I want you with me, said the little princess....

Tomorrow, I am putting ALL work, aside.....read here and find out why. Tomorrow, we are going to, as a family, just simply, BE. Be and play and talk and sing and strengthen our relationships instead of cleaning our house. Won't you join us? :)


 *Please pray  for Lily..she has poison ivy all over her face and hands. Her eye is almost swollen shut. We would appreciate your prayers! It is so hard to watch her be so uncomfortable and not be able to do much for it. :(

The garden of our children's hearts...

  From Today's Proverbs 31 ministries devotional:

What if we considered our children's hearts and lives as a garden? The principles of sowing and reaping apply as well. Every day we sow into those "gardens" through our words, behavior, and the disciplines we teach them. However, just like a vegetable garden, if we plant carrot seeds, we will reap carrots – not corn. Consequently, if we sow negative seeds of discouragement, we will reap despair. If we sow seeds of impatience, we will reap frustration. If we sow seeds of laziness, we will reap stress.

Conversely, if we sow healthy seeds of good choices, we will reap self-discipline. If we sow seeds of patience, we will reap peace. If we sow seeds of perseverance, we will reap success. Our children's hearts are rich soil prepared by God to receive good seed. As conscientious gardeners, we need to plant those that will reap a harvest in our children's lives and prepare them for service in the kingdom of God.

What if you don't see results right away? That's normal. After a few days, the farmer doesn't get frustrated with slow growth and rip the seeds out of the ground. No. The farmer continues to water the soil, shoo the birds away, and pull the weeds. The farmer protects the seed until it has a chance to grow in its own time.

God designed our children to grow and flouris h with love and care. However, failure can be the weeds in our children's lives. Weeds don't destroy the good seed, they just leech the nutrients out of the soil limiting the growth of the plant. Failure doesn't destroy our children's potential; it just removes the enthusiasm from their hearts.

In order to overcome the pain and heartache of failure, children need a parent who will step in with fresh water and bright sunlight, while replacing the weeds with healthy seed. With this tender care, perseverance and self-discipline will grow and develop. Then in time, our children will produce a harvest of confidence. May we be gardeners who don't give up until the harvest.

Dear Lord, I praise You for Your almighty power and wisdom. Thank You for making me with potential to grow and change. Help me to see that same potential in those I love and to become a gardener of healthy seed in their lives. Help me to see failure as something to overcome, not stop me for a live of obedience. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

*Now, I am off to sow some good seeds!!! Have a blessed day!!

~Julie~

Girls test results....

Are normal (Praise God!!!) however, I spoke to them just a few minutes ago and they want them to come back in 2 months for another one because although they do not have diabetes, they are dangerously close to hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). So, they will test again in a couple of months.

So, I plan on adjusting their diets (even more) around here, as well as ours. Thank you so much for all of your prayers!!! They worked!!!

We love you!

In LOVE with this....

These adorable little dress patterns found here!! This one is called Miss Lily but it's not available until April? , I think? However, I am already planning on getting it and a couple of others: the Miss Madeline & the Miss Molly, which are available NOW!!! :)

Also, as a side note, because you know how much I LOVE baby names, I have to say that she has beautiful taste in names!! (Claire was almost Madeline at one time & Lily was almost Molly) ...........................

Anyway, just had to share these with ya'll; I know that some of you sew and are pretty good at it, too!! Thought you might enjoy these. :)

Have a great Wednesday!! It's icy & COLD here & in a few minutes I am off to get necessary supplies!! Stay warm, everyone!

Love,

Julie

Love....

Charlie & I have started the LOVE DARE book. Our church also bought a copy for every couple to work on together which I think is a great idea. Already, this book has changed me.

I am trying to apply these principles to my children as well as to my husband, where appropriate. For example, the first day's challenge is "to say nothing negative to your spouse". So, I will say nothing negative to my husband or my children. Have you ever tried to do this? Have you noticed how many negative things we say in just an hour's time?! Much less a whole day or even, heaven forbid, EVERY DAY?

