Platitudes and Gratitude

I'm participating in a little Facebook challenge to post something or someone that I am thankful for throughout "Thirty Days of Thanksgiving" this November.

Easy-peasy, right?

I would follow through on that set-up and say, "WRONG," but well, actually it is pretty simple-- on the surface.

Cutting through platitudes and digging into the places of my heart that hold the deepest gratitude is the tough part of the assignment. I find myself not wanting to type what's expected, but rather desiring to reveal unknown pieces of my heart, hidden by time and distance or silenced by superficiality. But, I want to share more than what floats on the surface. Remember, "..deep calls unto deep..." (Psalm 42:7).

Having a forum to share our gratefulness is cathartic. It's difficult for me to stop at one thing, person or idea each day-- so I may not. I have a feeling that after November comes-and-goes, I will have plenty left inside my soul to expose.

Don't be satisfied with delivering platitudes; share gratitude.

Gratitude conveys love.

BeChange. LiveLove.
~Kirsten

Bloggity-blog-blog-blog

I still can't wrap my brain around this thing called "blogging." Maybe it's because I'm comfortable with concrete black-and-white, all-or-nothing, do-or-die commitments to goals and ideas that that look good on paper. The wishy-washy, back-and-forth, try-and-fail way that actually depicts everyday life leaves me feeling like I've fallen short. And if I feel like I've fallen short, then why in the world would I want to put it all out there for everyone to know? Hmm...

But, you see, I love feeling connected. Connected by passions, commonalities, goals and even *gulp* failures. When I read your blogs, I feel connected to you. So perhaps, regardless of the content, and looking past my shortcomings, you might just feel a little bit more connected to me if I blogged too. So, for me-- and, for you, I'll give it another shot. Just have some grace, please. It probably won't be my last time falling off the horse. (Next time, just prod me like cowboys poke cattle. I think it'll work. Ask Pioneer Woman, she'd know.)

My heart is growing and changing and evolving in ways that I haven't been able to articulate yet. But below are just a few things that stir me up and make me smile (or cry). I'll try to touch on them all at some point.

Homeschooling

Orphans and International Adoption

Debt & Student Loans

Cooking

Writing and Research

Missions

Disney World
The Church
Marriage

Weird combo, huh? True though. I don't even like how disjointed that list is, but it'll do because it's honest. (Honesty and I might have to negotiate a little to make this union work in the future.) As for now, I'm off to read The Well-Trained Mind: A Guide to Classical Education at Home by Jessie Wise and Susan Wise Bauer.

Question of the day: If you're a homeschooling mommy, what method has "clicked" for your family and why?

Discuss amongst yourselves. Not really, please discuss here! ;)