What To Do When Your Home Lacks Peace

For the last couple of weeks, I seemed to be having a lot of nightmares, headaches, and feelings of exhaustion. I also noticed myself snapping at one of the kids in particular. He could have come downstairs and casually said, "How's it going?" and I could have easily bitten his head off with irritation. I mentioned this to my husband who prayed with me. But again last night, I had such an intense nightmare about one of the kids. I felt troubled all morning.

At lunch today, my husband came home because he felt like we should pray over our house. I believe the first words out of my mouth were, "Could you get someone from church to come over here and pray with you?" I was pretty sure my prayers were not going to do the trick and I even felt irritated that he was asking me to do this. After all, does God even hear me when I feel like this? Yes, of course He does or where would anyone of us be? If He waited until I was living a perfect life, why would I need His help?  I think He has great compassion on us on our bad days or when we are going through a difficult time. And the fact is, it helped me as I stepped out in faith.

If you are familiar with the Bible, you may recall a story out of Exodus where God instructed Moses to put the blood of a lamb on the sides and tops of the doorframes of the house, so that the angel of death would pass over them. He told Moses, "No destructive plague will touch you when I strike Egypt...I will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down." (Exodus 12) It is interesting to me that they were required to take this step in order to be safe. It wasn't a matter of just praying, but also action.

Today, we anointed each doorframe in our home with oil - both inside and out.  I took the upstairs rooms and Dave took the downstairs. I said a simple prayer, "Lord, I break every assignment of the enemy to disrupt our family."

I had to leave shortly after to drop off one of our children, but I noticed that when I came back, my headache was gone and I felt more peaceful.

Sometimes we need to take action over our homes. It shouldn't come as a surprise to us that we have an enemy that views our family seriously. We need to take him seriously as well in that we have the authority needed to disrupt and change his plans. We aren't supposed to just helplessly watch as he goes about on his mission which is to "steal, kill, and destroy". That is what he is all about. He has no other purposes for you or your home than those.

A lot of you reading may be Christians and so this is nothing new to you. But if this is a new concept to you and you have felt your home lacks peace, I encourage you to do the same. You don't have to pray an eloquent prayer. I certainly didn't. But each time I came to another door of our home, I realized that I had the authority, given to me by Jesus, to break off every plan of our very real enemy.

Father, I bless each person reading this. If they don't know You, I pray that You will invade their life and make Yourself real to them where they are today. I speak supernatural visitations over each one of them. If they need peace in their home, I bless them and their home with peace and bind every assignment over their home. In Jesus' name - amen.

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10 things moms do at Target

10 things moms do at Target  I wish I'd thought of this! It's a great read for all of us Target lovers:)

To Young Moms

To all young mothers...I remember!

I remember several years back standing in our kitchen at Teen Challenge. I had four children and the oldest was 2 1/2 years old. Two of the children had special needs. It was probably about 8:00 in the morning and I was tired and hungry. Of course, there was food in the house. I had eggs in our refrigerator, but I was too tired to make them. I distinctly remember looking out the window and wishing there was something like a food truck for mothers that would drive up and deliver scrambled eggs, bacon and a glass of orange juice to me. (By the way, I still think that is a million dollar idea. My sales pitch would be..."Up all night? Let Kathy deliver your breakfast this morning." ha ha)

I also remember wishing I could just grab my purse and the kids and go to Walmart. There was no such thing as a simple, spontaneous shopping trip. To take both of the kids who had special needs on my own, just wasn't possible.

Overwhelmed, exhausted...those were normal feelings during those years.

My husband was a hero because oftentimes, he would come home right after work, take one look at his frazzled wife and say these magic words, "Let's load up!" We would load all the kids into our van and head off to Des Moines for McDonalds, a walk around a mall, or go to Sam's Club to buy lots of cereal! Just getting out for a couple of hours was such a lifesaver for me in those days.

As the kids got a little bigger, we bought a side by side umbrella stroller. That made taking a walk a little easier. (Our twins had CP and weren't able to walk.) Whenever we would  take the kids to Mississippi to visit my parents, my dad would put our very fussy twins in the stroller and walk them up and down the driveway. They were magically quiet during those outings and would come back inside with suntanned faces. My mom would then stuff them with pudding and for an hour or so, all would be quiet. That was quite a gift to me!

I remember how hard those days were. I remember being very sick with intense morning sickness and trying to take care of the kids I already had. There would always come a point where I couldn't do it anymore and Dave's mom would come and stay a few weeks until I could get back on my feet again.

I just wanted to say to all of you young mothers that I remember. It will get easier. Things will get better. It won't always be this hard.

