If you are weary in mothering toddlers...read this

My sixteen year old daughter just emailed me this from school. Yes, she attends public school and has access to her email account everyday during study hall. As I look down at my toddler and the continual demands he places on me, the constant picking up, the day to day discipline, I also remember when this child was in this stage and wondering what choices will she make, who will she become, will she listen to God's voice, will she choose to make Him Lord and Savior?

Many days we are still in the midst of constant demands, instruction, discipline, but then I get a glimpse of what God is doing in the life and heart of this child. This is not to brag or toot my own horn, (believe me, if I could change some things I would) but to encourage us as moms that all the time and energy we give to these children in teaching and instructing them in the ways of the Lord is not done in vain.

"Mom read the forward! it totally spoke to me about what we talked about last nite."

The Daily Bible Verse : Email Edition May 16th, 2008~
John 5:18-19~

If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.That is why the world hates you.

Commentary:
Since Satan is the one who dominates the evil world system in rebellion against God (14:30), the result is that the world hates not only Jesus, but those who follow Him (2 Tim. 3:12). Hatred toward Jesus means also hatred toward the Father who sent Him (v. 23).
MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997).
The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Jn 15:18).Nashville: Word Pub.

Last night after we stayed up way too late talking and I finally said good night to her, I prayed! And then I prayed some more! I knew that I could not meet the need this child was facing. I can't fix everything even though I desperately want to. So, I laid my head on my pillow and said, "Father, she is your daughter and I love her. Would you minister to her? I am helpless here. I want to fix all of this and make life easy for her. But I know better. My ways are not your ways. My plan for her is not your plan. I trust you with her completely. Amen. "

Looking Back...

My poor blog. I think those ladies are about to get up from the table leaving nothing but an empty cup. Hopefully, this will give them something to talk about.

Lisa tagged me several weeks ago with an archive meme where I must choose five posts from my archives in the following categories: family, friends, me, something I love, and anything I like, so that you can revisit some posts or perhaps read some posts you've never read.


Family: Yesterday as I pulled up to my usual spot at the crosswalk to pick up Hunter (1st grade) from school. He was busily talking to the other kids and showing them some long strip of paper he had received at school. The teacher who is there everyday raising the "stop" sign so that the children can safely cross the street had to go over to Hunter to get his attention. He turned around and with great shock, (as if I don't come to this same spot every. single. day.) he quickly ran across the street to enter our vehicle. The teacher/crossing guard walked over to my car and said, "I hope you are enjoying this age", I assured her I was. As I drove off I thought about this post written just over a year ago. It was a day I watched my then Kindergarten son do some Puddle Jumping.


Friends: Without even looking back, I know already that I don't post much or at all about my friends. Mostly because who wants to wake up one morning and open up their Bloglines and find a new post at Come to the Table about them unless we had first discussed it of course. So, instead of linking up to one of my old posts, I will send you here to read what God is doing in the life of one of my long time blogging friends.


Me: I still struggle with this, I should re-write this and elaborate more since I know I am not alone here either. And yes, I did this at the same time.


Something I love: I love (in no particular order) this one, this one, this one, these two, and this one.


Anything I want: Just this morning I prayed with a women and said these words again, "He Has Not Forgotten".

If you would like to be tagged consider yourself "it".

Spring Conference 08

As I mentioned in my last post, one of the things that had kept me busy over the last month was preparing for a Women's Spring Conference at our church. The conference was such a blessing and the ladies of our church have amazed me by their sweet words of encouragement.

The conference title was "Running the Race" and our guest speaker, Luann, did an amazing job bringing us a word from the Lord.


Our theme verse was Hebrews 12:1-2. I have been reading and re-reading it over and over all week. The Lord won't let me move away from it. I know there is so much for me to learn.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV)

I keep going back to "lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely" In my study bible the "weight" is referred to anything, even those things that bring us joy and that are good that will keep us from running the race with endurance. It is so easy to be distracted and "weighted" down by good things and miss what really matters.

In the first session, "The Race to Freedom ~ Priorities", Luann shared the words of Jesus from John 17:4;

I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.

The words, "You have given Me to do" spoke so powerfully to me. Often times my priority list is a compilation of what everyone else is wanting me to do, hoping I will do, what others expect me to do, or probably mostly what I perceive others want me to do, rather than a list that has been compiled because I have first inquired of the Lord. And yes, even in the midst of our everyday lives of housework, mothering, working, caring for our husbands, and the many things we face, God has given us work to do and finish. But first, our eyes must be fixed on Jesus.

In the second session, "The Race of the Faithful ~ Servanthood", Luann compared our self-righteous service versus true service. Sadly, as she layed out the comparison I found my own service much more on the self-righteous side. For example, self-righteous service is impressed with "big deal", while True service doesn't distinguish small from large service. It welcomes all opportunities. It is God initiated. It is God focused. It is God glorified. The world and it's influences had in- filtered my service, not only in the church, but also in my home and towards the ones God has placed before me to serve. I found myself quietly repenting before the Lord. Much of what we do as wives and moms goes un- noticed by others. No one hands me a bonus at the end of the year. We are rarely praised for what we do. If anything, our roles have been greatly de-valued and we are left to think there must be something more. As I sit here finishing up this post I have four loads of laundry to fold, two bathrooms that need to be cleaned, and a family room that needs to be vacuumed and there is no guarantee that anyone will even notice what I have done.

