A Mom Just Like You.....My Journey through Life with 8 Children....
• Jun. 16, 2009 - What is Visiting and Who Does It?
 What is Visiting and Who Does It?
(To view the video you will have to click on the link right below these words. The link is in orange letters and the post is in white. It will take you to YouTube to see the video. If anyone can help me in knowing how to post the video directly onto this post without having to link you to YouTube I would appreciate the help! Either Email me or leave a comment or a note in my chat box! Thanks so much!)
What is Visiting and Who Does It?
I just got back from visiting my Nana of is 96 years old and grew up in Italy until she was 16 years old. Sadly although her body is strong her short term memory is going because she has dementia. When I went to go see her, I hadn't seen her for 2 years because I live far away from her. While I was there she kept on asking me what I was doing was called I was trying to explain to her that I was visiting her. She wanted to know who did these kinds of things and I said visitors. Her expressions while she is trying to ask me questions and while I am answering them is so sweet and precious. This moment in time is so very precious to me. It is a priceless and precious memory I will treasure forever. Enjoy! I was trying to explain to her that I was visiting her. She wanted to know who did these kinds of things and I said visitors. Her expressions while she is trying to ask me questions and while I am answering them is so sweet and precious. This moment in time is so very precious to me. It is a priceless and precious memory I will treasure forever. Enjoy!
Dearest Lord,
I love my Nana with all my heart. Keep her safe in your arms. Comfort her in times of need and sadness and always keep fresh in her mind this time we spent together as I too want to forever remember it. Thank you precious Jesus! In your precious name I pray! Amen~ |
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• Mar. 18, 2009 - Another Take on......."They Say that Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder".....I Say Except when.....
Another Take on......."They Say that Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder".....I Say Except when.....
I have been pondering the magnitude of truth, in the saying "Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder." That statement is so very true in many circumstances but I find that there is one circumstance where it should NOT apply. The one exception is when it comes to how we view other people. I believe we should view the beauty of others in only one way, which is God's way, deep down from within.
When we meet someone new, what factors do we use to define, decide and base our opinion of that persons beauty? Would you say that the manner most of us use to gauge someone else's beauty is a shallow one? Would you say that many of us are far too quick to judge and form an immediate opinion of a person based solely on our first impression of them as well as their outer appearance? How sad for that person to have been judged long before we even took the time to get to know them on the inside. God says He will judge us in the manner in which we judge others. Is that how we would want God to judge us when we stand before Him?
How someone looks on the outside bears no weight or value in the true realm of beauty, whether it be in this lifetime or in eternity. The way someone looks on the outside matters not to God. Outer beauty fades with time but inner beauty lasts forever. Some of us may not be as pretty or as handsome as the next and some of us may have birth defects or damage due to injuries. But none of that matters or bears any weight, on who we are deep inside, and what our hearts hold within.
The way we dress, the color of our hair, the tattoos we may get or the body piercings some of us have done do not make up who we are within our hearts. The way we dress up our outer appearance is between God and us. ALL of us do NOT hold the same convictions when it comes to things like that so therefore it is not right for us to condemn those who may have different convictions in those areas. God uses all of His Willing Vessels to reach out and extend His love to everyone for God is No Respecter of Persons. Having a tattoo or purple hair is not going to stop God from using you to further His kingdom. If anything God will use that tattoo and purple hair to reach out to someone else who also has a tattoo and purple hair and doesn't know Him. And most likely they will open up and listen to someone who looks more like them than they would of if a clean cut business man was to walk up to them and try to share the love of Christ with them.
God sees something way deeper than we as humans can see. The beauty God looks at is NOT skin deep! Not only do we as humans have shallow vision but we also have tunnel vision. Our vision is unlike God's for God has x-ray vision as well as panoramic vision so His vision holds absolutely no limits. Yes it is true that God sees the outside of people too and He looks right past it and through it all and seeks to look right into the depths of our hearts. For the Heart of the Matter is our hearts and that is all that matters to God. For what He sees in the heart of all people is the only BEAUTY He is looking for the only beauty that matters and the only beauty that counts in this lifetime and throughout eternity!
So may we all take the time to look within a persons heart and soul and look past the superficial surface stuff for that matters not! Let us all extend our hearts and love to those we know and to those we don't know. May we all give to others and judge others in the same manner as we wish to be judged by God the day we stand before Him!
The love Christ had for us pierced the surface of the flesh and went right down inside of Him.
What's your take?
 My Dearest and Precious Jesus,
Thank you for loving us unconditionally without limitations and with such depth! I pray that you can teach us all to see others in the same way you do. I pray that you can teach us all to love others the way you do! May we grow in you and model the Agape love that you give to everyone of us all so willingly and freely! Thank you for being my Lord and Savior! In Jesus name I pray! Amen~ |
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• Mar. 2, 2009 - Winter Bouquets........
Winter Bouquets......
At the end of the day I sometimes feel like.......
I have given and given so much of my life......
But please be so kind as to let me explain.....
The root cause is self pity, only I am to blame.....
I know the purpose that I was created for, was to be a loving wife and a caring mother......
And I do not deny, that it is in those two roles that I do find my truest of pleasure.......
But I cannot deny that I am fully human, just like the rest of you......
And there are many a nights I feel so worn down as many of you also do.....
It is during those times, when I allow my self pity, to tear my mind and soul in two.....
Then I go to bed tired, dangerously unfocused feeling sorry for myself and so blue.....
No longer in sync......
Do my mind and soul think........
So I awake the next morning so confused......
What used to be clear, is no longer there, a blur are my own goals and views......
I know I'm in trouble when my mind and heart fumble and I start feeling I can no longer go on.....
So I get on my face pleading forgiveness and grace for the sinful thinking I awoke with that morn.....
In order to give myself, more time with the Lord, I send all my children out to play......
He lovingly renews my perspective on life, no longer confused, He has repaved my way......
So I call out to my children to come back inside so together we can start our fresh new day....
With a smile on her face, filled with so much love and grace, specially hand picked for me, as beautiful as can be I am handed a small but very precious winter bouquet.......
Thankful for God's Grace and the many blessings from above......
I am overwhelmed and blessed by all my childrens acts of love......
With a smile on my face and a song of praise in my heart......
A full and busy day I face, my heart overjoyed and more than ready to start........
So I quietly thank my Lord, as I recall my precious and many blessings......
My heart now fully content and overjoyed, it says within itself, that yes, it is all so very worth it and no longer is it second guessing......
Dearest Lord,
Your love and patience never cease to amaze me! You are truly a loving, forgiving and patient God. I thank you so much that you are always so forgiving and ready to hug me and put me back on track! Thank you for all my blessings and for never leaving me or forsaking me! In Jesus name I pray Amen~
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• Feb. 27, 2009 - Focusing and Always Doing Our Very Best....
Focusing and Always Doing Our Very Best...
My sweet little 4 yr old YiYi just loves to color, write draw and anything else if it includes some kind of writing utensil and paper. As a matter of fact her twin sister YoYo is the exact same way. They will do schooling for hours, at their own request. Whether they are working on schooling or on some job that we assigned them to do, they will focus very hard and they do their absolute best. When they are done with their jobs they cheerfully come back and ask us what's next.
