Going Green for God ?!

Something is brewing and it isn't the Fair Trade coffee I bought this morning at Sam's Club: it's a developing concern and an increasing level of consciousness about the environment around here. Unsure of where this concern this coming from or moving towards, the gnawing sense of "What-do-I-really-believe-about-all-this-green-nonsense" needs to be explored. So I'm committing to thinking, praying, educating myself on the topic. And while I'm at it, taking small steps towards a more environmentally-friendly lifestyle.

Thinking/praying/educating Step 1: Read the The Cornwall Declaration on Environmental Stewardship, a declaration on the environmental movement created by / subscribed to by Cal Beisner, one of my college professors, and a notable list of other academic and religious greats and thoroughly peruse the Cornwall Alliance website

"Doing" Step 1: Recycle all the boxes and packing material used in our move. Borrowed by aunt's cargo van to make the process more efficient. Will save gas AND some trees. One load down, about 3 more to go

Oh, and if you stop by our house and ask for bottled water, you won't find it. I'll pass you a water bottle from the dollar bin at Target and you can fill it up with water from the fridge filter.

Who Knew?

Yesterday while wasting valuable time on Facebook, I took the World's Smallest Political Quiz. And according to this quiz, I'm a Libertarian!

According to your answers, the politicalgroup that agrees with you most is...
LIBERTARIAN

Libertarians support maximum liberty in both personal and economic matters. They advocate a much smaller government; one that is limited to protecting individuals from coercion and violence. Libertarians tend to embrace individual responsibility, oppose government bureaucracy and taxes, promote private charity, tolerate diverse lifestyles, support the free market, and defend civil liberties. The red dot on the chart shows where you fit on the political map. Your personal issues score is 60%. Your economic issues score is 90%.

What are you? Find out here and let me know!

Menu Planning Mondays

I love cooking. I've taken an extensive hiatus from any real and intentional cooking and menu planning ventures in recent weeks (months!) since we've been so busy. But now that my kitchen is more than 60% unpacked, I feel that it's time to get back in the saddle!

I had two goals in mind for this week's menu:
1 - Plan breakfasts, lunches and snacks *somewhat* in sync with The Abs Diet for Women, my favorite eating and workout plan (it's so easy...except for the protein part since I don't really eat much meat)
2 - Prepare more veggies

So with those goals in mind, here's what we are having for breakfast:
Scrambled eggs with veggies, english muffin
Cereal, banana
Oatmeal with fruit and nuts (probably going to try Jill's baked oatmeal this week)

And lunch:
Veggie burger with salad (me) and carrots/peas/green beans (Charlie)
Veggies and brown rice
Pbutter and jelly, fruit (not creative, I know, but pb&j is still one of my favorites!)

And Dinner:
Salmon Rushdie (from the Abs Diet recipes), salad
Chicken Little Italy (from the Abs Diet recipes), fresh sauteed spinach, rolls
Slow-Cooker Black beans, rice, plantains
Ham, mac n cheese, sauteed veggies
Chili Corn Stack-Up Salad (instead of homemade chili, I'm using Amy's Organic Chili)

And for Sunday lunch: Creamy Black Bean Soup, using some of the beans from the slow-cooker beans above. I'm planning to use the crock pot for this recipe too, so that the meal can be ready when we walk in the door after church. I'm always looking for easy Sunday lunch ideas...my plan is to develop a short list of our family's favorite lunch menus that work for our Sunday afternoon schedule.

Snacks include cheese and crackers, yogurt and abs diet smoothies - yum!

And this week I'm waging war on the chaos around us. I waived the white flag last week due to the kids' colds and all of our disrupted sleep schedules (we are all adjusting to yet another change, I think) but this week, I'm determined to make this house feel like home for all of us.

Still here & drowning in chaos...

From apartment mess...

To moving mess...Charlie was not a bit sad that the movers went a little overboard with wrapping my glass items!

Still working on a new blogging identity in the midst of it all! Stay tuned...don't give up on me!

And because I need something to give me hope that this place will one day be organized and feel like home...