In the final session, "The Race to Victory ~ The Crucified Life", Luann led us down the pathway to victory. But it's not what you think. Victory only comes through the cross. The cross is painful. The three points which spoke so personally to me and those which I have recently experienced in the Race to Victory were:

• Abandon your own will and agenda Matt. 26:39
• It requires intense times of aloneness with God Matt. 26:36-40
• There will be times your dignity is forfeited Matt. 27:27-28

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Gal. 2:20 NJK

Thank you to all the wonderful women who made this conference so very special. And yes, the cute polka-dot high heels were displayed on our tables and filled with sweet goodies.

(all conference photos courtesy of Heth)

Can you guess where I've been??

The last month has been very busy. Can you guess where we have been besides soccer practice, baseball practice, softball practice, school, church, laundry, dishes, and enjoying some warmer days as a family?

(this photo courtesy of Heth)

Here are some hints...someone turned 13, someone went to her first prom with a christian young man who is an exchange student from South Korea and is living with a family in our church, My two daughters and I went to visit a weekend camp for women and girls, our church hosted a Spring Conference for the Women in our church, someone was a little apprehensive and excited all at the same time about having two teeth pulled and getting braces, the family went on a short trip for a few days. Guess away! It shouldn't be too hard to figure out (edited to add) what picture goes to what event?

Wordless Wednesday ~ Work Day

I have been so busy that I almost forgot to select a winner for Lisa Bergren's book, "The Busy Mom's Devotional". Congratulations to BeckyJoMama at Sweet Abundance. Your Number (2) was chosen!

Another reason I haven't been here...

It was 73 degrees today!

A Book Tour ~ A Mother's Heart Knows

To enter the "My Favorite Mom" spa basket contest go here.

This is a beautiful gift book. The photos touch your heart.

It would make a wonderful Mother's Day Gift!

Each page begins with, "A Mother's heart knows..." and is completed with the many things that we face and experience as moms.

About the book: What better way to tell Mom how much you appreciate her on Mother's Day than with this lovely reminder of thoughts about the loving, selfless attitudes that fill a mother's heart?

The text and original four-color illustrations will be a beautiful and touching reminder to Mom that her love is never forgotten. The text is a reminder of those things that only a mother's heart knows, with some special emphasis on a Christian mother. Appropriate Scripture verses will be incorporated into the design element.

All royalty proceeds from this book go to WINGS (Women In Need Growing Stronger) and a student missionary scholarship fund. WINGS is a non-profit organization that provides a domestic violence shelter for women and their children in addition to transitional housing and programs.

About the Author: Margaret McSweeney lives with her husband and two daughters in a Chicago suburb. Her book, A Mother's Heart Knows was published by Thomas Nelson in 2005. Go Back and Be Happy, a co-authored book will be published by Lion Hudson in July 2008. Margaret has been featured on Greg Wheatly's "Prime Time American, " TLN's "Aspiring Women," and LeSea's "The Harvest Show." Margaret writes freelance articles for The Daily Herald, the largest suburban Chicago newspaper. Notable interviews include Wolfgang Puck, Thomas Kinkade, Susan Branch and Dr. John Gottman. Margaret also wrote a feature article for crosswalk.com. With a master's degree in international business, Margaret became a vice president in the corporate finance division of a New York City bank and worked there from 1986-1993. Supporting charitable causes is important to Margaret. For the past five years, she has served on the board of directors for WINGs, an organization that helps abused women and their children get a new start in life.

The "My Favorite Mom" spa basket contest is being held at Margaret's blog. Go here to enter by sharing your favorite story about your mother (or someone who has been like a mother). Also if you leave her a comment here, she is giving away a signed copy of A Mother's Heart.

To purchase a copy of this book, go here.

The reason I haven't been here...

Definition:
re·al·i·ty
Pronunciation:
\rē-ˈa-lə-tē\
Function:
noun
Inflected Form(s):
plural re·al·i·ties
Date: 1550

1: the quality or state of being real
2: a real event, entity, or state of affairs
3: the totality of real things and events

Sometimes the reality of things keeps you away, but I do miss it.

A Book Review ~ The BUSY Mom's devotional

A few weeks ago I received a copy of Lisa T. Bergren's book , The BUSY Mom's devotional to review.

My curiosity caused me to open the book up immediately and begin reading. I haven't purchased a devotional of this type in a number of years, so I wanted to see if this book was different than others I own. I remember when my older three children were young receiving several cute and sometimes inspiring mommy devotionals. Many of them were encouraging to me in those early years of motherhood. But it wasn't long before I desired more. My spiritual growth required it.

As I read Lisa's introduction and the first few devotions, I was pleasantly surprised and encouraged to see that it was more than just cute mommy stories tied in loosely with a scripture.

In the introduction Lisa says, "But the truth is, the devotional life is more a way of looking at life than anything you do. It's beginning to see God infusing every moment of your day." Lisa goes on to encourage us as moms to look for God in everything we do.

The devotional is broken up into four parts based on the four seasons. There are fifty-two devotions in the book. This is completely doable and could easily be incorporated into your week. It would also work well if you put it in your purse or diaper bag and whenever you found yourself waiting somewhere, you could pull it out and work through one devotion in about fifteen to twenty minutes.

I remember when my oldest was four and I had just given birth to my third child nineteen months after my second child. It was a busy season of nursing, two in diapers, double strollers, and endless piles of toys, laundry, and dishes. (we did not have a dishwasher). I longed for the days before children when I could sit for an hour and study scripture. I could spend a whole afternoon on a Sunday cuddled up with a book and I listened to countless messages on tape while cleaning our apartment. But those days were gone and getting my own spirit fed was now more difficult.

