Be Thankful: Nov. 6

Today I am thankful for the new friends that we are making here. It's hard to believe we've been here for almost a year now, and I feel like we're settling pretty well. It's just so fun to be able to call up a friend and say, "Hey, we're going to the park this morning. Wanna meet us there?" and to then enjoy a morning of friendly conversation! What a blessing!

"I will give thanks to the Lord because of his righteousness and will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High." Psalm 7:17

Dinosaur Lessons

Week 4 of our "school" lessons are up! The theme for the week was dinosaurs, so go check out our school blog for some ideas! It was a super simple week this time, but we did make our own fossils! So go see and remember to scroll down to see the days in order!

Be Thankful: Nov. 5

Today I was reminded to be thankful for Kevin's job, especially in today's economy. And I really am! As straining as these last couple months have been on our family with Kevin working constant overtime, we are thankful for the extra money it provides, especially to help pay for the new windows we're having put on the house next week. Talk about a big expense! But so necessary before winter hits!

I am also especially thankful for good health! A lot's going around these days, and fortunately we've remained sick-free, and just in general we are hardly ever ever sick, and for that I am sooo grateful!


"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

Be Thankful: Nov. 4

I am thankful for God's word that strengthens us and guides us through our every day--our every trial and our every joy and everything in between!

I am thankful for an all-knowing God. He knows our every need even before we do! and He is faithful to provide.

I am thankful for the hope we have in Christ. Everything we endure on earth is nothing compared to the joy we will have in Heaven!

"The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song." Psalm 28:7

~*~

Join others in thankfulness over at Karla's Korner! Be blessed!

Prayer for Mothers.

I posted last night about the disappointment I'm feeling right now regarding Kevin's work schedule. And then this morning I "happened" to spot on our book shelf this little prayer book for mothers by Jack Countryman. I honestly don't remember when I received it or where/who it came from or if I've ever looked at it before, but today it was a perfect timing. Amazing how God does that, huh? =)

Here is what I read for "Disappointment":

"And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." - Romans 5:3-5

Life is unfortunately full of disappointments. But You, Lord, have given me a hope that never changes and a love that will never fade away. Speak to my heart and give me the ability overcome the struggles that are a part of life. Help me to look beyond my own circumstances and see Your purpose for me. I thank You for the challenges of life that help me walk closer to You. Amen.

Amen to THAT!

Endurance.

I am bummed.

The outage that was supposed to be over on Thursday for Kevin has been delayed a few days, cutting into the 6 days off he was supposed to have next week. Instead he works 2 nights in the middle of that break, so he won't be able to switch back to days at all. Meaning Kevin will still be on nights until the 15th. *sigh*

I am just so tired of this. Tired of him being on this opposite life from me and the kids. I want him to come to church with us, be awake when we're awake, sleep next to me at night, help out around the house, be around to watch the kids every once in awhile, go with us to weddings, birthday parties, and potlucks . He's been missing out on sooo much I can hardly take another day of it! And knowing that he has to work Christmas day this year just makes me feel even more lousy. We have family coming in back home, so the kids and I definitely want to be there and stay around for awhile. But poor Kevin will have to head back for work. Yuck.

It's harder to kind of see your husband than it is to not see him at all. You know? If someone's away, you settle into that. But this in and out, opposite schedule business is driving me crazy!

Anyway, before I go to bed just feeling crummy, I'm trying to find something to lift me up a bit. Just a little reminder of the greater life...

"For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding. And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." Colossians 1:9-14

Hoping for a better day tomorrow... Good night!

Be Thankful: Nov. 3

5 Things I'm thankful for today:

1. My children. As much as they've been driving me NUTS lately, I still love and appreciate them soooo incredibly much! I can't imagine life without one of them!
2. I saw a mouse run by me IN the van while I was driving yesterday! We set a trap today and I'm sooo thankful it has been caught! Eeek! There's something about being so confined in a moving vehicle and being strapped to a seat that makes me seriously scared of seeing the mouse! So glad it's taken care of!
3. Paper plates. Enough said.
4. Simple joys. Lately it's been seeing combines, spotting the moon (especially the beautiful FULL moon last night!), and eating cookies!
5. Learning opportunities. Having just finished doing a school project with the kids a few minutes ago, I'm so thankful they have the ability to be educated. There are so many other children in other countries that do not have that same freedom. We sure are blessed!

Read others' thanksgiving posts over at Karla's Korner!

Be Thankful: Nov. 2

I'm going to try to do this every day this month....

5 Things I'm thankful for today:
1. A fun little pizza picnic with daddy today.
2. A good day with the kids.
3. Productive cleaning day.
4. A walk. Even if it was just in my living room.
5. Quiet evenings.

