What We Are Striving For

"Hear, O Israel! The LORD is our God, the LORD is one! You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates." Deut. 6:4-9

What I am learning is this is VERY HARD for our family to do with all of the "luxuries" of life.

It is hard to teach our children diligently the ways of God when the TV contradicts His Word. So we are canceling our TV and limiting our movies.

It is hard to do when errands and schedules take priority over heart matters and relationships. So we are spending much more QUALITY time together as a family.

It is hard to do with out time together in prayer and in the Word. So we are trying to work that into the everyday moments more, making scripture part of correction and taking advantage of every teachable moment.

It is hard to do being constantly bombarded with a "gotta have it now" mentality, distracting us from our life's purpose. So we are simplifying our expenses and trying to live more content with what we have and not in lust over what we want. Working to an ultimate goal of ZERO DEBT.

It is hard to do, but not impossible when we OBEY the calling God places on our hearts. When we are faithful to respond in the small things - so that obedience in the big things is natural.


"The LORD is my shepherd,
I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul;
He guides me in the paths of righteousness
For His name's sake." Psalm 23:1-3

Valentine's Day 2011

Today is a day we LOVE at our house. Valentine's night means we have a date night with the kiddos. The children picked the menu this year. They requested roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, and cornbread. Daddy requested a cheesecake (which I have always been leery to attempt, but it turned out fantastic!). But our night did not go as planned.

What did go as planned: We got all dressed up, we had dinner together, we went around the table and everyone said why they loved each member of the family - finishing with God and why we love Him.

J dressed up and having her fancy dinner .. (what? you noticed it is a peanut butter and honey sandwich?).

L looking like a little chipmunk with his mouth full of dinner.

M was exhausted and passed out and couldn't be woken up. All our children have been battling colds for over a week - and today it got the best of him. But he is dressed up. :(

Auntie Heather is visiting!!! She and my brother (who will be down later this month) and their family are moving to JAPAN! Sniffle, sniffle. I will miss them so much! But praise God for the Internet.

This handsome little man is my nephew! I am in love with him! He is so stinkin' adorable.

So why did our fancy dinner turn out to be this hearty and delicious (meh) PB and Honey? Because...

The inside of the roasted chicken I prepared was GREEN!! when I cut it open! Seriously... bluck!

And this is love right here. After a failed meal and a wife who was trying not to be grumpy (oh but I was when my chicken was green in the center), this good man did all the dishes and cleaned up. :)

This is my VALENTINE! The love of my life. The father of my children. The spiritual leader of my home. The man who loves me like Christ loved the church. And the man I look forward to growing old with. :0) - mushy mushy - I know but it had to be said!

Lyrics That Consume Me

A thousand times I've failed
Still your mercy remains
Should I stumble again
Still I'm caught in your grace

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame

Your will above all else
My purpose remains
The art of losing myself
In bringing you praise

In my heart, in my soul
I give you control
Consume me from the inside out
Let justice and praise
Become my embrace
To love you from the inside out

Everlasting
Your light will shine when all else fades
Never ending
Your glory goes beyond all fame
And the cry of my heart
Is to bring you praise
From the inside out of my soul
Lord my soul cries out

A Quiet Afternoon

On Thursdays the mobile library comes to base. It is an excellent resource that I am trying to make the best use of. Of course the kids may choose books and I have items I have put on hold delivered. This one... this one was the mother of excitement for me. :)

Ok.. so it might seem as though my life revolves around sewing right now.. but it doesn't. I have a passion to learn it, but I spend very little time doing anything pertaining to it.

Instead we have been focusing on family time, schooling, reestablishing good routines and praising the Lord in ALL CIRCUMSTANCES!

Now, for how I came upon a quiet afternoon. A friend of mine with a large family keeps a gorgeous and tidy home. She has 5 children, 3 of which are 1 year old triplets! - but you can be welcomed into her home at anytime and her home is just beautiful and welcoming. So I asked her share her secrets with me and she did! To which I am very grateful. Her cleaning routine suits our family very well. And because of this, I found myself yesterday afternoon with all of my chores done, children schooled, house tidy, and a new library book.