New Blog title

Hey blog friends, what few of you there are.  I've decided to change the name of this blog to "Finding His Way."  The idea is kinda the same, but this blog was originally a vanity.  I thought I could make money on it, or make it widespread.  It was kinda cool to do, the popular thing.  Then I tried it and decided that I just like to write in it, whether anyone reads it or not.  It feels good to write and express myself.  So, the idea of the blog has changed, so the name has too.  My goal in life is to find God's way.  I want to walk where He wants me to walk.  His word tells me where to go, Psalm 119:105 - Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.  So, I am journeying in this life to follow His word and go where it leads me.  So, this blog is kind of a record of the journey.  So, if you'd like to come along with me on the journey, please come along...you're very welcome.  If not, I understand.  But, I'll still be on my way to Him!  I guess I'll see where that takes me.  Love to have you along with me and my family for the trip!   Love in Christ, Elizabeth

Savor it

Hello Moms! How are you?  It is November, can you believe it?  I really can't.  It seems, the older I get, that things just get faster and faster.  There is just not enough time between important events. It's getting closer to Thanksgiving, and it seems, as things get faster, that I have more and more to be thankful for.  I have to keep reminding myself to savor and enjoy it.  Because with the faster time, it seems I get less done than I used to, so there is ALWAYS something to do, and that means I usually rushing and not savoring.  I don't have a solution for this yet, but I WILL keep looking for ways to appreciate the myriad of things I have to be thankful for.  I think, this November, that I am going to stop trying to be like everyone else, and stop doing what everyone else is doing. I am going to do what I do.  I am going to look around to appreciate who is here with me.  I will still do dishes and laundry, pick up toys, teach the kids, and exercise, etc.  But, during those things, I will try to savor who is with me and what I am doing.  Lord, please give me the perceptiveness to see the people around me, to stop rushing and comparing, and love them with all the love and patience you give me!  Thank you God for the many blessings I have.  Please help me to use them wisely and to treasure you and my loved ones.  Thank you for loving me no matter what!  Thanks for November 2011. Help me be here and now, not looking ahead or behind. 

My own personal paradise!!!

I haven't forgotten you...

Hey blog followers, all ten of you, I haven't forgotten about "Moms serving God," thought it may seem that way.  I just got distracted by other things...like a senior in high school who is starting on his football team...like starting out in homeschooling for the first time with my two little boys...like surviving the summer crazies....  Well, I hope you all survived the summer crazies too!  I know facebook is a good way to interact, but sometimes it feels so impersonal.  I was hoping for a place where other women could be open and a bit transparent...at least I'm trying to be.  It's really hard sometimes, for me at least.  I prefer to show others my good stuff...not the messed up parts, and they are numerous. So, for me fall feels like a fresh start to be more organized, exercise more regularly, fix better meals, clean better, sharpen some new pencils :- )   Anyway, I tend to have A LOT of expectations for myself and keep everything together.  So, I ask you to add me to your prayer list...pray that I will savor God and my family and do the things that need done, but stop trying to be perfect...I covet your prayers...talk to you soon!

So many things...

I haven't written for a little while. Mostly because there are so many things occupying my mind and my time.
Me and my husband just got back from Boston where he ran the Boston Marathon. Awesome but exhausting!  We are STRONGLY considering homeschool, but I have to make up a proposal of sorts so my husband will know what's in my head and so we can decide whether to do it or not. So, I've been scouring the internet and calling local groups and talking to other homeschool parents.
It's spring break for my kindergartener, and the laundry and dishes continue to pile and we're tripping over toys.  
I am working in my church library, revamping it, with lots to do and no time. It is exceptionally hard to work in the library while my one year old pulls books off the shelves.  Deadline looming for a booksale that I'm not ready for.
My teenager is texting 15 girls at once, taking the ACT, going to track meets and the prom, with lots of plans in his head but not sharing them with us - I have this nightmare that I'm going to be trying to find a tux on the morning of the prom. Ugh!!
My husband is so busy with this three jobs that he falls asleep in his recliner every night with a computer in his lap.  I miss him!
We're planning a yard sale in a week or so, and I am tired just thinking about it.  It's the second of the season - and my "gazelle" intensity is beginning to wane. (Dave Ramsey reference.  http://www.daveramsey.com/ )
Mowed grass a foot tall today with a push mower trying to outrun the rain.  I didn't succeed.  The grass was so thick it kept choking up! (be aware that I was mowing about 5 acres of grass with a push mower, cause the riding mower isn't working)
Leading a "Big Losers" weight loss group and getting disheartened by seeing several of my "Losers" get disheartened!
I would really like to go for a run or read my Bible, brush my teeth,  or even type this without a 38 lb kid climbing on my back.  I probably could do some of that if I'd stop procrastinating because I am overwhelmed.
Am I complaining...well, maybe...
I should not be complaining because I am well aware of how blessed I am - I have a home to live in, food to eat, clothes to wear, people who love me, a healthy body, a Risen Savior!!!!!  I need to be thanking God instead of fussing!
Ephesians 3:20
Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us...

