Mommy Monday - Brave Disciple Mom

As much as I would love to claim all of this post as my own - no can do. Recently, I was lucky enough to hear Jen Hatmaker speak while at my conference. What an amazing example of complete and total surrender to God and his plan for her and her family. Such a faithful servant who is no doubt spreading the word of God just as he intended for her to do.

 

If you are unfamiliar with her, as a fellow mama and wife, check her out! Amazing, hilarious, touching, relatable, and her walk with God is inspiring. The knowledge and experiences he has given her to share with other women is a blessing!

 

Jen Hatmaker

 

When Jen (I say "Jen" as though we are on a first name basis. Sadly, we are not.) spoke at the conference she shared about how kids need to be kids. Now a days, fear threatens to ruin the journey of motherhood. Fear has turned us into hovering parents. Parents who are afraid to let their children walk to the mailbox, afraid to let their children play on outside, just afraid. Of course as parents we want to protect our children but instead we are sometimes doing more hard then good. They live in a bubble that is preventing them from learning important lessons in life. Lessons that teach them about life experiences, that sometimes you will fail and that is ok, sometimes you will be scared and that is ok. As my new bff Jen said - we sanitize their lives but this will never be the mark of true discipleship. Do we want our children to have a safe and happy life or an obsession for the kingdom that may sometimes take them out of "our" safety zone?

 

The trials and tribulations in our lives is when we have learned the most. Our job is not to shelter them from everything too hard but to parent them through it. Our children need to be prepared to journey into this broken world.

 

Scared moms raise scared kids -

Brave moms raise brave kids -

Disciple moms raise disciple kids.

 

We must live it ourselves or we have no hope of leading it. We must live a life worthy of having our children follow. We are servants meant to love others and we only need God's approval.

 

I told you Jen Hatmaker was good! Now you see why I am all about exchanging BFF necklaces with her!

 

As for me, my personal journey continues for a calling that I know God has placed upon my life. I feel him preparing me for something. Now, what that something is, I do not know. Of course being the organized and always prepared gal that I am, this has been a challenge for me. Yet again though, I feel that it is all part of the journey he has me on. I feel him working though me every single day. Teaching me and showing me things that I have never understood before. Opening doors through which maybe I would not have traveled in the past. A fire and a passion to be his disciple through everything that I do in my life. A true disciple.

 

In recent weeks, I have felt a new pressing on my heart. A pressing that this journey God is leading me on is going to involve some sacrifice. Maybe a sacrifice with my career maybe not. I am not sure how, what, or where he is leading me but he is doing something and the ever present tug on my heart and message from him is more clear now then ever.

 

I want to be a brave disciple mom raising a brave disciple child!

 

   

 

Random Thursday - One of Each!

My sister and her brother-in-law had the family over this weekend for their gender reveal party and she did a wonderful job with the decorations. As I have always known, she was lucky enough to inherit this crafty/decor gene from my mom while I was lucky enough to get my Daddy's decoration skills with my mama's hunger for shopping and styling. That's a deadly combo I tell ya!

Anyways, as everyone arrived we were ask to choose cute little mustaches or super fab red lips based on our baby gender gamble. For the most part, everyone chose lips and mustaches. However, Jeff said he was going to play the odds and chose two mustaches.....?!?! This is why he is not allowed to gamble.

Our crazy group with our guesses before the big reveal!

Me and my girl were on the same page and betting the house on boy/girl!

The proud parents to be with their parents before cutting into the cakes. My sister is 16 weeks pregnant with twins and does not even look pregnant. I looked like I was pregnant with triplets at 6 weeks! Yeah, I am not jealous at all!!

Obviously the most awesome part of a gender reveal party is the actual part where you reveal the gender. Bet you had no idea I was going to say that did you?! Let me just tell you, the awesome things about twins is that you get two gender reveal parties in one. After the first reveal you still get to have another!! 

They ask their parents to cut into the cakes to reveal the genders of each baby. The color of the inside of the cake was dependent on the gender and they also had M&M's on the inside of the cakes so as you cut into it either blue or pink M&M's would spill out. 

Josh's parents cut into the first cake and blue spilled out! Twin A is a boy!!!! Let's take a moment to really analyze this picture. If you will notice my dad on the far right in the pink shirt. Look at his reaction. Apparently, he has some pent up frustration (which we were all unaware of) on the overwhelming amount of estrogen in our family. We were fairly shocked by his reaction - classic!  

Our parents cut the second cake and pink spilled out - Twin B is a girl!!!!

