The best present ever

Something happened in the Dooley house this Christmas that made it unlike any Christmas before. Five nights ago laying in little Addy's bed with her she prayed a sweet little prayer with me asking Jesus into her heart. I am humbled by her ability to truly experience, know, and believe in the Savior of the world.
I know it was her doing because for weeks she has been asking me the hardest questions. How does God get down for heaven? Where is heaven? What does God do when he is not in heaven? I have been speechless in front of her many times as I tried to put what my Savior did into terms she will understand and accept. But they were not my words, they were His and they left an impact that forever changed the future of sweet Addy cakes. This Christmas I celebrate Jesus' birth, my Savior, my Redeemer, my Rock, and my King, but I also celebrate Addy's new life in him.
Thank you Jesus that you died for my baby girl. I find comfort knowing that she is your temple and you are now her Father. I know you have plans for her. Guide her and grow her as you prepare her. Guard her heart from this world and help her eyes to stay focused on you. Help me to be a mom that makes her want to know you more. Use me to grow her. Use her to grow me. You have given me the most precious gift. May the way I treasure it make you
proud.
I love you sweet Jesus, reign in my life, reign in my home,reign in my family.

Proud Momma

Some things seem so simple in the eyes of a child. Ella, my almost 6 year old, came home from school at the beginning of the week telling me about the issues she was having with another girl in her class. I thought this was strange because Ella has yet to have any "issue" with any child in her class and the school year is almost over. In fact on her report card sent home a few months ago the comment from Mrs. Evans was, "Ella is a friend to all." So I put aside what I was doing and asked Ella to tell me what happened with Shanine (that's what we'll call her). She continued on to tell me that Shanine was blamming stuff on her that she did not do and that she would take her supplies from her and not give them back. I asked Ella how she responded to Shanine when she was mean to her. She told me she did nothing and just tried to ignore it. Which is a great answer but then I remembered what she learned in Church this past weekend. She learned that she can tell others that Jesus loves them with words and with actions and that sometimes people just really need to hear it. I reminded Ella what she had been learning and asked her if she thought Shanine knew that Jesus loved her? To which she said, "of course mom, everyone knows that." I said, "Not everyone knows that and sometimes that they just need to hear that someone loves them." I challenged Ella to tell Shanine that Jesus loved her the next time she started bothering her at school the next day. Her response wasn't great - she wasn't thrilled - she was a bit scared - but she didn't shut me down either. Not really thinking that she would even remember this conversation I tucked her in and told her I loved her.

The next day Ella comes home from school and tells me that Shanine was being mean to her again. I asked her what happened and she told me she took her math block during free time. Ella said she looked for another one but couldn't find anymore -then she looked at Shanine and said, "Shanine, Jesus loves you." I quickly asked Ella what Shanine said in return and Ella and she said, (with her hands on her hip) well, I don't love Jesus!" I laughed nervously and asked Ella what she said next. "Well mom," she said, "I told her that's fine but I am going to tell her everyday until she believes me!"
That next morning I walked into Ella's school to drop her off (yes I am one of those mom's that walks all the way in). Ella's teacher was waiting for me with a huge smile on her face. She told me what had happened between Ella and her little friend Shanine the day before and told me how proud I should be of Ella and her willingness to put herself out there and be rejected. I was very proud indeed and that level of pride grew all throughout the day as I began to realize what a huge thing this was for Ella to accomplish at such a young age. I still hold back sharing Christ's love with others because I fear rejection. I fear that I won't have the right words or my life might not live up to the example Christ calls us to set. I most certainly fear that uncomfortable feeling that comes over a conversation that takes a turn not both parties want to take. Sure, I share Christ in my actions on a daily basis. But I am less willing to verbalize how much God loves someone when I am not sure how they will respond - especially someone that is being mean to me!!!

What changes? What changes to make us care more about what others think of us than follow through on what God has called us to do. And why do we stop after one try? Why are will not willing to remind them every single day until they believe us? Why are we so easily defeated?

I have been challenged by my five-year old this week. To step it out and share the message -even everyday if someone needs me to - at least until they believe it!

