God meets our needs

I received this story in an email . I wanted to post it because it is such an encouraging story. We often go through our individual situations and "seasons". It is wonderful to know that through it all God knows our needs. I can testify His ability to meet our needs. As I get older I am learning to stand back even when I can't or don't want to let go of my circumstance. I stand back to see Him at work as He promised.

The songs goes...Be encouraged, no matter what's going on. He will make alright, but you have to stay strong...

Be encouraged.....

SPECIAL GROCERY LIST

Louise Redden, a poorly dressed lady with a look of defeat on her face, walked into a grocery store.

She approached the owner of the store in a most humble manner and asked if he would let her charge a few groceries.

She softly explained that her husband was very ill and unable to work, they had seven children and they needed food.

John Longhouse, the grocer, scoffed at her and requested that she leave his store at once.

Visualizing the family needs, she said: 'Please, sir! I will bring you the money just as soon as I can.'

John told her he could not give her credit, since she did not have a charge account at his store.

Standing beside the counter was a customer who overheard the conversation between the two. The customer walked forward and told the grocer that he would stand good for whatever she needed for her family. The grocer said in a very reluctant voice, 'Do you have a grocery list?'

Louise replied, 'Yes sir.' 'O.K' he said, 'put your grocery list on the scales and whatever your grocery list weighs, I will give you that amount in groceries.'

Louise, hesitated a moment with a bowed head, then she reached into her purse and took out a piece of paper and scribbled something on it. She then laid the piece of paper on the scale carefully with her head still bowed.

The eyes of the grocer and the customer showed amazement when the scales went down and stayed down.

The grocer, staring at the scales, turned slowly to the customer and said begrudgingly, 'I can't believe it.'

The customer smiled and the grocer started putting the groceries on the other side of the scales. The scale did not balance so he c

continued to put more and more groceries on them until the scales would hold no more.

The grocer stood there in utter disgust. Finally, he grabbed the piece of paper ! from the scales and looked at it with greater amazement.
It was not a grocery list, it was a prayer, which said:

'Dear Lord, you know my needs and I am leaving this in your hands.'

The grocer gave her the groceries that he had gathered and stood in stunned silence.

Louise thanked him and left the store. The other customer handed a fifty-dollar bill to the grocer and said; 'It was worth every penny of it. Only God Knows how much a prayer weighs.'

Children's Devotions

Having devotions with your children is different that your own personal devotion. For me I need to make sure that my children "get it". That whatever we discuss or read about during that lesson, hits home and becomes applicable to their lives. Today we did not get to go to church. Anytime we don't get to make it to church I try to make sure that we have family devotions.

Today in preparing for family devotion I came across a really neat site.

http://www.heavensinspirations.com/childrens-devotionals.html

I decided to do the devotional on Faith and Actions. I look forward to sharing my children's "aha" moments.

Earth Day

Today is Earth Day, all over the world individuals are discussing ways to be kind to the earth. Discussions about ending our bad habits so that we will not continue to destroy the Earth are being heard on all channels. It is definitely important to be mindful and care the earth that God has created. It is even more important to honor and worship the Creator. For we have been created to worship Him.

For Earth Day I decided to list verses that talk about the Lord and include the earth.

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:9

All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the LORD, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him,
Psalm 22:27


Psalm 24

1 The earth is the LORD's, and everything in it,
the world, and all who live in it;
2 for he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the waters.

3 Who may ascend the hill of the LORD ?
Who may stand in his holy place?

Let all the earth fear the LORD; let all the people of the world revere him.
Psalm 33:8

Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth." Psalm 46:10

How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!
Psalm 47:2

Like your name, O God, your praise reaches to the ends of the earth; your right hand is filled with righteousness.
Psalm 48:10

Be exalted, O God, above the heavens; let your glory be over all the earth.
Psalm 57:4-6

Praise be to his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory. Amen and Amen.
Psalm 72:19

The heavens are yours, and yours also the earth; you founded the world and all that is in it.
Psalm 89:11

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
Matthew 24:35

Day One _ A Woman Inspired Conference Living Financially Free

I would like to share an impact moment from the Women Inspired Conference with you

This was a wonderful session on financial freedom.

