TulipGirl

Love pottery? Live in the Sarasota / Bradenton area? Check out the holiday open house hosted by Nigel and Cheyenne Rudolph.
Friday, 12/4, 5 – 9 pm
Saturday, 12/5, 10 – 8 pm
2321 14th Ave W, Bradenton 34205

Still not sure you’ll be joining us on Sunday, November 22nd?

Read this, the book review I wish I had written. (Thanks, Staci!)
Scandalous Freedom, by Steve Brown

On November 1st I started my annual thankful posts, a daily record of gratitude. And if anyone still reads my rarely updated blog, maybe they wondered if I didn’t really have a grateful heart or I dropped off the face of the earth. I toyed with the idea of continuing my list and back-dating it so that I had continuity (I like continuity, ritual, patterns.) But that felt too poseurish, too much like I’m faking it. So, I’m not. Just going to blush a bit and admit that this tradition has gone by the wayside this year.

In spite of that, we’ve had some HUGE things that God has done recently that just have me overjoyed and thankful and just oh-so-glad. Hubby has an “official” diagnosis after two years of weird symptoms, stress, and medical tests. It’s something chronic, not something terminal (which was the doc’s first suspicion two years ago.) And as he’s already been living with and dealing with the symptoms for awhile, it seems very manageable.

Also, the house we’ve been renting in Florida went on the market and sold in less than a week! This is wonderful (and the quickness — thank God! — showing a house while living in it with four boys? Stressful.) At this point we aren’t looking for a new place, we’ll find out soon whether we have another 2-3 months here and then we’ll find a place to rent closer to the college and high school where Hubby is teaching.

We’re in the process, though, of pursuing some options that would have us return overseas. We’re nearing the point with one of the options where we’ll know whether that door is open or closed. My daydream is that not only would that door be open, but that the wheels would move quickly and instead of renting again here, we can move from our current house to temporary quarters for training. But, considering the usual timeline of this sort of thing, that’s highly unlikely. (Still, I can always hope and pray. . .)

Another thing I’m really thankful for is our church has had the opportunity to host Steve Brown for a community-wide service this Sunday night — and he’ll be preaching at our church in the morning.

Some of my girlfriends and I trade MP3 links to various encouraging podcasts and a few months ago, my friend Camille insisted I listen to Steve Brown’s RTS seminary course on Grace in the Church. Wow. . . It was just what I needed. Not that he said anything “new” — it’s all the Gospel — but I just need to keep hearing it again and again. And what the Lord is doing in my heart? Well, I needed to hear it. . .

The theme for this Sunday will be Scandalous Freedom. If you aren’t local and can’t come, please take time to listen to these MP3s or read this book.

If you are in the Sarasota / Bradenton area, here are the details for Sunday, November 22, Scandalous Freedom with Steve Brown.
On Facebook
On Gohope.Net
On TulipGirl

Invite your friends! More info? Visit GoHope.net

This has been a long week. A very long week.

And somehow in the midst of the craziness, Hubby and I marked our 14th anniversary! And considering we met 18 years ago, our lives have been mingled longer than they have not. I’m looking forward to a long, relaxing weekend together.

Hubby had to rescue me at 9:30 pm on our anniversary — I had locked my keys in the van. Today I forgot my phone at home. I’ve been a tad absentminded.

The boys have been on a Shakespeare kick. I’m not yet sure what instigated their interest, even though the past year we have been integrating some of the Bard into our schooling. (We’ve read more of Charles Lamb that we have the actual plays and poetry.) Tonight we’re watching Ian McKellen as King Lear. Amy (who loves books) suggested In Search of Shakespeare. I haven’t found a place to watch it online, so maybe we’ll order it. . . The boys are trying to organize the neighborhood kids into a play. I love delight-led learning!

This morning read Barlow’s take on Cash for Clunkers. I tend to agree — it seems to be wasteful, and substituting one form of pollution and inefficiency for another.

On a happier note, Roadfood.com seems to be a great resource for finding yummy local food whether at home or when traveling.