Thanks Ella for your faith! And thank you for being willing to do what it takes!!! I love you!!!

Happy Birthday

Can't believe it's been 2 years already- Happy Birthday Sweet Girl - you will never know how much I love you!

Spiritual integrity

"Perhaps you have discovered the same truth that has awakened many parents: Raising children pushes parents to mature in their faith as much as it moves children toward spiritual wholeness. if you are struggling with particular aspects of raising your child, especially in relation to the faith dimension, step back and evaluate your behavior. you may discover that while you are able to voice the appropriate concepts to your young ones, your behavior negates those words. The 'do as I say, not as I do,' approach is increasingly incompatible with effective influence upon children," (George Barna, Transforming Children into Spiritual Champions.)

When your children look past your assigned role to ponder your spiritual integrity, what do they see?
More than anything in the world I want to impact my girls for Christ. I want them to see a consistent, authentic, open relationship with a perfect God. I want them to want to know the God that I know, to want to be chaged in the same ways He changed me, to desire to serve Him and grow in Him. More than anything I want them to buy into the fact that God has HUGE plans for their young lives. That He ALWAYS has their best interest in mind and that He is trusthworthy. I want them to know that God is patient, loving, kind, and gentle with his children. And I don't want them to know all of this because they can read. I want them to know this because they have seen it lived out in every day life.
No one knows me like my girls know me. They know the great, they know the good, but they also know the ugly. They are there when patience runs out, when gentleness is nowhere to be found, and when I feel like the person I am is not really me.
I am being stretched. I am being stretched because if I tell Ella not to yell at her sister but then ten minutes later I turn around and yell at her sister I am contradicting myself. Eventually Ella is going to wise up to the fact that what I say is not necessarily what I do. Or when I say life is not always just about you but turn around and make some situation all about me - what I am really teaching them is that even though mommy says life is not about me sometimes it can be.
When my girls are grown I don't want them looking back and saying they did what I said and not what I did. I want them to look back and be thankful for the example set before them. When I was young I thought that the hardest part of being a Christian was saying no to certain sins and denying ourselves certain lifestyles. But I am learning the hardest part of being a Christian is learning to go with the fact that you are in a state of constant transformation.
Father - Continue to do a work in me. It is only through your power that I am able to be who I need to be for my girls. Your grace is sufficient Father - Be strong in me.

summer's over

Life has been crazy this summer. I wouldn't have it any other way though. I think I sometimes attract craziness. And sometimes I feel incomplete without it. Lots have happened this summer - too much to tell you in the few minutes I have before both my girls are screaming for my attention.

I learned that God's timing is perfect and that no matter how capable I feel I am of doing something if i would just want and intrust it in the hands of the Maker of Heaven and Earth it will be way better than anything I bring about.

I learned that life is all about perspective and if I am having a hard time with something it is likely I just need to change my perspective on the situation and look at it through someone else's eyes. Amazing how my hard times do not seem so bad when I look at some of the other things people are going through

I learned that I have a whole lot more to learn but I have a whole lot of time to do it. I don't have to be so rushed and learn so quickly that I forget as soon as I turn around.

I learned that I sometimes put people in boxes and expect them to act a certain way simply because of what I think I know about them. I need to pay more attention to people's lives before I jump to conclusions that I know who they are.

I learned that if I went through high school and middle school when I was in my late 20's I wouldn't be so caught up in who's who and who's doing what. I would use my time more wisely taking every opportunity to lift people up instead of tearing them down.

I learned that the desires of my heart were given me to me for a reason and if they have withstood the test of time it may be my fault that they haven't come to pass. Sometimes you have to get up and do something.

Finally, I learned that distance really does make the heart grow fonder. I have the best, best friend in the entire world and though I wish that she were closer to me right now I love the fact that we are both doing what we are doing exactly where God wants us.

Oh, and I learned that I seriously LOVE my girls and my husband. I mean seriously - more than I ever thought I was capable of loving.

Socks and Dollar bins

Ella hates to wear socks and them not be pulled up all the way. She hates it something terribly. Like so much that it will ruin the start to a perfectly good day. The majority of the time my 4 year old is very reasonable and easy going but get a wrinkle in her sock and it is all over. 

