A Very Weighty Thanksgiving

When I think about Thanksgiving as a child,  I remember my teachers always encouraging me to write down what I was thankful for. ( I am sure we all did this pretty much.) My child mind always went to all the positive stuff in my life. Things like: the fact that my dad had a good job and bought me almost everything I wanted, that I always had food to eat, and my Barbie collection. These things are all good to be grateful for, but what the Pilgrims were celebrating that first Thanksgiving was NOT their Barbie collection.
   The Pilgrims had just come through the hardest year or so of their lives. Most of their friends and family had died in the harsh winters and there was probably some major questioning of the "moving to a new world for religious freedom" decision. But, in the midst of the hardest times in their lives, they were sent hope. Hope in the form of people that they were afraid of at first. Hope came with the Native American people that so very generously took the Pilgrims under their wing and taught them how to survive. Because of the Native American's generosity a small group of Pilgrims survived that first winter in the new world. Man, does my story this year (on a much smaller scale) compare to those Pilgrims.
   Don't get me wrong, I am so SO grateful for all of my family and earthly possessions, just like I am sure that those Pilgrims were grateful for their homes, and food, and new land to live in. But, in the spirit of what I believe Thanksgiving was first given: I am thankful for surviving the "harsh winter seasons" of this year, and the amazing people around me's generosity that showed me how to get through it.
    This year brought on the hardest obstacle to date in our lives: the loss of a precious baby boy, Tobias Isaiah Hillhouse. We had treaded into "new land" when the doctor informed us that our healthy 18 week baby was no longer living. This "new world" that we stepped into was full of complete heartache, disappointment, and just plain hurt. But, in the midst of the hardest times in our lives, we were sent hope. Hope in the form of people that we had lived years without knowing how badly we needed them. Hope came through friends and family that had lived in this harsh new world of disappointment, and even specifically the loss of a child. Without their guidance and help, and words, and hugs, we may not have survived that "harsh winter."
   So, this Thanksgiving is a little weightier for us than any in the past. Barbies are not exactly in the forefront of my mind. The "thankful" has a much much deeper meaning than ever before. We are somehow thankful for the hardship, because we are able to see how the Lord's grace brought us through it, and that will turn any bitter heart into a grateful one. So this thanksgiving I will raise my glass to the same notion of those Pilgrims on the first Thanksgiving: "I am alive! And six months ago, that was not looking too good, but thanks to all of you and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, I AM! So, may we live with all gratefulness and not waste a day that we have here in our "new land." And live out our thankfulness in everything we put out hand to."
CHEERS!

Rediscovering the Christmas Season: Day 5

Day 5: Lights

Matthew 4:12-17, Isaiah 9:1-3, Matthew 5:14-16

Think on the different expressions of lights that people put up during Christmas. 

How is Jesus the light of the world?

My first response to this is, that He just is! He is compared to the light I believe because it shines and is seen in absolute darkness. And when the light is present, darkness can no long exist. It is the opposite of darkness. 

Why do you think that Jesus refers to his followers as the light of the world? What would that mean for your life to be a light in your relationships and situations?

I believe he calls us the light of the world, because we represent him in this world. We are his lights strung out throughout the whole world, sharing his light in the darkness. (sounds like everything you have ever heard, but it really is TRUE) 

I think in my life to be "light" is to always point to the one TRUE light. And to always, NO MATTER WHAT, represent him and who he truly is to me. Even if others perceive the Jesus to be someone that he is not, I will stand for who he truly is... the one TRUE thing. 

How has your life been a light to those around you?

You know, a light helps you find your way in darkness. It helps you see things clearly so that you can live! It helps cheer your mood. It is warming, and inviting, and faithful. I hope to be all of these things to the people around me, by His grace. 

Rediscovering the Christmas Season: Day 4

Day 4: Servant of All

Mark 9:33-37

In the next 24 hours, live out what Jesus talks about in the above scriptures. Especially think of a way you welcome a little child in Jesus' name.

