Join the Birthday Party Bash at Our Simple Country Life

Blogging is such a new a fun adventure!  I have met so many wonderful women over the last 10 months. One special lady in particular is Esther over at Our Simple Country Life.  She has encouraged me with scripture that points me back to the Savior, she has shared practical cooking, cleaning and organizing advice, She has had fun link ups about all sorts of things so I could meet other wonderful ladies, she shared her testimony this summer when her boys had an accident, and I was able to pray for her. I have admired her devotions and love for the Lord and how she is able to accomplish so much with such beauty and wisdom while raising a large family.  


Well, her blog turned 3 today!!  HAPPY BIRTHDAY !!!





I want to invite you all over to her blog for a fun celebration this week, and she is the one giving the gifts!   Check out the giveaway today, it is a beautiful card organizer from Dayspring.  I know you will be blessed to join the celebration and hang out with us each week as we encourage each other on in our lives and especially our walks with the Lord!


Blessings,
Denise

Happy New Year!

I love the "newness" (is that a word?) of a new year.  It is like getting a fresh start.  This year, one of the goals I have set for myself is to live out 1 Peter 3:4.



"let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in the sight of God."

How will I plan? 

My goal is to sit down this week and make a plan very similar to how I plan my homeschool schedule and goals I want my children to accomplish that year. 

I plan to write out all of the areas where I struggle with having a "gentle and quite spirit", and then write down how I can respond to those areas in a different way so I can attain my goal.  Maybe some will be to do something specific (go take a time out for 10 minutes, sit down and write out your thoughts, take a 10 minute prayer break etc..)  or maybe I will have a scripture that I will speak out loud.  Whatever the issue, God has help and guidance for me.

How will I know if I have attained it?

The best way is if others notice it in you, which is my goal.  However, if I have a plan, I can monitor myself on a daily basis and journal about it which gives me a history to look back on to see where I am and where I have come.  This is a tool I have used over the years, that I have let slip, but realize how valuable it is for me to do. 

I know I have other goals, like the old standby "weight loss", but I am taking baby steps this week and working on a plan with 1 Peter 3:4 as my priority.

What are your goals for 2012?

Blessings,

Denise

"Heart and Home Clean Sweep"- Day 2

This is my second day participating in the "Heart and Home Clean Sweep" that Esther at Our Simple Country Life is putting on this week.  She is so encouraging and has sweet words of wisdom from the Word to share.  If you haven't had a chance to visit her blog, you really need to, I know you will be blessed!

http://oursimplecountrylife.blogspot.com/2011/04/living-room-dirty-clean.html#comment-form

"But the end of all things is at hand, therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. 

And above all things have fervent love for one another, for love will cover a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without  grumbling.  As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God."

1Peter 4:7-10

The Heart:

When I went to Our Simple Country Life  this morning, I was so blessed and encouraged by the words and the scripture in 1 Peter 4:7-10.  Hospitality is not a gift that I have.  My house is never ready for company unless I know way in advance that they are coming.  I have always desired a neat and tidy home like my Mother-n-law has, but I haven't made the effort to keep it that way.  The words in Esthers message this morning resonated with me and listed many of the reasons why I don't have people over.  

When I proceeded to read the passage in 1 Peter more closely I realized it isn't a gift given to some, it is a word for all of us.  I don't have a choice, I need to be hospitable to others. Wait, there is more...I need to do it without grumbling.  How often have I complained that I always have to pick up after my kids or, I have too much to do, or my house is too messy to have anyone over, or my house isn't big enough, and I have many more I could list.

After today, I desire to make an effort to have people over and extend hospitality to others.  I don't know when or how, but I know that I want to obey my heavenly father and extend hospitality to others.

The Home: Living Room
After waking up with a head ache and then having a webinar that I attended all afternoon, I wasn't able to participate at the level that I had hoped.  In fact, I wasn't going to do it at all.  Then I saw that Esther had posted her pictures and shared how she was able to continue the challenge even with a busy schedule today.  That was just the encouragement I needed to get me going.

