Thankful Thursday

We are meeting for Thankful Thursday over at Grace Alone this month if you want to join us.

This week I am thankful for...

~ my husband's sweet ways, even when he is tired.  He has had several very long days this week and still he is so sweet and loving to me.  He makes me feel so special and loved. 

~ my little boy's excitement and enthusiasm for life and simple things.  When I walked to the mailbox earlier with the 3 year old I have been keeping he saw some sticks and picked them up.  I told him to put them up by the door for Caleb because I knew Caleb would like them.  When we got home from school, I told Caleb there were some sticks by the door for him.  Sure enough, he was thrilled with them and has been playing with them since, tapping them together with various beats. 

~ encouraging verses from God's Word.

~  fun family lessons on Wednesday nights.  I plan to share more about this week's lesson in our "Building Character" theme. 

~ seeing a bloom on my lantana.  This plan looked dead this summer and I wasn't sure it would make it.  I watered it and was excited to see green leaves again recently and then a little bloom as I was backing out of our driveway.

Have a day of blessings!

A little flashback

I have had a little boy staying with me for a few hours a day last week and part of this week.  His Mom is recoving from a surgery so while he's visiting the grandparents he's come over to my house during the day while the grandparents work.  He turned three earlier in September and has been a lot of fun.  He is a very sweet, smart little guy.

Having a 3 year old has made me think of my 7 year old and what he was like at 3.  In some ways it seems so long ago that Caleb was 3 and others it seems like just yesterday.  I've realized how grown up and independent my boy is now.  It has reminded me of all the things I used to do for Caleb...fixing his drinks, putting on shoes, tying shoes, helping in the bathroom, holding him up to reach the sink to wash his hands, reading to him, singing to him before nap.  I no longer do all these things for Caleb.  I had kind of forgotten all the things I at one time did all the time for my boy. 

I'm so proud of my boy and all the things he can do and continues to learn.  I'm glad he still needs me and hope he always feels close to me and knows I'm always going to be here for him, however old he may be!    

Have a day of blessings!

Thankful Thursday

Welcome!  We've been meeting over at Grace Alone this month for Thankful Thursdays. 

Today I am thankful for...

~ my husband knowing how to encourage and comfort me when I need it.

~ getting a positive report on my boy from his teacher regarding his reading from a recent assessment they did in class. 

~ keeping a little 3 year old boy this week.  He has been so fun and I've enjoyed having him.  He is so smart and curious.

~ our fun time going to the ACU football game in Dallas over the weekend.

~ being able to pray anytime and know God is listening.

Have a day of blessings!

I can't wait until....

Today I am sharing a devotional over at Laced With Grace called "I can't wait until..." 

Please visit me there to read.  Thanks! 

Have a day of blessings!

Our weekend

It has been our "tradition" the past few years to go to Dallas to the State Fair.  This year we decided to do something a little different.  We have a local fair that we attended (fun though it wasn't the same as the day at the State Fair of Texas) and we went to watch ACU play football at the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

We drove to Dallas on Saturday afternoon.  My great husband found a Don Pablo's restaurant for our lunch (with a stop at Chick Fil A for Caleb because he doesn't eat Mexican food).  My friend introduced us to Don Pablo's several years ago when we'd meet her to eat and I love to go any time I get a chance.  I love their chips and salsa!  I had chicken enchiladas for my meal.  Yummy!

Then we went to Garden Ridge and looked around, another store I enjoy browsing. 

By then it was time to go to the stadium. Caleb was excited to drive by Six Flags and see the rides and told us we will need to go there some day for a vacation.   My husband told me the stadium was big, but I couldn't have imagined how big. 

We got in and it wasn't too crowded.  They were having three games so the first game was finishing up and we waited for the ACU game to start at 4. As the fans of that game left we found seats pretty close to the field.  We weren't sure we liked it at first but once everyone sat down it was okay.  We enjoyed the game, even though ACU lost!  Caleb liked watching and part of the time he'd draw on his tablet.  He loves drawing and has gotten quite good in our opinion.

We stayed the night and then Sunday went to do a little shopping.  We went to the Bass Pro Shop.  Caleb had fun climbing on all the boats they had on clearance. 

We also went to the Grapevine Mills mall.  It was the busiest I'd ever seen it.  I found some good deals.  While we were there I felt my phone vibrate and had a message about babysitting this week.  It was going to be last week but then the plans changed to this week.  So this week for a few hours I've had a little 3 year old boy with me.  He is so sweet and fun.  He is so curious and wants to know why about everything.

Have a day of blessings!

Building Character! Carefulness

"Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil."  Ephesians 5:15, 16

The character quality was carefulness for a recent Wednesday night family lesson. As I was preparing this lesson, I was struck by all the different areas of life where we need to be careful.  The children's song "Oh be careful little eyes what you see...." came to mind.  We must be careful about the things we see, the words we listen to or read, the places we go.  We must also be careful in how we spend our time and our money.  There are times we need to be careful so that we will be physically safe.  Being careful means making wise choices and thinking about the consequences before making choices. 