Ask a friend to come and play with the kids while you take a shower. My friend, Nancy, would walk over from the ministry building where we lived, and sit in the livingroom with all the kids just so I could have 5 or 10 minutes to take a shower. She also gave up her lunch hour to sit with the kids once a week so that I could drive to Newton and go to Walmart. Sometimes I would take a couple of the kids with me and sometimes I would go alone.

We started putting the kids to bed early. That way we were able to have 1 or 2 hours to watch a movie or just talk.

One of our kids had severe health issues, so taking a trip away wasn't an option for us, but little things like taking a walk or having my husband take the kids for a walk so I could be alone in the house (!) meant so much. When I did feel comfortable leaving for awhile, I left a long list for the babysitter. I was and am very OCD, so I actually left detailed steps on how to do CPR. I laugh about that now, but I wasn't taking any chances! It's a wonder that I didn't demand references.

It won't always be this hard and believe it or not, you will look back on these days with fondness. You are doing a great job at something that isn't easy. You are investing your time and love into little ones that will remember that you read books to them, made them peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, and watched them splash in kiddy pools.

I remember and I want you to know that it will all be worth it!

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15 Random Things About Me

Here is a list in no particular order that you might like to know about me (or not). Here we go!

1. I watch Arthur, Good Luck Charlie, and Austin and Ally even when there are no kids in the room or I happen to be alone in the house.

2. I love fried okra. It is my all time favorite food. I will even eat it boiled. But fried okra is one of my heart's true loves.

3. Sonic is another love. Do you have a Sonic drive- in where you live? You have to try a cherry coke there or a cherry limeade. I love pulling in and ordering food. It's kind of a miracle. You sit in your car and they bring you food.

4. I had my first child at age 28 and my last child at age 42. I actually had my first three kids in one year. My first was born in February of 1991 and 9 months later our twins were born prematurely in November. I don't recommend doing it that way.

5. My favorite comedy movie is Father of the Bride with Steve Martin. . My favorite dramatic movie is Slumdog Millionaire. God spoke to me during that movie. It changed my life. I will blog about that again soon.

6.I have shaken hands with two Presidents - President Clinton and President Bush. Well, actually, I think President Clinton shook my little boy's hand who I was holding at the time. He may or may not have shaken mine. I was a little flustered.  I have a family photo taken with President Bush sitting in my husband's office.

7. I grew up in church, but sincerely gave my heart to the Lord when I was 19 years old.

8. I met my husband at a Bible college in Louisiana. We have been married for 24 years and he has been a pastor for 11 years. God spoke to my heart when I was 21 years old that I would meet my husband at Bible college and that is exactly what happened.

9. We lived and worked at Teen Challenge for 14 years.It is a ministry that helps people with addictions such as drugs and alcohol. My husband graduated from the Teen Challenge program when he was 19.

10. I really miss Jon and Kate Plus 8. I still watch their old dvd episodes. Wouldn't it be great if they could forgive one another and get back together? I always pray for happy endings. It could happen.

11. I also watch 19 Kids and Counting. Michelle Duggar fascinates me. I love to watch how she takes care of her family. I love their message that each child is valuable, no matter how many you have.

12. I started out as an English major in college but switched to Elementary Education. I taught 2nd grade.

13. My brother is a police officer.

14. I have never parachuted from a plane and have no plans to do so.

15.I love Thanksgiving. It is my favorite holiday. I don't even know exactly why. But I truly love it!

Well, there you go. I have probably left out many interesting tidbits that I will remember at 3 am tomorrow morning. Maybe another time and another blog:) Have a blessed and happy day!



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Living for the Applause of Heaven

I've written before about monotony and about invisibility. I've talked about the beauty of mundane life. (Mundane life takes on an extraordinary beauty when trials have hit us unexpectedly.) But today I want to share something I've been thinking about for a few days now. The Bible says our lives are hidden in Christ ( "For you died, and your life is now hidden in Christ with God." Colossians 3:3)  That's a lovely thought, but it also makes me think of many of us whose outward lives may not look like a lot to the world - in fact, you could say that we are almost hidden away. But in that hiddenness is a beautiful look into God's heart.

Much of my day to day life is spent caring for our daughter who has cerebral palsy. It isn't what I would have chosen my life to look like. It certainly isn't what I wanted for her.  I also don't think that God has "assigned" our daughter this terrible disability, though at times, I've wondered. There's been thoughts like, "Is this disability supposed to develop our character? Make us stronger?" No, I don't think so.  What I do know is that I took His hand, sometimes hesitantly, and began walking with Him through this unexpected time of life. I've talked, cried, and poured out my heart to Him. I've questioned Him, raged at Him, and fell asleep while crying and talking with Him about her condition and future.

