The importance of taking time for you A topic I am passionate about.
Words have the power to change destinies. I am so thankful for this post. I think people do not understand the power of encouraging words. I know when someone takes the time to encourage me with words, that I am lifted up. Is there someone you can share the gift of words with today? Who can you call or email to encourage? What words of life can you speak to your husband and children? Words are powerful. Don't neglect them.
How to be a relaxed homeschooler. Good stuff.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Thursday, April 28, 2011
On a Thursday night.
A rainbow always appears in the same spot, right outside our front door.
This little one sees it clearly for the first time.
Staring at it, taking it in. I know the feeling, little one.
My backyard. I never get tired of this view. Peaceful.
Tuesday, April 26, 2011
Two great reads
Responding to negativity with encouragement "If all you do in a 12 hour period is nurse and rock a baby then, my dear, you are the one thing on this earth keeping that baby loved and alive."
Living quietly
Aimee really encourages mothers to love the quiet life within the home.
Living quietly
Aimee really encourages mothers to love the quiet life within the home.
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Celebrating Easter
1. dyeing hard boiled eggs
2. preparing the Easter meal and Easter dinner
3. gathering goodies for the Easter baskets
4. searching through all the boxes in the basement for the Easter baskets
5. new shoes and new dresses along with the requisite front porch Easter picture
6. watching children hunt for eggs
7. church service Easter morning
8. more egg hunts in the afternoon
9. recalling and remembering the resurrection
10. being thankful that He is the lamb of God
Happy Resurrection Day!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Weekend reads
Obedience is a pathway, not a procedure.
This post is why I love Sally and think she is a wonderful mothering/homeschooling mentor. This was Sally's heart back in the 1990s when she wrote Educating the Whole-Hearted Child. (my first home schooling "manual") I was so excited to find her book amidst the many "To Train up a Child" philosophies. Many teachers/mentors in the 1990s "preached" first-time obedience and wanted to mold their children by home schooling. Not many out there then were talking about relationships with your children and "capturing their heart". Sally was. She was full of grace, not condemnation or fear. Her teaching resonated with me then, when she seemed to be a lone advocate, and her lessons speak to me now. It's letting go of who you want your children to be, and trusting the Lord with them. It's not caring how they may "appear" to others, but simply loving them for who they are as unique individuals. It's teaching them things through a relationship--by spending time with them, by talking with them, by discussing ideas with them. It's not about making them fit into a mold of what everyone else is doing or what you think they should be doing. That is why I appreciate Sally's encouragement in this area.
Lessons learned from turning off the tv
How to make space for good thinking Ohhh, I love this!!! I think this advice is great for a mother. It goes along with my philosophy that if you are nourishing yourself, then your family and children will get the overflow. Therefore, if you nourish your creative time, your family will get the overflow.
Raising good eaters and a sample menu
Redefining Radical I am praying for my church specifically to become radical. I am praying for revival in their hearts--which is where it starts.
Have a wonderful Easter weekend!
This post is why I love Sally and think she is a wonderful mothering/homeschooling mentor. This was Sally's heart back in the 1990s when she wrote Educating the Whole-Hearted Child. (my first home schooling "manual") I was so excited to find her book amidst the many "To Train up a Child" philosophies. Many teachers/mentors in the 1990s "preached" first-time obedience and wanted to mold their children by home schooling. Not many out there then were talking about relationships with your children and "capturing their heart". Sally was. She was full of grace, not condemnation or fear. Her teaching resonated with me then, when she seemed to be a lone advocate, and her lessons speak to me now. It's letting go of who you want your children to be, and trusting the Lord with them. It's not caring how they may "appear" to others, but simply loving them for who they are as unique individuals. It's teaching them things through a relationship--by spending time with them, by talking with them, by discussing ideas with them. It's not about making them fit into a mold of what everyone else is doing or what you think they should be doing. That is why I appreciate Sally's encouragement in this area.
Lessons learned from turning off the tv
How to make space for good thinking Ohhh, I love this!!! I think this advice is great for a mother. It goes along with my philosophy that if you are nourishing yourself, then your family and children will get the overflow. Therefore, if you nourish your creative time, your family will get the overflow.
Raising good eaters and a sample menu
Redefining Radical I am praying for my church specifically to become radical. I am praying for revival in their hearts--which is where it starts.
Have a wonderful Easter weekend!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thankful Tuesday
#90: A new couple in our church initiating fellowship with us. (it is such a blessing to have someone else initiate fellowship with us, since a lot of the time it feels we are the only ones initiating!)
#91: watching my 22 month old dance to annoying electronic toy music. Too cute!
#92: fasting and praying with sisters in the Lord.
#93: my oldest daughter getting the opportunity to travel to Paris with a family friend.
#94: her safe travels.
