we remember...

they remember...

He remembers...














photo sources: googleimages.com

But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, 

I wait for God my Savior... Micah 7:7

Procrastination Anyone?

Procrastination has always been my worst enemy it seems. I come home from a long day at work and look at the load of laundry and think, “Hey look, laundry! Should I do it now? Do I really need to? I just had a long day at work, I deserve to take a break.” I then proceed to do other things and put all thoughts of doing laundry out of my head.


It would seem that procrastination and motivation go hand in hand. I can be really, really motivated on the way home from work. My 30 minute drive home consists of all these awesome things I’m going to do when I get home. I get super excited about doing laundry, picking up around the house, working out, and a miscellaneous list of other things that I have been meaning to get out of the way for a while. My house will be clean as a whistle with everything put neatly in its place and I will look fantastic while I do it. As soon as I get home, I seem to fall into the same routine of procrastination. How can I lose that much motivation in just 30 minutes?


We like to put up the façade that we are proactive and never procrastinate. I like to hide behind a mask of “yes! I am on top of things and ahead of the game!” In reality, I struggle to keep up with simple things like birthday gifts and events where I bring a dish to pass. Everything is left to the last minute. I have become quite the expert in efficiency when time is precious.
After things pile up for a few days, I finally am able to make myself motivated enough to get a ton of things done. It ends up making me feel stressed because I can’t believe that I didn’t do it when I should have.
My husband and I are currently in the process of a complete bathroom gutting and remodel, so our house has been a little crazier than normal (wait not crazy, psychotic!). There is dust everywhere, tools everywhere, supplies everywhere, and it all just makes for a stressful environment.
This is where I take a deep breath and try to maintain some control of my emotions so I don’t explode with raging madness at the mess! As odd as this sounds, I procrastinate, but I like to have things a certain way. My house is not a cesspool, but it sometimes isn’t spotless either. I consider it in “lived in” condition. I clean and keep things in relative good order (even more so when company comes over), but I don’t always get to do the things I should do in a timely manner. I am always waiting until the last possible minute.


Prov 13:4
The soul of the sluggard desireth, and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat.


Then I think, what if Jesus had procrastinated? What if he put of dying for us, what would have happened? I shudder at the thought. I am thankful for everything He has done and try to remind myself not to procrastinate. It’s time to be diligent for Jesus.

                                                           

A Better Attitude

I am starting to accept that my lovely summer is coming to a halt. I am a happy girl in the summer...I sleep until 8:00, spend time with the kiddos and have very few commitments. Basically, my time is my own and it's fun. Back to school for the kids equals back to busy, sleep deprived, always on the run for me. I am determined to make it better this year and I think part of it is my attitude. I really just don't want to do things that I don't want to do!  (Hello! How old am I?) But, some of those things have to be done in order for life to run smoothly (and cleanly ☺). So, in a grand effort to be less tired, more organized and less grumpy about things I don't really enjoy having to do, I have posted the following list on the inside of one of my kitchen cupboards...in hopes for a new attitude!

1. Thank you, Lord, for the alarm that goes off in the early morning because it means I am alive.
 
2. Thank you, Lord, for floors that need to be swept and washed and windows that need cleaning because it means I have a home.

3. Thank you, Lord, for the piles of laundry and ironing because it means I have a family.

4. Thank you, Lord, for the times that I can't find a close parking spot because it means I am capable of walking.

5. Thank you, Lord, for my grocery and heating bills because they mean I am warm and fed.

6. Thank you, Lord, for weariness at the end of the day because it means I have been productive.

It's a start girls! Don't laugh! Feel free to help me add to my thank you list. I can clearly see in my mind the energetic, organized, good attitude girl that I want to be...I just need to get there! Wish me well, school starts back up on Wednesday...the alarm goes off at 5:30 AM...umm...yikes, I mean yipee!

Have a wonderful Labor Day weekend everyone!

Dear God... your creation Amazes me!

A few weeks ago I posted about my upcoming garden. I wanted it twice as big as last year and so my wonderful hubby dug out and turned over and built my BIGGER garden. (I'm thinking even bigger next year...maybe..just no one tell my hubby..yet!) Over the past few weeks my precious garden started out with little baby plants and seeds, and today I couldn't be happier! I love watching what pops up from the ground. It just amazes me that something so small as a bean seed turns into a beautiful plant with lots and lots of beans to eat.... God is amazing..that's for sure! While planting those little bean seeds in the ground I can't help but say to myself  "really...THIS tiny thing....is going to give me beans...well...ok..here goes nothin'..." And then 14 days later I'm always shocked and amazed to see those little sprouts push their way out of the ground. I can't help it..I'm always amazed that it works! But that just reminds me of how beautiful God's creation is. He can take anything...even a tiny bean seed...and turn it into something beautiful. And that reminds me that He will do the same with me too. No matter what life is throwing my way I just have to remember that little bean seed and know that God will make good come from it.

Below is a peek at my garden...

and last but not least... carrots...

