Advent Christmas Idea-Advent Chain

I came across this site as I searched for Christmas craft ideas. 

I copied the *Christmas is* ...increased the font size and double spaced each line, so I could cut it out and have the kids glue it to a paper chain.  We will count down with our paper chain (red and green) and use it to help to remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.  We will read each Scripture verse from the paper chain together (we will do this at our family dinner table after our meal together.)  Papa will ask the children what each verse means to them, as we prepare our hearts for Jesus' coming.

Christ in Christmas, 

this is our heart.  

We will enjoy our days leading up to our celebration. 

There is no Santa at our house, 

but simple gifts given to each other in love.  

Starting tomorrow we will be baking, doing crafts and sitting by the fire, instead of our normal homeschooling ways.  

We want Princess Sweetness, who has never experienced Christmas in America, to enjoy it right along with us -as we set our eyes upon Jesus and await the celebration of His birth.

Are there any special things your family does that you want to share?

Connecticut Ethiopian/Eritrean Church

We recently discovered this wonderful Bible believing church.  Our mission is to spread the word and help others find it too! What sweet fellowship and what a beautiful presence of God!  The service is in Amharic and boy is it a beautiful language to listen to.

Come and see for yourself, everyone is welcome!

  Please leave me a way to contact you if you would like more information on how to contact the church's Pastor or church elders.  My email is on the sidebar or leave me your contact email address, so I can forward the information to you!

8 Gifts That Do NOT Cost a Cent!

8 Gifts That Do Not Cost a Cent!

1.  The Gift of Gratitude- Let people in your life know you are thankful for them. Tell people * the how comes* or *whys* of why you are grateful to have them in your life. Many times people never realize the influence they have in our lives. How nice it is when we tell those around us, just what the mean to us!

2.  The Gift of a Compliment- Daily take time to bestow a few compliments on those you come in contact with.  You never know how this is going to be a balm to someones heart! Look for things you admire in that person and share it with them.  Oft times we think someone must hear such words over and over again, but truly everyone could us the blessing of loving words in their lives more often.

3. The Gift of Laughter- Always Good medicine.  A laugh can take the heaviness of life away, at least in that moment. Sometimes just sitting together and reminiscing, can make the giggles come out in deep healing ways.

4. The Gift of a Random Act of Kindness- A favor given is always a gift to the receiver.  Make an effort to think of ways you can be a blessing to someones life.  In order to do random acts of kindness, you need to prethink of ways that would bless the recipient.

5. The Gift of Words- Write a note to someone you admire.  Or someone who you know could use some kind words spoken into their lives (that is just about everyone, right?)  I have an antique suitcase under my bed, containing notes and kind words sent to me by others. What a lifter of my heart it is to reread those words, especially when trials come.

6.  The Gift of Physical Touch- A pat on the back, a hug, a kiss, a squeeze of a hand...all can show your love and affection.  Sometimes in the busyness of life, we forget to show such affection.  Go out of your way to reach out and touch someone today!

7. The Gift of a godly Word -  Ask God if He doesn't have something (a word) you could build someone up with. The Holy Spirit can give you just the right words, spoken in perfect season, to speak to the issues of the heart in someone you know.

8.  The Gift of Time- Ask God how you could use your time to influence (for good) those in your life.  Perhaps someone could use an invite over for a cup of tea, you could take a walk with someone who is needing a friend, you might offer to come and help someone do a project that is just too big for one.

A Grateful Heart

Your capacity for gratitude is simply a reflection 

of Who possesses your heart. 

He alone can make your heart joyful and light!

Psalm 105:43

And he brought forth his people with joy, [and] his chosen with gladness~

Psalm 136:3

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever~

 Happy Thanksgiving my friends

...may God bless you and may you know Him

and all of His goodness in every area of your life! 

Cleaning out the drawers, cupboards and cabinets

I am not sure what got into me over the weekend.  

But I went on a cleaning rampage!  I cleaned the kitchen drawers, the kitchen cupboards, bathroom cabinets, bathroom drawers, my dresser... I found a bottle of ipecac syrup that was dated expiration 2007.  Yikes, I think I cleaned it more recently, but maybe not!

