Matthew 25:40

“If you can't feed a hundred people.....
........ then just feed one.”
~Mother Teresa

Today I popped over my "always keeping it real" friend Bill (cycleguy)'s blog... and he is discussing the issue of being overwhelmed with the needs of this world. He shares " it is hard to see that so much needs done and not feel overwhelmed. God has not asked us to take on every task out there. But He has asked us to be involved."

I say YEA and AMEN. We need to be involved.

And yes......it is easy to get overwhelmed and flabbergasted (is that really a word!?!) when you see how desperate the situation is in many countries due to natural disasters, crooked governments, and poverty/disease. But we cannot allow this to keep us from doing something.....anything....that can truly make a difference.

One of my Jesus lovin' friends, Jennifer from Getting Down with Jesus has beautiful insight on how effective we can be just by everyone doing one thing. She calls it Contagious Giving.

"......how each ONE thing we do multiplies into the whole BUNCH that we collectively offer up to the Lord. One plus one plus one .."

This week is National Collection Week for Operation Christmas Child, a ministry with Samaritan's Purse. We love doing this every year......and encourage you and your family to join in this year.

Like prior years.....I let the kids decide who we will be buying for. You have a choice if you would like to send your box to a boy or girl.....and also the age range. Nev chose to make up a package for a girl in her own age group, figuring she would know firsthand what she would like.

At first she wanted to get computer games and I needed to remind her that most of these children do not have electricity, never-mind a computer. So we set out to buy art supplies, stuffed animals, a really cute little Etch-a-Sketch. We also grabbed a bunch of toiletries such as toothbrushes, toothpaste and tissues as I explained that these were luxuries as well.

My heart swelled as I watched my little girl carefully packing the items and explaining how this little girl could use the pocketbook to put her hair accessories in and sleep with the little stuffed goat she was excited to find. (teddy bears are over-rated according to my little goat-raising farm gal).


The cool thing that we found out this year with this project is that you can make your $7 donation (to cover shipping) online directly on their site and you are able to print out a bar-code label to attach to your box. Then you can actually track the destination of your gift, along with information about Operation Christmas Child in that country. How cool is that?


What a simple way for you to demonstrate God's love in a tangible way to even just one of His children.

So whatcha waiting for!?!?! Visit the Operation Christmas Child site, check out all the info then have fun filling up a shoebox with simple items such as toiletries, small toys, and school supplies! I encourage you to include your children as well. What a beautiful way to teach them and others about the importance of taking care of the less fortunate. Knowing you are making a difference in a child's life is a priceless gift to give this Season.



The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' ~Matthew 25:40



Peace and love~

*~Michelle~*

Awestruck Wonder

I have been in a state of awestruck wonder these past few days.....

Was it meeting this little one who was only a few hours old? Yes, we were blessed to visit a friend who's mama goat Annie, had three babies.....perfect replicas of their loving mama who was the kindest and most loving animal I've met so far? Yes...the miracle of new life....how can anyone witness that and not give God all the glory?





Or was it this perfect rainbow that I saw later that day? I took that with my cell phone camera. It is almost too perfect to be "real" isn't it?



Maybe I was getting overly sentimental when I came across this photo of my little girl, only months old for her very first Christmas. She just has this look of wonder in her eyes.....little did she know that she was a miraculous gift from above (you can read more about this story over at Josh's blog)



......or was it when I was brought to tears listening to this pastor talk about when Isaac asked Abraham where the sacrifice was.....Abraham replied that God would provide The Sacrifice? When he spoke about the ram caught in the thicket, he described it as wearing a crown of thorns?

I think it is all of the above.

But nothing brings me to my knees in overwhelming emotion, especially during this Season, than the ultimate Gift that God has given us.....given us ALL.

His Son, Jesus Christ.

Miracles surround Christ's birth....Jesus Christ, born of a virgin; He had no earthly father. That miraculous star that led the wise men to worship Him. The band of angels that announced His birth.

