Created

I was created 37+ years ago today. We had a very full and fun day celebrating my birthday. As we were out and about, we listened to a familiar song. I'm thankful for how God spoke to my heart through this song today. I love these lyrics and truths.

All Things New by Watermark
(2 Corinthians 5:17)


Blue skies that take me back to being a child
Trees with leaves that turn to colors I love
A heart that's beating to Your melodies ringing
And I am a miracle, 'cause heaven is a part of me
And You are the song that I'm singing


I was created to love You
I was created to need You
I was created to know You
And I am a miracle, 'cause heaven is a part of me
And You are the air that I'm breathin'


Because of who You are and who I am in You
You make all things pure...
Because of who You are and who I am in You
You make all things true...Oh...You make all things new!


And I'm so thankful for this life that I know
That I am not longer what I was 
Because of Your love 
And the beauty of the cross
I can see Your work in me
All things new... all things new in me...

Bag of Blessings

During the month of February we're talking about loving one another. Each day we are doing one act of kindness or service activity. See the post describing it here. Today we made Bags of Blessings.

Back in January, I posted about passing a homeless girl asking for money and how I was drawn to do something but unsure what was wise to do. A friend sent me this link with this super idea! Thanks!

We gathered our materials and got busy making three bags to store 

in the van for the next time we see a person in need. 

We included:

Granola bars, crackers, hand sanitizer, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, 

chapstick, tissues, socks, and a New Testament Bible with Psalms and Proverbs

Other ideas: gloves, hand lotion, gift card to Starbucks or a 

grocery store, gift card to a fast food restaurant (we may add these later?)

They were SOO excited to load their bags. You would think they thought it was for them!

Belatedly, it occurred to me that it would be nice to include an 

encouraging note as well. So we'll add that sometime this week. 

I loved seeing them enjoy putting together this gift and think through what they 

wanted to buy when we went shopping for the goodies. It warmed my heart. 

100th Day Celebration

We celebrated our 100th day of school today! Hooray! 

All of the activities we did were either found on the web or ideas shared from a 

fellow homeschooling mom. There are enough ideas out there to celebrate all week. :) 

We alternated fun activities with our required curriculum.

We started the day out with a mound of 100 pancakes! 

(This took much longer then I expected to make.)

While the boys were patiently waiting to eat, they filled in our sign with 100 stickers. 

Since the boys think it is endless summer around here, they dressed in coordinating shorts and short sleeves for the day. (We keep our thermostat at 68 and I was freezing! It's crazy!) 

Aaron shaped playdough into the number 100 and did some coloring. 

Together, Ethan and Aaron worked on a 100 piece puzzle. 

They also had the challenge to build something with 100 duplos. 

We counted out a trail mix with 100 pieces:  10 raisins, 10 kix cereal, 10 bunnies, 10 peanuts, 10 mini chocolate chips, 10 dates, 10 multigrain cheerios, 10 wheat squares, 10 cheerios, 

10 heart cereal. It didn't  amount to much when they shared it three ways!

Ethan did a counting maze to 100. (Can't remember where I got this years ago, 

but it's laminated and works great with a dry erase pen.)

He also decided that maybe our rug had 100 circles and got busy counting. (139!)

Ethan glued 100 cheerios into a bowl. (From MakingLearningFun.com)

He was surprisingly patient with this. Although, he did need more cheerios 

because they...ahem... disappeared into his mouth. :)

Luke made a list of 100 words. 

He also did flipped a coin 100 times and made a graph to chart his results.

 (a fun intro to probability!) Using a dull needle and embroidery floss, Luke threaded 

100 cheerios onto a necklace alternating small pieces of straws every 10 cheerios.

LUNCH! yum! 

It definitely took longer to add all the extra activities into our day, but it was worth it. 

We started at 8:45 and didn't finish until 12:45pm. 

After lunch, we had recess with 100 exercises!!

10 sit-ups, 10 push ups, 10 knee lifts, 10 shoulder shrugs, 10 jumping jacks, 

jump on one foot 10 times, then the other 10 times, jump on both feet 10 times, 

touching toes 10 times and wiggles to the count of 10... phew!

This is the first year we have officially celebrated the 100th day and it was awesome! 

Can't wait for next year. 

Lonely, yet not alone

I'm rarely alone and yet, I struggle with being lonely. Sounds kind of funny when I have three boys with me at all times. How can I be lonely if it's hard to even go to the bathroom alone without locking the door? :) I wouldn't say I experience loneliness every day or even every week, but it rears its head enough for me to be aware. Even though we have a homeschool circle of friends, I often feel lonely on this path that God is taking us on. I quite often feel as though the choices we make for our family ostracize us from those around us. Sometimes it feels easier to isolate ourselves rather then feel the pressure to explain or defend our choices. In the midst of all that, I struggle with wanting to be understood as a person and still liked once all the layers are peeled back. Doesn't everyone?

When I experience these feelings of loneliness and longing for a place to belong, I am tempted with sadness.  (Oh how the enemy loves for us to believe lies and wallow in despair!) And yet, I have a Savior who can sympathize with my weakness. A Savior who longs to comfort me and give me joy and hope. I recently read this blog and the words I copied below capture my thoughts and completely encouraged me. I hope it encourages you too.


So here I am in a moment of profound loneliness even though I'm surrounded by people. There are many lesser reasons for that loneliness. Maybe others with me seem to be enjoying something together, and I feel left out of the group. Maybe something is going on in my head that I want to share with someone, but no one around me seems interested.


