S – Serving strawberry shortcake piled high with berries and whipped cream
U – Using new opportunities to share with, laugh with, and love on my family
M – Making time to read a book
M – Moving slower than the speed that the school year dictates
E – Entertaining friends during barbeques at our home and picnics in the park
R – Remembering that being a mom can be fun
Yesterday, I celebrated my 19th anniversary. Wow! Nineteen years seems like so long ago, and yet it has gone by quickly. The births of four children, changes in jobs, a few moves, church changes, personal growth, God challenges – all this to mold each of us more into what God wants us to be. I would have never guessed how much my husband would bless my life. He is a gift to me.
Now where does the color pink come into this? Again, some of my random thoughts. I was thinking about my June wedding 19 years ago. The girls wore pink, tea length dresses. My flowers were beautiful and sprinkled with an array of pink roses. Now I always had said that I would never be married in June and definitely would not have pink. Somehow, that all changed. I am not sure how, but it was beautiful nonetheless.
Today I am blessed with the dozen pink roses on my desk. In the midst of the bleak spring and early summer we are experiencing, the aroma and splash of color are a treat. The fact that my sweetie brought them with him to our weekly pizza lunch date only adds to the blessing.
My nails are pink today. I enjoyed a manicure yesterday for the first time. It felt special to be pampered for awhile. Now if only I could keep my hands out of dishwater and other household duties that wreak havoc on freshly painted nails.
Pink –a color today of pleasant memories and present blessings.
Just thought I would share some verses from God's Word that encouraged me this week. I am not going through any major Bible study at the time, but I am simply reading through Proverbs. For as many times as I have done this, I am continually both challenged and encouraged at His Word in my life. It amazingly fits exactly what I am living at the time. God's Word says it best, so here it goes. I hope you are encouraged as well. What are some words that have challenged and encouraged your recently?
From Proverbs 16
All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but the LORD weighs the spirit.
Commit your work to the LORD, and your plans will be established.
When a man's ways please the LORD, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.
The heart of man plans his ways, but the LORD establishes his steps.
The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.
Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Our country has many faults, but I still say it is the best country in the world. This past weekend my family and I spend two days in the capital city walking for miles, observing the history of flight, discussing the branches of government, viewing amazing architecture, remembering men who by God's grace established this country, and feeling for the many who lost so much to defend this great land.One could help not only be patriotic no matter what side of the aisle you sat, but also see the fingerprints of God. I am saddened to see how God has been cast aside in the decision-making in our country.
I treasured the opportunity to share with my kids the wonderful history that we enjoy in our country. It was a trip well worth the effort.
I, of course, took too many pictures to share here. For a more detailed blog of our trip, visit my daughter's site. She has done a great job.
We loaded up the van and headed to Borders enticed by coupons for free drinks. All six of us stood in line drooling at the possibilities. Four chose something similar to a cookies and cream frappuccino, one chose a strawberry fruit smoothie, and I found out you could get a mocha latte decaf. (Isn't that a little antithetical?)
What a special Friday night treat.
Join in the blessing as you read others thankful hearts regarding beauty especially in God's creation.
Ecclesiastes 3:11a He has made everything beautiful in its time.
Isaiah 52:7 How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."
Thankful Thursday friends challenged me to share what I see beautiful in creation. The obvious came to mind: the birth of my children, a child's smile, a sunny day with blue skies and no clouds, my daughter's artwork, and a clean house (LOL). My heart was prompted, though, to what God's Word states as beautiful.
You will see that God makes all things beautiful. What I think is beautiful is not always beautiful to someone else. My thoughts directly relate to what is going on around me. God uses ugly things in my life to make me more beautiful to him.
I found the Isaiah passage both heart-probing and humorous. God finds feet beautiful. How cool is that?! The feet on my body will not be used as any models, that is certain. However, that passage states that in God's eyes they are beautiful. If . . . I share the good news, peace, happiness, salvation, and God's hope. That's a big shoe to fill, pun intended.
Beauty is defined in the eyes of the beholder. How awesome that God thinks that we are beautiful, even the parts that we think are ugly. I stated that the birth of my children is beautiful. Others may think that is quite the opposite. As a mom, though, I can look past the moment and see what God can do in the life of this new little child. I guess, in a way, that is how God looks at us. At salvation, we are birthed into his family. Sometimes it is not very pretty. God has to work at cleaning us up a bit afterward, yet he sees what He can do with us. He sees the beauty that He will make with our new lives.
I challenge you, as I challenge myself today, to look past the obvious to what God sees as beautiful.
You are beautiful, friend.
My sweetie knew how much my little one enjoys the sandbox so he spent precious time cleaning it out this weekend. I am so thankful, as that is not really a job I would choose. I am blessed with a husband who cares about the little things that bring joy to our family. As a result, my little one spent hours this weekend playing in her own world of sand.
The sands of time seem to have sped up. Wasn't she just a newborn? Yet, now we anticipate kindergarten in the fall. Watching the sand go through her fingers, observing her imagine her own world, and enjoying the smiles that these produce makes me thankful.
The beautiful weather of the weekend provided another opportunity for us to be outside as a family playing, talking, and just being together. These days will go quickly. Thank God for the little blessings of sandboxes.
I can breathe! Yes, I am being honest. The school year is over, and I can breathe. Please don't misunderstand. Teaching and discipling my kids is my passion. That process is all encompassing leaving little time for, well, breathing.
That said, the first thing I thought of for this week's Thankful Thursday is that God has given me the ability and passion to teach. Although the bookwork is done until August, the teaching will never stop. Our camping trips, visits into the city, gardens, game nights and many other things that fill our summer schedule will all be opportunities to learn.
God has been so gracious to me. He chose to save me as a young girl, yet he continues to teach me daily and show his patience when I mess up and need to be taught again and again and again. Now I have the challenge to show grace and patience to my children as they learn daily.
I joke about being able to breathe, yet I am thankful for the chance to regroup and rebuild my excitement for another year.
Visit here to be blessed by other thankful hearts.
My oldest commented again this afternoon that it has been too long since I posted a blog. Tis true. However, as many of you moms out there know the end of the year/beginning of the summer craziness can be a tad overwhelming at times. Sitting down to write often becomes a luxury not easily found.
A few thoughts have rolled in my mind lately. One in particular originates from a walk to the pond. I had set aside household projects and went with my kids to the pond to fish watch them fish. Nothing was biting, so it was rather slow. As I was entertaining my little one, we walked to the end of the pond sheltered by overhung trees that shaded a small dam and pathway. For something to do, my little one picked up a stick and threw it into the water. What amazed her was the resulting ripples that continued to the water's edge. Her little hands held her stockpile of projectiles that would keep her busy for the time being.
I couldn't help but see the significance to life. One little stone, stick, leaf, or piece of bark became the impetus for changes that continued and affected everything around it. How often one little word, action, smile, or note of gratefulness can change things far greater than we could ever imagine. On the flip side it is startling to think of the rippling affects of a demeaning word, negative attitude, or harsh action.
I fail so many times as a mom, wife, sister, daughter, and friend. What I say and do has long lasting affects whether I like them or not. I was challenged that afternoon to choose carefully what I throw into this pond called life. I want my life to change others in a positive way and have God move through me to reach far greater than I ever thought possible.