.......yes, and the miracles continued throughout His life......all to bear testimony to God's amazing love for us!

I hope you can take the time today to notice even the littlest blessings and gifts from Above in your day. I pray that it might be something you see.....or possibly a thought, that makes you stop in your tracks and stand in awesome wonder of Our Creator.

Many, O LORD my God, are the wonders you have done. The things you planned for us no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare ~Psalm 40:5

Peace and love~
*~Michelle~*

Gobble Gobble......Happy Thanksgiving to You!

"Today is not a good day to be a turkey" I laughed out loud when I read that on my friend's Facebook status this weekend. She and her husband own a custom slaughter business. Not really sure why I am starting out with that....it just struck me as so funny.

I am posting today because I know I am going to be getting wrapped up in the busyness that this week brings about and probably won't be on the computer too much. Yes, this week is the onset of the "time-suck" that can happen with the Holiday Season....even though most retailers got that memo prematurely with Christmas decorations being displayed before I my kids had chance to shake their Halloween candy hangovers.

Anyway, for many of us.....this week will be busy. Some families are getting ready to travel as they are spending Thanksgiving with distant relatives. Some need the whole week to get mentally prepared to spend time with said distant relatives.

Some people are scrambling to get their homes cleaned and shopping for the great feast. Some are devoting their time to help the less fortunate such as collecting items for food baskets or preparing for a soup kitchen for those who have no where to go on Thursday. High school kids are getting riled up for the head-to-head rival football games while many shoppers are making their strategy plans for the adventure of Black Friday shopping.......And some have their hands inside a headless turkey pulling out some nasty stuff so that we can have that fresh bird on the table Thursday. (that's for you, Julia)

We have a nice assortment of plans this week. Today we join the homeschooling group for a pot-luck feast, the Thanks and Giving event. After we have our meal, everyone gets into an assembly line. We have bins with all the ingredients laid out and we put together bread and soup mixes as gifts for the local food pantries. It's a blessing to see even the youngest children taking part and teaching them how important it is to help out people in need.

Later this week we get to tease cheer on Gunner as he rides in a convertible and does the parade wave as Homecoming King for the Spirit Week celebration. On a side note.....is it just me or does having a parade that starts at 5 o'clock in the evening when it is pitch black sound a little off? Regardless......the parade ends at the local park where food will be served and fireworks will be blasting off, so we are there!

Thanksgiving Day starts off with the boys working at the football game, and the rest of us helping out for a few hours at a food pantry. Then we head off to Josh's parents for a feast fit for a king. It's funny....I am not a huge eater, but for some reason, for this meal.....I load my plate up to the point that it needs sideboards. I have the perfect portion of mashed potatoes, turkey and veggies to do my three point fork-full of heaven. You know......piece of turkey, swirled into the mashed potatoes and then the veggies can stick on top. After I finish that last bit of butternut squash I politely excuse myself from the table. I then change into my comfy plaid yoga pants as the circulation in my stomach region is starting to get cut off and return to the table. Most people do not even notice the fashion disaster I am sporting.....or if they do, they are polite enough not to say anything. If fact, I think most are just envious that they didn't think to do the same.

Be prepared people!

Now that I have more room, I indulge in a slice of cranberry nut bread and a piece of pumpkin pie. Then I wash it all down with a cup of decaf coffee. Because I cannot screw up the chances of my grand finale when I slip out into the den......and slip into a Tryptophan induced unconsciousness for about an hour. Yes, this plan is executed and now perfected every year.


So now, in honor of Josh and his Native American heritage, I leave you with a two different things to ponder/ingest today. This first one is just a simple Truth written by an anonymous Native American that has been passed down through the generations:

"Give thanks for unknown blessings already on their way"

Let us not only give thanks to God for what He has already done......but believe His word and His promise that there is more to come! Know that He is the Author and Finisher of our lives and trust that that He has great plans for our lives.