(Southern Living At HOME Olive Jar Trio)

Banquette

banquette (n.) A long upholstered bench placed against or built into a wall

I want one. Have the perfect space in our kitchen; found a fun blog explaining the concept in more detail -

There is nothing more luxurious than banquette seating at your dining room table. It evokes images of dining in a fancy French Restaurant. Lingering at the table, good conversations, the family gathered together, taking the time to dine rather than snatch a quick meal at the counter, comfortable. It also serves as double duty seating in a dining room adjoining a living room. It makes the most of a small space and makes for a cozy seating area. Round tables, square tables, rectangular tables - all work. Seating for 2, 4, 6, or 8. Toss cushions or not. Curved banquettes, straight banquettes, L shaped banquettes, or U shaped - all are possible. There are so many possibilities. A suitable option for almost any room. Have fun and pick your favorite.

We have a fabulous bay window in the breakfast area - perfect for one of these seating arrangements. What I want is a cross between Picture A and Picture B:

Picture A

Picture B

In other words, stained/painted bench seating, with cushions (no upholstry!), along the bay window with a chair or two on the other side of a round pedestal table.

We're closing on the 18th (and moving out of this wretched apartment 5 minutes later!) so home decor and furnishings are on my mind.

Where are they coming from?!

Our precious little Elliot is named after one of our heros, missionary Jim Elliot. And the name means "The Lord is my God" - what more could you want for a kid name?

When we decided on this name for our second boy, I had never personally met an Elliot, an Elliot or even an Elliott. The only Elliot that even came to mind was the angry and somewhat unstable crime-fighter Elliot Stabler. But now, four months into having a son named Elliot, I am finding them everywhere.

- One week after Elliot's birth, met a lady in Babies R Us, shopping for her toddler son Elliot

- Two months ago, first week in Savannah, found out that a new friend's baby is named Boaz Elliot

- One month ago - new RUF minister for SCAD arrived in Savannah with 2-year old Elliot in tow

- Two weeks ago a kid was born into our church - Elliott

- Found out that a close friend of my brother-in-law just named his new baby Charles Elliot (??)

- Tonight: randomly surfing on-line and found a website where a mom was commenting on her son, named what else? Elliot.

I suppose originality is overrated anyway. At least our Elliot is darn cute.

If there was ever any Moody news, this is IT!

Ryan's GRADUATION banquet was last night...and tomorrow is his last day of work at MCG.

Ryan is finished with his fellowship.

RYAN IS FINISHED WITH HIS MEDICAL TRAINING.

4 years of college

4 years of medical school

3 years of residency

3 years of fellowship

14 years of post-high school training completed.

You've come a long way honey...

and we are so SO proud of you!

(I couldn't resist posting this picture! Don't hate me, hon!)

A Tale of Two Mornings

Last Saturday and Sunday morning, I had to leave the house by 9am. Saturday morning Charlie had a birthday party for a friend and Sunday morning, of course, we had Sunday School and church. Ryan worked all week-end (leaves before 6am) so I had to walk the dogs, dress and feed the children and myself, and load up the car solo both mornings. None of these things were too unusual, except the fact that it all had to take place before 9am...

Saturday morning:
Bad night's sleep. The gals upstairs "work the night shift" (I think that they are strippers but that's another post) and pounded and stomped around pretty much all night. So after Ryan left at 5:45, I fell back asleep and woke up to Charlie's calls in the monitor at around 7:50. Oh dear, short on time and just getting started on the day! So I started running around like crazy, showering, fixing breakfast, nursing while eating, drying hair while putting on make-up (not a good idea, btw), packing all the supplies required to take two kids in diapers out for the entire morning, etc. During this time, I did not speak one word to Elliot and managed to snap at Charlie about 5 times (and did I mention yelling at the dogs?). And this time, he wasn't really doing anything to deserve those snaps - he just wasn't moving fast enough for my liking. I'll leave out the details of my grumpiness and impatience and it's effect on my family but suffice it to say, it was not a pleasant morning and Charlie and I were both sad and quiet on the trip "into town" (we live in a suburb of Savannah right now and doing anything in Savannah requires about a 30 minute drive and two major highways).

