Thursday, December 30, 2010

A Curve In The Road

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This year is two days from the end and as I’m thinking back over the good and the not-so-good. I am truly grateful for each and every moment.  God given moments. 

Moments that showed His hand in our lives. 

Times that stretched me to my limits, yet made me stronger.

Days of joy and thanksgiving when I felt God near.

And days of oppression when I felt the enemy picking at my insecurities and using my mind against me. 

Moments of pure motherly bliss and moments when momma had all she could do not to strangle a few somebodies. 

Times of uncertainty, anxiety and fear that made me run to God and times of self-sufficiency when I turned away. 

Days of feeling my heart and mind tugged at by God, drawing me near, molding me, shaping me.

This year full of moments gifted to me by God shows me I have much to improve upon, much to be thankful for, much to love, much to think on and much to give.

Looking forward, there is a curve in the road.  A new year lays before my feet.  The decision is mine to make.  Will I make my own way, a straight and more visible path, or will I take the Hand that is offered to me.  Will I reach out?  Will I hold on with all that is within me and let him lead the way.  Or will I turn my back and harden my heart. 

The choice is mine to make.

This curve in the road is tight, I can’t see the exact way ahead, and although it is filled with His light, it is a blinding light that obscures my view of the path. God has plans for me.  He has cleared the way.  He has chosen my path.  I only need to follow.  To trust. To place my hand in his out-stretched one and say,

“Lord, I am yours. Lead on!”

 

Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you. Psalm 25:5

 

Friday, December 24, 2010

To God: Love Your Princess

 

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To God,

This is for you. I love you so much. This is for you. Will you please come down and get this today.

Love,

Your Princess

A simple stamped page, wrapped in festive wrap and foil ribbon, given from a heart full of love and longing.  A childlike faith.

We’ve had many conversations about this gift my daughter desires to give to God.  She is giving it with all her heart and wondering when God will come to get His gift.

So, we’ve talked about how God can see the beautiful picture she drew and how on Christmas we will unwrap her gift and hang it in the window to help us remember that God wants us to give him all of our hearts and love. 

She continues to ask when God and Jesus will come to get her gift and I am simply telling her, for now, that they will see her gift and love her gift, but they probably won’t come and take it from our window.  Instead they will leave it for all of us as a reminder that God loves the faith and love of a child.

God longs for each child and adult to give their WHOLE heart for the Lord.  Not just a section or piece.  Not just the bit that is safe or good.  He wants all of us.  He desires to have us lift our hands, eyes and hearts up to Him in submission and say it is yours Lord, ALL of it.  You are my God and I am giving myself to you.  Mold me, shape me, use me. 

How about you? Are you willing to give the Lord the gift he so deeply longs for.  Will you give Him your heart, each and every part.  The good, the hurting, the ugly, the willing, the controlling, the simple, the complex, He wants it all.  The amazing thing is our God loves us even with the deep, dark secrets we hold.  He desires us to surrender it all to Him. He will take the hurts, the anger, the sin and remove it from our lives and replace it with His love, healing and peace.

This Christmas season will you place your heart in His open waiting hands.  Will you let Him transform your life?  The blessings are waiting for you if you just give the gift of your heart. 

Abounding, flowing, soul healing love is waiting.  Give your gift and receive.

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Eighteen

 

Some said we would never make it.  Others said it was a mistake.  Many said we were too young.

There was so much they couldn’t see and didn’t know.

How could they know that you were the one God sent to save me from the path of destruction I was running down.  Or how could they know that the night almost 22-years ago when we stood talking outside after a date was the night I knew I was going to marry you.  They could not possibly know how tightly our hearts had become entwined after four years of dating.  Maybe it was hard for them to understand that a 20-year-old and 19-year-old could truly be soul mates.

Joel and I

They didn’t know, couldn’t know the depth of our love, but we did.

On this our 18th anniversary I want  you, the love of my life to know, that you still are my soul mate.  Twenty-two years of being together hasn’t loosened the attachment of our hearts.  It has only strengthened our bond, welding it tightly, one heart to another.  Strengthening us in love and understanding.  Cementing in our minds that we belong together for life.

