The Intentional Life

Dancing Chimney Sweeps Jumping into chalk drawings Flying kites Spoonfuls of sugar A movie I enjoyed watching as a kid, Mary Poppins could be described as any of those things above. A quirky woman comes to a house of two children who are in need of a fun nanny to spice things up. That's probably how I would have described it to you. I hadn't watched that movie in years.  Certainly not since I had my own children. But the other night we watched it as a family (which was brought about after a discussion of "Let's go fly a kite!") As I sat on the floor, snuggling Madeline in my lap, a new theme emerged. And it was solidified in the closing scenes of the movie.  Bert put is best when he sang: You've got to grind, grind, grind At that grindstone Though child'ood slips like sand through a sieve And all too soon they've up grown And then they've flown And it's too late for you to give Maybe I'm late to the party,

"If you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday."    Isaiah 58:10 The Forgotten Initiative , Lifesong's foster care ministry, exists to bring joy and purpose to local foster care communities through mentorship, service projects and family support organized by local TFI Advocates. With a holistic approach they reach out not only to foster children, but also agency workers, foster parents and vulnerable adults. Read along to learn more... JOURNEY BAGS {For Children Entering Care} The Forgotten Initiative (TFI) has many different ways to get involved. One is creating "Journey Bags" for local foster care agency to ultimately reach foster kids in your community. What exactly is a Journey Bag? Children often come into foster care with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Journey Bags are backpacks filled with personal items f

After some permit hang-ups and a week long dry-out process...   Water pipes have been relocated  Drywall and ceiling have been put back up in both bathrooms, closets, and living room Trim has been sorted, primed, and painted.  The carpet pads have been replaced and carpet re-stretched in all three bedrooms Waiting to see if the carpet cleaners can get the stains out! We've come quite a distance from 7 weeks ago. Praising the Lord who carried us, and continues to carry us, through.

Missed the former posts on this series?  Go here . For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith;   if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness. Romans 12:3-8 I've said before how I love lists.  So, of course, this resonates with me. For so long I feel like I have floundered trying to figure out exactly what my talent is.  What do I have to contribute to the body of Christ? I know God doesn't create any of us to just fill up space.  We are all needed in some capacity, somewhere. Don't let Satan tell you that you aren't needed in you

At the time, February seems to creep along.  Despite being the shortest month, it seems to have an extra week or two attached. Maybe because there seemed to be a lot of waiting and hoping in February.  Waiting on insurance, hoping for a decent estimate, waiting on phone calls, hoping for warmer weather, waiting on snow to melt (still waiting on that one!), hoping for school to stay in session, waiting on construction to begin. But waiting worketh patience, and I can only pray that it worked a little more patience into me. "I am sure that God keeps no one waiting  unless he sees that it is good  for him to wait."- C.S. Lewis  Tower building While on duty, celebrating Maddie turning 4  Then again with family while off duty.  Maddie requested a cake with a baby on it...  When sweeping, one should wear high heels and a princess dress  I've said it before, but this child should have an art studio all to herself for all the art she pum