We are the body & social media

Happy Friday friends!!  This week, like every other week, has had it's share of crazy moments and I sit here on this Friday morning, amazed.  Amazed at how God works in the details of our lives, whether they are good details or tragic details.

My week has been traced with sickness!  Two kids down in one week, and of course as one is on the mend, the next one begins!  Such is life, especially with more than one child in the house!! My mom was willing to come pick up my sick child and take her back to her house for a little R&R while we went on with our busyness.  The next day, I dropped sickie number two off at mom-mom's as well.

My little sickie on Monday night

I see the hands and feet of Jesus, as well as His heart, displayed daily in the way my parents conduct themselves.  They are never unable to help someone in need.  I admit, there are times when it drives me crazy!!  How in the world can  you always say yes, you have to say no once in a while, don't you???  Well, no - you don't.  When you walk in the footsteps of Jesus, not only do those footsteps lead you in the right direction, but they provide the restoration for your soul that you need when you live a life of servanthood.   I appreciate that Godly example in my parents and it's one that I am working on setting for my children as well.  To be flexible and be in God's will is exactly where we need to be at.all.times.!

We talked about God's will at youth group on Wednesday night - it was an awesome lesson to dive into.  We are far too easily captivated with the things of this world and oftentimes we are just clueless to all that God's way has to offer us.  If you think of the most perfect situation that you could find yourself in in this world, God's way trumps that......tenfold!  To the untrained eye, God's way looks ridiculous.....how do your empty yourself and yet find yourself full?  How do you put yourself at the back of the line and yet, find yourself being crowned as first? I admit, it doesn't make sense, until you take that step.

taking that step to follow him....prepping for teaching opportunities

Anyway, I sat here this morning, contemplating my day, *which has put me in the position of having two children at home and two at my parents.  I did my devotionals, got my cuppa joe and hopped on the computer to read my favorite blogs and saw another example of God's hands and feet being displayed in a community.  Sasha, of www.lemonademakinmama.com shared a frightening story of what this week offered her, her family and ultimately her neighborhood.  I want to encourage you to jump over there and read today's post.  It is a heart-wrenching and heart-warming story of how the body comes together to support a hurting member.  It's a story of God's redemption, His love, grace & forgiveness.

It left me feeling so many different things, but the thing that I wanted to share here about this was not just her story, (which, by the way, is more than enough to stand on its own) but the story of social media & technology.  These things, while they can definitely be a time waster and a distraction, also has the ability to join believers across the miles.  It joins my heart with a sister that I've never met and it allows me to feel what she is feeling and join her in prayer and praise!  It takes me to Uganda where I can share with a sister there, whom I have met, and it puts me in her daily happenings while she serves Jesus with her whole heart.  It takes me over to Hungary, where I can join friends in praying for the people there as they pour themselves into the lives others.

the view on a county road, filled with His glory

It also keeps me right here, in my little county, where I can offer encouragement to friends and family, through the posts of others and my own words.  To help support the body through social media is an extraordinary thing.  I know alot of people scoff at the idea of blogging, I know that it crosses the lines of privacy and that it seems silly to talk about people that we've never met, like we know them personally.  I get that and I struggle with that as well, but I have to tell you.  I think it's a beautiful opportunity to catch a tiny glimpse of God's view from up there.  He is Sovereign, He knows all, and sees all, all around the world.  Social Media gives us that same opportunity, in a way, to get inside someone elses life, to share in their fears & hopes.  To pray for people half a world away and feel like we are connected.  Because, after all, we are the body, and the body IS connected, right?

we're all in this together

a little community of gingerbread people <3

So, today, take notice of how social media is being used for His glory and maybe take a step into that crazy world and see where He leads you!!  (the key word being HE......I recognize that social media has some very dangerous paths, we must be alert and choose wisely)

finally found a home for my antique chalkboard <3

God bless you friends <3  Enjoy the season, prepare your heart for the Advent season, deck your halls and I'll see you back here next week!!

sing His praises <3

 

God Bless - Lorraine

 

*before I finalized and published this post, I ended up with one child at home!!!  My how quickly life changes before you!!!