The gospel meets me here. I am not alone. And I do not mean that in a trite or superficial way. I. AM. NOT. ALONE. God's community with me through Christ's death on the cross is real. It means something very practical for me in those moments of profound loneliness. I feel lonely in a crowd because those around me don't seem to understand me or care about me the way I long to be understood and loved. Yet, I have access to the One who does understand me perfectly and who does love me unconditionally.

I have found only one source for relief of such loneliness—and it is simply Bible study and prayer. I read the Word, and God speaks to me. I pray and speak to Him. Then maybe I'll read some more, and He speaks more. Sometimes His Word to me reflects His eternal purposes for His glory. Sometimes it reminds me that He's doing something big and transcendent. But sometimes, He speaks a special word to me that pinpoints an exact issue with which I am struggling. It's a word He spoke and preserved thousands of years ago in Scripture, yet for me in that moment, the Holy Spirit applies it in a profound way.


In Christ, we are not alone. We are known and understood and heard and loved by the most Holy of all. The One who created us for community with Him has made a way to bring us back. Make use of this truth. Appropriate it. Nothing will sustain us emotionally like living daily in this truth. I quoted Hebrews 4:15 above. It's noteworthy that it is immediately followed by this. 

Hebrews 4:16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

~ Wendy Horger Alsup

Love, Love, Love

I'm not exactly sure why, but I completely rebel against the commercialism associated with Valentine's Day. I'm not a fan of the valentine's, candy indulgences or valentine flowers. It all seems so empty. Also, after working at a flower shop for many years, the price increases on flowers during the month of February make me sick. (a little bah humbug... sorry!) So, ever since we got married in 1998 we have downplayed the holiday. Part of the reason is that we celebrate my birthday and the anniversary of Darin proposing just 6 days before and maybe partly we're just lazy? We do have a few special traditions I'll share in a few weeks. :)

As the boys have gotten older though, I cannot ignore the opportunity to talk about God's love and His call for us to love one another. For the past 3 or 4 years, we've made some heart decorations with scripture on them. Very simple. This year though I've been inspired by this and this. Many thanks to these creative ladies!

Here is what we are doing this month. Once again, these ideas are not my own.
1)We're memorizing these scriptures. My poster is quite primitive and the boys have already wrinkled it.  Oh how I wish I knew how to make things fancy on the computer... someday I'd love to take a class and learn. :)

2) Then each day we are unclipping one heart and following the instructions attached.

I selected a verse and activity that corresponds. Many are acts of kindness. Some we will do more than once. Here are our tasks and verses:
* Call Grandma and Grandpa - Read 1 Corinthians 16:14
* Collect trash in the neighborhood - Read Galatians 5:14
* Give food to the food pantry - Read 2 Corinthians 5:14-15
* Make Bags of Blessings (more on this soon!) - Read John 15:12-13
* Write two things you love about each other and put in envelope for later - Read 1 Thes. 5:11
* Read to someone - Read 1John 4:11
* Prayer of confession activity - 1 Corinthians 13:4-7
* Leave flower or plant on someone's doorstep - John 13:34-35
* Write two things you love about each other and put in envelope for later - Read Hebrews 10:24
* Make special treats - Read 1John 5:3
* Deliver treats - Read 1John 3:11
* Hide notes for each other around the house - Read 1 John 3:18
* Hug someone - Read 1Peter 1:22
* Do a family service job for your brother - Read 1 John 4:7-10
* Call Grammy & Poppy - Read 1 John 3:1
* Make cards for Sunday School Teachers - Read Galatians 6:10
* Deliver cards to teachers - Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3
* Write/mail a letter to someone that encourages, builds up and make them feel loved. - Read Romans 12:9-10
* Visit nursing home and deliver cards - Read John 13:12-17
* Write two things you love about each other and put in envelope for later - Read 1 John 4:19
* Vacuum out van for Daddy - Read Galatians 5:13
* Hug someone - Read 1 John 4:21

Future Wife

Conversation yesterday with Ethan (age 5 1/2)

Ethan: Mommy, (pause) I'm praying the wife I marry (pause)
Me: Yes, Ethan
Ethan: I'm praying the wife I marry will like colored lights and that we can put them all over the roof.


Oh... the important things to pray for! :)

Mosaics and Freezer Paper Stencils

Recently we celebrated the birthday's of some dear friends. The boys and I brainstormed a gift that they could help make and this is what we came up with.

1. Personalized Mosaic Stepping Stone

     We bought some supplies from Michael's and Hobby Lobby, although you can certainly buy a kit that includes everything you need. Then we just followed the directions on the box and got busy.

 We used glass pieces, but they were surprisingly dull and I had no worries about Aaron sorting out all the colors. I mixed the cement and helped the boys plan out the stones and they got busy. 

 Luke and Ethan had a pretty long attention span for this project, which was great!

After the stone had time to dry and harden we popped them 

out of their mold and washed them. So easy and so much fun!  

(Also a great idea for a housewarming gift, mother's day gift, father's day gift, anniversary gift, etc.)

2. Freezer Paper Stencils

This idea is NOT my own. I copied this idea from a very creative friend who got the tutorial seen here. You know what they say... "Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery." :) 

These shirts were given on a 6th and 8th birthday, 

but you could make them with all sorts of designs using clip art. 

How about making a shirt for dad saying, "Best Dad!"? 

A much cheaper option then screen printing. 

The boys were very excited to give their gifts!