A Woman I Know

There’s this woman I know.  You would love to meet her too, I know you would.  She really is like no one else I know.

You see, if you knew the pain she has been through, the heartache she still carries, you would not expect her to love so unconditionally and deeply.  Some women with that kind of pain become bitter and hurt others.  Not her.

If you knew the losses she has experienced you wouldn’t expect her to give so freely.  I mean, ‘give you the shirt of her back’, kind of giving.  Women who have lost that much can often times hold on to what they have with a fervency like no other.  Not her.

If you knew the betrayal she has lived through you wouldn’t expect her to forgive and trust with wild abandon. Women who have been through that kind of betrayal tend to refuse to forgive and never trust. Not her.

If you knew the mistakes she has made you wouldn’t expect her to say, ‘yes, you are right, I did that, I am sorry.’  You might expect her to make excuses, to defend and blame.  Not her.

This woman, she loves, I mean, really, really loves.  She loves when her daughter gets pregnant out of wedlock.  She takes her in, loves on her, does everything she can to take away the shame.  Even when that daughter turned her back on her just a few years earlier.

This woman, she prays and prays.  She is there for her daughter for anything she has EVER needed.  Even when that daughter has no clue what a treasure her mother is. 

This woman, she has babysat countless times.  She has sent her daughter and husband away on weekends and honeymoons and stayed with the children.  Often times, she paid for the time way too.

This woman, she loves her grandkids with a fierce kind of love.  I mean fierce!  Not the, ‘oh, look at pictures of my grandkids’, kind of love.  No, I mean the chase them around the house, tickle them, play cards and color with them, make ice cream floats with them, kind of love.

This woman was born 70 years ago today.  She is a treasure, I’m telling you, you would LOVE to meet her.  I’ve known her my whole life.  You see, nearly 47 years ago she became my mom. 

Let me introduce you to Norma Jean, my mom.

Happy Birthday, Mom!  I love you so much and am so proud of who you are.  Thank you for loving me.

 

MUST READ!!

My friend, Kelly, from Generation Cedar has hit the nail on the head yet again.  Please read and share and repent.  If you have questions about some of the points she makes, please seek out Godly counsel (which may not be in your church) for answers.  Don’t just shove this under the rug because it pricks your heart.  Please.

On Mother’s Day, Abortion, & the Church’s Part

This approaching Mother’s Day  has brought about such mixed emotions. I read, with belly full of squirming life, the horrific details of the Gosnell trial in front of us, and am painfully aware that the abortion industry knows no bounds, and is becoming a bloodier and more murderous force, cloaking its audacity with “compassion for women”, all the while slaughtering them.  (Click here to read the rest . . . amazing!)

Escapism

Escapism: The tendency to escape from daily reality or routine by indulging in daydreaming, fantasy, or entertainment.

One thing that irritates me to no end is technology.  It is a love/hate relationship.  I think it is incredibly useful but also has the potential to destroy ‘family’ as we know it.  I am seeing our family be distracted with technology more and more as we all have smart phones and have reasons to be on the computer.  I am not sure what to do about it, but I am taking notice and don’t want to be slack in this.

I have noticed, for myself, that not only is technology, in the form of the internet, blogs, Pinterest, Facebook and Twitter, a giant timewaster, but I think it is actually becoming an acceptable ‘drug’.

Sound crazy?  Hang with me for a minute.   Drugs (and the abuse thereof) are used, in part, as an escape.  When life it too much or one doesn’t know how to handle life, they need to check out in some way.  Drugs, money, shopping, food, whatever the vice, the ‘need to escape’ is there.  Of course, there are a multitude of reasons that are the root of this abuse, but the need to be loved and to fill the empty, broken place are probably the most prominent.  I want to focus on one the things we use to ‘escape’.  (The Lord should be sought as to the ‘why’ we run to these things.)  Most of us are not getting drunk with alcohol, or high on drugs, but there are other ‘drugs’ that help us to escape.

Maybe this is just me, but have you ever just mindlessly clicked from blog to blog or Pinterest idea to Pinterest idea? Click, click, click. You should be making dinner, looking at your children when they speak to you, educating them, doing the laundry, . . .  It is so much easier to just click, click, click, and escape the responsibilities.  Or maybe you are just plain overwhelmed and don’t know where to start . . . click, click, click.

