The sweet harvest….
The sweet harvest….
Posted October 6th, 2010 by CyleAugusta with No Comments
Go!
Posted October 4th, 2010 by CyleAugusta with No Comments
GO! by Hope Farm Kids by SaintLewis
Here is the October Virtue song Initiative.
If you didn’t listen to the September Virtue Respect you can hear it here.
I hope this song is motivating to you on this Monday morning! If you take a listen – stay with it until the bridge- it is a sort of rap, it really gets you moving!
“See it, do it, don’t wait for it – get to it, do it, don’t wait for it – gotta take the initiative!”
GO AND DO THE THINGS THAT HE’S CALLED YOU TO.
DON’T WAIT TO BE TOLD. GO AND SEE WHAT YOU CAN DO!
This is a great song to sing and teach the kiddos about taking initiative in our daily life. On a practical note, my boys sing the ‘see it, do it’ part and look around for items that are out of place in the house. We are having a blast learning about taking initiative. Shannon and I are also looking for ways to incorporate an enterprising spirit into our family.
The biggest thing I have learned is that sometimes God has put things in your heart and YOU and I have to take initiative to get those things rolling.
Where do you need to take initiative today? What is he calling you to do?
DON’T WAIT FOR IT!
The leaves were a promise….
Posted October 1st, 2010 by CyleAugusta with No Comments
It’s no suprise that Autumn is one of my favorite seasons- I was born in the middle of October. I came into the world in the midst of Pumpkin spice and everything nice!!!
No, really I can’t get enough Pumpkin spice. My fall decorations are all out- minus the fresh pumpkins, flowers etc that I will get in a week or so. Our hot weather will melt them in no time! I had three blog- worthy possible topics today and they all three got moved up when I found these treasures.
I woke up this morning with a spring in my step, October 1- the first day of my favorite season!
My mom came over to have special art time with Tucker. She really came over to encourage and inspire him in his love for art.
During this time I went to songwriting circle, which was greatly inspiring and encouraging, I left incredibly thankful for the outlet to create.
My husband called and was exploding with inspiration from the conference he is a part of this weekend. He sounded so encouraged and strengthened.
Then I picked up Kenimer, got everyone settled. I stepped out on the porch to enjoy a phone conversation with a friend when these amazing leaves just popped right out… They were all over the backyard. We don’t normally have these types of leaf changes around here so early. They are my gift. These beautiful fall leaves! Happy October 1!
What are you growing in?
Posted September 29th, 2010 by CyleAugusta with No Comments
I love to grow things. This past summer I decided to grow the things i love the most about summer produce, tomatoes and basil. I did just that! The tomatoes grew well and gave us a good supply!
The basil however is a different story. It gave me more leaves than I could shake a stick at. It was incredible for a month solid. I picked a full plate daily. The boys learned to love a fresh basil leaf. It was normal for them to pick a leaf as we were loading into the van- actually their mommy did it too!
I made pesto, put it in almost everything, made fun snacks with triscuits, cream cheese and all kinds of other dishes. But one day….
I went to harvest some more basil as the leaves were abounding. I pinched a leaf off and popped it in my mouth. I spit it right back out. It was THE MOST BITTER taste I ever remember. What happened to my summer sweet basil? I followed all the rules. I did’nt let it flower. I quickly scoured the internet hoping to uncover my fault… no such luck. In an effort to not waste a load of basil I put it in mason jars filled with water and lemon rings. At least it frangranced my home nicely!
I continued to ponder the bitter basil. I recall that I poured some compost from the kitchen and maybe I threw something acidic on it. Yesterday I was clearing out the summer garden. The tomato plants produced their last tomato. But the basil, It continued to grow just as nice as ever. I chuckled as I realized how deceiving it was. Looked great but on the inside it was really useless, complete bitterness. It was all because of the soil it was growing in.
My thoghts turned to our hearts. At times everything can look great on the outside but we are filled with bitterness on the inside. We hear a lot of talk about growth in our Christian life.
I realized that we can actually be growing in things that hinder us….
I stopped completely drenched in sweat, and dropped the basil pot. I was having a moment with my God. He began to speak to me. He took my hand and showed me some places in my heart that were growing in bitterness, blame, accusation and self- righteousness.
He whispered to me that he wanted to restore those areas of my heart with sweet aromas and grow in me kindness, humility, long- suffering, compassion, courage and forgiveness.
The soil that the basil grew in was toxic to the plant, I thought about my heart and what I am exposing it to daily. I made an inventory of things that might taint the aroma of the fruits of the spirit.
Let us embrace this Autumn season and smell the beautiful smells.
What aroma is coming from your heart at this moment?
-Is it bitterness, rage, unbelief, negativity? -If so, invite the Holy Spirit to come in and wash you.
What are you growing in?
{ Love, Cyle Augusta}
Treasures
Posted September 27th, 2010 by CyleAugusta with No Comments
Estate sales, garage sales, antique stores, thrift stores and trash piles on the side of the road… these are just a few of my favorite places to hunt for treasure. The hunts these last few weeks have provided some great quality time with my mom and sister along with the acquisition of some well- loved treasures.
