Lori Seaborg

A Wishlist of Things to Do in 2009

 

I keep a little spiral notebook handy for jotting down things. In it, is a long list of things I want to do, started on January 9th, 2008. I've added to it over the past year (I want to do everything in the world that's not scary or evil, so my list is quite long).

1. Streak*: A 28-day (Sundays off) of strength exercises each morning
2. Spin on a drop spindle
3. Weave on a loom
4. Design a rug hooked piece
5. Complete the rug hooked piece I designed
6. Learn Photoshop actions
7. Plan menu for 30 days
8. Create recipe notebook of healthy options
9. Streak: 14 days of moving every day (heart-pumping exercise, Sundays off)
10. Plant a fall garden
11. Schedule goat & cat vaccine and worming care
12. Streak: Carry a snack bag wherever we go for 14 days
13. Get new Nikon lens and learn it
14. Learn f-stops and other buttons on camera
15. Knit an intermediate project
16. Write an ebook
17. Learn how to create Adobe .pdf documents
18. Streak: Read to children for 10 days straight
19. Create school schedule for rest of year
20. Design a softie
21. Write a tutorial on that designed softie
22. Read all of the Old Testament (Bible) to kids
23. Streak: Go to the riverbank for 14 mornings in a row
24. Print 50 photos
25. Write a letter
26. Write a thank you note
27. Write a letter again
28. Teach kids a new sport (note: my man totally needed to help out here!)
29. Streak: 7 days of being only positive to my man
30. Start FreelyEducate.com
31. Visit North Carolina
32. Schedule time for my learning (use this time for learning new things)
33. Schedule time for creativity
34. Give away 20 books for nothing in return
35. Knit scarf for our big fella
36. Make salve
37. Streak: Tea Time at 4pm for 4 days in a row
38. Attend a symphony
39. Attend an opera
40. Learn to hand quilt
41. Finish a hand quilted piece
42. Identify five birds
43. Learn to needle felt the goat's mohair
44. Learn to smock
45. Put photos into at least 2 frames
46. Make our little gal a softie or soft doll while she's still little
47. Make a chore chart for the kids
48. Make a chore chart for me
49. Plant a spring garden
50. Design a punch needle embroidery (photo above)

There is an update in the middle of my lists that says, "On May 5, 2008, I had a big setback, tearing ligaments in my left ankle. It is now September 5th and it's still painful and swells but finally I'm up to working on this list again." It makes me sad that I missed so much time due to a silly injury, but, ah, well. While laying around, waiting for it to heal, I accomplished the things I could and dreamed about the things I couldn't.

I'm still working on that list. The problem is, it grows more quickly than I can complete it.

What would you add?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*Streak means all in a row. For example, "Streak: 14 days of moving every day," would mean I need to move for 14 days straight in order to check it off. Streaks, I hope, will help me kick-start something so that it becomes a habit.

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Lori Seaborg
http://loriseaborg.com

Worrying About Tomorrow

A friend wrote a "help!" note to an email group that I'm in with three other high school buddies. Her husband recently found out that he will be laid off on January 1st. Jobless. Like thousands of others, including my husband, who was laid off in November. Below is my response to my friend's call for help...

I'm so sorry, Neiser. That is such tough news. The unknown is always the scariest.

Things are so crazy right now, aren't they? It's insane the number of people who are losing jobs, companies closing, you name it! Good gravy.

You might find some comfort in the verses I cling to in these times -- the ones about how much more important are we than the flowers God clothes and the birds He feeds. There are so many marked up in my Bible! But sometimes I get doubtful and wonder where that leaves the people who are starving in the world or aren't clothed, and then I remind myself to let go of those doubts and just believe it because God said it. Jesus said it. (Matthew 6:25-34)

The last verse is the one that says, "Don't worry about tomorrow, for today has enough trouble of its own." And that's where you are. You're in today. Mike hasn't lost his job today; there is income today; you're all clothed and fed today. I remind myself of that often, too. It's so easy to worry instead of remembering that we're find today.

This time, even though it seems I should be worried, I'm not very often worried. That's because we've been through the really really ugly --- thousands in credit, the house on the brink of foreclosure, and our little garden center went belly-up. I cried so hard through all that, that I ran out of tears! I thought I'd go in the loo-loo bin, I'm not kidding. To make everything "worse," I got unexpectedly pregnant (#3) and he was a footling breech, so I had to have a c-section, with no insurance!

