Snow Day

This past week we enjoyed a holiday and a snow day! Two extra days to rest and have fun! My youngest was recovering from croup so we needed the time to recuperate!

We made a model airplane, car, and space shuttle, watched Mary Poppins, (my youngest favorite) and the Incredibles. The boys played Star Wars and enjoyed throwing snowy ice balls.

A snow ball just for you!.........

A parting shot by my youngest! Sweet Feet!




Many thanks to Sweet Sue who brought us more crafts to enjoy! Treats too!

Prayers to Prepare For The Day

Often times my days are filled to the rim with "to do's". My list grows and grows with lots of tasks that seemingly must be done to keep our household running smoothly. I found myself praying for strength, endurance, and wise time management so the things I wanted to get done would.....get done. Sadly, I was leaving out the most important tasks of my days. What does God have for me to do? Shouldn't I be beginning my day preparing myself for the works He has in mind?

This is a hymn by Frances Havergal written in 1874

Take my life and let it be

Consecrated, Lord, to Thee;

Consecrated-to devote irrevocably to God, to make or

declare sacred.

Take my hands and let them move

At the impulse of Thy love.

Take my feet and let them be

Swift and beautiful for Thee;

Take my voice and let me sing,

Always, only for my King.

Take my lips and let them be

Filled with messages from Thee;

Take my silver and my gold,

Not a mite would I withhold.

Take my moments and my days,

Let them flow in endless praise;

Take my intellect and use

Every pow’r as Thou shalt choose.

Take my will and make it Thine,

It shall be no longer mine;

Take my heart, it is Thine own,

It shall be Thy royal throne.

Take my love, my Lord, I pour

At Thy feet its treasure store;

Take myself and I will be.......Ever, only, all for Thee.

Dear God,

May I consecrate my life to You.... daily....May You be involved in all my comings and goings. May my ears be tuned in, to hear Your voice, may my hands be set to do Your work, and may my feet be ready to go where You need me to go to do Your will.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

Psalm 25:4-5

"Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long."

Colossians 3:17

"And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Today's Post Is Brought To You By The Letter "M"

I'm participating in an alphabet meme Jamie from Purposeful Pursuit found from one of her blogging friends! It looked like fun, and since I have a preschooler we talk about letters a lot! Here's how it works:
If you want to play, leave a comment on this post letting me know, and I’ll assign you a letter. You write about ten things you love that begin with your assigned letter, and post it at your place. When people comment on your list, you give them a letter, and the chain continues on and on...
Jamie assigned me the letter "M". "M" was fun because for some reason "M" was one of the first letters my children recognized. I'd like to think it's because Momma begins with "M" but I remember being amazed at my oldest son when, not yet two, pointed up to the "M" in the sky on the way somewhere....."Look Mom! "M" for Old MacDonalds!"

Here are ten "M" things I enjoy in no particular order.......

1. I love my Mom and I enjoy being with her and talking to her. She is so very wise.

2. I love being a Mom. My children enrich my life in ways I never would have imagined. They bring great joy!

3. My Man! We've been married now for almost thirteen years! Through the good and the bad times we've held on to the covenant we've made and our marriage is richer and full of more love because of our commitment to each other. He is my best friend.

4. M & M s I do enjoy chocolate!

5. Meadows and Mountains......with lots of fresh air from the great outdoors!

6. Milk.....we buy several gallons a week! My bones are surely strong as much as I drink!

7. Marshmallows...Especially when out camping to enjoy as a S'more!

8. Mail...a card or sweet note from friend can brighten my day!

9. Meditating in God's Word....the more I learn the more I realize how much more that I have to learn...

10. Marvelous Monday's.....Mondays always seem like a new start to me. A new week.... We could call them Mopey, but instead I

choose Marvelous!

May your day be filled with joy as you think of all the many blessings in your life no matter what letter they begin with!

Buckle Your Seat Belt

As we get into our Patterson 5 Mini van embarking on each days adventure my husband and I call out to our children "buckle your seat belts"! Our youngest still requires assistance with the five point harness of her belt and often still questions, "Why, why do I have to wear a seat belt?" I answer with,

"It's the law".....

"To protect you"........

"Because I love you"......

God gives us commands, laws that are in place, not to make the Christian life a bore, but because He is holy and demands holiness from us... because it is

His law......

to protect us.....

because he loves us.......

As I wrap my seat belt of protection around me I think of the laws that God requires of me..... wrapped around me, protecting me,........ because He loves me!


Leviticus 25:18
"Follow my decrees and be careful to obey my laws, and you will live safely in the land."

1 Peter 1:15-16
"But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."

1 John 5:3
"This is love for God: to obey his commnads. And his commands are not burdensome."

Pine Wood Derby

This past weekend was the Pine wood derby race for my boys Cub Scout Troupe. Exciting races, pizza and fun awards what could be better!

