This week has been trying for me in some sense of the words...
You see, I come equipped ( and you probably do too) with a little thing called a 'discontentment' factor. I know! I know! Shameful to think a christian woman who really does pursue Christ & want to be more like him, being something as sinful as discontent! Bare with me, here...
Our house is TINY ( we are talking 2 bedrooms for 6 people! And if you count the 2 cats and 1 dog that think they are human, well, that's 9!!) So, my awesome husband and I are adding on. I love this idea, but would rather build. Every time I see one of my friends NeW houses, I have to wipe the drool that has inevitably trickled down my chin, as I stand in awe, at a finished house ( TRIMMED UP & EVERYTHING!) where children don't have to be triple stacked and cupboards are organized because, well, they have more than 5!
Living in such a teeny, tiny house has made me resent it more than anything. I get angry that the closets can't fit all our clothes and the bathroom has no linen closet and our entry room consist of a flight of stairs straight down to the basement, so NO room for coats and shoes! I get frustrated when my husband doesn't understand that a woman's house is her HOME & she puts alot of energy and work into it, and that's hard to do when the kids have to play in the living room for space, because the bedroom has 3 beds in it, so I am forever cleaning up toys out of the living room and kitchen!
Mainly, I get frustrated because deeply rooted in my heart is an 'I deserve better' attitude that is creeping out and making me resent my precious home.
God called me out on that one,when he poked at my heart, as I begrudgingly thought about a great idea for us to build and my sensible husband hasn't jumped for joy, telling me " Best Idea EVER!" and started drawing up plans for a house that at least had a laundry room on the main floor, not tucked down in the basement, where cobwebs and angry spiders lurk!
And let me share, I am so thankful He did poke at my heart.
In my quiet anger about the less than brand new vehicale I drive and the 'cramped- for -space house fit' I was having, I felt God challenging me to embrace what He has so graciously blessed me with.
So, I am thankful for the hallway that displays my children's art work and painted birdhouses and noodle necklaces. I am thankful that even though we have 6 and our kitchen table only fits 4, so we drag a chair to dinner every time we eat, that we sit and eat as a family, pray and laugh together, and talk about our Lord. I am thankful that the smears from the dogs nose on the sliding glass door, begging to come in and the hand prints from a little crawling baby, that sits on the other side of the door, pounding away at the dog, are there. I am thankful that instead of bar stools under our island/counter we have three big ponies that the girls ride around the house. I am thankful that the corners of our walls are chipped up, from long winters when I let them bring in their bikes and ride around the house and they take a corner too quick!
I am thankful for the closet door, that doubles as a growth chart and how I have watched them grow over the last 3 years at this house, and how it breaks my heart at the same time, to know, someday they'll be grown...
I am so thankful for everything, but so thankful when I trick myself into thinking how little I have, God opens my eyes ( and mostly my heart) and reminds me of just how MUCH I have been blessed...
Be thankful, too.
Saturday, March 19, 2011
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Well, My Son.....
I often find my self comparing my kids. Sometimes at how much better they are than other kid's and sometimes at how much I wish they could be as good as other kids.
I know that is wrong, I'm not stupid. But, I think as parents we have these great expectations sometimes that even our kids can't meet and we lose sight of the important things when they fail at our measuring stick.
As I read in Luke Chapter 1 the other day, and marveled at the story of John and his coming about, I thought , " Wow! How Cool!"
How cool would it be to have an angel show up, when you are 'well in years' & having a barren wife( verse7)
and tell you, basically, You're Kids gonna be the best kid on the block!
I know when I was pregnant an angel never appeared to me saying all the great things that good ol' Gabe told Old Man, Zacky. No one promised me a 'child that would bring joy & delight' (vs.14) and that ' MANY ( not a few family & friends....but MANY!) 'Would rejoice over his birth', and that he would be 'Great in the sight of the Lord'. The kicker for me was, ' He will never take wine or fermented drink.'(vs.15) Well, that little bit of info would save alot of parents ALOT of worrying throughout the teenage years! Man, if at least 1 in 10 babies came with that extra PLUS, how great would that be?!
The Chapter goes on to say He will be filed with the Holy Spirit even from birth! And he will turn many hearts of the people of Israel back to the Lord, and he will go before the Lord to change hearts!
Wow...If I was Sweet old Elizabeth, I would have kicked up my heals and maybe not have cared so much if I was going to badly screw up my kid, well, because he came with a PROMISE!