Now, of course, I can see the sunshine above those clouds. We learned to keep out of credit and got it all paid off, we saved the house from foreclosure, we focused our garden center on internet sales, the hospital let us write it all off except for $2000, and of course the baby turned out to be the very thing I needed...He was absolutely a gift straight from God for a time when I needed that baby.

I just want to say that it really is true -- it has been absolutely true in my experience -- that God will clothe us and feed us. He'll take care of us. I use to worry myself sick but when I look back on it, not a lot that I worried about ever happened. Or, if it did happen, like losing our brick-and-mortar storefront, it wasn't the horrible experience that I imagined it would be. I lost a lot of sleep over that! He may not take care of things how we think He should -- we may lose a house or a car -- but in the end, we'll see that that is okay, we're okay, we are able to make it without that anyway. He'll make sure we're okay.

Please let us know if we can help you in any way. Feel free to call or email to vent! I'm so right there with you, Sister!

Love you tons! ~ Lori

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Lori Seaborg
http://loriseaborg.com

On Contentment

I'm not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

I have not learned to be content in every situation. But I have learned so much.

I've realized that there is always going to be a house bigger and better than my own. Even a mansion owner could find a better, bigger mansion. I've learned that God tells us to offer hospitality even while knowing that our house may not be yet perfect.

I've learned that God doesn't care a fig about money. He cares about my heart. Money is just another "thing" to Him; it is not eternal.

When I am not content, I am in the way of God's work. Being discontent keeps me in the present, obsessing. Being content allows God to move me forward. Hoping. Trusting.

-------------------------
Lori Seaborg
http://loriseaborg.com

My Van, Part II

(Read here for Part I of my van story)

"He works hard to give her all he thinks she wants." (Kenny Rogers)

Last night, my man came back from Ohio with the van that we found on eBay to replace our wrecked one. I cannot believe how loved I am by these two fellows of mine - my man and my God.

As Kenny Rogers sang the words above, we drove around the country block. The kids were beyond loud in the back seats - so excited after spending weeks in our tiny Nissan Sentra.

But my thoughts were on the fitting words of Kenny's song, the three red roses on my lap, and how my little hand fits so well into my man's great big one.

And you know what?

You who posted or told me that God would give us something even better in return for what had been taken away - you were right. This newer van has all that I loved about the other van, but even more and even better.

When God and my man get together and spoil this gal of theirs -- oh, boy, am I ever lovin' life then!

"The Lord gives and the Lord takes away. Blessed be the name of the Lord." - Job

(Originally published on my 2005-2008 Keeping the Home blog)

My Ex-Van

God gives and God takes away. I know that.

Still, it hurt today when He allowed my van to be taken from me. The insurance guy called and said it was totalled in an accident last week. I learned that "totalled" doesn't always mean it's a horrible accident. This accident was just a little one, nobody else was involved, nobody was hurt...except for my lovely little van.

I felt silly crying over a hunk of metal, leather, and plastic. I had to run away from my man so he wouldn't see how disappointed I was.

He'd been the one who had the accident. He felt terrible that he had been driving my vehicle and not his own. I didn't want to burden him with more guilt.

When he caught up with me and held me in his arms, I was embarrassed to hear myself sob.  My man said, "We'll get another one. It's going to work out."

I nodded my head against his chest. "I know that," I said, "Give me just 10 minutes to be sad."

"Okay, but only 10," he said with a smile.

It's just that I'm going to miss it.

It was what I prayed to have for years.

Before we had the van, for over a year and a half we owned only one vehicle - a Nissan Sentra. Let me tell you, it is possible to get a family of six into a tiny little Sentra, but it is not safe to do so. There are only 5 seatbelts! I stayed home with the children any time my man had the car. Since he commuted an hour each way to work, I stayed home a lot. Staying home was not always convenient, but it helped us save up money for our future van.

The kids (ages 6, 4, 2 and baby) would pray with me every night: "Jesus, please give us a van and please give us a home in the country." Then we would thank Him for all that He had already given us: our one little car and our little house in town.

One day, my man, a motorcycle-and-truck kind of guy, decided we had enough money saved and agreed that we could start looking for a van. Right away, we found just the right one at a great price.

God had taken His sweet time in answering my prayers then, but He did answer them!

I know He'll do so again.   Give me just 10 minutes to be sad.

(Originally published on my 2004-05 Keeping the Home blog)

When Worry Sets In

Sunday's Extreme Makeover Home Edition was for a family whose man of
the house had lost his job earlier in the year. As a result of the
job loss, the family was homeless and living in a shelter when the
show rescued them.

