30 Days of Giving Thanks: Day 13

I have decided to undertake the challenge of finding

one thing

to be thankful for...........each day this month.   

It is amazing how a thankful heart can change your perspective - how being thankful for even the littlest things in life can bring a new joy or peace where there was once anxiety or frustration. 

I know this task will be a blessing to me.  And I pray that my list may somehow bless others - maybe bring that reminder, or spark a thought of something you are also grateful for. 

Day 1: I am grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Day 2: I am grateful for my husband.
Day 3: I am grateful for "Touchdown".
Day 4: I am grateful for "Curly Girly".
Day 5: I am grateful for "Squirt".
Day 6: I am grateful for "Sweetness".
Day 7: I am grateful that I am a mom.
Day 8: I am grateful that I can homeschool.
Day 9: I am grateful for God's Word.
Day 10: I am grateful for my home.
Day 11: I am grateful for books.
Day 12: I am thankful for my church.

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Day 13:

I am thankful for my van.

 

It seems silly.........I'm not really into cars and whatnot, but my van is a pretty important tool for our family.  It provides us with a safe way to get to where we want to go.  It provides enough space for all of us and any belongings we need to take along.  And I love the little features like the automatic door that I can open for my kiddos from my key ring.  It's great to know that I can get them safely out of parking lots and into the van with little effort, even when my hands are full with their baby sister.  It's the little things............
Funny thing - I insisted the automatic door was a feature we didn't need when we were van shopping a few years ago.  I owe it all to my great hubby and his foresight on this one.

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What are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you!

30 Days of Giving Thanks: Day 12

I have decided to undertake the challenge of finding

one thing

to be thankful for...........each day this month.   

It is amazing how a thankful heart can change your perspective - how being thankful for even the littlest things in life can bring a new joy or peace where there was once anxiety or frustration. 

I know this task will be a blessing to me.  And I pray that my list may somehow bless others - maybe bring that reminder, or spark a thought of something you are also grateful for. 

Day 1: I am grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Day 2: I am grateful for my husband.
Day 3: I am grateful for "Touchdown".
Day 4: I am grateful for "Curly Girly".
Day 5: I am grateful for "Squirt".
Day 6: I am grateful for "Sweetness".
Day 7: I am grateful that I am a mom.
Day 8: I am grateful that I can homeschool.
Day 9: I am grateful for God's Word.
Day 10: I am grateful for my home.
Day 11: I am grateful for books.

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Day 12:

I am thankful for my church.

 

I am grateful that we can go to church without persecution.   I am glad to have the opportunity to share in corporate worship with fellow believers.  And I feel so blessed to come away from last Sunday encouraged by a friend I had not talked with recently.  Our paths simply had not been crossing, but this week we were actually able to chat for a few moments.  And she blessed me so very much with her love and friendship.  I am thankful for this dear, sweet friend in my church family. 

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What are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you!

30 Days of Giving Thanks: Day 11

I have decided to undertake the challenge of finding

one thing

to be thankful for...........each day this month.   

It is amazing how a thankful heart can change your perspective - how being thankful for even the littlest things in life can bring a new joy or peace where there was once anxiety or frustration. 

I know this task will be a blessing to me.  And I pray that my list may somehow bless others - maybe bring that reminder, or spark a thought of something you are also grateful for. 

Day 1: I am grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Day 2: I am grateful for my husband.
Day 3: I am grateful for "Touchdown".
Day 4: I am grateful for "Curly Girly".
Day 5: I am grateful for "Squirt".
Day 6: I am grateful for "Sweetness".
Day 7: I am grateful that I am a mom.
Day 8: I am grateful that I can homeschool.
Day 9: I am grateful for God's Word.
Day 10: I am grateful for my home.

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Day 11:

I am grateful for books.

 

There is something wonderful about snuggling up with a good book.  I love books.  They take you places while you stay warm, cozy and relaxed at home.  They provide adventure while you lie in bed drained after a long day.  You can be anyone and do anything while your hands are gripping a good book.  
I love that my family loves books.  Even from early ages, my children would bring me book after book to read to them.   And we have tried to foster this love of books - for with it they can do so much.  Books can bring knowledge and growth, they can squelch boredom, and they can unite people.  I am so grateful for a family that loves to share books with one another.

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What are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you

30 Days of Giving Thanks: Day 10

I have decided to undertake the challenge of finding

one thing

to be thankful for...........each day this month.   

It is amazing how a thankful heart can change your perspective - how being thankful for even the littlest things in life can bring a new joy or peace where there was once anxiety or frustration. 

I know this task will be a blessing to me.  And I pray that my list may somehow bless others - maybe bring that reminder, or spark a thought of something you are also grateful for. 

Day 1: I am grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Day 2: I am grateful for my husband.
Day 3: I am grateful for "Touchdown".
Day 4: I am grateful for "Curly Girly".
Day 5: I am grateful for "Squirt".
Day 6: I am grateful for "Sweetness".
Day 7: I am grateful that I am a mom.
Day 8: I am grateful that I can homeschool.
Day 9: I am grateful for God's Word.

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Day 10:

I am grateful for my home.

 

I find fault with it almost daily.  I dream of the "perfect house" - - - you know, that one that you see in the magazines - it's perfect........it's clean! 
Yet this home - my home - holds my family.  It holds my children's treasures.  It holds our plans and our dreams.  It holds our memories.  It holds our keepsakes.  My children are free here - free to express themselves, free to try something new, free to be themselves.  My home shelters us from storms - its strong structure keeps out the wind, rain and snow.  It can also be a place to heal from that heartache or just that common cold.  And it's OUR home.  And I am so thankful that God has provided for us in such a beautiful way. 

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What are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you

30 Days of Giving Thanks: Day 9

I have decided to undertake the challenge of finding

one thing

to be thankful for...........each day this month.   

It is amazing how a thankful heart can change your perspective - how being thankful for even the littlest things in life can bring a new joy or peace where there was once anxiety or frustration. 

I know this task will be a blessing to me.  And I pray that my list may somehow bless others - maybe bring that reminder, or spark a thought of something you are also grateful for. 

Day 1: I am grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Day 2: I am grateful for my husband.
Day 3: I am grateful for "Touchdown".
Day 4: I am grateful for "Curly Girly".
Day 5: I am grateful for "Squirt".
Day 6: I am grateful for "Sweetness".
Day 7: I am grateful that I am a mom.
Day 8: I am grateful that I can homeschool.

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Day 9:

I am grateful for God's Word.

 

 

How blessed we are to have God's Word to guide us, give us encouragement, and teach us His plan for salvation!  But I am so quick to take it for granted, and to leave it unopened for too long.  That is why I am so excited to have started this Bible study today!  It's a nice, short study - which feels do-able for this busy mama!  It's just what I want to be focusing on right not.  And I feel like if I fall behind, I can still finish by Thanksgiving. 

 

So, I am inviting all of you to join me in this study.! Don't let the fact that it's already under way stop you.  Good Morning Girls host some of the best Bible studies I've seen.  They really encourage you to be in the Word and let God speak to you, by using the SOAP method of Bible study.  Not familiar with SOAP?  Check out this post. 

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What are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you

30 Days of Giving Thanks: Day 8

I have decided to undertake the challenge of finding

one thing

to be thankful for...........each day this month.   

It is amazing how a thankful heart can change your perspective - how being thankful for even the littlest things in life can bring a new joy or peace where there was once anxiety or frustration. 

I know this task will be a blessing to me.  And I pray that my list may somehow bless others - maybe bring that reminder, or spark a thought of something you are also grateful for. 

Day 1: I am grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Day 2: I am grateful for my husband.
Day 3: I am grateful for "Touchdown".
Day 4: I am grateful for "Curly Girly".
Day 5: I am grateful for "Squirt".
Day 6: I am grateful for "Sweetness".
Day 7: I am grateful that I am a mom.

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Day 8:

I am grateful that I can homeschool.

 

 Homeschooling wasn't the original plan for us.  I was an elementary teacher.  I imagined my children someday attending the same school I taught at.  I thought it would be prefect - we'd be on the same schedule, they could hang out in my classroom while I worked on stuff after school, I'd be close by if they needed me, etc.  It seemed ideal.  Until then, I greatly desired to stay home with my children while they were little.   But as those school days started drawing closer for my oldest, we started getting an uneasy feeling about sending him school.  Nothing was wrong, it just didn't feel right.  I started hearing more about homeschooling, and before we knew it, we were on board!  It's amazing how God can change your perspective and even change your dreams.  Homeschooling my children, spending more time with them, watching them learn and grow and having fun with them along the way is so much better than anything I could have planned.  God is so good!

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What are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you!

30 Day of Giving Thanks: Day 7

I have decided to undertake the challenge of finding

one thing

to be thankful for...........each day this month.   

It is amazing how a thankful heart can change your perspective - how being thankful for even the littlest things in life can bring a new joy or peace where there was once anxiety or frustration. 

I know this task will be a blessing to me.  And I pray that my list may somehow bless others - maybe bring that reminder, or spark a thought of something you are also grateful for. 

