BFF!!!

Ok. I am stepping on my soapbox and I'll be off in a minute. I was watching news this morning and heard that there are public schools beginning to enforce a new rule: Students are not allowed to have a best friend. I know what you are thinking, this is a joke. Well, I thought the same thing and then they begin to talk to Psychiatrists and parents and it became very apparent that this is for real. Schools are being told by the government that this could be a very helpful rule to enforce. The reason for this rule is that they feel that this would help kids not feel hurt, loss, peer pressure, etc. ARE YOU KIDDING ME?? So now schools are deciding whether students can have friends or not and maybe they can save them from ever having to deal with pain. So, when they become an adult and pain comes(because IT WILL), they will have no idea how to handle it or walk through it. It seems to me that there are many other things that schools could be enforcing rather than who you are best friends with. It almost seems unreal to hear news like this. God tells us all through scripture that we will walk through pain and trouble. I looked back and thought about the best friends I had. There were some that brought some pain and there were others that helped me all through school. I had an amazing best friend, Sara, who not only brought me to her church, which changed my life, but also walked through some pretty rough stuff with me. We had a blast when we were together and I loved every minute I spent with her. I could not have imagined dealing with high school without her by my side. So, I guess my biggest issue is that it seems more and more that the government is mandating rules that continue to regulate our freedom. Having a best friend seems really small compared to the disrespect that many teachers have to deal with everyday in their classrooms. Why don't we deal with that instead of whether students have a best friend or not?

Ok, I'm stepping off that soapbox and I hope that this rule is stopped before it starts. I pray everyday for the friends Katelyn and Samuel will have one day. I pray that they will encourage them to walk closely to Jesus and that they will have a blast growing up together. I will be that parent who is careful to MONITOR their friendships and lay a foundation of choosing friends wisely. And if they ever get hurt or go through the loss of a friend, we will hug, talk, pray, and walk through that pain together. They will see that pain comes and pain goes. It is life! But thank God they have a heavenly Father who walks closely by their side through it all!!!

Things I never thought I'd be...but so thankful I am!!

I never thought I'd be.......

a Pastor's Wife
a Church Planters Wife
a Homeschool Mom
a Stay at Home Mom
a Writer
a Friend to Greater Friends
a Soccer Mom
a Brunette :(
a Yankee's Wife (sorry hun, had to put that in there)
a Lover of Truth
a Crafter
a Yard Saler
a Teacher
a Home Repairer
a Seeker of Genuineness
a Follower of the TRUE Gospel....

....oh and so much more. These are just the good things that God has thrown in my path. There is also a huge list of the difficult and downright awful things that have been allowed to show up in my life. These are also things I never thought I'd go through but so glad God taught me in the midst!!! I am so thankful for these things that I am but never thought I'd be. I look back and thank God that he didn't let be all the things I THOUGHT I would be!!

What Season Are You In?

I saw this on one of the blogs I follow called steadymom.com. I thought it was great and would love to hear back from you. Read this and let's chat about what season you think you are in as a mom?? I think I am in the season of FALL, which could change on any given day. I feel like I am at a place of understanding who I am in Christ better than I eve have before. I also see myself letting things go that would have bothered me to no end years ago. I feel like God is stripping away many things about myself in order to let the new come in. I love the seasons and look forward to each new one that is on its way in. Enjoy!!!

Which season of motherhood are you in?

With spring's arrival, I've been contemplating the importance of the seasons in both nature as well as our lives as mothers.

So which season of motherhood do you think you're in?

Winter - Dark, hard to see growth, long nights

Spring - Growth beginning to bud and blossom, longer days, more light

Summer - Fullness of life in all its glory, Abundance and beauty

Fall - Maturity, learning to let go, the old dropping away to make way for the new

These seasons sometimes coincide with the ages of our children. But sometimes they fluctuate based on our own growth, needs (& sleep levels, perhaps?!): one day spring, one day winter.

I find myself in spring as a mother: seeing beauty and light in many areas of life, but also nurturing hopes for continued growth to blossom and burst forth--character growth in my kids, in myself, as well as professional growth, too.

The Way God Knows Me!!!