Lord, help me focus my attention on you, not on all the stuff and the little things.  In Jesus name...

Government shut down

I was recently appalled to learn that the government might shut down.  FYI my husband is a government engineer and a soldier.  So, this potential shut down scared my socks off. Everything we relied on might be gone.  The main reason I was scared is because we're not prepared.  I disobeyed God. I got in debt, bought things I didn't need, sought the things of the world instead of the things of God.  So, I made my own bed, and if the governement shut down I'd be laying in it.  I was doing those things is relative ignorance.  Not total ignorance, but partial.  I was raised in a family that had little money but my mom knew how to take care of it.  Same for my step-dad who came along later.  I didn't really see them do budgets or save money or pay cash for things, so I didn't really understand much.  But, I did know about living within my means.  I just didn't really want to.  I thought budgets were for people who don't have enough money.  I thought people with money didn't need to worry about it. And I wanted to have things and I didn't want to worry about it.  I didn't think getting in debt was a big deal, after all, nearly everyone I know is in debt. However, if I'd been familiar with my Bible at the time, I'd have known what God's word says about debt - Proverbs 22:7  The rich rule over the poor, and the borrower is slave to the lender.   It doesn't get much more plain that that.  So, in January, me and my husband knew we had to do something, be were weren't sure how.  Fortunately, our church began a Dave Ramsey Financial Peace University class.  We joined it, and I am SO glad we did.  The mud was cleaned off and our eyes were opened. We "graduated" last week, but just because we "graduated" doesn't mean we're done.  It's like a healthy lifestyle, you're never "done."  You just keep learning and growing.  So, we're on our way to getting out of debt and having emergency savings and not being slaves to the lenders anymore.  The only one I want to be a slave to is God!  So, I'm on my way, but I am NOT ready for my husband to be out of work!  That's a bit too much!  So, I will keep working  with "gazelle" intensity - Proverbs 6:5 - Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler.  Praise the Lord for second chances and grace beyond my imagination!!!

If you're in debt, like the majority of the population,  I pray you'll take a Financial Peace University Class near you!  Or do it online yourself.  It is worth the time and money!  http://www.daveramsey.com/

Here I am again...

Well, I haven't written anything for several days.  I've just felt overwhelmed by all the things going on.  It wasn't always the things going on around me as much as it was the things going on in my head. I can't even pinpoint some of the things chasing each other in my mind, they were just there, jostling for attention.  Admittedly, some of it was worry, an unnamed, general worry. At church, before communion yesterday, I had to talk to God about that because I know I don't need to worry. His word promises He will provide everything I need. And, often He generously provides a lot of what I want too. A favorite part in the Bible about what is important and about worrying is in Matthew 6 - I copied this from http://www.biblegateway.com/

Treasures in Heaven

    ¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
   ²² “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy,^[c] your whole body will be full of light. ²³ But if your eyes are unhealthy,^[d] your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
   ²⁴ “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Do Not Worry

    ²⁵ “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? ²⁶ Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? ²⁷ Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life^[e]?
   ²⁸ “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. ²⁹ Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. ³⁰ If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? ³¹ So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³² For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. ³³ But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. ³⁴ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

I've revisited these verses many times since I became a follower of Christ.  Especially, verse 27 - "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?"  In reality, I subtract time from my life by worrying.  I worry when I could be doing something else, effectively wasting time.  I'm just so thankful that God loves me anyway and stays patient with my by reminding me again and again to just trust Him.

