Simple Pleasures 2

  Since I have been reading Ann Voskamp's book One Thousand Gifts 

I have been compelled to take photos of something each week that is beautiful, that brings joy, and ultimately I give thanks for!  

I am so glad that I found Dayle's blog as the perfect place to share these Simple Pleasures with you!

While shopping at Aldi of all places I spotted these roses, for $3.99 for a half dozen how could I resist?  I bought two bunches!  I placed them in a rectangular vase bought from Ikea years ago.  They are sitting on my bedside table, while I am reading my devotional or One Thousand Gifts, their lovely scent washes over me!  It is most definitely a simple pleasure!

After Bible study the other day, my two youngest children stayed in bed with me and started to rough house with each other!  Their giggles and impish laughter is also one of my greatest pleasures.  What could be more simple, than the laughter of children filling a room? 

   One, a thing of elegance and beauty, with and intoxicating smell.The other, raucous and exuberant JOY! The two things are on opposite ends of the spectrum, however equal in their simplicity and  pleasure! Be Blessed!  <3 Paula

Punchki "Paczki" Day, and Observing Lent.

Paczki or "Punchki"  from Deerfield's Bakery in Schaumburg, Illinois.  A Polish traditional food for Fat Tuesday!  They are the most amazingly wonderful you will EVER have!

 

Growing up a Baptist, Lent wasn't something I ever observed.  My Husband grew up Methodist.  He grew up in a Church that observed Lent, but it wasn't something that his family regularly took part of.  

  In Christianity, Easter is our most Holy holiday, yet it's the most overlooked!  As my walk with Christ has grown over the years, I have continued to look for ways of making this Holiday the most important and special for my Family.  

  When my Children were young, we decided to not allow any talk of the Easter Bunny, around the kids.   Baskets were given by Mom and Dad.  We would dye Easter eggs and have even done a few egg hunts.  In search to make it more meaningful, when they were little we bought Resurrection Eggs.  We even tried to call Easter Sunday  "Resurrection Sunday"  but that just never stuck. It seemed to be one of those trendy Evangelical things, but after 25 plus years of calling it Easter.......Just couldn't do it.

 The eggs were great, they come with a booklet and scripture to go along with each egg you open. Inside each egg is something that tells the Easter story, such as a crown of thorns, or a nail.  When my kids were little these were a blessing.  They added meaning to an otherwise Pagan Holiday. 

   My Husband made a tomb out of Great Stuff foam.  We would wrap a doll in shrouding and place him in the tomb on Good Friday after church.   My kids would look inside all Day Saturday, and when they awoke to find their Easter Baskets Sunday morning......the stone was rolled away, his shroud was neatly folded and no Jesus inside!  They were really Little when we did this, and just LOVED it!

  I always make certain to wake them with...."He is Risen!"  I usually sprint out of bed, so that it is the first thing they hear when they wake on Easter Sunday!

  Here is an "Ancient" picture of our Family at Easter.  I love it because we are on the steps of the stage at Church, with the cross and Easter Lilies all around!

  Taken about 7ish years ago.

  My Children are older now, and our resurrection eggs just won't cut it any more.  They are looking for deeper meaning too!  As a family we have decided to celebrate Lent.  We have done this halfheartedly in the past...but this year we decided to FULLY partake in the Lenten experience.  Starting with our "Punchkis"  LOL.  That was just for fun!  

   Each one of us has decided to give up something difficult and personal to us.  We will attend my Husband's childhood church for Ash Wednesday service, receive ashes as a symbol of our mourning and repentance, offer our bodies by fasting and prayer as a living sacrifice, and each evening gather around our Lenten "altar" to light candles, pray and meditate on Christ.  

You can read more about the symbolism and meaning of the color purple during lent here.

   I found this Lenten family devotional   We are looking forward to starting this, and will continue reading through the gospels and memorizing scripture as we have been doing daily! 

  On the six Sundays from now until Easter, we will partake in Communion as a family,  Celebrate the Resurrection, and break our fast!  What a great way to celebrate our Savior and his resurrection! Each Sunday is like a "mini Easter"!

