Gratituesday | Heavenly Homemakers

Archive for Gratituesday

May

Gratituesday: Better Than a Cruise

Posted by: Laura | Comments (9)

We could have saved up for a cruise. We could have taken our kids to a theme park. And shucks, maybe we will do one or both someday. But after the week we have experienced, I’m not sure anything could compare to the fun we’ve had, the memories we’ve made, and the blessings we’ve received.

Since last Wednesday, we have been hitting various places in the Denver area and in Colorado Springs, serving in various ministries as God opened doors for us. We’re still not home, and therefore I’m not able to sit down and write out all of the details yet.

Yes, Malachi is wearing a vanilla wafer box (helmet?) on his head. Who says serving isn’t tons of fun?!

We have learned so much, have met so many wonderful people, and have reacquainted with many that we haven’t seen in years. We have had experiences we never could have had in our small town, seen sites and people that have made our hearts hurt, and been able to serve in ways that have brought us so much joy.

Beyond ministry opportunities, we were blessed to attend the wedding of one of the ladies on our YC soccer team. On the walk from the ceremony to the reception, we turned around and saw two young ladies that we haven’t seen for way too long. I admit it. I cried. We LOVE these girls. By the way: The one in the purple dress? I was her first grade teacher. Yep, taught that girl to read, I did. A few billion years later, she’s all grown up and I have four big kids. Great times.

Okay, that’s all I have time to share right now! I have loads of pictures, and thousands of words to share with you about this trip. Details are coming in a few days. I can’t thank God enough for this trip. His goodness constantly amazes me. How good it is to be a part of His family!

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May

Gratituesday: Our Family Service Trip

Posted by: Laura | Comments (15)

I’ve talked here recently about how important it is to serve together with your family. We’ll be talking about that more – and I’ll be sharing some specific ideas of ways to serve with your family, specifically a ministry we can all be a part of together here at Heavenly Homemakers!

But today, I want to share what my family is up to this week and part of next. We’ve been praying about, saving for, and working out details for this ministry opportunity for quite some time.

Originally, we had planned on all six of us going together on a foreign mission trip. That is still something we’d like to do within the next two years before our oldest, Asa, graduates from high school.

But for now, while we continue to put funds aside for a bigger trip that will take us to a far away country, and while we give our younger boys a little more time to grow (we’re not quite ready to take our eight year-old overseas for a mission like this), Matt and I decided to plan a “state-side” mission trip instead. There are needs all over the world, and certainly needs right here in the United States. What a great stepping stone and training ground for our family!

God led our destination choice to be in Colorado. It just worked. The more we put together the details of our trip, the more we are seeing just how God has orchestrated this for us.

Supplies are ready. Bags are being packed. We take off Wednesday morning, will be staying with some friends in the Denver area, and will be serving in different forms of ministry the rest of this week and into the beginning of next. We’ll be taking pictures along the way so that I can share it all with you after we get back. In the meantime, I’ve got some fun posts and recipes lined up for you to read while we’re gone!

We are all so excited about this trip! It will be great family time together, a great learning experience, and most of all, a great time to grow closer to God as we serve Him as a family.

(And don’t forget the Denver and Colorado Springs Meet & Greet events too! If you live in the area, please make plans to come. We would love to meet you!!)

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May

Gratituesday: An Upcoming Date and an Unexpected Gift

Posted by: Laura | Comments (20)

Last week, my husband asked me out. I said yes. :)

Many recommend that you date your spouse once a week, or at the very least, once a month. Matt and I have never felt that we needed to make “going out” on dates a high priority. However, what we have made a priority is spending time together often and making plenty of time for meaningful conversation. We’ve never felt that we needed to spend money on restaurants, movies, and babysitters to keep our marriage healthy. But really…the occasional date that involves going out and spending a little money? Well, that’s pretty fun every once in a while. :)

Our kids are old enough to stay on their own and fix their own meal, so Matt and I decided that the two of us would go out for lunch this week at one of our favorite local restaurants, Chances R.

