Old Time Cyndi

Absolutely Loving- Long Way Down

2011-02-24T08:20:00.000-08:00

Hi friends,

not sure how many of you have seen Ewan McGregor's Long Way Round or Long Way Down, but if you haven't you should! Put it in your queue, drive to your local blockbuster and you will have done yourself a favor!

You're gonna be exposed to so many things you haven't seen and probably won't, cuz let's face it, who can afford hitting every country in-between England and the US? And if you could would you want to? Not me! But what a gift to experience what life is like for these other people even if just through my screen!

The idea is a road trip of epic proportions... A motorcycle journey around the world!

And yes, even girls will enjoy it :)

I'm half way thru their second journey, The Long Way Down... where they start at the top of Scotland to the bottom of Africa... I have cried more than 2 times! The stories will just break your heart of what so many children are living thru and how they do it with such positivity!

So if I haven't convinced you yet... get it! You'll love it!

I'm not at all a celebrity stalker or even fan of most celebrities, but I've grown

to really like Ewan McGregor, he's pretty funny and charming in it and I appreciate so much that he's trying to bring awareness of what the poor and sick in this world are going thru to the western world...

So check it out...
www.longwayround.com

Long time no see...

2011-02-12T21:45:00.000-08:00

I might as well not have a blog at this rate, but then I'd miss the opportunity to share gems like this one with you!

This is a video of teenage heartthrob al la 1955, Ricky Nelson, singing my song, for which this very blog was named :)

Here is where I would normally promise a great post real soon, but instead... I'll be honest! Dang it! I wish had been honest in the past! I love writing here, I just have NOT had the time for it lately.
Life is busier than ever, which isn't a complaint, I just haven't figured out how to sneak blogging time in there.
But I'm hoping to figure it out sooner than later.
If you're still reading thanks for your patience, and support!
Hope this finds you and yours well!

Your old time friend...

Lite brite has never been so cool

2010-10-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

A little caveat, I'm not a huge David Crowder fan... but I'm making an exception, because he has pulled out possibly one of the coolest music videos I've ever seen!

Just watch! And trust me when I say you won't expect where this one is going... you might want to get a tissue!
I promise a bona fide post sooner than later :) Thanks for reading!

Ponyo!

2010-10-05T18:34:00.001-07:00

If you have yet to brave the movie Ponyo, don't wait any longer!

I think this is one of the cutest kids movies I've seen in a really long time!

Emmy loves it so much, she's gonna be Ponyo for Halloween!

We're still looking for a Soskue ;) But we might put that off until she's 25!

There's one questionable line in the movie, but I don't even think it's worth mentioning. It's a very cute movie and an amazing piece of animation... WOW!

Have fun....

HHHHHHHHAAAAAAAAAAAAMMMMMMMMM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Everythings Amazing & Nobodys Happy

2010-09-18T18:30:00.000-07:00

If you haven't seen this... please.... watch!
So true, so profound, so funny!Then after you've watched, challenge yourself to be thankful for your easy, wonderful, cruisy life! Unless of course you're one of my 3rd world country readers ;)

Grilled Artichokes ala Bandera!

2010-08-31T09:31:00.000-07:00

One of my absolute favorite things to eat is Grilled Artichokes... they've become more popular recently and a few restaurants have been trying their hand at them, but there is only one restaurant that has nailed them! And that restaurant is Bandera and they only charge a ridiculous $12 for that perfection. Every where else I've tried them is not quite right, too watery is usually my complaint, so I scoured the Internets to see if I could find someone out there that had figured out Bandera's secret, and alas I did!

So because I like you, I'm willing to pass on this highly treasured secret of chokey goodness...

Oh and if by some chance you happen to be a grilling freak and have a wood fire grill with some hickory, these are gonna be amazing... I had to settle for gas, but it still was surprisingly good!

Lets begin:

Steam your artichokes with a lemon slice, garlic clove and bay leaf for 15-20 min. depending on their size. (25 min. for a especially large choke) You only get one shot at this, so make sure they're done!

As you can see here I was a little too anxious to get mine out of the water and the heart is slightly underdone... whoops :\

When you take them out of the water slice them starting at the stem working down toward the leaves, this will help keep the choke intact and not get all over the leaves.
Rub a little lemon on them and stick them in the fridge for an hour or if you're always late like me, throw them in the freezer for 10 min. This is the MOST important step, so don't skip it. I'm pretty sure this is the step that the restaurants are blowing it on!

While your chokes are chillin' you need to make a little marinade for these beauties:

Get the lemon you used in the beginning and cut one more slice off it and put the slice aside
Now use the juice from the rest of your lemon
3 tablespoons of olive oil
I use one square of frozen crushed garlic (which looks like 1 and 1/2 crushed garlic cloves)
a large pinch of kosher salt
and a a good amount of cracked pepper
(don't be shy with the salt and pepper!)

When you've got about 10-15 min. to go until you're ready to eat throw these beauties on the grill with a healthy amount of marinade on them. BUT before you do that make sure to scoop out the choke! (the hairy bit just above the heart, you don't not want to eat any of that stuff!)

You'll need to flip them over every 2-3 min. to keep them from burning, but a little char is a great thing on these guys!
Every time you flip them give them some more marinade and when you're close to done sprinkle them with a little more kosher salt!

Now it's time to eat! YUMMMM! I serve these beauties up with a garlic remoulade that you can make up in advance and it will last in your fridge for a week!

Garlic Remoulade:
1/2 cup mayonnaise
2 cubes of frozen crushed garlic or 3 fresh cloves minced
3 tablespoons relish
The juice from your slice of lemon you put aside
A large pinch of salt
And a dash of dill weed
(taste and add more lemon or salt if needed)

Enjoy!

The Anti-Consumer Hypocrite

2010-08-27T10:03:00.000-07:00

So there's plenty of things I'm known for, making my own shoes from carrots I grew in my garden is one of the funnier ones my girlfriend Janeille coined, but one of the lesser known ones is that I'm a bit of an Anti-consumer hypocrite... sad but true.

I'm constantly tortured in my head, knowing that Forever 21 just got in that perfect dress that is gonna suit my not-so-perfect figure and I'm gonna miss it! But I know that I have no business being in that store because my closet is full and once I'm there, there's at least 5 other things I can't live without, ughhh!!! It's places like Nordstroms rack that convince the anti-consumer hypocrites like me that it's OK because that dress was $130 and now is only $11 so it's not really that bad, right!!!!

In an ideal world I would just be content with what I have and never need anything shinny and new. But no, I'm tortured, I'm tossed to and fro all the time. I can't, but I would love to blame it all on Orange County, I mean shopping might be highest on our list of cultural priorities.

So my friends, it's only fair that you share the burden with me, so I'm gonna do what any good anti-consumer hypocrite would... Give you the two options to wrestle over that I do, everyday!
You're welcome :)

Let the torture commence:

This month, charity: water is doing a campaign, encouraging people to give up their September birthday gifts in exchange for a donation to charity: water. They hope to further solve the world water crisis, and so far, they're doing a killer job! Good thing it wasn't October birthdays this year, phew!
Watch the trailer, I'm pretty sure you'll become an Anti-Consumer hypocrite too... sorry. And don't worry, I am gonna give up my October birthday this year :)

Next is for those of you who can shop online unimpeded by that nagging feeling.
Zafirenia is a really cute company I just learned about. Seriously cute, cute vintage inspired jewelry.

Did I say cute. I love their big, bold fun designs.

I really wanted to get one for my best friend's birthday, but she has to make the ever torturous call, since it's her September birthday, no pressure.

If you decide you can't live without one of Zafirenia's designs, you can make yourself feel better knowing that you're supporting the cottage industry and actually putting food on a family's table :)

I know, I know, I would say I'm sorry, but all kidding aside I think this is too important. So much of what we do in America needs a bit of a reevaluation. At the very least I've gotten you thinking, cuz if you never did, nothing would change.

Balance my friend, balance.

Your Old Time Friend

A Shout Out!

2010-08-14T21:00:00.000-07:00

This is a Shout Out to all you single moms out there! I've had 10 days with my husband gone to Australia and New Zealand, and I have to say I have a new found respect and admiration for those of you doing this all the time! I pray strength and courage for you! I'll be back soon, I'm bubbling over with things I have to tell you... but not now, I got stuff to clean :)

On the Road Again!

2010-07-24T21:18:00.001-07:00

Me and my beloved are hittin' the road very early tomorrow morning!
If you're the prayin' sort, please pray for us, we're off to Montana for a really special time with other church planters... but I have MAJOR, MAJOR anxiety about leaving my babies.
One small consolation, there's a Cracker Barrel in the State we're off to... (there's a reason the word "crack" is in their name!)
Sorry I couldn't resist! I'm a huge fan of both her and 'Crack'er Barrel!

I'll be back on my blog in a week with gads of insight... You're gonna have to hold me back!

The Basics of our Faith

2010-07-13T09:23:00.000-07:00

As I sit here and ponder all of the pearls of insight into the depths of my soul that I could share right now, I'm coming up short... I'm still right in the thick of processing all the ins and outs of Behavior Modification, so I'm finding it hard to exactly articulate my thoughts... I know that God is in the midst of doing surgery, but one thing that I feel affirmed in over and over again in throughout this process is, that even as I screw up and learn lesson after lesson because of my shortcomings, I'm loved and accepted. I'm beloved and cherished because of Jesus and not because I'm a perfect little saint that never screws up... if that were how God worked, I would be screwed!

For that reason, I LOVE this video!

Let me know your thoughts, or how you've experience this grace in your life!
I know the hardest part for me is to just accept it, even when I do screw up, there's some arrogance in me that just wants to earn His love so bad. But when I take a step back, I'm so glad I can't! Because when I'm totally honest with myself, I know I never could, I know I don't measure up to His standards, so I'm just grateful for His acceptance and grace on Jesus' behalf!

Behavior Modification?

2010-07-06T14:05:00.000-07:00

Well, well, well... if you're still reading 3 gold stars for you!

Sorry I've been a lagger, but life for the Weeks have been busy! There's been the executing of an estate, lots of worship leading, good friends in from out of town, entertaining, meetings up the wazoo, veggie gardening and of course lots of watching Judah eat sand! But all along I haven't forgotten you, I think of you often and wonder if you think of me ;)

OK enough with the mushy stuff...

Amidst all the business there has been a lot on my mind! The one that has dominated my thoughts is the whole idea of behavior modification that I eluded to in my post's title,this has had HUGE implications for me in my life lately, on so many levels!

I promise an explanation or at least an attempt at one in my next post. But for now I'm posting the video that's has really challenged me in my usual attempts at behavior modification for y'all to watch, and no I'm not from the south... well Southern California, but we don't say y'all, I don't know what came over me.

We have so much to discuss! Talk to you soon!

Oh Betty!

2010-06-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

This one's been a long time coming... one of my all time favorite people ever is Betty Hutton, and I've wanted to introduce you for a long time. I'm hoping most of you already are good friends and have enjoyed her for years, but if you haven't, here's my brief yet non-exhaustive intro to one of my heroes!
Betty Hutton was a glamorous, yet not quite right for Hollywood type that somehow managed to star in dozens of films in the 40's and 50's. She had said that she hit fast and run in hopes that no one would realize that she couldn't really do anything... Well I definitely disagree with you Betty! She had a spunk that is unrivalled. Bob Hope once called her a vitamin with legs... She would definitely fit right in with me and my girlfriends! Fiery and fun with some sass and silliness! This is me doin' my best to pull of Betty's hair for my 30th birthday party!

This one here is my favorite! It shows her range and how funny and delightful she can be. I especially love the part when she sings "woof, woof"

Sadly, Betty followed the road of many in Hollywood, turning to drug use and nearly had a nervous breakdown. She ended up living in obscurity until someone discovered her working as a cook in a Catholic rectory in the 70's!
In an interview with Robert Osbourne on TCM in 2000 Betty was very candid about her personal struggles and the turmoil she experienced in Hollywood and later her bout with drug addiction and ultimately her faith that changed her life!

This one's called the Sewing Machine, I sing it to my kids when I sew :)

I learned that Betty had become a devout Catholic living quietly at the end of her life in Palm Springs, really close to where my Dad lives. I often fantasized about writing her and seeing if we could get together to talk or pray... but my courage failed me, and I soon after learned that she had passed away. Boo...

This one's about a neighbor that never stops playin' his piano... She's so cute!

So while my opportunity to hang out with my girl has passed here, I can't wait to hang out with you in heaven Betty! I hope you love her as much a me! When I hear her fun and silly songs, they just bring a smile to my face and a little joy to my day! And if you want some more Betty head on over here to SatinsAndSpurs.com The Betty Hutton Website
This is the best site there is for all things Betty!

And if you're looking for a good movie to rent this weekend, check her out in "Annie Get Your Gun" it's rip roarin' old timey fun!

And apparently 3 or 4 of her movies will be featured this month on TCM!

So have fun!

Your Old Time Friend...

Some good and some bad news...

2010-05-20T09:39:00.000-07:00

Let's start with the bad news... Yesterday the poor, defenseless baby dove eggs met their demise. (tear...) Next year little dove, I'll do whatever I can to protect your precious baby eggs!

Now onto the good news

Do you recognize that face??? It's my beloved Keith Green, and in 2011 they will be releasing a movie about his life! You can read the full story here... There is probably no one that has collectively influenced my spiritual and musical life more than Keith Green, he is definitely one of my heroes. I can't wait to see the movie. Keith really lived out what he believed, more than most of us would dare. He and his wife took in single mothers, people wanting to be freed from drug addiction, the homeless. And I believe he was the first contemporary Christian artist to give his music away and or only charge what people could afford to pay for an album! Such a beautiful life, such an inspiring testimony!
By some miracle when I was in highschool all my friends thought, even in the face of all the punk rock we we're listening to, that a Christian Contemporary artist from the the late '70's was the coolest... I don't know how to explain it, it's just a miracle ;) We would drive down the street, singing his songs at the top of our lungs, and we knew every single lyric! It was the BEST!

