3 gifts on thursday

***If you previously tried to download the "Immanuel" letters and got only the first page, I corrected the mistake. Here's the link to the revised document. If, for some reason, it still does not work, please email me and I can send you the document that way.***

For previous 3 Gifts installments, click here. If you would like to have a "gift" featured in this series, please see the bottom of this post for details.

1.Gift of Tradition

In a week of sharing about traditions (see this post and this one), I wanted to share my favorite tradition for this time of year: The Jesse Tree. The tradition gets its roots in Scripture from Isaiah 11:1 and usually involves reading highlights of the Bible from Genesis through the Nativity stories in the season of Advent. To simplify, we do our readings December 1-25. I like consistency...it saves brain cells. ;) As you read each story, an ornament or picture is hung on your Jesse tree (or branch) symbolizing the story's significance. A couple of years ago, I modified this and made 25 paper cones and filled each with candy. The idea was for the kids to enjoy their candy (and reduce the wiggles) during our readings and remind them that, while the candy is sweet, God's word is sweeter.

For subscribed readers of Ann Voskamp's blog, you can receive a PDF of a Jesse Tree devotional and ornaments. Please see this post on her blog for details. Or, here is a link to one we enjoyed doing a couple of years ago.


2. Gift of a Giveaway
Through Courtney's blog, I found out about this giveaway which will happen tomorrow at Simple Living Media (actually it's five giveaways in one day!). They hosted two other giveaways this week, featured 5 charities on Tuesday and are hosting a q&a party today.


3. Gift of a Printable
I love thinking of ways to creatively have Scripture displayed throughout our home - it feels like we are soaking our rooms in the Word. I was inspired by this banner to think up a word to capture the spirit of this season. "Immanuel"- God with us came to mind along with the opening verses of John's Gospel which are among my favorite Words.

The result of this brainstorm? A printable to share with you. It features the letters in Immanuel and, within each letter, Scripture from Isaiah, Jeremiah, Luke and John in the NIV 1984 version. Here is a link to the letters on my scribd account. For personal use only please. :)

Use this as you feel led...in a banner, in a card, on a wreath (my plan for them - I'll share when it's complete) or however your creative mood strikes. My only request is that you prayerfully consider how to use them. While this is a way to imitate the creativity of our Creator, it also is His sacred Word (which is why I just didn't photocopy pages of the Bible and cut into them - the words are spaced to avoid being spliced apart).

If you use these letters, I would love for you to share a picture of the results with us. If you blog and post about it, please leave a link in the comment section so we can all see what you did. Or, email me.




If you have a "gift" you'd like me to consider wrapping into a 3 Gifts on Thursday package, please email me the details. It can be anything you are hosting or have heard about: from a giveaways to service projects, household/parenting tips, resources, promotions/coupon codes, items such as books, music, movies, etc (ones available for purchase online). If I choose to incorporate your gift suggestion into a 3 Gifts post, I will email you to let you know when it will be featured.

 linking with: KoJo Designs Friday Fun Finds

the Christmas tradition that wasn't

As promised in yesterday's post, here's a story about one of my crazy attempts to "create" a tradition for our family...

This past Sunday marked the first Sunday of Advent. During this season, our rector (that's the title for the priest/pastor at our church) reminds us that Advent is a time of preparation, one where we aren't supposed to know what to expect, i.e. Jesus' birth, but we are to get ourselves ready for what God has in store for us.

Essentially, we are to forget what we already know. Which means we are jumping the gun with all the Christmas carols, decorating, gift buying, etc.

Our family tried that a few years ago. No decorations, no Christmas CDs. Just our Jesse Tree readings (which I'll share about on Thursday) and Handel's Messiah. But I do admit to buying a few gifts and getting some decorations ready...it was all part of the preparation theme. ;) The idea was to make it Christmas Day, go to church and then launch into a 13-day celebration of Jesus' birth (to end on January 6, Epiphany).

What ended up happening was this...

Christmas Day arrived. We went to church. We rushed home to decorate the house (and by "we," I mean mostly me since the kids were too young to really assist with this part and Dave was mostly busy keeping the kids busy while I dashed about the house to get everything ready before gathering as a larger family). Then we spent the next two weeks trying to feel all festive and Christmas-like.

It was a complete bust.

After all, everyone else in the Christmas-celebrating world had moved on to prepare for the New Year. Christ's birthday had come and gone once again. The decorations still decked the halls, but the Christmas-minded spirit disappeared with the season's songs on the radio. 

Instead of celebrating Christmas, it felt like we were trying to resuscitate it. Not the fond tradition-making memory I was going for.

So this is what I've learned from the Christmas tradition that wasn't: Traditions cannot be thought up, planned out or creatively packaged in an I've-got-all-my-bases-covered kit. Traditions are organic. They grow over time and evolve with us. They become traditions because they envelope us in a love-dance born of our need to celebrate and fellowship together...to experience a commonality we can share a rejoice over.

