all our busy rushing...

Psalm 39:1-6

Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be.

Remind me that my days are numbered--how fleeting my life is.

You have made my life no longer than the width of my hand.

My entire lifetime is just a moment to you; at best, each of us is a breath.

We are all merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.

...and all our busy rushing ends in nothing.

Remind me of this everyday, Lord.

and the theme for this spring is Art...

We have been so busy moving and settling and moving and settling over the past 2 1/2 years, that school hasn't always been as "fun" as I have wanted it to be.  We go through spurts where we have a few good months and a few months that look much more like the (seat work portion of the) traditional classroom because we need to get school done and move on with our day. {this is ALWAYS a temptation with homeschooling b/c unlike teaching in the regular classroom, like I once did, now I get to look around and see my messy house and unfinished projects all day long while we do school and think...if we could just move a little faster, I could get that done!} I used to be such a people-oriented person and it seems like the more kids we have, the more task-oriented I become. Bad Jeanna, bad Jeanna...wake up & remember who you are, woman!

One of my biggest goals as my children's teacher is that I would help them to cultivate a love for learning. I want my kids to become life-long learners that seek wisdom and truly know how to teach themselves so that when they are adults they will continue to learn as long as they live without relying on anyone else to spoon feed them. There is almost nothing more pitiful than a grown man or woman who hasn't cracked a book or done anything to expand their mind since they left their last classroom in high school or college. This world is so fascinating...so much to learn about the past, present, and future, so many interesting places and people to learn about, endless stories and adventures. How can people just STOP and be content with only filling their brains with whatever crosses their television or computer screen? It blows my mind.

Here is me, stepping down off my soapbox and getting back on subject...

The kids and I enjoy ourselves the most when we are immersed in a subject or time period, filling our days with literature, art and drama surrounded around a theme. It's been a while since we have been able to do that with all of the recent changes and we have all lost the 'joy in learning' since we have been in 'gettin' the basics done mode'.  Lots of phonics, language arts {without the arts}, memorization, and copy work. So, in one of my recent, "maybe they'd be better off in school next year" moments, one of my best friends in the world suggested that we take a break this summer, {we school year round}, and just enjoy life, field trips, art, all of the fun stuff in school without the "seatwork." I'd start right now if they were finished with what I had planned for the year, but they still have some important things to get through before breaking. SO, we are just adding art to our daily routine with no particular theme besides art for art's sake, simply for the pure enjoyment of it. It is almost making it so much fun that I don't want to break after all this summer. Besides, who am I kidding? It was excellent advice, but I want the freedom all year round that year-round school affords us. When we do it all year, we can take breaks whenever we want and not feel guilty or like we have to race to catch up. So, what James and I have decided is that instead of completely breaking from regular curriculum this summer, we are going to cut way back and spend lots of time creating, playing and reading together as a family with the time set aside each week for getting each individual child caught up in the areas where we see they could use a little extra work. We shall see...looking forward to it.

I know white is in and all, but...

We love color too much! White just isn't us.  I appreciate the delicate simplicity of white and muted tones with well-placed art or colorful furniture that pops, but here in the Lichtenberger house it's all in living color. That's just who we are. It probably causes some of our guests to get a headache and for that, I apologize. However, it's warm and calming for us to have our idea of beautiful surrounding us.

World Market is my favorite. Jeka found these curtains online during their friends and family sale. My sister knows what I love and she was searching high and low for me, because I had become a little obsessed with finding just the right curtains that weren't too plain and would match our color scheme, but wouldn't break the bank! One evening she came over with a glimmer in her eye and said she had found the perfect curtains.  She was right! I was head over heels and when I saw the price plus an extra 25% off, I was sold. We bought new heavier rods at Ross (of course) for like $13 each and raised them above the window to try to pull the weight of the room up. (Jenn's suggestion.) I am so glad we did. I can totally tell the difference.

Now we just have to take the lower rods down and sew the off-white curtains on back to line them so the sun doesn't fade my brilliant colors out. 

