On Being Thankful for Dirty Dishes {a Guest Post}

{{I am blessed to introduce you to my dear friend, Amy! She has been an incredible encouragement to me the past few months that I have known her, sending kind emails and continually praying for our family as we step out in faith. Her heart is beautiful, for her eyes are on Jesus as she seeks to honor Him and raise her family for Him.
I know you’ll be blessed by her words (and her adorable children)…}}

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We've just finished eating our third and final meal of the day and I'm carrying dirty dishes into the kitchen feeling like I never left it. Stepping over cars and trains that are scattered among Polly Pockets and My Little Ponies thinking of all that still needs to be done. Kids need to be bathed and laundry needs to be folded, and I am standing in a mound of dirty dishes wondering why?

Why did my dreams consist of this?
Why did I want to live my life cooking and cleaning and nurturing all day, everyday?

What would it have been like if I was a fancy editor living in New York or a designer in Paris? How about a Lawyer or Teacher, Doctor or Nurse?

Why were none of those my dream; my plan?

Among the days when all I seem to do is pick-up and yell and say no and pick-up some more. When I am far busier than I ever wanted to be and all I would like to do is sit curled up on the couch with a book and a cup of tea and not be interrupted, that is when it becomes extremely easy to take all that I have for granted and wonder why. Letting frustration and stress take away my joy and cause me to question all this- this that I prayed for and hoped for, for as long as I can remember.

But, God is amazing! He shows me why...in her.


In him.


In them.


He brings me back to reality; my reality. This is all part of the plan that He laid out for me. He has laid it on my heart to try and do my very best at pursuing His purpose of the Titus 2 and Proverbs 31 Woman. Though I stumble and am by no means perfect at this in anyway, God supplies me with His beautiful Grace. He gives me the courage to get back up and try again. To know that this is exactly where I need to be; where I am supposed to be, even on the toughest of days.

So I will continue serving God and my family in the best ways I know how- cooking, cleaning, nurturing, teaching, encouraging, creating, and loving- no matter how many more piles of dirty dishes or Matchbox cars I may have to climb over.

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Amy is a stay-at-home mom to Emma, who is 5, and Caleb, who is 3. They are expecting their third blessing, a girl, in July! They are a Christ-loving, Bible-believing, homeschooling family, whose prayer is to lead their children to Christ. They desire for His will in their lives. You can find Amy at A Faithful Journey, which she began as a way to chronicle their everyday life and to share with others how truly blessed their life has been because of God's grace! I know you will see His unfailing love for them and for each of us- when you visit her little space in the web!

Thank you, Amy, for sharing a piece of your heart with us today- while I am “away”! What a blessing to be reminded that, because of God’s grace, we can be thankful for dirty dishes. :)

What has God used in your life to  remind you that you are exactly where He wants you to be?

Being A Mom Who Has Peace {A Guest Post}

{{I’m excited to introduce you to my friend, Kristin. I’m honored for her to be my first guest blogger, for I know her words will encourage your hearts, as they have encouraged mine… And- it’s not every day that I get to be blessed by another family with five sweet girls and one handsome boy. ;)}}

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I had to laugh as I sat down to type out what is on my heart to share with you about being a mom who has peace.  My kids keep coming to me with various needs and interrupting me and I am not getting much done.  As you can imagine, it gets frustrating and I feel anything but peaceful.  But there is peace to be found and I know this deep in my heart because I have experienced it.

I have gone from being a mom who is always on edge and frustrated to living in a place of peace.  Peace that I am a good mom, peace that my kids are being pursued by God as much as I desire for them to pursue Him, peace that all that is left undone around the home will gain order.

My transformation didn't happen overnight and it wasn't pain free. I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world though.

So what is the first step toward becoming a peaceful mom? I think it often takes desperation.  We pursue what we are desperate for and become willing to lay down what is standing in our way.  Desperation can be a good thing.

BUT in our desperation we must learn not just to seek peace {or contentment, or the answers to our problems} but rather just to seek God first.  What you seek orders your life. So seeking God first, the God of peace, means that He orders your life.

You may have to lay down some of what you have been seeking in order to seek Him first.  Prayerfully consider what you pursue in your life.  Is it an organized home, the perfect kids, health?  What ever it may be for you- it is so very worth it to give it a lesser place and seek God above everything else.

