At Peace

Have you ever had a time when everything seems to be swirling around you, but you feel totally at peace?  

With the beginning of a new school year smack-dab upon me, it seems like the details of life are endless...all of the things that need to be done are lining themselves up--seemingly on their own--on my to-do list.

You know what I mean.  

I'm sure you've been there yourself.

You may even be asking, "Been there?!  I'm always there!"

Carrie and I attended the Women of Faith convention a couple of weekends ago.  There we enjoyed Sheila Walsh with her beautiful Scottish accent.  She was so easy to listen to...not only because of her accent but because of the Word she proclaimed.

One thing she said really stuck with me.

It went something like this...

The burdens in my life...the weight of my life...had become so heavy that I cried out to Jesus and said, 

"I am going to take You up on Your offer.  

I need to take You up on Your offer!

I want to exchange my burdens for your peace!"

Matthew 11:28-30

 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.

I am determined this school year to cry out to Jesus daily and "take Him up on His offer."

I am determined to meet with Him each morning so that I can collect my daily manna and use only that which is for this day!  To see that His mercies are new every morning and that He gives me His strength for this day.

Psalm 143:8

Let the morning bring me word 

of your unfailing love,
   for I have put my trust in you.
Show me the way I should go,
   for to you I entrust my life. 

That, I know, is one of the reasons that I felt so peaceful yesterday.

Another reason is that I am sure that our homeschool group leaders are praying daily for this group and the families involved.  The presence of God was something very powerful yesterday as the children met as a group yesterday afternoon.

It began with a picnic outside of our new host church.

Peacefulness seen in the warm sunshine filtering through the shade of a big old tree...

Peacefulness in a little boy's voice expressing thanks, "Thank you for bringing me here, Mommy.  Thank you for my crunchy strawberry sandwich (he is a strawberry jelly on crunchy peanut butter sort of guy)."

Peacefulness in that smile...

and that one...

and that one...

 Peacefulness in watching your kids mingle with other kids who love and accept them.

After lunch we went inside to enjoy
the Utopia Wildlife program.

Utopia Wildlife rehabilitates wildlife and educates the public about wild animals.

My pictures are not the best...I couldn't figure out how to get a good one.

No flash=blurry.

Flash=too dark.

Here is a Screech Owl.

Did you know that they don't really screech?

This was William's favorite (along with the opossum).  He loved its great big eyes.

Here's the Barn Owl.  

Did you know that he can hear a mouse's heartbeat 

under a foot of snow?!

Amazing.

And the Red-Tailed Hawk.

Did you know that most of the time he stays in one location to hunt for food?

He can see movement as small as a child's eyebrows moving way across the room from him.

Ah...the Peregrine Falcon.

Did you know that they enjoy eating smaller birds?

Like pigeons?

Sometimes they attack the pigeon with such force that they knock their heads off.

So...if you ever see a pigeon's head just lying on the sidewalk, 

that would be the work of the Peregrine Falcon.

This particular falcon has killed two of its mates.

It no longer shares its cage.
Life lesson, I think.

Josh moved to the front row so that he could see the animals up close.

Matthew wasn't interested in getting closer.  He tried it, but he soon came back and sat on my lap.

It might have had something to do with the talk of head-snapping.

Funny thing.

When this animal came out of its crate, I said, "Oh!  I don't like 'possums!" 

When I see them at the side of the road...or in the middle of the road, my toes draw in--they actually curl up.

It just happens.

They are so creepy!

But this one?

I actually thought it was kind of cute.

So did the kids.  The 'possum won "favorite animal of the afternoon."

Did you know that 'possums don't play dead on purpose?

They actually faint "dead away" from fear.

They can be out for up to four hours!

Don't hurry too quickly to make 'Possum Stew from that road kill you found this afternoon.

Another life lesson.

Enough with the 'possum.

"Teach me to snap, Mom."

We now have a snapper in the family.

Practice makes perfect. 

Enjoying peace...and life lessons...and snapping 3-year old fingers,

The Trees Are Alive!

The trees are alive!
I know they are.

(Cue William singing "The Trees Are Alive!" to the tune of "The Hills Are Alive.")

I have heard them in the middle of the night shaking off the thick layers of ice that enshroud them.

