I think my husband and I did come up with a new tradition though. Spring break is now green smoothie detox week. For the most part that was all I had to eat this week. I wasn't super strict about it, but I did pass on pizza and peanut butter cookies- two of my most favorite foods in the world- so I am getting better at self-control. If you remember I did green smoothies for a month about this time 2 years ago so it already feels like a tradition. We used the book Green Smoothie Retreat a 7 Day Plan to Detox At Home by Victoria Boutenko. I picked up a couple new recipes plus used some kombucha for the first time- yum.
So the rest of this post is explaining my Lent Photo project. I did do some of the pictures out of order but I have not missed one yet and that is the most important thing to me- complete the project! I have a hard time completing things if you haven't figured that out already. Here goes:
Wilderness- Matthew 3:3 For this is he who was spoken of by the prophet Isaiah when he said, “The voice of one crying in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord; make his paths straight.’” Lucy and I went for a quick walk to the park where we took this picture. It is not a desert wilderness but it is a forest wilderness. Just a reminder how God can take us out of our comfort zone and work on our hearts.
Empty Plate- Isaiah 30:29 You shall have a song as in the night when a holy feast is kept, and gladness of heart, as when one sets out to the sound of the flute to go to the mountain of the Lord, to the Rock of Israel. Honestly I think this picture was suppose to represent fasting but I was running out of time and St. Patrick's Day and St. Joseph's Day were coming up fast. The food was so good I cleared my plate. It made me think about how God does desire us to eat with gladness and how He provides for us. This was my plate after St. Patrick's Day.
Faithful- Psalm 89:1 I will sing of the steadfast love of the Lord, forever; with my mouth I will make known your faithfulness to all generations. This one easy. The moment I saw faithfulness I took a picture of our fridge. I, confess, that I can be a worry wart about God providing although I try not to let it show. God has been so faithful when it comes to the basic necessity of food and I am overwhelmed by His care. That is why I took a picture of the fridge.
God's Love- Deuteronomy 7:9 Know therefore that the Lord your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations. Here is where I tried to get a little creative because I see God's Love every where in my life. I am so blessed and especially love to teach God's Love to my children. Here are my girls signing God Loves Me.
Practice- Philippians 4:9 What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you. I am constantly learning and practicing to keep up. I hope this picture is self explanatory.
Green- Psalm 52:8 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God. I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. This was St. Patrick's Day which I posted about last week.
Listen- Psalm 61:1 Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; During this Lent season I have put together a a playlist on Youtube based on the Calvin Institute of Christian Worship. It is not complete and some of the songs I could not find, but I have spent a lot of time listening to these wonderful songs. I tried to make it full of variety of styles and singers when possible.
Giving- Proverbs 15:31 Whoever heeds life-giving correction will be at home among the wise. As a mom with one preschooler and two in lower elementary school I feel like my main job is constantly life-giving correction. I am giving my time, my energy, my braincells, and my sanity to this job. Most recently I have been teaching a stubborn 3 year old to use the potty. That is where the idea for this picture came from. By the way we have FINALLY had GREAT success after months and months of begging. Praise God! It is the little things, right moms? Can I get an AMEN?
No Meat- This one was easy because it was the day after Saint Joseph's Day so I had a lot of pasta and spaghetti sauce. Awesome leftover lunch!
Blossom- Spring is very much in the air here in the Willamette Valley. The tulips have just started making their appearance. This is just outside our house. I was planning on doing some gardening during spring break but that kinda fell through. Hopefully next week.
Serving Others- I snapped this picture a little secretly but I wanted to show my awesome church again. We have a serving table between Sunday school and second service full of yummy snacks. I am always so grateful for the people who do this.
Direction- This was the picture I hadn't figured out exactly what to do, but as always God has a plan. My husband told me about a Lent activity happening across the street from his favorite coffee place. I was SO glad i checked it out and that my husband was so thoughtful to think about me. It was a labyrinth with prayer stations. It was PERFECT for showing direction.
Blessed- This one was tough because I am SO blessed. I have a wonderful family, right now I have my dream job, a house, plenty of food, and so many resources to occupy my time. But when it comes down to it family is my biggest blessing. I wish I could have taken a picture of my husband too. Here the girls and I went to see the new Cinderella movie. Also another blessing- to have extra money to do fun things like this.
Compassion- I couldn't think of a good picture for this so I thought back to the Lent prayer labyrinth. At the center of the labyrinth was a wall of confessions. It was beautiful. It made me think of our God and His compassion and mercy and grace to cover us.
Remember- Took me awhile to think of something for this picture but while I was cleaning I stumbled across my first picture Bible. It was dearly loved, taped together, and falling apart. It jolted my memory of Easters Past. I mostly remember new clothes and going to church on Good Friday to hear Mrs. Taylor sing Via Dolorosa. I remember a few scattered egg hunts. I remember my mom making a homemade cross out of backyard sticks and dripping red wax down it look like blood. I remember sunrise service at Makakilo, Hawaii where we literally saw the sun rise while we experiences worship through hula. I love Easter and I want Lent to be an important part of my children's lives too. I hope we are making memories.
So that is it! In between typing I helped the two older girls finally clean their rooms and the bathrooms- it was a big chore. I had to make a fast food run, but it was worth it to get some cleaning done and my project up to date. Now to prepare the apex of our journey- Resurrection Sunday. I bless you, reader, and hope you have a wonderful Holy Week. I will check in on Good Friday with a shorter post as I have much to prepare for and I am sure you do too.
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