This is Who I Am. Servant, Wife, Mom.

Recently I have been doing much thinking about who I am.  What is my role in the world.  We all know that as seasons of life change so do many of the roles we play.  As wives, mothers and homemakers sometimes we feel that our jobs are not as important as those of others.  We need to always be quick to recognize this as an attack from the devil to try and make us down play the importance of our role in our family.  We are important.  Our jobs are important.  Whether you are a stay at home Mom or you work outside of your home - it doesn't matter, you are important.  This is Who I Am.

I'm a child of God. Not just any god but a child of the Most High God. Without Him I am nothing, without Him I can do nothing. I love Him because He first loved me. He is the giver of life and of all things good. I am blessed to be a recipient of His grace, of His mercy and of His gifts.  I am His servant, placed here to share His love with others. 

I am a submitted wife in training. God placed with me my man. He's not perfect. I'm not perfect. Our marriage is not perfect. BUT with God as our Spiritual Leader we have tackled many hard situations together and always end up stronger at the end of the thing. Our love for each other grows stronger each day because of the love of God that is at work in each of our own hearts. I say in training because I'm not there yet. I strive to be the godly submitted Proverbs 31, Titus 2 woman of the Bible but I am human and I fail at it miserably a lot of days.

I am a Mom. I am not super mom but I love my boys and I am doing my very best to be a good steward over these amazing lives God has placed in my care. I am following Proverbs 22:6 and training them in the way they should go and I am praying that when they are old they will not depart from this teaching and training. I am trusting God to help me mold and shape their hearts for His Glory. This job is tough and its definitely not for the faint at heart but I wouldn't trade it. It's challenging most of the time but it's rewarding ALL of the time.

Who are you?  How do you see yourself?  Do you recognize your importance?

36 Random Things About Me

In honor of my birthday which was yesterday I thought I would do a fun post about me. 

Today I am listing 36 (that's my age) random things about me in an effort for you to get to know me just a little bit better.. 

I can not play any musical instruments. 

I love the seasons of Fall and Spring the best.

I cry over cartoons.

I am the baby of my family.

I am not only the baby but the only girl.

I am a country girl.

I used to teach preschool.

I love crafts.  I have fun with them but don't really consider myself very good.   

I love the color red.

I love doing my family genealogy.

I love animals.

I grew up on a farm.

I love black coffee.

And diet Pepsi.

Never had a manicure or pedicure.

Not a fan of traveling. I like staying home.

Love to cook and bake.

I don't like playing or watching sports. Unless my boys are playing.

I first gave my heart to Jesus when I was 8 years old.

Re-dedicated my life at 19 after doing my own thing during my teen years.

I learn as I go on the computer. Technology is not a strong area for me.

My husband and I originally planned to have 6 kids. 

I am a stay at home wife and mom and I LOVE IT!

I don't like to exercise.

I don't want to make you self conscious but the first thing I notice about people is their teeth. Not sure why I have just always been that way.

I'm a decent shot with a gun.

I grew up hunting and fishing and riding horses.

I love my family. Even the extended family.

I do not like lines on my carpet after I vacuum. They really annoy me.

I love watching and feeding birds. You'd think I was 80.

I'm more "girly" now than I have ever been. Growing up I was quite the Tom-boy.

I like to scrap book.

I love learning new things.

I love to hear roosters crow.

Not a fan of amusement parks.

My favorite meal is Beef roast with potatoes and carrots.

Chime in, do we have anything in common?  I would love to know.

 

My 35 Birthday Blessings!

Today, I turn 35 years old.  I am not sure where I thought I'd be at 35, what I'd be doing or what exactly my life would look like at this point but I rest assured that I am right where the Lord has placed me for this particular season. 

I was reminded the other day of a song that I learned as a child and I sang it to my son on our way home from something (sorry Jamey that you had to listen - haha).

Count your blessings, name them one by one

Count your blessings, see what God has done

Count your blessings, name then one by one

Count your many blessings, see what God has done

So, to that I give you a list of 35 things blessings that I am thankful for.        (The first few are in order but after that they are in no particular order.)

