Shelter

Sometimes it's so hard to "find" time to be with the Lord.

As mommies, it's easy to get caught up in the spilled juice, temper tantrums, laundry piles, screaming children tugging on our pants and crayon marks on the walls. We get through the day with short prayers;

Lord, help me. Lord, not again. Lord, help me to have strength. Lord, help me control my temper.

I believe God has been calling me to a deeper prayer life lately. Something more than those frantic cries for help. I've been so grateful for naptime. It's quiet, restful time for both me & Jackson. And you know what? I've noticed that Jackson's naptimes are getting longer and longer; the Lord blesses that time for me. I may not even open my Bible, but sitting quietly before the Lord, my cup is refilled and I can face the rest of the day with renewed love and patience for my sweet one.

I would encourage and challenge each of you to find opportune times to spend with your first Love.

Naptime. Bathroom time. Early morning before the kids get up. Late at night before bed.

I have also been focusing on Ann Voskamp's SHELTER of prayer. I'm trying to implement each element of SHELTER into my daily life: Short prayers, using Helps, Establishing a place to pray, using Lists, praying Together with my family, Establishing a time to pray, and placing Reminders around me.

God will bless your efforts to know Him more intimately.

August

au-gust

adjective

1. inspiring reverence or admiration; of supreme dignity or grandeur; majestic

2. venerable; eminent

August is always an interesting month in my life. My birthday is in August, so as a little girl I loved August, even though it meant back-to-school and extreme heat. As an adult, it seems like God always pushes me a little bit further in my faith, and consequently shows His majesty in my life, during the month of August. An aptly named month.

August 2008: I graduated from OT school. We were newlyweds and living off love and a little savings, and we were flat up broke eight months in. God really provided for us, and we didn't starve. He led me to an incredible opportunity to work at an outpatient clinic in Russellville. Nervously, I started a new job with new people that turned out to be a great season in my life.

August 2009: I was battling morning sickness and it took all the strength God gave me to get out of bed every day and go to work. God was preparing me for all the days that I am tired and worn out, yet must reach within (and up to Him) to find more to give, give, give to my sweet son.

August 2010: I had a six month old that changed my perspective on working vs. staying home. My mom (my babysitter) moved 2 hours away, and I did not know what to do. God pushed me out of my comfort zone as I turned in my resignation at a job I loved with all my heart to take a job I wasn't crazy about in order to stay home with my sweet one more. Then, God provided for me in a HUGE way on my birthday as He moved my employer's heart to grant me leniency with my resignation date due to my babysitting crisis. I had never been more sure of His love for me than the moment I hung up the phone with my old boss. I will never forget that moment of humility and love.

August 2011: Last week, my grandmother went to the hospital thinking she had the stomach flu. Four days later, she was undergoing open-heart, quadruple bypass surgery with questionable odds of survival. God was SO faithful to heal her and restore her health more than the doctors could ever think or imagine! At the same time, God has opened some major doors in both Tyler's and my career. These changes will mean that our family life is going to be much more flexible, and that we will get to spend much more time together! There are changes coming in my in-law family as well as my maiden family that will mean more time together and less stress on all of us.

He is sovereign, He is just, and He is faithful.

I love Him more each day, each year, each August.

This has been one of the toughest weeks of my life.

My grandmother has been in the hospital in very critical condition, and it took them a long time to determine what was going on with her. She ended up having a CABG open heart surgery yesterday.

Through this, I have really realized what matters most - family.

Family members that I don't get to talk to frequently showed up at the hospital to love on us, hug us, and pray with us. They texted and called, Facebooked and emailed.

How blessed I am to be a part of a large extended family that loves the Lord and puts their hope in Him.

I love my family.