So much more than a list of names...

Have you ever found yourself scrolling through your list of friends on facebook being drenched in the flood of memories pouring out of those names? This is how I found myself this afternoon. Such an eclectic blend of characters that make up my friends list and countless unique experiences these people represent. Wow, my list is made up of

-my family -old family friends - friends that are like family -friends of my family members -Aunts, Uncles, cousins -those who became family when I got married who have grown into friends -my husbands friends

-there are classmates from elementary school, Jr. High, High School, and so so many from college

-girls I slumber partied with, wrote notes to, talked on the phone with, giggled with, fought with, and made plans with

-boys I crushed on, guys I dated, men, women and couples I've admired

-those from my youth group, friends I made at State youth convention, church camp and on missions trips

(To these friends I am eternally grateful there have been limited awkward photos shared and embarrassing stories told from those priceless moments in time)

-teachers, professors, pastors, bosses and those who have mentored me

-Kids I've babysat for who are grown now and make me feel old having kids the same age as my own

-People who make me laugh, those who make me think and many that encourage and inspire me

-Those I have worshipped with, prayed with and grown up in faith with

-My roommates from college who were like sisters and the many special friends I made while at MBC (MACU)

-Those I worked with and those I've worked for

-girlfriends I have bonded with over the trials and joys of motherhood and learning from one another's domestic adventures

-those who have helped care for and love my children

-There are some I do business with and even some I have never met but have grown a friendship with over mutual friends and interests, and others still

Today, I am appreciating how important each of these relationships are and how valuable these experiences have been to me. They helped shape me and grow me into the person I am today. I feel blessed and grateful for each of these friends. Does this mean I have had only happy memories or experienced only easy relationships void of any disappointments or heartbreak? No, not at all, but for even those difficult lessons I've learned along the way and with many of these people, I am so thankful. I am reminded of something Corrie ten Boom said, "Every experience God gives us, every person He puts into our lives, is the perfect preparation for a future only He can see." What a divine and beautiful arrangement!

A Beautiful Mess-terpiece!

I read a cute story to the girls this morning about a giant squid who was an aspiring artist. Everyone told him he was making a mess but he smiled at his work and called it a "Mess-terpiece" I like that. We are human and our daily lives can be a real mess sometimes but when we give ourselves to be used by the Lord and gain Him in our circumstances He can transform our mess into quite the Mess-terpiece! Enjoy your mess today knowing that the Lord is smiling on His beautiful work. :)

Where is the child in me?

Our children are life's teachers

exposing us as they grow

showing us God's true love

in ways we didn't know.

They have fresh eyes and open hearts

and are as honest as the day is long.

They are selfish and hurt those they love

but usually admit when they are wrong.

They fully live each moment they're given

with out concern of what will be.

In they're innocent wonder of the world

they behold the miracle with simplicity.

Why do our years cover this beauty

that is a child's delight?

Why are we fearful and cautious

stumbling as if we've lost our sight.

Our children are our teachers

giving us new eyes to see.

Lord, I'm so tired of being old

please wake the child in me.

Keeping My Hands Open

Outwardly today is like any other ordinary day yet as I sit here in front of my computer with my coffee I feel such joy bubbling out of me I can't help but share it. I've recently read a book by Ann Voskamp titled "one thousand gifts". This book has opened my eyes and helped me truly see God in the small moments of my everyday ordinary life. I am wholeheartedly practicing to find His love and gifts of grace throughout my day without rushing past each minute in search of what's next.

This morning, I could have easily been swept up in the anxious rush of getting the girls ready and out the door. Instead I took a few minutes as I dressed to really breathe the Lord in and open my hands and heart to receive what he had for me today. This small act of obedience planted a seed and already in just the few hours since I have enjoyed the sweet way the Lord has watered and nurtured me.

We did the things that needed done and got out the door. As we were getting settled in the van to take Kaley to school she asked me, "Mommy, do you know what I wished after school yesterday?" I said, "No, can you tell me?" I didn't feel rushed and I really wanted to hear her. She said, " I wished that I would never be naughty ever again." This made me smile and I sensed the opportunity before me. I said, " You know, we don't have to worry about what happens tomorrow or about the ever agains, we just have to give God right now and ask Him to help us. We do our personal best and trust God with the rest. We don't even have to wish it and see what happens we just stop and pray and ask God." She was listening, really listening and asked me if I would pray this for her when we said our prayers on the way to school. My heart felt light and so full of happy. As I was driving we prayed and I shared Philippians 4:13 with her and had her repeat it after me. As she got out of the van at school I encouraged her to try to remember the verse and she said she would try to remember.