  However you and your family celebrate our most Holy Holiday....I pray it is blessed, and full of meditation on our RISEN KING!!  

Blessings!  <3 Paula

Thought I would Share a MAJOR PRAISE!

    God has been doing some incredible things in my life lately!  

    Earlier this week we got the news that after months of working on my Father's blood sugars, he was cleared to have cataract surgery!!!  I can't even tell you what wonderful news that is.  Two years ago, my Dad was diagnosed with Lung Cancer and it has been one challenge after another.  To make a long story short, he is on prednisone to combat inflammation in his lungs, due to the radiation from cancer treatment.  The steroids make the cataracts form more quickly, and my Father who once had perfect vision is now legally blind in both eyes.  He doesn't even see color properly now, because his eyes are so cloudy.  

This is a photo of when my Dad was going through Chemo and I gave him a buzz cut, because his hair loss was freaking him out.

Lexi and Grandad a few years ago at Halloween, with the sadly departed "Shelia"

My Dad right before he was diagnosed with cancer.

   God has been doing mighty things in our family lately.  I will need to take some more recent pictures of my Dad after his surgery!  Hopefully behind the wheel of the new car he purchased with my Mother and has never been able to drive.  :)

Blessings <3 

Paula

Reconnecting with God.

  I feel as if every time I write another blog, I reveal more and more of myself and family.  That isn't necessarily a bad thing....but not sure if it's a good thing either.  

  As a general rule, I don't tell people that my Husband was a worship leader at our church for over 8 years.  It leads to other questions, some of which don't have the easiest answers.  

  That being said...throughout the years we have tried to pray together or do devotionals together, and it always seemed to fall apart for one reason or another.

  My spiritual life has been kind of a mess for quite some time now.  You can read more about that here.  Maybe someday I will be braver and better able to explain what happened along the way that caused our spiritual crisis, but for now all I can tell you is the pull of God is so strong it is almost overwhelming.

  Yesterday, I was browsing my book case and it's plethora of Christian books and studies, and came across this one.

 

  We purchased this book many years ago, and never got passed the first day.  The book mark was still in there, marking our failure.

  Last night, after reading scripture with my kids, picking out memory verses for us to work on and praying together, I asked my Husband if he would like to give this another whirl.  He, as usual, was very open to the idea.

  I started by reading the preface aloud, and then turned the book over to my husband to read the first chapter.  At the end of the chapter there was a question.  It asked....What has kept us from praying together in the past?

  Now, I knew what had kept me from wanting to pray together in the past, but was too frightened to share it.  I didn't want to be hurtful.   I sat in silence, afraid to speak.

  He started to answer.....He said that there were two types of prayer that he was really comfortable with.  Group prayer and personal prayer.  He then stated how intimate personal prayer is....and how praying together is EXTREMELY intimate.  

  I sat there nodding my head....this is EXACTLY how I felt about praying together.  Truth be told, praying as a couple was "embarrassing" to me.  But, I couldn't believe HE felt this way too.  He HAD after all been the worship leader in our church for 8ish years.  He was used to not only singing and playing the guitar or piano, but he regularly lead our church in prayer every weekend.  Not to mention countless small groups and the other people on his worship team.  I thought he was IMMUNE to being embarrassed.

  Those of you who know us are probably thinking this seem ludicrous.  Neither Chris or I get embarrassed easily, and we are VERY close to each other. All of that is true, however, neither of us were brought up in homes  where it was an easy thing to discuss your feelings....AND as a general rule, religion and intimacy with God, or religious views amongst extended family has always proved to be a firestorm of trouble!!

  Fortunately, neither of us had a hard time sharing our faith and intimate thoughts with our children.....(at least that is something)  Truth is....once he and I both told each other that is how we have been feeling about this subject, the fear of it went away.  

  He prayed first, and I was able to fully listen to and enjoy his prayer without being anxious about what I was going to say next.  

