A Month of Gratitude

 

Christmas is just around the corner and I dream of a Christmas season full of cheer, family time, quietness, and memories.  I dream of a time where our little family is able to worship our little Savior's birth.......without the stress, the hustle, the materialism, the emptiness that often accompanies Christmas.

 

Okay, so what does this have to do with Thanksgiving, November, and gratitude?

 

Aren't I (just like many Americans) skipping over Thanksgiving and filling my thoughts and actions with Christmas?

 

 

 

 

 

Well, I have a theory.....this may be a plain as day to some of you, but I am pretty thick headed and had to realize this for my self. 

 

I think a Christ filled Christmas needs to start with a gratitude filled Thanksgiving. 

 

Over the last few years, I have tried to have a peaceful Christmas, but I did not start planning until December.  By that time, all the hustle was around me and the stress already built up and few fun, faith-filled Christmas activities were planned.  My mind would fill up with the last presents I needed to buy or the guilt I felt over not doing this or not doing that.  So this year, I have actually started planning our Holiday season in October.   (I hope to post on that some over the next 8 weeks).

 

I decided one of the main ways to have a Christ filled Christmas is to make this November a month of thankfulness, of planning, and of action. 

 

~Gratitude will help prepare my family's  minds and hearts for Christmas. 

~Planning will help insure that the next two months run smoothly

~Action will hopefully get a lot of the business and hustle and bustle of Christmas taken care of before December 1st. 

 

 

So let's start with gratitude...............

 

 

I spent some time a couple weeks ago listing the things I was most thankful for.  It is amazing how long that list is when I  really thought about it.  Everything from family, to a wonderful new house, to "Pinterest" for giving me great ideas.  My goal is to share some of those throughout the month. 

 

Here is the number one item I am thankful for- 

 

My relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  Salvation came January 2002.  I was 20 and a sophomore at college.  I remember the moment so vividly......the moment when I gave not only my mind, but my heart to Jesus and having His redeeming. loving blood cleanse my impurities and create a clean heart in me. 

 

My gratitude does not stop there.  Salvation is also a beautiful, monumental occurrence.  But, my relationship with God since then has also been incredibly relevant in my life.  He is growing me as a believer, as a wife and mother, and as a servant of His and I am so thankful for His daily presence.  There is never a moment where He is not right there, accessible to me.  Whether it is joys or sorrows, blessings or struggles, I can ALWAYS pour out my heart to Him.  When I have strayed, when I have rebelled.......I can still turn back to Him. 

 

I do not know what I would do without the Lord in my life.  I would be nothing without Him. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Happy Harvest" Pumpkins Craft

After having a sick household for about two weeks now, I decided it was time to have some fun.  I am making Fall cupcakes and the boys and I did an extra special craft during school today. 

We have family all over the country........in fact, our closest relative is 3 hours away.  So, I want us to do more things for grandparents.  Today we decided to make a little treat to mail to some family.

I found this idea on Pinterest and adapted it to fit my own idea.

Yesterday, we went out and gathered a bag full of leaves (in reality, 1/3 bag is more than plenty). 

The instructions said to break the leaves up in a Ziploc bag.  After a few minutes of having minimal luck, we decided to bring up the food processor.  This worked great! 

We crushed the leaves into little pieces and this is what it looked like.  Big M  enjoyed using the food processor too. 

**Note: When boys are involved in the craft, the messier and louder, the better!**

Now came decorating our little foam pumpkins.  I ran a stream of glue around the edges and we sprinkled the leaves over the glue.  After they dried for a minute or two, we knocked off the excess leaves back in the container.  

Big M wanted to make a pumpkin face on the one he was making for Daddy.  

I probably should have added another picture of us doing the craft, but oh well.   Hopefully you get the idea.  The beautiful leaves outline the little pumpkin.



Lil M wanted to show off his creation too.   He was so proud of himself.

Notice it upside down??

**Another note:  Be sure to put the crushed leaves out of reach after you clean up or this will happen.  At least the vacuum cleaner was upstairs today!**



"Give thanks to the Lord; for He is good.  His love endures forever." Psalm 107:1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6umWkVwpfBk

When Sick Days Trump Busy Days........

 

Wednesdays are our busy days.  Typically, I begin my Wednesday the day before.  I prepare my portion of our Wednesday night dinner at church, I plan our lunch, and I set out all the clothing and items we will need for the next day.  

 

The boys usually get up around 8am and we eat a quick but hearty- oatmeal or an egg casserole- breakfast before we leave the house at 9:15.  We have Home school Co-op on Wednesdays and I help teach a math class.  Co-op usually ends around 1:45 and we either run errands, spend some down time at a park or church, and wait for church activities that evening.  Because we live about 30 minutes from town, we do not come home between co-op and church. 

 

We eat dinner at church and then have our Wednesday night bible studies. Big M is in "Gopher Buddies" and is very proud of his accomplishments.  After church, we head home and both boys are usually asleep before we make it home. 

