Sacrifice

I was singing to my son as I tried to get him to sleep tonight (big challange right now in our house) and I just began singing the phrase "I'll never know how much it cost to see my sin upon that cross" this is from the song, "Here I am to worship". As my son fell asleep I thought of this: there is always "Cost" involved. As a mother/wife I see the "cost" in caring for my children, serving my husband, etc. When I was an employee there was "cost" involved in my job. As a friend there is "cost" involved in relationships. Sacrifice is something we will always come across! How awesome it is that God thought it was worth the sacrifice of His Son for us to have life! I have been studying Genesis lately. The fall of Man and Noah. Without the sacrifice of God's Son we would not exist! We would naturally sin and have to die for those sins! If Adam and Eve could sin so easily without any distractions, struggles, etc do we think we are any different! Tonight I want to acknowledge how Blessed and Grateful I am to be Saved from Sin! Thank you Jesus for the sacrifice you made for Me!!!! I want to follow that example of sacrifice and be a Cheerful Sacrificer with my family! I want to sacrifice for my husband and children without complaining! I want to embrace the beauty and blessing I have to be a wife to an amazing husband who loves to serve God and loves his family and a mother to three wonderful children who all need me in different ways. Thank you God that you have given me eyes to see how to serve them all!

Happy Birthday Tosha!

Today is my sister's birthday!

Happy Birthday Tosh!! Hope your birthday is special! We love you!

Singing with my children

I love to sing! If you know me and you did not know that it is because I do not sing well! Isn't it fun that our children do not notice our lack of talent? I am always singing with my two smaller children. When I sing silly songs loud and crazy it always makes my Zeke laugh and we just dance and sing together. Sometimes in the car or at home. I have also enjoyed many moments of singing worship songs over my children. Recently I have started singing a song over my 19 month old when he goes to sleep. The song goes

Lord prepare me
To be a sanctuary
Pure and Holy
Tried and True
And with Thanksgiving
I'll be a Living
Sanctuary
For You

I believe the Lord put this on my heart as a prayer for my son as he grow! What a privilage it is to raise these beautiful children God has given me. It is so hard sometimes with two very young babies underfoot but God will give me strength during this season to raise up a Strong Man and Beautiful Woman of God.

I have also been blessed with an amazing Older child. Brandon came to me when he was already 13 years old. In this time he has moved in with us, played football, hurt his knee about 3 times, liked a few girls, knocked over a few mailboxes, seen my faults, requested that I choose his wife. We have had many special moments over the years. I always knew there would be special things that would just be "Brandon things". One of those things was "Special Dinner Night". For about a year on the nights that Mike and I would go on date night I would plan a special dinner night for Brandon. I would give him a goody bag with snacks, special treats and drinks as well as a special note just for him. He even had a specil placemat and plate for that night! I always wanted Brandon to feel special. I never ever wanted him to feel like he was any less my child than the children I gave birth to. There is a special song that has been on my heart for the past year or so for Brandon. I have never and never plan to sing this song to Brandon but it is and will always be in my heart. The name of the song is "Find your Wings" by Mark Harris. I have to include the lyrics because they are so amazing. I will probably cry as I type them.

It's only for a moment you are mine to hold
The plans that heaven has for you will all too soon unfold
So many different prayers I'll pray for all that you might do
But most of all I'll want to know you're walking in the truth
And if I never told you I want you to know As I watch you grow

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage to dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

May passion be the wind that leads you through your days
And may conviction keep you strong Guide you on your way
May there be many moments that make your life so sweet
Oh, but more than memories

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage to dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

It's not living if you don't reach for the sky
I'll have tears as you take off
But I'll cheer as you fly

I pray that God would fill your heart with dreams
And that faith gives you the courage to dare to do great things
I'm here for you whatever this life brings
So let my love give you roots
And help you find your wings

Sing with your children! It is fun and definatly creates a bond between you!

Schedules

Let me just start this post by saying that I HATE schedules. But I have to get one. I have three children. One is 17 yrs old and will be finishing high school via homeschooling in December. One is 19 months old and is currently getting into everything (hopefully not at this moment since he is supossed to be in bed). One is 2 months old and naturally needs mommy to do everything for her (I am very blessed that she sleeps 10-12 hours at night). As I have thought about this schedule business for the past few weeks I have determined that it is really mommy that needs to get into a routine. So every morning I plan to get up at 6am to have some time to myself and then start my day with the kiddos. I think this worked maybe twice. I have tried to plan a variety of activities for my 19 month old so that he will stay busy and this only keeps me extra busy. He has fun but I get nothing done. I think I am one of those people who plans her goals so far fetched that she never completes anything. I told my husband the other day that I was going to get up at 6am everyday. He said "why don't you just try to for tomorrow". What good advice that was. SO with that said, I will try tomorrow to get up early and have time to myself. And then we will go from there! If you read this post and you have a good routine/schedule please share it with me! Maybe I can learn from you!