Giving Thanks.....warning....photo heavy

It seems like I just got out my fall decor and prepared myself for Thanksgiving and now Christmas is thrust upon us!  I'm not sure that I'm okay with that, but I suppose that just doesn't quite matter - Christmas is coming, rather quickly, whether we're ready or not!! 

So before I jump into Christmas blogs, here are a few things that I've been thankful for over the past few weeks:

Cute colored mugs to tote along to chilly soccer games &

the soccer games themselves....Joe, Jaysen & Julia have played great games and it's been a wonderful season!!

Country roads and fall foliage!  I can't take enough pictures of the landscape of fall....nature is a beautiful canvas!

Studying His word daily.  Something that I've struggled with over the years and have finally overcome!  Spending quiet time with Him every morning is a gift not a chore!

His morning light, fresh and new every day, like His mercies!  His faithful gift to me!

Service!  Pulling together clothing to help the victims of Hurricane Sandy!  Our youth group FILLED the back of our Suburban with bags of clothing!!!

This girl.....not so little anymore!!  Watching her grow and learn each and every day!!

Firsts.....her first roller skating party, first time on skates!!  She loved it!!

Bold new haircuts & my momma!!!  Thankful that she is still willing, after all these years, to cut my hair!!

Warm, cozy fires, cuddled on the couch with my people, feeling very full and blessed!!

Working together, as a team!!  Hosting the holiday meals gives us a chance to shine....we all pull together and take part in every aspect of preparation!

Gorgeous flowers still growing at the end of November!  A true gift!!

Pumpkin Pie!  Nuff said!

A place to gather.....friends, loved ones, memories

Warm slippers, winter jammies, hot chocolate, ending the day with the people that I love the most

Never ending Uno & the fact that I was not playing :)

Youth Ministry!!  So thankful for the opportunity to work with our youth!  This group is part of our student leadership team - having the chance to walk along side them and help them discover who God calls them to be is such an honor!

Serving with the youth!  Saturday evening we went across the bridge into Delaware and served at The Sunday Breakfast Mission.  They offer a ton of resources to the needy, including free meals.

 

Being connected across the miles <3 

And the chance to sing praises and prepare for the celebration of His birth! One week until the offical start of Advent! 

 

So, friends, what are you thankful for?  How do you mark the days until the day of His birth?  Come grab a seat and tell me about it!!  I'd love to hear from you!!

 

God bless,

Lorraine

 

 

More or Less........

Hi friends!!!  Happy Friday!!!  I feel like it's been a long time since I've been by this way and I do apologize!!  I'm wondering just how long it takes before you fall into a good groove of blogging, knowing exactly who you are in this vast blog world.  I honestly wonder if I'm even supposed to be here or not :/  Anyone else ever feel that way??? 

Anywho.....things are always busy around here but today I find myself faced with a very rare (just about extinct actually) kind of a day.  My girls are off at work (Julia is tagging along with Jessica to help with Cole) and my boys are off at an all day birthday party!  That leaves, the dog, the cats, the chickens & ducks and little old me!!!  All by myself!!!!  With a whole.entire.ginormous day in front of me!!!! Okay, it's partially over being that it's after 11:00 but you catch my drift!!! 

I am not used to days like this but believe my I am singing my thanks!!!!  We left the house at 8:15 this morning, I got my people to their places and arrived back at home, not too long ago.  I threw in a load of laundry!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  Have I mentioned that we've been three weeks without a washer????  Three Weeks People!!!!  For a family of six, that is not a good thing!!!!  I've reheated my coffee and perused my thoughts of how to go forward with this day!  There are so.many.options!!

I decided to come up to my office (aka schoolroom) and spend a little time on the computer!  I thought I'd catch up on emails, facebook and a few blogs, you know to get my creative energy flowing!!!

Okay, so laundry........definitely going to work on that today!!!!  We've gone through all of our "extra" clothes this past week, in an effort to gather donations for Superstorm Sandy victims.  We personally have donated at least 40 bags and boxes of clothing.  Half were clothes that we've grown out of  the other half we were waiting to grow into (let me clarify.....these are kids clothes that we are talking about - I, myself have NO intention of "growing into" anything).  We could probably continue this process and still come up with another 20 bags just from our closets!!!  That may happen.

