Blogging ,How I Have Missed You SO!!!

I want to say thank you to http://www.madebynikki.blogspot.com/ at Blogs for a Cause for giving my blog a new fun look!! Head on over and check it out . I love her heart and how she uses her gifts to bless others!!! Thank you Nikki! I love the new look  and  feel inspired to get back to my love for blogging.   

Blogging just like scrap booking is so good for my soul. Something happens to me when I write out the words that are on my heart and add my love for photography and those moments captured.  A peace washes over me and thankfulness runs through my veins.  

I am looking forward to getting back to blogging!!

Thursday's Abundance of Thanksgiving ~ Be still and know that I am God

    The verse from Psalm 46 verse 10 has been playing over and over again in my mind for weeks. " Be still ,and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth."  The NASB version says." Cease striving and know that I am God........"
Oh, to be still and to cease striving, why do we make it so hard to do?? Even as I write this , my mind is racing with so many things; all that I have to do, all that is troubling me and all of the things that I wish my Father from Heaven would come  and sit right here next to me and give answers to. I forget that He is right here with me always. I forget how awesome a gift that the Holy Spirit is as I long for Him in person. I forget that all I have to do is ask for wisdom and it will be given. I forget that He is in Control of all things and I forget how AWESOME that is. I forget that He is all I need and my very best friend. A song by Bethany Dillon called "All I Need" keeps running through my head too.

"All I Need"

When the day is done
And there's no one else around
While I'm lying here in bed
You're in my heart, You're in my head
You're all I need, You're all I need
There are a million voices
Calling out my name
But You're the One I want to hear
So make the others disappear

You are all I need when I'm surrounded
You are all I need if I'm by myself
You fill me when I'm empty
There is nothing else
You're all I need

When the morning comes
And Your mercy is renewed
There's a fire in my bones
I'm not afraid to go alone
You're all I need
You're all I need
The sun on my face
I hear You whisper loud
You're still the God that opens seas
Every flower, even me
You're all I need
You're all I need

I'm drawn to everything that You do
Nothing compares with You 


  Though this season I am in right now feels lonely and even somewhat painful, I decided to take this time to do something I have wanted to do for awhile. I have been wanting to dedicate a day of the week to sharing my journey of counting gifts. I started this journey after reading "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp. I cannot even begin to tell you how this book is changing my life. I know you have probably already heard me saying that. But I will say it again and again. Blogging has not been happening as much as I would like it to so I need a focus. I hope to at least make it here on Thursdays. Blogging is so good for me just as scrapbooking is...taking time to reflect on the many blessings I have in my life. It truly stirs my soul to see God for who he really is ,to enjoy his character and attributes.


  I hesitate to give my numbers because I must confess that I struggle to be consistent in writing them down. I am grateful that I am always ( since reading Ann's book) looking for the gifts and that my eyes are being opened more and more each day despite my lack of discipline.  So I will give my numbers and break free from the lies I believe...one that screams FAILURE! Ba Bye!!! :0)


I am on ....
 215. For the time this weekend that God caused me to BE STILL

This a hard one..... I truly struggle with feeling like it is a curse but......


216.That people can usually tell if I am upset about something from the look on my face. I am grateful for this for  a couple of reasons...1. That I am real and no matter how hard I try I cannot be fake      2. That because of this I know who my true friends are and they love me unconditionally 3. that at times it is my sinful thoughts rising to the surface. YIKES!!! Yes, I am grateful!!


217.That when I seek Him ,He is faithful and speaks to me all over the place and through everything.


218. His Word and how he has been speaking through good books that only lead me to His Word and His goodness

219. Playing in the Mud 220. Campfires 221. Roasted hot dogs 222. Yard Sales,Flea markets and Second hand  and Antique Stores 223. My country home and my love for decorating ( It is still there :0) )224. Quilting  225. Scrapbooking  226.Basketmaking 227. Test scores that give encouragement 228. Healing that takes place through repentance 229. digging in the dirt and the messages that come through flowers

How like God  that after I posted this , I went to read my devotion for today and this is what it said:

" Relax in My Healing,holy presence. Be still while I transform your heart and mind. Let go of cares and worries, so that you can receive My Peace. Cease striving and know that i am God. Do not be like Pharisees who multiplied regulations,creating their own form of "godliness." They got so wrapped up in their own rules that they lost sight of Me. Even today,man-made rules about how to live the Christian life enslave many people. Their focus is on their performance rather than Me. It is through knowing me intimately that you become like me. This requires spending time alone with Me. Let go, relax,be still,and know that I am God."

Psalm 46:10 , I John 3:2

Sarah Young's "Jesus Calling"

230. The work that I feel Jesus doing in me through hard times.

One Day without Shoes

Our day w/out shoes consisted mainly in my home doing school. When my hubby got home, I tried to talk everyone into going to town and taking a walk in our bare feet. My hubby thought I was crazy .You see it was a very cold in our neck of the woods for April . We had rain,snow and sleet all in one day. He added in that we also had a meeting we had to be at in about an hour and a half. Sometimes he is just not crazy enough.But the good news is that I have a son who is and maybe another that will follow in his footsteps. :0) We really did not have enough time to make signs ( seeing how my hubby said,"There will be hardly anyone in town and they certainly will not ask why you have no shoes on. They will just think you are crazy and call children's services because your kids have no shoes on.") and go walk in town and get back in time.Two things: 1. He needs his Vita Meeta Vegimen and to join the happy peppy people and  2.I truly need to not be such a procrastinator . This has got to stop once and for all!!! I just saw there was an event tool kit that I could have ordered to help in our efforts to make a difference. I am thinking next year not only will I be barefoot but I will push shopping carts around town w/ signs on my back selling salad dressing to raise money for Toms shoes. In case some of you are confused I am using some "I Love Lucy" humor. In case you do not know about "One Day Without Shoes" You can go here to their website and find out all about it.