I’ve been excited since making these plans, and we looked at the schedule to pick a day this week to make it happen. That alone was going to be my Gratituesday post, but guess what else??!!

Sunday at church, we were handed a “thank you” card for a ministry we’ve served in for the past two years. On the way home, I opened the card and told Matt, “Ha! Look what we just got?”

Inside the envelope was a gift certificate to Chances R. How about that? I believe I can now splurge by getting a dessert with my meal. What do you think?

Isn’t it neat the fun ways God gives gifts and bonuses to His children?!

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Apr

Gratituesday: Who is a Homemaker?

Posted by: Laura | Comments (29)

With the Ultimate Homemaking eBook Bundle promo going on all week, I wanted to take some time to encourage us all in each of our unique homemaking roles. God is so good to allow each of us to make our homes heavenly – at all seasons and stages of our lives.

So, who is a homemaker?

Hi. I’m Laura. I have a husband and four kids. I am a stay-at-home mom. I work a full time job from my home. I homeschool my children. We eat whole foods. I don’t like cleaning. I have a big garden. I am a homemaker.

Allow me to introduce you to my friend Gail. She is a college professor who spends many hours in a classroom and in an office each day. She has blessed thousands of college students through the years. She and her husband are empty nesters, enjoying their children and grandchildren when they have a chance to see them every few months. Gail doesn’t like cooking – never has, never will. Last I heard, she pays someone else to clean her house for her. Her home is always open, and I always feel comfortable and welcome when I am at Gail’s house. Gail is a homemaker.

Please meet my friend, Michele. She is single, with no children. I often see her serving those around her, particularly those with many small children. She involves herself in many ministries at church, at camp, and in the community. She frequently invites people into her home. She knows how to feed an army, and does so regularly. Michele is a homemaker.

I have to tell you about my dear friend Madge. She is in her late 80′s (or early 90′s?), a widow after enjoying a lifetime of marriage to her sweetheart. Madge is lonely. She can no longer drive on her own. Her adult children and grandchildren, as well as some Christian friends, help her get around and make sure she is always at church and involved in other activities. Each time I see her, she has a smile and words of wisdom to share with me. “Let go and let God.” That will always be my favorite quote from her. Madge always cuts out my newspaper articles from the weekly column I write and sends them to my Nana. Madge is a homemaker.

Have you met my friend Brenda? She just received her masters degree. Her three kids are teenagers (one is in college) which has her frequently on the go with their public school events and extracurricular activities. She hates to clean, and claims that her housekeeping skills leave much to be desired. I beg to differ. I’ve seen her piles of “clutter.” They resemble my own, helping me know that I’m in good company. She has people in and out of her home daily – particularly her kids’ friends and neighbors. Brenda is a homemaker.

And then there is my friend Lindsey, who, unlike Brenda and myself, loves to clean. Loves it. Her house is always spotless, and her smile is beautiful. She is so much fun to be with, and she is intentional about keeping her marriage and family strong and growing in the Lord. Her two little girls go to public school, and she is very involved in their classrooms. Even though her daughters are young, I see Lindsey instilling in them a desire for purity, love for others, and love for the Lord. Lindsey is a homemaker.

I wish you could meet my friend, Margaret. She gives the best hugs. She and her husband are retired, and loving every minute of it. She used to work full time outside of the home. Now she can often be found at her grandkid’s sports activities or serving at church. Margaret is a homemaker.

So who is a homemaker? A homemaker is all of us. A homemaker is you. A homemaker is each person who works to make a home heavenly. A person who serves, gives, loves, and cares.

Whether you work outside the home sixty hours a week or stay home full time – you are a homemaker. Whether you homeschool, public school, hate cooking, love cleaning, have too many piles of mail in your kitchen, can’t remember when you last washed your windows, decorate your home with elaborate handmade crafts, or wouldn’t know a piece of raffia if it hit you in the face – you are a homemaker.

