I grew up in a small Midwest town of 5,000.  It was a great town to raise kids, and I’m so glad that’s where I was raised.

We moved there in the middle of my kindergarten year.  I remember crying because I had to leave my friends and teacher, but looking back I’m so thankful my stepdad’s job brought us there.  If we were to stay in the town we were in, I know we would have been totally different kids because of the culture.

Our town was safe and I kept my innocence for a long time because I wasn’t exposed to much when it came to drugs or drinking.

Where we live now is completely different.  I feel God giving me a reality check of our lost, lost world.

I want to believe that everyone loves the Lord and has a heart for God, but that’s so far from the truth it makes my heart break.

Being a Christian isn’t about rules and what you can or cannot do.  It’s about a relationship with Jesus, our Lord and Savior.  It’s about being filled with joy because we have Him.  He didn’t promise an easy life, in fact says we will be persecuted because of our faith, but He will be with us through it all.

As a teen it was harder to stand up for my faith because we aren’t quite mature enough to realize that what other people think about you doesn’t really matter.  So unfortunately we conform to the ways of the world and sometimes leave God in the dust.

Even as a young mom I’ve felt persecution and felt out of the norm, but that’s ok.  I don’t want to stand out from the crowd in a stuck up-better-than-way.  I want people to know my love for others is rooted in my love for Jesus.

God’s top two commands for us is to love Him and love others.

How are you standing out from the ways of the world and showing love to others?  Conforming to the worlds ways are not the Lord’s ways.  His ways are far better; perfect.  Love one another and show them God’s love.  You just might peak someone’s interest as to why you are so dang happy!  Have a great day!

I’ve wanted to write so many times lately, but the words won’t come!

There’s so much I want to get done around the house, but sometimes I feel like I need a kick to get me going.  I think just the day to day tasks of homeschooling, caring for my family, household work, and most importantly, spending time in the Word are a lot.  By the time I put the kids to bed at night I’m done for the day, but don’t find any fulfillment watching TV.

I’m waiting for a new book to arrive called Desperate by Sally Clarkson and Sarah Mae.  I’m going to be going through it with a friend.  I’m so thankful and excited for this because it’s reassuring to know I’m not the only one who wants to escape the madness of life sometimes.  I think it’ll be a great encouragement for both of us!

I shared with another friend this fall that when she shared her struggles with me, it made me feel better because it showed me that I’m not the only one that feels the way she was feeling.  However, I know for a fact that when I’m in the Word and focusing on the Lord, my heart and attitude towards my duties as a wife and mom are so much better.  I realize that this is the way God created family, but He didn’t intend for us to do it alone.  He is with us always.

So whatever you are doing today, I hope you find joy in knowing you are honoring God by staying home with your babies to do what seems like the mundane.  You will impact eternity and make a difference in those sweet lives.  I look forward to the day our kids are grown and we can see the benefits of our constant redirection, training, and guidance!

Enjoy your day!  It’s beautiful in sunny Colorado!

The other day I was snuggling my baby girl because she wasn’t feeling very well.

It hit me that our oldest P, was the same age as Miss C is now when A was born.

Memories came flooding back to that time and I found myself feeling sorry for the poor kid.

I was such a young mom and my husband was working nights.  So in part, I was just surviving; not truly living.

At 20 months, P’s world was flipped upside down and a new baby sister was brought home.  He was still such a baby, but looking back I didn’t really see it that way.  From then on, I’ve expected a lot out of the sweet boy.

He’ll be six in May and I’m trying to figure out where the time has gone.

For the past six years there has been so much change that I feel like I was always in survival mode.  Trying to adjust to new towns, making our houses feel like home, packing and unpacking, nursing babies, and not really enjoying life the way God intended.

God has really been working on my heart lately and showing me who I am in Him, and it feels incredible.  He’s revealing where my priorities have been and where they should be. 

The past five years have flown by and some days I feel like I’ve missed out or not truly enjoyed the journey.

