The Nap Time Sanctuary

I Dreamed of Plymouth....

2012-01-18T10:05:00.001-06:00

Yesterday was rough.

I mean, crawl in bed, pull the covers over yourself, and declare the day over at noon kind-of-day.

But my knight in gray cotton armor came home at 8 last night and took over...

And I went to bed.

I didn't even stay up to watch a movie with him, or anything.

ZZZZZZzzzzzzz....

And I dreamed. I dreamed of my hometown.

I think that the Lord gives us pleasant dreams right at the times we need them most.

I remembered that I had a great childhood.

My hometown was small. The centerpiece was a giant cow located on the lawn of the local utility company. Everybody knew everybody. Or almost...

Every summer there was a street festival, every fourth of July there were fireworks, every fall there was the county fair. The homecoming parade and game were always crowded. No one missed out on these things.

My mom's family lived close by and I would play with my cousins. We would visit Grandma and Grandpa and eat candy from the dish and play all over their yard. She always had a trace and color book for me to work on too.

I walked to school when I was in elementary. Across town. Warm or cold. Sometimes, we even walked the old railroad tracks to school. I would never let my kids do that in this day, but as much as I complained about it then, I love it now.

We lived by a river and went fishing often. We also lived by a huge park with a forest and went hiking a lot. In winter, we would ice skate at the Mill Pond every weekend and sled at Cardboard Hill.

I had a little neighborhood gang. Kinda like the little rascals, except a little older. Maybe more like Saved By the Bell.... We would play kick the can, british bulldog, capture the flag (at night), and even (only once) ding-dong ditch. We were sometimes little rebels: putting pennies on the train tracks to flatten them, swimming in the fountain, rollerblading down the giant hill in town. Apparently we weren't supposed to do that, but we didn't know.

I rollerbladed all over the place and rode my bike to the gas station to get candy. Giant pixie sticks, razzles, sixlets....

We had a Rexall pharmacy with a lunch counter. The old bank was turned into a really cool coffee shop, where I developed a love for lattes and spent many an afternoon as a teenager. We used to live next to a hippy named Dino, who made the best pizza and subs. But the ultimate place was Richard's A&W drive-in that served local brands. The carhops were mostly pretty and popular high school girls. They had the thick glass mugs filled with frothy root beer. It was always a treat to eat there.

And most of my dream took place at the Craft Barn. Now, I know that sounds really cheesy, but it isn't. The barn is from the 1800's. And little old lady named Becky owned it, and she turned it into a craft shop and lunch place. The food was great. I loved their homemade butterscotch sundaes and dilly beef sandwiches. I would sit on the porch and enjoy a summer cooler with friends or family. As a matter of fact, some of my friends and family worked there.

Life was really carefree. I miss that.

My childhood seems like a dream. And when I woke up happy, I remembered the old saying, "You can never go back..."

I can never go back to the way things were as a child. Sadly, because of the way times have indeed changed, I cannot recreate that life for my children. I must move forward. But I praise the Lord for the wonderful memories I have of that Mayberry-esque place that I had the privilege of growing up in. Plymouth.

John Deere Dream Come True

2012-01-13T10:37:00.000-06:00

Sometime this summer, my son developed a love - nay- an infatuation with John Deere tractors. He loves them and everything about them. This delighted us for many reasons, but one being that Stephen drives a John Deere tractor in the winter to plow snow for a family friend of ours.

Well.

Today we were able to watch my Ethan gaze in unbelief as his daddy pulls up and starts plowing our driveway with a John. Deere. Tractor.

And then came the question that I knew the answer to immediately:

"Do you want to go look at it with Daddy?"

"Yeah!"

I couldn't get him dressed fast enough. He was out the door with Stephen and in the tractor lickety split!

I think these pictures tell the rest of the story...

(I will apologize for the quality of the pictures. Photography is not a strong suit of mine.)

Stephen patiently showing him the ropes.

Do you see the look of sheer joy on his face? He's raising the plow.

Whoa!

And, of course, all good things must come to an end. I am the cruel parent that captures those moments too.

The Lost Art of Grace and Love

2012-01-12T12:16:00.000-06:00

A dear Christian lady that I have known for half my life has a birthday this week. She will be 90. That is quite a milestone, to say the least, and as I have thought about her amazing life, I am reminded of a story...

You see, she was my first Pastor's wife. We didn't start going to church regularly until I was a teenager. I was set in my habits and life and was very resistant to change. My parents took the transformation in stages, which I believe was a wise thing to do.

They opened their home to us, and they loved us like we were their grandchildren. I remember Pastor having my sister and me sit on his knee, even though we were really too old for it. But at his age, we were still children in his eyes. We laughed with them both more times than I can count. We cried with them too when the time called for it.

But one Sunday I came to church wearing a dress. The dress. It was made for me. My mom and I picked it out for a dance I had gone to two days before. The dress had a cute black cardigan and the skirt was checkered. It ran a little above my knees, but I didn't really think that was a problem. I was proud of my appearance as I walked into church that morning.

As I walked out and greeted this dear lady, she whispered to me, "Honey, you need to put a brick in that skirt." I didn't really understand at the time, but it finally struck me - my dress was too short in her opinion.

I was offended. I was mad. How dare she tell me what to wear to church? I could do what I wanted!

But.

But as I thought, too, about her, and about how she lived, how she dressed, and how she cared about me, my anger subsided. She was protecting me in her own way. She wasn't nagging, lecturing or calling names. She made one little statement in love. It changed me.

We cling too often to our rights to do things. I wasn't concerned that Sunday about what that dress was doing to the other men in that church. I was immature and naive. But she knew, and she had the bravery to point it out to me.

People like her are needed more often these days. We fall into two extremes - either we say something to another believer with "fervor" and "righteous indignation", when really it is sinful pride, and arrogance of knowledge. Or else, we say nothing. We keep younger Christians from growing in both extremes.

The Bible tells us "Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person." (Colossians 4:6)

We have lost the art of graciousness.

The Bible also says, "Let all that you do be done in love." (I Corinthians 16:14)

We do not do things in love as often as we should.

People respond to grace and love. May we (including me!) take up these qualities a new, live them out in our lives, and use them fully in helping others be all they can be for Christ. Just like my dear friend...

Cozi Up

2012-01-11T10:11:00.000-06:00

I have a little secret that I really haven't shared with anyone. I am not the most organized person, but I long to be. And I even have a program to use to get me organized that I don't use as often as I should. I have every intention to. There is nothing, absolutely nothing wrong with the software. I just get lazy is all...

But I rediscovered it today and want to share it with you!

Cozi.com is fantastic. It's free. It is an online based personal/family organizer with tons of features.
~Journal to enter daily activities in (Not a blog, if you are not into that kind of thing)
~Lists that you can customize (I have one specifically for Costco)
~Texts your lists, daily or weekly schedule and more (No charge by cozi - just your provider charges)
~Color coded calendar to keep your entire family's schedules in one place
~Allows you to text or e-mail reminders to other family members
~A meal planner
~App available for your phone or tablet (I use their chrome app myself)
~Articles and features to help your family (For instance, what fruits are in season right now)

DID I MENTION IT IS FREE?

Just go check it out.... you have nothing to lose!

Joyful Meditations

2012-01-10T10:58:00.001-06:00

I am pleased to share with you a new resource! A new online radio station has been started by Berean Baptist Church in Lilburn, GA as of January 1st.

www.joyfulmeditations.org

Joyful Meditations is not simply a radio station, though. They offer Bible study tools, devotionals, and even Bible activity worksheets for the kids. Multiple stations are available, including a kids channel, a Spanish channel and a sermon channel.

If you have been looking for something new, try this out. I do not think that you will be disappointed.

Confident He Will

2012-01-05T13:37:00.002-06:00

Oftentimes, when one of my children has had a rough day or has been on a "naughty streak", I will remind them as they go to bed that tomorrow is another day. A fresh start. A do-over. It helps them to realize that I am not going to bring the issues from today into tomorrow.

I don't know about you, but there are many, many times in my life where I feel like I need a do-over. I mess up. A lot. And I will admit, the end of this year had me thinking, "I need a do over." 2011 has been a little rough, to say the least. It seemed like every area of my like needed a serious reset.

And then I came across this verse:

Being confident of this very thing,

that He which hath begun a good work in you

will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.

~Philippians 1:6

God is not done with me yet! I am a work in progress. He's not surprised by my failures. He knows they are going to happen. He even has a purpose in those failures.... God is doing a good work in me. And there is more to do.

Yet, I want to be perfect NOW. I want to be right ALL the time. What I want is instant sanctification. I demand more from myself sometimes than even God requires of me. He is making me holy in stages... not all at once. If instant sanctification is not His process, then why do I insist on it in my own life?

