The 21 Rules Of This House - By Greg Harris

1. We obey God.
2. We love, honor and pray for one another.
3. We tell the truth.
4. We consider one another's interests ahead of our own.
5. We speak quietly and respectfully with one another.
6. We do not hurt one another with unkind words or deeds.
7. When someone needs correction, we correct him in love.
8. When someone is sorry, we forgive him.
9. When someone is sad, we comfort him.
10. When someone is happy, we rejoice with him.
11. When we have something nice to share, we share it.
12. When we have work to do, we do it without complaining.
13. We take good care of everything that God has given us.
14. We do not create unnecessary work for others.
15. When we open something, we close it.
16. When we take something out, we put it away.
17. When we turn something on, we turn it off.
18. When we make a mess, we clean it up.
19. When we do not know what to do, we ask.
20. When we go out, we act just as if we were in this house.
21. When we disobey or forget any of the 21 Rules of This House, we accept the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Cup Holders

I have been slowly savoring a book for about 3 months now. It is called "Jesus Centered Youth Ministry." I know...you are saying, "What is a stay at home mom doing reading a book on youth ministry?" Well, it was given to me with highest regards and I trust the person's opinion so I gave it a stab. It didn't take me long to realize that the author cut straight to the point; that our faith is a sham with out knowing the true and complete person on Jesus. With out him, his death and resurrection we have nothing more than a religion, but with him we have faith, relationship and most importantly salvation. He likened it to searching for a new car, only to get all hot and bothered over the cup holders and forgetting that the car was missing a drive train! I do get all excited over the "cup holders" in my life, my faith and about Jesus. And because of this I miss the "drive train," the true and unwavering essence of the REAL Jesus. That he was completely and utterly counter culture at his time, and for ours too. I am ashamed to say that I am one of those horrible Christians that if I had met Jesus today, I would have probably scoffed and thought he was a wacko. I have been reading the gospels in a search to discover the real Jesus. The Jesus that called church leaders names, that broke the rules, that talked to the outcasts, that didn't "keep" the sabbath, that stole away to be with his Father every chance he got, that flipped his religion on its head and redefined it all and that told people the past and the future about their lives. My first thought at reading much of this all over again, examining it, is, "What must have people thought of him? How amazing it is that they believed, trusted and followed him!" I have a much greater appreciation for the disciples and that they doubted him, for I know I would have too. But most of all, I am in prayer that the Lord would make me a "new creation, that the new would come and the old would pass away," in me. That I would know Jesus fully and utterly and become more like him, less like myself. That I can be more of Jesus to those around me than I can be on my own. Most of all I pray that the "cup holders" in life would loose their flare and that I could become passionate about the "drive trains" of this amazing thing called faith in Christ!

Simple Gifts

Simple Gifts was written by Shaker Elder Joseph Brackett, Jr. in 1848.

'Tis the gift to be simple,
'tis the gift to be free,
'tis the gift to come down where you ought to be,
And when we find ourselves in the place just right,
It will be in the valley of love and delight.

Refrain:

When true simplicity is gained,
To bow and to bend we shan't be ashamed.
To turn, turn will be our delight,
'Til by turning, turning we come round right

'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,
'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn,
And when we expect of others what we try to live each day,
Then we'll all live together and we'll all learn to say,

Refrain:

'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,
'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me",
And when we hear what others really think and really feel,
Then we'll all live together with a love that is real.

Refrain:

Puddles Of Milk

I am both glad and sad to say that last night my baby (12 weeks old) slept through the night. I fed him at 8 pm like usual and put him to bed. I went to bed about 11 pm and next thing I know I am waking up to light and a soaking wet milky bed!!! It was 6:30 am and I went and checked on Elias, he was fast asleep, sucking his thumb! Needless to say, I fed him then, because I was in great discomfort. He went back to sleep until after 8 am! He is such a sweet blessing, I am thankful for him in every way (even if he wasn't sleeping through the night.)

My Recent Crafty Craze!!!

So I have gotten the bug to do some projects and crafts for up coming birthdays and holidays (mainly Christmas). After evaluating our spending and refocusing on what we want Christmas to be about, we have decided to make/create the majority of our gifts this year. I got to thinking that if I wait until October or November it "ain't gonna happen." So, the summer time is a great time to get started. Here is what I am planning on getting done by the end of summer.

• Tie Dyed shirts for the kiddos in our family (already done)!!!
• Personalized (iron on) tote bags for kids and my dad (he carries his sermon and Bible in it on Sundays.)
• Vintage signs.
  
• 3-4 ring slings for the many mommy friends that are having babies (and 1 for me)!!!
• 2 shadow box family trees for my mother in law and sister in law (doing tonight).
• 3 Tripoli mats for the guys in my family.
• 6 framed posters for my cousins and the young adults in my family.
• 8 scarves constantly being knitted (4 already done.)
• 2 hats, for Addie and Eli.

That about covers it! Whoa! I nearly passed out when I spent $150 at Hobby Lobby, but I figure that I bought at least halft our list with that, so it isn't too bad. I think I have bitten off more than I can chew!!! Laughing....Here are some finished projects.

Addie's Antics

Addie is quite the chatty girl these days! Here is a few things she is telling us.

When she falls down or gets hurt she often, through her tears, asks for something she thinks will make her feel better, something like, "I wan to read" or "watch a moonie (movie)" but the other day she said, "I wan some cheese!"

She has a fish tank and loves to feed them, but when she askes to feed them she says, "I wan to EAT da fish."

I was nursing Elias today and she snuggled up next to us. She took her teddy bear, lifted her shirt and pointed to her belly button and told the bear, "Eat" and latched him on and looked up with a big grin and said, "Addie's baby eats!"

She saw Tim coming out of a building at the camp and said, "That is daddy big boy!" I said with a laugh, "Oh, daddy big boy?" She said, as if I were the silly one, "NOOOOOOO! It's daddy Tim!"

Rather Than Gold

"Receive my instruction, and not silver; And knowledge rather than choice gold." Proverbs 8:10

The Lord is my teacher and this is what I am learning.

• I am learning that I can trust the grace and holiness of the Lord is perfect.
• I am learning that the Lord "holds the pillars firm" when my earth shakes. (Psa. 75:3)
• I am learning that honesty, transparency and genuineness is hard, but so good!
• I am learning that God in his graciousness, blessed me with the most amazing husband.
• I am learning that relationships are messy, but messy is good.
• I am learning that I am so inadequate.
• I am learning that Jesus is a wild, fierce, and mysterious.
• I am learning that Jesus is probably some one I would avoid if he was on earth today :(
  
• I am learning that to be a Christian I need to be more like Christ :)
• I am learning that my children make me understand God more.
• I am learning that to love and get to know others I need to take risks.

"But now, O Lord, thou art our Father; we are the clay, and thou our potter; and we all are the work of thy hand." Isa 64:8

Thank you Lord for working on me!