Making the move...

to wordpress!

I have been debating this for a *long* time, and finally imported my blog a couple of months ago.

It is far, far from done, but I am tired of the never ending glitches in blogger. So now it is official. :)

Follow me if you like.

http://growingblooms.wordpress.com/

What Has Been Working for Us, part 1

Revamping Weekday Lunches:

Lunch time around here has always frustrated me.

In the past we've done leftovers, everyone make your own or some version of a quick and easy hot meal. There are a multitude of reasons why this does or doesn't work for any schedule.

The end result at our house, was a very drawn out lunch time and a messy kitchen. The easier option was pulling through somewhere and having them eat in the car. ;) (and we all know how realistic and financially responsible that option is!)

I had been mulling over possibilities to tame this lunch time nightmare when I ran across this post. (take a moment and read it!)

I knew I had to try it.

And honestly, we have been SO pleased. I was able to resist the urge to buy bento boxes for everyone, and picked up the cheap ziploc divided lunch containers (pictured in her post) at walmart.

Each night after dinner, while we are cleaning up the kitchen, someone packs the next day's lunches.

Words cannot even begin to express how much this simple change has helped us.

If we are going to be out and about we take them with us, if we are home, they carry them to wherever they want to eat. (backyard, deck, etc)

When the meal is over they go straight into the dishwasher, making clean up so easy.

I'll also mention that my kids LOVE it! I am convinced this is largely because I followed Jessica's advice:

A little special treat makes it special.

Accept a little added cost in exchange for convenience.

Anyhow, I don't know if this is something that would work in your current phase of life, but it has been such a huge blessing to us, I HAD to share! ;)

If you try it, let me know what you think!

One Thousand Gifts.....

#414 professional movers

#415 a new place to call home

#416 a family that gathers round and helps

#417 kind friends gifting of peace and quiet

#418 pure exhaustion

#419 creatures in the attic

#420 a sport that thrills our oldest

#421 watching her excel

#422 gps's that can't be trusted

#423 learning things the hard way

#424 sitting down and hammering out a plan

#425 realizing that I am going to have to be "one of those moms"

#426 appreciating and cultivating thankfulness in what I've been asked to do

#427 daddy dates

#428 church family nights

#429 a painted horse

#430 mothers day out

#431 weekly activities

#432 being able to give my love a gift

#433 five days with out daddy

#434 missing out because of disobedience

#435 strength for the day

#436 a trip to American Girl with friends

#437 Isaiah

#438 hospitality of the saints

#439 watching the numbers on the scale slowly creep up

#440 sweet baby things arriving at the house

#441 pursing deeper relationships

#442 being vulnerable and sharing hurts

#443 meyer's lavender scented candles

#444 smart, witty husband

#446 new baby snuggles

#447 finding a schedule that works

#448 an entire school week with out tears

#449 joy in the morning

#450 curly headed baby boy

#451 a temper like non other

#452 soaking in ministry

#453 laughing with my children

#454 anticipation

I'll leave you with this verse that the Lord has again impressed upon me. I NEED to be meditating on it, taking comfort, drawing strength and relying on Him fully. That HE may be glorified!

To console those who mourn in Zion,

To give them beauty for ashes,

The oil of joy for mourning,

The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness;

That they may be called trees of righteousness,

The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”

Isaiah 61:3

Makes you stop and think about the choices you are making...

I ran across this video tonight, and was incredibly challenged.

It reminded me that my friend Sara had written a review of "Radical" on her blog, and I had mentally noted that I wanted to read the book, but never ordered it. (and put it on the never ending book pile!)

Have any of you guys read it?

I'd love to hear your thoughts as well!

One Thousand Gifts.....

Closing in on two months since I last publicly counted gifts. How I miss it!

I mentally count all.the.time. as a way to keep perspective, and my eyes off myself, but it is GOOD to write it out.

So here I am. :)

#381 neglected projects done

#382 days spent hibernating in the ice cold house

#383 ferns fried to a crisp while other things are tenderly cultivated

#384 saggy drawers on a potty trained boy

#385 barefoot and loving it

#386 family camp

#387 bloom family camping vacation

#388 sleeping in in a friends cool, dark basement

#389 laughter and winks

#390 celebration dinner with a taste of promise for the future, and a thankful heart for the year we've weathered together

#391 sweet, emotional baby shower

#392 head rubs

#393 wallpaper, wallpaper and MORE wallpaper

#394 a hubby who slaves night after night in a stinky house

#395 enthusiastic children

#396 closets for EVERYONE!

#397 white trim in abundance

#398 dead grass

#399 self portraits that make you smile

#400 articles that cultivate great discussion

#401 monster energy drinks

#402 a new house that no longer stinks!

#403 employing hard workers

#404 joy on my husband's face

#405 day one of our 5th homeschooling year

#406 never ending illness

#407 three weeks in bed

#408 zofran, benadryl, eye drops, tylenol and ibp

#409 foundations academy

#410 texting

#411 the baby bump appearing

#412 fabulous history curriculum

#413 children who LOVE to learn

love these verses Ann shared yesterday:

Job 5:8

..go straight to God... After all, he's famous for great and unexpected acts; there's no end to His surprises.

