That's the plan...

When my husband and I moved our family from Colorado to Florida this past January, we had plans for returning for the remainder of our things, plans for coming back to Colorado to visit family and friends and plans for me to attend my sister's college graduation.  Things that WE plan, don't always go accordingly...
Feeling oh, so homesick today...missing my kids, missing my sis, incredibly disappointed that I'll be missing her graduation from college!!!  I want coffee, I want chocolate, but neither of those things will fill the empty place I have in my heart...Someone told me I'm the rock in my family, but today I feel more like a melting iceberg, slowly losing sight of what I used to be...
The only thing that can sustain me and bring me back is the never ending, never ceasing love of the Lord for me.  HIS plans for my life are far better than I could ever imagine, think or hope and HIS ways are better than my ways by far ANY day!  It's these times that we need to draw near not only to the Lord but to our brothers and sisters in Christ.  For they are our strength and support in our times of need.  God puts people in our lives for a reason, as season or a lifetime...He put them there for us to lean on when we lacked the strength ourselves and when He knew we would need them to make it through trying times.  Do not forsake the assembling of my people, He says.  We NEED fellowship and we NEED to be with other Christians to get through trials and tough times. 
Don't be afraid to reach out to those people God has put in your life...He knew you would need them one day and HE planned for it!!!

Thanksgiving...

Today, our pastor asked the congregation what we were thankful for, and he was met with a variety of answers.  The interesting thing was that while everyone thought about family, friends, homes, food, God's provision and a few material things, nearly everyone asked failed to mention being thankful for Jesus!  I must admit, I was in that group who didn't give it a thought!!  I love the Lord with all my heart, I desire to do His will in my life and go where He leads me, but I caught myself taking for granted the sacrifice of Jesus' death on the cross, His love for me, His provision for me and most of all my own salvation in Him!
This week, as you sit around the table or stroll around the block for a family walk, search your heart and see what things you might unknowingly be taking for granted.  Then give thanks for those things...the Scriptures say:  Give THANKS with a grateful heart...give THANKS to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever...give THANKS in all circumstances for this is the will of God for you!
I am thankful for all my sisters and brothers in Jesus and for the ability to FREELY share the Word of God with others...I am thankful for the ability to speak and for the Lord giving me a spirit of power, of love and of sound mind to boldly tell others of the love of God for them!!
Have a BLESSED and THANKFUL holiday!!!!

Remember, it's all an illusion...

Before I begin this blog post, I must apologize for not posting for the past TEN DAYS!  (WOW!  How did that happen?) 

Simply put, I'm the super mom ILLUSION!  I'm not better than another mom; I can't produce things with any greater ease than another mom; I don't remember everything all the time (contrary to what my family believes!) and sometimes, life gets in the way of MY plans.  It is all an illusion that I can pull off so many things: work, homeschooling, my own schooling, running my household, keeping my children in line, etc.  There are many workers and assistants in my day such as my husband and my older children, who help make my job easier.  Just as a church is not run solely by the pastor or a corporation is run by just the president, so my household is not run by this mom alone!  Because I work at night, it has been a great blessing to see my husband and oldest son and daughter making the meals for the family.  Some may argue that as the mother and wife this is my job.  But I would pose this question:  Isn't the end result teaching my kids to serve others, possibly even beginning at home?  If they serve their siblings, how much more will they know how to serve others in the world?  And how much more willing to be a servant of the Lord?  This is preparing them for servitude and is a great character trait to possess.

Second Timothy 2:24 says, "And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful."  As a homeschooling mom, this is just one more lesson my children are being taught and it is a practical life-lesson that will shape who they are in the Lord.  So while I am not the "Super Mom" many think I am because of the number of children my husband and I have or that we homeschool, I always keep straight the fact that this is not a solo act and there are MANY performers helping to pull off the production of our family!!               Be blessed!!!