Are you living carefully? 

Have a day of blessings!

Book Review: Megan's Secrets

Megan's Secrets by Mike Cope is a wonderful book I'd like to share with you today. 

This is a touching book that will speak to your heart.  Author Mike Cope shares the secrets he learned from Megan, his mentally disabled daughter.  One thing that struck me was to read of the people who connected with Megan during her time here.  Megan was on the earth for only 10 years, but he shares how in her short time on earth Megan touched countless lives.  Now the reader of this book will be another of the many lives touched by Megan! 

The writer has challenged me in my own life by sharing what he learned from his daughter.  The end of this book was a great reminder to me that this life and the things that happen here are not the end.  We have to keep looking forward to our eternal home. 
You can just feel the love everyone felt for Megan as you read the stories of her life and thoughts shared by friends and family members.  This is an inspring book that will be a blessing to the reader.  I hope you will enjoy it as I did. 

Have a day of blessings!

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from The B & B Media Group, Inc. book bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

SSMT #19

My new verse is found in Romans 6:13.  It says

"Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness."

Have a day of blessings!

Thankful Thursday

It is such a blessing to participate in Thankful Thursdays.  Meet us at Grace Alone this month.  I have been doing this for many weeks and I'm glad to stop and give thanks every week.

This week I am thankful for...

~ my husband helping around the house.  This week a couple different times he has picked up a few things in the living room for me.  It was so nice of him.  Also he got supper on the table to have it ready for us when we got home.

~ my son getting a "Bulldog Bone" at school.  Last year he got a bunch of these and this year he hadn't received one.  He was excited to tell me after school that he got one.  It is a piece of paper where the teacher writes something the child did well.  He gets to take it to the office and get a sticker, then put it in the giant plastic M & M character for a drawing on Friday out of all the children who received a Bulldog Bone.  His teacher wrote on his:  Always helps others and is very respectful.  :)

~ the wonderful book I listened to this past week called A Marriage Carol.  You can read my review of this thought-provoking book in the previous post.  It is good for anyone to read and make you think about your life and the choices you make. 

~ being able to volunteer at my boy's school.  I have my schedule figured out and am able to work Monday afternoons in the library and Friday mornings doing things for 2nd grade teachers.  It is so much fun!! 

~  comfortable things....cozy bed, our new soft couch, favorite shoes, clothing, comfortable feeling of being with my husband either talking or just being quiet...such a good feeling. 

Have a day of blessings!

Audio book: A Marriage Carol

I received the audio version from christianaudio.com of a book called A Marriage Carol by Chris Fabry and Gary Chapman.  It is a wonderful story, and I'm very excited to share it with you.

On Christmas Eve Jake and Marlee Ebenezer are driving in a snow storm to sign divorce papers after 20 years of marriage. On the drive they have an accident due to the terrible storm.  Marlee goes looking for her husband and ends up at the home of an elderly man named Jay.  Marlee experiences

the ghosts of Marriage Past, Marriage Present, and Marriage Future (like from Dickens' A Christmas Carol).  She learns some valuable lessons from the older gentleman, his wife, and the snow. 

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to this book and highly recommend it to you.  It will really make you think about the choices you make in marriage as well as in life in general.  As I was listening I thought how valuable it would be if couples considering divorce would have an opportunity like Marlee had to remember and see the impact their choice will have.  I think it is a good book for anyone because of the insight it provides on life, how our choices matter and the importance of remembering the past.   

This audio version is read by one of the authors, Chris Fabry.  He did a great job narrating the story.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this audiobook free from the christianaudio Reviewers Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Have a day of blessings!

Building Character! Attentiveness

(You can read about the purpose of these lessons in this previous post if you'd like.)

The character quality of one of our recent lessons was attentiveness.

Attentiveness is defined on our list (from Association of Christian Schools International) as "Listening with the ears, eyes, and heart." 

The example of Jesus was the passage from Mark 10:46--52.  This is the story of the blind man Bartimaeus sitting by the road begging.  As Jesus is going by the blind man starts hollering for Jesus to have mercy on him.  Everyone tells the man to be quiet.  The beginning of verse 49 is what jumped out to me in this lesson.  It's just two little words... "Jesus stopped." 

I can just picture this scene in my mind....the big crowd leaving the city with Jesus and the disciples and then this blind man starts hollering for Jesus.  Think of all the things that Jesus could have done.  He could have continued on His way, He could have called back to the man and healed him with His spoken word.  But He didn't do that.  Instead He stopped. 

Jesus cared enough about this man to stop what He was doing to see to this man's need. 

The point of our family doing these lessons is for us to learn the character qualities of Jesus that we can emulate.  We want to learn ways for us to be like Jesus.  So how does this story apply to us? 

