Please keep Jill in your prayers!

Hi Everyone, this is Anne, Jill's daughter.  Last night, my mom was admitted to the hospital due to a Pulmonary Embolism.  This means that they found 3 blood clots in her lung.  She'll be in the hospital for a few days, so we'd really appreciate your prayers as she recovers.  As we know more, we'll make sure to update you.

Thanks!
Anne

Quick update: She isn't experiencing any pain today but is on strict bed rest at the hospital.  Thanks for your prayers!

A fresh idea for the family meal

I am a firm believe of the importance of the family meal.  I've posted about it before here.  I believe that the family needs to sit down around the dinner table most evenings to foster communication and family connection.  No drive thru McDonald's, no meals in front of the TV (except when it's a treat to do so), no television on during dinner, just a great time of conversation, laughter, and fun around the table each night. 


I'm always looking for ways to refresh our family traditions.  When Mark and I spent a week at the Blessing Ranch in November, I discovered a fresh idea for the family meal.  Each night at the Blessing Ranch we shared a family style meal around the table.  At each place setting was your own chilled bottle of water and an empty glass.  You kept your own glass filled throughout the meal with your own bottle of water.

It was classy.  It was simple.  And it was practical.


No need to ask everyone what they wanted to drink.  No running to refill drinks during dinner.  It made the table setting and mealtime so easy!


Mark and I decided we liked it enough to do it ourselves.  I went to a local liquor store and bought a dozen empty, clear wine bottles (they sell them for do-it-yourself wine makers).  They cost about $1/bottle.  A bag of reusable cork tops were about $1 for a dozen corks. 


















We keep the filled bottles in the refrigerator so they are chilled and ready for our family meal each night. 


Clean up is easy. We simply refill and cork the bottles, then we use an antibacterial kitchen cleaner to wipe off the outside of the bottles.  After cleaning, they are placed back in the refrigerator to chill for another meal.















(Picture from our Thanksgiving meal when we used the bottles for the first time!)

Do you have any ideas that make the family meal a special experience for your family?

Living With Less Contest on Hearts at Home Blog!

Army Graduation

We had the privilege of attending our son-in-law's Army Basic Training graduation today at Ft. Knox, KY.  It was a day that filled my heart with pride for my country and the men and women who serve my country. 

Congratulations Kendall!  We're proud of you!

It's here! It's here!

Wednesday's Words of Encouragement

Love is a Verb
by Jill Savage

My friend and I sat across the table chatting over lunch. With February being the “month of love” we began to discuss our plans (or lack of plans at that point) for Valentine’s Day weekend. Eventually we moved into sharing some marriage lessons we’ve learned throughout our combined 45 years of marriage.


Without thinking much of it I shared that I’ve learned that love has to mature for a marriage to go the distance. And then I followed that with, “I guess love has to move from being a noun to being a verb.”

We both paused and considered the implications of what I had spoken. My friend said it was one of the most profound things I’ve ever said. While I’m quite sure it’s most likely the only profound thing I’ve ever said, I’ve definitely not been able to get the concept out of my head.

Immature love is a noun. A thing we long for. A feeling. An expectation of what someone will do for us.

Mature love is verb. An action we take. A decision. A choice to do something for someone else.

Unfortunately too many of us have yet to mature in our love and our relationships bear the scars of that fact. But it’s never too late to grow up. And if we want our love to last a lifetime, we can’t afford to keep believing that love is a noun. The feeling of love is short-lived. We have to transition to understand that long-lasting love is really a verb.

But what does this English lesson of nouns and verbs have to do with real relationships? How do we take this concept and apply it to real life? Maybe these scenarios can help paint the picture.

• Love as a noun spent all last week wondering what your spouse was going to do for you for Valentine’s Day. Love as a verb spent all last week preparing your expression of love for your spouse.

• Love as a noun feels despair when you no longer feel “in love” with the person you are married to. Love as a verb understands the ebb and flow of feelings. It focuses more on expressing love than feeling love.