We also need to know and believe who God says He is.  Not just know in our heads, but believe in our hearts that He is who He says He is.  His Word tells us that He is love, He is good, He is patient and full of grace.  Do you believe those things about Him?  If you cannot say, with an absolute yes, that you believe who God's Word says that He is, then I would like to challenge you to seek Him and ask Him to show you what may be blocking you from believing.  Could it be something your earthly father did that caused you to see God in the same light?  If your dad was quick to anger, do you feel like God is easily angered with you?  That is contrary to what His Word says about how He fills your heart with the truth.

After you are seeking first things first and knowing who God is, you need to know who you are.  Not just who you think you are, but who God says you are.  I found that I didn't know {and believe} a lot about what God says about me in His Word.  I questioned it, wasn't convinced of it, and just didn't know enough of it.  This is a process that continues over our lifetime, but you can make a decision to begin to take God at His Word when He is telling you who you are. Ask Him to reveal to you lies you may believe about who you are that do not line up with the truth in His Word.

Peace comes in like a flood when you are seeking God first, believe He is who He says He is, and believe you are who He says you are.  Peace flows out of a mom who is confident in her God and trusts Him to keep His Word.  So no matter what is going on around you, you can rest in a mighty God who is near to you, loves you deeply, and is always good.  When you are assured of this, then there is nothing to fear.

What are some truths about God and yourself that need to take deeper root in your heart?  How can you let God begin to do that work in you this week?

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Kristin Lemus is married to her best friend and "momma" to seven children (one who is in heaven) ages 3 to 13. She is a passionate pursuer of freedom and longs to see women, especially moms, walking in a new level of freedom that brings about confidence in a great God who loves us high, wide, long and deep.

Kristin shares her heart at Purposeful Homemaker and you can also find her tweeting or chatting on Facebook.


Thank you, Kristin, for sharing with us while I take time to seek the Lord and work “behind the scenes”. Your heart is beautiful, as are your words! Oh, that God would plant roots of peace deep in our mommy hearts, as we truly believe Him.

Step of Faith (and Some BIG News)

Have you ever had to do something that seemed completely foolish to the world around you, yet if you didn’t do it, you knew you’d regret it for the rest of your life?

That’s how I feel today!
For, today marks the first day of more changes for our family.


God truly has been orchestrating our steps, but I must admit that this new step has caused me a bit of panic. It’s a little like my eleven-month-old who is so close to walking. She’ll stand up all on her own, look around proudly and excitedly, and just before you think she’s going to take that first adventurous step, she plops on her cushy bottom and crawls over with a toothy grin.


That’s what I want to do. I want to sit down and happily crawl back to what is comfortable and safe- where I know I won’t fall. But, the thing is, that’s not safe anymore- because it’s not where God wants me. So I stand shakily, eyes on Him alone, and trust He will help me take that step.


As our family has been seeking and following and trusting God, He’s been asking us (no, not audibly, but in the depths of our hearts) to take a giant leap of faith. It’s a step that is probably very tiny in the scheme of things… just a baby step, but it feels enormous right now, for in the world’s eyes it is completely foolish (& probably in the eyes of many well-meaning Christians as well). Yet, no matter what the world around us says, we are taking that leap, with eyes on Jesus alone, and all I can do is pray to God that He will catch us! Would you pray along with us!?


God has led our family to take this summer to seek Him and to intentionally wait on Him alone. My husband has stepped away from his job at the bank, and we will be dipping into our savings for the next few months as we completely depend on God, and trust that He will lead us. Besides for a few weeks where my husband will have the opportunity to speak at some Bible camps, the rest of the summer will be spent intentionally seeking Him and preparing for what He has for us (although we do not know what that looks like right now).


Many of you know that it has been over six months since my husband finished his time as associate pastor at a church near and dear to our hearts, and started his temp work at a bank mortgage company. It has been a good time- painfully hard- but good! It’s been hard to have to leave the church we love, hard to feel unwanted, hard to feel like you don’t fit anywhere, and hard to have every seemingly open door- close.

Yet, it has been good too! Good to walk through the fire, so we can encourage others whose toes have just been dipped in, good to make new friends, good to find our sole dependence on God, and good to be reminded that while our hearts are in ministry, ministry does not solely take place at church. It takes place in our families, our homes, our neighborhoods, our communities, our workplaces, around the world, and even right here on this blog.


