Why I Don't Make New Year's Resolutions

It's the new year again and everyone is penning their new year's resolutions in hopes for a better year. A year to accomplish more or better themselves in some way. I have never really made new year's resolutions and this year I've been thinking about why I don't really think a "resolution" is necessary or profitable.

Let's think about what a resolution is. It's defined as a firm decision to do or not to do something. I can't help but think a resolution really depends on you making something happen. I think that tends to be the thinking behind it. I will do better. I will do this or that.

Resolutions tend to be written as something that we will muster up the strength to do ourselves. We think about our own goals or interests. What will make us feel good about ourselves or make others think more highly of us.

And what happens when we fail? It's bound to happen if we're doing anything in our own strength. You make a resolution to eat healthier and then when you gorge on that brownie how do you feel? Like a failure..

However, in God's word there is a different way of looking at it. In Philippians 4:13 we read, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Do you see a difference? Where is the emphasis being placed? On you or Christ?

Of course the answer is Christ. Is there really anything that we can do apart from Him? Of course not! And let's not think it's possible to do anything without His strength and enabling. What do the Psalms read over and over again? Help me...save me...be my strength.

Psalm 22:19 reads, "But You, Lord, do not be far from me. You are my strength; come quickly to help me."

And again in Philippians 2:13 we read, "For it is God who works in You, both to will and to work for His good pleasure."

It's God's working...It's His show, not ours.

So rather than a resolution based on what we want or what will make us feel good, pray and seek the Lord on what He wants. Make the new year a prayerful time of seeking God's will in your life. Is He calling you into a new career? Does He want to call you into a ministry? Do you need to spend more time in His word? Will He enable you to be healthier in 2015?

Setting goals, after prayerful consideration, isn't a bad thing. Just as long as it's with God's strength and to His glory. However, don't fall into the "New Years Resolution" pit. Instead, make a list of what God is speaking to your heart. Pray about what God is changing in you and ask Him for the strength to carry it out.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might He increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

Happy New Year everyone! 

-Further readings: Psalm 28:8, Habakkuk 3:19, Micah 5:4, Exodus 15:2

Do You Want to Build a Snowman?

Are you ready for a cute and simple Christmas gift that is inexpensive and fun?

My family always has a gathering for Christmas and the number of children there is growing year after year! So, I had to find an inexpensive but fun thing for the kids for Christmas. Last year I did candy canes with a Legend of the Candy Cane poem which you can find here.

This year in a salute to Frozen fans everywhere I made these "Do You Want to Build a Snowman" goody bags. Here are the tags for them. I didn't buy edible eyes or a nose so here are the ingredients for mine:

1. Marshmallows
2. Chocolate Chips
3. Pretzels
4. Raisins
5. Zip lock bags

First, I printed the tags on red and green card stock.

In each bag place 4 pretzels (arms), 3 marshmallows (body), 2 chocolate chips (eyes), and 3 raisins (buttons). I used 1 pretzel to hold the marshmallows together and 2 for the arms. The forth pretzel can be broken in two for a nose if you'd like.

Here is what I did for the bags....you could do prettier bags but again just trying to cut down on cost and had these already.

And once the snowman is put together....

Ta Da!! An inexpensive but cute, fun little gift for all the kiddos on your Christmas list!!!

I hope you enjoy and Merry Christmas!

All I Want for Christmas is....

This Christmas I haven't been joyful like normal. I've allowed myself to get caught up in all the hustle and bustle of buying or making the perfect gifts. I've lost sight of what is really important and let stress and anxiety take over this special time of the year.

As I was strolling through the store looking for gifts last week I was struck at what an American Christmas has become. The aisles in the stores were so jam-packed with the latest toy, appliances, clothing, and other items that you could barely fit in between. Everyone looked stressed and hurried. I even heard one lady remark, "I'm sick of this already!" She wasn't joyful shopping for gifts...it had become a chore. I think it had become a chore to me as well. I found myself just looking at items thinking, "I'm sure so and so would like this". When I did find something I placed it in the cart and sighed "there that person is done now"....Just wanting to check people off my list.

