My oldest child, Micah, is two and a half. Yes, he may be adorable. But he is also stubborn (after all, he's my child). Like most toddlers, I have to ask him repeatedly to obey. We are working on this, but it can be frustrating. Wouldn't it be great if he obeyed immediately? Is that even possible?
I wonder if God feels that way about me sometimes? April, just obey Me. Trust Me. Immediately.
While reading John 1:35-51 this morning, I was reminded of the immediate obedience in the calling of God's disciples. They didn't say wait, let me finish working. Or wait, let me go tell my family. Or wait, let me finish what I'm doing. Or make excuses. They went. They followed Him. They obeyed. Immediately. Without question.
Just like I desire my boys to obey me immediately, God desires our immediate obedience when he calls us. Maybe He's calling us to trust in Him. Maybe He's calling us to spend more time with Him. Maybe He's calling us to reach out to someone in need. Maybe He's calling us to go to someone and ask forgiveness or for us to forgive someone. Maybe He's calling us to reconcile a relationship/friendship. Maybe He's calling us to serve in our church. Maybe He's calling us out of our comfort zone and to step out in faith. Whatever it is that He's calling us to do, are we being obedient? Or do we make excuses? Or do we say wait, let me do _______ first? Or are we too busy to even know He's calling us? Or do we question Him when he calls us?
Unfortunately, there have been times that I've made excuses or said wait instead of being obedient to God's calling, and I'm sure I missed out because of my disobedience. But, I know there have also been times where I have been obedient, and never did I look back and regret it. My desire is to always be aware of God's calling and to always be obedient. Immediately. Without question. Because it's what He desires from us.
Thursday, September 26, 2013
Monday, September 23, 2013
From Bad Wife to Better Wife
We've all had days like this I'm sure. The ones where your toddler has thrown 10 tantrums before you have had your morning coffee. Or you forgot to move the clothes out of the washing machine and into the dryer, and they have been there for a little longer than they should have been. Or your oldest child wakes up your youngest from his nap, after it took you forever to get them to nap in the first place. Or your newborn spits up all over you, and of course you had just put on nice clothes. Or right when it's time to get ready to go out the door, one child has a blow out while the other child has a meltdown because you told them that they couldn't bring their 6 dinosaurs to the store with them. Or dinner doesn't turn out the way you expected so you have to run out to the closest fast food restaurant to feed your family dinner. Or insert any other unexpected circumstance that you have ever had to deal with.
Yes, I'm sure we have all had days that are similar.
Days that do not go as we imagined. Days that can be long and frustrating. Days that have been so exhausting that you hand the kids off to your husband as soon as he walks in the door and you don't even greet him with more than a grunt. Days that you are just counting down the hours or minutes until it's bedtime.
Guilty.
Or am I the only one that has experienced days like that?
With two little ones at home, there is never a dull moment. Most days go pretty smoothly, even though there are always minor mishaps and moments that aren't so pleasant. But every once in a while, there is a day that totally throws me off and by the time Michael comes home I'm ready for a break.
But, I'm sure when Michael walks in the door, he's walking in from a long day too and wants to walk in to a peaceful house. A place that he wants to come home to. And it's my job to have that waiting for him.
I'm not saying that my house has to be completely quiet. I'm not saying that my house has to be in complete perfect order and everything in it's place. I'm not saying my boys have to be perfect angels when he comes home. I'm not saying dinner has to be ready and piping hot on the dinner table the minute he walks in the door.
Then what am I saying?
I'm saying that I need to welcome him home and not ignore him. I'm saying that I don't need to hit him with all that's gone wrong during the day, the minute that he gets home. I'm saying that I don't need to take my frustrations out on him. I'm saying that I need to ask how his day was. I'm saying that I need to spend time with him, even when I'm so tired that I just want to crawl in the bed. I'm saying I need to make my husband a priority.
It's easy some days to be so consumed with my boys needs, that I totally don't meet any of my husbands needs. It's easy to keep on my "Mama" hat, when I need to remember that I wore the "Wife" hat first! And yes, it is my job to take care of my boys and meet their needs. But my husband should be a priority too. In fact, he should be a higher priority than my children. And yes, it can be draining to run after the kids all day and care for them, but I know I need to be more aware of my husband and his needs. I want my husband to WANT to come home after work. I want my husband to ENJOY coming home and being with his family after a long day at work, and not to dread coming home. I want my home to be a safe haven for my husband.
