I received a true present today. It was from a co-worker that I am not particularly close to, but she knit me a scarf. It is pretty and I am wearing it at my desk right now. I say it is a true present because I didn't have a return present and we don't have a tradition of swapping gifts. At some point in the past few weeks she had to think about me and that brings a smile to my face.

It also brings a smile to my face that she thinks my name is Rebecca. I am sure it was just a slip as she was wrapping the present, but it got me to thinking about how certain names seem to fit certain people. For example, several random times in my life people have told me I look like a Jennifer or they have called me Jennifer when trying to recall my name. I don't really know what a Jennifer looks like but I don't really consider myself looking like one. I think my real name generally fits. So I guess now I have to consider Rebecca and see if that one works...so far I am thinking no. My friend Ellis' first name is Rebecca and we really are quite different. I don't think I would match the names Tiffany, Laura, or Teresa either. Maybe I could be a Martha...

My family has decided to scale back this year on Christmas so I want whatever gifts I do buy to be the "perfect" gift for each person. So, I was thinking about that while I was reading through the blogs on my list that begin with letters C-E. One posting gave a run-down of the author's 7 favorite calendar picks. And that reminded me of this really neat calendar that my older brother and his wife gave me for Christmas several years ago. It is made by Linnea Designs and you purchase a frame and change the months out as the months change. The illustrations are interesting and whimsical and seem to make me smile even if it is just a drawing of an eggplant. (An eggplant is the current month that is hanging on my wall at home.) Anyway, it was a PERFECT gift and ever since then, they have given me the upcoming year refills for the calendar. The only problem is that at the end of each month, I don't know what to do with the interesting pictures. I don't want to trash them...so I am perculating (sp?) on a solution for that dilemma. Anyway, these calendars are not readily available in Prattville, or Alabama for that matter...and it may be the perfect gift for someone else out there. So, I would suggest that whoever is reading this should go to linneadesign.com . It may take care of someone really important on your Christmas list!

Today my thoughts are on Africa. South Africa that is. It has been about a year and a half since I went on a mission trip there. It was an amazing "high" spiritual time for me. When I returned, it was hard for me to see the things (even the church work I did) as important when considering the work of the missionaries that live there year round. I know that we can be/are missionaries wherever we are geographically or otherwise. But, I found it so much easier to be focused on sharing the love of my Savior when that was my only goal...money issues and that sort of thing never crossed my mind. And oddly enough, though I can become terribly homesick and anxious in situations away from my normal surroundings...I was never really homesick. I missed my family and friends but I really just wanted them to be there to experience what I was experiencing.

Now a year and a half later, I feel like many of us on the trip were attacked by Satan. I lost my job and then my father passed away unexpectedly. Allison's mom's cancer came back and she passed away a few months ago. At least one other team member has experienced a traumatic death in the family and two of our team mates have stopped coming to church regularly. For a nine member mission team, that is a lot of big circumstances to accumulate in a year and a half. Though some may view this as judgement on others, it isn't. I simply see it as evidence of an attack, and I pray that we will all find ourselves turning back to the One who allowed us to serve Him in such a neat way in South Africa.

I think this is on my heart for a few reasons. First, I feel like I am called to go back at some point to continue working with the people there and with the missionary family we worked along side. I don't know how that is to play out, as I have only been working in my current job for a year and have limited days available to take off. I am also trying to be a better financial steward, but I know that God has a plan and will work it all out.

Second, with the holiday season approaching I think about what it would be like to be in another country on another continent from my loved ones. I know that the Yngsdal family must long for their family and friends back home. Which makes me want to do anything and everything I can for them and for other missionaries who have given up such valuable time with friends and family. So my commitment is to support them through the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering that is taken up in Southern Baptist churches through the holiday season.

Third, I feel stir-crazy some times in my work knowing that what I do day in and day out has such little importance in the big picture. I just want to be used by God and yet be content with where I am until He leads me somewhere new.

Since I have decided to become slightly obsessive about saving money, I have been couponing for the last several months. I am only buying for my mom and myself most of the time, so we rarely have huge lists anyway. But, since I started couponing I had several coupons for free reusable grocery bags. I had always thought they were more trouble than they were worth. And I really thought that it was easier to go with the plastic. HOWEVER!!!! I have changed my tune...I love those reusable bags. They sit up so nicely in the car and my groceries don't fall out all over the place. Those bags also hold way more than the plastic kind. These are much more handy when you are the only one shopping and bringing your load in from the car. In my new frugalness, I am even pumped that they are only about $1 a piece and many times they are free. I even found one at home that a friend had given us packed full of food when my dad passed away. The food is long gone, but I was so excited to remember that we had the bag!!! YEAH for reusable grocery bags! Who knew this would be such an exciting thing! I think I may "wrap" all the Christmas presents in reusable grocery bags this year...maybe.

this is the renovated kitchen at my parents house. the floors are original, but the cabinets and appliances are all new. as soon as i can locate before pictures, i will post them. in the mean time, this is the after.

so, my first real post...here goes.

my parents have been renovating their home that was built in 1912. there are tons of projects to do in this house, but the bones are good and there is a lot of inspiration around every cornere. in this post i'll tell you about the kitchen and butler's pantry renovation. the kitchen was just awful and it was virtually impossible to cook and/or eat in. so my parents hired portions of it done and then the whole family contributed to the parts that we could do. For example, my father and one of my brothers laid the brick floor. my father did a majority of the wall repair work which was a huge undertaking. Luckily, we have been in our kitchen now for several months and we are enjoying every minute of it. my next post, I will show you the before and after.

give blogging a go

I have decided to give blogging a go and it will probably take me awhile to get everything just right, and I may quit after a week. But, I have have seen and read some of the neatest things in other blogs...so I am excited about the prospects.