30 days of Thanks!

I am so excited! Today is my 30 days of thanks eve! 

That's right, 30 whole days. One thing for every day! Please feel free to join me! Leave a comments so I know you are participating! Every Saturday I will post a week summary (every day I will post to the page not the posting section!) so be sure to check back and let me know what you're thankful for!

Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

1 Thessalonians 5:18

Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 

Psalm 107:1

 Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ

Ephesians 5:20

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. 

James 1:17

 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 

Philippians 4:6

Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift! 

2 Corinthians 9:15

 Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! 

Psalm 100:4

Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving; let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise! 
Psalm 95:2

felt board for $3: FTW

I was SUPER excited when I found this! Why you ask?

Because I found this! Still not getting it?

How about now?

That's what I thought! I was very excited after inspecting it and finding that the "glass" was plexiglass and wouldn't break with the grumps using it! I took it home and dug out some felt I had purchased on clearance last year and got to work!
I sprayed the plexiglass with spray adhesive! (that stuff is AMAZING!) I let it sit for a minute, exactly! 

I pressed it firmly on the felt and trimmed the extra and remounted it in the frame!

Viola! I was so excited!

I found some adhesive felt letters on a clearance rack at wal-mart a while back! I picked up a pack for $1.

I measured out the felt squares and cut them with a rotary blade. I flamed the edges so they didn't wear out. I stuck the letters down and gave the grumps another way to work on those letters! He loves it!

Total, all the supplies cost me a grad total of $3! For. the. WIN. I plan on making a few more felt pieces for him to have. For now, this will do!

Life lately

I feel like I have composed many posts with the same title. I supposed that comes with the game.

It's been a crazy few weeks! Here is the quick run down and a promise for future posts! Promise! 

My time with the Father in the morning has been new and refreshed lately. I don't know how to explain it. I am currently reading a chapter in the Old and New Testament and doodle journaling my way through. I know that is not a real word and I know that is not a real phrase. But it is what I do. I just started Colossians this week and have been working through it bit by bit! This was my doodle for Friday. I thought it was fun! Just wanted to share.

Beyond my personal alone time with Him in the morning, my mom, sister, and I have enjoyed some time together just before we start the day. We have been enjoying this book.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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It has been a call out to some very specific parts of my life. I am learning small bits that add up to some big issues. More on that later.

Among all the other crazies in life, this girl is getting married in a little over a month. 

 

I can't believe how long ago this was and I can't believe we are this old! I am so excited to stand beside her as she says, "i do." This weekend I am throwing her a shower! It has been so much fun getting all the details together. Thank the Lord for my mom and her help! I wouldn't be able to do this without her! 

 

Other news, J is doing fantastic. I am sorry for the long span in between updates. He had his second surgery Wednesday and this was the text I received Thursday morning.

 ONLY to God be the glory. I have no other explanation. After the first surgery he didn't respond to us for days. It was 4 days before he ate much at all and other than complaining about the pain and throwing up what little he did eat there wasn't much interaction. Within hours of this surgery he was communicating and by the next day, doing this! Lord Jesus, how great You are! 

The doctor was so encouraging with his report. Going into the surgery he assured us that it was feasible to remove only 75-80% of the remaining tumor safely. In the post-op he said that he removed all visible tumor leaving only a root that remains too close to a main vessel. Again, how great? J arrived home Friday evening just 48 hours after his surgery. My God is greater, my God is stronger! God you are higher than any other! Plans to begin radiation are underway. In the meantime he is getting strong and recovering well. 

This past weekend my sister and a teen from my church planned a fundraising dinner. On top of the concert from the beginning of October God has supplied a large amount of his need financially. The dinner was a great night of food and fellowship. So many from across the city came to support J and us. The girls did a FANTASTIC job getting everything together and organizing the whole night. God was glorified, J was supported, and well over 100 bellies were filled with yummy food! 

Things with my grumps are going well. Poor baby has been super clingy and needy but the need has been met just by a few extra snuggles and a kiss or two. We have spent some extra time together doing his favorites singing and going over our letters! Oh dear have we gone over and over our letters lately! 

I have some fun posts planned! Be on the look out! Life is crazy and I am trying to get a "handle" on it! I promise.

five for Friday

Kind of weird layout...sorry! Let's start at the bottom corner and work counter clock wise to the top!

1 - Homeschooling this year has brought so many new challenges I wasn't prepared for. I wanted to homeschool my kids and still do but I wasn't quite sure what I was getting into! I am trying hard not to push my love of languages and math on a child who gets a glazed look when I start her algebra lesson. However, this week, that very same child took her grade up a notch, or two. She flew through her test and then slam dunked the extra credit. The test...was in algebra!

2 - We saw the sun for the first time in days! Almost 9! It was beautiful, and so refreshing!

3 - I got a little Pinterest happy this week! Found this frame for $1 and had the felt lying around. Found the letters on a clearance rack at Walmart for $2. Home made felt board = $3! Tutorial coming soon!

4 - Awesome installment in the fundraising efforts arrived! 

5 - Second official field trip of the year. We headed to a local pumpkin patch! Corn maze, pumpkins, and hayrides through a pony farm!

getting more done!

My mama is quite a woman. She has taught me so much and is still. Some of the most valuable pieces of information have also been the most small and seemingly insignificant to outside views. However, they are not. Far from it! I attribute several of these wise revelations to her and my upbringing! Happy "I just wanted to celebrate you, Mom" day!

So, by no means are these magic formulas. You are only going to get out what you put in it. However, every little bit helps! Seriously.

I have a lap full right now. Between hospitals, a two year old, homeschooling a tenth grader, planning a bridal shower, church, being an active part of my family, etc, it is easy for me to feel overwhelmed and behind. However, after putting some of these things in place, the panicky feeling of biting off too much is all but a distant thought. Not gone, just distant. teehee!

#1 - Communication with the Father

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Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. I can not say this enough. I posted a week or so ago about the peace that only  God could have and has surrounded, enveloped, and consumed me with. This is essential for having a productive day. Getting things done requires you heart and mind being rested and ready. Praying and acting on faith are keys to getting more done!

#2 - Start your day out right! 

This goes hand and hand with #1. Unlike the first, this has to be a scheduled and prioritized part of your day. Whereas prayer is on going, meeting with the Father is a set aside, planned, uninterrupted time.  I can quickly tell (usually by 8 a.m.) that I am "missing" something. Even if what you read and study seems irrelevant to your day ahead, I promise you, your time with Him is not!

#3 - schedule your day yet stay flexible! 

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I can't stress this factor enough. Being scheduled and flexible are not only important but vital. God talks in Proverbs about planning.

The plans of the diligent lead surely to advantage,
But everyone who is hasty comes surely to poverty.

Proverbs 21:5

 This is very helpful. Planning is a requirement is accomplishing things. However, you have to be flexible or you can count on a panic attack and mounds of stress. Plan, plan away. But do not tie yourself to your plans. Plan your day around doing the things that would bring God glory, and yes, taking care of your home, providing education and physical and spiritual nutrition for your kiddos, and doing your work heartily are all God-honoring tasks! Allow God to change your plans per His desires and be tender to what He is leading you to do.

Sidenote: this is a favorite way to plan for me! 

#4 - dress for success! 

Sounds odd, but I am being serious! My mom worked with us big time on this when we were young. We had to be up, clothes (that matched) on, and hair done, with breakfast eaten by a certain time every morning. Again, flexibility is key. Rough night, sick days, etc. all played into her being sensitive or flexible (=D). Now, as an adult I try to live by this. Maybe because it is ingrained in me, but I like to think it is because I have seen it work. One morning a week I get up and don't get dressed in "clothes" clothes. That day I focus on the deep cleaning. I stay in sweats and have at it with my bff, Mr. Bleach! However, the other 6 days of the week are dressed and ready for the day. This helps be ready for what the day brings. Errands, company, meetings, etc. Brush on a little powder and eyeliner, pull your hair back in a bun to mask the pb&j and you are ready to go!

#5 - wear shoes! 

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Again, completely odd! But let me tell you, wearing shoes keeps you focused. I am not joking. Like I said above, it is not a magic system. You have to put something into it. However, wearing shoes keeps you from getting comfy or lacking motivation. You don't have to worry about slipping something on or off to take trash out or go for a walk. For me it is a mental thing that shoes are on my feet, I keep going. Removing my shoes is an after dinner pajama wearing thing!

So there you have it. My smarter not harder techniques. Don't read me wrong. I believe in hard work. I don't believe in frustrating, stressful, 3-steps-behind work!

high 5 for Friday

This post is making history in many ways.
#1 - My first 5 for Friday.
#2 - Because, I finally have a phone that would take five pictures in a given week that were recognizable and decent! Yeah for new phones!

