Wednesday Quickie

If you all are like me you are in full holiday swing.  Social calendars fill up, school parties, shopping and the list goes on. 

Honestly, this year I am not buying as much as I have in the past.  A personal choice for our family.  However, I have found a couple gifts that I thought I would share with you all too.  I don't know about you but I am always thankful for unique gift ideas that have meaning.

It's no secret if you are a regular reader of my blog that I love the devotional book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young.  So it's no surprise that I am telling you to buy this book for everyone you know and yourself too.  However did you know they make this devotional for different ages?  This year they made a copy for 2-4 year olds. Actually, it is not too "babyish" (Brynn's word) for my eight year olds either.  It is a beautifully illustrated Bible storybook.  If you are in my family and have a toddler aged child don't buy it because you are probably getting it from me.



Also something my sister, Stacy bought for me, Hidden in My Heart CD series is Bible scripture put to music.  It could be used as a lullaby CD for bedtime.  But often on crazy days when we are running around we play it in our car. It helps me to keep perspective and keep God at the forefront of my mind.  Not always easy. On the way to school this morning, which I would describe as hectic (maybe a little bit of an understatement) I hear my sweet Caroline singing along to it in the car.  The song was the Bible verse, " Be Still and Know that I am God."  She is being equipped for life with memorization of scripture and doesn't even know it;)  Perfect.



Hope your shopping goes well this year and that these ideas help.  You can buy them both on Amazon.com

Christmas Lights etc.

Christmas. I love it! One of my favorite times of year.  I love the sights, smells, and especially the music.  My radio is already faithfully set on the continuous Christmas station.  The sweet tune of "Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer" is whirling in my head. 

We put up our tree last weekend.  Yeah, the sentimental time turned out to be a little challenging. I had seriously built it up in my head.  Unfortunately, more than half of the lights on my pre lit Christmas tree did not light up.  Ben was at work and my brother in law hurt his back.  No help available.  So I just strung working strings of lights over the ones that were not cooperating   Necessity... the  mother of invention. Sit and cut the  non working lights off of the tree...no thank you.

After the debacle we lovingly, reminisced about each glitter colored toilet paper roll, paper angel, popsicle stick creation and of course our Baby Jesus ornament that plays music.  Aubrey informed me that she made almost 90% of the ornaments on our tree including the crystal one that says, "First Christmas Together Year 2000." 

Wrapped in blinking lights, red tulle, and covered in fancy and homemade ornaments our tree stands in all it's glory.  I have the lights turned on pretty much around the clock because it makes me happy.  The girls share my holiday enthusiasm.  But whoever thought we could create a beautiful, flashing object, with lots of colors and textures all decorated with a star on top, sit it in the middle of our house and tell children not to touch is crazy.  I have literally spent the last few days telling all four of my girls that they are going to knock the tree over and "Please look but don't touch."  Not excluding my 8 year olds...  We have already had two ornament casualties (um, now make that three) which shattered in a million pieces on the kitchen floor as a tiny human (who will remain nameless...I give you one guess) was bringing them to show me.

I learned early in my parenting career to put all ornaments I value at the very top of the tree.  The only way little hands can reach them or break them is if they tip the tree over.  I'm not saying that won't happen because it could very possibly happen, but it's added security.  I also know that about 2 weeks before Christmas the entire bottom half of our tree will be undecorated because I eventually get tired of picking up and rehanging the ornaments.

 It's all good.  It's worth it. Christmas is better with my kiddos.

Who knows our elf Jerry may reappear any day now.  However, Caroline is convinced this year he's not coming back because Anna touched him last year and she is positive he lost all his magic.

Let us enjoy the festivities and memories of the season. 

 

Isaiah 9:6 -- For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

 

Merry Christmas!

My mantle garland looked beautiful and was working beautifully, lights glowing perfectly and then today all the lights stopped working totally.  Sheesh...can this girl get a break from the light problems this year?

The Tree reminds us of Jesus.
Revelation 22:14

The ornaments reminds us that Jesus is the "precious stone."
1 Peter 2:4

The lights on the tree remind us that Jesus is the light of the world.
John 9:5

The lights on the tree also reminds us of Jesus and how he fills the universe and promises us we will shine like the stars.
Philippians 2:15

The presents under the tree remind us of the wise men and of the spiritual gift of faith.
Matthew 2:11
Romans 12:6

 

Hair Drying and God Speaking

I hear from God most clearly when I am drying my hair.  Go ahead and laugh.  It is funny but it's true.  Could be the hum of the hair dryer drowns out all the other noise that is constant in my house.  It is one moment in my day when I am relatively still and I stand in front of the mirror almost robotically to dry my hair and my mind always starts to wander.

I think about my life, my husband, my children and  trials my friends and family may be going through.  It is often a time when I pray for people who I have promised to pray for.  I don't take that lightly. That is one lesson God taught me through my own daughter's illness.  Don't flippantly tell people you are going to pray for them.  If you say it really do it.  They are counting on you. Do it while you dry your hair each morning;)

A couple of weeks ago, while drying my hair God put one of my girlfriends on my heart and a specific message I felt she needed to hear.  I immediately stopped and went to email her.  She called me a week later and told me that is exactly the encouragement she needed.  I never want to miss a time when God wants to use me to speak to someone.