Similarly, Eating Like an Immigrant is very inspirational! This is the first post of a series — I can’t wait to read the rest over at MbG. Food blogging is one of those things that prods me to enjoy cooking again, even when I have to cook. We’ve been making easy bread this week, thanks to ThatMom’s links to online resources for Artisan Bread in Five Minutes a Day. I have a loaf rising now, and plan on trying whole wheat this weekend.

We have treats and cooking planned for this weekend, much of it for the church picnic. Jalepeno Hummus and tortilla chips, brownies, Mrs. E’s Mac and Cheese, regular hummus and veggies, something else which I’m blanking on right now. . .

I’m hoping to go to Chicago (along with the two younger boys!) in a few weeks to see my parents. Very excited about it.

It will be too late for the Michigan Ave Arts Fest — but doesn’t that look like fun? I found out about that from a friend’s link on facebook. Finding some neat (and sad) links from friends lately. . . Like Embracing the Least of These, about orphans in Africa. Or, this cool project that uses Google Maps to vividly illustrate the crisis in Darfur.

I’ve been listening to Steve Brown’s lectures on Grace in the Church, thanks to Camille. It’s been relaxing during this busy week.

But I need to take a break from it, and finish up this semester’s courses. I’ve been taking Financial Management in the Public Sector (ugh!) and Nonprofit Administration. They’ve both had their challenges as well as provided opportunities to learn. I’ve stressed out over them more than I needed to, as well. Still trying to find the right rhythm in school. My fall classes? Nonprofit Organizations and Nonprofit Financial Management. I’ve already ordered my books. (I *heart* the free shipping from Amazon Prime!)

Hubby starts teaching in a few weeks (if you are local, take his American History class!) The boys were going to have a “short” summer break, but with their hard work work all July, we’ve decided to start when the local public schools start — August 24th. I need to do quite a bit of planning.

On the upside, I finished a project I really wanted to do this July. I sorted all the kids books and school books by type, and have them stacked and organized. You know the boxes with lids which contain reams of paper? They are perfect for books. Thanks to Bob, our local printer, and the office supply store, we had plenty. Now I just need to work on the boys’ schedules — we’re trying to finish up US History since 1865 using Ambleside as a guide (Term 3 of Year 5, Term 1 of Year 6 — adapted to each of the boys).

That will give the boys time to join the YCS group in campaigning for Dan Quiggle. We like Dan a lot, and he has great Reagan stories from his internship. I’m glad the boys get to see the local side of politics in an off-year election.

So, that’s the rambling on we’ve been doing around here. . .

The boys and I joined the YCSers to meet Marco Rubio. Don’t know who Rubio is? Read this great interview with NRO — especially if you live in Florida, I recommend you take the time to read it.

I saw this over at Clever Nesting, a daydream site for the wannabe crafter in me. I like the idea of the 3/50 Project — I like supporting local businesses.

I do slightly disagree with the idea of “spend it online, and nothing comes home.” Sure, it might not come directly into my community, but most of what I spend online is from mompreneurs or small businesses that are local to their own communities. That wouldn’t be the case buying from the big online retailers, but the small, handmade or home-based businesses? Online sales can help keep them going when they are still building a sustainable, local customer base.

Some of my favorite local businesses:
Funtoysia
Lifestyle Hearing
Cinnamental Bakers
Bangkok Restaurant
Bella Coffee House
Rudolph Clay Studios
Lambrix-Bush Warehousing
Haley Lamourt Chiropractic
Fruitville Grove Market
Dr. Jaworski and Dr. Moricz
Orthodontists of Lakewood Ranch

Some of my favorite independent, non-local businesses:
Old Bisbee Roasters
High Desert Market and Cafe
Kristen Stewart Photography

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What are some of your favorite local businesses? How can you direct some of your normal, budgeted spending to support them?

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Update: After I posted this, I saw another local blogger, Somber and Dull, had just written about one of his favorite local stores — Funtoysia! (Doesn’t that just beg for some ironic comment?)

Updated: Links to more of the local artists and musicians who will be part of this weekend’s art show!

