What an honor....

Judah, our (85 lb.) Belgian Tervuren, enjoying a
snow fall a few weeks ago. 

Today I've had the great honor of guest blogging for my dear friend, Chris. She's written for me before and now I get to repay her the favor.

You can check it out on her blog, This is the Life.

Don't forget to sign up (just over there, to the right and down a bit) to become a follower of my blog. You can also leave a comment anytime you wish...I would LOVE to hear from you!

The 7th Year- week 1

Two days ago I began a journey- a 52 week journey of spiritual formation. I am walking this journey with a new friend and together we will discuss a variety of topics- everything   from mapping our life’s journey to our personal theologies of time and our honest relationship with the Bible. 

I will be sharing my thoughts about this journey, called The 7th Year, with you as I go. I hope you’ll cheer me on during the weeks it get’s tough...and maybe begin the journey yourself. 

The 7th Year, written and hosted by Alicia Britt Chole, is an e-journey. Each week I get an email with a some thought provoking material and a guided discussion/activity. My friend and I will discuss our thoughts on the weekly email- in person and electronically...whichever suits our week the best. 

I was intrigued by the title- The 7th Year. Chole writes that 

“When we study the biblical passages about the 7th, Sabbath, year, this command contains several challenging components:

• Rest the land and hear the Law
• Release slaves and cancel debts

• Make no profit and give generously.

In an agricultural community, such a year would drastically change the fabric of a community. Space would be startling (and space is very telling).

The 7th Year is a focused space, neither extra nor empty, but devoted and healing.

There is something in the name, The 7th Year, that marries hope—a life-giving yet invisible substance—with a participation that is tangible. There is something about the name that fuses a fragrant, timeless mystery with a compelling, timely invitation.”

Doesn’t that just make you want to sit still and join me? If this strikes you as AWESOME, you can download a free sample of her email....you can read what I got to read this last week. You can do the activity- mapping your life- that I was able to do. Visit her website www.the7thyear.com and see for yourself! 

Heartache and hope- things the 7th year allows. 

All this talk about 7 years and life mapping causes me to ask what have I been doing the last 7 years of my life. Thinking back to February 2005.... Gil and I were in our second year of marriage. We were in the first year as directors of Chi Alpha Campus Ministry at Longwood University. We didn't have kids yet. We lived on Franklin Street in a super cute little house. And the previous month I asked Annette to mentor me- certainly a life-changing moment. (You can read her own wise words here and here.) The last 7 years have brought about such change in my life. I have fought battles that ended in victory and defeat, I have made choices that brought life-long lessons, I have found friends that will remain close despite miles, and hopefully, I have gained some wisdom from all of it. This season of itinerating for Chi Alpha @ Uconn and transition from VA to CT has caused my to ask questions that have never crossed my mind, confront unspoken and internal values I gathered somewhere in life, and walk a faith tightrope like never before. 

I am up for a year of Sabbath. In a somewhat literal sense and entirely figurative sense, I am ready to step back and think through this life of mine. 

Has the soil where life has taken place been stripped of it's nutrients? Would a time of rest/sabbath/fallow replenish the components necessary for healthy life? 

New Seeds Family Worship CD!

I have the fun opportunity to help promote a new release of one of my favorite family products! Seeds Family Worship produces CD's that teach scripture without the annoying high-pitched sounds often found in cheesy kids music. I love their songs!

Another thing I love about Seeds Worship CD's is when you buy one (rather than downloading from iTunes) you are given a second full cd and sleeve for free..... to share with a friend. Each time we buy a cd, we are able to bless another family with some great music.

You can hear some of their songs here.

But since it's Valentine's Day and Seeds Family Worship wants everyone to know that Valentine's Day can be about celebrating God's love and call for purity! They are releasing a new CD all about purity.

Seeds Family Worship releases their newest CD,
PURITY!

As a gift to you, Seeds is offering a free download to parents that take their Parent's Purity Challenge....which calls parents to commit to things like;
- using language in public and private that we'd want our kids using,
- only reading and watching media that is edifying,
- showing reverence for the relationship of a man and a woman in marriage,
- teaching our kids a biblical worldview,
- reminding our kids of their identity in Christ,
- teaching our kids to seek and cherish company that encourages right behavior,
- pray daily for our kids, and
- helping our kids become patient in all things- especially not seeking romantic relationships too early in life.

Parents, you can sign this pledge and click through to a free Seeds download.