• Love as a noun demands its own way. Love as a verb works to understand differences and is open to new ways of doing things.

• Love as a noun finds faults in others. Love as a verb gives grace and forgiveness.

• Love as a noun expects others to serve them. Love as a verb serves freely.

• Love as a noun expects to always feel warm and fuzzy and “in love.” Love as a verb realizes that often we have to choose to love even when we don’t feel like it.

The most frequently quoted Bible verse at weddings is I Corinthians 13, which is often referred to as the “love chapter.” It says that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.”

It wasn’t until just a few weeks ago that I realized that every time love is mentioned in this often quoted verse, it is a verb. Maybe this concept has been right in front of my eyes all along, but I just didn’t understand it until recently.

The most interesting thing, however, is a less often quoted part of the verse that says, “When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.”


So love has to grow up. It has to mature. Who knew grammar could reveal so much about love?

Our Revolving Door of Hospitality

When I was young, I remember a man we called "Shorty," that lived with my grandparents.  After Shorty left, Mr. Lewis lived with them for a while. 


As I was entering my teen years, my dad's uncle moved in with our family until his death several months later.  In high school we had a foreign exchange student for 9 months. 


That legacy of hospitality runs deep in my blood.  Years ago, Mark and I allowed a single mom and her daughter to live with us for about a month.  We've had our friends Irek and Daniel from Poland live with us for months at a time. Two years ago Evan's friend Cory needed a place to stay for the summer. 


This past Saturday Emilie (left) moved in.  Emilie and our daughter Anne (right) were college friends at Taylor University.  They maintained their friendship when they both transferred to Illinois State University.  Emilie just finished a 2-year stint with the Peace Corps in Lesotho, Africa.  She asked us if she could come live with us for a few months until she acclimates back to the states and transitions into the next season of life. 


Personally, I love the revolving door we have.  Sometimes, we've had to double bunk kids to make it happen.  These days we have an extra bedroom that we make available to God anyway He wants to use it. Right now, it's Emilie's.


Do you have any experience with revolving doors of hospitality?  Positive or negative experiences?  I'd love to hear your thoughts!

I'm looking for Grandma names and Grandma advice!

Here's my first picture of my granddaughter to share with you!  Anne's April 29 due date is fast approaching.

Today on my WCIC radio interview we invited listeners to share their "Grandma" names and any advice they had for me as I become a Grandma.


Do you have any Grandma names to share?  What do your kids call their grandparents?

Any Grandma advice for me?

To Save A Life

Lst weekend a friend told me about a Christian movie that came out that many youth groups were going to.  I hadn't heard anything about it at all, but over the past week I heard more and more about this effective piece of media.

Yesterday Mark and I decided to take our two teenagers to see the movie.  I'm so glad we did.

This is a movie that depicts the reality of the teen culture: the pressures, the cliques, the challenges of standing for what you believe in in this crazy world.

If you have teenagers, I highly recommend seeing the movie with your teenagers.  Then go out for a coke and use the movie to talk about the stuff you're never quite sure how to bring up with your teens: sex, drinking, social groups, living out your faith.


The movie is rated PG 13---I would not recommend this movie for children younger than junior high (age 12 or 13).  It deals with mature themes.  However, if you have a teen and you are not comfortable with the themes dealt with in the movie, you need to crawl out from under your rock. Sometimes parenting requires us to talk with our kids about things that are uncomfortable to talk about.  And sometimes we have to move past denial and realize that our kids are exposed to much more than we'd like to believe. As parents, we need to grab hold of every tool available to us to influence our kids.  If you have teens, this is one you won't want to miss.

If you've already seen the movie...I'd love to know your thoughts!

I need your MOM words!

This year's Hearts at Home conference theme is "Moms the Word."  We'll be looking at both the positive and the negative power of our words.  (If you haven't registered yet, you can do that here!)


One of the fun things we're doing throughout the conference is sharing "made up" words that include the word "mom" to describe things that moms do or experience.

