Ponderings In The Field of Grace

The Princess and I are having a lot of fun with her sewing machine. She is making “sleeping bags” for her Webkinz toys. I’ve been helping her some, and getting things ready for a pattern I am trying to make. I’ve never made anything really, only a few pillows and some curtain panels. Nothing where I have needed a pattern, so this is something new for me.  I bought a pattern, some fabric, thread, tracing paper, marking pencils, and a Singer’s New Essential book for sewing.  Hopefully I can figure out enough to make that apron. If not, I’m at least helping Hobby Lobby out during this recession!

The kids and the Knight are watching Wall-E on the big screen. All they need is some popcorn and a drink, and they would have the full “theatre” experience.

Tomorrow I have to take the Professor for another check up  to see if his new patch is working the way the doctor wanted. I hope so. I am still on the fence as to whether or not it is helping him, but, honestly, this time of year it is hard to tell. He is just in sensory overload, and it’s just hard on everyone, especially him.

Praying things settle down soon for him.

Meanwhile we are having a small get together on New Year’s with my parents. I think we are going to cookout hamburgers, shoot some fireworks, and play the Wii.  I’m looking forward to it.

Friday we’ve got a planning meeting for a conference we are helping with at the end of January.  We have a lot to do. I really need to get focused, and get busy. Praying I get everything going soon.

Well, that’s pretty much what’s up around here. Hope you are having a great week!

2 Timothy 1:8-14 says:

v8  Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;
v9  Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,
v10  But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel:
v11  Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
v12  For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.
v13  Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
v14  That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.

Not a lot is going on today around here. As a matter of fact, we’re just taking it slow and playing it by ear.

The Princess is wanting to go to Target so she can use her gift card from her cousins. She’s also wanting to go by Hobby Lobby so she can get some more thread and cloth. She is loving her sewing machine!

Lil Guy is wanting to pick up some new markers while we’re in Hobby Lobby. And I can always find something to look at/get while we’re there.

I think Sports Guy and the Professor are chomping at the bit to get to Game Stop. With the cash they got along with the gift cards, they have plenty of money to get some games for the new Wii.

I also have a feeling the Knight is going to be perusing Best Buy in search of things he might need to get with his gift card.

On second thought, maybe we do have a lot to do today. One thing is for sure, I want to take the time to relax and enjoy every minute of it!

I hope everyone had as nice of a Christmas as we did! We are so blessed to have the kids we do. They are growing up so quickly. I am so proud of the people they are becoming.

I think this Christmas I will remember the laughs, and time with my family more than anything else. The presents were nice, but getting to spend time with my family meant even more.

Merry Christmas everyone!

We’re getting ready for Christmas.

I started baking this afternoon. This time on the menu we have a few different kinds of treats!

• Wassail
• Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Pound Cake
• Pumpkin Pie
• Sausage Cheese balls

Those are just the things the kids and I are fixing. My mother and aunt are making several more things. I love having all kinds of different things to snack on. We have so much to do to get ready! I noticed today I still have a few things to do… like pick up one more small present for The Knight, some cards to put money in for a few kids, and a couple of small gift bags for a few presents.

All in all things are wrapping up nicely. Tomorrow the professor has therapy. Then tomorrow night we are getting together with some friends, and playing some board games while we eat. I think it is going to be a lot of fun.

Christmas Eve, The Knight has to work. So I will probably get all the kids together, and head to my mother-in-law’s early to spend a little extra time with her. Once everyone gets there we will eat and open presents.

Before too late we will go to my parents for my Mom’s side’s family Christmas.  I have to say it is going to be nice only having to go next door this year, instead of having to travel across town. It will be great seeing everyone and getting to relax.

But I think my  favorite time is Christmas morning. After the kids see what Santa brought, my parents come over. We open presents and eat sausage balls, biscuits and ham. I look forward to that the most. I love that time at home with my family. The only thing that could make it better would be if my mother-in-law could be here too. Maybe one day…

No matter what though, I am thankful for the time to be with the people I love the most. I pray you get to do the same!

Merry Christmas!

Today as I walked outside, I looked up at the sky. It was beautiful. The clouds seemed to be gliding across the blue sky. The wind caused the leaves to dance across the ground, and the chickens were singing a song as they clucked about in their coop.  It was just one of those mornings when you feel alive, and see good things everywhere you look.