Guest Blogger: Annette Hertzler- Spend Time With Your Treasure

A&L- Christmas 2011

And here it is, friends! The much anticipated blog post from my dearest Annette. Most people who know me, know about her....if not know her personally. I wish the entire world could spend the time sitting at her farmhouse kitchen table as I have....but then there wouldn't have been time for me! She and I started our friendship because I was given an assignment to find a mentor in my life- someone to help me along in the process of becoming a Godly woman and wife. We became kindred spirits quickly and our families knit themselves together closer than I ever thought possible. Her mentorship and guidance also taught me to the mom I am today. Friends often ask how it all happened, but that's so hard to answer... it was two lives intentionally lived together...a complete God-thing. We are real and honest with each other. She knows more about me than anyone. She's the one when I call when I win and fail at life. She's cried with me, rejoiced with me, straightened me out, and allowed me to sleep when it seemed no one else would. 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Gifts To Enjoy

       God enjoys us. I believe He created us for His enjoyment. I read recently that there are three things children need. They need security, significance, and purpose. Adults need these things too. Being enjoyed and loved by God gives us security, significance, and purpose.

    God gives us children for our enjoyment. In 1 Timothy 6:17, the writer exhorts us to "trust in the living God...who has given us richly all things to enjoy." If you enjoy each stage of your child's development, you will most likely enjoy each stage of your child's development. Yes, I said that twice. You may even be asked if the little girl in your grocery cart is your grand-child because you are enjoying her so much.

     We worry too much about doing it right and God says, "Just enjoy the gift I've given you." When you enjoy your child you will most likely be in good relationship with your child. Healthy discipline stems from that good relationship which is rooted in love and love never fails. Love never fails.

     When my first child, Freeman, was two, I wrote a little poem called "Treasures." I share it with you here.

My house is in a shambles,

The garden's full of weeds,

The trashcan smells suspicious

and the toilet bowl has needs.

But I am with my baby

and he's showing me the sky,

an ant who's on a journey,

and a flitting butterfly.

My housework never will leave home

But one day all too soon,

Our son will walk out of our door-

Whistling freedom's tune.

So spend time with your treasure-

Don't fuss about the dust.

Your baby is eternal,

Your gold that will not rust.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

God enjoys you, His treasure.

Enjoy your treasure, too.

Annette Hertzler

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Several years after our friendship began, I was taking a class about women's ministry and was given another assignment to serve as a reverse-mentor for someone. Naturally, I wanted to help Annette learn something new! She and I had spend some time talking about how important writing was to her- she wanted to write things down for her kids to have later in life. I offered to teach her to blog and within a few posts, she was hooked! You can find hundreds of wise treasures like you've just read on her blog, www.anniesgleanings.blogspot.com Please jump over to her site and grab a nice cup of tea and soak in her words. She's a keeper! 

Thanks, Annette, for sharing on my blog! I LOVE it....let's do it again! 

Another Guest Blogger!

On Monday, I will host my second guest blogger! I can not wait to share with you what she has written!!!

To my Farmville friends, you are going to love this.....prepare yourself.


To my new Connecticut friends, you are going to love this....prepare yourself.

I love my guest blogger and I know you will be blessed by what she has written. Check back on Monday!!!

Here's a horrible reach-out-your-arm shot of us on a date. Where did we end up? Trying on bomber hats at L.L.Bean. We're dorks, but we are learning our way around true winter weather gear. These even have little ear flaps you can raise to allow hearing while the larger side flaps are lowered and tied around your chin. We've love to get some (despite the unattractiveness), but with a $50+ price tag, I think we'll wait! Enjoy your wintery weather this weekend~

help is on the way...

I asked her to go upstairs and pick up the Angelina toy set she was playing with earlier. I would be right behind her to start the bath water. She’s about to turn 4 and I knew she could do the task. I few minutes later, she was back in the kitchen and I asked her if the toys were picked up. 

“It’s too many for me.” 

A little file folder in the back of my mental “mothering” drawer began jumping around and reminded me of a snippet of time when my first was a toddler. She had scattered all of the offering envelopes and welcome cards found in the pew rack in church. From the other end of the row, I told her to pick them up before giving anyone hugs. Gigantic tears flowed. Someone near and dear simply asked her older daughter to help mine and said, “sometimes the task just looks too big to start.” 

This flashback caused me to think wisely, so I asked my brown-eyed beauty to head back upstairs and just pick up Angelina’s table and chairs. I told her I would help with the rest. 

“Just her table and chairs? I can do that!” and up she went. 

I have a huge task ahead and I’ve been avoiding it because it just feels too big for me. Not only do I feel this way about my big assignment looming nearby, but I feel similarly about my inability to live righteously. 

“It’s just too big for me.” 

But I have to start somewhere. I can take it a piece at a time and work my way through until it’s done. However, it isn’t so easy with living like Jesus. With his help, I can take it a little at the time and work on areas that need adjusting. I don’t always have a good attitude or put others first. I’m not always respectful of the people who need it most in my life and I get hung up on superficial things. But I trust that he who began a good work in me will faithfully complete it. I can rest knowing that I can’t and won’t get it all perfect overnight and that my Help is on the way. 

My rock and redeemer. My help and high tower. My strength and security. My healer and hope. 

I finished up the dishes that night and went upstairs a few minutes later to find that almost everything was already picked up. I helped with two pieces. Literally, two pieces out of dozens. She had completed the job by breaking it up into smaller tasks and with the encouraging knowledge that help was on the way. 

