Archives for April 2016

Well this week I finally finished reading through the New Testament.  It only took me about 20 months…hahahahahaha.  And yet, I am not one bit down on taking 20 months to read through 27 books because I really soaked them up and pursued understanding and love for God’s word versus quickness or a goal.  I needed to really break them down and so I did just that.  And it worked for me.  I can truthfully say I really deeply enjoy reading the Bible now and that is huge.

Revelations was waaaaaaay better than I ever imagined.  I really really liked it…even loved it.  It brought on big convictions and made me toe the line on issues in my heart.  It brought about major awareness and serious perspective.  This life is just a blip and Jesus is coming…like a thief in the night.  And not for one second is this all about me, but every last single bit is about God and His glory…how can we bring Him more glory and honor.

And now I’m diving right into Genesis and the rest of the Old Testament.  Hold me.  I’m nervous, but excited at the same time.  I’ve never read the Old Testament…just like I’d never read the New Testament.  So far, Genesis is awesome…even though I’ve only read chapter 1…and that took me two days.  Ha.

God is dang creative.  So many actions I boxed off…He was on it.  Loved how The Message put it in 1:1-2:

“Earth was a soup of nothingness, a bottomless emptiness, an inky blackness.  God’s spirit brooded like a bird above the watery abyss.”

And then He set to work creating like no one had ever created before or ever will create again.  His thoughtfulness and creativity is not lost on me at all.  It makes my jaw drop and just sit in awe of all the ridiculously marvelous things He did.  Geez.  He’s the Creator of the ages and I’m His kid…His offspring…created in His image.  I cannot wait to see what all He has waiting in the Old Testament for me.

Happy Friday.

We recently received two new DVDs in the mail.  Owlegories!  I was so interested to see how these were.  We love movies in our house.  I always like watching new things with the kids and when I read about Owlegories and how they use nature to show God’s truth I was on board.  Plus these peeps are native Nashvillains 🙂

Here’s a little snippet from their website:

You can tell a lot about an artist by what he creates. That is the theme behind Owlegories, the animated series. Owlegories teaches kids about God through the amazing things found in nature and revealed in God’s word.   

The banner verse for Owlegories is Psalm 19:1-4:  “The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.”

Honestly, when we first started the DVD I thought Hudson, Solomon and Harper might have outgrown their targeted audience, but I ended up being wrong.  All the kids loved it.  It was funny and clever and had good stories and was full of scripture and God’s truth.

I really loved how they based everything from nature…it was great for our outdoor loving kids.  Plus, we are on a huge bird kick right now…because of a thrift store Book of North American Birds book I brought home from Kansas 🙂

The Owlegories! team so kindly offered you guys a 25% off promo code for anything in their online store.  Just use PITTERPATTER25 in the “discount” bar at checkout.  Head over HERE and check them out.

And check out my Instagram for a fun giveaway for your own Owlegories DVD.

Happy Thursday!

1.  This morning was crazy town.  I locked my keys in Josh’s truck at the post office with my phone.  I harassed the postal workers by ringing their bell approximately 113 times before someone final came and said through the door in a slightly annoyed voice “Can we help you?” because it was way before opening hours.  They let me use their phone to no avail because Josh Kelley was not answering his.  I then ran back to the gym and caught Alissa in time to catch a ride to our house.  Only to be reminded by Josh that we only have one set of keys to his truck…which I locked in and myself out.  While waiting for a locksmith I ran to get some donuts at Krispy Kreme because ummmm, donuts make the world go round only to hear the lady over the drive thru intercom say after I placed my order “Well you are going to kill me, but we are out of donuts.”  Me “You’re out of donuts????”  Intercom Lady “All we’ve got is one dozen sprinkle.  Our belt broke down.”  And then it felt like the apocalypse.

2.  Waiting for Target popcorn is hard.  It’s even harder when you spill your bag right after receiving it.  Lucky for that kiddo I had extra.  Mom to the rescue.

3.  It’s not new news that I love our public school.  It is the greatest.  And the teachers are the greatest.  Next week is Teacher Appreciation week and I have been game planning.  The best teachers around deserve big love and appreciation.  And our art teacher is literally fantastic.  I have never seen kids do so many different and unique and creative art projects.  I love how she uses sooooooo many different supplies and techniques and let’s the kids really create.

4.  We finished The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe while I was sick in bed with a stomach bug.  I was sad I missed out, but the kids just couldn’t wait.  And I ordered several Aslan shirts from a friend who is adopting.  It was meant to be.

5.  I’ve got an itch to chop my hair all off.  It happens every few years.  The last time I had short hair was in maybe 2010/2011.  It is time.  And why yes that does say How To Style An Undercut 🙂

6.  We have the Most.Amazing.Bank.Ever!!!!!!  They recently had a Make A Difference Day and included our Harper by donating to her Swaziland trip.  Cue 5 million tears.  I almost died.  They also wrote the kindest and sweetest notes on the back of the giant check (how fun!!!!) for Harper.  And there were balloons.  And so many smiles and hugs.  Kindness is alive and well people.  It’s true.

7.  THIS!!!!  I cannot wait to dive in.  I was surprise gifted this by Courtney because she knows how much I love a good book about grief and loss…hahahahaha.  It’s so true.  I really do.  I am so excited to get to this one.  And Foreword By Shauna Niequist…be still my heart.

8.  Orders.  And key fobs have been in full force due to end-of-the-year teacher gifts.  If you are local and need some Timbali for those sweet teachers too…I can hook you up.

   9.  Last weekend’s Bible Journaling class was so much fun.  I got to hang with a whole bunch of lovely teenage girls in a crazy beautiful place.  Loved all the girls so much…it was an honor.  My online Bible journaling class is still going on and the next one will begin May 4th.  Message me HERE if you’d like to get in on the action.

10.  And I’ve had some extra solo time with this guy and I kind of love it.  Tomorrow morning we’ve got a donut date…scheduled after this morning’s donut debacle.  He can barely wait.

Happy Wednesday Night!!

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I’ve got a new favorite jam in Flo Rida’s My House song.  Suggestion:  Don’t watch the video with your 4-year-old peering over your shoulder.  It’s not the most appropriate of content..his house consists of things like liquor and scantily clad ladies dancing on tables and body shots 🙂  When it comes on the radio though I turn it all the way up and our van is bumpin’.  It’s crazy catchy and has my ear immediately.

Welcome to my house
Play that music too loud
Show me what you do now
We don’t have to go out
Welcome to my house

Show me what you do now.  I sing that line the loudest.  It’s my favorite.  It reminds me we all have something to show…we all have something to give…we all have something to offer to others…we all have personal gifts and abilities.  It reminds me comparison is the worst kind of game between people, but especially mothers and women in general…

I’m guest blogging over at 107 Market Street.  CLICK HERE to continue reading.

Happy Tuesday!

*We tried several new recipes this week that were awesome and thought I’d share.

I like to make my own taco seasoning…it’s easy and I just keep a jar already made up and ready to go.  This is the best taco seasoning I’ve tried so far…it’s got a perfect little kick to it and I probably won’t try another because I loved this one so much.  Sooooo yummy.

Plantain nachos…OH MY!!!!  Insanely ridiculously good.  We topped ours with ground beef (seasoned with above taco seasoning), romaine, tomatoes, green onions, salsa and homemade guacamole (avocado, sea salt, salsa and a lemon juice wedge mashed together).  Crazy good.

Mug Cakes…yes, please.  Josh Kelley liked the peanut butter one…I liked the chocolate cake one.  I subbed coconut sugar for the maple syrup equally and I did add a little cold almond milk to act like ice-cream…ice cream is definitely better, but this worked.

Ranch Steak Salad…hold the phone party people…this was a massive hit.  Sooooooo good.  And the leftovers the next day were even better.  I didn’t have any mayo or coconut milk for the dressing so I subbed in plain greek yogurt and almond milk…perfecto still.  And our salad was just chopped romaine and spinach…I’ll pass on kale all day long…not my jam.  Definitely will be making this again soon.

Cauliflower Fried Rice + Asian Turkey Meatballs = Uh-mazing!!!  This was gobbled up in no time by every Kelley.  I need to double the entire batch for next time.  I also ditched the green beans in the cauliflower rice and you can sub corn starch for arrowroot in the meatball sauce.

*Josh Kelley broke out the bocci ball set this week.  Then a tournament ensued which might have ended in some tears.  Hahahaha.  This is life.

*Amon and I had some solo time this week while our littlest was at a visitation.  We did things like play play-doh and pretend to play yahtzee and fold laundry and buy food products online.  It was a wild time.

And then he fell asleep like this.  If you didn’t know it, I really like this kid.

*I sent this sweetness off into the world.  Sigh.

*Today I’m making THESE and THESE for a movie night with friends.  Long live cookies.

*There’s been lots of outside play and sunshine too…until yesterday when it started raining.  The weekend is looking mighty fine though.

*Revelations has been off the charts and my online Bible journaling class started Wednesday.  I have been checking in each day and sharing about what I’ve been reading and journaling.  Revelations is absolutely amazing and I am deeply loving it…hard, but good.  God is really challenging me with His word and truth.

If you’d like to jump in on the online class just message me HERE.

*And we are reading aloud The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe together.  Last night I could have curled into a large womanly ball and cried like a baby in the corner.  I will never get over the love of how C.S. Lewis portrays Jesus in Aslan.  And even more, I love talking this out with our kids.  This literature is just so rich and I love seeing and hearing the connections they are making in it.

So it’s farewell to another week and hello to the weekend.  Hope you enjoy and soak it up.

Happy Friday!