From early on, in our children s lives, we instill the concept that whatever they do they are to do it to the best of their ability. Good and Godly character is what we are striving to instill and build into their hearts and lives. What they do and where they go will represent to others who they are. They are also standing as representatives for our family as well as God's family too. So it is important to us to be sure that our beliefs are well defined and that what they are modeling, with their actions, reflects the standards by which we live by. We don't ever want to be known as lazy, deceitful, complaining, discontent or dishonest people. So we always strive to be hard working dedicated people in all that we do. We strive to do nothing less than our very best. From oldest down to the youngest we expect the same kind of attitude from each and everyone of them.
By teaching this concept to our children we are developing a lifelong habit for them. This is a habit that will benefit and bless them in so many ways throughout the course of their life. With time and repetition, this healthy habit, will eventually turn into a behavior that becomes second nature to them. One day they will reach a point where they will no longer even have to think about doing it, they will just naturally do it. It will become part of who they are.
Doing something to the best of their ability also means that they take the time to be sure they are doing the job right. If they are unsure of how to do something, one of our family rules is, "When we don't know something, we ask." And most importantly they must always complete their task. They are to go from start to finish. Sometimes children need to be lovingly, reminded, and encouraged to complete whatever task they may have started. If you do not require that they finish the tasks they start in life, they will tend to carry that over into their adult life. Most likely (not always there are some exceptions) they will grow up to be irresponsible lazy adults who will never really complete or accomplish much of anything in their life. So by not taking the time to train this standard into your children and setting that standard while they are still young is actually doing them a huge disservice.
Something I like to do is put praise music on so that they are learning to do all their jobs with a song in their heart. When we work with a song in our heart, we tend to be cheerful. I think it would be pretty hard to be grumpy while singing songs of praise to the Lord. Having that cheery attitude in our hearts and songs of praise on our tongues helps us to see whatever it is we are doing in a whole different light. I believe that is why God says to be thankful in all situations. He said it for our own good because He knew that it would bring us joy instead of misery.
I also encourage my children to take pride in their work and to be proud of their accomplishments. I don't mean for them to be prideful that is totally different than just being proud of the hard work they just accomplished. It makes your already cheerful heart even more cheery and encourages you to want to do more and to do it again. If our children work with a complaining or discontent heart it is completely impossible for them to do their very best and they will definitely not look forward to doing it again.
Attitude is everything moms God emphasizes having the right attitudes of the heart and the importance of it. As mothers we need to be sure we are modeling the right attitude in all that we do. If we complain and are discontent our children will see it and they will do the same. How can you correct a child for having a poor attitude when they are only copying what they see you do? How can you require something of your children that you yourself are not willing to do? So that is why, when we teach and model to our children, the right attitude of the heart, in regards to doing work, it becomes a part of them and it will not be a battle inside of them later on in life.
As long as they are doing their very best that is all that we ask of them. Each child is unique and different so be sure to get to know each one of your children mom. Take the time to find out what is the best motivator for each one of them. Reaching out to them allows them to want to give you their hearts. When you have your child's heart you can teach them anything. They will want to listen to you and please you. So be sensitive to each child's individuality and work with them on that.
I also always encourage my children to continue to grow throughout their life in every area of their life. Expand in what they know and strive to improve in everything they do. Don't just except what you know and plant yourself there. No keep expanding and growing in all areas . I am always growing and learning something new or learning more on something I already know and my children see that. I almost always have them by my side learning with me or I share with them the new things I learned! I am modeling for them what I would like to see them also do.
Here's to doing everything we can to the best of our ability always!!
Dearest Lord,
I thank you for the gift of knowledge. I thank you for the ability to learn new things, and to grow in the areas I have already been gifted in by you. Help me to always be one who likes to share what I have learned, not in a prideful way but in a caring way. I love to help others and save them time having to figure everything out on their own so help me to always reach out and I pray my children stay that way too. Show me the areas you want us to be learning and show us the areas you want us to be sharing. Help anyone who reads this and struggles to build confidence in you oh Lord. Help them see they can do all things through Christ who strengthens them (paraphrased ) Philippians 4:13. May pride never enter any of our homes, minds and hearts! Give the big dose of confidence and encouragement to these precious women and also direct us in our learning for we want to be learning things that glorify you will benefit our families and others. Not things that are mindless and a waste of time learning! In Jesus name I pray~Amen!
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• Dec. 17, 2008 - Our Family Calender January 2008
• Dec. 17, 2008 - Our Family Calender February 2008
• Dec. 17, 2008 - Our Family Calender March 2008
• Dec. 17, 2008 - Our Family Calender April 2008
• Dec. 17, 2008 - Our Family Calender May 2008
• Dec. 17, 2008 - Our Family Calender June 2008
• Dec. 17, 2008 - Our Family Calender July 2008
• Dec. 17, 2008 - Our Family Calender August 2008
• Dec. 17, 2008 - Our Family Calender September 2008
• Dec. 17, 2008 - Our Family Calender October 2008
• Dec. 17, 2008 - Our Family Calender November 2008
• Dec. 17, 2008 - Our Family Calender December 2008
• Nov. 11, 2008 - Blazing Black Bean Soup with a Southwest Twist served along side a Bleeding Beet and Bean Salad.......
Blazing Black Bean Soup with a Southwest Twist served along side a Bleeding Beet and Bean Salad.......
Well here are 2 more tasty recipes I created for us today. One of them will warm you up on the inside. A good meal for the cold weather that has been settling in and seems to be planning to stay for awhile. The other recipe is meant as a side salad to eat with or before the soup. Enjoy them in good health! The soup recipe can be made quickly or you can cook it slowly all day, whichever you prefer. Both ways are healthy and a way to feed your family a nice hearty warm healthy meal. Remember my family has 10 people in it. So be sure to downsize this recipe or make the big batch and freeze some for another time. As always use as many organic ingredients as you can.
Blazing Black Bean Soup with a Southwest Twist
5-25 oz cans of cooked Black Beans or 2 pounds of dried Black Beans cooked by you (Always soak your dry beans over night. Then drain the water the next day and put fresh water to boil them in. Always add a good 1 to 2 inch piece of kombu seaweed to your beans when cooking them. This and soaking them will remove the gases that tend to bother people when they eat beans.) (DO NOT DRAIN 3 cans of the Beans. Add the liquid from the 3 cans of canned beans to your pot. Keep the liquid from the other two until your soup is done in case you need it. If you want your soup thinner you can add more of the bean liquid to it)
(Do this only if you are cooking your own beans) Purified water (Put a little more than just covering the beans. If you soaked them they will not absorb much more water and you don't want your soup too thin) Do NOT drain this water from the beans when they are done cooking. This will be part of your soup base.
3/4 of a jar of Chicken based Better than Bouillon or a substitute of your choice
You can use more or less according to your own taste. You will not need to use salt when using this soup base or any other soup base.
2 -15 oz cans of organic canned corn Drained or use 3-4 cups of frozen corn
You can even use raw corn on the cob, just cut it off the corn and add it to your soup pot.
1 -can of Milder Rotel diced Tomatoes
1 bay leaf always remember to remove after the soup is cooked
1 tsp of ground cumin
1-1/2 teaspoons of dried Cilantro if you want to use fresh Cilantro, wash and chop enough to garnish the soup with after it is in the bowls.
