Category: family


Jan
2021

[fresh]

categories: covid-19, family, five minute fridays, new normal

2021 did not start well for us as a family…COVID knocked at our door but thankfully only one of us tested positive with little to no symptoms. But it stopped us in our tracks for 2 weeks while we quarantined. A few other “annoying” issues came at us and while it seemed like they wouldn’t stop coming, things have leveled out and life is somewhat back to normal (whatever that means these days).

We were given a fresh start that included all 5 of us together 24/7 for awhile. While we did manage to get on each other’s nerves some, we haven’t had this much time together as a family in a really long time. And it did this Mama’s heart good and I am thankful for it.


Aug
2020

[a thing]

categories: change, faith, family, intentional, new normal

I did a thing a couple of weeks ago. If you had asked me ten years ago if I would ever get a tattoo the answer would have been a resounding no. But seasons change and a few years ago I started thinking about it and over the last year started thinking about it a lot.

I spent a lot of time figuring out what I wanted. I wanted it to mean something to me if I was going to place something on my body for the rest of my life.

I had decided what I wanted and with some good advice waited to make sure it was really what I wanted. But about 3 months ago I changed my mind. I had seen a quote from Jim Elliott that I hadn’t heard before.

If you don’t know who Jim Elliott is, click here. He, along with 4 other missionaries, were killed in the 1950’s by the people group they were trying to reach. While their deaths were tragic, through their deaths a people group who had never heard the Gospel did hear it. And they heard it from the families of those they killed. A movement of Jesus in that tribe was born.

When I started this blog a few years, I had grandiose ideas that it would take off and that I had something to say that others wanted to hear. Well, it really only serves for me to capture my thoughts in writing. The title “random thoughts of a wife and mom embracing this season of life” birthed from conversations I had with younger moms of littles who were overwhelmed and tired. My words to them were always to enjoy the season you are in because it goes by so quickly. When my kids were little I never wanted to wish away those years. Yes I was tired physically, but I knew they would one day be gone. And when I am emotionally tired with teenagers and young adults today, I don’t want to wish this season away either. It too will be gone one day.

So the quote “wherever you are, be all there” sums up my life motto. I don’t always get it right but it brings peace to my soul and a desire to trust God everyday that He has me right where He wants me.

“He is like a tree planted beside flowing streams that bears its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.” Psalms 1:3 CSB


Jan
2019

[love]

categories: change, faith, family, oneword365

My oneword365 for 2019 is love. If I’m truly honest, I don’t love well. I am a pretty selfish person and my desires to do what I think God wants me to do in ministry and volunteer work may be getting in the way of me loving my family and friends well. In fact, I’m not sure I have been doing what God wants me to do for many years. I have let my calling of being a wife and mom take second stage. I’ve also let sharing Jesus with those who need to know Him fall behind doing things for Him. I’ve let doing things for the Lord become more important than my relationship with the Lord.

So in 2019, I plan to dive deep into Scripture and see just what it says about love and how I can love Jesus more and go deeper in the relationships that He’s set before me. I hope to share what God shows me here on these pages.

Photo credit

Sep
2018

[september]

categories: change, faith, family, oneword365, organization, reading

September is the new January for many moms with kids still in school. My two younger kids actually went back to school two weeks ago. My oldest headed back up to New York yesterday to start his second year with Word of Life Bible Institute. So we haven’t gotten into our new normal routine yet. Today I opened my calendar to a fresh month. Not a blank slate because life doesn’t ever stop, but a chance to look over my life for the next 30 days. I can’t look much past that right now.

My one Word for 2018 is “simplify.” What have I done over the last eight months that would reflect to others that I am simplifying my life. Probably not much…I’m still just as busy, maybe even busier than I want to be, my husband lost his job of 27 years, a child who has made some really bad decisions that, honestly, we don’t know the long term effects as of right now.

But I do know that God is in control and that I have to remain faithful and obedient. And I have to trust that He’s got this. He’s shown Himself in many ways. My husband has a new job which has turned out to be a much bigger blessing than we anticipated. We’ll have to wait a little longer for the outcome for my son, but I know that He is teaching us something through it and that no matter the outcome, God is still good.

Simplifying my heart has been difficult. I knew it would be. One of my goals was to read through the Bible chronologically this year. I am on track as of right now. I pray that as I read the Word it will declutter my heart. The bitterness is fading. My hope was for restoration or at least genuine reconciliation, but God hasn’t provided that yet. But the days of lingering in the sorrow of a lost relationship are becoming easier.

Simplying my home is always a work in progress. I had to clean this past weekend because we invited a family over for dinner and a movie. I love the joy I experience while we fellowship but even more the joy I feel in my heart when my home is still clean the next day, even if only for a day. I want to bottle up that feeling to remind me why I should work a little everyday to make my home a sanctuary. I have an awesome friend who encourages me in this area and we hold each other accountable to declutter something every week.

God has provided a second person to my little discipleship group. It has changed the dynamic of the group but the conversations are wonderful. It’s amazing to me how coffee with friends can also satisfy my heart as I continue to learn to open myself up a little more each time. He also provided me two new ladies to fellowship with through short devotions on my Bible app.

God has shown me this year more than ever that the little things are so important to this journey and that I need to reflect on them more than I do. Coffee with friends, dinner and a movie, devotions with friends, any time with my husband and kids…He is in all of these things.

So as September blows in with all of the items on my calendar in this “new year…” ladies Fall Bible study, a few training classes/ conferences, kids gearing up for a new youth group year, uncertainty in some situations, I first need to look to Him for direction and guidance and then everything else will fall into place.