2 Thessalonians 2:15

May Jesus himself and God our Father, who reached out in love and surprised you with gifts of unending help...

A moment to read.

Tonight I was given an hour of peace and quiet. I've had a stack of books sitting waiting, but to this point, have not taken the time to enjoy them. This evening was the perfect situation, I needed some parenting balm. It's been one of those days. ;)

Book on the top of the pile:

"Parenting Your Highest Calling" and 8 other Myths That Trap Us in Worry and Guilt.

I thought I'd share my favorite part from tonight's reading, taken from the chapter titled:

"Myth #1 Having Children Makes You Happy and Fulfilled"

No longer do my wildly fluctuating levels of fulfillment measure the worth of the whole parenting enterprise, the worth of my parenting, or the worth of my children. The questions "Is parenting really worth it?" and "Am I fulfilled as a parent?"are, finally, irrelevant. I ask myself instead, "Am I parenting faithfully? Am I parenting consistently? Am I honoring God as I raise my children?" This is what I am responsible for. God is responsible for the rest. Every day His sure hand is beneath my children, just as it is beneath me.

"Remember the former things long past,

For I am God, and there is no other;

I am God, and there is no one like Me,

Declaring the end from the beginning,

And from ancient times things which have not been done,

Saying, 'My purpose will be established,

And I will accomplish all My good pleasure;

Calling a bird of prey from the east,

The man of My purpose from a far country

Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.

I have planned it, surely I will do it.

Isaiah 46:9-11

Thanks for the book recommendation Sara!

Another school year begins..

Today the gun cabinet/hutch went from this:

To this:

In the morning, we will begin another school year. While I am longing for fall, I am also sad to see summer come to an end! I freely admit, I enjoy sleeping in.

Every year I find the evening before the first day somewhat overwhelming. Looking at the materials all in one place I get a tad twitchy at the thought of it all. I mean really, somehow, some way I have to systematically convey all of this knowledge to my children. It seems down right impossible. Broken teacher, teaching broken students...a recipe for disaster.

And it is *so* easy (as with anything you've been asked to do) to listen to the evil one's whispers, "you won't be able to do it!" "are you crazy? another year...don't you remember the last one?!" "what about that yellow school bus?" "if only we could....."

You get the idea.

As I was organizing it all with thoughts flying through my head, I began to pray again that the Lord would soften my heart to what He has asked of me this year. Help me to lift my eyes to Him, see what He would have me to see. To not be caught up in comparing myself with others, or longing for something different.

He helped me realize that yes, this may not look like what all my other friends are doing, but in reality you know what? It is.

He is asking me to obey Him.

Just like He is asking my friends.

I am blessed beyond measure to be surrounded by godly christian women. Women, who in their lives have chosen obedience. Women who each day wake and willingly, joyfully and lovingly accept from His hand what He asks of them.

Is it easy? Almost never.

Does it look the same in each of our lives? No.

These things that He asks of us, will they at times feel burdensome, lonely and hard? Yes.

This call to obedience, when answered, requires total and complete dependence upon Him. And dependence upon Him means completely turning over our independence. Have you ever noticed He doesn't ask us to do things we can easily do on our own? Those are generally the things we pick for ourselves! ;)

God is constantly trying to teach us our dependence, and to hold us absolutely in His hand and hanging upon His care.

This was the place where Jesus Himself stood and where He wants us to stand, not with self-constituted strength, but with a hand ever leaning upon His, and a trust that dare not take one step alone. It teaches us trust. -Streams 8/15

So my prayer tonight is that each day this year I will choose to obey Him.

Immediately, cheerfully, willingly, thoroughly, and completely.

And perhaps as you look at your day, your week, your year ...... what has He asked of you?

Can you can approach it with the same prayer?

It is humbling for sure, but full on dependency and intimacy with Him is not to be missed. And the greatest joy, peace and pleasure comes from *knowing* we are doing *exactly* what He has asked of us.

An added blessing of course, is unity with each other, lives lived side by side in obedience.

No matter what the call.

But this is what I commanded them saying:

Obey my voice,

and I will be your God, and you will be My people;

and you will walk in all the ways which I commanded you,

that it may be well with you.

Jeremiah 7:23

Better than a Hallelujah

I will be the first to admit that I generally choose peace and quiet over music most every time. However, my sweet hubby listens to quite a bit and he has the knack for sitting me down and having me listen to the *perfect* song selected just for me. I thought I would share tonight's selection. ;)

God loves a lullaby
In a mothers tears in the dead of night
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
God loves a drunkards cry,
The soldiers plea not to let him die
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

The woman holding on for life,
The dying man giving up the fight
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes
The tears of shame for what's been done,
The silence when the words won't come
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

Better than a church bell ringing,
Better than a choir singing out, singing out.

We pour out our miseries
God just hears a melody
Beautiful the mess we are
The honest cries of breaking hearts
Are better than a Hallelujah

Gearing up for Camp...

On todays to-do list, make a packing list for camp.

Here is what I have so far, missing anything you can think of?

air conditioner
sheets
pillows
blankets
towels
sunscreen
bug spray
rugs
church bag
medicine(s)
camera
trash bags
stain spray
clothes
church clothes
jeans/tennis shoes
laundry soap/fabric softener
1’s for the chuckwagon