Friday Fun {keeping kids busy}

Happy Friday! I don't know how another week flew by so quick. Before I get going on another project I wanted to share a picture of the mixed media K and I created this week. We started doing an art day once a week. Kaelyn has a night of painting with her dad and part of an afternoon of creating a mixed media with me. On this one she came up with the scene she wanted to create (inspired by one of her books). The idea was to take turns drawing different parts, but she was so excited she took over most of it. :)
It's definitely a fun project to do with a kiddo. Start drawing/painting something and have them finish it. I look forward to seeing all the creations that will be made. A book might have to be made at the end of the year.

Hope you have a fun weekend!

Our Path {Health & Inspiration}

I found this passage from Our Daily Bread to be inspiring...

Interruptions are nothing new. Rarely does a day go by as planned.
Life is filled with inconveniences. Our plans are constantly thwarted by forces beyond our control.
What we cannot see, however is the other side of inconvenience. We think it has no purpose other than to discourage us, make life more difficult, and thwart our plans. However, inconvenience could be God's way of protecting us from some unseen danger, or it could be an opportunity to demonstrate God's grace and forgiveness. It might be the start of something even better than we had planned. Or it could be a test to see how we respond to adversity. Whatever it is, even though we may not know God's reason, we can be assured of His motive~to make us more like Jesus and to further His kingdom on earth.
To say that God's followers throughout history have been "inconvenienced" would be an understatement. But God had a purpose. Knowing this, we can thank Him, being confident that He is giving us an opportunity to redeem time (Eph. 5:16,20). ~Julie Ackerman Link

Such powerful words, and so true. Through time I have been witnessing God working in my own life. He really does answer prayers. It most likely won't be done when you want it to and it might not even be the way you were expecting or hoping for but He will answer. Through my crazy health journey, there have been some very low points but I can see now how He was pulling me closer to Him through the struggles and even protecting me in other ways. I know He has been guiding me while I work hard at putting the pieces to the health puzzle together. It definitely has not been an easy course, but the healing is happening and I couldn't be more thankful or excited! God is so powerful! I highly recommend leaning on Him for guidance above all else. Lots more to share about this in the future!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Music for Him

Just a couple of recent tidbits...

I love when she sits down at the piano and makes up a "God song" as she calls it. :) So sweet!

In other news, yesterday we celebrated my grandma's 91st birthday! Kaelyn and her great grandma made more music together and we all played hide and go seek... Kaelyn's request! Now how many 91 year olds do you know that are still playing hide and go seek?... and yes, she takes her turn hiding! I LOVE it and so does Kaelyn. After we left Kaelyn said, "That was the BEST!" We are so blessed to live near her and be able to spend time with her. My grandma is such a wonderful role model with a strong Christian foundation. She has taught me so much over the years and continues to do so. Praise the Lord for family and good times together! :)

Hope Filled New Year

 Happy New Year!

 

To be honest I am happy that 2013 is behind us. Sure there were some great moments, but health wise, well lets just say it is not a year I want to repeat. I guess the good part is I gained more knowledge about the body and healthy food. The beginning of December I got yet another diagnosis, another medication and a tweak to my diet and for the first time in a LONG time I saw improvement! Praise God! It was like a cloud was lifting from me and I was finally starting to feel like myself again. It was amazing and I hope that more good things (healing) will come in 2014. I am hopeful. :)


A few fun Christmas photos from 2013:

{Part of Kaelyn's Kindergarten progam}



{After Christmas Eve church celebration ~ time for songs & Jesus's birthday cake!}

 

Kaelyn had a memorable Christmas day!

Christmas was so much fun! We had a wonderful time celebrating the birth of Jesus, spending time with family, watching the joy of the season from a 5yr olds view and laughing... I hadn't laughed so hard in a long time. (Thanks Sandy!) Kaelyn didn't want the festivities to end which made me even happier. It was a great ending to 2013!

Now 2014... oh how I wonder what you have in store for us. Praying that it will be good. I'm sure it will be an adventure and we will learn many more lessons.

We may face some limiting circumstances today. Whether it is the result of failure, or through no fault of our own, we can "go" through it or seek God's strength to "grow" through it. The challenge of every confinement is to increase rather than decrease; to grow and not diminish. The Lord's goal is to give us "a future and a hope". ~ David McCasland
I know, Lord, that You can use the circumstances I am in for my good.
Change me, and grow me in my knowledge of You and intimacy with You.
Give me Your strength.