A Time For Every Season....

We went to the science museum this week so there some pictures with my new camera! Boxed up toys this week and instead of asking to get the race-cars down they used their imaginations and created their own! Drew's race-car - he even made sound effects! The boys had fun racing their cars! Wish I had gone undetected, it was cuter when they didn't know I was watching!

"In the original language, "he gave thanks" reads "eucharisteo." .....The root word of Eucharisteo is charis, meaning "grace." Jesus took the bread and saw it as grace and gave thanks. He took the bread and knew it to be gift and gave thanks. But there is more, and I read it. Eucharisteo, thanksgiving, envelopes the Greek word for grace, charis. But it also holds its derivative, the Greek word chara, meaning "joy."........Charis. Grace. Eucharisteo. Thanksgiving. Chara. Joy. A triplet of stars,a constellation in the black. A threefold cord that might hold a life? Offer a way up into the fullest life? Grace, thanksgiving, joy. Eucharisteo. A Greek word....that might make meaning of everything?"  ~ A. Voskamp ~ 781. Trio of calves loping and chasing each other on a brisk morning. 782. Grace for another early morning with the Lord 783. Sunday morning tea with my Bible and God 784. Pitter-patter of little Gabe early Sun...

Me and my faithful "twin" Nicole who is on this complex  parenting journey with me. She is my encourager and the brains behind many ideas, she is also the one who makes all my kids Birthday Cakes since this non-creative momma  can't! I've been to enough conferences over the years to know that the "homecoming" isn't as whimsical as I imagine, I also know that I fall into a depressed slump for about a week after returning  home. Then, what I learned sinks in and can begin to produce fruit in my life and action in my bones - maybe I'm just weird, but I roll with it! I'm back from the Sally Clarkson conference ~ it was just as good, if not better, than the last two years. I was inspired, challenged, and convicted. If you've never been to a Mom Heart Conference I can't sing enough praises about the life changes it will inspire in your life as momma! The message is very similar each year, but the stories of inspiration and the inner-worki...

“God is not a belief to which you give your assent. God becomes a reality whom you know intimately, meet everyday, one whose strength becomes your strength, whose love, your love. Live this life of the presence of God long enough and when someone asks you, “Do you believe there is a God?” you may find yourself answering, “No, I do not believe there is a God. I know there is a God.”     ~ Ernest Boyer, Jr. ~

"Who Can Live With Hands Wide Open?" A. Voskamp 751. A finished book ~ One Thousand  Gifts ~ learning how to live with Hands Wide Open. 752.  Learning the ins and outs of a new camera - this  camera is way smarter than me!   753. Brotherly Love on a warm Winter  day. 754. A beautiful three days of discipline, school work, letters learned, geography practiced 755. Valentines Day surprises! 756. Husband who comes home exhausted and a wife who took a little nap and was ready to listen and ,massage weary muscles. 757. Living with hands wide open ~ spent the weekend meditating and writing in my journal the various ways God turned terror into beauty these some 31 years.  758. Husband who loves me and kicks me out of the house on a Saturday so I can relax at my favorite coffee place and just rest in the Lord's goodness. 759. A Bible study leader so gifted and willing to give up her Monday nights to serve our small fellowship through the...

I hate routine, yet I love its results. The past few weeks we've been off routines and out of town and sick with colds  and life seems to yearn for rhythm again. My body aches  for the gym yet despises getting up early - it is the ugly beautiful. 716. Son's missing glasses 717. The question I've  been pondering all month, " Will God ever be enough?", ever since reading chapter two of Ann's Book ~ One Thousand Gifts . God say's I am enough, why can't that be enough for this strong willed soul? 718. The struggle of living an in-between life - Beauty vs Chaos, Flesh vs Spirit, Life vs Death, Joy vs  Cynicism. I want to truly live in God's graces - why is it such a battle. 719. Moment by Moment Beauty ~ Seen in the mundane, the laundry (Thank you for children, husband, life), the meals (thank you for provision), the beauty of creation (yard of birds searching), and the trials of daily life (making me stronger in Christ).   720. Seeing the m...

 It has been a crazy two weeks with snow and ice and trips out of town. We're all off our schedules and I've been off my much needed vitamins - my hair is starting to fall out again! I'm feeling very unambitious and just want to sleep and pretend no one needs anything from me! I also finished two of my books and am digesting and practicing living a praying life and living in moment by moment Eucharisteo. There was a lot to take in and work on, typical of my life pattern; old habits are hard to break and  this struggle to break those bad fleshly habits are just that - a struggle. So this week I'm pressing on, enjoying my family, disciplining my mind, and giving thanks! Enjoy some pictures from our week of snow!

In school last week we made cheese, it was so yummy and fun to make. I actually made Drew do most of it, he did the measuring, stirring and even told me what was next. He followed step by step direction from a video I found online. Drew is turning into a great cook! Here is the video with direction, it really was easy! Learn How to make fromage blanc cheese with buttermilk, whole milk, lemon juice and salt . For more Cheese How-To Videos & Articles , visit WonderHowTo .