What a special day!!! We are so very excited and blessed by these two special gifts that God has given our families! Now, it is time to name these angels. I am still fighting for Brenda and Brandon - we could even play the 90210 theme song as they were delivered...... 

Wifey Wednesday - Reflection

I recently read that we should be the closest reflection to Jesus that our spouse will ever see. Hmm, not only is that a pretty powerful statement, but it is also incredibly intimidating! You see, Jeff is the only one who ever sees the stripped down and "naked" me. And let me tell you, some days after juggling a million different things in the air, by the time we get around to having our time together, this "naked" me can be an ugly thing. I am tired. I am tired of having on my "game face" for everyone and everything. My body is tired, my mind is tired, and I have nothing left to give. At this point in the evening, I think it is very safe to say that I am not so much reflecting Jesus as I am a tired and worn out hag.

We are all guilty of "taking advantage" of our spouse in this way. It is one of the guilty pleasures of marriage. However, I want to be the reflection of Jesus for my spouse. I want my reflection of Jesus to shine bright like the sun and not be overshadowed by the "clutter"or negativity in life. Those things are distractions brought to us straight from Satan to devalue and diminish our reflection of Jesus and in turn, our relationship with others.

I don't want to be the dark cloud in my husband's life. I want to be his bright spot. I want to be a reflection of Jesus for him each and every day.

This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine!

Tummy Tuesday - Newbies

I am going out on a limb here and sharing with you some new recipes we are trying this week. So, if they are not any good, I am sorry! Good news is though that they look delicious!

First up - Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches. I even bought the really good bread to go with it and not the cheap hamburger buns.

Root Beer Pulled Pork Sandwiches

Second - Being that I am a meat and potatoes type of gal, I am always up for trying out a new meatloaf recipe. One evening this week, we will be trying the recipe for Stove Top Stuffing Meatloaf.

Stove Top Stuffing Meatloaf

Enjoy!

Mommy Monday - Worth the Wait

To begin this post by saying that I had the most amazing weekend would be a bit of an understatement. Our dotMOM conference, which I have been counting down too for months now, finally happened and it was well worth the wait!

I would love to share with you every single moment of every single session from our worship to the inspiring breakout sessions to the keynote speakers to the amazing women. However, there is not enough time or words in the dictionary to describe what this weekend meant to me - as a wife, as a mama, as a woman, but most importantly as a faithful servant and follower of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! My passion for him burns deeper and brighter then ever before as I felt him move in me and through me in such a deep and passionate way this past weekend. To be standing in the midts of 1800 women who have come together to praise our Jesus and nourish their souls through him is something that was so incredibly powerful to witness and I will never forget it!

One of the highlights from the weekend would have to be our dotMOM planning committee. This is a group of women who I will forever feel privledged to now call my friends. These amazing women (quite a few who are missing from the picture below) were planning long before I ever came into the mix. They welcomed me into their family and team with open arms. They spent countless hours "behind the scenes" making this weekend possible while they all continued to juggle their own lives. Most importantly they faithfully prayed. We faithfully prayed for women whose many faces we will never see. We prayed over this event for so long and as a direct result felt his presence there in the most powerful and inspiring way.  

I also got to share the weekend with this most amazing lady. 28 years of friendship that God has blessed us with and true soul sisters in Christ. We passed through the point of friendship into sisterhood many decades, ex-boyfriends, and softball war stories ago.

Another highlight from the weekend would have to be this unexpected blessing who is now a loved member of our family. Madelin is a 6 year old from El Salvador who we "adopted" and now sponsor through Compassion International . Compassion International  is an amazing organization that exists as a Christian child advocacy ministry that releases children from spiritual, economic, social and physical poverty and enables them to become responsible, fulfilled Christian adults.  

Jeff and I both prayed about it and felt as though this was something God was really leading us to do. In addition, what a wonderful learning experience for our Sophie as she is equally excited!  

When I saw her beautiful dress with matching socks, I knew she was meant for us!

They encourage us to really build a relationship with her and exchange letters, photos, share about Jesus and our family. Our sponsorship allows her nutritious meals/snacks, educational opportunities, healthy and hygiene training, medical checkups, church, etc. Some children have been waiting for sponsors for over 400 days so we are very excited for her to learn she now has a second family to love and care for her. Afterall, our family is like the mafia, once your in - your in and there is no escaping. We hope to one day be able to travel to El Salvador through a Compassion International trip and visit our Madelin while getting to love on her in person. God is good and what a blessing she has already been in our lives!!!

What an amazing God we serve!

Mommy Monday - Bring on the Mom Squad!

