Splash in the Rain Puddles

Perspective.  It's such a hard thing to keep,  It's so easy to let the grind of life...the daily challenges and struggles...dictate our attitude and countenance.  But proper perspective...God's perspective....grants us the ability to regroup and realign our thoughts and motivations with His.  It allows us to ask ourselves....what did I do today that brought honor and glory to Him?.....how did my children see Jesus in me today?....does that thing that I got so upset about really matter in light of God's ultimate authority and plan?  I very often fail to keep this perspective.  I'm so grateful for a living and active Holy Spirit who convicts me and brings me back to where I belong...to the place where I can see through his eyes...where I can see how desperately I need his love and his saving grace.  In a world that he has placed his followers in, with one goal in mind...to show them Jesus....to be keepers of our faith and givers of his light.  The p...

Luke and I were driving home from school yesterday and he heard a song in the background on the radio (Crowder's, My Victory). Which led to.... Luke:  Jesus did die for our sins Mom. Me:  He sure did buddy. Luke:  He died on the cross.  Because God told him to. God is his dad.  (except all of his G's come out like D's, so it actually sounds like Dod. :) )  Me:  That's right buddy. Luke:  I'm glad we get to go to heaven.  Can I bring my toy's to heaven? Me:  We can't take anything with us to heaven bud. Luke:  Well I bet Dod can just make my toys, because he can do anything.  He made the whole world you know.  Me:  That's true. Luke:  When I get to heaven I hope I can sleep right in between Dod and Jesus.  Then I'll always be safe. Me:  (melting inside) that would be the best buddy. Oh to have the pure and untainted perspective of a 5 year old.  Right in between God and Jesus....

I can see the light.  The light of spring is in the distance.  This, my friends, makes my heart so happy.  The changing of seasons is a beautiful thing.  The start of each one is always welcomed with anticipation and a readiness to begin a new phase.  The downsides of spring.....the pollen, the resurfacing of the lawn mower, the ever changing weather, the extreme busyness on the farm....cannot take away from the upsides....open windows (that desperately need a spring clean!), warmer temperatures, blooming trees, green grass, baseball, baseball and more baseball, longer daylight hours, and much more time spent outside.  This season change is the one that make me most happy.  Another winter in the rear view and one more week until we officially enter spring.  oh yes. Here's what's been happening... getting ready for O's season with a fun day at fanfest #12 Wrapped up a great season with his team pinewood derby prep with AWANA...

It's definitely a two cup of coffee kind of morning.  We're on day two of some really cold pouring down rain.  ick. Now, I am so glad it's not snow, but still.....cold rain isn't much better.  The kids are all delivered to school.  Of all the days, this was the one where Luke needed to bring snack and drinks for his 20 classmates, a grocery bag full of canned goods for the food drive, and his valentine box and supplies for his party on Thursday.  Can you picture how cute we looked in the pouring rain trying to transport all that stuff from point A to point B? Let's just say, "Try to avoid the puddles!", means nothing to Luke.  Hence, the second cup of coffee :) Life seems to be moving at warp speed these days.  Most every night of the week consumed by a sporting event or church activity.  I'm understanding that this is just the new normal.  The older the kids get, the more they will be involved in...and away we go.  But what a great ti...

It's been a great season of celebrating our Savior and the wonderful gifts of family and friends.  Tomorrow begins a new year and I'm always grateful for that feeling of starting fresh and new.  I'm so thankful we serve a God who gives us endless opportunities to try again, to do better, to continue to grow and be molded into the person he desires us to be.  That's really my resolution each and every year....to stay firm and steady....right there in the palm of His hand...then he will mold me and make me new....his mercies will always be new each morning...and I will get to reap all the joys of growing closer and closer to my Father.  we had a wonderful time celebrating an early Christmas with Gramps and Grandma! they even got to see Luke's preschool program. aka cutest thing ever.  a few fun nights of popcorn and movies and of course some serious football watching lots of wood chopping thanks to these three helpers and some pre...

It's that wonderful time of year.  That time of year when mom says, "under no circumstance. will ANYONE.  open ANY BOX. that might be sitting outside the door. at ANY TIME!" :)  because boxes by the door are now the only way my Christmas shopping gets done.  Honestly, between Walmart grocery pick up (which deserves a post all of it's own, because it's just that amazing), and my friend Amazon prime, I pretty much haven't been in a retail store for a good 5 months now.  I do find myself slightly missing the Christmas decorations in the isles, the music playing, the hustle and bustle.  But only slightly.  Mostly I just love that I'm not standing in lines....rummaging through the piles to find a right size....or circling the parking lot just praying for a spot.  Nope.  I have fully embraced the world of online shopping.  We've been doing all the things that we usually do this time of year.  I love how my kids want to do everything ...