I have a confession to make. I hate tossing out the last few drops of dishwashing liquid in an empty bottle or the last few scrapes of peanut butter left at the bottom of an empty jar, or rinsing down the drain the last of the cake batter stuck on the bowl or beaters after the cake is in the oven.
It's not that finances are so tight that those little bits make a difference in whether our family goes bankrupt or not. It's that those things were made for a specific purpose. There's a reason they exist and throwing away those last little bits means that they aren't allowed to fulfill the purpose for which they were made. Yes, I kind of feel sorry for the dishwashing liquid.
We were designed and created on purpose: to glorify God and enjoy him forever. If we allow sin to draw our eyes off God or if anything becomes more important to us than Christ, we aren't fulfilling the purpose for which we were created and saved.
I'm seeing this also regarding the various roles God has called me to and placed me in. If I don't care for my children in a way that honors the Lord, I'm not fulfilling my purpose as a mother. If I don't respect, honor, walk alongside, and encourage Drew, I'm not fulfilling my purpose as his wife. If I don't reach out to our neighbors with the gospel, or press a discouraged friend into Christ, then my purpose (the reason God has placed me in those contexts and relationships) is being thwarted.
But … if I fulfill my purpose in those situations, yet do it grudgingly, without joy, that's also wasteful. Part of our purpose as Christians is joy - specifically enjoying Christ and his riches and grace. What a precious gift and reflection of God's character that joy is part of our purpose!
SDG!
17 February 2008
16 February 2008
Puritan Reading Challenge
Thanks to Kathleen for posting this year-long reading challenge. It originates from the mind of Timmy Brister at Provocations and Pantings. I haven't been able to get the code to work to post the button and the link (I think sunspots are interfering with my ability to upload again), so I thought I'd write about it.
He's scheduled a different Puritan classic to be read each month of 2008. I've already missed January's title, but I think I'll start there anyway. I have to plan my reading around school, and I'm not planning to read them all, but if I aim for one each two months, that will be a good start. Here's his list:
*January: The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes (128 pp)
*February: The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel (221 pp)
March: The Godly Man’s Picture by Thomas Watson (252 pp)
April: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks (253 pp)
May: Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ by John Bunyan (225 pp)
*June: The Mortification of Sin by John Owen (130 pp)
*July: A Lifting Up for the Downcast by William Bridge (287 pp)
*August: The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs (228 pp)
September: The True Bounds of Christian Freedom by Samuel Bolton (224 pp)
*October: The Christian’s Great Interest by William Guthrie (207 pp)
November: The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter (256 pp)
December: A Sure Guide to Heaven by Joseph Alleine (148 pp)
I've starred the ones I hope to read (not necessarily on the schedule Tim's listed, though). There are a couple of considerations guiding my choices: the length of the works, and what we have here at home and what I know is available from our church bookstore. I'll try to post quotes and thoughts as I read (which I hope to do more of as time goes on for all the books I'm reading). And just because I'm not reading some of them this year, doesn't mean I won't read them in the future.
SDG
He's scheduled a different Puritan classic to be read each month of 2008. I've already missed January's title, but I think I'll start there anyway. I have to plan my reading around school, and I'm not planning to read them all, but if I aim for one each two months, that will be a good start. Here's his list:
*January: The Bruised Reed by Richard Sibbes (128 pp)
*February: The Mystery of Providence by John Flavel (221 pp)
March: The Godly Man’s Picture by Thomas Watson (252 pp)
April: Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices by Thomas Brooks (253 pp)
May: Come and Welcome to Jesus Christ by John Bunyan (225 pp)
*June: The Mortification of Sin by John Owen (130 pp)
*July: A Lifting Up for the Downcast by William Bridge (287 pp)
*August: The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment by Jeremiah Burroughs (228 pp)
September: The True Bounds of Christian Freedom by Samuel Bolton (224 pp)
*October: The Christian’s Great Interest by William Guthrie (207 pp)
November: The Reformed Pastor by Richard Baxter (256 pp)
December: A Sure Guide to Heaven by Joseph Alleine (148 pp)
I've starred the ones I hope to read (not necessarily on the schedule Tim's listed, though). There are a couple of considerations guiding my choices: the length of the works, and what we have here at home and what I know is available from our church bookstore. I'll try to post quotes and thoughts as I read (which I hope to do more of as time goes on for all the books I'm reading). And just because I'm not reading some of them this year, doesn't mean I won't read them in the future.
