Piles

You didn't think I'd do it, huh? I'm one of those odd people who files AND piles, so I'm not sure what the experts do with that. I'll be the first to admit that some of my filing is actually just vertical piling, but let's not go there.

I had a friend in college who had this spot on the floor of her room affectionately called "The Pile." That was the first place to look for something missing...or even just something. Ah, the memories. So, not to let go of that, I've continued the tradition in my own home.

Most of my piles are revolving piles. The most visible pile really just depends on where you are standing at any given time. There is the kitchen counter/desk pile (very small after yesterday's sorting), the schoolwork to grade pile that often camouflage's my paper project pile (it's actually smaller than usual, too), the list pile (see previous post), the cookbooks to go through pile, the books to read pile, the pile of things for Mr. Tech to go through, and I think it's safe to say that Miss Rose has several piles of who knows what in her room. Laundry piles could count since they are definitely revolving, but they are contained and maintained.

My veritcal piles er..files are a topic for another post...another decade...

Now I've got the purging bug again. I might have to continue to post about my eye sores, because they are always better in a day or two afterward. Hmmm...in that case, the next topic is The Rose Room...enter if you dare!

Lists

I'm thinking I need a list to keep track of my lists. There's the daily list, the long term project list, the school books list, the kids' chore list (not sure where that is currently), the blessings lists, the prayer request list, the music list, practice lists, the grocery list, recipes to try and so on. I even have a "things that come to me when I should be sleeping" list beside my bed. Then there are those lists that get everything crossed off except one or two items, and then I have to decide whether to keep the list or find another list to put it on.

Tune in later for a post on Piles. Did I mention I have a small pile of lists on my desk?

Life Givers

Each time I've sat down to blog, I've had a more humorous post in mind, but it hasn't seemed to fit my day yet. The Lord has been showing me His Grace through other beautiful women serving Him, and so the lighter will wait for another day.

I've been reading "The Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp and was most recently touched by the thought that in giving thanks for our blessings we can then turn and bless others. We are blessed so that we can bless.

Have you ever noticed how when you really need to hear something that God shows you again in a different way? The last two days found me at our local homeschool conference, and I was blessed to sit in on Lisa Wilson's class called "Life Giving Women." My notes don't do the talk justice, but I could see the Lord weaving the threads together to help me see more clearly His plan for me, so here are some highlights.

Life Givers are GOOD: Right, beautiful, fine, and excellent.

They are BOTHERSOME. They go to God and pour out their needs and never cease asking. They ask Godly women around them to help them and sit at their feet and listen.

They are HUMBLE. Self-condemnation can be an idol. "Don't rehearse perfection as if it were redemption."

Life-Givers take Minutes and sculpt them into Moments. They create Atmospheres and Moments.

They seek ways to BLESS OTHERS.

They NOTICE others and their needs, which is even more important than praise. They LISTEN.

They SEE THE BEST. They know how to receive imperfect gifts. "A critic is one who leaves no one unstoned."

Joy blocks out worry and fear! (on the neurological level! You can't be joyful and worry at the same time!)

Life-givers believe the TRUTH not lies. They focus on the Goodness of God. If He has called you, He has equipped you!

"Taking thoughts captive is not a gentle business." -Elisabeth Elliot

Life-givers cover the sins of others with GENTLENESS. "A woman loses her power when she loses her gentleness." Gentle moments are marked as most percious.

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Recognizing our blessings....Giving thanks...Blessing others...Giving Life...Being light in a dark world. Calming the storms around us by grounding ourselves FIRM and DEEP in the Saviour's love, word, and power. He is our SUSTAINER, the ultimate Life Giver who gave His life for us--YOU and ME!

Words of Grace

Miss Rose has been studying Jesus, the Word and that words are so important that God himself came as the Word to show us the way. Here is her verse for today:

[Eph 4:29] Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.

Our evil tongues are tempted daily to utter words that tear each other down, but we can choose for them to bless others. Grace from our mouths to edify others. Words spoken in kindness heal, soothe, nurture, BLESS.

Spring is here!

This morning Miss Rose commented that she loves the smell of morning. We were on our way to an appointment and had the windows down. I couldn't help but think of the old Sandi Patty song, "Was it a morning like this?" Beautiful, perfect mornings remind me of Christ's glorious resurrection. I just have to think that it was a sunny, clear day with birds chattering, the perfect temperature, and the smell of spring in the air. If you've never heard the song, here it is...

Yikes!

I'm behind again. In short we've been...

going to camps
planning school
making messes
starting some school
rehearsing for a show
preparing for a music camp
making messes
planning a mini-getaway
painting a cabinet (finally)
putting on the show (this week!)
making messes
scrapbooking
reading
playing music
making messes

questionable activities:
gardening (aka weeding 101)
organizing
cleaning
decluttering (HA!)

looking for:
live-in maid
live-in cook
live-in handyman
(all volunteers, of course)
bon-bons (no nuts)
light at the end of the tunnel (no trains, please)
pot of gold at the end of the rainbow (in case I can't find any volunteers)
silver lining (this one is promising)

And truly, we have been praying for all of our family, friends, and friends of friends. There are so many needs right now, but some we pray for just because!

Love to all.

I'd be dearly amiss...

if I didn't share Ivory's latest adventure. We finally got around to cleaning out her cage, and we put her in her ball which has a slight crack in it. I asked Mr. Al if we should duct tape her in, and he reminded me that she doesn't run in her ball like hamsters do, so we left her unattended and went about our business and checked on her as we went back and forth...ball still in the same spot. She was chewing on her treat and scratching every now and then.

I noticed Miss Daisy in the room, and Ivory's ball was open, and I asked her if she had Ivory, and she said no. Apparently, Ivory scratched her way out and was nowhere to be seen. We started to look, and then stopped and decided we should pray, and so we did. Mr. Al and I started to look in his room under the bed, and Miss Daisy went to her room and not 30 seconds later, she hollered, "here she is!" Ivory decided to take a trip next door and was under the doll house. A quick word of thanks, and Ivory was placed back in her freshly cleaned cage. Whew!

Here's a pic of the dynamic duo in their old cage before A Rodent's Tale and A Rodent's Tale part two.