  It was wonderful!  There are so many BIG, life changing decisions we may end up making, that OUR little family really needs to be united or it isn't going to work.  We have learned this over and over the hard way.  Now I think we have ALL decided we would like to try it GOD'S way.  

  I am linking to....A Holy Experience.  You can find Ann's page at the button below.  If you aren't familiar with her blog please stop by.  She has written the book, One Thousand Gifts.  I recently ordered it from Amazon, she has the first chapter available to be read on her site.  So far it is marvelous.  

     

About Me!

   I have been blogging for a while now and thought it was more than time that I introduced myself to everyone.  I copied this from my About Me page. 


This is me.  Paula.  I don't have many pictures of myself, because I am usually the one behind the camera. 

I took this picture with my web cam, the only other ones I had of me would NEVER be published ANYWHERE.........or were so old, I felt as though I was misrepresenting myself!

  




  I am a Christian SAHM, married to my High School Sweetheart, (who happens to be my best friend) and probably one of the most AWESOME men I have ever known!  

  Almost two years ago now, we sold our home that we lived in for 10 years. We  moved back to my childhood home to help take care of my Father who was diagnosed with lung cancer.  I am glad to say he is doing well and hasn't had to have chemo or radiation for almost a year now!  

  I was diagnosed with Grave's disease last December and then dislocated my knee cap last April.  I have been recovering from surgery to correct my knee since November......during which I have discovered the wonderful world of BLOGS!!  

  Things you should know about me......
  
  I homeschooled my children for 6 yrs.  This is their second year in the public school, and they are all doing exceedingly well.  I often think I might pull my Daughter back out to be home with her Mommy though.  She didn't get the same foundation her Brothers did.  Homeschooling my Children was the most rewarding experience of my life!  I get to say I taught my kids how to read, add and subtract, learn about God and the wonder of his creation, and instill a love for learning in each one of them. I miss it terribly.

  I used to Co-own a store with my lovely Auntie Sue (also my best friend) in Downtown Elgin, IL.  We sold all kinds of lovely creations.........hand painted furniture, pillows, homemade soaps, antique dishes, candle holders, hand crafted benches..........it was a great little shop, but God had other plans.  

  My Husband was a worship leader at our old  church for 8 yrs.  We left that church over 5 yrs ago, and have struggled to find a base church ever since.  :(  


  I am not very "CRAFTY"  I would like to be.........but I find it very difficult.  I have issues with my hands, and I get impatient easily.


  I am not super "girlie"  don't get me wrong...I love femininity, I love looking at pastel homes, ruffles, crystal chandeliers, floral patterns, chintz, toile, and over the top (girlieness)  I also invent words....LOL!  But in my home I choose things that are more Masculine.  I find that to be comforting, practical ( with my two football playing boys you would know why)  and just more well........"me"  My tastes are ever changing though...........who knows, one day my whole house might be WHITE!  First I would need to get rid of all the kids and dogs though....  ;)   


  I practically attack my children when they come home!  I miss them sooo much!  (Then they get home and start bickering and I want them to go back to school)  Ahhh the joys of Motherhood.  I ask them a gillion questions.....like 
What did you do today?
Do you have homework?
Did you have a good day or a bad one?
Who is your best friend?
Did you go outside for recess?
How was lunch?
What is your favorite part of the day?
Did you do anything FUN?
Did you talk to <insert friends name> about <such and such>?
Did you find out the grade on your test yet?
Do you have any papers for me?
Do you need money for lunches?
Are you following me............................I ask them about EVERYTHING!!!  and.........I Listen! 
   
  Lastly..........I am working diligently to find my way back into the arms of my first love.  To rekindle my love affair with the Creator, and nestle myself back into my Saviors arms.  This is probably my most challenging obstacle to face, because I am not fully certain how I lost touch with HIM in the first place.  My life used to be filled with abundant Joy and peace......then came the chaos, lately there is stillness and quiet.  You can read more about that here


   Things I love...........

