Welcome to Life With The Stanfords, where life is sweet, my family's sweeter and God is the sweetest! I am so glad you're here. The Bible says, "Out of the overflow of the heart, the mouth speaks (or writes?)." Life With The Stanfords is my overflow. Some days my heart is good, other days - not so much. I hope you'll appreciate the honesty, though. Pour yourself a cup of coffee and let's share some virtual baked goods and real conversation.
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My Wish List
- a bigger house, doggonit!
- Chevrolet Express 15 passenger van
- Bernina 640 sewing machine
- Cuisineart ice cream maker
- anything from Anthropologie
- Canon Rebel
- Adobe Photoshop
- MacBook computer
- collected works of Edgar Guest
- a David Arms print
December 01, 2009
November 23, 2009
Return to Thankful
I have had a bad case of discontent in the last few months. Discontent is an awful thing. It's why all those people on Grey's Anatomy, Desperate Housewives, etc. act the way they do. It ain't pretty.
All the while, I've been asking God (with the little bit of Holy Spirit left in me) to help me overcome this monster. I can't say I'm completely healed of discontent, but I'm on the mend. Christians often talk of trying to overcome besetting sins -- those sins that persistently trouble or harass us. For some it's drugs, for others it's food, and then there are the less obvious ones that trouble - like pride, fear, mistrust, and yes, discontent.
Do you know that the God of the universe reaches out to us? We do not see Him, and yet, He is in us if we belong to Him. He reaches across that line between the natural and the spiritual and reassures us that He is with us always -- even when we are battling the ugliest parts of ourselves. When we're losing the battle, He steps in.
In this latest battle with discontent, here are the ways God has reminded me of His love...
I woke up the other morning to hear my one-year old daughter singing "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" in her bed. God gave her to me.
I asked my four-year old son the other day what I would do when he grew up and moved away. He said, "Well, I'm going to marry you!" What love.
I watched Diary of a Mad, Black Woman again last night. Yes, I have issues with the movie, but there's a scene where the choir at the church begins singing about how we need the Lord. I cry every single time. It just reminded me of how very much He loves us.
I went to a doctor's appointment with my Dad last week and then we went to lunch together. I had him all to myself for a couple of hours. We talked about spiritual things and we talked about Mama. It was a divine appointment and one of the best days of my life. I love my Dad.
My husband told me I was beautiful.
My pastor preached about salvation and being filled with the Holy Spirit. It's been so long since I've heard the gospel preached. He reminded my why we sing about the Cross. My heart filled up to overflowing.
All five of my kids were being great at one time around the supper table the other night. It was loud and boisterous and happy. My husband and I just looked at one another and smiled without saying a word. All the love in the world was present in that moment.
And in all those times, I heard the words of the Lord:
"The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, and rich in love." Psalm 145:8
"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!" I John 3:1a
"Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you." Isaiah 30:18-19
And now I think of the song I consider to be the soundtrack of my life:
Come, Thou Fount of every blessing,
Tune my heart to sing Thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing,
Call for songs of loudest praise.
Teach me some melodious sonnet,
Sung by flaming tongues above.
Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it,
Mount of Thy redeeming love.
Here I raise my Ebenezer;
Here by Thy great help I've come;
And I hope, by Thy good pleasure,
Safely to arrive at home.
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wandering from the fold of God;
He, to rescue me from danger,
Interposed His precious blood.
O to grace how great a debtor
Daily I'm constrained to be!
Let Thy goodness, like a fetter,
Bind my wandering heart to Thee.
Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it,
Prone to leave the God I love;
Here's my heart, O take and seal it,
Seal it for Thy courts above.
O that day when freed from sinning,
I shall see Thy lovely face;
Clothed then in blood washed linen
How I'll sing Thy sovereign grace;
Come, my Lord, no longer tarry,
Take my ransomed soul away;
Send thine angels now to carry
Me to realms of endless day.
Lord, you know all things. You know that I love you, yet I'm prone to leave the God I love. Bind my wandering heart to You with your goodness. You are great and greatly to be praised. Father, forgive me. Thank you for returning me to thankful.
November 10, 2009
Heavy on the Evie
I know my posts have been a little heavy on the Evie lately. She has entered this insanely cute stage that makes me want to follow her around like a deranged paparazzo. Bear with me. She probably won't be cute anymore in about 30 years or so.
Evelyn is a headband fanatic right now. She usually tries to wear at least three at a time. You would've thought I had given her diamonds when she saw this headband.
Be still my heart.
