Blog tour

I thought that I would change it up a bit today and share with you some of my favorite spots on the web. These ministries are really blessing me and I wanted to share them with you...Enjoy!


1. Exemplify Magazine I am loving this site...and the monthly (beautiful) magazine that comes directly to my inbox. There is something for everyone in this magazine. Simply click on the link I have provided...and subscribe for free (well worth your time).

2. Under Grace and Over Coffee Andrea was one of the woman at the Woman Inspired conference that I attended a few weeks back. She spoke directly to my heart and I have been following her ever since. Love her site!

3. Internet Cafe Devotions Love, love love these devotions. Different writer's every day. I look forward to them being in my inbox first thing every morning.


4. At the Well In pursuit of Titus 2. Just recently began poking around here...so good!

So there you have it...my favorite top 4 sites. Pour yourself a cup of something wonderful and stop over for a visit. I am sure you'll be blessed!

Happy Friday!
Joyce Marie

Day four...

Look what I found on the grass, in my front yard this morning. A perfect little Robin's egg. I picked it up...it was so cold that I held it until it warmed up.
Trying to figure out what to do with it now.

Thank you to all of my dear, sweet blogging friends for your encouragement. I know we are all moms who love our kids. I know that some of us have already entered into this season of life while others are a few short breaths away from it. I know things will be fine here. I just had a dose of reality hit me in the forehead. My eyes are focused on the blessing (Thank you Maria). I think this all just happened so fast that we didn't expect it. But doesn't God always bless us this way?

I am happy to say that yesterday was much better! Brittany nor I felt so overwhelmed which was good. She had her meeting with the studio director last night...she seemed impressed that Brittany had a resume'. She told Brittany that she was drawn to her because of her enthusiasm and the smile that she always has on her face. That this is the behavior that she wants from her teachers. It was like the "initial interview". It does sound very promising...she told Brittany that she would discuss her pay and hours at a later date. Brittany said she was totally relaxed and comfortable. Brittany said they had a great conversation. Brittany is to just keep up what she is currently doing...through these next 6 weeks. So all is good!

Thanks all for wondering if I got the sauce out of my blouse...oh yes, I did. A little tip...shampoo is probably the best stain remover out there...just a little tip learned from my mom.

God is good!
Joyce Marie

My week...day three...

Okay, so this "mommy in transition" is finding out a lot about myself this week. I am also figuring out that my life as I know it is about to change. Change is good, but I still don't like it.

I strive to be the wife and mom that is there for my family, healthy meals...a mostly clean house (although some weeks are better than others), clean laundry (not always put away, but I'm getting better). I try so hard to meet my family's needs so that they can be all that they can be.

Yesterday started off great...we finished the resume, I put on a pot of sauce, made some yummy bread sticks (click here to get the recipe). As the afternoon wore on and I realized just how short my time was I began to feel pressured...how was I to put my perfect dinner on the table when Brittany was one direction and Dennis and I in the other. This is when I recognized that I was cooking like I had two hands full of thumbs. For some reason it took me all afternoon to cook my dinner. By the time it was time to take Brittany I hadn't even washed my hair or put my make-up on. (Do I really want to admit that?) I was dressed nice though, had a nice pair of capri's on and a spring blouse...which my sauce bubbled up like a volcano all over...that hot bubbly goo even hit me above my left eye brow (luckily, I wasn't burnt) and I quickly shed my blouse and treated it for stains and put on an old ratty t-shirt for the rest of the day. Oh, and did I mention that I grabbed my hot stainless steel pan by the handle without a hot pad? Yep, I had one wild and crazy day yesterday.

Sitting down to a quiet dinner with my man I ruined it with my tears...yep, started crying right there at the dinner table like a three year old. Poor me...my life as I know it is changing, my little girl is not so little anymore. My little buddy (Brittany) needs to do what she needs to do so that she can learn to make a living. (Are you enjoying my pity party yet?)

I realized sitting there with my husband looking at me with sad eyes...that I need to re-train my brain. For the past seventeen years plus my life has revolved around breakfasts, school, lunch, driving Brittany to dance, dinner and fun activities. I don't know what it is like to get up and face a day that I have to actually fill with new activities. Normally, I saved my house work for after school...I can now get up and have the whole house cleaned and laundry done by noon. Wow, imagine the thought. I can't...my mind doesn't work that way...my mind is still sitting at the dining room table or on the sofa under a quilt during the winter reading through tales of history.

So...now that I am aware that I am going to have many, many hours to fill and that life as I know it is about to change...I am going to attempt to re-train my brain. At least that is what I am going to be working on through the next several months...stick with me! (And with this...my pity party is over!)

Wishing you a blessed Wednesday!
Joyce Marie

Brittany's big week day 2...