#95: sharing with a sister in Christ some of my frustrations.
#96: still reading the Bible in 90 days--
#97: my 22 month old's excitement every time we go outside: " 'side! 'side!"
#98: my husband helping me prepare a meal to bring to a mom who just had a baby
#99: planning our summer trip
#100: my headache going away after two days of pain.
#91: watching my 22 month old dance to annoying electronic toy music. Too cute!
#92: fasting and praying with sisters in the Lord.
#93: my oldest daughter getting the opportunity to travel to Paris with a family friend.
#94: her safe travels.
#95: sharing with a sister in Christ some of my frustrations.
#96: still reading the Bible in 90 days--
#97: my 22 month old's excitement every time we go outside: " 'side! 'side!"
#98: my husband helping me prepare a meal to bring to a mom who just had a baby
#99: planning our summer trip
#100: my headache going away after two days of pain.
Monday, April 18, 2011
More on cultivating friendships
Just wanted to highlight some of the conversation and thoughts that have come from my post at Sally's blog. It has been so fulfilling to hear every one's thoughts on cultivating friendships, and especially Sally's additional thoughts. I just wanted to share here again if you haven't been able to stop by.
If I have a friends with whom to share life I will hold fast to my ideals
Just a little thought
Some thoughts from Sally I wanted to highlight:
“It is an art of a civilized woman to extend the life and grace and beauty of Jesus to all who are in her wake, while filling up with the love of her friends that she has helped to create.”
"..... I think the older I get the more I have been emptied by the many tasks and people who are in my life. I think that a part of a wise woman’s legacy is to realize that God was the one who created friendships and family (most of us do not live close to our families and we do not always have values in common), so sustain us, to fill our emotional cups, to celebrate the journey of life and motherhood together. Our husbands were never made to have to do this all by themselves, it would put too much pressure on them.
And so, having and cultivating a godly friend or even a godly group of friends, is a protection for ourselves. When someone is there to believe in us, to pray with us, to laugh with us, to help take the burden, then we are not alone in this battle.
And when I am strengthened in and through friendships and my children also have some families of good and godly friends who support them and love them, we are all better able to bear these ideals with grace.
The more filled my cup, the more grace I am able to pour out on my husband when he gets home from a long day and needs me to extend myself to him.
Life with children at the center does not always neatly allow regular time with friends, but I make the time because it is a part of essential fellowship for me. I have a friend I pray with many mornings before we get started. I also make friendship time to be with my oldest daughter every week–breakfast together, as she is my spiritual equal and is committed to me as I am to her. I make time with a sweet older friend whom I respect because I need her spiritual guidance in my life. And more.
A woman who is alone in her home bearing so much stress and work without a companion to lift her up becomes and easy target for Satan. And so it is definitely something we must seek out, commit to, so that we may find a grace to help keep us going.
God validated Jonathan and David as friends–David needed a Jonathan to help him through these difficult challenges...."
If I have a friends with whom to share life I will hold fast to my ideals
Just a little thought
Some thoughts from Sally I wanted to highlight:
“It is an art of a civilized woman to extend the life and grace and beauty of Jesus to all who are in her wake, while filling up with the love of her friends that she has helped to create.”
"..... I think the older I get the more I have been emptied by the many tasks and people who are in my life. I think that a part of a wise woman’s legacy is to realize that God was the one who created friendships and family (most of us do not live close to our families and we do not always have values in common), so sustain us, to fill our emotional cups, to celebrate the journey of life and motherhood together. Our husbands were never made to have to do this all by themselves, it would put too much pressure on them.
And so, having and cultivating a godly friend or even a godly group of friends, is a protection for ourselves. When someone is there to believe in us, to pray with us, to laugh with us, to help take the burden, then we are not alone in this battle.
And when I am strengthened in and through friendships and my children also have some families of good and godly friends who support them and love them, we are all better able to bear these ideals with grace.
The more filled my cup, the more grace I am able to pour out on my husband when he gets home from a long day and needs me to extend myself to him.
Life with children at the center does not always neatly allow regular time with friends, but I make the time because it is a part of essential fellowship for me. I have a friend I pray with many mornings before we get started. I also make friendship time to be with my oldest daughter every week–breakfast together, as she is my spiritual equal and is committed to me as I am to her. I make time with a sweet older friend whom I respect because I need her spiritual guidance in my life. And more.
A woman who is alone in her home bearing so much stress and work without a companion to lift her up becomes and easy target for Satan. And so it is definitely something we must seek out, commit to, so that we may find a grace to help keep us going.
God validated Jonathan and David as friends–David needed a Jonathan to help him through these difficult challenges...."
