Chances are...

When Grandpa's in town, you can count on delicious breakfasts with eggs and bacon, or french toast and sausage.

But if your birthday is in a few days...and Grandpa's in town, chances are you'll get an AMAZING breakfast in bed! ;)



Thanks, Dad, for the delicious early birthday present, and for letting your grandkids help & be a part of your gift. Love you.

5x7 Folded Card

Rejoice Lord King Religious Christmas Card

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Choosing Joy...

Today I'm choosing joy. I'm choosing to give thanks. And let me tell you something.

It hasn't been an easy day to choose joy.

One. Step. At. A. Time.

Thank you, God for this *monster* under this bed. You have blessed our children with so many things to play with, we don't have enough room for them. Thank you that we have been abundantly blessed enough to give away & bless others...

Thank you, God...for creativity and imagination...

Thank you, God, for these *clean* clothes yet to be folded. Thank you for the arms and hands to fold them. Thank you for the mountain of *dirty* you have blessed us with.

Thank you, God, for these dirty dishes. Thank you for running water & a functioning dishwasher to help me in my task. Thank you for providing our daily bread.

"So then as long as thanks is possible...then joy is always possible...whenever, meaning - NOW; wherever, meaning - HERE. The hold grail of joy is not in some exotic location or some emotional mountain peak experience. The joy wonder could be here! Here, in the messy, piercing ache of now, joy might be - unbelievably - possible! The only place we need see before we die is this place of seeing God, here & now." - Ann Voskamp

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all curcumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) - God

Pit stop...

It's a beautiful day outside. Just 81 degrees. Twenty degrees cooler than it was two days ago. The oppressive heat has moved on for the time being, and we are enjoying the relief. The windows are open, the breeze moves through, and it's fun to hear the kids chattering outside. They are playing "pit stop"

Two "drive" around on scooters or skates, then stop in for gas, a tire change, or a chance to sit down.


There is no pit crew. Just a one-man-machine. And he takes his job very seriously. He gets frustrated if they take off again too soon. "I didn't even get to change that tire!"

I love that even though they're growing up so fast...they still take time to play, to pretend.

This weekend has been a "pit stop" for me. A chance to stop. To take a moment and get my "tank" refilled. To let these tired feet slow down. To give my mind a chance to rest.

Saturday was spent making the most out of 24 hours loving on my nephew & being blessed by my sister-friend. I left filled up. And not just with yummy monster cookies & delicious Southwest chicken! Filled with conversation, connection, encouragement...emotionally & spiritually.

Today is a day for resting. For reading. For reflecting. For enjoying this little "pit stop" from God.

Seeking routine...

It's the start of week #3 and I'm trying to find some "routine" in my day-to-day. I want to know what is on the schedule for today & what to expect tomorrow.

Let's be real here. I have control issues, people.

I like having a place for everything...and everything in its place. That works fine in a classroom with neatly labeled boxes and zippered baggies, but life is another story.

Not matter how much I schedule, organize, and prepare, I will never really be able to know what today holds or what tomorrow will bring. Despite my futile efforts to do so! And for someone who always has something to do, people to see...it's really hard to sit still & wait on the Lord.

"Demonstrate your TRUST in me by sitting quietly in My Presence. Put aside all that is waiting to be done and refuse to worry about anything. This sacred time together strengthens you and prepares you to face whatever the day will bring. By waiting with Me before you begin the day's activities, you proclaim the reality of My living Presence...doing countless unnecessary activities will dissipate your energy. When you spend time with Me, I restore your sense of direction. As you look to Me for guidance, I enable you to do less, but accomplish more." (-Jesus Calling pg. 252)

THIS is the routine I must desperately seek.

Resting...

Yesterday was our FIRST day of school & my first day of teaching. It was a great day & I'm excited about what God has in store for the year ahead.

So glad it was only a half day!! By the time I got home, I was so exhausted & crashed for a nap. I joked with Phil - if I was this tired after a half day, what am I going to do next week?!?! I'm thankful that "down-time" is part of our schedule. I think we'll all benefit from a chance to stretch out, as we listen to a story.

I realize that getting back into the routine of working full-time will take some adjusting. Last night I started feeling overwhelmed with all the things that need to be "accomplished", almost to the point of panic. (How can I do this? I'm too weak! It's impossible!) This morning I read this great reminder about the need for Simplicity. And that reminded me that I needed to spend a little time with the One who is in all & above all that happens in my life. Today's reminder from Jesus Calling was just what I needed to hear...

Come to Me when you are weak and weary. Rest snugly in my everlasting arms. I do not despise weakness, My child. Actually, it draws Me closer to you, because weakness stirs up My compassion - My yearning to help. Accept yourself in your weariness, knowing that I understand how difficult your journey has been.

Do not compare yourself with others, who seem to skip along their life-paths with ease. Their journeys have been different from yours, and I have gifted them with abundant energy. I have gifted you with fragility, providing opportunities for your spirit to blossom in My Presence. Accept this gift as a sacred treasure delicate, yet glowing with brilliant Light. Rather than struggling to disguise or deny your weakness, allow Me to bless you richly through it.

For the mountains may move and the hills disappear, but even then my faithful love for you will remain. My covenant of blessing will never be broken,” says the Lord, who has mercy on you.

- Isaiah 54:10

And the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness. For example, we don’t know what God wants us to pray for. But the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words.

- Romans 8:26

Guilty pleasure...

I love curling up on the couch with a good book. Especially in the winter. A nice heavy blanket, a warm cup of hot chocolate, and a good book. It doesn't get much better than that. If it's a really good book, I'll stay up half the night to finish it. And to be honest, I'll even neglect my house (and meal prep) and just indulge.

These days, I'm lucky if I can sit down & have peace to focus on things that are important - like devotions, balancing the checkbook, paying bills, responding to emails, etc. It would be so much simpler if my children didn't ask as many questions as they do - "Can I please...?" "Where is...?" "Now can I go...?" I can't tell you how many times this summer I have tried to ban inquiries. It's completely fruitless. Hopeless. Pointless. The first question I get is "Why can't I ask you any more questions?"

So if accomplishing menial tasks requires some quiet, I can't expect there to be any for something as leisure as reading. Until today.

We have enjoyed many books-on-tape on road trips & as a family, and I've listened to books in my kitchen while I work. But today I pulled out my daughters "out-dated" CD walkman, plugged in my earphones, crammed the walkman in my pocket & got to listen to my story as I went about my day. I loved being able to multi-task & still enjoy a "guilty pleasure".

And the best part?

I don't have to answer all those questions. After a couple "Huh?" questions of my own...they give up & go figure out the answer for themselves.