Expand

He was the one who prayed to the God of Israel, "Oh, that you would bless me and expand my territory! Please be with me in all that I do,
and keep me from all trouble and pain!" And God granted him his request.
1 Chronicles 4:10

So, I’ve been praying. God had already revealed that He was leading my family a new direction…a bit of an Extreme Home Makeover , but some of those changes are in the little things too. It’s not just about simplifying our lives, eliminating distractions, and growing our family… It’s also about little things for me.

Years ago, the Lord had placed it on my heart to minister to homeschool mamas in my community. He had placed me in a unique situation where I was meeting a wide variety of mamas. At the park, in my classes, at church, at the homeschool group I joined. Time and again, I would meet a new-to-me mama and she would confess her loneliness or her need for fellowship with other homeschooling moms. Oh, my heart cries out! I feel your pain, Sister! ♥ So, I started hosting  a monthly moms’ night…A Gathering of local homeschooling mamas meeting for a little food, fun, and fellowship. Three years later, I find that I am the one being blessed as I get to witness new friendships being born before my eyes, precious prayers exchanged, and laughter…lots and lots of carefree laughter. So good for the soul!

I recently asked the Lord, Is this still Your Will for me? Shall I continue to provide this meeting place? Is there more you would have me do? Oh, that you would bless me…again?…and expand my territory! It is for You, LORD, for Your Glory, that I do this…Be with me in all that I do, and keep me from all trouble and pain! 
And the Lord granted me my request.

Starting with the expansion of my blog, to share a little more of our family life as dedicated homeschoolers (Really, anyone who homeschools has to be pretty dedicated!) and the everpresent goal of seeking the Lord in all we do.

I appreciate your prayers in this, for the days ahead and for the challenges the big changes are sure to bring.

Lemons

“When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

I’ve heard this said many times over the years. In fact, many of those times, it was heard coming out of my mouth! I am not an optimistic, sunshiny person by nature…I speak sarcasm fluently. I am easily discouraged and short tempered. This is the result of many years of allowing my failures and short-comings define me…instead of listening to my SAVIOR who loves me.

Bitter…

I don’t want to bitter. Lemons are bitter…sour…

…but I don’t have to be!

It is a choice for me to look for God’s handiwork in my life…and marvel in it.
It is a choice for me to listen for His still small voice…
and obey.
It is a choice for me to speak words of thanksgiving…
when I’d rather cry in self-pity.

And yet I wouldn’t have it any other way!

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."
-Philippians 4:13

So today, instead of making lemonade, I made Lemon Brownies (Lemonies? Yellowies?)

Plans

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil,
to give you a future and a hope.” 
-Jeremiah 29:11

Two weeks ago, we received a call at 9 o’clock at night from my husband’s stepmother. An unusual time for her to be calling, we knew something wasn’t quite right…

“Your dad’s not doing too well…I’m not sure how long he has…I can’t tell you whether or not to come, but…”

When the phone rang the following morning at 7am, any indecision about if we should go, vanished. Now the question was…how? We had no “extra money” for such a long road trip. So we prayed. And we asked others to pray for us to find a way…we needed a PLAN…God’s plan, not ours.

“Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will hear you.”
-Jeremiah 29:12

We decided that we would delay paying some bills in order to go. It would be very tight (especially with gas at $4 a gallon), but we would go.

And then God…
…He heard our prayers and delivered a gift to our doorstep that filled us with HOPE wiped away our worries. A large monetary gift from dear friends that only God could have sent to us…and he did. Thank you, Father God.

We left the next morning, anticipating a 10 to 12 hour drive ahead of us, with snow in the forecast. We hit snowy roads an hour or so from home…our driving slowed and arrival time was pushed back. Better to be safe, than sorry…

180 miles from home…we pulled over to refill our wiper fluid. As my husband hops out of our truck, he discovers a giant staple jammed into our front tire. “Hey, this is from my work!” Wait…what?! You mean your work that’s almost 200 miles from here??? Oh LORD…You carry us safely in the palm of Your Hand. Thank you, LORD, thank you…

Another delay as we get our tire repaired…no, replaced…times two!…*cha-ching! cha-ching!*…Ouch!

At this point we realized that the gift from our friends just doubled in value. Without it, we would have had to turn around, having only enough money to get us home. But God had different plans for us. We continued on, completely aware of God working in our lives. Thank you, LORD!

During our long drive, we had been concerned that we might not make it in time to see my father-in-law again…that God might call him Home before we arrived. Why do we worry?? Did we not just see God’s amazing Provision? Did we not see His miraculous Deliverance? Did we not? We did…

We did make it to see him…in fact, his fever dropped and his mind cleared while we were there. We were able to enjoy precious time with him that we couldn’t have asked for, yet God delivered. My God is so good…

“You will seek me and find me,
when you seek me with all your heart.”
-Jeremiah 29:13

Thank you, Father God, for your Perfect Provision for our family. Thank you for giving us your Peace and Love so abundantly. Thank you for carrying us through this time, protecting us, comforting us. Be with our earthly father until You call him Home.
In Your Son’s Precious Name,
Amen.

Celebrating

“Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy.

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work:

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates:

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.”
Exodus 20:8-11

A few years ago, I bought a book, Celebrating Biblical Feasts, to add to our homeschool library. I don’t know if it was procrastination or just forgetfulness, but I haven’t had a chance to use it until this year. While I was recovering from my surgeries this winter, my eyes fell on the book and I dug in.

For several weeks now, we have been observing the Sabbath. Now, I should explain…My husband works in retail and his scheduled hours do not always allow for weekends off. In fact, they rarely do. How can we honor the LORD? How can WE keep the Sabbath day as a family? After praying about this, the LORD impressed upon me that this was about my heart…to honor Him in obedience. Our Sabbath day varies from week to week, in order for us to be able to share that day with my husband.

