Archives for April 2011
God’s Blessings
In my life, I have discovered that often plans fall to the wayside. There are a great many things I’m not good at. There are times in my life that struggles endure. All of this was meant to be.
God gives us creativity as an outlet. An actual, physical way to share the skills gifted to us, to express the joys He provides us. I’m blessed to say He has provided me with many such outlets, though I do not always find time to put them to use.
I can write – great words across pages that express so much and so little at the same time. I paint – beautiful designs onto ceramics and glass and whatever else I can find to place my expressions on. I take photos – of all the beautiful things He provides in my life. I sing – to my beautiful babies daily. And much more, that I’m sure skips my notice every day.
These are small things compared to the greatness of Him. Small things compared to the greatness of many others too. But in everything we are each only a small part of God’s greatest intentions. His master plan.
In all things we should give thanks to God, give thanks for the things He provides us with, He blesses us with. Without his Divine leadership and His great Love, we would have nothing and we would be nothing. I am thankful for this, for the good He allows me to have in my life, for the beauty He allows me to share and for the Love that He alone can give. I am thankful in more ways than I can count or show and more ways than even I know.
How has God blessed you today?
Easter Weekend 2011
We had a great Easter weekend.
My weekend started on Thursday night when the best friend stopped by to spend the night and have me help her with her hair. So we stayed up all night (until 5am Friday morning) taking her braids out and combing out her hair, while we watched tons of great movies on Netflix. It was a fun girls night though it was a lot of work.
Friday, we went to town like normal. We had chinese for dinner and brought it home to watch movies, bake cakes and wait for my Mom to get here. She arrived around midnight and I spent the night talking with her until 4am. It was great to see her and the kids loved knowing she was back home for now.
Saturday we had our Easter gathering with family. The traditional dinner and egg hunt. It went well and all the kids had a great time. I think the Easter visit is their favorite of all the dinners throughout the year.
Sunday we hung out at home and rested. The bunny brought the kids each a little something: a sand pail, bubbles, coloring books, a toy, crayons and candy. They really loved their simple gifts. Late in the afternoon we went to visit family friends. The kids were able to hold the sweetest puppy. They really loved that. Afterwards we went to Walmart just to look around and bought some extra holiday candy, as well as some movies and various other goodies.
Overall, it was a very relaxing weekend for us. We focused on family more than anything. Simply being together. I honestly feel that was just what we needed to feel refreshed for the month ahead.
Hope you all had a Happy Easter too!
Thankful For Much In Life {Thoughts From Me}
Thankful for:
Small smiles in the morning.
Sweet kisses on the top of a brown haired head.
Sweet tiny kisses square on the lips.
Smelly dogs who love you know matter what.
Victoria’s Secret body sprays.
Flowers in bloom.
Singing voices rejoicing with made up songs from the heart.
Freedom.
Unexpected visits.
Challenging the norm.
Boys who love Lego’s.
Girls who love to cook.
Baby dolls and Barbie dolls and match box cars.
Grass underneath my bare toes.
Turtles in the pond.
Squirells in the trees.
That perfect shade of lipstick and nailpolish.
Long flowing skirts and comfy jogging pants.
Snuggling beneath the covers pretending to be “cold”.
Movies that run late.
Lemonade Mouth on DVR.
Easter Eggs.
The Resurrection.
A long talk with God.
Peace in my heart.
Bottles of wasted shampoo as a little girl learns to wash her own hair.
Smiles from knowing they helped and did a good job.
Knocks on my door, followed by “Good Morning Momma”.
“I love you, Mommy”
“Mommy, Mommy, Mommeeeee” a hundred times a day.
Music in my heart.
Love.
Warm sun shining down and cool rain wetting my skin.
Happiness.
The color Pink (and Blue, Red, Purple, Yellow, Green).
Abstract drawings done by little hands.
Coloring out of the lines.
Lines scribbled over pages.
Books with worn bindings.
Bibles with Jesus on the cover.
Good food.
Pepsi.
Sweet Iced Tea.
Pecan Pie.
Faces covered with chocolate and hands to match.
Bubbles blown into the wind.