My confidence, and yours too, should be that God is doing the work in my life. Not me. It is very stressful when we are using our own efforts, our own strength to become more Christlike. And it never will bring lasting change or eternal success. It is His work, not mine, and not yours.

So I am taking this verse and claiming it this year. Every time I fail in anything, I will bring this verse to mind. It gives hope... I don't need a re-do. I am in the middle of one! And I am going to be confident in 2012 that He will continue His work in me.

A Christmas Conversation

2011-12-08T10:34:00.001-06:00

"This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to die for sinners; of whom I am chief." ~I Timothy 1:15

"Natalie, have you done your devotions today?"
"Oh, no, mom, I am on it right now."

So I watch my daughter reading God's Word. I usually have her use a study guide to follow along with. I think they are good tools to teach children how to apply Scripture to their lives. But this morning, she was just reading the Bible and nothing else. I was skeptical.

"Mom! I read two whole chapters this morning!"
"That's great, what did you read about?"

She tells me about how an angel told Joseph to take Mary and Jesus into Egypt to escape Herod's slaughter. And then, at the right time, the safe time, God tells Joseph to go back home. Good, she understands what she read.... but then I asked,

"So what can you learn from what you read?"
"Uh.... To serve God and not kings?"
"I guess..."

I had nothing specific in mind for her to say, but I knew that this was her generic answer when she didn't know... kind of like the child who answers every question in Sunday School with "Jesus". So I helped her out, not knowing where it would lead.

"What would have happened if Joseph did not do what God had said?"

Her answer amazed me.

"Then Jesus would have been killed as a baby and we would all still be sinners." She had a look of despair on her face as she said the words.

Wow.

The conversation went on from there, with more wonderful insight, but the answer Natalie gave me to my original question still weighs heavy on me, as it should.

I had just been reading from a Christmas book that very morning that said this:

"The whole of Christ's life was a continual passion; others dies martyrs, but Christ was born a martyr. He found a Golgotha, where He was crucified, even in Bethlehem, where He was born; for to His tenderness then the straws were almost as sharp as the thorns after, and the manger as uneasy at first as the cross at last. His birth and His death were but one continual act, and His Christmas Day and His Good Friday are but the evening and morning of one and the same day. From the creche to the cross is an inseparable line. Christmas only points forward to Good Friday and Easter. It can have no meaning apart from that, where the Son of God displayed His glory by His death."*

God's plan for our salvation was perfect, from beginning to end. And I will always be reminded of my daughter's answer, and the look on her face. Our hope is found in Christ, and this season is not only a celebration of His birth, but the birth of the Hope for the whole world. Without His timely sacrifice, we would still be lost and in despair.

*Excerpt from John Donne's sermon "Christmas Day, 1626."

A Month of Thanksgiving - Days 12-16

2011-11-17T09:10:00.001-06:00

Well. That was quite a break. I almost forgot that I have a blog. That's okay, though. I had a lot of family things going on, and family > blog. Right now, I am sitting in a hotel room in peace. and. quiet. I came along with Stephen on a work-trip, and he has given me the gift of two hours alone. I am loving it.

But on to thankfulness.

A song has been on my mind lately, with all these thoughts on thanksgiving. It goes like this:

I will enter His gates with thanksgiving in my heart.
I will enter His courts with praise.
I will say, "This is the day that the Lord hath made."
I will rejoice for He has made me glad.

Has God made you glad? This really is a trick question, because He should make you glad. Usually though,, other things make us glad. A new gadget. A good meal. A warm, sunny day. Things that go our way. We don't really rejoice in God, Himself. We rejoice in what He gives us, as we should. BUT do we ever just rejoice in Him alone? In who He is? I challenge you to think about Him and His person this week. When we dwell on Him, we can be glad and thankful in any circumstance. The things around will not seem so important. It's like the old hymn, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus...

Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.

Now, I've got some thanksgiving to give myself.

On day 12 I am thankful for my parents. They are hard working and always there when needed. They are wonderful grandparents - the kind that actually like their grandchildren instead of put up with them.
Day 13 has me thankful for God's provision right when needed.
Day 14 I am thankful for Meredith, my second oldest. She has a beautiful, dimpled smile. She can be moody, but it is a good challenge for me to undertake. She loves to be like mommy or her sister. The things she comes up with make me laugh everyday. I love her very much!
Day 15 I am thankful for health care workers and medication. I got an infection this week, which was miserable. The doctor was able to pinpoint it and give me the right medicine. Are you thankful too, that we live in this medical age, instead of a time when people often died because they went to doctors? God is good!
And today, Day 16. I am thankful for God's truth. There is truth, and that is a wonderful thing to rest my head upon every night. I do not have to wonder if any thing is certain- and I have wondered that at times- because I know that God and Hid Word are certain. To serve a God who embodies truth is a confident place to be, isn't it?

I Will Enter His Gates written by Gwen R. Shaw
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus written by Helen H. Lemmel.

A Month of Thanksgiving - Days 10 & 11

2011-11-12T07:46:00.001-06:00

I think it is wonderful that Veteran's Day just happens to fall during the Thanksgiving Season. I know that it wasn't thought of that way, but it is so appropriate to be thankful for our veterans in November. As most of you know, my brother is in the Marine Reserves. He's been to Iraq. It wasn't a super eventful time for him, which I praise the Lord for. He might be going to Afghanistan in the near future, though. I am still amazed at how resolute he was on joining up, and how he has stayed true to his commitment. It is not always enjoyable. He missed his family a lot while he was away.

In Iraq, he and the others we very bored. When I talked to a fellow Marine who was in the combat at the beginning of the war, he said, "Wow. I wish I had been bored. I was exhausted." We were very blessed that Mitch went near the end of combat in Iraq. But I know it isn't that way for everyone who serves or has family serve.

That is something to think about - we need a holiday to celebrate the wives, mothers and fathers, children, siblings that have to deal with the turmoil of a loved one away, and possibly gone forever. I have seen first hand several times how difficult it is for them. The mother who tries to watch the news everyday for a word of how things are in Iraq. She's just waiting to hear the name of her son's base. Repeating to herself, "No news is good news." I have seen the wife with her beloved thousands of miles away, skyping faithfully with her husband everyday. Trying to stay busy with her daughter to make the year apart go faster. The young child, whose only tender touch from her father comes from computer screen, which is no touch at all. The fiancée, wondering if her wedding will ever really happen, or if her promised one's life will be cut short, and her hopes cut short in the process. These people make the ultimate sacrifice as well. I cannot imagine resigning myself to a loved one's possible death or injury in less than favorable circumstances. Wow.

I am thankful too for the businesses that honored veterans yesterday. Places like Applebees, Texas Roadhouse, Culvers and others gave free meals and treats to those who served. That is how it ought to be!!! No one, not even the President, deserves more of our gratitude in America than those who have served in the military. And we also need to pray for our country anew. That our military would be provided for, as cuts seem to be in the future. A great nation like ours needs a strong military.

Now, it seems almost sacrilegious to change channels, but I must. I am also thankful for friends. I am not going to start naming names, because I do not want to miss anyone, but you know who you are. Last night, I was able to spend some time with some of these friends, working on crafty things, talking, laughing, eating, listening to my kids scream... ahem. I have some great friends who really encourage me in many ways. I love being able to talk about spiritual things with many of them; being real with them and knowing that even if they do not fully understand, they are still there for me. It's like having a bunch of sisters, since my own is far away. There was a time, not too long ago, that I really distanced myself from other women. Put on a front. I have been hurt so many times in my life by supposed "friends" that it seemed that maybe I was just going to be a loner. So I really praise the Lord for people, friends, who saw that and drew me in.

God is so good to us to give us just what we need, isn't He? What are you thankful for today? I would love to know...

A Month of Thanksgiving - Day 9

2011-11-10T07:38:00.000-06:00

We've had a lot of seriousness around here lately. Well, I am going to change that today. I am going to reveal Part B of the project I had introduced in this post.

Voila!

Now, I am not much of a picture taker. I do not have a pricey camera to take fantastic pictures with. So you will not see a tutorial with step by step pictures for this. It isn't even original with me, so it seems kinda wrong to tutorialize. If that's even a word, which the spell check tells me it is not. It sounds good....

Anyways. Back to this.

My friend, Julie, did this at church and I thought it was brilliant. But I don't have many nice trees with branches, so I never tried this at home. Until one day, Sophie enters the house with a substantial branch. My first reaction was to tell her not to bring branches into the house, but I caught myself when I saw the caliber of said branch. It was perfect. So I went forward with the idea for a Thanksgiving Tree...

I started out with a vase I found at goodwill. Really. $1 vase. THEN I took some rice and put a few drops of food coloring in and stirred until well mixed. I used red and green for mine, but you can do whatever you want. The kids loved this part. As a matter of fact, I am still finding green rice in all sorts of places. Going on....

