Thankful ramblings

This evening our family will be enjoying the company of our homeschool friends at this year's Back to School Luau bash. As I anticipate the fun, I'm in awe of what the LORD has done with our little loaves and fish. I never in a million years expected to be running a homeschool group. Nope. I never in a million years thought it would grow from eight mommies in my living room to over 50 families in two and a half short years. Nope. I never in a million years anticipated the incredible blessing of friendship that would come out of this group of ladies. Nope.

But thankfully GOD did. He dreams big that way. Sometimes I have trouble seeing past tomorrow, let alone into next week or next year. Guess that's why my kids beat me at chess. I can't anticipate past my next move, while they seem to be able to play out the entire match in their heads, knowing what move precipitates the next. I'm thankful I serve a BIG GOD that sees the BIG picture. I'm also glad He doesn't often tell me the big picture or I'm pretty sure I'd run screaming the other way.

It's been fun to watch Him grow something like this over time rather than striving so hard on my own to make things happen. I've done it both ways and I can tell you which one is an epic fail. His way is so...perfect. He brings just the right people, at just the right time, for just the right purpose. No forcing things to happen...they just do.

No real purpose to this post. Just a bit of thankful rambling.

Thank you LORD for taking our little loaves and fish and using them somehow in your BIG plan.

Prickles and stings are not good things

Time seems to have a way of sneaking up on you and before you know it you've fallen into a rut you can't get out of. The weight of real, grown-up life presses in and you start to forget what's important.

Lately I've been feeling a whole lot like Katherine Brooke, the spinster woman in Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, all "prickles and stings". I actually caught sight of myself today as I passed the mirror and wondered why I looked so grumpy. Hmmm...I certainly wouldn't want to look at that sour face all day and yet that is exactly what my sweet children have to do.

I think instead I'd rather look like Anne (that's Anne with an "e" mind you!). Maybe not in physical appearance, although I do love her red hair. I think I would rather have her disposition; her positive, albeit extremely romanticized outlook on life. Her amazing way of facing the world with enough determination to thwart the worst possible situations. No matter where she goes, her heart always returns to Green Gables, to the people and places dearest to her. Throughout the story, she spends years looking for her ideal life, only to find it was there all along.

It's just that I went looking for my ideals outside of myself. I discovered it's not what the world holds for you, it's what you bring to it. The dreams dearest to my heart are right here.

I haven't been looking elsewhere for my ideal, but I have taken for granted that the dreams dearest to my heart are always right here. It's good to be reminded of that from time to time.

Time to trade in those grumpy old frowns for a smile. It's a beautiful thing to wear don't you think?

Out and about

I swear there are some amazingly wise and talented people out there. Here's a sample of this week's surfing.

Raising Olives shares a tutorial for making simple bookshelves...out of rain gutters!

Bake at 350 is one of my favorite cookie decorating sites. Take a look at her most recent birthday cookies and while you're there, spend some time digging through her site. Her step by step tutorials are super.

I will not covet, I will not covet...This lady's amazing Southern home focuses on her porch...her amazing, ginormous porch. Did I mention it is amazing? She's even named her blog Between Naps on the Porch. Looking for some fun tablescape ideas? Check out her weekly Tablescape Inspirations. Warning...it will take you hours to look at everything and probably make you crave a tall glass of iced tea.

This one's for my friend Marla who has a small addiction to cafe tables. You know you do Marla!

Chad at Captain's Blog is on a Learning to Live Loved journey toward transparency. No matter how far you think you've come, your past can still sneak up and bite you in the butt. Check out his journey and be encouraged in your own.

And since no list would be complete without a little Nester, here's a great question - How would you decorate your home if no one but your family would ever see it? So why aren't you doing it?

How's that for an eclectic list? Enjoy!

Peace through chaos

Homeschooling four kiddos is a life of controlled chaos. Oh, who am I kidding...it's just a life of chaos! Despite the craziness and unpredictability, I wouldn't change a thing. Yes, it consumes my life most days, but the LORD seems to always give me the energy I need to accomplish what He has for me to do. Most days I fall into bed exhausted, already dreaming of tomorrow's cup of Starbucks, but I am incredibly thankful for each and every moment.

