This is the day

"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it" Psalm 118:24

Joy is a choice.  I heard this today and it was revolutionary to me.  We can have the pain of discipline OR the pain of regret... which one is more beneficial?

"train yourself to be godly.  For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come"  1 Timothy 4:8

If you know me you know that I exercise every morning way before the sun sums up, but what you may not know is that I also hide away in the dark of morning to be alone with Jesus before my "little people" come looking for me.  I need time with Him so that I can do battle with anything that might come along in my day to try and steal my joy.  I train myself for godliness.  I discipline my heart and my mind in order that I might be stronger in the Lord.  Just like exercise does things for the mind and body, so does spiritual exercise and even more for the heart and the soul. 

Joy is a choice.  I can choose to be joyful in life's circumstances, in my troubles, in my doubts, in my needs, in my unknowns, in my waiting, in my hurts, in my blessings, in my missed opportunities, in my lessons, in my prayers, in my mundane chores and tasks. 

There are many things that may seem painful for a time but reap benefits far beyond our wildest dreams.  Joy is a choice.  Joy is a discipline.  Joy is not always easy.  Joy is beneficial.  Joy is ours to have, something ONLY God can give.  (John 15:11 " I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete.")

"This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24

What ever day God has made will you choose joy?

Like no other

I am seeing first hand the truth in all the parenting and mentoring books out there that teach us there is just something about the relationship between a girl and her daddy...

They may depend on mama all day, but there is just something about daddy! This weekend we had a girls weekend in San Antonio for Megan's shower and it was time away from our kids, husbands,  and fiancees: it was a time of really fun catching up, bonding, laughing, eating, Jillian Micheals working out all in the living room (6 girls, one tv, one moved couch, and a pregnant belly) air mattress room camp out...I certainly am regretful I didnt take a pic of our camp out room!  But the weekend did much more than refresh my spirit, it gave my husband a time with his children that he rarely gets.  I would be bold enough to say its something that he AND the girls needed desperately.  Only they will know all that went on that weekend.  One thing happened for sure, Bry was spoken to by God and I hope that He will get the change to share what that encounter did for Him.

Getting back in town and hearing about what happened to him this weekend made me very aware of a deep need that I have either been blind to or just ignoring.  I pray FAR MORE for other people than I do for my husband, I cry ut to God and my heart breaks for my friends, my family, those who are sick, struggling, afraid, in need... all the while I think he's fine, great, spiritually sound and able!  (if you know him at all you would assume the man hadn't a need or want for anything and he's the most together person you'd ever meet)  God convicted me greatly of my neglect to be praying, not for our marriage, my husband, the girls daddy, but just Bryson, just him alone-- the person that God made apart from all the titles he holds.  So here in lies the challenge, to not think of ourselves or our need, our our marriage, or our home, or our kids, but our husbands and how we might spur them on toward love and good deeds.  Heb 10:24
Thankfully I have a friend who walks us through it--this is the challenge I am starting today!
Operation TYMJ-Take Your Man to Jesus


Speaking of feeding the spirit lets talk feeding the belly too! I just happen to be married to a chocoholic and decided I need to get this book ALSO about Father's and Daughters by Gweneth My Father's Daughter because it has healthy versions of foods like THIS----it: looks like I need to add it to my bday list :)

Dancing -Til the World Ends?

So im not typically a Brit basher, but for the sake of raising girls, girls who will one day be teenagers, who will inevitably look to world icons for a season to define them or at least resist the urge, this is who they are up against.  Anyone else concerned?  Whats crazy is that i must admit it's very "I'm a slave for you-esk" and yes, at one time in my life I liked the dancing in that video---it now has struck a different cord in me as a mama and a totally different woman than I was at 20.  (wow was that almost 10 yrs ago?!) and yet Brit is still workin the "slave for you" fishnet and ripped up glitter suit convulsing and having what only appears to be orgy like dance parties in some dark, seedy room in much need of fixed water pipes...

I really don't know the webtrail that brought me to this YouTube...OK no wait, that's not true I do, in trying to decide what to wear in an upcoming family pick I trailed from searching for a top at jcrew-to-instyle-to-spring style your jeans-to-wedding dress style-to-current trends-to-celeb new looks-to Britney Spears new video....(anyone know the webtrailing phenominon I am talking about? we start one place then to another?!)  So since my new "mission" is about living and breathing the 4:8 verse--whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, praiseworthy.... and instilling the phrase "you are a beautiful wonderful child of God" into my girls, how does Dancing til the world ends-Britney fall in place?! 
It was so eye opening to the draw and distraction pulling at the next generation and im fearful because what looks like an innocent 4 min video that will be seen and maybe forgotten, it's a message that I couldn't ignore on so many levels.  I won't even give my thoughts on it, just that it prompted me to be fully aware of what is out there in order to "watch and pray" for our kids and to make sure that I reach them with truth before they are drawn away by something fleeting but appealing because it looks fun...