I layered the rice in the vase and then placed the branch in the middle. Now, you could use almost anything to weigh the branch down, as long as it is something that will keep it upright. River rock, marbles, shredded paper might even work. I used the colored rice because I had it on hand and I like color.

Part A is now needed. Take the cards you have been working on, and punch a hole in one of the corners. Take some ribbon and tie a loop through the hole. You could use ornament hangers too... or paper clips... or twist ties... There are many options in this project, so just do what works for you. Hang the cards and there you have it. A Thanksgiving Tree.

On to my Thanksgiving for Today

I am thankful for my oldest girl, Natalie. She is a wonderful big sister, always ready to help the little ones, play with them, teach them. (She likes to do "baby pre-school" with Ethan. It's cute.) Natalie ran a lemonade stand this summer, in the hopes of earning money for a doll she has wanted for sometime. Today, she and I are going on a Mommy-Daughter date to pick up the doll she worked so hard for. She has had a rough fall with her health, but she perseveres through it all. I cannot believe how she is growing, both in stature and mind. She loves Jesus and tries so to please Him and tell her friends about him. I love her to pieces.

A Month of Thanksgiving - Day 8

2011-11-09T09:02:00.002-06:00

"No storm can shake my inmost calm,

While to that Refuge clinging,

Since Christ is Lord of Heaven and Earth,

How can I keep from singing?"

It certainly is stormy outside. At this moment, it is stormy inside too. Ethan squealing like a pig about a donut that will not be his. Natalie asking yet another question amidst the screams. Sophie singing. Meredith arguing with Natalie. Not to mention the yogurt in the kitchen, marker on my bed, game scattered across the living room floor.

Life is not perfect. It is not meant to be.

There are many, many times when I am not peaceful in the midst of small storms in my world. I get upset, and I do not look for the "gift" in the midst of trials. It doesn't come naturally, does it?

But.

When I rely on Christ. When I stop and say, "Take this. Use it in my life and show me what to do." Something happens. A peace comes. I can say, "Thank you, Lord, for this noise. It is the sound of children. I am thankful that you have given them to me, and that you have equipped me to handle them. Give me wisdom."

This doesn't always happen. A life of praise is always a work in progress.

So I stop in the midst of the storm, right now, and offer up my praise to God. In thanksgiving. Did you know that thanksgiving is a sacrifice to God?

By Him therefore let us offer

the sacrifice of praise to God continually,

that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to His name.

~Hebrews 13:15

Praise is thanksgiving. God's Word acknowledges that it is hard to do; it is a sacrifice. We sacrifice our tendency to complain, what most of us perceive as a right, to give glory to God instead. We bring our thoughts into the captivity of Christ. (2 Corinthians 10:5) It takes work. It takes sacrifice. But in the end, we bring something before the Lord that pleases Him.

So today I offer my sacrifice.

Oh! This one is almost easy. I am thankful for my little boy, Ethan. After having three girls, a little boy is a breath of fresh air. I say this as he is trying to brush my screen with his wet toothbrush. He loves John Deere, Bob the Builder, Cars...anything "boy" he loves. He is also polite. He says "please" and "thank you" so sweetly. He is a cuddler. He is the first one awake every morning. I usually awake to him staring at me. He likes to sing and be with his daddy. He is friendly and easy to appease. I don't think God could have given me a better little boy.

"How Can I Keep From Singing" was written by Robert Lowry. Public Domain.

A Month of Thanksgiving - Day 7

2011-11-08T09:18:00.001-06:00

"O Thou in Whose presence my soul takes delight..."

Beautiful words. I wish that it was always so with me, but I would not be honest if I said that it was. I want to delight in my God more and more. A thankful spirit goes a long way in getting to that point.

You know, we live in an affluent society. It's true, even if you are behind on bills, hardly making ends meet, and fallen on hard times, you still have more than most people in this world. We forget that a lot. We think that we need the iPad, multiple vehicles, countless purses, shoes, and eat what we want when we want it. Life is a dream here, compared to most parts of the world. But we get upset when our order at McDonalds isn't as fast as we would like. If we have clothes that are from last year, we are quick to purchase new ones. We have a lot. If you think about it, you have a lot.

I have been trying to pare down what we need in our home. Our house is pretty small for the six of us. Most people would be irritated and say, "We HAVE to move!" I know, because I have said that a few times. I am learning to be content. That more is just sometimes more, not better. I have a long ways to go, and I don't mean to make anyone feel guilty for what they have. It is a blessing to live as we do. And when God blesses us, we ought to accept the blessing. But sometimes I think that our perspective of that blessing needs to change.

What has helped me is the various opportunities that we have had at church to watch "Dispatches from the Front." It's a series produced and distributed by Frontline Missions, an organization that focuses its efforts on unreached or under-reached people groups, especially in the 10/40 window.

In these videos, I have seen the joy of Jesus light up faces of people who have nothing. Their salvation is enough. Their soul truly does delight in God. Wow. That really knocks the wind out of my American Dream sails. It makes me, by default, MORE thankful for what I have, for where God has put me, and brings home the real needs of fellow believers all over the world. So if you get a chance, watch the previews, or order the DVDs, or ask to borrow from me, I have two of them.

I know that this doesn't seem like a real thanksgiving post, but it is. Let's be thankful right where we are. Not when we get something, but we should be thankful for what we have.

And today I am thankful for what I have.

This day, I am thankful for my husband. He's such a hard worker, dedicated to what he does. Stephen is always supportive of what I do and is honest when he sees things that could be changed. He desires to do God's will and is not concerned about what other people think in response to that. I don't have to be the pants in the family, and I really appreciate that. He's got that mischievous smirk that makes even the most serious debate turn into a fun interaction. People like my husband are difficult to come by, and I really am blessed to have him.

A Month of Thanksgiving - Days 5 & 6

2011-11-07T08:08:00.000-06:00

Well, it happened. I didn't get posted on Sunday. I am sorry. But you know, I think that I may keep Sunday that way. It is actually the thing I am thankful for yesterday on Day 5 - a day of rest and worship. God was absolutely brilliant, as He is in everything He does, when He chose to make a Sabbath. You can debate me on when the Sabbath is, but I believe that for Christians it is Sunday. I still have to cook. Watch my children and all that. But there is a restful attitude on that day, and it gives me and my family time to actually re-cooperate from the always hectic week. Stephen actually does no work on Sundays. We go to church. We eat our afternoon meal together at the dining room table. Sometimes we get a nap. Sometimes we don't. We end our day in church as well, which I do like because it wraps the day in the Reason there is a Sabbath... for refreshment, rest and worship.

And then there is Day 6 - I am thankful for my home. It is messy many times, to be sure. When you have 2 toddlers, a preschooler, and a second grader who are with you all day long, that is going to happen. Actually, it never ends. We have a lot of fun in this home. Make things. Break things. Eat things. Laugh. Cry. Teach. Clean. This house is my sanctuary. I do look forward to the day when I can have people into our home more often, but I am not in that season of life quite yet. I am getting there, but it is a slow process. God provided this home for us, and He is so good to give us exactly what we need.

Whoa.

I totally changed it up on you, didn't I? Thanksgivings first and now, NOW I will present you with something for today.

In everything give thanks:

for this is the will of God

in Christ Jesus concerning you.

~I Thessalonians 5:18

I know, I know I have mentioned this verse before. But notice this, giving thanks is doing the will of God. Do you ever wonder what His will is for you? I know there are times when I am not sure which way He wants me to go. Then, I must wait. I do not like to wait, but there it is. I do know, though, one thing He wants me to do in the meantime. Give thanks always for all things. Need a mood changer? Give thanks. Kids made a huge mess? Give thanks. (That's a hard one for me.) In good times? Give thanks. In bad times? Give thanks. You can never go wrong when you offer up your gratitude to your Creator. Never.

Here's another printable that you can frame or hang up in your office to remind you of this truth. I have it in my living room shadow box. The words that are emphasized are perfect, aren't they? Once again, I did not make this and I acknowledge that by linking to their site.

And here's the best part, if you don't like it in pumpkin, you can print it in these colors too!

So, what are you thankful for today? I would love to hear about it in the comments section below!

A Month of Thanksgiving - Day 4

2011-11-05T01:00:00.000-05:00

What a hectic life we all have! I know I am busy... so I am sure that you are even more so. I am glad that this time of year an give us a little chance to slow down and look at the world in a different way. Oh, that gratitude was our glasses everyday! I am hoping to come to that point in my life, where I see the blessings in everything.

