The Power of Praise...

As I was standing at the kitchen sink earlier this morning doing last night's supper & late night snack dishes, I took the opportunity to pray for some things that are heavy on my heart right now. It was quiet. Kyle was gone to work. MaKayla is away. Mal was still sleeping. It was just me & Jesus doing the dishes! ;) Our family has some things going on at the present time that are beyond our control. That never leave our mind. That only God can change, heal & restore. Some of those things fall into the physical realm... Some the spiritual... Some the emotional... Some the relational... All of which we cannot fix... Only God.

As I prayed & cried out to Him, interceding specifically for each burden, He reminded me of the power in PRAISE! And since PRAISE is my word for 2012, I have been disciplining myself to trade my worries, my sadness, my anger, my frustrations, my burdens, my anxiety, my uncertainty, my doubt, my fear...into PRAISE! I am learning to recognize when these thoughts, feelings & emotions are taking up residency in my heart, mind & spirit & immediately counteract them with PRAISE! I would humbly admit that it isn't always easy...

Yet as I stood there this morning, looking out at the newly fallen snow, seeing the shadows being formed by the rising sun, I was reminded to PRAISE & as I surrendered those heavy burdens over to the Lord & began to focus on PRAISING Him, my heart, mind & spirit were filled with instant & unexplainable peace.

As I finished washing the last dish, waited for my kettle to get hot & listened to Jim Brickman's hymns playing on my CD player, through an intent of PRAISE, I was reminded of how good & faithful & trustworthy God is. How amazing it is to serve an awesome & wonderful Creator....

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The trumpeters and musicians joined in unison to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals and other instruments, the singers raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang:

“He is good;
his love endures forever.”

Then the temple of the LORD was filled with the cloud, and the priests could not perform their service because of the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the temple of God.

2 Chronicles 5:13~14

Intent...

It's quiet here at home.
A rare moment of me being alone in a particular room.
Mal is "freshening up" after her daily walk.
MaKayla is away tutoring.
Kyle is gone to work. :(

The sun shines brightly through the windows.
Bath water runs.
Laundry is in process.
School is complete for the day.
A text comes in saying MaKayla made is safely to her destination.
David Nevue softly plays on the CD player.

Today has been a productive day.
I am learning...

Even being a full-time homemaker, I can find myself wasteful of time. Lacking in determination. Falling short of completing tasks. Unfocused. Jumping from one thing to another. Unproductive.

At the first of the year I made a list of certain things in my life that I wanted to work on. This was one of them.

For myself, there is nothing more discouraging or frustrating to me than when I come to the end of the day and I have several things started, but very few finished. When I reflect on the hours that God has given me and I can pinpoint minutes-upon-minutes that I have wasted and not only the minutes-upon-minutes but I know what I have wasted those minutes upon. When I look back on the wastefulness of my time and realize what I could have gotten accomplished. When I can see the things that should have gotten done. In short, I look back on the day and I have regrets... I see that I fell short... I realize that I have been an unfaithful steward...

I find that the days that I am most productive... the most focused... the most fruitful... are the days that I have started with intent.

intent - fixed with strained or earnest attention, as the gaze or mind;
having the mind, gaze, or thoughts fixed on some object
or with some purpose in view

Days that I have started:
*with exercise
*with prayer
*with praise
*in the Word
*with God as my hub
*with God as my helm
*with a list of tasks that God has entrusted to me
*putting others first and myself last
*being diligently mindful of what the day "looks like"

I am also recognizing & discerning the things that I allow to steal my time...
*computer time - all encompassing (e-mail, facebook, news, blogs, ect)
*piddling
*jumping from one task to another without completion
*current jigsaw puzzles on the coffee table :{
*phone (cell or otherwise)

I keep in mind that each day is going to be different.
Divine interruptions happen.
Down time is refreshing (in moderation).
Communication with the outside world is imminent.

