Love Is a Choice

 

 "We love because He first loved us." 

1 John 4:19

Love is in the air. Literally. Last week when I went to Target I was bombarded by Pink, Red and Purple Valentines Day decor everywhere! Hearts hanging from the ceiling and every candy company imaginable has pink, red, white and purple candy aimed right at my heart. Not to mention the adorable heart print straws, jeans, napkins, plates, stickers, cards, sprinkles and cookies. February seems to be a month focused on Love. 

But what is Love? What does it look like; what does it mean? 

I can guarantee you that our mass retailers version of Love is nothing like God's version. God's version of Love is much more beautiful, real and substantial than pink and red M&Ms.

My husband and I celebrated 7 years of marriage this last November and will be celebrating 9 years officially together as a couple next month. I'm amazed at how fast time has gone by and I'm equally amazed at the Love I have for my husband in comparison to the Love I had for him 9 years ago. 

Oh, I definitely loved him 9 years ago and I definitely love him today but it's grown into a completely different love than it was at first... When we first started dating love was butterflies in my stomach, love was chocolates and random flowers, love was a free flying emotional disaster. Then when we got married it matured a bit... but as the years have past Love has become a choice; it's become a decision. It is no longer based on outward looks, fancy dates, love notes and butterflies. It is based on reality, it is based on a firm foundation that cannot be shaken by storms, trials or tempests. It's founded on God's idea of Love. A Love that sacrifices, a Love that forgives, a Love that gives second, third and a hundred chances, a Love that never ends. 

I'm hopelessly lost when it comes to Disney Love stories (can I get an amen?) I love Tangled, I love Frozen, I love Beauty and the Beast... I love them all. The princess dream, the songs, the happily ever afters. I tell you what, there is a reason why Disney is making billions. They know a way straight to a girls (or woman's) heart. But one thing I've realized in the last few years is that Love is so much more than what is portrayed in those films. There is a whole lifetime of stories to be lived and love to be decidedly given after the "Happily Ever After".  It doesn't end on the wedding day. 

My husband and I realized this shortly after marriage. The butterflies went South and the trials came in from the North, East and West. It seemed like the enemy decided we were the couple to attack ruthlessly for a period of time. Of course this was all part of God's design for us. Among a few heart wrenching trials we faced in the first couple of years we endured pregnancy loss. This knocked me off of my feet. I entered a time of depression, anxiety and sadness that I have never felt before. And for a newly married couple this could have spelled disaster. But by God's grace, He carried us through those difficult years. After that trial, God blessed us abundantly with a beautiful baby boy, who is now 3 and the joy of our lives. But that wasn't the only trial we have faced and I'm sure it won't be the last. I have dealt with depression, anxiety, battled an eating disorder and more since. (more on those issues to come)

 Every day God has shown me how much He has blessed me in the husband that He gave me. My dearest husband submitted himself to the spinning wheel of God's design and CHOSE to Love me. He loved me when I was depressed, when I didn't want to cook, when I didn't want to love him, when I didn't want to breath, when I wasn't focused on Christ, when I was literally acting like a witch on a broom. He CHOSE to love me. Why? Because God had first loved him. I know it hasn't been easy for him; I know that he has had to pray many times to God for strength and patience. And I have had to do the same. 

Being married to a man in full-time ministry seems to place a permanent dart board on your head for the enemy to practice his shooting on. And sometimes my hubby is tired, he's worn out, he's grumpy, he doesn't want to talk, he doesn't want to listen, he leaves his socks on the floor, he loses his patience. And I have to CHOSE to love him too. Not because it's easy but because God first loved me. 

Love is a CHOICE it's a DECISION.

Now, let me tell you about the joy of choosing to love. Choosing to love your spouse will change your relationship forever. And it will electrify your relationship with God. Choosing to love means that you will forever have your spouse as your best friend, your number one cheerleader and your forever lover. You will have someone that's not going to leave your side because you've had a bad day or because you've made countless mistakes. You'll have someone to pray with, someone to laugh with, someone to cry with, and someone to dream about the future with. You'll love God more deeply and in return will feel God's love more fully. Because CHOOSING to love is exactly what God did for us. He loved us... In spite of our sinful, wretched, hopeless condition. 

