"Show Us Where You Live Friday"

One of the blogs I love to read is "Kelly's Korner." She is a true Southern girl, and she loves Jesus, and that little Harper is just precious!

She started Show Us Where You Live Friday - so I thought I would jump in on this.

This week's feature is the kitchen.

Here you have it, the parsonage kitchen. Which I admit - was taken just after I cleaned it "The House That Cleans Itself" style.



Our kitchen has WHITE. Lots of White. While it looks crisp and clean, I would love to have some ideas about how to add some color here and there. Directly to the right in the picture is our kitchen door that goes out into the carport/covered patio area. Directly to the left is what appears in the second photo.

Love my red cookbook stand. I love cookbooks, and the one on the stand is one I use a lot. The church purchased the new stove and fridge for us when we moved in last January.

If I can get the kitchen table cleaned off tonight, you can see the dining area of the kitchen. That's a big if. It's been a day.

I'd love to hear your suggestions about adding some color to our kitchen.

my new endeavor...

Have you heard of Thirty One? If you haven't - I know you'll love their stuff!
I just signed on as a consultant - I had a party in March, and I was sold!
Love that they are a Christian company. Love their products. Love that I became a consultant for only $25!
Here's a link to my Thirty One website:
www.mythirtyone.com/jenniferjulian

Be sure to check out the new 31Kid line - the stuff is too cute!!

Farewell, ER.

I am bummed about the end of the tv series ER. I have been a faithful fan since it's debut in 1994. That means I have been watching this show for half of my life, people. I even love to watch the reruns on TNT when I get the chance. I have last week's episode DVR'd, and will do the same with tonight's episode.
I wanted to share with you a couple of my favorite ER moments, courtesy of YouTube:



Love this one, but the video quality and sound quality isn't great.


Are you an ER fan?

inside the mind of your pastor's wife...

http://livingproofministries.blogspot.com/2009/03/life-of-ministers-wife.html

Take the time to watch all three segments. Seriously. You'll be glad you did.

throw it off...

Along with the "Parsonage Purge of '09," comes an effort to get off that last 25 pounds. After our second daughter was born, I lost a whopping 50 pounds. It all stayed off for almost a year, until I stopped nursing. Then, before I knew it, about 15 had crept back on. Funny how the "nursing diet" of eating whatever you want, whenever you want doesn't really work when you're no longer a food source. That bowl of ice cream @ 11pm finds its way to your hips faster than you can fill a sippy cup. My weight has been something I have struggled with since I was a teenager. Couple that with the fact that I LOVE to cook, and don't make time for myself to exercise, it definitely makes for a battle..
One of my favorite shows is The Biggest Loser. I am so inspired by the transformations that take place, both inwardly, and outwardly with these contestants. Right now I am dead even(weight wise) with one of the female contestants. I am going to see if I can get the forst 15 off by the end of the season in May.
So I would love your prayers as I embark on this journey to get the last of the weight off. I want to throw off what hinders me, and quite frankly, the weight hinders me in many ways. I don't want to be held back by it anymore. I want to someday run a 5k, and maybe even a 10k and someday a halfmarathon, if my knees will let me.
No more excuses. Time to get this temple into shape!

time to clean house...

Spring has sprung. And for this parsonage family, this year, that means some spring cleaning! I recently won a copy of a fabulous book "The House That Cleans Itself," over at Life in the Parsonage. Thanks, Sarah!!! It's written by Mindy Starns Clark, and while I am only a few chapters it, what I have read is wonderful!

First, let me say that I am reformed packrat. While I am not where I want to be, over the last 7 years or so, having moved 5+ times, a couple of those being across town, I have become much less attached to "stuff." Combine that with the natural amount of clothes, papers, toys, etc., that accumulate over the years as a family grows, it's really not hard to look around one day and find yourself - and your house - being overtaken by clutter! It affects every part of your life - when your house is in disarray, and cluttered, it often leaves you feeling discouraged and exhausted. Can I get a witness??

So, I am on a mission - declutter, simplify, and keep it clean. And I am not just talking about the house, girls. There's lots of spiritual truth there, too. When our lives are so cluttered with "stuff" - while it may be good, God-honoring stuff - we can often miss what He's really trying to show us.

Who is with me? I'd love to hear your thoughts on this!

overheard today in the parsonage...

Olivia (5 years old) to Allison (2 years old):
"You never hit a princess. Now, you be my servant."

Priceless.