Speaker: Marybeth Whalen

Author of Learning to Live free Financial along with her husband Curt Whalen



Learning Points:

* We should get on the same page with our spouses about our "Heart" attitudes about money

* Attitude 1 - Attitude of Prayer - committing every financial thing to God in prayer. Personally I have no other recourse but to turn to God in prayer. I have seen how awesome He is and I have seen Him answer in such wonderful ways.

* Attitude 2 - Attitude of Obedience - Its vital to have an attitude of obedience. Being obedient even when it does not make sense to you. In Acts 3 1-10

* Attitude 3 - Attitude of Surrender - Laying down our expectations. What we feel we "deserve". Deserve is a dangerous word. Like a spoiled child do we throw tantrums or tell God what we deserve, even when we don't. We live through God's Grace, unmerited favor shown to us by the Father.

* Attitude of Vision - Vision beyond the immediate situation. Sometimes you a SEE moment. S ignificant E motional E event. It is the AHa! moment that begins our transformation.

Marybeth and her husband Curt have shared their story in their book Living Financially Free, I am currently reading and I am enjoying the book. They also share on their website marybethandcurt.blogspot.com.

Lets be good stewards of the resources God has given us, and even if we have made some mistakes along the way God is waiting to help you pick up the pieces, turn it over to Him and begin to take steps towards financial freedom.

I will be attending my first online conference, and I am very excited. Finally, I won't have to worry about finding a babysitter. Since starting my business, the kids know my business mode and for the most part they try to respect my time. So I will be on business mode for the conference....God's Business. I am excited about what message God has for me in this season of my life. I have for the last year been feeling a new found purpose in my life. I have a drive, that is about doing things that have purpose. This is my purpose driven year. Is that age? wisdom? I don't know but I am ready for God to continue to reveal Himself to me. So join me at the A Woman Inspired conference.

The Hope which we profess

Today was a very emotionally draining day, I am faced with a situation I don't want to be in. As I sat in tears most of the day, I kept trying to stay focused on God,who knows all things. While walking home from school with my daughter, very absorbed in my thoughts, my daughter story of her day seemed distant. I nodded as if I heard everything that she said, all the while overwhelmed by my thoughts. A verse came to my mind, Hold on unswervingly to the hope which you profess, for He who has promised is faithful.

I have been sharing about God's faithfulness and His covering over us, and now I needed to hold on very tightly to that Hope that I spoke off. My pastor spoke about the challenges that we will face as Christians, but reminded us that we serve a God who is beyond the moment, He knows our future. So I HAVE to with all that I have left trust that God is not leaving me now, now when things seem so dim I will hold on

Pray with me and for me as I pray for myself

If I could touch somebody......

If I could touch somebody as I go my way then my living shall not be in vain.....the song lyrics echo in my head even as I sit here writing. I love this song it is a reflection of everything that God wants and expects us to be. Oh to be His hand extended, reaching out to the oppressed, let me touch Him, let me touch Jesus so that other may know and be blessed. This beautiful hymn also echos our requirement to extend ourselves to others in need.

I was watching ABC's What would you do? with John Quinones. If you have not seen the show the show sets up actors to portray different situations, while people pass by, all in an effort to see who would step in to help. I was particularly moved my one scene where a man (actor) was passed out on the floor, this homeless woman stood by him and called out to people passing by to help him, only one woman stopped. The woman who was calling out for help was known to be homeless at times. She recognized a need and stood by this man until someone could help him, since she herself was unable to do so. I wept when I saw how people just passed by and I wept that this homeless woman took the time to help when she herself was in need. The actor who played the man on the floor , said that he was touched by her persistance and concern and called her an angel.

In this time of economic hardship, it might be easy to be consumed in your own problems. "I can't help anyone, I need help myself" but I feel that this is when we should help.



I Kings 17

7 Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. 8 Then the word of the LORD came to him: 9 "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." 10 So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" 11 As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."
12 "As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die."

13 Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. 14 For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.' "

15 She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. 16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.

The widow in I Kings 17 , had the last bit of flour and oil, and hope. But she was obedient and God was faithful. He is always Faithful, let us be His hand extended even...especially during these most difficult times.