For instance:

•  a "momsicle" is a mom who sits on the side-lines of too many late autumn soccer games.  

• Momotonous – when a mom catches herself saying the same things over and over because NO ONE IS LISTENING TO HER!
• Momcation: this is what a mom gets when she comes to Hearts at Home!

As we prepare for the conference, we need more words!  I know you are some of the most creative people in this world.

Please send me your MOM words and their definitions!

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad!

One of the most important things we can do for our kids is to model a healthy marriage.  I can say that my parent's gave me that gift as a part of my heritage. 

Today is their 49th wedding anniversary!

Happy Anniversary, Mom and Dad.  Thank you for showing us what love for a lifetime looks like in the real world!

Every Mom Needs a "Momference!"

This year's Hearts at Home conference theme is "Moms the Word."  We'll be focusing on the power of our words--both positive and negative.  I believe it will be one of the most cohesive, powerful themes we've had in our 16 years of encouraging moms.

Could you help me tell another mom about the Hearts at Home conference that will happen March 12-13, 2010 in Normal, IL?  If this year is like past years, we'll have moms there from over 40 different states!  No mom should miss knowing about Hearts at Home conferences and resources, but we can't reach new moms without your help.

Who could you tell about the conference or the website or a Hearts book you've read?  Your college roommate?  A new mom at your church?  A mom in your neighborhood?  Maybe it's a mom you work with or serve on the PTO with?

If you live in the Midwest, could you ask your pediatrician or OB doctor if they would place conference brochures in their examination rooms or waiting room?  What about your dentist?  Is there a Christian preschool in your community that would send one home with every student?  Would you ask?  (If you'd like a bulk amount of brochures just call 309-888-MOMS or email hearts@hearts-at-home.org and we'll get you as many as you need!)

Every year after the conference someone writes and tells us about their first experience at a Hearts at Home conference and they often mention that they were crying within the first few minutes of the conference.  That emotional response is brought about because she suddenly realizes she's not alone.  Other women understand what her life is like!

Hearts at Home is for EVERY MOM!  It doesn't matter if you are a stay-at-home mom or working mom.  It doesn't matter if your kids are 2, 12 or 22.  It doesn't matter if you are married or single.  Hearts at Home is for you.

If you're close enough to join us at a 2010 conference, do this for yourself, for your marriage, and for your family.  I promise you will not return home the same.

If you're truly too far to get to a conference, take advantage of the website, the blog, the books and our eCommunity!  You can also benefit from the conference with a Home Conference packet.  And maybe you could be used by God to tell a mom you know who lives close enough to come to the conference!  Think for a minute...do you know any moms in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, or Ohio?  Those states are all driving distance to the conference!

Every mom needs a momference!  Join us on March 12-13 for the best encouragement a mom can find!

Are you guilty of "attention infidelity?"

I recently heard a phrase that I'd never heard before: attention infidelity.

I'm familiar with both words, but I've never heard them used together.  Since hearing the phrase, I've not been able to get it out of my mind.

The term "infidelity" means "to be unfaithful" or "not loyal."  Attention means "to direct our mind" or to "concentrate on" something.

With all of the technology available to us these days, we are constantly tempted to multi-task.  And multi-tasking, in general, isn't always a bad idea.  We can watch TV while we iron.  We can do email while we're listening to our favorite radio program online.

What I've come to understand is that multi-tasking an activity and a relationship is when the term "attention infidelity" applies.  When I try to do email and listen to my daughter tell a story, I'm being unfaithful to her.  When I'm cooking dinner and I don't stop to greet my husband when he walks through the door, I'm being unfaithful to him.  When one of my adult children call and I'm in a middle of a project and I don't step away to listen, I'm unfaithful to the conversation.

Have you every considered your faithfulness to those around you?  Are you guilty of "attention infidelity?"

I'm still a work in progress on this, but I do feel that I'm making some improvements.  I've learned to use three simple words to keep me accountable, faithful, and loyal to my loved ones.