Or Facebook, do I need to check it a bazillion times a day?  Why do I?  Because I really ‘care’ what is on there or because I just want to escape my reality and dive into someone else's. (I could do a whole series on the evils of Facebook!)

Smart Phones have upped the ante.  We don’t even need to flip open the lid on our laptop anymore.  That’s so old school, we just need to start sliding our fingertip across the screen, and bam, we are transported to another place. Not to mention they are always with us, in the restaurant, while we are driving, at the coffee shop, on the playground, at the dinner table.

I absolutely have to use the internet, Pinterest and Facebook for our business, but I must honestly admit that I also use it to escape. I have not figured out the balance yet. I am an all or nothing gal.  I’d rather throw the computer and smart phone in the pond than have to find that balance, but I can’t.

The following verses have been speaking to me as I seek to find that balance and they are very convicting.  I’m still working these out ladies.

Pr. 14:1

The wise woman builds her house,
But the foolish pulls it down with her hands.

I wonder if a modern day translation could read, The wise woman builds her house, but the foolish pulls it down with click, click, click of the mouse. (Or her rapid-fire thumbs on her smartphone)

Ephesians 5:15-17

 See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise,  redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.  And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit,

Perhaps, ‘do not be drunk with wine’ would be translated today as ‘do not use technology to escape’??

Not trying to be disrespectful in anyway with the Word of God, I am just seeing yet another way in which I have been ‘unwise’ and have not been redeeming the time and have actually been getting “drunk” or “escaping”.

What about you?  Do you find yourself using an ‘acceptable’ “drug” to escape reality?

 

 

Struggling To Be a Whole-hearted Mama

I’m struggling, lately, with keeping ‘my head in the game’, ‘my heart at home’, staying fully engaged, or however you might describe it.

Even though I am all things ‘pro-family’, one of the biggest battles of my whole ‘motherhood’ is keeping my heart turned towards home.  It seems to be one of those weaknesses that the Lord has not chosen to take away.

It ebbs and flow, and certainly, season in life play a role in the struggle as well.  I have ‘seasons’ when my children and home are seemingly my only focus.  It is in these times I feel like a whole-hearted mama.  Not perfect, but all there, fully engaged.

Then there are times when I am so distracted with life, my own pursuits or even God-led pursuits, that I sense my heart so far away from home.  I hate this feeling.  I feel the tug, but don’t seem to know what to do about it.  It’s a very ‘lost’ feeling.  It’s like I even forget how to do the ‘mama’ thing.

Lately, I feel the tug to turn my heart towards home more, (yet again) and I am making great strides.  The business that we have (our home-based family business) demands A LOT of me, and we really do feel that the Lord is leading it, which means I need to figure out how to do both.  Well, not that I need to figure it out, I need to trust Him to teach and lead me.

For me, it starts with recognizing and repenting for getting so swept away.  I used to take on so much condemnation at a time like this, but now I know He loves me and forgives me and it is not about me striving or trying harder, but humbling myself before Him, crying out to Him to teach me how to do the ‘mama’ thing again.  I ask Him to change my heart, turn it towards home.  I praise Him for loving me and shaping me into the mama He created me to be.

It is easy?  Nope.  I haven’t figured it out yet, but felt like I needed to share my heart and my struggles. 

Do you have similar struggles?  Perhaps we can pray for each other, just let me know, I’d love to know I’m not in this alone.

 

Capture the Moment: Part 2

Last time I shared how I sense the need to Capture the Moments.  How life is a blur and how the moments can easily be missed.

Today I want to define, moments and capture.  Being a ‘words’ person, this helps me make it real.

Moments: a brief, indefinite interval of time, a particular period of importance, a brief period of time that is characterized by a quality, such as excellence or distinction.

I notice right away that ‘moments’ are brief, important.  I would agree that our moments here on earth, with our loved ones truly are ‘brief’ and oh, so important.

Capture:  to take captive, seize, gain possession of, to hold, preserve.

This is my desire, to take captive and preserve, if only for a short while, these precious moments that are so brief and important.

Some examples of what this might look like.

Stopping to watch four little children all bundled up in snow clothes traipsing through the deep snow behind the pond.  Smile, breathe it in.

