In case you missed it, Sibi is hosting her 2nd annual Pearl Event, where women encourage each other with their stories of suffering and trial and joy and how God is using those life events to bring glory to Himself.

I will be among 4 other speakers/sharers, along with Paige, Sarah, Jane and Sibi. We are all so blessed and excited to be a part and we want to meet you there!

I wanted to let you know that there are 75-ish tickets left and 7 rooms left at the special rate.

It looks like this baby’s gonna sell out and I really hope some of you–the best internet friends in the world—can make it.

We will have a meet and greet on Friday night March 9th at Opryland Hotel, more details to follow.

We are also hoping to still get a few sponsors so if you’d like to help us in any way with donations or providing lunch or providing anything to give away, we’d love to hear from you.

It’s going to be a day of awesomeness and I don’t want you to hem haw around and miss it.   I’m a hem hawer from way back so I know your type.

Just do it.  Today. Sign up for $25 and meet me in Nashville!!!

You won’t regret it.   And if you aren’t completely satisfied with your day of awesomeness, I’ll serenade you with my best Tammy Wynette impersonation.

It’s a win-win.  I know the words by heart.

xoxo,

edie

p.s. Visit the Pearl Event Facebook page here!

p.p.s.  Thank you for all your beautiful emails about the post that was moved but not deleted.  Y’all make a grown woman cry.   You are dear, dear friends

Then I start to reevaluate all of it. Is it worth making myself {and my family} vulnerable?
Should I shut it all down and quietly go about my business? Or perhaps I should be more seeker sensitive and write only those things which culture values.
So, I ran a lot this week. And thought about it. And stewed about it. And repented for the need to justify myself. And ran harder. (It’s been good for my workout)

Then, I pulled on my big girl running shorts and decided that I really like being here, in this space.
I don’t take it for granted. I can handle the occasional critic. And though I don’t imagine that I’ll always write here–I do think it’s where I’m supposed to be for now.
I am completely humbled and thankful for the privilege to do this: to write, to make friends, to encourage, to be encouraged.
Most days, I do it with fear and trembling.
There seems no end to the blessings that I’ve received from meeting you here.
So, thank you. I am indebted to you for your unfailing kindness and encouragement.

Please know that this space is where I share my very own personal views and beliefs. Like Lewis, I don’t write to be understood but to understand.
I pray you will leave here with something helpful for your own journey but I will not change my story for you.
I pray you will read with grace and compassion for a woman who is deeply flawed but desperately seeking the life and redemption only to be found in Christ and often to be found in suffering.

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

On a related note, I may or may not listen to semi-angry hip-hop and rock music when I’m running. It may or may not be the only thing that will motivate me to make it back to my car. I call it audio-adrenaline. I usually prefer the likes of Eminem and Alkaline Trio (the clean versions, of course) but this was the song of the week for my misunderstood self. I feel vindicated. And tired. Very tired.

Comments closed because y’all are so sweet that you’re gonna run to my rescue and I promise, I’m over it now and I know you’re there for me!
Also, if I remove this post tomorrow (enjoy the irony) , you won’t have typed your comment in vain!
xoxo
mwahhhhh
peace out, yo.

Would you think less of me if I told you  we’re woefully behind?

Why is it that it can be so hard (especially in the summer) to squeeze in time for the most powerful words on  earth?

These words of His aren’t just any words—they are sharp and powerful and lifechanging.

The Word is so important that it even became flesh and ‘dwelt among us’.

Christ Himself.

So, in desperation to find a doable way to catch up,  I searched for a free audio version of the scriptures that we could listen to in the car.

I found the ESV podcast version on my iphone  called ‘Faith Comes By Hearing’ and it is WONDERFUL.

It reads like a story, using different voices and some sound effects.

We all love it and we just may catch back up this week.

2. I read THE most fascinating article by Susan Wise Bauer this week, refuting some of the arguments made by Neil Postman on image-centered culture.

I love Neil Postman and find so much truth in what he says about culture and media.   I’ve never heard anything quite like Susan’s rebuttal.

It reconfirms in my mind what a brilliant thinker she is and how blessed we’ve been by her homeschooling curriculum.    The article has four parts and is lengthy but

is so well worth the read.

3. I made paella and sangria for Father’s Day.    Both these recipes are fantastic.    They will most definitely go into the regular rotation.

You should give them a try.    Your people will love you.

4. The girls have been in VBS this week so I’ve been running around in Knoxville looking at countertops and wood and tile and appliances and outdoor furniture.

Here’s what I’ve purchased so far::  two remnants of absolute black granite (60 x 20 and 48 x 24) for $565, which includes installation,   a floor model 48 inch subzero

refrigerator for $3000 less than the builder’s price,   a Lloyd Flanders Nantucket wicker sofa at a steal and I’m waiting for a quote right now on the most gorgeous piece of Calcutta Gold

marble that I have EVER seen in my ENTIRE life.   It’s a beauty.

