Chapter Closed

Well we are flipping through the last pages of our current chapter in life about to start a whole new one. We are about to leave the place we have called home for 3 1/2 years and the people we have called family. Our hearts are broken as we are uprooted from this place in our lives and now only hold memories. The Lord has called us away and we are now anxiously awaiting the ink to fill our next chapter.

See you in Louisiana!

JOYfully in Him,

Silent Night

I have packed 8 boxes this afternoon. I sit among them in silence and just think... and listen...



Have a blessed day..

JOYfully in Him,

Christmas Photos: The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

So Wednesday morning I woke up and decided to attempt our annual Christmas pictures by the tree. As usual I am not to excited but a little more fearful considering the lack of "normal" and "cute" copporation I usually get from them. I try to be cheery and enthusiastic but it soon fades as I realize T-Rex refuses to smile or sit even remotely still for more than a second and Superman has some problems posing in a picture pose... it is always a super fun time! It is in those moments that I realize, again, that I need to lighten up :0) So here they are... the good the bad and the not so good pictures by the tree but still cute! (Daddy is behind me being... himself :0).













Trying to be continually more...

JOYfully in Him,

Oh Come, Oh Come

Our church hosted a Christmas play last Sunday. It was beautiful to see our little children celebrate the coming of Christ. This song always brings such joy when it comes on the radio and reminds me of why we celebrate this holiday. Praise God...

Father, forgive me for my unbelief this morning and restore me for Your glory. Use me this day as I seek to know You and serve You. Thanks be to Your holy name for the Lamb that You sent to take away the sins of the world... May the Love of Christ prevail in the daily lives of Your redeemed children...


JOYfully in Him,

I Believe

I *love* this song.

Christmas among Packing...

I am trying to be thankful and joyful as I follow His plan for my future during this Christmas season. I will CHOOSE (keyword) Joy, JOY found only in Christ. I am looking beyond my feelings and my fears and to the JOY set before me in trusting my Savior and God.

In order for me to do this I must lay out a "plan of action" so I can see it. I have been focused on the boys room right now but with the constant battle of toys in the playroom I am turning my focus to it tomorrow. I am spending the day packing up ALL of the toys, I know it is early to leave my kids with out their source of play but don't worry I will allow them to pack a small bag each of the toys of their choosing. I think that it will help them to appreciate what they have and through this time teach them to look for His blessings in other ways other than the "toys" in their life.

I have a 3 step plan for the boys room and plan to be finished with step 2 today...

Boys Room:
Step 1: Clearing
*Clear out toys
*Clear out trash
*Set aside dirty clothes

Step 2: Boxes (Finish Dec. 10: today)
*Give away/sale
*Unused items
*Unused items
*Sports
*Extra blankets and bags

Step 3: Boxes (Finish sometime next week; Friday?)
*Organize memory box in closet and under bed
*Shoes (seperate Superman and T-Rex)
*Pack winter clothes not kept out for remainder of time
*Books
*Last pieces of decoration (curtains, lamp, shelf, letters & planets) & bedding.

Play Room:
Step 1: Finish by Dec. 11 (tomorrow) Pack...
*Dress up
*Swords & Guns
*Skate boards
*Animals
*Cars & Trucks
*Building Blocks/Toys
*Puzzles & Games
*Play Food and Grill

I plan on packing them in big ziplock baggies if they are small enough to fit. I will sift through them all as I go.I will be significantly down sizing in this area. Some are destined for trash, others for Grandmas and others, the fortunet ones, for their new home.

I figure if I pack some each day until the 19th then I will have made a HUGE chunck of progress by the time we start packing for real to leave. And this way it is not as chaotic and stressful on us. I want to finish by the 19th, have a Garage Sale on the 20th, take the Christmas week off to celebrate Christ as a family and then get busy packing either on the 26th or the 27th and then drive out in our Uhaul on the 29th possibly the 30th. Oh how I pray I will work diligently so that this plan will work. We will see :0). I might be laughing later at my over optimistic plans.

On to one of my favorite Christmas songs preformed by Third Day...



I am hoping to post some of our Christmas crafts we have enjoyed doing as well.

JOYfully in Him,

Oh, faith where did you go?

I am taking the time to share some thoughts...

