My Father's Daughter

I keep trying to type out my gifts but I am finding myself distracted by the comment thread over at (in)courage . Ann wrote about 5 Ways to Fight Through to a Loving Marriage . Her words (as always) ring so true and are so encouraging. The day I read the post, though, I was...struggling.  It's amazing and heartbraking to hear how some of the women over there have shared their hearts, commenting on Ann's post, and being so vulnerable I was so impressed with the thread, Ann with her replies: praying lifting speaking words that bless, and all the other women too: standing together women for women, even if it's virtual. “Are women really like ambulances? When we are most in need of tender care, we’re these screaming sirens? And that’s why men pull far away — getting out of the way and off the road?”  I read those words through tears and still they didn't keep me from being that siren only hours later, making my man get out of my way. But it is like she said, w...

Five minute Friday and it's a tough one...Trust. Here we write for five minutes, with a prompt. No editing or rethinking. Just writing without worrying. So, TRUST It almost feels like it should be a four letter word. How hard it can be to trust, to believe, to step out in faith towards something without really knowing or seeing, without having all the answers ahead of time, without knowing what will happen. It takes someone very brave to trust what your eyes can't see (sometimes even what they do see). But we do ask this of our children, don't we? We tell them "Do what I ask even though you don't understand, even though you can't see what I see. I love you. Trust me." So when He tells me the same how then do I say "no". This is what He means when he tells us to be like children if we want to enter His kingdom.   So, Trust. I'll {try to} be brave I'll keeping making that choice, that sometimes hurts so much to trust my God,...

The rest of January ~all the joys~the gift hunt.... 3 ways I saw happiness today 46. giggling boys at breakfast 47. dancing and singing in the kitchen 48. sitting down next to the youngest as he excitedly plays the piano one gift that made me laugh~one that made me pray~one that made me quiet 49. watching silly tv with my husband 50. complaints from kids about schoolwork~reminding me to pray for patience 51. snuggling with each boy at night as I tuck them in and listen ti their stories 3 gifts from God's word 52.  Psalm 100:3 ~KNOW that the Lord is GOD... 53.  1 Corinthians 15:10 ~...by Grace alone... 54.  Colossians 1 ~...He rescues...Holds....and gives HOPE a grace in the kitchen, a grace in the weather, a grace that might have never been 55. our blackboard wall 56. this mild winter 57. to know love this way 3 gifts I only saw close up 58. the frustration behind the tantrum when I looked into those big brown eyes 59. these children in this hospi...

So we're almost halfway through the month and I've joined in Ann's Joy Dare : naming one thousand gifts in 2012. Three graces a day for a whole year. It's been, well, a joy. She gave prompts for each day in January. I've been smiling, laughing and loving this counting. My boys and I count in our red journals, their's all leather and tough, mine all pretty with cherry blossoms on each page. So here they are: more of the counting that never ends... 3 things about me I'm grateful for 1. My imperfect love of God and his reckless love for me 2. How I love to learn (although I'd rather never be in a classroom again) 3. how I love words and His Word a gift inside, a gift outside, a gift on a plate 4. bare trees outlined by blue 5. our pretty Christmas~tree all dressed up 6. perfect pumpkin pie under tall white whipped cream 3 lines overheard that were graces 7. "Mom, but I just love you" (my Nate) 8. "I can do everything better ...

Five minute Friday , writing for five minutes with a prompt. No revisions, editing or worrying if it's right. Today's: awake Go... Awake all night. I am every weekend. I work and take care of sick kids all night every weekend. I'm a nurse. I tend to be awake all night other nights too. Chalk that up to my body being confused....and my mind being full. Awake to now. I try to be. Awake. I want to be fully aware of all that is around me. It can be difficult though. How often I find myself NOT in the moment, thinking, dreaming, planning, being 2 steps ahead and then I miss right here. Awake to see. Who is it that is right there in front of me? Do I see that beautiful creature, one made in His image. Am I awake enough to see the need behind the grimace or the pain behind the attitude, awake enough to not just react but to act with purpose, even when I'm busy; with love, even when I'm hurt; and with kindness and when it's undeserved? Awake to possibilitie...

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is the books I get to read to my kids at this time of year. I LOVE Christmas books!  Raising Arrows asked for some suggestions so I'm posting mine here~ Humphrey’s First Christmas   is the Christmas story from the viewpoint of a wise man’s camel. Bear Stays up for Christmas  I love the whole Bear series. It doesn’t mention Jesus and there is a small picture of Santa filling stockings but it’s a very sweet book about friends loving and taking care of each other at Christmas. It’s very nice addition to a collection. Mortimer’s Christmas Manger -A mouse tries to kick out the nativity statues to move in to the little stable…until he hears just who this little baby statue is. An Angel Story by Max Lucado. It’s a read aloud or read alone for older kids, over 7 maybe. No pictures. It’s a fictional story about what goes on in the spiritual world between God, the angels and  Satan  as the Christmas story unfolds....

A Thanks for every day in November  ~ red-orange leaves turning yellow ~ time to help a friend ~ my tallest boy leaning into me when he's tired and frustrated instead of pushing me away ~ His grace that gets me through each day ~ forgiveness, and the reminder to forgive others as He forgives me ~ my family, just being together ~ the privilege of being a mother, a teacher, a hugger, a kisser, a helper, a baker, a lego locator and so much more to my amazing boys ~ Mercy...because I so don't get what I deserve ~ perfect fall weather ~ chocolate cake ~I'm so very grateful for lives laid down, for men and women who fight for our freedoms and for the oppressed around the world ~I'm thankful for the tantrums and the bad behavior ~for arguments and hurt feelings ~for headaches and insomnia ~for traffic tickets and money being so tight~I'm thankful because it's all grace. All of it. ~ I'm thankful for hot water to wash dishes and indoor plumbing ~ for hand lotion...