Happy 4 Months!

It's hard to believe, but my Josiah is 4 months old. As of today, he's nursing like a mad man, including two or more times during the night, so as grateful as I am to have a good eater, we're going to have to nip the night feedings in the bud here soon. The pediatrician said I need to lay him down awake (yeah, yeah, yeah) so that he can fall asleep on his own...and that should take care of him nursing during the night. We'll see. I'm not sure if I'm ready for all that yet.

Mr. Josiah is weighing in at 15 pounds and 10 ounces, and he's a whopping 25.75 inches long. (I say whopping kind of jokingly, because his good friend Harper was 25 inches when she was born...or soon thereafter.) Believe it or not, 25.75 inches puts him in the 76th percentile for height. As pudgy as he is, he's only 66th percentile for weight. He's just a chubby, healthy little boy. Praise the sweet Lord. I cannot even describe how much I love that boy.

Mid September Memory Verse

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14 (NIV, 84)

Yesterday, the girls were "helping me" put the groceries away. I was actually in the living room, feeding Josiah, and they were busy taking everything out of the bags and onto the counters. All the sudden I heard something bust on the floor. (Gosh, I hadn't even considered the fact that they are picking up breakable things...maybe it's not a good idea for them to put away the groceries. Dang it.)

I walk into the kitchen to see this:

What you don't see is the spaghetti sauce all over Elizabeth's white tennis shoes and the blood coming from Layla's ankle where a piece of glass went straight into her skin.

These are the moments when I just want to give up. The last thing I wanted to do was clean up this huge mess of spaghetti sauce and glass off the floor. Which would then be followed by putting up the rest of the groceries, fixing lunch, cleaning up a container of yogurt that Elizabeth would bust in a few minutes (after which I decided they are no longer allowed to help put away groceries, which stinks, because I kind of like the help), and the list goes on. Sometimes I feel like all I do is clean up messes. There are several messes that I need to clean up right now. Toys, food on the table, clothes, stuff in the hall. Goodness. You know what I'm talking about it. It's exhausting, and sometimes, I just want to give up.

That's why I need this verse. If you ever feel like I do, which I bet you do, that's why you need this verse. Let's commit it to memory.

"I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3:14 (NIV, 84)

In every case for me, the prize is bringing glory to God. In this case, I bring glory to God by loving my children and taking care of them, which in turn means I can't leave a broken jar of spaghetti sauce on the floor. I cannot give up. I must press on.

Couch 2 5k Update

If you read this post, you know I started the Couch 2 5k program at the beginning of August. Since I'm in the middle of the program now, I thought you might like an update.

Let me begin by saying that when I started, I could barely run/jog a minute and a half. My legs felt like they were made of led. I still remember feeling like I was going to die by the end of the first workout.

Well...I'm in the middle of week 6 now (I had to take a little time off to research a numb foot issue - but that's another story), and I am definitely impressed with the program. It works. I am also grateful to the Lord for continuing to give me the motivation to get up early (between 5:30 and 6) and do something for my health and for giving me the ability to move my legs. I thank Him every day as I'm exercising, and I think of all the people in the world who don't have the physical ability or the opportunity to do what I'm doing. I'm humbled by His favor and feel like not taking advantage of my God-given ability would be a waste.

So where am I now? I ran 20 minutes straight last Friday!! Yesterday's workout was a 5 minute warmup walk, run 5, walk 3, run 8, walk 3, run 5. I have to admit I thought it would be easy peasy when I started. Not so. I guess the fact that I could run 20 minutes Friday doesn't mean I can do it easily all the time. I better start getting used to it, though, because tomorrow's workout is the last one that involves any walking. After that, it will be running for 25, then 28, then finally 30 minutes.

When I started, I was not sure how I would ever be able to run 30 minutes straight, but I can say now that I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I'm a believer in this program. Every day is challenging but doable. And that's the key to a good workout, if you ask me.