The part that got me was when Zechariah questioned Gabriel, " How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." ( vs. 18)
First off, lets break this down:
A: Way to go, Zack, for NOT saying your wife was an OLD lady, but taking the gentle route 'well in years' and not re hashing the whole 'barren' thing,which we know she felt was a disgrace (vs.25)
B: You can never judge someone for not having kids, or only a few. It may not be a 'selfish' decision, it may be the path God has allowed in their life, for whatever reason.
C: Gabriel didn't like that Zacky boy doubted what he was telling him and caused Zechariah to be mute ( without speech) until Johns birth, because AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO YOU - SENT FROM GOD - WITH THIS GOOD NEWS - AND YOU STILL QUESTION IF I'M LEGIT? Boy- that was some stupid stuff comin' outta your mouth - shut up for, let's say...9 months!(vs.19-20)
D: I'm Zack....
You see, the thing is, our kids are a joy & delight. God can use them in amazing ways we can't even imagine, he can use them to bring many to his saving grace and love and yet we still question, " Are you for real God? You can't possibly use my lil' Junior who wets the bed every night and still sucks his thumb and is missing his front tooth....really Lord? Maybe you should check the neighbors kid's, they are really good Christians and I'm pretty sure their little Sally got baptized last month..."
Oh, be amazed Parent's...for God can & will use our children, despite our downfall's and in spite of how much we love them and believe in them and teach them about our loving master...
Thankfully, God hasn't seen fit to press the 'MUTE' button on my yapper for all the doubting I do. So, let the words of my mouth be pleasing to you, O' Lord. Let the Love for my children believe all things and hope all things, because with You, all things ( not some or just a few) are possible.
Now, go hug your kid and tell them, In Christ Alone, they can be world changers :)
I know that is wrong, I'm not stupid. But, I think as parents we have these great expectations sometimes that even our kids can't meet and we lose sight of the important things when they fail at our measuring stick.
As I read in Luke Chapter 1 the other day, and marveled at the story of John and his coming about, I thought , " Wow! How Cool!"
How cool would it be to have an angel show up, when you are 'well in years' & having a barren wife( verse7)
and tell you, basically, You're Kids gonna be the best kid on the block!
I know when I was pregnant an angel never appeared to me saying all the great things that good ol' Gabe told Old Man, Zacky. No one promised me a 'child that would bring joy & delight' (vs.14) and that ' MANY ( not a few family & friends....but MANY!) 'Would rejoice over his birth', and that he would be 'Great in the sight of the Lord'. The kicker for me was, ' He will never take wine or fermented drink.'(vs.15) Well, that little bit of info would save alot of parents ALOT of worrying throughout the teenage years! Man, if at least 1 in 10 babies came with that extra PLUS, how great would that be?!
The Chapter goes on to say He will be filed with the Holy Spirit even from birth! And he will turn many hearts of the people of Israel back to the Lord, and he will go before the Lord to change hearts!
Wow...If I was Sweet old Elizabeth, I would have kicked up my heals and maybe not have cared so much if I was going to badly screw up my kid, well, because he came with a PROMISE!
The part that got me was when Zechariah questioned Gabriel, " How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years." ( vs. 18)
First off, lets break this down:
A: Way to go, Zack, for NOT saying your wife was an OLD lady, but taking the gentle route 'well in years' and not re hashing the whole 'barren' thing,which we know she felt was a disgrace (vs.25)
B: You can never judge someone for not having kids, or only a few. It may not be a 'selfish' decision, it may be the path God has allowed in their life, for whatever reason.
C: Gabriel didn't like that Zacky boy doubted what he was telling him and caused Zechariah to be mute ( without speech) until Johns birth, because AN ANGEL OF THE LORD APPEARED TO YOU - SENT FROM GOD - WITH THIS GOOD NEWS - AND YOU STILL QUESTION IF I'M LEGIT? Boy- that was some stupid stuff comin' outta your mouth - shut up for, let's say...9 months!(vs.19-20)
D: I'm Zack....
You see, the thing is, our kids are a joy & delight. God can use them in amazing ways we can't even imagine, he can use them to bring many to his saving grace and love and yet we still question, " Are you for real God? You can't possibly use my lil' Junior who wets the bed every night and still sucks his thumb and is missing his front tooth....really Lord? Maybe you should check the neighbors kid's, they are really good Christians and I'm pretty sure their little Sally got baptized last month..."
Oh, be amazed Parent's...for God can & will use our children, despite our downfall's and in spite of how much we love them and believe in them and teach them about our loving master...
Thankfully, God hasn't seen fit to press the 'MUTE' button on my yapper for all the doubting I do. So, let the words of my mouth be pleasing to you, O' Lord. Let the Love for my children believe all things and hope all things, because with You, all things ( not some or just a few) are possible.
