why we love

"We love because He first loved us."     -1 John 4:19

:: february 2014 chalkboard art ::

the month of love, according to the world (at least in our country)
a reminder of why, directly from the truth (for all people and nations)

1 john 4 is legit and convicts me. read the whole chapter, folks. and then come back and share your thoughts. 

xoxo,
annalea

in 2013

this is my prayer for the new year.

in 2013, whatever i do, i will do it all to the glory of God.

and i am having a hard time being any more specific than that.  but i think that is a good problem to have.  how does one make resolutions in the wake of upheaval?  how do i dream up goals when so many of mine from last january were shattered to pieces?  

and how can i complain when all of this making small of me has made so much of Him?

 

so come what may in 2013.

here's to choosing joy regardless of circumstance and finding beauty in the most mundane - or extraordinary - of days.

o give thanks

our Lord is good.

all the time.

His steadfast love endures forever.

and ever.

whether you are celebrating.

whether you are disappointed.

whether you are happy or sad, loved or lonely, content or anxious.

 it doesn't matter what you are doing or how you are feeling.

He is good.

ALL.THE.TIME.

and that is all i have to say tonight.

xoxo,

annalea

a place for all the things i don't deserve

excuse the quiet - or perhaps enjoy it? - while we finish unpacking the final boxes and setting up house.  i am determined to find a place for all the things.  i pared down my craft stash by more than half before leaving illinois, but our rental casita is still much smaller.  our bedroom is doubling as our tv area, tripling as my office, and quadrupling as my studio.  so yes, there have been major donations to goodwill.

i would love to say i have had a good attitude about all of it.  i know it is just stuff.  but i am emotionally clinging to these things, like trying to fill the gaping hole our old life left.  there is soul-work happening and the grip on my heart is loosening day by day.  my prayer is for a clearer focus.  He is all i need.  and no thing or place or person will satisfy.

"what do you think you deserve?  to what do you feel entitled?"
these are the questions i ask myself when the emotions spin out of control.  the answer is nothing - or more accurately - condemnation and death.  let she who is without sin answer that differently.

that usually clears up my ungrateful and moody spirit.

we have so much.  we have Life!  instead of seeing what i don't have anymore, i need to remember all that i have been given without merit.  not because i am a better person than the next.  goodness no.  but my life (and all that is in it) is not mine to hoard.  i am to use it for the glory of Him who freely gives.  He who gave it all.

seriously, friends.

are you with me?

 linking up with gracelaced mondays.

be strong and take heart (free printable)

something inside my crafty soul has woken back up.  it went into hibernation over the last four months while i used my creative juices to help get our family through unemployment and house selling and cross country moving.  but it did feel as though i was missing a part of who i am by not making - creating - with my hands.  that is who i am.  a get-my-hands-messy creator made in the image of the original Creator.  

one product of this awakening is a bit of wall art i designed for the boys' room.  i wanted a Bible verse for them to remember and meditate on.  psalm 27:14 encourages us to wait on our Lord in times of distress.  He will give us courage and strength.  we just need to wait.  i hope to pray these words over my sons daily. . . a reminder for me as well.

and then i thought maybe some of you may like one of your own.  

download the be strong and take heart printable here.

and just for fun, i made it in red, yellow, and blue too.

so choose your favorite and get printing.

happy weekend, friends!

xoxo,

annalea

p.s. with the font used, i had best results printing this out fast quality.

found

the unexpected gift time with far away family

the sweet, sweet friendships between cousins

weekend goodness

1. baking these a second time. and yes, the topping does taste delish.
2. framing the tree fort!!!!!!!!!!
3. picking up the crochet hook again for the first time this autumn.
4. a full night's sleep
5. finalizing halloween costumes for the littles. few things give me greater relief. ;)
6. micro-derm abrasion treatment at a mary kay party. oh my soft skin!
7. and taking the rare opportunity to stay late after said party for heart-feeding conversation with old friends
8. watching the first two episodes of the new season of psych with jesse
9. chatting with neighbors outdoors
10. sunshine so bright it stings the eyes yet warms the soul
11. beginning the plans for the goo's second birthday party
12. emails of encouragement and love
13. gifts of freshly dug plants, dirt clinging to roots and the promise of vivid blooms next year
14. hearing the girl-child cry, "this is the bestest day ever!" two days in a row. :)

and while there were several not-so-fun times as well, they were no less of an opportunity to give thanks and remember Goodness.

Oh give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,
   for his steadfast love endures forever!

Psalm 107:1

 

and so i begin with number one.  counting my way through His gifts.

right there

 do you live and obey and love and believe right where God has put you?

do you bloom where you are planted?

do you live with faithfulness?  and intention?  and joy?

my prayer is that you would truly know,

"where you are right now is God's place for you."

when the burdens grow greater. . .

