table doesn't compare to many of the gorgeous tablescapes that were being shown around blogland, but this was done quickly, simply, inexpensively and with much love. :)
Any one can do it in minutes, and that's literally all the time I had to give.
I was singing for our Christmas eve services which meant I would be gone from 2:00 until my company came.
It's amazing how one simple touch makes all the difference.
My girls loved folding their napkins for the candy cane table. :)
I love cloth napkins.
People don't use them on a regular basis anymore and you can find them in droves at yard sales for pennies.

I wanted to show you the Christmas present I bought for myself....at a local thrift store.
I had been eying these dishes since Thanksgiving, but knew they were a want and not a need - even though they were dirt cheap, so
I passed.

And then the week before Christmas, I did a big U turn when I saw a sign out that said all Christmas merchandise was 50% off.
Yes, even at a thrift shop.
I thought there was no way she had any left, but SHE DID.
Brand new...in boxes.
Do you really want me to tell you? It may make you covet?

(oh yikes - the plastic table looks really 80's dinerish with the flash).
Focus on the bowl, people.
I got complete place settings for 12 people (dinner plates, salad plates - 16 of those, bowls and mugs) $20.
I know hate me.
It was such a highlight, and I feel the Lord just gave me a big bear hug for waiting.
I am thrilled that both of my tables, and all the decorations, from candles/candlestick holders to napkins, came together for literally pennies on the dollar.
With a bit more time, I would have added greenery and a table runner etc, but this shows you what can be done with little money and little time. :)

Now here is the bedlam behind the scenes (although, when your doing dinner by candlelight, I don't think bedlam moments are possible). Did you catch it an earlier picture?

You see, my dining room has been taken over by my school room.

One of these days, my beautiful buffet will not be surrounded by a little plastic desk and school books. And I am not even showing you the wide angle....whew!

Thanks for joining me.
Here's a great big "Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year" from Santa.
I mean my dad - the Patriarch of our family.
Shouldn't he do Santa some year? He'd be the best.
He's even told the Santa at the mall to call him if he got sick