 

 





This has inspired to me to tackle the rest of my attic.  Housewares and holiday items are in abundance up there and I think it's high time that they move on from here!  I've been in the mental process of coming to terms with living with less.  We have so much excess and after a while, after you've seen enough people without, after your closest peeps spend a week in a third world country and after you read amazing blogs and books of people who are doing IT.  They are pouring themselves out, they are giving out of what they have and sometimes don't have.  They are heart and world changers.  Couple that with feeling your pockets squeeze because you're not financially in the same place that you were three years ago, or one year ago for that matter.  After taking ALL OF THAT in.......you just have to do something!!!! 

So the attic is number 2 on my list of things to do with my day!  Next on my list is baking.....I haven't done any baking recently (well my kiddos baked some chocolate chip cookies the other day)

 

 



A dear friend of mine brought over some very ripened bananas for me the other night (tha,t my friend, is true friendship!!).  She said she knows that I/we like to make banana bread and whatnot, so she thought of me!!!!  True sweetness!!  I just have to make something banana-y with them today!!!!  We'll see how that goes!!! 

I know that this day is going to fly by me, so I better get moving and go grab myself a piece of it!!!!  Hope you have a fabulous friday!!!!  I know I will <3

God Bless!!!!!
Lorraine <3

You Were Made to Meet Your Maker (Awake My Soul)

I don't know if anyone has heard this song before or if there are hardcore fans out there. I just happened to stumble by this song on Pandora and thought I would share. I don't believe that this band is Christian, but I could be wrong. One line stuck out to me in this song; "you were made to meet your maker". If we lived everyday like that, what would it look like?

Also, the bridge says some pretty powerful things as well.

"In these bodies we live,

 in these bodies we die,

where you invest your love,

you invest your life"

 

~ Jessica

Honduras

I know that I should tell you guys all about my awesome trip to Honduras. But, I can't. I can't write these things down for the whole world to see. I know that right now, the only people that really read this blog are the people I know, but my thinking is that if you want to know about this trip, come talk to me. I'd love to tell you all about it! So instead of telling you about the trip, I'll tell you about the transition home.

If any of you have been on an over seas mission trip, you'll know how hard it is to come home. I came home completely content, until I started seeing people, tv, talking to people, and getting a glimpse at the 'American life'. I was in a constant conflict with my self. "Were people always like this? Has America always been so indulgent?" I came to realize that Americans didn't change, I did. While I'm not someone that's about to go sell everything to raise money for whatever, I am still shaken up.

When I finally got home and got settled, I wanted to go back. I wanted to go back to the smiling, friendly, spanish-speaking people of Honduras. But, I know I couldn't. Atleast until the next trip in August 2013 =]. I'm slowly getting back into the swing of things here, which breaks my heart even more. I don't want to forget and get swallowed up in the consumerism. So I constantly look at pictures, reread what I've written in my journal, and continue to write in my journal.

One of the biggest and most joyful lessons I learned while in Honduras isn't that the people live in poverty, anyone could tell you that, it's a bit more juvenile. Laughter is a universal language. While in Honduras I couldn't speak with the children very much. I could ask what their name was and if they had siblings, but once they heard that they thought I spoke the language. Oops! Anyway, what I could do is play with them and take turns teaching them English and having them teach me Spanish, and most importantly laughing. When they see me laugh, they can't help but laugh and vice-versa. Whether you speak Spanish, English, Creol, Italian, or any other language you can be certain that laughter is universal.

~ Jessica

Ooops, I did it again!!!!

I have a confession to make.  I changed around some rooms last week.....specifically the school room (gasp!!).  I know, I know, I was smack dab in the middle of a tour of that space but I just couldn't help myself!!  The force was too great and I could not ignore it any longer.  I'm sorry....well, actually, I'm not!!  I couldn't be happier with the change!  

 

 

So here ya have it.....our new school space!!!!

 

This is one of our smaller bedrooms.  It was most recently the boys room.  It's a tiny space and they were squished in here, which was crazy to me.

 

The huge desk fits in here perfectly, and it's big enough for all three or four of us to work there at the same time! I was even able to tuck a little desk into the closet, just in case we need some extra work space. 

