Given To Know...

I will give them a heart to know me,
that I am the Lord.
They will be my people,
and I will be their God,
for they will return to me with all their heart.
Jeremiah 24:7

The other day I read this scripture and every time I look back on it, something deep inside my soul stirs. It tells me that God has graciously given me a heart to know that He is Lord. The reality of that reminds me of what an immeasurable Gift I have been given. The real question is, what am I doing with that Gift? Am I seeking to truly know Him? Am I following hard after Him in order to know who He is or do I just want what He has to offer? When I ponder on that, it makes me think of having a friend who only wants me for how I can serve them, help them, bless them or give to them. They only want me for what I do and not for who I am. It's not enough just to have my friendship...my love...my fellowship...my companionship... Is that how I treat my relationship with my Lord?
He has given me a heart to know Him...

Do I?

Current Project...

I just thought I would share a few images of MaKayla's current project. We aren't starting school until after Labor Day as I want to squeeze the most out of summer that I can so this is what she has been working on for the past several days! Kyle and I's niece, she and Mal's cousin Danielle is expecting their first child, Mark and Marci's first grandchild and my mom and dad's first great-grandchild near the end of November or the first of December! We CAN'T wait although I told "D" that we would have to schedule an appointment to see "Little Man" much less hold him! :o)


MaKayla has done a great job on this project and although she bought a pattern at Hobby Lobby for .99, she hasn't used it much at all. She wanted a textured feel and it is turning out super cute and super soft! We will be making a trip to JoAnn's today for batting...

Life or Death...

I love it when I read a portion of scripture in God's Word that pricks and sticks...pricks my heart and sticks in my mind. Those moments when I read something and it cuts to the quick...painful but so desperately needed. Times that the Still Small Voice of the Lord speaks so profoundly at the season of life that I am currently in.

As I read the other morning, the words, "Furthermore, tell the people, 'This is what the Lord says: See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death." This portion of scripture goes on to talk about the consequences of each choice but the thought that I am given those same choices really pricked my heart and stuck therein. The reality that each morning I awake, I am given a choice of whether I will choose a path of life or a path of death. A path of life or a path of death in:

*my speech
*my actions
*my attitude

It's not a choice the Lord makes for me, it's a choice I deliberately have to make myself and the stark reality of it all is the fact that the path I choose, influences the path that I lead others to as well...mainly my husband and our children. With a fresh school year just about to start, it was a wake-up call and reminder I SO needed!

Are my words, words of encouragement, affirmation, assurance and confidence which lead to life or are my words, words of criticism, defeat, negativity and destruction which lead to death?

Are my actions, actions of love, servanthood and gentleness which lead to life or are my actions, actions of hostility, selfishness, reluctancy and rigidness which lead to death?

Is my attitude an attitude of patience, sacrifice, thankfulness and love which lead to life or is my attitude an attitude of frustration, pride, self-pity and irritability which leads to death?

As hard as it is admit, the majority of the time as the keeper of our home, my speech, my actions and my attitude set the tone of everyone else's as well. The Lord has enlightened me to this vivid reality very clearly the past several months. I have a choice to make...

What path am I choosing this day...

...the path of life
or

...the path of death?

"Furthermore, tell the people, 'This is what the Lord says:
See, I am setting before you the way of life and the way of death.
Whoever stays in this city will die by the sword, famine or plague.
But whoever goes out and surrenders to the Babylonians who are besieging you will live; he will escape with his life.
I have determined to do this city harm and not good, declares the Lord.
It will be given into the hands of the king of Babylon,
and he will destroy it with fire."

We can do it God's way which brings life
or
we can do it our way which leads to death.

His way is LIFE!

I'm so thankful for a Saviour!

Work Seasoned with Celebration...

Today Kyle's dad celebrated his 65th birthday and although we spent the majority of the day working, we were blessed to be able to spend the day with him!