Just in case you're wondering, I'm not 100% sure if I've lost weight as a direct result of this program, because I'm also cutting back on calories and working out at the gym. I do think the running is having an effect on my overall body shape, and I like it. As I run, I visualize the fat just falling off my thighs. It keeps me motivated, people! I will post another update at the end to let you know whether I'm done or moving on to couch 2 10k.

Friends

I was getting in the shower at the gym yesterday, and I saw the sweetest exchange.

Two older ladies were chatting, as one was obviously getting out of the shower and the other was about to get in. The one who was finished said she was heading out to get dressed, and as she left, she said to her friend who was about to shower..."be careful".

Two little words but they say so much.

A few minutes later, the lady in the shower called out to her friend (forgetting she had walked to the other part of the locker room), "What is Sunday's Bible study lesson again?".

I loved their sweet exchange. Lord, may I be so blessed to have Godly female friends in my life until the day I die.

September Memory Verse

September 1st. Can you believe it? Two thirds of the year are finished. Fall is just around the corner. College football starts tonight. I have to admit that part of me is always a little sad to see summer go, but I do love fall. The crisp cool mornings that warm into respectable afternoons. The beautiful shades of orange, yellow, and red. Our annual trip to the mountains. Candy corn on the shelves. Let's be honest, candy corn is by far the highlight of fall. Right? I'm really going to have to watch it this year, because I'm still trying to lose my babies weight (yep, weight from all three babies), but I'm sure I will indulge in some candy corn. Pretty soon, if I have anything to say about it.

With fall coming so soon, I thought it would be a great time to memorize this verse:

"There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NIV, 1984)

Let's read the verse in context, because the next bit of the passage is so good:

1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven: 2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot, 3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build, 4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain, 6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away, 7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak, 8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace. 9 What does the worker gain from his toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on men. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live. 13 That everyone may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all his toil—this is the gift of God.

This passage, to me, represents a promise that God is in control. Everything has its season. It's God-appointed season. In the midst of weeping, killing, and giving up, God is in control. In the high times, the laughing, dancing, embracing, and peaceful times - God is in control. He has appointed a time for everything and a season for every activity.

I also love verses 12 and 13. There is nothing better than for us to be happy and do good while we live...to eat and drink and find satisfaction in our lives is the gift of God. This tells me it is God's gift to find pleasure in the blessings of life. The sunsets, the breezes, the mountain views. The squeals and giggles of delighted little girls. The cooes from my sweet baby boy. Holding my husband's hand. Even the delicious food the Lord has given us to eat. Finding satisfaction in these things are a gift from God. Please, Lord, remind me of this. Too often I allow the enemy to rob me of this gift by tempting me to be unhappy, ungrateful, or even feeling guilty for the blessings I have been given.

I pray that in memorizing this verse, you are able to connect it to a particular truth that you need to be reminded of.

 And now...the song that plays in my head every time I think of our memory verse...

3 Month Old

This is my three month old. He's growing so fast. At three months, he's 15 pounds and about 24 1/4 inches long. He's cooing. Laughing. Loving his TinyLove floor gym. And loving his mommy. Most nights, he goes to bed between 8 and 9, sleeps until 5 or 6, nurses, and then goes back to bed until 9 if he can (if it's a day when we don't have to bolt out the door at 7:30 to take the girls to school). He's laid back and usually goes with the flow, not that he has much of a choice. He's incredibly snuggly, and I'm head over heels for him.

Sorry it's taken me a week to post this pic. I've been doing some work on the blog, and things have been kind of tricky. I think we've got the kinks worked out, but if you notice some things are still not quite right, rest assured they will be back to normal soon. Happy Friday.

School Update

This is the end of week 3 at school, and both girls are doing very well.

