Why I smile :)

The battery in my van died.  It just didn't die once, but repeatedly died after being charged, jumped, letting it run and run, etc.  We didn't have the funding to replace it just yet.....Bethany is sick, started throwing up this morning and is very lethargic, pathetic, plain old sickly.....haven't had a chance to go to the grocery store this week.....Jordan is stuffy, could be headed towards a yucky cold...and yet.....I am smiling.
This isn't just a "paste the smile on until it's real." thing.  This is a true, deep from within smile.....
We stayed home yesterday because of the van, enjoyed time together to school, clean out the garage and move some furniture out of the garage to a friend's house(blessings on all sides!).  Beautiful weather lead to a picnic full of smiles and laughter.  Walked to Upward practice in the afternoon.  Great day to do it, great conversation with the kids while we walked.
Today, my sweet husband got up early to work on my car, one last attempt to not replace it but fix it.  Alas, it didn't work, but I got paid yesterday(which I forgot about) so the battery will be paid for :)  My girl got sick while he was on his way to the store...so he picked up all the stuff we needed for the day(lunch, sick things, etc) so I wouldn't have to go out later.  What an amazing blessing to not have to take a sicky out!  He also picked up breakfast for me, comforting me with what he knows I like :)  While he was at the store, the boys made chocolate chip pancakes by themselves as I cared for the girl.  Their sweet time together is something I will cherish....the messy kitchen a moment to teach through.
The van now works, so if we have to go to the doctor or somewhere like that we will be able to.  I have cancelled tomorrow mornings activities for us.....this gives up three mornings to be home, resting, schooling, cleaning.  Catching up on home life!
Now how can I look at His hand working in my life, providing things I need before I know I will need them and not just smile :)
Jer. 29:11- For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
He is in it all, I choose to see and, Lord willing, thank Him in every situation! :)

Multitude Monday

I haven't numbered my multitudes....I haven't kept track....and it is ok :)

Thankful for homeschooling...no matter how hard
Thankful for kids....even the annoying ones ;)
Thankful for healthy foods
Thankful for kids would love healthy food
Thankful for computers
Thankful for phones....keeping me in touch with friends far away
Thankful for typing lessons for the kids
Thankful for tutors
Thankful for the lessons Christ teaches me through my kids
Thankful for the comfort of my bed
Thankful for the availability of a doctor when I need it
Thankful for a car....especially when it works
Thankful for the realization that the day is going haywire and why
Thankful for opportunities to share Christ
Thankful for opportunities to share His love
Thankful for friends
Thankful for family
Thankful for work
Thankful that I am not washing a mound of clothes by hand!
Thankful that I have time to sit and write this list.
Thankful that as I write, the annoying parts of the day begin to fall into the proper order
Thankful that that order means they don't even need to be noticed
Thankful for mercy, grace and love
Thankful for my daughter's favorite friend, Nancy :)
Thankful for work.....no matter how hard.
Thankful for the reminder from myself(ha ha) to look up not around and to stay focused on Him
Thankful for the desire to garden
Thankful that it is a challenge.....perseverance in action!
Thankful for my man of God....such a gift.
Thankful for challenges
Thankful for life
Thankful for the bravery of friends as they rely on Christ
Thankful for the piano....even when it is too loud for me :)
Thankful for my church family
Thankful for by Bible study sisters
Just plain thankful! :)

longing to look

Studying Peter currently.  Last week we ended with 1Peter 1:10-12- "The prophets who told us this was coming asked a lot of questions about this gift of life God was preparing. The Messiah's Spirit let them in on some of it—that the Messiah would experience suffering, followed by glory. They clamored to know who and when. All they were told was that they were serving you, you who by orders from heaven have now heard for yourselves—through the Holy Spirit—the Message of those prophecies fulfilled. Do you realize how fortunate you are? Angels would have given anything to be in on this! "
So the last part about the angels in the New King James reads "Things which angels desire to look into."  another translation says "long to look into."
It is so funny, in the not funny ha ha way, to see myself and many others take His gift for granted.  When I accepted Christ, I longed to know Him more.  I often long to know Him more but then I allow life to take over.  I allow myself to be distracted.  Truly that is what we all do when we become distracted....we have allowed ourselves to stop hearing the still small voice that calls us to Him.  I am fortunate...Peter says it plainly....kinda reminds me of my kids.  I can't tell you how many times I have said "Do you know how lucky you are....Do you know how blessed you are.....how blessed our family is?!?!"  Now His word again, uses my words to my kids to say to my heart "you too are blessed and fortunate....what are you doing being unkind or selfish or any of the other many things you do that displease me?"   I am thankful I serve the God of all creation.  I am thankful He loves me deeply, forgives me mightily and that I don't have to long to be in on it, I CAN be in on it!
The angels would give anything, desire and long to look into these things.  It's a short blog today for this has stuck with me since last week.



