Monday Morning Motivation

                                                      

I know that for many of us, Monday Mornings are a rough start to the week... but they keep on coming! That's why I came up with the Monday Morning Motivation so that I am assured to start the week off in the right frame of mind.  So grab your favorite cup of coffee and a comfy seat and join me for the Monday Morning motivator...

I can't believe how long it's been since I've done this! Wow, summer really does get my schedule all messed up! Well schedule is good nice dependable  consistent once we're all back to school...

                                               

So even though getting back into the swing of things can be a tad bit exhausting it's a really good thing in our house! Does routine make things run smoother in your house? I like schedules and organization, consistency and dependability so routine is a friend of mine!

Now that we're back to school and back into our routine I plan to really get things under-control in our home! Boys will be back on track with some chores, schoolwork and less FREEtime! As for me, its time to get back into a regular daily devotion time, more wood-working and more girl-time!

Are there things you'd like to do more of? Things that you've been slacking in and want to get back to or just something you've been wanting to learn to do or just try out?  Now is the time! Stop waiting and get moving! There's no time like the present so get out there and make your dreams a reality.

A Steel Magnolia

I hate to be a downer. I know that no one likes a whiner. We all have our struggles... the last few days have been tough though! Who am I kidding it's been more than days. God never promised us that life would be easy and honestly I don't want it to be.  I just need a reprieve...

"Have you not heard? Do you not know? The Lord is the Everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; his understandding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might he increases strength.  Even youths shall faint and be weary and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who hope in the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up on wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

I know that when are weak He is our strength and when we need help He is there.  We simply must call out to Him.  We have to let go of our own self and allow Him to carry us.

"Fear not, for I am with you be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you." Isaiah 41:10 

You see, I had a plan. I had an idea of what my life would be like, but it's not me that created the plan... not really.  There have been turns in the road that I didn't expect and there have been bumps. Sometimes there were small pebbles that caused my feet to slip only slightly, but other times it seemed that there were boulders too big to see around much less get over.  Despite what I though I couldn't manage, He made sure I could.  When I thought my legs couldn't hold the weight of my body  anymore, He picked me up. No matter how horrible the day, He provides me with a new sunshine tomorrow.

Tonight I was talking to a good friend and she said to me... "You are a steel magnolia." Wow! What an amazing compliment.

Steel Magnolia-  refers to  a woman that exemplies the strength and independence of steel, yet has the incredible beauty of a magnolia flower. 

I pray that God gives me the strength to be a steel magnolia...  Capable of intense strength, yet the ability to bend and not break while standing beautifully for the world to admire and smile upon.

                                                        

   

Keep Swimming

We all have times in our lives when we want more than  we're given... when we want to be loved, to be respected, to be cherished and to be told how great we are.  We all have times in our lives when we pray that we'll get more than we've been given... to be loved more, to be respected more, to be cherished and to be held more.

It is in these times that we must remember to keep swimming.  Keep pushing forward. Keep going.

                                         

     

"The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and II will give thanks to Him in song. The LORD is the strength of his people, a fortress of salvation for his annnnointed one." Psalm 28:7-8

                                 

    

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."  Galations 6:9 NIV

Somedays we all need to be reminded that we can 

    "spend our whole life building something for nothing and one storm can come blow it all away"

       BUILD IT ANYWAY!

   "can chase a dream that seems so out of reach and know it might not come our way"   

      DREAM IT ANYWAY!

   "love someone with all our heart and in a moment they can choose to walk away"

      LOVE THEM ANYWAY!

   

     GOD IS GREAT, but sometimes life AIN'T GOOD. 

    When I pray it doesn't always turn out like it should.. but 

     I DO IT ANYWAY!

What are we to do?!

Our world is often a confusing place to be if you're a Christian. There are so many "rules" and so many different views on what we should and should not do. Who we should and shouldn't be. But as a Christian we're simply told to be like CHRIST! 

"Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ." 1 Corinthians 11:1

What does that mean though? 

“Our task is not to protest the world into a certain moral conformity, but to attract the world to the saving beauty of Christ.”

Romans 12:2 says

"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."

What does that mean? 

Plain and simply put, the Bible says that "anyone that does not show love does not know God because God himself is love" 1 John 4:8. 

1.

Love is patient 

2. Love is kind.

3. It does not envy. 

4. It does not boast, it is not proud.

5. 

 It is not rude.

6.It is not self-seeking.

7. It is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 

 

8.Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth.

9.It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

10.Love never fails.

