Share Four Somethings-December 2021

I can't believe it is a week until Christmas! I feel like this past month has flown by and 2022 will be here before we know it. I know a lot of people are ready for this year to be over, but I'm just not. I think it's because time is just moving too quickly.  I need it to slow down just a bit so I can catch my breath!

Created for glory

We are created for glory, but NOT for our own glory, but God's glory.

I have taught my teens for years that we are not the lies that others throw at us. That we are created in God's image. That we are 

Chosen

Adopted

Redeemed

Forgiven

Loved

Blessed

Share Four Somethings November 2021

I can't believe Thanksgiving is over and we are fast approaching Christmas. I started Christmas shopping WAY early this year so I only have a few things left to buy. While it was not intentional to start so early I am glad to be almost done.

It's tradition...and I'm traditional

I don't know if your kids ever watched Phineas and Ferb (or if you ever watched it), but my kids loved it. I have explained to people several times why we put up our Thanksgiving decorations on
Thanksgiving day and I get blank stares. As I was thinking of putting them up the phrase "it's tradition and I'm traditional" was marching through my head. Dr. Doofenshmirtz (the bad guy in Phineas and Ferb) sings that line in their version of the Twelve Days of Christmas.

Hobbies are like seasons

If you asked me today what my hobbies are I would say I don't have very many. Mainly reading and occasionally putting together jigsaw puzzles. But, that hasn't always been the case. I was thinking yesterday about all the hobbies I used to do and no longer do, for whatever reason. As I was thinking about it, I realized that hobbies are like seasons. The seasons change and so do our hobbies. We do our hobbies for a season...for however long that season lasts. Sometimes, the same hobby comes around again, for yet another season. Thinking back, over the years, I have had quite a few hobbies. 

Reading

Reading has been a hobby/love of mine since I was little. It has always been an escape, especially when things were rough. I could disappear for a while into a good book and pretend all was right in the world. While I don't still use it for an escape (as much) I still LOVE to read and have developed a love for nonfiction as well. I love to learn. I think one of the reasons this hobby has lasted when so many haven't is because you can pick it up read a bit and then put it down when you have to do something else. Not everything is that easy to drop.

Latch hook

This is something I did in my teens and our early years of marriage. I am not artistic at all, but this was a form of art that I could do. I think I stopped because I didn't know what to do with the projects once they were done. Plus, money was tight and this was an expense we didn't need. Although, I think there might be one project in my closet still unfinished. 

Paint by number

Remember those? Do they even still make them? I liked to paint and loved that when I finished the project it looked like a real picture (as opposed to what it would look like if I actually tried to paint a picture 😂).

Cross-stitch

Where the projects are languishing in my closet!

I also did this in my teens and continued for many years after we got married. Again, not artistic, but an art form I could do. I would finish the projects and then give them as gifts. I started a cross-stitch baby blanket when my sister was pregnant with my niece and I am pretty sure it is also still in my closet (my niece will be 11 in December). I simply stopped having time to work on it. I think I have pulled out a project and tried to work on it in this house as well (we've been here 5 1/2 years), but the light wasn't quite right in the living room and I gave up, then we had foster kiddos and I didn't have the time. This is something I think I would like to try doing again.

Scrapbooking

I used to LOVE to work on scrapbooks. I started one for Kayla and Elijah when they were babies and I haven't worked on them in years and years. At one point the expense of developing pictures was an issue and then it became a time issue. It takes time to pull it all out and sort through it and then do a page...and I couldn't just leave it all out and go back to it here and there. We didn't have the space for that. This is something else I would like to start doing again, finishing their scrapbooks.

Taking pictures

I don't have a lot of pictures of me and my family when I was little. There was no money for a camera and film. I think that made me want to take pictures to always have the memories. I started taking pictures in middle school and have continued. Over the last couple of years though, I find myself taking fewer and fewer pictures. I am attempting to be more present in the moments, snapping some pictures, but not so many that I miss what we are doing.

