God speaking
Lately, I feel like God has been speaking to me through everyday things. I don’t mean that Jesus appears on the face of an iron* or anything like that. (to me that’s just a little crazy and made up) However, I’ve found that when I go about my everyday tasks God will use them as teaching resources. Take yesterday afternoon, for example. I had been walking by the dishwasher all day, avoiding unloading it, because I didn’t want to have to put all the dishes away and reload the dishwasher. I really don’t like putting everything away and would much rather just load and reload it. So, finally I just had to do it so that I could free up some sink space (this wasn’t very long since there are so many people here using dishes!) and I opened the dishwasher to find that it was already empty. I didn’t have to unload it and put everything away. Instead of putting it off I could have gotten it started and freed my mind for other thoughts. How often do we do this to God. We just keep telling Him that we aren’t ready or we don’t really want to do that or even we don’t like to do that. Usually, when I find myself doing this, I can’t get the idea or command out of my head and I feel guilty. The bible tells us over and over again not to procrastinate in spreading the gospel or in being saved, because we do not know what tomorrow holds for us. Proverbs 12:24 tells us that “The hand of the diligent will rule, but the lazy man will be put to forced labor.” (NKJV) Had the dishwasher been full I still should have just done it instead of putting it off. There are some ministry opportunities in front of me (as there are everyday, yet these are bigger) and I am trying to remember this as I pray about them. Are the reasons that I have not to do these things real reasons or am I simply procrastinating and telling God no? I’m going to be praying a lot about the things in front of me and I pray that each one of you will stop putting off the things in your life that you need to take care of. God will help you if you are in His will!
*I understand that God speaks to people in different ways and not all are the same. I just don’t believe that His face showing up on material objects is a way He chooses. And…I’m not real sure what that would tell you anyway…
Filed under News | Comment (0)The JOY of Christmas
Kameron & his beautiful smile, Tasting an ornament, “Hanging an ornament”, looking at another ornament
I have been watching Kameron closely this year while we decorate our house for Christmas and go to other’s houses. There is really nothing quite like seeing things through a baby’s (or 15 month old’s) eyes. The way they light up when he sees something he likes. I am so excited about watching him open his gifts this year because of the wonder and excitement I am sure to see on his face. The older kids will be excited for sure, but Kameron is the one I will be watching. I know I used to be like that – filled with excitement and wonder and joy at Christmastime, but as the years have gone by and I have grown up some of that has escaped. I do love to decorate and seeing old ornaments or bringing out the nativity give me great happiness, but oh to see it all with new eyes every year! To experience all the lights and view each thing as something great is what I desire. I feel this same way about Jesus. Sometimes in the day to day I lose sight of what’s important and lose track of what I need to be doing. But, Jesus is the reason…not only for the season (sorry)…but for life itself and as we aproach this Christmas I want to see Jesus with the eyes of a child. I want to be passionate about him and I want my eyes to be filled with indescribable joy each time I “spread the good news.” I want Him to feel the way I feel, when I see Kameron’s eyes light up at each Christmas thing, when He sees me. I don’t want to get lost this Christmas in all the many things the world offers us to get lost in; I just want to give honor and glory and praise to Jesus, because if it’s not about Jesus, it just isn’t worth it.
Watch your very young children this year. Just watch the joy on their faces. And then…get some of that joy for yourself – He’s there waiting:)
Filed under News | Comment (1)Thankful
Today I am thankful for many things: My Creator, Jesus, the cross, my husband, children, family, best friends, a house, heat, water, food to eat, always enough to get by, generosity of others, ability to move and think, homeschool, religious freedom, my church family and church, every blessing that is poured out on me and every trial that I am given as well.
As Christians we are commanded to be in Thanksgiving every day through all things. As you gather together today with your families to give thanks, I pray that you have a blessed wonderful day. But, when this day ends, I pray that you will continue to give thanks in everything, everyday. Help those around you who may not feel they have much to be thankful for and never stop preaching the gospel to those who desperately need it. That is what we’re called to do:)
“Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is. And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another in the fear of God.” ~Ephesians 5:17-21
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” ~Colossians 3:15-17
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ~1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
There are many other scriptures concerning Thansgiving – these are just a few of my favorites.
So, from our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
Furniture Dreams
As many of you have seen, we don’t have much furniture in our house and the stuff we do have is mostly O-L-D and boring. We have mattresses on the floor instead of a proper bed. Our office shelving is black plastic garage shelves and our couch has to be covered because the cushions are missing their actual covers. We have limited seating and not enough seating in the kitchen for 5 people (what our family comprises) and the sunroom is devoid of anything (aside from a pile of clothing that doesn’t fit and knick knacks that need to be given away!) Boring! The kids area is the most complete here, but still needs a few things as well.
I have been keeping a list of the furniture items that I find that I think would have a place in our home and I wanted to share. I think it’s fun to see what other people would put in their houses. In fact I think it would be really fun to be a personal shopper and assist people with making their purchases and beautifying their home. Of course, first, I’d like to be my own personal shopper…with an unlimited budget! So, here’s what I would buy to spruce up our house as far as furniture:
First, I would go to Z Gallerie and buy a bedroom suite for our room. I visited the store at Oxmoor Center this summer and fell in love with the Jett Platform bed. I’d get that and the matching dresser and nightstand. Then for the closet that is going to be transformed into a reading nook in our bedroom, I would buy a comfy chair such as this Barrington Chair from JC Penney in the chocolate brown color.