Today, I plan to pick the tile for my shower and bathroom floor.   I’m probably using octagon and dot (all white) for the floor and white subway tile for the shower.

I also have purchased almost all my lighting online and I think I’ll have to dedicate a whole post just to lighting.

Here’s the sofa

5. This is my inspiration picture for my screen porch.   This blue ceiling is very southern and is called ‘haint’ blue.

It’s supposed to ward off evil spirits and make for happy healthy porch sitting.

I’ve got my blue narrowed down to 2 or 3 colors.  Any thoughts or suggestions?

(I know it really doesn’t ward off evil spirits but I also love good southern  folklore)

And this is my inspiration picture for my upstairs landing/catwalk.

I’m not a huge fan of railings but this one makes me so happy.  My builder showed it to our trim guys and they think they can do it!!    Yee-haw!

This is my hardwood floor inspiration picture.   Wide plank, worn looking, deep rich color.

6.  I’ve listened to some really good podcasts lately that you might enjoy:

Christianity and Pop-Culture

Christ-centered FAtherhood

Christ in the Old Testament–The Flood—-this could be one of the most fascinating podcasts I’ve ever heard!

The First Pentecost, simply amazing!

7.   A big hug and kiss and a heartfelt thank you to the top ten referrers to this blog.   I love you and admire you all!

The Nester

Darby at Fly Through Our Window

Meg from Whatever

Melanie from My Sweet Savannah

Shannan from Flower Patch Farm Girl

Lindsey from the Pleated Poppy

Paige from Simple Thoughts

Melissa at 320 Sycamore

Layla at The Lettered Cottage

Kate from Centsational Girl

oh and I couldn’t stop at ten when one of my favorite bloggers is next

Emily from Chatting at the Sky

Thank you all!   You inspire me and teach me and make me think.   LOVE from me to you!!!

8. My current favorite Mumford and Sons song.

There are about 20 songs and it’s a great mix of tunes Caiti and I love including some Brandi Carlile, Mumford and Sons, Jewel, Tim McGraw,  The Dixie Chicks and more.

I knew people would forget to take them.   So I have about 10 left and I’d love to send you one.

Just leave a comment and tell me the last band you saw in concert and what year it was and we’ll pick some winners tomorrow.

I’m hoping for a “Rod Stewart 1988″  but I’d die of jealousy is you say  ”Avett Brothers 2010″  or “Mumford and Sons 2011″.

And two more things:

1.  I promise you that the square dance pics will be worth the wait.

2.  My super talented designer, Darlene and I, are working feverishly on my living room.    Like mad, I tell you.    I can’t wait to show you but I feel I must warn you that her debut pricing is about to expire.  You simply should take advantage of her special prices—–that will end in one week.   Before I publish this post, I’m reserving her for one more slot because I know how y’all are.   She has been such a joy to work with.    She takes my millions of colorful ideas and reigns them in and makes sense of them for me.    I love that about her.

Last week,  I sent her an email that said this:

“this lamp=i die”

and she responds with praise and adoration and  27 exclamation points.

See why I love her.   She gets me.    And she is  in that stage of growing her business where she’s still excited and fresh and not too overwhelmed.

You’ll be able to say you knew her back when.

Okay, so now tell me about your sketchy concert goings.   Or your perfectly respectable concert goings.

I’ll let you know tomorrow who gets the CD’s.

today, i want to support my friend polly in her efforts to love and care for orphans.

polly and her husband jeff are on the long and sometimes weary road to adoption.

i was at polly’s house for a luncheon a few weeks ago and

they have very large, beautiful picture frames of their 3 gorgeous children hanging on the wall.

right beside those 3, they have another empty frame with ruby’s name in it.

ruby is the daughter that they have chosen…..

and prayed for…….

and already love and consider to be part of their family.

and as they pray for ruby and wait to meet  her, polly has agreed to

serve in a mission trip to orphans in distress in uganda this summer.

she’s raising money for a dear friend of ours to accompany them on the trip

and to help purchase supplies for the orphans.

she is 84% to her goal of  $2500.

let’s push them over the goal today—just $400 needed.

click here to donate

no amount is too small.  every little bit helps.

most of all, pray for their trip.  pray for orphans everywhere.

thank you for making us all aware ms. polly!

and thank you for visiting the fatherless.

