Daily Moments

The most wonderful time of the year has begun in my house, because it's the time when family comes to town and stays for a good long while. (That was totally a southern phrase. Forgive me.) I will forever associate Fall and all of it's beautiful splendor with my house bustling with family and the best times. You can bet that there will be plenty of late nights, too little sleep, lots of coffee, way too much eating, singing around the piano and laughing until our stomachs hurt.

 In the meantime, some daily moments from my phone...

Going to run errands with Daddy

Dancing together before bed

Breaking out the Fall shoes

Sunday Finest :)

She set up her own newborn shoot with props and her doll...SO cute

Fall Crafts

And Fall baking!

This one likes to eat way too much

Sneaking into sister's room to have a tea party for one

Taking all three grocery shopping. Craziness.

My Aunt and Uncle came to visit and we had such a great time!

Sunday!

Celebrating big brother's birthday

Hope you all have a great week! 

Food and Photos for Jesus

This week has been busy, but a good busy—full of ministry. I love me a good busy, and I love finding ways to minister to people through something I love to do. Mainly, take pictures and eat cook. This week, I made 2 meals for new Moms, one who happens to be a new convert from the pregnancy center. She had a beautiful baby girl and I was able to try out some new recipes on her (which were definitely keepers) and visit with her while I cuddled her precious babe.

 Today, I made another meal for a friend who just had boy #4 and took pictures of him. Oh my word, I left with a serious case of baby fever. He is just scrumptious!

 When I got married and started having kids right away, my “ministries” were totally changed and I felt a little lost. Before marriage, I loved being out on the streets, boldly witnessing to in-your-face drunks at rock concerts and festivals (With my dad keeping an eye from a safe distance, of course). I loved it. It was exhilarating, uplifting and spiritually draining all at the same time, if that makes any sense. Well, kids come along and at baby ages I won’t bring them into that kind of environment so I was stuck at home.

 But now, I’ve found my niche. Witnessing at the pregnancy center, whether it’s once a week or once a month is just as exhilarating, and I relate to these ladies because I’ve been in their shoes as far as pregnancy and having babies is concerned. And when I’m not there, taking pictures for a new Mom as a gift or cooking her a meal after she has a baby is another area I’ve started ministering in as well. Treats for our neighbors are starting soon! Anything to find an open door and establish a friendship so people will eventually see Jesus through me and want to know him better.

Anyway, this was supposed to be a short Saturday night post but it turned into a bit of a ramble. I’m tired, but it’s a good tired because my energy this week has been used to bless others in a very small way, and it feels good.

 I’ll leave you with a few pictures from our week:  

He does this now, and gives me a heart attack

Then get's up there and says "Hi Mommy".

It was a beautiful day and they pulled out a quilt and big basket of toys and wanted to play under the swing set

Have a great Sunday, everyone. I hope you spend it somewhere worshipping Jesus!

Bike Rodeo 2013

This weekend was another annual church event—the bike rodeo. This time of year, the weather can be absolutely perfect, or it can be hot and humid. This year was the hot and humid year, and it doesn’t help that everyone is wearing boots and denim! Thankfully, the clouds covered the sun every once in a while and there was a slight breeze so we did get a little relief.

 The kids, however, did not mind a bit. This was Brooke’s first year doing the “real” competing on her tiny bike with training wheels. I’m not sure if getting pulled through the grass on the bike by the clowns (since she couldn’t get any traction) really qualifies, but she did go home with a few ribbons and my little city girl won first place in the sling shot competition—that’s my girl! ;)

Joe played, rode horses, panned for "gold" and raced in “For Little Bear” where the smaller kids spend their day. Even though Nathan isn’t it his class, he was able to play in there as well and loved it! It’s crazy to me that I don’t really have a baby anymore—I have 3 little independent kids!

It’s always a great time and so fun seeing everyone in their “cowboy” gear—even if it’s just a plaid shirt and jeans. We all bring yummy potluck dishes and a man in our church smokes his famous brisket for everyone. We’re so thankful for our hard working and dedicated clubs leaders who put so much time, effort and money into making this day run smoothly and tons of fun for the kids!

Today it was back to school, cleaning and grocery shopping. Hope you all had a great weekend and start to your week!

Thoughts on Spirit-led Parenting

We had our annual “Anniversary Sunday” last Sunday. This is a tradition that I notice is done in the South a lot, and it’s really awesome. Everyone worked hard for weeks inviting friends, co-workers, neighbors and even strangers to our special service with a big barbecue afterwards. Pastor called a 2 week fast before hand, whether a total food fast or fasting something like sugar, T.V. or social media. We had a few families from Nate’s work show up which was really exciting and special! Anyway, following Sunday was special meetings each night, finishing on Wednesday.

 The messages were challenging, thought provoking and convicting. Wednesday night was the main message that got my wheels turning—lessons on raising children.

 Last week I felt at my wits end with one of my children, and as usual it was my fault. Letting things slide, giving 3 warnings and then still not following through. Kids pick up on these things, even if they don’t realize it. They don’t obey immediately because they know you won’t do anything about it and I was seriously lacking. Sometimes, it just doesn’t click with me as a Mom. Then the Lord speaks to me and I realize I need to be more consistent and we have a “no-warnings” rule until things straighten up. Thankfully we were heading uphill when this message was preached, and it pushed me to do more.

 Here’s my summary from the message: It’s not enough to read your Bible, pray and do your best with child training. Because, let’s face it, our best stinks. We have nothing good in us. However, being filled with the Holy Spirit will go leaps and bounds above what we could ever do of ourselves. And not just being saved-I mean truly seeking God after our whole heart, begging him to fill us and then following up by filling our homes with spiritual things beyond your daily devotions. Play the Bible, sermons, anything spiritual you can get your hands on (and in this day and age, that is so easy with websites and apps at our fingertips.)

 Our kids will NOT make it by us being good, moral people and raising them the best that WE can. We NEED the Holy Spirit guiding us, and we need to feed the spirit in our homes every day. Months ago, I cut way down on letting the kids watch shows. Granted, these shows are the most innocent things you can find, and even educational but I mainly did it because I wanted my kids to be creative and not be bound to Netflix or a game on an Ipad to entertain them. I realize now that my reason should have been because that stuff doesn’t feed the spirit. It’s not wrong, but it doesn’t strengthen them spiritually. Now, I understand that playing with trains or dolls isn’t necessarily “spiritual”, either, but it’s not mindless entertainment. Plus, their attitudes and general behavior is so much better when they don’t watch shows. Now, once or twice a month is the most and they don’t even ask for it or miss it! Now, it's a special treat rather than the norm.

 So this week, I’ve changed things up. As a busy Mom who is up and down stairs and in and out of rooms I can’t listen to sermons all the time, but I can play them while I cook, fold laundry or clean the entire kitchen. This week I’ve managed 2 sermons already, and it has honestly been wonderful—and I haven’t been watching mindless shows either! When I fill my spirit instead of my flesh, the Spirit is what will flourish while the flesh will be starving and not have as much energy to fight! In understand that this does not guarantee that my children will stay on the straight and narrow their whole lives. I know many people, including my own parents, who are as spirit filled and led as they could be and still have lost children. The flesh and the Devil are strong. I'm just saying that I will do everything in my power to feed mine and my children's spirits, fill our home with Jesus and pray fervently that they choose to do the same when they are old enough to make their own choice. This parenting thing is no joke and I have to be at the top of my spiritual game at all times if my kids are going to do something great for god, which is my prayer!

A few pictures of our week:

Climbs up on the chair and very proudly says "Hi, Mommy" and waves at me

Brothers shooting their disk gun down the stairs

He's been very into trains lately!

She loves reading to her brothers

Playing in an empty tub...and totally making Buddy jealous

Brooke made my coffee and Joe brought it to me. Day made.

Have a great week!