Why do you think that Jesus took a child into his arms for these remarks? What does it say about Jesus' ministry that a little child was already nearby?

First of all, I am willing to put it out there that that little child may have been likely to be screaming its head off and way unhappy. Because 13 dudes just showed up in his home to "settle in." My youngest is two, and if this happened in our home she would have ran to me and started yelling something like..."No way mommy! No way!" I am just sayin. I think from what all I have read about this time in history, that kids were not exactly the "prizes of society." Taking care of a child is hard stuff already, but when the culture around you does not even support it, I am sure the thought of "welcoming" that little screaming (I think he was screaming) child to be a part of whatever they were doing, was quite the sobering thought for these twelve guys. 

What does this say about his ministry? I think it just speaks to the fact that Jesus is so REAL, and so on every level that we are. He says that has been there and he knows that taking care of kids is so not an easy job, but if you welcome them and tell them about me, that is one of the most IMPORTANT things you can do in your life. I think that is just an extremely humbling thought. 

Who do you think is blessed more? The servant or the one being served?

No doubt the one doing the serving is blessed more. Most of the time the ones being served are being served because they are in NEED of something. A childcare worker at church is needed to take care of those children while the parents attend the service. The child in that situation can have fun with the worker and be blessed by their interactions with them. But, the things that the worker gains is far better and weightier, and fuller, and richer than what the child receives. But, ultimately as the server your goal is to give all of those things to the one being served as well. 

Take an inventory of how you spend most of your days. Is your life characterized more by being served or serving? Is it different during Christmas time?

My roles in life as a housewife (side note - I hate that because of certain TV shows that the term "housewife" gives me a negative feeling.), mother, and homeschool teacher are by nature "servant" type roles. But, how I fulfill those roles is up to me, and to be honest, my heart is not always in it as a "servant heart" should be. I know I can do better at posturing my heart before every day begins to be "servant minded" all day long. 

I honestly, honestly enjoying the giving at Christmas time more than the getting. Does this mean I am completely unselfish? As my two year old would say..."no way." Sometimes in my serving I can have selfish attitudes. I want to give good gifts to people that will make them happy, but maybe being praised for giving a good gift would be kind of awesome too. Or the attitude of wanting your house to look amazing so that people will tell you how amazing your house looks. It is SO easy to fall into this stuff. I think, for me and my house we could do a better job at FOCUSING on being servants at Christmas time. What are some real practical ways of doing this? Going as a family to buy toys to give to someone else, and all along the way encouraging the kids to be grateful for everything that they already do have, and not thinking about everything they will GET this Christmas. (this is SO hard I know.) But, I think effort is needed, and just a little more try in the servanthood arena and I think we would be amazed at what the Lord will do in us. 

Rediscovering the Christmas Season: Day 3

Day 3: Terrified

Luke 2:1-20

What do you think was going through the shepherd's minds when the angels appeared?

I think they were scared out of their minds, and that their hearts stopped beating for three seconds. Cause that is how I would feel! Plus, the first thing that the angel said was, "Fear not." I would think that thoughts like..."When was the last time I went to the temple?" or "Was my last sacrifice not done right?" may have flew through their minds as well. 

How would you have felt if you were given this news?

I would have felt AWESTRUCK that I was being told this information. Why me? Why tell me? I would probably immediately feel a great responsibility to tell everyone I saw the news as well, which is pretty much what they did. I bet those shepherds were not shy ones. 

Have you had an experience where God interrupted your life with an important message?

I think of five instances when I felt that the Lord was "interrupting" (and when you say interrupted it sounds like the intrusion is unwanted, and I would like to say that I would hope that ANY intrusion from the LORD would be fully welcomed on my part) my "plans" for my life...

