21 Graces: Week Five

     I've always admired those faithful people who are counting a thousand blessings.  I thought about attempting it from time to time.  But,  recording 1,000 blessings seemed a little overwhelming.  I'm good at accepting blessings, but to write them down was another story.  That's why when I saw the idea behind 21 Graces, I was excited to jump in.  Everyday I note three things which blessed me.  That's it, just three things.  At the end of the week there are 21 Graces.  So simple.  God always blesses me with far more than three each day.

     Friend, you are welcome to join in on the fun.  Visit Jordy Liz Blogs to link up or to find out more.

1. My son, Brian,  came to visit for the long weekend.
2. Brian replaced some of the light switches in the house for us.
   
3. A second trip to the Renaissance Fair.
4. The generous heart of my youngest son, Connor, who gave $1.00 to Robin Hood because the actor said he needed money for the poor.
5. An inspiring Convocation speech from our new Superintendent for the opening of the school year.
6. Productive meetings for the first few days and time to add the last touches to our classrooms before the students come on Friday.
7. Continuing work on projects around the house.  We are beginning to see some things coming together.  So exciting.
8. A little frog sitting in a mud puddle enjoying the day.
9. We built a small fire pit in our backyard with leftover pavers.  Camp fires at home!
10. We had s'mores!!!!
11. Building a fire in the fire pit is like an open invitation to the kids to stop whatever they are doing and come sit with Mom.  
12. Reviewing a new book by Misty Leask.  The book is Dear Wife.
13. Giving a friend a picture that I took of her and her puppy. 
14. Passing an art picture on to a friend who will appreciate it.
15. Changing our bedspread for Fall.
16. Listening to my boys laughing together.
17. Making a new friend at school.
18. A thoughtful husband.
19. Encouraging others to sponsor a child through Compassion International.
20. Watching our chickens peck and scratch on the lawn.  The girls won't eat earthworms.  I thought all chickens ate worms.  If you have chickens - do yours?
    
21. This.

21 Graces: Week 4

     I've always admired those faithful people who are counting a thousand blessings.  I thought about attempting it from time to time.  But,  recording 1,000 blessings seemed a little overwhelming.  I'm good at accepting blessings, but to write them down was another story.  That's why when I saw the idea behind 21 Graces, I was excited to jump in.  Everyday I note three things which blessed me.  That's it, just three things.  At the end of the week there are 21 Graces.  So simple.  God always blesses me with far more than three each day.
     Friend, you are welcome to join in on the fun.  Visit Jordy Liz Blogs to link up or to find out more.

1. Root Beer Floats
2. County Fairs
3. Getting an unexpected check in the mail.
4. Talking to my adult son on the phone.
5. Baby robins.
6. Red converse sneakers.
7. My entry closet remodel!   Soon to be posted.
   
8. Purging the basement of lost, broken, and forgotten items.
9. Finding a brand new Kitchen Aid Mixer on Craigslist for $100.00!  The twist tie wasn't even off of the cord and the beaters were still wrapped in the packing paper.  So excited!
10. Receiving a letter from my Compassion Child, Jimi in Indonesia.
11. First day of college for my daughter!  
12. The wonder of a fresh coat of paint.
13. Getting to see baby turtles newly hatched from their eggs.  So perfect.
14. A dentist who actually listens to me!
15. Getting some projects completed around the house.
16. Finding the perfect material for the seats of my dining room chairs.
17. A dinner prepared with love for our family.
18. My son telling me, "You are usually helpful, Mom."
19. My husband tucking the blankets around me when he gets up for his early morning walk.
20. That first amazing sip of coffee in the morning.
21. Chicken eggs warm from the nest.

     Be true to yourself, help others, make each day your masterpiece, make friendship a fine art, drink deeply from good books -  especially the Bible, build a shelter against a rainy day, give thanks for your blessings and pray for guidance every day.  ~John Wooden

Of Prom Dresses and Chickens

      Patty's Senior Prom was during the last week of June.  When her date arrived, the chickens ran into the front yard to see if there would be any handouts for them!  Not everybody has chickens in their prom pictures.

      Patty looked beautiful.  Her dress was perfect.  It had just enough sparkle for her to feel like a princess.

     Patty pinning the white rose boutonniere on her date's lapel.  

     Her wrist corsage of lovely white roses.

      Patty outside the prom venue.  She was ready for an evening of dancing and fun.