So, today, I started noticing just how negative I am to those I love. I noticed and even admitted guilt when my day started off rotten and kept getting worse. Yes, there were things that were not my fault. But, my attitude stunk. Hence, the reason, it kept getting worse instead of better. I even yelled several times and that is one thing that I hate to do to my kids and to Charlie. I am definitely seeking forgiveness today.

After praying and telling the kids how Mama was wrong to act that way and why, I prayed with them for God to forgive us for being selfish and ugly. I don't know if they understand but I want them to know what to do and where to go when they mess up. Because we all do and that's what's so cool about GRACE.

Well, just thought I would share that with you today. If you can, would you pray for Drew? He is very stopped up and with the phlegm is having a hard time breathing/sleeping. I am keeping it down with saline nose drops, humidifier, some Vics baby rub, and the steamy bathroom when it gets bad but I would appreciate the prayers that it doesn't get any worse. We have a dr.'s appointment but not for a couple of days and Claire & Lily have some pretty sore throats and are running a little fever. So, prayers would be very appreciated! Thanks! Have a wonderful week!

Love,
Julie

Here comes Santa Claus....

We are off to see Santa (aka..George, my brother-in-law) at the American Legion meet Santa Claus party. They give out candy to the kids and the kids get a picture with Santa. My Dad fixed candy bags for this so I was told we had to go... haha. :)

We will see if Lily will sit in Santa's lap. Since it's her Uncle George she might even though she won't know it. Claire will, I am sure. and Drew will probably just coo and gurgle at him! :)

Hopefully, I will get to post pictures. I am not promising though. You know how my computer situation is! Lol. I have to laugh about it! :)

Love,
Julie

Prayer Jar..

Loving this idea!! Hope to get it started soon!! :)


JULIE

I'm under attack...

*edited to say: I know that people love me, that friends and family love me. Deep down I know that. This is just the battle that I fight every day with myself. Not anything that anyone has or hasn't done!

Charlie and I went to see Fireproof on Sunday night. It was, as I already said, in a word, AWESOME!!! It has been life changing for us! I am seeing things in my husband that I have prayed for and now they are coming true! Last night was a very huge moment for us. Charlie took me down on the floor with him on our knees and he prayed over us. :) I cannot stop crying today. Just tears of absolute joy everytime I think of my precious husband and how he is trying so hard to be the husband/father he is called to be, how his heart is so tender towards me now and most important, He is walking with Christ every step of the way! :)

We are going through some major things right now and I am not afraid. Charlie is standing up and taking control and I am SO proud of my husband! However, the problem is with me.

Satan is atttacking me; big time. I have a major self pity thing going on. I am not able to focus so well when I am in prayer. I just feel like I need to sleep and have no urge to take care of my family or my home. Sounds bad, huh? But, I have to admit it. I must get this out so that Satan has NO power over my mind. I have learned exactly what to do to make him go away! ;)

I am just in a major funk. I feel like no one cares about me and I have been trying to reach out to others but feel rejected. I hate that feeling and it makes me start questioning myself. It makes me feel horrible because I feel not worthy of friendship or of anything good in my life. I hate this about me, that I let my mind control me so many times.

My parenting has definitely suffered. I am very easily angered and struggling to stay calm and let the little things just go. Lily is a little screamer when she doesn't get her way and listening to this ALL. DAY. LONG. is driving me insane! Claire is going through a thing where she hates to wear pants (of any kind) , her seat belt, etc. and throws a screaming fit when she has too. Which, you know, is any time we go anywhere at all. Drew is doing pretty good but I can't give him the attention he needs because I have spent most of my day today defusing temper tantrums and wondering if I am losing my mind?!

And, I have surgery scheduled for Tuesday morning. I am always worried when I have surgery. And this is a very hard and sad day for me. Without going into our reasons or our decision, I will not be able to have more children. We know that this is the right decison but we are very sad. My life is my husband and my children. That's all I know and I love every second of it. I really believe that my conflicting feelings are the source of a lot of this mess I am going through this week. Please pray for us.

