Humble Inspiration

This is a photo of Alcatraz. It was taken on our family trip to S F last summer.  

Today I woke up feeling SO thankful to the Lord for the many blessings in my life! My husband has a job! My kids are well-looked after while I get to work on some things at home. We are healthy. We are blessed to live in the country! I am thankful for all of those things and more!

I started my morning off with reading from Acts 4-5. How encouraging to read about the early Christians and their seriousness about their lives with God! It humbled me to think how far we have come at living so boldly for our God. It also inspired me. At the end of chapter 5, the apostles were flogged and ordered to speak no more in the name of Jesus and were then released from their captors. Verse 41-42 says, "So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name. And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ."

Amazing!

Who Are You?

Have you ever thought about your life and who you are? Is there Light shining through you? As a Christian, does your life point others towards Jesus? Does your life reflect Him or look like a different image?

Who am I? In Christ, I am redeemed; made whole; made a new creation by His sacrifice in my place on the cross. Though I am not perfect, He is my righteousness. Any good in me is clearly because of Him and because of His Spirit living in me.

Tonight I was checking my own heart and thought this may be a good time to write. Who am I? What am I doing to glorify God with my life? I am not speaking of working my way into salvation, because I don't believe it's possible, based on the Word of God. I am speaking of living out my life by God's grace. 

Who are you? Are you "in Christ" and pleasing Him with your life? Maybe you can relate to the heart-check questions below.


Do others know that I'm a Christian? Do they see a difference between my life and the way the rest of the world lives?

Is my life affecting others in an encouraging way?

Do I look for ways to serve others or help meet someone's needs?

Am I trusting God in every area of my life?

Am I willing to give up something precious for another?

Are my treasures on earth?

Is there sin that I haven't repented of?

Am I living one way 6 days a week, and another way on the 7th day?

Is my love for others evident in the way I speak? Or is love missing from my mouth?

Do I say I love God and yet do not live FOR Him?

Do I justify sin, thinking it's not 'that bad' or that God will forgive me?
Am I more concerned about pleasing others or my God?

Am I trusting Him with my fears? Or do I hold onto them, for fear of trusting Him?

Do I continually devote myself to prayer?

Do I share all I have with anyone who might be in need?
Does my life bear the fruit of the Spirit?
Do I stand strong in the world, and not be OF the world?

Do I go to my Lord first in a crisis and cry out to Him?

Am I reading His word and hungry for it as daily bread?

1 John 1-5

1 John 3:16-24
"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.  But whosoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need, and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?"

"Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth."

"We shall know by this that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before Him, in whatever our heart condemns us; for God is greater than our heart and knows all things. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask, we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. And this is His commandment, that we believe in the name of His Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, just as He commanded us. And the one who keeps His commandments abides in Him, and He in him. And we know by this that He abides in us, by the Spirit whom He has given us."  

Am I obeying his commandments?
Am I showing love with what I do?

Am I doing the things that are pleasing in His sight?

Do I live my life for myself and my own ambitions or for others and ultimately my Lord?

I want my life to give glory to my Creator and please Him in every way.

Honor The Sabbath Day

It took about 2 seconds to think about my title. Today the discussion in Sunday School was centered around the "sabbath" and how that looks to each of us and how we need a day of rest once a week. It was a great reminder of how I need to set aside this day more regularly. I guess that means saying 'no' to things that can keep you too busy. It's really about priority. Another important part of the Sabbath is worship. Taking a day to reflect on the Lord and to honor Him. (Not that you wouldn't honor Him the rest of the week, just to be more conscious of this being HIS day, I think.)

A little country church down the road.

Naturally, after Sunday School was church, which means a time where the church comes together to worship the Lord and gain in knowledge and understanding through His word. Also, it is a time for us to fellowship and encourage one another. To me, this is "church". I love singing to my Lord, and today seemed amazingly refreshing. As I stood singing with my arms raised a mile high I just couldn't explain the amazing peace and joy I felt. There really was no specific reason, just many little things. Life has not amazingly become perfect with no problems, yet in a simple service of worship, I realize His love, forgiveness and grace for me more and more. He really does care for us so well and I'm so thankful.

