That's Quite the Ministry You Have

I've been wanting to write this post since last week, but have just been too busy "doing ministry" to get to it.

It's finally nap time, so I am going to take a few minutes to sit down and write what God laid on my heart.  He used my friend Paula to speak to me.  She didn't mean to challenge me.  She didn't know her words would have such an impact.  She just said them.  Well, really she typed them.  Probably with her thumb, if she types messages on her smart phone like I do.

We were messaging back and forth about her book and she offered to give me one.  And then she was super nice and offered to give me one to give away.  Seeing as how I like to blog and we have middle schoolers over to our house every week, I am sure I know someone who would enjoy reading her book and benefit greatly from it too!

Anyway, she asked if I still blog.  I assured her I do, "when my 3 children let me."  I went on to share that I had actually just posted a new blog earlier that day.  I told her I wasn't sure how it happened since I had 2 daycare kiddos in addition to my 3 girls, but I guess God knew I needed to get out what He had spoken to me and gave me a few minutes.

After my comment about so many kids in the house, Paula wrote, "Wow, that's quite the ministry you have."

Her words stopped me in my tracks.  She didn't say anything profound.

Just, "Wow, that's quite the ministry you have."

Here I am thinking Paula has quite the ministry.  She wrote a book that thousands of people will read.  Because of her thousands of lives will be changed.  Young girls and women alike will be challenged and encouraged.  Moms and daughters can grow together.  And not just here in the United States, as I believe her book is being translated into other languages!  How cool is that?!

I've always wanted to be a published author. I dream of seeing a book I wrote on the shelves at Barnes and Noble or on-line at Amazon.  I, too, want to impact lives and make a difference.  And so, honestly, I find it easy to be just a little jealous of Paula.

Why does she get to work with Nancy Leigh DeMoss?  How is she so lucky to get a platform like that?  Why does she get to travel and talk about her book on the radio and in other neat places?  Why do people follow her blog and not mine? :)  What makes her so special?

That's just what Satan wants me to do though.  That's exactly how he wants me to think.  He likes to see that bitterness and jealous creep into my heart.  He tries to keep me from noticing it, that way it grows and grows until eventually my heart is hardened and I am ineffective for God's kingdom.

So Paula's words not only stopped me from getting bitter and jealous, but also from believing Satan's lies that I'm not making a difference, that I'm not having an impact on people's lives, that I don't have a ministry.

Remember what Paula said?  Paula, the one with the huge ministry that is changing lives and making a difference all around the world?

"Wow.  That's quite the ministry you have."

And she was talking to ME!!!

Granted, my ministry looks WAY different than hers!  I am home changing diapers, wiping snotty noses, cleaning toilets, washing clothes, fixing suppers, reading books, making playdough creations, coloring pictures, bandaging and kissing boo-boos, and picking up toys (the same ones at least 15 times a day).  My life isn't glamorous.  Very rarely do I fix my hair in anything but a pony tail.  My idea of dressing up is to change out of yoga pants and a t-shirt to put on jeans and a different t-shirt so I can go to the grocery store without spit up stains on my clothes.  The only reason I even bother wearing mascara is so that the daycare parents don't think I'm a walking zombie when they drop their precious kiddos off at my house in the morning.  I doubt the 6 kids under 4 really care if I have long, luxurious lashes.

After being a stay-at-home, work-at-home mom for the past 4 years, I begin to question if I am making a difference, if I am having an impact and helping change lives.  I begin to believe Satan's lie that I don't have a ministry.

I'm not writing books or posting blogs with thousands of followers. I'm not speaking in front of large crowds of people.  I'm not digging wells in Africa or saving lives in any third-world country for that matter.  I'm "just" a stay-at-home, work-at-home mom.

And yet, Paula tells me, "Wow.  That's quite the ministry you have."

