March Madness!!!

Does anyone else feel like the month of March has just been going by like crazy!?!  I mean... there has been so much happening in this month, I feel like I have experienced so much but hardly been able to keep up... especially on the blog.

March Madness: Nature Declares His Glory

It's Good Friday, and my daffodils are blooming!  I happened to get a huge bag of bulbs on sale last fall at Lowe's and planted these in the azalea garden in our front yard.  They bloomed so beautifully in front of our picket cross.

 I absolutely LOVE how this perfect daffodil sprang up in front of the cross just facing completely out in all its beauty.  But the best part is the picture below...

Would you look at that?!?!  All Creation Sings of His Glory!!  I admit I totally got teary eyed looking at the 4 daffodils completely turn to the cross with the one daffodil in front of the cross facing out.  How nature declares His Glory!  Amazing!

March Madness: Bath Time Madness

I have to admit... I have been a slacker when it comes to Tot Trays this month.... and switching out her toys.  Things have just been so wacky with spring break, beautiful weather, and lots of time spent outside of our home walls.  But we did have some fun doing some sensory bath time, which was new :)

 I put green food coloring in the bath one afternoon and removed all the other toys.  I had the plastic eggs on the counter and when Sweet Pea saw them she got so excited! She easily spent 45 minutes playing in her Easter bath!  She was a total prune when she got out. 

Our first Painting in the Bath sensory time was an epic fail.  Here is what I learned from my mistakes:

1. Wash child first before bringing paint into the bath. (saves water and time)
2. Do not put the pan in the water even if it starts to float... child will put something in the pan, which will then sink, which in turn dissolves all your "paint" and destroys the bath water.  (This was my big fail.  
3. Hold the pan the entire time.  

We tried this again a few days after the failure, and it was a much better experience.  By the way, the paint is just shaving cream with food coloring added in.  Washes the walls well too! Double Win!

March Madness: Declaring His Glory in My Bible

After seeing nature declare His Glory in my front yard, I had to journal about it to my girl in her Legacy Bible. (Want to know more about why I am doing art work in my Bible?  Be sure to start here  and click on "Bible Journaling" in the LABELS section.) I have been listening to Gungor Radio Station on Google Play Music for the last month... AWESOME worship music! It just makes me want to dance, create, and sing for Him!!  As I looked at the daffodils in the yard, this song came into my mind which you can play below...

So I listened to this song as I created the image below for my girl.  It's completely made of scrapbook paper and washi tape.  You don't have to be a "fine artist" to create for the Lord.  He loves the fact that you are thinking and worshiping Him while you create whatever it is to bring Glory to His Name! 

I journaled this on Psalm 148 which talks about the earth and all its creation praising the name of the Lord.  Please feel free to click on the picture below to read what I wrote to Sweet Pea.

This month, I also received the new Illustrated Faith Devotional Kit: You're Beautiful by Valerie Weiners... amazingly awesome artist and devotional written by her.  She is so transparent and has challenged me in looking at some well known passages with a new light.  Such as Genesis 3.  I am hoping to write a post later specifically addressing this entry in Sweet Pea's Bible but until then... please click on the pictures to see up close. 

         

Just more scrap book paper taped into her Bible.  Sweet Pea loves when I do these in her Bible.  Even though she can't read or understand the words yet, she loves to flip these at 20 months old and look at the pictures I have created for her. It melts my heart to see her loving her Bible and wanting to flip through it.

                 March Madness: Getting a Garden Ready

My parents came to visit the first weekend of Spring Break bringing with them 4 tomato plants and 2 pepper plants.... which naturally meant we needed a raised garden bed (which I had been begging my man for for about a year). So after he and some friends got done working on the church grounds mowing, he came home and dug a 4x8 hole next to our drive! I needed it in a place that not only got sun, but a place I looked at everyday... so I would water it and not forget that we have plants. I was so proud of my husband! We have had these landscape timbers in our shed and so with much elbow grease and sweat... he created the raised bed below! 

   

 $10 worth of rebar and who knows how much dirt and we have beautiful bed ready for some plants!

4 tomato plants, 1 pepper, zinnias, basil, and 2 rows of zucchini are planted in the garden! They are still alive despite the weather getting quite chilly!