The first one would be my amazing husband. I was that girl that said IF I got married at all it would FOR SURE not be until I was 27, AT least! Well, the Lord arranged for Dylan and I to start hanging out and that all changed in a heart beat. (collectively we all saw... "AWWWW.") The Lord spoke very clearly to my heart..."This is him, the one you have been waiting for." (even though I really had not been waiting long, if at all) But, you know what? Dylan had been. He had been waiting and asking the Lord for many years where his wife was. SO, when I was barely out of teenager hood I became Dylan's wife. BEST INTERRUPTION EVER!

Then number two, three, four, and five interruptions? Finding out I was pregnant. Those always caught me off guard. But, I am so grateful, SO grateful for each of them. 

How were these interruptions a combination of terrifying and wonderful?

Each one of them were terrifying because it was me stepping into uncharted ground. Anything brand new can easily put fear into anyone. Wonderful? yes. Each one of them were and continue to be wonderful, in so many ways. 

Prayer: 

Just take time to listen today in your time with the Lord. 

Rediscovering the Christmas Season: Day 2

I looked at my calendar and noticed that it would be a good idea to go ahead and try to do two or three of these a day so that I can be done before December 1, to start it with my family... So, here we go:

Day 2: The Announcement

Matthew 1

What do you think was going through Joseph's mind when the angel showed up and told them about Jesus?

    Well, if everything I have read about men is true, (and believe a good chunk of it is) then Joseph was scared to death that he would not be "man enough" or "good enough" to take on this heavy, HEAVY job. Maybe, his lineage in a way was a comfort to him. I have to think there are multiple reasons why the Lord wanted the family history included in this first chapter, and maybe to show us that Joseph was coming from a long line of men that were chosen by the Lord to take up some hard tasks: David, Abraham, and Solomon just to name a few. But, I think that Joseph may have felt fear, a LOT of fear, and perhaps that is why "do not be afraid"  were the first few words spoken to him by the angel.

How would you have felt if you were Joseph?

     I am a woman and we all know that women hear things through a different filter than a man does. I probably would have been thinking a LOT about what "others" may be thinking of me and my fiance. I may have thought a lot about how this would change almost all of what I thought my life would be. Joseph probably had somewhat of a plan for his life in his young age and if I were him I would have just assumed that that was all out the window and whatever the Lord says goes. It probably, for lack of a better word, would wreck me. But, it would be a wrecking that ultimately would bring absolute glory to the Lord so I would hope that I would have excepted it with a humble heart.

Has God ever asked you to do something ridiculous? Make a plan this Christmas season to do something ridiculous that you know that God wants you to do. 

    Wow. This is challenging. Especially because I have already felt in my spirit that the Lord was wanting us as a family to do something quite different in the gift giving department this year. (in our little family of 5, no worries extended family you will still get a gift from us :)) Has God ever asked me to do something ridiculous? Maybe, at least at the time it felt ridiculous. Is there room in my life for some more ridiculous that the Lord would ask of me? Yes. Yes there is.

Prayer...

 Father, this was a challenging one for sure. I want my family and I to ENJOY Christmas and really, really feel the joy that comes from being pleasing to you. Please speak to me clearly on what ridiculous thing You would ask of us this season, we are willing and open to do as you desire of us. Please give us courage and boldness to do what would for sure seem ridiculous to our world. But, may it impact them for your glory.

Rediscovering the Christmas Season: Day 1

I started a new Bible reading plan in preparation for the coming Christmas season. I hope to prepare my heart even more this year for what the Lord would have to teach me through this season, and as I read through the 25 days, I am also creating our own "advent 25 day countdown" that we will use as a family starting on December 1. (this is why I am starting this so early so that I can read through each day myself, and come up with a version of it that my kiddos will understand and learn from.) I am blogging about each day sort of as a online journal, hopefully someone else can learn along with me as I...
 "Rediscover the Christmas Season."

