the weight of opinion

Ever felt like you had to defend yourself to someone? A choice you made, an outfit you wore, a way of life. A child's upbringing, your 'social status', a church move, your spending habits. Seems that everyone has an opinion to offer up, but what about the unspoken opinion? The opinion that doesn't use words. The opinion that uses a shrug, a huff, a silent pause, a frowny text face, a nervous laugh. 

And we fall for it. The need to defend. It creeps up on us. Like a wet blanket right over our shoulders. It weights us down and makes us say things. Things like, 'it's more economical' or 'it's all I had' or 'it just didn't work' or 'it's what my mom did'.  

Why do we do that? Why do we let opinion weigh us down? Why do we feel the need to defend? Why do we think our thinking and decisions and upbringings are not enough? Because that's what we say when we speak from under that wet blanket. We say, loud and clear, it's not enough. We say, I need that weight! Your opinion matters! Wait. What? Since when do we need someone else to make choices for us? Since when do we need a 'gallery' weighing in on our decision making? Since when do we need a filter of opinion for the Spirit?

Gods word says that every weight that so easily entangles can be thrown off. Every entangling sin that would cause us to lose this great race. When we allow the burden of opinion to start weighing on us it affects our choices. Our decision to choose this or that. Our ability to hear clearly from the Spirit. It affects those tiny choices that should bring pleasure and yet, somehow, bring confusion and later on paralysis. If this cycle of wearing the weight of opinion continues, we will make no decisions without that comfy blamket to 'weigh in'.  

I don't know about you, but that weight is one I don't have the strength to bear. Christ has freed me from the entanglement of sin and wearing that wet blanket is like picking up my sin from the foot of the cross and throwing it on again! Gross! Forgive me Jesus! Forgive me for allowing the weight of opinion to matter more to me than the promises in your word. You are all I need. It's your opinion of me alone that matters. You call me your daughter, your beloved, your righteousness.

You call me free. Indeed. Unshackled. Unfettered. Without weights.

So, the next time you want to open your mouth with a polite way to defend your decision, don't. Let God be your defender. Stand tall and allow the righteousness of Christ within you to shine forth like the dawn.

Mornings

Mornings I like best. The quiet of the predawn stillness, the comfort of my bedside slippers, the routine of grinding those much-needed beans of coffee and the reading of the Word and other great books. But the part I enjoy, no savor, the most is the sleepy twitter that comes from the second bedroom on the left. My girls' room. You see they are teenagers now and share a room. This is because we have downsized a great deal from 2800 square ft to 900. Yikes! But necessary. I love their twittering because they have become each other's best friend. They share jokes and funny stories, stuff they've read and experienced and dreams they hope to fulfill in their futures and it all makes a wonderful twitter that I am savoring. Yes, savoring. For I know this twittering has an expiration date. A very close one at that. When the girls were younger, babies even, I would sit and long for them to pass quickly through the tough stage they were in just so I could get some relief, but all that longing has turned them into teenagers and now I am putting the brakes on their development by savoring each and every moment. Life around this home has finally come to a normal pace and we have learned to be thankful for each experience. Oh, and no more wishful, "please let this pass quickly" prayers. Not matter how tough the stage is. 

So yes, morning quietness, darkness, coffeeness, and twittering are my joys. Thank you Lord, for each day brings new mercies and new sights, sounds and pleasures to enjoy. 

This is the day The Lord has made and I will rejoice and be glad in it. 

A Challenge

Well, after ignoring this blog for almost a year, I decided to connect it with a challenge. The #Hellomornings Winter Challenge It's a period of 12 weeks that you set aside for getting up early, reading God's word, preparing for your day, exercising and whatever else the Lord leads you to do. All before your family rises, so you can greet them instead of be woken up by them.  This allows you to set the tone for your day and set the mood for the home.

I participated in this last year and it's time for another one. I loved the accountability and all that I accomplished and the amount of growth I experienced, just me and the Lord.

In Katie's 15 Transformational Tips for the Night Owl, she suggested we find a "why" for our participation.

My WHY: I know the value of getting up early to pray, study, plan and stretch but I need accountability beyond my husband :) I see that I am a more settled and focused mamma when I am prepared for my family. I notice that I am more responsive to their needs and desires if I have taken care of my needs first. My brain functions better when I have put a few hours of quiet time between me and the girls' alarm clock :)

So, that's my WHY...