This is what it means to be like God. To love and to show love. To remember that we are all sinners and that we are not the Judge. While homosexuality is a biblical sin so is lying, stealing, cheating, committing adultery, gossip and slander and more... I can say I've done more than 1 of these at some point haven't you?! Just something I need to remind myself of when I listen to the news and see what our society is filled with today. I am far from perfect and God has still chosen me to be His...along with Bruce Jenner and all the others we are scared of. If he can wash the feet of a whore, eat with a thief, and love someone that's betrayal helped in his death can't I simply love the sinner and hate the sin?!

Lost Valley Ranch

Oh  how time does fly... this last few months have been filled with so many ups and downs. With the passing of my father in law, the end of the school year, the search for a certified teaching position there's been a flood of emotions.

                                                

As I type this page I am waiting for yet another flood to begin. The plane has just pushed up to the gate and soon we will board.  When we land we will in Colorado.  For 20+ years he had taken his family to  Lost Valley Ranch in Colorado and this was his last wish before he passed away... a wish he had hoped to see come true.  For a week my husband and his brother will reunite with their families and mother where they began all their own family vacations.  

For me, there not an enormous amount of emotion in this trip. It's not my vacation. It's not my memories that will be rehashed. For my husbandd it is very diifferent.  Each time he gets on the back of a horse he's going to remember how much his father loved riding.  He's going to wear his cowboy hat and know that his mother would rather see it on his dad. Each time he enjoys himself he's going to remember how much this pllace was one of his dad's favorite places in the world.

For me, this will be all about memories with MY family and with MY boys. I'll be watching them go up and down the mountains for the first time.  I'll be watching them square dance in their boots and hike to Sheep's Rock for the sunset over the mountains.  For me, this will be a beautiful sight through MY boy's eyes.  For my husband, it will be bitter sweet.

So as I prepare to board the plane in a few minutes, I pray for safety as we fly, but also for safety for our hearts.  To guard the hearts of my family as they are feeling the painful flood of memories coming back, but also to open their hearts to the creation of new and beautiful memories with our family.

                                        

     

      

Spring Fever

If you were to ask my husband, I get the itch to change decor constantly all the time daily  on a fairly regular basis. I don't like to get bored!!  Well I think I'm getting the itch... Let's call it Spring Fever!

He has to admit that I've  WANTED to make changes a few changes for a couple of years but I've resisted. Now it's going to be BIG though 😁.

My downstairs is old, boring, blah and totally outdated. It's nice. Comfortable. Alright. Now it needs to be awesome 🎨! I wanted to go from boring being to a grand gray color scheme. Trouble is picking the gray...

I want to find the perfect gray to go with our dark chocolate sofa (that way hubby can't tell too much) and I think I can keep some of my Williamsburg blue colors as accents but can add some yellows in the spring and summer then some reds in the winter. Sounds nice right?! It will be, I'm sure!

            

So many choices! So much to do! I'm guessing I'll have to wait until school is out...then I'll be hauling boys to baseball and golf and swimming and work and...

Someday 💓... Keep checking back and I'll keep you posted!

This is why I teach...

To the Teacher of “That Kid”,

I see you struggling with that kid.  I see how exhausted you are as  you walk out of the building at the end of the day, completely depleted. You wave that kid goodbye and let out a sigh of relief, even if its just for a brief moment of peace.

It’s okay, let it out, it was a hard day.

I hear your words. I hear you telling the teachers in the break room about how that kid is going to get the best of you. In fact, I heard that kid’s teacher last year say all the same things, and I am sure you remember hearing all about it too. In some ways, it brings a bit of relief to know it isn’t just you, right?

I want you know that I know exactly how you feel. I do, I promise. I am not here to judge you or to shame you . It is actually the complete opposite.

I know you are trying. I see it in your face, I see it in your posture. I know you are doing everything you know how to do, but some days it just doesn’t feel like its enough, right? Somedays, that kid is just too much for you to handle and I can tell its wearing you down. Believe me, I understand.

Take a breath, sit for a minute and read this. I have something you need to see. That kid wants to tell you a few things today.

“ Teacher, I need you!

I know I am hard to handle, and I take everything you have. I know I push your buttons in all the right ways that make you second guess what you are doing. But I need you. I need you to keep pushing me. I need you to set limits and help me understand them.

I know you don’t know me. I know if you did, we would get a long a lot better. But, please, teacher, I need you to fight to get to know me. I can’t tell you with my words what I need you to know, so I might act out instead. Take that as my sign that I need you. You might be all I have.

I know you have 30 other kids in class. I know they need you too. But, teacher, I need you. I need you to find my good qualities because those other kids don’t see them. My teacher last year didn’t see them, and most days, if not all, I don’t even see them.