 

Wednesday is our busiest day of the week!

 

 

Well, this week there has been some sickness going around our family.  Little M had dealt with it this weekend and has been overcoming it.  It hit Big M hard last night.  

 

Six times I went into his room between 11-2:30.  His throat really hurt him.  Being in that much pain is not typical for our family.  Sadness for my baby who was in pain, but gratitude to the Lord for allowing me the opportunity to minister to his physical needs were the conflicting emotions I have been feeling. 

 

So today, we have cancelled everything and this is a sick day.  We are going to watch movies, rest on the couch, read books, and drink hot tea with local honey, and pray that the Lord heals our family without the need of doctors or prescription medication. 

 

 

The boys resting while watching movies.

 

 

Chicken vegetable soup is on the stove and I am ready to do some cuddling with my babies, catch up on some laundry, and "enjoy" this special time the Lord has given us to just rest.

 

 

And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” Exodus 33:14

Gardening, Ground Hogs, and God

This morning was a yard work morning.  We got up early.....well our new normal of around 6-6:30.....got the boys dressed in "farm clothes", made them breakfast to eat outside, and got to work.  What was on our plan for today?

1.  Restake the tomatoes.  Either we didn't put them deep enough and wind and rain is knocking them down, or there is an animal getting them at night.  (We will see tomorrow morning.)

2.  Put up a little fence around the garden to keep my chickens out.  They seem to love hanging out in the garden.

3.  Move the chicken coop to a better, cooler location.

4.  Puttering.....this one is for hubby

5.  Try to find that pesky ground hog and his hole.  Figure out a way to remove him!

6.  Begin the process of weeding my overrun garden.

CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK, CHECK for our to do list.  Well, all checked but #5.  While we did see him and found his hole, we still haven't agreed on how to remove him....the decision seemed a lot clearer before we learned he was a she and had a little ground hog-let.

Little M in our garden.  I think he liked collecting bugs.

There is a lot of weeding to be done.  Partly, because this is my first garden in a few years, so I am once again, a newbie.  Partly, because I have been too busy to maintain it.  Partly, because I did not think it would get as bad as it has.  And partly, because I was just too lazy to work on it. 

But seeing the vegetables start to sprout, the squash and zucchini ready to be picked each day, the buds on the cukes and bean plants, the tomatoes plumping up, and the peppers growing little fruits.......these visible fruits have been an encouragement that my work is not in vain and a reminder that a harvest is just around the corner.

So,  my motivation has returned.  I spent most of the morning working on the weeds.  I still have a lot more to do.  And once I am done with this round, there will be more popping up all the time.  So, I guess if I really am going to have a garden, I am going to need to maintain it DAILY.

We have a big toad in our garden.  I saw him a couple of days ago.  He makes his home under one of our cucumber plants.

While I was weeding, in between the boys needing things and the chickens noising their way into my business, I got to thinking about the weeds that surrounded the plants. 

You know,  it is not by accident Jesus often used simple parables and illustrations to make His points. I think God designed it that way so we could relate and understand what He was saying.  Ordinary day to day occurrences trigger reminders of biblical lessons.  As I struggle to pull out the physical weeds that are threatening my harvest, it hit me.  What am I doing with these weeds that are threatening my spiritual harvest?

Am I letting them spout up one by one....after all, one little weed isn't that dangerous.  Or is it? 

Am I waiting to remove them all at one time, when I have a whole pile...maybe one big glorious confessional with God?  Was that really His intention when He chose to create this beautiful path of forgiveness and restoration? 

What about 1 John 1:9: "If we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

If forgiveness is so simple, why do I make it so complicated?  Why do I let weeds grow and multiply in my life when I have the power to go to Christ daily, hourly, every minute if I chose? 

Then there is the maintenance.  Perhaps this is what I struggle with the most.  The day to day upkeep of my spiritual life is what I so often neglect.  And I wonder why weeds have overrun my garden.....

Isn't this just the cutest little dirty child you have seen??? Have I mentioned recently how much fun boys are?

Matthew 13:40-43: "Just as the weeds are gathered and burned with fire, so will it be at the close of the age. The Son of Man will send his angels, and they will gather out of his kingdom all causes of sin and all law-breakers, and throw them into the fiery furnace. In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears, let him hear."

I never want to loose sight of the importance of keeping my life pruned from weeds.  Weeds are useless and are only good for burning.  I know I am secure in my salvation, but that promise can not be my excuse to allow my spiritual life to entertain weeds. 

I can think of three reasons right off the bat.  1.  Sin keeps me from fellowshipping with God.  It makes my relationship with Him stagnant and I do not grow.  2.  If I do not grow, I will not produce fruit.  Much like my plants that are still in their toddler stages with their little buds and unripe fruit, I need nourishment and maintenance to grow.  3.  I may be secure in my place in God's kingdom, but what kind of example am I giving unbelievers.  If they see these weeds that I am allowing to grow, what example is that?  I wouldn't seek advice from a gardener whose garden is full of weeds.  I would go to a mature gardener who was dedicated to his plants for the best advice. 

