God Moving

God is moving in His people. If you are with Him, you feel it! I am completely overwhelmed with His love. THE love that has saved me.

Living a life aware of His gifts. Eucharisteo!



332-334. As I bathed our littlest boy this morning, I was thankful for the opportunity to wash his hair, and to snuggle him with a clean fluffy towel, and to slather shea butter.

335. Only one (ONE) meltdown over the weekend. God is carrying that sweet boy through. He is helping me keep calm.

336. Tibby learned to add ones and tens. It's one of his new favorite things. He asks numerous times a day..."mom, can you guess how much 23+32 is?" etc.

337. Walking into the kitchen this morning with a greeting from our 6 yr old, "you look beautiful" and our 3 yr old, "you pretty mama". What a way to wake up!!

338. Cutting Jaiden's nails for the first time in 1 1/2 years! He stopped his anxiety and biting his nails. Praise God!

339. Getting a call from his teacher saying he is the only kid in class participating in reading discussions! She is so proud, as am I!

340. God leading to new places. Places of the physical and of the heart. A new place of intimately knowing HIM!

Please say a prayer for our neck of the woods. Hundreds of acres burning in fires, homes lost. We need rain

Spring Art for Free!

I just now took all of our Valentine's decor down and pulled out my stuff for spring. I really wanted to go for crisp and clean. Natural with pops of color. I didn't want to buy anything, so as I started putting things together, I really felt something was missing.

I had this old safari picture from Brighton's nursery and I decided to take it apart and stick something else in it.



I only had this brown and white scrap paper which wasn't very "springy" but I had to work with it since I didn't want to spend any money. So I went hunting around online and found these adorable labels to print.




I cut them out, used double sided tape, and put it all together. It really took less than 10 minutes! So simple, and so lovely!  I'm using as spring decor, but it would be fun for a party or BBQ.




 


And just a little peek at my other touches of spring. I'm ready!!

 






 





    Passionately Artistic 

The Stories From A2Z

Randomness

I'm finally feeling better! Being sick for about 4-5 days took a toll on me, and it has taken me until now to feel like myself. Whew!
**********
We have had a pretty great week though. Jaiden has started talking more and more, and teachers and friends are all taking notice! I'm so very proud of him, and what an answer to prayers!
**********
I finished up my spring cleaning, but I still have a few little things I want to organize before I'm done with the whole entire house. I cleaned out my side of the closet and got rid of a 30 gallon bag full of clothes, shoes, pj's, etc. It felt wonderful! I am so so excited to have a totally organized and clean (some of the time) home!
**********
We paid off our car!! Yes. We bought a car for about $16,000  2 years ago and it is paid off! Now we are working on a boat we have. $2000 to go! Not the smartest financial decisions, but we're getting on track, and God is blessing us so much through it!
**********
I went thrift store shopping today and found a 2' shelf for above our couch, and a beautiful greenish glass jar. Both made well and heavy. All for $9!! I will post some pictures when I take them. My battery died right when I turned on my camera.
***********
I've been working on our budget, and I saved about $200 this month on groceries!! It helps to go ahead and slip that money in a savings account so you actually SAVE that amount =]
***********
I made these easy-peasy thingy ma bobs, and I can NOT quit eating them. And, I haven't worked out in 2 weeks, so that's good for the belly....ya know if your striving for a belly.
***********
I was asked to pray about, fill out an application, and have an interview for the Women's Ministry at our church. I felt so good about after praying and am now part of our Women's Ministry team! We will get to spend the weekend together at the Women Of Joy in April!
**********
I'm excited for the weekend! We're just staying home, enjoying a slow weekend!

A Life In Waiting

"I have always, essentially, been waiting. Waiting to become something else, waiting to be that person I always thought I was on the verge of becoming, waiting for that life I thought I would have. In my head, I was always one step away."

As I read the first words in the first chapter of Shauna Niequist's book Cold Tangerines, my eyes swelled up with tears. That's me, I thought.

As I kept reading, I felt as though this was my interview. I do feel as though I'm waiting for the big moment in my life. You know, the move that will finally make me the housewife I've wanted to be, the the moment I wake up and all the laziness and dread I face almost daily has disappeared in my dreams, the moment something happens that gets me from this side of the fence to the other.

I think of ways I want to live constantly, but can never reach far enough to catch my dreams in hands. I make goals, but before I put the pen down I've already been defeated. I'm scared to fail. I'm even more scared to go through life never catching hold of truly living.

 "You have stories worth telling, memories worth remembering, dreams worth working toward, a body worth feeding, a soul worth tending, and beyond that, the God of the universe dwells within you, the true culmination of super and natural.
You are more than dust and bones.
You are spirit and power and image of God.
And you have been given Today."

