One Thousand Gifts

As I near the end of this book by Ann Voskamp (One Thousand Gifts) this little nugget of wisdom stood out to me.

             "Feed the hungry, help those in trouble.  Then your light will shine out from the darkness, and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.  The LORD will guide you continually, giving you water when you are dry and restoring your strength.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like an ever-flowing spring." (Isaiah 58:10-11)"

"It's the fundamental, lavish, radical nature of the upside-down economy of God."

"Empty to fill."

"While the Deceiver jockeys to dupe us into thinking otherwise, we who are made in the image of God, being formed into Christ's likeness, our happiness comes, too, not in the having but in the handing over.  Give your life away in exchange for many lives, give away your blessings to multiply blessings, give away so that many might increase, and do it all for the love of God.  I can bless, pour out, be broken and given in our home and the larger world and never fear that there won't be enough to give.  Eucharisteo has taught me to trust that there is always enough God.  He has no end.  He calls us to serve, and it is Him whom we serve, but He, very God, kneels down to serve us as we serve.  The servant-hearted never serve alone.  Spend the whole of your one wild and beautiful life investing in many lives, and God simply will not be outdone.  God extravagantly pays back everything we give away and exactly in the currency that is not of this world but the one we yearn for: Joy in Him." 

Spend the whole of your one wild and beautiful life investing in many lives. 

Ready.  Set.   Go! 

Do you know how often I hear this little boy tell me he loves me? 

More than I can count!

He is WILD at heart.  He is tender and full of love. 

He is God's creation and gift to us.

I love all of my kids the same but I just had some one on one time with Cody this afternoon and he is so precious....and photogenic if I can brag a little. :)

Here is a quote that I read somewhere a little while back (also under my quotes section). 

“The season of young children is a time to refrain. Refrain from most outside activities, even some church activities. Now is a time to be faithful in discipline…it’s the springtime of mothering. Redeem the time, don’t waste it.” Sono Harris

This resonated with me and I have come back to it many times since.  It has also convicted me and encouraged me at the same time.  It's ok.  It's ok to not do it all. 

"Parents! The work entrusted to us is holier than we know.  The precious instrument, so delicate, so wonderfully made, so marred by sin already and so exposed to its power, is of such inconceivable worth.  To take charge of an immortal soul, to train a will for God and eternity, surely we ought to shrink from it.  But we cannot.  If we are parents, the duty is laid upon us.  But, thank God!  Sufficient grace is prepared and promised, too.  If we do but give up our home and our life to God for Him to come in and rule, He will Himself take possession, and by the gentle influence of His Holy Spirit bow their will to Himself."  Rev. Andrew Murray,  The Children for Christ, 1887

And for that sufficient grace I'm thankful because I don't always feel up to the task of this parenting stuff but pray that God will fill in the gaps where I lack the energy, strength, knowledge or wisdom.

So I leave with this.

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal.  For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matt. 6:19-21

Some things I've been thinking/learning lately:

• Even though we can often make a so-called mess of our lives, God is sovereign over all of it.  In my quest to read through the Bible I decided to just read straight through instead of following a plan.  Front. To. Back.  It has amazed me how messed up these people of the Bible are.  I mean they made some really stupid mistakes and God still worked His plan.  Every time.  Of course we modern day dummies make some really stupid mistakes too.  And yet God is still working. 
• Veggie Tales will quiet hungry, restless babes when you are sooo close to home but.just.not.there.yet! 
• We all just need a huge dollop of Grace.  From God and then also from each other.  It's hard to offer grace and forgiveness until you realize how much of those two things God has given us. 
• When you find a "kindred spirit", it is a blessing from God.  A true friend is a gift!
• Those same true friends who are there for you in the bad and then rejoice for you in the good is  again, another great gift. 

And it's late so I'm calling it a night.  Goodnight.

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012!

New Year's Eve is tomorrow and I've been thinking about the resolutions I made last year.  I think I did pretty well at keeping them.  In the past I have made some and then forgotten what they were! :/  Alot of good THAT did.  But I remembered this year! 

