3 years ago today...

I gave birth to my second son,Michael Aaron. Aaron is sweet,intelligent,funny,short tempered,and has a servant's heart. He has pretty blue eyes and dimples that make you smile. Time sure has flown!! I'm a blessed woman.

The last year sure has been a journey. As I type,my birthday boy just spilt coffee all over the end table that holds our books and magazines. It's never a dull moment around here with 3 boys. :-) I wouldn't trade it for anything though.

We have found a church finally and are excited to plug in there. It's a church in our hometown only 40 minutes away. We all love it and know many that attend the small,country church. I am overcoming the female problems finally and I am shedding some weight I have needed too. I hope to be writing more soon now that the baby,who is now a toddler, is getting bigger. I started schooling the boys this year also. It's been fun and challenging! I chose to use Heart of Dakota material and really love it so far. Both boys, 4 1/2 and 3, are being schooled. We feel it's our duty and it's our desire to teach our boys our values at home. This material is Bible-based and it's so great!

We are also looking to buy a home in the next year,God-willing everything is stable after this years election. Speaking of election,pray for our nation. Pray for God's will. Vote. I was undecided,but I am not anymore. It's a privilege a lot of countries do not have,so let's not take it lightly. Blessings to all!

Thorns in the Flesh

I am learning that when I am weak,Christ is strong. Is it hard? You bet! I have had some physical issues for the last 9 months almost and it's been so trying. It's nothing major,but it is something that wears on me. Last year God brought the verse about His grace being sufficient for me to reality. So many times I want to do it in my own self or I want the thorn removed. Our Lord does not always work that way does He? No, He wants to purify us and wants us to rely on Him solely for our strength. It is not easy having thorns in our flesh, things that annoy us or that seem to hinder how well we can serve the Lord,our families,our friends,and even our churches.  Rest assured though, the Lord sees past those thorns and sees what He can do through us when we rely on Him and His strength. Often times I believe He allows thorns in our flesh so we know that His grace is sufficient for us. That sounds harsh to someone who does not know our Lord. We were his thorn in the flesh,but did God remove us? Did Jesus ask for the thorn to be removed? Yes,but in the end he said let YOUR will be done,Father. Through that thorn,our sin, a beautiful redemption was wrought. A bridge that filled the gap between us and God. The thorn was worth it and God did would only God could do through Jesus,He made a way for forgiveness of sins. God can do the same thing with our thorns. He often doesn't calls those who are equipped for a job, though it looks as if they are strong in that area. He calls them and with the power of Christ in them and working through them,they look as if it takes no effort to do what God has called them to do. It takes a lot of effort,dying to self.

I see other Mothers and I think wow I wish I could be like that or do that. They make it look so easy. It's not easy,but when they have embraced their role as a Mother and rely on the strength of Christ it is much easier than doing it on their own. I am learning,note I said learning to rely on Him while being a Mother. I never knew how hard being a Mother was until I had my first. It is so hard and so challenging. You literally are giving up so much of yourself for another being,one that isn't even big enough to have a say so in their wants and needs. You are giving up what you want for what that baby wants and needs most importantly. At first I bulked at the thought and I fought against it,as if my child was my enemy,trying to take away my wants. Thank God for His grace and mercy and His Word. I learned that He wants to refine me through my children. He uses them to help me to die to myself and to become more like Christ. A little baby,a rambunctious toddler,and an adventurous preschooler. Who would have thought it? So I have quit fighting (for the most part) against it. I gave up a lot of the things I want to do,not need too,but things I want too do. It's been hard and not very fun at times. I don't blog as often as I want,I don't get to sit and read all day,and I don't get to watch every show on t.v. I would like. Some say that I am depriving myself,but I don't see it that way. There are times when I do get to do things I want,like now,but I am realizing these things will be here and if they aren't one day,was it that important? No, raising my children and being there for them is the most important. Blogging is not my ministry yet,I would love for it to be one day. I love to make jewelry and want to be able to do that more one day and bless others with it. I would love to write a book one day. Right now I am not in that season where I can devout a lot of time to those things and I am learning to accept that. It will look different for each woman,but I believe her home and family is her first ministry. I minister to my husband also by serving him,but I don't have to do everything for him and I'm not teaching him how to live,so it's different. When I feel I cannot be the Mother God wants me to be,I know His grace is there for me and He is there to guide me.

What are the thorns in your flesh? By no mean am I calling children a thorn. I have thorns that pain me,but I will discuss them another time.

⁷ And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.

⁸ For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

⁹ And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

 II Corinthians 12:7-10

Embracing Where God Has Us

Wow, it's been quite some time that I have been able to write on my blog. I can't express how much I miss writing and reading other blogs. Right now it's a season I am in as a Mother and I have been embracing it. It's not been an easy journey,but it has been freeing.