Which leads me to some changes that will be taking place at Our Family for His Glory… and this is the part that although I am a bit nervous about- I am extremely excited! With my hubby home more these next months (when he’s not away at camp), we’ve prayed about it, and feel God has given us an opportunity where I can devote {at least a little} more time and energy to the ministry on this blog… not just to the blog, but to YOU, my dear family and friends and readers who touch me with your presence- even if we have never met.

These next couple of weeks, as we continually seek God and discover together as a family what this all looks like (and how to all live together 24/7- smile), I am going to be working a bit “behind the scenes” cleaning things up a bit, making things easier to navigate and to connect with me, as well as at least starting to switch everything over from blogspot, to our own self-hosted Wordpress blog. During this time, I have some wonderful, wonderful guest posts for you to enjoy, as I will be a bit quiet on the posting front. I’ve asked some of my very favorite bloggers to share their hearts with you, and I know you will be encouraged! :)

One other thing God has laid on my heart… that I don’t want you to miss… I have gotten many precious emails that have touched my heart deeply, and through them I have realized that you just want Jesus! And you want Him to fill you to overflowing, so that your children want Him and Him alone as well. I hear you… and I am right there with you. So, this summer (starting in early June), I hope you will join me in studying the Bible and spending time with God. I have been praying about and planning to share a Bible Study for moms and women (or anyone really) on a book of the Bible with you, along with Family Time ideas that correspond with what we are learning. I’m not exactly sure how this will all work, but I am really excited to see where God leads!!!

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Two things I want to ask of you…
1- Would you please be praying for our family!? Thank you for your sweet encouragement already, as my knees are a bit weak, and this step of faith is hard for me. {{We are also considering having a “prayer team” that will commit to praying for our family as we seek out different ministry opportunities. We hope to share more details with that team, and send out a prayer newsletter via email. If you would like to be a part of that team, please contact me.}}
2- Please leave me a comment or send an email to ourfamilyforhisglory @ gmail.com (take out spaces) if would like to join me in studying a book of the Bible this summer!

Of course I always love hearing from you! :)

**Read more of our family’s story of change and transition and seeking God here.**

A Homeschooling Mommy- What I’ve Learned {So Far}

Last weekend we celebrated the end of our school-year (as well as a very special little girl’s sixth birthday) with a pool party! (We really just got a cheap hotel room in the area through hotwire.com and enjoyed splashing around in their pool for a couple days.) It was a lot of fun, and a great way to celebrate!


This year has been a wonderful year, and I’m continuing to learn so much as a homeschooling mommy. I’m hoping to share a little bit more about our year soon, but for now I want to share some of the things I have learned throughout the year! :) Read through, and then let me know what you’ve learned this year, and/or any questions you have for me.

Ten Things I’ve Learned {so far} as a Homeschooling Mommy…

*I am in constant need of God’s strength and guidance and wisdom! The days when someone (or everyone… including this mommy) wakes up on the wrong side of the bed can be frequent. Then there are the moments of wondering how to get my daughter through until that light bulb goes off and she understands adding two digits… or what to do when my little one’s pencil grip is all wrong… or how to keep the littlest ones occupied during those short school hours… or when to set school aside and just work on heart issues. But then those days and those brief moments pass, and I realize I couldn’t have done any of it without His help!!

*We still LOVE “Heart of Dakota”!!!! :) :) When searching and praying and searching and praying and praying and searching for the “perfect” curriculum, one thing I talked long and hard with God about, was that I didn’t want to be a curriculum hopper. ;) I know my tendencies as a former teacher to want to switch, tweak, come up with my own plan, and spend time looking for the next greatest thing. Curriculum hopping may be fun and work well for some people (or cause a lot of stress), but after spending SO MUCH TIME seeking what would work best for our family, I personally didn’t want to go through it all again in a month, or a year, or even in three years (well, really, ever)! Yet, I knew that if something really wasn’t working for us, that we would look into different options. I’m pleased to say, that we have been completely content with “Heart of Dakota” and I don’t foresee any curriculum hopping in our future. {{And, no, I don’t get paid to say that!}}


*My children are smarter than me, or at least they will be soon! When trying to recall what we had talked about earlier that day, I was fumbling, when one of the girls said, “That was Polycarp, Mom!” Oh, yeah, Polycarp, now I remember. ;0 I am truly learning right along with my kids!

*We need breaks. This past week off has been much needed- for me and for our kids. I like the chance to step back, reflect on the year, put homeschooling aside for a bit, and work on the list of things I haven’t had a chance to accomplish in the past nine months. And my kids- it’s so fun to see the creative opportunities they have now that we are not “doing school”. Right now they are working on a play about Moses, handwriting speaking parts, coming up with songs to be sung, making props, and practicing lines. Who says that learning doesn’t take place during the summer!? They just don’t realize they’re learning.