We turned our back on God, we sinned willingly, we put His Son on the cross and yet; He still chose us. By His grace, by His mercy, by His unending love; He chose YOU. 

So, this month and for every month to follow until Jesus returns or takes me home... I CHOOSE to love my husband. 

This amazing, wonderful man that God has given to me to be my completion, my love and my best friend. God has given Him to me and I'm so unworthy of this blessing. I love my husband and I am faithfully committed to be his wife forever. I love him so much more now than I did 7 years ago on our wedding day and I know that I'm going to love him so much more than I do right now, 50 years from today.

Make a choice to Love; it may not be butterflies, roses and chocolate every day (thank the Lord) but it will be a forever, never ending, amazing journey that you wouldn't trade for anything. 

A Broken and Aching Heart

"God is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit."

Psalm 34:18

It seems like there is a lot of people that are hurting these days. I'm one of them and maybe you are too. In the last year I have known so many people who are suffering, who are hurting and who have even died. I have been brought to tears and crying on more than one occasion in the last year. This last week I've known of two young people that have passed into eternity. One of them was very dear to my heart. 

The Lord has been so gracious to remind me of Psalm 34:18... Not only does God care about each and every heartbreak that we face; He is also CLOSE. Close to you, close to me, close to everyone that is hurting; close to everyone that feels crushed. 

I love that. 

I love that God truly, really cares. 

The Bible says in  

Psalm 56:8,

"You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in Your bottle. You have recorded each one in Your book."

God cares so much that He keeps each and every one of our tears. WOW! That is truly amazing. Some of us may have more than a bottle... maybe its a lake or an ocean of tears. And yet, God has them; each and every one. 

God is not cold-hearted, He is not far away, He is not unfamiliar with your pain. I know that some days it seems as if no one on earth, no one anywhere is feeling what we are feeling. That  no one could possibly understand our hurt. But God does. 

Isaiah 53:4 says,

"Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrow, ..."

I want to encourage anyone who reads this that GOD LOVES YOU and that GOD CARES about the situation you are in or you are facing right now. He says He does.

Please know that God is with you and He will carry you through. He is close to you right now and He will dry your tears and give you His hope, His strength and His peace. Don't give up or lose heart!

Psalm 55:22 says,

"Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you, He will never allow the righteous to be moved."

Casting our burdens on the Lord literally means to THROW your burdens to God. Let God handle them. He wants to help you, support you and give you His joy in the midst of whatever is going on in your life.

And most of all He wants to give you His HOPE! Hope for today, Hope for tomorrow and Hope for everything you face! He has a great plan for your life no matter what has happened!

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

Talk to God today and pour out your heart! He's listening, He loves you and He will give you His joy and strength right now! Don't give up or despair!

ABC's, Milestones and Missing the Mark...

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

Proverbs 22:6

From the day my baby boy was born I have received a TON of emails. Emails about portrait packages at Sears, emails from Pampers, Emails from Huggies and emails about what milestones he should and shouldn't be hitting for his age. Every month I get the "milestone" email from one of the top baby sites. And let me tell you; it has sent me into a panic on more than one occasion. I'm not saying these emails are all bad but they consist a lot of information about where you're child "should" be at in their skills at different things. The biggest things are language skills, motor skills and social skills. While these emails can be quite helpful from time to time in assessing your child's healthy growth and development; they can also be a little discouraging and downright anxiety inducing. Every article seemed to tell me that I was way behind in teaching my son certain things and that if he wasn't done with the bottle, eating solids, walking and saying words by one year of age we were "in trouble Houston". Then the toddler milestone emails hit and seemed to hint that if he wasn't saying his ABC's, counting to 100, sleeping in a "big boy" bed and cutting his own steak by age 2; I was hopeless and his future was dim. (yes, there is a bit of exaggeration here :) But you get the idea! I have felt totally hopeless on more than one occasion and have gone on a few crash course attempts to get my little guy to sing his ABC's and talk with the vocab of a 5 year old. (Picture my two year old sitting in his highchair with me 6 inches from his face singing the alphabet song over and over and....) 

Now, please do not misunderstand what I'm saying. I'm not saying that education, behavioral or social skills are not important. I think they are very important and we as mothers should be encouraging and helping our children in those areas as well but I think that sometimes I can get so worried and so focused on those issues alone that I'm not teaching and encouraging my son in what is most important; and what is most important is leading Him to Jesus and nuturing his spiritual education.

For a while now the Lord has been gently nudging me to see His focus and His purpose for my toddler. And it's a whole lot different then what the world has been telling me. I have been reading through the Proverbs and among other things, the Lord has really been convicting me about being a better mother; better at disciplining my son and most importantly raising him to love God with all his heart. I mentioned a while back that I had been reading through the amazing book, "A Mom After God's Own Heart" by Elizabeth George. It's awesome and if you're a mommy you should get it! It is so encouraging and so helpful! I've decided to read through it again with a friend as a refresher course. I read the first chapter this week and it hit me like a ton of bricks. I have not been focused on my son's spiritual development. It was a real wake up call. I've been so consumed in focusing on other things; not just in his life but in my crazy schedule.

Proverbs 22:6 says,

"Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it."

I know that if you are a mom who loves Jesus; this is the desire of your heart right? We want our children to grow up in the right "way". And that "way" is to follow Jesus and follow Him with all their heart. That is what is most important. I want my son (and future children, Lord willing) to follow Jesus, to love Jesus, to be able to defend their faith and to always remember God's Word as they face the day to day struggles and sins that we are all faced with. But I as a mom have a huge calling from God to be a very vital part of that mission. Whether you have a husband who loves the Lord, an unbelieving husband or you are a single mom; God is calling all of us to this. 

As I was reading Proverbs 22 there was a bit of commentary on religious education in Bible times and one of the sentences really stood out to me; it read... "...mothers also played a crucial role, especially until a child reached the age of five. During those formative years she was expected to shape the future of her sons and daughters."

WHOA! That's a heavy responsibilty and a crazy calling! We definitely need God's strength to accomplish that! 

I realize through God's Word and Him using that book in my life, that I need to actively be changing into the woman God wants me to be in order to become the mom He desires me to be. That means getting up early and spending time alone with the Lord, getting back to regular scripture memorization and trying to focus more of my conversation and time with my little one on God's Word. It's not easy but WOW what a difference it makes! Just in the week that I have been really working on this, in God's strength and help, I've already seen a difference in my attitude and a new found desire in my toddler to get to know who Jesus is! I love it!


I want my little one to love Jesus with all His heart and it has to start at home; teaching him God's Word and showing him how wonderful loving Jesus is! If you are a Christian mommy who has been doing these things already... you go girl! And don't give up! :) And if you need a boost in this area, like I did, let's work on it together in God's strength to become all He wants us to be as mommy's!    

If you don't have the book I mentioned it is called: "A Mom After God's Own Heart" written by Elizabeth George
It is available online and in local Christian Bookstores.   

 

Insomnia, Ulcers and a Side of Worry

"But the Lord answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
Luke 10:41, 42 (NASB)

I feel like this verse should say, "Mary, Mary, you are worried and bothered about so many things..." That's totally me. And it seems like lately this sentence has defined my life. In a previous article I related to this and about my need trust the Lord. But lately I have really realized that the enemy has  been using my areas of worry and anxiety as an all out attack on becoming the woman, wife and mother God has called me to be. There are days when I wonder, "Am I the only person on earth that worries and has anxiety this much?" A lot of days I feel like a failure as a Christian because I worry and fret so much. I have come to terms with the fact that this is something I have to battle in God's strength to overcome.

Maybe you're thinking.... "It's probably not as bad as she is making sound..."
Well, I wish I could say that is true; but it's not. One of the reasons I started this blog is so that I could take the "Mask" off that we so often put on to cover the difficulties that we face, the trials we have to deal with and the daily battles that plague so many of us. So I'm being completely real. I worry about EVERYTHING. I worry about what people are thinking, I worry about what they're NOT thinking, I worry about my toddler constantly, I worry about my husband's health, our future, our finances, my decisions and how they affect me and others, my dog, what I cooked for dinner, the lunch meat sitting in the fridge (is it still good?), whether or not I offended someone, is that girl mad at me because she gave me a weird look, maybe that person doesn't like me because they passed me by without saying hi. And that's just the tip of the crazy, anxiety, iceberg! I could seriously make a list long enough to cover two blogs. :)

In October we went on a beautiful vacation as a family. But before we even left, I was worried. Worried that satan was going to use my worry issues to destroy our vacay. Sounds pitiful right? Well, because I was so worried that the enemy was going to attack, guess what? He did. And from two days before we left until the day we got home I was worried. Worried that every hotel we stayed in had bedbugs, worried that something bad was going to happen to people back at home, worried, worried, worried. And let me tell you; it wasn't as fun as it was meant to be. And I allowed the enemy to, once again, "steal" valuable time with my hubby and toddler.

Can you relate? Has something happened to you recently that  you're losing sleep over? Maybe that person gave you a weird look, maybe someone asked you to meet with them to talk and you're fearing the worst? Are you afraid of your failing finances, weakening health, inability to have a child, lack of friendship, not feeling "up to par"? I'm sure you have a few things on your list right now. Maybe worry and anxiety is something you deal with regularly or maybe it's something that hits you only from time to time.

"Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you."
1 Peter 5:7 (NIV)

I love that translation of 1 Peter 5:7. God literally wants us to CAST all of our anxiety on Him...

The definition of cast is: throw (something) forcefully in a specified direction.

WOW! I love that... God wants us to throw our anxieties on Him. Not just casually toss them His way.

The definition of care is: feel concern or interest; attach importance to something.

Isn't it amazing to know that God truly cares about every single worry, fret, frustration and anxiety you are facing right now? He thinks it's important and He is concerned about it. I mean, I think sometimes we feel like God is up there too busy to care about the little tiny things we face every day. And sometimes we think that God doesn't care that we're down here getting an ulcer and biting our nails at 2am. But in reality, the Bible says that He really CARES. He wants to help us! And we have a direct command to THROW all of those cares on Him.

Have you ever noticed that most of the things you worry or have worried about never actually turned out the way they would? I could give you about 25 stories right now of times when I was "convinced" that a particular situation was going to turn out a particular way and guess what? It didn't. As soon as I gave it to God; He always worked it out and everything was totally fine. I forget that so easily!

I'll give you an example and you can see if you relate...
My son woke up one morning with three mysterious red bumps on his shoulder and they didn't seem to be going away. We had been planning a short weekend getaway as a family and I just "knew" that these bumps were going to have to cause us to cancel the trip. They just "had" to be chicken pox, mumps or measles. I was convinced. I promptly made a call to the doctors office and we were in the very next morning. Guess what? It wasn't any of the things mentioned above. It was three bug bites. Easily treated and easily gone withing a week or so. And we didn't have to cancel our trip; in fact, we had a wonderful time.

Like I said, I could give you 25 stories like that. But I will save you the drama. :)
To sum it all up: I daily need God's strength, help, encouragement and peace. I believe that worry and anxiety are quite possibly a "thorn in my flesh" that I'm going to daily have to rely upon God to help me with. I'm definitely trying and I haven't thrown in the towel. I know that Jesus commands us not to worry and I realize by continuing to worry; I'm sinning. And I don't want to be in any type of ongoing sin. And I'm sure you don't want to be either.

I love the following verses in Philippians and have committed them to memory so that I can be armed with God's Word every time I get attacked with fear, anxiety and worry. I encourage you to memorize them as well...

"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything be worthy of praise, dwell on these things."
Philippians 4:6-8 NASB

Next time you are faced with any type of worry, anxiety or fear remember to throw it straight to God. He cares about whatever it is: big or small. He will help you! And more than likely it won't turn out anything like what you worried it would.

Peanut Butter Snickers Cupcakes! Oh my...

 As you probably already know... I love cupcakes. I'm always on the search for the perfect recipe or on the hunt for a cupcake bakery. Well...a while back I decided I wanted a peanut butter, snickers cupcake. It was one of those days where chocolate and peanut butter were the craving. 

The perfect way to combine all the flavors wasn't difficult at all! First you pick your favorite white cupcake recipe: (My favorite one is listed below...it is from this link: http://www.food.com/recipe/magnolia-bakerys-vanilla-birthday-cake-and-frosting-139518 )

*Here is the recipe with my added additions of peanut butter and snickers...(The link to the original recipe without any additions is listed above)

1 cup unsalted butter, softened
2 cups sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups self rising flour
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla 

*1/2 Cup Peanut Butter (crunchy or smooth...my addition to the recipe)

*1 Cup of chopped Snickers (my other addition to the original recipe)

Directions:

1
Preheat oven to 350°.
2
Grease and lightly flour three 9 inch round cake pans, then line the bottoms with waxed paper. ( I used cupcake liners and a muffin pan instead of cake pans)
3
In a large bowl, on the medium speed of an electric mixer, cream the butter until smooth.
4
Add the sugar gradually and beat until fluffy, about 3 minutes.
5
Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
6
Combine the flours and add in four parts, alternating with the milk and the vanilla extract, beating well after each addition.

7

*Add peanut butter and snickers and mix until combined. (my addition)

 

 

If you're making cupcakes, line two 12-cup muffin tins with cupcake papers.
  Spoon the batter into the cups about three-quarters full.
  Bake until the tops spring back when lightly touched, about 20 to 22 minutes.

 (or a toothpick comes out clean)
  Remove cupcakes from pans and cool completely on a rack before icing.

What  you will end up with is a delicious peanut butter, snickers cupcake! They are pretty rich on their own but you can frost them with chocolate buttercream frosting! That's what I did! 

I posted a delicious chocolate buttercream frosting earlier in the blog!

It's Time to Declare War!

"...and he (satan) went to make war with the rest of her offspring who keep the commandments of God and have the testimony of Jesus Christ."

Revelation 12:17

Don't you love a good war movie? I mean, I love comedies, romances etc. What girl doesn't? But every once in a while my husband and I like to see an all-out war movie where good triumphs over evil! Isn't that why most of us love superhero movies as well? Everybody wants to see the "good" side win. It's always a huge depressive when the "bad" side wins. Whenever a movie ends with the "bad" guy or group of people winning; I'm totally bummed out. 

Lately, at church, our Pastor (Pastor Greg Laurie) has been in the book of Revelation. It's been awesome! I love the book of Revelation because it reminds me of what's ahead...this life we are living right now, in this moment, is just the beginning of what's in store.

Today in my devotions (Morning and Evening by Charles H. Spurgeon) the writer was talking about the battle between satan, the demons and us as believers. And he took his scripture from Revelation chapter 12. And it got me thinking; really thinking! There are so many days were I feel defeated, I feel tempted, I feel depressed and it seems like around every turn of my day is another "attack". An attack of anxiety, an attack of depression, an attack on my marriage and my ministry. It never seems to end. And sometimes I lose focus of the fact that I'm in a battle; a real war for that matter! 

But I find myself totally unaware of the fact that I'm just sitting on the sideline nursing my "boo boo's" half the time and not out there fighting like the woman I know God has made me to be. It's so easy for me to slooowwwllly start looking like the world, acting like the world and forgetting that I'm on the war torn path to eternity. When's the last time you read...

"For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect." 

Matthew 24:24 (NASB)

"Even the elect"... That's us folks. (if you have asked Jesus in your heart as your Savior). Does that scare you a little bit? That maybe even the most Godly person you know could be mislead? It scares me because I know I'm not some "holier than thou" and "could never fall away" believer. I have to rely on Jesus Christ DAILY for strength to fight. 

I feel like I have seen so many believers get drawn away from Christ lately; falling into serious sin and even leaving the faith. And, I have to take a step back and realize that if I'm not fighting, if I'm not aware, if I just ignore that there is a battle going on for my literal soul; I'm could be in big trouble. And you are too.

I don't know about you but there is a serious darkness that I can feel lately. Not just over our nation but it's trying to creep into our lives as believers. The lines are getting blurry, wrong isn't as "wrong" as it used to be. Compromises are becoming more and more popular. You know what I'm talking about. What are we watching on t.v., what are we wearing when we're not at church, what are we doing when no one is around or watching, what are we thinking, what are we dabbling into? And trust me, I'm not sitting on a soapbox preaching. I struggle too, I sin and I realize how much I really need to WAKE UP and start taking action.

Brothers! Sisters! There is a huge war for our souls going on right now! I believe that we are heading into a very dark time. And when I say dark; I mean DARK! We need to rise up, take out our weapons (Spiritual weapons) and start fighting. We need to stop sitting on the sidelines of eternity. If we sit on the sidelines, satan is going to have the perfect chance to take us down. I don't want to fall, I don't want to be mislead, I don't want to give up my faith. I want to be victorious. But it's not going to happen without a FIGHT. It's not going to be easy friends; there will be days when it just seems too hard or the temptations seem too strong...but what promise do we have? "I can do all things through HIM who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13 Wake up and get to work; fight on! Don't give up! One day we are going to be face to face with Jesus. All the temptations, all the trials, everything that was such a burden is going to melt away and it will so totally BE WORTH IT ALL! 

We can give up the fight because we're too tired, enjoy the short-lived pleasure of sin, and have hell to pay. (Literally) Or we can battle in Jesus' strength, overcoming our fears and sins day by day, and spend eternity with Jesus in everlasting joy and peace. It's up to you.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of god, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." 

Ephesians 6:10-13 (NASB)

"I beseech you therefore brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God... And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." 

Romans 12:1a, 2 (NASB)

 

Dog Hair, Poopy Diapers and the Family Wagon...I'm Loving It!

"... I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness."

Psalm 84:10(b)

NKJV

Have you ever wished you were someone else, somewhere else doing something else? I think one of the most difficult words in our dictionary today is: content. 

Content (adj.): In a state of peaceful happiness

Are you content? I wish I was, but honestly, content isn't my middle name. I'm a mom of a toddler, the owner of a dog that sheds like nothing I've ever seen and the majority of my days consists of sweeping dog hair, changing diapers, cleaning and cooking.. It's not necessarily glamorous in this day in age. I wish I had the skills to sing like Whitney, be a top "pinner" on Pinterest, a world-wide blogger with 6,000 followers, or the owner of a cupcake bakery that puts Sprinkles to shame but alas, I'm not. I have 3 followers on Pinterest, I sing lullaby's to my toddler and I bake solely for my family's stomachs. :) I'll never be an Etsy maven or a Paula Deen; that's for sure. So why do I get so discontent? Because the enemy constantly tells me that I need to "make something of myself"; that I'm nothing unless I can hold down a full-time job, have a Masters Degree, be a mom and drive a BMW all at the same time. Somehow it's not "fashionable" or "popular" to be a good mother or a great wife. So, I start thinking I need to be something or do something to make my name known to this world. And then, my mind stops and I realize, "wait a minute, what does God say?" 

"And whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord and not to men." 

Colossians 3:23

Who am I trying to please here? God, or men? Am I trying to accomplish something for eternity or for some fame and fortune here and now. And then the question arises... "What has God called me to be?" Well, truthfully, I know exactly what God has called me to be: His child, a wife and a mom. But not just a wife and mom; a great wife and an amazing mother who seeks His heart above all else. And it's so very, vitally important. No one else can be my toddlers' mother, no one else can be my husbands wife. It is my God given gift. I might not ever have a clothing line at Target with my name on it but hopefully, and more importantly, I'll have fruit in heaven with my name on it. And guess what... I LOVE being a wife and a mother. I have the cutest toddler around and the most amazing husband alive. What could be more awesome than serving them, loving them and helping them be all God desires them to be? Nothing, is more awesome than that. So I want to do it with all my heart!

The other night my husband and I went on a last minute date. We both got dressed up and wore something other than sweats and tennis shoes and went and saw "The Dark Knight Rises". We love superhero movies and couldn't wait to get away to see it. It was a blast and at the end of the night we walked out to our car. And there she was in all her glory, our old, almost 100k mileage, WAGON. Yes, we drive a family wagon. All of a sudden it hit me, and I burst out laughing. "Hun, we drive a wagon!! We're old!" hahaha. We used to hop into the Mustang or his truck, but now, its a family wagon with a few dents. And guess what?! I love it!! I'm so glad I'm not zipping around in a fancy car that my child can't spill milk in or lose a french fry (or two or ten) in the middle seat. Both my husband and I looked at each other and knew we wouldn't trade our life for the world. 

So who are you? Who or what has God called you to be? A great mom and wife, a volunteer at church, a grocery checker, a retail clerk, food server ... ? Instead of wishing you were someone else, somewhere else; be all that God wants you to be exactly where you are at. I love Psalm 84:10(b) "... I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness." 

Wouldn't you much rather be exactly who God has called you to be, right where you're at, than to be everything the world says you should be and end up with nothing in the end?

I'll take dog hair, poopy diapers and the family wagon over anything this world has to offer. My name may never be in a magazine or emblazoned on a purse. But my name will be written in the Book of Life.