Pruning for God's Harvest

It is pruning and plant clean-up time here at the Little Blue Bungalow which for me is always bitter sweet. Though there is a sense of accomplishment from another growing season... I am a bit sad to prune, rake, and pull up the plants for the compost pile. Sometimes after a bountiful harvest or amazing colors it is hard to just brush these plants aside but I continue each year I continue with my "clean-up" duties.

Having gardened for awhile now I know this work is a necessity to produce strong plants with amazing flowers, colors, and fruit for next year. To others it may not make sense, but if I leave the decaying plants "as is" the bugs will destroy the entire root system leaving me with nothing to harvest or enjoy next year.

God's prunes our lives too. Though to us it may not make sense, the Gardener (Jesus Christ) knows which areas of our lives to prune as well. Moving to Washington from Wisconsin over three years ago felt like a big "cut" that God snipped in my life. What was He doing? Everything was going so well...Why in the world would we move to a state 2, 500 miles away?

Honestly, it just didn't make sense to leave our church body, friends, family, home, and community in my eyes but God had a different "harvest" planned for my family. Yes, I was upset with God for awhile, but now can fully realize he called our family for ministry in Washington. With this "prune", we were able to "grow" in ways we would never would have back in Wisconsin. If I would have stayed planted where I was, evil (aka "bugs") could have easily destroyed me from the root up. Instead, I have been given the opportunity to witness to the moms, show Christ's love in a state often lacking of Christianity...in a sense bare fruit and bloom all for the glory of God!

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in met that bears no fruit, while ever branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful ." John 15: 1-2

Thank you God for pruning my life. Even though, I may question what you "cut" from my life. You know the planned harvest for my life. Thank you for nurturing me in every season of my life. I look forward to the next sweet harvest.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Wordless Wednesday

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Our Next American Idol

For your viewing pleasure...Mr. Keegan singing his own version of "Happy Birthday to Nona (Fiona)". I hope this makes you all smile on yet another Fall Monday afternoon. We, at the Little Blue Bungalow, had a very busy weekend and are recovering. I hope to have some great posts and pictures out in the next few days.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Gardener Fiona's Pumpkins

Honestly, I'm not sure who was more excited...Fiona or proud Mommy. Last Saturday they announced Fiona's pumpkin for the prize of "Biggest Pumpkin" in the Children's Museum Kids Growing Contest. We were all so proud of our little gardener who cultivated and tended to her pumpkin patch since April. Her patch located on our parking pad actually produced nine pumpkins (some amazing and some...well...interesting). It has been such a blessing to see her interact in her own garden and reaping the fruits of her own labor.

Congratulations Fiona! We always knew you were a winner.



From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Wordless Wednesday

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

"...Hammer Time"

Kudos to the Monroe, WA Public Library for hosting MaPapalooza last Friday night! Our family had a great time rockin' out to the greatest 80's hits of all time while showing off in some of our...well...let's just put it "creative" 1980's outfits. (Of course, Drew ran to the basement to pull up an original silk shirt that he said he "saved" for just an occasion. Who does that? Really.)

Earlier that evening as I rushed around the house literally "pulling an outfit" together to represent what I felt was the BEST of the 80's, I couldn't help but laugh at Miss Fiona. After applying another layer of blue eye shadow, Fiona eyed my entire outfit.

She announced, "Mom, your outfit doesn't look very good". Yes, folks. My four year old daughter summed up the entire 80's clothing in a single, clear, precise statement. 'My outfit didn't look very good.' Hum...I think she was right. (Funny...I remember looking so cool in my tight rolled jeans and puffy hair.) True wisdom from a four year old.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Defining Moment: Fiona's First Field Trip

You probably all remember when the Challenger blew up on national TV? Or what you were doing when you heard that planes had flown into the Twin Towers in New York City on that fateful day on September 11, 2001. These were definitely "defining moments" for our country's history. You probably will never forget.

From a parent's perspective there are defining moments for your kids too...their first tooth, first haircut, first words, etc. Some of you may have carefully written down the important dates in baby books or snapped a picture to remember that special moment in time. These "defining moments" not only shaped your kids, but are memories held in your mind of time when they were at a certain development age, a particular time in their life.

Chaperoning your kids first field trip is definitely one of those defining moments. You have arrived. You are a parent. Yesterday I entered a new phase of parenthood...a chaperoning mom to a pumpkin patch filled with preschoolers. (On one of the coldest mornings in October...BURR!)

Yes...not as earth shattering as JFK passing, but for Fiona and I, a defining moment of Fiona growing older...talking with classmates and exploring The Farm (Snohomish, WA) with Mom at a distant. (Yes, I said at a distant.)

