My Outlet

So, yah, this is my outlet. :) I am re-posting this Oswald Chambers devotion because I LOVE it. I love that my God brought me to this place where, because of His great love I am able to say I love Him with my whole heart. I hope and pray this for my children and for you, have you fallen head over heals in love with your Savior? Have you seen what He has saved you from? Do you realize? Have you come face to face with your sin and seen the ugliness of it and then when you feel repulsive in every way, felt the Lord's loving embrace? It is a blessed thing. This is the place I come to when I pray to the Lord for my children, 'whatever it takes'. Because this prayer is a frightful thing when you think of the possibilities of what it might take to bring someone to the point of humbling themselves before the Lord and finding freedom. Salvation. Peace. Joy.

But it is a prayer worth praying. And with a catch in my throat and tears in my eyes, this I pray for my children. 

I love this story. She comes to show her great gratitude and love for what her Lord has done for her. How He  abundantly loves her, forgives her, redeems her, defends her... He loves her. 

 Have you experienced His love for you? Its the same deep, fierce, wonderful, abundant love. His love for us is with abandon, may ours for Him be without reservation. Wild. Crazy. Willing. We will do foolish things for human love, may we that much more for our Creator, our Redeemer, our Savior. 

Subject: Do You Really Love Him?

She has done a good work for Me —Mark 14:6

If what we call love doesn’t take us beyond ourselves, it is not really love. If we have the idea that love is characterized as cautious, wise, sensible, shrewd, and never taken to extremes, we have missed the true meaning. This may describe affection and it may bring us a warm feeling, but it is not a true and accurate description of love.

Have you ever been driven to do something for God not because you felt that it was useful or your duty to do so, or that there was anything in it for you, but simply because you love Him? Have you ever realized that you can give things to God that are of value to Him? Or are you just sitting around daydreaming about the greatness of His redemption, while neglecting all the things you could be doing for Him? I’m not referring to works which could be regarded as divine and miraculous, but ordinary, simple human things— things which would be evidence to God that you are totally surrendered to Him. Have you ever created what Mary of Bethany created in the heart of the Lord Jesus? “She has done a good work for Me.”

There are times when it seems as if God watches to see if we will give Him even small gifts of surrender, just to show how genuine our love is for Him. To be surrendered to God is of more value than our personal holiness. Concern over our personal holiness causes us to focus our eyes on ourselves, and we become overly concerned about the way we walk and talk and look, out of fear of offending God. “. . . but perfect love casts out fear . . .” once we are surrendered to God (1 John 4:18). We should quit asking ourselves, “Am I of any use?” and accept the truth that we really are not of much use to Him. The issue is never of being of use, but of being of value to God Himself. Once we are totally surrendered to God, He will work through us all the time.

- My Utmost For His Highest

Ahh, Valentines Day

Happy Valentine's Day!

In the spirit of said day and love and mush and hearts and kisses and hugs and such, 

I will wax poetic a bit.

I don't know how or where it started but John and I have started sayings things like, 

"I love doing life with you"

Its a great blessing to be going through the 'day-by-day' with someone beside you. 

Doing the thang, the nitty gritty, the daily grind.

Flowers, chocolate, even jewelry are all nice to receive. But they are meaningless without the

  daily-I-am-in-this-with-you kind of love.

Which means, I will do what is needed with love because we are in this together. 

I am in this with you and I am glad!

I will gladly rub your back even though I am tired too. 

I will grocery shop and make dinner and do laundry day after day.

I will forgive when this doesn't happen.

I will stop at the store on the way home for milk so that you don't have to go out one more time. 

I will not snap at you.

I will forgive you for snapping.

I will smile at you, even when I don't feel like smiling.

I will hug you even when you are sick or grumpy or aren't feeling beautiful.

I will pay the bills.

I will think the best of you and speak the best about you.

I will jump in and make dinner because you aren't feeling well.

I will get up at the crack of dawn and go to work.

I will go to work day after day and even Saturdays.

I will help with the kids because I love them and I love you.

I will stay in it with you and work with you to get through the rough times.

These are just some of ours, everyone has their own daily life things to do together 

with and for each other to show love. 

I love my husband. 

He is so good at loving me.

Here's to another Valentine's Day, hope yours is sweet!

SIDE-NOTE:

Phoebe has some friends who are living with broken families. She asked me what would happen if her daddy and I got divorced. She said it would be really sad, she would be really sad. Thankfully, I was able to assure her that we will never get a divorce. We have been through enough to know that if we weren't going to stay in this it would have already happened. Not that there won't be more rough times ahead but we are ...in it to win it. :) So I was able to tell Phoebe without an ounce of doubt, we will not divorce. A week later she brought it up one more time and said, I know you are not going to divorce, but I am just saying, if you did, I would cry like heck forever. 

I know, baby... I know. 

Thank You, Lord for teaching us how to love. Thank You that we love because You loved us first. 

Thank You for giving us strength. 

In Jesus' name, Amen.

This -N- That

Ellie is watching some football with her Daddy.

So dang cute.

The boys are trying to break up the ice and clear the way to the drain for the river of runoff. 

The girls are decorating Valentine's Boxes. 

Betcha they've captured a few hearts, I mean who couldn't love these cuties?

Bravo

Our sweet, precious beautiful children keep making it onto the honor roll... something to make a deal out of! The thought came to me today, I don't remember ever being on the honor roll. I only recall hating school and usually not doing my best. Skating by...
I told Ellie I am proud of her for being on the Honor Roll and that I didn't remember ever being on it. She said, Oh that's sad...we're smarter than Mommy.
Ah, humility.

Travel

Plans are being made for our summer trip home... travel.
We went home for Christmas... travel.
My new blog format title... Travel.
John went on a business trip recently...travel.
I finished reading the stories of Aaron, with Moses and the nation of Israel... travel.
I then read the story of Caleb... also involving travel.
I am now reading the story of Amos, a shepherd who learned about the Lord in the fields... he traveled from his home to an idol-worshiping town nearby when the Lord sent him there to prophesy. First he was 'able' to prophesy against the enemies of the Lord in their land, but then he had to prophesy against his own, because the Lord's people were worshiping as the other nations did and sinning against the Lord.
As we travel through this life on earth, we must remember we are here for a reason and God seeks for those who love Him. I get caught up and distracted by the daily things. I read about the wrath of God on those who sin against Him and remember this is the same God I sit down with in the mornings a little lot too casually with my  coffee on my comfy couch. I read about Amos, Aaron, Caleb on their face before Almighty God and I know I do not have that kind of awe and fear of the Lord.
I loved the study we did a couple of years ago on Daniel. Grasping the tip of understanding that we are Sojourners in this land. Traveling through... on our way home. Traveling used to be easy for me. I didn't even give it a second thought as our family of 6 flies down the highway 80 miles an hour for 13 hours to get to our family. Now I work not to stress and worry about the roads and the other drivers on the road. I have never prayed so diligently as this last trip we took home at Christmas. Thanking God for clear roads when they were clear, thanking Him that He went before and behind us, that He had His hand on us, that He gave my husband wisdom and alertness while driving and guide me while I was driving. Praying for the other drivers and thanking Him over and over for His protection. This should be my frame of mind for our daily life! It is equally dangerous on both a spiritual level and physical! If I am not thinking about the Lord, then I do not think of Him, if I am thinking on the Lord, then I think of Him! Profound, I know!

In reading Sons of Encouragement, by Francine Rivers, I learned about recognizing our own failings and having humility before the Lord. These men were on their face before the Lord. And they failed and desired to  follow more closely. We are so easily led astray. I pray if I recognize this about myself, I will be more diligent to keep my eyes on Him. As I travel. May my journey bring delight to my Shepherd.

Ramblings...( sorry, this one is just kind of a journal entry or something!)

Well, it has happened... Ellie has asked when we are getting out the Christmas decorations. :) I am hoping and planning for next weekend. I do think Thanksgiving weekend is a perfect weekend to decorate for Christmas. ;0 Nate went out and dug up the Christmas music the other day, so we are getting in the spirit around here! :)

My lesson learned for the moment is cute don't cut it in below zero weather. I gave up on two pairs of cheap boots from last year and am wearing my Seriously- for-Snow boots, they keep my feet dry and they keep my up on my feet! Yes, last year I either had wet feet, once the snow soaked through, or I fell on my hiney..a few times or did one of those body convulsions to try to keep from falling, which get your adrenaline pumping like crazy! Not in a fun way! Funny to watch by those around me probably though! And no more colored gloves that match my coat or scarf, but now some heavy, lined, faux-leather gloves that keep my hands warm!! And a hat! Very little concern for messed up hair! Just protection from the weather. My hat doesn't match anything. My gloves don't match my scarf and are not cute. My scarf doesn't match, and nothing matches my coat. But I don't care! Lord, thank you for releasing me from my vanities! :)

So, Sunday I finally made it out to the garage to go though some boxes that John had strategically put in my parking spot so that I would have to tend to them to be able to park there. Did I take care of it in a timely fashion during the nice weather when I could have the garage door open and breathe the fresh air while I worked and long before the cold hit so that there would be no delay in parking in the garage as soon as the snow fell???? No. No. Of course, no. I procrastinated and had to survive a week of snow and hear forecasts of below zero weather to be encouraged to move this task to the top of my priority list. I had to bundle up and be practically dragged out there by my husband. But now it is done. And I got to park in the garage Sunday night. Whew.

