Mommy, why don't we just give them money to buy a house?

There was an opportunity to serve at church last weekend by filling backpacks with essentials for the homeless. I thought it would be a great opportunity to bring Braydon so he can serve and to see how much others are in need of basic things. He kept telling me how much he liked doing it. I'm not sure if he really understood, but it gave an opportunity for me to talk to him about helping others. We also talked about how sad it was that some people don't have a place to live or food to eat. While having that conversation he says to me, "Mommy, why can't we just give them money to buy a house?" How precious is that?

How do I respond without warping his childlike faith and willingness to give? I don't want to crush him with the reality of the world. That we can't help everyone. That some are going to suffer.

I can only encourage his thoughtfulness, feed his desire to give, and show him that we can help others by using other means than money.

I was so thankful for that opportunity to serve and that I was able to include Braydon. I am excited for the next one to come along!!

Confirmation!........thank you God!!

You know when something keeps popping up in your head and tugging at your heart......and you wonder is that from God or what.  You don't really know what to do about it, so you just wait.  Sometimes it goes away and sometimes it keeps on coming.  I wrote before on how gently God nudges us sometimes and I was beginning to think I was hearing Gods gentle voice.  I have been hearing it so much more now that I have been giving Him an hour every morning and it is so much easier to be obedient when you can hear things a little louder and clearer.  But still you think......is that you God? 

I took the first step and put myself out there and what I got was complete confirmation!!! 

I had contacted the community outreach coordinator at church to offer my time to be a link between our church and Birth Choice or Toby's house so we can help local moms and save babies from abortion.  I explained that God had placed this on my heart but I really didn't know what to do with it, so I thought that I would start by telling her.  She informs me that they have been specifically praying for someone to be a liaison with Birth Choice and our church!!  Wow, I am again amazed by God and so thankful that I received immediate confirmation that the little tugs on my heart were from Him.  It is such a blessing and I am so excited to see what God has planned for this ministry!

In case you were wondering,
Birth Choice is a christian based center that helps council women with unplanned pregnancies.
Toby's house is a place where women and their young children can live and gain the support they need to get back on their feet.

Reflection Monday

I like to look back over the past week and see how I did as a mommy and a wife. So, my plan is to always do this every Monday.
I can tell a difference this past week from any other week. I was so focused on God and the two jobs that He gave me to do and so thankful that I didn't waste any more time before I made it my focus.
I was a better mommy. I was a better wife. It was easy and rewarding and the week went so very smooth!! Even waking up everyday at 5:30 to spend an hour with God was easy. I'll be honest and admit that I had the thought to turn the alarm off and stay in bed every morning, but I got up anyway. That is the very reason for all of my changes this past week. If I didn't spend that time in worship and in the Word, my week would have been like any other. I would have tried to focus on being a good mom and wife, but I would have failed on my own. I am amazed with how quickly God works. The little miracles are all around me. I feel like they are my reward for being obedient, as if God is saying "keep it up, this is only the beginning of what I will do" I am in awe!!!



This week we made christmas cutout cookies and decorated them, drove around and looked at christmas lights, went to the dollar store and the boys got to spend $5 buying christmas presents for the family (which they LOVED!!!), then they wrapped them all by themselves. Even though some of that made a big mess or was a waste of wrapping paper and tape, I was able to really focus on them and enjoy the moment!

God's subtle nudges

Let's go back 2 1/2 weeks ago. It was our first Tuesday night that the four of us met, Traci, Jenna, Beth and I. We were talking, sharing and encouraging. I shared about some struggles in my marriage, things that happened in the past and how I feel like I have tried to do everything possible to fix things and move forward. I didn't know what to do anymore.
It was like a light bulb going off in my head. I needed to stop trying to "fix" Corte or my marriage, I needed to fix my relationship with God. All I really need to do is focus on my Savior and He will fix everything for me. I can't change Corte, but God can. I can't become a Godly wife by myself, but I can with Him. I can't do anything in alignment with God if I'm not in alignment with Him!!! God, why have you never told me this before? Why have I wasted so many years trying to fix this myself?.....................................................
So, I'm getting all my supplies ready and in a box for my morning time with God and I find a journal from the womens retreat last year that I had completly forgotten about. I look inside and find some pages written on. I come across a page where we wrote down things that God had spoken to us.......and I am amazed at what I am reading, what I wrote only a year ago and what I had completly forgotten about.
Yes, God told me the same exact thing. To focus on Him and Him alone and everything else will fall into place. How could I not remember that? Why did I not follow through? How many times has He told me these exact words and I have forgotten? And why is He so subtle sometimes? Why couldn't he have yelled this at me? Screamed at me until I listened!!
Because that's not our gentle, loving God that we are called to be like. I would have missed out on a valuable lesson about relationships, another example on how to be like God to my husband and kids......
God didn't continually nag at me until I got the point because that's not what He wants me to do in my relationships. Sure, it took me a while, but how much sweeter is the realization when it comes. How much more apparent is His gentleness and how much more do I adore Him for it.

My challenges....

So....I'm all ready to start on my new found quest to train up these boys to become Godly husbands and fathers.  To read and apply and to teach and to show.  Show?  God really placed this one on my heart.  How do I show them to be a good husband and father, I am not either of those.  I can tell them what a good hubby and daddy will do and be like, but how do I show them.  While they do have a good daddy to look up to, I really feel a burden to do everything I can to do in this area.  God was not slow to tell me what I needed to do......become an amazingly Godly wife.  I have to admit that I slacked in this area.  I have been known to have an attitude with my husband, to not be submissive and to be too tired or irritated to show love to him.  How are my boys supposed to have a happy, loving marriage when they grow up if they don't see one now.  How are they supposed to know what qualities to look for in a wife if they don't see examples of that at home.  That is a hard question to ask yourself.....do you want your boy to end up with a wife like you?  Do you want him treated the way you treat your husband?  To be honest NO!!  Just to be clear, I'm not a horrible wife, but I could be so  much better....I can finally be the wife that God has called me to me!

Making time for God

Life Groups are on break so a couple of us girls decided it was the perfect opportunity to get together every tuesday to encourage each other.  WOW, how amazing it has been!!  Traci introduced us to a blog inspiredtoaction.com that has a maximize your mornings challange.  After reading the ebook, I couldn't wait to get started.  It has been 1 week since I have been getting up at 5:30 to spend precious time with God.  I worship and get into the word and pray and hope I can squeeze in a couple minutes to hear God before I hear baby Dylan cry out for me.  It has made a huge impact on how my mornings flow and the mood that I am in.  I also notice the effect that it has on the boys.  Happy Mommy = Happy Boys it really is that simple.

OK, lets try this again......

So this is my second time and I am making a promise to do better.  After writing the description for my page, how can I not.  Plus I am going to learn how to use my phone, that will make it so much easier.  Here I go!