Week in Review: November 4-10

On Saturday I went to Custer's Christmas Arts & Crafts show at the TRAC in Pasco with my mother & the girls. The line was so long to get in! It moved pretty quickly though. But then we got inside & it was sooooo crowded. I don't like fighting crowds. And I especially don't like following slow-pokes. So it was just a miserable combo. The littles got whiney. And maybe I did too. So my mom filled our bellies with good things like soda & nachos & Reese's pieces— & then we had happies again. We all left with homemade goodies. I remember going to craft bazaars all the time with my mom when I was younger. We would steal ideas & make our own Christmas gifts for the family. A pair of DIY spies is what we were. 

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Biscoff cookie spread. Got it as a prezzie from a friend last week. Have you had this stuff? It is AMAZING! It tastes JUST like the cookies. All smashed up & poured into a glass jar. Glass? I know. This is fancy stuff. (If you don't remember my love for this delicious cookie, see my blog post HERE.) The girls & I enjoyed many a piece of toast smothered in this stuff. The label even suggests eating it straight from the jar. *snorts* Ha! That is so silly of them to say!

*wipes mouth on back of sleeve*

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Ok, you know those felt tissue pouches I just posted about? (As seen in my most recent crafty DIY.) Well, on Friday I took several kits to the 4th grade classes at my girls' school as part of their STAR Club. I volunteer on occasion to lead crafts or activities for this 25 minutes of fun the kids have once a week. Let me tell you, the whole occasion was on the verge of complete disaster. I had all the pieces of felt pre-cut. Wise decision. And all the needles pre-threaded for hand-stitching. Brilliant in theory. But those kids needed more help than I could give! First of all, patience was not their virtue. Secondly, whining was. Thirdly, when I'm trying to help someone with the thread that fell off their needle for the 3rd time, & four other people are calling {repeatedly} on me {repeatedly} to do the same thing for them {repeatedly}, I might have gone a little crazy in the brain area. Fourthly, I'd like to address the boys in the group: the girls are mad that you chose all the teddy bears & left them with the silly monster faces.

Twenty-five minutes was definitely not enough time. It was an ambitious project—I can see that now. I just had more faith in those 9 year olds. And why is there always that one kid that goes crazy with the hot glue gun?

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So, my exciting news, after having many moments of stress & tears & worry & stuff, is that the family & I are starting a new ministry called GO. The Mr's heart & passion is (& always has been) evangelism & telling people about Jesus. The main focus of the ministry will be to hold festivals in parks, working with local churches. The festivals, all free to the public, will include: food, face painting, bounce houses for the kids, multiple activities for families, performing artists, & the presentation of the gospel. On a smaller scale, I have a heart to make Random Acts of Kindness a way of life. So in the future my dream is to get teams together for "mini" outreaches involving every creative form of giving to, & loving, our local communities. I think it would be the coolest thing on the planet to inspire others to love & to give, sharing the heart of Jesus & what He did for everyone on the cross.

All that stuff means that we are, in fact, NOT moving again. Woohoo!!! We are using the Tri-Cities, WA as base-camp. It's so awesome to think I can call this place "home" for reals. The uncomfortable part is that we are asking family & friends to consider supporting our family, in both prayers & finances, so that we can fulfill our mission of winning as many people to Christ as possible--here, there, anywhere, & everywhere. But I know God will provide for our family. The Mr. has big vision & big desire. And he is running, full-steam ahead to accomplish his dream & what he believes he was born to do. My favorite part? I know that, along the way, I will collect the most amazing stories to share.

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 Here's what else I did last week...

...made pistachio torte. And licked the beaters. (All. By. My. Self.)

...shipped the first orders from my Etsy shop since reopening. (It felt awesome!)

...watched a human growth & development video during Parent Preview night at school. Good times. (That last sentence to be read with sarcasm.)

...got some spontaneous time with my 3 nieces. (I love those sillyheads!)

...roasted s'mores & hotdogs & smelled like campfire. (3 of my favorite things.)

...bought a dozen tamales from a sweet lady at church named Rosa. On the way home from church, the fam pulled into a gas station to grab some paper towels. We ate the tamales in our laps, on the way home. Every single one of them. And then we shared the only water bottle we had. (Best. Lunch. Ever.)

...had a prayer walk with some friends, around a local neighborhood that will be the site of a festival in the spring of 2014. 

...made soup for the first time. Tomato basil parmesan. (And it was DElicious.)

...shared Jelly Bellies with the littles. (Buttered popcorn = gag.)

...made wassail for the first time this season. (Makes me all warm & happy inside.)

♥