While washing lettuce a few weeks back, I found this small piece of red lettuce that looked like a heart. What a sweet surprise while working away. I stopped to enjoy it and snapped a picture!

Sometimes- often- He just needs to hear that from us too, that we're thankful for who He is in our lives. Not because He can't operate without our affection and adoration but I believe He really loves us coming to Him with willing and humble hearts, ready to glorify Him with our lives.

That is my greatest desire.

Canning and School- YIKES!

Canning and school. Those are my newest hobbies! LOL Well, they are not really hobbies, as they take up all of my time lately. And guess what? I'm burnt out! haha Here's what's been going on:

Canning is going well. If you've never tried it, start with something simple. Water-bath canning is easiest (also called boiling-water canning). Check out Ball's website for exact directions and ask anyone over 30, they probably have all at least helped. Peaches and tomatoes are pretty easy.

This week I've been canning pears in a light syrup. I saved the peels and cores and used my steamer-juicer to make pear juice. Mmm.. Smells like Fall in here with that going on. I also used up the pears that were too mushy to can by making juice. This is an excellent way to get juice if you have extra fruit on trees, or after canning your fruit, or if you have loaded grapevines. Yum! My family loves homemade juice! For fun you can add club soda and it turns into a fruity soda pop! (Only it's a little bit healthier).

I've also been making a dill relish. We use this all year long for tuna sandwiches, potato salad and hot dogs or hamburgers. The great thing about relish is that it uses up tons of zucchini or yellow squash and cucumbers- whatever you have on hand. There are so many varieties of relish too! I made mine basically like I make my pickles. I add tons of garlic and dill but I added a little bit of red bell pepper too.

(Look how many foods I wrote about just now! Good grief!!)

Last night for dinner we had taco salad and I used my homemade pinto beans/refried beans and garden lettuce. I can't tell you how nice it is to open up a jar and use it for dinner, already made. Or walk to the garden and gather your food. I mixed the beans into the meat (like I've mentioned before). Tonight we're using leftovers to have Tacos with homemade tortillas. So here's another fun thing to make; tortillas. It's not that hard but it does take a little time. Since I had to be in the kitchen all day, I decided to make them early and heat them up for dinner so they are all ready at once. Tortillas only use flour, fat (I used a tiny bit of butter this time), salt, baking powder and water. If I make them more often I'd also experiment with flours and add healthy stuff instead of just using unbleached AP flour.

This week I suffered canning burn out. haha Are you surprised? Have you been there? If you've canned very much at all, it takes some a few times to get it, and others... many more. None the less, that's another reason I have been making pear juice. I just didn't have anymore energy to stand in the kitchen and peel and cut and then wait for the canner. :) It happens. I love to can and have food ready at home for my family because it costs very little. The problem is that I've been working so hard at it that my husband, Derek, noticed and helped me out. He told me not to do it when I'm too worn out. Sometimes it takes someone else to let you know that you are DONE! haha

On the other hand, when fruit is ripe, it has to get done. ugh.

In between canning and the rest of life, school started for us yesterday as well. This year Derek and I decided on My Father's World for our curriculum. So far, I am so pleased with it. For the last couple of years that we've been homeschooling I've used different curriculum and mixed & matched what we had. It worked but it didn't work well for me. I need something that is already planned out for me (the teacher), for the most part. There are too many other things that I have to think about as a mom, wife and teacher that I'd rather leave the researching and gathering of a good curriculum to them. This is a Christian, Bible based program, which is the most important to us.

Amongst the overwhelming-ness of life, I felt so greatly encouraged this weekend too. I started going to "cake decorating lessons" with my MIL and SIL and on the way home I had to pull my car over. I was listening to a Phil Wickham song called "Heaven's Song" and noticed at the same time the magnificent sky toward the west. (Being alone in the car with worship music blasting through my speakers is my most favorite place.) The sun was setting and the view was amazing. The light beams were so brightly shining through the billowy clouds and it really looked as if God were right in the middle of it all, shining through in all His glory. I sat there singing and just stared. He is so amazing! The way he takes care of the details of our lives, down to the smallest thing and also the way in which He is so BIG, grand and amazing!

