My Little Book Worm

Hannah has been reading since she was a toddler...but I'm still amazed to watch and listen to her.  It's amazing to see her love for reading grow with every book.  This summer she is devouring the Magic Tree House series.  She insists on reading them in order, and I can't keep up with her. We get a stack out from the library and before I know it she's asking for more.  She's been reading about one a day.  If we are home for rest time...she'll disappear into her room and come out a couple hours later having read the whole book.  She also loves to read God's Word and is faithful to have devotions using her Wonderbook each day.  It's amazing to see how much they can learn about God and the world he created once they start reading!  

Living a Purposeful Life

Changes in life tend to help me to re-evaluate and think about where I am and where I want to be as a child of God walking with Him in this world.  I just read a wonderful book with my friend Amber, "Calm My Anxious Heart".  In her book, Linda Dillow, challenged us to think about the purpose of our lives.  To use scripture and the example of other godly people to help us write a "purpose statement".  It took me a while, but I finally did come up with a purpose statement for my life.  I also chose from life verses to live by.  I've never been one to have one life verse...God usually uses certain verses to see me through certain times of life, but I went ahead an settled on a few (couldn't pick just one).  I wrote my purpose statement (in the form of a prayer) and my life verses in my journal, but also want to share them here.  I want to remind myself of them often to keep myself focused on doing what I believe God has called me to do...I want to be a woman of purpose.  I'm thankful for Linda Dillow's challenge to do this!

I want to live purposefully-
God, help me to love you most more- more than any other person or think- don't let anything get in teh way of a growing relationship and walk with you.  

Help me to love, encourage, and support my family.  I want to cherish and inspire my husband, point my children to you each day and stay connected to them spiritually through the years.  I want to love, encourage and disciple other women impacting their spiritual lives.  

Help me to create a warm, comfortable, inviting atmosphere in our home.  I want this to be a place where my family and others will be comfortable and blessed.  

Use me for your glory.  Take me where you want me to go, sue me as you want to...and work out your perfect will in my life.  

Psalm 73:25-26
"Whom have I in heaven but you?
    And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.²⁶ My flesh and my heart may fail,    but God is the strength^[a] of my heart and my portion forever."
    and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,^[a]
    and to walk humbly with your God?"
    but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
    and the wonders that he has done."


(The above verse has been my theme verse over the past year)

Micah 6:8
"He has told you, O man, what is good;
and what does the Lord require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,^[a]
    and to walk humbly with your God?"

(I want to walk humbly with my God while doing good and showing love and kindness to his people)

Psalm 78:4
"We will not hide them from their children,
    but tell to the coming generation
the glorious deeds of the Lord, and his might,
    and the wonders that he has done."

(love this verse that speaks to the importance of sharing the glorious deeds of the Lord with my children..what a high calling!)

Down on the Farm

Isaac is loving books now...especially ones that have a rhythm to them.  One of his most recent favorites is a "Down on the Farm".  He taps his legs as we say "down on the farm" on each page and says the animal sounds.  Hannah and I take turns reading the pages to him..it almost doesn't get old.  Love these moments.  :)