 

 

I love the bright cheery yellow on the walls and that certainly helps to make up the fact that there is only one window in this room.  The boys already had a bulletin board up, so I was able to just transfer my things over.  I grabbed the bookcase from Joe's closet and it works perfectly there just inside the door.

 

I've been tossing around the thought of doing this for a long time. I thought it was silly for the boys to have such a small bedroom and for me to have such a large school room.  It just didn't make sense to me.  So I changed it!

 

 

 

The second small bedroom, which was supposed to be Jaysen's room but ended up just a space for stuff, is now our "library/media room"  

 

 

I love the warm brown colors in here.  The turquoise curtains go beautifully and the little chippy dresser actually has some pretty turquoise spots showing through.  This used to be Joe's dresser, now it houses movies, math manipulatives, markers and scrap paper.  Our kitty, Nelson, loves that little padded stool.....he sleeps there, alot!!

 

The closet holds science kits, binders and other supplemental supplies.

 

Our cubes or "library" fits perfectly too!  I love the open floor space, perfect for piling lots of pillows and blankets for movies or reading.  I still have a little bit or work to do decorating the spaces but that may or may not happen.  As for now, I'm done.  It's time to enjoy the space and see how it all feels.

 

So for those of you who are shaking your heads at me, I know!!  I am crazy but I can't help it....I really don't want to help it.  I absolutely ADORE creating new spaces!!  I love to take multiple spaces and re-create the same use over and over, each space offering something new and different.  A friend said that God was not going to give me a mansion in Heaven, but one small room!  I told him that that would not be Heaven, but Hell instead!!  He has created me to be creative and I doubt that He will stifle that in Heaven!!!  So there :P  take that "friend" ha ha!!

 

All kidding aside, I struggle with feeling ridiculous that I "need" to change things so much and loving it, knowing that this is how He's created me!  I am pretty sure that I am done moving rooms and furniture around....my body isn't as young as it used to be and it sure takes a toll!  But I make no promises :)

 

<3 Lorraine

 

 

 

Midweek slump

Hey gatherers!!!  How are you all doing?? 

It's been rainy and hazy and humid around here and let me tell ya, it's not helping my outlook!!!  Saturday night a sore throat came upon me out of nowhere!!  It hasn't progressed but it's leaving me very tired and weak and well, just kinda achey!!  Seeing that I don't really have the time to nurse a cold, I have been pushing through and not doing a bad job at it either.  But today, well, that's feeling like a different story....it's gonna be a tough one!  I'm leaning hard into Jesus, giving thanks anyway and looking for the blessings, but I'm weary.

one of the first things I saw this morning as I came downstairs....Smokie

  He's looking a bit weary too!!

 

I'm still going to push on and school the children and I will muster up some strength to shower and go to youth group later - because I love it!!!    I have the opportunity to spend time with some of the coolest kids and adults that I know - so nasty little cold is gonna have to take a backseat, cuz I'm goin!!!

 

So here's just something little for your midweek slump -if you're having a slump that is........I went to the Christian Bookstore on Friday - something that I don't get to do very often at all -and I picked up these little cuties!!

 

"Almost Amish" looks to be a very good book about slowing down and finding the blessings that come with a slower paced life - Yes Please!!!

 

"The Story" is the bible in, you guessed it, story form!!  It's condensed into 31 chapters and reads more like a story book. 

 

 I haven't had a chance to look at either book yet, well let me rephrase that.....I've been "looking" at the books since I brought them home, what I meant to say was that I haven't had the chance to READ either one of them!!  I can't wait!!

 

I hope that you have a blessed week!!!  Remember that each and every day is a gift, no matter what the wrapping looks like!!! 

 

Happy Wednesday!!

<3 Lorraine

 

Oh hey!!  What are some of your favorite reads....new or old??  Share them, please :)

 

 

 

 

School Room Tour - Part Two: Their Space

Hey welcome back to the tour!!!!  Today we're heading into kid territory!!!  Otherwise called "Their Space"!!!!!  I showed you this pic in the last post:

 

 

So let's dig in and see what's goin' on over there, shall we??