Our oldest won most original with "Jaws"

Our younger boy won first place in the

Tiger Cub race and most realistic.

They both had a great time and worked well together building the cars. My oldest was able to share in some of the "first place" pride as he helped his younger brother with hammering the wheels on.

Keeping the Peace

Behold how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity Psalms 133:1


Living in a home with three children grants us lots of opportunities to encourage our children to live together in unity. They each are unique and have their own ways of doing things. There are toys to be shared, games to be played fairly, and egos that get bruised when one competitive spirit meets another.

As we wade through the complexities of life with our three children we marvel at how much we are learning as well. While searching through God's Word for the reasons we must "get along" with our brothers and sisters; we found many nuggets of wisdom for our lives as well. Our children, who are watching us, need to see us making every effort to to live in unity with others. This in a time with many varied political opinions, division in churches and in families, lets us see that God's Word is timeless....just as helpful today as when it was first written.

Dear God,

Through Christ we are one with our brothers and sisters who accept Jesus as Lord.
Help us to accept one another wholeheartedly, fully, and completely. Help us to treat one another with compassion, love and respect as we are all part of the body of Christ.
Fill us then with love, and let us be bound together with love as we go our diverse ways, united through the Holy Spirit, which makes you present to the world. May the world truly recognize us as Yours through our love for one another.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.



Philippians 2:14-16
"Do everything without complaining of arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe."

A dear friend of mine has planted these words in her three year old daughter's heart by having her memorize verse 14.

1 Peter 3:8
"Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."

Colossians 3:13
"Bear with one another and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."

Proverbs 6:16-19
"There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies, and a man who stirs up dissension among brothers."

Hebrews 12:14
"Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; with out holiness no one will see the Lord"

Picture Tag!

I've been tagged by The Patrick Family! The instructions were to go to your picture files, pick the fourth folder and the fourth picture in that folder and explain it! So here it goes:

November 2002 My oldest son is two (almost three) in this photo. We are decorating Mr P's birthday cake! It's supposed to look like a four wheel drive Jeep! It was, oh so fun decorating this cake with an eager helper!

Now I am to tagging four more bloggers! I tag Chatty Kelly, Edie, Sue J, and ADHDme! Come on gals and join in!

Who Do You Trust?

Often times when faced with a dilemma of what to do on a decision I would go to my husband, my mom, or even a wise friend. I'd feel justified in my decision because well, my mom said so,..... or my dear wise friend said I should do this.

Our Bible study leader asked this question: Who do you trust? More specifically who do you trust with your comings and goings? Shamefully and honestly, I thought about my reliance on others. Of course I have taken decisions to God in prayer as well, but sadly it's not always been the first place I have gone.

Our God can be trusted and in His Word he will reveal His nature, and there we can discern His Will for our lives. His Word is the voice of direction that is sure and true.

Dear God,
Guide me through Your Word in all areas of my life. Forgive my reliance on others. May I confidently stand secure knowing You are there guiding me and leading me in the ways You'd have me go. The path may be harsh and unwelcoming, may I find peace and comfort in that You are holding my hand.
In Jesus Name,
Amen.

Psalm 32:8
I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.

Isaiah 58:11
The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun scorched land.

Isaiah 41:13
For I am the Lord, your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you Do not fear; I will help you.

Living a Marvelous Life

"Guard well your spare moments. They are like uncut

diamonds.

Discard them and their value will never be known.

Improve them and they will become

the brightest gems in a useful life."

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

My days seem full of spare moments. Moments that I used to think perhaps did not

mean much. For example: unloading the dishwasher, folding a load of clothes, or

finding the phone when it's ringing (we have a cordless and it gets lost often!)

Today after reading this quote I watched how my three year old daughter spends

her day of spare moments. She delights in each and every chore. If she unloads the

silverware from the dishwasher she proudly exclaims, "I did it all by myself." When

the dog needs to be let in or if the phone is ringing she cheerfully bounds to the task

happy to greet Toby or to talk to her Daddy. She has no concept of time nor is

concerned if our "to do" list gets done. She finishes many tasks yet dreads none of

them.

She enjoys her spare moments so much that even the mundane ones have great

opportunity for joy and celebration. Tonight, as she played in the tub I thought about

how content we'd all be if we could live our lives in this manner. Life is a gift to be enjoyed no matter the task.

Dear God,

May we enjoy each moment You have given us to do the tasks You have set before us. May even our mundane chores be done joyfully so that there is value in that small piece of time. I thank You for my children who teach me, without even knowing it! In Jesus Name,

Amen.

2 Corinthians 6:1 "Companions as we are in this work with you, we beg you, please do not squander one bit of this marvelous life God has given us." The Message

Son Light

During this time of year I get the winter blahs. The days are short and often times cold and gray. I long for summer, and feel quite blue. My husband noticed this pattern and has been on a mission to "brighten" my days!

