At the end of myself...

The path has not always been lined with flowers. Dark days, sleepless nights, and troubled rhythms are all part of working toward real relationships. What happens when you don't feel like loving? What's next when you are ready to give up?

In my first podcast I settle into my cozy office nook and share my confessions, blunders, and hopes on this road of being a blended family. 

Grab a cup of something steamy and join me for a time of laughter, tears and encouragement as Casey Tate of Steadfast and I chat about life here at R7.

iTunes: Listen to the podcast here

Google play: Listen to podcast here

From R7 to you --

Be a blessing.

Linking to:

The Scoop
Make It Pretty Monday

Stroll Through Life

Nifty Thrifty Tuesday
Talk of the Town

Grace at Home 

Simple and Sweet Friday

Ramblings on the pains of getting ready

I sit listening. Sixteen students. Some are nine years old. Some are ten. All are reading, writing, discussing, working....questioning. I think of the preparation to get them there.

It started with teaching them what it looks like and sounds like to be productive. It takes daily reminders and positive reinforcements. It's boots on the ground every day.

Today, to prepare them I first walked them through the process showing them each step of the way. It took effort to keep their attention while I prepared them. They were so ready to just get to it. They love working with each other in their favorite spot doing their thing. They don't love the preparation. The waiting. The listening for instructions...

I can't help but ponder how this looks in my life with the Teacher. I want to go. I want to do. I want to show. Like my students, I don't always recognize the importance of the preparation. Of the waiting. Of the learning phases.

God's timing is not ours, but like a careful teacher He knows what he wants us to learn before we run off to work and do and show.

I'm going to try this week to pay more attention to the learning cycle of life. Celebrate the ones I can see behind me. Recognize the ones I might be in right now. And maybe just maybe if I muster up the faith look forward to the ones ahead.

From R7 to you --
Be a blessing.

This post is Day 5 of 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes 2016.

Coping or Changing

Cowboy and I are sorting through a very powerful weekend trip to Colorado Springs. We were challenged to be better. Be better for each other, be better parents for our kids, but mostly to be better for the awesome God who created all of this!

He made the tallest peaks and the most beautiful valleys and yet even after all of that He was not satisfied until He created us. He designed us and breathed life into you. Into me. Just because he wants us!

I spend so much time arranging life and coping when things don’t go my way. I take a “there’s an app for that” approach. Yet each day the greatest Designer is hoping to completely renovate my heart. The total makeover package is waiting for me. For you.

From R7 to you --
Be a blessing.

This post is Day 5 of 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes 2016.

Puzzle Pieces: Thoughts on scheduling life...

Our lives are overflowing with good things. Soccer games, church outings, volunteer work, family night….you fill in the rest. Line up the activities, and we will use the strategic planning of NASA to make it work. As I stare at the last pieces of a puzzle looking to fill in the last holes I realize something...

Once the last satisfying piece has filled every hole in the puzzle, not one more piece will fit. There’s a beautiful and complete picture, but there’s no possible way of fitting another piece without breaking the beautiful picture apart.

Our lives are like that too. If we approach scheduling like puzzle work, then once the last satisfying piece is in place there’s no more time for anything else…

What about that phone call from a hurting friend? What about stopping by to visit your elderly aunt even though you know it will take more time than you have? What about those moments that just happen and we can’t plan for...lingering in the yard to squeeze out the last drops of sunshine? What about the long conversation with your spouse at the end of the day so they feel valued and listened to?

So what’s the answer….Maybe for this week, this month, the rest of the year the key is to leave some holes in our schedules and lives and see what goodness might just fit there.

From R7 to you --
Be a blessing.

This post is Day 5 of 31 Days of Five Minute Free Writes 2016.

Filling Holes

This is my first post as part of Write 31 Days. I've taken the challenge from my sweet and creative friend Christina to do a five minute free write each day and post it. Here's to day one!

There’s an antique store that shows up on my feed constantly taunting me with their brilliance. Their ad will say something like “Filling more holes…” featuring an incredible picture of that just right primitive display.

If you hang out around here much you will soon pick up on my tendency (addiction really) to things with a story or that show their wear and tear. It’s not just the shabby delight that I’m attracted to in these ever so strategic and sponsored ads. It’s the language they use -- “filling holes”. It leaves me with these feelings that someone else already snatched up something wonderful and this store has this problem where they can’t keep enough good stuff in stock. As  a result, they are working and filling in “holes” with more fabulous finds…

While I do fairly well at training my brain to see through the advertising genius and simply enjoy the inspiration, I can’t help but wonder about how we walk through life like this. Filling holes.

Holes where someone has taken something good and left an empty place without refilling it. This old world offers so many ways of filling those holes. Good ways. Just like those brilliant merchants though, when we refill it with good things...those can be taken too.

There has to be something more...

Enjoy the first days of October!! We will start ours with a ride through the mountains. I'm just a little bit EXCITED about that!! Oh...and everything in the pic above is for sale through R7 Reclaimed!

From R7 to you --
Be a blessing.