thankful... (61-76)

Thankful...

61. His Word...
62. Daddy playing football outside with the boys...
63. A nap...
64. Homemade biscuits and gravy...
65. Dinner of homemade spicy black-eyed peas (from a friend!), oven fried parmesan chicken, corn and rice...
66. Blog checking with lovely inspirations...
67. Cool breeze (even though there's supposed to be a tropical storm?)
68. Family safe from the hurricane...

69. My sweet family at home...
70. A chuckle of the poor weather reporter on TV...
71. Washer and dryer tops cleaned...
72. Play-dough that sounds like "mato" from the 2 year old...
73. A great first week of school for Daddy...
74. A great first week of school for the boys...
75. The grace that comes when trying so hard to let go of the perfectionist attitude...

76. The peace of the LORD, knowing He is control...

Romans 12:2
~ Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

(Written on Sunday August 28th, but didn't want to let it go by :) )

{this moment} - sweet note to come home to...

Joining with SouleMama~
{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

to serve...

A scene from a beautiful church production called "A Walk Through Bethlehem"

"Pay attention and listen to the 
     saying of the wise;
   apply your heart to what I teach, 
for it is pleasing when you keep them 
     in your heart
   and have them ready on your 
     lips.
So that your trust may be in the LORD, 
   I teach you today, even you."


~Proverbs 22:17-20

There is something to be said about having your sweet ones home with you, choosing to homeschool, choosing a life style that goes against what main stream (aka-the world) promotes.

We commit to teaching them, but we also commit to laying our selves at the Lord's feet, along with our pride, our "me" time, our selfish tendencies, our comfort zone...our selves.

We choose to serve, no strings attached.

Lots of prayer but a priceless fruit... :)

Praying for contentment in your hearts, the peace that surpasses all understanding and the gift of truly laying it all at the feet of Jesus, sitting right there as Mary did and not bustling about in frustration as Martha did, though she meant well but was missing the point.  May we not miss the point...relationship, servant hood, love...

when in doubt, smile :)

good stuff... 

growing, slowly but surely...

The Lord is so good in His love and discipline of those He loves.  I'm just going to say it, I am one stubborn girl!  I get my own idea in my head and have a hard time letting it go (even when I think I have.)

But the Lord can use all things for His glory and you know what, He loves me enough to walk me through it :)

This summer, actually this year, has brought many changes, filled with emotion.  We've brought our precious boys back to homeschooling; I've gone from working part time to full time; hubby has gone from working full time to being a full time student and super daddy at home (this actually started a year ago after being laid off); we've taken our "little side business" to a full time company with a vision; we made a hard, but right decision to follow the Lord's leading to a new church.  But the biggest transition and change has been in my heart.  He has shown me what my priorities are and what they need to be.  I've asked in prayer that the Lord would purge from my heart what is not pleasing to Him.  I've struggled greatly with contentment (I've written about that here before.)  In my work, I come face to face with this struggle.  This evening I shared with our boys this struggle I have.  It was good to confess it.  Another struggle He has revealed...fear.  So many things I have done or not done have been in fear-fear of failure, fear of disappointment, fear of the unknown.  Something I do not want to pass on to our boys.

I look back on my early days as a mama.  I was home, we had a large home, my family nearby and all the amenities close by....and I didn't appreciate it in the least.  Our move to the north has brought with it a lot of hard work and a lot of tears.  But I'm humbled that the Lord saw (sees) fit to walk us through this because He loves us and knows what is best for us.  Our marriage has grown, our parenting changed, our hearts changed, our walk with our Heavenly Father blessed beyond belief.

I said to my sweet ones tonight, if we had nothing, we're (I am) blessed because we have Jesus.  We are rich beyond belief despite what we have in this life.  We are in this world but not of it.

I don't know what the Lord has in store for us but I do know that it is good.  And through all of these tears of letting go of my (sinful) will and submitting to His (by His grace only), there I (we) will find peace, joy and hope...it's not about me, but Him...

May we serve the Lord completely, knowing His plans are good.

Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.

~Psalm 33:8

 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.  I am 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.

