Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Click the link

Here is a little video you all might enjoy. My husband showed it to me one quiet evening, just to add a bit of emphasis to his point. Visuals always aid a conversation.


Enjoy "The Long and the Short of It"

Friday, February 11, 2011

Sun, Come out, Where Ever You Are!

"I miss summer fruits the way a plucked flower misses sunshine. After three months of ice and bluster, I’m pining for the return of strawberries and peaches. I dream about buckets of glossy cherries, and my first watermelon wedge of the season."
(Quoted from The kitchen generation)
 
Why is it we all go a little crazy in February/March, longing for the sun to spend long days here, and the trees to start showing their little green buds? Despite the fact that bugs and sunburn and sweaty days in the garden come with it?  

 I was talking with Caitlin, and she agrees that this winter has been long and gray for everyone this year. Never before have I felt so stuck inside our house...never before have I missed getting my feet thoroughly dirty quite so much. I want to see Montana's little wild flowers and weeds bravely add some color to our little world of gray and white and brown. I want to weed the garden. I want to have a picnic decked out with messy watermelon and loads of cool potato salad.
http://i123.photobucket.com/albums/o284/BingjieHu/Flora/greenery.jpg
Am I making you discontent?

 Sorry.

This brings me to a question. How can we "spruce up" the inside of the house, instead of longing to be outside, anywhere else than where we are?


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There is a point where cozy teas and reading by a fire just doesn't quite...do the trick. And while were on the subject, how about just brightening our lives in general? Me and my family have recently been on the look out for anything new. New movies to watch, new things to get involved in, new ideas and crafts and projects and books and thoughts...new, new, new. Perhaps not exciting (though we can make it so) but different.
And a huge factor in all of this is a budget. So all of these questions have to be asked with that in the back of our minds. How do we do it with only so much to do it with?

That just kind of has to be worked out and done differently in each home. Putting out a list of ideas doesn't really work...you've gotta know the the family, house, situation, etc to really get some relevant and do-able ideas.


But if your Saved by the Blood of Jesus Christ, then prayer to God for contentment and happiness right where we are is the best thing to do. That's what I did. So I guess this post was just me getting around to saying that I think I am finally learning to be content, and really, TRULY happy. Right where I am. And I want to share it with you.

I have often heard that phrase "finding joy in the little things":
















...phrases like that don't really mean anything to a person till they go through something to make that saying make sense (If that made sense).

So, I'm determined to love it even when I don't feel like loving it, find something good in it even though it may not seem like there is much good in it, smile at it when its funny or happy, and trust in God when its sad or difficult.

What is it? Well, you fill it in.
And in the case of wanting spring... I'll think up something else to be happy for, with the Lords help. ;)
I have learned so many new and exciting lessons in the past month and a half about walking and living in Christ as a young Christian lady, being content and quiet and thoughtful and kind, and the list goes on. Now I've got to put those lessons into practice, as I continue to learn. This is the biggest one. I thought maybe I could pass it along to someone out there.

In Christ,
Jillian

Monday, February 7, 2011

News

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTA7YAbVh4NZK2tHw7fWUiN0Mp2T7THQWuAQ05cpE-PCqwAbjAf&t=1

This July/August, Roman and Caitlin are going to be the proud parents of a little one!
We are all looking forward to a new member to love, and welcome into the Carstensen/ Mallery families.
Can't wait!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Just a Thought...

 http://www.fromoldbooks.org/pictures-of-old-books/p7110009-grose-antique-books-with-candle-499x384.jpg

"Reading a great work of literature can truly be likened to having a conversation with a great mind." -Jennie Chancey