God speaks in dreams and visions.

We had a... "situation" in our house about a week ago...these grey scissors were being used, which is fine....but then they mysteriously disappeared.  It was a bit of a nuisance since Christmas crafting is happening in our home and these scissors are vital for most projects.  However, the crafts had to change (we got a lot of crocheting done) and the scissors were left mysteriously in an unknown place.  As with most things we encourage each other to pray and ask God to help.  We know that He knows all things, that He answers us, and that nothing is impossible with Him.  So, the family member prayed, and said that God showed them a picture of the scissors in the button tin.  WoW!  How amazing right?  I mean, God still does that?  Can it really happen?  You might think that they just remembered, but I know, and they know, it was God.  In Acts 2:17 it says,
  

"'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams.

Ok, but here's a funny part (not really funny)...this family member decided not to listen to God and just scan over areas of the house, hoping to find it on their own.  Isn't it funny how we sometimes do that, at least I know I have before.  I know that God has told me something, yet I want to think I might be able to do it on my own...or in my own way.  Even when I asked!  and He answered!  I took, well, over a week.  I finally said, listen, these scissors are really important to us finishing Christmas gifts and we're going to have to find them, or buy new ones.  I know they are in the house, let's find them.  At that time, when they thought about having to buy new ones...they thought, this is serious!  Looked for a few minutes, then remembered the picture that God put in their mind.  Immediately they went looking, not for the scissors, but for the button tin.  Which they found, and of course, the scissors were in it!  This true story is amazing to me, and to my family of God's incredible reality.  He spoke in a picture, so clearly to my child's mind, and thus, taught us all a lesson.

Momma Monday

Matthew LOVES pictures, he loves taking them, drawing them, setting people up to be just right, and most of all, being IN them!  He was so proud of this snowman that he and Ryan built last Wednesday, it just needed a picture!  Matthew makes a lot of good memories and is great at trying to keep them through photographs (as well as verbally...over...and over... and over...) :)   For his birthday in September we bought him a disposable camera - it had 30 pictures and it the prints and CD came with the price of the camera.  It was pretty great for Matthew.  He just finished taking the last picture on Saturday.  When I first bought it I thought for sure it would be done so quickly since Matthew loves to take pictures, but really, he was so very careful about each picture he took.  He put a lot of thought into each one, bringing his camera everywhere we went, but only taking it out when he was sure he wanted a picture.  Seeing the finished results I was impressed at how good his pictures were, considering it was a disposable!  There was only 1 that was taken of the floor because it was wound already and he forgot...not too bad!  My wonderful bubbly son the photographer :)

What will we do tomorrow?

Last night as I was putting the kids to bed, two of them, at separate bed times...asked, Mommy, what are we doing tomorrow?  What is exciting for tomorrow?  They love to look forward to what the next day will bring....it was pretty funny because before they got ready for bed I saw both of them go to the magnetic calendar we have on the fridge and check..they saw there was nothing there :)  If you know our family, you know this is unusual.  The kids knew this was unusual.  And they didn't like it.  But I thought it was quite funny!  This morning when they came into my room to say good morning they asked again, Mommy, what are we doing today?  What is special today?  I asked them why did they think we should do something special and they said because we always do special things and it's fun!
I love my kids, I think it's funny the way they learn things sometimes...and things they come to expect or anticipate.  I was thinking about the verse in Matthew 6:34 that says,

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own

I don't think they were worrying, but I think it's a great thing to put into practice, not worrying about tomorrow and what things might come, but focus on today and being obedient to God for the day He's given! :)

Benefits of Homeschooling :)

Waking up this morning I had the nearly uncontrollable desire to go play in the snow!  At the breakfast table of course that was heightened even more as the kids could barely contain themselves to even sit and eat!  It was quite ridiculous, but I imagine many homes were the same way! 
What I can't imagine, and don't envy, is teachers today!!  Those kids are going to have the uncontrollable desire! Yet they are supposed to be in a classroom!  I'm sure there are creative things to do..but I'm so glad that we have the option to play, then do some schooling...not having to wait!  We made a fun fort - which the kids are packing the walls in, and there's a snowman as our "guard" but he seems to be camouflaged in my picture. 

I found this really neat verse in the Bible about snow, it's in Job 38:22

Have you entered the storehouses of the snow or seen the storehouses of the hail

It's such a cool picture of God having these storehouses filled with snow, and hail, just waiting for the right time when the earth needs it, or when kids want to play:)  I know snow can be seen as a hassle and a negative things sometimes too, but today I'm just enjoying the snow, the way it makes everything look clean and fresh, and the excitment of playing in it!  And also being thankful that we homeschool so we can enjoy it together!

Momma Monday

Rachel Patricia is becoming such a beautiful young lady.  Most days are a lot of fun with her as we learn together and share in funny moments.  Lately we have been doing a LOT of crafting together.  We`ve been pumping out sock monkeys....they take a lot of work, but I like the sewing, she likes the stuffing, so it all works out!  And I`ve been scrapbooking while she stuffs.  We sure do make a good mess together!  But, we`re ok   :) at cleaning up afterwards.  This day, in the picture, we were hard at work crafting away, I was still in my pj`s....in the late afternoon, and we decided we wanted to dress up!  We both went to our closests and took the most fancy thing we could find and put it on.  We twirled around and danced freely, took a few pictures and laughed and laughed.  It was a really beautiful time together with my girl (the boys were away at an After School Club, and Tim at work) so it was a precious time, just the two of us, being girls!  I love my girl!

I like what Colossians 3:12 says,

Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.

Sometimes I get so stuck in the slump of the day, and forget to clothe myself with a changed, freshness of Christ.  I mean this literally and figuratively.  It`s often easy for me to stay in my pj`s....on days when I don`t have to be anywhere that I just don`t make the choice to get changed.  But when I do, whether I have  to or not, I feel a lot better!  Same with us in Christ.  When we realize that we are God`s chosen people, and clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience we feel so much better and ready for whatever God has for us...!

Fill my cup!

So, in our home, we all love a good cup of hot chocolate, or tea, maybe a French Vanilla Capuccino...mmmm...these cooler days they are even more inviting!  We like to look for the best...sometimes biggest cup that we can enjoy our sweet relaxing drinks in.  There's this song I like to sing with the kids, or little tune rather...Fill my cup - up - let it overflow, fill my cup - up - let it overflow, fill my cup-up-let it overflow, let it overflow with love! 

Well, Ryan was given a few gifts with a gingerbread man theme for appreciating his help.  He just loved this, and felt so special!  One of his gifts was a set of gigantic mugs!  He very kindly said one of them could be mine!  I must say, I have used my mug more than once each day and love love love it!  This picture doesnt' really do them justice since they are on their own, I'll have to take one with someone holding them!  But here, they are so big, they have our popcorn snack in them, one mug for two people!  They are so  wonderfully massive!  Anyway, when we look at these mugs and we sing our song, I think WHOA! that would be a lot! To let this cup overflow, and overflow with love....hmm...that would be a lot of love.  1 John 3:1 shares of this kind of love.

"How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!"



Feet

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of the messenger who brings good news, the good news of peace and salvation, the news that the God of Israel reigns! Isaiah 52:7