It didn’t link to a blog or even a name, so we will just call it Black Bean Soup.

Here is what you need:

• 1 Can of Rotel
• 1 Can of Corn
• 1 Can of Black Beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 frozen chicken breasts
• 8 oz. package of cream cheese
• 1 packet of dry ranch dressing mix
• 1 Tablespoon Cumin
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon chili powder

I woke up this morning and opened My Utmost For His Highest and read it requires the growth of spiritual discipline to see God in every detail. I have been thinking about it all day. I have been trying to be conscious of seeing Him in everything. It is so easy to see the beauty of nature and see God. It is so easy to hear positive results to prayer that give us hope.

It is a lot harder to see God in the everyday tasks of life. When my daughter doesn’t want to get out of bed for school in the morning. When a child at school continues to talk when I ask them repeatedly to stop. When my little one doesn’t get a part in the play and her heart is broken. When I walk in the door after a full day of work and my house is a mess. When I stop and grab supper because I am not organized enough to have supper on the table.

Do I see God in those moments that I have to take a deep breath just to keep my cool?

Today, I did. As I coaxed my little one out of bed and carried her down the stairs on my back, I thanked God that she is still little enough for me to do that. When the child at school refused to listen, I thanked God that I get to be a part of their life everyday to show them that I love them even when they might think no one else does. When my daughter curled into me with tears in her eyes, I thanked God that she had the courage to audition and she came to me to comfort her. As I look around the house at this mess, I thank God that I have this place to call home, and it is full of love. And we may be eating fast food, but I thank God that we are all sitting around the table laughing and talking about the day. It doesn’t really matter what we are eating.

God is here. He is in everything. He is waiting for me to recognize Him. I thank Him that He is so patient with me.

I am ready to discover His divine designs anywhere and everywhere.

Just after I put into words “I am on a blog break” I am drawn back to this place to write. This weekend I thought my blog was gone forever. It was unavailable, site not found. I freaked a bit. I had not been out here to add any posts for 2 months, but the thought that all of my words were gone forever made me so sad. Luckily I have the most amazing designer, Erin from Design by Insight and she saved the day (and helped me fix my silly mistake that I made). So here I am adding a little more from my heart.

Tonight my five year old insisted that we drop everything and have family devotion time. We sat down and opened our Bibles to John 1:1-5. As we talked about these verses my 9 year old wrote John 1:5 in her scripture journal.

The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

She said she chose this verse because “Nothing can overcome God”. Four little words, four powerful words out of the mouth of a child. How often do I forget those words. This verse…light shines in the darkness. He is always here. Always. And this 9 year old does not doubt it.

After our devotions I was tucking her into bed when I bowed my head to pray with her. She always asks if I have any requests. I always leave her room so filled. She has a list of people that need healing that she prays for every single day.  And when she hears answers to her prayers she has no doubt that God has heard her prayers. She may be small, but her faith is big. And her big faith teaches me so much.

Nothing can overcome God. Nothing.

It was a good summer vacation, even though so many things did not get done that I wanted to get done. The girls are back in school and love it everyday. I am back at work after 5 years and I love it, too. I get to spend half of my day helping kids read and write. In my mind it doesn’t get much better than this.

Last year I had big plans for everything I wanted to put on this blog, the ideas were endless. I still have a lot that I want to write about, but I don’t have a schedule, or a plan. I decided it is way more enjoyable for me to write whatever I want and whenever I want. I hope to be here a little more frequently, but I am not going to pressure myself to write everyday.

I could start a blog just on my days that I spend in the Junior Kindergarten room during the week. Crazy, loud and one of my favorite assignments at the school.

September is here, one of my favorite months of the year. Happy Fall!

Today is the last day of summer vacation for my girls. Tomorrow we will wake up to a house with a 5th grader, a 3rd grader and a my littlest headed to Kindergarten. And, as if that is not hard enough. . .after 5 years of being a stay-at-home mom, I am headed back to work.

So many changes, so much excitement, so many blessings. It will be so strange to see my little buddy for the past 5 years at school walking through the hallways with her new little friends.

She is growing up. . .

And these girls are, too. . .

Today I am continue to count my blessings. . .

#371 Backpacks brimming with new supplies

#372 Decisions over what to wear on the first day of school

#373 New tennis shoes

#374 A new chapter begins for  our family

#375 Sharpened pencils to help sharpen minds.

#362 Back to School Shopping

#363 Stores dedicated to cupcakes. YUMMY!

#364 Playgrounds

#365 The little one trying to master riding on 2 wheels. 

#366 Family Campfire & talking about heaven

#367 Family kickball game

#368 Grilled Pizza 

#369 Bubbles

#370 1 Last family camping trip before the end of summer vacation.

The very last summer before all three girls are in school full-time. It has been wonderful, it has gone fast. I haven’t spent much time on the computer, I didn’t want to have any regrets when school is back in session.

I have hardly wrote a word all summer. It is so wonderful to sit back down at the computer and put the words down on the screen.

Today I am back sharing at The Mod Squad Blog. I would love for you to join me there today.

It is hard to believe that it is already July. My kids go back to school August 23rd. It is going way too fast. We are making to most of every day that the sun is shining and the rain stays away (which has not happened a lot so far).

#356 Summer Birthdays

#357 Fort Building

#358 Seeing the amazing beauty of God’s creation.

#359 A Day at the Lake

#360 Celebrations with Family and Friends

I have another one to share with you today. Angela Hunt’s new book The Fine Art of Sincerity is another great summer read. A tale of three sisters, many marriages and a lot of baggage are brought together by the death of their grandmother. This is a story of lost love and the relationship of sisters. Join them as they spend a weekend together in the home they grew up in.

Book Description:

You can watch a trailer for this book here.