1 Tbsp of Celery seeds
1/4-1/2 cup of dried onions or use freshly grated medium onion
2 Tbsp of garlic granules or 3 large cloves of garlic minced
1 small can of diced green chilles (drained)
10 oz of Sharp Cheddar raw milk cheese grated
If you are using canned beans add the entire contents of 3 of the cans to your pot. Then drain the last 2 cans into a bowl and keep that liquid just in case you need it to loosen up your soup as it cooks. If you cook your own beans keep all the the liquid they cooked in, this is part of your soup base. If you added the Kombu to your dried beans remove it before making your soup. Add your Better than Bouillon to the bean liquid in your pot. Then add everything else except your cheese. Drain your corn and green chllies then add them to the pot. Add the entire can of the Rotel tomatoes. Now add all of your seasonings to the pot which are your bay leaf, garlic, onion, cumin, celery seeds and the dried cilantro. If you use fresh cilantro just garnish each bowl with a sprinkle of the fresh chopped cilantro. Now cook everything together slowly in a crock pot or just for an hour to an hour and a half.
Now grate your cheese. After soup is ready serve it in bowls, add your fresh cilantro if you didn't use the dried cilantro in the pot. Then top with 1-1/2 heaping Tbsp of the grated sharp raw milk cheddar cheese to each bowl (more or less to taste). Be sure to mix your cheese into your soup before eating. Enjoy! Serve with some whole grain crescent rolls. (homemade or store bought) Also serve with the following salad recipe.
Bleeding Beet and Bean Salad
2-15 oz cans of cooked baby beets or you can cook up some fresh baby beets if you prefer. Either way keep the juice from the beets, whether it be from your cans or from the water you steamed your beets in. Chop the beets into small chunks.
1 small sweet yellow onion sliced thinly
1-15 oz can of cut green beans and chick peas drained or use 1 individual cans of each kind drained or cook your own and add it to your salad but drain juice off of them.
1-15 oz can of 3 bean mix (chick peas, pinto beans and kidney beans) or add any kinds of canned beans or cooked beans of your choice, northern beans, black beans whatever is your preference. Be sure to drain beans though.
1 Tbsp of Florida unrefined Cane Crystals (this is NOT white sugar)
2-3 dashes of Celtic Sea Salt
Not take all the ingredients and mix them together in a bowl. The only liquid you are using is the liquid from the beets. All other liquids are drained off before adding your ingredients to your bean salad. My children loved this! It was my own concoction and it was a hit! Beets are sweet and the extra splash of sugar cane crystals add a little more sweetness to the salad. All of my children asked for more!
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• Oct. 12, 2008 - Crazy Cinnamon Applesauce (Raw Homemade)
Crazy Cinnamon Applesauce
(Raw Homemade)
If I can find a way to make something raw I usually go that route first. Raw is best since the living food provides enzymes for your body. So here is a recipe I came up with for raw applesauce. As usual I don't measure as I go. I just throw things in, whatever looks good, or sounds good and I eyeball the quantities of things I add. So these are estimations you can adjust ingredients according to your own tastes. Use organic whenever possible.
Crazy Cinnamon Applesauce (Raw)
4 Golden Delicious apples
4 Macintosh
2 Granny Smith
3/4 cup of Purified water
1/2 cup of Unrefined Cane Crystals like Florida Cane Crystals
1 tsp of Ground cinnamon more or less to taste
Dash of clove powder
1/2 of a Freshly ground whole nutmeg
1 Squirt of lemon juice or 1/2 of a lemon squeezed into mixture
If you want to try a different flavor try adding some pureed strawberries or pureed peaches, feel free to try whatever flavor you enjoy most. You can even try making watermelon flavored applesauce, just add some fresh watermelon to your apple mixture but add less water since watermelon is so watery. If you come up with some unique flavors please do share with the rest of us! I am always game to try new recipes!
I have a Blendtec but any powerful blender will do. A Vitamix, a Champ, a Bosch all of these will work. I am sure other blenders would work too but you would have to break up the recipe I am sure and do it in portions in order for your blender to be able to handle the load.
I put the water into the blender first. If you are using unorganic apples be sure to peel them. If you use organic you can leave the peels on if you wish. You get more fiber and health that way. Be sure to remove the cores from the apples and cut the apple into pieces. Add them to the blender after the water. Now add your cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, sugar cane crystals and lemon juice. Now blend it all until smooth. If it is too thick add a bit more water if it is too thin add another apple. Add additional water very slowly so that your mixture does not become too watery. After you blend it until it is smooth. Serve in a small cup. Your family will ask for seconds!!!
Enjoy! Here's to good health!
Dearest Lord,
Thank you so much for the gift of living foods. Ones we can benefit from and feed our body with. Your love for us never seems to amaze me! In Jesus name I pray! Amen~
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• Oct. 12, 2008 - Radical Root Stew wtih Beans......
Radical Root Stew with Beans......
It has been cold and windy here lately! True fall weather has arrived! So today I decided to make a bean soup and somehow ended up concocting a root stew with some beans in it. Following is the recipe for those who would like to try it. Remember we are a large family so you will have to probably cut this recipe in half or make the whole thing and freeze some to use later. Remember to use organic whenever possible!
Radical Root Stew with Beans
12-14 Cups of purified water and then add Better than Boullion according to directions or use any broth powder without MSG. I always add extra I like it very flavorful. Or you can use chicken broth or vegetable broth already prepared whichever you prefer.
4 Cups of cooked beans (I mixed lentils, pinto, great northern and barley)(you can make your own beans or used can)
3 Medium to large peeled parsnips chopped
1 Large turnip peeled and chopped
4 Large carrots peeled and chopped
3 Large russett potatoes peeled and chopped
1 Large onion peeled and chopped very thin
3-4 Large celery stalks washed and chopped thin
1 Can of milder Rotel tomatoes with green chiles (the rotel tomatoes have a little kick to them already, even the milder ones do, so by using the ones with green chilies added to them makes it a little extra spicy. Use the mild rotel tomatoes without the chilies if you don't want the extra kick)
1 large can of Yams chopped or you can cook your own (bake them and then peel them and chop them up)
2 Bay leaves
6 Shakes of thyme leaves (if the container has large holes if not use approx 2 tsps)
Parmesean cheese
Fill a pot with water or already prepared broth. If you use water add your broth powder or better than boullion and blend well. Let it come to a boil. Now add your carrots, parsnips, celery, turnips, potatoes, onion, bay leaves and thyme leaves. Let it boil on low for approx 20 minutes. Now add your rotel tomatoes, cooked beans and cooked yams chopped. Let it simmer for approx another 15-20 minutes so all the flavors blend. Now serve in a bowl, and top it with freshly grated parmesean cheese and serve with homemade whole grain rolls or store bought and a nice big Ceasar Salad. (Go to my recipe archives to get the recipe for the dressing)
Enjoy!!!
Dearest Lord,
I thank you for the many flavors you have given to us in the wonderful world of roots and vegetables! It is a true blessing! In Jesus name I pray! Amen~
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• Sep. 26, 2008 - Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder......
