Lesson(s) Learned

This time of year, I’m reminded, actually flooded, with memories of my growing-up-years-Christmases. Daddy would always set up the mammoth-sized video camera (one big enough to hold an entire VHS tape inside of it) upon its rightful place on a tripod in the corner of the living room, turn it on to record mode, and just let that thing take in whatever came across its path.  Oh, the stories that thing could tell.  Oh, the America’s funniest home videos competitions those VHS tapes could win. Oh, the embarrassing-etched-forever-in-time-moments that thing has recorded. (Will, am I right? “Getty up, getty up, getty up, let’s gooooo.”) While Dad was setting up the video camera, Mom was always busy baking the southern staples of Christmas “breakfast,” aka cinnamon rolls and probably pigs-in-a-blanket. Somehow, in the midst of all that, one of my parents corralled all five of us kids and convinced us to eat breakfast and watch a parade on tv or something before all the...

Being the mom of an almost 16-month-old little girl makes each day come with its own set of challenges, joys, surprises, messes(!), and a variety of experiences and moments that just make my heart smile and then melt to pieces, as these moments and experiences become all-too-fast-fading-into-memories. I remind myself nearly daily that I should take time (make time?) to record each and every one of these little moments, so the memory will last long after my little 16 month old has turned 16 years old. Before I blink twice, I'm sure she'll be married and have her very own 16 month old to nurture and fill up baby books full of similar memories. With that said, one cute little instance happens nearly daily between the two of us, my sweet daughter and me. (Needed background info: I used to sit on the floor with a full-length mirror and put on my makeup every day. My husband saw this, thought it looked uncomfortable, and promptly bought, assembled, and surprised me with a brand-new...

Recently, I read a quote that read something like this: "Parenting is all about teaching your kids how to live without you. The difficult part is accepting success." Man, is that quote so true! Now, granted, there are tons of aspects of parenting that are difficult. {Not *just* accepting success at the end of all your efforts.} Perhaps, the most difficult right now for me is the realization that time is short & stops for no one. Parents must pour into little (growing!) ones as much and as fast and as intentionally as possible in the short amount of time that we are gifted with the presence of our children in our homes. As any parent will tell you.... On any given day, this is not an easy task. Most days are messy. Some days are downright difficult to navigate. But what's important to note is in the midst of it all: Everyday is a gift. And the joy of the Lord is and should always be your all-reliant strength, especially when it comes to raising kiddos. Co...

This morning, I was reading I Samuel 1, and these thoughts came to mind. Hannah's husband, Elkanah, gave her a double-portion of food out of his lavish love for her, but she was unable to eat because of the taunts of her rival. Our Heavenly Husband has given us so very much out of His lavish love for us. What are you unable to feast on today because of the taunts of a rival, the comparisons of a companion, or the whispers of our Enemy?

I read this in a devotion book this  morning and thought I would share... "Every single situation we will face this week is worthy of worship." Every. single.  situation. the good. the bad. the ugly. the pretty. the planned for. the unplanned. the fun surprises. the unwanted nuisances. the problems. the solutions. the unnerving times in between. the things requiring patience. the things you  procrastinate. the things you can easily and readily do "on your own." the things that take only God's supernatural work, strength, power, love,  and grace. This and so much more... is all worthy of worship. 

Listen to this beautiful song I just discovered (thanks to a friend)! Then, read my "Wednesday Wisdom" below. :) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oGAzVbQC-18 Treat everything in life as an opportunity, not a right. Perspective changes everything from how you wake up in the morning to how you interact with others all throughout your day to how satisfied you feel at the end of every day. Every day. Every moment in every day. Every breath that makes up every moment of every day is a God-given opportunity, not a right. Enjoy the disguised and undisguised blessings He sends you constantly and consistently.