Kyle's parent's are in the process of purchasing an in-town home that needs a great deal of TLC given the fact that the house hasn't been lived in for twelve years. The past three weeks we have spent great amounts of time painting, wall papering, taping woodwork, tearing up carpet tackboard, cleaning, washing windows, yard work, ect... Today Kyle and our brother-in-law Mark spent several hours painting the basement while Marci, Bri, MaKayla and I spent the day doing LOTS of yard work! Needless-to-say we will rest good tonight and be very sore upon waking in the morning...I'm not being pessimistic however I'm sore already so...


Kyle's dad has been battling lung cancer for over two years and after extensive chemo and radiation, his body is very weakened and fragile. This means a project like this is a big undertaking for them, yet one where we are thankful we live close enough that we can be actively involved in the renovations.

Today was a busy day of work but the Lord allowed the day to be savory seasoned with celebration as well!


We about to fall into bed blessed and fulfilled!

Eat honey, my son, for it is good;

honey from the comb is sweet to your taste.

Proverbs 24:13

What I Seek...

One thing I ask of the Lord,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the Lord
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord
and to seek Him in His temple.

For in the day of trouble
He will keep me safe in His dwelling;
He will hide me in the shelter of His tabernacle
and set me high upon a rock.

Psalm 27:4~5

What I Was Created For...

The past few days I have been in a nasty slump! One of those slumps where you don't feel good mentally, physically, emotionally and to a degree spiritually. I will humbly and regretfully admit that I've been on the solid side of cranky...

As I awoke this morning feeling disgruntled, I sought the Lord for direction, correction and insight into this less-than-desirable demeanor. He ever so gently reminded me of what I was created for...

Life has been seriously crazy, busy and this woman doesn't do well when she is on the go continuously day-after-day-after-day-after-day... Hopping from one thing to the next, from one place to the next. Now, I know if I shared with some women how I was feeling and why, they would view me as weak, lacking and frail yet God reminds me of what I was created for...

I was created to be a "keeper of the home"...

A helpmeet to the love of my life...


A momma to my two most valuable possessions...


A devoted and faithful child of the King...

I can only speak for myself however when I step outside of my calling, busy myself with the demands of the world and fail to spend adequate time with my Savior, the giver of life, I grow weary and cease to bear fruit.

Much of what we have had going on could not be helped however...

It's time for me to slow down, commune with the Lord and regain my vision. The vision of what I was created for!

The Lord gives strength to His people;
the Lord blesses His people with peace.
Psalm 29:11

Looking At The Heart...

The past several weeks I have spent multitudes of seconds, minutes and hours reading, searching, praying, evaluating...it's that time of year again...time to choose curriculum for our upcoming school year. What to choose... What to use... What has worked... What has failed... What are the learning styles... What are the interests... What would captivate and stir a love for learning in the heart of our greatest investments... What is God-honoring... What goes against what we believe and hold fast to... SO MANY CHOICES...


Although I know I haven't "schooled" nearly as long as some, the past sixteen years have been filled with successes and failures, good days and bad days, achievements and losses. This past year more than any other before, I see where the Lord has changed my perception and view of what "school" should look like and for that I am thankful as are our girls. Although I do take into great consideration the academic side when considering curriculum, more than ever before I am looking at the heart of those I am teaching. More than ever before I want to choose something that awakens the uniqueness that God has created within those hearts. More than ever before I want to choose something that brings depth and drive to those passions that lie within. I want to feed the heart and soul of our girls as well as the mind. For the first time, I've laid aside what we "should use" and have trusted the Lord to guide me in choosing "what fits"! It's been fun! It's been exciting! And as usual, our 16 year-old as well as our 10 year-old can't wait until the UPS truck pulls up with the box of treasures that we will open day-after-day over the next nine months! The box of treasures that will fill our days with learning and knowledge. The box of treasures that will enhance the desires that our Creator so tenderly placed within the hearts of our two greatest investments!