Day 1: I am grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Day 2: I am grateful for my husband.
Day 3: I am grateful for "Touchdown".
Day 4: I am grateful for "Curly Girly".
Day 5: I am grateful for "Squirt".
Day 6: I am grateful for "Sweetness".

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Day 7:

I am grateful that I am a mom.

 

 

This is what I always dreamed of being!  It's easy to forget this in the midst of messy, hectic, crazy moments that go with motherhood.  But I am really living my dream life here! 

 

Although it was only a short time ago, when I wondered if I would ever be graced with the name of mom.  I can't forget the elation I felt when I saw my first positive pregnancy test.  I called my doctor and set up my first appointment.  I bought a pregnancy book and faithfully started reading about this wonderful miracle.  Then at 12 weeks, we found out that our baby had died.  I had what was called a missed-miscarriage.  I never even imagined that it could happen to me.  I felt inadequate, useless.  This was all I had ever dreamed of.  And with a job offer for my husband that very day and a move to a new city, we put our family planning on hold.  And it hurt.  The inadequacy stayed with me for almost 3 years.  But God had a plan for me and I am so very grateful that His plan included me being mom to these 4 beauties. 

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What are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you!

30 Days of Giving Thanks: Day 6

I have decided to undertake the challenge of finding

one thing

to be thankful for...........each day this month.   

It is amazing how a thankful heart can change your perspective - how being thankful for even the littlest things in life can bring a new joy or peace where there was once anxiety or frustration. 

I know this task will be a blessing to me.  And I pray that my list may somehow bless others - maybe bring that reminder, or spark a thought of something you are also grateful for. 

Day 1: I am grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Day 2: I am grateful for my husband.
Day 3: I am grateful for "Touchdown".
Day 4: I am grateful for "Curly Girly".
Day 5: I am grateful for "Squirt".

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Day 6:

I am grateful for "Sweetness". 

 

Sweetness.......the name says it all.......she is the sweetest baby I have ever known!  She has brought so much joy to our family.  I love her giggles.  I love holding her while she sleeps.  I love her kisses.  I love her little "dancing feet".   I can't get enough of this little girl - I love her so!

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What are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you!

30 Days of Giving Thanks: Day 5

I have decided to undertake the challenge of finding

one thing

to be thankful for...........each day this month.   

It is amazing how a thankful heart can change your perspective - how being thankful for even the littlest things in life can bring a new joy or peace where there was once anxiety or frustration. 

I know this task will be a blessing to me.  And I pray that my list may somehow bless others - maybe bring that reminder, or spark a thought of something you are also grateful for. 

Day 1: I am grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Day 2: I am grateful for my husband.
Day 3: I am grateful for "Touchdown".
Day 4: I am grateful for "Curly Girly".

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Day 5:

I am grateful for "Squirt". 

 

My fun, loving little boy - so full of energy and excitement.  And his love for others is bigger than he is!  He is very determined and always on the go (at the speed of light, it sometimes seems).  Yet, as he races by, he gives a quick hug or shouts his "love you" to me.  I can't imagine how quite and boring life would be without him.  "Want me to rub your back, mom?" - oh, this boy has stolen my heart!

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What are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you!

30 Days of Giving Thanks: Day 4

I have decided to undertake the challenge of finding

one thing

to be thankful for...........each day this month.   

It is amazing how a thankful heart can change your perspective - how being thankful for even the littlest things in life can bring a new joy or peace where there was once anxiety or frustration. 

I know this task will be a blessing to me.  And I pray that my list may somehow bless others - maybe bring that reminder, or spark a thought of something you are also grateful for. 

Day 1: I am grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Day 2: I am grateful for my husband.
Day 3: I am grateful for "Touchdown".

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Day 4:

I am grateful for "Curly Girly". 

 

 

My sweet, loving little girl.  She has such a heart for others.  I love all the girliness she has brought into my life.  Lately, we've been having "girl talks" about inward beauty. 
And she's got it!  Beauty both on the inside and outside.  Love this girl! 

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What are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you!

30 Days of Giving Thanks: Day 3

I have decided to undertake the challenge of finding

one thing

to be thankful for...........each day this month.   

It is amazing how a thankful heart can change your perspective - how being thankful for even the littlest things in life can bring a new joy or peace where there was once anxiety or frustration. 

I know this task will be a blessing to me.  And I pray that my list may somehow bless others - maybe bring that reminder, or spark a thought of something you are also grateful for. 

Day 1: I am grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Day 2: I am grateful for my husband.

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Day 3:

I am grateful for "Touchdown". 