They Say that Beauty is in the Eyes of the Beholder.......
Yet sometimes our vision becomes obstructed.......
But if we stop and take the time to look and smell the roses..........
It is a beautiful way to regain our focus..........
And a reminder that this beauty was created for our purpose.........
Dearest Lord,
Thank you for the beauty that surrounds me. It blesses me each and every day. Thank you for caring enough to demonstrate your love in this way! In Jesus name I pray! Amen~
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• Sep. 25, 2008 - Sunset, Sunrises and Contrite Hearts.......
Sunsets, Sunrises and Contrite Hearts........
At the end of the day when all is said and done, I look out at the skies that the Savior has given to everyone. The beautiful colored orange skies can settle an anxious heart. I cannot help but thank the Lord for the joy that fills my heart. His sunsets are a small reminder that he loves me and truly cares. And whatever may of happened that day He never allowed more than I could bear.
The silhouetted hills remind me how the day is coming to end and how the night is about to start. It is then that I remember I have been given another start. Another opportunity to seek my Saviors heart by asking for His wisdom with an open and contrite heart.
As I look out into the distance beholding the miles and miles of beauty. My heart can't help but grow closer and closer to my precious Lord His truly.
Then I take the time to stop and look before my eyes. No longer peering out into the distance, that my eyes were once able to see. My heart feels so warm inside, because of the suns beauty. It's rays that shine, have taken the time to stretch out across the sky. They peer at me through the leaves upon the trees as my heart can't help but wonder why. And I know that in my heart His beautiful creation only brings me closer to Him. So I know that when my Lord stops to look within my heart, a love for Him and all His beauty is exactly what He will see within.
When the night is over and a new day begins. I awake to a new sunrise that I know is from Him. I cannot help but realize the smart thing to do. Is to graciously accept this wonderful new day as His precious gift meant for both me and you.
So why does it seem so hard to choose and decide which road I will take. My heart desires to stay on the straight and narrow completely for His names sake. Doing the right thing is not always easy to do. Because I am still flesh and blood and just another sinner like the rest of you.
When I take the path that seems greener to me it does not always make me a winner. Because if the path is not what God had intended for me to take it means I will only grow more into a sinner
So with each and every day I need to make the right choices. Grower closer to God means following His direction and tuning out all the wrong voices. My heart belongs to you oh Lord, I know you know my heart. But because I am a sinner each day I need to begin with a new start. My souls cry, to you oh Lord, is that you teach me all your ways. Help me to grow more and more in your likeness with each and every new day!
Dearest Lord,
May you fill my heart always with your love, direction and wisdom. Keep me pliable, obedient and genuinie in my heart to you. With each and every moment my heart wants to always stay true! I praise you and I thank you for all you do! Thank you dear Lord Jesus for loving me as you do! In Jesus name I pray! Amen~
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• Sep. 24, 2008 - Goodbye Summer and All of the Beauty that it Holds......
Goodbye Summer and All of the Beauty that it Holds........
 Pretty soon summer will be a memory of the past. The beauty that it holds is slowly slipping away. The look of life is slowly fading away. Winter is around the corner with the look of barreness that it holds.....
 
    
    
Winter arrives.......
Winter months hold their own unique beauty, even if the look of life is not one of them. It holds a look of being clean, crisp and pure. It is a vision of serenity and peacefulness. It is a good way of visually seeing how the Lord Jesus takes our crimson colored sins and makes them as white as snow......
Within each and every season there is a message that it holds within itself. A message of beauty, hope, love, joy and peace. Messages to us from a loving Creator, who strongly desires to give us a total and complete rest within Him and all that He has created. When I take the time to look upon and within the creation that He has surrounded me with, I never have a problem finding peace and harmony amongst the daily stresses of my life. All I have to do is go grab my camera and start capturing whatever beauty my eyes behold within their lens. Then I capture that moment within the lens of my camera to be remembered by me always. It doesn't seem to matter what season we are in, I can always find something amazing to capture in the moment. Whenever I am done I always find that a calm has been washed over me. God speaks to me about the love He has for me throughout the beauty that I love so much and enjoy.
 I have said this before and I will say it again. If you find yourself stressed and worn out, go grab your camera and soak in the beauty hidden within the seasons. When you do that it would be impossible to walk away not feeling refreshed, renewed and completely loved. As if the Lord Himself had given you a big hug. Don't take my word for it, try it for yourself. Please do share with the rest of us what enjoyment you were blessed with!
Dearest Lord,
I pray that you will forever touch each and everyone of us as we stop and take the time to enjoy the beauty you have placed around us. Teach everyone to soak in your creation as a natural tranquilizer to the every day stresses of life! Speak to us and let us forever feel your love with every flower we behold and every sunset we soak in. I pray you will bless each and every one that reads this post. In Jesus name I pray! Amen~
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• Sep. 23, 2008 - Walking Through Life with Anticipation and Excitement ....
Walking Through Life with Anticipation and Excitement....
When I was at the store, picking out a birthday dress (the one in the picture above), for my little girl, I spotted these boots and I just couldn't resist getting them. They are a shiny purple and the color just happened to match the dress perfectly!
When she awoke, the morning of her birthday, she was so excited to find, on her table, her new outfit . It was just waiting for her to put it on. Needless to say she fell in love with the dress and boots instantly. Now here it is weeks past her birthday and those are what she chooses to put on her feet everyday! She wore the dress every day for a week after her birthday. I finally had to peel it off of her body and make her take it off but she was happy that she was able to still wear the boots!
Every morning that we wake up and open our eyes to another new day, it is another precious gift from God. He has given us another chance to do His will and another chance to follow what it is He has created us to do. God wants us to awake to our new day in the same way that my daughter awoke to hers. He wants us to awake with anticipation and excitement because we know that He has given us the gift, of another day. We have been given the opportunity of another chance. A chance that allows us to follow more closely behind Him as we walk out our lives stepping and following in His footsteps. We have been given the pleasure of living for Him, as we serve Him, our families and friends in all that we do. He has given us another day to reach out to those around us, including those who are strangers to us. When we touch the lives of those, whose paths we may cross as we walk through this journey of life, we are demonstrating the love of Christ. We allow God to use us as
His Willing Vessel. A vessel that He uses to reach those who may not yet know Him. It gives someone else, an opportunity to know Him and accept Him as their Lord and Savior just in case their tomorrow never comes.
So don't take for granted that we will wake up to another tomorrow. Because I am learning more and more with each and every passing day that tomorrow may never come for some of us. Whether we're young or old is not what decides the length of life. God has numbered our days and only He knows what that number is. We should live each day to the fullest as if it was our last on earth. I know when I get to heaven I want to hear....
Matthew 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
God wants us to be excited about waking up. He wants us to anticipate the gift He has waiting for us. The gift of dressing ourselves in the full armor of God, after we have read and soaked ourselves in the His Word, the Word of God. Once we are fully clothed in His armor He wants us to keep it on forever and to never ever want to take it off. Just as my daughter did not ever want to take off her dress God wants us to feel that way about His gift too! He yearns for us to seek Him in all that we do! Asking for His wisdom, guidance and direction in all of the paths that we may walk on in our journey of life. He needs us to step out of the way and allow Him to step in. We need to learn how to put ourselves and our desires aside in order to let Him guide us in where it is He wants us to go.