He installed a bigger, brighter over head light in our kitchen and put in lights over our counter space. Our kitchen is lighter and brighter!

We also try to get outside on those days the sun is shining, for some real sun light! Cold or warm.... the warm days are my favorite!

The best cure for the winter blues is to spend time with the Son, Jesus Christ. Remembering the promise of Spring and the promise of eternal life through Him.

John 1:4-5 The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.

May we all chase those winter blahs away by spending time in God's word for some "Son" light!

Memo From God

To: You

Date: Today

From: The Boss

Subject: Yourself

Reference: Life

I am God. Today I will be handling all of your problems. Please remember that I do not need your help. If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you can not handle, do not attempt to resolve it. Kindly put it in the SFGTD (Something for God to do) box. All situations will be resolved but in My time not yours.

Once the matter is placed in the box do not hold onto it by worrying about it. Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now.

Love,

God.

My father-in-law had a letter similar to this one taped to his bathroom mirror over 10 years ago. He was shouldering a heavy load at that time, as a pastor of a church, and caregiver for his wife in their home. I would read it often when we would visit and hoped I'd take it on into my own life.

We are currently studying Exodus in my bible study. Moses in chapter 33 does not want to take a single step with out the assurance of God's presence. Many times I have felt that my daily activities, comings and goings, are so small surely I can handle them. I thought this memo above was for the big decisions in life. My thinking has recently changed for if I am not seeking His presence in all of my activities how can I be certain I am following His plan... not my plan.

Dear God,

May I daily spend time in Your Word so that Your ways may be revealed to me. May I seek Your presence in everything I do faithfully fulfilling the purposes You have for me to do. May I trust in You to take care of the big stuff, yet also consult you with the small stuff ...that consumes my time. May I rely on You so that I will not miss any of the blessings You have for me.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

Exodus 33:15 "Then Moses said to him, "If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here."

Isaiah 30:1a "Woe to the obstinate children declares the Lord, to those who carry our plans that are not mine,"

Vacations Over

It's official, Christmas vacation is over. All of the children went to school today and I so did I, to volunteer. It was fun to be back with the wiggling first graders helping with their spelling! As I waited for my next group in the hallway I saw a small girl who is blind. I've seen her many times before. Every time I see her she is smiling! All of the children are so full of energy, spark, and exuberance for each and every moment of their day! God has great things in store for them this year, 2009, and for all of us too!

In our extended family we are looking forward to a baptism this month, and in the spring a wedding! My husband turns forty this year and instead of a big party we think a family, and friends trip is on the horizon. The boys are looking forward to soccer and swimming, two of their favorite sports.

Each day is a gift from God to be begun with joy! Joy even when times may be tough, joy found when looking for blessings. My family and I have many blessings! May we experience the gift of being thankful for each and everyone!

Dear God,

On this cold and dreary day that I began missing the vacation atmosphere of this past two weeks; I am thankful for the children, mine, and those in my son's school. Thankful for their smiling faces, their excitement so much that they can not sit still! The joy they capture every moment! We are blessed by so many good things that are from You. We are also blessed by trials You allow to be in our lives so that we may fully rely on You. May we continue to be thankful for each moment and each blessing You give to us.

In Jesus Name,

Amen.

Psalm 16:11

You have made known to me the path of life; youwill fil me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Romans 12:12

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

"Snowball" Fight in the Den!

Family Get Togethers

We just came home from a wonderful time with our family! We laughed, remembered old times, and looked forward to future celebrations! We have so many blessings to be thankful for, most of all for each other.

Our youngest member of the family! What a gift to hold her! Each time we see her she is bigger and bigger. Her sleepy parents are joyfully treasuring each moment as they realize this time to be small is so very short.

Snagging big boy hugs every chance I get!

So to with my sister-in-law and nephew!

Sharing laughs and presents!

Hugs for Papaw!

Deliriously tired parents of newborns made king and queen crowns out of the wrappings!

Hugs for Nana!

Lots of excitement-Papaw was sure my middle child would explode from the anticipation of opening the gifts!

Fun at the park afterwards (to tire out some of the excitement!)

My oldest (who like his Daddy seems to disappear when my camera comes out) and my middle child having a brother chat on the swings.

After unpacking and settling back in I finally sat down to the computer to try and "catch up" with everyone (about 8:30 PM). I checked my email and read a frantic email from our very sweet email from our room mom who had forgotten to tell us that my middle child is the star student of the week this week and needs a poster all about him ........tomorrow! Thankfully she also said to please call her if I needed any assistance since this was so last minute. I did call her for poster board and viola we are ready! My son can write on it in the morning in time for school! He is a star so I am glad we did not miss his week!