This old 1910 singer sewing machine caught my eye at first glance. The initial price was more than I wanted to pay. I returned to the sale at the end of the day and made a deal ~!
My mom and sister and I ended up at a private estate sale. The precious widowed lady who owned the estate was downsizing. My sis found many beautiful items of silver and crystal. There were many classic articles from her mother… for instance, these shoes were her mothers wedding shoes purchased from Saks Fifth Avenue in New York and worn in 1922. There is a leather engraving on the inside that says August 11, 1942.
I also purchased this hat. The lady’s husband had worked in New York and she would accompany him on trips to shop. She told us many stories which made the rummaging even more of a unique experience. This hat was bought in 1940 in the New York hat district.
The lady told us many stories to accompany the items, it’s a true vintage memory. We were in her beautiful home and no one else seemed to be there at the time. I felt as if I was taking a step back in time. P.S. I think Sarah looks like a 1940′s lady as she reads excerpts out of my book How to be a Lady.
The neatest thing about this hat is that it came in the original hat box.
It is not usual that hat boxes last from 1940. This lady kept her belongings in the finest of conditions. There are many new hat boxes but rarely original ones! This hat was bought in hopes of using as a photo shoot prop!
Recently scored these old milk crates. I decided to make a jewelry display out of it. I turned it on it’s side and display my earrings on the metal slats and on the sides my husband lined small nails on both side for necklaces. He was very careful to angle the nails so the necklaces would hang right
These old Revival hymnals were great finds for a quarter each. The pages are weathered and yellowed nicely. The books were published in 1918. They are titled Sunday School and Revival songs and New Revival Showers.
AND since IT is ALWAYS fun TO save THE best FOR last…..
Earlier this summer I found one of the neatest vintage dresses ever. The colors are so fun and bright. Every time I wear it I have a ton of fun and laugh a lot. Maybe the dress is a bit of a conversation starter. Or maybe you have to be in a light, fun mood to want to wear the dress. Who knows exactly. I don’t really know how the old the dress is, only that it’s nylon- dresses are’nt made of nylon these days. There is an old yellowed tag on the inside.
I ran across this pic where I was wearing this dress at a wedding. I did not know who would be attending the wedding, much to my surprise I ended up sitting at a table full of girls that have been a huge part of my life both present and past. It was great to reunite. This was a kindred spirit kind of re-connection and the best part? It was a surprise. and. we. laughed. a. lot.
I’m feeling particularly inspired this Autumn season. How about you?
The way they are bent…..
Posted September 23rd, 2010 by CyleAugusta with No Comments
The boys don’t usually care what they wear. The operative word here is usually. You see they were dressed alike this past Sunday. Matching, they may have been, but rest assured we didn’t get out of the house without the expression of individual styles.
Tucker insisted that his yellow rain boots were a great addition to his clothing. He even showed me that his shirt had a yellow stripe. Could I argue?
Kenimer found a vintage hat I had bought the day before for his dad and decided to wear it to Church.
They were very insistent on their choices… I felt some conflict coming on. I quickly checked my motives and realized that my main reason for convincing them to ditch the boots and hat was based solely on what others would think of me. Maybe my boys would look a little less… whatever – dignified? together? than the others.
I had a moment of truth in which I remembered some insight a dear friend had shared with me recently. We were discussing the verse in Proverbs that states train a child in the way he should go and he will not depart from it. Some Hebrew scholars actually read it “train a child in the way he is bent” or “naturally goes…” in other words train them and direct them in the path God has designed for them. Not the way we think they should go. Ouch. I have begun praying that God would reveal to me the natural giftings in my children and begin to see how to develop and encourage them in those things. The number one prayer I have is that i won’t be swayed by what other kids are doing and I will seek the Lord’s plan for my children.
While we are on the subject of letting our kids express their style, I found this pic and had to share. I asked Kenimer, “Where did you learn to model?” His response “you taught me when I was three“. Hmm – this memory escapes me.
The boys started school a few weeks ago. Kenimer in Pre-k and Tucker in two-day-a-week playschool. Kenimer has been enjoying having his brother come to school with him two days. Kenimer is very concerned with filling up his chart during the week. The nightly conversations often revolve around praying for him to complete his chart for good behavior. Shannon and I have been SOOOO blessed by the sweet teachers they each have. They have taken time to speak with us about specific things they see in our children.
In conlusion I am constantly getting over “what people think”, even in child-rearing.
Let us go forth in freedom to be who we were created to be! Amen!
{Love-Cyle Augusta}
R.E.S.P.E.C.T.
Posted September 20th, 2010 by CyleAugusta with No Comments
I have loved this songwriting project – it is extremely stretching. Not only are we having to write on an elementary school level, but in order to be able to write a simple lyric I have to understand all that I can about the virtue. Some other criteria for the songs are :
1) Easily singable for a 1st through 5th grader
2) Understandable for a 1st through 5th grader
3) Upbeat and able to be acted out
4) Keyed in a range that kids can easily sing
5) CATCHY CATCHY CATCHY… melodies that grow on your like mold… can’t shake’em, whether you like it or not.