I have to get real here for a minute though, the reason I am so drawn to this type of struggle, is because it hits very close to home: I love music, I love to dance, I appreciate art, I too love fashion and worldly beauty-- I always wanted to be a blond like my mom when I was younger and tan too lol...  and even as an adult we are tempted to judge ourselves against the Heidi Klums of the world who pops those babies out and hits the VS runway with ease, fighting the ever rising waistline (not in a InStyle way) of the mom jean, and being able to pull off a Triathlon let alone train for one while bouncing twins on our hips like JLo! Do I even need to talk about the Kardashians, Real House Wives of.... and every other charming indulgence turned narcissistic???  I am doing battle against these things and transforming my mind has taken a lot of time away from magazines, The Soup, radio, webtrailing-oops and the like.  Do I think its okay to live in oblivion? no, but if I have 30 minutes what should I spend my time and energy on?  I am praying for you friend as you do battle with these things as well, even if we arent in the world as far as what we watch or read...we compare ourselves to each other and that alone will destroy us. Thank you Facebook!  Ever seen someone post an unflattering FB profile pic?

I am not even going to post a link to this You Tube, if you want to watch it you will find it pretty easily.
just go to teen.com.... yep its there!

I am going to leave with this thought... do we dare.....
"Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.  For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to adorn themselves." 1 Peter 3:3-5 

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I am by NO means suggesting that I will start wearing a floor length denim skirt wearing my hair in waste long braids going el naturel with no make up and my non existent eye lashes unless cosmetically died (thank you Evonne) shinning in the sun but what I do is not let the ideals of worldly beauty be my passion, my drive, my motivation in the morning, my mood setter, my free thirty minutes of "me" time, my identity.

This is the verse that I teach to Kehnley,we make bracelets and necklaces with beads and other fun stuff and then i tell her how pretty it is and how special it is bc she made it, she compliments mine and we put them on...then I ask her these questions: does God love you because you have pretty hair...(K)nooooooo, does God love you because of your pretty shirt...(K)nooooooo,  does God love you because you are so talented and you made this beautiful necklace...(K)nooooo, (me) Your RIGHT!  God doesn't love us for the things we wear, our hair, our fancy necklaces or jewelry, our talents and special skills... you know what He loves the most and thinks is more beautiful than anything?  A girl who trusts Him and loves Him the most!  I know we both need to revisit this lesson often.

Oh my...SO helpful!

http://delightfulorder.blogspot.com/

Get inspired... I sure did!! This HAS to be helpful right?!

4:8 Mission

Of course this has to follow up a post titled "Boot Scoot and Poopy"...oh the irony! lol
So here's the deal...

I don't want to blog anymore about meaningless things, not that my children and our little life is meaningless, quite the opposite, if you know me you know they are our treasure, our world, our mission field, they are my 24/7 and I take my role in their life more seriously that almost anything else....but remember this....?


"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things." Phil 4:8

I can't help but desire to filter whatever I spend my time on through this...not just my mind, or my words, but my very essence I want to be characterized by this charge.

So begins the transformation of information. Let's get REAL there are tons of websites, blogs, podcasts and the like about parenting and fun stories and life--and yet there are still those of us staring in the face of the hundredth question from our toddler like "why can't we see God?" going... I wish i could get a a panel of ppl together to talk about this lol.  Most moms in the toddler trenches don't have time to look up a blog, read a book, and google search "explaining the infinite holiness of the creator God to a 3 yr old" goodness- we are lucky to just have everyone dressed all day!

My new form of organization of task and thought (there are many being developed in me as God's way of helping me to resist the born urge I have to live on the fly--free as a bird--letting things happen as they come)--can you guess that I like change and spontaneity?  oh yeah, what was I saying?-OH so yes new forms of organization :) causing me to spend my free time not watching DWTS or Gray's or (fill in the blank) Crashers but instead on planning lessons, gathering resources; for projects, exploration, and enjoyment in teaching my little ppl all about God and how He made them special, especially for a purpose...like most things we think we are doing for the Lord to bless others, it changes us into someone new along the way! 

If you have read the 4:8 Principle (an amazing book on the positive side of thinking & living life) based on the scripture above you would know there is this one part....THE part that I am making my mission, where the author tells his children every night before bed until one amazing night they repeat it back to him almost in a sleepy unison...

"you are a wonderful, beautiful, child of God"

That is my mission, that the little ones of the next generation know this truth without a shadow of a doubt. 

Keep looking for lessons, resources, and (lets be honest) crazy mishaps along the way! (not to mention frequent dance party breaks--every mom needs to work those into the schedule, just to keep her composure--just do it, you'll thank me later!) and please keep in mind my failures: you'll find those here too, because I find that when I crash and burn it, God shows Himself more trustworthy than if I had juggled all the things He throws at me with the greatest of ease.   

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What keeps me passionate about the new ministry God's given me?

"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us."

2 Corinthians 4:7

Boot Scoot and Poopy!

Yay for friends who have family that shows cattle at the Houston Rodeo!  We were like VP backstage passeres on this wild west adventure!  4 things amazed me....
1. my kids wanted to lay on the cows not just pet them
2. they survived even barfing in the car on the way there, having to buy new clothes and target in the interesting side of the reliant center end of town, and napping in the stroller or not at all (kehnley) and getting home after 12 hrs of rodeoing!
3.we bought K a new rodeo outfit for when she goes with Granny and Grandaddy tomorrow and it cost me less that 50 bucks!
4.I ate the entire plate of my fav in the whole world (waited for 7 minutes for it to cook) spinach Alfredo pizza from the Burger Shack and don't regret it one bit!


We had a blast and here is why!!