And this morning, I went outside to get a closer look at the beautiful light show that God was putting on...starring the trees!















The supporting roles are being played by the Forsythia...



...and the Live Forevers!



Not to mention the props in the play.
The birdbath...



and the bridge.



The trees are alive!
Have you ever seen a tree steam?
It's hard to capture in a picture, but this tree, and the others in my yard, have steam rolling off of them!
Hurry! Go look!



Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Enjoy the sunshine today!

Starting Fresh

It has been so long since I have written a blog post.
A real blog post.
Not one of those like I did back in October.

A blog post where I really take the time to write about something that matters.

Every time I sit down to write, I wonder if what I have to say really matters.
I feel like I did when I wrote my very first blog post.

Three times since the New Year has begun, I have been directed to Philippians 3:13-14. Three times from three separate resources.

Is God trying to tell me something?

"Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Do I spend too much time looking back and feeling bad about all that I haven't done?

Well...YES!
I do!
I am really terrible about that!

So, as I sit in front of my blog, God's Words come to me.
How can I move on now that I've been so neglectful about recording months of family memories?

I will do what Paul has told me to do.
In the book of Philippians, Paul says to "forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead."

Funny thing.
When I asked my Paul about how I could possibly move ahead with my blog, he gave me the same advice.
Don't look back and don't try to pick up where you left off.
Don't look back at all.
Write now...right now!

Well then.
Here it goes...

One of our favorite parts of Christmas vacation is New Year's Eve!
Everything very noticeably slows down the week after Christmas in our home.

The rush of the holidays is over.
The shopping is done.
The baking is done.
Paul has vacation from work for the week.
The house is a wreck, but it doesn't matter.

New Year's Eve is a very quiet time in our home.
I'm not sure why. I'm sure that the noise level is the same as always...maybe even a bit more amplified than usual because of the new toys and gadgets and because of how cluttered the house is.
But every year, when I think back to New Year's Eve day and evening, my memories seem hushed.
Happy and hushed.

We've started having homemade pizza and nachos each New Year's Eve.
Here is one of our creations from this year...



The Littles started their partying early!
Which was a good thing.





A very good thing.
Their New Year's Eve ended a little early.





Josh woke up for a few minutes to see the ball drop, but he didn't remember anything about it the next day.



Paul's first picture of 2011...



My first picture of 2011...
Yes, I am quite bleary-eyed. I had fallen asleep too.
But I do remember seeing the ball drop.



Carrie and William are always the New Year's Eve troopers.
They LOVE staying up late. Their goal every year is to stay up all night long.

Maybe next year. :)





So...off we go into 2011!
This has been a much-anticipated year.
A year of new beginnings in so many areas.

This will be a good year!

A year to "Forget what is behind and strain toward what is ahead, pressing on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."

I am so thankful for God's mercies which are new every morning!

Lamentations 3:22-23
"Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

Enjoying the Journey,

A Constant Reminder

Galatians 5:22-25
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.

Alright.
Confession time.

Do you know how long I have tried to memorize the Fruit of the Spirit.
And not only to memorize...but then to try my hardest to display the Fruit in my life.

Try to be patient, Jodi!
Try to be loving, Jodi!
Come on, Jodi...just try to have a little self-control!

Try as I might, I just couldn't seem to produce that Fruit.

There it is..."Try as I might..."

Then, several years ago, I heard Joyce Meyer speak on the Fruit of the Spirit.
Something she said made such a difference in my life.
She said that when we invite Jesus into our lives, the Holy Spirit takes up residence inside of us. Along with the Holy Spirit comes His Fruit.

So...I have the Fruit of the Spirit inside of me.
I don't have to try to get it.
It just needs time to mature...time to grow.

No longer do I have to try...I need to abide.
To rest in Jesus and know that He will be the one doing the work...if only I can figure out how to abide in Him.

I struggle with abiding.
I struggle with trusting.

Lately, I have found that I still struggle with the trying.
I am still trying to produce that Fruit!

One day a couple of weeks ago, I was inspired!
I felt this strong urge to go out to the schoolroom, get my unused sentence strips, and write each Fruit on a piece of the strip.
Then, I stuck them up in the kitchen...right where I see them many times, every single day.




