Time of Testing

I have been going through a time of testing at work for the past two weeks. There is the test of faith. I am probably going to get laid off at the end of the school year. Can I trust God to provide for my needs? I put in an application for a new job, but haven't been called yet to interview. Again, can I trust Him to provide a job? Then there's the test of anger, and the temptation to gossip. Some people at work have not been doing things fairly, and have been talking about me to others. Will I get mad and talk negatively about them? How will I treat them? Will I keep brooding about it? Or will I pray for the, keep my thoughts to myself, reflect Christ in my attitudes and actions? Add to all of this the state of the American economy. Will I be fearful of the future, especially with the possibility of no job? Or will I look forward, confident that God is in control?
Times of testing can lead to spiritual growth if we keep our eyes on God. Lord, help me to keep seeking wisdom from your Word, and keep my eyes on You, trusing You to take care of me.

Good Exercise

At the Balvin house we have always had the saying, "It's good exercise." When the kids were growing up and they didn't want to take out the garbage, Craig would say, "It's good exercise." When they complained about having to go upstairs to get something, or helping to carry stuff in from the car, or move wood piles, etc. they were always reminded, "It's good exercise."
Now that they are grown, the kids appreciate the statement a little more - but it has also become one of our family jokes and good memories.
This weekend Craig and I were at the cabin. We were installing wood trim in our bedroom. Now our bedroom is on the upper level, but the mitre saw and all our tools are on the lower level. we must have gone up and down the stairs 50 times. As we were getting ready for bed Craig commented about how tired he was from going up and down so much. So naturally I said, "Yes, but it's good exercise." to which he immediately replied, "if you need it." I don't think the kids ever had that quick of a comeback!

My Cabin- Part Two

We just got back from another wonderful weekend at the cabin. We finished our project in the entry way, and it is gorgeous! It makes me excited to keep going and finish more of the cabin's interior.

I have to confess, however, that I got so caught up in the planning, purchasing materials, and beginning the work that I forgot to take "before" pictures. Here are some during and after pictures. I just love figuring out how to do things and using power tools to get it done. Most of the time I cut the wood with the compount mitre saw and Craig uses the table saw. (The table saw does scare me a little - especially since a piece of wood flew up from one when we were working on Craig's mom's house a couple of years ago and hit him in the mouth. It took out three teeth!)

This weekend we also hung curtains in the dining room and I love them! We used a steel pipe as the curtain rod (to save money - it does pay to watch HGTV!) This summer when it is warm out I will spray paint it black.

Great New Recipe - Italian Hamburgers

Last week a blogging friend of mine wrote about making a nutritious meal of hot dogs and spaghetti. She inspired me to try a new recipe I had just seen in my new copy of Cooking for 2 - called Italian Hamburgers. So I cooked it for supper when we were at our cabin over the weekend, and it was absolutely delicious. I used Ragu spaghetti sauce instead of the tomato sauce and seasonings in the recipe, and I served the hamburgers over whole wheat spaghetti noodles. We had french bread with it. A lettuce salad would have completed the meal, but we didn't have any lettuce.
I highly recommend this recipe. The hamburgers were so moist and flavorful. It was good comfort food.
Thanks, Maxine, for your post about spaghetti to encourage me!

Hootchee Book Club

I can't wait to start reading the second book for our online book club. I found the club through my daughter-in-law, who has also joined the book club. We are going to be reading Peace Like a River by Leif Enger. I found the book on ebay for $5.99 with free shipping! I am looking forward to sharing thoughts about the book with people online. So I am waiting imnpatiently for my book to be delivered so I can get started.
While I wait, however, I will try to finish my current book - Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson. This is a great book about chasing the Holy Spirit in your life. I am really being challeneged to find my God-ordained passion and to step out in faith to live my life for God.

The Wonder of the Internet

Today I got an email from my daughter, Carrie, and I was able to read her latest post. (Carrie moved to Guatemala last weekend.) It was so good to read the things she wrote. It made her seem a lot closer to home. I am so thankful for the internet!
Carrie is really busy with her new job in Guatemala but she's doing well so far. Check out her blog to find out more aout her adventure at www.carriebalvin.blogspot.com.

Happy Birthday to my First Son

Twenty nine years ago today I held my first-born in my arms and marveled at how perfect he was. Brenton was born at 2:00 AM on New Years Day. He was born ready to take on the world. I can't believe it was twenty nine years ago. It was so much fun watching him grow up.

When he was little he loved to dress up in costume for whatever he was playing. So he was a cowboy, a policeman, a football player, a hockey player, a WWF wrestler. He loved sports, so there were lots of games played in our backyard - always by the professional rules. (Conesquently lots of arguments!) He started playing OMGHA hockey when he was six and the love of hockey continues to this day. He was a good big brother (most of the time) to his younger siblings. Since he was the first born he also had to suffer the consequences of our mistakes as we learned to be parents through each stage- and he sometimes pushed the envelope, tested our limits, and forged his own path.

Today he is a loving husband, and a wonderful parent to his own kids. He is a gifted speaker and writer, and pushes himself to be the best he can be at whatever he does. He is honest with others about his faults. I envy him for that. I am so proud of the Christian man he has become.

Happy Birthday, Brenton! I love you!

The Last Day

Today is the last day with my daughter before she leaves for Guatemala. I feel so many different emotions:

I am so proud of her for the wonderful Christian woman she has become.

I am sad because she's going so far away. I will miss our shopping trips, our many phone conversations, suppers, and trips to Caribou.

I am excited for her - she's beginning a wonderful adventure. I am also a little jealous that she gets such an adventure.

I am confident that this adventure is God-ordained, and that He will hold her all the way.

I love her so much, and I am thankful that though we may be apart, we will still be close in our hearts. And thank goodness for webcams and Skype!

I look forward to reading her blogs and hearing about how God is working in and through her in Guatemala. You can read about it too on her blog: Live in Love and Love to Live.