Diaries of a Mother's Love part 1

As I look back on 2013 my heart is filled with happiness. I welcomed my new daughter into my growing family and there were so many blessing big and small throughout the year.

I also reflect on the things I could've done differently.

To be honest, I wish I would've spent more time with my kids.

2013 was extremely busy for me. Not the working kind but the every day, just added a newborn to the mix kind of life. The hustle and bustle of getting my son to school, running errands, grocery shopping, taking my daughter to ballet, trying keep the house clean and tackle loads of laundry. That left me with, Wow, it's 9:00pm already. Time for bed! Then I did the same thing again the next day.

I am a stay at home mom, but, that doesn't mean I get to sit on the floor and play with my kids all day everyday. Running a house with 3 kids and 2 dogs is a lot of work.

I was so consumed by the everyday life that I didn't stop enough to read more books to them, do crafts and pinterest ideas with them or even just snuggle holding them all while watching a movie.

I wish I would have giggled with them more and cherished moments more often.

The laundry will always be there, there will always be dishes to wash but my kids will NOT be little forever.

Even one year in a child's life makes a huge difference in their little personalities.

They grow up so fast.

So, does all of this make me a bad mother?

Absolutely not. They know I love them and work hard to take care of them.

If it wasn't for God reassuring me that I'm doing enough I might just go crazy.

We can't be super moms. Everything can't always be perfect.

Kids could care less how sparkling the house is or the house is decorated... they care about feeling loved.

If all they remember from their childhood is how much they were loved then I think I'm doing what I need to do.

They don't care about expensive vacations or clothes.

They just want to know their special in Mommy's eyes.

In 2014, I plan to kiss, hug and giggle more with my 3 kids.

That's all that matters.

Mary's Joy

As we've entered the Christmas season, I've thought more and more about Mary. The Mother of Jesus, that is. And that's because I'm a mom now. In the year 2012, my son was born, and was about 4 1/2 months old at Christmastime. And this year, he's 16 months old. I'm in full blown mommy-hood. I'm passed the waking up at night stage, however we are in teething, running around, climbing, screaming, throwing fit, disobedience, picky eating stages. And I wonder how Mary, the mother of the Son of God, did it. Granted... as a human, Jesus Christ never sinned, but he was tempted. And he was still a baby - waking up at night, needing constant attention and dependence upon his parents. He took first steps, went through the teething stage, learned to climb, and probably learned to throw things too. How did Mary do it?

She had to have been terrified that day when the Angel of the Lord came to her, informing her that she, a virgin, would be carrying and mothering the Son of God. But we also know that she trusted the Lord even in her fear. She had a husband, Joseph, who took her in, loved her, and baby Jesus, despite knowing that baby was not physically his. Together, they watched her belly grow and felt the JOY of baby Jesus kick from the inside out. Only Jesus knows what Mary's heart sounded like as she loved him before his day of birth.

That night when Jesus was born, I wonder if she feared for her physical health, knowing she was not indoors, and amidst animals. Yet, in that amazing moment, when she finally got to hold the baby that had been growing inside her for 9 months, as a new mom, I'm sure she was overcome with JOY despite her circumstances around her. The overwhelming feeling of knowing what unconditional love is - to hold it and have it, hold you.

Those sleepless nights... as a new mom I thought they'd never end! I'm sure Mary felt the same. Yet those moments when you hold your baby in your arms as they nurse in the wee hours of the morning. Sometimes you don't want to put them back down. Such JOY in those tired, sleepless, wonderful moments.

Mary had such a huge responsibility of growing, birthing, raising, and loving the baby, the child, the teenager, the man... Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And despite the fear, worry, doubt, and hard times... Mary was JOYFUL. And now I ask that Mary's Son, Jesus, fill me this Christmas season with HIS JOY that provides strength, perserverance, and fullness. Amen.

a strive for perfection

This year as Christmas approaches I have been reflecting over what Christmas really means. 

I've seen everywhere, Jesus is the reason for the season! And I love it. Sometimes I wonder if I lived in a hole & never realized this catchy saying until this year. Regardless, Jesus IS the reason for this time of year. He is the reason for Christmas. 

