Namesake Week 5 Day 5 - Revelation - Pray in My Name

Today's Scripture: Jon 14:5-14, 1 John 5:13-15, Luke 6:46, Matthew 20:28, John 15:9-12

How do you imagine God when you pray? A kind loving man, an angry judgmental person looking down on your every move?

I imagine a soft, loving father figure who is always there for me with with kind words and open arms ready to welcome me in. For me God has to be an approachable person, that I can talk to and confide in. One of the main things that I struggle with remembering is does God understand what I'm going through? Jesus was a man and experienced all there is in life just like us, fear, frustration, love, weakness, etc. God has expectations for me, but He also has compassion and understanding towards my struggles.

In the bible we learn that even the disciples had a hard time focusing in their picture of God. (Understanding who God is and what He wants for / from us is one of the biggest concepts that the human can try to grasp - that's were FAITH has to step in.) Learning who God is takes more than reading a few devotionals, it can take a lifetime of walking with God and searching to know Him.

In John 14:13-14 - Jesus promised that He will provide anything we request if we ask it in His name. Have you ever prayed and prayed and not heard an answer? Or wondered if there is a right way / right prayer that would ensure your needs / wants be met? I always pray for patience and for God to change me for the better. I pray morning and night for patience with my daughters and my husband! By praying "in God's name" doesn't mean that we always instantaneously get what we want, we need to look at what motivates our prayer.

In 1 John 5:13-15 we are old that during our prayers God hears and if it pleases God we will receive what we need. We need to pray that God shape us and change the deepest parts of our hearts! We need to pray that we reflect the character and love of God here on earth.

Lord,

Please guide me as a parent. Provide me with the knowledge and patience to be better and give my family a better me. I pray for understanding, forgiveness and a change to be more gentle. A better mom and wife will help to shape the hearts of my family. Help me bring them to you!

In Jesus' name I pray

         ~Amen

Namesake Week 5 Day 3: Disappointing God

Today's Scripture: Luke 22:31-34, Luke 22:54-62

A few years ago a co-worker of mine told me "You can't hold others to the expectations that you hold yourself too." After all these years that advise still stays with me, I remind myself of it whenever I feel disappointed by the actions of others. I think that some people (some Christians even) wonder what is the positive in living in this post-Eden imperfect world? Jessica LaGrone's response is "we get to see how God deals with disappointment" Just live a parent, when God feels disappointment with us its because we are making bad choices and He only wants the best for us. The best thing about God and a lesson that we should all learn is even when deeply disappointment God response with GRACE. God will reach out to us again, and again, and again.

Here are some examples of God's grace:

Ephesians 2:8-9

Hebrews 4:16

Romans 5:1-2

"When we act in disappointing ways, God is not surprised. He knows us better than we know ourselves, and He is ready to respond with Grace. He also knows that failure is like a sieve that can strengthen us. " Jessica LaGrone

I have a really hard time with expectations and disappointment as a mom and wife! God must deal with this as well, being our Holy Father, but he shows us unconditional love, mercy, grace, and forgiveness. These qualities are the ones that I strive for everyday. To show my children that when we are disappointed we can still be gentle and not lash out or recoil, we need to extend understanding and love. We have a choice just like God has a choice to reject us or to work on us.

Happy Fall Yall

Finally fall has come to Northern California. 

So much has happened since my last post...

After painting for four days and getting all new carpet,

We finally got all moved into our new house,

both girls started school (Shay as a freshman and Cloe in preschool),

Shay decided to run away from home for 24 hours,

and my MS has been kicking my butt.

Its been a crazy 2 months thats for sure!

Today my house smells like the stew that's in the crock pot and its overcast from the rain last night. 

It finally feels like fall, my favorite season.

Since its so late in the week I will finish the last two chapters of the Namesake study next week.

Here are a few photos from the past couple weeks.

