Choosing to SEE

I just returned home from a ladies salad supper at the kids' school.
Everyone brought a delicious salad to share.
The speaker was Steven Curtis Chapman's wife, Mary Beth.
Wow.

My heart is full.
 

She spoke about her loss (of her little daughter, Maria) and her faith in God (the Healer).

She spoke about her struggles with clinical depression.

She spoke about her marriage to Steven Curtis and her passion for international adoption.

After the Chapmans tragically lost their daughter, Steven and their son, Caleb, began fervently praying, "God, we know you're in this, but we're so confused and hurt.  You've got to show us something tangible so we can know Maria's with You! Please, we need to SEE You in this, please let us SEE!"

Well . . . look what Steven found on their little art table.

A flower that Maria had drawn and what do you think it said on the other side??  . . . "SEE".

Wow.

The funny thing is that Maria was in preschool and hadn't written words like that . . . just I love you and names.


And the flower . . . it had six petals (one for each family member) and only one petal was colored in . . . Maria's favorite color, blue.


Mary Beth clings to that drawing and message and she is confident that her little Maria is safe with Jesus.

I love how God works.

Each one of us received a copy of her book, Choosing to SEE and I am so excited to start reading it.

"He has torn us to pieces

but He will heal us;

He has injured us

but He will bind up our wounds."

Hosea 6:1

Project and Popcorn

My parents were here for a little while and I can't wait to show you what my dad started in the laundry/mud room!

It was in need of a makeover.

Since I love our board and batten so much in our family room, I thought we should put something like it in our laundry/mud room . . . with hooks.

Hopefully this weekend I can find some time to prime and paint it and I'll post some before and after pics for you.

I get so excited when projects are underway!  I'm tempted to stay up all night and paint, but I know that would not be wise.  Especially because Jake has two friends sleeping over tonight and Caroline has a play date coming over early in the morning.

This is totally random, but do you own a Whirly Pop?? If not . . . go buy one right now!

It makes perfect popcorn every time . . . it sure beats the microwave kind.  So good, especially with a lot of melted butter and salt on it.

I need to go and get out all of my painting gear . . .

Joyful Noise

Caroline was in a concert at her school tonight.
I don't have any pictures of the actual concert because pictures of concerts never turn out . . .

I did get some shots of her and her friends before the concert, though.

Aren't the tie-dyed shirts cute??

While we were at the school, we found Caroline's torn paper portrait of herself . . .pretty good, right?

On the way home, we splurged and got some shakes to celebrate a job well done. :)

"Make a joyful noise unto the LORD."

Psalm 100:1

Ready?? Go!!

There is something about playing a game that just bonds people together.
I LOVE playing games with my kids.
We laugh so hard.
The other night Caroline and I went to a game night and we played Scattergories . . . I used to play this game yeeeeaaaars ago.

I had forgotten about it really.

Now the kids and I are hooked.

Anyone want to come and play with us??

Just for fun . . . your letter is "S" . ..  GO!

a boys name
us cities
things that are cold
school supplies
pro sports teams
insects
breakfast foods
furniture
tv shows
things found in the ocean
presidents
product names

Upward

John's going to love me for posting this photo. :)

He's been coaching fifth and sixth grade girls basketball on Saturday mornings and then he coaches Caroline's Upward basketball team on Saturday afternoons.

Upward Basketball is a great national Christian basketball organization.  Caroline loves it. 

I think she loves it so much because Daddy is her coach. :)

They start every game with prayer.
Every practice with a devotion.

Jake likes to help the girls, too.

Caroline is learning a lot about the game. 

It's so much fun to watch her play and interact with the members on her team.

Organizations like Upward are a blessing to our family!!

To find out more about Upward sports, click here.

I'm Lovin' This

Starbucks, Caribou Coffee, Jamba Juice, and now McDonald's . . . they all have scrumptious little bowls of oatmeal topped with yummy things.
I like to make it at home for a fraction of the price and a lot less sugar. 

I just make plain old fashioned oatmeal . . . sprinkle a little brown sugar on it and top with Trader Joe's Antioxidant trail mix.

Perfect.

Have a great Monday morning!

“The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning, great is your faithfulness.”

Lamentations 3:22,23

"Soul" Food

I have been feeling very "full" lately because of all the "soul food" I have been feasting on.

One thing that has been "filling" me up is listening to this CD.

I just love it. 
Amy Grant singing my favorite hymns . . .
Definitely a nourishment to my soul.
(The kids like it, too, and I am glad they are learning the words to hymns because of it.)

Another thing that has been "filling" me up is this Bible Study.

It is a study on contentment by Laurie Cole and it is titled There is a Season.

In this study, we are learning all about the different seasons of our lives and how we can learn to be content in all of them.  Right now, we are studying David's life and all of his different seasons and how God was using each season to prepare him for the next one. 

I have been getting so much out of this study.  It is well-written and I look forward to my time that I spend doing my "homework".

God has been really speaking to my heart about how true contentment/satisfaction can only come from Him.

I encourage you to get involved in a Bible Study.  What a great accountability system!  I had such a hard time making time to read my Bible before, but now that I am in a group study, I am so much more motivated. 

Accountability is key.

Another thing that has been "filling" me up is my time with Luke.

He goes to Pre-K in the mornings and I have the afternoons with him.

I savor my afternoons with him.

He's my little buddy.

My time with him definitely nourishes my soul. :)

What has been nourishing your soul??