I've spent most of my life entangled in a to-do list. I get a thrill marking items off once complete. The other morning, as I sat praying and trying to have quiet time, (as much as I can with a toddler flying airplanes through the living room) my thoughts were scattered. My mind kept drifting to the list of stuff I wanted to complete that day. I was desperate for release from the list. I asked God to clear my head. "Lord, help me to focus on you," I prayed. "I don't want to be Continue Reading
The 500th Gift
On Mother's Day I reached the half-way mark. #500 Using my voice to encourage other mamas through my blog and books. I'm halfway through listing out 1,000 gifts and my perspective is really beginning to change. I looked at Mother's Day differently this year. My focus was on all the small gifts throughout the day and not just the gift that was missing (the hammock I hinted at a few times). For the first time (on a major holiday) I wasn't completely disappointed. I didn't let my Continue Reading
Five Minute Friday {Mess}
I'm learning to embrace the mess. It's a challenge, but I'm finding there are unexpected gifts hidden beneath the crumbs and crayons. This week my floors were sticky, but a closer look revealed tiny footprints made with melted ice cream. The chocolate treat had dripped down his chin onto the floor. He'd walked right through the mess and left his mark. There was spaghetti stuck to the hard wood, but my attention was turned towards the little boy slurping the noodles. There are puddles Continue Reading
Purpose of Pain
I've been reminded lately that there is a purpose for our pain. Through conversations with friends, messages on Facebook, and my prayer list, God has shown me good comes from the trials and the valleys we walk through. It's during the hard times that He prepares us to be His hands and feet to the world around us. We become more compassionate. We pray with all our might. We are equipped to walk beside those who find themselves facing the hard stuff that we have overcome. I've watched Continue Reading
Through My Lens
Recently we spent an evening on my alma maters campus. It was the perfect place for a toddler to run off some energy and explore. I took my camera in hopes that the tulips had bloomed. With each click of the camera, I captured a gift. Looking through the lens I saw God's glory in a new light. As I counted gifts He reminded me that even if my bank account is low, my life is overflowing with gifts that money can't buy. Ann Voskamp writes, "The ordinary becomes extraordinary when the eyes see Continue Reading