March Madness: Seeing My BFF

This is Cory and her daughter Adeline.  Cory is "my person..." you know the one who knows every piece of you and loves you just as you are... It doesn't matter how many miles are between us (6 states) or how long we haven't been able to talk on the phone (months...) but when we see each other, everything is just normal and peaceful.  Souls click.  Best Friends Forever. And we better be... we do have matching Spice Girl tattoos....

Life with kids is such an adventure!

March Madness: Lumberjack Basketball

So I did it.  I got on the bandwagon, but I think it will last forever. How could you not?  Did you read some of those articles...I felt like the whole nation fell in love with our team.  Heart melt...Man those Lumberjacks did an amazing job and brought such pride and dignity to the game of basketball and to the town of Nacogdoches.  Yes, I know they lost to Notre Dame... but this small sleepy town got to scare the big bad boys of basketball, and they showed that it really doesn't matter what name you have on your jersey... its the true love of the game.  Love you Jacks! You sure did bring a heavy axe down, and I am excited to see what the future madness holds.   

March Madness: Comes to a Close

That was the last 2 weeks of March... my life in pictures and fast events. There is much more that has happened especially in the more recent days, but this is what I have captured in pictures.  

Easter is in 2 days;  it's Good Friday, but Sunday's coming! 

Bible Journaling: What Do You Treasure?

                       

I am reading the book 7 by Jen Hatmaker.

I just read the chapter on possessions (month 3), and I feel like I just got punched in the gut, then upcut to the face, and I am still asking for more.  This book yall... this book is so convicting.  I just have to write this quote (much of it I quoted in what I journaled to my girl)...

"Do not be fooled by the luxuries of this world; they cripple our faith. As Jesus explained, the right things have to die so the right things can live- we die to selfishness, greed, power, accumulation, prestige, and self-preservation, giving life to community, generosity, compassion, mercy, brotherhood, kindness, and love. The Gospel will die in the toxic soil of self..... The fertile soil of death is where the Gospel forms roots and actually bears fruit.  We have to die to live; we have to die so others can live."-Jen Hatmaker (7  page 91)

After reading this chapter, all I could think about was Jesus talking about storing treasures in Matthew 6: 19-21

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust[a] destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

What do I hold dearly?  More importantly, am I living that way?

I can say that I hold the Gospel dearly, but what about when Jesus tells me to give up "that." I can hear the Holy Spirit so many times say, "Leslie, you don't need that, you just want it. Give it up." I can't even tell you how many times I have said "Jesus, I might need this thing again... I might wear this shirt next summer... nevermind that I only wore it once this year.... Jesus, I might shrink down to the size pant I was 9 years ago... and then I'll waste money on new jeans... who cares that someone could wear them while they sit in my closet for 9 years... I might wear them again..." (that's just clothes. I havent even discussed my stuff yet.)  And yes, I really do have jeans in my closet from 9 years ago...

Gut punch.... 

Am I living a life worthy of the Gospel?  

This life is not mine- its His, so why on earth do I cleave and hold tight to MY STUFF when IT's NOT MINE AT ALL?!?! I don't live a life of sacrifice, and I should because Jesus sacrificed Himself for me (and you)!  Please do not be confused- as a Believer, I do not sacrifice or do works to earn salvation... that was already done on the cross.  I should live a life of sacrifice and do all my work for Him out of LOVE for what He has done for me-  out of a willing heart.  

Lord, forgive me of my selfishness. 

1 John 2:15-16 states:

"Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life[a]—is not from the Father but is from the world."

Lord, break my heart for what breaks Yours.  Help me to unclench my hands from all the things I hold dear,  and give it all back to You. It is Yours.  Everything I have is Yours.  My daughter, my gifts and talents, my husband, my life... it is all a gift from You.  Help me to treasure what You treasure, and I know it is not stuff.  Help me to Die to self everyday so that I can experience the Life You have set for me. I ask all this in Your precious Son's Holy Name.


This post has been linked up to these sites:

• I Choose Joy

Trusting God to Light the Way...Isaiah 42:16

 I am a control freak... I know this, and I covered this fault of mine in an entire post here.  It was my last post before my almost 3 year hiatus.

Because of my controlling nature, I tend to have pretty serious trust issues.  I hate disappointing people or not living up to the potential that I have been given. Therefore, when presented to work in a group, I am not the best participant, because I can end up taking over to do what I think is best.

And it is NOT always what is best.