In keeping with a blog that I follow I will start 3 things Thursday. Sharing three random things about anything.

1. I would like to extend a prayer requests for my friends, two friends are currently experiencing cancer in their families. One friend has a mom with cancer, and one has a mother in law with cancer. So join me in prayer for these families.

2. My daughter Titi, season 2, will be student of the week, next week. WooHoo, I am proud of her, she works very hard.

3.I just bought the most amazing makeup bag from Avon. I have never been able to fit all of my makeup in one bag, and don't use that much make up. great bag

The Love of God

In this economically challenge period that we are in, is nice to be reminded of the love of God towards us. I had devotion this morning and I would like to share the verse with you. I am going to share two versions, sometimes reading a scripture in several different versions, lets the meaning really hit home.

Contemporary EnglishEphesians 3 - 14-19

I kneel in prayer to the Father. All beings in heaven and on earth receive their life from him. [a] 16God is wonderful and glorious. I pray that his Spirit will make you become strong followers 17and that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. Stand firm and be deeply rooted in his love. 18I pray that you and all of God's people will understand what is called wide or long or high or deep. [b] 19I want you to know all about Christ's love, although it is too wonderful to be measured. Then your lives will be filled with all that God is

Todays New International Version

For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15 from whom every family [a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord's people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.


How deep and wide is His love that insulates us from all of the concerns of this time. I sat the other day wondering if I had become desensitized to the things going on around me, the foreclosures, and lost jobs and the increase of visitors to food shelters. I spoke to my friend about it and she called it God's insulation. You know that even when we are going through the hardest times, our kids would not be aware because we try to keep things as normal as possible. We know that we don't want them to get concerned and scared, so we insulate them. That is what God does He insulates His children and reminds them that "Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us," .

He reminds us of His love and then reminds us that He is able. Glory be to God. I can't imagine my life without the Hope that is in Christ Jesus.

So today be encouraged that He is able in the midst of the chaos.

Worship

Psalm 96:9
Worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth.

I love to worship, I could go to church and just worship and feel rejuvanated without a sermon. I strongly believe that we need to teach our children to worship, it is the best time to teach them about this special part of their faith. Teaching them why we raise our hands and why we stand and worship. Or simply why we worship. Teaching them that we have been created to worship. We have a Kids Ministry at my church and this is something I have been trying to introduce. I believe as we teach them to worship when they transition to the regular service they would feel at ease and want to participate.

My children see me worshipping (tears and all) all the time, it is a normal experience for them. When I talk about worship I want them to feel it from my heart. Teach them and when they are old they will not depart.

Is fun to see them play church. We have a worship leader and a pastor and and usher, I want to capture that and instill in them a love to worship "so when they are old they will not depart".

I recently had a conversation with my daughter about worship, I told her that I wanted her to stand when during worship at church. I explained that when we worship we enter into the presence of the Most High. I reminded her of shows that she has watched that depicted a king in the room, all the subjects of the kingdom stood or bowed in the presence. So I wanted her to act as though the King had entered the room. You know how things usually take a while to sink in, but I will keep talking about it not yelling or being angry because she did not stand, just speaking from my heart so that she understands the importance of worship in my life and hers.

Psalm 29:2
Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; worship the LORD in the splendor of his holiness.

Psalm 74:8
They said in their hearts, "We will crush them completely!" They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land.

Psalm 86:9
All the nations you have made will come and worship before you, O Lord; they will bring glory to your name.

Psalm 95:6
Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the LORD our Maker;

Psalm 97:7
All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols— worship him, all you gods!

Psalm 99:5
Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.

Psalm 99:9
Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the LORD our God is holy.

Psalm 100:2
Worship the LORD with gladness; come before him with joyful songs.
Psalm

Developing your child's character - Season One

While on this earth God has given me the awesome responsibility of being a mom. Sometimes when I think about this, I grow anxious. There is so much in my humanness that I could mess up, that would be three little lives. Our children want to be just like us, girls like their moms and boys like their dads. Have you ever heard yourself through your children, it can be a very eye opening, sobering even embarrassing time. The examples we set in word and deed are part of the development of our children's character.