I wish I got to the refrigerators, but alas I ran out of time and energy.  Maybe this weekend, when everyone else is out shopping on Black Friday, I will tackle my LEAST favorite job of cleaning out not one but two refrigerators.  They both need a overhaul, as it has been a while since I have taken everything out and cleaned the puppies out. (you too, right?)

Really I need to repaint the one in the garage.  I was thinking about using black chalkboard paint, as maybe it wouldn't rust up so quickly!  It is white appliance paint on it now, I think it would look so cute as a giant garage chalkboard.  Of course it wouldn't be so cute if someone wrote, 'Clean ME!' across the front of it.  Maybe I will have to rethink the whole chalkboard paint option.

Conflict Can Be a Good Thing

Friendship for Grown-ups

 chapter 11

Conflict Can Be a Good Thing

Just the title of this chapter sends shivers down my spine.  I think it is especially hard if you've been wounded by friendships in the past.  Conflict, or the thought of it, kinda makes me want to avoid friendships all together.

But if we decide we truly want to find healing in this area of our lives, or even if we just want to open up our friendship possibilities to deeper more authentic relationships~then we need to be brave enough to talk about conflict, or the possibility of them within friendship.  

I had to laugh a little at Lisa sharing boundaries and how they can (and should be established) for our good.  That we put up boundaries not as a way of manipulation, but as self-care. 

Her example is:

"If you continue to ____________ (fill in the blank), then in order to take care of myself, I will have to ____________ (fill in the blank)." 

I thought how I'd have to revise my boundaries in huge ways, as right now after another bad friendship, I'd say in the I will have to part, something about moving into an isolated cave.

Which also reminds me of something someone whom I look up to greatly, said to me a few weeks back over a quick cup of coffee (if you haven't heard of Impact Nations- or Steve and Christina Stewart- by all means check them out, they are my heroes!!)  As I shared my fear of stepping out into friendship and my desire to go off into a cave (for a while, of undetermined length) Christina said, "Hmm, I think Jesus would be okay with a closet, not so sure about the cave Kimmie."  Honestly, she spoke it to me so genuinely that it really moved my heart away from my cave threat and back into being open to whatever God has for me now. Oh how I love this awesome couple...I so want to be like them!   But I digress.

Lisa Whelchel tells us that conflict, as she was taught by her wise friend Ney, is an opportunity for a closer connection.  We have to be careful with the bricks that are built in our friendship walls- each little difference can be another brick put up in the wall of separation between our hearts. Walls are no good when you want friendship- walls cause separation and eventually pain.

I have found friendship difficult when I am put in the *mentor* position.  When people come to me for advice, I have recently learned that they don't really always want it.  I always tell them I am not perfect, or a counselor or a Pastor, who is trained for such situations.  I advise them strongly to make an appointment with their Pastor (especially when it always seems to be such HUGE things they ask me).  I have tried to share what the Bible says, but honestly I don't think they wanted this, but just someone who would empathize without counsel. Tricky, huh?   I am not sure how to handle these situations, actually I cringe whenever anyone asks me (I can't even tell you how many times my phone rings with people who just want to ask me...)  

I asked God to make them stop. 

He didn't. 

I asked Him to take me off the *call list*,

but He did not. 

I begged and pleaded with Him to put me in a cave for a lengthy period of reprieve,

I told him I love how He put Elijah by the brook and sent him ravens...

I've tried to convince Him that my cave desire was so close to this Bible story...

but He laughed at the thought. 

What He said went something like this, 

"You follow me, you LOVE me, you ask to be filled with my Spirit. I have given you wisdom and expect you to use it for my purposes.  PERIOD."

Yeah, it wasn't and isn't what I want to hear.

What I have realized at this stage of my life is that I am longing for a friendship where I am not the mature one or the mentor.  I'd love to have a deep friendship where the roles were reversed and I was the one getting to be mentored! I've asked God and I am waiting, maybe not so patiently.

Oh Lord, make me more gracious, more empathetic to others hearts and needs. Help me to be willing to serve you, no matter what you ask of me.  Help me to be wise and know when to speak and when not to speak.  But mostly Lord, be my friend, as I know YOU have so much to teach me.  I submit myself into your hands and wait ever so expectantly for our friendship to grow!

