21 Years ~ God's Grace...God's Gift ~ Marriage

Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.
Genesis 2:24

21 Years Ago Today


Symbols of our marriage covenant...



By God's grace, a bond that has been forged and continues to be strengthened to this day...


Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things. 
1 Corinthians 13:7

Blessed by His providence in making me a wife to this man and the mother of our seven children ~

Balm for Souls

Because He is faithful...because His way is perfect (because He is perfect)...because He loved me, before I loved Him...because in Him alone is hope and joy and peace...

May you be encouraged, as His word is my encouragement...
(emphasis added)

Psalm 16


You Will Not Abandon My Soul
A Miktam of David.

1 Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.

2 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you."


3 As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.


4 The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.


5 The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot.


6 The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.


7 I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.


8 I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.


9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.


10 For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.


11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Because of Him ~


Desire for a Fruitful Week ~ My To-Do List


Well, have you ever wondered what a day or week is like in our home?  I can tell you, not a day goes by that I don't have a list going.  As the summer quickly passes, so do the days I have to get things in order for our season of life and the days ahead.  So much to do, so little time...only the truth of the matter is, God daily gives us enough time to do all He directs us to do.

Okay, I have a lot I hope to accomplish this week and thought it would help keep me motivated and accountable if I did a To-Do List post...of course, the Lord will direct my steps this week (as He does every week).  As I typed out my book list, I already found myself analyzing it to see what could "realistically" be completed..."realistically" being that it will be a four day week for me, with three dependant little ones every day mixed into the equation (onewho is potty training - she's really doing it herself mostly...she couldn't wait for me any longer) and then I'll be down two of my older helpers on Monday and Tuesday.  Okay, with that real picture painted here goes...no rose colored glasses here.  :-)


To-Do List for the Week of July 12, 2010 (Monday – Thursday)
(with hopes to complete it through delegation and teamwork this week AND in addition to our normal daily chores)

Family:

o Take Mom on her errands Tuesday
o Read aloud to the children each day



Errands & Appointments:

o Water heater replacement on Monday
o Make appointments

Homeschooling:

o Complete a curriculum plan for each child (that would be three this year)
o Complete a Curriculum Fair Battle Plan to use on Friday & Saturday (and as I make online purchases
o Set up bins for each child to hold curriculum, school supplies, daily schedule, portfolio notebook for the current year, etc.
o Prepare folders/clipboards for each child to utilize during the Homeschool Convention on Friday & Saturday (older children: note taking supplies; younger children: “busy kits” to help occupy their time during workshops)
o Go through a growing corner of homeschool materials (3 baskets) and either put away, donate or sell
o Type a master sheet of all the curriculum, learning materials and books I desire to sell online (I’m doubting I will have enough time already.)
o Order Girls' Group curriculum

Home:

o Stay on top of laundry every day (wash, dry, fold, hang AND put away)
o Cook according to menu plan each day
o Work on menu plan for remainder of this month
o Work on a revised 4 week rotating menu plan (breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack & dinner) for upcoming school year
o Clean off bedroom desk
o Organize movie bins (going through and determining what to keep, donate & sell)
o Clean sitting room which means:
  1. Go through EACH toy bin and weed out excess to donate, give or trash
  2. Go through book basket removing some and rotating summer fun reading books in (all remove excess to donate, sell or give away)
  3. Thoroughly dust furniture & shelving
  4. Thoroughly bleach the window tracks & wipe all paneling
o Go through each child’s closet & dresser drawers/clothes baskets to REDUCE, REORGANIZE and RELOCATE (via storage, donation or giving away)
o Front entry items to do:
  1. Wipe all screen and aluminum framing, as well as ceiling
  2. Clean side light windows
  3. Prune plants
  4. Polish door knocker
  5. Create small sitting area (look for consigned chair/table)
o Clean inside of the refrigerator

Home maintenance:

o Install terra cotta bird bath
o Replace sensor light bulb
o Add chlorine to fountain & clean stone border
o Clean window tracks

Well, that should do it for this week.  I'll try to post to let you know how it goes...one thing's for sure ~ we won't be bored this week!  Maybe, we'll try to go to the beach one evening as a reward and further motivator (not for me, but for the kids) to work together and get it DONE! 

In retrospect...I should probably write down ~ SLEEP.  :-)



Blessings ~