Quite a morning

Well, it's sure been quite a morning.  Whew...I'm exhausted.  Well, and a bit worried too.  After me and my little one (18 mo.) took his big brothers to school, we went to Wal-mart to have the oil changed in the van and to do the grocery shopping.  We were trying to get home by 10am, which is when nap time is.  While we were walking into the Wa-mart service area, I tripped. Since I was carrying the baby, he fell too.  I did my best to break his fall with myself, but he hit his little head and got all scraped up on his forehead. I felt so horrible about it.  I'm kinda clumsy and used to being bruised and bumped, but I don't want to hurt others too.  He cried a lot, but I fixed him up, and he was okay after he got his pacifier.  But the scrape has swollen and he has a bump on his head.  It makes me hurt just to look at it, even though he doesn't really seem to notice.  I feel guilty for accidentally hurting him.  This is the part of motherhood that always suprises me - the intensity of emotion.  I feel more hurt for my children then I ever do for myself, whether it's emotional pain or physical.  This always takes me by suprise.  Yet, it usually helps remind me of my heavenly Father's love for me.  I know from His word that he loves my children more than I do. I also know he loves me that much too. So, I can't imagine the intensity of emotion he feels when I'm hurt or struggling for any reason. It staggers the imagination.  It also shows how steadfastly he will care for me, too. 

Love being a Meema

Thanks, Elizabeth for that kind introduction. I think we can all learn and grow from each other and this is a great vehicle for doing so. The good Lord is still teaching me at the tender age of 54 and I hope He never stops.

At this point in my life I have grown sons, their wives and grand babies that melt my heart. I also have a husband that I'm getting to know all over again since the boys are gone and it's just us and the dogs at home. It's turning out to be a good stage in life and I'm looking forward to what God has in mind for us now!

Oh yea, what's a "Meema"? Andrew picked out that name for me while we were on vacation in Myrtle Beach. He was about 18 months old and we went around the table pointing at Mommy, then Daddy and when they pointed at me, Andrew said "Meema". There is nothing any sweeter.

New Author

I am so excited!  This new blog adventure is getting even better. We now have two authors for "Moms Serving God."  We each come at this mom thing from different views.  Our new author is a grandmother with adult children.  I have younger children.  Since this blog is for all moms who strive to serve God, then we need bloggers with varying experiences. My friend has willingly agreed to join in on the fun with us!

Oh, my!!

 Well, I took Sunday off from blogging, and it was good.  I was still exhausted from the yard sale on Saturday.  I'm still a bit tired today, so while the baby is napping, I turned on Netflix.  I decided to watch something I'd been wanting to see for awhile. I had put it off for some reason, and now I think I know why. I didn't want to face reality. I chose to watch the documentary "Super Size Me."  I've heard about it for several years but never had an opportunity to watch it. Quite frankly, I thought the guy, Morgan Spurlock, was crazy. Why in the world would he eat only McDonalds food for 30 days.  I basically thought it was stupid and pointless - until I actually watched it.  This movie was so believable and real that it was horrifying!  The things I saw were things I knew, deep down, but refused to acknowledge.  I don't eat fast food much, but sometimes I do, but it was mostly for budget purposed that I refrained.  I will choose other food options now for entirely different reasons.  I believe I'll also remove the McDonald's toy cash register and plastic hamburger from my chidlren's collect right now. I wholeheartedly support healthy eating and exercise and moderation, but I never fully understood the reality of the fast food and processed "food" issue, until now.

 Please, check this movie out - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0390521/  - you won't be sorry!  Or, maybe you will be sorry to know the truth, but I want to be around for awhile, don't you???? Aren't our kids worth it!

Gazelle Intensity!!

Wow, what an amazing day!  We had an awesome time at our yard sale today!   Never mind that the temperature never exceeded 40 degrees, and the wind was fierce.  Me and my husband were blessed to talk to a variety of interesting people.  I so enjoyed hearing their stories.  I actually liked bargaining with them and even used a few of the strategies I have learned from Financial Peace University. I used to hate selling things - anything, it didn't matter what - but I found myself enjoying the process a little.  I think they did too.  It is a bit exciting, this buying and seling game.  Anyway, I digress.  The only reason we had a yard sale is because we've been doing Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University since January.  We had waaaayyy to much stuff.  We also have waaaaayyyy to much debt.  So, one of Dave's sayings is "sell so much stuff the kids think they're next."  So, that is what we're doing...with "gazelle intensity."  After all, what other reason is there to have a yard sale in gusty  40 degree weather???  To do our best to follow our Lord, of course. To do our best to get out of debt and use the money God has given us in the way He wants!  I know one thing for sure...I WILL sleep good tonight!

unqualified

"Being imperfect doesn’t disqualify us from serving God;

it just emphasizes our dependence on His mercy."