So as the New Year approaches I want to think about what I need to tweak or maybe even change completely.  Perhaps doing something that is new to me or letting go of some old ideas that don't fit my life.

Here are a few things that I came up with. 

• Live Simply.  I've been thinking about that a LOT lately.  I plan to incorporate that into every day, whatever comes along.  It could be saying no to something that is good but doesn't neccessarily need to be part of my life.  It could mean getting rid of clutter or items hanging around the house that we no longer need.  I don't like a lot of "stuff".  It clutters my mind.  It's just more to clean and move around and pick up.  Live Simply.
• I also plan to BE INTENTIONAL.  Sometimes this is a hard one.  And really some days you just feel like if the kids are fed and taken care of then it's all good.  I have days like that.  Days you just don't feel it.  But I want to be intentional about knowing my purpose and doing it. 
• I want to try out some great new recipes.  I like to cook.  I like to bake.  I've already been working on this one actually.  You can find some excellent recipes at comfyinthekitchen.com and I have tried a few of those and they were SO good.  I'm also planning to try a new recipe tomorrow night that I found on Pinterest.  I like to put on my apron and make a mess in the kitchen.  I just don't like to clean it up!  Cory is good about helping out with that.
• I want to read through the Bible again and see what God shows me.
• Women friends.  I want to cultivate real and true friendship.  New friends and old.  I've already started this one too and it's rewarding to have that camaraderie.
• I want to run a half-marathon.  I also have some other fitness goals in mind too but this is something I've never done.  Unless something out of my control happens, I am running this. 
• A new routine for school.  I'm not sure how this is going to look yet but I'm working on it. 
• I've started a new book called "Choosing Gratitude" by Nancy Demoss.  My mom loaned it to me.  She likes to do things like that.  I'm grateful.  See!  It's already working. ;)  But really Mom, thanks.  I'm a quarter of the way into it and it's eye-opening.  I have so much to be thankful for! 
• Cherish moments with my children and husband.  My kids are another year older.  Ok, I'm being Captain Obvious here but really though.  Stop and think about how your children have changed over the past year without you really giving it much thought.  Ask anyone who is done raising children and they will tell you it seems like just yesterday that their grown children were just wee littles.  Cherish the time because it's fleeting.  Next year at this time I know I will be thinking the same thing as, Lord Willing, my children will be yet another year older.  

Simple

Grateful

Intentional

Happy New Year!

Little Women

I LOVED this book!  It was a long one but worth every minute spent reading it. 

I have seen the old AND the new movie version but neither one compares to the book.  Not at all. 

I feel like a different woman after reading it and I have to say I hate myself for not having read it sooner!  Although written in 1868, I found myself relating to these young girls in their experiences and journey to womanhood.  But that isn't surprising since there is "nothing new under the sun". 

"Because they are mean is no reason why I should be.  I hate such things, and though I think I've a right to be hurt, I don't intend to show it.  They will feel that more than angry speeches or huffy actions, won't they, Marmee?" -Amy

"That's the right spirit, my dear; a kiss for a blow is always best, though it's not very easy to give it sometimes," said her mother, with the air of one who had learned the difference between preaching and practising.

Now that I have thoroughly bored every man that may be reading this, I apologize.  :)  It's a great book though and I have plans to make it part of our library soon.  I think Emma will love it and I will definitely read it again.  Many great lessons for life.  Much respect for Louisa May Alcott.

Redirect

I'm going to take some time to think about the direction of this here blog. 

No, I'm not going anywhere.  At least I don't plan to.  I'm not even thinking about changing the look of it.  I'm just thinking about the direction of my blog posts.  The subjects I choose to write about.

What is the purpose and meaning behind my posts?  What do I want to share or NOT share? 

So I'm going to take a day or two to think and pray about that and then I'll be back.  :)

On a completely different subject, I checked out "Little Women" by Lousia May Alcott today at the library.  I can't believe I've never read that lovely little classic.  I've seen the old AND new movie versions and loved those so the book must be even better right? 

So on that note, I'm headed to bed.  Goodnight.