I couldn't have said it any better

Once again, Courtney has eloquently said exactly what needs saying. . . check it out!

What is it that gets in the way?

What is it that gets in my way of following after the One True God WHOLEHEARTEDLY?   A similar question was posed in our home bible study group tonight and it had me thinking.  Someone commented that, for them, it really did mean selling most of what they had and giving their money to the poor.  We talked about how George Mueller (get his bio and read it if you haven't!) chose to give up all money in the form of a salary and/or possessions because he knew that, for him, it just got in the way.  I would dare to say that for most of us, money and "stuff" often get in the way and I'm sure I could stand to live with a LOT less than what we have but as I really asked the Lord "What gets in my way?," I knew that there was something else. . . 

As I pondered this thought this evening, I was thinking about how I LOVE to learn and LOVE to read and LOVE books (Oh, no, I thought. . . do I have to give up my books and reading?!?!). . . and then I came across this timely and insightful post by a woman who I greatly admire and who has spoken (through her written word) blessing and truth into my life many times.  Sally Clarkson, HERE, posts about what I think gets in my way all too often:  too many choices! Really, it is an incredible post, go and read it before reading further.

 I SO often allow all of these choices and how much I read about them and research them and talk about them and think through them and think about if it is the right one, and re-think through them, and ask others what they think, and on and on. . . I allow the choices to take up so much of my time that I have little time left for the actual following after God wholeheartedly.  

I mean, what would I do if I didn't have a choice of what wonderful new homeschooling curriculum I would use this year or what sports my child should play, or what author's discipline method was best in each case, or what bedding to buy for my room, or what new bible study book to read now?    I don't exactly know (which is sort of the problem!), but I think maybe I would just use a Bible to teach my child to read and maybe take a walk with my children to look at the world the Lord has made while we got some needed fresh air and exercise.  I would try to love and shepherd my child according to God's word and Christ's example, I would sleep under whatever blankets we had around, and I would spend my time reading and re-reading the only book that really matters.   I would spend less time thinking and planning and talking and more time praying and serving and listening and loving. . . 

What about you?  What is it that gets in your way?  I would love to hear from you!  Pray for me as I think about how to minimize all of the choices in my life so I might just make the one choice necessary - that I might choose as Mary chose - to sit at the feet of my Savior!

A Simple Woman's Daybook (July 21, 2008)

Whoops, I forgot to post this way back last month, but I had fun re-reading what I was up to a month ago and thought some of you might too. . . Either way, now I'll have it on my blog for posterity's sake! I have added my current updates from today (Aug. 18, 20008) in red just so we can reflect on what has happened in one short month! Fun!

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from July 21, 2008

What a fun idea - a weekly online "scrapbook/memory book". This is a weekly entry (maybe that will help me blog more!) and if you want to join in the fun, just go here and follow the directions to add your "daybook" to the growing list of participants!

Outside my window. . .

the night is dark but I can just make out the horses in the pasture just beyond our back yard. The cool breeze of the late night is blowing in the window and across my bed where I am sitting and working on my first "daybook" entry. Hmmm. . . I am doing the same thing right now only the nights have been a little warmer this week!

I am thinking. . .

about how much I miss my husband when he is away overnight and about how thankful I am for him! (Sigh) It is SO nice to have him home!

I am thankful for. . .

my amazing husband. He is an incredible man who loves and cares for me and our children as well as many others he has been called to shepherd. I think absence definitely makes the heart grow fonder! I miss him! Again, I am thankful to have him home. I am also very thankful tonight for good friends - the kind who watch your children so you can get some homeschool planning done - thanks shawna!

From the kitchen. . .

mmm! Dinner was so wonderful. Our home bible study group enjoyed grilled salmon and marinated lemon pepper chicken along with a fresh from the garden salad, crispy roasted red potatoes with rosemary and olive oil, and some soft toasted garlic bread. The fellowship was even better than the food! That was a good meal and tonight was our home bible study group again - we had MYOM: Make your own mexican: spanish rice, black beans, meat, tortillas, and all of the salad toppings. . . YUM!