Well, if I haven't noticed it before my little Brittany is indeed growing up. This morning we worked on her resume ( I just can't believe that my little girl has a resume). It turned out really good! We made several copies and also copies of her two reference letters from her previous dance teachers and tonight we'll buy a couple of portfolios for her so that when she meets with Miss Jessa this week it all looks official.



I want her to have that official process of preparing for a job search. She is getting that this week. Last night, she had a good night for her first official night of her internship. She was pleased that they were expecting her. She was able to look at the whole situation with new eyes and was able to study the different teaching styles there. With a smile on her face she got in the car and talked a mile a minute telling us all of what was going on with her. She has a meeting tomorrow evening...and her private appointment with the studio director on Wednesday as well. She is so ready....



I won't bore you with the details of a first resume...but I will list her objective here for my records...

"I have been in love with the idea of teaching dance ever since I stepped foot on the dance floor. As the years have passed, my dreams have become reality as I have gained opportunities to take what I have learned and apply it to my students. I strive to make dance a joyful activity for students of all ages. With detailed technique and a love for performance, my hope is that my passion for dance will transfer to my students as I teach them the form of art that I have dedicated my life to."

I am so in awe of how all our years of homeschooling are coming together. I think back on days that I was so worried how we were ever going to make it to graduation...what she would be doing after...and the list goes on...and then, finally, I just surrendered the whole thing to the Lord...day by day, bit by bit and listened to His leading. Homeschooling will allow your children to find their God given talents...it will give them the freedom to explore them as well...I recognize that at any time He could change the course of her life. But, for right now...it is just so amazing to see it all come to such a lovely end.



I have a big pot of Italian sauce simmering on my stove...it smells so good! Our air today is very chilly but we have sunshine and for that too, I am thankful. How about you? What are you up to today?



Blessings!

Joyce Marie

Random thoughts on a Monday...

Today has been a busy day...and it went so fast! I already have my dinner going and it is only 3:30...but I hate for Brittany to eat her dinner after 9:00 so...we are all going to be eating just a bit early for the next few weeks.

I baked a loaf of bread this morning, did my devotions and our Bible study...some laundry, some grocery shopping and now my chicken breasts are baking in the oven...a green salad and some kind of side are planned...but I haven't gotten there yet.

I gave the option to Brittany to be finished with school...because she will be so busy and she wishes to just keep on going...she is basically just doing math, Dance Pedagogy, Bible and Ballet terminology these days...oh yeah, and of course writing...I think she is happy with this schedule so even if she just tackles it a couple of times a week...she'll be doing well.

She has the jitters to go tonight...a bit of new job nervousness showing in her today. I think once she gets there she'll be just fine (I remember those days, don't you?). She has been an assistant teacher for four years...but somehow, this just seems so official. I told her that once she gets the first week under her belt she'll feel better.

That is about all that is going on here on this dreary Monday afternoon in NE Ohio...we finally got some much needed rain and everything looks so very pretty out there. I think we are about a month ahead in our blooming...I have to keep reminding myself that it is only April.

Wishing you a healthy and happy Monday!
Joyce Marie

It's a very happy day in our house today...

I just feel like celebrating! My daughter is finally going to live out her dream as a dance teacher. She got in the car this morning with a huge smile on her face telling us that we have a lot to talk about :) She has now stepped up from an assistant teacher and will be interning with this dance studio for the rest of the year. She will be assisting in every class for 4 nights a week through the rest of the spring...then meeting with the director and stepping into a summer teaching job and a full time teacher next fall! Inside I am just thanking and praising the Lord for His grace. How excited am I for her...we both are, my husband and I.

She is going to be teaching Musical Theater classes for sure, which is really exciting for her. She has so much to learn...still. But as she said in the car...God hasn't brought her this far to drop her.

She has a big day planned as she is now telling her Grammy her news and then will be getting ready to spend the evening with two of the teachers tonight...Dennis and I actually have a date night tonight...we are thinking of breaking out the grill for the evening...and then who knows.

Blessings!
Joyce Marie

If I Could Ask God Anything Awesome Bible Answers for Curious Kids...by Kathryn Slattery

If God is Invisible, how can I know He is real?



Why is the church called "the body of Christ"?



Does God stop loving me when I sin?



These questions and more will be answered in this Juvenile Nonfiction book by Kathryn Slattery.

If I Could Ask God Anything is an excellent resource for parents to share with their children. This book would be perfect for dinner time devotions. All children ask questions; this resource will answer them in a clear and easy way that will enforce how much God loves them. As a matter of fact, the resonating message throughout this book is how much God loves them. I liked that about this book. Children need to know of that love from an early age. Some of the answers were short, which left me wanting more, but this gives parents a jumping off point to further the discussion. I really liked that Mrs Slattery included the Bible verses to back up the answers. As a homeschooling mom I would have loved to use this book when my daughter was younger.