Today was the first day of lessons for our clan, kicking off the 2012-2013 school year in our home school. We have been moving towards "summer school" for the past few years as we would rather retreat indoors during the crazy hot Texas summer days, saving our days off for the lovely fall days and fresh spring months. We are totally revamping things around here as well, moving the older two to be more independent, freeing me up to spend some time with the youngers.
92. Waking up early enough for a long and refreshing time in God's Word
93. Getting my act together enough to have coffee before 7am
94. Children waking up, happy to do chores and start on the day
95. The start of new routines and reestablishing family Bible memory verses
96. School uniforms that the kids enjoy
97. A morning walk with our dogs to break up the lessons this morning
98. Being finished with lesson before noon and getting to go to the park for a picnic lunch with neighbors
Day two tomorrow...
Monday, July 9, 2012
Sunday, July 8, 2012
Thankful for fellowship...
85. Having the opportunity to help teach the 4yo class at church this morning
86. Meeting a new family at church and finding out they have a lot of the same food allergies as us
87. Saying a quick hello to a friend who has been out of town for two months
88. Finally scheduling some get-togethers with a dear friend for the next couple of months
89. Preparing my heart and home for school to start tomorrow
90. Enjoying a parking lot conversation with a friend and laughing as my chauffeur pulled up to whisk me off after evening church
91. Hearing that Micah did well in the 3yo class for evening church (a few weeks early)
86. Meeting a new family at church and finding out they have a lot of the same food allergies as us
87. Saying a quick hello to a friend who has been out of town for two months
88. Finally scheduling some get-togethers with a dear friend for the next couple of months
89. Preparing my heart and home for school to start tomorrow
90. Enjoying a parking lot conversation with a friend and laughing as my chauffeur pulled up to whisk me off after evening church
91. Hearing that Micah did well in the 3yo class for evening church (a few weeks early)
Thinking back...
The last few days I have been suffering the effects of being poisoned with gluten. It doesn't happen often, as we are very careful, but when it happens, I am reminded why we are so careful! Through it all, the migraines and body aches and gastric distress there are still things I can be thankful for, for our God is good and cares for us, even in our distress.
Friday's thankful list:
71. Friends who love the Word of God and gather together to spur one another on
72. Sharing a fun time of swimming and picnicking with our friends
73. Pain medicine (for killer migraines)
74. Clean folded laundry
75. Leftovers
76. Keeping in touch with friends far away
77. My girls enjoying a great time at day camp and learning more about God's Word through practical teaching
Saturday's list:
78. A husband who woke up and cooked waffles for everyone and let me sleep
79. Children contented to play quietly together
80. Getting to take a nap with Micah while Elliott ran errands with the kids
81. Finally figuring out what we want in regards to a floor plan for our new home
82. Picking up the house and putting away laundry to prepare for starting school Monday
83. Being reminded that our avoidance of gluten is not paranoia but that it really makes me sick, very sick
84. Micah giving me one of his special blankets until I feel better
Friday's thankful list:
71. Friends who love the Word of God and gather together to spur one another on
72. Sharing a fun time of swimming and picnicking with our friends
73. Pain medicine (for killer migraines)
74. Clean folded laundry
75. Leftovers
76. Keeping in touch with friends far away
77. My girls enjoying a great time at day camp and learning more about God's Word through practical teaching
Saturday's list:
78. A husband who woke up and cooked waffles for everyone and let me sleep
79. Children contented to play quietly together
80. Getting to take a nap with Micah while Elliott ran errands with the kids
81. Finally figuring out what we want in regards to a floor plan for our new home
82. Picking up the house and putting away laundry to prepare for starting school Monday
83. Being reminded that our avoidance of gluten is not paranoia but that it really makes me sick, very sick
84. Micah giving me one of his special blankets until I feel better
Friday, July 6, 2012
Unexpected blessings...
64. Being poisoned with gluten at dinner, resulting in needing to take some pain medicine (for the skull cracking migraine) which caused me to be a ball of energy leading to my cleaning the house until nearly 2am
65. Choosing not to be a germ-a-phobic and allowing my three boys to play in the Chick-fil-A indoor playscape after lunch
66. For the Purel wipes right outside the door which I required the boys to wipe down with after emerging from the stinky-foot smelling playscape
67. The blessing of a friend who knows how to encourage me to live in light of God's Sovereignty, recognizing His control even over indoor playscape germs
68. A puppy having an allergic reaction to the flea/tick preventative and throwing up all afternoon which gave me the opportunity to practice trusting God and reacting calmly
69. Spending the evening going through floor plans with my husband and laughing at each other's choice, picking favorite parts and pieces
70. An amazingly comfortable bed which I took a short afternoon rest on, and now for bed
65. Choosing not to be a germ-a-phobic and allowing my three boys to play in the Chick-fil-A indoor playscape after lunch
66. For the Purel wipes right outside the door which I required the boys to wipe down with after emerging from the stinky-foot smelling playscape
67. The blessing of a friend who knows how to encourage me to live in light of God's Sovereignty, recognizing His control even over indoor playscape germs
68. A puppy having an allergic reaction to the flea/tick preventative and throwing up all afternoon which gave me the opportunity to practice trusting God and reacting calmly
69. Spending the evening going through floor plans with my husband and laughing at each other's choice, picking favorite parts and pieces
70. An amazingly comfortable bed which I took a short afternoon rest on, and now for bed
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing,
give thanks in all circumstances;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
Wednesday, July 4, 2012
A day at home...