Lingering long in his embrace.  Inhaling and noticing that familiar scent.  Purposing to feel the arms around you, feeling loved.

Noticing the beautiful landscape, how everything is covered in a thick blanket of freshly fallen snow.  Everything white and clean.  Beauty from my Father.

Watching as she tries out new skills in the kitchen, the sheer delight and sense of accomplishment on her face.  Pausing to capture this memory.

Seeing the grieving couple.  How, even though their hearts are broken, they love, hold each other up.  Years of being tossed about, yet their strength and love for each other is evident.  Letting the eyes fill with tears at such raw beauty.

Not rushing through the morning snuggles with the ‘baby’, who is almost too big to fit on my lap.  Cherishing these moments, they are so brief and fleeting.  One day the bursting through the door each morning will stop.

Oh, for eyes to see, and grace to stop, in this busy season.  I don’t want to miss any of it.  But I do, I choose to pass on by.  It is a choice. 

Do I, by the grace of God, choose to train my heart and eyes to stop, capture, seize and make my very own possession out of these fleeting and brief moments in time?   Or do I continue to let life whizz on by? I desire to stop,  S.L.O.W to soak up and savor the moments.

What are some ‘moments’ that you have purposed to capture?  I would love to read them, please share.

Capture the Moments

Life, being what it is, fleeting, doesn’t seem to stop.  Life doesn’t seem to care how important each moment is.  It just marches on and we are caught up in, whether we like it or not.

It is so easy for the moments, the days, the years to get away from us.  You know what I mean, don’t you?  Each season in life is different. 

When you have a house full of babies, it seems the moments d.r.a.g on, am I right?

When your house if filled with teenagers, time seems to whiz on by.

I find myself in a very different season right now.  I have adult children, teenagers, and littles.  I also have a business and ministry that demands a lot of my time.  If I am not careful, time gets away from me.  The moments, they fly by and it all looks like a blur.  So much of life is missed when it’s all blurry.

The Lord has been speaking to my heart lately.  The word ‘moments’ keeps coming to my mind.  My days with the children are no longer defined by the minutes in my beautifully printed up schedule that has each and every minute accounted for.  Schedule??  That’s funny!

No, it’s different right now.  It’s the ‘moments’ I am after.  ‘Capture the Moments’, I hear whispered in my heart.  Stop and and grab hold of the moments.  Cherish them, delight in them.

I feel the need to ponder this.  Next time, let’s define ‘moment’ and ‘capture’.  Maybe look for ways to ‘Capture the Moments’

What season do you find yourself in right now? Is life a bit ‘blurry’?

 

He’s Still My Baby

This is just about the only time of the day that this little guy slows down.  I don’t know why I love taking pictures of him sleeping, he is just so peaceful.

He is definitely loved! 

He is my baby.  He is three and a half years old.  I have been longing to be pregnant again, but as the years tick by and me approaching 45 this year, I can only wonder if Elijah will always remain my ‘baby’.

I can say that I have learned a thing or two by the time I got to number nine.  Praise the Lord.  I was beginning to wonder We spent the last week potty training our ‘baby’.  What have I learned?  WAIT!  Wait until they are ready, especially the boys.  I have always pushed and regretted it.  Not this time.  Nope.  I didn’t care if he was going to go to college in diapers.  Just kidding.  One day he decided it was the day and he had one accident the following morning.  But not one since!  He even goes poo on the potty, which hasn’t always been the case with other children in the family who shall remain nameless.  (ahem)

Perhaps in the years to come Elijah won’t appreciate this picture being on the world wide web, but I can’t help but somehow mark this milestone with a picture.  Oh, and it is where I spent the better part of the last week.

I know you hear it often, but it really does go so fast.

  Before you know it all the days of endless diaper changes and sleepless nights will be filled with wishing for just one more of those days.  Does it really get any better than being a mama??  (hard as it is)

What If I Saw Jesus?

What if I saw Jesus in his eyes? 

If everything I do, I do unto the Lord . . .

If when I have done it unto the least of these, I have done it unto Him . . .

As I was on my knees about to deal with my three year old’s rant, the words, in song form, flowed out of my mouth,

“What if I saw Jesus in his eyes? What would my words be?  How would they sound?  What if I saw Jesus in your precious eyes?”

