Thankful for Sickness?????

Well sickness has struck us this month.

Just when we think we are turning the corner the green river starts flowing again

The coughs disturb our good night sleep

Plans get changed or canceled

People stay home

And usually mommy would get anxious eagerly anticipating days of health to quickly return.......

However.......

God gave us this time of sickness for a reason..

To get me to stop

stay home 

deal with issues

Spend undistributed family time

 And this is exactly what we  I needed  for God to shine a light into some dark areas of my life that the busyness has hidden

This homeschool year has hit me like a semi truck 

Leaving me feeling D's

 discouraged, distressed, depressed and defeated

As soon as a textbook opens I become this extremely impatience, unloving, unmerciful, wretch of a mom and teacher. Anytime someone would ask me how I am doing I would give them a look of death and they would quickly respond " I will be praying for You!"

Oh dear friends... I am so thankful for your prayers because God answered them... 

We got sick...

We stayed home...

And God the merciful, forbearing, good Shepard shined His light bright....

And showed me that is it not homeschooling

Isn't not my kids

It is my hearts selfish grumbling and complaining attitude 

I would much rather spend my time from 8am to 3 pm daily

 running errands, cooking, crafting, couponing and cleaning

instead of sitting in between to little boys answering questions nonstop and some times at the same time, 

Being interrupted 100 + times while trying to read 1 sentence by a little girls who needs something new every 5 seconds

Stressing out when we are still doing school at 3pm!

Watching my house become a disaster of epic proportions in just 20 minutes and trying to concentrate on the lesson rather than the 5 inch think pile of crumbs on the floor

  

But you know what... Homeschooling isn't ABOUT ME! 

It isn't about MY wants  or "think I deserves"

It is about serving my children for the glory of God and to show them the Amazing Love and mercy that has been shown to me

by my self sacrificing Savior.

And this no matter how hard is where God has me right now

Who am I to grumble and complain against His perfect plan for my life

God say in James 1 :2-4 "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.But let patience have [its] perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."

God is using sickness and homeschooling to shine a light 

To show me all the work He still needs to do in me 

to conform me more into His image 

and so for this even though the pruning hurts it is for my good and I am thankful!

I began a women's bible study last month 

I am so excited because we are working on memorizing the ENTIRE book of Colossians and studying  Jesus

His person and work through various scriptures. 

Wow let me tell you what a difference it is having the word of God dwell in me richly these past few weeks as I worked on my memory verses which were col 1:1-10. 

When I start to get impatience, discontent, discourage, or defeated God has brought to mind Col 1 :10 " So walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please HIM in ALL respects, to bear fruit in EVERY good work and increase in the knowledge of God" 

This is my mission

 My prayer every morning, all day, through the interruptions,  and the messy house. 

I think this is now my life's verse!

My kiddos have also even through sickness enjoyed this time to slow down and stay home.

We released our butterflies but both of them had wing problems so they didn't get very far :(

One of the best things we did is all go out in the dark one evening and lay on the trampoline with pillows and blankets

Daddy read us a story by flash light

The kids told their own stories ( all ended with getting blown up or farting except Kaitlyn's story of a butterfly princess but they boys put there version in that too.. fell off the castle and died  :)

Star gazed 

Heard bats and saw an owl in flight!!!!!

The kids have been asking to do that every night now :)

Not to mention the time where we turn the music up loud dance around the house :)

Then the dancing turns into wrestling

Oh and another plus to these sick days.. 

I have learned all my kiddos LOVE to color

So yes I am thankful for the sick bug that doesn't seem to want leave

because

What memories we would have missed making

and

What darkness I would not have been able to see through!

Filled to the Brim

I don't think I could pack anything more into this week... it is filled to the brim at the brink of overflowing. However I took time this morning to sit at my Saviors feet and enjoy sweet communion. 


 While reading John 1:1- 18 I am reminded that The Word who spoke the world into being with just a single word in Gen 1:3  " Then God said " let there be light." and there was light.". He created light. Then he came into this world became the light to shine for men to see. He came to bring the grace, truth, mercy, and forgiveness from the bosom of the Father in heaven to us who are in darkness apart from Him. 

 So today and the rest of my busy week I pray that I remember the greatness of my Savior. When I may get worried, and overwhelmed with all the tasks to do I need to remember who my Savior is. The amazing work He did on my behalf. Coming down from glory to shine as a light for me to see, to suffer and die on my behalf. My Savior who created the world with a word and who while nailed to the cross taking the punishment of my sin was upholding the world still. Talk about a filled to the brink kind of day!  So who am I to think that He won't help me with all that I need to do this week!!!!

John 1; 1- 18
 " In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word WAS God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him  and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. and the light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not comprehend it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John, This was came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light,that all through him might believe, He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 
 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world. He was in the world and the world was made through Him and the world did not know Him. He came to His own and His own did not receive Him.
 But as many as received Him, to them He gave to right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name. Who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man , but of God.
  And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory. the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.
  John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying " This was He of whom I said, " He who comes after men is preferred before me, for He was before me.' " And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth come through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son. who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him."

