Dedicated to my Mother

This post is dedicated to my faithful Mother. It was only 7:30 AM today when I called to tell her that I had the stomach bug and before I said anything else she said, "I'm on my way." She stayed with me, took care of my baby, took care of me, went to the grocery store for gatorade and to CVS for my prescription. She stayed from 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. I asked her when she was leaving, "how do I pay you back for today?" She said, "it's part of being a mom. You will do the same someday." But it wasn't just today that she came through for me. This history stretches way back into the past. And even in college, I would call her in the middle of the night upset about some boyfriend and she would stay on the phone with me for hours calming me down. Many times, she would get in her car and drive to Tuscaloosa to soothe me. And so my precious husband has learned over our years together that when the stomach flu hits and my head is hanging in the toilet, all I want is a scalding hot washcloth - like the one my mom used to get for me growing up. And as much as I adore and love my husband, it's always my mom that I want when I'm sick. She was the one who stayed up all night long while I was in labor feeding me ice chips while everyone else had gone to bed. She has never left me, never forsaken me, has and will be faithful to the end: like our Lord. Mom - I wouldn't have survived motherhood without you. Thank you for your sacrifice! I love you.

First Fruits

You may recognize the title of this message as it was the title of today's message given by Pastor Chris. But before it was the title of today's Sunday sermon, it was the title of a phone conversation I had with my mentor earlier this week. You see "my Julie" set me straight. There has been some great fruit lately in my life especially regarding keeping home and hearth. And while the SHE (Sidetracked Home Executives) have set me on the path to a clean home and less stress, somehow I lost track of some other very important priorities like my quiet time. Before the baby came, getting up for a quiet time was no problem, but if I am up early in the morning now it's because I'm nursing, then changing diaper, then feeding again and then changing outfit and so on as you mothers know. But the book challenged me to get up 30 minutes before the rest of the household and get fully dressed and made up. So I started this and quickly realized how much better I felt about myself and how much more productive I was and that if someone wanted to drop by it wasn't an issue because I wasn't still wearing my pajamas at 3 in the afternoon. However, I left out a very important detail: where was my time with the Lord? This is what Julie wanted to know. I said, "well I pray throughout the day and we have worship music playing a lot." That's when she let me have it. I had forgotten my first love. And He was beckoning me to return to him. How could I be so dense to think I could accomplish everything in one day without starting first with him and letting Him recharge my batteries and give me supernatural energy? So I started getting up just 30 minutes earlier to spend that time with Him. And the funny thing is, I never hear my alarm go off because the Lord wakes me up about 5 - 10 minutes before hand. I guess it isn't really funny, it's just Him knowing what is best for me. So my question to you is, what are your first fruits? Is the Lord first of your day and do you have a mentor or accountability partner to keep you in check? I can't imagine where I would be without my mentor touching base with me and making sure that my priorities are in the right place. I once asked Steve, "who made me a good wife?" And his response was, "Julie Collier."

It's not from Kohl's, it's from God.

I started this post as a way to capture what God has done for us this Christmas season. And while I would normally write this in my journal (see previous post :) ) I decided that this example of God's faithfulness was too good to keep all to myself and in hopes that it would encourage my 5 fellow blog followers. :) Are you out there people?

Anyway, I have mentioned before that as a stay at home mom, our lifestyle has changed dramatically. And that while there won't be lots of pricey presents under the tree, what we are most thankful for is our little family. But I would be remiss in saying that I wasn't disappointed in the fact that we might not be able to do a lot for Christmas for others. And while I've tried to coupon and pinch every penny this month, it was the Lord who was looking out for us. So far this Christmas I have bought $50 worth of merchandise from Kohls for FREE. You heard me. I have gotten frames, towels, albums.... all gifts for loved ones and all because Kohls keeps sending me these free gift cards. I don't have an account with them because we don't use credit cards (big Dave Ramsey followers) but yet I'm like the top person on all their mailing lists. But in my heart I know it isn't Kohls that is providing these gifts but the Lord. Because every good and perfect give comes from heaven above. And just when I thought the blessings couldn't get any better - I found a gift card that I had to Best Buy which enabled me to buy another gift for a loved one and I only had to put $5 with it. Then this afternoon, I was looking for something for my sister-in-law and I found the perfect gift that I wanted to give her however the price was not perfect for me. So I decided I would wait and see if I found something else later on. When I got home there was a gift certificate waiting for me in my email to the very store where I had located this gift for my sister-in-law. I only had to again put $5 with the certificate and the gift was purchased. God strikes again. His provision is unending for us and I don't know why I continue to be shocked or surprised. Because His word promises that he delights in us and that if our earthly father can give us great gifts than how much more can our heavenly father do for us. So take it from me, one very blessed little lady, that God can and will do more than you can think or imagine. That is just who He is.

