noah's ark

Has anyone seen this in the news yesterday or today?

A team of evangelical explorers, searching for Noah's Ark on Mount Ararat, has uncovered and ventured inside a large wooden structure located 13,000 feet high on the mountain. The wooden remains have been carbon dated at 4,800 years old.

It's been preserved under the ice, and is supposedly still very solid and made of high quality wood.

What else could it be other than the Ark?

Here's a slideshow with more pictures of the interior.

How cool is that?!?!?

5 months

Our sweet little Annabelle somehow turned 5 months old yesterday! It's already hard to remember what life was like without her.

Here's a video that shows how quickly she has grown!

She is happy all the time! And now that she's a little bigger, she and Stryder are the best of friends. What joy they bring to our lives!

container garden

I have great aspirations when it comes to gardening. Yet at this point, my dreams far outweigh my skills! However, my great-grandmother, Nana, was a pro at flowers. My grandmother, Myma, is a pro at vegetables (especially tomatoes). And my mom is a pro at landscapes. So I'm hoping that the gardening gene has somehow been passed down to me!

It's been three years since we spent a consecutive spring and summer in one place. I'm so thankful for this year of non-moving that allows me to garden! Since we won't be at this house for much of the summer next year, I decided not to bother with creating a bed in the ground. I don't want to go to all of the hassle and then leave it behind when we move. I figure my only other option is container gardening!

Our little golden nugget is becoming quite the expert digger, so after planting all of my seedlings, I crammed the pots on top of the fire pit (we never use it) in our backyard. This way she won't be as tempted to ruin the plants. Plus, I figure that other pests won't be able to get into the containers as easily if they are elevated.

After checking out a few books at the library and starting some online research, I'm still trying to learn:

- when and how to harvest

- how much space to allow between plants

- when and how to prune

- when and how much to water

- how much light different plants need

- the best fertilizers to use (I bought some fish emulsion - PEWWW! It may be the most revolting smelling gunk I have ever encountered. It better work!)

If you're looking for helpful web sites, here are a couple I've found so far:

- Organic Gardening

- Guide to Growing Vegetables in Containers

Anthropologie is currently hosting FREE container gardening workshops in all of their stores nationwide - I can't wait for the one here in Indy tomorrow night. I need all the help I can get! Hopefully I'll walk away brimming with knowledge that will help me grow big, beautiful plants!

Following are pictures of the vegetables and fruit I have planted. I'm also growing rosemary, oregano, cilantro and basil (and the basil is the only one I'm attempting from seed). If you have any advice for me, PLEASE SHARE!

PS - I just read in The Gourmet Gardener that it's possible to grow coffee trees!! How awesome is that? Maybe next year...

Romaine Lettuce

Broccoli

Green Bell Peppers and a Jalapeno (just for Brian)

Left: Spinach, Right: Buttercrunch Lettuce

Ozark Beauty and Sequoia Strawberries

Early Girl and Better Boy Tomatoes (with Sweet 100 Tomatoes in the background)

I'm so desperate for hydrangeas that I planted one in a pot on our front porch. Can you even do that? Guess I'll find out!

Phlox

Also, just had to throw in a few pictures of our next door neighbor's Weeping Cherry tree. Isn't it just gorgeous!?!? I think it looks like a prom dress. And cotton candy. When the blooms fall, it's like pink snow. I want one. :)

putting off AND putting on

God's been teaching me something lately. And as He often does with the lessons I need to learn, He is hammering this one into my thick head hard. It's painful. Humbling. So good for me.

Brian and I have been working through MacArthur's study guide on James. Last week, we examined the last part of James 1, and verse 22 particularly grabbed me:

"But be doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves..."

Growing up in a Christian school, as a pastor's daughter, the right answer was highly valued. It was advantageous to know a lot of Scripture and Bible stories. I took tests in Bible class, and the more I knew, the higher my grade.

So, being a high-achiever, I've always scored pretty well in knowledge. I've even scored ok in abstinence from "bad" things. But I am realizing that my score for good works, above and beyond learning and self-restraint, is pretty low. I've convinced myself that hearing, understanding, knowing is enough. I've always been on the defense against evil, but not so much on the offense.

Last week, I thought a lot about what it looks like to transform knowledge into zest-filled action. Practical ways I can force knowledge out of my head and into the world. I'd rather know just a couple of principles and act each one out then know many things but not take action with any of them.

Oh, how I want a high grade in faith-based actions, not just knowledge.

Our pastor is currently preaching through Matthew. Last Sunday (12:43-50), he expounded on the importance of continuing to move forward even after we put off our old selves. Scripture makes it clear that while getting rid of sin is essential, creating new behaviors is the crucial next step.

Here's a for instance. Let's say there's a gal who I really don't click with. She tends to be insensitive, and she's said some things that have really offended me. When she comes into the room, I cringe, and hope that I don't have to talk to her. If I truly want to follow Jesus's example, I won't just hold myself back from saying something mean to her. I'll do that AND go out of my way to say something kind and loving.

Our pastor used an example that has really stuck with me. "When does a liar stop being a liar?" he asked the congregation. "It's not when he stops telling lies. It's when he starts telling the truth."

In our bulletins was an insert that I have tucked inside my Bible so I will see it for the rest of my life. If you struggle with this concept like I do, take encouragement and accountability from this practical list of actions that flow from a changed heart!

stuff white people like

I came across this site about a year ago. It's a blog devoted to expounding on the things that white people like. I find it sooo funny, probably because most of it is so true!