My heart melted right there on my knees.  It is not like the Lord hasn’t used these verses in the past to encourage me to serve my children as unto the Lord before, but in that moment the Lord sweetly broke me.

Meditate on the following scriptures and let the Lord bring to mind who are the, hungry and thirsty in your life.  Who are the strangers, the naked, the ones in prison?  Ladies, they are all right here in front of us on a daily basis.

Then shall the King say unto them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world:

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in:

Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

Then shall the righteous answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?

When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?

Or when saw we thee sick, or in prison, and came unto thee?

And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.  (Matthew 25:34-40)

Giving Them Tools

One of the ‘tools’ we have learned in the past year is what is called, the 8 Rs to Freedom.  They are just that, tools!  Not some legalistic check list or formula, just tools.

We have found the 8 Rs extremely helpful in dealing with sin.  Yes, we do sin here . . . frequently!  I know you are surprised.  I have written on this before, and might again.  It is so important!

Recognize: The first ‘R’ is to recognize. We must recognize the sin before we can do anything with it. We must learn to discern what is within us that is not of God. It does little good to repent for something you do not recognize.

The Word of God is quick, and powerful, . . . and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)

Responsibility:  ( I did it!) We must take responsibility for what we have recognized. Stop blaming others. Once we have agreed with the thoughts we recognized we are now participating with sin. We need to take responsibility and deal with the sin.

For I acknowledge my transgressions; and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, and thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight . . . (Psalm51:4)

Repent: (repent and turn the other way!) You cannot repent for something you do not recognize, and you cannot truly repent unless you have taken responsibility. Repentance is a quality decision, not because we feel like it. Repent and turn the other way!

Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. (Acts 3:19)

Renounce: Tell that sin that you want nothing to do with it. You want it out of your life. Have a perfect hatred for evil. Make evil your enemy!

The fear of the Lord is to hate evil: pride and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the forward mouth, do I hate. (Pr. 8:13)

Remove: (get out of here!) You have to remove what is not of God. In the name of Jesus it needs to go. You have to have rule over your own spirit.

Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. (James 4:8)

Resist:  Resist so it never, ever comes back! It will try to come back, you need to resist it. You must take thoughts captive. We must not be ignorant of the devil’s schemes.

Submit yourselves to God, resist the devil and he will flee.

Rejoice: Give thanks to God for setting you free. Praise is a very powerful weapon in our warfare.

Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice!

Restore: When the Lord has set us free we are to restore others with a spirit of humility. Part of restoring others is bringing the gospel to those you love, instructing sinners in Zion who are separated from the refreshing of the Lord and making disciples of them.

Then I will teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. (Psalm 51:13)

Shepherding My Flock

While reading in 1 Peter 5 today I felt as though the Lord gave me my ‘to-do’ list for the day. Everyday, really, but a sweet gentle reminder to this mama, for today. I quickly wrote it down in my planner, on my Daily To-Do list.

---

Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock . . .

and be clothed with humility, for “ God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble.”

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. (1 Peter 5:2-7: emphasis mine)

---

I understand this is speaking to “elders”, but it speaks to this mama too! So, my “To-Do” list for the day??

• shepherd (feed, nourish, tend) my flock
• willingly serve
• be an example!
• be clothed with humility
• cast ALL of my cares on Him

Certainly there could be much more, but I shall start with this! Have an awesome day ‘shepherding’ your flock today!

I GET To . . .

Thank You, Father, that I ‘get to be a mama today!

I get to train and disciple the next generation.

I get to choose joy—choose smiles

I get to display Your love today

I get to feed and nourish bodies AND souls today

I get to shape children’s hearts today

I get to be a part of who they will become

I get to snuggle and hug and tickle today

I get to pray for future men and women of God today

Yes, thank You Father that I get to be a mama today!!

Can I Trust if the Door is Closing

My ‘baby’ is three years old today! It seems so odd to not be pregnant yet. Though I was pregnant last summer and we lost that baby in October.

Elijah David

At my age, 44, you start to wonder if this wonderful door of childbearing is closing. Certainly there have been hormonal changes, health issues (now healed, praise the Lord) and just the simple fact that there will one day be an end.

