2015...A New Year...A New Life

Think back to the past year of your life. 2014. The good. The bad. The ugly. Those moments you can't wait to post on Facebook and those moments your thankful for His forgiveness. The beauty of the Christian life is that we have a heavenly Father who celebrates our successes with us and brushes our knees off when we fall.

It is so important to set goals yearly, monthly, and daily. The problem is...many times I don't do this. I get busy with day to day things and forget to be intentional about this life He has entrusted me with. I focus on the temporal and forget the eternal.  

As New Year's Day approached, I began to ponder over the happenings in my life of 2014.  

I recently listened to a podcast where Dr. Bob Barnes, of "Parenting Today", shared of his family traditions: 

1) Have a Special Dinner on New Year's Eve  
Allow your family to talk about the past year. The highs and lows. Successes and struggles. Rejoice and relish.

2) Celebrate Successes and Pray for Struggles. 
My family actually did this activity on New Year's Day- and remember YOU can start this anytime! We brought out the "Blessings Jar of 2014" and began to read the slips of paper we had periodically put into it - reminding us of those "successes" and blessings we forgot about. It's great for kids to hear us praise the Lord for those amazing memories and experiences.

Don't be afraid to share, as a mom, your weaknesses with the kids. Then, they better know how to pray for you. Humility is learned. We definitely aren't born with it! Children learn humility from us, as we share our struggles and those things we need prayer for. They will do the same.

3) Challenge each to set ONE goal for the next year. Something they can be intentional about. Something attainable. So many times we make this lofty list, in good intention, and aren't successful with any of them. Why not just focus on one thing?

Ask questions. Allow the kids to share their hearts and what THEY think should be their goal for 2015.  Then write it down for them to see.

We whipped out the white board,  took a photo of our family goals with our phone, and made a plan to print them out as a reminder of those goals we each set. Until its' printed, I have referenced those goals each morning to the kids.  Something we can hold each other accountable to daily.

A few days after we did this family activity,  I personally came up with ONE spiritual goal (DAILY morning quiet time with Jesus = having a heart to serve others more), ONE health goal (exercise 3-5xs / week),  and ONE financial goal (budget better = spend less at Starbucks!). I wrote mine down on a note card and placed it inside my Bible to remind me to pray for those things daily.

Nothing too lofty or unattainable! But three simple things to challenge me.

What are your goals for 2015? Were there some things you missed in 2014 that you would like to conquer this year? Set goals. Be intentional. Allow your kids to do the same. And watch Jesus work in your life. In the life of your family. Start traditions now that your kids can carry on into their adulthood. 

2015...A New Year...A New Life!

Wanted!

            I have so enjoyed our Christmas break.  After traveling during our Thanksgiving break, being home and not having our typical routines has been a joy.  It’s been the first time in (I don’t know when) that every piece of laundry has been washed, dried, ironed, folded and put away. I’m reading two books and my journaling is caught up.

            Before you get jealous, our tree is still up and there are plenty of other chores that need to be completed.  However, our children have requested we be with them.  I have gone to see Annie and A Night in the Museum, played “Catch Phrase!” gone shopping with our youngest, had dinner with the eldest and braided hair of our daughter in law.

            Tonight, our son and daughter in law fly in from their week away at eleven pm.  All of you who know me, know I’m of little good after 8:30pm.  Drew and Kacie want all of us to pick them up.  I don’t know how I will have enough strength to stay awake to get them, but because they asked, you can bet I’ll be there!

            I am reminded of the song “Cat’s in the Cradle.”  No, I didn’t understand the song when I was growing up, but as an adult, I so understand it!  I don’t want to say, “No” to their desire to be with me.  We can’t always say, “Yes, I’ll join your play.”  But while I can, I will.

"When the Christmas Lights Go Out" by Stacey Wooddell Imbimbo

My kids love Christmas lights.

They were so excited a few weeks ago as we set up the tree and decorated our house.

They were even more ecstatic to drive around any chance we got to see Christmas lights around the neighborhoods.

But now this week the lights are coming down.

Lights are such a huge part of Christmas time, and rightly so.

Since on that first Christmas, Light entered this world and pierced through the darkness.

John  1:4-5  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

As we are closing out 2014 remember the Light has come, and He is here to stay.  

There is grace, mercy, and hope in the promise of this Light.

Ephesians 5:8 tells us that you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord, walk as children of Light

So while you are taking down those beautiful Christmas lights, remind your children that the Light of the world has come and allow that light to shine brightly in you.

All Wrapped Up at Christmas-time

One day last week I was all stressed out, doing work stuff on the computer, trying to manage the children’s needs, hungry, and the list went on.  I felt so bad that I had to be so focused on the computer rather than giving the kids my full attention.  However, in a moment of clarity I looked at Matthew, our soon-to-be five year-old and said, “I just want you guys to know the real meaning of Christmas…” 

Matthew’s birthday is three days after Christmas so the thrill of getting gifts must be on his mind.  A little while after my “real meaning of Christmas” statement, Matthew came up to me all excited with one of his favorite cars that he made with daddy and said, “Mommy, Mommy!!  Since its Jesus’ birthday shouldn’t WE give Him gifts?!!”  He said this like a bright light had just gone on in his beautiful head.  So I chose to let him and our three year-old daughter go for it!  Cutting paper, wrapping and TAPING.

“In that hour Jesus rejoiced in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.”  Luke 10:21

Since then I’ve noticed a few other toys have shown up under the tree with just a bow on them.  Matthew is the “bow-guy”.  If a present I’m wrapping for a friend needs a bow, I know I can call on him to get the job done.  He gets excited to help and a sense of accomplishment too.

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.’” John 14:6

It’s all about Jesus.  Instead of us getting all wrapped up in making everything just perfect, let’s focus on the perfect One – Jesus and get all wrapped up in Him!

"Happy Birthday Jesus!" by Stacey Wooddell Imbimbo

I clearly remember turning the calendar to Dec 1st.  I was so excited about the possibilities with my family this month.

I had so many ideas, thoughts and great anticipation on how magical I could make this Christmas season.

I mean, how fun to be the mom who gets to plan out all these fun filled activities, and come up with my own traditions.

I searched online for all the fun Christmassy things to do in our town.

Found cute crafts to make, got all the Christmas movies out, piled the Christmas books, and searched for advent calendars.

So…here I am days away from CHRISTMAS Day….and I look back on December, I didn’t get to half of it.

And you know what…..its ok!

I started thinking about what I remembered from my family traditions growing up.

It was really the simple things.

Extended family enjoying brunch on Christmas morning, complete with coffee cake and grape juice; which I drank in a blue Fenton glass.

My dad reading the Christmas story from Luke 2; some years my siblings and I memorizing it and had to recite it before present time.

Waiting patiently at the top of the stairs, while every grown up went downstairs to get ready for the presents.

Going to grandma and grandpa’s house for Christmas dinner.

Wonderful Memories!

So, as we enjoy this wonderful holiday this week, may we focus on celebrating Jesus, and sharing His love with others.

Merry Christmas!

One Simple Tradition

This week in Bible study, we were challenged to share sweet memories and traditions and those things we are thankful for this season. I began to think about what we do with the kids each year and it's eternal impact. A girl in our study shared a simple little tradition she does each year with her kids and I plan to implement it this year. I have already told the kids we will be doing this and they are SUPER excited.

So...what is it?

As soon as the kids wake up, they run to our room, jump on the bed (to wake us because kids are ALWAYS up first :) and then we will read Luke 2 before anything else. Before stockings and gifts, we will unwrap THE GIFT and remind us of the true meaning of our day.

As you are reading this, some of you may be thinking....that's it!?!?! But honestly this is something so simple and gets missed so regularly. The busyness of the day gets a hold of us. Kids are super psyched to open everything, you are excited to see their faces as they open those gifts we saved and hunted down. All good things, which I love too, but too often Jesus isn't even talked about on the day we are celebrating Him. 

This year we are ordering a special birthday cake for Jesus (but you can totally make your own for a few bucks). We will start our day with Luke 2 and end it with birthday cake.  A reminder of who we are celebrating at the start and finish :)

What traditions will your family do this year celebrating Jesus' birth?? Things we start now with our kids, they will take with them when they leave us to start their own families someday!

THE Mediator

I Timothy 2:5

For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity--the man Christ Jesus.

         Having adult children has many different nuances.  Many are so exciting and enjoyable, it’s hard to compare them with what photographs remind me that they were.

Google Image

         However this week I have found myself much like an arbitrator or a referee or a mediator. I was having several of the parties come to me as the “Momma Bear” and confide in me.  In keeping the confidences of each, I found myself frustrated by being able to understand both sides of the situations.  Although I could feel for either side, I couldn’t imput, because it wasn’t my place. It ISN’T my stuff.

         Over the last few hours as each came again seeking my counsel (or maybe partiality) I spoke the obvious.  I cannot “fix” your misunderstandings, disagreements or business.

         This time as they spoke of the frustrations they were experiencing, I reminded them, I am not their mediator.  I am not in the position to referee for them.  As adult children they need to address whoever has offended them.  I desperately want them to mend their strained relationships, but I am powerless to make it work.

         Moms, it can be so hard to see where we “step in” and where we “step out.”  It is imperative that we seek guidance from the Lord and ask Him to show us how we are to respond to the difficulties within family relationships.

         I Timothy 2: 5 says, “There is ONLY ONE God and ONE Mediator who can reconcile us to God and humanity…” we can trust our ONE God to listen to our ONLY Mediator, which is Christ.  He will speak on our behalf and He will listen on our behalf.