Day 1: Anna and Simeon
Luke 2:21-40

How can my life reflect the kind of anticipation that Anna and Simeon felt?
        I have been getting SO excited about Christmas this year, and I keep asking myself, "why?" We have had a tough year to say the least. I think I am just ready to be immersed in some REAL joy once again, and for me, that is what Christmas is. I anticipate a time that the everyone around me (whether they believe it or not) is a part of the celebration of the coming of my Jesus! My heart aches for people that feel that this time of year is stressful. Some people like my husband and father-in-law work in retail, (Christian retail to boot) and no matter the condition of your heart, our culture has made this season all about spending money, and that effects their stress level because that is their job! So, back to the question at hand, how can I reflect eager anticipation of Jesus? I think I can keep focused on Jesus, keeping in close communication with my Father as the season begins. In turn I pray that my life will begin to really reflect the pure joy that I am feeling about the coming season.

How much of this feeling of excitement is centered around the arrival of Christ?
      Not to blame everything on our culture, BUT this is REALLY, REALLY hard to do these days in America. So, that being said, I think I can keep check in my spirit what I am getting excited about about the food, crafting, decorating, and gift buying (I honestly could care less about receiving any gifts on Christmas, I get WAY more joy out of giving things to people and making stuff) that the point of all of it is to point people to my Jesus.

Prayer:
  Father, I can honestly say that as I have lived out 28 years on this earth, Jesus and celebrating his birth has become more and more important, precious, and priceless to me every year. This year is especially important to me. There is nothing like being broken and humbled to make you appreciate what is the only TRUE things in your life. You have started something in me in the last few months. A deeper appreciation of everything that You are to me Father, I want this Christmas season to only further that appreciation, and may I be used by you to spread your TRUTH as I go.

This week is BUBBLE week!

This week is BUBBLE week. We are talking about how they are formed, and then experimenting with different things to use to blow them. Today, we used old water bottles with the bottom cut off. (Pinterest idea, of course)

These water bottles made some BIG ole bubbles for sure! The key was to blow out more Dawn filled water, than you sucked in. 

When Lyric joined us, the whole game changed. 

The game was now, blow your bubble as fast as you can before Lyric can get to it and pop it in your face.

Pumpkin Week

October 24-28, was our Pumpkin Week. The saturday before the week began, we took our annual trip to the pumpkin patch, and each got our own pumpkin. So, during the week we talked about pumpkins, and on Thursday we did our pumpkin experiment! 

First, we each made a hypothesis about how much we thought the small pumpkin would weigh. (Truth be told, we used Lyric's pumpkin for the experiments, I figured she would not notice, and she still has not asked about it almost a week later, so I think we are in the clear) So, we made our guesses, and Kellen guess 1.5 pounds. He got it exactly!

Next was the circumference. We each made our guesses, I don't think that anyone of us was close. 

Next we guessed how many seeds our small pumpkin would have inside. This dude was small! So I guessed about 20. I think Abbi said something like 15. And Kellen's first guess was 200, until we convinced him that was crazy and he knocked it down to 50. Well, our little pumpkin (OK! Lyric's little pumpkin) had 312 seeds! We toasted those things up with cinnamon and sugar and then baked the rest of the pumpkin. We used some of him in our traditional Saturday Morning Waffles. Lyric's little pumpkin was delicious. :)

Clings

So, I told myself that I would not stress myself with selling anything at this year's Tinsel and Treasure Craft Show at my church, Northview Community Church. But, as you can see I changed my mind. 

These are glass clings. They are a thick vinyl that I hand paint to look like stained glass. I made one about 4 years ago to hang on my front window, it is a nativity.(which I will be making some nativities to sell as well) I love mine, because it is so simple to hang up, and it makes such an impact. During the day when the light is shining INTO the house, I get to see a cool looking stained glass window. And at night we keep the light on in the room that the window is in, and it shines out a beautiful nativity for those that happen to be driving by. 