There seems no end to the work involved in caring for our daughter.That is just a statement of our lives.  I don't always have a good attitude about it. Sometimes I long for a day of no real commitment. I can't even imagine what that would be like. There is a lot of repetition of her daily care and a lot of anguish in my heart on some days. There have been many times where I've left her room after putting her to bed or giving her lunch, only to stop and cry as I'm going back upstairs. The "whys?" in my heart have had no answers. The "whys" are not just for myself, but for my daughter also. It is a terrible thing when the dreams you've had have died. But even those crushed, broken dreams and heart have to be offered to Him.

There are so many dreams I have for her.  I want her to have the chance to not only pursue her own dreams, but to do the little things we take for granted. I want to see her be able to take a shower any time she feels like it, to get up in the middle of the night to get a drink, to be able to curl her hair and put on her make up, to do her nails, to wear high heels and a pretty dress, to run down the road just for fun, to drive with the top down in a convertible, to go through a drive through to order a Coke, to create a sandwich just the way she likes it, to hold her little brother's hand as they take a walk together, to get up in the middle of the night and watch a movie, to go to Target and buy whatever shampoo she'd like to try, to go and get her hair cut, to have a pedicure, to walk around the mall and window shop, to go to the movies with a friend, or to sit in her sister's room and just talk.

 Will these dreams for her ever be? I don't know. I hope so. My faith feels tired, but it is still there. I know that Jesus is my friend and that He knows and sees and understands. I don't understand the "whys", but I know I can trust Him with everything that is dear to my heart.

 I see Jesus differently than I used to. If you had asked me about Him before, I could have given you a nice, heartfelt "Christian" answer. But He would have sounded like a very sanitized historical figure. I think my knowledge of Him and relationship with Him was limited at best. There is something about walking through a crushing time with Him that forces you to get to know Him in a way you might not have been able to before. It is kind of like, "Oh, I can see You now!" Where as before, it seemed like I was squinting to get a good look.

 God has been speaking to me about the hiddenness of my life (and your life if you are reading this and feel this is speaking to you) and living for the applause of Heaven. When life here has ended, all that will really matter is what we have offered up to Him and the obedience we have walked in (sometimes with our extremely limited vision.)  I think we will be surprised when we arrive in Heaven one day. I never think of myself as anyone special, and maybe you feel your life isn't anything special, but I think on that day, our eyes will be opened to what our lives have looked like to Him on that side of eternity.

Everything I've ever offered up to Him, for Him, has not been forgotten by Him. (Even the things I've forgotten about.) He remembers what you have given Him. He sees every tear you've cried when you've been by yourself whether it was tears of exhaustion, sorrow, rejection, or not understanding why all these things in your life are happening.  You've made the choice to walk with Him even through the pain of not understanding. You have made the choice to love Him despite what is taking place around you. He will not forget your choice, your heart, or your life.

Your life is hidden with Christ in God. There may not be applause or recognition right now. That is okay. "...your alms (giving) may be in secret and your Father which sees in secret himself shall reward you openly." Matt. 6:4


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It's the Little Things

This is what I wake up to most mornings.

 My husband gets up many mornings at 5 am to get ready for early morning appointments, makes the coffee, and sets my cup out with a spoon and a packet of Truvia.


It always makes me smile when I see my cup ready to go. ( I like to add sugar free vanilla creamer and a bit of sf vanilla syrup to mine also.)


Until I have that first cup of coffee, I sound like the teacher from Charlie Brown. Listen below:

                                                                         courtesy Youtube


My husband is a great man who also indulges me in my Sonic addiction of tator tots with cheese and a cherry Coke. (I've cut way back on these, but still enjoy them once in a blue moon). Sonic is one of my true loves!

courtesy Google

What are the little things your husband does for you? It's those things that mean so much!






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Beauty on a Budget

I was kind of awful looking from 7th grade until maybe about seventeen..  I had very thick, coarse hair ( and still do), bushy eyebrows, freckles, big teeth (maybe it's nicer to say a big smile), and I was tall and skinny. Either my pants were too short or too long. I didn't really know how to do anything to improve myself. It certainly didn't help that I also had  sciolosis and had to constantly remind myself to stand up straight. Yes, you get the picture.

I wouldn't say I was anything special now, but it is a huge improvement from then!!


Some of the things I've used and loved for skin and make up are:

$7.94 for 2

Noxzema. I've used this since I was about sixteen.  It's been around forever, but really cleans your face gently and well. I read an article once about a little old lady that used Noxzema and still had a peaches and cream complexion. So here's hoping for those results!


Neutrogena Healthy Skin Anti-Wrinkle Cream has retinol and is very gentle.