The boxes, you ask? What was in the boxes? Well, I'll tell you...( The boxes that I mentioned were in my spot in the garage, in case you didn't follow that lovely transition:) The boxes had a bunch of home-school materials in them... I loved home schooling my kids... it wasn't always easy...in fact, I don't think it ever was easy, but I loved it. Not the schooling part, because 99% of the time they didn't want to 'do school'. But having them home with me and knowing, for the most part, what was going into their precious minds. And having them with me, I love that. So we haven't home-schooled here the last 3 years, and that is what we needed to do. God is so good to teach us what we need. And He is so good at loving us as He does. And now, it seems He is going to let me home-school again for a bit. We are planning to home-school the girls for the next couple of years. It is just a time for drawing them close and strengthening our bonds. I am so excited! I am making plans in my heart to do some fun things with my precious daughters and I can't wait for next year. Our home schooling in the past was just the basics, I would hear about moms doing extras and fun stuff and feel bad but I just didn't have it in me at the time. But now, I am daydreaming about our time together for the next year(s), I don't know how long it will be for, but it is going to be good. :) I plan to tell the girls closer to the end of this school year, when the time is right for them to receive it. When I was sorting the home school boxes, Ellie was out there, having fun going through stuff with me and getting excited about some of the things she saw. So I am praying for her response and timing in telling her. She is my social-butterfly, so we will have to stay on top of that, and some of the fun things I have in mind are for her. Phoebe, I think, will be excited and I don't really worry about telling her.
Maybe we will start a blog about it when we start. :)

Thank You, Lord, for how You teach us, grow us, Love us. You alone are able. Praise You. and worthy. Amen.

PHuzzbucket

Phoebe, Oh Phoebe.
Thank you, Lord, for Phoebe. How I love her and how amazing she is to me. One of my precious, Fantastic Four. Lord, you have so abundantly blessed me. 

Here are couple of Phuzzbucket stories for you. The other morning her breakfast was ready and I called out from the kitchen, PHUZZBUCKET- And she called out, Ya, Mom? I said, I love that you just answered to Phuzzbucket! 

Another morning story; John was feeling...somewhat...irritated? or...less than warm fuzzies toward the afore mentioned Fantastic Four, and I was trying to endear them to him again, I called them 'the fruit of his loins'. hehe. yah. Phoebe made the funniest wrinkled up nose face and asked, What are loins!? Laughing, laughing, laughing.

Phoebe has been having nightmares, yesterday morning she ended up in our bed and I said try to have one more good dream before its time to wake up. So later, she told me she had a dream that I was having another baby. I said, Oh good, you did have a good dream! She asked, So you want to have another baby? I answered, Sure, if God gives me one. ..

.*bunnytrail* Is it just me or does anyone else look longingly at the isles of babystuff. I even sighed when I caught a glimpse of the pregnancy tests last night at the store! How silly! But, yes, I do long... However, the next instant I enjoy my Fantastic Four being the ages they are and we run here and there in no time and leave them at home at times, while we run somewhere. I am enjoying this stage of our life. But, oh to hold and snuggle a baby again.... **Anyway~

Oh, here is another one- She has a cute winter hat that says, 'Cute, but Dangerous' on it. Yesterday morning, she was wearing and pointing to the words and 'reading' it to me. Then she asked if she had pointed to the words right, because it was on her head. I told her she had actually pointed to them backwards, and she without thinking, read it the way it would have read backwards.
'Cute. Dangerous but!' Then 'dangerous butt' sunk in and her eyes got big and she covered her mouth with her hand. And Jacob says, Now that's true about her! More laughing... :) Yes, yes, we do wonder and pray for the precious man that will be her husband, he is going to be something else. Which is the Phoebe-phrase John has used several times in the last couple of days.

Thank you, Lord, I love them more and more. And only because You loved us first. How wonderful You are. 

Oh, there is much more to tell, but I must go and ready for the day. *sigh*
Have a lovely day.
xo~