Moms Have the Power to Change the World

       Moms are very powerful creatures. Every life begins with a mom. The moments that follow vary from being to being, but we all have the same beginning. I don't know much about the immediate moments after my beginning. I don't know if the woman who brought me into this world held me, kissed me, changed diapers, or dreamed of my future. What I do know, is that with the help of another mother, I was found a family; I was found a mom.
       There is more to moms than the ability to birth a child. We know that. However, sometimes I'm not sure we realize the power a mom has. Moms care for their children. They feed them, they bathe them, they change them, they love them. Life is only sustained in the early years by such care from another human being. That is huge, but what I'm referring to is much larger than even that. Moms have the power to lift the human soul, or crush the inward spirit. They have the ability to bring stability and security, or uncertainty and shame. Over the course of a childhood, they have the influence to shape another human being. Moms have the power to shift and sculpt entire generations, thus having the power to change the world.

For the moms of generations past...

       We don't all have to be moms to know the power of one. We've all known one at one time or another. Most of us know that blood doesn't make a mother. We further know, that regardless of what our moms did, or didn't do, they've impacted our lives, and in doing so, have indirectly impacted the lives of those around us.
       Some of you may have never known your mom. Some may have had your mom taken too soon. For this, I'm sorry. For some, dad has been "mom" in your lives. To this, I say, "Well done, Dad! This applies to you!" Whether you had a great mom, or one that you strive not to become, they played a part in who you will be. We all carry scars and scrapes from our pasts, but we don't have to repeat them. Let's grab onto grace, hold tight to truth, and look to a beautiful tomorrow!

...the moms of the future...

       Like I said, I was found a mom. She is the one who held me, kissed me, changed diapers, and continues to dream of my future. She might not have been at my beginning, but she gave me life. She changed my world, and the worlds of my children. God used her to change my course, and for that, there will always be a special place in my heart for her. She isn't perfect, but that's ok. Perfection isn't a qualification for being a mom, thankfully! She took what she could from her mom, who learned what she could from hers, and so forth. That's all any of us can do. We learn, we grow, and do the very best we can to love and lead our families.
       Moms have the power to change the world. May we recognize it, and use our power wisely! To the moms who have gone before us, the moms who have gone ahead of us, and to us moms in the making, Happy Mother's Day!

Until next time, Beautiful.

 ...the moms God gave us...

...and the dads who step in for the moms who've gone ahead.

Laugh It Off!

       When someone hurts themselves, gets hurt by another, or gets bothered by something, we say, "Shake it off! You'll be ok!" Well, I do a lot of shimmying and shaking (don't try to visualize. It's not graceful.), but some days that just doesn't cut it. Some days go so horribly wrong that by the end of it you either have to laugh it off, or you'll end up being arrested.

       Raise your hand if you've ever made a bad decision! (Get that hand up. I know I'm not the only one.) Ok, now who has made a decision that wasn't necessarily bad, but wasn't really a wise one? Me too. When we moved into our home two years ago, I was in charge of purchasing a new set of couches. This was extremely exciting to me because for the past decade of raising toddlers we've only ever purchased cheap, brown, cold, yet wipeable, couches. I was so blinded by my own excitement that I ran out and bought beautiful, bright, cream colored couches! You can imagine my husband's reaction. I made sure to inform him of the Scotch Guard coating I had invested in. The couches arrived, and I stood there soaking in the glorious view. A few months in, and those couches still looked new! I was pretty proud. Then it happened. My oldest asked me to follow him into the living room. What I saw next was something I will never EVER forget. My wonderful and artistic toddler was standing proud as a peacock with outstretched arms announcing, "PURPLE!" My eyes fell on the PURPLE masterpiece. All the kids were standing in silence waiting to see if our family would lose one of its members that day.  I opened my mouth to speak, but all that came out was laughter! My children will never forget that day either because I'm pretty sure that reaction permanently stunned them. At that moment, my husband walked in the room. His response? "Wow, that's fantastic. (Insert sarcasm) Let's take it out to the road!"

He was so proud!

       That day I received an A+ in the art of "Laughing it off." Though I haven't mastered it, I did learn a lot that day. First, never buy another light colored couch EVER again because after children there are grandchildren. Two, always splurge for the Scotch Guard! Whatever you do, invest in the Scotch Guard! And three, the spirit of a child is ALWAYS more valuable than any piece of furniture, or any other pricey item will ever be. Of course I spoke with my toddler about keeping the markers on paper, but that day he wasn't the only one who benefited from a lesson in mercy. We were able to take a crazy moment, and turn it into a teachable one. That, in and of itself, was mercy from the Master! That could have been a less than proud parenting moment (Not that I don't have some of those!), but God gave me grace in the moment. Honestly, that's probably what happens in every moment when laughter is the only solution to a potential apocalypse.
       We all have days when we need to laugh off life. If you don't, then you should start a blog. I'd read it! Next time something, or someone, has got you ready to throw down, pause, and try, TRY to laugh it off. It just might be the difference between creating a memory, or starting a rap sheet. If that doesn't work there's always tissues and Ben & Jerry's! Try the laughing first though, because some things just don't deserve your tears, or anyone else's. As always, be strong, be bold, be you.

Until next time, Beautiful.

Thank God for washable markers AND SCOTCH GUARD!

Welcome To The Freak Show

     

       Welcome to my life. We aren't freaks by any means. We just fit the stereo type. Though we may, or may not, appear to live up to it on occasion. Sure, we have six kids. Sure, we homeschool. Why yes, my husband is a pastor. Yes, that giant green machine is our mode of transportation. BUT we have tattoos, listen to all kinds of music, do NOT make all of the females wear floor-length denim (not that there's anything wrong with that), and I promise we are super cool. At least I think we are.
       My husband and I never set out to have a large family. Heck, I didn't even want kids! However, over the course of the journey our lives took some twists and turns, and we are better for them. Many people have one or two children. That's a great sized family. If the couple is feeling adventurous they may take the leap for a third. How wonderful! Then you have the folks who must have had a wild hair, and now have four children. They have now crossed the line into LARGE FAMILY. Once you've crossed the line, what's one more? Now there're five. Five! That's a handful! (Like I haven't heard that one before.) However, every so often you meet the couples who must be on a different wave length entirely. The ones who must have just kind of "lost it." These are the couples who have six plus kids. They're just freaks. I mean, who in their right mind would actually have six kids?! On purpose! Maybe they don't know how that happens. Maybe they don't own a t.v. Maybe a couple of them popped out without them noticing. Who knows, but whatever it is, it's odd. At least to some.

My half dozen

       Every family should be proud of who they are collectively, and what they stand for. Just as each individual is unique, every family is unique. When you build a strong family around love and grace, it's amazing to see each person grow and own their part within the family unit. However, keep in mind that families, like people, also have ups and downs.
       Sometimes we might find ourselves observing another family thinking one of two things. One, "Why can't our family be more like that?" Or two, "OMG, I can't imagine having a family like that!" Both can potentially cause a breakdown within you, or your pack. Be watchful of that. Your family has been uniquely knitted together with specific individuals just as every other family. Get into your groove, and do the dang thing! Live life to the fullest, embrace your adventures, and build each other up! Just remember that other families might have a different groove going on, and that's ok. Build them up too!
       Our family may, at times, be a spectacle. I know that. That may, or may not have been one of mine rolling down the road on a skateboard, eating an apple, in the nude. I will neither confirm, or deny that. However, I know we have been called to be us; who God has created us to be. I love that! We teach our kids to take risks, strive for excellence (not perfection), love unconditionally, and give grace as we've been given grace. We are loud, adventurous, and a very silly bunch. (As long as no one messes with one of us. Then we are a pack of wolves.) God has taught us the value of people, love, kindness, respect, and grace through family. I encourage you to find your flow, throw your inhibitions to the wind, and let your freak flag fly! (In an appropriate sort of way. Don't get me in trouble!) Be proud of your family. If you come from a family who might have caused you harm, or maybe still does, I'm sorry. Keep moving forward, and hold onto hope for the future of a family of your own. You can still walk with your head held high knowing you are valuable. Embrace who you are being set apart to be. Oh, and if you ever see a kid on his skateboard, smile and wave. Who knows, it might be mine.

Until next time, Beautiful.

We make our couch look like a love seat!

Our "better" behavior

Oh. My. Demigoddess!

       Some women hold the title Domestic Goddess; some Total Goddess. I am NOT one of those women. I have tried to meet all the criteria in those job descriptions, and have fallen short in many categories. Some, however, I have conquered. When I was still tossing around the idea of this blog, a friend of mine asked if this would be a blog about food and crafts. I wanted the blog to succeed, which is why I have refrained from including such topics in my writing. If in the future I take ground in those areas I'll let you know. Until then, I will focus my efforts in other arenas.

       We are all great at something. Most likely you are great at many things. On the flip side, we all have our weaknesses. No matter how great we are at something, it's always the weakness that gets the attention. Why is that? It's as if there is something within us that says, "Yeah, I'm great at this, BUT I'm weak over here." We throw all of our energy into bettering our weakness while our greatness sits on the shelf. Part of being who we are is knowing who we aren't. There is strength in recognizing that! I can't be you, and you can't be me. We were never meant to be! (Pay no attention to the rhyming that just unintentionally took place.) God loves variety, which is why he didn't create a bunch of clones. Each of us have been purposefully created for a unique cause. We all have passions and desires that are paired with specific gifts and talents. So, let's use them!

"OMD!"

       I, for one, do not possess the art of sewing. Or cooking, or cleaning, or crafting, or organization. Note that I said "art". I can do all of these things, but none of these are my passions or strong suits. I love learning, creating, writing, music, singing, and I am good at these things. I love people, which works out because I have 6 little people running around me all day everyday, and they know they are loved and cherished. 

       What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses? What season are you in? Strengths may change with the season. Don't get frustrated with yourself if you were once fantastic at something, and now it just isn't working for you anymore. Find out what God has given you, and where He has placed you in this season. Own it. We aren't meant to do what we weren't created to do. When I find myself trying to keep up with Princess Pinterest, it drains the life out of me. That's an indication that I am trying to fill someone else's shoes. What is life-giving to you? Could that be something God has gifted you with to influence the world around you? Our gifts are to be used for a purpose greater than ourselves. How cool is that?! We each possess something, that when shared, can change the world!

       Whether you find a pen in your hand, or a baby on your hip, know that you have purpose, and the opportunity for greatness. Stand tall, and walk with confidence. Know that you are strong with weaknesses, NOT weak with strengths. We can't all be goddesses. So, for now, I'll settle for Demigoddess.

Until next time, Beautiful.

Searching For Substance

       It was a day like any other. I woke up, and began my daily routine. As I went about my day, the feeling that something was missing kept nagging me. I couldn't quite figure out what it was, until it hit me. It was ME! I was missing! In that moment, I realized that in the midst of the mundane, the free-spirited lady who laughed at everything, and who clumsily (and I do mean clumsily) danced through life was gone! What I did find was a woman that was great at getting up, and doing the "Mom thing", the "Wife thing", the "Homeschool thing", and any other list of things that needed to be done. Those things are great, but who was the woman behind the motions? I realized that morning that I had gotten so caught up in "doing" life, that I forgot about the "being" aspect of living. My search for substance was on!

       Maybe I'm the only one who has ever dealt with this, but I'm guessing not. Too often our identity gets wrapped up in our surroundings and/or tasks. Sometimes it seems to disappear entirely. Who we are begins to take a backseat to what we are, or what we want to become. The sexiest woman, the smartest woman, the independent woman, the perfect wife, the best mother, the funniest friend - these are just a few of the definitions we as women sometimes find ourselves wanting. Shoot! I want to be ALL of these things! (Come on, you know you do, too) None of which are bad, however the depth of our identity needs to run deeper than abstract definitions. We NEED to have substance. Who we are needs to be absolute. It is what grounds us when what we are changes. When our beauty fades, our jokes fall flat, or our failures seem to outshine our victories, who we are is what's left.

       Our creator is very specific about who He's created us to be. He has knitted us together with intent and purpose placing potential for greatness within each of us. (More on that next week!) When we are secure in who we are, we can approach what we were created to do with confidence. Your favorites, hobbies, interests, and career choices are preferences that make you unique. It's who you are that threads those things together forming strength and character. There is a beauty that emerges when the one who defines you is the One who designed you. Ladies, let's be known for such strength and beauty! Let's let go of what we think we should be, and grab hold of who we are meant to be. 

         I now know who I am. I am loved, I am redeemed; I am His. That fierce and free-spirited woman was never "gone." I had just simply misplaced her. It happens. If you feel as if you've been temporarily misplaced, keep searching; keep praying. You'll find her. She's in there. May we know who we are, be the women we were intended to be, and succeed in all we are meant to do!

Until next time, Beautiful.

*UPDATE*

She's back...

And clumsier than ever!

Wound Tight

       There are warriors, and there are worriers. I want to be known as a warrior. As women, we care deeply and love fiercely. God created both man and woman intricately forming them with their own strengths. I mean, let’s face it, women aren’t wimps! We endure physical and emotional feats daily, and just keep rockin' it! Our maker has placed a fire within us, but unfortunately we sometimes use that flame to fuel our worry. If we aren’t careful we can go from warrior to worrier in a minute flat leaving us “wound tight."

Toddler-attacked toilet paper

       When a woman is wound tight, it overflows until pretty soon everyone around her knows it. At least when this woman is wound tight. My kids know it, my husband, bless his heart, definitely knows it, and sometimes even the poor neighbors know it. It’s not pretty! But how do we get that way? How do we get so wound up that we don’t even recognize ourselves? God made us warriors, but we run around being worriers. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not talking about concern. Concern is necessary. Concern is an awareness that spurs on action, and brings about change. Worry is not. Worry is an emotional REaction that produces no positive outcome. There’s a difference. 

       There are numerous things that cause us to cave into worry. We worry if we will ever find a mate. Once we find a mate, we worry we will never reach our “ever after” status. Will we ever get promoted in our careers? Will we ever have children? If we have children, will something happen to them? Finances? Retirement? The list could go on FOREVER! I can work myself up over a “what if” scenario, and be crying tears of worry in minutes! Over a made up occurrence! (You know you’ve done it too, so don’t judge.) Let’s just stop right there.

       The antidote to worry is trust. If you find yourself wound tight, and don’t know how to unwind, begin to trust. It’s simple, but it’s not easy. I'm not saying that action has no part to play. It does. Though sometimes we need to take action in an area, it's trust that will resolve our inward reaction to any situation or circumstance. Ultimately, we need to place our trust in God. We need to trust Him with our future, with our relationships, our finances, with our children, and with their futures. He knows the desires of our hearts, and wants His best for our lives and the lives of those we love. 

       We were made to do great things, but worrying wasn’t one of them. I still occasionally get wound tight, but I choose to wake up every morning a warrior. I know who I am, and though I may not know every detail of my future, I know who does. When you feel like worry is trying to grab hold, defeat it with trust. Live your life with confidence because you know He holds your future as well. You are fierce, you are strong, and you are a warrior. Don’t let anyone or anything tell you differently.

Until next time, Beautiful.

       

Just Keep Sipping...

            Dory says, "Just keep swimming." I hate swimming. I hate water. I hate things that swim in the water. In fact, if Dory wasn't so stinking cute I'd probably dislike her too. However, I DO love sipping. Coffee primarily. So, I say, "Just keep sipping." (You may insert drink of choice if you don't like coffee. I don't have the time to try to understand why that is.)

       There are two reasons you will almost always find me with a mug of coffee in hand. First, I love coffee. LOVE it. Second, is the pause. For example, if I am about to blurt something out I shouldn't, I take a sip of coffee. If I need a "come to Jesus" moment before addressing the kiddos, I take a sip of coffee. If I'm processing a situation or decision, I take a sip of coffee. I’m not saying that I’m addicted to coffee. (Although, I might be.) What I am saying is that I am drawn to what happens during the pause. It's in the pausing that I am able to take a much needed breath, reflect, and grab hold of peace.  
       Life can be crazy, and at times, chaotic. I love our life! It is a loud environment with 6 kids living and learning all around. You can imagine how often I have to pause in a day! However, it's the peace that we need to pursue in the pause that is key. Peace isn’t the absence of chaos, but the ability to maintain a calmness on the inside. Notice I didn't say outside! We should aim for an outward expression of an inward experience, but that doesn't always happen. Do you know what does happen? My face goes rogue, and betrays my brain! I don't know if this happens to you, but the outward expression often reflects the inward "What the...!" Some of you may have seen this face. For that, I'm sorry. I'm working on that. (Another reason to just keep sipping!) 
       Peace is important. Peace helps sustain us in the midst of madness; it can help release the grip of worry, and it can also help pave the way for joy in less than joyful circumstances. It's obvious that I enjoy coffee, but it’s the pause that it forces me to take that I really love. The peace, I had to learn to tap into. I'm still learning! Coffee doesn't bring the peace, only the pause. God is who brings the peace. After all, He IS peace. 

       We all know what it feels like to be swept away by chaos, worry, discontentment, grief, unforgiveness or even fear. It's awful! All of these are thieves of peace. Storms and challenges are inevitable and unavoidable. So, how great would it be to be able to navigate through those seasons with confidence, courage, and grace?! Regardless of what wave you're riding, seek out peace. It may be that peace lies just on the other side of the storm, so hang in there. Life is an incredible journey with high points, and low. So, breathe deep, shine bright, and if you like coffee, just keep sipping!

Until next time, Beautiful.

Love me some lattes!

 London Fog and my man.

(I do sometimes reach for tea. Don't tell coffee.)