what is...

the best use of my time?
That is the question I'm repeatedly asking myself throughout the day.
Because quite honestly there's much more on my list than there is time.
Need to do's, want to do's, must do's.
So what comes first.
Usually I want to do something creative.
But I know I need to get dinner started so it's ready later.
Or those thank you notes.  Geesh. Still not finished from Christmas.
I hate how they linger and then it becomes so late I'm embarrassed to even send them.

And then there's the flu.
Yes, the flu has hit in our home.
Two girls down.
And absolutely everything wiped off our plate in terms
of appointments and classes and many of the to-do's.
Yesterday was spent like this.

And even though I did a lot of making soup and homeopathic concoctions
and cleaning dirty dishes.  Always dirty dishes.

The day was all about rest.

And much of the same is slated for today.

And my mind is wondering what is the best use of my time.
I have a couple of projects brewing.  And many to-do's I could tackle.

But sometimes the best use is actually doing none of them.
Just being with them.  Playing that game of life they're requesting.
And catching up on some reading, just because.

This year I've realized has been very methodically mapped out.
Most all of my days are calculated to see what I can squeeze in here
in order to be ready for the next thing on our list.

And in some of that, I have let go some of the things I know are
good for me.

I almost let go of having a chance to get away with girl friends
for a much needed mom break, attending one of Sally Clarkson's
Mom Heart conferences near me.  My husband is scheduled to travel
for work and I thought it's too much to hire a sitter overnight.  But I have
plotted through the schedules of family and sitters and mapped out
time to get away, just with mom friends.  Celebrating this high
calling and being refreshed in community.

Sarah Mae who wrote "Desperate"  with Sally Clarkson will
be speaking too.  I have long admired both of them and remember
from a previous Mom Heart conference I attended, that the book table alone
is worth the trip.

I just have to share real quickly, the irony in this picture.

You see the book is about the chaos in our lives as moms and finding
community and our holy destiny in the midst of what can feel like desperation.

So in the midst of my husband working round the clock, the flu knocking
out my girls, a sink overflowing with dirty dishes I'm ignoring in order
to assist my son with his pile of math work, we discover our puppy Piper
wanted to dig into "Desperate" too.

And I just had to laugh.

I'm always praying for peace in the chaos.
And am always finding opportunity to put it into practice.

"You will keep in perfect peace 

him whose mind is steadfast, 

because he trusts in you."

Isaiah 26:3

I have noticed a couple of themes cropping up for me this year.
This searching for peace that surpasses all understanding.  Knowing that intellectually,
but earlier in the year acknowledging that I don't always feel that way in my heart.
In my bible study journal, when asked what promise from God do you feel you'd really
like to sense in your life.  I knew it was to hold onto that perfect peace that surpasses all understanding.

And you know, I sense it happening.  As I walk through difficult things, things I don't write about here.
Things where the future seems uncertain, that perfect peace, I feel it.

Because I trust in Him.  And the connection He keeps revealing to me in scripture
is the word STEADFAST.  Him whose mind and spirit are steadfast.  Thankfully I can ask Him to help me with this steadfastness when I feel weak.

"Create in me a pure heart, O God, 

and renew a steadfast spirit within me."  

Psalm 51:10

If I stay steadfast in my pursuit of Him and His word, His will, His promises in my life, I can walk through the uncertain with confidence.  I don't feel afraid.

And praise God, he's always letting us know we're not alone and that his love is one that is
STEADFAST too.

"How precious is your steadfast love."

Psalm 36:7

stead·fast also sted·fast  (stdfst, -fst)

adj.

1. Fixed or unchanging; steady.

2. Firmly loyal or constant; unswerving. 

See Synonyms at faithful.

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;

his mercies never come to an end;

they are new every morning;

great is your faithfulness.

"the LORD is my portion," says my soul,

"therefore I will hope in him."

Lamentations 3:22-24

Therefore I will hope in him.  Amen to that right?  Right!

ten on ten

It's a tad late..but I actually did take these on January 10th.

It's a picture each hour in ten hours showing glimpses of your day.

I hadn't managed to download pictures til today.  

So here you go.  