I try not to be too sad, not letting my heart and mind wander, choosing to be thankful and trust no matter what. This past month I started to feel very queasy one day with no explanation. It went on for a few days. I started to get excited even though I was only just past mid-cycle. I reasoned that I had ovulated early and that if God was answering my prayers for twin girls that would explain why I felt sick already. Within a couple of days I had found out possible due dates using due-date calculators online. I checked to see just how big my baby (babies;-) was at this exact time. All this without a missed period!

My hopes were dashed when one night I began having mild hot flashes, of all things! Only to find out a few hours later that I had my period. Oh bother.

It is incredibly easy to take fertility for granted. It is extremely common for woman to choose to ‘close the door’ on their own. Do we realize that children are a gift, a blessing, a reward?? Somehow I doubt we really understand it, myself included.

So, while it has been hard in years past to trust the Lord with how many ‘blessings’ He might bestow, I am finding it equally challenging to trust Him with when He might close the door. But, one thing I know, He is WORTHY of my trust! He does all things well and I will praise Him come whatever.

I will soak up this fast becoming independent and charming three year old. I will enjoy this precious season we are in because each and every season is a gift from our Father, whether we see it as a gift or not.

Remembering . . . Please Share

All this week we have been remembering the precious little one we lost one year ago. Last year I wrote a series of posts sharing my heart and encouraging others to do the same as we remembered our babies that are now with Jesus.

( I didn't know, Let's remember, Sorrowful yet, Tears on the window)

It is sort of 'funny' this morning I felt a tug on my heart to post something about this because as I was looking over my posts from last year I saw that October 15th has been set aside as a day to remember our babies.

Yesterday, as I was out for a walk and talking to my Father, I cried tears of sadness over the babies I will not see on this side of heaven, praised Him for His perfect plans and pondered if I will ever carry another baby in my womb. Will I ever nurse another baby? Will I ever smell that intoxicating newborn smell? Will I ever kiss the whole face of a teeny one? Will I ever feel a precious little one nuzzled right up to my neck?

I don't know the answer to these questions, but I know the One to Whom I ask? I know I can trust His beautiful plan for my life. I can trust Him to distribute His blessings as He sees fit. I know that He knows the desires of my heart and holds them so close to His heart. I know when I grieve He is there holding me, comforting me. I know He delights to bless me, knowing His plan and what is ultimately the best for me. I know Him who works EVERYTHING out for my good because I love Him and have been called according to His purpose. I know Whom I have believed.

This is not a sad post, really, I stand amazed at His mercy and goodness. His faithfulness. His love. While I will never forget each of my precious six babies, there is no pain, just peace and a knowing He holds them and me in His very hands. Amazing it is, when He comes and heals. He came to heal and bind up the broken hearted, you know?

Please feel free to share your "story" by either leaving a comment or providing a link to read on your blog. And PLEASE, if you are still reeling with grief and pain over the loss of your precious little one (s), please let me pray with you. Leave me a comment, email me, or if you would like to me to pray with you on the phone, I would be honored. Please ask, let me do that for you.

Need A Little Pick Me Up??

Come visit me over At The Well today. Maybe you are 'overwhelmed' with life. Or, maybe you are completely exhausted. Or, perhaps you are downright angry with life right now. Hop on over and hopefully be encouraged.

Challenge For the Day

This verse gets me every time! Especially in the Amplified version. I'm thinking of my mothering today, but it surely can apply to ALL of life and ALL relationships. Read through it and see if you are not challenged too.



Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God's favor) to those who hear it. (Eph. 4:29)



The word EVER pops off the screen to me. EVER?! Seriously? Seems clear, no foul, polluting or evil word, nothing unwholesome or worthless? How many 'worthless' things come out of my mouth on any given day?



Can I imagine my home today with only good and beneficial words coming out of my mouth? Only words that are beneficial to the spiritual progress of my children? Or husband? Or others?



I told you it would be a challenge!



Let me know what you think of this verse. Is it a challenge for you too?

Dark Corners or Soul Sculpting

Today I have a post up over At the Well, Dark Corners or Soul Sculpting. It's a post on parenting that just might challenge you to realign your perspective. I know it did mine. Plus, you get to see 'never before seen' photos of some 'dark corners' of my home! Eeeeek! Please take a stroll on over . . . . .

Marching Orders For Mama

My marching orders for today!

"Therefore, you will fully know them by their fruits." (Matthew 7:20)

I want my fruit to show Jesus!