These are standards I have put in place as guidelines for writing the virtue song each month. I also pulled some knowledge from my good ‘ole teaching degree and five years of teaching kindergarten.
I am also learning to write and rewrite according to critiques. For example, our first draft of RESPECT 2010 was sent to the reviewers and the verses were vetoed – they thought the Bible story we were illustrating was over an elementary level of understanding. So we rewrote it and made it even better!
One of our main missions with all our ministry endeavors is to empower and equip others in their worship… with that in mind it was a true gift to be able to bring in several 6th graders for a “gang vocal” session. I was overjoyed to see how exciting the experience was for them.
The Kid Jam folks did choose to use our song this month to illustrate respect. The first week Shannon and I taught it with live instruments – it went pretty well. However I realized it would probably catch on better with some simple choreography. The KidJam songs are usually done with a team of people, dancing, and singing, and encouraging the children to join in. Since the normal choreographer was out of town and unable to work out the song, I was asked to present the song and come up with the choreography – frightening, but incredibly fulfilling at the same time, constructing motions for a song I WROTE! I ended up getting together with another girl and coming up with simple moves for the song. I led it Sunday over the track with the headset mic… we had a team of four girls and I have to say it was incredible watching those kids get into the song. They were singing and emulating our motions. I quickly learned to tone down my aerobic movement so I could still sing!
This month’s song about passed the test with my two and four year old. Granted, they heard some serious repetition while this song was being mixed, but they genuinely seem to understand the character trait. We seem to talk about showing respect almost daily. They will quickly sing “R.E.S.P.E.C.T. I want my life to show that your important to me!” when we are dealing with disrespect. Kenimer has explained to me that if he interrupts when Tucker is talking then Tucker thinks he is not important to Kenimer – it is absolutely precious to hear him verbalize this stuff. Needless to say I have spent hours learning and reading about all avenues of respect. I am amazed at how greatly I have been enriched. There have also been times when I have responded to Shannon rudely and the lyric runs through my head “I want my life to show that your important to me“.
At the moment I am deep in study about next month’s virtue – Initiative. I am learning all about how to instill an enterprising spirit in our little ones… and then I spend a few moments examining my own heart and asking the Lord to give me courage to take initiative.
Stay tuned for more virtue songs- take a listen to Respect
RESPECT 2010 by Hope Farm Kids by SaintLewis
Five….
Posted September 17th, 2010 by CyleAugusta with No Comments
As I prepare this post i can hardly believe my baby boy is 5 !
He is quite the socialite and really wanted a birthday party with the works!
So we did it, he made the guest list, invitations sent, party stuff bought, cake made and we were ready- or not… until it started to rain at 2:00 on the afternoon of his scheduled birthday. Our family gathered and he led us in a prayer asking Jesus to stop the rain so we could have the party. We went on to Neptune to set up. It had rained ever so lightly over there and the sun was peeking through. We set up and proceeded with the plans!
My highlight of the party was seeing Kenimer’s enthusiasm as his friends walked up and as he opened his gifts. He was cheering, doing happy dances and overcome with joy! He truly is a pleasure to give gifts too… because he is usually SOOO thankful and excited! It is normal for him to say things like ” this is the best day of my life” ” This is what I wanted all my life”. “This is my favorite__________.
Kenimer’s highlight was definitely the Mario cake. His daddy decorated and was the hero of the day. I think the daddy’s were impressed! Shannon and I had a slight disagreement over this cake. I tried and tried to talk Kenimer into another themed cake- but he stayed steady on a Mario cake. Daddy won and gave the boy what he wanted- He was beyond thrilled.
One of my special memories of this party was our trip to the dollar tree. Kenimer and I had a date to shop, we went to pick out the goodies to go in the kids bags. He is so thoughtful-he wanted to be so precise in what he picked for each kid. We bought girl stuff for the girl bags and boys stuff for the boys. When we got home I was dumping one jet fighter in each bag, etc. He intensely protested and insisted on picking out the exact jet fighter for each boy invited. Needless to say, the goody bag assembly took a long time! but it was priceless- the amount of thought he put into it! Two girls were sick and could’nt make it. They each came by on his birthday to see him and he insisted on putting a certain color bracelet in each one of their bags! He never even asked to keep or eat any of the stuff. However after a long assembly line session we indulged in a few sixlets! ( guilty pleasure- I know).
So as the kids were eating hotdogs… I noticed the sky getting greyer. We then opened presents. It was time for cake and the sky was darker. We lit candles, sang, and distributed cake to some super cute kiddos! The parents started packing our stuff. Daddies were taking loads to the car. Literally, Kenimer and all other kids put the LAST bite of cake in their mouths and the sky opened up… the rain came down. We were super thankful for just enough time to have the party. We played a little in the rain. The soaked Lewis family was appreciative that Jesus had heard Kenimers prayer and held off the rain…. just long enough.
Rain downpours do funny things to birthday bands! Kenimer played in the rain with his favorite Aunt B! His birthday was memorable to say, the least!
Thanks stephanie for sending me the awesome pic of me and my boy and thanks Sarah for grabbing my camera and doing what you do best. If you hadn’t I would’nt have these fun rain pics!