The Hills are Alive!

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.

ch...ch...ch...Changes!

With all the changes in my life these days i felt it was time to change the look of my blog too. It is something i have wanted to do for a while but i just figured i didn't have the time or it would be too complicated for my technologically unadvanced mine. Was i glad to be proven wrong.
Now this change was not something i took lightly. First, i scrolled through as many backgrounds as i could find. Some were a little too fancy for my taste. Others just didn't appeal to me at all. Then i came across the one you see here. I loved it because it reminded me of the elements of nature that i love so much: water, earth and sky. As you can probably tell from the pictures i post i love being outside. When i listen to the wind in the trees and watch water flow and cascade over rocks or observe butterflies frolic among the flowers i believe God is maybe showing off for me a bit and teaching me valuable lessons as i explore this world around me.
Even the colors i chose represent aspects of nature, like brown for soil, purple and pink for the sky as it changes color in the early morning and as the sun goes down in the evening.
The Scripture i placed under the title is an answer to prayer. New Year's Eve morning during my quiet time i asked God to give me verses of encouragement for the new year. Minutes after saying that prayer i came across Zephaniah 3:17 in my Bible study. "The Lord your God in your midst, The Mighty One, will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing."
Reading it that first time was enough to convince me this was God's answer. I have written it in my journal, printed it on my calendar and i even posted it on my Facebook wall. It has come encouraged me in so many ways as i think of God standing beside me, rescuing me, rejoicing over me and singing over me. Now i can definitely dance to that!
Speaking of dancing, do you hear that music? Yes, i also got my playlist to play like i want it to. Yay!
As i have mentioned before i do love music...all kinds of music. And this is a small sampling of some of my favorites. The titles will probably change from time to time and i do hope to share my thoughts on the different songs. That is something i had intended to do anyway but have not kept up with it like i had hoped. Looks like another change is about to take place.
Well, that appears to be it for now...but you never know with change. If and when that might change i will let you know.

Got Passion?

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"And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him." Colossians 3:17 Question #2: Interests and passions: What do you enjoy doing most? If you had a free day to yourself, what would you be found doing? It comes as no suprise that my interests and passions all invlove using the gifts, talents and skills listed in my answer to the first question. Exhortation and service: i love listening to people as they speak. I really am interested in hearing their stories,hopes and anything else they want to share. I used to wish i talked more but i am starting to realize that sometimes people just want to be heard. They aren't necessarliy looking for me to come back with answers or quick responses. I thank Jeremy and Tonya for helping me come to this realization. Being a listener helps me to better serve, which is something else i love to do. I also love to read. Fiction,non-fiction,biographical,poetry...you name it i'll read it! Books are like friends to me. They teach and inspire me. Then there is my love for music, dance, writing, photography, creating and nature. Could i fit all of this into just one day? If i sit here much longer i am sure i can think of more to add to this list but it has been fun to think about. The sad thing is that it has taken this challenge to help me consider my passions. After so many years of trying to be what i thought others thought i should be i lost sight of who God created me to be. Now i just want to focus on becoming that woman.

Homeschooling: The Thrill is Back!

This image of children having fun learning and enjoying the great outdoors is brought to you compliments of "My Father's World-Exploring Countries and Cultures". Since our first day of school last Monday(8-11) some interesting things have been taking place. The children and i are thoroughly enjoying homeschooling again! We try to start school every day at 8:00. No problem. They are ready and ASKING to start school at 7:30! Brogan and Reece were actually disappointed when we didn't have school over the weekend. Rachel enjoys reading and would rather help me with her brothers who are in Kindergarten and working through "My Father's World From A to Z"than play the Wii. She now says she wants to be a teacher. The little ones are so excited to be learning the days of creation,numbers and the alphabet. The older two are fascinated by geography,science and learning about different countries and cultures. I am feeling much smarter myself! As their teacher i am relearning so much of what i have forgotten over the years. "My Father's World" has also sparked everyone's creativity, including my own. We have music and art three days a week because creativity is very much encouraged in this curriculum. Every Wednesday we enjoy a Nature Walk and that is what we are doing in this picture. This was our first one, we are eagerly awaiting tomorrow's walk when we will start our leaf and bark collection. To say that i am thoroughy impressed with MFW would be an undersatement. This is the curriculum i have so desperately seeking since we started homeschooling 4 years ago. I am so grateful a friend told me about "My Father's World" and thank God for this wonderful opportunity to teach my children in what is turning out be a great adventure! Stay tuned readers, there will be more to share in the days and weeks ahead...