Okay, now what do you think about all of this chapter? 

Greedy, What Do YOU Think? (Greed and Adoption?)

I am almost wordless, almost~

Recently, when talking about adoption with a friend of ours and the possibility of adding another child to our family of 8 children- the person turned to me and said I was being rather~

*GREEDY!*

Now, I think perhaps this was a joke?  But I am wondering.

How could greedy and adoption be pushed together into a sentence?  How could anyone think I was greedy, because my Knight and I wanted to add an orphan to our family?

I did say that with the 143 million orphans, I didn't think that the fact we adopted 7 made me greedy.  Or the fact that God has a call on our life and that we feel His gentle nudge once again.  A nudge that has us updating our home study and praying for direction from God.  Once again we will save our pennies and believe God to show up with the finances that we don't have to even begin to run with another adoption.

Adoption isn't for the faint of heart.  It isn't something you jump into half heartily, by any means.  It requires huge amounts of faith, whether it be for the finances or for the actual match that will be made.  It requires great personal sacrifice and devotion.  

I think of the word greedy and I think of the things of this world.  I think of people (like most Americans) who have too much and are not satisfied.  People who buy and buy, looking to fill the void in their lives with stuff. People who collect whatever their heart fancies for the moment, stocking and stashing it as their heart desires.  

Now how does this relate to orphans or to adoption, 

which God has ordained?  

Adoption was His idea first, long before it was ever planted in my heart.  He actually COMMANDs us each (yes that means YOU) to care for orphans.  For me and mine this means adoption- ask Him what it means for you.

If it was a joke, it isn't funny.  

If it was serious, it REALLY wasn't funny.

It was also said that I can't save all of them.  I of course know this.  Like I thought that somehow I could take all 143 million of the orphans who are crying out for a family of their own, that lie alone praying for someone to find a place in their hearts for them, who shed tears, real tears because they don't have anyone to hug them or to tell them they are wonderful. Orphans like my 13 year old Ethiopian daughter, who tells us she had no food for 3 months of her life.  How all 54 kids in her orphanage cried out to God for Him to send help to them.  Have you ever been 3 months without food?  I know I can't possibly take them all, though I guess I might try, as I can see the reality of not enough who will step out into adoption.

Adoption, it is the call of my life.  It is my purpose.  I will not be ashamed, I will not hide the fact that I ask God what it is that He wants me to do with the rest of my life and this is what He says over and over again to us.  We hear Him clearly and we move into action.  Isn't that what we are supposed to do after all?  To put our faith into action and to be actual real life do-ers of the Word?

Let me remind you, retirement is not until heaven.  There are over 143 million orphans that will go to sleep tonight without parents or a family of their own, scared, hungry, and very alone; while you and I rest easy in our comfortable homes filled with stuff and more stuff.  

Something isn't right. 

My heart is hurting, as I know that there are too many orphans 

and not enough of us  

greedy orphan hoarders around.

Guess Who is Learning to Ice Skate?

We began homeschool ice skating lessons in September.  We had one new student, our newly adopted Ethiopian daughter.  She was sure ice skating would be the death of her, after all she was Ethiopian and had never seen ice or snow before. We all encouraged her that we had been just like her once, none of us were born knowing how to skate.

I reminded her gently that she said the same about swimming lessons, as she was sure she would die before she learned to swim.  I told her that she would learn. Learning takes time and effort, sometimes more than others.

She prayed and prayed that Jesus would return before the first lesson began.

He didn't come. 

So she went on to lesson number two.  Lesson two was better, because she let go of the wall.  

We are now in lesson 10 or so, she is skating! Once we past week 5, she began to enjoy it.

Oh, the fun we have as parents,

trying to encourage, 

trying to stretch our children into new places. 

I think God must feel the same about me and my lessons that He is giving me.

How about you, what are you learning these days 

and how is your attitude in the *classroom?*

Remember, the lessons are for a purpose, they are for our good.

  Let's try to have fun while we learn whatever it is that He is trying to teach us. 

