Evidence of Spring

Here is some evidence of spring around my home.

Oh sweet, sweet spring! You are almost here! I love your fresh, earthy smell, and your warm sunshine kisses. The robins sing your song! More than any other season we wait in great anticipation for your arrival. This season of life, new beginnings, revival, and unbridled joy.

Just as in any given year there are four changing seasons, so also in our lives the seasons will change. As quickly as the temperature can drop or the daffodil can bloom, our lives can shift from one season to the next. We may see our baby growing up, gaining independence, whether learning to crawl or learning to drive. We may watch a loved one lose independence as they age gracefully. We may move away, or stay behind. We may have to stand by and watch, as someone we love learns by making mistakes. We may have to change our job, change our friends, or change our heart. We may go through a dark cold, seemingly endless winter perhaps spiritually, emotionally, or physically where all we can do is cry out to God for help. But hold on. Never give up, there is always spring that slowly thaws the frozen ground yielding new life, new growth, and a new day.

What season might describe your life right now?

There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under heaven:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Time for some KFC (Kid's Funny Comments)

"I drinky" (I'm thirsty.)

"Mommy, I want a pig at my house. I want ten pigs, and a barn for them to go in. All at my house."

"I want my friend to come over. I want her to bring her toothbrush and come stay at my house."

~Caroline

From Her Point of View

This week's photo is just precious, and might be my favorite she's taken so far. She captured this photo at night, in the car, while sitting in her car seat. These little piggies are so precious to me, I just want to eat them up! 

See you next Monday for another "From Her Point of View."

Couponing

I've gone a little coupon crazy....I'm still just learning about 'couponing' from the website southernsavers.com...but I think I'm starting to get the hang of it. I have my little coupon organizer, I know I'm a dork. But it has been fun to see how much you can save...almost like you are beating the system. I feel a little bit like I'm playing Monopoly though.

Here's what I've learned so far:
1. Only buy things that are on sale, and then use the coupon on top of the sale price.
2. Don't buy things just because they are on sale and you have a coupon if you don't normally need that item.
3. Save your coupons and wait until you can use them.
4. Keep up with some of the blogs that post deals and ways to save.

I've been getting the Sunday paper and saving the coupons, and printing online coupons too. I fully realize that this might just be a phase, and in a few months I might seem like too much of a hassle, but for now...it's pretty fun.

Do you use coupons? What are some ways that you save some money?

I don't want an easy life

Even as a little girl I've longed for more. I've heard all my life that God has big plans for my life, and I believe it with all my heart. Not because people said it, but because God has whispered it to my heart. I often struggle with contentment...wanting more, wishing I had this, or could do that...sometimes I don't even know what I'm discontent about...I'm just blahh. It is usually this discontentment that points directly to a hurting relationship with Jesus. It works like a thermometer measuring my desire for things of God....it usually tells me when I'm getting dangerously lukewarm. (See Crazy Love by Francis Chan's chapter on Lukewarm Christians for some real convicting reading.) However, there is a GOOD dis-contentedness...a desire for more. A longing for more of Jesus, a passion for a life that is not little, that is not easy, that is not in pursuit of emptiness.

Lord I will GO! But Lord, I will also stay. I will be faithful here at home. I will love my kids well. I will serve my family at home. I will get them ready someday to GO to follow your call. I will teach them that you have big plans for their lives. That you want more from them them than just a little life.

Two Babies in a Basket

Is there really anything more fun than a laundry basket? I think not. My sister and I used to go down the stairs in them...oh my. I just love seeing my two kiddos play with each other. They are something else!

Set that alarm!

I've been choosing sleep and "me time" over beauty. Looking in the mirror a minute ago, I concluded that it certainly shows both inside and out... (and no there will be no picture with this post...)


My windows of time for a shower, blow dry, and a little make-up are early in the morning before everyone else wakes up, during nap time, or at night after the kids go down. Getting up early has NEVER been something that I've been good at, nap time is usually when I get something done. So, this is why it is two o'clock and I'm still in my pj's. Sigh. Don't get me wrong, normally I think... this is the life, I get to be comfortable all day! Other days, it feels, well I guess just kind of yucky. It also feels yucky because my day started me and not the other way around. I hit the ground running and didn't have time to seek the Lord first, to be filled with His peace and spend time in prayer. My relationship with Jesus then falls into the day's list of to-do's and have-to's or more realistically...the not-yet-done list. He is more than that to me.

So here it goes...It's time to be a big girl and set the alarm for 6 am. I'm resolving for one week (baby steps) to get up before the rest of my family and shower, get dressed, and have time with Jesus.  I'll let you know next Wednesday how it went, and share any insights I have along the way. Want to join me?

"Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days." Psalm 90:14