31 day May challenge! {get yer camera's out!}

Happy May Day to you all! The sun is shining here and... it is... FREEZING! But, we won't focus on that today. Another month closer to summer and eventually we will warm up. :)

I've been so eager to really dive in and learn how to use my new camera. If you haven't read THE STORY about my camera - check it out here, first. Precious. Makes me smile all silly even while sitting here today. {grin} Ah, how good is our God?! So, yes, I've been itching to learn all the different buttons and settings and color options, etc. The list goes on with this thing! I've looked up a few helpful tips on websites, but basically have just been playing around with it. My beautiful children make great guinea pigs for this!

This is the challenge I'll be following - and I'll just jump right in with day 1.


But, can I just be reeeeeeeel honest here for a second? NOT A FAN of selfies, self ports, personal pose, whatever you want to call them. I'm not super excited about day one being a picture of myself. Boo. But, I'll take one for the team and make it fun anyway!

May 1- Self Portrait.

Ah, the frazzle, crazy hair, makeup-less face, hiding behind a mug of hot java. Yes! This is the morning routine! I went super low tech on this first picture, only using the auto setting on sepia color. Easy peasy. :)

And now, for you! I'm attempting {for the first time ever - grace please!} a link up. All you should have to do is link up your May photo challenge post at the bottom of this post here. I can't wait to see your selfies! :) Happy May day and keep those cameras ready!

'Twas the last day in April... next up, May challenge.

Today marks the end of April. Crazy, huh? I don't know about you but I felt like that month FLEW by us. We have been enjoying some wonderfully warm days here and the weather man has now announced we may even see some of that white, cold, stuff again... before the real warm settles in for summer. {boo!}

My one lone tulip opened up today. Last year I had 12 - this year - 1. It's been a cold spring! Poor little tulips. It's like my yard knows I'm eager to move away from it. :) Speaking of...

THE FOR SALE SIGN IS IN THE YARD! I came up from working out in the basement and saw it stuck out there. I just smiled. :) The Lord is good and has a plan. Now we just wait for it in anticipation.

Tomorrow I'm starting a 31 day photo challenge that I found on Pinterest. It looks like this:

I've been playing around with our new camera and I'm excited to try out some new techniques. Listen to me... talking like I know what I'm doing. :) Anywhoo... I'd love for you to join me. I'm not super techy and still learning the ropes even about blogging, but, I might attempt to add a link up thingy for those of you who want to hop on board. My disclaimer is this - I may not get to EVERY single one of the 31 pics. And that's ok with me! But I'd like to try. :) So, who's in? 

Have a wonderful Tuesday! See ya next month {wink, wink}. 

End of April - Happy Homemaker Monday!

The weather.....
Hight 60's this morning! Loved taking the girls out back first thing after breakfast. But, I'm afraid the weather man has announced more cold weather later on this week :( 

Right now I am....
Finishing my re-heated cup of morning coffee, looking out the bedroom window at the breeze picking up.  

Thinking....
Hmmmm. Well, our house is FOR SALE. It's all very new and we are praying and waiting for a quick sale. We should be getting a sign in the yard today. Crazy!  

On my reading pile....
Got back into my "God's and Kings" series. Wow. So crazy good! I'm reading mine for free on my Nook and discovered our church library has the next two paper backs. Yes! 

Also, got a new Better Homes and Gardens in the mail today. Can't wait to see this months recipes!

On my TV.....
We did it! We shut off our cable! And guess what...it's totally painless! All the wasted time has now be transferred into conversations, reading and bible study, or just house projects. It's wonderful! 

Blog hopping (newly discovered blog)....
Didn't do a lot of hopping this weekend. 

On the menu for this week....
Oh dear me - I am slacking BIG TIME on the grocery shopping thing. I have meals all planned out but no food to prepare them. 


On my to do list....
Laundry
Begin packing up the basement - sort out things for a yard sale.Grocery shopMop kitchen floor
Finish painting hallway 

In the craft basket....
Still those baby blankets... :) 

Looking forward to this week....
Wedding shower tonight for a gal at church, Bible study tomorrow morning, youth night on Weds, Cell group on Thursday, Seniors banquet on Friday, dinner with friends on Saturday and hubby preaching Sunday! Told ya it was CRAZY! 

Looking around the house....
My girls are asleep :)
Dishwasher needs loaded and the vacuum needs run in the living room. Who let a toddler walk around with saltines again?! ;) 

From the camera...

The girls and made our Summer Fun checklist this morning! 

On my prayer list.....
My hubby's very busy week! 

Raising children to see Jesus and love Him!