Of course I had to find a printable & put it at my front door!

During my devotional time earlier this week I came across a "wow" moment. I love those, times where everything just clicks. And it's something so simple but the Holy Spirit just REALLY speaks to you LOUDLY. 

I will never be perfect. And I know this. But as a Christian we strive for perfection in a lot of things. But what do we strive for when we know we will never be perfect?

Christ was & is perfect. How beautiful is this? He is our example. To become Christ like. 

I wrote this poem, I know it's not really a poem but it's my journal so I can call it one!

As a wife, I love my husband so much that I try harder to please him. I do things for him out of love. 

So as a daughter of the King it's not any different. I love Him so much that I simply try harder to please Him too. I walk in His ways out of love. 

I desire this. 

I crave this.

It's not that I want approval of anyone or Him because I know He already approves of me.. But I want to please Him & honor Him.

No, I will never be perfect. But Christ is & He has set me free.

Rest in the Lord

Happy Friday girls of God's heart!

We are now about a week and a half away from Christmas... the birthday that we anticipate all year as believers in Christ.

This is my most favorite time of the year!  I however, will admit that it is a struggle for me to not become overly busy during this month.  Do you struggle with feelings of chaos and stress around the holidays?  Do you have the added emotional turmoil of dealing with difficult family or grieving the absence of a loved one?  I know that the holidays can bring many unwanted thoughts and feelings for some of us as well.

I recently read something that really impacted me.  It's a quote by a woman named Hannah Whitall Smith, who lived in the mid 1800's to early 1900's.  Read what she has to say and see if you can take something away from it to soothe your soul...

"Do you recollect the delicious sense of rest with which you have sometimes gone to 

bed at night, after a day of great exertion and weariness?  How delightful was the 

sensation of relaxing every muscle, and letting your body go in a perfect abandonment 

of ease and comfort.  The strain of the day had ceased for a few hours at least, and the work 

for the day had been thrown off.  You no longer had to hold up an aching head or a weary 

back.  You trusted yourself to the bed in an absolute confidence, and it held you up, without 

effort, or strain, or even thought on your part.  You rested.  Let this analogy teach you what

 it means to rest on the Lord.  Let your souls lie down upon His sweet will, as your bodies 

lie down in your beds at night,  Relax every strain and lay off every burden.  Let yourselves 

go in perfect abandonment of ease and comfort, sure that when He holds you up you are 

perfectly safe."

pic source

Tis the Season #2

This is the time of year for giving. I absolutely love to give to others but sometimes don't know what to give or how much to spend. Many times this year I have heard one gift that can mean a lot to someone and it doesn't take very much money to do so!!

1) Be giving of your time. Is there a friend or family member you haven't seen in awhile that would like to catch up with you and just spend some quality time with you? I think especially of older people during this season. Is there anyone you can give your time to?  Christmas can be very overwhelming with all the preparation and decorating. If you aren't feeling so overwhelmed yourself, maybe you can help someone who is!! This is one way that I personally love to give. I enjoy helping others bake and decorate. :]

Maybe the person you are thinking of lives too far away and you cannot go see them or you just don't have the time to make the journey or maybe money is already scarce after buying gifts and you cannot afford to go see who you would like to. So instead here is an idea...

2) Write your friends and loved ones encouraging letters. It could be short or long. Just take the time to slow down and write. Tell them what has been going on, ask how they are, encourage them, tell them what they mean to you or how you are thinking of them. (You could also do this in an email or Christmas card... but since less and less people are doing those... letters are always good too!! After all who doesn't like getting mail?!?!)

I have been hearing these ideas on the radio and in my Bible study this week. Just easy ways that can really brighten someone's Christmas! I know how much I would love getting a letter or a visit from someone I haven't gotten to see in awhile so that is my goal this year! To be giving of my time and my heart:]

Give what you can this season!

2 Corinthians 9:7

Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

I am ready for a season of giving:] Are you?

DIY Handprint Ornaments

This is a fun DIY ornament that the kids can get involved with!

