No Limits

Off and on throughout the day I've been thinking about limiting God--something I do far too often. I should know better. I have the sea urchins to remind me...

Even though I grew up on the coast of Maine, I had never found a sea urchin that I could bring home. The shells captivated me but the few I found were either broken or still smelly and awful so they stayed where they were found.

But a couple years ago when I went to visit Cheryl in Puerto Rico we found oodles of sea urchins. More urchins than I ever would have imagined possible. The funny thing? I had asked God for one. Just one to put on my shelf and I would be thrilled and content. I think God snickered. We didn't find just one. We found a gazillion of them. They were everywhere. Little, adorable sea urchins.

Thankfully, whenI found myself limiting God this morning the Bible verses I'm memorizing came to mind.

Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power the works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and ever. Amen. Ephesians 3:30 NAS

God can, and will do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think. So let's quit being naysayers and let Him to do it! Let me tell you, if we do, the biggest shell collecting bucket we can find won't hold what He has for us.

Let's open our minds and hearts and start watching for what God will do when we let Him. 

#NaBloPoMo Day 3

Tweet

Boys, boys, boys

We knew going in we would not only enjoy ourselves, but that we'd be blessed. And we were--above and beyond what we thought. Far above. Recently we were a host home for some of the Watoto children from Uganda and although we only got to spend a few hours with them, we fell in love fast! Here's our boys and their caretaker, Uncle Nicholas.

In the morning the boys were anxious to go outside and play. They loved being able to run around for awhile and they didn't mind substituting a volleyball for a soccer ball. They ran circles around my boys! =]

The little time we spent inside was full of legos, blocks, airplanes and kittens.

The youngest of the boys and and Alex teamed up. I don't know who had more fun, but they sure made a towering giant.

Although Bruce wasn't at our house, he connected with my middle son. I have a feeling the impact of that friendship will be felt for quite awhile. He was missed immediately.

These boys immediately became our boys and it was hard to let them go and wave goodbye. If you ever have a chance to hear a Watoto Childrens' Choir, GO! And if you can, host a few of them in your home. It will be a breath of fresh air and it just might change your life.

So tell me, what's been the highlight of your week?

Tweet

My Basket...

...Overfloweth.

Last week 4 of 7 of us were gone on a missions trip to North Carolina. They were gone for 10 days and I used those days to put in some extra long hours here on the computer. I accomplished a lot, but none of it was normal household stuff. When there's only 3 of you home and 2 acted like professional couch potatoes, there's very little housework to do! What a novelty.

Reality has returned and my laundry basket and laundry room are proof!

*Picture shown without the 5 sleeping bags that need washing. No insects were killed in the filming of this scene because none came home with them! Just the stink aroma of filthy, sweaty dirty laundry stored at high temperatures.

I had 2 choices: view this mountain as a smelly pile of yuck, or see the blessing in the blech.

Where's the blessing?
Seeing my kids excited about sweating and working their tails off for and with others. They went on a missions trip with our church youth group, as they do every year, and they're learning to serve with a smile.

And now, this is my opportunity to serve with a smile.
Ever wonder how much laundry a family of 7 makes in a week? Stay tuned and I just might show you. ;-)
Gotta run. The dryer is buzzing... again.

Don't miss out on the blessings that are often hiding in the blech of life.

Tweet

If a Shoe Fits...

Not too long ago, I lost the notebook that goes everywhere with me—the notebook that I jot down all my ideas in when I'm not able to get to my computer. That little notebook has seen lots of miles! Well, when I couldn't find it I went into super-sleuth searching mode because it had some ideas in it that I really wanted to use. It was a Sunday afternoon, so rather than panicking, I decided I'd check at church, which happened to be the last place I remembered seeing it. Sure enough, it was there.

After hugging it (yup, I really and truly hugged it.) I flipped open the front cover to see if my name and number were in it—like they were supposed to be—so if I happened to leave it laying around again there would be hope of finding it, again.

Guess what's inside the front cover?

I would've gladly crawled under the pew in embarrassment...if it hadn't been so true!

It says:

Lessons from the
Everyday Life of a Looney

Right there on the front page, right where my name was supposed to be!

The Birdie on my shoulder fell off her perch, laughing hysterically. Between gasps she said, “Cupcake, if the shoe fits, wear it!”

After blushing and looking around to see if anyone had seen or heard that annoying little Birdie, I laughed all the way out to the parking lot.

This is one shoe that definitely fits me. Most of the time I feel like I'm living the life of a Looney. There are days when I think I'm one step from the Funny Farm, and there are days I'm convinced that I'm already there! But you know, that's okay! As long as I know I'm where God wants me, doing what God wants me to do, then I will gladly be a Looney.

But by the grace of God I am what I am,
and His grace toward me did not prove vain;
but I labored even more than all of them,
yet not I, but the grace of God with me.
~I Corinthians 15:10

Patterings is a collection of the lessons I'm learning. In fact, since started blogging, I've learned to look for these lessons and I'm being blessed time and time again. If I weren't writing, if I weren't a mother and wife, if I weren't living the life of a Looney, I would miss out on the blessings! I would miss out on having God in my life.

For me, being a Looney in the world's eyes has resulted in tremendous blessings for me. It has more than surpassed anything the world might have to offer me. I don't regret being a Looney, not even the teeniest bit. Why?

For it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. ~Philippians 2:13

That explains it all to me in a nutshell.
God is working in me.
For HIS pleasure. Not mine, HIS.

So, what shoes are you wearing?


