Word for 2011

This past year has been a year of seeking. Seeking wisdom, seeking to love unconditionally... seeking Him.

When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, O LORD, I shall seek."
Psalm 27:8

This year He drew me into His presence and I sat at His feet. Can I continue to seek Him, YES! Will I spend the rest of my days seeking Him more each day, each hour? Yes, as long as I breath I will continue this glorious habit of seeking Him.

But as 2010 comes to an end and 2011 is starting, what is it this year He is asking of me. As I pray I hold my breath, scared of how He will stretch me, excited to see what He has.

Then I read Ann's word for the year and He speaks to me through her beautiful words. This year will be one of no holding back because of the fear and a year of not letting my flesh decide.

It will be a year of Yes! 2011 is the Year of Yes.

Yes, Lord I will obey though it may be uncomfortable

Yes Lord, I will go even though it may require much

Yes to the child who just wants more mommy time

Yes to those in need

Yes to giving until it hurts

Yes to getting outside my comfort zone

Yes can be a frightful word, one that will cause me to tremble but as I learn to trust in His sovereignty I know He will keep me in His loving arms.

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah 6:8

May this year bring you closer to the One who gave His life to spend eternity with you.

What is your word for this year? Or do you have a verse?

Gingerbread Masterpieces

Ok, so here are the long awaited pictures of our second attempt at the gingerbread creations. This time we did two trees, a house and some men/women. After our learned lessons my daughter really took her time and her tress was a reflection of it. She found out that taking our time and having diligence really does pay off. I was so proud of her!!!

All the kiddos did such wonderful jobs! They had so much fun, it was such a blast to have all of them decorating, laughing and just hanging out.

My daughter's tree is the one in the back next to our paper towels.

Counting our abundant blessings

I pray that you and all your families had a blessed Christmas celebrating our Savior's birth. We here were able to relax and enjoy His presence.

We have so much to be thankful for!!!

Blessings #239-247

Heart of giving

Time with family for celebrating

The Savior's birth

The Savior's grace

The Cross

The ability to give to "the least of these"

Giving Him gifts

Hard times that draw us closer to Him

Family movie night

Pictures of the gingerbread houses are coming tonight or tomorrow, thank you for patience.

Gingerbread lessons

Monday night a friend and I got our kiddos together to do ginger bread houses. So they played while moms prepared, btw read all the directions first! So then it came time to decorate and well since I did not read the directions all the way through, :( and my dd was not about to question the know how of her mom, ;) I fought with the roof for the remainder of the time, arrrggg! But I have to say it finally did stick, woohoo!!!!

So that is lesson 1, remember to let it sit!!!!

Lesson 2 was for my daughter. We have had many conversations of how she rushes through things and does not care how they look but just wants to get to the end...well she did the same with her house and then she realized, after it was dry, that she did not like how she rushed. She was disappointed. No comment from mom needed.

I love ginger bread houses (not their roofs or the sticky frosting) because through that she has started to look at her workmanship and see that it has been lacking.

So we will attempt to do them again, and then pictures will come. The one we did Monday...well, after me wrestling with the frosting and roof it was not a pretty site :) So I will take pictures of the one she creates while taking her time!

Clipart found at http://www.webweaver.nu/clipart/christmas-food.shtml

Weekends of Fun!

This weekend we had much needed "fun" time. With trying to finish school for the year, Christmas shopping, and all the other daily life things we have been too busy. So this weekend we decorated, finally, and then hung out with friends to celebrate a birthday. It was busy but a good relaxing busy.


How was your weekend?

Counting the abundant gifts He gives # 228-238

Successful surgery with no complication ( a dear, sweet friend's)

Desire and time to be able to serve others

Relaxing Saturday of decorating/cooking

Hours watching kids swimming and laughing

Decorating gingerbread houses with friends (tonight)

Words of wisdom from my mom

A broken heart for the lost

A God who saves

Perseverance for lost loved ones souls

A heart ready and willing to share HIS gospel

Homestead Blessings Winner!

Well thank you all for entering my first giveaway. Sorry I am doing this so late!

Using Random.org we have a winner.!

