jam and jeans

In the last week I've kept myself busy. Last week, Jon came home from work with a huge container of plums. Between the two of us, we made plum jam. It's really tasty......but then, I've always liked plum jam/jelly. The kids love it. They are constantly asking for bread and jam.

And, I sewed patches of a pair of my jeans and a pair of Liam's. I saw an idea for patch work using pretty (or cute in boys cases) fabrics and thought it would be great to try. I ended up layering a piece of denim under the pretty fabric to give it more durability and sewed them on using fun stitches on my machine (I am still in denial that I own a viking sewing machine!! Thanks mom!). I am also doing a pair of khaki pants of Liam's, and have plans for another holey pair of my own. Sadly, the only pictures I have are these ones of Liam's jeans, but it gives you an idea.

About 10 years in the making

When I lived in Mexico (2001-2003), I decided to make an afghan. I picked out a fun color---a variegated blue and made up a pattern in my head that I liked and was fairly easy.
And today, about 10 years later, I finally finished it!

FMF: Grasp

I always know I've slacked off in blog world when I have two Five Minute Friday posts right next to each other, as it shows I didn't do any other blogging all week.
Sorry. Hopefully I will have something for you soon. I keep forgetting to take my camera with me.

Anyway, here we are again and this weeks word is Grasp. Five minutes on the clock, let's go:

Have you ever watched your kid (or someone else's even), finally get it? It could be school related: addition, reading, or just something to do with growing up, or whatever and you've watched them struggle with it seemingly forever and then one day, it's like a light bulb goes off in their heads and they get it. The idea has been grasped, understood, internalized. They have matured through the trial and they really get it.
I think that's what it's like to grow as a follower of Jesus too. We struggle with a concept or a hardship and it seems like we will be stumbling along in the dark forever and then, all of a sudden: ta da. We get it. We are able to grasp that idea and understand it. 
I have had so many of those moments over the years. And they are amazing every time. When I finally am able to grasp and hold onto what God has been teaching me, it feels like the whole world has opened up for me. It's awesome. 

Five Minute Friday writers all group together over here. Go check them out!

FMF: Wide

Today's Five Minute Friday word is Wide. Let's go...


I saw the word earlier today and thoughts of Wide have swirled in my head. There are just so many avenues to write about. Which one to pick?
I'm still no nearer to an actual decision.....so let's see what happens if I just start typing. 
Have you ever seen a river in flood? How it swamps it's banks and the land around it is saturated? That's kind of like how I want to live life----so full of God's love that it swamps it's banks and floods my entire life, and consequently the lives around me.
Sadly, so often, I stay confined within the banks of.......of what? Fear is all an answer there can be. I am afraid. Afraid of being swept away by the flood. Afraid it will lead me where only more fear lies.
And yet, isn't God's love the exact opposite of fear?  Isn't the road traveled with God the only sure route? Could I ever live life and live it abundantly and over flowing without Him?
Sure----some of the fears are legitimate. Real. But I think I can trust my God enough to believe that in the end, it's all going to make sense.
So, what is there to lose? Just the banks of my life. Just fear. Just everything holding me back.


So, that's it for Wide. Seems a little abstract, but there you go.
Come with me and let's go see what the others have written for Wide on Five Minute Fridays.

the three kids and some baseball

I took these pictures of the kids the other day. It started out with David wanting me to take his picture, and then I decided to try and get face pictures of all three. It worked pretty good. Heidi loves to say "CHEESE" for the camera, it's so cute.
Also, I couldn't resist taking the picture of all three of them cuddled up together while they watched some TV. It was so cute!!!!

We took the kids to the park today and hit a baseball (and a couple of tennis balls) around for a bit. The kids loved it, and I loved that they were getting exercise and having fun at the same time! We had a fun family day today.....the park, watched a movie, and wandered around at the mall.

FMF: Focus

here we go for Five Minute Friday. Today's word is Focus.

Focus. Sometimes you have it, sometimes you don't. My craft area and kitchen counters are proof positive that I often don't. The fact that I already tried to write this post yesterday is also proof that I often don't. Of course, it didn't help that the TV was on last night.
Tonight's a bit different. Kids and Hubs are in bed, and the TV is off. There's not much to distract me tonight. 
I get distracted so easily. And yet, really cool things happen when I am focused. Like the crafts I have done that turn out really cool. Or having a clean kitchen, it's so nice. 
I haven't yet figured out the secret formula that works for me to keep me focused. I've tried lots of time management ideas.....none really work, or not for long. Inevitably there's a new book to read and that's the end of all my good intentions. But, I keep trying and someday maybe I will light on something that works. Like a maid. Ha ha ha, I guess that only works for the kitchen.....I'm on my own with getting my crafts done. It's one of the main reasons (friendship time being the other), that I've started having craft days. They help me focus. On both crafts and house, actually, because who likes entertaining in a dirty house? I sure don't.


