The Thing About Cracks

Last week I pulled up my green bean plants, weeded the garden patch, re-marked the rows, and planted a new batch of seeds. Beans plants will keep producing until the frost, but generally, the subsequent blossoms after the first are not as abundant. More blossoms equals more beans, and vise-versa.

So, I decided that since my beans were early this year, I could replant after the first blossoms did their thing, and get another good crop of beans well before frost.

I am back to watering my patch of dirt, and watching with bated breath for new plants.

Have you ever noticed that before the seeds spring above ground into tiny plants, the dirt cracks?

Maybe it is the mole(s) that are reigning freely in my yard. But, I am pretty sure it is also the seeds doing their work.

Cracks in the garden are a sign that something is happening down below-even when I can't see that something yet. (be it moles or seeds)

Cracked glass is a decorating style. A thing of brokenness becomes a thing of beauty.

Cracks in a fertilized and incubated egg means a baby chick is about to appear.

Cracks in sidewalks reveal where the trees are flexing their roots. Searching for water and stability and nutrients.

Cracks in plaster means that your house is a house. It moves with life. It isn't (necessarily) falling down around you ears.

Cracks in dishes mean they are used. They aren't just sitting on a shelf.

An empty cicada shell always has a crack in the center, and that crack is a sign of growth. Outgrown skin left behind. Same bug emerges from the shell-only bigger.

Cracks indicate life and movement and growth.

I've got cracks.

Cracks in my facade of perfection and strength and togetherness. Cracks in my relationships. Cracks in my heart.

Cracks show vulnerability, but not necessarily weakness. Cracks can indicate where repair is needed. Some glue, some shoring up, some time.

Cracks show growth and stretching. Sometimes the cracks show where I've become inflexible like old rubber. Cracks point out where I need softening.

And the thing about cracks is that often even when they are repaired, they are still visible. Your cracks are showing...

But, not all cracks are meant to be repaired. Cracks often need to be left for good to come out. That something that won't pop through as long as we stay whole.

Because, often Christ's glory shines best through our cracks. (2 Corinthians 4:7)

Where are your cracks showing?

How Blogging Has Changed Me

This past week, as I was reading Anne Bogel's post on how blogging has helped her meet more of her goals, I nodded in agreement.

Because, in big and little ways, blogging has changed me.

I am not the same person I was when I first started typing out my day to day story 18 months ago.

I have been stretched and molded, challenge and encouraged.

I have learned to write in a disciplined way. More concise, with lots of white space. I've learned to let my thoughts flow. And also to work to get the right thought out. I write almost everyday. I have been learning how to be vulnerable and share my heart, without accusing or sharing too much information. Discretion. In many ways, blogging is about balance.

I use my camera way more now. I still am not in anywhere near enough photos, but I use it. Almost daily. To take snap shots of our regular day to day life. Nothing spectacular. Just the everyday moments.

I have learned all kinds of technical stuff. Stuff this non tech girl never envisioned herself knowing. Making buttons, and finding HTML codes. Cropping and pasting. Resizing. I've grown in this area.

I've learned that this is my story and my voice, and I can share on my space with boldness. But, I've also learned that there needs to be love and tolerance for other's views. And there is also a right way and a wrong way to say just about everything. And, really, Mr. Hippie says this is the biggest change in me. Period. I've become "softer" or something. Learning to couch my words in grace and love online, has helped me couch them in grace and love IRL.

I've learned that there are many colors to the rainbow, and each contributes beauty to the whole. I have become comfortable in my own skin, and am able to embrace the strengths of others. I revel in our opposite and complementary aspects, as opposed to our alikeness.

Blogging has changed me in that it encourages me to work harder, and go farther. In all aspects of life. As I blog about my goals and intentions, I am making you all, my readers, my accountability partners. In fitness, and home schooling, in parenting, and everything else. If I've said it to you, I feel rather bound to try an accomplish my goals.

Blogging has made me more of a people person. Even IRL. I have deepened friendships with girls I have known forever IRL. Blogging has also brought so many wonderful people into my life that I never would have met apart from blogging. Friends who I turned to in order to pray for me in the midst of dark, deep waters I have waded through. Friends who have shared their life wisdom and day to day knowledge generously with me.

