Phoebe as a Whoville charater

The special for the day, whocakes, green eggs and hasbrowns

 

Seuss friends

 

Dr. Seuss Day 2010

 Can you tell they had fun.  Yes the whocakes had strawberry and blueberry glaze drizzled over them, with mini M&M’s sprinkled over top and a Dum-Dum sucker stuck in the middle.  We added green food coloring to the eggs and I have to say that the kids loved them.  The drink of the day was lemon lime flavored soft drink with cherry and blueberry jello cubes that had been frozen, dropped into it to make it fizzle.  I didn’t know that when you make jello and freeze it instead of refrigerating it, it turns into slush.  COOL!! 

 Thank you Mrs. Webster and Mrs. Ferguson for the great day!  The kids will remember it for many years to come. 

Have a blessed Monday!

Tell us a little bit about yourself and your family.

We have been married for 27 years…17 of them happily. After finding ourselves in a marriage counselor’s office around year 8 or so, we realized that we really didn’t know how to be married. We worked hard to turn things around and now we like to share that hope with other couples.

We have five children ranging from 13 to 25. Our oldest three are married. Anne (25) and her husband, Matt, live in Zion, IL, and are expecting our first grandchild in April. (We are very excited!) Evan (22) and his wife, Julie, have been married a year and a half and they live just a few miles from us. Erica (19) married her husband Kendall last September. They live in Augusta, GA, and wherever else the Army takes them.

We have two teenagers still at home. Kolya just turned 16. He’s learning to drive and we’ve nearly worn a hole in the carpet on the floor in the passenger seat trying to find that non-existent brake pedal. Kolya is the newest member of the Savage family. We adopted him at the age of nine from Russia.

Austin is 13 and in the 8th grade. He wants us to make sure and tell the world that this “living with less” life is a real bummer because he’s the ONLY kid in 8th grade who doesn’t have a cell phone.

Tell us about your newest book Living With Less So Your Family Has More?

The world screams the message that bigger is always better, but we have found that is not often true. When it comes to raising a family, less materially can actually result in more relationally. Children don’t need the best houses, the best lessons, the best cars, or the best clothes. What they really need is the best home life and the best family relationships we can give them.

Why did you want to write this book?

We didn’t start out with the “less is more” mindset. We started as a double income family wanting to have the “best” of everything. Then Mark decided to pursue ministry. We went from the “high life” to the “frugal life” very quickly as we moved to another state for him to go to Bible College full-time.

That experience introduced us to the concept that less is more. We definitely had less money, but we had more time. We had less stress and more peace. We had less activities and more fun.

Since that experience, we’ve continued to live primarily on one income for the past twenty years. We’ve had to battle cultural peer pressure and make different decisions for our family than many other families in our neighborhood have made. But we’ve never felt that we were materially depriving ourselves or our kids…instead we’ve focused on what we’ve actually been able to provide for them emotionally and relationally.

What do you hope your readers will gain from this book?

We hope the reader is encouraged to evaluate how they are living their life, spending their money, and thinking about family matters. Our goal is to introduce families to the “less is more” concept and then equip them with the attitudes and actions to actually make that happen.

For families that are already committed to less is more, we hope to bolster their resolve and help them stay focused on the long-term goal of providing relationally for their kids.

In today’s economy, there are many families being forced to live with less. We want to help them see the opportunity they have with this unexpected downsizing they’ve been forced to do.

And for those who have just been a little discontent with their life and saying things like, “I’m tired of the rat race of life,” or “Is there more to life than drive-thru meals for dinner?” we hope to help them see other choices they have and how they can lead their family in a different direction.

What unique elements will the reader find in Living With Less So Your Family Has More?

For couples who want to read the book together, we’ve included discussion questions at the end of every chapter. This helps move the readers to discussion and eventually actions. Even a single parent can use the discussion questions for personal evaluation.

Readers will find this book a practical guide to changing your attitude and your actions to live a successful “less is more” life. They’ll find our writing style to be a warm, casual, honest discussion where we not only share our victories but our mistakes along the way. We are an average couple living successfully on an average income who want to help others to see the possibilities before them.

This is a Hearts at Home book. What is Hearts at Home?

Hearts at Home is an organization that encourages, educates, and equips women in the profession of motherhood. Hearts at Home encourages moms through annual conferences, our extensive website (www.hearts-at-home.org), a free electronic newsletter, a radio program, and an entire line of books designed to meet the needs of moms all over the world!

Any closing thoughts?

