These words came to me as I lay awake sleepless last night. They left me thinking & praying. May I be a woman who gives life. May I be one who speaks into others (even when I’m frustrated or hurt or I don’t understand). May I speak life into my husband, and into our boys when they don’t obey, and into myself (... now that can be another story). It all starts in my. Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. It’s what is on the inside that counts! It’s what I tell my kids all the time. It’s what I put into myself and into others that matters. Good in. Good out. Garbage in. Garbage out. 

This applies to every area of my life, doesn’t it? Physically- what am I eating? Garbage in. Garbage out... (or worse it’s stored! ). Mentally- It looks like me wasting time not owning it. Emotionally- It’s me overthinking a situation. Ever rethink a scenario more than once? Me, too. Jump off that ship right away.  

My point... “Happy are those that give life” starts with:
1) my heart. What’s my heart look like?
2) Then it spills out of my mouth (Yikes! ). What am I saying lately? Good and bad? Am I being a light even when I’m running late and my grocery order is wrong (and the substitutes were less than par)?? I want to be. 

May I be a woman that is willing to look at myself and breathe life into my circumstances and into others. 
The world needs some fresh air! We all need to breathe! I want to breathe the fresh air of life. I want to give life. Anyone else? 🧡

I love reading signs. I look for them everywhere. Church signs, street signs, licenses plates.... You name it, I have probably read it. I may have inherited this sign-reading act from my Grandmother. I remember her always reading signs and telling us about them. Granted, most of the time she read licenses plates. But it didn't matter. She thought it was valuable enough to share with us.  
What's the purpose of this? I'm not sure I know. But it is a trait of my grandma's that has been passed on to me. Whether its a good habit or not, I don't know. I'm not sure it really matters. The point is that signs are all around us. Below is one of my favorite signs... I modified it a little, but it speaks to me. Right where I'm at. Maybe that's why I enjoy signs because they do speak to us if we are watching.


"Dear Problem,
I am bigger!
Signed,
Her Deliver"
Genesis 18:14

As an introvert/extrovert female, I sometimes walk a fine, cloudy line between the two.  I know when I have had my fill of people.  I can generally tell when my extroverted side begins to break down, and the introverted side kicks in.  I love people and delight in that realm, but only for a season.  Then I'm off to feel comfortable and quiet.  Mainly alone or with my family and close friends.  This week I experienced this parting of the sea in my behavior again.  After spending five days in around-the-clock social functions, I had reached my extroverted maximum.  And it was in the midst of it, that I "missed" a dear friend.  Someone who has trusted me over the years.  Not like I missed the occasion to see her.  Heaven knows, I found myself at plenty of functions where I could see friends.  But it's one thing to see people and an entirely different thing to "see" the people you are with.  To be present with them.  I'll give you my excuses like, "I was tired.  I had nothing to offer.  I just didn't have any more to give."  Those excuses don't cut it, and actually make me feel badly.  Who's doing all of the "caring" anyway, me or Him?  Who's strength am I using?  Do I really care about others?  Did I then?  Or did I care more about getting home, snuggling up in my pajamas, and joining my comfortable life again.  Social circumstances can push my buttons sometimes.  They can for all of us.  But isn't life about being pushed so we can live to the fullest extent?  It matters to me that I missed her.  It matters...  It should matter.  It would matter to me if I were on the receiving end...  People and the pain they hold does matter.  It matters!  It needs to! 

"But in our time something new has been added. What Moses and the prophets witnessed to all those years has happened. The God-setting-things-right that we read about has become Jesus-setting-things-right for us. And not only for us, but for everyone who believes in him. For there is no difference between us and them in this. Since we've compiled this long and sorry record as sinners (both us and them) and proved that we are utterly incapable of living the glorious lives God wills for us, God did it for us. Out of sheer generosity he put us in right standing with himself. A pure gift. He got us out of the mess we're in and restored us to where he always wanted us to be. And he did it by means of Jesus Christ" Romans 3:21-24 (Message).

