Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
I have been challenged to dust off my blog and share deep thoughts. I am going to take up that challenge.....so consider this blog (like it's author) a work-in-progress! Deep thoughts (God willing) coming soon! Ha, ha. That is if I can manage to write in full sentences again after all of my FaceBooking. :o)
Posted by Leslie at 8:02 AM 2 comments
I have been such a recluse lately! No blogging or Facebooking...what a loser.
I decided to play Jill's 8 things game:
8 things I am looking forward to:
1. Vacation at the beach
2. Vacation Bible School
3. End of homeschooling for 2008-09
4. Third Day concert for my birthday
5. Jesus' return to take us HOME
6. Getting my first pedicure of the season
7. Having more time for leisure reading
8. Losing 10 pounds
8 things I did today: (not in order)
1. Warned my kids about swine flu and to wash their hands a lot!
2. Grocery shopped
3. Did lesson plans for the week
4. Corrected some homework
5. Did a few loads of wash
6. Cleaned the kitchen & bathroom
7. Did some GA prep for Weds
8. Did some Bible study
8 things I wish I could do:
1. Effectively share the gospel with family
2. Comfort my brother & his wife in loss of her dad last week.
3. Spell better
4. Lose the 10 pound afore mentioned without diet & excercise! ;0)
5. Be a better friend
6. Be 100% sure that our decision regarding our dog is the right one.
7. Love the LORD with ALL of my heart, soul, mind & strength ALL the time.
8. Be a better communicator...especially when it comes to picking up the phone and calling
That's enough of me. Good thing to do...I learned a few things about myself. I didn't do 8 favorite shows because I don't have them. I tend to watch a few sporadically but usually end up with a DVD of an A&E or Masterpiece theater show. My husband caught me watching the A&E version of Pride & Prejudice and about had a cow. He doesn't get that it is different than the one I usually watch. MEN!
Happy to be back in the bloggy world.
Posted by Leslie at 12:37 PM 2 comments
Life comes at you fast...deal with it.
Life is messy...deal with it.
I don't really like dealing with it but sometimes you are left without choices. I have learned a lot in the past week....practically & spiritually.
1. When God tells you to dethrone an idol you better do it or He will.
2. The Lord is everywhere...even in the ER @ Kadlac.
3. Reciting scripture really does bring comfort & can be a needed distraction.
4. Our kids don't belong to us...we cannot even keep them safe when they are 6 inches away ~
but their Lord & Master can.
5. We cannot control all situations...not even close.
6. Little boys heal at an miraculous rate! :0)
7. When the dust settles two things are for sure: God has put amazing people in our lives and
He will never leave us nor forsake us. I have seen the love of the Lord through many of you
and been uplifted daily by your prayers.
Thank you so much. We are "dealing with it!"
Posted by Leslie at 2:11 PM 3 comments
Have you seen "the look" lately? Oh we all have one. We can recognize it immediately on other's faces (especially our children) but seldom feel it on ours.
It is the look we get when our kids are not happy with a decision, when God is telling us to do something we don't want to do, when a friend shares something that convicts us "in love", our better half questions our judgement etc, etc, etc. I could go on but I do not have all day to describe the many things that cause "the look" to come over my face or my kid's.
Can you feel it when it's there? I can, I feel a tightening and like the hair is raising on the back of my neck. I have never actually looked in the mirror and seen what it looks like but I imagine I go very blank. That is my son's "look" and we are very similar in the way we deal with things. When challenged or told something we do not like (true or not) we shut down emotionally.
My daughter's is unmistakable (to me)...and holds just enough rebellion for me to know her real thoughts although she is careful not to voice them. I saw it this morning as we discussed a Christian Rock group that her dad & I have asked her not to purchase songs from or listen to and there it was "the look". I am glad she is transparent because it gave me an opportunity to talk with her about where she draws the line in the sand and this isn't worth rebelling about yada yada yada. I have noticed however, as we venture more into the teen world "the look" is popping up more often. All to say it was a good conversation and helps me gear up for more likewise chats. AND it caused me to examine what brings "the look" onto my face. Where are my lines drawn in the sand? Hmmm.
If I truly believed the verse I have claimed recently [Psalm 16:6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places, surely I have a delightful inheritance.] "the look" would never grace my countenance. Hmmm.