HelloMornings, again.

i tried...

well, it seems as if my intentions of keeping up on this blog has failed...yet again. i haven't found a real reason to post on this site yet and am trying to find a fresh reason to start this year. is it for homeschool? life as a mom? a spiritual encouragement site? a detour from a FaceBook account? what? i have no idea.  all i know is, time has gotten away from me and so much has happened that i cannot remember it all.

i guess i should go back to the real reason i started this blog. to remember the bits and pieces of my life. those bits that make me smile and wish i could sustain for a little longer. those bits that i wish would go away quickly because they are too painful. those bits i wish i could take back and re-do. those bits that i am proud of and want to pass on to my children and grandchildren...

so....where do i go from here?  one day at a time, i guess. be patient with me as i make new goals and start fresh. with bits of this and that. pieces of everyday.

Bits and Pieces...

This is a test to see if my phone is smart:)

a new look

I have decided to be more dedicated in keeping this site updated. after all, this was supposed to be my "online journal/scrapbook".  well, as you can see, scrapbooking and journaling have taken a back seat to the everyday, in your immediate world stuff like homeschooling, laundry and "what's on the floor?" this year has brought many changes and wonderful surprises. we have moved, started new projects and almost come to the end of another school year. the last middle school year for our oldest, Devan. don't know how I feel about that yet. Steve has his Jeep in the shop again for an overhaul. switching over to a fuel injected Dodge something or other....yeah. He completed his last, yes last year of coaching Lacrosse (that was one of those changes) after a so/so season.  In the works for the summer are: Ellensburg trip in August, light schooling after the 4th of July, homemade goodies that involve sewing and handcrafts (yep, you heard it correctly. I am doing sewing and crafty things instead of scrapbooking now) and just plain enjoying the summer. if we ever get a summer.  well, that's pretty much it for the time being. i have to get more flowers done for The Farm Chicks Show in June in Spokane. http://www.thefarmchicks.com/ Check it out! Look under Antiques Show. I will be helping Wendi at http://www.trendiwendi.com/ man her booth for the weekend. also, I have been recruited to drive her Toyota with the trailer....hmmm, now how did that happen?...not quite sure, but apparently I have skills that even I am unaware of! Ha!  Well, back to those flowers...

christmas 2009

this is our proof sheet of family pictures taken by me with the tripod. first time i have done this. pretty fun. wish it wasnt 32 degrees out so i could play around some more! oh well. next time.

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas

vacation 2009

This was our trip to Astoria this August.
It included a convention in bothell for our homeschool, a stay at Astoria/Seaside KOA, and a stay in Cannon Beach.
We took the girls to Gearhart where we honeymooned 15 years ago and up the Astoria tower for this shot by a man on the ledge with us.

We had a great time and wish to go back very soon!

My fav from easter

the love was there

this is from friday, before valentine's day, but i couldn't resist putting it in today. it just looks great as a mid-winter reminder that there's a lot more out there than frozen grass and high energy bills. love is trully there, here, around us all the time.

take time out to see and feel that love !

everyday

everyday, I get up, take a shower, do my hair and face, get coffee, read my Bible, greet my kids, watch my husband make breakfast...you know the routine. you do it everyday, too. well, this morning was different because steve, my husband, is on a new schedule. he was up and out of the house before my alarm went off. weird. quiet. dark. don't know if I like the new routine. but, there's little I can do about it, except go with it and make sure I am grateful that he has a job and a boss that trusts him to do a good job at work. change is sometimes hard to take, but remember that all things work together for the good of those who are in Christ Jesus, as my Bible says. our good is not always comfortable and never gauranteed to leave us pain free, but it is to our benefit in our spiritual lives. that part about letting patience have her perfect work...yeah.

so, here's to a day of change and a better understanding of God's plan for me and my house.

blessings on you today as you discover change and the benefits of it in your walk with God.

day 3 of project 365

january 1st started a new thing for the year 2009. project 365, created by Becky Higgins for Creating Keepsakes. this concept is a three ring binder with page protectors that follow all 52 weeks of the year. all you need to do is print your pics from everyday of the week and slip them into their slots! a ton of stuff is included in this kit of the month. binder, protectors, journaling cards, stickers, date stamp, ribbon, paper, etc. Becky's concept is that this album would replace a lot of your everyday life scrapbooking for the year. at the end, you would have finished an entire years' worth of documentation, photos, journaling, memorbilia, etc.