God never promised us that life would be easy. But He did promise to never leave us nor forsake us as we embark on our journey through this earthly life. He has also promised the gift of Salvation to all of those who simply ask for it. It is a free gift for everyone and it is awaiting for you whenever you stop and ask Him for it! If you haven't done so yet, would you take a moment to do so now? Do not put it off until tomorrow for as I said previously said tomorrow may never come. The next minute or hour may not come, we just do not know. So the time to do it is NOW!! Please don't wait! Say the following prayer and enter into the most precious relationship you will ever know! Jesus said.......
Revelation 3:20: Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.
Say, Dearest Jesus, I know that I am a sinner. I know that I do not deserve the precious gift of eternal life that you so generously offer to all. I know that you died on the cross for my sins in order that I may have Salvation through your death. Through your Crucifixion you bore the sins of the world. I know that without you there is no way into heaven. In your Word you say.......
John 14: Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
So I am asking you dear Jesus please come into my heart and transform me into who you have created me to be. I ask that you stand before me at the throne of God and proclaim me as yours! I thank you for the best gift of all! In your precious name I pray! Amen~
If you just prayed this prayer and accepted Jesus Christ as your Lord and personal Savior. Please post a comment in this post, or leave me a message in the chat box on the side bar or email me privately! I would love for you to share with me about the beginning of your new journey!! Welcome to the kingdom of God! You are now a precious child of the Lord's! See you in heaven one day!
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• Sep. 22, 2008 - Lentils and Cheese, Pile it up Please...
Lentils and Cheese, Pile it up Please.....
One day I was in a hurry and it was lunch time. So I dug through my pantry and found some canned lentils. I starting concocting and I came up with a recipe my family loved! I have made this many different ways. I usually use Black Heirloom beans (black lentils) but this time I used just regular brown lentils like in the picture above. I will post both recipes. You can try one or both. This recipe is very healthy, and very fast.
Do share if you enjoyed it! I always enjoy the feed back. As usual I always use organic products whenever possible!
Lentils and Cheese, Pile it up Please
2 Cans of brown lentils or make your own use approx 4-6 cups of cooked beans
4 Heaping Table spoons of Dehydrated garlic granules (more or less to taste)
4 Heaping Table spoons of Dehydrated onion flakes (more or less to taste)
1 Can of mild Rotel Tomatoes (you can use mild, regular or hot, but I warn you even the regular is pretty hot)
1 Can of Mexican Corn
1 Container of Feta Cheese crumbles (or use a block and crumble yourself)
Celtic Sea Salt (to taste)
1 Package of Whole Wheat English Muffins
Unrefined Olive Oil
Put approx 1 Tbsp of olive oil in a pot or pan. Open the cans of lentils and drain out the juice. Take the drained lentils and add them to the pot. Now open the can of corn and drain out the juice also. Now add that to the pot also. Now add the garlic and onions. Open up your can of rotel tomatoes and add them to the pot, (Do NOT drain them). Add salt to taste. Heat all the way through.
Open up your english muffins and lightly toast them. After they are toasted pile the bean mixture on top of them and spread it out. Then put the feta cheese on top and drizzle with Olive Oil. Serve and eat. That's it, that is all there is to it. Here is the other recipe.
Black Heirloom Lentils and Cheese Pile it up Please
2 cans of the Black Heirloom Lentils
3 Tbsp spoons of garlic powder (from the healthfood store)
3 Tbsp spoons of onion powder
Celtic Salt to taste
Freshly cracked Pepper to taste
1 Loaf of whole grain bread (homemade makes it even better)
1 Container of Feta Cheese crumbles (Or use a block and crumble it yourself)
Unrefined Olive Oil
Add about 1 Tbsp of olive oil to the pot or pan. Heat up. Then open cans of lentils and put directly into the pot. With the Black Heirloom beans there is never any juice that I have come across. Now add the seasonings and heat through. Put the bean mixture on top of the bread and spread it out. Now top with the feta cheese and then drizzle with the olive oil. That is it! It is tasty and healthy! I hope you enjoy it!
Try it sometime when you need a super quick but healthy meal!
Dearest Lord,
Thank you as always for such amazing tasty whole foods! In Jesus name I pray Amen~ |
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• Sep. 21, 2008 - Hand Made Flower Wreaths and Growing Birthday Girls.....
Hand Made Flower Wreaths and Growing Birthday Girls......
My little girl is growing up so fast I just cannot believe it!! She turned 7 this year. WOW, where did the time go??? We had 5 boys before having our first girl. We thought we would never have a girl. Now we have 4. Someone later told me, be careful what you ask God for, you just might get it LOL. We did and we got more than we ever imagined we would.
So for a special crown this year I went outside and cut some of our wildflowers and some of our japanese honeysuckle flowers and made her this wreath out of them. She loved it. Of course it didn't last more than a day. But the pictures will keep the memory! This wreath was so easy to make. I just took some long vines of the japanese honeysuckles and twisted the ends around each other and then I tied it together. Then we went out and picked a few different purple wildflowers and stuck those in between where the vines were twisted together. Wahlah, that was it. There are more pictures below, including a close up picture of the japanese honeysuckle flowers I mostly used in the making of this wreath.
Happy Birthday my sweet precious girl!!!!
Dearest Lord,
Thank you for my precious little girl and for all of my children! I am blessed beyond measure! In Jesus name I pray! Amen~
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• Sep. 21, 2008 - A Cup of Tea???
A Cup of Tea????
Well we are in the fall season soon heading into winter. I am finding due to some busyness and other circumstances we have been slipping and not eating as healthy as we used to. The children have been getting sick on and off, which is a good indicator to me that it is time to tighten up the reigns and get back to the basics in healthy eating. I need to plan ahead of time for any unexpected circumstances that may come up. I also need to be more prepared for the busy schedule we have had lately.
Our bodies health are always a good indicator to us on just how good or bad we are feeding them. So if you find that your family gets sick a lot it is your body's way of saying that you need to be feeding it healthier foods. Don't ignore it, make a change and try eating whole foods and lots of raw foods. You will be surprised on just how much healthier you and your family will feel and will become. Try it for a month. You will not be disappointed.
About a year ago, I concocted a drink, that sounded good to me at the time. I tried different variations when making it and found one I liked best. We would occasionally drink it as a delicious tea or just as a cool freshening drink.
Well I just found out the other day that there is a tea listed on a herbal site that is almost identical to what I came up with. From what I read this tea is is used to help people recover from colds and the flu. It is also a wonderful immune system enhancer.
I gave it to all my children yesterday and today they are pretty much back to their old selves. So I share this recipe with all of you. If you or someone you love needs to recover from a cold or the flu, drink a batch of this tea throughout the day. Be sure to make up a big batch so you have it prepared and ready to drink all day long. If you are not sick but feel something coming on go ahead and make up a batch of this tea and drink it throughout the day also. It should ward off the sickness so you don't end up sick and in bed.
You can try it as a tea or as a refreshing cool drink. Try it both ways and see which way you like it best. Here's to good health.......