Posted by Leslie at 9:31 AM 2 comments
Posted by Leslie at 9:14 AM 3 comments
Wendi has blessed me with a letter. I will now share 10 of my favorite things beginning with the letter "H". Not in any specific order.
1. HUGS - if you know me at all you know this to be true...and that I do it whether
you want to or not!
2. HANDSOME HUSBAND - mine!
3. HOME - there's no place like it or so I've heard.
4. HORSES - Kayla comes by her passion quite naturally.
5. HOME SCHOOLING - love it, love it, love it.
6. HIM - my Savior Jesus & my Awesome, Creator, Father God
7. HOLY SPIRIT - couldn't live without His direction, comfort, presence
8. HER - my mom, my daughter, my beloved girl friends, my Amber Annie.
9. HAZELNUT- flavored creamer, syrup or about anything.
10. HAPPY FACES - I used to collect these and even had my car all decked out in
them.
11. HEAVEN - can't wait to see Jesus!
12. HYMNS
13. HAMMOCKS
14. HAMBURGERS - from Sonic or Red Robin
15. HAIR CUTS - good ones that is.
16. HIGH HEELS & HAND BAGS! Kayla reminded me of that one.
17. HOLINESS - see "theme" post
18. HOOPS - as in basketball when Tommy & Kayla play.
19. HOLIDAYS
20. HOPE!
How Happy I am to Have the Hour to Have Haggled with H. You'll find I didn't do it Harrassed, Half Heartedly or Hopelessly but Happily.
Hugs to all!!!
Posted by Leslie at 10:25 AM 3 comments
This week Tommy turns 11 and Kayla turns 14. I feel like singing "Sunrise, Sunset" from Fiddler on the Roof. I have always most desired for my kids to be like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in season and whose leaves do not wither. Whatever they do prospers. (Psalm 1:3) and "growing strong, filled with wisdom, and the grace of God on them...in favor with God and men" (Luke 2:40). So, why is it so bittersweet? I was a much better Grade school teacher than Jr. High & High school...buying presents & giving parties were a lot easier several years ago...we were way less busy...they played TOGETHER for hours...etc. Sweet times. These are blessed years also. One thing I appreciate about parenting is that it doesn't get easier just different and God is right with me the whole way. I know that my heavenly Father's job parenting me doesn't get easier just different as I grow in wisdom & character.
So, things to be thankful for:
2 children who love the Lord and are getting to know Him very personally through His Word.
Grateful and loving children who still give snuggles and kisses and "love you" every night...our kids tuck US in :P
Their wonderful friends who BTW are being raised by really great parents (yes, you)
The laughter and fun we have together as a family & the fact that we all love games.
Having a daughter to share "blond moments" with...
Playing "whose the piggy?" at dinner and having to tell the kids every night "don't do what Daddy does...it's not safe" ;)
The privilege of watching these two grow up...JOY OF MY LIFE.
I am full of such gratitude to God for allowing an unworthy wretch like me to come to know Him and persevering to bring me around to obedience so that my kiddos will know THE WAY, THE TRUTH, THE LIFE.
Happy Birthday Babies! Love, Mom
Posted by Leslie at 2:56 PM 2 comments
Do you have a theme for the year? I've been asked that several times. I had no problem identifying last year's theme: "who I am and who God is". Its always easier to look back and see a pattern. But now I am being asked to look forward to what God is going to teach me. That is a bit harder. I just finished commenting to Kim that God hadn't really revealed a theme to me yet which is a big fat lie. He has revealed 2! Both come directly out of this year's study of the life of Moses (Exodus - Deuteronomy) One I am excited about and can get behind: "God, show me Your glory!" Remember I was going to be audacious and bold like Moses. God is doing His part....or was all along and now I am just paying attention!?! The second one comes out of Leviticus. I have lost count of the number of times God says to "be HOLY because I am HOLY". I would really like to think that this is one of those instances where He is only talking to the Israelites, but I don't think I can be that self-deceptive and get away with it. I'm not liking that one as much....that is going to take a lot of hard work. (yes, that is me whining you hear....really unpleasant isn't it...) Here's a show stopper question from my Bible Study Fellowship lesson I was working on this morning: Is there an area of your life that has not been consecrated to the Lord? If so, what will you do about it? When I finally get "real" enough with myself to write an honest answer to that one I will post again. :0)
Posted by Leslie at 7:33 AM 2 comments
