Warning: I might step upon a soap box.
It is HARD to live counterculturally! Right now you might be asking, "What does live counterculturally mean?" Let me share with you. Our bible study group has been working through a book titled, Living with Less so Your Family Has More. It is a great book, but lets face it...we are NOT a "less" society. We like the more idea, but not at the cost of (GASP) less!
In this book the authors, Jill and Mark Savage, discuss topics related to living with less (less stress, less money, less STUFF) so you can give your family more (more time, more energy, more INTENTIONAL focus). (Hence the catchy title!) We are well into the meat of the book, but the first part is about setting a vision for your family. A long term, where do we want to be/what do we want to be doing, type of vision. They suggest this type of vision in order to keep you set on the path that your family will take. Why? Because it is HARD to live counterculturally.
Through doing this study, we have set a family vision and have been trying to mold our family into this countercultural mindset. Guess who is not a fan --- the devil. He wants us to be too busy, too stressed, too tired. That is when he can do his finest work. He wants us to believe that the world is right. God LOVES the countercultural mindset because it gives us less of the world and MORE of Him! That should be our vision. MORE of HIM! It might not be the most popular choice of living or the easiest, but if living counterculturally means more of God, that is what I choose.
One more warning: If you choose to pick up this book, expect your life to be changed...in wonderfully painful ways!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Friday, November 19, 2010
Reminded of His Love
About 2 weeks ago, I won this beautiful piece of art from this awesome blog.
It is AWESOME! I was anxiously awaiting it's arrival to my house.
Yesterday, I had to have my gallbladder removed. I was doing so well, that they let me come home yesterday afternoon, and on my porch was a box. I knew immediately what it was...it was that beautiful canvas. God spoke to my heart. He was reminding me of His love and mercy. He knew that recieving that canvas yesterday would lift my spirits. What perfect timing He has! Now, I can't wait to get this beautiful canvas matted and framed and put on our mantle.
P.S. If you didn't click on the link above, click here to check out The Mercy House Kenya. You will be glad you did!
Father, Thank you for loving me. Thank you for loving all of Your children. Please continue to break my heart for what breaks Yours. Continue to stir in my heart and open my eyes. Amen
Monday, October 11, 2010
A Sick Day
I guess that is what it takes to get a blog post done! I have been sick since late Saturday night and decided that I had better stay home today.
Updates -
Ally is loving Kindergarten still! She was very glad to know that she didn't have to stay home today. We finish up our fall soccer season tomorrow. We will finally have a little more free time in our schedules! She is not a huge fan of soccer so I am not sure if she will play next year or not.
Mya is a growing machine. I swear she is learning so much. Miss Lesa (her babysitter) does school time with them and she is always coming home with a new song. She still loves to make us laugh everyday. We are getting her on the list for a local pre-school for next year. It is hard to believe that my baby is that big!
Nick and I are busy...but I guess that keeps us out of trouble! We have recently started a new study with our small group on the book Living with Less So Your Family Has More. It is a wonderful study, but man does it make you think! I feel blessed that we have a great group of friends that are believers that we can fellowship with each week. They are a priceless group!
That is about it for us - I would say I will try to keep up with this, but IT NEVER HAPPENS! So, until next time...Have a blessed week!
Updates -
Ally is loving Kindergarten still! She was very glad to know that she didn't have to stay home today. We finish up our fall soccer season tomorrow. We will finally have a little more free time in our schedules! She is not a huge fan of soccer so I am not sure if she will play next year or not.
Mya is a growing machine. I swear she is learning so much. Miss Lesa (her babysitter) does school time with them and she is always coming home with a new song. She still loves to make us laugh everyday. We are getting her on the list for a local pre-school for next year. It is hard to believe that my baby is that big!
Nick and I are busy...but I guess that keeps us out of trouble! We have recently started a new study with our small group on the book Living with Less So Your Family Has More. It is a wonderful study, but man does it make you think! I feel blessed that we have a great group of friends that are believers that we can fellowship with each week. They are a priceless group!
That is about it for us - I would say I will try to keep up with this, but IT NEVER HAPPENS! So, until next time...Have a blessed week!
Tuesday, August 31, 2010
I Must Confess
I was a much better mommy/wife during the summer.
Sometimes, bedtime cannot come soon enough.
I have fed my girls fast food way too much lately.
My heart is heavy.
My fuse is short.
I need to pray and then listen more.
I am not very good at leaving my prayers where I put them.
Sometimes, bedtime cannot come soon enough.
I have fed my girls fast food way too much lately.
My heart is heavy.
My fuse is short.
I need to pray and then listen more.
I am not very good at leaving my prayers where I put them.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Life Happens
And in result, I don't get to blog as much as I would like to. I don't get to read as many blogs as I would like to. I don't comment on other blogs as much as I should.
Life is back to busy, busy again. The school year is in full swing with lots of testing, planning, helping, caring, guiding, and learning! I still feel like I am treading water. Maybe year 3 will be the year where I feel more with it! However, I love my kiddos. They are a great group of kids and work really hard! What more can a teacher ask for...well except for a little less chatter! They are BIG talkers. So sweet though!
Ally is in school now too and LOVES it! She is learning lots of wonderful things and always has stories to tell us in the evening. It makes my mornings and afternoons so much more fun having her in my room with me! Great bonding time for us! She will also start playing soccer in the next couple of weeks. I am looking forward to watching her play and hopefully helping out on her team.