Since that Christmas several years ago, our Advent preamble to the big day continues much of the quiet reflectiveness we first sought. But we carry with it a joyful expectation of what is to come. A knowing of how this story will begin and end. And we look forward to celebrating along with everyone else and preparing our hearts and our home for the One whose birth would kindle our rebirth. Jesus. Immanuel. God with us.


Thursday, I will share on a tradition which has grown to be my favorite part of this season, and Friday, I'll share a tradition the kids excitedly anticipate (especially now that they begin to grasp the concept of time).

reaping...gleaning from Chapters 15 & 16

If you're just joining us (and we're so glad to have you along!), we're taking two chapter per week from the book, The Power of a Positive Mom: Revised Edition by Karol Ladd. This week we are reading and discussing Chapters 15 &16.

On Mondays we focus on reaping: What are we gleaning, discerning from the reading?

On Fridays we focus on sowing: What actions from the Power Points can we apply in our lives in order to become more positive mothers?

(For a link to previous discussions, please click here.)



Chapter 15 felt like a heavy burden at first. After reading just the first two pages, my mental tape went something like this, "Oh great. Now I to try even harder to a be perfect mom. It just doesn't seem fair to place this much of a responsibility on me." Apparently, I'd forgotten to decline the invitation to Chapter 9's pity party along with the uplifting message of Chapter 1.

More importantly, I forgot that God does not expect me to do this on my own. Thankfully, Karol reminds us of this fact: "Trying to be a good example in our own power leads to eventual failure, but abiding in Christ brings fruitfulness and hope." (pg 191).

She also points us to the branch and vine analogy and I love where she said, "...as it stays connected to the vine day be day, the fruit begins to grow naturally. (pg 191, emphasis mine).

I love the natural part best. It suggests an ease and of God bearing the heavy burden for us.

The mental image which came to mind was one of a mother duck with her babies in line behind her.

  
She may be quacking for them to go this way or that, but at the end of the day, they're going to fall right in line behind her. That's the scary thought. Because, like it or not, broken-flesh-me is going to lead them down the wrong path once or more a day. I'm still learning to follow too.

So God gave me a better image. This one:

Much more encouraging, yes? When we follow Him and our children follow us then they, too, learn what it is to walk in paths of righteousness.



Let's waddle walk over to Chapter 16's field and glean from there...
I continue to chuckle at God's timing. So fitting that this chapter of traditions should fall smack in the middle of one of the biggest tradition making times of the year.

Knowing Jesus and following Him has been the biggest influence in setting our family traditions. Though I grew up in a "Christian" home, it was not a real living-breathing-actively-following kind of faith, one built on a steadfast relationship with Jesus. (Thankfully, that has changed and you can read more of that background here.) So much of the traditions I grew up with were more influenced by culture than Christ and once I knew Jesus, I knew I wanted that to change.

Quickly I discovered what Karol points out on pg 200: "A family tradition can't be forced. In fact, we can ruin a potential family memory by our overzealous efforts to make sure everything is "just right."

I'll share more this week about some of the ideas we tried that did not turn into tradition (I still laugh over one of my attempts) along with one that has become one my favorites for our family for this time of year. And of course, I'll meet you back here on Friday to sow these seeds we've reaped today.

if you are shopping this holiday season

It seems that the more over the top the consumerism gets at this time of year, the less I feel like doing...anything...to celebrate Christmas the day when God quietly slipped into this world to save us.  And after seeing the disgusting displays of materialism that happened the minute the clock ticked to November 25, I feel ashamed and embarrassed to be part of it (i.e. I have a shop and I sell stuff).

Over the past several weeks I have teetered between burying that talent deep in the earth and working harder at the gifts God purposed me to use. Currently, the working harder side is winning out.

Which brings me to the point of this post...my solution to my struggle with obviously wanting to sell the items I made but hating to contribute to the culture of spending around this time of year. So here it goes...


On November 28 and December 1-3, For the month of December, I will offer free shipping if you make a purchase at my shop (my gift to you). You can find the details in my shop announcements section. Or, you can choose to pay the shipping and I will donate the equivalent of that cost to World Vision, specifically to purchase a sewing machine for a woman in poverty. Here's a link to that gift on World Vision's website so you can read about it.

Even better, DON'T BUY an item from my shop and instead gift an amount equivalent to your favorite item to World Vision on behalf of the person you're shopping for. If you do this, come back here and tell me about it and I will send you a note card created by me for you to print out and give to the person you shopped for and let them know about your donation. I'll be working on the design of the card this week and will share when it's completed, but here's a peek at the picture I did for one of the designs:

OR, if you'd still like to give a gift from my shop to someone you love, consider making a donation to World Vision for the same amount as the item you purchased, come back and tell me about it and I'll include the donation note card along with your item.