In Mark 2, Jesus said,

“The sabbath was made for man,
and not man for the sabbath…”

The Sabbath was made for man? A gift? For me??? Well then, I should start treating it like the good gift that it is!

So we have our Preparation Day and enjoy our Sabbath together. Here’s our table, set for our Sabbath meal.

I think my favorite part of this journey has been learning more about Jesus and His fulfillment of the prophesies. We are all growing closer to the LORD as we come to understand all that He is to us…and closer to each other! ♥

Celebrate Jesus together! Celebrate the gift of the Sabbath!

Firstborn

"For you formed my inward parts;
you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
  Wonderful are your works;
my soul knows it very well."

~Psalm 139:13-14

12 years ago...
My husband and I were sent home from the hospital with another "not yet". I had been having strong contractions for days (weeks), but getting nowhere. The doctor I saw that day wasn't my regular doctor and when he sent the nurse in to give me a shot to stop the contractions, I naturally freaked out. Please don't send me home again...

BUT... they did.

While we had been at the hospital, it continued to snow so much we couldn't get up our road to go home (ahh, the joys of living in the mountains!), so we had to spend the night at my dad's house. I was so glad my sister and her girls were visiting him at the time. I needed her calm reassurance, her prayers. After another sleepless night, morning finally came and back to the hospital we went. My regular doctor took one look at me and set me up for yet another ultrasound. Something's not right here...

"Your baby is in distress."

Had the alternate doctor taken the time to check me properly, he would have discovered that I had almost no fluid left for my little boy. This long-awaited child was past ready to meet the world. After two prior miscarriages, I was terrified that we would come this far only to have something go wrong.

But God...
...had His hand on me, even then. I did not know the Lord back then...had never experienced His perfect peace. I didn't know to call on Him...that He would help me.

I look back on that day and can clearly see the LOVE my Heavenly Father had for me, even before I knew I needed Him. He carried me through that day and was there when my baby, my firstborn son, was delivered into my arms...perfect in every way. My Father gave me a gift that day and I never even said thank you...

Heavenly Father,

Thank you for Your Firstborn Son…and for mine. Thank you for loving me even when I didn’t know Your Name. Thank you for this gift of a child…so strong, full of joy and life. Thank you for the privilege of raising him. Thank you for the lessons you have taught me about Your Love through my love for him. Thank you for the grace you so generously pour out on my parenting efforts, guiding me, correcting me, keeping me on the path that leads only to You. Continue to lead me, as I lead him.

In Jesus' Name, I thank you. Amen.

I love this kid...and the young man he's becoming!

The Way I Feel

"What harm is there in starting over?"

This is what I've been asking myself for weeks. It's been months since I've been on here...Every time I think about posting my blessings, I am torn by THE WAY I FEEL. I don't feel blessed at the moment. I don't even feel like myself. I just had 2 surgeries, back-to-back. I can't do half the things I used to do. I hurt. I'm tired. I feel like crying half the time, and screaming the other half. I don't like THE WAY I FEEL.

What??

When did THE WAY I FEEL become a reason to stop counting the blessings the LORD pours out on me daily? This is what my old pastor called "Stinkin' Thinkin'"....and I've been doing a lot of it lately, I'm ashamed to say. I've not been thinking of my blessings because I've been to busy thinking of all the garbage. Ugh...

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." ~Philippians 4:8

I will think on these things.

So, what harm IS there in starting over? None. Starting today, I will fix my eyes upon the One Who Strengthens me, giving Him the glory and honor He deserves, not because of THE WAY I FEEL, but because of THE WAY HE LOVES...me.

THE WAY HE LOVES...is true.
THE WAY HE LOVES...is honorable.
THE WAY HE LOVES...is just.
THE WAY HE LOVES...is pure.
THE WAY HE LOVES...is lovely.
THE WAY HE LOVES...is commendable.
THE WAY HE LOVES...is excellent!
THE WAY HE LOVES...is worthy of praise!

All shapes and sizes

Big or small, major or insignificant, our blessings come in all shapes and sizes.

Today, I measured my oldest son's height and discovered he is less than 2 inches away from passing me up. On Saturday, my "baby" turns 10. Where does the time go? It's good to know that no matter how fast the time flies by, God is in control.

And I am thankful.

It has been a challenge to count my blessings these last few weeks. Death of a loved one, loneliness, planning for an upcoming surgery...Somewhere along the way I missed my signal to STOP...LOOK AROUND...and see what the LORD is doing in my life. 

  

A haze had settled over my little world and a battle continues to rage around me. It's hard to keep my eyes focused on Jesus when I can't tell which way is up...

...and then He shines His Light and I find my way again.

#1 A baby's giggle, #2 a call from a distant friend, #3 a simple thank you note

My winter blessings~ big and small

A new season has begun. A blessed season.

For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven: 

  a time to be born, and a time to die;
a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted;
  a time to kill, and a time to heal;
a time to break down, and a time to build up;
  a time to weep, and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn, and a time to dance;
  a time to cast away stones, and a time to gather stones together;
a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing;
  a time to seek, and a time to lose;
a time to keep, and a time to cast away;
  a time to tear, and a time to sew;
a time to keep silence, and a time to speak;
  a time to love, and a time to hate;
a time for war, and a time for peace.

~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

LORD, I am seeking that time of healing, that time of laughing & dancing. I know it will happen in Your Time, not mine...according to Your Will, not mine. I welcome that time of peace, Father God, but in the meantime, I need Your Arms around me and I am thankful that You never leave my side. ♥