The Everyday Question of Motherhood

I came across this yesterday and wanted to share it. It is a MUST read for moms and really for anyone. It is challenging, very challenging. But it also puts life into the proper perspective. 

The Everyday Question of Motherhood

Letting go.......

I was very thankful this past week to have my Mom & Dad keep our girls for a couple of nights to allow us to get some sorting and packing done. Actually, it is still mainly just sorting and getting rid of A LOT of stuff. Our goal right now is to minimize. It is actually a pretty good feeling most of the time. Sometimes it is stressful, some things are hard to decide on. It's funny because a few things I have kept back thinking I really needed those items, then a couple of weeks later, I am ready to pack it up and take it to the Haven (our thrift store ministry).
    One of my favorite things is to journal. I started keeping a diary when I was really young, and it is hilarious to read what I wrote about in third grade! And then middle school.....oh my goodness. It was really FUN to get to read part of these as I was cleaning out(slowed me down a bit). At some point my regular journals turned into prayer journals. Going back through some of these journals was just like a trip down memory lane. And it is AMAZING to look back and see all that God has taught me, all that He has brought me through, all that He has BLESSED me with! I was almost in tears just being overwhelmed with His goodness and being able to see how He led me through each season of my life. It was so encouraging. As we get ready to take this next step, I know there will be difficulties and I know there will be great blessings as well. I pray that the Lord will make me more like Christ. I pray He will grow me closer to Him than I have ever been before.
     I struggle with letting my "to-do" list overwhelm me and getting so preoccupied with all that needs to be done. I am praying that the Lord would teach me how to ABIDE in Him as I prepare for this big move, to set my eyes on Him and His promises instead of my list of "to-do's". I found a couple of great resources as I was sorting through that I read this morning. One of them is "Put off....Put On". It just lists all the attitudes/actions that are characterized by the old man and then the opposite of that which is who we are in Christ. I would like to post it on here.....there are 78 of them though! With scripture references.
     We had a full weekend with my nephew's birthday party in Dandridge and then back to the CMDA dinner Saturday night. It was exciting because this was our first opportunity to share about what we are going to be doing in Kenya. We are so thankful for the wonderful Christian friends and church family that the Lord has given us here in Bristol. Also, I think we finally managed to get a family picture made so we can order our "official" prayer cards! And over the weekend Aaron was able to get a lot of the tedious paperwork for each of us gathered together and mailed off. So we appreciate your continued prayers and praise God for the progress that we are making.
      I am hoping to figure out how to shrink our family picture. It's a bit huge if you ask me :)
Hope everyone has a good week.

Honoring my husband

Just wanted to take a moment to honor my husband....

Last week he received a special award for "demonstrating excellence in clinical care, leadership, compassion and dedication to service." He was chosen out of 60 other family medicine residents.

I am so proud of him. I thank God for giving him a career that is fulfilling and challenging. I thank God for a husband who does his job for the glory of God. I pray that God would continue to teach him how to be a good doctor for His glory.

Spring Pictures

I decided to put the girls' Easter dresses on and try to get a few pictures. They both loved putting on their pretty dresses. As soon as they put them on they started twirling and dancing.











Happy Spring and Easter! Just wanted to share a few pictures of the girls. We have been enjoying this beautiful weather so much. It's funny how I am starting to think a little differently. Just trying to really enjoy and appreciate all the beautiful things that happen in the spring, knowing that we won't be around here to watch spring arrive for at least a couple of years. However, I have been told by a few different people that Kapsowar is one of the most beautiful places there is. I think there are flowers there to enjoy as well. I feel very blessed to be getting to go and serve in such a beautiful setting. I know we will be leaving behind a lot of things, but I feel like the Lord is giving us some things to look forward to as well.

I just started the Beth Moore bible study on James about a week ago. Yesterday I was doing some of the homework and there were a couple of verses that really got my attention.

5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

First of all, I feel like I am in constant need of wisdom from the Lord. So this verse is encouraging to me. He gives to all "generously". However, Beth Moore pointed out that there is a condition to receiving this wisdom. The condition is that we have to ask in faith without doubting. If we don't ask in faith, expecting the Lord to provide the wisdom we need, then we will receive nothing and be unstable in all our ways. I know I am guilty of praying this way at times and it was a great reminder and challenge to PRAY IN FAITH, and EXPECT God to give the wisdom we ask of Him.

When I picked Braelyn up from preschool today her teacher told me "She is definitely a singer." Apparently she serenades them often with her musical talents :). One of the verses I hung in Braelyn's room when she was born was Psalm 71: 8 and 15... "May Braelyn's mouth be filled with Your praise and tell of Your righteousness, declaring your glory and salvation all day long." I love to hear her sing praise songs in the car and at church and even on the toilet! :)
I should also say that there has been a lot of rudeness and bad attitude flowing out of her mouth as well lately. We are preaching "obey with a good attitude" and "speak kindly" a lot right now. So, the other morning we were driving to church and talking to Braelyn about giving some of her money as an offering at church. We have just now started to introduce her to the idea. She won $10 for her dessert she helped make at the chili/dessert cookoff last weekend. So we asked her how much of it she wanted to give to God and she said "All of it!" (She was confused about how she was going to give the money to God because she can't reach that high in the sky :)) And then in the car we were discussing how giving our offering is one way we can worship God, and aaron asked her what were some other ways that we can worship God, and she said "By obeying Him". And it just thrilled and surprised my heart to hear her say that. I really was not expecting a "correct" answer. And honestly I wasn't even considering that as an answer in my own head.....but it was a great reminder to me that my obedience to the Lord is not just something I "should do".....but it is worship and it is pleasing to my Heavenly Father.