Living in the Moment

Us enjoying a good book on one of the days already long past. Sometimes I don't realize the making of memories is right now, in this moment. Sometimes I'm tempted to think we're making them another day. It is always in the here and now.



"The fast have spiritually slow hearts." Ann Voskamp (One Thousand Gifts)
This struck me. Time goes too fast for me. Always in a rush it seems. I like to take my time and I do. But, then it causes me to have to rush somewhere else. I completely relate to her wanting to "live fully" in the moment. To slow down and fully taste, feel, see...She said, "I want to slow down and taste life, give thanks, and see God." She compared life to dessert, "Life is dessert-too brief to hurry. You don't wolf it down. The Little-One's tongue searches about for smudge of chocolate she can feel on her cheek. 'More milk?' She nods, eyes large, laughing yes. I pour more. And I haven an appetite to celebrate-yes, let us eat cake!- and nibble on bare toes, to pick armfuls of poppies, to hold a heart up against me, stronger, surer, to sit long with my mama in the last of afternoon light. 'Wherever you are, be all there' is only possible in the posture of eucharisteo."


Yes, this is what I want to do. Slow down, give Thanks to God, be all in the moment. To pay attention, to savor these precious and very fleeting moments. To see the twinkle in my child's eyes when they are delighted. To hold time for a moment, to stop and smile in delight at them. To look at my son and remember my husband as a little boy...with dreams and to take delight in building a home he takes pleasure in. To not dread the chore of cleaning but to bask in the joy of fresh cleanliness. To not get overwhelmed when a child rushes through and the semblance of cleanliness disappears instantaneously but to take joy that I have these little blessings making monumental messes. For one day I will miss having those messes terribly. To hear those birds singing outside. The joy of sharing life with a child with the reading of a good book. Our minds get to go there together and we share in the same experience. Reading God's Word and learning something new or something "clicking" that has gone unnoticed before...There are so many, many things daily waiting to be savored. There are so many to reasons to stop, slow down, take notice of, and thank God for.

Gift #10 A Springlike Day Mid-winter

It was such a nice day yesterday! We went for a walk in the morning. Well, I'm the only one that "walked." The Littles rode in the wagon and the Bigs rode their bikes. Later the kids ate lunch outside on the picnic table. And after schoolwork they enjoyed playing outside again. From the picture it looks cold (Bailey with his sleeping bag) but it really felt like spring!

Reasons We Face Adversity

Derrick shared his book called, A Guide to Biblical Manhood by Randy Stinson & Dan Dumas with me. Funny isn't it? ;) He said it has some good childtraining principles in it. I am actually reading the whole thing because it's really good and is applicable to me also, though I am not a man. It is written by men that take very seriously being "Doers of the Word for the sake of the Gospel." They are very inspirational. They said some very profound things about why we face adversity.
They stated that even as people redeemed by Christ we can't help encountering the thorns and the thistles of a fallen world. They listed four reasons:
1. Our individual sins, coming from our own hands (breaking the law, overspending...)
2. Paul said God can bring adversity to shape us for ministering to others who face trials (2 Corinthians 1:3-9). This is my favorite reason! ;)
3. To keep us from boasting in our own strength (2 Corinthians 12:6-10).
4. To suffer for Heavenly purposes with God choosing not to show us why. Then they went into Job suffering even though he was a "blameless and upright man." They said, "We also see that God permits Satan to destroy the blessings Job has gained as a way to see if he has the character to still trust his maker." Job proved "rugged enough in his character and trust in God to stand firm and to choose worship over complaint."

Liv's Sticker from the Doctor

The kid's and I just think this is really funny! Before Samantha could read she had picked a sticker out for Liv at the doctor that said, "I'm a Big Boy!" We thought it was really funny that day because she didn't realize it. Fast forward to last week and we saw a sticker just like it and the kids wanted to pick it for her again for a good laugh.

Gift #10 The Scenic Route

The Scenic Route
We took the scenic route to the doctor last week. I love going down those roads instead of taking the highway.

Gift #9 God's Handiwork

God's Handiwork Reading my Bible this morning I watched the sky change several shades. I thought about the miracle of God's creation. How He turns on the light slowly when it is time for us to start a new day. I saw the naked trees dead, awaiting new life when the season changes. Now I see the birds flying to them. I looked at my skin and thought of the way He has knit us together. The way He has made us to look. Last night the children and I looked at Jupiter that was visible and shining SO brightly by the moon. For two days we will be able to see it. Even the Heavens praise Him! Psalm 89:5 I thought of how everything in the Bible is true. We can't even see the world rightly without it~ His very Word. Why do we rush about our days without stopping to see or think about His miraculous makings? We don't even see it. Days spent in a fog. Why do we get angry and in bad moods? Why do we sometimes bite and devour each other? "This is the day the Lord has made; Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 Oh, God, please give us eyes to see. Please help us to take joy in our days. To glorify You in doing so.