Thursday, February 16, 2012

Spring Blooms

I have spring fever super bad.  The older I get and the more children I have, the more I LOVE spring and summer.  Gone with the coats and snotty noses, and out with the flip flops and dripping popsicles.  I can't really complain, we have had such a mild winter; I mean my yard is still green with lots of weeds.  Amazing the weeds can still grow in the scorching temps and freezing temps...they are just relentless.
The last several years I have done most of the kids' clothes shopping at Rhea Lana's consignment, but this last one for the winter just did me in.  I really hate to shop anymore.  It just isn't fun anymore, I mean I have to spend my own money and the clothes just either get stained or worn a few times because the kiddos grow three inches over night.  So, my solution for this season has been eBay and online clearance sales.  AWESOME!!  I have tried this before and just wasn't as successful at finding all of the deals.  It has taken me some time, but I am figuring it out.  By the way, shoes for kids are the not the best deals on eBay.  Just finished up Olivia's spring clothes and Leia's last week.  Now the boys have been a bit harder to find those deals.
All that said I have saved a bundle.  I mean we are averaging $1.5 per item that I have purchased and over 50% of them still have the tags.  Mom and I are going to complete the girls' little wardrobe with some cutsy boutique style outfits that we already have all the supplies for.  I can't wait to start and finish our little "Spring Blooms" ideas and see some spring blooms in my yard.
Let's see what blooms are in store in the near future.......
Now....I would prefer to see the blooms somewhere else, you know a SOLD sign in the yard or Rented would be GREAT.  We are praying and wish you would say a prayer for us to and the Lord's will.  This minute just isn't the minute he has chosen, maybe tomorrow, next week, next year...only He knows.  I do know one thing though, during the last 2 years since we started this journey and reevaluated our lives and the journey we should be on, there have been so many thoughts we have had that we rethought and saw a clearer picture.  Oh I how believe that this Spring we will see new blooms, whether it be blooms of change somewhere else or blooms of change in what we think is the path the Lord is directing us.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

John 15:12-13

"This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.  Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." - John 15:12-13


We are to love everyone this way.  Do we?  Are we loving like Jesus when we speculate?  When we argue and bicker?  When we drive past the homeless man with a sign?  When we ignore the pleas of the orphan?  Are we really living a life that is full of loving everyone like Jesus loved?

If we answer honestly to ourselves, I am sure the answer would be no.  I thought about this verse yesterday when the kids and I were working on a little Valentine's Day project for their friends.  I want to teach them to love their friends and to give something out of love.  (Yes, I am one of those Mommies who does not like giving other children candy and I don't like my children receiving it.  It is a waste of money...it sits in the cabinet and hardens, and then to the trash it goes.)  Do you love others enough to not remember their faults or their mishaps in life?  Jesus did.  He didn't bring out the list of all the faults and problems he had with his friends and give his life only for the ones who lived up to his expectation.  No, he loved enough to lay down his life for all.  His death is our opportunity. 

I want to love like Jesus.  I think it is something that we have to consciously strive for everyday.  Satan is sitting there waiting for that little crack in the window, so he can shatter everything.  He wants us to hold grudges, to remember things from that past that should be forgotten, to argue and bicker about nothing.  Satan loves hate....anything that is not love is what he is digging for. 

This Valentine's Day, make a commitment to God and yourself to love, truly love, everyone as He hath loved us.  What greater gift could you give to yourself and everyone you encounter?  I think that is a Valentine's Gift to remember.  Live with lots of Love!!







I will have to show you a picture of the
finished project when we get our
tags made for our friends.