Elizabeth has memorized three verses (resulting in three stickers and three skittles).  Can I just say that I am so impressed with her ability to memorize?  I had always heard kids were good at scripture memorization, but I didn't believe it.  It is true, at least for my girl.  She can even remember the actual scripture reference, such as Psalm 139:14.  The thing we're working on that seems to be difficult is teaching her not to capitalize the letters in her name.  To date, she likes to capitalize everything but the i and t.  Mrs. Cindi thinks it's important to stop doing this, and I have to agree, but Elizabeth really doesn't seem to understand the importance.  Can't blame her really.

Layla is having a good time, which is not at all what she would tell you if you asked.  Every time I ask, she says she doesn't like school and doesn't like her teacher.  But when I pick her up, she is always having a blast and smiling ear to ear.  She cried the very first day, but I haven't seen any tears since, which is quite different than last year, when she cried 95% of the days I dropped her off.  I know the crying really doesn't mean much, but it sure makes a mommy feel better to see a smile on her little lady's face before she drives away.  I am so happy with our decision to put her at SMPK, and I think it's going to be great year.  Her sweet teacher, Mrs. Jessica, sends home a weekly note on Fridays, and I have to admit that I look forward to the note all week.  Here are the two we've gotten so far.

Don't those notes make you want to send your kids to Mrs. Jessica?  She is a great big ball of energy and understands very much a mother's need to be sure her child is safe, secure, and having fun.  I'm so grateful for her and for the privilege to have Layla in her class.

Mid August Memory Verse

Our verse for today is one that I just love.  I don't know that I had ever read/heard it before the other day, but when I did, I knew it was one to memorize.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort." 2 Corinthians 1:3 (NIV, 84)

For some reason, I love verses that begin with "praise be".  I enjoy verses that can be prayers, especially prayers of praise, and this one exactly fits the bill.  Plus, it says our Father is the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort.  All comfort.  I believe in a very dynamic, multi-faceted God who has many qualities, including some that are not so warm and fuzzy.  But, at the end of the day, I love knowing my God is compassionate and comforting.  It makes me feel like I can climb up in His holy lap and just be.

Bean Work Play Cafe & Morelli's

Today was such a fun family day. I love to visit fun new places, and today, we did just that.

The first place we went to is Bean Work Play Cafe in Decatur. Y'all. This place is so neat. My niece's 3rd birthday party was held there this afternoon. Let's just say, Layla was having so much fun that she didn't want to leave, and I was right there with her. I found myself promising her we could have her birthday party there in December.

Bean's motto is "the alternative to everyday work and play for you and your kids". I can hardly do the place justice by trying to describe it here, so look at the link if you have time. If you'd rather settle for my description, here it is: the coolest place I've been in a long time. A novel idea. A place where you can pay a monthly membership fee to go in and work (with access to desk space, wifi, phone pods, a conference room, coffee, snacks) while your kids play in the coolest play area with the coolest toys...or if you don't want to stay, you can just drop your children for a few hours while you run errands or have lunch with a friend or go home and take a nap. Or a shower. But it's not like a daycare at all. Like I said, it's the coolest place. In the off hours, they offer classes like baby signs, kids art, mandarin language and others. Too bad it's 30 minutes away, even longer in traffic. I seriously would consider opening one closer by just so that I could drop my kids there. Oh, and as a bonus, they just started hosting kids' birthday parties on the weekends. Definitely poke around their web site if you have time. If you think it's as cool as I do, call me, and maybe we can start a business together. =)

For what it's worth, I have been thinking for a long time that it would be so nice to have an upscale play place where moms could drop their kids for a few hours while they ran errands, went to a doctor's appointment, got a pedicure, went grocery shopping, etc. Bean beat me to it while incorporating a "work" option, which is genius.

Moving on. The second place I went today that I just have to rave about is Morelli's Gourmet Ice Cream & Desserts. It's in the Edgewood shopping center on Moreland Avenue, and oh my word. It is so good. The ice cream is homemade, and the flavors are so inventive. The featured flavors today are coconut jalapeno and maple bacon brittle. Did I try either of those? No, but don't they sound interesting? I did taste test krispy kreamier and salted caramel before ordering teeny scoops of oreo and praline pecan. The flavors are so strong that a small cup was more than enough. I definitely blew my diet today between the Morelli's and the chocolate covered caramel apples at my niece's birthday party. Yum yum.

