Laurie's Everyday Notions

Over lent I am doing a mini 7 experiment inspired by Jen Hatmaker's book "7 - An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess". My hope is that this experiment brings me closer to God and changes me in such a way that I am better able to serve Him and that I may be better equipped in hearing His calling. I've completed a week of 7 foods and am on my last day of my week with only 7 items of clothing. Tomorrow I begin my media fast as I unplug for 7 days. The following weeks leading up to Easter will include a week of eliminating stress, eliminating possessions, eliminating waste and decreasing spending.  Next week, after my media fast, I will begin to share what I have been learning. 

Joining Lisa-Jo in another five minute write. Five Minute Friday is writing without thinking too much and not worrying about the mechanics......just allowing our hearts to speak.  This week we get to choose our own word to describe "what mama did". Mom and Me, Christmas 2011 My mama loved well. Three babies, one of which was born without breath, born well before the young age of 20. I was the first, born shortly after her seventeenth birthday. My sisters followed, arriving two months early before my mother had even turned eighteen.  Mom always told me, when I was old enough to figure out that I was in her belly at the time she married my dad, that they wanted to marry so badly but because they were so young their families wouldn't allow it. So I was a gift. A planned excuse for a wedding. When I got old enough to know that this was probably just a story to ease a young girls insecurities, it was too late. I already believed that I was wanted. I already knew tha

I haven't been very chatty lately........... so here's a few pictures to show you what I've been up to.  Kombucha............ It looks like fudge. It smells like mint chocolate. Even though I KNEW it was soap I was still beckoned by this delicious looking soap every time I walked into the kitchen. I finally had to find another room to let this soap "cure" in because I was afraid I was going to eventually bite into my chocolate mint soap. I bet it doesn't taste as good as it looks and smells.                                                                                             Remember my wax mess ? Well, I tried all the tricks that I could find to try to get the wax out of my carpet.  Ironing, Goo Gone, and even WD40. After hours (I am not exaggerating) of ironing a paper bag over the hardened waxed carpet..........I gave up.  Admitting defeat, I headed to Amazon, found a rug to cover the spo

Its Friday, which means that it's not only time to dance and sing but it is also time for a five minute write. Lisa-Jo hosts the fun writing party, Five Minute Fridays . The rules are simple: write for five minutes flat with no editing (no overthinking - just write!), share at Lisa-Jo's and read what other's have written (I promise, you'll be inspired!). Today's word is BELOVED Another Valentines Day has passed. I've had a love-hate relationship with Valentines Day for years. It is a day in which my expectations are raised. You know. Chocolates, roses and diamonds or something shiny from a over-priced jewelry store....those items that are on the coveted list that every woman would love to receive. Of course with such high expectations how can one not be disappointed. For many years Valentines was just a day to painfully remind me of my singleness. Although I fought hard for the idea of "I don't need a man. I can do it on my ow

It's Friday which means it's time to dance and sing (the daycare kids and I have a song and dance to celebrate this glorious day). Friday is also the day in which Lisa-Jo hosts Five Minute Fridays and I humbly join the party of words strung together in five short minutes by a group of fantastic writers. The rules are simple. Lisa-Jo provides the word, write for five minutes flat, no backtracking/editing/over thinking, share your link at Lisa-Jo's, and share the love by reading what others have written. It's great fun and so inspiring. Won't you join us? I promise, you will be blessed! Today's word ~ BARE Lord, I want to be stripped bare.            Strip me of myself so there is more room for you. Strip me of my foolishness, my stubbornness, my selfishness.    Do nothing from  selfish ambition or  conceit, but in  humility count others more significant than yourselves  Phil. 2:3 And to man He said, "Behold, the fear of the Lord,

Last week I had a day....yes, ONE day which looked like this ~ Disclaimer: Sometimes, when I share my minor catastrophes, I exaggerate to add some comic relief. Just keep that in mind. A pile of backpacks, coats, boots and winter weat. School was delayed for two hours.....until the school decided at 7:20 am to cancel for the day. This left parents scrambling and extra kids (kids FULL of energy and excitement over having a snow day) arriving at my house. I love my school-agers but they tend to be harder to care for than babies and preschoolers. I never hear a four year old say, "I'm bored......" but a seven year old? Ugh. I'm bored comes out of their mouths in 20 minute intervals. So, on days when I have a group of school aged kids I try to plan activities to keep them occupied. The first craft project was "hockey art". This involves placing a piece of paper in a cake pan, sprinkling paper with powdered tempera paint and using a Popsicle stick (hoc