 

So, their desks came from a Habitat for Humanity - Resale store and they are actually drawing desks.....the desktop can be raised up on an agle for better drawing.  I always try to keep them in the up position with the hope that "stuff" won't accumulate on top, but it never works out!!  They also have two shelves to hold their books and pencil boxes.

 

They were both supposed to have that red basket on their desk, which holds things to do in case of extra time, extra math workbooks, flash cards, etc.  Of course, now that we are three weeks into school, if they finish an assignment early, I've been telling them to move onto something else in their schedule.  So we don't typically use the "Things to-do" baskets, but it was a good idea!!

 

They each have a square chalkboard from Five Below and I've taped a copy of their weekly schedule on to them.  Jaysen likes to draw and tapes his pictures up around his desk and Julia has a magnet board that I made years ago out of a cookie sheet, scrapbook paper and some Mod Podge.  At this point though, the board is gone because it always fell down!

 

Both desks look incredibly clean and well organized in these pictures, and let me assure you, that is not always the case!!!  See here:

 

That's real life!!  Right there for all to see!!!

 

Okay, back to the tour :)

 

So we have the desks, now onto the area in between:

 

So here we have one of the bookcases from the craig's list desk set and that sits on top of an old drop leaf table.  Behind that notice branches.....it's a large tree that I painted last year.....my plan was to make it a Missionary tree, which I sort have accomplished, just not completely the way that I'd planned.  We have pictures tacked up of our missionary friends from around the world.  My overall goal is to have the pictures in nice frames "hanging" from the branches.....maybe one day!

 

On the bookcase we have more things to keep them busy, and yes that actually translates into, more things that we don't use :/  Yeah, I have a lot of that!!  I've been slowly working on downsizing my stuff....getting rid of the items that I know we are never going to use and unmasking the ideal for what it is.......something that really can't be achieved in one certain way.  I've always tended to look at the "ideals" that the world shows and then end up frustrated that I can't achieve it in my own life.  Never realizing that the magazines are just that....magazines; staged, pretend pictures of what "could be"!  Yeah could be if no one lived there, if you were a maniac slave to your home and didn't let your children breathe in a room.  I'm kind of over that know, but still have the residue from a time long gone.  Sorry about the tangent, that's for another day and post!!

 

In the basket are drawing books and math games.  To the right of that are Nature's Friends magazines, Birds and Blooms and a series of workbooks about the United States.  Plus a small series of children's encyclopedias. 

 

On the bottom shelf:

 

Extra Science books and math manipulatives......they actually do get used!!

 

Well that covers "Their Space", a bit of psychology on what is real versus not and a pinch of my journey to living out the "less is more" philosophy.

 

Join me again for the rest of the tour!!  We'll be covering the library (a.k.a. Ikea bookcase)  and the media center. 

 

<3 God Bless

Lorraine





 

 

 

TGIF!!!!!

Oh Happy Happy Friday Friends!!!!!

 

I just wanted to leave you with a little truth wrapped up in humor for your weekend!

 

thank you Pinterest

 and http://www.everydaypeoplecartoons.com/cartoon/523/Routine-Cartoon

 

This totally sums up who I am!!!  I am at the end of three/four weeks of this new routine and I'm definitely passed the "I Love Routine" mark, I've been hanging out quite a bit in the "Until I'm bored" mark and I definitely feel the "Until I'm Overwhelmed" mark looming ever so closely!!

 

This is a challenge for me, I know for a lot of you, this is a cake walk - but for me? Not so much.

Anyway, thanks to the strength of God, I am daily leaning into Him to keep me moving forward and He is actively participating in the battle that rages in my mind!!!  I will not ponder a negative thought for more than a minute and I'm looking forward to the day (and I pray it's soon) that the thought will be defeated before it even gets to my mind!!

 

Well, I pray that you have a blessed weekend!!! Remember that each and every day is truly a gift from God, no matter what the wrapping paper may look like!!  So do your best to accept the gift and look for ways to enjoy it!!

