The New Liberalism

Fall cleaning has begun!  Well, ok...it's technically not fall cleaning at the Lund household.  I've set out to deep clean one room a month from October to April - October's the kitchen.  Last week I cleaned out and reorganized all the kitchen cupboards - it feels so good to have that done!  My fridge and oven are spotless too - yay!

For the first 20 minutes of the six hours it took to complete those tasks, I worked in silence.  Then I turned the radio on.  And then I thought, "How am I redeeming the time as I am cleaning?"  [This question has popped into my mind a lot lately - "How do I redeem the time at my sewing machine?"  Now I memorize Scripture while I sew. OR "How do the farmers redeem the time when they're going back and forth, back and forth in the field?"]

So I set my computer to the White Horse Inn (dot org) and began listening to their radio shows.  I just think the world of Dr. Michael Horton because he was one of Brian's favorite profs at Westminster.  Not only did my cleaning time seem to quickly pass, but I was learning!  

I want to recommend one talk in particular to you: Christianity & The New Liberalism.  If you go to the WHI site, you'll find "Listen to WHI!" on the right side.  There you'll find this talk.  It was really eye-opening for me, especially since I grew up in a large, fast growing evangelical church.  Not that all evangelical churches are becoming the "new liberal", but it's just something to ponder, be aware of, and pray against.

Happy listening!

P.S. How do you "redeem the time" when you're completing tasks that don't occupy your mind?  I'd love more suggestions!

Lovin' Fall

We've been spending as much time outside as possible.  Last week was beautiful - sunny and high 70s.  I totally slacked on some housework a few days so we could just play outdoors.

 Our favorite at 15.5 months.

 The Greimans grew Aidan a pumpkin and even carved his name in it!

He loves to climb the steps and touch it.

 The boys are always together.

 Aidan shares the windblown corn husks with Leo.

I am so thankful to the LORD for my dear little family.  They bring so much joy to my heart.

Frugal Me?!

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control..." Galatians 5:22-23a

Not even one cell of my bone marrow is frugal.  I'm like a magnet to the most expensive item in any category.  But lately I've become convicted of my need to cultivate self-control in the area of spending.  No, I don't just go on random shopping sprees or have two caramel lattes in a week (I wish!).  But I do have trouble sticking to my grocery budget (which includes toiletries and cleaning supplies).  Sometimes things that aren't on my list just sneak into the cart.  And do I use those extra items?  Yes - usually first!  Especially because they are often the fun, unnecessary items like potato chips or Almond Joy Fun Size Bars.

Ugh, budgets.  Hate them.  However, Julie (see my previous post) linked to the blog: The Frugal Girl and I thought I'd check her out.  No, I probably won't be cutting my hole-y jeans off at the knee and sewing the legs together to make a skirt or dye my faded 8 year old shirt that cost me $10 black again.  BUT I may check out Aldi.  Yes, that's the store we used to drive by each Sunday on the way to church and every Sunday, I'd think to myself as we were sitting at the stoplight next to it, "Gross...who would shop there?"  But my snobby-self is turning not so snobby in order to save money!

The Frugal Girl's site is really neat.  When I get back from vacation (I'll tell you about that in another post), I'm going to try her meal planning.  She gives you the menu, recipes, and shopping list (yes, she shops at Aldi).  Her goal is to spend $400/month.  At first that seems like a lot - and was my monthly goal - but I just can't seem to stick to $400.  So I'm going to try it.  I'll let you know how it goes.  

I'll be that 'green' person who's bringing my own bags to Aldi and paying $.25 for a cart.  That's so not me, but if I can be a good steward of our money, it's worth it.  

Let me know if you try Frugal Girl's menu planning - I'd love to hear how it goes for you!  And pray for me...that I'll be self-controlled!

Winter Fun

So when some seminary favorites, Brian & Julie, came to visit this summer all the way from Canada, we asked them how they survived their first cold-climate winter (both are from LA!).

Their best answer, "We '...think we can dance!'"

And they busted some moves in our basement!  It was so hilarious and looked like such a blast!  

This was their routine:

Julie found it from this site:

National Dance Day 2011 - the Master's Class.

What a fun thing to do with your spouse on a cold, winter night when you've been cooped up in the house for way too long!

Brian, are you ready to bust some moves?  Yay - I am so excited!

Next summer, Jules, you'll have to come visit again and we'll have a dance-off.  Ha!  I'm sure I'll be way too embarrassed to show anyone!

A Tribute

If you've hung out with me in the last seven years, then you've met her.

