Small beginnings...

Small beginnings...  Even though I don't have wee babes anymore, my life is still full of small beginnings.  New readers, new learners, new concepts, budding believers...  Some days I fall prey to despising the small beginnings, viewing them through impatient eyes, wanting bigger results, looking to the future and possible greener grass.  Yet as James says, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow.  What is your life?  You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.  Instead, you ought to say, 'If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.'"

What's the Lord's will for my life?  This question comes to mind often.  Sometimes unsure of my place in my husband's ministry, I'm quickly reminded of my ministry.  It's wrapped up in three growing girls.  They are my ministry.  They are my disciples.  This came as a revelation to me over nine years ago when reading one of Sally Clarkson's books, The Mission of Motherhood, in which she compared the intimacy Jesus shared with His disciples to the intimacy a mother shares with her children.  The daily walking and talking, the training, the living... even in the small beginnings.   

It may come in the form of picnics outside, the making of omelets, and watching the 24th flip of the day.  It's in doing life with these precious girls and others around me!  The rewards may seem few at the moment, but the legacy, I pray, will be great!  "Our children are messengers that we are sending to a time we will not see." May our impact be great.  May we be intentional with our priorities, looking for those teachable moments.  May we understand the urgency.  

"The greatest waste in all the earth, which cannot be recycled or reclaimed, is our waste of the time that God has given us each day." - Billy Graham

May we see our lives as more than full-time babysitters, but instead as disciple-makers, paving the way for future generations.  What an incredible and amazing calling!

Musings for March

This was one of my many blessings in February - watching the sunrise at Fort Caswell with some of the most precious women I know.

A Recap of my Five for February:

1.  Finish organizing the school room and hang pictures.  No more clutter!

2.  Finish A Chance to Die by Elisabeth Elliot & read half of Cleaning House by Kay Wills Wyma (A Mom's 12-month experiment to rid her home of youth entitlement).

3.  Write 5 letters (real ones with stamps) to other women who may need encouragement.

4.  Take portraits of each of my girls (plus valentine pics).

5.  Focus on words of grace for my family.  

Once again, not 100% complete, but still progress.  

- I don't think I'll ever finish organizing the school room.  Some of you will understand...  

- The biography of Amy Carmichael was deep... but I finished it and so thankful to have read it.  Very powerful book!  

- I'm almost a third of the way through Cleaning House.  Already I'm taking mental notes.  Practical and thought provoking.

- Writing letters is often one of my good thoughts that never gets done.   They say it's the thought that counts... I don't think so.  So, all glory goes to God that envelopes were addressed and stamps were found amid the clutter in my kitchen.  (On a side note, it doesn't have to be snail mail to encourage a friend.  A simple text, an email, or message on Facebook or Instagram can make anyone's day brighter.  I've been on that receiving end several times this month and you ladies know who you are.  Thank you!  You truly don't know how uplifting your words were!)

- My portraits were simple, just up close at a park.  Valentine pics thrown together last minute to arrive to grandparents... late, once again.

- Changing my focus to grace will never be completely crossed off a to-do list.  This will forever be a daily desire, a daily dying to self, and giving of the grace that I do not deserve.  

Musings for March:
1. Teach at least one essential oils class.  Nervous, oh my!
2. Plan (with my older girls) a ballerina/pirate party for my youngest (who is turning 4!!!)
3. Focus on discipling my girls (with an emphasis on Bible memory).
4. Let go of some things of the past... (more may be shared in the future.)
5. Spend as much time outdoors as possible (more bike rides, park visits, picnics, and maybe getting back to running 4 miles again... maybe.)

Enjoy this free spring printable (as I certainly will!)

My three from Despicable Me...

                              

My three girls are as different as night and day and somewhere in between.  On one occasion when we took them to the movie, Despicable Me 2, my husband and I realized how similar our girls are to the three in that movie.

Our oldest so responsible (most of the time), caring for her sisters, yet has a desire to please others and win their approval.  She is ever adventurous (as long as it's not too dangerous).  Her love for constant learning, researching, inventing, and creating never ceases to amaze me.  Altogether, growing up too fast...  

Our little middle prefers to live life in a hat, not caring about the style of others, so inventing her own (which I honestly love!) She is ever patience with her younger sister who could test even the likes of Job.  She appears shy to most, but has those moments where her inner boldness abounds.  She is one of the most giving people I know. 

Our littlest could spend every day in a her tutu, fluttering from one activity to another.  She could be referred to as sassy, spunky, and a few other descriptive words.  But life would certainly not be the same without her.  Even with her daily appetizer of whine and cheese, she cuddles like no other and brings such joy to our lives.  

Our Love Story... (& what love's got to do with it)

Even though it's been a couple of days since Valentine's day, the memories of years past still sit fresh and new.  18 years ago, we went on that first Valentine date.  But what I remember the most is the first time we met.  As a gawky 15 year old with permed hair clear down my back, I was faced with another new set of faces (and American faces at that.) Nervous and shy, I remember this cute, older guy with glasses who introduced himself as soon as he stepped in the door.  "Hi!  I'm Marty."  I'll never forget how welcomed I felt (which is rare in a teenage Sunday School class).

