If 2018 Stunk

Christmas break has been very refreshing.  I'm finding myself with a healthier perspective.  Mama needs a break every now and then!

I realize that not everyone has wonderful holidays.  We're staring 2019 in the face and perhaps you're not feeling like the virtuous woman of Proverbs 31; their ain't no smiling at the days ahead. 

Maybe 2018 really stunk.

In my journey through Psalms, I found this plea:

"...Please hurry to my aid, O God..."

Evidently, there's nothing sinful about asking God to hurry up and help.  Maybe that's your prayer going into 2019.

Turning to Him afresh as your Helper and Savior and asking Him not to delay might just be the prayer your heart must utter. 

His nearness can make staring at 2019 no longer something to dread.

Dominique

Psalm 70:5

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

May All...

"But may all who search for you

be filled with joy and gladness in you..."

Psalm 70:4

I'm inching through Psalms, enjoying the honesty of the writer and the presence of God in this raw book.  I found this gem the other day and later realized that it had some cool Christmas implications. 

The shepherds and wise men doggedly searched and searched for Jesus, the King.  At the end of their search, surely they were filled with joy and gladness over this small King. 

I wonder what their lives were like after they found Him.  Though I've never been a fan of fiction set in Biblical times, I can certainly see why people write it.  I imagine how the shepherds' and wise men's lives changed afterward. 

Perhaps they excitedly spread the word to anyone who would listen.  Perhaps they talked of their miraculous story over their meals.  Perhaps they spoke with starry eyed wonder to their children during the dusky hours of the day.  Perhaps frantic ways gave way to peaceful countenances.  Perhaps they turned those days of stubborn perseverance over and over in their mind, marveling at the outcome of it.

This promise remains true for us today.  If we search for Him, we will be filled with joy and gladness in Him. 

Seeking Him is a lifelong pursuit that never lets up or gets old.  

That joy and gladness in Him is worth the perseverance and the single-minded focus.

Dominique

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

A New Project

I've been trying my hand at a little glass-etching.  

I used our Ladies' Bible Study's mug exchange as an excuse.  

I'm pretty pleased at my amateur results!

Tis the Season to Wish You

Merry Christmas from our family to yours!

May God draw you closer to Himself this year.

Dominique

Fellowship and Handicrafts

A friend of mine found out about a new knitters' workshop in our area.  She's an expert crochet craftswoman and we both like to learn new handicrafts.  We left our young 'uns in their Daddy's care, crammed down lunch at McDonald's and headed there.

Despite my GPS fear, we arrived at the correct destination in plenty of time. 

I think God must have directed our steps into the circle with the best teacher, because we both were able to walk away from our session feeling well prepared to dive into the rest of our project - a pair of fingerless mitts. 

What I loved most in the afternoon was the fellowship.  We talked about EVERYTHING.  We laughed.  We encouraged.  We had compassion on each other.  We shared heartfelt thoughts.  We learned about one another.  

And, because we were together, we didn't get discouraged when we had to ask for help numerous times.  

Now, I'm enjoying this venture into a new handicraft.  

I'm so excited that mitt #2 is in progress!  

Friend, snag a friend and try something new.  There's big time fellowship to be had over handiwork.

Dominique

Teaching Them... Everything

During this year's annual dog treat baking extravaganza, I focused more time and energy on making sure the younger Blossoms knew their way around the kitchen.  You can see a snapshot of that here.

I really want to make sure they aren't getting lost in the shuffle of giving tasks to the girlies that already have them mastered.  Above, though it would have been easier to have Blossom1 and Blossom2 sew the catnip sachets, the little Blossoms were so happy to work on their part of the girlie business.  

A large part of parenting and our educational philosophy is me/us simply remembering to teach all of them everything.  

Next up on my list, teaching them ALL how to wrap presents neatly and properly. 

Dominique

Not Getting Away

Sometimes the answer isn't getting away from your kids,

Sometimes the answer is getting outside with your kids.

Or so the Rugged Mountain Man has always told me.

Zero In

Today, I am thankful that I can be the one to say, "No, you can't do your reading with your sunglasses on... but the crown is fine."

There are other things that I'm thankful for lately too.  We have loads of Christmas festivities going on.  They've all gone well and we are enjoying the season with family and friends around. 

Christmas movies with cousins, tea with family and friends, welcoming Daddy home from the cabin...

Bowling with my brother, niece and nephew after a Bible Quiz match was a great way to spend a winter afternoon.  Aren't our feet just stylin?  I wish I could say I beat my teenage nephew.  Apparently I have only two modes - strike or gutter ball.  Not a thing in between!

Going to the ballet is a favorite winter activity that is sometimes coordinated with a Blossom birthday.  We've been wanting to see Nutcracker ballet for SO LONG.  December is the time to do it!

Imagine our delight in a show that was exquisite and music that was ethereal!  Getting to see a few friends dancing on the big stage too?  That was fantastic!

I was pleased that they all behaved very well during the performance.  Two plus hours is a long time for a five year old to sit very quietly. 

Afterward, we dashed off to the church Christmas party.  There was laughter and praying and smiles and hugs.  I'm still hungry for second and third helpings of that Buffalo chicken dip.

In a time of hustle and bustle, I'm choosing to zero in on the blessings.  Contentment only grows that way.

Dominique

Another Moment

Another moment in the mess lately has been Christmas card making:

Sure the dining room is littered with my "favorite" annoyance - paper scraps - but all the crafting and the concentration and the creativity is swell.  I'm trying to stay focused on that instead.

Contentment seems to be found in focusing on the blessings I choose to see.

Moments in the Mess

Motherhood is often very full of mundane and messy moments.  

Messes mess with me, so I've been endeavoring to pick out the moments of blessings amongst it all.  

Here's one for you.  In this noisy household, I adore hearing Blossom1, Blossom2 and Blossom3 playing Christmas music.  

It's something the Rugged Mountain Man and I have been looking forward to for a long time.  When I hear those festive melodies, I smile.

Friday Lessons

While this week still feels a little too fresh to glean the lessons from, I need to do it.  I probably needed an attitude adjustment on more than one occasion over the last few days. 

When Daddy's away for hunting, things are harder and that is the truth.  We did try to make the best of it though. 

Lessons I've learned this week:

Quality time with the Blossoms is worth it, even when I'm fighting to smile through it. 

Blossom3 and Blossom4 were thankful for something as simple as baking a batch of cookies together.  In the end, it was so worth the mess. 

Early to bed, early to rise is best. 

Benjamin Franklin is still right.  This is something we generally do, but the holiday late nights were creeping in already and it hasn't really been great for us.  I'm glad that we're trending back to our consistent bedtime. 

Crankiness begets crankiness. 

If mama was struggling with her attitude, it's safe to assume that almost every body else fed off that bad attitude.  I'm not saying I've figured out how to stop the cycle, but there were times we needed a real reset this week.  Recognizing that mama is a human, just like all the little humans is humbling.  I'm pretty sure they already know mama isn't perfect though. 

Don't be so easily offended!

Why is it that when we're in need of an attitude adjustment, it seems that everything anyone else says or does is meant as an insult?  It's not!  Recognizing that is good for me.  I want to abound in forgiveness so "slights" roll of my back!

Looking at the end of this week, I'm thankful for another chance to grow, 

another chance to change, another chance to show love to my family in every day life. 

Dominique

Pics are from a favorite hiking and hunting spot; one that boasts working beaver dams!

Lookin' Festive, Learning Fully

It's beginning to look a little festive around here.  

With a busy and Christmasy week, the girls and I really had to work together to keep things running smoothly.  

I was constantly thinking ahead to the next thing and planning out what they could do to help and get ready.  

We as parents can't feel guilty for making our kids help.  

This is how they learn to serve each other.  

This is how they learn to be a part of a team.  

This is how they learn to obey.  

This is how they learn the value of work.  

And I can't do it all.  Neither can you, but I'm sure you've already figured that out.

I'm finding that what makes this principle successful, is letting go of perfection.  

Man, that can be tough.

Whatever I hand off to the Blossoms today, isn't going to look like I did it, but they'll learn something from it - whether it be a life skill or a character trait.  

That's what I'm going for.  

Dominique