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Thursday, January 22, 2015

Decisions, Decisions

My Sunday School class has started what I think is going to be an awesome study by Lysa Terkeurst called, The Best Yes:  Making Wise Decisions Amidst Endless Demands.



Our class has done her studies before.  Most of us love her.  We love her style.  Her honesty.  Her love of "Day 3" hair.

But, I will be honest (I know.  You are shocked, right?)....when we talked about this class, I thought in my head, "So and so" really needs this study.  We have to do this study because "fill in a name" and "fill in a name" really need this one!

Hahahahahaha!

Isn't God funny?

I really need this study too.

We, as a class, are only just finished up Chapter 1 or so and I am already gleaning pearls of wisdom....and God breezes from it.  One of my friends has already finished reading the book and can't wait for the rest of us to catch up with her.

We talked last Sunday about a quote from the book.  We even wrote it on the board because it was so awesome.

Then I went home and couldn't remember the quote....but knew that I needed the quote.

So, I put out a call on our Sunday School Facebook page for someone that has the book to please, pretty please, post the quote for me.

Someone did.  It was just as awesome as I remembered.

Then, late that night, at 10:10 p.m.,  one of my other friends in the class put a post on there saying, "Ironic that Proverbs 31 posted this quote tonight" .

It was my quote!  The quote that I had been craving since Sunday night....when my feeble mind couldn't pull it out of its dusty file cabinets!

Here is the quote:

The decisions you make determine the schedule you keep.

The schedule you keep determines the life you live.

And, how you live your life determines how you spend your soul.



Did you just say "wow" with me?  It is true, isn't it?  You know it.  It scares you.  But, it is true.

Even the seemingly small decisions in your life, can determine the schedule you keep, which then trickles down into how your day goes,which trickles down into your week, your month, your year....your life......your soul.  

I have always tried to keep our lives not super busy.  To have our home be a place of calm, albeit messy, refuge.  But, as the kids get older and want to try more things, that is getting harder and harder.

So, I am struggling.

Struggling with choices for the family.

Struggling with budget decisions for the family.

But, I am also struggling with some decisions right now in my life.....for me.....but, decisions I make for me, are decisions for my family....for my soul.

Decisions that I am trying to make and.....

Decide if I am being selfish or not.  

Decisions that I am trying to make and.....

Do the Christian thing and not just the Kayla thing.

It is hard.

So, I am going to keep showing up to Sunday School and see what advice Lysa can give me.  As the teaser for her book says.....

Are you living with the stress of an overwhelmed schedule and aching with the sadness of an underwhelmed soul? 
Lysa TerKeurst is learning that there is a big difference between saying yes to everyone and saying yes to God. In The Best Yes she will help you:
  • Cure the disease to please with a biblical understanding of the command to love.
  • Escape the guilt of disappointing others by learning the secret of the small no. 
  • Overcome the agony of hard choices by embracing a wisdom based decision-making process. 
  • Rise above the rush of endless demands and discover your best yes today.

I will keep you posted on my decisions.  I definitely need help learning the secret of the small no. Let me know if you are struggling with any decisions and I can help impart Lysa's wisdom to you once we get there in class!  LOL  Or, you can just check out her book for yourself.  .


Thursday, January 15, 2015

Interested in an Interview Where the Subject is Me?

Yet another cool thing for me in 2015!

I was asked to be interviewed over at Homemaking Organized - Make Then Feel At Home.  She has lots of good ideas for keeping your home a peaceful and organized place.

My interview is mostly about what a "typical" day looks like for us....school-wise and homemaking-wise.

Check out my interview here.  I feel so.....official, or something.




Monday, January 12, 2015

D-man is 17

My first born is 17....an almost adult.


(I know my number 1 is a little deformed, isn't it?)

Here is the sad, but realistic picture of him texting with J-Girl while his mother, who slaved over the hot stove to make his birthday pancakes, stands waiting for him to pose for a picture.  Emoji


J-girl joined us for present opening later in the day.






Not sure what is going on with D-man's eyes in these, but he was having fun opening his usual menagerie of dollar store goodies from his non-wealthy siblings!



Instead of birthday cake, this year he asked for a birthday pumpkin pie...partly because I was gone Thanksgiving week and didn't make my usual pie and partly because he really and truly loves pumpkin pie!


May all your wishes come true, D-man.  Mama loves you....


Friday, January 2, 2015

Exciting Change for 2015


I am now a Contributing Writer over at Home and School Mosaics.

I will be writing one article a month for them on various subjects.

My first article is on their site today!

Go over and take a look and let me know what you think.

I am equal parts excited and nervous for this wider audience to see into my heart......