Grains of Sand

Got this for Christmas Life of a procrastinator. :)

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the one who takes refuge in him. Fear the Lord, you his holy people, for those who fear him lack nothing. The lions may grow weak and hungry, but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing. ~Psalm 34:8-10 I'm eliminating a few things from my day that are a complete waste of time.  To do this well, I need to replace these things with something else.  I'm replacing them with Jesus.  Especially this verse.

Patrick and I went snowshoeing on Saturday and breathed in the fresh air.  We enjoyed the quiet hush that surrounds you after a freshly fallen snow.  The snow was perfect for building a snowman too. Thankful for quiet time together. He can't resist throwing a few snowballs.   The tree answered by dumping a bunch of snow down his back.

When our kids are young, we strive to put food on the table, have clean clothes folded and put away for them to wear and a love-filled safe space they can enjoy.  This may leave little to no time for us to pamper ourselves. As I was washing dishes yet again, I had the thought that I would treat myself to a manicure afterwards since the warm soapy water will soften my cuticles and make them easier to push back. (Sitting in a clean kitchen, doing my nails!  What could be better?)  Then my mind raced on thinking about all the chores I could treat myself to.  Yes, I just said that. Do you want an inexpensive manicure?  Do some dishes.  How about a little soak in the tub?  Pick a time when the kids are napping, pop in the bathroom and give the tub a quick scrubbing.  When it's clean, fill it with water and bubble bath and enjoy.  Even 15 minutes can do wonders for a weary body.  Do you have a book you've been wanting to 'read'?  ...

I have two devotionals that I read in the morning.  Both written on different topics and yet today the message was the same in both.  Hope.  Both books asked the question: What do you place your hope in?  The question is followed by the statement: Whatever it is will be your guide in life.  I had to ponder that for a minute.  Wherever I place my hope, that will be my guide in life. Hmmm, I often say, "I hope..... "  I hope you do well on that test.  I hope your day goes well.  I hope you get that job.  I hope you find what you are looking for.  I hope you feel better.  I hope my son will get through this season of fear and anxiety.  I hope I lose some weight.  I hope my daughter will make good friends.  I hope we win the softball game.  The list goes on and on.  But what if what I hope for doesn't happen? Then what?  What is my response if that job goes to someone else?  If I don't l...

Meet Carl. Carl's party trick is melting. Carl is a melting snowman that Aunt Patti brought to our family Christmas gathering. Under the watchful eye of my mother-in-law and myself, Carl transformed. from snowman into hot chocolate.... complete with marshmallows to enjoy with our hot chocolate. Thanks for your sacrifice Carl.  You were delicious.

Recently I was searching creative parenting ideas.  A few days later this popped up on Pinterest. I chuckled out loud. This about sums it up for me and my parenting experiences over the last year or so. To say it's been a rough ride is an understatement. I am battered and bruised and still have sore muscles from the journey. Parenting is not for the faint of heart. I wish I could tell you that I see a silver lining, but I am still surrounded by a thick fog. I am in the thick of parenting a child with anxieties I don't understand. I have a high school graduate that is unsure of his future and doesn't seem to be motivated to take a step in any direction. I am trying to get to the heart of an argumentative child and am only finding myself wanting to argue too. And the list goes on. I feel powerless and underwater and near to tears at any given moment. I have been crying out to God for help for so long my voice is hoarse. And then, I had a brief conversat...

For Today... January 13, 2020 Looking out my window...  snow blankets the ground and the sky is a soft gray. I am thinking...  of Milo.  He is at the vet getting a cracked tooth removed and his teeth cleaned. I am thankful...  for the dishwasher, laundry machine, refrigerator and stove!  So thankful to have all these working so I don't have too. One of my favorite things...  relaxing with a cup of coffee in the company of my husband. I am creating... signs for a tea party. I am wearing... earrings given to me by my grandmother, a black turtleneck sweater, blue jeans and plaid sneakers. I am watching ... Victorian Farm .   A BBC documentary series following a team who live the life of Victorian farmers for a year.  Pretty interesting and one of the reasons I am SO thankful for all my appliances.  I found it on YouTube.com I am hoping... the dinner fairy will come and whisper ideas in my ear for dinn...

Day 12 // In the Air I was out shoveling some weeks ago when I heard the whoosh of a hot air balloon burner and saw this in the air. Using the January prompts from Fat Mum Slim .