Namesake Week 5 and 6 Postponed Till After The Move

Well moving day is quickly approaching and I have soooo much to do to get ready, so I have postponed the final 2 chapters of namesake till after we move. Moving is one of the worst things. Between choosing paint colors, packing, training the dog and going on a weekend trip to see my parents things are going to get very busy. Not to mention all the things that I have to get done during and after the move.

I normally do really good with moves, but with my back issues and now the MS I find moving really hard. I want to help and I can't so I have to turn over control to others. Tell people where to put things and unload as I can. Plus try and keep Cloe busy and out of the way. Whewww I'm tired just thinking about it all.

Currently I'm on the hunt for meals to make ahead and eat during the move, so we aren't eating out for three days. I will post some meal recipes that I find tomorrow or Friday.

Namesake Week 4 Daniel Day 1: True to Our Roots

Today's Scripture: Daniel 1:1-21, Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 11:18-21, Ephesians 6:4, and 2 Timothy 3:16-17

This chapter really could not have come at a better time. My husband and I have been struggling with our 14 year old daughter for the past 2 years. Her rebellious attitude, lack of respect, and getting into trouble has gotten worse and worse. This year (2014) has really been full of trials, anger, disappointment, and struggle. We feel like we are failing as parents! Did we not teach our oldest the things she needed to know / the things that we expect of her, when she was little, is it too late?

In this chapter we meet Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael, and Azariah - four boys who were taught from birth about their culture, beliefs, and their parents expectations of them. Even their names had such meaning that later they could fall back on the meaning for guidance.

Daniel: God is my Judge
Hananiah: Yahweh (God) is Gracious
Mishael: Who is like God?
Azariah: Yahweh (God) has helped

Each time that the boys hear their names they also hear the message that their names mean. As our children grow we share (teach) them about their family, their culture, their beliefs and responsibilities. Every time we sit down with our children or our children sit down with someone else they are learning and observing.

Here are some versus that talk about parenting children who will love God.

 Proverbs 22:6
 Deuteronomy 11:18-21
 Ephesians 6:4
 2 Timothy 3:16-17

I feel that I have done a great disservice to my oldest daughter. I had her 1 month before my 15th birthday, I was not ready to be a mom and I think that caused some of the issues we are having today. I was a child raising a child, I didn't know the things that she needed to learn - to be respectful, have great manners, love God, stay focused on school and stay away from people that are going to get you in trouble. I was learning these things myself, I didn't know that she was missing things along the way. She was influenced more from the outside world than from inside our home, how do I get all that back and get her back on track?

Please God give Chad and I your knowledge and patience to help Shay succeed and help us parent with more love, as you have loved us, and with less anger and frustration. Help Shay to take responsibility for her part and the things that she has done, stop blaming us for her bad choices. Help us please to be better parents and raise great girls who do great in life and love you.

Amen 

Namesake Week 2 Day 2: Brotherly Love

Namesake

Week 2

Day 2

Brotherly Love

Today's Scripture: Genesis 25:27-34, Philippians 2:3-4, and Romans 12:10

This chapter is titled Brotherly Love, but its really about loving one another no matter who the other person is family or not.

One of the hardest things about family (or people close enough to call family) is the rivalry that can grow between you. Jacob and Esau had rival right from the start, they fought for room in their mother's womb. They fought at birth for who would be born first and they fought over their birthright. Jacob was not satisfied with being the second son and when Esau came to Jacob while he was cooking, Esau was famished and asked for some of the meal. Jacob took advantage of this weakness and traded the food for Esau' birthright as the first son.

Birthright -
Material and spiritual blessing and inheritance combined with the authority given only to the firstborn son.

Both brothers experienced a sense of instant gratification / short-term pleasure when Jacob did the exchange with Esau, but they would also have long-term regret. Jacob really is the best example of forfeiting a relationship for material gain.

"Be devote to one another in love. 

Honor one another about yourselves"

Romans 12:10 

The first step to being able to love and respect others is to love and respect ourselves first. If we don't start with this step our relationships with others will always be tainted with neediness and self-interest. We can't expect a friendship to fulfill us, a friendship is made to compliment our lives. Once we feel self-worth and love in Christ, we will want others to feel it to, and we wont be able to contain it.

Here are some scriptures laying out the guidelines for how to treat one another.

Romans 15:7
1 Corinthians 1:10
Ephesians 4:2
1 Thessalonians 5:11
Galatians 6:2
Luke 6:31

Sometimes its hardest to put others first, and to love and respect those that we are closest to. I find it easier to overlook flaws of people that I don't see everyday, but I'm around my family all the time so it becomes harder to overlook their shortcomings. I need to print these scriptures out and put them on the fridge to remind us all how to love each other.

My prayer for tonight is to pray for my daughter, to accept her as she is (Romans 5:17), to be patient with her (Ephesians 4:2). I need to be more gentle and understanding of my daughter, instead of judgmental and irritated with her.

"So encourage each other and build each other up" 1 Thessalonians 5:11. This is my mission as a mother, to build my daughters up and make them the most confident and happy girls they can be.

Hope for the Weary Mom - Chapter 8

8. When You Want to Give Up

Mothering requires all of a woman. From the time you conceive you have to give your body, soul, mind and heart to your kids. Its a great thing that women-child bond, but it can sometimes seem like a curse.

When we have given it all and are then pushed, pulled, and tugged plus our coaxing, begging, and praying - and then nothing changes. We are often left empty, worn out and exhausted.

Wanting to give up

During times like these we can enter into a season of faltering faith. We don't want to hear God's voice. God might be answering your prayers by changing your heart not your circumstance. Sometimes God is outside the mess, but speaks to the mess before he sits down next to us in our mess.

A great story about being exhausted and God asking for a little more is Peter and the fishing nets - cast out your nests. Luke 5:1-9

(questions 1 of the chapter questions) Trying one more time is kind of what parenting is all about. Not giving up on our kids, but trying again through all the pain, anger, and frustration. My husband has always told me to try again tomorrow, it doesn't have to be completed today. And its true - potty training is not done in one day there are very little thing that we teach our children that can be taught in one day. "Holding out that flicker of hope, enough to propel your feet forward one more stop of faith, matters to God." - Hope for the weary Mom

God provides our salvation, we can't earn it and there's nothing we can do to earn our kids salvation. 

From my journal,

I have to remember that it's God plan and even with all my obedience and prayer that following God doesn't bring instant change for me and my family.

"Salvation doesn't come by the work of our hands."

This is really hard for me because my husband and oldest daughter are not very religious and are not strong believers. I pray almost every day for God to speak to their hearts so that they will be able to enjoy faith like I do. So that we can be a closer family in our common faith. "Because God created our hearts He knows the best way to reach them." - Hope for the Weary Mom

4. I proclaim to the world and to God that I will NEVER give up on my family and my girls. I know that God will reach the hearts of my family when the time is right. 

God - 

When I become weary and have nothing left. 

Please remind me that I have the strength to go on and not give up. 

- Amen

Hope for the Weary Mom - Chapter 7

7. Coming to the End of Yourself

How do I fight with all I have to love deeper, stronger, longer, and harder? Especially when I'm weary and have little left?

Am I on the right path? And leading my girls and husband down the right path?

These are questions I ask myself all the time, are you asking yourself similar questions?

Today I woke up in so much pain, from my back. I am always slow in the morning, I call it my granny time. I took my meds and got no relief. Its frustrating and makes me mad that I have these limitations. That when I have ten million things to do I am unable to do any of them.

Just like this chapter says I'm trudging and overwhelmed with the never-ending exhausting tasks of being a wife and mother, but then I also have the MS, injections, doctor appointments, and chronic back pain. My youngest has had a ear infection every month since April so she too has meds and follow up appointment, I see tubes in her ears in the near future. 

TIRED...that's how I feel all the time! I guess I'm coming to the end of myself and I'm having to face my sins and shortcomings.