True Random Number Generator Min: Max: Result: 12 Pow

Our Homeschool Reviews said...
I like the cooking and the sewing December 10, 2010 8:10 PM


Congratulations! I will contact you soon.


Thank you again for everyone who participated. It was great reading all the comments and looking at your blogs. Look forward to more giveaways.

Good time with the girls!!!

Yesterday, my daughter and I received a well needed rest from our "daily" life. She had one appointment but then we were able to hang out and Christmas shop, not much shopping done, with my mom, sister and niece.

We had such a fun time. My daughter got a new Christmas book and could not take her nose out of it for more than a minute. It was so cool to see her curl up with her book at the coffee shop. We finally had cold weather so we did not walk our outdoor mall but drove, I know..lazy but really it was COLD. Then after it all we went back to the coffee shop and just sat and talked. My daughter was thrilled to spend some time with her cousin playing and laughing.

My mom, daughter and I went into a Christmas farmers market type store and ooooooo! I found a yule log (yeah me!) and my mom found a stunning centerpiece (sorry no pictures :(

It was so nice to be able to hang out with them, though we were running ragged and I missed hanging out with a dear friend :(

I pray as Christmas approaches you find time to just hang out with your loved ones, even if you have to do it via skype!

Amish Christmas Review

Here is a confession...I love the idea of living the "Amish" way. And what I mean by that is they live simply, without all the "need" to keep up with so and so. And over the past year I have been giving away and selling so much so that my family can focus on what really matters :) Not to say we do not have stuff, after all I love computers and things techy :)

Ok so with that in mind I was so happy to review An Amish Christmas. It is four shorter stories in one volume. they all take place in the same community so really get to know some of the characters. Here is the publisher's synopsis :


"Christmas Cradles" by Kelly Long -- When Anna Stolis takes over for her aunt, the local Amish midwife in Paradise, Christmas night heats up with multiple deliveries, three strangers' quilts, and the help from resourceful and strong Asa Lapp, whose job it is to get Anna through a dangerous blizzard to complete her midwifery rounds.

“A Miracle for Miriam” by Kathleen Fuller: This Christmas, Miriam must decide whether to guard herself or accept the love of a man who once broke her heart.

“A Choice to Forgive” by Beth Wiseman: Lydia, a widow who has given up on love, is shocked when Daniel-- a past love-- returns to the Order, and her life.

“One Child” by Barbara Cameron: This snowy Lancaster Christmas Eve will see two couples’ lives changed by the birth of one child.


I loved reading these novellas. They were so well written and the stories were so easy to follow. They are romance but not like the racy romance novel but these had God at the center (Amish beliefs). I love to read about cultures other than my own and these books give you such a glimpse into Amish beliefs and traditions, even though this is fiction. Each of the main characters have issues to overcome and they find that through God and prayer they can.

If you like Amish stories or Christian Romance I recommend you read this set of novellas.


Enjoy!

I was provided a free copy of An Amish Christmas from Booksneeze for my honest review. All opinions expressed are soley mine.

Angry Review

Over the Thanksgiving weekend I had the privilege of reviewing Angry by Laura Smith. Here is NavPress' brief overview of the book :

Emma is angry. She’s angry at her siblings, who she always has to baby sit; her parents, who are divorcing and ruining her life in the process; and herself for not measuring up to anyone’s standards.
With her simmering feelings ready to spill over at any time, Emma's self-worth plummets. Her faith in God is tested in the face of overwhelming hurt that threatens to send her over the edge. Can she turn back in time?

This book was well written and you could feel the anger from Emma. The author does a great job of capturing the thoughts and emotions of some teens today as they struggle to grow up with out a relationship with God. Towards the end, Ms Smith brings all of it full circle back to God. Emma realizes that God needs to be part of her life. That also is the one thing I do have to say in a not so positive light, the book is sparse on God until the end. At the end we find out her faith is almost non-existent which makes a lot of pieces fall into place from through out the story.

This book is definitely geared for teens and adults.

Overall I loved the book and would like to read her others. Each girl in the group of friends seems to have a book that is about their struggle. One is an eating disorder (which hits close to home) and another is about relying on a boyfriend instead of God to feel important.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from NavPress Publishers as part of their Blogger Review Program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commision's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."

