Can I be candid for a moment??? Yesterday was a pretty rough day in my adventures of mommyhood! It seemed as if everytime I turned around I was repeating myself, scolding someone, putting furniture back in its rightful place, sitting someone down for time out, or being a referee.
It was draining…….to be honest yesterday was discouraging for me. I felt very disconnected and at one point I like I was more of a task master than mommy. Man, I don’t think it’s supposed to be like this I remember thinking this as I sat on the couch, praying for peace and patience.
After I put the kids to be last night, I took a moment to just be. I put on some music, closed my eyes and took advantage of the quietness. I told God that I trusted Him and that I’m putting myself in his hands to be molded into the woman, wife, mother, friend and witness that He would have me to be…
Today I got up with a renewed spirit!!! I refuse to let yesterday cause me to be anxious, uptight and rob me of my joy. As I was reading in Proverbs this morning, one specific verse stood out and it is now my affirmation for the day ” For the Lord is my confidence, and will keep my foot from being caught”……..
I’m believing God for an awesome day, filled with joy and direction that comes from being in His presence…….what about you???

I was reading something that said that it takes 21 days to form and/or break a habit, whether it be good or bad. So that got me thinking, what are the three main things that I need to change in order for my day to be ran more efficiently and effectively on a daily basis?
I know that this seems like an easy challenge and 21 days is only 3 weeks but……….changing takes work. Making better habits and breaking bad habits is going to take diligence. It looks easy on paper but to actually do when I don’t feel like doing or when another option appears easier is a different story.
So, I challenge you to take the challenge w/me!!! Let’s do something that will change our lives for the better, nothing can be too big or too small……………
In 21 days, I’ll be better at least 3 things what about you????

My hubby and I were talking the other day and he said “Babe, I just want us to be great”……this comment has been in my thoughts every since.
Great……..wow, that’s a big word! Honestly. My first thought was man, is that attainable for me? I knew it was for my hubby but when it came to me I had to think on it……
So, I’ve been thinking. And I came up with an answer. “Yes”.  Greatness is attainable for me.
I’ve been meditating on a particular scripture 1 John 4:4 “because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world”.  God is in me and He is the greatest. Therefore greatness resides in me and if I put God, the greatest, first in all things, then I know that His greatness will show forth in all that I do…….
So, are you ready for greatness and all that He will bring????……..

When I got up this morning, I had a few things on my mind. I had a to-do list, boxes, kids, a boat load of laundry, and a treadmill that all seemingly, were looking at me wanting immediate attention. But instead of trying to tackle everything at once aimlessy….I’ve decided to take a different approach.
This approach seems to be what I always wanted to do but sometimes fail to do…….put God first. Putting God first or saying that He is the head of my life can sometimes seem cliche-ish to me b/c is sounds soooo good but my actions or choices can reveal that I put myself, my comfort, and/or my desires before anything and everyone else (please tell me that I’m not alone??!!!).
So, instead of getting my favorite pen and my to-do list, I decided to get my bible, my journal, and a specific book. And when I finished reading and meditating on God’s Word, I felt so encouraged and so peaceful. And the only words that were written in my journal for today are “I can, I can, I can”! 
What’s the reasoning behind my new winning spirit you ask? It’s Jesus……..I can b/c He lives in me.

Today is such a big day……it’s my oldest daughter’s 5th birthday!!!  Although I excited b/c my big girl is a year older, I’m also shocked at how fast the time has went by. It seems like just yesterday she was crawling around w/chunky cheeks and braids. Now she is on her way to kindergarten and requesting that her birthday dinner be at “Olive Garden”.
As the time goes by, one thing has remained consistant. I am so thankful that God blessed my hubby & I w/such a beautiful, compassionate and creative first born…….
Happy birthday Virginia Maddison. I’m looking forward to celebrating many more w/you and I know that my heart will be even more full of gratefulness……..

>I’m just getting in from service and today was great!!! Not to say that every other Sunday isn’t but today I seen things a little different….to me at least
Everything went great today and it not b/c of too much that was done differently. It was just good to see people being confident in what they were doing to be a support to the ministry. Not an arrogance or a boogie type of confidence but a surety that says “I’m here to be a support and therefore God’s anointing is upon me to do the work.
And that makes all the difference!n
So whatever you do this week have a godly confidence and a genuine want to be a blessing to others…..and watch how God will bless your efforts for His glory.

>Today I was in an uncomfortable situation. I could either do what was comfortable (be quiet, not voice my feelings/opinion, harbor offense which would eventually lead to resentment) or step outside of what is easy for me (give voice to my feelings, be completely honest in a respectful manner w/o holding back not wanting to hurt someones)feelings). I wish I could say that I did what made me uncomfortable at the right moment but I didn’t. I tried to be comfortable in a non comforting moment (make sense?). I was really perturbed at the time and I trie to p ush the way I was feeling to the back of the closest, so to speak, but at that very moment I wasn’t sure that I could “speak the truth in love.
I tried to suppress everything but to e onest I’m not too good at it. I get really quiet and a bit distant when I’m in a “truth in love” situation.
So eventually, I was able to speak out my frustration in a honest and respectful manner. It was done so that I could let the other person in on my thought process and let my expectations be known. After it was done I felt soooooo
much better!
I learned a lot from this situation. First of all, speaking the truth in love is freeing. Not just for me but the other party involved. Sometimes the offence is only known by the offended b/c it wasn’t intended to hurt or demean in any way. Second, speaking in love is edifying. When you can tell someone what is on your mind w/o any type of malice, anger, or wrong motives its a blessing to everyone. Thirdly, growth isn’t easy. In order fo me to be who God has called me to be I have to apply what I’m learning from the word. So,remember being honest with those around may not be easy but needed. The truth isn’t alwaysaccepted right away but if its given in love it won’t be forgotten…….

>As 2010 is coming to a close, we all start making plans for the new year right? I think it is natural for us as people to want to do things different, and better I might add, for a new year …which is great.
But this got me to thinking….what things did I plan to do to in 2010 that I didn’t finish or
accomplish b/c of either lack of planning, loss of zeal, or just flat out laziness?
The one thing that 2010 has taught me is about planning. It is good to have goals but there are specific steps things that have to be taken so that my dream will become a goal and my goal will become an accomplishment! So, let’s make 2011 the year that we accomplish every goal and God idea that we can envision! Pray, make the plan step by step,
Write it down, set a timeline, and most importantly…..work Diligently:-)
With that said …….happy goal setting for 2011!!!

>I just read a book called “Heaven is for Real” by Todd Burpo with Lynn Vincent. I must say his is an awesome book. I couldn’t put it down and I finished it in a day!! That says a lot being a busy wife and mother of three. This book is a true story and it is written by the Todd Burpo who is a husband, father, business owner, and pastor. In the beginning of the book Todd is going through a lot of trying times. He has a breast cancer scare (yes with him) his leg is broken which affects his business, and then their three year old, son, Colton, gets really sick. One of the best things in the book for me was how God answered prayer through their sons survival.
Within the next year Colton reveals to his family through note and pieces that he went to heaven! Throughout the next few years Colton tells his family about some of the things that he experienced while he was in heaven. All in all this book will cause you to think a little bit deeper about your faith and how amazing eternity will be…….q

>I just had the best time volunteering at my church’s “Vacation Bible School”!!! It was awesome….the teachers were excited to teach and the children were ready to learn. It made me feel so good to see the children soaking up the Word without any hesitation. Just to see the looks on their faces and the excitement that bubbled up in them when they talked about what they learned made me pause and say “Thank you Jesus for choosing me”…………..Take a little time out just to admire the God that is on the inside of those around you……and thank God for His work!