We are moving.  Where?  That's a good question.  One most people would have an answer for.  Not us.  Why you ask (of course you are asking... I would be)?  Good question.  We are up for adventure and have the opportunity to move so we are choosing to.  It's a choice I needed reminded of that today as we signed the closing papers.  We believe God is positioning us for the next chapter.  But I had a difficult time signing papers today.  Gentle tears flowed down my cheeks as I thought of our boys' playing in their tree house, visualizing our aging neighbors watching our boys sledding down the winter hills, or thinking how I would miss the piece of wood covered as the growth chart for our boys.  I would probably miss these things regardless.  Today was just sad for me recalling these memories and facing the unknown.  Where is God is all of this?  Right beside me.  He will never leave me.  I know that.  Although, I probably quieted Him through my tears.  I have been fighting a reluctant heart unwilling to trust Him.  Really.  That stinks.  I think I'm so "super-Christian and all" at times, and then when I'm afraid or I don't want to try what do I do I whine.  Within me lives an ungrateful Israelite, the Lord is dying to get His hands on.  Really more so He can love me in those places then anything.  Those places where I have chose not to trust Him.  Life really comes down to a choice.  My husband and I choose to sell our house today, and I choose to trust God will take good care of us right till the end...through tears and all!





(This is a former blog entry.  But FYI, God had somewhere really great planned out for us.  It's really boils down to a matter of TRUST!)  
:)

My journal entry - Dec. 2008

Following my regular Dr. visit for our third child, I cried out to God in fear for our baby's health.  The location of the placenta was a concern to our local doctors.  I was being sent on to a Specialist.  This would be our 4th pregnancy, but only our third child.  We had been around the miscarriage block before, and the doctor I was seeing specialized in high-risk pregnancies and birth defects.  Below is a portion of my journal:

What does this mean for our baby?  The doctors took pictures of our child's brain today.  They have never done that before.  I'm gaining a peace.  But I don't want to talk to anyone about this.  Only God.  I woke up last night, fighting to keep peace all night... 

Two weeks later and holidays in between, we were finally able to see the Specialist.  Before the visit I felt God assuring me, "Not to be afraid, and this wasn't about me or the baby."  I felt God was calling me to pray with the Doctor during this appointment.  Pray with him and for him, and then trust that everything would be okay.  I knew this was crazy.  I didn't want to do this, but I knew I heard a still, small voice calling me.  I did not feel lead to tell Chad.  Frankly, I didn't want talked out of this.  Praying with this Doctor was going to be a huge stretch for me.  I didn't want to do this anymore than the next person, but our baby is what mattered.  This was important to me.  I was willing to humble myself for this.  At this point, I was more afraid of praying with the Doctor than our baby's outcome from the visit which was probably a good thing.  I felt God had that under control.  Chad would be okay.  He would be understandably uncomfortable.  But so was I! 

We arrived late to our appointment only to be met with more confusion from the nurse.  Not the regular staff, this nurse wasn't sure whether I was to wear a gown or needed to remain dressed for this visit.  That doesn't sound like much until you are the one wrapped naked in only a sheet of paper and offering to pray with the Physician seeing you!  After some time, it was determined I could remain clothed.  The Doctor came in and apologized for the miscommunication with the nurse staff.  I continued to be more concerned about praying with this guy then the baby.  He immediately proceeded with our appointment.  I'm sure I caught him off guard because I stopped him.  "Dr. Miller," I said, "I know you don't know me, and this is probably the strangest request you have ever received.  But can I pray out loud first?"  After he (and Chad) collected themselves and their dropped jaws returned to normal, he said.  "Sure.  Do whatever you want."  Then he apologized for his bedside manner.  I could tell he was uncomfortable and didn't know what to do as he quickly shuffled papers.  I prayed quickly, but out loud.  I prayed blessing for him and his new practice (he was three days away from opening a new facility).  I thanked God for how he had used Dr. Miller in the lives of many women and children, and concluded with praying for our child.  I prayed that this baby would be perfectly healthy.  My prayer was only about 8-10 sentences, and I ended.  Dr. Miller quickly proceeded with our ultrasound.  He looked up at me at and said, "Looks like your prayers have been answered!  Why are you here, anyway?  What was the concern?" 