If you're not familiar with Keith at all check out some of his lyrics to one of my favorite songs...

Your Love Broke Through
Like a foolish dreamer, trying to build a highway to the sky
All my hopes would come tumbling down, and I never knew just why
Until today, when you pulled away the clouds that hung like curtains on my eyes
Well I've been blind all these wasted years and I though I was so wise
But then you took me by surprise
Like waking up from the longest dream, how real it seemed
Until your love broke through
I've been lost in a fantasy, that blinded me
Until your love broke through
All my life I've been searching for that crazy missing part
And with one touch, you just rolled away the stone that held my heart
And now I see that the answer was as easy, as just asking you in
And I am so sure I could never doubt your gentle touch again
It's like the power of the wind
Like waking up from the longest dream, how real it seemed
Until your love broke through
I've been lost in a fantasy, that blinded me
Until your love, until your love, broke through

then if you wanna hear him in action check this out! He had such a creative way of telling a story with such fun music!

ENJOY!

CROWS!!!

2010-05-14T11:48:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry but there is some of God's creation that I don't enjoy...

I'm sure there is something redemptive about crows, I just haven't found it yet!

All morning they have been trying to attack these precious little unborn baby doves...

Not OK!

So I've been fighting them back with yells and claps, my only ammunition... my neighbors think I'm so weird... oh well...

Race day approaching!

2010-04-30T09:24:00.000-07:00

So I have vaguely eluded to the fact that I've taken up a regular exercise regimen here before, but I haven't really gotten into the details, cuz lets face it, if you wanted to read an exercise blog, you probably wouldn't be reading mine with such items as "Brown butter plum tart" and "Spreads"...

However I am planning on completing my first ever half-marathon this Sunday, and I'm really excited... I actually don't feel any of the dread that I should!

I was just telling my mom the other day how amazing it is that I even want to attempt running... I mean, I'm an adult! There's no scary PE teacher screaming at me to get going any more! I have rights now... When I was a kid there was no better way to torture or punish me. I saw kids that voluntarily signed up for cross country and I thought there was something wrong with them! But by some miracle I came to the conclusion that running would be a good idea for me.

(She is amazing! Look how much clearance she has!, does anyone think this is real??)

Then an interesting conversation ensued with my mom about the misconceptions we grow up with and often never get over even as adults, until we're forced to stare them down by circumstances that are unavoidable, ever had one of those?
I had a huge misconception about running. I labeled it as impossible, too hard for my stubby round body, torture.

Then I told my mom about a recent victory I'd had over a long-time misconception of mine...

My whole life I had looked at this one hill near my house (I still live in the house I was born in) and marveled at people running up it. I had thought to myself, "why would anyone do that, that is the hill of death."
Well sometime after I had started running, I needed to get to a location that was really close, but the only way to get there was up the "hill of death!" I put it of for weeks, telling myself it was just too hard for me. Finally, one day I decided to kick myself in the pants, and I gave myself a whole hour to complete "the hill" and amazingly enough I arrived 40 min. early.
It's amazing how crippling our misconceptions are! I've wasted so many years of my life investing in lies! How sad!

( I could be totally wrong, but I think this photo is a lie... how bout you??)

Now, this is no power of positive thinking pep talk, it's a reality check! We are fearfully and wonderfully made, and if we do like David and preach to our souls a little, I think there is a lot we can overcome that sadly has been overcoming us!

Today I got my number for my race bib, and because I'm so spiritual and love to over-spiritualize everything, I googled to see if there was a bible verse with my numbers, and no there isn't, it's too high of a number, so I immediately turned to Strong's... cuz not only am I super spiritual, I try and be super smart... I'm so kidding guys, you know me well enough, right??
Ok so I looked up both the Hebrew for 3681 and the Greek and check it out...

In the Greek it's reproach, that's a fun word! Where is this heading?? But as I read the verse it began to illuminate something for me!

Luke 1:25- "The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace (reproach) among the people."

WOW! This one really spoke to me! I feel like God has really used my training in running to be a part of the process of Him removing my reproach or disgrace. Before I learned to beat my body into submission (1st. Cor. 9:27,) there was a huge part of me that has felt like a disgrace, I felt defeated by my lack of discipline and disgusted by my lack of self control! I'm praising God for this verse that He is dealing with me graciously and removing my disgrace by retraining me to be a more disciplined and self-controlled woman...

Next in the Strong's Hebrew is the word "covering" the uses of the word is kinda funny... I think they are talking about using the skins of sea cows to cover parts of the tabernacle... haha, sea cows!

But immediately I felt the Lord encouraging me that He will be my covering in this race, and when I get tired or feel like giving up, I'm gonna encourage my self with this, that He's got me covered!

So wish me.... luck?... blessings... I dunno... Wait I do! Pray for me, I'm gonna need it!

-Your Old Time bestie...

Hope

2010-04-21T10:05:00.000-07:00

As life has been forging on full steam ahead, I have been really impacted by how many of my friends are struggling.
And I don't mean can't find the right pair of shoes to match that dress kind of struggle, I mean a possible terminal illness, a possible terminal marriage and one that's definitely over...

If you have a set of eyes and a heart that's pumping, it won't take much to look around you and see someone who's struggling with something.

Where do you go with this? what's your response, what kind of advice do you give?

In the last couple of months I've been pursuing training for a half marathon and to further inspire myself, I've been watching Biggest Loser. Last night on the show one of the contestants lost his brother to cancer and I couldn't help but squirm as the trainers offered life advice, that to me seemed so hollow and contrived. Maybe I'm biased, but it seems that death makes it so clear that humanistic advice falls flat, because it doesn't solve the problem of eternity! Getting in the gym and giving it all you've got for your brother doesn't really solve that he's gone forever and there's a deep loss and grief that accompanies such losses!

So the question is... how do you deal with catastrophic loss? To what or whom do you turn to, do you hope in?

I think we are such interesting creatures, in the things we turn to convinced that they're gonna solve our problems! Seriously I think there's quite a few of us that have thought ice cream will at least soothe our woes...

But the bottom line is that the power of positive thinking, ice cream or a really intense workout can only temporarily distract us, it doesn't solve the problem of pain and ultimately death!

Hebrews 2:15 says that Jesus came to deliver those who are subject to bondage of the fear of death!
That's encouraging news!

Furthermore, when we put our hope and trust in Him, pain is no longer a useless nuisance that we strive to numb. It's a tool in a Master-Craftsman's hand! This is pain that produces something even more beautiful than gold! The bible says it's endurance, which leads to character, which ends up producing HOPE! (Rom.5:4)

And when it's Jesus that we put our hope in there is a peace, it's not a peace that the world can offer us! The hope the world offers is empty... sorry but it is... It's only something Jesus can give us, He says "don't let your heart be troubled or afraid..." And just before his followers were about to be scattered because of the threat of death, He encourages them to take heart because He has overcome the world! I don't know about you, but when you're facing the threat of death someone chanting "yes you can" isn't gonna cut it!
It has to be someone who has overcome death who can actually offer me some encouragement in that moment! Everything else falls flat!

1st Peter 1 says that we have been grieved by various trials for a little while... I don't know about you, but 80 years plus or minus to be grieved by various trials doesn't seem like a little while, especially when those trials can seem so overwhelmingly huge and painful! But I heard a pastor put it this way recently...
"When we're on year 10billion 800million 465 thousand and 2... 80 years is gonna seem like a recess in 1st grade!"

It's perspective we need! The bottom line friends... God is real, life is short and eternity is long!

I know it's hard, I'm weeping with you, I'm praying for you...

I'm hoping that you place your hope in the only one who is worthy of your trust!
He died for you to rescue you from the most hopeless of situations and He has promised to never leave you or forsake you! Romans 5:5 says that that hope you have in Him will not disappoint you!

Lord help us to fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen! Knowing that through our pain and difficulty you are working out a far greater weight of glory! Help us to surrender to You as You work it out! Help us Lord to suffer well, as we hope in you!

Please let me know how I can pray for you if you're going through a difficult season!
- Your Old Time friend

Distraction from Taxes!

2010-04-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

If any of you are irrisponsible like moi... you are probably totally stressing out that you only have 4 more days to finish your mount everest called taxes...

So stop for a moment... and watch this
Your brain will be so confused by what it's seeing it will completely forget all the stress and strain of the last month!

I had no clue karaoke was Korea's national sport...

I think I might be impressed if I just wasn't so weirded out by picturing him reaching out to Kevin Costner...

He is Risen! He is Risen Indeed!

2010-04-04T06:00:00.000-07:00

Because it's Easter I have to start by saying... I love Jesus and I'm so thankful that He died for my sins, and I'm so grateful that He conquered death and that I get to spend eternity Him!

And in light of that, I must share with you one song that I love and the rest which are completely ridiculous!

My most favoritist Easter song growing up... Keith just knew how to do it right, and somehow as a teenager my friends and I all that he was sooooo cool! Weird right?! But I'm so glad, cuz he wrote some of the most amazing lyrics of all times!

So here he is doing the Easter Song

This isn't a song, but it's pretty important if you know what my schedule is like and like to laugh at strange men pretending to be church ladies... It's called church slave... please don't be too offended ;)

This one is AMAZING! Ska, ska, ska Jesus! I love how cheesy Christians can be... we're awesome! "Beautiful Sal, Beautiful"

I hope you have a wonderful Easter! And enjoyed a few laughs... I know Jesus wouldn't mind ;)
He is risen!!!!!! He is risen indeed!

It's a good Good Friday!

2010-04-02T20:06:00.000-07:00

Well as you can see, my posting marathon didn't last all that long.. I need to get my blogging endurance up! This week has been one of the busier weeks of my life, but all for a good reason.

As you probably know today is Good Friday, the day my Savior died for my sins!

I just got home from leading the music for our church's service, and I had to write to you all... Tonight was so important, so central, so key... In some ways I cringe thinking about this day... but I'm glad in a way, I never want to take His sacrifice lightly.

I spent a large portion of my day reflecting on what my life would have been like, if He hadn't been willing to die, it's unimaginable! I thought about the grief that He had to bear on my account. It was a hard day a sober day...

A lady from my church died today, largely because of a extremely self-destructive sin...

I hate my sin and how it hurts the people I love and how hard it is to free myself from it's grip. It's so costly, so painful!

As I went to post this picture, I definately hesitated, the cross is so grusome, and if I look at it, I'd rather Jesus wasn't still on it... But I think it's really good for us to remember how much it cost Him to buy us back from death!

If you're still reading, I'm praying that you are having a better than good Good Friday, knowing that Sunday's comin'!

And in light of that... I've posted some of my most favorite quotes on the Gospel... I hope you are encouraged!

*The gospel: "God covering his naked enemies, bringing them to the wedding feast & then marrying them rather than crushing them." - Ed Welch

*Religion says "we're the good guys, and they're the bad guys" The Gospel says "We're all the bad guys, and Jesus is the ONLY good guy" - Mark Driscoll

*'If you believe what you like in the gospels, and reject what you don't like, it is not the gospel you believe, but yourself.” - Saint Augustine

*'God writes the Gospel not in the Bible alone, but also on trees, and in the flowers and clouds and stars.” -Martin Luther

*“It is true that every day has its own evil, and its good too. But how difficult must life be, especially farther on when the evil of each day increases as far as worldly things go, if it is not strengthened and comforted by faith. And in Christ all worldly things may become better, and, as it were, sanctified. Theo, woe is me if I do not preach the Gospel; if I did not aim at that and possess faith and hope in Christ, it would be bad for me indeed, but no I have some courage.”
-Vincent van Gogh (wow!)

*"Behold the man upon the cross, my sin upon His shoulders, ashamed I hear my mocking voice call out among the scoffers. It was my sin that held Him there, until it was accomplished, His dying breath has brought me life, I know that it is finished!" -Stuart Townsend

*"He was weeping n the garden while we wer sleeping under a tree. His discomfort for our comfort. Oh the shame. Oh the grace! " @jonathan_dodson

*"Either Jesus was who he said he was-the Messiah-or a complete nutcase. I mean nutcase on the level of Charles Manson."-Bono @krafto

*"Golgotha is not a suburb of Jerusalem "- John Piper

*“The debt was so great, that while man alone owed it, God alone could pay it.”- Anselm

*"The Tomb is not an Entrance to Death,but 2 life. The moment we take our last Breath on Earth,we take our first breath in Heaven." @greglaurie

Have a super blessed weekend!

You gotta hear this!

2010-03-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

Apparently you probably already know all about PS22 and I'm the last one in America who didn't know about them.... but just in case... You gotta hear them!

They are a group of 5th graders from a school on Staten Island, with a killer choral director!

My absolute favorite thing about these kids, is how they emote when they sing! YES!

They've done songs like Viva La Vida by Coldplay, songs by Lady Gaga (whoever that is;) Kanye West, Journey, they even do Crowded House which would make my Cute Kiwi so happy

... they're not your average choral group! Gotta love it! Have fun

Holy Moly Matrimony!

2010-03-16T20:26:00.001-07:00

OK so I've thrown out more than my fare share of dares... and rhymes, on this blog....
But this is my ultimate throw down challenge... I quadrillion dog dare you to grab your spouse and listen to these two messages... AND if by some chance you're single and not a stay and home mom and read my blog.... I implore you to listen to these messages before you make a choice about whom you marry! (don't they look supremely happy!)

Trial - Marriage and Men (you won't be sorry! WOAH! that's all I can say about this one)

Trial - Marriage and Women

If, wait, when you listen, let me know what you think!

