Small Celebrations

The Lord will give strength unto his people; the Lord will bless his people with peace." Psalms 29:11

In our family we enjoy celebrating holidays, both big and small.  However, celebrating a special day that falls on a school day, this requires a delicate balance of fun and schedule.  Bedtime is not something this mommy likes to play around with...I need that time, just as much as they do!

St. Patrick's Day is one of those little treasures of a holiday..everyone is Irish for the day, shamrocks, wearing green, and the "traditional" corned beef and cabbage dinner.

As a child, this was just a fun day, full of green.  As a parent, I found myself curious about the the meaning behind the holiday.  Who is this Saint Patrick of Ireland and why did I wait so long to find out?  I found a helpful website: http://ministry-to-children.com/ideas-saint-patricks-day/.  The creative forces behind Big Idea/Veggie Tales are truly blessed with the ability to relate the telling of such an important and adult story as this, in such a way that children can understand and appreciate.

The story of a boy raised in faith, kidnapped, slaved, years later escaped, entered into priesthood, then called by God to return to the country of his captures and live among them; truly loving them.  How amazing!

It was a nice introduction for a conversation I had with my daughter at bedtime. 

 Like Patrick of Ireland, we should find peace when we place our present  and future in God's hands.  Her prayers that night were precious.    A "magically delicious" end to the day!

What a year!

"Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayer or withheld his love from me! (Psalm 66:20)

I pray on the fly - as I rise up, turn the alarm clock off and head to the shower.  I praise God, thanking him for a new day and asking him to help me with whatever may come.  I joke with my friends, my prayer closet is my bathroom.  I KNOW I am not alone...many mothers find solitude there.

The end of 2010 brought so much excitement and time well spent with my husband and children.  However, I feel as if I neglected the most important relationship, and that is with the Lord.  I was walking so closely with him and it felt so right, but somehow I lost that closeness and failed to hear Him. 

I definitely sent prayers up sporadically; "Lord help me to get this done", "give me patience with my children"...etc...and each time He answered, but I neglected to be thankful.  What has brought me to this realization, I am not quite sure; only I miss that quiet time I once spent alone with my Father.

As the new year approached, I decided to take the challenge set by my favorite radio station (KLove) and choose one word as my resolution.  I choose DISCIPLINE.  (My husband decided to choose engorge, but that's a story for another time).  Perfect!  This one word helps me with each day and in every aspect of my life.  Since the beginning of 2011, the moments of quiet meditation have lead me to one thought, this will be my year of peace.

Peace comes from knowing that Christ holds all things together (Col. 1:17).  Each day I am seeking for His presence at all times.  Now that daylight savings has visited, I am in full swing of getting the spring cleaning done inside my house,and in my heart.  This Lenten season I have decided to become a 'treasure seeker'.