Just Everything?

So I was having this talk with the LORD about what it takes to be a mom and wife and housekeeper...teacher, lover, nurse...the list goes on and on. I started thinking about how frustrated I get when the house is a mess and the kids have been watching too much tv and not spending any time with the LORD or doing anything to positively stimulate their growing brains.
And so in a small amount of time while nursing the little one I calculated what it would take for me to get everything done every day. And by everything I mean just what it takes to make it through the day without the house being turned upside down and spending time with the littles and loving and serving my husband. I wasn't happy with the results of my calculation.
I had come to the conclusion sometime after #3 was born, that I just couldn't do everything. But now I know, that to maintain my sanity, and to aid in growing these precious little people that the LORD has entrusted to me, somehow everything must get done.
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that every day we must do every load of laundry.
I am saying that we must give our all and be what we are called to be.
And all that takes, is everything.
I must spend some time cleaning each day or my house will look like a tornado went through it in less than 48 hours. I must spend some time in the Word each day, or I will fall down in spirit and not be the encouraging prayer warrior that my husband needs me to be. I must spend time looking into each precious face of my children and filling up their love cups or they will be sassy and fussy, neglected children who watch too much tv.
And so I set about making a list of priorities. What MUST I get done each day to maintain my own sanity?
You see, Satan has had me convinced that it's all the work that MAKES me insane, and yet I continue to be frustrated and stressed even when I am "taking it easy" or "relaxing". He has convinced me that laziness somehow pays off, because I'm not working myself into exhaustion.
BUT it's because I'm working so hard that the times of true rest become peaceful and enjoyable instead of strained and aggravating because of messes or unsettled children. Am I making sense?
All that is required is everything. God doesn't ask for anything less than everything. I am here to serve. That is my purpose. That is the answer to "why am I here LORD?" To serve God through serving my family and others.
It doesn't stop there though, so as to anger us that we are giving giving giving and not ever receiving. Follow me here:
There are key verses in scripture that answer the questions we ask every day.
The answer to my question, "LORD how do I give and give and give and not be give out?" is answered in the verse, Galatians 6:9.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

He will fill us. But you cannot fill something that is not empty.
And so each day, I must pour out myself, my everything to His work (laundry, dishes, diapers, discipline, etc.) so that He can fill me back up.
Maybe today your everything is just making it through the day until your husband walks in the door to give you some relief. Maybe your everything is letting the littles watch some tv while you clean up, so you can get a step ahead of them. Maybe your everything is just getting 3 meals a day on the table.
I can't tell you what your everything is, but He will show you. And don't sell yourself short. He has given you everything you need to complete the task He has laid before you.
His Word says so:

2 Corinthians 9:8
And God is able to make every grace overflow to you, so that in every way, always having everything you need, you may excel in every good work.

So, what does God want from you? He wants everything you have to give. And your job is to trust that He will fill up what you empty out in His name.
Selah.

Been a while

Well first off, just because she's cute:

















I have all these posts stuck in my head and I just can't get it right when I sit down to blog. Blog. Seriously. It sounds like I just said something gross. Blog. I'm blogging.
ANYway, it's been crazy here. We got ill. Everyone got ill. And then there was a birth (no it wasn't me, but I had to be there as doula/photog). And then we knew we were exposed to the stomach bug (a really bad one at that) but the LORD kept us from it (You have no idea how exciting this was).
So, then the handsome husband got all busy with work and I felt like the deserted housewife. Oh! And we've hit a milestone, this is the longest in our marriage that I have not been pregnant. The LORD knew we needed some time between the pregnancies (Lord willing He sees fit that there will be more pregnancies).
There have been days in the past week that were survived only. I'm hitting several new stages at once in my children's lives and it's leaving me a bit confused and slightly emotionally exhausted.
I have these months out of the year, when I just give up on myself. I think I'm failing miserably at everything I do. I'm a bad mommy, a bad wife...the list goes on. And then I start asking WHO am I? Honestly, I think it's the LORD drawing me to His Word. Because all I want to do right now is sit down and soak it in and find myself in the pages of the Master's plan. And you know? That's the only place to do it. If you look anywhere else, you will only find yourself lacking. If you look for yourself in this world, there will always be someone doing it better than you honey (and by honey I mean me. I'm talking to me. Shhhhh! Don't interrupt!). Or sometimes when you look in the world to find your worth you will find people telling you that it's your clothes or your body or even your home and your children.
I live life from one defining moment to the next only to realize that it's all just a journey. None of it defines me. What defines me is grace.

