The only thing that stays the same is everything changes.....

Well, there have been a lot of celebrations/changes in our family.  I'm not always a big fan of change.  Quite frankly, I HATE change.  Most of the time anyway.  Sometimes change can be a good thing and is needed.  While our celebration/changes have been good ones, it still makes this Mama a little sad.  Okay, a LOT sad.

Friday was our 10 year wedding anniversary.  Not really a change, although we are maturing in our marriage each year that passes.  So, that was a happy celebration.  So as I posted on Facebook, here is the way I felt Friday:

Ten years ago,  I married my best friend. Literally. They say if you can survive the first year of marriage, then you can survive THE marriage. I disagree. If you can survive the first TEN years, then you can survive. The first year is just full of petty things like getting used to your new roommate and learning how many times a day they do things like brush their teeth. Chad and I have never been caught up in pure wedded bliss. Our marriage has not been easy or perfect. We've had a lot of bad times. But we've also had equally wonderful times. Once we learned to put Christ first, things got much easier. Christ is now the center of our family. So, to the true love of my life, soulmate, and the father of my beautiful children, happy ten years! May God fill our lives with many more adventures, good times, and even the bad ones--- so that we can remain humble in Christ. I love you, Chadwick. Look forward to the next ten years.

But then I cried on the way to our dinner date Friday.  Why?  Because I was so emotional about all the things that the month of May brings us.  The day after our anniversary was Brennan's birthday.  Then his last day of second grade was Tuesday.  And then tomorrow, it will be the one year "anniversary" of my grandfather's death.  I miss him SO much.

So Brennan is now officially a third grader. I'm not going to sit here and brag and brag about all the good grades he got (just thought I'd slip that one in) and I'm not going to get too emotional or sappy here.  But, if you're a parent, you know how fast our precious babies grow up.  How sometimes you find yourself wishing them out of a certain stage in their life, only to find yourself missing them in that same stage you found yourself getting worn out from.  


I'm convinced that somewhere in that stage of life between getting married and having your last kid, that you wake up one morning and realize that life really is short and fleeting.  And then we realize that we're all going to leave this earth one day. And then once you realize those things, once it clicks inside the brain that our kids are aren't going to be little forever, our parents aren't going to be around forever, and we are now the same age that our parents once were, but we still tend to think of them as our age, then that's when life seems to take on a speed that seems to almost be overwhelming.  You can pray for SO many things every single day, but the power to control time, or stop time, or even slow it down, that is something we aren't allowed.  


So it doesn't always work, but when I'm tripping over toys or saying dirty words about the never-ending pile of laundry, I sometimes have to stop myself and take a few deep breaths and envision no toys scattered from one end of the house to the other, no little baby clothes to wash, no tiny pajamas to wash, no dirty "Thomas the Train" plates piled in the sink and then I relax just a little.  Because I do understand that I am the age of my parents when I was little and thought they were "old" and that my children will be gone before I can soak up every single moment of the happy times.  If I could just bottle up their smells, their laughter, and sometimes (I can't believe I'm about to say this!) their bickering.  Because they really do love each other.  And one day that may be on opposite ends of the planet.  So yes, they drive me CRAZY.  And yes, I still cherish their bedtimes so that I can have some peace and quiet as temporary as it may be.  But while the days are very long, the years are passing too quickly.  


May is always a time of big change for us.  I don't really like the month of May.  It sort of puts me in a very melancholy mood.  But no use in having a pity party.  I just have to enjoy the moments.  For they only last just that---- a moment. 

That's not just any lady....... It's Supermom!!!!!!

In honor of Mother's Day, here is a tribute to all of us mothers everywhere:

You remember the intro to the comicstrip "Superman"--- Faster than a speeding bullet, more powerful than a locomotive, able to leap tall buildings in a single bound.......

Well, to mom's everywhere:

Faster than a speeding mini-van, more powerful than a dose of Prozac, able to leap the soccer field in a single bound, known as the Woman of Strength..... It's SUPERMOM.

What other creature on earth can gently nurture little babies, wipe away tears, and kiss away boo-boos while being the pillar of strength for her family?  Simultaneously clean up vomit while cooking dinner, checking homework, and folding a pile of laundry without even breaking a sweat?  Drive down the road and swat at her misbehaving child, answer 1,001 questions, silence a ringing cellphone and without for a moment taking her eyes off the road?  What other creature can boldly and confidently say,  "I told you so" at least a million times a week? What other creature takes pride in the shine of clean toilet bowls and clean floors and perfectly baked cookies for the PTO?