  Thrift Store Shopping,Learning, Gardening, Baking, Cooking, EATING, Reading, The Bible, Christian radio, good music (that varies depending on my mood), My iPhone, Decorating, organizing, throwing things away or giving them to the goodwill, Painting Furniture, Entertaining, mercury glass, Mosaic tiles, anything sparkly, leather furniture, Autumn colors, paisley, tufting, wrought iron, oil rubbed bronze, bath tubs and bath oils, salts, or bubbles, Hanging out with the ladies in my life that make me  smile, spending loads of time with my kids, and last but not least getting quiet with my Husband, laying in his arms, and talking about EVERYTHING!  Best part of Every day is when I get to be alone with him.

To Thine Own Self be true

  I don't really believe in Resolutions per se........I do, however, believe in periodically evaluating your life, dreams, goals and priorities.  For a while now my priorities don't match my supposed belief system, and I am growing weary of the hypocrisy of it all.  

 
 Lately, I am feeling more and more like I am one gigantic liar!  Not the kind that tells lies to others..........a worse kind, the kind that lies to ones self.  I keep asking myself "how did I get here?"  AND FOR THE LIFE OF ME I CAN'T FIGURE IT OUT!


  When I was in my early 20's things seemed so easy and clear.  I knew the mistakes I had made, I didn't want to pass them on to my Children, and I loved my Lord with all My heart, soul, and strength.  


  Through a variety of trials, disappointments, family problems, and health issues, I Lost my way.  


  Don't get me wrong...........I haven't renounced my faith or anything like that.........I would compare this to a person knowing that they have been starving themselves for a VERY long time, having food in front of them, and either forgetting how to or refusing to eat.
  
  I KNOW I don't fully understand my problem in it's entirety,  even as I am writing this I feel overwhelmed by the daunting task of figuring it out.......I do feel that God has been slowly awakening in me some of my passion again.  I can't say I have been surrendering to all of his prompting...........but I can say that I AM trying.   My list of things to work on in this next year in no particular order are............

1.  Find a Church that is "thriving"  not too big and not to small and attend again regularly.  

2. Stop making excuses for myself, there are people who feel much worse than I, and are in Church every time the doors are open, so I can make it at least once a week.

3.  Be in the word daily!  

4.  Make the time to take care of myself or I will be of no use to ANYONE.

5.  Take time to be GRATEFUL each and every day.

6.  Speak softly or don't speak at all!


7.  Make sure my children have my time and attention..........BE PRESENT in my life.


8.  Make time to do some of the things that make me happy.


9.  Learn how to truly forgive the people who have hurt me, and continue to do so.

11.  Pray daily for myself and my family!


10.  Last but not least..........worry more about pleasing God and less about pleasing others.

 

  I hope that I haven't been too much of a "downer" but this is a step toward personal honesty.  Hopefully a HUGE step toward the God I love, and away from the Sin that is causing the great divide!  

Many Blessings to all of you this NEW year!

Paula <3

James 4:7 Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

New Year's Exhaustion......

  I should be writing about all of the soul searching I have done over the past month or so, but instead all I can do is "Yawn".  After 2 weeks of late nights and up early, and then later nights and up (not so early)  I am exhausted!!  

  When preparing the kids to go back to school after Summer break, I start a week or so ahead of time waking the kids early and putting them to bed at their proper bed times.  Unfortunately, after the New Year school goes right back in with only a day or two for everyone to recover.  


  Around Midnight my Daughter came into my room telling me she couldn't sleep.  Her schedule is all turned around.  The boys also said they had a difficult time getting to sleep last night.....poor kids are going to have a rough day at school today.  Praying they are doing better than their Mother because they have youth on their side.  I certainly hope they don't end up looking like this.....

  After rising at 5:30 to get my oldest off to High School, I got the younger ones up and off to school, and out of some weird sense of obligation...........I went to the gym and swam laps in the pool to aid in the healing of my knee.  While I enjoyed it, I am paying for it now.  I can't muster the energy to do much else.....I have been drinking coffee reading blogs and waiting for the caffeine buzz to kick in!  At this point I think it is hopeless.  

  I have a GOOD feeling that everyone will be in bed before 9 tonight!  Happy New Year all........  :)