Wondering How the Clean Heart is Going?

I guess I have been really trying to give school my best attention and make sure we have some time for playing each and every day. Our son has decided it is best for him to take a 1 hour and 15 minute nap each day! Well, that's not exactly what your mother had in mind, son, but I guess I should be thankful he goes down without a fight and wakes up each morning and after naptime with such a pleasant disposition.

I wanted to fill you in about my "clean heart" resolution I made about a month ago. How have I been doing? Well, I have been getting up before the kids do to shower and have my quiet time with the Lord. It's been good, although it can always be better. :) I struggle with doing Bible reading/studying and praying for all the things and people on my prayer list all within the 15-30 min. time period I generally get after showertime and before Jase wakes up each morning. BUT, be not afraid, I have also been giving myself time to rest before the Lord during Jase's naptime. I even found myself on the couch snuggling with Emma Grace twice this week!!! Amazing things happen when I break myself away from the computer and don't allow myself to get wrapped up in bids on Ebay and "stalking" others on FB! All things have to be regulated, and this is just one area we must get under wraps before we spend hours, days, and months not knowing where the time has gone.

I will also tell you I have had one particular area of sin (gossiping about a particular person) that I have been trying to allow the Lord to shut my mouth and not criticize them publically. I see things in their life that I just cringe and want to blurt, but I am really trying hard to focus on my Savior and not allow my pride and judgement of them to come to the surface. God will have to do a work of wonder and miracle in my heart for these thoughts (some are truly founded and Biblical) to leave my head and heart. It's an ever present thought process (I won't go into the details of why) but I have to trust the Lord to do any changing in this person. My judgement isn't near as harsh as His, and I must rest in the fact that He blesses those who obey Him and disciplines those who don't. That alone must satisfy my spirit. I must become a person who wants to only obey and not compare myself to them. They are not the ruler or measuring stick for my life.

Today is just a beautiful day and we are ready as soon as Jase wakes up to head outside and ride bikes. Jase got a toddler riding seat for the back of my bike and I have been trying in stages to get it attached to my bike so we can ride him around. So nice to be able to be home with the kids and get to read stories, cut out things we make, bake cookies, ride bikes, and have dinner ready when my hard working hubby comes home! Truly a blessing to our family!

First Post for a New Year---and Cleaning OUT!

Yes, it's another year---in fact it's 10 years from when we were all freaking out about Y2K possibilities. I must admit I had not stocked up one thing or prepared in one single way. I was simply trusting God and really wondering if Jason would ever propose to me after 5 years of dating!! So 2000 was the year of adventure and here we are 10 years later happily married with 2 wonderful blessings added to our family! I've changed jobs 4 times in 10 years and now I'm home with my babies---hardest job out of the 4!! No kidding!! But by far the most rewarding!!

I have been cleaning out this week---replacing old rubbermaid containers that I am proud to say we use QUITE frequently (thanks to my hubby for loving to eat leftovers!), trashing old dishtowels and dishcloths we've had for 10 years and got as wedding presents and replacing now with newer fluffy ones that don't have stains, dusting baseboards, washing curtains, and just generally getting a new attitude on life. I just love the turn of a new year---a new calendar--a fresh start. I really think this new attitude not only comes from having a clean house, but lately I have been made aware of my need to be cleaned from the sins that so easily entangle me. I was reading a friend Shay's blog the other day and she was describing the same thing. Go to www.versesfortheking.blogspot.com and read her post. You will definitely be blessed by the way she reveals her heart and nails those things that I know I struggle with to the cross...those things we might as well all name them by name...no other word but SIN. I pray that my God will help me remember that it's not about ME this year...that it's all about His Glory and that He wants to cleanse me from the inside out (no matter what my HOUSE may look like!).