I made a few simple designs: a peppermint, a start, and a snow flake to start out with and see how long they took me to do. They are all about 1.5 ft wide and 2.5 feet tall. I am proud of these and think they turned out great. They are officially on sale for $35.00 each if you are interested. I will also be selling them at the craft show. (I get to share a booth with one of my good friends, Bethany Henry, I am really excited about that) I also plan to take custom orders, so we will see how that goes. 

This is the view from inside the house, from the outside during the day it looks real opaque, and from the inside you can really see the stained glass effect, and then it reverses at night! Pretty fun. 

This blog seemed a lot like a commercial. I guess because it kinda was one. Just being honest. :)

WANTED: Stress!

I am dreamer. I know this about my personality. But, I am also married to a very real "realist". So, I dream, I just dream in a grounded way. I have been dreaming a dream of "change" a lot in the last few years. (I mentioned something about this a few posts ago) I want for my husband to have the job of his dreams! But, it seems to become more and more clear to me that the people in our world that get to make money at doing something they love, those people are very rare, seemingly. But, I still dream for him. I think he would make an amazing principal/coach/math teacher at a Christian high school. And I could teach art, and music!  He loves numbers and all things sport related. He could do stats for a sports team and I think he would absolutely LOVE that. So many things that I think he could do and love. But, that would mean that he would have to leave his current stable job. (he does not work in a stable, I just mean stable, like it is a stable income :) ) We have three kiddos, and a home, and we like to eat food. An income is necessary. The hardest thing is thinking about what a transition to unknown job territory would look like, feel like, stress like. But, even still, I want it for him so bad. Am I right ladies? One of the things we want MOST for our men is for them to love the Lord, follow His will, and do what he LOVES. I will continue to pray, and to trust that if the Lord wants him elsewhere, the opportunity will come. And if not, that the Lord will give him peace, that he is EXACTLY where he is needed.

Music Review Mondays: Gungor

So, I am so obsessed with music. If you know me, you know this. It is just a part of who I am. I named my third kid, Lyric, point in case. I would love to be a music reviewer. Well guess what? I got me this nice little blog page, so now I AM a music reviewer. Dreams are coming true every day people. So, every Monday I will try to review a new album or band, because Monday and Music both start with the letter "M". ( I am a homeschool mom, forgive me.) This week, I wanna talk about a band that I had the absolute pleasure of listening to their album this last week. They are called: Gungor. I am not gonna tell you about the band, because if you are interested enough you will go look that info up on your own. I am just gonna talk about what I love or not love about their music. :) 

So, this band has a very "different" sound to their stuff. Sometimes your ear tells your brain that, "these sounds should NOT go together." But, they do, and I love that. It is unique, and innovative, and the lyric's are scripturally based, and very strong. My kind of music. The first song on the album kind of hits you over the head, and says, "This is the crazy kind of stuff that you are about to listen to." But, then it almost mellows out on the innovative (or you just get used to it) and the lyric's strong Biblical content starts to shine through and take your attention. The second song on the album is to be turned up to at least 20, if you are a Dodge minivan driver. It is the funnest song I have heard in awhile, and when you tell your kids to dance to it, you will see some of the funniest moves you have seen in a long time. I love an album that I can put on to be in total "chill" mode, and this one does that for me for sure. I hope you check it out, haha, I don't even know if it is on itunes or in stores yet. I got mine from a music buyer. I am spoiled, I know this. So, that was fun huh? I just was a music reviewer for ten minutes. 

I kinda liked that. 

LEGO week

So, like most things in my life right now, Pinterest.com has influenced my homeschooling methods. I have found SO many cool ideas for school on there, but was having a hard time knowing how I was ever going to implement them in my daily school time. So I decided to take my school calendar and with Pinterest on hand, I gave each week of our school a theme! This week was the first, LEGO week. 

Monday we did LEGO math. Kellen added as seen in the photo, and I made Abbi subtract the dots on the Legos.