----Dough Ornaments----

4 cups of flour
1 cup salt
Large Mixing Bowl
water

rolling pin

drinking straw

cookie sheet
 ribbon
craft paint

elmers glue

glitter

wax paper

 Heat the oven to 200 degrees.

In a mixing bowl blend flour and salt together. Then slowly add in water to form a dough. You do not want it soupy. Just enough water to make a good solid dough.

Pull out a sheet of wax paper and roll your dough out onto it. Create the shape that you want. Kids can help!

*you can also spray a baking sheet with pam and roll it out on there.

Once you have the thick shape that you want. the take a straw and poke through it leaving a hole big enough for your ribbon to go through.

**Make sure your shape is thick enough to leave a good handprint in it.

Place your childs hand on the dough and press down on each finger and palm on the wax paper.

Lift up the wax paper and transfer directly to the oven on a cookie sheet.

* The kids also used cookie cutters with the dough.

Bake until dry...mine took a few hours.

Take out of the oven and make sure it cools off

paint with the craft paint of your choice. I used white

Place elmers glue where the hand is and use your paint brush to brush the hand completely with glue.

Sprinkle glitter over the handprint and then shake off.

add the ribbon of your choice so you can hang it.

This is what you get!

Remember to write your child's name, age and date on the back so you can treasure this forever!

Hang on your tree and enjoy every year.

via www.thefancyyanceys.blogspot.com

When God Says "Yes, Now"

The Lord has put a passion on my heart to lead. Lead what I had not a clue. I don't do well telling others what to do & I can easily be distracted. So at first I was confused why He would put this on my heart. But I trusted Him.

I became one apart of the thousands of women across the world to join the Good Morning Girls community. I got linked into a group of women from all over via a Facebook group. I loved it. It was a way to stay accountable & in the Word consistently & interact with other women.

An opportunity arose to apply for the Mentorship program to become a leader. I felt a tug on my heart. So I signed up. And I got into it! I was excited & I loved this 2 week process. At the conclusion of it I still didn't feel "ready" to lead, so I said I wasn't going to start until January after the holiday's but I'd still be apart of a group just not lead.

The Thanksgiving study came & I was feeling unmoved within my group like I needed more. So I said, God? Now? You want me to start for the Advent study? Are you sure?

The next morning I woke up & it was so heavy on my heart that I knew He wanted me to move now. So I sent a message off to friends on Facebook. I got an overwhelming positive response. I felt so blessed. I still feel so blessed.

One week has passed into this Advent study with Good Morning Girls & I feel so amazing & beyond blessed by it.

So I thought back to what God laid on my heart awhile back & feel so rewarded by this. He knew I could do this where I thought I could not. And I still cannot without Him.

Leading an online study may be small to some but it huge to me.

Be blessed.

A Cheerful Heart {Peace It All Together}

Good Morning! I am so excited to be guest posting for Girls of God's Heart today. My name is Sybil and I blog about my life, faith, and family at Peace it all Together. At beginning of February, several other bloggers and I began a challenge. A challenge to find a scripture passage each day based on a particular theme or word. The task for one of the days was to choose your all time favorite. Not only is this verse one of my favorites, but I remember having it highlighted in my Student Bible, years ago. I shared on my own blog in February about the importance of including laughter in our love relationships. What I want to share with you are some of my thoughts on how to maintain a cheerful heart. I used to think that if you felt happy, you would act happy. Feelings first, then actions. Recently, I have started to realize that our actions can change our thoughts, which can then alter our feelings. Simply put, if you want to feel cheerful, think and act cheerful.  While this is not always easy for me, I do find that by intentionally focusing on and aligning my actions with what is good, true, honest, etc., those thoughts begin to change my attitude. So, how do I focus on the positive?

