Sunday, June 12, 2011

Date Night with the Duggars


Before sharing all of the details of last night's double date..... I have a confession to make....

I am a Duggar-Lover, Yes, the show 19 Kids and Counting, I am ALL about it! Hudson and his family gave me their first book for Christmas The Duggars: 20 and Counting! and I would highly recommend it for anyone who is married, raising children, seeking financial freedom, or interested in homeschooling. When I share this I usually get a couple of comments, so I thought I would go ahead and preface with the following.

Don't you think she has too many kids?
Michelle and Jim Bob have a LOT of kids! No doubt about it people. She is one fertile Mertle and God has blessed them with many a mouth to feed. BUT, who is to say how much is too much and how little is too few? Would you ever approach a woman with no children or one child and tell her she doesn't have enough? Hopefully not! Likewise, would you ever approach a large family and tell them that some of their children aren't supposed to be here, or shouldn't be here, or that they are too much.

Sadly our culture sees children as a cost, a burden, and sometimes an inconvenience, but God sees children as a blessing. Psalm 127:3 says, "Behold children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward." Sometime people's decisions don't make a lot of sense to the outer world.

"God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

Okay, stepping off of the soap box.

Why do you like them so much?
If the Lord blesses us with kidos one day, I have often thought about how we would raise them and educate them. Rearing babes that love the Lord and live to bring Him glory.

I want to teach a daughter to realize her worth and beauty not by how the world sees beauty but as a daughter of the King. I want to raise a son to be a humble leader equipping him to be a man of God. I want our family no matter how small or big to sing the Gospel in all that we do and realize our deep deep need for Jesus. The Duggars are an excellent example of how the Gospel permeates every area of their life. If you can get past how grand a number they are, you can learn a lot from how they live, how they spend their money, how they make decisions, how they nurture their marriage, and make special time for each child.

So anyways, we went to the local Barnes & Noble bought their new book, A Love that Multiplies, and then got it signed by all of the Duggars :)

Check out their website for some great family resources: http://www.duggarfamily.com/


Oh silly Josiah. Michelle was so sweet and took the time to talk to me about homeschooling and family conferences.


Talking to Michelle about homeschooling and character building





Talking to Jim Bob about Jim Sammons Financial Freedom Series




Beautiful lovely baby-catching friend Emily sharing in my excitement



Summer night at Bobbie's Dairy Dip.... perfect date night with sweet friends

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Beautiful Scandalous Night

We sang this hymn in church on Sunday and I found these words so beautiful. Look it up on iTunes and enjoy :)

Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified

Follow Christ to the holy mountain
Sinner sorry and wrecked by the fall
Cleanse your heart and your soul
In the fountain that flowed
For you and for me and for all

At the wonderful, tragic, mysterious tree
On that beautiful, scandalous night you and me
Were atoned by His blood and forever washed white
On that beautiful, scandalous night

On the hillside, you will be delivered
At the foot of the cross justified
And your spirit restored
By the river that poured
From our blessed Savior's side

Go on up to the mountain of mercy
To the crimson perpetual tide
Kneel down on the shore
Be thirsty no more
Go under and be purified

Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Lovely Lighting

In the process of writing my last research paper for school I have wandered over to Etsy where I found this lovely doo-dad:



Oh how I would love to have these lovely random mustard chandeliers hanging in our new place. Maybe I shall make them....

Sunday, June 5, 2011

New Look!

No need to refresh dear friend, this is Beantown Chroncs, just new and improved! My sweet, creative, talented, and beautiful friend Maggie designed the header from the actual Boston skyline. Shoot her an email if you want to hire her for your own graphic design project!

maggiewhitaker1@gmail.com

Friday, June 3, 2011

Happy Friday!

Simplicity

In Paul's 1st letter to the Thessalonians he instructs them "to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

I love this verse. Somewhere in these words I find rest and the call to create. I like to think that because we are made in the image of the Creator, we also have the desire to make and mend. In our brokenness we reflect the image of Christ, making things with our hands just as God knit us together.

I find this calling most alive in my desire to make our house a home, redeeming it's beauty one project at a time.

With a small budget, limited space, and a novice craftswoman, I invite you to join me in the making of our new little nest.

Stay tuned.....

Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Treasure Hunt

So I found this little beauty for 50 DOLLA on Craigslist the other day..... it will definitely be making an appearance in our new pad. And we bought it from a 103 year old woman, true story.

Back in town

The past week has been filled with lots of hanging out....

Dominating the relaxation station

And hanging with some of my favorite people