Ginger Honey Tea
12 cups of Purified Water
4 inch piece of fresh ginger root (approx more or less to taste, we like it strong)
2-3 cups of raw unfiltered honey (more or less according to your own taste) (you can use unrefined sugar cane crystals too approx the same amount and same concept more or less to your own taste)
1 large lemon (squeezed and use the juice)
1 Big carton or bottle of unsweetened PINK grapefruit juice
Fill the pot with water. Slice the ginger thin and put it into the pot. You can also grate it if you would prefer. You may not need as much of the ginger if you grate it. Grating it will give it a more intense flavor. Cover and then boil the water with the ginger for approx 15-20 minutes. Turn the stove off and let the tea cool a little for approx 10-15 minutes. Then add the lemon juice, and the honey to the pot and mix it well. I like to use a whisk it mixes it together beautifully. At this point the water should still be hot enough to melt the honey. So if you are making a smaller batch do not let it cool as long. After you mix it up well if you want to drink it as a tea strain out the ginger pieces and then pour yourself a cup. Now enjoy!!!
If you want to make it into a cool freshening drink. Put the tea into the fridge to chill it. After it is chilled go ahead and fill a cup up about half way with the tea mixture and then add the PINK grapefruit juice to finish filling the cup up to the top. Mix it well then serve and enjoy!!! You can place a lemon wedge on the side of the cup and add an little umbrella to the cup to make it pretty. This is a great summer drink!! If you don't care for grapefruit juice this is a good way to change the flavor in a way you may grow to enjoy.
Healthful drinking to you all! If you enjoy the drink please do let me know. I love to hear feedback!
Dearest Lord,
I am always so amazed at all the wonderful healing herbs you have blessed us with! Thank you! In Jesus name I pray! Amen~
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• Sep. 7, 2008 - Lord Transform Me or Maybe Not??
Lord Transform My Life...Or Maybe Not?????
So many times in my life I think about the areas that I know I need to be changing in. Yet I know that in order to change in those areas of my life it would take a lot of hard work and a lot of me stepping back and completely allowing God to step in. I would need to be willing to allow Him to refine me into who He has created me to be. Now don't get me wrong, I am not afraid of hard work nor am I afraid of change but what I am afraid of is the way God will choose to go about making those changes in me. I think to myself will I be able to handle the trials and tribulations He allows me to go through in order for me to change and grow? How much will it hurt? Will I be able to learn and grow during those times or will I spend all my time and energy focusing on how hard the challenges God gave me really are and how much easier it would be to just give up?
Yet in my heart I know the truth. I know what the answers to all those questions truly are. Yet there are those times that I find my fear gets in the way of my heart. And I allow my fears to get the best of me.
Since I really enjoy talking with God so openly and candidly anywhere and everywhere I go, we tend to have a wide variety of conversations on a daily basis. Lately I have been focusing on some areas in my life that I know need changing. Areas I feel the Lord has been gently convicting me on for quite some time now. So I go to the Lord during one of our conversations and I ask Him to please help me make those changes we both know need to be made. Then as soon as I finish that sentence with my next breath I will start listing all the ways I DON'T want Him to go about it. I start rambling on about how if He ever allowed something tragic to happen to someone close to me whom I love so dearly or to myself I could never handle such hard trials such as those. By the time I am done rambling His hands are pretty well tied up.
Now I am the first person to tell others, especially my children, that God never gives us more than we can handle. Sharing what was once told to me and benefited my life in so many ways. Whatever trials the Lord allows into our lives are not without a purpose. The purpose of our trials are not always solely for our own benefit but can also be for the benefit of those around us. God can use one persons trials to bring another person to salvation. It is hard to comprehend it all but one day it will all make perfect sense. One thing that makes perfect sense now is that when we cooperate with God's will for us, no matter what it may be, we can always count on making it through those trials. With the added benefit of growing from each and every experience we face. And the added benefit of the possibility that our trials may have also touched the life of another.
When I take the time to reflect on the many struggles I went through in my life. I realize it was during those trials and tribulations that the Lord refined, purified and molded me the most. Each trial allows him to cleanse and refine me more and more. Every time I walk through those flames I come out of the fire purer and cleaner than I ever was before walking in. But during my resistant times, God is always so patient with me. He does NOT force anyone to change. He just sits back so patiently watching me struggle waiting for me to ask for His help again but this time without the limits. When I put things into perspective I realize God is the perfect parent and He only wants what is best for me just as I only what is best for my children. It is then that I finally unloose His hands and tell Him that I trust Him and I know that He knows what is best. Even though so many trials are hard to endure, some so much harder than others, I have come to learn that the hardest trials I go through in life are the ones that will later bring forth the most changes in me. Changes that are good and bring me that much closer to becoming who God created me to be. How can I argue with that?
Throughout the years as I grow more and more in my walk with the Lord, I am learning how to say, "Lord show me what it is that you want me to learn through this trial that you have allowed to come into my life." I will be the first to admit that it is not always easy to do but I will say that when I approach my trials in that manner I learn my lesson quicker and I find that I grow much faster in what it is that I learned. And when all is said and done you will find that it was a much less painful process because you didn't kick, scream and fight God the whole way through.
So ladies if you find yourself struggling with change. Wanting to change but afraid to give it all to God and allow Him to do whatever it takes to break those chains. Take a deep breath and ask God to give you the courage to allow Him to move in your heart and to give you the strength to step back and allow Him to step in. I promise you in the end you will not regret it because we only see the pieces of the puzzle in life, but God sees the finished product. My heart is with you all as you embark on your new journey of handing your life over to God and leaving it in His hands. Only good can come out of doing so. You will grow to new heights and dimensions in your life. You will reach a place you never even knew existed. Bless you all! I know you can do it!!!!
Dearest Lord,
I pray for each and every person who needs to make changes. I pray that they will grow strong in you and gain their strength from your loving hands dear Lord. May they succeed in accomplishing the task you have set before them. In Jesus name I pray, Amen~
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• Aug. 27, 2008 - The Heart of the Matter Character Place Mats.....
The Heart of the Matter Character Place Mats.......
I have recently observed that several of my children have started to demonstrate some signs of poor behaviors as well as poor attitudes. I felt that these behaviors and attitudes were indicators that they were in need of a little refresher course, in what we call, character boot camp 101. So I decided to enlist only the ones I felt were in need of it. I wanted to come up with a new and creative plan that I felt would accomplish the same goal of focusing on their character. Yet it would be creative and new. After much thought and lots of praying I came up with the following idea. I wanted to share it with the other moms who read my blog since I have seen so many good fruits growing, very quickly, in the lives of each child who is currently in the boot camp. I pray that if you happen to find yourself in the same season, that I am currently facing with some of my children, that this post may be of some help to you as well as a blessing.
I have always enjoyed reading character building books to all of my children with every window of opportunity we could get. I enjoy doing so for several reasons. But my main reason is because it teaches my children Godly lessons about the importance of building good character into their lives. Especially from a young age. As well as explaining the steps on how to achieve that goal. With some of the children being in character boot camp I have been focusing on reading these books more often to them. I am doing so in order to help get them back on track and to help strengthen their areas of weakness.
