From Gold Hoops to Chicken Coops

Last week I had a super hectic schedule.  I had to drive into the city several times a day for a couple of days, attempt to homeschool, work and organize my house. Not all of those happened all the time.  Especially the organize my house part.  I just found out that I suffer from a very debilitating disorder.  ADCD, Attention Deficit Cleaning Disorder. This means that although I think I'm cleaning/organizing, I am actually appearing to be a horder.  It's just awful! And super exhausting.  For the record, I'm an amazing organizer, just not in my house.  But I'm working on it. When I was 25 years old, and still living with my momma, my bestie Jenna had to come over and teach me how to clean my room.  It was a mess.  I'll never forget it.  But she did give me great pointers.  "Start here.  And don't go anywhere else until you finish here.  Then work your way around the room."  She followed me around the room until I got it lol.  She's given me tons

First I want to start with a big Happy Birthday to Cary Grant! Isn't he just dreamy? I plan on watching his movies all weekend! Things to be Joyful for: 15. Wolverine paying us a visit. 16. A snowy day at home. 17. New snow boots. 18. Will power. 19. Lazy day of learning in bed. 20. Encouragement from an unsuspecting place. 21. An accountability partner. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” - James 1:2-3 

I look forward to writing about the joys of the week.  It helps me to keep a look out for the good as opposed to bad.  There are so many things to be joyful about, if we could just keep our eyes and hearts open to it. I hope you are able to keep count of the joys in your life. 7. A loving husband 8. Lunch with an honest and loving friend 9. The end of colored rice (pa'la basura) 10. My little yarn club 11. A media free day and brothers playing together 12. Macarons 13. The return of Downton Abby 14. A loving family who give my children crazy gifts Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” - James 1:2-3

Week 1 Following on the heels of the British blogs I have been obsessed with, I mean following, I've decided to document the joy in my life.  The things that I am grateful for during my weeks.  It's so easy to forget the joys in our lives and fall into the traps of all the things we think we are missing. Thank you Victoria , and don't give up on your blog!  Most of the other blogs are calling it "52 Weeks of Happy".  I have decided on Joy. You see, happiness is an emotion.  It's fleeting.  It's usually driven by materialism... I would be happy if I had a bigger house.  I would be happy if I had a new car or the latest gadget. I may never get those things, so does that mean that I will never be happy? Probably.  But Joy! Now that's something I can always have.  Because I have Christ, I can count it all joy, even the hard stuff. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces

2012 was an adventurous year for us around here.  We moved.  Grew more as a family (with a few bumps here and there).  Began our journey to home education.  Watched broken hearts be mended.  2012 was the year  I really tried to listen when the Lord spoke (with more than a few bumps here and there). My prayer for 2013 is that I listen to His promptings more and follow in obedience.  I hope to listen to the voices of my children's hearts and not the needs of this world.  I hope to be a better wife.  I pray for broken hearts to be made new.  I pray for the lost, that they seek Him, for He is the only one that can lead them home.  And I pray for you.  Whatever that need may be.  I pray for the things that the Lord has prepared for me. But as it is written: “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” ~1 Corinthians 2:9-10 Blessings,  S. Vanessa