• Counting My Blessings: Week In Review

    Last week was a great week with the kids home on Spring Break!  I have so many reasons to be thankful every day.  It was a blessing spending extra time with the kids.  We packed in a lot of fun adventures, quality time, and more during their Spring Break!

    I want to be accountable to you so the following are snip-its of some of the things I am thankful for this past week.  Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:

    Monday – Thankful for a chance to spend time with the kids at the Greenville Zoo, Cleveland Park, and Library today.  We even spent a few minutes with my brothers family and ran into some friends I have known since a little girl from KS at the park (they use to go to my grandparents church in Smith Center) which was an unexpected surprise blessing.

    Tuesday – Thankful that my two nephews could come over to play with the kids for a few hours.  The kids had a blast playing inside and outside on this beautiful day.

    Wednesday – Thankful for finding some good deals to stock up our pantry at a local store that was having a big sale.

    Thursday – Thankful for a chance to talk with Grandma Willa today since she will be having surgery tomorrow.  Grateful for my family and Grandparents who have been part of my life and the positive impact they have made.  Treasuring all the good times and memories.

    Friday – Thankful for a great Holiday weekend – Good Friday and what it means in my life.  Easter is a wonderful Holiday to celebrate my Savior who gave his life so that I might live.  Grateful that Jake was able to take off Good Friday so we could spend the day as a family exploring Atlanta’s Museums, Zoo, and so much more.  Love spending time with my family. Thankful that Grandma’s surgery went well.   

    What are you thankful for today?  I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today.  It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day!

  • Counting My Blessings: Week In Review

    Last week past in a whirlwind of activity.  I have to admit I did not get all 10 blessings listed each day last week with all that was going on and the later nights with after school events, however, I was thinking about it a lot.  I am thankful for my family.  The girls have been doing well and I am proud of their hard work at school and with STEM Club.  I am looking forward to having fun with them over Spring Break!

    I want to be accountable to you so the following are snip-its of some of the things I am thankful for this past week.  Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:

    Monday – Thankful for a husband who pitches in and helps with the kids and around the house!

    Tuesday – Thankful for kids who enjoy learning and have the courage to speak in front of a large crowd.  We attended the school’s Family STEM Night.  We participated in a lot of the special activities, enjoyed a hot dog supper at school, and the girls shared with everyone some of their feedback regarding their STEM Club experience and what they did at State Competition the week before.  Proud of all their hard work and that they earned a trophy!

    Wednesday – Thankful for a thoughtful daughter who was looking out for her sister and others.  Also, grateful for extra one-on-one time with one daughter even if that meant spending time at the Orthodontists together.

    Thursday – Thankful for an opportunity to go see my daughters artwork pieces that were on display at the Art Gallery at the Pickens County Museum.  They were up the entire month of March and we finally had a chance to go see them.  Grateful too that the kids are now out of school for Spring Break and for the extra time we get to spend together starting tonight!

    Friday – Thankful for kids who help around the house, a husband who willing picks up a couple groceries at the store on his way home, and a chance to spend an evening relaxing and catching up with extended family members.  So many reasons to be thankful every day!

    What are you thankful for today?  I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today.  It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day!

  • Counting My Blessings: Week In Review

    We were closer to our normal schedule last week even though it was busy and Jake had a quick work trip.  It was nice for the most part to be back home again.  I was able to get most of the laundry and unpacking completed in time to pack our suitcase for our STEM Robotics Competition trip this past weekend.  Thankful for the opportunity to spend time with the family and be able to coordinate my schedule so I can do packing throughout the days or in the evenings once the kids are in bed.

    I want to be accountable to you so the following are snip-its of some of the things I am thankful for this past week.  Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:

    Monday – Thankful for good news from a family member today.  I love being able to rejoice and celebrate with those around me! 🙂

    Tuesday – Thankful for a dentist who cleans and takes care of my kids teeth.  Also, grateful that neither one of the kids have cavities again!  YAY!

    Wednesday – Thankful to have Jake back home again and to have an opportunity to talk for awhile about our days.

    Thursday – Thankful for a thoughtful husband.  It was a crazy, rainy morning and everyone was hurrying to get ready to start the day. I was running behind schedule.  He made me toast for breakfast that way I would have something to grab and eat before heading out the door to drop the kids off at school and go to my appointment.

    Friday – Thankful for an opportunity to go down to Columbia the night before the State STEM competition with the family.  We had a chance to hang out together and relax as a family before the busy activities of competition began.  Proud of our kids for all their hard work and for their team getting this far in the competition!

    What are you thankful for today?  I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today.  It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day!

  • Counting My Blessings: Week In Review

    Last week was super busy, but truly amazing at the same time.  The girls and I were able to join Jake at his work conference in Orlando, Florida.  While he was in his conference the girls and I bounced around town, explored, swam, went to the Disney Parks, and so much more.  We had a blast and met people literally from around the world.

    The kids were up at the break of dawn every day and were going strong until about midnight every evening.  After Jake’s conference ended we had a couple days together as a family to spend time exploring.  Thankful for our time together, the fun, memories, and the opportunity to go on the trip.  With the altered schedule and long days I was not as consistent in writing down my blessings, but as I reflect back there are many things for which I am grateful for last week.

