Well that’s okay cause after last years’ disaster it’s probably best that I don’t go there.

Here is what I’m thinking though, there are some things I really want to be committed to.I have watched Lily’s physical development blossom and now I’m getting to watch her mental development bloom. In the same way I want our family to form good habits so that God can use that to help our hearts bloom.

So let’s just consider this my revolutions list for the next 80 years or so, mmmmmmk?

1. Read/Study/Memorize Scripture
So here is how this is going down right now. We started the One Year Chronological this year; one pastor called it the view from 30,000 feet. It keeps us connecting the pieces, knowing scripture, seeing the whole counsel of God. We are also studying, digging in learning and applying specific scriptures. We also have a family bible verse that we memorize. That is going slow, but we are learning together. I want scripture written in our hearts so we will keep going till it sticks!

2. Prayer
The Bible tells us to pray about everything. I have always know that, but I’m ready to apply it, take it literally, and take it personally. So we are working on doing EVERYTHING prayerfully in our home. Going to the grocery store? We are going to pray. Seeking Jesus’ counsel is going to be come as natural as breathing.

3. Healthy Eating
Yes this is partially because I’m gonna be wanting to lose some baby weight soon, but it’s way more than that. I believe and have seen in my life that eating junky over processed foods affects my mind and body. I don’t want to be running on “good enough” I want to run the way God made my body to run! Also, I’m feeling pretty convicted about the food worship that is so culturally prevalent. I don’t want my days to be consumed with what we are going to eat, how we can have more and what will be the most satisfying. So we are shopping the perimeter and simplifying meal choices.

4. Service
This one seems hard with a toddler and soon to be newborn, but I really want us all to start learning to look beyond ourselves. As I do this, I’m learning there is always a way to serve. The easiest thing right now is taking a bag to the park and picking up trash as we come across it, taking snacks to bible study, or meals to people that need them. I want to cultivate a heart of service in all of us and that means doing what you can when you can. Someday that might mean bigger more “official” things. Right now it’s just seeing the blessing of the small things. Learning to be like Jesus

5. Learning
I’m not talking about the sitting down learning colors, numbers, letters thing. I’m talking about exploring inside and out, following an interest, going and doing things we haven’t done before. I want to model curiosity and discovery. True learning. I want to exercise my mind, stretch it, and push myself. I want my kiddos to see that learning is more than school and worksheets and 12-16 years in a classroom. It’s a lifelong process of growing.

The Bug isn’t usually that affectionate because mostly she is too busy/independent for all that business. However when she gets enthusiastic or excited about something she starts the loving.

So here is what happened she got very excited about getting to use her own spoon. Very. Excited.

And, Hey, I was very excited for her. And right about when she looked like this…

She leaned over and made a smacking noise. I knew what she wanted. I had choice to make.

Kill her excited affectionate moment with a mouth wipe or share in her joyful moment of exuberance…

Y’all I just want you to know there is not much I won’t do for the love of my child…

When ingested it works as a laxative.

Which means that if happen you put your baby in an Epsom Salt bath for a little detox and then she proceeds to drink her bath water, you will have a really nasty diaper on your hands.

Purely hypothetical of course. *Grin*

I wish I could explain the blessing we received for our adoption last week.

I wish I could put into words what it is like to witness miracle after miracle.

I wish that I had the words to explain how awesome God is; and more importantly how personal He gets.

I wish I could tell you how humbled I am and how beautiful that feeling can be!

What I can tell you is this, two days after receiving a grant from the Show Hope foundation we received a check in the mail for our adoption. It came from family and here is what you really need to know…it came out of their need, NOT their abundance.

Oh Lord, help me to have a heart like that. An obedient heart that gives when I believe I have nothing to give. To give my all and not my leftovers.

Their obedience stretched even beyond just giving, but also obedience to give in God’s timing. The letter was dated almost a year ago, but they waited for God to say send. I am so thankful for that. I can say without a doubt the blessing would have fallen on much rougher soil last year. But now I’m learning about receiving with a heart of worship.

Thank you Jesus for giving me a chance to practice!

Okay that’s not true, but we do enjoy pinching a penny when we can, and also? I have become a paranoid hippy.

It’s true. Strange but true.

In my effort to save a buck/rid out house of synthetic chemicals (don’t worry we aren’t even close) here are a few of my new favorite things:

Vinegar- It can do almost anything. Seriously. I use it to clean everything now, and best of all? It costs way less than buying all-purpose cleaner, bathroom cleaner, so on and so forth.

Coconut Oil- We are a family prone to seriously dry skin, and living in a semi-arid climate that is in the midst of extreme drought. That means a lot of very expensive lotion or a jar of coconut oil for $5. Bonus: it works as a natural diaper rash cream as well.

Flax Seed- The girls in this house tend to have some tummy issues. Flax seed? Amazing. I grind it up and put it in just about everything now. Lots of fiber, lots of Omega-3, little protein. All good.

Epson Salts- Oh goodness. I could write a love letter. Strangely I found out about this in relation to ADHD children, I saw that someone posted it can help release toxins and cleans a system. It’s true. It also exfoliates and your body absorbs the magnesium a mineral most of our bodies badly need (without taking any pills) (I’m not fan of that). It can also help with digestion and works as a natural fertilizer. Amazing stuff it is!

Also I’m thinking about doing this.

If I decide to there will probably be a boring and tedious chronicle of how it goes.

Bring on the Pachouli (yup I said it Boo!)