I give you a new commandment: that you should love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you too should love one another. By this shall all men know that you are My disciples, if you love one another [if you keep on showing love among yourselves]. (John 13:34-35)

How has Jesus loved me? How can I love the people (my children and husband) in my world that same way? What does loving one another like Jesus love me look like? He laid down His life. He sacrificed. He served.


Above all things have intense and unfailing love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins [forgives and disregards the offenses of others]. (1 Pt. 4:8)

How can I cover the multitude of sins I will surely face today with love?

BRETHREN, IF any person is overtaken in misconduct or sin of any sort, you who are spiritual [who are responsive to and controlled by the Spirit] should set him right and restore and reinstate him, without any sense of superiority and with all gentleness, keeping an attentive eye on yourself, lest you should be tempted also. (Gal. 6:1)

If I am to be the Spirit led mama today, how shall I correct and restore those in my life today? With humility and gentleness. With intense love. Without attitude.

(This verse convicts me just now as I found myself scolding in a very harsh tone my daughter who was scolding a sibling in a very harsh tone. Hmmm, wherever did she get the idea to handle a situation like that?! I laughed out loud when I realized I was doing the exact thing I was rebuking her for! I repented.)

Off to be a 'doer of the Word', Lord helping me! I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me, right?

What a Day!

My sweet children and husband have made today such a special day. I did tell them that they might have amped it up a little, because they take care of me this well everyday!! (wink)

I was served pancakes and eggs, at my request, for breakfast.

Brian and I had a tenderloin steak for lunch, smothered in sauteed onions and cheese.

And for dinner, we always have roast chicken, but today they made me, Roast Chicken with Sun dried Tomatoes and Goat Cheese. I will have to post the recipe, it is divine!

We laughed, we cried (what's new ;-) I opened homemade cards and read the words, 'you are the best mom I ever had', only twice this year. (grin) Lilacs everywhere and so many hugs I am exhausted.

I am so blessed. What sweet rewards for being a mama!

Of course we took photos. I adore this man!

My sweet little girly girls!

My extremely handsome and STRONG manly men!

And, of course, the whole lot of them.

What an honor to have given birth to each and every one of these creatures! Thank you, Father.

(We have not mastered the art of at least one photo with everyone looking the same direction, eyes open, and smiling. But we have fun trying!)

One last thing, today the 200th follower signed up to follow She Looketh Well. What a privilege and a blessing to be able to share my heart with other women. I have attempted to welcome each and every follower, but have fallen woefully short! Forgive me? I appreciate you all and pray for each one of you. Please, always feel free to email me privately with questions, suggestions or prayer requests. Grace and Peace to you all!

Goals for Motherhood

Happy Mother's Day!!

I was inspired by Ann's post, A Ten Point Manifest For Joyful Mothering, so I thought I would re-post my Goals for Motherhood.

Praying for all of you dear Mama's to have a wonderfully blessed Mother's Day. Let's remember that it is not how much we are honored on Mother's Day (a worldly holiday), but how honored we are to be Mamas!!

Goals for Motherhood

1. Lay down my life and my plans to serve the Lord and my family.
If anyone desires to be My disciple, let him deny himself (disregard, lose sight of, and forget himself and his own interests and take up his cross. (Mt. 16:24)

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brother. (1 John 3:16)

2. Only kind and gentle words and tone.
She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness. (Pr. 31:26)

She must be kindly to everyone and mild-tempered; she must be a skilled teacher, patient and forbearing and willing to suffer wrong. She must correct her opponents with courtesy and gentleness... (2 Tim 2:24, 25)

3. Be compassionate and merciful—what they are feeling is BIG to them.
Bear one another’s burdens and in this way fulfill and observe the law of Christ.
(Gal. 6:2)

Execute true judgment and show mercy and kindness and tender compassion, every man to his brother. (Zech. 7:9)

4. Get up and go to them—no parenting from the couch—be consistent and prompt.

5. Create a happy atmosphere.

6. Light up and Smile all the time.

7. Look at them—Listen to them—Touch them

8. Be joyful and happy!
Serve the Lord with gladness! (Ps. 100:2)

Be happy and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always) (1Thes. 5:16)

9. Encourage and Praise every day, all day!
Encourage one another and edify, strengthen and build up on another. (2 Thes. 5:11)

And let us consider and give attentive, continuous care to watching over on another, studying how we may stir up to love and helpful deeds. (Heb. 10:24)

10. Love with ACTION!
Let us not love merely in theory or in speech but in deed and in truth. (1 Jn. 3:18)

Love one another, giving precedence and showing honor to one another. (Ro. 12:10)

Be patient and kind. Not rude or touchy. Do not act unbecomingly or insist on your own way. Always believe the best. (1 Cor. 13)

What about you ladies, what are your goals for being a Mama?

