Count the blessings...

Count the blessings... Even though tomorrow is officially Thanksgiving day in the United States, I need the reminder every day to count the blessings.  

- for the privilege of teaching my girls at home

- for resources to assist me in teaching things 

outside of my knowledge.

- for oil changes that press pause in the day

- for neighbors and community

- for thoughtful gifts from friends

- for weekly poetry tea time

- for this man of mine, who treats me better than I deserve

- for opportunities to live missionally with my girls

- for my history-loving girl

- for days of rest that are truly restful

- for a free country and a God who is the same 

yesterday, today, and forever

Finding the Blessings in the Busyness

It's already one third of the way into December and I'm still trying to catch my breath.  Even before Thanksgiving, I knew that December would be busy.  I knew that we would have something every single evening from December 1 until the week of Christmas. My insides fought it hard.  Some of scheduling could have been avoided, but once a commitment is made there is no turning back.  

So instead of focusing on the busyness, I want to focus on the blessings in the busyness.  

As we rushed to and from ballet yesterday, I glanced over to see a grandfather and small boy standing in the rain without an umbrella as they tried to cross the street to the store.  My heart broke and I was humbled by my grumbling heart.  I have a running vehicle that is warm and dry.  My girls are all healthy and we are so fortunate to have a close, affordable, and fun ballet studio for all three girls to participate in.  Count the blessings...

The simple pleasures of clean laundry, coffee every morning, Christmas lights, baking cookies with my girls, an amazing church family, friends who not only watch my girls, but make it fun...

The list could go on, and I pray it does.  I've neglected counting His ways.  I'm so quick to focus on the stress, to get overwhelmed, and to lose sight of what this season is all about.  May we all find the blessings whether busy or not.

Choosing to Wait...

I awake, already behind schedule, and my mind starts whirling with all that needs to be done.  What should I do first?  Thankful for enough quietness to hear, the Lord reminds me, "Do this one thing and then after that, you can do another.  But don't worry about all that the day seems to hold."  

Coffee in hand, I choose what I need the most - time with my maker.  He blesses me with this verse, "Wait for the Lord, be strong & take heart and wait for the Lord."  One season of busyness is ending, yet another one is rapidly approaching.

Weeks ago, I felt this same weight of stress laying heavy, but from two different sources in the same day, I was reminded of this verse, "Wait for the Lord; be brave and courageous.  Yes, wait patiently for the Lord."  I couldn't help but smile and savor the words.

When I looked at the previous verse, Psalm 27:13, I was even more encouraged, for the psalmist wrote, "I am still confident of this.  I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living."  Did you catch it?  The land of the living!  So instead of always focusing on the past or what's ahead in the future, I need to find goodness among the land of living, with those who are living around us whether in our homes, our neighborhoods, our work places...  May we be fully present in the upcoming season of busyness.  May we patiently wait for the Lord.  May we open our eyes enough to the beauty all around us and be thankful...

for homeschooling on location or just in the backyard...

for dog walks and baby dolls...

for the love of books...

for days of craziness and days of quiet solitude...

for my daily bread (and oatmeal)...

Farewell October, Welcome November!

October could not have been a more jam-packed, calendar-filled, people-lovin' month!  Back in September, I knew that it would be, which is one of the main reasons why I chose not to blog everyday in October.  My unofficial goal of the month was to instead focus on praying each and every day specifically for my girls (and my husband.)  I can't promise that every single day started with my little prayer calender, but it certainly helped to remind and encourage me to take time daily to focus and pray over the gifts God has given me. 

As already mentioned, October was busy!!  From getting to spend the first weekend away in Charleston with some dear friends of mine to heading to Fort Caswell with my family and a bus load of students to the fall activities of pumpkin picking, farmer's marketing, and ferris wheel riding, life stayed full!  It was good full, yet now that November has arrived, I long for rest.

We've already embraced the joy of hot chocolate, pumpkin cookies and muffins.  Impromtu walks, trips to the library, and more time spent in the backyard are some of my goals this month.  November is the one of the months that I just long to breathe.  The cool crisp air invigorates me and the colors and crunch of the leaves pause me, reminding me of God's hand in all of this.  

November is a month of gratitude.  It holds the only holiday that has yet to be ruined by commercialism, presents, and activities.  It simply encourages us to remember the principles our country was founded on, to remember and give thanks for all God has done for us personally, and to focus on the people He has placed around us.  

Goals for November:

1.  Rest

2.  Read more

3.  Remember & give thanks

4.  Ready our home & hearts for the upcoming Christmas season

Focusing on Freedom

July is usually one of my least favorite months of the year due to the intense heat of the south and the absurd amount of insects attacking my face.  My focus on what is important can so quickly grow dim, while the thorns and worries of life seem to stare me in the face.  Even with those distractions, this month has begun with rest in my soul and a desire for freedom from the thoughts that fill my mind with anxiety.  

The summer months resonate with community coming together. Friends and neighbors keeping it simple with lawn chairs, popcorn, and a last minute movie in the back yard.

Family becomes more precious.  Spending time with my nephews and niece has become more intentional knowing that our family will spread even farther in the near future. Even short phone calls with my sisters seem more precious.

Glancing back on Independence day causes me to breathe deeply, longing for more days like it.  When one side of me wanted to fill the day with plans and people, God gave me such peace in reminding me of the people He has put right in front of me:  my sweet little family.  That day in which we remember the freedom given to us years ago, also brought freedom to my soul, allowing me to choose to rest, to choose the simple, and to choose my family above the busyness that seemed enticing.  

A relaxed breakfast with one of my sister's and our families, weeding the front flower bed, baking a blackberry cobbler, turning off the social media and lounging in the backyard pool, Friday night movie and pizza...  All of those things gave such freedom, freedom to rest and give thanks for the blessings God's placed right in front of me.