LABOR OF LOVE

 

It's been sweet this month to focus on and emphasize LOVE, to stop to appreciate special moments, to consider who and what we are thankful for. Attempting to document daily has been a labor of love for me, but well worth the effort. Dwelling on the good is powerful.

 

"Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,

whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things."

Philippians 4:8

 

As our LOVE Month comes to an end, we look expectantly to the next. We've appreciated the concentration so much,

that we're embarking upon a new emphasis each month moving forward through the fruit of the Spirit.

 

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control."

Galatians 5:22-23

 

Each virtue carries such weight, we pray an extended focus on each one will bear good fruit in our family and beyond.

 

Whenever we saturate in something specific, we will inevitably grow more infused. This is our prayer moving onward, an inspirational byproduct of this extra special past month, focusing on, being grateful for, and investing in our labor of LOVE.

 

"Remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and

labor of LOVE and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Thessalonians 1:3

"Let all that you do be done in love."
1 Corinthians 16:14

{28 DAYS OF LOVE}

BIG FAMILY = BIG LOVE

 

 

...and it just keeps growing and growing...

 

"Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth.

Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!"

Psalm 127:3-5

{28 DAYS OF LOVE}

LEGACY OF LOVE

(My mom and dad in Israel, circa 1970-something.)

 

We attended the memorial service of a dear lifelong friend/father figure this week.

It was a time of reflection, sorrow, joy, memories, eternal perspective. A time to consider legacy.

"Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation."

Joel 1:3

 

It was an emotional day filled with childhood nostalgia in my old hometown...the kind that rips and hurts and beckons the question,

"Is it better to have loved and lost or never to have loved at all?"

The answer, of course...it is definitely better to have loved, but oh the bite of loss and I've had my fair share, more than that, it feels today. It stings and churns my heart as I remember with aching the joyful times of yesteryear...the times I long for when I stop to remember. Laughter as I reminisce plays like a slo-mo video in my heart and in my mind as a reel of floods come rushing back, set to mental soundtrack, the kind that chokes up strong in my throat. And, denial would be much easier. To not have loved would have spared the loss, but no. It's good to remember with fondness. And, it's good to consider what memories we're making in the now.

These, our legacy in process.

"You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when

you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Deuteronomy 6:5-7

Brodie reminds my fragile heart to focus on eternity. He reminds me that although we live and love, it's not our "best life now" we're after, yet a good life is a good thing! Really, though, what we're living for now is our best life yet to come...the life that never ends,

has no more sorrow, no more loss, and eternity with the Lord because He first loved us.

"We love because he first loved us."
1 John 4:19

He gave Himself so that we might live and live for Him, like Him, with Him.

"For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised."

2 Corinthians 5:14-15

"This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."

1 John 3:16

Jesus left a legacy of LOVE. My parents left a legacy of LOVE. I'd like to strive for the same.

"Let all that you do be done in LOVE."

1 Corinthians 16:14

As I reflect upon our legacy and the eternal future of those we love and maybe even haven't yet met, I'm met with responsibility that grapples for my attention. How will they remember me? Will I have lived a life of LOVE? Will I have boldly shared of the life we're really living for? Will I have run the race well? Imitated Christ? Laid down my life? Turned from evil to do good?

How will they remember me???

"The righteous who walks in his integrity— blessed are his children after him!"
Proverbs 20:7

I consider my children, the ones who share my walls and bed sometimes, the ones who see my highs and lows, who know all of the real me. I had a dream for these children, and here they are mine and how dearly I LOVE them!! I pray they see the real and the raw of me resound of an honest repentant heart, a dependent heart, a loving heart full of the knowledge that I can't do anything on my own, but only by the grace of God is there even a morsel of good in my soul. I pray that who they see in me is the Daddy's girl of her Father's arms, the one with childlike faith and a longing to LOVE like Him. I hope they see my failures and inadequacies and where I turn when I'm weak...to Whom I turn when I'm so weak. HE is strong. HE is LOVE. HE is life abundant.

Oh Lord, help me leave a legacy that sings of you and testifies of your goodness, your faithfulness, your legacy of LOVE.

"Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they

depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and your children’s children."

Deuteronomy 4:10

"Imitate God, therefore, in everything you do, because you are his dear children.
Live a life filled with LOVE, following the example of Christ. He LOVED us
and offered himself as a sacrifice for us, a pleasing aroma to God."
Ephesians 5:1-2

{28 DAYS OF LOVE}

HOMESCHOOL LOVE

Sure, there are times when I think I'll scream if someone asks me

{one. more. question.}

while I'm already answering the urgent request of another...

 

(...even in the midst of an ideal homeschooling moment around our kitchen table.)

 

But, not for one second would I choose to have it any other way than to spend our days

doing ALL of life...together...thanks to the most blessed gift of homeschool.

 

I really do just absolutely LOVE and cherish the privilege to educate our children at home,

challenges included, even highly prized because of the rich harvest that working through difficulty produces.

 

Opportunities (vs. interruptions) abound when we tweak our perspective to value and

invest our time in an education of the heart...for parents and children alike.

 

We're all especially excited about our new desk station we've been building the last few days.

 

(work in progress)

 

It's always fresh and inspiring to mix things up and make it work with even the smallest changes.

The emphasis has definitely fostered our homeschool LOVE as we take notice to appreciate the gift.

 

"You shall LOVE the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them

when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise."

Deuteronomy 6:5-7

 

{28 DAYS OF LOVE}



CHILDREN'S ARTWORK

 

Our new art station has caused quite the creative explosion over here.

