Saying Yes this Season!

December can be such a busy month!

It seems like my calender is always full of cmas parties, ornament exchanges, playdates, christmas plays to see, full of plans~ all with good intentions to be around your family and friends! How could this ever be a bad thing?

Well for my home it is... rushing my children by myself or alone leads to stress..which leads me to be a bit cranky! (okay, alot cranky)

I am a home body... I love to be home..to have easy sweet relaxed days of cleaning, school, loving..cooking....placing my husband and children first  ;)

My children suffer rushing here to there..although they always have fun, they dont always get to run their energy out or get to have time with me alone.. when they get out of their routine of chores, free time of playing ..its very hard to get them back into a good routine! Free time becomes boring when once they were so creative with their ideas to play together... so willing to serve our family with their chores becomes...ohhhh mom, do I have to?

 And a good routine is very important to have the days I crave: relaxed!

I also spend much more money: bringing a dish, gift, gas..rushing to figure what to do for dinner and alot of times I will just grab takeout! Which is not the best option for our family at all! Its expensive and unhealthy!

There is such a peace in my heart when I wake up knowing there is no where I need to rush to.. a clear calender is refreshing to me!

Its not even December yet and my days have been busy due to the holidays..

I said yes to help with our Homeschool co-op cmas party

I said yes to help come over and create center pieces

I said yes to bring a dish

I said yes to come the day before and decorate our church

I said yes to prayer meetings and playdates

I had to schedule an apt for my hair, to get ready for the holidays!

I already had it planned that I need to find the perfect Christmas card and send it to everyone I know!

Those are only a few things I said YES to..

Never once did I say, let me think about that and ask the Lord if I would be able to commit~

The enemy loves it when we rush to say yes to things...

So for this Christmas season I will be saying lots of "Thank you for inviting me but I wont be able to make it"

I am saying YES to the Lord to guide my days..

I am saying Yes to my family

I am saying yes to anything spontaneous my husband would like to do!

Ofcourse this doesnt mean I will be saying NO to everything... and completely leave everything empty.. but I will go over my calender and free it up and not try to add anything new.

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord”(Psalm 37:23)  

“I will instruct you and teach you in the way should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (Psalm 32:8)

If we fill up our days with our own plans, this leaves no room for the Lord to guide us.

Have you been super busy in the past during the holidays? Or have you freed up time and seen how refreshing it is?

“Delight yourself also in the Lord, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass … Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him.” (Psalm 37:4,7)

Linked with:



Bring on the Holiday Cheer!

Thanksgiving arrived and passed so quickly! Its our tradition to take the time over our long holiday wknd to start decorating the house for Christmas. I also start filling my home with Christmas music.

Here are some ways to bring holiday cheer to your home!

I found 2 great sources for Christian Christmas Music, free online:

KLOVE Christmas player

&

CBN Radio

My favorite ornaments for the tree are ones that my children and I made together. Pulling them out each year is like bringing a memory to our tree! My children ooo and ahh over the ornaments they created!  

Here is a how~to video for creating adorable ornaments from Shoshanna, owner of Bulk Herbs (daughter of the Pearls, authors I love!)

These ornaments fill your home will a wonderful Christmas scent! Enjoy!

Season Greetings!!

 

When do you start decorating?

Weekend Quote

I Work For a King

"I work for a King. He has put me in charge of his home. When He comes to see how I have managed His possessions and His children, I do not want to be found wanting. I want to do my best. Everything I have is on loan from Him. I have room and board and a job to do, but it is all for Him. Therefore I want to dress my best and do my best in all my work. I also want to be creative, for this is a sincere attempt to glorify Him and His beautiful creation. How I manage my home is a form of worship to Him." {Lydia Sherman}

What are you Thankful for? *link up*

Thanksgiving week is here! Its probably one of my favorite times of the year for many reasons.. we always need a boost in reminding ourselves what we can thank the Lord for. I believe we need to be thankful daily..when big problems over take our life like a dark cloud, get from underneath it and count your blessings!

I recently went through a tough trial in my own life..some days I could feel the enemys attacks to lose hope, that God wont help me...ect. All LIES! But his attacks are relentless even if your not in a trial. To get away from his attacks I started to write a list of thankfulness to the Lord.. I could feel the fiery arrows lose their fire.

