Gratitude Journal - Day 4

Day 4   A gift of song.

Our second daughter, Olivia, loves music. So much so, that for Christmas, she chose an iPod over her first American Girl, which is what her sister was getting. We were blown away. This is the girl who sings wherever she goes and yells for music to be turned up in the car. We should have seen it coming. She spotted some Frozen earphones at Old Navy one day, and I somehow managed to purchase them without her knowing. Then, we cleared my old iPod and put kid-friendly music on it, as well as some audiobooks. Since then, she often walks around the house rocking out to her jams. I love this sweet stage, along with the sweet music that comes with it.

Gratitude Journal - Day 3

Day 3   A gift found in a friend.

Before there are fights, pushes, and hurtful words, there are big grins, squeals, and open mouth kisses. The novelty has not worn off of having a baby sibling, despite Clare being 10 months. This results in the older kids using a lot of high pitched voices and always hamming it up to get a response. In her own little world, these are her people. These are her friends. These people are her life. As they pass by the window, playing outside, Clare lights up with delight. Oh, to live such a simple life.

Gratitude Journal - Day 2

Day 2   Something old, seen new.

Today was our weekly park day with our homeschooling friends.  My kids usually split off and hang out with their own friends, but today was the rare occasion when I saw them all together.  The girls were traversing this jungle gym feature at lightning speed.  Back and forth, back and forth they went like old pros.  The whole time, sweet little James just hung on for dear life, motionless, in one place.  You see, while the girls danced around exhibiting experience, just getting to the first hanging island was James mountain to climb.

Gratitude Journal - Day 1

A 21-day gratitude journal.  To catch those small moments in life where you find beauty...

Day 1   A gift held, passed by, or sat with.

A gift held - an apple slice
A gift passed by - the warm sun that slowly made its way across the room after some very cold days
A gift sat with - Our sweet, kid-tolerant, pup

Oh, my sweet baby James.  He really is sweet, but the furthest thing from a baby.  He seems to fly under the radar in this house.  For a boy, he isn't that rambunctious and he stole his mommy's heart long ago.  Quiet and loving?  "Okay, you can have whatever you want."  This does make for a shy personality at times, especially when the camera it out.  I felt this picture was so fitting with the light hiding him -- probably where he felt most comfortable.

A Day in the Life

I'm attempting to get back to my camera this year.  I rarely pick it up because of life these days.  In many ways, my iPhone has become a crutch.  It's always with me, so I jump to using it for everything.  My kids deserve something more from their childhood than Instagram books, and it would be nice to have some up-to-date pictures around our house.  The most recent picture on our walls is from when James was 6 months old.  He turned three in December.  There is just no excuse.  We have so many wonderful memories and I would love to remember those while I walk around our house.

With the decision to be more intentional taking pictures, I signed up for the Everyday Beauty photography workshop with Ginger Unzueta.  She has such an eye for seeing the beauty all around her, and I'm always entranced by her images.  She makes the most mundane instances absolutely beautiful.   Turns out, when you only pick your camera up for about 3 occasions a year, you become a little rusty.  I'm hoping this will be a good refresher to kick off a more intentional year.  I will be sharing some of my work here.  I completely forgot how to edit, so we will worry about that later.  Right now, I'm just trying to stop and develop and eye for the moment.  Let's hope we see progress!

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5 things I learned by reading through the Bible in 90 days...

To gain interest in the Facebook group that will be reading through the Bible together, I am slowly posting the 5 lessons I learned while reading through the Bible.  I hope, that by spacing my posts, the Lord will nudge some people to join us.  I truly believe that it is a worthwhile venture for every Christian!

Five Lessons I Learned While Reading Through the Bible in 90 Days

1. It added a whole new depth to the Bible.  Did you know the Bible was one long story?  I mean, really know?  I started seeing outside of the different Bible studies I had done, and started reading one story, a love story, written by one author, God.  He started with creating the world and he ends it all his son, Jesus Christ, standing front and center receiving all glory and honor from creation.  You can easily tie all the events together because they are fresh on your mind.  I mean, can you imagine taking any other book off your bookshelf and reading it spread out over a full year, and for some people a full lifetime? 

