Status Report

I have had a hard time coming up with much of anything worthwhile to blog about.  So I told a friend that I would do a status report and hopefully get the creativity flowing...(she also agreed to do one, and as of yet has not...you know who you are)

Reading: The Power of a Woman's Words by Sharon Jaynes.  I did a Sunday School lesson a few weeks ago from the book of James about the power of our words and what God has to say about using our tongue.  The lesson has been kickin' my rear.  The more I meditate on the scriptures regarding this the more I seem to fail.  In fact, the last two weeks my mouth has been out. of. control.  Why do I do the things I don't want to do...?  Ageless question.  I need help.  Or a muzzle.

Drinking:  French Vanilla Cafe.  My fave.

Studying:  James by Beth Moore.  Just finished day one.  Appherently God thinks I have much to learn from Mr. James.

Thinking about: Blessing my family on Valentine's Day with special treats and notes.

Pinning:  Latest pin was for a carmel fondue.  Yum!

Dreaming: Of doing some landscaping this year.  Adding a peach tree.  I would love some privacy fencing.

Cooking:  Tonight it was Creamy Chicken Pockets and a salad.  Tomorrow is Chinese Chicken.  Wednesday we eat at church.  Thursday:  French Dip Sandwiches with sweet potato fries.  Friday:  Spaghetti.  Saturday:  Potato soup.

The list

1000.  The number seems taunting at first.  Could I really find 1000 things in my life to be thankful? Some days the thankfulness comes so easy.  Everything is sunshine and daisies. 

·         Watching my five year old play with Barbies

·         Listening to Pandora worship station at work

·         Watching the Passion Conference online

·         Lunch with my daughter

Other days the thanks has to be dug for like a buried treasure.  I know it is there, but I cannot see it at first glance.  It is taking time to be quiet (my word for the year)  and to think of the things that are blessing my heart.

·         Second chances

·         New starts at a fresh week

·         Letting go of resentment

·         Feeling better after being ill

This counting has been a healing balm to my spirit.  A healing that I did not realize that I needed. 

I recently finished reading Kisses from Katie and as I read of her life in Uganda, and the lives of those where she lives I realize that I have so much.  So stinking much to be thankful for yet sometimes I choose ingratitude.  Counting continually reminds me of the Giver of all good gifts.  The little journal that sits on the end table waiting for me to add gifts to it beckons me to add to the list.  Once I start the list grows and grows.   But I have to choose to start.  Consider joining Ann with her January list to get you started. 

A mini-revival

 Image http://homegrownhospitality.typepad.com/homegrown_hospitality/

I love formulas.  Not necessarily the mathematical sort but the “if X  then Y” sort.  If I do this then this will happen.  If my attitude is this then the outcome will be such.  I love the idea that there is predictability.  Control.  I am fooling myself.

I live in a home with six other people.  As much as I would like it to be different, I have no control over them.  Yes, I can make consequences, but I cannot control.  And I really don’t think it is in their or my best interest if I do the controlling anyways.  But at times I want to know the outcome.  If I teach gratitude my children will be grateful.  If I value cleanliness my children will pick up after themselves.  If I make them well balanced meals my family will be healthy.  If my children see me value church and the Lord they will also.  If I pray enough in the morning I will have a blessed day.  If I am nice enough then my relationships will all go well (for me). 

What I do have control over is me.  My attitude, my response, my actions.  And that. Is. It.

I feel my Spirit is in a sort of revival.  I have a new desire for Scripture memory.  For journaling during quiet time.  A hunger to know more of Him.  To encourage others.  To give grace frivolously.  Because if grace is undeserved then why shouldn’t it be given frivolously?  I want to receive that kind from Him.  And I want to give that to others.

Word for 2012

Quiet

What are my hopes for 2012?

Quiet.

Quiet my mouth.  Be careful what I say and use the KNT (Kind Necessary True) rule.  So much of my opinion is really not needed nor does it do any good in encouraging others.   I want to give grace frivolously.   This video was very convicting to my heart.  How much grace is enough?  I guess that depends on whether you are giving or recieving.

Quiet my spirit.  My life is busy.   That is not going to change.  What I am learning is that I can quiet my spirit no matter where I am or what is going on.  It is my choice.  It happens inside my heart and peace envelopes.  I have been practicing this lately and what a difference it makes.  I have to say I have also failed miserably at times and that is OK too.  I will just keep practicing because it brings a beautiful peace.