No...I won't write it down on her baby book as it seems all the "great milestones" have already been reached per her baby book. (Except her first haircut!) However, I've etched out a little memory of driving "my baby" to her first preschool field trip to pick out a pumpkin together. I know I won't forget.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Wordless Wednesday

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

2008 Iowa Visit Picture Link

Celebrating my grandparents' 60th wedding anniversary back in Iowa was a highlight of this year's summer adventures. If you'd like view the pictures of the kids and I back home in Iowa feel free to click on the link below:

http://picasaweb.google.com/Drew.Britten/2008IowaVisit#

You maybe even able to capture a glimpse of where I grew up...the heartland...IOWA.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Creative Independence

Do you remember your PK (Pre-Kid) days or maybe you are in a PK time in your life? Life changes A LOT after kids enter the picture...no matter how normal you may or may not think you are.

For instance, I remember looking at parents with total disgust when they'd hold up their child and smell their bottoms. Being PK I thought that parent hit rock bottom...what were they doing...sniffing their kids bottom? Hello. Gross. I'd never do that as a parent.

Well, truth is folks...it does happen occasionally at the little blue bungalow. I must admit.

Or...here's another one. I remember PK looking in the mini-van and sedan of follow parents of little ones in utter shock. Who in their right mind let their car look like that? Half empty sippie cups, chicken nuggets, odd "craft" projects, a dirty diaper littered their cars without a care in the world.

Well...that does happen here at the little blue bungalow too. (Sorry for those who thought we were perfect, but I do try to clear it out at the end of each week.)

And lastly, I remember seeing kids probably aged 3-5 out in public in the strangest outfits during my PK days. I remember smiling, but thinking why would that parent let their kids dress that way? Come on parent...cute, BUT let's get a grip on reality. Boots over your dinosaur footie pajamas with a black cape is just not THAT cool.

Reality for a parent is sometimes we are just done with the battle and realize that they aren't going to die from wearing what I've termed a "creative independence" outfit. Enter exhibit picture A...Fiona out in public geocaching. Yes. My child is one of those strangely dressed kids sometime and that is OK. (Parenting can be so entertaining sometimes.)

So if you are a PK or in the season of being a parent, next time you see me sniff Keegan's bottom, look inside my Saturn with disgust, or see Fiona in another "creative independence" outfit while visiting the library...just smile. Either you've been there or your time is coming. :)

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

My First Ever Blog Contest Winners Announced...

Sorry it has taken me a bit to finalize the caption contest as life has been getting busy between preschool, soccer, play dates, bible study, etc. (The definition of "Stay at Home Mom" is definitely not a "true" definition with me...who came up with that anyway?)

Anyway...enough of that.

It is with great pleasure and honor to announce the WINNERS of my first ever blog caption contest. (The envelope please.) The winners are....


"Full Speed ahead, I see the ice cream boat!" Mamato4

AND

"It's hard work brinin' dinner home." ~t

If these wonderful ladies would contact me with their home address I will be happy to send them gift certificates for a cup of joe in their 'neck of the woods'. (I'm from the land of coffee now, aka Seattle! What else did you think you'd win?!?) Thank you for all who made comments or thought about writing a comment.

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Wordless Wednesday

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Where is your faith?

Let's face it...the world is a scary place right now. The economy breaking, people looking for answers to "fix" our financial woes, and to top it all off I believe this is one of the most pivotal election years in history.

Whether you want to believe it or not, the economy is hurting everyone somehow..the house you can't sell, sales and commissions diminished, job strikes, price increase at the gas pump or food costs, extra demands on your work schedule, marriages falling apart, etc.

It is times like these were we must ask ourselves...where is my faith?

Do you believe everything you hear on the news or are you putting your faith in false hopes? As for me and my house...we will continue to serve the Lord and trust him for our every need. Our faith is in Jesus Christ.

Is your faith like the blue plate...on the edge? Or maybe you're the pink plate...your trusting God, but tend to dodge off the path when you hear the how much your 401K dropped today? Or maybe your the green plate...trusting God to bring you through the storm...firmly planted in his word on the straight and narrow? Where is your faith?

So do not worry, saying "What shall we eat?" or "What shall we drink?" or "What shall we wear?" For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Matthew 6:31-34

From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean

Writer's Side Note: This is a real example of my kid's attempts at putting their own dishes into the dishwasher (I just couldn't resist snapping a picture of their "accomplishments". ) It also provided a great illustration of how many of us our walking in our faith in times like this. My hope is that you are leaning on the Lord.

Official Soccer Mom?

Well...I definitely fit the part with everything except driving a mini-van.
From inside the little blue bungalow,
Katie Jean