I want YOUR feedback!!

I've decided to up my posts to 3-4 times a week. Like I mentioned before, it's quite scary to lay that out there because now you know if I fail. But since we all know that each one of us fails in some form or fashion, I'm stepping down from the pedestal. :)

But - what to write???! 
That was by far my greatest deterrent to that many weekly posts until I thought about it.

You all know that my degree is in elementary education and I used to teach 2nd graders. But what you probably don't know is that my favorite part of being a teacher was connecting whatever I was teaching back to God. For example: "Why will 8 + 7 always equal 15?"  Answer: "Because God never changes." Now... here's a much harder one... :)  "Why do the grammar rules in English ALWAYS change?" Answer: "Hmm... (insert story of the Tower of Babel). Mainly because English is one part of every other language in the world put in a blender on high!!" Another one of my favorite moments was in Science - teaching about the Solar System. My chalkboard (no SmartBoards for this school!) perfectly clean, I would take a piece of chalk and make one very small barely discernible dot on it. Then I would turn around to the class and explain (choking up half the time) how that's us compared to God. He created our immense universe yet, He died for us. That one concept can turn your mind inside-out in a hurry! I loved watching the awe cross their faces.

God's creativity in action!

Those times made teaching worth it. Watching their faces grasp a new understanding of how intricately they were made or how creatively God made the animals and insects, better yet, blowing their minds with how big God is and yet how personable.

My goal was to help them see that in everything they must see beyond that "thing" to God. That skill is one I desire for my own children. They must learn to think critically and wrestle with issues and search God's Word for wisdom.


I find that my world becomes so narrow and unattached as a mom unless I purpose to wrestle through topics/events in light of the culture contrasted by God's Word. It is strenuous but it also gives me a chance to engage my mind and process what is going on around me. 

I'd also like to do the same with books. I have a severe love of the book as a general entity. I've read many of them and have lots to say, good or otherwise, on each. A fellow blogger, Leanne Penny, said "Some books are candy - once in awhile it's okay but it's not good to have too much." It's important to sift through and discover what the author believes. Each and every person has a worldview. Guaranteed it will come out somewhere if you look long enough. :) I've begun something already in this area with The Book Basket. As you can see, there are quite a few "in progress" and as I come across tidbits that I find interesting, I will share!

This isn't a DIY site, but every now and then I find a really awesome recipe or project that is just amazing and demands to be posted!! 

I will continue to post my thoughts each week on The Dance. Each of us moves in our dance - whether the sun is shining or it's pouring down rain. Sharing keeps things real... it's too easy to start forming a nice little plastic mask.


Each one of you no matter where you are has a voice. :) I would love to hear from you!! Jot a quick comment below with questions/ideas/topics/books that interest you. If there's something you'd like to see a post on, let me know.

Keep on dancing!!

My playlist

You can learn a lot by looking at someone's ipod! Which songs are played the most? What titles does the owner find herself putting on each list?

I tend to choose songs based on my mood... or what I know my mood needs to be. Music is food for my soul. It feeds and lifts and focuses my attention on something - that something is Someone in my life. I desperately need to think on and be reminded that God cares about every little moment - whether I'm changing another poopy diaper or picking up the endless mess or just tickling little bellies. He is in this chaotic holy moment. I'm indebted to dear Ann Voskamp for her sweet convicting reminders at her blog.

Part of my current favorite lists... Running.
Do Everything - Steven Curtis Chapman (LOVE this one!)
Long Way Home - SCC (and THIS one too!!)
Miracle of the Moment - SCC
Your Grace is Enough - Matt Maher
Shackles - Mandisa
Every Time I Breathe - Big Daddy Weave
Love Like Crazy - Chris Rice
I Am New - Jason Gray
Stronger - Mandisa
How He Loves - iWorship
What If His People Prayed - Casting Crowns
Tick Tock - Chris Rice
Yo Ho Hero - VeggieTales Movie
Every Move I Make - Integrity
My Deliverer - Mandisa
Home Run - Geoff Moore (my kids call this the baseball song!)
The Mom Song - Go Fish
Second Chances - VeggieTales Jonah

My other favorite list for a more quiet mood... Andrew and Sara
Here's part of this list:
How Great is our God - World Edition) - Chris Tomlin
Blessings - Laura Story
Be Thou My Vision - Michael Card
The Magic Hour - Andrew Peterson
How He Loves - iWorship
Nothing To Say - Andrew Peterson
Faith to be Be Strong - Andrew Peterson
Waiting Room - Jonny Diaz
Hello Lord - Sara Groves
He's Always Been Faithful - Sara Groves
The Word - Sara Groves
Generations - Sara Groves
Courageous - Casting Crowns
While I'm Waiting - Fireproof Soundtrack
Love is Not a Fight - Fireproof Soundtrack
Dancing in the Minefields - Andrew Peterson

I don't know what your playlist looks like, but whatever you put in your mind - be sure that it reflects your purpose to give God glory in all you do. This is not an easy task... to truly see the good in the midst of the ugly. But keep on dancing while the rain pours! I will by God's grace.