Her reactions vary - sometimes she may start to cry, sometimes she may lay down on the floor and throw an all out fit, or sometimes she will take her socks off and refuse to wear anything I suggest. No matter what the reaction is I assure you there is whining involved. I have learned something very valuable through all this - it's all about having the right socks. Apparently, no one wants to wear socks with all the little strings on the inside of them. In the winter high socks are good because she can pull them up as high as she wants. And in the summer ankle sock are good because, once again, she can pull them up as high as she wants. 

Starting a morning off wrong when you have two small children can set everything off balance so I have learned to keep the peace by avoiding the wrong things.

 I think I am learning this in life as well. If there is something that causes a rise out of us the way that wrinkly socks do my 4 year old than we need to make the adjustments to not allow that to happen. You see, it's like this - Ella wants to buy the Hello Kitty socks in the dollar bins at Target. They are cute and colorful and fun and cheap. But I know that though it may be fun for a bit ultimately it is going to cause problems in the future. We have to learn the same things with our lives. Just because we may like doing certain things or being certain places  doesn't necessarily mean that they will leave us feeling that same way when we leave.  Just because a song on the radio is good or a certain t.v. show is funny doesn't mean that we aren't going to be left with a wrinkle in the end.  When making a choice about life one should put as much thought into it as you do when you go to buy socks. You know what you want to wear and you know what you like and at the end of the day you are going to buy the socks that make you happy when you put them on each morning. When you make decisions on what to do with your life think about the outcome. At the end of the day are you going to be better off because you have gone through with a decision or because you have surrounded yourself with the company you have chosen or are you going to be left feeling uneasy -sort of like the feeling you get when you have wrinkles in the bottom of your socks. 

Satan lives to get a foothold on our life and at any given moment he will seize the opportunity to take a feeling, a situation, an activity and turn it into something way more than it was ever meant to be. We give him too much of a foothold when we do not protect the places we go, the things we watch and listen to, and the situations we allow ourselves to be put in. He is way more crafty than we acknowledge and something that was meant to be fun and easy can leave us feeling worn and tired. 

Proverbs 13:20-23, "He who walks with the wise grows wise,  but a companion of fools suffers harm. Misfortune pursues the sinner, but prosperity is the reward of the righteous. A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous."

4

Four years ago on this night I was laying in the hospital holding this sweet little baby. I lived in disbelief that I had been entrusted to care for such a small, perfect, totally dependent little girl. I lived in awe of how much I loved her even though we had just met. I second guessed every thing I did. I thought twice about ever step we took. I held her as she slept and thanked God for his blessings. I prayed over her future every night as she lay in her bed. I nestled close to her in the morning when she woke me up at 5:30 a.m. I dropped everything to take care of her every need, to address her every whimper, to make sure that she was perfectly content and taken care of. And I counted it all a privilege. 

It's funny how the things that we love the most about someone or something are the same things that drive us crazy once the "honeymoon" is over. In the beginning we are so careful, we are so patient, we are so loving, and we are so selfless. Then we adjust - we get used to it- we get comfortable and we forget why we fell in love in the first place.  Things creep in when we forget to remember how blessed we are each and every day. 

Father - Whether it be with my children, with my husband, or in the ministry I do may I always remember how passionately I did them at first and may I strive to always, consistently, give them my all. Take the distractions of life away so that I may fully surrender myself to the blessings you have given me. Thank you for four great, life-changing years. Thank you for little Ella. Pour your blessings upon her sweet spirit. Guard her heart, guide her feet, and hold her hand as she walks through this world. May I be an example to her in all that I do and all that I say. Use me in her life Father. I love you and I need you - <><

I love my momma (and mother in-law) and I love being a mom. Two of the best things in life

Thank you God for the blessings you have given me. May I bring you glory in the way I raise my girls. 

Interruptions

Interruption - To break the continuity or uniformity of: Rain interrupted our baseball game.  Something that is unplanned and gets in the way of your plans

Interruptions happen every day.  Sometimes they are small and impact us little, other times they are huge and keep us from continuing down life’s intended path – either way they are usually life changing

I wonder tonight how many of you are right in the middle of an interruption.  I wonder how many of you have just come out of a major interruption or maybe some of you don’t even know it but you are getting ready to be interrupted in your life.   