I am wearing. . .

Old Navy pajama pants (light blue with big red cherries on them) and an old black t-shirt. I love those pajamas but haven't seen them lately - I think they are lost in the "laundry abyss!" LOL!

I am creating. . .

a blog entry. I know. . . it doesn't happen very often! I am currently creating some new "fall plans." I *might* blog about them soon.

I am going. . .

to enjoy a day with nothing on the agenda tomorrow except to just enjoy it with my family!

I am reading. . .

Educating the Wholehearted child (AGAIN!), Keeping our Children's Hearts, Psalms, a few blogs

I am hoping. . .

that the Lord will bless us with a baby (biological or adopted) sometime in the near future if it is His will. WHOA! I forgot that I even wrote this. Well, stand by for more on this. I will say that just today we heard something unexpected. . .

I am hearing. . .

great news from a friend that they may be bringing home a new blessing very soon: their 4th child but their first adopted child! Baby A has been home for 2 weeks now. She is a sweet little peanut and is blessing the socks off of her great family!

Around the house. . .

still settling in - needing to get rid of clutter and have that garage sale by the end of the summer. enjoying the fact that my children and I can whip the house into shape in just over an hour if we all work together. wondering how much I could grow if I used my back yard for a garden instead of for grass that is hardly ever used since my children play out front a lot.

One of my favorite things. . .

An iced vanilla latte with peppermint and whipped creme - Ahhh! (Bring me one anytime you want!)

A few plans for the rest of the week. . .

pack for our upcoming camping trip, bake some snacks and pre-prepare food for camping trip, swim lessons on Wednesday morning, laundry, pay bills before we leave on our trip, work on garage sale/decluttering, read a good book with the children, organize the medicine cabinet, find some books to take camping, go to the river with children and dog, mow the lawn Camping was great! The kids loved the ocean/beach almost as much as they liked riding their bikes around the campground with their friends! LOL!

A picture thought I am sharing. . .

sorry, no pics right now. I need to get my camera's SIM card and download some soon! I really do need to work on this! Sorry!

My new "home learning" blog

This is really going to just be a simple record of what we do in our home learning year and I am hoping it will make it a little easier to turn in our learning records to our charter school (maybe my educational facilitator can just check the blog if I can keep it updated!).  But, some of you might be interested, so here is the link.   You can also access it from the "About Me" link - under the list of "my blogs."  

Meeting Special Friends

We are so excited to meet some new friends tomorrow. . . 

For the first time since we have been home (from Liberia), our family will have the opportunity to meet another family who adopted from Liberia.  We don't really know much about them yet except that they are believers and that they also adopted a sibling group from Liberia.  How awesome it will be to see our children together!  We can't wait!

They are home!

Thank you for all of your prayers!  I haven't heard the details yet, but another group of Liberian orphans are home with their adoptive families after God worked some more incredible miracles so that they could leave Liberia.  Check out the Steps Established By Him blog (link on my sidebar) to hear more of the incredible story. 

Also, to learn how you can help Addy's Hope and Greater Love Children's Home to build a new facility that will be able to serve 100 Liberian orphans, click on the "Help Orphans" button on my sidebar and make a small donation towards the effort!

Liberian Adoptions

Please pray for Addy's Hope (the adoption ministry that helped us bring home our children) right now as they are in Liberia and hoping to bring home more children TODAY (if they are allowed out of the country).  There are a lot of "political" issues and games being played right now within the Liberian government and the adoption agencies and ministries are taking quite a beating.  You can read more here.  

However, we serve a GREAT and LOVING God who wants these children to know His love.  We know that He has a purpose and a plan for their lives and trust in His Sovereignty in all situations - be they seemingly awful or wonderfully blessed.  

Please pray for the Lord's favor for these families and children this week.  We pray for them to be allowed to leave Liberia soon and be "carried home" to their adoptive families who are waiting to pour out God's love upon them.  Pray also for the children who are left in Liberia, that they might be provided for. . . 

ask yourself how you might show the Love of God to them . . .