wait...

Strength will rise as we wait upon the LORD!

It is so hard to be patient and peaceful amidst daily strife and turmoil. 

I pray for wisdom and guidance, not just for me, but for all my friends and family who are facing change or having to make decisions about major "stuff".

I also pray for our world!  So many alarming events are taking place!  I find myself (and many close friends) suffering some anxiety about world (and local) disasters (literally and figuratively).

2011 is speeding by at a very fast pace for us here in Virginia!  Spring is always a busy time, school-wise, especially.  I think I feel like I only have limited time left to meet all these educational objectives, that are (admittedly) lofty, at best.  That being said, we are managing to read, write, and figure something out each day... so that's positive, right?  Even if it's only following the directions on how to cook our pizza (the world's perfect food)?! Right!!!?!

prayer time

(image from google image search)

praying...

praying for Japan and all victims of the earthquake and tsunamis

praying for planet Earth

praying for friends in crisis

praying for cousins who are sick

praying for all the relationships that hold us together

praying for the children... always... and not just my own

praying for those in spiritual need

praying for old friends who have made bad choices

praising the God who loves us
praising my savior, Jesus Christ
praising the power of the Holy Spirit

thanksgiving for those who are loyal
thanksgiving for all the blessings... too many to count
thanksgiving for the fortitude of the best part of our human spirits to constantly give and help

where has the time gone...

My goodness, there is just so much I can be writing about (that I should be writing about just for practice sake).  I can't even think of where to begin, though, or what I've missed, or what I should edit, or what is even important any more... always when I sit down in front of my blank-post page this happens.  I guess the beginning is always good:

Well, my first memory was of... Just kidding...

The competition girls with their fearless leader

OK, so, lots of dancing this week for the girly-goos in my life.  The daughters are doing great and having fun, and working hard.  Katie is totally a bendy-pretzel-hard-acrobatic-ballet-and-tap-girl.  She truly is quite amazing and strong.  Daniellie learned Chinese character writing "for fun" this week.  Her competitions have started, so she is crazy dancing, too.



Crazy Katie doing her balance thing with a variety of friends



I'm in choreography mode, which is just way stressful for me (not a lot of experience with this).  I have, like 14 ballerinas in one class.  They are also between 4 and 6 years of age.  They also have some ADHD going on.  It's also taught at 5:40 for AN HOUR.  My other class has 12 ballerinas and they are 6-8 years old. It's a little better going in that class... but still, a lot of very opinionated little girls.  So, choreography = stress.  fun stress. but still stress.

baby groundhogs for Tommy

The Tomster has been very 13 this week.  Very, very 13.  Do I need to elaborate on this?  Thirteen and autism spectrum and ADD and ticky... and 13.  hmmmmm. I feel a new habit called wine coming on.  He has been kind of funny ("the beatitudes? Blessed be the meek? ohhh, does that mean blessed be the autistic?"), kind of random (google search list reveals: groundhogs, groundhog weapons, Harley-Davidson, Harley Davidson swords, Celtic antiques, Celtic language, Celtic traditions, heirlooms, and list of Sith and Jedi warriors), and serious ("who invented this stuff? Newton? Einstein? Couldn't they have made it easier?").  And.... yes, 13.

I've been praying a lot for a very sick cousin,my sister-in-law (Happy Birthday!), all of my best friends, all the friends and friend's kids who were ill this week, marriages, work, homeschooling, house, job searches, friends in pain, traveling relatives, clarity, and PEACE.

Wow... there really is just so much going on.  Not only in my own little world, but all over our great big world big changes are happening.  Change is very hard for some people, and at best, difficult for most people.  Not only do we need peace, we need patience!

So... eat something sweet, enjoy the sunshine, read a good book, breathe, try some yoga and pray.

yummy cake, by Danielle!

Keep the faith, my friends!

love... true love...

I love the movie The Princess Bride (in fact, it has been a while, I think I need to put the movie in and watch it again)!  The characters are awesome, the story line is engaging and funny, the ending is perfect.  There is romance, sword fighting, magic and mystery.  The whole message of the movie is that true love always wins!