Friday, April 15, 2011
Guest posting at Sally Clarkson's blog
I am so excited to be guest posting at Sally Clarkson's blog I Take Joy today! Sally Clarkson's book Educating the Whole-Hearted Child was the first home schooling book I bought when I first started home schooling almost 12 years ago.
Please check out my guest post on Sally's blog here.
Please check out my guest post on Sally's blog here.
Saturday, April 09, 2011
Gratitude.
76. Forsythia blooms.
77. "You make all things new"
78. Spring Rummage Sales.
79. Rummage Sale finds. Books and needlepoint birds.
80. Saturday morning book study of Bonhoeffer's Life Together
81. Strength is not in numbers.
82. A weekend with two dear friends just talking, talking, talking, eating, eating, eating, and sleeping in...
82. the smell of earth: Spring!
83. Sunsets in my backyard.
Monday, April 04, 2011
Mama Monday
Today's Mama Monday is the sweet-hearted Miriam from the blog Living Fragrance. Miriam is a sweet and sensitive soul. I really enjoy her writings on her blog. One of my favorite posts that she has written is called: Savored Stirrings. This post really gives you a sense of her heart!Ladies, I am happy to bring you Miriam:
Greatest thing about being a mom—
I think that all the love is the best part. It's just such an amazing gift to be loved by my children, and to experience the depths of love that I have for them. Paradoxically, I've been challenged to find how short my love falls in this journey, but ultimately that is also a gift, because it causes me to drink deep of God's love as my source.
Hardest thing about being a mom—
Your friend Layla's answer for this question really resonated with me. Motherhood has a way of placing a magnifying glass on our failures and shortcomings, doesn't it? I often see my struggles evidenced in my children's lives - that is so hard. It's been quite a process for me to learn to truly receive God's grace for all that is past (and all that we are still working through) and to trust in His redemptive power to be at work in each of us.
Favorite blogs/websites—
I find this simple question so very difficult to answer. It's probably a little quirk with me... Max Lucado's You Are Special is just about my favorite kids' book, and I think it's message has become ingrained in me over the years. Do you know the story? The Wemmicks are little wooden people who go around all day every day sticking stars and dots on each other. Stars for the good, beautiful, and talented ones; dots for those who fall short in all sorts of ways. They need their maker Eli's help with this, because they must learn that all those dots or stars don't mean a thing really, only what Eli thinks matters. Obvious allegorical meaning, hopefully? The thought of publicly praising a few blogs, to the exclusion of others, feels to me a little too much like entering into that whole star and dot thing, so I have to plead the fifth. (But no judgment on those who have shared their favorites! Like I said, I think this is just a personal conscience quirk with me.) I will say that this blog has been a great blessing to me! :)
How do you find balance in your life—
For me it is very important to keep things simple... in so many aspects of life. My husband's tag phrase that he likes to remind me of when I start to feel overwhelmed is "KISS" - keep it simple, Sweetie. Of course, that practically plays out in lots of ways... a bit too much to write about here.
One word that describes you—
Sensitive
Favorite color--
Green! I love that it is the color of new life and healing. I can't adequately express what it does for my heart to see the first greens of spring appearing. Feels like Heaven coming close.
Hobbies/interests---
Art, dance, reading, exploring nature, blogging now and then, learning to live a life of mission
I couldn't live without—
my husband's fabulous foot rubs ;)
What helps me through tough days---
Jesus' grace. I once heard this great quote from a preacher: "In God there are no more good days or bad days for you, just days of grace. Some days there is grace to enjoy, and some days there is grace to endure." I'm learning to rest in that beautiful truth.
And music helps me so much. Probably one of the best songs for me to listen to on a tough day is an old Twila Paris song: "Fix Your Eyes." I need to constantly remind my soul to look to God.
What the Lord has been speaking to you about lately—
Like so many others, I've been reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts and seeking to cultivate a heart of gratitude in my own life. (A glimpse of my journey here: gifts ) It's been so good and the Lord has been speaking so much to me through it all. Oftentimes I tend to flit from revelation to revelation in the Christian life, without letting the lessons firmly take hold, so I'm planning to take the rest of this year to focus on this. I've named the year Joyful Thanks to help me remember to stay on course.
Also, something that the Lord has been speaking to me about lately that has been hugely significant is the need to take up my cross. A number of weeks ago our pastor was speaking about this. He said that perhaps the easy yoke is synonymous with the crucified life. That thought just really struck me. As I look at my life, I've struggled with Jesus' teaching about the easy yoke, because if feels like in many areas I've done so much fruitless striving. So I began asking the Lord to show me ways in which I haven't taken up my cross. He's been faithful to show me all sorts of things, so it's been a humbling journey, but so good ultimately, I know. Much of what He's shown me has to do with being willing to live a hidden life in Him.
What do you like best about yourself—
That I am a beloved child of God.