The last two and a half years have been a blessing for me, I have been a stay at home mom. I got to walk them to school and pick them up; as opposed to getting home with enough time for homework, dinner and a bath. I had time to listen (really listen) as they talked about their day and sought out opportunities to put in my "God cents". Every time we walked home I thought about the Deuteronomy 6

Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. [a] 5 Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. 6 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. 7 Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. 9 Write them on the door frames of your houses and on your gates.

My oldest daughter is me in every sense of the word, the good and the bad. When I see the negative aspects in her that I hate in my own life, it really bothers me. There is one area where I have been intentional on making an impact. Sometimes you talk and you are not sure what is getting through and what is going over. When my oldest was younger I started to grow concerned about her self-esteem, something I struggled with during my childhood and a bit still in my adult life. I was determined to drench her with affirmations about her skills and abilities, her looks, just on being who she was. She is now 12, however at the age of nine I knew that she was entering the "tween zone" where a positive self image is important in protecting her from body image issues/disorders, friendship issues and so much more that I did not have to deal with at her age.

When she came home complaining that some girls were talking about her, or her clothes or anything she did. I would counteract this by telling her that there something that must be special about her, if people are taking the time to talk about what she was wearing or doing. I will not be writing a child psychology book or anything but this really did work. Now those same stares and comments have minimal impact on her. If nothing else, I want to instill in her one thing being herself at all times, whether she is at church or school or out with friends. It will make her life easier, because she doesn't have to remember which person she was on which day.

The other day I had a "mommy moment. A "mommy moment" is when you hear your child repeats or acts out something that you have been trying to instill in them. She told me of a girl in her class that is very smart, and some of the kids are jealous of her and tease her. She was offered the opportunity to skip a grade, my daughter approached her and asked her what she wanted to do. The girl sadly responded that no one liked her because she was smart and since she did not have any friends she might as well move up. To which my daughter said, this is the mommy moment, never be ashamed of who you are, if you are smart, you are smart and you should not make any excuses about that. I was so proud of my daughter, I could burst. You are never quite sure if they are really getting what you say , but I think if you persevere in developing character it will pay off

Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers I Timothy 4:16

Recommended Reading - Understanding your child's temperament by Beverly LaHaye.

A Historical Moment in time

No matter which side of the fence you might find yourself politically, you have to admit that today was indeed a historical moment. I am in awe of God's awesomeness and of his great imagination. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...Ephesians 3:20. I never thought that I would see the first black president, my eyes well up with tears at the thought.

I kept my children home today and we watched the inauguration as a family. When they grow up they could tell their kids where they were and that they witnessed this very historical moment. I am in awe at the excitement and unity of this moment and of the new administration.



I thought that it would be nice to sit with Michelle Obama and talk. Talk about her role as mom and wife and balancing all. Then I thought that there is another person I would love to sit with, Michelle's mom. As a mother of three girls, it is my desire to raise strong women of God, who are intelligent and poised. Focused and determined. Michelle's mom has raised the First Lady, a woman who embodies all of the qualities I mentioned and more. How can I as a mom deposit all that I need to, to raise strong, intelligent women? So my question would be....

Dear Ms. Robinson what did you do and say to raise such a remarkable woman?

Maybe I will start a little closer to home, my own First Lady, my pastor's wife, she too is a women of God. Strong and intelligent. Poised and focused. So I think I will take the time to speak to my First Lady's mother. Who has been another mother in my own life.

Sometimes the answers we seek are not that far away. Seek other women in your life, older women, younger women they all have something to share with you, to bring you through your season of motherhood.

Security Alert: No download allowed

YOUR CURRENT SECURITY SETTINGS DONT ALLOW FOR THIS FILE TO BE DOWNLOADED!!!!!!

I was on my computer trying to download an attachment and this is the message that I got. I was a bit frustrated, still frustrated because I can't seem do anything that will change that reaction.

This made me think about our children. Their world is so filled with distractions and influences. This world of technologhy has them connected with so much more than we were connected to at their age. Cell phones, texting, internet, mp3, ipods, smart phones and a host of other technologies that our children are exposed to. Even if you avoided buying these items for your children, unless they are homeschooled they will be exposed to them at school.