*Science is much easier to learn when you can eat the experiment. Oh, and math too! Oreo cookies bit into the different stages of the moon, and chocolate chip manipulatives- yum!


*We all have our favorites. Kayla’s is math. Alyssa’s is storytime. Elliana’s is art. (And I think we each have a different favorite storytime book from the year- mine was In Grandma’s Attic!) This also means we all have our least favorites- which are wonderful times to work on Christ-like character. ;)

*I need to be ready with an explanation explaining why we homeschool, what this looks like, and how it all works at any given point throughout a normal school day. Going to the grocery store with all six kids? Someone stopping by to look at the damages on our roof? Headed to the dentist? Someone walking, driving, riding by our house at noon? Be ready with an answer.

*Glitter and paint and tape and markers and crayons and glue are now a part of our décor… and I’m okay with that. Our house looks lived in all-day-long, because it is lived in all-day-long!


*It’s so much fun to share what we’re learning! Writing formal letters, addressing envelopes, mailing a handwriting page, and sending a favorite art project to grandmas and grandpas- has been so much fun. And our girls have really enjoyed sharing the Bibles verses they’ve memorized each week with someone special!

*I will have my moments of wondering if my children are really learning anything and/or if I am damaging them for life. Honestly, I think ALL of us moms wonder about this. It’s a constant battle to give it all to God, trusting that He is guiding our every step!

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How about you?? What have you learned this school-year- whether your kids are homeschooled, go to “school” school, or are not quite old enough for school!?

What questions do you have for me?? I’ve gotten lots of great questions and sweet emails already, and look forward to posting more soon, but first- I’d love to hear what you would like to know… please don’t hesitate to ask!!!

Linked with The Better Mom and Women Living Well

Dear Tired Mommy,

I know you! In fact, I AM you!- which is why I am writing you this letter today!

You’ve been running and cleaning and serving and giving and helping and changing and fixing and feeding and teaching and training and disciplining and loving ALL-DAY-LONG! There have been hundreds of questions to answer, and thousands of calls for food and for clean clothes and for diaper changes and for stories to be read and for the missing pink marker which got thrown out because someone lost the lid yesterday.

You are tired!

You’ve been up with a newborn baby, with a sick child, calming from a bad dream, helping with schoolwork, paying the bills, and/or are just plain exhausted after a long normal day of mothering.

I want to give you permission to REST! Turn off the computer, stop surfing the internet for the next greatest granola recipe, put that latest parenting book away… and rest!

No, I’m not talking about “sleeping whenever the baby sleeps”- that is often just not achievable. Neither am I talking about vegging out while watching soap operas and eating bonbons. (What are bonbons anyways?) I’m talking about taking a nap during the day, and getting to bed at a decent hour at night!

A nap!? {Gasp!} Getting to bed early!? {Double Gasp!!}

I know it sounds incredibly simple and excruciatingly difficult all at the same time! What about the milk that needs to be picked up from the store? What about my overflowing inbox? What about the dishes that need washing and the counter that was never wiped down? And what about my kids???


Although I know that is only the very beginning of your to-do list, I want you to STOP!, put it aside if at all possible, and GO REST!

**The milk that needs to be picked up from the store!? Drink water for now, and {sweetly} ask your husband if he could pretty-please-with-sugar-on-top pick it up on the way home (or head to the store after you rest). This will keep you from running that red light and swerving too close to the middle lane due to driving while under the influence of exhaustion on the way to the store (hypothetically speaking).

**The overflowing inbox!? Friends and family will understand if it takes you eighteen days rather than seventeen days to get back to them… chances are their inboxes are just as overflowing. (And remember that an overflowing inbox shows that others really do care.) ;)

**The dishes that need washing and the counter that was never wiped down!? It will still be there when you wake up (unless, of course, a little angel comes to clean it up while you snooze- which could happen!), but know that you will have more energy to tackle the next task after you rest.

**The kids!? They will be thankful that you are all still alive (after having NOT gone through that red light), and they can rest along with you (if it’s during the day- have a mandatory quiet time where everyone is sleeping or playing quietly in a safe spot… if it’s at bedtime- get them to bed at a decent hour too!). And they will be so grateful for a mommy that is not overly tired, grumpy, grouchy, and exhausted!

