You are here for just a short time- for 20, 40, 60, or 80 years- to discover and believe that you are a beloved child of God. The length of time doesn’t matter. Life is just a short opportunity for you during a few years to say to God: ‘I love you, too’.  -Henri Nouwen

My friend Bekah shared this, and although I haven't read the book from which it came (yet) - Henri Nouwen's Spiritual Direction - I like this quote and think it is worth repeating.

For the Love of Waverley

Want to pray for a sweet family? Please pray for the Nagels. I attended college alongside Matt and Molly, and was recently made aware of their adoption journey. Check out this blog that was started on their behalf and be sure to get the entire story.

A Good Reminder

"Noise"
Takes about 10 minutes, but worth watching.
Thanks, Steph.

Ash Wednesday

I appreciated this post on Ash Wednesday and Lent. If you are not familiar with the liturgical year, or did not grow up in a community that follows the Christian calendar, you might find this informative/interesting.

Shrove Tuesday

I had heard about the free pancakes today at IHOP, but hadn't realized why. Today is Shrove Tuesday. In keeping with tradition, I think we might have pancakes for dinner tonight!

Visit Tammy for more kitchen tips!

Generosity

Do you know what moves me? When strangers gather together and offer pieces of themselves for another person they've never met.

Our friends just suffered (and will always feel) the loss of their baby girl, almost one year old. Her battle with cancer was swift; just 2 and 1/2 short weeks after diagnosis she was gone.

Cora's memorial fund is going towards The Cora Playground, to be constructed at the family's church. A talented group of Etsy artisans from across the land has organized a benefit sale, with all proceeds donated towards the playground.

When I look at the items for sale, they remind me of Cora: girly, modern, and adorable. Sunshine-y. "Thank you" to those generous, creative, caring people.

The pink button on my sidebar will take you to the benefit sale as well. Works for me.

A Legacy of Giving

You have to go read this short and wonderful post.

How to Pray?

This wikiHow on How To Pray caught my eye today on the Google homepage... I read it out of curiousity because I knew it would span various religions.

WikiHow is certainly not the best guide for prayer, but I think it gives some great reminders in it if your prayer life is feeling dry. I was pleased to find it includes some practices and tips that I feel are important for Christians.

Step 5 kind of made me laugh, but yet it is the most critical... Begin the Prayer!

Appeal for Liturgy

I appreciated this post on the benefits liturgy. Personally, I find liturgy meaningful and beautiful.

Cook-Off

We attend a relatively new and youthful church. It is filled with generous and caring, but very busy, people. A lot of the families do not have the luxury of a parent that stays home full time. So, when those of us on the meal team have to prepare meals for families in need, especially on weekdays, we have to plan in advance and strategize. Here’s what we do (and I think it is great, that’s why I’m sharing!) to ease the burden of the meal prep: we do a cook-off!

About every 3 months the meal team gets together for an evening of making meals. We make 4 different freezer friendly main dishes. Each team member brings the meat to make one of each dish. We then chip in about $6 per dish for the other ingredients which the leader purchases ahead of time. We make all the dishes, which are stored (uncooked) in freezer bags and store them in the church freezer. So we aren't really "cooking" them yet, just putting the meals together.

When we are notified that someone needs a meal, the leader emails out and when it is your turn – you go take one of the freezer meals, throw in a bagged lettuce salad kit (or other side item) and a dessert item with it, and deliver. (By the way, I love Wal-mart’s cherry turnovers on the day old bakery rack for 6 for $1.50! Really good for you, too.)

So if I buy meat at $2/lb. x 4 meals x 2 lbs. per meal = $16 on meat
And $6 for other ingredients x 4 meals = $24
So $16 + $24 = $40 for 4 casserole sized main dishes (9x13 pans)

I’m sure I could do it cheaper on my own, but for the ease of it, it works out pretty well! Plus, it is fun! And, since we know what is stocked in the freezer, the families receiving the meals sometimes get a choice of what they prefer. So all in all, fairly frugal with the money, but especially with the time and energy spent! Check out Frugal Friday at Crystal's blog for more money saving ideas!

Some Favorite Books

These are a few of my favorite non-fiction books. (Some are controversial.)

The List:

Love and Respect (the relationship book)

The Act of Marriage (the sex book)

The Shrewd Christian (the money book)

A Generous Orthodoxy and The Velvet Elvis (the faith books)

On Becoming Babywise and What to Expect the First Year (the baby books)

Encouragement

I enjoy reading Lindsay's writings... and thought this one was particularly good and worth sharing. In her post Hope in a Slowing Economy, she writes about living simply, joyfully, and most importantly, faithfully.