He is Risen!

Happy Easter!  If you have time today, this post by my friend Erin was a blessing to me and I hope to share it that it may bless others.  Easter is our reminder the story did not end at a grave, but continued beyond one.  Our Savior lives!

remembering the truth about God

There are days...

-when there is more information than I can take in

-when there are more tasks on my "to do" list than I can get to

-when life demands more strength than I have

-when the hurts here and around the world are more than I can bear

-when problems are bigger than I can solve

-when just looking at the piles on my desk or not being able to find a lost paper is enough to overwhelm an already overtaxed mind and soul

Things were never lower in Israel's history than when Jeremiah penned these words:

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.  I say to myself, 'The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for him.'"

Waiting, resting, trusting, and knowing that when I feel burdens too big for me, it my opportunity to look to the God who is big enough.

Spring Break!

 

And no, I didn't take this picture a couple of months ago to share now.  I took it about 5 minutes ago.

 

March 25, and we have 9 inches!

Palm Sunday

Hosanna, loud hosanna

The little children sang;

Through pillared court and temple

The lovely anthem rang;

To Jesus, who had blessed them

Close folded to His breast

The children sang their praises

The simplest and the best.

 

"Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to the King!

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to the King!"

 

From Olivet they followed,

Mid an exultant crowd,

The victor palm branch waving

And chanting clear and loud;

The Lord of men and angels

Rode on in lowly state,

Nor scorned that little children

Should on His bidding wait.

 

"Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to the King!

Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to the King!"

 

"Hosanna in the highest!"
That ancient song we sing,

For Christ is our Redeemer,

The Lord of heav'n, our King;

O may we ever praise Him

With heart and life and voice,

And in His blissful presence

Eternally rejoice!

 

"Hosanna, hosanna, hosanna to the King!

Hosanna hosanna, hosanna to the King!"

 

 

life around our house..or around the rink

There has been a recent marriage and now the feasting has begun.

Three very different children with very different interests and abilities, but all three have enjoyed ice skating lessons.  After four weeks of lessons, this girl no longer grabs the wall all the way around the rink--that's progress!!

Pretty much what he looks like in person, too...a blur.

 

And of course, the class clown.  He's really doing well, too.

 

I sit, watch, and marvel at the privilege God has given me to raise three precious children who are growing up way too fast.

Simple Woman's Daybook

 FOR TODAY: March 5, 2013

Outside my window...it is snowing and blowing.  We have had more snow in the past two weeks than the rest of winter combined.  My youngest is loving every minute he can get outside to play in it.  We're not sure how the robins and geese feel.

I am thinking...about ways to address my children's hearts.  As a homeschool mom I've found it is easy to focus on academics and behavior, when godly character is the pressing need of a child's development.

I am thankful...for a dear friend who moved back into town after six years of living out of state.  What a joy to reconnect with this sister in Christ, and in front of the gluten free section of the grocery store to boot!

In the kitchen...the piano that sat in it for two days has been moved.  We can no longer tap out a tune while grabbing the mustard.

I am wearing...as much purple as possible.  For me, it's the new pink.

I am creating...a picture schedule for Josiah for his afternoons.  He loves to look at the next thing on his list and do it himself.  As I'm trying to work with the older two then, I love it as well.

I am going...on a field trip with Eric's sister's family next week.  When my 19-year-old niece asked if we wanted to be included in her spring break plans, we jumped at saying yes!  We are learning the gift of watching two of these children becoming young adults.

I am wondering...what God wants me to be when my children grow up.

I am reading...Smart but Scattered.  I'd never heard of executive functioning until the past couple of months, but have become better educated.  This book has so many great ideas for helping kids organize themselves and their responses.  Maybe it will help me organize myself, too!

I am hoping...we can understand and help Rachel with her digestive issues.  Prayer needed here.

I am looking forward to...starting a Bible study on Ecclesiastes.  We'll start next week, if it will stop snowing on Tuesdays.

I am learning...to stop focusing on what my children can't do and instead stand breathless at what God has done and is continuing to do in their lives.

Around the house...new carpet!  Josiah named it Fuzzy.  Thus the reason the piano was in the kitchen.

I am pondering...summer.  Our plans have never been so up in the air.  Wondering what God has in mind!

A favorite quote for today...

Never be sad or desponding,
If thou has faith to believe;
Grace, for the duties before thee,
Ask of thy God and receive.

Never give up, never give up,
Never give up to thy sorrows,
Jesus will bid them depart;
Trust in the Lord, Trust in the Lord,
Sing when your trials are greatest,
Trust in the Lord and take heart.

-Fanny Crosby

One of my favorite things...is teaching science to my kindergartner.  He thinks cells are oh so cool.  He is oh so right!  We are studying the human body.  I am marveling at what a young man told me recently who was homeschooled until high school: the body is the pinnacle of everything God made.  It is an awesome endeavor to study it, as it reveals God's creativity as nothing else in His creation.  What a thought!  And we can't even begin to talk about the study of the soul since that won't go under a microscope...

A few plans for the rest of the week: science classes at the Discovery Museum.  Rachel is giddy about the weather class as her current plan (aside from dog breeding and teaching) is to become a storm chaser.  Josiah is going to learn about magnets.

A peek into my day...

Chosen Families

Passing along a website that has been a particular comfort to me over the past few days and weeks as we have been in the process of reevaluating Josiah's needs now that he is in kindergarten.  ChosenFamilies.org was created to provide Christian support and encouragement to parents and families of children with hidden disabilities.

Larabars: it ended in yum!

When you're gluten free, it's only a matter of time before you are introduced.  Our first meeting was not quite what I expected.  There was no rush of happy feelings, no taste buds all a-flutter, no desire to pursue this friendship.

Sometimes things sweeten with patience.

It was all in the chemistry, really.  I should have started with chocolate chip cookie dough, instead of pecan pie.

Now that I've made homemade Larabars thanks to this delectable recipe from Cha Cha, I was ready to venture out and try something new, something along the lines of this recipe, to which I give all credit for any creative sparks that followed.  My cupboard was temporarily bare of pecans, the almonds we tried did not seem to work well for my DS, and my husband had tossed what was left of our raw cashews, so I looked at our walnuts and smiled, hopefully. 

Cocoa-coconut Lara Bites

15 dates, pitted (in the refrigerated section of our health food store)

1 c. walnuts (sub in any combination of nuts you have on hand)

3/4 c. shredded coconut

2 T. coconut oil

2 T. water

1/3 c. chocolate chips (I think, since I didn't exactly measure, just poured in mini chips until it looked right)

Mix walnuts and coconut in food processor until fine.  Then add dates, oil, and water and pulse until a dough forms.  Add chocolate chips and stir by hand.  Press mixture into melon baller and then onto waxed paper.  Refrigerate any that are left after sampling.