Saturday, November 26, 2011

Turkey Day.


Turkey was great.

We watched old home videos all day.

We were crazy intense parents with our #1 and never missed a milestone on camera with her.
So for hours we watch #1 and then about an hour of the rest. :)
Justin and I laughed and laugh at ourselves.  

Good day, followed up with a visit from "Our Elicia." :)

Good Turkey Day!

Friday, November 25, 2011

Thanksgiving

I love my big crazy family and especially the hot guy I get to do this life with!

The day before Thanksgiving I was on the verge of tears all day.  I was missing my sisters, parents and 28 nieces and nephews.  Thanksgiving is really our only holiday we see each other.  We chose to stay home this year for many reasons but it was not sitting well with me.

I went to bed dreading waking up to Thanksgiving - really dreading it.

We all got up and I was feeding Daniel and hubby could tell I was not feeling the cookinthekitchenandserveeveryoneallday thing.

So we didn't.

He said let's go Christmas Tree hunting and decorate for Christmas!!

The day had been redeemed!











Today?  Today we shall eat turkey!  Happy Day Late Thanksgiving!!


Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Day 19 - 23

Today I am thankful for:

Honesty

and 

Truly Authentic Relationships

I have this little soap box in my head these days…. wanta hear it?;)
I'll give you the brief, perky version.
Not the, frustrated, gloomy and angry version.
Your Welcome.  [after all this is thankful month!]

Honesty rocks.
But honesty can be hard.
Uncomfortable.
And can be presented with no answers, just the "it." {make sense?}

AND THAT IS OK!
really it is.
and it needs to be.

[here comes the perky part]

Honesty also gives to a true and authentic relationship.

You can not have one without the other.

I so desire this.  I desire to hear and share, struggles and victories with loved ones.  Why?  Because it is real.  I do not believe in venting.  God says venting is for fools.  I know I have been a fool a time or two or hundreds and that is not the kind talk I am talking about.

Life can be tough and life can be awesome.

There are seasons.

This is the thing:  God never covers either up in His Word.

Have you ever read Psalms?  I love David.  David was honest.  Ups, Downs and all in between.
Old Testament families.  They were a mess.  God allowed it all into His word.  To teach us.  Help us.  
New Testament.  Those churches and people were absolutely rockin' it in moments.  And then there were other moments filled with rebukes and corrections.

It is all in there.

It is good to be transparent with good friends.  [not talking about the person you met a week ago]
It is healthy to share: both.  The good, the bad and the ugly.
To not judge one another, rather, walk with them.  In celebration or through rough waters.  We need people to celebrate with amen?  I think we know we need people for the hard times, but we need each other through the good too.  Celebrating the good helps when the bad comes.  [and it will]

I think people fear being honest because of judgement.  Let me rephrase:  I think I fear being honest because of judgment.

If I am pumped about things tickin' along in our little corner of the world then I am afraid I am coming off perfect. [ha.]

If I am feeling low then I am afraid people think I hate my life, many kids, have major issues, etc.

Neither is true.  Both happen.

So this leads me back to my grateful heart.

I am grateful for those who are honest.  Those I feel like we are really doing life together.  I love honesty.  I love true and authentic relationships.

May your Thanksgiving Holiday be filled with these types of people.  May you be blessed.

We have so much to be thankful for!

Happy Thanksgiving!





Friday, November 18, 2011

Day 17 and 18

I am thankful for itunes podcasts and preachers that preach The Word!

Somedays the walls in my house can begin to close around me.  Anyone else know what I mean?

On those days, I need spoon fed some truth.  Truth to set my mind in a positive direction. 

Thankful for the ability to click a button and hear The Word being taught.

These two have been refreshing:    

http://storage.cornerstonesimi.com/sermons/audio/11_146_The_Church_FullHearted.mp3

and

http://www.walkintheword.com/Broadcast.aspx
[click Healthy things Healthy Families Do Part 1-3]

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Day 16

*this was for last night - because I am behind - as usual :)*

Last night I was thankful for:

An amazing Church Family.

They take living the way Christ calls us to seriously.

Beyond comfort.

Beyond feeling.

Beyond what is wise in the world's eyes.

There is a spurring on.