If you're ever in the Decatur area, I recommend dropping your kids at Bean while you run some errands (there's lots of great shopping downtown Decatur) and stop by Morelli's for some delicious homemade ice cream. From what I hear, you have to make a reservation for Bean, so plan ahead!

E Mealz

Today's post is a public service announcement.  It applies to you if you:

• have mouths to feed
• are on a budget
• like to cook but get tired of figuring out what to cook each week
• don't like to cook but know you should because it's cheaper & healthier

I want to tell you about E-Mealz.  I believe it is quite possibly the best thing since sliced bread.

The E-Mealz slogan is "easy dinner menus for busy and frugal people".  Basically, when you sign up, and it's cheap (like $5 a month per meal plan), you get access to a weekly menu.  You choose which meal plan(s) you want to sign up for.  There are things like low carb, low fat, vegetarian, etc.  You also select the grocery store where you normally shop.  Here is the amazing thing:  each week when your menu is published, it will be customized based on what dietary restrictions you choose (for example, I'm doing the portion control plan, aka the weight watchers plan, because I'm trying to drop this baby weight) AND it will incorporate the sales at your grocery store.

I literally used to ride by Publix, pick up the ad, look thru and see what was on sale, then pull out my cookbooks and spend hours looking thru them to see what I could cook that would use the meat that was on sale.  I know, I know.  Kind of crazy.  (Not as crazy as spending hours clipping coupons and then buying 100 deoderants just because they're on sale and I have 100 coupons.  I'm just sayin'.)  I truly began to despise making my grocery list.  E-Mealz has changed that.  Oh yeah - not only do you get a menu but it comes with a shopping list that includes everything you need for 7 meals, and it's always less than $100 for the whole list.  AMAZING, right?

Okay - so the one little caveat is that we've been doing this for maybe 4 weeks, and some of the meals haven't been the tastiest, so I was kind of holding off on this post, because I wasn't sure I wanted to rant and rave about it if the meals weren't yummy.  All that has changed in the last week or two.  They aren't all five star dinners (keep in mind we're doing a diet menu), but we've had some very tasty meals.  Plenty of things I'd serve to a guest (which is how I judge whether something is good) and several recipes I will continue to make again and again.  This week I made a meatloaf for the first time ever, and it was awesome.  Oh, and it was in the crock pot.  How's that for a time saver?

So, to make a long story even longer, I highly recommend E-Mealz if you would like to save time and money and cook for your family on a  more regular basis.  If you are picky and already thinking that you probably won't like a lot of the meals, it's really still worth the $5 a month.  I'm picky.  I just look thru and choose the ones I like, and if there aren't enough for one week, I'll go back to the old menus and choose others that I know are good.

E-Mealz is a time saver.  A money saver.  And for our family right now, a life saver.  Go check it out!

August Memory Verse

Hello, friends.  I know, I know.  I'm 3 days late.  Not too shabby, if you ask me, considering I am taking care of three kids.  How long can I use that excuse?  Surely at least a while longer.

Seriously, though.  It is busy around here!  Elizabeth started school this week.  She's in 4K at ELCA, a local Christian school.  She's going 5 half days.  So far, she seems to really be enjoying things.  Bless her heart.  She's just like her mommy.  Loves school.  Loves to to be a helper.  I'm so very grateful for a child who loves school.  I pray it never changes.

I was originally planning to keep Layla in the same Mom's Morning Out program that she attended last year, but we had our orientation this morning, and I left there just not feeling right.  There's nothing they did wrong.  It's a great program for a great price.  I don't know.  You know how sometimes it's just like you know something in your soul?  That's how I felt when I left this morning.  So, I called another local preschool and signed her up for preschool.  It's 3 half days, and she will actually be learning, rather than just playing, and I'm pumped about it.  She is too.  Hopefully she'll still be pumped when I drop her off Friday morning.  Eek!  My baby is in preschool?  What?  How can that be possible?