Now, go hug your kid and tell them, In Christ Alone, they can be world changers :)
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
READ THIS FOR THE WORLDS EASIEST PARENTING!!!!!
HA! Gotcha!
World's easiest parenting?!?
No such thing!
I am often taken back at just how BIG of a failure at parenting I am. Don't feel sorry for me. It's truth. I put others, myself and many things that are time wasters before my kids. Why? Well, they adapt to what I do and they are fine. For now.
God has really impressed on my heart what 'good' parenting is, lately. I want that. I don't want to HOPE my kids make it out alive and leave here only in the 'Scratch & Dent' box. I want them leaving here fully clothed in the armour of God, to be able to fend off the fiery darts of the devil and stand strong against the world.Too be a light, not a glow worm!
I would challenge you to take a look at whats going on in your house. ChAoS? Frustrations.ANGER! Disobedience? No RESPECT?! ...no love?
Our homes will occasionally have these things, because, well, let's face it...we are all sinners! But, if this is an everyday, every hour, every minute occurrence, maybe what you're doing isn't quite working :(
Just my last two trips to the store I have seen this first hand. Walking down the aisle and mothers just snapping at their kids for simple questions, like, " Can we get this cereal?"
Really? A Holy war being raged over this?
The old Golden rule still applies, "Treat others...." You know the rest.
I am also amazed at the level of control children are given.
You don't want to share? Ok.
You don't want to use the potty? That's fine.
You don't want to eat you dinner? Sure.
Chocolate for breakfast? Sounds fair.
Hitting mommy? Not nice, but I'm a doormat, go ahead.
Jumping on the furniture?Climbing the counters? Breaking our decorations? Coloring on the walls? Smashing your toys into your sisters head? Runnnnnning our house with an iron fist?
Not OK! No! No! And NO!
Don't forget when God blessed you with that baby, YOU WHERE THE PARENT! He gives you power to be that parent. Enjoy every second of it, not hate the second you hear their little feet hit the floor in the morning and you know you're in for another beating!
Everyday with your children will present new challenges, it's how you handle them and help your child grow. You don't let them take the reins and run, you guide with loving hands and gentle hearts. Don't let this time be wasted on letting them call the shots, use this time to help them grow up to be amazing little people that God can use!
Great book rescourses:
"Dare to Discipline" Dr. James Dobson
"Shepherding a Child's Heart" Tedd Tripp
"Raising Godly Children in an ungodly world." Ken & Steve Ham
Also, online or the radio : "Family Life Today" & "Focus on the Family".
World's easiest parenting?!?
No such thing!
I am often taken back at just how BIG of a failure at parenting I am. Don't feel sorry for me. It's truth. I put others, myself and many things that are time wasters before my kids. Why? Well, they adapt to what I do and they are fine. For now.
God has really impressed on my heart what 'good' parenting is, lately. I want that. I don't want to HOPE my kids make it out alive and leave here only in the 'Scratch & Dent' box. I want them leaving here fully clothed in the armour of God, to be able to fend off the fiery darts of the devil and stand strong against the world.Too be a light, not a glow worm!
I would challenge you to take a look at whats going on in your house. ChAoS? Frustrations.ANGER! Disobedience? No RESPECT?! ...no love?
Our homes will occasionally have these things, because, well, let's face it...we are all sinners! But, if this is an everyday, every hour, every minute occurrence, maybe what you're doing isn't quite working :(
Just my last two trips to the store I have seen this first hand. Walking down the aisle and mothers just snapping at their kids for simple questions, like, " Can we get this cereal?"
Really? A Holy war being raged over this?
The old Golden rule still applies, "Treat others...." You know the rest.
I am also amazed at the level of control children are given.
You don't want to share? Ok.
You don't want to use the potty? That's fine.
You don't want to eat you dinner? Sure.
Chocolate for breakfast? Sounds fair.
Hitting mommy? Not nice, but I'm a doormat, go ahead.
Jumping on the furniture?Climbing the counters? Breaking our decorations? Coloring on the walls? Smashing your toys into your sisters head? Runnnnnning our house with an iron fist?
Not OK! No! No! And NO!
Don't forget when God blessed you with that baby, YOU WHERE THE PARENT! He gives you power to be that parent. Enjoy every second of it, not hate the second you hear their little feet hit the floor in the morning and you know you're in for another beating!
Everyday with your children will present new challenges, it's how you handle them and help your child grow. You don't let them take the reins and run, you guide with loving hands and gentle hearts. Don't let this time be wasted on letting them call the shots, use this time to help them grow up to be amazing little people that God can use!
