Renewed

Over the past month or so I've been having a 'dry season.'  It's not that I've been down or depressed, but rather lacking in the joy and zeal that I normally have for life.  My daily living has been great, but I've been missing something.  Then it occurred to me.  It wasn't  my circumstances or health, but rather my spiritual well being.  

Do you ever have times that you just feel dry?  In the past few days, I have renewed my JOY. The Lord has always been right there waiting.  I was the one who took some time off. But my soul can't survive with time off.  I need to be in His word, quenching my soul's thirst; feeding my spirit with His love. 

This is what I read today:

The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving  toward all He has made.

The Lord upholds all those who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down... You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.

The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all he has made.

The Lord is near to all who call on Him.  He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him...

The Lord watches over all who love Him.

My mouth will speak in praise of the Lord.  Let every creature praise his holy name for ever and ever.

Psalm 145:13-21

Enjoying the View

Ahhh.... the view!  

This is my dear Dad and our girls after a hike to the top.

We spent the long weekend in our favorite way: in the mountains and together with family.

My brother, who serves in the military, was able to join us (a special treat).  We kayaked down the river, played outside, relaxed, golfed, read, laughed, and ate my Momma's cooking.  We stayed up too late playing my parent's new Wii game... and slept in.  

Too bad everyday can't be like a long holiday weekend!  

How loving of my heavenly Father to allow a weekend of refreshment.

Sometimes I forget that He loves me as I love my own children.  He delights in me and loves to watch me grow and rest and live.  O that I may bring Him glory!

How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!

Therefore the children of men put their trust under

the shadow of Your wings.   They are abundantly satisfied with the fullness of Your house, and You give them drink from the river of Your pleasures.

For with You is the fountain of life,

in Your light we see light. 

Psalm 36:7-9

13 Years

No children,

no tv,

no computer,

no grocery shopping.

No whining,

no arguing,

no cartoons,

no homework,

no carpool lines,

no LAUNDRY,

no phone calls,

no dog to take out,

no cooking,

no cleaning.

Am I daydreaming? No! This is what my weekend looked like. I just returned from a wonderful weekend retreat at the beach with my husband. Just me and my man.

We strolled on the beach for 3 miles. We ate dinner. We rocked in the rocking chairs on the porch facing the bay. We talked. We listened. We worshiped. We laughed. We ... well anyways, you get the idea.

Only twice did we catch ourselves saying wouldn't the kids just love this? Of course they would have loved the perfect weather, the wide open spaces and the beach; but this was about us. We were WAY overdue for a weekend away. It was great. We came back refreshed, more in love, and ready to lavish love on our kids.

Every relationship needs time to rest, refresh, and reconnect away from the daily grind. Date nights are great but there is something deeper and invaluable to having a weekend away. Time to remove ourselves from the parent/teacher/work roles and just be US.

Tomorrow we celebrate 13 years of marriage. Wow. That sounds so, um, old! Would you believe me if I said we got married when I was 15? Hmm... didn't think so.

Thirteen years full of laughter, tears, prayers, living and loving. Thank you, Lord!

My MOM

My mom, the lively one, who taught me to walk, talk,
sing, dance, play, love, enjoy life.

My mom, the beautiful one, who taught me about
manners, inner beauty and being a woman of grace.

My mom, the tender one, who cradled me as a babe,
held me when I was sick and hugged my tears away.

My mom, the patient one, who was consistent with
expectations, who taught me to drive, and loved me
through the adolescent years.

My mom, my personal cheerleader, rejoiced with me
over the smallest and greatest accomplishments.

My mom, the caring one, let me cry for no reason and held me when I was sad.
She held my hand as a child and as I gave birth
to her grandchildren.

My mom, the spunky one, still shows me how to have a good time, find a great sale and laugh out loud.

My mom, the giving one, shares her life with me everyday in some way:
a phone call, a visit, a card, a hug.

My mom, the teaching one, has shown me how to be a great mom.
She has shown me the true joys of motherhood.

My mom, the joyful one, can make any mundane task,
an exciting moment in time.

My mom, the godly one, has been my example of a life
well lived in Christ. Focused, virtuous, faithful is she.

My mom, the contented one, has taught me to be happy
with little and with much. True riches are in the tender
family moments we share.

My mom, my mentor, has guided me along this beautiful
journey we now share called motherhood.

Clean Hands

All of my adult life I've had an obsessive quirk that defines part of who I am. It is not necessarily a bad trait, unless carried to the extreme .... which I, on occasion, have done. Long before Purel showed up on every desk in the school system, I had an unremitting rule of clean hands in my classroom.

One might say that I have a slight obsession. I am still looking for the verse in the bible that says
"cleanliness is next to godliness." I know it is in there somewhere! I just can't seem to put my (clean) finger on it.

All three rows of my SUV have bottles of hand washing liquid. My kids are very accustomed to my obsession, um, I mean requests. Everyday after school, they jump in the car and grab a squirt.
They make me so proud. What a dedicated mom!
Okay, let's be real: their hands are clean, but please don't look in the bottom of their bookbags as I am sure you will find some living organisims that the CDC has not approved.

Back to the clean hands issue. One phrase I have asked a thousand and three times is "have you washed your hands" as they come out of the bathroom. So I thought I would save us all a little time and energy and did this:


How could I turn it down ... it is in chocolate brown and works perfectly in our downstairs bathroom! It is a very direct, subliminal message for all who enter:

Subtle, doncha think?
Now my kids come out of the bathroom and say "smell my hands, Mommy!" I don't even have to say a word.

I am thinking of starting a support group if you are interested:
The MGFA (mothers for a germ free america)
Want to join?

What kind of 'support group' would describe you?

It's about a Relationship

This morning I was reading from Psalm 119 and these word jumped out at me:

I rejoice in following your statutes 

as one rejoices in great riches.

I delight in your decrees.

I will not neglect your word.

Open my eyes that I may see 

wonderful things in your law.

Isn't that refreshing?!  I think this is the perfect example of the difference between a Christian walk of faith and other religions.  It is about the relationship I have with my Creator. 

What benefits these decrees have!  They keep us holy, protected, safe.  It is not simply a list of decrees that He puts forth just to wield power over us.  He acts in love.  

He is the definition of love.  My Father loves me enough to give me specific laws (i.e. ten commandments) to help me grow in my relationship with Him.  

I give my own children rules of the house, guidelines for behavior and expectations of daily living.  This is exactly what my heavenly father does.  I don't make rules just for the sake of rules for my children (whew... that would wear me out!)  Neither does he.  He loves me as His own.  

There is such beauty in surrender.  Don't fall prey to the lies Satan whispers to you. 

Christianity is not a religion.  It is a relationship.  A beautiful relationship built on His love and sacrifice, and my trust and obedience.

Live it today!