The new red throw pillows and tray are also from Ross...love that place.

 Our kitchen to back porch door...

Is it stained glass or film? You'll never know unless you examine it in person.

Jesse picked these beauties for me on this rainy day from our garden.

We have 3 rose bushes. These pink ladies are from the baby. The other two produce red roses. One of them was originally planted by the first owner 100 years ago.

It is ginormous.

The Princess Leia glass is a part of our new Star Wars set...from Ross.

Oh, and I had to capture the girls' Easter bunnies while they are still white.

{Maybe that is why we like color so much?!}

Cultivating calm and perseverance through art...

per·se·ver·ance 

[pur-suh-veer-uhns]

1. steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

2. Theology. continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.

In a world {and a home} full of people who expect immediate gratification, we all need to slow down and practice patience and steadfastness. I don't know who needs more work in this area, us our our kids.

James and I joke that we are a family full of people who have LFTS "Low Frustration Tolerance Syndrome." We say this because none of us are particularly fond of doing complicated things like putting furniture together or scrapbooking...yes, scrapbooking is frustrating to me because there are so many embellishments, pictures to choose from, special glue, tape and other adhesives, papers, choices, and tiny little things to organize.

 

{that is why I blog instead}

 

Each of our kids seems to get frustrated when trying to make objects fit into small spaces or figuring out how to play a new game. Some more than others, but we definitely have our share of thrown toys or stomps out of the room when things are more difficult than they'd like for them to be. 

 

Anyway, just because  little complicated intricate things that don't interest us frustrate us, does that really mean we have LFTS? We probably shouldn't even joke about it, but we are also a family full of exaggerators, so what are you gonna do?

James is a musician and he will play a song or a complicated riff on his guitar over and over until he gets it perfect. I will research a topic I am interested in until I feel that I have firm grasp on it and am able to teach it myself. And, all 6 of us have been known to persevere through "creating" something that matters to us. 
{like natural childbirth 3 times, for example. not that i was creating, but i was allowed to be part of the process, right?}

So, that brings me to my point. Art, any kind of creating or crafting (even coloring a picture in a coloring book) takes some level of perseverance in order to see it to completion. In college and continuing ed, I learned about how awesome art is for kids with ADD because it teaches them to focus their attention and complete a task with success providing a tangible reward for sticking to it. 

Last week, when we bought our collage supplies from Hobby Lobby, I also got the kids a "Loops & Loom" weaving loom like I had when I was little.  The man-child has already made a half dozen pot holders from this thing. I have never before seen him more focused and determined than he is with this loom. He calmly weaves each strand with a look of pure contentment in the moment on his face. On Easter morning, Uncle Matt and I had a hard time getting him out the door because he was determined to finish the pot holder he was making for Miss Amanda at church. I told him that we see her at least 3 times a week, so we could give it to her another time, but it wasn't good enough.  We had tears on the way to the car.

Jeka had a good point. She said that Jesse is exhibiting typical male behavior by finding something he is good at and doing it over and over with the will and determination to finish. He had found success in his first completed pot holder and now he was going into the pot holder making business.  It reminds me of when James had to fill in for me at a jewelry making party and he made me an awesome bracelet. He came home that night ready to start a small business on the side. {Love my creative man!}

Isn't perseverance something we all struggle with and want to cultivate in our kids?  Add a little art...

collage project...in photos

And THIS is where we got the idea from. Thanks, Jami, for the tutorial! I am in awe of Jami's {and several other of my friends'} creativity. I used to have an artistic side and I have drifted away from it the last several years. Well, I am finding it again, and I am going to help my kiddos cultivate their own artistic talents. That is a promise!

