I can't believe I'm actually here...

It's funny. I remind myself DAILY (sometimes hourly) of God's faithfulness. But somewhere inside I wondered IF it would ever happen...not WHEN. I couldn't even really answer the emails asking how the interview went...while I waited for "the call."

WHEN is here. Today M had an interview with a 2nd company. The 2nd company isn't really ready to have someone in the office this week. They still need to interview a few more and it's likely that it will be the New Year before they want someone to start. But, the first company...they want M to start on Monday! M got a phone call from the first company with a very real job offer.

It's been a journey! I won't ever be the same. But, I don't want to be. I want to be a testament to God's faithfulness. SO...it's here today...the day that our world changes. Thanks to all of you who prayed along with us.

Possibilities!!!

We might have just reached the end of the tunnel! My hubby had an interview today. It will mean a bit longer commute, but we wouldn't have to move! Pray please for the company as they make decisions and hopefully make us an offer SOON! I have so much to say...but I'm knitting as fast as my fingers will fly hoping to have some gifts for Christmas. Hope your Thanksgiving was blessed. km

Given 2

Since my Given is so long, and since we're starting the 2nd year of this journey, I'm starting a Given 2. If you haven't seen it, go read my update from May to October. My feed reader wasn't picking up the post, so I figure that is happening to others too. I certainly hope that we are in a different place come next October, but I will continue to keep my list so that I can read this on days when I can't see a light at the end of the tunnel.

10.12.10

My neighbor is an older single man. His kids are grown. He still shops at Costco because it's cheaper. He brings up the 'extras' and we are blessed by his continuous stream of generosity. This week, he's brought us 2# of butter and 1# of coffee beans.

Sunday afternoon, a friend from church came by with $280 in cash. She just said, "It's not from me." She was just the messenger.

Last night, a friend dropped by with a decorative pumpkin that says, "Give Thanks to the Lord, for He is good; His love endures forever." I'm enjoying that with my fall decor. She also brought me a knitting book, Shibori Knits. It's been awhile since I've felted anything...I'm excited to start a new project.

Given

We've been given so much!!!

***ETA: I'm going to add to this list instead of starting a new post each time. Scroll to the bottom for the new additions. Look for the ********** to start today's additions.

Originally Posted 1/7/10

A pizza (one day a friend who's son works for a local pizza place brought us a x-large pizza...M's favorite)

5# Flour, 5# Sugar, and $50 grocery gift card

$50cash from my mom's neighbor

another $20 grocery gift card

a $25 target gift card

another $10 grocery gift card

a bag of money from a friend's bunko group (almost $100)

a $100 target gift card

a Christmas Card from an anonymous friend with $1000 cash

A box lovingly filled with food & sundries (mac&cheese, pasta & sauce, dried red beans & rice (with a recipe and attached cajun seasonings) toothbrushes, toothpaste, and Bath&Body soap, and more).

Our freezer was packed full when we began this road of unemployment...just before Christmas I used our last whole chicken, but freezer is still not empty.

My mom has been able to do our grocery shopping each week ensuring we still have fresh fruits & vegetables, milk, and eggs.

In November, we got the letter from our mortgage company with our revised rate. We have a 5/1 ARM and we knew in February 2010 our payment would change. We were in the process of a refinance to have a fixed rate, and even had the appraisal the day before M was laid off. But, we couldn't continue... Our new monthly payment is $500 LESS. Can you believe it?!

In spite of the fact that M is still without a job (this week is 3 months)...I feel God's provision for us. I'm writing this down so that I can be encouraged on days when I feel the weight of unemployment and a family of 5. Philippians 4:19.

I want remember all this. I want to be able to GIVE. Having experienced unemployment, I want to be able to pass on God's LOVE to others in their time of need. I pray that I remember how I was blessed...so that I can BE a blessing.

And just after I typed all this...a friend from Bible Study brought over chocolate/carmel pretzels and a card with $50. And then my mom was buying sweet potatoes for us, and the store made a mistake. When she took the receipt back in to the store after carrying to groceries to the car...she got 15# of sweet potatoes FREE.

Added 1/11/10

105 free photos from Shutterfly

A free Photo book on Shutterfly (and they didn't even know I wanted/needed this)

On Saturday we attended a friends commisioning into the Marine Corp. We came home with Sunday's lunch (penne with sun dried tomatoes and artichoke hearts) and Monday's dinner (spaghetti with meatballs) and a plate of cupcakes from Dots.