Anyway, I just felt like I had to get this said. I know that I have not been walking around with my "full armour of God" as my protection against Satan's attacks. I must stay in the word, that is why I am starting the memory verse. I must focus on what my family thinks of me and their needs from me as a wife and mother. I HAVE to get to that point where I no longer worry about what people (even family) think of me. I have to stop letting other people's opinions of me control me. I KNOW WHO I AM. I KNOW I AM WORTHY. I KNOW I AM CALLED TO BE CHARLIE'S WIFE AND CLAIRE, LILY & DREW'S MAMA. THE LORD IS MY HEAVENLY FATHER AND HE LOVES ME.

and that's all I need to know.

Julie

life this week...

scarecrow cupcakes (super easy)

candy corn cupcakes

BOO cupcakes

Drew's pumpkin costume

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies & Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

Pumpkin Cupcake toppers

Wilton BOO bags

Wilton baking cups

Wilton cookie cutters (grip)

Claire's Tinkerbell Costume

We have been SUPER busy around here this week! First of all, I have to share that I found Claire's tinkerbell costume at Goodwill for $1.99!!!! The VERY SAME one that is $29 through Disney!!! So, I am VERY excited about that!!! (more on the Goodwill trip at a later date!) I also found Drew's pumpkin costume at Goodwill for $1.99!!! =)

We are making BOO bags to take to family and friends this weekend and some cupcakes to take to Papaw & MeMe Fogg's Fall Festival at their home(a church activity) Saturday night!! They are having a cake walk and Claire is so excited!! =) That girl LOVES cake!! =)

So, to go in the BOO bags are Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies (these are GREAT cold!!), Cream Cheese Pumpkin Muffins, Cupcakes & Frosted Sugar Cookies (Martha Stewart's recipe)!! We are having SO much FUN!!

Pictured above are some of the creations and some of the products we are using that I love!! =)

* I will come back later tonight and post links to the recipes and the Wilton cupcake items. I need to feed the baby and enjoy my family for awhile!

*Hopefully, I will be able to post more pictures soon!! Pictures to come of Drew and how fast he is growing (he weighed 12 lbs at his 6 week check-up!!) and he is sleeping at least 6 -7 hrs. every night!! YAY!!

Love,

Julie

Oh, how time flies!!!

I have been looking & thinking about costumes for quite some time now and as Claire & I were discussing her "princess" costume (she wants to be a princess every year) I thought about these pictures from last year! So fun to look and see how much they have grown! =) I can't believe this time last year I had a 5 month old and this year I have a newborn!!! It's crazy and it's hard but it's also AWESOME!! =) Although, I don't plan on repeating that ever again. lol.

Well, I just felt like taking a trip down memory lane & taking you with me!! This year Claire & Lily will both be princesses (Claire insists & Lily doesn't really care; she just wants to be what Sissy is) and Drew will be a pumpkin, just because I think it is the cutest costume for babies!! And, I will take LOTS of pictures and post them for you; I promise!!

Have a wonderful week & A VERY HAPPY FALL!!!!

Love,

Julie

Recent pics...

Mama & Boo-Bear

Sallysan(not her real name) & Lily

Very unflattering pic of me & mom at Drew's shower!

MeMe Fogg & her look alike grandaughter, Lily Charlotte!

Lily riding her & Claire's John Deere tractor!

Lily playing outside with sissy(her favorite thing to do!)

Daddy & Drew-bear taking a nap!

Daddy & Boo-Bear (who is just about 2 minutes old)

Claire & her cousin Jack, whom she absolutely adores!

Claire riding Molly Mule (Uncle Kermit's mule)

Claire (aka "Care-Bear")

Drew (aka"Boo-Bear & Drew-Bear& Brudder)

Above are just some of the pictures that I have been meaning to get posted but have been having unbelievable trouble doing so!! (FYI- One of my Christmas presents this year is wireless internet; hopefully, if nothing bad financially happens! Well, either that or more home improvement (desperately needed!) =0)

Tidbits from life around here...

