Love Languages

Last time my sister was in town we were discussing the love languages of my children and since one of them was listening then we tried to explain our love languages.  Neither of us have read the book so I thought it was pretty funny us discussing it.
In the same call that she told me she saw an Osprey flying over the University Blvd bridge carrying a fish in it's mouth, I told her that Josh had just won 4 tickets to the Disney World Theme Parks.  She said something about us being the winningest people.  I jokingly said it was God's love language toward us.  She agreed because it meant more for her to see an Osprey than winning tickets.

 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.

Colossians 2 : 13

July Plans

"Hot July brings cooling showers,
Apricots and gillyflowers."
- Sara Coleridge, Pretty Lessons in Verse

     

In January, my boss at HomeTown Threads Embroidery Shop mentioned that she was training me to help run the shop while she went to a trade show in Atlanata, July 16-20. She was planing on taking Lori, the friend that got me the job.  In March we found out Josh's Aunt from Massachusettes would be down for a vist starting July 16th. Last month I was offerend another grant underwritten program to co-ordinate with a training in New Orleans on July 15-17th.  Last Sunday Josh was asked if he and I would like to join the Czech Republic English Camp trip this summer, with a full scholarship from July 6-19. We'd be working with the Browns who have run this camp every summer for 10+years.

Each possibility was exciting until the next one came along, each person had the understanding that I would meet their expectations.

The Lord gives and the Lord taketh away, Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Last night my friend Lori  stopped by out of the blue. 
No one ever stops by my house.
I had made plenty for dinner so we all invited her to stay.
In a round about way I told her about all the July plans.
She offered to stay and work for me.
I told her she couldn't, she needed a break from caring for her wheelchairbound/dementia/aging mother.
She said she if she needed a break, she'd take one.
We went back and forth.
(I had to because Josh said Lori shouldn't even be told...he wanted no guilt involved....I took Lori coming over as a possible sign)
So today I fill out my passport form.  It expired in 2000.
We'll pay to get it expedited.
What next?

sayings of Agur

Proverbs 30:8.
Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread.

This should be a sheild, a garland of honor, a treasure of the highest value...but it feels like a millstone. For almost as long as we've been married this has been my husbands mantra.

Feelings...I am reminded of the quote I've had in my sidebar for over a year now....

There is always plenty to complain about if your life is controlled by your feelings. But there is always much more to thank God for if you life is controlled by your dwelling on His faithfulness, His love and His mercy."~ Elisabeth Elliott ~

Why can't I silent the lies of not enough when I have Jesus.

As the music plays "You can have all this world, give me Jesus" I am convicted and emotional.

When I sat down this morning to find verses about not learning instead I found Josh's verse. Isn't that poignant?

Before I remembered that I hadn't learned to be content I was thinking about being distinct from culture...I want to think more about that but not right now.

Is there a blessing in your life that you hide in shame behind?

Hurricanes and Football

My cousin's son played football in jr. high and high school and whenever we were in town we would go to his games. I never thought in a million years that I would be watching my own son play. We have never been a sports family. And even at the first game last week, as soon I realized that the first half was all John-Thomas was going to play in, I was ready to go...not much of a team player. We stayed of course, Stewart was still the water boy for the rest of the game and Josh was helping with the chain to mark the plays. Elise and Emmett had a blast running around the bleachers with the other kids their age. The whole time he was playing I wondered if he was going to get injured. Craziness, I thought, last year we were a quiet little homeschool family who did rock climbing on Fridays with some other homeschool kids and this year look at us. It reminded me of the hurricanes.
Who would've thought that two hurricanes hit the same place (over our house) in one hurricane season?
Who would've thought that the kid that had never been in public school before or played on any team sports would be playing football? This week he goes on his first field trip, I have to take him to school at 5:30 in the morning.
And while I'm at it, who would have thought that the very same loud and wiggly girl would sit still in her seat and ne'er peep a sound in kindergarten?
Lord help my unbelief, give me faith to believe in all your promises and not in some boxed in notion of what I think my life should be like.
Romans 4:20 He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to
God,

The Lord your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing.

Zephaniah 3 : 17

Almost Homemade Birthday

Elise turned 5 on Tuesday.
I finished the Birthday Banner on Monday....not real happy with it, I used bias tape instead of some other tape I can't think of......more shabby than chic.
Elise has been asking for months for Josh to build her a dollhouse. He had it in his head to get a kit...I didn't think he was following through with but what was delivered Monday morning? So he started it around 5 and I started helping him around 10 and we went to bed at 2 without getting all the shingles on. The valleys on that roof were a pain to shingle...Josh was very diligent about getting all the cuts just so.
We got a cake from Publix...way to big...it's gone to waist.
Elise has been sick since last Friday and now I have it...not as bad but I still feel yucky and I haven't done any real exercise in over a week and my hair is starting to fall out again and I feel like a blob so something has gotta give...
Sorry, talking about myself again...Elise had a very nice Birthday some homemade, some not. When my mom heard about the dollhouse she quick whipped up a lovely little chair...yesterday when I tried to whip up a bed it looked shabby to say the least.
Alright before I digress again, I hope you have a wonderful day.
God Bless You!

Rejoice

Rejoice in the Lord Always,
Again I say Rejoice!

When I thought about posting how I am rejoicing in all that got done today...
bathroom clean, house vacuumed, Elise's room clean/her clothes sorted/her closet straightened.
A lovely lunch with Gloria
First time scrapbooking in 6 years (got all 4 cruises put in the book by tonight)
Great homemade chicken pot pie soup.
All that pales in comparison with what I should be
rejoicing in. The God who made all that dust come together from teeny tiny particles is the same God who made not only our galaxy but infinite others. The God who made those blueberries my kids picked with their gramma this summer is the same God who formed man out of dust of the very ground that plants grow in. When it seems like there is an insurmountable amount of work to be done in our own paltry lives it is to be done with rejoicing in Praise for the one who made us and gives us our being.