Ethiopia, we love her

A couple weeks ago I had the privilege and honor of doing a short presentation on Ethiopian culture with our little church group, Creek Risers.  My heart is so glad, so proud, so thankful when I am asked about Esther Selam's mother country and I have a chance like this.  We gathered mainly in honor of our church kids' sponsored friend Etifwork who lives in Ethiopia.  We thought of her and wished she was with us as we ate Injera, Shero Wot, Misser Wot, Ayebb, Che'che'bsa, popcorn and of course Ethiopian coffee.  What a blessing the evening was, spent with my very very favorite little people in the world.

fabric/yarn stash projects 3-6

It's been a while...but I have been slowly chipping away at this project.  Using it up....

• two letter-writing organizers/carriers for the big girls
• one hobby horse for little Esther
• a January sweater for Miss Esther, Boheme done in Cascade's Eco+ Wool, yarn just sitting around begging to be used up; and my favorite part - yes - buttons covered in a vintage cotton print

superbowl - Osburns' style

We had our own little party at the Osburn abode.  Attempted a few homemade, slightly "healthful"recipes instead of the standard Sam's fare.  

Not bad:  oven-fried mozzarella, spinach pies in puff pastry, mini pizzas and 

nutella in phyllo shells (yum!!)

then the party really got started

tackle football in the living room

cheesing for the camera

a little football on the radio for background noise

board games for all

and that's how the Osburns "do" SuperBowl

hope yours was as fun as ours!

unloading the stuff

A certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?"  Jesus said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me."   

Luke 18:18, 22

I've been thinking about this a lot.


Layers upon layers upon layers of "issues" here.   


Bottom line is, I have too much stuff.  Too much stuff that I tell the kids "not to mess up or play with!"  Too much stuff that I need to organize, clean or clean around daily.  Too much stuff that literally makes my heart race when I see its mess.  Too much stuff that I don't want to share.  Too much stuff that I've spent money on. Too much stuff that I've wasted my time thinking about. Too much stuff that brings me guilt.  Too much.


So where in the world do I start?


I do not know all the answers.  But I suppose I must start with thanksgiving to my God for providing all I could ever need and more.  Then confession of the sins of greed, coveting, withholding good from those in need, and unfaithfulness.  Then I purge.


It's scary to write this down for all of you to see.  Because that means I must do something.


I'll start with this as a guide:  Organized Simplicity
this one too:  http://jlgerhardt.tumblr.com/
and believe in my heart that God will and has provided for all my needs  
and that is enough

we can't imagine the freedom we find 

from the things we leave behind

Michael Card

"Things We Leave Behind"

look what I found....

Last week we finally received the enormous number of images recovered from our hard drive.  Many are "junk" photos - clipart and photos from online surfing.  But as I organize them, I'm finding the gems I was waiting for.  There is tiny Esther, the births of our boys and lots and lots of precious family photos.  Now onward with the sorting.....

Christmas at home

We've simply been enjoying family, playing games, 

cooking and having a grand holiday.  

Here are a few photos of our Christmas at home. 

• one of Ivy's greatest joys on the morning we celebrated Christmas at home was our "matching" flannel nightgowns - mine was a little small but seeing her light up made it not so tight
• several of us were blessed with new hats - Esther's & mine were made by Ellis herself, quite the little knitter
• yes, Esther has a "new" horsey with an old worn out SmartWool sock for a face - the other sock had holes - this is called "repurposing" and she loves it!
• new crayons, jelly bellies and baking with mama were just a few of our highlights

19

Nineteen years ago today Wade & I were married.  Wow!  Sounds like a long time.  Of course, in some ways it feels like forever and in other ways just yesterday.  I believe the one surprise has been all the ways in which God has led and acted in our lives that we didn't expect.  Some hard, some good, all challenging, all blessings...all blessings.

On Wade's menu tonight:  Italian Meatball Zuppa, Local Organic Salad, Italian Bread....and small contribution by me:  Apple Dumplings.  Childrens' theater included the ever-popular "Polar Express" and once they were tucked in bed, we watched "White Christmas," all the while knitting furiously (I, not Wade).  A beautiful day, celebration in simplicity, filled with the chaos that is our lives.  And I wouldn't trade it for the world.  Happy anniversary my dear precious Wade!

P.S. For those of you wondering and "grieving" with me over 10 years of lost photos, still no word about our poor external hard-drive.  But I know without a doubt now, a week later, all is not lost.  Life, a beautiful life, goes on with or without photos.