Thank you God for the beautiful gift of homemaking – in all its forms. We are blessed.

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Apr

Gratituesday: Meaningful Discussions

Posted by: Laura | Comments (14)

Sometimes, it seems like all there is time for when it comes to talking with our families is, “go put your shoes away” and “hurry up, it’s time to leave” type conversations. Sad, but true.

I find it funny (in a not so funny way) that I can be with my kids all day - teaching them, working with them, driving them to and from games and practices, and eating with them – and not always have very many meaningful conversations. Yes, logistics have to be worked out and plans have to be made. Recounting how the soccer game played out is fun. Joking around about what might happen if a ninja alien super hero giant rat was to join our household gets the creative juices flowing (and then some). Those types of conversations serve a purpose, there’s no doubt about it. (Although, ninja alien super hero giant rat? Really? Can we not sometimes stay just a little bit more within the realm of reality while we’re eating lunch?)

Lately, Matt and I have worked to be more intentional about making our boys think about and discuss more important, and sometimes difficult, topics. They are all old enough now (ages 8-15) to go beyond silly subjects and pointless jabber. And, because of their ages, no longer do we need to keep Bible study and character training as basic and simple as we did when they were little.

Last week, we studied in depth together 1 Corinthians 13. What is love? What does it really mean to love like Jesus loves? If love isn’t rude, isn’t self-seeking, isn’t easily angered, how then can we take on those godly traits? (As in, Laura isn’t rude, Laura isn’t self-seeking, Laura isn’t easily angered… Something to meditate on, for sure.)

This week, we are studying Ephesians 6, looking in depth at the armor of God and the spiritual battle we face each day. God has already won the battle! How can we put on our armor so that we can stand our ground when evil comes our way?

This has been a great opportunity for Matt and I to share our ideas on these topics with our kids. But even better? Hearing what our boys think. Letting them express what these scriptures mean to them. Watching the wheels turn in their minds while they consider God’s love and His power to help us fight our spiritual battles.

These conversations have been rich. Our goal is to keep them going. Here’s hoping our kids will learn and grow from what they are hearing and studying. I know I sure am.

And I will brace myself for the fact that we are sure to balance these discussions with vivid and detailed accounts of a one-eyed creature whose amazing super power has everything to do with none other than earsplitting, green, gaseous bodily functions, which means that he obviously takes over large cities by….

Well anyway. You get the picture.

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Apr

Gratituesday: Time to Listen

Posted by: Laura | Comments (10)

A couple of Gratituesdays ago, I wrote that I was giving myself permission to rest. Part of that is because several in my family (including myself) had come down with the flu – the fever, body ache, coughing kind of flu. And the other part? After a busy month in March, finishing and introducing my new book, plus traveling three out of four weekends of the month – I found myself completely exhausted.

For the past two weeks, I have only done bare minimum each day. I haven’t done loads of intense writing. I have rested and moved slowly as I’ve put together simple meals for my family. I’ve let my body heal from being sick. I’ve hardly left the house. (Except yes, I have gone to several of my boys’ soccer games. I needed the sunshine, and I really wanted to be with my family.)

While I still feel somewhat tired and need extra sleep each day (that flu is nasty, I tell ya), I am now starting to feel more like myself. I am beginning to feel refreshed. I have enjoyed my family in ways I haven’t taken the time to enjoy them for a while. And most importantly, I have been able to learn a lesson or two from God that I believe He has been waiting for me to hear. Apparently, it took knocking me down for a few days of feverish chills for me to listen.

While being sick hasn’t been fun, I have truly been thankful for the time to reflect and pray. These past two weeks have really made me aware of my weaknesses, and how God’s strength is made perfect through those weaknesses. I’ve learned that setting boundaries in all aspects of my life isn’t just necessary – it’s godly.