Maybe some of you are dealing with divorce – major interruption – that is not the way it is supposed to be – these things were not supposed to happen to you, to your parents.

Maybe some of you are dealing with death – unexpected or expected it is never fun to lose someone you love so dearly

Maybe some of you are dealing with relationship interruptions – you have tried so hard to make this relationship everything you and the Lord want it to be but how did you get to this place you are right now.  How are you so far from him?

Maybe your friendships have been interrupted.  Ever been the target of a mean girl?  Life’s not fun when those around you live to make you miserable.

Or maybe your life with the Lord has been interrupted.  Sin has entered in.  you have become someone you never intended to become – you are in a place you never saw yourself and life has been interrupted in a major way.

Have you ever found it hard to hear from God in the midst of your interruptions?  You search for Him everywhere – in church on Sunday mornings, in youth on Sunday nights, at small group on Wednesdays.  You look for him in the worship, you call out to him at school with your friends.  

Why won’t he answer you, why is he allowing these interruptions to carry on in your life?  What are you missing?  

Psalm 83:1 says, “O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still.”

Maybe God is speaking to us, maybe He is trying to get through – maybe it is us that has the problem.  We are very good at serving God loudly 

We sing praises to him, we shout out to him, we cry out to him when things are bad – we are a loud group of people

But have you ever thought of looking for him in the silence?  Of listening for his still, small voice when everything else around you has stopped?

Tonight we are going to give God the chance to speak to us rather than us doing all the talking.

Go ahead, think about it, what is just messing with you?  What is it that just isn’t right?  What has broken your heart?  What has changed your future?  What is bothering you?  What are you scared of doing?  Who are you scared of becoming?  What are you scared to lay down?  Write it down now on this piece of paper.

When Jesus came to earth it was a major interruption.  Mary and Joseph were engaged and all the sudden she was pregnant by God.  She was carrying a baby, a baby that was to be named Jesus, Immanuel, God with us – because he will save his people from their sins.

Life was interrupted for Mary and Jospeh that night.  But they responded.  They accepted the interruption, they took to heart the mission that God had given them and they began to raise baby Jesus – the Savior of the world

Life was interrupted when King’s feared Jesus’ young fame.  News spread about a King that had been born, a King that all would bow down to.  

Life was interrupted when King Herod issued that all boys under the age of 2 should be put to death in hopes to eliminate Jesus – the future King.  

Jesus’ life as a young boy was interrupted when he was taken into the desert and tempted by Satan.  He was no longer just a boy.  Now he had to begin a ministry that would ultimately lead to his death

The lives of the disciples were interrupted when Jesus walked by them and told them to drop their nets, leave their families, let the dead bury the dead and follow after him.  

Lives were interrupted when Jesus began teaching, “blessed are the pour in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.  Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.  Blessed are those who hungar and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.  Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.  Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.  Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.  Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.  

To live this way is to interrupt life as the world knows it.  When our enemies hurt us – we turn the other cheek – when someone takes our shirt we are to offer them our coat as well.  

Our lives are interrupted when we realize Christ and the ministry that he did and the huge, everlasting, never-changing interruption that he as a part of.  

“Jesus and his disciples went to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, sit here while I go over there and pray.  He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him and he began to be sorrowful and troubled.  Then he said to them.  My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death.  Stay here and keep watch with me. (Matthew 26:36-38)

Jesus understood the interruption that was coming.  He understood that soon he would be called upon to give the ultimate sacrifice.  

His life – “I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Are you beginning to see that sometimes what we see as interruptions are really opportunities to be changed, used, or moved by God.  

"For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways," declares the LORD. "As the heavens are higher than the earth,  so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts,” (Isaiah 55:8-9)

“Going a little farther, Jesus fell on his face and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me.  Yet not as I will, but as you will.” (Matthew 26:39)

He then went away for a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.” (Matthew 26:42)

I don’t think Jesus was particulary excited about this interruption.  

