My Valentines

Valentine's Day! It's a time for romance, sappy cards, chocolates, and kids' Valentine's parties! It was also my last weekday before I start my new job, so I made sure the kids and I got some great one on one time.  Here's a run down of our amazing day, and hints on why I love them all so much :)

I started out the day going to breakfast with my baby girl. She is silly and crazy and when you tell her to smile for the camera, she does things like this (before smiling for real):

Why I Do It...

My friend Melissa asked me to write a post for the Mercy for Mamas blog to explain why I work with MfM.  I loved explaining my heart for this ministry and how it intertwines with everything else that God has placed in my life.  Enjoy!

http://www.mercyformamas.com/2014/02/another-perspective.html

Don't Waste the In Between

As the 2 of you who actually read these posts know, this year has already not gone the way that we planned. On January 9th, I found myself without a job.  While the past couple of weeks have been full of resume writing and job hunting, they've also been full of reflection and thinking. God's already teaching me a lot of lessons - on faith, grace, forgiveness, and trust. Most of all, He's teaching me how to use my time no matter what. He's pressing me...forcing me to realize...that I shouldn't waste this time. That this "in between" can be used to accomplish great things, if I make sure I put in the effort to make the time count.

2014 - The Year of Learning Love...

There's this trend that's been going on for a few years now, where people assign a word to the year. This word will encompass what they strive for in the new year and what they hope God will show them and grow in them over the next 12 months. I've avoided the trend simply because I tend to try and do that, but I couldn't get away from it this year...because of what God has been pushing and nudging me - sometimes not so gently- towards learning. So here it is...my "word" for 2014:

2013 - A Schafers Year In Review

It's more than half way through January, so why not FINALLY get around to summing up the previous year? Everyone else does Christmas cards, but why be so prompt?  Let's give a retrospective once we're a bit removed, why don't we?

Okay, okay - now that I'm done reasoning with you on why I'm so late with this, here it is! 2013 was an eventful year for our family, full of twists and turns, stresses and disappointments, celebrations, and lessons worth the learning!  Here's a much too brief recap of what our year looked like.