Photo Albums

I used to be SO good at developing all the pictures and putting them in albums. Then I had kids and we started moving around and I got too busy to keep up. However, when we were in Singapore I had a friend, Lynette (still my sister-friend!), who was also behind on the developing/organizing pictures, so we started getting together just to work on these projects and I got caught back up. Now I can't remember the last time I printed pictures and made an album. I do photo books every once in a while of different things. That last one I did was last year when I made Kayla a photo book/yearbook for high school graduation. It was a fun, but very time-consuming project. I need to be working on Elijah's but haven't started.

Sewing

I like to sew and over the years have taught myself some basic stuff. Then, about 3 years ago I took a sewing class and I loved it. I don't sew very often, because I don't have a lot of time for it, and I don't know what to work on, LOL. I want to sew but need to find a project to do...which takes time and consideration.

Bible Journaling

I LOVED Bible Journaling. I found it to be a great way to meditate on what I was reading in the Bible, but again, not very artistic, so mainly just writing in the margins, prayers, other verses that were related to what I was reading. I stopped this when we started having foster kiddos because I didn't have the time to do it anymore. I have not started back. It's hard, but even though I don't have all the obligations I used to have in the mornings, I still feel pressured to get going on the day. It is something that I am trying to work through. I would like to start this again too, but don't feel like I have any creative juices for it.

Blogging

Yep, I started this blog 10 years ago, on November 5, 2011. I didn't realize until this moment that I had hit my 10th anniversary!!! I did stop for a few years and feel like I'm not as consistent as I was when I first started. But, the truth is I give it more time than I did then. So, I don't know what the pressure is to do more, LOL. I love blogging it has always been an outlet for me. When I started it I wanted it to be a place to let our family and friends know what is going on in our lives because we were overseas. I still use it for that but also try to use it as an encouragement for others. I enjoy it so much that I started a book blog (combining my love of reading and blogging) and that has been a blast. It has been so much fun finding other bloggers with common interests. 

Online video games

I went through a season where I enjoyed playing candy crush and some other games on Facebook. I can't remember what they were, but I know I did several. I finally decided this was a waste of my time and quit doing them. Every once in a while I want to do an online game, but for the most part, I don't.

Jigsaw Puzzles

I have always loved putting puzzles together! This is something that we have done as a family and for a long time, we were always in a puzzle. Now, we still do them, but not quite as often. The kids have jobs, Kayla's at college, so not as much time and interest. I did start a 2000 piece Christmas puzzle yesterday though, and it will probably take us until Christmas (or beyond) to finish it, LOL. I love it because you can leave it set up and put a few pieces in as you need a break or distraction from something else. I used to have Elijah go and do a few pieces of the puzzle when he was frustrated with his school work. It was a good mental reset. Kayla would join him just because she enjoyed doing it and it wasn't fair he could go do it during school 😂.

I am sure I have had other hobbies but these are the ones I remember the most. What do you think, do you think hobbies are like seasons? What hobbies do you enjoy that you are not able to do in this season of life? What hobbies do you have? I would love to hear about your hobbies!

Why Me?

We all go through seasons where we ask "why me?" We don't necessarily want to handle the life we've been dealt. We go through seasons where we feel useless, less than, depressed, insignificant, and wonder what on earth are we here for.

Thankful Thursday

I am struggling with depression today (and if I am honest yesterday and Monday too), so I decided to try and do a few things to get me out of my funk. I started sorting a new puzzle (sometimes it's the little things!), bought small Christmas gifts for my kiddos, and chatted with a friend (always helpful!). 

Then I decided I wanted to give thanks to God despite my mood!

Thou Art Worthy

 Happy Sunday, today the prompt it "worthy."

Equipped for good Work

All of life is equipping you for something. When you are a baby your parents are equipping (training) you for what you need to become a more mature child. When you are a child school is preparing you for college or life. When you are in high school your teachers are more focused on equipping you for what you need for college, trade school, or a job. Once you get to college your teachers are equipping you for your career. If you are working your supervisor is equipping you on how to be a better worker.

In the Morning

 

Love never fails

Love never fails. It does not end, it is lasting.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13:4-8

Life is a Gift

Today's writing prompt is gift.

What immediately popped into my head is my favorite verse with the word "gift" in it.