Isn't it funny how much God knows us. He knows every aspect of who we are and what we think and do. I just got back from a homeschool/parenting conference and God knew everything I needed to hear in just 3 short days. My heart feels so full and I thought I would share with you some of the encouraging things God showed me while I was learning and soaking it all in. I began the weekend learning about Genesis and how we are losing our children when they graduate high school because we are not teaching them apologetics. We have to teach children apologetics way before college or they will have no idea what to believe. After learning some truths there, most of my time was spent learning from amazing men and women of God that have walked the road of homeschooling and the wisdom they had was more than I had anticipated. They shared their hearts and were real and honest about the mistakes they made. It was amazing to see these people who were so godly and put together open up and tell us some wrong steps they took and how God steered them back each time. I have so many notes I could write a post that would take you days to read but more than anything I learned one truth over and over:
              
 "And these words which I command to you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up...You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates"             ~Deuteronomy 6:6-7 and 9~




It seemed like every workshop I went in this scripture was quoted or used and it began to make sense. I have heard this scripture before. I even have a frame in my kitchen that has this scripture on the picture of a house. I look at it daily and know the primary responsibility of a parent is to teach our children diligently the truths of God. But, it is more. I teach my children all kinds of things during the day. I incorporate the Bible in math, science, history, language, etc. IT IS MORE!!!! I can use my words to teach my children all day long but it will never reach their hearts if I am not walking in the same truths they hear me teaching. When I am doing laundry, am I joyful or sighing in tiredness? When I am doing dishes for the 17th time of the day, am I thankful for kids to clean after or frustrated that I have to do them? When I have to tell Samuel to use his inside voice at least 50 times a day, am I happy that I have a little boy who loves to sing and is full of life or do I discourage his childish boyhood? These are the things this scripture is talking about. Teaching our children day in and day out in the everyday things that God lives in us and walks with us. Honestly, I have so much more to grow in this area and I love the way God knows me because He knew I needed to hear this. I usually walk away from these conferences thinking why in the world I ever did anything else but homeschool but this time, it went deeper. This time, it had to do with me and the changes I need to make. Thank God that He knows me and loves me so much that He wants me to be a godly wife and mommy!! Not just so I can be better but because I am called to train my children in the way of the Lord and they need to see Jesus living through me. And when they see Jesus living in me, they will see JESUS!!!!

A Year Later!!!

It really doesn't feel like its been a year since my dad went to be with His Maker. The last few weeks have been especially hard for me and brought much crying to my soul. This week has been one bad day after another. I have become so weary and discouraged when things have not gone as planned in the lives of ones I love. My dad was just such a solid in our lives, that we have days when we miss that rock, that person who helped cope. But I am very grateful that I serve The Solid Rock that makes it possible to live each day in grace and healing. I know that we will have hard days and I know we will have good days but more than anything, we are renewed when we let God step in and take on all the weight we just can't lift anymore!!! So, tonight, after a long couple of days, I rejoice and celebrate that my dad has spent a year in the arms of Christ, full of peace and free from pain and sorrow.

Dad,

WE MISS YOU!!! Selfishly, we want you here with us but spiritually, you are HOME!! We are getting through slowly. Mom is on a road of healing and we are trying to take good care of her. We can never take care of her as well as you did, that's for sure, but we are giving it all we got!!! She has a completely different life that is taking some getting used to. Thank you for loving her so unconditionally and teaching me that two people can love each other despite anything that is thrown their way!!! I am so thankful that you were my dad and that you were her husband!!! I love you so much and miss everything about you but celebrate that you are home! See ya soon!!

No Higher Calling!!!

Yesterday I was asked what my "role" will be as we plant a church and being a pastor's wife. I answered very quickly and simply: " to bring glory to God by doing what he called me to: being my husbands helpmate and biggest fan and disciplining my children to know and follow Jesus so that when we release them to this world they are ready to make Jesus famous with their lives." That's it!!! Many times people expect the pastor's wife to do as much or more than any other person in the church. I disagree and will for the rest of my life. Ultimately, I will do whatever God calls me to do within the church but my main calling is to encourage and lift up my husband so that he can be every bit of the man God has called him to be and to raise my children with a God vision for the world around them to impact it for the glory of God. Right now, that is all that my "ROLE" is!!! I thought I'd share just exactly the people I have been called to minister to first in my life: