beloved scrubby

Anyone who has traveled with a ministry type team for any length of time and stayed with families who (very generously) open their homes to overnight guests will be able to identify with this: there are things that will remain a great mystery about the host homes.

I traveled 2 summers during my college years - one was a 10 week tour, the other 8. Two summers with at least 7 other people in a 15 passenger van, traveling from church to church. It was a GREAT experience, one I wouldn't trade for anything. I LOVED IT, I learned a lot, mostly about myself and areas that really needed to change, but I also was able to learn a lot about churches and geographical differences and inner workings and about individuals and their fabulous differences. Many, many blessings, and many, many mysteries.

For me, one in particular was this: shower mysteries.

Now, I have kids, our family is busy, and I understand - sometimes, there are just things that need to be cleaned that totally escape our notice. And right now if you came to my house for an overnight visit you would find many, many things that need attention. Including a ceiling fan that I may or may not need a spatula to help remove the dust from.

It's been almost 10 years since I traveled, and I still hesitate to write this, but I truly do think it's kind of funny, so I hope you will understand.

It is a mystery to me why people would invite college students to stay at their home as overnight guests and then *not* clean the shower. I'm not talking about "there was a little lint on the shelves up high" or"someone forgot to get their hair out of the drain" or "there was soap scum on the walls" and then I'm sitting there whining about it. Ohhhh, no. I'm talking about "there is a 1/4 inch thick brown scum on the bottom 6 inches of the tub and enough hair to make a rug." If you think I exaggerate, please, ask my teammates. They will validate my stories.

So after a few of these scary showers, my trusty companion was a bottle of rubbing alcohol (for germs) and a nylon mesh scrubby with a handle (for scum). I scrubbed a lot of showers for 2 summers, and you know what? I still use the same style of scrub brush. I LOVE it.

One of the adult sponsors found out I was scrubbing showers and came to talk to me about it. I reasoned that if the people didn't notice the shower was dirty, would they really notice it was clean?? And aren't we supposed to leave things better than when we arrived?

I'm really not obsessive about showers, I promise. In fact, I'm writing this because just this morning, I got out my Comet and my beloved scrubby (for the first time in a very long time) and, after some minutes, realized that the little textured ovals on the floor of our bathtub really DO come clean, and they really don't need to be a pale beige color; instead they can be the same greyish white they were when said tub was new.

And seeing my bathtub sparkly from a little elbow grease (okay, a lot) and my beloved scrubby (although you might be glad to know it is not the same one from 2001) brought back some great memories of summers gone by, and I thought that you would want to know.

I do still have nightmares of that one particular shower.

Works of God Monday

I am so thankful this Monday for the unfailing mercy of God - despite my frequent failures, He is always always ALWAYS faithful!

We had a great Sunday - Michael's lesson for junior high Sunday School on atonement was an awesome reminder to me. I think I've mentioned before that this is the third time we're going through this book, but I am hearing things from the lessons in a new and fresh way.

Then on Sunday evening, a friend of ours taught a workshop (our church has what we call "Prime Time" 2 times a year where we have breakout sessions and learn about specific topics) that was a huge blessing, as I was reminded about the reality of my personal relationship with God and how different that is from the teachings of many churches worldwide. So thankful for the truth of God's word!

It definitely seems that the older I get, the more my mind is blown by God and all He is and all that He has worked together for the very undeserving me. Mr. Isaac Watts got it when he said,

Alas! and did my Savior bleed
And did my Sovereign die?
Would He devote that sacred head
For such a worm as I?

At the cross, at the cross,
where I first saw the light,
and the burden of my heart rolled away;
it was there by faith I received my sight,
and now I am happy all the day.

Was it for crimes that I have done,
he groaned upon the tree?
Amazing pity! Grace unknown!
And love beyond degree!
(Refrain)

Well might the sun in darkness hide,
and shut its glories in,
when God, the mighty maker, died
for his own creature's sin.
(Refrain)

Thus might I hide my blushing face
while his dear cross appears;
dissolve my heart in thankfulness,
and melt mine eyes to tears.
(Refrain)

But drops of tears can ne'er repay
the debt of love I owe.
Here, Lord, I give myself away;
'tis all that I can do.