 Tuesday, we did LEGO sentences. I put a bunch of random words on our big Legos and had the kids put them together to make sentences. (ALL these ideas were on Pinterest.com by the way, I do not come up with this stuff people)

  Wednesday, we talked about how they are made from plastic. Thursday, we were doing good to just get our worksheets done, I think Legos were in the room when they did them. Today, Friday, we watched how Legos are made, found Denmark on the globe, because that is where their big factory is, and then we took a trip to the LEGO store at the mall. We bought nothing, because I am cheap, I mean frugal. I am frugal. I would deem LEGO week a success. Next weeks theme? Starbucks. I wish. 

what if...

I have been praying pretty bold prayers lately. I have felt for two or three years now that a new and excited change was coming to me and my family. Maybe moving to Africa or something, I don't know. Just something BIG! My biggest fear in life is that the Lord's dreams for me and my family will not come true. And my biggest hope in life right now is that they will! ( second biggest hope is to loose twenty pounds, just being real.) So, today something got me thinking about these dreams that the Lord may have for us. What if I want Him to move us to a new city, state, or country and use us in unimaginable ways, but all He wants to use me here. Right now, here, in the life that I am currently living out. When I pray for Him to use me right now, it feels more or less like a demand. I want it SO bad. So, on my way to the doctor this morning, I said one of my pretty demanding prayers about asking His dreams for me to come true. When I got to the doctor's office, and opportunity presented itself for me to be somewhat of an encourager and comforter to someone who was going through a similar hard time that I had recently gone through. After the visit was all said and done, it just made me wonder if all of that was a direct result of that prayer that I had just prayed. Gosh, we see things SOOOO differently than the Lord. I know in my heart that I can be used here, where I am now. I am fully aware that God can do pretty much whatever He wants with me when I am a willing vessel, and I welcome that with open arms. I just have always thought that His BIG dreams for me would be some sort of clear cut BIG change for me and my family. I just don't think of the everyday little things that I do as being BIG dreams that the Lord has for me. But, what if they are? What if. 

homeschool days...

So, I homeschool my kids. I will probably be posting quite a bit about the subject, so I thought I would do an introductory one.  My two oldest. I figure my oldest girl, can just teach my youngest when it is time. She will know enough by then. ;) I started last year, and it was kinda a hot mess. (I know this term, because "Project Runway" is awesome.) This year, I got organized, put it all in one room, planned out my whole year, and man are we pluggin' away! We are on week 9! Which means that we are half way through the first semester! It is hard for me to admit because I was such a sceptic at first (even though my husband, and all his family were home schooled) but I think this is working for us! At least for now, I am taking it one year at a time. Maybe it is working because I got to decorate my school room with owls. Yea, it is probably the owls. Owls make me happy. 

So, I will end this post with a story about my 4 year old boy. He says to me, "Mom, why do you keep giving me these easy worksheets?" (he is technically in Pre-K, and I give him all Kindergarten level stuff) I said, "Oh, I am sorry. When you are done with that one I will print you off another one." (I guess I will go for the 1st grade level this time) He said, "Thank you."

So, I kinda love this place. It is in Norman, OK. It has the best pressed coffee I have ever had, and when you go on a rainy day,(and with no children) there is not much more relaxing. Unless you are studying for the exam of your life like the dude at the table in front of me was, then maybe not so much. 

i want to blog.

I want to be a blogger. I want to be paid to be a blogger so that Dylan can quit his job and be home with us all the day long. But, that is a dream. Probably too big of a dream. Maybe blog plus photography business could be good enough... daydreaming...
OK, I am still here. I just feel the need to write stuff down, and if I am going to take the time to write stuff down, I might as well hope that someone else can read it and maybe get a little chuckle, or encouragement or something. (probably another big dream)
I secretly just want a life like the pioneer woman. That is the real dream here people. So, I will try to share some fun things in the next few weeks and see if I can keep this up!