]]> http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2011/05/1206.html/feed 4 http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2011/03/fireside-chat-vol-i.html http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/2011/03/fireside-chat-vol-i.html#comments Sun, 06 Mar 2011 23:07:27 +0000 edie http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/?p=1118 1. Hello everyone. Welcome to Edie’s First Fireside Chat. I’m a moderator for tonight’s session. (<—-welcome to my friend Ami!—-listen to her, she’s smart and will protect us from ourselves). A few things before we start:
2. Sign in to the chat. You can use your Facebook account info or create an account with your email address. You can also sign in as a guest and the chatroll will assign you a guest username.
3. Once you sign in, introduce yourself to us, tell us where your from, the name of your blog–if you have one, and whatever else you want to tell us about yourself.
4. To contribute your opinions and ideas to this chat just enter your text into the text box at the bottom of the chat area and press “Enter” on your keyboard. You should see your comment appear instantly in chat.
5. If you would like to respond to an individuals’ comment, start your text with “@ individual name” like “@edie”. If the comment is for everyone, no @ tag is needed.
6. To send a private message, click the status icon next the user’s name, and click “Send Private Message”. We want to keep the chat interactive, so please only use private messages for technical assistance. You can send tech questions privately to “ami_d”, but please send all questions to other chat users publicly.
7. Before starting the chat session I would just like to remind you all to be polite and to respect one another’s opinions. Please refrain from using any profanity or from ad hominem attacks. In short, follow the golden rule and we’re sure to have a jolly good time. (I said that, not Ami. She probably doesn’t say ‘jolly good time’ and I can’t rightly blame her.)
8. Users who do not respect the rules or who are disruptive to the chat will receive a warning and will then be banned if negative behavior continues. (I can only imagine this scenario if my cousin JamieKnoxville joins in. She’ll be the one signed in as Loretta Lynn using a lot of asterisks. Perhaps this will be over before she gets wind of it:) )
9. We are working on making a transcript of the chat available but are unsure at this time if this will be an option.
10. Most importantly, have fun! Don’t be afraid to jump in and contribute, even if it’s just an “amen” or ” i totally agree” comment to get your feet wet. Chat is fueled by your contributions and the discussion will be enriched by a variety of opinions.

Please forgive us for questions or comments that might go unnoticed or unanswered in the chat. We will make every effort to answer them in the post below this one within the next few days if we miss them or run out of time tonight. I was mistaken about the number of people that can ‘chat’ at one time. It’s 100 instead of 50. Our heads may be spinning if that many actually sign in!

The chat will go live a few minutes before 7 in this post.
See you there!
If we blow up the internet, it was nice knowing you……

that we are willing to make ourselves vulnerable.

period.
that we are willing to need someone else.
that we are willing to say so.
that we are willing to be hurt.
because the willingness to be vulnerable is where relationship lives.
the question is: are you willing?

i am thankful for a group of women who are willing.
to share their stories and their gifts with us everyday.
i won’t take it for granted.
i will read with more understanding.
i will give the benefit of the doubt.
i will ponder what a privilege it is to do this.
i will do it with fear and trembling because true joy lingers near the willingness to be afraid.
but to give of ourselves anyway.

thank you for risking it.

“…we are losing our tolerance for vulnerability…..in our culture weakness is synonymous with vulnerability.   Vulnerability is absolutely at the core of fear and anxiety  and shame and very difficult emotions…but it is also the birthplace of joy, of love,  of belonging ,  of creativity, and of faith.   And so it becomes very problematic when as a culture we lose our ability to be vulnerable.”
author and speaker Brene Brown

ps.  on a related note, i did pretty okay (only teared up a few times) until the last day.  then i lost it.  cried like a baby when i told patty and jessica and brooke and ruth and nester and emily and melissa and ruthanne goodbye.   and might i say that true friends know what to do with vulnerable.  they respect it.  they nurture it.  they embrace it.  they understand it.  because they live there too.   and they blaze a trail for the rest of us to live from our broken, vulnerable selves in the safety of true friendship.

pss.  i’m working on finding some fun stuff for my entryway (here at the rental house and to be moved to our house once it’s built) so if you have any inspiration photos for an entryway, please send them my way.  i’m looking for a console table, a great  lamp, a rug and some awesome accessories.  thank you for helping me get my *stuff* back.

xo,

edie

*more to come on my excursions i hope.  but today, we’ve got a full day of school and i’m starting karen’s photography class. wish me luck!

It’s been two weeks since Edie’s family lost all their earthly belongings in the house fire. Even as their things are slowly being replaced, we know the greater tragedy is to lose your sense of normal, of safe, and of home. As Edie has so eloquently shared with us, “a heaviness sets in that I worry will be my permanent friend.” Her local friends and family have done so much to provide for their physical and emotional needs over the past two weeks. As her friends in blogland, we feel helpless to do anything that counts.

Since our arms can’t reach, we want to embrace Edie with our words. We figure if words were good enough for God when he spoke the Universe into existence with a let there be, and then there was, they must be good enough for us. Besides, they are all we’ve got, and we pray that the Lord will multiply them and dress them up with love and lightness, directing them straight into Edie’s heavy heart.