..c'mon carrots..you can make it!

Lastly I made Blueberry Zucchini Bread this week and it by far is the best bread that I have ever eaten!!!

Doesn't it look scrumptious!



our vacation in photos

Can you guess where my husband and I vacationed to last week?

'"...where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding?

the depth saith, it is not in me: and the sea saith, it is not with me.

no mention shall be made of coral, or of pearls: for the price of wisdom is above rubies.

whence then cometh wisdom? and where is the place of understanding?

seeing it is hid from the eyes of all living, and kept close from the fowls of the air,

God understandeth the way thereof, and he knoweth the place thereof.

for he looketh to the ends of the earth, and seeth under the whole heaven;

and unto man he said, behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom."

Job 28

100 Sister Points* to the person who guesses correctly where we took our vacation! (7Sisters authors excluded)

 

*Unfortunately, at this time, Sister Points are not redeemable for cash, favors, or any other cool bounty other than your own joy at obviously being very good at geography via photograph.

a proverbs 31 challenge

 A Proverbs 31 woman is sweeter than cheesecake. 

--me

find this yummy cheesecake recipe @ everyday art
(gluten free via Bob's Red Mill All Purpose GF Flour and organic vanilla..
also i don't have a spring form pan and just cooked the crust in a glass pie dish)

If you've never read Proverbs 31, I encourage you to do so now!

I love reading this passage and challenging myself to be that Proverbs 31 woman.  It would make my day week year if someone said that I was a Proverbs 31 woman (or at least striving to be?) :).  I can think of a lot of wonderful women in my life who remind me of this woman, and who challenge me to be a better wife, daughter, sister, woman and friend.  Wouldn't it be nice if we could show honor to these women in our lives?

Enter a cute little printable I made to download and give to those Proverbs 31 women that you know!  Download it for free HERE! In honor of ♥J's birthday, and because she's definitely one of those encouraging ladies in my life, I've already written one up for her.. Happy Birthday ♥J!!!

So here's the Proverbs 31 Woman, Seven Sisters, Pay it Forward challenge for today... print out the freebie and give to three women in your life who you would like to encourage and bless by letting them know they are an encouragement to you as a Proverbs 31 woman!  I've got one down and two to go!

Happy giving!!

Linking to:

Rachel's Challenge

A very special program was presented at Lulu's middle school this week. It is called Rachel's Challenge. It is in memory of Rachel Joy Scott, the first student killed in the Columbine school tragedy on April 20,1999. Rachel was 17 when she was shot and killed as she ate lunch on the grass outside her high school. She was a remarkable young lady because even as a teenager she was already making it her mission to show compassion and start a chain reaction of kindness. She wrote in journals about how she wanted to make a difference in the world. She wrote about her love for God. After her death, her family started bringing this program into schools with the hope of showing students how to make positive changes in the way that they treat one another and put an end to bulling and violence.

Rachel's family members are the presenters, her uncle led the assembly at Lulu's school. Lulu came home very excited about it. She said it was awesome, a lot of students were crying but were also challenged to make a difference! They are challenged to let go of all prejudices. They are challenged to show love to those in their school who have no friends, kids who are handicapped and students who are new to the school. They hear a story about how Rachel invited a new girl who was sitting alone to join her and her friends at a table for lunch. When the new girl shyly declined, Rachel and her friends picked up their own lunches and moved to the girl's table. One of the follow through programs at Lulu's school is the formation a group of students who will meet anyone who is new to the school on their first day. A student is positioned at the school entrance to welcome the new student when they arrive and talk to them, help them out, etc. I can imagine that a friendly face and a kind word could go a long way on your first day at a new school.

It just seems such a remarkable feat, to take something as horrible and hateful as what happened at  Columbine and use it to empower and inspire kids to be examples of kindness...only God could do that. He is using that family to make a difference in kid's lives even 12 years later!

When Rachel was 13 she traced her hands on the back of her dresser and inside the outline of her hand she wrote..."these hands belong to Rachel Joy Scott and will someday touch millions of people's hearts".
Do something for someone today, you may never know how far a little kindness will go.

a life of lists

 I fret.

No, that’s not the latest Apple gadget. It’s me. I make lists, I plan, I graph (no, not more Apple gadgets, just me), and when something falls off the plan, I usually let the “free spirit” kick in and enter “automatic overdrive” where I just create a new list or a new plan that lets everything fall into place as originally intended again. No sweat off my shoulders, right?!

But lately I’m learning that you can’t make a list out of life.  You can’t plan it, graph it, chart the trends, or buy an Apple gadget for it.  Sure you can make a grocery list and you can make a vacation list and a house-to-do list, and you might think that adds up to a whole life of planned out goodness, but it won’t...even though it would be really really nice if we could.

And you know what? Sometimes that just plain old makes me grouchy.  Because I WANT. (Possibly a future Apple gadget).