We bought an old painting at the thrift store, got rid of the glass and put our collage in the frame.  Yes, i kept the tacky gold frame, I happen to like this particular kind of retro gold. Shelby and I shopped Hobby Lobby for some fabric that shouted 'Lichtenberger'. We are all about loud wild prints and bold colors. Then, we created owl templates and each person chose the fabric for his or her own owl.  We used pages from an old Living Bible we also got at the thrift for the background and dismantled our scrabble game for the words.  "I love you more...No, I love you more...No, I love you more, INFINITY," is a common game we play around here after watching Pee Wee's Big Adventure as a family several months back, so that is where the phrase on the collage comes from.  The kids did most of the work except for the cutting and gluing in place. This was a family project in the truest sense. We had so much fun doing this together with praise music blaring on Good Friday and Saturday afternoon. Now, what should we do next?

my precious easter babies...

My beautiful first-born is growing up!

Lucy Lou with the curls and flower as big as her head...priceless.

Still young enough to love stuffed bunnies, yet old enough to resemble his Daddy and Uncle Matt.

Notice the chocolate in the corner of Miss Preslie's little mouth...and those eyes I want to dive right into.

Jeka was sweet enough to take some pics of the kids while I got the ham in the oven after church. She is much better at this kind of thing than I am. It was so rainy today that I wondered if we'd get pictures of them in their Easter clothes.  I am going to try to get them dressed up and take them downtown this week for some outdoor shots. I already have some cool places staked out.

Trying to capture all 4 with happy faces is next to impossible. The littles were in a cat fight over that particular step, so we are fortunate to have one this good. Plus, after the candy was introduced, if Preslie didn't have some in her hand, she wouldn't crack a smile. Little stinky monkey!

Uncle Matt arrived in town last night bearing gifts from Kristin. We missed having her here, but her family was in Norman visiting her so we had to share. The kiddos were ecstatic opening all of those goodies. She is super-thoughtful and I have a sneaky suspicion that one of her love languages might be gifts.
{take note, Matthew}
Does it seem like every pic we have of the kids with Matt includes them lounging on him and invading his personal space? Probably so, but he doesn't seem to mind and the kids adore him. {Not exaggerating} 
They also got to open packages from Noni and Papa and Nene and Papa. I'd say they were 4 happy little stinkers last night!

Friday night, our church had a Tenebrae {night of darkness} service. It was so powerful. Really amazing. Shelby and Jesse got to go in with me and Jeka and their Daddy played Matthew during the Last Supper. Shelby insisted we sit on the front row, of course, and I am now glad that we did. There were no distractions and we were all very moved. Jeka and I went through quite a few tissues and the kids even connected emotionally with the story of Christ's last night before the crucifixion. This is the first year that I can see light bulbs flashing on in the oldest two's little eyes when we talk about what Jesus did {and continues to do} for us. It is a time of great discovery for sure...when they get to make their faith their own.  Sure, it will develop over years, but this is the beginning and it is so exciting.

it's Friday, but Sunday is coming...

new obsession...

James loves it when I post pics of him with bedhead on Embrace the Camera day.  Thankfully, he doesn't read my blog daily so when he does it has usually been a week since I posted it and he can't get mad. 

So yeah, our newest family obsession is nesting dolls.  We have decided to collect them.  Last night the kids and I bid on one set and thought we had won it until someone swooped in with 5 seconds to go and bought it for 50 cents more than we offered. UGH! The count down was so suspenseful and I was so hoping we'd "win."  This morning, the kiddos were showing Daddy all of the ones on ebay that they have on their wish list.  Here are a few below. We are winning the girls right now with an hour to go.  They will be my Mother's day gift.

vampires and garlic smoothies...

So, it is Thursday and I am still on the IC roller coaster. Last night I thought it was over and this morning I was feeling better but not 100%...still on my way, I thought. Well, in the last few hours it has gotten worse and worse. I am blogging to distract myself from the pain.  I think I might actually have a bladder infection this time and not just an IC flare-up.  {I thought that last time too and it was not an infection...my episodes are changing, in that the last 2 were over a week each. Is this what I am to expect from now on?} It is so hard to tell. I am going to the urologist this afternoon, so I should know more then.

