The Grind

Let me begin by saying I love summer!

And I love my People.

What's not to love?

But, as much as I love no schedule, lazy days, believe it or not we can get on each others nerves.

Shocking I know.

Sometimes, when you put ourself out there, people tend to think everyday is all happiness and light.

Your kids never have an attitude, you and your spouse never have a cross word.

You talk to each other is Psalms and Bible verses.

And while I wish that was true, that is not real life.

Life can be difficult, circumstances can wear you down, people get cranky.

The dog barfs, the Hubs works late, the brothers fight and the princess whines.

And the Mommy. . . well she's a mess. At least in this house she is somedays. Many days. 

Most days.

But, if there is one thing I've learned in my almost 13 years of parenting, The Mommy Sets the Tone.

 We've all heard that old saying, "If Momma ain't happy, ain't nobody happy."

It's true.

Frankly, sometimes that irritates me.

(I hope that doesn't shock you)

That is a lot of pressure.

Pressure I am often unable to handle.

But here is the great part. I don't have to handle it.

Yes, I am the Mommy and ALL AAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL the responsibility that goes along with that job.

But, I am also the Child of the King. He knows my short comings.

He knows my frustrations.

He knows how the grind of daily life can wear me down.

And He's offered me the gift of rest.

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28


Here's the thing though, He's invited me to come to him.
Not  to take my burdens to everyone else, not pouting and throwing a fit, not being a grouch.
Come to Him and He will give me rest.
Rest in Him.


So, if the daily grind of life is getting you down, lay your burdens down at Jesus feet. 
He's the only one big enough to handle them!
Ask Him to help you embrace the dailyness of life.


To remember to point out to those you love all the things that make them great -even when they are driving you the edge.


For heaven's sake you're probably driving them crazy too.

A Whole Hand

While life is speeding by us non stop, this little one right here turned five.

I love this girl!

Seems like only yesterday she was right here

Then I blinked . . .and here we are . . .

We tend to have major party's here-because we love to celebrate! But this year, God had different plans and we spent the Princess's birthday here with a very sick Daddy:

She loves her Daddy and we couldn't keep her out of his bed -she just wanted to snuggle with him

I am happy to report that Daddy is much better!

Daddy and his girl

So instead of a big party, this year we celebrated with each other and had a great day.

It's amazing how a week in the hospital and then a week  at home in bed can make your perspective change and your appreciation for the little things grow.

The 3 Monkeys

Playing in the water with the brothers

Decorating sugar cookies

Got Sprinkles?

So not like we planned or hoped for, but good none the less. . .

the love was there, and we appreciated each person because we remembered that one of us almost wasn't.

My heart has been stolen three times. . .the last time was five years ago.

Happy Birthday Princess! You are without a doubt the greatest surprise of our lives!

Say Yes to VBS

Our little family is knee deep in VBS this week.

If you have never experienced a VBS, find a  good church sign your kids up !
They'll be tired, worn out and completely happy from the experience!

There is something about setting aside a week of your summer for learning about Jesus (completely disguised as fun BTW) that is just special and I'm so grateful my kiddos can be apart of this experience.

This year by Big Boy is to old for VBS and has graduated to helper.
Since I work in the Preschool area of our churches VBS, I got the privilege of watching him in action today.
Made this Mamma happy.

Now, let me say this day didn't start off great.
We have some tired people at our house-after several nights of storms and not much sleep, this morning there was . . .let's say tension. . .

But, attitudes were turned around and a rough morning turned into a great day.

Isn't God so good?

I heard Beth Moore say this year ago and I've never forgotten: "Remember God doesn't just have the power to change lives, He also can change moments."  I love that!

Tomorrow brings day 2 of our VBS journey in "The Big Apple". I can't wait to see the little faces I get to serve, the teachers who are giving so much of themselves (and have for weeks before hand), and the teens who could be doing countless other things but yet are giving up a week of their summer to serve Jesus.

Oh and I'll need a nap.