(Nova's dollhouse...and she can tell you ALL about it!)

 

There's just something about children's artwork that makes me feel the LOVE.

 

"And he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, with intelligence,

with knowledge, and with all craftsmanship, to devise artistic designs."

Exodus 35:31-32

{28 DAYS OF LOVE}



MUSIC IN OUR HOME

Sweet harmony, the soundtrack to our life...right now.
I LOVE the music in our home.

''Let us come into his presence with thanksgiving;
let us make a joyful noise to him with songs of praise!"
Psalm 95:2

 

{28 DAYS OF LOVE}

MR. 2 MILKS

 

He's still the first one up with his mama well before dawn every day...my Mr. 2 Milks...and I LOVE it.

 

LOVE him.

 

"Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them."

Luke 18:16

 

{28 DAYS OF LOVE}



PLAYDOUGH LOVE

 

We've been having lots of fun with homemade playdough lately.

 

 

Though there's a temptation to avoid making a crazy mess in the kitchen,

it makes the kids feel loved and special so I'm always glad we did!

 

 

There's something super sweet about doughy little hands working heartily to roll and pound with playdough.

 

 

We never regret colorful creativity!

 

 

It's especially fun for the kids to be able to make this simple recipe on their own (with my help at the stove of course)!

 

1/2 c. salt

 

 

1 1/2 c. flour + 3 tsp. cream of tartar

 

 

1 1/2 c. water

 

 

1 Tbsp. oil

 

 

Mix to combine.

 

 

Add food coloring (and scents optional).

 

 

Stir constantly over low heat.

 

 

It will start to look like this after a few minutes.

 

 

Then, we pull it off to cool.

 

 

And store in airtight containers.

 

 

PLAYDOUGH!

 

 

LOVE!

 

 

"The fruit of the Spirit is LOVE."

Galatians 5:22

 

{28 DAYS OF LOVE}

THE LITLE THINGS

"Wave!" The text came through, so I looked around suspiciously.

 

Sure enough, there they were! Sweet Brodie +9 in the roundabout, waving.

 

[insert precious mental image here]

 

{smile}

 

It had been hours already of what would be more than five of glucose testing, Aida by my side at

the hospital for the time, and he had loaded the troops just to come by and make me feel...LOVED.

 

I did.

 

And sometimes it's the little things.

 

Like when we walked out to the car after my testing was done, relieved to be going home and surprised by LOVE...again.

 

 

Wipers.

 

Occasionally after saying a goodbye, we'll pop up the wipers on the other

person's car for them to discover later and hopefully feel the LOVE.

 

I did.

 

{another BIG smile}

 

And, really it's so often the little things.

 

So today, as I remember the LOVE that he spoke to my heart through seemingly little things,

I tuck away the feeling I felt when others showed me LOVE in gesture...and because of them I'm

more alert to show my LOVE the same, realizing that sometimes it's just the little things.

 

"Let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth."

1 John 3:18

 

{28 DAYS OF LOVE}



COOKIE LOVE

 

They'd mix and roll and sprinkle and bake every single day if I'd let them.

 

 

The baby in my tummy likes the cookies as much as they do...a good reason to say yes (often).

 

 

Anyway, what would a LOVE month be without dozens and dozens of heart shaped cookies?!

 

 

 "May the Lord make you increase and abound in LOVE for one another and for all."
1 Thessalonians 3:12

 

{28 DAYS OF LOVE}



ELKA'S ART...ELKA'S HEART

 

I watch her paint and feel what she feels...I remember like it was yesterday.

 

 

I started oil painting when I was her age and it made me feel...alive!

 

 

She lights up with the same vibrancy and passion. The colors move her the same way.

She looses track of time and space, captivated by the creativity and it's so, so fun to watch!

 

 

But more than just her art, what I LOVE is Elka's heart.

 

She feels for people with deep compassion and is willing to get in the trenches with hurting souls. She acts upon her inclinations and forfeits herself for the benefit of others. She's not afraid or intimidated. She's just the girl for the job, especially when there is a need.

 

When I observe the freedom and willingness to follow her gut through the course of creating her art, what I notice are the similarities to the fruit of Elka's heart. She will go for it. She will risk it all. She's not concerned about getting dirty. She's available to take a chance. She listens to instruction and follows through with boldness. She doesn't take herself too seriously and mistakes are no big deal. She sees beauty in uncommon ways that to most people feel "out of the box" or uncomfortable...but to Elka the unusual makes perfect sense. To think of how these qualities will transfer to her role in the Great Commission is inspiring! To think of how the Lord might use Elka's art...Elka's heart to minister to people makes my own heart sing for joy and pray eagerly for my daughter.

 

Thank you, Lord, for Elka's art and thank you for her beautiful heart. May she use both to glorify you!

 

"Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves,

which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped,

but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form,

he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."

Philippians 2:3-8

 

"This is how we know what LOVE is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us.

And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters."

1 John 3:16

 

{28 DAYS OF LOVE}



PIZZA LOVE

For our Valentine's Day dinner we decided to make heart shaped pizzas.

 

 

Aida made masses of dough.

 

 

We helped the little ones, but the older kids shaped their own heart crusts on foil.

 

 

Everyone enjoyed topping their pizza any way they liked!

 

 

Can you guess who's is who's??

 

 

 

It was messy...but it was lots of fun, very filling,

and a good reminder that even pizza can encourage us all to LOVE!

 

"LOVE one another: just as I have loved you,

you also are to LOVE one another."

John 13:34

 

{28 DAYS OF LOVE}