A Christmas Blessing

There's a running joke amongst my friends about how much I have changed in the past few years. I like to tell people that I used to shop at Saks and eat at Bottega's and now I shop at Kohls and eat at Moe's. :) As a stay-at-home mom my lifestyle has changed dramatically. There won't be a lot of fancy gifts or expensive dinners or even visions of smocked outfits with reindeers this Christmas. But that is okay. There was a time when I was able to give out expensive gifts but this is a different season I am in. My dear Mother-in-law recently gave me a "Mother's journal" that records all my favorite memories, vacations, foods, experiences and so forth. But one of the entries had me stumped for a while. It wanted me to list my favorite bible verse. What kind of a question is that?! How do you pick just one when really there is a lot of good stuff in the Bible. But I told Steve the other day that I think I finally figured it out. It's the verse in Esther 4:14, "for such a time as this." And while Taylor Innes (who lived with me in Jerusalem) and I used to have a joke about this verse, I really believe that it holds true for me. This season is for such a time as this. I will only be at home with my doodlebug for such a time as this and I only have a few of those moments left. So I better treasure them while I can. And while the gifts may be simple this year  bought with free gift cards that Kohls sends me in the mail :), while there may not be fancy dinners or holiday outfits and lots of Christmas decorations on display at our house, there will be a huge celebration on the inside - in my heart. As a mother of a precious son, the sacrifice that our Lord gave with his only son Jesus touches my heart in a way that I never knew existed. To think of Mary as she watched her first born son crucified on the cross - I couldn't bear it. Samuel is my first born too and he IS my only begotten son. So this Christmas I am thankful that the price was already paid and that the sacrifice was already given, and it won't be my Samuel paying that debt. I now know what true love is.

Give Thanks

As Thanksgiving is upon us I have been reminded lately how blessed I am. As my little one wakes at 4 and 5 a.m. the past few mornings and my exhausted body somehow manages to get up and feed him, change him and put him back to bed, I am tempted to silently complain about my lack of sleep and frustration that Samuel is still not quite sleeping through the night. But as I sit there with him hungrily nursing away at 4 a.m., instead of being grouchy about it, I've just been thankful. Thankful that he is here safe in my arms and not missing. Thankful that he is a very healthy little boy and not diabetic or on dialysis or with cancer. Thankful that God chose me to be mother to this sweet doodlebug with the most beautiful smile you have ever seen. So in several moments over the past few days I have been reminded of Thanksgiving and what the day truly means. Recognizing that it isn't about Black Friday or all the good deals to be had but that it's about the simple things in life that matter. Family, God's provision for us and our faith. What are you thankful for this holiday?

Balance

Samuel, just being cute.

I was super encouraged last week at my small group regarding balance. Every Wednesday, I get the treat of leaving my baby at home with his Daddy and attending Cindy Acton's Moms' mentoring small group. I can't tell you how encouraging and much needed this group is in my life as a new mother. One thing that I asked the girls about last week was how do I achieve balance in my life between being a mother, wife, housekeeper, cook, laundress.... you get the picture. And these girls really gave me some great advice. Most said that I'm going to have to let some things go at home and become okay with that. And really Steve has said that as long as the baby is still alive and fed when he gets home from work then that is all that matters to him. Well that isn't all that matters to me. I thrive in a clean, organized environment. I don't like messes and I can even handle if things aren't that clean as long as they are neat and organized. But here lately our place looks like it has been hit by a tornado and I just can't handle that. So the ladies in my group suggested that I do one load of laundry every morning and do one cleaning item that day like either ironing, dusting, cleaning the toilets and so on. So I made a schedule on my Apple iCal for cleaning (it's color coded pink :) ) and have been using this method since last Thursday and I can't tell you how much better I feel about our place and myself. I have actually gotten more done in the past week than in a long time. Because I let go of that endless to do list that just looked so overwhelming and just kept it simple with one task a day. Pastor Chris preached on chaos and being frantic this morning, and that sermon rang true in my spirit. Just by having my new found plan, I have found more rest each day. P.C. stated that rest is a state of mind and that is so true for me now. While I'm more active than I have been in a long time (I was a couch potato during my pregnancy) I feel that I have accomplished my goals each day and feel good about our place and my role as housekeeper and stay at home mom. And that my friends equals more peace in our household, which is a very good thing. :)

What is your God assignment?

my beautiful mentor, Julie and my precious doodlebug

Just finished a wonderful weekend at Church of the Highland's for the annual Women's Retreat, ReCreate. Holly Wagner spoke and Shane & Shane led us in some awesome worship. But Holly's theme of encouraging us to find and stick with our God assignment surely has me thinking. Where am I in life and what has God placed in my path? Obviously my assignment right now is to be wife and mother and that truly does fill up my days. And though I thought it was what I always wanted in life, I realize that it isn't enough. God created me personally for more than that. It's not that I'm discontent with my life, on the contrary. It's just that I know the Lord meant me for ministry. And at this time in my life, when my thoughts and days are so consumed with caring for a little one, I have to wonder, where and how can I minister to others in the midst of this. Which honestly is why I started this blog. I'm not much of a scrapbooker which is why you probably won't always see updates on my baby. Not that he isn't worthy of them but really this blog is more of an outlet for me. It's a way for me to communicate a word from the Lord and hope that it inspires or encourages my few followers on this blog. And that honestly is my "God assignment". Not the blog itself, but the act of inspiring and sharing with others a word from the Lord or my experiences. As I was at the conference praying and thinking about how I could live this out in a more substantial way the Lord answered me. A friend at the conference asked me to mentor her on a weekly basis pouring into her what my precious mentor, Julie Collier, has poured into me for the past four years or so. And really that is exactly what my heart was desiring. Someone who wanted to hear what the Lord had taught me over the years about life, marriage, motherhood (that's a new one for me) and ministry. And it was just a reminder to me of something my friend, Michelle Allen said to me at the conference. "God knows the desires of your heart Laura Gail," she said. It sounds so simple but really it is profound. Because when you stop and consider your life at times, you see how he has answered those desires in miraculous and marvelous ways. My question to you is, what is your "God assignment"? It could be for a season or what you knew you were created to do and be. Consider what God is calling you to do and do it. Don't be scared. He equips those he calls and will always enable you to conquer what ever mountain stands in your way.