Firefly's

It's that time of year again when the sun goes down you will get the thrill of watching little glowing lights appear up from the grass.
( I hear firefly's aren't in every part of the country. .that would make me sad not live where these little guys are!)
Firefly's, little bugs with light up hinney's. . .just because.  Really as far as I can tell, they're just here for our enjoyment.

And if you wonder how a little bug can make you smile, just turn a few kids loose in the grass with them on a summer's night. Oh the squeals of delight as they chase the little guys around.
Even the Princess, who DOES NOT LIKE BUGS AT ALL, loves to chase firefly's!

I was thinking about how God loves us so much, while watching my kids chase firefly's this week.
He has given us so many tangible gifts, so many meaningful, life essential things, but firefly's- well they are there just to make us smile.

He created something with the idea of just making us giggle.

How amazing is that?

Can you think of anything that God has gifted us with just to make us smile?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Blessings,
Angie

Stronger

B


This song has been playing in my head over the last week. With all it's wild and craziness, from one emotion to the next, and now dealing with the ramifications of all we went through . . .When the waves are taking you under, hold on just a little bit longer.

Perhaps you are going through some struggles right now -and I'd be surprised if you weren't-life is HARD.
 But, you can be encouraged today that these days  full of trials will end and until they do, we don't have to be strong in our own strength-hang on to Jesus-he is our strength and He'll make us STRONGER!

Two Glasses and a Bowl

Two glasses and a bowl.
 That's how many things one of my children broke this week.
He wasn't being wild or silly, just three accidents. Part of life.
Things being broken, messes being made, clean up and move on.
Sometimes if feels as we're moving from mess to mess.

This has been a messy week for us, not just because of the broken dishes, but because on Tuesday night we rushed my husband to the ER for what appeared to my untrained eye as a stroke.
PTL it wasn't, but those were some scary hours and days in the hospital. He was finally released last night around 7 and I've was so glad to leave that building in the rear view mirror as we drove home.
The Hubs has quite a bit of following up to do with the doctors and some recovery that needs to be at home, but he is HOME and we are blessed.

I sat in his hospital room day after day and as I was coming and going dropping children off here and there (bless those friends/ grandparents that helped out with childcare) as you can imagine there were lots of prays of all kinds swirling through my head, but one of the major ones that kept being repeated was 'What do want us to learn in all of this? Show us Lord!'

Please, hear me when I say that I didn't have to ask him if he was there in the middle of turbulence, because He's shown me time and time again that He is the shelter in the storm-so I KNEW where to run! This isn't our families first ER/ medical crisis. I knew He was there.  But don't feel bad if in your struggles you've got to ask Him if He's there! I've prayed that before too. Go ahead and pray it, "Are you there, do you see us struggling down here?" He'll show up and He'll show off for you!

But, this time that wasn't my prayer, it might be again some other time but this time I knew He was there from the beginning.

The answer to my particular prayer this time started coming to me about Thursday and Friday (with more to come, with reflection, in the weeks to follow) but what I began to feel those Lord saying to me was this:
"Remember those broken glasses and bowl?" which quite frankly seemed like  a weird answer to my prayer of what do you want us to learn from this. . .but never the less that is what kept coming back into my heart. .So, I said, "Yes I remember the broken glasses and bowl."
"Sometimes, life is messy. Sometimes, things break. You were going to do things one way only to find out that you can't and you'll have to change your plans. You may not have been doing anything wrong, it just happened. Part of life.
This too is part of life. Quit gripping things/people/lists so tightly. Maybe that drink you'll get won't come to you in the way you planned, but you'll still get it. It might take longer than you planned, might not be as pretty on the outside, but what's on the inside will be exactly the same.
Plans change, vessels to make the plans happen change. And that's OK, because I never change.
Do you hear me? I never change."

So, a week that was going to happen one way, turns out to happen another. A summer takes a turn not expected. Do we throw a fit? Do we cry and carry on? Or do we say, that's part of life, but that Creator of that life hasn't changed one bit and that's who we choose to focus on.

I pray that is what I do, what I teach my children to do. To bend and flow with the twists and curves of life with grace and peace, knowing that Jesus has it all together even when all I see is the mess that was made of my plans and to keep my focus clearly on Jesus.