Added 3/7/10

We're at 5 months now. And we're still living much more comfortably than much of the world. I'm reminded of this in so many ways. Last week, M was scheduled to go to Mexico with our church to hand out food boxes at a clinic our church built. The trip was rained out. We're still so blessed and I know that those families had to be so disappointed to wait another week for the supplies they so desperately needed. A fellow blogger (with my name) is blogging her Compassion trip to Kenya. And her description of Day 4 reminds me of my trip to Russia in 1993...where I came home with the clothes on my back and my socks and underwear. I'd met people with so little, I gave them all I had. And I was embarrassed that I still had so much more at home. So...while we're definitely not "rich" these days if we're talking money...I'm focusing on how "rich" we are given the global perspective. And if we're talking "rich"...we're absolutely RICH with Friends! I'm adding to our GIVEN list.

A package from a bloggy friend with a Target gift card and Red Araucania.

A free meal at the Corner Bakery. The gift card I had didn't work...and the manager that night who happened to take my order said, "This one's on me!"

3 Fantastic hats handknit for my 3 kiddos (the last 3 on this page) with some laceweight alpaca for me. Photos coming soon.

A lasagna (sweetly made by a friend).

3 boxes of girl scout cookies (from the GS I normally buy from)

A free coffee at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf

$20 cash

A trip to the children's museum (our friend's pass gets 8 in)

My in-laws took us bowling for 7's birthday.

And just today...I won a book. I'm thinking that this means I really have to get back into my blogging routine.

I know that I must have missed some things in the list here. But, the important thing is that God sends us encouragement in so many ways! I'm trusting for HIM to continue to provide. And I'm trusting that He has a plan to prosper us...and not to harm us. (Jer. 29:11)

3/8/10

And just after posting this, we were given a hand-me-down bike for 8. His knees were getting close to the handle bars on his bike so we can pass his down to 7 and 8 has a new bigger bike, a gift from a boy at church.

5/6/10 We've hit the 7 month mark. I never imagined we would be here. By God's grace, we're still hanging in there. Keeping this list helps me to see HIS provision. It's my connection to hope. I've been keeping these things on a paper in between the pages of a book. Our small group is reading through I've been adding...

A vacation for the boys to Lake Havasu.

2 Treasure Boxes at 1/2 price.

Gas money for another trip to Napa.

Dinner out at a pizza parlor with friends.

A check from a friend of my Gram's for $200

An Easter card from a blogger in Alabama with a $50 gift card.

A gallon of milk & 18 eggs from a neighbor.

A check for $150 from friends at church.

A filled Trader Joe's bag with staples: rice, brown rice, brown sugar, marinara sauce, canned veggies, crackers, and cuties.

Another half/price Treasure Box. This time at pick-up, there was other food free for families. We took home some powdered milk, american cheese, and a loaf of bread.

A piece of granite! (Now this one might seem strange, but it blows me away the most. The boys aren't gentle and they are nicking the wood top of their dresser. I wanted a piece of granite to lay on top and keep them from gouging the wood. I asked my friend's contractor brother what the price would be: $350 for the size I needed. My neighbor just finished having his kitchen re-done...and there was a piece of granite left over. Guess what size it was?!)

And I haven't even mentioned that my husband still has Sirius radio in his car...for free. He's called to cancel because he's not really driving anywhere, and they've extended us 2 months at a time until now.

Tickets to the pancake breakfast at the school across the street from us for the whole family.

And when we passed on my daughter's clothes to a family with a girl smaller than 5, they were so blessed with the 2 bags they gave us a thank-you with a $20 Yogurtland card.

I know that this is not just to encourage me. I hope it encourages you too.

**********

10/6/10

Today marks one year!

I can't believe I haven't revisited this post all summer. That's not because the Lord hasn't continued to provide. HE HAS! I've been busy with life, but I've also been struggling with having hope. As I sit, typing up all this, it has been so good for me to see how HE continues to take care of me. I need this as a reminder because I'm not so strong every day. Some days I want to just cry and crawl back into bed. Some days I cry Bring The Rain!