I am very vigilant on the things that my children are exposed to, even if that means I have to sit through hours of agonizing Disney Channel shows. I am there at every turn to monitor what they are absorbing. Regretably I know that I will not always be their to be a filter. So what do I do? Guard their hearts and teach them to do the same. Saturate their lives with the Word so that even when they are away from me they will recall that Word.

Proverbs 4:23
Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

God paid extra attention to one particular part of our being....our hearts. God has given us our children to "train up in the way that they should go, so when they are old they will not depart from it (training). We are here to guide them along with God's help. So what kind of security settings have we wired into their hearts and minds that will give the same message when the world around them tries to download a corrupt file. Those totally contrary to your own beliefs. While we would like to be everywhere our children are, we can't be. We have firewalls for our computers, antivirus software, shop through secure websites. How much more important are our children?

A teacher decides that your child is unteachable and will not amount to much. Unfortunately, they have through their actions let your child know this. What security setting will counteract this.

Your daughter does not feel pretty enough, skinny enough, hair is not long enough. The internet has sites that teach children how to harm themselves and not to love their lives. How to become anorexic or bulemic, dealing with their feelings through drugs, alcohol, body image distortion.

Security Settings:

Psalm 139:14 "I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Your child has been working hard in high school and is still strugglig , they are worried about college.

Security Setting:

Philippians 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

This world sometimes glorify selfishness and our children are absorbing it especially as they enter their teens.

Security Settings:

Galatians 5:16-18

My counsel is this: Live freely, animated and motivated by God's Spirit. Then you won't feed the compulsions of selfishness. For there is a root of sinful self-interest in us that is at odds with a free spirit, just as the free spirit is incompatible with selfishness. These two ways of life are antithetical, so that you cannot live at times one way and at times another way according to how you feel on any given day. Why don't you choose to be led by the Spirit and so escape the erratic compulsions of a law-dominated existence? .

Your middleschooler and teenager are surrounded by talk of sex and other lude acts.

Security Setting:

Galatians 5:19-23 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, 20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, 21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

Don't worry about system overload, the world doesn't. We need to work very hard to fight against the things that could potentially download corrupted files into our children.

We are so much more

As a mother we all sometimes feel that this represents all of who we are. We are much more. I remember going through or growing through a season; my identity was all wrapped up in being a wife and mother. It was difficult for a long time to find me in motherhood. I went from my moms house to being married and early on in marriage I became a mom. It took a long time to dig through all those roles to find me. I would always say that I went from being Olivia's daughter to Ray's wife and then Brittani and Tiare's mom. I was so lost, I did not look out for me. I thought it was just important to fulfill the other roles and I could wait. If you notice I did not mention being Kayla's mom, that's because thankfully by the time she came along I found Kathy.




It is great to have wise women surrounding you. God positioned women around me, God looked out for me when I didn't look out for myself. A wise woman reminded me that motherhood is just a part of my life not my whole life; that was the beginning of change for me. I always read Proverbs 31 , the wife of Noble character. I would read and think she has got it all together, she manages well,I need to get it together just like her. She is a mom, business women, runs her household ( she had servants, probably rich), philanthropist, seamstress, she is stylish, and her kids think that she is the coolest mom ever. I did not want to "be like Mike" I wanted to be this women. Maybe like a Jackie Kennedy or Michelle Obama. I

Then God sent another wise woman to me, and this is what she told me. "Remember that this is a caption of her life, her whole life, so you don't have to do it all at once". . I don't know if I ever told that wise woman what a life changing moment that was for me. I didn't have to do it all at once, what a concept. You would think it is obvious, however whether you have read about the Proverbs 31 women or not, don't deny it you have tried to be super mom. When we are not super mom and have it all together, we break down. We are hard on ourselves, I know I was. But what an epiphany when we discover that we don't have to be perfect. wise women.

I stopped to take inventory, who am I, what do I want for my life, what does God want for my life. I wanted to be in purpose. I continually take stock of where I am so that I would not go back to where I was. I remember one special moment in my life, that is when I took myself out. I thought I needed to enjoy my own company before someone could enjoy my company. So I asked my mother-in-Law to babysit (hubby was at work) and I took myself to dinner and a movie. Yep, I enjoyed that date, there was no one to fight me on my movie choice or ask to go to the bathroom in the middle of the movie. I sat a the table of the restaurant (and it was not McDonalds) and I enjoyed my meal. That was the beginning of finding me. I am glad I had that growing season , it was necessary. I haven't finished and I continually discover something new about me.

