June 1st Verse: 1 Chronicles 29:11 The NET Bible
O Lord, You are great, mighty, majestic, magnificent, glorious, and
sovereign over all the sky and earth! You have dominion and exalt
Yourself as the ruler of all.
I love this first verse
because it shows so many of the names of God. It was so encouraging as
I was memorizing it, repeating it over and over again and praising His
name all the while!
June 15th Verse: 1 Thess. 3:5 NASB
May the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the steadfastness of Christ.
The second verse I chose because it speaks right to the core of my being about the depths of Gods love for me and how I am to persevere in Christ.
I hope you find encouragement in His Word today,
Melissa
Friday, June 21, 2013
Wednesday, June 19, 2013
Pockets to Fill
Today Rachael Anne over at Home Sanctuary challenged us to sit down and make a list of what we can do in 5, 10, and 15 minute "pockets" of time. While I have done this exercise before, I thought it would be fun to take my first floor main rooms and group some "pockets" together. Then I went back and looked at my last pockets list that I made here a few years back. What a fun comparison to make! I was in a different season and different home back then so I had a few things on my list that didn't come up this time. But for the most part, a lot of the things I listed were the same quick tasks as before. I just grouped them by room to help me maximize my pockets of time better. :)
Here's what my list looks like now:
In the Kitchen:
Load the dishes/wipe down the sinks
Wipe down the counters
Clean the stove top
Clear off the island
Wipe down the appliances
Empty the dish rack
Wipe the dining room table & straighten the chairs
Change the calendar (Wipe off white board, once a month)
In the Living Room:
Stack attack! (Sort papers)
Dust the phone table and the coffee table
Wipe down the phone
Straighten the book shelves
Check the answering machine for messages (Which often gets forgotten!)
In the Main Bathroom/Laundry Room:
Load/Move along laundry
Wipe down washer/dryer
Straighten counter top/wipe it down
Clean the mirror
Clean the toilet
Replace light bulbs
In the Master Bedroom/Bathroom:
Make the bed
Pick up any stray clothes and put away or in laundry
Straighten bathroom counter top/wipe it down
Clean the mirror
Clean the toilet
Straighten the towels
Other:
Clean out purse
File receipts
Clean out/organize a "junk drawer"
Schedule a dentist/doctor appointment
What a fun exercise and a great reminder that you don't have to have big pockets of time to accomplish Small Things that build Sanctuary in your home!
Here's what my list looks like now:
In the Kitchen:
Load the dishes/wipe down the sinks
Wipe down the counters
Clean the stove top
Clear off the island
Wipe down the appliances
Empty the dish rack
Wipe the dining room table & straighten the chairs
Change the calendar (Wipe off white board, once a month)
In the Living Room:
Stack attack! (Sort papers)
Dust the phone table and the coffee table
Wipe down the phone
Straighten the book shelves
Check the answering machine for messages (Which often gets forgotten!)
In the Main Bathroom/Laundry Room:
Load/Move along laundry
Wipe down washer/dryer
Straighten counter top/wipe it down
Clean the mirror
Clean the toilet
Replace light bulbs
In the Master Bedroom/Bathroom:
Make the bed
Pick up any stray clothes and put away or in laundry
Straighten bathroom counter top/wipe it down
Clean the mirror
Clean the toilet
Straighten the towels
Other:
Clean out purse
File receipts
Clean out/organize a "junk drawer"
Schedule a dentist/doctor appointment
What a fun exercise and a great reminder that you don't have to have big pockets of time to accomplish Small Things that build Sanctuary in your home!
Thursday, June 13, 2013
A Question of What Matters
This post is an entry from my hand-written journal on 6/6/2013...
This week Rachel Anne over at Home Sanctuary asked a question that I happen to ask myself quite frequently... "What Matters to You?"
When I started my blog "Seven Matters," I came up with the subtitle "What Matters Most to this Family of Seven." I started out by writing about the Small Things challenges that Rachel Anne would give us to create sanctuary in our homes each day. From there, I began to expand into the different activities, memories, and other fun things that come along with having such a big family. It became a "journal" of sorts. At the time I had 5 small children and I was still a full time at-home mom. Life was busy, but I always still somehow found time to sit down and write. I've always loved to journal, so this was a new and fun way to do just that.
Fast forward six years or so and I am in a totally different stage of life. I would say that most of the same things still matter to me in the areas of being a wife, mother, and homemaker. Now that all of my children are in school though, I have added titles like part-time-working mom, classroom volunteer, and taxi driver! I am finding it a little harder to sit down at the computer to write, so I've gone back to writing in a notebook when I find a minute here and there.
My youngest, age six, is finishing up kindergarten. Kindergarten! I can hardly believe it! I still remember the shy, reluctant boy that clung to my hand the first day of school, unsure of what to think. Every school day this year he has wanted me to wait with him in line outside the door until the bell rings and his teacher comes to lead the children inside. (As I type this, I did that for the last time today, and boy was it hard!) When it was too cold to wait outside, we would sit in the car reading until the bell rang while my other children would play in the gym. He's grown a lot more independent this year but I will cherish those moments together for many years to come.