I am now at a different season in life. I have two more children, which means I am still busy, but as my children have grown I have learned to make the time each day to spend in quiet time with the Lord and the study of His word. It is not always easy and some days and weeks I still struggle with getting up early or sitting down and ignoring the toys, dishes and laundry for just a few moments to kneel before the Lord.

As I finish reading through this devotional, here are a few highlights:

The layout of each devotion makes it easy to understand and has a place for you to make notes and journal your prayers.

Each devotion begins with the Word of God.

On the first page of each day, Lisa provides a section called, Things on My Mind. There is a place to jot down your to-do list or anything that may take your focus off of what you are reading and cause you to be distracted.

The next section is her own personal story. She shares how God has revealed himself through her life and experiences. More than likely we all can relate to something she has experienced. At the end of this section she shares a prayer. This is usually where most devotionals end. But it is the next three sections that I appreciate most about this devotional:

What is God Saying to Me in This?
This forces us to think about the condition of our own heart and life, and not just be tickled by an inspirational story.

Making the Scripture Mine
In this section she takes us back to the word of God and helps us to look deeper. This section sometimes includes additional scripture references as well as background information to what we have already read.

My Prayer
In conclusion, she has provided a place to write a personal prayer.

I found Lisa's writing refreshing. The BUSY Mom's devotional could be used in many different ways. I have a sweet friend who is a new believer. She would benefit from these short and yet rich devotions as she is learning and growing in Christ. I personally will put mine in my car and when I am waiting at the school, or in the orthodontist's office, or any of the many places I find myself waiting, this will be a wonderful and practical way for me to spend a few moments sitting at the feet of my Savior.

This book would make a wonderful Mother's Day gift or even a fun baby shower gift. To purchase the book or to learn more about Lisa you may go here.

Lisa has graciously offered to give away a copy of The Busy Mom's devotional. Just leave a comment to this post and I will choose one name on Friday. (April 25th)

I'm over at the Cafe today

I need to be rescued. Join me at the cafe today to find out why....

Thinking?

I need to sort some things out.

I will be back later in the week for a CWO devotion and to join the Reading Group.

Blessings!

Update: Again, one of the reasons I am not here at the table and need to do some more thinking, I had my date wrong for my contribution at CWO. I don't post until next Monday!

The Excellent Wife ~ A Wife's Understanding of God

This week I am the girl who is running in late, catching my breath, finding my seat, and fumbling to get my book out and my thoughts together. I am late to the Reading Group, but I read my assignment for this week over and over.

Friday when the rest of the group was meeting, I was nursing a son who had two teeth pulled to make room for braces at the end of the month.

I took just a few paragraphs each morning and read through them over and over. Martha Peace is laying a foundation and I learn best by doing something over and over, including reading.

She shares, "This chapter...explains some of what you need to know about God and about yourself. Knowing these things, you will then see how you can trust God to protect you and why you need that protection"

She outlines God's Protective Authority very clearly:

God is perfect and we can completely trust that He knows what is best for us even though husbands are not perfect and many may not be saved. In spite of the husband's imperfections, God has chosen to place the wife under the authority of her husband. (1 Cor. 11:3, Eph. 5:23)

No husband has absolute authority over his wife because God is the absolute authority.

Therefore, when you are under your husband's (limited by God) authority, you are really putting yourself in the safest possible place - in God's will. God loves you and He is good. You need not be afraid.

Understanding God and His plan is so foundational before we can move forward and even find fulfillment in our role as a wife.

There are so many excellent posts this week from the others in the group. Please check them out at the Lux Venit Reading Group.

I am...

• thankful everyone is healthy!
• hoping April showers will bring May flowers
• loving my three year old's new sentence, "I help you mom?"
• starting my annual Spring Cleaning
• looking for some new salad recipes to serve as a meal
• hungry for grilled carne asade with fresh grilled veggies
• ready for baseball, sunshine, and flip flops
• feeling it doing this twice a week
• trying to do this daily
• glad that He is the " I AM"

A Special Package

My husband has been sick all week...really sick. Tonight he received this wonderful basket of "get well" goodies from the staff at the church office. It was totally awesome and absolutely wonderful! It included all the things we have been using this week to help him get better including the Lysol and hand sanitizers to keep the rest of us from getting sick. It even included a movie which he and the kids have already enjoyed.



They also included something for me...



an energy drink!



This was so very thoughtful and fun! Thanks everyone for your prayers and this wonderful gift!

The Excellent Wife - Chapter 1

Before the day ends I wanted to jump in and join Leslie at Lux Venit for the discussion on chapter 1 of the book The Excellent Wife. I have had this book on my shelf and have skimmed through it periodically but have never sat down to read through it from cover to cover.

I don't have any deep thoughts to share this time. I am tired tonight. My husband has been very sick this week and I think my three year old is now fighting the same bug. I don't know if I have ever seen this man this sick with the flu in our almost twenty two years of marriage. He has been home (in bed most of the time) all week.

I read the chapter earlier in the week and it just again confirmed my desire to read this book.

In the book on page 4, Martha shares the will of God for every wife. "God's will for every Christian wife is that her most important ministry be to her husband (Genesis 2:18). After a wife's own personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, nothing else should have greater priority. Her husband should be the primary benefactor of his wife's time and energy, not the recipient of what may be left over at the end of the day. Whether her husband is a faithful Christian man or an unbeliever, God wants every Christian woman to be a godly wife - an excellent wife."

Several years ago as the Lord began to speak these truths to me and show me in His word what He had purposed my role as a wife to be, I found such freedom in this truth and I still do!

I am excited to hear God whisper a deeper understanding of His truths to my heart over the next several weeks. I love my husband deeply. I am so thankful to God for allowing me to be his wife. For more excellent thoughts on this first chapter visit the Lux Venit Reading Group.

I'm at the Cafe today

An invitation to my new and old friends to join me . But grab your bible first and read Psalm 46:10. Meditate on this verse for a moment and then join me here.

Who are those women?

Thanks to each of you who left such sweet and fun comments about my new blog design.

I wanted a graphic of women sitting around a table. Who are these women you ask? They are you and me (well, not really). They are anyone who needs to come and talk and share with another about motherhood, being a wife, living a Godly life etc. etc. Unfortunately, there were no graphics of women sitting in their jeans or sweatpants. I couldn't find one with a women rocking a little one on her lap, or someone with a tear or two or even a bible spread open before them, because that is who I am.

And so this was the best we could find. So it left me to imagine myself all dressed up sitting in a cute coffee shop with a few of my favorite people, looking all sophisticated, while we sip on our chai tea.

But I guarantee you that most days when I sit here to talk with you, I am either in my warm and cozy pajamas or at best my favorite pair of sweats.

A New Design!

A big huge thank you to Jo-Lynne at DCR Design for the wonderful job she did on re-designing my blog. She was absolutely fabulous! She was quick and efficient and very pleasant to work with. She took my thoughts and words and ramblings about what I was looking for and listened!

If you are looking for a new blog makeover, I highly recommend you go visit her. Thank you, Thank you so much Jo-Lynne!

If anyone is in Christ....

So the cross not only brings Christ's life to an end, it ends also the first life, the old life, of every one of His true followers. It destroys the old pattern, the Adam pattern, in the believer's life, and brings it to an end. Then the God who raised Christ from the dead raises the believer and a new life begins.

A.W. Tozer

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 2 Corinthians 5:17

Spring Reading Thing

Katrina at Callapidder Days is hosting a Spring Reading Thing. The purpose of the Spring Reading Thing 2008 is "simply an opportunity for you to set some reading goals, share them with the blogosphere, and work toward them this spring."

I love to read, but I am going to be completely realistic here in hopes of accomplishing what I have planned. I am good for about a book or two a month in addition to my studies and reading of the Word.

So, here goes my Spring list:

The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace
I am also going to join Leslie's Lux Venit's Reading Group for this book and hopefully participate in her discussion questions every Friday.

Age Of Opportunity by Paul Tripp
We are finishing up a class at church from the book Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. His brother has written this book and I have heard good things about it.

What Happens When Women say Yes to God by Lysa Terkeurst
I've read the first chapter and she shares an amazing story of what can happen when we say "yes" to God. I am looking forward to this book.

The Busy Mom's devotional by Lisa T. Bergren

I bought this book in the L.A. airport in January after I had devoured two books I had brought with me and had nothing left to read for the trip home. I can't even begin to remember the last time I read fiction. This story is interesting and well written and had me totally captivated. But I have only picked it up once since I have been home. I am hoping for some days at the park in the afternoon reading while my kids play.

Visit Katrina to read what others are reading this Spring!

Both are growing too fast!

Some days the difference in age between my oldest and youngest is difficult. A toddler and a teenager, need I say more. They both have very demanding needs, one physical, the other more mental.



But then there are those days, like today, and this day in the snow several weeks ago, that their age difference is a beautiful thing to behold. In the picture above my oldest followed my toddler around the yard and stopped at every point he did to look at whatever he wanted to. He led, she followed.



Today, she was home from school. He stayed with her for several hours while I was away. I came home to a plate of chocalate chip cookies that she helped him make (wink) and the two of them curled up on the couch, his legs tucked between hers asleep.

Both are growing too fast!

He Has Not Forgotten

Early in January before my father passed away and before the many trials and struggles that the last few months would hold, I was contacted by the National Women's Ministries Department of the Assemblies of God asking permission to reprint one of my devotions written for CWO back in November for their March issue of WTOnline.

Little did I know how my own words would come back to minister to my heart. I needed them again today, just as much as I did back in November 2007, when I first wrote this post.

So, would you bless my heart and go here to read the article, He Has Not Forgotten and while you are there, take a few moments and look around. Their theme for the month of March is "Waiting for a Miracle" and there are many encouraging articles.

And the winner is.....

The winner of the book Feminine Appeal is Sarah at Life in the Parsonage. (I used a free download of Random Number Generator and number 1 was chosen)



One of my favorite quotes in the book is this one from Charles Spurgeon:

He who grows in grace remembers that he is but dust, and he therefore does not expect his fellow Christians to be anything more. He overlooks ten thousand of their faults, because he knows his God overlooks twenty thousand in his own case. He does not expect perfection in the creature, and, therefore, he is not disappointed when he does not find it. (Charles Spurgeon)

When we see our husbands as sinners like ourselves-sinners in need of God's grace and mercy-it strips away any intolerant, critical, or demanding attitude we may be tempted to have.

pg. 39

Congratulations Sarah. I hope you enjoy the book. Email me your address at cometothetable@msn.com and I will get the book to you right away.

Praying for our Husbands - Day 13

Today I am praying that I would build-up my husband through my words, actions, and even in my thoughts.

