We can all see God in exceptional things, but it requires the growth of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail. Never believe that the so-called random events of life are anything less than God’s appointed order. Be ready to discover His divine designs anywhere and everywhere. ~Utmost.org

I woke up this morning and opened My Utmost For His Highest and read it requires the growth of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail. I have been thinking about it all day. I have been trying to be conscious of seeing Him in everything. It is so easy to see the beauty of nature and see God. It is so easy to hear positive results to prayer that give us hope.

It is a lot harder to see God in the everyday tasks of life. When my daughter doesn’t want to get out of bed for school in the morning. When a child at school continues to talk when I ask them repeatedly to stop. When my little one doesn’t get a part in the play and her heart is broken. When I walk in the door after a full day of work and my house is a mess. When I stop and grab supper because I am not organized enough to have supper on the table.

Do I see God in those moments that I have to take a deep breath just to keep my cool?

Today, I did. As I coaxed my little one out of bed and carried her down the stairs on my back, I thanked God that she is still little enough for me to do that. When the child at school refused to listen, I thanked God that I get to be a part of their life everyday to show them that I love them even when they might think no one else does. When my daughter curled into me with tears in her eyes, I thanked God that she had the courage to audition and she came to me to comfort her. As I look around the house at this mess, I thank God that I have this place to call home, and it is full of love. And we may be eating fast food, but I thank God that we are all sitting around the table laughing and talking about the day. It doesn’t really matter what we are eating.

God is here. He is in everything. He is waiting for me to recognize Him. I thank Him that He is so patient with me.

I am ready to discover His divine designs anywhere and everywhere.

Just after I put into words “I am on a blog break” I am drawn back to this place to write. This weekend I thought my blog was gone forever. It was unavailable, site not found. I freaked a bit. I had not been out here to add any posts for 2 months, but the thought that all of my words were gone forever made me so sad. Luckily I have the most amazing designer, Erin from Design by Insight and she saved the day (and helped me fix my silly mistake that I made). So here I am adding a little more from my heart.

Tonight my five year old insisted that we drop everything and have family devotion time. We sat down and opened our Bibles to John 1:1-5. As we talked about these verses my 9 year old wrote John 1:5 in her scripture journal.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

She said she chose this verse because “Nothing can overcome God”. Four little words, four powerful words out of the mouth of a child. How often do I forget those words. This verse…light shines in the darkness. He is always here. Always. And this 9 year old does not doubt it.

After our devotions I was tucking her into bed when I bowed my head to pray with her. She always asks if I have any requests. I always leave her room so filled. She has a list of people that need healing that she prays for every single day.  And when she hears answers to her prayers she has no doubt that God has heard her prayers. She may be small, but her faith is big. And her big faith teaches me so much.

Nothing can overcome God. Nothing.

It feels so good to sit here in front of a blank computer screen. Ready to put the words from my head onto the screen. I have been holding these words inside of my head for too long.

It was a good summer vacation, even though so many things did not get done that I wanted to get done. The girls are back in school and love it everyday. I am back at work after 5 years and I love it, too. I get to spend half of my day helping kids read and write. In my mind it doesn’t get much better than this.

Last year I had big plans for everything I wanted to put on this blog, the ideas were endless. I still have a lot that I want to write about, but I don’t have a schedule, or a plan. I decided it is way more enjoyable for me to write whatever I want and whenever I want. I hope to be here a little more frequently, but I am not going to pressure myself to write everyday.

I could start a blog just on my days that I spend in the Junior Kindergarten room during the week. Crazy, loud and one of my favorite assignments at the school.

September is here, one of my favorite months of the year. Happy Fall!

Many people will be celebrating today with Picnics and Fireworks. We are chilling at home. Sleeping in, waffles for breakfast, cleaning the house and mowing the lawn. We have been celebrating with friends and family since Thursday so we are all ready to relax and unwind.

It is hard to believe that it is already July. My kids go back to school August 23rd. It is going way too fast. We are making to most of every day that the sun is shining and the rain stays away (which has not happened a lot so far).

#356 Summer Birthdays

#357 Fort Building

#358 Seeing the amazing beauty of God’s creation.

#359 A Day at the Lake

#360 Celebrations with Family and Friends

It may sound silly to you, but sometimes I just have to spend a few days far away from home to realize the blessings I have right where I am at.

My husband and I are spending a few days at the beach without the girls, kayaking, snorkeling, sunburning (despite the sunscreen).

The weather here is beautiful, the sunsets are amazing, but it isn’t home. My girls spent Mother’s Day with my mom and my mother-in-law. My mom told me that my baby said, “I miss my mom”.

I am going to enjoy every minute that I am away, but I can’t wait to be wrapped in hugs and kisses when I get home. My lists have been short lately, my writing has been sporadic. It isn’t that I don’t have things to add to my list, I just haven’t had a lot of time to put them into words.

#345 Grandparents that open their homes to my girls while we are away.

#346 My husband’s undivided attention.

#347 Fresh seafood (can’t get that in South Dakota)

#348 80 degree weather

#349 Lazy mornings

#350 Beautiful fish and corral (and no fish swimming next to me that were as big as me).

#351 Kayaking through the mangroves and not seeing any wildlife in the water (aka alligators…).

#352 Coconut Homemade Ice Cream served in a coconut.

#353 Sunsets over the water.

#354 Driving around in a car for a few days and not a minivan.

#355 Hearing “I love you mom” on the phone from my girls.