I took my time cleaning out the coop. It felt good to just be able to spend some time with the animals. My Daddy is right. There is something therapuetic about caring for animals…

I laughed as I watched our beagle, Lily, chase Dory, our inside dog. They have the most fun chasing one another and rolling around on the ground…

The kids were playing basketball and coming up with all kinds of unique strategies. Everyone was having fun.

These are the times to remember. I thank God for mornings like this.

It’s hard to believe there is only one week left until Christmas. Wow. Things have been a little hectic around here the last few weeks, but they’re actually beginning to slow down some now. It sure is nice.

The kids have been a little crazy, but that is to be expected this time of year. Other than that, I have to say, we have been making some great memories.

We’ve watched movies on the projector, wrapped presents, went shopping, played basketball, talked, and just enjoyed one anothers company.

We’re supposed to go finish up some Christmas shopping today. I’d like to go by and see my mother-in-law if we can too. We haven’t been over in a couple of weeks, and I’d like to get to see her.

I’m hoping the kids will be good, and I won’t stress too much. I really do just want to enjoy being with them.  They’re growing up to be great kids, and I want to enjoy them as much as I can.

I’m also looking forward to my Mom going with us. I have to say, I know her early retirement wasn’t planned, but I thank God for the time we are getting with her and my Dad. My kids are so blessed to be able to spend so much time with all of their grandparents. I know how much I enjoyed being with my grandparents when I was growing up. I’m glad they are getting to develop that same kind of relationship with my parents and mother-in-law.

1 Thessalonians 1:6 says:

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

As I was reading this morning, this verse popped out at me.  Affliction and joy. Two words which should have absolutely nothing in common.

According to Strong’s Concordance the original Greek word for affliction in this case is thlipsis which means pressure- afflicted, anguish, burdened, persecution, tribulation, trouble.

Joy comes from the word chara meaning gladness x greatly (x be exceeding) joy (-ful, -fully, fulness, -ous).

How can someone possibly have joy while going through tribulations and anguish?

This past year I have witnessed this verse lived out in my own life, and in the lives of those around me. And to be honest, there were times I was watching my close friends as they went through one particularly difficult period, and I thought if this is what it costs to get close to you Lord, I don’t know if I want it. But then God allowed me to see the work He was accomplishing in them, and I knew it was worth it.  Now those friends will be the first to tell you, “We went through the fire, and we count it as joy. God worked in our lives in a way that we never could have foreseen!”

As His church and His people, we are going to go through times of testing and trouble. God allows these things to happen in our lives to grow us and test our foundation. It is not something I particularly enjoy, but it is as necessary to our growth as the food we eat. We have to know where we stand, and be willing to sacrifice for it. We have to know with everything in us, that Jesus will carry us through. The only way to know that is to experience it for ourselves.

So no matter what the problems you face. No matter if everything in your world has turned upside down. Hold on to the joy of the Holy Ghost in your life. When you face difficult times, know He is with  you.  Do as Ephesians 6 says, and put on the whole armor of God, and stand. He will not falter. He will give you joy and peace when nothing in this world can. He will…

Well, I’m in uncharted territory now. All my life I have had a place that I could call my church home (even when I wasn’t all that active).  But things change. A few months ago the Knight and I talked about where we were spiritually, and how we both felt like our time at our home church was coming to an end. We had decided then to wait until we were both sure beyond a shadow of a doubt God was telling us to move.

Last month He told us it was time to go.

So for the last few weeks we have been wrapping up loose ends, and finishing commitments. Last night was the next to last one. It was the last time our family would be there. I have one last commitment this coming Sunday and that will be it.

It dawned on me this past week that we were leaving the church on the very same Sunday we first visited it, two Sundays before Christmas, and not only that, but it was exactly seven years.

I thought about how seven is the number used to represent completion in the Bible. How appropriate. He completed the work in us that He had begun there seven years earlier. We are now ready to move on to the next place He would have us go.

We’ve learned a lot over the years. We’ve grown so much. Everything, the good and the bad, has been used by God to mold us into the people we are today. I look back at what we were like when we first walked through those doors, and I see what we are as we walked out, and I can’t help but thank God. He used our old church powerfully.

I can’t wait to see what He is going to do next.