Quality Grandpa Time...

This is the face of a boy spending quality time with his grandpa in a deer stand. Even after explaining that bow hunting equals a long time in a deer stand sitting quiet...he was still beyond excited to enjoy the day in a deer stand with his grandpa Holder. I love that face!

Organization

In case you don't know this about me, organization makes me happy...I mean REALLY happy!  Sooo, I started looking at the site Pinterest (if you haven't checked it out yet, it's a very cool site that can suck you in for long periods of time...set a time limit on how long you will spend on it otherwise time passes too quickly!).  Anyway, I saw a cookie sheet/pan organization idea that was used in a cupboard.  Genius!  I don't know about you, but I have kept mine in the stove drawer.  When I go to bake cookies, I'm certain the entire neighborhood knows about it because it's SO loud when I pull them out because I have so many flat pans in there and getting the one I want is a challenge.  Anyway, I saw the idea and my handy man hubby liked the idea as well and so we incorporated it into our "black hole" cupboard.  Do you have a giant cupboard over your fridge?  If so, you know what I mean when I say "black hole" -- things get hidden in there and sometimes never see the light of day again.  Until now...when I was able to reorganize and create a system that I love and can't wait to use!  $20 well spent -- thanks honey!!

I've also been trying to create a system that gets the family involved in picking what we will have for supper and a while back I came across a very cute magnet board idea. but in all honesty I already have 2 magnet boards that my handy hubby made me and I didn't need anything super cutesy...just practical.  So, a blank calendar template (found online), paper, laminating sheets (in my basement), magnet tape (in my cupboard), and an overhead marker helped me create my latest attempt at meal planning.  I love it! 

A Note From the Teacher...

I got an email from Josiah's music teacher today. As I read it to Josiah I started to cry a little and he asked, "Mom, why are you crying?" and I told him, "because I'm just so proud of you".

Here is the note:

I am just writing to tell you what a joy Josiah is to have in class! He comes in smiling every day and is always attentive. He adds so much to our classroom discussions and never is shy to make an educated guess. He will be receiving a special note from me tomorrow but I thought I would share with you. Thanks for “growing” a wonderful person!

Last night we had Missional Community at our house. One of the things that we discussed was why do we seek after God. I mentioned that oftentimes my motivation is simply obedience...I'm not always seeking after Him with the right motives, with a heart that's passionate, or for any reason other than to obey. In our house we talk about how "good choices have good consequences and bad choices have bad consequences", sometimes I follow after Him simply because I hope that making a good choice will have a good consequence...that's not always true, and my motivation is lacking.

Later Dan asked Josiah why does he obey US and after thinking about it for a while he said, "because I don't want to be disciplined" -- sound familiar?? Similar to my motivation to seek after God. During prayer requests, he asked for prayer that he would seek to be obedient to us because he knows that's what God calls him to do, not because he doesn't want to be disciplined. As I watch and listen to him, I'm so thankful that God allowed us the privilege of raising him. He's not perfect and like his parents, he will always have sin issues that he struggles with, but I'm thankful that his heart has a desire to seek after what God wants for him.

After reading the letter today, and crying as I read it to Josiah, we talked about how he's already choosing to obey us because that's what God calls him to. At school I can't always see him, but others do and he's a light for them even when we aren't there. We are so proud of you Josiah and I don't doubt that the Lord has great things in store for you.

There's hope...

Watching him sit so well, raise his hand and listen....well, it gives me hope that the words we say are making a difference.  Praise the Lord!!