Monday, January 7, 2013

Back into existence.

 
 
 
 
Today we start back at homeschool after being off for an entire month.
 
I must say that it has done us all much good to have that long of a break.
 
Routine had become a friend we were tired of seeing and we needed a change.
 
I forgot how much I missed my old friend "rest".

We got reconnected over the break.
It was good to see you again my friend.
 
I read something yesterday that is so simple,
yet easily forgotten...
 
Rest transforms into restoration.
 
Couldn't we all use a little dose of that?
 
Restoration means the process of rebuilding or renovating.
 
One definition described it as bring back into existence.
 
Even though I love homeschooling my kids and consider it an honor to do so...
I have to be perfectly honest,
 
sometimes I don't know who I am.
 
I lose myself somewhere between happy homemaker, wife,
momma, teacher, referee and principal.
 
But when I rest...
"I" come back into existence.
 
I see myself again and I say,
 
"Well hey there beautiful you.  I've missed you. Where have you been hiding?"
 
I can then refresh as me,
 so that I can continue on, at the appointed time,
wearing the many hats that I am called to wear.
 
It gives me the much needed extra boost and strength required to be a better me to those who need me.
 
Jesus, the perfect man that He was, even needed rest...
 
Mark 6:31
So he said to them, "Let's go to a place where we can be alone to rest for a while."
Many people were coming and going, and Jesus and the apostles didn't even have a chance to eat.
 
 
I giggled out loud when I read the last part of this scripture.
How many times have I been so busy being Mom or Teacher
that I haven't even had the chance to eat lunch?!
 
Too many to count.
 
So, with that said...
I feel well restored and ready to tackle the weeks ahead in our homeschool.
 
(Okay, well at least this week.)
 
 
I'm excited to start things off with a few changes in our routine that I pray and hope will bring a restored feeling to our classroom...and home.
 
 
Both of the kids actually read an entire book over the break.
An entire book!
I think that is a great start to our return.
 
Even though it was only "by the skin of their teeth" and they finished most of their book late yesterday...
it still counts and it's still a good start.
 
Little progress is better than no progress.
 
Speaking of reading...
I've made myself a reading plan for 2013.
 
I've made a list of a few books that I want to definitely read this year.

For starters,
I've started a reading plan to read the Bible in 90 days in chronological order.
This is something that means a great deal to me.

Pray for me, please.
Pray that I find a deeper understanding of my Father,
 that I get to know His heart on a deeper, more intimate level.
Pray for dilligence, that I don't get off track,
and that I complete this from beginning to end.

 
One of the things I love to do for myself,
to find rest and acquire restoration,
is to curl up in my favorite chair, wrap up in a cozy blanket and read a good book.
 
I read less than a handful of books this past year.
 For me, that's a low number.
I started others, but never finished them.
 
I have friends that have challenged themselves with lists that consist
 of 15 books they want to read this year.
 
Wowzer!
Go you! I hope you do it!
 
I, on the other hand,
have a much smaller list.
 
My reading list for 2013:
(crossing fingers)

Not a Fan
by
Kyle Idleman
(one I actually started but never finished)
 
The Hiding Place
by
Corrie Ten Boom
 
Kisses from Katie
by
Katie J. Davis
 
Mockingjay
(Third book of the Hunger Games series)
by
Suzanne Collins
 
The Girls Still Got It:
Take a walk with Ruth and the God who rocked her world.
by Liz Curtis Higgs
 
The Fitting Room
by
Kelly Minter
 
 
I will also be reading two books this year for our Joli Women's Ministry blog.
 
Our first book, which we will begin in February, is
 
Warrior Chicks
by
Holly Wagner
 
If you would be interested in reading along with us,
please do so by following us on our book study journey.

You can follow along on
either our
 Joli facebook
 page or by
becoming a follower on
Joli blog.

It's that easy.
We will discuss the book each Friday beginning in early February.
 
I am also doing something that I have always wanted to do,
which is read a book and write a review on it.
 
I follow a very talented writer on her blog and on facebook.
 She has recently written a book.
 
Her name is Elora Ramirez and her book is Come Alive.
 
She writes from her heart and soul with great conviction and I am so honored to be able to read her book and give a review on it.

I've been wanting to read her book and have been trying to win a free copy for the past week or so.
She has been generous enough to give several copies away.
Each and every time she gave one away, too much evail, I missed it by an inch.
 
An. inch.
 
I am super excited to tell you that she sent me a personal message on facebook giving me the information to be able to do a review of her book,
giving me a free downloaded version!!
 
A personal message. On. my. facebook page!
 
That almost makes me famous!
(But, it doesn't.)
 
I'm super excited!! I've already started reading it...yay me!
 
So yeah, do yourself a favor and check out her blog here.
 
I will make sure to give you a review of the book here on Finding the SONlight.
 
Ya know...
just because I want you to love it too.
 
(Did I mention how excited I am about reading her book and doing the review?)

Moving on...
 
I hope your year
 or work week
or homeschool week is going great!
 
I'm looking forward to the next year and all that it brings!
 
Have a great Monday and don't forget to
 rest and get some restoration!
 
 
 
 


3 comments:

  1. Get back to it, girlie!

    I did the Chronological Bible last year and just started some 21-day readings. We'll see how that goes. And, of course, I too will be reading "Warrior Chicks" with you!

    Yay!! to a productive year!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Looks like I need to get MY reading list up to par! How exciting to be able to review a book of someone you admire!!! I would absolutely swoon if that happened to me! (See I'm already in literature mode...swoon...hehe)

    ReplyDelete
  3. I hear you about the home schooling......I wake up sometimes and go WHHHAAAA!! We're have I gone? One thing I do is go to Zumab twice a week. It makes me feel good. It's an hour for me and I feel refreshed and energized after. Plus it's good for my health and makes me feel good physically which really is a perk for my husband if you er my drift. Wink. Wink. Ha! I also read every night which is a guilty pleasure because I read like 2 books a week. I also read the word in my big comfy chair by the window each morning which restores me soul. :)

    ReplyDelete

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