I know I throw fits. I know I disrupt your class and what you had on your agenda for the day. But teacher, I need you to believe in me. I need you to believe that my actions are a cry for help, not an act against you. Please don’t take it personally. I need you to believe that I want to fit in, but just don’t know how.

I know I make it hard, but please, I need you. I need you to see me. I need you to see beyond that behavior, that meltdown, that action and I need you to see the kid behind all the “thats”. You might be the only one that can get to the real me. It might take time, It might take patience. You know, it might even take learning about something you know nothing about. But, teacher, I need you! I need you to give it your all to see me.

I know you went into teaching to make a difference. I am here to tell you, I am that difference. I am the one that needs you! I promise, if you reach me, you will change my life. You will make a difference like no test can measure.

You might not see the difference today or tomorrow, but I promise, if you see that I need you, you will make a difference.

Please!

~ signed “That Kid“

Pain and Grief

I know that I've written about grief recently and as much as I hate to dwell on it there seems to be so much of it going around right now.  I also know that God has promised us that we need not worry about anything because he is always there.  Nothing He has planned for us is designed to bring us pain.

"For I know the plans I have for you" declares the Lord, " plans to prosper you; plans for hope and for a future."    - Jesus (Jeremiah 29:11). 

“Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”                    — Jesus  (Matthew 6:26).

And yet we seem to feel pain all around us.  It's so hard to not scream out to God. To demand an explanation from him.  Why God must we lose loved ones too early?  Why must we see so much sickness and pain? Why must we feel as if we're never going to get ahead of the debt? 


It's in those times that God hopes we'll draw closer to him.  It's in those times that He intends to carry the burden for us... if we'll allow. 

Draw me close to you
Never let me go
I lay it all down again
To hear you say that I'm your friend
You are my desire
No one else will do
Cause nothing else can take your place
To feel the warmth of your embrace
Help me find the way
Bring me back to you

You're all I want
You're all I've ever needed
You're all I want
Help me know you are near

                -Michael W. Smith (Draw Me Close)

We have a choice in these times.  Draw nearer to Him. Trust Him to comfort our pain and to 
take care of us. Or to turn away and slowly die inside.

“the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for,but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.” (Romans8:26).

 As I continue to feel the losses myself...as I see friends feel the losses... I try to pray without ceasing. I try to "Trust in the Lord with all of my heart..." (Proverbs 3:5)

Snow, Snow Go Away

                                           

As much as I hate to complain because I know it could always be worse harder nastier longer ... Let's just face it, winter and I are NOT friends and that's just all there is to it.  With that being said, enough is truly enough!

I try very hard not to allow myself to dwell on the gloomy, dreary, cold, damp, dark and miserable months of January and February, but I also know that it affects me mentally and physically.  This winter has been cold and snowy... for far too long.  The kids have been trapped inside for far too long.  The grass has been white for far too long.  I strongly dislike (because HATE is a very strong word that I reserve only for the devil himself- winter is a close 2nd though) WINTER.

As I get older wiser more mature I find that many things affect me differently than they ever did before and I think the dreary cold winter is pushing it.  I need more vitamin D than I used to in order to keep my cheerful smile so bring on the springtime! Bring on the flowers, the flip-flops, the sunshine... bring on SPRING!

                                           

Faith and Grief

 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. 

 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 

                                                                                           John 14: 1-3

There are so many things in this world that can cause our hearts to be troubled.  So many things that cause our hearts to fear. Things that cause our hearts to break. It is because of these things that the Lord says "Trust me."

"What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"

                                                                                         Romans 8:31 

In this past week, God has asked my family to trust Him like never before. 

In this past week, God has asked my family to be strong like never before.

In this past week, God has asked my family to lean on Him like never before.

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for, being convinced of what we do not see."

                                                                                         Hebrews 11:1 

It is in these times of sorrow that our faith is tested and we determine if we're capable of falling to our knees and depending on the only one that can heal. This has been one of those times.

Saturday Friday February 14th, the day of love, was a day that we will never forget. On this cold morning at 8:30am, my husband's cell rang and the number was one that never calls at this time... my mother in law. My husband immediately knew that something was wrong. Seriously. Wrong.

It was the call no child wants to ever get. The call that says your life is forever changed. The call that your parent has passed away.

It is after this call that God brings us to our knees. He promises us that he'll  never make us walk through this sorrow alone. We'll never leave us.  He'll never forsake us.

"What then shall we say to these things?  If God is for us, who can be against us?” 

                                                                                     Romans 8:31 

I can not even begin to imagine how people without a faith deal with death and grief. How do you walk through waters so deep? How do you keep from sinking into the depths of the quick sand? How do you survive a pain that feels like a knife in the heart? 