Let Your Light Shine

As Christians we are called to be children of the light (1 Thessalonians 5:5).

As children of the light we are to be the light, not adding to the darkness of this world. 

You are what you think

I am sure you have heard the saying "You are what you eat." Well, today the writing prompt is "think."

To that, I say, you are what you think.

Always

The things of this world will pass away. 

The people of this world will pass away.

But, one thing will ALWAYS be true: Jesus is with us, ALWAYS.

Share Four Somethings October 2021

Happy OctNovDecember. I think everyone is confused about what time of year it is. I was in Target yesterday and I saw a display caddie with Halloween and Christmas decorations on it. Seriously! Had I not been in a hurry I would have snapped a picture of it.

The Straight Path

 Today the prompt is path.

My word for the year is "surrender" and the verse that the Lord placed on my heart for this word is 

Being Still

Being still in a world that loves to rush forward can be hard. We struggle with silence and doing all we can to get ahead. We struggle with the stress of trying to get it all done and doing it all well. We don't stop to think before rushing off to do the next thing. But, what if there was another way?

Do not be afraid

 Afraid.

Anxious.

Frightened.

Nervous.

Scared.

Timid.

Taste and See

Taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Psalm 34:8 NIV

Making an Effort

Today's writing prompt is effort. 

Effort is the mental or physical energy to do something! 

It is an exertion of force. 

Being Kind

Kindness matters. How we treat others matters. God is very clear on how we are to treat one another, it is not always easy, but we need to be obedient. I have recently read a book and Bible Study on Kindness and here are a few of my takeaways:

Trust Without Borders

We were living overseas the first time I heard the song "Oceans." I remember being in this room that
looked like a schoolroom, sitting on the back row, and hearing the words "Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders let me walk upon the waters wherever You would call me, take me deeper than my feet could ever wander and my faith will be made stronger in the presence of my Savior."

Temporary

Temporary means not permanent, for a brief time, or season. While most people long for things to be
permanent, like their career, or their house, or a relationship, there is comfort to be found in the temporary as well. 

Finding Treasure

When I think of treasure I think of the verse,  “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal.  But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal." Matthew 6:18-20. 

Pressing Toward Christ

 One of the lessons I try to teach my youth group is that we are either moving toward Christ or away from Him. Every single decision moves us in one direction or the other. 

Redeemed

I am redeemed. Jesus has paid my debt and taken my place. 

What did I do to deserve it? Nothing. 

What do I do each and every day to be worthy of this sacrifice? Nothing. 

Everyone

Today's writing prompt is "everyone" and it will probably be the hardest one for me. I have vague
thoughts like "everyone is welcome in God's kingdom." But no direction or concrete steps. 

Above All

The Lord is above all and for all, he was before all things and he will be after all things. His name is great and greatly to be praised.  I am thankful that God is above all and Jesus gave all.

Establish my work

When I first saw today's prompt (establish) I did not know which direction I would go with it. But, there is a prayer that I pray every day and it's one that is good to pray:

Finding Power in prayer

The first thing I thought of when I saw today's prompt, power, was Acts 1:8. There is nothing more powerful than God. You might try to convince me otherwise, but, spoiler alert, you can't. I am stubborn that way. When we accept Christ as our Savior we are filled with the POWER of the Holy Spirit. That should set us on fire as nothing else can.

Complete

I have to be honest when I saw that today's writing prompt was "complete" I was like I have nothing, nada, zilch. Just an empty head. So, I sat and pondered it a while, and then a line from a movie that I have not seen in years popped into my head..."You complete me." Does anybody know what movie that line comes from (or would you have before you saw the meme?)...Jerry McGuire. It's probably been 10 years, at least, since I have seen that movie. So, what is it that made that line so completely memorable? I think it is just the sweetness of the moment. I think in our own way we all want someone to say to us "you complete me." We want to be half of a whole. We want someone to

complete us. Someone we can laugh with, cry with, share moments with, and grow old with.  While it is a nice and comforting thought that another person can do that for us we are never fully complete until we have Christ in our lives. Nobody, no matter how much they love us, and care for us, will ever complete us in the way that Christ does. He takes our broken and makes us whole, He takes our mess and gives us a message, He takes our wandering and sets us on a path, and He takes our purposelessness and fills us with a purpose. He, who is before all things, loves us in a way that is better than we could ever imagine, and He accepts us just as we are.  