Helping the homeless

2010-03-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

You may remember that I mentioned in a previous post that my family and some friends of mine went to hang out with and feed the homeless of Laguna on Christmas day last year.
We all had such an awesome time hanging out and talking and getting to know these guys and their stories that I said, I don't wanna wait till next Christmas to do this again!
So my awesome community group has volunteered to go with us to do another pancake breakfast this Saturday morning. And even better this time, we're gonna cook em up fresh in the back of our friend's jeep.

There is so often mixed emotions when it comes to the homeless of this world, we can feel so conflicted about their plight, seeing their suffering and wanting better for them but frustrated, by not knowing if they're being lazy or wanting someone else to do the work for them.

Well I came across this really awesome encouraging story this morning and I wanted to share it with you...

"During World War II, a little church in Strasburg France was bombed by the German Luftwaffe. When the war concluded, the people in the community cleared away the rubble, and found a statue of Jesus, the base of which was inscribed with these words: Come unto Me, all ye that are weary. It was remarkably preserved except for both hands, which had been destroyed. Hearing of this, the sculptor whose work it was immediately offered to replace the hands. But the pastor wisely declined.
And so it was that the statue was returned to its original position in front of the Church, but with a new inscription which read: He has no hands on earth but ours, for we are His Body. It’s true.
We are the Body of Christ. If Jesus is going to reach out and touch a lame person — a beggar, a hurting individual — it will be through our hands. He will use us."

But hang on just a minute before you decide where I going with this...

I think for years there has been a cultural guilt that we can feel when we see a homeless person. We can do one of two things, throw 20$ bucks at them, or turn up our radio and pretend we didn't see them.

But I feel as I'm maturing, it's not about guilt anymore, and it's not whether that person is deserving or not.

Let's look at Jesus for a moment... The guy was constantly surrounded by needs, everywhere he went we're broken people and usually someone asking to be healed... and he was constantly accused of being a winebibber, glutton and friend of sinners, but never of being frazzled or too busy.

Jesus simply did what the Father asked Him to, and that's why Jesus' yoke is easy and His burden is light (Matt. 11:28-30)

We were never meant to fix all of this world's problems on our own, but as we see what Jesus has so graciously done for us, hopefully that love will compel us to be obedient when we hear the Father saying, "you've got a few extra bucks, I want you to buy that guy a meal..."

So the moral of the story is, when you're willing to do what God has asked you, your burden will be light, you won't be weighed down by the plight of others, but simply excited to reciprocate the great love that has been lavished on you. I don't feel like I have to be His hands and feet any more, I'm just so excited that I get to be!

We'll be on Forest Ave. Saturday morning at 8:30 if His love is compelling you to join ;)

She's your new favourite!

2010-03-14T21:52:00.000-07:00

Trust me when I say she's your new favourite... and if you don't know why I'm spelling favourite with a U it's because it's how the Kiwi's do it.

If you have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Brooke Fraser, please allow me to introduce you.

Brooke is in fact from my husband's homeland and has been one of the top or the top selling artists in New Zealand since ages ago. And Kiwi's know what they're talking about when it comes to spelling and pop/folk... (Flight of the Conchords anyone? Ok that's a little different, but folk comedy has the word folk in it and they're really popular)

Anyways, she's got insane talent and ridiculous lyricism/song writing skills that make me extremely jealous! GOSH!

Check out this song, I love it, and I know she'll be your new favourite... you can thank me later

Brown Butter Plum Tart

2010-03-13T19:45:00.000-08:00

Sadly, I am at the end of my plums that I canned in the summer of '08. Last year there wasn't a great harvest, so we've had to make our canning exploits last.

I decided to make one of my favorite deserts for my bible study brunch and for my neighbor who just had a baby. And since everyone moans when they eat it, I thought I'd do you a favor and share the recipe.

I can't really remember where I first tried this, but I think it was my cousin Catherine that made something like it and it's been a favorite in our house ever since...

So you will need:

* either 2 cups canned plums (or peaches, apricots, apples) or about 8 fresh plums quartered

* 1/2 cup salted butter

* 2 eggs
* 3/4 cup sugar + 3 tbsp. sugar

* 1 cup flour

* 1/2 tsp. cinnamon

* 1/4 tsp. nutmeg

So lets begin... preheat your oven to 350'

then we're gonna brown your butter, and you WILL thank me for this!

Put it on medium high heat for about 5 min. but don't walk away!

You want your butter to have a nice golden color, and it will have a very distinct smell of sweet toasty butteryness! You could take it even a little bit darker than this...
then combine your eggs and sugar, mix well.... then gradually add 1/2 of the flour then the butter and the rest of the flour as not to cook your eggs with the warm butter

And there it is in all it's buttery goodness...

Next toss your plums with 2 tbsp. of sugar (less if the are in a sugary syrup) and the cinnamon and nutmeg then arrange them on the bottom of a cast iron skillet or pie pan

Then spread your dough over the top, finishing it with a dusting of your last tbsp. of sugar that will give this such a wonderful crunch!

Bake for 45-50 min. at 350' then use a knife to seperate the tart from the sides of the pan and invert on a cake stand or plate and enjoy!

I like to serve it with a little bit of vanilla whipped cream... oh yeah...

I hope you enjoy it as much as my family does... there's plenty of variations you could do here, just don't mess with my brown butter...

Your Old Time Friend...

Mystery Followers

2010-03-11T09:55:00.000-08:00

Hey gang... I feel a posting marathon coming on... don't believe me, just you wait and see..

So in anticipation, I'm going to solicit some comments out of you my mystery followers.
(posts without photos are depressing, thus Emmy in cartoon 80's hair metal garb='s not depressing ;)

And don't try and act like you don't read my blog... you don't get 14,000 hits when you only have 19 followers...

So stay anonymous if you must but leave me a comment letting me know how you know when I've posted something new...

Ie. do you use google reader? Do you just come to my blog of your own volition? Fill me in I'm dying to know!

And if you feel so compelled, sign up to be one of my followers, I love looking at your profiles and seeing who you are!

Also you may have noticed, I've put a new voting system at the end of my posts, vote! Let me know what things you most like reading about...

And if you have way more important things to do with your life, it's cool...
I'd way rather read your comments than my page hit counter, but don't worry, I still feel the love ;)

Oh and just a quick note to my beloved Chinese readers/spamers... if you don't leave your comment in English, I will delete it... but thanks for the comment love, just the same ;)

LOVE TO YOU ALL!
-still your Old Time friend

When I was but a wee lass

2010-03-08T09:35:00.000-08:00

About a million years ago, I was blessed to take an excursion to an unlikely place for a 14 year old. This was not a vacation to the Bahamas as most 14 year-olds would be stoked to do on their summer break.
No, it was the most bizarre place I had ever experienced in my life! The 2 hour ride on the back of a produce truck to where we were staying made my hair like straw and my skin smudgy. I'd never ridden on the back of a truck up so high and so close to the palms. Looking back my 14 year old senses were on overload! There were naked babies throwing water at cars in hopes of getting a few cents, ladies riding sideways on their donkeys, chants of voodoo ceremonies off in the distance, yellow oranges that actually tasted really good, beans and rice every day that didn't taste very good, heat so hot you could cut it with a knife and an ocean so salty and warm it offered no relief. What a place, what an experience! Still wondering where I was, I think the voodoo probably gave it away, but I was in Haiti.

I'm the second one on the left, wearing that stunning dress! (FYI kids, this is back when Target was NOT the cool place to shop, ie: you could have bought all of our dresses there back then!)

But back to more serious matters, ever since the earthquake I have been reflecting a lot on my experience there and how my time there influenced my life. I've been thinking about how this is going to affect the Haitians so radically. Wondering how Haiti is going to look in 10 years.

I have so many thoughts on the topic, so many memories of Haiti...
The picture above is me getting to meet my sponsor child and give her a backpack filled with beef bullion, which is literally like bouillon to them and hygiene items for her family... oh man what an experience for a 14 year old to see her home! No floor just a few cinder blocks and some palms for a roof... It makes me so ashamed to think how I have obsessed over decorating my home and never giving a second thought to the poor of this world...

I'm not gonna go into all my memories here, you know I don't have the time....haha, but I do want to encourage you to check out the mission I was privileged to visit and see if you feel compelled to give... Here's the link, New Missions :: Home watch their video on "after the earthquake" at the bottom of the page.
My husband and I felt like this was somewhere that we wanted to give, because they have been selflessly giving to the people of Haiti faithfully for 27 years already and meeting their most basic needs with the love of Jesus. The work is far from over in Haiti and I know as Americans we can be tempted to watch the news for a few weeks, shed a few tears, donate a few bucks, and move on... but Haiti still needs us!
One amazing story that I cannot believe didn't make our news over here, is that the president of Haiti, called off the usual Carnival festival and issued a decree for 3 days of fasting and prayer, check it out here ...

I said I wasn't gonna go into all my memories here, but I will share one, just to lighten up what is a pretty heavy post...

On one of our outings to a local village to do a food distribution and sharing time one of the boys on the trip decided he was gonna get a souvenir to take home. So as we were leaving, from the back of the truck he bartered with one of the Haitians to get a statue for his water jug.

When we got back, we were informed that he had in fact purchased a voodoo statue. Woopsy!

Major no-no! So in the mind of a teenager in a foreign land, the most logical thing to do is have your own ceremony where you burn the voodoo statue and paint your face with toothpaste and wear a girls dress while you and your friends dance around the fire banging on their suitcases like drums. Right?!

Totally appropriate...
Sorry New Missions, that's all I can say.
If you have nothing but time and want to learn more about what has been going on in Haiti in the church please watch this ... Mark Driscoll of my last post's fame...haha... shares about his unreal/amazing/horrible/very needful trip to Haiti to see how we as the church can be helping rebuild the church in Haiti... which remember, has been caring for and meeting the practical needs in Haiti for years, since the government has failed in that area!

If you don't have time but just want to give to churches helping churches, check out this link Here

And if you don't have anything to give, just stop for a moment and pray for the people of Haiti, pray for God's comfort and provision for them. My prayer is that we would be awoken to the fact that none of us is promised tomorrow, "today is the day of salvation" let's be people that redeem the time we have and pursue the good works God has planned for us!

LOVE TO YOU ALL!

Religion Saves!???

2010-02-01T12:41:00.000-08:00

As I have told you in the past, I am not a proficient reader, just ask my Cute Kiwi, I have about 10 books next to my bed that have bookmarks about one forth of the way through. I'm just a sleepy reader, but I have finished almost every audio book I've ever "read". Mainly because someone else read it to me and maybe because I wasn't lying down in bed at 10pm...

So this month christianaudio.com is giving away Religion Saves: And nine other misconceptions by Mark Driscoll for FREEEEEEEEEEEE (to be said in the voice of the mattress comercial guy)
I have listened to quite a few messages from this series and I think this book could be life changing. I love Mark Driscoll's no nonsense approach, if you know me at all , this will not be surprising.... ahhh
It's amazing how easy it is for us to form misconceptions about what we believe, I think most of the time because we don't give it the time and study it deserves...
So check it out! Even if you're not a Christian! This might give you a clearer picture of what it is Jesus wants his church to be like.... and hey, even if you're and old timey believer, check it out too, you never know maybe you've had a misconception or 2 yourself ;)
Happy listening!

Cake refashion anyone!?

2010-01-28T09:42:00.001-08:00

So I must start this post with a disclaimer: Cake refashioning is overpriced and only for those who are in a hurry and are not good at assembling the initial steps of a cake... which for now (until I take a class) is me!
As I was planning on doing this I searched and searched online for anyone who had done a cake refashion, and I found none... I must be crazy! Go ahead google it, you'll see, I am the only one crazy enough to do this...
Fortunately for me, it was very easy and not time consuming, so I was able to make what I think is a pretty darn cute cake very quickly!

So just in case there's someone crazy like me out there that doesn't have mad cake making skills or needs to throw a cake together real quick for their kids party... I give you cake refashion...

Ugly flower cake.... meet my little kitty....

OK, so to begin... MAKE SURE your cake is real cold! And begin plucking the icing decorations off. The first time I did this I was able to keep the colors separated rather easily and I reused the icing!

If you come across some stubborn pieces, don't fret, you can lightly scrape till the color is gone. And if you come into real trouble you can always use the white border to cover a lot!

One thing I had not done in the past that I did this time was ask the guy at the bakery if I could have some hot pink icing... and he was happy to sell me some, easy solution for getting real butter cream in the color you want!

After you have scrapped your cake clean cut out the figure you want to put on the cake and here you have a couple of options... again, MAKE SURE your cake is cold!
Option #1: lay out your design on the cake and use a toothpick to mark out the pattern

Option #2: for this cake I used chocolate candy melts and piped it directly onto the design, refrigerated, peeled off and very carefully placed on the cake! The thing I absolutely loved about using candy melts was that with the cold cake it got solid fast and if I made a mistake it was very easy to break off and start over on... Good for a novice like me!

Then lastly I went to town! I filled in Hello's shirt with a ruffly look, mostly to disguise my lack of skill, then dusted it with pink sanding sugar for some sparkle! Then I piped along the bottom and top edge with the same color doing a similar ruffle. For kitty's eyes and nose we used jelly bellies, smashed a little so they we're a little wider. Then we used sugar hearts to make the flowers (use 4 with a dot of frosting in the middle) and threw on some sugar confetti for some extra fun. The bottom border was butterflies, again we used the sugar hearts (2 with a line of frosting in the middle) and confetti for a cute dotted border!

So in conclusion... if you're a cheapo, this is not the method for you! My half sheet cost me $20, the extra icing was $3 and the deco-cake hearts and sprinkles were $3. The candy melts I always have on hand for cake pops :) so they're kinda free...

But if you need a quick fix for your little one's party and you don't have the skills, here's a really fun and easy solution!

Have fun!

My boy!