I felt so thankful that God has given me the life He has. It is rarely an easy life, in some senses but in others, I have His peace. I realized too that when life is so full and overwhelming that I can actually trust His Holy Spirit to get me through a day, and not just get me through but He can make it a successful day. His plans are far greater than mine, above mine.

This was written a couple nights ago. Since then I've canned my peaches and now, I'm taking a small canning break. I have wanted to sew for many weeks now and I really haven't had the time. There's just been too much going on. That will be changing soon. I want to make myself a handbag/purse and with the slow, fall and winter season coming up, that's just what I'll do.

This is a lot of rambling I suppose but I wanted to share the real life I live. I love how God puts times in my life of encouragement in all of the other stuff that's going on. Listen to that song I talked about. It's great! (You probably just heard it on my playlist.)

Complaining. Ugh.

As I'm journeying through the O.T. I'm just overwhelmed with the Word of God and how it still relates to us, to ME today!

I'm all the way into.... Numbers! haha I know, if you've been reading my blog, you know that really... I have taken a LONG time to get here. But I love spending plenty of time reading and then journaling. I do not want to rush through it! (Unless they're 'begetting', of course). LOL There's so much that the Lord spoke to me through His Word this morning.

The first is, in the entire chapter 10, there's an awful lot of complaining going on. Is it ever good to complain? Complaining leads to results but are the results always what you had hoped for? For me, no, they are not.

The Isrealites complain about their situation, their circumstances. I'm so glad I never do that! LOL kidding! (Let me tell you, this was totally convicting.) I highly dislike compaining but I'm guilty of it, for sure. God REALLY does not like it. Why do you suppose that is? Because we are not trusting Him? I think it's mostly because we are just not letting Him be God in our lives, our everything! Well, let's see what He thought about it... In Numbers 11:2, after hearing them complain, it says, " His anger was kindled and the fire burned among them and consumed some of the outskirts of the camp." So how did He feel about it? Well, He wasn't excited- that's for sure!! O, and by the way, they're "circumstances" are much better than being slaves in Egypt! Well.... you'd think they were!

Now, the 600,000 plus Isrealites have been miraculously blessed with manna, food from heaven, but of course, that is not good enough either. They wanted meat! And we can't really blame the Israelites, can we? Would we not do the same thing? I know I get sick of the same food after 2 meals, maybe 3 at the very most... (and that's if it's SO GOOD tasting)! They were remembering the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions and flavorful fish that they at least had in Egypt to eat freely of. Does this make you smile? Does it seem a little ridiculous? Well, I'm still feeling a little convicted about my own life complaints.

So, let's look at manna. Just because I like food and love to learn. :) It says it is like coriander (cilantro seed), and it's appearance like bdellium (an oily gum or a white pearl; a valuable mineral). Mmm tasty. So.. was it kind of chewy? LOL They would gather it, grind it and make cakes with it. And I'm just guessing that these cakes don't have cream cheese frosting! ;) So, OK, they SHOULD be grateful but I could see how the same old thing to eat could get old.

And then of course, their leader, Moses, complains about them complaining. haha Seriously? This is so much like life now. Plus he wonders how in the world God could possibly find enough meat to give them! Moses wants to know, would they have to kill all of their animals? Or should all the fish from the sea be gathered together for them? (Remember there are over 600,000 of them!)

God listens to him and actually answers him with meat. It says, "Consecrate yourselves for tomorrow and you shall eat meat...You shall eat not one day, nor 10 days, nor 20 days, but a whole month..."

I have to be honest. When I got to this verse I was like, "Are you kidding me? He's going to reward them by giving in to their complaining?" Well, not totally. (wink wink) It's always good to read the whole context! The rest of that verse says "...until it comes out of your nostrils and becomes loathsome to you; because you have rejected the Lord who is among you..."