My controlling SIN makes it hard for me to trust others to make the right choices, especially when I am going to be affected by their decision, and it makes me STRUGGLE with God on Trusting His Plan for Me.

THE STRUGGLE IS REAL MY FRIENDS... IT IS SO REAL.

Trust is hard.  Super Hard.  Especially when you are in the dark.  But the Lord has given us His Word!  Isaiah 42:16 states:

We don't have to know the way- We may be blind, but He will help us see.  He will lead us.  The real question becomes am I willing to SUBMIT MY CONTROL and let HIM LEAD?

In order for someone to lead (and the Lord says "I will lead..."), that means I have to follow.  There is only one leader and if it's God, then it is not me.  I am not in control.  God is.  I don't have to know the way in which my life is headed, I just have to TRUST that He is a good leader (and HE IS) and let Him.

I know that most of my entries into my little girl's Bible are about TRUSTING the LORD, probably because this is what I personally need serious guidance in.  I don't want my girl to struggle with trusting like I do.

The path is dark in front of me, but I know who leads my way.  I may not get to where I want to be in the time that I desire, but if I traveled this unfamiliar, dark path blindly, can you imagine how many scrapes, bruises, and serious injury I could endure!?  No thank you.

The problem with letting someone else lead is you have to move with them.  You have to give up control and let them be the guide. I have to give up control.  This hot mess of a control freak has to do what she hates...she has to give up and release control.  Give Up. Release. Trust.

I trust my Guide.  I know my Guide. I will follow my Guide.

Lord, I am not in control of the situation I am currently in.  I know you see what it is and are working in it. Lord, I am sorry for my controlling ways.  Please forgive me and take the reigns... I do not want to travel this dark road without You.  Be my Leader and my Guide.  Please help me keep my hands from clutching for control.  Your ways are better than mine, and You know the way.  Lord, I trust You and pray You light the way before me. I love you.  

What I Made This Past Week...

Today I am linking up with Tara at 4th Grade Frolics to tell about what I made this past week.   She does a linky party every month for people to share about what they've made, whether it is for the home, classroom, or just for fun!  It's a great way to see what other bloggers have been up to.  

So this past week, this is what I created....

By BFF from high school broke her ankle about 2 weeks ago, and she had to have surgery to put a metal plate and some screws in there.  We live many states away, so I made a care package for her with some books and this homemade journal.  I plan on blogging about it, just haven't yet.   

 I used water color paper to make the flowers, then used some scrapbook paper to glue on the other side.  I cut it down to the size I wanted, and used my cutting tool to score the fold.  I then printed lined paper and cut it to size, scored it, and then my husband nailed 5 holes into the binding.  I then used a big needle and some bakers twine in orange to stitch the binding closed using a saddle stitch. This video was a huge help.  I then wrote in blue sharpie "You Are Loved" and "You are His".  I love how it turned out, and I hope she does too.

 I tutor a 2nd grader in art every Monday.  He is very talented in art, but unfortunatly the elementary school doesn't teach art.  Therefore, each Monday we work on some skills.  We started a new project on Ton Schulten based on this lesson by Paintbrush Rocket.  We are working with tempra paints, making tints and still covering simple shapes. It really is a great lesson for him.  We aren't done yet, and I am hoping we will finish this coming Monday.  This is my example I did before he came over.  It was so nice to just do an art project.  I've missed painting on a larger scale.

 

My daughter and I also painted outside using some watercolors I made about a week ago after finding an amazingly simple non-toxic recipe.  The recipe comes from the blog Happy Hooligans ... and it was a good thing it was non toxic, because Sweet Pea started drinking that water going "mmmmm"! Crazy girl.  We had a blast!  Her art work is now hanging on the wall in her playroom, and she loves to point at it.  

I also made an Easter sensory bin for her using all items from the Dollar Tree (I LOVE THAT PLACE!)  And I only spent $5 on it!  The bin has 2 green Easter basket filler bags , a stuffed rabbit, bunny shaped eggs, and carrot shaped eggs.  The flowers I already had and I just stuck them in the grass.  She loves to dig out the rabbit eggs and place them in a basket I already had.  This sensory bin will stay up through Easter, and I might add/take away some items to it in the next month and a half.

The last thing I created this week was an entry into my Sweet Pea's Legacy Journal.  This is Bible Art Journaling, but I just make sure that I am writing to her about what I want her to know. This artwork is based on 1 Corinthians 12 and 13, about gifts, the body, and love.  I wrote a blog post about it here.