I am so glad I slowed down this morning and invited the Lord into my day. Not only was He able to help me train up my precious 5 year old daughter in Himself but as my Heavenly Father He spoke such love to me. I cannot wait to see all that God has to show me today and even now I reject the the enemy and his lies. I will not be distracted and swept up in anxious thoughts becoming ungrateful and dissatisfied. Thank you, Lord Jesus for this day, for these minutes and for your loving plan for me. I will keep my hands open for you to rearrange your gifts as you choose. Grow in me a little more today. Amen.

Sometimes, Eating is Everything!

It is just the twins and I this morning at home while Kaley is at school. I have been trying to catch up on folding and putting away clothes while the girls played and watched cartoons. At least that is what I had hoped to do but the girls have been fighting and fussing making it hard to accomplish much of anything. I thought maybe they just wanted my undivided attention so I sat down to hold them and read but they were still out of sorts. Finally, I sat them at the table and gave them some cheese and goldfish. Wow, what a difference. They just needed to eat.

Isn't this how we are as christians? We try to go about our daily business but find ourselves fighting with everyone, complaining about everything, and feeling sorry for our pitiful selves. Most of the time it is simply a matter of eating. If we don't stop and turn, exercising our spirit, taking the time to eat the Word, giving ourselves to being saturated with the truth we will find it hard to get out of ourselves and into our Spirit. Praise the Lord for such practical examples in our daily life!

Today...

Thank you, Lord, for your mercies new

and for strength to start each day.

Each morning help me exercise

to turn to You and pray.

I don't want to live in my mind

and be ruled by my own will.

I want to reject all Satan's lies

not trusting what I feel.

I want to eat your living Word

and drink by calling on Your name.

I'll stand upon your promises

Your precious blood to claim.

I accept this day's supply of grace

and take You as my Head.

Be in me what I am not

that by Your Spirit I am led.

I want to play...

I woke up to a beautiful, crisp, cool morning with the feeling of Fall in the air. It was a welcome refreshment after these last couple of months with record heat. We had plans for my husband and his parents to spend the day working on putting up new fence in our backyard so we arranged to have breakfast together bright and early. The only thing better than the change of weather was the mouthwatering smell of applewood smoked bacon and my Wild Mountain Blueberry coffee. With such a delightful ambience, I even rather enjoyed the simple task of fixing breakfast for everyone and cleaning up.

After breakfast, those of us not appointed to fence duty went out back to play. Play, that is suppose to be fun, right? In all honesty I wasn't looking forward to this part. Yes, I was thankful for the beautiful weather and knew the girls would be excited for an opportunity to play outside but I couldn't help but think of all the things I could accomplish inside if given the time alone to do it. When did this happen to me? When did I become such a "grown up"? As a kid, I remember being filled with anticipation of all the fun a weekend could hold and remember how endless time felt when we were left to just play. I brought out the phone and my kindle (wishful thinking) and sat down taking in the fresh air. I'm not sure why I thought sitting would be possible. Two year olds require chasing and five year olds expect you to assist in playing out the many roles and scenarios their imaginations dream up. Reluctant at first, I put away my things and decided to play.

According to the dictionary to play is to engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose. With the responsibilities of life and all our anxious fretting about, we seem to forget how to do this as we grow up. Thankfully it is an innate quality of a child and it is contagious. My girls were giddy with excitement to be outside. They were running in all directions with seemingly no direction. Squealing, laughing, jumping, climbing, singing and talking all at once. It was absolute chaos and completely wonderful. They had not one concern about what would happen next and played with a complete lack of inhibition or restraint. When it was time we made lunch and all ate outside, played a bit more and then came in for naps.

I can't remember the last time I felt this refreshed and alive. Now that they are resting up for whatever the afternoon holds I consider what might of been... I could have stayed in and accomplished some practical things like tackle the everpresent mountain of laundry, continue my quest to rid my house of dustbunnies, or even rid my fridge of it's unplanned science projects. What I probably would have done, though, is sit down and peruse facebook and realize after way too long that I had already read the same statuses five times because nothing had changed since I last checked. I might then decide to finish the book I started on my kindle and then after so little activity would feel sleepy. Since I would still need to make lunch and get the girls ready for nap I'd probably be a little cranky since I'd just want to sleep myself and on top of that I'd be disappointed I hadn't accomplished anything.

I am so thankful I played! Not only was it the very best way I could have spent my time this morning I am thankful I didn't miss out on those precious moments with my girls. Kaley will be 5 tomorrow and her awareness of reality will eventually drown out the details of her pretend world. The twins will all too soon learn how to say their words correctly and sing the right words and tunes to their songs. Life will get busy and I'll always have practical matters to deal with but I'll never get back the minutes I've been given each day once they've been lived. I don't want to get so busy I forget to play and enjoy these moments of my children's childhood. I don't want to ever look back and wish I had just played.