whatcha thinkin about?

I had a hard time sleeping last night.  I just couldn't shut my mind off.  It's easy to get caught thinking about things that just don't do me any good.  Anyone got some worry?  fear?  uncertainty?  indecision?  If so, you know what I'm talking about.  Later  I was reminded that what I think about can change my day. or my week, or my life.  "Will I meditate on His Word or my worries?"   Ann Voskamp from Holy Experience posted about the importance of memorizing scripture.  She has a yearly memorization plan set up for memorizing the Sermon on the Mount from Matthew in 2012.  (Matthew 5, 6 & 7 - 2-3 verses a week)

Last year I committed the book of Colossians to memory by following her dated plan.  I carried my little memorization booklet with me just about everywhere I went.  Some weeks I doubled up, some weeks I played catch up.  As my memory book became stained, so did my heart....God used His word to do some amazing things.

* Colossians became my book....whenever I would hear a reference from Colossians or read a verse from Colossians, I was like..."hey that's my verse, I know that verse!" When you wrestle with something long enough, it becomes yours.

* I  grasped those committed verses in a more meaningful way because I had to learn them...and remember them, so I tied them into previous verses and thought about what they meant and somewhere along the way they got deep into my heart and anchored themselves there.

*I found myself less focused on my stuff and more focused on the Word.  Heck, I had to be in order to get it memorized.  And that was good, because God's word is so much better than my stuff...my worries...my off target wanderings.

* Scriptures from other passages seemed more familiar and tied together more easily after I'd connect them with something I'd learned in Colossians.  God's word really is amazingly intertwined and affirming.

...so I'm really excited to be committing another year to learning another section of scripture.  I know it's going to be hard....the good things always are.  But I know the beauty that comes from having the Word hidden in my heart and I'm ready to get some new thinking embroidered into this heart of mine....

...just a couple of weeks without memory detail has shown me how easily I can get caught thinking about things that do me no good at all.  So, whatcha thinking about?  Feel free to join me (and many others) as we commit God's Word to our thoughts, our hearts and our lives....you won't regret it!

to read more about the plan and the making of the booklet click here.

*** don't feel like it's too late to start...join in any time.  I'm starting a couple of weeks behind, but that's OK...you're never behind when you're committing His word to your heart.

10!

My youngest turned 10 today!  I can hardly believe it....I know, all moms say that don't we?  These past 10 years have been a blur of blessings....he's such a great kid!  He's creative, funny and helpful.  He makes me smile and brings joy to all of us....what a wonderful blessing he has been in our lives!

We're celebrating pretty low key today and have plans in the works for a 'friend' birthday party.  I realized that I just don't have the gumption to try and pull off an at home party for a bunch of boys (I'm not that brave)....we're hoping to hit the gym next weekend and wear them out with some basketball!  In the meantime, he's requested chicken enchiladas for dinner and he'll open presents after basketball practice tonight.

Back before Christmas, I made a celebration banner and his is the inaugural birthday for using it!  I followed   Jodi's tutorial and it turned out fabulously.  I used some store bought bias tape for the string.

It was the first thing John Samuel noticed when he got up this morning.  (see, I told you he's a pretty special kid!)   I've been wanting one for a while and now we'll have one to use for all the family celebrations!  Our birthday wreath is also proudly on display so that everyone knows there's a birthday to celebrate.

 We're taking it lightly with school today...another benefit of homeschooling (at least in the elementary years...your mom can take away some subjects for you on your birthday!)  Hope your days are full of celebrations as well!

clean slate

I spent some time last week cleaning out my craft room studio.  The word studio makes me laugh...it's really just a spare bedroom turned into a work space for me and my crafting tendencies.  It also doubles as a guest room, holder of all secret presents, winter home for plants and a laundry drying area.  I guess I come by the need for a creative space honestly, as my mom always had a craft space when I was growing up.  Her space is a closet that she turned into a sewing room.  She has a counter, shelves, filing space and a board for inspiration.  She doesn't sew as much as she used to, but she can still sew circles around me.

(all fresh and clean)

Anyways, back to my clean space.  I purged and reorganized and made room for my computer back on my desk.  I didn't do any major furniture moving, but a few simple shifts and the entire space feels new to me.  Isn't it funny how a couple of little tweaks can make all the difference?  Before I had space issues when I sewed and now just moving the bookshelf down a few feet has opened up much more room for me to sew or scrapbook or blog.

 (before the reorganization)

I've also been working on my project 365 scrapbook for 2011.  All the photos are taken (one for each day of the year), printed and slipped into their spots.  Now, I'm just working on writing out the journaling cards.  Stink...if I'd just done it a little bit all year long, I'd be done.  But I do have to say, I'm enjoying the detailed look back at the year.  Writing out the cards and looking back over the photos reminds me of all the blessings that 2011 contained.  This is my 3rd year of doing 365.  You can see my flickr photos here, here and here.

For 2012, I'm planning to revamp my approach to project 365.  I'm taking photos as usual, just organizing them a bit differently.  Instead of doing weekly spreads, I'm planning on doing thematic spreads.  For example, one will focus on John Samuel's basketball, one on a week in the life of our homeschool, one on  vacation....you get the idea.  It'll allow me a bit more freedom with pictures and hopefully the new approach will re-energize me with my photography.  I found myself waning at the end of last year.

That's all that's going on here if you don't count school and basketball....We're dribbling our way through the winter....we had 7 games this week.  (it's not hard with 3 players and one coach under the same roof).  Hope all is going well with you and your family...any reorganizing going on at your house?

goodness sakes

I can't believe it is 10 days into the new year already!  I took a little break from the blogosphere over the holidays and the next thing I know it's mid-January! We started back to school this week, so last week was spent putting away the Christmas stuff, cleaning the house and reorganizing for the new year.

Don't you love the gift of a new year?  I was thinking back over last year and all the intentions I had at the beginning of it...how some of them have become habit and some of them are going back on my list for this year.  But that's ok...I'm not beating myself up over the little things that didn't happen because a lot did happen!  I memorized the entire book of Colossians, I read over 25 books, I learned to lean hard on the Lord during the tough times, I was given ample opportunities to forgive and be forgiven and I stockpiled blessings as I gathered my 1,000+ gifts. 

 I love how every year brings with it new growth, unexpected changes and endless opportunities.  But I am only able to love those things because I know that the Lord is working all things for my good. (Romans 8:28) The ability to look back allows me to see areas that need refining (or in some cases blasting) and in turn I can see buds of new growth in places where there was nothing before.  God is so good and I'm so thankful that at the start of this year, He promises to be just as faithful as He was last year!  

"Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lamentations " 3:21-23

I hope your new year is already off to an excellent start and that you're able to savor the blessings that come your way in 2012 and that you discover growth and new opportunities amidst the challenges that the year brings as well!  Happy New Year Friends!