There you have it. If you'd like to see other's posts on "focus", visit Five Minute Fridays!

Life In Every Breath

You may wonder why I call my blog what I do. Here's just a few thoughts I've had on it...

Because all we've been promised is one breath, one day at a time and because I want to experience each moment of life for all that it's worth and because every breath is a gift and because life is a breath, and for so many other reasons.

Because I need the reminder to live in today. Because each moment is special.

Because kids grow up too fast, and life changes in an instant and because you never know what tomorrow will bring.

Because tragedy and joy are intermingled and inseparable, even in the littlest things.

Because breathing in is just as necessary as breathing out, and living life is a way to give glory to God.

 I think it really should say "live life in every breath, breathe in every moment of life and give thanks to God for each breath you breathe." but that's a little long, so I've kept it simple with "life in every breath".

the fair, a baseball game and more

we've been having a bit of fun the last few weeks.

I was able to bring the kids to the Evergreen State Fair because of a special they were having that if you brought food for a food drive, you got your entry to the fair for free! We had a blast and it was such a nostalgic thing for me, having grown up doing 4H, fair was a huge part of my life and I hadn't been to one in a very long time. I got really emotional as we were walking in and at a couple points during our time there, but thankfully I didn't cry. We rode the carousel, ate a funnel cake and wandered through the animal barns, just to name a few things we did that day.

Then, that same day in the evening, Jon and I got to go to a Mariners game! That was fun too! Jon had got the tickets from a lady at work who couldn't go, and Jessie watched the kids for us. We had impressive seats, only about 25 feet back from the 3rd base line and even though our team lost, we had a good time.

A couple days ago, I pulled out our colored salt for the kids to play with and practice their letters and spelling words. I also colored some salt for Heidi since I hadn't yet. I colored hers a really pretty lavender.

And lastly, thanks to Pinterest, I got this idea for making a baby sling for Heidi. My mom had given me this beautiful corduroy fabric and I just couldn't wait to do something with it! It was a quick sew up and Heidi thinks it's pretty cool. I made it a little big so it would last her a few years.

FMF: Graceful

This weeks Five Minute Friday word is Graceful. Lets see what comes in the next five minutes....


Graceful. I think of a beautiful woman, dancing to soft music. I think of children, looking like angels in their sleep. I think of God sending Jesus to broken humanity. I think of my mother, who seems to be the embodiment of grace. I think of my friend Pamela, who also reflects grace to me. And so many others in my life.
I think of how grace-less I often am, and how I wish for a heart that overflows with grace. Because it is the outpouring of grace that shines love and Christ into others' lives, and how often I have stumbled and not given grace when it was needed and how many relationships have suffered because of it, and how many people only see Jennifer when they look at me because my selfish grace-less-ness covers over the Jesus grace?
Thank God He is a God of grace, or I would have been damned long ago. But for His grace I can continue to learn and to grow, and to scratch through the surfaces of self and reflect more of Him.
Each moment I give grace, is another moment I allow the Holy Spirit to work in me. And, it opens new worlds and gives new meaning to life. Grace is a door to an abundant life, to get grace is a knock on the door, an invitation, but to give grace is to open it wide.
I want my door to be open. Wide.


That might have been more like 6 minutes....but there you go. Find more posts on Graceful at Five Minute Fridays!!!!

FMF: Change

This week's Five Minute Friday word is Change. Here we go:

"The world is changing. I can feel it in the air....."
Or something like that is the quote from Lord of The Rings, and just about sums up how I feel right now.
As soon as I got home from the lake, I could feel it. A change in the air. Maybe it was just my perception heightened by the fact that we usually go to the lake toward the end of summer, but it feels like autumn now. And strangely enough, I am ready for it. I didn't think I would be. Not after the lousy bit of summer we had here in the pacific northwest. But I am. Maybe it's the fact that we usually have beautiful "Indian Summers" around here. Maybe it's the fact that Autumn has always been my favorite time of year. Maybe it's just being ready for the change that a new season inevitably brings.
I like change in moderation, and in the right circumstances. Like when it's something I like, or I am in control of it. But change can also be very, very challenging and painful. At least the seasons are a change to look forward, each season having something special to do with it.
There is a lot of changing that happens with being a mom. Watching the kids grow and change. Going through different "seasons" of life with those kids, or with your husband. Going through changes in your own body. At lease the seasons of nature are more or less predictable.

There you have it for this week. Check out what other people have written about Change at Five Minute Fridays!!!