I visited a 2nd Harvest location in May with a friend. We were at the end of the line, but I still came home with 12 red bell peppers, rice, potatoes. We roasted the red bell peppers on the BBQ. I steamed the potatoes, then diced and froze them. I put some of them in a batch of vegetable beef soup today. There was also a ton of single serving packages of almonds. Those have been perfect for me to bring along with to parks and outings since my diet is limited.

A shawl from Grace!

Cool weather most of the summer so we didn't need our A/C!

Pizza dinner & swimming with new friends (They have 4 boys! A 9 yo -six months older than 8, Twins that are 7's age, and a 2 1/2 yo. They're an answer to prayer for our family.)

Peaches & lots of jam! from my Gramp's tree.

Veggies from friend's gardens. We didn't plant one this year.

A new Refrigerator! I know can you believe it! Southern California Edison has a program where low income families can be given new energy efficient appliances! We qualified for the program and during Little House week our new fridge was delivered. (M's grandmother had passed away just before our wedding. We got her fridge...it was 10 years old then...and we've been married 10 years. The program takes old appliances...ours was OLD. Years ago I started an envelope of cash so that when our old fridge went out I could buy what ever I wanted. Now that money can go to something else. I'd been holding on to that in a drawer so that if the fridge just gave out we wouldn't be forced to charge one. )

Fruits & Veggies from a friend TWICE! She produce shops at a discount market and blesses us with her bargains.

2 9x13 homemade lasagnas. One for us, and to pass on to a friend who recently lost their home.

Bags of clothes for the boys (Mostly in 8's size. 7 get's 8's hand-me-downs, but 8 keeps growing...he's in 12's now!) Then M's mom took the kids out and bought them all new shoes.

Land'sEnd surprises! I was privileged to be a part of a FB focus group for LE. It was super fun to get to see future lines and give comments to the designers. As a thank you for our time, we were sent gifts in July, August, and September. I have a great new beach towel and bag, 2 long sleeved shirts that 8 picked out himself, a monogramed lunch box, and a scarf should be in the mail soon. Such a blessing!

2 weeks in Napa!

T-shirts for me. A super discount at the Gap outlet and my mom bought me some new T-shirts.

In Napa, M waxed my car and the kids spend the afternoon using my Gramp's fun portable vacuums to clean it out. That evening, we realized having the doors open so long killed the battery. My Gramp bought us a new battery for my car. It was such a blessing that our car died in front of his house and not on the trip to/from Napa. Replacing a battery on I-5 would have sucked.

Pizza dinner with the Napa neighbors.

LK's letter! My Gramp has flip calendars all through his house. My Gram loved them. In the room we stayed, the verse for our first day was Matthew 6:26. I couldn't flip the calendar and the verse encouraged me each time I walked into the room. Right after we returned home, M & I were discussing that we weren't going to be able to pay our mortgage. -side note here...it is just by God's grace that we made it through 10 months of unemployment without missing a mortgage payment- Literally minutes later, I heard the mailman drop our mail in the box. This card was in the mail from my Canadian friend with a check for $500! I'm not linking her blog here...but I want to acknowledge her generosity here!

Also in the mail at. the. same. time. was a check from O Architects. M did some work for a friend's company while he was out of the country. M found this friend a new client and when the client paid, we got $600 as a finder's fee. I know...who finds $1100 in their mailbox!?!? For me it was Matthew 6:26 in real life.

M's parents paid for 5's cracked molar.

When M picked up our August Treasure Box he also brought home 2 loaves of bread, pork ribs, and lamb chops.

An enchilada dinner from a friend.

Our neighbor -the one that gave us the granite- brings over apples when he buys them at Costco, and some canned goods just because, and 2 bottles of salad dressing that his son bought when he was visiting.

A free Shutterfly book to give as a gift (I ordered one with pictures from our Petaluma visits and had it shipped to the family we visited with.)

An older gentleman at church gave the kids some toys he had made. A wooden truck, some wooden cars, and a wooden chair for a doll. He's old enough to be walking with a walker, and he's still working with wood.

Free dinner at church for the dedication of the new building.

Free coffee at Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf. On the evening they introduce a new coffee, you can get a free 12oz coffee. I enjoyed a pumpkin latte!

While M was in Africa, our Sunday School class blessed us with gift cards to Subway & Yogurtland, a friend brought her kids and pizza over to have dinner with us, another family dropped off some groceries, and when I ran out of Tylenol for 5's ear infection, another friend picked up some and dropped it by with some gluten free chocolate chip cookies for me.

Shutterfly cards for the holidays! It's been years since we sent holiday cards. I used coupon code to order some cards. It's not the 100 I used to send out, but I've got a few now.

The family that gave 8 the bike brought us a bag of fun girl clothes for 5! She really loves the fuzzy pink leopard scarf!

There was a message left on our answering machine while our homeschool group was at the L.A.Fair. We couldn't return the call until the next day because the business office had closed. And then driving home from ballet that night 5 & I saw a double rainbow. I was having a hard day and I really needed that promise from God. The phone call...someone anonymously dropped off $4000 in cashier's checks for us at the church business office! That's a gift from my God who marks HIS promises with a rainbow!

October 1st my kids enjoyed free chili dogs at the PTA fair. The school across the street gave coupons to the neighbors to apologize in advance for the parking and music. Our neighbor shared his coupon too.

So, while we're living frugally, not running our A/C, not spending $ unless we can afford it which means redefining what we NEED, and teaching the kids about "navy showers"...

We're also enjoying more family time than we've ever had before. What dad gets to stay home with his family for a YEAR! And our kids have expanded their pallets to enjoy "new" foods because what we're given isn't always something they've had before. Our kids are learning that WE. HAVE. SO. MUCH. They're learning about real poverty. People that don't have clean drinking water or electricity. Kenya. Guatemala. And M's trip to North Africa. I wouldn't have chosen this year for my family, but I can't believe the lessons we've all learned. Now, I'm still praying that our big miracle is right around the corner, but I'm still praising HIM for the little miracles every day.

Wrapped in Hugs!

I'm just going to pretend I posted this a long time ago. You know you're really bad about posting things when a friend sees a new shawl in the living room before I blogged a Thank You. My internet connection was horrible 2 weeks ago and last week was monopolized by Little House Camp. I blinked and July is almost over. At the beginning of the month I had an MRI. I'm horribly claustrophobic. I remember how terrified I was of that little tube when I had the MRI on my knee. I took a little pill and asked a lot of friends to pray this time. And then Friday morning...I read that a friend was sending me a HUG in the mail. On top of that, I read What's That Noise and it SO encouraged my heart. How could this not be a good MRI? God had full knowledge of the scary things in my life. He has allowed it, because He knows what's best for me. He didn't just leave me there, He's holding me when I tremble. When I arrived, I was impressed with the new 3T machine. The bore is SO much bigger. I almost felt calm. I know the prayers of my friends and family were with me.

So, since M asked for some knitting, I figured that he owed me some photos. I couldn't get shots of myself in the shawl. Here I am...wrapped in a New Jersey Hug! Thanks Grace! I love the shawl. In the box there was a little mouse too, but it seems that my little mouse (5) took it to her room before I got a photo.

I love the span on this shawl...it's really generous and wraps around so cozy. It was even chilly enough for me to enjoy it a few mornings which is super rare for July. I'm counting that as a gift from God too. Since we're not running our AC, we really appreciate the cooler temps.

I really think this shawl was destined to live in L.A. I mean...don't you see Laker purple and gold?! ;0) My kids love that.

I can't wait for the cooler temps to return. So I can wear more hand knits.

I Will Never Leave You

From the NKJV, Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

2 weeks ago, I copied a Devotion (that I have emailed to me daily) to my Facebook notes. I tagged a friend. I'm still processing how F.A.N.T.A.S.T.I.C it felt to hear how much my note meant to Karen.

Here's the note from FB:

Author: Charles Haddon Spurgeon
Morning: The Promise is for You
"I will never leave thee."
--Hebrews 13:5
No promise is of private interpretation. Whatever God has said to any one saint, He has said to all. When He opens a well for one, it is that all may drink. When He openeth a granary-door to give out food, there may be some one starving man who is the occasion of its being opened, but all hungry saints may come and feed too. Whether He gave the word to Abraham or to Moses, matters not, O believer; He has given it to thee as one of the covenanted seed. There is not a high blessing too lofty for thee, nor a wide mercy too extensive for thee. Lift up now thine eyes to the north and to the south, to the east and to the west, for all this is thine. Climb to Pisgah's top, and view the utmost limit of the divine promise, for the land is all thine own. There is not a brook of living water of which thou mayst not drink. If the land floweth with milk and honey, eat the honey and drink the milk, for both are thine. Be thou bold to believe, for He hath said, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." In this promise, God gives to His people everything. "I will never leave thee." Then no attribute of God can cease to be engaged for us.
Is He mighty? He will show Himself strong on the behalf of them that trust Him. Is He love? Then with lovingkindness will He have mercy upon us. Whatever attributes may compose the character of Deity, every one of them to its fullest extent shall be engaged on our side. To put everything in one, there is nothing you can want, there is nothing you can ask for, there is nothing you can need in time or in eternity, there is nothing living, nothing dying, there is nothing in this world, nothing in the next world, there is nothing now, nothing at the resurrection-morning, nothing in heaven which is not contained in this text--"I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Today, this was a great reminder about how "it's not all about me." Even the blessings that HE sends to me...in overflowing ways bless so many others. When God shows me His Power... it is for everyone to see.

Karen, The letter you're requesting for Jenni goes so perfectly with the devotion I read this morning. When God blessed you (through Jenni)...HE BLESSED ME! I'm SO encouraged to see God bless my family...because I KNOW the ripples will touch many.

Now...go watch her vlog. I'll wait. I almost can't stand it that God used me to speak his truth to encourage a friend. Somehow it's been easier for me to BE encouraged than to feel that I have anything to share...to encourage another. I feel so unworthy to be a vessel for the outpouring of HIS LOVE...even though that is my heart's desire. I'm still soaking it in, that all we've been GIVEN is not because we're special (although we are Loved by a Heavenly Father who's LOVE is unmeasurable)...but because He intends to use this vessel to display How M.I.G.H.T.Y HE Is!

I pray that you might be encouraged too....

Thank You!

I was totally blown away when I found this in my mailbox the other day.

The other day, The Yarn Harlot mentioned that you couldn't complete the phrase, "Knitters are..." I can. Knitters are the knicest people EVER! (yes, I left the k on nicest on purpose.) This came as a suprise from Peggy. Perfect timing too. It came the day before my root canal #9. A day when I really needed a smile.

What makes me happy...

I know that life is an exercise in focusing on the beauty and ignoring the dirt. Pouring yourself into eternal things and not getting tangled up what doesn't really matter at all. Being a glass overflowing rather than a glass with a few drips. (Yes, I'm skipping right over the 1/2 - full / 1/2 - empty.) I KNOW these things, yet it takes effort for me to not look at the mess that surrounds me...and see the smiling faces that greet me at 6:15 every morning. So, I'm focusing on what makes me HAPPY.

My azalea. My mom bought this for me when I moved into my first apartment. It lived in a pot by my front door. I've managed to keep it all these years...in spite of the newspaper kid who always managed to get my neighbor's paper stuck in my azalea...in spite of the kiddos in my yard now who like to use clippers and don't know the difference between precious plants and weeds. My azalea is blooming right now. I can see her from my knitting chair. That profusion of hot pink makes me HAPPY.

I love the deep purple of these iris. These were in the yard when we moved here...so it's always a pleasant surprise when they bloom.

I almost ripped this sedum out when we moved in...it was a little burnt on the edges of the leaves in August. But in February every year...look at these pretty little stars.

Look closer....Those little stars make me HAPPY.

And I don't like to do dishes...and we make a lot of them. But, I love my kitchen sink. It's in the corner. And these windows look out to the driveway and front door. I LOVE my little IKEA tree and decorate it for the seasons. I've just changed the decor...but last week I took this photo of my Valentine's day decorations. You can barely see my heart flag hanging out the right window. But, this little corner...makes me HAPPY. And I can tell you, it's not the overflowing sink of dirty dishes.

And this was a MOPS craft that I wasn't able to finish during our table time (probably because I was nursing 2...not that she's still nursing...but this craft is probably 2 years old.) Anyways, I found this with all the supplies and partially put together. I added some scripture that I'm trying to memorize. And this makes me HAPPY.

We had a field trip on Wednesday. That made me HAPPY.

Now...what makes you HAPPY? Maybe this will turn into a little contest. But, I'll surprise you on that one. =0)

My life as I see it...