 

My oldest child just turned 11.  And while I can't believe how fast the time has gone, I am so impressed with the young man he is growing into.  And best of all, he still loves to snuggle with his mama!  He makes my heart happy.

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What are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you!

30 Days of Giving Thanks: Day 2

I have decided to undertake the challenge of finding

one thing

to be thankful for...........each day this month.   

It is amazing how a thankful heart can change your perspective - how being thankful for even the littlest things in life can bring a new joy or peace where there was once anxiety or frustration. 

I know this task will be a blessing to me.  And I pray that my list may somehow bless others - maybe bring that reminder, or spark a thought of something you are also grateful for. 

Day 1: I am grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

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Day 2:

I am grateful for my husband. 

 

 

He is absolutely amazing - the perfect fit for me.  I am so thankful for his love and how he loves our children.  He gives to each of us so sacrificially.  And he brings so much laughter to our household.  I am so very proud of him. 

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What are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you!

30 Days of Giving Thanks: Day 1

I have decided to undertake the challenge of finding

one thing

to be thankful for...........each day this month.   

It is amazing how a thankful heart can change your perspective - how being thankful for even the littlest things in life can bring a new joy or peace where there was once anxiety or frustration. 

I know this task will be a blessing to me.  And I pray that my list may somehow bless others - maybe bring that reminder, or spark a thought of something you are also grateful for. 

There is no particular order to my list, but first things first........
Day 1:

I am grateful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

 

Without Him, I am nothing.  He is my strength........my song........my love. 

For He gives these to me freely because He cares for me.

 

The Lord your God is with you.  He is mighty enough to save you.  He will take great delight in you.  The quietness of His love will calm you down.  He will sing with joy because of you. 

Zephaniah 3:17 NIRV

 

 

What are you thankful for today?  I'd love to hear from you!

Father's Day

Running late....as usual....
But just in case you're right there with me and need a last minute Father's Day gift idea........

The kids have been enjoying some Shel Silverstein poem books that they found on our bookshelf.  Recently, they mentioned this poem to me and I thought it was perfect for Father's Day.  I dressed it up a bit to print off for the D-A-D in our house. 

Remote-a-Dad

by: Shel Silverstein

 

 

And since I'm short on time, I am planning on having Dad take part in the kids' craft to "create" their own remote controls for Dad.  Nothing too fancy.  I'm just pulling out some cardboard and other various craft supplies and letting them use their awesome creativeness to build these special remotes.  Looking forward to lots of laughs as the kids use this poem as a little inspiration for playing with their Dad on Father's Day! 

Hoping this free download is a blessing to anyone else that is running late this year!

Teacher Gifts for the End of the Year

Sometimes I really love buying gifts.  You know when you go shopping for a gift, but you're just not quite sure what you want to get.  And then suddenly, you're walking down the isle and a clever gift idea jumps out at you!  You stop and contemplate (and check the price), only to discover that you've really stumbled on to something pretty good.  That's what happened to me today!!!

I was out with my kiddos this afternoon look for teacher gifts.  (I know you're laughing right now and saying, "but I thought you were their teacher?"  The gifts were not for myself!)  My two oldest have been involved in some outside classes (ballet and drama) all year long, and I thought a small teacher gift was a nice way to end a very nice experience for both of them. 

Birthday Party!

We recently had a birthday party at our house!  Miss Curly Girlie turned 7!

She could hardly wait for her party to start!  We decided a few weeks ago to make it a Pajama Party.  I got some amazing party ideas from Pinterest.  I have found it's a better place to search for things like party ideas than just doing a Yahoo or Google search.  On Pinterest, I came across far more of the kind of ideas I was looking for.  Maybe a few too many ideas - that kept me up late a few too many nights!  I really need to work on starting these projects sooner!

Rudolph, the Rootbeer Reindeer!

Check out these adorable gifts that we made up for our neighbors!

I can't take credit for the idea, though.  I got it from Jenn, The Purposeful Mom (thanks, Jenn!), who got the idea from Kim, Life of a Modern Mom. 

All you need is: Root beer bottles, brown chenille stems, wiggly eyes, and red pom-poms (I used 1/2 inch size pom-poms).

Gifts for the Mailman, Etc.

Each Christmas I like to give a gift to the mailman, garbage man, and recycling man.  This year we decide to for-go the sweets and give the gift of warmth - with a pair of thick warm socks for each of them.

And what better way to wrap them, than to create a beautiful box from scrapbook paper!  I found this idea years ago on a craft show (back when I had time to watch craft shows - and sorry, I can't remember which one).

The directions are fairly easy.