No other creature but us MOM'S, that's who!

But above all else, Mothers can pray for their children like nobody else can.  They can fervently beg and plead with God to just give us the strength, the wisdom, and ability to just do this one thing right.  If we fail at all else in our lives, please, God, let us raise happy, healthy children who have their eyes set on things above.  Let us raise children who will be salt of the earth. We pray for our children to be a beacon of light for His glory in this ever darkening world of evil and faith that is continually being watered-down.  Let our children and their lives be used for God's glory while His hand of protection and safety go before them.  We beg and plead for our children to make wise choices, make the right friends, and despise sinful acts.  We beg and plead for future spouses of our children to be God-fearing, God-loving spouses who will treat our children the way husbands and wives should--- under the authority of God.  We even pray for our grandchildren in the distant, not-so-far-away future.  That as a mom, our legacy will last for generations.  We beg God that our entire family tree will all be together in Heaven bowing down to the loving Savior that showed so much mercy and grace.  If I can't get anything else right here in my time on earth, I just fervently pray that I can at least raise my children right.  Not what the world deems right.  But what my GOD says is right.  I pray that I can teach my children to give God all the glory and honor in every last thing they do for their entire lives.  If I never pray for any other thing in life, that would be my prayer.  God give me the wisdom to be the mom that YOU created me to be, to these priceless gifts you've loaned me for just a short time.  Let me just get this right.  Three little souls depend on it.   Amen.

Counting Blessings....

There is a saying that goes something like this:  "What if you woke up tomorrow with only the things you thanked God for today?"  Yes, chew on that for just a minute. So in my praying this morning, it occurred to me that things in life seemed to be okay.  I was not having to pray urgently for anything in particular (except for my children, which I pray for like a mad woman!).  So then I started naming my blessings and thanking God for each of them.  It is then that I realized just how many blessings have been so generously poured out onto my family and me.  I urge you to stop and pray.  But without asking God for anything.  Just stop and start listing off your blessings and thanking God for each one of them.  I promise, you will feel l00 pounds lighter afterwards.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings. Wealth can never buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

So, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

"Giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,"

Ephesians 5:20 ESV

"Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!"

Psalm 107:1 ESV

"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!"

Psalm 105:1 ESV

Looking in the rearview mirror....

My drive to work twice a week can be quite an adventure.  I have to travel 3 of the busiest highway and interstate systems in this part of the state.  Quite often I find myself constantly checking my rearview mirror.  From "tailgaters" to 18-wheelers, I try and make myself comfortable with what is behind and around me at all times.  Sometimes I get a little too focused on what is in the mirror as opposed to staying focused on what is front of me.  And it has occurred to me lately that that is exactly my problem in life.   Satan is a sneaky little creature who knows how to throw things up from the past and make us stumble on our forward movements.  This is what I struggle with, some days more than others.  Being reminded of the things of the past and feeling the shame and guilt that was cleaned from my slate when I died to self and invited Christ to live inside of me.  When we confess our sins then God is quick to forgive and forget.  But in our state of minds sometimes, we have a tendency to struggle with shameful decisions and past misjudgements.  I came across this great paragraph this morning in "Journey", a daily devotional magazine:

"Do not swim around in the muck and the mire of condemnation for your sin. If you do, the implication is that Christ's death on the cross was not sufficient for your sins. God knew you would sin, He paid for it, and when you confess it, He has chosen to "forget" it."

And then there is this verse that comes to mind:

Philippians 3:13-14

¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. 

 

So as I struggle with the things that Satan wants me to remember and Christ wants me to know I'm forgiven of, I will remember the analogy of looking in my rearview mirror as I drive down the interstate.  Because when I get too focused on what is behind me, then it can have terrible consequences when I don't focus on what is in store for me ahead.  

Hope everyone had a great Easter.  This picture is about the best I could manage with three kids.  The 3 of them would not cooperate all at the same time.  But this will do, I suppose.

Sharing a little Easter love...

This is one Easter outfit. One of.... Ahem. One of many. I'm unashamedly having fun with my little princess.

A challenge for Easter......