This may be crazy, it may miss the mark completely, but I hope it may lead to our being able to help lift a woman out of poverty.

a sweet short school week

My original plan was to take the whole week off for the Thanksgiving holiday, but I felt God's nudge to put in a couple of extra days. As my Principal, I trust that He has some great purpose in asking me to do so.

I continued in a more relaxed, unschool style but had Brie and Reese do some workbook activities. I used these two days to recap our 10 weeks of spelling words and think I will do this every five weeks or so - especially important for Brie with the challenging words she needs to learn.

We also:

• colored more pictures from our Color and Learn Australia book, focusing on the Aborigine pages
• watch videos on Aborgine boomerangs and corroborees and read some more pages from the Australia and Its People book
• continued reading "Bless This Mouse" by Lisa Lowry
• practiced with the multiplication flash cards (Brie)
• completed a bar graph chart on the number of cars spotted by color during one of our outings
• discovered some online "how to draw" sites - Brie and Reese did a great job following the instructions and turned out several masterpieces. 
• played games including "Go Fish" (and Brie and Reese taught the game to Luke!), "Connect Four" and "Mastermind"
• went on walks and hikes

  

a day to sow (@ Courtney's)

I hope you will join me over at Courtney's  today to read how she applied the concepts in Chapters 13 & 14 and to share what seeds you are sowing.

(For a link to previous discussions, please click here.)

3 gifts on thursday

I debated about whether to post today, given the Thanksgiving holiday, but after further contemplation it seems fitting to give these gifts on a day when Americans are intentionally giving thanks.

For previous 3 Gifts installments, click here. If you would like to have a "gift" featured in this series, please see the bottom of this post for details.

1.Gift of Multiplied Giving

Since Thanksgiving weekend here in the US also is the kick off to the great holiday buying extravaganza, I wanted to share a treasury I put together on etsy of handmade items which have a charitable component. If you are looking for unique items and love to support businesses which help others, check out this list for some ideas.

2. Gift of a Great Coleslaw Recipe
Coleslaw is quickly becoming a tradition at our table when we gather as a family and is my specialty. And although it's probably too late for you to add it to your Thanksgiving menu today, it will be here for next time. Note: I use organic ingredients because they taste better and are healthier, but the "regular" versions work well too.

1 head of organic cabbage
2-3 medium organic carrots
2-3 Tbsp minced organic onion

If you have a food processor, shred the cabbage and carrots, otherwise cut in shredded pieces, about 1/4" wide. Add the minced onion and toss together.

Dressing
1 scant cup of Helman's mayonnaise (because it's the best)
1/2 tsp sea salt
dash of pepper
dash of paprika
2 Tbsp white vinegar
2 Tbsp milk (regular dairy, but organic unsweetened soy milk works well too)

Mix dressing ingredients together and pour over cabbage mixture. It's best to make it at least one hour before eating to let the flavors blend. Sometimes, if I know I'll be pressed for time, I'll prepare the veggies and dressing separately the night before I need it and then mix the next morning.

3. Gift of Giving Thanks
I'm learning the value to giving thanks in all circumstances - to dig deep and find those nuggets of gratitude nestled amidst the most trying of times. Here's a link to a post on Ann Voskamp's blog on the beauty in counting the gifts of today. Every day.

If you have a "gift" you'd like me to consider wrapping into a 3 Gifts on Thursday package, please email me the details. It can be anything you are hosting or have heard about: from a giveaways to service projects, household/parenting tips, resources, promotions/coupon codes, items such as books, music, movies, etc (ones available for purchase online). If I choose to incorporate your gift suggestion into a 3 Gifts post, I will email you to let you know when it will be featured.

reap to sow @ Courtney's today

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If you're just joining us (and we're so glad to have you along!), we're taking two chapter per week from the book, The Power of a Positive Mom: Revised Edition by Karol Ladd.

I hope you will join me over at Courtney's  today for our discussion this week on Chapters 13 & 14...and to discover how the image at the right
fits in with one of the topics.

(For a link to previous discussions, please click here.)

homeschool journal

Experimenting with an unschool format is creating chaos. At least it feels that way. Perhaps it's because I find comfort in routine and I have yet to figure out the "routine" of unschooling. Which is probably why I'd better quickly focus on what we learned so a) I don't forget what we did, and, b)don't get discouraged.

For math...

• Continued working in Horizons workbooks
• Played Yahtzee (good for adding and multiplying)
• Learned about importance of earning and spending money: we played Post Office (sorting clothes was our "mail" and putting them away was delivering them). The kids "earned" money based on how many clothes were sorted and put away. Then we played store where they could spend what they earned. Reinforced adding and making change concept for Brie and budgeting for Reese.

For language arts...

• I continued to avoid using our Learning Language Arts Through Literature, though I may try and pick out some pieces that can enhance our lesson
• We're reading "Bless This Mouse" and "Mandie and The Cherokee Legend" and listening to "The Sign of the Beaver" in the car
• continued with workbooks in spelling and copywork (and grammar for Brie)
• Reese continues to write and illustrate stories, mostly iterations of books he's enjoying. He loves to read and does well reading aloud with expression

For social studies/science...