Joel and I-2

Hand in hand and heart to heart I look forward to another year with you.  Living this life God has given us.  A life full of love, laughter, stubborness, discussions, understanding, making up, cuddles, kisses, friendship and family.  You hold my heart in your hands and I thank you for your sincere love. I thank you for picking me up when I am down. For making me laugh when I want to cry.  You are my strength and my security.  There is nothing better in this world than to feel your arms wrapped around me, enclosing me in safety and love.

Joel and I

I love you with all that is within me.  You are my ray of light on a dark day.  A gift from our Heavenly Father above.  The discouragers from long ago didn’t harm us, they only fueled our desire to make it work.  Our foundation was strong.  A love that was willing to fight, to strive, to grow into a lifetime of beauty.  This relationship will endure because we both love the Lord and because we knew from the very first spark we would never give up. Together we will continue this journey, building, shaping, molding our lives into a shining testimony of love.

Joel and I-3

So, to you my sweet man, on this week of our anniversary, I give you everything that is within me.  You hold my heart.  May it shower you with love, respect, and comfort you when you feel weary.

I LOVE YOU!

 

 (All photos except the 1st courtesy of Megan)

 

***I’m over AT THE WELL today. My latest article is about the gift of a husband.  Head on over there and then come back here and share the letter you write for your husband. I am putting up a Mister Linky.  I would love to see lots of participants in this.  Let’s lift up our husbands and show them how much they mean to us.

 

Monday, December 13, 2010

The Christmas Season In My Home

 

I’m not a huge seasonal decorator, but I do love to add a few accents here and there for the Christmas season.  All of our decorations are concentrated in two rooms.  I’ve found over the years the less I put up the less I have to take down at the end of the season.  In short…a less stressed out Momma at the end of the season.

However, I do love the colors and cheeriness that Christmas decorations bring to my house.  So, lately my goal is to just add touches here and there to the items that I have normally sitting out.

On my Hoosier cabinet I have a wooden bowl full of glass balls and a few tin stars. A simple addition of color and shine, brightens up that area.

star

My tree is kid decorated with a few of my favorites thrown in for accents!  You all know I enjoy crocheting so the windows in my living room and sitting room feature snowflakes and stars, re-useable and easy to hang.

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Our sitting room is the room where the tree is and also the room we use the most.  The majority of my decorating is in this room. A few ornaments to the items already in this room give it a touch of Christmas/winter cheer.

 decorcrafting

And finally, my favorite decorations of all are these four living, breathing gifts that liven each and every day with their smiles and joy.

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Thankfully I get to keep these with me all year long, not just for a short season. They definitely light up my life each and every day!  So, I keep the Christmas decorations subtle and let the sweetness of these four faces bring immeasurable joy to the season.

 

This post is linked up to At The Well and The Nester.

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Weekends

I always look forward to the weekend with a bit of hidden giddyness in my heart. I'm not exactly sure why I treasure them so much, it's not like I'm sitting around all day with a box of chocolates and a good read.

In all actuality it looks more like this.

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vacuum

laundry

clean

After a week of schooling, the weekend is my time to get caught up on everything that didn’t get done through the week.

Once the cleaning is done, I feel so relaxed and a sense of accomplishment rests on my heart.  There’s nothing like a clean, organized home to do my little self good!

When my to-do list is checked off then I feel free for a wee bit of creativity.

Crocheting is a weekend must.

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And if our candle supply is dwindling, like it is at present, then we partake in a candle making fest.

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candle

And of course there is always a little more time for photography, reading, snuggling, baking, and family time.

I’d say the main reason why my weekends are so precious is that I am at HOME, relaxing with the ones I love.

It’s a definite way to put some happiness in my heart.

And now that you know I’m giddy on the weekends, you’ve been forewarned!

 

*One more little thing if you have some time on your hands (smirking face here) could ya, would ya, mind heading over and checking out this post at The Paper Mama.  The picture of my daughter in her tutu is in a contest….the one with the most votes wins.  However, I am calling all of you, my friends, to be honest.  Look at all four of them.  If mine is not your favorite, then by all means vote for the one that is.

Have a GREAT weekend!

Thursday, December 9, 2010

After Much Wrangling…

I’m finally connected!!!

