Good morning! We are smack dab in the middle of our fall/Christmas planning season at church. So much fun ahead, I love the seasons! Change is certainly a constant.
The kids are well, still recovering from the fact that I made them run across the yard to get our family pictures taken last night, in the cold, over at our wonderful neighbors house! LOL! M and D are the best! Seriously, we live in Mayberry. I love all of our neighbors, even the horse that visits every other day! And the dog that poops in my front yard flowerbeds.
These last three months have found us searching for answers to Libbi's speech problem. Lots of testing, and now therapy to come, but the girl is a riot! Her expressions and those eyes speak volumes! She's really into my make up, praying for my make up, and playing in my make up. See the pattern?
Cade is cruising along, loving all of his gifted classes! He was trying to explain some game he was creating to Aaron and I; we looked at each other after he had gone to bed and declared that we officially have a nerd in our house. We love it! I'm not sure where he got the smarts, as Aaron and I completely failed the game.
It's easy to toss the idea around and prepare to take your fair share when you think you'll need it, but much more difficult to give. Especially to the needy.
It certainly doesn't grow on trees or gather like dust on the coffee tables. But maybe it should.
GRACE
Maybe if it was stocked in every grocery chain and packed in between the magazines at the end of every isle it would make a difference. Easy to grab means easy to come by.
It would make a great snack.
We say it. Believe in it. Smile when children say it.
I've been changed by it. Saved by it. And challenged by it. But what if the "needy"one is me?
It shows up as ignored stains on a mommas t-shirt. In the ratted hair of a precarious toddler. And in the understanding eyes of a weary mother across the isle in church.
It makes its appearance in the after moments of when you've spoken too loudly to a child that challenges every nerve you own and snots on the very last one. It holds you in the moments you want to lose it and pushes you to greatness when you find it.
I don't want to give it because I think one day it will run out. I fear that my latest mistake will become the biggest mistake that grace cannot cover. At the very bottom of my heart I fear. Fear that the one who gave it will come up short and in that time of need, the short stick will be mine.
I have the hardest time giving grace--to myself.
Yet, the grace I need to give myself is the very same grace that saved me. Like working oil into a piece of leather, the repetitious motions eventually soften the hardest of hides and remove the darkest stains of lies. Lies that stain deep are hard to remove, but not impossible.
And it is everywhere. Well placed. Stocked full to overflowing. Very accessible and in every season that we need it. Boy do we need it!
Weary mama, take a breath. Breathe deep of grace. Gods grace.
Little child, settle your self in knowing that you are loved just as you are.
Sister, friend, secret keeper...you too embrace this grace...the unmerited favor of God.
Tomorrow is a new day, and in the newness is mercy. A beautiful, identical twin to grace.
Today may not feel great, but it IS great because of Grace.
If you're like me, giving grace to myself will take practice. Lots of it. We are always hardest on ourselves, but we don't have to be. Not anymore.
Grace gives us courage to cry, to put our big-girl pants on, and keep going. For when we live in grace, we live without fear.
Such a darling greeting where one feels good and passes the feeling on to others.
We've had many "Howdy's," of late. With the fast approach of the 4th of July, I'm getting used to saying hello to fireworks, late nights, and the hug of good friends! It's like the celebrating of "Halfway to Christmas!" Or in our case...Thanksgiving when we will see these crazys again...
Michigan was a great time; visiting with friends and family and celebrating. Twice in a month made for a lot of driving, but oh so worth it.
I wish I could live in both places. Be with everyone I love, all the time.
They'd probably be over it long before I would but the memories made are such a gift.
We had to say goodbye. Return to our home and continue running our race.
Some of us use scooters...
And sometimes Kayaks...
We said hello to a dear friend, and found our hello lingering as we knew that all too soon we would say goodbye, for now. We said those words two weeks later, almost to the day. I've never felt so inspired or encouraged by a funeral. Several times I found myself sitting on my hands trying to not break out clapping, or leaning close to my mom, sharing with her my inappropriately timed humor just to keep from bursting. Whether from tears or laughter, or both. Ken Miller was a good man and led a great life. He truly finished well. His legacy played out as his family, friends, and elder friends lay him in the ground and returned him to the dust from which we all came.
My "howdy" lingered, because goodbye was stuck in my throat. It felt too final for what my faith was believing...that Ken is in the presence of The Lord. The One, the Only. Hello was just the beginning for him, when he breathed out his last broken breath. His next inhalation was one of exhilaration-- that would keep him alive forever.
So, as I've returned home, the only normal around here is the setting on my dryer--you know, the one never used. I've let my "hello" linger. Because it is today. And normal is the "right now." Stay there. Stay present.
And learn to linger. Because today's "howdy" is a gift.
Such a darling greeting where one feels good and passes the feeling on to others.
We've had many "Howdy's," of late. With the fast approach of the 4th of July, I'm getting used to saying hello to fireworks, late nights, and the hug of good friends! It's like the celebrating of "Halfway to Christmas!"
Michigan was a great time; visiting with friends and family and celebrating. Twice in a month made for a lot of driving, but oh so worth it.
I wish I could live in both places. Be with everyone I love, all the time.
They'd probably be over it long before I would but the memories made are such a gift.
We had to say goodbye. Return to our home and continue running our race.
Some of us use scooters...
We said hello to a dear friend, and found our hello lingering as we knew that all too soon we would say goodbye, for now. We said those words two weeks later, almost to the day. I've never felt so inspired or encouraged by a funeral. Several times I found myself sitting on my hands trying to not break out clapping, or leaning close to my mom, sharing with her my inappropriately timed humor just to keep from bursting. Whether from tears or laughter or both. Ken Miller was a good man and led a great life. He truly finished well. His legacy played out as his family, friends, and elder friends layed him in the ground and returned him to the dust from which we all came.