Blogging has given me an outlet for my thoughts. A platform with broader walls than simply my home and kids. It starts in the hub of my home, flowing from my rocking chair and computer, out into the wide world. I have grown both thicker skin and a softer heart.

Blogging has made me think like a business woman. You would laugh to compare the conversations of the BFF and I two years ago with today. We talk writing and growth, vision and goals. More than recipes and kids. I read self-improvement books and biographies. I know. I'm wincing as I am admitting that. I am reading books that grow my mind, and challenge my thinking. Not just fluff and stuff novels.

I think, because blogging gave me a home based outlet, it allowed me space to be content, and even revel in, the life I have been blessed with. Blogging helps me see the beauty where I am. It has opened my eyes. I am blessed. So blessed.

This may sound really schizophrenic, but in many ways I have become the Barefoot Hippie Girl. Barefoot Hippie Girl invokes a less stringent, more playful, more creative view of myself. I'm still not on the green agenda, but I am as unboxable as ever. I'm still extremely conservative and totally about trying to serve God, but I'm also embracing poetry, and art, and beauty. I've become more clear cut and simplistic in some ways-like scheduling and cooking. And more gray in others-hairs, and schooling, and gardening.

Yes, this blog has changed me. It has grown me. I am glad.

How have you grown this past year or so? What has been the vehicle of your growth?

In a Word "Mercy"

O give thanks unto the Lord; for He is good: because His mercy endures forever....Let them now that fear the Lord say, that His mercy endures forever...Thou art my God, I will praise thee: Thou art my God, I will exalt Thee. (Psalm 118:1, 4, 28)

As I was reading through this Psalm today, I thought it was a perfect reading for the end of a year. It is a great reflection Psalm.

I have been debating how to do a Barefoot Hippie family 2012 recap. There have been so many things that have happened. It has been a great year. It has been a hard-hard year. It has been a stretching and growing and relying year.

But I don't want to focus on the negative. Not because I am pretending everything was rosy. I have said before that I am a pessimistic/glass half empty kind of gal. I have to choose to remember the positive.

Because of that verse...

His mercy endures forever.

No matter the ups and downs, the smooth paths and the rough roads, God is still my God, and His mercy was evident  overflowed in my life this year. And I will praise Him!

Here is the Barefoot Hippie family 2012 year nut shelled and all wrapped up pretty...(the all wrapped up pretty is supposed to make you laugh-'cause it is so not true.) So, now the question is: do I categorize by person, event or month? Hmmm...

Person-wise, here are pics showing how the offspring have sprung. How they have changed from this____ to this____

clean face to grubby face...rolling to running and posing.=)

less baby looking, still with a mother who doesn't do her hair enough.

a bit more grown up looking

Awkward to more awkward.=)

This is where you can see the growth the most...look how Freckles and LC have caught up to BMV.
And he has grown also.

The Barefoot Hippies have had a magnificent year when you look at the highlights.

At the beginning of the year I started collecting the ticket stubs from the different things we did. These ticket represent a lot of fun days and evenings. A whole lot of memories made. Ball games, hockey games, symphony concerts, museums...

We traveled a bit for both fun and ministry-or a hybrid of both. We spent a weekend in Southern Michigan at a backwoods camp running a guy's retreat. Mr. Hippie facilitated, I cooked, and the kids got to run wild in the woods.

We spent over half of August traveling far and wide combining 2 vacation Bible schools with vacation. We made new friends and deepened old friendships. I packed and repacked suitcases at least 4 different times during this trip.

We spent the first week in the greater Chicago area at a hotel, swimming and eating and hanging with friends-while doing the first VBS. The kids' favorite activity was visiting the LegoLand Discovery Center.

We then ventured out to PA and DE. We visited Philadelphia and Independence Square. It was a wonderful taste of that city, and I really hope to go back someday. I want to walk the Ben Franklin bridge and hang out at the pier, and delve more into the historical district. We also visited LongWood Gardens. They were beautiful and fun.

Our final stop was Washington DC, my very first visit to our nation's capitol. I can't begin to express how much I loved DC. I loved the architecture and the history, and the awesomeness of it all. Oh, and 5 Guys. It started my craving for burgers.

We also execute Operation Meet Me in St. Louis with my parents, sibs, nieces and nephews. It was a great time of sight seeing, laughter and hanging around.