Guess Blogger: Chris Conrad

I am super excited to host my first guest blogger today! Chris, one of my friends from college (she and I led a small group together one year....good times!), is a great mom and blogger in Alabama. She and her husband, Mike, are wonderful parents to their sweet daughter. I am happy to share with you a recent post she wrote about being a mom. Here she is......

I'm a better Mom than you!

The other night I was waiting for my favorite weeknight show to come on: Modern Family. It truly is one of the highlights of my week. So while I waited, I flipped through the numerous channels, all of which had nothing really on that I would watch. Before I knew it I found myself watching Up All Night. I had seen this show before, but never really got into it. That night's episode proved to be much funnier than the previous ones. As I continued to watch, I learned more about the show itself.

Reagan Brinkley (Christina Applegate) is a working mom while her husband, Chris Brinkley (Will Arnett) stays at home with their baby girl. The show is about their lives as parents and how they have changed since they were newly married and without a child. 

In this particular episode, Reagan was trying to juggle her schedule so she could attend baby classes with her husband and little girl. Things were pretty funny.......... until...............

In the baby class, there was a stay at home mom with her baby. The show immediately turned this character into some wacko! She started telling Reagan how her baby is crawling because she stays at home and works with her. She then lifts her baby in the air and talks about how her baby is her entire world. Basically she was making Reagan feel like a terrible mother for having a job.

This just infuriated me! Why did they have to make the stay-at-home-mom out to be some nut! Why I kept watching I have no earthly idea. But by the end of the show, the two women somehow made up and talked about getting a drink sometime. 

As I went to bed that night, I kept mulling what happened over and over in my mind. As much as I loathe what the show portrayed, it is very true to life when it comes to mothers. I picture a boxing ring with the two fighters. Except instead of physical punches, they spew criticism.  And it's truly sad. 

Through observation, I have found the following: 

With the working mother there is guilt - they feel guilty for not being able to stay at home with their child. They want to be able to spend more time doing things with them and for them.

The stay-at-home-moms feel stuck. They miss dressing up and having some place to be, deadlines to meet, and adult conversation. 

Because women have these feelings, they try to cope with them by reassuring themselves that they are doing what's best. But instead of seeking reassurance from Christ, they put themselves in the boxing ring. And who is orchestrating the fight? The Enemy. The one who thrives in division. The one created those feelings of inadequacy to being with. 

• Well she just works so much she never has time for her kids.
• I would have a clean house too if I stayed at home all day.
• She has all those kids and works? How do they get any attention?
• She stays at home, she should be able to volunteer.

I would be lying if I told you I have never had these thoughts. When I was working before Madeline and now staying at home with Madeline. They creep into our minds without warning. And these thoughts soon turn into judgements. Before we know it, we've gone into separate camps. 

BOTTOM LINE: As women, we need to be the kind of mother Christ has called us to be. 

• Some women are called to a career. That doesn't mean they choose that career over their family.

• Some women are called to work at home. That doesn't mean they are any better of a mother. 

The key word is CALLED. 

If God has called you to a particular career or job, then He has made a way for you to work and take care of your family. It may seem hard to juggle everything and you may look at the stay-at-home-mom and wish you had her life - DON'T! You are right where you need to be! Don't feel guilty! Instead ask yourself What is God calling me to with my career and family? How can I glorify God with what He's called me to do? I know so many gifted librarians, teachers, doctors, NASA education specialists, interior designers, graphic designers, secretaries...the list goes on and on. What you do is important. Your children will see that, too! 

Some of you may be working and HATE your job. And want to be home. You feel called to be at home. You feel like you're in limbo. Your job is important. You are on mission. You are helping to provide for your family. 

If God has called you to stay at home with your children, then He has made a way for you physically be with your child/ren during the day. Your job is important. It may seem hard to catch the crawling child, watch Disney all day, and have little adult communication. You may wish you could head off to a job. DON'T! You are right where you need to be! Don't feel trapped! Instead ask yourself What is God calling me to while staying at home? How am I glorifying God with what He's called me to do? 

The Enemy doesn't want us to ask ourselves these questions. He doesn't want us to be on mission. He wants us to be so distracted with the grass being greener on the other side, that we forget to tend to our own lawn. 

Don't do what you feel you should do; do what you have been called to do. As seasons in your life change, so may your calling. If you're working, God may call you to stay at home for a period. If you are staying at home, He may call you to go back to work for a time. Don't shut yourself off from what God may be saying to you.

I think once we have more confidence in what God has called us to do and what He's called us to be, then we will be less likely to judge others and instead work together for what we're all called to do: live out the gospel together in community. 




See, isn't she great! Her honesty is why I love her. If you want to follow her, head on over to her blog....http://thisismomlife.blogspot.com 


Have a great night friends! Thanks, Chris, for sharing your heart.