It all started when his friends left him, “Now the betrayer arranged a signal with them; the one I kiss is the man; arrest him.  Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Greetings Rabbi, and kissed him.  Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him.  Then all of his disciples deserted him and fled.” (Matthew 26:48-56)

“Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him.  Are you the King of the Jews?”

“It is as you say,” Jesus replied

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer.  Then Pilot asked him, “Do you not hear the testimony they are bringing against you?  But Jesus made no reply, not even a single charge – to the amazement of the governor.  

By this time a large crowd had gathered – lives interrupted – by something I’m afraid they did not quite understand.  Everyone stopped what they were doing to be part.  Everyone wanted to see what was causing such a huge interruption.  

“Now it is the governors custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd.  Barabas, a well known criminal was brought before the crowd, as well as Jesus.  

“Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ.” (Matthew 27:17)

“Barabbas!” they answered. “What then shall I do with Jesus?” Pilate asked.  

“Crucify him!”

“Why, what crime has he committed?”

“Crucify him!” when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere with the crowd he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said, “It is your responsibility.”

Then he released Barabbas to them, but had Jesus handed over to be flogged

Life was interrupted.  Jesus was sentenced to be beaten and then to be crucified.  Jesus’ life was majorly interrupted.  The lives of his family – interrupted – the lives of his followers – interrupted  - our lives – interrupted by the realization of what he did for us

To those there at that time the death of Jesus seemed like a useless interruption.  There could be no glory in this, there could be no victory in this.  Only defeat, only discouragement, only hurt

Sounds a lot like the way we feel when we are in the midst of an interruption.  What good could come of this?  Why would God allow such a thing to happen to me?  What have I don’t to deserve this treatment?  Why won’t he answer me?  

But God was there that day – the day that his son was crucified I believe he looked on with a tear in his eye for the pain his son was experiencing, but a smile on his face as he looked ahead at what was to come

John 3:16-17, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. “

Romans 8:28, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

God was not interrupted.  This was his plan all along.  He knew that we were going to mess up.  He understood that we were not strong enough to make it on our own.  But he loved us so much that he figured a way out.  

If we will just believe – if we will just accept 

God’s ways are perfect – even when we don’t understand

“Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the people of the world revere him.  For he spoke, and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.  The Lord spoils the plans of the nations; he thwarts the purposes of the people.  But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of his heart through all generations.” (Psalm 33:8-11)

“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you.  Plans to give you a hope and a future.” (Jeremiah 29:11)

“All you need to remember is that God will never let you down; he'll never let you be pushed past your limit; he'll always be there to help you come through it.”  (1 Corinthians 10:13 message)

Now remember the interruption you thought of earlier

What do you think God may be trying to do through this interruption in your life? Do you understand now that there is a reason for it, do you understand that if you trust in him with all your heart then he will make your way straight?

What is God saying to you right now?

Great – have you heard his voice tonight?  Have you seen how powerful his Words are?  Have you witnessed the interruption in the life of Christ and his followers that God made in to the best thing that has ever happened to us?

 

You have just experienced Christ in the silence. 

Father, thank you for your interruptions.  Thank you for the cross and for the difference that it has made in our lives.  Thank you for your word and the impact it makes in all that we face.  Thank you for your spirit for moving in our lives and showing us that your plans are not always our plans, nor are your ways, our ways.  Thank you for your love – that you would sacrifice your son so that we may have life to the fullest.  

We love you

Last weekend I took Ella to see Beauty and the Beast at Middletown High School. Of course she insist that she wear her Princess Belle costume. Against my better judgment I allowed her to go as a princess. It was a special mother daughter day with my girl. 

I have been so busy with school stuff and church stuff lately I haven't had enough of those moments. I don't want my girls to grow up. I want to keep them little and in my arms and in my house and in my car. I want to make all of the hard decisions for them and keep their lives pure.  This world is out to get them, it is out to destroy them. And believe it or not it sends a very convincing message. But I am not buying in because I have two little girls that have to follow me. And they will not follow me to destruction - they will follow me to life.

Romans 12:1-2, "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you."