What are you thankful for right this moment?

"I will praise God's name in song and glorify him with thanksgiving." Psalm 69:30

Monday Meanderings

Bible Study
I've got an "assignment" to look up a bunch of words about being a good wife.

Memory Verse
"[Your beauty] should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:4

Husband Encouragement
* pizza tonight. Kevin requested it, so I've hopefully adjusted the kids' and my eating schedule enough so we can eat a super early dinner before Daddy leaves for work at 5pm.
* find something quiet for the kids to play with when Kevin wakes up in the afternoon. I've been feeling bad about that lately. The kids are in the middle of their day and loud and rowdy and Kevin's wake up right into that, and I can imagine how unpleasant that probably is. They don't particularly do well when I just tell them to be quiet, because they're excited that daddy is up, so I'll try to find something I know will interest them and keep them occupied for a little bit while Kevin wakes up.

Train Them Up
* memory verse: "Be joyful always." 1 Thessalonians 5:16
* as a parent, practice self-control and watch my tone of voice. Speak to my children respectfully. ie, don't use angry tone of voice when telling my son not to be angry.

MUST Do
* send out MOPS postcards
* take milk jugs to recycling. all THREE of big bins are full!

Personal Goals
* I did my walking video once already this morning, so my goal is to do it one more day this week. More is better though! But seeing as I didn't follow through at all last week, I'm sticking with realistic for this week.
* Keep track of how much water I drink. I'm not very good about staying hydrated!

Zone
Living room. Keep it clean and retidy, even if it's 3x a day that we do a pick-up. Vacuum twice in a day if needed, but keep it clean. (We have a snuggle couch blanket that I've recently washed and now it's fuzzing all over the rug pretty bad) Take a day to actually move couches (if I can) and vacuum behind them. Go through mail items that are laying all over. And put ALL toys away.

Menu Plan

Monday - pizza (Kevin's request)
Tuesday - brats, oven roasted potatoes, oranges
Wednesday - hot chicken casserole, peaches
Thursday - taco casserole, pineapple
Friday - either home visiting family or we'll go out
Saturday - at Grandma's
Sunday - at Grandma's

FUN THINGS!
* Thursday night is Kevin's last night of outage shift! (well, tentatively. it is still subject to change) He'll then get just a little bit of sleep and Friday or Saturday we're heading home to visit with Kevin's family since they haven't seen the kids since Eli's birthday back in July!! Considering we're just 2.5 hrs away, that's a long time for no visit!


Join me with YOUR meaderings! And thanks always for stopping by!

My Mission Statement for the Home.

I'm now into the second half of the book Created to Be His Help Meet, and it focuses on Titus 2:3-5 and woman's domain over the home. A favorite passage:

"When a woman soberly considers the needs, time schedule, and resources of her home, then she will be a more efficient help meet. This planning will eliminate tension and help set a peaceful mood. It is the simple things in life that can break down a marriage and bring out a bitter divorce. But on the positive side, it is the simpler planning of life's activities that can bring health, prosperity, peace, and happiness to a sound marraige and produce gratifying family relationships. Men (and children) appreciate good meals, a clean house, and an atmosphere of peace--a refuge from the stress of life." (147-8)

Reading this reminded me so much of what I've come up with as my personal mission statement (Day 3's challenge of the 31 Days to Clean challenge) When writing my statement I adapted a quote that's always stuck with me from reading The Power of a Praying Wife in the first year of our marriage. So here is my personal mission statement for how I want to keep our home:

I strive to see that the heart of my home is a peaceful sanctuary--a source of contentment, acceptance, rejuvenation, nurturing, rest, and love for my family--while at the same time remaining a place of instruction, comfort, and joy.

It seems like a lot to tackle especially with two, soon to be three, little ones in the house. But I do feel it is so important, so I'm going to work to keep this atmosphere my goal. And most of all, that starts with my attitude.

"A wise woman doesn't let little things stir her spirit to agitation. With a quiet and meek spirit, she seeks to make all things better." (153)

This of course comes from one of my favorite Bible verses, "[Your beauty] should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight." 1 Peter 3:4 That sounds so beautiful and sweet, but is so, so, so hard to DO!!

So with all that in mind, this is my focus for the week:
* to be productive with my time and work hard to really tidy up all the way and follow my cleaning schedule (this means maybe posting it so I actually SEE it every day!)
* to have a good attitude
* to not get upset over the little things, allowing it to "stir my spirit to agitation"
* to spend time in the word and in prayer every day (even if it's just a little bit) so I can keep my peace and focus

And with that, I must sign off and get to work!