Hello Everyone!

I've finally found a picture of me that I actually like! It's taken me a whole year, but here it is and here I am!

I thought it was about time that you all got the chance to see who was writing this here ole' blog called 'Just a girl who loves' and while I was at it, I thought you all might like to meet my family too!  (The family picture was taken during the 'sock monkey' birthday party I threw for my husband. Can you see the sock monkey decorations in the background? He was not only surprised, but thought it was quite funny!).

Honey from Heaven

Today was just one of those days. It felt or seemed like every time I turned around someone was being hurt by a particular someone. It was a day of putting out fires, but by the end of the day I realized that the person, who caused much of the trouble, needed a real heart to heart with mommy.

As I began reminding this person of their words throughout the day, they began to see the problem I was seeing. There was a lack of self-control, a selfishness, and worst of all the tongue was used as a weapon.

We talked deeply about what God requires of us. How we are to emulate Him. How, no matter how we are treated by others, we are to be like Christ. We have decisions to make and we are responsible for all of those decisions. They agreed and even cried over their behavior.

I held my child and then I asked if they wanted to pray with me. Right before we prayed I believe the Lord spoke to me. He said, "I will touch their tongue with honey from heaven." I told them what I heard and asked then if they wanted the Lord to touch their tongue with the honey from heaven. I believed what the Lord was saying was that He would turn this bitter tongue to sweetness and bring healing. "Yes," was the reply.

As I prayed I saw an awesome vision of the Lord really touching her tongue with honey. I believed and felt hope for my child. I was so convicted that I prayed it too.

We hear in the book of James about taming the tongue and in Proverbs 15 how harsh our words tear down. I know the scriptures, but putting them into action hasn't always been easy. Seeing the vision of the Lord touching our tongues with the honey from heaven made me know that it's not in my strength to change, but the Lord's miracle touch. No, I'm not saying we are not responsible for our own actions. I am saying that our work is futile without His holy touch. I can work myself into a frenzy of self-control, have some success, but without His touch, His hope, His unconditional love for me, all that work puts me back under the law. We were set free from the law and are now under His grace. Submitting to Him each day, each hour if necessary, is our hope. HE is our healer.

"Submit yourselves, then, to God.

 Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Come near to God and he will come near to you."  (James 4:7-8)

We are not alone in our journey to righteousness-

we couldn't make it without Him no matter how hard we tried.

One Tired Mama

I remember when I was pregnant with my first child people told me, 'Get all the sleep you can get now, cause once that baby comes 'sleep' will be a forgotten word.'  I waved my hand at them, rolled my eyes and thought, "I don't require much sleep, I'll be fine on five hours."  But as all of you moms know many times you don't even get five hours-sometimes it's just two. Well, after having six children,  all I gotta say is, I'm one tired mama.

I remember after my first child was born, coming home from the hospital to our apartment thinking, 'ohhh, it's so good to be home,' but I had not yet realized that the crying was going to start and not stop for weeks and now I am without a nurse to help me! I could not understand one hour of sleep! I could not believe that it went on for weeks and weeks and no one told me, no one really warned me. The constant crying and no sleep was...are there really any words?

My children all sleep through the night now and I get an average of 6-7 hours of sleep a night, but for the days that I don't, it's like all the years that I didn't get sleep come crashing down on me the very next day. So, when I'm working on a project, or there is stress in my life, a sick child, or even anticipating something good to come, and I don't get sleep- well, the next day I'm a wreck.

I'll give you an example: I woke up really, really tired one Monday morning a few weeks ago and all I wanted to do was to somehow get a morning nap, but I remembered I had promised the kids to take them to the park. So up I got, got dressed, packed lunch and went. As we drove along I thought, "I could kill two birds with one stone- I could jump into Office Depot, drop something off to be copied, and then go to the park." Okay, it sounds simple enough for a person who isn't sleep deprived, but such was not the case for me. I parked the car, got the kids out of the car, went into the store, dropped off my papers, came out and could not find my car keys. I thought, "Oh, no, what have I done!" Well, I couldn't have imagined what I could have done because the worse thought I had was that I had locked my keys in the car...it was far worse than that! I didn't lock the doors, nor had I taken the keys out of the ignition, nor had I turned the car off! The car was still running! Someone, anyone, could have opened the door, sat in my car and drove off. Like I said, "I'm one tired mama."

So, between the years of no sleep with the children, anxiety, fears and just plain nonsense that has infiltrated my life, I'm worn out. Just plain plumb tired.

