More Precious Than Gold

For some reason -- maybe the engineer or chemist in me, probably the Holy Spirit -- I wanted to know more about gold and refining it and why the fine metals are often compared to our faith. My study Bible listed several scriptural references, but thery all were along the same lines -- comparing the precious metal refining, but not giving me what I was searching for. At the risk of rambling, here are some of my thoughts on these verses:

So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. I Peter 1:6-7, New Living Translation

Gold is highly-sought-after -- everyone wants it in the largest, purest amounts possible, but it isn't passed over if it isn't big enough. Our faith -- anyone's faith -- is more valuable than gold. Although little bits of gold are found in dirt and rocks, it isn't less desirable. Jesus said: " . . . if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, . . . nothing is impossible for you." Matthew 17:20

Like the little bits of gold added together, just little bits of faith can become much more. Gold is also the most malleable and ductile metal. It is moldable and flexible -- it can be pounded, without breaking, so thin that it is translucent . With faith, I, too, can take a lot of stress without breaking. With faith, I am moldable rather than fragile.

For gold to be malleable and ductile, it must be pure. To purify (or refine) gold, heat is applied to melt it so the impurities can be released and washed away. "We should consider trials to be joy" (I Peter 1:6) because like heat melts the gold, the trials stress our faith so the crud can be released.

Pure gold does not oxidize (rust) in air or water, but it maintains its color and luster. I should strive for the pure faith to maintain my beauty and, like gold, we can be perfect and unblemished.

Piles of Books and Another first

We've had a fun few days lately. We didn't too much out of the ordinary, but we've just enjoyed each other. Last Thursday was Jon's day. On Wednesday night, he heard Will talking to me about Barnes & Noble. After the kids had been put to bed, I heard Jon from the top of the dark stairs, "Mama! I want to go to Barts & Oble!" I told him to go back to bed and we would go the next day. Sometime after he mentioned his odd pronunciation of it, I asked if he knew what Barnes & Noble was. "It'th a thtore, Mama," he responded as if he couldn't believe I didn't know that already. "Jon, do you know what they have there?" He replied, "They have coconut trees!" That little guy was thrilled to know more than his mama :) As odd as it sounds, he knows what he is talking about. Although there aren't any coconuts, the parking lot is full of palm trees.

Jon and I had a wonderful time at Barnes & Noble. He had received a gift card at Christmas, so I told him he could pick a book. We sat on the floor and read a lot, he got to pick out a sweet treat, then he picked the book he wanted: an interactive book about things that go (trains, trucks, planes, tractors, etc.) Next we went to get him some new sneakers, then, as he requested, we went home for lunch to eat peanut belly jelly. It was a fun day together!

Saturday was a day for Will and me. He had been working hard to earn a date at Barnes & Noble and he got his chance. He and I left around 10:30 and hit four different used bookstores trying to collect the Magic Treehouse books we didn't already have. We had a nice lunch out and went to B&N. Will picked out Arabian Nights and two more Magic Treehouse books to use his gift card, then we went to Smoothie King for a treat. When we got home mid-afternoon, he had about 14 "new" books, and I had found 9 or 10 used books Allen and I are aiming to read this year. We had a fun day together. I really miss the bi-monthly dates we used to have, but a few every now and then still keep us close.

Sunday wasn't actually a school night this week because Will had Monday off for MLK day. We took the kids to the drive-in theater to see The Princess and the Frog. The little kids have never been to a theater for a movie, so this was a totally new experience. Before the show the Chicken Dance was playing over the speakers, and our van was really shaking with all the dancing inside. I had taught Will how to do the Chicken Dance when we took him to the drive-in in October, so he was teaching the others. After the movie started, Ben kept putting his face on the window so he'd fog it, step back, wipe the window, repeat. We had a great time once the kids stayed in a seat. It was a cute movie, and Maddie, especially, was thrilled to see a princess show.

Monday, a school holiday, was hectic. It started out fine. I even managed to keep the TV off most of the day. The little ones took naps with no trouble, but I didn't get my quiet time because Will was very chatty. . . then hyper. . . then climbing the walls with excess energy. I wasn't feeling great, and I got frustrated rather quickly. The afternoon was chaotic with the kids being rather loud and rambunctious, but we somehow survived it.

Today is the day I normally go to Bible study, but we stayed home. Jon and Ben both have ugly coughs and Maddie wants her share of the attention, too. Two friends of mine have kiddos with RSV right now, so I'm playing it safe and keeping them home. I don't think that's what it is, but I don't want them out and about with germy kids if their immune systems aren't at their best. Today, we've stayed in PJs and spent the morning cuddling.