Moving on to the living room, I would first be looking for a sectional couch. We really need seating that can view both the fireplace and television (for movies) without having to strain your neck. I also want to have lots of seating since I host meetings and home parties pretty often and I would like to have friends over more. When people come over they like to have a place to sit down, and while I don’t mind sitting on the floor all the time, I know some people would rather a chair. :) So, I like the Barrington sectional group from JC Penny that matches the chair that would be in the bedroom. I also like this build your own sectional from Pottery Barn that lets you pick exactly what you want. That is the look I’m going for though – inviting and comfortable, but not too overly plush and not so minimalistic that you feel like you’re sitting on boards. Anyway, those two look like what I want. Then in the corner I’d like to have a sleeper chair with a storage ottoman, like this one from JC Penney. I have been eyeing this chair for about 4 years now. Or if that wouldn’t fit well, I would take this Soho chair because I really like it and can’t think of any other place to put it! It only comes in the light blue which would be okay since our living room is khaki and navy, but it wouldn’t be as matchy as I normaly like. So, now that I’ve picked my seating I need some tables! I really want a sofa table, you know the ones that go behind your sofa? But, I could take it or leave it. Since we have several feet of space between the sofa and windows it would be nice to have something there. Either a table for us or a kids play table under the windows. On either side of the windows I currently have mismatched bookshelves that do what they need to, but I have wanted some of the leaning bookshelves for several years like these from Penneys or these from Pottery Barn. A small end table/by the door table would be nice as well, but I don’t currently have one picked out. It would just need to be something simple. The last thing the living room needs is a rug or three. We have a rug now, but it was a $50 rug to hold us over until I could get the one I wanted: The Emma Rug from Pottery Barn. During my search now I found that it is gone. I found a few of the runners and small 3×5 rugs on ebay, but my dream rug is gone! Sad day:( Anyway, I will keep looking and hopefully be able to find it somewhere so that it can live in my house someday…
All Taylor needs in her room is a big girl bed. My personal favorite would be this white daybed with a trundle so she can have friends over to sleep, but really any pretty white bed would do. The rest of her furniture is white so it needs to match:) Kristopher & Kameron will soon be sharing a room and we have decided that they need bunk beds to maximize floor space. We want nice solid wood ones and while these pirate ship themed ones are perfect for the current room plan we’ll probably go with plain ones like these if we can get them! I just rembered that something like this might work too, since basically all they’d need is incorporated into the bed area. If each boy had this the rest of the floor space would be play area…I think. If we do the plain bunk beds the boys would need some toy storage, a book shelf and a matching dresser, although they both have their own dressers now so that isn’t a big deal.
The last two rooms are the sunroom and the office. They are kind of going together in my mind because I am planning to use the sunroom (which also houses the laundry in a side area) for lounging, crafting and a catch all/hang it all up area. Over by the sliding door will be hooks for jackets, backpacks, keys and what I like to call “leaving the house paraphenalia”. There will also possibly be a small shoe rack for a few pairs of boots or outside shoes. Then on the other side of the laundry “closet” I want some kind of tall cabinet/shelf system for many of my crafting supplies. I’ve seen several that I like, but nothing screamed at me yet. Also in this room I would like this desk available at amazon.
And to go with it – my dream chair from Pottery Barn. Kody will probably get to figure out all the office (unless he picks ugly stuff!! haha!), and I already have a desk in there that I like okay. We’ll just need a school desk for the kids that is big enough for more than one child to use. I have the idea in my head of what I want, but haven’t seen it exactly like I like anywhere. I want a big table top with book shelves on either end for their school books. I want them to be able to sit and work comfortably and happily together whether they cooperate with my idea or not it should at least be possible. Also I want a wall cabinet over the desk with art supplies so little hands can’t get them out themselves and color all over the walls. This room divider wants to be in our house too…not sure where though!
Anyway, I could sit and talk about my house decorating ideas and things I want all day. I’m trying to be content, but I just needed to put all this down and get it out of my head. I’m sure the house will slowly turn into what I want, it’s just hard to see some days. Hope you’ve enjoyed reading and browsing! Sorry I took you all over the place!!
Filed under House Remodel, News | Comment (0)Curtains
I finished Taylor’s curtains a couple of weeks ago…just in time for her birthday party:) I bought white tab top curtains and then cut off the bottom to add some patch work that will match her quilt, eventually. I still have to make the quilt. The pictures aren’t very good – don’t know what it was with the lighting, but I couldn’t get a good one. The curtains turned out well though and we finally can close them at night for privacy:)
Kristopher got the same curtains only I didn’t do any add ons for his…yet. I am thinking about adding some pirate fabric to the hem since the theme for the boys room is/will be pirates. We are slowly turning it into a cool pirate room. But we also want to repaint the room a different color, so maybe I should wait to finish the curtains until then.
I’m trying to get ready for a craft fair we are having at our church in a month, but I keep finding things I want to make for myself or my family. It would be so nice to have a couple of days just to myself for crafting. Unfortunately I don’t think that will happen with homeschooling, homekeeping and the million other things I “have” to do! We’ll see how ready I am. Even if I don’t get much done, I already have a box full of handmade things to sell and I can sell Usborne Books since I am a consultant – I do have a fallback thing:) I would love to get a lot more done to sell though. I have so many ideas!
Filed under Creations, News | Comment (0)