WHO'S THERE? I have found that surrounding myself with cheerful people makes my heart happy. It is much more difficult for me to maintain my own joy when I am around others that are not doing the same. Being a complainer is part of my genes. So, I can get caught up in a complaint fest just as easy as the next person. Therefore, I must stay away from it. Similar to a compulsive gambler staying out of a casino or an alcoholic avoiding a bar, I must separate myself from those who complain without purpose or desire for change. 
HAVE PRAYER? One of my goals this year has been to spend more time in prayer. Instead of reacting negatively to a problem, worrying and allowing it to create stress in my life, I am attempting to choose prayer. Although I have a long way to go in this area, I have found that on the days that I submit to God in prayer, letting Him lead my actions, thoughts and feelings, I experience greater joy. It doesn't mean that bad things don't happen, it just means that God enables me to maintain a cheerful heart, instead of letting those things take my strength.

BLESSING OR CURSE? One of my two words for 2013 is blessing. I wrote a post earlier this year about looking for blessings in unexpected places. Are you able to look at your life and see the blessings, even if they might be hidden? I believe that by focusing on blessings in each situation, our attitude about it will change. Remembering that God's thoughts and plans are bigger and better than my own, has helped me with this. WHERE'S THE LOVE? Showing love to others is another thing that brings me joy. Over the past year, I have been more intentional about listening to God about who He would have me be friends with and how He wants me to treat them. I have responded to His voice and sent my friends texts, emails, cards, etc. This has sometimes felt awkward, but I have done it anyway. Showing love, is sharing God with others. Helping my friends and family feel loved, can often turn my broken spirit into joy. Do you desire a cheerful heart? Which of these things do you need to focus on?  I hope and pray that I have brought you joy by being here today. Thanks for reading!

Tis' the Season

As Christmas approaches we can easily become overwhelmed by all the planning and shopping we have to do. This year I have been trying to focus my eyes not on all that I need to accomplish but on WHO we are actually celebrating! Christ! Several phrases have caught my attention and have helped me grow over the past few weeks and I hope they can help you as well!

This first phrase has really hit home to me...

Frustration

is caused by unmet

~EXPECTATIONS~

Woooooow!! So often we become frustrated with the little things of life. As sad as it is to say, a lot of families get frustrated with each other this time of year. Is it because of unmet expectations? So instead of expecting things let's focus on celebrating the most wonderful miracle, Jesus Christ's birth!!

Second...

~Be Strong and Courageous~

Did you know that in the book of Joshua this phrase is used four times in the first chapter alone!!! God said it over and over again because it must have been extremely important. It is for us too! Everyone deserves to hear the good news of Christ coming. My prayer this week is that not only myself but all of you as well, won't shy away from telling others about Jesus! Be strong and Courageous ladies! Even if it is as simple as telling someone you are praying for them or "Merry Christmas, God bless you". Whatever it is do it for the glory of God! I know sometimes it can be intimidating to talk about Jesus with others because we don't want to offend them or turn them away but when we rely on God we can help Him to plant seeds and who knows, maybe even bring another to Christ!!

"The Lord Himself goes before you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged."

Deuteronomy 31:8

9 Reasons Why I Love Fall

Here is California, fall comes in November. I grew up in the midwest, fall came every other day, just depends what the mood mother nature was in that day. By November rolls around I am dying to pull out my boots & hoodies & wear big ol' baggy sweatpants. 

I've been writing in my journal things of gratitude. I am so thankful for everything in my life because I know God has provided me with it all. So this lead me to writing about fall. Because who doesn't love fall? Here are just some of my reasons. 

Reasons why I love fall?

1. The drinks. Why do we have to wait all year long for pumpkin anything? Hot cider is now acceptable too.

2. The leaves. Hello gorgeous radiant colors. God's beauty is so point blank in fall time. It's like all of a sudden I am aware of how grateful I am of trees.

 3. Football. I may not over indulge nearly as much as I used to. But a football game echoing through my house is plenty for me. 

4. I can wear long sleeves & enjoy being at a park with the babes not sweating bullets.

 5. I can finely convince my husband to use the fireplace. Well it's December 2nd & it's yet to be turned on, but hey he did say I could use it.

6. Thanksgiving. A time to reflect how grateful you are. A time to come together with family. A time to eat more than you can stand. 

7. Christmas lights. Christmas trees. The earlier the better right? That's my motto. Holidays make my home so much more homey!