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Think of it this way…

Your little boy has been excited to play rescue hero with you all day long! He eagerly gets all dressed up in his cape and mask and is ready to rescue the princess (that would be you, Sweet Mama!). There’s cheering and excitement and laughter. As he’s fighting off the bad guys, he bounds through the air and swoops in to save the day. His sword flashes and swings and ever-so-slowly knocks down the plant on the shelf next to you. The once courageous boy shrinks back waiting to see your reaction.


Would you rather be Ms. Tired Mommy who grumbles and grovels and says, “Clean up that mess right now! And no more playing rescue hero in the house!”?

-Or-

Would you rather be Ms. Rested Mommy who dawns the role of the princess, curtsies and says, “Oh, Sir Son-of-Mine, thank you for rescuing me from that scoundrel, Sir Plant! Let’s lock him up with the other villains, and take our sword fighting outside!”?

The answer is obvious; I know you’d much rather train and build up, rather than crush and tear down! And it’s so much easier to do that when you’ve had adequate rest.

Don’t feel guilty! Your husband, and the precious heroes and princesses whose little eyes are watching your every move {as well as the rest of the drivers on the road :)} will be very thankful that you chose to rest!

And, remember, Jesus took time to sleep and rest too!

Love,
Another Tired Mommy, who’s going to go rest right now! :)

^{Linked with The Better Mom and Women Living Well}

What to do With Too Much Stuff? {on Contentment}

I felt sick as I scraped the uneaten food into the garbage. I began to think of how many mouths could be fed with our waste. One child? Two? A whole family?

It began that morning- in a tapestry of events- all of which led me to a sickening feeling over all of the “stuff” that we have.

The “stuff” I complain and whine about- trip over and clean and try to organize.
The “stuff” that often leads me to compare and covet and ends up zapping me of all joy.

That morning, upon waking and making my way to the kitchen, I dumped the stale warm water that had been residing in my water bottle for the night, down the drain. With the turn of a knob, it was easily refilled, and within moments, I had quenched my thirsty self. [After reading my Bible for at least one minute] I turned another knob and immersed myself in steaming hot water for the next twenty minutes, all the while wishing that I could have taken a shower in our downstairs bathroom that has been torn up for over six months now.

With hair dripping, I sat down at the computer and followed along with the Compassion Bloggers’ trip to Tanzania. (Because secretly I would love to go on one of those trips… okay, “love” may not be the right word, and it’s not so “secretly” anymore- wink.) Within moments I read about the families whose only source of fresh water was/is at the Compassion center, miles away from what they call their homes. And this is not an “I could just jump in my car, and drive those ten, fifteen miles.”

Humbled and convicted, I scavenged through the clean pile of clothes in my laundry room (because I hadn’t gotten to folding and putting them away), and once somewhat satisfied, I went to wake my half-sleeping brood. After getting my toddler-beauty on the potty, we opened her dresser and went through a total of twenty-two shirts (I counted) before I gave up listening to her “I don’t like it” talk, and just picked one for her.

When coming to the table, my girls had poured each person a different type of cereal. Someone was complaining that it wasn’t the cereal they wanted, another was crying that the other had poured their cereal for them. Another whined that she “just doesn’t like bananas anymore” and “couldn’t she just throw hers away?”

After threatening to not allow anyone to help me get breakfast ready in the morning ever again, we all ate a happy, healthy breakfast. :) Then we moved on to chores.

Normally chores go quite smoothly around here, but lately our oldest girls’ room has become a bit, well, overflowing. And one of my girls (who happens to be a lot like me) would overwhelmingly burst into tears whenever she saw the “clean bedroom” chore-card. So we began surfing through the stuff.

I’ll spare you all the details, but let’s just say that there was A LOT, and by the end of lunch time, my heart was bleeding… for those around the world who live and breathe in homes smaller than my closet… and for those of us who seem to think that we always need more.

(Sweet Erika from El Salvador, who has the same dress on, as she did two years earlier. It’s her one “fancy” dress that she gets to bring out for “picture day".)

Now, don’t get me wrong. I know there is no way that I can solve world hunger… or even that all of us together will solve world hunger. That is not what God has called us to do, for even Jesus said, “You will always have the poor among you.” (John 12:8) But, God does call us to give, to take care of the poor, to be willing to share, and to love on the needy (well really on everyone) all for His glory.

Am I doing that!?