1. My Jesus, My Salvation - without Him my future would look pretty bleak
2. My Husband - A man that Loves the Lord first, then me.  My best friend. He's the smartest man I know and he can do, make, build or fix anything 
3. Joey - My first born.  A talented young man, a leader that excels in all he does. 
4. Jamey - My baby.  A smart young man, full of compassion with a tender heart the size of Texas. 
5. My parents - both who love me like crazy and aren't afraid to show it.
6. My 3 brothers and their families - God truly has placed a special kind of love in my heart for you.
7. This Country, The USA - though it is not perfect, We are a Blessed Nation.
8. Our Military - thank you for my freedom.
9. My Church.  Best Church in the World.  God placed us here!
10. My Pastor and His beautiful wife.  My Spiritual Parents, both have taught me more about the Lord and living for Him than anyone, anywhere, anytime in my life EVER!
11. My extended family.  There are A LOT of you CrAzY people and I love you all!
12. My friends.  Life long oldies, church friends and newbies.
13. Our Home.  It's been a LONG journey to get it, but Thanks to God - It's Ours (even if we aren't finished with it yet).
14. Our vehicles.  They may not be the newest or the best but they get me where I need to go without walking! 
15. My husbands job.  God is our Source but He provided the job.
16. Getting to be a STAY AT HOME MOM.  I don't take this job lightly, it is my ministry to my family and I realize what a blessed woman I am to have this opportunity.
17. Health and Healing - bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus.
18. The beauty of God's creation with 4 distinct beautiful seasons.
19. The ability to learn "new" things.
20. The lessons I have learned in my past that make me stronger today.
21. My mom's Roast with potatoes and carrots!  My FAVORITE.
22. Diet Pepsi - my guilty pleasure, oh Yea!
23. Central heat and air!  If you have lived with out it for 33 of your 35 years you know what I mean.
24. New Tennis Shoes - My first new pair in about 6 or 7 years.
25. Full moon nights.  Just something about them I love.
26. The ability to cook - at least I think I can, haha
27. My awesome pets.
28. My camera - because I love to take me some pictures!
29. Modern appliances.  Dishwasher, washing machine, dryer, stove, etc..
30. To live out in the "country".  Def not a city girl. 
31. Makeup and Hair color to cover my gray.  To quote Pastor "every old barn needs a new coat of paint sometimes".  LOL 
32. My BIBLE or should I say Bibles.  I love to dig into God's Word.  I love to read them and mark them up with my notes.
33. Speedway Wild Cherry Slushies, a new found love. 
34. Facebook - It's how I keep up with my family.
35. That my boys are smarter, more talented and gifted and have more drive and determination than I ever had at their age.  They have the favor of God at work in them.

JUST a Stay-at-Home-Mom ?!?!?

You're just a stay at home mom, right?  Can I just tell you that is not the best way to start off a conversation with a stay at home mom.  If you want us to help with something - it would probably be a good idea to go about it another way.  I could not tell you the number of times people have said that to me and I often wander, what exactly do you think I do all day?

First of all - I am not "Just" anything and neither are you.  If you are a child of God he says that we are chosen and special.

1 Peter 2:9  Amplified Bible (AMP)

⁹ But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a dedicated nation, [God’s] own ^[a]purchased, special people, that you may set forth the wonderful deeds and display the virtues and perfections of Him Who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.

Second, I work a job the same as anyone else with a one exception.  I do not get paid in money.  Money is not everything.  We sacrifice A LOT of "things" and we live on a pretty tight and strict budget (I will post more about budgeting later) in order to live the way we do.  

Years ago I was reading a book called the Power of a Positive Mom and it asked you to write down a job description for yourself. 

Here is mine:

I am tired just reading that.  I am sure that I could add to this list and description now as this was written out 10 years ago or more and I know that many of you stay at home moms can relate. 