My other kids are going into 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th grades next year. I can't believe I will have TWO Middle-Schoolers next year! Talk about independent. It's a whole new world, the pre-teen years. They start to question the rules a bit and no longer just follow along because mommy said so. On the flip side, they are developing more responsibility and character. Their actions become their own and they are, in my mind, great kids. The most exciting part for me is watching them grow in their own faith and trust God more and more every day.
So what matters to me? Family. That sums it up in one word. I can't make time stand still. My children will continue to grow and have birthdays and move on each fall to the next grade level of school. But one thing doesn't change. I am, and always will be their mom. And I love them more and more every day!
"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him." Psalm 127:3 NLT
This week Rachel Anne over at Home Sanctuary asked a question that I happen to ask myself quite frequently... "What Matters to You?"
When I started my blog "Seven Matters," I came up with the subtitle "What Matters Most to this Family of Seven." I started out by writing about the Small Things challenges that Rachel Anne would give us to create sanctuary in our homes each day. From there, I began to expand into the different activities, memories, and other fun things that come along with having such a big family. It became a "journal" of sorts. At the time I had 5 small children and I was still a full time at-home mom. Life was busy, but I always still somehow found time to sit down and write. I've always loved to journal, so this was a new and fun way to do just that.
Fast forward six years or so and I am in a totally different stage of life. I would say that most of the same things still matter to me in the areas of being a wife, mother, and homemaker. Now that all of my children are in school though, I have added titles like part-time-working mom, classroom volunteer, and taxi driver! I am finding it a little harder to sit down at the computer to write, so I've gone back to writing in a notebook when I find a minute here and there.
My youngest, age six, is finishing up kindergarten. Kindergarten! I can hardly believe it! I still remember the shy, reluctant boy that clung to my hand the first day of school, unsure of what to think. Every school day this year he has wanted me to wait with him in line outside the door until the bell rings and his teacher comes to lead the children inside. (As I type this, I did that for the last time today, and boy was it hard!) When it was too cold to wait outside, we would sit in the car reading until the bell rang while my other children would play in the gym. He's grown a lot more independent this year but I will cherish those moments together for many years to come.
My other kids are going into 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 7th grades next year. I can't believe I will have TWO Middle-Schoolers next year! Talk about independent. It's a whole new world, the pre-teen years. They start to question the rules a bit and no longer just follow along because mommy said so. On the flip side, they are developing more responsibility and character. Their actions become their own and they are, in my mind, great kids. The most exciting part for me is watching them grow in their own faith and trust God more and more every day.
So what matters to me? Family. That sums it up in one word. I can't make time stand still. My children will continue to grow and have birthdays and move on each fall to the next grade level of school. But one thing doesn't change. I am, and always will be their mom. And I love them more and more every day!
"Children are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him." Psalm 127:3 NLT
Friday, March 15, 2013
Siesta Scripture Memory Team Vs. 6
I can't believe I'm on my 6th memory verse already! That means that we are almost 1/4 of the way through 2013! Although I am glad that Winter is melting into Spring, it certainly seems like the first three months of the year have gone by in a heartbeat.
I know I didn't post my verse at the beginning of this month. I haven't spent much time on the computer at all, really. When my laptop broke down last month I was a little sad but it has been a real eye opener to me about how wise I need to be about where I spend my time. I have been spending way less time on facebook or playing my favorite game of words with friends, and way more time focusing on my family and home. It has been a really busy month so far anyway, schedule wise. So I took Beth Moore's advise and chose two verses together to memorize and meditate on this month.
Psalm 92:1-2 say:
It is good to give thanks to the LORD
And to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by night.
I can't tell you how many times I have looked at my note card and repeated these verses out loud already this month. Over and over the words resound in my heart. Give thanks. Sing Praise. Declare His lovingkindess and faithfulness.
I remember singing a simple praise song in church as a teen that goes like this:
I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter His courts with praise
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made
I will rejoice for He has made me glad...
The Psalmist goes on in Psalm 92:4 to say "For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands." Sometimes you just have to belt out a good praise song to the Lord and everything feels better! These days my favorite song to crank up the volume and sing along with is "Strangely Dim" Francesca Battistelli. The song is all about fixing our eyes on God so that everything else around us- all our doubts and worries- will fade away as we turn them over to Him.
Yes, He has made me glad. By all that He is, and all that He has done. By holding my hand on some days and carrying me through others. He is so good. And I will declare His lovingkindess in the morning and His faithfulness by night.
I know I didn't post my verse at the beginning of this month. I haven't spent much time on the computer at all, really. When my laptop broke down last month I was a little sad but it has been a real eye opener to me about how wise I need to be about where I spend my time. I have been spending way less time on facebook or playing my favorite game of words with friends, and way more time focusing on my family and home. It has been a really busy month so far anyway, schedule wise. So I took Beth Moore's advise and chose two verses together to memorize and meditate on this month.