I lift my eyes up!

There’s nothing like being stuck in the house for a week straight to force you to focus on something (anything) good that you can find in your circumstances. Even if those particular circumstances are you spraining (very painfully, I might add) your right lateral collateral tendon in an attempt at picking up the minefield of toys downstairs.

I’ve been sitting here on my rear for a week now and I’ve gotten a lot done in terms of things normally reserved for “me time”. Things like: crocheting, writing, sketching, developing characters for the series of children’s stories I’m attempting; not to mention the times of playing Super Mario Wii with my son to keep him from climbing the walls with me.

Good friends as well as family have brought meals so that we have a fridge full of leftovers that with some creativity will give us several more meals.

Today was the Star Day for Michael in his preschool class. He’s been talking about this day for months - about his show and tell item and how he is going to be the special helper. It’s also my day to bring the snack and help with the class as well. Since the Van Nazi said, "No driving for you!", my wonderful mother-in-law stepped in for me. However, leave it to me to forget to send the apple juice with the snack – even though I remembered to pack the cups. Yeah.

My amazing carpool neighbor, Joni, has filled in for me doing both runs and going along with my craziness. The kids even got to play at the awesome school playground today while she talked with a friend. I’m glad that Michael got to have some time playing outside.

My highlight of the day came as my littlest man called my name, cupped my face in his hands, and said “Wuv you, Mommy! So much!”  Then he kissed me – once on each cheek! Such a little sweetie.

So, this is me trying to preach to my soul. All I could see tonight was the dark side to all the above. My literal response is to press the keys to the letters to make the words that remind me to “Lift up your eyes. Why so downcast oh my soul?! Put your hope in God!”

It’s hard to be on the receiving end of help. It’s hard to sit and accept the fact that the “normal” won’t be done today. I have to completely ignore the fact that the downstairs looks like a tornado came through followed by a hurricane and then a tsunami completed the look. The debris of 3 kids over a period of one week is equal to that of 3 mega storms. Any mother will agree.

Instead of wallowing in the tears of pity, I have to choose to look up beyond these temporary things and see that God is using this time for something good and purposeful. 

I must not live in what I see. For the sake of my own sanity and my family, I must lift my eyes. My worth as a woman is not based in the appearance or organization of my home. I am worth something because of Christ – and only Him. He gave me His righteousness and took the dirty rags I thought were good enough. He made me – every innermost part. He knows me – in ways I can’t begin to understand. He loves me and lavishes it on me in ways too numerous to count. But I can try!

My eyes are lifted tonight and I will keep them on Him tomorrow.

Apples and Head Colds

Have you ever had an amazingly productive weekend?  Then you're hit with some crazy malady that just wrecks any chance you saw of catching up in the normal stuff of life???

Well, that was my weekend. We've had fantastic weather here in Michigan for the end of October/beginning of November and the 2 bushels of apples we picked at the beginning of the week were starting the telltale odor of ripening. I knew that I had better begin processing them or I was going to lose them. Unthinkable.

SpyGolds from DK Orchards - Conklin MI

So, I kicked into overdrive. 5 Apple Crisps, 8 Dutch Apple Pies (crust from scratch), 2 batches of regular applesauce on the stove and 1 batch of chunky applesauce in the crockpot.

I was so tired of apples... not to mention tired of the kitchen - and cleaning it up. And my feet hurt.

Now, thanks to Mr. Head Cold, doing the normal daily stuff like tidying, decluttering, a load of laundry or two feels like climbing Mt Everest while my head threatens to explode.

While I'm beginning to feel better (thanks to Vaseline, Puffs Plus and Sudafed), I now sound like a Canadian Goose that needs nasal surgery. This is a delight to my children when I call them upstairs.

Mount Laundry was vanquished today and I have hopes that our Family Newsletter will indeed get written for the upcoming holidays.

So my kind reader, the silence you experienced was not my desire.
I gave up the Super Woman complex when I was leading a ministry.
What you see is what you get.
This woman cannot do it all... :)

At some point in the very near future, the ideas bouncing around in my head must come out.
So there will, indeed, be more posts.

Until then... Get out there and dance in the rain!