Mya is crazy as ever! As I write this she is trying to jump on the couch with play high heels on. BAD IDEA! She had a BIG spill on our steps 2 weeks ago. Busted her lip really good and knocked one of her front teeth back up into her gum. Lets just say there was TONS of blood and I am very thankful that my cousin, Ashley, was here to help my husband assess the damage. I was no help...too busy hyperventilating and trying not to puke. We have made trips to both the pediatrician and a pediatric dentist. We are still having to go back to the dentist weekly so he can keep an eye on her tooth. She is definitely on the mend. Meanwhile, she was unable to have her passie for many days due to the damage in her mouth, so we decided now was as good of a time as any to break her of that habit. Our nights consist of a bed time routine that includes at least 45 minutes of heavy crying. It is getting less and less...hopefully she will go straight to sleep tonight!
Even though life happens, maybe I will try to update my blog from time to time. I love writing on here and going back to read past posts. Keep up your posts as well, I love reading them when I get a free minute - even if I don't post a comment!
Life is back to busy, busy again. The school year is in full swing with lots of testing, planning, helping, caring, guiding, and learning! I still feel like I am treading water. Maybe year 3 will be the year where I feel more with it! However, I love my kiddos. They are a great group of kids and work really hard! What more can a teacher ask for...well except for a little less chatter! They are BIG talkers. So sweet though!
Ally is in school now too and LOVES it! She is learning lots of wonderful things and always has stories to tell us in the evening. It makes my mornings and afternoons so much more fun having her in my room with me! Great bonding time for us! She will also start playing soccer in the next couple of weeks. I am looking forward to watching her play and hopefully helping out on her team.
Mya is crazy as ever! As I write this she is trying to jump on the couch with play high heels on. BAD IDEA! She had a BIG spill on our steps 2 weeks ago. Busted her lip really good and knocked one of her front teeth back up into her gum. Lets just say there was TONS of blood and I am very thankful that my cousin, Ashley, was here to help my husband assess the damage. I was no help...too busy hyperventilating and trying not to puke. We have made trips to both the pediatrician and a pediatric dentist. We are still having to go back to the dentist weekly so he can keep an eye on her tooth. She is definitely on the mend. Meanwhile, she was unable to have her passie for many days due to the damage in her mouth, so we decided now was as good of a time as any to break her of that habit. Our nights consist of a bed time routine that includes at least 45 minutes of heavy crying. It is getting less and less...hopefully she will go straight to sleep tonight!
Even though life happens, maybe I will try to update my blog from time to time. I love writing on here and going back to read past posts. Keep up your posts as well, I love reading them when I get a free minute - even if I don't post a comment!
Monday, August 9, 2010
Ally's First Fishing Experience
We have been outside a lot this summer and it has been wonderful! One of the many things on Nick's "to do" list for the summer was take us girls fishing. (I think this may have been one of his attempts to make us a little less "girly"!)
Anyways, he had everything lined out for us to go fishing this evening. He had the pole ready when we got home and we were on our way. He stopped by to grab some sandwiches to have a little picnic before fishing.
After we ate, he took us down to the dock of our local park (which is in need of some major TLC --- but that can be another post). The girls were so excited waiting for Nick to bait the hook.
We just used simple balls of bread for our bait and the fish LOVED it! They ate many pieces before Ally was able to nab one but she was able to get one! She was a little freaked out by the fish on her pole, just hanging there.
After we let the fish go, she was much happier!
Mya tried to participate in the whole fishing business, but was way more interested in throwing bread into the water. It was a wonderful first fishing experience. I am sure there will be many more!
(Sorry the pictures are a little small and blurry...I forgot the camera and so we just snapped these with Nick's phone.)
Anyways, he had everything lined out for us to go fishing this evening. He had the pole ready when we got home and we were on our way. He stopped by to grab some sandwiches to have a little picnic before fishing.
After we ate, he took us down to the dock of our local park (which is in need of some major TLC --- but that can be another post). The girls were so excited waiting for Nick to bait the hook.
We just used simple balls of bread for our bait and the fish LOVED it! They ate many pieces before Ally was able to nab one but she was able to get one! She was a little freaked out by the fish on her pole, just hanging there.
After we let the fish go, she was much happier!
Mya tried to participate in the whole fishing business, but was way more interested in throwing bread into the water. It was a wonderful first fishing experience. I am sure there will be many more!
(Sorry the pictures are a little small and blurry...I forgot the camera and so we just snapped these with Nick's phone.)
Monday, August 2, 2010
A New Perspective
Well, Summer is coming to an end and I feel a "funk" coming on. That ache in the pit of my stomach, the grouchy attitude, and that all over blah feeling. I was discussing the reason behind my "funk" with Nick and realized that it is mainly due to the fact that Ally is going to Kindergarten. It is such a hard concept to digest. Our baby is going to school. Not a half day preschool every Tuesday and Thursday, but a FULL day of school. YIKES!
As we discussed this topic, my husband gave me a new perspective. He responded with, "I look at it as God has blessed us with a healthy, happy daughter that is ready for Kindergarten." Hmmm, hadn't really thought of it like that. So, I am working harder on feeling good about this change and praising God for yet another blessing.
As we discussed this topic, my husband gave me a new perspective. He responded with, "I look at it as God has blessed us with a healthy, happy daughter that is ready for Kindergarten." Hmmm, hadn't really thought of it like that. So, I am working harder on feeling good about this change and praising God for yet another blessing.
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