A couple weeks ago I finished my devotional book I had been reading for over a year. I loved it and was determined that I needed to find another one ASAP. A trip to our local Christian book store and I was faced with so many choices. What exactly was I looking for? Many of them looked interesting. There were devotionals geared toward moms and wives and women in general. The one I had just finished reading was a Mom's Daily Devotional so this time I wanted something for me! I just didn't know how to choose. There were so many and they all looked great. But finances were only allowing me to purchase one at this time. I really needed God to send a big flashing neon sign that said "This is for Heather!" And then I saw it. Let me be honest and tell you that I picked it up because it was cute. Yes, cute. It was black patent leather with silver writing and baby pink inside. That alone told me this was the one for me. It had no description. The only thing I knew about it was the title, "Inspiration for Girlfriends" and the author, Ellen Miller. I didn't open it up and read any of the passages. I just walked to the register and paid for it, certain I had found a gem!
Boy was I right?! I'm only 16 days into it, but already I can tell you it is speaking to my heart and changing my life. God has been bringing some of my not so great personality traits to the forefront of my mind lately. I really feel him urging me to make some changes. One of the biggest issues I feel him challenging me on is my judgemental attitude. Often times without even realizing I'm doing it, I judge people. I feel horrible even admitting that, but admitting there is a problem is the first step, right? I've been praying that I will recognize when I start to have those thoughts and change them immediately.
This morning, I wake up and do my usual routine of reading my morning devotion before I get out of bed. Guess what I read??? "...I quickly realize that I often do not live a life of grace. When I am spread too thin, I tend to become harsh and judgemental...Something as simple as acknowledging an unhealthy pattern or reaction can be a powerful tool in stopping the insanity of repeated mistakes.." Yes, I have no doubt that message was for me and I am thankful for it. Each devotion ends with a quote from Scripture. This was today's: "Since you judge others for doing these things, why do you think you can avoid God's judgment when you do the same things? Don't you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant and patient God is with you?"- Romans 2: 3-4. Ahh yes, I will be pondering that for a while!
P.S. Here's a link to the book if you would like to learn more!
Wednesday, April 13, 2011
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Randomness
To my 11 Faithful followers- Thanks for hanging around even when I have been absent for so long. :)
Let me start this post by saying God has been moving moving moving in my life recently. I feel like he has been laying so much on my heart that I have no choice but to follow his lead and make some changes to my life.
First off, we all know about the new house. The one that I still have yet to post pictures of as I promised in my last post. Let me tell you a secret..it's because I'm still unpacking. Yes, the house has been ours for almost a month now and there are still a few boxes sitting around. I finished unpacking/organizing the girls' rooms yesterday and have full intentions of finishing my bedroom by the end of the week. Then we will officially be "moved in"! We still have to paint a few rooms and hang wall decorations after we paint but it will be a few months until that's all finished. But pictures are coming...
Second, we've been attending a new church. Vertical Church to be exact. A friend at work was telling me that she and her husband had started attending Vertical and kept talking about how awesome it was. I was intrigued. It sounded great. I really wanted to try it out, but I felt guilty for "abandoning" the church we had been attending for the last year. So for a few weeks, I tried pushing the idea out of my mind. I really think God was urging me to go see what all the hype was about. So finally, I gave in. We attended one service and I was hooked. I loved it! I had never ever attended a church service like that. The music was incredible (songs that I listen to on K Love!), the sermon spoke directly to my heart. There is no way you could be bored in a church service at Vertical. Even my husband who doesn't consider himself a Christian enjoyed the service and has been back numerous times. God is doing BIG things in our community and he's using Vertical Church to touch the lives of so many people. If there is a Vertical Church in your area I encourage you to check it out! You won't be disappointed!
Homeschooling is still moving right along. I can not believe the year is winding down. After this week, the girls only have 9 more lessons in our Kindergarten math curriculum! When we finish those, we will review math and spend extra time on phonics. We have about 12 weeks of Phonics left. I'm amazed at the progress the girls have made. I love love love to hear them read. It just makes my heart smile. In science we're studying about plants. We started a plants lapbook today and will be planting bean seeds later this week.
I've been trying to make more time for "Mommy Quiet time". During this time I read my Bible, study my devotions, write for 31 Rubies, write for this blog, read, listen to music, etc. I've been trying to do it first thing in the mornings. Most days though I'm not awake before the girls, so I'm trying to squeeze in "me time" while they're running around and asking for breakfast, which isn't really working out very well. I find myself getting frustrated with them. Why? Because they want breakfast!? That's silly. Of course they want breakfast they haven't eaten in 14 hours. But I want my "me time!" That's what I want to say. And then my wonderful friend Nikki posts this on her blog today. It was a message from God just for me! I need to wake up FOR my kids, not TO my kids! So I will be making friends with my alarm clock. Many of you who know me are saying "yeah right! She is not a morning person", but this is just one of those things I need to do.
There are lots of other things going on in "Heather Land" right now, but you'll have to tune in tomorrow to find out more!