The next step I took was I handed out blank pieces of white card stock to each child who was in the boot camp. They were instructed to take some colored pencils and or crayons and do the following:
On one side of the card stock they were to use light and pretty colored pencils and crayons and draw things that they found to be beautiful to look at, touch, listen to and taste. Pictures of all things beautiful to them and to God. Things they find themselves doing that they know is a thing of beauty. I wanted them to draw the beauty that is in the deepest desires they have and hold in their hearts to accomplish, achieve and become all that God has created them to be.
On the other side of the card stock they were to use dark colors. This time the pictures that they were instructed to draw were pictures of things that they know are ugly and unpleasant to look at, touch, taste, and smell. I wanted them to draw pictures of the things that they do in their lives that they know are wrong. I wanted them to draw the sin and struggles that they face in their lives on a day to day, moment to moment, minute to minute basis. The temptations that they are faced with and lose the battle many times because the devil entices and dangles fleshly pleasures before their eyes during their most weakest moments, so they make the wrong choice.
After they were done drawing on both sides I took their pictures and then pulled out my "Proverbs for Parenting" book to look up scripture verses that fit the things that are full of beauty and scripture verses that fit the things that are full of ugliness. For the side that showed sin and struggles I wrote out scriptures that reminded them that God sees everything they do whether it be good or bad. He sees it all even when I may miss some things they do wrong God never does. He always sees everything and God is the one that counts in the end. I shared scriptures about how God feels about sin and how it makes Him sad when they choose to commit sin in their lives. For they are sinning against Him. I put scriptures telling them how God will always help them in their times of struggles. All they have to do to call upon Him and He promises to always give them a way out. He promises to never leave them nor forsake them. He also promises to never give them more than they can handle. So there is never a situation that they will be faced with that they cannot overcome and escape if they call upon the Lord for His help. Even though their areas of temptations that the devil encourages them to do may seem big, God is always bigger.
For the beauty side I wrote out scriptures on how God is very pleased with those areas of their lives when they choose to do good and it comes from their hearts. God says to them, "Well done good and faithful servant." I wrote verses showing them how God wants to help them achieve becoming all that He has created them to be. He wants to help them grow in the area of beauty that they strive for on the inside and out. The scriptures I wrote out showed them how God rewards and blesses those that follow His ways. He does not miss the good we do even if others do. And we many not always receive our reward here on earth but we will surely receive our reward when we get to heaven.
After I covered both sides of the card stock with the scriptures, that I found to be fitting for each child's pictures and character flaws. I then followed up by laminating each picture for them to use as their daily place mats during meal times.
I explained that since these were going to be their places mats for the time being I wanted them to do the following before each meal:
They are to lay their hands on the side of their place mat that lists the struggles and sins that they are currently experiencing in their lives. Then they are to pray and tell God that they wish to not sin against Him anymore especially in these areas that they need His help and strength to overcome the sins and struggles they face the most. I also have them read all the scriptures that are written on both sides daily so they are hiding God's Word in their hearts! Filling their hearts with good to replace the bad.
Then they are to turn their place mats over and pray for the beauty they are seeking in their hearts and lives. Their prayers are an intimate way of sharing with God the areas they wish to receive His help in. Areas where He guides each and every step they take so that they may grow into the person they wish to become and the person they know He created them to be. They want to walk with Him daily and grow to be more like Him.
If you choose to have your child do this you might just be surprised to learn what your children are truly struggling with in their hearts and lives. Also by having your children do this on their own it allows for them to think through what they see as their own weaknesses without you pointing them out.
As I stated before you just may be surprised at the things your children end up sharing with you. They may have many more struggles in their lives than you were ever even aware of. I also find that they are more willing to change in the areas they are weak in because it was them who brought up those areas not you.
So if you are needing to do some character boot camp with any of your children give this place mat idea a try. Let me know how it went for you and your child. I always love when you dear sisters share with me your success stories after trying things I share. May both you and your children be blessed in all you do!
Following are some of the titles I really enjoy:
"Christian Character". I really love this book. It is geared towards both boys and girls. "Wise Guys" this is specifically for boys. "A Girl of Beauty" specifically for girls. The following title is another one of my favorites "Boyhood and Beyond" this is also specifically for boys. "The Christian Gentlman's Series" specifically for boys. "Beautiful Girlhood" specifically for girls and one of my favorites. "Christian Manhood" specifically for boys. There really are so many more books I have on character building but the ones I listed are a few of my favorites.
Dearest Lord,
I pray for any mothers out there who may be struggling with character issues in some or all of their children. I pray that you will open their hearts Lord. Give them the wisdom and guidance to help teach their children how to overcome these weaknesses with your help! I know all things are possible with you. May you be with each one and bless them in all their efforts. In Jesus name I pray Amen~ |
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• Aug. 11, 2008 - The Joys that are Brought Throurgh the Smallest Acts of Love.....
The Joys that are Brought Through the Smallest Acts of Love........
A note of love from one of my younger sons.....
One happy mama who loves each and every note.....
I wanted to share another thing I have done with the many notes from my children throughout my many years of mothering.....
Whenever one of my children would write me a note, draw me a picture or give me a trinket I would grab one of my reading books and stow away the item I was given inside that book. I would be sure to write the name of the child who gave me the precious gift as well as the date I received it from them and their age. Whenever I would receive a new note I would take the time to put that note in one of my many other books. In doing so I get a new surprise each and every time I read a new book. Each and every note brings joy to my heart. So many times in the middle of reading a book I would stumble upon one of my notes I had stowed away. Other places I would place my notes is in my drawers, my make up case, my mommy planner or I tape them to my mirror. I place them in my kitchen drawers and even put them in my glove box in the car. You name it I store it there. Whenever I find these gems I cannot help but take a wonderful trip down down memory lane.
Everyone is different so please don't feel like you have to copy me. If this idea sounds like something you would like to do by all means give it a try. But everyone has to find their own nitch. But for me I find that I prefer to save the things my children give me in the form that I just shared with you. I prefer doing it that way over keeping everything in one box somewhere in a closet. The other amazing and wonderful thing I find in doing this is that I almost always seem to find those notes at times when I am in need of reassurance of my mothering because at that moment I may be forgetting what a blessing it truly is to be a mother. Sometimes I may just need a good dose of cheering up and a dose of reality.
My oldest son will be 21 years old this year. He is out of the house and living on his own but I am still finding notes he wrote to me back when he lived here and when I find those notes it is like having him here all over again. I find notes of all kind from him. Some are apologies, some just say I love you, some are notes of him asking questions. There are just so many numerous types of notes that my children write me and I enjoy each and every one of them.
There are also times that the notes are a reminder of just how precious my children truly are. There are times I may find a note from a child who just happened to do something wrong and I found myself feeling very displeased with them and their actions. It always amazes me how God seems to use those notes and moments as a reminder and as mini lessons for me to focus on treasuring each and every moment with each and every one of my children. It is so true that they really do grow up very fast and we only get one shot at raising them right and raising them with love. God uses those notes of love as a reminder to show me that my children's hearts are truly filled with love but they are also human too. Even though my children may do wrong they are still precious and because their hearts are so full of love and filled with God's love I need to remember that yes they will make mistakes because they are human but they deserve forgiveness and grace just like the rest of us. Through those notes I find God reminding me to just enjoy everything about them good and bad because they are only little once.