So I say it’s time to start living.  Time to embrace each day and see the good in it.  Time to enjoy the kids while they are little(and let them be little) and give them all of me.  We have 18 short years to impact them and turn their hearts toward God; I want to make each moment count!

This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it! Psalm 118:24

I’ve never been a lipstick girl.  My mom never wore it, and you’ll rarely catch me wearing it.

Over the years I’ve tried various lip gloss and have been pretty happy with them, but my lips would always peel and it drives me nuts when that happens.

I mentioned that to my friend, Lauren, the other day, and she mentioned Revlon Lip Butters.

Oh my gosh!  They are awesome.

They are seriously like butter!  They give you color, but are super smooth and my lips aren’t chapped!

Go try them! 

Mom-that includes you!  Thanks Lauren!

(This is not a paid advertisement-I’m just that excited about this product!)

I meant to post these before Christmas, but you know how life is before Christmas!  Throw in lots of sick kids and a sick husband and it got even messier!

We went to Breckenridge with E’s parents and brother.  It was a great time.  We went tubing at Frisco Adventure Park two of the days which was a blast! I think A kept her eyes shut the whole ride down, but kept going down!

This was at the Bass Pro Shop Winter Wonderland.  I love the workshops they have for families.  It’s so fun to go walk around there.  I think I will utilize their store for an outing or two during these cold winter months.  Cheap entertainment!

I love this girl!  She’s a daddy’s girl for sure and bursting with personality!  She may be the third child, but believe me she won’t be forgotten-she’ll make sure of that! Ha!

We paint a lot during the winter months.  A painted grapes for letter G awhile back.  She was so proud and had to show everyone!

A little Christmas tree is in each of the kids rooms.  They don’t get turned on everyday, but I love the glow and warmth they add when they are on!

Oh how I love the Penny Horse Ride.  A penny can buy something these days-a minute of sheer delight for these monkeys!  They rename this horse every time we go to the grocery store!

We did a whole lot of this just before Christmas.  The stomach flu hit all of us except me.  I took it easy and napped a couple days to try to stay healthy and well rested.  Thankful for healthy kids now.  Wish I had their endless energy though!

Have a great day!  Happy New Year!!

It’s not common for me to post two times in one day, but I had to share with you.

I read a post by Sally Clarkson today and fell on my knees.  I had tears streaming down my face and told God to free me from the bondage.

I’ve done this to myself.  I think everything has to be just right and strive to be ‘perfect’ in so many areas of my life.  I’ve put this pressure on myself and I am just plain tired.

Tired of trying to fit a mold that is unattainable.

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.” Galatians 5:1 

I’m not perfect which is exactly they way it should be.  If I were perfect I wouldn’t need Jesus.  And we all know how utterly hopeless I’d be without Him..

I look around my home and see everything that is un-done and then I sigh when someone else needs one more thing.  The sighing occurs too often and they all hear it.  It needs to stop.  I’m his wife and their momma and my job is to care for them with a joyful heart.

“Whatever you do, do it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men.”-  Colossians 3:23

Instead of seeing the undone, I’m choosing to see the beauty around me.  Yes, I’ll still care for my home and have to cook, clean, do laundry, etc, but that’s not going to be at the top of my list.

So today I’m rejoicing that God has opened my eyes to my heavy heart.  He’s speaking to me about where my heart and my focus are and where they need to be. 

It doesn’t matter if my house is a mess, the kids aren’t matching when they dress themselves, or are acting like kids(that’s what they should be doing and I need to embrace it!).  What matters is that I’m actively seeking the Lord and finding refuge in Him.  He will be my strength to get it all done.  He will be my guide. 

I want Him to say “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

And I want my kids to know they matter more than any other distraction.  I want them to know that I gave my all the short 18 years I am blessed with to raise them.

So am I a perfect wife, mom, friend, etc?  Do I have it all together?  Not even close and that’s just fine with me.

