Lessons from the last few weeks
As we go into the month of November I wanted to reflect on some lessons I have learned in the past few weeks.
The first thing is that I actually like my family, especially my husband. For the past month or two Carl and I have been able to spend LOTS of time together. I have enjoyed it so much. It is nice planning field trips together and taking our kids out to learn things. We went to the Ft. Fisher Aquarium this past Monday and then to the Museum of Natural Sciences on Wednesday. It was great tag teaming between the little kids and the big ones. Everyone worked together and we had a great time. Carl has had Army duty since Thursday and honestly, I miss him. We had a showing both days and it was quite hard trying to get the house in order with 8 kids running around. I finally resorted to buckling the little ones in their car seats in the van while the older kids and I rushed around getting the house ready. We have been learning team work as it really does take all of us to get the house clean. Every moment has not been all butterflies and roses. We have had moments of...discord, but I have come to realize that my family is pretty cool.
I have also learned that selling a house is one of the most stressful things you can do. Add homeschooling and 8 kids on top of that and you have a recipe for stress. I have found that the only thing that is keeping me from losing my mind is prayer. I pray while I am cleaning the house and getting ready for a showing. I am praying when I get in the car ready to leave the house. I am praying while we are out for an hour. I am constantly praying for the family that God is going to have buy our house. It is my lifeline to the containment and patience and joy in this whole process. The more I pray, the more I find myself finding joy in it all. I know that God is in control and that the timing of the sale of the house is in his hands. I am praying that His will is done in the house, not mine. I would have had a contract the first week but God knows what He is doing. He knows it all and it is all for my good.
I have also learned how awesome God is. He has been showing off to me the past month or two. He has just been showing me things in His creation that show me how in control He is and how much He cares for me. My God has shown me beautiful sunrises and sunsets. He has also shown me wonderful cloud formations with streams of sunlight shining down. Sam got so excited yesterday. It truly looked like the heavens were opening up and Jesus was coming down. Sam wanted us to drive to the clouds to see them better. We have been out more enjoying his creation with a trip to the mountains and a trip to the coast. I love the ocean but I coming to love the mountains just as much. As a family we have been really focusing on finding God in His creation and He has been answering that request. As Americans we tend to rush rush rush and when we take the time to stop and look around us and find God, He really does honor that and just reveals Himself.
I have also learned that this trip is so important. My children need this trip. I need this trip. Carl needs this trip. There are relationships that need to be healed and we have been working on that. When we went on the trip to Stone Mountain it was just revealed to Carl and I that when we remove all the distractions and really focus on our relationships with God, each other, and the kids that He really does honor that. Not being able to get online was such a wonderful thing. Now do not get me wrong, I love my phone and iPad but I love my husband and children more. They need my attention more and more and that is how God designed it. It is the job of Carl and myself to equip these wonderful blessings on how to stand up for Christ.
The fact that the house is on the market and we are kind of in a waiting stage is tough. That does not mean that Carl and I cannot start making changes right now. We have things that need healing and that is where our focus in right now. Yes, we are planning several little trips in the meantime but the main focus is on working on building relationships with God and our children. We have also had the hiccup of a surgery added into the mix. Alex is scheduled for foot surgery in a week and a half. His right foot is in bad shape and the podiatrist says he really needs to get it fixed. It requires 6-8 weeks in a cast and on crutches and then physical therapy and orthotics. It is actually an answer to prayer as we have known about his foot issues for a while. Praise the Lord that we could get him into surgery as quick as we did and that insurance will most likely cover this. God has just been showing me how good he is and that is concerned with the little things in our life. He loves us and wants to take care of us if we will just get out of the way and let him be in control.
I am excited to see what else the Lord has for us to learn on the journey. I hope that everyone who reads this blog is able to learn how good God is and that how much He loves us. That is my goal, that He would get all the glory and honor.
This November I want to focus on praising God for all His goodness towards us. I am going to be thanking Him for things He reveals to me each day. Today I am thankful for my parents sun porch. They have fans in the summer to keep it cool but in the cooler weather they have an electric fireplace that keeps it nice and warm and toasty all day long. Watching football on a cold, rainy Saturday next to the fireplace is a wonderful and relaxing. I am also thankful for a husband who is in the military and is willing to leave his family once a month (let's be honest - as an officer it is a lot more time that once a month) to honor his commitment to the military and help protect this wonderful country we live in. It makes me so proud of him and I love him so much. He came home from Army duty on Thursday and stayed up all night to paint the downstairs bathroom in preparation for the open house we are having today.
Take this month of November and focus on praising the Lord for His goodness. If we ask Him He will answer us and reveal to us all His many blessings. Happy Thanksgiving month my friends. Praise the name of the Lord.
