It Also Happened This Week

   You know I have hardly blogged and now here I am blogging three times within a week.
   I'm taking a break from cleaning right now to share the finished crocheted name thing that I made.  It's all in the frame and everything. YaY!

The other thing that I wanted to share is that I have some of the most precious neighbors in the world!  They have all become like family to us and we have been so blessed.  We had great neighbors where we used to live and when we decided to move I was a little worried. But, God is so gracious and He answered our prayers. This week one of our neighbors sent this over to us, and they are so beautiful.

The picture really doesn't do the flowers justice. But I love them and they just seem to fit in our home that is filled with great friends and family.

 Blessings to All

 ~S~

It's been a long day

 It's Friday! But it's been a long day. Friday's are usually my day to run all of my errands. So today I loaded up a ton of stuff that didn't sell in our yard sale and got ready to take it to the thrift store. So with my list in hand and the tail of the Rav4 loaded up I set out.
 First stop the bank. Second stop the bank. Third stop the thrift store. It hadn't opened yet, because I started out my day early. Next on to the dentist for Aimee's braces appointment. (Now my baby's mouth hurts and there isn't much that I can do except feed her tylenol and super soft foods.) Next stop was Hobby Lobby, where I went in to find wood to make a frame for the crocheted name thingy that I made for Kelly and Nick's wedding gift.

I have been looking for a frame that would fit it. No one ever had one. Until today that is. And they were 1/2 off! How happy I was! 

   Next I was off to pay a couple of bills. That done I headed off to my In-Laws to pick up some fresh veggies from their garden. I was on the road when I decided I needed to call and let them know. So glad that I did. It turns out that they didn't have any that were ready to be picked. So I turned around and headed back to the thrift store. Cleaned out the back of my car and then off to Wal-Mart for some soup for my baby girl, whose mouth is hurting by now.

   Home again for some late lunch and then a little rest. 

  Tomorrow we clean the house for in a week Nick and Kelly will be visiting and then a few days after they leave my sister will be here for a visit. Our summer has been so busy that I think I am looking forward to autumn when we can slow down just a bit and maybe catch our breath.

  Blessings to All

  ~S~

  

It's all about Him!

  “As the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you. Remain in My love.  If you keep My commands you will remain in My love, just as I have kept My Father’s commands and remain in His love.

 “I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete. This is My command: Love one another as I have loved you.  No one has greater love than this, that someone would lay down his life for his friends.  You are My friends if you do what I command you.  I do not call you slaves anymore, because a slave doesn't know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything I have heard from My Father. You did not choose Me, but I chose you. I appointed you that you should go out and produce fruit and that your fruit should remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in My name, He will give you.This is what I command you: Love one another. John 15:9 - 17

  It's all about Him! Jesus. We've been studying John at our church, and yesterday the words in chapter 15 of John affected each of us differently.  Do I show the world that I have joy and that it is complete? How do we show love? Am I showing the world that I am a friend of Jesus, that I have His love? Or do I complain and whine when things aren't going my way?  Do I remain in His love? 
   It really made us think about how others see us. As for me, I am more determined today to pray that God will show me how to love in a way that glorifies Him and that He would strengthen my desire/ hunger for Him and His word.  
   Several months ago I noticed that I was feeling overwhelmed and complaining about many things in my life. The worst part was that it was effecting my relationship with my husband and my daughters. I wasn't sure what to do about it though. I seemed to have been caught in this vicious circle of stewing on something that was wrong and then complaining to my girls about it. Then I'd feel bad and be depressed over it. I noticed that my girls were getting quieter and that my sweet Hubby was even pulling into a shell. (Thank You God for letting me even notice.) ( Every wise woman builds her house, but a foolish one tears it down with her own hands. Proverbs 14:1) I knew that it had to stop. The first thing that I did was buy myself a journal. I call it my Cry Out to Jesus Journal. This is a journal for me alone. In it I write the thoughts of my heart. The things that bother me, and the things that worry me.  He's much better able to handle my whining and complaining than my family is. He is certainly better at handling my problems than I am. How blessed to just rest in Him and His strong arms. Like a child I can crawl up into His arms and hold on and cry my heart out, knowing that He will handle it all. He comforts me and stills my mind when I focus on Him.
   I've been writing in the journal for a few months now. Yesterday, I looked back at some of the first things that I wrote in it. Funny thing, well not really, the things that I wrote about don't seem so important any more and my family is feeling much more connected again.  Not all of my prayers have been answered the way that I expected or even wanted, but I trust and believe that Jesus is handling each one.  His way, His timing. 
   In the mean time blessings abound and I find myself being thankful for some of the smallest things.  I read an awesome book over a year ago.  One Thousand Gifts  Thankful for a sweet friend that told me about it. Now I am reading another book that is touching my heart, that was given to me by another precious friend. Kisses From Katie   Oh, my heart. Jesus, here I am, use me... 
   Blessings to All ~S~
   
  
    
   

Venting

   Today seems to be a day of venting for my children. I was so excited because, the day had started out so very well. There was Bible time and time to read and then get started with the house work. Prayer of course before Jessica left for work.
  Somewhere around lunchtime though a bug flew in (the bug is called frustration) and first one daughter called and started venting before she took it out on the ones that she lives with. Then the other daughter came in while I was still talking to the first one and it was obvious that she was frustrated with things that were going on around her today.
   So I tried to be a good Mommy and listen closely and then remind them both of the grace that God has given us. If it is me that is being tested, Lord I pray that I passed. If it is them, Lord I lift them up before your throne and pray that you would hold them close. Give them the peace that comes from you alone.
   The week has been long and I'll post more about that later.
    On a side note, I learned a valuable lesson this week. Don't take your eyes off of a three year old when she is playing with your Kindle. Otherwise you might be buying things that you hadn't planned on. No harm done though because Amazon is really understanding and took the $3 off of my bill. So now I have learned how to password protect purchases. YaY! \o/
  Any way, that's been my day. I'm getting my house cleaned up, but I'd rather be sewing today. Hmmm wonder where I can stash some of this stuff? Guess I'd better put it all away where it belongs. Next week we will be starting our summer school, so I'll have to have things organized.
   My Aimee will be a Sr. next year and I've got to make sure that she has everything that she needs for graduation. I think that I will miss teaching my children. Well...on second thought, I don't think that I've stopped yet. Maybe just the academics. Thank you God for my special blessings.
   Blessings to All ~S~