Like I said, God used her words to help me see the truth, to remember it really.  Her simple statement rocked my world, and changed the way I look at feeding the daycare baby her bottle or stacking blocks with my toddler or playing dress up with my 4-year-old little girl who loves anything and everything princess.  So, as I gone about my day today -- doing laundry, making lunch, breaking up fights about a silly toy, wiping off counters, and helping make blanket forts -- I keep telling myself, "THIS is my ministry.  THIS is making a difference.  THIS is changing lives, the most important lives I know, the lives of MY CHILDREN."

Maybe you're a stay-at-home, work-at-home mom too.  Maybe you work outside of the home. Maybe you're not even a mom.  Whatever the case may be, remember that God has you right where He wants you and He IS using you there to make a difference, to change lives, to bring Him glory.

As you pick up those "lost cheerios that got away" remember what Paula told me and what I'm not telling you today, "Wow. That's quite a ministry you have."

Help Me!

This morning, as I was getting dressed in the dark, so as not to wake up Kyiah, I see two figures walk through my bedroom door.

"Good morning, Mommy!"  Way too early to hear those voices, no matter how cute they may be.  Way too early to see those faces, no matter how precious they may be.

But what can you do?  They're up and ready to start the day, even if you're NOT.  There's no sending them back to bed, as that would only produce weeping and wailing, which would in turn wake the sleeping baby (at least one child knows what side of 7 am to get up on)!  

And so, you put on your smile and greet the darlings with a hug and kiss, forcing yourself to say, "GOOD morning," when really in your head you are screaming, "What in the world?!  Why, WHY, are you up so early?!  Jesus, HELP ME!"

As soon as the cry for help left my lips (figuratively, seeing as how I was just yelling in my head, again not to wake the baby), I remembered what I had read yesterday in Ruth Myer's book 31 Days of Praise.  Her words had rocked me just 24 hours earlier, so why I had so quickly forgotten them.  Well, thankfully, Jesus helped me remember them, and change the tune of my cries as well.

"How often do we pray? We plead for victory when Christ is in us as our more-than-conquering life. We beg for the Holy Spirit as though He were not already indwelling in us, as though He were not yearning for our consent to fill and control us and produce His fruit in our lives. We pray for spiritual and emotional resources as though they were external bonuses. We forget that they are part of our birthright in Christ, for in Him God has blessed us with every possible spiritual blessing, with everything we need for life and godliness. We cry to the Lord to give us things we already have because He is in us. He says, "I am the bread of life, the water of life, the light of life; I am the way, I am the truth; I am the resurrection and the life; I am what you need." He wants us to reply, "Thank You, Lord, You are! You are my sufficiency this moment, this hour, this day. I'm counting on Your life in me - Your love and patience, Your gentleness and guidance and power - to meet my needs and overflow to others."

So, instead of, "Oh dear Jesus, help me!  Give me patience!  Give me strength," and sighing about the long day ahead, already admitting defeat and letting helplessness overwhelm me, I changed my cries to, "Thank You, Jesus, that You are with me, that You will give me the patience and strength and endurance I need today.  Thank You that You are working in me, that You will never leave.  Thank You that You never sleep, that You never grow weak or weary, that You're never tired, that You're never overwhelmed, but always ready for whatever the day may bring.  Thank You, thank You, thank You."

I may still be yawning and rubbing my eyes as I drink my coffee and greens (thinking I might have to double up on both today), BUT at least my heart is full.  I was feeling drained and empty before the day had really even begun, but as my focus shifted from despair to gratitude, I was filled with a supernatural power and strength and joy.  I will have to keep reminding myself throughout the day, minute by minute, that the Holy Spirit is dwelling within me, that He never leaves, and that He not only will give me all that I need to live for Him but that He already has!

2 Peter 1:3-4, 
"By his divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know him, the one who called us to himself by means of his marvelous glory and excellence. And because of his glory and excellence, he has given us great and precious promises. These are the promises that enable you to share his divine nature and escape the world’s corruption caused by human desires."

God hasn't done this just for me, but for YOU too!!!  I don't know what your morning has looked like so far or what the day ahead may hold for you.  That doesn't really matter.  Regardless of our situation, we NEED Jesus, and thankfully, we HAVE Him -- ALL of Him, IN us, working to accomplish HIS good plans and purposes, to make us more like Him...and best of all, "to make me a joy to Him in new ways."  How cool is that - did you see it?  God DELIGHTS in us.  That right there should brighten your day!

With this in mind, instead of constantly pleading for help, let's join together and cry out to God today, all day long, "THANK YOU!"

Guilty Pleasures

Lately I have been struggling with something.  Maybe you can help me figure it out.  I sure would appreciate your thoughts, opinions, and insight!!!

You see, recently I have been fighting the idea of dreaming big.  Wait a second.  Didn't I just write a blog post about dreaming big because we serve a big God?  Oh yes, I did.

And what about that one where I shared how Charlie Brown taught me a lesson: you won't know if you don't try.  Yeah, that was a good one, too.  

Then, there's the one about not putting your dreams off until tomorrow, but taking the leap and starting to make changes TODAY.

You would think I was a dreaming all day long, imagining big huge things happening and visualizing all these wonderful changes taking place in my life.  And yet, here I am in a battle with my mind and heart.

Yes, I have dreams.  BIG ones.
BUT, I am scared to believe they can come true.
Maybe scared isn't the word.
I think my issue is that I am feeling guilty about these pleasures.  I feel selfish wanting to travel, to see the world, to take my girls to Disney World.

I look around me and see people striving just to meet their daily needs.  A homeless person on the street corner.  A friend's post on facebook that their family is struggling financially.  A picture of a little girl diagnosed with a life-threatening disease.  An e-mail from a friend questioning direction in life.

And here I am dreaming about touring Highclaire Castle where Downton Abbey is filmed. Here I am planning a hot air balloon ride or a skydiving adventure.  Heck, I even feel guilty about wanting to paint our master bedroom (my husband would really appreciate a color besides the lovely lavender the house came with) and get new bedding.

Am I wrong to dream?
Am I being selfish?
Should I feel guilty about wanting to enjoy life, to have out-of-this-world experiences?

Part of me shouts YES!
How dare I think about decorative pillows when some people don't even have a bed to sleep in?!
How can I even think about buying only organic food when some people would love to simply have a hot meal in their belly today?
How I can be so heartless as to want to go on an Alaskan cruise when that money could feed hundreds of children in a third-world country or build a well so a town could have safe water or make it possible for a family to bring home their child waiting in an orphanage halfway around the world?

At the same time, though, another part of me whispers, "God Himself said He came so you might have life to the fullest."

Did He not create the beautiful, breath-taking places all around the world for us to see and enjoy?  And in doing so, are we not worshiping Him and bringing Him glory?

Does He not invite us to embark on adventures, to learn new things, to stretch ourselves and grow as individuals?  And is doing so, are we not becoming the people He actually designed and created us to be, using our gifts and abilities to their full extent so that we might point out His goodness and faithfulness?

And then there's the matter of balance.  It's not like I want to obtain massive amounts of money just for the sake of being rich or buying the newest, biggest thing.  Extravagance isn't even on my radar.  The desire to do more, to be more, to experience more is though.

Now, I'm right back where I started.  Wanting to dream and dream BIG.  Hoping that as I do, people understand and see my heart.

Yes, I want to see the world.  Yes, I want to go and do things like a hot air balloon ride and go skydiving and even take the girls to Disney World (heaven help me so I don't strangle a princess while we're there or scream at the thought of all the PINK I'll see).  Yes, I want to paint our master bedroom and get new bedding.  Yes, I want to buy only organic food.

BUT....

I also want to support my friends going to Uganda to build wells.  I also want to donate so my friends can bring their little girl home from China.  I also want to pay for other families to go on dream vacations.  I also want to make my house a place where kids can feel comfortable hanging out.  I also want to randomly bless others all throughout the year, in whatever ways God shows us.

So, I think it all comes down to the heart.
What's at the core of your dreams?
That's what really truly matters, right?

Like I said, I would love to hear what YOU think.
Do you struggle to dream?
Do you ever feel selfish or guilty when you do dream big?

Praise Him, Praise Him

Praise Him in the morning
Praise Him in the noon time
Praise Him, Praise Him
Praise Him when the sun goes down

I grew up signing this catchy little song.  Now, some 30 years later, I am still signing it.  And I'm still off-key and out of tune, as I was not blessed with any musical ability whatsoever.  My 3 little girls (ages 6 weeks, 2 years, and 4 years) don't seem to mind, though.  They just join in and sing along with me (well, the baby just listens but I am sure she will be part of the choir before too long).

One would think if I am signing the song, I would be living out the lyrics too.  Oh how I wish that was true.  Instead, as we embark on this new year, God seems to be showing me that I am not praising Him morning, noon, and night.  I'm not even taking the time to praise Him as I begin my day, let alone every second after my feet hit the bedroom floor.

And that right there is the issue.  I'm not taking the time.  Making the time.  That's a problem.  A big one.

Yes, I am a busy mother of 3 small girls, but that's not an excuse.  At least not a good one.
Yes, I am a wife and "household manager" in charge of the laundry and cleaning and meals and whatever all else needs to be done to make sure we are clothed and fed and well-kept.  Again, not a good excuse.  Not in God's book.
Yes, I am also a daycare provider, taking care of 3 other precious children during the day.
Yes, I have multiple other things on my plate and wear various other hats.  Don't we all?

Well, then, I guess none of us have a good excuse as to why we aren't praising God throughout our day.

So, let's do something to change that!!

But, let's think baby steps.  I, for one, get kind of overwhelmed at the thought of singing words of praise all day long.  Instead, I just need to practice saying, "Thank you," more often.  As I develop the habit of THANKING God, I believe I will be more inclined to PRAISE Him too.

When I wake up in the morning, I want to thank Him for the new day.
As I take my shower, I can thank Him for hot water.
While I eat my breakfast, I can thank Him for food.

Those are pretty easy though.

How about, when I do laundry, while I am folding and put away countless shirts and pants and skirts and underwear, while I am trying to find the match for the lone sock, I can thank God for clothes to wear.

Or as I load the dishwasher yet again, I can thank Him for the empty dishes that represent full bellies.

When I answer the question, "Why?" for the 487th time or pick up spilled Cheerios or change another dirty diaper or tell the children to stop fighting over a blue crayon when there are at least 9 others in the container of crayons, I can thank Him for the privilege of being a mom, for the health of my children, for the opportunity to be at home with them (even if I want to pull my hair out and am begging for a simple 30 minutes out of the house or even just the chance to go to the bathroom by myself).

It's all about perspective.  And if I can start THANKING God for the "little" things, I bet I will find myself praising Him all the day long.

Today, I started reading a book my dear friend gave to me several years ago.  I pulled it out of hiding, figuring its title 31 Days of Praise was fitting for what God seems to be trying to teach me.  I know I need all the help I can get as I set out to live a life of praise!

I was both encouraged and challenged by Ruth Myer's words:

In spite of all God has provided, including the Holy Spirit's presence and power, we don't automatically praise and give thanks.  Nor will you find praise all of a sudden springing up in full bloom as soon as you start praying about it.  Praise flourishes as you weed and water and fertilize your spiritual garden in which it grows.  It become more constant as you nurture your soul on God's Word and walk in His ways, depending upon the Holy Spirit.  It gets richer and more spontaneous as you grow in your knowledge of how worthy the Lord is to receive honor and glory and praise.

But even then praise does not automatically flow from your life day after day, hour after hour.  You must choose to cultivate the habit of praise, taking steps that will enrich your praise life.

And so, I am going to work on choosing to be thankful.  I want to be intentional about saying, "Thank you," throughout the day, even when I don't feel like it.  Especially when I don't feel like it.

Will you join me?  Let's learn how to THANK God so we can learn how to PRAISE God.

After all, there is another verse to the song:

Thank Him, Thank Him
Thank Him in the morning
Thank Him in the noon time
Thank Him, Thank Him
Thank Him when the sun goes down

Maybe whoever wrote the song knew something about how thanks and praise are connected?
I'm guessing he/she did!

Christmas Letter 2013

I had a really cool newsletter all typed up but I can't figure out how to just "copy and paste" it in here so it looks all fancy like.  SO, I will just share the info and pictures.  That's all you really care about anyway :)

House full of girls

Highlights of the Year:
*We moved to our new home in February
*Sarah turned the big 3-0 in March
*Sarah earned the $10,000 GOOD Bonus (Get Out of Debt) with It Works in August
*Coralyn turned 4 in October
*Kyiah was born on November 19
*Kellah turned 2 in December
*Lawrence finished his Master's program for Elementary Administration

JESUS Is the Reason for the Season

     As we were out Christmas shopping, a sales clerk asked Coralyn if she was getting ready for Santa to come.  Since we don’t “do Santa” at our house, Coralyn didn’t really know what to say and kept quiet.  When we got to the car, Lawrence explained how she could tell people that she is getting ready to celebrate Jesus’ birthday.  She then proceeded to tell us that Jesus is better than Santa because Jesus loves us so much that He died on the cross for all our sins!  So true!

     We are certainly looking forward to all the special Christmas festivities, but as we hustle and bustle, we want to be sure to remember WHY we are celebrating and share Jesus’ love with everyone around us!

Time Flies When You're Having Fun

     We certainly kept busy this year!

     In addition to selling our house and moving, we have started hosting a Bible study for the kids who have attended Ponca Bible Camp in the summer.  They invite friends too, and each week we have about 25 boys and girls in our basement!

     Thanks to some generous friends, we were able to take a “free” trip to Branson during Spring Break.  We also enjoyed a short mini-vacation in St. Louis this summer.  Then, in October, we headed back to Branson to celebrate Lawrence’s parents’ 40^th wedding anniversary!

      We spent 2 weeks of the summer at Ponca, one of our favorite things of the entire year!  Over 100 kids from the Liberty area attended camp this summer over the course of 6 weeks!!!

      We literally had something going on every single day for almost every single month of the year.  November was actually our first month to slow down – you can’t really plan for things when you are expecting a baby and don’t know when she’s going to come!

Young at Heart

      Lawrence and I both celebrated big birthdays this past year, with him turning 35 and me 30!  We still feel young at heart though and haven’t slowed down a bit!

     Lawrence just finished up his Master’s in Elementary Administration and has been part of the Leadership Team at school.  He is also leading an after-school program called Boys to Men for the 5^th grade boys at Kellybrook.  He’s serving on our church’s Pastor Search Team as we look for a new head pastor.  For fun, he’s been playing volleyball with various recreational teams.  Oh, and he’s an amazing husband and daddy to boot!

      I’ve been busy too!  In February I became a distributor with It Works and have loved getting to help people reach their health goals while still contributing to our family income from home.  I’m also doing daycare, watching 2-3 precious kiddos every day (in addition to our girls).  I am still teaching childbirth classes and got to work with over 20 couples to prepare for the arrival of their babies.  I was also privileged to help welcome 7 babies to the world by serving as a doula.  I am finished with my work to become a lactation educator and just waiting on the final certification!  And somewhere in there, I’ve done lots of laundry, cleaned up countless messes, and cooked quite a few meals. 

      We may be busy, but we enjoy what we do and feel God at work in all these activities! We are so thankful for all He is doing in our lives and are excited to see what He has in store for our family this coming year!

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

     Lawrence is feeling even more outnumbered these days as we have welcomed girl #3 to our family!

    Coralyn is 4 now and LOVES to read.  Sometimes, she will stay up and “read” for over an hour after we put her to bed at night.  We have enjoyed our weekly trips to the library for storytime and always come home with a huge bag of books.  She knows all her letters, shapes, colors, and likes to do “school work” at home.  She likes to make crafts and help me bake.  She remembers everything and can tell you how to get to her friends’ houses – definitely her father’s daughter!

     Kellah is 2 and a little copycat, wanting to do everything her big sister is doing.  She loves making things with playdough, coloring, building block towers, doing puzzles, riding in her Cozy Coupe, and throwing balls.  She is a go-getter and has no fear!  She also has a sweet spirit and is a good helper, making sure the daycare kiddos have their shoes and jackets and bags when it’s time for them to go home.

     Kyiah is just a month old, but we can’t imagine life without her!  She certainly made an unforgettable entrance into the world and seems to be full of life already!  We’re excited to watch her grow and see what kind of personality she has.  If she’s going to keep up with her sisters, she’ll have to be tough and ready for anything at any moment!

Sister Love

Kellah Grace {2 Years Old}

How is it really, truly possible that my sweet baby girl is now 2 years old?  Wasn't she just born yesterday?!  I could tell you the birth story, every minute detail included, if you asked me.  Or you can just read the blog post yourself, if you really want to know...

She arrived just in time for Christmas!

Having a Christmas-time baby was never in my plans.  I didn't want a child close to any holiday for that matter, because I didn't ever want to have birthday parties on the same day as Halloween or Thanksgiving or Christmas.  I have learned to be very careful what you tell God you don't want!!! :)  My 3 girls were born in October, just weeks before Halloween; November, just days before Thanksgiving; and December, just days before Christmas.  Not at all how I would have scheduled their birthdays, but I wouldn't change anything either.  They are each precious and they all came exactly when they were supposed to!!!

Kellah Grace entered our lives on December 17, 2011 at 8:05 am, just 6 hours after my very first contraction.  Supposedly, she was a week late, but she weighed a whopping 7 pounds, so I am pretty sure my due date was wrong.  I knew that from the moment we found out about her though.  You see, we had miscarried the year before, on December 18.  And when I saw the positive pregnancy test and rushed to the computer to find out my estimated due date, I was surprised to learn it was December 10.  I just knew she would come later, though, closer to the anniversary of the miscarriage.  And she did!!!  It was as if God was giving us something to celebrate rather than mourn.  She is our rainbow baby, a reminder of God's promises to never leave or forsake us, to always be right there with us even when the flood waters seem to be rushing in and threatening to drown us.  She is our beautiful gift, a testimony of God's never-ending grace, His faithfulness and abundant goodness even in the hardest of times.

Kellah's pregnancy was a time in our lives when things were rough in many aspects.  Financially, we had no idea how we would pay our bills each month.  Yet, God came through time and time again.  We had just been licensed as foster parents and had a difficult placement right off the bat, our lives even being put in danger in the first 2 weeks.  Needless to say, we were daily dependent on God for every single need.  And through Kellah, he seemed to remind us to be at peace, to be still and know that He is God, that He will not only take care of us, but will blow us away with His blessings.

When I was pregnant with Kellah, we prayed she would be a "gracious warrior," like the meaning of her name.  We wanted her to stand up for what's right, even when it's not the popular thing to do.  We wanted her to notice the needs of those around her and be proactive in helping them in whatever ways she could.  We wanted her to be fierce in her love for God, passionate in her commitment to live for Him, dedicated to showing His love to all those around her.  Boy has she lived up to her name and those prayers!!!  She may be small (still wearing 12 month clothes without any problem), BUT she is strong and mighty.  She is a go-getter, a climber, a mover and a shaker, a dancer, a laugher, a lover of life.  She doesn't like to miss out on anything and doesn't let her size keep her from doing anything the big kids are doing.  She will make herself known - either with a scream or a push or a shove - to get her way.  She's not about to let someone tell her what to do if she doesn't want to do it.  I love the ferocity and stubbornness, but she can be a handful at times too.  That spark and spunk isn't always so cute! :)  For every ounce of courage and adventure in her body, Kellah has some sweet tender kindness to match it.  She is quick to help me, to get things the daycare kiddos need, and now that she's a big sister to make sure Baby Kyiah is okay - sometimes to the extent that she SHOVES the pacifier in her mouth, SMOTHERS her with a blanket, or attempts to carry the carseat when it's time to go somewhere.

Speaking of being a big sister....SO crazy how Kellah seems to have grown overnight!!  She's still small for her age, but boy does she look HUGE next to little Kyiah!!!

Kellah also LOVES her big sister, Coralyn!!  I absolutely melt as I listen to the two of them laugh and play together.  They play princess, read books, do puzzles, and make HUGE messes together.  They just started sharing a room, and oh my goodness did my mama's heart swell when I saw this that first night:

This morning, I heard them talking in the bed and peeked in to find Coralyn reading Kellah a book.  Precious!!!!  I pray all 3 of my girls are best friends growing up and for their entire lives!

They do love each other...

Kellah is still our reminder of what Christmas is all about!  God WITH us.  God interrupting our lives and living among us, inviting us to LIVE in His presence every single day.

We celebrated her birthday with family and friends on Sunday.  We "had a ball!"  That was the theme since she's into balls and GOING.  Seriously, the child can NOT sit still for more than .2 seconds!!!  But we love that about her...

Today, I took the girls to Zona Rosa to play at The Grove and get "ice cream" at Yogurtini.  We had a blast!

Like I said, she won't sit still for very long at all!!  Especially not when there is a slide to go down.

She did stay put long enough to enjoy her special birthday treat though!

Tonight, we will head to Chick-fil-A and let the girls play there too.  It's one of their favorite things to do!

Well, Kyiah hasn't quite figured out how much fun it is yet.  But she will!

It's hard to believe Kellah isn't my little baby anymore.  She's the BIG sister now.  And the little sister, still.  Ah, the middle child.  Lawrence tells her they have something in common, at least.  Speaking of Lawrence, Kellah is becoming quite the Daddy's girl.  When she wakes up in the morning, she asks for Daddy first, not me anymore.  She cries when he has already left for work, and RUNS to the garage door as soon as she hears it going up to signal Daddy is home.  She calls him, "MY Daddy" and clings to his legs, begs for him to pick her up, to dance with her, to swing her around or do gymnastic tricks with her.  Blesses my heart.

It's a good thing she's cute.  Kellah is a stinker.  She will steal my breakfast, my greens, and my coffee.

Kellah is into balls, but she also likes puzzle and is really good with her shapes now too.  She enjoys coloring and making crafts with Coralyn.  She pretends to bake and cook in her play kitchen.  She is starting to get into books more, but won't sit through me reading an entire one to her.  She will, however, sit and flip through book after book on her own.  Little Miss Independent.  (I seem to have at least 2 of those so far.)  And of course climbing -- she LOVES to climb!  And then run and jump and dance and fall to the ground, only to get right back up and do it all all over again!  She's my little energizer bunny.  I pray she uses all that enthusiasm for life to bring glory and honor to God in ways I can't even begin to imagine.

I don't know what plans God has for my Kellah, but I know they are amazing.  He has designed her just the way He wants (Psalm 139) and has good works prepared for her to do (Eph 2:10) and will help her live them out.  I am just blessed to be a part of this, to be her mama and have her on loan for however long God gives her to me.  I am excited to watch her grow up, teaching her about God and helping her live for Him with every fiber in her being.  I love her so very much and really can't imagine life without Kellah Grace!

Socks and Underwear

If you spend any time on the internet or watching TV,  you have most likely seen this amazing story about WestJet airlines in Canada.  Before boarding, the passengers were asked to scan their tickets and then tell the virtual Santa Claus want they wanted for Christmas.  Without second thought, the passengers then got on their plane and set off for their destination.  Little did they know that the WestJet employees were busy checking their requests, hustling off to buy the gifts, and rushing back to get them wrapped and ready for them by the time they landed in Canada.  When they arrived at the baggage claim, instead of suitcases coming down towards them, they saw neatly wrapped presents -- inside were the very items they had shared with Virtual Santa that they dreamed of getting for Christmas this year.  People received Kindles, iPhones, cameras, even a flat screen TV.  And then there was the guy who had jokingly said he wanted socks and underwear.  Guess what he got?  Yep, socks and underwear!!!  I bet he wished he had taken the virtual Santa a little more seriously as he held his socks and underwear and looked around at everyone else with new phones and TVs!

We can laugh at the poor guy, but maybe we should learn something from him too.

Before I share what God taught me through this heart-warming story, I want to add a little disclaimer:

I am NOT saying that God and Santa Claus are on the same level.  

I am NOT comparing God to Santa or vice versa.  

I am JUST passing on to you what God seemed to speak to me through this story.

How often do we miss out on receiving amazing blessings from God?

When we pray, do we really, truly believe God hears us, that He can and will answer us?

Do we pray big, unrealistic, humanly impossible prayers OR do we pray safe prayers?

Are we scared to ask God to do something because we fear He won't or can't?

If we pray "little" prayers then maybe we're more confident we'll get the answer we want.  BUT, if we pray for something that is huge, something we know only God can do, then we tend to be a little hesitant, doubting if God will do what we have asked.  At least, I know I feel that way all too often.

Right now, we are praying for a little 4-month-old baby girl named Nella.  She has been diagnosed with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy), for which there is no cure.  Basically, her muscles will stop working.  However, her brain will be fully functioning, so she will be fully aware of the pain her body is in.  Doctors have given her weeks to months to live.  Every night, we pray for God to touch her body and heal her, completely.  And yet, I don't expect Him to.  Not if I am totally honest with myself.  

You see, for many many many months we prayed for our dear friends' little boy Levi, who had a brain tumor.  We prayed God would heal him, but He didn't.  At least not this side of heaven.  Levi went home to be with Jesus earlier this year.  

Before that, we prayed faithfully, earnestly, daringly for another sweet family and their baby boy Samuel.  He had some complications at birth such that he was deprived of oxygen.  We prayed for God to heal him, to restore his brain, to let him live and tell the amazing story of divine intervention.  For reasons I don't understand, God chose to take Samuel home to heaven to be with Him.  

When I think of God-fearing, faith-filled, passionate lovers of Jesus, I immediately think of Levi's mom Alicia and Samuel's mom Grace.  They are the most amazing women I know, living boldly and wholeheartedly for Jesus in all they do, teaching their children to do the same.  If God would answer anyone's prayers, surely He would grant Alicia and Grace their pleas to heal their baby boys.  James tells us to pray in faith, without any doubt or hesitation about God's ability to answer us.  I know Alicia and Grace did just that, every single day, all day long for that matter. And yet, God didn't do what they so desperately wanted. 

You might think that these women would walk away from their faith, turning their back on God since He seemingly did the same to them.  Far from it, they have remained strong and steadfast, continuing to love Jesus and live for Him despite the pain they experience every single day.   

These moms and two little boys have forever changed me, and many others too who also prayed for Levi and Samuel.  I tell myself if Alicia and Grace can still believe in God, so can I.  Not only that, I can trust Him to hear my prayers and answer them.  Granted, He doesn't always give me the response I want, BUT He always listens to me.  And so, I keep praying.

This WestJet story, though, reminded me that I still need to pray BIG.  I have become lazy in my prayer life, just offering up quick prayers as I rush through my day.  "Please help So and So with their marriage."  "Be with So and So as they seek Your will."  "Help my girls grow up to know You and live for You."  So generic.  Nothing specific.  Nothing humanly impossible.  Nothing only God can do.  I'm kind of like the guy who asked for socks and underwear.  I forget that I serve a God who created the universe out of nothing.  He spoke the stars into existence.  He breathed the planets.  With one word, zebras and peacocks and bombadier beetles appeared.  At His command, the Red Sea separated and the Israelites walked safely across to the other side on dry land.  The same power that raised Jesus Christ from the dead is still at work today - in ME!  If God can do all that, then He can certainly heal baby Nella.  So, why do I doubt Him?  I shouldn't.

I need to be more like the people who asked for cameras, iPhones, Kindles, and big screen TVs.  I need to remember to whom I am praying and pray BIG.

If I pray socks and underwear prayers, I'm going to get socks and underwear answers.

Only as I "dare" to pray BIG am I going to get GOD-SIZED answers.

Won't you join me and start praying for the impossible?  After all we are praying to One for whom NOTHING is impossible!!!  We just might be blown away with the answers to prayer we get!