    I want to be accountable to you so the following are snip-its of some of the things I am thankful for this past week.  Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:

    Monday – Thankful that we woke up on time (3:00 am) and made it safely to Orlando, Florida.  Grateful for an opportunity to stretch our legs at Downtown Disney before heading to our hotel to check in and Jake start his first conference meetings.

    Tuesday – Thankful that the girls and I were able to spend the entire day at Animal Kingdom.  They did fantastic and we had a blast seeing all the animals, going on rides, safaris, watching the shows, and so much more.

    Wednesday – Thankful for a chance to play miniature golf with the kids, even though we lost 3 balls and had crazy high scores, we had grand time.  Grateful that the resort had several pools so we spent a good part of the day bouncing around from pool to pool, swimming, and splashing around with other kids at the resort.

    Thursday – Thankful that I was able to spend the day at Magic Kingdom with the girls.  Even more thankful that Jake was able to join us after lunch once his conference ended.  It was great spending time together as a family and having fun!

    Friday – Thankful for a day with the entire family at Epcot.  The girls loved the rides, shows, and learning about the different countries around the world.  Thankful for my brother’s family who watched the house and pets while we were awhile on our trip.

    What are you thankful for today?  I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today.  It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day!

  • Counting My Blessings: Week In Review

    I have so much to be thankful for in my life.  This week as I as counting my blessings I realized that coming up with 10 things to be grateful for each day was relatively easy if I really think about it for a few minutes.  I don’t ever want to take these blessings for granted as they are a gift from my heavenly Father who truly cares about me in the good as well as the struggles I face every day.

    I want to be accountable to you too so the following are snipits of some of the things I am thankful for this past week.  Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:

    Monday – Thankful for Brina writing me a reminder note to adjust her meal schedule because she liked one of the meals I made her so much!  My family knows me well! 🙂

    Tuesday – Thankful that Skipper is always jumping up and down excited to see me when I get home!  Such a great way to be greeted upon arriving home!

    Wednesday – Thankful for the girls curiosity and love of learning – we did a spontaneous celery and food coloring experiment before school.

    Thursday – Thankful for a chance to talk with Jake on the phone in the morning as he was getting ready for his busy day in Charleston and even more grateful to have him back home that evening.

    Friday – Thankful for a washer and dryer to help get our clothes and laundry cleaned in an efficient manner.

    What are you thankful for today?  I encourage you to take the time to write down a few blessings that you have in your life today.  It will help cheer you up and turn your focus on the amazing blessings you encounter each day!

  • Counting My Blessings: Week In Review

    A few weeks ago I had a little wake up call…  In a conversation with someone close to me it was mentioned during our discussion that I wasn’t as “positive” or “cheerful” as I used to be.  Unfortunately, I did not react very positively to the comment.  The comment hurt.  It struck a raw chord, something I already knew in my heart, but didn’t realize how much it was effecting the people around me.

    I know the comment wasn’t meant to be mean, but to call out some things that are going on my life that they have noticed recently.   I am truly thankful for people in my life who are honest, even if it hurts a little. This was a sincere concern about me and the things I have been struggling with these last few months.  When someone feels comfortable enough to speak the truth even if it is difficult to say you know they care deeply about you, your spiritual growth, and the struggles your hanging onto.

    My first reaction was that I had a reason to be a little more frustrated recently.  It has been a tough few months.  I herniated a disc in my neck back in October and I am still in pain from it.  It has been a very slow and painful recovery so my first instinct was to excuse my behavior.  This person knows how much I have gone through these past few months so it was seen as the excuse that it was.  The purpose for the comment was to encourage me to take my focus off all the crazy stuff that has been going on and focus on the good things that God is doing in my life as well as the lives around me.

    After a couple weeks of praying, wrestling with it some more, thinking about it, and admitting I have been grumpier lately I decided I needed to do something specific.  In addition to prayer, having someone I had to be accountable to, I also needed a daily activity to refresh my memory of the good in my life.  I wanted something that would redirect my focus back to the many positive blessings everyday that have been overshadowed by some other more stressful items going on in my life.  What I decided to do is to write down at least 10 things I am thankful for each day.  I titled my list “Counting My Blessings”.  I hope that this activity will encourage and help turn my focus more on the positive things in my life.   I want to appreciate and enjoy the amazing blessings I have been given.  To be content with the season I am in at the moment.

    I want to be accountable to you as well.  The following are snipits of some of the things I am thankful for this past week.  Counting My Blessings – Week In Review:

    Monday – Thankful for the car ride into school where I can chat with the girls about life, their days, and more!

    Tuesday – Thankful that Jake reads devotions to the girls and patiently answers their many questions about God, life, the bible, and so much more.

    Wednesday – Thankful for a chance to catch up with someone I have known for years, but haven’t seen in awhile.  Her twin grandkids are now 3 years old. I remember how excited she was waiting for them to be born.  It was great catching up for a few minutes.

    Thursday – Thankful for a fresh snow fall so the girls could have a day off school and we could build a snowman, go sledding, hike in the woods, play games, read, play, and have fun together.