For your viewing pleasure, here's a picture of Layla with 2 month old Josiah.  How chunky is he?  I'm loving it.  And yes, Layla has quite a fro going on.  I do comb her hair (usually) before going out in public.



Moving on.  For our memory verse, I'd like to do something different.  There's no particular verse on my heart today.  Instead, I'd like for you to pick up your Bible, or go to one online, such as www.biblegateway.com, and read Job 38:1-42:6.  That's a little over 4 chapters, but I'm telling you, it is good stuff.  To give you a little context, you're jumping into the story after Job has been whining to/about God for 37 chapters.  A few of his friends try to make him see the error of his ways, but they are not successful.  When you pick up in 38, God has decided to speak, and the whole exchange is off the chain.  Seriously.  Read it.  If you ever thought you knew something or had a foot to stand on in front of the Lord, you won't after reading it.  I love how He puts Job in his place, and of course, we are right there with Job.  Please read it.  Even if you've read it before.  It's a good read.  Probably one of my favorite passages in the OT (so far).

If you're like me (ahem, anal retentive) and need a verse because you are planning to memorize 24 verses this year, and there's nothing wrong with being like me, here's my favorite one liner from the passage.  It's from The Message.  (Oh - I kind of suggest reading the whole passage in The Message.  I like the NIV too, but The Message reads very well.  If you don't have a copy of The Message, go buy one, but before you do, use an online Bible and read the scriptures I suggested.)

Okay - my fav.

Remember, this is God talking to Job.

"Do you have an arm like my arm?  Can you shout in thunder the way I can?" Job 40:9 (The Message)

Is that awesome, or what?  Do you have an arm like my arm?  My word.  Just think of the Lord's arms.  The strength.  The breadth.  The embrace.  The imagery is amazing.  And then...can you shout in thunder?  I love that.  What more can I say?

Happy reading, my friends.

Couch 2 5K?

So I've heard a lot of talk about the Couch 2 5K program.  Until today, I pretty much gave it zero thought.  Several friends have started it.  Derrick even talked about it.  And I thought, "Good for you.  I'll stick with my elliptical at the gym."

But then a few days ago, I was up early and walked outside with the baby.  I sat down in a chair and remembered what it felt like to be up before the kids, exercising in the cool of the morning.  I only know what that feels like because of a brief period in my life when I worked as a camp counselor for Camp DeSoto, a wonderful Christian girls' camp in Mentone, AL.  My journey there is a whole story on its own, but suffice it to say, when I was in charge of that many kids and working with them all day every day, exercising in the early morning became my release.  My rejuvenation.  My escape.  My time for me and God.  My quiet.  It started with me walking, because I've never enjoyed jogging, but gradually I built up to where I was jogging about a mile each time I went.  My co-counselor and I had to alternate days, so I was probably jogging 1 mile, 3 days a week.  When I came home from camp, I no longer needed that escape in the mornings, so I quickly got out of the habit.  That was 10 years ago.

Which brings me back to sitting in the chair outside the other morning, remembering what it feels like to be up before the kids, exercising.  Alone.  Quiet.

It dawned on me that my life now is fairly similar to the way it was when I found solace in jogging.  I do kids all day, every day.  Perhaps it would be good to get up early in the morning and go for a run.

So, wasting no time, I got up this morning.  Saying I ran would definitely be a stretch.  I felt like I was moving in slow motion.  My legs felt like lead.  I have felt that way before, pretty much every time I tried to jog, and that's why I didn't continue.  Each leg felt like it weighed 100 pounds.  It was nearly impossible to keep them moving.  But I just alternated between walking and slowly jogging.  I found myself very grateful that I did not have a jogging partner and that anyone watching out their window would have no idea if I were still jogging after I went around the curve and was out of their sight.  As if anyone was up @ 6:30am watching the joggers.  =)

My legs hurt tonight.  But I feel good about what I did this morning.  It motivated me to do some research on the Couch 2 5K, and it looks good.  I think I'll try it.  Maybe telling you about it will keep me accountable.  The program is designed to get a person off the couch and within 9 weeks, have them running/jogging 3 miles, 3 times a week.  It's a 30 minute, 3 day a week workout, and it seems to be set up so that anyone can do it.  We shall see.