Rise and Shine

     Saturday the McMorrow family got up at about 4:30 in the morning.   We went to the Walkway Over the Hudson to see fifteen beautiful hot air balloons launch from the riverbank.
     Pat and I wanted to surprise the kids so we didn’t tell them why they were being dragged from their beds so early on a summer Saturday morning.  There were more than a few groans.  Anthony sleepily pointed out that we were up before our chickens.

    What is it that makes hot air balloons so fascinating?  Is it their ability to defy gravity so effortlessly?  A hot air balloon is made up of three simple parts - the balloon, the burner, and the basket.     The burner warms the air that is blown into the balloon and because warm air is lighter than cool air, the balloon is able to rise up into the sky. 

     Many of the balloons flew over the river and then dropped down to touch the water.  Those fortunate to be in the boats and kayaks clustered on the river had an amazing, up close, and personal view.

     I was thinking, we could be like these balloons.  We could be filled with the warm breath of God, stretched taunt, and lighter than air, casting off the tethers that hold us down, lifting and soaring as He directs.  

     We could dip into the water of the Holy Spirit, allowing others to see our good works and give glory to God.

     And when we are deflated and depleted of His power and anointing, when we feel like we have been poured out and empty;  we could allow Him to fill us again.  Because being filled with God is not a one time thing, but rather a lifetime of repeated refilling with His Word and His Spirit.

 The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.
  ~Romans 8:11

       So, as we were making our way back to the car, I told Anthony the reason I woke him up so early.    God invites us to fly with the eagles, not to scratch with the chickens.

Index Card A Day: Chicken

     Daisy Yellow is hosting a challenge for the months of June and July.  The challenge is to create something on an index card every day for 61 days!  Doesn't that sound like a whole lot of fun?  The project started on June 1, but you can jump in at any time.  It's already the middle of June, so I am starting late.  But this is for fun.  I likely won't make all the rest of the days either.  School is ending and there are tests, projects, celebrations, and a trip to Virginia in the middle.
     Visit Daisy Yellow for the details.  There are themes and suggestions, but what you do is really up to you.  There is also a Facebook Group.  So break out the paints, crayons, colored pencils, and modge podge!  Have fun!
     Here is my first index card.

     Most people are using 3 x 5 index cards.  I opted to use 4 x 6 index cards, because they fit in my Project Life photo album better.
     For my Chicken Card I modgepodged old scripture pages, green mulberry paper, a few chicken feathers, and a pencil sketch of one of our girls.  It looks like the modgepodge is still a little wet!
     You can read about our chickens here.

One Year Blogaversary

     One year ago today I began the Holimess  blog.   It has been a wonderful year.  When I put my first post up. I really wasn't sure there would be a second.  I just prayed that God would use this little blog as He saw fit.  Holimess is a Christian blog.  There are occasional recipes, craft projects, and children's stories, but for the most part, Holimess is about seeing God in the midst of our ordinary, everyday lives.  I wasn't sure that was the direction I would go, after all the big popular blogs are lifestyle-design-decorator type blogs, but I am beginning to recognize that He is what I write about.
     Here is an assortment of posts that stand out for me from this year.

     Opus 40, a post about Fall Camping with my family was my very first post.

     One of my favorite posts was I Believe.  That post was based on a quote by Audrey Hepburn.  "I believe in pink.  I believe that laughing is the best calorie burner...."

     Another one of my favorite posts is Return to Me which features my Dad.

     My most read post is Enchanted: Milk Glass Snack Plates.  I purchased these beautiful milk glass plates at our local Good Will.

     During the month of September, I blogged about Compassion International.

     I Wear Pink was a thirty one day series in October on my journey with Breast Cancer linked up at the Nesting Place.  I am a three year survivor.

     I'm looking forward to see where Holimess goes this year.

     Thank you my friends for making this year so special for me.  You are amazing and I am so grateful to have met you.

Gifts

      If you are just stopping in, this is the twenty eighth post in my 31 Day Series:  I Wear Pink.  I was diagnosed with breast cancer on February 18, 2009.   This series is about my journey with breast cancer.  You can find the previous posts here.

Day 28:  Gifts

      I was diagnosed with breast cancer on February 18, 2009.  Now more than three years later I am cancer free.   I take medication daily and an IV medication every six months.  Life is sweet and I am so grateful for the life I have been given.

     I wanted to express my thankfulness to God for taking me through that fire with an action involving Compassion International.  My husband and I talked about what we could do.  We discovered our answer right at our feet.  Literally.      

     Our chickens were gathered about eating spaghetti.  The girls love spaghetti.  You can read about our girls here.  We decided that we would purchase chickens for families through Compassion.