Maybe we could encourage each other a bit too? 

If you share what you are currently learning...maybe we can encourage you too!

Let's Get Real!

Friendship for Grown-ups

chapter 10

Let's Get Real

Friendship is about risk, 

it is about love, 

it is about being willing to be transparent;

even when it means that all of your imperfections will sure to be under the spotlight.

I think this chapter encourages us to take down our self imposed walls and to let others see us for who we really are.  It also gives us a new liberty some of us may not have yet known; to speak what is on our hearts.  Lisa recommends of course, that we do this in confines of a *safe* friendship.

She also reminds us that if our friends (or those around us) see us as perfect, that then we miss the opportunity to have authentic friendship occur.  The whole of it is in this;  

"intimacy = into-me-see."

Once we arrive in a safe friendship we are encouraged to ask questions that will lead to a more open friendship and questions that will allow ourselves to take inventory of *us* and things that might need to be tweaked or corrected in our lives (you know, like the things that might be keeping us from deep intimate friendships in the first place.) The questions might look like these~

What do I do that makes you want to be my friend?

What do I do that keeps me from being that friend to you?

What do you see that you might warn me about in *me?*

Yikes, those questions down-right scare me right now.  Where I am standing, still with a shattered heart, I am not sure I have the courage to ask those risky type of questions.

Lisa tells us in closing to take the plunge into authentic, honest to goodness friendship.  She leaves us hanging on the words that in the next chapter she will help us to learn how to keep our friendships intact after we stir up such honest conversations between us. Remember, a real friend listens and is haven of safety and love for their friend.

Hmm, maybe by next week I will be ready ;-)

How about you?

 

**two more chapters to go and then we are finished.  

Just want you to know I found another really helpful book to follow this book up with, it is called

In Search of Significance 

by Robert S. McGee

I stumbled (if you believe in stumbling, which I do not ;-)  upon it in a local second hand shop (so mine comes prehighlighted).  What drew me to it was my true wrestling with my own significance. Well, that and on the front cover in bold writing it says, 

" The Search for Significance should be read by every Christian." Billy Graham.

I started reading it and am very very thankful for finding it in such a time as this. 

I share it with you, my friends, in hoping you too will find healing and hope.

Prayer Request Sunday

Prayer Request Sunday@ overthemoonwithjoy

Would you like to pray together this week? 

Leave me what is on your heart and we will take it together to our Father!

Great Girls Devotional!!

The Christian Girl's Guide to the Bible

 

My sweet friend-Kathy Cassel,

who happens to be the author of this terrific book,

blessed us with a surprise copy in the mail!

I am so excited, as it is an awesome book! It gives you an overall view of the Scriptures and helps to let them see the whole picture God has given us within its pages.  I am really impressed with all of the Bible knowledge that Kathy shares in such a fun way throughout the book. It is a great way to get your kids to dig in and learn more.  I am highly HIGHLY recommending that YOU go get yourself a copy too!

It is for girls ranging in age from 9-12, but I think you could go up or down in either age direction too.  It is full of all kinds of fun ways to learn more of what is inside the Bible.  

My newest daughter Princess Sweetness (13) and her younger sister, Princess Sunshine (11) are diving in to the book together.  They LOVE to do their school books together and this just gives them one more opportunity.  They ran downstairs yesterday announcing they had just finished reading the book of John together, now their plan is to read the rest of the Bible together too (their Mama is smiling B*I*G!) We are not only learning English as a 3rd language, but Bible and team work too!

 We are using The Christian Girl's Guide to the Bible, as part of our homeschool Bible curriculum, which entails their personal reading time each morning, scripture copy work, family discussions and now this great book of Kathy's!

Kathy is hosting a book giveaway over at her blog, for another of the many books she has written.  Check it out quick, it will give you an opportunity for some hands on fun too! Plus with the change of weather a lot of us are experiencing, penguin cupcakes would be perfect for snack time!

To purchase the book, Kathy suggests you try your local Bible book store, but Amazon carries it too.

If you are looking for a consumable book to help your kids hide more of God's Word in their hearts, this is the perfect book for you. 