Lots of Laughter

We had a fun day. The kids stayed in pjs just long enough to eat breakfast. When I was on the phone with Will's teacher, three little kids ran by me squealing. They had just stripped down to their diapers and were on the way upstairs for a new adventure. Not long after that, I was having the oddest conversations with them. Here are some sentences I caught my self saying,

"Jon, please don't climb that ladder when you are wearing high heeled shoes."
"Maddie, he is called 'Santa Clause,' not 'Santa THE Clause."
"No, sweetie, I am pretty sure Santa wears more than just a hat and diaper. Oh? Yeah, maybe he wears pink tennis shoes, but definitely with socks. Yes, Dear. You can still be Santa without putting the socks on."


At some point just before lunch, I had to sit down to laugh. Ben (wearing only a diaper and a pair of blue slippers) was chasing Maddie (wearing only the Santa hat and diaper) round and round the couch. They kept crashing into each other and falling to the floor full of giggles. It was the goofiest sight, especially since it is cold here. I had put on socks, slippers, and a sweater just to keep from shivering and they have been running around nearly nude.


We had a good morning with lots of laughter and hugs. I made curried chicken and rice salad for our dinner tonight and the little kids colored. Was it too much to hope for a smooth naptime? It had been TOO quiet for a bit long, so I went to check on the boys. Ben was snuggled in his comforter sound asleep, but Jon was not in bed, and I didn't find him immediately. I sternly commanded, "Jon! Where are you? You get back in bed." Usually, at that point, I get the whiny "I don't want to sleep!" but the response was silence. I finally found him . . . hiding . . .

... yes, he is under his bed. I don't know how he stays warm or comfortable this way, but I won't complain. This is the second day in a row he has gone to sleep at naptime without a fight.

And now the day is about to be even better. . . Will is coming home early for a long weekend!

A Pile of Stones

You know that Perfect Book . . . the one with all the stories, all the advice, all the answers? You know when people joke about there not being an instruction manual for raising kids? Truthfully, there IS that book in my home (more like 20 of them) -- its our Bible. I go through waves with that Perfect Book. I'm excited to be reading it and studying it one month, but the next month it is a struggle to open it without interruptions. Thankfully I have those few times a year that re-center me with my Bible. I'm excited that tomorrow is the start of one of "those" seasons, as I start the spring ladies Bible study. Last fall, I was involved in a study that, although it didn't get as deep as I would have liked, introduced me to a deeper way of studying my Bible. After that was over, two of my friends and I started poring over I Peter. I enjoyed it, I learned from it, and my actions inspired my kids to read their Bibles (or at least talk about the pictures.) And that's what I want!

Many stories in the Bible talk about the piles of rocks that the Jews would create so that years later, other generations would ask about the stones, and the stories would be retold. Like a headstone over a grave, some stones are used as reminders. When I was in Girl Scouts, we learned about marking trails. Some of the signs were made of piles of stones, or cairns -- they showed the way to go. I need to share with them the stories of God's miracles for me (and not just the birth stories.) I need to tell them the ways to go, or at least help them find a way of discovering the path for themselves. I need to make some rock-piles for my children.

I've thought about scrapbooking my spiritual journey, but since I can't even make time to print birthday pictures, I am afraid this would be another unfinished project. I've thought about journaling it; but then it ends up as another thing on my "to-do" list. This blog has served as my scrapbook and journal for two years now, so I think I will just add the spiritual parts, too. After all, my REAL life comprises the scriptures, the snotty-nose days, the overwhelming laundry piles, the laughter, the joy. Why not open up just a little more and share the deeper things too -- they ARE me, after all. So I'm going to do it. I will not share everything, just some that I'd share at Bible study. That way, my children will get to read about the deeper Me and the God I serve that I pray they will know intimately, too.

So, here is the first story. I journaled it in the margin of a book I had been reading back in November, but, to me, the words are timeless -- God speaks, I just have to listen.

Yes, God speaks louder than Dora the Explorer! I sat reading my Bible study, somehow able to focus since the triplets were calm and quiet, mesmerized by the cartoons. Just before I got the the paragraph below, Maddie climbed up and snuggled unto my lap. I hugged her, got us comfy again, then kissed her curly head and smelled the lavender of her shampooed hair. I took a deep breath to refocus on the words and read:

"The feminine trend of self-loathing has robbed us of enjoying God's favor. The self-esteem crisis has reached stunning heights, imposing sanctions on how much we are loved by Christ. It is a tragedy indeed. Imagine if your daughter refused to believe that you loved here, that she had any favor in your eyes. If she wasted away in condemnation and obsessed about past mistakes, resisting the intensity of your love, you would die right along with her spirit." (Hatmaker, Jen. Ms. Understood, 2008)

It brought me to tears -- sobbing tears of sad "what-ifs" and joyful tears for "what is!" As distracted as I could have been with the TV blaring silly songs and the kids tumbling about, it was my daughter, and her interruption that made those words hit my heart.