      Chickens give children and families a lasting source of nutrition and income. Fresh eggs raise the levels of protein and other nutrients in a family’s diet, and the sale of extra eggs and chickens can pay for vital basics.

     We managed to gift eight chickens.  Compassion International just put out their new Gift Catalog and chickens are no longer in it!   Instead, we will make a contribution on the 18th to help a malnourished child survive through emergency feeding.  Many children living in extreme poverty do not know where their next meal will come from.  In this way we can continue to express our thanks to God.

Source

     I appreciate the gift that I have been given.  How do you show your appreciation to God?

I Believe

 

I believe in hugs.

I believe in keeping your wedding vows.

I believe in paying compliments to complete strangers.
I believe in my GPS, which my husband programmed to speak like Pepe Le Pew, ma cherie.
I believe in the reckless redeeming love of Jesus.
I believe in growing old with my husband.

I believe in saying "I love you," everyday.
I believe in coffee - truly, madly, deeply.
I believe in  Super Hero's.
I believe I love reading books on my Kindle.
I believe in date night with your husband.
I believe in chickens.

I believe that children live up to our expectations.
I believe in the magic of Christmas.
I believe in family.

I believe in kayaking across quiet lakes in the summer.
I believe that my actions can be a ripple in a pond.

I believe in smore's made with graham crackers, marshmallow, and peanutbutter cups.  Yum!
I believe in rescuing children from poverty through Compassion International.

I believe in miracles.
I believe God loves my children even more than I do, and I love them lots.
I believe that you really can hear the ocean in a sea shell.

I believe in coffee.  I may have mentioned this already.
I believe in buying shoes and great bags.

I believe in planning to be spontaneous.
I believe in saying "Merry Christmas," instead of "Happy Holidays."
I believe in helping others with no expectation of anything in return.

The eternal God is your refuge,  and underneath are the everlasting arms.                     ~Deuteronomy 33:27

What do your believe in?

Linking up with Erin at Living in Yellow.  Fabulous idea for a linky post!

Peepsqueak!

     As a parent and a teacher in an elementary school I am fortunate to get to read books with children.  Sometimes I even decide to read them with adults.  I shared Peepsqueak by Leslie Ann Clark with our church family on Sunday morning, assigning parts to audience sections.  

Audience Parts:  Right:  up, Up, UP 

                           Left:  down, Down, DOWN  

                          Middle:  into the soft green grass  

                          Because WHY?  All: He was on the move!

                                              

     If you are reading this book as a family or as a class you may wish to assign parts as well. 

     As soon as little Peepsqueak popped out of his shell, he was on the move.  He was determined to fly way up high.  Peepsqueak persisted despite other barnyard animals discouraging remarks.  Eventually with the help of a friend, Peepsqueak succeeds. 

The big stone wall looked like the perfect place to take off.  Peepsqueak jumped up, up, up!  And then he fell down, down, down  into the soft green grass.  My oh my! bleated Big Sheep.  You can’t fly high!

But Peepsqueak did not listen.

Because why?  He was on the move!    From Peepsqueak

     Have you ever wondered like Peepsqueak what it would be like to fly?  Wouldn’t it be cool to soar above the earth, bank over a forest, skim over rivers, dance through the clouds or dart through canyons effortlessly?  

Unfortunately, for us like Peepsqueak we have to deal with gravity.  We climb up and we fall down.  We have things that weigh us down.  There are problems and tests, bullies and people who say that we can’t, sickness and worries, pain and loss.  

 "To whom will you compare me?  Of who is my equal?" says the Holy One.  Who created all these?  He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name.  Because of His great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.  Do you not know?  Have you not heard?   The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.  He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.  Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;  but hose who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.  They will soar on wings like eagles;   ~Isaiah 40:25-31

     God wants us to soar on wings like eagles, or like Peepsqueak on Old Gray Goose.  When we entrust our lives to Jesus everything is changed.  God is bigger than any problem that weighs us down.  He draws us upward in faith and grace.  We no longer face our problems alone.  We no longer fall down, down, down.  He is with us and that gives us the strength to continue.  We will soar on wings like an eagle when we find our hope in Christ.  And maybe we’ll walk on the waves of pond water to His outstretched hand.  Because why?  He is on the move!

     How will you soar today?

     Leslie Ann Clark, and for that matter, Amazon, do not know me at all.  I am not being paid to mention this adorable book.  All opinions expressed are my own.