Things That Make a Mom Cry

Loads of dirty laundry.
Loads of clean laundry waiting to be folded and put away.

A sink full of dirty dishes.
A husband who unloads and reloads the dishwasher without being asked.

Play rooms that look like an EF5 tornado tore through them.
Children who whine and complain about cleaning up the mess THEY made (with no grumbling whatsoever at the time of destruction).

Precious girlies who run up to you in the morning, give you a big hug and a kiss, and whisper in your ear, "I love you, Mommy."

A daughter who, out of the blue, asks her friend, while picking up sticks at the park, if he has asked Jesus into his heart like she did - and then proceeds to them him so was scared and didn't know what to say but her mommy and daddy helped her.

Driving past the WIC building where you used to have to go every month to get "coupons" so you could feed your family.

Passing the same building on your way home from watching your oldest daughter have a blast in her gymnastics class, knowing that 2 years ago you were scrambling to find enough money to pay the bills and put gas in the cars and food on the table and realizing that now you have "extra" to do fun things like put your little girl in a gymnastics class.

Coming home to find your husband's car parked in the driveway when you didn't expect to see him until after 11 pm.

Hearing your girls giggle and laugh as they hug their daddy and tell them they love him.

Putting your girls in the bath tub and watching them play together and call each other movie stars as they pile bubbles on their heads.

Reading a Bible story to your girls and having them ask you questions about Jesus.

Getting good-night kisses from all 3 of your girls.
The slobbery ones from the wide-mouthed baby might have been my favorite.

Coming downstairs to a quiet house.

Watching "Parenthood." (I still have 29 minutes, as I write, but I know that I will be crying at some point, if not multiple times, during the show.)

Knowing that this episode takes you one night closer to the final episode of the season, and of the show entirely.

Understanding that the topics and issues the TV show addresses are VERY real and taking place in families all around the world at this very moment.

Recognizing that people are hurting - people I know and love - and I can't personally do anything to "fix" the problems.

Hearing God whisper in my ear, "I know...I will take care of them...all things work together for good of those who love Me..."

Resting in God's strong arms and trusting Him to carry my friends, my family, ME every step of the way as we travel along the paths He has carefully and lovingly prepared for us.

Today, I will have cried all of these tears.
You would think I wouldn't have any tears left to cry.
But, my guess is that I will cry all these and more again tomorrow...

Irony of All Ironies

This morning I am dealing with an ironic situation...

I sent a message to a former cheerleader who was not exactly in my circle of friends during my high school days, two girls I have never met and live on opposite sides of the United States, a girl I haven't seen since we were in the same high school Physics class (cough - 12 years ago), a girl I haven't seen since we were RAs together in college (cough, cough - 10 years ago), and a girl I have only met once - she's the cousin of a good friend from high school and college.

Why did I share my heart with these women?
Why did I open myself up and lay myself bare before them?
Why did I turn to them for help before anyone else?

Because they are my team mates.
Because they are my friends.
Because they are my SISTERS in Christ.

I needed prayer.
I was feeling the enemy attack.
I couldn't stand alone.
I needed help.
I needed support.
I needed someone to stand with me on the front lines, to help hold up my shield of faith, to put our shields TOGETHER and block the fiery arrows being shot at me.

I was feeling discouraged.
Frustrated.
Defeated.

But I wasn't giving up.
I wasn't giving in.
I wasn't going to let Satan win, not on my life.

So, in desperation and with great humility, I admitted I that I was weak.
I acknowledged I couldn't make it through the day alone.
I knew my sisters would gather around me, from separate corners of the country, and stand shoulder to shoulder with me, and face our common enemy TOGETHER.

I knew as we did, we would stand strong.
I knew we would be victorious.

Yes, we would take some nasty blows.
Yes, Satan would try all the dirty tricks up his sleeve.

BUT, I also knew God would be fighting for us.
I knew He would not let us slip or fall.
I knew He would surround us and protect us and uplift us.
I knew He would defend us.
I knew He would come out on TOP with us, bringing Him massive amounts of glory as He showed His faithfulness and power.

After I sent my message to my 5 sisters, I loaded up my 3 young girls to run some errands.  I turn the radio from the Sports Station (been listening to the Royals' games in the car) to Air 1...

"Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world..." blasts through the speakers and straight to my heart.

Point - God.

Immediately after the song was over, the DJs came on explaining that it was "Celebrate the Little Things" Friday.  They encouraged people to call in and share something SMALL that was good, that called for celebration (even if it was silly or seemingly insignificant).  The male DJ (don't know his name because I don't listen to this particular station all that often, but obviously God knew it was where the knob needed to be today) told how his son had taken out the trash without being asked.  "Come on and celebrate good times - come on!" played and I couldn't help but smile.  The female DJ exclaimed that she and her husband were going on a date that night.  "Come on and celebrate good times - come on!" blasted again.  And I was reminded that even though I might be having a rough morning, I had MANY things to celebrate, MANY blessings to count, MANY incidents of God's ongoing work in my life.

