The Week Before School

It is the week before school starts and my heart is pumping with anticipation, excitement and nervousness. My desk is a reflection of all those emotions as i try to organize books, supplies and other odds and ends. One wrong move and i fear everything may come crashing down.
This will be my second day of maneuvering through the obstacle course. My goal is to get it done today before someone sneezes and causes the dreaded avalanche.
My husband and i are hoping to do some re-arranging and painting in the near future because the walls are in real need of some attention and a new layout might make better use of the area we work in. I also have to admit i would like to see some more color and a change of scenery!
All this work will definitely add to the challenge but i think we are up to it. With a little help from everyone it shouldn't be to bad.
Yeah, that is what i keep telling myself anyway.
Another welcome addition this year will be a new air conditioner!
One of the drawbacks of having a room with windows across the front and one side is that it can get pretty hot at times. In fact, that is one reason it has taken me as long as it has to finish my work in here-it has just been to hot to bear for too long.
The new curriculum is expected to arrive in the next few days. It is always an exciting day when new books and materials arrive; almost like Christmas.
What we already have here i have been reading and refreshing myself on and the more i do the more my excitement grows.
Of course, there is still the run into town for last minutes school supplies and i am not kidding when i say i am really looking forward to that. Yes, i am an office/school supply junkie!
Well, i have spent enough time talking about what i am going to do, now it is time to start doing it. Who knows? I just might have some before and after photos to share before too long...

Memories of Summertime

So my plans to paint this summer have fallen by the wayside. Blame it on the creek and the swim hole.
The kids and i have been enjoying the water almost every day, whenever the weather and schedules have permitted. While most people work in a garden i work on the creek, trimming branches and cutting weeds. My efforts have been rewarded with a beautiful place to spend many hours and make many precious memories with family and friends. I cannot complain.
My watercolors are in the same exact spot i left them earlier in the spring. They will be there when the time is right and i can start painting. Maybe then i can paint from memory butterflies, dragonflies and lazy days on the creek enjoying God's creation and the company of loved ones.
Those will be the best paintings because they will remind me of what awaits me next year and fill me with hope during winter's cold.

In our Hearts

"He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.

Whatever he does prospers."

Psalm 1:3

The whole family was involved with Vacation Bible School last week and it was such a busy week that i really didn't get the chance to share the progress Rachel and i made in memorizing Psalm 1.

Well, we did it! All of Psalm 1 is hidden in both of our hearts.

I am thinking about buying Rachel a journal to write our Scriptures in. I have one of my own and it helps me to memorize so we will see how it works for her.

Another thing that helps me when memorizing Scripture is visualization. For example, in Psalm 1, verse 3 really stands out in my mind. I can just see the tree and the streams of flowing water. I have done a rough sketch on paper to get the picture i want to eventually paint. For my post today i tried to find a photograph in my own collection to use in illustrating the verse but i could find nothing. This gives me a sense of urgency in making a painting the picture in my head. I hope to have something soon to share here.

So what is next for Rachel and me? It looks like we are staying in the book of Psalms. This time it will be Psalm 23, another passage that is rich with imagery!

Please keep in touch and join us as we hide God's Word in our hearts!