Thank you for joining us. I will be your captain for today as you are entering a 24 hour negative free zone. Please refrain from all negativitiy and access an emergency exit should you feel the need to impact our zone with direct or indirect negativity.  

I am fasting - 24 hours of a negative free attitude! These were the instructions I read this morning as I sat down to begin my bible study. Of course my first thought was - whew, thank goodness I am not being asked to refrain from food. Then, hmm...yeah, I am not sure Monday is going to be the best day to start this fast. Maybe another day??! Doing as I am told though and today is the day. As long as no one asks me how I feel about our President, I should be good. Just kidding....kinda.

Truth be told though, the fast is actually great timing. This week, I really want to focus on nothing but positivity and "cleansing" as we draw closer to the dotMOM event this weekend.

dotMOM Conference

I want to prepare myself to be a vessel for our heavenly Father during this conference. As I have said before, the dotMOM conference has been such a huge blessing in my life. I have really enjoyed my time volunteering for such a worthy event so a few weeks ago when it was mentioned that we still needed volunteers for the "Mom Squad", I dove right in. Now, I know that you may be thinking that this squad thing sounds like I need to be driving a minivan and wearing mom jeans.

Thankfully though, you would be wrong.

The Mom Squad are on call prayer warriors for the conference. Should anyone need council or prayer during the two days, they can grab one of us. I am hungry to do more and this opportunity excites me. I want to surrender my life to him and truly have only Jesus at the center. However, it is amazing to see how anytime we are doing God's work and drawing closer to him, the devil will cast doubts. 

Is this something I am even qualified to do?

What if I don't know what to say or how to pray?

What if I pray wrong?

What if I don't help someone the right way?

What if I stumble over my words?

*** Please note that these thoughts occured last week as we are still in a negative free zone. *** 

That is when I realized that the devil is just trying to cast doubt. When he causes me to stop and doubt myself or my walk with God, he wins. Anything that he can do to draw me closer to him and away from our Lord, he will do it. The devil has strong power and is not afraid to use it but too bad for him that I know better. I know that my heavenly Father loves me unconditionally. He understands that I am only human and will sometimes become weak in the flesh but that is why he is always there for me. In those moments I can turn to him and he will make me strong beacause I am his child. I am following the path he has laid out for me so through him anything is possible!

"I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

Bring on the Mom Squad (minus the mom jeans and minivan)!

   

Random Thursday - Brenda and Brandon Anyone?

Time for my Public Service Announcement -

If you have not already bought your ticket for the dotMOM conference coming to Chattanooga next weekend - there is still time!!! Grab a babysitter, some girlfriends, and make a weekend of it!

dotMOM Conference

I PROMISE that this is going to be a wonderful weekend for us mommies to come together in worship to refresh our minds and bodies! If nothing else, at least click on the link above to check it out.

You do not want to miss out on this weekend of blessings and nourishment!

In other news -

While watching TV the other night I came across the final epsiode of Beverly Hills 90210 (the one and only ORIGINAL 90210, not to be confused with the knock off current one) which is of course one of my favorites. Hello, Donna and David get married. I cry everytime!

Do you remember that song that Eric Benet sings for their first dance - "Spend My Life With You"? I loved that song so much and swore through my stream of tears that when it was my wedding day, we were going to dance to the same beautiful song as Donna and David. Then, a few years later when the world found out that Eric Benet was cheating on his wife Halle Berry, I thought that maybe not so much on that song for a first wedding dance.

As I dried my tears, I looked up and realized that the next episode was the pilot episode for 90210.  I am not even kidding, I may have started crying tears of joy again.



Oh Brenda and Brandon Walsh, be still my heart! I got to meet the whole crew for the very first time again and it was a true thing of true beauty. Funny though how my perspective has changed since watching it 45 years ago. All I could think about when Brenda was "changing" to fit in and putting on all the globs of makeup and leaving the house in her black sequin mini dress to go out with her new friends, is how if I was her mama I would be dragging her butt right back in that house and we would be packing up the boxes and moving back to good 'ole Minnesota. 

On a brighter note, since my sister is pregnant twins right now, the show did inspire me to share with her my most amazing suggestion for names. Yup, you guessed it. Brenda and Brandon!! I mean seriously, could you even imagine how awesome that would be?! Then, she offered up an equally fabulous suggestion of her own by telling me that if I got pregnant with twins I could then name them Kelly and Dylan. Or Donna and David?! But then for a brother and sister that might kind of be weird. Maybe I will just take one for the team this time and let her have Brenda and Brandon. Just because I am that awesome of a sister. 