Great book rescourses:
"Dare to Discipline" Dr. James Dobson
"Shepherding a Child's Heart" Tedd Tripp
"Raising Godly Children in an ungodly world." Ken & Steve Ham
Also, online or the radio : "Family Life Today" & "Focus on the Family".
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Skinny Jeans...I hate you.
Well, I did it! At 30 years old, I submitted to the fashion gods and broke down and bought the cheapest pair of skinny jeans I could find ( $5 @ Wal - mart!)
I don't know if I should be bragging about that, being that I am, like I said, 30...my hips have been stretched from 5 pregnancies and...ok, ok..so, basically I should just splurge and go get a back tatoo that says, " Big Momma runs this trailer park!"
You may wonder why I fear these pants of deception and fill with rage at thier sight. Don't get me wrong, I used to ROCK the skinny jeans ( when I was 13 and they actually weren't in style...whole 'nother story!) First off, the name...SkInNy? I checked my body over and over and honey child, they're ain't alot of skinny left! Plus, I hate crap that SCREAMS, "HEY! You're SKINNY, but NOT quite SKINNY enough! BUY us SKINNY jeans and be SO SKINNY, you'll look like you SPRAY PAINTED these bad boys on!"
I didn't tell my husband, (well...I didn't want him to fall off the couch laughing and break an arm...I might need those arms to save my from a life and death situation once I squeezed those skinny jeans ON!) and I snuck into the bathroom.
It was alot like labor and delivery...pushing, pulling, heavy breathing, sweating, swearing and screams of pain & that was just getting them on...Jaws of life had to come and get them off of me ;)
But, I was determined...I had recently bought a cute pair of boots that would look SO cute with a pair of skinny jeans on! So, no matter how many veins I would pop in my neck, or how many butt cramps I would get, those jeans and I would wrestle it out till I was crowned VICTOR!
Does victory mean when you finally get them over your hips and barely ( and believe me when I say...BARELY!) zipped, almost buttoned and almost pass out from lack of oxegyn flowing to your 'lower level' on, that you have conquered the skinny jeans? Oh my friend, it does...and I know, because I almost seen the light :)
I would like to blame the skinny Jeans co. whom shall remain nameless, because they really should be called, " Leg squeezing, butt cruncher pants!" and I would also like to thank the herniated belly button my chubby baby left behind as a souvenior of her 9 month stay ( KIDS! Never cleaning up after themselves!) OR well, maybe I'm just retaining water tonight ( like the Biron dam!) I would hate to think, maybe my motherly hips and my winter layers ( a.k.a 'extra pounds') had anything to do with it!
I have to say, I like my hips. Reminds me of the times I felt closest to my husband, as he held all 5 of our baby girls and tears filled his eyes, and he would kiss me and tell me what a great job I did and how he loved me so much. And how everyone of them coming into the world was such an amazing and different expierence, so much better than trying to expierence life from a pair of cute jeans.
All is well in my heart. I actually do know, I will fit into those jeans...someday. And it wont be by starving myself and beating myself up, letting satan lie to me that I'm just NOT skinny enough. It will come from wanting to be a healthy mom for my baby girls and my amazing husband ( who I know is gonna LOVE them! Whit! Whew! Make us some more babies in them skinny jeans;).
What are you trying to squeeze into, taht makes you uncomfortable or feel less beautiful. Know this, to Jesus, there is none more perfect or beautiful than you.
SO CHEW ON THAT SKINNY JEANS!!! :0)
Good News! In this process my belly button hernia is gone! Once I buttoned those pants, it launched back to my spine! That's ok, right?!?
God bless!
I don't know if I should be bragging about that, being that I am, like I said, 30...my hips have been stretched from 5 pregnancies and...ok, ok..so, basically I should just splurge and go get a back tatoo that says, " Big Momma runs this trailer park!"
You may wonder why I fear these pants of deception and fill with rage at thier sight. Don't get me wrong, I used to ROCK the skinny jeans ( when I was 13 and they actually weren't in style...whole 'nother story!) First off, the name...SkInNy? I checked my body over and over and honey child, they're ain't alot of skinny left! Plus, I hate crap that SCREAMS, "HEY! You're SKINNY, but NOT quite SKINNY enough! BUY us SKINNY jeans and be SO SKINNY, you'll look like you SPRAY PAINTED these bad boys on!"
I didn't tell my husband, (well...I didn't want him to fall off the couch laughing and break an arm...I might need those arms to save my from a life and death situation once I squeezed those skinny jeans ON!) and I snuck into the bathroom.
It was alot like labor and delivery...pushing, pulling, heavy breathing, sweating, swearing and screams of pain & that was just getting them on...Jaws of life had to come and get them off of me ;)
But, I was determined...I had recently bought a cute pair of boots that would look SO cute with a pair of skinny jeans on! So, no matter how many veins I would pop in my neck, or how many butt cramps I would get, those jeans and I would wrestle it out till I was crowned VICTOR!
Does victory mean when you finally get them over your hips and barely ( and believe me when I say...BARELY!) zipped, almost buttoned and almost pass out from lack of oxegyn flowing to your 'lower level' on, that you have conquered the skinny jeans? Oh my friend, it does...and I know, because I almost seen the light :)
I would like to blame the skinny Jeans co. whom shall remain nameless, because they really should be called, " Leg squeezing, butt cruncher pants!" and I would also like to thank the herniated belly button my chubby baby left behind as a souvenior of her 9 month stay ( KIDS! Never cleaning up after themselves!) OR well, maybe I'm just retaining water tonight ( like the Biron dam!) I would hate to think, maybe my motherly hips and my winter layers ( a.k.a 'extra pounds') had anything to do with it!
I have to say, I like my hips. Reminds me of the times I felt closest to my husband, as he held all 5 of our baby girls and tears filled his eyes, and he would kiss me and tell me what a great job I did and how he loved me so much. And how everyone of them coming into the world was such an amazing and different expierence, so much better than trying to expierence life from a pair of cute jeans.
All is well in my heart. I actually do know, I will fit into those jeans...someday. And it wont be by starving myself and beating myself up, letting satan lie to me that I'm just NOT skinny enough. It will come from wanting to be a healthy mom for my baby girls and my amazing husband ( who I know is gonna LOVE them! Whit! Whew! Make us some more babies in them skinny jeans;).
What are you trying to squeeze into, taht makes you uncomfortable or feel less beautiful. Know this, to Jesus, there is none more perfect or beautiful than you.
SO CHEW ON THAT SKINNY JEANS!!! :0)
Good News! In this process my belly button hernia is gone! Once I buttoned those pants, it launched back to my spine! That's ok, right?!?
God bless!
Friday, December 24, 2010
The Next Best Thing. . .
I spent so many days & years wondering, "What's the next best thing!?" Constantly worried about what I had and hadn't done. The regrets. The failures. The 'what-if's.'
I soon realized why I was always fretting over these things...because I wasn't using my life for 'the next best thing!'
I was wrapped up in myself, to say the least. I was bent on all the things I couldn't do, or was afraid I would do wrong that it crippled any capability for me to see just exactly how God has designed me to be a vessel for him. To see my God given talents and use them for his purpose and plan.
On the eve of Christmas I think of a very amazing young lady. I bet you know who. What if when the angel came to her, she dug her heels in and said, " Baby?!? You have GOT to be crazy, Angel! I am too young, unmarried, Joseph will lose his mind up in here, if he knows I'm gonna have a baby! Besides, I would be a horrible mother! I can't do the whole 'pregnancy' thing for 9 months! What if I get sick? I am a puker...I don't want to be pukin'...what if I fall off a camel? I am not a good camel rider...that could hurt a baby!"
I am sure she had some thoughts of 'Why?' But , she knew the fathers will was more important and he would refine her rough edges. Thank God she said Yes. Do you think if she didn't, Gd wold have found some one else? Who else is doing something that you should be doing?
Someone recently said about me ( and I was over the top humbled by this, and know I am far, far from there! But, it blessed my heart.) " You don't sit around waiting for things to happen, you are not content to just be lazy at home, you go out and get things done for the Lord."
I say that not to brag at all, but because I know even just over a year ago I still struggled with being in my 'comfort zone' and letting the 'next best thing' slip by and not be used by God because I was to afraid of failure.
I am here to say, I still fail...daily....man! when will that stop!? Haha! But, I LOVE IT! Every failure is God teaching me and growing me and I cannot get enough!!! I know he loves me even when I fail and fall, but I refuse to sit back, complacent, letting all the best things that come with being in love with my savior, skip me by!
" Don't be afraid of what you will miss out on if you surrender your life to Jesus, be afraid of what you will miss out on if you don't!"
Merry Christmas!
I soon realized why I was always fretting over these things...because I wasn't using my life for 'the next best thing!'
I was wrapped up in myself, to say the least. I was bent on all the things I couldn't do, or was afraid I would do wrong that it crippled any capability for me to see just exactly how God has designed me to be a vessel for him. To see my God given talents and use them for his purpose and plan.
