Warning: this post is tedious and vain. Proceed with awareness.

I’ve been thinking about a capsule wardrobe: mostly-basic pieces that fit well and are in flattering colors, that also mix and match easily. From there, the idea is to switch out cheap-o accessories if you want to change things up.

Pretty much every spring our routine is to go through everything and purge: clothes, shoes, toys, stuff. So this year my goal is to get out of my closet things I never or hardly ever wear. Even t-shirts. Even hoodies. This is big for me.

For some of the iffy ones, I’m going to put them in the back of the boys’ closet to see if I even miss them. If I don’t, gone.

From there, my goal has been to get ideas from Pinterest for arranging items I already have. Then maybe, maybe shop for one or two new basic pieces or a few new accessories. But really, I have lots of clothes and shoes and jewelry. I just wear the same things over and over instead of branching out.

Here is what I’ve come up with for my Spring-ish wardrobe (what to wear when it’s below 90 degrees and above 50…some I tried on and rocked the mirror selfie. Because that’s what you do. But I’m only brave enough to post one of those on here. For most of the outfits I was too lazy for that):

Old Navy tank I’ve had for at least 6 years and never wear. Cardigan sis gave me she doesn’t wear anymore. Jeans a friend gave me. $7 flip flops.

Shrug from sis. Zipper-designed tank from a clothing swap. Jeans from a teen resale shop in town ($9). Wedges from a garage sale.

Top from Kohl’s (got free with Kohl’s cash – score!). Same jeans from above. Same flip flops. Necklace from garage sale.

Same cardigan, tank from sis. Premier Designs necklace I got free with party credit. Wide belt from Kohl’s. Shorts from Kohl’s. Same wedges.

Tank from sis (she apparently had a tank top giveaway one time). Jean jacket from Kohl’s. (Something I spent a pretty penny on. But it’s so versatile and will last a long time.) Cropped pants from sis.

Long tee from garage sale. Sandals from TJMaxx ($10).

There are eight more tops in the rotation – all of which I believe are striped. But I’m too embarrassed to publicly share my stripe obsession. Plus I think we’ve all had enough. There is also a pair of jeans from The Buckle that were worth every penny three years ago, and a pair of cut-offs from the same resale shop. And two more jackets. What I like about these outfits are the basic, clean lines. Those shouldn’t go out of style anytime soon.

The saddest part about this is it doesn’t even picture the fun, summery dresses I have in my possession. Or yoga pants and workout shirts. Or all the t-shirts.

A typical outfit for me. Impulse-buy t-shirt, jeans, tangerine Cons from clothing swap.

So basically? If you ever hear me say I have nothing to wear, you have my permission to flick me. And if you see me buying anything, tackle me before it’s too late. (Unless it’s a statement necklace. Apparently one needs a statement necklace.)

But, seriously. We set aside around $100 per month for clothes for our family. Dan’s work stuff is more expensive, I need quality workout pants and shoes, and the boys outgrow stuff all the time. But if I commit to wear only these basics for a couple years, we could easily knock that amount down to $70 a month. That extra $30? That could sponsor a Compassion child. Someone our boys could write letters to and send pictures on his or her birthday.

And that is worth taking the time to arrange pieces so I am aware of what I already have.

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Do you have any wardrobe money-saving advice?

Those who trust in the LORD are

Like Mount Zion,

Which cannot be shaken but

Endures forever.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem

So the LORD surrounds His people

Both now and forevermore.

“We don’t have a king,”
    you will say.
“We don’t fear the Lord.
    And what good are kings?” Hosea 10:3 (CEV)

They go around saying,
    “Who needs a king?
We couldn’t care less about God,
    so why bother with a king?
    What difference would he make?” (Msg)

How do you feel about authority?

In 1 Samuel 8, we see how the Israelites felt about God’s authority: they rejected it and demanded a king. A king who would tax them. Who would make treaties with other nations instead of relying on Jehovah-Sabaoth, the God of Angel Armies, to fight for them.

Now in Hosea’s time, the people were rejecting all authority.

How about us?