1- My baby has an unhealthy obsession with popcorn. I don't make the microwave kind so in actuality it isn't the worst thing he could crave with his little might! But, the child goes indy 500 around the loop in our house if he hears me turn on the popper. Found a recipe for salted carmel popcorn! Yummy munchy! Posting the recipe soon!
2- We headed North last Sunday to stay the night and day with the nephews! LOVED cuddling this little clean boy after his bath! Make an aunts heart melt!
3- Saturday night God multiplied and multiplied the blessings on J. He brought close to 200 people together to enter His courts with singing. What a night of celebration! Plus, the love offering was so much more than we anticipated.
4- Have I mentioned how much I love skies. Lately God has poured it our with radiant colors! So in awe!
5- My saurus has needed a little extra TLC this week. Not sure why but we were buddies. With all that has been going on with J and the back and forth in his little life, things have been shaky. This morning we headed out to the library and bank just the two of us. Times like those...

Happy Weekend!

God I need you now!

I have posted this before. But I heard it the other day and is resonated in me a reminder of why I liked it!

Addressing the Elephants

I am not sure how many faithful followers I have. So, for any reading and keeping up with all pertaining to my little world here, this is for you. I realize the situation going on around these parts may be raising a bit of curiosity. As it is, for any out there who may be wondering I thought I would grab the elephants in the room and remove part of the mass of obscurity.

So, not to jump in rashly...let's begin.

Q: Is J, "guy"?

A: Short answer, yes. If you remember back to earlier this spring I posted about guy and girl. Fast forward to middle summer this follow up went up. Yes, J is guy from guy and girl. I am aware of the "thoughts" going through the heads of some. Hope the answers to some further questions will clarify this a bit more.

Q: Are guy and girl, guy and girl again?

A: No. They are not. In this huge scenario, high on emotions, and worn hearts the truths that got us to where we were 2 months ago are still there. When I stand back and look at the situation, it is nice to be needed and I like helping. However, the convictions that separated us don't diminish because of a brain tumor.

Many keep questioning my involvement in this case. I agree, it is odd. I wouldn't wish this on my worst enemy. In many ways this has been the hardest thing I have walked through. However, before failed relationships, brain tumors, and even friendships guy and girl were and are brother and sister by the blood of Christ. We have both been adopted as sons (and daughters) and call the same God, Father. Long after this part in God's story, this will still be the case. In order for me to maintain eternal focus I have to remember that in spite of our history, our future will be together in front of the throne, praising the One that is orchestrating it all.

Q: Don't you think this is inappropriate?

A: I can see why this question is being asked. It is obvious that some would wonder. Especially given my standards.  Allow me to clarify. I don't "go it alone." Any time I am involved personally my mom, dad, or a sister accompanies me. If they are unavailable a close friend, familiar with the situation, makes efforts to be present or have someone else present to avoid any impropriety. Mainly, I stick to the background. Calling insurance, picking up files and forms, paying bills, depositing donations, etc.

Q: Shouldn't his family be taking care of that?

Two reasons why the answer to that question is, no.

A. We are his family. He is miles from "home" with a brother and two uncles living "near by." That, my friends, is all. Since, like I said earlier, we are all one family we take care of each other. There has rarely been a need that has gone unmet because the mentality in this church is to take care of each other. Not just me to him or vice versa, but everyone with everyone else. Regardless of skin, age, or gender. We try to work hard to show the Love of Christ to anyone we meet, especially those in the family of God.

B. My mom says often that should we be in another country away from her she would want someone stepping in as family. In her view, stepping in as mama. Lord bless my mother. She has stepped up and blessed him big time by "filling" in that role amazingly well. She has held hands, rubbed backs, checked on meals, called out laziness, and answered questions.

So, no and yes. His family should be taking care of this...and is.

Q: How are you with all this?

A: In a private setting, with a trusted friend, and an non-designated amount of time, my answer may be different. For now. I am fine. Worn. Tired. Drained. But fine. I have a post in the making to be able to explain the blessings I have found from running on E. In short, it truly has been a blessing. I have looked back and realized that there hasn't been an ounce of me in any of this. There hasn't been any strength that I could contribute to this. Every ounce of energy, love, and compassion has flowed directly from the Father through me. I didn't provide a stitch of it. It's amazing how when I am empty of "me" His love has so much more room to fill me...and to the brim!

So there you have it. The elephants addressed and taken care of. I realize this is odd. I realize that it doesn't make sense. If you have any questions, I would love to try and answer them. As a sinner undeserved of grace and forgiveness, I want to choose to give what I have been given. It's not easy. It hasn't been and will continue not to be. But, the peace that guards my heart and mind is wrapping me so tightly I can't question it.

Keep praying friends!