New York

A few weeks ago I, with one of my very best friends, Amy, had the opportunity to go to New York to see another one of my very best friends, Lauren. This trip was a great reminder of what value friendship holds. These are friends that are more like family.

As I looked around in the city, I couldn't help but be reminded of our need for Jesus. One thing the people in New York are is self-sufficient. They have it all together, from the look of things. They are well dressed, have perfect jobs, modern apartments, and a nanny to take care of their kids. As I looked at some of these women, I noticed the emptiness in their eyes. We saw women walking with their children, on their day off, with, not a look of gratitude for time to spend with their children, but with a look of frustration at the inconvenience. The kids were being dragged behind their mom while their mom talked on the phone and shopped.

This got me to thinking about how thankful I am for being raised in a home that values family. I also respect my friend for living in a culture that values business and fashion above all else and still exemplifying what it means to be a Proverbs 31 woman.

So my thought for the post is...Check out Proverbs 31. Be empowered by it and live it out!

Little Boy

Here are the latest pictures. You get three for the price of one considering that I am seriously slacking when it comes to posting.

So, the topic of this post is little boys. Let them be boys!! There is a difference between misbehaving and being adventurous. Little boys are born with curiosity and adventure inside them. Carter is a very well-behaved, rowdy, gross, adventurous, dirty, fun-loving, smart, curious, loud, and brave little boy. I love every minute of it! He pushes the limits constantly of what makes me comfortable, but then I realize that he can do more than I realize. He is constantly proving to me that he is more capable and more independent than I know. God made little boys to be different from little girls, so why do we train our boys up to be feminine men?

This goes back to another post I have written about the man stepping up and being the man. I think we have discouraged men being men in our society. We discourage curiosity and adventure. Instead of teaching them to use the nature God has given them to glorify Him, we teach little boys that by being curious they are being "bad". Instead why don't we guide that curiosity towards God. Direct them to learn all they can about God and His creation and use every curious moment, every adventure or too loud moment in the store as a learning opportunity. Let's raise our boys up to be MEN that glorify and honor God. Raise them up to use the "wild" nature within to explore who God is and what God desires for them!

I love having a little boy and love the fact he sees the wonder around in God's world and wants to explore all of it. This doesn't come without a fear on my part and exhaustion at times. The boy can run me ragged!! Enjoy your little boy because one day he will grow up to be a man and you, mommy and daddy, have a huge part in what kind of man that will be!

Disclaimer: This is not an excuse to let your little boy run wild with no discipline. Like I said before, there is a difference in misbehaving and curiosity/an adventurous spirit. Little boys should still obey and show respect. There is an appropriate time to run wild and a time to practice self-control.

Family

This is my sister, Allie. She is an amazing person. She is strong and sweet all at the same time. She is a tomboy and beautiful all at the same time. Allie has so much to offer this world and if you are lucky enough to know her learn to appreciate who she really is! I love you Lallie.

This picture reminded me of the important place family holds in my life. My family, well, they are my best friends. I look to my parents and realize that they have been married for 29 years and seem to love each other more each day. They don't just love each other in the "I have know you forever and we have kids together" kind of way. They love each other with a new and old love all at the same time. I pray that at 29 years of marriage mine and Adam's love will look like theirs.

Then I think about my brother and sisters. As we get older and the age difference lessens in importance, we have become more than just siblings, but friends. We talk to each other. We have fun together and we can be real with each other.

Family is something, I feel, especially my generation, takes for granted. God blesses us with a family to love and support. Sometime they are easy to love and sometimes maybe they are the mission field that God is calling us to minister to. Either way, be thankful for the family you have and realize that God has a role for you in that family. You just have to be willing to accept it and be obedient.

I have also learned that God gives us new family members as life goes on. These members do not come from blood but from time and living life together. So, I am also very grateful for the family members God has blessed me with through life experiences.

Creation

It has been a while since my last post. I have good excuses! Adam, Carter and I are moving to Memphis to help with a church plant. Also, we are having another baby. Due to these two things I have been crazy busy and sick... mostly sick.