What has He placed on your plate this week? What are you needing an extra measure of strength to endure? Keep your eyes on Him, the author and perfecter of your faith and I guarantee you He'll make a way through your chaos, giving you peace each step of the way.

Bible shopping

My Bible is falling apart...literally, whole sections have come out. I've glued it back together more times than I can count. This Bible is like an old friend. I know right where to find my favorite passages. I've written hundreds of notes in it, recording times the LORD used specific verses to minister to my heart. I've struggled for the longest time with getting a new one, but I think it's time to say good-bye. I looked into having it rebound, but the $150-$250 price tag made that an unlikely option. I'm attached, but not THAT attached!

So yesterday I bit the bullet and went Bible shopping. Sounds easy enough doesn't it? Uh...not so much! Who knew there were so many Bibles? There's the golfers Bible..."Lord, help me make it on the fairway." There's the busy mom's Bible..."Lord, help me make it through the next five minutes!" There's The Message and The Message Remix...not sure what that's all about. The Daily Bible...what, as opposed to the monthly? Archaeological Bible, thin-line Bible, large print Bible, compact Bible. There are Bibles by denomination, gift Bibles, study Bibles...good grief! I had no idea!

After much comparing, I found the one I wanted...I think. It's got some great study materials I'm excited to dive into. When asked the question, "Which Bible is the best?", our pastor responds, "The one you'll read!" Too true.

God's amazing faithfulness

It's 3:34 p.m. and I.am.exhausted. I feel like I've just been to 8th grade, 6th grade, 3rd grade and Kindergarten all in one day. Oh wait, I have! Though I'm physically drained and my brain circuits somewhat fried, I am excited we were able to accomplish everything on our school schedule today. I honestly can't even think straight to put more than a few words into some semblance of a paragraph, but I wanted to thank God for His amazing faithfulness. He promised to take my meager loaves and fishes and make it into something He could use. That's what He did today and I am grateful.

Now if only He could make dinner for me too...

Free decorating - how a game table was born

Yesterday I got the urge to start moving furniture again. My kids just look at me and yell, "Watch out! Mom's got the bug again!" It's a sickness...I know.

Our great room area is a bit tricky to arrange because it is surrounded by traffic patterns. One part borders the kitchen, one side leads to the bedrooms and the other side leads to the master suite. That leaves a little square area in the middle for the furniture. The area that leads to the master bedroom has some extra space in front of the windows and I will sometimes stick a random piece of furniture over there, but it's never looked just the way I wanted it to. If money were no problem, I would buy two nice little chairs and a table to make a seating area...IF being the operative word.

Since I couldn't run out and purchase new chairs, I started brainstorming ways to use the space with things I already have. LIGHT BULB MOMENT! I had an old handmade desk in the garage that had no current purpose. I was holding on to it for sentimental reasons, but it never really fit anywhere. Pulling it out, I dusted it off, pried off the top portion and presto - a game table was born! It needs to be refinished, but that is so far down on my to-do list that I haven't even bothered to write it down yet.

I've always wanted a game table in our living room! The kids love to play chess, but don't often think to pull it out. Now that it's sitting in the living room, they have played non-stop for two days. (Please forgive the crummy photo. Camera broke and we still haven't replaced it. Recording the memories of our lives with a camera phone just isn't cutting it!)

Oh how I love free decorating!

Eventually

We will eventually find a new church and begin to make
friends. We will eventually find a homeschool group. We will eventually feel like this is home. I’m just thankful God is walking with us through the nows, while we wait on eventually.
blog post from May 2007

I ran across this excerpt from a blog post I had written a month after our move to Texas. How interesting to look back and see how the LORD orchestrated each part of our lives.

We eventually found a wonderful church and built amazing friendships. Though we've now moved on to help start a new church, we know our time there was ordained by the LORD and we are grateful.

As for finding a homeschool group, that part made me laugh out loud. We didn't find one - we inadvertently started our own and the LORD continues to bless with close to 50 families participating. That seriously blows me away. Starting a group was never even on my radar, but apparently it was in His plan. I love it when He works like that.

As for feeling like we're "home"...I know we're right where we are suppose to be and I can say with confidence that yes, He did walk with us through the now, while we waited on eventually.

Sunday Morning Praise - Psalm 9:1-2

I will thank you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done. I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.
~ Psalm 9:1-2 ~