It's important that we set aside come quiet time with God to admit our sins and shortcomings. To go to the alter, where we can empty our hearts mess out to God, where He can meet us and bless us with grace and joy. When we do this it invites the Lord to speak to us, show his unconditional love, support and He will always welcome us into his arms.

"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus"

Worship is the greatest way to refuel.

"The joy dwelling place is found in the Lord."

From my journal,

Page 85 really spoke to me

"See the thing about worship is that it acknowledges in the very deepest part of our souls that we need Him. We can't take this journey on our own. We need the very presence of the Lord to strengthen and guide us. We need Him every hour...He wants to whisper into your heart that He loves you and will never let you go."

3. You can find an alter to kneel upon anywhere and at anytime. Make sure to make an appointment with God to kneel and meet Him.

4. Places I have met God (knelt at the alter):

Standing all alone in my living room

When I'm out on a motorcycle ride with my husband, I always feel free and joyous in times like these and pray prayers of thankfulness

In bed at time right before I fall asleep

In the car

5. My goal is to create a space in my home that is all mine where I can have a desk. A place I can sit in quiet conversation with God, and the space to do my devotions and blog work.

  

Hope for the Weary Mom - Continues Tomorrow

The whole family went to visit my mom and dad in Nevada this past weekend. I really wanted to get away from home, relax, and have some breathing room from the stress of buying a house. But I think I stressed just as much at my mom's as I was at home. But I love visiting my parents, its home for me ♥ Our oldest daughter has been staying with the parents for the past couple weeks after finding out that she has been getting herself into some major trouble. (I'll talk more about that in a later post).

We went and walked around Virginia City NV, and then went to the shooting range. Yes we are a family that shoots together :) Cloe got her first gun a little pink .22 so cute, and she had fun shooting off a couple rounds with her dad. I'm planning a trip to go up again soon, alone so that my mom and I can get our Junkin' on. I can't wait!!!! That will be a post you wont want to miss, lots of thrifting and antiquing, eye candy for all you vintage lovers.

We came home Sunday and I was beat, which carried over to Monday. It was about 108 here and I did not feel well at all. I have heard of people talk about the tiredness of MS, an exhaustion that hits hard. Well I felt it yesterday. An all over tired where my limbs felt heavy and I just had to take a long nap. I talked about how I take strong pride in the way my home looks and is taken care of. Well my husband came home yesterday very irritated that the house was a mess. It made me feel like I had failed as a wife, that I wasn't doing my duty to take care of my home. He didn't think about my not feeling well, or how I might feel at his outpouring of irritation about the way the house looked. I think this will be the hardest part about having MS, not being able to do it all and hoping that my family will help and be understanding. So many things to adjust too.

So now that you are all up date there is some exciting news about the house we are trying to purchase - we are having the home inspection done today and the appraisal later this week. I'm starting to put my doubt about us getting the house behind me and starting to get excited about moving.

I hope you join me tomorrow for the continuation of Hope for the Weary Mom.

God bless and have a wonderful day!

Hope for the Weary Mom - Chapter 5

5. When you want to run and hide

There have been many days as a mother I have wanted to just hide, when the frustrations of the day seem to much and you just cant take any more. My oldest has really been pushing my husband and I to our breaking point lately. Rebelling against all our rules and beliefs coupled with her nasty attitude, make me want to either bang my head against the wall or simply stay hiding under me covers. My youngest is like nothing I have ever met in a 3.5 year old girl, she is more similar to a 3.5 year old boy. So much energy, she doesn't even know what to do with it all. I think she sucks it out of me!

God will often put us just where we wants us. Just like the story of Hagar - weary and worn God placed her where she would hear his voice. There is no place that we can hide from God, He knows our hearts and so knows all our hiding places. He looks intently for us, scans the world for us, to find us and show us His love and support. Its a secret game of hide and seek, one that God always wins.

Mary Magdalene and the burial of Jesus is another great example of God meeting us in our messiness. Mary went to prepare Jesus' body and there she fell broken in grief, She fell to her knees at the tomb. And it was then that Jesus spoke her name, met her in her mess. She clung to Jesus and believed in the miracle that running to him might create.