• began watching "From the Earth to the Moon"
• starting learning about the peoples and history of Australia through reading books and coloring

In other areas...

• worked with Brie and sewing a bag
• had Brie help make pumpkin bread (she read the recipe and helped add ingredients)
• Brie and Reese helped assemble items for Operation Christmas Child

reap to sow discussion day

 ***In case you missed the 3 Gifts on Thursday post yesterday, check out The Macs blog for a week filled with giveaways - the final day to leave an entry is tomorrow.***



If you're just joining us (and we're so glad to have you along!), we're taking two chapter per week from the book, The Power of a Positive Mom: Revised Edition by Karol Ladd.

On Mondays we focus on reaping: What are we gleaning, discerning from the reading?

On Fridays we focus on sowing: What actions from the Power Points can we apply in our lives in order to become more positive mothers?

(For a link to previous discussions, please click here.)


"I will learn to grow through my challenges and teach my kids to do the same."

Chapter Eleven's "Choose" PowerPoint. It gets to the heart of  this season for me.

In the midst of a challenge, especially one I did not ask for, I tend to enter the land of doubt. In that Land, I begin to cast about searching for sure footing in its swampy terrain, taking a step but feel the mud pull at my feet, trying to anchor me down and suck me in. So I test another spot, but find it also starts to give way.

Staying in this Land, I forget to trust God has me exactly where He wants me. I forget to ask Him what I am to learn in a time of challenge. I forget He is purposing me to grow.

Which is why the choice of Chapter 11 is a powerful antidote to my perpetual amnesia. I must remember to choose trust in God and ask Him to show me what He is teaching me in adversity. When I stop in do this, I take my focus off the adversity and place it on the One who brings me to solid ground.

Somehow I always find this principle easier to teach my children than live out myself.

Several weeks ago, when my daughter was again near tears because of her math lesson (it's not her favorite subject), I gave her an analogy to help her see the good in the midst of her challenge. I reminded her of the doorway where we mark the kids growth on their birthdays and how, throughout the year, we like to see the comparison of their current height to most recent mark. I explained that her math lesson was like these marks. Each lesson learned is a mark on the door. To help her grow, however, the next lesson needs to add a new challenge. Sometimes this growth is painfully hard and sometimes everything seems to fall into place and the growth feels effortless. But when we look back, we can see the purpose in the difficulty we faced and how that step was needed to get us to our current spot.


Switching gears to Chapter 12...
I loved the reminder of the "Do" PowerPoint and my husband and I were able to go on a date last week. I was craving some time alone with him away from the house after a couple months of having most evenings and weekends focused on retaining his spot on City Council. Since we often are conscious of connecting over a conversation, a movie or games, I tend to forget the importance of having time alone together outside the house. It brings a freshness into our marriage which keeps that fire smokin' hot.

A seed I'd like to plant in the future is Karol's idea on pg. 165 to make a holiday tradition involving only Dave and I. But tradition is not an idea you can think up and then act upon. It is something that grows over time, which is why this seed analogy is perfect. Though I don't know what this tradition will be, I know that God will take this seed-prayer and begin to provide the water and light until I see the tender shoots of a tradition appear above the soil.

How about you? Which PowerPoints did you choose this week? How do you approach a challenge? What sparked your interest in Chapter 12 and what seeds to you hope to sow into your marriage in the coming weeks and years?


We'd love to hear how these chapters apply to your life. If you've written a blog post on these chapters and would like to share your thoughts, please include a link to your blog in the comment section.

3 Gifts on Thursday

Welcome back to the 2nd installment of "3 Gifts on Thursday." For previous 3 Gifts installments, click here. If you would like to have a "gift" featured in this series, please see the bottom of this post for details.

1.Gift of Encouragement
For a couple of years, I've been reading the CaringBridge journal of Kate McRae's mom. Kate was diagnosed with brain cancer and valiantly has been fighting an extremely tough battle. Thankfully, they learned yesterday that her MRI scan remains stable...good news in this tenuous fight. And, as only the Lord can do in the midst of great challenges and pain, He showed the McRae's how to bring light into the lives of those warring against cancer. Two years ago, they began the "Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas" project - a way of getting gifts to kids in the cancer ward.  This year, the family also will "adopt" families facing pediatric cancer.

Here are some of the details from the McRae's journal for how you can participate, but you also can check out their journal here for continued updates (you might have to sign up- it's free though).