Remember you are so much more. Find yourself, find your voice, find your purpose. Also, don't forget to share your story it will bring someone through their season.

Kathy G

The quest for quite

I was sitting there!!!...That's mine!....SToooop it!.....You can't tell me what to do!!!Don't do that!!!.....Stooop it!!!

From the time that they rise to the time they go to sleep my three seasons, are at it. Sometimes I try and manage to ignore it and other times I totally loose my mind. I scream and that has an effect of about 5 minutes, until there at it again. I struggle sometimes with intervening, I feel if I keep stepping in they won't learn how to handle conflict. So when the come to me I say "figure it out", and even that becomes an argument. So I intervene mainly so that I can maintain some sanity. There is a rule that is rarely broken and I enforce heavily, that is no hitting, so the arguments are verbal and not physical.

Now all of my children spoke at an early age, so verbalizing their feelings has never been a problem. My last daughter, Kayla, she has surpassed the other two in terms of her verbal skills. She is the one I call my advocate, she expresses her feelings and concerns very clearly, never have to wonder what she is thinking. Sometimes I am amused and sometimes I am annoyed at the fact that my 12 year old(Brittani) actually has arguments with my three year old. You always find me saying "Brittani, you do know that she is a three year old. Maybe the problem is that my three year old (Kayla) thinks that she is 12. Kayla and Tiare (my eight year old) are great playmates, until Tiare is tired of Kayla and decides to be mean to her or ignore her all together.



I have tried locking myself in the bathroom, and it works for a few minutes. Knock, Knock...Mommy, I know you need some quiet time but I just want to tell you one thing. If I answer I get a story, if I don't answer they keep knocking.

I am growing tired of yelling so I found a bell, small very unassuming bell. I called them into the living room and explained, "when you hear the sound of this bell, it means that I am so angry I could hardly speak, it means that you better work it out everyone will be punished. It works but sometimes I am so mad, I forget about my bell.

It is funny but when I was young I thought if someone tried to kidnap me I would not be able to scream for help. After three children I realized that it was not an inability to scream it was just that I had nothing to scream about.



Okay guys let's watch a show on TV. I am not sure why I thought that that would get us some quiet time. I often watch TV with my children, mainly Disney Channel and I am often amused that they are telling me about the particular episode of Hannah Montana or That's So Raven, that we happen to be watching. So much for quiet.

The other day I thought about my quest for quiet, I thought how much I am going to miss them when they leave and how quite it will be. I thought what if they were ill and did not have enough energy to speak, I would miss their voice their laughter and yes even their arguing. So my quest for quiet is possibly superficial because deep inside I am glad to have them around, to hear their little voices.

Welcome

I entered the world of blogging when I started my wedding business blog. I considered starting a new blog about another portion of my life.....Mothering. I have been married for 13 years and have three wonderful daughters, all very different.





I thought about a name for my blog and one theme kept coming back to my mind, it is a theme I have adopted for about two years.....Seasons.

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven....Ecclesiastes 3:1

We all go through various seasons of our lives. While in them we may experience joy, pain, grief and a host of other emotions, but at the end of it all it was just a season. In retrospect we realize that we have made it through and no matter how horrible it did not destroy our lives.

Mothering has seasons, infant season, toddler, school - age, pre-teen, teen, adult. Knowing which season your in and how to mother in those seasons will make the difference between a full head of hair and a head with patches...you know when you yanked it out in moments of frustration.

With three girls 3, 8 and 12 I am going through various seasons at the same time, in the same space. Watching each season flourish is great, watching them collide is quite an atmospheric event..

I am glad that I have friends who may be one or two seasons ahead of me, they are here to remind me that I wll make it through. They will be my resources as I share with you how I navigate through my mothering season. Hopefully, it will help you navigate as well.

I am glad I have my friends who are going through the same season I am in, they remind me I am not alone. It is my hope that by sharing you experience one less lonely moment in your mothering season.

Let us all reach out to help other moms through the various seasons.