i'm a mom

There's no one else who calls me "Mama".

She doesn't know what she means, but I hear what she says.

Mama, my protector.

Mama, my playmate.

Mama, my food preparer.

Mama, my tucker-iner.

Mama, my story reader.

Mama, my drink getter.

Mama, my teacher.

Mama, my helper.

Mama, my tear-wiper.

Mama, my hugger.

Mama, my potty trainer.

Mama, my hurt-kisser.

Mama, MY mama.

How sweet the day that she knows I love her beyond measure, beyond words, without conditions.

Thanks, God, for this gift!

the daily grind

I got my daily email from Nancy Lee DeMoss and Revive our Hearts ministry. In typical Nancy style, she poignantly called me to practical holiness. If you are familiar with Nancy, then you know her incredible knack for speaking the truth in love. And if you are familiar with her and her ministry, you probably have been called into Christ-likeness more than once. Here she goes again.  :)

I remember being physically and emotionally wrung out during an intense speaking schedule. I'd become negative and hard to live with. And I justified my behavior because I was so exhausted.

Right at that moment a friend looked me in the eye and said, "Don't let tiredness be an excuse for carnality." That wasn't exactly what I wanted to hear at that moment, but it was just what I needed to hear.

You're going to face some exhausting moments this week. Maybe it feels like you don't do anything but make meals, clean up, take care of kids, pay bills, and fall into bed exhausted. It's okay to admit that you're tired. It's right to cry out to God in desperation. It's okay to ask people for help.  But it's not okay to sin.

When your energy ends before your to-do list, remember this: "Don't let tiredness be an excuse for carnality."

Okay, Ladies, let's rise above our circumstances.

save a buck!!

hey girls!  i came across a great recipe for laundry detergent.  it's super cheap and super easy!  it doesn't lather up like the store bought kind, but it works great!  try it!

1 fels-naptha soap bar

1 cup washing soda

1/2 cup borax

-cut soap into pieces and process in a food processor until powdered.  mix all ingredients.  use a couple tablespoons per medium size load.

normally, i buy liquid.  here's a link for a homemade liquid version.  i just opted for the easiest one to make...  :) www.duggarfamily.com/recipes.html

good luck!

shared hope international

Shared Hope International will be on Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast today, January 14th.   Linda Smith, Founder of Shared Hope International, discusses the global problem of child sex trafficking and what Shared Hope International is doing to help stop it.  

Listen to "Rescuing Children from Prostitution" anytime on the web: http://listen.family.org/daily/A000001730.cfm

There are ways for us to help!  Check out Share Hope's website: https://www.sharedhope.org

Happy New Year!

just a little note to say hi, happy new year, and i am still alive.  :)

it's happening...

Unfortunate for most parents must be the onset of the "terrible two's".  And it has started for us.  Creeping into our daily life are fits of disappointed crying sessions and an overuse of the word "myself".  Yesterday I was at my patience's end.   Today, however, has been much better.  Staying connected to the Lord seems to be pivotal in maintaining my internal peace and,  consequently, the peace in our home.  As I watched Amia demanding to do something by herself, I thought about the commentary it was regarding my life.  Though my mirror is only 30 inches tall, it reflects my heart uncomfortably accurate.  Even amidst situations that should cause me to depend entirely on God, I still find myself struggling to surrender... I mean really surrender.  In parts is one thing; in entirety is something completely different.  And God has been calling me to deal with areas of my life that I hold back from Him.  There are things I don't want to change... it's just too familiar... too comfortable.

But that is not what He has called us to, is it?  Hold me accountable - I plan to wrestle with God this week.

"I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands."  Psalm 119:10

to swiff or not to swiff?

I was on the prowl to save a buck when I encountered a website that offered suggestions for homemade swiffers.  (Does any one still swiff with me?)  So, I tried several of their suggestions.  I used a paper towel.  I used an old rag.  I even tried the suggested pantyhose.  What I have found that has worked the best is the cloth diaper recommendation. However, it's still not as good as a swiffer sheet.  Are their any other ideas out there?