Things that have happened around here lately:

*Drew slept 4 & 1/2 hrs. last night and is on a eat, waketime, sleep routine of every 3 hrs. all by himself!!! =)

* Lily has 2 new teeth!!! She is also now wearing pull-ups!! We are not going in the potty (nor am I pushing her to) but she was outgrowing the diapers so we had to do something! She is such a chunky monkey! =)

* Claire is riding her tricycle and today has been watching Martha Stewart and instructing me on how to make cookies. We've also started watching, "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" in preparation for all the upcoming fun!! She wants to be a (surprise!) Princess for all the Fall activities! How did I know that was coming? lol.

* Lily is "reading" to Drew and Claire sings to him every night. It's so precious & Drew loves the Veggie Tales themesong (Claire & Lily's fave)

* Made Halloween cookies 2 days this week; Charlie took some to work for the crew. Used this recipe; try it, they're yummy! =) (I have pictures, will try to get them posted tonight or tomorrow)

* Claire cut a hunk out of Lily's hair with her safety scissors! Yes, they were put up but Miss Claire knows how to climb on kitchen chairs extremely well. It's not too bad, I caught her before the damage was irreversible!

* Charlie has helped me with the baby a few nights this week. He is such a wonderful husband. He has to get up at 4:30 am so for him to help and not complain is so sweet. With three kids, it's pretty much a given that neither one of us is going to sleep all night long, undisturbed! Dream on! So, it's great that he is willing to help so much. I love you, baby!!!! There is no one else like you. I am so blessed that you are mine!

* Making this for supper tonight! I don't like to use bouillon, though, so I substituted 3/4 cup margarine (butter would be better but I am watching calories) and 1 cup water. I also added a little more soy sauce. We will see how it turns out! It smells so delicious cooking in my crock-pot! =)

* Claire was playing outside, "cooking" and she told me she was making me peanut butter soup in her crockpot! I thought that was so cute & funny! =)

* So ready to make pumpkin bread!! I have the pumpkin bought so I think tomorrow is the day! Try this recipe; it's SO good! =)

* Listen to this song over at my sister's blog! We love this song, too, it's great when you are just in the dumps! It's uplifting! =)

* Loving on sweet baby Drew is going great! We are spoiling him rotten and loving every minute of it!! He is such a good, laid back, easy baby. He is a precious blessing and such a sweetheart! Mama & Daddy sure love our baby boy! And so do his sisters! =)

Well, that is just a little update on everything around here. I promise to try and get pictures posted in the next couple of days! My computer has issues (we need a new one, so bad!) and my Mom's is having issues, as well. It takes a lot of time to load them and I just haven't had the time! I so want to share more pictures of our family with you so just be patient with me! And I will try to be patient, as well! Have a great weekend, everyone!

Love,
Julie

This makes me happy....

This is what makes my life the joyous life that it is!!! Thank you, Lord for these awesome blessings that I get to be with every day!! And for the new baby that will bring so much more joy to our lives!!! Can't wait!!! =)

Rattling around in my head...

*Updated with pictures at the bottom of the post!!!!!

Um, yeah. The best title I could come up with for all that I have been dwelling on lately. Must be the horomones! =)

* Is baby a boy for sure? How do I know? (See, how useless is it to worry about this? And, so what if it is a girl?! Either one is fine with me & Charlie!)

* I get up at 4am with Charlie almost every day and don't get to sleep until around 10:30 or 11 pm. After I get up with him, it takes me about an hour to go back to sleep and then Claire is up at 6 am. So, I am just a little tired all of the time!

* I am really ready for Fall!!! It's raining a lot here and cooling down some already which is extremely strange for August where we live! It's usually so dry and HOT all month and into September! I am loving this weather even if our finances aren't (Charlie can't work much when it rains).

* Still not completely ready for Andrew. I just can't seem to get it all together with this 3rd baby. I desperately want to but I am just so tired and occupied with taking care of Charlie & the girls. So, I am feeling some Mommy guilt already.

* Read Romans this morning. I don't really remember which chapter! LOL. =) I could not go back to sleep so I read and then I fell asleep reading. I think it was the 8th chapter! I do remember reading about our sin nature and the Holy Spirit dwelling in us. =)

* Thinking about posting about a serious issue. Trying to figure out exactly what to say. I usually don't like to deal with the aftermath I get when I post about things like that but I feel this is important. We'll see.

* Making a ham in the crockpot and cooking pinto beans, steamed cabbage and mashed potatoes with it. Of course, sweet tea. And little Miss Clairee made her Daddy a cake this morning. =)

* My dr.'s appt. got rescheduled today. Going early next week and I am actually hoping to have the baby before then. I am shooting for Paul (the 24th?) or Kylie's (the 27th?) birthdays!!!! =)

*Did "school" with Claire today! We made circles and stars and cut and pasted them on construction paper. We also worked on her counting and the letter "R". She is doing so great and I am SO proud of my babies!! Lily is scribbling away on her construction paper while Sissy works!!! I will post the pictures I took of their artwork sometime today. My computer still does not cooperate with that very well so I have to use my Mom's to load my pictures until we can afford a new one!

* Charlie's home for the 3rd day this week. Check will be small but the Lord will provide. HE always does. =)

*Lily has a head cold and Claire is getting one. They are stuffed up pretty bad right now. =(

* Going to go and play catch with Claire and go for a walk. Hope I can get baby to come on down!!! Pray for us please as we near the birth of our precious little one!

Lily can do school, too!

Claire's circles & stars(the stars were traced with a cookie cutter, I know they are funny looking but I think they are the cutest stars, ever! She also cut and pasted these with VERY little of Mama's help, I am so proud!!!

Love and Prayers to all,
Julie

stuff going on at our house...

Well, I have been having some definite strong contractions but still they are really sporadic although they are starting to be a little more regular! lol.. I know that really doesn't make any sense! =) Anyway, maybe the baby will be here soon. Pray that he is and that he is safe and healthy!!!!

This weekend we have organized and cleaned and with the two kids just basically cleaned in circles! We clean and get organized, they drag it out and make a mess! Ah well, that's life with a preschooler and a toddler and a baby on the way very soon!!! =)

Charlie is not at work yet today because he is having some pretty bad pain with his hernia and he is kinda hanging around in case the contractions come any closer. So, it's nice to have him here right now.

This morning I read a post here and I have to say that this woman's writing constantly gives me something to ponder and examine in myself and my own life. She really amazes me with her faith and what amazes me even more today is the awesome very real battle that we all face with Satan every day and how sometimes what we are fighting for is not clear until much later. I don't know if that is making any sense to anyone but it is what I brought away from reading this morning! Definitely was something I needed to read right now! Please pray for their family as they go through more struggles this week.

Here on the homefront, Claire is fighting allergies and just feels yucky. Lily is cutting more teeth and now has a 3 & 1/2 tooth smile! So cute! They are getting excited and Claire asks constantly "Can we go get baby Drew?" Lily rubs my belly and says, "Awww" which is her way of giving you "loves". So precious are my little girls! =)

Well, I have to go. I am getting uncomfortable and need to get some more things done if I can.

Love and Prayers,
Julie

Prayers for the Sick

This is Crystal ( Julies Sister). Please pray for my sister and her family. Julie, Claire and Lily all three have the flu. She took them to the doctor today and the girls are on three different kinds of medication. I have heard that this flu that is going around is pretty bad. I know she is going to have a hard time, being pregnant with the flu and two sick babies isnt any fun.

So please lift them up in prayer so that they may be well soon.

Thank You and Blessings
Crystal

Family Focus Friday-Preparing for Christmas

Sarah has this lovely meme every Friday and I really enjoy it because it forces me to think deeper and actually BE a wife and mother instead of just doing my duties and letting life pass us by without establishing traditions and thinking on what matters most to us as a family. And this link that Sarah found is awesome, really, you have to click here! We are starting this on Christmas Eve and ending January 6th as they suggested, I can't wait!
