Three trips into town and two calls to my internet provider later, I finally can get on-line.  But, ya know it was sort of nice not having the internet hogging my time.  I’m a weak soul, when it comes to blog land.  It’s something I’m constantly working on.  Blogging can be a really good thing for me and a really bad thing, too.  It has helped me put my thoughts, feelings and words into writing.  It has helped me to dig deeper and go farther.  It has pushed me to improve not only my writing, but myself. However, if I’m not careful it eats up my day.  The time I should be focusing on my children gets squandered away if I’m not careful.

Having this time off showed me a few things.  I really need to find the balance.

 

On another note…

 

When I did get back on-line I was surprised to find that I has won this.

Paper mama winner

With this…

 

dress up-14

Let me tell you, I was excited! If I hadn’t been sitting at the library, I probably would have whooped and hollered!  But, since it is an established quiet place, I held my peace!  I just had to share. This is the first photo contest I have ever won. It gave my little ol’ heart a boost of confidence and I just had to share this with all of you.

 

Well, I think I have jibber-jabbered enough for the moment, I’ll be SLOWLY making my way around to each of you my friends.

Pacing, pacing, pacing myself! :)

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

M.I.A.

I couldn't take it any longer and I'm sitting at the library using their internet.

My computer bit the dust.

My internet provider seems to be having difficulties.

I've been put on a temporary enforced, not by my own wishes, blogging fast.

The timer on this library computer is counting down so I will not be visiting you all today.  Plus I have to gather my chicks whom I've left at their grandma's. 

Tick-Tock.

Just thought I would give you an update...I haven't fallen into any catastrophe...just waiting, waiting, waiting, for all this to get cleared up.

Hope to be back on-line soon!

Friday, December 3, 2010

Time

Time it molds and shapes. 

Moves us from stage to stage.

Stretches us to grow, change, live.

 

Time it teaches.

Showing us life and love.

Changing our words for beginning babbles to deeper conversations.

 

Time it shifts things.

Growing our small, soft bodies that fit so perfectly in mother’s arms

Into tall, thin, lanky.

 

boy1-1picking-6Isaac  

 

Now with time my head fits under you chin when we hug.

Now with time instead of bending my head to snuggle your neck,

I lift my head to warm my cold nose!

Now with time your hands and feet are bigger than mine.

Now with time there aren’t times of play, but times of discussion.

Now with time you are growing more independent.

Now with time you are another year older.

Now with time your voice is deeper.

Now with time you are developing a growing sense of who you are.

Now with time you are and always will be my sweet, precious son!

 

 

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(Photos courtesy of Megan)

 

Happy 14th Birthday, from your momma who loves you deeper than the ocean!

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Right Now

 

It’s snowing.

 

My daughter is peacefully coloring surround with a bi-jillion crayons.

 

Our new “kitten” is chasing a silver glass ball ornament.  (For anyone wondering, our last kitty passed away during her spay several weeks ago.  Devastation ensued.  And a replacement was sought after). 

We present to you Sneakers! A.K.A.  Mr. Lovey Dovey

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I’m feeling uninspired with my writing lately.

 

We’re having turkey sandwiches for dinner tonight.  Thanks Tim.

 

Life regular and normal.  A good thing.

 

I’ve been doing a bit of crocheting the past couple of days.  Getting my house all cheery and seasonal.

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I’m wondering if my toes and nose will freeze when my oldest and I do the neighbors, goat, chicken and duck chores tonight.

 

I’m thinking another Pumpkin Cake Roll is in order.  Like NOW!

 

An order from CBD just arrived with a Daniel Boone DVD that my middle son saved and saved for. WOW! It’s SO quiet!

 

My living room floor is buried in little girl creations.

 

I should really be doing some laundry.

 

But…

 

I need to finish school with my boys.  They’re not going to like the interruption.

 

But…

 

This would be a good day for a Pumpkin Spice Latte.

 

But…

 

 

I’m draggin’ my feet.

Too Bad!

I’ve already had 2 cups of coffee…oh, well…what’s a third.

 

 

And because I have no other place to put this, but thought it was quite deep…

 

“Hey, Mom!”

“Don’t you think Super Man has to buy lots of suits since he is always taking them off and leaving them somewhere”, my son asked.

“Yeah!”, I said with a little bit of wonder and confusion, mentally wondering where he is headed with this.

“You know he never goes back for them.  What a waste. I don’t think he’s really much of a super hero!”.

And he walked away leaving me to ponder this deep 11-year-old thought.

 

Think about it!

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