This is not a celebration. It's not joyful. It's an Americanized version of the Christmas season.

Christmas is a joyful season simply because of the great hope we have in Jesus Christ. It's supposed to be a reminder of the greatest gift we have all been given when Jesus gave us salvation. He gave us hope when we were hopeless.

Instead, it's become a race to have the perfect Christmas cards, decorations, presents, and food. This isn't what Jesus intended. He wants us to find our joy in Him...our peace in Him.

So, all I want for Christmas is to slow down. To shop less and pray more. To stress less and have more joy...

What will your focus be this Christmas?

The Family Pet

Our family just lost our cat D.J. This is the first pet we've lost and it was unexpected. It got me thinking about all the family pets I've had and the sadness that comes when they pass away. Of course, as an adult you know its inevitable that one day the pet you love will be gone. However, what has struck me most is watching the pain my children are feeling. To realize their cuddly, furry friend is gone. I know that with time it will get easier for them but all I want to do is wrap them in my arms and let them cry.

You realize that your pet is a part of your family. You miss all the things that drove you crazy and wish that you could cuddle them one more time. It's all part of life. A time to live and a time to die, but when it happens it still takes you by surprise.

We miss our little furry family member but the memories with him will live on. The kids will be o.k. and we'll cherish each other a bit more tonight.

In memory of our D.J.

10 Things I'm Most Thankful For

"In everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus"

1 Thessalonians 5:18

The Thanksgiving season leads us to think about all that we are grateful for. Many fill their Facebook pages with things they are thankful for and we often are looking deep at our lives to those things that we may take for granted. It's a season of gratefulness and a time when we are more likely to voice those things we are thankful for. It's also something that God wants us to do. You read many examples in scripture of God's people thanking Him for what He has done. 

So, with this in mind on this Thanksgiving-eve I wanted to share the top 10 things I'm most grateful for....

1. My Savior...without Him I wouldn't have redemption from my sin. I wouldn't have the hope that only He can give. I am so thankful that He chose to rescue me from my sin and that He has promised eternal life. He is my guide, comforter, creator, healer, and my all. 

2. My husband...He is my rock and my best friend. I'm so thankful that God brought us together because he has shown me what unconditional and sacrificial love is. He inspires me to be quick to forgive, calms me when I'm angry, comforts me when I'm sad or discouraged, and loves me in spite of my shortcomings. He has shown me Jesus so many times and I'm so blessed to have him.

3. My children...they are such a blessing in my life. They have been used to grow me in so many ways. They inspire me to laugh more, love more, and invest more. They have given me a glimpse at the love that our heavenly Father has for us. Even on the toughest days I can sit back and see how special they have made my life. 

4. My parents & my brother...My parents sincere love is something I never want to take for granted. They have always done their best to make my life more fun and secure. They are always there when I need them and don't turn away a request for help. My brother loves me in spite of all the times I beat on him. I can confide in him and he's always ready to help out. 

5. My family...I'm thankful for all my extended family. Grandparents, Mother-in-law, my husband's family, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. Their  love is unmistakable and sincere. They always have a warm, welcoming smile and my only regret is that I don't see them often enough. 

6. My church family...so, I say church family but really they're just as much family as my blood relatives. Their's is a sacrificial, genuine, agape love that shows me the love of Christ. I can share with them the darkness of my heart and they understand because they know they have sin themselves. They help me grow closer to Jesus and show me Jesus through their lives. 

7. My country...yes, our country has it's share of problems but compared to other countries I think we have to admit we have it pretty good. I'm thankful for the opportunity to freely share about Jesus Christ, to home-school my children, and to have the many freedoms that others don't have. 

8. My friends...my friends are really my family too, but there is a different kind of bond with them. We can laugh with (and at) each other like you can't with other people. We can share embarrassing moments and talk about the silliest things and don't need to take each other too seriously. However, when one of us is hurt we can be a shoulder to cry on and we are always available to give or get advice. 