When I was a little girl my Mom and Dad always set out the nativity set when we decorated our tree. They have a fireplace mantel and it always goes in the center with greenery and ribbons around it. It's ceramic and it's the most beautiful nativity scene that I have ever seen. I have tried to find one exactly like it and have failed. When we were married Charlie said that we would have a nativity scene and sing carols of Christ's birth. We would celebrate it every day of the year but we would celebrate on Christmas as well to show our children the true meaning of Christmas and it's not all about Santa Claus. I have nothing against Santa, we grew up with Santa and it is a fun tradition and the kids learn about giving if you go about it in the right way. However, they also need to know and learn and love the story of the birth of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.


As for traditions, we have a lot, I guess. We always open presents at my Mom and Dad's on Christmas Eve. When I was growing up that was always when Santa came (while we were at my Granny's) and we opened presents when we got back. It was always the best time of the year! And we loved to come home and open presents but we also loved being at Granny and Papaw's and we hated to leave! We had the best spread of food you have ever seen and so much family they wouldn't all fit in the house! So, we try to do the same thing at my Mom and Dad's and have for the past 17 or so years since my Granny went in the nursing home and later passed away. My wonderful uncle Kermit has always been a blessed part of all our celebrations but it will be a difficult year this year as he passed away in July. Please pray for our family.



My parents made such wonderful Christmas memories for us and I could talk all day long about how much I love my parents and how beautiful Christmas has always been because of the effort they put out! Even though we did not have much money my Daddy always gave something to others. I remember one Christmas he made extra on a few checks and he had Mama write my cousin a check for Christmas because my Aunt was a single mom and her ex husband would not pay child support for my cousin so my Daddy and Mama gave them money to help with his Christmas. I remember Daddy helping Granny with Christmas expenses. We may not have gotten everything we wanted but we did not lack love. We always had plenty of love and attention from our parents. And that is what I want to give our children and our nieces and nephews.



So, in honor of my parents we open presents on Christmas Eve at their house and then one each at ours. Christmas morning we open the rest of our presents just as Charlie's family did. Sometime during the week of Christmas we open presents at his mom and dad's with family.



We watch Christmas movies the entire month of December and I don't ever quit listening to Christmas music! However, I kind of taper it off a little after January is over. We make Christmas cookies and candy and this year we are buying this for the girls! We also make a lot of our gifts and I am running behind on that pretty bad right now


This year Claire is getting old enough to understand about what is going on so, I have started reading the story of Jesus birth to her every night and we talk about it in the morning after she comes to my room to sleep. We have also started watching Santa Claus is coming to town, Frosty the Snowman, Rudolph and Little Drummer Boy. She loves all of them but Little Drummer Boy is her favorite because of the "Bayyyyy-bayyyy Eeezuss" and I am so happy about that! We have also started coloring pictures of the nativity scenes and Santa Claus and all of the winter things. We also talk about why we are giving gifts to others and how we can show our love in other ways as well, not just by buying them a gift but by giving of yourself. She really likes to do things to help people so she actually gets this pretty good. We also have a prayer list and she prays faithfully for you if you are on it! And for a lot of people who are not! (Hey, that's okay!)


Well, since I have written a novel I guess I will finally share this with you! I found this on Sally Clarkson's blog, if you have never been there you need to visit, her writings are very inspiring, especially to Mom's! Here are some of her suggestions to incorporate more meaning into Christmas, enjoy!


In honor of the shepherds and of our savior’s birth, we celebrate a shepherd’s meal each Christmas eve. Thick slices of homemade herb, onion bread, chunks of cheese, nuts and fruit; along with steamy potato soup, we eat a simple meal by candlelight and read the Bible story out loud of His appearing to these families, and then we sing a few hymns together. It is one of the favorite evenings of the year for all of us and it reminds us that Jesus was a humble friend of the common man—that He can relate to our everyday life—and yet He is still the messiah before whom every knee will bow . His life again becomes a model for us in ministry—that we must be humble and cultivate a heart for reaching out to the common man and woman—and bring them the glorious, generous love our savior-king."



And here are some comments that I found interesting! I found a lot of traditions to use here as well!