In the back of my mind, I think about the millions of poor people around the world (and right down the block), but, I’ve still managed to read verses such as those in Philippians 4, where Paul talks about learning to be content whether living in plenty or in want, and somehow consider myself to be one of the ones living in want.

        Our house needs new windows…
        There’s a leak in our roof…
        The air conditioning in our suburban needs to be fixed…
        Our downstairs [extra] bathroom has been torn apart for months…
        The house needs to be repainted in order to (hopefully eventually- when God leads) sell…
        Clothes and shoes have stains and holes, and should be replaced…
        We’re still waiting on a new ministry job for my husband…

Yet, even in this “struggling” time between ministries, we are still in the top seven percent of the richest people in the world. We are living in plenty! Where comfort and convenient feel like a necessity!

We dump out the stale warm water sitting in our water bottles without a second thought. We turn a knob, and our bodies, our plants, and our cars can be immersed for hours if so desired. We dish out money to enjoy a dip in the pool. Yet, there are millions of people around the world that have to walk miles just for a cup of fresh water.

We can choose from hundreds of cereal, add our favorite toppings, and still complain about the mushy banana. Yet, there are thousands dying for food (literally).

We sort through piles of clothes, store in bins, keep a collection of shoes, and tire of doing laundry. Yet, how many around the world don’t even own a pair of shoes!?

We realize that we don’t have houses as big or beautiful as our neighbors, nor do we have as much “stuff” as they do. We’re sad that we don’t have an iPad like everyone else, but then we think of those little boys and girls that are truly living in garbage dumps.

(Beautiful Adriana from Bolivia, whom we’ve had the privilege of knowing and loving and watching grow- since we were first married. We get the sweetest letters from her.)

But, I get it!

Sometimes we really DO need those new things… like when my son can no longer scrunch his little toes into the shoes that are a size too small.

And sometimes we want more, so that we can give more away. I know I do. I dream of a bigger house, because I long to have space to host needy or hurting families in our home. I long to make more money, so that we can give a greater family gift to our compassion kids, and so maybe we could adopt and rescue one of those precious little ones someday.

And the “stuff” we do have… the too much, makes me want to cry trying to think of it all “stuff”… is full of memories. And if we’re going to get rid of them, I want to use them to bless someone, not just throw it all away. (My mom is SO good at this. Saving things- in order to bless. I LOVE this about her, but also know how difficult it is for her to just let go, and get rid.)

I don’t write this to make you (or me) feel guilty! It is something God has laid deeply on my heart these last few weeks. And I’m feeling a bit stuck in the middle. In some ways, I selfishly want more and more. In other ways, I want to get rid of it all just for my sanity (which is also selfish). Yet in some ways, I want to give it all to bless, and have more to give.

Oh, I’d love to hear your thoughts!!! There is so much more to say, but I know I’ve rambled long enough, so I will leave you with these verses from Philippians; but first, please consider sponsoring a child through Compassion International! Your life and theirs will never be the same… never!

“I am not saying this because I am in need,
for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
I know what it is to be in need,
and I know what it is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation,
whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want.
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:11-13

To be content whether living in plenty or in want… through Christ and for HIS glory!
What does that look like in you life?
Thoughts?

Linked with Women Living Well.

Mothers’ Day Video…

Happy Mothers’ Day!

Here is a special video for our most favorite grandmas ever!!! Enjoy! :)

(if you can’t see the video- click here!)

(Poor Ariya… I thought the camera was on when she was doing all her cute stuff, but had it mixed up, so that I got a lot of footage of my feet. :) But, I managed to salvage a couple clips, and if you listen closely the first time Annabella is recorded, you can hear her sweet little voice in the background saying, “Love you! Love you! Love you!” Too cute!)

Have a blessed Mothers’ Day!
And don’t forget to stop by and let me know what motherhood is to you!

A Gift

My Sweet, Beautiful Kayla,
Today you turn six.
My heart pulls to give you the world-
To seek out the best and the most beautiful prize for you to treasure and to hold and to keep forever.
For I love you so!



I’ve loved you for more than six years.
Ever since the day I found out about you.
I already had two little ones to hold and to love,
They were just babies themselves.
But your Daddy and I still loved you with an undying love,
And those big sisters of yours loved you deeply.
They would take their turns pointing, and hugging, and squishing you,
And then they’d talk to you right through my tummy.
For you were a gift.