I saw tears in Tim's (dh) eyes and felt them in mine several times
during the 2 hour episode. Only six months ago, we were dealing
with the same thing - we were not homeless, but we were jobless.
Even this many months later, we cannot forget the pain and fear.

In the middle of the episode, Tim , who was holding the baby and
stroking her hair, said with a catch in his voice, "I hope I can
always take care of all of you."

I know he will, because I know that God will.

This is God's promise for us:

"And He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not
worry about {your} life, {as to} what you will eat; nor for your
body, {as to} what you will put on.

For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing."

[Say that last line out loud. You know it's true!]

"Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no
storeroom nor barn, and {yet} God feeds them; how much more valuable
you are than the birds!"

[Watch the birds that come to your yard. They do not store up their
food. They have to find it daily. God provides even for them.]

"And which of you by worrying can add a {single} hour to his life's
span?"

[I hear Jesus' sense of humor in that last line.]

"If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry
about other matters? "

[To God, adding an extra hour to your life is as easy as adding a
spoonful of sugar to your morning coffee. If you can't do that very
simple thing, why worry about anything?]

"Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but
I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like
one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is {alive} today
and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more {will He
clothe} you? You men of little faith!"

[I grow daylilies. Each daylily opens for only one day and then
closes that bud forever. Whenever my daylilies open, I say
aloud, "Even King Solomon in all his finest was never dressed as one
of these." Inside the lilies are beautiful details. If God dresses
these flowers, which are only open for one day, in such loveliness,
then how much more will He take care of you?]

"And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do
not keep worrying."

[Of course, you need to shop for groceries and plan your meals, but
Jesus is saying that you do not need to worry and obsess over these
needs. Focus on God, focus on God's work, and He will provide your
basic necessities. Have you ever been naked, without a stitch to
wear? Have you ever starved? Let those worries go.]

"For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but
your Father knows that you need these things. "

[I think Jesus spoke tenderly when He said, "Your Father knows that
you need these things." He knows. He cares. He loves you.]

But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you." (Luke
12:22-31)

[Seek God. Let Him take care of the details.]

This was a passage that I needed to remember. It is one that I turn
to quite often, for I find it quite easy to worry. My worry is
about finances. We have never starved or been without clothing, and
yet I can worry the night away if I don't catch myself.

It is at 3am, if something wakes me up, that the devil will whisper
worries in my ear. If I listen to him, I will stay up all night,
tossing and turning on my bed, worrying about taxes, bills,
insurance, health, groceries, etc.

If I pick up my Bible and read Luke 12:22-31, Jesus speaks to me.
He says the words above. "Do not worry," He says. It is then that
I remember that I am loved by a caring God.

He knows that I need these things.

Lori Seaborg

On (Not) Worrying About Money

Sunday's Extreme Makeover Home Edition was for a family whose man of the house had lost his job earlier in the year. As a result of the job loss, the family was homeless and living in a shelter when the show rescued them. I saw tears in my man's eyes and felt them in mine several times during the 2 hour episode.

It was so recent that we were experiencing the pain of his job loss. Like almost all job terminations, ours was an unexpected, cruel blow.

In the middle of the episode, my man , who was holding the baby and stroking her hair, said with a catch in his voice, "I hope I can always take care of all of you."

I know he will, because I know that God will.

This is God's promise for us:

"And He said to His disciples, "For this reason I say to you, do not worry about {your} life, {as to} what you will eat; nor for your body, {as to} what you will put on.

For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.

Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and {yet} God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!

And which of you by worrying can add a {single} hour to his life's span?

If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.

But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is {alive} today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more {will He clothe} you? You men of little faith!

And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.

For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.

But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you." (Luke 12:22-31)

Taco Seasoning Mix & Chili Seasoning Mix Recipes

I have two favorite blend recipes for you. You will love the fresh
taste that comes from making your own seasonings versus buying the
little packets at the store.

Two great sources for herbs and spices in bulk (they are fresher
than at the grocery store) is http://www.americanspice.com and
http://atlanticspice.com (use http://sfherb.com for West Coasters).
I've used both companies and love their herbs and spices! One of my
favorite catalogs is from Penzeys: http://penzeys.com . The catalog
is loaded with recipes, all of them wonderful!

Taco Seasoning Mix

2 teaspoons instant minced onion
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon instant minced garlic
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Combine all ingredients until evenly distributed. Spoon mixture
onto a 6" square of aluminum foil and fold to make airtight. Label.
Store in a cool, dry place and Use within 6 months.