I will officially start next week.  If I stick with the program, I should be able to run 3 miles by the end of September.  If I can do it, I will be very impressed.  And hopefully a good bit thinner.  Ha!

Have you seen these?

Can I just tell you that I want these shoes?  I do.  I've
seen
pinned them several times on pinterest.  I've searched for them and then searched again on the TOMS web site.  They aren't there.  Not even a trace.

I found a listing on ebay.  $130.  A little too pricey, right?

I saw someone post that they had gotten theirs at Whole Foods, so I called a couple of stores today.  No dice.

Then I went to Nordstrom to see if they had them.  Nope.  Although, I will admit that the trip to Nordstrom was not in vain.  We happened to catch their anniversary sale.  If you ever want to shop @ Nordstrom, the anniversary sale is the time to do it.  And I've decided their shoe department is very likely my favorite.  They have such a range of prices and styles, and they really do have good deals when things are on sale.  I brought home a couple of those deals tonight.

No lace TOMS though.  If you happen to be out and see a pair in size 7, please buy them for me.  I promise I'll pay you for them.

In the meantime, I'll be wearing these, which are just as snazzy as the lace ones.  And better for fall.

Mid-July Memory Verse

My reasoning for choosing this verse will become more clear in the days and weeks to follow.  For now, here's the verse:

"Test everything.  Hold on to the good." 1 Thessalonians 5:21 (NIV, 84)

That's it.  Short and sweet.  But it's huge, isn't it? Great advice from the Lord.  Don't believe everything you hear.

Announcement

Here is the announcement that we sent to our friends and family.

FRONT

BACK

It is pretty stinkin' cute, if I do say so myself.  I have to give all the credit to Kimberly G Photography, our photographer, and Sonya Marshall aka WestWillow, the etsy designer who designed the cards.  All I did was have the baby.  Ha!

Baby Cuteness

So, I know Josiah is almost two months old, but our  photographer just finished uploading all of the pictures from Josiah's newborn photo shoot.  She uploaded several of them within a week of the shoot so that we could have some to choose from for our announcements.  Which, by the way, you should be receiving any day now.  I know, I know.  Two months old and just sending announcements?!  What can I say?  I'm a mother of three.  It's hard to find the time, friends.

Anyhow, here are a few of my favorite shots.

July Memory Verse

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at wok within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever!  Amen." -Ephesians 3:20-21 (NIV, 84)

Amen.  And Amen.  Yes?

What more can I say about this one?  We should all know it.  To me, it is one of the most exciting and invigorating verses in the New Testament.  I feel like I should be shouting it by the time I finish.  And maybe jumping up and down with my hands held high.

He, and only He, is able to do MORE than ALL WE ASK OR IMAGINE.  His power is at work within us.  Praise God.  He deserves the glory in the church and in Christ.  In ALL generations.  Forever.  And ever.

Amen.

Let's memorize this one so we can start our days with it.  Or pray it to our God when we need to be reminded how powerful He is.

We'll be out of town for 14 out of the next 16 days, so if the blogging is sparse, that's why.  Enjoy your Independence Day and this last month of "summer".

Motherhood as a Mission Field by Rachel Jankovic

My friend, Lanie Beth, featured this post on her blog yesterday.  When I read it, I was thanking the Lord for a truth that I really needed to hear.  I thought you might need to hear it too.  I am simply copying and pasting it from the original post, which was featured at www.desiringgod.org.