During the drive into Savannah, I prayed and reflected on the chaotic and very unpleasant nature of the morning and realized that such a morning was an un-blessing to my family. Not only was I not taking the opportunity to enjoy and love on my babies but I was really making their lives not very pleasant with my silence and brusque attitude. It was as if the Lord was speaking directly to me and saying, "Look here, it's not Charlie's fault that you chronically underestimate the time it takes to get out of the house in the morning. It's not his fault that he's still only 2 years old and can't help. You need to get up earlier and be cheerful!" I have purposed in my heart to get up earlier in the past and have loved the effect it always has on my day. But living in the apartment, I have just been so tired. We sleep on cots on the floor and that fact, combined with the aforementioned upstairs neighbors, make sleeping really difficult. So I have been overtired and not into getting up a second before it's necessary. But in spite of that, I decided to try getting up early on Sunday...

Sunday morning:
Bad night's sleep. The gals upstairs "work the night shift" and pounded and stomped around pretty much all night. So after Ryan left at 5:45, I fell back asleep and woke up to my alarm at 7:00. I first spent some time reading and praying and then took a long, leisurely shower and then read The Screwtape Letters (we are studying it in SS this summer) while I dried my hair. I then got Elliot up, dressed him and fed him before Charlie was even up. Much more reasonable and relaxed, to have an hour to eat, dress just one person and load the car. We were early to Sunday School.

So I'm back on the get-up-before-the-kids bandwagon. I was a blessing to my family Sunday morning. And that is worth more than a few extra minutes of shut-eye.

A mother's part in sustaining the life of her children and making it pleasant and comfortable is no triviality. It calls for self-sacrifice and humility, but it is the route, as was the humiliation of Jesus, to glory.

A Deal

Ever since the first Spring-ish issue of People Stylewatch arrived in my mailbox (yes, I'm a subscriber!), I have been dying for some gladiator sandals. Gladiator sandals evoke rather strong emotions in most people - you either love them or you hate them. I'm a lover, Ryan is a hater. Regardless, I wanted a pair; a black pair, like these on Piperlime (bad name for a shoe company, by the way). Badly. But not badly enough to pay $100+ for them. I'll invest in a good pair of Danskos or some tall black boots but something tells me that gladiator sandals do not have staying power in the fashion world so it seemed silly to spend the big bucks. And then this week-end, I spotted Old Navy's version for a mere $19.95!! Finally, the coveted summer shoe was within my grasp. I purchased a pair yesterday, the last pair in my size!

And for fun, can you guess which is the designer pair and which is the Old Navy knock-off?

Picture 1 -

Picture 2 -

[And even if you can tell, is the difference worth <$100?!]

My Kitchen

Lots of people are asking about our house...decor, when it is going to be ready, etc. So in the spirit of writing about what people are actually interested in, let's talk about my kitchen.

Here is the picture that inspired our selections -

Our cabinets are wooden, stained white. The countertops are Corian Nocturne (I'm kind of scared of granite, so we decided to go with Corian instead). We don't have the cabinet with basket cut-outs there on the end but I really like the "natural" feel of baskets so we'll be accessorizing with the Artisan Basket and Stand from Southern Living At HOME -

My favorite feature of the kitchen area is the Butler's Pantry. This area in our home features the same cabinets and countertops as the kitchen and when not in use for displaying or serving food, I'm going to use it as my little office nook. The cabinets will have an opening the middle for a stool or chair; I'm hoping that this beauty from Pottery Barn will work in that space!

So there's our kitchen. I absolutely cannot wait to cook there. And my beautiful red stand mixer needs a home!

Note - In spite of the fact that this new house is very near the marsh, we will not be displaying the word "Sea" on the counter.

Funny Fridays

A new tradition? Not sure yet. But regardless, enjoy!

Hillary and Obama were in a boat going down the river. The river was extremely rough. The boat suddenly capsized. Who was saved?
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America!

Decorating

While I'm pondering my new identity, I'm going to buy some time via a foray into one of my new favorite past times - decorating! Building a new house and getting into Southern Living At HOME have both contributed to this new obsession. And combined with my somewhat OCD personality, this translates into lots and lots of time pouring over magazines, websites and televised decorating shows.