Counting Blessings

Blessings #221-227

Giving heart

Christmas shopping with my daughter

To see my daughter focused on Christmas gifts for others

Peace from Him for my friend battling breast cancer

All the doctors that my friend has

To see the body of Christ lifting up her family and her

Knowing He hears and listens to our prayers

Homestead Blessings Review and Giveaway

I recently had the privilege of reviewing Homestead Blessings The Art of Crafting. I love these ladies and their videos. (ok, at least the ones I have seen) In this video they show you how to make some simple home made crafts. Some examples are decorated cloth napkins, bird feeder, gift baskets. The go through each project showing the different steps and also the finished project.

They do such a wonderful job of giving instruction and showing you the different steps that any one can follow along easily. They tell you what works for them and show you how easy these crafts are. I love the homemade feel to all the items and some would even be very fun to incorporate into our homeschool.

These ladies are such a blessing and I love their video and can't wait to collect them all.

On to the giveaway:

Franklin Springs has been so very generous as to gift The Art of Crafting to one of my readers. The chance to win this awesome video ends December 17th at 5pm.

For entries (leave additional comment for each thing)

-Leave a comment below sharing your favorite craft idea

-Take a peek at Franklin Springs and let me know what Homestead video sparks the most interest for you

-Follow my blog (those who already follow can leave a comment for this one)

-Like Raising an Arrow on facebook

-Share this giveaway on your blog, facebook or twitter.

Beautiful Girlhood #8

Sorry it has been awhile but here we go:

A Sunny Disposition

In this chapter the Ms. Andreola talks to the girls, and moms, about being "sunny". She explains that life has it's challenges but a girl who can smile, from her heart, is a "fountain of joy' for all who come in contact with her. She explains it is not just always having a smile but having a smile that can chase tears and improve someone mood. The author, Ms Andreola, tells us that as most things, this sunny disposition is a choice. We can choose to do our work with a smile or do it with frowns. At the end we are reminded that smiles are contagious and we can choose to smile even when some one else is sour. She calls the faces of others a mirror of ours, and how true that can be. May we reflect a "sunny disposition".

We discussed what it means that other's faces mirrors ours and how we can make sure we reflect the positive. Also asked her to think of ways a tear chaser smile can influence those who may need tears chased. Lastly I asked her to think and tell me ways we can look on the bright side no matter the circumstances, and then put it into practice.

Scriptures

Proverbs 14:30

Proverbs 15:13

Proverbs 15:15

Proverbs 15:30

Proverbs 17:22

Philippians 2:14-15

Abundantly Blessed

Ah a new week and we are recovering. My poor daughter was a mess last week but with the help of some western medicine she is doing better. We are attempting to get back into the groove of school.

As we are getting into our advent season and learning about the path leading to the coming of the King, I find that all I can do is thank Him and stand in awe.

Standing in awe of our great King and counting blessings #211-#220

Healing for sick bodies

Western medicine ( in moderation)

The coming King

Jesus' birthday

Renewed spirit

Learning new things (I made homemade hamburger buns)

The means and opportunity to share my blessings with other less fortunate

A daughter who is willing to give up her Christmas gifts so we can get some essentials for

those on the other side of the world, those she has never met.

Simple living

The warm snap of weather we have had :)

Where is the line for Jesus?

Where is the line for Jesus?

This is a great video by an awesome woman with a great video, check it out.

Advent Has Begun

Hello all! Sorry for the silence. Sunday night, early Monday, my precious girl woke up crying with a very painful sore throat :( Found out yesterday it has turned into double pink eye and beginning strep :(


Advent began last weekend. Before her cold hit her, we were able to pull out our wreath and light our first candle, the Candle of Hope (Prophets Candle). We read Isaiah 11:1-11 and were able to talk about what it means to us and what it meant to Israel to have the hope of the Messiah.


As a wonderful addition to what I had planned Ann Voskamp over at A Holy Experience made available her advent book and ornaments. Take a look. We will be setting up our Jesse Tree this weekend.

This is the time for remembering that we got the ultimate gift when He came down from His throne and saved us. May we all remember to focus on Him not on the gifts, cute decorations or the songs but on our gift and what it means to give of ourselves.


What are your plans for advent?