An uplifting message, for sure.  The thing about that is that a lot of people mistake romantic love for true love and the movie, in fact, portrays romantic love for true love in many ways.  Now, don't get me wrong:  I love a good romance, and love stories are definitely my favorite.  As I get older, though, I can recognize that true love isn't necessarily romantic love.  It's fierce, it's loyal, it's enduring.  True love is something you do; it's a choice you make.  While the romantic part may be fleeting, the true part remains.

I think that in Christ we have hope that true love here on earth as humans is possible, and that with God nothing is impossible.  I am humbled frequently by the grace and mercy of our God in everyday life, in everyday struggles.  I definitely realize that without Him, I can't do it.  Life situations, sometimes, are just to hard to bear by myself.  With faith, though, I am able to fight the good fight... for myself... for my children... even for my husband.

"I am the vine; you are the branches," said Jesus. "If a man abides in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing." (John 15:5)

Happy Valentine's Day, and Love Week!

rough waters

It seems that there is never lack of non-perfection at casa de schroeder.  You know that phrase: "If it isn't one thing, it's another!"

Well, it is just so true! 

I think the attitude "Roll with it" is one of the best attitudes to have... that, and: "laugh, because it's better to just laugh than to fall apart and cry"

Although, falling apart and crying does have its merits.

So, I don't want to be all negative or down.  That is why I'm going to write about faith.  I know God works all things to our good.  I know He rewards the faithful.  I've read two books this week that have spoken to me about faith.  The sermon at church last week was about faith. I've seen quite a few facebook posts about faith...

I've been trying to hears the small, still voice of God, lately, but I keep musing that I'm not hearing it...

Until last night at midnight (maybe right before midnight, and actually it started coming to me a little earlier in the day as I awoke, in that brief moment of clarity you have before you have to start your daily tasks...) this epiphany came to me... it's faith... and, guess what?  I've been reading about it for weeks!



FAITH

It's not about things happening on my schedule or the way I think they should happen (I can't hear Your voice...)

It's about how things WILL happen according to HIS schedule in HIS way  (Your answer shall be clear... and guess what, you have been reading about it, silly goose!)

Noah, David, Solomon, Esther, Ruth, Mary, Joseph, Peter, Paul.... I mean the list just goes on and on and on.  Desperate circumstances, but God provides.  He comes through.  Every time.

wonderful

While I imagined a very quiet, non-dramatic type of birthday (why should I make a big deal out of forty?), my friends and family had better ideas. 

My friend, Lori,  from the dance studio managed to organize a ladies night out for me with only three days at her disposal. OK... it wasn't just for me, but a birthday is a great excuse to get out of the house and have some fun!  Remarkable indeed, that even with only three days notice, nine people came out to celebrate a night out without children and husbands and pets... and they brought presents... all wrapped in pink, fabulous wrappings, or cute fabulous bags, or in something sparkly!!!  I feel loved, and blessed, and reminded that there is happiness all around.  Thank you to all the birthday wishes, my friends!!

My children cooked me brownies for breakfast.  Let me tell you, warm gooey brownies are just right first thing in the morning (probably not a great habit to get in to, but fun every once in a while!).  Danielle wrote a birthday poem.  Tommy did a sword dance demonstration, and Danielle and Katie performed a sword dance duet.  I also had a home made streamer/ banner.  Love, Love, Love!!!

My parents took me out to dinner!  We had very yummy Ruby Tuesdays meals.  It's always nice to go out to eat... and even nicer this year was that my birthday did not fall on Superbowl Weekend.  This was a trend for most of my twenties, and some of my thirties.

I came home to my house - "ballooned"... Festive, fun balloons in my yard, on my porch, on my light...  laughing and giggling, and smiling the whole time... Thanks to the anonymous person who did that!!!  I have my suspicions...

I am truly overwhelmed with happiness.  Words can't even express how appreciated and loved I feel.  It's like the voice of God reminding me... "You are loved, You are loved"