And secondly.....I have always said that God's gifts and blessings are too many to count. When I am empty, He fills me......when I am hungry, He feeds me. I am so thankful for my family, our health and the blessings we receive everyday. As I recently shared.....I am also thankful for all the new friendships I have made in the blogosphere.

If I had to say the most important thing I am thankful for......it is my Salvation. Salvation that I could never earn, but has been so graciously given to me by the one and only Jesus Christ. I want to keep living my life the way it is pleasing to Him. I need His guidance and wisdom in every step of my life.

Native American Prayer
(translated by Lakota Sioux chief Yellow Lark in 1887)

Oh Great Spirit Father in Heaven,
whose voice I hear in the winds
and whose breath gives life to everyone,
hear me.

I come to You as one of Your many children;
I am weak... I am small...I need your wisdom and your strength.

Let me walk in beauty,
and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunsets.

Make my hands respect the things You have made,
and make my ears sharp so I may hear Your voice.

Make me wise,
so that I may understand what You have taught my people
and the lessons you have hidden in each leaf and each rock.

I ask for wisdom and strength,
Not to be superior to my brothers,
but to be able to fight my greatest enemy, myself.

Make me ever ready to come before You
with clean hands and a straight eye,
so as life fades away as a fading sunset,
my spirit may come to You without shame.

Happy Thanksgiving my friends, be safe......and remember......wherever, whenever and with whomever you are celebrating your turkey dinner with.....

Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise; give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the LORD is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations. ~Psalm 100:4-5

Peace and love~
*~Michelle~*

My Thanku Haiku

So I'm on a streak of assorted style postings this past week or so.....kinda like a shmorgishborg of Michelle until I can slow down enough to collect my thoughts on digging deep with Jesus and what He is doing in my life. And trust me friends......He is doing awesome things!

I've covered the 50 random facts of myself and then I had my shameless brag going on.....I thought I'd step completely out of my comfort zone and take a stab at something I know nothing about......poetry.

So here you go, a simple Haiku that kinda sums up how I have been feeling lately.

showers of blessings
eternally grateful
though I don't deserve

Pretty sure I botched up the 5-7-5 pattern with that......but hopefully you get my point! I am just blown away with how God has been pouring out His blessings on me and my family. His grace, His forgiveness, His comfort......oh man, I just LOVE HIM SO MUCH!!!!!!!!

*yes, shouting. ;)

OK, now if you want to read some awesome haiku's that are definitely written the correct way......I know this pretty cool "fish" named Shark Bait who writes awesome poetry including these amazing Bible Haikus (or is it Haiki? gah...).

......anyway....he posted one today that just is beautiful, and he's got an awesome collection going on here too.

So with that......I am gonna let ya go. Throwing on my favorite hemp hoodie and a pair of jeans to go do some more yard cleanup. Gotta rake a little more and get the bonfire pit ready. We are going to be celebrating my second son's 16th birthday with friends and family this weekend. And no big birthday bash is complete without the hillbilly firework festivities! Yee Haw!

So if we don't end up in the slammer for disturbing the peace.....I'll be sure to post some pics!

Peace and love~
*~Michelle~*

Listening to the Littlest

The other night I was in the bathroom and I flipped through a book that I bought at the local GoodWill....because you know that is the only place I get to read, right?
(*my bathroom, not the GoodWill.....Man, I am an English/grammar teacher's nightmare with my run-on sentences and my complete destruction of all grammar rules)

Anyway....this small hardcover book is titled, Listening to the Littlest and it's a collection of thoughts/poems by Ruth Reardon. Not sure if it is a popular book and if everyone and their mother knows about it.....but it was a great new discovery for me. In fact, I looked it up on Amazon and I am still confused about the popularity of this book as it sells from .01 used to $48.99 new to some $30 collectible editions. All I know is the cover is different from the Amazon listing and I only paid 25 cents.

(*hey, maybe I'll find out this is some special one of a kind edition....uh, nevermind....remember this?)