You are welcome little sis!

Tummy Tuesday - Tailgating Yummies

With football season comes tailgating and this means yummy food and fun recipes!

I posted this recipe awhile ago but it is so perfect for football season that I must post again! I have already made it twice and everyone loves it. As much as I would love to bask in the glory of the compliments, it is so easy to make, I just can't. Ok, well maybe sometimes I do.

Mustard Pretzel Dip

Another favorite of ours is this amazing Queso Dip .

My mouth is watering just thinking about it!!

Queso Dip  

I have never actually made this recipe but intend to this football season because anyone who knows me knows that I am obsessed with some Deviled Eggs!

Sweet and Spicy Deviled Eggs

Happy Tailgating!

Enjoy!!

Mommy Monday - Not a Fan

The dotMOM conference is now only two weeks away (September 20-21) and I am so blessed to be a part of it. The committee has been hard at work for the past year and even though I only came on board in recent months, I feel just as passionate as if I had been involved for the full year.

Chattanooga dotMOM Conference

I am so excited to see what God has in store for the dotMOM weekend. To have this quality weekend to refresh and spend time with other ladies bettering ourselves as women, wives, mothers, and followers of God, is an incredible blessing. We need that support group of other women to help build us up when we are down. To help remind us that we are not the only ones. To share experiences and realize that maybe we are not so crazy after all (or maybe that last part is just for me).

Recently, we began a sermon series at church - "Are you a Fan or a Follower". As easy and comfortable as it is to be a fan, I want to be a follower. Over the past year as my relationship with God has deepened, I have felt a tugging on my heart to do more. I have prayed for direction and prayed for doors to open so this may be possible and its simply amazing how God is placing those opportunities in my path. Through the dotMOM confererence, I have met some amazing women and have also been offered the chance to challenge myself more. Become a follower and not a fan.

Perhaps one of the opportunities I am most excited about is our new bible study group. God had really been laying it on my heart for awhile now to start this group but I just was not sure how to do it. Who do I ask? How do I find people? What if no one is interested? As God does though when you are following his plan, he provided. We now have an amazing group of girls and even though we have only just begun, I am so excited to see the incredible work that God is going to do within our group. It is such a blessing to look around the table and realize how these different chapters in my life have all come together to form this group. Each girl (I feel like I should say lady instead of girl but that just makes me feel old) brings her own experiences to the table and it is simply remarkable to see how they all compliment each other so well. To God be the glory!

I want Sophie to know that her mama is a follower and not a fan. I want to lead by example. I want my girl to know it's okay to be scared because sometimes being a follower means taking the road less traveled and stepping out in blind faith. However, we are never really blind when we have our heavenly Father lighting the path at our feet.

Fabulous Friday - Twerk It Like It's Hot

HAPPY FRIDAY!

TGIF!

I just had to share!

OMG! Do you remember this game? I thought I was the coolest thing ever when we would have a slumber party and played it! The girls on the cover of the box just looked like they were so awesome and having so much fun!

Then, the girl on the cover randomly reminded me of this -

Sweet Valley High? Remember Jessica and Elizabeth Wakefield?! I so loved the both of them and could never decide which one I wanted to be more!

Then, I instantly remembered I used to have this and was obsessed with it -

That's right! The Sweet Valley High board game because that is how I roll!

 

Now all I want to do is read some Sweet Valley High books this weekend while playing my board game.

Sorry, I digress.  

 Twerk it!

And on top of that, I may add in a few of my zumba moves. You know, the ones that in my head I think make me look super awesome when in reality make me look more like the biggest most spaz ever. I just want to make sure I get my point across.

If Jeff and I hadn't been able to have children, I seriously think this would have been our future!

Jeff could wear this shirt while I am twerking and doing my super sexy zumba moves.

Have a great weekend!!

xoxo

Random Thursday - Live With Abandon

Chasing after this world makes me tired
Praisin' my own name leaves me dry

There's gotta be so much more to life than this
A higher calling that I missed
I want my life to count, every breath

I wanna live with abandon
Give You all that I am
Every part of my heart Jesus
I place in Your hands
I wanna live with abandon

I'll drop everything to follow You
It's only Your hands I hold onto

There's gotta be more to life than this
A higher calling that I missed
I want my life to count, every breath

I'm not looking back
I'm done with that
Wanna give You all I haveLive With Abandon - Newsboys

 

The song lyrics above really speak volumes as to where I have been in my life over the past 9 months or so. I want to live with complete abandon. I want to do everything that I can do to reach others who may not yet know the blessing of walking every single day with Jesus. The pure joy, happiness, and security that it brings you. However, it is not easy. The more corrupt our world becomes, the more challenges we face in our daily walk with Jesus.