We went to the lake recently with Adam's family. As I looked across the lake, at the end of the day, and the way the light hit the water, I couldn't resist the photo opportunity. The thought to go along with the picture is a simple one. Even if I didn't have a bible or go to church, I think I would have to know God because I can see Him in His creation. This thought brought me to Romans 1:20 For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. All that to say that we have no excuse for not believing. Look around you. God is in all that you see in nature.

Friendship

I know I usually only post one picture a week, but I had more this time so count it as a bonus. One of my very best friends allowed me the privileged of taking these pictures of her beautiful children. This is my first time to take pictures for somebody else. I must say, I am pretty proud of the shots I was able to get.

Friendship is a wonderful thing. This family, that I took the pictures for, has become like family to us. I appreciate this friendship so much because it is easy and comfortable. The conversation is always good and uplifting. They hold us accountable as we do them. This is a family that we can lay our hearts out before and know that they are praying along with us. They are there when we need them and call when they need us. There is no need to compare or put on masks. Everyone is at ease and comfortable to be completely who they are. This is a family that I look forward to raising our children along side, even if it will be from a distance. They love God in a way that encourages me and I want my children to see. All the things listed above are what friendship is meant to be. Thanks Mounts for being that for us!!

Growing Up

The picture is a little grainy. Overall I like the shot. I have not had as much time as I would have liked to shoot due to the fact that Carter and I have both been sick.

This little boy is almost 20 months old. That means he is almost 4 months away from being 24 months old. For those of you who do not realize the significance of this, it means he will be 2 years old!!! My little fragile infant that I carried around so carefully and watched is every breath is turning into a full fledged romping wild and crazy little boy. Time passes so quickly and Carter is growing up so fast. This got me to thinking about life in general. The years pass by so quickly. I am a few weeks away from my 10 year high school reunion. I can't believe that I have been out of high school for 10 year, am married and have a child. I guess the point of all this is just to say that I have been thinking about life and how quickly it goes and wanting to make the most of it. By make the most of it I mean not wasting it. I don't want to be 95 looking back on my life, assuming I still have a clear enough mind to look back, and realize that I didn't make a difference. I want to know that I was obedient to my calling and that I loved as Christ loves. I want to put others before myself and care about the world more than just the comforts of my own home. Well, there you have it. Not a lot, considering that I was out for 2 weeks, but it is all I have right now.

Motherhood, Amazing Motherhood

Motherhood is an amazing thing. It has changed who I am as a person. I have found myself saying things I never thought I would say: "Homeschooling is really not a bad option." "What is the point of dating until you are of the age to get married? I want to learn more about this courting concept." "I need to get to bed earlier." "We could go out tonight, or we could stay home and rest."

Motherhood has made me view life and love with new enlightenment. I never really realized how much my mother loves me until I had Carter. It is a love that is unexplainable. It is a love that makes me want to be a better person because I know I am shepherding the life and heart of another soul.

Motherhood challenges me. I have learned a new level of patience since Carter has entered my life. Don't get me wrong, my little man is about as close to perfect as they come, if I do say so myself. Still, there is something about having a one and a half year old screaming bloody murder through Target, while everyone stares a me, that challenges my patience. I have also learned what it really means to put someone else's needs above my own. I have be challenged in my walk with God. I want to be an example to my children of what it means to follow God with all my heart.

Motherhood has made me a better person. I love being a mother with all my heart. I can't wait to have a house full of little ones. As much as I am suppose to be teaching Carter, he is teaching me.

Motherhood is a gift from God. It doesn't matter how God decided to enrich your family with children: pregnancy, adoption, foster parenting. God brings children into our lives in many ways and each one is a little blessing. Mothering a child is the greatest, toughest, most fun, hardest, most rewarding, least appreciated, most enriching, most blessed job that a woman can have.

Each one is also a little mission field. A girl in my Bible Study Fellowship small group made a comment the other day that I really liked. She said that even though we still should be reaching out to people in our community, as mothers of young children, we need to remember that we have a house full of little non-believers that we need to lead to Christ as well. I just thought this was encouraging and a challenge all at the same time. God has called all mothers to the mission field of motherhood. Will you take the call? Will you say, "Here I am, Lord, choose me? Will you remember that above all else (good behavior, being respected, being nice and polite, having good manners, having good grades, not screaming in Target) your little ones at home need Jesus?