Afraid to Be Free -chapter 9

Friendship for Grown-ups

Chapter 9

Afraid to be Free

Lisa talks about finding the place where we are able to embrace Grace.  A place where we can see the Law, understand it, but we chose to live surrounded and encompassed by His grace. A place where we live in total freedom, or as much freedom as we can achieve this side of heaven.

I truly appreciated this from Lisa~

Grace requires radical trust, and trust is almost impossible if most of your experiences have been of others letting you go or letting you down.

I also agree that growth and healing happen in the midst of our relationships.  Trying to stay connected in our relationships is hard, no matter what your life looks like today.  Getting to the place that you can be open, vulnerable and honest- or as Lisa Whelchel puts it...*naked*, with your relationships is a challenge.  

 Reminding myself over and over and over again that all of this is about love. nothing else.  It is about wanting to go deeper, to hold back less, to feel with abandon and to love and be loved deeply.

A girls got to dream right?

How about you...what would you like to share this week?

Prayer Request Sunday

Can I pray for you this week?  

Let's join our hearts together

and approach the Throne of God!

Friendship for Grown-ups-chapter 8

Friendship for Grown-Ups

Who Are Safe People?

~chapter eight~

Questions we might want to share...opening our hearts.

 

1.  Have you ever been betrayed by a friend?  Have you recovered enough to trust again?

yes and yes

2. Who would you like to forgive-

knowing that if you didn't have to forget,

it would take time to earn this person's trust again.

skipping

but I would say, "I believe in reconciliation because of God's working and healing of relationships."

3.  What are some warning signals you take notice of before making the decision of opening your heart up to deeper friendship?

Gossip, slander, not following (when a Christian) Biblical guidelines of how to go to a friend first, before going to others.  If someone isn't open with me, then I don't usually bother trying to go deeper.

4.  Think about friends whose words you hear, but actions you ignore.  What real messages are you missing in these types of relationships?

What does this mean?  Is she saying like a double standard life? Like when a persons life doesn't line up with what they are claiming?  Or a person who is one train wreck after another?  What do you think?

5.  How is your thinking *off* due to childhood experiences.

How do you think this might effect your friendships today?

I had many nice wonderful friendships as a kid.  I also had some that weren't so nice (mostly teen years).  I do think that I tend to not need much, mainly do to the pain that comes each time I do.  I think some take me as cool, or distant.  Many people think that I am intimidating (I am not sure why).  (as when they start to know me they've told me ..."I thought this, or such and such also thinks this.")

     Pain, rejection, slander, gossip have hurt me in several friendships over the past few years.  I do still hope to have the friend I long for.  BUT if I don't, I am still going to enjoy my life.  I have a wonderful husband, great children, many things I am interested in.  A faith that I will keep plugging in and hopefully maturing in.  If God wants to bring me an intimate friend, who wants to spend time with me, and liking me for who I am...great...if not, I am okay with me.

Honestly, for the past 2 weeks (maybe a little longer), I decided I didn't like me.  The words spoken to me resounded in my head and the enemy battered me severely.  I began to retreat into my cave.  I began not wanting to talk to anyone, for fear my words would be taken the wrong way.  It wasn't a pretty place at all.  But today, I realize that I still like me.  I love my relationship with God, the relationship I have with my Knight, with my kids...I am good with how I am (both inside and out) and will continue to allow the Holy Spirit to shape me into the Kimmie He wants me to be.  

I am a work in progress.  Clay in the Master Potters hands.  Sometimes the shaping hurts, sometimes the kneading and refining requires fire.  Sometimes I cry.

Ultimately I am a screw up, a sinner saved by His wonderful Grace.  Each day He gives me new mercies.  If I walk humbly before God and man my life will be blessed.  If I follow Biblical guidelines, my life will fall in pleasant places.

I don't know what tomorrow will look like, but I am comfortable and confident in what He is asking of me today.

Some days it is harder to empty ourselves,

so He can fill us and use us. 

*****
I would also like to add:

My heart is amazed at you women who are called to be a Pastors wife.  I can only imagine how difficult it must be for you to find intimate friendships.  Praying for each of you that has come to my heart.

Now it's your turn...