This and That....

Well....God is just overwhelming me today!  I've seen so many wonderful answers to prayers I've prayed during the last few weeks...and peace regarding certain situations that face us as a family.

First of all....praise the Lord that my husband took the initiative to remove every single item out of the garage and give it a good clean....my youngest daughter decided to help sweep...she loves helping (Acts of Service is her love language)...and then we got rid of so much junk.  Stuff that we used to love and use but that really we haven't used since the girls were little....so...if it was broken or rusty, out it went.  I did save a couple of fun things for the kindergarten class I teach in......put them in the car to bring to work tomorrow!

We totally rearranged the garage to fit all 3 recycling bins next to each other....and have 3 bikes in there...one on each side....and freed up lots of shelving space!  It felt so good to accomplish this today. (yes, it's the Sabbath, but yesterday was more of a Sabbath for us....so we decided to do some much needed work around our house....

Another answer to prayer was that my husband took my youngest out yesterday to get her the new bike she has been very patiently waiting for. She is not a complainer and her big sister was allowing her to ride the one she owns...but...Claire really was supposed to get this new bike for Xmas of 2009!  and it just never got done last spring....so....this spring (yesterday!) my husband took her out for a shopping trip.  She chose a purple mountain bike....it's gorgeous and was a great price!  Less than the other ones in the house....so we are so thankful for that!  

Claire on her new bike
3 April 2011

It's 54 degrees here and just beautiful.  A nice spring day......we heard an amazing sermon from our pastor this morning about the part in the Lord's Prayer that says "Give us this day our daily bread" and the benefits we can glean from spending a portion of our time in praying that.  It gave us much food for thought!

I'm almost done with Crazy Love by Francis Chan and it is excellent...it is truly one of the best Christian books about God's love for us that I've ever read...have you read it yet??  I'll be doing a review on it soon.....

and ......Marriage Monday is postponed this month!  Just saw a message that it will be held on 18 April. So come on back for that...the topic will be Leadership in Marriage.  a good one!

I haven't forgotten about one friend's (D) request to  write an article about "failed friendships"......I have decided not to do that at this time...I think that it's because my own heart went through a time of pain regarding that very topic....and I am in such a better place now from dealing with all of that.....my eyes were opened to many things regarding the friendship, or lack thereof, and I am just thankful that the healing has begun......I really don't want to spoil it by writing about the very topic that I think, for me, is a downer.....I mean, someone close to me pointed out that when we are Christ-followers, and have a "falling out" with another Christ-follower, there will be reconciliation at some point....if both hearts are willing....and I am very willing....I've done all that I can do on my end and the rest is up to the Holy Spirit. But...when we are united in Christ we are actually "sisters in Christ" and there is that unity.  I don't want to write about negative things.....I like to keep the positive outlook on things. So, to my friend D...you know I've emailed you and thank you for understanding why I am not going to write that post! :)

Other things going on around our house.....

I won't be on here as much this week.....I do have another book review to write soon...but...I'm in the start of my spring cleaning and I usually take a good long week (now that I teach every morning) to do my house the way I like it to be done.  I also am beginning the planning of the graduation open house party....it takes alot of planning.....  I also have to decide on a tent to rent and tables/chairs. The choices are overwhelming!!  And we are trying to do a simple, budget-friendly one!  We also have much going on this month with ortho and oral surgery appointments for the girls. (one is getting all 4 wisdom teeth removed!).  The high school orchestra is going to the New York State Music Majors competition again..thankfully it's being held right here in our town. Last year they won the Gold with Distinction.  I think they are doing harder music this year so are hoping for possibly another Gold place.  My oldest is very excited about this.

I have a new study book that is starting this week when the small group I lead meets here at my home.....I am just about done prepping for that evening.....

and now that Claire has finished her school musical (it was fantastic!!), she will be going back to one pointe class a week and 2 ballet classes per week. and at school, the German classes have started for the next 6 weeks...although she chose Russian for study in junior high and French as her 2nd choice, she is enjoying the German requirement thus far...I hope she does well and keeps her A average!  She is one busy gal.

Courtney, the oldest, is in the final 3 days of the 3rd quarter....and the homework has been more than usual....AP Calculus exam is in about 4 weeks....and she will be busy reviewing for that, along with keeping to her 2 after school clubs and her orchestra duties.

Claire after the last performance of "101 Dalmations"
1 April 2011

Dave and I are starting to plan some "Date nite" things and my friend Lynn and I are starting to plan some hiking trips.....I've started a hiking club for the families of the moms in my small group.....we are all so excited about this!! Most of our hiking will take place in the summer and autumn months.....

Well....that's it for now.....what is going on around your house??