Great Mother's Day Idea!

A couple of years ago the Lord gave me such a great idea for Mother's Day that was so 'out-of-the-box'. I am going to share with you what I remember of it in case you think it is something you might want to do sometime.

The day before Mother's Day the Lord dropped into my heart the idea of serving my family in a huge way instead of being served that day. The idea was to bless them and thank God for the privilege of being a mom instead of being thanked for being a good mom.

Here was my plan.

First I made little cards for each child with something that I loved or appreciated about them. Maybe a character quality or gift they have. I made them out of scrapbook paper.

I secretly planned an easy special breakfast and planned to set the table with linens, candles and flowers. I, of course needed to do this once they were in bed. Brian and I scrambled for an hour after everybody was well asleep.

In the morning when they got up prepared to help Brian make me a wonderful breakfast the table was set, the kitchen smelled yummy and I was waiting to bless them! It was so neat to see the wonderment and confusion on their faces.

I had them find their note cards and sit in their seats. I went to each child and read aloud the card I had made for them, through tears of course. I blessed them and hugged them and told them how very much I loved them. One by one, I did this with each child.

I then went to the living room and called my daughters over. We knelt and I proceed to pray for them as they would one day be mothers, Lord willing. I prayed through Proverbs 31. I prayed that they would be courageous like Esther. That they would be faithful like Ruth. That they would be submissive to their husbands, have a gentle and quiet spirit and be obedient like Sarah.

I blessed their wombs and the Godly seed they would one day bring forth.
It was so beautiful and precious.

We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast and I rested the rest of the day, as I was up late, and who doesn't like a little pampering on Mother's Day? Isn't God amazing? He took a day that I would usually be pampered and catered to and asked me to serve instead of being served. Isn't that what Jesus did? It was so special. Lest you think I have somehow 'arrived', don't, I have only done that once ;-)

It's sort of funny, because there have been years that I step into self-pity because the day doesn't go like I want it to. Expectation! Ouch! This was certainly the cure for self-pity and self-indulgence!

Oven Apple French Toast

1 pound loaf Italian bread, sliced

1/2 cup melted butter

2/3 cup brown sugar

2 apples, peeled, cored and sliced

1/2 t. cinnamon

4 eggs, beaten

1 1/4 cup milk

1 t. vanilla

Melt butter and spread in 11x17 jelly roll pan. Sprinkle brown sugar. Cover brown sugar with sliced apples. Sprinkle with cinnamon and set aside.

In bowl beat eggs, then add milk and vanilla. Dip bread slices in egg mixture and place on top of apples. Pour any extra egg mixture over bread.

Bake at 325 for 25-30 minutes, or until lightly golden. Serve apple side up.

I make this the night before and put in fridge, bake in morning. Might need to add baking time.

7 Layer Brunch

7 large boiled potatoes (boiled with skin on and cooled)

2 cups cheddar cheese

1 lb. cooked bacon, chopped ( I use turkey bacon)

3/4 cup green onion

3 ounce softened cream cheese

1 dozen eggs

salt and pepper to taste

Butter bottom of 9x13 pan. Peel potatoes and shred or dice them. Place in bottom of pan. Sprinkle 1 cup of cheese, bacon, green onions. With an electric mixer, mix eggs with cream cheese. Pour over the rest of the ingredients. Sprinkle remaining 1 cup cheese over top. Cover and put in fridge overnight.

Bake uncovered, in 350 degree oven for 30-35 minutes.

These are old recipes that I have added to or changed over the years. I thought to share the original and let you adapt. You probably have your own favorites. They are easy because you can prepare them the night before and just bake in the morning. The whole house smells like yummy cinnamon in the morning.

Let me know what you think? Have you done this type of thing before? What are your ideas for a special Mother's Day?