For the last 2 days, I have been using nature's antibiotic, garlic, and probiotics to try to kick this thing.  You should eat 2 cloves of garlic a day or more when trying to get rid of an infection, but also replenish the good bacteria with probiotics.  A garlic 'clove' is one little section that peels off the 'bulb,' maybe you knew that, but I didn't, and had to call my go-to homeopathic hippy friend {Angel} to find out.  I was afraid I had to eat 2 'bulbs' a day. Boy, would James have been happy about that?!

So, anyway, I have been eating garlic however I can think of to mix it up. One of the easiest and quickest ways is in a green smoothie. I have been adding baby mixed greens, pear slices(one of the only fruits I can actually eat b/c it is low acid. I can eat bananas too, but I don't have any. Bananas really help to mask the other flavors), 1 clove of garlic, a teaspoon of honey and lots of cinnamon {which also has healing properties.} Doesn't it look delicious? It is, except for the after taste...and the garlic burps. I guess that even if it doesn't cure my bladder it is still good for me, right? When I am not sick, I make smoothies with yogurt, bananas, mixed greens, spinach, red peppers, cinnamon, and protein powder...I like to drink my salads every day, b/c who has time to chew? If I can make a yummy gourmet salad and savor every bite without having to feed and clean up after 4 kids, I will choose to chew, but as it is on most days, I drink it.

Oh, and about the the adorable vampire elf, Jesse drew this for Papa, his scare buddy. I thought it was cute and fitting for our garlic theme.

another budding musician?

I guess it's in the blood! All of our kids are music lovers. What's that you say, "All kids are music lovers," well, maybe so, but my kiddos have rhythm to boot. They got it from their Daddy.  I have to look at him or Shelby to even know when to clap at church. I was never a dancer or cheerleader...No rhythm here. I have a decent singing voice so I can sing back up in the family band someday, and maybe shake a tambourine...

So, who does Preslie Janell look like in this photo? No one can figure out who she looks like in general. I have always thought she favored Jesse and her Grandma Sherri most. Lately, however, I have been seeing myself in her. Not my adult, sharp & pointy  featured face, but my 2 year old chubby soft cheeked face with {a very few} blond soft curls. I wish I had a picture I remember from when I was her age standing at my play piano in my nothing but my plastic pants.  I will have to have my mom dig it out so I can compare.

As for my Making Music Your Own book, I snagged that vintage beauty on ebay.  I love collecting vintage children's and music books. They have the best illustrations!

stay in the yard, Lucy!

The curly one is a sneaky monkey.

We don't have a fence yet and she is not trustworthy to be outside and stay in the yard. It is an ongoing frustration around here because we want her to have fun and be able to play outside with Shelby and Jesse, but without supervision, she is out of eye-shot within 3 minutes of exiting the house. We have chimes on all the doors that let us know when a one has been opened and which one it is. 

 "front door...beep beep, laundry door...beep, beep."

She is also the one that I have recurring nightmares about every few months. She is lost in the woods, at the mall, or in a random crowd and I can't find her. We are walking along a creek, a lake, or beside a pool and she falls in but I can't rescue her. I have had these dreams ever since she was a baby. I feel so helpless and wake up in a panic. When she escapes the house or I can't find her I sometimes worry that those dreams are coming true.  I'd like a dream analysis, please. Maybe if I understood the dreams, they would go away. 

Over the next few weeks, James and some buddies will be putting up our new picket fence.  I can't wait! I will still be out there with her when she plays, but I won't have to chase her around like a dog on her heals to make sure she doesn't run into the street. She is such a joy...hilarious, cute, creative, & lovable, but an ornery little booger! I know her personality will serve her well as she grows up, I just hope we can harness some of her unbridled curiosity while she is still so young so she can make it safely into adulthood!

Doctor doctor....

I hope that they always enjoy one another like they do right now. 

They are at a really fun stage where they all 4 pretend play together and they get along pretty well while doing it. 

