A few weeks ago, Ethan came up on a Math lesson in which he had to use a calculator. We didn’t have one, so we made a quick trip to the Family Dollar store downtown. We found our four dollar calculator and then browsed around a little. I was so pleased to come across the “inspiration” section of the store, it didn’t take up much room on the shelf mind you, but I did come away with some lovely little pieces to display in my house.
One of the things I’ve been trying to do for the last year is put Scripture in every room of the house, on the walls. I remember when I was a little girl, seeing my parent’s little plaques with verses & Christian quotes or mottoes on them, and I would read them without really even thinking about it, but looking back I can see that they made a difference in my little soul.
A handwritten verse written on an index card will do. I like propping those up on my kitchen sink or tucking them into a picture frame or mirror. But I also like the more permanent look of an actual framed piece.
I was so pleased with what I found at that store, at such great prices! When I came away from the Family Dollar of all places, I carried away with me a bag of Scripture verses to hang on the walls of my home.
The three smaller ones were only ONE DOLLAR EACH!! They say:
FAITH, We walk by faith, not by sight. I Corinthians 5:7
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart. Proverbs 3:5
In everything give thanks. (the rest of that verse: FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD in Christ Jesus concerning you! 1 Thess. 5:18 It just blows me away, quite simply. How often do we wonder and sigh, “I just don’t know what God’s will is for me right now”…. there it is, in plain words, God will is for us to be thankful.)
The 2 middle sized ones were three dollars each.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12
You have made known to me the path of life, you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand. Psalm 16:11
The largest one was 5 dollars.
God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 (did you notice how many times the word “all” is in this verse? The other word I love is “abound”… God is GENEROUS.)
Can you believe a simple errand to the FAMILY DOLLAR gave me such spiritual joy and blessing? I love how God operates.
So, anyway. Thanks for your encouragement and loving notes here. Things are going well, however I got up this morning so very sapped of energy. I have a doctor’s appointment at 10 to get that Rhogam injection so I’ll complain to her a little and see what she has to say. Probably something like, “Hello you are pregnant with your seventh child and expecting way too much of yourself go home and get on that couch you ninny.”
And one big praise to share: Last night Ethan had a guitar lesson and so I left Jacob to babysit. I was sad and worried about leaving them but I knew he would take good care of the children and it was better and safer for them to stay home. I was gone for an hour and 45 minutes. During that time, Jacob had something awful happen. SETH BLEW OUT HIS DIAPER. He called me. I said, “I’m sorry you’re going to have to change it.” He said, “I can’t.” I said, “Yes you can, get Grace, she can help. And call me when you’re done.” A few minutes later he called to report on how disgusting it was, how he had changed the diaper but also had to change his clothes, how terrible it smelled, etc, (meanwhile I am just dying of the giggles on the other end)…..”and”, he said, “as soon as I was done Seth fell right off your dresser.” (that’s where the changing pad is) “But, he’s okay, he’s here with me and smiling right now.”
I’m just so proud of Jacob. He did the filthy job and did it well. (Rich didn’t change a diaper until he was a Dad, I imagine there are not many 13 year old boys who can say they changed a dirty diaper.) I could just cry.
Also, Grace learned how to thread my sewing machine and has been busily sewing a little quilt out of her old t-shirts. She sits there sewing, like a little lady.
And Ethan this morning made waffles for everyone.
Yeah, I’m gonna cry.
Good to be Home 
I love your stories. You are an incredibly good mamma.
You’re a good mama for teaching your children so well! :o) They are rising up to be mature and responsible vessels for the Kingdom!Blessings to you this day~Mendi
They are all growing up!I see that the top verse has the word Grace in it, I am sure you were extra happy with that find!!Happy day the sun is out, you are all on the mend, and the whole earth seems to be waking up! I will pray that it will stay dry enough for you to get out and sit in the sun today, with a good book and some tea! :)love, JO
Oh. My. Word. Congratulations on the messy diaper change!! You son should get a plaque for THAT! (you are right when you said that many 13 year olds can’t claim to have done that). I chuckled when I read that:).I like those little tile-like plaques for the wall. Neat to be reminded of God’s word throughout our day.
I can, almost, truely say I don’t think my 13 year old daughter would have changed that diaper well at all 🙂 I dreaded my Rhogam shots, they seemed to REALLY hurt. I was thrilled when all my girls blood types were positive. Now get on that couch and rest!
I just had to chuckle right along with you…I could picture the whole thing…but the tears also came….precious moments for your children. I think you’re a good mama. Blessings on your day and may God give you the physical strength to make it through. I so appreciate your honesty.
Oh little mommy, your family has learned so well to care for one another and do things on their own from your GOOD examples!So did the Dr call you a ninny or not? The way you wrote that made me laugh and remember my own Doctors advice…if I would just lay down 20min a day for a quick nap I wouldn’t have to spend the money to come see him!Your $1 Store treasures have inspired and delighted me. Bri and I are in the midst of a HUGE de-cluttering of our home. We getting rid of so much of the stuff that has filled up every space over 20 years. Once finished, how wonderful to place scripture verses around the home instead ❤
Wow first diaper a blow out! What an experience. LOL Love your little gold mine you found at the dollar store! They look great.
