The weather in my neck of the woods:
It's a beautiful sunny, fall day today. Chilly but will probably go on a nice walk later.


Things that make me happy:
Watching White Christmas with a nice hot cup of coffee or hot chocolate.

Book I'm reading:
Get Out of that Pit by Beth Moore and rereading Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows since I just saw part 1.


What's on my TV today:
At the moment... Care Bears. Hopefully some Christmas movies later.


On the menu for dinner:
Haven't decided yet... need to do some menu planning.


On my To Do List:
2 loads of laundry
Dishes
Menu Planning

New Recipe I tried or want to try soon:
Sweet Potato Pie

In the craft basket:

I want to start working on some crocheted Christmas decorations.

Looking forward to this week:
Hopefully putting up our little Christmas tree and baking some Christmas cookies with Jenna.


Tips and Tricks:
Listen to those little nudges from God throughout the day-- i.e. When Josiah wakes up early from a nap and I want to just stick a pacifier in his mouth, sometimes God will say to me, "Hold your baby."



My favorite blog post this week:
No blog reading yet


Blog Hopping (a new discovered blog you would like to share with the readers):
Diary of a Stay at Home Mom



No words needed (favorite photo or picture, yours or others you want to share):


Having trouble uploading-- I'll do this part later.

Lesson learned the past few days:
I can't do it all.


On my mind:
Where we will be moving-- Cameron will be finding out this week if he got the job in Zionsville, IN. We are stressing over finding a place to live that is within our means but still feels like a home. We could use prayer.


Devotionals, Scripture Reading, Key Verses:
"I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip-- he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The LORD watches over you-- the LORD is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep your from all harm-- he will watch over your life; the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore."   
                   -- Psalm 121 (emphasis mine)

To have the faith

 my daughter has... how I wish I did. Practicing Jenna's Sunday School memory verse reminded me how small my faith is: "My God will meet all your needs." Philippians 4:19. What a simple concept! I am amazed at the faith of a child. Jenna is beginning to hit that age where fear sets in-- fear of the dark, fear of spiders (now where could she have POSSIBLY gotten that?), fear of unfamiliar noises, etc. But can I tell you what puts her at ease? Reminding her that God is taking care of her and saying a prayer with her. I've taught her to pray any time she feels even a little bit afraid... to pray that God would take away the fear and protect her. OK... I can teach it, right? So why can't I put it into practice? Maybe it's because I recognize things in this world that cause fear... things to which she has not yet been introduced. I don't know, though... I'm fairly certain we are all called to have faith like a child regardless of what we know or experience in this world.

A verse that has often helped me through fearful times is 1 John 4:18: "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." It is a reminder to me that with God's presence surrounding me, there is no room for fear. If I am allowing fear to overtake me, most likely I am not allowing God to have full control of my heart.

I know my post yesterday was one that came from frustration, and I know it is OK to feel and express that frustration. However, since writing that post, I have felt so thankful, so blessed, and so in love with the life that I have right now. God truly is meeting all of our needs. I am constantly amazed at the end of each month, how God has provided for us. Cameron doesn't make a ton of money, but somehow, we end up with extra to put into savings. I most definitely do not want to take credit for that. It *shouldn't* be happening, but it is. I have a teeny tiny home... but I have a roof over my head. Our fridge is about 3/4 empty at the moment, but at least we have something to eat even if it is cereal and grilled cheese sandwiches. My daughter is currently driving me up the wall, but she is rambunctious, healthy, and full of LIFE!

God is so good. I am grateful for the freedom to express those frustrations, but even more so to be able to look past them and recognize that with each frustration, there is something to be thankful for.

grrr...

i would absolutely love to post something positive and encouraging, but to be quite honest, it's been a frustrating and discouraging few days. i'm struggling with my parenting. i'm amazed at how quickly my temper flares up with my daughter. i love her so much, but i feel like the last week or so has been nothing but frustration for both of us. i know this is normal. in a way, it helps to know that... and in a way, it does no good at all because i know that the way i treat my daughter in my anger is unacceptable and needs to be changed. if anyone could offer any discipline advice/techniques for a feisty 3-year-old, i could really use some creative ideas.

anyway... sorry for the discouraging note today. well, no i'm not. this is me. you get the good and the bad. :)

today i'm thankful for grace... and desire to show it as much as i receive it. praise God for 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, etc. chances...

Priorities

I think I speak for most mommies when I say this... we get so caught up sometimes in the "stuff" that needs to get done that we can forget when to stop and really savor the precious moments we have with our little ones. I'm trying to get better about that... it can be so easy to just keep on getting work done when Jenna comes to me and says, "Can I sit on you?" How often have I answered, "Not right now, honey" when I need to stop what I'm doing and sit down and cuddle with her.

A friend of mine posted this on her blog, and I really wanted to share it because it hit home for me. I think I need to frame it so I can be reminded of what really matters every day.

Mother, O Mother, come shake out your cloth,

Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

Hang out the washing, make up the bed,

Sew on a button and butter the bread.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I’ve grown as shiftless as Little Boy Blue,

Lullaby, rockabye, lullaby loo.

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peek-a-boo

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew

And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo

But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo

Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue?

Lullaby, rockaby lullaby loo.

The cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow

But children grow up as I’ve learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs; Dust go to sleep!

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep.

-- Ruth Hulburt Hamilton