Category Archives: believe

Love God

Tue 02.14.2012


Adeline learned her first bible verse the other day.  I’m a proud mama.  We underestimate the minds of these little ones. Their ability to grasp onto information, process and think for themselves – even a two year old – never ceases to amaze me.   Deuteronomy 6: 5-7 has been on my heart . . .

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts.  Impress them on your children.  Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”

We have this profound responsibility to teach our kids about God.  To lay down their foundation of faith and a understanding of His great love. It often gets me thinking on how well I’m actually doing this. Is God part of our daily life or compartmentalized into scheduled slots during church and prayers? Do I allow Christ to be a part of our every day routine?  Or do I contain God in a box?  These are questions I often find myself being reminded of in the crazy and hectic routines of everyday life.

Adeline memorized “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Deuteronomy 6:5  It’s the verse I put on the girls Valentines and had recently written on our chalkboard pantry door. A daily reminder of the most important love of all.

This evening I came across a heading in my journal titled “Love God” with some notes from an old message on these exact verses. We teach what we know, but see what we do…..we see who we are in our kids. A love of God has to first reside in my heart in order for our home, and our children, to have a foundation of faith, hope & love. Just knowing God is not enough, we need to love God. And I mean really love God by living in His word and building a rock solid foundation for our families.  More then anything in this world I want Adeline & Amelia to know Christ and truly understand his love for them, this means nothing if they don’t see that love inside our home.

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Weekly Wonder: The simplicity in life

Wed 02.01.2012

Life gets so hectic.  The girls are growing up so fast, my nieces are applying for college, everyone is getting older….don’t you always find yourself asking, where does the time go?!  I’m so guilty of getting caught up in the everyday chaos of daily life.  I find a way to get so busy in the silly things that I don’t remember to just enjoy the simple things.  Do you ever find yourself learning the most simple lessons through your kids?  Their awe of the world and zest for life in the smallest LITTLE THING is so refreshing.  As we get older I feel we lose that zest, we get polluted by all this “stuff.” My mind is constantly being bombarded by materialism no matter which way I look.  I’m surrounded by billboards as I drive my car, commercials listening to the radio or watching TV, and I love the magazines, iPhones, iPads but it can be such a double edged sword! You get on the internet to look up one think and 5 distractions later you’ve lost 2 hours of your life (i love and hate you Pinterest).  The more we want, the more we get and it often leads to more stuff to organize, clean and eventually replace.  Everyone is always looking for the next best thing.  I mean seriously, I have the ability to get obsessed over the right shade of blue paint, baby product research or the placement of a piece of furniture  (not too diminish the importance of these things ;-) ) But in all seriousness . . .  I find myself being reminded to look up, breath and simply enjoy life.  Get the important stuff done and then relax and cherish this absolutely precious time I have been blessed with.

con·tent·ment: the state of being contented; satisfaction; ease of mind

Life often does not work out as we plan it, but it works out perfectly as God planned it. Life does not have to be as complicated as we make it out to be, there is something to be said about simplicity.  Seek Him and all your needs will be 100% fulfilled.

“His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness.  Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:3-4

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Merry Christmas

Sat 12.24.2011

1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.

Christmas time gets so hectic… traveling, baking, shopping, presents, wrapping and all the parties and activities with the kids.  It flies by and before you know it Christmas Eve is here.  This year is Amelia’s first Christmas.  As I look at this pure, beautiful little baby I am filled with awe every day.  She is so perfect.  I am so blessed with two amazing little children. Having a child is the most precious and pure gift that I have ever received.  I cannot comprehend the idea of sacrificing a child for anything, let alone someone.  Jesus was sent for us. It is not a story to go along with Christmas, it is the reason for Christmas.  Why would God sacrifice a child for us? Because he loved us.  Sometimes I just don’t get it.  I’m sure I’m not the only one . . . it’s difficult to believe in something you can’t directly see, happened so long ago and in a world that has really become all about me and not much else.  I ask myself what is true love? I believe, yet doubt.  I’m convicted to seek the truth, seek God DAILY . . . it changes my world everyday.