“Grace is what God gives us when we don't deserve and mercy is when God doesn't give us what we do deserve”

Grace defines me because without grace there would be no "me". Grace defines me because, God's grace is the only thing that has held me together through every trial of life. A friend of mine, who started out with more children than I had (I've caught up with her, and no, I wasn't trying) used to tell me "Natalie I have to ask for grace almost every minute of every day or I wouldn't make it to the end in one piece."
So here is what I'm challenging you to do:
The next time you get frustrated with your toddler, or the next time the baby screams as SOON as you lay them down thinking they were asleep, or when you start to get angry at the 5 year old for smarting off at you, or the next time hubby is late from work and dinner isn't started and everyone is eating PB&J for the 3rd time in one day...ask for grace. "Lord PLEASE give me the grace I need to handle this. I can't make it without your grace."
Be blessed.

Parental Rights

Please read this entire article and offer any support you possibly can.
This is so important for our rights as Americans, as parents and as home schoolers as well.
Don't just read it, DO something about it. Just take a few minutes of your time to spread the word.
Our grandchildren will thank us.

Doing a little re-prioritizing...is that a word?

I don't know where I strayed from the path, or at what point my feet left the road, but it did. A trip, a baby shower, a photo shoot, a birth, a couple holidays and me getting soooo sick, have left me sitting here asking myself, "Now what was I doing again?"
It's been a month since I've sat with the kids and read to them or worked on their scripture memory. I keep getting through an event and thinking, "Okay now I can get back to life", and then the next event comes before I'm even ready! I keep thinking that after the event we'll just slip right back into routine, but it actually has taken DAYS to recover from these events! Days, people! Days are like Eons in Toddler Time. (Did I use the word "event" enough for you? I can't think of another one right now.)


A lot is changing around here every day. John is learning so much right now on how to be a leader and a good husband and father. I'm ashamed to say, I didn't even pray for this! He just saw something he didn't like about the way things were going and decided he was going to change what he could.
And so my seeing the changes he is making has encouraged me to make some of my own. With the leading of the Holy Spirit, I am working towards some kind of functionality again in this house!
For the baby shower mentioned above, I actually cleaned MOST of the clutter spots in my house and with a little work, they are STAYING uncluttered. Now if I can just figure out how to do it with the rest of the house. I've been out of commission for a few days now so the house looks like someone picked it up and shook it. Oh well.


Here are some recent shots. Nothing glam or even remotely up to my own personal standards, but yeah.
















































And then who can forget Father's Day?

















So, yeah. I'm just wondering, and maybe it would be best to ask an older mom this, but does life ever get "back" to normal? It seemed there for a while the monotony would kill me and now I can't find time to sit and jot in my journal. I know that life drastically changes every three months or so, but how am I supposed to keep up?
I have 5 different stages of childhood going on right now. 5 different children with so many different needs. I press on.

Mmmmm, baby love ♪ ♪ ♪

That sweet smell of babies breath...

The sweet sounds they make when they are happy...

THIS is what the Father feels when He holds us.

I've been busy.

So I threw a baby shower and went out of town. Both of these things took up the entire month of May. So, here I am, back at the blog and I really don't have much to say. Amazingly the littles are all sleeping now, so I thought I'd be lazy get something done.
I realized yesterday that I've really let go of some things that need my attention. My children haven't been challenged recently. Just trying to get through my days has taken so much energy that they've played a lot more than normal and had no work.
I have to say that there are times in life where this is just the way things are going to be. Most of these "times" involve hormones.
So anyway, I'm back. And when I think of something to say, I'll write more.
Here's some pics I may not have shared:

The Psalm of my life.

This Psalm has been a reoccurring theme in my life. I LOVE it.
These words washed over me tonight when I shared a few with a friend who had encouraged me.

Psalm 18 (New King James Version)

To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said:

1 I will love You, O LORD, my strength.
2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer;
My God, my strength, in whom I will trust;
My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised;
So shall I be saved from my enemies.

4 The pangs of death surrounded me,
And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.
5 The sorrows of Sheol surrounded me;
The snares of death confronted me.
6 In my distress I called upon the LORD,
And cried out to my God;
He heard my voice from His temple,
And my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

7 Then the earth shook and trembled;
The foundations of the hills also quaked and were shaken,
Because He was angry.
8 Smoke went up from His nostrils,
And devouring fire from His mouth;
Coals were kindled by it.
9 He bowed the heavens also, and came down
With darkness under His feet.
10 And He rode upon a cherub, and flew;
He flew upon the wings of the wind.
11 He made darkness His secret place;
His canopy around Him was dark waters
And thick clouds of the skies.
12 From the brightness before Him,
His thick clouds passed with hailstones and coals of fire.

