All posts by KME

Being a Disciple of Jesus, Daily Life, Project 365

Can I be Content

5 Comments

Today was one of those odd, gloomy sort of days where my spirits were a bit downcast. I woke up early, messaged with a friend in Montana, read my Bible and saw that Tim and Daniel were both already up and out of the house. I got some breakfast and coffee and sat down with a book to read.

A stack of school books, essential oils, a Kindle and some journals.

A stack of school books, essential oils, a Kindle and some journals.

That messy stack pretty much offers a nice little snap shot of our school days – a box of my essential oils, a plastic massage roller, a Kindle Fire, some journals, poetry and history books, chargers for phones and tablets, pens for drawing, a napkin for snack time. Ha.

I’ve been thinking about backyards and landscape design and how to make things pretty here at home. We’re putting in new carpets and having the walls painted at our house on the Olympic Peninsula. It’s distracting and entertaining to look at Pinterest boards on covered porches. It’s fun to match and coordinate colors on the Benjamin Moore paint site. But in it all, I have to carefully guard my spirit. I am SO EASILY discontented and frustrated with my own yard, house, belongings, gifts, talents, and on and on and on.

Beautiful Mother's Day flowers from Daniel.

Beautiful Mother’s Day flowers from Daniel.

For the past two weeks, in our devotional study book, the kids and I have been studying the commandment NOT to covet. Such good teaching, and so many excellent reminders:

1) Everything we have is from the Lord
2) Both the good and the bad – God wants to use it in our lives
3) True satisfaction comes in loving and glorifying the Lord
4) We should rejoice in the gifts, talents, blessings of others (rather than covet them)
5) We need to guard our thoughts and our attitudes
6) The Commandments reveal our desperate need for a Savior

So, I can enjoy dreaming about adding flower boxes or a covered porch or painting the house, but if any of it causes me to stumble into discontent, anger or resentment, than I need to STOP. Instead I need to spend some time THANKING Jesus for all He has given me. I need to spend some time SERVING others. I need to REMEMBER those who are lost and hungry and homeless.

And I can take some pictures of my blessings and the little silly moments that make up TODAY.

Sarah gets in some reading before dinner.

Sarah gets in some reading before dinner.

Marco likes to snuggle up on the couch.

Marco likes to snuggle up on the couch.

David rode his bike to a friend's house and then spent some time swimming (or was it hanging out in the hot tub?).

David rode his bike to a friend’s house and then spent some time swimming (or was it hanging out in the hot tub?).

Even on gray days, there is so much beauty all around.

Waiting for Tim to come home.

Waiting for Tim to come home.

Where is my sweetie? Late coming home today. There he is!

My beloved!

My beloved!

As the Psalmist writes:

Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:23-26

May this be true of me – desire Jesus more than anything else and remember that He is my strength and my portion forever!

Project 365 – Day 132
Kathy

Share or follow
Share

Related posts:

Events, Kathy

MOPS auction

2 Comments

Super heroes –

These amazing women are all super heroes in my book! Busy with families, loving their husbands, involved in different ministries, AND still talking time to have fun and support MOPS.

image

We had a great time bidding on deals and steals at the auction. This was the girls only table as all of our husbands were either – out of town, deployed, or busy at home with other work. When you select Powell Auction and Realty, you select a winning team to conduct your auction. Founded in 1972, the family owned business has conducted over 3,000 auctions. Howard Phillips serves on the Tennessee Auction Board. Successful land auctions just like the one above are happening everywhere North America and therefore the Caribbean. Recently land auctions are on the increase , the rise in popularity is partly driven by growing inventories and fading buyer confidence. Properties that were selling in weeks using traditional methods are now languishing on the market unable to draw in buyers whilst seller’s lower prices. Many say the important estate boom is over but savvy buyers and sellers are taking advantage of land auctions. When allowing Powell Auction to conduct your sale, you’ll work with the corporate owners and permit them to point out you ways they will assist you together with your needs, also as showing you ways choosing the auction method of selling will prevent time and money, by allowing Powell Auction to link the vendor to the buying public! Nothing is as s effective as an auction, in gaining the right buying audience. Powell Auction offers a highly specialized approach to selling your equipment. Both offsite and onsite auction services are offered, while providing a radical and specialized means of advertising, setup, property removal, site locations, and auction execution. Powell Auction is committed to maintaining our professional integrity to every and each client that we serve, while fulfilling every promise made to their buyers and sellers. To know more about powell auction, Visit to powell website url.

image

I wore a cape for the evening, but Abby outdid me by a long shot. She’s definitely one of my heroes!

I managed to come home with some treats for me, a surprise for Tim, a date for an authentic cooked Thai dinner, and a present for Grandma and Grandpa. That’s a pretty successful outing.

Sarah was a love and spent the whole night working on the nursery.

Tomorrow – the curriculum sale! Busy times (as always )

Project 365 – day 12?
Kathy

Share or follow
Share

Related posts:

Daily Life, Friendship, Project 365

Pool Time & Late Posts

4 Comments

I was sleepy last night (and a wee bit grumpy), so I went to bed without blogging. I had taken a picture, and I knew the topic of my post, but I was feeling rebellious. Yep, that’s me, pretty much a rebel. NOT gonna blog, and you can’t make me. I also went to bed without cleaning up the kitchen or making Tim’s lunch for the morning.

Of course, then I got up at 6 am to make Tim’s lunch before he left.

“It hurts me that you got up to pack my lunch,” Tim said after I told him his bag was downstairs and then proceeded to climb back into bed.
“Well, you have be up,” I mumbled, eyes already closed, hoping to sneak in another hour of sleep.
“Yes,” he said slowly, “it hurts me that I have to be up too.”

