Offering Eucharisteo...

A few months ago I had never heard this word, it was missing in my life. I just was unaware of my need for thanks. I was wandering and wondering. I knew my Savior, just not about His giving thanks and how much I needed to do the same. Then I saw a pretty cover filled with pages. The beautiful words on those pages changed something inside of me. I had been studying the word joy. Searching for it, how to grasp it, how to live it out daily. God placed Ann's words in my lap, in my hands and I drank them in. I had no idea how thirsty I was. I read and then I started counting on my own. Every little moment, little gift, big gift. The size didn't matter. But the change in my heart was real. Still there. Growing. The beginning is here. And I am still counting...
#295~309...of counting gifts...more of the One Thousand Gifts that never end...

295. showers after sweating
296. ants at work
297. swim lessons
298. husband willing to run
299. grandparents still able
300. Anderson's day
301. new pens
302. new planners
303. homemade lunches
304. middle of the day ice cream
305. Jazzercise 5 days in a row
306. little boys throwing everything
307. sore muscles
308. new trucks
309. teaching moments

Today, if you’d like to share your own marking towards One Thousand Gifts of thanks, of making your life about thanks to God — (please, jump in!) — just go here.

July 3in30 Week 2

My 3in30 goals for July Week 2:

1. Fill out and submit Mikah's paperwork to the Institutes.

This has been something following me around for over a year! I finished filling out the last form not 24 hours after my first 3in30 post!! Somehow, putting it as my number one goal for the month made it okay for me to sit down and concentrate and get it done! I am so excited. My goal for this week will be to take it to the post office and mail it out.

2. Organize homeschool shelves, materials, and paper work.

This is going well. I was not at all excited about doing this but I have found some really great articles and other fellow homeschool mom blogs like Sam's and my enthusiasm is back. I ordered a new planner, The Well Planned Day and I am loving it! I also found my new favorite pens in the whole world! Frixion pens! They erase! Love them! I will be finishing typing up our letter of intent this week which we will mail August 15th.


3. Weight loss goal for the month ~ Continue Jazzercise and cut back on sugar, especially chocolate.

This is going great! I had a great week last week and lost 3lbs! I went to Jazzercise 5 days in a row in an effort to "shock my body" as I have been stuck at a certain weight for about 3 weeks. It was really discouraging me. This week I will be doing a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday Jazzercise schedule. I will also be going without CHOCOLATE...I have asked a couple other people not in the blogosphere to keep me accountable on that one :)

To hop in or check how everyone else is doing, link up over here.

Words to think on for today...

See, I have refined you, though not as silver;
I have tested you in the furnace of affliction.
For my own sake, for my own sake, I do this.
How can I let myself be defamed?
I will not yield my glory to another.
Isaiah 48:10-11

Practicing the art of losing myself for His sake.

July 3in30 Goals

Starting something new...besides this blog. It is called The 3in30 Challenge. Basically you set 3 goals to reach for in the next 30 days. Each month you start over with 3 new goals. It is a way to eat the elephant "one bite at a time". Since I have been overwhelmed recently with all the "things" rolling around in my head that need done, I thought it would be helpful.

My 3in30 goals for July:

Fill out and submit Mikah's paperwork to the Institutes.

Somehow, this has not been done in the past year. I am embarassed about this, beat myself up and generally just don't understand myself. That being said, feeling guilty is not going to get it done. This will be tackled 15 minutes each day.

Organize homeschool shelves, materials, and paper work.

I have declared July our “get ready to get back to school” month. The plan is to start school August 1. This is the first year I actually have to submit paperwork to the school system and I have much to do to get ready for us to start on that day!


Weight loss goal for the month ~ Continue Jazzercise and cut back on sugar, especially chocolate.

I have been struggling with my weight since having Mikah. It is affecting decisions that my hubby and I want to make for our family, I am sure it is affecting my health, although I appear healthy right now and it is affecting my energy level as far as being the wife, mom and keeper of my home that I feel I should be. I am considering cutting out chocolate altogether since I can't seem to have just a little bit/ Each little bit turns into a whole chocolate bar or 5 cookies instead of one. This will be my hardest goal to meet and continue.

That’s my three goals for the month. If you would like to join too, visit here to learn more about it and link up!