Point - God.

More music started to play...

I don't remember all the other songs that came on the radio, but I know the volume was turned up and I was having a private worship session in the front seat.  My girls might have wondered why the music was blaring or why I was singing along and lifting one hand in the air from time to time, but that's okay.

I do know at one point Francesa Battistelli's "He Knows My Name" came on and again spoke to me at the very place I was, reminding me of the Truth with one of the very issues I was struggling with this morning.

Point - GOD.

Again, I can't recall every single song I heard while in the car, but I do know God was choosing them and using them to help me dig in and fight back.  As listened and sang along, something happened deep within me.

My heart was strengthened.
I was encouraged.
My hope was restored.
My joy was renewed.
My energy was replenished.
I went from slumped shoulders to standing straight and tall, confident in the Lord and the GOOD plans He has for me.

Point - GOD!

Almost as soon as we got home, we had to get back in the car to run yet another errand.  Again, God was in control of the song selection.  Once more, "Greater is He who is in me than he who is the world..." was on.  As if God knew I needed the reminder once more!

The very next song was point on as well - a new one to me, but oh so good!!!  I Am They's "From the Day" must have been written with me in mind!!!

I surrendered myself and my situation to God - again - and could almost instantly feel my heart begin to overflow.  I was stepping out of the darkness and into the light.  God was opening my eyes, and my heart, reminding me that He has already saved me and secured the victory.  I could rest my heart in His arms.  I could sing and dance.

Point - GOD!!!

Not sure when, but "We Believe" by the Newsboys played and reminded me of all the Truths I know but sometimes forget when I am being attacked and beaten down.  As I recalled these promises from God's Word and filled my mind with descriptions of His character, it was as if my shield of faith was lifted so I could once more block those fiery darts and arrows the evil one was relentlessly hurtling at me one after another.  He had been on target for sure - he has a great aim - and had wounded me.  BUT, my sisters were praying (all 5 had sent me messages by this point to let me know they had my back!).  God was moving.  He was extinguishing the flames in one sense and adding coals to the fire in another.  He was working in my heart, getting me pumped, excited, ready to march into battle and be on the OFFENSIVE for a change.  He was leading the attack, and I was running with Him, sword lifted high and screaming at the top of my lungs, "Greater is He who is in me than he who is in the world!!!"

Not sure if you've been keeping score, but God is DEFINITELY winning!!!
He always does.

Maybe you are in the middle of a battle yourself.
Maybe you feel defeated.
Maybe you fear you have already lost.

I assure you that is NOT the case.
Take heart.

"So humble yourselves before God.  Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.  Come close to God, and God will come close to you."  ~James 4:7-8

"The Lord Himself will fight for you.  Just stay calm." ~ Exodus 14:14

"The Lord your God is going on ahead of you.  He will fight for you..."  ~Deuteronomy 1:30

"For the Lord your God is going with you!!  He will fight for you against your enemies, and He will give you victory!"  ~ Deuteronomy 20:4

"For the Lord your God is living among you.  He is a mighty Savior.  He will take delight in you with gladness.  With His love, He will calm all your fears.  He will rejoice over you with joyful songs."  ~Zephaniah 3:17

"But you belong to God, my dear children.  You have already won a victory over those people, because the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world!"  ~1 John 4:4


Just as God used my sisters to help me this morning, I am here to support and encourage YOU.  2 shields are better than 1, so let's put ours together and stand our ground against Satan, side by side.

We can't do this alone.
We weren't meant to.

Rather, we are called to come together.
And as we do, we are stronger.
We are better.
We are victorious!!!!

And the best part is that God can use anyone to help you in your time of need, even the people you would least expect.

Like He did with me this morning.

I messaged a former cheerleader...in high school, not only was she NOT in my circle of friends, she was someone I looked down on and made fun of and treated with contempt.  Not my best moment, but true.  If God can change my heart and make this former cheerleader one of my closest friends and one of the first people I go to for help, than God can use anyone...

I messaged 2 girls I have never met in person.  Yet, they too are some of my closest friends, my go-to's for prayer when I am feeling discouraged or overwhelmed as a wife and mother.  If God can use them in my life, than He can use anyone in yours...

I messaged 2 girls I haven't seen for over 10 years.
I messaged a girl I have met once, and only then because she was my friend's cousin.
If God can use these girls, He can use anyone in your life too...

I do find it quite ironic that these are the 5 sisters I turned to first.
By now I shouldn't be surprised at how God works, and yet He never ceases to amaze me.

As He did with every song on the radio this morning.
I can't even sing a single note on tune, and here He is using music to speak to my heart and restore my spirit all day long.

Yes, it's the irony of all ironies, but the fact of the matter is that's how God works more times than not.  And I am totally okay with that, because His ways are always better than mine, and He ALWAYS wins!!!

So take that, Satan!