And it starts with just being aware. Being aware of my attitude and mind set when he comes home from work. Being aware of his needs. Being aware of ways I can meet them. Whether it's giving him some time to unwind when he gets home before expecting him to hop in and help with things at home, or having dinner ready when I know he has to go back out for a late meeting, or making sure his clothes are clean and put away when they are needed, or making sure I communicate with him and spend time with him. There are so many littles ways to tend to his needs but how often do I let them slide?
Praying I can be the wife Michael needs me to be first and foremost, so that we can model to our boys what a healthy, biblical marriage looks like while meeting our boys needs too! Praying that my boys see me being a loving and respectful wife. And a loving mother as well.
Yes, I'm sure we have all had days that are similar.
Days that do not go as we imagined. Days that can be long and frustrating. Days that have been so exhausting that you hand the kids off to your husband as soon as he walks in the door and you don't even greet him with more than a grunt. Days that you are just counting down the hours or minutes until it's bedtime.
Guilty.
Or am I the only one that has experienced days like that?
With two little ones at home, there is never a dull moment. Most days go pretty smoothly, even though there are always minor mishaps and moments that aren't so pleasant. But every once in a while, there is a day that totally throws me off and by the time Michael comes home I'm ready for a break.
But, I'm sure when Michael walks in the door, he's walking in from a long day too and wants to walk in to a peaceful house. A place that he wants to come home to. And it's my job to have that waiting for him.
I'm not saying that my house has to be completely quiet. I'm not saying that my house has to be in complete perfect order and everything in it's place. I'm not saying my boys have to be perfect angels when he comes home. I'm not saying dinner has to be ready and piping hot on the dinner table the minute he walks in the door.
Then what am I saying?
I'm saying that I need to welcome him home and not ignore him. I'm saying that I don't need to hit him with all that's gone wrong during the day, the minute that he gets home. I'm saying that I don't need to take my frustrations out on him. I'm saying that I need to ask how his day was. I'm saying that I need to spend time with him, even when I'm so tired that I just want to crawl in the bed. I'm saying I need to make my husband a priority.
It's easy some days to be so consumed with my boys needs, that I totally don't meet any of my husbands needs. It's easy to keep on my "Mama" hat, when I need to remember that I wore the "Wife" hat first! And yes, it is my job to take care of my boys and meet their needs. But my husband should be a priority too. In fact, he should be a higher priority than my children. And yes, it can be draining to run after the kids all day and care for them, but I know I need to be more aware of my husband and his needs. I want my husband to WANT to come home after work. I want my husband to ENJOY coming home and being with his family after a long day at work, and not to dread coming home. I want my home to be a safe haven for my husband.
And it starts with just being aware. Being aware of my attitude and mind set when he comes home from work. Being aware of his needs. Being aware of ways I can meet them. Whether it's giving him some time to unwind when he gets home before expecting him to hop in and help with things at home, or having dinner ready when I know he has to go back out for a late meeting, or making sure his clothes are clean and put away when they are needed, or making sure I communicate with him and spend time with him. There are so many littles ways to tend to his needs but how often do I let them slide?
Praying I can be the wife Michael needs me to be first and foremost, so that we can model to our boys what a healthy, biblical marriage looks like while meeting our boys needs too! Praying that my boys see me being a loving and respectful wife. And a loving mother as well.
Thursday, September 5, 2013
Are You Consumed?
I will be the first to say that I am very thankful for technology. I'm thankful that I can text when I may not have a lot of time for a phone call at the moment. I'm thankful for facebook so I can connect with so many old and new friends. I'm thankful that I can search the internet to find information quickly when needed.
However, I've found more and more lately just how much we allow it to take over our lives. Just yesterday I was having a conversation with a friend and during the conversation they picked up their phone and started scrolling through their Facebook newsfeed and checking texts. I pray I have never done this to anyone (and if I have, I am SO sorry!), because it basically says, "I don't care about what you are saying. You are not important."
We have become so attached to our phones and iPads that it has hindered us in many ways. I know I've picked up my phone before to check notifications and a few minutes later I'm looking at it again, without realizing what I'm even doing. I've been in restaurants and looked around and instead of people having conversations, everyone is on their phone checking email, facebook, and texts. I've watched parents on their phones while they allow their children to play at the park when they could be spending time interacting WITH their children. I've been guilty of all of the above at different times.
