Oh, the things that kids dream up!

My youngest is so making this up as she goes along!

Notice the pieces of yellow and black fabric on the couch? Those belong to her older sister who happens to come into the room at the end of the video. Ali tries to distract her from catching her with them by talking about snowmen. Good thinking!

Star Ornaments

A dear friend of mine, who also happens to be very creative and artistic, all things I am not, donated supplies to my daughter to make these Christmas star ornaments.

Hunter enjoyed making these wire and beaded stars so much there might not be any leftover supplies to return.

My friend took the time to explain to Hunter how to make them. I know she listened well, for two reasons. 1. She was able to make eight stars herself; and 2. She was able to instruct three other girls how to make them, too. (The girls were over for a Christmas party at our house that Hunter hosted, and they were able to leave with a homemade Christmas gift for their moms!)

In fact, Hunter instructed almost word for word what my friend had told her. In the same mannerism, tone, and detail; and sold it as if she had thought it all up herself and experienced all the trial and error lessons herself! Who says kids don't listen or pay attention. I was very proud of her! And very thankful for a friend willing to invest in my daughter with knowledge of a skill I wouldn't have been able to impart. She opened up a new pursuit for her.

I know my friend will just wave this off as nothing big, but this was a gift to my daughter, one she will cherish and remember always.

Blizzard Aiden

A picture of Blizzard Aiden from inside our home.

We are reading The Children's Blizzard right now.

How cool to go through an actual blizzard while reading a book about one from 1888!

Having an actual blizzard hit our area while we are reading this book, made it possible to more visually imagine what it was like for the people described in the book. The real life struggles they endured are amazing. How lucky we are today with how far we have come technically speaking, as well as, in terms of comfort and convenience!

The Children's Blizzard discusses the weather in detail, almost like a meteorology class. We've been tracking the weather daily just like they do in the book. We were able to log the weather indications both prior to the storm and post storm, and compare them to what was logged in the book. 'Cold Wave Warning' comes to mind. (You'd have to read the book to understand! Go ahead, it's an excellent read.)

Shine A Light

I am so thankful for the sunshine today. The day just seems better when there is beautiful sunshine streaming through my windows.

However, the sunshine is also highlighting some not so appealing aspects in my home today. Dusty floors, dirty windows, splatter spots on the stove. All things I apparently didn't notice on the recent string of overcast days. Out of sight, out of mind.

I didn't see it before so it didn't bother me but today I am frantically cleaning up all those things that were brought to light. It seems a little overwhelming, trying to get it all done before the sunshine goes away again, and I won't be able to see it so readily.

As I am working away, I thought about how God's light shines into our hearts and reveals all those dusty, dirty, unappealing aspects to our sinful nature and bears to light that these present a problem for us.

Once revealed, we know they are there, we see them as unappealing, and we have an opportunity to accept God's help in cleaning these areas that were previously hidden from us.

Just like my household chores today, heart cleaning can seem like a never ending job. We clean up one area of our life and another spot is revealed.

We are definitely an undone people with much work to do. It takes a lifetime of walking in God's shining light and under his refining work to really get us all in order and cleaned up just right.

Holy! That's what they call it when God has removed all the dirt from our life and we are shiny clean - spotless!

This side of heaven we will always be undone, but less undone everyday, if we are allowing God to work in us, coming into full completeness as we cross from this life into eternal life in heaven.

Don't be discouraged at the amount of work left to do. Rather be thankful there is still daylight in which to work.

Be grateful the Lord of Lords has offered to come in and work in you for free!

Just like my home is a work in progress so is my heart.