I absolutely LOVE doing these entries.  I learn so much from studying the Word and reflecting on what it is that I truly want to write to her.  It takes me awhile to finally do an entry, but once I actually sit down to make it, it doesn't take too long. It's the preparation for the entry that takes a while, but it is so worth it.

So that was my week!  Whew!  It is normally not that filled, but I count my blessings in the fact that I get to be able to create and have fun with my girl.



Be sure to go check out Tara's Link Up to get some more creative ideas from others!
Happy Creating!

Bible Journaling 1 Corinthians 12-13

I love to journal in my girl's Legacy Bible. I love writing to her about what God teaches me through the Scriptures.  I ordered the Illustrated Faith "Created to Create" kit, and the second devotion was on 1 Corinthians 12:1-11 about gifts.

" There are different kinds of gifts. But they are all given to believers by the same Spirit. 5 There are different ways to serve. But they all come from the same Lord. 6 There are different ways the Spirit works. But the same God is working in all these ways and in all people.7 The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all."

I meditated on this chapter for 3 days before actually creating this entry into her Bible.  After doing some research, I found out that there are over 20 different spiritual gifts; however in 1 Corinthians, only a few are listed.  The thing that got to me though was what came after the list of gifts. 1Corinthians 12: 12-31 is about the Body of Christ.

12 There is one body, but it has many parts. But all its many parts make up one body. It is the same with Christ. 13 We were all baptized by one Holy Spirit. And so we are formed into one body. It didn’t matter whether we were Jews or Gentiles, slaves or free people. We were all given the same Spirit to drink. 14 So the body is not made up of just one part. It has many parts...21 The eye can’t say to the hand, “I don’t need you!” The head can’t say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” 22 In fact, it is just the opposite. The parts of the body that seem to be weaker are the ones we can’t do without...25 In that way, the parts of the body will not take sides. All of them will take care of one another. 26 If one part suffers, every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every part shares in its joy."

So the question came to me....

What does the section on gifts have to do with the section on the body exactly?  

There is a reason Paul wrote these side by side within the same chapter.

What was he really trying to tell the church? What do I want to tell my girl?

It suddenly hit me that the Corinthians were most likely comparing themselves to one another, thinking someone's gift was not worthy of honor, or that their gift was better than someone else's, or thinking they didn't need certain people in the church because their gift wasn't as "special" as another's.  The dreaded "Comparison Game."

Sounds familiar huh?

It did to me, anyway.

Paul was trying to remind the Corinthians that the Holy Spirit has gifted each person with a special gift that is beneficial to the body of believers.

6 There are different ways the Spirit works. But the same God is working in all these ways and in all people.7 The Holy Spirit is given to each of us in a special way. That is for the good of all.

The entire body of believers needs to rely on one another to make a stand for Christ and spread the Gospel.  Our gifts are meant to bring great unity to the church... not divide it.  To make us stronger where we are weak.  And the thing that binds all these gifts is LOVE according to 1 Corinthians 13.

"Suppose I speak in the languages of human beings or of angels. If I don’t have love, I am only a loud gong or a noisy cymbal. 2 Suppose I have the gift of prophecy. Suppose I can understand all the secret things of God and know everything about him. And suppose I have enough faith to move mountains. If I don’t have love, I am nothing at all.3 Suppose I give everything I have to poor people. And suppose I give myself over to a difficult life so I can brag. If I don’t have love, I get nothing at all." 

THERE IS NO ROOM FOR COMPARISON!  You were created with a special gift- do not think that it is not good, or that it is not as great as someone else's gift.  You were created for a purpose and the body of believers NEEDS YOU!

JUST. AS. YOU. ARE.  

Please read what I wrote to my girl, because it's written to you too, Believer.

Keep using your gifts, whatever they are.  To the glory and benefit of God and others.  <3

CREATED to Create

I create art in my Bible.  

Why?  Because I want my little girl to know so much about the Love of God and His Wisdom and grace.  I want to make sure that when she walks the road without me, that I have equipped her well so she can withstand the storm and know that God is with her no matter what.  

I really think my Bible is more of a Legacy Bible, and that is what I am calling it.  My Bible is not for me- it is completely for my girl who is 18 months old right now.  I create and write with her and God in mind.  I pray that it helps her in the future and that this is glorifying to God.  