9. My home...I guess this is obvious. It's my shelter and my comfort. I never want to take my comforts for granted because tomorrow is unknown and there are many who don't have even half of what I do. I only want to make sure I only keep what I need and give the rest to those who need it more.

10. Coffee...Those who know me best are probably waiting for this one! I am so thankful for my coffee and yeah, I don't think I could live without it. I know that everyone is aware of my love of this bean because when my husband was injured last year people brought things to our home for us and on the table were four containers of coffee!! They know what I need!! 

So, that's my list of ten things I'm thankful for. Of course, there are many more that weren't mentioned. Never take for granted what you have and most importantly don't forget to thank the One who has given you them.

How about you? What would be on your Top 10 list? 

The Horrible Rotten No Good Day

Raising children is hard. Some days you just feel like crawling back into bed and hope to wake up the next morning to have a do-over. Days when you spend more time breaking up fights, repeating yourself, getting frustrated, and yes...even yelling at the most precious things that God has entrusted to you. You know that raising your voice won't solve one single problem, but it happens. You end up sitting down at the end of the day exhausted and feeling so discouraged that you wonder why God has given you children in the first place.

"For you formed my inward parts; you wove me in my mother's womb." Psalm 139:13

I had a day like that this week and let me tell you that God doesn't make mistakes. He has given you those precious children because He knows that, with His help, you can raise them better than anyone else.

"Do not fear, for I am with you; Do not anxiously look about you for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand."                                                                    Isaiah 41:10 

Consider that every wrinkle in your day is a chance to show your children the love of Jesus

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has seen God at any time; if we love one another, God abides in us, and His love is perfected in us. By this we know that we abide in Him and He in us, because He has given us of His Spirit." 

                                                            1 John 4:11-13 

A chance to show them the gospel. Because that's what it's all about after all. Drawing our children closer to the Lord. It's a chance to show them love and grace. Yes, they will do things that drive you absolutely bonkers but it's always an opportunity for them,and you, to grow.

What if....

The last time you kissed your child was a chance to show them Jesus
The last time you hugged them was a chance to show them Jesus
The last time you disciplined them was a chance to show them Jesus
The last time you read them a book was a chance to show them Jesus
The last time you said you were sorry was a chance to show them Jesus

How more often would we be doing those things?
Maybe we could do more responding rather than reacting if we considered these things first.

So the next time you, or I, have a horrible rotten no good day lets try a little harder to bring Jesus into it. Maybe our children will have a better picture of who He is because of it.

Kitchen Helpers

This month I have been striving to make baking more of a priority as part of my children's education. We just finished reading Little House on the Prairie and one Christmas Laura explains about the "Christmas Cakes" she receives as a gift. Laura and Mary get cakes in their stockings and they couldn't be happier. So, I was browsing on the Little House webpage and found this recipe for Heart-Shaped Christmas Cakes and once I saw how simple they are I decided we should make them and make the story come alive some more. So we did.

The recipe is very simple and the kids couldn't wait to jump right in!

Our oldest helped out by reading the instructions for us....

While, someone else began pouring in ingredients....

And we all took turns mixing! Whew!

Placed the cookies on the cookie pan (actually we used a pizza pan! Haha..)

Sorry, I don't have pictures of the final product because well, we ate them really fast :)

Cooking provides the kids with lots of educational concepts such as following instructions, measuring, reading, motor skills, listening skills, and learning kitchen safety. We could take it further and even add in more math concepts like how much the ingredients cost and how much each cookie would work out to be. We'll save some of that for when they are a bit older though.

No matter how you go about it, bringing cooking into your day is a great learning experience for everyone. I know I'm learning to be more patient!! It's a great way to bring fun into your home-school day and create memories together. It's quickly becoming one of my favorite things to do.

How about you? What do you like to cook with your family? What are some of your favorite memories cooking with family? I'd love to hear them!

