Monotony

I read Jesus Calling in the am. Today's reading was about the monotony we slip into when we are in the routines of our days. The things we do one day go to bed and repeat the next. It really resignated with me because this is one of my struggles. I have a constant battle between "my mind slipping into neutral" and wanting to open a foster home and save all the child that will accept saving! Where is the medium? The place I'm supposed to be in in those monotonous days?

The problem with slipping into neutral is, I become so focused on how I'm not saving all the children I feel like I'm not being used by God. And that my friend is a lie! A lie straight from hell that satan wants me to believe! Why have we become like this? Why isn't it enough to be home taking care of our families? Why can't we be home AND be in Gods will? I believe we can. I believe that is the call for some of us. Let us not take it for granted. And if I'm not doing my job at home, faithful with what I have been given, why would God give me anything else until I get that right? Oh the struggle! 

How important is it that we invest and nurture and care for the little ones we call our own? I so enjoy being able to stay at home. Hearing all the stories about their day. Being there for all the big and little moments they grow through. And our husbands? They are second only after God. How powerful would it be if we were all in sync with our husbands, following his leadership? Respecting and trusting his decisions for our families. What example would that be for our children and our communities? How many children could our lives impact if we not only take care of those that are orphaned, but raised up a generation that also has a heart to take care of them? We allow our hearts desires, that may even be placed there by God, become a distraction, a focus that takes our focus off of God. I frequently remind myself Gid knows me better than I know myself. He wants more for our family that I can even imagine. So why won't I just say yes and trust? I now pray, Lord your will be done in Your timing. I say yes to the struggle, yes to the wait, yes to the not knowing or understanding, because I trust you know better than me. Let me notice when you nudge and be content when you say no. Let me have eyes to see the moments in the monotonous days that will impact your kingdom. Let there be JOY in serving you in the dishes and laundry. Let love be what drips from my actions and words.

So back to MY struggle. The places I fall short. For me it's about keeping my mind focused, "a mind that is unfocused is vulnerable to the world". I want to be vulnerable to God only. I need to be reading His word and be in some type of study or reading a book that challenges me. If I'm doing those things, when my mind wonders, it wonders to the places He is growing me. My sharp corners that need to be softened. The places I need Jesus to intervien, the places I need to deny my flesh, the places where I need to be refocused and how I can serve Him by serving others better. The people around me I can pray with and for. It keeps me broken before Him ready to receive what He has planned for the day. 

What is it that keeps you from slipping into neutral? 

Third Tuesday

It's the third Tuesday in our new house. We are beginning to settle in. There is still chaos and digging to find things, but the important things are here.... laughing, playing, exploring, rest, LOVE. 

The boys started school.

My dad and I have been busy turning this house into a home. He's been working on the cabinet doors to our kitchen while I have been painting and cleaning.... FOREVER cleaning!!! I will post before and after pictures when we're done. Also when they dug up the septic, the sprinkler system was dug up also. He has spent many hours repairing those.

We are attending a new church, LongLeaf. We have not fully settled in, but it seems to be most like "home" to us. Thomas has enjoyed the middle school group.

It seems we're all growing up a bit. Especially Thomas. This begins the years of transition from childhood to adult (insert mom tears!). He's gotten lessons in hand tools, bbq's and lawnmowers.

It's still surreal to me that we live in Georgia. That we just picked up everything to follow a call. That one day you can be going through life and all its familiar normalcy, then the next have nothing feel familiar or normal. To look around and be so thankful and uncomfortable at the same time. It's just how God works sometimes. Saying yes usually doesn't look like we thought it would. Saying yes can bring pain and struggle. But saying yes brings me to the awareness of my inadequacy. This is where I become dependent on Him and encounter His Glory. 

Washington Vacation

Be ready for a ton of pictures!!!! Last week we went to Washington to visit my family, it was amazing! So much fun and a well earned break. We stayed at a house on the beach. We spent as much time possible with my brothers family and Renee and her family even stayed a bit. We made tie dye shirts.... 

We played on the beach... A lot! At all times of day.

Of course we ate! 

We played board games, video games, watched movies and went on go carts! 

We went to the river swam, caught salamanders and crawdads! 

Then we cooked the crawdads for dinner.

Our last day we went to Seattle, our flight was early the next day so the night before we stayed in a hotel near the airport... We found a park nearby with a splash pad.

We had a great time building memories we won't forget!