Now, let me just say - I stay at home because it is my calling.  I truly feel that God has called me in this season of my life to be a "homemaker".  It was a decision that my husband and I made together based upon Titus 2:4-5 because we felt this was God's instructions for us and our family.

 

Titus 2:4 -5 says ⁴ These older women must train the younger women to love their husbands and their children, ⁵ to live wisely and be pure, to work in their homes,^[b] to do good, and to be submissive to their husbands. Then they will not bring shame on the word of God.

 

You may feel called to work outside of the home or may not be in a financial situation where you can stay at home and that is fine too.  We all have to do what is best for our families and what we feel is right. 

What about you?  If you stay home have you ever been referred to in this way?   What about those of you who do work "outside" of your home - has anyone ever made negative comments to about your decision?  

 This post is not meant to put anyone down but rather to encourage you.  Whether we are single or married, have children or don't, and whether we choose to work at home or outside of our homes we need to be supportive of each other in what ever role we are in and not speak in a negative manner toward anyone.

A Day in the Life of a CrAzY Stay-at-Home Soccer Mom

My alarm is set for 5 am each week day morning.  After a couple slaps of the snooze button my husband and I role out of bed around 5:20 am.  First thing I do is head to the kitchen to pack my husbands lunch for work and fix his breakfast.  I would like to say that breakfast is some huge spread of gravy, biscuits, fried apples, bacon, eggs, etc... and occasionally it is BUT more often than not it is a sausage biscuit I throw together, a piece of banana bread or even a Little Debbie oatmeal cake.  LOL 

My husband leaves for work and I wake my boys up for school at 6 - sometimes by spritzing them with the water bottle (mean, I know!), sometimes by tickling their feet or yelling at them but I try to always be very chipper and wake them up by singing silly wake up songs that usually annoy them enough that they get up just so I will STOP singing.  Hey, whatever works!  :) 

My boys hurry through their getting dressed, eating (usually a bowl of cereal for them), brushing their teeth routine hopefully leaving enough time to read a verse or two in their bibles before heading out the door to catch the bus at the early time of 6:30.  I walk my boys outside and wait with them where I love on them, snuggle on cold mornings and we pray together for God's blessings and protection on their day. 

Now my REAL day begins.  Depending on the day of the week I may be grocery shopping, running errands, working at one of my boys schools, doing laundry, cleaning my house, etc... but before I get busy doing that I try to have my morning bible reading and devotion time and some breakfast for myself.  Most days I eat a granola bar and drink a diet Pepsi driving myself to the days destination spot and read my bible while waiting on one of the boys to finish with their soccer practice or before falling asleep late at night. 

Our evenings are a blur of homework, soccer games, soccer practices, feeding our animals, church and eating dinner (sometimes right before bed - at least through soccer season) and before we know it is time for showers, to pack back packs, read and head to bed so we can be ready for another CrAzY day tomorrow.  Do you know what?  I would not change this season of my life right now for anything because while it is a challenge as we are going through it I know that it will be over entirely too soon and I will long for CrAzY soccer mom days. 

You can check out what some other mom's days look like in this series "A Day in the Life" over at www.day2dayjoys.com and www.thepurposefulmom.com

 

 

 

My Journey Begins

About Me. 
Hi, I'm Jen.  I am a thirty something stay-at-home mom.  I have been married nearly sixteen years and I am a mother to preteen and teenage sons.  I am not perfect and definitely do not have it all together but I strive daily (well at least most days) to be and do better than the day before. 

Philippians 1:6 (Amp.) says And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ (right up to the time of His return), developing (that good work) and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. 

I am so thankful that God is still working on me and that every day I get another chance at being the wife and mom he has created me to be. 
   
The reason for my blog.
Titus 2:3-5 tells us that the older (more experienced) women are to teach the younger women how to love their husbands and children and how to take care of their homes.  I do not consider myself an older woman (lol) but I have been at this marriage and parenting thing for a while.   It is my hope that this blog will be an encouragment to you in this journey of life we are all on together.