I know I've had to make a conscious effort lately to be more aware of when I'm on my phone or iPad. Am I allowing it to interfere with time with my boys? Am I so caught up in checking facebook and texting, that I'm missing out on time with my family and actually having real conversations with my husband? Do we hide behind texting and facebook and think we really know how our friends are doing because we saw them post about having a good time somewhere, so we think we know how they really are but we never stop anymore to ask them what's going on in their lives? Are we so consumed with technology and spend so much time using our phones for social media, that we don't allow time in the Word to grow in our relationship with Christ? I know I've been convicted lately about this topic for sure. I caught myself the other day trying to respond to a text, while Micah was saying "Watch me, Mommy." My reply, "Wait a minute, baby." Oh my. While there are times a phone call or text needs to be returned in a timely manner, my children should be my priority over a text that could have waited five more minutes.
My prayer for myself is that I will be more aware of how I use technology and social media. That I will make sure my priorities are certainly in order. That I will be available to have actual conversations with others and never make them feel that I could care less about what they are saying to me. That I would be all there for my family. And that I will use social media to encourage others while living out my faith, praying others can see Christ in me.
However, I've found more and more lately just how much we allow it to take over our lives. Just yesterday I was having a conversation with a friend and during the conversation they picked up their phone and started scrolling through their Facebook newsfeed and checking texts. I pray I have never done this to anyone (and if I have, I am SO sorry!), because it basically says, "I don't care about what you are saying. You are not important."
We have become so attached to our phones and iPads that it has hindered us in many ways. I know I've picked up my phone before to check notifications and a few minutes later I'm looking at it again, without realizing what I'm even doing. I've been in restaurants and looked around and instead of people having conversations, everyone is on their phone checking email, facebook, and texts. I've watched parents on their phones while they allow their children to play at the park when they could be spending time interacting WITH their children. I've been guilty of all of the above at different times.
I know I've had to make a conscious effort lately to be more aware of when I'm on my phone or iPad. Am I allowing it to interfere with time with my boys? Am I so caught up in checking facebook and texting, that I'm missing out on time with my family and actually having real conversations with my husband? Do we hide behind texting and facebook and think we really know how our friends are doing because we saw them post about having a good time somewhere, so we think we know how they really are but we never stop anymore to ask them what's going on in their lives? Are we so consumed with technology and spend so much time using our phones for social media, that we don't allow time in the Word to grow in our relationship with Christ? I know I've been convicted lately about this topic for sure. I caught myself the other day trying to respond to a text, while Micah was saying "Watch me, Mommy." My reply, "Wait a minute, baby." Oh my. While there are times a phone call or text needs to be returned in a timely manner, my children should be my priority over a text that could have waited five more minutes.
My prayer for myself is that I will be more aware of how I use technology and social media. That I will make sure my priorities are certainly in order. That I will be available to have actual conversations with others and never make them feel that I could care less about what they are saying to me. That I would be all there for my family. And that I will use social media to encourage others while living out my faith, praying others can see Christ in me.
Wednesday, September 4, 2013
Our First Family Fun Friday
Michael and I try to be intentional with the time we have together as a family. We enjoy taking the boys on walks, playing in the yard, going to the park and just spending time together as a family. This past Friday, we wanted to spend the day as a family doing something we hadn't done before. Michael had just returned from a 12 day trip to India and knew he would have to readjust to our time zone so he wanted to force himself to stay awake during the day in order to be able to sleep that night. So I started looking for things to do as a family within a 2 hour drive from our house and got several great suggestions from friends.
We ended up going to the Children's Hands On Museum in Jacksonville, Fl. Micah LOVED it! It was such a neat place for kids to enjoy and I wish there was something like it even closer. Michael and I even joked about opening up one in Valdosta. They have different exhibits like Train Tables, Lil' Winn Dixie, Puppet Stage, Dress up, Castle Stage, Little Veterinarians, Kids TV and Radio, Emergency Rescue Station, and much more! Kids under 1 are free, older than 1 is $4.00 and adults are $5.50. The outside of the building doesn't look like much but I promise, the neat exhibits inside are worth it!
Michael and I were talking on the way home from Jacksonville and decided that once a month we were going to have a Family Fun Friday and find things to do as a family that we haven't done before. Free is always great but I know there are also a lot of things we can for fairly cheap as a family. So, if you have any ideas we welcome them!
Pictures from our first Family Fun Friday at the Hand's On Museum
You can find more information about the Children's Hands On Museum by checking out their website here: http://handsonchildrensmuseumjax.startlogic.com/index.html. Be sure to click on the exhibit link to see what they offer.
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