Everything Under the Son

Always thinking...ALWAYS TALKING...Natalie is such fun!

The other day in the car, out of the blue, she says: "Mommy, when God comes back to get us and take us to Heaven, do you think He will bring Hope and Carson with him so we can see them soon?"

I can't wait, Natalie, I can't wait.


They are studying about solids, liquids, and gasses at school. Natalie came home and was telling me all about it (that girl loves to learn!). She said that when we yawn, we release some gas out of our mouth, and it is "unbelievable"! I was thinking to myself how dramatic she was, and I thought it was funny. Then she went on to say, "You know, you can't see it." Oh, she meant invisible! Well, now that I think about it, lots of things we can't see are unbelievable, too!

I love her so much it hurts!

Yesterday during the sermon, our preacher was reading through some verses in Matthew, and one of them stopped me in my tracks. Interestingly enough, the verse that caught me was not the verse he was focusing on for the message.

Matthew 11:37

"Anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me."

Hmmm. I don't want that to be me, but when I really think about my actions, I am afraid that is the message I am sending my Father in Heaven as well as my children. By not putting first things first, and spending the daily time with the Father, I am putting my children first. I am sending the message that they are more important. I love my children with all of my heart...and then some. I walked through fire to get them here, and you cannot imagine the emotion in the depths of my soul when I think about how much I love them, and what true miracles they are.

I allow Satan to whisper in my ear. "God wants you to be a great mom, right? It's okay to wait on that quiet time. It's okay to not read or pray today. After all, you are busy trying to be the mom He asked you to be."

Wrong, wrong, wrong! I can't allow myself to listen to that yuck anymore! I must put first things first. I MUST start the day with the Father, and He will provide ALL that I need to be the mommy He has called me to be. I cannot continue to let my children NOT see me in my Bible and on my knees DAILY! They must see that...they must know that GOD is number one, no matter what. And, I can't continue to break the Father's heart, as I put Him on the back burner time and time again. And I MUST teach my children that God is first in their lives too! It breaks my heart to think that they might put other things first because of the failure they have seen in me...I must put Him first, and teach my kids to do the same!

It seems each night as I lay my head to the pillow, I think to myself, "Man, I really blew it today. I didn't do right for my kids, but tomorrow I will do better." The problem is, tomorrow never comes...well, at least the better mommy tomorrow. The next day, time gets away from me and then I find myself repeating the same thing as I lay my head to the pillow that night, and the next, and the next...

So, I am confessing on this world wide web that I have put my kids before my God, and I am failing miserably at both. But I am resolved to do better. I long to spend that time with the Father, giving Him my best, knowing He will give me what I need to give my best to my children. Will you pray for me?

Father, take over. I want to give my all to You, and I know you will give me what I need each day to fulfill your calling for me as Natalie and Levi's mommy. I am sorry I have failed you, but I resolve to do better...TODAY! Amen.

What about you? Are you giving God your all? Is he FIRST in your life, or has something else taken over as first place?

We are continuing to ready for our vegetable/herb garden! It is so exciting to think about the work that goes into it, as well as the HUGE benefits we get out of it when the harvest is plentiful. My kids love helping out, and there are so many lessons to be learned as we sweat and work, as we watch God provide and grow those tiny seeds into food for our bodies. We will include zucchini, yellow squash, jalapenos, tomatoes, and more...so very exciting!

What about you? Are you planning a garden this year? If so, what will God be growing for you?

All of the sickness in our home for the last 6-7 weeks has really thrown everything off. Schedules are off, the house is a wreck, meal planning went awry...the list could go on and on. You know, so does the pile of laundry...it just goes on and on.

So this week and weekend, I am working to get back to business. I am working to get things back in some semblance of order, and it is no easy task, friends! I am cleaning rooms, new sheets on the beds, working through closets and drawers, and trying to get myself and my family back on track.

Earlier this week, I sat down with my handy menu planning form, and worked through the next week to get some things down on paper! Now, I have decided to share some of what I have planned, and maybe you can help me think up some new recipes to add to my repertoire!

Friday: Sausage with Red Potatoes and Green Beans

Saturday: Dinner at the In-Law's. I am taking a veggie - possibly Green Chile Hominy!

