Will I ever be a good listener???

I've decided that I really am not a very good "listener"...

I was supposed to be heading up to Girls Camp a little earlier today, but just had this nagging "feeling" that I really should not leave until tomorrow.  Couldn't figure out why, so I thought I'd just ignore that little feeling and head up anyway. 
BAD IDEA...
never ignore those moments...
(didn't I just write about this???)

When we are not supposed to do something,
"something" will happen
to make it that we are unable to ignore what we really should have been listening to...

The "something" that happened is sad,
and my poor little people are the ones who have to suffer...
I have two little kiddos with fevers --
just out of the blue ~ FEVERS ~
we don't get fevers in June
in the middle of the afternoon...

what is this all about?   
Well, it is all about the fact that for some unknown reason, I was not to leave today and about the only thing that would keep me from going would be for my kids to not feel well.
If I didn't feel well, I'd buck up and go anyway, but when my little people need me, I just cannot leave.

So...again, a lesson learned the hard way.  SOOOOOO sorry kiddos, I will try to be better.

Time for a little snuggling and loving...guess I'll sleep a comfy night in my own home...and try again tomorrow!  And I will give some serious extra effort to "listening"...

(For those of you who think I'm a little off my rocker with all of this, I am a firm believer that things happen for a reason...many times we will never know the reason...but I believe that I am being watched over and someone much bigger than me loves me and cares about me and wishes to protect me...)

I AM ENOUGH...

Had the most amazing experience with meditation this past week...

During a marvelously relaxing moment ~ I had a continuing thought running through my mind and it was so sweet, so simple, yet so empowering ~ three beautiful little words...

I
am
enough


Do you ever just have doubt?  Do you ever wonder if you really are enough?
Do you ever think to yourself -- I wish I was... (fill it in, blah, blah, blah, we all do it)

Well, I have struggled with this, but I am going to do all in my power to remember these 3 simple, yet profoundly important words...  I am enough...

In fact, I think I'll paint it up and hang it in my room as a constant reminder.
I have to believe that if I am doing my best, then that is enough, so...
I am enough.

and that makes me happy!

Following & Trusting...

I Love it when the Spirit teaches and guides me
and then when I act on it, the Spirit confirms to me
that what I am doing is just as I am to do...
Beautiful Moment!

I had an experience last month that truly spoke to me...
I had zero intentions of doing a particular thing, in fact, I was quite adamant that I would not do this "thing"...
that is until the Spirit refused to let me alone. 
I tried desperately to "fight" this feeling I was having,
tried to think of it as nothing more than simply "a feeling" ~
but the point is
I was to go and tackle my fears,
to be who I am,
to be happy with who I am,
to not sink lower than I am to please or suffice another. 
HE sees great things in me even when I cannot, and for this I will be eternally grateful. 

And I am also grateful that He does not give up easily ~
I tend to be a tad bit stubborn at times,
thinking I am right,
that I know what is best for me,
that I can stay in my comfortable little space...
but He wants me to "get out there" --
He wants me to Shine, not to hide...
just as I would wish for my children to do. 
He wants me to share who I am and what I am and what I believe in and stand for.

Well, if there is one thing I have learned, it is that you do not ignore a prompting, no matter how difficult you may feel it to be.  You do as you are prompted and then you wait and sure enough, you will receive confirmation that it wasn't just a fleeting thought or some random flitting little thing floating through time and space, rather it was truly a moment you were to listen to and act upon.

I am slow, but I am learning to follow the Spirit and it is a beautiful thing!

All about Ben...

This year we've enjoyed some great studies of our Founding Fathers as well as some fascinating stories of the beginnings of our great Nation...

After a class I taught on Benjamin Franklin a couple of months ago, I had a friend bring over a book to our family to enjoy.  (Thanks Jerusha!)

I just had to share this one with all of you...it is FANTASTIC!  Great story to use as a read-aloud for your kiddos...we just took a few minutes and enjoyed this little gem one last time before it is returned to the library...AND we read it in the sunshine (BONUS!!!)  The sun is out today ~ hooray!!!

Anyway, back to this little book titled How Ben Franklin Stole The Lightning, written by Rosalyn Schanzer...the illustrations are magnificent and richly colorful...the story is entertaining and educational...After you read about him ~ you feel a huge regard of awe for this incredible man...He makes you just want to be better, to never give up, to use your imagination because the sky is the limit.  What an inspiration he is!

A couple of quotes from this little book that I love just have to be shared ~ so here goes:

Ben Franklin was honored with a medallion from France for all that he had done, it reads, "He snatched the lightning from heaven and the scepter from tyrants."  And he did!

And from Benjamin Franklin himself, he once wrote:  "If you would not be forgotten, as soon as you are dead and rotten, either write things worth reading or do things worth the writing."  He spent a lifetime doing both.

And this book is sooooo worth the read ~ YOU and your kiddos will love it!
Happy Reading  :0)