We need to cling to Jesus so that we too might have miracles performed in our lives. Hebrew 4:16 and the book of Esther are wonderful places to learn how we need to run to Him instead of running and hiding from Him.

"But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength." Isaiah 40:31

From my journal,

My favorite place to relax and get away for a little while is in my backyard. I lay out in the warm sun and daydream or read while Cloe plays in her little pool. Sometimes I just sit there and listen to her playing or laugh. Its peaceful!

Lately I go to the Lord in prayer more than I read my bible. I do love reading all the stories of advice and guidance, its comforting to know that its a place I can always turn to. And there is comfort in knowing that Jesus once lived a life filled with conflicts, frustrations, and discomfort just like my life. 

There is nothing I can't tell God for he has heard it all and knows the intentions of my heart.

Hope for the Weary Mom - Chapter 2

2. Embracing Our Weakness

This chapter spoke straight to my heart and situation when we had our youngest. None of our friends had babies all their kids were 8 and over, so when I had Cloe I didn't have a girlfriend to talk to about being a new mom again (my girls are 10 years apart). I saw rather quickly how my friends didn't send me invitations hang at the lake go shopping. And I felt that my having a little one was a burden and I was alone. As she got older her energy level was through the roof and still is, a bit of a wild child. She was a toddler into everything within arms reach, even my best friend said she wasn't going to rearrange her house to accommodate a toddler that wasn't her own. Ouch right? So I started to withdraw BIG time, I didn't want to go anywhere because my house was all set up for your little one. Even now I still feel big time stress when going shopping or going to a new place with Cloe. This stress presents itself as embarrassment, anger, hateful feelings, and being really snappy and short with Cloe. 

This past Tuesday my husband and I plus Cloe and our real estate agent went and looked at 2 homes that are currently occupied. When we got home I was completely stressed to the max. I snapped and yelled at my little Cloe and my husband and it carried over into yesterday. I started an injectable medication for my MS and the stress of it all broke me. I felt alone! But this feeling is often a lie, a lie to keep us walled off from our loved ones and God. The key is to EMBRACE OUR WEAKNESS 

Brooke and Stacey write "It's OK to feel lost. It's OK to need help. It's OK to be weak."

2 Corinthians 12:9 & 10

" "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weakness, so that the power of Christ can work through me." "For when I am, then I am strong" "

Its important to be honest about where you are in life, what your going through, who you are, and who you are not.

From my Journal,

Since my post above was rather long and I will share the answer to question  3 & 5.

3. Not being the mom I think I should be makes me feel sad, let down, frustrated, and incomplete. I want to be so much better, have more time, share, and talk more. My teenager makes me feel like I can never be what she needs. HELPLESSNESS

What are my weaknesses

1. Not enough patience (even my husband agreed with this one)

2. Quick to make a negative assessment

3. Jumping to conclusions

4. I get stressed out quickly and easily

5. I use harsh words and / or a harsh tone

Hope for the Weary Mom - Chapter 1

1. Why God Meets Us in Our Mess

Sometimes as mom's we tend to internalize everything, our feelings, our thoughts, our fears, our shortcomings, all of it. We end up with a really messy heart, sometimes just like our homes. I tend to be super controlling and a little OCD, so when my home gets messy I feel completely stressed and overwhelmed. I feel the same way when my heart gets messy, dizzy with feelings of sadness, anger, and fear. This is not a good way to live let alone be a mom to the ever watchful eyes of impressionable littles. 

The good news is God will always come meet us in our mess. He welcomes us into his comforting and loving arms with whispers of HOPE, GRACE, and begins to change us from the inside out. Hebrews 13:9 says "Your strength comes from God's grace..."

God is super willing to join us in the middle of our messes, but God savors an invitation into this place. 

"Fill it (my heart) with Your presence and begin working on the inside who you want me to be on the outside." - Hope for the Weary Mom

From my journal -

1. As I grow older I feel more overwhelmed wit my messes (both physical and in my heart / mind), they seem to grow overnight and when I wake up in the morning I'm more overwhelmed and unsure of where to start.

