A humbling task...

Teaching simple but very profound Truths to little hearts who are watching, learning, growing....It's a privilege, it is a huge responsibility....to be entrusted with little souls....little ones who have questions and seek answers....children who need a godly example....that alone makes this mom cringe when she realizes how weak she is, what a sinner she is....four children watching, following....taking note of her every action....trying to make sense out of little disappointments and frustrations that come in to their life, but that are not little to them....what a large and humbling task....one that can not be done efficiently in this moms own strength...can only be done with the strength of the Lord...seeking His face....asking for wisdom, daily, moment-by-moment....trusting...praying...crying out to Him....silently pleading for His grace, His help.....realizing that these children need to see Jesus in me....

My little 'shepherd' boy!

Caedmon was to dress as a little shepherd boy for the Christmas program at his school.  Then the group of classmates sang a Christmas song together.  Here he is in the typical shepherd uniform that can be rented for the day here in Loja!  Isn't he so cute?!

My four little blessings

My heart is so full when I look at these four blessings.  I am truly blessed!

Happy 10th Birthday, Hudson!

Hudson - our precious 10 year old!

Opening his cards from his grandparents

I just love that smile!

He asked for No-Bakes for his birthday dessert!  Does it get any easier than that?!

"Take a bite of the "cake" "

Hudson turned 10 the last day of November and we just celebrated as a family this past weekend!  Hudson is a joy!  We are so privileged to have such a sweet boy for our firstborn.  We pray that he will love the Lord all of His days and that he will continue to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in his life as he is now.  We love you, Hudson!  Happy 10th Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Chaz!

Happy Birthday, Chaz!  Thank you for being a wonderful husband and father!  I am so thankful that God has allowed me to be your wife - it is a joy and privilege.  Have a wonderful birthday! 

Quality Time

We all have 24 hours in every single day

TWENTY FOUR

If we choose to sleep for eight hours each night to get the necessary sleep for our bodies to function properly, it leaves us with

24-9 = 15

FIFTEEN HOURS 

to accomplish all the other given things that must be accomplished within our days.

I can  not be sure of what YOU must do doing your days, but if you are anything like me, the list is quite long and sometimes daunting.  Besides spending time in prayer and the Word, there is 

exercising to be done

mouths to feed

meals to make

chores to accomplish

Bible studies to prepare and teach

Lessons for Kid's classes to prepare

visitation

contacts to make

etc

etc

etc

the list could continue and it sure does not take long to watch the other 15 hours pass by so quickly and rapidly that I can look back at the day and think, "Oh I should have done this or that."

One thing that I must put into my day is QUALITY TIME with those in my family.  This would include my wonderful husband, Chaz and my four children, Hudson, Davis, Caedmon and Gabiella.

What exactly is QUALITY TIME?  We have all heard the phase used before but what exactly does it mean?

Well, according to good old Answers.com the definition is.....

"Time during which one focuses on or dedicates oneself to a person or activity: "When you decide to turn on the TV, you decide ... not to spend quality time with your family" (Steve Tschirhart)."

I must make a concerted effort to spend this time with each one of those in my family, dedicating myself to just that ONE individual, making them feel loved and appreciated.  To some, it will mean the world.  To others, maybe it won't mean quite as much, but it sure can't hurt.  

The time spent with our loved ones should be valued!

Just the other day this boy

asked if he could help me in the kitchen.  To be honest with you, my first thought was "I could get this all done SO much faster without his help."  But with a big smile on my face I said, "Sure, Davis, come on in."  

And boy, am I glad I did.  
You want to know what?  

It was precious.

It was fun.

It was delightful.

I learned more about my son that day.

We laughed together.

Talked together.

Spent QUALITY TIME together.

And I am different because of it and I pray he is too.

As he left that kitchen that afternoon, as he rushed out.  He stopped on his heels, turned around, looked at me with those precious blue eyes and said my favorite three or four words.

"I LOVE YOU, MOM!"

Aww, my heart melted.  

I love that kid.  

And so a few day's later when Gabriella asked the same.

What did I do?

You got that right.

And I need to make this a regular part of my days.....time is fleeting....I only have these people for a while!

So, are you spending QUALITY time with those you love, or are they getting the leftovers?

I am linked up at here

and here

Blessed beyond measure....

I have so much to be thankful for.  I am really trying to focus on the beauty around me every day and the little gifts that are given by the hand of God.  He is always at work around me, but sometimes in the hecticness of life it is very easy to lose sight of all the many little things that He does or gives to us so that we might glorify Him and give Him praise.  I am trying to teach my children to give thanks....for God has truly given us so much more than we deserve. I want my children to see the little things around them as being gifts from an extremely gracious God.  

So the list continues....

61.  listening to the rain outside the window

62.  the smell after it rains

63.  time spent with my parents

64.  food to eat when we are hungry

65.  clean water

66.  healthy kids...who like to be together : )

67.  good health

68.  a husband who loves God and desires to serve Him

69. an exciting ministry

70.  a forgiving and patient God

God is ever good to us!  He is so worthy of our praise.  I am so thankful I can even go into His presence and recognize it is only because of Jesus Christ.  

The Word of God

"For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart."  Hebrews 4:12

"All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work."

II Timothy 3:16

I am so thankful for the Word of God.  I am so thankful that God has preserved His Word so that we can have a guide today.  

Are you spending time in the Word each day?  

What good devotional books are you reading? 

Let's be women of the WORD!

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