Makes 1 package (about 2 tablespoons) Taco Seasoning Mix.

I always increase this by 6 or more and store it in a recycled empty
glass spice jar. We use 2 T to 1 lb. ground beef. It's great!!

To Use:

Brown 1 lb. ground beef. Drain fat. Add Taco Seasoning Mix and a
bit of water (1/4 cup? experiment). Boil, then simmer until the
mixture is the desired consistency.

(Source: "Make-a-Mix Cookery" by Fisher Publishing, Inc.)





Chili Seasoning Mix

3 tablespoons flour
1/2 teaspoon dried red pepper
2 tablespoons instant minced onion
1/2 teaspoon instant minced garlic
1-1/2 chili powder
1/2 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cumin

Blend thoroughly. This also makes just one packet of chili
seasoning
mix. Wrap individually and store in a cool, dry place.

Add these directions to your gift:


To make chili:

1 lb. ground beef
1/2 cup hot water
1 pkg. Chili Seasoning Mix (above)
1 (16 oz.) can kidney or pinto beans
2 (8-oz.) cans tomato sauce

Brown ground beef in skillet. Drain fat. Add remaining
ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer until liquid
is reduced to desired consistency.

(http://www.Make-a-Mix.com)

A Few Ways to Save Money Around the House

A side benefit to being frugal with money (ie. broke) occured
recently when the children wanted to decorate cupcakes. We'd run out
of sprinkles but my!, they were amazed that I could make colored
sugar. They kept hollering, "Look! Mama MADE this sugar! Look, it's
colored!" I've learned a few other things about being frugal in the
house in this hard time:

* Buying generic brands in everything is frustrating to me, but it
has also introduced me to a few alternate products. The store-brand
Saltines in one store, for example, taste like the Premium brand.

* Laundry gets just as clean on a longer cycle with half the
detergent called for on the box.

* Breakfast is cheaper by far without cold cereal. Cereal uses too
much expensive milk! I've been making muffins, pancakes, cinnamon
rolls, etc.

* The children don't NEED prepared snack foods like Cheez-Its and
Rold Gold pretzels. They will keep content as long as they have
SOMEthing when they are hungry.

* Free, fresh eggs from our chickens are awfully useful

* Margarine, even though I'm NOT happy to have it instead of butter,
at least spreads more easily.

* The chickens can live - and thrive - on only table scraps (thanks
to the baby, we have plenty!) and free ranging (that's a term for
letting them loose).



I will continue this thought this week and share more tips with you.

Trusting God Rather Than Our Princes

Psalm 118:8-9 ~ "It is better to trust in the Lord than to put
confidence in man. It is better to trust in the Lord than to put
confidence in princes."

This has been a time of trusting in the Lord rather than in the
princes of financial stability. Tim lost his job - in an unexpected
and unjust way - 10 weeks ago. It is humbling to apply for
unemployment and WIC (a program that gives cheese, milk, eggs, etc.
to small children). It is strange to feel slightly glad for
Hurricane Ivan's timing. Because of Ivan, we are eligible to receive
disaster assistance in the form of food, water, and financial aid.

I trust God to take care of us. He will, after all, clothe the
lilies and feed the sparrows. Still, I wonder in weak moments why we
have to be in this position again. We've been in this financial
limbo before. Was there a lesson we forgot to learn back then? Did
we forget to say "thank you" for something even while saying thanks
thousands of times for other things? Or does life just have these
random "bumps" in it, and we are to hang on tight through the ride
until the way is smooth again?

I like to find the lesson in everything, but in this trial I cannot.
Except for one: "Put not thy trust in princes," the Bible says.
Don't trust in a paycheck to come or possessions to remain. Don't
expect money to come in the mail or others to offer help. Don't
trust in those princes. Rather, "trust in the Lord." Trust in the
Lord!

It will be exciting to see God's plan come to fruition. He promises
to "work everything for our good." Even this bad thing that happened
to us will turn out to be good and we will thank God for it one day.
Where will He take our family? I wish I knew. We have no idea what
to do, after putting years into the company that let us down. I know
so little at this point. But I do know this: God is our Father and
we can trust Him!

Preparing for an Emergency When Money is Tight

Hurricane Ivan is barrelling down on us on the Gulf Coast. We expect him to start showing us what he's made of Wednesday. Tomorrow, Tuesday, everything is shutting down as people evacuate. We think we are staying put. With no income coming in right now, it is expensive to leave and we have lived here long enough to know that a hurricane can turn at any moment. We'll wait and see how dangerous it looks, then head to a local shelter if need be.