 

No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1John 4:12

Being an encourager

Boost

Buoy

Hearten 

Inspire

Reassure

Spur 

Strengthen

Brighten

Cheer

Encourage

Being made Whole

 Abstract

Incomplete

Part

Broken

fraction

unfinished

deficient

empty

Being Patient

When I saw today's prompt (patient) it made me laugh. Because of all the topics that we could have,
this is one that I have probably struggled with the most. I think if we are honest, this is one that we all struggle with quite a bit. Who wants to be patient? Who likes to be patient? We live in a world where it is my way, right now, or 5 minutes ago. Waiting is hard, being patient is even harder.

Finding Comfort

As one who has had multiple health issues over the last month or so, I am seeking comfort, or more precisely, being comfortable! I am weary and worn out, frustrated by the lack of answers, and by seemingly no progress.

Finding peace

What do you think of when you hear the word peace? 

I typically think of quiet and calm. I also think of the universal symbol for peace ☮. Usually, peace is thought of in war times or terms, to be an agreement to end hostilities. Even when we are not in war times we tend to think of peace in terms of living in unity or harmony with our neighbors and friends. 

Learning to be content

 I love the way the Cambridge Dictionary defines content, it states:

pleased with your situation and not hoping for change or improvement

So, yeah, sometimes I am like Paul and I know what it's like to be content in all circumstances. Other times I am more like Martha, "but Lord, if you had only..." (John 11:21)

It's a struggle, one I am sure we all face. Learning to be content with who we are, with what we have, where we see our life going, our jobs, our families, our image and I could go on and on.

You see, the times I am like Paul I am remembering to look UP. The times I am like Martha I am looking around, comparing, listening to the voices of the world.

But, the thing is Paul didn't start out content in His circumstances. He was actually Saul, a murderous dude that hated Jesus and everything He stood for. But then he encountered God and he was CHANGED and he LEARNED what it is like to be content. He didn't encounter God and all of the sudden was all peace, sunshine, and rainbows, no, he had to learn to be content, just like we do.

How do we learn what it means to be content?  

I think it starts with understanding the definition of what contentment means. To be pleased with your situation and not hoping for change or improvement...again, it's not easy, but I think too often we get too distracted and comfortable with the things of this world. To understand true contentment we have to have the broader picture in mind, our eternal home. If we will focus on God, reading His word, understanding why He calls us to do the things He has called us to do, we will see that His plan is better than our plan. Then and only then will our longing for the things of this world be replaced with the longing of God and Heaven. And we will learn, like Paul, to be content in "these" circumstances (whatever these are for you) because this is not our home. God has something better in mind for us.

Why I need to find my voice

I was rolling ideas around in my head for a theme for the 31-day writing challenge. I had several ideas I was mulling over, when I felt the Lord say "finding your voice." Once I heard that I could not remember the other ideas that had been floating around in my head just moments before. I knew it was the right fit. You see, I started this blog in November 2011 and I LOVED it. I loved sitting down and putting my thoughts into a post. I didn't try to censor what I was writing or my even my feelings, I just put it all out there. It was very freeing. 

Then, a few years ago a couple started bullying me. I was not in a position where I could avoid them and even though I tried to get help many times, nothing was resolved. They spoke into my life in ways they had no business doing. They talked about what I posted on Facebook, how I was always negative, they talked about how I parented, about how I taught, they insinuated that things were not right in my marriage, and the more it went on the more I shrunk into myself. I no longer posted freely. I second, third, or 100th time doubted what I should post, what I should say, what I should do. I knew that what they were saying was not true. But, 2+ years of them constantly putting me down had it's toll on me and I lost my voice. I went through a phase where I pretty much only posted Bible Verses on social media because no one could say I was being negative if I did that. I avoided them as much as I could, but it didn't matter, they would just private message me. 