1. Donate new toys, movies, or games. Everything must be new.
2. Donate gift cards to grocery stores, gas stations, and various stores - many of these are needed.
3. Follow the link to Sign Up Genius to sign up to donate a very specific item for a family - items will continue to be added in the coming weeks. www.SignUpGenius.com/go/requested1/238

 ALL items can be sent to Kate's Crazy Cool Christmas @ PO Box 2200 Higley, AZ 85236. If there are questions or difficulties in mail contact the family at kateschristmas@gmail.com.

picture from the Macs blog

2. Gift of a Great Giveaway
I've always enjoyed reading Jess's blog, especially the way she writes about her children.This week, she is hosting a week of great giveaways. There are 5 separate giveaways which will end on Saturday, November 19. If you like sock monkey's you'll especially love Tuesday's giveaway. Happy entering!

3. Gift of Great Eco-Friendly Wrapping Ideas

picture from the Upcycler's blog

Often I spend so much time creating a gift, that I fail to leave time to wrap it. Which often means I dig through my now-dwindling stash of store-bought gift bags, trying to find one that matches the occasion and isn't (too) wrinkly.

But after seeing these ideas on the Upcycler's blog, it has inspired me to think beyond the proverbial gift bag and search around the house for other sources of wrapping material.





If you have a "gift" you'd like me to consider wrapping into a 3 Gifts on Thursday package, please email me the details. It can be anything you are hosting or have heard about: from a giveaways to service projects, household/parenting tips, resources, promotions/coupon codes, items such as books, music, movies, etc (ones available for purchase online). If I choose to incorporate your gift suggestion into a 3 Gifts post, I will email you to let you know when it will be featured.

happy day project: day 1

Since I only learned about this project last week, I'm a little late to the game, but have decided to do what I can, when I can.

Day One's challenge was to bring a treat to a neighbor. We went a little further afield than our street, but I think "neighbor" still fits.


I settled on making pumpkin bread (and here's the recipe I used), but with a twist. Instead of packaging up the loaf, I placed it in a small mason jar.*

Complete with spoon.
 

And roasted pumpkin seeds. Yum!

Then I packaged it up in a cloth gift bag - a sewing project which doubled as a homeschool lesson for Brie.

If you want to join in the fun of this project, here's the link to The Happy Day Project.


*I have seen this idea done on other blogs with cake batter baked right in the jar. I toyed with the idea of trying to bake the bread in the jar, but didn't want to chance it not working out. So I settled for cutting the bread into circles.

linking with: KoJo Designs Friday Fun Finds

one day left...

Just a reminder that you still have 1 day left (through Wednesday) to save 10% at my shop. Please use the code: 3giftsthursday and, in case you missed it, you can see why I chose this code for the discount.

I'm really excited about the three gifts I'll be sharing this week, too.

reap to sow: Chapters 11 & 12

If you're just joining us (and we're so glad to have you along!), we're taking two chapter per week from the book, The Power of a Positive Mom: Revised Edition by Karol Ladd.

On Mondays we focus on reaping: What are we gleaning, discerning from the reading?

On Fridays we focus on sowing: What actions from the Power Points can we apply in our lives in order to become more positive mothers?

(For a link to previous discussions, please click here.)

Wow! We're half way done already. A couple of items before I reap from the fields of Chapters 11 &12: I made a slight, but extremely important revision to this post on Chapters 7 & 8. Also, a reminder to let us know if you'd like to join in a Reap to Sow Prayer Group (it would be through email). Please leave a comment indicating your interest or you may email me.

"Life would be more enjoyable if only..."

Karol invites us to fill in that blank early in Chapter 11, but this is no call to dream of the perfect life. She uses it as a challenge to turn these "if only's" into an opportunity to invite God into a challenging situation and ask for His help. She also reminds us to apply what we learned in Chapter 10 - to give God thanks in all circumstances.

God continues the theme of having me live these principles out before sharing with you...He is good in the way, yes?

I've been experiencing a season of challenges on many fronts...a polishing me of the dirt and grime collected from years in this world. One of the challenges is coming at me from the direction of my children... (positive mom theme continues strong here : ) ).

Ever experience a time when, if you have more than one child, most or all of them seem to decide it's once again time to test out those boundaries you thought were so firmly fixed? I am in the thick of one of those...at least I was last week. Since it's early Monday morning, it's hard to gauge whether God's brought us out yet. I'll know once the kids get up. ;)

When I go through these times, I often get frustrated because I feel at a loss as to how to effectively and permanently correct the problem. Funnily enough, my mentor helped me see exactly what Karol pointed out in this Chapter...I needed to invite God into the situation and ask for His help. So simple, yet so profound.

As I've done this over the past few days, I discovered that God is faithful to come to my side when I ask Him to be there in my challenges. It doesn't always change the situation, but it does change my heart.


And from Chapter 12...
I loved the "Fire Builders" from this chapter, especially #3: "Enjoy Him."

Maybe it's because I already know about the loving and respecting, but sometimes I forget to be intentional about the "enjoyment" part. Don't get me wrong, I've always enjoyed my husband and am thankful God chose him for me. But there's something about being purposeful in that enjoyment...

The image which keeps coming to mind is a gift. What if, every day, I saw my husband as a gift to be unwrapped. The anticipation of discovering the treasure that lays inside. The delight in discovering he is exactly what I needed. And wanted. And then the thrill of experiencing the gift as part of my life.

Hmmm...

I wonder if sometimes we forget our husbands are gifts to be treasured. I know I do, especially when we don't see eye to eye on a matter.

So I'm thankful for the seeds gathered from this chapter - the reminder to keep the home fires burning by kindling it with love, respect, enjoyment, and above all, a committed relationship with God.

and the gift theme continues...

When I was preparing for a craft show back in October, I put together several packages of "fabric ribbon."

The idea came to me when, earlier this year, I helped with a clean up at a local beach. As I picked up the garbage I noticed many bits of plastic-type ribbon (the kind used to give the extra flourish in gift wrap). Since most of it was green & red, I guessed these remnants were from Christmas gifts. The ribbon-destined-for-the-garbage-dump didn't seem like a very honorable way to recognize Christ's birth.

That thought, combined with the ever-growing mountain of narrow fabric pieces from my sewing projects prompted me to put together these packages.

I finally listed these two items on my etsy shop today...just in time for the great gift-giving season. (However, these also are great for scrapbooks, homemade cards and other craft projects, as party decor (see this idea at KoJo Designs) and in the garden (a colorful way to tie up your tomatoes).

I also wanted to make them extra special by packaging them with recycled materials to fit with the theme. I decided to wrap the fabric ribbon around recycled cardboard boxes (e.g. from cereal) and glued on watercolor pictures the kids had done. The artwork of the birds and nest on the tags was done by me. :)

And a reminder that you can still save10% off all items in my shop through Wednesday, November 16, 2011. To redeem your coupon, please enter the following into the coupon code section: 3giftsthursday. It's an extra little gift for you. :)

reap to sow: discussing chapters 9 & 10

'Tis a day for sowing and Courtney has the seeds for us.

To see what she's planting, please join us for the discussion on Chapters 9 & 10 over at her place. I'll be curious to know what you thought the flamingos were doing... :)

(For a link to previous discussions, please click here.)

3 gifts on Thursday (new series)

I have a gift for you.

source

Three gifts, really.

source

Every Thursday.

Weekly they will differ. Some will be for your heart. Some to uplift your spirit. And some may be a few links or resources I want to share. A few will be tangible..ones you can hold in your hands. The gifts may come in the form of tips to freshen your life. Or they may offer you ways to help others and experience the joy of giving and serving.

But what ever these weekly three gifts may be, they are given with joy.

So here you go...I hope you enjoy opening them.

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 Gift of Serving
1. The Happy Day Project
I just learned about this yesterday and it's exactly what God has been laying on my heart lately. Although the project started this week, I'll be praying about how it can shape our days in the week(s) to come. Check out Joy's blog, one of the Happy hosts. :)

Gift of Gifting
2. KoJo Designs is hosting a series on gifts for guys.
Yeah! This always is a challenge for me because I like to get more creative than a gift card, so I'll be tucking ideas away for future use. Here is the fruit of one of the gift idea I came up with for my dad back in September. Oh...and the best part is the giveaways for a number of guy-geared items.

Gift of Awareness
3. Delicate Fortress Creations

There's no light or easy way to share about the issue Karen addresses through Delicate Fortress Creations (DFC). The Lord has made her a warrior in the fight against human trafficking - it's modern day slavery and particularly targets women and children. DFC raises money and awareness for this issue through their store. Check on the blog to learn more about this issue and to see an example of a new artisan group they are working with.

A little extra gift

To celebrate the start of this series, I'm tucking in something a little extra...10% all items in my shop which will be good now through Wednesday, November 16, 2011. To redeem your coupon, please enter the following into the coupon code section: 3giftsthursday.



If you have a "gift" you'd like me to consider wrapping into a 3 Gifts on Thursday package, please email me the details. It can be anything you are hosting or have heard about: from a giveaways to service projects, household/parenting tips, resources, promotions/coupon codes, items such as books, music, movies, etc (ones available for purchase online). If I choose to incorporate your gift suggestion into a 3 Gifts post, I will email you to let you know when it will be featured.

the Lord knew, part 2

In case you missed it, please read Part 1 first...the rest of this post will make so much more sense. :)

I completely forgot one of the best parts about this story. (And wouldn't you know the Lord was trying to tell me this before I hit the "publish" button this morning. But did I listen. Noooo. I chose to impatiently cross this post off my list instead of waiting on Him. Grrr. Guess I still have a lot to learn.)

It turns out that of the Ward seats available for our city, Dave's was the only contested race. The rest of the Ward-specific council people were running opponent free.

But I believe God used this as training ground for David. By his own admission, the presence of an opponent encourage him to press in and press on as councilman. Not that Dave does things by half measures, but he may have taken it a leetle bit easier if he knew he was running uncontested

Just recently, as I've been viewing more of Graham Cooke's messages on You Tube, I came across a story he shared. To sum it up, God showed Graham how He was using his opponents to mold him. Watch the video here to get the full story:

And He whispers the proverb about iron sharpening iron. This race...His Word...living and active. A reminder that in our times of adversity, our adversary is allowed to come close to refine us and mature our faith.