I was having lunch with a friend the other day at our local fast food restaurant. While our two little tykes ran up and down the play area, we spent the majority of our conversation on the topic of our husband's love languages. We quickly discovered that both men had the same primary and secondary language. I think we spent the remainder of our visit laughing at all the similarities in the things that minister to our husbands and speak love to them.

It is important that I pray for my husband daily, but it is also important that I build him up (or speak his language). Proverbs 31:11-12 says, "The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life."

I know that I am doing him good when I pray for him, but am I doing him harm in other ways?

This is the question that I often ask myself. As a result I came up with a short list of things "to do him good."

1. Send or email him a note, just because. Before the days of email, I would occasionally mail him a fun card to his office. He loved displaying them.

2. Listen to him without interrupting

3. Call him at his place of work just to say, “I love you!”

4. Let him know that you are proud of him. We are good at complimenting our husbands to others, but fail to tell them directly.

5. Tell him you are going to rub his back, or whatever…and then do it as planned

6. Buy his favorite snack, or drink and have it ready for him when he comes home. My husband loves a cold coffee drink. I don't buy them all the time, but occasionally I'll surprise him.

7. Do the one chore you always ask him to do for you without saying anything, maybe several times. Just because! For example: take the trash out, get the
car washed, or return the movies.

8. Provide a peaceful place of rest for him by encouraging him to relax and watch his favorite movie or provide a quiet place for him to finish a book.

9. Keep his trust. In other words, never say anything about him to others that would make him uncomfortable or embarrassed.

10. Build him up with your words. When he comes home, greet him! Thank him for all that he does for your family.

The Cafe

If you're looking for the blog party go here or just scroll down.

I posted this again over here today...even if you read it already...maybe you forgot to make the list. Join me today!

Hello and Welcome!

Welcome to the Ultimate Blogging Party.

Thank you to 5 Minutes4Mom for making this party possible.

There are some really cool prizes to be won! My favorites are #1, #24, & #70.

I am glad you are here!

Don't you love it when someone shows up at your door for a visit?

I do!

Especially if it is planned. Unexpected visitors beware...who knows what you may find.

If you are an old friend, come on in, take your shoes off, and make yourself at home. If this is your first time, Welcome! Go ahead and look around and please introduce yourself. And of course if you have questions for me, go ahead and ask.


I hope to be a wonderful hostess over the next week and meet up with some old friends and make a few new ones. It should be fun!




And because I appreciate your visit, I am going to give away a copy of one of my favorite books, Feminine Appeal Seven Virtures of a Godly Wife and Mother by Carolyn Mahaney.




Just leave me a comment to this post and let me know if you would like to be in on the giveaway and on Friday the 14th I'll choose one winner. (I will ship to the US and Canada residents only)

Thanks for stopping by!

The Ultimate Blog Party!

I am ready for a party!

I really want to host a party at my home with a few friends, a pot of freshly made coffee, some of our favorite goodies and encouraging conversation.

But in the meantime, you're invited to join me here tomorrow and all next week for some blogging party fun. Bring along a cup of something warm and hopefully I'll have something fun or encouraging to post.

5 Minutes for Mom is hosting The Ultimate Blog Party!

Prayer is so simple...

Prayer is so simple;

It is like quietly opening a door

And slipping into the very presence of God,

There is the stillness

to listen to His voice;

Perhaps to petition,

Or only to listen:

It matters not.

Just to be there

In His presence

Is prayer

pg 37 A Young Woman's Call to Prayer by Elizabeth George(Eleanor Doan, Speaker's Sourcebook)

My twelve year old daughter read this to me tonight from this book. I thought I would share.

Praying for our Husbands - Day 3

It is so easy to be blinded to the blessing we have in our husbands. I am easily bogged down at times with the little things, even when it comes to praying for him. I am tempted to look at only those areas which "I" want changed.

Many years ago I was confronted head on with this issue. One afternoon I was minding my own busines sitting quietly at my dining room table preparing for a bible study I was teaching when God revealed a deep issue in my own life. There were several things in my heart concerning my husband and as I sat there distracted by my thoughts, I asked the Lord to reveal to me how I should pray for him.

And this is the question (verse) God asked me that day.

Why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Luke 6:41

Even as I write that verse out, the memory and the reality of that moment is still very fresh in my mind. I knew that I had spent too much time being irritated by the little specks in my husband's life, while I sat there with this HUGE log in my own eye.

It was a defining moment for me. A deep revelation of the condition of my own heart and life. God began to reveal to me all the things that I had held onto and all the places I had not allowed him to work through because I was too busy noticing all the little things in my husband's life.

Gary Thomas in his book, Sacred Influence shares a story that is a very visual reminder to us all that we should not let the little things that can irritate weigh us down, but instead be thankful for the husband God has blessed us with.

On the first anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, Lisa and I watched several interviews with women widowed as a result of those attacks. "What has changed most about your perspective in the past year?" one interviewer asked. The first widow to respond said, "The thing I can't stand is when I hear wives complain about their husbands." Every woman nodded her head,
and then another widow added, "It would make my day if I walked into the master bathroom and saw the toilet seat left up."

Their words have a profound ring. The little things we allow to annoy us seem trivial compared to the loss of blessings once taken for granted. In the face of their enormous loss, these women no longer cared about the little irritations; instead, they had to face the big, black hole of all that their husbands had done for them, suddenly sucked out of their lives forever. (pg. 49 Sacred Influence)

This morning as I prayed for my husband, I listed all those things that I am so thankful for. I want to focus my heart on these things. I made a list to remind myself. It is amazing how many good things there are if we only would choose to focus our thoughts there.