STOP: I'm trying to stop what I'm doing to give the person the full focus.

LOOK: By turning away from the computer, the laundry, the dishes, or whatever I'm doing, I'm able to look in the eyes of the person I'm talking to.  If I need to give my full attention to someone on the phone, I try to change chairs or move away from the project I was working on.

LISTEN: I'm working to listen with my eyes and my ears.  Listening with my eyes speaks value to my friend or family member and listening with my ears allows me to hear what they say.

It seems that I mess up as often as I get it right, but I'm working to give my full attention to those around me.

How about you?  Are you guilty of attention infidelity?  Do you have any tips to help battle attention infidelity?

Up to my ears in suds of worship?

There's nothing an author likes more than to know that the words I've shared in one of my books has touched the heart of a reader in a life-changing way.  


Yesterday I stumbled on a blog by a mom named "Mich" from Arkansas.  Her words mixed with my words are a message every mom needs to hear.  


Click here to be encouraged today!

Living With Less....Landline to cell only?

With our Living With Less mindset, we're always looking for new ways to save money.  One place we've considered making a change is by getting rid of our home phone.  But we're not sure about all the ramifications of that.  With a home office we need to both send and receive faxes.

Have you made a switch from a landline to cell only?  Any regrets?  Frustrations?  Things someone should consider before making that switch?

What other home expenses have you cut back or changed in some way?

I'd love to hear your thoughts or insight!

Am I coming to your area?

I've got some upcoming speaking engagements...and I just might be coming to your area!  Each of these are open to the public.

Note the Feb 6 parenting event....if you've ever wanted your husband to experience a little bit of Hearts at Home, or if you've wanting to take a parenting conference together, this would be a great opportunity if you live in the Midwest!

January 23, 2010
Judson Memorial Baptist Church Women's Ministry Event
Joliet IL; 8:30am - 3pm
"Make the Right Choices"
815-725-6835 or www.judsonchurchjoliet.com

January 27, 2010
Eastview Christian Church MOM2MOM
9-11am
"There's No Place Like Home"
309.451.5040 or online here

February 6, 2010
Parent With Purpose Seminar (Mark and Jill Savage)
First Assembly of God
Normal, IL
$25/couple
9am - 5pm
Contact Sheri Lightfoot: 309-454-2402 or online here


February 10, 2010
Christ Community Church MOPS
Zion IL; 9-11:30am
"ABC's of a Healthy Marriage"
Jennifer Langley 847-731-2647 or www.ccczion.org

Every mom needs continuing education!

Seventeen years ago I found myself thinking back to the teaching conferences I experienced while finishing up my music education degree at Butler University.  I always returned home from those "continuing education" events with fresh vision and new ideas for the classroom.


But at that time in my life, I didn't need teaching conferences.  I was knee deep in motherhood (and diapers, and dishes, and toys, and clutter!) I needed a mothering conference!  Something to remind me of how to keep my marriage a priority.  Something to provide practical strategies for everyday parenting challenges.  Something that would help me know how to take care of myself in the midst of taking care of my family.  Something that would refresh my spirit and give me the vision and excitement to continue on.

After searching for a moms conference and finding nothing, I presented the challenge to my moms group to create such an event.  We never expected what God would do. 

Now 17 years later, the Hearts at Home National Conference hosts anywhere from 4,000 to 6,000 moms on the Illinois State University Campus in Normal, IL.  My husband swears that at the end of that weekend, there's not an ounce of chocolate left in town!

This year's event is scheduled for March 12-13, 2010.  It's a one day conference offered two days in a row (you choose whether to attend Friday or Saturday).  There's also an optional Moms Night Out Friday night as well as a two-day option that allows you to take 8 workshops instead of 4.

Registration is open NOW. Cost is $85. You'll need to register by February 10 in order to get a lunch included in your registration.  Workshops are assigned based upon registration date...so the earlier the better! 

We have women that carpool from all over the U.S.  And there are some that hop on a plane in order to attend. 

