Saying Grace (and meaning it)

Don't you ever struggle with the whole concept of "Saying Grace"? Sometimes I feel like it is just a ritual that you have to go through to eat a meal..or at least that is what my children seem to think..and that scares me to death. I know I may seem a bit over dramatic with that statement but seriously, I want nothing more than to raise God fearing, Jesus loving children into strong and stable Christian adults who know and love our Lord each and every minute of each and every day. Is that too much to hope? It seems not in the world we are in right now. It seems as if having a moral foundation is a punchline to some cosmic joke. My heart aches for what my children will have to endure if we as a generation cannot get our act together...AH!! anyway back to my point, I don't want loving and praising God feel like an obligation or a chore but rather a joy, a gift. So the question is simple. How?? Well that my friends the answer is also simple it falls right back on us (assuming you want the same thing for your children..if not well then it falls back on me and my husband LOL) to be the strong and stable Christians they need to mirror..with that being said the question is still: How?? Every idea that comes to mind feels so trivial..so to help answer this question I jump on the Internet in search of some all star Christians that have a blog and a layout (including a checklist) to guide my way and what I find is summed up here:

I actually saw this on this amazing lady's Facebook page

No.Joke. God loves us SOOOO much that he sent His Son to die for us and these are the ideas that come to mind? It's almost (no actually it is totally) embarrassing. 

I hope that you haven't read this far in search of some awe inspiring answer because it isn't here. This is all I got, I am so humbled by His greatness I couldn't put into words my gratitude. Lets try to give Him more, more of our time.. I mean rather than "saying grace" lets invite Him to the dinner conversation. In fact, "grace" shouldn't be ritualistic dinner prayer but a never ceasing conversation. (yes I am as nervous about that one as the you are!!) and lets ask for more. Lets depend on His strength and wisdom before our own, lets try not to ask Him to fix our broken bridges but ask Him to lead the way. 

After all of this I realize that no matter what I do to try to impose my will and my children it is their walk alone with Him, their journey. No one can lead them to the Father but through Him. I will help them to know Him through His word, through my actions and the rest is out of my hands.

Is this something you struggle with? How do you praise God each day?

Things To Do

Happy Sunday!! I absolutely LOVE Sundays! They always feel like a fresh start :)

I start each week off with a couple of lists to help get things done! 

My favorite motto: "Make a list, you'll feel better!"

I made these little gems after discovering this awesome blog.

So I limit the "To Do" part to 10 things... quality vs quantity, right? Anyway some weeks that feels like a lot and other weeks they get checked off by Wednesday. All depends I guess

 The "Teach" section is dedicated to a project, goal or thought I want to show my kids. This could be anything from teaching them how to bake cookies to wash their laundry to a prayer. It is mainly a reminder to focus.

The "Be" section is a bit more complicated..these goals are usually based off my mood and personality. For example the last few weeks I have been focusing on being "bold". I am putting confidence and conviction in my daily practices. Other weeks have been things like patience, affectionate and persistent. 

My favorite section is the "Learn" section this is usually where a pinterest recipe winds up, a new crafty idea, scriptures and the like. Last week I challenged myself to learn new "lunch spots" in town that are quick, easy and healthy, Acts 4:31-35 and to make coffee cozies. 

The "read" section is where I set my goals on how much I will get accomplished...this could be a certain number of chapters, an article or maybe even a bed time story.

I had my lists printed and bound on chipboard since I like to actually physically check things off, but you could just print them as you go. :)

I also made a simplified version for my kids that we go over each Sunday, theirs includes assigned chores and homework as well as "Be" goals and learning goals. Allowances and privileges are rewarded for list completions.

Kind of a random post, but for anyone who knows me AT  ALL knows that I have a list for nearly everything :) I know I am not the only one who lists....

My newest obsession...Pinterest!

So a few short weeks ago a friend of mine told me about this website Pinterest.. it is amazing. It's like this crazy pin board self editing magazine like thing of beauty! So for the first few days I just browsed but now i am in full need of a Pintervention...seriously said that....

Anyway So I have tried to recreated two of the inspirations I have stumbled upon...
First off is this super fun and versatile milk maid braid up do.. you can look at the step by step here and you will find I totally got lost and found my own way but I still think it is cute...

 it was super easy to wear and after the fly-a-ways where contained worked out really well...

second: keeping with the theme of braids and versatility I found this  yummy gem

I can't wait to try it with ham and cheese and serve it with tomato soup or maybe with mozzarella, pepperoni and pasta sauce paired with a minestrone...

My next project....

 this will replace my old (actually the last of the "original" newly wed hand me downs) shoe storage and catch all...then I am dreaming of this one..

sweet dreams....

Liars! All of us!!

Okay, you see I have been saving up this little tangent for quite some time now...the other day while burning daylight on pinterest I was faced with this truth..i am a big, fat liar and you see the thing is you are all in on the biggest lie EVER too. Its a joke really, I mean all of us are guilty (and if I am being to general and you really truly are not guilty..I don't know if I should be more sorry that I called you a liar (making me a bigger liar (yes this is a sidebar in a side bar of a side bar conversation with my self)) or that you have actually taken the time to be honestly read your way out of this! ANYWAY.....here it is, the biggest lie of all time...

yup..your guilty..checked the box a few times huh? I know I have and I used to be totally uncomfortable with it every single time, then to make matters worse I always had that sneaking suspicion that there is some clause in the "contract" to access and download free printable coupons that if I cross the street barefoot on a Tuesday a mass of flying monkeys that can only be expelled by dowsing them with $5 bottles of Fiji water will commander the discounted loot. (and I have never cone across a Fiji water coupon)

I imagine it would look a lot like this...

What is really sad about the whole thing is all we can do is submit..I mean unless we actually have the time to read a 45 page document that refers both to state and federal laws (for those of you I am sorry)..If you are like me once long ago you probably tried to read at least the bold print, right? but even that is like trying to translate Kanji to French with a slurppy (or is it Slurpie...maybe) milkshake (I'm in Utah 7 Elevens are a thing of the past in the southern regions). It probably does not help that I have a terrible habit of sidebar 

conversations and tangents as well as self diagnosis ADD (actually it's probably that i just quite caring as much as when the topic first began) BACK to topic! So since we have submitted I check the box without thinking twice then I "Safely remove" my iPOD...yup wrong again but that's neither here nor there just to find all my icons moved and silly updates made and I get all pissy..."when were they going to notify me of this?" 

*sigh* but alas there is nothing we can do...

BTW

The literal translation in French is

Je n'ai aucune idée et je suis totalement couché et j'ai utilisé Google Translator pour en arriver là ...

Okay you caught me another big fat lie!!