Thoughts on Friendship

I have a friend named Mikki. She is my former pastor's wife and an awesome woman of God. She is a constant source of encouragement and a blessing in my life. She has a brand new website called Fully Alive that is very lovely--much like she is! A few months ago she wrote a beautiful poem on friendship and I would like to share it with you. It has deeply touched my heart.

My Tribute to Those Who Would Take the Journey of "Real" Friendship

My friend is hope.

My friend is a window into the future.

My friend…you are someone who having no guarantee of receiving an equal gift from me digs deep within your own soul to say with actions louder than words – you love me.

My friend is someone who looks into my shame, failure, and pain and says, “I’ll carry you through it when you can’t walk, and then I’ll walk on with you.”

My friend…you are someone who is willing to be identified with me when it costs you part of your own identity.

My friend is an expression of Christ in the flesh
-feeling my wounds yourself
-massaging healing oil into my heart with your own hands
-taking my dirt and blood onto your own hands because you want to touch my heart and bring healing.

My friend looks into my heart and says, “I know you, and I cherish who you are.”

My friend sacrifices what the world says is not worth giving to anyone else
–time
-money
-energy
-words of care
-reputation

To impart into the realm of my eternal being
-kindness
-love
-hope
-belief
-affirmation.

My friend’s love is overwhelming
-washing over me like the healing rains of spring bringing life and resurrection to the dead places of winter in my soul
-willing to be gentle and slow rain so as not to wash away the seeds God has planted.

My friend stands at my tomb and shouts, “Come forth! There is more life for you, and I want to live it with you.”

My friend gives to me when I have nothing left to give
-and I receive.

I receive
I receive you
-my friend
- into the most barren, risky places of my heart where I’ve not received
anyone in a long time.

I open my heart freely to receive.

I really can’t say, “Thanks” and express my heart because what I feel is so deep.

I just receive and enjoy the living water I feel inside me helping me to live again.

I love you my friend in a way perhaps I have been unable to before but my pain and the light of God’s truth has shown me
-I need to receive
-I need
-I need…
…. You.

by Mikki Lawrence

The Making of an Egyptian Death Mask

We are learning all about the ancient world this year with Story of the World I and loving it! We've been learning a lot about Egypt, of course, which is completely fascinating. Most recently we have studied the New Kingdom of Egypt, which includes the story of King Tut. So we decided making an Egyptian death mask in the style of King Tut's would be a fun project. First since it was too cold at the time to paper mache in the garage (it probably would have frozen instead of dried-ha) and it was too messy to do it in the house, we decided to pick up a couple of cheap craft masks at Hobby Lobby. Next we cut out cardboard shapes to complete the shape of the death mask, attaching them with hot glue. Vince even put a little detail on the *beard* with the hot glue per The Princess' request. Then the kiddos started to paint them with this metallic gold tempera paint. It worked okay for the cardboard, but would not coat the plastic of the mask. We thought maybe a second coat ...

Door Hanger Chore Charts

My kids have had a chore chart for a while. It's one of those magnetic boards and they share it. However, it's not by their rooms and often they (and I) forget to update it. Plus it's a little bulky. When I saw the concept of a door hanger chore chart on Pinterest, I loved it! It was compact, right there were the kiddos could see it coming out and going into their rooms, and it costs almost nothing to make. I headed over to one of my favorite stores: Hobby Lobby, of course. They have these little wooden door hangers for .79. I also grabbed a couple of packets of decorative buttons for $1.99 each. I already had the clothes pins and the paint so those cost me nothing. I began by painting the door hangers (I used tempera paints because that's what I had). Then I grabbed a fine point Sharpie and the clothes pins and started writing chores on them, making sure to write them correctly so they will ...

Fun With 4th of July Crafts: Part 3

I love my new patriotic front door wreath!! I had fun putting this together, although I must admit this is more of an adult craft than one for kiddos. I was inspired by this article in Family Fun magazine. I didn't have quite everything I needed for this one, but all I had to purchase was a few sheets of scrapbook paper and some double-sided tape. Then all I had to gather up were some scissors, regular Scotch tape, a ruler and some cardboard. First I cut four (5"x 6") pieces of each paper. Then by placing a piece of double-sided tape on one of the short ends of the papers, I rolled them into cones, pressing the seams together well. Then I cut a 10" circle out of cardboard and began to stick the cones on it. I used another piece of double-sided tape to stick the cones on, arranging them in a circular pattern. Next I used regular Scotch tape to attach them on the back to the back of the cardboard. After getting all the cones on, I was ready for my centerpiece. He...

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