Yesterday, after school and lunch, I layed down with them during rest time and we watched The Veggie Tales Easter Carol while I drifted in and out of sleep.  After the movie, they were busy setting up their Doctor's office and playing doctor for quite some time.  Preslie and Lucy took turns being the patient. I think they used up an entire box of bandaids and a whole sheet of stickers. Whatever keeps them busy and happy! They talked Daddy into getting a new box of bandaids last night when they went to the grocery store with him.  Phineas and Ferb bandaids...Daddy is such a softy! I never get the cutesy bandaids.

Joyful Parenting...

Today, it is hard to be a joyful parent, because today, I am having the first major IC flare-up since January. I am so grateful for the ever-growing time span between the really painful episodes, TRULY thankful!

{Praise God that He led me to the answers I needed to get my life back!}

But in some ways, these surprise episodes make it harder. When I was used to having to function with the pain because it was my frequent companion, I felt like I could manage it better. I was accustomed to the menacing burn and ache greeting me every morning and fighting me for sleep at night. As I wandered through my day, I managed to keep a schedule and get things done because the side effects of my medicine weren't as noticeable. I was having to take it so often that it was just a way of life.
 
A way of life that I had almost accepted was my lot...for the rest of my life, I'd just have to will myself to put one foot in front of the other and 'get through the day' with the pain distracting me from any joy in my life. I'd look around at my amazing husband and kids {just Shelby and Jesse at that time} and think, "I have every reason to be full of joy, but I'd rather just go to sleep and never wake up if I could rid myself of the pain and spare them all a life where their mother is always in pain...on edge...and absolutely no fun to be around." I felt like I was ruining their life and the unrelenting agony of my 'disease' was ruining mine.

Since going gluten-free and really sticking to my low-acid diet, I can go months between bad flare-ups. every week or so I still feel like I might be headed toward one, and then it goes away silently, and I thank God!

This time, it's a doozy.  The medicine is making me loopy and I can hardly keep my eyes open, but if I lay down and try to sleep the pain screams, "YOU BETTER DO SOMETHING TO DISTRACT YOURSELF, BECAUSE I HAVE NO INTENTION OF LETTING YOU SLEEP." Before James left this morning, he asked the kids to be extra nice to me today and do all of their schoolwork and chores without complaining or arguing. He is going to make the trip to the grocery store too because I just don't have it in me today, nor will I for the next 2 days.  My annoying surprise visitor always stays for about 3 days give or take a day.

And then, when I have my life back, at least for the next few days, I take nothing for granted. I drink life {without pain} in deep and try to savor and capture in my heart that feeling of walking through the day pain-free. The contrast creates gratitude. For that, it is worth it. 

So, today as I try to seek a few more of those thousand gifts, I need a little help.  Ann Voskamp's blog is one of my go-to spots for a daily devotional that helps me put things in perspective.  I was looking through her free printables today and found this: 10 Points of Joyful Parenting.

It made me cry...
I am printing it and reading it daily.
I am so thankful for grace and mercy...Being a Momma is hard when you don't feel good, but that isn't an excuse for my quick tongue or lack of warmth toward my family this morning.

worn out from the safari...

The children are OB-sessed with climbing the tree in Jeka's yard. They'd stay up there all day if I'd let them.  I know the kids and teachers in the school yard across the street probably wonder if I have feral children because they are like monkeys up in that tree!

So, this morning, Shelby and Jesse informed me that later this afternoon they'd be taking a field trip to "Africa," which meant 'up in the tree' again.  I must say that it was a great bargaining tool to keep them on task.

After school, while we took the recycling to the recycling center, they spent quite a bit of time talking about what they were going to do in Africa this afternoon. Then all through lunch, which they scarfed down at lightning speed, there was more Africa talk. I think all of the imagining wore them out because when they finally got there, they were super grouchy with each other. I thought they were going to push each other out of the tree at one point. So, I called them in and put them to bed. They swore they'd never be able to fall asleep, so I layed with them for a little bit until they did.  I actually got a 20 minute cat nap myself! Then, I enjoyed a perfectly quiet house for a good hour.

James stopped by to bring our fence materials home and cracked up when he saw the 3 oldest snuggled in there together on our bed. How long will they do this?  I hope forever!

Lucy's answered prayer...