What are you thankful for this year? Write out your list and remind yourself often.. keep adding to your thankful list.

Here are a few things I am thankful for:

I am thankful for my faith in Christ who has shown me that He does give peace in storms, He is worthy to trust..He is my Rock!

I am thankful for my husband who loves to be with his family and works hard always putting us first.

I am thankful for 3 blessings sent from above who are healthy, thriving and growing in the Lord!

I am thankful for homeschooling...for God leading me and opening my eyes...for taking our days and showing us His way, His routine..my teaching style and my childrens learning style.

I am thankful for the trees in my backyard..looking out the windows and watching the trees sway and the big willow tree brings so much beauty to my day!

I am thankful for my brother who came to live with us..watching Christ transform him has been amazing..

I am thankful for God answering prayers to grow closer to Him and to learn His ways..they are always so much better then mine!

I am thankful for attending the Above Rubies retreat in October where I gained so much wisdom!

I am thankful that God cares so much about women, how he has made their duties as a wife and mother our ministry.. I am daily home with my family; loving, cooking, teaching and cleaning...and while I do my work I serve Him! I have the GREATEST & most important job in the world!

"Let your lives overflow with joy and thanksgiving for all he has done." Colossians 2:7

Here is an idea so everyone in your home can count their blessings this Holiday!

****Bloggers, Join me and link up your own Thankful list!****

Post the link back to here so others can join.










Linked with:

A Christmas Idea to Spread HIS LOVE!

May I grab your attention for a few moments to discuss Christmas? I think its crucial to speak on the meaning of Christmas.. for the world it seems to be a motto: go broke and buy many, many gifts for your children, family, friends. Stores send out big catalogs of toys galore for our children to create an I WANT list. Walmart advertises their layaway ad, again many toys and video games suggested for PERFECT gift ideas.

This saddens my heart... because I spent a few years buying and filling presents under the tree for my children. I also told the lie of santa. When I became a born again Christian, I had new glasses on..new eyes to see.. The Lord touched my heart and spoke, Santa is fake but there is a real and true miracle: JESUS! HE ALONE is WORTHY TO CELEBRATE!

Things have changed in my home especially during Christmas.. we went from buying tons of gifts to only a few from 2nd hand stores. We wanted our children to appreciate a gift and not something in a pretty box that was overpriced. This year we decided to just pick 1 gift for each child..I was thinking a dart board for my oldest, a sewing kit for my daughter and my youngest some toy cars that he would like. But this plan has changed...

First I would like to say that when I became a Christian there has been 1 main prayer the Holy Spirit has put on my heart:
Lord Jesus, give my children a passion to serve you, show them how to serve you Lord!

Matthew 5:16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

My heart is heavy for my children to grow with a passion for others.. to love to give, that it is a gift in itself. I want my children to be a servant for Jesus! I will never forget hearing the man from Gospel for Asia say these words: Esther was not placed in a palace to enjoy luxury but to save her people.. we are also not placed in a rich, country to enjoy luxury...but to save God's people! how true!!

He who gives to the poor will not want, but he who hides his eyes [from their want] will have many a curse. Proverbs 28: 27



I came to know GOSPEL FOR ASIA through my church and I love this ministry. We recieved their Christmas catalog and my children and I love looking thru it and reading the stories.. how thankful the people are to recieve chickens or a cow. How these gifts are sharing CHRIST LOVE! There are so many people who do not know who Jesus is.. can you imagine?
As we looked at the catalog my children said, "we do not want our gift.. lets send chickens and rabbits and maybe a mosquito net!!!!" {these nets keep families safe from malaria carrying mosquitos}

Lets burden our childrens hearts for others! Send a gift that can change a family...that could win souls!!! Plant seeds in our children to serve, give and to impact the world!

The enemy cannot stand people who give and deny self, like our King!