I am saving more goodies for the weekdays. Lots of blogs post their good stuff on the weekends, but I think that the weekdays need a pick-me-up. Besides. I am tired. : )

Today I Give Thanks For

The work that our family business has right now. Let me tell you, if you ever want to learn to trust the Lord for your needs, start a business. My dad started the business when I was in college, and I was a part of it then. Now, my husband manages the day to day operations, so I am still a part of the business. Summer is usually our busy season, but it was very slow instead. But we knew, we KNEW that God would provide. And He has. We have had the BUSIEST fall that I can recall in 12 years. (Someone correct me if I am wrong...) Lots of new opportunities have opened up, which has helped tremendously. This is kind of a difficult thing to be thankful for, because when it is crazy busy (like now), the kids and I do not see Stephen very much. So we miss him a lot. But we know that it is only of the Lord that our business is doing as well as it is. I always pray that God would allow our business to succeed, not for lots of money for us, but so we can glorify Him and testify of His goodness as we follow His ways.

A Month of Thanksgiving - Day 3

2011-11-04T01:00:00.000-05:00

Making known His deeds among the people... it's pretty easy to quick type something into the old Facebook status, or even post it on a blog, like me. Living it out in real life situations, that's more difficult. I know it is a challenge for me at least. What about the people around you in real life? Have you been making known God's goodness to them as well?

Well, I have something here that is part of a bigger project, which will be revealed in a future thanksgiving post. Let's call this part A. I have been working on part A since September. Not consistently, but doing it nonetheless.

Are these not neat? The download is free, of course. (I LOVE FREE DOWNLOADS!) So you can print to your hearts content. I have the whole family write things down (we were trying to everyday), and then I write names on the back, so we can keep them and look back, if we want to. Or throw them, but do you really want to do that? I didn't think so...

My Thanks Today:

Salvation. I know that is what every believer says. As well we should, we should never get over being born again. More specifically, I am thankful that even though I am still very flawed, God is changing me, and someday I will be exactly what He wants me to be. In Heaven. Do you ever get weary of sinning and messing up all the time? I know I do. I am so glad that Christ saved me from all I have done and ever will do. I am thankful that I have the hope of being completely free from sin when I get to Heaven.

A Month of Thanksgiving - Day 2

2011-11-03T01:00:00.000-05:00

There is a lot to give thanks for, once we stop and get into the mindset of thankfulness, isn't there? God has been so good to us each and everyday, and yet we often forget or do not stop and acknowledge His gifts, no matter how small they are. So. Today, to encourage an attitude of thanksgiving, I want to share two things with you:

A Holy Experience - This blog is written by Ann Voskamp, and her overwhelming theme is living a life of thankfulness to God. Her writing style is very beautiful, picturesque and real. Not to mention her photographs... I am trying to get the gumption to ask her how much for one of her pictures, they are so lovely. Read her for a week, and if you are not blessed by what you read, then your blesser is broken!

One Thousand Gifts - This is Ann's book. I received it from a friend while I was recovering from surgery this spring, and it is fantastic. Like her blog, it is raw and really challenges you to think on Christ and His attitude of thankfulness. It will overwhelm you. I admit, I am still finishing this book, reading a little at a time. It has some weight to it that is missing in many books nowadays.

Now. My thanksgiving for today...

I am thankful for new life. Two days ago, our family grew by one when little Hudson was born to my sister-in-law, Janelle. It is always exciting to me when a child enters the world, especially into a God-loving family. The miracle of birth should never be taken for granted. Life is precious!

Test Run for Button

2011-11-02T12:34:00.003-05:00

Thanks to my friend, Sabrina, for letting me use her design for this campaign of thankfulness! She is very talented, isn't she? And thanks to you who are participating so far, I have much more planned for this month that I hope will be a blessing to you, as it has been and is being to me!

A Month of Thanksgiving - Day 1

2011-11-02T09:06:00.000-05:00

I know I am a day late starting this. But I gotta! This month, I am going to TRY to post one or more things that I am thankful for each and everyday. So yes, you will have a reason to check up more often on this blog. Or not. What's more, I would love, Love, LOVE it if you would participate with me! Just write what YOU are thankful for in the comments section of my blog.

Here's a verse to meditate on about thankfulness:

O give thanks to the Lord;

call upon His name;

make known His deeds among the people.

~ 1 Chronicles 16:8

And today I want to give thanks to the Lord for changing seasons. It is a blessing to live where seasons change drastically. Spring is beautiful here - a renewal of life, very appropriate since we celebrate the new birth we have in Christ at this time of year. Summer is perfect (at least for me) - not too hot, usually. Not too cold (usually) either. Things can grow and flourish in our climate. Fall is gorgeous - the colors on the trees changing into vibrant hues, showing the miracle of God's creation in an innovative way only He could concoct. Winter, oh winter! As much as we may complain (I try not to...), this season is a wonderful reminder of God's pardon - he washes our sins away whiter than snow... imagine! The quietness of a snowfall is a perfect reminder of Christ's birth, a meek beginning for a powerful Savior!

So what are YOU thankful for today?

Just a Typical Saturday Morning...

2011-10-22T10:32:00.000-05:00

I don't have any pictures for this post. (Don't worry, I'll post some soon!) Just close your eyes and picture it in your mind....

Natalie is at a sleep over.

Meredith is making something with construction paper and glue.

Sophie is listening to the self-affirming stylings of Mr. Rodger's Neighborhood. ("It's you, I like...")

Ethan is sitting in the sunshine, drinking my coffee, grinning, playing with some small piece of something.

Piles of laundry sit on my couch. As usual.

Fabric and books are on the table.

I am looking for a sewing machine on craiglist.

Stephen is working this Saturday... again.

Okay, now Ethan is playing with his John Deere Gator. Yes, he still loves all things John Deere.

The sink has some dishes in it - mind you, not lots, like normal.

This is what a Saturday morning is supposed to be like, sans Stephen working.

Lessons from Death

2011-10-11T09:37:00.000-05:00

"Yellow roses were her favorite," my Grandpa says quietly as we enter the church. I can hardly stand to look at his eyes, so grief stricken, so tired. Usually, my Grandpa is a jolly man if there ever was one. Even while my Grandma lay in their house, suffering with the cancer that riddled her body, he would offer his humor as a way of easing her pain. "I just try to make her smile these days."

The grief I have right now is not for the dead. My Grandma is not in any pain right now, and will never be again. She is not suffering in confusion at this point. She is in a place filled with joy and peace. I am relieved for her. I will miss her at family gatherings, and even going to her house after saying final goodbyes - I almost expected to see her. But I cannot be sad for her.

My grief is with the ones left behind, namely my Grandpa. I can hardly write this without tears, but I think it needs reflection. Grandpa insisted that the picture placed by her urn be her high school picture. It was a picture I had never seen before, and it was a good choice. This is the girl he fell in love with, over 50 years ago. Young, beautiful, bright with life. As I watched him look at that picture, I remember seeing that look another time very recently. He was watching her in her bed, asleep from the dose of pain medicine she had been given. And I wonder, when he looked at her, did he see what I saw or did he see his young, beautiful bride?

How do you console a man who has just lost his partner of over 50 years? His life's companion. You live with someone for most of your life, longer than even your parents. You have a bond that is hard to explain and difficult for others to understand fully. You live together through so many things, many happy, many painful. Either way you live to see another day together until the most painful moment comes. Her death.

I watched my great aunt walk in the church, who recently lost her husband as well. She was trying to hold it together as she came towards Grandpa, but she couldn't. "How are you, Jan?" he asked. "I'm doing okay," was her response. Grandpa replied, "Well, as long as you are all right, I am too. That's what matters, is that you are okay." He wanted her, and others, to be "okay" more than himself.

One day when I was little, I had gotten sick. Doctor visit sick. My Grandpa came over and made me a bowl of popcorn. This was kind of unusual for him to do. But as he brought it to me he said, "Popcorn helps you feel better." He swore by it. I passed that on to my kids - popcorn helps you feel better. As I sat in his kitchen - their kitchen - after the graveside service for Grandma, I noticed something on the counter. A bowl of popcorn.

I talked awhile ago about thanking God for the hard things. I never could have imagined how that would play out in my life in recent days. But you know what I am thankful for? That in death we learn to value life more, and treasure those around us more dearly. There are many lessons to be learned in death, and I am just beginning that part of my journey.

Conflicting Feelings

2011-08-30T15:56:00.000-05:00

I just found this old John Newton hymn while looking for another hymn. His hymns and poems are great reading, for they are raw and honest about the Christian life. He was a sober thinker on the things of Christ, and it reflected in his writing on many levels. If these words do not resonate with you in some way, then you are a better person than I. (which I am sure you are anyways...)

Conflicted Feelings

Written by John Newton

Strange and mysterious is my life.

What opposites I feel within!

A stable peace, a constant strife;

The rule of grace, the power of sin:

Too often I am captive led,

Yet daily triumph in my Head,

Yet daily triumph in my Head.