 

Love <3 Lorraine

School Room Tour - Part One: My Space

Let me preface this tour by telling you that we have been homeschooling for 8 years and have probably had as many "school rooms" in that time!!!  We have schooled in the living room, dining room and we have even turned our attached garage into a classroom.....we've used the family room for storage as well! Jessica has used her bedroom, Joe has only a few times during the week that he does school here at home, and that happens at the dining room table.  Other times it's on the road or with Jessica where she works.  Life shifted and so did our rooms and furniture (surprise surprise) and now we have a fully functional school room!!  Now, I have to say that I believe any space can be fully functional, you just have to be creative with what you need, how you use it and what space you have!  There is no right or wrong space....it's all what you make it!!

Let's get started. 

Won't you step into.........

This monster is my desk/office and it was a steal, along with a credenza, two bookcases and a chair for $150!!!!!  It was a craig's list find....I highly reccomend craig's list....we've gotten some amazing deals from there!!  As with anything on line, you have to be smart and safe, but we've never ran into any problems!! 

 

It has a huuuge work space!!!  I had to get up high just to try to fit it all in the same shot and still was unable!!

 

In addition to this awesome desktop, it has three drawers on the left side and two on the right, with one being a file drawer!!  My drawers are somewhat of a mess, but I tend to keep some stationary supplies in a few of them, things I don't have a place for in others, computer wires in another and of course, files in the file drawer!!!  Those files contain homeschooling ideas for history, science, math worksheets, files for Jessica's college and Honduras information and personal files as well.

 

 

What do I keep on my desk??  Well, I came across these sweet cups at Target!!  The first time it was just a drive by....they were on clearance for under $5.00.  The next time I went to Target, I knew I had to have them!!

 

 

I knew as soon as I saw them, that they'd be perfect on my desk holding paper clips, alligator clips and other small desk items!!

 

I also keep a spot for schedules and an in/out bin for turning in work.

 

And some extra supplies, just in case.......

 





 

Behind me is what I like to call.......

 

 

It's a work in progress!!  I'd like to paint some of those frames so that they pop off the wall and of course add some fun and color to the otherwise gray corner!!

I downloaded and printed the tape measure, I'm sorry that I don't remember where I found it!!  If I ever do remember, I'll be sure to give credit where credit is due!!

My son, Joe made me the Ninja Star wreath!!  The square chalkboard I picked up at FiveBelow and the crate looking box is actually a blueberry box that I found on Craig's List at DiMeo's Farms!!  I love these boxes, I have several and have found many different uses for them!!

 

This is where I keep a mix of things....both personal and school related!  We'll start with the bulletin board.  Here I keep a small mothly calendar that I printed off of the computer for free, a piece of 12 x 12 scrapbook paper covered in clear contact paper to make it a message board (which I don't really use), a list for daily chores (which I don't really use either) or things to do and any pictures or notes from my kids.

 

 

Here's a closer view of the bookcase.

 

On the top I have a sorting box that holds devotional books and notebooks - I have a lot of both!  Also on the top shelf are my Math Teacher's Guide and two of my bibles.  On the next row down I have some of my reading books, a stack of which are gifts for some friends of mine (ssshhhh), a small box of knock-off washi tape, a picture frame with scrapbook paper in it and a post it-note on it, the black metal box holds more books.  I've got some reading to do!!

 

Next row down is a basket of printed printer paper, say that five times quickly.  There's a random roll of packing tape (ya just never know) and a paper cutter.  Under that is a large grouping of colored file folders, printer and photo paper in the boxes, a desktop organizer that I made out of a cereal box and a large stack of tissue paper that I promised Julia I'd make these out of!!

 

It's cozy back here, I have a super view out of the double window next to my desk.  I can look out at the trees in my backyard and I have a super view of the rest of the room!!

 

I love watching the leaves on the birch tree dance in the breeze, listen to the roosters crowing and the birds singing.  I think it helps keep me grounded and mindful of God's gifts throughout the day.  Out the other window, to the right, I can see a windmill in the distance.  It's a very peaceful scene.

 

 

Well, that concludes this portion of our tour!!  Here's a quick peek of the other piece of my view:

 

We'll get into this side of the room in my next post - School Room Tour - Part Two:  Their Space!!

I hope you have enjoyed this portion of the tour, come back again to see the rest!!

 

<3Lorraine