Only knowing that God is always there. Always loving. Always protecting. This is the only way. God is good!

Refiner's Fire

The final stage of gold or silver production is called refining. Refining is a verb that means to remove impurities or unwanted elements from a substance or to improve something by making small changes. Refining by fire is a long and tiedious process, but the final result is a beautiful and pure substance that is sought out by millions.

The process that God uses to refine us is not all that different. Refiner's fire referes to the way the Lord uses pain and strife to mold and shape his children into the beautiful beings that he created. God is our Refiner.

                     Psalm 66:10 says, " For you,, God, tested us; you refined us like silver."

The refiner breakes up the natural core- the hardened rock that encases minerals, but the rock promises to have a valuable core inside.

                    "Is not my word life fire," declares the Lord, "like a hammer that breaks a rock          

                           into pieces?" Jeremiah 23:29

After the refiner painstakingly skims off all the impurities, he turns up the heat in the furnace.  Again and again the impurities rise to the surface and the refiner sees the gold and silver begin to shine until he sees His own reflection.  

But how do we hang on to hope in the midst of our trails, especially when the heat is turned up beyond whhat we think we can bear? Is it worth the pain to have the Refiner do his work in us?  We persevere by pressing into the heart of the One who allowed the trial... trusting in His perfect plan.  Surrendering our will to His will.  

Remember, the pain God allows in your life is for a reason.  The heat is never intended to destroy you, only to mold you and shape you into the image of Christ. As the heat intensifies in your life, know that the Lord will never leave you or forsake you.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." 

Isaiah 43:2

God is Good... and worthy of our praise

                                                    

He did not promise us that this world would be easy. He did not promise us that everyone would agree with us. He did not promise us that no pain would come our way. He DID promise us that he would walk beside us each and every day and that he would even carry us when we stumbled and couldn't keep going.

God is good!

He did not say we had to earn our "wings".  He did not say that three strikes mean that we're out.  He did not say he'd give up on us. He DID say that his grace is sufficient.

God is good!

Each day we face this world that is filled with pain and sorrow.  Each day we face Satan and his minions that hope we'll turn our backs.  Each day we face choices almost unbearable to make.  Each day He loves us, guides us, and pours out his mercies on us.

God is good!

In the midst of this world and it's day to day turmoils we can forget that  GOD IS GOOD! God is good all the time! In our pains he's hoping we'll trust him, in our sadness he's hoping we'll turn to him and in our blessings he's hoping we'll praise him.  

God is good!

This is not always easy to remember, but thank you God that you are patient with us and that your love is everlasting!

God is Good!

Monday Morning Motivation

                                                        

I know that for many of us, Monday Mornings are a rough start to the week... but they keep on coming! That's why I came up with the Monday Morning Motivation so that I am assured to start the week off in the right frame of mind.  So grab your favorite cup of coffee and a comfy seat and join me for the Monday Morning motivator...

Well winter in Indiana is a roller coaster, to say the least, so we never really know what to expect from day to day (and if you try to guess what is going to happen you will most likely always be wrong).  So this morning I woke up and ...

                                                   

See I went to bed expecting a 2 hour delay so that's what I get... a day off.  The part that's truly excited about this outcome is that I have a snow day, but my kids... had a 2hour delay!!! Now you know that's not meant to be mean, but instead it's a mom thinking of all the things she can get done today (or all the things she might not get done and still be smiling 😊).

                            So I'm faced with a Monday and a Snow Day all in one... 

 Today my motivation comes in an effort to simply be a better me.  I rarely make new year's resolutions, but I have decided that it's not a resolution but a conserted effort to be better. Be better health, better spirit, better citizen.  These things simply come in doing things like making time for me (because that is better for my health, my spirit, my family...) As a mom, I think the tendency is to try and do everything for everyone else; be the best employee, mom, wife and friend, thinking of yourself last which makes this impossible.

So this morning I ask thhat we all take a moment to think about ourselves.  Are you taking the time to take care of you or are you running crazy trying to do for everyone.  This week it's a new day, a new YOU.  Plan to do something for yourself this week that is only for you.  

                                                         

    

      

10 Scriptures to help you be a Better Mom

Being a mom is so hard... No really! I know that it's hard to simply be ia human in this world somedays, but moms seem to put extra burdens onto themselves.  We try to work, pray, be the perfect wife and mother, and often don't have time to even think about ourselves (which of course, is the biggest way to 

FAIL). 

So when I found this list on Pinterest- the best place in the world 😘 I had to take a minute and really read it.  Then I realized I also must share it with other moms so that if there are others that worry like I do about being better at this most important job we have then they can know there's hope for us. 