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 11 Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 12 For we[d] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 14 Stand your ground, putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News so that you will be fully prepared.[e] 16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[f]17 Put on salvation as your helmet, and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

Baby Steps

I must have blinked too many times because my baby girls are growing up and aren't babies anymore!

My oldest daughter - the one who first made me a mommy - turned 5 this month!!!

Coralyn's party launches our family into "Birthday Season" in our house.  In November, my youngest will be ONE!  And then, in December, we'll have a 3 year old on our hands as well.  Kellah, the soon-to-be-3-year-old has determined she will have a Zebra Party to celebrate.  Kyiah, the baby, doesn't really have an opinion on her birthday party theme, so I have chosen to go with BUTTERFLIES.  Butterflies signify new beginnings, fresh starts, hope, and the beauty of life (at least they do to me).

As I was thinking about my girls growing up, God seemed to use specifically my baby to teach me a lesson about life...

Kyiah is only 10 months old, but she is walking all around the house like she owns the place these days.  She's been taking steps and getting more and more comfortable over the past month, BUT she still falls quite often.  As I said, she's only 10 months old and is new at this whole getting around on 2 feet thing.  Kyiah doesn't let anything stop her though.  She trips or loses her footing or falls down for whatever reason, but she NEVER stays down for long.  Within seconds she is back on her feet and ready to go again.  There's no stopping her from getting where she wants to go or doing what she's put her mind to doing...

The best part is her smile.
And the FIERCENESS with which she goes about getting around.
She's ALL IN.

If I am close to her, she'll get up and basically race towards me as fast as she can.
If she is on something and I reach out to get her, she simply "jumps" into my arms, no fears or worries that she'll fall or that I would drop her.  Complete trust.  And joy, as she smiles from ear to ear and lets out a precious baby giggle!
If she is around her older sisters, she will do her best to keep up with them, not caring that she is still just a baby and they are more than 3 times her size!

We were at the park the other day and little Kyiah was doing her best to get in on all the action.  She looked so small in comparison to the big park area...

Yesterday, as I was watching my girls play and then later down on the floor stacking blocks with them, God spoke to me.

You know how Kyiah just goes for it?  Be like her.

You know how Kyiah can be wobbly on her feet, but she keeps getting better?  You will too.

You know how Kyiah falls down and then gets right back up?  Follow her example.

You know how Kyiah trusts you to help her, to lead her, to catch her?  Do the same with Me.

You know how you encouraged Kyiah over and over to take that first step, and waited with outstretched arms for her to come to  you?  I am the same way.

You know how you cheered and celebrated when Kyiah took those first shaky steps, not caring that she wasn't a master walker right from the start?  I am like that too.

You know how Kyiah gets better and better as she takes more and more steps and gets steadier and steadier on her feet?  You will too, as you walk with Me.

Maybe you are in a place where you need to take a FIRST step, a BABY step.
But you're scared.
You're unsteady on your feet.
You're wobbly.

Maybe you took that step, but fell down.
Get back up.
You'll get stronger and steadier as you take more steps.

God is right there with you.
He will hold your hand and help you learn how to walk.
He will guide you each step of the way.

Just don't sit there.
Don't even stand still.
Take that first step, a BABY step.
And see where God will lead you....

What a Day

Yesterday was a remarkable day.

Nothing truly spectacular or out of this world happened.
Rather, a series of several "little" things took place all throughout the day that reminded me once again how very blessed I am.

To start, I woke up healthy.  I was able to work out and go for a run.  I enjoyed some "alone time" as I made my way through the neighborhood streets and prayed and let God fill my heart with His presence and the peace that comes with knowing He is WITH me.

I returned home and took a shower, with clean, hot water.
I ate breakfast - choosing from a myriad of foods in my fridge and pantry.
I read my Bible, on my phone, in my language, without fear of being discovered or arrested.

I nursed and cuddled by baby girl.
I prepared snacks for my 2 older girls - again choosing from a variety of fresh, healthy foods.
I got everything ready so we could head to the zoo, where we would meet up with some friends.
I fed my 2 older girls breakfast - once more having plenty of food to offer them.
I helped my girls get dressed, letting them pick out clothes from an overflowing closet.
We loaded up in our Yukon, which was full of gas and in great working condition.
We drove to the zoo on paved roads, following traffic rules all drivers knew and understood are in place for our safety.

We walked around the zoo with good friends.
We saw otters, polar bears, monkeys, orangutans, tigers, kangaroos, camels, llamas, penguins, snakes, and quite a few other animals.

We rode a carousel.

We sat down on a picnic table in a shaded area to enjoy the lunches we had packed.

We said good-bye and loaded back up into our Yukon to head home.

I got a Facebook message from a team mate saying she was enrolling a new distributor on her team.  She was beyond excited that her friend was going to join us on this incredible, life-changing journey!

We played and rested.
Then, we went out again, this time to a nearby park to hang out with more friends.
The girls swang and slid and ran around collecting walnuts and acorns.
I chatted with a fellow mom, encouraging each other that our kids are eating enough and learning and growing and interacting well with other boys and girls their age.
We enjoyed berry chillers from Starbucks.

I got another Facebook message from another team mate saying she was enrolling a new loyal customer and needed to know how to place her under a distributor on her team to help her out and to get closer to promoting herself.  She was super excited about how God was bringing people to her and having them celebrate with her as she sees some amazing results from using the natural health products herself.

When it was time to go home, we loaded up in the Yukon yet again.
We stopped by the grocery store to get a gift card for a friend in the hospital.
We finally got home and sat down to eat supper, which had been cooking all day in the crockpot.

As I put the meat, potatoes, and carrots on the girls' plates, I talked with a fellow mama on the phone and signed her up to be on my It Works team.

Yet another team mate sent me a message letting me know she would be enrolling a new customer and placing her under a team mate.  That order would mean she promoted to the next rank in our company, and she was delighted to say the least.  She was just as excited about the fact that the order would also mean that another girl on her team was promoting too.

By now, I was in tears - of joy - as I watched God knock down obstacles, move barriers, and answer prayers.  I was filled with awe at how He was working.  BUT, He wasn't done...

I made a quick trip to the hospital to visit a friend recovering from surgery.  We chatted.  We prayed, knowing that only God could completely heal her and restore her to full health.  Quickly.  So she could be with her 2 girls again.  We hugged and I went back home.

My husband and I put the girls to bed, all dressed in comfy pajamas and tucked in under their favorite blankets and surrounded by their most precious stuffed animals.  Then, we went back downstairs to enjoy a little snack and catch the rest of the baseball game...

The Royals were playing a Wild Card game and needed the win to continue in the postseason.  They were down 7 to 3 in the bottom of the 8th inning.  You would have thought all hope of winning was lost.  BUT, the fans put on their rally caps and cheered their team to victory.  That's right, after TWELVE innings the Royals pulled off the win, defeating the Oakland A's and advancing to the postseason for the first time since 1985!!!

As my husband and I watched the game from the comfort of our couch, I got a text message from a fellow mama wanting to know if there was still time to enroll and be eligible for the $10,000 bonus?  Again, I was moved to tears.  This mama friend had been thinking about joining my team for over a YEAR and was finally ready to go for it.  I cried as I put her info in and signed her up and then sent her my welcome packet in a Facebook message.

Finally, around midnight, my husband and I climbed our stairs and flopped down into bed, exhausted from a long, but GOOD, day.

Even as my baby girl decided to celebrate the Royals' victory at 1 am and then again from 3-4, I couldn't complain.

I was indeed tired when she woke up at 6 and wanted to nurse AGAIN and then crawl all over me rather than going back to sleep.  Yet, as I laid there in bed trying my best to get in some precious snuggles, I had to smile.

I didn't have to get up.
I didn't have to rush around.
I didn't have to wake my older 2 girls who were thankfully still sound asleep.

Instead, I crawled out of bed once my baby girl would no longer stay put.  We went downstairs, made breakfast, cleaned up the counters, loaded the dishwasher and let it take care of the dirty dishes for us, got supper ready, and read some encouraging devotionals on my phone.

As my older girls came downstairs, one at a time, I got breakfast ready for them.
They all played with the plethora of toys we have in our room set aside just for that purpose.

I read a chapter from Daniel and was amazed at what God was teaching me.  I shared those thoughts on Facebook and checked in on some team pages to see what was happening in the It Works family.

My baby girl is presently in her crib taking a much-needed nap after her restless night and early morning.  My 2 older girls are using the empty cereal box to make a wonderful creation that they will use all day to carry out the stories in their wild imaginations.

I will attempt to get a work out in, then shower - again with clean, hot water.
We will all get dressed - in different clothes than yesterday.
We will load up in the Yukon and drive to multiple stores to pick up items for my oldest daughter's birthday party that is on Saturday.
We will come home and eat lunch - picking whatever we want and not worrying about having enough to go around or fill everyone's tummy.
We will play and rest and read books.  We might watch a little mini movie on Netflix.
We will eat supper.
We will change and go to a local church so our girls can participate in the AWANA program, learning God's Word and having fun with friends their age.
We will come home, brush our teeth, get into our pajamas, and climb into our beds.

We will do all of this without much thought.
We won't realize how blessed we are to have electricity, paved roads, running water, food, clothes, and so much more that far too many people in the world DON'T have access to today, or any day.
We might take our freedoms for granted.
We might think we are entitled to this "luxurious" lifestyle.
And if something doesn't go exactly the way we planned or intended, we might get upset.

"What a day!" we might sigh.

Rather, "What a day!" we should praise God for His abundant blessings He is lavishly pouring out on us day after day after day.

I for one am completely overwhelmed with the ways He has made Himself known to me in the past couple days.

As I reflect on my perfectly ordinary day yesterday, I would be remiss to thank God for bringing It Works into my life.

For without that "job," I wouldn't have been able to spend the day at the zoo yesterday and see my girls exclaim in wonder as they watched the polar bear do back flips in the water or try to give the penguins high fives through the glass window.

Without that "job," I would have never met my friend we hung out with at the park.  I wouldn't have gotten out of my comfort zone and introduced myself to a random stranger at the library, nor joined the Moms Club she told me about, or followed up to have a separate play date with just her.

Without that "job," I would have never met my friend I visited in the hospital either.  I wouldn't have handed her a coupon at the splash park that led to a conversation that lead to another play date that led to an amazing friendship only God could create.

Without that "job," I wouldn't have had extra cash to use to get her family a gift card for the grocery store so they would have one less thing to worry about financially this week.

Without that "job," I wouldn't have gotten encouraging messages all throughout the day from my team mates letting me know how excited they were about new customers, new team mates, promotions, and the joy they had from helping others.

Without that "job," I wouldn't have had the opportunity to welcome 2 more mamas to my team.  I wouldn't have had the tools or resources to equip them to make extra money for their families so they can stay home with their babies and pay off debt and enjoy life to the fullest.

Without that "job," I wouldn't have been able to sleep in this morning after a long night.  I wouldn't have been able to get up at my leisure, fix breakfast for my girls, plan a special birthday party for my daughter who is so excited to turn 5, or do any of the other "normal" things I do all day every day without a second thought.

You see, this "job" is so much more than that.
This "job" is what makes it possible for me to say with tears of joy, "What a day!"

Not Again!

I have been reading through the story of Joshua and can't help but wonder if Israel's "fearless" leader ever thought to himself, "Not again..."

Time to go to battle.
Time to destroy a city.
Time to fight against NUMEROUS kings who have joined together in hopes of having a better chance of protecting their lands.


I can't imagine getting up every morning and having to lead the troops to war, again.  Just thinking about being in charge of that many people and making sure they are obeying your orders and following God's laws and such tires me out.

Heck, I AM worn out every day after taking care of MY troops - 3 precious, adorable, CUTE girls who are lovely and wonderful, but honestly take every ounce of energy I have!

Thankfully, we don't have to go to march to battle every single day.

Oh, but wait.  WE DO.

As believers, we ARE at war.  With an unseen, but very real, enemy.  One who wants nothing more than to DESTROY us.  His goal every single day is to tear us down, injure us, sideline us, distract us, wear us out, and ultimately KILL us.  He doesn't want us to know that though.  He does everything he can to keep us from remembering we are at war, to realize the seriousness of our situation, to understand the urgency of fighting with every fiber of our being at ALL times.

I think one of his most effective tactics is keeping us BUSY.
I know I fall prey to this far too often.
Granted, I am busy doing good things, but still...

And so this morning, I soaked up the peace and quiet as I rocked my baby girl.  She laid on my chest - very unusual for my wiggle worm - and we simply SAT there doing "nothing" but enjoying each other.  I was so thankful I didn't have to rush off to work or have any place to go or anything I really, truly needed to do right at that moment.

Normally, I like to get out of the house and fill our days with fun activities - the park, the library, the zoo, the nature center, or whatever.  BUT today, we are going to stay home and RELAX.  I am going to tackle the dreaded task of switching out our summer clothes to the fall wardrobe.  This means I have to sort through all the clothes in the closets and drawers and get them back in their proper tubs, which you would think would be easy.  Just put the baby clothes back into the 3-6 month tub, BUT we still have 0-3 stuff and it's mixed in with the 3-6 month stuff and some 6-9 month stuff and so on...  Same with our sizes 2-5 for the older girls!!!  I COULD complain about the job, but instead I am going to CHOOSE to be grateful.  You see, we didn't pay for any of the clothes in the closets or drawers or tubs.  We are BEYOND BLESSED as grandparents, friends, neighbors, and people from church have graciously given us bags and bags and bags of clothes and shoes over the years.  We get as much use out of every single piece of clothing or every pair of shoes (or boots) given to us, as Kyiah is on round 3 of everything :)

We will probably take a few breaks from sorting and organizing and folding and hanging clothes to read books, do a craft project, and play princess or whatever make-believe game my girls have in their wild, imaginative minds today.

And as I cherish these precious moments with my darling daughters, I will be PRAYING for them, for our family.  In so doing, I will be wielding my sword and holding up my shield as the enemy does his best to attack me today.

Rather than me being the one sighing, "Not again..." as Satan plots against me, HE is going to be the one growling in frustration as he realizes I am ready ONCE AGAIN for him and not falling for his busy ploy today...

Won't you join me in STANDING FIRM?
Let's help each other get our armor on.
Let's lock arms and fight TOGETHER!!!!

10 A final word: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. 

11 Put on all of God’s armor 

so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. 

12 For we[d] are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, 

but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, 

against mighty powers in this dark world, 

and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.

13 Therefore, put on every piece of God’s armor 

so you will be able to resist the enemy in the time of evil. 

