Thanks and Giving

Thanks and Giving Trees

To celebrate the month of November, we hung Thanks and Giving trees. Each person got their own set of trees, and every night we name something we are thankful for and a gift we gave that day. We write them on leaves and put them on their respective trees. That's it!

Just remembering the Greek word eucharisteo helps me :) Eucharisteo means to give thanks. It holds within it the word charis meaning grace, and its derivative chara meaning joy. So, by giving thanks for God's graces, you receive joy -- love God's gift exchange here!

Happy ThanksGiving!

A Colorful Week

• Our week has been full -- shooting guns, movie night, disc golf,guys' nights, games, pizza with friends, and North Carolina's Renaissance Festival (a real treat and big event). And now, my old roommate (Teresa) has joined us for a bit :)
• Our friend, Gergő, flies back to Hungary this weekend, and we travel north to visit Ricky's family for Thanksgiving week.

Gergő's favorite activity; at our friend's house (a retired firearms instructor)

Yep, we wore costumes ;)

 Initials tape resist painting

• School verse: Psalm 105:1 ~ Thank the LORD for all the glorious things He does.
• Verse to memorize this week: John 6:63 ~ The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you — they are full of the Spirit and life.

I Want My Home

"I want my home to be a place of connection, I’ll ask genuine questions and get to know the people in my home.

If I want my home to be a safe place to make a mistake, I’ll lower my standards for myself first, be forgiving of my own mistakes, laugh at myself–and allow others to see that.

If I want my home to be inspiring, I’ll pay attention to what inspires me.

If I want my home to be real, I’ll learn to embrace the imperfect, find the beauty in the undone, the broken, the unkempt, the everydayness and the mess.

If I want my home to be comfortable, I’ll first stop apologizing and focus on others instead of myself.

If I want my home to be a place of rest, I’ll consider my attitude and the tone I set when I am home. I’ll allow and plan for restful spaces.

This is the kind of home and beauty we have to fight for.

Anyone can put pretty stuff in a room.

It takes intention to furnish a home with grace and rest and acceptance. I’m up for the challenge. 

I want to see past the worst and focus on the better. I want to search for the real beauty just waiting to be recognized. I want to make a home on purpose — with purpose.

I’m making home a safe, inspiring and life-giving place so we can go out and be what who we were created to be.

The Joneses don’t need to be kept up with — and secretly, they are tired of setting the mythical standard.

Homes are there to serve people, not the other way around.

May your home serve you and others so fully that it’s worn thin and beautiful in all the right places."

~ Myquillyn Smith

Happy to Hang

• Our Hungarian friend, Gergő, has arrived! While we are trying to keep him busy and entertained -- church, meeting lots of friends, a park/hike/picnic, errands, Ricky's work so far -- there is still plenty of downtime due to job, house, meals, kids... But, we are gearing up for three days of activities ;)
• On Monday, I had four friends come over and rally to help us prepare for the week. It was b-u-s-y and such a blessing for us!

• School verse: Proverbs 10:4 ~ Lazy hands make a man poor, but diligent hands bring wealth. [diligence]
• Verse to memorize this week: Hebrews 10:36 ~ You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.

The Abyss and the Debt

Robert Murray M’Cheyne wrote in one of his letters --

None but God knows what an abyss of corruption is in my heart.

A poem he wrote --

When I stand before the throne,

Dressed in beauty not my own,

When I see thee as thou art,

Love thee with unsinning heart,

Then, Lord, shall I fully know -

Not till then - how much I owe.

Real or Make Believe?

• Last weekend: All Saints' Day (costumes, pumpkin-carving, movie/pizza, November activity -- more later) and our church's Fall Festival with food, bonfire, and games (Ricky finally got to break out his flag football set). This week has been mostly normal, except Ricky had a meeting in another city yesterday.
• We had our Family Movie Night yesterday because we have a Hungarian friend flying in tonight to visit with us for two weeks! I've been planning fun activities for him (and us), and it's almost go-time :) My mom left this morning to go home for three weeks.
• Micaiah's mishaps: upon seeing Daddy's wet hair, said He be crazy!; daily and randomly and sweetly and often proclaims I love you to all of us, including Aolani :); and, announced that our friend from Hungary was coming and he will be hungry! :)
• Aolani's antics: I have so neglected writing stuff down the past few months! She has grown so much lately. She knows her letters, writes them (but not words), and loves to practice reading with me (we use Teach Your Child to Read in 100 ). She has matured a lot since we began school -- obeying and helping me :) It brings me great joy! [She still deliberately disobeys, but it is a little less frequent and she stops once we catch her instead of running or retaliating or continuing.]

Micaiah the firefighter and Aolani the Renaissance princess

with Gandalf

her Sleeping Beauty pose

Removing the guts

The snowman monster from Frozen

Our "tiger-cat" pumpkin

• School verse: 1 Corinthians 14:40 ~ Let all things be done decently and in order. [orderliness]
• Verse to memorize this week: 2 Timothy 3:16-7 ~ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

All We Need {video}

Again -- busy day and no time to write... but here is a powerful, short video: