10 Questions

I've decided to try and use this blog as a place to write about what's going on in our lives or stories for future scrapbooking layouts. I'm hoping that it will be a place to unload my thoughts and then later be able to come back and add pictures and paper. We'll see.

Last week I started listening to "The Art of Simple" podcast. I love podcasts, and this is a great one. At the end of each interview, Tsh (the hostess) asks the interviewee the same 10 questions. So as I was thinking about this and listening to another podcast this morning, I thought that those same 10 questions might make for a good layout about me - hence, this post.

So here are the 10 questions and my answers (as they are today):

1. Twitter or Facebook?  Facebook. I've never even been on Twitter. And as much as I dislike Facebook and the time it seems to suck out of my life, it is nice for keeping up with friends and family that I don't see very often.

2. Morning person or night owl?  Morning person. My most productive hours are in the morning!

3. How do you drink coffee?  Black - as it should be.

4. It's 9:00 p.m., the kids are in bed, your spouse is out with a friend - what do you do?  Read or scrapbook.

5. What's on your nightstand right now?  The Bible and You and Me Forever by Francis and Lisa Chan.

6. What smell do you love?  Coffee brewing.

7. What smell do you hate?  Chicken fat accidentally left overnight in the trash can

8. Other than your current home, where would you most like to live?  Somewhere near the mountains.

9. If you could only eat one nationality of food for the rest of your life, what would it be?  Italian.

10. When you were six years old, what did you want to be when you grew up?  A teacher.

Good Friday

Some days I am simply overwhelmed by God's presence. When He chooses to speak to me through His word, there's nothing I can do but praise Him. This morning I was reading in Hebrews, and I felt His presence so strongly and His love so greatly. Praise You, God!

And since today is Good Friday, I was just made all the more aware of His great sacrifice and continuing love for us.

"When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption."
Hebrews 9:11-12

"Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful."
Hebrews 10:19-23

Thank You, Jesus, for Your sacrifice. Let us live and love in Your grace.

God's Will

"I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart." Psalm 40:8

Trying to figure out God's will for my life has always been a difficult thing for me. When I was teaching I always wrestled with whether or not I should be teaching or staying at home with my kids. And then when I finally quit teaching to stay home with my kids, I remember days wondering if we made the right decision. Wondering if I gave up on my "calling" to stay home and do the "mundane."

Lately, God has really been working on my heart and speaking to me through His word, and I have realized a few things. First of all, I don't know whether or not it really matters where we are so much as what we are doing where we are. When I was teaching I wasn't making my walk with God the priority. I was distracted, and whether or not I was supposed to be teaching didn't really matter because God's main will for my life at that point (and at any point) was for me to be walking with Him. I think He had to get me out of that life and into a place where I could learn to walk with Him so He could change my heart. When I was teaching it was too easy to blame my circumstances, my students, my busy life, or several other things for my heart issues that I wasn't dealing with. And now that I've been home, it's a lot harder to assign blame and I've had to let God deal with some things.

Another thing I've realized is that being home and being a mom is anything but mundane. I have a tendency to compare myself to others, and I struggle with whether or not I'm living up to my "potential." But God continues to remind me that I am the only mother my children will ever have, and that is a huge responsibility. Other people can continue to teach the students I had, but I'm the only one who can be a mother to my children. And I don't want to miss out on that. I don't want to miss out on the God-given role that He has blessed me with. And whether staying home and homeschooling is more for my benefit or theirs, I don't know, but that's where we are and that's where we're going to stay. Until God directs me otherwise.

At least for me right now, being in God's will is not so much a physical place or circumstance, but more a place of heart. I need to walk with Him every day and be in His word, so He can speak to me. I'm learning to let the Holy Spirit lead, and we'll see where He takes us!

12-12-12

My birthday was this past Wednesday, 12-12-12, and a friend of mine got a great picture of us as we were leaving the house and heading for dinner. I just wanted to share it!

Thanks, Carol!

Asiatic Lilies

I know a lot of people, including my husband, don't love these flowers because they only bloom once, but they are one of my favorite flowers. Their colors are so bold and pretty, and maybe because they only bloom once, it's something to look forward to and enjoy for just a short time.

My lilies bloomed this week, and I intend to enjoy their beauty while it lasts!

Friday the 13th

I know a lot of people have superstitions about Friday the 13th, but it's a special day in our family. My parents were actually married on Friday, August 13th, 1976, and Todd and I met on Friday, September 13, 1996. We always try to celebrate these days, so we hope everyone has a wonderful Friday the 13th!

March - A Look Back

I've noticed other people doing monthly reviews in their blogs, so I thought that might be good for me to do too. At least that would make me write something once a month! We'll see how it goes.

I can't believe how quickly March has flown by, and it's really been a wonderfully mild month, especially in terms of the weather. All of our trees are blossoming, and I can see the little beginnings of my lilies and hostas. Hopefully this mild end of winter does not mean we'll have a scorching summer. But I intend to enjoy the nice weather as long as it lasts.

We signed Jack up for baseball for the first time this year, and his practices started last week. Even though I think 3 baseball practices/games a week is a little much for five-year-olds, I hope he enjoys it and that it doesn't overtake our entire lives. He usually excited about his practices, even though he spends most of the time playing in the dirt. I don't mind that so much as long as he's not putting dirt on other kids' heads (like he did last practice)! But when he's paying attention, he can actually hit, throw, and catch the ball. So we'll see how the season goes and if he wants to do it again next year.

Most of our month was pretty normal and close to home. February was busy, and April and May will be also, so I guess it's good that we got a break in there. Opening Day and Easter are coming up next week, so let the craziness begin!