Christmas Chowder

Here is the official recipe that we use to make our ham and corn chowder, but we never actually make it the same way each time. Lately, I have enjoyed a chunkier chowder, and since I really like the veggies in this soup, we sometimes use more than what the recipe calls for. This is the chowder we had for dinner Christmas Day, so you know it must be something special!

3 slices bacon, slivered (or more)
1/2 cup onion, chopped
1/2 cup carrot, chopped
1/2 cup celery, chopped
1/2 cup roasted red bell pepper, chopped
2 cups milk
1 15-ounce jar Alfredo pasta sauce
2 1/2 cups frozen corn
1 14-ounce can creamed corn
1 cup cooked ham, diced (or more)
2 4-ounce cans diced green chile peppers, undrained
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1 teaspoon Worchestershire sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Tony Chachere's Spice & Herb blend (optional)

In a 4- to 6-quart soup pot, cook bacon over medium-high heat until crisp. Remove bacon and set aside. Add onion, carrot, celery, and roasted red bell pepper to pot, cook and stir until vegetables are tender. Return bacon to pot and add remaining ingredients. Bring chowder to simmer. Simmer gently, uncovered for 25-30 minutes stirring often. This always is better the next day, and it freezes well, too. 8 servings

The Last Ten

It is strange that it is a new year. You'd think after having hit the "new-year" mark more than thirty times, I'd get over the newness of it. But I still don't. It is the time of year I can start fresh, reflect on the past, and figure out how to put the two together to make myself a better person.

We celebrated New Year's Eve by, uh . . . not celebrating. It was any other night except that we were super-brave and gave the kids sparking grape juice to make them bounce off the walls till they drove us to tucking them in. I watched Facebook updates as friends posted that 10 years ago they were waiting to see if computers crashed the world as the Y2K bug was sure to be devastating -- it wasn't. As I tried ignoring the thunder and the firecrackers I thought back over what I've done the last ten years, and it was interesting to look back at the twists and turns life presented me. Scratch the "I" -- it was "WE" all the way, since we've been married ten years and going in the same direction. What have the last ten been like?

• We lived in our first home in Canyon, TX; we bought our second home in Independence, KS; we lived in another apartment in Texas; and now we are in our third home. That's four different mailing addresses in as many cities.I've worked as a chemical engineer in sales and consulting; worked with Allen on a MLM internet-based business; taught high-school science; worked at a quilt store; and opened a scrapbook store with my friend. I am now a stay-at-home mom, and plan to be for awhile.
• Allen has been a grad-student, worked as an intern at Sandia National Labs, completed his Master's degree in Chemical Engineering, and worked at two different refineries under five different companies.
• We have vacationed, visited, or lived in twenty-three states: Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas, Utah, Washington, and West Virginia.We have lived in the United States, and visited Costa Rica, Canada, Mexico, Belize, Guatemala, Turkey, and Greece, with airport stops and passpost stamps in Germany.
• I have been to Grandma Williams' funeral, but had to miss the funeral of Mema Dobbs since I was very pregnant with triplets.I have been pregnant fifteen months, birthed four precious children, changing diapers for more than six years.
• I have made countless friends, but lost contact with many. There are still a precious few that I've kept in contact with the last ten years.
• We have adopted three kittens (Tico, Ramses, and Pickles) a dog (Shadow).
• We have painted seven rooms and hired someone else to paint another six.
• I have quilted off-and-on for seven years, gardened off-and-on for ten years, scrapbooked for nine, and read for pleasure for as long as I can remember.I have had three different pairs of glasses (with another on the way), but worn contacts often.
• I have worn many sizes of jeans from 14 to 4, and that entire range has been worn within the last year and a half.I have witnessed the rising popularity of cell-phones, GPS-use, laptop computers, DVDs, reality television, SUVs, and WalMart.
• I have gotten caught up in the news when Bush defeated Gore; when I was terrorized from afar on September 11th; when the tsunami washed away thousands of people near the Indian Ocean; when friends were affected by Hurricane Katrina; when my friends, business, and family were affected by the Kansas floods; when my retirement funds were drained by the stock market crashing; and when the first black U.S. president was elected.

