5 Ways to Embrace the Bored Moments and Create Summer Memories
Summertime is finally upon us! Sunshine and long, lazy days. Poolside and snow cones, day trips and vacates! I LOVE Summer!Despite all the fun I plan to make Summer memorable and enjoyable for my little tribe, there are always those days where I hear 3 little words that drive my bonkers…”Mom, I’m bored.”I’m gonna be honest, my kids aren’t really allowed to utter those words.They know their momma does not take kindly to such words and will usually find a chore for whoever says them. Seriously ya’ll, it’s inexcusable. In this day and age boredom should not exist. Screen entertainment alone should take care of all boredom, not to mention books, pools, trampolines, play equipment and toys that litter every room.I am all about making summer memorable. We craft and play and I have board on pinterest with all kinds of summer fun. We go on adventures and vacations and day outings, but there are many days where we stay home and relax and enjoy being home. Unfortunately, I find that many of us moms can easily lose our balance when it comes to summer fun and instead of enjoying the long, lazy days, we fall into becoming cruise directors! We have this idea that we must fill in every hour of the day for our kids so that they enjoy their summer break and we run around crazy with our clip boards of activities filling every moment with things to do.
As I sat down to write this morning, this was not the post I was intending to write. But many times, the Lord tends to grab the pen and changes my plan and words and so this. Yesterday a sweet friend of mine posted something on Facebook and I laughed at her antics and totally related to her struggle and then got distracted with children asking me for something. I can’t even remember if I liked her post. Nonetheless, I was reminded of it this morning and so, to all you sweet, faithful mothers doing your best to pour into your children your hearts and faith, I am here to tell you that You are Amazing and all that you do to reach and teach your children truths is not falling on deaf ears, but you are building a foundation that will carry your children further than you can imagine.
IF: Gathering, a Small yes and a Changed life
This past weekend I, along with some dear friends co-hosted a live streaming of IF: Gathering or what we call, IF: Richmond/Katy. [dt_gap height="10" /]I really had very few expectations for this weekend for myself.I knew God was going to show up.I knew he was going to bring down walls.I knew these things, because IF: Gathering awakened me last year and propelled me forward in ways I never imagined and I knew it would do the same for many who wanted the same for their own lives.
If:Gathering, God is Real...Then What?
If God is real, Then He will move in you, for you and through you.Last year I cried out to God to do something in my life. I was hopeless, passionless and for years moving in and our of the hills and valleys of depression.I was lost.God had called me to surrender everything. To stop with my formulas and my plans and my desires and give it all to Him.Surrender.And I was terrified.The phrase “What if” ruled my thoughts.I was a slave to “if.”What if I can’t do all you have called me to?What if I mess up?What if all of this is too hard?What if I fall on my face?What if I live my entire life restless, afraid and depressed?
6 Ways to Surround Yourself with Godly Mothers
One verse that has been such an amazing testament in my life these past few months has been Hebrews 12:1, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw of everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us…” To know that I am surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses that have run this motherhood race before me is so encouraging and inspiring. Ecclesiastes says that ‘there is nothing new under the son’ and motherhood certainly isn't anything new!
A Story Worth Living
My Story is one of faithfulness, which I have personally come to love in the last few months but which I honestly did not see any value in before then.When I was 17 I went on my first mission trip to Mexico with my youth group. It was a week of hard work in 115 degree weather, ministering to sweet families and children. It was the first time I really saw the face of poverty. I still picture those faces and can remember the names of some of the children.That week changed my life in many ways.That week, we were at the evening church meeting. It was a tiny church, no A/C, rickety pews, an outhouse for a bathroom. A girl in her early twenties came in and the pastor asked me, since I spoke Spanish, to speak with her and minister to her. I had never done anything like that in my life! I was terrified!Though I spoke Spanish, it was not well enough to share the Gospel message…or so I thought.I love that about God. You think you don’t qualify. You think there isn’t anyway you can get outside of who you “think” you are in order to do what He desires of you.All he requires of you is to say yes to Him and He fills you to not just enough, but to overflowing.That evening, I introduced myself to this girl, who was known for walking the streets and was only a few years older than I and I presented the gospel message…in Spanish!And let me tell you…I never knew I knew some of the words I used!It was amazing.