Today's topic: the master bedroom and bathroom

The master bedroom is going to be painted Brookside Moss (from last season's Pottery Barn color wheel. Aside: potterbarn.com really is a treasure trove of decorating ideas - flower arranging, paint selections, room-by-room decorating ideas and tips and more). Bedding is still TBD.

The master bathroom is currently painted Passive (a nice neutral shade of gray), along with the rest of the house (builders charge an insane amount of $$ for additional paint colors so we are painting the rest of the house ourself, as time and the budget allows). I'd like to paint it either Minced Onion or Limesickle, to coordinate with Brookside Moss. I'm leaning toward Limesickle since it's a Pottery Barn color (my assumption is that if the Pottery Barn designers like it, I can't really be making a decorating faux pas). The floor is white ceramic tile, the cabinets are stained black and the countertop is white marble. I like that combo but I have been feeling like something was missing...UNTIL TODAY when I spotted this picture on (what else?) potterybarn.com -



I. LOVE. IT. And while the cabinets and countertops are reversed in my bathroom, I think it will still work. And maybe I'll even use White Heron instead of Limesickle. How easy can you get?!

Like it? Hate it? Suggested changes or improvements?

My blog needs a facelift!

My blog needs a facelift. Badly. I am feeling the need to reinvent myself and this sorely-neglected "hobby" of blogging (can something this marginalized even be considered a hobby?). I need a blogging identity.

From the link above:

"The benefits of your blogging identity are:
Loyal readers. They will get to know you better and relate to you. [em] Do I have any?

Separation from other bloggers. Your identity is what will make you unique. [em] My blog is negative-unique, hence the doubts about having loyal readers.

Allows you to cover common topics in an uncommon way. Not every post you write has to be on an original subject when you have your own approach. Even on topics that are widely covered you will be able to present information in a different way. [em] Thank goodness original thoughts are not required! Two kids later, I'm definitely running low on original ideas!

Brand yourself. Your identity will allow you to brand yourself so that your readers will immediately associate certain characteristics with you and your blog. [em] THIS is what I so desire.

People will actually read your posts. Most people tend to scan when they’re reading online, but people will want to read what you have to say. " [em] Really?

Summer Project - Develop a blogging identity.

Just for fun

Strangest advice received at church on Sunday: feed your nursing baby goat's milk when you need to give the baby a bottle

Strangest experience of the day: making my evening snack (a smoothie) on the back patio since there was no place in the apartment where ice and berry crushing wouldn't wake a sleeping child.

Strange baby monitor experience: hearing someone else's child crying (let's hope that's all we hear from their apartment)

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Currently reading:
The Legacy of Biblical Womanhood by Susan Hunt
The Abs Diet for Women by David Zinczenko
The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey (a recurring entry on this list)
The Bible Speaks Today: The Message of Proverbs

Was reading (with Charlie) but now MIA since the move to the apartment:
The Bible in Pictures for Little Eyes by Kenneth Taylor

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Items on the to-do list: 13
Items on the project list: 8

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Pieces of insulation missing under our Augusta house: 2 (I guess the inspector who inspected our house before we bought it was the builder's cousin or something)

Under Contract

Those words are music to our ears right now. Aaaahhh. We have a contract. House passed inspection yesterday. All belongings moved into a POD yesterday. Closing on May 29th. God is good - our house selling in this market is nothing short of a MIRACLE. Many houses in our neighborhood are for sale, for much longer than ours. And yet, our house sold.

Thank you Lord! Thank you praying friends!

Happy Mother's Day to ME

We celebrated Mother's Day by baptizing Elliot and my new little nephew John (3 weeks old!). It was a very beautiful and moving service, reminding us of the wonderful blessing of parenting these two boys and sobering us too, at the thought of the awesome responsibility that is before us, especially in light of the seriousness of the vows we made before the church and the Lord:

1. Do you acknowledge your child's need of the cleansing blood of Jesus Christ and the renewing grace of the Holy Spirit?
2. Do you claim God's covenant promises in his behalf, and do you look in faith to the Lord Jesus Christ for his salvation, as you do for your own?
3. Do you now unreservedly dedicate your child to God, and promise, in humble reliance upon God's grace, that you will endeavor to set before him a godly example, that you will pray with and for him, that you will instruct him in the teachings of the Christian faith, and that you will strive, by all means of God's appointment, to bring him up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord?