In my life when someone needs me, do I stop?  Do I give them my attention, my FULL attention?  Am I attentive to the people around me and listen with my heart to their needs and concerns?  This was a great reminder for me to be more attentive to the people in my life. 

So many things can be seeking after our attention and if we aren't careful we can ignore the important ones who are calling to us.  Do you need to STOP when people around you are calling your name? 

Have a day of blessings!

Thankful Thursday

This month for Thankful Thursday we are meeting at Grace Alone with Iris.  Thank you Iris.

My heart has been sad to see all the pictures of the fires in Central Texas that have been posted and shared.  I have been praying for the fire fighters and for the families who have lost everything and face such devastation. 

This week I am thankful for...
~ my husband's safe travels as he has been doing a lot of driving this week in his area.

~ sharing some morning snuggles with my boy.  I love his cheerful disposition in the mornings (once he's gotten awake!) and the cute things he shares with me. 
~ Two times this week (once on the radio and once in a blog I read) I was reminded how as a body of believers when one person hurts, we all hurt together. I'm thankful for this body and the way we come together as a body when members are hurting. 

~ the cooler temperatures.  Over the Labor Day weekend we had a temperature drop.  Our highs have been in the 80s this week and it is such a relief after all the days in the 100s. 

~ having a productive week.  I like it when I feel like I get things accomplished off of my to do list.

Have a day of blessings!
 

Book review: My Heart's at Home

During the summer I participated in a Facebook group book study on the book My Heart's at Home by Jill Savage.  This is one of the books by this author I had not read yet so I was excited to get the book and read it. 

In this book the author writes about the importance of home to a family.  Using the analogy of building a house, she gives ideas of how to make your home a safe, welcome place for all the members of your family.  Chapters include Home as a Rest Area, Home as a Playground, Home as  a Church, Home as a School, and Home as a Trauma Unit to name a few.  There are also chapters discussing the role of the children, Mom, Dad and the Mom and Dad as partners.

I gained so much from this book and think it would be beneficial for all mothers to read.  It has very practical, real ideas to use in your home as well as stories from Jill and other Mom's that were inspirational to read. 

Other wonderful books I recommend by this author include the following:  Living With Less, Real Moms Real Jesus, and Professionalizing Motherhood.  All of these are excellent resources I keep in my personal library.  If you need encouragement as a Mom, any of these would be great!

Have a day of blessings!
 

Building Character!

Since Caleb has been in school instead of attending to service at our local church on Wednesday nights during the school year, we have a family lesson time at home.  I knew when he was in kindergarten that going would make a late night for him and many nights he was asleep by 7:45.  This plan has worked well for us.  The teacher in me likes planning the lessons.  I have found many of the ideas online and I love putting the lessons together.  The first year I did a different topic each month pretty much.  Last year was different with our move, but I found some good lessons to do week by week on a website.  We have done the Fruit of the Spirit, Creation, and Armor of God to name a few topics.   
In the summer I read a book by Jill Savage called My Heart's at Home (which reminds me I need to do my book review on this great resource).  In it she included a list of character qualities from the Bible, and the list is from the Association of Christian Schools International.  It gives a character trait, definition, verse, and example story of Jesus showing that character quality.

I thought this would be great for our Wednesday night lessons this year as we have started a new school year.  We have done two of these lessons so far.  I have found it such a great way to learn from each other and thought I might share some of these lessons here on my blog from time to time, maybe on Fridays! 

Have a day of blessings!

SSMT #18

"And so we know and rely on the love God has for us.  God is love.  Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him."  I John 4:16

This is my new verse.  As I type it and read it I am thinking how do I "live in love" in my daily life.  Something to think about. 

Have a day of blessings!

Thankful Thursday

I was thinking this morning how it seems there is a lot of bad news everywhere.  When we hear all this negativity, it would be easy to just wallow in it and be miserable.  I'd like to encourage you today that whatever is happening in your personal life or that you see happening in the world around you that there are many things for which you can be thankful.  Take a minute to just stop and focus on the blessings.  Focus on the things you don't normally take time to notice. 

Today I am thankful for...
~ my husband working to provide for our family and his concern for us and our safety.

~ my boy having a fun time at an art lesson.  Since he enjoyed art camp so much this summer, we decided to let him try the once a week art lessons offered locally at our library.  He had a fun time with it and wants to go back!  I'm glad he can find things he enjoys doing. 

~ being able to volunteer at the school.

~ getting some of the yard mowed.  With the recent little bit of rain we had some grass that started growing.  I don't know if my husband has ever mowed here, maybe once or twice, since we have lived here because of the drought. I thought I would try and do a little of it.  I learned we have a big yard!  I mowed till it ran out of gas.

~ learning things together during our family lesson time.

This month we are at Grace Alone if you want to join us for Thankful Thursday.
Have a day of blessings!