As depression slipped up behind me today out of nowhere, I wondered what on earth I was feeling sad about? Why don't I ever feel good enough? Why isn't my God, my husband, my children, my home, my hobbies, my friends enough? What on earth am I waiting for?

While I sit and wait for the life of my dreams to stroll by, the life I'm in is moving along all around me. Before I know it, I''ll be dreaming of the life I'm in now, and wondering why in the world I wasn't living in it!?

Why aren't my eyes open? What is it I truly want to see?
"Lord, might I wake wanting You first, wanting to see You in this day. I can wake glad."

God is whispering to me. Showing me where to turn my thoughts. How to fill my days with thanksgiving, how to want less, how to love more. Before He allows me to open my eyes in the mornings, he whispers to find the joy in waking. The joy in family. The joy living.



If anyone would tell you the shortest, surest way to all happiness
and all perfection, he must tell you to
make a rule to yourself to thank and praise God for everything
that happens to you.

It is certain that whatever seeming calamity happens to you,
if you thank and praise God for it,
you turn it into a blessing.

If you could work miracles,
therefore, you could not do more for yourself
than by this thankful spirit.

It heals and turns all that it touches into happiness.”
William Law, A Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life

“Whether your feelings are mean or kind Your attitude to life is the key.Don’t wait to be happy until things are just right.Don’t let life’s little annoyances get in the way…You can be as happy as you decide to be.”

 He is asking me to get out of the habit of waiting. He is asking me to make joy my new habit.

3 Years Old

This little guy turned 3 last week.



I made him a cake with cookies, because he has the biggest sweet tooth I've ever seen.




Blury picture, but I just love his excitement!









Brighton, you bring so much joy to our lives! You make us laugh with your silly faces and your funny comments. We love to hear you say we are a " silly goose!" You are so curious and love to play. You love to play with rocks and dirt, and your finger nails prove it! You also, tell us "I not baby, I Bighton." You bring a light in our lives and I can't possibly imagine not welcoming you in our lives 3 years ago. You bless!! Love you little Brighton.

Flowers From My Sweet Hubby

We were so busy Valentine's Day, I didn't have a chance to see that my sweet hubby left this beautiful bouquet on the table until 4:00 pm.



They are so bright and cheerful. They just make me happy looking at them.

Each day comes bearing it's own gifts.

Untie the ribbons.

Ruth Ann Schabacker 

A Warm Snow Day

Last week Dan and I went on a date. It was freezing. Wind chill was about -30 and the wind was blowing snow, but it wasn't sticking to the ground. We headed to the movies, and 1 1/2 hour later we we came out of the theater, the ground was covered in snow and we had white out conditions. What would usually take less than 10 minutes to get home, took over 30. My sweet husband then drove my mom home (she lives 20 minutes away, so he was gone over an hour) We all remained safe and warm, and I'm so thankful for that!

This week, it is almost 80 degrees, and we coudn't wait to get outside! Today, however I'm stuck in bed feeling awful, and just got a call to come get Jaiden from school. Bless his heart. Looks like a movie afternoon in for us today.

We did manage to get out and play the other day, and boy was it fun!







Even Bella thought it was great fun!

Love Is

 A very popular verse in the Bible begins with Love is. I've read it and heard it many times, but never broke it down, and pieced it apart to really meditate on what exactly each word would look like in my life.

Love is patient. Patience is waiting until later for what I want now. Sounds like something I really want my children to know, but do I reflect patience on a daily basis? Do I wait patiently while little hands and feet move slowly climbing in the car? Do I wait patiently for my husband to finish his shower while we're getting ready for church? Do I wait patiently for God as He works in my life on things I think should be done with and moving on to something more exciting?  Do I let Him mold my character in order to show my children this virtue I wish to instill in them? Simple truth: if I love, I am patient.

Love is kind. Kind is of a friendly, gentle, warm-hearted nature. Am I friendly to my children while teaching them new things? Am I friendly when asking them to clean up their mess for the third time today? Am I gentle with their hearts and the heart of my husband?  Do I reflect the kindness God shows throughout His Word in order to show us His love? If I love, I am kind.

Love does not envy. Envy is a feeling of discontent and resentment aroused by and in conjunction with desire for the possessions or qualities of another. Am I genuinely happy for others when they have something I would like? Am I content with all God has provided for me? If I love, I do not envy.

Love does not boast. To boast is to glorify oneself in speech; talk in a self-admiring way. To speak of with excessive pride. Do I find the things I have or the way we do things are better than others? When I speak to my husband, and I just know I'm right, do I boast, and make myself glorified because my way could be the only possible way? If I love, I do not boast.

Love is not proud. Another word for pride. Am I too proud to face the fact that pride is in my life, and affects others in my daily walk? Do I want to be seen as a "got it together" mom only to make friends feel inadequate?
Do I put my husband or children down for not cleaning or homeschooling the way I would have it done?  If I love, I am not proud.

