What a mom really wants on Mother's Day

I told my neighbor/friend my plan. 

Go see my mom. Go on to see my friend in Joplin and attend an event she organized- A Celebration of Hope with the Duggar family (you know from the TLC show, "19 kids and counting") Then come back through Tulsa and see my mom actually on mother's day. Get away from my schedule for a few days.

"Well all I want from my family is for them to be nice and get along, " she said.

"Me too!" I replied.

And I meant it I could not think of a better gift you could give your mother than to love your siblings, respect them and speak kind, encouraging words into their lives that help them become better people.

So that's my prayer and hope that one day I'll be able to say I got my gift.

Then I got in that car and drove away from my first born and Mr. Incredible with the girls for girl night at my mother's house. stay tuned I'll post pics later...

And eventually made it to Joplin. To the land of SmallCakes cupcake store....

8 different flavors around each table, oh my goodness.....

the store smelled fabulous when Becky and I went by and picked them up

simply delicious!

This day I spent special with the artist, she was waiting for the Duggar's bus...

her cupcake of choice....

the Duggar's arrived and I got to get to meet them first with Becky...

along with their film crew

from tlc, the guy in purple's tshirt said, Kathmandu mt. everest base camp....so I eagerly wanted to know where he got it and his obvious journey to my beloved Nepal....

"Walmart, " he said, " I don't know what it even says, where's Nepal?" 

oh well, on with the Duggar's- they all play the violin and piano! my kind of family...I had lots to ask them...

and they are all as genuine and real and solid and beautiful as they appear, yes that is possible on reality tv

This cutie was my favorite, Johanna, 6 years old, violin player, cute smile and a rock climber!

This is her later during their performances.

But before that we ate a wonderful meal, around these lovely tables. I am loving the people of Joplin, all precious. 

After cheddar chicken, roasted potatoes and cupcakes...(oh my)

we had a question and answer time with Michelle...the ultimate mom 

What she said spoke directly to me...I'll be brief but must tell...

Q. How do you teach your daughters to love "home"

A. I model it, we make it fun, we serve the Lord from our home

Q. Have any of your children ever wanted to attend public school? How did you handle it?

A. No, never had that, we love learning together, Life is a Classroom

Q. What's the hardest problem you find in raising 19 kids?

A. Being able to know their hearts. I want to stay close to each one and what's going on in their hearts, what they are struggling with, that's so important and it just takes time. 

We then entered to another session where they performed. But not before a drawing for the Duggar's newest book...

And guess who gets to participate!

The remind me of the Sound of Music, except that they fell in love before the kids and all the beautiful music 

Have you ever seen such a tiny violin?

As a musician I was impressed!

That many violins and parts play (harmony lines) produced a gorgeous sound.

They sang too..

They had beautiful voices and tight harmonies, all the songs had a gospel centered message

They signed pictures and books for hours afterward, prayed with families, and were still as sweet and genuine as they were when they arrived hours earlier...

So what did my heart come away from last night with? 

Home is worth the investment, day in and day out. 

Changing the lives of those God's given you to raise. 

Children are a blessing. Really!

These are the things eternal, the things lasting, the things worth doing well. 

Falling in Love Again

" The rhythm of relationship; gathering....going.....gathering....going "

On occasion our hearts break rhythm. Usually in the gathering. We must learn to gather well.

"Do two walk together unless they are agreed?" says Amos 3:2.

I agreed to walk with another by the snow covered oak tree several years ago .

But sometimes it's nice to dance rather than walk....




I have learned to fall in love again. I choose to.

I am grateful for the things that move me in that direction. Songs. Movies. Stories. Real People.

We dated this weekend. We are learning to date well. With a little help from some online sources.

Love is a choice, I read it here.

But not till this weekend did it click. I made a promise. So did HE.

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For it is the LORD your God who goes with you; He will not leave you or forsake you.”

I keep mine because God keeps his. Always.

1 John 4:19
We love because He first loved us.

The quiet

I awoke to nothing. Yet to many possibilities....

No little feet stepping toward my bed.

No cabinet doors opening, the independent ones looking for morning foder.

No showers going, no coffee brewing, no voices, no questions, no movement.

The children on holiday with cousins.

God bless Aunt Mandy. My soul needed this. This quiet. This morning of mine.

I wouldn't trade those crazy kids, the chaos or even the arguments. But one morning alone...wow!

Rest. You need it. Of all the disciplines it is most divine. Schedule it if you have to.

I love Jesus more

I fasted for lent this year. First time. I was raised in grace, lent wasn't something we did. Fasting yes, but lent no. Dad fasts quite a bit. I used to fast when I wanted to lose weight. (and I wondered why it never worked?)

It was confirmed several times. So I made the surrender....coffee.....till Easter, or the end of lent, or passover, I was slightly confused. Thank goodness for google.

Born a gentile. Raised under grace. Lots of grace. I love the grace. Named a kid after the grace.

Thank goodness for the grace, tried to lead the Wed. night girls through the Seder/Passover Service. I will not disclose the animal name in which the bone came from. I am no professional at this. As Katie said 2 weeks ago while talking our way through Deuteronomy, "I would've been stoned by now". Grace is a beautiful thing.  I am studier of the law not a slave.