We have been blessed beyond measure for the last ten years and more. The trials we've faced have made us stronger, the people (and animals) who have come into our lives have made our hearts grow, the places we have been have expanded our horizons and let us know that we can go wherever we dream as long we are careful with our spending. I am excited to embark on the next leg of our journey -- my husband, my kindergartener, my three toddlers, and me.

Expanding our horizons (and our library)

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! I've chosen my "project" for 2010, and as I consulted my sweet husband, he jumped on board, too. Our goal: to expand our literary horizons and collections. How will we achieve it? By reading books that would not normally make it to our nightstands. In choosing these fifty (yes, 50) books, we consulted six lists:

• Random House's List of 100 Best Novels (1998)
• BBC's Big Read: Top 100 (2004)
• U.K. Telegraph's 110 Best Books: The Perfect Library (2008)
• Newsweek's Top 100 Books: The Meta-List (2009)
• Time Magazine's 100 All-time Best Novels (2009)
• Best Books of the Decade (Miller, 2009) -- A random list of the best books of the last decade that seemed to have similar listings to several others that I googled.

Allen and I both love to read, and we both read a lot. Fifty is a big number, but it is half as many as what most of these lists contain. With 52 weeks in a year, that is about a book a week, so we should still have time for a few other books we want to read, too.

• We started with the pre-21st century novels. First we figured out which we already had in our home library and decided which

• a.) we were interested in re-reading;

  b.) one or both of us had not read; or

  c.) one of us had read and was deeply moved by and, therefore, insisted it be on the list so she finally would read it after over fifteen years of trying to convince her to pick up the book.

• Next we wandered through the many lists figuring out which ones made it to all or most of the lists. If we hadn't read it before, it made the cut -- at least until we filled the card for 2010.
• For the books from 2000-2009, we looked for those listed on other similar lists, and chose the few we both were interested in reading.
• We tried to get a good balance on genres, publishing dates, and readability, without choosing more than one book by the same author.

Overall, we ended up with an exciting, yet possibly daunting, list of fifty novels to try to read this year. I am really excited that Allen wants to do this with me as I always enjoy talking about books I've enjoyed to someone who has read them, too. Here is our list of what we aim to read this year, in publication order:

1. The Prince (Machiavelli, 1513)
2. Frankenstein (Shelley, 1818)
3. The Count of Monte Cristo (Dumas, 1844)
4. Jane Eyre (Bronte, C, 1847)

5. Wuthering Heights (Bronte, E, 1847)
6. David Copperfield (Dickens, 1850)
7. War and Peace (Tolstoy, 1869)
8. Middlemarch (Eliot, 1874)
9. Portrait of a Lady (James, 1881)
10.Treasure Island (Stevenson, 1883)
11.Tess of the D'Urbervilles (Hardy, 1891)
12.Anne of Green Gables (Montgomery, 1908)
13.The Secret Garden (Burnett, 1911)
14.Ulysses (Joyce, 1922)
15.Winnie the Pooh (Milne, 1926)
16.To the Lighthouse (Woolf, 1927)
17.Sound and the Fury (Faulkner, 1929)
18.Swallows and Amazons (Ransome, 1930)
19.Brave New World (Huxley, 1932)
20.Murder on the Orient Express (Christie, 1937)
21.Gone with the Wind (Mitchell, 1937)
22.Of Mice and Men (Steinbeck, 1937)
23.Rebecca (du Maurier, 1938)
24.For Whom the Bell Tolls (Hemingway, 1940)
25.Brideshead Revisited (Waugh, 1945)
26.Nineteen Eighty Four (Orwell, 1949)
27.The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (Lewis, 1950)
28.Catcher in the Rye (Salinger, 1951)
29.Go Tell it on the Mountain (Baldwin, 1953)
30.Lord of the Flies (Golding, 1954)
31.The Lord of the Rings (Tolkein, 1954)
32.Lolita (Nabokov, 1955)
33.On the Road (Kerous, 1957)
34.Rabbit, Run (Updike, 1960)
35.Catch-22 (Heller, 1961)
36.Dune (Herbert, 1965)
37.One Hundred Years of Solitude (Marquez, 1967)
38.Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? (Dick, 1968)
39.Master and Commander (O'Brian, 1969)
40.Slaughterhouse Five (Vonnegut, 1969)
41.The Stand (King, 1978)
42.The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Adams, 1979)
43.Midnight's Children (Rushdie, 1981)
44.Neuromancer (Gibson, 1984)
45.Beloved (Morrison, 1987)
46.Memoirs of a Geisha (Golden, 1997)
47.The Kite Runner (Hosseini, 2003)
48.The Road (McCarthy, 2006)
49.The Shack (Young, 2007)
50.The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (Shaffer & Barrows, 2008)