Pinterest + Inspiration = Pintsperation

If you haven't heard of Pinterest yet, you are missing out. I love this website. It is full of great ideas and recipe's, clothing styles, decorating tips and more! Basically it's an on-line bulletin board for all of the cool pictures and ideas you find while you are surfing the web.  You can also re-pin the cool things your friends have been pinning.
Here is something I found on Pinterst a few months ago and really liked:

After a little digging I found the original post here on housetweaking.com. (Which looks like an interesting blog that I'm going to have to visit later.) I was searching online for ideas for decorations for the women's retreat at Silver Birch Ranch  when I found this.  The idea inspired me to create something similar for the retreat. At first I was going to keep it large scale and prop it up as a decoration in the front of the chapel. Then because of time constraints and a freak-out I had while trying to get the actual decorating done, I ended up with a smaller scale version that fit perfectly over the mantle in the Dining Hall. Of course I do not have a picture of it on the prettily decorated mantle at camp, but I do have a picture of it where it lives now.  It made it's way to my house afterwards so that it didn't get stuck waaaaaay back in cold storage at camp.

I need to add that my Hunky Hubby helped me with this. Seeing as how large power tools like saws and I aren't really on a first name basis. I think my man is afraid I'd cut my hand off or something. Besides, I'm happy to let him do all the power tool - manly work. It helps him feel needed. And, he does a better job than I do. He is, after all, a professional.  He used some of the abundant scrap lumber that is lying outside around the shop at camp. It had a nicely weathered look. My professional builder husband had a very hard time putting together such an imperfect piece.  He doesn't fully appreciate 'rustic' I guess.  But, he did it for me anyway because he looooves me and because I asked him to.

 Sometimes people ask me what 'come' is supposed to mean. I chose that word because it was a key word for our speaker Jane Rubietta during the women's retreat. But at home?  Well, I'm a Jesus girl. So at home I let it remind me to come to the feet of Jesus like it says to in Matthew 11:28 "Come to me all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest." I need the reminder sometimes.

I hope this leads you to some Pintsperation of your own. (do you like that? I just combined Pinterest and inspiration into one word!)

Happy Monday!

It's Time to Change

I thought I would share the study that I am going through. I am doing this study with two of my friends, my accountability squad, and I am really excited. So far, this woman is saying all of the things I know that I need to do, and she's backing it up with scripture and coming at it from the right angle.
The study is called Made to Crave and it's written by Lysa TerKeurst.

 This book is so good.  It's like God is speaking directly to me and where I am on my spiritual journey through this book. And it's not because of what Lysa says as much as it's about the scripture references she uses.  Plus, Lysa gets it. She understands that this weight loss issue of mine isn't about getting thin and following the expectations of society, it's about obeying God and craving a relationship with him more than anything else.
Any.
Thing.
Else.
If you know me and have seen me in the last 9 years, you know that my weight has continued to go up. Yes, I've given birth to 3 kids, and I can't expect to be the same size as I was b.k.(also known as before kids). I mean there is no exercise out there that can undo the effects of stretchmarks, but my weight has gotten out of control in the last few years.  My friends and family (and my amazing husband) are nice enough to love me anyway, and not be critical of my weight. In fact they can be quite complimentary at times. For which I'm thankful. But the real issue isn't what I weigh or how I look, it's my heart attitude.  I haven't wanted to surrender this area of my life enough to actually see long term change.
Here's a quote from the book that nailed it on the head so to speak with why I've never really put in the effort to lose weight.
          "It's not the 'how to' I'm missing. It's the 'want to'  . . . really wanting to make changes and deciding that the results of those changes are worth the sacrifice."
The desire to be skinny and 'look good' has never been a good enough 'want to'. The truth that the dressing room reveals while trying on swimming suits, has not been a strong enough 'want to'.
I have realized that the only 'want to' good enough for me is a deeper relationship with Jesus.

I think this book is going to help me. I'll still have to do the work. That's o.k. Because I'm not going to be moving forward in my own strength. I'm going to be moving forward with God's strength.
Here are a couple of my favorite quotes from the book so far:
"God made us capable of craving so that we would have an unquenchable desire for Him, and Him alone."
"My weight is a direct reflection of my choices and the state of my health."
"Shallow desires produce only shallow efforts."
"We were made for more than compromise. We were made for God's promises in every area of our lives."
"We crave what we eat" (Duh, why didn't I think of that?)
"Truth is powerful. The more saturated we are with truth, the more powerful we'll be in resisting our temptations."
"We were made for more."

That's just a small taste for you. Maybe what you've heard so far has really sparked your interest because you have some of these same issues. You can find out more about this study at www.madetocrave.org.
I'm looking forward to the weeks to come. I'm looking forward to change.
For all the right reasons.