Ten on ten on the 13th. :)

1. math manipulatives for homeschool

2. pretty bun done by her with new flower bobby pin

3. hanging with Miss Piper..I love their heads both twisting

4. A gift of yummy cheeses straight from Wisconsin from my husband's co-worker

5. throw pillows I love

(unitas in Christi - Latin for United in Christ est. 1996 - our wedding year)

6. running errands

7. trip to the park.  Piper's not happy about no dogs allowed

8. pretty girl

9. driving, driving, driving (picking up my son)

10. beautiful sky

Click the link here to see more ten on ten entries!

shh....

I have a little secret.
There's a sale starting today.
In my shop.
But only if you first head over to
baby be blessed.

The most adorable idea to create dolls
and spread the word of God at the same time.

I think her dolls are so absolutely squeezable.  And sewing in a favorite scripture for your child to know it's there, to hide in their heart, well that's just beautiful.

She does a yea free friday and I was honored she asked if I'd like to participate.

So not only should you head on over today, but visit her regularly to be a part of the giveaway fun in the future!

grey clouds

with a silver lining.

Today was the last day of Christmas vacation for my son.
And he wanted to do something fun.
Something adventurous.
He's super into survivorman and bear grylls.

He studies survivor books and survival guides.
He practices knots, makes his own tools, carves spears,
and makes snares just to name a few.

And I'm all for all of this.
It's outdoors, it's active, and who knows it could come in handy.

So those grey clouds looked pretty ominous this afternoon.
I was pretty sure the sky was going to open up, but I said ok.
Ok..we'll head out adventuring.
Because the truth is I love it too.

And it just plain feels great to breathe deeply the crisp air, to stretch your legs,
to feel your blood pumping and your head clearing.

And had we skipped this adventure, we would have missed this beauty.

Both great and small.

"The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of his hands."

Psalm 19:1

tourists

You know one of the best parts of having extended family come into town?
Getting to be tourists in your own area.
We went to the Santa Monica Pier and spent the day just playing.
I'd have to say it was one of the best days we've had in a long time.
I took lots of real camera pictures I can't wait to download..but for now here's an instagram sneak peak.
It's funny how something right there for years and years you take for granted.
Family comes into town and you spend a very full, very fun day nearly in your own backyard.

believe

Happy New Year!
Seriously.
Who is ready for a new year, a new start?
I am.

We have a lot of extended family staying with us right now.
So we made no plans.  But then nothing was really coming together.
So we made a very last minute decision to have some friends over
for food and fun, and of course a game of cards.

They taught me how to play spades four years ago on a trip away together.
And ever since we've been playing periodically.

I must add that the women won.  Both games! Ha.
After a very long streak of not winning, the tides have turned guys.  And us ladies
are ready to do our victory dance into the new year.

I love that when we spend New Year's Eve with them,
we get to join in their tradition of praying in the new year with communion
because he is a pastor.

Today another tradition I love.  We went for a good long hike.
It was clear and beautiful and I always use the time to breathe, to reflect.
To soak in what was and what is to come.

And today I was thinking of what one word I should choose for 2013.
Two years ago I participated with the word PRESENT.
Last year I couldn't decide till mid way.  And then it finally came to me.  PLAY!
Play only settled in half way through so I'd like to keep it going.
But this year, it hit me as I was looking at this picture.

2013's word is BELIEVE.

I will commit to BELIEVING, really believing in God's promises for me, for my family, for the future.
I am owning his promises for hope and healing and so many other things.
I want to sit down and really write about it.  But  I must get back to our company.

So quickly I wanted to share, that it was this picture in particular just made me think of heaven raining down on her.  And I felt a sense of hope for the next half of this school year.
God is working all things together and I am going in wholeheartedly claiming and believing that this next year will be full of his blessings and provision.

Then Jesus said to her, 

"O woman, your faith is great; 

it shall be done for you as you wish."  

And her daughter was healed at once.  

Matthew 15:28

I am not saying that my daughter is demon possessed at all, like the woman's daughter in Matthew.  But I just want to go into this year truly believing with FAITH that Jesus will heal the connections in her brain and allow learning to become easier for her.  Like the woman who knew if she touched his robe, she would be healed.  It was her FAITH that healed her.

He said to her, 

"Daughter, your faith has healed you.  

Go in peace and be freed from your suffering."

Mark 5:34

There are many more areas in which I'm believing God's truth.  I will slowly unfold them.
But for now I wanted to wish you all a Happy New Year, and a happy sense of hope and belief in the blessings to come!