Times and Seasons

I wonder if at 50 I would still pick the same nail polish I pick today?
I wonder if at 40 I will still be using "snickerdoo" as my "ugly" word?
I wonder if at 30 I will keep my van any cleaner than what it is today?
I wonder if tomorrow my sinus infection will feel any better?

Life is full of moving into and out of different seasons. Friends come and friends go. Our hearts at one time or another are more sensitive to God. There days I feel so controlled by the Holy Spirit and other days I wonder if he is really in me; days I feel that beating my kids could be the anwer to all my problems and other days I think all they need is a 24-hour hug. There are days I feel like supermom and days I ask myself, "How can I keep doing this?!" There are days I feel like I could be a Harvard professor then other days I think "How can I home school when my ten year-old can spell better than me?"

Ecclesiastes 3:1 says "To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven."
A time to wear red polish, a time for silly words, a time when having a dirty van is okay and a time to walk through sickness.

So what season are you in? I am in "mommy season," which is not always the most fun or easiest job but it is MY job and I only have it for such a short amount of time.

Ecclesiastes 3:22 says " So I saw that there is nothing better than a man rejoicing in his own work, for that is his portion. For who shall bring him back to see what will happen after he is gone?"

Solomon says "There is nothing better than a man rejoicing in his own work." He did not mean this in a boastful, prideful way but in the way of being happy with the job God has placed you in. Somedays being a mommy is the best thing ever but other days it is so tiring. I feel like there is never any time left for me. The reality is there will be plenty of time left for me because this season will come and go and I will not get it back.

So I just encourage you whatever season you are in, do it to your very best and rejoice in every moment because this season WILL PASS.

Paul's Prayer for Spiritual Wisdom

This is a great prayer to pray for you husband, children, or friends. There is nothing better than praying the Living Word over those we love. Blessings!

Ephesians 1: 15-23

15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for God’s people everywhere, 16 I have not stopped thanking God for you. I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and insight so that you might grow in your knowledge of God. 18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the confident hope he has given to those he called—his holy people who are his rich and glorious inheritance.

19 I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power 20 that raised Christ from the dead and seated him in the place of honor at God’s right hand in the heavenly realms. 21 Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. 22 God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. 23 And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.

Words

Everywhere I turn it seems that God is speaking to me about the words I say. From church I am hearing about the power of blessings and curses. From a parent class I am taking I am hearing how important it is to mold your child's heart while they are young. The words I say to my children do matter. Then tonight as I was flipping through the Bible I saw Hebrews 13:15 which says "Through Him. therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name."

As I first read this verse I began to feel overwhelmed. Man, here we go again! I sometimes just get tired of saying positive things. It's hard not to lose your cool when you have one kid spilling her drink, one throwing his food on the floor and another saying "Mommy! Mommy!" It's hard to look up and say "You sure are great little people! I just love the way you keep me on my toes." No - everything in me wants to scream, call them some names and send them away to their rooms. Let's not even talk about how nice I want to be to the mail lady in my yard honking her horn non-stop after I have just gotten all the babies asleep. Being nice is not always easy. At times like these it is a sacrifice.

I am not always going to feel like speaking kind words. I am not always going to feel like praising God; but the great thing about this is that God understands. That's why in Hebrews it uses the word "sacrifice." Sometimes it's going to be hard and I am not going to be able to do it on my own. When I make the small sacrifices not to scream but instead to lift His name, He moves close to me and empowers me to be all I can be.

What to do on this rainy day?

Let's see what the Foster-Whiddon kids have to say...



You may want to hold your breath so you don't drown!



You may want to put your boots on because it's very ooky out there!



Or you may just want to stay inside and snuggle! (Holton's not so sure about that idea...)

Thoughts that have brought me peace

I am not just a mom. I am a partner with God in training up four amazing children that in the beginning and end ultimately belong to Him.

I am not a wife. I am a bride sent by God to support, encourage and enhance a groom's life.

I am not just a housekeeper but a peacemaker of my home.

I am not just a cook but a creator of what God has blessed us with.

Today is what I make it. As a mom I sometimes feel like I have the most mundane job of all. Between the routines, long days, and all the baby-talk, I sometimes lose my way. So I am so thankful for God stirring my heart. I need Him to help me see the pleasure and joy in trying to be the best mother, wife and friend I can be. Apart from Him my work is in vain. Today I want my job to count. To count for Him.

The Award of the Day...

...goes to me! That would be the "HAVE-YOU-LOST-YOUR-MIND-WHY-IN-THE-WORLD-WOULD-YOU-PUT-YOURSELF-THROUGH-SO-MUCH-TORTURE?" award.



How did this well-earned award come about? This past Monday I was put in the hospital for a severe sinus infection that I have been carrying around for months now. Nothing seems to help it get better. So I stayed there for two nights. I came home on Wednesday. Well, today I thought it would be a great idea to take the kids to town for an early lunch and some grocery shopping. What was meant to be a pleasant day turned into a nightmare - imagine that! I have been on so much medication that I kind of stay in a daze, but one of those medicines seems to make me turn into the Wicked Witch of the South! So our pleasant brunch together turned into me fussing over ketchup packs. Then our leisurely stroll through Wal-Mart with a 10 year old, three year old, one year old, one on the way and one heck of a sinus infection turned into a fight for mommy survival!

Halfway through the trip I thought "Hey... I will be nice. Why not stop and get the kids an Icey Coke and a cookie?" While I was purchasing this snack out of the goodness of my heart my children decided it was time to be very vocal and run around the store. I looked up at them to give them the "I-am-going-to -get-your-fanny" look which only worked for a split second. When I got back with their snacks the baby decides it would be fun to play ball with the cookies. The three year old thought running with her huge cup of Icey Coke would be fun till she crashed and Coke went everywhere. My ten year old must have been having a brain freeze because she just stood there and watched. So I had cookies flying, drinks spilling and a whole bunch of people staring. Ok... maybe just a few stares, but it felt like the whole store. I pulled myself together, gave all the children the angry-eyes and sat them down to finish their snack.

We made it through the rest of the trip with them minding half the time. At one point I lost my 10 year old and three year old. Actually, I knew where they were but they thought they lost me! We got the stare-down by one really nice lady that we were totally inconveniencing by even being in the store. Next time she sees us coming I am sure she will just go home. Well I could go on and on but I will stop here. I'm sure you can only image the things that took place in the checkout line! We made our way to the car and packed everyone up. I sat in my seat and presented myself with the "HAVE-YOU-LOST-YOUR-MIND-WHY-IN-THE-WORLD-WOULD-YOU-PUT-YOURSELF-THROUGH-SO-MUCH-TORTURE?" award.

She lost her tooth!!!!