So, Moses asked, where will this meat come from, Lord? That would be just too many people for you to feed! How is that possible? "And the Lord said to Moses, "Is the Lord's power limited? Now you shall see whether my word will come true for you or not."

So do you want to know what happened next? O you probably already know. But go ahead and read through it. Numbers 11:31-35.

God is so much smarter than we are. LOL He knows what we need. He knows what is good for us. Can you believe He even knows the appropriate time for the appropriate action? He can even feed 600,000 people! Maybe you're thinking, of course He can because He did that kind of stuff all of the time in the Bible. Have you forgotten? How has he shown His power in your life? He can even help you get through the month's budget. He can even get you through a hard winter. He can even give you patience, or the tools for it during those hard days with the kids. He can even guide you in your relationships. He can even be near you when you're afraid of what's to come.

Are you listening, Kristin? Are you listening to? Is there something that you complain about too much? Give it to the Lord. That is my desire anyway. When something comes up that seems so difficult to bear, to go through, I want to see it through His eyes. Not to see myself as the victim of a circumstance, but as a willing vessel for the Lord to use.

I am SO thankful for the hope that I have in Him. I can complain, to my friends, my husband. I can even complain to the Lord but will it give me the results I'm looking for? How did it work out for those 600,000? Rest in him. Realize that He wants you to to trust Him! Instead of complaining, find a reason to be truly grateful.

The World's Got Talent

These are a few pictures of the area where I live. Beautiful country.

More on my Exodus reading....

I must have read this before, but you know how you read the Word and get one thing, then read again and get MORE? Well.....

Exodus 35 starting with verse 4, "And Moses spoke to all the congregation of the sons of Israel, 'This is the thing which the Lord has commanded, saying, "Take from among you a contribution to the Lord; whoever is of a willing heart, let him bring it as the Lord's contribution: gold, silver and bronze, and blue, purple, scarlet material, fine linen, goats' hair, and rams' skins dyed red and porpoise skins, and acacia wood..."

"Whoever is of a willing heart". Some people's view, (and sometimes even my own view), is of a God who demands that orders be done. Sometimes, I forget that He is this kind. He wants those with a WILLING heart to bring these contributions. And how does that make the people feel when it's asked for in that way? I know with my kids if I let them choose to do something special, it goes better than giving them an order to be kind and do this thing. How would YOU feel if God asked you to bring Him a contribution? And it was for building the tabernacle. It's even more than just doing something special for someone "famous", this is GOD! I would hope that I would have a willing heart to give away everything to my Lord!

"And everyone who's heart stirred in him, and everyone whose spirit moved him, came and brought the Lord's contribution for the work of the tent of meeting and for all it's service and for it's Holy garments." Ex 35:21 (I would think that anyone NOT giving would be feeling a wee bit awkward. ha ha!).

"Everyone who could make a contribution of silver and bronze brought the Lord's contribution." They all helped out - if they could. Of course some might not have the expensive things, but surely there was at least one way in which they could be of help.

So, what's this about talent? Let's see: Verse 25a "And all the skilled women spun with their hands, and brought what they had spun."

Then God called Bezalel by name and filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all craftsmanship to make designs for working with gold, bronze, silver, for cutting stones and making settings, and in the carving of wood so as to perform in every inventive work. He also put in his heart to teach...he also filled [him and 2 others] with the skill to perform every work of an engraver and of a designer and of an embroiderer...and of a weaver as a performers of work and maker of designs, also construction.

"Then Moses called Bezalel, Oholiab and every skillful person in whom the Lord had put skill, everyone whose heart stirred him, to come to the work to perform it." 36:2

As a side note, the people were bringing so many materials that they had more than enough so the Lord commanded them to quit bringing it. LOL Wow! Are we that giving? That God has to tell us to stop?