Anyway, that is why I feel the need to find my voice again. I spoke of it a little bit here, but every time I sit down to write on this blog, I freeze up. I can "force" myself to write every once in a while, but I don't love it like I used to because I am so scared of what will be said about what I write. Those people are no longer in my life and I want to completely break the chains they had over me and be able to freely post, write, whatever I want, whenever I want. I need to find my voice again.

So, for this particular challenge, I want to find my writing voice again. It may not look the same as it
used to, but the Lord might take me right back to where I was. Regardless, I know where to look when I need something, and that is to my Lord and Savior. 

One of my favorite songs when I feel needy and down is "Lord I Need You" by Matt Maher.

Lord I Need You by Matt Mayer

Lord, I come, I confess
Bowing here I find my rest
Without You I fall apart
You're the One that guides my heart

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

Where sin runs deep Your grace is more
Where grace is found is where You are
Where You are, Lord, I am free
Holiness is Christ in me

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

So teach my song to rise to You
When temptation comes my way
When I cannot stand I'll fall on You
Jesus, You're my hope and stay

Lord, I need You, oh, I need You
Every hour I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You

You're my one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You
My one defense, my righteousness
Oh God, how I need You 

You can listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LuvfMDhTyMA

Is there something you need? What will it take for you to go after it? Let's find the courage to explore our needs together.

75 Hard Challenge Update

Day #1 the 2nd time

Well, I do not want to say I failed again, but I did not succeed again. So, to be clear:

Sickness = 2

75 Hard challenge = 0

The first time I did the challenge I lasted 5 days before I had to stop. You can read that update here.

This time I was on day 29 when I had to admit defeat, 29!!! 😭😭

Writing Challenge

You all know that I have said that I should and will be doing my best to write more frequently for this blog. It is something that I want to do, but when I sit down to actually do it, my voice gets silenced. I am really struggling with it. So, I decided to do something about it.

Share Four Somethings-September 2021

Happy Fall!! Is anyone else having a hard time believing it is almost October? I feel like this month has flown by, even though we haven't done a ton of stuff (mostly school and work)! Welcome back to the monthly post of Share Four Somethings. It is a monthly link-up hosted by Heather Gerwing (thank you Heather!) where you literally share four somethings on the fourth Saturday of the month. The categories are Something Loved, Something Read (or Said), Something Treasured, and Something Ahead.

Rules for dating my kids

 

Matt was not quite ready for Kayla to go back to college this year because he is afraid this will be the year she gets a boyfriend. Now, obviously, he is not afraid, but more like not ready for his "little" girl to grow up. I see it more as a natural progression, she will eventually date, and God willing get married.

One of our friends has a shirt that says, "Rules for dating my daughters-DON'T!" and while I would like to agree and think it is funny every time he wears it, I really do want my kids to eventually date and find their future spouses. 

Thursday Encouragement-Distractions in prayer

I don't know about you but sometimes I start praying and before I know it my mind has wandered and I am no longer praying, but thinking about other things. There have been times that I have started to pray and then a laundry list of things that I need to do will flood my mind. What do you do during these times of distractions? When the list starts going through my head I will stop praying and take the time to write them down so I can go back to praying distraction free.

Plans

 I remember toward the end of 2019 being super excited for the next year to come. I was hopeful that it was going to be better than 2019 and figured it couldn't be any worse. This was one of those times that I was super thankful that we can't see what is ahead. No one could have predicted that 2020 was going to usher in a pandemic that left us reeling, that it would be super divisive, and bring out the ugly in us. However, it taught us at least two things.

Thursday Encouragement

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think (dwell on) about such things. Philippians 4:8

Graduate early?

 Last year when Elijah was in 10th grade I would get this stray thought about graduating him early...and then I would dismiss it. We started 11th grade last week and I broached the subject with him because I started having thoughts about it again. I told him to think about it and he is. This is one of the beautiful things that homeschooling, we can consider graduating early or graduating later to let our kiddos do some community college work while still technically in high school. If we do decide to graduate him early we would do it at the end of the school year.

Reasons why I am thinking about graduating him early:

1. By the end of this semester he will have the credit hours he needs to be eligible to graduate high school

2. He hates school