13 The LORD thundered from heaven,
And the Most High uttered His voice,
Hailstones and coals of fire.
14 He sent out His arrows and scattered the foe,
Lightnings in abundance, and He vanquished them.
15 Then the channels of the sea were seen,
The foundations of the world were uncovered
At Your rebuke, O LORD,
At the blast of the breath of Your nostrils.

16 He sent from above, He took me;
He drew me out of many waters.
17 He delivered me from my strong enemy,
From those who hated me,
For they were too strong for me.
18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity,
But the LORD was my support.
19 He also brought me out into a broad place;
He delivered me because He delighted in me.

20 The LORD rewarded me according to my righteousness;
According to the cleanness of my hands
He has recompensed me.
21 For I have kept the ways of the LORD,
And have not wickedly departed from my God.
22 For all His judgments were before me,
And I did not put away His statutes from me.
23 I was also blameless before Him,
And I kept myself from my iniquity.
24 Therefore the LORD has recompensed me according to my righteousness,
According to the cleanness of my hands in His sight.

25 With the merciful You will show Yourself merciful;
With a blameless man You will show Yourself blameless;
26 With the pure You will show Yourself pure;
And with the devious You will show Yourself shrewd.
27 For You will save the humble people,
But will bring down haughty looks.

28 For You will light my lamp;
The LORD my God will enlighten my darkness.
29 For by You I can run against a troop,
By my God I can leap over a wall.
30 As for God, His way is perfect;
The word of the LORD is proven;
He is a shield to all who trust in Him.

31 For who is God, except the LORD?
And who is a rock, except our God?
32 It is God who arms me with strength,
And makes my way perfect.
33 He makes my feet like the feet of deer,
And sets me on my high places.
34 He teaches my hands to make war,
So that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.

35 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation;
Your right hand has held me up,
Your gentleness has made me great.
36 You enlarged my path under me,
So my feet did not slip.

37 I have pursued my enemies and overtaken them;
Neither did I turn back again till they were destroyed.
38 I have wounded them,
So that they could not rise;
They have fallen under my feet.
39 For You have armed me with strength for the battle;
You have subdued under me those who rose up against me.
40 You have also given me the necks of my enemies,
So that I destroyed those who hated me.
41 They cried out, but there was none to save;
Even to the LORD, but He did not answer them.
42 Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind;
I cast them out like dirt in the streets.

43 You have delivered me from the strivings of the people;
You have made me the head of the nations;
A people I have not known shall serve me.
44 As soon as they hear of me they obey me;
The foreigners submit to me.
45 The foreigners fade away,
And come frightened from their hideouts.

46 The LORD lives!
Blessed be my Rock!
Let the God of my salvation be exalted.
47 It is God who avenges me,
And subdues the peoples under me;
48 He delivers me from my enemies.
You also lift me up above those who rise against me;
You have delivered me from the violent man.
49 Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles,
And sing praises to Your name.

50 Great deliverance He gives to His king,
And shows mercy to His anointed,
To David and his descendants forevermore.

From BibleGateway.com

Some things I've been working on around here...

Well, besides the children and house, during the littles naps, I have found something to use my time. I know what you're thinking, and yes there are many more things that would be much more beneficial to everyone. But this exercise lets out my creative spirit.
I've been using photoshop cs3 for about 4 months now and I have found the coolest stuff to play with. I used to be very much into digital scrap booking and always loved the papers and the colors and wondered how in the world people ever came up with that stuff?!
Well, I figured it out. I've been making papers and invitations and birth announcements and all kinds of jazz. Here is some of my work:






So yeah. Maybe I'll go into business. It's too much fun though. We'll see.

How prayer changed my life...