I decided that I didn't have to deep clean, but just pick things up a bit.  So I put things away, vacuumed the rug, threw things away and even dusted.  It didn't take me very long, and now I have 2 rooms in my home that are clean and presentable.  It was so wonderful  this morning to get up and see a clean kitchen, even my husband commented on how nice it was. It gives you a head start in the morning and makes you feel happy and less burdened.

Before

After

"Heart and Home Clean Sweep"-Day 1

This week, I am participating in the "Heart and Home Clean Sweep" put together by Esther at "Our Simple Country Home" Blog.

http://www.oursimplecountrylife.blogspot.com/

The Home: Kitchen/Dining Area:

This is my clean sweep of my kitchen.  I wasn't able to get to the pantry, because I started late in the day and continued into the evening.  However, I am pleased with the change that was made in my kitchen.  I hope to be able to keep my kitchen neat and clean like it is, at this very moment.

Before Pictures

After

This is how I want my kitchen to look everyday.

The Heart:

I love the message in Esther's blog at "Our Simple Country Home". As she mentioned the passage in Galatians, I kept thinking about the fruit of the spirit again (note:yesterdays post was on that same passage..hmm thinkk the Lord is telling me something?...I think so).  It is such a key to our lives, and how much happier we would be if we lived that way instead of in the sinfulness of our flesh. 

As I thought about the first fruit that is listed in Galatians which is "Love", I remembered that phrase people say "an apple a day keeps the Dr. away".  I thought of an alternate phrase for the believer, "Loving each day keeps satan away".  If we are living and walking in Christ we will be exhibiting the fruit of the spirit, it is just the by product of our life in Christ. 

The enemy of our souls can not destroy us, because we are in the hands of the Living God.  Satan can try and slip us up, cause tragedy in our lives and make our circumstances seem impossible, but if we are truly "in Christ", we will be able to stand against his schemes and continue on in Love no matter what. Oh, how I desire this in my life!

The Ultimate BLOG Party

Welcome to all the 5 Minutes for Mom Blog Party mamas.  This is 3D Reflections, and my blog is a place where I hope others will find encouragement in their journey raising their children with special needs.  My goal is to find the "delight" in each day not matter how small and share what I am learning. We homeschool our 2 boys; one with FAS and one on the Autism Spectrum.  My youngest is on a Gluten Free, Casein Free and Soy Free diet.  Occasionally, I will share a recipe, link to a favorite recipe blogger or tip that works for us in an effort to encourage and help others on their journey. 

Come in and check out what I have learned so far and I hope you will be encouraged!  If you are blessed by my posts, I would love to have you follow my blog.

Blessings to you and your families!

Free Give Away-check it out!

 

http://thecraftyclassroom.com/blog/2011/03/28/toy-boxes-more-giveaway/

 

 

Check out this website and enter for a FREE giveaway at the link I have included above.  They have some great wooden toys.  I saw some great things for pretend play and building vocabulary or working on speech for those with little ones who may be delayed.  I was thinking my little guy would love the rocket ship and the people they have.

 

 

Doorposts for your House

http://www.doorposts.com/

Last night, my pre-teen boy decided to stay home from church with me.  We began a study of Proverbs together.  This study is part of the biblical character-based training from the book Plants Grown Up Published by Doorposts.  It is a great tool to guide us in giving our sons the spiritual and biblical training that they need to be godly men. It gives bible studies, activities, discussions and projects to work on over the years to train our boys in different character qualities.

It was a joy to spend one on one time with him, reading the word and studying it together.  So blessed to be a Mom and so blessed that there are godly families like the Forster Family that the Lord has used to be an example and share the joy of living for Him.

I hope you will take some time and browse their website, I know you will be blessed.

Parenting Resource

I wanted to share this resource with all the parents that read my blog.  The mother who created this Child Training Bible was in a Bible Study with me and she is such a godly woman and has used the gift that God has given her to help other parents in training up their children in the ways of the Lord.  I hope you will look at her site and share it with your friends.

childtrainingbible.com