In saying all of that, I wanted to share a reading that I have read and reread and plan to copy, laminate and hang in our school area this year. An awesome reminder of why we do what we do...

To Be Educated

If I learn my ABC's,
can read 600 words per minute,
and can write with perfect penmanship,
but have not been shown how to communicate
with the Designer of all language,
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can deliver an eloquent speech
and persuade you with my stunning logic,
but have not been instructed in God's Wisdom,
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I have read Shakespeare and John Locke
and can discuss their writings with keen insight,
but have not read the greatest of all books-
The Bible-
and have no knowledge of it's personal importance,
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I have memorized addition facts,
multiplication tables,
and chemical formulas,
but have never been disciplined to keep God's Word
in my heart,
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can explain the law of gravity and
Einstein's theory of relativity,
but have never been instructed in the unchangeable
laws of the One Who orders our universe,
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can classify animals by their family, genus, and species,
and can write a lengthy scientific paper that wins an award,
but have not been introduced to the Maker's purpose for all creation,
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can recite the Gettysburg Address and
the Preamble to the Constitution,
but have not been informed of the Hand of God
in the history of our country,
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can play the piano, the violin, six other instruments,
and can write music that moves men to tears,
but have not been taught to listen to the Director of the Universe
and worship Him,
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I run cross-country races,
star in basketball and do 100 push ups without stopping,
but have never been shown how to bend my spirit to do God's will,
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I can identify a Picasso,
describe the style of a da Vinci,
and even paint a portrait that earns an A+,
but have not learned that all harmony and
beauty comes from a relationship with God,
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I graduate with a perfect 4.0 and
am accepted at the best university with a full scholarship,
but have not been guided into a career of God's choosing for me,
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

If I become a good citizen,
voting at each election and fighting for what is moral and right,
but have not been told of the sinfulness of man
and his hopelessness without Christ,
I HAVE NOT BEEN EDUCATED.

However, if one day I see the world as God sees it,
and come to know Him,
Whom to know is Life Eternal;

And glorify God by fulfilling His purpose for me,
THEN,
I HAVE BEEN EDUCATED!
~Carolyn Caines~

"Thus saith the LORD,
'Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom,
neither let the mighty man glory in his might,
let not the rich man glory in his riches:
But let him that glorieth in this,
that he understandeth and knoweth ME."
Jeremiah 9:23-24

"Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy or vain deceit,
after the tradition of men,
after the rudiments of the world,
and not after Christ."
Colossians 2:8

"...Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the Truth."
2 Timothy 3:7

Lesser Rules...

Excuse the bare hip but...
Can you locate two persons in this bed???
How does one sleep in this manner???
If the hip is in that location what is the protrusion directly above it???
What would be the reason to leave one half of the bed unoccupied???
The bottom half none-the-less...

A picture of two precious girls who LOVE to slumber together during the summer months of lesser rules and more freedom for fun!!!

This mom is smiling at the memories made...
and the fact that they love being close to each other!!!

Celebrating Life...

July is a month of birthdays for our family which equals lots of fun get togethers and more than usual food intake, and since my sister and her family as well as my dad and mom live only about 45 minutes from us, it's easy to plan something last minute and still make it work!

After watching some short home video clips Saturday afternoon I see very much where the Lord has done a mighty work in my life when it comes to celebrations such as these! When our girls were little I can remember having "grand affairs" when it came to their birthdays...choosing a "theme", having specific decorations that matched, baking and designing two or more theme cakes, serving lots and lots of food and inviting 40+ people. Those were fun times and alot of great memories were made in the process but as has been the tutelage of the Lord these past five years, I've learned to SIMPLIFY in unimaginable ways!!! I remember very vividly the stress of the making those celebrations a reality...cleaning, cooking, baking, preparing... In the end, I was a grouchy wife and momma who inevitably used the repeated words, "You're gonna have to wait a minute! Can you not see that I am busy!?! I have too much to get done to attend to that! Blah, blah, blah!" Who was I having the party for anyway???? Wow has God changed my heart and my view of things...making the complex simple! I am very grateful for the transforming work He has done on my heart! :o) After all, it's not about an extravagant gathering, it's about celebrating life!

