Caught!

Today I am trying to catch my kids doing good stuff and praising them for it.

You did such a good job obeying!

You are being such a great listener!

I like how you did______________!

Sometimes it is too easy to stay in teaching/training mode...their little faces light up when they are encouraged!

Big Cedar

We packed up the bus and headed to Big Cedar last week. My parents took us and boy was it a blessing!  So relaxing and fun.

This just cracked me up! We were at the campfire to make smores and the smoke was burning the boys eyes so they put there goggles on.  I told them smoke follows beauty and had to apologize profusely for causing a smokey scene (wink wink).  I about fell over when they did this though-too funny.

In the mornings Shane fishes on vacation.  Then around 10 we go to the family pool.  We head back to the room for lunch around noon.  Shane stays in the room with the boys after lunch.  They nap and he catches up on important world news like Swamp People and American Pickers.  Meanwhile, Mama goes to the "Pina Colada Pool".  Yep, for a few hours it's just me, my murder mystery and a fruity drink.  There are kids there but none of them are mine.  These are the kind of afternoons this stay at home Mama lives for!

Thank you Nanny and Poppy for a fun filled week!

9 pennies

So we've had some funny happenings.  Like driving to swim lessons yesterday and seeing my 5 year old gather 9 pennies.

Whatcha' doin I asked. 

Getting my money together to give my teacher.

Really?  What for?

Well, I don't want to jump off the diving board today.  So I'm just going to give my teacher money instead.  I don't want to jump today, I just want to bless my teacher. 

I've been doing a lot of writing at my new blog, Hands Open Wide, you can click here to check it out if you are interested.

My other blog

Well, today's post is a step of faith for me.

I have another blog I started 3 years ago.

It is a step of faith for me to unhide it and share it with you today.  No one knows about it, it has been something between God and I.  There are only a couple of posts.  These pasts weeks and months God keeps telling me two words.

Word and Song.

My biggest ministry these days is to my husband and babies but God is giving me little glimpses into new things.  The two words He keeps whispering to me are Word and Song.  Not very many pieces to the puzzle there, but there is no mistaking in my heart He has clearly revealed these two precious words to me.

I'm going to be writing on both blogs, but my other blog is where I'm going to be writing about my times with the LORD.  That is where my heart is.

Even this morning as I read Psalm 71 he reaffirmed to me that this is His Desire for me.  He reminded me that since my youth He has not forsaken me.  He wants me to declare his power to the next generation, and declare His Might to anyone who will listen.

Sharing my heart feels very vulnerable.  Sharing with whoever will read makes me scared.  Two weeks ago the LORD made it very clear to me during our sermon at church that this is my next step of faith. I've sat on the command for two weeks.  And today I'm stepping out in obedience and with a heart that wants to bring God's Name Glory.

www.handsopenwide.blogspot.com

Put It Away

Our motto around our house is, "Don't put it down, put it away!"

This one tiny practice will make a world of difference in how your home looks.

As you go from room to room, if your eye catches something out of place put it away right then.

This little step, repeated over and over throughout the day will start to pay off big dividends in the tidiness of your home!

Don't put it down, put it away!