Here she is all gangsta in her stocking cap throwing up signs.  Could she be any more of a pixie? Those huge eyes!  She is gonna be trouble...oh wait, she already is! Boy is she worth it, though!

Ever since we got here, Lucy has had such a hard time going to her class at church.  She usually has fun once she settles down, but it has been painfully hard at times to leave her in there. It seems like this move has impacted her the most because she doesn't quite understand what is going on. She is a little more clingy than usual and she is never far from her blanket. The first few weeks, she pretty much laid on our bed watching Charlotte's Web on repeat. When we were packing to move, she thought that everything we packed was stuff we were giving away. It wasn't until we got here and started unpacking that she put it together that this was our new home. So, we have been really patient with her and she seems to be pretty close to her silly little self again. Because she seemed to be lightening up at home, we were hoping that she'd come out of this church phobia thing on her own. Sunday morning, when we were getting ready for church, she followed me around from room to room saying, "I don't want to go to my class at church.  Momma, I want to stay home.  Let's not go today. Momma, Momma, I don't want to go to class." Over and over and over.  I was trying to take Kevin Leman's advice about walking away and ignoring, but she just became more and more persistent.  Finally, I thought to myself, we need to pray through this thing.  {Why wasn't that my first response?}

So I got down on her level and held her little hand and we prayed.  We prayed for God to help her want to go to class, for Him to calm her fears and let her know that He was with her. We prayed that she'd be able to go right in without crying and join the other kids with no resistance.

{the previous week James had to pry her little hands off the door frame while she was screaming, "Let me outta here! Let me outta here!" and walk to her seat with her staying for a few minutes until she calmed down.} So when we got to church as I walked her to her class, I was ready for another scene. Funny thing is, she just walked right in, turned to me with a big smile and waved. "Bye bye, Mommy," she said with no tears, no resistance, nothing. When we picked her up she was so proud of herself and she went on and on about how much fun class was. So, of course I told her how proud I was of her. At the time I had totally forgotten about our prayer. So later in the day I remembered and ran to get Lulu. I sat her down and reminded her of the prayer we prayed and together we thanked God. I asked her how she felt knowing that God had answered her prayer and by the look in her great big eyes, I could tell that a light bulb had  turned on for the first time. God had answered her prayer.

So, that brings me back to the question, why did it take us a month to pray about this?  Why wasn't prayer our first response?  I have a friend in Phoenix who I adore that challenges me when it comes to prayer.  In her life, prayer IS her first response. We'd be on a playdate and her son would get hurt and her first response was always to pray with him.  She once shared a story with me about praying with her son over his anxiety about going to the dentist. That particular day, God answered her son's prayer and he went to the dentist with no resistance, big smile on his face.  When I was concerned about whether or not we would be able to find a Christian family to rent our home in Phx because it is against the law to advertise according to religious preference, she is the one who said to me, "Have you been praying for God to bring you a Christian family?" We hadn't done that yet. We immediately did and boy, did he answer that prayer quickly!  

In certain situations, I do fall to my knees in prayer as a first response, but really, my life is compartmentalized.  Some issues don't seem like God issues and I try to work them out in my own efforts only turning to Him when I've tried everything else. I know that He cares for every area of my life and that I can come to Him with anything and He will walk me through it.

I am just a stubborn control-freak sometimes and I hold way too tightly to the reins of my life until my circumstances pry my white-knuckled fingers away and I have to give them back to God.

(He is the one who really holds the reins anyway...who am I kidding?
I am just like a little child sitting on my Daddy's lap pretending I am steering the wagon,
when all along His hands are gripping them far above my own.)

I truly want my children to develop the habit of going to God first in all things.  Peggy used to say to us in ladies' bible study fairly often, "Where do you go first when you have a problem? Do you go to the phone or do you go to the Throne?"  I want my kiddos to go to the Throne, even before they come to their Momma for advice. It's another one of those things that is caught more than taught, so here I am adding it to the lists of habits I am going to practice myself until they become second nature...just like Eucharisteo.

