January Livin pt 2 and Goals

This fall when I went to Eureka Springs, Arkansas I heard of a strange name of a man there called "Festus Orestus Butt".  Then I came across this fine lady's name.  Unusual and I like it.

My nephew Malachi turned one last weekend.  What a sweetheart!

I thought it was clever how Romy had her animals riding on each other's back.

We recently had a prayer walk with our mom's group.  We had different stations to pray for specific things like the world, our church staff, our husbands and kids, ect.  Here is Kathy ringing a bell to signal to go to the next station.

Zeke got some legos that glow.  They are really cool!  Thanks to Uncle Jake and Aunt Melody

My kids begged so hard they were practically in tears to go see a movie at school with their friends.  Although I was tired, I took them.

Goals- to grow in leadership.  I've been listening and watching leadership materials every chance I can get.
Exercise- It has been a while, but I am making a goal to move more so that I will have enough energy to keep up with the pace of my family and the ministry I want to do.
Be intentional with seeking to understand first, and then be understood.
Do more art with the children and more time reading to them.

A Song I'm Learning

When God confused the languages at the Tower of Babel... He out did Himself on Irish! 

January Livin

A white squirrel visited us.  Isn't he lovely?

On Martin Luther King, Jr. day all the kids were off of school so we went to the Prairiefire museum near us.  They have a discovery room with all kinds of things to look at.

Here's Romy digging for dinosaur bones.

Looking at fossils

Riding on a praying mantis

I had two brave ones that held a hissing cockroach.  Not their mama!

Romy enjoyed looking at the mouse

Holding a crystal

Drawing on the constellations

working the puzzle of dinosaur bones

We've been working hard on my mom's group and prepping the crafts for the kids.  The four year olds will make a coupon book with loving action coupons in them.  They say things like "pick up my toys" or "give a hug".

The 2's and 3's are going to make little prayer books with stickers to remind them of things they'd like to pray for.

This was something that didn't make sense to me, but made me smile.

Happy New Year

 When we came back from Alabama we got our first real snow in Kansas City.  Weather always surprises you here.  That's why it is always a topic for conversation.

Gwen and Zeke made an igloo

Romy really liked the snow.  I don't remember her seeing snow before where she could tell me what she thought of it.  

I have been very busy planning for my mom's group at church.  I prepped the first craft for the kids and this is the example.  They were studying the Biblical story about how Jesus washed the disciples feet as a picture of humility.

I went to a party where you bring some salad greens and some cut up vegetables or nuts or fruits and dressing and you make salads in jars.  I enjoyed it because people brought different things than I'd usually have in salads... like sprouts... but I'm enjoying these large salads for lunch.

An advertisement for Moms of Grace, our mom's group at church.

One of my monster salads from the jar.

Zeke had his 6th birthday the other day.  I can hardly believe that it's been 6 years, and then again, it feels like forever ago. :)  He's my cute boy.  So glad he's mine.  He had a couple of friends over for lunch and then Ben took them to an indoor trampoline place.  They came home for cake afterwards.

Dairy Queen did a nice job. :)

Something I've Been Thinking About

Here's something I've been thinking about that I read the other day, wrote it down on a piece of paper, and have been carrying around in my pocket to think about.

This monk, Bernard of Clairvaux, wrote down 4 stages of Christian maturity

1. Love for the self for self's sake- it's that self-centered young faith

2.  Love of God for self's sake- stage where we expect God to do what we think is best.

3.  Love of God for God's sake- God is glorified for His own pleasure

4.  Love of self for God's sake- At this stage we now fully realize that we belong to the Father, and it is His desire that we love ourselves enough to become all that He intended us to be. 

I've been thinking of this because I think maybe comingling #3 and #4 might be the best of all.  I mean, Jesus said the two greatest commandments were to love the Lord God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength... but then the second... to love your neighbor as yourself.  So, I don't think loving yourself if usually the problem for most people.  Or maybe it is.  Maybe if you think of it as loving God so much that it just flows through you and out to others.  That's a better analogy for me.  Thoughts?

Oh, I turned 39 today.  I started my day praying about something and telling God "there's nothing too hard for you" while pacing the floor.  It turned out that God took care of this matter and yes, nothing is too hard for Him.  Thank you God that I've been here for all these years.  I hope I get to serve you a bit longer, but if you want to come, I'm ready anytime and I'll serve you there.