It’s healthy for parents to occasionally pause and evaluate their vision for their family and the choices they are making. We hope this resource will help them do that together and that it will lead them to live a life of little regret.

Thank you to Mark and Jill!  I have had the privilege of meeting Jill and she  has a  passion for women in all stages of life to know Jesus.  Check out her blog. 

Have a blessed weekend,

Birthday Girl

Natalie and her friend Samantha

delicious cupcakes..yummy!!

Over the past week I  had some really interesting conversations with Phoebe about the bible.  They have been such a blessing!  I love to see  God’s word residing in her heart.  Truly a treasure moment as a mom.  I wanted to share with you one of Phoebe’s favorite music groups.

This group is fun and very entertaining!!  Here is the link to their website.

Jump over to Lysa Terkeurst’s blog, she is chatting about Studying the Bible and Loving it, how to go about it and some tips and tools.  I know that my day’s can get ahead of  me and before I know it it is dinner time, bath time, bed time and I collapse onto the couch.  I need to  make sure I am aware of how I spend my  time.  I NEED to be in God’s word daily.  This is such a pull at your heart strings topic, especially for moms.  Our days are full and life is busy, but girls it is so important that we drench our days with God.   That is what she is going over for the next few days so I wanted to copy cat her.  ( I think that is legal in bloggy world??)  So how do you drench yourself with God’s truth?  When is your daily quiet time?  Do you blast Christian music, we do.  Do you hang post it notes with scriptures all over your house, I have a friend who does, what a great idea.   Please do share, let’s support and encourage one another. 

Have a wonderful Monday!

 (this was posted on 2-16-2010 but Natalie’s birthday is on 2-17)

Happy 10th Birthday Natalie!!  I can’t believe you are ten, time flies.  You are such a blessing to our family.  From your smile, to your laugh, to the sparkle in your eyes, we adore you!  You have touched so many lives and I know that God has a mighty plan in store for you.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Your life has been a journey, one that has taught me how to love with my whole being.  You have taught me perseverance, compassion, gentleness, patience and how to advocate for others!  In one tear I  think of how your life would have been but in the next tears I have tremendous joy that floods my heart for you.  You are my precious firstborn and I love you so much.  I thank God for you.  You are a trooper in this life but know that in the next life where you will be whole, you girly will have many rewards.  I can’t wait to see you run, dance, skip, speak, sing praises to Jesus and wrap my arms around you holding you for forever!  I know  you will find me taking  me to the feast table showing  me all the different foods and we are gonna have a meal,  making up for what you missed out on.  We are gonna have a BLAST with our KING!!

Revelation 21:4
He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”

We CELEBRATE you Natalie, may God bless you every day of your life.  I firmly believe that you have a special connection with Jesus.  Your light shines for HIM!! 

so smart in mommy's glasses

Sept. 7, 2001; 9 days prior to Natalie's brain injury

2002

Christmas 2003

2004

2005

2006 (one of my favorites)

 

2007

valentines 2008

2009

2010...look at that hair!

 

 Matthew 5:16
In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!!  I hope that you have had a blessed day and told someone Happy V-day. 

We have been so busy around here.  We have had lots of snow which has given our kids…snow days!   Phoebe has had fun playing out in the snow and Natalie has enjoyed sleeping in.  I have to admit it has been sorta nice sleeping in and not having to run back and forth to school.  We have had our fair share of sickness and everyone is on the mends, PTL! 

Our church service was so good this morning.  Our pastor has been preaching on Jonah.  Now if you grew up in church, I know that you have heard Jonah and the whale, you know the guy who was disobedient to God, got swallowed by a whale, lived in it’s belly for 3 days, decided to obey what God called him to do, got spit out by the whale and followed through with his assignment.   Well, we have been studying topics like, Running from God, Running to God, Running for God and today was Running Into God.  The main meat of the service was the compassion that God showed Jonah as he sat on the hillside and waited to see what kind of wrath God was going to dump on the Ninevites.  When nothing was done, Jonah got angry with God because he, Jonah,  believed that they “deserved” punishment, even though they had turned from their evil ways.  Hmm..don’t we all act that way?  Do we graciously give others compassion and empathy?  Empathy is entering into another’s feelings trying to understand them.  Compassion is acting on what you discover.  We judge and look at others “deciding” what they should have coming to them or coming up with their punishment in our own heads but never stop to think that we ourselves deserve NO mercy or compassion from God, but because he LOVES us so much HE desires to give it to us!  WHOA…  That is huge!  Just sit with that for a minute.  We hold grudges, get angry, look at others with fogged glasses of judgement, when we should be looking right in the mirror.  What God delivers to us so lovingly is GRACE! 