2010-01-25T22:48:00.000-08:00

My sweet precious baby boy turned one today! I can take myself back so easily to that moment, probably because it happened right here... seriously we were joking about it, but I could have web-camed by birth because I was right next to the computer... I've assumed most of you know that I'm a weirdo home-birther, that grows my shoes in my garden (supposedly) and on occasion drinks fermented tea. But if you didn't I hope you won't hold it against me. In fact enjoy it, I'll be the weirdo you know you want to be, and you can just live vicariously thru me!
But really my point was more to do with how I have been really enjoying reflecting on the birth of my sweet little man. I took on having a boy with a bit of intrepidation, but the minute he popped out, no, the minute he was pulled out with great force, I was in love!So I started looking thru photos that I thought would be old news, that I had looked at 20 times before to reminisce about my sweet bundle of joy and then I started to kinda freak out, because I don't remember having a baby that looked like this...

All I think about is my baby that looks like this! He is so stinkin' funny... I wish you could see of all the photos I have from this moment, because it would make your sides hurt...

Well buddy, this year has not been free from challenges, but it has been such a great year getting to know you! You are so special, loving and hilarious! I love being you and Emmy's mom. God has richly blessed me with you two!

two observations

2010-01-12T10:24:00.000-08:00

I found these pictures this morning, and couldn't help but notice the resemblance in my two children... so my observations: The cute Kiwi and I only make one kind of baby, just in the boy or girl version. And secondly; point and shoot camera's have leaped in their capabilities in 3 short years. Sorry Emmy all your baby photos are just gonna look real bad next to your siblings... don't blame me, blame technology... in fact that's always the answer, I'm sure behind most problems in the 21st century, we can somehow blame technology...

That's all for now, my internet connection's having trouble... told you!

Wait! Where did December go?

2010-01-01T11:10:00.000-08:00

Isn't there just something about December! It's magical yet hectic, and no matter how hard I try to make it slow down, it just goes too quickly and I'm always left a little sad that it's all over, and disillusioned by the mess I have to clean up!
It seems like just the other day I was posting on my facebook status, to decorate or not to decorate... And I'm sure you can guess by the looks of this here photo, I gave into sentimentalism and tradition. I can't help it, I'm too old skool I really try so hard to break out of the shell but I just can't. So in typical O.T. Cyndi style I bring you December in pictures, in January... "sigh"Gave in and decorated, this year I held back (a little bit)Emmy started December right, with a rousing performance of "splish, splash it's rainnin' in my bath" at the CBS children's Christmas program, with all her good homies by her side!Next Emmy and I spent a little too much time round the sugar, wholy moly although I ate very little sugar, I'm pretty sure I ingested it through my pores, cuz you couldn't talk me into eating any for the next few days... but we had fun!Then the next day for some reason I felt compelled to make all the ladies at my church Christmas tea, their very own Christmas Tree cake pop... When I get these brilliant ideas somebody please do me a favor and hit me over the head... !this is what 80 cake pops look like... unfortunately I have no photos of what 80 cake pops makes my kitchen look likeNext we had the Weeks Fancy dinner party, which for me was the highlight of December! We had friends from church join us for a 4 course meal which I prepared with a little help from my friends!I discovered an old lot of beautiful linens that inspired the decor for the evening... it was so fun to use them with my grandmothers etched crystal and my fun and funky Bakelite silverware!We talked about how the gospel had impacted our lives in 2009 and toasted to the gospel with wonderful wine, and pretty darn good food, if you ask me... notice the mostly devoured croque embouch my girlfriend made!We enjoyed good conversation and a hilarious white elephant gift exchange that brought tears to many eyes... Is that wassail Dave??And this is definitely the best present of the year for me... My sweet girlfriend Laura who couldn't be at this year's party sent gifts for us to open up from New Zealand. And what could be better for her Old Time friend than a 50's inspired Pavlova recipe apron??? I'm mean seriously where do you find this stuff!
I'm so thankful for my church and my sweet friends that God has blessed me with, it's been an awesome year!Next we had yet another Christmas production, which Emmy played a little angel in. I have to say she was slightly overshadowed by a hilarious 2 year old who inched right up to the mic in desperate anticipation of saying "happy birt-day Jedus"
I got to do the music for the kids... (I think it's time to touch up the roots there Cyndi)Then the week preceding Christmas, we took a little r-r-road trip up north to the central coast! Dang their cute and are excellent travelers, their well seasoned...We took a little hike around Laguna lake up in San Luis Obispo... photo courtesy of Emmy!Judah loves to hike in the sling... Attack of the baby fangs! Man I love this kid!Then we headed up for a little time of R and R at our 2nd home.... yeah right. If you didn't already know this is Hearst Castle and if you haven't already taken a tour, it's remote and time consuming and if you have a big family, expensive, BUT definitely worth it! Wow, so cool!I wish we could have had more time up there, seriously ridiculous how much money that guy had and spent!Then we rushed home for Christmas Eve service that Mike and I were doing the music for, here's me with a couple of the girls that serve in the music ministry at church... looking good girls ;)Then we had Christmas morning... I still need to have a talk with the folks about this one! We said no gifts... long story, but they are grandparents, and everyone knows they can't help themselves! Judah pretty much loves this one anyways!Then definitely the highlight of Christmas for me was going and hanging out with these guys and a few others... Some friends and I decided to make pancakes and coffee and go hand them out to the homeless, or as they like to say "home free" of Laguna Beach. It was such a cool time and as we were standing around talking and eating, some sweet people came by with a car load of sleeping bags and just handed them out (this is me being super stoked on them!)And lastly we finish with Judah doing it right... pooping at the brunch table. Thanks for the extra special gift buddy... bonus: no changing table at this restaurant!
Well it's been an awesome, awesome year, and I definitely will fill you in on more of the details of that, who knows when... but you know how I roll.
Thanks for reading and I pray this next year is filled with God's many blessings and a closeness with Him that rivals anything this world can offer you!
Peace out 2009!

Christmas Wishes

2009-12-29T10:09:00.001-08:00

Hoping you all had a wonderful Christmas, if you didn't receive one of these babies in the mail, it's either cuz I don't know you, or maybe because I didn't mail a single one... yeah, me and the mail aren't good friends. Licking envelopes and placing stamps and addressing stuff, just a little bit out of my leauge, so why get a Christmas card made, really I don't know! Maybe only because my kids look so stinkin' cute in these pictures!

So this post is my Christmas card to you all, late per usuall! But heartfelt just the same! And I will be posting a december recap shortly, since blogging has not been in the equation of an already crazy december! Love, peace and joy! Because He came!
Your Old Time friend, Cyndi

Sew Thankful!

2009-12-02T10:08:00.000-08:00

Sooo apparently 1000's of you tried to comment on your many turkey mishaps and somehow they were never approved, not that I don't approve, it's just the dumb blogger server that doesn't approve. Well hopefully I'll get it figured out one day cuz I'd love to hear from some of my readers, especially you mom ;)

But in the meantime I'm showing off Emmy's thanksgiving dress which turned into my 2009 mishap... true she tried it on for these pictures, but it never made it with us on thanksgiving day, it just sat on the fence all alone and exposed to the elements, after I lovingly crafted it with care, it was utterly alone!

So instead of pouting, which I really, really wanted to do, I chose to be thankful for about a million, no trillion other blessings in my life.

I actually decided that I was going to direct my thoughts towards all I was thankful for instead and I started to list off everything off, and it got kinda ridiculous! I can't believe how blessed I am, and not having a silly dress for Emmy to wear was seriously dumb to fret over!

So the saying is true, next time you're feeling blue, just count your many blessings... I think there's a saying about that... right?

Thanksgiving mishaps...

2009-11-24T17:24:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be fun for people to share some of their horror stories from Thanksgiving's past... not like the time your dog died Thanksgiving morning, that's a little too horrific, I mean like the time you cooked your first turkey... Martha style! And decorated it with crab apples and rosemary and your sweet Mom carried it to the table on a plastic platter, and this happened....

I mean that kind of horror story.... hope you'll share, that way I won't feel as bad about mine...

By the way, we did eat it. I know, I know, but what are you supposed to do!

So the following is a public service announcement: "Ahemm.... when cooking a gorgeous, perfectly golden turkey for your adoring family this Thanksgiving don't place the hot turkey on a plastic platter, in fact just don't use plastic anyways, it's ugly and poisons you :)"
Just doing my part to ensure a really thankful Thanksgiving!

Give more presence this year!

2009-11-20T19:48:00.000-08:00

I love how in life you go through seasons, and you don't have to be stuck with those feathered bangs or shoulder pads for the rest of your life! Thank God for that! Or roller blades, seriously, remember how crazy people were over those things! OK and remember finger watches! What the heck! There's a huge list of less than meaningful crapola that we've all purchased, so I won't beat you up with it (treasure trolls) here... but I will say that I'm super thankful that in this season of my life I'm so over being a consumer. Maybe it took the economy taking a turn for the worse, or maybe it was my Cute Kiwi saying to me (way before the recession hit), " you never really need anything, you just want something new." Oh man, was he so right! Or maybe it was God graciously showing me my pile of "good intended for others" next to my pile of "what you ended up spending on yourself." Not sure if you got the picture, but the later pile was huge in comparison... woops...

I'm sure there's a ton of you out there that are actually way more anti-consumerism than I am and could kick my well meaning little butt, but you gotta start somewhere and I'm gonna try to remove the woops from my spending vocabulary. I think I'm finally where it's not all about what I should do to be a good girl, it's actually what I wanna do, I'm growing up I guess. I'm enjoying so much what God has done for me in my life and the life of my family, that I don't wanna focus on myself as much, the things Jesus has asked me to do in His word I want to do because His love compels me! I guess the simple equation for me is "less time spending = more presence I can give" And no that is not a typo, the older I get the more I realize my possessions can be a burden, and it's not more stuff that we need. We being those in the western world wealthy enough to have a computer and Internet subscriptions to read this by... but what we need to give is time spent, being present in others lives, or it's actually giving to someone who is poor and in need. That's the stuff that's gonna last a lot longer than that laser pointer you just had to have!
So as you watch this video, which I hope you do, I hope it won't spark condemnation, but true gratitude for what He has given, and I hope you'll find joy in giving presence this Christmas season!

If you're looking for any ideas on way's you can give presence this year go to http://www.rethinkingchristmas.com and check out some of their great ideas!
And I hope it's clear I'm not trying to make anyone feel guilty for spending money! Cuz let's face it, a coupon for a massage for Aunty Mable just wont cut it. But I do want to encourage everyone to think about stepping outside of consumerism, to be thoughtful about different meaningful ways you can give and bottom line: to enjoy doing it!

bye for now

Water for Christmas

2009-11-13T09:07:00.000-08:00

Did you know... 1 in 6 people don't have access to clean water! That's 1.1 billion people... and we can do something about it!

I'm so thankful to have learned about this grass roots movement Charity: Water they are a group of selfless and committed people who haven't settled for just lamenting over the heartbreak and suffering in the world, they are doing something about it! and I want to share their wonderful mission with you and encourage you to make your first gift this Christmas to someone who actually needs it, unlike your cousin's boyfriends dog... just saying....

Water for Christmas is a movement bringing both awareness and real "on the ground" change to Africa's water crisis.

They see no reason for 4500 mothers to bury children every day! for lack of clean water. And in most places, clean water flows just below the surface. With a little help, local African communities can tap into safe, clean water. Helping provide clean water and basic sanitation is thus one of the first and simplest steps to ending water-borne diseases and their accompanying cycle of poverty in the world.

All money donated goes directly to charity: water who in turn uses 100% of their donations to drill for fresh water. They'd love for you to partner with them by making donations directly to charity: water, which you can do here.
All donations are tax-deductible.

"There are two primary choices in life; to accept conditions as they exist, or accept the responsibility for changing them." (Denis Waitley)

Isaiah 58: 6-7: puts it this way- “Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter? When you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Your $10 will buy clean water for one person for 10 years! 10 years people!! I can guarantee no one will be wearing that tie you bought them, or using those fuzzy slippers 10 years from now!

I've purchased my first Christmas gift today and I hope you'll do the same, in light of the economy these days, it seems many us have been awoken from our consumer induced coma and are seeing what is necessary and what is just plain ridiculous, I hope that we will all see how incredibly blessed and RICH we are, and that maybe the kind of fasting that God is asking of us is to not buy a latte today, or the 10th sweater to go with that pair of shoes you know you spent too much on, and do something with our money that counts!

Jesus said to love our neighbor as our selves... I'm pretty sure that if we didn't have clean water to put in our babies bottles or cook our pasta with we would do everything we could to get it flowing into our homes, lets be compassionate and do the same for precious people, created in the image of God who are suffering... remember it's not that we have to help, WE GET TO!

Now go and make me proud... after all who really needs another nose hair trimmer.

Confessions of a Bad Blogger Pt. 1

2009-11-07T08:06:00.000-08:00

Last week, you remember... when I was grovelling , hoping someone was still reading, I said that I might tell you later why I had been such a bad blogger... so here it goes.

I guess you could say it all comes down to the fact that I starting praying for my block. Let me 'splain....
This summer our pastor and elders encouraged us to go for evening walks with our family and start praying for our neighbors, in an effort to really start loving our neighbors as our selves....
Well on my walks I really felt like I wanted to start setting aside a couple hours a week to make myself available to my neighbors if there was anything they needed prayer for or just anything in general, little did I know I wouldn't just be doing something a couple hours a week.