Are you convinced down deep the authority in your life is for your good? That no authority is given to man except what God allows? And that by aligning yourself under Him in a conflict will give Him room to work for everyone’s good and His glory?

Speaking of conflict, can I tell you something else He’s been showing me lately?

It’s almost never about who’s right.

God seems more interested in what I have learned in conflict. Whether I can trust human authority more than before because He was the trustworthy Authority at every turn.

Whatever you’re going through – no matter what – His motives toward you have been perfectly pure, completely just, and exceedingly full of grace.

Let’s trust that.

I said, ‘Plant the good seeds of righteousness,
    and you will harvest a crop of love.
Plow up the hard ground of your hearts,
    for now is the time to seek the Lord,
that he may come
    and shower righteousness upon you.’ Hosea 10:12 NLT

Plow your fields,
scatter seeds of justice,
    and harvest faithfulness.
Worship me, the Lord,
and I will send my saving power
    down like rain. (CEV)

Plow your hearts.

Sow good seeds of justice & righteousness.

Worship Him.

When farmers wanted to train a new ox, they would yoke it with a stronger, trained one. If the untrained ox wanted to stop and graze or go off in a wrong direction, the trained ox would keep him on task.

All of us are yoked to something.

Our Master guarantees His yoke is easy and burden is light.

The harvest we get yoked to Him is one of joy, faithfulness, and showers of His saving love.

The sky was glorious this morning.

Inspired by a pin, I made Turkey Sloppy Joe’s the other night and put them on large Romaine lettuce leaves instead of buns. The boys loved it! They thought the crunch was “cool.” Parenting Food Win.

My friend alerted me recently to the deal at Bradly Fair’s Fresh Market.  They have their very fresh, very lean ground beef and their antibiotic-free, free-range chicken breast for 2.99/lb on Tuesdays! I’m already on that side of town Tuesday mornings, so I’m in. Plus, amazing coffee samples. Plus, I love the way the crisp brown packages look in my fridge. Priorities.

The boys have been loving their ant farm. It really is fascinating to watch them work.

I think the painting’s done. I don’t think there are rules on this. We’ve exhausted the existing colors and a couple of color combos. Plus I think it looks good. So, done.

Our pretty tree always lets us know when Spring is here.

What are you up to?

I love the Psalms of ascent.

I lift up my eyes to the hills –

Where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

The Maker of heaven and earth.

Spring Break is over. Instead of pouting, I’m going to work through what’s on my mind. But our internet is wonky and I don’t want to type a bunch of stuff and get kicked off. So list form it is!

Things on my brain, as far as being intentional:

1. A capsule wardrobe with only clothes I love.

2. Consolidating where I put my energy. This is a constant battle for me.

3. Less toxins in our cleaning products.

4. Essential oils.

5. Smart phones. It’s time.

6. But…less screen time.

7. The garden life.

Are you thinking about anything these days? Do season changes do that to you, too?

The library near our house had an aircraft-making event.

It works!

The brothers that read together…

Making Energy Bites.  So good!  We might have ground the almonds in the coffee grinder that had stray leftover coffee grounds.  Talk about energy…

We bowled.  Just so you know “Free Game of Bowling” doesn’t include shoes.  They getcha with the shoes.

Dan says it’s time for new frames (mostly because he lost his and one of my ear pieces broke). What do you think? Trying too hard to be hipster cool?

Yard Work!  Dan actually prefaced this day with, “Everyone helps and no one gets to whine.  Or work a little, then go inside and type on the computer.”  The boys and I pretended we didn’t know what he was talking about.

Do your thing in our garden, Giant Worm.

Spring Break is tiring!

O people of Israel…you have been unfaithful to your God…
So now your harvests will be too small to feed you.
There will be no grapes for making new wine (Hosea 9:1-3 NLT)

Whenever Israel’s grain and wine crops failed, they could be assured it was a warning. One of the ways the surrounding nations could know that the Israelites belonged to the LORD was how obedience to His Law yielded blessing. And disobedience brought captivity.