I prize the privilege of prayer,

But oh! what backwardness to pray!

Though on the Lord I cast my care,

I feel its burden every day;

I seek His will in all I do,

Yet find my own is working too,

Yet find my own is working too.

I call the promises my own,

And prize them more than mines of gold;

Yet though their sweetness I have known,

They leave me unimpressed and cold

One hour upon the truth I feed,

The next I know not what I read,

The next I know not what I read.

I love the holy day of rest,

When Jesus meets His gathered saints;

Sweet day, of all the week the best!

For its return my spirit pants:

Yet often, through my unbelief,

It proves a day of guilt and grief,

It proves a day of guilt and grief.

While on my Savior I rely,

I know my foes shall lose their aim,

And therefore dare their power defy,

Assured of conquest through His name,

But soon my confidence is slain,

And all my fears return again,

And all my fears return again.

Thus different powers within me strive,

And grace and sin by turns prevail;

I grieve, rejoice, decline, revive,

And victory hangs in doubtful scale:

But Jesus has His promise passed,

That grace shall overcome at last,

That grace shall overcome at last.

My First Post on Homeschooling

2011-08-14T18:09:00.000-05:00

"Never. I will never homeschool my children. They will not get the social interaction at home. They need that school setting. And besides, I don’t think I could do it if I wanted to. I am just not going to be that kind of mom.”

That summed up my thoughts on homeschooling when Natalie was born. I was determined to never homeschool, having gone to school for education myself, I was devoted to a traditional school environment for my children. I loved school, and I wanted my children to have the same wonderful experiences that I had growing up. I had amazing teachers who encouraged my love for learning – and I went to a public school for most of my life.

So when did the change come? Anyone who knows me knows that I am a homeschooling mom. Well, I’ll admit that my intial reasons were out of reluctance. The Christian school we could send her to was further than I was willing to let her go. I wasn’t ready for her to go. (Selfish, I know.) Not only that, but we could not afford to send her to a Christian school.

Why not public school? I realize that it seems hypocritical to say that I loved my public school yet deny it to my child. But here’s the deal: Public schools are different wherever you go. And public schools have changed drastically in the last twenty years. Not in a good way either. So that was never an option for us. I know and acknowledge that kids can get a great education at public schools, but I was not and am not willing to risk it. Just my personal conviction on it.

So we started homeschooling. She wanted to go to a real school at first, because she watched her friends going to school. She likes to do what her friends do. But still, she thrives and does very well. This started to change my reluctance to homeschool. I was revived in my love of learning too.

I was (and still am) finding tons of fun ways to teach my children. I enjoyed making lesson plans. It has been fun to get to put my teacher’s heart to use in my own flesh and blood. My younger children are begging me to begin schooling them too, because they see Natalie enjoying her experience. And this is what my goal is and has been: I want my children to love learning.

We have a lot of highly educated people, but how many of them love learning? How many of them know the art of learning? I find even in teaching a junior high Sunday school class that most kids do not have a love for learning or even a desire to know things. Important things. Necessary things. I have so feared that my children will be like everyone else – not really enjoying the learning process or even knowing how to learn. It has been satisfying to nurture that love for learning in them.

It isn’t easy though. Actually, there are times I feel bad for Natalie because she does not have my undivided attention… I have three other children who are pre-school age and younger! I keep telling myself, and her, that this will change as they get older and she gets older. And I am sure it will.

All that to say, my thoughts on homeschooling have changed drastically. I have found that the way you homeschool your children is unique to your family dynamic. Many people are surprised when they learn that we homeschool, because we don’t “seem the type”. We certainly don’t fit the stereotype. (And by the way, it is okay if you do too.) Our kids are outgoing, involved in church and sports (we have a great YMCA here), and have many friends.

I have a lot more thoughts on homeschooling. And I am sure that I will share different aspects with you, not as a pro at this. I am still in the beginning and learning stages (do you ever get past those?). But I am starting to feel comfortable sharing more about this part of our family, now that it is here to stay for awhile…

Eight Years

2011-07-13T09:24:00.000-05:00

Somethings are better kept the way they are. I guess that is how I felt after I changed my template. It didn't really fit me and was kinda obnoxious. So I changed it back. There. That's better.

On to other things...

Today, Stephen and I have been married for eight, 8, years. So I decided that we needed a kid-free night. And I sit here blogging. (It's okay, this won't take long...)

The time has flown by! I recall that day, eight years ago... I was nothing but excited. Not nervous, but confident in our future together. Not really scared either. Why would I be scared of something that was so clearly God's will for my life? I have never been more certain of anything, besides my salvation.

Our wedding wasn't fancy - we were concerned more about the "happily ever after" than the day itself.

I am sure that my dad had to pull me back a little from getting down that aisle. My flower girl paused part way down... but the moment came. Stephen, his father and his brothers singing "Oh, Jesus I Have Promised." My Grandfather officiating and preaching on Aquilla and Priscilla's life of serving together. It all fit perfectly. That is what we wanted our marriage to be about. Service. Living for Christ. Together.

We talked with everyone who came to our reception. We didn't smash the cake. Stephen didn't think that would be very nice. We left the reception in a well-decorated SUV. Stephen, still in his tuxedo, stopped by the car wash to get some of the goop off the truck.

I won't go into the honeymoon too much. ; ) Our reservation at the hotel was canceled, so we had to stay elsewhere. We flew to Jacksonville and went to Stephen's home church to see all our dear friends. We enjoyed our favorite places in Antebellum South. We made an impromptu stop in Washington D.C. We drove my new car home from all the fun, making some interesting pit stops along the way.

Today, the way we celebrate our love has changed, but it is no less romantic or fun-filled. Walking to the library. Buying groceries. Watching movies. Eating pizza and gummy bears. Enjoying silence together.

The mundane in life can be an absolute gift from God. The constant of a life long companion throughout this journey. Just having someone to enjoy the chaos and monotony with is a treasure. And that is what I have.

Happy Anniversary, Stephen. I love you.

In Everything...

2011-07-04T15:25:00.000-05:00

God does not always allow us to walk in a rose garden. Sometimes, we must walk on a dark, rocky path. Sometimes, the light He shines gets very dim. Sometimes, He doesn't seem as near as He has been. And frankly, it stinks. I am tempted at those times to fall into a pity party, and just shut myself up in my room for however long it takes for the storm to pass. Okay, I do shut myself up. It isn't right.

I was reading a blog this morning, and she talks entirely about living a life of Thanksgiving to God. Every day. And today, she was talking about thanking God for the hard gifts. The ones we really are not thankful for. That takes work, doesn't it? To say, "Lord, thank You for the conflict going on right now. I know that You are going to use this for Your glory." That is difficult. Yet, it is what we are to do.

In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. ~I Thessalonians 5:18

The verse doesn't just say, "In the good things give thanks..." It says in EVERYTHING give thanks. That must include things that we don't see as good. Job knew this when he said:

Shall we receive good from God, and shall we not receive evil? ~Job 2:8

That word evil means "disaster" in this context. We like to think that God brings good into our lives, but there are indeed times when He allows disaster in as well. Why? For His purposes.

Have you ever been doing something for a child, and with each step they ask "Why are you doing that?" I have. And I cannot always answer them, because the step is part of a process that they don't understand. I am a person who likes to know why things are happening the way they are. God is often trying to tell me, "I can't tell you all the ins and outs of what I am doing, but just trust Me. Trust that I am doing what is right for you."

So sometimes, God brings disaster into our lives. Do we thank Him for it?

We Christians like to quote Romans 8:28 all the live-long day, but I don't think that most of us let it fully sink in.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.

That does not mean that all good things are going to work together for good. It doesn't mean the end result will meet our human definition of good. Remember, God's good is far better than any good we can come up with. We often call things bad that God calls good.

Our tire goes flat - bad. Our hair goes flat - bad. Our hair goes - bad. People go - bad. That's how we see it.

God sees it differently. He sees all things completely and fully. He sees that flat tire, or flat hair, or loved one gone, and He says, "Good." He can, because He knows it is part of His process.

Are we willing to trust His ways completely, so that we can thank Him for all things?

Another thing: this isn't just a rote idea of "I gotta do it", but rather "I want to do it." As we give thanks for all things, God will use it to cultivate thankfulness in us. We may not mean it fully at first, and we should be honest before Him about that. But as we give that thanks to God for all things, He works with what little sincerity there is. He knows that we want to be thankful, even if we are not. He will work in our hearts to the end that we will eventually mean it with utmost sincerity when we thank Him for the hard things in life. You have to start somewhere.

And so do I.

*Rocky Path picture used with permission from traveladventures.org. All rights reserved.