Sunday morning I was thinking about my own life and some things I am worried about and the verse "The joy of the Lord is my strength," popped right into my head.  The last month or so the verse "Be still and know that I am God." seems to appear everywhere. It was a verse in my morning devotional, it was a title to a song on my daughter's lullaby tape, my sister has it written  on Caleb's nursery wall. Coincidence? I think not.  I had to smile.  "Okay God. I get what you are trying to tell me." 

I haven't always heard from God so clearly and I have been a Christian for many years.  I had the thought yesterday that in order for God speak to me He uses His word.  I haven't always had a consistent devotional time and I haven't always hungered for God's word.  Once I started making it a priority and I became more familiar with different Bible verses I saw how God used this to speak to me.

I had been thinking about all this the past few days and then I heard a song on the radio today as I was chauffeuring my kiddos to school.  I thought, "Okay God, I know you want this to be my next blog post and it prompted me to write today.  The chorus goes like this:

Word of God speak
Would you pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see
Your majesty
To be still and know
That you're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In your holiness
Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You
Beyond the music, beyond the noise
All that I need is to be with You
And in the quiet hear Your voice.

So whether it is while you are drying your hair, or running, or at night after the kids go to bed  or early in the morning over a hot cup of coffee ( or even luke warm...mine is always luke warm due to interruptions;) take some time to let Jesus speak to you.  If you delve into His word and learn it, it will be easier to discern what God is saying to you. It will give you peace in your own life and He will be able to use you to impact others.  Trust me there is a peace knowing that no matter what happens God is near.  I believe He is near to me and I am thankful.

 A picture of my hair actually dried and fixed!  I have to admit I have been pony tailing it up and slapping on a hat all too often lately.  Guess I should fix my hair everyday and give God a chance to speak!  There is some motivation!

A Challenge.

November.  I love November.  The hot, sticky Florida air cools down.  We open our windows and let the breeze refresh our home and our souls.  It's a first opportunity for new fuzzy sweatshirts and sparkly boots.

 

I have noticed over the past few years that people on Facebook are doing the 30 Days of Thankfulness and naming things they are thankful for each day.   What a great idea.  However, I want to propose a challenge.  Since people are very focused right now on the blessings in life take the time to bless someone else.

Step our of your box, your busy schedule, your everyday routine and take the time to brighten someone's day.  Take someone a meal, send a hand written note to let somebody know how special he/she is to you, pay for the persons dinner behind you in the drive thru line, drop by a friend's home with their favorite coffee, volunteer at the food pantry, take care of your neighbor's children for a few hours, donate some clothes to Goodwill, give money to a worthy cause.  That's just for starters.

I am just so convicted lately how easy it is to sit back stagnantly in our comfy, privileged lifestyles and tell everyone how blessed and thankful we are. Do we pay it forward?  God commands us to.

Actions speak louder than words. 

It's so true.

Not such a bad thing to get your kiddos involved in either.  Show them in a tangible way what it means to care and to give back.

 I am allowed to enjoy my blessings but, I must remember that the main reason for which God has blessed me is so I may be a blessing to others.

Christian love puts others above ourselves

"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others."  Philippians 2:3-4

"Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven."  Matthew 5:16

Stop talking, get up and go.

And by the way today and everyday I am thankful for the greatest blessings of my life.... my nest of little girls.  Oh how I love them so.

Do you think I can say the word blessing one more time in this post?  I need a thesaurus.

Blessings to you...hehehe.

Commit to Mitt

It's no secret that my husband and I are die hard republicans.  Honestly, some of our closest friends are democrats.  Nonetheless, we are trying to teach our children about the importance of voting and politics starting at a young age. 

We have had many discussions on an age appropriate level about why we are voting for Mitt Romney.  We have explained to our girls that we agree more with his "rules."  Ben and I even braved a Romney- Ryan rally in the sweltering Jacksonville heat to give our daughters the experience of a political rally. 

My little ladies now notice peoples bumper stickers on cars, yard signs and they recognize both candidates on t.v. in political advertisements.

We even had one of the ministers at our church tell us they saw us at the Romney rally and compliment us on taking our children. I was beginning to get the big head about what fantastic parents we are.

I have explained the election is just around the corner and that very soon we will learn who the winner is. 

During lunch yesterday, I overhear Caroline tell Aubrey she is voting for Mitt Romney and Caroline proceeds to ask Aubrey who she is voting for.  Aubrey stands up looks straight at me with her hands on her hips and replies indignantly, "Obama."

Wow.

My fourth child, Aubrey, I will describe as independent, strong willed and persistent.  No brainwashing going on in this family!

Obummer.

Details

After adopting Anna and Brynn I felt so complete.  However,  I told a close friend that one thing I regretted is that I would never know what my biological children would look like.  She stared at me blankly and replied, "They would look exactly like Anna and Brynn.  They look just like you and Ben."