And then, the day came for you to be born.
My heart was tender and raw and aching,
For I had just said good-bye to your Grandpa Jim,
My daddy,
And I knew you would never be able to meet him this side of heaven.
But, there you were-
A gift from God-
Bringing love, and hope, and great joy
Amidst the sorrow.



I believe God gave you to us at the most perfect moment,
For He used you to get me through those most difficult days of missing my daddy.
You saw my tears when no one else did.
You gave me smiles when I wasn’t sure if I could breathe again.
You were a gift that helped ease the pain,
And reminded me that God is good… all-the-time!



Moments turned into days.
Days turned into weeks.
Weeks turned into months.
And months turned into years.
You became a big sister yourself
One… two… three times.
And you continually grew
Beautiful and strong and bright and kind.

  

Today, on this special Birthday day,
You continue to be a gift,
To me, and to everyone else who knows you.
Your smiles brighten up every room.
Your passion floods the souls of those around you.
You are full of fun, silliness, laughter, snuggles, compassion and love.
Oh how I love to see you riding your bike, swimming in the pool, blossoming in school, sipping tea with your best friends, playing cars with your brother, loving on your baby sisters, pouring out hugs and tears and drawings of love to those in need, and praying to the King of kings.
You are one special girl.
A gift.



Although I cannot give you the world,
I pray that you will continually seek the One who made the world.
For He is the most beautiful prize-
The only gift that you can treasure and hold and keep forever and ever.
He has great plans for you, Kayla!
I am blessed to be a part of those plans.

We love you more than words can say, sweet Kayla!
Happy 6th Birthday!

Motherhood is…

*waking in the middle of the night and frantically scrounging through covers and pillows in search of the missing baby, only to find her peacefully sleeping in her crib a couple feet away.

*sweeping three times a day and still finding the lone Cheerio squashed between your toes.

*interpreting the dialect of a two-year-old (and praying that you got the translation correct).

*pouring out grace in the beauty and in the mess.

*smiling at little ones that look like they were dipped in a combination of peanut butter, feathers, and glitter.

*praying and hoping and wishing and wanting to hear those two little words that hold so much meaning… “You’re pregnant.”

*spying tiny fingers under the bathroom door.

*taste-testing mashed up baby food without a grimace.

*peeking through the nursery window every fifteen minutes to make sure your little one is still doing okay.

*loading up the stroller, but still needing to carry half the bags (and the baby).

*knowing what Magic-Erasers are, and using them daily.

*staying awake throughout the night, as tears and prayers pour out to your Father.

*carrying extra undies, wipes and diapers in your purse.

*not going anywhere without a potty-seat.

*putting the insurance company on hold so you can look up your child’s middle initial.

*continually trying to grasp time, but savoring and holding onto each fleeting moment as best you can.



*making fish faces into the minivan’s window while pumping gas.

*living by the ten second rule.

*wearing princess, Dora, or Cars Band-Aids, because it’s all you have.

*waking before the sun rises to get in quiet time (because once everyone is awake, you won’t even be making trips to the bathroom alone).

*aching over the loss of your baby.

*teaching how to pray, read, walk, use the “big potty,” and jump in the deep puddles.

*crying in the cereal aisle, when a stranger reaches out to help.

*praying for poop, and then rejoicing when it comes.

*baking cookies ten times slower so that your child can learn to bake.

*calmly handling meltdowns over a favorite-flowery-pink-dress that got potties on it.

*wishing you could take the pain away.

*hiding in the laundry room to eat a stash of Hostess cupcakes.

*cheering for the first crawl, first steps, first bike pedal.



*taking a camera with you everywhere.

*sprinting to the bathroom with a boy who has the “oops-too-late” look.

*spending hours learning about God, so you can pour out His truth to your kids.

*showing Jesus again and again and again.

*leading, guiding, and protecting souls.

*asking for forgiveness.

*finding joy in balloons and bubbles (and making sure they’re all popped before the kids wake in the morning).

*driving to church… ballet… swimming… store… doctor’s office… library… friend’s house… but getting lost a block away from your own home.

*salvaging items from the garbage that were lovingly placed there by an almost one-year-old.

*licking the extra-gooey-yummy-chocolaty brownie batter with extra spoons for your “helpers”.



*washing dishes after every meal and still having a messy kitchen.

*hearing your name called in crescendo sixteen times in sixteen seconds.

*forgoing a shower for a sick child’s snuggles.

*searching for hours for the missing lovey.

*keeping track of everyone’s bags, papers, shoes, jackets… when you can’t even find your phone.

*holding a baby in one arm and a Bible in the other.

*seeking out the best schools, curriculum, and opportunities for your child.

*decorating with the masterpieces of children (some of which may look like a butterfly with a pig face).

*waking for the twentieth time that night to calm a terrified toddler.

*receiving the best hugs, and cuddles, and slobbery kisses.



*watching through the window the first fifty times your child crosses the street “on their own”.

*memorizing every favorite song and every favorite book in your house.

*intentionally impacting the heart of a child.

*digging google eyes, Legos, and Polly Pocket shoes from the depths of your baby’s mouth.

*picking someone else’s nose.

*wiping the jelly off with your spit and your shirt.

*taking time to clothe and groom each child before church on Sunday, and throwing your hair in a pony tail.

*feeling like a broken record.

*previewing the Barbie movie to make sure it won’t scar your child for life.

*putting comparison aside.

*sobbing for the babies and children around the world that don’t have a mother.

*wondering if you’re doing your best and giving your all.

*invisibly serving and loving and giving.

*relying on God’s strength and grace and joy for each day moment.


(me and sweet Annabella two years ago… she has the same sunglasses on as she does in the photo above where she’s riding her tricycle… oh, how time goes quickly!)

Motherhood is messy and beautiful, hard and wonderful.
Our impact as mothers is great and precious.
No matter your background or your income or the number of children you have (if any),
you are a blessing!

To all women and mothers everywhere…
Have a wonderful Mothers’ Day weekend!

What is motherhood to you???
{Please share! I know motherhood may look much the same or very different for you, as it does for me right now! And I know you’ve come up with a few of your own “Motherhood is…” statements as you’ve read the list above! I’d love to hear them!}

Linked to Finding Joy Friday Favorites, The Better Mom, and Women Living Well.

The Power of Our Words {Family Time}

The minty-clean aroma wafted through the house for hours, as a valuable reminder of the power of our words.

It all started with five little ones “having a blast!” (as my four-year-old would say) while endeavoring to squeeze out every.last.drop of the toothpaste tubes squished in their little hands. Satisfied with the minty piles squirted across the table, a  large bill was laid out. “The first person who gets all the toothpaste back into the tube will get to keep this money,” I said.

 

At first they looked rather sheepish (It’s not every day that Mommy just lets them expunge every minty drop of toothpaste from its container, and… even Daddy was in on it!), but when they realized all the things they could buy with those dollars, the race was on! Their gooey little hands worked to jam every single ounce of the blue gel back into the squished-up tubes. Even our two-year-old, when not trying to devour the paste, worked intently.


One-by-one they sadly concluded that their efforts were to no avail!

And my husband explained how the Bible tells us that our tongues (and actions too) are the same way! Once the words come out (and once the actions are made), their mark has been made… the good, bad, and the messy… and it is impossible to put them back in. What we say and what we do, show what is in our hearts… once they come out, we can’t go back.

Thankfully, we have a great God, full of grace, who can purify our hearts and tame our tongues (see James 3). Yet, it is good to remember the power of our words and actions! Are they good or evil???

“The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart,
and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart.
For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks.”
Luke 6:45

“For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good,
and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil.
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account
for every careless work they speak,
for by your words you will be justified,
and by your words you will be condemned.”
Matthew 12:34-37

Yikes! We will need to give account for those words!!!

And now- whenever I smell that toothpasty-ness {it’s my new word!}, or see that glob of blue minty gel streaked down the front of the dress my daughter is wearing to church, it will be a reminder that my words also have the power to speak good or evil, and my actions have the power to pour out life or death… from my heart!

What’s in your heart?

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Many of you have asked where I get our Family Time ideas! Often, as I’m digging through the Bible myself, I think up an illustration (sometimes crafts, or experiments, or a game, etc.) to help teach it to my kids… I truly just think that way. ;) Or sometimes it’s something I remember from years ago, or truly don’t remember where I originally heard the idea. If I know where the idea came from- I always make that clear. :)

This fun idea, was from a Heritage Builders book, by Jim Weidmann and Kirk Weaver (and it’s written right into their introduction). If you’re looking for some wonderful Family Night ideas, they have many wonderful biblical family devotion resources!

Please note that I am a CBD affiliate, so if you buy anything through the book link, you will be putting pennies into our ministry here at Our Family for His Glory. Thank you!