So what do YOU have to praise God for this week? Has God provided in a miraculous way? Taught you more about Him? Given you an opportunity to share Christ with others? Please share it here!

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up..." 1 Thess. 5:11

In the MckLinky widget below, simply type your name in the title box, or a short description of the work that God has done, and then in the second box, paste the specific link from your "Works of God Monday" post. If you don't have a blog, use the comment section! Feel free to use the image from the top of this post if you like!

only a little bit OCD

Arranging shoes (and other things), just so, is Aaron's idea of a good time. And yes, we have dolls at our house. We are equal opportunity toy providers. Plus, we have friend-girls who come and play.

And little friend-girls need dolls.

By the way, yes, I am totally in a shoe rut. This is almost my entire shoe wardrobe - the 3 pairs in the middle there. I have incredibly wide feet, so while I can appreciate cute shoes on other people's feet, I only can wear what works. And I do enjoy saving money, and being practical. The black pair does need to go - I have had those for at least 5 years. Just waiting for the perfect replacements!

And I also need to mop my mudroom floor. I am so thankful for this mudroom, which really helps cut down on the dirt that is tracked through the house. And it makes a great place for kids to play - especially when the floor is mopped.

In the meantime, ducky doll will just have to enjoy her shoe boat alone.

I was having a discussion with some friends awhile back - we have a mudroom, but no basement. If you had to choose one or the other, what would you pick? Geographical considerations are not relevant for this question - just your own preference.

Works of God

Well, once again it is NOT Monday, but that does not mean that God is not at work!! Last weekend was a very unique and special one for us - Aaron's understanding of salvation is increasing, and it brings GREAT joy to our hearts.

I was driving with the boys around town on Friday and Aaron said, "Mommy, I asked God to take my sins away."

This was an unexpected announcement to say the very least. We have had multiple discussions with Aaron about his sin, and how this separates him from God, and how in order to be able to have a relationship with God, he needs to ask Jesus to take away his sins. We've also talked about how doing this also means that he can go to Heaven someday and be in God's presence. He has seemed to somewhat understand this, at least enough to tell us "I don't want Jesus to take my sins away yet."

So his announcement definitely took me back. He then continued, "and I can go to Heaven now."

"Aaron, when did you do this?"

"When I was laying in my bed, I asked God, 'God, please take my sins away'"

"And what did God say, Aaron?"

"God said, 'Yes, Aaron, I will take your sins away'"

I am still stunned at this, even retelling it today. Later that day, he repeated the story to Michael, with the same or similar exchange. Saturday, I was folding laundry in our bedroom and Aaron came in, hopped up on the bed and laid his head on our pillows and said, "This is how, mommy. I laid down like this and said, "God, please take my sins away." His sweet sincerity blows me away.

And we continue to see evidence that he was sincere! Last night at dinner, Aaron asked to pray and said, after thanking God for the food and each family member by name, "And please help mommy and daddy make me not disobey" - I was almost in tears.

Praise God for His grace, and for letting me watch Him work in my little son's heart. I am excited to watch Aaron's faith grow! Whether this is his turning point remains to be seen, but I am so grateful for this progress!

So what do YOU have to praise God for this week? Has God provided in a miraculous way? Taught you more about Him? Given you an opportunity to share Christ with others? Please share it here!

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up..." 1 Thess. 5:11

In the MckLinky widget below, simply type your name in the title box, or a short description of the work that God has done, and then in the second box, paste the specific link from your "Works of God Monday" post. If you don't have a blog, use the comment section! Feel free to use the image from the top of this post if you like!

and the winner is...

ERIN A!!

Congratulations, Erin! I hope you enjoy your golden double stuff Oreos! I will get that coupon out to you immediately.