 

This is a quote from "Our Daily Bread" (a link on the right side of the blog).  It speaks to me because I'm regularly disappointed in myself for my mistakes, small or large. It seems I can never do anything right.  I get frustrated a lot and wonder how God could ever use me, and why he would ever want to.  So, I'm clumsy, forgetful, and messy...so what.  I don't plan ahead well and I am often negative and snippy (you know what that means, right?). I don't love the Lord as much as I should, or spend time with Him like I want.  However, I do love Him, and I'm listening for His voice.  I pray I'll serve him in my own flawed way, and along the way He'll change me to be more like Him.   Lord, lead me in your path, not mine.  Help me to love and serve you with reckless abandon!  In Jesus name...

Moving along

Well, this new blog is coming along slowly.  I'm learning how to add things to the page.  There have been no comments yet and not much interaction, but hopefully soon.  We do have three members!  Check out the new links and feeds I added today.  You can investigate Dave Ramsy, Made to Crave, and Money Saving Mom.  You can even peruse the Homeschool Hub and Christian Courses, to expand your mind.  These are all sites I like and visit regularly.  Most importantly, you can go to Our Daily Bread and find a devotion every day.  This is an excellent way to have time with God each day!  It's short, sweet, and applicable to life!  Also, please share the link to the blog so we develop a community of women all seeking the Lord!  The web address is http://www.momsservinggod.blogspot.com/

Lord, I pray for the women here on this blog, and for the women yet to come.  Thank you for the opportunity to talk to other like minded women and mothers!  Lord, give us wisdom and strength to face the day!  Please watch over our children today!  In Jesus name, amen.

Spread the word, ladies!

WOW, followers!

I am so excited about this new adventure in blogging.  The blog has two followers!!  They're my friends of course and are supporting this new thing of mine.  I think that is totally awesome!  I can't wait until people add ideas of their own... things they are learning in their walk with God, and some scripture to encourage!!! 

What do moms want on a blog?  What would you like to find here?  I would personally like to find links to lots of useful, practical stuff and cool websites.  I've tried to add a few, but I'm always searching for the next most useful site!  I think I'd also like to find a breath of fresh air from God, perhaps a new spiritual thought I hadn't considered before, or something to ponder while I'm doing my 5th load of laundry.  So I'll keep adding things I learn in my quiet time with God, and hope that you share some wisdom from your alone time with God, or at least some thought you were considering during your 7th round of dishes!  ;-)

Good Morning

Here in my little part of WV, it is rainy and cold.  Yesterday and the day before were very warm and wonderful.  I almost forgot it was still March.  Oh well.  Lots on my mind today, and a mood to match the weather.  I'm thinking mostly about my teenage son.  Actually he's my step-son.  But, that is just grammer.  According to my heart, he's my son, and he has been for about 15 years, since he was a little tiny boy.  He's 17 now and he's struggling with difficult things in his life.  I try to talk to him and he ignores me or gets mad because he doesn't like to talk.  Then the next day he posts on Facebook that he wants to talk to someone.  Facebook - I have  a love/hate relationship with it.  It's very helpful, sometimes.  Other times, it's very addictive.  And, in regard to teenagers, it seems they say more on facebook than they do to the real people in their lives - the ones living right in their own houses.  I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing.  Anyway, do any of you have teenage boys???  I don't really know what's up with them??? Any wisdom??

Trying out a blog

Well, I thought I didn't like bloggers, but here I am trying out blogging.  It could be interesting as soon as I figure out what I'm doing.  I didn't really have a tough time figuring out what this blog would be about because I'm basically on a quest, a quest to be a mom who serves God.  The trouble is, I don't always know what that looks like.  So, I thought maybe I'd join with other moms who are learning to serve God too!  Maybe we could support each other in the quest.  So, if you are a follower of Christ, and a mom, join in my quest to learn to serve God to the best of our ability, benefiting our children, husbands, friends, and families.  So, away we go!!!!