    Friday – Thankful for additional time with my girls since school started two hours late due to black ice today.

  • Heart Reflections: 30 Quick Tips on Being a Positive Parent

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    The other day I was filling out a card for a cousin who recently had a baby.  As I was writing the card I had a whirlwind of thoughts, advice, and things I wanted to share with this couple who just recently began this wonderful parenting journey.  This is part of what I shared with them which was also a great reminder to me and hopefully an encouragement to you if you’re a parent as well.   I have edited it to remove their specific names on the card.

    Congratulations!  We are so happy for your sweet family!  Welcome to the crazy and fun parenting party!  Wishing all of you a lifetime packed full of laughter and wonderful memories.  Praying that parenting will be a great adventure for you.  We are thrilled for all of you and wish you the very best!  Many Blessings!

    Parenting Tips We Want to Share  (I added a couple more to the list since writing the card):

      1. Laugh as often as possible (even at your own mistakes)
      2. Make a point to hug your child and tell her that you love her everyday
      3. Cherish the memories, they really do grow up way too fast
      4. Show grace and mercy often
      5. Never discipline when you’re angry
      6. Take lots of pictures, especially of your times together
      7. Seek God’s wisdom daily for your life, marriage, and parenting
      8. Be a positive and encouraging cheerleader for your kid
      9. Take time regularly to listen to your child
      10. Breathe deeply and count to 10 when your patience is being stretched thin
      11. You will feel more like a “SuperDad” and “SuperMom” after a full nights sleep
      12. Spend quality one-on-one time with your child
      13. Read to them, sing with them, and play with them
      14. Pray a lot – some days you’ll really need it
      15. Protect, guide, and nurture the best you can then trust that God will work in their hearts
      16. Words can be used to build up or tear down (make sure to chose them wisely)
      17. It’s the little things that make the biggest impact on our kids
      18. It doesn’t have to be flashy or expensive to be fun
      19. Be content with your life
      20. Give generously to others
      21. Find teachable moments each day  (kids love learning new stuff)
      22. Speak kindly to and about others (little eyes are watching what you do and hearing what you say)
      23. Stand up for what’s right (even when it’s hard)
      24. Allow your kids to make some mistakes on their own so they can learn
      25. Get creative and have fun together – life’s too short to be boring
      26. Smile, slow down a little, and enjoy this wonderful part of your life
      27. Make the “normal” everyday events exciting
      28. Go on adventures
      29. Do family devotions and pray together
      30. Explore and try new activities together

    There are so many areas of our lives that are stretched when we are parents.   While being a parent is the most rewarding experience it is also one of the most challenging.  It feels like I am constantly making mistakes or doing/saying something that’s not edifying or encouraging to my kids.  Yes, they know very well how to “push my buttons,” but that doesn’t mean I have to over react either.   Thankful for my kids and the many lessons they teach me about parenting.

  • Heart Reflections: His Perfect Timing

    We read a little bit in the book of Esther with the girls recently.  Esther’s words “for such a time as this” not only struck a cord in my heart but in the girls hearts as well.  Have you ever thought about how you have been placed on this earth at this exact time for a specific reason?  During our recent devotional with the girls they asked the question “Why did God chose for me to live today not many years ago or sometime in the future?”

    What a great question, right!?  One that I have actually thought about a lot over the past few years myself too.  God knew us even before we were born (how cool is that)!  🙂  He chose for us to live today, during this time, and at this very moment for a special reason. The problem is often times we don’t always realize or know what that really means for us.  We get so caught up in the daily obligations of life itself we forget that its the little “daily” stuff that can really have a life long impact on the lives of others.  Take our kids for example…feeding their bodies, teaching their minds, and shepherding their hearts now can make a positive impact on many future generations to come.  Will we mess up?  Yes!  That is normal, however, it is important that they know we love them, we make mistakes, and that our hearts aren’t perfect either which is why we need Jesus’ grace, love, wisdom, and forgiveness just as much as anyone else.

    We have the opportunity to make a positive impact on the world, starting with the people around us.  Are we taking the time to share his love, kindness, mercy, goodness and grace to those people we interact with daily as well as those we may only have 1 opportunity to touch their lives?  I am thankful He has allowed me to live today…to have a spouse who loves me, to have these children keep me on my toes, friends who challenge me to do better, extended family who want to be a part of my life, a blog to reach out to people I may never meet in person, and so many more amazing blessings in my life.  Are our lives reflecting Him through our words, thoughts, and actions so that we have many opportunities to make a positive eternal impact?  If not, what do I need to do to change?

    The girls are really thinking lately. We went from Jesus to John the Baptist to (Carmel Hair Coats, Esther, Baptism, Life, Death, Salvation,  Sharing the Good News, Extended Family, Heaven, Praying, what is a Pastor, Faith and maybe even a couple more thrown in there along the way…).  Quite the discussions lately, but I am thankful for their desire to learn and grow.  I pray that Jake and I will have wisdom we need to answer the questions in a way that will only strengthen their faith and make a positive impact on their lives and hearts.  One of  the best parts about reading through a variety of devotional books with them is that it really seems to initiate some good conversations.