Green and pink sneakers Originally uploaded by EyeTwoEye
Red shoes originally uploaded by Daemys

Tweet

The Best Advice Ever

Jesus' public ministry was kick-started by His mother. In John 2 we see Jesus at a wedding feast where the wine has run out, and Mary steps in. She gives us the best advice an older woman could ever give.

“Whatever He says to you, do it.” ~John 2:5

If we follow that advice we won't go wrong. It boils down to obedience. The servants obeyed and look at what they got to witness! They filled the jars with water and they brought some to the headwaiter, just as Jesus instructed them to do. And they got to see a miracle up close and personal. Those that serve God are blessed to see His miracles.

If they had not obeyed, if they had shirked their job, or found someone else to replace them, they would have missed out.

This is such good advice that I had to pass it on—it came from Pastor Mike at our deacon ordination service the other night. His charge to the men being ordained as deacons was that one verse—but it applies to each and every one of us!



Don't forget the Giveaway/Challenge I have going! (It's yesterday's post.)

For links to more Word Filled Wednesdays
run to the 160 Acre Woods!



The beautiful picture of the pots (without the verse) by Harshad Sharma.

Tweet

January's Blessings

Since February is a third over it's time for my blessings post—before any more time passes. But first, I need to back up to December. *blush* I forgot a blessing from December (not too surprising for me, but still!)



Traci of In the Potters Hand gave me some of her beautiful cards. I love them, and one of them has one of my favorite quotes on it and there's even dragonflies on the card, and in the summer I love watching the dragonflies. “Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass...it's about dancing in the rain!” Thank you so much, Traci!

Then there's a couple blog awards given to me!
Sunny of A Damsel no longer in distress gave me. I love Sunny and I love visiting her—she always encourages me and makes me really stop and think. Thank you so much Sunny!

The rules of this award are:
Confess 5 things I'm addicted to.
Pass this award onto 5 other sisters.
SO, the five things I'm addicted to:
1. My Lord and Savior, Jesus! Without Him in my life, there would be nothing.
2. My husband. He loves me, supports and encourages me, and is the best husband I could ever have hoped for!
3. My kids. I really am addicted to them—even on the days I think about trading them in for puppies! LoL.
4. Writing.
5. The Jewels in my life. 'nuff said.

Now, the sisters I'm passing this on to—not in any particular order! (and if you've already received this one—LoL—here it is again.)
Heidi—girl, you manage to keep me in stitches and make me think at the same time. I never know what to expect when I visit you, and I love that. I'm praying for you!
Joanne—your wet noodle is very affective. Thank you for wielding it on me. But more than that is your heart for encouraging and nurturing those around you. You specialize in blessings.
Kristen—you have a God-given talent for turning a story into a lesson. I love your enthusiasm for life—you've been a blessing in many ways.
Vonnie—your heart for younger women is not only encouraging, but a gift to those of us who are younger.
Laurie Ann—God has blessed you with an ability to pull apart a Scripture verse and explain it in a very understandable way that sinks in and sticks with me. Visiting you blesses me and teaches me.

Lynda of On the Write Track gave me the "When Life Gives You Lemons, make Lemonade" Award . I love this one! Making lemonade out of the lemons is so much fun! If you love to read as much as I do, then you really, really need to go by Lynda's blog—she's giving away books this month!!
For this award, I'm passing it on the five of ladies that have made the best lemonade around. And I mean it. These ladies are spectacular and squeezing out lemonade and I love each of them dearly.

Dee of My Heart's DeeLight
Laura of LauraLee's Lifesong
Laury of In My Daddy's Arms
Sunny, my jewelly sister who I love greatly (and who has a private blog.)
Sunny of A Damsel No Longer in Distress
Beth of Laughing at the Days
Sara of Fiction Fusion

Two other blessings that have come into my life in February were the opportunities to become a part of two teams.

Each month I'm a blogger At the Well where I take part in 'Reflections on the home'. I have been tremendously blessed through this group of ladies! Make sure to join us At the Well—Chelsey has done a fabulous job putting things together!

Also, each week I'm blogging at Exemplify Magazine's Online Blog
This is another ministry that's blessed me time after time after time. These ladies are real, and there's great diversity. Make sure you check out Exemplify Magazine! It's wonderful!

Tweet

December's Blessings

Time flies when you're having fun...and busy, and another month has slid past without doing a blessings post. In the confusion and busyness of December I put off telling you about some of December's blessings, so I'm adding them to this month's blessings.

At the very beginning of December I received this print from Joy of Bee Joyful Quilts. She found me as a result of my joyful cow (in my sidebar) and she sent me this print as an encouragement. I just love it! Thank you, Joy!!


If you enjoy quilting, (and I do!) you'll enjoy Joy's site.


Then, as a result of the The Internet Cafe's Holliday Giveaways, I won two items. One was this darling pin handcrafted by Deena of Dances with Monkeys. It's on my purse and it reminds me to love. Thank you, Deena!


December came to a close with another special blessing as a result of the Holiday Giveaway. A very special bracelet from Loni of Writing Canvas. There is a birthstone for each of my five children, and on the sides, between little blue hearts, are small birthstones for the two babies we lost. This bracelet has quickly become a treasure. Thank you, Loni!

Be sure to stop by Loni's site, Bracelet Stories, for your own memory bracelet. Loni is an incredible woman, and the bracelets she custom makes are stunning and so full of meaning.


Well now, that wraps up December's blessings. Thank you, Joy and Deena and Loni! You each blessed me tremendously! Sometime within the next week, I'll post about January's blessings. Stay tuned!

Tweet