Let me start this post by saying God has been moving moving moving in my life recently. I feel like he has been laying so much on my heart that I have no choice but to follow his lead and make some changes to my life.
First off, we all know about the new house. The one that I still have yet to post pictures of as I promised in my last post. Let me tell you a secret..it's because I'm still unpacking. Yes, the house has been ours for almost a month now and there are still a few boxes sitting around. I finished unpacking/organizing the girls' rooms yesterday and have full intentions of finishing my bedroom by the end of the week. Then we will officially be "moved in"! We still have to paint a few rooms and hang wall decorations after we paint but it will be a few months until that's all finished. But pictures are coming...
Second, we've been attending a new church. Vertical Church to be exact. A friend at work was telling me that she and her husband had started attending Vertical and kept talking about how awesome it was. I was intrigued. It sounded great. I really wanted to try it out, but I felt guilty for "abandoning" the church we had been attending for the last year. So for a few weeks, I tried pushing the idea out of my mind. I really think God was urging me to go see what all the hype was about. So finally, I gave in. We attended one service and I was hooked. I loved it! I had never ever attended a church service like that. The music was incredible (songs that I listen to on K Love!), the sermon spoke directly to my heart. There is no way you could be bored in a church service at Vertical. Even my husband who doesn't consider himself a Christian enjoyed the service and has been back numerous times. God is doing BIG things in our community and he's using Vertical Church to touch the lives of so many people. If there is a Vertical Church in your area I encourage you to check it out! You won't be disappointed!
Homeschooling is still moving right along. I can not believe the year is winding down. After this week, the girls only have 9 more lessons in our Kindergarten math curriculum! When we finish those, we will review math and spend extra time on phonics. We have about 12 weeks of Phonics left. I'm amazed at the progress the girls have made. I love love love to hear them read. It just makes my heart smile. In science we're studying about plants. We started a plants lapbook today and will be planting bean seeds later this week.
I've been trying to make more time for "Mommy Quiet time". During this time I read my Bible, study my devotions, write for 31 Rubies, write for this blog, read, listen to music, etc. I've been trying to do it first thing in the mornings. Most days though I'm not awake before the girls, so I'm trying to squeeze in "me time" while they're running around and asking for breakfast, which isn't really working out very well. I find myself getting frustrated with them. Why? Because they want breakfast!? That's silly. Of course they want breakfast they haven't eaten in 14 hours. But I want my "me time!" That's what I want to say. And then my wonderful friend Nikki posts this on her blog today. It was a message from God just for me! I need to wake up FOR my kids, not TO my kids! So I will be making friends with my alarm clock. Many of you who know me are saying "yeah right! She is not a morning person", but this is just one of those things I need to do.
There are lots of other things going on in "Heather Land" right now, but you'll have to tune in tomorrow to find out more!
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Still here!
Just a quick update to let you guys know I'm not dead..just BUSY!! Since my last posting, we have bought our first home and have moved all of our stuff in and now we are busy unpacking/cleaning/painting/installing new floors/sanding and staining existing floors. This has been an amazing learning experience and we are having a blast. A longer post (including pictures) detailing the move is forthcoming..hopefully this weekend. Until then head over to 31 Rubies for "Clean Week"- cleaning everything- your home, clothing, diet, and hearts.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Aquarium and Kure Beach field trip
Yesterday we finished up our Seashore unit in Science, so we took advantage of a beautiful day and made a trip to Fort Fisher Aquarium. I am so glad we made this trip. After the previous day, we needed a good family day and that's just what we had. We only had one episode of a little one having a bad attitude.The majority of the day was spent laughing and enjoying each other's company.
I'm not going to say much more, I'll just let the pics speak for themselves.
A very rare Albino Alligator. Only 30-50 of these exist.
LOL. I love the expressions in this photo.
Daddy with his girls. Wondering what in the world is up with the hat my husband is wearing? Go to http://www.projectconversion.com/ to find out what he is up to.
Oh how I love these little ladies.
Wow. They really look alike here, aside from the face Shaylie is making.
Oh. My. Word. They are growing up too fast.
Crabby Nevaeh.
Hello Ocean! How I've missed you!!
Every bit as majestic in the winter as it is in the summer.
Fort Fisher Aquarium is awesome. The volunteers there are amazing. So willing to teach and interact with kids. I was very impressed. If you ever get a chance to go, make sure you stay for the dive show. It was definitely a highlight of the day.
I'm not going to say much more, I'll just let the pics speak for themselves.
Touching a sea star.
A very rare Albino Alligator. Only 30-50 of these exist.
LOL. I love the expressions in this photo.
Daddy with his girls. Wondering what in the world is up with the hat my husband is wearing? Go to http://www.projectconversion.com/ to find out what he is up to.
Oh how I love these little ladies.
Wow. They really look alike here, aside from the face Shaylie is making.
Oh. My. Word. They are growing up too fast.
Crabby Nevaeh.
Hello Ocean! How I've missed you!!