The Lord put the skill in these people. This was long before there were modern day tools. Long before modern looms were invented, jewelry -making tools..etc. Yet, I can't help but think that even people now, skilled people, have been given their talent from God, their creator. I'd like to give Him credit anyway. :) And what a thought that if they were using their talent for their Creator, how much more glorified He would be. :) It gives me shivers almost just thinking about it.

Here are things God has blessed me with the ability of doing, and not just doing, but having a passion for:

Cooking nutritious AND delicious foods.

I enjoy gazing (some would call it staring...)at creation, whether that is unique people, flowers, sunny skies, gray skies, other's talent...

Working with my hands, spinning wool, crocheting, sewing.

Express my passions, thoughts and emotions through music, singing, writing and drawing and prayer.

Working in the dirt, watching miracles grow in my garden.

Taking care of people and having compassion on the poor and generously giving.

Teaching others the things I have learned from others that have taught me!

Being a mom and a wife who loves and teaches her family about the Creator and Lover of all people!

Being a Godly woman and serving Him with my whole heart.

Now, before you're thinking that I'M thinking I have it all down... I do not and I know it. But these are my passions. I've failed miserably many times and also consider myself a Jill of All Trades, Master of None. :)

What passions and talents has God given you? What contributions could you give to Him? Could you use any of those to glorify Him? I have to think that yes, yes you can. God has not called me to live a super-fantastic elaborate life. He has called me to be the best that He has created me to be..... and I love that.

Crossing Your Red Sea

The Red Sea, present time


This morning, my kids are at Grandma's and I have some much needed quiet time in my home- alone. It has been so refreshing and encouraging for me that I wanted to share it with you.



I have been reading through the Bible slowly and really soaking it in- not to just get through it in a year's time right now. I've never been able to read straight through it but this time I hope will be different. It's been amazing- the things God has revealed to me that I can apply for my life now, and they things that happened so many years ago in the O.T. .



I'm in Exodus 13, 14 and 15. The Israelites have been let go by Pharaoh and God is now leading them out of there.



Ex. 13:17 explains the way God led the people. He chose to lead them around a war and not through it, so that they did not see it and change their minds about leaving Egypt. So He led them through the wilderness TO the Red Sea. ha ha It struck me that God has good plans. He knows what will happen in the future. He knows the way we should go. The wilderness doesn't seem to be the best way for the people, for us even, but sometimes it's necessary. And leading them TO the Red Sea??? ha ha Doesn't He just always have a way of planning "the impossible" situations to display His power and glory?! He knew exactly where they were going.






Ex 13:21-22 God went before them in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night, to give them light so that they could travel day and night. "He did not take away the pillar of cloud by day or the pillar of fire by night, from before the people." How incredible! To have and KNOW that God's presence is going before them, guiding them. Again, He has such a way of making some impossible, hopeless situations in order to display more of Himself. (I thought of people that have been healed from things like cancer, or even just God bringing them through it and not healing them... He can still be glorified, either way.)


Red Sea, present day. Isn't it beautiful?


Ex 14:4 God's speaking..."I will [do these things] and I will be honored through Pharaoh and all his army and the Egyptians will know that I am the Lord." The answer to so many things God does is so that people will know He is God! This made me remember that in everything, He supplies all my need. Think of the ways you personally have been taken care of. The essential things to life maybe? A home, food, money. He supplies all of our needs. Somethings that I'm struggling with lately are the ways I'm lacking as a mom and wife. He supplies my need even there. I forget to ask Him to help me get through hard days. He can even give me the patience I need for a day doing school with the kids, during bad attitudes and bickering between siblings. Not to mention the many times that I'm a grouch through it all! He IS all I need.



Thank You Lord, for being everything I need in every way. You are sufficient. You are all I need!










Ex. 14:10 The Egyptians were chasing after the Israelites to bring them back... "And as Pharaoh drew near, the sons of Israel looked and behold, the Egyptians were marching after them and they became very frightened; so the sons of Israel cried out to the Lord. Then they said to Moses, "Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt? Is this not the word we spoke to you in Egypt saying, 'Leave us alone that we may serve the Egyptians'? For it would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the wilderness."



