I "heart" media

Remember my last post where I talked about that book. 7. By Jen Hatmaker? Yeah, still reading it. Still tossing it around in my head.

I've read about her food fast, her clothing fast, her possession fast and am currently on the media chapter. They have all been a bit painful to read.

I like food. I like food with flavor even more. No way I could EVER eat only seven foods for a month. (she does each month in the way she feels would be the best fit for her, her friends do their own version, focusing on the same "topic" each month)

The clothing fast, well, that would be difficult (especially since it was 95 degrees yesterday and is now 65), but I think that ultimately I could do it without to much pain.

Possessions? Well, I really would like to get rid of half the stuff in my house, I know it would be hard, but definitely not the worst thing that could ever happen to me.

Then came the media chapter. Yup, this is the one I would struggle with. A lot. (don't get me wrong, those previous ones would affect me, I just think that media would affect me the most right now). Take my tv away, I could handle that, I would just have a hard time getting to sleep at night. No big deal. But DO NOT take my Internet away. I like Facebook, and blogs and family feud, and pinterest, and allrecipes and... Well, you get the point, I like them all far to much.

I sometimes dream of having a media free week in my house, but when I picture that, I picture all the kids going to bed and me hopping on the computer as soon as they are sleeping, because I'm definitely not the one with a problem.. And then I thought harder about it and knew that I would have just as hard of a time as they would. And then my thoughts drift to all of the fabulous family time we would have together. With lots of sunshine and lollipops everywhere.. So, I'm tossing this around in my head, to see what this means for me. What God intends this to mean for myself and family.

I also found this post from MelissaJenna, "I'm being haunted" that seemed to take ALL the thoughts that are floating around in my head and translate them into something that someone could read (because in my head they look more like a tangled up ball of yarn that cannot be put in order).

Fasting???? Really?

Fasting? Ha, that's not for me, I mean goodness, I like food WAY to much I'm diabetic after all, that surely wouldn't be safe.

What is the point of fasting anyway? How could going without food draw me closer to God? Pshhh, really?

Enter 7. I've heard about this book twice in a one week period and was intrigued. I downloaded to the kindle app and jumped right in.

I haven't read a book in years. Seriously, just can't get into any of them. This one has captured my interest though. I've always marveled at how much STUFF we have. And how little we think those in third world countries have. (I shared this article on Facebook a while back, which I think has a great point)

This is the book description from Amazon:
American life can be excessive, to say the least. That’s what Jen Hatmaker had to admit after taking in hurricane victims who commented on the extravagance of her family’s upper middle class home. She once considered herself unmotivated by the lure of prosperity, but upon being called “rich” by an undeniably poor child, evidence to the contrary mounted, and a social experiment turned spiritual was born.

7 is the true story of how Jen (along with her husband and her children to varying degrees) took seven months, identified seven areas of excess, and made seven simple choices to fight back against the modern-day diseases of greed, materialism, and overindulgence.

Food. Clothes. Spending. Media. Possessions. Waste. Stress. They would spend thirty days on each topic, boiling it down to the number seven. Only eat seven foods, wear seven articles of clothing, and spend money in seven places. Eliminate use of seven media types, give away seven things each day for one month, adopt seven green habits, and observe “seven sacred pauses.” So, what’s the payoff from living a deeply reduced life? It’s the discovery of a greatly increased God—a call toward Christ-like simplicity and generosity that transcends social experiment to become a radically better existence.

I'm hoping to be inspired to get rid of lots of stuff. I'm hoping to grow closer to God.

I also came across this article today...

I feel like God is telling me something, I just need to figure out exactly what that is. And so I will be praying.

What are your thoughts on the topic of excess? Share.

Summer Scene

First of all, a few pictures:

My sister Sarah got married this past winter and had a reception/party a few weeks ago.  This is just a pic of the girls, enjoying their slushies!

My kiddo's at the reception/party

Me and this guy.  Love him.

Balloon drop in downtown Zeeland.  Each balloon had something in it.  The ones we captured had dollar bills and coupons/gift certificates for various stores.  There were lots and lots of people.  Free stuff.  In Zeeland.  Of course there was!  (You should have seen the ice cream line... YIKES)

Look at all of those hands reaching up to grab balloons!

  

Bad picture, but just shows how crazy it was!  Lila got stuck in the crowd... oh, and I forgot to mention, when the balloons dropped, they were either popping by themselves, or people were popping them and it was LOUD.  She didn't like that!

So... doesn't this look FUN?  Terrible picture, but just notice how packed that ladder is to go up.  And look at those little faces turning around, looking for mom or dad, thinking "Why did I do this?".

With Sadie's help, Lila made it up.  And down.  And up again.  And down again.  And then she was done.

Just 'cause.

Daddy's already helping fix her car... Love that hand on arm!

How our garden grows!

What's not to love here?

Landon left Sunday night with the Middle School youth group on a mission trip of sorts, it's called a Possum trip.  Basically, they travel all night and wake up in a new place each morning where they do service projects and entertainment stuff as well.  The kids don't know where they are going.  The parents don't know where they are going (until the child is almost on the bus ready to leave).  Monday they woke up in Hershey PA and today they were in Maryland.  These kids are going to make some great memories.  You can follow their journey here if you want.  They could use some prayers too.  Started off with a bus that didn't have air conditioning (imagine that stink), switching buses set them a little behind schedule, there was an accident which could cause major headaches for the bus company (everyone was fine), it seems as if Satan is trying to attack every time they turn around!