Then after the battle you will still be standing firm. 

14 Stand your ground, 

putting on the belt of truth and the body armor of God’s righteousness. 

15 For shoes, put on the peace that comes from the Good News 

so that you will be fully prepared.[e] 

16 In addition to all of these, hold up the shield of faith 

to stop the fiery arrows of the devil.[f]

17 Put on salvation as your helmet, 

and take the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

18 Pray in the Spirit at all times and on every occasion. 

Stay alert and be persistent in your prayers for all believers everywhere.

What You DIDN'T See

Yesterday, the girls and I attended the First Annual Mother Daughter Brunch at our church.  I was so excited to spend the morning with other mamas and their girls - young and old.  I woke up early and made an egg casserole and some gluten-free pumpkin muffins.  I showered, got somewhat dressed up, and then set about getting the girls ready.  Finding 3 pink outfits to coordinate my pink and brown assemble was fairly easy seeing as how 85% of the girls' clothes are pink!!!  I got them all dolled up - dresses on, hair bows in - and took some fun pictures.

Then, we headed out to the brunch.

We even got a cute picture of all of us there, which I was VERY thankful for because I had taken the time and effort to get us ALL in matching outfits and wanted to capture that on film so we could look and remember our fun time together.

Kellah was being a stinker and wouldn't open her eyes, but hey, we still got a picture together, with everyone at least FACING the camera and NO ONE crying or screaming or picking their nose.

From all appearances, you would think we are happy, excited, calm, cool, collected, and enjoying our morning together.  If so, I am a Master Magician and pulled off the best trick of the year.  I should star on America's Got Talent - Mommy Episode.

What you DIDN'T see was Kellah crying because Lawrence didn't pour any blueberry cereal in her bowl earlier that morning.

What you DIDN'T see was Kellah than balling because Lawrence didn't get her any juice (really it's keifer but we call it juice).  Or once Lawrence DID get her the mango keifer that she dropped her FULL cup and it spilled ALL over the kitchen floor.  Which of course caused Kellah to WEEP even more.  I had to keep myself from laughing when she cried out through the sobs and tears, "Daddy's a boy!!!"  As if his being a male was the root of the problem and the reason why the juice had spilled.

While my husband cleaned up THAT mess, I was taking care of the baby and trying to fry the bacon for the egg casserole, whisk the eggs, and put together the batter for the pumpkin muffins.  You DIDN'T see any of that craziness either.

You also DIDN'T see the baby smearing banana all over her hands and face and belly and hair.

You DIDN'T see me throwing all the long-sleeved onesies and fall clothes I could find in the 3-6 month tub out into the middle of Kyiah's bedroom floor, hoping to find something cute and in matching pink that she could wear to the brunch.

Furthermore, you DIDN'T see me have to wake up Coralyn at 9 am so that she could get up and ready  for the brunch so we could leave on time and get there before the whole thing was over.  You DIDN'T see her whining that she had to get up "so early" and that she was still tired.  You DIDN'T see me searching frantically for a long-sleeve shirt for Kellah to wear under her dress.  You DIDN'T see me crawl into the attic storage area looking for the tub of clothes, where the long-sleeve shirts must be hiding.  You DIDN'T see me jump when I heard a noise or me sigh a breath of relief when I realized it was just a bird, not a mouse.  You DIDN'T see me sort through one container only to find NOTHING for the fall season.  You DIDN'T see me grab the next container, groan when I saw the 3T label, and just hope we would find at least ONE SHIRT that my nearly 3-year-old little girl who still fits comfortably into 18 months clothes could wear that morning without swimming in it.  You DIDN'T see the baby crying at the closet door this whole time.  You DIDN'T see me jump for joy when I finally found a pink shirt that would suffice.  You DIDN'T see me rush back to the girls' bedroom and try to hold and soothe the crying baby while dressing the toddler who was crying AGAIN because this shirt was supposedly her sister's.  You DIDN'T see Coralyn demanding that I button her dress up and fix her hair.  You DIDN'T see the older girls arguing over who would get to wear a certain headband.  You didn't see that special headband BREAK when Kellah wouldn't hand it to me while I was nursing Kyiah.  I had told Kellah to let me hold the headband (one of my favorites) so she could get her shoes, but she INSISTED on pulling it out of my hands and thus snapping it in half.  You, of course, DIDN'T see the tears that ensued.

You DIDN'T see me hurrying to load the hot egg casserole and pumpkin muffins in the car while the girls were supposed to be getting their shoes on.  You DIDN'T see me sigh when Coralyn chose princess tennis shoes to go with her beautiful white dress with pink flowers.  You certainly DIDN'T see me roll my eyes when Kellah decided her pink rain boots were the best option to round out her outfit.  You DIDN'T see me smile when Coralyn handed me a pair of socks for Kyiah, only to realize they didn't match.   So then, you DIDN'T see me dash upstairs to find a pair of matching socks.