you can visit www.kitofthemonth.blogspot.com to view project ideas, concept and kit contents. as far as i know, the kit is sold out, but you may be able to pre order.

check back with me at the end of the week and i will have a photo posted that sums up this first week of P365. my goal is to publish at least one photo per week and some journaling so i can stay up to date and inspired to complete this project.

if you dont have the P365 kit, the project can still be accomplished with whatever you have. just take one photo a day and dont forget to journal on paper or in a file in your computer. then print your pics for the wk or month to add to an album. keep it simple and avoid a ton of traditional scrapping. just pics, words and memorabilia.

well, ta ta for now!

my street, usa

i was going through the one thousand pictures i have taken this month-yes, one thousand already-and came across this wonderfully sunny snow shot and my first thought was, aaaww the powerlines and street signs are in the way of a great shot! then, wait...this is the view out my front livingroom window and i see this every morning, noon and night. it's ok. and it even has my street, usa included.


i have come to realize that eventhough photos are not exactly what you had planned, its ok to use them in your layouts, your photo albums and your postings, cuz its a part of your life.

this will be a part of a project i have in the wings, about the things you see everyday...






S Olympic Ave., my street.

little surprises

it's the little surprises that you just cant miss. the girls and i were headed out to my parents place and were rushing in and out of the house, loading the car. i had just jumped in when devan said, "mom, look! a woodpecker!" it was all i could do to get my camera out of my large case and get the soft case unsnapped...what a rush! that bird let me snap away and get very close. about 2.5 feet away from it. then it started to hop around the tree and so we went, round and round all the while my camera is up to my face and clicking away. i must have shot 20 frames! in the background, cars are driving by...wonder what they were thinking!?...oh well, when you come upon something good, you just have to stop and click-away.

here's to the little surprises of the season. what have you clicked-away at lately?

winter 2008

can't believe its the middle of december already. havent been on this blog for a while, but after school started, a move to town and the holidays railroading us, we are finally more blog-conscious. i will try to keep this updated now that we have high speed internet. jordyn was enjoying the very rare december snow in our backyard, playing with jeffery and i got this from the safety of our back porch. this mama doesnt really like to be in the snow, she just likes the looks of it.

happy december, or the middle of december.

a new season

well, it's been a long time since i blogged...too long. a lot has been on my calendar these last couple of months. working a lot at the schoolbox to get through vacations and injuries. we have spent lots of evenings outdoors roasting hot dogs and s'mores, lots of time cleaning and having a huge garage sale. a family wedding in Phoenix and going to the WATCH Convention in Seattle at SPU were two of the highlights of our summer. steve's sister got married and all four of us were in it. great times swimming, getting pretty, taking tons of pics and basking in the 110 + degrees.

WATCH stands for Washington Association of Teaching Christian Homes, yes it's a homeschool organization. we are moving into the realm of being a homeschool family! this year we will homeschool a 6th grader and a 4th grader. completely new territory for us, so we beefed ourselves up with a training course, this convention, a lot of prayer and searching materials to train up our girls the way God intends and we are off on the ride of our lives! the girls are so excited to be home and learning what they want to learn. i am enjoying the idea of getting to know them better. daddy is happy that we are on track and doing what God wants for this family. he really is a great father.

steve has been planning a side business for us that involves buying and reselling cars...he's got good ideas and motivation. we'll see where it takes us.

i started on a mini-album project after getting my hands on the Simple Scrapbooks special issue, Mini-Albums in an evening. great magazine for those of us that get more done if it involves a mini of anything! seems like i can finish one of those in no time, as opposed to the endless 12x12 layouts that go in all sorts of albums that seem to never have an ending.

happy back to school season! happy end of august season! happy welcome to a new thing season!

girls day crafting

we had a blast with our daughters at the mother/daughter craft/scrap day! these are the wonderful girls and their finished craft projects. no, we didnt take a photo of the moms, but maybe another time. arent our girls beautiful?!

celebrate your girls or boys in a special way this weekend. you never know what you will discover about them. they are full of new, funny, and wonderful things.

ta ta