On the eve of Christmas I think of a very amazing young lady. I bet you know who. What if when the angel came to her, she dug her heels in and said, " Baby?!? You have GOT to be crazy, Angel! I am too young, unmarried, Joseph will lose his mind up in here, if he knows I'm gonna have a baby! Besides, I would be a horrible mother! I can't do the whole 'pregnancy' thing for 9 months! What if I get sick? I am a puker...I don't want to be pukin'...what if I fall off a camel? I am not a good camel rider...that could hurt a baby!"I am sure she had some thoughts of 'Why?' But , she knew the fathers will was more important and he would refine her rough edges. Thank God she said Yes. Do you think if she didn't, Gd wold have found some one else? Who else is doing something that you should be doing?
Someone recently said about me ( and I was over the top humbled by this, and know I am far, far from there! But, it blessed my heart.) " You don't sit around waiting for things to happen, you are not content to just be lazy at home, you go out and get things done for the Lord."
I say that not to brag at all, but because I know even just over a year ago I still struggled with being in my 'comfort zone' and letting the 'next best thing' slip by and not be used by God because I was to afraid of failure.
I am here to say, I still fail...daily....man! when will that stop!? Haha! But, I LOVE IT! Every failure is God teaching me and growing me and I cannot get enough!!! I know he loves me even when I fail and fall, but I refuse to sit back, complacent, letting all the best things that come with being in love with my savior, skip me by!
" Don't be afraid of what you will miss out on if you surrender your life to Jesus, be afraid of what you will miss out on if you don't!"
Merry Christmas!
p.s. I know why God would not have picked a gal like me to carry baby Jesus...I would have cut a hole in my cloak around my pregnant belly and charged $5.00 to rub the unborn baby Jesus!
Friday, December 3, 2010
Expect the Unexpected when you are expecting...
So, you peed on the stick and it said, "YAY! You're going to be a responsible adult!" Ok, maybe it just read " Pregnant". Brace yourself, you're in for a wild ride!
I remember finding out that I was pregnant with our first ( 1 of 5 ) girls. I was so excited, nervous, scared, happy, giddy, in amazement...emotional? yes. Much like a pregnant woman would be!
I went into it thinking, ' My bellies gonna get really big, and in 9 months a babys gonna come out and we'll live happily ever after!'
It got better...Charlie horses during the night while I slept, Restless leg syndrome, ankles? Who needs ankles when you can get these new ones called, 'cankles!' My teeth hurt, my butt hurt, my skin hurt from being stretched to its maxium limit! At 8 months I thought proudly as I looked at the top part of my belly, " Yay for me! No stretchmarks!" Who invented long mirrors? They should be tracked down by a pack of wild pregnant woman, full of unsightly stretchmarks and beaten with burp rags! I couldn't see the stretch marks because I wasn' looking at my calves, butt, hips, boobs and under belly!!!! Forget the tube of 'Mederma Stretchmark cream', I need a GALLON!!!
Then there is labor and delivery. I knew it was going to hurt...but YEE-OUCH! I am not a cursin' woman, but Sweet Jesus...I wanted ( didn't...but, wanted too!) swear like a trucker!
Why didn't someone tell me it hurt so bad? So, so, so BAD!!!!
AND why didn't someone tell me that Para cervical blocks can wear off? And it may be too late to take anything else for pain? And the pure joy of an epidural!?! WHY?WHY?WHY?
And no ever prepares you for this one......holding your whimpering, warm, wet, snugly baby in your arms for the first time. Nothing, nothing in this world can compare to that precious grip there tiny life takes on your heart and squeezes until you feel like you would die if they even got the teeniest of boo-boo's...
I wonder what Mary thought the night she had Baby Jesus. We have heard all the songs that describe beautifully her love and experience with her son, but what was she really feeling?
Was she thinking some of the same things we thought about?
Can you imagine giving birth, surrounded by animals? Their smells and sounds? The hay and the uncomfortableness of the stable? The embarresment of a private act taking place in a stable? The horror she must have felt when turned away by the Inn. Can you imagine? I couldn't. If someone came to my house about to deliver, I could never turn them out to our shed, no matter how many people where in my house.
That's just all apart of the beauty of our humble savior. From cradle to grave. Humble beginnings and even more humble end, as he hung beaten and harassed on the cross, naked and wounded for what? For us.
That's the most precious gift you could get this Christmas. Or maybe you need to show someone of the gift of Christ and what it has meant in your life.
There is no love or gift better than Him...
Baby Halle
Baby Layla
I remember finding out that I was pregnant with our first ( 1 of 5 ) girls. I was so excited, nervous, scared, happy, giddy, in amazement...emotional? yes. Much like a pregnant woman would be!