My "howdy" lingered, because goodbye was stuck in my throat. It felt too final for what my faith was believing...that Ken is in the presence of The Lord. The One, the Only. Hello was just the beginning for him, when he breathed out his last broken breath. His next was one that would keep him alive forever.
So, as I've returned home, the only normal around here is the setting on my dryer--you know, the one never used. I've let my hellos linger. Because it is today. And normal is the "right now." Stay there. Stay present.
With the HGTV shows reaching new levels of success and milestones, it proves to me that all of us love a great show. Not just any show, but one that proves that the
"stuff" that we have is the stuff that we need, with just a little TLC. It's the perfect redemption story. Taking what was and making as new. Evolving.
I love Fixer Upper. I faithfully tune into to Property Brothers. Love it or List it? You bet! Any and all...I simply adore what they do. Each of these individuals are visionary and we NEED them. They play their note so well. I hang on their advice and learn. I, too, have the same drive in me to take things and make things fresh and new. Loveable. Stunning. I think it's just in our nature to want beauty around us.
When Cade was little, I would babysit here and there. Mostly to fill in where grandma's and babysitters were unavailable. During this time, I watched a darling little girl named "G." Her personality was such that Cade was smitten and confident that vows would soon follow. To date, "G" is a solid 14 inches taller than him and they are worlds apart in interests. Though they rarely see each other, her mother Kara and I have remained close.
I have said it often...EVERYONE needs a "Kara."
Isn't she DARLING???
She has the knack for making something out of everyday products and yes, your OWN stuff. It is my absolute pleasure and honor to partner with her and her business, Evolve Designs, to bring YOU the latest on home décor, DIY ideas, and even "how to" videos that will be posted to her blog. Yes, she will have a space to share it and you will NOT want to miss this! Stay tuned for her blog address and for some incredible ideas that are DOABLE, affordable, easy, and unconventional to achieve "the LOOK" that you are going for!
Without further ado...please welcome my beautiful friend Kara Hamberlin of Evolve Designs...and a sneak peak of her work!
One of my very favorite singers has finished her race with grace-filled endurance, and is home.
Joey Feek is a woman who I would have loved to meet. Adored by so many and crazy in love with her family. I'm absolutely certain I would have cried just to meet her as my nerves would have taken over. Her humility in life is something I most admire about her. What a beautiful legacy in this beautiful, crazy life.
Rest well, Joey. 💖
You can read their story here:
http://thislifeilive.com/
My kids speak with just a bit of a southern twang. They come by it honestly from their dad. Here in the south it has been said that "Bless your heart" is an extremely polite way of saying "You're an idiot," or "So glad it wasn't me!" (Loose translations here as there are MANY)
So much for empathy or sympathy.
We have had an extremely busy couple of months. Too much stuff to unpack just yet, but it was more than enough. My kids have inherited their sense of sarcasm (again from their mom dad) and have started expressing their feelings through heavy sarcasm. Bless their hearts. (Ha!)
Libbi is three now and sass-tastic! She loves calling out the inconsistencies in life and the every present question of "WHY." Bless. Her knowledge of life at this point is limited to her sight. What she sees. We protect her from having the experiential side of learning in most things until she can understand them.
Cade is flourishing in the fourth grade. He is approaching 10 rapidly. He too loves to keep us on the straight and narrow; pointing out our "strengths." Yes, it is that season of life. He is learning now through experience that life can be hard and we find ourselves protecting him from the full blow. It's in our nature isn't it? To protect.
Living the life of a pastors wife is precarious much like motherhood. On one hand you have everyone trust you with "stuff" that they don't want anyone else to hear. (Hello.) Then clear on the other side you have those who don't trust you at all. You go from being a normal mom, friend, or sister in the Lord to "suspicious." Overnight. It's precarious. However, it is no different from being a mother. Mom. Mama. Ma. The very same pendulum swings back and forth over mother hood with the same steady cadence. Always loving and protecting. Back and forth.
This year, I made one resolution. To bless the Lord at all times and to let His praise be on my lips. Every circumstance. Every day.
God is good, isn't he? Replacing words of complaint, (or sarcasm) with words of praise. Blessing.
We had a mouse in the house...bless the Lord. (I LOATH mice)
The schedule has been PACKED full...Praise the Lord.
My heart has been overwhelmed with needs and hurts I cannot fix...Bless the Lord...the healer and fixer.
Feelings of failure and inadequacy...bless the Lord.
Sickness and death...Bless the Lord.
To bless someone is to give them praise. Bless your heart! To bless the Lord is to praise Him. We are called to let it be continually on our lips. Praising the Lord in every circumstance can cause many responses, but one translation...Praising the ONE who holds us all together and does not sway like a pendelem.
The mouse is dead. I know you were anxious for an update.
There will always be days filled with trouble and anxiety over things out of our control. We know the one who holds today, and tomorrow and guess what? He is coming back. And the closer He gets to making His glorious appearing, we will continue to see the things we have known be cast now in the SHADOW of His glory and grace. When things look dark, focus on the Light.
Come my friend, let's bless the Lord together.
Weary mama? Bless the Lord. You've got this.
Troubled soul? Praise the Lord. A heavy spirit will not survive in the presence of praise.
Burden carrier? Bless the Lord. He carries the burden for you.
I pray you are held today, resting in the knowledge that He inhabits in our praises. He is near. Bless the Lord.
