Veteran's Day

3 years ago, nearly to the day, Steve and I were in Washington, DC for our "babymoon" before Lucy came. We made the trip up to Arlington on our last day, which I felt was a fitting end to our sojourn into the land of the law. I'd been there before, but it seems to move me even more as I get older.
It's not even simply that lives are given for our safety and freedom, but that they are given honorably, cheerfully, for me as I sit here, for my husband and daughter who are sleeping quietly in the other rooms. For that little girl especially.

I am so privileged to know a living veteran quite well, who has risked and served with honor and excellence and integrity. I'm so incredibly proud of her, and proud even to share her name.

She heads to Iraq in December, and oh, how I will miss her! She has become a dear friend, as she has quietly let me into her life during those seemingly small moments while I chopped onions and sauteed asparagus. Still waters do indeed run deep. So on Veteran's Day, I want to say thank you to my dear friend and sister-in-law, who goes out to serve once again. She is as the military should be--one who does her job with a heart's desire to be of service to her country. Thank you to her, and thank you to all who have served. Godspeed.

Two Things Girls Always Do

1.) Apologize. I have noticed that whenever I ask advice of another girl about things like prayer or exercise in particular, there is nearly always some mention of, "Oh, I am not doing anywhere near what I should be doing," or "Ugh, I should totally be doing more!" There is also much apologizing for things that we don't need to be sorry for.
Example, in a restaurant: "I'm so sorry, but could you bring us some more water? I'm sorry!"

2.) Girls always make sure that other girls don't say mean things about themselves. Okay, maybe not every girl, but every girl in my aquaintance always makes sure that other girls don't berate themselves, and usually do this by drawing attention to something they don't like about themselves.
Example:
Girl A: "My butt looks big."
Girl B: "No way, your butt is soo cute! Nothing like my thighs!"
Girl A: "Oh my goodness, your thighs are just fine! Mine are the big ones!"
Ad infinitum.

Men would never do this. They would never say, "My butt looks big" to another guy in the first place, but I'm pretty sure they would just reply with, "Dude, it's HUGE!"

Christmas a la Sew, Mama, Sew!

Sew, Mama, Sew has become a favorite new spot for me to read, especially after their 30 days of new tutorials and handmade gift ideas. It was like someone setting a whole bowl of cake batter in front of my face! Oh yes. They recently initiated a meme, and I'm going to play.

• Do you have a favorite gift that you love to give?
• If we're talking handmade, I love to give crocheted washcloths with other bath-related items--especially for babies. I also make baby sweaters, and they are the most fun to give! I made 4 little red sweaters for my 4 Earle nieces, and we're going to cross our fingers to get pictures of the girls this Christmas.
  

• If you’re making gifts this year, what are you making? (Post photos if you have some!)
• I made slippers for my Wall nieces, and they turned out so cute! They LOVE pink and blue, respectively.
  
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• Do you have any good stories about handcrafted gifts you’ve given or received?
• My dear friend Kristen heard me say I was trying (and failing) to make an apron from a man's shirt (wish I could find the link for that... I forget whose idea it was, so sorry for not giving credit!). For my birthday she made me an uber cute pink one! I should post a picture sometime.
  

• Do you have any great gift compilation ideas (a grouping of gifts just perfect for certain recipients?)
• Crocheted kitchen towels, washcloths, placemats, and trivets.
  

• Name one (NO, THREE!) thing(s) on your personal wish list (Yay for Amazon!).
• Airpot for coffee... I love having people in my home, and coffee is essential to a cozy gathering.
  
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• I love tips and tricks for making cooking/sewing/organizing/LIFE easier and more creative!
• The thing I miss the most about singing in a college choir is that more simple, beautiful blend, and doing collections of beautiful songs instead of just major works. Concordia is one of the most gorgeous choirs out there, and to have Christmas music from them would just give me goosebumps!
  
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• Do you make and sell things that would make fantastic gifts? (Link)
• I am just starting to make baby girl sweaters to sell. Here are examples, and I would love to do custom orders!
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Follow-up

Thank you to everyone who wrote to me about their experience with prayer! I am at a really cool place with this right now. I've spent a lot of my life feeling guilty, or like I'm "not doing it right" in so many areas of my spiritual life. What I'm trying to do is break some things down and do them in a way that fits who I am--not trying too hard to be the way a particular preacher or camp director spouted in a rally atmosphere. I recently prayed that God would help me find a time during the day that I could start a regular Bible reading. It has bounced all over the place as Lucy has changed habits in the last two years... It used to be in the early mornings when I fed Lucy (read the Bible on-line!), and then it was during bath time (she played so quietly for so long!). Now it is at the beginning of her naps. That used to be part of my dinner prep time, but I'm just praying God will help me find other times during the day when I can do the prep. So far it's been extremely rewarding.

Here are a few things I'm doing right now that are really freeing me up to make this a useful time:
* I'm using sticky notes in my Bible to just write down questions and observations to help me stay engaged in my reading. No epiphanies necessary, just write a few things. This came from a class I had in grad school that required that we write 3 questions 2 observations and 1 take-away for every reading to make sure we were using our minds as we read.

* I'm keeping stickies with prayer needs in the back. I'm not trying to dive into a particular format, except that I am trying to make sure I am praising God, thanking him, presenting my requests, and asking forgiveness. I'm trying to let this be somewhat organic, again just writing down the things that come to mind, and not trying to force anything.

* I was feeling a little frustrated knowing where to start with praising God, though again wanting to let it be organic. I pulled out my hymnal and started singing hymns! I love to sing, and there is so much good theology packed into those older hymns. What a delight!

Here are two (here and then here) really, really good articles (quick reads) that I found about prayer. I love Stand to Reason... they have a fantastic attitude about evangelism, and seem to come from a really no frills, "what is the truth" way of thinking. It's fitting me well right now.

Thanks for being on the journey with me!

Another request

If you are a regular reader of this blog, and you are a follower of Christ, I have a question for you, and I would like to humbly request that each of you answer if you are so inclined, and only to the extent that you are comfortable. If you'd rather respond to me in person, please do.

I'd really like to know something about how you learned to pray, and how you do pray. Give me as much or as little as you like. Here are some questions that are in my head that give context to your answers:

Did you come to follow Christ at an early age or a late age? Were you raised in a Christian home/church? Do you use words and sentences in your head? Do you write your prayers? Do you use fragments of thoughts? Is it easy or frustrating to pray? What kinds of things do you pray for? How do you begin? Do you follow a "format?" When do you pray? How often?

I've been thinking of these things because a.) I often feel that my prayer life is still growing and I am still often haunted by the odd guilt that says I must not be "doing it right." (I believe this guilt comes from lots of motivational speakers and "the camp syndrome.") b.) I'd like to bring up Lucy with a solid, sound understanding of how to pray. c.) I feel incredibly blessed to have so many friends who believe that Jesus is the way to reconcile us with God, and I always appreciate any chance I have to connect with you on that and learn from you.

Thanks for your answers, short or long. I look forward to what you have to say!