Merry Christmas!

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I’m not perfect

Mon 08.29.2011

print from www.emilyleypaper.com

Recently having our second little girl I am reminded of how hectic life can get.  Newborns are hard work! I am constantly feeding, burping or putting the little one to sleep while trying to entertain and provide an adequate amount of attention to my two year old…not to mention keeping the house in some what of an order, provide meals, clean cloths, be a loving wife and MAYBE have some time to myself (??!) . . . whew, I’m EXHAUSTED!

I find myself getting frustrated because I just can’t get everything done.  I overwhelm myself (often with the things that are not so important) consequently turning into a cranky and irritable mom, which I have found often leads to cranky and irritable children and husband.  But when I get to thinking about all of this and my (sometimes) bad attitude, I realize that I do it to myself.  I dwell on things that are not important and hold myself to some unobtainable standard that I set for myself.  I am not perfect.  There will be days (many days) when things just do not go according to “my plan” or “my schedule” – and that’s OKAY because it’s not about ME.

In the big picture, some things just don’t matter that much.  I am blessed with an amazing, loving family.  If I dwell too much about everything I have to do, I’m going to miss some amazing moments with this family.  It is by God’s grace that I have the privilege of being a mother…. I am reminded that sometimes I just need to take a deep breath, step back, pray and re-prioritize my “to do” list.

God did not give me this role to walk around anxious and stressed out all day, I will miss His rewards by my own ignorance and my family will reap the consequences.  My children are watching me everyday..they observe how I deal and react to EVERY situation.  I want them to see a mom of GRACE who knows how to stay calm, react with wisdom, enjoy life and be CHRIST-LIKE. We will have good days and bad days, but each day is a blessing where we can all learn and grow.  And for those really really bad days – we just need to remember that tomorrow is a new day!

Emily Ley (from www.emilyleypaper.com) could not have said it better when she said

“I will hold myself to a standard of GRACE not PERFECTION.”

Check out her blog HERE to print your own copy of her great, free printable pictured above – AND put it on your desk.

 

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“Every good and perfect gift is from above…”

Mon 07.18.2011

James 1:17

When we had our first little girl, Adeline, it was hard to imagine loving anyone as much as we love her.  From the moment she entered our world she captured our hearts.  As we eagerly waited for our second baby girl to arrive, I often wondered what it’s going to be like to have “two.”  Will we feel the same?  Is it going to be different?  How will this addition effect our family dynamics?  I was just getting used to being a mom of one!  To go from a family of three to a family of four seemed like such a big step! (And how the heck am I going to be able to handle a potty training toddler and infant?!)

But on June 20, 2011 @ 9:39 AM Amelia Grace entered our world . . .and we fell in love all over again.  Just when you think your heart can’t love much more, this amazing little blessing opens your heart up even more then you thought it could.   It is absolutely amazing, the experiences and emotions are all so similar yet different at the same time.  I’m still figuring out the juggling part of it all (does one ever really figure it out?), but  I am truly feeling so blessed to have these two precious little girls in my life.

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Perfectly Made

Sun 05.02.2010

I was at a baby shower the other day and a friend read something that provided me with such an important reminder …

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139: 14-17 NIV

It got me thinking of just how truly perfect and precious our babies are.  They were all fearfully and wonderfully made before we even laid eyes on them.  As a new mother I remember constantly thinking (and I still do!) if Adeline is developing like she should, meeting her milestones, eating okay, sleeping okay, smiling enough…etc. You will see babies progressing quicker, slower and generally doing things at different times. It’s okay. Every baby is uniquely made in His eyes. They are perfect in every way with a purpose all of their own.

Being a mom to Adeline is a privilege. I feel absolutely blessed to have been graced with such a precious gift. I pray that I can be the absolute best mom and raise a woman of grace.

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