Sunday, January 3, 2010

A New Year's Heart

Do you ever have so much going on in your head that you don't even know where to start talking?? That's the way I feel now. God is speaking to my heart.....and I am thinking about it ALL THE TIME! I have learned so much about God's heart, His very nature this year. I am more grateful than ever for the privilege of knowing Him, loving Him, and being loved BY Him!

In years past I have set detailed goals with attainable marks to reach and I still think goals are very necessary for success in any area. But this year my goals are much simpler. I want, no I NEED to know Him more! Without Him....I am nothing. Without Him I will not be the mother that my children need. Without Him I will not have the divine wisdom I need to make wise financial decisions. Without Him I will not know how to lead my family in a way that pleases Him. Without Him......I can do nothing. So I humble myself and seek His face this year in a way that I never have before. With more fervor and tenacity....as if my very life depended on it. Thank you Lord for wooing me, for loving me this much!! My expectation is in YOU!!

And for my friends and family that have asked what we did over the holidays....here are a few random pics and thoughts. We were blessed with a BUNCH of chicken thighs. The girls took all the skins off so we could make dinners for freezing. We made 8 chicken teriyaki dinners and 4 honey glazed chicken meals. Two of our favorites! Now Miracle would have you think this is a gross job..... But really she enjoys it. There is much laughter at the kitchen sink as she squishes the meat between her hands and rips/cuts off all the skin. She enjoys making meatloaf too. For being such a "girly girl", she doesn't mind getting her hands dirty in the kitchen at all! LOL And notice Pillar is wearing her new apron that she won!
Our New Years celebration went something like this. First we took down all our Christmas decorations and put them away. Then we made a most delicious dinner together. After that we watched a couple really cute Christmas movies together. (Christmas Angel and The Lost and Found Family) The girls like to have a slumber party upstairs in the living room, including me on the couch! Let me just tell you this is a labor of love because our couch IS NOT comfortable. About 10:30pm someone noticed I had taken up residence on the couch. Last year I fell asleep on them, so this year they were determined NOT to let that happen again! The next thing I knew, there was a diet coke in my face! lol I got up and we played games and had a lot of fun. Now can I just say that even at the ages of 12, 11 and 8.....I still love to watch them sleep. They're just so sweet! (It's actually dark in this pic but the flash lit up the room.)
We went to a birthday party on the first. We were supposed to go sledding but the negative temps kept us inside. My girls weren't too upset as our friends had received a Wii for Christmas! I'm not sure who had more fun though....all the girls or their dad who was "helping" them! lol Miracle and birthday girl number one who turned 11.
Rosebud and birthday girl number 2 who turned 7. So sweet! Check out all that chocolate!
I also got a paper route this week. Yeah!! I had actually looked for one before, but there were no openings. And then...all of a sudden....after more than 12 years....the man who delivers my very own neighborhood paper.....quit! It's just the local papers that are delivered once every Saturday. It's a perfect job for us because we can all do it together and it doesn't interfere with homeschooling! Yeah God!! I'm so thankful for His provision.
As for the last couple days....well, I have no pictures. The girls have been fighting symptoms in their bodies. Yuck!! One sounds like a seal barking, and another one can't keep anything down. It's been a long time since they felt like this. No fun at all. So there's been lots of cuddling and resting and laying low so to speak. But since it's been 20 below outside.....I don't mind staying inside where it's nice and warm! Tomorrow we resume our normal homeschool schedule and I can hardly wait! As much as we need breaks.....I love school!!
Happy New Year!!

13 comments:

Carissa Blanchard said...

Lori!! Wonderful words of encouragement up there! Good job on all your food freezing. I bought Fix, Freeze, Feast from VF, it was 50% off or something, I'm looking forward to getting it and making trying some "new" recipes! The girls do look adorable sleeping and I'm so sorry that they are still not feeling well! God's peace be with you as you start back into your homeschool routine! I was up at 4:30-I'm SO EXCITED! Love you!

:)De said...

Welcome back to school week. We are having a planned late start this morning, but my oldest got right up this morning and got dressed without direction so I think they are ready too. Have a great week.

Peace

RCUBEs said...

I always enjoy your posts sister. Because I see the transformation in your heart that is drawing ever nearer to the Lord. He is etching Matthew 6:33 in my heart, too...As we seek Him and become no.1 in everything, then everything else will fall into its places. That's an awesome promise! And so true!
I might have been new here but it feels like I've known you because you share those wonderful memories with your 3 beautiful girls. So patient and so loving kind of a mom! Trained in the way they should go! So, today as I visit, I'm leaving with a prayer: Lord, thank you for this chance of meeting a wonderful sister in Christ. I don't know her but you do. And I ask that you bless her and her family richly, to continue to guide them, protect them and provide for them. Lord, heal them where it's needed and comfort them. Thank You Father that because of You, we are able to meet each other in this blog world and be an encouragement to each other as we also share Your everlasting kindness to us to others who still don't know You. In Jesus' Name. Amen.

:)De said...

Laura, I really encourage at least 1 night time drill...just to give you an idea of what they know. If they get a little grumpy...just blame the crazy blog lady over at MHSRotties. LOL!

Anita said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog. It's always nice to meet new people. I see you are a follower of in IRL friend at Love's School. We are in the same hs support group. Your girls are beautiful and it looks like you are doing a marvelous job leading them into Godly womanhood. I have all the books on your recommended list.....could be that we are kindred spirits... LOL.!

May you have a blessed and peaceful week.

Anita
busyhandsbusyminds.blogspot.com

Anonymous said...

Started school today too, that sounded like a fun celebration!!
Love ya guys!
Tirzah.

Heart2Heart said...

That is just another of God's great blessings for homeschool families, is that we can conform our learning around the schedules of our children. I love it and can't wait for even more years in our future.

Love and Hugs ~ Kat

Kim said...

Thank you for leaving a comment on my blog. I can totally relate to your heart and desire to simply know Him more in the New Year. That one "resolution" really impacts all other areas of our lives doesn't it?
Blessings from Hong Kong,
Kim

Yolanda said...

Happy New Year to you and your girls as well!

For Their Future said...

Thank you for the comment on my blog! Glad you liked the recipes! Great to meet you and find your blog too! i really like it! Keep up the great work!
Your girls look so happy and you are so blessed!
May God continue to bless you and yours this new year!
~Hannah

Stacie, A Firefighter's Wife said...

Your daughters are precious. I homeschool as well. I'm Cheesemakin' Mama's twin sis, Stacie. Come visit me at www.afirefighterswife@blogspot.com I love to encourage mom's in the Lord. You have an especially hard job, being a single mom. The Lord bless you, sweet Sister.

Blessings!

Anonymous said...

I like the way you enjoy the days with your girls!

Without God, I can't imagine who I would be.

Cheesemakin' Mamma said...

What a wonderful way to spend New Years! So glad you got that paper route. May God bless you and fill you with His Spirit to enable you to attain your New Year goal.

Thanks for the sweet comments about my kids. Yours are aborable, too!

God Bless,
Jackie