... has blessing of its own...
57. Early morning breakfast with a friend
58. Elliott cooking a gourmet "Saturday" breakfast for the kids (on a Wednesday)
59. Skipping lunch in exchange for popcorn and chocolate milk
60. Getting lesson plans done in the middle of the week (school starts Monday!!!)
61. Cool Lego creations built throughout the day
62. Cuddly boys falling asleep with their daddy for an afternoon nap
63. Children reenacting Revolutionary War Battles in honor of the Fourth of July
57. Early morning breakfast with a friend
58. Elliott cooking a gourmet "Saturday" breakfast for the kids (on a Wednesday)
59. Skipping lunch in exchange for popcorn and chocolate milk
60. Getting lesson plans done in the middle of the week (school starts Monday!!!)
61. Cool Lego creations built throughout the day
62. Cuddly boys falling asleep with their daddy for an afternoon nap
63. Children reenacting Revolutionary War Battles in honor of the Fourth of July
Yesterday's blessings...
50. Beautiful country roads to drive on while taking the girls to camp every day
51. Two sweet puppies who happily napped on my lap while watching a movie with the boys in the afternoon
52. Freshly vacuumed area rugs
53. Noisy boys, laughing and playing
54. Smiling girls enjoying their week at camp
55. Completing a fun craft to wear for "Alpha/Omega Day" at camp Friday
56. Yummy coffee to sip on in the afternoon
One thing I am learning as I go through this exercise of daily counting my blessings... they are easy to find when you are looking for them. Conversely, when I am allowing myself to be consumed by grumbling and selfishness, I struggle to find anything to rejoice in. God's mercies are new every morning, and His blessings rain down continually, especially when you are looking for them!
51. Two sweet puppies who happily napped on my lap while watching a movie with the boys in the afternoon
52. Freshly vacuumed area rugs
53. Noisy boys, laughing and playing
54. Smiling girls enjoying their week at camp
55. Completing a fun craft to wear for "Alpha/Omega Day" at camp Friday
56. Yummy coffee to sip on in the afternoon
One thing I am learning as I go through this exercise of daily counting my blessings... they are easy to find when you are looking for them. Conversely, when I am allowing myself to be consumed by grumbling and selfishness, I struggle to find anything to rejoice in. God's mercies are new every morning, and His blessings rain down continually, especially when you are looking for them!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Catching up...
Sunday's list:
36. A blessed time of remembering God's faithfulness during the Sunday School hour
37. For thunder shaking the church right as we sang of God's power in "How Great Thou Art"
38. Attending a Baptism service, always a good reminder of God's most gracious gift
39. Comfortable couches for relaxing between services
40. Getting everything we needed to outfit the girls for their theme days at day camp this week from only two stores
41. Coming home from shopping to the welcome smell (and taste) of fresh baked brownies
42. The Church
Today's list:
43. Children who were happy to wake up, even though it was pretty early
44. The girls having a wonderful and safe time at day camp
45. Fellowship and a visit from a friend with only boys to play with all my boys while the girls were away
46. Grocery shopping alone after Elliott came home
47. The internet which makes looking at house plans so much easier than hunting down an architect
48. Being reminded that God's Word is sufficient to address all my needs
49. Choosing to see the sweetness of childish behavior instead of the annoyances of it
36. A blessed time of remembering God's faithfulness during the Sunday School hour
37. For thunder shaking the church right as we sang of God's power in "How Great Thou Art"
38. Attending a Baptism service, always a good reminder of God's most gracious gift
39. Comfortable couches for relaxing between services
40. Getting everything we needed to outfit the girls for their theme days at day camp this week from only two stores
41. Coming home from shopping to the welcome smell (and taste) of fresh baked brownies
42. The Church
Today's list:
43. Children who were happy to wake up, even though it was pretty early
44. The girls having a wonderful and safe time at day camp
45. Fellowship and a visit from a friend with only boys to play with all my boys while the girls were away
46. Grocery shopping alone after Elliott came home
47. The internet which makes looking at house plans so much easier than hunting down an architect
48. Being reminded that God's Word is sufficient to address all my needs
49. Choosing to see the sweetness of childish behavior instead of the annoyances of it
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