SDG
15 February 2008
Disappearing Who
No, this post isn't about the Invisible Man meets Dr. Seuss. It's about the disappearance of the word 'who' at the beginning of a subordinate clause.
I often read or hear
the doctor that works at the hospital.
the child that plays in the backyard.
the father that cares for his family.
the mother that rocks her toddler.
But shouldn't it be
the doctor who works at the hospital?
the child who plays in the backyard?
the father who cares for his family?
the mother who rocks her toddler?
Shouldn't it be 'that' when referring to an animal or an object? Doesn't 'who' remind us, subtly I admit, that people, who are made in the very image of God himself, are of higher dignity than animals and things?
I'm probably reading too much into this linguistic trend, but by using 'that' when we should be using 'who', are we buying into the post-modern idea that people are of no greater value than the gum that's stuck to the bottom of my shoe?
SDG!
I often read or hear
the doctor that works at the hospital.
the child that plays in the backyard.
the father that cares for his family.
the mother that rocks her toddler.
But shouldn't it be
the doctor who works at the hospital?
the child who plays in the backyard?
the father who cares for his family?
the mother who rocks her toddler?
Shouldn't it be 'that' when referring to an animal or an object? Doesn't 'who' remind us, subtly I admit, that people, who are made in the very image of God himself, are of higher dignity than animals and things?
I'm probably reading too much into this linguistic trend, but by using 'that' when we should be using 'who', are we buying into the post-modern idea that people are of no greater value than the gum that's stuck to the bottom of my shoe?
SDG!
Delay
Drew was hoping to finish tiling this weekend, but the rose mosaic won't arrived until early next week. I'm okay with this as I'm feeling a bit under the weather right now. (The kids went to Gileskirk alone today - a first!) It's also another rainy, cloudy, cold day and the guys would have been miserable outside cutting tile.
~~~~~
I'm still re-organizing the kitchen, but I'm stumped about how much plastic to keep. We don't use plastic containers or plastic wrap in the microwave. I don't like drinking out of plastic (with the exception of my pink kid-lit-themed Nalgene water bottle from Powell's Books as it's so much harder than typical plastics) and I'm not sure I like the kids drinking out of it. We don't have little ones who drop and break glasses and such (at least not often). I'd like to kiss plastic-days good-bye, but Drew and Anna take leftovers to work in plastic containers. I'd rather they used foil-covered plates and bowls, but I don't think I'll be able to convince them.
Well, if this is the most important decision I have to make today, that's a pretty easy day, so I'm not going to fret about it. If you have any suggestions for something more stable than plastic, yet less spillable than foil covered plates, I'd love to hear them.
~~~~~
I'm still re-organizing the kitchen, but I'm stumped about how much plastic to keep. We don't use plastic containers or plastic wrap in the microwave. I don't like drinking out of plastic (with the exception of my pink kid-lit-themed Nalgene water bottle from Powell's Books as it's so much harder than typical plastics) and I'm not sure I like the kids drinking out of it. We don't have little ones who drop and break glasses and such (at least not often). I'd like to kiss plastic-days good-bye, but Drew and Anna take leftovers to work in plastic containers. I'd rather they used foil-covered plates and bowls, but I don't think I'll be able to convince them.
Well, if this is the most important decision I have to make today, that's a pretty easy day, so I'm not going to fret about it. If you have any suggestions for something more stable than plastic, yet less spillable than foil covered plates, I'd love to hear them.
13 February 2008
Backsplash
After a trip to World of Tile last night, we've changed our thinking about the backsplash. It's finally coming together - at least in our minds.
Seven inch square Beach set straight on the bottom, followed by a row of 5/8" square rose marble tiles, then more Beach set on the diagonal with accent tiles of green marble. Then another row of small rose marble, finished with Beach. We'll use battiscopa tiles at the top once we move out from under the cabinets, as the rounded edge will give it a nice finished look.
We're also going to incorporate the rose (1x1 here) and green marble into the island.
The rose really brings out the rosy brown hues in the Beach tiles, but I'm not sure how green happened as it's most definitely not my favorite color, but it'll be gorgeous. I think I've figured out green: it's either absolutely beautiful (dune-grass grey-green or tropical ocean blue-green) or it's just hideous (lime and the greens used in army fatigues). There's no such thing as a mediocre green.