Thankfully, "he gives more grace" which we will surely need to fulfill these promises!

A few pictures...

These days, I think that this is as close as we are going to get to a good family picture! :)

Poor Elliot. After having a TON of water dropped right onto his face (seriously, I think we broke a church record for the most water dumped on a baby! Baby we are moving towards dunking...?) :), sitting through a long church and being deprived of both his morning naps, he was DONE. Posing for a thousand pictures was the last item on his agenda! He always looks away and ignors me when he's tired, like in the picture below.

From Genesis 48, Jacob's blessing to the sons of Joseph, Manasseh and Ephraim -
15 "...May the God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked, the God who has been my shepherd all my life to this day,
16 the Angel who has delivered me from all harm—may he bless these boys. May they be called by my name and the names of my fathers Abraham and Isaac, and may they increase greatly upon the earth."

Why I really dislike (dare I say hate?) apartment life...and material for sacrifice.

1. Apartments are LOUD. Our upstairs neighbors are big-time "stompers." I can't even hear myself think for all the stomping around. And it keeps waking up my children, which makes me CRAZY.

2. Apartments are LOUD. I cannot stand sleeping next to a window, which is next to a sidewalk, which is next to a parking lot where everyone parks as they come and go from work and wherever else they need to go / come from at all hours of the morning and late night. I hear locks beeps and see lots of headlight flashes ALL. NIGHT. LONG. Arrgh.

3. Apartments are LOUD. So loud that my 2-year old can't sleep at all here. He normally sleeps 12 hours a night and takes a 2-3 nap during the day, for a total of about 15 hours of sleep per day. Here, he's getting about 10-12 hours of sleep on a good day. For many children, that would be acceptable. But not for him. He's constantly yawning, sporting red and watery eyes and cries and whines pretty much all day, making the rest of us miserable.

4. Apartments and pets don't mix. I hate taking them "out" four times a day, sometimes taking 2 children along with me, other times locking the children in the apartment and going alone (only when they are both sound asleep, of course). I hate watching them stress out over the constant noise and activity going on all around us. I hate that they really have no good way to get all of their energy out.

(Crash, boom, bang - huge noise just heard upstairs. If Charlie was still sleeping by some miracle, he's certainly not sleeping now!)

5. I hate getting my mail in those little slots. I don't like retrieving my mail from those little slots.

6. I hate unloading the car. Babies and bags of groceries are hard to carry at the same time.

7. I hate how Charlie almost gets hit by a car every time we get in and out of the car. I don't have enough hands to carry both kids.

8. I hate sleeping on a cot on the floor, though this is not the fault of apartment life, it's still worth mentioning.

9. I hate how there are no overhead lights at all in the living area or in Charlie's room. WHY would anyone omit lighting?

10. I hate paying so much money for a place that we do not own. We paid well over $40K for our 3-year stay in our Charlottesville apartment.

11. I hate taking the trash to the compactor that is quite far from our apartment. It's scary in the back corner of the complex at night!

12. And this is bratty but I hate not having a garage. I really grew accustomed to having a garage and now I'm not sure how to function without one (See Items 6 & 7 above).


But some what I've been reading by Elizabeth Elliot lately speaks directly to my grumpiness, dissatisfaction and complaints:

"It is always possible to be thankful for what is given rather than to complain about what is not given...ingratitude to him amounts to rebellion...let thanksgiving by the habit of your life...Is it not reasonable to believe that that same God, the God of Heaven to whom all thanks is due, will provide for us today the materials for sacrifice? For one who has made thanksgiving the habit of his or her life, the morning prayer will be, 'Lord, what will you give me today to offer back to you?' "

So today, right now, if I'm honest, I'll admit that it's hard not to be bitter, angry and grumpy about the things in the list above. I'm a perfectionist and an anal, picky person who thrives in organized and controlled environments. As such, this current living situation is the "anti-Emily" in every way (my clothes are piled up in a suitcase beside me and my office materials are in a box under Ryan's cot). But by the power that lives IN me, I'm going to purpose today, right now, to be thankful for my life, full of blessings without measure - healthy beautiful children, a wonderful marriage and coming soon, a beautiful new home with plenty of room for playing and sleeping.

