Here's to Hope

Faith is the raw material

Love is the product

Hope is the mechanism. 

Break the mechanism and the whole things grinds to a halt.

December 6, 2006

(found in my journal last night during prayer)

Here's to Hope part II

On the phone with Nate (in Pennsylvania)  he pointed out just how many hurting people the Lord had placed in our path this last week.   See why I adore my husband? Even when time and distance separates us he can still place his finger on the pulse of my soul.  Better yet he can help me see what God's doing when I see only unmet needs.  Admittedly I thought I was simply being swallowed up by life when in fact I was supposed to walk alongside a handful of hurting people.  

Nate & I really felt we needed to clear our schedule for some much needed time together and one important visit to the University of Iowa Hospital ICU to visit the Thompson-Casteel family.  A simple call to check-in revealed that they'd just been called to the hospital to receive difficult news.  Later standing on the fringes I was angry at the fragility of life. However, I did marvel at God's timing, being sent to comfort during the worst of the worst. To be a part of His loving  plan is part of the deep comfort He offers his children, that plus unconditional love, forgiveness and the promise of eternity without pain, fear or heartache.

³Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, ⁴and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, ⁵who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. ⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. ⁷These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. ⁸Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, ⁹for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9

Brainiac?

Mommy & Sophia were working together this afternoon when I noticed what she was doing. Can you tell Mommy wears glasses when she reads?;) She looks so serious!

A VERY Important Meeting

Nate finds special moments in a busy day for his most important client! (And all her little stuffed friends)

Stolen Moments

A great place to take a meeting don't you think?
I think I've got quite a little collection of these--Nate using his blackberry in a variety of places. The park, the beach, the Science Museum, Disneyland.  We take the good with the bad, it might seem strange to others but we're thankful that daddy can take the office with him in his pocket


Getting a little quality time in Manhattan beach.

Hmmm?

This might be my new thing for the summer??  At first I thought it was nuts but honestly, I stick pencils, chopsticks, even paint brushes, in my hair ALL the time!  Why not one of these dodahs?  What do you think?

Windowsill Wonderings

Twenty-nine now for four months and I have to admit the view from here is great. It's sort of like being in middle school again (bear with me here.) Being on the cusp of thirty has many pro's but very few that I can truly call my own.  I'm too old to stay out all night. My subdued St. Patty's plans are an obvious sign of maturity. I could tell you stories of St. Patty's celebrated in Chi-town where everyone wants to be Irish at least one-day a year!

However, not quite thirty, I feel awkward with grown-up self-realizations. Shedding social conventions and embracing my true identity. So I've come to terms with the fact that I'm NOT a CRAFTY person.  I've been a poser for a few years now. Addicted to HGTV, power tools and thrift store finds just begging for a make-over.   I don't think I'll ever loose these loves, but I've simply come to terms with the fact that it can take a lot of material, time, and sometimes money to create the "shabby chic" look and you're not always guaranteed a nice result if your making it yourself.  

My month on the road with Nate gave me new perspective on my stuff and my abilities (a month without HGTV might have had a little to do with it too?) I've decided to purge my creative stock of crafts, getting rid of everything but tools. Out with scrapbook paper, bits of material, glue guns, chalk-board paint etc.  Some of you know what I'm talking about and have KILLER creative studios. Dori at the Dreaming Bear is one of these.  Seeing her space helped me give up my glue-gun. For a small-fee I could make a mess in her studio and even use her materials! Better yet, by letting the Crafty people of the world do what they do well--I can support fabulous artists and focus on just a couple of loves. Blogging, writing, and painting. I've decided to keep one art form just as a release. Sigh, I have to admit it feels good to shed the stuff and the adjective. 

Hello my name is Sarah Kay and I'm a creative person, NOT a crafty one!

Wine & Whimsy

Local Ladies you should know:

Hopefully by now you've noticed that I LOVE creative people. Especially creative, women who happen to be entrepreneaurs!!  These two ladies fit that bill excellently but they're also quickly becoming very special friends!   

Lauren~Owner of the Secret Cellar, a soon to be expanding wine shop in my parents little village of Shueyville Iowa.

Dori ~Owner of Dreaming Bear Design, an art studio and gift shop that is good for the soul and the pocket book.

Another blogger well known to Pieces of Glass is Andrea Cooley, formerly of Meredith Publishing, now bravely on her own as a freelancer and a manager of sorts. Andrea and I will be collaborating on the new face of Pieces of Glass and hopefully several other projects.  With her business savvy and eye for design it's no wonder small business are seeking her out to help them spread their web-wings. The best part of working with Andrea is that I get to focus on the oh so nutty, messy, unorganized side of my brain that produces works of creativity; while Andrea has a wonderful knack for picking through the wreckage and creating order!  

On my part I'm hoping that some of my journey from type-a to Creative (her term not mine-but don't you love it) will help smooth some of Andrea's transition. Simply calling yourself a writer can be daunting enough.  Come along with us as we reinvent ourselves . . .again!  

Bon Voyage Dave & Tayelor!

Who wouldn't want to live in the beautiful Charelston, South Carolina? We will miss them dreadfully, but we're thrilled for this next chapter in your lives!  Go with God dear friends. We never say goodbye, simply till we meet again.

Never Going to Survive Unless-We Go A Little Crazy!

Blame it on the rain! The cold weather, the gray, the Ndjerareous are stir-crazy!! You know we don't do cold, and we don't do domestic very well.  The past couple weeks have been like being snow bound!  We've hardly left the house!  I knew it was bad when my husband used my own line against me.  "I guess it's just like you said, you need room to go a little crazy!"   