I went into it thinking, ' My bellies gonna get really big, and in 9 months a babys gonna come out and we'll live happily ever after!'
Well, at around week 9, I started puking...and puking...dry heaving...and puking...What was this?!? A precious, warm little baby sent from God above was wreaking havoc on my body! She was probably the size of an M&M and was controlling what I ate and how I digested it! I imagined a small, naked baby sitting at a control booth, laughing evilly as she would press a button that punched me in the stomach!
It got better...Charlie horses during the night while I slept, Restless leg syndrome, ankles? Who needs ankles when you can get these new ones called, 'cankles!' My teeth hurt, my butt hurt, my skin hurt from being stretched to its maxium limit! At 8 months I thought proudly as I looked at the top part of my belly, " Yay for me! No stretchmarks!" Who invented long mirrors? They should be tracked down by a pack of wild pregnant woman, full of unsightly stretchmarks and beaten with burp rags! I couldn't see the stretch marks because I wasn' looking at my calves, butt, hips, boobs and under belly!!!! Forget the tube of 'Mederma Stretchmark cream', I need a GALLON!!!
Then there is labor and delivery. I knew it was going to hurt...but YEE-OUCH! I am not a cursin' woman, but Sweet Jesus...I wanted ( didn't...but, wanted too!) swear like a trucker!
Why didn't someone tell me it hurt so bad? So, so, so BAD!!!!
AND why didn't someone tell me that Para cervical blocks can wear off? And it may be too late to take anything else for pain? And the pure joy of an epidural!?! WHY?WHY?WHY?
And no ever prepares you for this one......holding your whimpering, warm, wet, snugly baby in your arms for the first time. Nothing, nothing in this world can compare to that precious grip there tiny life takes on your heart and squeezes until you feel like you would die if they even got the teeniest of boo-boo's...
I wonder what Mary thought the night she had Baby Jesus. We have heard all the songs that describe beautifully her love and experience with her son, but what was she really feeling?
Was she thinking some of the same things we thought about?
Can you imagine giving birth, surrounded by animals? Their smells and sounds? The hay and the uncomfortableness of the stable? The embarresment of a private act taking place in a stable? The horror she must have felt when turned away by the Inn. Can you imagine? I couldn't. If someone came to my house about to deliver, I could never turn them out to our shed, no matter how many people where in my house.
That's just all apart of the beauty of our humble savior. From cradle to grave. Humble beginnings and even more humble end, as he hung beaten and harassed on the cross, naked and wounded for what? For us.
That's the most precious gift you could get this Christmas. Or maybe you need to show someone of the gift of Christ and what it has meant in your life.
There is no love or gift better than Him...
Brooklyn
Baby Halle
Baby LaylaBaby Breelia
Monday, November 1, 2010
Flip-floppers, mud slingers, dirty politics and corrupt goverment ~ all them there fancy words that lead up to ONE historic day, Nov.2nd
POLITICS-SHMOLITICS!
By now I am sure you are counting down the hours to when your TV won't be telling you how bad a guy is and who to vote for! What will they do with all that freed up air time!?
As I sat and prayed for our country tonight, some different verses came to mind and I thought I would share them with you as you exercise your freedom to vote, even though, if you are like me and think we should all vote in someone who will put into law, immediately effective that they will no longer be allowing political commercials during election season!
~Proverbs 31:8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute."
I can tell you what immediately comes to mind, as I read this verse and think about casting a vote in the morning. The unborn.
~1Corinthians 6:12" Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial". Yeah, big tax breaks and bailouts and stimulus packages and tax credits, may be our main drive in voting for who we vote for, but is that really beneficial? Should we maybe put our morals ahead of what we can gain from whomever takes seat at our capital and promises lower taxes and free puppies, in order to vote more in line with Proverbs 31:8
~Be very careful, do your research and don't just vote based on the fact that your trying to prove your not going to be swayed by fellow Christians, your parents or media. Remember God puts other believers in our life so that they can gently lead us to his word, where we may be wrong, and as this verse warns, 2 Corinthians 11:14:"And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising then that his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.Their end will be what their actions deserve." Powerful words! God knows who is doing evil , he has all ready taken care of their end. Lets not be a party to the evil that is choking our country of its religious and faith based founding.