Everything turned out great!  Chad and I thanked God in the car together and laughed and laughed and laughed some more.  God used such an uncomfortable situation to answer our prayers.  Chad was so uncomfortable with my request to pray that he looked around and wondered if he should offer to take off his clothes instead of me and  then proceed with the exam!  :)

In the end, everything was more than "just fine!"  Everything turned out wonderfully!  Our third baby is happy and healthy today!   I can look back now, and thank God for trusting me with this request.  But this was an uncomfortable challenge for me.  Talk about getting out of your comfort zone.  I'm thankful today that God remains faithful even in the times and situations when I don't  
(2 Timothy 2:13). 

Kids! What amazing creations!

    Each one an original.

        Each with the potential to fly or crash.

            Each a piece of unpainted furniture, that can become a priceless piece of art or a broken piece of humanity.

Kids arrive naked! Like a piece of unpainted furniture.  Some are blonde oak; some a golden walnut; others a deep, rich mahagony.

Whatever the color, there's much to be done before they become a lovely piece of art. Just like painted furniture, they have to be prepared, primed, and painted.

Preparation is key. If you slap a coat of paint on a piece of raw wood which hasn't been sanded or primed, it may look good for a while, but the rough edges will catch on anyone walking by, and the painted surface will chip away before long. 

Are you preparing your children to become a highly prized piece of art?

In many ways, the results are up to you. What an awesome and frightening responsibility. You are the one who sands, primes, and paints this amazing creation. Be gentle! Don’t damage the original by sanding with unkind words or harsh treatment. Use very fine sandpaper as you work on those rough edges of stubbornness and defiance. Be firm and consistent as you break that strong will. Be loving and positive whenever you can.

Dad, your boy wants to be just like you. Are you still rough around the edges? Has your lifestyle chipped away at your paint job? What kind of kid will he be if he turns out to be like you?

Your daughter is watching how you act and react, Mom. Do you want her to be like you? Are you beautiful on the outside but ugly underneath?  Make sure your paint job goes all the way through!

It will take a long time for your child to become a beautiful piece of art. Be patient with your kids ~ and yourself. And enjoy the process.  

~Thanks to the author of this contribution, my dear friend, Gladys Deloe

If you have traveled to Indiana recently or been to this part of the Midwest, you realize that mountains are something Indiana lacks for.  Growing up in Indiana my entire life, I've come to appreciate the lush green carpet that spreads out amongst our fields in the summer (we call it "corn") or the leaves that begin to rustle and change this time of year.  But mountains, we simply do not have.  Until today when I was driving west on a long Indiana highway, I came up over a hill (aka known as a pothole in other parts of the world) and noticed something spectacular!  At a first-quick glance, the clouds before me bellowed a hundred feet up in the air and appeared as mountains beyond the horizon (give or take a few hundred feet. I'm bad at estimation).  I was amazed, and it was impressive even if the Mountains of Indiana lasted only a moment and were merely a figment of my imagination.  I thought of 2 Corinthians 4:18, "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." God brought the verse to mind today.  I need to fix my eyes upon what is unseen by the world to see what God truly desires for me to see.  What are you focused on today?  

I read an article about kids with the back to school blues.  But what if you are a parent with the back to school blues?  

There is nothing like the prayers of a mom.  When I need someone to pray, I still call my mom.  What started in college during a big exam, has become a way of life for me.  When I need prayer, I call my mom.  When's the last time you talked to your mom or invited her into your life through prayer?  A Momma's prayers are a powerful way to see answers to prayer .

PRAY!