Praying for our Husbands - Day 1

I am so happy that March is here. I am not sure completely why, I just am. It may be because spring is just around the corner.


The last two months have been very hard. For one it is winter and cold. The kids have been in and out and then in and out of school. It makes for some very interesting weeks.


The loss of my biological dad in January still finds me asking many questions and I find tears surfacing at the strangest and most inconvenient times.


Our church is in the middle of 40 days of prayer and fasting. Today is the 20th day. Tonight we prayed together as a family for our community, our church, and our home. Our church family has filled a board with their names so that everyday some one is praying and fasting. It has been a sweet time of hearing testimonies of God's grace and power.


I too have enjoyed the time. But, I have also been extremely challenged by it as well. The flesh screams very loud for attention!


Over the next 20 days I am adding my husband to my list. Yes, I pray for him regularly, but the Lord has reminded me of a devotion I read recently that convicts my heart deeply. It is this devotion by Lisa Ryken in the book Devotions for Ministry Wives that reminds me of the privilege I have to pray for him faithfully. I pray you would join me in praying not only for your own husband, but also for your Pastor as well.


Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should. Ephesians 6:19-20

One of the most challenging sermons I've ever heard was based on this text from Ephesians, urging believers to pray for their preachers. The apostle Paul was a brilliant preacher and a bold evangelist, yet he recognized that, in order for his ministry to be effective, he needed people to pray for him. Preaching the gospel is a solemn task. To proclaim the Word of God a
preacher needs words from God, so that he will depend on God's Word and not on his own skill. he needs the freedom and boldness to proclaim the gospel fearlessly, not telling people what they want to hear but what God wants them to hear. A preacher must proclaim the mystery of the gospel, not a carefully calculated plan for moral improvement. He must make sinners uncomfortable with their sin and point them to Jesus Christ. Finally, ministers need endurance in tribulation. They need to bear the burdens of their congregation as they stay tender to the pain of sin.

By the end of the sermon I was in tears. I realized how much I need to pray for my husband and how little I actually did pray for him. Even more than that, I felt the weight of his burden to preach the gospel. As his wife I must bear that burden with him and pray for him faithfully.

Lord, thank you for the faithful preachers who open your Word to us plainly. Thank you for my husband and his gift for proclaiming the gospel. Please give him boldness and endurance. Please forgive me for praying infrequently and weakly. Equip me to be his constant prayer warrior. Amen.

I'm at the Cafe today

Do you have a quiet place?

Come find out why I am asking by joining me here today.

Can we please have Bible Study?

Those of you IRL (in real life) who attend Tuesday morning Bible Study at church and maybe stop by here occasionally...I am so sorry!


The weather is just not cooperating. This morning I was hopeful that school would be on the normal schedule, but no not today, we had a two hour delay. hey, that rhymes

I was sooooooo looking forward to getting together this morning. I wanted to stomp my foot like a little child and scream, "nooooo, it's not fair!"

So, here I sit with my homework completed for two weeks in a row, hungry to feed on His word in the presence of the sweet ladies who are so faithful to attend.

This is our fourth cancellation since we started in January. We had hoped to finish this study before Easter, but we laughingly said after the second cancellation, "we will be happy to finish by Summer".

This isn't funny!

I am working on some make-up class times.

Soup & Speech update

This morning I placed the ingredients for Italian Sausage Soup in my crock pot, and through out the day it filled my home with the smells of my favorite Italian restaurant.

All five of my kids love this soup and it is a nice change from your more traditional soups. It is great on a cold snowy day (like today), and also the recipe can be easily doubled for a crowd.

Makes 8 servings

1 lb. bulk Italian sausage

1 onion, chopped finely

1/2 tsp bottled minced garlic

2 medium carrots, chopped

1 stalk celery, chopped

1 can diced tomatoes, undrained

1 8 oz. can tomato sauce

1 bay leaf

1 tsp dried oregano, crushed

1/2 tsp dried rosemary, crushed

1/2 tsp dried basil, crushed

1/4 tsp dried thyme, crushed

1/4 tsp fennel seeds, crushed

3 14-oz. cans chicken broth

1 cup dried orzo pasta

finely shredded Parmesan cheese for serving

In a skillet, cook sausage, onion, and garlic over medium heat until sausage is brown. Drain off fat.

In crock pot, combine carrots and celery. Add sausage mixture. In bowl, combine tomatoes, sauce, and spices. Pour mixture and chicken broth over sausage mixture.

Cover and cook on low-heat setting for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours.

If using low-heat setting, turn to high-heat setting. Stir in pasta. Cover and cook for 20 minutes more. Discard bay leaf. Serve with Parmesan cheese.

Add some garlic cheese bread and enjoy!


Update on my daughter's speech competition since so many of you asked (thank you!):

Before I dropped Lauren off at the high school early Saturday morning, she told me she was nervous. As I drove down the street the couple blocks to the school, I told her that she had already done a really great thing as far as we were concerned. But, I grabbed her hand and we prayed for her day.

Lauren was scheduled to perform the first speech (the one she agreed to do the night before) at 9 am. It was in the story-telling category. She called us shortly after she had received her score and shared with us that she had received the highest possible score, a "1". We all shouted with joy for her and at that point it didn't matter to her how the rest of the day went.

But, later that afternoon shortly after she gave her speech in the acting category, she called again to tell us she had received another score of "1". We were all so happy for her. She had worked very hard on this speech using an accent throughout the entire speech and having to break out in song at what point, and tears in the next.

She will now compete in two weeks at state.

Parenting thoughts...

We all know that being a parent is one of the most exhausting roles we can have. We pray for a little one to fill our arms, only to be totally amazed that such a little person can go through a room that has just been picked up and make you feel as if you have never lifted a finger. We tearfully watch as they turn school age and slowly gain more independence and for the most part the approaching years seem to provide a small amount of relief as we watch them grow and learn. And then one day the child that seemed to move from one clothing size to another year after year suddenly has an unbelievable growth spurt in which you now wonder if it is your destiny to give away perfectly good clothing. And before you know it, what is standing before you is the shape and size of an adult, but is still growing in wisdom.



This is where I am at with my oldest daughter.


Oh, how I would love to share about some of our conversations. They are so precious and I am trying to take mental notes, listen well, and jot down some of things she is sharing. I would never want to embarrass her, so I will have to keep these to myself for now.



Today when I picked her up after speech practice, we had one such conversation. I saw a small growth in maturity and was so thankful for the way she was trusting the Lord for things to take place in her life. (you may be thinking this has to do with boys, but it didn't) I don't take these little things for granted, and I am thankful to the Lord each time she expresses her desire to walk in His ways.



Often times when our kids are teens, we are so concerned about what they might be doing, that we miss what they are not doing. I often find myself wanting to focus only on those areas that lack wisdom and understanding, and sometimes fail to acknowledge so much of the good stuff.



Tomorrow she is participating in her High School's individual speech competition. She was originally set up to perform one speech in the acting category, but today fifteen minutes before their practice concluded, her speech coach (while looking directly at her) told the group that one of the students had dropped out in the story telling category and she was hoping someone would be willing to take her place. My daughter responded to her direct eye contact and agreed to pick up a second speech. So, here it is Friday night and she is upstairs rehearsing for this second speech. She told me in the car that her coach was elated that she would be willing to do this.



I am so proud of her. Not because she has another opportunity to win a competition, oh no, but for her willingness to be inconvenienced to help her coach out and even the rest of the team. If anything, her first speech (which is amazing), now will have to share the energy and effort with this last minute addition and will not get all of her attention on this eve of the competition.

Often times in our self centered culture, most of us would never take on something so last minute unless we had something to gain. I know that her intentions for doing this has nothing to do with herself, but has everything to do with what someone else needed at the moment.

I can't help but think...Wisdom.

What Day is it?

Those were my exact thoughts this morning as I awoke. This week has me totally confused. Yesterday I thought it was Thursday all day, except I knew I had church, but I kept thinking tomorrow was Friday, even though it was going to be Thursday, which is today, right? I told you I am confused!

This week our life has been centered around the school's website. In fact, If traffic to their site was something they were trying to build, we contributed this week in a big way and they must have huge smiles on their faces.

Will there be school today? Will there be a late start? Some were standing in front of the computer refreshing the page over and over praying for the words, "school canceled today" while others were just hoping for the words, "2 hour delay today" so that they could continue to sleep in again for the who knows how many days in a row.

But, this morning the website read, "regular class schedule today." As I went from room to room gently nudging each of my sleeping kiddos, all snuggled in the warmth of their beds, there was a long sigh as I told them we had a regular schedule today.

Everyone slowly crept out of bed and began their normal morning routine for the first time in over a week. We all enjoyed waffles and the morning chaos was at a minimum.

As I drove up to the three different schools, I blessed each of my kids as I do every morning with the words, "the Lord be with you today, may His face shine upon you, and may you learn to the glory of God. I love you! and don't slip on the ice! "

As I drove away from the middle school, my eleven year old son turned the corner on the sidewalk and you guessed it, slide down the sidewalk a few inches on the ice managing of course to stay on his feet, turned around and smiled at me. All I have to say is, "What day is it?"

Lies Young Women Believe

About a month ago, I pre-ordered a copy of Lies Young Women Believe by Nancy DeMoss and Dannah Gresh. The book arrived about a week ago and I have been skimming through it for the past few days and oh, I am so excited that these two ladies have written this book that I had to post something.

Lies Women Believe is a book I highly recommend every woman to read. Nancy addresses so many lies and strongholds that have gripped my own life and she combats them directly with the truth of God's Word. She addresses the areas of our priorities, marriage, children, emotions, and many more. It was amazing for me to discover how much I had bought into the enemy's deception or had accepted the world's standard rather than God's truth.

It is a book on my list to read again this year as well as work through her Companion Guide.

About two years ago while browsing through a christian book store I came across Dannah Gresh's book , And the Bride Wore White. At first I thought it would be something for a young woman who was engaged to be married. But to my delight, the book was suited for older teenage or college age girls. Dannah shares seven secrets to sexual purity intermingled with her own testimony and how God brought her to be married to her husband. It is a beautiful love story packed with powerful spiritual truths. I read the book in about a week and the Lord graciously opened some doors and the teenage girls in our church have been able to participate in a purity retreat based on this book for two years in a row.

So, you can imagine how giddy I was when I was asked if I would like to pre-order this book. It looks fun and inviting to a young woman (I've already caught both of my girls thumbing through it and asking if they could read it) and it addresses areas such as myself, guys, relationships, sin, and the media.

I've only read the introduction and all I can say is WOW and thank you Nancy, Dannah and Moody Publishing for a great resource for our daughters. I will share more as I read.

For more information about this book you can go here.

Red + Blood = Love

I love the color red!

I love it’s boldness!

I love that it is uninhibited!

I love that it makes a statement!

I love that it is romantic!