Running wise (my life consists of ministry, parenting, blogging, cooking and running) it was a good year. We ran my bucket run together-the local 25k. It was excruciating. And wonderful. And I am looking forward to beating my time this next May. We also ran another half marathon. That race was where all the hard training paid off. It was my best run ever. We also ran our first 5k with our kids, on Thanksgiving Day. We are totally going to be the family that runs together, keels over together...(barefoot hippie paraphrase)

Our roofing business is still surviving. The bills are being paid, and lives are being impacted. We see our business as a venue for mentoring young guys. Mr. Hippie works them hard, and they still come back for more. Right guys? Its because of the Christmas party...none of them want to give up my phenomenal meal. Just kidding.

Not only was 2012 made up of highlights, but it is in the everyday that you find small graces and multiple blessings. Like coffee and conversation with my heart of hearts, Mr. Hippie. And clean baby scents wafting over hugs. And chocolate-lots of chocolate. And fresh garden vegetables. And flowers-outside and in. And fluffy towels. And jeans that fit just right. And belly laughs and I Love Lucy episodes. It is literary lunch hours, and plowing through the first 5 books of Harry Potter with the offspring. The small graces...

Yes, we are surviving and even thriving. We are happy to put a lid on 2012. We are hopeful and excited for what is coming up in 2013.

What would be in your top 5 happenings for 2012?

Small Kitchen Adventures

I love mornings. I wondered for a while if I was a "morning" person. But, whether by choice or habit, I have determined I certainly am a morning person.
When I was in 2nd grade, my parents started getting us up at 5:15(A.M.) for family devotions before my dad left for work. I have been getting up early ever since. For the most part, "sleeping in" for me is 7:00. My inner alarm goes off by then, if my crickets haven't.
A new day is so calm, quiet, crisp, and full of new possibilities. I do love mornings.=)

New beans

My pole beans sprouted yesterday! I enjoy planting seeds, and then watching their whole life process. You plant the seeds, and water them, and you don't see anything for a few days. But then the surface dirt cracks, and you see the seed pod right at the surface. The next day you usually-at least with green beans-have an inch or two tall plant with a new leaf. And it is amazing! It seems like you can literally watch the plants grow every day over the next weeks. I love it.=)

Corner #1

We often think in terms of ideal growing conditions for our entire lives. In gardening you have what is known as perfect growing conditions-sunshine, heat, soil and rain. If these 4 elements are balanced, you will get a great crop. And we all hope life is like that too. We will prosper and be joyful and grow, if all our circumstances are perfect and balanced. But, there is the other gardening term that we like to think of rather less...blooming were we are planted. To live full, joyful, growing lives-even when circumstances are not ideal.
We can fall into the trap of,
-I would have people over if my house was bigger (or cleaner, or as nice as Martha Stewart's=))
-I would go swimming with my kids if my bathing suit looked better.
-I would read if I had time.
-I would_________if________(you fill in the blanks)

I have learned that you can't live like that. You must bloom where you are planted, so to speak. You must live life to the fullest with what you have now. Because if you wait for perfect circumstances, you will wait forever. If you don't use what little you may have now,  you won't use what you have later.

The north end-all my drawers and probably 50% of my cupboards

Btw, this gardening analogy was so not where this blog was going today. But, whatever.=) We're going with the flow.=)

I have a small house. It is 1500 square feet-including the unfinished half of the basement. But I love my house. I love the fact that we have 3 bedrooms-boys, girls and master.=) I love the fact that we have 1-1/2 bathrooms-the half being right next to the back door. I love my arched doorways in the living room, and the white spindled railing heading upstairs. I love our back porch.

Corner view again

And I love my kitchen. All 8' x 11' of it. My kitchen is tiny. I know, other people have smaller kitchens. But for the amount of cooking I do, it is really small. Especially when you add in cupboards, counters and appliances lining all four walls. The available floor space is about 6' x 3-1/2'. Practically this means that when the dishwasher door is open, you can't open the freezer, or the opposite cupboard. Or when you are 8 months pregnant, you have to be in just the right position to open the refrigerator door.=)

Opposite corner-same end-you can just see the sink edge

But, small truly means efficient. I have never been in such an efficient kitchen as mine. Whoever planned it, used the space in the best possible way. If we ever build a bigger house, I will try to do a similar lay out, only bigger.