So lent. A time of fasting from something. What do I love? Coffee.

But I love Jesus more. 

So coffee it was.

First week was rough. But I love Jesus more. I wanted to want him more than coffee.

I have lived the truth...anything we can't hold to loosely we make the idol....anything we can't live without.....something we hide when he comes asking for it's surrender.....

So I would smell it, enjoy the fact that others were enjoying it, linger on the coffee aisle in the store, stock pile for when I could enjoy it again.

That's what I've learned. Rarely does God want to deny us good things forever, he just wants us to want him more.

Every time I'd think, "man, coffee would be excellent right now", I'd thank God for his sacrifice of Jesus, thank him for speaking to me, thank him for helping me SEE things. I'd thank him for making all things new, for hope, for healing. You get the idea...the desire for the thing prompted me to thank God.

So again I google...End of lent.....turns out it's not a set thing.

I wanted ceremony for the end.....

A Sunrise Easter Service....just me and God. A throw back to my childhood at Open Door Bible Fellowship.

That's me sitting on the front row with that fur draped over me. I was 8. Fake fur was in. We were building a building. I grew up under those pine trees in the back. They are gone now and so is childhood. For better or for worse.

I google sunrise times. 6:29am

It was really dark at 6:29am, usually it's a little lighter before sunrise.

Google again...Central time sunrise...

Ah that's better. 7:29am

Babies asleep, husband gone, I must stay near by. The backyard will do.

I read, I pray...

For the nations. (Countries of the World app...free, do index for an alphabetical list)

For the lost.

For my friend, I've learned got "make-ya-mad" news last night.

For my babies who need a momma to be momma not superhero.

There it is. The Heaven's declare....

I never get over the sheer beauty of the sun. Faithfully rising everyday. A reminder, HE doesn't forget. And neither should I , HE is coming back one day.

I remember the grace. I taste sweetness on my lips. He is good. He is God and I am not. He is worth the wait. He is worth anything I must give up. I love Jesus more.

Cheers!

Easy come, easy go

She should be landing soon. Learning to walk on Asian soil. Not for a week but a year.

You know me and the bag thing....

These are full of calendars and markers and deflated soccer balls, games and gifts. All for 11 children on the other side of the world.

We had to walk over and say goodbye to her. 

We've watched her come and go across the street for 9 years.

Couldn't help but notice this on the car. Pretty good motto. 

It's what it's all about. 

Sara and her family about to leave for the airport.

I don't think I've ever seen Sara happier. The year will no doubt hold many challenges and HIS grace will be enough for every challenge but she's right where she is designed to be..

And so am I, regardless of what little lies I give thinking time to, God has me right where he wants me,  totebags and all. When it's time to do something different he'll inform me. Until then I'll keep trusting his plan and being a missionary right here praying for my friend on the other side of the world.

Follow Sara at http://reachnepal.wordpress.com/

Do your self a favor and read this asap...

Good stuff. Have I said that I LOVE a good true story?

One powerful meal

Tomorrow night I will celebrate the passover seder meal with the wed. night girls. We'll remember the last supper Jesus had with his friends and the promise that he will drink that fourth cup with us again at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

But last night I ate with old friends. It was so nice.

I fixed chicken fried steak for the adults and steak bites for the kiddos. Corn and asparagus, a fresh citrus salad, gravy and buiscuits and my husband's mother's recipe for green stuff (a cool whip/cottage cheese/lime jello/pineapple thing). Complete with 3 different kinds of desserts. It was good.

I left the dishes for the time with our friends. Dishes will always be with me. They will not.

The conversations were wonderful. Only coffee would've made it sweeter, but I am fasting from that.

(My stash patiently waiting, ready for Sunday, I am assuming that's the end of lenten)

It was a night when you left you felt satisfied from physical hunger and soul hunger. When you were glad you were alive. When you have faith in God redeeming humankind.

Those dishes they didn't take too long...

The encouragement from the evening will last much longer.

It is why I cook. It is why I serve the food. That souls may learn of love. That hearts leave full.
It will be my life long mission- set the table, bring the food, & watch God show up!

The bags of my life....

This little bag goes with me everywhere these days....

I have begun invisiline. While painful the first week I have gotten good at taking them out. I brush and floss every time I eat. It's a great preventative against snacking between meals. Too much work!

And here is the only picture I'll ever post without my invisiline (which have a "ponic" in them for my missing tooth) Try not to laugh, I dare ya...

We were missing the same tooth, her's is nearly back in. She keeps hoping mine will come in. It's funny how this whole crazy no tooth experience has connected me with all the kids...they don't care all their friends are missing teeth. Another reason I love kids.

Spring break cleaning leads to blessing others with Charis' outgrown clothes.

A student brought this one in today....

I love it! 

Me and the wed night small group girlies are reading through the Bible this year, we finished Joshua last week, so many good life verses in Joshua. We link one word with each book, for me Joshua got the word, "enjoy". 

But it really sums up what God's been doing in my life. Showing me he is where ever I am. In the hard, the mundane, the good, the exciting, the silly and even the sad. The "with me" God. 

I am counting the gifts. Gratitude in all things. 

It's where I see God.