Mark 15:46

So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the linen, and placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb.

Luke 23: 44-46

It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour, for the sun stopped shining....Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit."

When he had said this, he breathed his last.

Things to come...

I haven't posted in a few days....

I've had company in town and I've been working late hours at Starbuck's. But the truth be told, I've been sorting out some big decisions for our family with Bill and the Lord.

As you know, Bill and I made a life change and I went back to work 20+ hours per week. If you've read any previous posts, you will know that we are determined to pay off debt! We just knew that was the answer to our prayers.

Now we're making another life change....
We've decided I need to be back home full time.

If ever I doubted, or misunderstood, the value of a full-time wife and mother, I don't now. That job...that position....is so vital. My boys NEED their Momma to pour into their lives. If I'm tired, or emotionally unavailable or just plum NOT HERE, how can I do that? Bill also needs me. In order for him to do his job well... the job he loves and is so good at....then the home needs to be the least of his concerns. Home should be a place where he gets rested and can go back out the next day to slay dragons!

NOW DON'T GET ME WRONG.....I know that Momma's all over the globe work outside the home...and do it exceptionally well. Some don't have a choice. I completely understand that.

I am thankful that I have the privilege of being at home and I am realizing that God did not wire me to be a worker away from home. He has given me a heart for the home...and all things domestic. So, working outside the home has been very challenging for all of us.

So here I am, working my last two weeks. I pray I finish well. Yes, the debt is still there. Now we must pray and trust God even more. But....

This post is mostly about looking forward to the future. My sweet husband told me that after April 22nd, my full-time job (in addition to our children) is to SAVE us money. I am thrilled beyond belief!!! THIS energizes me!!! How fun is THAT challenge?!

There are some exceptional blogs and sites out there. There are tremendous resources available. I can't WAIT to see all the fabulous ideas; to learn new techniques and homemaking skills; and to "get to know" some of the best of the best frugal homemakers!

Stay tuned. I hope to share some great ideas with you along the way.

In the daily life of Mom...

I thought this poem was cute!



IF YOU GIVE A MOM A MUFFIN…

If you give a mom a muffin, she’ll want a cup of coffee to go with it.
She’ll pour herself a cup.
Her three-year-old will spill the coffee.
She’ll wipe it up.
Wiping the floor, she’ll find dirty socks.
She’ll remember she has to do laundry.
When she puts the laundry in the washer, she’ll trip over boots and bump into the freezer.
Bumping into the freezer will remind her she has to plan for supper.
She will get out a pound of hamburger.
She’ll look for her cookbook (”101 Things To Do With a Pound of Hamburger”).
The cookbook is sitting under a pile of mail.
She will see the phone bill, which is due tomorrow.
She will look for her checkbook.
The check book is in her purse that is being dumped out by her two-year-old.
She’ll smell something funny.
She’ll change the two year old’s diaper.
While she is changing the diaper, the phone will ring.
Her five-year-old will answer and hang up.
She’ll remember she wants to phone a friend for coffee.
Thinking of coffee will remind her that she was going to have a cup.
And chances are…
If she has a cup of coffee, her kids will have eaten the muffin that went with it.

by Kathy Fictorie

Perspective

It's all in how you look at a situation.....

Connection over coffee

I had the absolute PLEASURE of having coffee with a friend of mine this morning, whom I haven't seen since my wedding almost 7 years ago! She and her family lived across the street from me when I was growing up. Now, many years later, we connected again and met for coffee.

What an amazing "God thing" it was!

It's really fun to see God connect people, at just the right time.

We are two women who each:

(1)Love the Lord

(2)Want to serve him wholeheartedly

(3)Are both praying fiercely for something we know only God can provide

My prayer: Release from burdensome debt! God has immensely blessed her family in financial ways. Her story is amazing! God intervened in a rare and mighty way to help them out of a financial crisis. It happened in the blink of an eye! Something I haved dreamed about and can only hope and pray for. And something I can very easily be jealous of, if I'm not careful.

Her prayer: A child. God has richly blessed my family with two gorgeous boys. My story may not be magificent, but my children are God's gifts. She has been unable to conceive. I have something that she dreams about and hopes and prays for. And something she can very easily be jealous of, if she's not careful.

I wonder why God has reconnected us for such a time as this? Perhaps we can understand the depth of each other's longings. Maybe we can show compassion at a level others may not understand. Or maybe we can be a reminder to the other of God's blessings that are so easily taken for granted.

Whatever the reason may be...and I trust Him that there is one... I'm sure it will be something that teaches us more about Him. And I thank Him for the gift of friendship.

Pancakes....and voices

We are a pancake-eatin' family. We love them! So we're constantly trying out new recipes. My new favorite is a Whole Wheat Pancake recipe, courtesy of Crystal at Money Saving Mom. (The picture is Crystal's, too.)

We covered our pancakes this morning with strawberries, powdered sugar and maple syrup! They were utterly delish!

But it was during this yummy breakfast that yet again, God taught me about Himself.

My boys...precious as they may be, ARE, in fact, 4 and 2. As with any 4 and 2-year-olds, they say the word "Mommy!" a lot. A-L-O-T!

They also ask an abundance of questions. Many times the exact same question I gave them an answer to only 3 short minutes ago. Those of you who are Moms know exactly what I'm talking about!

Their voices are super cute. Tiny little voices I KNOW I'll miss down the line. But for now, sometimes it's like listening to long, sharp nails on a chalkboard. Merely the repetitiveness of it is too much for my nerves at times.

As I played the 101 question game this morning while preparing pancakes, I thought..."Does God ever feel this way about me? Do I just ask him the same old questions over and over and over again? Do I even stop and listen to his answers?"

And then I thought, (shriek) "Does he get irritated with me, too?"

That gentle voice somewhere inside reminded me....no...God loves to hear from me. I'm his child. I'm so grateful he never tires of hearing my voice or gets irritated by my questions. He is always gentle and patient. However, I'm certain he DOES want me to listen, just as I desire my own children to listen to instruction.

And then it dawned on me....my boys CONSTANTLY call my name because they want me to converse with them. They WANT me to be in relationship with them. They know my voice. It's comfort and reassurance to them. My voice tells them how much they are loved and cherished. My voice is safe.

What if we never spoke? We wouldn't know each other's voices! How tragic would that be.

In the same way, God desires relationship with me...and I desparately want (and need!) relationship with him. I'm glad we talk often, so I know his voice.

So, I sat...smiled...ate pancakes with my boys...and listened to the incessant talking and questioning. And adored it.

Whole Wheat Pancakes

3 cups whole-wheat flour (or a combination of whole-wheat/white)
3 Tablespoons sugar
3 teaspoons baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
3 beaten eggs
3 cups milk (you can use buttermilk or sour milk)
6 Tablespoons oil

Combine dry ingredients in one bowl. Combine wet ingredients in a separate bowl. Stir together just until moistened. Add additional milk to thin batter, if necessary.

Cook on a hot, lightly greased griddle or heavy skillet. Makes approximately 20 standard-sized pancakes.

(Thanks, Crystal!)