Let the Games Begin!

Saturday was the girls' first soccer game. It was cold & rainy, but boy did they have a blast! Mya kicked her very first goal, and Emily did victory cheers every time someone else kicked a goal. The smile never left Emily's face during her field time. When it was time to let someone else play, that was when she felt how cold she really was. Poor thing kept putting her whole hands in her mouth to try and warm them. Once she got back on the field, didn't even matter that she was cold. I think this is going to be a great new adventure for them. I'm hoping next game day will be warmer.... and sunnier. 

What Makes A House A Home?

Home is where the heart is. A home is a place the members inside should feel safe, secure, loved, valued, cherished. A peaceful resting place where the heart can be healed and the Spirit refreshed. A home should be a place where dreams are born and then encouraged to be lived out. I desire my home to be such a place that anyone who enters can FEEL Christ living in it. I want my home to be a place where truth is shared, wrapped up in love...but not to the point that it takes away from the fact that making mistakes has consequences. That bad choices not only hurt ourselves, but everyone around us in our world. That is such a tough balance to have. It seems as though I'm either on one side or the other. 

So, if this is what I want my home to be, how do I get there? I have the goal, but now what is my course going to be? I have heard it said that there must be a work IN you before there can be a work THROUGH you. I have given so much time in trying to give up my selfishness in wanting things my way. I have come to the conclusion that it is a never-ending battle to die to self. The harder I strive at being better, the farther I feel from it. However, giving up is not an option. 

I heard a Mother speaking yesterday about  "Perfection Infection". As Mothers, we spend so much energy and stress on trying to be everything to everyone. We work tirelessly to be perfect, but the fact is that no Mom is. We guilt ourselves into a pit of destruction. We feel that we don't measure up. There were some really great reflecting moments for me. Here are some of the things that were said:

1) Don't compare your insides to someone else's outsides. 

2) Move from the pursuit of perfection to the pursuit of being perfected. 

3) I see the hurt in you, but I also see the hope in you.

4) Better to be authentic than to pretend perfection. 

If you're interested in catching more great insights, you can listen to Jill Savage on Focus on the Family. Here is a link:

http://www.focusonthefamily.com/popups/media_player.aspx?MediaId={77E1566F-70E8-47B4-815B-7AC9031F8FA4}

I hope you'll be blessed and encouraged in not only your work as a Mother, but also who you are as a person. 

Happy Birthday Mya!

 Mya has always been a happy, early riser. Add excitement to the mix, and you get a SUPER happy-early riser. 5:30am kind of early!  Thanks to her cousin, Hailey, she got the beautiful doll dress. Mya has been waiting days to open the package. Talk about teaching patience. I love the little things in life that make a big deal. For her Birthday, she gets to have lunch in her classroom with two friends of her choice. Then, we will be having an after school picnic at the place of her choice. We will end with a home-made Birthday cake. When I talk about the "little things"... a store does a much better job at cake making than I do. So I usually go that route. One year I made a cake, and vowed to not do it again. It was very time consuming, and it didn't turn out to my expectations. Mya told me this year that my making her cake was the best cake ever. She wanted me to do it again. Well, swallow my perfectionism...and just give her "hand-made with love" version. It's the little things that count. 

Emily's Big Day

Emily's class did a short presentation about dinosaurs. She was not timid at all! Had to move the mic even. How I remember those days....being the smallest in the class. I am given the opportunity over and over again to teach the girls that no matter how cruel people can be, don't let it change who you are on the inside. It is sad to see what they have to go through at such a young age. 

Later on in the day, she also had her first day of Soccer! She was so excited. When it came to running, she loved it. When it came to kicking the ball, she loved it. When it came to being silly, she couldn't participate. She told me later, "Mom, I don't want to be silly. I want to play soccer." Makes me laugh. I couldn't help but think of the movie "Kicking & Screaming" while watching practice. It was pretty dead on when it comes to how kids can be at this age. This will be interesting....

Supermarket Field Trip

 On a scavenger hunt to find items in the store from each 

food group.

 Preparing for the meat tour.

 Below, the kids are watching how hamburger meat is made.

I love the mixed reaction of the faces! 

Today, Emily's class of Kindergartners (and 5 other kindergarten classes) went to a local Market. All week the children have been learning about food groups. This was a fun way to bring it all together and experience how one store has all the items a person needs to stay healthy.

Salvation or Condemnation

Turn your eyes upon Jesus

Look full in His wonderful face.

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

I find it a bit funny (and sad) at the frequent reminders I need to keep my focus on Christ and Christ alone. It's not just daily reminders, but minute reminders. Every time a thought, choice, or concern enters my mind, I am given a choice on how to react. Will I choose to trust in Him, or will I choose to trust in my own feeble attempts to solve things without Him? I have some victories when I remember to rely on Him, but more than I like to admit, it's my human nature to try and do it alone. When I am overcome with doubt, fear and anxiety, I then realize I left my God who goes before me and with me....behind. I was so busy running ahead, that His peace has left me. Then He reminds me, gently and tenderly, "My dear child. There you go again, worrying about the future that may never even come to pass. Live with Me in the here and now. I will protect  you. I will provide for you. I will show you the way to walk in.... one step at a time." He is so gracious. So patient. And yet, He understands frustration. While here on earth with His disciples, they continued to miss what He was teaching them. "How long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you?" Mark 9:19

I was reading in Psalm 50 today:

Our God comes and will not be silent. He summons the heavens above, and the earth, that he may judge his people, for God Himself is judge. "Hear, O my people, and I will speak, and I will testify against you; I am God, your God. I do not rebuke you for your sacrifices or burnt offerings which are ever before Me. I have no need of a bull from your stall or of goats from your pens, for every animal of the forest is mine, I know every bird in the mountains, and the creatures of the field are mine. The world is mine, and all that is in it. Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor Me." But to the wicked, God says; "What right have you to recite my laws or take my covenant on your lips? You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with the adulterers. You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit. You speak continually against your brother. These things you have done and I kept silent; you thought I was altogether like you. But I will rebuke you and accuse you to your face. Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue: He who sacrifices thank offerings honors Me, and he prepares the way, so that I may show him the salvation of God." 

Who is the Author?

I once heard that our life story does not belong to us. It is not something we should keep to ourselves, or hide in a box in the closet. I have not written the story of my life. I have merely been a vessel in this thing called "life". God is the Author of every story. He is the One who creates a beautiful masterpiece when all is said and done. He intends His artwork to be shared...with everyone. Not just those of our own choice.

I have questioned at times what can look like disaster. I have thought on numerous occasions, "God, this shouldn't have happened this way. Do you see what is going on? Are you really feeling my inexpressible hurt, confusion, betrayal?" He has felt it.... ALL of it.

This morning I woke hours before my alarm went off. A heavy heart tends to make for sleeplessness. The song in my head was: "I"ll praise you in this storm and I will lift my voice. You are who You are, no matter where I am. Every tear I've cried, You hold in Your hand. You never left my side. Though my heart is torn...I will praise You in this storm."

I have seen that life can give you the unexpected, and even undesired. At times this is no fault of our own, other times it is. It amazes me how God can "work ALL things together for the good of those who love Him". To be honest, I don't see my life as being a masterpiece now. Therein lies the HOPE. The things which cannot be seen. "Lord, I believe. Help my unbelief!"

I will meditate on Your unfailing love. Your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; Your right hand is filled with righteousness. Psalm 48:9-10