You couldn't have seen us climb into the car, the girls almost smashing both the casserole and muffins several times as they made their way to their seats.  You DIDN'T see Coralyn whine because she couldn't get her car seat buckled because her dress was in the way.  You DIDN'T see Kellah screaming because her boot had fallen to the floor (on top of the covered egg casserole and muffins).  You DIDN'T see the baby pulling her hair and crying because she was tired and beyond ready for a nap at this point.

You DIDN'T see me have to stop the car in the middle of the road and run back to the house to move the scooter out of the way so the garage door could close.

You DIDN'T see us stop at every single red light along the way.

You DIDN'T see my children running around like crazy in the room while we waited for all the other mothers and daughters to arrive.  You DIDN'T see them begging to eat every 2 seconds or going up to the table, laden with delicious foods, and trying to touch every single thing as they pointed out what they wanted to eat when the time came.  You DIDN'T see them "playing quietly" in the corner while one of the mothers shared a beautiful message of some things God had laid on her heart.  You DIDN'T see the baby eating the crayons while the older girls were supposed to be coloring a pretty picture but were instead playing tag on the church chairs.

You DIDN'T see any of that.
Why not?

Because that's not cute or glamorous.
That's not what kodak moments are made of.
That's not what happens to a mom who has it all together.

BUT, it IS what goes on EVERY SINGLE DAY in MOST homes.
That IS what takes place in MY house most every day, multiple times over.

So, I may not be the Mom of the Year.
I may not have it all together.
I may not be calm, cool, and collected all the time.
I can put on a good show, though, can't I?

Can't we ALL?
At least we try...

After all, how could we possibly admit we are't perfect.  That our house doesn't look like those pictures we find on Pinterest.  That our children don't always smile and obey the first time.  That we don't casually sip our coffee in the morning, read our Bible, pray for 30 minutes, and greet our happy children as they bounce down the stairs and rush to give us a hug while telling us, "Mommy, I love you and think you're the best ever and I'm so excited about the time we're going to spend together today!"

We can dream, right?
But, in our dreaming, let's also not forget to be REAL and HONEST with each other.
Let's not be such good magicians that we trick ourselves into believing we have to have it all together.  Let's not fall for those lies...

And so, let me be the first to throw in the towel and acknowledge defeat.
Let me assure you I DON'T deserve any awards.
I could use a hug or knowing smile, letting me know you've been there too.  That you're there NOW.
I could probably use a word of encouragement too.  A prayer, perhaps.
Maybe we both could?!

If your house looks anything like mine does this morning after my fun, relaxing, tasty, delightful Girls' Night, then I KNOW you could...

Yeah, that's what you DIDN'T see yesterday evening.  All I did was post on Facebook about our scrumptious chocolate peanut butter brownies, pumpkin cheesecake, and very berry smoothies! :)

But now you know the TRUTH...

Where's Daddy?

As a mother of 3 small girls, I am blessed beyond measure to be able to stay home with my children.  My days may be mundane at times - laundry, cleaning, preparing meals, changing diapers, more cleaning, more laundry, changing more diapers, making more meals, and then more laundry.  BUT, my day is also full of laughter and smiles.  I get random hugs from my precious girls.  I hear, "Mommy, come play with us!"  I get asked to read books, built forts, have tea parties, set up obstacle courses, go on nature walks, draw pictures, explore around the yard, and make special treats.  Be it spending time at home or seeing animals at the zoo or listening to a story at the library or swinging at the park or hiking a nature trail, I am making priceless memories with my girls every single day.  I get to be there for all the "firsts" and capture those once-in-a-lifetime moments on camera. The first roll over.  The first smile.  The first babble.  The first crawl.  The first pull-up.  The first step.  The first words.  The first time down the slide.  The first bike ride.  The first bruised knee.  Yeah, I also get to experience the many spilled milks, the countless fights between siblings over who got the beloved purple plate, the arguments over who gets to wear the Cinderella dress and who has to be Snow White.  Dirty dishes, diapers, and all, I wouldn't trade any of it for the world...

Recently, I feel as though my mindset is shifting...

Maybe it's because I am able to leave the house now (I couldn't before due to my in-home daycare - no way I was going to try and load up 6 kids under 4 in their carseats, drive somewhere, get them OUT of the car seats, cross a parking lot to get to the park or library, bring enough snacks and drinks to keep everyone happy, take everyone to the bathroom, get back across the parking lot to the car, load them all up in the car seats, drive home, unload the kids from the car seats, and get them back inside the house - I'm tired and stressed out just writing that out).

Maybe it's because I am seeing more stay-at-home moms on a daily basis now that I CAN take my girls to the park or library or nature center or zoo or wherever we want to go.

Maybe it's because I am able to focus more fully on my girls and hear more of what they are saying and see more of what they are doing and learn more of who they are becoming...

Maybe it's because I'm learning it's okay to ask questions, to do things differently, to NOT go with the flow, to try something new, to NOT be the norm, to be UNtypical, to be EXTRAordinary...