Jan
2017

[hello 2017]

categories: faith, family, oneword365

New beginnings, a blank slate, a fresh new journal to document a life to be lived…

I’ve never been a resolution girl because unfortunately after about day 3 I’m done. This year I want to focus on making habits. Not a check off list of things to do each day, but habits that will develop me spiritually, physically, and emotionally. 

This is the year I turn 50. I know it’s hard to believe.  I can’t believe it. I have never dreaded a Birthday before, but this one…this one has me really thinking about my life and how I want to spend the next decade, Lord willing. 

I have been praying this last week over what my word for 2017 would be. God has been laying two words on my heart but He really solidified it during Church this morning. Not because of the sermon but because of the faithfulness of one family who has lived the worst nightmare that could ever happen to a parent…the loss of a child. She was in a devastating car accident on Christmas Day and her parents made the decision Friday to donate her organs.  She passed into the arms of Jesus yesterday. 

The faith that sustained them this week as her life hung in the balance and the decision to let her go was beyond amazing. Through it all they glorified God and surrendered to Him whatever the outcome. The father was in church this morning and I cried as we sang every song because I can’t imagine the pain and how their lives are changed forever. They impacted a community to unite in prayer for God’s will to be done and a heartfelt plea to put our faith in Jesus Christ. It was beautiful to watch. 

So God impressed upon my heart the word prayer.  To be more intentional in my prayer life, to keep a journal to record prayer requests and answered prayer. To pray harder for my husband, my children and unsaved family members. To spend more time getting to know my Savior and listening more to what He has to say to me.  

Life will be chaotic as I complete my Master’s degree, we help to build a new ministry, Basketball Church 23860, as well as building a ministry to internationals in our community. Throw in a trip to Africa for me and a trip to Pennsylvania for my husband and two of our kids to minister to inner city kids through basketball. 

Our lives are full and we are so blessed and grateful for the opportunities He has given us. 

 Blessings. 


Jan
2016

[resolutions…or not]

categories: faith, family, fun, oneword365

I have decided not to set any New Years resolutions for 2016. There is so much pressure and let’s be honest 2 or 3 weeks into the year it’s a bust anyway. I am choosing to look at life differently this year. For the last couple of years I have participated in the oneword365 project. God has laid the word available on my heart for 2016. Available to whatever He has in store for me. Available to Him, my family, ministry, relationships…whatever He wants. For so many years I have focused on my goals which may or may not have included His plans.

It’s time to leave the past in the past and focus on the future. It may be fun or it may not. It might not be pretty all the time and it may be hard but we were never promised an easy road (I’m hoping for more fun though 😉).  My prayer is that in all things I will praise my God.

What’s your one word for 2016?

 


Jan
2014

[perfection…not]

categories: family, organization

I took 2 weeks of vacation over the Christmas and New Year’s break.  We all got to sleep in and lounge around the house for 2 weeks and 3 weekends.  It was so needed…I think we rented a dozen movies from Redbox and watched every Hallmark, Lifetime and UP TV Christmas movie ever made.

The first week was baking and getting ready for Christmas.  By the second week we started to get into a routine of hanging out as a family, keeping the house straight and actually keeping the laundry up.  So when I went back to work the Monday after New Year’s I was determined that I was actually going to get organized and attempt to keep the house straight and maybe even make dinner a couple of times a week.

If you know me, then you know that I don’t have any domestic abilities at all.  Of course that is an exaggeration but keeping my house straight, let alone clean, is a major endeavor.  Add on that I am a perfectionist who will procrastinate if I can’t do it all exactly perfect at one time so you can imagine how much dust has accumulated over time.  Now I am the first to admit that I have done a horrible job of enlisting my children to help with the major housework.  That’s a project and a post for another day.

And so I digress…I searched around the web for the perfect organization tool that will whip me in shape and get this house looking good all the time.  It’s almost overwhelming all that is out there and how many experts there are to choose from.  I really wanted to have the spiritual aspect to this so I ended up finding The Confident Mom.  I had heard of her before and even bought the 2013 Weekly Household Planner but never used it.  So I downloaded the 2014 version (it’s free by the way).  For now I think it will work for me.  I like it because it is broken down by the week and she gives you examples of activities to do over the week to help you get it all done in little bites.  I know that I will have to adjust it to fit our lifestyle but’s that’s ok.  It’s a place to start and I guess getting started is the hardest thing to do.

So I started today and one project that was way overdue is our master bathroom.  Now when we built our house in 1999 we only had one child.  The house has 2 full bathrooms and one half bath and another potential full bath in the basement if we ever get around to finishing it.  We’ve since added two more kids who insist on using the master bath instead of their own.  So that means 4 of us are trying to get ready in one bathroom every day.  I cleaned off the entire surface and the cabinets underneath.  I filled up half of a large trash bag.  It was pretty gross.  I can’t tell you how much dust there was.  But here it is now and hopefully we can keep it that way.  I should have taken a before picture but let’s just say that the left sink was completely filled with stuff so we could only actually use the right sink.

That gave me a small burst of energy and I cleaned out my bedside table.  Threw a bunch of stuff away in there too.  How does it all accumulate?


On a side note we did get out of the house a little over the break…2 movies (Frozen & Saving Mr. Banks, both excellent), the trains at Bevell’s Hardware (an annual tradition) and for the first time the Newport News Celebration of Lights.  Our Christmas Eve service and New Year’s Day prayer service at church were very special too.