Mommy Time-Out

2011-06-21T10:13:00.000-05:00

Children are a blessing from the Lord, no doubt. They are also an immense challenge to raise - Especially if you are trying to raise in the ways of the Savior. It's hard work that requires vast energy and time. It's a wonderful job. And sometimes we need a break from it, whether our kids think so or not.

I am in no wise saying that we shouldn't make sacrifices for our children. Not in the least. But I think a lot of times we make ourselves into martyrs for them. They need our attention, they need our energy, they need our nurturing. BUT there does come a point where we need time to ourselves, or with grown ups, or with our husbands, or most of all with our Savior.

So Moms need time-outs. I know a church that has a program called "Mom's Time Out," where the ladies of the church go on field trips or get together without their children for a time. We need to start that where I am.... Oh, yeah. Why? It seems kind of selfish to take time out for ourselves when these are crucial times in our childrens' lives.

1. Everyone needs a time away. Even Jesus did. I've talked about this before: we cannot be at our best for our children if we are not feeling our best. We need rest just like everyone else. Also, the whole idea of "absence making the heart grow fonder" comes into play. When I have time away, I miss my kids. We need to miss our children sometimes to cherish them more when they are around.
2. Your relationships with others will continue when your kids are out of the house. Those relationships need nurturing too. Your husband needs time with you, because you are with him "till death do you part." I have seen couples so wrapped up in their children that they didn't make time for each other. And when the kids moved out, it was like they were living with a complete stranger. It works for friendships too.
3. You need to set an example for your own children. Do you want your children to feel the way you do? Frazzled with adult life, never having a break, or thinking you need one? When I take my time with my Lord each day, my kids are watching. They see that it is important for me to spend time in God's Word. It makes them want to as well. They need to see you and your husband loving each other, because that is how they will set the standard for marriage in their own lives. They need to see you serving in your church or witnessing to people. They need to see you interacting with your friends, because it shows them how to treat their own friends.
4. This is something I just learned, or relearned, and thought I would add it in... We need time to renew our spirit. Sometimes, I think a time-out is needed to evaluate whether or not we are parenting in our own strength. This should be, like every other area of life, an area where we acknowledge and depend utterly on the Holy Spirit to empower our parenting. We will fail miserably when we do it in our own strength. It is good and right to take time to examine ourselves and see if we are leaning on Jesus or parenting using our own efforts.

I could go on because this has been a big struggle in my life. For a few years, I felt like I needed to sacrifice ALL of my time for the kids. Never have a break. Never ask my husband to help, because he is already doing so much. Self-denial is in the Bible, right? Devotions went by the wayside and my rationale was, "The Lord knows how busy I am, He understands and knows that I want to spend time with Him. It is the thought that counts." The problem was that this wore on me greatly, and it showed in how I treated my kids. I almost resented being a mother, because it seemed like a monkish kind of life - especially when they were all toddlers. My husband helped me to realize that it is okay to take a break, and often times he would (and still does) push me out of the house to take a break because he could see I was at my wits' end. And being faithful in my daily time with the Lord has been the biggest boost. I need Him and I need to hear from Him every day! It is truly paramount to parenting.

So don't try to be a hero, never taking a moment for yourself. Your family needs you to... and you need to too!

2011-06-16T10:33:00.000-05:00

Dig a little.

Dig a lot.

Dig a brand new garden spot.

Plant a little.

Plant a lot.

Plant the seeds and bulbs you bought.

Wait a little.

Wait a lot.

Wait much longer than you thought.

*Excerpt from the poem "Dig In" by George Shannon can be found at this link.

Except...

2011-06-10T09:32:00.000-05:00

I have mentioned in the past that I love novel things. I like to create, although I am not a creative person myself. Sewing, cooking, knitting, baking, gardening, crafting.... it is all appealing. And I wish I was good at it all. My skills are a work in progress.

Sometimes, I have no desire to create anything. Other times, the bug hits and I am a goner.

Besides all this, I am still trying to do creative things while taking care of my kids. And I must admit that once I get started on a project, I forget that I even have children. Isn't that awful?

But lately I have been making a few things that I really like. Skirts for the girls, cape for the boy and his friend, skirt for myself. And the more I do it, the more I love it! Except....

Okay here's the confession: I really fretted about what to wear for my brother's wedding. Like it really mattered, since it wasn't at all about me, but about him and his lovely bride. Nevertheless I felt like I needed to look good for his big day. Representing the family and all.

So I found this great dress and all it lacked was a sweater or something to go with. And I didn't want white. This dress had so many different colors going on, I could have done almost anything.... but it was decided that I needed a green shrug. I just turned 30 and I have a renewed desire to look young. Why is it that when we age, we want to look younger, but when we are young we want to look older? Anyways...

So I found a way to repurpose a shirt into a shrug off a favorite website of mine. Totally cool and I had the perfect shirt. I was nervous about cutting it, so I took it over to my amazing grandmother, who had no qualms about helping me cut. She did a great job too. Plus I had the extra opinions of about 5 or 6 other relatives present that day, so the decision to do this was solid. Now all I had to do was finish the edges. Easy peasy. Except...

I sat at my sewing machine only to find that my little ones had tried to sew a gogurt at some point. Yogurt on my machine. All my dials moved about. My machine had been working great and now it was skipping stitches. I totally blamed the kids for it.

After trying several different methods to get this top finished, I did the best I could and called it done. Still wasn't happy with it, but no one will care. Who is going to be looking at me anyways? Except...

My sister tipped me off that she had a white shrug I could borrow. "No" I said, "no white, but thanks anyways." Then she tells me she found some at a store. So I look. I buy. I return. I take my sister's shrug home. I get ready for the wedding. (This shrug process took about a week, I am ashamed to say.)

Both shrugs accompanied me to the wedding, where I got a final opinion. White shrug it was.

After all that work.

What's more, I showed my green shrug to my grandmother, who told me that it wasn't the machine's fault, but my skills. I should have stretched the material and it would have sewn evenly.

Fail.

So to make myself feel better I made a skirt for myself. Got to lose a few pounds to fit into it, but...

I got nothing.

2011-05-13T15:23:00.000-05:00

I know that I am a slacker. Haven't been writing much lately. What else is new, right? Inconsistency is what you can depend on me for at this blog. And the kids are definitely not asleep right now. I am still waiting for that to happen today.

I have been having a hard time coming up with coherent thoughts on what to write. There is a lot I could write about, but I am not sure how to write it. Call it a blogging cramp, if you will.

It's really stupid too. (I know, stupid is a mean word, but it is the only appropriate one for this case.) Because since last time I wrote there have been birthdays for two of my kids, I had surgery, my brother is getting married, by best friend is getting married, Easter, Mother's Day, I turned 30, my in-laws came to visit, and not to mention my sister too! That's a lot going on.

Yet, I got nothing.

I want to write though! Argh!

I guess I will just post some cute pictures of my kids and call it good for today. Sound good to you? Good.

Ethan reflecting on the pinball table. No, really, do you see his reflection?

Sophie may want to be a bus driver someday...

Natalie and Meredith's floral creations

Follow the Recipe

2011-03-23T16:37:00.000-05:00

It was an exhausting day in the discipline department. Obedience was at an all-time low, especially with my 4 and 2 year olds. It was one of those days where you wonder if they know what it means to obey, let alone speak the same language.

I decided to feed these rogue children in spite of themselves. I'm nice like that. : ) As I was making dinner, my 4 year old was watching and asking questions about cooking. This opened up an analogy that I have never thought of before.

As a side note, I have been reading in James this week. Chapter 1, verse 5 says this, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." So I have been trying to ask God for wisdom everyday. I mean, if God's Word is true (which it is), then if I ask for wisdom from God, I will receive it. No rebuking or questions asked. God's wisdom is in abundant supply - I just need to ask for it.

So God gets the credit for this illustration, because I would never have come up with it on my own!

I explained to Meredith that I need to follow a recipe for my food to taste good and turn out the way it is supposed to. If I put in too much flour, it will be dry. If I put in too much salt, it would be unhealthy and taste bad. As long as I stick to the recipe, everything will be as it should... delicious.

Same with my children.... and us as well. I told Mere that when we obey, we are following the recipe God gives us for our lives. When He says, "Children obey your parents", He gives us part of the recipe for a good life. (I did say "yummy" to Meredith.... she got the point) When we do not follow the recipe God gives us, things do not go well. I am reminded of Ephesian 6:1-3 which says, "Children, obey your parents in the Lord: for this is right. Honour thy father and mother; which is the first commandment with promise; That it may be well with thee, and thou mayest live long on the earth." God promises that when children obey and honor their parents, things will go well.

If my children put too much lip in the recipe of obedience, things will not turn out as they should. If they skip a step or leave out part of the recipe, the end product will be no good. BUT if they do just as the recipe says, the result will be just what they wanted. So obedience isn't just for the mom and dad, but it is for the child's benefit too!

