Stitchin' Post on a Sunday--22 November 2009

It's the weekend again, and time for a Stitchin' Post.  I've been thinking Christmas around here this week.

Here is the status of my Bethlehem silhouette that I'm stitching:


I completed Bent Creek's Winter Row this week as well:
 

So, what are you stitching this week?  I'd love to see links in the comments.

Have a blessed weekend!

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Ephesus

The last two days of our Turkey holiday we visited the seaport of Kusadasi and the ruins of Ephesus.  The juxtoposition of the the new city with the huge cruise ships a few miles from ancient ruins was a treat.  Our hotel looked out over the sea and we could see the ships come and go.  It was lovely to wander up and down the seafront and largely experience local life after the boats pulled out for the evening.

Ephesus itself was amazing.  It takes my breath away to walk on streets that old, to see places that Paul and Timothy and John would have seen.  To stand in the amphitheater and imagine what it was like in its prime.  The girls even went down on the stage and sang "Here I am to Worship" to the crowd.  It was great!  Although the library ruins are cool, my favorite part of Ephesus were the houses on the slopes.  This was an extra charge, but I had read about them the night before and knew I wanted to see them.  Breathtaking.  This is where current excavation is taking place and we could see them piecing together marble walls, uncovering mosaic after mosaic floor and unearthing amazing frescos on the walls.  It was such a shame that the tour groups all missed it--we had the entire complex to ourselves for an hour! Our budding archaeologist was in heaven.

Here are just a few of the incredible shots we took.  Enjoy!

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Recipe for a Perfect Holiday

1. Choose the perfect villa

2. Sleep late and greet the day with a view of the Mediterranean Sea.

3. Eat breakfast by the pool.  

4. Swim (or lay by the pool and read)

5. Have Lunch by the pool.

6. Move to roof top terrace to nap/read/stitch/veg

7. If you must check your blog or work, make sure you have a view.

8. Swim

9. Shower and get ready to go to town for dinner

10. Eat dinner on a rooftop terrace whilst watching the sun set.

11. Return to villa and put girls to bed.

12. Have nightcap on terrace and stargaze. Over the two weeks watch the full moon become a sliver. Use telescope for better views of Jupiter.

13. Go to bed.

14. Lather, rinse, repeat for two weeks.

If in desperate need of variation, walk down to marina and play in the Mediterranean Sea,

do a little shopping, 

or take 30 minute dolumus ride to Patera beach for an awesome day out exploring ruins and playing in the sand and water!

If really desperate for something to do, hike up the olive grove to get great views of the sea.  Bring Mommy back pictures!

We did take a road trip to Kusadasi and Ephesus.  I'll post pictures from that leg of the trip tomorrow.  This was a magical holiday.  The first time I can ever remember that we were content to stay within 30 minutes of the place we were sleeping for days on end.  Restful, warm and perfect place to vacation.

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In Other Words--How Deeply Rooted Am I?

“We Americans are pragmatists to the max.
We want results.
And we want them yesterday.
We want them without too much pondering
and too much pain….
We have developed all kinds of
Christ-coated remedies
that are shallow and short-lived.
We are not, by and large,
the deeply grounded saints
that some of our forefathers were.”

John Piper

Let me say up front that I like John Piper. He makes me think, he stretches how I view God and he seems to be genuine. In fact, he is probably one of the most deeply grounded writers/speakers out there today. And I understand the cautions in this quote. I understand that if we, as a church and a society, are looking for quick-fix, practical answers to everything we will miss the joy of the intentional journey. We will miss the intricacies of a relationship with God because we want it easy and on our terms. I understand that. I even agree with that.

The journey of relationship with God is rarely easy, quick-fix, pain-free and pragmatic. Yes, God speaks to the practicalities of our life but faith is often more paradoxical than pragmatic.

But I want to take issue with the implication that the "saints of old" were all deeply rooted and, in comparison, the saints of today are not. Yes, Piper does use the word "some" to describe the saints of old but that is not how it is often interpreted. I get so weary of hearing the criticism of "we are not as ____ (you fill in your blank: spiritual, knowledgable, faithful, etc) as the saints of old." I believe that there are giants of the faith in every generation--and that they look different to each generation. But I believe that in each generation there are many more saints who are just doing their best to follow God in the way that he is revealed by teaching, scripture reading and life experiences of their individual lives. Most of us live in the mundane. Most of us hope to become more deeply rooted and are following as faithfully as we can. But, most of us will never consider ourselves as "deeply rooted as our forefathers" because we see the need for more when we look at their lives in hindsight.