And I have my new hobby to distract me, woohoo! :) Coming soon - a blog for my new business! Highlighting gift ideas and my favorite products!

Don't I have enough to do?

Announcing Emily Moody

an Independent Southern Living at HOME Consultant

I am excited to announce that I am starting a new business! I have decided to become a consultant with Southern Living at HOME, the fastest growing party company in history! Having enjoyed reading Southern Living and using their beautiful products in my home, I can now share what Southern Living at HOME has to offer with my friends and family! And since I just love entertaining, decorating, cooking and shopping, this business seemed like a perfect fit for me! J Whether or not you are familiar with our various pottery items, serving and decorating pieces, books, etc., I would like to share this beautiful line of products with you and your friends. I am asking for your help in one or more of the following ways, as I seek to build a successful Southern Living at HOME business:

· Sharing Southern Living at HOME with your friends and family by hosting a party in your home! We have an incredible hostess rewards program and I would love the opportunity to help you get lots of beautiful items for free and half-price. May is a great month to host a party - lots of specials and extras for hostesses!

· Hosting a catalog party and enjoying the same great benefits as our in-home party hostesses

· Ordering products from me for your gift-giving needs. Our products make wonderful wedding, baby, house-warming, mother's day, father's day, birthday and Christmas gifts. I'm currently taking orders from the Spring Catalog!

· Ordering or renewing your magazine subscriptions with me. We have Southern Living, Cooking Light, Southern Accents, Cottage Living, Coastal Living, Health, and Sunset

· Joining my TEAM of Southern Living consultants by starting your own Southern Living at HOME business

· Keeping me in mind for bridal parties and fundraisers

· Sharing my name with someone who might be interested in our products or career opportunity. I appreciate your referrals.

Please take a few minutes to browse my website and the on-line Spring catalog: http://www.southernlivingathome.com/emilymoody


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I'm excited about this new adventure! We'll see how it goes!

Really?

Today I talking with a friend about her recent experience at the gym. She noted that the gym offered a free initial training session with membership...a pretty common practice, in my experience, trying to lure the new gym-goers to sign up for a personal trainer. As my friend has just given birth to her first baby, children and parenthood were a common point of discussion and during the course of their session, the trainer revealed some interesting personal information: a) he has fathered 2 children, and b) he has never been married. Interesting tidbits, but on their own, not too shocking. But combined with the following statement, made near the end of their time together...Wow.

"I'm not sure I'll ever get married, but if I do, I don't think I'll want my wife to get pregnant. She'll lose all her sexiness."

Good thing you just knock up your girlfriends so that when they "lose their sexiness" you can just trade them in for another!

Really? Did he really say that? To a woman who has just given birth?

There. Aren't. Words.

Need some help...

...from you veteran moms...I AM EXHAUSTED. And Elliot is sleeping from about 8:30/9pm until 7:30 am (I do feed him at 10:30, just before I go to bed, though). The question I have is: IS THIS NORMAL? I am getting about 7 - 8 hours of sleep per night and am still so incredibly weary. I get so tired in the early afternoon that I swear I could take a 3-hr nap. And I'm exhausted again around 5pm and can barely hold my eyes open at 9pm...and staying awake to feed Elliot at 10:30 just about kills me. Why am I so tired and is it going to end? Is taking care of a wild 2 year old and a newborn while trying to sell this house/find an apartment/move/quit my job just draining all my energy (these tasks, by the way, are much harder than any hard day at my former office job!)? Is there a vitamin or something I can take to fix this problem? I am used to having limitless energy at my disposal so needless to say, I'm feeling a bit discouraged...so I'd appreciate any input or advice, especially in regards to whether or not anyone else has experienced this!

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall, but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40: 29-31).