Mentor Moment

Megan Stevens, Alexa Albrecht

This winter has been a winter of reunions! Reunions with who you ask? My girls!! You see God didn't give me daughters when I had my babies. Instead I was gifted with 3 wriggling, feisty, funny, and adorably sweet little boys. We had lots of clothes in blue, green, and orange - but no pink. Not even a smidgen. I know some of you out there might buy pink shirts for your boys, that's your choice, but I'm not putting my little boys in pink shirts. I don't care how popular it may be. Now that they are older, you wouldn't be able to get them in a pink shirt even if you payed them! We'll save that for the teen years when they want to 'express' themselves, I guess. Anyway, for the last 9 years that's how it's been in this house, one queen surrounded by all her princes, and it's a good life. 

Alaina Bowman

There is a way that God has allowed me to have some extra estrogen for company in my home. That has been through mentoring. If you are familiar with Silver Birch Ranch than you know it is not just a camp, the grounds are also the location of our one year Bible college, Nicloet Bible Institute. In the 8+ years we have been here, we have met over 100 college age kids. (Wow, that sounds like a lot! And that's an underestimation) Of course we can't build a relationship with all of them, but we can with some. And we have. Nearly every year, Troy and I have mentored a student, either officially or not. Some years it becomes more than one student and some years it doesn't really happen at all.  It has required us to open our home, share some food, spend some time, put others first, and grow. All good things.

Erin Lonergan

I can't begin to tell you how rewarding mentoring these young ladies has been. And how fun! It is a joy to watch them grow in their relationship with God, learn new things, change. Sometimes it's hard too. It has always been worth it. Every year. Every girl. I have laughed and sometimes cried alongside them. I have rejoiced and pleaded at the foot of God's throne for them. I have grown. I love it when they come back and visit. Absolutely LOVE it. I am so glad to be a tool God has used in their lives. So thankful.

If you had asked me when we came to SBR if I thought I would be a good mentor, I would have said no. If you ask me the next time you see me if I think I am a good mentor, I'll say no. I screw up all the time. I'm selfish, I don't pray enough, I'm not mature enough or Godly enough or any - enough's! But God is, and because I've been willing, he has chosen to use me to impact the lives of young men and women for His glory. That's what mentoring is. It's loving someone in the name of Jesus and helping them along in their spiritual journey. It's living out the truths of Gods word in front of them and asking for forgiveness when you screw it up. It's trusting God to do his thing with a very imperfect you, just because He can.

So during those times when I don't feel like I have the energy to have company, or when I don't feel like investing the emotions into a new relationship, I try and remind myself of this one thing: It's not about you Jana, It's about Him.

What about you? have you ever thought of mentoring a teen? They don't have to be in college, it could be a High Schooler, even Jr. High. You may think you have nothing to offer, you may not think anyone would think you're 'cool' enough. Me to! But guess what? Young people need adults who are willing to pour into their lives and love them like Jesus loves. And they even like it! You don't have to be perfect, you don't have to have enough - of anything! All you need is to do is be willing. Ask God to show you who, where, when. Then watch out as he uses a teen or young adult to teach you something, and have fun in the process.

Skating

I meant to post these pictures a couple of weeks ago but just haven't gotten around to it until today. These are from earlier this winter. We had a cold beginning with no snow and it made for perfect conditions for skating on the lake. So I called up a couple of my friends and they came out to join the boys and I. Troy was even able to sneak away from work for a little bit and join us.

We skated on Sawyer Lake, the lake that SBR is on. Skating on the lake is a lot different than on the ice skating rink. It's a little bumpier, but there is also a lot more area to cover. Plus, the added thrill of having that nagging thought in the back of your mind that it could be slightly possible that as you are skating merrily across the lake, you hear a loud crack and plunge into the icy water.  I try not to talk like that around the kids.

But skating on the lake is a lot of fun, and it's special. It isn't possible every year. The conditions have to be just right. A lot of cold and no snow for a long enough period of time for the ice to get thick enough. One of my favorite things about being on the lake was thinking about is how the very spot I was skating across is the exact same spot where this past summer I was skimming across the water in a tube being pulled behind a boat. Usually you don't get to be in the middle of the lake unless you are on a boat or riding a jet ski. Even then it's not the same because you are sitting in the water. In the winter, you're on top. Totally different sensation.

This was our first skate of the season, and even though it was a chilly day, we had a lot of fun. The boys got to practice their skating, which always includes a lot of falling.  I forgot how much my feet hurt in skates! Yeouch! I guess they aren't conditioned yet. At times I felt like my toes were flaming balls of fire, and although I don't usually have arch issues, my arches were screaming!

All happily sacrificed for the sake of giving the boys a unique experience they might not have again for awhile, and for the sake of sharing a fun memory with some good friends.

It's Fun to Play at the YMCA!