Father, I pray that I stand out. As much as I try to fit in please help me not to. I want to be like you. I want to serve you. Help me not to fall prey to the distractions of this world. Keep me purely focused on you so that my girls may follow me as I follow you. Guard their little hearts and minds. Wrap your arms around them and hold them so close to you. May they always trust in you. Bless them O'God. Thank you for giving them to me. May we honor you with our lives. 

Hiatus

So I guess I have been on a blogging hiatus for quite some time. Deal is I just really had too much going on. I started back up on my Masters and had way too much homework. I was still helping Dave at the VCC by writing children's cirriculum, leading a Beth Moore small group and I was given the privilege of teaching a couple different times these past few months. On top of all that Addy had to get tubes in her ears (YUCK). Oh and did I mention we HAD to go to Florida for two weeks. I think that one was the hardest, of course. 

God has been working though. He has challenged me in so many ways. Over the past month I feel like I have been through a personal inventory in my own life. It's amazing how each time you put together a lesson to teach to a group of young people you leave the one that had the biggest heart check.

Romans 12:1-2 says  ^1-2 So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.

The process of yielding to the Lord and running past this world is a daily thing but it is a thing that I want to do. It amazes me how we get bogged down. So I don't struggle with KEY sins - but really are key sins anyways. How many times in the last month have I impatiently responded to my children or to the man in the car next to me. or how many times have I set a bad example or how many times have I  allowed the beauty and the dream to fit in a be accepted in this culture to lure me in and convince me I needed to take things to the next level. How many times have I set aside my quiet time to do something that makes life in this world easier. Fitting in has to no longer be a priority in my life and it should no longer be a priority in yours. I want Jesus in excess.

I love Christmas, not only is it my birthday, but now it is little Addy's birthday as well (or 2 days after Christmas anyways). There is something different stirring inside me this Christmas though. I love giving, getting, and buying presents. I love watching Ella's face when she gets the best thing in the world-  but it all seems different this year. Something inside of me would rather see the face of someone less fortunate opening something they never thought they'd have. How can I want more when I already have so much. God is prompting in me a spirit to give. I want to give outside the walls of my family. I want my children to want to give. I want to make a difference in the lives of those in this world around us. But where do you even start? I talked to Dave this morning and I guess God has been prompting his heart as well because he quickly agreed. We need to give a special gift to our Church this Christmas. No doubt everyone, every organization is struggling financially during this time but the Vineyard needs our help and they need our help to do the right things. So many lives are being changed at that place. I am amazed everyday to hear the stories I hear. I am jealous that Dave gets to work at such an amazing place and I am so blessed to even get to go. I know our money is not much but if God prompted the hearts of the 6,000 people that attend the Vineyard the way he did ours a little bit adds up to a lot. I guess small things done with love really will change the world. 

Job 31:23-28, 

4 "If I have put my trust in gold or said to pure gold, 'You are my security,' if I have rejoiced over my great wealth, the fortune my hands had gained, if I have regarded the sun in its radiance or the moon moving in splendor, so that my heart was secretly enticed and my hand offered them a kiss of homage then these also would be sins to be judged,  for I would have been unfaithful to God on high."

God - forgive me for putting my trust and my value in the things this world has to offer me. Help me to put my trust in you, help me to give the way you have given to me. Give me your eyes so I can see and give me your heart so I can give. Instead of the gift of want, want, want help me to pass on the gift of give, give, give to my girls. 

I can't believe it has almost been a year since Addy joined our family. She is such a great part it is hard to remember what it was like without her. She brings so much joy to our home. What a difference a year makes. So many things have changed for me this year. I have gone from full time ministry at my home church of 27 years - where I was constantly surrounded by youth, teaching, preaching, organizing, and outreaching to supporting my husband a his new place in ministry at the Vineyard, staying home raising my girls, and desperately trying to find my place in this new role. I love being a mom, I love staying home with my girls, and I love having a husband that is so passionate about ministry. I am so thankful that life has not been about me this year. I am guilty of thinking God has big plans for my life and forgetting to remember about the plans he has for the lives around me. I have learned more and been challenged more as an individual than ever before. Funny how when you take the focus off yourself and you begin to serve others and support others God is quick to make sure you are taken care of as well. I don't know what God has in store for me this next year but I am excited to say I will serve and support my family with the anticipation of big things.