The girls asked a question this morning, as they do on MOST mornings when they first come downstairs.  This morning, however, their seemingly innocent question rocked my world.

Where's Daddy?

My answer is a fairly common one.  

In the majority of households I know, the answer would have been the same

At work.

I didn't go into the details.

Their 2 and 4 year old brains wouldn't understand.

Their 2 and 4 year old hearts wouldn't quite grasp the depth of my words, or their meaning.

And so I didn't go on to explain:

He's dutifully providing for his family.  He's earning money to pay the bills, put food on the table and gas in the cars, buy your clothes, and allow us to do fun things like go on vacation or get ice cream every once in awhile as a special treat.  He's using his hard-earned college degree and even harder-earned Master's to educate his students and equip them to be upstanding citizens in our community.   

I didn't say any of that.  Just a simple "At work," was all they needed to know.  

"But he'll come back to me," my 2 year old assured me almost immediately.

"Yes, my dear little one, your daddy will come back to you.  He will come home from work."

But what if he didn't have to leave in the first place?

What if he didn't have to go to work?

What if he could be a stay-at-home dad, just like I am a stay-at-home mom?

Their simple question stirred up a host of emotions in my soul.

Their simple question left me with quite a few questions of my own.

What if we could be a stay-at-home FAMILY?

Is that even possible?

YES.

I am starting to know of more and more families who are doing this.

I know them personally.

I see them spending time together, making those precious memories.  Every day.

At first I thought it was strange to see a dad with his kids at the park in the middle of the day.  He kind of stands out in the midst of all us MOMS.  

I would do a double-take when I saw a dad with his kids at the grocery store or library or zoo or wherever else I might be with my girls.  But I didn't think twice about all the MOMS who crossed our path.

Why is that?

Why do I automatically assume he took a day of vacation?

Why do I feel like he is out of place?

Why do I think this is a special occasion?  

Why can't it be NORMAL?

Why shouldn't a dad be able to stay home with his kids?

I'm sure he would enjoy seeing all those firsts too.  I bet he would have fun building forts or playing catch or going on nature hikes or reading books or seeing animals at the zoo.  I'm going to guess he would laugh and smile right along with his kids.  I believe his heart would be full.  He might even melt a little at hearing a random "I love you, Daddy!" or "You're the best Daddy in the whole world!" or getting a surprise hug for no other reason than the fact that his little girls adore him and are happy to be with him.

And yet, we tend to believe -whether we realize it or not - that a man's place is AT WORK.  That's his JOB.  He has to provide for his family, take care of their financial needs.  And so he "has" to GO TO WORK.  

He gives it his all, all day long.  When he comes home to his family, he is spent and tired.  He doesn't have much left to give.  He gets a couple hours max with his kids - and those might be spent rushing to and from practice or a game, finishing homework, taking baths, and getting ready for bed.  THAT, in my opinion, is simply NOT ENOUGH.  It seems extremely far off from what I believe God had in mind when He created and designed families.

BUT, someone has to work.  Someone has to be responsible.  Someone has to make money to pay the bills.   In most cases - not all - this someone is usually the DAD of the family.

What if in putting dads in this BOX, we are keeping them from being the best husband and father they could be?  What if we are limiting our potential as FAMILIES?  What if we are missing out on the biggest blessing of all - being TOGETHER?!

And so my mindset is shifting...

I am beginning to look at things in a new light...

I am believing there is a different way, a better way...

I am starting to LONG for something MORE...

As I see more and more of my It Works team mates "rewiring" their husbands and becoming stay-at-home families, I can't help but want the same for MY family.  

So, I work hard to fulfill that longing, to make my dream a reality.

If they can do it, so can I.  So can WE...

I do believe God has called Lawrence to be in the schools, to be a light, to share the love of Jesus with his students and co-workers.  I am confident he is right where God has put him, for this time.  BUT, our desire is for him to stay home with us all summer.  Instead of teaching summer school, we will have a WHOLE MONTH together as a family!!!  We are already excited and starting to plan some fun things we can do together.  I am thinking this month of being a stay-at-home family will give us a taste of what could be...and who knows where that will take us.

All I know is that my mindset is shifting...

What about YOU?  

What do YOU think about stay-at-home dads?  

When you hear the phrase stay-at-home FAMILY, what goes through your mind, your heart?

If this is something that you are interested in or have questions about, I would love to talk with you more.  Or maybe you want to start with JUST one parent staying home - we can talk about that too!  Either way, if this is something you feel pulling at your heart, like you want to make that dream a reality for your family as well, I would certainly LOVE to show you how God is working in our lives to make it happen.  

I know it's different and new and NOT normal...

But I also know it's EXTRAordinary.   It's amazing.  Special.

I would even go so far as to say it's a HUGE BLESSING from God Himself.

And perhaps even His intention for us as families...

Like I said, I would LOVE to know YOUR thoughts!!!