I was recently reminded of the importance of my daily quiet time alone with God. Having this time alone with him every morning in study and prayer is like putting on my suit of armor for the day.



As I mentioned recently, Jeff and I nixed soda and caffeine from our diet. After reading so many things for so long about all the icky ingredients and what you are putting into your body by drinking them, we decided to stop. We felt as though this was a pretty easy and simple (famous last words) way to rid our body of unneeded toxins. With this thought in mind, during a lunch converstion with a friend yesterday, I had a lightbulb moment. Or as Oprah likes to call it, an AHA moment. I realized that over the past year, I have worked hard to rid my body of other "toxins". In with the good and out with the bad.

I identified triggers for me that allow that door to open ever so slightly and the devil to creep right in because that is all he needs. Just a little crack in the door and he slithers right through. For example - Facebook. Now don't get me wrong, I love me some facebook. It's a great way to keep in touch with people, stay updated on things, and even shop. Luckily, I have not yet felt convicted to check my shopping - whew. Anyways, facebook opens up doors to all sorts of things and before you know it you are striving to keep up with the Jones....or now a days, the Kardashians.

Why couldn't we go on that vacation?
Oh, look at her new car. I sure would love to have a new car!
Are you kidding me? They are on here again talking about that?
Hmm, wonder what that ex-boyfriend is up too?

And of course I could go on and on. Social media is now necessary evil but as with anything in life, it is best in moderation. Luckily, I realized I could block certain things from showing on my facebook newsfeed. This allows me to only see what I want and need to see and not to be distracted by anything else. I know it may not seem like that big of a deal but everyone is different and for me, it works. It is just one more way I am flushing the "toxins" out of my body. Just one more way I am learning to live with abandon.    

Wifey Wednesday - Football Time In Tennessee!

Jeff and I had a wonderful date day this past Saturday with about 90,000 of our closest friends for Tennessee's home opener. 

Football season is here!!!!

Anytime we drive into Knoxville for a football game, I just want to stop for a moment, close my eyes, and take it all in. I love seeing the top of North and South Carrick Hall in the distance as we round the interstate. I remember those first few days of nerves when I moved in for my freshman year of college and began what would soon be one of the best chapters of my life. 

I remember the first time I attended a football game with my Daddy when I was younger and the electricity in the air. I remember the first time I heard John Ward's voice on the radio - "He's to the 15 to the 10 to the 5, Touchdown Big Orange!"

I learned so much about life and myself during my five years at Tennessee. Most especially, I  made life long friends with whom I share many memories. Some memories will bring tears of laughter while others could potentially be used as blackmail should one of us ever decide to make a run for political office one day.  

At Tennessee it is just not about the school. It is about so much more. Something that runs much deeper. Something that you just cannot quite explain. It is about tradition, a way of life, and a sense of pride.

1998 was a legendary year and also my freshman year of college. That year we won the National Championship - WOW!!!! This goal post and banner is from that year and our huge win against Florida which really began the journey. I remember being on the field after the game and celebrating the victory as we all tried to avoid getting trampled as they carried the goal post out of the stadium, through campus, and down "the strip". I think I may still have some grass from the field somewhere too!  

Now times have changed and we tailgate with our family and friends. No more tearing down goal posts for us. Instead, we set up and tear down our tailgate festivities. However, still making memories!

Can you even believe she is 7 months pregnant...with her second one?!? She is amazing and that belly did not slow her down for one second! We got her through the first game (she's a champ I tell ya!) and are keeping our fingers crossed to get her through the Georgia game before baby Beau arrives!

When the day comes for Sophie to choose her college, we will of course support her no matter where she decides to attend. However, you better believe that between now and then, she will bleed nothing but orange and white!

Tummy Tuesday - Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing

Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing is beyond a doubt one of my new favorite meals. Super easy, healthy, and we all loved it! Miracles really do happen!

Crockpot Chicken and Stuffing

I even added some yummy corn on the cob and green beans to go along with it. I seriously felt like we were about two pies and a large Honey Baked Ham away from Thanksgiving calibur dining!

If you haven't tried my "new" recipe for corn on the cob - do it now! Of course I cannot take full credit because I did find it on Pinterest but, at least I had the good sense to try it out right?! When you boil your water for the corn, be sure to add one cup of milk and one stick or one half cup of butter. Then drop in your corn and let the magic happen because that is what it tastes like - a little magic for your tastebuds.

Enjoy!!!!