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.

Weddingness

It's wedding time.  We are gearing up for my baby sisters wedding on October 6th.  Maybe I have been more in tune to all the planning, expenses and details because honestly, I am scared to death.  I have four daughters.  I listen to my mother and I think to myself, "This is going to be me one day."  Take note.

The wedding festivities begin next week in Kentucky.  My girls have all their shoes and dresses ready to go.  I have my bridesmaid dress and have been reviewing up dos.  Mama has been working diligently on last minute details.   It's all so exciting.  Let's hope my girlies perform their flower girl and junior bridesmaid duties with grace and charm.  Let's hope.  I'm not promising. 

Sarah, my baby sister, the bride, is eleven years younger than me. I remember everything about her life from the time she was born. I recall the first time I held her, how she followed me around as a toddler and saying good bye to her as she and my family left me at college my freshman year.  At times I was more like a mother to her rather than a sister because I was so much older.  We are super close and I am proud of the intelligent (Did I mention she just got in physician's assistant school?), sweet, God fearing young woman she has become.  We are thrilled with her choice for a life mate.

I can't help but remember a trip Sarah took to stay with me a couple years ago.  She had just broken up with her long time boyfriend and she was  heartbroken.  We spent the week talking about life and faith, drinking sweet tea, shopping and discussing God's plan and how HE always works things out.  He see the big picture we don't.  I fully expected her to tell me to shut up during some of our conversations because, let's face it, sometimes it's just not what you want to hear in times of brokenheartedness.  But she took everything in stride and came through with grace.  It was one of the most special 10 days we have ever spent with each other just doing everyday life and having deep, meaningful conversations.

Shortly after returning home, Sarah met Cory and the rest is history.

 

So as her wedding approaches, I can't help but thank God for Sarah and Cory and the heart they share for the Lord. I anticipate with joy, the life they will have together.  Bless his heart he is about to enter quite a family;)  Welcome aboard buddy! 

I would like to offer a disclaimer to anyone who will be at the wedding.  I am a crier.  I'm not talking about  the dab your eyes with a tissue crier, I mean a blow your nose, ugly face crier.  I get emotional watching my daughters walk down the aisle as flower girls and junior bridesmaids and seeing my sister marry her prince charming. God's blessings so perfectly on display right in front of my eyes. So, I apologize in advance. I can't help it.

I will  take lots of pics of my girls and my nieces in their floofy (is that a word?) dresses.  Let's face it they would look good in a gunny sack. And let's pray that my sister Stacy, doesn't have baby number 3 until after the ceremony. 

During my wedding and my sister's wedding we have always claimed the saying, "No matter what happens today we will not let anyone steal our joy."  It helps keep our priorities in check and maintain perspective. I am claiming it now.  No Bridezillas in this fam.

The Crew before Stacy's wedding...

Let the celebration begin!  It's wedding time!

My Messy House

Happy fall y'all.  I have all my pumpkins out, my fall wreath on the door and the autumn harvest candle burning on my counter.  Yes, I know it is still 86 degrees.  I don't care.  I am pretending.  Don't ruin it for me.

Sorry I have been missing in action.  Between running all the kids to school, sports and regular wifely duties it seems sometimes I don't have a minute to do anything else and when I do I am way too tired to write.  But I do miss it.  It's my therapy.

I have been doing a Bible study on the book of James.  If you want a book to kick your butt read James.  Who knew this little book has so much to say?  You want to learn about trials, wisdom, controlling your tongue, being judgemental, worldly desires, faith vs.works and I could go on but you get the point...read James.  I have been doing the Beth Moore study and as my sister says, "Beth Moore can find insight in a ketchup packet", but it is true .  I don't regret carving the time out of my busy life it has truly blessed me.  Although, honestly 2 months ago I could have given you 20 reasons why there was no possible way I could fit a Bible study in my schedule.  But I did and I am glad.

Through the study I have met some really sweet girls.  We were all discussing something I thought I would share with you today.  We were discussing how whenever anyone calls and says that they are coming over we run around like mad women and wipe, and pick up and shove things in closets because we really don't want people to know how we "really" live.  I about died laughing because this is me.  Guilty.  I so do it.  Actually, everyone at my table admitted they do the same thing.  We are always trying to hide reality.  Reality would probably make us more approachable.  When my neighbor pops over, if my house is a wreck she would most likely think, "Great, I am not the only one."  How often do I not invite someone over or inside because of my messy house.  More often than I would like to admit.  It really doesn't matter.  My house was given to me by God and I need to use it for fellowship and His glory.  Mess or not.  So the next time you come over you may trip over a toy or two or thrity (for the sake of honesty), there may be pee on the toilet seat and you will definitely see dishes in the sink.  Don't judge.  I am working on being real.  Turning over a new leaf;)

The main reasons my house is always a mess...
Cute aren't they?

For our Faith to be real it must show in our lives.  If our faith is not evident we really don't believe.  Whoa. Girlfriend, that is a big one. As my mentor always says, "I'm still chewing on it."  So Lord, I pray you put people in my path that need a gentle touch and that I will not turn them away because I am prideful and have a messy house...

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit-fruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other. – John 15:16-17

I want to share a praise with you.  My sweet Anna who started at a new school this year brought home her interim report card last week.  Drum roll please... straight A's. My jaw hit the floor and I might have shed a few tears of joy..I said might.  The girl is taking off.  Flourishing I tell ya.  I am so relieved and happy and proud.  I give God all the Glory and I pat myself on the back for listening to my inner mommy. 

Happy hump day everyone!