To those reading this that prayed for us this week-thank you never seems like enough, but Thank You from the bottom of our hearts!
To those in the middle of some chaos of their own, cling to Jesus, He's the only rock that cannot be moved-He'll be your peace when there is none.

Blessings,
Angie

Overcome

When I was reading the answers and emails to the post about  your One thing I was so touched by your honesty and overwhelmed by the struggles we all face, but in times of discouragement (and we all have them) here are some verses I turn too.
We do not have to live in defeat!
Write these on notecards and put them were you can see them so when the world gets you down, or Satan throws that "One Thing" in your face you can surround yourself in TRUTH!






Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 1 John 4:4


For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world— our faith. 1 John 5:4


The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. John 1:5


I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world. John 16:33


Take Heart Friend, the victory is yours if you are in Christ!


Blessings,
Angie

One Thing

We all have struggles.
Big and little.
Some come and go, some seem to stay and take up our lives.

If you had just  one struggle you could never face again, what would it be?

(you can answer anonymously if you'd like)

Blessings,
Angie

I Quit.

Can I just say that it's hard to be a girl?!?!

The emotional roller coaster we ride is a difficult one to manage. And frankly there are days when I don't manage it well at all. Somedays I give up and don 't try and manage it at all.
Yesterday was one of those days.

I was a mess.
From top to bottom, inside and out a complete mess.

I've noticed that mess tends to spread out and turn others into messes quickly.

Momma sets the tone for the whole house.
There are days when that is just feels like a lot of pressure.

But, besides the typical roller coaster of womanhood, yesterday I found myself swimming in a sea of fear and doubt.

I hate being afraid.

Which is why that is a battle I have to face often.

My fear often turns to doubt.

Fear of what, doubt of what. . .

 Anything, everything. . . it changes but in general it usually has to do with my kids.
But lately the fear and doubt has creeped into my 'calling' or purpose.

Fear of not being good enough, of running out of time (I've got a big birthday looming in front of me)
fear of  not being enough for my kids, rejection, lack of direction.
You name it and it was bubbling up yesterday.
Fear leads to doubt.
"Since I'm not good enough, then I was wrong about going in this direction."
"If it was going to happen it would have happened already, it's to late."
"If you were a better mother,__________wouldn't have happened."


Can I  be honest and say that by 4:00 yesterday I was the biggest grouch around.
Called the Hubs and pouted to him.
Yelled at the kids.
Didn't make dinner.
Just sulked.

But, as I meditated before the Lord last night ( and don't misunderstand, by meditated I mean I plopped down in the chair and prayed? "I QUIT") I began to feel  some deep questions come over me.

Calm down, haven't we been here before?
If you're not good enough, are you saying My creation is lacking something?
Running out of time? My time is all that matters!
Are those your children or mine? Mine? Then let me lead them without you holding on so tightly.
They rejected my son too, I know Baby Girl. Let me hold you.
The only path you need to follow is mine.
Maybe you should quit. Quit trying to do things in your own strength. Quit trying to control everything.
Quit taking your mood out on the people around you.

Perhaps I'm the only one reading this who deals with fear and doubt, but I don't think so.
Satan attacks us where he knows he can do the most damage and so often that has to do with our families and relationships. He can't take away our salvation so we wants to make us useless.
And who is more useless than a grouchy scaredy cat? Afraid to move, afraid to try, afraid to fail.

Psalm 46:1-3
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.

vs.11 The Lord Almighty is with us, the God of Jacob is our fortress.

So who's going to quit with me?

Half Way There

June 1st.
Six months in the year.
Summertime is here. (woohoo!!)

So, I'm wondering as we hit the half way mark of the calendar year: what was your favorite blog post that YOU wrote?
Leave me a comment with the title of your favorite (I didn't say perfect or professional - your favorite!) blog entry so I can check it out.
It's ok to have a favorite of yours -God gave you your ability to write, it's ok to like something that He gave you the gift to do.

Ok, Go! I can't wait to read what your favorites are!!

(Oh, and how in the world are we half way through the year??)

Blessings,
Angie