This summer Bri started the month off turning '18' on the 8th!
(Fun cupcakes with ice cream!)

The next week MaKayla turned '16' on the 14th!
(Buttermilk brownies w/homemade ice cream!)

The week following my sister Marci turned '42' on the 22nd!
(Ice cream dessert...her favorite!)

And to end the month Kyle celebrated # '39' on the 29th!
(Brownies...he got into them well before we sang!?!)

I've learned that the elaborateness of the time together most certainly doesn't reflect the depth of the love that I have for these that God has blessed me with. I've learned that a last minute, "Hey, I think we are going to throw some burgers on the grill, do a little swimming and celebrate a life," works just as well with alot less stress than invitations sent out a month in advance, over-the-budget money spent on food and rat racing preparations. I've learned that the fewer in number the more quality time spent. I've learned that self-promotion is a sin and doing things with even a hint of intent to impress others glorifies self rather than Christ. I've learned that the time I would spend on getting everything done for the big event, I would rather invest in the personal life of the one I am celebrating!

It's been a month of celebrating life and I am deeply grateful for yet another year to hold these that I love so much close to my heart! I'm grateful that I still have them to squeeze tight, be warmed by their smiles and touched by their presence day in and day out! I'm grateful that I can still hear their voices in my ear first thing of a morning or at the push of a button! I love to love them and I'm honored that they love me in return!

I'm celebrating life!

Discipline...

The days of summer are quickly fleeting by and although I am one who greatly enjoys the season of fall, I reluctantly acknowledge that these hot humid days will soon be gone. The singing of the locusts reminds me that as reluctant as I may choose to be, the seasons will change...


I praise the Lord for how He has orchestrated each day of our summer break (Mallary would have a hard time confirming that we've actually had a "break" since we've done some sort of school (math and reading) each day). For the most part we have been diligent to stay on somewhat of a schedule which is a reality that is so fruitful for our family. In years past we have "good intentions" of a "summer schedule" but within the first few weeks ditch routine as to "enjoy summer to its fullest". In doing so, much disorder, laziness, frustration and discontentment result.

As the days, weeks and months of summer seem to be closing in on us, Kyle and I recognize a few areas where we have lacked determined discipline...our eating, our finances, our bedtimes, our morning time of communion with theLord. We haven't been completely frivolous in these areas however we can tell that by how we feel physically our food choices and portions haven't been wise. We can tell by our checking account/savings plan that the amount of money to be "tucked back" hasn't come to fruition. We can tell by the way we react when the alarm clock goes off each morning that we didn't get to bed when we should have. We can tell that by pushing the snooze and lingering a little longer in bed that our day begins rushed, frazzled and unfocused.

Don't get me wrong, it's always good to relax a little and let the boundaries stretch however letting them exceed limitlessly isn't profitable...physically or spiritually. It seems as though when we allow those boundaries to exceed, we loose focus and then find ourselves in a place where there is no vision. It reminds me of a ship out to sea and how quickly we can lose our way when there is no map or the map we have grasped, we have thrown overboard. We end up in a place with no sense of direction and Satan attempts to cloud our minds with hopelessness and defeat.

I'm so thankful this day that I am loved by a God of grace who says, "Return unto Me and I will set your feet back on the path I have chosen for you!"

Discipline is good...really good! It's back to a life of balanced meals, a bridled budget, determined bedtimes and bright eyes at 5:00 a.m.! The gut will feel better, the savings will grow, the energy will return and the day will begin with purpose! :o)

Be very careful, then, how you live-
not as unwise but as wise,
making the most of every opportunity,
because the days are evil.
Therefore do not be foolish,
but understand what the Lord's will is.

Ephesians 5:15~16