Laurie's Everyday Notions

Last year I joined hundreds of bloggers who wrote for each and every one of the 31 days in October. It was challenging. Sometimes I'd search through my photo file just to find something that I could post as I was out of "words". But it was good and although my to-do list is a mile long, my blog has long been neglected. Another area of neglect in my life is the habit of counting my blessings so for the next thirty one days I will be singing praises to my creator and sharing them here. If you'd like to join in the fun or would like to check out vast selection of "31 day-ers" click HERE Days of Praise: Day 1 - Psalm 34 Day 2 - Mary's Song of Praise Day 3 - Crown of Life Day 4 -  The Name of Jesus Day 5 - Without fear Day 6 - Thy Will Be Done Day 7 - Godly Mentors Day 8 - Common Bonds Day 9 - A Room of One's Own Day 10 - I have enough Day 11 - Always rejoice Day 12 - Full to Overflowing Day 13 - Everyday I Will Praise Your Name

Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. Philippians 4:8  What is true? His Word   Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.  Proverbs 30:5 His Love  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.   Romans 5:8     I am worthy because He has created me For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me

She was eleven when, while lying in bed, she heard the gunfire and screaming the screaming which filled the quiet in her village.  "Scary, shadowy figures violently stormed into her family’s hut”. ( Awake , pg.35) She watched the soldiers of the LRA murder her father and beat her mother before they turned their fury on her and ripped her from the family that she loved. She was forced to carry weapons. She was twelve when she became pregnant, a pregnancy which was a result of being raped by the soldiers. She gave birth to a child only to see that child murdered by the hands of her oppressors. She was alone. She lived in fear. She was only a child.  Her name is Evah.  She escaped from her oppressors captivity but will she ever be able to escape the nightmare of her memories? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ This story is just one of many that Noel Brewer Yeatts shares in her book, Awake. Stories of children suffering from oppres

Often I feel limited in the ways in which I can help meet the needs of children living in extreme poverty. Many times I've had to remind myself that, in this season of my life, I do have the opportunity to not only love and meet the needs of the child in my care but also to teach compassion and raise up world changers. This week I contemplated and prayed about how I can do more. I spent time clicking through the World Help website. I ordered boxes to fill for Christmas for an Orphan . I ordered a bundle of Gift of Hope catalogs to give to my daycare families and decided that this year, instead of Christmas gifts for me, I would ask for gifts of hope. As I searched the website I found many little things that I could do and I became excited. That excitement led to the realization that doing something small could have the potential of growing into something much bigger. “I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the waters to create many ripples.”   ―  Mot

Last Thursday was the the first day of kindergarten in the town in which I live. Although I don't have any of my own children that young, I do have four sweet girls that I've cared for at my daycare. Two of them I've had since they were babies so they are kind of like my own. As I viewed "first day of kindergarten" pictures posted on Facebook I teared up a bit. I reminisced about the past three to five years that I spent with these children and thought about how "my" babies were growing up and moving on to the next stage of their lives. I worried. Will the teacher notice when my quiet, shy little girl is frightened or needs to use the bathroom but is too scared to ask? Did any of "my" girls cry when their mamas left them at school? Are they scared? Are the other children being nice? I have similar worries for my own children although they are not so small. My son will be fourteen next week and my daughter just turned twenty-three. I worry whe

I'm always trying new things as I search for what works best for us as we school at home. This year, instead of buying a "Well Planned Day" planner which I've used for the past two years, I decided to try an online planner. Online calenders just don't work for me. I miss the mornings of opening up my planner with pencil in hand and plotting out the day/week/month. This week I realized that I need a planner I can hold, write in and carry from room to room with me. Thankfully the online planner that I was using was not purchased yet as my trial period ends today and another big "Thank you, Lord!" as my favorite planner is now on sale! Looking for a planner? I love this one as it gives me space to plot out my son's school day, budget planning, meal planning, month-at-a-glance feature and week-at-a-glance. It also has space for recording grades, goals, and materials/curriculum used. I can't wait to get mine! Sale ends tomorrow (9/7)