O.K., I'm with you. The truck totally interferes with the cuteness of this picture. This is what happens when your photo editing software needs to be reinstalled and you're too lazy to do it...trucks...and shadows...and poor color, blah, blah, blah.
Nevertheless, cuteness abounds.
November 07, 2009
A Virus-Free November
We haven't been sick, but my computer sure has. I think it's been riddled with viruses for quite some time, but when the pornographic icons showed up on my desktop, it was time for action. I just got my computer back for the first time in a week. I've had serious withdrawal. I figured out that the computer is my "go-to" when I have to do something I don't want to do. So I ended up doing a lot of stuff I didn't want to do this past week. Welcome back, little computer!
Nineteen days 'til Thanksgiving, people! "Let the wild rumpus start!" You have about two weeks to get your grocery and Christmas shopping done in peace. Then...every man for himself. You've been warned.
This year's been a tough one for The Stanfords, economically and otherwise. But the funny thing about tough times is that they make you even more grateful for the blessings you do have, which brings us to this month's playlist...
This month's playlist has a lot of repeats from last year. I still love Diana Krall's "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep" and Copland's "Hoedown", and no November playlist would be complete without "Turkey In The Straw".
My favorite addition to this year's Thanksgiving playlist is "Doxology" by the Michael Gungor Band. What a cool version of one of my favorite hymns! You'll also find a wonderful jazz version of "Ode To Joy" (another favorite hymn) by Brian Bromberg. There's even a Thanksgiving song on here by Don Henley. Hmmm, who knew?
Enjoy the advent of this most wonderful holiday season. Be blessed and be a blessing!
October 30, 2009
The Ballerina
Introducing, the one, the only, Evelyn Kate Stanford, dancing to the beautiful "Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy" by Tchaikovsky...
"See the candy fairies, sugar-plums, jelly-beans, chocolate bars,
Dance the minuet,
With the candied cherries, lolly-pops, peppermints, candy-canes,
As they pirouette,
See the FAIRY PRINCESS curtsying, gracefully, beautifully,
Swaying to the tune...
Music in the air (so entrancing)
Flowers in her hair (as she's dancing)
Love is everywhere (Ah-h-h-h-h-h-h-h)
'Neath the yellow lemon-drop moon.
There she goes now, on her toes now,
To her yellow lemon-drop moon.
Uh yeah, Mom, that was great. Get me outta this thing!
October 29, 2009
I miss the mullet
I started to title this post, Hair and Teeth Part II, but no teeth are involved. Evelyn has been trying to grow her hair out since she got here almost two years ago. The back of her head has cooperated enthusiastically. The front of her head? Not so much - thereby resulting in a lovely baby mullet.
Baby mullets are great for baby pigtails, but not much else. Her hair was out of control, I tell ya'. It was time to cut Evelyn's hair and launch her into the big girl world of bad hair days, haircuts gone awry and just plain bad hairstyle choices.
Would you let a man, whose hair looks like this, cut your baby's hair?
Hey, desperate times. Desperate measures.
Surprisingly, the three middle kids took a keen interest in the proceedings.
None of them wanted us to cut Evie's hair. Ethan: "Do we have to cut off her curls, Mom?" Blythe: "Aw, that makes me sad."
Evelyn's attitude quickly disintegrated from happy participant to outspoken dissenter.
Those little hairs are SO itchy!
Finally. Done!
The baby mullet is tucked safely away in a pink baby book to be discovered later by a grown up Evelyn, who will ask her Mama, "Why did you let me wear my hair like that???"
And I will tell her, "Only after you've smelled the sweet curls and twisted them tenderly between your fingers will you understand the difficulty in parting with them, my dear, sweet Evelyn."
October 27, 2009
Home from Houston
Just got back from Houston on Saturday. My very fabulous in-laws gave Jade and me tickets to see Third Day in concert there. Highlights from our trip:
Thursday night - Ribs at Jade's Mama's house. Yes ma'am!
Friday - Four hours in the van all alone with my husband. Smashing conversation. Bliss!
Friday night - Third Day! Yeeah!!! Here's me and Jade with Mac Powell:
Saturday morning - Blueberry muffins at Cathy's house. Thanks for puttin' us up, Cath!
Saturday - Lunch with my friend, Amita, from high school, and her husband! I hadn't seen her in years and years. The last time I saw her was at her wedding. Amita is Hindu and her wedding was a feast for the eyes! So beautiful.
IKEA - That place is the devil! The need to consume almost overtook me. Jade was strong for the both of us.