It is true that there are congregations throughout the world that are "majoring on the minors" and spending more time teaching how to be content with what we have or speaking about trying to get more. But there are also many congregations that are more concerned with growing their attenders' faith and deepening their walk. Just in the little microcosm of blogging Christian women I see a strong desire to grow and strengthen our faith. Yes, we write about the practicalities of living that out in our families because that is the our realm of influence, but the underlying desire is to know Him more. We are helping one another grow deeper roots. I don't see the ladies that I visit looking for quick-fixes. We want to grow and we know that takes time. I'm unwilling to give up saying "I can't be like my great-grandmother in her faith" and just settle for a practical faith.

How deeply am I rooted? Much deeper than I was five years ago. Not as deeply as I pray I will be rooted five years from now. With a little attention to the details of faith, my roots should continue to grow.

How deeply are you rooted? Are your roots growing?

Esther at the Heart of a Pastor's Wife is our hostess this week. Please visit and read the other responses to this quote.

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Adjusting the Decor

Although I liked the basics of my last blog design, I did not like the 2 column sidebar or how it was jelling together. So, I've done a little tweaking. I'll be adding more to the Nav Bar as I figure that out. Until then, please let me know if this new template is not loading well for you, and if so if it is Firefox, IE, etc. Thanks a bunch!

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Marriage Monday--Love Letters

Want this button?

Dear German~
Fourteen years ago we were headed over to Seattle to get dried flowers at Pike's Market to put together our wedding arrangements. Who would have ever dreamed the miles we would cover together in the coming fourteen years?

We are not the same people we were on that trip so many years ago. We are so far past those people I sometimes have to really strive to remember who we were. Then I realize, I don't need to remember who we were, because who we are is soooo much better.

These past few months have been a struggle emotionally for our family. We have found ourselves time and time again surprised by the source and the ferocity of the attacks that have come at our family. It would have been easy to throw our hands in the air and give up in the face of the adversity. There were times that the tempation to trade the road of integrity for a little bit of calm has been very enticing. Yet you have stood firm in it all and never wavered in how you were determined to lead our family and speak against that which was deceptive. I have never felt more loved or more protected than I did on 26 Feb and the days that have followed. You have been a rock of stability in a very wearying storm.

When you wrote your friend this week that our marriage was the strongest it has ever been because of these struggles you brought tears to my eyes. Tears because that is something I have felt for a long time, but did not dare say aloud. But also because you followed that up by reaffirming that there is no one you would have wanted to walk this path with except me. I echo that sentiment. No, the last eight months have not been fun in terms of the things that have happened. But you have made them not only bearable, but a time of flourishing. The time and effort you have given to get us through this has allowed me to grow without fear. And, when I see Jewel and Flower growing in confidence and faith each day I know that is because you have sheltered them. I know that you have taken the brunt of the storm and I won't ever know how deeply that has been felt. But I thank you for doing that. I love you as you have cared for us. And I am proud of you that you have stood on principles and integrity instead of taking an easier path.

Thank you for sacrificing to lead our family. I cannot wait to see what God is carving out of this situation. One thing I'm sure of, fourteen years from now we will look back and be able to say we aren't the same people we are now...we'll be even better and stronger as long as we are serving and loving together.

I love you........
MiPa

We have been challenged to write love letters to our beloveds this month for Marriage Monday. What a blessing to be able to declare reasons why we love our spouses publically. If you would like to read more, visit Chrysalis and follow the links. I challenge you to write a love letter to your beloved as well. Have a blessed day!

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November Goal Post

October goals (revisited):
1. Finish Bent Creek Autumn Row yes
2. Finish Texas block on NRR1--almost (hedges, mailbox and sidewalks needed)
3. Stitch Christmas ornaments for Jewel and Flower--yes
4. Stitch 2 more special Christmas ornaments--one finished one started
5. Complete half of Bethlehem Silhouette--kings finished
6. Enjoy holiday--Enjoy does not even begin to describe how great this was!
7. Start Jewel's 2nd grade/year 3 and Flower's Kindergarten/Year One --yes

November Goals:
1. Encourage girls to have a thorough clear out of toy room
2. Have Christmas cards ready to post on November 27
3. Plan Thanksgiving dinner for unsuspecting British friends (a highlight of every year to introduce someone new to Thanksgiving)
4. Finish Bent Creek Winter Row
5. Finish-finish the ornaments stitched last month
6. Work on Flower's purple quilt or German's t-shirt quilt
7. Finish NRR Texas block, roundabouts and plan/graph the border
8. Finish Bethlehem Silhouette

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