Finding Your Way Home

Well I've been away from things for a while and I have lost my way a bit. Now school is out and things are starting to settle into a weird routine. The kids do their thing and I do mine. My oldest is only 10 and she's already into the hormonal pre-teen stage. We do our fair share of butting heads. I actually try to avoid her on some days.

Then yesterday, out of the blue, and completely by accident, an old friend called me. I haven't seen or talked to her in years. Her daughter is now 17, almost 18. In the period of 2 or 3 years my poor friend has been through quite an ordeal.

She got divorced from the only real father figure her daughter ever knew. Her daughter has run off any man that she has shown any interest in. Then the laundry list with her daughter began. She dropped out of school, got arrested for shoplifting, was involved with drugs and much more.

After talking with her it dawned on me that this was God giving me a wake up call. From the outside looking in I saw that her daughter was craving attention and direction and her mother was too busy trying to earn a living and make a new life for them after the divorce. I'm not blaming her, things happen, life happens. Sometimes we're too close to the situation to make certain decisions.

This was my "aha" moment. MY daughter needs guidance and direction and attention. This is hard with three other kids and a husband that works A LOT. But after our short conversation I knew that God was trying to get me to see that now is the time to refocus my attention onto my children, to teach them what they need to know. Not just about reading and writing and math, but about manners, about God and Jesus, about staying true to yourself, having compassion and loving your neighbor, about following your dreams and God's plan.

So when the world has you in a fit perhaps it's time to focus on God, his ways and his timing. Take a step outside youself and circumstances and make your way home.

Positive Thinking

I have been studying and reading a great deal about positive thinking. I have been verbally attacked for discussing "The Secret". I personally believe that it is a very enlightening book. However, there are some people that find it very anti-Christian.

I don not promote the idea that whatever you wish for you will receive. I promote the idea that if you are still, quiet, pray and listen to your heart (where Jesus resides) then you will be lead to God's will for your life. That will becomes your will and when you align yourself with God's will then things begin to happen. If you believe they will happen then they will. However, if you are a "victim" and do not believe in what God plans for you then you will not receive it. Perhaps in some ways you are not really ready for it.(Just my opinion) I have been in the doubters boat many a time. I know that it's easier to be negative than to be positive.

Now is the time to remember that God not only wants to take care of our needs, he wants us to prosper and bless others. If we give when we have little (time, money, food, etc) then how much more could we do for others of we are prosperous and truly, deeply, happy.

What is God's plan for you? Are you a victim or a victor? Did Jesus think positively or negatively?

Inner Peace

Lord, I come to you with an open heart asking that you guide me during this day and beyond. Show me how to be the woman you would have me to be, to free myself from the past and embrace the future. In Jesus Name, Amen

I had a piece all prepared to write and when I sat down at the keyboard all of my words left me. No kidding. Nothing. Blank mind. Not a single thought of my "brilliant" post was left. So what better way to start than with a prayer. As I type these words I feel a calmness that wasn't there before. A calmness that I have desperately needed during the past few days.

You see, I have been taking care of sick children for an entire week now. And Friday I was sick myself. Not just sick, but the "I really am going to die" type sick. And lucky for me hubby had to work all day Saturday also, so no rest for the mommy. I noticed yesterday that the 'loving, caring, anything for you sweetie' mommy was disappearing quickly. My wonderful 4 year old who has been sick the longest was very whiny and not very receptive to any medicinal solutions I had for her. So a snapped at her more than a few times. Not nice, but that's where I was in the sick, sleep deprived role of motherhood.

My baby was finally able to sleep at 2AM this morning. Just long enough for me to take a nap. My alarm was set for 5AM. Time to start my day. Needless to say it has been a very LONG week for all of us. I prayed over her numerous times yesterday because she was so tired and so weak and nothing seemed to help her cough. Well praise God because her cough is finally gone and she is sleeping even now as I type.

I wish I had prayed sooner. I cannot believe I left it as long as I did. But yesterday it dawned on me. What would it take for her to be gone from me? She looked so pitiful and she hadn't really eaten in days. A few crackers here and there and some soup but not a lot. When I really sat down and thought about it I began to cry and pray. I realize that she is here for however long the Lord allows, just like all of us. So I need to keep my role as her caretaker in perspective and do just that.

I know that I will still struggle with my temper and that patience is not my strength but I can find it in HIM. The Lord taught me that I need to stay close to Him so that I can be the woman He wants me to be, the woman He created me to be.

So I ask, where do you stand? I do have to remind myself that it's not all about the destination but also the journey.
I hope some of these ramblings made sense. :)

You Are Where You Are

Lord, help me to be thankful in all that I have, all that I am, and all that I do. Amen

When was the last time you took a good look at your life? Or even yourself? This Thanksgiving I am sure that there will be plenty of extremes on both ends of the spectrum. There are going to be those that are thankful for what they have and that Mom and/or Dad still have a job or have a roof over their heads or that they have each other if nothing else. Then there will be those that moan and whine and lament over the fact that they don't have anything or don't have the newest car or the newest video game.