There is encouragement and correction happening.

There is love.

I am thankful for rich conversations in infant rooms and friends popping by without notice [yes, i do like that - weird, i know - I guess I like the "realness" of that type of setting].

I was and am praising God that His plan is community - His church is His Bride.

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Day 15

Tonight I am thankful for:

An awesome bed.  (love our 10 yr old mattress)

Wrestling season.

Kids that "get it" more than I do.  I learn so much from my kids.

HomeSchooling.  Not the schooling part, as much as the home part.  I love having my chics in the nest everyday!

I have a ton more today but that great mattress is calling my name.




Monday, November 14, 2011

Day 14

Today I am thankful for:
 my Grandma

She was a gem.

Her name was Ruby Rose. <---- see she was a gem

I wrote about her here.

Today I am thinking about her as I attempt to sew.

Pretty sure she was not only the sweetest Grandma, but she was also a genius.  She could sew anything. :)

Here is what I made Ashton Rose today:




[and they fit!]

It was fun.

I am thankful for the hum of the sewing machine that reminds me of my Grandma.

Day 13

*meant to do this last night*

Today I am thankful for:

Prayer

Prayer is like a soothing balm to my anxious soul.

Often I enter reluctantly.  There is much on my mind and my thoughts seem far to loud to settle in to a talk with The King of Kings.

More times then not, I walk away refreshed.
Purpose bound.
Relieved.
Comforted.
Loved.


Saturday, November 12, 2011

Day 10, 11 and 12

oops.  missed a few days. :)

I am thankful for:

Little girls that dance with babies.  [we love pandora]


Foggy sunrises.  God is an artist that creates anew every day!  Praise Him! 


The boys are refurbishing a wood stove.  Do you have any idea how excited I am for that?


Skype + Friends + Family = Fun


Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Day 9

Today I am thankful for these gems:

"Thanksgiving to Christ born in the heart — delivers a life of action in the body of Christ." - Ann Voskamp


"Because when you hear a call, it needs an answer, deep unto deep, and lives that yield are always the one that say yes" - Ann Voskamp

"A Word-shaped life is not a wealth-shaped life but a cross-shaped life." - Ann Voskamp

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Day 8

Today I am thankful for:

Friends that pop over for an early morning visit. :)

I believe God made us to live in community with each other.

I want more of it.

Thankful for what I have too!

Monday, November 7, 2011

Day 7

Today I am thankful for:

God's Word.

A light to my path.

Needed daily. 

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Day 6

Tonight I am thankful for:

Roots.
[not the hair kind :)]
The roots of where you come from.

I love my roots.
Roots seeped in gospel living.

I am thankful for my roots.

I am thankful for my husbands roots.

Someday I will share that little gem of a story of how our roots go back generations.:)


Saturday, November 5, 2011

Day 5

Today I am thankful for:

Waking to Snow!
Staying in sweats.
Clean closets.
Kids sleeping in blanket forts.
Coffee.
Hot Cocoa and marshmallows.
Emails from Africa.
Sweet gentle music.
Pumpkin spice candles.
Board games.
Puzzels.
Clean windows.
Hubby relaxing.

The little things.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Day 4

Today I am thankful for:

Adoption
[did you know it is National Adoption Month too?]

Both vertical and horizontal.

Ephesians 1:4-6

English Standard Version (ESV)
4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 5 he predestined us[a] for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Day 3

Today I am thankful for:

That the veil was torn in two.
This is the reason we can come boldly before the throne of God!
This blows my mind!

Mark 15:37-38

English Standard Version (ESV)
37And Jesus uttered a loud cry and breathed his last. 38And the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Day 2

Today I am thankful for:

Jehovah-Jireh

The Lord Who Provides

Psalm 68:9-11

English Standard Version (ESV)
9 Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad;
   you restored your inheritance as it languished;
10your flock[a] found a dwelling in it;
   in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. 11The Lord gives the word;
    the women who announce the news are a great host:

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

30 days of Thanks!

Today is the first day of November - the month of Thanksgiving.

I have so much to be thankful for - so much!

Today I am thankful for:

Grace.  Grace given and grace received. 

Ephesians 2:7-9

English Standard Version (ESV)
7so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.