he's still our champion

my monthly contributor post for beautifully rooted is up today. 

it is a father's day inspired DIY that can be easily tweaked for the non-father and even non-male champions in your life.

written last month, the irony is not lost on me that this post is being published exactly a week after our own champion papi was laid off.  we are hanging in there, friends.  after gazillions of phone calls, a thousand internet searches, and a dozen or so resumes submitted, there are several promising leads on the job hunt.  the big question is whether we will be able to stay in champaign or whether we will be moving before summer's end.

one thing is for sure:  jesse is still our champion.  his worth as husband and papi is not tied to his job and earning potential.

here's to running a race and completing the task as champions of His grace.

xoxo,

annalea

the influence conference

we all have influence.

it just depends on how we use it.

and now we have the influence conference.

if you've ever wondered how and why God can use you right where you are, this conference is for you.

will you consider joining me there?

i will be one of the community leaders helping that weekend (eeek!) and i would LOVE to meet you.

early bird tickets are on sale RIGHT NOW.

only 50 of them are available at this special price.

have you seen the speaker list?

yeah. it is good. 

i pretty much adore those girls hosting.
all three have been guests in my day in the life series.
(jessi, hayley, casey)

so let's hang out and hear some fab teachings.
it's going to be good.

***************************************

thank you for the kind comments and emails sent my way after last night's post.

i was a bit blown away by how many of you have been in similar situations.

it reminded me of this: 

All praise to the God and Father of our Master, Jesus the Messiah! Father of all mercy! God of all healing counsel! He comes alongside us when we go through hard times, and before you know it, he brings us alongside someone else who is going through hard times so that we can be there for that person just as God was there for us. We have plenty of hard times that come from following the Messiah, but no more so than the good times of his healing comfort—we get a full measure of that, too. 

2 Corinthians 1:3-5, The Message

yeah, sums it up pretty nicely.
xoxo,
annalea 

mama's day, honduras, and unemployment

 

breakfast in the backyard trumped breakfast in bed this morning.

i could not wait for the eggs to be scrambled and the tortillas to be warmed and the juice to be poured while the warm sun called and the crazy loud birds sang and everything was green, green, green.

spring mornings can be so awe inspiring.

all of this new life bursting forth from ground and branch.

but it was not just the beauty that beckoned.

my freshly woken mind was cluttered and i craved peace more than my pillow.

but the sight of our potager and an unfinished tree fort made my heart ache a bit.

i love this little lot of land we call our own.

but i know it is not really mine at all, for all is a gift and i need to unclench my hands from all that i love too much.

but my heart still ached a bit.

a tray of yummy food to feed the belly and soul arrived.

little voices told me, "happy mama's day!"

little hands drew me sweet pictures.

hugs, kisses, and bedhead to spare.

that heart ache eased.

jesse was to leave us for honduras this afternoon.

a week of perception shifting and eye opening and heart filling service.

a week of relationship building and God moving and lives changing.

but instead he will be staying home.

instead he will be looking for a new job.

 being laid off from work with no notice is a punch in the gut.

how are we doing?

shocked and maybe a bit numb.

but also maybe good and hopeful.

because we have the opportunity to trust.

finger, by finger, unclenching our hands and holding them up in praise to the One we love and serve.

  

i am not trying to be rose colored glasses about this.

it is a big deal.

there will likely be some harsh realities to face.

what's new, i ask.

but this is not the unbearable.

we'll be wise with our spending and prayerful of our planning.

we'll return the rose bush to the nursery instead of planting it for my mama's day gift.

this is life.

His promises hold true and we will still seek to bring Him glory.

our goal is to find a new job close by.

but if glory-bringing means moving across the country, we will do it with joy and trust.

 and lots of deep breaths. 

happy mama's day, friends.

this post from last year pretty much sums up my thoughts on it all.

xoxo,

annalea

ten on ten (may 2012)

1.  good morning beauties! what a sight to start the day.
2. grumpy luca.  enough said.
3. post-garden bath.  she was quite the potager helper this morning.
4. chocolate covered pomegranate seeds!!!
5. lunch in bed makes the boy a little happier.
6. post rest-time backyard play begins.
7. fish tail braiding session.
8. papi's home!!!  isn't he handsome?
9. easy back of the lot access for the thirsty potager and water gun fights.
10. hot air balloon spotting.  and enzo's new favorite thing ever!!!

did you join in for ten on ten this month?  will you leave a link in my comments, if so?  i would love to stop by your place and check out your set. 

don't forget to visit rebekah and check out the other ten on ten folk.
(and take a peek at her beautiful newborn zeb-baby!)

for the love of green onions

 

in early spring, i plant my onion sets about 1.5" apart.  this year we have a row of yellow and one of red and, yes, the spacing is much too close for dry onion bulbs.  the whole point of this thick sowing is the oh so delicious green onions we will enjoy a mere 4-6 weeks later.

i gently wiggled and pulled out every other bunch last week while anticipating the delightful dinner to be enjoyed.  the taste of ginger scallion sauce is not easily forgotten.  for the recipe and how-to, see this post over at chambanamoms.com. 

my basted egg is a bit haphazard.  i am out of practice.  but jesse still liked it, so that is all that matters, right? 

go and make this. soon. your tastebuds will thank me. 

xoxo,

annalea