Motherhood as a Mission Field

June 16, 2011 | by: Rachel Jankovic | Category: Commentary

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There is a good old saying, perhaps only said by my Grandfather, that distance adds intrigue. It is certainly true — just think back to anything that has ever been distant from you that is now near. Your driver’s license. Marriage. Children. Things that used to seem so fascinating, but as they draw near become less mystical and more, well, real.

This same principle certainly applies to mission fields too. The closer you get to home, the less intriguing the work of sacrifice seems. As someone once said, “Everyone wants to save the world, but no one wants to help Mom with the dishes.” When you are a mother at home with your children, the church is not clamoring for monthly ministry updates. When you talk to other believers, there is not any kind of awe about what you are sacrificing for the gospel. People are not pressing you for needs you might have, how they can pray for you. It does not feel intriguing, or glamorous. Your work is normal, because it is as close to home as you can possibly be. You have actually gone so far as to become home.

Home: The Headwaters of Mission

If you are a Christian woman who loves the Lord, the gospel is important to you. It is easy to become discouraged, thinking that the work you are doing does not matter much. If you were really doing something for Christ you would be out there, somewhere else, doing it. Even if you have a great perspective on your role in the kingdom, it is easy to lose sight of it in the mismatched socks, in the morning sickness, in the dirty dishes. It is easy to confuse intrigue with value, and begin viewing yourself as the least valuable part of the Church.

There are a number of ways in which mothers need to study their own roles, and begin to see them, not as boring and inconsequential, but as home, the headwaters of missions.

At the very heart of the gospel is sacrifice, and there is perhaps no occupation in the world so intrinsically sacrificial as motherhood. Motherhood is a wonderful opportunity to live the gospel. Jim Elliot famously said, “He is no fool who gives up that which he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” Motherhood provides you with an opportunity to lay down the things that you cannot keep on behalf of the people that you cannot lose. They are eternal souls, they are your children, they are your mission field.

Faith Makes the Small Offering Great

If you are like me, then you may be thinking “What did I ever give up for them? A desk job? Time at the gym? Extra spending money? My twenty- year- old figure? Some sleep?” Doesn’t seem like much when you put it next to the work of some of the great missionaries, people who gave their lives for the gospel.

Think about the feeding of the five thousand when the disciples went out and rounded up the food that was available. It wasn’t much. Some loaves. Some fish. Think of some woman pulling her fish out and handing it to one of the disciples. That had to have felt like a small offering. But the important thing about those loaves and those fishes was not how big they were when they were given, it was about whose hands they were given into. In the hands of the Lord, that offering was sufficient. It was more than sufficient. There were leftovers. Given in faith, even a small offering becomes great.

Look at your children in faith, and see how many people will be ministered to by your ministering to them. How many people will your children know in their lives? How many grandchildren are represented in the faces around your table now?

Gain What You Cannot Lose in Them

So, if mothers are strategically situated to impact missions so greatly, why do we see so little coming from it?  I think the answer to this is quite simple: sin. Discontent, pettiness, selfishness, resentment. Christians often feel like the right thing to do is to be ashamed about what we have. We hear that quote of Jim Elliot’s and think that we ought to sell our homes and move to some place where they need the gospel.

But I’d like to challenge you to look at it differently. Giving up what you cannot keep does not mean giving up your home, or your job so you can go serve somewhere else. It is giving up yourself. Lay yourself down. Sacrifice yourself here, now. Cheerfully wipe the nose for the fiftieth time today. Make dinner again for the people who don’t like the green beans. Laugh when your plans are thwarted by a vomiting child. Lay yourself down for the people here with you, the people who annoy you, the people who get in your way, the people who take up so much of your time that you can’t read anymore. Rejoice in them. Sacrifice for them. Gain that which you cannot lose in them.

It is easy to think you have a heart for orphans on the other side of the world, but if you spend your time at home resenting the imposition your children are on you, you do not. You cannot have a heart for the gospel and a fussiness about your life at the same time. You will never make any difference there if you cannot be at peace here. You cannot have a heart for missions, but not for the people around you. A true love of the gospel overflows and overpowers. It will be in everything you do, however drab, however simple, however repetitive.

