Joy for 2012

It took almost all of 2011 to come up with a word to signify my year, and it is "confidence."  Confidence in my ability to hear His voice and confidence in His ability to lead and guide us.  This happened after I was blessed to return home as a full-time stay-at-home wife and mama.


So, I have pondered what the word for this new year would be, and the Lord obliged.  It is JOY.  I am so excited to embark on this year long journey to discover what that really means, for I know the Lord has more for me to learn and experience than what I already know.  After all, isn't that how He works, bringing us from glory to glory and into a deeper revelation of Him?  His kingdom is righteousness, peace, and JOY in the Holy Ghost. There is much more to joy than just being "happy", and I am delighted to start on this discovery.


I have been way to serious for most of my life, and frankly I am ready to let loose and really experience HIM and this JOY unspeakable and full of GLORY that He offers.

And, you know what?  He is just so good that He led Ann Voskamp to have a Joy Dare!  What joy!  I am taking the dare.  Will you join me and take the Joy Dare?  Ann even gave us a list of ideas for January.

The Bible says in Psalms 16:11, "in His presence is fullness of joy."  We are also admonished to enter His gates with thanksgiving and into His courts with praise (Psalm 11:4).  So, this Joy Dare is a perfect way to begin, and continue, this year.

The Aching Void

Dr. Lillian Yeomans said, “God delights in his children stepping out over the aching void with nothing underneath their feet but the Word of God.”
Have you ever thought about that statement - the aching void?

The Word of God is like a hot bath with Calgon (or in my case Bath & Body Works Sleep Lavender Vanilla) that soothes sore aching muscles and enables one to rest in His promises.

Tis The Season

As a young adult I remember seeing “A Christmas Story” for the first time and learning about the infamous Red Rider BB Gun. I got married and we were blessed 2 years later with our daughter.  Then along came 3 bouncing baby boys.  I had declared a “no gun or weapons” policy for our home.  Lego Duplos were fine.  And then one day the Duplos took the form of guns!  I was outnumbered and came to the realization that boys are BOYS!  They like to pretend to conquer and hunt, etc…. It seems that it is hard wired in them!  Can anyone relate?

We have a Christmas Catalog from Vision Forum, and guess what?  There are initials of various children next to knives, guns, and bows!  As well as a certain initial next to doll items (whew! I am so glad I have a daughter to relate to.)  I have to say that I am impressed with the quality of the items we have so far from Vision Forum.  The boys grandparents bought them wooden play guns from VF 2 years ago and they have had lots of play.  Now son number 1 wants a REAL Vision Forum BB Gun!!!!  (Some things never change.) Hmmmm.  I will need to get him and the rest of us goggles to protect our eyes!   Vision Forum also has a great number of Christian books for all ages, definitely more my speed!

Let the Holiday fun begin and the joyful celebration of God's goodness and overwhelming love for us, even with boys who prefer playing with guns!

It's That Time of Year Again

Thanksgiving is days away....and we still are unsure of what our plans are.  We were blessed with a turkey that is happily thawing out in our extra refrigerator in anticipation of being joyfully consumed. (An IEW writing instructor would be pleased with those strong verbs and -ly descriptors.  I am learning so much this year - thank you Institute for Excellence in Writing!) 

In less than 2 weeks my 8 year old turns 9.  His wish is for a Lego Death Star set.  It has been on his "list" for almost 2 years.  Have you seen this set?  It is truly incredible boasting 3,803 pieces and includes 24 mini-figures, possibly his favorite part.  Ahhh, the power of Legos.  When we were in baby mode, our friends had 5 young boys and Legos, lots of them, everywhere.  When they came and visited us they each bought a set and they were spread throughout our home diligently working on them.  I can still see them.  Now I understand.  It is my wish that our two families can someday get together and their boys, now young men, can see our boys who are about the same age they were when we first got married...

In approximately 3 weeks my daughter turns 12and I am hoping to do something really mom-daughter special for this girl who is blossoming into a beautiful young lady right before our eyes.

Then, Christmas.....Thank you Father for sending us your Son.

The Most Important Things to Know

The most important things to know:


1.  God is love.
       1 John 4:7

2.  God loves YOU.
     1 John 4:19

3.  Because God loves you so much He gave you the ULTIMATE GIFT.
     John 3:16
 
4.  His gift to you (should you receive Him) changes EVERYTHING!
       John 5:24     Galatians 3:13,14     2 Peter 1:2-4

Thoughts for Today

Proverbs 3:16 Amplified Bible

 ¹MY SON, forget not my law or teaching, but let your heart keep my commandments;    ²For length of days and years of a life [worth living] and tranquility [inward and outward and continuing through old age till death], these shall they add to you.
    ³Let not mercy and kindness [shutting out all hatred and selfishness] and truth [shutting out all deliberate hypocrisy or falsehood] forsake you; bind them about your neck, write them upon the tablet of your heart.
    ⁴So shall you find favor, good understanding, and high esteem in the sight [or judgment] of God and man.
    ⁵Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
    ⁶In all your ways know, recognize, and acknowledge Him, and He will direct and make straight and plain your paths.


Jesus gave us 2 commandments - Love God and love others......which is made possible as we get a revelation of God's love for us.  Selah

TODAY

Today
I am learning to trust You day by day.
I don't have to ponder tomorrow, You just ask for today.
You paid for my yesterday, the failures and mistakes
giving me a brand new start, today.
You are all I need today, bringing me peace and joy,
my Savior, Provider, Teacher....
whatever the need is today, You are there to fill it.
Because of You, today is a beautiful day.

school

So, we are into our second week of homeschooling and it is going decently well.  Before last week it dawned on me that I hadn't actually homeschooled (been the primary teacher) since my daughter was in kindergarten and now I was getting ready to teach a k, 3rd, 4th, and 6th grader.  I had some fleeting thought of panic!  God has been so faithful.  He graces us for the task/privilege of teaching our children.  And, it is not all up to us - Isa 54:13 - what a relief!

This is what we are studying so far:
Bible - our daily Bible chapter in the New Testament and other Bible study curriculum.
Math - Horizons Math K, Teaching Textbooks 5, 6, 7
Lang Arts - Institute For Excellence In Writing, Teach Your Child To Read In 100 Easy Lessons, Handwriting Without Tears, Essentials of the English Language
History - Mystery of History II and Veritas Press Online History (free trial! - the kids ask for it!)
Science - Apologia Young Explorers Series Exploring Creation With Anatomy & Physiology
Various Readers

It's a start!

Home Educating Family Publishing

Home Educating Family Publishing

is having a contest for Artfully Yours art curriculum.  Check it out!

beautful morning

Sipping coffee with Bible in hand (on lap really) and those words whispered to my soul...beautiful morning.  What about it is beautiful?  Not the weather.  It is going to be another hot one here in the Ozarks.
It is beautiful because He is here. with me. His love and presence surrounding me.
It is beautiful because I am getting to walk out His plan for today - at home with my children.  A gift from Him answering the desire of a mother's heart.
It is beautiful because I choose to reflect on His goodness and call to remembrance the many ways He has brought provision recently and in times past.  He is always faithful.
It is beautiful because His faithfulness continues and His mercies are new every morning.  And, His grace is sufficient for today.

This is His day.  I rejoice in it. In Him.  And watch as He makes EVERYTHING beautiful in its time.
Even mistakes, mishaps, and mis-steps.....He is able to transform into something beautiful.  His love for you and His mercy is just that good!

Have a beautiful day.

lisa

waiting for perfect

There are so many times that I have thought to "blog", to share my heart, but haven't because I don't have the perfect words or right graphics. (This blog, at the moment, is truly boring!) But then I realize, if I don't start right where I am, in all my imperfection, then how can I expect to improve.

How many missed opportunities will there be if I don't move into action until it is "perfect."

So, here's to imperfection, fresh starts, and heavenly mercies!

p.s. I am glad the Lord is helping me see this, because school officially starts next Tuesday, and I am not "perfectly" prepared; but His grace is made perfect in my weakness. That makes me smile!

Camp

My 2 sons are at camp this week. The house is quieter and I miss them and their noise! I dropped off mail at the camp (it is only 5 minutes away from our house!) for them and thanked the camp director for all that they are doing for the kids and for making sure that the boys got to be in the same cabin (they normally do not do that). She then mentioned that there was a camper that got really homesick last night and his brother was great with him. A camp counselor ended up taking him on a walk and talking with him. (I am quite sure that camper was Patrick!) I am so pleased with William's love and compassion for his brother and Patrick's courage to stick it out and try something new. I am also glad that camp is so close! :-)
There. I finally posted something! (Thanks in part to an (In)Courage tweet today "Future authors start out as bloggers.")

today

Yesterday was a whopper.....Basking in His love and goodness in the morning alone and then later with a dear friend, and long distance with a loved one....then tears flowing on and off all day.....hormones????.....draining!.....ahhh.....but made it through the day, and His love never changed...one bit.

Today is a snow day. I am determined not to waste it or get side-tracked by the change of our normal scheduled. In the Kitchen He whispered to me, "Be content, you are right where I want you." selah with a smile and a cup of coffee.

God answers me when I call

I whisper a question to the Lord.....releasing the wonder to Him, and He answers me.....
It is happened over and over again the past few weeks. He is amazing...loving...merciful...

