Esther's graduation

Here are some pictures of Esther's kindergarten graduation~!

Revisiting Mitford

Every few years I decide to reread the Mitford Books by Jan Karon. They are by far my favorite series of books. I have probably read the first book, At home in Mitford about 5 times! It is such a sweet gentle read and I enjoy it so much. If you have never read any of these books, I would highly recommend them.

I tend to relate the type of books I read like beverages. I know that is weird...but, work with me here and think of it like this:

The Bible ~ like milk... Does a body good, necessary for growth
Christian, self help books ~ Orange juice. Some times pretty good, other times taste like aluminum foil!
Modern day christian romance books ~ Diet coke, won't hurt, doesn't help a lot either just enjoyable.
Historical Fiction ~ A fruit smoothie ~ More substantial and still yummy!
Classic English literature ~ A v8. It is good for me, but I tend to have to hold my nose to get it all down...and not very often.
Mitford Books ~ A venti pumpkin spice latte ( and those that know me know this is high praise!)

So if you like coffee, v8s ,diet cokes or smoothies, drink something so you don't dehydrate and always remember to have your daily dose of "milk".

End of the school year photos

Since I took pictures when we began the school year, I thought I would post some pictures of the end of our school year. My, how they have grown in the last 10 months!

closet cleaning

Confession: I am a clothes hawg!!! :)

I love buying clothes and keeping clothes.I am a collector of clothes! I have been going through and trying to weed out things I no longer wear though and I have two large garbage bags in my garage to take to the goodwill now.

Last night before church, I was trying to find a certain black top to go with my pink summer skirt. I looked and looked. Now, mind you, I have 6 (yes, that is right 6!!) black tops in my closet of various styles and shapes,but I wanted a certain one that I think I put in the goodwill bags.
Let me tell you, the urge to pull those bags open and rifle through for my long lost shirt was tempting, but if it was in the bags, at one point I had decided I didn't need it anymore! I didn't really need that shirt, I just wanted it. I ended up choosing a whole different outfit, but it got me thinking...

How many times in our lives do we give something over to the Lord and say,"take it, it is not good for me, I don't need this _______ (sin, habit, thought pattern,image, guilt), it is not good for me" and then we go and try to claim it back again just like I did with my shirt.

"I, even I am He who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more." (Isaiah 43:25) If the Lord takes theses things and remembers them no more, then we should not either. If you are trying to bring something back into your life that you have given to God, be it for guilt or pleasure, don't. Just leave it in God's hands...that is where it belongs.

How many times do you hear a voice in your head telling you that you are nothing or a failure or worthless? Those thoughts are not from God, put them in the garbage bag! How many time do you feel guilty for sin you have already ask the Lord for forgiveness from? Garbage bag!
Satan wants this garbage in our life. The clutter of it keeps us from seeing the blessings God has given us and the confidence to serve Him. While it is a very good idea to clean out the closet and weed out the junk, it is even a better idea to do the same to our hearts...and leave the garbage where it belongs!

Now, off to reevaluate those garbage bags in the garage, I think I threw my cute pink capri's in there too....just kidding!

A Verse for the Day

Zephaniah 3:17
The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."

There was a CD out about a year ago called Glory Revealed that a few contemporary christian artist had gotten together and taken scripture and put it to music. Mac Powell from Third Day was one of the artist, so I had to buy the cd. It was an awesome cd and one of my favorite songs was from the verse above. I have been a christian for almost 30 years ,went to christian school and Bible college and I never remember hearing this verse until that song.

I am reading Max Lucado's book Just like Jesus right now in my quiet time and I read about this verse again this week. Now this book was written about 5 years ago and I am just now reading it. Why have I never heard this verse before? In my opinion, it should be one of the first verses a new believer memorizes!

The God of all creation rejoices over me! He sings over me He quiets me with His love. The image of a mother rocking her newborn to sleep, singing a lullaby, cooing love for the child is what I see when I hear this verse. We don't have to have had a good day and been a good boy or girl to get this love...we only have to be His child.

If there is anyone out there who reads my blog that feels alone or in need of a hug, just climb right up in God's big ol rocking chair and let him sing you to sleep and love on you. It's not a chore...He delights in it....He delights in you!

Homeschool year in Review

Well, it is May and so I thought I would redo my blog a little and make it more springy! Greg said he did not like the "weird, bambo" look I had going on in April. :)
Ah, if only redecorating my house was as easy as redecorating my blog! Happy May Days Ya'll!

The little boy that we thought would be up for adoption isn't. As of right now the hearing has been continued another 6 weeks in order for the birthmom to get her act together. She has not visited the child one time in his whole life, but she still claims to want him. Just thought I would let you all know and thank you for praying.