What has that done for me?

Now, when I am struggling with patience, I look up there and see the word "Patience." It reminds me that I have patience just waiting to be exercised!
So, I stop and pray...asking the Lord to please display His patience in me.

When I'm wiping macaroni and cheese off the floor, I look up and see the word "Kindness." I ask God to please help me to be kind...even though I am really wanting to gripe and complain about having to clean up such a sticky mess.

Those Oreo cookies in the cookie jar?
Lord! Please help me to use self-control!

The other great-big blessing that has come from having the Fruit of the Spirit posted in the kitchen is that the kids see it everyday too. We can just stop and talk about being gentle with each other. Or we can talk about being peaceful. We can stop and pray together to God...telling Him how we long to have that Fruit displayed in our lives.

That has been the abiding for me.
The reminder to turn to Jesus for patience, for gentleness, for joy.
So often, my day goes by in such a blur, that I forget to stop and ask for what I need. I forget to abide in Him.
This has been my constant reminder to abide.

Abiding together,

Lucky...or Blessed?

I was on the treadmill one morning this week...
Now that's a blessing.

After what seems like years of trying to figure out the best time for daily exercise, Carrie and William have stepped in to feed the little boys their breakfasts while I use the treadmill.
Like I said...what a blessing!
I guess you would call it a blessing.
Exercise...a blessing...
Anyway...

While I'm on the treadmill, I usually get a visit or two from Josh. He just likes to check in on me...I think he likes to see what I watch on TV when he's not around. Spongebob? Max and Ruby?

I was on the treadmill one morning this week when Josh walked in with a plate. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see that he was walking very carefully. Very slowly.

"Here, Mom. This is for you. It's the part of the Lucky Charms you like. I saved them just for you."



Pant, pant..."Thanks, Josh!"

"I'll put them right here so that you can eat them."

Pant, pant, cough..."Thank you! But where are the marshmallows?"

"Oh! I ate them for you!"

Pant, sputter..."Thanks, Buddy!"

I have to be honest with you.
I wasn't sure if I get an A in parenting for that...or a D-.
He's sharing! Give that mom an A!
He ate the best part of the cereal and is pawning the rest off on his mom! Give that mom a D-!

I had some time to think about this while I was getting showered and dressed.

I realize that so much of life is about growing...maturing.

If Matthew were given a bowl of Lucky Charms, he would grab up two handfuls of them and throw them on the floor when he was finished with them. Marshmallows and all. He wouldn't put any thought into whether someone else would like the marshmallows...or the cereal.

Then there is Josh. He has moved past that stage and wants to share. Maybe not the ingredient that he likes best--but he does think to share what's left instead of flinging them onto the floor.

What about Carrie and William? They have moved on to noticing that the Lucky Charms box is feeling kind of light, so they ask if anyone wants any of the cereal before they get theirs...hoping beyond hope that everyone says no.

And me? I notice that the box is feeling kind of light; so, knowing that the kids would probably like a bowlful later, I look for something else to eat.
Most of the time.
There might be times when I quietly pour out the remainder of the cereal, stand in the kitchen while shoveling them in my mouth as quickly as possible, and then bury the box in the trash can.
Maybe.
But most of the time, I would look for something else to eat.

Then I had to wonder...how close am I to being like Jesus?
What would Jesus do with the Lucky Charms?




Not only does He want to give me the marshmallows...He wants me to ask for the marshmallows.

"God has all blessing and goodness. He desires to bless you, so when you ask for God's blessing, you are asking for exactly what He desires to give you! Matthew 7:7-8 says, 'Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.'" (AllAboutPrayer.org)

I will bless them and the places surrounding my hill. I will send down showers in season; there will be showers of blessing. (Ezekiel 34:26)

Praying marshmallow blessings for you,

This is the Day!

I know that there's not a whole lot that's spiritual about Spongebob Squarepants.

I also know that I might be taking a bit of a chance by quoting any character from Spongebob in a spiritual context...but here it goes.



"The sweet smell of a brand new day!"

I have no idea in what context Mr. Krabs exclaimed this, but I do know that when he shouted it, my soul jumped and wanted to shout it too!

Psalm 118:24

This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Enjoying this day,