How can we keep from being tricked into believing untruths about who we vote for, or how do we keep our eyes off of what we can gain, and think about what our heavenly father can gain, by the right person in office? 1corinthians 16:13 " Be on guard, stand firm in the faith: be men of courage, be strong." If you are strong in your faith, you will not vote because you are trying to prove that you are strong in yourself! You'll vote because your vote means more than christian rebellion and the good old American attitude of ''Well, I deserve the best!" You'll vote where God prompts your heart, to further his kingdom, because either way, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:21 " ...give to Caesar, what is Caesars..."
And why would we trust God to such a big task?! Well, because he is a BIG God! He knows all ready who will be in office, he is in control of everything. Our God loves us and will always be our supply, as much as we think it's from or not from our government.Philippians 4:19"My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Jesus Christ."
And probably my favorite verse, that gives me great peace in this election is this gem:
Phil 4:8"Finally brothers, whatever is TRUE, whatever is NOBLE, whatever is RIGHT, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is ADMIRABLE- if anything is EXCELLENT & PRAISEWORTHY- think about such things.Whatever you have LEARNED or RECEIVED or HEARD from me, or seen in me- PUT INTO PRACTICE. And the God of peace will be with you."
How reassuring! Gods peace will be with you. What a blessed thing to think on, as you prayerfully make your decision! You won't have the feeling of pride or proving anything or wondering if you are making the right choice. You will have set your mind on the things of above and have great peace in that! What a mighty God we serve!
And finally, this one I encourage you to read as you spend time with the Lord in prayer about this historical day~
EPHESIANS 6:10-18
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the devils schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh & blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
By now I am sure you are counting down the hours to when your TV won't be telling you how bad a guy is and who to vote for! What will they do with all that freed up air time!?
As I sat and prayed for our country tonight, some different verses came to mind and I thought I would share them with you as you exercise your freedom to vote, even though, if you are like me and think we should all vote in someone who will put into law, immediately effective that they will no longer be allowing political commercials during election season!
~Proverbs 31:8 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute."
I can tell you what immediately comes to mind, as I read this verse and think about casting a vote in the morning. The unborn.
~1Corinthians 6:12" Everything is permissible for me, but not everything is beneficial". Yeah, big tax breaks and bailouts and stimulus packages and tax credits, may be our main drive in voting for who we vote for, but is that really beneficial? Should we maybe put our morals ahead of what we can gain from whomever takes seat at our capital and promises lower taxes and free puppies, in order to vote more in line with Proverbs 31:8
~Be very careful, do your research and don't just vote based on the fact that your trying to prove your not going to be swayed by fellow Christians, your parents or media. Remember God puts other believers in our life so that they can gently lead us to his word, where we may be wrong, and as this verse warns, 2 Corinthians 11:14:"And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising then that his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness.Their end will be what their actions deserve." Powerful words! God knows who is doing evil , he has all ready taken care of their end. Lets not be a party to the evil that is choking our country of its religious and faith based founding.
How can we keep from being tricked into believing untruths about who we vote for, or how do we keep our eyes off of what we can gain, and think about what our heavenly father can gain, by the right person in office? 1corinthians 16:13 " Be on guard, stand firm in the faith: be men of courage, be strong." If you are strong in your faith, you will not vote because you are trying to prove that you are strong in yourself! You'll vote because your vote means more than christian rebellion and the good old American attitude of ''Well, I deserve the best!" You'll vote where God prompts your heart, to further his kingdom, because either way, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 22:21 " ...give to Caesar, what is Caesars..."
And why would we trust God to such a big task?! Well, because he is a BIG God! He knows all ready who will be in office, he is in control of everything. Our God loves us and will always be our supply, as much as we think it's from or not from our government.Philippians 4:19"My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Jesus Christ."
And probably my favorite verse, that gives me great peace in this election is this gem:
Phil 4:8"Finally brothers, whatever is TRUE, whatever is NOBLE, whatever is RIGHT, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is ADMIRABLE- if anything is EXCELLENT & PRAISEWORTHY- think about such things.Whatever you have LEARNED or RECEIVED or HEARD from me, or seen in me- PUT INTO PRACTICE. And the God of peace will be with you."
How reassuring! Gods peace will be with you. What a blessed thing to think on, as you prayerfully make your decision! You won't have the feeling of pride or proving anything or wondering if you are making the right choice. You will have set your mind on the things of above and have great peace in that! What a mighty God we serve!
And finally, this one I encourage you to read as you spend time with the Lord in prayer about this historical day~
EPHESIANS 6:10-18
"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can stand against the devils schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh & blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
Therefore put on the full armour of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after that you have done everything to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth, buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all of this take up the shield of faith, which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the spirit, which is the word of God."
And for goodness sakes! Can't we all just get along?!?!?!?!?!
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