With that all stated, I purchased my first Illustrated Faith Kit this past week to work through the devotional on a topic I so am encouraged by... We are Created to Create. 

From Left to Right: 12 devotions, teal ink pad, stamps, 3 scripture cards and envelope, washi tape, sticker, and paper clip with fabric on end.

The first devotion is on Exodus 35:31-35, which talks about how God has specifically equipped people to create for Him.  In this passage, the Bible tells us that God has equipped certain people with skills to build the tabernacle.

"... and he has filled him with the Spirit of God, with wisdom, with understanding, with knowledge and with all kinds of skills— to make artistic designs for work in gold, silver and bronze, to cut and set stones, to work in wood and to engage in all kinds of artistic crafts. And he has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamak, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others. He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers."

So what do I want Sweet Pea to know from this?

I want her to know that God has gifted her with certain abilities- that these gifts are meant to be used to glorify Him. I want her to know that she is:

• An artist created by the Greatest Artist of all.
• An artist who is made to glorify the True Artist.
• An artist no matter what people say or think.
• An artist who is meant to create for others and not hide her gift.
• An artist, God's workmanship, ready to create the good works He has planned for her. (Eph 2:10)

I had already created the woven part on this page and written to her based on an art challenge by Rebekah Jones, but the devotion from the kit tied right in, and I added the little banner that you see. Please feel free to read what I wrote to my daughter back in October that applies today. 

We are each given gifts, whether it is actually fine art, dancing, singing, teaching, or maybe cooking an awesome batch of cookies!! (I have a friend who this is her amazing gift and I can not tell you how often I look forward to her sharing her cookies with me <3)

Do you know that you are Created to Create?  

Do you know that you have a specific GIFT or TALENT?  

Do not hide your gift, compare it to others, or wish for a different gift. Don't think that it is not enough. You were blessed with yours for a specific purpose! God is capable of taking that small gift and multiplying it!    Just use it and trust that He can do with it what He pleases.... because it is all for Him anyway.   

What will you do with your gift-- your talent?  

If you are interested in looking into a Jouranling Bible, there are tons out there!  Great for notes, messages, art... whatever the Lord writes on your heart to remember.  Mine is a double column, but here is one on Amazon that is a ESV single column. 

Making Art in My Bible.

I always wanted to be an Art Teacher.  I knew in high school that that was what "I wanted to be when I grew up."  I went to college and graduated with my Art Teaching Degree in 2004, but I could never find that art position until 2008.  For those 4 years, I was in a dry spell.  I crafted every now and then, but actually making art... nope.  When I taught art in 2008-09 and in 2013-14, I could brush up on my art skills, but when I taught other subjects, I just didn't have time to "make art."

But I don't want to go through that dry spell again.  Making art is a gift from God, and it is something I need to keep practicing.  Its something I love to do and can inspire others with.  I need to make time for it.

So how does a SAH Mom, part time Children's Pastor, and school volunteer make time for art?  Well I combine things that I love...reading God's Word, my daughter, and art. 

My husband bought me this Bible (ESV double column journaling Bible) for Mother's Day in 2015. It was also the same day that we dedicated our daughter to the Lord in church... aka Parent/Baby Dedication day.  It was such a beautiful book! I didn't want to just fill it with things for myself.  I honestly felt selfish doing that.  So I decided that I would journal to my little girl.  I would draw pictures for her and write to her in the margins what I wanted her to understand from God's Word.

There is a huge Bible Journaling community.  If you are interested, you should just google it, but that is seriously overwhelming.  Or check out the Illustrated Faith site.... Ahhhhhmazing!

The above picture is what I journaled to my girl today. It's from Exodus 15, and the first5 app is what inspired my writing. In Exodus 15, the Israelites immediately praise God for saving them from the Egyptians, only to immediately grumble about Him and His lack of provision in the desert.  When I first read this, I thought "Wow, they forget so quickly!"  But that's me too!  So many times God has provided for me, and when a tough time comes about, I grumble and wonder if God is going to/wants to/will provide.  This passage is a reflection of me.  

God always provides.  It may not be how I imagined it or desired it, but He always provides. He is a good, good Father.  

I am sharing this post on Tara's awesome blog 4th Grade Frolics.  I'm sure you may have seen her site, but if you haven't head on over there!