This Thanksgiving take a look at yourself in the mirror. I want you to examine your life inside and out. The physical, mental, emotional, your career, your home life, your demeanor. Throw it all out on the table and take a good long look. Now don't get down on yourself. I want you to pick out all the good stuff and say "Thank you" to God for having the good stuff to go with the bad. I know, I know. Some of you may be looking at the pieces laid out on the table (figuratively) and thinking "But there's nothing good there. My life is in the toilet."

Here's some things to be thankful for (I'm sure you can relate to at least one):

-You're kids are in good health.
-You are in good health.
-a roof over your head
-food to eat-even if it is beans and rice
-the fact your spouse hasn't left you even though your marriage is in the toilet right now
-if your spouse was abusive and they HAVE left
-you and/or your spouse has a job
-you have clothes to wear
-you have a great marriage even though you're broke
-your kids love you no matter what
-MOST IMPORTANTLY: GOD LOVES YOU NO MATTER WHAT

Quit your whining and your moaning. Say a heartfelt prayer to your creator and teach those you love about a truly thankful heart.

Did You Realize?

"I want a brand new video game system for Christmas." Little Turtle said to his mother.
Mother Turtle smiled. She had already bought Little Turtle a new bicycle. Mother Turtle knew that if she bought him video games then he would always stay inside and never learn the wonders of the outside world. Mother had found a bicycle during the Summer that was perfect for her Little Turtle. Now she had to figure out how she was going to give Little Turtle his present without him being disappointed?

The next day, Mother Turtle, left a picture of the bicycle laying on the kitchen table. She watched as Little Turtle picked it up, studied it, and put it back on the table. Quietly, he went outside to play.

Another day passed, a few of Little Turtle's friends rode their bikes into the driveway. As they left, Mother Turtle said, "Those are really neat bikes, too bad you didn't get one last year."

"Yea." Little Turtle said quietly.

Mother Turtle left the picture of the bicycle on the table day after day. Little Turtle looked at it day after day. She spent the next few weeks dropping hints about how great it would be if HE had a bike.

Christmas morning came and Little Turtle crept down the stairs to see the shiny red bicycle sitting in front of the tree.

"Momma, momma! Look what I got for Christmas! A bicycle, just like I always wanted!"

Mother Turtle smiled broadly. She knew this was the best present for him and now he knew it too.

Moral of the story: This is the way God is with us. We ask him for what we want, but He knows what we need. So He places a seed in our hearts and gives us signs to help us realize what we need is so much better than what we want.

Multiplying Your Time

"For every time there is a season . . ."

Do you start your day off with a bang? Everything starts out great and then you get distracted and everything falls apart. Or perhaps you hit the snooze button 'just one more time'. You wake up at the last possible minute, throw on the wrinkled clothes or whatever smells clean, yell at the kids to get out of bed, throw a pop tart at them, scream at the 4 year old because she can't find her shoes, and then really lose it when he/she starts crying because you yelled at them.

I've had days that run along smoothly as long as I'm doing what needs to be done. The minute I check the email for more than five minutes or try to check the comments on my blogs (even thought I'm not suppose to do that until the baby's nap time) everything falls to pieces. I run out of time to fix dinner without the children screaming. I don't get all of the laundry done for the day before midnight. Bedtime gets pushed back later and later to get things accomplished.

In contrast, when I stay on task, the list gets done. I may only have one hour and have literally 25 things to accomplish. If I stay the course moving from one project to another then it will get done. I also must remind myself that if I keep my patience when something or someone interrupts my flow then God will 'extend' my time. If I remain peaceful and calm with my children and take the 10 min. with the baby when he gets up from his nap then God will 'extend' my time.

So make out your to-do list and do it. Don't get distracted by the computer or a phone call. Devote your attention to the list and to your children without losing your temper and looking at the clock constantly. God will reward you with more time than you knew you had.

Put It In His Hands

I've been fighting this for so long, I'm not sure it's real. I've been fighting the housewife/homemaker thing. Don't ask why. It's a long, sordid story that just shows that I still have issues with my parents. But two weekends ago my husband threatened to leave if I didn't do something with our pigsty of a house. I guess that was my wake up call. See, he said he'd take the kids with him.

So after many tears and prayers I bit the bullet and I have been plowing through the clutter and the dirt. It's still not great but it is a drastic improvement. And my husband even noticed. He helped clean up the kitchen one night last weekend and then tonight he told me that the house looked nice.

I've even been cooking more and spending more time with my kids. Which I might add that my kids have been helping out more now that they see mom doing more. The one thing that I'm having to struggle to keep up with is my writing, but I am pressing on.

So I will put it in HIS hands. Each day I will start anew and put it in HIS hands. It is no longer my burden. I will do what is required of me and I pray Lord that you will give me enough hours in the day to accomplish those tasks. In Jesus name, Amen