more adventure......

APPLAUD:  7 Ways to Praise Your Husband for 7 Days

Day 1: A – Appreciate those physical attributes that attracted you to your husband in the beginning.  Maybe it is still his biceps, or that dark hair, or those intriguing eyes…whatever it is, take notice and tell him!

Day 2: P – Praise his character traits that wouldn’t be visible unless he acted on them.  Some ideas of these types of characteristics are his merciful heart or grace-giving or gentle spirit.  Acknowledging the actions you adore that come from your husband’s character will be much appreciated!

Day 3: P – Promote his position as the leader of your home.  From the time my children have been born, we get excited when Daddy arrives home from work.  No matter what time of day, we drop everything we’re doing and greet him at the door with hugs and kisses.

Day 4: L – “Like” your husband. And I don’t mean “like” him on Facebook.  Although that’s a great idea also…    I mean like his interests enough to be able to compliment him about them.  For instance, when my husband goes for a run, upon his return, I simply ask, “How far did you go?”  And he shares his distance and times.  Then I compliment his distance or time.  Simple, purposeful conversation.

Day 5: A – Acknowledge his accomplishments.  Whether ministry or career or personal, celebrate achievements! Add an extra date night, make a special dessert for after dinner, or write a note simply saying how proud you are that he did it- whatever “it” happens to be.

Day 6: U – Understand the need for affirmation.  Be sensitive to a discouraging day at work or a personal disappointment and find a way to encourage his heart, even when you can’t praise an accomplishment.

Day 7: D – Determine to be positive in your conversations.  Often the “sludge” of the day can get piled up and dumped on your husband as soon as you see him at day’s end. Ease into conversation- I’m not saying you have to hide the sludge- because we both know he will smell it sooner or later.    But determining in advance to be optimistic about the Lord’s direction in an area will assist you in praising your husband even through difficult circumstances.

Valley of Vision Prayer

 I have loved this prayer lately...

Gracious Lord,

Thy name is Love, 

in love receive my prayer?

My sins are more than the wide sea's sand,

but where sin abounds there is grace more abundant.

Look to the cross of thy beloved Son,

and view the preciousness of His atoning blood;

Listen to the never failing intercession,

and whisper to my heart, "Thy sins are forgiven,

be of good cheer, lie down in peace."

Grace cataracts from heaven and flows for ever, 

and mercy never wearies from bestowing benefits.

Grant me more and more to prize the privilege of prayer,

to come to thee as a sin-soiled sinner,

to find pardon in thee,

to converse with thee;

to know thee in prayer as

the path in which my feet tread,

the latch upon the door of my lips,

the light that shines through my eyes, 

the music of my ears,

the marrow of my understanding,

the strength of my will,

the power of my affliction,

the sweetness of my memory.

May the matters of my prayers always be wise, humble, submissive, 

obedient, scriptural,Christ-like.

Give me unwavering faith that supplications are never in vain, 

that if I seem to not obtain my petitions,

I shall have larger, richer answers, 

surpassing all that I ask or think.

Unsought, Thou hast given me the greatest gift,

the person of thy Son,

and in Him, thou wilt give me all I need.

(The Valley Of Vision)

One day, I hope my Kids remember.....

One day, I hope my kids remember:

- that they were loved

- that they were wanted and chosen

- that Mommy and Daddy worked hard to offer them an incredible childhood

- that we made sacrifices so they could have the chance to blossom in their own time

- that we failed (often) to be ideal parents, but that in our failings we asked for forgiveness (often)

- that Mommy wishes she could be perfect, but knows you need to see the need for grace as well

- that they have a mission and purpose in this world

- that God loves them and will guide and direct them in life

- that He gave them each other as eternal friends

- that our family is unique and precious

- that Mommy and Daddy will always be rooting for them, praying for them, and cheering for them to dream big, be faithful in the small, and relish being who they are

“I sustain myself with the love of family.”
~  Maya Angelou

Boys will be boys?

So, I have wrestled with the continual comments regarding boys.  You've heard them ,"boys will be boys" or "wow, you have your hands full, he's ALL boy".  These comments confuse me- my son is a boy (that's not confusing), but why do people give behaviors the excuse of being a boy.  I clearly see a difference in my children.  Roo does jump off higher things, chooses a fighting game over just about anything, and touches things I wouldn't with a ten foot pole.  But I am determined to transform my boy from an immature and flighty youngster into a honest caring man who will be respectful of women, loyal and faithful in marriage, a keeper of commitments, a strong and decisive leader, a good worker, and secure in their masculinity.  Above all else, my ultimate goal is to give him an understanding of scripture and a lifelong passion for Jesus Christ.  I know I can't do this with my own mommy super strength, so I pray and pray and pray for him every day multiple times a day. I pray for salvation, growth in grace, love, honesty, integrity,self-control, humility, purity, joy, self-disciple, responsibility, generosity, kindness, hope and on and on.                      