8. Mantle decorations steps it up about 10 notches. 

 9. Pumpkins. They are so pretty. Real ones on my front door step or fake ones on my mantle, they just look so content.

What do you love about fall? The weather? The radiant colors? 

Now on to a month reflecting Christ as our Savior!

**Looking for some encouragement from others? Sign up to be a pen pal! Click HERE**  

We Are Thankful For You!

DIY wedding favors

 

 bag of milk chocolate chips
bag of white chocolate chips

bag of  pretzel rods

pearl sprinkles

wax paper

baking pan

metal bowl

pot
jute twine
cardstock
tag paper punch
hole punch
printer

( the amount of bags of chocolate chips and pretzels will depend of how many you are making.
I made 100 pretzels so I used 4 bags of milk chocolate chips, 1bag of white chocolate chips and 4 bags of pretzels.)


Place a little bit of water in the pot. Probably 1/4 of the pot and boil it until it's gently boiling then reduce to low. Place your metal bowl on top of the pot and pour your chocolate chips into it.

With a spatula start mixing the chocolate chips as they melt. * You have to keep mixing and keep the heat on low or else your chocolate will burn and get dry (and will also taste horrible)

While the chocolate chips are slowly melting, cover a baking pan that can fit in your freezer with wax paper.

Then take one pretzel stick at a time and dip the end into the chocolate ( I used my spatula to help goop on the chocolate a little further down the stick) and then place on the wax paper.

OR

another easier way to dip the chocolate is to use Wilton's tall dipping containers. This is what I used this time and it went by so much faster!

Melt white chocolate the same way.
After it is melted in a bowl, place in a small Ziploc bag and cut the tip just a little.
Drizzle over pretzels.

Also, take your pearlized sprinkles and shake a small amount over other pretzels.

 

Once all of them have hardened in the freezer, place one of each kind of pretzel in wilton's clear pretzel rod bags.

Then, tie with jute and put your customized tag on it!

Click HERE for the monogram tag tutorial!



Wandering

The #SheReadsTruth community is amazing. Amazing on so many different levels. My favorite thing to do within that community, other than my own devotional, is to check my IG feed of #SheReadsTruth to see what others wrote & what God revealed to them. It is such a strong community of women & I love it. If you have not checked it out, I strongly suggest that you do. I have "met" great women through this. 

I am currently doing their Thanksgiving plan & yesterday, Sunday, the topic "In Wandering". 

I read through it & thought wow because of what the writer just went through, again, with losing a baby. My mind was so fixated on that & how grateful I am for 2 healthy children & my heart just aches for her. 

Then I go back through & journal the spots that God is speaking to me. And He took me to a whole new level. Typically the second time I read it is when God really talks to me to reveal to me what I need to hear that day. But this topic was stronger than ever. 

Wandering.

In times of wandering what do you do? Do you run to or from God? Are you seeking earthly answers or trusting God that He reveal His answers in His time?

I went through a time of wandering. A BIG time of wandering. I became a Christian in July 2005. I was an active Christian in the church as well as participating in Bible Studies. But I never grew as a Christian should. 

1 Corinthians 13:11 -- When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

In July 2009 I began my stages of wandering. I was still in church for about 9 months. Then I stopped going after that. I was searching for answers that God wasn't giving me so I stopped seeking Him & started seeking answers of the now, or earthly answers. I randomly went to church, trying to find a church that reminded me of home (I moved from Indiana to California in this time). 

Last year, October 2012 I finally stopped searching for God & saw that, well He was right there in front of me. This. Whole. Time. I began my journey over with Him. I repented of my selfish ways, I stopped seeking earthly answers, & started walking with Him. 

In this past year my relationship with Christ has grown far more than my first 4 years as Christian. I look back & somewhat get frustrated with myself that I did not take advantage of these years getting to know my Lord and Savior. And then I get frustrated during the time I disappeared from God. See He never disappeared from me, but I ran the other way. 

But what is frustration going to get me? Yesterday God confirmed that those wandering times did in fact lead me right back into His arms. I have the best relationship with Christ that I could possibly have at this moment in my life. And I praise Him for that.

I praise Him that I sought an earthly answer & never found it, but I found Him & His Truth.