Days of fasting



"You say, 'I am allowed to do anything'- but not everything is good for you. And even though 'I am allowed to do anything', I must not become a slave to anything." 1 Corinthians 6:12



This week my family is going on a five-day fasting experience. However, we're not fasting from food. The fasting we're doing is a break from TV and computer....yes, I am still using the computer some because I'm involved in several things that require it, but I am watching how much time is spent with it. The reason we're fasting is because I saw this obsession beginning with the children and myself over television and playing on the computer. I used it to give me a break when I wanted the kids occupied and they used it because they were bored. Neither of which are good reasons to indulge. I dropped the ball on how often and how long they used these things so we're quitting "cold turkey" this week in order to re-prioritize. Do you ever find yourself getting sucked into just having the TV on most of the day? Aside from when the kids were studying (we home school) the TV was on and when school was complete I would let them use the computer or Kindle....unfortunately, I didn't watch the clock closely and they were on way more then they should have been. I knew that I was teaching them to indulge and that had to change.

We're on day two and it's been an interesting transition. The kids still very much want to watch TV and play on the computer....on day one my daughter insisted she watch while she ate her breakfast and when I told her "no" she proceeded to tell me she wouldn't eat until she could watch TV! Ha ha....the logic of a three-year old (don't worry she ate just a little while later and is eating fine today).

There have been many positive changes so far however and I'm anticipating more to come. Here's what I've seen so far though: reading more books, more hands-on play, (Lego's, play-doh, pattern blocks, etc.) and more peace. The kids are using their imaginations in play and all in all the home is just happier.

So, I will update some this week and let you know how it's going and maybe, if you're finding your home is a bit obsessed with technology, you might give it a whirl too. I know you won't be disappointed :)

A Time to Rest

  "And He said to them, 'Come away by yourselves to a secluded place and rest a while." Mark 6:31

  

Rest is a precious commodity around my home. With three children, homeschooling, housecleaning, and other responsibilities rest isn't something that just happens whenever I feel like it. However, this past weekend my husband and I were blessed to enjoy a precious full twenty-four hours of rest...no children, no ministry....just rest. We celebrated our 9th wedding anniversary so it was a special time to sit back and reflect on all that has transpired those years and the growth that we see in each other. We didn't go anywhere super special. We ate out, watched a movie, and stayed at home. However, the time together was the special part of it. Time to pray, reflect, love, and rest. Rest knowing that God has brought us through many storms and though we have taken our eyes off Jesus, and began to sink like Peter when he treaded water, Jesus has rescued us. He has picked up the broken pieces and turned them into something that neither of us ever imagined.

Yes, rest is good. God rested on the seventh day after creation and He's God after all!!! 

"Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made." Genesis 2:3

Jesus knew that we needed time to pray and rest which is why He set that example for us. The Gospels tell of times He would go by Himself to pray and not for a few minutes either....hours and hours at times. Sometimes you can get so busy with life that you don't take the time to see what's around you. You can be so busy looking to the future that you don't see what you've come through or where you are right now.

I'm so thankful that we took time to rest. I'm thankful that God has given us this precious gift and that we don't have to feel guilty about it. In fact, He encourages it! It's kind of like how naptime at my home used to go. The children are tired and I know they are tired because they are crying, whining, fighting, and just in a bad mood. They are burnt out and in need of some serious R&R. I encourage...actually insist....that they take a nap. An hour or more later and there are happy, relaxed, peaceful children running around again. How thankful our home is! How much more does God applaud when we listen to Him and get the rest He knows we need. The rest that He, if you only ask, will provide.

What is this blog all about?

I first wanted to start writing simply as a release. A way of getting things off my mind and finding what God would want me to see in my daily situations.

A way to see the lesson in each day, to soak up each moment and find a new truth about God. Also, to let Him refine me in the midst of my every day life. There is certainly a lot of refining to do!

 God really impressed on my heart that life has stages or "seasons" and that within each season He had something special for me as well as a time for me to grow as a follower of Christ. I shouldn't be frustrated or waiting for another season of life. He wants me to enjoy and grow in each season before the next one comes.

"To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

So this blog is a way for me to share with you my experiences in various seasons of life and how those experiences have helped me to grow in Christ. I pray that by sharing my heart and the lessons I've learned along the way you can be encouraged as you go through seasons in your own life.