Adults need this lesson as well as children. If we follow God's recipes in the Recipe Book of life - the Bible- our lives will be just as God desires them to be. As an added bonus, we will get to enjoy the recipe because our lives will be well lived, just as we want them to be. So now I need to go follow the recipe, and encourage my little ones to do the same!

Thoughts and Resources for the New Year

2011-01-08T15:35:00.000-06:00

I must admit, when I go to my in-laws church, I have a hard time focusing on the sermon. You see, they have a bookstore, and when I am there my mind is reeling over what I want to purchase for my personal library. I have never been disappointed by the selections that are made there, as many of them are hand-picked by their pastor. Although, I am not sure he reads all the womens material. Probably not.

Anywho!

I found this book called Becoming God's True Woman, edited by Nancy Leigh DeMoss. I love her radio show and love what she is doing to try to reverse the feminist movement that has overtaken not only our society, but our churches too. It's a burden of mine for women to return to the desire that God has given them, to the role God has ordained for women. I still struggle with things that I have been taught throughout my life concerning femininity.

This book is kind of the starting point of Nancy's campaign for Biblical femininity. These authors are very easy to read, and there is a study guide in the back for further reflection and meditation. Several things have really stuck out to me so far, and I thought that I would share them with you.

First thing is this: Women should love their homes. Not necessarily a house, but their homes. This has sooo many implications that I am still trying to work out in my little noggin, but it includes things like taking care of the home, creating the right environment at home, and enjoying being at home. Being a homemaker is not an easy job, and the more I have thought on this, the more I realize this: women who are working outside the home have a hard job, but most of them (I said most - not all) do not focus on making a home in their house. This truth also made me think about what I have done or not done to make my home. Like I said, I am still trying to wrap my mind around all of it.

In another section, Mary Kassian discusses how it is important that we view God as our Father, and how that will motivate us in our daily lives. She says, "The Father appreciates your obedience. He appreciates your disciplines of prayer and fasting and being in the Word. He appreciates your service. But more than all these things and at the center of the gospel is this: the Father wants your heart. He does not want rote obedience, conformity, service, sacrifice, and ceaseless ministry from you. If He does not have your heart, these things mean nothing to Him. Living in a love relationship with God is the key to enjoying and delighting in Him and experiencing His delight with you. If you truly understand this and take it to heart, it will revolutionize your life and will allow you to begin to experience the joy and victory that Christ has already won for you."

She goes on to explain that when we view our relationship with God in this way, the things we do for Christ will be done with the right motive and with the right perspective. We will repent, because we have hurt our loving Father. We will evangelize, because we want people to know our Father. We will do Bible study, prayer and meditation because we have a longing to know our Father better. Our Christian service will be lead by our Father's plan for us, and not the "pressure to perform." We deal with trials and suffering because we know that our Father is taking care of it all and has our best interests at heart. It is truly amazing how our relationship with God changes when we view Him as the loving Heavenly Father that He is, and not a distant dictator that needs appeasement.

I have also found this excellent blog called Women Living Well. It is a real encouragement for women who are committed to being all they can be for Christ in their homes. Courtney has been featured on the Rachael Ray show as a "1950's wife". She also is an on-line Bible Study leader, and that site is called Good Morning Girls. It's hard to explain, but it is a really neat concept. I am planning on following along with their James study, but not "registering". If you are interested in a serious relationship with Christ, and encouragement from meat and not just milk, both these sites are for you.

As we enter into the new year, my prayer for myself, those around me, and anyone reading this blog is this - that we would daily search our hearts and let the Lord change us into His image. I have been and continue to pray for real, lasting revival in the lives of God's people. That we would move beyond our comfort zones and live our faith in tangible, radical ways; motivated not by any selfish desires, but by the love of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling savor.
~ Ephesians 5:1-2

The Best Laid Plans

2010-12-13T10:47:00.000-06:00

Christmas can be hectic. Especially for my family. There is program planning, tons of parties, practices, plowing and whatnot that we get lost in the shuffle often and are not able to relax at all during the holiday season. This one has not been an exception either.... up until now, that is.

Our Christmas Cantata this year was going to be special. Stephen and I wanted to do something different. We wanted something that would really capture the true spirit of this season. We wanted the cantata to be the fruits of a deeper reflection on what Christ's birth means. We wanted to help our church become more of a family.

So, I planned. I delegated. Tables were set. Chairs were brought in. Sign up sheets were filled to capacity. This year's cantata was going to be a full house. Help was assigned. The sound system was set up. Everything was ready to go. We were prepared to share the good news of Christ's birth.

Then it happened.

It snowed. No, it didn't just snow... we had blizzard warnings. On Sunday. That meant half the choir was gone. Half the orchestra was unable to come. Most of our church family and their guests could not make it in such conditions. We had nada. And it was a gift.

Proverbs tells us that we can make plans, but their fruition is only of the Lord. And despite our plans, which were vast, the Lord decided to bring snow instead. In that snow, He brought a lesson: slow down.

In Psalm 46:10, God command us, "Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth."

As I have thought on this verse and others, the thought has occurred that this season is meant for celebration, yes. But does it have to be so full that we don't have time for reflection too? Christ was born in a barn, in a very humble place. While I am sure there was some noise from animals and all, it didn't have the same fanfare as would have been had he been born in the palace in Jerusalem. God's intention was a quiet, humble birth. So, do we necessarily need a noisy celebration? The answer I come to as I dwell on Scripture is: not always.

We think worth comes through fanfare and noise. I think God is most glorified through humility and quiet.

As far as our evangelistic outreach goes, I think God gave us a good reminder with the snow storm: He doesn't need us for His Word to go forth. Don't get me wrong, He wants to use us to bring people to Himself. We are part of His plan. But He can do it without our gimmicks. He just wants people with willing hearts. And He can save people despite what we do or do not do.

Back to Sunday now. Stephen had to plow in the morning, but he was able to spend the rest of the day with his family. Right now, that is a luxury in this house. We stayed in our pajamas, had a wonderful meal, played, laughed, snuggled, wrestled, napped... it was great. It was restful. It was a gift from the Lord, truly. A day of rest to prepare for the rest of the holiday season.

Have you been so busy that you haven't had time to reflect? Has your family been pushed to the side a little because of all your plans for celebrating Christ's birth? I found a website for busy moms, and in it she has a Christmas challenge to focus our hearts and minds back on Christ. It involves rest and slowing things down. Check it out if you get a chance.

That's all for now.

Ponderings: Christmas

2010-11-08T11:11:00.000-06:00

I have finally come to grips with something that has taken me seven years to grasp - Christmas comes early in our house. It has to since Stephen is the choir director. He has to "get into the mood" so that we can plan the cantata every year. And since I have grasped this truth, I have learned a few things from it.

Thing 1: We keep Christmas in a box.
It's true and I have done it my whole life. We have parameters for when Christmas starts and ends. We are sickened when we see Christmas merchandise out right after school starts. Christmas music and movies cannot be listened to before Thanksgiving. And the tree? Gone by the first week of the new year.
Why do we do that? Isn't Christ's birth central to our salvation? Shouldn't it, then, be central to our lives and not confined to one month of the year? Shouldn't the spirit behind Christmas and Easter permeate our being all year. I know Christmas has become highly commercialized, but to Christians we shouldn't let that bother us. We can rejoice a little that it does become a big celebration, as it should be! Non-believers are not going to appreciate Christmas as we do... or ought to.

Thing 2: We do not prepare for Christmas properly.
I don't know about you, but it kinda sneaks up on me. This year, I have been reading already and preparing my heart to celebrate this season in the hope that I will treasure and savor it more. Gift buying is great and shows us how God gave us the gift of His Son. If you are good at buying well in advance, that's great! But I am going beyond having your cookies baked and frozen in November. We need heart preparation. We need to dwell on Christ's birth and its different aspects. It ought to convict and change us so that spirit of "goodwill toward men" lasts all year.

Thing 3: The highlight of Christmas is usually the day itself and not the Savior.
It is human nature to be excited about receiving things, and I do not want to take that away from anyone. But I must ask, do we look forward to the presents most, or to aspects where we get to celebrate Christ's birth? Do we look forward to Christmas programs, caroling and other ways to celebrate through service, or are they just forms of "token worship" that we perform to show others that we took time to think about Christ. Is it something we do because we are supposed to or because we want to? I had to ask myself these questions, and I didn't like how I answered them...

So I have made a conscious decision this year to celebrate our Savior's birth early this year... in my heart. Where it counts. It has been a blessing to me so far... Will you join me?