I praise Him that He forgives me for my wandering.

I praise Him because I have a God who is faithful & He will NEVER fail me.

I praise Him that at the end of my wandering He gave me the deepest desire to know Him.

**Looking for some encouragement from others? Sign up to be a pen pal! Click HERE**  

It's Tough Being A Woman... Recap Of Our Esther Study

Just this last week, Tiffany and I (Julie) along with Sybil from Peace It All Together, finished up our study by Beth Moore on the book of Esther.  It took us over 5 months to finish but it was such a rich time of learning and fellowship.  I feel truly blessed to have spent this time with these two Godly women and to have been taught by the amazing Beth Moore.  If you've never experienced a Beth Moore study may I suggest that you do so ASAP!  Her studies have been life changing for this life-long Christian girl!

Sybil has dedicated a blog post to a recap of our study and asked Tiffany and I to contribute!  Check it out at Sybil's blog here.

Love you all!

I Thessalonians 5:16-18 - PRAY CONTINUALLY (Part 2)

"Be joyful ALWAYS.; 

pray CONTINUALLY; 

give THANKS in ALL circumstances, 

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Last week I wrote about the first three words of this verse - "be joyful always." How did that go for you? What did you choose to find joy in? I hope you continue to find joy in the best and worst and most normal of time. It's God's will for you that you are joyful!

Today we're talking about praying continually. To some people, prayer is a foreign thing; to some it's scary. I've known people that think their prayers aren't heard, that they just talk to a wall or ceiling. I've know Christians that are afraid to pray because it won't be "good enough." Prayers can be short or long; on your knees, aloud, or in your heart; it can be a shout to God, it can be a cry for help. Prayer is about talking and about listening.

The simple fact is - prayer is a conversation.

For me, prayer is an ongoing conversation throughout my day with my King, Protector, Comforter, Creator, and Shepard. I need God in so many different ways, depending on the day and sometimes my prayers start by calling Him by the name I need him. "Jesus, my King, I am in awe of your blessing...", "My Comforter and Protector, I need your now as I am afraid", "Savior, like a Shepard, lead me!" I ask God for what I need in my prayers, I tell him why I am afraid and how I don't want to be, I share with God my hopes and dreams, I ask Him for strength on the tough days, and I seek His will and plan for my life when I may be lost. I thank God for blessings, big and small, I pray for those in need of healing or grace, I pray for my marriage that it would grow and flourish into what God intended it to be, I pray for my son that he would grow big and strong and come to know Jesus. My prayers are asking, telling, listening, begging, seeking, thanking, praising. 

Prayers are active, ongoing, conversations with God.

In her book, The Power of a Praying Woman, Stormie Omartian writes, 

“The battle for our lives, and the lives and souls of our children, our husbands, our friends, our families, our neighbors, and our nation is waged on our knees. When we don't pray, it's like sitting on the sidelines watching those we love and care about scrambling through a war zone, getting shot at from every angle. When we do pray, however, we're in the battle alongside them, approaching God's power on their behalf. If we also declare the Wordog God in our prayers, then we wield a powerful weapon against which no enemy can prevail.” 

If we're not praying for the loved ones in our lives, who is? If we're not praying for the salvation of our friends and neighbors, who is? Who is covering them in prayer and protection? There is an enemy among us who will do anything to devour our souls, to ruin our lives, and to stop anything and anyone from praising the name of Jesus or growing in Him. If we are not praying against Him, who is? There is POWER in the prayer. Never doubt what God can do and how much he loves to have a conversation with you.

Pray continually... this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

God Thing

You know those times when something happens and you know it is a God thing. It could be an event you needed at a particular moment to boost your spirit or an old friend coming to visit you at a down time in your life. I absolutely love those moments. For me those moments are even more proof that God is living with us and helping us.

For example, I was at church today and the youth pastor asked me if I would like to sponsor an event with the youth. It is a three day trip they always go on and I went on while I was in the youth ministry. I have always dreamed of being a sponsor for this event and have been thinking a lot about it recently. So today when the pastor asked if I wanted to help out I knew it was a God Thing and I was/am super excited to be His disciple in this way!

