Day by Day

It used to be difficult finding purpose in the day to day, mundane life of a stay at home mom.  There were so many days spent covered in spit up, picking up cheerios and cleaning dirty diapers, that it was easy to feel like I was "missing out" some how.  That I didn't have a "real" job or ministry, and therefore wasn't serving God's kingdom because, let's face it, I rarely even left the house!

But as I go through various seasons of my life I am learning (and re-learning) that it doesn't matter whether I am out working in the "real" world, or at home with the kids; out on the mission field or in the church nursery.  What God expects of me does not change.

God's word states, "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 1 Corinthians 10:31.


"...whatever you do..."  Whatever you do in your family, in your job, in your church, in the world, in public or in private, "do it ALL for the glory of God."  


All of God's actions end in HIS glory, whether it is His creation, His providence, His judgement or His mercy.  It is the same with His son, Jesus Christ.  All that Christ did and does has the glory of God as its end.  His life, His sacrifice, His suffering, death and resurrection all bring God glory.  Therefore, everything that we do, every word, every action, every deed, ought to be singularly focused.  To the glory of God alone.  


Now that I am teaching full time, I face new challenges.  New frustrations.  New discouragements.  But the reason I am there is to love my students and share Christ with them.  To honor and glorify God in how I prepare and how I teach, in how I speak and how I (try) to show patience.

No matter what situation I find myself in, or where I am working, or what I am doing, God still calls me to live and act in a way that brings Him glory.  I love the song "Do Everything" by Steven Curtis Chapman.  It is such a great reminder!  I hope you are blessed by the song and the truth of God's word today!

Three.

Merry Christmas Eve!  I hope you all had a wonderful day filled with joy!

Our day was filled with presents and CAKE.  Yup, we have celebrated yet another birthday at our house today.  My beautiful, sweet, smart, giving, precious first born turned THREE today.

She's growing up so fast.  I can hardly believe how smart she is, how caring she is, how much she loves her baby brother and sister, and how encouraging she can be. 

The other day, I was trying to open something for her and was having a hard time.  She said, "You can do it Mommy.  You're strong like Jesus!"  Sometimes I cry just because I love her so very much. 

She loves to cuddle on the sofa with me, and she LOVES to sing.  That's the only thing she ever tells me about pre-school-what songs they sang.  I love hearing her sweet voice as she sings all her favorites.  

I'm so blessed and thankful for this precious girl God has brought into my life, and although I am happy and thankful that she is growing big and strong, sometimes I wish time could stand still for just a little while.  That she would not grow up quite so fast.

But I guess since that is not possible I will just try to enjoy every single moment.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY BEAUTIFUL GIRL!  WE LOVE YOU!  

My Baby Doll

November is a busy month at our house!  It's crazy hard to believe (at least for me, anyway...I was not really ready for this day yet...), but my sweet, easy going baby doll girl turned ONE yesterday.  

WHAT?!  I cannot even believe that an entire year has gone by...she used to be so tiny, and now it seems she is just moments away from running and chasing after her brother and sister.  

Ok, so she's not even walking yet, much less running, but she is a fantastic crawler, and cruises around the furniture.  

She is very vocal and loves to make fun sounds and imitate the noises that we make.  She also loves to clap her hands and wave "hi" and "bye."

She's still pretty petite as far as one year olds go, weighing between 19 and 20 pounds.  And she has just started to get her third tooth (first on the top).  

I still can't decide if her personality will be more like her brother or her sister, but one thing is for sure...

she's pretty much the cutest, sweetest, most precious one year old I know, and we love her SO VERY MUCH!!

On This Day...

Two years ago, our beautiful, amazingly strong baby boy was born, and our lives were forever changed.  I can hardly believe two years have already gone by.  After his birth, it felt like our time in the neonatal intensive care unit would never end; time seeming to move in slow motion.  And yet now, it is merely a distant memory.  

I am so proud of the boy he is becoming.  He acts and talks and runs and jumps [and screams and cries] just like any normal, healthy two year old does.  

To see him interact with other children, or to watch as he thoughtfully cleans up his toys, or to hear his excitement about the plane in the sky or the train driving by, you would never know the difficulties he faced in his first 97 days on earth. 

He loves to follow his big sisters lead, and he loves to dote on his sweet baby doll.  One day, they will know just how blessed they are to have a brother like him.

I am so blessed to be his momma, and we are so very proud of his endurance and strength!!

Fun on the Farm!

The weather here has been absolutely FABULOUS, so yesterday we headed out to the country to go on a hayride and pick out pumpkins.  It was a really fun (although tiring) afternoon!

Admiring the pumpkins!

Ready for the hayride!

Waving to the cows!

Calm and laid back as usual :)

Everyone was so tired by the end, I couldn't get a smile with their new pumpkins...

But my baby doll was happy to oblige! 

I just love fall!  And now we're looking forward to some delicious pumpkin recipes for these freshly picked pumpkins!!  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!! :)

One Reason I Love My Job

Let me preface this post by saying, I do not always love my job.  Some days, I am so exhausted, I can barely get out of bed.  Some days, I am so tired of repeating myself, I think I might snap.  And some days, my high school students act more like two year olds than my two year old.

But.

Then there are days when God uses one of those students to bless me and encourage me in ways I have never been blessed before.

I have a senior who is a refugee from Nepal.  He is an amazing, Godly leader, and I am learning a lot from him.  He recently came to class and explained to me that during his quiet time, he prays for a handful of students and teachers specifically, and by name.  For the past few days, he had been praying for me and wanted me to know.

He then handed me a piece of paper that said:

"So thankful that God has given me teacher and sister in Christ like you.  I always feel bless to be in your class.  Let you know that you're in my prayer...

 This is how I pray for you...

Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; The Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace." 

1.  I pray that God give you wisdom that you need to teach high school students!  For His glory!

2.  I pray that you would grow closer to Christ each day to become a better mother, wife, teacher, sister in Christ for His glory.

3.  I pray that you heart would be right before God, and that you will be faithful to study God's word each day.

4.  I pray that God would grant you wisdom in the decisions that you need to make each day.

5.  I pray that you will be blessed and a way of blessing to others each and every day of your life.

6.  I pray that God be with your family and make your family a blessed and happy family."

 I am so grateful for the opportunity to meet so many wonderful youth, who encourage me, strengthen me, and challenge me in my faith.  Please pray that I can be a Godly example to them, and that I will have opportunities to share the things that God has taught me through my life experiences so far.