Sharing Thoughts

I recently had the opportunity to share some thoughts from the Word on parenting.  Why not take a moment this coming weekend and refresh yourself on God's view of this wonderful privilege we've been given? 

Click here to download.

Enjoy!

Dominique

PS - It's a great way to while away the time when folding clothes, doing dishes or cleaning bathrooms... not that any of us have to do those things on a regular basis or anything.

O Weary Mama

I glanced over at the verse of the day. 

 

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NASB

 

It reverberated through me. 

 

Strength is what I need for this particularly demanding week, a week chock full of meetings, 4-H details, sermon prep, vehicle trouble and research, decisions and everyday parenting. 

 

Then, I was confronted with this.

 

"You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." 2 Timothy 2:1 NASB

 

Strength and courage. 

 

Strength for the days I am weary. 

 

Strength and courage to fight the battles I don't want to fight. 

 

Strength and courage to avoid the easy path this week. 

 

There is just some whining I'd rather simply ignore.  There are just some attitudes in my children that it is easier and quicker to just look away and think about something else. 

 

But God's strength and courage are for me!

 

O weary mama, stand in His strength and courage.

I reminded myself that God is my strength and my portion;

He's the nourishment and sustenance I need today. (from Psalm 73:26, Isaiah 12:2)

 

My God is never weary or tired! 

 

I stop.  I wait on Him. 

 

I soak in His strength,

gaining what I need to lift up my weary head and be useful to the Master today. 

(from Isaiah 40:28-31, 2 Timothy 2:21)

 

Wait and take His strength and courage for your weary self today,

Dominique

PS - All photos from a recent jaunt to a local state park.

Yelling, Waterfalls & Perfect Timing

You knew that I prepared for Friday to be a great day.  Though the Texas Sheet Cake did not disappoint, that day did not go as I expected.

As I was waiting in a 3 ft radius of gravel on a back road in order to get one bar of cell reception, a lady on a horse yelled what she believed were State Forest regulations at me.  She yelled a lot.  And that is most definitely the short, tactful version of a story that concluded with me behind the closed window of my truck, smiling a genuine smile and saying, "Have a nice day," when she didn't want to just leave it be. 

 

I am happy to say that my sister in law did not get lost and neither did I. 

 

My relief on that score faded quickly as I was turning around on the back road.  My steering wheel was turning, but my tires weren't.  #imconfused

 

 

My faithful truck broke down. 

 

In the middle of nowhere. 

 

Right in the spot where we had cell reception. 

 

As my sister in law was driving up.

 

Clearly, after a phone call to Daddy to make arrangements for the tow truck, we still went about our venture.

 

And it was a glorious day.  The fellowship.  The joy.  The fresh air.  The utter serenity.  The laughter.  The jokes.  The adventure.  The perfection of it all. 

 

I'm breathing another sigh of happiness as I recall the "This is the best playdate ever!" comments.

 

After my sister in law adventurously stuffed her three Sprouts, my four Blossoms, herself, myself and my two (very large) dogs into her gypsy wagon, we journeyed homeward. 

 

The Rugged Mountain Man and our neighbor put their heads together on what's the matter with the truck. 

I'll spare you the gory mechanical details and just say that it's a big deal AND if it had happened when I was going 60 mph down the interstate, the results could have been disastrous. 

It could have been utterly devastating.

 

I have been nothing but soberly grateful ever since. 

 

Looking back over the circumstances of the last two months, we've had a slew of extra highway driving and trips. 

 

And yet, our truck broke down on a back road, when I was doing a three point turn, moving at a snail's pace.

 

This is why I can not be argued out of my faith in my God.

 

 

I've experienced His miraculous care and power personally time and again throughout my life. 

 

God will move in and guide your life, if you'll only surrender it completely to Him.

Ummmm...chocolate

It's gonna be a great day!

Goin' back to my roots with a Texas Sheet Cake, some time with family, an adventure and a little sunshine.  Sounds perfect to me!  Enjoy your summery weekend, friends!

Dominique

Sew Worth It

We've been in the throes of fair preparation.  The season has changed a little from my baby gorilla phase.  A little.  However, the chaos surrounding completing projects continues.  At the beginning of the day yesterday, I actually brainstormed activities for the littles to do while I supervised Blossom3 & Blossom4's creative ventures. 

 

 

I've decided that I'm truly done with play-doh.  It was set up outside and yet, there is still play-doh in my carpet.  #lowmesstolerance  In any case, my plan worked and we made progress yesterday.  Thank the Lord for wisdom for a mom's life.  The times of sewing with the girls have been sweet, despite the constant chaos.  Blossom2 declared it "the best day ever!"  Blossom1 kept saying, "I'm so glad you're teaching me to sew."  It makes it "sew" worth it. 

 

It's funny, this "little" project has served to remind me of purposeful living and purposeful parenting.  I've been reminded afresh to make decisions with the end in mind.  In this case, it's important to us that our girls have life skills, sewing being one of them.  With that end in mind, we chose a sewing project to stretch and enrich their current skills.  Yes, that means time.  Yes, it means money.  #haveyouseenthepriceoffabriclately  The end results will be skill mastery. 

 

 

And, true to the spirit of "littles," they are anxiously awaiting when Mama starts on their dresses.  So, I'm gonna go make breakfast now.  I'll ward off the "when are you gonna make my p'oject?" with the same response I've used for the last two weeks, plus a smile.  Lots of steady plodding going on around here, friends. 

Dominique