Over the years, Edie has written so beautifully about home, about faith, about family and love, grace and books, silliness and food. She has created a home here for us, a place to be inspired, to be encouraged, and to be ourselves. We know you feel the same way. And while Edie sits in a position right now where everyone wants to give to her, we want to take some time to thank Edie for the ways she has given to us. And so we invite you to join us in celebrating this Life in Grace she has so eloquently shared with us. Here’s how you can join in:

• Write a post on your own blog about how Edie has been an encouragement to you. Perhaps you have a specific post she wrote that stands out in your mind, or a story of when you met her in real life. Anything about Edie and this beautiful space she has created here.
• Come back and link up below so she will have all of our words in one place, little image gestures of love and support from all over the country, even the world. Be sure to use the permalink for your blog post.
• If you would like to take that one step further, print out your post and send it to the address below. Also, if you read Edie but don’t have a blog, you can still join in! Simply write a letter to Edie via the address below and Patty will compile them as a keepsake

Patty Christopher

1815 Pointe Drive

Talbott, TN 37877

We do this because we love Edie. We do this because we don’t know what else to do. We do this because, though fire may have taken the house, it cannot take the home. Because home is Edie’s specialty, her heart, her gift  she has made her home in Christ, and we know along with the Apostle Paul that “neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Oh, and one more thing? Today is Edie’s birthday!

First a little housekeeping. As many of you know, I’ve changed commenting platforms. I didn’t like the way my prophoto template handled comments so I carefully researched for weeks minutes which commenting platform seemed most user friendly.   I kind of abruptly switched to disqus one bright October morn.    And I don’t think I ever even officially told you about it, unless you read my random facebook posts.   I like disqus because it is more conversational and  allows us to respond back and forth to each other.   However, discus makes you sign in.   Which is akin to making you show your ID to order wine for dinner  at the restaurant you frequent every Tuesday when you’re obviously graying and wrinkling and have only the faintest memories of being 21.

But…..

once you sign in, that’s it.   Or, you can sign in using your facebook or your twitter account.    See, how easy?   And BTW, you don’t look a day over 25.  I swear.

Now, despite the fact that I’m telling you this,  when Melissa switched to disqus,  I was so scared/put off by the sign in (disqus? what’s disqus? I’m not creating one more set of sign in/password combinations if it kills me) that I gave it a good 6 months before I ever signed in.   As I tell my children all the time,  ”Do as I say not as I do.”

Here’s how it works:   Click ‘add a comment’ and you’ll get this menu.

You can sign in using any of these methods and if you don’t want to create an account with disqus, you  sign in as a ‘guest’ —which is what I finally did on Melissa’s site when I had a burning desire to tell her something.

But….

if you’ll create an account with disqus, it will link to your blog when someone clicks on your name from the comment, which I find very helpful and useful.  So just go the extra mile and create a disqus account and then other commenters can ‘find’ you.

then type in your clever words and voila.   Tres easy.   If you sign in via, twitter, your comment will be tweeted.  If you sign in via facebook, your comment will not be shared on facebook.   Overall, I’m happy with disqus.   What are your thoughts?

I think we should practice it.

That’s where my lovely curly-haired friend Ruthanne comes in.

I adore her.  I admire her.  She almost makes me wish I lived in Arkansas.    Almost.

I met her last year at Blissdom and we squealed when we saw each other.    Well, I’m pretty sure I squealed.

These girls were so fun to hang out with.  All homeschoolers.   All moms.   All mom with cameras.    All homeschooling moms with cameras and blogs.  All very fun homeschooling moms with cameras and blogs.   I love them all.    Meet Ruthanne, Melissa, Marsha and Karin.

Blissdom was worth the trip if for these girls alone.  {I’m going to Blissdom again this year.   Tell me if you’re going, I’d love to meet you and we can squeal together}

And that’s when I began to see the creativity oozing out of this girl.   Everything she does, she does with passion.

She bakes.

and bakes and bakes………
and sews and sews and sews.……

and did I mention she has a great eye to photography and somehow manages to teach her kiddos a thing or two.
I love her. I do.

And today, to show her my love and to prove to you that using discus is a cakewalk,  I’m giving away one of Ruthanne’s beautiful unique camera straps.    This giveaway will end tonight so hurry.   You must leave a comment on this post and tell me how you signed in,  using facebook, twitter, discus or whathaveyou.

You also must go to her shop and tell me which strap you can’t possibly live without.

‘Sweet pea’ and ‘Crush’ are my two newest favorites.  Oh wait, and green envy.  that’s my first choice.

I’d like to have a shop just to be in charge of naming things.

okay, go forth in comment joy.

xo,

edie