New Seedling Growth and House Painting Preparation

These last few days have been a frenzy. Friday was my last day of work and when I officially moved permanently to my new home. Saturday, I spent unpacking while my husband power-washed the house to prep it for painting. The power-washer is a fantastic time saver since it saved us from scraping by hand (yuck!), but the finished product is hideous! I’m so glad these are the... Read More

Still Playing Dress-Up

Last week I ran across a post about a mom’s old flute that she played in high school and early college. She was saving it for her daughters to play, and she decided to photograph the memory. I felt like I could have written the post… minus the truly breath-taking photographs. And the band director parent. But wow, did it send me back through some memories… all... Read More

March 16 – Psalm 25:1

Psalm 25:1 NIV, Amp To You, O Lord, I lift up my soul. – NIV Unto You, O Lord, do I bring my life. – Amp So few words; such a huge concept. This verse stopped me in my tracks one day. I knew there was a small, nameless corner of my heart that I was withholding from God. How the enemy lies to us! Who better than God could take those places and bring light and life?... Read More

March 15 – Philippians 3:15

Philippians 3:15 Amp So let those [of us] who are spiritually mature and full-grown have this mind and hold these convictions, and if in any respect you have a different attitude of mind, God will make that clear to you also. This verse is SO comforting to me! If I’m off-base, God will show me! I do think we can be stubborn and resist, but if we want to know what is the right... Read More

Stovetop Spinach Artichoke Dip

My new Pioneer Woman cookbook has arrived! I hope to cook something out of it this week. I’m excited that she uses ingredients that are easily accessible in the Midwest. And, of course, I love her food photographs. In the meantime, I made Stovetop Spinach and Artichoke Dip from my Rachael Ray Get Togethers book. To borrow from Rachael’s vocabulary, it was yum-o! Moving... Read More

March 14 – Philippians 3:13b – 14

Philippians 3:13b – 14 NIV Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. He’s talking about not having yet reached the “know[ing] Christ” and becoming like Him. But don’t you love the “forgetting what is behind” part? Every... Read More

March 13 – John 14:21

John 14:21 Amp The person who has My commands and keeps them is the one who [really] loves Me, and whoever [really] loves Me will be loved by My Father. And I [too] will love him and will show (reveal, manifest Myself to him — I will let Myself be clearly seen by him and make Myself real to him. This is how we can know Jesus! Same principle again — as we obey, we... Read More

The List: A "Typical" Homeschool Morning

Each morning, I hand each of my kids a clipboard with a list attached to it. This list, folks, is a pipe-dream, a wild hope that they can manage to get through all of their assignments before 4:00. It rarely happens. But, after seven years of homeschooling, I still hope. And, after most-of-their-lives of homeschooling, they still react with shock and dismay to The List. Our... Read More

March 12 – Philippians 3:8a, 10a NIV

Philippians 3:8a, 10a NIV What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord….I want to know Christ… I want Paul’s passion to know Jesus, to be willing to let everything else go in order to know Him. It will cost. We can’t love both God and the things of the world. Jesus told us that. No man... Read More

March 11 – Isaiah 50:4b

Isaiah 50:4b He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. Just think, Annie — we can ask Him to do just that, and He’ll want to answer! I have these words right above my bed, but I forget too often when I lie down to ask Him to do it. To be awakened by your Lord — with a kiss or a whisper? With Him wanting to teach you,... Read More