Incredibly busy weekend, but overall really good.  Friday night my husband and I went out to dinner to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary. We had a great time but I was wiped out from a pretty stressful week at work.  It was nice to go home and relax and watch a movie just the two of us.

Saturday morning my daughter and I hit the road to buy new jazz and tap shoes.  Our goal is to make it from September to May (recital) without having to buy new ones. At the rate she is growing I hope we can make it.  We then treated ourselves to manicures and pedicures. And finished up with Target and Kohls before heading to a birthday party.  Spent the evening cleaning out my office…no easy feat and it is going to take another day to finish it.

Sunday was spent worshiping the Lord and getting our kids room ready for our new Word of Life club to begin.  My good friend Lisa helped me clean out our room and closet.  We just about filled up the dumpster.  We are ready to tackle the year and help these children learn about God and grow spiritually.

I mentioned in an earlier post that September is my new year so I am starting it off with a couple of Bible studies and new routines.  Last Thursday I began a new program called “Maximize Your Mornings.” It is about starting your day right by getting up early and spending time with God.  I am not a morning person but I have gotten up early and completed my quiet time everyday since Thursday.  Saturday was the hardest but so far so good.  I have found that my days are going better and I am praying for resolve to see this through.

I joined an online book club that started on Friday called “The Resolution Revolution” based on the book “Resolution for Women” written by Priscilla Shirer.  It is based on the new movie “Courageous” coming out on September 30th.  My Sunday school class is going to see it and I can’t wait.

Tuesday night starts a 6 week study by Priscilla on Jonah.  I love women’s Bible studies, especially those done in someone’s home.  Learning about God’s Word with other women over coffee and yummy goodies strengthens me spiritually.

Add in time with hubby and kids, homework, dinner, laundry, housework,  etc., and the days are full.

My memory verse this week is 1 Samuel 12:16 – Now then, stand still and see this great thing the LORD is about to do before your eyes!

Has the summer flown by or what?  Seems like just yesterday the kids were having their last day of school and in 4 days they start a brand new year.  September 1st is more of a “new year” to me than January 1st.  It is a time where some sort of structure comes back into the house (at least our version of structure), my kids are back home more than one day at a time (having spent the majority of their summer with their grandparents), and our last mini-vacation of the year.  We are headed out this afternoon to Nags Head, North Carolina.  Not sure exactly what we will see with all of the damage from Hurricane Irene last weekend but we will have a relaxing, fun-filled weekend anyway as a family.

I plan to spend some time in God’s Word as I look at one of His most special creations to me (outside of my children, of course), the ocean.  The sound and the feel bring about a peace in my heart…I plan to take some video on my phone so that I can relive it until next summer.