 Big M was nervous that the toad was going to jump out of his hands.  I had to include this picture. 

So,  I guess this morning was beneficial in two ways.  One, I was able to accomplish our check list and work on my garden.  It is actually kind of relaxing.  The weather was beautiful and breezy.  Two, I was really reminded about the danger of weeds, both in my garden and in my life. 

I cannot expect to have a thriving relationship with God if I am not removing the weeds, root and all, and maintaining my walk with Him.  There is no excuse for not walking with Him daily!  He is everywhere.  How easy is that-  we can literally talk to Him anytime, anywhere and have His undivided attention. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Isaiah 55:6 "Seek the Lord while he may be found; call upon him while he is near."

Okay, what would be a blog post without mention of my girls, my hens.  When I am outside, they run to me like a bunch of puppies. 

 They saw us working in the garden and ran over from where their coop is. 

Pool Time Fun!

The boys and I went down to visit my mother this week.  It is a nice break to get away before summer begins.  We have been swimming every day and the boys love it.  Here are a few pictures.

Matthew has been learning a few new skills.  He was so proud of himself when he swam down to the end of the 25 meter pool and back.  Of course he was still in his tube, but that is okay.  He will  continue to get better.

Malachi with Nana and his cousin B.  They love the water.

Malachi and cousin B playing in the kiddie pool.

Malachi has really taken to the water.  He loves trying to swim.  He also sits on the edge of the pool and jumps in.  He is great with holding his breath under the water.  

Matthew likes to either swim with a noodle or the tube, although he is swimming a little bit all by himself. 

Malachi just resting after swimming.  I had to add it because I think it is adorable.  

So, please chalk this up as a beginners post.  I know there is nothing too exciting on here, but I have to learn with practice. 

" Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights." James 1:17a

It is nice to be able to enjoy days like these and know that my father, who creates and sustains everything provides us with so many gifts....from summer days spent at the pool to everlasting life to those who believe. 

Watermelon and a Wagon Ride

I am loving this summer weather....you know, the kind that makes you want to just hang out outside, play and get dirty and sweaty, and forget that there are 3 loads of laundry to do, beds to make up, and dinner to start preparing.  Well, this afternoon was one of those days. 

So what did we do?

                                                                             

We cut up a watermelon and took it on a wagon ride down our road.  It was delicious....and messy.  It is a good thing we were outside!

Matthew spent a lot of time picking out the seeds.  I believe Malachi ate his. :) 

So, as they were devouring their first piece of watermelon, we started off on our ride.  In the end, Mommy and Daddy were really hot and tired and wonder why we don't have a pool? 

Everyone had watermelon today, even our six hens.  They loved the treat as well. 

    Anna is the above chicken.  She's my sweet girl and probably my favorite. 

All in all, it was a great day full of God's blessings.  It is amazing to see the gifts He gives to us each day. 

2012: New Year, New House, & a New Post!!!

Finally, I return to my little blog to share another post.  Yes, I am off to a very slow start, but maybe 2012 is my year to get into this blogging thing!

It is a chilly, rainy May day as I sit in our beautiful new home.  Dinner is simmering, Matthew is playing legos or something boyish and Malachi is in the bath.  (Don't worry, my computer is located catty cornered to the bathroom, and I can hear him playing).  Our home is a wonderful blessing from God.  A couple months ago, we were living in a 3 bedroom townhome, cramped but thankful.  Little did we know God had this new home in mind for us!  I will not get into all the details, but it is pretty amazing how I happened to find this house on Craigs List of all places. 

(Okay, okay.  I know the picture is not the best.  I am just a little amazed right now that I knew how to do this.)

This house is pretty big.  It is close to 100 years old (I need to do some investigation to find out the exact deatils.  So far I know a little old lady lived here until her death and it used to be a cow farm).  There is a beautiful backyard that looks out onto cow pastures and the Appalachin Mountains.  Breathtaking!  But it is old.  It is not perfect.  It has bugs and other unamed creatures that come for visits. The cat loves it. The boys love it.  Joshua loves it. I love it. 

The upstairs has three main rooms: our bedroom, the boys room, and a homeschooling/craft/play room.  Off the homeschooling room is a nice sized extra room that we are actually using for Joshua's office.  Yay!  Joshua gets his own office!  A bathroom is attached to that.  Oh, there is a good sized foyer or sitting area upstairs.  Downstairs has a nice foyer and a living room on one side, guest bedroom on the other.  We also have a good sized dining room and a decent kitchen.  There are a few little closets and little nook type areas that help to give this house some personality.  The kitchen has a great pantry and we have a mud room.  We got a freezer which makes me so happy!  The yard is big and full of nice trees and bushes and I planted a little garden.  I am having a chicken coop being made and plan to keep about 6 or so hens. 

When I take better pictures, and do more stuff, I will post again.  Hopefully we will see each other before 2013!