2. I envy other moms who have it all together. The whole look and manage to be at every game and every birthday party. Their house are spotless and they manage to get the whole family to church on time.

3. I think the changes that God makes in our hearts lead to changes in our circumstance. Once the inside mess is cleaned up it frees us to be better and THRIVE. Like the Casting Crowns song says

"We know we were made for so much more than ordinary lives

Its time for us to more than just survive
We were made to thrive"

I will skip question / answer number four as it pertains to the book itself.

5. I have gotten pretty good, especially lately, at hiding how tired I am. Their are nights when I am exhausted, but I still tidy up the house before I go to bed, and then wake up early to do the laundry before the heat of the day hits. I think a mom doesn't have the luxury of hiding under the covers or falling apart. My hope is that God would throw his arms around me and comfort me - wash my tiredness and pain away.

Renew Me

New study - Hope for the Weary Mom

I just stared reading Hope for the Weary Mom by Stacy Thacker and Brooke McGlothlin, and I love it! I am already on chapter three, but I think it might be a great book and subject to discuss here on the blog.

Can be found @ http://www.amazon.com/Hope-Weary-Mom

"Right now, I have nothing to give. Nothing. Nada. I’m tired and don’t feel good and honestly, I want a break from everything. It’s not that I want to leave my family, trade them in, or get new ones. I WANT to be with them. I just want a break from hard hearts, discipline, correction." This book is written by two mom's who are just like the rest of us, just trying to figure out how to be a great mom. "Stacey and Brooke understand the hearts and needs of moms today. They speak with a voice that’s encouraging, authentic and will draw in readers from many different seasons and stages of life that have one thing in common: they need hope." ~Holley Gerth, author of You're Already Amazing

At the end of each chapter there are 5 prompt questions that I am choosing to answer in my journal during my quiet time. This is not a book review type of post, I wanted to share my struggles as a mom with all of you, and hope that this will help put me on a less bumpy as a mom. Maybe by my opening up to what I;m going through I can be there for another mom who is going through the same thing. I really encourage you to follow along and interact through comments and emails to this series. 

A Whirlwind

The past 2 weeks have been a whirlwind of medical information, trying to purchase a house, feeling like crap / being in pain, kids getting into trouble and kids getting sick. Today I am nearing my wits end...I am exhausted and just don't feel good. And I don't want to deal with house offers, missing meds, and my youngest' nasty cough.

I really want to climb in the bath and then crawl into bed and stay there for the next few days. But there is no possible way that I can do that, the bath ok maybe. But I'm a mom and a wife I have things to get done and my family to take care of, I can't just check out. Today I'm just praying for my daughter to feel better and not have her third double ear infection in two months, and for my oldest who is making really bad choices and getting into trouble to have a new beginning. It's funny how when I feel like throwing in the towel my prayers are always for others to get better or be better. Maybe I need to turn my prayer attention to myself...

God -

Please hold my hand and keep me in your comforting arms. Help through feeling bad and through the pain. Speak to my heart on buying a house. Help me to stay strong in body and spirit through dealing with RRMS. Thank you for keeping my family safe and for the many blessing we receive. Without your love and guidance we would be wondering in the dark.

Please help Shay away from the friends that are leading her astray. Help her make good choices and be the bright happy kid she should be. Please give her a crossroads and guide her down a path where she wont have regrets and heartache. Remind her of your love and that her family loves her, we only want great things for her.

Amen

New Study Ideas

I am leaning towards doing a women's study. Here are a few of the ideas I am tossing around.
I would really like to hear from you on what you are interested in reading about, so please email or leave me a comment below.

1. A journey through the women of the bible

2. A study of being a better Christian wife

3. How to have a strong and successful Christian marriage

4. Being a good daughter of God

5. Being a great Christian mother

I would love your ideas as well.

What a Crazy Week

Just a second, hold on, I'll be right there. This is what my house sounds like right now.