Oh how I love Him

Does your heart ever feel so full that it might burst? Full of temporary sorrow? (Saying good-bye to max 11 months ago) It was hard to take deep breaths. I had a choice. Plunge or rather allow myself to sink into despair....OR...grasp the hand of God and allow (yes allow - He is a gentleman) Him to lift me up and into His arms. To lean my entire self on Him. To trust His love and goodness - towards me. To enter a deeper relationship with Him. That is where I am today.

Now my heart is full with Him - ready to burst forth with His goodness. To love others. To help others. To help others walk through the valley - not staying there - finding themselves stronger on the other side. Ready to Live. LIVE for Him.

He is with Me

"He is with Me." - whispered to my soul from his Creator, my Comforter. I know we will meet again, never to be separated. I rejoice in all the blessings surrounding me here - five to be specific - my husband and 4 children. Yet my soul longs for the one not here...and hears, over and over again - "He is with Me." - and - "I am with you." That is enough. I keep walking. His tender mercies new every morning. His plan still wonderfully good. Because of Him, His mercy and love, I have hope. And joy in the midst of the temporary sorrow. Happy "due date" Max. Hugs from Mommy.

Today

God is good all the time. His mercies are new every morning. His faithfulness - to YOU - forever. Even when things do not turn out the way we had planned - or how they were supposed to - God is still right there. When we bring our disappointments and hurts to Him, He fixes them, fixes you. I like what Joyce Meyers says - "double for your trouble"!
It's PAYBACK time!!! Oh He is so good. I just love GOD! I am nothing without Him and because of Him I am everything that matters - righteous, loved, healed, whole, joyful.....

God whispers to my heart, "I've got Max." He's doing good. He's fine. And I am letting God, the lover of my soul, take care of me; in the midst of missing Max HE is loving me, comforting me, revealing Himself to me in deeper ways.

New House Dream Come True

So much has happened since my last post....We closed on our house June 15th and moved in 4 days later. A dream come true! Every day that I am in this house, our house, I like it even better and my heart overflows with gratefulness to God. I found out that the sellers had prayed and asked God for the right people to buy their house. I believe He answered their prayers and ours! The sellers had to move out of town so we never actually met them. I was able to talk to the wife on the phone yesterday (she is so nice) and think I may have made a new friend.

The neighborhood is wonderful. We live in a cul-de-sac and 3 of the neighbors have already come over to say hello. God is so good! It took some time, but we are beginning to see the fruits of faith and patience concerning this (our) house. I had such peace that I could not explain when we first saw the house back in February. Now that peace is coupled with joy and excitement and gratitude for all that God has done and is continuing to do. This is just the start!

Moving in went quite well. We did not ask anyone for help but friends offered and showed up to help clean new house and old house, mow, move, bring food, and we have offers to help paint! The house is lovely and doesn't need painting but there is a certain someone (can you guess who he might be) who really loves the beach and desires to have those colors in our house. I can't blame him, I like the beach too!

Proverbs 3:5-6

New House

Yesterday we signed the paperwork (i.e. closed) on our house. It has been a long process with some various delays and required patience and persistence. We were told that there had been 2 other buyers ahead of us that had backed out because they did not want to have to wait so long to close. Some things are worth the wait!

Interestingly, I had been looking for a bigger house for months to make room for an expected addition. I viewed this house many times, and liked it except for one small detail. I passed it by. We even bid on another house. Finally one day Jeff and I were again searching for houses and I showed him this one. We went and looked at it and felt so peaceful. The "one thing" actually turned out to be not a deal at all! The price of the home was reduced and now within our price range. Glory!

God brought us just the right people to help us through each step of the process. We were a little apprehensive due to a bad experience 6 1/2 years ago. We did not know if we would even qualify; or if we did, what the interest rate would be. Everything went smoothly. God is so good!

Beginning

Well, here it is. I am finally writing. And why? Because I am asking my 10 year old daughter to do the same - a journal about her summer. So here it goes....

The day is hot and sunny. Much better than cold and rainy. Daughter is spending the day at a friend's house. I am at home with the boys and Daddy. We have finished reading "Flat Stanley" with hopes of a future writing project for them. Oh, and it takes 17 minutes for an ice cube to melt on the sidewalk, an activity we did for the library summer reading program. Laundry is going as usual. The living room floor is strewn with Duplo Castle Legos and I hear Star Wars music coming from the family room as the boys are playing Lego Star Wars Wii. I am pondering many things as I weave through my day: homeschool curriculum for the fall, the continuation and logistics of our co-op, closing on our new house, decorating our new house, missing Max...etc. All interspersed with a deep desire to make a difference in the lives of my family and the people we will touch throughout our journey - life here on earth. God is at work. He is ever faithful, ever loving. I say out loud, "He loves me. He likes me. I am redeemed. He has the plan for our lives - a good one! He is helping us to walk that plan out." Selah