Anyway, I do love my kitchen-small and efficient as it is.=) And that is a good thing, because I spend a lot of my time in it. Even more than my kitchen, I love cooking. It is a way for me to be creative. It is a stress reliever. And it is fun. I often blog about my kitchen adventures. I cook, and feed people, not because I have the ideal kitchen, but because I am blessed with the kitchen I have. I am using what I have. I am thankful for what I have. And maybe someday I will have a bigger kitchen, but I am not going to wait to cook until that happens. Because I might never get a better kitchen, you know.
I do realize that not everyone enjoys cooking as much as I do. And some people enjoy it more. My favorite types of recipes are the ones that take 30 minutes or less. I don't have any patience for making recipes that take tons more time to make than to consume. And I am not really into the recipes that call for 25 exotic ingredients, and that have 100 steps. That is not my kind of cooking. I like the recipes that have a lot of bang for your buck, both flavor-wise and aesthetically. Good food doesn't have to take hours to make. And it can look pleasing without lots of fuss.

chicken sautéing

Here are two of my favorite delicious, quick, and aesthetically pleasing dishes. They are crowd pleasers-everytime.

salsa, no cheese yet

Easy Chicken Enchiladas
4-5 medium chicken breasts
1(ish) cups of salsa (my favorite is Pace, but any works fine)
1-2 cups shredded yellow cheese
10 8" flour tortillas
sour cream and additional salsa for serving

Cut raw chicken into 1/2" cubes, and sauté  in a large skillet with a bit of oil until cooked through. Drain off any liquid. Add the salsa. I "eyeball" it. You want it to look rather red. Simmer for 5 minutes. Add 1 to 1-1/2 cups of cheese-making it cheesy according to your preference. Place approximately 1/2 cup of filling on each tortilla. Tuck in ends, and roll up. Place in a greased 9x13 pan. Sprinkle with 1/2 cup cheese. Bake at 350 degrees until the cheese melts- usually 15-20 minutes. These can be made ahead and frozen, or just baked later. In that case, just bake them until they are heated through.

right before putting on tortillas

*Round out your meal with crudités, or a lettuce salad.

Easy and delicious!

Perfect BLT's
*BLT's have a special place in my heart because BLT used to be my initials=)
For each sandwich you need
-2 slices of toasted bread-preferably sour dough. And this is not the sandwich to use "healthy" bread on.
-2 slices of tomato
-2 pieces of fried bacon
-1 to 2 leafs of romaine lettuce or a layer of baby spinach leaves
-salt and pepper
-MAYO (!!!)
-cheese-this can be mozzarella, provolone, feta, or parmesan
-optional (if you want to take it to the next level) chopped kalamata olives

*if you are making several sandwiches-assemble first, and then toast the whole batch in the oven at 450 degrees until browned, otherwise just toast your bread in the toaster.
*To assemble: spread both slices of bread with mayo. Put tomato slices on one slice. Salt and pepper. Next layer your cheese of choice, olives if using, lettuce and bacon on top.
All I can say is "AMAZING!!!"

Me, Vanna White-esque in my kitchen.=)

Ummm...where's the bacon?=)