Anyway, the inside cover had a message handwritten saying congratulations to a couple who I am assuming just had a baby. I flipped to the next page and I loved the preface (or whatever that is called)

If littlest ones could know
what only years can teach.

If littlest ones could tell
just how they feel....

Maybe,.....they would talk
like this.....
Maybe.....we would listen.....

You know I was hooked as soon as I saw the "......"!

anyway....I thought it would be a good book to keep in my bathroom basket.....because, well you know...like I said, that is the only time I actually have a moment of peace to read.

So I totally forgot about it until one night last week, it was late......I was fried from a long day and was getting ready to settle down. I was aggravated because someone used the last of the toilet paper and just tossed the roll on the floor.....not sure what made me more annoyed.....not replacing the roll, or throwing the empty one on the floor approximately six inches from the trash can.

So as I grumbled a few choice words and bent down to pick it up, that book caught my eye. I picked it up and put the lid down on the toilet.....I was officially giving myself 10 minutes of "Michelle time" even though I could hear what sounded like a scene from Braveheart coming from my living room. Did I mention I had a house full of teenagers over and they were playing X-Box Live?

The book contained short poems that gently reminded parents to slow down, allow little ones to "help" when they want and that saying "no" is OK. This kind of stuff is perfect for me as you know it's hard for me to get past a few pages of reading with my ADD and short attention span. These poems were awesome.....they delivered great messages in just a few short words.

I came across this one poem in particular that I absolutely loved.....I know God wanted me to read this as I have had some "not so Mother-of-the-Year" moments over the past few days. Yeah, I wasn't feeling so proud about how I acted with my kids lately. It seemed like all I have been doing was barking at my younger ones and constantly nitpicking battles with my two older ones. I can try to blame/chalk it up to being slightly hormonal, a little stressed from trying to get the refinancing in order (to help pay for the new roof we have).......or maybe just being a little burnt out from burning it at both ends, both physically and emotionally. I can......but I won't.

In fact, it doesn't matter why I was acting the way I was acting......the fact is, I did act that way.

Yes, my kids can be selfish, push my button and they are no angels. I won't play them up to be. I have two teenagers that can be self centered and demanding at times.......I have two younger children who sometimes purposely taunt the other to tears. Homeschooling doesn't always go as smooth as it could.....partly my fault for being unorganized and flustered.....partly their fault for taking advantage of a laid back learning environment and having their mom as their teacher.

But also.....I don't think that they should be the "punching bag" for the stress, burdens and just plain junk that I am carrying. I cannot change or control certain situations that I am dealing with, but I can control how I react to them. And to be honest....they are not anything different or worse that many of us are dealing with in this economy, world....and just life, yk?

So lately, I feel like we have had this whole negative blanket covering us and everyone is feeding off/reacting to the negativity. There is shouting and angry words. Words, that once they fly out of your mouth.....have been causing some damage. There is bitterness, hurt feelings, guilt and defensiveness.

Now after one of these verbal smackdowns, I will say that after a few hours of me holding a grudge, slamming a few cupboards and speaking only when spoke to......I want to apologize and revisit the issue in a more calm atmosphere. It feels unsettling to be distant from my kids emotionally. I never appreciated being on the receiving end of "because I said so, and I am the parent" growing up. I always try to let my kids know that their feelings and wants are important to me, even if I don't agree with them. I never want to belittle anything they are feeling or going through. I don't want to build up a wall with them as a parent, so they feel it is useless to come to me. So many teens feel like this these days.....and that can cause them to seek help/attention in the wrong places or from the wrong people.

We may not be Beaver Cleaver family, but we are held together with a strong bond (God being in the center) and being divided feels foreign/uneasy to us. So, although I feel I have valid concerns/issues that needed to be addressed.....I clearly handle it the wrong way and feel the need to apologize.

I also know that the cold shoulder and unforgiveness feels unsettling for them as well. So sometimes, after they barricade themselves in their bedrooms and have their music blaring for an hour or so, they come to me and want to apologize.