Friends pregnant

Sale of our house! 

 Bible verse, Devotional....

Love Sandra's idea - love this one from Pinterest! 

Let me explain why there is NO header. Something is WRONG with my post and it is all out of whack. Bah! Happy Homemaker Monday! 

A lil' redo

Oh, how the Lord is always providing for us :) I could {and am} write every single one of these blessings down! I can't wait for my children to one day sit and read all about how our God has provided for us - in BIG and little ways.

A few months ago we were given this big ol' dresser. August would need one once we moved the changing table out of her room {sniff sniff tear} - and we weren't sure where one might pop up. The very same day I was thinking about this I saw a couple from church giving one away on FB. Yippee! I didn't even care what it would look like because, you see, I had plans involving lots of mini cans of pink paint.

Here is the before, and please don't mind our filthy old garage ;)

And here is what I was able to finish up this afternoon -

 

I wanted it to be a little more ombre, instead of the bottom four basically looking like the same color...but, it works for now! Eventually we'll fix that last handle that WILL NOT come off, and we'll sand down and repaint the outer white part, and then find CUTE knobs. But, it works, will fit ALL of the little's clothes and I can't wait to put it in her room. :) The best is that it cost $0!

Next on my to - do list...

This beauty. She has been sitting and sitting and sitting, just waiting for some attention. In the fall I gave it a really good deep clean that has now been undone by a season in the garage :( I have pinned almost every single buffet idea from pinterest and I still cannot decide what I really want to do to it. It's in rough shape so I don't think leaving it in the natural state will work. What would YOU do?

Before I end this post today. Exciting news! As of tomorrow, April 29th, 2013 our home is FOR SALE. We have been waiting and waiting and praying and thinking - and have decided to step out in faith and see what the Lord will do. Pray with us for a quick sale? We have really seen and felt the need to be closer to our church and are asking the Lord to move us there. He'll have to do it - because we are so incapable! 

What a great Sunday! Enjoy yours!

It's a scavenger hunt!

Preschool in this house has been.... not at all what I imagined. Both for the better and the worse. It takes a lot more work then I realized and I didn't really anticipate what life would be like trying to educate a 4 year old with a 1 year old poking her hands into everything. It's fun, and challenging, and looks different every single day.

Yesterday we tossed the workbooks and alphabet and headed outdoors for some nature discovery. Ava LOVES hands on learning and she really got into our back yard nature hunt.

With her list of things to find.

Little sister didn't quite get the concept of finding things and putting them in a bag, so she worked on entertaining the neighbor cat and balancing on whatever she could walk on.

 

 Finding lots of discoveries in our own back yard.

 

My one and only little tulip that has survived how FREEZING it's been here. 

Successful morning of preschool, and I think we all learned something! 

Are you in IT?! Because you should be.

Oh, sometimes I am so stubborn and prideful. Or perhaps just ignorant and lazy. Either case is dangerous and sinful. {sigh}

The Lord has been chipping away at my heart for the last few months {years...?}and it seems the more frazzled and out of whack I get, the more He draws me in. This weekend many things in my personal life and heart as well as things in the world all just seemed to come to a head for me - and there was a moment of genuine "BING" where the light bulb just went off. My heart was broken and tender as I evaluated my life and saw a huge, gaping, hole. And just like that I realized why so many other things in life have seemed off kilter. Because you see, even when knee deep in ministry and life and raising children and loving Jesus... you HAVE to be in His word consistently. You have to be digging in and digesting - and for far too long now I just haven't known HOW. Oh I can read through a bible study book and I can tackle a proverb a day like a champ - but my soul has felt starved! I always want more and I just never knew the "perfect" way to get it. Spoiler: there is NO perfect way, so...just do it! 

I attended a 4 year Bible college and have been a believer since I was 13 years old. I grew up in the church since I was 5 and have attended every VBS, youth group, club, etc. known to kid-kind. I had AMAZING youth leaders and a fantastic youth pastor {and wife!} in middle school that have left deep impact on my life. :) The Lord has showered me with amazing relationships that have helped me grow and develop into a woman of God. I married a godly and Christ-seeking man. Thank.You.Jesus! But even through all of that - I've never heard such a clear and impactful way of bible study as I did this weekend at our ladies conference. I was signed up to be in another breakout session, but I felt the Lord impress on my heart to attend the "Choosing Joy Daily in God's Word" session. Because truth is - I don't always have joy in God's word and often times my day feels like a big chaotic WHAT AM I DOING!? kind of thing. So, I went and I sat in the very front row. :)  It was like a banquet table to this hungry heart! 

