Well, I am back after a wonderful quick trip to Southern California to speak at a Hearts at Home Conference and to a delightful group of moms at Riverview Evangelical Free MOPS in Bonsall. My friend Trisha and I traveled together and spent lots of ‘girlfriend bonding’ time waiting for weather delayed planes to leave Chicago. Our first flight out was supposed to leave at 9:03 am and it finally took off at 3:09 pm!!!!!!! Luckily we called our friend Janee who rescued us, whisked us away to her charming home nearby where we had Starbucks coffee and visited.

Here are some pics that Trisha and my friend Karen took while we were there.

The charming Century Rose Bed and Breakfast I stayed at.

The beautiful palm trees and blue skies.

The sandy beaches and rolling waves.

The hilarious sea lions that crash on the beach at La Jolla.

Some hang gliders on the beach at sunset.

Tell me again….why did I come back to Michigan snow, ice and single digit weather??? Oh yeah… I have a husband and three kids who want dinner and can’t find their socks.

Sweet Blessings,

Karen

Promoting Family Prayer

I thought I’d share with you a project that I finally finished yesterday after having the idea at a Hearts at Home conference last fall. I was browsing some sales booths and happened upon one that gave all kinds of ideas about praying for the members of your family. On the way home, my friend Janee and I decided we would try to go home and make some of the ideas ourselves. (Actually, I combined two ideas I saw and added a new twist.)Being severely craft-challenged and allergic to glue guns, I was not sure if my good intentions would come to fruition. However, yesterday afternoon, I actually completed my project.

Here is the concept. I bought a ceramic tray, votive holders, rub on letters, some tea light candles and a bag of smooth stones. I transfered the names of each member of our family onto the votive holders. Then I wrote the names of our family members on several rocks-about two or three rocks for each person. When anyone in our family wants to let someone else know that they are praying for them that day, they light their candle. Then, to remind them to pray, they take a stone with that person’s name on it and place it in their pocket. Throughout the day, whenever they feel the stone, they are reminded to pray. If you see that your candle has been lit, you blow it out. (Didn’t want this creative family activity to cause a house fire!!)

A simple idea and concept, but I am hoping it will draw us closer as a family.

Blessings,

Karen

More Michigan snow fell overnight bringing us to almost ten inches in the last two days. Waking up this morning and looking out my dinning room window to see this blanket of white reminded me of a song I sang a long time ago in church. The words went like this:

I once read in a poem, when snow covers the earth; it hides the world’s flaws and gives nature new birth.

And they say when a man turns from sin to the Lord, that forgiveness, like snow, covers him evermore.

And somewhere it’s snowing; see the soft coming down, as the snowflakes surrender to the hardening ground.

Like the good grace of Jesus that now covers our sin; in the kingdom of heaven it’s snowing again.

I love the picture that is painted of someone coming to faith in God for the first time and I am reminded of the day that I first placed my trust in Him and the snow of his forgiveness covered me evermore. May this be a year that we are more intentional in our efforts to pray for those who need His snow white touch. Make it your aim to point others to Him this year.

Don’t you love to see it snow?

Snowy sweet blessings,

Karen

Welcome 2008!!!

Hi all! Well, I must admit to you that I am starting 2008 as a hesitant blogger. One of my New Year’s resolutions is to host somewhat of a blog here on my site. But I am a bit reluctant. Not because I don’t like to chat and write. But because of many reasons. I am afraid that I’ll spend too much time and ignore my home and kids. I worry that I’ll devote more time to writing my blog than to reading my Bible. However, my friend Marybeth has challenged all of us on the Proverbs 31 speaker team to have one. So, I’ll try. Now, if I can only get my teenage daughter Mackenzie to slow down for a minute and show me how to insert pictures and links and such, then I’ll be good to go!

At our house today we are taking down the last of the Christmas decorations and doing some deep de-junking. Oh how I love the feeling!! Out with the half broken toys, worn and “hole”-y socks and too small clothes and in with the recent Christmas treasures- new undies; clean, white boys socks and unstained sweaters; blank 2008 calendars; crisp, clean books waiting to be read and sparkling cookie sheets beckoning to be used. Oh, the thrill!!! If you too want to do some major cleaning and organizing, check out my new book–just released today! It is entitled The Complete Guide to Getting and Staying Organized. It is a Hearts at Home resource and my first book with Harvest House Publishers.

Well, I hear Todd winding down with the snow blowing. (Eight inches fell overnight.) So I’d better get the hot cocoa on. Sweet blessings, friends!

Karen