Signing Off for Now

If anyone still shows up to read, you've noticed my posts have dropped off lately. Lots of reasons for this...we've recently moved, I'm schooling four kids in three different grades while keeping up with a toddler, and we have a new puppy. I'm (for the most part) choosing one social media outlet for the year. You can find me on Instagram @abbasgirlfamily. I'll look forward to following along with you there!

The Chosen

 

The Gent and I are particular about what we watch. We want what we watch to be excellent--in the content and in the artistry. So many shows just aren't worth our time. And we often find the "Christian" shows are not well-made. But we recently streamed The Chosen and we both loved it. Beautifully done, made you think, entertaining, and made me want to pick up my Bible and dive deeper. I highly recommend it and you can stream it for free from their website. We are excited for season two to begin filming!

Friday Perspective

You should take Covid19 seriously. But do keep it in perspective.

Deaths Worldwide: January 1, 2020 - April 1, 2020
Covid19 46,438
Seasonal flu 121,993
Malaria 246,121
Suicide 269,076
Traffic fatalities 338,715
HIV/AIDS 421,808
Alcohol 627,571
Smoking 1,254,352
Cancer 2,060,730
Hunger 2,806,314
Abortion 10,665,130

Source

Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

Do you know this beautiful song? Dear Refuge of My Weary Soul

Resurrection Letters

This Lenten season I've been listening to Andrew Peterson's Resurrection Letters trilogy--Prologue, Volume 1, and Volume 2. Here are a few of my very favorites, if you are looking for music to prepare your heart for Easter.

His Heart Beats

Maybe Next Year

Is He Worthy

All Things Together

All Things New

The Best Parenting Advice I Ever Received

Good reminders here: The Best Parenting Advice I Ever Received

What you look for is what you will find!

Dinner, Lunch, Breakfast Recipes

A few favorite recipes lately:

easy dinner: Skillet Enchiladas Suizas

easy lunch: fruity chicken salad
I throw in some craisins, too.

weekend breakfast: blueberry and marscarpone stuffed French toast casserole

YOUTH Skin Care

Now that I'm a few years into my 30s I decided it was time to invest in some quality skin care products. I started using Shaklee's YOUTH products about five months ago and I am sold! My skin has never looked healthier. Some days I skip makeup all together. And when I do wear it, I only use Aveda's tinted moisturizer with a little powder, blush, and mascara. I use the advanced anti-aging regimen, but you can mix and match products for whatever your skin needs. Just wanted to share what's working for me! (and ignore the sticker price--you can get member or consultant prices that are easier on your wallet)

Friday's Food for Thought

From Paul David Tripp's book Parenting. Controversial? Yes. Should we talking about this more? Yes.

Fred Rogers Before Congress

My kids have very little screen time. One thing I do allow them to watch is Mr. Rogers Neighborhood (streaming on Amazon Prime). If you haven't seen this clip of Fred Rogers testifying before Congress, take a few minutes and watch it. It will warm your heart this Friday! Link here.

One's Real Life

“The great thing, if one can, is to stop regarding all the unpleasant things as interruptions of one’s ‘own’, or ‘real’ life. The truth is of course that what one calls the interruptions are precisely one’s real life – the life God is sending one day by day: what one calls one’s ‘real life’ is a phantom of one’s own imagination.”

(from a 1943 letter from C.S. Lewis, included in Yours, Jack: Spiritual Direction from C.S. Lewis)

Another link from Honey

I just haven't had time to catch my breath and write lately (life is going well, just juggling a few too many things at the moment). So today you get a link to Lisa Leonard writing about her son David. Thanks for sharing it with me, Mom/Honey. Click here to read "Honoring the Pain."

"I can trust God with this." Good reminders for a Friday.

Good reminders here: Six Words to Say Through Tears

This was a paragraph my Mom shared from her Bible Study Fellowship notes on Romans 5:1-11:
"Where do you find lasting peace? Where do you find your security? When does suffering make any sense? In our fallen world, these questions are unanswerable. We are mired in a worldly search for these unattainable goals. Yet, from heaven, God gives us the answer through His Son. Through faith in Jesus Christ, we are reconciled to Him, given security in Him, and we mature through the suffering we encounter in this world. Christians' lives are not glorious because there are never dark days or difficult circumstances. Christians' lives are glorious because we live with Christ. Through faith, we boast: God holds no hostility toward us; we live in peace with Him; He secures our lives forever; He is always doing what is best for all His children. Are you resting from worry, chaos, fear and pain by enjoying God's perfect peace?"

Every Moment Holy

Thankful for a sweet Thanksgiving with our family today. We enjoyed hosting in our new kitchen, and starting a new tradition with a new liturgy. Have you heard of Every Moment Holy? It is a just-released liturgy for the everyday and special moments of life. Today we shared these words around our table:

A Liturgy for Feasting with Friends

Beautiful words to remember that as we feast together we are looking forward to the Feast of Heaven, where death and darkness will never triumph! You can order the book here.

Even If

I know You're able and I know You can
Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
But even if You don't
My hope is You alone

I didn't know I was a MercyMe fan but their music has really been resonating with me lately. Have you heard Even If? Link here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6fA35Ved-Y

Praise You in This Storm

I'd forgotten about this song until I heard it on the radio yesterday. Beautiful words to remember when difficult things come.

Praise You in This Storm, by Casting Crowns

Pictures Update

Well, I have been using Photobucket to upload photos here for the past several years. Now they have taken my photos hostage (I know, that's a bit dramatic but that's the way it feels) and have disabled all my photo links unless I pay them $400 EVERY YEAR. That does not seem like a wise use of our resources and honestly a bit ridiculous for family bloggers like me. So I am looking for a new photo platform. Unless someday I have a ton of extra free time (not very likely with four kids and foster babies, let's be honest) I guess you won't be able to see the already-posted pictures anymore. I am really sad about this. Boo Photobucket!

Recent Reading

Links I've been reading lately:

Fasting and Feasting

Vapor and Mist

How Do We Prepare Our Children for Suffering

What To Do

Carys Rainn and Paxton Cole

It Is Well

Here's a link to one of my family's current favorite songs, It Is Well by Bethel. Happy Friday! I have a sick baby and a dirty house and five loads of laundry to do. But the sun is shining and we're going to the library (books!!) and the park (run off your energy while I snuggle with Nora!!!) and we're going to have fun today!!!

Ob/Gyn Interview

World Magazine recently published an extended interview with a pro-life ob/gyn. She was so thoughtful and caring as she answered questions. Wish we had more doctors who really took the time to educate their patients, especially about birth control options. The short segment on birth control and how different types work was particularly enlightening; you can read it here.