The same is true for those of us under the New Covenant. While we may not have material wealth result from obedience, He promises our lives will bear fruit. We may not be taken as captives to another nation, but we can definitely be spiritual captives.

Submission to one another is required if we desire to bear much fruit to His glory. I think it should be said this is adult to adult submission, not parent to child. There is dignity and differing opinions and love.

Please, Jesus, let us love.

We have one enemy. Just one. Taking that seriously can help us have wisdom in dealing with each other.

“Our fight is not against people on earth but against the rulers and authorities and the powers of this world’s darkness, against the spiritual powers of evil in the heavenly world. That is why you need to put on God’s full armor. Then on the day of evil you will be able to stand strong. And when you have finished the whole fight, you will still be standing.” (Ephesians 6:12-13 NCV)

The Lord says, “O Israel, when I first found you,
    it was like finding fresh grapes in the desert.
When I saw your ancestors,
    it was like seeing the first ripe figs of the season.
But then they deserted me for Baal-peor,
    giving themselves to that shameful idol.
Soon they became vile,
    as vile as the god they worshiped. (vs 10 NLT)

Usually we come to Jesus as a result of what He does in our lives. We see Him as we never have before and are drawn to worship Him. The intimacy is palpable. The joy is contagious. There is no question in our minds that He brought everything and we brought nothing to the relationship. He simply rescued us because He delights in us.

But after? I know I have to daily (hourly?) recommit to His Ways. But that’s because the following makes me shudder:

But I do have something against you! And it is this: You don’t have as much love as you used to. Think about where you have fallen from, and then turn back and do as you did at first. If you don’t turn back, I will come and take away your lampstand. (Rev 2:4-5 CEV)

 
He is addressing His people in this chapter.  He’s not talking about salvation.  He’s talking about our light and influence in this dark world.

We were created to bear much fruit, showing ourselves to be His disciples.

Fruitfulness only comes from being connected to the Vine.

There is life in Him and nowhere else.

I am happy.  Spring Break family time!

Our friend is an expert ice cream soda maker.  Yes she is.

My man is in his happy place organizing and purging stuff and cleaning.  It’s a family affair.

Get out the warm weather stuff!  (Supposed to be warmer again this weekend, yes?)

Garden Planning to commence this weekend.

Changed out the winter decor.  I am willing spring to stay.

These two make me smile.  I love when they put on hats because Daddy has one on!

Dug out our voice recorder from storage.  It was one way I learned another language overseas: tape our teacher counting or saying months of the year or whatever.  Using it these days for Scripture Memory because I think auditory might be one of my learning paths.

The sky the other evening.  He seems to like showing off.  I’m so glad.

Hope your week is going well!

I’ve been thinking about prayer walking, especially since the first post on it.  And because it is something Dan and I are going to begin teaching our kids this week on Spring Break.

These are not our kids

There are so many reasons prayer walking is close to my heart.  There’s the time my friend and I walked by a blind man in Asia and he asked, “Who just walked by?” to the man next to him.  Many people had been walking by him that day.  What was it that was different when my friend and I walked by, praying to the God Who created Him? Was it just that he sensed people around him reacting differently to foreigners walking by? Or was it something more?

Or the time I got to meet a friend at her workplace and we covered her building and coworkers in prayer.

Or when we watched a campus that was previously closed open up to workers after prayer walking on it.

Or the feeling of worshiping He Who is worthy in a place where He is not.

But mostly?  I love watching people.  Making eye contact, even briefly.  Wondering what challenges and fears and wounds they have.  Making that human connection.  Then lifting them up to the One Who knows.

And that is one of the ways Dan and I fell in love so long ago; looking into the eyes of others and praying for them. It’s the reason I want to teach my children how to prayer walk.  Because first it will be super awkward.  They won’t know what to do or how to stay focused.  It will feel forced.

But just like anything else, it will become easier.  Soon it will be natural.  They won’t even think about it.  As they walk in school or the mall or down the street, it will be more and more their instinct to talk to God and lift up others.

I’d love to hear any prayer walking stories you have! Or I’m-afraid-this-will-be-awkward comments.