Celebrating at the Clayground

When he turned 40 , the kids and I were so excited that we came up w/ a wonderful gift for him. In high school he used to do pottery and loved it. He has missed it ever since. So we decided to get him a gift certificate at this wonderful place called the Clayground. It gave him 2 hours on the wheel and a huge bag of clay. We could not wait to give him this gift. We thought he would run right up there to use it. The gift was given  to him in 2010 and finally used it a year and 3 months later after we got notice that the Clay Ground would be closing. We were so sad to hear the news. So we decided to all go and make a time of it!! It was fun to watch him. It brought back memories. I couldn't help think of that scene from Ghost and hear that song. "Oh, my love...... my darling....... I've hungered for your touch..... a long lonely time....... and time goes by so slowly......... and time can do so much....... are you still mine? .....I need your love.......  I need your love................. Godspeed your love to me"

 He looked extra cute sitting at that wheel. Just sayin!

This time when I go to check on him, I let him know that I love what he has done so far and ask him about my fruit bowl. You see years ago he broke my lovely, beautiful fruit bowl and never replaced it . So, I was so excited that he now would be able to make me one. He replies," It has been 20 some years since I have thrown on the wheel." I did not understand. I mean how hard can it be to make a fruit bowl and hey, he still knows the lingo. He lets me know that my fruit bowl is sitting over on the table.

Here it is; my lovely, beautiful fruit bowl. I still thought he was pretty cute and reassured him that it was ok if I did not get my fruit bowl  . I felt bad that he already waisted so much time tryng to do that.  

While Daddy was working the wheel , the kids and I had some fun as well. We splurged some because it was the last day we could ever enjoy the Clayground. We were so sad to see it go. Not that we were great supporters. We were able to go 2 times before. Both times were extremely fun!!! I chose to paint a tea cup. I cannot wait to see it finished.

Unfortunately, I did not get a shot of Livy w/ her creation. Well, or should I say ,not one that she would probably ok for blogging material!! :0)

Love Letter

The other day  we went to McDonalds to have lunch with my good friend Thelma ( I am Louise :0)) and her daughter Madigan. Maddie was scheduled for another surgery (go  here to learn all about Madigan's story) and we wanted to see her and give her some goodies. Jonah made her a card and when it was time to give it to her , he could not stop giggling.

                                         Here is the card he made for her. :0)

When Madigan figured out what the card said, she could not stop giggling either.

SWEETIE PIES!!!!

Mommy's little piggy

..........for my son who can always make me laugh

See this face?????? Whether, I am overwhelmed that the house is a mess and I am barking out orders, struggling with getting Jonah to focus,just realized that it is 5pm and I have no clue what is for dinner,or my favorite....... I am  disciplining this one for picking on his brother or sister, all this one needs to do  is start making this face , snorting like a pig and laughing. Then, as much as I want to fight it my facial expression starts to change and I am laughing. I could be so frustrated with him but still I laugh. It doesn't take long and the whole house is laughing. He continues to laugh in his many crazy ways and we all laugh more and more. Before we finish we have tears running down our faces and our sides hurt. 

Here is where he found his inspiration. You gotta love A Christmas Story and a son who is a stinker but can make you laugh!!!! Have a fun day filled w/ laughter. If you have to ,surprise your family at dinner and start eating like this. That ought to liven your evening up. If you do , please video that moment and share it w/ me!!!!! I double dog dare you!!!!

.......for Superman Jammies

 

Last night Jonah decided that he really  really wanted to wear his Superman pjs. As I attached the cape, I became overwhelmed  with emotion. One day my little guy will not want to wear these. I wish I could bottle up this stage and moment . He exhausts me but he is so FUN!!!!

This is another reminder to me of how important it is to enjoy each moment . For each one is a gift wrapped up in a blessing. How easy it is to forget and get caught up in the busyness of life and not unwrap the gifts.

I am so grateful for a book that I am reading,"One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp and wish I could buy it for every single one of the people I love.Here is the the video Ann shares that led me to buy this book as soon as I could. I could watch this over and over and over again!!!!

Though , I am still the same imperfect person and still get caught up in being too busy to be grateful, I am not the same. This book is life changing and God is using it to change mine. Now, at those moments where I am immersed in the monotonous,mundane tasks  where I am left longing for more, I remember and I give thanks !!! I am on my own journey of counting the gifts.
......for Superman Jammies....... hands and the ability to attach the cape...........my husbands hugs.......... capturing a moment w/ the click of a button.....being giddy and silly w/ my friends....the sound of my daughter playing the piano......the way my older son makes me laugh.... my little ones stuffed animals Biggest Loser episode............