"Consider it pure joy," He breathes.

He reminds me of this today as He collects my tears shed over the intensity of the spiritual battled wages within and around me.

Consider it pure joy. The testing over when the work, My masterpiece, is complete. Perseverance. Your faith matured. Lacking nothing.

the Lord knew

Earlier this year I shared a little about becoming an American citizen.

Yesterday, I voted in an election for the first time in my life. It just so happens the Lord chose this exact time for a joyful purpose...so I would have the privilege of voting for my husband to retain his spot on City Council for our ward.

Only He knew Dave would be appointed earlier this year as councilman - the same year my residency status was up for renewal. He knew I would need to choose citizenship and He whispered this to me back in August of last year.

It is with great joy that I share this you because...he won!

We found out at 4 a.m. this morning. We celebrated the Lord's will being done, regardless of the results, last night over frozen yogurt at Menchies (although we all were hoping he would be chosen to represent our Ward).

And now I'm glad we were celebrating Dave's retainment. :)

P.S. See part Part 2

it never runs out

It thundered toward our house across the scape of lawns.

"Look," says my mother-in-law.

I turn from my distraction of catching Ben in my arms and setting the table for dinner. Through our side window I saw it...the antlered deer running.

"Look, Ben," I say and move closer to the front window to catch a glimpse of his magnificence as he passes by.

Then I notice the blood.

I move to the front windows, pressing close to validate in my mind what I think my eyes are seeing, but the glass stops me. I am left with impressions in my mind of the blood on his muzzle, his wildly flicking tongue trying to stem the hurt, and his frenzied run. Trying to outrun the pain.

What I want to do is run outside, scream stop, ask him what happened and try to stop the hurt. Of course, it's a ridiculous desire. Deer can't talk and I'm no deer whisperer.

So I do the next best thing and look down the street to see if anyone is following. Someone who can explain.

But there isn't. And so I pray and I cry because it's all I can do and it doesn't seem to be enough.

As I write I wonder at what God wants to whisper in what I witnessed.

Is it about the deer, blindly trying to outrun pain. Fleeing from painful circumstances instead of coming to the One who can heal our hurts?

Or is the lack of explanation about these painful circumstances which gnaws at me? An age-old question we ask of the One who can make it all go away but sees a greater purpose in allowing it to remain. For a time.

Writing sometimes helps me untie the knots of my thinking, and though I feel no resolution, the Spirit nudges me to wonder if this message is intended for another. As I write, I have words to a song running through my mind. Words which affirm the strength and might and essence of our God. So if you are trying to outrun the pain or crying out for a Word from Him who can explain, perhaps these words are intended for you...

"[His] love...it never fails, it never gives up, it never runs out on [you]."

(And here's the song in its entirety:)

Linking with:

reap to sow: chapters 9 & 10

If you're just joining us (and we're so glad to have you along!), we're taking two chapter per week from the book, The Power of a Positive Mom: Revised Edition by Karol Ladd.

Courtney is hosting our discussion this week. Please hop on over to her blog as she reaps in contentment and gratitude - the messages of Chapters 9 &10.

(For a link to previous discussions, please click here.)

the shaping of our (homeschool) days

Restlessness always leads me to tinker. And only two months into the school year, I already was experiencing the restlessness that usually comes in March.

So I've been doing a little tinkering with our days, experimenting within the realm of unschooling. I don't think we are a 100% unschool family, but I'll take a 50/50 cut. ;)


My experiments so far have resulted in:

• Beginning with a "worship dance party" before we get ready for the day - I'm praying that this will help fill up our spirits and give us the enthusiasm we need to tackle the day's challenges
• Lingering through breakfast and pre-school day chores (I think I need to cut back on the lingering, however...it seems to push EVERYTHING to later in the day)
• Taking more time to read to the kids
• Using trips to the grocery store to teach the kids about estimating and budgeting
• An impromptu discussion on taxes and why it's important to pay them...this came about after listening to the story, "Stone Fox"
• Playing games
• A picnic and story time outside
• Hikes in the woods
• Mixing together glow-in-the-dark sidewalk chalk and drawing on the sidewalk (ftr...our street must be too brightly lit because the chalk didn't exactly glow...but it was visible)
• Using our creativity to make gifts
• Cooking
• Plus the usual workbook activities tucked in during car rides, quiet afternoons and a few concentrated seat work hours in the mornings

Oh, and, one lost shoe.


Well, it's not lost really. We know its location, but we were unable to retrieve it from the quicksand-like mud.

Plus a lesson about why we don't walk near the edge of the bank of a river.

