Love One Another (Jamie's Story)

The events of yesterday had been planned for at least two weeks. I was to attend multiple meetings, boys in tote, run some errands, and meet mom. Some plans changed, others stayed the same. But something unexpected happened yesterday that shook the very ground I walk on. It pierced my heart and stung to the depths of my soul.

The boys and I drove to Childress to meet mom, Aunt Rhonda, and Mimi for lunch at Dairy Queen. I knew our visit would be short, but we are always glad to hug their necks. We left Childress and rushed to Vernon for our meeting. By the time we got there, I was already two minutes late and praying I had all the necessary paperwork. The three of us rushed inside, the boys took a seat by the toy section of the front room, and I stood waiting to be called back. A few minutes passed, then I was greeted by a tiny, beautiful Hispanic woman we’ll call Jamie. Jamie was all smiles and even took time to talk to the boys as they sat playing. She and I went to her office, she sat behind her computer entering data, and we continued to talk.

Jamie wondered why my name was the only adult on our paperwork, and I quickly explained that Ben and I were at the beginning of a divorce. The smile that had been so revealing of a woman content with her day, suddenly turned into the look of hurt and desperation. She began to share events from her own life, and I soon found myself longing to comfort her with any words God would allow me to muster up. All I could tell her was that God has been so faithful to provide for us, and that He alone was comforting us. She spoke of her children, and I assured her that God is capable of protecting their hearts, as well. As I spoke, she handed me a verse someone in her family had given to her to hold on to. Jamie explained to me that she did not have a relationship with God, and neither did her children. Her family had been encouraging her to visit local churches, and she admitted that she needed to.

 As Jamie talked I noticed some scratches on her arm. I tried to keep from staring at them, and hoped they were merely from a pet cat or something. A few minutes later I was able to look away from the scratches, but in explaining her desperation with life, she suddenly showed me her arm. They were not scratches. They were freshly scabbed cuts to her wrist. This precious woman had become so hurt and felt so defeated that cutting herself was all she felt she could do. Satan had convinced her that she was nothing more than a failure, and that her family would be better off without her. But God…He said no! As she showed me her arm, I suddenly felt the Holy Spirit enter that office. I looked her in the eye, reached to grab her arm, and told her how much God loved her. I explained that He did not want this (the cutting) for her life. The next thing I knew we both jumped up from our seats, I hugged her, and prayed with her as she stood shaking and crying. I begged God to consume her with peace, for her to come to know Jesus. After a few minutes of praying, we returned to our seats and finished our meeting.

I encouraged Jamie to call or text me any time of the day or night. She explained that she was so thankful God brought us there that day, and I agreed. What a blessing it was to meet her! Jamie stated that she rarely meets people like me. Haha. Like me? It was God! God came into that office, God touched that woman’s heart, and God showed her what it means to be loved by Him! I’m ecstatic to find out what He does in her life, and in the lives of her children!

Through this experience God showed me once again, that nothing is coincidence with Him! Not only that, but He uses our every day situations as opportunities to show Christ to people! To show them what it means to be loved, held, cared for! This is our mission field. Our every day lives are not happenstance…they are God ordained and calculated and guided and provided for! I’m reminded of the verse in Job 5:9. Which I just happen to have posted at my computer. “He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.” I used to read this verse and think of things such as rainbows, the birth of children, shooting stars, the ocean, etc. Now I can read it and understand that while those things are great wonders and miracles, so are our every day encounters with other people. I pray we take each breath knowing that God may use it to encourage someone, or help them understand their worth. I pray that we will love people with every fiber of our being, and do it until Jesus returns or calls us home! In case you are wondering….God loves you, too! He doesn’t want stress, fear, and hurting to consume your life. He loves you, and you need Him! I’m here if YOU need to talk or pray! I love you my brothers and sisters; I cannot put into words just how much!

In Jesus Christ Always,

 Summer

Winds of Change

Oh, the winds of change are blowing. Blowing harder, stronger, and in directions I never thought possible...

 This blog is something I’ve long contemplated writing. Is it necessary? I’m still not sure to be honest. Will it help? I think so. It will help me and it will help you to understand. Over the past few months I have gotten lots of emails and Facebook messages regarding the confusion within my posts. Some of the messages were merely asking where we had been, because some of you had not seen my family at our regular church or around town. My hope is that once you read this, the confusion will be no more. Hopefully it will leave you with an understanding of our new lives, and give you something specific to pray about. 

I’m sure if you’re reading this, you too have experienced something in your life unplanned…unexpected. Life has brought you to a place you would have never dreamed, but you have been able (by the grace of God) to move on…to start anew. This is where our family finds itself. The boys and I have recently moved to the state of Texas to be near my family. I’m interviewing for teaching positions, and the boys will return to public school this fall. I could get into details, but I’d rather not. Please know that love and forgiveness remain, and although tempted to become bitter, my heart understands that I am free...and my God has the victory over this situation. I am finding myself again, and figuring out the role God has for me in this life. I honestly love this journey of growing closer to God (even if the pain becomes unbearable), and although we are dealing with a great deal of hurt and healing…I’m finding there is such beauty when our hurt and our Healer collide!

God is opening so many new doors in our lives, and restoring relationships like I never thought possible! He’s bringing people into my life that are such blessings, and providing for us in ways only He can! The outpouring of love and support we have gotten has been quite overwhelming, but wonderful! I still go to my mailbox each day to find a card of encouragement from a sweet sister in Christ! Those cards mean more than anyone can realize!

We are so blessed to be back home. The boys and I are enjoying this season of our lives, and I would just ask that you would continue to lift our family up in prayer. Life is changing, and God is changing it very quickly! Pray that we will stay strong and hold on to Him! He has told me that our family may seem like we are in the thick of weeds right now, but to stand on His promise that we will be made into a fragrant garden! I'm standing on that promise! <3 

Diary of a Tired Mom (Determined to Rest in the Peace of God) Entry:April 1, 2014

Many have asked how I'm doing. Thank you so much for thinking of me. Of us.

Wish I could tell you I have it all together. I don't. Never have. Never will. But, I know Who does!

Wish I could say that life gets easier. It doesn't. It's not going to. But, I know Who I can grow closer to in the midst of the chaos.

Wish I could say the hurting will stop soon. I can't, because it won't. But, I do know Whose presence I can find peace and rest in in the midst of hurting.

Wish I could say the tears have stopped, they haven't. But the promise was they will be dried when I get to Heaven.

Wish I could say my joy hasn't been taken from me. It has. But the joy I have in Christ...hasn't been touched! It stands because although I'm shaking, He stands!

This, my life, right now... is what it means to be held. This is what it means to fall into the embrace of Jesus as my legs give way to the overwhelming weight of this world. He will hold me up when I'm tired and worn. I'm tired. I'm worn. He will give me new strength, and He will make my path straight when He is ready for me to run again. THIS is what it means to be held, carried, strengthened, encouraged, equipped, and blessed because of obedience and Grace. Seek Him in all that you do. Lord, my prayer is that I seek You in all that I do! This (and only this) is how I get through each day.

John 16:33

New International Version (NIV)

³³ “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Indoor Family Fun

As many of you know and are experiencing, many people have yet another stay home day due to the crazy weather. Last night I went to bed exhausted from being snowed in for two days, and kind of dreaded today. But this morning I decided we needed to have a family fun day. I can’t get anywhere for extra supplies, so I’ve been coming up with ideas using random things around the house. All of this wording simply to say…here are some cool ideas for you to do with your kids today! And if you don’t have kids at home with you, DO IT YOURSELF!

1)      Build a Volcano

You can use sand if you happen to have a sandbox in your house (right), or we used poster board, a tin lid for the base, and playdough Tape posterboad around a cup, cover it with playdough, put 1tbsp of baking soda and food coloring inside the cup, pour in 1 cup of vinegar when you’re ready for the explosion. Do it tons of times with different colors of food coloring!

2)      Egg Drop

Have your kids come up with ways to keep an egg from breaking when you drop it from different heights. If you have a staircase this has the potential to be awesome, but if not, you can still drop it while standing on a chair, a ladder, etc.

3)      Coloring Fun

If you own coloring books, set them on the table and everyone color together. You can even print pictures from the Internet. This sounds far too boring to some kids and parents, but coloring with my Papaw is one of my favorite memories! We did this even when I was well out of high school!

4)      Baking/Cooking

Make breakfast for supper, bake a small cake and let your kids decorate it, cookies, muffins, snow ice cream, or fried pickles! Possibilities are endless, and kids love it!

Google the recipe for making your own playdough. Some of you may even already have one. It’s a great opportunity for kids to measure, work together, listen to directions, and then play with their final product!

5)      Board games, puzzles, cards

The boys and I love to play Sorry! Monopoly is a blast for older kids, but it can be taxing for the younger ones. Try UNO, goldfish, puzzles, spoons, Phase 10, Trouble, or any game you have that they might enjoy.

6)      Family Movie

Let your kids pick a movie. Pop popcorn (you can even string it for something extra…using needles and string/yarn), or have a party plate with all kinds of goodies on it! We do sweets and fruits/veggies!

7)      Sock Help

Have your kids help you match socks. You can even have them race each other! Have socks spread out on two ends of a room. They have to hurry and find a match (one from each pile), then they throw them in the laundry basket to “score.” Winner is the first one to complete all their matches.

8)      Cleaning Fun

Let (notice I say let, because we know it’s easier just to do these things) your kids wash dishes in the sink. I know…I’m a country girl and dish washers were created for a reason…but kids love to help clean if we give them the chance. Especially when water and warm bubbles are involved! You could give them gloves, an apron, a cleaning brush, etc.

You can also let your kids mop the kitchen (or other rooms). Bucket of soap and water, towels, and they will have a blast making a mess and cleaning your floors.

9)      Shaving Cream

Before you have the kids mop your floor, let them play with shaving cream! You can tape wax paper on the floor and they can have at it! Add cars or other small and easily cleaned toys!

10)  Tents and Tunnels

Now is the perfect time to break out any tent or tunnel you have hidden or tried to pretend isn’t there. You know your kids love these, and it will keep them busy and excited because it’s something they probably don’t do every day.

11)  Build a fort

If you’re like me, I don’t like it when my livingroom is turned into a fort. I’m a little OCD with that, but I want my boys to be able to build forts like I did when I was a kid. So…if you can brave it, let them build a fort out of your couches, pillows, blankets, and chairs. A) None of your friends will come over today because they are snowed in, too and it’s freezing outside! B) It’s just for a day and your kids will remember it forever! 

12)  Toys

Just make them play with toys. I say MAKE because if your kids are like mine, they often just want to play on their Kindles, the Wii, or any other form of electronic device that captivates them for long periods of time. I find that if I will go into THEIR room, and sit down and play with them for a few minutes they are prone to be excited about the toys, and I’ve just SHOWN them how to play. I think we assume they will come up with something, when it never hurts to give them ideas and let them expand on them! How will they know what it means to “go play” if we don’t teach them??

13)  Slip N Slide

If you have a slick surface anywhere in your house, let your kids skate in their socks or slide in wind suit pants! They will be entertained for hours! Just make sure furniture and other things are out of the way so they won’t get hurt.

14)  Paper Art

      It’s amazing what kids will create when they are given paper and glue. Have them tear (using fine   motor skills) tissue paper, construction paper, etc. and glue it on another sheet of paper. They can create whatever their little hearts desire. They can do this at the table while you are busy doing something else or need alone time.

15)  Bath Fun

We all know how relaxing it is when we are given the opportunity to take an uninterrupted shower! Well, kids are no different! They love the water! Let them take an extra bath! Throw in bubbles, toys, cups, etc.

You may be doing most of these things already, but I hope you find this information helpful during this winter craziness!