Nothing Turned to Something

2010-10-21T21:07:00.000-05:00

It's that time again! Time for another thought provoking entry from yours truly. But I don't have anything. Nada. Should I discuss the goal of Christ-like unity in a church? How about some funny (or not so funny) stories about my childrens' latest antics? Perhaps some more insight about the part emotions play in our lives? Determining the Lord's Will? The need for personal accountability? Some fabulous new resources I have found?

I got nothing.

I am just tired. Tired of talking. Tired of thinking. Tired of cleaning my kitchen floor for the 5th time today. Tired of cooking. Tired of planning. Tired of mice. Tired of being in the middle of things. Tired of shopping.

There is just one thing that I am not tired of... wanna hear it?

God's Word.

That's it. I am hungry for it. And as always my time to spend in the Word is limited. And needful. And precious. Once again, God is taking a book of the Bible that I have read many, many times and bringing it to me anew. Don't you love it when He does that? I was just reading Stephen's sermon today. Not my Stephen, even though, ironically, he is a deacon, and he is preaching this weekend. ANYWAYS I was reading the sermon Stephen presented to the Sanhedrin, and you know what I realized? He wasn't really preaching. He was simply reciting their own history to them. Acts tells us that their hearts were smitten by Stephen's words, but it was really the conviction of the Lord as they heard their own shameful account. They knew that he was right. And that is why Stephen lost his life. This is what I learned: the truth will anger people. They will not be able to discredit it, and that will make them angry. These are the people we need to have compassion on and pray for... the angry ones. They are under deep conviction, but instead of repenting they keep fighting. And I am reminded that Saul, one of the angriest present, will stop fighting in a few more chapters and repent. Look how God used him! Anger turned to repentance can be a powerful thing.

When the wellsprings of God's Word open before us, we need to drop everything and take the time to drink it in. And then everything else in life seems second rate... because it is!

My Big Secret to Parenting

2010-10-07T15:09:00.000-05:00

And he said unto me, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness." Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:9

I am not the perfect mother. Far from it actually. I was telling a friend recently that every night I fall into bed to the sound of crying girls (they don't all go down easily) and think, "I've failed another day." As depressing as that may sound to many of you, it is not so to me. Crazy, I know. Perhaps by the end of this post, you will understand why.

A lot of people write books about parenting. It is a huge responsibility. Some people parent really well and relate their experiences to be helpful to the rest of us. I believe, as with all reading, it needs to be put through the strainer of scripture. Much of it may be helpful, but not all of it is Bible. Not only that, but parenting books don't usually deal with the fact that every child is different. Just like adults. And snowflakes. But no one wants to talk about winter in the fall... at least I don't.

The point is that our guide book needs to be the Bible. And to be honest, God's Word doesn't go into specific detail for dealing with children as individuals. That's okay! I believe that God didn't spell everything out for several good reasons that I cling to every day. The first being this - God meant for me to raise each of my children. They are a gift from Him that He specifically meant for me to have. Did I mention that He is deliberate in where He places children?* That truth in itself equips me for whatever my kids come up with.

The second truth that I have recently learned is this - God's grace is going to make my children what they will become and it is more than sufficient to make up for my failures. I am not perfect, like I said. My Heavenly Father knows this. He knows me better than anyone. And He will make up for what I lack. That said, this does not give me license to be a back-seat parent. Not at all! As a Christian mom, I want to do everything for God's glory, to the best of my ability that He gives me. But I need to be dependent on His grace.

We've all seen it. The parents who do everything right - they have that balance of friend and parent down. Disciplinarian and cheerleader. A great example of Christ-likeness. Yet their child(ren) turn out to reject the Savior they love and the teachings they live by. It is not for lack of trying. It is not necessarily the parents' fault - it is the child's fault, their sin nature at work. We can really work ourselves into a lot of guilt when we depend completely on our own formula to raise children. In a sin-filled world and an imperfect body, we need God's grace in every situation, to cover what we do.

I will be very alarmed if I get to the point where I think I have it all together. At that point I will know that I am no longer depending on God to see me through. Remember, it is in our weaknesses that God shows Himself strong. I really am with Paul on this one when he tells us to "glory in our infirmities".

So as I flop into bed tonight to the sound of crying children, I will sleep soundly knowing this - that I have failed today, but God's grace more than makes up for where I fall short. It did in my salvation, and it will in my parenting too.

*I don't believe that God wants children in bad situations. That is where man's sinful nature comes in and I am all in favor of taking a child out of a neglectful or abusive home. I cannot explain how His will intertwines in these scenarios, because He's omniscient, and I am not.

2010-10-04T23:35:00.000-05:00

They break my kitchen utensils by using them as instruments...

They hurt themselves as we walk out the door to go to church...

They "have" to touch the new thing, no matter how restrained...

They insist on being half-naked many, many days...

But they are happy (usually), healthy,

And I love them!

Get Out of My Porch

2010-09-30T19:28:00.000-05:00

Having four kids in such a short time ensures a messy house. Perhaps there are those of you out there who have a handle on it, but I do not.

And it bothers me.

It has been scientifically proven that a neat and tidy space improves concentration and peace of mind and relaxation as well. That explains so much about me.

So I have been on a slow quest to conquer the messies. It has not been easy. And some days, the battle gets put aside. But that is okay too! Why? Because life is not perfect. I am not perfect. And sometimes I need a reminder of that.

Now in my war I have had a decisive victory - my enclosed porch. It's not insulated. The windows are falling out literally. But it is charming! For too long, it was controlled by the four dictators I like to call Nattie, Mere, Sophie and Buddy. Their reign of disorder was overwhelming, but I figured it would end there.

Not so!

These dictators wanted to take over more, and more, and more of my land. Let me tell you, I was about to throw in the towel. A surge of resolve came over me and I came up with my battle tactic. It was quite unusual, actually, because it involved attacking the headquarters, head on. Most tacticians would say that is awful strategy.

The attack was what I like to call the "Clean Sweep" approach. I entered the porch, ironically with the dictators in tow (except Buddy - he was sleepy). The dictators and I pulled EVERYTHING out of the porch into our front yard. Then they left. It was too much for them to see a clean, empty room. Too boring.

So I proceeded to put everything in three categories: keep, get rid of, and toss. My dear neighbor friend thought I was having a yard sale.... I was tempted to put up a sign and be done with it. BUT NO! I conquered the garbage - two bags full. Many little shoes, useless things my husband thought "we might need someday... you never know", paper, paper and more paper were all on the casualty list. Sad, but there are always casualties in war.

Then I put back only what was needed. I took the former dictators into the room and said the following words, "See this? See how clean and neat and tidy this is? This is how it will remain. And I will make sure of that. You are not allowed in here anymore without permission. This is now mommy's space. Understand? Repeat after me..."

And it was over. The treaty was made.

Don't get me wrong. It has been difficult to maintain peace. I catch the little dictators in there, trying to dump books on the floor or take toys in there. But I am on them like Barney Fife. Nip it in the bud! Please don't feel bad for them, they still have plenty of territory. On occasion, I will let them in - but at my discretion.

So now the porch is mine. Stephen has even gotten excited about it. I use the room, when the weather is right, to do my Bible study, or to eat a candy bar (bye, bye bathroom!), or to read the paper. A sanctuary. Ahhh...

And I have become convinced that every mom needs a sanctuary. A place where the battle cannot be fought. A place to think in quiet. A place to be alone with the Lord. The bedroom might be your place, it has been mine for years. But now I find it more special to have a place apart from where I sleep, cook, shower... you know what I mean.

So, let me ask, where is your sanctuary?

What to Eat Wednesday

2010-09-08T11:26:00.000-05:00

I will have a new post up soon. I promise. But until then, here's another delicious recipe from the archives!

Yesterday was quite blustery in the Dairy State. Comfort food was definitely needed! And nothing says "comforting" in Wisconsin more than Macaroni and Cheese.

But here's the deal.

I love this recipe, and hate it. I love it because it is creamy and delicious - just how mac 'n cheese should be. I hate it because it uses - I hate even saying it - processed cheese. I am a purist when it comes to cheese, but honestly - I have yet to find a mac and cheese recipe made with real cheese that isn't gritty. When I made this yesterday, I tried half Velveeta and half real cheese. Still a little gritty. Nacho dip is much the same way... impossible with real cheese.

Oh well, it tastes incredible, so I will not think about how I am violating my upbringing. (Actually, not really... the cheese factory most of my family worked at made processed cheese. But Still!)

Ingredients:

16 ounces elbow macaroni (cooked)
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1/2 cup flour
3 1/2 cups milk
1 lb cheese, cut into cubes (I use Velveeta for creamier mac and cheese)
breadcrumbs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2. In a pan cook butter, salt, pepper and flour and stir until smooth.
3. Remove from heat add milk, return to heat and bring to a boil.
4. Boil 1 minute.
5. Remove from heat and add cheese, stir until melted.
6. Pour over elbows, sprinkle with breadcrumbs and bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.