                                                   10 Scriptures to be a Better Mom

1. Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland. Isaiah 43
2. Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. John 14:27
3. Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you. He will never let the righteous fall.” Psalm 55:22
4. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.” Hebrews 11:1
5. The Lord gives strength to His people; the Lord blesses His people with peace.” Psalm 29:11
6. “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8
7. “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”Proverbs 17:22
8.  “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” Proverbs 15:1
9. “Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, ‘I will never leave you nor forsake you.’” Hebrews 13:5
10. “So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

Aren't these just awesome?!  Remember that whenever we get down on ourselves that's Satan rearing his ugly little head and if we believe the lies he's telling us about our skills then when letting him win! If we have the most powerful ally on our side- GOD, then we can never let Satan win.

                                                         

Happy New Year 2015... Resolutions or Remembering

                                          

             Another year has come and gone! Here's to all we've done and alll we wished we'd done...      

                                              Hope it was a good one for you and yours!

So in the new year do you make resolutions? Do you have a list of things you wish you'd done in the previous year and things that you're proomising yourself that you'lll do this coming year? Do you make resolutions?  

                                      

                                                      

Ok, so there are tons many hundreds way too many philosophies on making resolutions and I have my own opinion; and it's just that- MY opinion.  I don't necessarilly make resolutions, but I do like to think back on the past year and where I've been.  Then to think about where I'd reallly like to be.  Unfortunatly, are always things that I wish I'd been better about and things that I know I need to improve... hello, I'm human and I mess up here and there.  So my goal with the first days of the new year is to look back and determine if I'm where I truly want to be... how do I make those changes?! 

This year I've decided that I'm going to actually make a few New Year's Resolutions... these have to be actual reachable goals and it will be one goal in each of four categories: Just for me, For my family, For my spirit and For my Community.

   Just for me: to get myself healthier. I know, I said it needs to be achievable and specific
(kind of like an IEP 😀- insert special education humor). As I quickly approach the BIG 4-0 this
year, I know that there are some things that I simply need to be aware of and do. First of all, I MUST drink more water. This willl solve a variety of problems from dry skin, weight loss, headaches and more so how easy is it to  just drink more water?! (and probably less alcohol 😂) Secondly, I mustt spend less time on my technologyy and more time off my butt.  There are some things that I really enjoy doing on my iPad and I can't do it at work so I deserve some technology time at home, but not so much that it interferes with my family... and hopefully, they'll see me and follow suit.

For my Family: we MUST spend more quality time together. None of us are getting
younger- kids grow up so darn fast and the time we have with them as kids will never be able to be replaced so how in the world do we do this?! This is where the Technology Problem gets addressed

                                         

No more coming home and sitting in front of the TV with everyone on their own devices; phones, iPads, ereaders etc. it's time to limit annd put it away! I'm making us a time out container for devices and from a certain hour each evening all of the devices will go into the locked box! We're going to learn to talk to one another, play games or just simply watch TV together because even that no longer happens.

For my Spirit: It's time to get back to what reallly counts... what really makes a difference and what I know I need in my life.  Seems to fit in with the other two categories... I've allowed technology to crowd out things that I should be doing and as I approach a new stage in my life 

it's time to get it together.  I will start my morning in the Word- doesn't have to be me openning my Bible, it can be a daily devotion or even my text from God app, but start with His word not mine.  Also I will spend my morning commute with the Lord. Why wouldn't I use the 20 minute drive talking to Him, praying over my day and preparing myself to enter this crazy worlld we live in?! 

                                                     

For my Community: my community covers a ton of ground... it includes my school, my neighborhood, my city, my state and my world. Clearly, it's not going to be easy to change the world--- or is it?! What I do to change my community will impact everything from my home to my world and this is my goal.  I spent too little time doing for those less fortunate than myself or simply doing for someone other than myself and that MUST change ASAP.  In my school, I will help without whining, pickup extra tasks with a smile and be an encourager not a discourager.  In my neighborhood, I will be a better neighbor. No more hiding iin my own home and instead I will say hello, help when they don't ask and be a friend to those around me! in my city, I will do  what I can in my children's schools and in my state I will volunteer at Gleaners and HeartChange.  For my world, it will be more difficult because what I believe will impact the world most is my mouth.  I don't always agree with the decisions of our leaders and the ways of our world, but even God commands us to understand authority and pray not bash.  Prayer is what our world and our leaders need not hate, or bashing or discouraging words and this is what I willl work hard at doing.

Wow, it's going to be an amazing 2015! So much to do, so much to experience and so much to love.

                                  Happy New Year and let's make 2015 amazing!