You, too, should have an emergency plan and at least a list of what to buy for an emergency. Here, we get warnings about our storms, so we don't have to keep the hurricane items on hand at all times. If you live where tornadoes and earthquakes are, you'd want to keep these items around:

flashlights
batteries
lanterns
oil for lanterns
canned food
boxed food like crackers
candles
grill or other cooking device
water to drink
water in your tubs
medication
important papers ready to go

Now, I'll tell you some things I am doing on a limited income, since some of you also may not be able to just go out and buy all of those things:

1. Look at what you already have, for example:

• I don't have enough candles, but I do have candlemaking supplies. Since I will have power for the next two days at least, I will make candles rather than purchasing them.
• We're making do with our under-cabinet kitchen radio rather than buying another one. We will just unscrew it from the cabinets to carry it throughout the house with us.
• I'm baking bread and making cookies. We don't have the extra money to buy convenience items already made. I will store the baked items in containers like Tupperware. I will make some healthier items like whole wheat bread and blueberry muffins.
• Rather than purchasing water, we are going to fill pitchers and water containers with the drinking water that we can get out of the faucet now.
• We don't have a tarp, but we have a roll of plastic that we bought for Hurricane Opal years ago. We'll use that, if need be.

2. Natural disasters create a mess! Don't start out with a mess, or it will be much worse for you. Start now to clean the house:

• Mopping and vacuuming.
• Do all laundry.
• All important paper items need to be stored in waterproof containers. We are using some Rubbermaid totes that we have already.
• Pick up loose items that will hurt your feet when you walk around in the dark when the power is out.
• Put books and other papers in waterproof containers or at least get them off the floor if your storm is a watery one.
• Do the dishes.
• Make the beds.
• Straighten up anything you can. With the power out, you need everything to be already in its place so you can find it when needed.

3. Be prepared. If you have the luxury, as we do, of knowing a storm is coming, you can start getting ready days ahead. Here is my list:

• Charge the chargeable flashlights.
• Charge the cellphones.
• Charge the digital camera and clear it for ample storage after taking photos of the house (pre-storm) for insurance purposes. Email those pictures to someone in another state for safekeeping, or create a photo CD and keep it with the important papers.
• Bake items now for eating when the power is out.
• Have insurance and emergency information in a place where you can find it easily.
• Pack a bag in case you have to get out fast. Put in a change of clothing for everyone, snacks, water bottles, and a special blanket or animal for the kids.
• Pack another bag with important papers and medications along with your purse/wallet and car keys and cell phones. You will grab this bag if you have to evacuate.
• Email or call someone to let them know of your plans.
• If your emergency is a water one, dig any needed ditches for water run-off, clear gutters, have tarp ready.
• Have a plan for the outside animals. Our chickens are going to the garage (yuck!) if they are in danger from the high wind speeds. Bring in the cat and dog in plenty of time.
• Fill Ziploc bags now with water and place in the freezer. They will ice, keeping the freezer colder longer if the power goes out.
• Fill prescriptions and place medicine in the bag mentioned above (g).
• Fill the gas tanks of the cars (gas stations can't pump without power).
• Get some extra cash out of an ATM (ATMs don't work without power).
• Gather any loose items from the yard (we have lawn chairs and a deck box and planters)and place them in the garage or in the house.
• Cover windows, if you are preparing for a windy storm, with plywood. If you can't do that, as we cannot this year (plywood is too expensive for us now, and all stores are out of it anyways), then create a plan for what you'll do if the windows shatter. For example, as soon as the power goes out, we are moving the television to a safe room without windows. We will move the living room furniture into safer rooms, also.
• Create a "Storm Central." We will create a space in either our master bathroom, which is large, or in the hallway. We will bring in blankets, pillows, snacks, water, emergency lighting like flashlights and candles, games to play, my crocheting needle and yarn, the radio, paper and pen, and the children will each bring a small bag filled with favorite toys.

If I think of more things to add to this list, I will. I hope all of you stay safe. If you read this before Hurricane Ivan comes to the Florida/Alabama border where we live (around September 15, 2004), please say a prayer of safety for us. I rather love a good storm as it reminds me of the power of God. But I don't like a deadly storm, nor do I like the mess it causes.

(Originally published on my 2004-05 Keeping the Home blog)