What If?

If you are a mom then chances are you’ve held your child in your arms and asked yourself “What if?”

When we bring home our precious new baby still sleepy, completely vulnerable and dependent on us for every ounce of nourishment, it’s only natural that thoughts of “what if” begin to creep in. What if I can’t nurse? What if there is something wrong with my baby? The “what if’s” only intensify as the years pass and the bond we share with our growing child becomes unbreakable. What if my sweet child gets sick? What if I get on a plane and the plane crashes leaving my child motherless? Women worry about things like this. We worry and we question and I’m told it doesn’t stop when our children leave the nest.

As a mother of 2 girls I’ve let my mind go to those dark questions that can unravel a woman in a heartbeat. Once on a vacation in British Columbia my family and I enjoyed a leisurely afternoon by a beautiful lake with mountain views. I watched my children run into the water like baby turtles drifting in the tide. When Annalise, my youngest had had enough she plunked herself down at my feet to build sand castles and in the seconds it took for her to show me her masterpiece, I had lost sight of my older daughter by the lake. Seconds. She wasn’t where my eyes had left her. My eyes frantically searched left and right. I am up walking. Running. My heart beating. The beautiful lake setting now a backdrop to a nightmare. My child. Where is my child? The “What if’s” strangle my thoughts. What if a stranger has taken her? What if she drowned? What if I never see her again? A very long 5 minutes later she came running to me and the squeeze around my heart loosened.

I was lucky that day. The what if’s came and left just as soon as I embraced my child but what about the moms that have asked the “what if’s” and then been faced with the reality of having to live through them. What if this pregnancy doesn’t go to term? What if my child gets cancer? Amazingly the women I know who have had to live out these unbearable questions have battled the sadness, pain, anger and age old question of “Why me Lord” with such beauty, grace and unbelievable strength that can only come from God alone.

I don’t know why bad things happen to such good people, but I do know without a doubt that the “what if’s” are best given up in prayer to the one who can heal, the one who gives hope and mercy and the one we call Lord and Savior.

I’ve seen through these sweet courageous women, the power of God’s love pouring out to greet them where they’re at, breathing life into their souls and giving them goodness, beauty and joy where there is heartache and ugliness. These women have been through the unthinkable and yet when you look into their eyes you see peace. Beauty. Gratitude. Love. And I can honestly say the only question that I’m glad I never have to ask is “What if” they didn’t know Jesus?

Give your “What if’s” to the Lord in prayer. Trust Him.

A mother who walks with God knows He only asks her to take care of the possible and to trust HIM with the impossible; she does not need to fret. ~ Ruth Bell Graham

I Want to be a Princess!

My husband met me in the moonlight to watch a girl become a princess and in that hour I witnessed not only a little piece of history unfold but I also felt a deep desire to BE “that girl”. Who wouldn’t want a dress tailored by the finest and a diamond tiara borrowed from a queen? A prince stealing bashful glances at you with a sweet smile as if to say “I’m the lucky one”? A choir of boys whose voices hail straight from heaven itself and a husband taking your hand in his to help you into a cinderella carriage so you can be whisked away in utter style and grace?

My breath was taken away by the beauty, chivalry, respect and sweetness of the Royal wedding and after all was said and done, I squeezed my own husbands hand and thought to myself “I’m going to act more like a princess from now on!”

What is romance to you? What makes you feel like a princess in your marriage?

For love is from God and everyone that loves is born of God and knows God…for God is love.

1 John 4:7-8

For all of our young daughters who will one day want to marry and have been asking what it takes to be a princess...

1. Dress like a princess. You can dress modestly and still be gorgeous. Dress like a class act to attract a class act.
2. Manners. The Queen Mom (or in this case, your future mother-in-law) notices and expects a good mannered gal for her son. Respect your elders.
3. Get a life! “Waitie Katie” as Kate Middleton became know as did NOT actually sit by the phone crying. She had a wide circle of friends, kept active on a rowing team and studied diligently in pursuit of her dreams. You are much more attractive when you know what you want out of life and go for it!
4. Respect yourself.
5. Have high standards. Tell your future prince that before you dated him Jesus was your boyfriend! YES!
6. P. S.T Pray. Surrender. Trust. God has a plan for your life.
7. Express Gratitude every day.
8. Know that you are the daughter of a King!
9. Be yourself. Just be who you are. You will attract the one that’s meant for you by being authentic and genuine.
10. Move to North Wales, become best friends with Prince William and casually ask if he has any brothers. ;-)

Women in the Bible

Which woman in the bible do you most relate to and why?