“Be still and know that I AM God.”

I have really enjoyed this Christmas break.  I have checked so many things off my to-do list.  I have spent time listening to music, crafting, reading, sewing, and drawing.  All those things make me slow down, think and process.  I need to do that more.  It is healthy for all involved.

 Time with God needs to be a priority.  Quality time to journal.  Time to meditate on His Word.  I am taking the challenge to memorize and meditate on the book Colossians.  I am fearful that I will fail and give up but I am going to start and I am going to try.   

Quiet my appetites.  Appetites for things that are not good for me. Foods that are of no benefit and eaten too often.   Appetites for things that are not needed yet desired.  Appetites for stuff that 6 months from now will end up at Goodwill or broken.  Appetites to surf Pinterest aimlessly just because it is endless and the next great find might be just a click away.  Appetite to surf Facebook for a bit of information that I really don’t need to know that will only feed my appetite for judgment. 

Quiet.

Happy New Year!  May 2012 bring you many blessings.

Connected

I am joining with Gypsy Momma today...


I watched several preschool programs this week.  That is my blessing being a preschool director.  Children singing to their mommies  and daddies.  Oversized hand motions with big smiles.  So proud of what they had learned and so proud to have someone they loved watching them.

One boy yells "That is my Nanny!"

A little girls eyes light up when she sees her daddy.

A shy child holds her hand over her mouth but is secretly glad that she is performing for momma.

After the performance the children have opportunity to create a holiday treasure with their someone special.  The adults have come into the child's envorment.  It is our chance to be a child again and enjoy the simplicity of popcicle sticks, pom-poms, glue and glitter.

Yet, some of these adults cannot or will not connect.  They are still plugged into their cell phones texting while their child creates.  They sigh and look at their watch.  They ask me "How long do I have to stay?"

I wonder how often do I do that.  Do I linger too long at the computer?  Do I acknowledge their question?  Do I hear their voices?  Or am I too caught up in things that really don't matter to connect?  Pinterest, blogging and facebook can wait. 

Help me Lord to hear and see so I can connect with people and with You.

1000 gifts

http://www.aholyexperience.com

I recently started reading Ann Voskamps' 1000 gifts.  What started as hard to read has turned into can't put down.  I am searching for moments that I can fill my eyes with her words and create my own list.  I am now carrying a little journal to document as I go.  Because waiting until night I just might forget.  This list keeping is making my smile more.  I 'see' things in front of me.  It slows my pace of life just by the smallest amount, yet enough.  Enough for me to breathe in grace, thanksgiving and joy.

• Red tutu's on my 5 year old asian beauty
• Listening to one of my children pick up an instrument of thier choice and worship
• Sharing with friends who are on a similar journey with God teaching similar truths - yet so individual
• Preschoolers singing Away in a Manger across from my office
• Sloppy homemade ornaments made in pride for mom & dad
• The Written Word
• Smell of Christmas baking
• A sweet text from my hubby
• My 15 year old son putting his arm around his momma
• Sharing hope with a discouraged friend

Practicing

I sat on the couch with my youngest as she practiced her reading.  She is still struggling with the small little word “the”.  As we come to it again she tries to sound it out and I tell her this is just one of those words you have to memorize.  It doesn’t sound out.  And we keep reading.  Keep practicing.

We do it with spelling words, parts of speech and multiplication tables.  In biology, it is classifications, in chemistry it is the element chart.  We are all practicing. Drilling in information or concepts that are needed.  Needed to take us to the next.

“Practice is the hardest part of learning, and training is the essence of transformation.”

These words are profound to me.  I want so much to realize Truth and have it be so.  Yet, it takes practice.  Simply knowing is not enough.  I have to let it be so.  I have to practice. Just like my 5 year old must practice reading to become a better reader.  Just like my 5^th grader must practice fractions for them to become easier.  Just like my 8^th grader practices her algebra to get better at equations.  Just like my 9^th grader drills kingdoms, phylum, class, families, etc. to better understand life.  Just like my college student memorizes body functions I never knew existed and I don’t understand to get into a nursing program. 

Practice is the hardest part of learning.

For the lessons that God is teaching me I must practice.  I must practice His grace.  I must practice His truth.  I must practice thanksgiving.

And this training is the essence of transformation.