We were friends, more like brother & sister for at least the first eight months.  Our short lived relationship as boyfriend/girlfriend lasted an entire two weeks and three days, which included that first Valentine's day.  Our friendship remained, not the same, but still there.  But we knew later that summer that our friendship would last forever.  

He is my best friend who knows me better than I know myself. When I cry uncontrollably, he gives space, yet comforts when the time is right.  He patiently puts up with my hair-brain ideas and never says "I told you so..."  He accepts me when I fail again and again.  He lets me dream when laundry should be folded and the bathroom needs cleaning. He buys me "Hallmark" cards (even if they are from Walmart) and roses to remind me of our dating days.   

He has given me three of my favorite people in the world. These girls make any day a special day.  I may not always respond with their same enthusiasm each day, but their thrill for life inspires me.

But now that Valentine's is over... what's love got to do with it?

I always thought that the opposite of love was hate.  Yet this is not the case.  Really the opposite of love is selfishness. When we choose to love others, we sacrifice some of ourselves (sometimes more than others.)  When we choose self over anyone or anything else, there is no love.  

So when it's his turn to make the bed, pull up the covers with the pride and choose to love.  When meetings go longer than planned, shower him with kisses when he walks through the door, knowing he's working hard as an act of love.  All week the song by Warren Barfield, Love is not a Fight, has been mulling through my head.  

Love is a shelter in a raging storm
Love is peace in the middle of a war
And if we try to leave, may God send angels to guard the door
No, love is not a fight, but it's something worth fighting for

Fight for your marriages.  Love is a choice, not a feeling. Choose to love your husband above all others, including yourself.

"The success of loving is in how we change because we kept on loving - regardless of anything else changing.  The value of loving is in the value of being like Christ." - Ann Voskamp

Five for February...

January's Simple Five:

1.  Organize our school room.  (almost done...)

2.  Finish A Chance to Die by Elisabeth Elliot

3.  Find and try 2 new, healthy recipes. 

     - Homemade Overnight Cinnamon Rolls (for our snow day)

     - Wholegrain Pumpkin Banana Nut Bread (w/o the nuts)

4.  Run up to 3 miles again.  (ok... it only happened once, but with the cold & rainy weather we've had, it wasn't as easy as I thought.)

5.  Devotions daily with my girls. (Nothing fancy.  Two to three days a week we'd review our Family Journal that follows what they are learning on Sundays.  The other days we'd either read through Chloe's devotional or You Can Change the World.

Obviously, my simple five were not completely accomplished. But I'm ok with that.  Instead, I want to strive for progress, not perfection.  More boxes were sorted through in the school room, another trash bag filled... I'm further along in my book, convicted and challenged.  Running is definitely a matter of progress, one step at a time.

Five for February:

1.  Finish organizing the school room and hang pictures.  No more clutter!

2.  Finish A Chance to Die by Elisabeth Elliot & read half of Cleaning House by Kay Wills Wyma (A Mom's 12-month experiment to rid her home of youth entitlement).

3.  Write 5 letters (real ones with stamps) to other women who may need encouragement.

4.  Take portraits of each of my girls (plus valentine pics).

5.  Focus on words of grace for my family.  

"Today, I will pray to speak words that are only STRONG words, words that make these children feel strong.  Grace words.  Grace is the only non-toxic air. All other words words I breathe are death words." - Ann Voskamp  

Click for the link to this free chalkboard printable

A North Carolina Snow...

Having grown up in a part of the world where snow could begin as early as October and last through April, the excitement of white flakes never ceases to bring a smile to my face.  The rumors of 5-7 inches caused the usual hustle and bustle of bread & milk buying, searching for snow gear, and constant peeking through windows for the tiny flakes to appear.  We were not disappointed!  A few flakes appeared around sunset with more accumulating by the hour.  It was the powdery kind, not snowman or snowball worthy, but great for sledding and pure fun! 

The morning greeted us with a blanket of white goodness, perfect for snow cream (compliments of Daddy!) and warm cinnamon rolls (one of my new recipes of the month - check!)  

The morning encompassed sledding, tubing, and more sledding.  We love our neighborhood more and more, watching the kids share sleds and dads helping push whoever's next in line.

  

Someone wanted to imitate big sister, but found the experience quite unpleasant.  

Even little missy got in on the sledding fun!

The backyard was tackled after a quick lunch.  We all worked together to make a fort since a snowman seemed a little too difficult.  I even put down the camera for a bit to work up a little sweat in delivering arm loads of snow.  Snow fluff fights, sliding on our playset, and just enjoying every minute possible was our main goal for the day.  Snow days in North Carolina are days like no other.  Schedule and routine go out the window while family, fun, & food monopolize the hours instead.

Snow days with these three are always worth it (even with the laundry that comes later...)

The evening ended well with chili and corn chips followed by singing worship songs with daddy on the guitar.  I could truly sing "Bless the Lord, oh my soul, oh my soul.  Worship His holy name.  Sing like never before, oh my soul.  I'll worship Your holy name."