It highlights stereotypical things that are associated with white people. Stuff like:

- picking your own fruit

- moleskine notebooks

- sea salt

- ugly sweater parties

- pea coats

- girls with bangs

- unpaid internships

- scarves

- kitchen gadgets

- dogs

- vintage anything

- whole foods and grocery co-ops

- apple products

- netflix

- organic food

- farmer's markets

- coffee

The writer of these posts (which are also combined into a now-published book) is brilliant and hysterical. I guarantee you'll get a kick of how he captures the preferences of Caucasians, many of them probably your own!

15 minute recipes

Although I love to cook and will gladly spend hours in the kitchen on occasion, sometimes I just need a recipe that comes together fast. And easy.

I recently discovered this Real Simple site that allows you to quickly select a recipe, based on your preferences and the ingredients you already have on hand. All of the recipes, supposedly, can be prepared in 15 minutes or less.

Sample recipe: Parmesan Pasta with Chicken and Rosemary

Happy cooking!

heaven

"If there be so certain and glorious a rest for the saints, why is there no more industrious seeking after it? One would think, if a man did but once hear of such unspeakable glory to be obtained, and believed what he heard to be true, he should be transported with the vehemency of his desire after it, and should almost forget to eat and drink, and should care for nothing else, and speak of and inquire after nothing else, but how to get this treasure. And yet people who hear of it daily, and profess to believe it as a fundamental article of their faith, do as little mind it, or labor for it, as if they had never heard of such a thing, or did not believe one word they hear."

- Richard Baxter

I just turned the last page of Randy Alcorn's book, Heaven.

My heart is so full.

I love to read. I've read a lot of books - a lot of excellent books. Yet I have never read a book that the Lord has used to so transform my thinking as this one. I literally feel like I have a brand new perspective on the eternal destiny of those who are His. A 180 degree change. And I am beyond excited!

A place that I used to feel vague about, I now picture in a tangible, concrete, specific, beautiful, exciting way. A place that I used to feel guilty for being less-than-enthused toward, I now eagerly anticipate from the bottom of my heart.

I am motivated, like never before, to:

- share the gospel with those who don't believe

- set my heart on eternity, making decisions in this life that will carry on after my death

- invest in the only things that will last forever: my relationships with the Lord and people

If you've ever wondered...

What it will look like when the Curse is lifted. (Praise the Lord, that day IS coming!)

About the difference between the present Heaven and the eternal Heaven.

What the New Jerusalem and the rest of the New Earth, and the Universe, will be like.

If Heaven will have space, time, sun, moon, oceans, weather, animals, arts, entertainment, technology, crafts and sports.

What we will DO in Heaven. If we will have jobs. If we will play. If we will travel. If we will sleep. If we will laugh.

How we will relate to other believers in Heaven, including the people whom we have known and loved in this life.

... then this book is for you. I cannot recommend it highly enough. Read it so you can know for sure. Read it so you can answer questions from your kids in a specific way. Read it so you can be genuinely excited when you think about your forever home. Read it so you can praise our gracious Heavenly Father in a new way - for His ingenuity, creativity and lovingkindness toward His undeserving children.

"Christian, meditate much on heaven, it will help thee to press on, and to forget the toil of the way. This vale of tears is but the pathway to the better country: this world of woe is but the stepping-stone to a world of bliss. And, after death, what cometh? What wonderworld will open upon our astonished sight?"

- Charles Spurgeon

[Alcorn does an incredible job of presenting a thoroughly-researched, systematic approach to a believer's view of Heaven. While he substantiates ALL of his thoughts with Scripture, of course, as with any book written by a human, I cannot endorse his ideas as being absolute truth. And I don't think even Alcorn would claim that they are. The point is, he encourages believers to study God's Word and then start thinking. Start dreaming.

As John Piper says, "God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him." He has created a wonderful-beyond-belief home for us, so it pleases Him when we are thankful and excited about it. Because when we are joyful about what He gives us, we are ultimately joyful in Him, the source of all good things.

The ability to truly set your heart on Heaven will affect every. single. aspect. of your life. Now what are you waiting for? Go read it! :) ]

spring break

This will be my last post on traveling for a while, I promise.

A few weeks ago, we drove back to Wichita for Brian's spring break. The 11-hour doozy was Annabelle's first road trip... we weren't sure how it would go, but she did so well. We attribute a lot of that to Stryder's good influence. She basically does whatever he does, so since he is such a great dog, she is too.

It was really fun introducing Annabelle to Wichita. We also celebrated my birthday, spent great time with our families, saw friends and just relaxed. I caught a pretty horrible 24-hour flu bug - not so much fun - but other than that, it was a wonderful week.

One of the most fun parts of our visit was getting to see all FOUR of our family goldens together. Lesley was also on break for a few days while we were there, so it was the first time that all of the doggies had been together at once. As you can imagine, Annabelle was absolutely in heaven. She played so hard all day long, and quickly grew to adore her cousin Stella.

My mom with Junior, Brian with Stryder, Les with Stella and Em with Annabelle

Annabelle snuggling on the bed with the boys

We also got to reunite Annabelle with her brother, Brinkley. When we walked in the Buttner's door, the dogs went absolutely nuts. We're pretty sure they recognized each other, even though its been two months since they were together. We just love it that they will be able to grow up knowing each other!

The Smiths and the Buttners