Thank you

I have been struggling....not so much within myself but for someone, someone very dear and close to my heart. I have often been through spiritual struggles for me, and others. This one is different...it's closer to home. I have cried out to the Lord for guidance, and grace , and wisdom. I have pleaded with him to reveal himself to this person, knowing that he will, but will this person listen, or see him? I was reminded by someone that no matter what this person does, or choses, God will never stop pursuing. He LOVES us so much that he will never stop!!!! I know this to be true because of how he never gave up on me. We as humans can only go so far, and our energy runs out, our hopes dwindle, our tears run dry. BUT My Lord will never run out of energy, or lose hope, or ever stop shedding tears for us...and with HIM, I can have the strength to endure. It is so true that out of our most difficult experiences, God will bring forth beauty, if we let him. Thank you Lord Jesus.

New Life!!!!

It is -2 degrees outside, snow every where, but I can't help but dream about the spring and planting a garden. Every year I have grand plans of vegetables, herbs and gorgeous flowers...but every year there seems to be something that hinders those grand plans, whether it be pregnancy, new baby, illness, extreme heat, and busyness. Last year I think I accomplished the most and really cleaned out my perennial bed, did some transplants, and grew some herbs. I love to garden, I love the smell of the dirt, the satisfaction of putting something in the ground, caring for it, and seeing the result. Fresh flowers in the house, pungent herbs spicing up our food, bees and butterfly's galore...aaaahhhhh!
Growing up in the southwest Spring was very different than it is in the Midwest. Often the winter felt like spring with 50-60 degree weather, plants that don't die completely, and grass that stays kinda green all year long. While all of that is not bad, I don't think I truly learned to appreciate the Spring until I moved to the Midwest. When everything is covered with snow for up to 5 months, and the ground is frozen and nothing is green, Spring brings a whole new life. One of my absolute favorite things is to see the tiny little crocus' sprouting up from the ground, sometimes even before the snow is all gone! Then you start to see the tulips, and the perennials start their ascent. Oh how I love Spring!!!
I am amazed at how incredible our world is. God reminds us of his power, his gentleness, his unfailing love, and his glorious gift of new life through his creation. So while I am sitting here wrapped up to keep from being  cold, I can dream about the garden I will plant, and thank my Heavenly Father for his amazing creation!!

Snow days!!

We are on our third day of snow days here. For my son, who takes some classes at the High School it is a good thing. The girls on the other hand asked me last night if they could have a snow day too...being homeschooled it does not matter what the weather is outside....school goes on!! They want to play outside....but it is 1 degree out, so I am thinking NO! I think I may lighten their load today, and maybe we can snuggle up and watch a movie together....I suppose they can have a little bit of a snow day too:)

Change..is it good or bad...or BOTH!

This year has already brought about many changes and we aren't even done with the first month. I guess when you have 7 people in your family change is inevitable.
First off......LEXI IS DIAPER FREE!!!!!!!!!! My youngest daughter is potty trained...finally:) We have had diapers or pull- ups in our house for almost 10 yrs. I love the idea of not having to haul pull-ups or diapers along with wipes and diaper cream......I am almost giddy!!! Don't get me wrong, I loved when my kids were little and I really did not mind changing diapers. But when you have changed diapers for 10yrs. straight.......it gets a little old.
Secondly, our oldest, Kaleb turned 18 earlier this month, and is a senior this year. He joined the NAVY a week ago, and will leave for boot camp on August 3rd. It's very strange to think that in about 6 months he will no longer be living with us. I am very excited to see where God takes him, and the man he is going to become! I believe one of the hardest parts of parenting is letting go. They really aren't ours to begin with, they are God's. We spend the early years bonding with them and protecting them from everything. As they get older they still need us, but at a distance. Our desire to protect them does not ever change, and we have to start letting go. When they get even older often they don't want us around at ALL...and we feel as if we need to protect them even more. I can't imagine what it is going to be like when he leaves and our desire to protect will still be there, and he won't be!!! I have often said that being a parent is the most gratifying, and most painful job there ever was. BUT.....even though he will not be here with us, God will still be with him..... wherever he goes! As for us...we pray, daily for Kaleb, and for our hearts to be at peace:)

For some change is hard...thankfully God has wired me differently! I like change, is it always good? No. Is it always bad? NO. Is sometimes both? Almost always!!!

Amazing Grace

 This last week God has taken me on a journey through His Grace. I am quick to expect his grace for me, and yet not show that grace to others. Grace does not mean giving in to something, or being a doormat. Grace is about loving others, no matter what the circumstances. I admit that I have not thought about His grace much, until recently. I look back on the events that led me to Christ and I am overwhelmed with His Amazing Grace! If not for that grace, I would not be here today. 

For the Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.    Luke 19:10

We have had some recent events that have made me focus on the Grace that I was shown, and has forced me to decide whether or not I am going to show that same kind of Grace. Trust me....it's not easy!

God continues to speak to my heart about the His grace to me, and the grace I was shown by others. As I have been praying about this I ran across this quote:

You will never be called upon to give anyone more grace than God has already given you - Max Lucado.

This really convicted me. I was so undeserving, and so unlovable, and yet I was shown limitless grace by countless people. Not only did God bestow His grace on me, he used other people to show me what it looks like! How can I walk around unwilling to give people grace when it was so freely shown to me. I did not know that some of those people would make such an impact on my life, and forever remind me of what it looks like to be obedient to God. What if God wants me to be that to someone else? What if I am so busy worrying about myself that I miss that opportunity to show God's grace to someone?  I am praying that He will clearly show those people to me, and that most importantly I will be open to hearing him, and be obedient.

And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness. Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ's sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.      2 Corinthians 12:9-10

Organization...... Who ME?

I have been looking for a better way to organize my home-school. I always get really excited when I start a new thing, and then the newness wears off and well, I get frustrated. I think I may have found a solution that will work for my family! They are called work boxes....it's actually very simple (which I need). Each child has a set of boxes, and in each box is a subject, I fill the boxes each night with the next days work, along with instructions for that subject. When they are finished they return the work to the box for me check.

I was told that because of my personality I will never be organized...that was almost like a challenge to me! While it doesn't come easy to me, I still enjoy having an organized house, and I am willing to work hard to get it there. What's the point of this post? Well I don't know, maybe I am starting to enjoy writing down my thoughts.....never thought that would happen:) For those of you that are writers.....THANKS ALOT!!!! 

Stay Tuned for more of my organizational thoughts........hopefully:)

Wow....has it been that long???

Well, it has been over a year and a half since I have written on here!! I have missed it, and have been inspired by a friend to go back to it.