I challenge you mothers who find this is something you want to do with your children. to begin writing them notes as I suggested in my previous post. Then hopefully over time they will begin to write notes back. When they do remember to store them all over your house. Find places to stow them away so one day you will just happen upon them and believe me it will always seem to be at one of the most perfect times. Do it with pictures they draw, photos, trinkets and notes. I promise you, every time you find one of those treasures you will be blessed more than you can ever imagine! Enjoy your children and keep their love and childhood alive by leaving little pieces of them throughout your home and your life over the years. Even when they are grown and gone you will still be enjoying their childhood through the items you come across little by little. One thing to remember is that God is a God who is all for writing notes of Love to us His children. His Word is full of love notes seek and you will find. They are encouraging, full of love, peace and happiness. Writing notes you cannot go wrong. May you be blessed in your mothering sweet mothers and sisters! Happy adventuring!
Dearest Lord,
I pray you touch each and every heart of every mother who reads this post. May your will be done in each of their lives and their families lives. Give them peace and happiness. Give them guidance and fill them with love! Keep them in the palm of your hand and speak words of love to them through your Word as you guide each and every step they take! In Jesus name I pray Amen~ |
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• Aug. 7, 2008 - Words of Encouragement Through Notes of Love!!
Words of Encouragement Through Notes of Love!!
(For you Holly)
I started the act of writing notes to my children a few years ago. I usually write them up at night and then I would leave them taped to their doors for them to find first thing in the morning after they had woken up. I would even leave notes for the children who cannot read. Their inability to read was not a problem because they just rushed to me with their notes waving in their hand asking me to read it to them. This made them just as happy as if they read it by themselves. They too were being encouraged and uplifted. I feel leaving notes is a great way to help your children start their day! ! A morning filled with words of encouragement and love.
In these notes I remind them of just how much I love them, I write things to encourage them especially if they are feeling down. I share scripture verses with them that are meant to inspire them and lift them up. I share with them what a blessing they are to our family. I remind them how each one of them plays an important role in our family unit and without them our family would be incomplete. I remind them how special they are and how God has created them for a very special purpose.
I share what good deeds I have seen them recently do. I also remind them that I am always there for them no matter what I may be doing. It is important to me that they know I am never too busy to listen to what is on their heart.
If there are areas I feel they need to be stronger in I write out scripture verses that apply to their areas of weakness. Every time they read those verses I know it is being spoken over them and into their lives. The WORD is being hidden in their hearts. I would also write out verses that focused on their strengths. Whenever those verses were read I saw it as a way of reinforcing the strengths they had within them.
In my notes I would ask them how they were doing and if there was anything on their minds or hearts that they wanted to talk about. I share how proud I am of them and how much I believe in them. I let them know I believe they can do anything they want to do as long as they applied themselves 100%. But most of all they need to remember to ask the Lord Jesus for His help. Philippians 4:13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
My notes are always filled with unconditional love, encouragement, blessings, words of belief I have in them and who they were created to be. Guidance, openness, my words are always uplifting and are never judgmental.
I never realized just how much my notes meant to my children until one day I stopped writing them. Something happened in my life that caused me to stop writing them notes and I just never started it up again. I had no idea just how much they truly enjoyed receiving those notes because they never told me so. Shortly after I stopped writing those notes I began receiving notes from my children. Sweet notes filled with love, encouragement and scripture verses. I enjoyed receiving them so much. Then I would be asked are you going to leave me a note too mom?
Then one day all my children began begging me to start writing them notes again. It was at that moment that I realized just how much of an impact my notes were really having on my children and their lives. Although they never indicated that the notes made a difference to them I later found out just how much of a huge impact the notes had on them and their lives! I completely understood because I myself was throughly enjoying receiving all the notes they were giving to me! Note giving and receiving is so loved by us all that it has now become a regular tradition among children and my myself.
Even though my husband and I have one on ones with our children as a way of allowing them to share what is on their hearts with us. These one on ones gives us alone time with each child allowing them to open up their hearts and share their most inner thoughts and desires with us when no one else is listening. It is a place of safety. Yet I find that I still like to write the notes because I see them as another way to share my heart and love with my children and it allows them another way of sharing their hearts with me. I also find that sometimes in the one on ones it is harder to tell your children where their weak areas are when you are face to face. It is truly a much gentler approach to share with your child the areas you feel they need to work on when you write it on paper.
As for my older children even though I write them notes we also like to text one another, email back and forth or chat via AIM. I find this as a great way to communicate especially when it comes to talking about something embarrassing that may be hard to talk about face to face. We do it if they are out with dad or in their room and they just want to chat. I enjoy these moments very much. I love that they are choosing to come to me, they are choosing to spend their free time with me, their mother and that is all that matters to me not how they are doing it. I love that they trust me so much and that they feel open enough to share their hearts with me.
So for any of you mothers out there that may be struggling with communicating with your children. If you feel a gap between you and your precious ones young or old, start writing them notes of encouragement and love. Do it every day. Build them up. Let them know how much you love them. Focus on their good. Notice what good you see them do. Fill them with scripture verses. I promise you if you do this everyday you will be tying strings of love with them. They may not show you at first how much they like it but believe me they will. If you did it for 2 weeks and then stopped you would find them looking for the note and they would seem quite disappointed if it was not there. Text them, email them, chat via instant messaging. Write hand written notes. Do what it takes and watch the wall come down brick by brick (note by note). You will be glad you did. Build your relationship first before sharing areas they need to work on. Writing notes is a way of sharing the good and the bad. It is also a way of preventing confrontations and it allows each person to share their heart without it turning into a fight or a battle of the wills. It is a safe way of working out issues that need to be worked out where both people can be heard without harsh words being exchanged.
When the time comes that you feel you can now share in the areas they need to be working on, always remember to be loving and gentle when writing your note to them. Be willing to also ask them what areas they would like to see you change in. Be humble and do your best to work on those areas! Give this system a try moms! I think you will be pleasantly surprised and you will have your child's heart back if you lost it or are in the process of losing it! Many may be saying you don't know my child. They are hard and cold towards me. Well don't give up mom. Every child wants their parents love and acceptance. If you start it and continue it I promise you it will bridge the gaps that have formed. Happy note writing and be blessed dear mothers! Share your praise reports with me! I would love to hear them!
Dearest Lord,
I pray for each and every mom out there who may be struggling with having a happy relationship with their children. I pray you help them take these steps necessary that will heal their relationship and build loving new ones. I pray for other mothers who just want to strengthen their relationships with their children. Let these note writing sessions build strong relationships that they long for! In Jesus name I pray, Amen~ |
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• May. 14, 2008 - Posting in a Couple of Days....
Hello Dear Ladies,
I wanted to let you know I will be posting in a couple of days. We are alive and well! Sorry I have been gone so long! I thank all of you who were worried about us and asked how we were doing! I also appreciate all of you who let me know you missed my posting and that my posts are encouraging and helpful to you! It is always such a blessing to hear that.
I have missed posting and I have missed talking with you all! You are all the best!
See you in a few days!
Hugs and Blessings to you All,
Brenda |
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