Be my Valentine?

Again this year, we had a great time sharing Gospel Valentines. 

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

A paraphrase:

I recently memorized 2 Peter 1:2-9, and I'll admit it's getting harder to memorize Scripture at my age. I have to work hard for it, but it's so worth it. Studying a piece and analyzing it helps immensely. My Bible Knowledge Commentary was indispensable for this. I wrote the passage in my journal, and then re-wrote a paraphrase. That helped too. I love the way Scripture impacts my heart when I take the time to hide it there.

Here's the whole passage. Here's my paraphrase:

Through the generosity of the Glory and Excellence of Christ (in God) we are given the valuable gift of a NEW and Divine nature, to replace our natural and worldly nature (lust of the flesh). For this reason, our Faith blooms into a symphony, rising in crescendo with each added strain. We practice this music with diligence, for it is a worthwhile song. 


Supply abundantly to this chorus:
Moral Excellence 
Knowledge
Self Control
Perseverance
Godliness
Brotherly Kindness
and Love

If, consequently, your song is loud and rising, you will have no trouble being effective and fruitful in your life of knowing Christ fully. Without this music in your life, you are stumbling in the dark, as though you had never been saved at all. 

Have you really embraced your new nature?

-L

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

13 Years

Today I celebrated 13 years with my hubby. So thankful to God for the man he gave me. :) There have been tough times, and there have been rocks in the road. But by his side for 13 years, thousands of miles, 7 zip codes, 4 children to raise, and one happy wife. God does a work where man cannot. Love you Ben!

“My beloved responded and said to me,
‘Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
And come along.
‘For behold, the winter is past,
The rain is over and gone.
‘The flowers have already appeared in the land;
The time has arrived for pruning the vines,
And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.
‘The fig tree has ripened its figs,
And the vines in blossom have given forth their fragrance.
Arise, my darling, my beautiful one,
And come along!’”
Song of Solomon 2 : 10-13

Linked:



©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

After Hours

Monday night we had a blizzard (and all day Tuesday). Hubby was at work and had to drive home in it. What normally takes him 45 minutes, took him 6 hours. He couldn't see the road and had to just stop for a bit to calm his nerves. There were cars and trucks littering the ditches. He picked up a stranded co-worker and took him home too. Not far from where he works another stranded motorist left her car. She was only a mile from home they say. She never got there. *sigh*

Needless to say I couldn't sleep until he was home. It was a very late night.

Lots of praying. Lots of drop-to-your-knees-where-you-stand kind of praying.
Lots of nervous housework.
Made some awesome cinnamon rolls.
Talked to a friend until the wee hours.

I'm so thankful God brought him home! We have been snowed in for two days. It's hard to believe we were planting the spring garden last week. I will post snow and garden pictures soon, I promise. (Yes, those things go together here in Nebraska).

So what do you do after dark? I really should go to bed. But I don't.

Blessings, Laura

©2012-2013 Loving and Learning on the High Plains. All rights reserved. All text, photographs, artwork, and other content may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form without the written consent of the author. http://www.homeschoolhighplains.blogspot.com

Feeling a bit old today

Me, age 2. 

Today is my birthday! I have been reflecting on a few of my favorite past birthdays... :)

My friends, Nicki and Anna and an assortment of sweet babies!

5 years ago today I had the best SURPRISE birthday gift ever. My dear friend Anna, who lives WAY too far away, conspired with my friend Nicki and my hubby. Secretly she flew out here from PA and showed up at MOPS that morning. I cried! I had NO idea at all what they were up to. She brought her daughter, one of my first doula babies... and we spent nearly a week scrapbooking, eating out, staying up too late, and organizing. :) Anna has flown in to my life at so many perfect moments, she is a true gift from above.

Then there was the 25th birthday I spent alone with the kids here in Nebraska, while Ben was working in Florida. We were living in Florida then, but I'd flown back here to help my dear Grandma Lydia out, as she had broken her hip. I remember it was right after my pregnancy loss. Ben was such a sweetie and sent me flowers! We celebrated with candles in Little Debbie cakes. :)

On my 20th birthday I remember, Ben and I were still dating then. He picked me up from my office and took me out to lunch. While we were there eating out lunch, a man with a big scruffy beard started walking toward me, scared me to death... until I realized it was my dad! (In my defense, he'd grown a beard since I'd seen him last!) My folks had flown out from PA to visit me here in Nebraska. I was totally surprised! I had broken my ankle 6 weeks before, and they had been hoping to come see me while I was recovering. That week my mom went with me to get my cast off. Then we did a little wedding planning. :) Such fun memories.

How funny to think how many of my birthdays center around broken limbs... I actually had a broken arm on my 17th birthday too. lol!

I've been so blessed to have birthdays to count, and loved ones to share them with. I'm so thankful. God has been so faithful! Thanks for following me on a ramble today. :)

Ecclesiastes. 11:5-8a 

"As you do not know the path of the wind,

    or how the body is formed in a mother’s womb,

so you cannot understand the work of God,

    the Maker of all things.

Sow your seed in the morning,

    and at evening let your hands not be idle,

for you do not know which will succeed,

    whether this or that,

    or whether both will do equally well.

Light is sweet,

    and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

However many years anyone may live,

    let them enjoy them all."

Valentine's Day Wrap Up

Last week we had a great time with our Gospel Valentines, and I wanted to share the finished product with you! This kids had a great time making and delivering over 180 valentines. Some with cookies, some with cards, some with glitter... all with the Gospel. (Well mostly, the cousins got cartoon ones...) <3