I interrupt this blog

I found something, today, that I've been hoping to find. This decluttering business is a beautiful process. I found my creative writing journal from college. Creative Writing was one of my elective classes, and I loved it. I was a music education major, and the only reason I was ALLOWED to have electives was that I took an extra year to complete my program. It was entirely worth it. I have found that in my post-collegiate years, my fondest memories are of those elective classes.

So today I found a folder with assorted poems, snapshots, and short stories. Among them, a story that was an assignment, and that I honestly did not remember writing. I certainly giggled my way through it. What a happy surprise amongst the boxes of paper clutter and files of notes from college.

Julia says to scan everything. A great idea. I think I need to buy a better scanner and pay someone to work the night shift, scanning our reams of notes. Or I could recycle the mess of them, and call Julia if I need notes from college. *grin*

And now, a taste of my previous (more literary) life:

at Grace A Dow Library
I sit in the public library
waiting
watching out
wet windows
silvery drops sliding down

Beside me, two high school boys
point and click to sites of choice.
From time to time they ask each other
how to spell tattoo
and dragon.
And I think to myself,
how bright our future.

I just can't help myself

Bed head is sooooo adorable. Am I the only mom who leaves it unless we're going somewhere, just for giggles?

Happy Tuesday!

May your bedheaded children be as happy as they are adorable today.

24-hour giveaway

2010 is the year of decluttering for the Muth household. We have clutter in every area of our lives, and it MUST GO. Enough is enough. One day at a time, one garbage bag at a time, and we will be free. *grin* It is painful now, but we will be happy later. At least that is what I'm telling myself. Part of this is the continued elimination of sugary junk food. I realize not everyone has the serious sugar addiction that plagues the solo female member of our household. My name is Jenny, and I'm a sugar-aholic.

So in honor of decluttering, I'm giving away my coupon for one FREE package of golden double stuff Oreos that I got in the mail today. It expires at the end of the month, but I'll be mailing this one out to one reader on Wednesday morning. I'm counting on the fact that someone can responsibly eat Oreos. It's just not me.

So, leave a comment about your current relationship with clutter (I'd love a solution for paper clutter if you've got it) and I'll draw a winner tomorrow evening. I'll even give you until midnight EST - the mail won't come until morning! :-) I will mail this to anyone in the US, since that is typically where coupons for Oreos can be redeemed. Happy munching!

Works of God Monday

God is at working teaching me about my sinfulness and His indescribable-ness once again. In our junior high Sunday school class, we are going through Stranger on the Road to Immaus - it's our third run-through of this book and every time I learn more and more. Yesterday, Michael was teaching the junior high about the 3rd of three types of death (physical, spiritual, and death to our future joy or eternal death) and it really got me thinking.

In this life, I'm often in the middle range of things. Actually, almost all of us are, when I think about it. I'm not the wealthiest but I'm not the poorest either. I'm not breaking world records for fatness or thinness. I'm average in looks, intelligence, abilities. In athletics, I'm solidly toward the bottom, but I am thankful that I have the ability to try!

Eternity is a completely different story. There is no middle ground. As we searched for Scripture passages that describe the conditions of hell, I couldn't help but contrast that description to our other option - the glories of heaven. There are only two options.

And really, even on here on earth there are only two mindsets - please myself or glorify God. It's just the shades of what that looks like that tend to confuse us.

How is it that God, in His mercy and love, chose to allow me to understand the Gospel? How is it that He has forgiven me? It's definitely not because of my own merit. His mercy. An amazing concept.

So I was flooded with gratefulness yesterday - gratefulness that I can be in a relationship with God, grateful that He allows me to witness Him at work, grateful for His mercy, and for so much more that I don't even begin to comprehend. A flood. Everything, at all times, is all about God and nothing, NOTHING about me. Praise the Lord.

So what do YOU have to praise God for this week? Has God provided in a miraculous way? Taught you more about Him? Given you an opportunity to share Christ with others? Please share it here!

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up..." 1 Thess. 5:11

In the MckLinky widget below, simply type your name in the title box, or a short description of the work that God has done, and then in the second box, paste the specific link from your "Works of God Monday" post. If you don't have a blog, use the comment section! Feel free to use the image from the top of this post if you like!