I am usually drawn to the red sofas in the furniture store. (someday) I love red roses, red poppies, and red tulips. I have some red plates, a red can opener, and I have been admiring a friends red pots and pans hanging in her kitchen for weeks.


Red is such a fun color! It is beautiful and bold at Christmas and soft and romantic on Valentine’s Day. It is patriotic and heart-felt on the 4th of July and oh so breathtaking when the leaves turn a deep rich shade of it in the fall.


But red represents something else for those who are believers in Jesus Christ. It represents His blood. Not just any blood. It is the blood that was shed on a cross for my sins and for yours too!

It is rich, bold, uninhibited, romantic, and has made such a huge statement in my life. I can barely sing about it in church without the tears streaming down my face. I know of its power personally!

"In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace." Ephesian 1:7

Today red will be used in many ways. It will be the primary color in cards and notes exchanged between lovers, friends, and kids at school. Red roses will be sent to sweethearts from florists on every corner. Red heart shaped boxes will appear from behind someone’s back into the hands of another filled with something sweet. All of which are expressions of love!

But I want to be reminded of another expression of love. There is absolutely nothing I can do to earn this love or change this love, or even repay this love.

It is perfect love shown to me when Jesus opened his arms and allowed his very own flesh to be nailed to a cross. RED, rich life giving blood had already been shared in amounts beyond what is imaginable even before one strike of the nail.

Yet he continued, went to the cross and shed His blood for me and for you.

We have been given the greatest gift of love!

The red blood of Jesus Christ!

Best Friends Forever

While driving to the store tonight with only Hunter (7) in the car, he called out from the back seat and asked me if I knew what BFF stood for?


I told him in a very excited tone that I did!

He then proceeded to tell me that I was his BFF!

If only I could bottle this seven year old boy who will still hold my hand as we walk into a store together?

...the rest of our snow day in pictures

after they cleaned their rooms, this is what the rest of our day looked like...






boys working on a snow fort...




a three year old enjoying the path he was carving in the un-touched snow and looking back at his foot prints....


















sitting down to warm up on pizza and hot cocoa for lunch....








listening to a sixteen year old share about her speech competition over the weekend...

peeking into the room where a eleven and twelve year old enjoyed playing together...

observing little hands making play dough creatures...






and guess what two giggling boys came up with all on their own, "daddy and mommy"
Yes, here we are...






And to end our day...my seven year old prepared a box of brownies for dessert while I made dinner. He did everything on his own. I only set the oven temp and of course put the brownies in the oven and took them out.

They turned out delicious! He's quite the little chef.

It was a great day!

It's Official

And here is how you can tell besides my daughter putting her hand print in the snow on our front porch:

loud praise music and the smell of pancakes fills the house. Our official snow day breakfast. My twelve year old has been busy this morning.

The kids are hoping for a fun day! (shhh...they will be cleaning their rooms and helping me complete some much needed work in the house. I can no longer over look the winter storm that has struck in each of their rooms.)

But don't worry, it can't be a snow day without building a snow man and hot cocoa.

Snow Day?

Will tomorrow be a snow day?

This was the question that each of my children asked as I tucked them into bed tonight.

Super Bowl Sunday

We just finished watching the big game and was that exciting or what!! About fourteen years ago I became a serious football watcher with my husband. I decided since it was something that he enjoyed so much, I would join in. He loved it. And believe it or not I have stuck with it even though in recent years neither one of us have had much time to watch many games during the regular season.

This was the first year in many that we haven't had a house full of people all crowded in front of our televsion, kids running from room to room and a truck load of food spread throughout the kitchen. Earlier this week my husband and I discussed our plans for today and agreed we both were tired from various things that have taken place over the past several weeks and decided to just be home alone with our own kids.

So, we all put our sweats/pajamas on about 3 o'clock. I made a huge pot of White Bean and Chicken Chili. I put out the chips, dips, little smokies rolled in a blanket (because my husband requested those in front of the whole congregration this morning, both services) and for dessert I completly out did myself by serving up two flavors of Oreo cookies with milk for dessert. We all had a blanket or two, some pillows and enjoyed the big game.

Of course, I had to cheer on the New York Giants because 1) I love New York and 2) they were not expected to win and I am usually always for the under dog in everything, even though the Patriots were undefeated and this would of been a huge victory for them as well. Sorry New England fans! Mostly, it was a fun day even without the huge crowd.

Now back to the real reason I sat down at the computer, to finish my bible study for Tuesday morning.

For You - Not Me

For five years my husband served as Pastor for a small church along Highway 49 in the foothills of the Sierras. It was a beautiful place to live! The view from our home was breathtaking. We lived on nearly two acres of hillside surrounded by towering pine and oak trees. Most days we were guaranteed the most beautiful blue skies. And for a girl who had spent every day before this with both the gray overcast mornings of the Southern California basin and the smog that would sit just above us except when the winds would blow through, the pure blue sky was a gift to be enjoyed.

Although our surroundings were beautiful, these were five of the most difficult, grueling, life transforming, growing, heart-wrenching, painful, very difficult (I can’t think of anymore adjectives to use to describe what I am trying to convey) years we have yet to experience both in life and ministry.

I remember one day in particular. I was complaining to God about all the chairs and tables my husband and I had to set up, the coffeepots we had to clean, the vacuuming, the errands, the toilets we scrubbed and the floors we mopped – the servant’s work. I was trying to explain to God that he was wasting all our experience and education by having us do so much menial work.

For the rest of this post please follow me over to the Cafe.