What words are there to wrap around such devastation? my heart aches and I can't bring myself to watch the news again today....I am miles away from Katrina,  but like many, I feel helpless.  We are going to do what we can, from where we are, but PRAYER is the lifeline at this point.  at every point...is it not?

interestingly enough, Katrina means 'to purify'.  could God be sending a message to this country?  could He be allowing these 'signs' as a warning to us?  to turn back to Him?  our nation was a country founded upon HIS word...yet, there are those who find offense in the "10 commandments",  offense in the word "GOD" in our pledge of allegiance,  offense in the tiny 'cross' in the 'county crest'  where I live. 

God has a right to judge this nation. like Jesus said in the garden, "if this cup can pass me, allow it, but YOUR will father, not mine". 

i continue to pray for all those affected by Katrina. 

blessings,

NM

teeeheee.

It's the shoe thing. i just don't get it.

....i just can't bring myself to wear shoes in the house.

sorry...i just can't.  i don't get it....although, i love the idea, the 'theory' of shoewearing in ones own home....  ohh it brings to my mind a visual of how i too can look like a soap opera diva.....  have you noticed?  all those women dress to the nines every day!  hair perfectly coiffed, make up on thick, and heels...high heels. 

i am not saying those flylady devotees who do wear shoes around their home all day are "divas"...i think "more power to yas!"...it's just so 'idealistic' to me....and the bottom line here...

it's just not me. 

 i have tried putting on shoes, just to hang out with my kids on the couch, or lounge on the floor with the baby.  it ain't working.

i am a gypsy at heart....so i guess.  my morning routine is an easy one.  try to get up with my dh, sip my hot mug of coffee in bed with a candle lit, read my bible and spend some time with the Lord (after hubby leaves for work)...shower, let hair air dry, put on some concealer, mac foundation face powder, (very LM) a bit of blush and some liner and mascara.  DONE. 

i love to wear my comfiest palatzo pants...cropped at the calf....(invested in 4 pairs of these to grow with my belly)....put on my one of my favorite tees (with built in bra...cus i hate real bras! --told ya i was a gypsy) and that is it!  i love to be barefoot.  i love for my kids to be bare foot too!

i must confess tho...i do follow ms. flylady's advice on other areas....like the dish sink idea...brilliant!  i do keep up on organizing and daily cleaning...(can be a bit of a freak in that department) and i love her kitchen/recipe/meal planning ideas, which  i have adopted.

its just the shoe thing. 

my toes need to be free.  to wiggle.  to giggle.  to fly!

"But (she) who stands firm to the end will be saved"

Matthew 24:13

well, I guess the best place to begin my new blog is with with the end.... since that is one of  my 'life mottos'....'to begin with the end in mind'...(credit and hats off to  'stephen covey')...and i love Matt. 24:13....so here i am ...at the end of the story...which is actually  just the 'beginning'.  i know this probably makes no sense to alot of people...but  hopefully there are some kindreds who will stumble upon this humble blog and say to themselves...'hey, i get that!'.

in the past, when faced with decisions....and after praying things thru, God always seems to bring to my memory this 'motto of life'....(can you call it that?) and it has helped me to put things into perspective. especially lately where my homeschool is concerned.

I recently discovered - thru God's grace and leading,that i am what one would call, by nature--- a 'relaxed homeschooler'.   I am on a path right now where I am learning to let go, and allow God to move in my home...and you know what is happening?  where there use to be 'school'...there is now 'home'. 

when i first started out, i thought i had to bring school into my home.  with Gods gentle leading, He is showing me that school is about the love of learning for my kids and the love of teaching for me.  it's about learning thru life--- daily  in our home. creating an atmosphere that glorifies God and inspires my children to learn....ignites a love for GOD and for learning.

deuteronomy 6 tells me to teach them all the time.  with this said...i'd like to share some wisdom that i have learned along the way...

TOP FIVE LESSONS I HAVE LEARNED ALONG THE WAY.....

1.  Trust God to know your children and their needs. they are his precious children on loan to us...He knows them and loves them even better than we do.  trust Him to know that He gave them to you because He knows that they needed you as their mom and teacher.