God doesn’t expect me to be all things for all people. He’s already got that covered. My focus is simply to be godly. In doing so, I will be able to accomplish everything He needs me to accomplish!

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Apr

Gratituesday: Summer Break is Coming

Posted by: Laura | Comments (8)

We have reached that point in our school work this year. Each day, I hear announcements from the boys, letting me know that the end is in sight.

“Only three weeks worth of Spanish lessons left!” or “Just a few more math lessons!”

Yep, while there is still quite of bit of “formal” school work yet to be done this spring, we are definitely seeing the last pages of our books and the last lessons in our computer programs. As much as possible, we’ll take school time outside, where we will work on our garden and read books while lounging on the trampoline.

Church camp applications are being filled out. Summer plans are being made.

Who can help it? It’s 76° outside today!

Ah, but don’t get too excited. There is snow in our five-day forecast and we haven’t finished all the books on our shelves yet. Summer break isn’t here just yet. ;)

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Apr

Gratituesday: Permission to Rest

Posted by: Laura | Comments (24)

I don’t remember the last time I let several days go by without posting anything here. But here it is Monday night, and I haven’t posted since Thursday.

Typically, I feel very bad about this. I want to be sure and post deals over the weekend so that you all know of some of the good prices you can get on healthy food. And I always want to share my menu plan, since many of you count on it as a guide as you prepare for the week. But the busy month of March was beginning to catch up with me. So, for the past few days, I have happily given myself permission to rest.

We’ll be back with our regularly scheduled programing tomorrow…I think. :)

I sure am looking forward to reading about what you are thankful for this week!

Join us for Gratituesday at Heavenly Homemakers!

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Mar

Gratituesday: So Busy!

Posted by: Laura | Comments (19)

It’s so easy to whine and complain about being busy. When people ask, “How are you?” one of the first responses for many of us is often, “Good. Just really, really busy.” And sometimes, I think we can get into an “I’m busier than you are” competition – as if the person with the busiest, most difficult-to-keep schedule wins some sort of prize. (The pass-out-from-exhaustion-prize, maybe?)

I’m often guilty of being too busy, and I’m guilty of complaining about “how much I have to do!” Truly, it’s not good to be so busy that you can’t love on people, that you can’t care for your family, or that you can’t get enough rest and take care of yourself. If we’re that busy, even with good activities, something needs to give.

But trusting that we are busy doing good, that we are busy ministering to others as God has called us to do, that we are busy being productive with our time - how about instead of complaining, we take the time to be grateful that we are busy?

To be busy means that God is using you! To be busy means that you are healthy. To be busy means that you have plenty of work to do. To be busy means that you are serving others. To be busy means that you have been given wonderful opportunities.

I am thankful to be busy. And I’m equally thankful for the quiet time God gives me each day to spend with Him, just listening and learning.

Never forget, we are all too busy to skip out on time with God each day. Being busy without Him means that we’re just…busy.

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Mar

Gratituesday: Play Time!

Posted by: Laura | Comments (20)

I’m not very good at taking down time. I love being productive with my time, working hard, feeding people, doing-doing-doing.

But getting away, taking turns cooking (and cleaning!), playing games, going on fun outings – I have found it so refreshing the past few days.

Branson is full of fun things to do. We took the kids to the fish hatchery (I’ll try to share pictures after I have a chance to upload more of them) and then did a little hiking (all free!). Our hike took us to a beautiful lake, where the kids had a blast skipping rocks. And hooray, the sun was shining bright that day! I LOVED being in the sun after months of winter cloudiness!

We splurged and took the kids to The Price is Right Live show one evening. We all had SO much fun – even if none of us got called up to be on contestant’s row. :)

I’ll share more about our adventures another day. (Hey, I’m still on vacation while I write this, after all.) :) Today, I’m thankful for a fun get away with extended family. I am well rested and ready to go again! That’s a good thing, because there is a lot of work waiting for us once we get home!!

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