Last week we decided to make our own field trip (just one of the many blessing of home schooling). We really wanted to go somewhere we could burn some pent up energy since the winter weather keeps us indoors more than we are used to.  I get to the point where I just can't handle the kids running wild through the house anymore.  So I called up my sister and asked her what our options were down in the Fox Valley, where she lives. She discovered that the YMCA sells a day pass for $14.00 a family (plus the lady at the desk let my sister, mom, and I all count as one family!). You can even use the day pass at all of the YMCA locations in the valley area, there are 3 of them. Woot! One of the Y's has a gymnastics room. That's where we decided to go first and spend most of our time. Let me just tell you, it was so much fun!!!! The boys LOVED it. Plus it was really fun to watch them experience all of the fun gymnastics equipment. They had never had an opportunity to jump off of a trampoline into a foam pit, swing on the bar, run and jump on a spring board, and the spring floor, well, it was more fun for me than for them. The kids wouldn't stand still long enough for me to take a picture that didn't turn out fuzzy.
It was a great way to spend the morning, and even more fun because my sister, her kids, and my mom joined in the fun too. Then in the afternoon we went to another Y and let the little kids play in a fun indoor play park while the bigger kids went to the splash pad.
Let me just tell you, those kids slept GOOD that night.
We are definitely going to have to go back at least one more time this winter. I was pleasantly surprised to see Bible verses posted on banners and on the t.v. screens through out the buildings.  I didn't realize that the Y promoted their Christian foundation so boldly. Yay!
Next time, I am going to spend more time jumping off that trampoline into the foam pit. I felt like a kid again. And the spring floor, well, let's just say, my inner gymnast really wanted to bust out. I may have let her if I wasn't sure it would result in some serious sprains or even a broken bone or two.
Whoo Hoo!

Cleanin' Out the House

For those of you who are not regulars at the Beaber house, this is our playroom. And it almost never looks like this. I made the epic mistake of not taking a 'before' photo. I'm sorry, I'm still new at this blogging stuff. It hasn't quite become second nature to me to photograph all the befores, middles, and afters of our life. I really should have taken a before shot though. You would have been amazed, astounded, nay even flabbergasted at the transformation. A brief description would be, you couldn't see the floor for all the toys scattered across it. There would have been no walking 2 steps into the room with out impaling your foot on some ridiculously sharp toy that is supposedly child safe. There was no separation of toys, no distinction between the masses. In fact I think the remote control trains were giving free rides to the hex bugs while we were eating dinner. In exchange the hex bug battle ground served as a support system for the second story of the train track. All while the match box cars were having drag races along the perimeter of the track.  Somehow, no one ever knows exactly how, the dress up clothes once again vomited out of their bucket to cloak the entire room in mystery.  The stuffed and mounted musky was giving a bear a piggy back ride. It was complete and total chaos

Saturday morning, after a nice leisurely breakfast, I roped everyone into helping purge the playroom. I had been wanting to do this since Christmas. If you have children you know how Christmas is a mixed blessing when it comes to new toys. We definitely needed to get rid of some of the old to make room for the new. When I clean the playroom, we dump absolutely every bucket in there upside down. This does make for a larger mess initially but it is necessary in order to find all the random pieces that have been put away in the wrong bucket when the boys were in charge of cleaning up on their own. It always amazes me how in our pretty organized system, where there is a container of some kind for every category of toy we own, the bullets for the nerf guns can end up in the play mobil and the dress up clothes can be found in the train set. I guess maybe the kids aren't quite as good at matching as I thought. Except, they are. They just don't want to. My absolute favorite though, is when they have been told to clean the playroom, and they take all the stuff they aren't quite sure of and make piles in the corners. As if I'm not going to notice that. Silly kids.

After about 2 1/2 hours we have the beautiful results that you see here. With everyone pitching in, including Troy and our friend Alexa, it actually went much more smoothly than when it's just me and the boys. Meaning, I did a lot less yelling. I actually think doing a major clean out and reorganize like this is fun. I LOVE the results. It feels so satisfying.

Here's what we pulled out of the room. Can you believe there was an entire bag of garbage in there? Not including the 4 cardboard boxes we broke down. Where did it all come from? It's supposed to be just toys up there! We also found 2 garbage bags worth of toys we will be giving away to someone else who will appreciate and enjoy them. We split up the match box cars to go to the grandparents and emptied out 2 bins! Yay! Now my goal is to not fill them back up. I also got the boys to clean up their bedroom floor and the school room floor so that the entire upstairs could be vacuumed. Unfortunately that doesn't happen as often as it should. So satisfying. And the best part is - it is still this clean today, even after having the company of 3 other kids, because the boys have cleaned up after themselves so spectacularly. Probably because they know mommy would blow a gasket if I walked upstairs and found it a mess. They know they need to wait at least 3 or 4 days before the threat of that happening wears off.
Don't worry, that's not all we did this weekend. Although I don't have any pictures because I didn't want to take my camera out in the cold and I don't own one of those fancy smart phones. We spent the rest of Saturday sledding at SBR and playing with friends. Then on Sunday after church, we had small group here and ended the evening with an epic game of freeze tag. It was a lot of fun.
I hope this inspires you to purge somethings at your house. I know this is just the beginning of my purge-fest.
But please, don't expect me to take pictures of it all.

52 a Year - Week 3

I can't think of any curves that are much more adorable than these: pudgy, baby, finger curves. 
That was the challenge for week 3; curves. 
So after looking high and low, near and far, I settled on this.
Although I was tempted to take another picture of this same baby when I saw her all nekked, getting her diaper changed. I tell you what, this little girl has got some curves! (she's got some 'junk in the trunk' if you know what I'm sayin?) 
But I wanted to keep things 'G' rated, so I thought these little fingers would be curvy enough.