We have been trying to seek out God's will for us as a family and it's been pretty bleak. We were really wanting to move back to our hometown as soon as we could,but nothing was really ever going to work. It would have taken us pushing and pulling to get it accomplished. So, the past couple of weeks we have given that up to God. If He ever wants us to move back,we will,but we will not pursue it any longer. We never had peace about a final decision on housing or a job for my husband. It's been so trying,yet I think it was because of our own accord. Isn't that just like us,humans? We push against God asking for His blessings,His presence with us,and His will,when He is saying you have my blessing,presence,and are in my will. I feel like we have been doing just as the Israelite people did throughout the book of Judges. We have complained about where God placed us and about things around us,when we have been so overly and abundantly blessed just where we are. I even made the statement to my oldest (who is now 4,YEAH, where has time gone?) that sometimes we don't like where God places us even though we are blessed there). Yeah, I know,I needed to take my own advice. About 2 weeks ago my husband shared with me his burden to start devotions for members of Law Enforcement here in the area. For those who do not know,he is a State Trooper here in Alabama where we live. He shared that burden with several other Officers of different branches of Law Enforcement and the response was a resounding,FINALLY! They all expressed the desire to be a part and to help in anyway. It would not take the place of church,but be more of a supplement along with church. We aren't sure how many we will have a year or a month. For anyone in Law Enforcement or knows anything about it, the hours are very similar to hospital hours. We have been seeking God on more direction. It would be mostly geared towards the Officers. My husband wants to call it 10-110, in Police lingo hot pursuit. He wants to express the need for a hot pursuit for God in our lives. So, please if you will be praying for us and with us. It's really amazing to see my husband want to move forward in this. He's not the most compassionate man on the earth and he realizes that and knows he needs to be more compassionate. We want God to direct our paths in this and get all the glory.

This will also lead to our next decision,to stay here and find a home. We still live in the apartments we were married in. It's getting a little small,as you can imagine. :) 3 boys and 2 adults in a 2 bedroom,1 bath,small apartment. Yeah. We will miss this place in ways and be so happy to have our own home in other ways. The first time I spoke with our landlord I knew this was our home when we were searching almost 7 years ago. She has been so good to us too. God has worked through her so much to bless us. God is so caring. We know God will guide us to our new home when it's His time. We are setting a timeline,but will go with God's hand. We don't want anything fancy or too new. We want to keep me at home raising our boys and being able to home school them. It's exciting and scary,as some of you know. We want to be able to use our home for His glory. I have always dreamed of ministering in our home and this is just what we would do. It would open doors for us that we can't even imagine. We're so excited! We are on our guard though,because  the devil is waiting for the time to discourage or destroy our vision. It's so wonderful when we let go of what we want and just go with what God wants. We still would LOVE to be closer to our families,but wherever God leads us we will follow. I cannot tell you the peace I have,the just freedom I have in relinquishing those other dreams to God and saying we will do what You want even if it's not what we originally wanted. It's like a chain has been taken off of us and we are walking in freedom that the Bible speaks about. Isn't God just so awesome?! So that is just a summery of what's been going on. There have been some physical health issues with me,but nothing God cannot handle. So join us in prayer for the ministry,our home,and my health please. I hope to start writing some in the near future. For now, you can catch up with me on Facebook or Twitter. God bless all you wonderful ladies!

Pursuit of Proverbs 31 study

I purchased the Kindle book Pursuit of Proverbs 31 by Amy Bayliss and began the study today with a group (big) of women online. How exciting! I've never really been itimidated by the woman in Proverbs 31. I sort of looked at it as I do some of those things,but in different ways. I was intrigued by her.

Join us today! Purchase the book or the ebook from Amazon and check out http://joyfulmothering.net/2012/02/16/an-invitation-to-a-new-pursuit-of-proverbs-31/ Mothering who is the host for the study. The first post on the study is here.

Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood

Join Grace Full Mama for this awesome series, Cultivating a Heart for Motherhood. Today's post is on obstacle #3 in our lives as Mothers. It's one that I am slowly learning can be the worst. Too busy. I have been learning to just slow down. We don't do much outside of the home,but we do a lot in it. You Mothers know what I mean. Cooking,cleaning,and on and on. I would be overwhelmed if we did anything outside of the home seriously! This post is so encouraging and convicting. Read and join us!

New Series from Grace Full Mama

I'm delighted to join this series with Joy@Grace Full Mama. She inspires many and I am looking forward to more inspiration from her. Join us as we look to cultivate our hearts for the calling of motherhood. It's not an easy task,but it should be a blessing and joyful. Subscribe to her blog today so you won't miss a post!

The Gentleness Challenge- Week 4

I somehow missed week 3 to post. This is week 4. It's a great challenge. Get the book The Ministry of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson if you can and read it. It is so encourage and convicting!

This weeks challenge: In week 2 we focused on bringing our voices down low close to a whisper when we feel like yelling.  In week 3 – we focused on anger management.  This week add in words of praise for Christlike qualities.  Be specific and really pay attention to the godly things your children are doing. Try to do what the Duggars do - and praise your children 10 times more than you correct them. 

Link up with Courtney@Women Living Well and join in.