Hymn and Haw

I am a big proponent of music and kids. Music engages both sides of your brain which makes it a wonderful teaching tool. Words and facts stick better when put to music. And kids love music! Even Meres, my 11 month old, will join our daily time at the piano. She has her own version of "singing" when she hears music being played. That, and her booty dance. Kids naturally like the melody, rhythm and sounds of music. I think that is why we have seen a resurgence in music activities themed for youngsters i.e. Baby Einstein.=)
I don't consider myself terribly musical. I can play the piano a bit, and I enjoy singing. I do not have a particularly good voice. I do enjoy music. I enjoy many genres. The only genres I am not a big fan of are blue grass, rap, and hard rock. Not my thing. I try to expose my kids to various genres to build music appreciation. I want them to appreciate the talent that goes into all different kinds of music.
But, besides music appreciation, I also have a burden for teaching my kids, and other kids, the hymns. I teach them the little ditties and choruses, but I emphasize the hymns. The solid songs the hymnbooks are chock full of. This does not mean I don't like CCM, because I do. I really appreciate the lyrics and music of the Gettys. We listen to these disks in the car, and we sing right along. Just because a song is "new" doesn't mean it isn't a good song. For that matter, just because a song is in the hymnbook doesn't make it a good song either.
Consider the periods hymnology has went through. Saints from time immemorial have sung the Psalms. That is the only songs they sang. When Isaac Watts, Charles Wesley, and others came along, I am sure people thought their music was "of the devil." Ever heard that expression?=) Fast forward to the wave of gospel music written in the mid to late 1800s, and early 1900s. Music that was penned by contemporaries of DL Moody. Music that was written during the wave of gospel work that went on then. I bet they got an earful too. Then we have the Gaither and Peterson stuff of the 1960s and 1970s. Snort. By that time, the gospel era songs were part and parcel in the hymnbooks. They were considered "good hymns," right along with Wesley and Cowper. The Gaither stuff was contemporary, i.e.-bad. Now, that is in our hymnbooks, which makes them "good songs." And our generation is plugging Chris Tomlin and Getty music-which obviously has no merit because it is presented on Powerpoint, and not found in a hymnbook. I am sure it will hit the books in a few years, and then it will be considered singable by the old guard. Because that is what happens each generation. But, really, that was not the point of this blog.
My point is I am plugging the old hymns. Not versus the new hymns. I just want to encourage a revisiting of the old hymns.
Why? It isn't just the lyrics. It is the stories behind each song. Hymns reveal the hearts and faith and walks of the authors. The hymn books are full of the heart cries of the authors. The hymn books are full of God's answers. They are full of lessons learned and comfort received. They are full of doctrine and understanding of Scripture. They are full of the attributes of God. They are full of poetic pictures. I think our gut is to fight against traditionalism for the sake of traditionalism. Traditions can become rote. They can be stagnant.
I want to encourage you to not throw out the baby with the bath water. But to appreciate a good hymn. Whether 200 years old or 2 years old. I want to encourage you to build hymn appreciation in your kids.
Think of the stories behind the hymns. Everyone knows Amazing Grace. It is probably the most well known hymn in the world. And, a lot of people know John Newton's story too. But if you really look at the lyrics of Amazing Grace, you can see his testimony outlined there. He was a wretch, blinded by his sin, brought through many dangers, toils and snares. And God's amazing grace saved John Newton. John Newton said he never forgot two things. He was a great sinner and God was a great Savior. Two other things John Newton never forgot, from the time of his conversion, were God's grace, and that God hears and answers prayer. He was despicable, yet God heard his prayer and saved him (physically and eternally) in the midst of a terrible storm. He never forgot that. And if you make a study of his hymns, you will see that they always mention either God's grace or the fact that God answers prayers. Every one of his hymns.

How about Martin Luther and his well known hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God? I used to not like this song. I thought it was difficult to play and sing. But a couple years ago I taught it to my kids. I took time to define the big words, and then to explain what this song is about. Christianity is under attack. But God is our fortress. Martin Luther lived during the time of Henry VIII, and Charles-the Holy Roman Emperor. He lived during the time of castles. When he wrote his words, people knew exactly what he was talking about picture-wise. It was medieval England and Europe. They were all about war and castles. He wrote that even though Christianity, and truth, and God are under attack, the devil and his minions are defeated. The Lord Sabaoth, the Lord of Hosts, is victorious. His kingdom is forever! Why would we want to give up the majestic truths of that hymn?
Teaching kids hymns and hymn appreciation takes time. A lot of the terms are difficult or archaic. But we sell them and ourselves short if we don't challenge them to learn something difficult. When I teach a hymn, I try to first familiarize the kids with the tune. Having the words written for readers is helpful. Enunciate the words clearly. If you come to a trouble spot with words and pronunciation, stop, and say it, and try that measure again. Explain what difficult words mean. You may need to look some of them up in the dictionary. And also give the overall message of the song. Small picture then big picture. You can also share back ground about the author or composer. Their stories help connect you with their works. And then spend a month, or more, singing the same hymn over and over. You will find that each one becomes precious to you. And to your kids. The truths speak to your circumstances. You will find that your repertoire increases month by month, year by year. And the hymn book doesn't seem so fuddy-duddy, because these hymns have resounded in your heart.
Some of my favorites are:
Crown Him with Many Crowns
How Firm a Foundation
It is Well
Praise to the Lord 
May the Mind of Christ My Savior
and the list goes on and on.


What old hymn could you make your kid's new favorite today?