Sunday: Chicken Fajitas

Monday: Roast with Carrots and Onions and Potatoes

Tuesday: Chicken and Rice, green salad

Wednesday: Lemon Chicken and Steamed Veggies (Broccoli, Cauliflower, Carrots)

Thursday: Pizza or Leftovers

Friday: Maw-Maw's Spaghetti with Garlic Toast


Planning my menus saves me time and energy, not to mention MONEY!! Now that I have what I need for the meals listed, I can re-arrange them to different nights if necessary, but I know that in the next week, these are the meals I will prepare for my family!

How about you? Do you plan a menu? Has it helped your food budget? Do you have some recipes or other menu-planning tips to share with me? It's your turn to share....

Being a Christian is risky business. We are called to take risks for Jesus. He has called us to step out of our comfort zones and into the yuck of the world and show His love. I am failing miserably at this.

The preacher Sunday put it like this. The impala can jump something like 10 feet high, and 30 feet across, yet if he is put behind a 3 foot fence, he will stay there forever. He MUST be able to see where he is going to land BEFORE he will ever jump. Because of his fear of the unknown, he remains imprisoned behind the wall forever.

That's me. I like control, and I like predictability. I make a list and I check it off. I like knowing what is next, and being able to plan. I don't consider myself a risk taker, and I certainly don't like to be thrust out of my comfort zone. I live in fear that if I take a risk, and something goes wrong, that me or my family will suffer. I dislike failure...honestly, I hate failure. In a world where people are all-to-quick to sue and where revenge is constant, I live in fear of risk.

What I have discovered is this: I am sinning. I am in prison because of my sin. I am not following the call to take action. I am not taking risks for Jesus. I am not acting in faith. I have been unwilling to risk myself for Jesus...and, I hate it. I'll be thinking alot more about this...searching out my heart and asking myself the hard questions. I'll be filling my heart and my head with the power of faith, and I will work to take risks for Jesus.

What about you? When was the last time you took a 'leap of faith'?

That's what we are around here...SICK! My kids have had something off and on for over a month. Ear infections, flu (both at the same time!), sinus infection, rash, fevers...and they are still both sick. Add me to that list, leaving the minor emergency clinic with three things: Flu, ear infection, and some kind of throat infection (possibly strep throat), and you have a miserable house full of germies!

You may not hear much from us while we are on the mend. My sweet husband is being the nurse for all of us, and doing a great job. It's no easy task when mommy is down sick!

So pray for us! We need to get well, and fast!

Sunday marks the beginning of a trip to Uganda for 15 bloggers. They are traveling together with Compassion International. The bloggers, including my preacher and friend Phil, will be sharing through writing and photos throughout their trip. The list of bloggers, though diverse, all share the dream that many children will be sponsored through this history-making trip. This is where you come in. Go to the Compassion International website and learn more about this amazing program. If you feel led, sponsor a child. You will be touching a life forever! And take a minute to visit Phil's blog to read up on his trip. He feels passionately about this work, and I know you will find his words encouraging and inspiring!

My special request from you is this: PRAY. Pray that the bloggers will have safe travel. Pray for their time in Uganda to be productive. Pray for lives to be changed...the children who need sponsors as well as the bloggers' lives. Pray that God's hand will work mightily!

Lord: I lay this trip at Your feet. Work in the mighty way that only You can. Amen.

This morning in worship, our preacher spoke of God. He spoke of how we need a deep, personal relationship with God, and a heart filled with scripture to withstand Satan and his attempts to get us down. Jesus used this method as He was tempted on this earth. We know that because of His personal relationship with the Father, one filled with prayer, he was able to stand strong.

Satan knows when we are weak. He knows when we are not having our daily time with the Lord. He knows when we are not reading, studying, and praying as we should. He knows that when these things are not present, we are a prime target for his temptation, and he pounces on us with all of his might.

Trust me, this I know. Satan knows my weakness, and uses it to his advantage every time. He knows when I am struggling, and he likes to get me when I am down. He knows when life seems too much to bear, and he lurks waiting for the perfect moment to shift my eyes from the only One who can help. He is always watching, seeking to devour me, and come between my God and I.

So today, as the world seems to be spinning all around me and I feel so out of control, I will take it the One who loves me, the One who made me, and the One who longs to be my go-to guy. I will spend time in His Word, and I will pray. I will hide God's words away in my heart, and I will resist Satan and his evil ways. I will do as Jesus did...I will deepen my personal relationship with God, and He will carry me through.