The very next week we got the news that my neighbor of 32 years, Frank was in the hospital with pretty serious cancer.
Frank was released a few days later and came home to no one. Frank was a very grumpy guy that had alienated everyone in his life, especially his family.
The first night Frank was home, he said he had never been so scared in his life, he said he had been bombed in WWII and never as scared as he was that night.
Our hearts went out to this man, who for most of my life had been mean, crotchety, vengeful and on rare occasions cordial...
Let me give you a little back round on the cordial part... haha
I remember about 12 years ago Frank yelling across the lawn to me, "Cynthia, you'd be a beautiful girl, if you just learned to push away from the table..."
Or there's the time I made him a pie for his birthday and he told me "Don't ever make me one of those again, I gained 2 pounds..."
So you get the idea.... but we offered to help get him sorted with getting his house clean, a live in care taker, meals on wheels, funeral arrangements... the list goes on... It ended up being much more than a few hours a week.
It was so amazing to see this man, who for most of my life, I had lived in fear of, linger when I hugged him or held his hand... or even tear up when he told me stories of some of his personal achievements or about the day his ashes would be scattered at sea.

I want to tell you more about my time with Frank before he died, but I'll leave it at that for today, but before I go I want to introduce you to a web site that is hosted by CATALYST an organization in IL that is trying to encourage people to actively engage in praying for their neighbors.
It's called Pray 4 Your Block, their aim is to encourage people to be actively praying for their neighbors and when you sign up a flag is raised on the map to encourage you and others of who is praying near you...
As you can see right now I'm the only one in CdM, actually maybe in Orange County, and I know there are many of you already praying so raise your flag!
This has been such an amazing season for our family, in actually doing what we believe and what Jesus asked us to, praying for our enemies, loving our neighbor as ourselves, we have been so blessed... but more on that to come....

Free Books Yippee!

2009-11-05T12:49:00.000-08:00

So I told you a few months ago about a free book on Christian Audio.com called Crazy Love, and I have to say, and I know I'm no book critic, but it is one of thee best books on Christian living I've ever read. I was challenged to my core and so encouraged, but it's not free anymore, but whatever it cost, buy it, you'll thank me.

BUT there is another awesome book for free this month called Desiring God, Meditations of a Christian Hedonist by John Piper... Click Here to check it out, what do you have to lose... it's free and someone will read it to you! win, win!
Just doin' my part to get you cool free stuff... check ya later.

a Pumpkin for your Protection

2009-10-31T22:59:00.000-07:00

Ok... I seriously don't believe in stuff like that, but if I did, this is the pumpkin I want out in front of my house... Jesus looks so serious on this pumpkin... My good friend, who wishes to remain anonymous, carved this today for the pumpkin carving contest at our harvest festival for church, which is totally appropriate right? Except for the fact that we couldn't light it and it just looked like a bunch of weird punched out spaces. But then you put the light in and it's like, WOAH, it's Jesus!

In other news, Mike and I were "the kiss" for Halloween... He's so cute, especially when he dresses like a sailor, plays the standup bass, guitar, drums, (really any instrument, except maybe tuba) or kisses my kids!Stay safe, you can always borrow my pumpkin if you need to...

Not that anyone is still reading...

2009-10-27T14:02:00.000-07:00

I know, I know... I shouldn't even be allowed to have a blog, since I have so neglected it for the last couple months...
If by some chance you're still reading this, one day maybe soon I'll fill you in on why I've been such a bad blogger...
But for now I offer "the way I am" as a cheerful offering of good faith, that I won't be as bad of a blogger as I've been and thanks for still loving me the "way I am!"

This is my husband Mike and I performing at a friend's wedding... so fun!
My husband's so handsome when he plays the upright bass!
Sorry it's a little dark...

Ben, Josh's Dad interviewed about Tsunami

2009-10-01T14:28:00.000-07:00

This is an interview with Josh's Dad, Ben Taufua ... I can't believe how heart breaking this is.
Ben is sharing about losing 11 of his family members and the extent of the damage to the family resort.
Please, please continue to keep the Taufua's in your prayers!

Samoan Tsunami, devastating news, please pray!

2009-09-30T15:40:00.000-07:00

Hey guys, I've been doing really bad at the whole having a blog thing lately as my schedule has gotten really full with trying to provide care for my dying neighbor. Ironically that's not the really bad news.
My children's God-parents, Josh and Sara currently live in New Zealand, but Josh is of Samoan decent. I'm sure most of you have by now heard about the Tsunami that has ravaged the Samoan islands, and sadly it has devastated his family.

He has lost 10 family members so far including his Grandfather, Aunties, Cousins, some of who were just babies... And there are still others unaccounted for. One of the horrible stories of his cousin Sina, losing her three children is told Here...

Josh rushed to the airport with his father Ben last night in hopes of getting to their families resort pictured here.
With most of the roads believing to be inaccessible they were prepared to hike through the jungle, very steep terrain to get to his family's village. Some how they managed to make it there late last night, how we're not sure.
Josh sent a text to Sara saying "Power to the whole district is out and it feels like a ghost town. Houses destroyed everywhere. There's nothing left. Nothing left, no houses. I can't believe there are any survivors." I guess all I can say is please pray for Josh and Ben and the Tafua family... Nahum 1:7 came to mind (thanks In 'N Out) It says : "The Lord is good, A stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him."

Please pray that Josh and Ben wouldn't lean on their own understanding, but that they would trust in God look to Him for thier comfort and help. Thanks so much

Top 12! Australian Idol!

2009-09-17T11:53:00.000-07:00

Seeing as how I am rarely on line these days... I have been totally clueless to the success of my sweet friend Timmy on Australian Idol! Hello!!! Top 12!!! It's so fun to watch him, he's doing so well and is such a gentleman! Go Timmy, we're so proud of you!

Check him out!

Lu Bird Baby: Owl Doll Tutorial with Guest Blogger Cyndi

2009-09-16T14:48:00.000-07:00

Since I have so little time at the moment for my blog, I've decided it would be a good idea to blog for others?!
My good friend Kristin has a blog where you can find all things baby and toddler related, she's super driven and talented!
She asked me to share my owl doll tutorial there. So check out Lu Bird Baby and from there you can check out all her cute stuff she has for sale in her Etsy shop too!

I promise, a real a genuine post from the depths of my soul, coming very soon!

Mustache madness

2009-08-14T10:07:00.000-07:00

So my Cute Kiwi and his little (but much taller) Kiwi brother had a birthday last week and in honor of their great manliness, we threw a mustache party and ate lots of meat (cuz that's so manly!?), mustache cake and mustache cake pops (definitely not manly)!

So manly!

(did you notice the mustache necklace! She's committed!)

Coolest girls with a stache I know!

(she's a brave lunch lady!)

There were felt mustache pins, and pens if you didn't have your own "stache", there we're even "staches on a stick", if you were too chicken to sharpie your self...

The pictures aren't great, but you get the idea!

Sneak Peak!

2009-08-04T23:07:00.000-07:00

There's about to be a whole lotta mustache up in this blog...

Just thought I'd give you a little taste....

At least it wasn't a total loss...

2009-07-29T22:55:00.000-07:00

This weekend we headed down to Crystal Cove which, lately has become a bit of a ritual... I get to walk about 4 miles so I can check off the "hobby" from my to do list and the kiddos get in some play time with the aunties.... BUT this weekend there was just no way I was gonna let anyone, even a 30 year old near the water! Dang those waves were scary! Beautiful, but scary!

(This just doesn't do them justice!)

So we walked a long, long way with no relief of the cool clear water for the long, long walk home.

But my good friend Laura brought her camera and captured some great photos!

So it wasn't a total loss...

she loves her uncle K-love...
And he loves her, so cute!

By the way, this is how Emmy winks!

My little buck-toothed beauty...

just where I like her, up away from certain peril!

Judah doing his "baby blue steel"... can't wait to see "magnum!"

If you haven't made a point of going down to Crystal Cove and you live in Southern California, do yourself a favor! I lived here for years and for a long time never bothered, I have no idea what I was thinking.

When you go here, there's definately a feeling of going back in time, it's like a ghost town on the beach, so charming! It has abandoned cottages lining the beach, complete with weathered boardwalk and picket fences!

There is even a little restaurant called the beachcomber, which occupies one of the old cottages, that serves it's food on Fiesta ware under palm leaf umbrellas while playing the tunes of the 40's! Love it!

Free audio books!

2009-07-29T10:12:00.000-07:00

I wanted to pass on this valuable piece of information, incase like me you have no way of managing to accomplish all that you'd like to in this life-time. I want to be a reader, I long to be a good reader, but actually having the time to get anything read has proved very challenging for me in this season of my life. But now I have christianaudio.com !!
And they even give me a free book every month! They'll even give YOU a free book too... not cuz you're extra special or cuz I'm extra special, they're just really cool and they do that! They actually have lots and lots of free books and some really inexpensive one's as well... like only $1.98! This month I'm going to listen to "Crazy Love" on my phone when I work out...

I can't wait to actually get some "reading" done! It's not like no one's ever heard of an audio book, it just never really registered in my mom brain that it was an option for me in this busy season, so just incase you forgot that this kind of technology exists... bye for now

Hi-Ho! Cherry-O

2009-07-23T11:38:00.000-07:00

A few years back, I found myself waiting in a very, very long line to get into what was going to be one of the biggest scores of my life... A rock concert where you met the Cute Kiwi, you ask? Nope... Must have been at an amusement park, and the Cute Kiwi was the ride attendant... Nope! (He would never ever be the ride attendant at an amusement park) No offense, I'm just not into Carnies...
Strangely enough I was waiting with tons of other people, who were also chomping at the bit, to get into one of the best rummage sales I've ever been to! And let me tell you, this one was a score! I love, love, love old people who never throw anything away, they make my life so much fun!

Well at this particular rummage sale, I was able to pick up a 1940's Gabardine Western Ware skirt with sequins and all! A 1950's Pendleton ladies coat, a 1950's wool coat and bonnet for Emmy, a 1950's Cookie maker set, 1940's Salt and Pepper Shakers, and the first edition of High-Ho! Cherry-O.... What a fun day... there were lots of other scores, but I won't bore you with the details

Fast forward 3 years and Emmy is finally old enough to understand the principals of playing a game, and playing to win...haha!

So all this morning we've played and we've played and now I remember why I loved this game so much as a kid!

Primary colors, cute little cherries, a spinney wheel with cute little pictures on it, and simple good ol' fashion competition! What fun!

what a little point and shoot can do!

2009-07-21T10:22:00.000-07:00

I often find my self frustrated by the limitations being a frugal person presents me with, but then I get creative and I make do... and sometimes when I make do, it actually turns out great and I save myself a $1000 to boot! And this last week is no exception, for a long time I've been tempted by the idea of purchasing an SLR camera but have realized it's just a whim and not something that I really, really need.... I guess ever since I've been exposed to the blog world, I've realised the blogs I love the most have great photographs and I've longed to create my own great shots and express my self in that way... But then I started thinking to myself.... "self, you don't need a fancy camera, you live in 2009, where there's a answer for everything!" So I started googling "point and shoot tutorials" and found a few really helpful sites that have guided me in taking better photos... Here is one of the many I found....Photography Tutorial Point and Shoot Camera Layers Magazine ... Pioneer Woman Photography is also a great resource for learning lots about taking pictures, she uses an SLR but I've found that a lot of the principals are the same no matter what you're using... So scour and devour all her great knowledge that she passes on!

So I'm getting to know my little camera a lot better I actually kinda know what the different settings do now, and I'm starting to understand the importance of light and shadow in a good shot... so I'm reading more, learning more and trying and trying again... And this last week I got some really great shots! Yeah for frugality, creative resourcefulness, google and good lighting!

I got a little sweet gaze
a look of amazement at how awesome his mommy is

a coy smile

he thinks my canon's awesome!

she can't resist the squishy face either!

So the moral of the story is, if you can't afford a sweet SLR with lots a fancy lenses... learn more about your little point and shoot and keep trying, you might surprise yourself with what you can come up with!

Little Homestead in the City

2009-07-19T22:42:00.000-07:00

There seems to be a shortage of Cyndi going around... Everyone is feeling the affects! My new hobby has been monopolizing my free time, thus if you need some Cyndi time, you might wanna put on your running shoes! Unfortunately I have not figured out an exercise to preform whilst watering my garden (any ideas?), thus it has never looked worse... Sorry Mom! At least I've harvested a few measly veggies and it wasn't a total write off... but when I start to feel sad about my little weed plot in the city I head over to Little Homestead in the City and I dream and I wish and I hope that one day I will manage to have a garden like the Derveas family... they are a family of 4 living on 1/5 of and acre in Pasadena CA that have cultivated 1/10 of their acreage and are managing to grow 10,000 pounds of produce a year! Hello people! 10,000 pounds on 1/5th of an acre... I'm a serious under achiever! Head on over to to check out the write up on a documentary that has been filmed about them and learn some more about this inspiring family! So until I manage to muster up some old fashioned gumption and add at least 6 more hours to the day... I'll have to pretend that the tomatoes I buy at the store that say vine ripe are actually vine ripened.... not just exposed to gasses while still atached to their vine... so sad...

My new hobby

2009-07-12T22:05:00.000-07:00

Paper mache you ask... why no.... oh then, model plane making??? why never entered my mind... then surely it must be underwater basket weaving, Heck no! I haven't got time for any sort of shenanigans!
It's really just a ironic way of saying that I'm dieting again and I can't wait to exercise each and every day! Yeah! Well it is my number 1 well... number 4 priority... which for me is pretty high up on the list! And surprisingly once I get going, I do really enjoy myself, which for some reason my brain blocks out from any sort of rememberance even the very next day... why do you do this to me brain??? Exercise good, french fries bad.... say it 10 times! So anyways, my new favorite tool to help me maximize my new "hobby" is gmaps pedometer, Yeah! Check out my walking route in the town where I live... And who knows maybe you can make a route of your own if your thinking of taking up a new hobby! They've made it very simple to record and even save your favorite walking routes... but if you're anything like me, you need variety, so I use this little puppy to map out where I think I'll go on a given day and see if I've got enough muster in me to make it... another favorite route of mine is to Trader Joes down in Crystal Cove, but I think I may be a few weeks away from that one... I might need to replace some cheese on my thighs with muscle to power me that far to buy some more cheese... it's really all just a vicious cycle isn't it!
Exercise good, french fries bad.... say it guys!

A song for the Cute Kiwi

2009-07-01T23:39:00.000-07:00

About a million years ago, at least it seems like it... my cute Kiwi of a husband and I were living in Australia, and he was not yet my husband or even close! We weren't even dating... but oh man did we wish we were! I've decided to post about our story here soon, it's cute, maybe encouraging and yes even romantic... (Mike sighs) so stay tuned for that, but in the mean time you can tune into a song I wrote for him Here . A friend helped me record it when I was home for a break, a whole ocean away, wondering if I'd ever see my cute Kiwi again... oh puppy love...

Oh that T-shirt, what ever happened to that T-shirt!

20 Second Testimonies

2009-06-25T10:35:00.000-07:00

So I have been off the blogosphere radar for a little while now, with my computer crashing, my ministerial duties and a my children's god-parents in town from New Zealand it's been CRAZY! Seriously I think I'm making use of every single minute in the day to maximize my potential as super mom, it's really ridiculous, and I'm happy to say won't be carrying on this way forever!

BUT all that is to say, I couldn't wait to get online this morning and share with you all this new little "activity" (thanks Speeds) that I came up with.... I called it a game and I was reminded by my dear friend Speeds after we had completed my game that really it was an activity... so the idea... I think lots of us struggle with how to cultivate a culture where we talk about our faith and what God is doing in our lives freely, so I came up with 20 second testimonies.... Hebrews 10:23-25 was my inspiration...

Hebrews 10:23 NLT - Without wavering, let us hold tightly to the hope we say we have, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. 24 - Think of ways to encourage one another to outbursts of love and good deeds. 25- And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage and warn each other, especially now that the day of his coming back again is drawing near.

So next time you're in a group setting or even one on one with someone, ask your friends to share in 20 seconds a neat story of God's power in their lives or a lesson that they've been learning recently. It's really a non threatening way to share what God has been doing in their lives... any one can manage 20 seconds... right? And most people once they get going can offer way more than 20 seconds... It's so important to build up one another and I think we can get really cynical and doubt God sometimes, but when we hear what He's doing in our friends lives, it can be so encouraging... Soooo stir it up... get the love and the faith flowing! Have the courage to present your friends with 20 second testimonies... you'll be so blessed and you'll help your friends remember what it's really all about!

CRASH!

2009-06-15T18:26:00.000-07:00

I've always hated dust! I hate that moments after I've dusted my old house it has returned, I dust and I dust, and I'm dusted! And now I have even more reason to hate it! My computer has crashed! And the reason is DUST! So now, I'm going to be swallowed whole, by re-configuring my new computer with my old stuff.... argh! It's so inconvenient to have all this convenience!
So blog, I'll see you around sometime...

1940s House

2009-06-09T09:25:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching a BBC program called 1940s House . If you haven't seen this amazing social experiment, it is worth every minute of it's 3 hours! I can say that I was truly ignorant of how life was for people during the war... I think for me I've always looked back with such an idilic perspective, I knew that people had to sacrifice and work hard, but I really had no idea to what lengths people went to make it during WWII! In this miniseries this family, the Hymers, applied to live in a house that was completely restored to late 30's early 40's fashion, which of course was better than disneyland for me! And they we're all given clothes and haircuts... no detail was missed. They even set up a store for them to shop at (which by the way, rarely had much in it!) and they had to make a bomb shelter and do regular bomb raiding exercises... it was wild!
The biggest reason I wanted to post about this show, was how incredibly inspiring it was to see how people went above and beyond the call of duty whilst living on practically nothing. This family, the Hymers, we're totally surprised by how hard things were and from time to time wanted to quit. But they stuck with it, and they were definately changed by the experience!

I've always thought that I would have been a totally awesome home front wife, but man I can't believe how hard it was for them... I have this idea that it would be so awesome to have my victory garden and make every meal from scratch everyday... all in my cute little house dress with my snood on and my red lips... (which they called the red badge of courage)
But I totally had the picture all wrong... imagine getting called in to your bomb shelter 17 times in one day! Try making a meal that day, let alone from scratch... so your in your bomb shelter for the 10th time that day and all you've managed to eat is some gray bread from the day before and your kids are crying that they're hungry and you can't get in to make them anything else... and then it hits you that you need to go to the bathroom... all while you hear bombs going off in the not too far distance....oh man!

I've always known that if a senario like WWII were to errupt today, we would be in serious trouble, because there are not many left today that would sacrifice like people did back then... but now after seeing this I know that we could do it, it's just a matter of buckling down and pushing hard through tough times...

So great! Get it on Netflix you won't be sorry... and you WILL look at your grandma and grandpa differently after this!

Proof!

2009-06-06T23:20:00.001-07:00

So I had mentioned before that I had a fruit stand in front of my house, and any of you who have been over in the last few months, know that I'm not a bold face lier... but for the rest of you, here's the proof....

See you CAN trust your Old Time friend... and now you can buy fruit from her too! I know it's crazy! But maybe we'll cure world hunger with the proceeds or send Emmy to swim class so she doesn't "drain"...

Let's be real!

2009-05-29T09:16:00.000-07:00

So I'm a girl who's committed to being transparent and I think in most situations I'm pretty uncomplicated, but I know for some people I can be overwhelming, which is sometimes complicated, but here's the deal, I like to be real and I love people who are willing to be also!

My sweet Mum-in-law is here visiting from New Zealand and we we're talking about a certain trend in where Mom's and wives can maybe give off the impression that they are accomplishing a little more that what's realistic... I mean who can make all their meals for the day from scratch in their perfectly gleaming house with a baby on thier hip and the other arm tied behind there backs (that's hard, I wouldn't recommend trying this) while they sew their 6 children's clothes without a pattern ;) ... and I'm not saying they can't do it, but are we being real here?

I'm not saying I don't like it when my friends jokingly call me Betty Crocker or Martha, but I don't ever want to give off the wrong impression that it's soooo easy and that I don't need any help... Let's face it, if you happen to be invited to the Weeks' for supper, I WILL have thought about what I'm gonna make for days and I will have spent extra time cleaning up my house than usual and I will spend most of that day preparing for you to come over... and hopefully I won't act like that's how we roll everyday...
I do have a really sweet friend, Janell and with her there's no pretense, if you're invited over your gonna eat what their family would eat every night and the house is gonna be like it always is, and I LOVE that about her, I love being invited over to be part of the family!

Now that doesn't mean that I'm pretensious, I just like to put my energy into making it really special for people to come over... It's an outlet for me I guess...

So I'm letting the cat out of the bag, I can't write 10 blog posts a day, bake fresh bread, make chicken piard for dinner and sew 5 slings in a day while doing crafts with my perfectly behaved children... Not saying that I wouldn't love to! I wish there was 50 hours in a day, I'd rule the world! But since that's not likely to happen I just have to pick and chose from day to day where my energy's spent and some days that's on cleaning and other's it on blog posts or sewing... but I just wanna keep it real for all you moms out there, we can't do it all... so don't feel like you have to convince everyone that you can! I mean I love the idea of the perfect 50's housewife, but she doesn't really exist, only in our imaginations...

Just keepin' it real...

Paint by el numeros

2009-05-25T09:58:00.000-07:00

I LOVE Paint by numbers, and now I commission you my beloved readers to love them too!

Fun Fact: Paint by numbers was the brain child of Dan Robbins in the early 1950's, an artist who remembered that DaVinci used to put numbers into his paintings so that his apprentices could help him finish his works of art.

So Robbins takes his idea to a major paint company and the rest is history! And guess who is hanging in more living rooms than any artist ever? That's right Dan Robbins + You... well not you, cuz we have too much to do with our busy lives than sit around for hours filling in blanks...

But thankfully for me and now you, (cuz you're gonna love them) our forefathers had the courtesy to spends hours upon hours filling them in for our enjoyment!

My Mom recalls when everyone was doing them and she thought they were terribly tacky. Luckily not everyone thought they were, cuz there's thousands upon thousands of them hanging around and they can be purchased for mere dollars! There are crazy people like me who have quite a few in their collection and some who will pay more than a few dollars for some of the more rare examples. But usually they can be found for around $10-$20 smackers...

So I've posted some of my collection for you to enjoy, and I hope now you will love them as I do, and if you still aren't convinced, that's fine, just next time you see one at a garage sale, pick it up for your old time friend, Cyndi ;)

Song writing woes

2009-05-16T10:10:00.000-07:00

This is me like a gazillion years ago, when I thought everything needed and I do mean needed, to be pink.. but it's also me back when I'd sit down for 15 maybe 20 minutes and have an awesome song! Well at least I though it was... but then again maybe all the pink was going to my brain.So fast forward 30 years and here I am no real major trials in my life, no issues almost pushing me over the edge (by issues I mean no possibility of a budding romance to inspire gads of songs)
And I look pretty sad... What's my deal, I have another one where I look much more friendly but it doesn't have the awesome 1941 picture of surfer Jesus in the background... I don't even think long haired surfers were around back then... But I am a bit sad cuz the songs won't flow like they once did, like rays of light flowing from my finger tips! And I'm so frustrated! I think I over think everything and I'm so concerned with thee perfect melody building into the perfect chorus with the perfect words that I've hindered the creative process! HELP! How do I get back to being simple again??

I feel like I have tons of good material, you know the Bible and stuff and all I've been set free from I just need my flow back... Any writers out there with any suggestions??? Send help or I might end up looking permanently like this!

BTW: Emmy took this and she thinks it's awesome...

Fruit Salad Frenzy!

2009-05-14T23:23:00.001-07:00

I triple dog dare you to try my fruit salad recipe... go ahead try it! OK enough bullying, but seriously try this and you will thank me. I don't know why the secret ingredient in my fruit salad makes it so magical but it does...

So little known fact about me, I have a fruit stand in front of my house! What you don't believe me?? It's too late for photos tonight, but you'll see, it's true... and right now, it's filled with the juciest, sweetest most wonderful oranges you've ever eaten . Don't be too jealous, since it's inception I think we've made a whopping $32... nothing we could live off of, but we can make a really good fruit salad from it's proceeds, so check it out!
Don't worry there's not a tutorial on how to slice and dice your fruit below, I'm sure you're competient enough to figure that one out on your own, but there are a few things we need to discuss!

For instance, you can make this fruit salad with whatever you have hanging around in your fridge, like I did, BUT and that's a big BUT, you must have an orange, at least one!

So get your fruits ready for the choppin and place all but your orange in zee bowl.
I used some pineapple, strawberries, blackberries, 1 banana (cuz it was all I had) and 2 oranges... I just kept adding until I had reached the capacity of the bowl, be creative there's no rules with this one, oh except for the rule about the orange...
(I really like making this with blueberries and kiwi fruit too)
Take your orange and your zester, and get them well aquainted! Add the zest of one orange to your bowl of diced fruit...

Now cut your orange that you zested in half and add the juice of just half of it if your orange is really juicy like mine, I'm not bragging it's just really juicy and really delicious, seriously! But if it's not as juicy you can use the whole thing...
.
Now add 1-2 tbsp. of honey depending on how sweet you like it... I used 2 cuz I like it sweet!

Now for the magical mystery ingredient!!! Bom bada bom ba badda da bom! Nutmeg, yep that's right... I know that this might be bringing up some trust issues for some of you, but I promise I won't let you down, you can trust me, this will make your salad sing!
I don't have pre-ground nutmeg so I dusted the top of my fruit salad until I could see a little bit covering the whole top... my educated guess was 1/2 teaspoon, but if that scares you, start with a 1/4 add a little more if you don't sense it's presence there making you swoon! Now mix it all up real good... THEN...

Now comes the really hard part, let it sit for 30 min. before you serve... Go catch up on some you time, go read your kid a story, floss your teeth, or go google how big the largest invertebrate to ever be found is... just walk away and let it sit, you'll thank me... cuz all it's juicy goodness is coming out and it's guaranteed to make it's recipents face look like this! OK maybe not as cute, but definately worth the wait!

There's purpose in the pain

2009-05-08T14:50:00.000-07:00

Why is it that the moment trails begin I forget everything I've learned that 's gotten me this far... it's like the pain or frustrations somehow block out that really important part of my brain that could reassure me that every thing's gonna be OK and there is a purpose in all this ...

Some of my friends have mildly accused me of living a charmed life, it's true I have never lost a relative that's really close to me, I've never really experienced any hardship due to financial woes or real sickness and for the most part my husband and I kinda like each other... So we've established that I don't have the market cornered on suffering but they say that suffering is relative, so in my small puny way I can understand what it's like to struggle. And for the last couple of months I can say a little better I know what it's like to struggle.
Since having my sweet dream of a little boy, I've been struggling with my health, and more than anything, it's been messing with my head. I really didn't realize how much I took my health for granted until this all went down...

But that's not really the point of this post... the point is, where do we go when the pain or frustrations start?

For a lot of us it's worry for others it's anger, I'm sure there's a whole host of emotions that we face when we feel out of control of our circumstances... but thankfulness is not one that quickly comes to mind.

For years, when these trails rear their ugly heads, an old stand by of mine has been Hebrews 10. Here the author reminds the recipients of this letter how they went through great suffering in the first days after they were illuminated... he says, "hey you've gotten through rougher patches before, you just have need of endurance, that's why you're going through this." He encourages them to not cast away their confidence in God, because in their confidence they will find great reward. And isn't that true, have you ever taken the high road? Have you ever buckled down and just decided to have a good attitude and trust that good is gonna come out of your difficult circumstance? I'd love to hear your story and what you gained from your positive stance!
I'm sounding like the opposite of Debbie Downer here... we could call me "Polly Positive" but it is bigger than that, I hope this doesn't sound like a glorified pep talk.
I really do believe that there is a valuable spiritual discipline here that a lot of us forget about when the trouble starts...

1Peter 1 reminds us that we only are grieved by trails if we need them... they prove our faith, they show us what we really believe, and what is it that I believe when I'm going through tough times? If I'm really honest, it's that I'm the master of my destiny and I need to get control of the situation and quick... and I can have a real stinky attitude that can sound like this... "seriously! this is so inconvient, how am I gonna write 10 blog posts a day, make my cake pops, sew 15 slings and be the perfectly attentive mom now that I have to deal with this!"

So lately I've been trying to skip that step and go straight to realizing that I am a toothless tiger in the face of roaring trials and simply just give thanks! This time I'm thankful that God is taking me to a new level of discipline. And that is something I know I would never achieve with out the help of difficult circumstances! Seriously I have to laugh that God has figured out a way to "trick" me into being disciplined! I love Him for that! I love the fruit of being disciplined just not the general discomfort it requires...So I can recognize that this trial is doing some work for me that I might not otherwise be able to to accomplish, so for that I can give thanks!

On a more serious note 1st Thessalonians 5:18 tells us that the will of God for our lives is that we give thanks in everything! And yes, that does mean everything... even when our husband might leave, when our dog might die, when the lump is diagnosed malignant, or when we're losing it all... give thanks!
Please don't misunderstand me, I really don't mean to trivialize anyone's pain, if anything I mean to validate it! There is purpose in the pain, I just pray I can encourage you to grasp it's full potential...

I remember a time about 9 years ago when I had just given my life back to the Lord and I was sooooo broken! Oh man, we're talkin' ugly broken, nose swollen, snotty sobbin', mascara runnin' broken! I can just remember falling on my knees and saying thank you Lord, I don't understand why you're allowing this but I'm gonna say thank you just the same... Woah! Overwhelming peace like I've never experienced before... still ugly broken, but I had peace. And that's what God promises us! A peace that surpasses our understanding . And I can understand it now, I'm so thankful I'm not that same girl I was 9 years ago, but at the time the pain was so deep, so real I couldn't understand why I had to go through it.

So the bottom line.......... don't be discouraged, don't let those thoughts of worry or anger get out of control... be like David and preach to your soul, remind yourself of God's goodness and give thanks for whatever it is...
2nd Corinthians reminds us that our light affliction is only momentary and working out for us something far greater than we could ever imagine! Remember we're just passing through, this is not our home! Let's give thanks and give purpose to our pain!

And please, let me know if I can pray for you if you're going through a difficult time and if you have a story of giving thanks through hard circumstances please feel free to share!

Grace and Peace!

Isn't she lovely! (an owl doll tutorial)

2009-05-02T22:56:00.000-07:00

So I love photo tutorials! Photo tutorials are my new favorite thing on the internet, it's amazing to me that thru blogs and people's websites how much is accesable to us! so I decided I was gonna do my very own!

I have a thing for owls that started when I was 4... you say how do you know, how can you remember so far back??? Well my grandpa died when I was 5 and I know he used to scold me for fiddling with his AWESOME owl clock with bakelite eyes that told the time... kinda creepy though when it's 9:25... so I know owls are kinda trendy right now, so why not join in, cuz I love to be trendy!!! and make a cute little owl doll for my girlfriend's daughter's birthday! And lucky you are the benefactors of this labor of love as well... So if sewing isn't your thing feel free to skip on down to another post, or maybe you'll see how incredibly easy this is and you'll want to learn and start making some of your very own crafty creations!

Here we go!
You will need:

hoaky owl drawing for pseudo pattern (done on 8x11 paper)
4 -8x11 pieces of felt
2 coordinating pieces of fabric, or not if you're feeling kinda crazy!
Some frilly ribbon or lace
fiber-fill or batting

Now get the two colors of felt that you want for the front and back and begin to cut out the pieces of your owl using your pattern, feel free to cut a little extra room for your seam-allowance and don't feel like it has to be perfect, just go for the general shape...

Now take your pattern and cut out the wings, as you can see here, I wanted mine a little bigger than what I had drawn so I cut the wings a bit bigger
Now pin your patterns wings to your fabric of choice and cut around and now get your coordinating fabric and cut out the piece that you'll use for the chest feathers...

Note: cut the chest feathers part bigger on the sides so that it can sit underneath the wings and get sewn down when you get to that part (see below)

Now get the scraps from the color you used on the back side of your owl and pin the top of your chest feather pattern and cut the arch at the top then scallop the bottom edge (see below,) remembering to keep it a bit wider than what will show, so that you will catch it when you sew your wings down
Then cut your coordinating piece of frilly ribbon or lace... then lather, rinse, repeat... Ok skip the later and the rinse, but repeat until you have 4 rows of scalloped felt and frilly ribbon...

Ok so after you have that all layed out, it's time to give her some really cute big eyes... I really liked how having big round perfect circles looked, so I used the bottom of my cup to make an imprint to see if that was big enough for me then I traced that size onto a piece of paper

So I did the same as before, I pinned my pattern to my white felt and cut out my circle, then I did the same with the black then later went back and cut the black slightly smaller than the white... I did the same with the nose... I started out here with two small triangles for the eye sparkle, but decided that I like another set of circles instead in the end.

Now it's time to sew!!!

Deconstruct your owl and set your pieces all aside...
We'll begin with the chest feather pieces and the fabric that sits underneath
Pin your fabric to your owl and sew it down, then begin to sew your scalloped felt at the top followed by your frilly ribbon...

leaving a bit of space so that your fabric shows thru a little bit...

Now pin your wings onto your owl, and begin to sew them down
Note: when you pin the wings it's most important that the wings cover the sides of the chest feathers

I started to go around just once, but then I thought hmmmm if I keep going it's gonna look even more feathery... so I just sewed around and around and around following the pattern of the wing

Now it's time to change your thread out, as you sew your eyes down you'll want white to match... Sew down the first part of your eyes... the whites and if you're really lazy like me and hate changing out the thread more times than absolutely necessary, proceed to sew down the eye sparkle before the blacks of the eyes...

Time to change out the thread to black and sew down the blacks of your owlys eyes...

Then one more time for her little nose... (Note: I cheated here, since I didn't have orange felt, I used white and an orange sharpie!!, I'm so ghetto!)

Now I did a little flower detail on the back of the owl, which it totally optional and since I have 10 million photos on here already, use your imagination and maybe I'll show you one at the end if you just have to know! If you do put a detail on the back, make sure that you have the "right" side out so that when you sew your doll together your sides match!

Now it's time to sew our little owl together! This is very simple... put the "right" sides or the sides that you want to show together, so that they're not showing and proceed to sew leaving a small gap at the bottom to turn right side out and for stuffing... When you have finished sewing her together trim any excess felt off of the edges...

Now turn your little gal "right" side out

and introduce her to her new best friend mr. stuffy stuff... and you guessed it stuff her tight!

(Note: her nose is missing here because I was going to use a cute vintage button, but didn't end up liking how it looked, your nose should be attached at this point)

After you have gotten her as full as you possibly can, paying close attention to her little ears, and getting out all dents and puckers, sew together your hole using a needle and thread...
Guess what! You did it! Or if you're crazy like me, you can keep going... what can I say, I love details!

Sooooo I gave her a cute barrett, by cutting out 2 contrasting colors of felt into the shape of a flower, then sewing on a button with thread detail around it with two loops of grosgain ribbon on the back... I just simply attached it to her little head with my needle and thread...

Lastly to make it special and make sure your lucky recipient will always remember you, I embroidered "To: Friend... Love: Emmy..." my little girl, who contributed by saying "oooohh cool!"

Well I hope you've had as much fun as I have had and I hope if you make one, you'll show me how yours turned out!

Isn't it cool to make something handmade to give to someone special! It used to be that storebought was special, but now it's so much more rare to get that special handmade treat!

Have fun!

The Sewing Side of Me...

2009-04-28T20:37:00.000-07:00

So for a while now I've had my own micro-business where I make baby slings and sometimes crafty stuff, what that is depends on the time of year and how crafty I'm feeling... I didn't really start my blog to sell my stuff, but I figured it is a part of my love for sewing and vintage stuff so if you'd like to check out my slings and some of my stuff click HERE

R-R-Road Trip!

2009-04-25T10:58:00.000-07:00

So we returned realllllly early Monday morning from our family road trip. Thus why I have not posted in eons. And oh how I've missed you blog! But it has taken me a full week to recover before any serious internet activity could take place! We did 6 states in one day people! With a not even 3 month old, are you serious! But on the up side of the trip we aquired some new paint by numbers for our collection, and I decided I want everyone else to love them as much as I do, so look out for that next post, as I'm sure you will all soon love them as I do, well maybe not, but I can try...
But whilst we we're in Colorado we went on a steam locomotive, one of the highlights of our trip!But let me tell you it was also very educational... did you realize that our relatives used to cross the country at a whopping 12 miles an hour!!! I couldn't believe how slow it was, after all the iron horse was supposed to be the thing that revolutionized travel! 12 miles an hour! We managed to make 26 miles in 2 1/2 hours going one way... and since we had soooo much time to discuss how slow we were going, my cute Kiwi pointed out that a days ride on a horse was 30 miles, so 26 miles in 2 and a half hours would have rocked great-grandma Cora's socks off! Man no wonder we're so A.D.D. ... what used to take our ancestors days or months, we can accomplish in hours. And what do we do with all that free time... don't even get me started. No wonder they didn't have credit card debt, it would've taken them 2 days with a pack mule to get to the mall and back. Why bother!
Anyways road trips are cool, when your kids are at least a year old... At least they're educational.

CAKE POPS!!!

2009-04-09T18:54:00.000-07:00

Since I need another distraction in my life right now... I bring you my latest... cake pops!

On one of my new favorite blogs a gal who calls herself Bakerella has innovated even more on the whole cupcake craze! Just when we thought couldn't get any crazier she offers these delectable little bites that are oh so cute! Click here to see some of her great ideas!

Because I have to be somewhat original to feel OK about myself I changed things up just a little bit... and made it only slightly more fattening :

So if you like it simple go to her site and get the recipe, but if you wanna make it fudgy delicious and decadently delightful... throw caution to the wind and proceed below ;)

Get one package devils food cake or similar chocolaty cake mix and make per instructions on back in a regular half-sheet or as us lame-mans call it a cookie sheet.

After cake has cooled (or not if you're impatient like me,) break cake up into small pieces into your stand mixer or large bowl. Pour ganache (recipe below) over the cake pieces and mix on low until fudgy.

For the ganache
8 ounces chocolate chips
1/2 cup cream
- heat cream on medium high and bring to a boil, remove immediately and pour over chocolate chips
allow to sit for a minute then begin to whisk until smooth.

NOTE: If you don't have a stand mixer and wanna feel really "little house on the prairie" you could mix this by hand, it will just take you a lot longer and make your forearms large like the ladies in Leonardo's paintings...

Ok then take your oh so easy but amazingly delicious cakey fudge stuff (I don't really know what else to call it) and shape into little balls, about the size of a golf ball, maybe a little smaller.
Then chill for 30 min in the fridge or 10 in the freezer on a cookie sheet if you're impatient like me...

As you're waiting get your chocolate and candy melts that you want to use ready.

Melt them in 30 second increments in your microwave until they're nice and smooth.

Then take your cakey fudge balls out of the fridge and get a mini cookie cutter ready. Bakerella likes to use a flower shaped one but I found just the right size round one attached to a bird house shaped cookie cutter that I prefer to use.
Now press your cookie cutter over the cake ball and allow the excess to spill over the top...

Smush the top of the cake ball over the sides of the cookie cutter to get that exaggerated cupcake shape... now push out your cuppycake from the cutter and set aside.

Once you have completed 3 or 4 begin the dipping faze... I find that if I work in small batches it allows for just the right amount of cooling time for the chocolate to set.

Now dip the bottom of your cupcakes into your melted chocolate, making sure to go right under the edge of your cupcake top.

Place your freshly dipped cupcake top down and then insert your lollipop stick into the bottom of your cupcake, going about half way through. Be careful not to get your fudgy chocolaty hands on your nice white lollipop stick... woops :

Allow time to set before proceeding to the topping.

After chocolate has set dip the top into your already melted candy melts, allowing the candy to drip right down to the edge of the chocolate. Then while still soft, decorate with sprinkles or sanding sugar and an M&M to top it off and give it that really cute cupcake look!

Set your cupcake pop into styrofoam or a flower frog to allow it to set...

And there you have one super cute toothsome treat!

There is a really great photo demo here if following along without photos proves to be a little bit challenging for you.
There's just so many possibilities! Bakerella has amazing cake pops right now for easter if you need a last minute project to make your weekend even busier!

ENJOY!

-Old Time Cyndi

My favorite way to start the morning!

2009-04-09T09:09:00.000-07:00

If you're anything like me, life just doesn't begin with out a cup a joe! But my life has been significantly enhanced since ditching my crummy 'barista' drip coffee maker. Just before our camping trip up north last October, we considered bringing one of those enamel pots you set on the fire, you know to enhance the whole "little house on the praire feel". But after testing one out on a weekend trip and having either the weakest sauce you've ever seen or a mouth full of grounds... really attractive and by the way, very upsetting, considering my husband's and I's affection for coffee rivals our affection for each other, it's true! That's not to say we don't love each other alot, it just lets you know how much we love our coffee! So we had to think of something fast, and my cute Kiwi suddenly remembered how when we were missionaries and couldn't afford the amazing latte's they make in Australia we used a french press!

If you love coffee and you haven't tried one of these, do yourself a favor and raid your couch cusions for some change (these are really cheap) and enjoy what coffee is supposed to taste like!