A dear friend asked me this today and naturally I answered her with an in depth comparison analysis complete with bible verses recited from memory. She was so impressed!

Actually what really happened was I stared at her like a deer caught in the headlights. Blink.

Love the women in the bible but need a little help remembering who’s who?

Check out this fabulous website on women from the bible for women on the go! It’s a great way to refresh your memory and get tons of interesting facts about the lives of women in ancient times. www.womeninthebible.net/index.htm

Have you signed up for the Women’s Retreat? Click here for more information and to read about which women of the bible they’ll be discussing at the retreat. www.acfellowship.org/631661.ihtml

Want to start/join a book club? Email me at kare2write@hotmail.com if you are interested in reading/discussing the book “A Lineage of Grace” (Five stories of unlikely women who changed eternity): by Francine Rivers

I'll check back in next week and share which woman in the bible I can most relate to.

Who do YOU relate to?

Random facts: Number of times the word “woman” appears in this blog: 12

Have you ever had a day like the bird in this video? How about a season? This lovely little cardinal has been thrashing into our living room window for 3 whole months now! In fact, our family can count on him to say his "special hellos" on a daily basis. Sometimes I catch myself uttering: "how's that working for ya?" to my feathered friend. Other times, I think: "God are you trying to tell ME something?"

Some birds are very territorial and from what I've read, cardinals react aggressively when they see a reflection of themselves because they mistake the image for another bird.

How many times in our daily lives do we look in the mirror, mistake what we see and lash out. I'm not good enough. I have nothing to offer. I'm not worthy. I'm not smart enough for that job so why bother applying. Thrash. Thrash. Thrash. Thrash.

If we looked in the mirror and saw ourselves the way God created us to be how would that translate in our lives? If we stopped the lies: "My husband doesn't care how I feel" Thrash. "If only we had a bigger house..." Thrash. If I just lost 10 pounds then I could be..." Thrash.
God promises that if we follow Him, our lives will be on the right path.

Scripture says:
Psalm 32: 8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go: I will guide you with my eye

1 Corinthians 3:16, 17 Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit lives in you?

Romans: 12:2
“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.” (NIV)

Fly toward God my friends and watch as you soar...the beautiful creation he intended you to be.

Confessions Of A Stay AT Home Mom

My husband has this affectionate little nick name he likes to call me as he is frantically searching for his keys, wallet, sunglasses or work pass. It's starts with "honey have you seen my...." followed by: "honey I love you but you are a "closet stuffer!". Gasp. Me?

When people come to my home they tell me how clean my house is. If they happen to say it while my husband is standing there, I watch him bite his lower lip. "Closet stuffer!"

After I had my second baby girl I felt like I could hardly keep up. She had some tummy issues that seemed to be soothed if I walked around the house with her in my arms for hours. The dishes piled high, the laundry seemed to mock me as it grew and the clutter from daily life overwhelmed me so I started stuffing things in closets and drawers. It worked beautifully because, well you know, out of sight out of mind. That is, until years later the stuff I stuffed was forgotten and now lost without a trace. If you walked into my house you would think this girl has it together. Look how her floors shine. But if you came in and opened a closet door you would have to run for your life before the avalanche would devour you whole. If you've ever felt overwhelmed as a mom, you can understand how having a disorganized house can cause a domino effect...constantly looking for long lost things, waisting time and energy trying to get organized, being too tired to see what bad habits you've gotten into.

Recently while on a walk with my daughter I found myself praying this prayer: "Dear Lord, please show me the things I am doing wrong."

My eyes were opened to the things that I needed to pay attention to in my family. Things I needed to change. He revealed the things I was doing wrong so that I could fix them.

