I've got writer's block today, and can't seem to sit in silence long enough to think of anything semi important to say. I've got several big events coming up that I should probably be planning for, but instead, I procrastinate! Next week the kindergarten classes at Olivia's school host a "Mom's Coffee Night" for all the moms to get to know each other better. Because I'm on the parent board I'm helping to coordinate the night. It should be a lot of fun! At the end of October is our church fall festival that I've put together the last 3 years, and I'm no where close to being as prepared as I should be. Not to mention I told Olivia we'd do a family costume theme this year of 'Tangled'. She is going to be Rapunzel, Scott will be Flynn Rider, I'm going to be Mother Gothel (great :/ ha ), and Judah is Rapunzel's little chameleon friend Pascal.  I've got to get working on those costumes! On top of all that, Judah's ...

She's known to many as "Mum, Mumma, Pastor Bobbie" and much more. I recently read a 2 part blog (watch for more, she's hinted about part 3) by Pastor Bobbie Houston of Hillsong Church in Sydney, Australia. Yesterday, as I sent my little army of workers off into different areas to clean, I thought of some advice that's stuck with me from part 2 of the post. "Never go empty-handed through the house". What a great thought! Moms know what a constant job it is to keep the house clean (or presentable at least), and that bit of advice is so awesome! In my house there are constantly toys to pick up, laundry to put away, dishes to wash, and miscellaneous items to be kept organized. Why not grab a handful of things that need to go upstairs when I'm on my way up? Great advice! Anyway, as I sent off my little army of cleaners yesterday I reminded myself to post the link to these articles from Bobbie. They were so brilliant and such a blessing to me, and I just k...

Do you ever have one of those days where you just feel thankful, emotional, overwhelmed, and undeserving all together? We need to feel that way more often about the way God continues to bless us, but today I had a couple reminders of just how blessed I am. It was one of those "Indescribable" "How Great is Our God" days. I dropped into Olivia's school to check on her for her first day back after the accident on the playground. I ate lunch with her and made sure she was feeling OK. We are so blessed to have her at the school where she is. I actually got a call from one of the secretaries the other day saying they were all praying for her after the playground incident. Hearing that after Olivia telling me how one of the teachers that was her teacher in preschool came over to pray for her swarmed my heart with gratitude.  How amazing it is to hear people say "we're praying for your daughter in school".  What a freeing and encouraging thing to know y...

My last post about cleaning out my kids closets was posted just minutes after receiving a nerve-racking phone call from Olivia's school. She had an accident on the monkey bars and banged up her mouth pretty good. I looked at my watch, and realized it was her lunch time so I considered going to check on her and have lunch, but changed my mind. I was worried she would get worked up that I was there, and want to come home with me. They assured me she was OK and would call if anything changed. That was 2 days ago, and what a whirlwind the last 2 days have been in our family.  I picked Olivia up from school at the end of the day and noticed some dried blood around her sweet little mouth, but expected that, so off we went on our way home. When I got her home, I sat her up on the counter and made her open up to show me the damage, expecting to see some scrapes and maybe some wiggly teeth. She opened her mouth and I literally had to choke back the tears. It was apparent she was NOT OK! ...

This summer before school started for Olivia I made it a priority to go through her closet and pull out any clothes that she had outgrown and pack them up to either keep or donate.  She was so funny while we did this together. When we came across something that no longer fit her, but she really liked, she would say, "Keep this for memories, Mommy!" Ha! She's heard me talk about the boxes and boxes of her baby clothes that I can't part with, saying I needed them for memories. Such a sweet girl.  Well, today, I was doing the same in Judah's closet. This guy is growing so fast I feel like I'm in his closet every other month pulling things out! I was shocked that I packed up 2 boxes full of clothes that no longer fit him, or things he'd been given that I didn't think he'd ever wear. When I was done in Judah's closet I was able to hang up all his new clothes I've just gotten him and really see all he has, maybe what he might still needs (Scot...

This morning started off like any other morning.  I got up, got dressed, had breakfast, took Olivia to school, and came home to go about my day.  Once I got home though, things started to feel a little hectic.  Nothing out of the ordinary, but in my spirit I felt anxious, stressed, and out of control.  I wanted to sit down and get in God's Word a bit before I did anything else, but Judah had other plans! I found my mind flooded with all the things I needed to do today, and became overwhelmed by it all.  I couldn't focus on any one thing, so finally, I just sat with Judah for a little while before it was time for his morning nap. My spirit was telling me the words of Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God." (NIV)  I got Judah upstairs to his room and down for his nap (quickly thanks to the success of our new sleep-time routines!) and came back to the kitchen table where I sit now.  I flipped to Psalm 46 in my NLT bible and noticed something I don...

Many Christians have a "hoarding" mentality when it comes to the wisdom of others. It's the attitude of "I've got learn all I can from God and others so I can store this up for my own benefit". They buy every life application or devotional book on the shelf, but let them pile up in their office or home, and never think to lend them out to others.  If you've seen the show "Hoarders" then you know what I mean.  You know collecting too much stuff can become obsessive.  You know it can also become unhealthy.  This same idea relates to each of us and the wisdom we receive from God and others.  If all we ever do is take, take, take then we're only hoarding that wisdom for ourselves.  No one becomes wise on their own.  Each of us play an important role in helping to impart wisdom to others. It's a "give a little to get a little" mentality.  If we never share useful advice with others then we're only hoarding, not helping. Some...