The Easter season is upon us once again.  It seems like Christmas is a season all it's own.  The whole month of December is set aside for Christmas and all the festivities it brings.  We celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, we give gifts just as the Magi brought gifts to the Christ child, and we decorate our homes inside and out in our own special ways to demonstrate what Christmas means for our families. We even sing songs written just for the Christmas season.

And then there is Easter.  A most Holy of days.  A day that we reflect on Christ's suffering and anguish as He was led to a tree to die for all of mankind.  Maybe that's why we don't decorate, sing happy, special Easter songs, and have parties every other night.  Not in the Christian sense.  We celebrate the Easter bunny, and hide eggs, and sugar our kids up on too much candy.  We decorate with bunnies, eggs, and spring flowers.  While most Christians would be in unanimous agreement--- that the reason we celebrate Easter, which was Christ's suffering, death, and resurrection--- is something that we should celebrate, and be joyous over 365 days a year, 24 hours a day.  Yet Easter time is a little more reverent.  It's when we truly recognize the sake of the call and what it means to be a Christ follower. Many people see January 1 as a day of starting fresh and starting new.  Making resolutions and trying to stick with them.  However, starting fresh in your spiritual walk can also take on a whole new meaning when you take the time to reflect on the happenings of Christ's foretelling of death, and His foretelling becoming reality.  From the Passover feast, to the betrayal by Judas, to the Messiah crying out to his Father to take the cup from his hands--- yet His will be done--- it is an historical event that unfolded in front of many eyewitnesses. Christ literally took the weight of the world from all ETERNITY and bared it upon His shoulders so that WE, His children could be in His holy presence--- to infinity and beyond!

Which, I guess I could sit here and ramble all day about Easter and it's significance.  But I came here really to challenge you.  I had sort of always taken Lent as something only certain religions practiced.  And in a way, it was almost something I sort of joked about.  But I really had my eyes opened to what it means and that you don't have to be Catholic to associate yourself with Lent and fasting.  That it is not a RELIGIOUS journey (after all, aren't we all trying to get to the same place) but more of a personal spiritual journey.  So as I mentioned in an earlier post, I called one of my BFF's and asked her to be an accountability partner to me and to pray for me, and if she felt led, she could join me in the fast if she felt led. My fast, I decided, was from Facebook.  I know it sounds ridiculous, but it was getting ridiculous.  I felt like my smartphone was controlling my life.  Like that's all I ever wanted to do was see what was going on with all 5 hundred something friends that were on my friends list.  And do you know something?  What a burden has been lifted from me without always having that controlling my thoughts.  My spiritual life was really suffering.  I had slacked off in my prayer life and parts of my life were showing that.  I don't even have the slightest desire to really be on Facebook anymore.  Besides the occasional catching up with old friends that I truly don't ever see, then there's nothing there for me. Your life reflects where you priorities are, and I don't want that to be a priority with me.

What a difference a fast has made.  I've focused on the things that God has been desiring from me all along.  So, my BFF who took this "plunge" with me is also the wife of our Sunday School teacher.  Every year he fasts from Good Friday until Easter Sunday afternoon.  He fasts from food and drink.  He has done this for years, and is all the better for it because he does this.  So he challenged each of us Sunday morning to pray about fasting.  Not necessarily from food, but from something that is a distraction in our  walk with God.  Something that will be a challenge for us.  Something that will cause us to seek God's face for strength and for revelation of His Glory.  So, I have been fasting from Facebook, which has been much easier than I anticipated.  I am praying for something much deeper to be revealed that I can challenge myself to fast from for 3 days this weekend.  It would be food, but I am nursing so I have to have the calories from food.  I know that not everyone feels led to fast.  And it's not about us, but about Him.  But if you feel like there is a distraction in your life, then start today by praying that God will lead you to seek Him, and deny yourself so that you can take up your cross and follow Him.

Luke 9:23

 ²³ Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

"Humility and self-denial are two sides of the same coin.  Jesus' greatest calling for us to deny ourselves came when He stated, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross, and follow Me'. By fasting as unto the Lord we answer His call to deny ourselves for the sake of the cross"--- Lee Bueno

God wants the praise for what we do in our lives.  But if we never pray audacious, courageous prayers, how can He answer them?  If we never follow Him to positions where we need Him, how can He show up and make His presence known"-- Francis Chan from 'Erasing Hell'