How easy it is for us to lose focus. When something hard happens, we often question God's faithfulness and we think that we know a better way. They wanted to keep serving the Egyptians?!? They didn't even get it. Little did they know what would soon happen and how it would change their lives forever.....or it should. :)



Ex 14:13-15 "But Moses said to the people, "Do not fear! Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord which He will accomplish for you today; for the Egyptians whom you have seen today, you will never see them again, forever. The Lord will fight for you while you keep silent. Then the Lord said to Moses, "Why are you crying out to me? Tell the sons of Israel to go forward. And as for you, lift up your staff and stretch out your hand over the sea, and divide it and the sons of Israel shall go through the midst of the sea on dry land."





Wow. Stand by and see the salvation of the Lord. I know that God will not rescue me from every hard situation, but there's a beauty in that. We can rest in Him! We should rest in Him! We can not fear and be assured that He will not leave us in the midst of it. He will get us through.



Hopefully this will encourage you. Do you have a "wilderness or a red sea"? If you are going through something "impossible", you can know God's peace. You can have His salvation! He may not snatch you right out of the difficulty, but He WILL see you through!





Thank Him for the ways that He supplies your needs! Do not forget where He has called you from and what He has called you to! For me, I'm called to be a Mom and wife. He will give me what I need to accomplish that well.

A Beautiful Garden

This is my husband and I- almost 9 years ago!

This weekend my husband and I had the true privilege of being one of a few couples to speak at a Marriage Retreat with our church. Wow! It's amazing how when you say YES to God, He allows you to be part of his amazing plans! He's growing my husband and I in new ways -even just recently through preparing our notes! I keep telling him [my husband], "There's nothing more attractive to a wife than watching her husband grow in the Lord!" I love it! I can't wait to see the intricate ways God will continue to make Himself known in these couples lives over the next few days and weeks and hopefully much longer! I do want to keep praying for them and for us!


Our session was called "Working in Your Fields", and we paralleled a marriage to a garden. In our message, the soil represented our relationship with the Lord and the importance of Him being our foundation, the focus of our marriage. The Seeds were what you sow into your marriage, good or bad, love vs. hatred, communication and honesty vs. neglect and lying. Weeding is kind of obvious- keeping out predators; keeping the enemy from devouring your family! And another important part; tending to the garden God has given you! Spend time with your family! Be thankful for them! Take seriously the responsibility and opportunity that the Lord has given you!


Just a sort of encouragement to you, because you may not have been there for this awesome time. If you have a marriage that looks hopeless, because of sin or suffering or something that the enemy is trying to use against you... have hope! Go to the Lord! Repent if it's sin, and be thankful that God loves you guys and wants to restore what's been broken- plowing up the garden to make it better! On the other hand, if things are going well and you love your spouse with all your heart and have a growing and wonderful relationship, protect your garden! Keep the weeds out and keep planting seeds of love! Ask God for grace to sustain you.

He is Faithful

This weekend I'm reminded of God's faithfulness! I've been reading, very slowly, through the Bible for the past couple of months, taking my time to really understand each thing I'm reading. I've picked up on details that I've never noticed before, by reading this way.

I was reading in Exodus and I had so much to discuss with my husband. :) (Those who know me well, know that I always ask questions! I love to learn and I'm just curious!) He doesn't always know the answers either but it's fun to discuss it all with him! Here's an example of what God's been teaching me!

Back in Genesis, God tells Abraham that his descendants will be enslaved for 400 years! Can you imagine?

So...in Exodus, it happens. Abraham had so many relatives that it worried the Egyptians. They knew the Hebrews were more and mightier than they were! It just seems strange to me how they were overtaken by this other people group. And maybe the Hebrews didn't know this would happen. Maybe they did. Didn't they have some sort of history scroll? ha ha Or parchment or stone?(Can't remember what they used in those early days.) They must not have known this would happen or their mighty men would do something to stop it, right? The Egyptians took over and made them slaves. Is it really that easy to be in control of other people?? Well, the Hebrew people were living in Egypt. They weren't Egyptians, so I imagine they were just honored guests that turned into slaves conveniently for the Egyptians. Here they just live normal lives and then the next day (or days), their lives are totally changed, most likely to them it seemed it was for the worse. It says in Ex. 1:14 that the Egyptians "made their lives bitter with hard labor..."But to God, it was in His plans. He was not shocked! He knew that this day would happen, and He knew when the exact day was too!!

Does is seem similar to other times in history when large people groups were taken over or where there was much hopelessness? Jews, again during the holocaust were treated so badly. And as time gets closer to the return of Jesus, sadly, the world is not becoming a better place. It's getting harder and harder for many people! Basic morality is crumbling, life is not thought of as sacred, and families are being persuaded to exchange good for bad. There are fears for jobs, food, homes, and our health and the possibility of not even having any say in your own life and choices. How hopeless is all of that?!

Does God know about this day? Does God know that there are people suffering?

Of course He does! Is He is also calling us to live more simply, wisely and Godly? I think so. I can't imagine life without the hope of Jesus Christ though, I'll tell you that!! In our family right now, we're just pluggin' along but there have been difficult times in the past. God knew about each one of these and He has been SO faithful to take care of us. If you feel worried about things that may come about in your life, or that are already happening; whether it's a loss, pain, money, marriage or worry about your kids- Cry out to Jesus! And know that He knows!! You don't have to be alone, going through something hard. We really shouldn't even be worrying!

"There is hope for the helpless, rest for the weary, and love for the broken heart. There is grace and forgiveness, mercy and healing; He'll meet you wherever you are! Cry out to Jesus!" (Lyrics from Third Day's song: Cry out to Jesus).

I'd just like to encourage anyone who feels like life is too much for them to handle. Actually, I believe it would be if I didn't have the Lord. "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you shall be saved!" You will be! Not saved from heartache in this life, but saved from going through it alone. Forgiven for your own sin ...loved and given another chance. If you already know the Lord, read the Word! Open it up and see what God wants you to know!

In Ex.3:7-8 it says, "And the Lord said, "Surely I have seen the affliction of My people who are in Egypt, and have given heed to their cry because of their taskmasters, for I am aware of their sufferings. So I have come down to deliver them from the power of the Egyptians, and to bring the up from that land to a good and spacious land, to a land flowing with milk and honey..."

Be encouraged!

January Thoughts

As you're reading, enjoy the photos of the "paper" doll I made for my daughter this Christmas...


This is my daughter's favorite outfit!
Here's the little kitty.
And here's where you can see how she works: Velcro.
Here's her Sunday dress and shoes.

Here's her swimming suit and party dress!

Gotta have Footie PJ's and a summer dress..

It's a cozy day for us at home. I woke up to very warm and cozy wood stove heat, which means my husband thought of us before he left for work. ahh nice guy.

I'm feeling kind of ...like I'm anticipating something. Maybe it's just winter melting into spring (after few more months), maybe it's getting organized after the holidays, maybe it's making plans and goals for my business, health, weight and home stuff. Who knows! I'm hoping it's because of what God will be doing in our family. This week has been a milestone for me. I'm -finally -willingly allowing my heart to sacrifice a dream, in order to obey God and really be open to what He wants for our family. It always seems hard until you make the step, then when you're willing to "let go" it's almost easier. I breathe deeper, feel more peaceful and become excited to see God's plans unfold because they are not mine. I love this place. God is my Lord. He is in control of my life, I might as well surrender! LOL

I'm kind of late for resolutions but maybe if I start them now, I'll keep momentum for a little while longer than usual. In general they are (what they are every year): to do better! (Eating-lifestyle choices, relationships, discipline, organization, time- priorities). Even if I can't keep my resolution for a lengthy time, it's always good for me to step back and evaluate my life to see where it is and where it should be.

