Tonight is a cold, wintery night.  Old Man Winter graced upstate NY with about 8 inches snow!  The weather outside may be frigid but inside, in my heart, it’s toasty warm.

Sitting here counting my blessings leaves me with a feeling of humble thanksgiving.

The man I married almost 13 years ago is still the man I love the most today.  We have made some forever memories over the years.  I am content to say that each year we grow closer together.  I couldn’t ask for a better mate in this life.

I reflect on our baby boy, Tanner, this year.  He’s almost 18 months old.  This holiday season is holding extra special moments.  His eyes lit up when we started lugging out the Christmas twinkle lights.  The “ohhhh” that kept uttering from his little mouth every time he discovered a new ornament on the tree was sweeter than any candy cane. My day is full tucking him in at night as he clings to his Tigger and gives me one last “fist bump” and smile.  His scrunched up nose, four “chicklet” teeth, and slobbery kisses are the best gifts this mommy could receive this year.

Then there’s our little man, Evan.  I could never have imagined what it’d be like to live and love a 4 (almost 5) year old boy.  What an absolute adventure!  He is smart, funny, kind, loving and full of energy.  Hearing his laugh when he tells a joke, watching him dance to “Step in Time,” think intently as he builds a block castle, and draw pictures of our family are just a few of the priceless moments in any given day with Evan.  Then there are the five costume changes per day, him begging for my ski helmet and goggles to wear, plopping his skinny feet into the “moon boots” he adores and riding around on his much-too-small tricycle (in our kitchen).  And homeschooling him is just another highlight.  I couldn’t never have anticipated the pride and joy I’d feel teaching him to read and write, think through a question or quietly pray with him.

Seeing the relationship between our two boys is extraordinary.  I had no idea it would be this fascinating to witness.  As their parents, we are there to encourage them in their relationship with one another and I know that will continue over the years.  But I also see such a natural love and protection they have for one another.  One that mom and dad doesn’t have to foster.  It’s just there.  It’s precious.

Along with each other, we have the love of those around us.  We are surrounded by a caring and loving extended family and also a warm-hearted church family.  All of these things make for a very plenteous life and I am so grateful.

God has been better to me than I ever could have been to myself.  I feel His goodness and faithfulness every day.  My family is together, healthy and happy.  I want for nothing this holiday season.  I am blessed with eternal goodness. The best one of all is love.

Be blessed this holiday season! I pray you and yours feel the love of family and friends and, most importantly, the love of God.

Merry Christmas!

This award-winning movie was made by 40 homeschooled students.  It’s a movie based on moral character and that’s always a good thing.  I’m looking forward to watching it.

http://www.comewhatmaythemovie.com

I love books.  I love to read them for myself, but I think I enjoy researching new books for my children even more.  I become giddy when I pack my library tote chock full of great reads.  I find such pleasure in watching the little eyes sparkle as we read a new story. The wheels turn…relationships are being made through our books.  Acting out the stories, reading them time after time after time per my oldest son’s request.  Discussions about the characters and why things happened.  Nothing like it.

Our latest find is a very heartwarming tale about three trees who have their own ideas of what they want to become.  But someone had other plans for them, humble plans, that proved to be bigger than anything they could have imagined for themselves. That’s just like God, isn’t it?  We might have our own ideas of what we will be one day, but God’s plan for our lives are often much bigger than we realize.

Read it.  It’s a wonderful story.

The Tale of Three Trees, a Traditional Folktale retold by Angela Elwell Hunt

These Golden Rods caught my eye yesterday while driving and I had to stop and snap a picture.  It provided good reflection.  It’s easy to “drive by” sometimes and not notice the beauty around us in full bloom.  In keeping ourselves in practice of noticing the “flora” in whatever season of life we find ourselves in, we soon realize there is something always in bloom.  Even in the winter, something is growing underneath all of that icy cold.  To everything there is a season…

Blooming Golden Rods

In the book of Ecclesiastes, the writer talks about the futility of chasing after even the good things in this life including wisdom, work, pleasure and wealth.  Such things may be satisfying for a time but death is certain to end this satisfaction.  All is vanity.  What does a man gain by all the toil?  The sun rises, the wind blows, the streams run to the sea.  The eye is not satisfied, the ear is not filled with hearing.  What has been will be.  There is nothing new under the sun.  It has been already in the ages before us.  All is vanity and a striving after wind.

Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. For when dreams increase and words grow many, there is vanity; but God is the one you must fear.

Everyone also to whom God has given wealth and possessions and power to enjoy them (power to enjoy them!  Even that comes from Him), and to accept his lot and rejoice in his toil-this is the gift of God.  For he will not much remember the days of his life because God keeps him occupied with joy in his heart.

The Word is such a delicious feast!  I want more.

Are your motives uplifting and only with the best intent?

Are your questions asked to others all in the name of gaining “the scoop” or do you really care?

What guides your speech, your actions? Is the motive pure?

What reaction do you want when you speak about others or repeat something you’ve seen or heard?

There are only two people who can see into a person’s heart…yourself and God. Be honest. Let your heart’s motives be pure and only for the good of others in mind. It’s a good thing indeed.

This morning I sat with three wonderful ladies who have, are, and want to homeschool their children. I enjoyed this time together so much. We discussed the philosphy of the late educator, Charlotte Mason. We’ve got a “resident homeschooler” in this mix of ladies and she is such an encouragement to us “newbies.” We talked of our desires for our children and how to go about using the CM method to accomplish that. It’s so much more than simply giving your child an education. SO MUCH MORE. I left our meeting feeling refreshed and renewed in my mind and spirit. I’m excited for what is to come for us as a family. I’m so thankful to be at this point in my life right now, here, surrounded by these people. Wow. God is always with us and that is just awesome.

This story touched my heart today. Take the time to view this video. You won’t regret it. It’s proof that we can find joy in this life no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in. God is always with us.

http://www.oprah.com/media/20081001_tows_99balloons#

Who’s report will you believe? I’ll believe the report of the Lord no matter what something says on paper. My God is able to do anything and He has. I’m praising Him today for a good report and His loving kindness. It’s better than life!

Our breakfast scripture reading today was this:

“Behold, how good and plesant it is when brothers dwell in unity. It is like the precious oil on the head, running down on the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down on the collar of his robes! It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion! For there the Lord has commanded the blessing, life forevermore.” Psalm 133

The part of this portion of scripture that I keep thinking about today is how unity is like precious oil. Oil is one of those substances that doesn’t clean up too easily. It leaves a residue.

Our unity in the Body of Christ should be like oil. When there is unity amongst the brethen, hard times in the Body won’t wash away the oil. Unity’s residue lingers. Oil is a thick substance. Water doesn’t pass through it easily. We as members of the Body ought to have a thickness to our spirits where the watered down words of the foolish doesn’t wash away the residue of our unity.

Taking the feelings of others into consideration when we speak and act. Trying our best to see to it that our brothers and sisters in Christ are loved and feel wanted and belong. And not just a few, those we “click” with, but as many as we can. Looking differently at the God-given differences of those around us. Seeing these differences for the gifts, talents and abilities that they truly are, not ways to measure one another. Having the maturity to see that everyone is different in the Body and each person has their own purpose. Coming alongside one another and be an encouragement. Not seeing someone else’s gifts or talents as a threat.

The unity the scripture speaks of can come to pass if we let the Spirit be our guide and not our flesh. Putting our thoughts into the obedience of Christ daily and seeking first His kingdom. It’s a daily journey. It’s changing our habits of thinking and doing. Striving to do our very best on this earth with the little bit of time we do have.

When this type of unity is a reality…we’ll have life forevermore.