LOL!

And today I’m posting twice, because I’m determined and committed to keep going with our 2015 Project 365. So, not sure what that little bit of “rebellion” really did for me. Ha.

Thankfully no one expects me to be brilliant in my blog post (not when I’m writing after midnight). And I have a bunch of great pictures from the day.

Early morning outing

Early morning outing

In the morning Michelle and Kirstin picked me up for the Grand Opening of the new Whole Foods store. So many people! It was definitely quite the event. Poor Kirstin, she thought the store had opened several days before and had no idea we were dragging her into a Whole Foods Throng! The craziest part was how the employees and workers all lined the entrance of the store and screamed and shouted and clapped as the first customers walked in. I think that might have been my only shot at having a “celebrity moment.” Probably should have at least remembered lip gloss.

Later I got in a long walk with a friend. You know those kinds of friends who give you encouragement and are also willing to tell you hard truths? I have several in my life. This was just the challenging, real conversation I needed as I’m walking through a difficult struggle right now. Love the godly women the Lord has placed in my life.

Of course, we can’t just spend all day shopping, walking and doing school. The sunshine cries out for some late afternoon fun. It’s still mild and cool out (it’s not summer yet, it just feels like it with all this sunshine), but the pool was warm.

Pool time with friends!

Pool time with friends!

Can David and Daniel manage to subdue Eli?

Can David and Daniel manage to subdue Eli?

"I think we've got him this time!"

“I think we’ve got him this time!”

Nope. The giant wins!

Nope. The giant wins!

So thankful for simple pleasures like moments at the park or pool or beach.

Girls relax while the boys wrestle.

Girls relax while the boys wrestle.

Until tomorrow’s post.

Project 365 – Day 127
Kathy

Share or follow
Share

Related posts:

Daily Life, Daniel, Project 365

“To My Dearest Mother…”

3 Comments

Wednesday morning I came downstairs; the living room blinds were still shut and blankets were strewn about the room (half on the couch, half draped on the floor – remnants of our family movie time the night before). Tim was already gone to his early, early guy prayer time. The children were all asleep, happily snuggled under blankets and oblivious that the sun was trying to peek through the clouds. I was hurrying to gather some breakfast and finish getting ready for my morning meeting when I walked past my computer desk.

Clue Number One

Clue Number One

What??

I looked closer. There on top of my keyboard was a note, written in bright red sharpie, from one of those precious, sleeping children. Daniel has been working steadily at Chick-Fil-A since they opened 2 weeks ago. He often closes the store, cleaning and working until late, and doesn’t get home until we’re all in bed.

I guess this night he brought home a little treat for his mama.

Clue Number 2

Clue Number 2

The notes continued into the kitchen – the second one was taped across the doors of the fridge.

I have to admit it, I LOVE gifts. It’s one of my love languages. Quality time is probably at the very top, but surprises and presents and gifts (big and small) is definitely next on my Makes Me Smile list. Of course, I also love it when Tim works on a project around the house or the yard. And I need hugs and compliments too. So basically I’m greedy and like all of the 5 Love Languages.

And I DEFINITELY love celebrations and morning treats.

Clue Number 3

Clue Number 3

Just when I feel weary and busy with the every day routine of life, the Lord comes alongside me and blesses me anew. Without a doubt, my amazing, kind, generous, thoughtful, fun, crazy, family is the greatest blessing.

Thank you, Daniel, for MAKING my morning!!!!! I Love you.

P.S. They were delicious!

Project 365 – Day 126
Kathy

Share or follow
Share

Related posts:

Daily Life, Project 365

Dishwasher Happiness

6 Comments

Yesterday the kitchen island was covered with dishes. And the floor was crowded with a brand new dishwasher. Time for some kitchen help.

So many dishes - so little counter space.

So many dishes – so little counter space.

Somehow my whole “I Don’t Do Dishes Anymore” stance has fallen by the wayside in the face of our broken down dishwasher. The kids have done a marvelous job trying to stay on top of the mess, but we’re continually overrun with more dishes.

Please, hurry, someone install this!

Please, hurry, someone install this!

I think it’s mainly because we don’t have a system or set up for handwashing all the dishes. Plus, we really like to store our messy cookware and unwashed plates, cups, and silverware in the dishwasher and not on the counter. How else can we keep up any kind of a facade that the house is clean?

Sarah was the first to load the new dishwasher.

Sarah was the first to load the new dishwasher.

Thankfully Tim is very good to me, and let me pick out a beautiful, new dishwasher. We waited and waited for Lowes to deliver the new, shiny appliance. Every day Sarah and I would whine and fuss and hope TODAY would be the day it was delivered. Okay, maybe not quite that dramatic. I mean, Sarah and I would NEVER complain of fuss about such things.

When it did finally arrive, we had to suffer and wait one more day for the handy men Tim hired to come and put it in for us. Talk about torture here. Or maybe, we should just go ahead and admit that these are definitely first world problems and say how blessed we are. Indeed, there was much rejoicing when the dishwasher was installed. Sarah offered to put in the first load of dishes. Ahhh, the simple pleasures of life.

All clean!

All clean!

Not only did Mark and Peter (our handy duo) install the new dishwasher, they also replaced 10 electrical outlets around the house, installed a motion sensor light out back, put in a new light on the front pole, rewired our instanta-hot dispenser in the kitchen and put up two new fluorescent light fixtures in the garage. Wow!! Such a great day.

Very thankful for all our house and backyard blessings this week!

Project 365 – Day 125

Share or follow
Share

Related posts: