This blog is dedicated to Lori, who reminded me tonight in Bible study that I actually have one.  Ha ha!  It has been awhile, but I figure it can't hurt to get back on here.  Even if it takes awhile before I get on here again.  I've been busy, busy, busy!!  This has been a challenging season in my life, but it has really been a sweet one.  I have felt really grateful this year.  Through all of the minor afflictions I've gone through, you know....life, I have been more aware of all that I truly have.  There are so many people around me that have been dealt a much harder hand.  We are always going to have troubles, the real question is, what are we going to focus on?  Our troubles or our blessings?  Our personal shortcomings or our all powerful, yet friendly Father? 

I will be the first to say that I do not always walk this out.  Getting stressed out over the little things has been a major struggle of mine since I've become a mom.  I laugh and tell my kids that I was so laid back before they were born, but it's true.  When I had less to handle, I had a much easier time trusting God's grace to be sufficient in my life.  But it was a shallow trust. 

Really, I think every season in my life is a "challenging" season.  Yet, that in itself blesses me, because I know that it means I am perpetually growing.  The Lord is so good that He won't let me settle for less than He has created me to be, less than His image.  What a privilege.  Perspective is everything.  When I am in the thick of it I can't always, well to be honest, I can't usually see the bigger purpose for my circumstances.  Still, through all my failures, He's still faithful and He's working!! 

So I am eager and expectant that the Lord is bringing forth something that I couldn't buy with all the sun-shiny, zippity doo da days in the world.  True and deep trust.  For that, I am truly grateful.

Absence Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Absence makes the <3 grow fonder.  What an incredibly true statement.  My mom stopped by and scooped up my kiddies on Sunday for a couple days.  Believe me, it was a welcomed break!!  I have been home with my kids this summer.  What a blessing!  It can at times be challenging as well though.  I took them to work last week and it was causing some tension in the relationships I guess you could say.  It's one thing if your kids act up at home, but when they act up at your job, it's all the more frustrating.  When my parents called to see if they could take the kids, I all but packed them up and sat them at the curb.  Lol!  Not really, but there stuff was all out on the porch and my son had picked up his bag and was walking to get into the car before it was even in park.  I think he was excited to get a little break too!  ;)

Well, let me tell you, I know my kids have had a blast!!  They have been swimming, playing at the playground, glazing pottery they made with Grandma awhile back.  Plus, they've been "planking."  If you don't know what I'm talking about, it's when people lay down in random places and take pictures and post online.  Google it.  It's random, but ever since my kids saw a video about it, they have been into it.  My parents took pics and actually posted it for them.  Children's hearts just need that time with grandparents.  I was blessed with it as a child and I feel it really shaped me.  We all need to feel special, and no one does does that better than grandparents.

I was ready to get rid of the little ones, but seriously missed them as soon as they rode down the road.  I have thought about them when I lay down my head and when I open my eyes.  I have however had a chance to just "be."  I have gotten things done without fussing.  I have been spontaneous!  That doesn't happen very often with kids!  I jumped in the car and surprised a friend that lives an hour away witth a visit.  This morning I'm going to run errands without kids in tow.  I won't have to get them around and in and out of the car at every stop.  I am so thankful for a break, but what I am most thankful for, is missing my kids.  I think this mushy emotion can help us to be better in our relationship.  It stirs up our love and allows a smile to come back between us. 

I'm picking them up today.  I sure look forward to seeing them!!  Give your kids a kiss today.  :) 

Here's a few pics from their time away...

Leah, planking with Grandma

Playing on the playground



Planking

Swinging with G-pa

Best Uncle Ever!!  Uncle Charles

His Great Love

God loves us.  He loves us all right where we are.  There is nothing we could ever do to make Him love us any more or any less.  He is love.  He is mercy.  He is acceptance.  If not for that, where would any of us be.  Our righteousness is but filthy rags.  What Jesus did for us is the only thing that makes us pure.  Praise God for that!  We are free.  May we all learn how to walk more in that freedom that He purchased for us.  I am just especially thankful right now for His light burden, because I sure don't want a heavy one!!  I would drop it for sure.

In Search of Lost Treasure

It's funny.  When I first began my relationship with the Lord, I did a pretty good job of laying my burdens down.  When I was troubled, I took my concerns to the Him, and would fairly quickly come to the realization that I was okay just because I had Jesus. 

I have noticed lately that I need to get back in that simple, yet very effective habit.  My thinking has taken a slight shift, that can leave me in turmoil when I have issues, instead of leading me into sweet peace.  I have been thinking more along these lines:  "I'll be okay when Jesus shows me the answer to my problems."  That works out for me every now and then.  I can go to Him in prayer and get an immediate "This is what you need to do" type of answer.  More times than not though, He is working on me in the waiting.  Really, He is the answer. 

I can rest in the trust that the Lord will lead me and guide me, in His own ways and in His perfect timing.  I am being more mindful to exchange anxiety and worry, for His peace and His love that casts out all fear.  Going back in search of a treasure that I lost on this path of life.  :)  Hoping to keep a hold of it this time!!

Getting Started

So.......I decided to enter the "blog world."  This morning, well early morning at 4:00 am, the open water bottle on my nightstand got knocked over by my pillow and poured out on the floor.  Lame.  I woke up and couldn't get back to sleep.  I layed in bed and had some thoughts. 

I went back to work this week.  (I'm a preschool teacher off for the summer, and I had a week of summer camp.)  Well, anyways...I was realizing in the early morning hours that when I am busy working, I spend less and less time dealing with heart issues.  I have so many other things that I have to deal with on a daily basis, that the inner workings of my heart go on the back burner.  I like down time, and I have been spending way too much time on Facebook.  I love me some FB, but it's been taking up time that could be spent more productively.  I come up with a one-liner to describe "What's on my mind," but I'm not ever getting to the deep things, just the surface.  That's when I got the idea:  I like to spend time on the computer to chill, so why not blog, so I can kill two birds with one stone. 

I want to be aware of what's really on my mind.  I don't want to go through life unaware.  Last night I sat in the summer air and watched my kids catching lightening bugs.  I love how they are little lights that illuminate the night sky.  Here and there, they bring hope and a smile to my face.  I felt like the Lord wanted to open my blind eyes and deaf ears.  I received an email this morning that talked about the Lord wanting to do that very thing with His children.  I think this blog is a way for Him to do that in me. 

Well, here I go.....