2.  I saw how the Bible was all connected.  This goes along with number one, but we have all done Bible studies that have linked this passage with that, but it was amazing to discover these connections on my own.  It was incredible to come across foreshadowing and have other things to tie it to, or get to the New Testament and realize I had just read (literally) the same thing back in the Old Testament.  It was the Lord speaking directly into my life showing me how he truly orchestrates everything for his purposes.

3. I fell in love with the Old Testament.  I always just thought it was a boring old book with a lot of history. I knew there were some stand out books, including Psalms, which I love and receive so much comfort from. It obviously, also, has a lot of wonderful Bible stories that provide countless craft opportunities for preschoolers. I actually fell in love with those “boring old books,” though. I think when I saw them all connected, all bringing the Lord glory, I realized how crucial they were to history, to God’s story, and to my own faith. I tracked the kings and saw the Lord forgive the Israelites over and over and over and over. I grew frustrated by their stupid relapses and realized that it was the Lord showing me areas of sin in my life that I constantly gave in to. I’m currently reading through Revelation in a Bible study, and I am amazed at all the insight my Old Testament reading is still bringing me from three years ago!

4. I saw how much fluff there was in my life to cut out.  I knew I was busy my first time around and I was wondering how I would carve out roughly 45 minutes a day to read my Bible. I mean, sure that is easy for a day, or a week, but for 90 days? I had already cut out a lot of fluff (unnecessary things that really don’t contribute to my overall well-being) in my life just by becoming a parent, but I realized there was even more to be cut out. You even realize secret time pockets hidden throughout your day to spend brief moments filling up on God’s words. Remember the Lord’s words from Luke 10 that few things are needed, only one indeed. Surprisingly, it wasn’t the laundry or housework that was let go. It took commitment, but I knew it was a worthy cause. It's amazing how many things just aren't that important to your day.

5. You become more familiar with all of Scripture.  Bottom line, the devil does not like Scripture quoted at him.  When we are tempted, or struggling, we often pray and ask for prayer.  This is very valuable, but another thing Christ did was fight Satan with TRUTH -- fight fire with fire!  

Some more benefits of being familiar with ALL of Scripture...
- The Holy Spirit often speaks to us through his Word, so how much more important is it to actually know all of his Word?  
- After completing the Bible in 90 Days program, I found that I was more apt to know if someone was taking a verse out of context.

- Besides hearing it over and over, you actually know the WHOLE story and that God does, indeed, win. 

Bible in 90 Days

Three years ago, somewhere in the blogosphere, I heard about the Bible in 90 Days program organized specifically for moms.  It was hosted by Amy Gross on her website, Moms Toolbox.

I had tried multiple times to read through the Bible with no success, and was really interested in a program where other moms were encouraging each other.  Let’s face it, as a mom, who really has the time to do something like read through the Bible in 90 days? 

I was just a mother of two girls under the age of 3, but other women were raising large families, homeschooling, going through pregnancies and miscarriages, struggling with sicknesses and deaths in the family.  I knew that if all these women could power forwards, so could I.  Some days I got ahead, and some days I got behind, but in the end, I finished the program 4 days early.

I am lucky enough to share a city with Amy Gross and have had the opportunity to form a relationship with her.  She has come to speak at my MOPS group two times, and last week I had the honor of attending a Bible in 90 Days luncheon as one of her guests. 

It was a HUGE commitment to read through the Bible the first go-around, and I knew that I would be back to the program in the Lord’s timing.  It was wonderful seeing all that the Lord is doing through the Bible in 90 Days ministry and the new direction it is heading as it merges with Spiritual Awakening. 

I now feel that nudge from the Lord to return to the program with many beloved friends.  I am starting a group for those interested in starting on January 6th.  What a better way to kick off the new year than with devouring God's words?  Accountability is key, and this group is the perfect way to stay on course.

If you are interested, let me know.  And don't forget to invite other friends who may want to join, as well.  I know this is a goal many have.  A group really helps see you all the way through, and I would love to provide the chance for women all over to see the blessings that come from reading the Bible in 90 days!