A Motto for a Motto

At some point between Christmas and New Year I dubbed 2012: A Year Like No Other.

2012 was to be a year where I challenged myself to go beyond what I have been doing in my relationship with God, my family and friends. A Year Like No Other was to be a year of stretching beyond what I thought I could do and walking into the will of God for my life.

So I started small, reading the bible with my children each morning. This hasn't been done perfectly. I think we have skipped 3 days so far and I have been known to heat up hot chocolate after bed time baths and pull out our Children's Bible to read that day's section.

And as I have ponder the mild success of changing directions in a new year, it hit me:

Practice Not Perfection!

Every time I have tried to change something in my life, I've started off strong and gone into it with all my gusto, and within a couple of weeks I land on my face. Exhausted and deflated. Then God, ever so gently, whispered in my ear: "Practice Not Perfection is what I want from you."

And of course I answer God in my self-centered way by thinking of all the things I can practice to make myself a better wife or mother or friend. Simple silly things like making my bed, creating a meal plan, exercising, actually doing lessons on their assigned day, doing my hair everyday...... and although those are things that need to be done, some how I don't think that is what He is looking for.......... Do you? 

God has been asking me, specifically, to practice being me. Sounds simple but we really make it difficult...... turning others expectations into what we must do or dimming our light because of perceived expectations. But I think that as we start to relinquish control of our lives into the hands of God and stand before Him with a "Here I am, what will YOU do with me" attitude..... mountains are moved. I have been dwelling on "me" this past month. Not in an effort for self-improvement.... rather I have asked God to help me see what He sees. Taking a step into being genuine with myself so that I can be honest with Him.

Honestly is a slow moving train..... hard to even get out of the station. But once moving, I've noticed that it seems to carry passengers that are so helpful for this journey:

Forgiveness: Learning to let go of all my own expectations and being okay with not getting it all done

Grace: Once you start learning to just be you, you are able to enjoy others and their faults so much more

Acceptance: Living each day as it comes elevates so much needless stress

Joy: In what the day brings, perfect or not a happy heart springs forward

And how about you, my friend? Is God calling you to do something different this month? Would you consider linking up with me and sharing your journey? I would love to add you to my list of passengers on this journey from salvation to sanctification!!! You can join by linking up every 3rd Saturday of the month with a post about how God is growing you or leaving a comment below.. It can be something small and simple or huge and monumental. It's up to you! Either way, I do hope you will join this journey with me!

to be continued...just as life does

Happy Birthday Baby Girl

A couple of weeks ago we celebrated birthday number 5 for our youngest. 

with a Teddy Bear Picnic

and apple bobbing

balloons

and precious friends!!

But the biggest surprise was a very special gift from Daddy!!!

A Handmade Doll House!

As you can tell, all rooms are already full!! 

And you, our precious daughter, have filled our hearts with pure joy from the moment you joined our family! We love you more than words could ever express and we thank God above for every moment we have enjoyed with you and pray for many many more moments to watch you grow into the beautiful woman God has created you to become!! We love you !!!

Pilgrim's Progress

Today I am over at Dwelling.

Hope you stop by!!!

Dwelling Together in January

Sorry for being absent this week. I have been soaking in some amazing posts (1 & 2 specifically) from over at A Holy Experience!! As I read over and and over the words she has poured out to bless us I think: "How can a woman I have never met reach so deep within me and cause such turmoil?" I know the answer, it is nothing short of God's amazing power to minister to his children in their times of need!!! And his timing is perfect, as always. Here is the memory verse I am working on this month:

Ezekiel 36:25-27

• I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols.
• I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you;
• I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh.
• And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.

I have stumbled at the last part, meaning I can recite the verse up till this point and my brain just goes blank. It will not stick and instead of forcing the issue  and making the method of memorization my motivation, I'm pausing and waiting for God to reveal what it is within the 1st three "points" that is not being written on my heart. Being defined by your past is such a hard habit to break. And as I have struggled with this for over most of my adult hood I am coming to an understand, a place of rest you might say.

Maybe, just maybe it isn't for me break rather a tool for God to use to minister to me.