God loves the little offerings. Given in faith, that plate of PB&J’s will feed thousands. Given in faith, those presents on Christmas morning will bring delight to more children than you can count. Offered with thankfulness, your work at home is only the beginning. Your laundry pile, selflessly tackled daily, will be used in the hands of God to clothe many. Do not think that your work does not matter. In God’s hands, it will be broken, and broken, and broken again, until all who have need of it have eaten and are satisfied. And even then, there will be leftovers.

Rachel Jankovic is a wife, homemaker, and mother. She is the author of "Loving the Little Years" and blogs at Femina. Her husband is Luke, and they have five children: Evangeline (5), Daphne (4), Chloe (2), Titus (2), and Blaire (5 months).

Daddy Dearest

I know it's been a few days since Father's Day.  As I said before, life with 3 is quite busy, and it's very hard to find free time.  It seems like I go from one child to the next, feeding and playing and feeding and consoling and feeding, and then, when the day is done, I'm still feeding, and I'm pooped.  I'll apologize now for not posting very frequently, because it just may happen that way.  For a little while.

Anywho.

I want to share a picture from Father's Day.




It's still a little hard to believe that we have three children.  Three!  Sometimes I wonder what the good Lord is thinking.  I have hope in knowing that He does not make mistakes.

Derrick is a wonderful father.  I love the way he:

• knows how to make the girls laugh - at any moment in time
• takes advantage of teaching opportunities (he's already trying to teach Elizabeth multiplication!)
• has patience with the girls and doesn't raise his voice
• plays t-ball with Elizabeth
• values education
• has pretty much taken over giving the girls their baths, which includes combing their hair...a major job!
• doesn't pressure me about moving Josiah to his own room
• works so very hard to provide for all of us
• has stepped up in the last couple of months
• is so different from me

Daddy Dearest, you are loved and appreciated.  You're a wonderful father.  Thank you for all of your hard work and for really helping to carry the load these last couple of months.  Your girls love you so much, as I'm sure your son will.  I love that we have the opportunity to parent these children together, and I can't wait to see how your relationships with them grow stronger and stronger as they get older.  Thank you for being such an amazing dad.

Daddy's Day Surprise

It's not quite Father's Day yet, but I want to show y'all what I did for Derrick for Father's Day.  I managed to surprise him, which is VERY hard to do, especially for me, because I am the worst liar in the world, and I don't like to keep secrets.  But, I pulled one off.

Derrick moved into a new office a while back, and he mentioned to me several times that he needed some help getting it decorated.  He even had our friend, Meredith, who is an interior designer, come out and look at his office, but they never went forward with anything.  He quit mentioning it to me, so I kind of forgot that his office needed some work.

Until I saw a picture of Derrick standing in front of some bookshelves in his office.  Oh my word.  I wish I could find that picture now.  The computer gnome who sits at my computer when I'm not looking and deletes things must have deleted it, so I cannot find it, but trust me - those bookshelves were sad.  When I started thinking of something to do for Derrick for Father's Day - I had the bright idea that I should decorate his bookshelves.  I quickly realized I didn't have a clue how to do that and that I should enlist help.  Luckily, Meredith was willing to help, and she had great ideas.

After a lot of secret emails and covert operation phone calls, oh and lies that I told Derrick in order to get out of the house, we were all set to go to his office last night and transform the bookshelves.

Here's a picture of the bookshelves as they were when we got there.  Sad.





And here's a picture of the finished product.



Lovely, right??  Didn't Meredith do a great job?  She went with a Ralph Lauren feel, dark masculine tones, silver accents and picture frames.  Side note: the white dog is going to be painted a darker color.  We just haven't gotten to it yet.  Oh, and please excuse the low res photos.  I, of course, forgot my camera, and these were the best photos we could get with the camera on Meredith's phone.

The most exciting part about all of it?  Derrick had no idea!!  Oh, and he loved it too.

Mission accomplished.