. . . i look at this photo.

this poem now sits right above my desk.

He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater,

He sendeth more strength when the labors increase;

i sit down at the end of another long day, look over at these words and then at this face, and thank Him for the undeserved joy.

pray we each find grace and strength that He has giveth and giveth and giveth again.

best answer ever

while buying plants for the potager earlier this summer, a sweet older lady stopped us to comment on gia's hair.  this happens approximately 10 times a week.  

after fawning a bit, she bent down and asked, "did your mommy curl your hair or it is naturally curly?"

gia innocently looked up and answered,

"when God made me, He gave me curls."

um, yeah, best answer ever.

how to make a pretty gift card envelope

 

here's an idea i meant to post about before end-of-the-school-year teacher's gifts were given.  because gift cards are all the rage for those, right?

not that i receive any end of the year gift cards from my students.
but i do get a dandelion picked for me every afternoon. :)

just file this one away for next year.  

or maybe make a few and keep them on hand for the next gift card giving need.

 materials used

thick kraft paper

half a doily

sewing machine, thread, etc.

embroidery floss, baker's twine, clothespin, punched scrap paper

it doesn't take much effort to make a pretty gift card envelope.

and i bet you have stuff in your stash to make one at no-cost.

i folded scrap kraft paper in half.  then i simply traced the card and cut about a 1/2" outside of those marks.  i did not cut the folded edge.  next i flipped the tracing marks to the inside and folded the other direction.  i added the doily, sewed up the two short ends with my sewing machine, and trimmed the extra doily edges.  this created a pocket with one long open end.  after slipping in the gift card, i tied up the pocket with twine and floss.  i added a little tag and clipped it on with the mini clothespin.  voila!  a pretty (reusable) gift card envelope!

********************************

let me tell you a super cool story that goes along with this gift card.  remember that fundraiser danielle was hosting?  the one to help pay for her family's adoption of sweet little sergey?  

well, i actually won one of those great prizes.  a $100 gift card to target in fact.  i was pleasantly surprised and had dozens of ideas of what i would buy.  a hammock or a bike for gia, maybe new bedsheets. . . you get the picture.  i had ideas, people.

well, about a week later, i was getting ready to buy a shower gift for a couple from our church.  they are in the process of being licensed and are planning to adopt through the foster care system.  i checked my invitation, saw the "registered at target" note, and planned on finding something practical and cute.  but then the mail arrived.  and in the mail, i found this sweet note and gift card from danielle.  right away, i knew the card was not mine to keep.  it was never mine at all.  it was supposed to be for this new family.

i e-mailed danielle later that day to tell her this story.  i wanted to thank her for answering God's call.

good and unexpected things come from faithfulness.

beautiful mama-to-be erica at her adoption shower

********************************

UPDATE:
silly me for not stating this in the original post, but i think my brain tucked away this image from ashley ann and decided to pull it out when i was making this envelope.  i wasn't purposefully recreating this project for myself, but, nonetheless, there it is.  does that make sense? 


in no way was i trying to claim this as incredibly original or innovative, but i also want to give props where they are due.  sometimes i see so much stuff online, that i don't process where it leads in my creative process until after the fact.  my apologies for not including the link to her blog earlier. 
xoxo, annalea 

get your craft on tuesday

easter sweetness

oh, what a wonderful weekend. a celebration to top all celebrations.

HE IS RISEN!  HE IS RISEN INDEED!

i am so very thankful that i had relief from the neck and back pain by saturday.  and what beautiful weather!  we spent much needed time in the potager and yard, after a week of near constant rain and gloom.

but i began to feel the stress of 6 unproductive days (healing is productive, i know, but still.)  there were no baskets or candy or clean clothes or groceries bought.  jesse and i put together something simple for the littles.  my tide to go stick did some wonders on a dress for gia.  my parents, brothers, and one of cameron's roommates prepared quite the spread for supper.  it was sweetness all round.

  but the baking?  once i realized i was capable, i jumped at the chance to bake cake.  i love baking cakes.  LOVE.  i have done wedding cakes and used to be the go-to girl for showers and parties.  but my cake baking skills are sadly untested these days.  i just can't swing regular cake baking with the demands of mamahood.  too tired.  but this weekend?  i was going to bake cake!

i went to my tried and true nigella lawson.  she is ah-mazing.  both of these cakes were from feast and will be easter staples at casa hart from now on. 

this lemon meringue cake was new to me.  light and lovely.  absolutely fantastic.  try it.  try it now.

and nigella's easter egg nest cake is chocolately goodness.  the cracked top is heaped with a light frosting of whipped cream and melted chocolate.  after making it once, i could not go back to an easter without it.  (this year i did not whip the cream thick enough, so it does not look quite right.  but the taste was still there.)