You can find all the info you need by clicking here! 

I'll be there and I'd love to meet you! 

Will you be there?

A Tribute to my Grandma Chambers

href="file:///C:%5CUsers%5CJill%5CAppData%5CLocal%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml" rel="File-List">
          Love,

Grandma is safe in the arms of Jesus

Homemade Doughnuts

Sometimes on Saturdays I make yummy (but definitely not terribly healthy) yummies for breakfast.  One family favorite is homemade donuts.  If you've never made them, they are so easy! 

All you need are refrigerator biscuits, oil, cinnamon, and sugar!

First blend the cinnamon and sugar together. 

Then open up the refrigerator biscuits.  Spread out each biscuit just a little bit on a cutting board.  Then cut a hole out of the middle of each biscuit.  I use a medicine cup to do this.  A cap to a 2-liter bottle could also work. 
















Heat oil.  Then place one or two donuts in the hot oil.  Fry for about 1 minute on each side until light brown. 









Remove from oil and drop donut in waiting cinnamon-sugar.  Coat with cinnamon-sugar. 











Enjoy!

Books I've Been Reading...

I always try to have a book or two going.  I particularly love to read fiction, but I'm also drawn to biographies or memoirs. 


Over the holidays I read two books I really enjoyed. 


First I read Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy.  This is the true story of the tragedy that happened in the fall of 2008 at an Amish schoolhouse in Pennsylvania when a gunman killed five Amish children and injured five others.  While the book tells the story of what happened, the focus is on the forgiveness response of the Amish community.



This is a powerful book that has really caused me to think about forgiveness and grace. 




The second book I read was Sarah Palin's memoir Going Rogue An American Life.  I don't usually get into the biographies of political figures, but this one intrigued me and I'm so glad I read it! 

While there were a few times my eyes glazed over from the political terminology, for the most part I loved reading it from the perspective of "one mom to another." 


I'm curious...what have you been reading?

Sometimes you gotta make a mess to clean things up...

A little while ago Mark and I noticed that we had a terrible gnat problem in our kitchen pantry.  It was really getting bad and I had checked everything I knew to check.  We finally decided that we needed to take everything out of the pantry, wipe down the shelves, and mop the floor to get rid of whatever must have been attracting the gnats.

About the fourth shelf down we found the culprit.  Someone (we still do not know who) had opened up a "Healthy Choice" single serving soup container.  They ate half of it, put the lid back on it, and put it back in the pantry! Of course, I wasn't able to find it because I thought the soup container was unopened.  Let me tell you the gnats found it!  Nasty is all I'll say!

Anyway, once everything was out of the pantry, Mark decided to add a couple more shelves....bless his heart.  Here's a visual of the project...(don't you just love my ugly wallpaper on the inside of the pantry?  I wallpapered our kitchen years ago but left the pantry as is....I'm the only one who sees it...except when I show the world on my blog!)

Sometimes you just gotta make a mess to clean things up!

Do you have a "what's that smell?" or "where are these gnats coming from?" story to share? 

Living With Less phrases to get us thinking...

In preparation for our new book that will be released March 1, last week I asked you to share catchy phrases you use to support the concept of living with less. Between Facebook and here on the blog, we had a great discussion going.

I'm really inspired by all of these wonderful phrases you shared!

• "If the house was burning down, would I grab this?"

• Live like no one else, so you can live like no one else." (Dave Ramsey)

• I'm not supporting Martha Stewart any longer!

• Use it up,
  Wear it out,
  Make it do,
  Do without

• Don't try to keep up with the Joneses—they’re broke too.

• How many hours do I or my husband have to be away from our family to pay for this?

• Is this a need or a want?

• Live simply so others can simply live.

• KISS-- Keep is simple silly

• Back to the basics

• Less is better- you don't have to pay for it later!

• Just say NO to yourself.

• When you can't sew or mend, make a friend.

• Buy used and save the difference!

• Buy one, get rid of one.

Do you have any more to add to this list?