Thank you, Lord, for answering my baby's prayer, and even at 3 beginning to develop her faith in You!

"who has time for God?"

To quote Ann Voskamp in chapter 4 of One Thousand Gifts,

"God gives us time. And who has time for God?"

Before I read this chapter today, I was already blogging in my head...blogging about this idea that was swirling around up there...the idea of tithing time.

(tithing is giving 1/10 of our resources {back} to God.) 

Our two most precious resources on this earth are time and money. Both of which are given to us by God to manage in a way that brings Him glory.  I feel like James and I have finally gotten to a place in our lives where we really believe that our money ultimately belongs to the Lord and we are simply called to be good stewards of the gifts he gives to us. We cling loosely to all of our possessions, ready to give them up if necessary. We definitely have room to grow in keeping a budget that makes the very best use of our resources, but we are headed in the right direction.

Time is another area altogether. Time, I find is the one resource that everyone in our stage of life, myself included, complains that they have none of. 

"With all of my kid's activities, I have no time to..." "My job is so demanding I have no time left over for..." "I have 4 kids, so the only spare time I have is when I sleep." "I'd love to do a bible study, but there is just no time in the day for it." "I throw up a prayer now and then throughout the day. God understands how busy I am and that is enough." "I just enjoy nature and that is my time with God."

Really, then I just have to ask, "How is that working for you?"

Whenever I find myself saying those things or even thinking those things, I have to ask myself that very question, "How's that working for you, Jeanna?" And then, if I am honest, I admit to myself that it isn't 'working' at all.  I feel disconnected and distant from God...harried by my schedule, stressed out, behind the clock, out of control. The irony of giving God an uninterrupted part of my day is that He always seems to redeem the time. What I mean is that if I give him a half hour, my spirit is in such a state for the rest of the day that since I am not rushing around crazy I actually feel like there is more time in my day. When I give Him even more, my day goes even better. When unexpected interruptions occur {like they do almost every day} I meet them with calm instead of irritation and worry.
It is similar to the strange phenomenon of exercise generating energy. Getting up 30 minutes early to exercise in the morning provides so much more energy than an extra few minutes of sleep.

And, that {redemptive time} is merely a bonus of spending time with God, not the whole reason we do it. We do it because we love Him and we want to know Him more. We do it because we trust Him and we rely on Him to guide us through our day. We do it because we are grateful to be alive and a part of His grand plan. We do it because Our Heavenly Father longs to spend time with us and we long to please Him. It should be the BEST part of our day, not an afterthought...something I 'should' do but don't have time for. 

Balancing a checkbook is one of those things, not spending some of the time He gives us-- with Him.

He gives me about 900 waking moments each day. 

How many of those moments am I willing to spend with Him?

All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us. J.R.R. Tolkein

lem-O-lade stand

Lucy loves her "lem-O-lade." It is always a little bittersweet for me when my kiddos start pronouncing previously mispronounced baby words. I hope Lucy always calls it lem-O-lade.

 

After church today, Shelby decided that she wanted to have a garage sale. The poor child doesn't understand why we don't have more than a handful of things to sell. Her Momma donates Ev-er-ything to charity and loathes the garage sale process. She loves shopping garage sales, but not having one of her own. So, when Shelby only found one thing to sell in the garage sale...our single jogging stroller...she was practically in tears. She wanted to find a bunch of stuff, set it up, and have the sale today...no planning or prep...just NOW. Not possible to throw a g-sale together like that, babe. So, I suggested that they have a lemonade stand instead. They profited $6 + and they were walking on air about it. Their Aunt Jeka sat out there with them while we went to a retirement reception at the church. When we got home, they were freaking out happy about all of the money they had earned selling {hot} lemonade.
We don't have ice. Guess we need to get some!

One Thousand Gifts...

I try to remember when eating my lunch on the porch while the rain fell around me was pure bliss...when my only thought was pure contentment as I strained to hear the drops hit the ground, never giving a thought to what activity came next or my endless to do list. 

I used to know how to live in the moment {and enjoy it}.  I long to again.