a few hours before our guests were to arrive, i realized the house was missing a little spring oomph.  sometimes you just need to wing it.

silk tulips in a white pitcher.  jelly beans poured into an almost forgotten pretty pink egg bowl.  a white berry garland heaped over the chandelier.  eggs hung by the twigs.  i think these lovelies will have to visit a little longer.

additional sweetness for our family was the opportunity to worship with our church family sunday morning.  i was unsure of my capability to leave the house, but i made it!  we met in the outdoor ampitheater at krannert center for the performing arts.  sitting on the concrete was a tad difficult for my aching body, but hearing a much needed message, taking communion and singing together made it all worth it.  yay!

hope you had a lovely easter weekend!  whether elaborate or simple, well planned or on the fly, i pray it was sweetness all around for you as well.

and i can't help but share this.  it is so true.

Source: cupcakesinlove.tumblr.com via Annalea on Pinterest

God's wonderful surprise

it is finished

The death of Jesus Christ is the fulfillment in history of the very mind and intent of God. There is no place for seeing Jesus Christ as a martyr. His death was not something that happened to Him— something that might have been prevented. His death was the very reason He came.

Oswald Chambers

If you were really the Son of God, you could just climb down off that cross!" they said.
And of course they were right.  Jesus could have climbed down.  Actually, he could have said a word and made it all stop.
But Jesus stayed.
You see, they didn't understand.  It wasn't the nails that kept Jesus there.  It was love.
. . . . . . .
Then Jesus shouted in a loud voice, "It is finished!"
And it was.  He had done it.  Jesus had rescued the whole world.

(for a wonderful video of the entire chapter "the sun stops shining" from The Jesus Storybook Bible, please visit this link.)

families need rest

i have the pleasure of being a guest today at wild olive.  mollie is hosting family week.  if you get a chance, the posts would make wonderful weekend reading.  i particularly liked hearing from her mom on faith.  and i am so loving the idea of making a family crest.  

for my contribution, i took the opportunity to talk about observing the Sabbath.  i know many of you have expressed interest in hearing more about that.  below is my full post, but please do stop by wild olive and say hi for me.

thank you sweet mollie for allowing me to take part!

_________________________________________________________________

after almost 11 years of marriage and 6 years of parenthood, the hart clan has finally figured out something crucial to our survival.  it doesn't involve more frequent and higher quality family nights and we have not discovered the secret to more peaceful mealtimes.  in fact, we are not doing anything.  instead we are doing less.

our family chooses to set aside one day each week to rest.

this is not an original concept.  you might be familiar with the idea of observing the Sabbath.  work 6 days.  rest 1 day.  and repeat.  taking weekly time off from the to-dos and choosing to let the world go on without our contribution for 24 hours.



our family was not always faithful about seeking rest.  

we would too often let busyness steal from us.  we were neglectful of making rest a priority.  it was easy to get sucked into the many good things around us.  but this kept us from experiencing the greatness available.  the result was an off-balance life that left us tired and dissatisfied.

our family needs a weekly rhythm.

this one day gives us that rhythm.  by allowing a day of rest, the other six are more fruitful.  there is more energy.  we seem to work harder knowing that we have reserved the time to rest.  there is more creativity.  leisure time is not taken for granted.  there is more peace.  our minds are refreshed after the weekly break.  there is more love.  relationships are cultivated and emotional needs are met.



our family is learning to define rest.
 
rest can look different.  we believe it is important to focus on God.  we worship Him through music and reading the Bible.  the littles play instruments and act out stories.  

that focus also includes God given pleasures.  we cook brunch together.  we feed souls as well as bellies.  we get outdoors on a trail or in the garden.  we read, dance, pray, build, sew, play, and nap.  we choose to unplug from the world on our days of rest, which means no computer or television.  we attend an evening worship service with our church family.  we enjoy who we are and what we have.

but let's not lose sight of the why.  we don't spend a day of rest because we are tired.  we keep the Sabbath because it is an opportunity, to stop and admire what God has made.  it is a gift to enjoy who we are and what we have. 



our rested family is not just surviving, but thriving. 

_________________________________________________________________

thoughts on japan with stacey

join me in welcoming another beautiful woman sharing her thoughts on japan.  stacey is on staff with our church and our resident expert on japan. 

______________________________________________________________

I have been to Japan six times, and I have also spent much of my life dedicated to learning the language and pursuing full-time missions in Japan.  When I first heard about the 9.0 earthquake and resulting tsunami, I was very concerned, but felt confident that this great industrious nation would rebuild very quickly.  In the days that have followed the quake, however, it has become clear that the rising death toll and concerns over nuclear instability has left Japan in shock.  I have watched several interviews with survivors of the tsunami who admit that they do not know where their spouses, children and grandchildren are.  It is heartbreaking to imagine the emotions they must be feeling.

