Monday, November 3, 2014

"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" Review

We've all had bad days. Today is one of mine!

My daughter and I had the privilege of seeing the Disney film, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" in the theatre, and we really enjoyed it!

Based on the children's book of the same title, Alexander wishes his family could see how awful he feels when he has such a bad day. And in "Freak Friday" fashion, the whole family, except Alexander, experiences a TERRIBLE day! I don't want to ruin the funny parts for you, but dad's experiences in job hunting are hilarious!

This movie does a great job of spinning the bad day into a comedy meant for the whole family to enjoy.

I give this film two thumbs up!



#VeryBadDay

Monday, August 18, 2014

Musical Monday - When The Crazy Kicks In!

With school starting, I am feeling the Crazy start to kick in!
This song really gets me going, and helps me bring my focus back to the Lord!



I challenge you to have a quiet moment or two with the Lord, and then rock out to this song before the crazy kicks in! What a way to start the day!

My prayer is actually the lyrics to this song:
Dear Lord,
Here I go tiptoeing to the kitchen
And don't you know, crash goes the coffee cup
My only chance to be still and listen
Lord, don't let, don't let the kids wake up
A little time with You, the only way to get me through the day

Oh, come meet me in this moment
Before it all gets going
These plates start to spin
When the crazy kicks in
A circus of distractions
It's just about to happen
I'll be ready
the crazy kicks in

Pushed and pulled by a thousand expectations
And all the roles that I'm supposed to play
To hit the ground running's a temptation
But I have learned this lesson the hard way
A little time with You, the only way to get me through the day

Oh, come meet me in this moment
Before it all gets going
These plates start to spin
When the crazy kicks in
A circus of distractions
It's just about to happen
I'll be ready when
When the crazy kicks in

You got me, where You want me, even through the highs and lows
You know me, and You hold me, and You show me that You'll never let me go

Oh, come meet me in this moment
Before it all gets going
These plates start to spin
When the crazy kicks in
A circus of distractions
It's just about to happen
I'll be ready when
When the crazy kicks in

~Francesca Battistelli - When The Crazy Kicks In



Nature Soothes The Soul

We went camping this weekend. No stress, just hanging out together outside, getting to know a little more about the beauty of God's natural world.

We encountered so many wondrous creatures that my children could have had endless science lessons. We just observed these fantastic animals though, and talked about them a little. It was very nice. My kids have a list of questions we will look up later. But we just enjoyed being out in nature.

My ten-year-old daughter had to learn not to be afraid of the snake she almost stepped on by the pond. She was worried that a snake could get into our tent, and bite her while she was sleeping. I told her we have to pray that God will lead the animals to their own beds, and not ours!

There were many mosquitoes, that we prayed would stop biting us. There were the mosquito eaters, including other insects, birds, and bats. We saw bees, ugly bugs and beetles too.

Then there were the toads, frogs, turtles and fish. My six-year-old was very excited to actually catch a little toad! He now is curious about what toads eat. That's a lesson for another time, but he sure had fun trying to feed it some of his peanut butter sandwich, s'mores and popcorn!



We also encountered ducklings and their parents. There were two different sets of ducky families. The newborn babies were so cute and fluffy. The older ducklings were bigger, but just as adorable. My boys kept calling those the "teenage ducklings".
After spending all this time in nature with my kids, without the pressures of life to keep us crazy, our mantra has become, "Speak Kindly". I noticed we were all talking to each other in harsher tones than necessary for the simplest of issues. So, our souls have been soothed, and our tongues are attempting to speak kindly to each other, all because we just existed in nature for a few days.

"For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." Isaiah 55:12

"Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another;" Romans 12:10



Saturday, July 12, 2014

Camping Is Great For Families Getting In Touch With God

My children and I love to go camping!
I really enjoy being outside, and feel closer to God as we "rough it" on a primitive campsite.

We pack up our tents, a cooler with food, sleeping bags, and toys.
We spend quality time outside - having fun in nature.
It's great to get away from the stress of every day life, and just exist.
We fish. We ride bikes, play games, and sit around and read, and pray.

The kids are exhausted at night and fall asleep faster than ever!
So does mommy!


Here are a few of the items we bring with us to make our camping trips easier!













Tuesday, July 8, 2014

Feeling So Small

My daughter and I visited the ocean in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.
The sheer size and power of the waves made me feel incredibly small.

Then I remembered one of my favorite verses from the Bible...

"And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God."
Ephesians 3:17-19

God's love is higher than any of the waves, which were much taller than me. His love for us is wider and deeper than the Ocean, and the power I felt in those waves cannot compare with His love for me.

That was quite a powerful moment.