Thankfully, it was a soft landing for Luke and he didn't get wet. He just landed in the mucky lower bank of the river...a four foot drop from the path. In the effort to get back on solid ground, his one shoe that had fallen off in the mud got buried deeper into the mire and despite my best efforts to dig with a stick, I came up empty handed.

This meant Luke had to complete the hike half-shoeless which he did uncomplainingly. It also meant our very next stop was to buy him a new pair of shoes.

P.S.
On today's hike, though we didn't lose any shoes, Ben wandered into several inches of leaf-covered stinky water. About 30 seconds after I warned the kids about the quagmire to the left of the path. I'll put that one down to his being only 2.5 years. Thankfully I had extra socks for him in the car. Next time, I think I'll be packing a small suitcase.

I believe the theme for our week was, to quote a favorite song, "On Christ this solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand..."

on the cusp

at least he can't drive...yet!

(If you haven't had a chance to check out today's Reap to Sow discussion post, here it is)


I'm so not ready for this. For my "baby" to not be a baby any more but to enter fully into little boyhood.

Admittedly, Ben has not been a baby for over a year and despite my attempts to eke it out, he is determined to grow up...and at a quicker rate than his siblings. ;)

Already he is wearing clothes that I'm certain Luke grew out of just earlier this year. He has conquered gates, all the non-locking, non-boy-proofed doors in our house and, just last night (sob), he began climbing out of his crib. This is the first time in four children that our child outgrew the crib before I did.

Brianna and Reese were put in big girl and boy beds out of necessity (the arrival of siblings!) and Luke gained that privilege when I wanted to cuddle with him during our before bedtime story.

So, before he is solidly on little boyhood ground, I'm indulging myself with capturing my favorite Ben moments here:

• Current movie favorite: Finding Nemo (or, "Memo, Memo" in Ben speak)
• Still calls all vehicles bigger than a truck, "huh-dahs." Horses are "neighs", sheep are "baas", Brianna is "Mia," Reese is "He He," Luke is "Goo-tee," Jack is "Gaa," Lauren is "Aunt Nora," Tim is "T"
• "Daddy car" is a favorite outdoor "toy"
• Loves the book "Brown Bear, Brown Bear" - either being read to or reading it himself. It was one of the thing he retrieved last night when he ventured out of his crib
• Still sucks two of his fingers when in need of comfort
• Is practicing grimacing and loudly (!) making his desires known
• Loves to join in with his sibs on recounting movie lines and telling knock knock jokes and only a parent call guess at what he's saying
• If we don't repeat back to Ben what he is trying communicate, he will repeat it until we say it back verbatim
• Likes to join us at the school table to color
• Loves to sing and dance
• Ben and I adapted the "Wheels on the Bus" song to fit with things on Daddy's car
• He can recognize when we're close to Grandpa and Nan's or Jack's house
• Loves playing hide and seek and chase, especially with B, R & L and their friends

Sigh.

I'm going to miss this time, but I know there is much to look forward to...though it still may be another month or two before the crib is gone from his room. ;)

sowing...seeds from Chapters 7 & 8 (revised)

If you're just joining us (and we're so glad to have you along!), we're taking two chapter per week from the book, The Power of a Positive Mom: Revised Edition by Karol Ladd.

On Mondays we focus on reaping: What are we gleaning, discerning from the reading?

On Fridays we focus on sowing: What actions from the Power Points can we apply in our lives in order to become more positive mothers?

(For a link to previous discussions, please click here.)

As I mentioned in Monday's post, God has been drawing me more intensely to a place of prayer. It is a season of intertwining. A living out of the vine and the branch. God, the branch vine is calling me to this place. To choose to adore, confess, thank, deposit - the choice in Chapter 8's Power Point. A vine branch, I must choose to accept this invitation. To welcome the embrace of the vine which bears the fruit wrap myself around the Branch which gives stability and the ability to sustain life.* To choose trust over worry (the choice in Chapter 7).

Our prayers themselves are the seeds. And as we drop each prayer-seed one by one in the hands of the One who purposes to see them grow - or in the case of our worries, gently crumbles them in His fingers and says "no more" - we can look forward to a bearing of fruit and a bountiful harvest in our life and the lives of those around us.

Before we close for this week, I have a seed I'd like to sow among this group. It relates to the "Do" Point in Chapter 8 - the idea of prayer partners. Would you like to see a Reap to Sow prayer group? It could be as simple as prayer request via email or connecting people with a prayer partner. Please indicate your interest in the comment section or email me. If there is interest, we can provide more specifics in the coming weeks along with guidelines (confidentiality being one of the most important).

*As you can see, I got the vine/branch analogy backwards, but thankfully, my sister pointed it out. Which is a good reminder to always refer back to the word and check it to make sure our recollections of what it says are correct (and to make sure what others are telling His Word says is correct). This is just one of the many times when God has called me up short on my assumptions about what His Word says. May He use this experience to remind me to handle His Word with greater respect and with a holy fear that these Words breathe life and are not to be tampered with.