When I was 20, I had moved out on my own and was living with a good friend. I was NOT living for the LORD. One day in the middle of a drunken party I was throwing, my parents showed up, dragged me to my bedroom and with no other words, they prayed over me. I remember that time as a turning point in my life. I changed my direction, soon turning my life over to the LORD and making drastic changes that have affected me to this day.
That was the first time my parents prayers changed me.
The second time was more recent. I was dealing with my 5 year old daughters attitude problems. I knew how to discipline, but I was dealing with a lot of anger in this area. I took her attitude personally and it made me angry and I verbally lashed out at her.
I knew in my heart that this was wrong and the hurt that I saw was like a seed being planted in her character. NOT a good seed.
Now I know that this may be basic stuff to others, but to me, it's all brand new.
The Holy Spirit brought to my mind the time that my parents prayed over me.
So I prayed with my daughter. I prayed for her attitude. I prayed for my attitude. I prayed for wisdom to speak to her and discipline her in the right way. Her anger melted, my heart softened and the LORD has His way.
I remember James Dobson's son giving his testimony and talking about how it had changed his LIFE the night he saw his mom and dad on their knees with HIS name on their lips. It shocked and awed him that his parents prayed for him. This changed his life.
Pray for your children. Pray for them out loud and with them. Let them know that you are praying for them. If they are scared or worried, let the FIRST thing you do be PRAYER.
I'm giving you permission to NOT be angry and to stop the cycle and PRAY with your little ones. No matter how small. God will plant a seed. His Word does NOT return void.

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
Isaiah 55:11 (KJV)

Starting my week again.

I just wish weekends could last the whole week.
I have to say I am encouraged. I was very tempted today to grumble and complain in my heart (TO GOD) about certain aspects of my life right now.
Then it hit me.
I was so blessed just by looking at my life and the things and people the LORD has put in my life, that I could not complain and instead offered up a praise.
This is a first for me (I know, shocking. I'm so ashamed), unless you count the times when I would complain and think to myself "I really shouldn't complain. I really am blessed..." and then I would go right back to whatever my complaint was.

.........

So, my schedule this week will have to be tweaked. It must now include school time with my 4 year old, who, I found out last week, is eager to learn to read and write. We are also going to be attempting to memorize scripture.
Bible time has gotten so much better for us. My 19 month old, sits in my lap and listens quietly while I read from Proverbs, and my 3 year old also sits and listens. Some days it can still be a wrestling match, but they know that Bible time is important and no matter how long it takes, we will all sit there until it is over.
Well, I'm off to bed so that my week will have a good start instead of a sleepy one.
Be blessed!
Oh and Lily says "Hey!"

Update on changes, part deux...

So i just thought I'd let everyone know, I am staying on schedule. This is a HUGE success and I have to give all the credit and glory to our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ.
I still have days, where I get out of bed knowing I don't want to be here, I don't want to do this, but because of my schedule, life goes on.
I don't get depressed half as often as I was. I don't get as frustrated and stressed out. The only time I stress out is on days where there is no rhythm to life. So we are going to start laying out a plan for our weekends as a family as well.
So, God proved me wrong. People can change. Things can be different than we've always known them to be.
From my Bible time this morning:

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:10-11

ABC Bible Verse flash cards

So I've looked around and I haven't seen any I really liked, so I used someone's version of the ABC Bible verses (Of course I changed like 6 of the verses, because my kids don't really know what a "drunkard" is and I didn't think it was pertinent information for our ABC Bible verses, ya know?) and I made my OWN!
Yes, Ladies and gentlemen I made my own.
Anyway, I'll show you a picture and if you'd like I will share the files with you so you can print them out at your house. I used regular card stock paper from Wally World to print on, just so they'd be sturdier. Of course if you print them and see any mistakes I've made (in using someone elses list of verses I found several that were the wrong verse with the wrong reference).
Here you go:

So what do you think?
Here is the upload link. Let me know if it doesn't work or something strange happens...not that I'm expecting something strange to happen...I'm just strange...

Rod and Staff.

So I called a very dear friend of mine tonight to ask her about her curriculum with her 6 small children. She has been very enthusiastic in the past about this one curriculum and I have to say, if her littles are a testimony to this curriculum then I am SOLD. I wish she had a blog. My friend has quite the wealth of information!
Here it is.
Let me know if you've ever used them before and if so, what you think about them.
I'm excited and can't wait to get started.
I am also up too late and need to go to bed. Here's a good picture for you to laugh at:

Bible Time???

So Mommies, help me out here. Bible time is frustrating for me because I am consistently just jumping into the Word with ZERO direction. I draw a picture and ask questions and we pray. I guess what I'm wanting is just some sort of organized day to day lesson plan.
Missi was telling me about how she incorporates this into her Bible time. I dunno, maybe I'm just being lazy and I really need to just work one our myself. But if you have a plan you'd like to share or just a basic principle I'd love to hear it!
Anybody got any ideas? Let me know in my comment section and please click the "subscribe" box so you can come back to it if I ask you a question.
Thanks!

My mommy!

My mom and the Lil.