Either way, I am so thankful that most of the time....the apologies are accepted, forgiveness is granted and we can have a civilized discussion where they find out I am right, we discuss the matter honoring each others' feelings and concerns.

Totally Kkidding about the I am right strikeout/dealio.....I want them to know that yes, sometimes parents don't have their act all together and can make mistakes. This whole parenting thing is a learning experience and every day with every age/stage of raising children, we are faced with making decisions. There is no cookie cutter method. There is no instructional manual that one size fits all (except the Bible). Point is, we are human and completely competent to have some major screw-ups in our lives too.


OK, back to the poem......

Good Night, Mother

......it's o.k.
You didn't win a prize for motherhood
today, but it's o.k.
You haven't ruined my development
by one bad day

I want a human mother, not a model one.
You sure were angry at the world!
I learned a few new words
(I won't repeat!)
Don't worry Mother~I felt your kiss
There's always a tomorrow~

Forgiving and forgetting are easy
when I know that I am loved!

That made me well up, I don't know about you.

I am going to be honest....It's a humbling experience when your children forgive you.

How like Jesus to teach such a powerful and valuable lesson through our children. God forgives us.....unconditionally. Even when we are not the "model" Christian/Believer. In fact.....there is no "model" perfect Christian. The only perfect One was Jesus. God knows we are not perfect, He created us!

He doesn't hold a grudge, His opinion of us is not changed. He loves us unconditionally. Even when I show up after a train wreck of wrong doings......I come to Him, my sins are tossed into the Sea of Forgetfulness and I am forgiven. Even when I act like a selfish, self absorbed teenager......thinking only about me and my needs, God still pours His endless Grace on me when I don't deserve it.

God, thank you so much for always meeting me with open arms. Thank you for your grace and forgiveness when I clearly do not deserve it. Thank you for keeping me number one on Your priority list, when some times I put myself at the top of my list. Thank you for wiping my slate clean so that I may have a tomorrow, a chance to make it right again with You and others.

Thank you for the reward and gift of forgiveness for others, as Matthew reminds us: "For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you." ~Matt. 6:14

And lastly.....thank you for blessing me with children who continue to teach me......and like You, forgive me when I screw up.

xox
*~Michelle~*

ps. If I can find another copy of this book, without paying $48.99.......I am def. going to include it in my one year blog-versary giveaway/celebration coming up soon. :)

Count your blessings!

So this morning, I woke up to my obnoxious rooster cockadoodling like a broken record who wouldn't shut up to the sounds of chirping birds outside my window. It just put a smile on my face and made me realize, once again.....how blessed I am.

So I thought I would just list ten random things that make me smile and thank God for (in no specific order)

• everyone in my family is healthy, even with broken fingers, sunburns and poison ivy rashes today. (sums up what we were doing all weekend)
• Josh and I started on a new garden bed so that we can have a better place to grow our veggies (hence the sunburn)
• we have a gorgeous clean little stream way back on our property that E and N made a little "sinkhole" to cool off in, by creating a small dam with large rocks on one part (hence the broken finger)
• we are clearing out some land to build a new chicken coop (hence the poison ivy)
• I am raising my family out in the boonies, close enough to society.....yet far enough away from it at the same time (if that makes sense, lol)
• we were doing school outside in the fresh air yesterday and plan on doing it today as well.
• I have very special close friends that I can share where I found a deer tick on me (it was the size of this ".") and laugh about it with them (*shudder*)
  
• I found $10 in my pocket, so we went out for ice cream last night
• then ended the night watching a gorgeous sunset
• I have Jesus Christ in me.

In this upside down world, where most worry/complain what they don't have, I encourage you to take 5 minutes today and count what blessings (no matter how simple) you do have.....and please share even just one thing with me!

p.s. Don't forget to enter my giveaway! Picking winner tomorrow~ :)

Peace and love~

*~Michelle~*