Have you ever had these moments when you knew that God was speaking to you or helping you on your path? I call these moments "God Things" because it is something that happens that I don't fully understand but I know that He does:]

DIY monogram wedding favor tags

 

First design you monogram on any program that you have. I used photoshop.

The font I used was Janda Celebration Script. The P is size 110 and the J&K is size 50.

The date is font Vijaya in size 30.

 

After you design your monogram and date then print them out on cardstock in the color of you choice. I chose ivory for these.

 

 

 I then cut out each monogram in a rectangle around them so that the tag punch would fit.

This tag punch is from Michaels. It is the Recollections 2 3/16in.

It was $9.99 and I used a 40% off coupon.

 

 

 

  Take your tag punch and turn it upside down in your right hand and then take you monogram already cut into a rectangle and place the rectangle with monogram facing you so you are able to see where the punch will cut. Then squeeze your right hand and punch it out.

Then take a regular hole punch and put a little hole for hanging/tying to the favor of your choice.
 

 

And.... this is how they turn out!

 

Next Tuesday I'll be sharing what I used them on!

 

 

Jesus HAS conquered it all

1 Thessalonians 5:16 - Part 1: Be Joyful Always

A few little verses in 1 Thessalonians have been speaking to me lately and I wanted to share them with you. It's about three very simple things, yet we can sometimes make these actions so complex and so tough to do. So I'm breaking them down in three parts over the next 3 weeks. Let's dig into what God's Word has for us!

"Be joyful ALWAYS.; 

pray CONTINUALLY; 

give THANKS in ALL circumstances, 

for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

To be joyful is to feel great happiness or delight. The Bible is filled with verses about being joyful, singing joyful songs, and tells us when to be joyful. Nehemiah 8:10 says "the joy of the Lord is my strength" and to be "joyful in hope" (Romans 12:12). What causes you to be joyful? Family, friends, kids, wealth, traditions, holidays, your job? How about your spiritual growth? Or your kids learning Bible verses?  What brings you joy? Is it worldly things or eternal truths?

What causes you not to be joyful? Do you find yourself unhappy, grumpy, complaining more than you are joyful? Not only does this verse tell us to be joyful... but it tells us to be joyful ALWAYS. That's a hard one. Because we all have tough stuff going on and it's hard to be happy and joyful when we're unsure about our job situation or where the money for Christmas is going to come from. It's hard to be joyful when you're arguing with your husband or frustrated with your kids. But true joy, comes from the Lord, and will help you persevere through those tough situations. James 1:2-4 says, "Consider it pure JOY, my brothers, when you face trials of many kinds." Why should we be grateful and joyful to face trials? Because we know that when our faith is tested it will be a chance to develop perseverance within us. And by facing trials with joy and seeking God's will, we will develop and grow in spiritual character.

Always. That's a hard one. But consider this a testing of your faith, like James described. If we choose to be joyful always, God sees favor in that. Because we are doing what He has commanded of us. The last part of the 1 Thessalonians verse says, "for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." God's will is that we are always joyful. So find joy in the little things this week. Find joy in the drive to work by listening to worship music or talking out loud to God. Find joy in the errands you have to run with your kids. Make it fun and joyful, thank God for you children, for your car, for the money you have to buy groceries. Find joy when your husbands asks something of you because it give you a chance to show him how much you respect and love him.

Be joyful always.

Easy Mozzarella Stick Recipe

 

I was needing a new snack for my kids and hubby and quick!

They were hungry and I was in the middle of cleaning so I whipped these up in just a few minutes just to hold them over until dinner.

 

WHAT YOU NEED:

1 package of mozzarella cheese sticks

1 package of egg roll wrappers

garlic salt

garlic powder

marinara sauce

olive oil

skillet

1.  Heat up olive oil in skillet

2.  Roll up one cheese stick in one egg roll wrapper. After you roll 2 times then fold ends in and roll the rest up.

3. Fry in oil. Keep turning as each side browns and sprinkle with garlic salt and powder.

4. Place on a napkin to drain oil.

 5. Serve HOT with HOT marinara! Yum!