This Friday and Saturday
May 1st and May 2nd
7pm – 10pm
4455 30th St. E
Bradenton FL 34203

Facebook info
Bradenton Herald-Tribune Info

Featuring:
Bill Kimrey
Matt Crotts
Joan Senkowicz
Meagan Chaney
Jim O’Donnell
Bob Salyers
Janine Hoffman
Nigel and Cheyenne Rudolph
Haitz
Scone Train
James Hawkins
Justin Layman
Stephen Gillum
Brandon Crane
. . . and more.

I’ve only been online lately in fits and starts, hence the sporadic blogging. But I keep coming across really good and encouraging things online and think, oooh — I should share that! Of course, by the time I sit down to post links, I can’t remember half of them. Ah, well. . . Still, here are some things that I think are cool or worth the time to read.

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Kim explains to her son that, yup, Christians can be annoying and unlikeable. “My answer to my son was that I, too, dislike Christians at times. I followed it up with the fact that I am probably disliked by other Christians at times, and so is he. I reminded him that we are not perfect, that we make mistakes, do stupid things and are unkind. And I reminded him that all we can do is continue to make an effort to love our fellow Christians even when it is hard.”

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Camille has been reflecting on Things I Never Heard in Fundamentalism (1) (2) (3). And while our backgrounds are very different, the familiar refrains of grace, grace, God’s grace reverberate in my soul when I read of God’s comfort and faithfulness in her life.

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TAKS — easy-peasy assessment tests, online, free and instantly scored! Errr. . . easy-peasy as far as doing it online, not necessarily for the student. The boys have been worried about their “gaps.” But as my sister reminds me, “gaps are just spaces waiting to be filled.” Thanks to Jess and Bayou for directing me to the TAKS site.

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The dragon-mommy very thoughtfully reflects on The Irony of Ezzo and AP (1)) (2). It concerns me that there seems to be a resurgence of the popularity of Babywise. With a generation of moms and babies who have already been there, done that, regretted it. . . why do people not learn from the mistakes of others? I still find the Ezzo materials introduce such an antagonistic mindset to the parents who read it — as one mom said recently “Do you hate me that I am a Babywise mom?” How sad. Sure, I try to caution moms about the misinformation in Babywise, but I don’t “hate” any moms.

How firmly I believe that God gives just the right parents to each child, and just the right child to each parent. Our love, our mistakes, our triumphs, our struggles — the Lord uses those in both our lives and our children’s lives as we grow into the people He created us to be. I believe it is so important to communicate respect to other parents — and still point out the problems in basing decisions on flawed information and problematic principles.

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Some freebies, giveaways, and contests: Dada Ring Sling from Babywearing.com (deadline 4/30); Online Kitchen Garden Planner via CleverNesting, a little critter giveaway (’cause I was too late in posting about the neato mobile from royal buffet). . . ack, saw some other good ones this week and can’t find them now!

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Remember, local art and music in Sarasota / Bradenton on May 1 & 2. I read a blurb in the East County Observer, unfortunately they don’t put their articles online. (Nor the pics the publish in the paper version — which is disappointing, ’cause they had a cute one of my little protesters.) I also saw a column that mentioned the art show in the BHT. If you are local, it’s a great place for a low-key date night. Local music, local artists, good coffee. . .

If you live in the Bradenton / Sarasota area, I’d like to invite you to visit our church, Hope Presbyterian (PCA).

When we first returned to the States from Ukraine, we were quite wrung out — physically, emotionally, spiritually. While the Lord was faithful, it was still a difficult time for both me personally and for our family as a whole. Part of that resulted in it taking a while before we were settled into a church “home.”

That home has become Hope. I’m thankful for God’s faithfulness, His guidance, His healing. Being part of the Body of Christ at HPC has been both a time of comfort, and yes, of hope.

Recently, some friends have been sharing about struggles they’ve had with church. . . moving and not having a church home, being in a church that has drifted away from grace and towards legalism. . . I’ve wanted to say, “Hey, come worship with us!” But since they don’t live locally, that isn’t so easy. On the other hand, many of my friends locally either aren’t interested in church or live quite a long drive away. Still, I decided it’s time to invite our friends, far and near, to come join us at Hope PCA.