Just when you begin to think that this is a season in your life where you can't serve because you have little ones at home, remember that is your mission field and the harvest is plentiful!!

The Man

Here is my man. He is a good, Ephesians 5 man. I am very proud of how he listens to God and leads our family.

Let me start by saying that my husband may just kill me for putting this picture on here. So, if this is my last post, you know what happened!

Adam was coming over the fence and I asked him to stop and let me take some pictures. I was just playing around with my camera, not really anticipating a good picture. The lighting was good and I like the background. Adam thought he would be funny and pose as a joke. The shot actually turned out pretty good, with no editing. It also went along very well with my topic choice of the day...The Man.

This Sunday, the pastor spoke about the role of a man. This sparked the blog topic because roles of men and women are something I feel very strongly about. I am a very traditional woman and I have traditional views about these roles. If you are an avid feminist, you may want to stop reading now. Just kidding!

You see, God created both man and woman. He created them equal, but with different purposes, desires, roles in mind. Over time these roles have been skewed and turned into the opposite of how God desires us to live. God created men to step up and lead their families. Ephesians 5:23 says that the husband is to be the head over his wife. Ephesians 5 goes on the say that the wife should submit to her husband. This is hard for us women and it goes all the way back to Eve in Genesis. Genesis 3:16 says, "Then he said to the woman,“I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy,and in pain you will give birth.And you will desire to control your husband,but he will rule over you. ” The part that is interesting to me is the part that say we will want to control our husbands. When I look at many relationships today this is what I see. I see the wife controlling and bossing her husband around and then complaining because he won't lead in the home. Ephesians 5 also says that men are to love their wives as Christ loves the church. If each of would take responsibility for the role God has given us and let the other take responsibility for their role, I think marriages would look a lot different.

In conclusion...

Men, step up. Be the leader in your home. Pray with your family. Initiate Christ-centered living in your home, with your wife and children. Encourage your wife. Remind her that her role is important and remember to lead with her not be the master of her.

Women, stand down and give your man the opportunity to lead your family the way God intended. Pray with your husband and children. Support and encourage your husband. Let your children know what a wonderful father God has given them.

We are created equal, but with different purposes. No role is less important, just different. If both of us are trying to be the man, then who is filling the role God has laid out for the woman. I think all of us would agree we do not want our men filling the woman's role. We want our men to be men and we have to let them.

Religion

So, I thought for my first entry I would just dive right into the deep waters.

Let me start by saying that I am saved by the grace of God and thankful for His forgiveness and provision in my life. My husband and I moved to Huntsville, AL about four and a half years ago. As an adult, I came to the realization that I had a lot of beliefs and no biblical truths to back them up. God has used the friends I have made and the church that I attend as sandpaper to rub out some rough spots. I have been more challenged in the last four and a half years than ever before in my life.

Now to the photo...

This past Sunday, Paul, our pastor, taught from Luke 6:1-11. This passage speaks to legalism - what has become religion in our society. In a lot of ways the "religion" has become the priority in the bible belt, where I live, and the relationship with Christ has taken the backseat. Let me just say, when I speak of religion I am speaking of the obsession with rules that God has given which leads to a changing of those rules by man.

In the Luke 6 passage, the Pharisees are confronting Jesus and His disciples with breaking the law of the Sabbath. The law of the Sabbath was given to man, by God, as a gift of rest and restoration. The Pharisees had added 39 laws to the original guidelines for the Sabbath. Jesus clearly points out in this passage that He is Lord, even over the Sabbath, and that human need, when serving the Lord, trumps rules and regulations.

We have to remember that there is no way we can ever be perfect. Christ must be our focus. When we are seeking after Him, our hearts will align with His. We will not have to focus on the rules because life will emulate Jesus.

We need to measure our life, not by rules or by what other people say, but by the life of Christ.