~Philippians 4:10-12

 Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God.  Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. ~Luke 12:6-7

summer... :)

Sometimes, we have to lay out all the cards (in this case, the pictures) to see how good it is :)  In the midst of a crazy summer, working full time, changing plans, places, God gently reminds, He is right there in all of it...and we breathe, inhale, and smile...oh, yes, You've been here the whole time sweet Lord... (insert heart)



For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. ~Jeremiah 29:11

Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. ~ 1 Chronicles 16:34

May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed. ~Psalm 20:4

...now onto homeschooling :)  He is so, so good!

children (linked post)

Our children are a precious gift from God :)
Excellent article here.
Praying you see your little ones (or older ones) through His eyes.


 "Then Esau looked up and saw the women and children. “Who are these with you?” he asked.


   Jacob answered, “They are the children God has graciously given your servant.” Genesis 33:5

He will...

 ²² “‘This is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will take a shoot from the very top of a cedar and plant it; I will break off a tender sprig from its topmost shoots and plant it on a high and lofty mountain. ²³ On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches. ²⁴ All the trees of the forest will know that I the LORD bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish.

   “‘I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it.’”

Ezekiel 17:22-24

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He can and will, let us trust in Him, for His goodness is holy, just and mercy filled.  It is about Him and not about us.  We take the focus off of ourselves and place it on our Heavenly Father and by His grace, we see all that matters is Him and our relationship with Him, our Savior, Jesus Christ.  God became a man, born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, facing all of the temptations of man, His creation, was nailed to a cross and died.  And the earth became black.  But the story doesn't end there.  3 days later, Jesus rose from the grave, defeated death fulfilling the prophecy of a savior for mankind, for all those who would believe and accept Him.  And our hope today is found in Him.  God became a man, that there would be a perfect sacrifice for His children.  Not the blood of a lamb or bull was shed at Calvary but the perfect holy blood of our Creator in a man's body for men stained by sin.  The one and only perfect sacrifice that would cover the sin permanently for those who believe.  There is nothing that can make one worthy enough or righteous enough to deserve this gift of eternal life with the Creator.  Simply put, it is a gift from a Father to His sons and daughters, whom He loves and extends grace to.  He desires a relationship with us.  He desires to love us and bring us a peace that surpasses all understanding.  Can we believe we are anything but sinful people in need of a savior, even the best of us?  Can we be so prideful that we believe we can do this thing called life on our own?  Can we believe that we don't have a Creator who loves us unconditionally, who knit us together in our mother's womb and knows every hair on our head?  Can we harden our hearts so much that we deny the awesome creation around us and the amazing intricate details of the human body, mind and personality and believe that there was anything but a Creator?  Can we believe we are not deserving of the love of our Creator, the One who knows our innermost thoughts, desires, fears, hurts, joys?  Could you step out with just the smallest mustard seed of faith and believe that He is there, waiting at the door, waiting to be let in and be reconciled back to His child, you?  He will help.

 3 Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. 4 They will say, “Where is this ‘coming’ he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.” 5 But they deliberately forget that long ago by God’s word the heavens came into being and the earth was formed out of water and by water. 
...

⁸ But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. ⁹ The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance...

 11 Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives 12 as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.[b] That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. 13 But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.
~2 Peter 3:3-5, 8-9, 11-13



5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. 6 If we claim to have fellowship with him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not live out the truth. 7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all[b] sin.
 8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:5-10

If you confess with your mouth you are a sinner and believe Jesus died on the cross to bear your sins and rose again and is alive and you want Him to save you, He is just and might to forgive your sins and all unrighteousness that you might begin to live a life with Him.  He will save you and you will have the promise of eternity with your Creator.  You will have new life, be reborn spiritually, as you were once dead in sin.  Will you trust Him?  


I have...and I would never turn back.  His love heals, His love endures, His love grows, His love promises a hope and a future.  It doesn't promise a perfect, pain-free, trouble free life, but it does promise a helper, His Holy Spirit to guide and lead you, to comfort you, to strengthen you and to bring you peace in the calm and in the storms.


God loves you, no matter what!  (A great lesson from Vacation Bible School we shouted out all week!)  

Praying for you,