This week has been one of the busiest in awhile. There have been multiple errands or appointments every day. Today I got up at 6:30am went to the gym, came home at 7:45 went to jump in the shower and my Cloe (3 yo) wakes up and is covered in an itchy red rash. I get in the shower and start getting ready when the plumber shows up to fix the shower. Now on to grocery shopping, a home loan appointment at 4:00pm and Cloe's spring program at 6:00pm (that is if she is rash free).

I sometimes during all of this remember to stop and breath for a minute. To remember that God has blessed me with all of this. I am thankful every day for the things I have and my prayers are constantly filled with praise for the many blessings I receive.

Tomorrow is Friday - playdate day! And a fun BBQ with family and friends.

I hope you all have an amazing holiday weekend, remember to have fun with your families and be safe!

A Great Weekend

Here is a recap of what we did over the weekend. My husband went out of town for a boys weekend / camping trip so it was just the girls. Friday night the girls and I went to Black Bear for dinner, its one of our favorite places.

Saturday Cloe and I spent the day at the Rocklin Community Fair and went to the fireworks. It was a weekend full of laughs, smiles, and fun fun times. 

Here is my first tomato of the summer, its a little guy but I grew it. :)

A Large Dose of Real Life

What a Monday and its only 12:30. My daughter got in a fight and got suspended for the rest of the year. My husband's aunt is calling me for advice on filling for divorce, and my father in law is calling trying to get a hold of my husband. 1) My daughter and I do not get along and it kills me. I am mad that she in trouble again for like the 5th time this school year. 2) I have never been divorced so how can I help you and 3) my husband is at work and I want him home.

I have to go and pick up the little one from preschool now. Sorry about the vent but what I day and its only half over.

p.s. Got back from picking up Cloe and dropped a large Ball jar full of Vanilla Chia Pudding and the shards popped Cloe's balloon puppy that her teacher made her.

What a day...and it isnt over yet! Please God give me patience, grace, and to remember to keep my frustration to myself.

Biblical / Bible Study Journal

Since I have been doing my bible studies I have been journaling. Most people might think that journaling is something they did in grade school, but its really fun and its a place to reflect back to on your thoughts about God.

Journaling doesn't have to be like taking notes, it can be personalized to what you want it to be. If you are reading a passage and an image comes to mind draw it, paint it, write it out. Its your journal, make it pretty. If you scrapbook or are a paper crafting type person use embellishments, decals, buttons, etc.

The most important thing when doing a bible study journal is to have your journal next to you with a pen when you are reading the bible. Then as God speaks to your heart you can write down those passages or thoughts, even if its something short you can come back and draw, doodle, or write more down later.

I really great place for ideas and a place of how to start a biblical / bible study journal check out Ann Voskamp's website A Holy Place.

A great person to follow is is Jennifer http://web.stagram.com/n/hersoutherncharm 

She has some great examples of how to have a fun and colorful journal. 

MelissaEmma  http://web.stagram.com/n/melissaemma1and
her website www.melissaemma.blogspot.com. Is another great place for journal inspiration.

A Rainy Day and Play Dough

So it has been raining here for about 2 days and so my little Cloe has been board. So today we tried out making our own play dough. It was so much fun and pretty easy too.

Here is where I found the recipe kristanlynn.com or you can find it on my pinterest page under CLOE.

I didn't really take that many photos (kind of hard to take a bunch while having a three year old on a chair next to the stove).

We followed the recipe as directed with the following changes

We used a smaller pot which made it easier to stir and we added some glitter while it cooked.

Here are the directions from Kristan Lynn

Ingredients: 1 C Flour
1 C Water
1/4 C Salt
1 TBSP Vegetable Oil
2 tsp Cream of Tarter
Food Coloring (actual coloring or a kool-aid packet will do)
Sparkles (If you wanna be a fun mom!)
Sauce Pan and Wooden Spoon Little helping hands.

We ran out of salt so we are off to the store to get some more so we can make some more colors. ENJOY