Ten Random Thoughts from the Last Ten Days!

Some random thoughts from the last ten days:

1.  I am a huge procrastinator!  Not that I didn't already know this, but it has been more evident than usual these last few days.  I must find some motivation somewhere...

2.  In the attempt to find motivation, I began spring cleaning - a most RIDICULOUS way to handle procrastination!  

3.  The weather has either been too dreary or too sunny to finish the aforementioned spring cleaning.  I think I may need to hire my kiddos to finish a few projects! ;)

4.  I love homeschooling with our new method!  I know I've probably mentioned this oh...about a hundred million times since we began this school year, but I just love the new rhythm we have found, and I love that my kids enjoy school.  (Yes, I am aware that Andrew says quite often that he hates school, but I promise that almost every day, he is the one that is most disappointed when it isn't his turn to work with me!)

5.  I love our M&M's group!  This is our group of mommies from our church that meets once a month to challenge and encourage each other through Bible study and fellowship!  I don't think I could be a mom if I didn't have this group!

6.  I am being immensely challenged by the book we are studying in our M&M's group - Give Them Grace: Dazzling Your Kids with the Love of Jesus.  It has been thought-provoking and has already begun to change the way I approach my children when they sin.

7.  Our house has been started!  There are walls, people!  Foam walls soon to be filled with concrete!  This will be a slow process, but like I told the Mr....now that there are walls out there, when our humble abode becomes too confining, I can sit out in my new house and dream! :)  

8.  We skipped spring and are going straight for summer!  It is supposed to be 73* on Thursday! YAY for warm weather!

9.  I had a wonderful weekend with my Mr. doing absolutely nothing of any importance!  It is nice to take a break from responsibility.  We stayed up late, slept in, and even completely forgot about the time change - unintentionally.

10.  I love listening to symphonies.  There is nothing better than having the windows open, the sunshine pouring in, and a symphony playing!

That is my list of randomness...not so very interesting, but it's the best I have for today! :) 

Wishing you a day full of blessings,

Christy

When My Heart Is Still Overwhelmed...

This morning, during my quiet time, I was praising God for His sufficiency.  He began to remind me...again...that I can do nothing.  I am capable of nothing.  I am nothing.  But when I allow God to work in my heart and change me from the inside out, I begin to see wonderful things happen - not because I have done anything, but because He has done everything.  Honestly, I am still waiting to see some of those wonderful things.  This last month has been less than ideal in the mothering department!  I am thankful that no matter how often I mess things up or can't figure out the solution to a problem, my God is more than capable of handling it for me.  I will leave you with a few verses I wrote in my journal this morning - verses that I am rereading after my children have been awake for only 2 hours...

I hope they encourage your overwhelmed heart.  I am finding that if I do not see how weak how I am, I will never see how big God is.  

Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God.                                                         ~II Corinthians 3:5

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.  Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore, I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

~II Corinthians 12:9-10

My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever.

~Psalm 73:25

Wishing you a day full of blessings,

Christy

Counting God's Little Blessings - 3 Every Day

34.  God has a solution for every problem.

35. After searching all night last night, we found 2 pacifiers this morning with no holes chewed in them

      = better night's sleep tonight than last night! :)

36.  God is so very patient with me - teaching me and then reminding me over and over of the lessons I need

       to learn and the things I need to remember.

Joyful Mom Monday - Think Before You Speak

Happy Monday!  Hope you're Monday has been nice to you! ;)  Today's Joyful Mom Monday topic is probably the number one obstacle I face as a mom.  It is one that I work on every day and still have a loooonnnngggg way before I can claim any victory!  The topic...thinking before I speak!  We moms have a particular responsibility in making a habit of thinking before we speak.  I was reminded this weekend that what I habitually do, my children will do.  The way I react to problems will be the way they react.  If I continually speak with grace and love, they will do the same.  How much more joyful would our homes be if we would think before we speak and then speak with nothing but graciousness and kindness?

The Bible tells us in Colossians 4:6 to "let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man."  There are so many times that I completely deflate my children with my words.  Instead of graciously reminding them (for the 100th time) to do something properly, I become frustrated and very ungraciously get in their face and remind them that is the 100th time that I have asked them to do this, etc, etc...And, I have found, sometimes it is how we say something that can be more detrimental or helpful than what we actually say.J esus repeated himself over and over to his disciples - but always graciously and patiently.  I have to remind myself that my children are learning so many new things, and they will not be able to learn it all in one day.  If I am not perfect, why do I expect them to be?  If I tell them to speak kindly, why do I talk down to them when I correct them?  

Our homes will be more joyful - I will be more joyful - if I strive to be always be gracious with my words - whether correcting a child or just reacting to a situation.  I want my children to remember me as a gracious and gentle mom whom they could talk to about anything without fear of being made fun of, preached at or talked down to.  There is a place for unwavering firmness and discipline, but even that should be done with a gracious heart.  So....my challenge to myself this week is to speak graciously to my children.  I love this little acronym I found on pinterest.  I printed it out, and it hangs in several different places around our home.  It's a wonderful reminder to our family to think before we speak!   How do you help yourself remember to think before you speak?  I'd love to hear your ideas!

Wishing you a day full of blessings,

Christy

Counting God's Little Blessings - 3 Every Day:

31.  We are pouring the footers for our dream home (that we have been dreaming of for MANY years)   

       TOMORROW!!!

32.  A certain friend who is always willing to keep all 5 of our kiddos so that the Mr. and I can get away for

       a weekend! ;

33.  My kiddos for the most part enjoy each other and are truly each others' best friends!