Friday, April 29, 2011

The growing list ...


102. Science projects on the kitchen counter.
103. Beams of sunlight coming through in the evening.

104. Little girls loving to play dress ups with my clothes and shoes.


105. God's creativity in providing food for us.

106. Freckled noses.
107. Wavy hair.
108. Jewel tone shirts!

109. Fun mail!
110. Inspiring Ideas!

111. Love notes.

112. Sunlight reflecting on water.

113. Sunsets - minutes from our house.
114. Creating special memories together.
115. Breeze coming off the water.
116. Sound of the water waves coming ashore.

117. Cardinals building a nest in our front rose bush!

118. Waiting for cookies to bake!

119. Threadbare (loved) little animals!

120. A friend who shared her fresh-picked strawberries.
121. And, suggested we make strawberry preserves together!
122. Time with a friend!

123. Our garden - all a gift from Him

124. Freshly home-canned preserves!
125. Canning jars.
126. Adding embellishments - sharing of myself. (Thank you, swap buddy!)

127. Sweet smelling fence vines.
128. Chippy paint.

129. Grape vines bearing fruit for the first time!

130. Winning a coloring contest!

131. Blooms coming on hydrangeas - these make me smile!

132. A few days after the nest photos above - I found Mama Cardinal sitting in her nest!
133. New life!

Thursday, April 28, 2011

Are you an angel?

I recently sat down to write to all three of our sponsor children. Oh, how precious they are and how it hits me when I sit to write them. To think of the privilege that God has given me to be part of their lives! It can be overwhelming to consider...

And, then to read the words from one of their mothers ~


"... consider you angels that God sent ..."

Oh. my. I am humbled, moved, thankful and feel unworthy of such words. Knowing that God is glorified is the best part though!

To read their genuine thanks, see the precious drawings and little hand tracings. To place my hand over the traced hand and know we have touched the same place - it truly is amazing.

How are you reaching out beyond yourself to extend the hand of God's love to others? Who knows if the recipient will praise God for the gift of your service or consider you an angel. Or, think of who you have considered an "angel" in your life. Praise God for the blessing of this outreach of ministry!

If you are able to consider it, I know you would be blessed to sponsor a child!

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Blessings

I haven't mentioned much about Blessings Unlimited lately - I never want to be pushy about this (or anything) but when I am excited about something, I love to share it! And, I have to show you the great new things they have come out with for summer!

View the entire Summer Supplement here. My Mom recently had the idea of giving a friend of hers a gift certificate to pick something out for her birthday and what a great and fun idea! If any of you are interested in doing this especially with Mother's Day coming up - I'd love to help you!

I will e-mail you a gift certificate and the recipient can choose whatever they would like and place their order through me - what a special treat! Or, for $3 above the gift certificate value, you can have me mail a gift certificate and catalog all wrapped up with a bow and in toile paper sent right to your recipient! For Mother's Day - please e-mail (thehomespunheart (at) hotmail (dot) com) me your request no later than this Saturday, April 30.

One other thing I'd love to let you know - each month on my website there is a monthly special. It's only good online and on orders placed through my website, and I don't make anything off of those - but they are GREAT ways to get some beautiful products at a big discount. You know I love to get a good deal and to help you too!

Thanks to all of you who have ordered from me and may God's blessings be on all of your homes as you seek to glorify Him!

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

To See Like My Savior: Awareness


It's true, isn't it? When we have something that God is doing in our hearts, we tend to notice it more everywhere around us!

This is how it has been for me with seeing. Friday morning found me on the way to the eye doctor (again) with Samuel. This time, to pick up his glasses. On the way - I was nervous about how it would go and if he would even wear the glasses that it has taken us weeks to get.

God opened my ears and I heard this on the radio:



Give Me Your Eyes lyrics
Songwriters: Heath, Brandon; Ingram, Jason David;

Looked down from a broken sky
Traced out by the city lights
My world from a mile high
Best seat in the house tonight

Touched down on the cold black tar
Hold on for the sudden stop
Breathe in the familiar shock
Of confusion and chaos

All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared?

Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me Your love for humanity

Give me Your arms for the broken hearted
The ones that are far beyond my reach?
Give me Your heart for the one's forgotten
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah

Step out on a busy street
See a girl and our eyes meet
Does her best to smile at me
To hide what's underneath

There's a man just to her right
Black suit and a bright red tie
Too ashamed to tell his wife
He's out of work, he's buying time

All those people going somewhere
Why have I never cared?

Give me Your eyes for just one second
Give me Your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing

--------

I love that video - showing the stop motion of people in their daily lives and knowing that God sees each situation and scenario we are in with that much detail. We can't hurry past God! We can't hurry beneath His radar...He is always watching and He truly sees.