$11.47 for Neutrogena

Aveeno Scrub Facial Pads. I love how luxurious these feel on my face.

Aveeo $6.47

I also use Avalon's Vitamin C from time to time. It smells like grapefruit, which I like:)

Vitamin C Face Wash $8.67

Flat Iron (Oh, WHY didn't someone invent you back in junior high?? Waaaa!)

Remington flat iron $39.99

Garnier Straightening Hair Cream (This does seem to help with my very thick, unruly hair)

Garnier Blow Dry cream $3.47

Eyelash curler (To me, this is the most important thing you can use on your eyes). On a side note, it totally freaked out my husband the first time he saw me using this contraption on my eyes. lol

eye lash curler $5

Kate Moss lipstick. This can be found for under $5 at Walmart or Target.

My favorite perfume - Juicy Couture - is one splurge, but I can make it last for a long time.

For the past three years, I've been investing in manicures. It makes such a difference in how my hands look. I get positive comments about my nails quite often. There is an initial investment for acrylic nails, but it only costs about $15 every 3 weeks to keep them up. It's a little thing that I do for myself.

When I think of beauty, I always think of my grandma. Even in her eighties, she was dying her hair jet black AND had some Glamour Shots taken! Remember those?  She was a pretty lady even as she got older. She told me once that she still felt eighteen inside and was surprised when she looked in the mirror and saw an older woman looking back at her.  She acted young because she felt young. She was so much fun!



I just turned the big  "50"  recently. I don't feel 50. I have a 7 year old! Life is sweet.

I think I shall take after my grandma:)


I'd love to hear your favorite buys!


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What's the Soundtrack to Your Life?

Have you ever thought what it would be like if there was background music to our daily lives? I have comical thoughts like that from time to time.

Such as when I'm going into our laundry room...

 

 

Well, that might be too scary. I think I just scared myself.

 

 

 

But sometimes when I want to sit down and write, I do use music to help me put my thoughts on paper.

 

 

 

 

One of my very favorites is the soundtrack to the movie Little Women (Wynona Ryder version).

 

 

 

It is so beautiful.

 

 

 

 

 

Gone with the Wind also has a beautiful theme song.

 

 

 

 

So does Gladiator.

 

 

 

 

 "Latika's Theme" from the movie Slumdog Millionaire is another favorite.

 My son votes for Mission Impossible. Hmmm...that would work on days when I can't seem to get ahead of the housework:)

 

 

 

One last one is the song "Worthy of It All". This is a clip of that song. Jesus is what makes life have any meaning at all.

 

 

 

 

 

What about you? What songs would you choose for your life?

 

*All video clips courtesy of Youtube

 

*If you receive this post via email, you may need to click on the actual title to see the links.

 

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Evan's First Message

Here's a photo of our oldest son giving his first message for youth group last night.

http://bit.ly/15wsKQR  Click on the link to read about "The Gospel According to Paperman".

We're proud of you, Ev!

I Love Cookbooks!

Let's say that I was in your home and you had to do some errands. Just give me a stack of your cookbooks, set me in a chair next to a window, and I would be happy as a clam for a couple of hours.

I'm not a chef - not even close! I make the same things in rotation all the time. I enjoy baking more than I do cooking a meal. But I do love looking at cookbooks. There is something almost therapeutic about it.

There are websites that I love such as www.thepioneerwoman.com  She is an awesome cook with great, easy to follow recipes. I also find a lot of recipes via blogs.

But there is something about holding a cookbook in your hand. I especially love church cookbooks. Those tend to have tried and true recipes that are good for families.

Here are some of the ones I turn to over and over:

The Pioneer Woman Cooks  by Ree Drummond

Anything by Paula Deen - She makes the kinds of food I grew up eating. My favorite meals are still just about anything fried  with a glass of sweet tea.    
Southern Plate - Christy Jordan
Southern Generations - printed by the Junior Auxiillary of Starkville, Mississippi
Betty Crocker Cookbook
past issues of  Southern Living magazines

and 2 cookbooks that have long ago lost their covers.

One was a gift from my mother-in-law which she had bought from First Church of the Open Bible and the other is Life After Pizza which has one of my favorite dessert recipes pictured below. You can see how used this recipe has been by the chocolate pudding splatters across the page.

Oh my, this is good stuff.


Also, in case you might be interested, this is my recipe organizing system.

I know, pretty impressive, right? But I can generally find what I'm looking for. One of these days I will get to organizing it. Probably after the kids are grown and then I'll be too sentimental to change anything.


What about you? What are your favorite cookbooks? Do you feel like yours are old friends?



Happy Spring!

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