Big Girls Don't Cry!

This little princess is all grown-up.  Doesn't she look happy about it! This is day four without the pacifier.  Originally, we were going to go with the a pacifier fairy . But a chance encounter on the airplane gave me another idea. It doesn't help that Sophia looks likes she's five and so when we whipped out the paci on the plane I'm sure we looked a little silly. We got several helpful suggestions from strangers with pacifier wisdom.  But after all I was traveling alone with a two-year-old and the paci-blankie combination worked wonders.  So with her birthday approaching it was either get her a tee-shirt that said "I'm really ONLY three!"  Or begin the pacifier weaning process.

This was harder than weaning and potty training combined, well harder on me.  Going to sleep, Sophia would make these sweet little purs of contentment and rub her blankie between her fingers.  It was so easy to comfort her and get her into bedtime routine.  You could always tell when she was asleep to because she sounded just like Maggie from the Simpsons.  It didn't help that Nana's a dental hygienist and kept noticing her smile was changing ever so slightly.  

As her birthday approached we began talking about giving her paci to Baby Connor, we even found a big girl comforter for when she went to bed without the paci.  Admittedly, it hasn't been easy for Sophia either, she's a little out of sorts and trying to find new ways to soothe herself. Thankfully, anytime she asks for a paci we remind her she gave it to Baby Connor. This seems to satisfy her for the moment. Her smile is already starting to look normal, amazing. Now we're potty trained and living without the paci, my little girl is all grown-up!   

The Reviews Are In!!

Gluten free, Sugar Free, Dairy Free Cupcakes that everyone actually liked. Or as Sophia would say 'Pretty actually not bad!'  
Our family has been learning to live without sugar recently.  But several of Sophia's young party guests had a variety of food allergies. My goal: to find a recipe that everyone could eat AND enjoy.  I borrowed this idea from Naomi and then created a trifle out of the leftovers for the adults.  It was so good!  The best part-- Sophia & I ate the left over trifle for breakfast. After all it was made out of gluten free pancake mix! 

Easy Gluten-Free, Sugar-Free, Non-Dairy Cupcake's 

1 package of Kinnikinnick pancake mix

1 egg

3 tblsp. Agave Nectar

2/3 cup Vanilla Soymilk

Mix well and pour into cupcake molds. Bake in a 350 degree oven for 8-10 minutes, until golden brown or when a tooth pick comes out clean.  

Top with Sugar Free-Cool Whip and fruit.  Sophia and I mixed in blue berries and poured some more Agave Nectar over the cupcakes when they were warm for a slightly sweeter taste.

Trifle Recipe (so easy I have trouble calling this a recipe!)

Cut up cupcakes

Blueberries

Strawberries 

Raspberries

1 tub Sugar Free Cool Whip

Cut up strawberries and mix with other berries, set some of the fruit aside for pretty topping.

Pour Agave Nectar over fruit and set aside. Simply layer cupcake pieces, fruit mix and whipped topping. Decorate with fruit and refrigerate.  Kids LOVE this recipe since you can't mess it up and they can help.

Sophia Turns Three!

Happy Birthday Sophia!

Restless Groundedness or Grounded Restlessness?

The terms aren't mine, they're fellow Global Nomad & webzine creator Janera Soerel's. If you've ever felt their pull of the foreign?  The intoxicating rush that fills your soul and your senses as you enter the unknown?  The insatiable itch of an empty passport? Well, then you may share the heartbeat of the global nomad.  

Global Nomad's are typically distinguishable right off the bat because they're laid back but outgoing, even in languages other than their own.  They're interested in the people around them, but most telling of all they get hung up on the question-WHERE ARE YOU FROM?  

Personally, it's the people that have difficulty answering this question (watch for a pause while they weigh what type of answer to give--the long one or the short one? Believe me after you've had people stare when you've named an exotic location--you'd censor yourself too!) They've become my fastest friends and often my favorite people.  It's like hearing English for the first time in weeks while you're backpacking across Siberia (true story-but for another blog.) The renewing energy in finding someone who understands you. Well it's a feeling  unlike anything else.  

The only thing more powerful is when the love of your life shares your wanderlust.  I've been so blessed and we're currently in the midst of ruining our daughter for a life of stability and routine. Just ask Sophia where daddy is and she'll typically tell you he's at the airport. Followed by--he doesn't fly the plane, he just sits and looks out the window. But a wise man once said:It's unwise to seek a life of security, it leaves no room for miracles.

Bouncing Back?

Perhaps it's the impending arrival of spring? The longer, though chilly, days? Or pure, HD, divine intervention? Personally, I think it's the latter, shaken with a twist of sunshine. Regardless, I'm finally finding energy to live the life God's given me 

One foot in front of the other, little by little. The dishes are getting done, there's money in my account, everyone's got socks and food and every other day or so I've had a quiet time AND a work-out!  

It's like MOMMY heaven! Hence the divine intervention! Looking at Nate and it's obvious a miracle is happening around here.  There aren't enough hours in the day for him to get it all done and yet he continues to move forward. It's impressive and inspiring watching him press-on literally twenty to twenty-two hours a day. 

At the same time I'm filled with thanks to God for the strength to fill in the gaps.  Finally, God's empowering me in support of our family. And I truly feel empowered.  Especially when my mother looks at me and says 'I think you're going to make it. I haven't seen you with this much energy since college.'  It's nice to know it's not in my head.   Maybe this is how we become our mothers?  Hard work and prayer?