This is our dearest, most faithful Sebring, once nick-named Stella by Kgal.

 Today, as I was cleaning her out for the last time ever, I suddenly became sentimental.  Can I really part with her?  We've been besties for seven years now; we're inseparable - where I go, she takes me!

We've been 132,000 miles together:

• Stella was a wedding gift to us from Brian's parents.  She was brand-new in 2004 and our first ride together was on our honeymoon up to the North Shore of Minnesota.
• She safely took me to and from our apartment in St. Anthony to Liberty Classical Academy where I taught middle school science (mornings) and then to my downtown Minneapolis job each afternoon for two years.
• She patiently followed that yellow Penske in August of 2006 to Escondido, California so that Brian could begin seminary at Wscal.
• Daily we went to Heritage K-8 Charter School where I taught 6th grade for four years.
• In the summer of 2007, she flawlessly tackled the Rockies again to get us home to MN for a six-week vacation. (Gotta love being a student and a teacher!)
• In 2008-2009, she accompanied me to the University of San Diego twice a week so that I could obtain my Masters of Education in curriculum and teaching.
• And we won't forget the hundreds of trips to the Pacific Ocean or all the others areas we explored in San Diego County and LA. (We both left our hearts in California - she and me - not Brian, unfortunately!)
• She powerfully climbed those big hills on "The 15" to get us to church at Christ PCA, Temecula each Sunday.
• In the first six months of 2010, Stella gracefully took me to each appointment with Dr. Chortkoff in Del Mar where we could hear our baby boy's heartbeat.
• She waited in the parking lot of Sharp Mary Birch as we prayed and begged God to spare our son's precious life as he was in the NICU for a week in July 2010.
• She rejoiced with us when we drove Aidan John Lund home on July 15, 2010.
• She grieved with us as we waved goodbye to dear dear friends and a wonderful life in California.
• She admitted - Iowa was a huge adjustment; she followed those super slow cars on these two-lane highways way more patiently than her driver.  She did whisper that she loves going back to the big city and stopping so that I may get a Starbucks, Chipotle and a few fun things at MOA.

 Leo and Mama's last picture with Stella.

We are thankful to the LORD for the ways He kept us safe in her those 132,000 miles.  In seven years, here's what I remember going wrong:

1. Battery died (once)
2. Fender-bender on East Valley Parkway (no biggie - she stopped so perfectly!)
3. Coronado Island, CA 2008 fiasco (remember, Chings and Brittons!?) - again, not her fault!
4. Snowy ditch 2010 - screaming child, pulled over too far, got stuck.  Yay for AAA!

Pretty great track record, eh?  Yes, I will miss her.  She rocked.

But we are pleased to introduce:

 Mr. Jeep

 Thanks, Grandpa Fretty, for finding us the perfect car!

Low miles. Older so the price was right.  Extremely clean.  Lots of space.

Our little man was there too - and he's excited about our purchase too because he squealed all the way to Grammie and Grandpa's - but he didn't want to be in the picture with us.  Running between cars is way more fun.

How I Wish the Homosexuality Debate Would Go

My hubby always finds the most interesting articles; I encourage you to read this one:

How I Wish the Homosexuality Debate Would Go

As I read this, I was reminded of what I read this morning in Barcley's The Secret of Contentment in regards to gays just being "true" to who they are.  

"...the world says that the way to happiness is to 'be yourself.'...In contrast to today's emphasis on self-esteem, the biblical message is that contentment only comes from not being ourselves.  That is, we find peace and joy from being conformed to the image of Christ."

 and

"In a sense, then, we can say that Christianity is about becoming ourselves, not being ourselves.  Simply being ourselves in our sin and depravity leads to death and despair," (pg. 144).

May both homo and heterosexuals repent of their sins and seek to live, by faith, a life that glorifies Jesus Christ.

 P.S. Today I've been addicted to this song.  Enjoy!

The Bulls-Eye is Complete!

Remember when I purchased my first quilting project?  This is what it looked like when I bought all the fabric.

Well, I am proud to show you that I have completed all the sewing!

The green polka-dot fabric in the foreground will be the backing.

The next step is to take it to Mary's to be professionally quilted, but I'm going to wait until January to do that...unless I decide that I want it to be my Christmas present.  ;)

Then it will be bound (yes, by hand - truly, that's the worst part about quilting).  After that it gets washed so the edges of the circles will fray (yes, that's the look we're going for!).  And then it'll be finished!  I can hardly wait.  I'm then hoping to get a picture of all us Zion sewing ladies and our Round-Abouts with, of course, the best teacher ever, Mary!