SDG!
Seven inch square Beach set straight on the bottom, followed by a row of 5/8" square rose marble tiles, then more Beach set on the diagonal with accent tiles of green marble. Then another row of small rose marble, finished with Beach. We'll use battiscopa tiles at the top once we move out from under the cabinets, as the rounded edge will give it a nice finished look.
We're also going to incorporate the rose (1x1 here) and green marble into the island.
The rose really brings out the rosy brown hues in the Beach tiles, but I'm not sure how green happened as it's most definitely not my favorite color, but it'll be gorgeous. I think I've figured out green: it's either absolutely beautiful (dune-grass grey-green or tropical ocean blue-green) or it's just hideous (lime and the greens used in army fatigues). There's no such thing as a mediocre green.
SDG!
12 February 2008
Kitchen Pictures
Not done yet, but here are current progress pictures.
This one shows a bit of the mess of thinset on the counter, but it also shows clearly the missing front piece. The other pictures are farther away and you can't see what's missing so well. Drew is working on a brilliant way to support the tiles while the thinset dries so they stay level and even. We didn't cut enough the first time we had the saw, so the front will have to wait until we rent the saw again.
This one shows a close-up of the counter between the stove and the sink with my tea maker and the new bottom cabinets.
The sink and the peninsula.
The view from the dining room.
This is one idea for the backsplash. Probably not this particular tile (only three in stock at Home Depot and all chipped - not very good quality), but we hope to find something like it a World of Tile. We'll also outline the diagonals in a 5/8" dark brown swirly-patterned tile, with more of the Beach on the bottom and on the top.
SDG!
This one shows a bit of the mess of thinset on the counter, but it also shows clearly the missing front piece. The other pictures are farther away and you can't see what's missing so well. Drew is working on a brilliant way to support the tiles while the thinset dries so they stay level and even. We didn't cut enough the first time we had the saw, so the front will have to wait until we rent the saw again.
This one shows a close-up of the counter between the stove and the sink with my tea maker and the new bottom cabinets.
The sink and the peninsula.
The view from the dining room.
This is one idea for the backsplash. Probably not this particular tile (only three in stock at Home Depot and all chipped - not very good quality), but we hope to find something like it a World of Tile. We'll also outline the diagonals in a 5/8" dark brown swirly-patterned tile, with more of the Beach on the bottom and on the top.
SDG!
10 February 2008
Almost Done
The grout has been sealed…five times. It's taking quite awhile to soak in and work properly. I'm going to apply another coat tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that, and as many days as I need to to make the grout waterproof.
We still need to install the facing pieces around the edge, but we didn't cut enough when we had the saw, so that will need to wait a bit.
We've finally made some progress in designing the backsplash. We're going to use smaller versions of the counter tiles, varying their orientation, setting them off with a smaller outline tile in a darker brown and an occasional decorative tile. We're narrowing down the selection of the decorative tile, but we're not quite there yet.
The desk will be the next big piece of the puzzle and then the island.
I'll try again to post pictures. It really is looking wonderful!
In the meantime, we're all enjoying the larger kitchen. We've been slowly putting things back in the cabinets, but we're rearranging and reorganizing as we go…also sorting and getting rid of things we haven't used in awhile. I'm thinking through the way we use the kitchen and rethinking how I've categorized things. For example, instead of putting the mixer with the rest of the small appliances where it was before, it now sits up with the mixing bowls.
SDG!!
We still need to install the facing pieces around the edge, but we didn't cut enough when we had the saw, so that will need to wait a bit.
We've finally made some progress in designing the backsplash. We're going to use smaller versions of the counter tiles, varying their orientation, setting them off with a smaller outline tile in a darker brown and an occasional decorative tile. We're narrowing down the selection of the decorative tile, but we're not quite there yet.
The desk will be the next big piece of the puzzle and then the island.
I'll try again to post pictures. It really is looking wonderful!
In the meantime, we're all enjoying the larger kitchen. We've been slowly putting things back in the cabinets, but we're rearranging and reorganizing as we go…also sorting and getting rid of things we haven't used in awhile. I'm thinking through the way we use the kitchen and rethinking how I've categorized things. For example, instead of putting the mixer with the rest of the small appliances where it was before, it now sits up with the mixing bowls.
SDG!!
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