Paper Bag Pumpkins

 Easy Paper Bag Pumpkins

in 4 easy steps

 All you need is

brown paper bags

Orange & Green acrylic paint

Beans or rice

Raffia 

Newspaper

1. First paint the bottom portion of the bag orange

2. Paint the top part green and while you have the green paint out paint the raffia green

3. When completely dry place 1/2 cup of beans or rice in bottom of bag then stuff w/ newspaper

4. Tie the top w/ the Raffia and cut the green top into 1 to 2 inch strips

Note I found these leaves at the dollar store. There are 50 in a packet.

My sister is spending the weekend with us so we are going to get our craft on :)

I Do

8 years ago today we said "I Do" it was a long road with many twists and turns that lead up to that day... You can read more about it here http://jennypetit.blogspot.com/p/quiet-times.html....

I can look back now and say I am so thankful for the winding road that had lead us to where we are now... And now I can say.....

 I DO... love you so much more today than I did then. 

It is amazing how you think you know what love is when  you say I Do but then it is through the trials, growing, tears, and years that you realize that love is not just a feeling but a choice to love no matter what you are feeling or what your circumstance are. You have loved me when I am being most unlovable. I thank you for teaching me what true love looks like. 

I love you my beloved.. Thank you for giving me the best 8 years of my life. 

I LOVE YOU!

"Stay- cation"

My Mom had the kids this weekend for 3 whole days... Mat and I had a "stay-cation"  and guess what we did... Rest, relax, sleep in and do nothing.... NO WAY.. Not us.... We got the crazy idea to start landscaping the back yard and begin getting ready for a garden... Wow that was a lot of work... 3 4 trips to Home Depot.... pulled out 4 very stubborn stumps. Mat made garden boxes. We planted bushes, herbs and an avocado tree. Yep it was a dirt under the nails kind of weekend but it was a blast cause we were together and able to work uninterrupted!!! Now we did go out to eat, saw Courageous ( Warning bring a whole BOX of tissue.. I cried like a baby! But is was a great movie!),

 and guess what else we did for the 1st time... Garage saleing... Wow I can't believe I just admitted that. We are getting old eh? Anyways after the deal that we got I am HOOKED and can't wait to go next week....

 Been looking at Pinerest too much still and have some fun ideas for these things!!

And this is what caught me hook, line and sinker

We brought $35 cash with us cause we wanted to make sure we spent no more than that.. So when I saw this beautiful chest/storage/coffee table  I was sure it was going to be more. But when I went up to pay for the other things like Mat's 13 books :) I asked how much it was..  When they said $5 dollars I was shocked and  asked " how much?" and again he said $5.. Mat gave me the look like" take the deal and run honey"..  That is what I did.. So with $20 still in our pockets we returned home with all you see in the pictures plus Mat's 13 books and 3 garden boxes.

It was a wonderful weekend with my honey and we were both very excited to pick up our kiddos today!!

I became a.....

Tooth-fairy tonight... A tooth has been lost for the 1st time ever in the Petit family history!
Who ? Jayden
When? Today October 5th :)
Where?  At Dinner
What? Lost his 1st tooth!
Why? Because he is growing and I can't stop it! :(
How? While eating corn on the cob his tooth was bothering him and then he said.. "Hey look mom my tooth".. He held up the little tooth and I started to get all emotional! Prior to kids I would have never thought loosing a tooth would be such a big deal.. but let me tell you it IS!!! So tonight He anxiously went to bed when we got home from church.. and I get to play tooth-fairy for the 1st time ever!!!

He was just a "little" excited can't you tell??

feeling fallish finally

Rain, sweatshirts and a cozy family day at home has made this fall day a great way to usher in October. October.. really can it be October already? Crazy. I have been bitten by the craft bug and have been searching for fun things to do with the kids in the next few months.... here are something on our need to make list....

Scrapbook Paper Pumpkins that we can use to decorate for Halloween and Thanksgiving!
                                                    

                          Cute little guy the kids will have fun making
                                         

We are studying forests and trees right now. My plan was to go to the redwoods this week but since it is raining we might have to postpone our visit... But this craft will be perfect to try tomorrow.. What kid doesn't love to get paint everywhere?? :)



My dear sister in law introduced me to the website.. Pinterest. Wow it it was love at first sight!! I can foresee many hours spent browsing.. My poor husband I already asked him if we can go antique shopping this weekend to try and find an old door, and old window. They had a wonderful idea for a corner shelf made from an old door and a coffee table made from an old window.  *Note this weekend my mom is watching the kiddos so we can celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary. I don't think Mat is too keen on the idea of antique shopping for our anniversary however..  :)
I love crafts but just lack the creative ideas on my own.... Don't have to worry about that now though thanks to Pinterest!!! and thanks Tiff for getting me addicted too.. Love you :)

Now off to start Pinning :)