If you want to know more about the church, feel free to browse the church website, calendar, and sermons. Or, visit the pastors’ blogs.

Grace and Hope,
TG

Good friends, good conversation, good coffee. . .

Hubby and I had a night out tonight with the ThinkTank discussion group (if you are local, you’re invited next time!)

The topic? Happiness.

Very thought provoking. Though I’ve got to say, coffee and convo hit the top of my “happiness” list.

Update: At the next ThinkTank, we’ll be discussing the movie Idiocracy and a bit about postmodernism. Come, bring some questions and ideas, and enjoy the conversation.

Hubby’s old army buddy back from DLI days has recently re-enlisted to go serve in Iraq. He’s having a quick Florida vacation and visiting us before heading out. We haven’t had houseguests since Rebecca and Sara were here over a year ago. Considering how often my ILs have company and the fine Florida weather, I’m surprised. Then again, staying with a family with four active boys isn’t exactly everyone’s idea of restful.

It’s been really enjoyable. I’m online to look up my favorite pancake recipe. We have fresh blueberries and strawberries (and whipped cream!) for toppings, and should make for a perfect lazy Saturday breakfast out on the lanai. It’s been overcast and rainy, and today is sunshiny–a perfect beach day. We’ll probably head out to Siesta Key (though usually I prefer Lido or Turtle Beach.)

Ahhh. . . gotta love Florida.

We joined the other families in our homeschool baseball team for a game at Ed Smith Stadium tonight. Our team won, and our family had a fun. The whole atmosphere of the game was great; the cool fresh air, the excitement, the game announcer’s voice reverberating, the hot dogs. . . I remember my folks bringing us to a game in Racine when I was growing up. It was the same thing. Minor league games are are the best. (And the boys understood a lot more now that they’ve been playing baseball, compared to their first taste of the classic American sport.)

Looking just past Romney’s outstretched arm, you’ll see four members of the “Young Conservatives of Our Neighborhood” club who attended the Romney rally today. Now that Fred Thompson is no longer in the race, the YC’s are trying to persuade me that Romney is the one candidate who can unite fiscal, social and foreign policy conservatives. That’s yet to be seen, but my boys and their cohorts are quite persuasive.

Own your home in Sarasota? Need to repaint it in true Florida colors like Spanish Moss, Dolphin Dance or Hacienda Clay? Get up to 10 gallons of recycled paint free.

June 1st marks the beginning of hurricane season, and with it comes a much-welcomed tropical storm. (Drought and wildfires, while a normal part of the Florida ecological system, still have us welcoming the rain.)

Florida has a Sales Tax Holiday on hurricane preparedness supplies from now through June 12th. This is the time to stock up! If you don’t know where to start, I recommend Kathryn’s Hurricane Checklist. We’ve already printed it out, and J10 is heading up our hurricane preparations this year.

The boys are swimming with Hubby in the pool, in the rain. Ahhhh, I love Florida!

Last year we had a great time at the Sarasota Film Festival’s KidsFest and were privileged to attend the opening of Hoot, based on Carl Hiaasen’s first kids’ novel. It was a blast, and felt good to be part of one of Sarasota’s annual cultural celebrations.

This year’s film festival is underway and it looks like we’ll be missing all of the major events and movies, even the BayBlast children’s fest. Hopefully we’ll at least get to go to a Midnight Movie.

I still want to frame this year’s poster for Hubby. It’s really odd–I can’t find an image of the poster online. The pic below is one I took downtown. I found the poster at the SFF office downtown, the boys and I bought one, and immediately bought a frame, brought it home and surprised Hubby! It looks great hanging in the kitchen-office, and coordinates with the posters of rock concerts we scavenged in Athens.

Sarasota Film Festival: April 13-22, 2007

Just a reminder to myself to get tickets soon, and look into buying this year’s film festival poster for Hubby.