Maybe, just maybe there is so much still to be revealed not forgotten that will draw me ever closer in His presence.

Maybe, just maybe there is more glory for Him to come from my sorrow.

Maybe, just maybe then will He be able to put His Spirit within me that I may follow His decrees and delight in His laws.

As sisters in Christ we can find encouragement in each other as we share our heartbreaks, break throughs and moments spent with the Savior. If you, too, are walking the path of sanctification would you consider linking up with me monthly and sharing a moment of your journey? I look forward to meeting each of you and growing richly in the grace of God!!!!

$O Budget Project

Okay, so I have blown the $0 budget theme big time, but not before I made a really cool calendar center!!!!

This week's  for Social Saturday was inspired by Full of Great Ideas $0 Budget Month.

Last year I had a 12 month tear away calendar. Well after December I was stuck with the back of it and a need for a new calendar for 2012. My first step was to pick out a calendar template I like. Thankfully I came across ANYTHINGBUTPERFECT.COM!! She has printables galore and they are F-R-E-E, yeah!!!! Then I rounded up some clothes pins and away I went!!!

Out with the old!! I cleared away all the pieces that didn't tear off.

Next I found some fabric that was cute and would last me a couple of months. As much as I would love to change this out every month, it just ain't happening. I made sure there was about an inch extra all the way round.

Next I used my glue gun and went to town. To make it a little neater, I used my "sewing" skills and folded in the sides. I know there is a name for this but I have no idea. See mad sewing skills!!!!!

Then I used this handy dandy tool, not sure what it is called either, but it punches a hole into the fabric with a really loud sound effect!!! But hey it works.

Then finished off the backboard with these circle things. Some left-over stuff from when I made cards. 

Here are my cloths pins spray painted and glued into place. 

Nice ribbon and rick rack for special effect, looking good!!!

Monthly calendar, which quickly filled up!

Two more cloths pins with ribbon glued on. I use these to show at a quick glance what we will be doing for the week and my to do list for the day.

And this is my monthly cleaning list. As I complete a task I just mark it off. This helps me stay on task and remain flexible to go with my never the same daily routine!!!

And as much as I am patting myself on the back for this project, you have to go check out more amazing ideas as Stephanie takes January to share with us awesome ways to go an entire month without spending a dime. Have a great weekend everyone!!!!

Sew Much To Do: Week 17 Skateboard Sling

I'm super excited to show off yet another Christmas gift!!! This one was for LJ. The tutorial is by Emily at The Boy Trifecta and even though you can't tell by the pics, said boy was very happy with said gift!!!!

Till next week happy sewing!!!!

Staying Organized after Christmas

Okay so there are just too many link parties for me to keep up with!!! But hey, I'm a party girl and want to participate, when I can. So I decide that I would pick on link party each week and blog about it on Social Saturday. Sounds fun and doable, what do you think?

This week isn't really a link up but I was inspired by Happy in her Organized in 365 Series and thought I would play along.

The last two weeks of 2011 I went through each room, one by one and purged them. Papers, items not used, items that belonged in another room, clothes that didn't fit, clothes we don't wear; it all went out the house!!!!!

 And yet this is what my stairs looked like after the New Year!

But not any longer. I've got a plan and here are the rules. Items left out on the floor are put in the green basket. The kids can pick the items out and put them back where they belong OR if any item is left in the green basket on Friday morning, it is mine to do with as I please!!!! And here is my plan of action. If it is a first time offense, it gets put in the Put Away basket:

If it is an item that we have not designated a space for, it gets put in the Find A Home basket. (This allows a grace period after Christmas and birthdays.)

If the item is just not being put up I get to put it in the Give Away bag or the Donate bag. I usually have an idea of who I want to give an item to so the Give Away bag is given away weekly. The Donate is put in our garage and awaits our twice a year donation trips. This give them a chance to miss the item and earn it back or an out of sight out of mind storage solution!

Here is my method in progress.

The last choice, I reserve, is to throw the item away. This week, there were only 3 things that were thrown away, so all my de-cluttering did do some good!!!

And the final result is a safe and neat looking stairway!!!!

Be sure to drop by and see all the wonderful ideas Happy is posting about becoming more organized!!!!