{Project 52} Week 8

This sunset picture that I took looking out my back door this week makes me thankful…that it was after 6 pm and the sun was setting.  Spring is near…I can’t wait!

For next to nothing…

Last week, while at Walmart, I picked up a bag of pinto beans.  Today we pulled those beans out of the cupboard.  I gave each of the kids a cookie sheet, bowl, spoon, plastic cup and a pile of beans.  The only instructions were to keep them on the cookie sheet.  They had a great time scooping, pouring and dumping the beans.  In fact, two of them played off and on with them for 4 HOURS!  They took a break for lunch and would walk away here and there, but for the most part they stayed at the table. 

I’m still shocked.  Even more unbelievable…the fact that this bag of beans only cost me 68 cents!  That’s it, talk about frugal fun.

All four of the kids have runny noses and aren’t feeling that great today.  I think Hosanna would have played longer then she did, but she wasn’t feeling like doing much at all.  Even Shiloh, who is currently 14 1/2 months old, thought it was fun to dump and pick up the beans.  She was, of course, very closely supervised when she was playing with them and was not happy when I took her to do something else.

The best part, they can be stored away to use again soon for the same activity or something else.  I’m lovin’ it!

{Project 52} Week 7

Last weekend, we snuck downtown to view some ice sculptures at an Ice Carving Festival.  The kids thought it was great.  It wasn’t too cold, in fact there were plenty of puddles that kept attracting Judah.  His snow pants were wet up to the knees!

In front of a huge carving of a NASA space shuttle

Me and my girls with a large ice shoe…seems appropriate!

How do you SEE God today?

Are you looking at your circumstances and then looking to God to persuade Him to do it your way?

Or are you seeing God first and then looking at your circumstances?

Have you thought lately about how big God is?

“Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens?  Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance?”    Isaiah 40:12 NIV

"”Lift your eyes and look to the heavens:Who created all these?  He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.  Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.”             Isaiah 40:26 NIV

He measures the waters of the earth in his hand and calls each of the stars by name!  That is astounding…and we worry about what might happen tomorrow.  He is the Great I Am!

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10 NIV

He upholds us with the same right hand that He uses to measure the waters of the earth.  What reason do we have to doubt Him?  To think that He doesn’t have it all under control?  He deserves praise and honor for what He’s done for us and we usually burden Him with our sins and offenses (Isaiah 43:24-25) and He still chooses to blot out our transgressions and remembers our sins no more.

So take today to set aside your worries and concerns, VIEW God for who He is and what He’s done – then look at life’s circumstances. Allow Him to use YOU to bring Him glory no matter how you feel things ought to be.  Trust in Him, He knows exactly what you need.

Something to remember this Valentine’s Day…

  

“Love never gives up. 
Love cares more for others than for self. 
Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. 
Love doesn't strut, 
Doesn't have a swelled head, 
Doesn't force itself on others, 
Isn't always "me first," 
Doesn't fly off the handle, 
Doesn't keep score of the sins of others, 
Doesn't revel when others grovel, 
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth, 
Puts up with anything, 
Trusts God always, 
Always looks for the best, 
Never looks back, 
But keeps going to the end.”

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 The Message Bible

 

{Project 52} Week 6

Yes. 

We’ve been a little absent from the blog this week. 

Please forgive us. 

I couldn’t resist doing another photo collage this week because, well, a cowboy has a lot of different faces.

{Project 52} Week 5

The many faces

of my

brown haired,

brown eyed,

spit fire,

full of personality

2 year old!