Just days before the earthquake hit, I purchased plane tickets for a mission trip this summer to Japan.  My departure date is still two months away, so I am hopeful that my trip will still be able to happen.  I feel drawn to be in Japan right now and to support those who are questioning God or are beginning to ask spiritual questions for the first time.

Japan’s population is only .5% Christian.  Missionaries have always found it perplexing that the Gospel meets so much resistance in Japan, especially since it is fully legal to be a Christian there.  We can only hope and pray that God will move in the hearts of the Japanese people to seek Him as the one true God, and Jesus Christ His Son.

Our GCM Contacts in Japan are reporting that they are safe but very concerned.  Please pray for their continued safety and that they will have spiritual opportunities in the lives of those around them.  Please also pray that God would protect the nation from radiation leakage.  Let’s pray that any radiation that is leaked will dissipate over the ocean rather than blowing over large cities like Tokyo.  Also, please pray for the needs of those who are in evacuation shelters, many of whom are the elderly who left behind their necessary medications.  Let’s pray together that God will be near to those who are hurting, and that He will turn many hearts toward Him!

______________________________________________________________

thank you stacey for giving me a clearer picture on the needs of japan.  it is so easy to get caught up purely in the relief and recovery efforts.  i am thankful for your heart for this country and will join you in praying.

if you would like to support stacey and her work in japan, please go here for information on giving.

faithfulness

great is His faithfulness.

small is mine.

my prayer is that i become a more faithful servant in 2011.

(um, i know it is the beginning of march, but i thought i would finally share my word of the year.)

xoxo,
annalea

because sometimes you need to celebrate

guess what?  it is not quite 10am 'round these parts and i have already picked up half of my house in preparation for tomorrow's sabbath.  that is on top of guiding the two older littles to pick up their bedrooms, help clear the breakfast table and get dressed.  and also includes changing and dressing the littlest little, keeping him from all the dangerous spots he wants to climb and having an impromptu dance party while he played piano.

i have put away toys and clothes.  wiped down tables and a toilet.  i have done laundry and sorted mail.  fluffed pillows and folded blankets.  i am tending our little nest and, because of small tweaks in our daily life and weekly schedule, it was not a burden or an afterthought.

isn't that wonderful?  i mean sincerely and simply wonderful?

i know that mamahood is not intended for constant praise.  it is comprised of mostly invisible work.  that is the role i have been called to and blessed with.

it seems that i spend much time on this blog admitting my weaknesses.  that is valuable.  these struggles, whether through my personal limitations or from what life has handed us, are common.  by sharing, we combat the lie that we are alone.  we hear each other.  we become a community.

but being a community also means lifting each other up in celebration.  and today that is what i am feeling.  i want to celebrate.  i am seeing the difference of little changes.  i am reaping the benefits of faithfulness. 

the journey is far from over.  there are many more changes to be addressed.  but today i will celebrate.  will you join me?

please let me know what we are celebrating in your life!

a peaceful christmas and a purposeful new year

it did my heart good to hear that you too needed the reminder to not give up.  thank you for the sweet comments.  i really love hearing from y'all.  and no, the hoop art is not in shoppe. . . yet.  that one was a gift for another homeschoolin' mama.  but i have a plan for a new line of hoop art in early 2011, which will include that verse.



gia had a birthday bash last weekend.  i thought i would wait to share about it until after christmas.  otherwise it might get lost in the mix.  but here is a sneak peak of her nutcracker ballet party.  i gathered materials from the stash and created these super sweet candy cane invitations.





and these are some of my favorite shots from that afternoon.  i am so glad this moment was captured.  we turned around and found these four snuggled up and reading.  too cute.

i have enjoyed the time away from here.  i have been been collecting my thoughts and keeping one task in front of me, rather than two or ten.  there has been lots of reflecting on 2010 and thinking-dreaming-praying about the coming year.  

the air is feeling so very full of christmas.  every gift i wrap stirs up the excitement for this weekend.  i love just being home together.  we have no plans to travel and jesse began an 11 day vacation today!  christmas eve service is always a favorite.  the lights and music and stories fill my heart and soul with longing and thankfulness and awe.  i pray each and every one of us finds peace in knowing God has given the most precious gift we could need.

do not give up

do you need some encouragement this monday morn?

is the approaching holiday turned into a bustle of making and baking and buying and doing?

remember that doing good can be simply waiting and being.

and we have an unending supply of strength in Our God.

He gave us an incredible gift.  It is for all.

you. me. all.

we may be tired.  but we need not grow weary.

do not give up.