"I need to read this. God is always faithful to speak through His Children at the perfect time. Every year we rummage around the house and find anything to build our little manger scene. We often use old shoe boxes and glitter glue. I wanted to buy a manger scene this year, but my son said that he wasn't interested in any scene except for the tradition of making one. We also started a new tradition. He gets to leave a Christmas message on the greeting when people call the house. It is a cute Song about the Lords coming into this world.It so blessed my heart. "


"My prayer is that The Lord will reveal Himself to me in a very mighty special way this Christmas. He already has. One of them is reading this post by you Sally. And learning how to put the CHRIST back into Christmas. I have never read Isaiah 9:6 in the light that you have shared. I have a beautiful tapestry of that scripture hanging in my house that a friend gave to me. I look at it every day. But I’m so used to it being there that I pass buy the meaning day after day.. Praise be to God."



And again, this is Sally on Christmas :



The reason that I wrote my book, The Mom Walk, is that I learned over the years, that it is only in consistently walking with Him, that we have the deep well of His resources to bring energy and wisdom to all the tasks of life. His word is what guides my mind and heart and priorities. I receive perspective for my soul in order to be able to make it, every day, with the power and grace and strength that the Holy Spirit provides. Of course there are many days that I find my resources low and my attitudes skewed and my heart overwhelmed. But it is in the continual coming to Him, where I find daily, the strength and refreshment that I need—for that day—and He is always there. My feelings are not always there, but when I read truth and obey His word, then I have confidence that what I have placed into His hands will be answered in His time and in His way. My feelings sometimes fluctuate, my confidence in Him is sure.As I was praying for His perspective this season in my quiet time the past couple of days, He brought this to mind:“For a child will be born to us, a son shall be given to us, and the government will rest on His shoulders; And his name shall be called:Wonderful Counselor—He will counsel me in every area. He has the answers and the wisdom for my marriage, the issues that involve my children—their hearts, attitudes, health, future, friends, –He knows our financial needs; He will give direction for our future; grace to handle difficult relationships—He is Wisdom himself. I just need to go to Him and His word and He will instruct me in the way I should go. I must take time to come to Him!Mighty God—He is strong and able to rule over any detail of my life. In His timing, he will act on my behalf. There is no enemy stronger than Him; He is powerful to overcome all difficulties, all temptations, all people or authorities. If I come to Him and ask Him to be my “mighty God” and to give His strength to any situation in my life, He is able and will work on my behalf—Jesus Christ is the Mighty God.Everlasting Father—He always has a Father’s heart. Even as a father has compassion on his children, so God my father will have compassion on me (Psalm 103: 13-14). Even as a Father would give his child bread and not a stone, so my heavenly Father will give me what is good. I can trust Him to provide for me as I approach Him as my Father—and submit to Him as his beloved child. He, as my Father, is responsible for my life, it is not all on my shoulders. I need to rest against Him as a child rests in His Father’s arms. (Psalm 131:1-3)Prince of Peace—Even though there is tribulation in the world, I can rest in the fact and in the hope, that all things will come to right some day. Jesus said, “In this world you have tribulation, but take courage, I have overcome the world.” He will give me peace if I place all of the issues in my life in His hands. (the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace.) I need to choose to leave my life in His hands, to not panic, to rest in His power and ability to take care of me and my children. He is also the peace maker—and when I humble myself and choose to love, He will bring peace. He has also made peace with me, through His sacrifice—he has forgiven me everything and for always. I have peace with God through Jesus.In short, the name of the blessed messiah tells me that for today, for each day, He is all that I need—He will counsel and give wisdom, be strong and mighty for my cause. love and provide for me as a compassionate Father and bring peace to my heart. May the name of Jesus Christ be praised throughout each day of December as He leads me on this journey as a Mom!"



Colossians 3:12-17Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, and as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.



I just thought that I would share this with all of you and I appreciate Sarah doing this every week! I don't always get to post on it and sometimes I am late but I do love thinking these things through and being challenged to be better and more involved instead of just existing in my family's lives. Hope you enjoyed this and I will be back later to finish up on Sarah's Family Focus topics!


Love and Prayers and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Julie