For my momma friends that need this tonight! Sometimes this road of motherhood isn't always easy..it's really hard but YOU CAN DO IT! Pray to God for the strength, courage, love, passion, determination, motivation and faith that you need to finish this race all the way through! What a blessing and an awesome responsibility to be a mother! I believe it is my calling and God's will for my life to be a wife and mother. I will strive to give it my all....for them and for Him!! Th...ank you Lord, for my precious children, the two I have here with me, the one who you hold in your arms tonight, and the ones that may come......I stand in awe of Your mighty works in my life and I stand in awe of You! I AM BLESSED! Rest and take peace, weary friend and mother, in knowing that He loves you and is watching over you tonight! I love you all and am praying for each of you!!
-Jessica

(this part is from a post from The OldSchoolHouse)
Hey Mama,
Spit and sticky junk in your hair. Dirt under your nails. Your shirt always has something smeared on it. Your lap is used for cuddling babies, but also for bigger kids who won't budge; they don't even fit there right, and hang over. And it's messy. Pants are meant to be dirtied and smudged; yours, anyway. Tears soak your shoulder and your neck is always sweaty (your sweat or theirs, or both). Eventually vomit doesn't really smell all that bad, right? You're so used to it. Wiping noses? Gross, but you're a pro.
^^That's a chapter. A chapter of your life.
And it feels like an ENTIRE lifetime, but it's not. It's a season, and that's it. Once it's gone, you're not getting it back with these same kids. They'll be adults, and the relationship will change. You'll still lend a shoulder and be there for their tears. You'll still hold their hand (maybe when she's in labor having your grandchild). They may mess up your heart instead of your shirt for a time, as they transition. But that's yet another chapter, another season to come. Good and bad, joy and pain, happiness and tears. It's a messy life. So messy.
A beautiful mess. You wouldn't trade it. It's yours and you fiercely defend it.
No one promised a perfect family live. No one offered you children who never mess up. No one said every slot would be filled with the right sized slate. Because that would not be reality. And you are a real kinda Mama. Transparent. Genuine. Realistic. Human. Alive. Willing. Available. Never leaving these kids. Never taking for granted what the Lord has given you - Motherhood.
That's you. A true blue Mother. And His hand is on your head tonight.

Why my daughter will NOT take dance

In watching so many of the dance shows today on tv and from local dance companies, I am saddened! What in the world are we teaching our young children? Why is it ok to think that a 6-7 year old should be able to shake her booty, pump her chest in and out, or thrust her hips front and back? What are we teaching them? Do we think that just because of their age, that it is "cute"? Guess what parents? IT'S NOT!!

The little girls you are watching dance this way and teaching that this kind of dancing and behavior is "ok", are going to be the very ones that you will have to unteach later in life that it is not ok to dance this way. If Jesus was her audience would you think it was "cute" then?? Just a thought!

The clothes and outfits that these poor little girls are portrayed in are not modest at all. We should be teaching our children, especially our little girls to keep themselves covered. Now, I know for some that will read this may say "oh my word, aren't you taking this a little too far?" I don't think so. It breaks my heart today that we can't go into a store and find our little girls cute outfits, shirts and shorts without their rear-ends and chests hanging out and parents who condone this are making it worse! Women and mothers we must teach our little girls to keep themselves modest and protected, saved for their future husbands!

   MODESTY IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!

A Day for Mommies....

Today was such a special and treasured day. My sister in law and I took our mother in law out for a Girls Day Out/Birthday Treat for her!

 

 Whoo whoo!

 

(This is certainly a rare treat for me! )

 

 

Our day started out with breakfast at IHOP (delish) followed by Mani/Pedi's all around, then a quick trip to Kohls, where we racked up on some incredible deals.

 

**We shared stories, hopes, dreams, blessings, laughter and tears and all while being blessed by each others company! Thank you God for these women in my life and what they mean to me!

 

What an awesome day!

Can you be blessed and stressed?

As a full time housewife, mother of two, chauffeur, cook, housekeeper, nurse, and friend, I know what it is like to feel stressed. However, lately I am wondering if it is ok to feel both stressed and blessed at the same time. Everyday life seems to happen regardless of anything else and we have to remember that God has it ALL under control. He knows everything that has happened, is happening and will happen to us. When we get down, He is there to pick us up! The bible tells us in Philippians 4:6 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." (NIV)

Take your worries to God in prayer. Weary momma, struggling teen, overworked dad, little ones, everyone......God is no partial to who prays...He wants to hear you call out His name!

 

When you start to feel yourself fall into that place of stress or despair, remember your blessings - your marriage, your children, your family, your life, the very breath you are taking right now, God has given that to you! You are blessed! The Martins sing a song called "Count Your Blessings", that reminds us of Job and how He still praised God and counted the blessing of God's love as the one thing that he had left to count on after everything else was gone. God's love is a mighty and powerful thing and we should wake up each morning and thank Him for it before our feet ever hit the floor. Maybe our days would go just a tad bit more smoothly if we did just that!

 

So when you lay your head down tonight and begin to fall asleep, don't count the sheep trying to jump over your head.....count the blessings that are all around you and praise God for each and every one!

Blackberry Cobbler, anyone?!

Ingredients

• 1 stick Butter
• 1-1/4 cup Sugar (Splenda)
• 1 cup Self-Rising Flour
• 1 cup Milk
• 2 cups Blackberries (frozen Or Fresh)
• orange juice concentrate

Preparation Instructions

Rinse all blackberries with water to clean them off. Place them in a bowl and pour orange juice concentrate over the top of them, give them a gentle stir and let sit to "marinate". Melt butter in a microwavable dish. Pour 1 cup of sugar or Splenda and 1 cup of flour into a mixing bowl, whisking in the 1 cup of milk. Mix well. Then, pour in melted butter and whisk it all well together. Butter a baking dish.

 Pour the batter into the buttered baking dish. Sprinkle blackberries over the top of the batter; distributing evenly. Be sure to give then a light squeeze to drain excess orange juice. Sprinkle ¼ cup sugar over the top.

Bake in the oven at 350 degrees for 1 hour, or until golden and bubbly. If you desire, sprinkle an additional teaspoon of sugar over the cobbler 10 minutes before it’s done.

 

 

*This recipe is from The Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond, whom I just love to watch! I added the orange juice and switched the sugar to Splenda b/c this was made for my father in law who is a diabetic. The orange juice infused blackberries are delicious all by themselves also! Just a great yummy treat!! ENJOY!!