Oh and while we're on the topic of coffee, I have one more bone to pick with you America, and really Starbucks! Week after week we visit you, like any good friend, always offering you our hard earned cash and what do you give us in exchange? A push button latte with sudds for foam??? I guess I only have myself to blame, I know better, I know what a latte should look like, taste like, why do go back in? I guess we've just been friends for too long and Kean is too far to drive...

When you get a proper latte in Australia or New Zealand this is what it looks like everytime!

beautiful dense foam that's sugary sweet, and you just look at it and it enhances your drinking experince... so don't waste your $3.80 every week (or for some of you every day) on that poor excuse for a latte and find a local spot that cares and will make your latte how it's supposed to be made!

Or like me, you can just give up on the idea of the perfect latte and just enjoy your 200 mg dose of caffeine right in the comfort of your own home.

For Penance, I offer Pavlova

2009-04-07T10:25:00.000-07:00

So I'm repenting of my "spreads" sins, which I'm sure to still face the consequences for today at 12:15 when I publicly humiliate myself on the scale.

2 cups of butter!!! what was I thinking, there's only 3 of us, that's way too much butter to go around!

So I'm offering something much lighter and less guilt inducing... Pavlova!

There is much to be said about Pavlova, almost every time it's brought up in our home, the conversation about how Australia stole it from New Zealand ensues. It's even mentioned Here on Wikipedia... Man they've got issues! It's just meringue people!

But with that said, it's still worth all the discussion... it's light, marshmallowy, crunchy and super delicious. And with the weather warming up it would be perfect for a spring luncheon or desert on the front porch, or for a mid-morning snack... I would never, yes I would.... I know I have issues...

Ok soooo, the most important thing about making Pavlova, so I'm told, is how high you can get your Pav to stay, (yeah they call it Pav, they shorten everything) and how thin the outside "crust" is....

It's funny, if you have a New Zealand or Australian relative you want to impress, make Pavlova... They're guaranteed to tell you how hard it is to make and how impressed they are at your efforts... And really I don't think it's very hard to put your stand mixer on for 10 minutes then plop it out on a cookie sheet, but maybe I'm missing some crucial step where you sit on the eggs for a day to get them to the right temperature... I dunno...

So anyways here's the recipe, if you make it, let me know how it goes for you... If you got it to stay up without the help of stabilizers or if you buckled under all the "Perfect Pavloa" pressure and used cream of tartar... either way, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

INGREDIENTS

*4 egg whites (room temperature)
*1½ cup super fine sugar (aka baker's sugar)
*1½ teaspoon white vinegar
*1½ teaspoon vanilla extract
*1 ¼ cup heavy cream
*1 lb. strawberries, hulled and sliced
*confection sugar, to serve

Preheat oven to 350F.
Using an electric mixer, beat egg whites and a pinch of sea salt until soft peaks form,
then, with the motor running, gradually add superfine sugar and beat until sugar is incorporated, then add vinegar and vanilla and beat until combined.
Or if you're crazy like me for 10 minutes.

Spoon onto a parchment paper-lined oven tray (or use silpat) and form into a 8-9 inch round.
I use a pencil and trace a dinner sized plate onto the parchment to determine where I'm going to place the Pav...
Reduce oven to 300F and bake for 1½ hours. Turn off oven and, leaving door ajar, stand pavlova in oven for at least 2 hours (but preferably overnight) to cool.

In a large bowl, whisk cream until soft peaks form, spread over pavlova and scatter with strawberries.
Dust with icing sugar and serve immediately.

And when I say immediately, I mean some time soon:)

Enjoy!

-Old Time Cyndi

That's what it's all about! - Clap! Clap!

2009-04-07T09:05:00.000-07:00

So, the average person who lives to be 70, will have spent 20 years of his life sleeping, 6 years eating (at least 8 years, if your name is Cyndi), 5 years dressing(ok add another year if your name is Cyndi, I have a problem picking out just the right outfit, which always ends up being wrong anyways, why do I bother), 2 years on the telephone, 3 years waiting, and 5 months tying shoes. I'm not even gonna mention the years spent online...

So we all jump in and say "That's what it's all about, clap-clap!"

WHAT????

In my devotional time this morning the simple verse "the just shall live by faith" opened up a super jumbo sized can of worms for me... these 6 little words are so freeing and uncomplicated, but for some reason I prefer "the extra complicated with a slice of difficult on the side please."

'I marvel that you have left the gospel of grace — the unearned, undeserved, unmerited favor of God — just so you can get all tangled up in rules and regulations.' I loosely quote from Paul...

I don't know how it is for most of you, but I spend a large portion of my day worried about what I'm doing or not doing that is pleasing or not pleasing God... I set my own traps and fall into them regularly. And it's a gluey sticky mess that's not easy to free myself from... Seriously is this what it's all about? Is this the life that I was promised when I first believed?

"So Christ has really set us free. Now make sure that you stay free, and don't get tied up again in slavery to the law. Listen! I, Paul, tell you this: If you are counting on circumcision (or rules and regulations) to make you right with God, then Christ cannot help you. " Gal. 5:1-3

Woops! how did I get here again? Relying on all the "good" stuff I do, feeling like "I've got it going on, I'm all good". When I really break it down it's actually a little bit comical how I think the "good" stuff I do for God is actually "good". It's a little like when Emmy proudly cleaned up her pee on her carpet yesterday by taking a tea towel, dipping it into the toilet then proceeding to "clean up her mess" with an extra-large sized smile... yeah... that was good. YUCK!

In light of Emmy's example, I'm surprised how easily I jump right into playing this game... I put my whole self in...

And soon we can become Judiazers... FYI the Judaizers if you didn't know where the people that said it was impossible to be right with God with out having your foreskin cut off... woah!

I can start looking a little too close at people, and the private parts of their lives and I can hurt them — not love, embrace and bless them. I become self-righteous, and look at others saying, ‘ If they'd only read their bibles they wouldn't be in this predicament? Why do they that watch that junk? What’s wrong with them?’ Hypothetically of course... ;) I would never, I could never, Ok I do, but I wanna pretend I don't.... I'm sorry!

Then suddenly I blow it, I don't keep my own rules and standards that I think I need to to be right with God and I'm up a creek without a paddle, and I think to myself... "self, what we're you thinking, you've blown it and this one's gonna be hard to work out with God, He's gonna be disappointed in what a loser you are"

We put ourselves in the pressure cooker that for so many of us is the Christian experience, which is either that of a self-righteous jerk who goes around inspecting other people's privates— which we all know we have NO business doing!!!! Or one who lives in the doldrums, trying to escape the slimy walls of the deep deep pit we dug for ourselves.

Up and down, up and down, get me off this crazy thing Jane!

The just shall live by faith.

‘Lord, it's all done, there's nothing more to add. All the junk I've done— past, present, and future, are forgiven. I can come to You anytime I want to. I don’t have to prove to You that I'm spiritual. I don't have to do this or get rid of that. Lord, I can just love You and appreciate the Cross — and I’m free...

There's no middle ground with God, I LOVE that about Him!

No matter how many good things I do, He's not gonna love me more and no matter how many times I blow it today he's not gonna love me less!!!

YES! That's what it's all about, so I'm gonna put my whole self in and shake it all about today as I rejoice that I live by faith, nothing more nothing less, I belive and that means I'm free!

Clap! Clap!

Old Time Cyndi??

2009-04-06T10:10:00.000-07:00

So maybe you've asked yourself... "self, who the heck is old time Cyndi? or why is she calling herself old time Cyndi, or has she gotten so gimicky that she's given herself a silly moniker that makes no sense?" All valid questions... Well now you don't have to wonder any more, Bonanza has all the answers...
Yes Bonanza! When my husband and I first started dating, we were all sitting around in his living room on one of our rare vacation times from our base, when the boys, my husband is one of 5 boys, decided to bust out a childhood favorite of theirs... Ponderosa Party Time! And suddenly my world was turned upside down... There was a song about ME!!! All those years spent feeling so low about myself every time I heard "Sarah" on the radio... one of my best friends growing up was Sarah and she was always there to remind me that they had written a hit song about her... Cyndi was just too lame a name and too lame a girl, I thought, for anyone to ever want to write a song about...

But I was wrong, there it was "Miss Cyndi" or "Old Time Cyndi" or "Get along home Miss Cyndi"
either way, it was my song... a song about Miss Cyndi and how all the boys swoon... WOAH!
Then it turned slighty disturbing... the same cute little miss Cyndi that Little Joe and Adam were singing about, Pa began to sing about, WHAT? He's way too old to be singing about me like this! Then it got worse, Haus' verse came on... "her face is like a coffee pot, her nose is like the spout, put a handle on the other side and pour that coffee out"????? Seriously?! I know I like coffee alot, but not enough to have it pour out my nose!

Anyways it's my song, weird verse and all... And considering how most of my friends think I somehow jumped out of my great-grandma's ovaries and landed on my mom's zygote in the wrong era, the title seems befitting of an old fashioned girl like myself...

Click Here if you wanna hear a totally lame version of the song

Here are some of the lyrics

Cyndi in the summertime, Cyndi in the fall, If I ain't got my Cyndi, I got nothing at all
Get along home home Miss Cyndi Get along home Get along home home Miss Cyndi
I'm a gonna miss you now

I wished I was a sugar tree standing in the town everytime my Cindy come along
she'd shake some sugar down
Get along home home Miss Cyndi Get along home Get along home home Miss Cyndi
I'm a gonna miss you now

Heart Condition

2009-04-06T09:01:00.000-07:00

So in the light of yesterday's inventory check, I decided first on my agenda this morning should be some time with the Lord. Then I proceeded to totally disregard that and went directly to my computer... sigh... But thankfully the Lord helped me pull the reigns in and I went Here ...
if I can't beat my clear addiction to this uncomfortable computer chair, I might as well spend some time with the Lord whilst sitting upon it.

I was so encouraged and really convicted. One of the many problems I seem to have is it's way easier for me to intellectualize my faith, than to open my heart completely to it. I don't know why, I wish I was one of those people that just opened their heart easily and held nothing back. But for some reason when I'm in busy seasons like the one I'm in now, I've noticed that I start to withhold my heart from the Lord. That's so sad to type... I guess in these times I find comfort in how logical my faith is to me and how I know in my mind so well what I believe...
... and they sent forth Barnabas, that he would go as far as Antioch. Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord. Acts 11:22-23
But God hasn't asked me to cleave to Him with my mind, but with the deepest parts of me... So I spend a few moments reflecting and there I am... thoughts of all He's done for me, all those amazing times He's come through in just the right way. I guess this is why we need to be still, so we can remember who He is and all He's done. This modern world competes for my affections, and keeps me so busy. I'm sorry Lord that I let it!
So for today.... everytime I'm tempted to relate to the Lord from meerly the intellectual side, I'm gonna stop and reflect on why and how I can change that... I gotta get this heart condition under control!

P.S. if you're wondering where these bizarre pictures are coming from... don't worry there's plenty more where this came from... "Your bible and You" is great resource for eccentric faith based images from the 50's... It totally wasn't the Mormons that came up with these first, they knew a good thing when they saw one!

What you value the most

2009-04-05T20:15:00.000-07:00

Today my cute Kiwi came home from church "totally stoked on the awesome message..." he's so California ;)

Note: I was at home attending to my sweet little sicky, she has a 102 fever, poor girl

Anyways he shared with me some of the highlights, but the thing that stuck with me the most, yes some things he shares DO stick...

Was our pastor suggested asking our children what they think we value the most, I suspect if Emmy could understand and I aksed her today, she'd say nursing that baby and sitting in front of that computer... ouch! on the last one mainly...

It really hit me that if I want my kids to love Jesus, it needs to be completely evident to them, how much I do...
so quick inventory of time spent... ehhhh, need to get back to my regular quality time with the Lord and I guess letting my kids know that the little things I do around the house for them and Papa are for the Lord too... because that IS what I value the most.

Daringly Dangerous but oh so Delicious

2009-04-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

Yesterday whilst surfing my usual waves, I thought I'd look up a little something for my cute Kiwi, and I came across the Pioneer Woman's "spreads"
if you want her recipe for them click Here

Warning: these are really good and if you like me are watching your weight, you have no business making these. I have no business making these, I have to stand on a scale in public on Tuesday, luckily that means I have 2 more days to work them off!

I made just two modifications, real butter and

ganache instead of just plain ol' chocolate chips I have a real prblem!
(see my recipe below)
I think next time I'll get extra daring and brown the butter before hand...
My cute Kiwi informs me that they make these in New Zealand but with a layer of caramel...

that would be really good! But I definately have no business making caramel, that's too dangerous for me!

1 cup brown sugar
1 cup unsalted butter
1 egg
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

For the ganache
12 ounces chocolate chips
2/3 cream
1 tbsp butter

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Mix together brown sugar and butter. Add egg and mix together. Add flour, salt, and vanilla, and mix together well.Spread dough onto cookie sheet to a thickness 1/2-inch.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until slightly brown.
For the ganache- heat cream on medium high and bring to a boil,
remove immediately and pour over chocolate chips
allow to sit for a minute then begin to whisk
adding butter as you do.
Pour the ganache over your giant cookie and "spread"
Allow to cool then cut into squares.

I dare you to only eat one

-Old Time Cyndi

There's a blog in my head

2009-04-05T16:43:00.000-07:00

There is a blog in my head, filled with wonderful, inspiring , and truly sometimes complelety boring thoughts that only I and the Lord get to reap the benefits from.
So many posts, so many topics,only no one to read them.

"do you blog?" "why yes, for years, I've blogged, before they even called it blogging, I blogged..."
Ok that's a lie, I only wish I was so cool, but now I can say... "I blog!"

So now begins the journey...
My hope is that I can encourage someone out there that needs encouraging and that I can have loads, heaps, tons of fun sharing recipes, stories, tips on whatever, crafty stuff, my love for anything vintage etc, etc... with you, the people I love....

Peace Out

-Old Time Cyndi