Thank you God for blessing my life. May I honor you with the way I cherish my blessings. My cup overflows. To you be all the glory forever and ever

I am thankful for...

my sweet husband 

my sweet girls

that I can stay home and be a mom right now

the influence I have over my girls

lower gas prices

the Vineyard

God's call on my life

God's call on my husband's life

my family being so close to us

having help raising my girls

chocolate chunk brownies with white icing

coffee in the morning

my friends

my best friend, Crystal

my house

my past experiences that have shaped me

that God is still working with me on patience

that God is who He says He is

that I have power through Him

that eventually, through Him I can become a patient mom (even with no sleep)

I want to remember all that I am thankful for more often. Thanksgiving and Christmas should not be the exception. 

Thank you God that you have blessed me and my family. You have given us so much life. You have given us so much period. Even though I do not deserve the least of it you still stand by me and lift me up. Help me to realize daily how much you have given me. I love you so much. May I be a blessing to others because of the mighty works you have done in my life. I give you all the praises. 

I love you Father, Amen. 

Today may be one of the three best days of my life. We are on vacation but that's not why. Dave and I got to have one of the best conversations with Ella today. I will never forget this moment. It went something like this.
Daddy those girls in my book are mean
Oh really Ella, why are they mean
Because they don't have Jesus in their heart
How do you know they don't have Jesus in their heart
Because they are mean daddy
Mommy, I told Daddy that the girls in my book are mean because they don't have Jesus in their heart
That's right Ella
Do I have Jesus in my heart mommy
Well, Ella you have to ask Jesus to come and live in your heart, is that something that you want to do
Yea
All you have to do is ask Jesus to come and live in your heart and he will
Then I will be good
Well, Ella, you are already so good but Jesus will come and live in your heart and help you be even better
Okay mommy
At this point in time I sent her to Dave since this is his speciality but I stood in the doorway and listened to their conversation...
So, Ella you know that Jesus loves you
Yes Daddy
And you know he loved you so much that he died for you and he wants to live in your heart forever
Yes Daddy and he will make me a better person
Okay Ella well the Bible says you have to ask Jesus to come into your heart so I am going to pray and you need to repeat after me okay.
Okay
Dear Jesus
I love you
Thank you for loving me
I am sorry for the times I am bad
Please come into my heart and live
Help me to be a better girl
I love you
Amen
Ella: Now Jesus lives in my heart daddy?
Yea Ella
Mommy guess what
what Ella
Jesus lives in my heart!

and then we threw a party and called all the grandma's and grandpa's and mimi's and uncle david's and told them that Jesus now lived in Ella's heart

Oh man, I love this girl so much. my heart has been so blessed today to know that Ella's name is written on God's book of life. He has big plans for her life. way bigger than we could ever dream. I am so blessed to walk through this world with her. Thank you Jesus for dying for my daughter. I love you so much

Life has been crazy busy lately. But I am loving every minute of this craziness with my girls! God has blessed me so much.

I am pushing to become and example for others to follow. More so I am pushing to become an example that I want my girls to follow. I want to stand before them as they grow up and say come and follow me as I follow Christ. I want them to see and grow up with a mom that is crazy in love with Jesus. I want them to want what I have for themselves. I want to inspire them.

Father make me someone that my girls can follow. Give me peace, and patience, give me a gentle spirit. May my words be uplifting and pleasing to you in every way. Thank you for my family, I am so blessed. Use me to change them. Use them to grow me. 

I love you

Leader

Significant leaders lead by example - Can you say to someone follow me as I follow Christ?  Can you say that to those who know you best? Better yet, would they follow you because they know you know the way?

Lead by example

"Set an example for others in life in love, in faith and in purity." 1 Tim 4:12

I have a sick baby girl :(

I am now the proud mom of a walker!  Addy's walking 2 days before she turns 9 months! Oh man we are in trouble.

These are my three favorite people in the entire world. I love, love, love them.