{kingdom oriented}

Love this post from Sally Clarkson .

I Take Joy

Love it, love her heart.

{on my nightstand}

I have had this for a while and pulled it out last night. When you read the statistics of the generation following us {our children} regarding 'will they or won't they' have a real faith in practice...well, it is not something you can sleep easy on. So maybe not the best time to start it just before bed. It's staggering really. I've heard all of the statistics and data before, as most of you have, this could potentially be the generation in which the faith is lost. The life preserver: our homes, our faith and our passing the torch to the next generation. The right way, the "real" way.

{another article}

I just may need to be an ongoing link to articles. Either that, or I am airing out all of my dirty laundry! But, this article was very good and is something I find myself struggling with due to life as we know it now. It is not intentional on my part as planning can be very difficult for us; even the smallest things. But, I have learned to refrain from sharing any plans with the boys for fear of changes and disappointment. That's the big stuff; but I'm learning to deal with that. It's those little everyday promises that I hate to admit, that sometimes, I find myself failing to keep or making myself keep them through much effort. Again, maybe this is entirely self-directed. But, it is big deal to me and one that deserves much focus. Unfortunately, I play out this exact scenerio way too often. I end up on the floor alot right here at my desk.

My black eyes are swollen.

A Mom Who Keeps Her Promises by Glynnis Whitwer

"Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." 1 Corinthians 13:6-7 (NIV)

One day, just before the start of school, my middle son sat cross-legged on the ground, playing at the foot of my desk while I worked on the computer. Since he'd been out-thinking me from the time he was two, I shouldn't have been surprised at the conversation that ensued.

"Mom," he started simply. "When you were little, did Grandma ever tell you she'd get you a pony and then didn't?"

"No, she didn't," I answered, fully engaged and wondering where this line of thought would go.
"Well, you told us you'd take us to Toys "R" Us this summer and you didn't. That's a true lie," Dylan solidly proclaimed.

I was shocked that he remembered a promise from three months back, but more stunned by his reasoning. In the midst of being impressed by how his mind worked, I was convicted. He was right! Every time we drove past the toy store, my three little boys asked to stop and I'd put them off. It wasn't that we didn't have the time, but taking three boys into a toy store was pure torture. Either I should have taken them or I shouldn't have promised we would do it.

I stopped my work, joined him on the floor, and sincerely apologized for not following through on my commitment. That little 6-year-old taught me a lesson I'm still learning: I need to keep my promises to my children!

It's tempting to think the kids will understand when my schedule changes and it becomes inconvenient to keep a commitment. After all, they are "just" kids. Right? Wrong! I've discovered that after God and my husband, my children are the most important people to whom I should honor a promise.

The truth is while children may say they understand when we don't keep a promise, depending on their ages, it's really hard for them to fully grasp our complicated lives. All they know is they are eating a cafeteria lunch alone when mom said she'd bring a Happy Meal. Or they are in front of a TV when mom promised to take them to the park.

We all know life happens and interrupts even the best-laid plans. That's part of what we need to teach children – to be flexible. The problem arises when it becomes a habit. A mom who consistently backs out of promises will teach her children to do the same, and will leave them insecure and possibly resentful.

To become mothers who keep their promises, we need to guard our words and follow some daily practices. Don't make a promise simply to stop a child's repeated requests. Carefully consider your schedule and commitments before offering to do something. Start with small promises and build up to larger ones. If the promise has to do with an outing as a family, work together as a family to get everything done before going. Look beyond a child's words to her heart. Does her request have more to do with spending time with you than going to the park? If so, offer an alternative before you commit to something you probably can't do.

A mother has the high calling of modeling the faithfulness of God to her children. More than words, children watch actions. Will they find a mother who keeps her promises? If so, it will lead them to a God who keeps His promises.

and, to add to that, here is a link to one of my favorite bloggers, I love her heart! But, her last post somewhat goes with this and I did not even read it until after I posted this one....
Lots of Scotts

{i love this}

from motivation for moms....

Don't just tell your children that you love them ~ tell them what you love about them.

{legacy}

i had a sweet conversation with a dear friend today. the conversation was emotional and very heavy at times. we discussed the book "thirty days to live" that our pastor has been discussing of late. truly - what would i do with my life if i knew i only had thirty days left. THIRTY days. what would YOU do? it would put alot of things in perspective very quickly. the big things would seem minute. the simple things would seem profound. i have a strong suspicion it would be those simple things i would immensely crave. it is amazing how our perspective with life and the circumstances we find ourselves in makes such a huge impact in our happiness......and peace.

and, preceding today's conversation, i've been thinking alot about what legacy i am leaving behind; particularly for my children. it can be overwhelming at times. this song so gets to me........

"legacy" by nicole nordeman

i don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
and i enjoy an accolade like the rest
you could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
at such n' such......it wouldn't matter much

i won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
we all need an "atta boy or atta girl"
but in the end i'd like to hang my hat on more besides
the temporary trappings of this world

i want to leave a legacy, how will they remember me?
did i choose to love? did i point to You enough to make a mark on things?
i want to leave an offering
a child of mercy and grace who blessed Your name unapologetically
and leave that kind of legacy

i don't have to look to for or too long awhile
to make a lengthly list of all that i enjoy
it's an accumulating trinket and treasure pile
where moth and rust, theives and such will soon enough destroy

not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
just want to hear instead "well done" good and faithful one....


Truly, what else matters in this life? our relationship with christ, wrapping ourselves into our family and dear friends. i want my children to know beyond a doubt their mother's heart. they are what i will leave behind.

{reality check}

I often let myself get so caught up with so many things that are so far from being important. At the moment, they seem to be huge, but in reality they are clearly not. I worry, I fret, I get angry over things that just do not matter. Absolutely do not matter. Aspects of those things do, but, other intertwined aspects do not. For those things, I just need to remember to pray and let go. And, let go quickly.

And, without disclosing any details, it is when I get an email from a mother of a little boy (both of whom I have fallen in love with) that he has another health fight ahead of him. It caught me off guard this time. And, he's always such a little trooper. We could all learn so much from him. It is a moment like that in which I come back to my senses. I see what truly matters in this life. And, how I need to be responsive to the things that matter, not the things that take away.

So, B and family - you are my heros. Each one of you, because I know how a health crisis affects every family member. B - you are my SUPERhero. I am very blessed to know you, each of you.