I remind myself often that my day belongs to God and not to myself.
Therefore I am open to whatever direction He chooses to take my day.
At the same time, I am becoming more diligent & determined to stay on task with the duties & responsibilities that He has entrusted to me unless He otherwise reveals something different I should be doing. In being diligent, I am teaching MaKayla & Mal what it looks like to be a homemaker. In being diligent, Kyle comes home to a sane wife & a half-way organized, clean & orderly home. In being diligent, the Lord is glorified through the work of my hands & the determinedness of my heart, mind & spirit. In being diligent, I can end my day feeling like I have been a good steward of the time & resources that God has graciously blessed me with.

I am realizing the richness of focus.
I am finding the fruit of determination.
I am learning the satisfaction of diligence.

It's a day-by-day process but, little-by-little, I am arriving.

The diligent find freedom in their work;

the lazy are oppressed by work.
Proverbs 12:24
(The Message Bible)

Let Me Count The Ways...

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of everyday's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men might strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints,–I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life!–and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.
~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

To the man who holds my heart...
unconditional love
protector
helper
provider
passion for worship
desire for God
giving
colectomy scar
comforter
lover
compassionate
tender hands
strong embrace
warrior

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


To my firstborn...
diligent
intentional
spotted eye
compassionate
affectionate
a listener
considerate
hammer thumb
love for learning
available
organized
encourager
adventurous
domestic

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


To my baby...
colorful
dimples
decisive
independent
impartial
abundant freckles
straight forward
creative
joyful
active
flowing curls
loving
musically gifted
contagious smile

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


♥ We had such a good Valentine's Day! ♥
Kyle left each of us notes of love. ♥
On icy roads, Mal & I took MaKayla for an appointment.
The girls & I enjoyed a trip to the grocery store together.
We made two new recipes:
Homemade lasagna
Peanut Butter Cheesecake
MaKayla worked diligently to keep the kitchen clean.
Washing every dish.
We read Scriptures on love.
We made homemade garlic/herb breadsticks.
Kyle brought us roses.
We invited company to join us for supper.
Fresh strawberries were dipped.
An abundant veggie/romaine salad was tossed together.
Mal decorated the table...
A pink table cloth covered in lace...
XOXO confetti...
Candles...
Supper was enjoyed.
Fellowship was sweet.
Games were played.
Hearts were shared.
Hugs were exchanged.
Love abounded.

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥


And so we know & rely on the love God has for us.
God is love.
Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
1 John 4:16

I Seek Him...

As I begin yet another day, I would humbly admit that I am feeling a whole lot scatter-brained! I've been reading/hearing so much on how the more women have on their minds, the more wound up they are. They need time to "desensitize"... To "clear out"... To "empty"...

I find that so true in my own life. The more I am trying to process without first decluttering, the more stress I feel. The more anxious I become. The more cranky/irritable I am. The more condemnation that hovers over me.

Clearly, for anyone who knows me very well, knows that I am a communicator. I speak what is on my heart. I share when I am hurting. I encourage when I see someone struggling. I ask when I don't understand. I express what I am learning. It's who I am. It's how God made me. I. Have. To. Empty.

I am learning to recognize the signs, signals, alarms & warnings that go off in my heart, mind & spirit. I am learning what I need to do to counteract these things before they consume & overtake me. I am learning to daily put on my spiritual armor in order to find adequate protection. I am learning to STOP, ACKNOWLEDGE how I am feeling & TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION.

An unsettled spirit within me signals, "You need to talk."
An anxious heart says, "You need to pray."
An irritable attitude screams, "You need to let go."
A condemning frame-of-mind beckons, "You need to seek the Truth."

For the reality of it is...
When I am on overload, it doesn't just affect me...
It touches & affects everyone around me...
And typically in a negative way...

Thankfully I have a husband who loves me & desires to know my heart...
Blessedly I have serve a God who created me & knows me better than anyone else...
Graciously I have a few invaluable friends who listen, sharpen, encourage & pray...

So today...
In my frailty...
In my heaviness...
In my restlessness...

With Kyle away...
Gone to work...
With Jesus close...
I seek Him...

I pray...
I empty...
I let go...
I seek the Truth...