Our pastor brought up someone who is be so criticised right now..Tiger Woods.  He said that the three words that come after Tiger’s name if googled are, affair, mistress, jokes.  That is sad.  Think of how he feels.  Our pastor said no wonder he hasn’t made a comment.  Would anyone take him serious?  The good news is that Tiger’s wife, Elin, has told him that he has 6 months to get their marriage fixed.  So, as Christan’s, we need to hold that family and the whole situation up in prayer.  That, is just what we did.  The church had pieces of paper that we could write an encouraging note to Tiger and Elin Woods.  They are going to be mailed and our senior pastor, Greg Marksberry, wrote a letter that will be inside the box explaining who we are and what the box contains.  Notes of encouragement and prayers hopefully showing them the love of Christ.  Our desire should be that our lives point to Christ. 

 A  question was posed at the end of service,  ”Are we a church that celebrates people, not shaming them because of what they have done?”   We all pray, “God use me”  but do we ever pray, “God change me so that my life points to Christ”  We have a choice to show compassion or shovel out judgement.  Let’s choose the compassion!  (Good stuff huh!)

On another note, we are in the midst of packing to move.  Our new home will be finished in about 5 weeks. PTL!  We are so excited, this home is fully handicapped accessible and will make taking care of Natalie so much easier.  Plus she will be able to be completely involved in all family activities.  She will be able to go upstairs to the bonus room and downstairs, to what will eventually be called the family fun room once it is finished (although, Elliott wants to call it, The Man Cave).   God is so awesome and faithful.  We feel so blessed!  This has been an incredible journey and we see God’s hand all over this project!   Does anyone out there have any tips for packing and moving?  I so want to just dive in and get things packed but we still have to live in this house.  I have gone through, cleaned out closets and packed things that we don’t use right now.  I guess I just need to go about my days and go with the flow.  It will get packed and we will get moved. 

Well we are preparing for a winter storm.  We are supposed to get 5-8 inches by Monday night.  School is out for Presidents Day, but I am wondering if there will  be school on Tuesday?  Get all this snowing done now than bring on Spring!!

Question:  how many times is the word “love” mentioned in the bible?

Answer:  508 ( 697) times in the NIV.

                   280 (442) in the KJV.

The bracketed number includes words like ‘loves’, and ‘loved’.

I thought this was interesting.  God is love.  He pursues us because he loves us.  To sit and think that the creator of the universe, the heavens and the seas, all creatures that breathe, all plants that grow, the one who Was, Is and Is to come….loves me!  That is a moment, take it in and cherish it.

If you want to see a poetic view of God’s love hop over to my girlfriends blog and read the poem that she posted.  Beautiful, real, and transparent.  She is so talented.  I adore our new friendship, she is tons of fun! 

So do you make homemade valentines or get the store made ready ones?  Do you do anything fun for V-day, like heart pancakes, red food and drink or special gifts?

Sleeping in (those moms who are up at the crack of dawn with school aged children..I can hear you all saying AMEN!)

A good, and I mean good cup of coffee

The smell of a freshly cleaned home, just love it.

Getting a handmade card in the mail..this has become one of my newest pleasures!

Hot fudge cake all to myself..no sharing

thunderstorms

tall glass of brewed ice tea

Being able to sit and watch a TV show you enjoy with no interruptions

Hearing “I LOVE YOU MAMA” from you kids

Fresh flowers in the house

Pellet ice…like at Frisch’s or Chick Fila

Great hair days

Sassy shoes

Natalie’s smile

Phoebe’s laugh

Elliott’s love

sunrises

An upbeat  Christan song on a Sunday morning..the kind where you just have to raise those hands

bible study and quiet time

answered prayers

coffee lovers ice cream from Cold Stone Creamery

warm clothes right out of the dryer

fuzzy socks

getting a compliment

laughter between friends

Now it is your turn, blessings !!

1.  I took square dance lessons when I was around 10.  (yehaw)

2.  I have such a passion for growing in God’s word. 

3.  I love, and I mean love Mexican food!  Especially chimichangas.

4.  I was an EMT with our local fire department. (before kids)  That is how I met my husband!

5.  I like the color purple, coffee, funny movies, christian music, exercising, reading, cooking, and carrot cake! 

Now it is your turn!  Tell us five things about yourself!