Dairy & Soy Free Cookies

I have been commissioned to bake a batch of cookies for a baby shower tonight. The expectant mom is allergic to dairy AND soy, and so the task of trying to find something that she could actually eat at her own baby shower began. I came across this recipe and thought it should be easy enough to modify so I went out and got some butter flavored crisco, only to read the label and see that it's practically all solidified soybean oil. Stink.

Happily, I had some coconut oil in the pantry so here's how I modified the recipe to work. If you haven't used coconut oil before, it's awesome. It's a solid with a melting point of 76* - which I did not know a year ago, so I thought some of you might not know that either.

I think this recipe would also be fantastic with other extracts or maybe cocoa powder. It's not "healthy" as it's chock full of white sugar, but it sure is tasty and I'm hoping the guest of honor will be able to enjoy a cookie.

Lemon Crinkles
2/3 cup (scant) coconut oil
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
1 tsp lemon extract
1 T honey
1 lemon
2 cups flour
1tsp baking powder
1tsp baking soda
extra sugar for rolling

Cream together coconut oil and sugar. I used a hand mixer, but a food processor would work well for the task of breaking down the coconut oil - it is pretty solid and doesn't cream well like butter would. If you use a mixer, you will have to keep scraping and mixing. It worked fine for me to use the mixer, though.

Add egg, extract, honey, and zest from about half of the lemon. Juice the lemon and reserve. Mix until creamy. Stir in (by hand) flour, baking powder, and baking soda. Slowly add lemon juice, a little at a time, until the dough sticks together and feels like cookie dough. Cover with plastic wrap and chill about an hour.

When the dough is chilled, roll into balls using a tablespoon of dough - these should be pretty small balls. I used my Pampered Chef small scoop, level. Roll balls in sugar and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet, bake at 325* for about 12 minutes or until lightly golden. It's fun to watch these brown up before your very eyes in the last 30 seconds of bake time, but keep a close eye!! Remove to a cooling rack, repeat. You can most certainly reuse your parchment paper.

If you end up trying these and tweaking them to be all vanilla, or cinnamon -sugar rolled, or adding cocoa powder, please let me know how it goes! These seem like they'd be a great base cookie! It was really fun to experiment with a new challenge and have it be a success!!

Works of God Monday

I am praising the Lord this morning for showing His love to me in a tangible way through my parents this weekend. They kept the little boys all day Friday (on their DAY OFF school) so that I could go up for the day and hang out with the youth group at Snow Camp. It was a good time up at CoBeAc - there were 4 churches represented by around 250 kids. In case you were wondering, yes, that is a lot of 7-12 graders in one place. It was great. Ben Farrell spoke and although I only heard one message, I know God used him to speak to the teens and staff alike.

And then, my fantastic parents let the boys and me crash on Friday night at their house, and even came over for the majority of the day on Saturday to keep me company and help get some major tedious stuff done - dad filled nail holes in our trim, removed the yucky caulk from our tub, and played with the boys. Mom and I folded laundry and went on a mini shopping excursion. They are so good to me, spending time with me and the kids. I praise God that we, at least for this time in our lives, are close to family. I'm definitely enjoying it! (I am sure mom & dad are exhausted, though!!)

Oh, also this week - God also saw fit to provide plane tickets for us this week - to go see our good friends out in California this April. The whole family gets to fly out for what could easily be spent on 1 ticket. I am so SO excited and grateful to GOD for making sure the price held firm while we tried to work out the details. And of course I can't wait until April. *grin*

God continues to provide just what we need, and way WAY beyond. He continues to answer prayers, hold us up, heal, protect, comfort, work out details that blow our minds and accomplish His will!! Praise Him with me this week!

"Therefore encourage one another and build one another up..." 1 Thess. 5:11

In the Mister Linky widget below, simply type your name in the top box, or a short description of the work that God has done, and then in the second box, paste the specific link from your "Works of God Monday" post. If you don't have a blog, use the comment section! Feel free to use the image from the top of this post if you like!