I found myself wondering where my strong unwavering faith I once held went away to? At this place in my journey of life I find myself holding a very frail, weak and wimpy faith that crumbles at any tribulation that is set in it’s path. I worry of gripping it to tightly in fear of breaking it in peices. Life is as I have said chaotic. I have fallen into an emotional hole unable to climb my way out at times deglecting so many responsibilities in the day. I have thrown myself many pity parites and cried out to God on more than one occasion "why?", throwing all His faithfulness and goodness out the window shattering His loving soveriegn presence. I am tired and simply fed up with where my faith stands and how I have wandered so far from His love.

I have decided that each morning before I officially begin, I will take the time to not only pray but dedicate myself to His service, to recognize my stubbornness, my uselessness and weakness with out His power working in my heart and mind. I will every morning even though I may not be able to feel His presence give my heart, mind and soul to Him and recognize who I am, which is a speck and lowly creature, and who He is, the Almighty King and Creator of all things. Every morning I will humble myself before my King only lifting my eyes to receive His grace that He undeservedly pours on my head. I will praise Him and choose to walk in faith and in love through each valley and over each mountain leaning on Christ through prayer and His Spirit.

I commit myself to trust my God no matter what, and to stop fighting His will. To not just hold tight to His promises but to believe them as they are carried in my heart. I will praise Him and give Him thanks for not only the obvious blessings but the blessing in disgise that I so often miss. Join me? Be still... know that He is God Almighty.

Praise God for His faithfulness... have a blessed day.

JOYfully in Him,

Peace on Earth

Today I sit quietly holding my baby angel listening for His voice... holding tight to His promises.

JOYfully in Him,

Blank Thoughts followed by Music

I can not find words to explain how I feel at this time and the Lord is quiet at this time so I am simply going to share some of my favorite Christmas songs this week as I search for Him among the chaos and packing. So until I find the words and time listen...

How Many Kings?

Let us remember to worship Him, our King, this season and not get lost in the red and green decorations, gift wrap and sale tags...




JOYfully in Him,

Spend Less, Love More

Advent Conspiracy...



JOYfully in Him,

A Week in Service

Well we are in the last month or page of this chapter in our lives and I can feel the weight of moving on my shoulders. I am in a really strange place right now emotionally and struggling to gain control as life and time seem to speed away. This morning as I look out my livingroom window at the crimson red leaves He reminds me of His love and His peace, and I am thankful. Our moving date is getting closer and I have a lot of things I must start doing. This week my to do list feels overwhelming and undoable. Within my list lies His royal list for His servant. Growing Minds of Wisdom is taking the month off to focus our attention on moving and celebrating Christ as a family. This week I seek to serve a King with my life... here is my list...

Finish up all my crafts for women's craft sale. (by Wednesday)
Put up Christmas tree and decorations.(on Thursday)
Make laundry detergent. (today)
Wash 1 load of clothes a day.
Pay all bills and calculate expenses for move.(today)
Begin slowly packing unused clothes in littles room.(starting Wednesday)
Plan menu for this week. (today)
Follow family liturgies. (daily)
Be thinking about gift ideas.
Write Compassion child.(today)
Get T-Rex some no tie shoes.(probably Friday)
Make chore sticks.(maybe tonight)
Be consistent with discipline. (second-ly :0)
Clean boy's room and the girl's room. (Friday/Saturday)
Plan Christmas activities. (today)
Go grocery shopping. (today)

Father... may I give each day to your service... keep me busy... remind me to be conscious in joyful anticipation of Your return... give me peace in my moments of chaos... energy in my moments of exhaustion... allow me to have perspective when responding to my precious children and respect when speaking to my husband. I pray you will guard my heart and mind in Christ Jesus and reveal my priorities each blessed day you give me. May the gospel of Christ reign in each moment and may my hands be an extention of His grace and love to all those close to me... glory to You alone... in His holy name I pray...

Update:

Family Menu...

Tuesday: Hot Dogs with Homemade Fries
Wednesday: Pancakes, Hot Dogs with Chips, Pizza at church
Thursday: Eggs, Hashbrowns and Fruit, Tuna and Turkey Sandwiches with Chips, Black Bean Soup with Cornbread
Friday: Cinnamon Toast with Bacon, Black Bean Soup, Chicken Salad with rolls
Saturday: Cereal with Fruit, Leftovers, Crockpot Chicken, Potatoes and Brocolli
Sunday: Pumpkin Muffins with Malto Meal, Leftovers, Potato Soup with Cornbread

Desserts: Pumpkin Spice Bread and Cookies

This morning we quickly got ready and headed off to the grocery store for a fairly decent trip, no fits or major happenings. We went in and came out. It is now rest time so I will start crafting for an hour or more while the littles are quiet and sleeping.


JOYfully in Him,