The first thing is that I actually like my family, especially my husband. For the past month or two Carl and I have been able to spend LOTS of time together. I have enjoyed it so much. It is nice planning field trips together and taking our kids out to learn things. We went to the Ft. Fisher Aquarium this past Monday and then to the Museum of Natural Sciences on Wednesday. It was great tag teaming between the little kids and the big ones. Everyone worked together and we had a great time. Carl has had Army duty since Thursday and honestly, I miss him. We had a showing both days and it was quite hard trying to get the house in order with 8 kids running around. I finally resorted to buckling the little ones in their car seats in the van while the older kids and I rushed around getting the house ready. We have been learning team work as it really does take all of us to get the house clean. Every moment has not been all butterflies and roses. We have had moments of...discord, but I have come to realize that my family is pretty cool.
I have also learned that selling a house is one of the most stressful things you can do. Add homeschooling and 8 kids on top of that and you have a recipe for stress. I have found that the only thing that is keeping me from losing my mind is prayer. I pray while I am cleaning the house and getting ready for a showing. I am praying when I get in the car ready to leave the house. I am praying while we are out for an hour. I am constantly praying for the family that God is going to have buy our house. It is my lifeline to the containment and patience and joy in this whole process. The more I pray, the more I find myself finding joy in it all. I know that God is in control and that the timing of the sale of the house is in his hands. I am praying that His will is done in the house, not mine. I would have had a contract the first week but God knows what He is doing. He knows it all and it is all for my good.
I have also learned how awesome God is. He has been showing off to me the past month or two. He has just been showing me things in His creation that show me how in control He is and how much He cares for me. My God has shown me beautiful sunrises and sunsets. He has also shown me wonderful cloud formations with streams of sunlight shining down. Sam got so excited yesterday. It truly looked like the heavens were opening up and Jesus was coming down. Sam wanted us to drive to the clouds to see them better. We have been out more enjoying his creation with a trip to the mountains and a trip to the coast. I love the ocean but I coming to love the mountains just as much. As a family we have been really focusing on finding God in His creation and He has been answering that request. As Americans we tend to rush rush rush and when we take the time to stop and look around us and find God, He really does honor that and just reveals Himself.
I have also learned that this trip is so important. My children need this trip. I need this trip. Carl needs this trip. There are relationships that need to be healed and we have been working on that. When we went on the trip to Stone Mountain it was just revealed to Carl and I that when we remove all the distractions and really focus on our relationships with God, each other, and the kids that He really does honor that. Not being able to get online was such a wonderful thing. Now do not get me wrong, I love my phone and iPad but I love my husband and children more. They need my attention more and more and that is how God designed it. It is the job of Carl and myself to equip these wonderful blessings on how to stand up for Christ.
The fact that the house is on the market and we are kind of in a waiting stage is tough. That does not mean that Carl and I cannot start making changes right now. We have things that need healing and that is where our focus in right now. Yes, we are planning several little trips in the meantime but the main focus is on working on building relationships with God and our children. We have also had the hiccup of a surgery added into the mix. Alex is scheduled for foot surgery in a week and a half. His right foot is in bad shape and the podiatrist says he really needs to get it fixed. It requires 6-8 weeks in a cast and on crutches and then physical therapy and orthotics. It is actually an answer to prayer as we have known about his foot issues for a while. Praise the Lord that we could get him into surgery as quick as we did and that insurance will most likely cover this. God has just been showing me how good he is and that is concerned with the little things in our life. He loves us and wants to take care of us if we will just get out of the way and let him be in control.
I am excited to see what else the Lord has for us to learn on the journey. I hope that everyone who reads this blog is able to learn how good God is and that how much He loves us. That is my goal, that He would get all the glory and honor.
This November I want to focus on praising God for all His goodness towards us. I am going to be thanking Him for things He reveals to me each day. Today I am thankful for my parents sun porch. They have fans in the summer to keep it cool but in the cooler weather they have an electric fireplace that keeps it nice and warm and toasty all day long. Watching football on a cold, rainy Saturday next to the fireplace is a wonderful and relaxing. I am also thankful for a husband who is in the military and is willing to leave his family once a month (let's be honest - as an officer it is a lot more time that once a month) to honor his commitment to the military and help protect this wonderful country we live in. It makes me so proud of him and I love him so much. He came home from Army duty on Thursday and stayed up all night to paint the downstairs bathroom in preparation for the open house we are having today.
Take this month of November and focus on praising the Lord for His goodness. If we ask Him He will answer us and reveal to us all His many blessings. Happy Thanksgiving month my friends. Praise the name of the Lord.
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