If I could encourage a young mother, I would say--
Grace, grace, grace. For yourself, for the child(ren), for Daddy finding his way in fatherhood. Also, truly cast all your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you!
One book you would recommend to read--(besides the Bible)
Hind's Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
Greatest thing about being a mom—
I think that all the love is the best part. It's just such an amazing gift to be loved by my children, and to experience the depths of love that I have for them. Paradoxically, I've been challenged to find how short my love falls in this journey, but ultimately that is also a gift, because it causes me to drink deep of God's love as my source.
Hardest thing about being a mom—
Your friend Layla's answer for this question really resonated with me. Motherhood has a way of placing a magnifying glass on our failures and shortcomings, doesn't it? I often see my struggles evidenced in my children's lives - that is so hard. It's been quite a process for me to learn to truly receive God's grace for all that is past (and all that we are still working through) and to trust in His redemptive power to be at work in each of us.
Favorite blogs/websites—
I find this simple question so very difficult to answer. It's probably a little quirk with me... Max Lucado's You Are Special is just about my favorite kids' book, and I think it's message has become ingrained in me over the years. Do you know the story? The Wemmicks are little wooden people who go around all day every day sticking stars and dots on each other. Stars for the good, beautiful, and talented ones; dots for those who fall short in all sorts of ways. They need their maker Eli's help with this, because they must learn that all those dots or stars don't mean a thing really, only what Eli thinks matters. Obvious allegorical meaning, hopefully? The thought of publicly praising a few blogs, to the exclusion of others, feels to me a little too much like entering into that whole star and dot thing, so I have to plead the fifth. (But no judgment on those who have shared their favorites! Like I said, I think this is just a personal conscience quirk with me.) I will say that this blog has been a great blessing to me! :)
How do you find balance in your life—
For me it is very important to keep things simple... in so many aspects of life. My husband's tag phrase that he likes to remind me of when I start to feel overwhelmed is "KISS" - keep it simple, Sweetie. Of course, that practically plays out in lots of ways... a bit too much to write about here.
One word that describes you—
Sensitive
Favorite color--
Green! I love that it is the color of new life and healing. I can't adequately express what it does for my heart to see the first greens of spring appearing. Feels like Heaven coming close.
Hobbies/interests---
Art, dance, reading, exploring nature, blogging now and then, learning to live a life of mission
I couldn't live without—
my husband's fabulous foot rubs ;)
What helps me through tough days---
Jesus' grace. I once heard this great quote from a preacher: "In God there are no more good days or bad days for you, just days of grace. Some days there is grace to enjoy, and some days there is grace to endure." I'm learning to rest in that beautiful truth.
And music helps me so much. Probably one of the best songs for me to listen to on a tough day is an old Twila Paris song: "Fix Your Eyes." I need to constantly remind my soul to look to God.
What the Lord has been speaking to you about lately—
Like so many others, I've been reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts and seeking to cultivate a heart of gratitude in my own life. (A glimpse of my journey here: gifts ) It's been so good and the Lord has been speaking so much to me through it all. Oftentimes I tend to flit from revelation to revelation in the Christian life, without letting the lessons firmly take hold, so I'm planning to take the rest of this year to focus on this. I've named the year Joyful Thanks to help me remember to stay on course.
Also, something that the Lord has been speaking to me about lately that has been hugely significant is the need to take up my cross. A number of weeks ago our pastor was speaking about this. He said that perhaps the easy yoke is synonymous with the crucified life. That thought just really struck me. As I look at my life, I've struggled with Jesus' teaching about the easy yoke, because if feels like in many areas I've done so much fruitless striving. So I began asking the Lord to show me ways in which I haven't taken up my cross. He's been faithful to show me all sorts of things, so it's been a humbling journey, but so good ultimately, I know. Much of what He's shown me has to do with being willing to live a hidden life in Him.
What do you like best about yourself—
That I am a beloved child of God.
If I could encourage a young mother, I would say--
Grace, grace, grace. For yourself, for the child(ren), for Daddy finding his way in fatherhood. Also, truly cast all your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you!
One book you would recommend to read--(besides the Bible)
Hind's Feet on High Places by Hannah Hurnard
Thank you Miriam!!!!
Friday, April 01, 2011
Making the everyday beautiful
We stumbled upon the cutest baking supply shop called :
Bake it pretty. We had the best time browsing the cute items. I bought some cute cupcake liners to use for not only cupcakes but for muffins as well. In the past I would have saved the cute liners to use for a special purpose. But instead of waiting, I am going to use them for even everyday goodies such as
Blueberry Lemon Muffins. (Such a good recipe. I substituted white whole wheat flour and it is delicious.) My philosophy now is "why wait?" Make everyday a celebration and make everyday beautiful in any way that you can.
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