Saturday evening - I got to meet Jade's pastor from when he lived in Hackberry under a bridge (great story there). Jade had talked about Bro. Gerard and his wife ever since I met him. They took really good care of him. He hadn't seen them in about 12 years. When we got out of the van at Bro. Gerard's house, he and Jade grinned from ear-to-ear. We went into the house and Bro. Gerard yelled, "Gail, our son's home!" I almost cried over the sweetness of it all.
Jade got the chance to tell them how much they meant to him and what a difference they had made in his life. I'm welling up again just thinking about it. They are dear, sweet people who love Jesus so much they look like Him. I want to be like them.
What a great trip! Good memories abound.
October 20, 2009
It happens to the best of us.
My husband just shaved his head.
He did this once before, several years ago, and I was not amused. He has been under the impression that he is bald for nine years now. I don't think he's bald. Granted, I see the receding hairline. It is moving further back on his head, but he's still got gorgeous, black hair through which I love to run my fingers. Alas, I think those days are over.
Have you ever felt a shaved head? Blech! It is prickly and weird feeling. I'm sure I'll get used to it. Maybe I'll even start rubbing baby oil on his head to make it shine.
I guess I shouldn't give him a hard time about it. I mean, he has to deal with my body giving in to gravity and wrinkles. Too bad I can't just shave off my bad parts, huh?
October 19, 2009
The Pumpkin Decorating Contest
Now that Claire is going to "real school", I have to get used to some new things. Since August, she's had to turn in a couple of class projects, Jade has sold candy (ugh!) at his shop, and there's a bake sale on Tuesday. Also, I have to bring milk for the Book Fair "Muffins for Moms" affair in a couple of weeks. I'm adjusting.
In addition to all of that, Claire has decided to participate in 4-H this year. Her first activity was a pumpkin decorating contest last week. Claire wanted to create Cinderella's coach with her pumpkin. Whoa! I thought that was going to be way too difficult to accomplish. I asked her to scale down her idea a little bit. We tossed around a couple of ideas and she decided to create a ladybug out of her pumpkin.
I thought it would be really cute to get a different colored pumpkin to use as the spots on the ladybug and a smaller pumpkin to use as the head. We bought a "regular-sized" pumpkin, a small pumpkin and a cushaw (since we couldn't find a green pumpkin). Here's what a cushaw looks like:
As with all of my ideas, this turned out to be much more difficult than imagined. We ended up drawing 12 holes on the pumpkin. Unfortunately, cutting out holes is much harder than drawing them. We ended up calling on the services of my dear, sweet husband. He put his "McGyver" hat on and decided to use a hole saw to cut out the holes.
You know what happens next...cutting 12 matching holes out of the cushaw for the dots. That was a little easier since the cushaw was softer. After Jade did all the hard work for us, Claire and I got busy decorating her little ladybug. We ended up using straws for legs, Play-Doh accessory eyes and a scrap of pumpkin fabric for the ladybug's hair bow. I give you...Lady Bugkin!
I think her father might have been a spider. Claire was so proud of her creation. It was interesting getting our ladybug through the carpool line at school the next morning, but she made it in one piece.
We couldn't wait to pick up Claire from school and find out if she won a ribbon or not. Ethan even prayed for her pumpkin to win a prize that morning. Claire walked to the van with a big grin on her face. She won a blue ribbon! How great is that?
Next year, I think I'll let her do Cinderella's coach. I think it'll be much easier.
October 13, 2009
Hair and Teeth
We did finally get Ethan's hair cut. My sister graciously agreed to cut it for free. I can't tell you how hard it was to throw away all that beautiful blonde hair piled up on the floor. It just seems like there should be some really good use for such a prized possession.
Before - Surfer Dude:
After - Welcome to basic training:
That is one good-looking kid, either way. Notice the arrow pointing to the emerging tooth. My friend, Liz's post, reminded me that I completely neglected to post this huge milestone in Ethan's life.
He lost his first tooth back in August right before school started. It was such a big deal. I was pleasantly surprised that Ethan pulled it himself. He's not always known for his bravery.
Can you see the excitement on Owen's face? I think he was more thrilled than Ethan was. He immediately started telling us his tooth was loose. He's so ready to reach that "big boy" marker in his life.
I wonder if big brothers ever realize how much they're adored? I keep hoping Ethan won't be a criminal because then I'd surely have two. Owen loves his big brother Ethan (when Ethan's not pestering the fool out of him).
And me? Well, it always catches me off guard how emotional something like a little ol' tooth can make me. It's kind of the same way I felt on this day:
Hair and teeth.
Teeth and hair.
Both are sayin' your baby's not there...
anymore.