Every bit as majestic in the winter as it is in the summer.
God- thank You for giving us a home so close to the beach that we can experience the wonder you've created multiple times throughout the year. Amen.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Meal Plan Monday 3/7
Confession time! I did horribly at sticking with my meal plan last week. To be exact, we ate out 3 times. I'm beginning to see that this is a real problem for me, so much so that I've even prayed for God to help me stick with my meal list this week. Seriously. Obviously I can't do it on my own strength, so I will rely on His.
Here's the meal plan: (using some left over from last week)
Monday- Fried Chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, green beans
Tuesday- Field trip day. Plan is to grab dinner while out. It's planned, so its ok!
Wednesday- Paprika Hungarian Chicken
Thursday- Biscuits and gravy
Friday- Homemade pizza
Saturday- Broccoli Cheese Quiche
Sunday- Veggie Lasagna
Here's the meal plan: (using some left over from last week)
Monday- Fried Chicken, baked macaroni and cheese, green beans
Tuesday- Field trip day. Plan is to grab dinner while out. It's planned, so its ok!
Wednesday- Paprika Hungarian Chicken
Thursday- Biscuits and gravy
Friday- Homemade pizza
Saturday- Broccoli Cheese Quiche
Sunday- Veggie Lasagna
Desperately Seeking Advice
Can I be real with you guys for a minute? Please don't judge me for what I'm about to say. My six year old is a brat. I'm talking a brat with a capital "B".
Yes, this beautiful little girl is who I am talking about. She defines brat: selfish, thinks she is the best at everything, thinks only of herself, back talking, eye rolling, whining, hitting, screaming. Look it up in the dictionary and you might very well find her photo. We need an intervention. We need Nanny 911 and quick! I love her with every piece of my being, but sometimes she makes it very difficult to like being around her. My question is this: how did she get this way?! I would like to think she doesn't see this behavior anywhere. She isn't in public school, so she doesn't have that influence. Her sister acts nothing like this. Where have we gone wrong? She gets punished when she exhibits these behaviors, but yet she continues to do them. Seriously, this morning she spent over an hour and a half in time out. That's how long it took for her to decide to lose the attitude. I'm sure it will surface again at some point today though. It always does, and she'll go right back to time out. We've taken away privileges. What else can we do? How can we instill a kind heart within her? How can we change her mindset of thinking she is entitled to everything? Please as you read this, share any and all advice. I've been real with you, now in turn please be real with me. Don't censor your thoughts, tell me exactly what you're thinking.
Yes, this beautiful little girl is who I am talking about. She defines brat: selfish, thinks she is the best at everything, thinks only of herself, back talking, eye rolling, whining, hitting, screaming. Look it up in the dictionary and you might very well find her photo. We need an intervention. We need Nanny 911 and quick! I love her with every piece of my being, but sometimes she makes it very difficult to like being around her. My question is this: how did she get this way?! I would like to think she doesn't see this behavior anywhere. She isn't in public school, so she doesn't have that influence. Her sister acts nothing like this. Where have we gone wrong? She gets punished when she exhibits these behaviors, but yet she continues to do them. Seriously, this morning she spent over an hour and a half in time out. That's how long it took for her to decide to lose the attitude. I'm sure it will surface again at some point today though. It always does, and she'll go right back to time out. We've taken away privileges. What else can we do? How can we instill a kind heart within her? How can we change her mindset of thinking she is entitled to everything? Please as you read this, share any and all advice. I've been real with you, now in turn please be real with me. Don't censor your thoughts, tell me exactly what you're thinking.
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The Homeschool Mother's Journal- week of 2/28-3/5
In my life this week...
I've had a very good past two weeks. There are a lot of exciting things happening and God is blessing us immeasurably. I can't give any details yet...but soon I promise! 31 Rubies (http://www.thirtyonerubies.com/) went live on Tuesday and our response has been great. If you haven't checked it out yet, you are missing out!
In our homeschool this week...
We are moving right along. We finished our NC unit and began our Around the World unit; focusing on the United States right now. We finished our Animal unit and are beginning to plan a trip to the NC zoo this month. See my post, Mid-Year Reflections, from earlier this week to learn more about what we've been up to.
Places we're going and people we're seeing...
Today we started our seashore unit in Science and depending on the weather I hope to make a trip to the beach at some point this week.
My favorite thing this week was...
Good news!!! But I just can't spill the beans yet! My next favorite thing was going to Friendly's for ice cream after the girls' soccer game. Lots of laughs and good times.
What's working/not working for us...
I just really really wish we had more of a homeschool community around here. We get lonely sometimes :(
Homeschool questions/thoughts I have...
This morning (yes, even though it was a Saturday) as I sat down to begin school with the girls I realized again just how much I LOVE being given the opportunity to teach them at home. I actually said out loud "I love teaching you guys at home". Some days it's difficult, but it's so very rewarding.
A photo/video/link or quote to share...
C'mon now. You knew this was coming. http://www.thirtyonerubies.com/ Indulge! You'll be glad you did.
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