31 Days Intentional - Day 7

From a facebook post from Above Rubies,
"Are you discouraged today with yourself? Are you failing your own personal standards of conduct, and letting yourself down? Well, I have truly great news for you. Today, you are only a shadow of the person you are to become! You are under construction, just as is any building project, and you are making progress every day. In fact, the simple realization that you are unhappy with some of what you see in yourself is proof that you are changing and growing. Is that not great news? Do not give up, as growing to completion takes time, and patience. Recall Phil 1:6, that "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it (carry it on to completion) until the day of Jesus Christ:" Isn't that amazing? We are all under construction, being built up better and better, stronger and stronger, wiser and wiser, with each passing day, month and year. Even a baby takes 9 months to be born, and then begin its dependent life as it matures into self-sufficiency. We are growing more and more into His likeness all the time. This is worth celebrating! Love Michelle+1 (confirmed by ultrasound)"

These words were written for me today...and from the comments on the post, for many other women.
It's a hard job being being a mama and a wife.  When we had our second child it was a hard transition.  The third and fourth children fell right into place.  The fifth... is a bit like the second.

I'm finding myself constantly "trying to catch up."  I am home majority of the time now, working only a few hours a week-a huge change from the full time schedule of the past year.  This is a blessing and answer to prayer!  However, I now find myself looking at the things I've neglected in our home for so long.  This summer hubby had us do a HUGE purge of the house.  Bags upon bags of clothes, toys, books, fabric and "stuff" left our house!  It was wonderful!  But there is still "stuff" here and it is making me a bit crazy.  Right now there are piles in the crib, on the dresser, on a tote next to me, clothes in the hallway and on the couch for sorting and piles of papers for filing.  Does anyone else have piles?  Yes, I confess... I'm a pileler (definition: a habitual pile maker...and yes, I am now making up my own words.  I'm a homeschooler-we can do these things...right? ;) )  But these piles stare at me because I start them and then meals need to be made and stories need to be read and babies need to be fed and laundry needs to be done and math tests need to be checked, and, and...and then the piles are still there but it's bedtime and it's time with my precious husband and those piles are still there...day after day.  Ugh.  Have I stressed you out yet?

Sigh...

So we must pick our battles.  Maybe now is not the time to try and sell unwanted items, but to just donate them.  Maybe now is not the time to have a craft area or to learn how to knit.  Maybe now is not the time to try and be supermom with homemade everything or the perfect blog.

Maybe now is the time for baby steps, like having clean bathrooms and being okay to "just throw it away" instead of saving/salvaging it for that awesome craft etc.

Accepting who I am and loving this precious family.  Making sure my priorities are in order:  quiet time and prayer with the Lord, then hubby, kids, school and home.  But not looking at these things as something to check off a to do list.  I'm constantly trying to get it all done.  Just writing that looks ridiculous! It is time to be in the now and find JOY in the things that need to be done...because the "need to be done" things...are gifts.  Gifts not to be taken advantage of.  These gifts are blessings and not hindrances.  Lord, forgive me for an ungrateful heart.

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving.  I have much to be grateful for.  Right here and right now.  The piles of laundry, the dishes, the diapers...they are here for a season but for a lasting purpose and I pray the fruit of my attitude towards all of it would bring glory to my Father.

And the best news...I'm not on my own trying to do this.  "I can do all things through him who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)  When I lose sight and try and do it on my own is when it all comes crashing down.

Our God is good.

...and would I want to miss this? ;)

Praying for a grateful heart and finding joy in where you're at.

“[Thanksgiving] I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—” 1 Corinthians 1:4-5 ESV

***posted a couple days late :)

31 Days intentional- day 6

“Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”  John 17:17 ESV

Learning to be quiet and listen...intentionally.  Seeking to embrace the now and who He has made and is refining.  Grateful for His grace.  Love.

31 days intentional - day 5

This past Halloween our church hosted its third Trunk or Treat!  The boys had a great time and I'm thrilled to say it wasn't freezing like last year!

wild woman!

spidey getting his candy

love our boys!  our oldest and his best friend did a sports card "shop".  they passed their own cards out to the kids too :)

If you haven't been to a Trunk or Treat before, it is an event usually hosted by a church as an alternative to the usual Halloween trick or treating.  Vehicles are all parked with their "trunks" decorated and then the kids trick or treat at each vehicle.  Our family is blessed to be part of this!  Not only is it a safe alternative to the busy streets but more importantly it is a place where we aren't exposed to the scary and unpleasant items usually associated with the evening.  The best part of it though is the outreach opportunity. 

This is a time when those who may not attend church, bring their children and are treated to free food, hot chocolate (and coffee of course!), more candy, games, bounce houses, face painting...and God's Word. 

bounce house!

the little ones waiting their turn..and seeing who's tallest!

The lovely couple who do the face painting every year are part of CEF (Child Evangelism Fellowship). While painting the kiddos faces they are given the opportunity to share the Gospel with the child and the parent.  Other sharing opportunities include welcome packets given to each visitor (and follow up postcards sent to their homes with future church activities), tracts passed out from some vehicles and wonderful trunks getting right to the point in creative, fun ways :)  In this trunk below---inside the red box was the answer to the purple poster ("Come one, come all, come see why Jesus died").  Open the box---and there's a mirror.  For you.  

The best part though is the fellowship.  The meeting of new people and old friends.  Laughter, fun, encouragement...a light in the darkness.

love this great family :)

the big boys at "their" trunk

our spiderman and his cowgirl buddy :)

pick a duck for a prize

When our oldest was little, we weren't sure what to do about the "halloween thing."  Hubby wasn't keen on the idea of us going out to trick or treat nor did we think we should "celebrate" a day that glorifies fear to say the least.  But that first halloween, we found ourselves saying yes to trick or treating for a friend.  A choice we didn't regret...it blessed this friend's aching heart.  Then after that we were blessed to have a church alternative, where our boys could dress up and have fun but in a safe and friendly environment bringing honor to the Lord.

and the baby said, "that's all folks!"

A fun night...and then it was bed time! ;)

And now comes Thanksgiving!!! 

Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, ~Hebrews 12:28

31 days intentional-day 4

The boys...

welcome sweet one

with daddy  

the famous brow 

love this

how quickly the time is going!

our precious ones

⁵ And when Esau lifted up his eyes and saw the women and children, he said, “Who are these with you?” Jacob said, “The children whom God has graciously given your servant.”  Genesis 33:5