Love is not rude. Rude is ill-mannered; discourteous. Is there ever a time that I put my family down with the tone of my voice or the expression on my face? Are they (my tone and expression) ever ill mannered? Are they courteous? If I love, I am not rude.

Love is not self seeking.Self seeking is only being concerned with oneself. How concerned am I with what I want, how I want my family to be, or even how I feel in that moment?  Does it line up with God, and is it what's best for my family?  If I love, I am not selfish.

Love is not easily angered. How long does it take to push my buttons? What pushes my buttons and how often does it lead me to anger? If I love, I am not easily angered.

Love keeps no record of wrongs. How long do I hang on to past wrongs? How often do I bring them up? How bitter is that making me, and others? And how often do I show forgiveness? If I love, I keep no record of wrongs.

Love does not delight in evil. May sound a little silly, but there are what some christians call "respectbale sins." Anger, gossip, movies with bad language, music that doesn't bear any fruit, attitudes that don't glorify God. All of those are not of God and don't glorify Him. Love does not delight in evil, but rejoices in the truth. Do I in any way delight in evil? If I love, I do not delight in evil.

Love always protects. To keep safe. Do I keep my family safe from the evil lurking outside? Do I cover them with truth, with His word? Do I protect their hearts?  If I love, I always protect.

Love always trusts. Do I give my life and my children to God, trusting that He loves them more than I do? Do I let others I love take them out, care for them trusting that they love and care for my children enough. Do I let my husband have friends and go out with them without question? Do I give others reasons to trust me? Trust that my yes is my yes, and my no is my no?  If I love, I trust.

Love always hopes. To hope is to wish for something with expectation of its fulfillment. Do I have hope in my marriage, my children, God? Do I help give them hope and encouragement. Do I show others hope and encouragement? If I love, I hope.

Love always perseveres. To refuse to stop. Even when I don't feel like loving, even when others have done me wrong, or worn me down. Do I give up, or do I refuse to stop. If I love, I persevere.

Love Never Fails

1 Corinthians 13:4

A Joyful Life

315. falling snow
316. wonderful new friends
317. anticipating date night
318. helpful teachers
319. boys using their imaginations
320. starting a Monday with Bible reading, a hot breakfast, and exercise
321. Sonic happy hour, where we all get a soda for under $3
322. football food
323. book clubs
324. boy scouts
325. a new friend of Tristin's asking if he can ride in the car with us to lunch
326. finding balance and simplicity
327. nails painted
328. getting pretty for an evening out with my husband and friends and family
329. family lunch with a $5 off coupon feeding all for less than $20. with some left over.
330. pink marshmallow hearts
331. boys drawing trucks


Some days, even when you feel good, it's hard to feel thankful. Once you pen hits the paper, or your fingers hit the keys, everything to be thankful for quickly fills the page. A new habit of thinking about everything you do in a thankful way becomes a new way of life. A joyful life.

Links I Love

Hello! We just got home from church, and the guys are all playing while I am "working on our weekly schedule". You like how that includes blog reading?! I do. =]
It's been snowing all morning, which is beautiful, but is putting a damper on my motivation to finish my spring cleaning.
Instead, I though I'd share with you some of my favorite posts, inspiration, pictures, etc around the internet. I try to add some -------> in the sidebar weekly...if you ever want to check them out.

My friend Rachel has been doing a wardrobe reinvention. I am so inspired, and also believe in the "less is more" approach. I have already started working on this.

Brighton Cottage (love the name of course!) is such a nice way to store string/twine. And it is SO pretty!

I love art. We had an art bithday party for Tibby a few years back. He made his own invitations, the decorations was an art exhibit with his art, and he decorated his own cake. It's so wonderful for kids, and this little celebration for the little artists is just precious! I would love to do something like this.

Lissa, has been hosting weekend projects that really bless your home and family. This lady will inspire to to clean, clean, clean! Seriously, her home is spotless! I have learned so much from her.

We made these brownies for movie night. They're all gone. They were goooood!

If you have a lot of snow, you might want to make snow cakes. KatherineMarie has a way of making life fun!  Our boys want to play in the snow so badly, but it's still pretty cold, so we will be doing this!


Empty. Do you ever feel empty? "All that God has disired all along is our emptiness!" Great read.

I hope you enjoy your weekend with friends and family. We're gearing up for a sweet week, full of  love and hearts!

Boys' Best Friend

They really love her. They light up when she is around. Melts my heart.





 

On another note.It's so cold today. I'm sure most of you know. It's finally up to 7 degrees with a wind chill of -17. Have I ever told you how grumpy I get when I'm cold? I really don't mean to. I'm working on it.

*The pictures above were obviously taken on a much nicer day =] Stay warm!