And just the other day, we were out with a group of children looking for monarch caterpillars, when God showed me that He has his hand on Roo and He does hear my prayers.  See, Roo was picking up dead bugs or very close to dead (during our adventure) when he gave that up to hold hands with a little girl.  Not just any little girl, but a little girl who has always greeted him with a few whacks to the head. Someone he has forgiven and loves.

Tomatoes Anyone?

My first batch of tomatoes was gently and thoughtfully transformed into irresistible pizza sauce-made fresh for my loves- than canned to experience later in the bleak of winter.

My second batch was planned to maybe spaghetti sauce and as the garden my third batch will likely be ketchup....

Well, this year was a great year for our tomatoes (despite the stink bug)! We have an abundance. I mean so many that when people come into the house they are certain to comment on the amount of tomatoes on the window sill, around the sink, on the counter, in the frig.... everywhere.  Some might say that we were rich in tomatoes, I guess we are (if only we could pay for gas with tomatoes).

This got me thinking.  It reminded me of a recent read. Mark Buchanan came up with a simple exercise to shift our thinking in the book Spiritual Rhythm.

We've tended toward scarcity thinking, ever since the fall (as in the original rebellion).  Indeed, the serpent incited humankind's rebellion by stirring up a crisis around the threat of scarcity.  He distracted Adam and Eve from the abundance God provided and got them pinning for the one thing God withheld. "You haven't got enough", was his opening ploy.  It's worked pretty well for him since.

Have you got enough? Or asked another way, how rich are you? Take stock of your abundance.  List the obvious things-clothes to wear, a place to live, a chair to sit, friends or family to have meals with, meals themselves.

But then move on to those things you rarely stop to appreciate

-air                                                                   -     

-water

-bumblebees (hard at work pollinating my tomato plants)

 -hands and feet  

-eyes and ears

 -the sound of rain  

 -a Bible verse that's been a lifelong companion 

-a grandfather who taught you how the tie a knot 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            You get the idea.  A list like that can get very long.  It can get so long it can almost make you forget there's anything missing.

Then he said to them, "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kind of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions" Luke 12:15

Were you always like this?

A dear friend has continuously told me, recently, how easy going I am and how I seem to exhibit low anxiety. 

I WAS NOT ALWAYS LIKE THIS......

My heart was hardened early in life, not an excuse, but it contributed to assisting me to develop a people pleasing personality.  Yup, me a pleaser, to everyone. I mean, not just make people happy, but 

make myself look perfect.  I had a mindset that I had to be perfect and if I couldn't be perfect than I would perceive to be perfect. 

perfect relationships, perfect employee, perfect friend,

perfect wife, perfect mom, perfect daughter, perfect sister,

perfect christian

It wasn't just the attitude of achievement and perfection, there was an underlying of fear.

Fear of people finding out what I really was made up of.  This is a sad mixture 

and resulted in depression and anxiety.

Stressing about always having a perfectly clean home just in case anyone stopped by uninvited

was ruthless.  Who was I kidding nobody wanted to come into a CRAZY woman's house

-not even my children or husband.

I barely knew who I was because I spent so much time trying to be what others 

wanted me to be, that I became miserable and controlling. I never had close friends

that wasn't my style.  When things were starting to go bad it was much easier to walk away; 

I had nothing invested in them.

It wasn't until recently (few years ago). That I realized that I can't control anything even though I want to.

So, I started to let go of some of that grip.  

The grip I held on to for all circumstances and outcomes.

I began to listen very intently to the Holy Spirit....and I prayed.

I prayed a prayer not many would thing of praying. I prayed that God would

cut into my ungrateful heart and make me whole.

This journey didn't happen overnight.  Some looking from the outside in might describe

 it as ugly and messy.  Many have told me how stupid I was for praying

my simple prayer, but I still pursue, I seek, I hunt, I chase, and I desire

God and everything that HE is.

I am leaps from where I was but still have a long way to go because He 

continues to promise me that He will renew my strength and saturate

me with peace.

Besides this isn't my story, I am only here to help tell the story.

In the same way the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. Romans 8:26

Be careful of how you live- not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

Gearing up for a new school year...

I know many home school families are ordering their curriculum and that is something we are doing, but I am also focusing on my heart.  I came across a quote in my daily devotion, "Learn to enjoy life more. When you walk through a day with childlike delight, savoring every blessing you proclaim your trust in Me." 

I want to go into this new school year slow and calm, with the mind of simple.  I want to focus on the children and not the amount of activities we are involved in.  I am hoping to keep this mind all year no matter what comes. It was Ann Voskamp, who said, "Haste makes waste.  Life is not an emergency.  Life is brief and it is fleeting but it is not an emergency". 

I know that God will be there with me! "In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness.  

We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for 

us through wordless groans." Romans 8:26

Thank you GOD! because honestly I don't think that slowing life down and focusing on simple beauty 

within my children comes naturally for me, so I will need God.

   

         

  

  

  

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

So here's to another YEAR, but slow and intentional!