Essentials in Writing

There is an awesome give away going on...Essentials in Writing. Check out their website all you home school moms. Hope I win!

Multitudes on Mondays

Today Ann Voskamp is challenging us to remember and be grateful for our 1000 Gifts.
...my list continues with...
a day of productivity...unsweetened iced tea...Jesus Calling by Sarah Young...TV time with my oldest daughter...a peacful night of sleep...healthy children...women who love Jesus...good grades on English and Math tests...God's amazing grace when I constantly blow it...forgiving kids and a forgiving husband...God's Word spoken to us.
Thank you Lord that you take joy in loving us even when we mess up. Thank you that you never change.

The Practice of Time

I just recently discovered Ann Voskamps book 1000 Gifts, ever heard of it? So far it has been a delight. (I have a link to her sight A Holy Experience on the left side of my blog). Mondays(Multitude's on Monday's) she has an ongoing list of your 1000 gifts which I would like to start and take part of and on Wednesdays(Walk with Him Wednesday's) she challenges us to ponder a topic...today is the practice of time. Let me first say that this is a huge challenge for me and one I haven't gotten a grip on yet. With juggling seven kids and homeschooling I have struggled with time management for some time, but really feeling it this particular year. Any suggestions? We are very laid back with our approach to life in general so it makes it hard for me to strap all the kids down at one time and make them work for so many hours. The older kids do most of their work on their own but I find myslef being busy with "stuff" most of the day that isn't necessarily important. I feel like I am missing out on my little ones and enjoying their presence, their laughter. I hop on the computer or try to read for a minute or pick things up around the house or do laundry. While all these things need to get done and are not necessarily bad, I know I am not using ALL my time wisely. So, for today(one day at a time) I vow to do my best and soak in the joy that surrounds me. The gifts of my 7 Bambinos and the privlidge it is to have them home. O Jesus, may I not rush through today. Help me to sit back and enjoy the multitude of blessings you have given me. You are sooo good!

Good Fellowship

Isn't fellowship sweet? I love when a body of believers gets together to have a good time. Today we were blessed to be able to take another couple and thier five children out for lunch. They are fairly new to the church and have some super cute kids. They were so thankful that we invited them. We considered it part of our tithe for the week. But isn't it a great feeling to think you have been pursued for friendship. People reaching out to you, desiring your company, wanting to get to know you more? It just feels good. Makes you feel important, liked.
Isn't it amazing how Jesus pursues us? How he loves us and desires fellowship with us? All we need to do is stay hard after Him. No matter where we find ourselves in any given situation, stay hard after the Lord. He will always be our everything. Stay, abide, pursue Him like He does us. Life will be different, days will change, moments will turn into joy. Find perfect fellowship in the One who is madly in love with you.

Thursday's

Thursday's are the best days around here, the highlights of our week. First we attend bible study, then we break for lunch(that we pack every week), then our homeschool co-op meets in the same building and finally, once a month our church has Family/Art jam. Family Jam is a time when the whole family is invited to worship together. Small and big alike. Most of the young ladies enjoy singing on the stage while the young boys take over the instruments. It's a come as you can play policy however gifted or not you may be. Sometimes there is a very interesting sound that bellow from that stage and other times it just makes me want to break down in tears watching all the young kids worship their Jesus. Last night my seven year old got up there and grabbed the mic and started belting out...our God is greater, our God is stronger...God you are higher then any other! He didn't care, it was great. Then there is the art table in back where they draw, draw, draw. They make a mural every time and it is such a great way for them to express themselves. Again, some are definatley more talented then others but who cares...they are having fun and hearing the great sounds of worship as they do it.
My favorite part of the day is of course the bible study. We are doing Beth Moore's, David and I am really loving it(why wouldn't I be...it's my Siesta Momma!). I had to cram in my homework last week but so far I have been able to keep up. A friend of mine started coming this semester so I am glad she is there to mingle and meet new people. Plus I think she is really loving it too. The video yesterday was awesome! Beth was talking about how fight the "good/beautiful" fight against our enemy. It was a reminder I needed to hear. That we wrestle not with flesh and blood...Yes Lord! I wrestle with the very enemy of my soul. I want to fight to knock him out, not as one beating the air but as one with a great big PUNCH!