Is it because I'm past the 30-year mark, that I'm beginning to see glimpses of myself the way other's see me? That alone makes me want to stick to my resolutions!! haha Not because I need to compete with someone else or even to attain to their standard but ... we all appear differently than we mean to at some point, right? My heart is that I want to be a kind, compassionate person who displays and lives out the fruits of the spirit (love, joy, peacefulness, kindness, self-control, perseverance.... is that all of them?) But I miss the mark so many times and may come across to some as not having that heart at all. That's sad.

Well, thankfully I'm a growing branch!! I get pruned and trimmed down as the Holy Spirit works in me. I love that. I do not have to be perfect (in myself), just complete (in Him). I'm just living and doing by faith and grateful that He will perfect these things in me!

The Rain in Spain Stays Mainly in the Plain

.....The RAAAAIN...the RAAAAIN....

The forecast for the next 200 days: rain, with a chance of showers and snow. :)

My munchkins last spring... in our back yard

One of my favorite pictures of Talia

 So, it's fall now. I'm discovering things I needed to do that I haven't yet done before the rain came. I did get one last lawn mowing in, a bunch of canning done and Pampered Chef Shows accomplished. (I'm a consultant).

Also, we did quite a bit of family stuff but it just feels like, I should have done MORE projects. With the 'help' of 3 small home-schooled children and being a Mom who likes to do lots of homemaking things/projects, it's hard to keep your house straightened.

Aren't we thankful for modern conveniences?

I really wanted to FINISH my fall cleaning and get rid of excess. So, now with the rain, hopefully I will become more energetic about getting the other things done too.

  How do Mom's do it?

Wouldn't you love to be a fly on the wall... at other's houses during their day?

It encourages me to see other mom's houses not "perfect"....Clean, but not perfect, I should say.

This is one of the days I let the boys play
with the hose in the garden. What fun for boys!

I keep thinking I should pretend like we're moving out and into a new house and get rid of a ton of stuff. Why? Because I LOVE the feeling of moving INTO a big space and just having what you need. No, we won't start sleeping on only matresses. We'll save the things that are precious to us but really... the more we have, the more we have to put away! (I heard that somewhere.) So, because I'm a 'list' kind of girl, I'm going to make one for some of these needful things to do.

Don't you just feel less stressed out when everything is in order anyway? I do! I have a wonderful husband who helps me but I want to work harder than I have been!

As I'm writing this, I'm realizing that God wants me to do MY best. If it's about raising the kids to be kind-hearted, disciplined and followers of Christ, do my best. If it's about being a faithful, supportive, loving wife- do my best. (ha ha...that sounds funny; almost like an exageration but REALLY my best!!) If it's about making sure the laundry is done everyday- my best. This doesn't mean I'll be THE best! I will not ever be perfect. But I do need to use the time God has given me, wisely.



Aidan loves watermelon



These are the things that I think about often- that need doing and they are so hard for me to get done. Maybe I'll add them to my list this week:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
~ write letters to our grandma's (long distance) so they remember how much we do love them and think about them

My Great Grandma with my kids. I love her so.

My husband's grandma holding our youngest

~visit with my friends more



Some of my best friends that I rarely see...

~be there for others more even if it's not convenient for me

~have more patience with my children and sit with them and hug them more (I find myself sitting in church doing this every Sunday and dream of taking more time to do this at home.)

Our baby girl.

Our Cowboys.

~do things for people that are encouraging and do it annonymously. (My best friend and I did this so much when we were young.)

~say 'no' more often. :)

~Be honest about how I really feel TO the person who's asking. (Why, o why is that SO hard?)

~Forgive more and let things go that need to be let go of.

Gosh, I think I could go on longer but it's kind of getting to me. I really, really want to be worthy of my existance on this earth. God has my purpose planned and I soooo, do not want to dissapoint Him.

Tomorrow is not even Monday. It's Thursday. And actually I won't even start this tomorrow. I will start it tonight. At 12:30AM I will write a letter to my Great-Grandma and...

tell her how much I love her and appreciate her.

My great grandma with her great-great granddaughter

She's going to be 91 or 92 next week. And she is one of my favorites!