Because I am reminded of how He sees, it makes me want to see like that all the more. I've been amazed at how God continues to remind me of this theme - see.

And, in the car on the way to the eye dr. I thought back to where this theme began. And, why it was so meaningful to me. Oh, yes - to see myself and others the way He sees me.

To see myself the way He sees me.

Let that soak in for a minute. It is still soaking in with me - I know I haven't learned all there is that I need to learn on that. And, I'm not claiming for a minute that I see others the way He does, yet if I don't see myself the way He sees me how can I even begin to see others the way He does? If I don't believe it for myself how will I be able to encourage others in the way God sees?

Sorry, a rabbit trail there. Back to the awareness - this theme that has been etched in my heart and on my mind is everywhere. When we leave the doctors office and head to the grocery store - I see differently.

I see people smiling at a little boy who looks handsome and yes, even adorable in his little glasses.

I see how many other people really wear glasses - I am instantly aware. And, it changes the way I see.

Listening to the above song again - letting it seep in. Praying to see.

Monday, April 25, 2011

Waiting Gracefully: Unplugged

This post was not planned as part of my series, but just as I was finishing this up I got an e-mail from a mom whose daughter is struggling with her desire to be married and all the what if and when and how and who questions that can be so troubling.

Oh, my heart goes out. I have so been there. I wish I could grab this gal by the hands and look deep into her eyes and heart and give her a hug and take her out for a cup of tea and listen to her pour out her heart and pray with her.

Something lit in me when I read her e-mail, I wanted to do something, to offer something. Maybe God is showing me a ministry opportunity for someday.

How will I meet him? Where will I meet him? Will I meet him? Am I pretty? Will he think so? What if God doesn't want me to get married?

All I ever wanted was to be a wife and a mom. And, there were a number of years where that reality looked far off and dim. There were some who made fun of this desire. And, the first question I always got when people found this out about me was, "Oh, are you dating someone?" Painfully, I had to admit I was not and I hadn't been and there weren't really any prospects at the moment.

People don't know what to say sometimes and they ask things that hurt and say things that hurt and offer shallow suggestions.

It probably seems trite coming from someone who is on the other side now, who has had her dream become a reality - to even want to hold out hope to these who are coming behind me. How can I really encourage them when I don't have the answers for their lives?

I don't know what God holds for each one. I don't know how, when, where, who. I can't offer that kind of information or insight.

Sort of thinking "out loud" here - but I can offer friendship. I can offer understanding. I can offer to pray and be there and be available and I can promise to treat their dreams with tenderness and respect and hope. I can share my heart and we can look together at God's heart and pray through together.

If you can remember being in this season or are currently in this season - how can we come alongside you? How can we encourage you? When presented with the opportunity to invest our time - how should we to be of the most help and blessing to our sisters and those around us?

Friday, April 22, 2011

Tagged

Melissa tagged me to do a fun Q&A - and I was going back through my old posts to put together my blog book, I had a lot of fun re-reading some of my tags from previous times. Lots of random info there for my children to enjoy someday!

1. If you have pets, do you see them as merely animals or are they members of your family?
We currently don't have any pets. Our chocolate lab recently died and our children are working on a good behavior chart to be able to get a puppy. I'm supportive of a dog because David loves having one and for the safety factor.

2. What would you do with a billion dollars?
I've never really imagined what that much money could do. But here are a few first thoughts - I would go on a mission trip with Samaritan's Purse and help deliver shoeboxes. Adopt. Pay off our house. Build a cabin in the mountains. Volunteer at an orphanage. Travel in Europe. Re-do an old farmhouse. Establish a giving fund. Invest for our children and grand children - leave a legacy for them.

3. What helps to pull you out of a bad mood?
Creativity and inspiration. Looking at a pretty magazine, doing a craft, cutting flowers and bringing beauty inside, quiet time alone, etc...

4. What is your bedtime routine?
Besides getting myself ready for bed, I like to read and work on my "list" for the next day. Then, I lay in bed and pray as I am falling asleep.

5. Name something that has surprised you this week about motherhood.
This week I have noticed more of the sweet moments. All the little things that make up a happy childhood and a bushel of memories. My basket is overflowing this week.

6. What kind of books do you read?
Grace Livingston Hill, Mitford, One Thousand Gifts (on my second read), The Core (CC), homeschool books (not how-to's, but text books) and Jesus Calling.

7. What’s your fear?
Fear is a big struggle for me. So, I won't burden you with an enormous list - but just say that it is something I am challenged with and am continually learning to trust God with.

8. Would you give up all junk food for the rest of your life for the opportunity to see outer space?
NO! I can imagine a different scenario where I might be tempted - but seeing space has never held much of a draw for me.

