11/25/2016 

I recently read this poem and was challenging by the questions it posed to me as a mother with young children in my home. What are they learning from my example? What kind of home am I building? 

“Every wise woman builds her home, but the foolish pulls it down with her hands.”

(Proverbs 14:1)

or destroying them with your words and actions?

What kind of a home are you building?

An angry home or an anointed home?

A boring home or a bountiful home?

A cynical home or a celebrating home?

A depressing home or a delightful home?

An empty home or an encouraging home?

A fretful home or a flourishing home?

A grumbling home or a gladsome home?

A harassed home or a happy home?

An impoverished home or an interesting home?

A jaded home or a jubilant home?

A kill-joy home or a kind-hearted home?

A legalistic home or a loving home?

A mournful home or a merry home?

A negative home or a nurturing home?

An oppressive home or an overcoming home?

A prayer-less home or a prayer-filled home?

A quarreling home or a queenly home?

A rebellious home or a restful home?

A sour home or a sweet home?

A troublesome home or a tender home?

An unstable home or a united home?

A vexed home or virtuous home?

A worrisome home or a wonderful home?

An exhausting home or an exhilarating home?

Is your home yielded to the Sovereign Lord?

Are you zealously guarding your home?

11/23/2016

My littlest man is walking! 

He is just under 14 months and has just taken off walking on his own. He's so proud of himself, smiling and squealing with delight as he takes those tentative steps. 

We're proud of you, Mr. Man! 

11/10/2016 

This little man is enjoying fall. 

He points to the window to go outside. 

He will sit in the grass and leaves, scooting himself around and squealing with delight. 

We've had some beautiful weather the last few weeks, extending summer all through the month of October and into November!

Happy fall!

11/4/2016 

My oldest daughter is not (nowadays) afraid of bugs... unlike my younger children. 

We recently found a praying mantis on the siding of our house. 

She went up to it and let it crawl onto her finger. 

And for the next hour, she watched this bug, played with it, stalked it around the yard, let it walk around on her clothes, etc. Did you know that praying mantises can fly? This one stayed pretty low to the ground, but it did fly a bit. 

The younger siblings were around, enjoying this nature lesson. 

Up close and personal with a praying mantis. Cool!  

11/1/2016

There is something awesome, special and incredibly blessed of God in carrying a child, in sustaining and nurturing life. This poem speaks to the spiritual side of the great calling of motherhood.

Motherhood - a poem by Christianna Maas

My willingness to carry life is the revenge, the antidote
to the great rebuttal of every murder, every abortion
and every genocide. I sustain humanity. 
Deep inside of me, light grows.
I am death's opposition.

I have pushed back the hand of darkness today.
I have caused there to be a weakening tremor among
the ranks of those set on earth's destruction.
Today a vibration that calls angels to attention 
echoed throughout time.
Our laughter threatened hell today.

I dined with the greats of God's army.
I made their meals and tie their shoes.
Today I walked with greatness 
and when they were tired, I carried them.
I have poured myself out for their cares today.

It is finally quiet but life stirs inside of me
Gaining strength, the pulse of life sends a constant 
reminder to both good and evil that I have yielded 
myself to heaven and now carry its dream.
No angel has ever had such a privilege nor any man.
I am humbled by the honor. I am great with destiny.

I birth freedom fighters.
In the great war, I am a leader of the underground resistance. I smile at the disguise of my troops, 
surrounded by a host of warriors, destiny swirling, 
invisible yet tangible and the anointing to alter history.
Our footsteps marking land for conquest
We move undetected through the common places.

Today I was the barrier between evil and innocence.
I was the gatekeeper, watching over the hope of 
mankind and no intruder trespassed.
There is not an hour of the day or night 
when I turn from my post. 
The fierceness of my love is unmatched on earth.

And because I smiled instead of frowned
The world will know the power of grace
Hope has feet and it will run to the corners of the earth
Because I stood up against destruction.

I am a woman. 
I am a mother.
I am the keeper and sustainer of life here on earth.
Heaven stands in honor of my mission.
No one can carry my call.
I am the daughter of Eve.
Eve has been redeemed.
I am the opposition of death.
I am a woman.