Psalm 92:1-2 say:
It is good to give thanks to the LORD
And to sing praises to Your Name, O Most High;
To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning
And Your faithfulness by night.
I can't tell you how many times I have looked at my note card and repeated these verses out loud already this month. Over and over the words resound in my heart. Give thanks. Sing Praise. Declare His lovingkindess and faithfulness.
I remember singing a simple praise song in church as a teen that goes like this:
I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter His courts with praise
I will say this is the day that the Lord has made
I will rejoice for He has made me glad...
The Psalmist goes on in Psalm 92:4 to say "For You, O Lord, have made me glad by what You have done, I will sing for joy at the works of Your hands." Sometimes you just have to belt out a good praise song to the Lord and everything feels better! These days my favorite song to crank up the volume and sing along with is "Strangely Dim" Francesca Battistelli. The song is all about fixing our eyes on God so that everything else around us- all our doubts and worries- will fade away as we turn them over to Him.
Yes, He has made me glad. By all that He is, and all that He has done. By holding my hand on some days and carrying me through others. He is so good. And I will declare His lovingkindess in the morning and His faithfulness by night.
Friday, March 8, 2013
Company Girl Coffee
Good morning girls! I don't have much time to post today because today is a big day for us! We have been dabbling in an on-line business on the side for a while now, and decided to take the next step this weekend. We sell close-out spellbinders and we have an e-mail/ad campaign going out to 20,000 people today plus it will be on the Paper Craft facebook page. I am so excited and hopefully this will bring in a lot of business and add to our customer base. We stumbled upon this popular product quite by accident and I can't believe it has grown this big. It has helped us get through some tough financial binds, that's for sure.If any of you own a spellbinder machine and love to craft/scrapbook, we have the best deals around!
Check us out at http://saveonhobbies-com.myshopify.com/ .
Thanks for stopping by for coffee today! Hope your weather is as nice as ours...I think Spring might finally be right around the corner even though it's only 40 degrees out there. Have a great weekend!
Melissa
Saturday, March 2, 2013
A question from my phone
I took my daughter to a gi specialist this week. She has been having problems with constipation most of her life. I have two other kids that have similar problems. So my main goal of this visit was to be sure we are still on track with the right treatment. It was a good visit and I feel as if I am helping my children by educating them about good eating and bathroom habits.
However...I do need to change and add a few new healthy things to our diet. Fruits and veggies are essential but so expensive. My question to you is how do you feed your family healthy snacks and meals on a budget? I need some fresh ideas!
Thanks for you input. I appreciate it!
Melissa
However...I do need to change and add a few new healthy things to our diet. Fruits and veggies are essential but so expensive. My question to you is how do you feed your family healthy snacks and meals on a budget? I need some fresh ideas!
Thanks for you input. I appreciate it!
Melissa
Friday, February 15, 2013
Siesta Scripture Memory Verse 4
Goodness! It's already time for another memory verse. I knew a few days ago which one I was going to pick. I was listening to a program while I was folding clothes, and a verse caught my attention. I don't really have time to elaborate right now, but someone may need to hear this truth today as much as I needed it this week. The words come directly from Jesus and I heard them loud and clear ringing through the depths of my heart as I folded my children's clean clothes on my bed that morning.
“You did not chose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”
-John 15:16 NASB
"I chose you, and appointed you..."
Whew! I don't know if I'm the only one, but boy did I need reminding of that this week! I think sometimes we believe that it's the other way around. That we chose Him. We invited Him into our heart and that was that. But no, HE chose US. He pursued a relationship with us and is still pursuing us on a daily basis. That is worth memorizing and repeating and shouting out loud, if you ask me!
But not only did He choose us, He appointed us to go and bear everlasting fruit. If that means I need to fold the laundry one more time, then that is exactly what I will do! And while I'm at it I will be praying and asking for Him to pursue the five little blessings He has entrusted to me with the love and passion that caught my attention so many years ago.
I hope you know how much He loves you and is pursuing you today.
Blessings,
Melissa
“You did not chose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you would go and bear fruit, and that your fruit would remain, so that whatever you ask of the Father in My name He may give to you.”
-John 15:16 NASB
"I chose you, and appointed you..."
Whew! I don't know if I'm the only one, but boy did I need reminding of that this week! I think sometimes we believe that it's the other way around. That we chose Him. We invited Him into our heart and that was that. But no, HE chose US. He pursued a relationship with us and is still pursuing us on a daily basis. That is worth memorizing and repeating and shouting out loud, if you ask me!
But not only did He choose us, He appointed us to go and bear everlasting fruit. If that means I need to fold the laundry one more time, then that is exactly what I will do! And while I'm at it I will be praying and asking for Him to pursue the five little blessings He has entrusted to me with the love and passion that caught my attention so many years ago.
I hope you know how much He loves you and is pursuing you today.
Blessings,
Melissa
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