Every man shall give as he is able, according to the blessing of the Lord your God which He has given you. Deuteronomy 16: 17

Please take a few moments and watch this short video:







Jesus answered him, If you would be perfect [that is, have that spiritual maturity which accompanies self-sacrificing character], go and sell what you have and give to the poor, and you will have riches in heaven; and come, be My disciple. Matthew 19: 21

Visit www.gfa.org today:

request a catalog or view it online.

Watch videos, show them to your children..

P R A Y with your family!

linked with:

The Amazing Clove!

I recently had a tooth crack and fall apart..an old filling from my childhood must have came out and made my tooth very frail. I didnt get a chance to rush to the dentist with being a busy mom and lack of childcare. But when I put it off, the exposed root would start to throb in pain. I experienced 2 evenings of the worst pain I had ever felt before! There is nothing worse then a toothache.. it can make you feel nausated and cause an instant headache. With prayer I found a good dentist who is taking care of my tooth, praise the Lord! But with this pain it lead to a discovery.. C L O V E S!

My friend gave me a clove to chew on in the spot where I had pain, it became warm and tingling numb...soothing away all the pain. It was amazing! I was amazed, yet again something God put on this earth to take care of us. Even teeth! What an A W E S O M E God He is! :}

She told me that clove oil was even better and can be bought at Walgreens and CVS. Bought a little bottle right away!

This also got me researching.. what else can clove oil do?

This is what I found:

Headache: mix with salt, and apply on the forehead.

Earache: mix warm clove oil and sesame oil, dip with cotton ball and squeeze into the ear.

Immune System: Both clove and clove oil are useful for boosting the immune system. Cloves have antiviral properties, the ability to purify blood increases your resistance to diseases.

Respiratory Problems: cooling and anti inflammatory effect, and clears the nasal passage. The expectorant can be useful in various respiratory disorders including coughs, colds, bronchitis, asthma, sinusitis, and tuberculosis. Chewing a clove bud can also ease sore throats!

The list for natural healing goes on from nausea, stress, cuts, scrapes, bug bites, stings, bad breath. When used in the mouth, you can only use a small amount because it can burn. I rubbed quite a bit on my tooth and it worked perfectly.

Clove oil can help babies with teething.. I know I wish I would have known to use this! It worked wonderfully on my awful tooth ache!
Read more about natural remedies for teething babies here: teething natural relief

in India, clove oil was added to a small cotton ball and put at the end of the tooth which had a cavity, they applied daily before sleeping. The cavity would vanish in a few days! I am going to give this a try since my oldest has a few cavities <:(

You can find cloves at any grocery store in the spices. Have you tried clove oil, if so, would love to hear how it worked for you!

“For I will restore health to you and heal you of your wounds,” says the Lord. (Jeremiah 30:17)

Linked with:
http://womenlivingwell.org/

A Preview of Blog Post to Come!

I have so many ideas I want to blog about with all of you but not alot of time! So I thought I would give a preview of blog post to come!


Above Rubies Retreat~  I was able to attend the Above Rubies retreat, the wisdom I gained will forever impact my life. I took alot of notes and many thoughts were inspired.. If you havent subscribed to Above Rubies magazine, which is free..I highly suggest you do! {http://www.aboverubies.org/} It was amazing to be under the teachings and wisdom from Nancy Campbell, and a bonus to pick her up from the airport and spend time with her. ;}


First Aide in Natural Care: At my Above Rubies retreat we had the option of a class in natural care workshop.. This is an area where I am highly passionate about! I love how the Lord provided so much on this earth to take care of our families and in the same time build our immune systems! I will be sharing what I learned for burns, stings, flu, ear infections, colds.. just in time for winter!


Our story: My husband and I made an awful mistake after my 3rd son was born..we cut off life and my husband had a vascsectomy. Here I will share why we did the procedure and how the Lord has opened our eyes and thru the Word what the Lord says about children and families.


Simple ways to bring in healtier food: Another area God is schooling me on, food! Mans food vs Gods food! Organic is expensive but it doesnt have to be~


What I am reading: from time to time I love to share what books I am reading..I am always reading and always have a wish list ready! Cant wait to share with you some treasures I found...would love to do a link up and ask you to share the books you love and dislike.

If you are a blogger, would love for you to comment here on blog post to come from you!

Since I deleted my facebook, please stay connected: subscribe by email!