If angels long to be in on this, shouldn't I long to stay close, stay near?

Christmas Miracle

Now I know we are into another year, full of promise, newness and goodwill.  However, I would be remiss if I didn't write about my own personal Christmas miracle!
It started as most Sunday morning prep work for preschool starts.  More holes than expected, more people not well, more needs I can't fill on my own.  If you are thinking I am feeling badly about this, I do not.  I know this is an area that the Lord has used to grow my faith and I know these children will be taught because we don't rely on flesh but on Him who is able to supply all our needs.
Anyway, I digress.  There are several young people, either college or high school, that help out in time of need but alas they were all to be out of town or just not able to help this second Sunday of the month.  I woke that morning knowing I would be needing several workers.  I specifically gave this morning to my Father, all that would be all that was for His glory, His use and asked for ways to show His love to the little people and adults too(of course). 
This morning I went to our youth pastor Ryan and asked if he had any students that would be willing to help.  He asked how many(I said 4) and that he would see what he could do.  I went back to checking attendance records and passing out snack and praying for the people I would need.  10:15 rolled around, that is the time we like the extended workers to be there to allow the Sunday school teachers to get to church, and I began thinking through the rooms. 
All of the sudden I look up and my little preschool foyer has SIX teenage girls, yes, I said S I X girls ready and willing to go wherever they were needed.  Their attitudes were those willing and wanting to serve, their hearts ready to go wherever needed.  It was AMAZING!!!!  As I watched them pile in and look at me, waiting for direction I knew right then and there this was really and truly a Christmas miracle.  Do not think I am saying this lightly I know we usually mean the gift of Christ as a Christmas gift and He is the most important Gift ever.  This morning though the need was great for our preschool department, the response even greater!  We had MORE help than we needed.  I walked around with a smile the rest of the morning. I told them all thank you, I told Ryan thank you....it just didn't seem enough though.  It still amazes me that He opens the floodgates and pours out unique blessing for His children.  So, merry Christmas even with Christmas day officially over for another year, and I hope your life is full of little Christmas miracles year all year round!

The little people in my life

Today's multitude Monday thought is on my kids. Not just my own kids but the ones the Lord has placed in my life and my kid's lives.

I am thankful for my 10 year old boy. Strong, learning to be courageous, follower of Christ. Curious, studious, easy to teach. Slightly bossy(ha), impulsive, too sensitive at times. Gentle heart, amazing artist, wonderful writer. Tall, handsome, shy, intriguing.

I am thankful for my 8 year old. Tough, sympathetic, caring. Giving, people pleaser, loving. Quick temper, quick to be unkind, holds grudges(and holds them and holds them and holds them). Story teller, sports boy, snuggler, lover of Christ. Tall, handsome, not shy at all, amazing.

I am thankful for the 5 year old..... Amazing, playful, seeker. Fun, imaginative, content. Disobedient, pusher of boundaries, seeker of her own way. Loving, snuggler, learner of Christ. Beautiful, tall, opinionated, fascinating :)

I am thankful for another set of three..... 8- friend to my boy. Playmate, best buddy, confidant. 6- friend to my boys, loyal, ready to play. 2- fun, loving, silly.

I am thankful for a big "kid"..... Tall, handsome, willing to help. Smart, loyal, fun. The "girls" love him!

I am thankful for yet another set of 3.......13- sensitive, trying to make her way holding to Him, funny, so easy to mess with! 8-she may be 9, I apologize! always ready with a hug, easy smile, fun to be around. 4- a mess, silly, sweet.

I am thankful for 2 special friends...... 11- beautiful, fun, genuine, sweet. 6- goofy, playful, kind.

I am thankful for 2 other special friends......14- funny, beautiful inside and out, partner in crime :) 4- best little friend to my little one, sweet, ready to play, not ready for overnighters though :)

I am thankful for 2 more of the girls in our lives......12- compassionate, kind, gentle, sweet, funny, amazing young woman of God. 9- impulsive, daring, caring, sharing, prayerful, silly, joyful, giggly seeker of His truth. For these two I will always have a special treasure in my heart.

I am thankful for another big kid........13- patient, creative, fun, seeker of who Christ wants her to be.

I am thankful for 2 friends hours away......8- tall, beautiful inside and out, growing in grace. 6- love bug!, playful, truth teller and truth seeker.

The list could go on and on but I must go get dinner prepared now. Know that I am eternally thankful for each child that enters our life, either to stretch my kids and myself or to be a comfort for a season or a lifetime to them. I prayed before they were born they would have great friends and as they get older and expand their boundaries He has given them just what they needed each moment.