I’ve mentioned before I’ve never really had any super romanticized goals for my life.  That I want my life to be moldable to God’s plan for my life.  That doesn’t mean I’ve never had an idea of what I expected my future (albeit simple) to be like.  Lately I’ve started realizing that even the littlest of my plans, or the plans I didn’t think could possibly interfere with God’s plans for my life…can. 

He knows the very number of hairs on our head.  Why wouldn’t I think that EVERYTHING would matter to Him?

Today this is a big pill for me to swallow.

We’ve all heard “let go, and let God.”  We’ve all heard “God helps those who help themselves.”  Finding balance is not easy.  Knowing that God knows the future, but I don’t is not easy.  Not comparing my life to others is not easy.

Life isn’t easy. Not the most profound thing ever written, but we’re human, right?  We WANT things to be easy.  

Today I will continue to make wildflowers out of weeds.  I will stir my gelato.  I will count by centimeters.  I will remember that it is a good thing that every tiny detail matters to Him.

I will not let my life be a list of crossed off items.  After all I hate can learn to love surprises.  Especially those from Him.

Where are you today?

Just for fun....this cracks me up...

This is the gift list from my bridal shower- my maid of honor got a pretty little folded notecard to store the list on.  One of my (biological) sisters took the notes... check out line 4 where they documented said maid of honor's gifts to me: COW (?!?), apron, photo album, huge "rock..." hahaha!! For the record, it was a cute cow creamer, and the "huge rock" was just part of the wrapping (that I re-used here). For their convenience I have not posted the even funnier parts of the list including a misspelling of the word "underwear" as "underware" as if it were a kitchen item! haha! Ahh, more evidence that I ♥ lists. And ♥ my sisters too. And my maid of honor. I know you're reading this!!

fruit from the ♥...

often times i'm drawn back to Galatians 6 (which honestly should be everyday, cause i'm seriously lacking in fruit of the spiritual kind) and i'm always amazed at how our Heavenly Father so gently put these qualities in His Word for us to study and apply...think on these things with me guys...

Galatians 5:22~23

But the fruit of the Spirit is...

 Love♥ A feeling of strong attachment induced 
by that which delights or commands admiration; 

preeminent kindness or devotion to another; affection; tenderness...

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, 

and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. 1John 4:10
 Joy♥ gladness; exhilaration of spirits; delight.

And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation. Psalm 35:9

Peace♥ A state of quiet or tranquility; 
freedom from disturbance or agitation; calm; repose

Great peace have they which love thy law. Psalm 119:165

Longsuffering♥ patient endurance of pain or unhappiness.

But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, 

and gracious, long suffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. Psalm 86:15

Gentleness ♥ softness of manner, mildness.
Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Psalm 18:35

Goodness♥ excellence; virtue; kindness; benevolence.

Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee. 

Psalm 31:19

Faith♥ belief (plain and simple)

If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed...

nothing shall be impossible unto you. Matthew 17:20

Meekness ♥ A calm temper of mind, not easily provoked.

With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love. Ephesians 4:2

Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of mercies, 

kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering. 

Colossians 3:12

 Temperance♥ moderation, patience; calmness.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge;

 And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. 2 Peter 1:5-7

....against such there is no law. 

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  
let us all have the desire to walk in the Spirit Lord, give us a pure heart ♥

Sister ♥ Mar's Yummy Fruit Dip

Beat cream cheese until smooth, add sour cream and brown sugar, 

mix until blended...add vanilla, cream and cinnamon mix again...serve...yummilicious...

iron sharpens iron ♥

Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend. Proverbs 27:17 ♥

To go through life and have even a handful of friends who sharpen you, 

means you are blessed

Friends come and go as the seasons of life change, but God knows who to raise up at just the right times when the iron of your life is dull and you're in need of sharpening...

A dear friend of mine recently made me a beautiful prayer shawl for Christmas, that i cherish... while realizing how much time and effort she put into each beautiful consistent stitch, i decided that that's what a friendship is like, it's intentionally taking the time to craft a relationship...one stitch at a time...with gentleness, goodness, mercy, loving kindness, tenderheartedness, graciousness and love

and in turn this should mirror my relationship with my Heavenly Father, i need to be intentional when it comes to building a relationship with Him...everyday, every hour, every step...without the hands of the blacksmith to run metal against metal, friendship is empty...

For more info and patterns...

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/khs-prayerShawl.html?r=1

http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/chs-prayerShawl.html

Quick Idea...wall decor ♥

Last year we finally got the our family room painted (which the color...i heart...smokey mauve by glidden) then while deciding on what to hang for eye candy...i found this idea...

 

  Love it? 

i really do...i was so happy with the end result... and the verse is a daily reminder that my words as a wife & mom run as deep waters...♥

(in case your wondering... mirror was from Hobby Lobby...butterflies from Target...and the vinyl decal was from Joann's that i don't think is in print anymore, but it can be done on a silhouette machine...gotta get me one!! hint hint honey)

 

Linkin' up♥...