Holding little bodies close as we rock for hours.
Sweet babies sleeping safely in their beds.
These are only a few of the many things I am thankful for everyday.
My Mornings {Thoughts from Me}
A hundred different thoughts have run through my head this morning. A hundred different blog post topics. None of which I have turned into a post. As one idea flew into my brain another was pushed out. None sticking so that it can be turned into a piece of inspirational wording.
My days lately have been starting with migraines thanks to this lovely bipolar weather. The rain brings pressure and the sunny days bring pollen. My regular allergy medicine is not helping and 6 out of 7 days of the week I’m waking to my head feeling like someone has hit it with a hammer, hard. The migraines weigh heavy in my head, affecting my ability to function and see, and causing me to have dizzy spells galore. Needless to say I will be thankful when this season is past, though it’s blooming beauty is one of my favorites.
My favorite part of my morning: my children entering at various times to say “Good Morning Mommy”, usually within minutes of each other. They don’t care if I get up, they just want to feel secure in the knowledge that I’m here and that I love them and that I know they love me. Which, oh boy, do I ever know they love me! No better feeling than that in life!!!
I am learning that the best things in life are these three and that there is nothing better than having them with me everyday, just as God intended. I feel a bit sorry for those Mom’s who send their kids off to someone else everyday because they often do not realize what goodness they are missing in their lives. It’s my honest feeling that society is not right on the send your kids away issue. That’s an enjoyment that cannot be replaced with a made for tv movie or any good book. And surely this is how God feels every time we connect with him. All his children, listening and loving him daily, never missing a smile from each of us. There could be nothing better than that!!
The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning. . .- Lamentations 3:22-23
Just an update – April 20,2011
First I have to say, that my growing son is going to eat me out of house and home. Seriously where did this kid develop his sudden hunger? And his little sisters are not far behind him. Growth spurts contribute to much of it. They are growing and growing requires more food to fill up their small systems. Fuel. Fuel to run their sweet bodies and charge their overflowing minds. But it is CRAZY how much food they can eat! Wow!!
In my first steps to a more balanced life, I have been putting up inspirational quotes in both obvious and less obvious places throughout the house. The ones I have placed are written in print for the kids to be able to read, though they are more for me at this time than for them. My next step will be to create some simple quotes, both biblical and inspiring, to place around for the kids to read. I think inspiration is important for us all.
One thing I’ve noticed is that my inspiration for redesigning my house has hit a “blah-pffff” moment, as if all the air has been deflated from my enjoyment of life and home. In combatants, I have been watching HGTV, Food Network, reading blogs and magazines for ideas. Is it helping? No not really, at this time, but maybe something will click eventually! LOL
In my reading, I have found some great books. I’m not revealing which ones as of yet, but I will reveal that they have one common thread. Just Do Something! That’s right, just get up and DO something! Do it with God in mind, showing your love for Him and the Life He’s blessed us with, for the beautiful children He’s gifted to us. Just Do It! (Sounding like the Nike commercial now.)
And have I been “just doing it”? Well yea, I have. I have started with cleaning out our outside building. (Huge building that is seriously bigger than some of the first American homesteads.) There is so much room in there but in it’s continuous disorganization you couldn’t tell it. My goal is to get it organized enough to sort through over the summer and also find some storage to put some of the extra “junk” still in the house out there for now, until I can chunk it or find it’s “home” inside (or in the building, as I see fit!).
This brings me to another realization, which I have known for a while. I’m a spoiled, lazy American girl! There are days when I sit back and wonder: If I had to live 100 years ago, would I have survived? My answer: only if I was rich! I’m too spoiled to modern day conveniences, like dishwashers, washing machines, computers and the internet. There are many days when I have trouble just getting up and doing anything. I find I have been trained that my “wants” are most important and should come before the “needs” of housekeeping and care-taking of home and life. I find a lot of American’s have this same problem today, which is why you can now find a million how-to, cleaning and organization websites online.
As you can see, I’ve been pretty busy lately mostly with re-organizing my brain and learning more about myself and about homekeeping. There’s still much more to come but for now I think this is about as good a start as any. God bless all!