"Maintaining the Christian life apart from a steady diet of His word is impossible."

"There isn't anything on your schedule that could possibly be more valuable than time 

spent with your Father."

-Charles Stanley, In-touch magazine

For those of us who feel like we are floundering or lost or just not sure of where to start and HOW to study God's word - let me share what I've learned and fan the flame for you. Because we MUST be in God's word! Choose your passage or book of the bible or wherever you are reading, grab a notebook and pen,  and then... 

SPECS. Not a real word, but, in acronym form we get this:

S- Sins. What sins are in the passage read? Do I have something I need to repent of and change?

P- Promises. What promises are their to claim? Write them down.

E- Examples to follow. What are they? Good or bad.

C- Commands to obey. List them. Know them. Take them seriously.

S- Scripture to memorize. Tuck it into your brain and KNOW it. 

This method blew me away. I actually teared up and cried right there in the workshop in the front row. It resonated with me and the Lord just gently pushed on my heart and convicted me that I NEED to be in His word and THIS is a good and helpful way! It had never been presented so clearly and passionately. I was SO thankful to have been in that workshop. 

And a few starting point ideas for those of us who never know where to open up to:

1. Psalm 119 study. Read 8 verses a day and then ask yourself these questions:

• What does the word DO?
• What is it?
• What is my responsibility? 

2. Life of Christ/ Gospels study

• Read through the Gospels {Matt, Mark, Luke, John}
• What did Christ do? List every action. Know Jesus and how He lived. {WOW!}

3. Epistles Study

• How did believers grow and change?
• How seriously FAITH matters

4. Chronological reading of the bible from start to finish. Get the full picture! 

Wow, I am so so thankful for the ladies {Julie & Danielle} who shared such great wisdom and leadership. My heart is brimming to full and I'm eager and excited to jump in on these things! In my quiet time today I was reminded again of just how important it is to keep growing and being in God's word. 

"⁹ For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; ¹⁰ that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;" Col. 1:9-10

This is commandment, friends... GROW! 

John MacArthur comments on the knowledge of God like this:

"Spiritual growth cannot occur apart from this knowledge. The evidences of spiritual growth include a deeper love for God's word, a more perfect obedience, a strong doctrinal foundation, an expanding faith, and a greater love for others." 

-MacArthur study bible, Colossians 1:10 

Are you in IT? Because... You should be. 

Happy Homemaker Monday

 

Hello fellow homemakers! Happy Monday to you! We are having a laid back morning here and I'm eager to get much done today. But first... some homemaker fun. :) 

The weather.....

Well, we still can't seem to maintain Spring around these parts. 60's today and then a chance for snow again tomorrow. {sigh} But, we'll be thankful for whatever comes our way!

Right now I am....
Just finished my coffee! Watching my big girl play with her polly pockets, littlest is curled up with her daddy watching a movie. Just enjoying being snuggled under this warm blanket on a chilly morning.
 
Thinking....
We are seriously planning some future happenings in our life. HUGE things and changes. Already confident the Lord will direct as He always does.

On my reading pile....
Midwest Living Magazine
Living magazine
Better Homes and Gardens Magazine
-->they all came this weekend and I can't wait to leaf through them!


On my TV.....
"Tangled". Girls love this one!


Blog hopping (newly discovered blog)....
Mommies with Hope is a blog for women who have experienced the loss of a child through miscarriage or still birth/complications. Breaks my heart how many women are touched through this kind of thing - self included. Anyway, the gal who writes for this blog just did our womens retreat at church this weekend and she has great resources!


On the menu for this week....
Monday - Brunswick stew!
*need to plan out the rest of the week!



On my to do list....
Whole house tidy
Pack up excess toys and clothes

 
Looking forward to this week....
Play group at church, youth group, possible "junkin" experience this weekend, and a trip to the HUGE childrens consignment sale at the fairground!

Looking around the house....
Folded clothes need put away, stuffed animals everywhere { I swear they multiply in the night!}, blankets all over the couch. We live here :)

From the camera....

This one...with her bonnet and always wanting to wear "pwetty dwesses". :) 

On my prayer list.....
Friends expecting babies

Those who battle with infertility and infant loss

My family, raising children who love Jesus

Bible verse, Devotional....

Really enjoying the book of Acts - specifically THIS passage yesterday in chapter 17. I'm trying to memorize it! 

  “24 The God who made the world and everything in it is the Lord of heaven and earth and does not live in temples built by human hands. ²⁵ And he is not served by human hands, as if he needed anything. Rather, he himself gives everyone life and breath and everything else."