 A dear sweet friend of mine gave me a copy of Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts recently and I have just finished the third chapter. It is penetrating my heart like crazy and filling my thoughts all day long with this idea of Eucharisteo being a reflection of our faith and the key to full living.

I am going to take the challenge to seek out and be thankful for all of the gifts in my everyday life...moment by moment.  And in doing so, may my faith grow along side my grateful heart.

My 2 oldest kiddos are taking the challenge too and my hope is that their outlook on life and God will become one of thanksgiving in all things.  God forbid they have to wait until they are almost 40 to learn to 'live fully right where they are."

I am thankful for...a sneaky toddler who likes to dig through my purse for gum or Burt's Bees, rain for our freshly planted flowers, sun peeking through the clouds, the vibrating walls in this old house that echo little steps chasing one another, 4 healthy kids and 2 healthy parents, red buds in full bloom from every window, 20 steps to my sister's door, pee pee in the potty and one less diaper to change, kids who love each other, ezekial bread, Pearson's health food store, awesome bible teaching, 3 year old songs with the wrong lyrics, warm strong hugs, early morning walks with Jeka, the joy baxter brings to my kiddos, surprise phone calls, new curtains, imaginations.....

Shore's visit...

The Shore's came to visit us this weekend and we had so much fun.  With them, it is always like having family in town because our kids are like cousins and we are super close friends with Carrie and DeLand. Being around them is so encouraging and energizing.  They choose joy in life and see the world through such a positive lens. After being around them for an extended amount of time we are always inspired in every area of our lives.  They live by a motto that they often say to their kids and truly live out in their own lives, "If you know better, Do better." It really is true that we are held accountable for what we know and as we grow in wisdom. Spiritually and behaviorly we must 'not merely listen to the word, and so deceive ourselves, but do what it says.'  I find it so refreshing and rare how the Shores don't compartmentalize behaviors either, they are so good about applying it to every area of their lives from finances to healthy eating, parenting and marriage to guarding their hearts and minds while still engaging and influencing the culture around them. They are the "real deal holyfield," and their friendship is more precious to us than gold!

We played, took the kids on long walks around downtown Enid, went to Leonardo's, shopped at Ross and the Hope thrift store {of course}, and got to see Kevin Leman at a local church last night speaking on "How to Have a New Husband by Friday." We haven't laughed that hard in a long time! I love Kevin Leman! We saw him at a MOPS conference several years ago and laughed our bootays off!  To me, he seems more like a comedian that communicates revolutionary truths through humor than a counselor and author. He is a godly Christian man too, so his teachings are always lined up with scripture.
{Jeka and I are going back tonight to see him speak on "Have a New Kid by Friday."  My whole family will be transformed before my eyes this week, apparently.  The only catch is that it is totally dependent on my own behavior and treatment of them, so I guess I will have to be a new Me by Friday too! I like that idea right now, b/c moving, packing, unpacking and trying to find a new schedule and way of life in a new town with lots of visitors to boot has been a little stressful and at times I have allowed my attitude to be stinky & crabby. Stinky mom = stinky kids and  Crabby wife = frustrated husband.}

Anywho...Notice the pics, we also saw some horses trotting down our street one afternoon and the kids freaked!  Coda got out and chased the horses down the street. [nice] Only in OKLAHOMA...I Love it!

We also highlighted Carrie's hair and almost highlighted mine.  Her hair looks amazing, especially since she is wearing it curly now. I love it! About 9 years ago Carrie and I highlighted each other's hair and both of us were almost completely blond. Carrie looked fabulous{of course} and kept it...I dyed mine back the next day.  I was a chicken and I wish I'd have kept it now.  I am still debating about whether or not to highlight my hair. I bought a kit and it is sitting on my dresser staring at me every time I walk by. Calling to me..."you know you want a change..."  I just colored it last month, so I am still on the fence. We shall see. 

Ahhhh...I am sleepy. we didn't get much sleep these past 3 nights, but it was so worth it. I miss them already...