I also gotta say, I'm tired of being tired. I told a friend that and the response was, " You should work out more." Okay, I started working out faithfully every day and to be quite honest, I'm more tired! I'm not giving up the exercising because I know it's good for me, but something has just got to change.

So, how does one go into combat when the soldier is dog-tired?

Well, I will share a little lesson I am learning. I know that God would have us to rest. God calls us to rest.

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and   learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls." (Matthew 11:28-29)

The rest He calls us to is not a rest of, "I give up," but a rest of surrender. A surrender that says, "God I know your plan is perfect and I will trust it." A surrender that says, "My plan looks good, but I know your plan Lord is much, much better." If I really trust in Him I would rest. I would rest in my mind, in my emotions, in my body and even get some sleep.

There is no failure in rest. Actually, when we enter God's rest there is success, even victory. A victory because if he calls us into a period of rest and you enter it your obedience will be rewarded.

There is also no rest in fear. There is no rest in worry. There is no rest in anxiety or stress. So, clearly, I have not rested because I have not trusted. I am always planning the next hour, the next day, the next month. My mind usually doesn't give me a break. I am a multi-tasker, and quite great at it, but some times all the planning, and scheduling needs to take a break, exhale and trust God.

Through many, many rough times years ago I would sing this very little song. (It was the opening song to one of the Christian radio programs I would listen to in New York). "Be still and know He is God. He is God. He is God." (This song was taken from Psalm 46:9) I would sing those few little words over and over in my mind. Be still (rest) and know He is God. God sees all, knows all, will never forsake me, and has my back. What rest I would enter as I sang that song.

God welcomes us into His rest 

and I am choosing to walk through His door.

"My soul finds rest in God alone." (Psalm 62:1)

I’d Love to Have You Over for a Cuppa Couffee, But First You Need to Know…

I read an article with a similar title, (I added the "cuppa couffee"), by Amy from her personal blog Raising Arrows. I loved it! In the article the author listed 10 things you will want to know about her and her home before you went over. I have made my own list.

What you need to know if you come ova for some couffee:

1. You will be greeted by six children jumping up and down on the front porch. Who, I might add, were waiting for your arrival from the moment they woke up-ohhh, probably since around 6am. They will come running up to your car and greet you with hugs and kisses. When they are through, you will then receive a big hug, kiss and smile from me.

2. I will probably have our morning or day a little planned, and my children will have heard my thoughts. We will sit at the kitchen table or couch, with a cuppa couffee, a sweet treat and have a chance to sit and talk. The children will be allowed to go up, down, or outside. We will have time alone!

3. You will of course be welcomed to stay for lunch. It won't be any extravagant entree. Lunch meals worry me, don't ask me why, but they do. I will most likely make a simple lunch for us and the kids to enjoy. If you are okay with that don't bring a thing.

4. My house will be cleaned for you, but by no means perfect. I try my best to have a perfectly cleaned house, but I do not have robots for children and until they are trained properly, you simply get what you get. So, if you are okay with seeing dust here and there, the soap dispenser possibly empty, toys on the floor, and of course my black hair ending up - in your coffee, well, than you'll feel right at home.

5. You will hear my New York accent in full force! When I am happy and carefree it shines the most and I do expect it to come out just because you are over.

6. There will probably be arguing and bickering among my children, I will have to referee. It's usually a good show to watch! Me trying to hear from God, on the spot-moments notice, on how to hear both sides of the story and make the best decision that will satisfy all involved for the time being and will most likely be dealt with later.

7. My backyard is large, full of toys, swing sets, zip-line etc., but let me tell you no grass. If you are prepared to take your child home covered in dirt-dust or worse, welcome, welcome!

8. I love questions! I am a teacher by trade and by gifting. You can never ask me enough!  I love to share what I have learned along this motherhood trail and if you want to walk along with me I couldn't be happier! Understand too that I love to talk deeply. I want to share with you what the Lord has been doing in my heart and I want to hear what He is doing in yours.

9. Don't ever feel afraid to ask me about my biological family. You won't hear the best or sweetest stories, but you sure will hear alot of victories!

10. My husband walks in around 2:30pm and babies go down for naps around the same time-something is always going on- I try to sit still- I am often moving around. Don't let that bother you. I am a good listener no matter where I am. And when you go to leave we will all stand on the porch waving goodbye shouting, "Goodbye!"  "Thanks for coming!" "We love you!"  "God Bless you!"  "Come again!"

Now, how about that cuppa couffee?