Children are such a blessing ~
A great deal on those plaques…in more ways than one. And they are pretty too. You are so right about God’s word filling you up! You are a wise woman Shanda! What a reward to find those on an errand. A friend said how she would write Bible verses on cards and stick them in her pocket, so when waiting in lines she could pull them out. I always tell that to the youth, because they say they don’t have time to memorize any. Praying the Lord strengthens and blesses you! So glad you have those awesome helpers,though it does pull on a mom’s heart to see them growing up so! Isn’t it funny to use a calculator for math. In upper math you use them all the time as they want to get on with the problem. David said it felt wrong at first.
how wonderful that you found some uplifting verses to fill your home with. i have a few of those in my home too. Your diaper story made me laugh out loud and I just love your enthusiasm for love and goodness eventhough you are tired and so very pregnant. Pretty soon you’ll be holding that wonderful baby Sarah and she will smell so sweet and fragrant. All the fatigue and discomfort will have been so worth it!!Speaking of crying…Austin is juicing me oranges as I type this and each time he juices half an orange he pours the tiny bit of juice into my glass here sitting by the keyboard. There is only a little mess under the glass:) and he is so proud of himself. He looks out for his mom. so very precious and sweet!! I love moments like that and that’s why I love your blog…because you share them!
I think I’m gonna cry! LOL So very sweet!!!You have inspired me to fill me home with verses too! Thank you! 🙂
Yeah, I would cry too! Good job to Jacob on changing a blowout, to Grace for sewing, and to Ethan for making the waffles. I like your framed Scripture. I have index cards around the house with verses, but framed Scripture is a nice idea. Praying that your dr visit goes well.
Love your dollar store finds! I have a few like that too. I totally agree about having them hanging displayed pretty around your home. We frame other things of importance, and display them in our homes. Why not God’s word? For me it brings comfort and peace to my home, and it is another way to hide His Word in our kiddos hearts.The dirty diaper…..big brother and sister…oh my!!! That is a memory forever. It must make you feel so proud that they can rise to the challange. You do seem like such a good mama!!! You inspired me once again. They can do so much more that we realize. Wow! Thanks for the sweet note yesterday. You made me smile. Glad you were able to talk to your honey. Praying for your strength. You do have to take care of yourself. I do know how hard that is with so many depending on you. Hope all went well with the doctors appt. Take care and enjoy this beautiful day the Lord has made. ~ Deborah
oops!!! challenge. :)))
Think I’ll be heading to Family Dollar!!! Great Buys!
that’s so sweet of all your children ! I wish I had a sewing machine, what Grace is doing sounds really neat.
i laughed at the diaper story, i remember when my best friend held my son when he was a baby . the poor baby had the runns and it was leaking down his legs all over my girlfriend how embarrsing is that your story reminded me of that.
What a blessing for your children to be so willing to help Shan! They have such great hearts, great creativity, a willingness to please. It’s Christ in them, it’s you in them. I’ve gotten things like that at the dollar store too. Grandma had little things like that all around her house too and looking back at that now I appreciate it so much. Love Shan! I hope all goes well with the shot and that you get some energy back, even if it’s just for a few hours to be completely giddy and fun!
I love that about verses around the house. Your kids are growing up so much.
What a wonderful blessing! I am almost inspired to run to my Family Dollar and see if they have any.. 🙂 I love the idea of hanging scripture in every room of the house. I love your posts! Seems like never a dull moment around your house. 🙂 I know you are such a proud and blessed momma! ~hugs~Lanitha
so cute – “yeah, I’m gonna cry” that is something every single one of us has thought or said at one time watching/listening/overhearing something our child(ren) are doing. Love that.
I love your goal of getting scripture up on the walls! I want to do that, too! What a funny story of Jacob changing Seth’s diaper. That had me laughing. What a good boy! Sounds like Mary and Grace still have so much in common. Mary loves to sew, too. One day, we’ll get these kiddos together. I have a feeling that they’d hit it off wonderfully! Thanks for the smiles tonight.
So sweet. What a wonderful timne they must have together.My daughter too stays with big brother to watch little one for the “just in case”.
I just LOVE it! I’ve found some fridge magnets at the dollar store with verses on them. I snatched them all up for BUNCO gifts and just and for my gift staff. You are right though, you really have to look for them, they are tucked away up on a top shelf usually. Hope you are feeling better soon.
You have great kids! Thank you for making such a wonderful contribution to the world! I was chuckling through the whole diaper story. My husband is very squeamish, and I remember him gagging his way through a few diaper changes. It was hard for me not to get up and take over, I felt so sorry for him, but he needed to do it! LOL! I love your scripture pictures, and I think it’s a great idea to have scripture in each room. I started thinking about it, and I too, can remember these little reminders in my growing up years that I noticed without knowing I noticed. Perhaps my favorite, although it is not actually a scripture, was a small plaque which said PRAYER CHANGES THINGS. (I had to look up plaque, because, too often I spell it wrong, and I did not want to bring anything Bubonic into this comment!) HUGS!
Bless your heart…the Blown-Out Diaper surely happened to give you something to smile about (not that you don’t have lots already, but perhaps you needed an extra-funny thing) as you are dealing with not feeling well. Hope you can have a Feel Really Good Day soon!!!!P.S. My husband never changed a dirty diaper–but we lived in the Dark Ages, when that was known as Women’s Work.
What great treasures…I wish that we had a Family Dollar store around here *sigh*Wow! Jacob did do a great job & you are right to be proud of him *Ü*And way to go Grace learning to thread your machine and then start making a quilt!Wishing you a blessed and restful day!
What a great buy you found! I love the dollar stores! (Family, General, Tree) YAY Jacob! Good job. Your babies are growing up – its bittersweet I know. You want them to stay ‘little’ but then thats not the way of nature is it? Hope you get your energy back!
LOVED the inspirational wall hangings! And, loved *MORE* the idea of scripture in each room. Gonna copy from you – AGAIN!!!The diaper story is just too funny!
…..beautiful, Shanda. 🙂