“Come to me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and You will find rest for your souls.  For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas with loved ones!

Ours was special.  The kids make it so much better!

I’m not going to lie; by the end of the month I was struggling.  I know it was an attack by Satan and have told him to get out and quit trying to steal my joy.  I want to finish the year strong, but something is tearing at me inside and I can’t quite figure out what is the root.

My word for 2012 was JOY.  I want that to be a constant in my life.  It should be a constant in my life because I am so incredibly blessed and Jesus is my Joy.

The word God placed on my heart for 2013 is RISE.

Somedays I feel so utterly exhausted and don’t know if I can handle hearing another little voice saying, “Mom, Mom.”  Yet, I tell myself to be so grateful for the three precious babies that are calling out and needing me because it’s all about building those relationships now so that when they get to the tough stuff in life they still call out to me for direction so I can point them to the Lord.  I will put them before my own selfishness and RISE to be the best mom I can be for these sweet kids.

So each day I plan on RISING before the littles so I can prepare my heart, walk with God from the start, and pray for an extra dose of patience.

While reading the other day I was reminded of how the disciples constantly were making mistakes and how tenderly Jesus redirected and taught them over and over and over again.  I’m praying I am more like Jesus with my children and giving a gentle answer with redirection and love.

The other area RISE is relevant is rising above the little things that can bring me down each day, but to rise and overcome the obstacles with perseverance and joy.

So, do you have a word for the year?

I’m excited to see where the Lord take me with RISE.  Knowing Him it’ll be to crazy new levels, and I can’t wait.  It’s gonna be good.

Can you believe December is almost half over?  I kind of panicked then went into freeze mode the other day when I realized how close we are to Christmas.  I finally kicked it into gear and accomplished quite a bit in the past two days.  My lists are getting shorter, but family will be arrive next week already!  No big trip for us this year, but a fun, fun time in the mountains is planned!

I think the kids have asked everyday for the past week if it’s Christmas Eve tomorrow. 

I love the joy of Christmas.  I love hearing the kids tell the Christmas story and seeing their excitement for Christmas morning.

We’ve been busy crafting, baking, wrapping, and trying to enjoy each day as they go fleeting by.

Praying you’re finding peace in the dash to ‘get it all done’ and remembering the ultimate Christmas Gift.

I saw this print awhile back, and loved what she did, but knew I didn’t have the time to do it.

So I took this route instead and wanted to share it with you!

Supplies needed:

16×20 canvas(they sell them at Michael’s or Hobby Lobby)  I got mine in a two pack for under $5 each at Hobby Lobby
Black Acrylic Paint
Printer and Paper
Modge Podge

You’ll start with a clean canvas like this:

Paint it black.   You’ll have to do a couple of coats for good coverage.  I always use the cheap foam brushes for projects like this because they are inexpensive and wash up really quick if I don’t throw them out.

Click here to print this awesome printable!

Apply Modge Podge to the back of the print and let dry.  Once dry, apply it to the top and around the entire canvas including the edge.

That’s all!  Super quick!  You could also use printables like we framed here and paint the canvas any color  you wish!  The possiblities are endless!

 Get more gift ideas here!

I saved the best for last because I wouldn’t have any of the things I’ve listed over the past month if it wasn’t for God.

I can’t even imagine what my life would be like if I didn’t know the Lord.

I know for a fact my days would be much more difficult, less joyful, and I’d have a hole that nothing could fill no matter what if I didn’t have Jesus.

It makes me sad knowing some of my family and friends don’t have a personal relationship with the Lord because of how much of a blessing accepting Christ as my Saviour has been to me over the years.

Jesus is my Rock, my guidance each day, the One who lifts me up at my lowest times, the One who blessed me with more than I could have ever imagined!  His ways are so much better than mine and I’m so glad He’s in control!

Thank you Jesus for being my Lord and Saviour!  I love you with my whole heart and pray I spread your love to everyone I meet.  May they know my strength and joy comes from You alone!