9. What’s the first thing you do when you wake up?
Wish I could go back to sleep. (Just being honest here!) Then, I get up and exercise.

10. What is one thing you love about your husband?
The way he continually offers more grace, love and patience than I deserve.

11. If you could pick a new name for yourself, what would it be?
I've always liked my name!

12. If you had to choose between six months of sun or six months of rain, what would you choose?
RAIN!!!!! But, that comes with conditions: I would be living in a cabin or little English cottage and be able to stay home and craft, bake, have friends in for tea, watch colors pop off the gray background of the landscape, see how green everything looks in rainy weather, read and reflect. Sounds divine.

13. If you could only eat one thing for the next 6 months, what would it be?
I'm with Melissa on this one: pizza.

14. What is the thing you enjoy about blogging the most?
It is an outlet for me. A way of processing and journaling and growing. A blessing.

15. Do you prefer salty or sweet foods?
Sweet.

16. What items are in your purse right now?
Wallet, coupons, checkbook, pen, chapstick, gift cards, Advil, crayons. I don't carry a very big purse!

17. If you had to choose between vacationing at the beach or in the mountains where would you go?
Mountains, mountains, mountains! Oh - how I miss you!

18.
What websites do you visit that you know you shouldn't?
I honestly can't think of anything right now - in the past I've read lots and lots of blogs. I've narrowed that down in the past few months to a much smaller amount.

You're it: Just jump in if you'd like to join!

Thursday, April 21, 2011

How sweetly they know me.

Friday night found us with a change of plans, so the girls and I headed out to get a birthday gift for a friend. We found a book to give and I said, "How about we go and get some ice cream?!"

"Yes!!!!!!!"

We just went to Sonic where the girls split a vanilla shake and I had something delish with M&M's in it. Then, we sat in the car and giggled. It was so sweet and spontaneous and wonderful.

We talked about their favorite things we had done that day and then Emily wanted us to imagine our own cars. We made up cars that drive themselves, fly, ones full of gardens, one that was a house, etc... it was so cute and the giggles were precious!

On the way home, Emily wanted to tell me about her last idea for a car. It was huge - had six bedrooms and four bathrooms. I wondered who was going to clean all that? Oh, you just push a button and it cleans, she exclaimed.

"I love your idea! So, if I want to pick up all the toys I just push a button and (beep) it does it?"

"Yes!"

"Does it cook dinner too?"

"Yes! It does everything you do!"

"What do I do then?"

"Craft!"

Now Rachel chimes in, "Wrap presents!"

"Sew!"
, Emily rejoins.

"How fun!!"
I marvel at how they know me.

Next Emily says, "Miss Grace's house is right next to ours!"

They know how much I would enjoy the opportunity to craft, sew, wrap gifts and be right next door to Miss Grace. But, the sweetest of all is how they have observed me and know me. I was blown away and just don't want to forget this sweet time.

And, how my heart soars that they do not think of the times I am grouchy or crabby - but happiest. They seem to think the best of me. Can you imagine how life would change if I thought the best of them? Of others? If we all did that for each other?

We came home full of laughter and happy, light hearts. Thank You, Lord for the idea to go out for ice cream with my girls and just enjoy them, thank you for make believe cars and for sweet girls who know their Mama. May I be able to bless them by knowing them.

Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Seeing: When I don't want improved vision.

We took Samuel to the eye dr. last week to pick out his glasses. It was right after nap time, in fact I had to wake him to go.

Well, let's just say that was not a good time for him to go to the eye dr. He screamed, cried and carried on the entire time we were there. He squirmed and fought me and was generally quite disagreeable.

He loudly exclaimed that he did not want glasses, did not like them, and clearly let us know he wanted absolutely nothing to do with the matter at hand.

Glasses were picked out and we left as quick as we could.

You know what? Wearing glasses is not going to be easy for him. I know this. His good eye is going to be blurred and his lesser eye is going to be how he can see. Things are going to be blurry and frustrating for him for a while. That's going to be hard.

Sometimes I don't really want to have my vision improved either. To undergo the "treatment," to see the heartache or the needs, to look beyond myself the way I will need to if I hope to see like my Savior.

I can really identify with how Samuel acted. I'm not saying it was appropriate, but I do appreciate how real children are. They let their feelings be known and their true thoughts hang out there. They are not trying to be fake or something we hope them to be. They are so honest and so matter of fact.

The bottom line is: he doesn't want to wear glasses. I don't blame him. But he is going to have to do it. And, I could easily say the same for myself when it comes to learning to see the way God wants me to see.

Isn't it true that sometimes I'd rather just live with blurry vision than be corrected?