Together At Home ♥

As I sit here typing, the sun is brightly and warmly shining in the picture window.
It has been a beautiful day here in the country.
What started out as a densely foggy morning, with everything covered in bountiful & elegant frost, has now turned into a beautiful sunshiny afternoon.

After enjoying some down-time following her school work, Mal is putting clothes away and preparing to write a note to one of her many cousins. I'm thankful that Mallary takes the time to keep in touch in such a way for nothing is more heart-warming than going to the mailbox to find a hand-written envelope with your name on it! :)

MaKayla is doing ACT prep for possibly the final time. :) This girl is a test taker by heart, but preparing to take such an exam can be wearing and stressful. She wouldn't have to take it again, for it doesn't appear at this point that college is in the future however the last time she took it, she was a sophomore and she's always wanted the challenge of taking it again. Besides the fact that in order to get the "Good Student Driver Discount" on our insurance, she needs an updated score on file.

I await the phone to ring letting me know that Kyle has finished another day of work and will soon be on his way home to the girls & I. ♥ He is such a good & faithful provider for our family! I am thankful!

Wednesday, MaKayla, Mal & I started a February Book Fast through KBR ministries. We've been subscribing MaKayla to this magazine for some time now & it is such an encouragement & tool of spiritual growth for all of us girls. The February Fast challenges you to read no other book for the month of February except for God's Word (for at least 10 minutes per day). You log the minutes you read daily and then at the end of the month, if you send your log sheet in, they will send you a free pressed-flower Scripture bookmark. An awesome challenge that we were/are excited about! I can already tell a HUGE difference in my heart, in my outlook & in my attitude since beginning this challenge last week.

It will be a quiet, relaxing evening tonight which are the kind that we love! ♥
Cheesy potato soup is on the menu per Kyle & MaKayla's request. ♥
We will do our daily read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year portion. ♥
Possibly a game or two will be played. ♥
Together at home. ♥
A family. ♥

I LOVE...

Helpful hands... ♥
Frequent hugs... ♥
Multiple, "I love You's"... ♥
Smiling faces... ♥
Content hearts... ♥
Creative minds... ♥
Belly laughs... ♥

I would honestly say that... I LOVE being a mom! ♥

Let me tell ya, I enjoyed MaKayla & Mal when they were little things. Loving on them. Kissing on them. Playing with them. Teaching them new things. I mean, babies and toddlers are so much fun. Who can disagree? But this season of life with our girls is simply wonderful. Each & every morning I awake, many times tired, but always eager and excited for the new day that greets me. Anticipating the time that the three of us girls get to spend together...chatting, laughing, creating, learning, sipping hot coffee/tea/cocoa, cooking...BEING TOGETHER! ♥

The older our girls get, the more I appreciate them...as individuals, as sisters, as daughters, as children of God. ♥

I daily get to see their creativity shine forth. I discern what irritates them, what motivates them, what makes them "tick". I am enlightened to their learning styles, what hobbies they connect with and what household chores they are uniquely proficient at. ♥

I daily get to see them interact with one another. I see them laugh together. I see them disagree. I see them learn to work together despite their differences. I see them lean on each other and love beyond explanation. ♥

I daily am blessed by their affection, their commitment to make our family complete, their desire to encourage, support, uplift, and their willingness to make our house a home. A home that is filled with love. ♥

I daily get to witness and observe the young women that the Lord is transforming them into. Daily, I get to see them becoming more like Him. Daily, I get to partake in their spiritual journey with Jesus. Encouraging them to be in the Word and helping to answer their questions along the way. ♥

And although some days are tiring and wearing with very little to no time for myself, I wouldn't trade it for the world. I may have no retirement or 401K. I won't have a sum of Social Security or pension. But...that which I will have, will be worth so much more. Bank accounts run dry. Pensions run out. The moments I have been afforded with our girls is a priceless blessing that can never be taken away. I savor each day and tuck each memory safely in my heart. ♥

I am indebted and more than grateful to Kyle for willingly working so hard to provide for our family in order for me to be home investing in the lives that God has entrusted unto us. ♥

I LOVE BEING A MOM! ♥