I need to pray that prayer more often because it was supernatural the way I was able to tackle the things that seemed so overwhelming. Wow.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed as a mom, grandmother, wife? If you try and manage your life on your own with everything the world is throwing at you, you are bound to at some point feel overwhelmed. You might start to believe that the only way to make your life look presentable is to start "stuffing" away your problems. Trust me. Out of sight and out of mind can prolong the mess and make everything worse. Ask God for help. Ask him to show you what you need to see and watch as he points to those closets and drawers and sets you FREE.

2 corinthians: 5:17 All things have become new.

He takes our burdens. He restores. He gives new life.

Love Hope and Faith

This Christmas as I danced through family visits, celebratory dinners, shopping trips, Christmas shows and the sweet moments of innocence I saw reflected in my children's faces, I saw beyond my own decorated door step into the lives of others...and it was there that the Lord shone his light revealing the true spirit of the season.

I saw a Godly woman tending to her husband who underwent triple bi pass surgery. I was struck by her words when I asked her how she was doing. She said: "I'm okay if he's okay." I will never forget those words. She is living proof of the wives we are called to be. Her hands reach out to the Father in LOVE.

I saw a mother sitting by her 11 year old son's hospital bed reading Christmas cards from loved ones. She's not sure how to ask the Lord for a new heart for her son but she trusts that whatever her prayer looks like, He will answer. Her hands reach out to the Father in HOPE.

I saw my dear friend at the mercy of her granddaughters cancer diagnoses praising God and giving Him the glory even though her heart was breaking. I watched her joy increase as she shared the most tender moments with her granddaughter... holding her little body tight in the midst of a storm. Her hands reach to out to the Father in FAITH.

I don't know what blessings or challenges lie ahead for me but I do know that I can aspire to be like the women I admire and I am thankful to a God whose loving arms receive those who reach for Him reminding us that there is the promise of something greater than our own understanding will allow.

May you have a joyous new year filled with love, hope and faith.

TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS KINDNESS

Colossians 3:17

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Giving in an authentic way doesn’t mean checking off a list and walking away announcing to the world your good deeds. It is giving with your whole heart. It’s taking the time to sit with someone, look them in the eye and tell them what they mean to you. It’s praying for that person. It’s hearing a prompting from the Lord and acting on it…. whether it be a gift of time, money, act of service or love… It’s not expecting anything in return. It’s giving and then thanking God for the opportunity in a quiet humble way.

Pay for coffee for the person standing behind you in line at Starbucks. Ask their name and pray for them when you get back to your car.

In your mother in law or daughter in laws Christmas card include a heartfelt letter about the things you admire about her.

Bring a neighbor something home made and yummy. Attach the recipe and a bible verse.

Engage a checkout clerk in conversation…you never know what her heart may be longing to hear.

Give your grandmother a foot massage and ask her to talk about her childhood with you. Tell her she is beautiful.

Offer to babysit your neighbor's children without wanting anything in return. Yes, the ones with the 6 kids and a dog! While you’re there, do the dishes or bake some cookies. Get on the floor and PLAY!

Write your husband a love letter and leave it in his car.

Make breakfast for your friends. Use your fancy dishes. Pray for them. Tell each lady what makes her special to you and how you see the Lord reflected through them. (someone did that for me recently and I felt SOOOOOOO special and loved! It made me want to pass it on.) Do this for your husband. Your in-laws. Your children.

Live in the moment and cherish it. While putting your kids to bed don’t be thinking about the tv shows you are missing or the laundry you have to put away. Just lay in bed with them and listen to their sweet hearts. Giggle with them. Love them. Pray for them.

Invite someone to church. Sit with them. Give them a hug. Tell them you care.

Give a homeless person some warm socks. Tell them you may never know what it’s like to walk in their shoes but you would sure like to make their journey a little warmer. Ask them their name. Pray for them.

The gift you can give yourself that doesn’t cost a penny….

Tell yourself: I am the daughter of a King. I want for nothing but His love. I need not change for the world. He made me just as He intended.

(So when the world screams at you that you need to be THINNER PRETTIER RICHER YOUNGER SMARTER FITTER BETTER. Throw your head back in laughter and stand firm in what you KNOW to be true. )

May you and your family see in each other God’s reflected love and kindness and may the gift of forgiveness through his only son renew and restore us all.

Merry Christmas dear friends!