a life beyond running shoes.

almost amish by nancy sleeth (one woman's quest for a slower, simpler, more sustainable life) does that sound right up my alley or what?! it was.  she takes a look at a community that has be able to stay connected to each other while remaining somewhat "out of touch" with modern culture. sleeth a makes the case that current american culture [and even modern church culture] are the ones that are out of touch not the amish.  sleeth takes ten tenants of amish culture and in a way deconstructs it, finds the merit, and challenges her reader to see what they have that we don't.  her ten things: home, technology, finances, nature, simplicity, service, security, community, families, and faith.  the ones that i really loved:  homes - aren't cluttered. technology - serves as a tool and does not rule. [i have stopped checking my cell phone or email on sundays....so mom, call my home phone] finances - save more and spend less.  simplicity - small and local lea...

can i admit that i feel as if i have reached my adventure threshold? please, no more adventures. we took residence of our new home a week ago. we thought we would only be "house camping" for a few days...... well, one week later and the moving truck should arrive tomorrow. we have had some fun in the meantime. perhaps i will post later about the adventure of driving our family of five across the country, visiting friends & family over five days and 2900 miles.... perhaps, i will just put it behind me and move forward to our new life on the west coast. but until i decide, here are pics from point reyes beach...... hard to believe we live here.  you can hear him saying, "i'm king of the world." she was so grumpy that daddy and the boys climbed the rocks without her. exploring tide pools for the first time. so, i guess we are enjoying the newness of our life our here. it is gorgeous..... it ha...

three cups of tea . by greg mortenson and david oliver relin such a good use of my time. should have passed this one along. should have purchased this one for friends. then i saw the 60 minutes story . questions the accuracy of mortenson's story, his program, his finances. **sigh** i value truth. it is a priority of our home. now what? so, i read on line. i read the nytimes article that doesn't necessarily counter the other new program's story. mortenson defends his story. his friend published a story as an op-ed piece . i liked that point of view. kristof doesn't know what to make of the accusations. but he knows greg mortenson and also knows mortenson's limitations. mortenson never claimed to be organized or financially savvy. and yet he started a foundation, built schools, risked his life, and is changing the world. what have i done? frankly, if only half of what he has accomplished is actually true.... it is amazing, remarkable, incredible. it is hard to balanc...

good hair . by chris rock. how does america define beauty mostly among african-american women? his three-year old daughter asked him why she didn't have good hair. he looks into the industry, the ideals, the money, and the need. it is fascinating. i almost don't know how to discuss it because on one hand, it seems like an amazing amount of money for relaxer and weaves. on the other hand, don't i get my roots done every six weeks to maintain this mane of blond hair that is only about ten shades lighter than my natural hair? and what do i believe about the extent a woman should go to in order to feel beautiful? i guess i am torn. it seems like a lot. it seems like we have created a culture where white, flowing, wavy (not nappy) hair is what is beautiful. that makes me sad to think of the little girls in my neighborhood, on my street not thinking that their hair is beautiful. god did make her hair different than my daughter's....and just because my daughter...

no impact man . by colin beavan i have been trying to figure out how to post about this book for over a week. that is right, i have been writing this post in my head for a week...... here is why: i want you to read it. and i know that most of you (my brother, my mother....okay, all my family) will dismiss it because it confirms what you really believe: that i am really that crunchy. there is has been said. i want you to read this book..... what can i write to compel you to read it? how can i spin it? how can i sell it? i can't. i will only tell you what i thought.... the decision is yours but so far this is the best book i have read this year..... he and his family (wife -prada wearing, cappuccino drinking, take-out ordering - plus toddler) try and go off the grid for a year....in new york city. no trash. no waste. no impact. want to read it yet? of course not..... that is merely strange and crazy but a slightly fascinating prospect. he is a good writer. he is honest. he is no...

but not sealed. we are in contract. needless to say... january has been a CRAZY month. god has been kind, gracious, patient, and gentle with me as we have walked down the road to become home owners. when we saw this house less than a month ago, i had no desire to move... again....to this..... i was just feeling settled, comfortable, and at home. it is diagonally about a mile from where we live now..... where we just moved six months ago. i have had to answer hard questions.... and at the end realize that our greatest job is to serve the king... with our time, our home, and our family. i thought this january we were praying about something totally different....and yet it has really been, at the heart, the same thing..... how can we shape our family to better serve the church we want to start, the neighborhood we want live, and the city we love. god answered us with this house. it was not how i wanted him to answer it, but he has given me a bigger view of himself, his love for me, ...

sort of.... special for uncle bud....