I know I am thankful for the childhood friends I have, even when we only lived in an area for a moment. Each friendship has value and eternal consequence....I pray each child that comes through my children's lives will be positively impacted for Christ through us as well.

So with that I say goodnight and thank you to all who make up my childhood friend list, those who I still call friend now, and those who are part of my children's friend lists now.

Listen to huntifers Playlist

Thankful for a leaky roof?

Today is Multitude Monday, however, I want to do it a little differently today. The Lord impressed on me this weekend the need to be thankful for the good and the bad. Actually, I said this out loud without much thought until the words started rolling around in my head. So my list will be different, but in a great way, a way that shows how God is glorified in all we do!

i am thankful for a leaky roof......without that leak the roofers wouldn't have decided to go ahead and just redo the whole thing. A week later the hurricane came our way(several years ago), the house was not damaged, I can't even imagine what kind of water damage we would have had with so many week spots in our roof!

i am thankful for a child with dyslexia......through his struggle we both find small victories to celebrate. This struggle makes me more compassionate to others, makes me work harder at being an advocate for those who struggle, makes me rely on my Creator for all.

i am thankful for a daughter who pushes........she makes me seek Christ moment by moment. Through her obstinate ways, I see my own towards what He has asked me to do. Through the struggles and tears I recognize His sovereignty.

i am thankful for boundary testing...........this makes me stand firm and know Who I stand firm with!

i am thankful for a child that follows the rules......you may think this isn't difficult. Try telling this child he must do something in a different manner than another adult told him....you will then agree with me, this is not a normal thankful thing. But, none the less, I am thankful for this. It reminds me that yes rules are good, respect for those in authority over us is needed. It also reminds me to not be afraid to ask questions, seek full understanding(doesn't mean I will get it) and that thinking outside of the box stretches and grows him/me/anyone willing to do it!

i am thankful for a messy house..........though I don't like it, this makes me evaluate what I allow in my life to junk it up! Also it is an opportunity to teach, grow and stretch the whole family. I am reminded of our great blessings as well.

i am thankful for chores.........again, though they aren't fun, they teach order, respect and build our family connection with each other. By having these things we don't always like, it keeps things running much smoother.

i am thankful for friends that have moved........uggggg, really, I must find the thankful part of this?! It isn't really hard though. I am thankful that through these friendships I have been able to see Christ work in ways that would never have happened had everyone stayed here. It has opened my eyes to some unsavory parts of my character that I have not given over to Christ as well.

i am thankful for hard times..........I refer to money for this one. Without this struggle I would not be supremely thankful for each amazing blessing He provides, might not even notice them! Without this blessing I would not be able to stretch my dollars He's given me, I would not have to, so I would never have learned.

i am thankful for hard times..........I refer to both clothing kids and money. Without this struggle I would have never found friends that have passed clothes on to my kids. Through Christ's directing I would have never read about and then started own clothing swap. Without this, we would not be reaching out to each other but to things.

i am thankful for a broken kitchen........this one will be something I work on being thankful for. But I see the blessing in drawers that don't close right, doors that are broken, flooring that is so badly beat up it can't be fixed or mopped or anything to be "nice" looking. This keeps me humble. Humble in a good way, I must see beyond the artificial stuff and look into my own heart. The heart filled with pride, envy and discontent. I must see and seek His face for forgiveness, asking for a softening of my heart to be more like His, this is a hard one for me.

i am thankful for an incomplete house.......again, what am I relying on to bring me contentment? Will I not allow others to view my house or my life because I am concerned for what it shows? Will I not open my house to host those the Lord has told me to host because it isn't my ideal or what I deem good enough? I am thankful.

i am thankful for the hard lessons that have to be learned........they have shaped me and molded me closer to the image of my Savior. They have forged a bond between my husband and myself strong and intimate. They have kept me seeking Him, advice from other Christ-centered friends and waiting for His leading at times. The tears still flow freely, heartbreak still is heartbreak, but the One who holds my heart is still the One who holds my heart too!

i am thankful for more hard lessons......... I have had the privilege and challenge of watching terrible heartbreak in others as well and have seen it create beauty from ashes and glory from the gory(so to speak).

i am thankful for His plan.......I know this seems an easy one. But His plan and my own selfish plan do not line up. His plan is better, wiser and more amazing than anything I can even begin to conjure up in my mind. Though it isn't easy, it is beautiful, though it isn't tear free, it is peaceful, though it isn't for the faint hearted, He is my strength, though it isn't for those who choose the wide road, the narrow is full, abundant and most importantly He is there, walking, talking, comforting, protecting even when I can't or won't see it.