Fridays are for...

catching up on...

laundry

blogs I love (that list of lovely ladies to the right!)

books that bless (Give Them Grace by Elyse Fitzpatrick and Jessica Thompson)

chores that get pushed off (read: finding a home for all of the toy weapons, lego pieces, and marker caps that have accumulated all week)

and Halloween Oreos.

Truth is...

I frequently feel like I'm less than I could be,

or should be...

I worry and yell and fret and stew when I know I should pray and breathe and believe and forgive...

Truth is, I still need a savior. And so do you. Because we all fall short, and Jesus makes us complete. Wholly saved, wholly loved, wholly whole.

These days, I'm longing to really understand the Gospel... the Good News...

Father so loved..

Jesus came...

He died..

He rose..

And covers me in grace.

Click here.

Cry.

Repeat.

Fridays are for...

turning 2...

waiting..

exploring..

contemplating..

discovering...

wrestling...

wishing...

and appreciating...

Writing exercises for me

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...Green grass, blue sky, frost touched wilted plant.

I am thinking...that if I understood how much God loves me my perspective on life would radically change.

I am thankful...for freedom and friends.

From the learning rooms...IEW writing assignments, World History, My Father's Dragon.

In the kitchen...defrosting beef for spaghetti sauce.

I am wearing... Blue jeans, pink and purple.

I am creating...a vacation plan for Christmas in NM.

I am going...to wish I had spent this time cleaning rather than goofing off!!

I am wondering...how to better organize our small cluttered spaces.

I am reading...The Singer Trilogy by Calvin Miller.

I am hoping...my books from CBD will come soon!

I am looking forward to...watching Jon and his team play in the pop warner play-offs!

I am hearing...Sarah play with toys at the dining room table, PBS.

Around the house...Crumb laden floors and counters, laundry that needs to be folded, books strewn about...

I am pondering...God's grace and a gospel centered life.

One of my favorite things...brothers and sisters playing like friends.

A few plans for the rest of the week...co-op, Sarah's 2cd birthday.

Take a look at the other lovely daybooks .

Halloween 2011

Costumes

(Emma Bekah and Chris were there too, but somehow escaped the camera!)

Candy

Community

Friends

Participating in Schoharie's Trunk or Treat last night was so much fun! Because the village is still rebuilding after major flooding in August, the community came together along Main Street with decorated car trunks and hay wagons. I realize that Halloween is not without controversy, but honestly, I just love hanging out with the neighbors. It's such a friendly day! We decorated our trunk with mums and pumpkins and had a blast, and I hope the Trick or Trunk becomes a tradition here. Where we live, I never get to give out candy. In fact, the first year we went trick or treating, we made little paper pumpkins that said "God loves you" and taped a piece of candy on them, and gave them out to the people we visited along the way, because I just want to be one of the candy givers.

Last night, we gave away lots of candy.

And collected lots, too. :)

We also managed to get on the local news...

Kids Trunk-or-Treat in Schoharie - YNN, Your News Now

Fridays are for....

Snow play (in October?!)

Hot cocoa

Cozying on couches and reading books

Baking cookies

and apparently,

wrestling matches.

Wish I had a camera--it's WWF in here.

And they don't even know what that is!

Community

For days they worked together under falling foliage and gray October skies.

So close in age, they are each other's best friends and worst enemies, depending on the mood and situation. And for four glorious days, they were best friends. Tirelessly they planned and pushed and pulled and lifted, working, this team of two. They solved problems and shared ideas, and reluctantly took a break when the day was done, only after promises had been made that they could get back to it first thing in the morning.

Then, finally...

The Fort.

And then they played. All day. For days on end. They built it together, and neither wanted to be there without the other. It was a shared ownership. They bonded while building and then shared the fruit of their labor.

It has me thinking about "community". How building something with someone ties a bond, builds a bridge....Connects people. And people connecting with people is what community is all about. There are verses in the Bible about how two people are better than one, that a cord of three is not easily broken, about how God can't help but bless a place where unity dwells. When we work together for a common purpose, it ties us together, makes us stronger, brings a blessing. And I think the key is a shared ownership in the thing being built. When we own the vision, enthusiasm is natural. No kick in the pants needed.

Our town is rebuilding after an historic flood at the end of August decimated 80% of the village of Schoharie. People are coming together, volunteering their time and energies, and our town is stronger because of a shared ownership of vision and purpose--restoration of homes and businesses and helping people get back on their feet. It's almost 2 months later, and enthusiasm to help is growing.

Community.

There is also a Kingdom that needs building. But it's not made of wood and stone. It's made of people. Flawed people, messy people, hurting people, just-like-me people who all need Jesus as much as I do. The tools we use are not hammers and and saws, but grace and love.

And while we're working side by side, day after day, we can build one another up and share one another's burdens. Neither will want to be there without the other. We'll share ownership, bond while building, and enjoy the fruits of our labors-connections with people, connection with God.

That, dear friends, sounds like community.

Aren't they cute?