When life gives you lemons...

All of us take life for granted. I was reminded once again this week of life’s little blessings that come our ways. On Wednesday’s I have to wake up around 7:30-ish to take a shower in time to leave by 8:00, so that I can teach piano. After I teach Piano in the morning, I help out people in our church. On this last Wednesday, I was just about to leave, when I hear from the door, “Cait-win!” 

I turn around, and my 4 yr. old brother, Elijah, said, “I didn't give you a hug and kiss goodbye.” 

With a smile, I ran up the 5 steps of stairs, and he jumps into my arms not wanting to let go for a long time. J

Eventually, reluctantly, he let go of me, and smiled. 

As I walked out the door, my heart filled with Joy that my little brother (who was almost the only one awake at the time) wanted to say goodbye to me. 

I’m sure we've all heard of the term, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”

Do we really know what it means?
I found this on Wikipedia, and thought it fit perfect.

"When life gives you lemons, make lemonade" is a proverbial phrase used to encourage optimism and a can-do attitude in the face of adversity or misfortune. "Lemons" in this expression is used in the informal sense of the word, to indicate an unfortunate or inadequate situation, a meaning which probably stems from the sour and acidic taste of unsweetened lemon. "Lemonade" on the other hand, is a sweetened form of this same acerbic fruit, and so in the context of this expression, conveys the potential for pleasure and opportunity in seemingly bad situations.”

1) Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as for the Lord, and not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. --- Col. 3:23-24
2.) Don't boast about tomorrow, for you don't know what a day may bring. ---Prov. 27:1
3.) For what is your life? It is but a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away. ---James 4:14
4.)This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. ---John 15:12
5.) Until now you have asked nothing in my name: ask, and you shall receive, that
 your joy may be full. ---John 16:24
6.) Love one another deeply, from the heart. ---1 Peter 1:22
7.) Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins. --- 1 Peter 4:8
8.) Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. ---Romans 12:10
9.) Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed. ---Proverbs 16:3
10.) "...For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future..." ---Jeremiah 29:11

Finding Joy in the Little Things

This last week my brothers were hunting with my dad and uncle. So, it was just us girls and Elijah at home. My mom and I had talked one morning about finding joy in the little things. She said that even though she only gets 4 hours of sleep, (she has insomnia) that she should be grateful that she even got any sleep. She said, “Last night when I played the game with you girls, even though I was really tired, I realized that I should be joyful that I have 2 girls to play a game with; and that we can laugh in the little things.” My dad had talked to my mom the last night that they were out, saying the day was horrible because a certain brother of mine kept complaining. My mom then told him, “Yes, but be grateful that you got to go hunting with 3 of your sons, and your brother!” Sometimes we don’t look at the little things in life that we should be joyful in. Maybe, late night talks with your parents, watching a movie with your siblings, playing games with family/friends. All of these, we should be joyful in, that we had the time with them to do something like that. 

How often do we complain?
Start looking at the little things in life and be grateful.
Instead of being bummed that my little brother is growing up waaaaay to quickly. I should be grateful and joyful that I had/have time to let him be one of my best friends, and the one
that he comes to when he cries. J

Sometimes it’s hard to look at the “good” things in life. Instead of looking at a little boy who spilled milk all over the floor and being angry at him, look at the, “silly mess” that he
made and laugh a little.

Like my mom said, “even when you’re tired, and you feel like yelling at everyone and/or everything, FIND the joy in the little things.” J

Homemaker-In-Training

I found this on a blog that I follow, so I thought I'd share it.

The opportunities that we have as
homemakers-in-training are abounding everywhere we look.
Whether a daily task such as laundry folding, a
weekly culinary duty such as baking bread, a bi-weekly errand to the grocery
store or a seemingly "mundane" job (like scrubbing the household toilets), we
have every opportunity imaginable to exercise and practice skills while we are
yet "in training".
But there is more to being a homemaker, than the
jobs which we can do. Young Ladies, it has to do with our hearts. And it is our
choice. Will we perform our homemaker duties with joy and delight
in each task (which includes scrubbing the crummiest of toilets), or will we
choose to frown upon these daily opportunities? Will we choose a servants
heart or will we try to minimize the effect of being a
blessing?
We can make a whole house sparkle from top to
bottom but if our heart isn't full of love from Christ, then that perfect house
means nothing. We can make a delicious supper for our family, or run an errand
for Mom, but if our hearts are grumbling then our act that could have been a
blessing, means nothing.

We can garden, can, clean, sew, take care of
babies, run errands, meet every agricultural farm need, whip out loads of
laundry in lightning speed, and make a mean pot of soup BUT if our heart is not
thankful to the Lord for the blessing of being a homemaker in training, if we
are not grateful and full of joy at our Proverbs 31 calling, then what a waste
of the opportunity that the Lord gives us as women!
The choice is yours - do you find JOY in being a
homemaker?!!