Wow, me too!!!!

Today Shawnda posted that this post should have been her. Oh my goodness, it so could have been me too!!! Well, except I just took the Servants By Design test yesterday and my lowest personality part is dreamer (the part of your personality that focuses inward), so I wouldn't have expended that much energy thinking about it, but if I had, her conclusions would have been my own!!! Thanks for the insight!!

some things i'm learning (or trying to)...

* it's not enough to say i struggle with pride; we all struggle with pride. therefore i need to specifically share how it's manifested in my heart and life. the key for me is to be specific and honest!

*one of key ways i can treat others how i want to be treated is by not judging motives and by thinking the best of them. that i what i want from others, and to do anything less is hypocritical, unloving, judgmental.
Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you. Luke 6:38

*i need interdependence and community! this is a hard achievement in a foreign country with four small children, but without true accountability and confession my heart hardens so quickly!

*God is the God of grace and unconditional love. He has accepted me only because of My Savior's life & death - but He has accepted me & wants me to walk in the abundant life & extend His love and grace to others, as imperfectly as He knows I will.

* i'm being reminded how radical Jesus is! he goes against all the norms. he goes for the heart with unrelenting power! his life was one of valuing people, giving, forgiving, healing and encouraging us to walk that path! i want to live Matthew 5 & Luke 6!!!

*i'm very saddened but also thankful that i can so readily see my sin reflected in my children. the tones, the looks, the impatience, the anger... saddened b/c my words and actions so often do not align, and they see it. saddened b/c their hearts are prone to hew the same broken cisterns as myself. thankful because it provides me with an opportunity to apologize and seek forgiveness. thankful because it provides me with an opportunity to be humbled and remember the goodness & grace of my Lord to work despite my pitiful offerings.

Mini-Update

I wish I was more faithful at updating the blog, but life is always happening. But do know that there is a constant supply of blogs in my head. Somehow they just never materialize here.

Anyway, we are staying busy with homeschooling. I LOVE LOVE it. We have had such a wonderful experience. Anna & Maggie are learning tons, reading very well, interested in everything, growing in creativity (that has NOTHING to do with me :), and content with the schedule. We love the Sonlight Curriculum and have read so many great books this year. It's awesome.

I am in the midst of potty training both Claire & Elaine. Yup, that's tons of fun ;)! It's been about a month, and all I can say is there are okay days, bad days, and days that make me wonder what kind of insane person am I??!!!! But I try to be hopeful that today will be the day when everything clicks...

There's more, of course, but I gotta take care of those lil' ladies calling for me.