A couple days later Ben and I walked into Cracker Barrel with my twins and the waitress greeted us saying, "Boy you can't deny those girls are your children, could they look anymore like you?"  I laughed politely.  God was trying to show me something...very tangibly.

He is in the details. 

My mother my sisters and I barely have a baby toe nail on our pinky toe at all.  We always make fun of our pinky toes.  Would you believe that Brynn barely has a baby toe nail either!?  It's like God said, "See Shannon trust me.  Believe that I am in every detail. No matter how small or how seemingly insignificant."  God has illustrated this in my life in very practical ways.

People always tell me that Aubrey and Caroline look exactly like their big sisters.  I grin and think,
"Why yes they do."  What a miracle that Anna and Brynn were brought into the world thousands of miles away by people we will never know.  However, they look just like my biological children.  A miracle.

And honestly, even if they didn't look like us it wouldn't matter but I think it's neat.

I know one of the greatest blessings of my life thus far, is how God has knitted my family together. So unconventionally.  I stare in amazement almost daily at how everything has turned out.  I have to smile when I think about having four daughters.

I am grateful when I see my daughters interact and know that they are sisters for life.  That God ordained their sisterhood before they were even conceived.

So although you may be facing other trials other than infertility or adoption, trust and know that God is in the details.  Don't forget, the details include timing.  That's a tough one huh?!  God is never early, never late, always on time.  Honestly, God has not once been on the same time frame as me!  I think I am going to stop praying for patience... 

Be still and know that I am God.   Psalm 46:10

H-O-T M-E-S-S

I've been a hot mess lately.  Truly a  H-O-T  M-E-S-S.  I am stressed out, tired,  grumpy, moody, disappointed.  Are you hooked to read more or shall I continue?  Yes, welcome to my pity party--dress is casual.

Yesterday I had two glasses of wine and took a Tylenol PM and went to bed at 8pm.

I usually pride myself on being able to pull myself up by my boot straps and thank God for my blessings and get on with my life.  Not lately.  And maybe that's why I haven't blogged.  Because I have not been able to practice what I preach.  I know better.  My head has the knowledge but my attitude and heart just aren't following along.

It annoys me that my kids don't really care about school and they don't really care about getting a good grade on a test.. I care.  I have come to the conclusion that I care too much and I have to stop. They are not responsible.  Anna and Brynn wouldn't even have their heads on straight if they weren't attached to their bodies.  When does it click that they need to be responsible for themselves and their school work?

Aubrey fights me on absolutely everything I ask her to do in a day. She is mentally and physically exhausting and I think I  may take her back to Baptist South Hospital and tell them I want a redo.  Just kidding-- kind of....  please don't turn me into child protective services.  Aubrey dumped a bag of Cheez Its on the floor in my kitchen yesterday.  I very nicely asked her to come and pick them up.  She promptly replied, "No." (of course she did) and proceeded to stomp on them so they were smashed all over the floor.  I literally felt my face turning red. But honestly, more than mad I felt defeated.  I have raised my children all similarly.  Why has this one seemed to turn out so differently?  My sweet neighbor Kara tried to reassure me that all kids have different personalities and that she just may be different than my other 3.  Maybe.  But she is killing me.  I have gray hair  Stop it.  Seriously.

The incessant amounts of paper and treasures and shoes and crayons that are constantly strewn all over my floor are annoying me to no end.  I even started fuming when I vacuumed the other day because I thought to myself, "There has to be more to life than this.."  I am over feeling like I am in the movie Groundhog Day.  Same thing over and over...different day. Cook, clean, laundry, childcare.  Cook, clean, laundry, childcare.

My children always have 5 reasons why they can't do what I ask of them and even when they finally grant my request they do it with an attitude and not joyfully. I am over it.

I know people have real problems in life like sick kids and lost jobs and failed marriages.  I want to shake myself but I can't.  So I apologize.  Just having a bad couple of weeks.

If you clicked on my blog to be encouraged forgive me.  Be encouraged that there are other mothers just like you,  doing the same stuff and having the same feelings.  Feelings that most mothers won't admit to because it makes them feel guilty and they feel people will think they are a bad parent.

I am being real.

One of my closest friends sent me this verse yesterday.  A bruised reed He will not break, and a smoldering wick He will not snuff out.  Isaiah 42:3

People today I am on my knees clinging to God's word!

On a happier note.  Sarah's wedding was beautiful and sentimental and everything wonderful I hoped it would be. My baby sis was the most gorgeous bride. And my munchkins did their duties with no problems.

My sister Stacy gave birth to a healthy baby boy, Caleb Tyler, who I am totally in love with.  I am even more thankful this week, that I can spoil him and hand him back to his very capable parents.  This girl is old and tired.

Finally, tomorrow I am going with my favorite girls to the Zac Brown Band concert.  Hopefully, my cowboy boots, little black dress, some friendship and great music will help get me out of my funk.

Pity party is over.  Thanks for coming and be careful on your way home.

Found this little note from Brynn.  Mama said it was my little gift from above.  I concur.