The Bloom Taking Shape*

Our family has undergone a refining process over the last few months.  I love/hate those times!!  It is a lot of that: hurt to end up feeling good in the process.  I like it though.  I like it because I know, in the end, I won't be the same... in a wonderful way.

BLOOM, my one word from last January, has been ringing around my brain.  When God laid that word on my heart, I never could have anticipated the path He would take me down in order to find my bloom.

I thought this blog would be my record of blooming... but one of the elements of Bloom required me to step away... lay down everything outside of basics.  It was so hard.  Let go of writing, blogging, creating.

But... He is my creator... He wanted to mold me, and I was holding him back.

I was holding Him back through busy-ness.

I was holding Him back through noisy mind unable to Hear.

I was standing in the way of progress and in danger of being dashed to the ground... wanting to move on my own strength rather than acknowledging and giving myself over to His.

Real blooming isn't something we force or strain.... it is a gentle submission to soak in what is good and open our arms to the Son-light.  To breathe in the fresh air and be willing to bend and sway with the gentle breeze... knowing it makes our roots stronger and deeper.

Foolish pride threatened.

Stubborn single-mindedness loomed.

I was going no-where and in danger of shriveling if I didn't.just.submit.

I am feeling the release now... the gentle unfolding, the bloom taking shape... I feel, still tender, but mostly stronger and ready to ease into the light God has shined down for me.

I want to encourage you today, dear reader,  to remember: it isn't how many steps we can take in His name.... it is more a matter of how many pauses we will take in His presence, ready and willing to change direction as He leads.

 The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord: “Arise, and go down to the potter's house, and there I will let you hear my words.” So I went down to the potter's house, and there he was working at his wheel. And the vessel he was making of clay was spoiled in the potter's hand, and he reworked it into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to do. 

Then the word of the Lord came to me: “O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter has done? declares the Lord. Behold, like the clay in the potter's hand, so are you in my hand, O house of Israel.

- Jeremiah 18:1-6 (ESV)

May you be soft clay in the Great Potter's hands... or a gentle flower, poised for BLOOM.

Blessings,

Happy New Year!

2014 has dawned and with it, I find myself still in a season of prayer and searching. 

Searching for Guidance and Direction, still feeling new and out-of-place in the house we have called home since September... in the town we have called "ours" since May. 

Searching to understand direction in many areas from blogging to ministry to homeschool. 

But I wanted to stop in and give a shout-out for a blessed New Year for all who venture to Faithful Homeschool during this interim.  May you know His peace and Guidance in Your life in real and wonderful ways this year!

Blessings,

The Autumns of Life*

Autumn leaves and a canopy of amber painted the walls of my living room warm and golden as the sun flit through the leaves.  I love this time of year.  Crisp air.  Crunching under feet... it is like a pause before a long sleep.

Three day's time and but a breath away, a blanket descends... first, the blanket of leaves, almost instantly and completely to ground, then, snow masking that amber autumn ever resided in this place... hints only from those trees which held tighter to the rainbow stems... they tower and pepper our street with a back-drop of splendor.

It is too early for 'winter'.  But I don't mind.  Winter of the heart has whisped, flowing in-and-out for more than a year... but winter under feet; snow crunch, wind biting nose... did not exist in the warm south and south-west where we traversed these same months a year ago.

And as all this weather climbs and falls, so does the call on my heart which I have attempted to ignore since earlier this year.

God gave me a "One Word" for 2013.  I asked if He might, I saw the memes.  But I submitted... whether yes or no... and He said YES.  He called me to BLOOM.  Blooming in all aspects of life and faith.  It has been hard... accepting Truth and conviction... but it has been good.

Through this process and the many changes in the past 12 months (the past 3 years) I have also struggled.  Struggled with time and struggled with the hard calls like the one I'm here to share today.

The different aspects of BLOOM require time.... time invested in people... time away from the screen...  and brain power poured into noticing, absorbing and responding to all that flows around me.

I have known this for months and fought it.  I love to blog.  I love to share my life.  But as the busy holiday season hits, I can't be and do all God has called me to in this season of year and, most especially, in this season of my life without focus... focus on people and focus on life here.

I humbly admit, when the vision of BLOOM was given to me, I saw a multitude of avenues and I wanted to travel them instantly. However, it is like I tell my children all the time:  I can't get from Montana to Chicago with one giant step... it takes many steps to reach my destination.  I have been trying to transport to my destination since about February!!  But One Word 2013 is a process.  God is processing me and when 2014 dawns, I believe with all my heart, He will bring me to my destination and give me words to share it all!

It is hard for me as a writer to do this... but I must say... I'm taking a bloggy break.  A fully submitting rest to live and breathe and focus and HEAR all of what God is saying to my heart as the blooming of 2013 weaves its way to a close.

I'll be back in January and in the mean time, I pray you have a wonderful Thanksgiving and a very Merry Christmas.

May God give you rest and peace this holiday season!

Blessings,

P.S.  I will still check in on Facebook :-)