In the study that I'm doing on Monday nights, one of my assignments was to make a collage of my life as as I see it right now. One rainy Sunday aftenoon, M took the boys out of the house while 2 napped and I gathered my supplies. This was so cathardic for me. I am a MOPS mom, I love hummingbirds (Sometimes I think that God sends a little hello in a hummingbird at the window.) I can't keep my fridge full (I can't imagine what it will be like when 6 & 4 are 16 & 14!) or the toilet clean. I sell MK. The Really Wooly is for my Gram. And the wordless book beads too. That's how I she explained my need for a Savior to me. I'm a knitter (yes, those are toothpicks that I made into tiny knitting needles...I did the actual knitting on US #1's then transfered to the toothpicks...but they're the same gauge.) The white strip is a verse. Ps. 46:10 Be still and know that I am God. I'm broken...in more ways than one (the bandaid). S'mores are our family time. The sticker says we've been friends in the sunshine and the shade. Right now, I'm all about living true faced...and finding friends who aren't in it just for the good times. I'm so thankful for those who have really encouraged me as this fall was tough for our family. I'm a Homeschooling mom (The tabs are from a curriculum catalog.) I'm mom...to 3. Wife to 1! I love learning about the world.


I has some extra things I'd pulled out when I was gathering my supplies. I realized these weren't part of me today...so much as they were part of my past...my foundation. The blue square...happens to be paper from China, but it reminded me of a swimming pool. I'm a swimmer. Phil 4:13 is the verse that was on my wall...and the verse that I would quote when I was taking springboard diving. (back in the day, I was pretty good at an inward 1 1/2 off the 3m. board...now, it's been so long I'd be shaking up there) The chops...I bought in China. (The first 3 are either faith hope and love...or peace joy and love. But, the only one I remember now is love. It's amazing how quickly a language leaves when you don't practice. The bottom 2 are my name.) The verse with the chops is 1 Cor 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love. The structure is something M and I built while we were at Cal Poly. It has 3 benches that cantalever for sitting and watching the sunset. The verse here is Ecc 4:9 Two are better than one...if one falls down his friend can help him up. I know that's so true for M & me. The tools...my dad. The beads again...they're part of my foundation...but part of me today too. My name and the meaning behind it...why my parents chose Kristen.

Oh, and in the book I'm reading for the class. Pg. 74...knitting content: "The following writing and a beautiful, useful dishcloth were given to me by a woman who had been denying all of her assets and looking only at what she was doing wrong. She was to the point of almost destroying herself before she learned to value herself as God values her.

As I was knitting this dishcloth I made some mistakes. In the past, I would have torn it out and done it so that it would be PERFECT! But as I'm thinking more correctly in my recovery, the thought came to me, "This dishcloth will be just as useful with the mistakes in it," so the mistakes are still there. (I even mad some on purpost to prove my point.) As you use this dishcloth, let it remind you that YOU are OK and very useful, even when you make mistakes and are not perfect. Fondly,....."

Mom Scouts

I get Mom-E-Mail once a week from MOPS. It's always very encouraging...and so often just what I need. This week, I got Mom Scouts, written by: Stephanie Morris, Council Coordinator.

Being a mom is hard work. No one says thank you for clean clothes, for cleaning tub scum or for grocery shopping. But if you forget and no one has matching socks, the toilet looks worse than a rest-stop facility or there are no chicken nuggets - that's when you get noticed! You know what we need? Mom Scouts - with a little vest, complete with a sash displaying all the badges we've earned. While this only exists in my mind, I'm definitely a highly-decorated scout!I've earned badges in potty-training (three times), drop-off play dates and birthday parties. I've earned badges in spiking fevers, unknown rashes, distressed breathing and continual vomiting. I've earned the ambulance badge twice, with a special pin in hospital admission. I've also earned fun badges like the perfect-peanut-butter-sandwich, gingerbread house decoration, chocolatey chocolate milk and the famous cakes for no reason badge. I've earned the mundane badges: a badge for answering the question "Why?" forty-seven times in one day. I've earned badges for having a child go to the bathroom on me and for being thrown-up on. Thankfully, I haven't earned the extra pin for being vomited on by a child other than my own! There are badges for grocery-shopping with two or more toddlers at once, and preparing a dinner that both kids and grown-ups will eat! And let's not forget the badges earned by newest moms: nursing while cooking dinner, packing the ultimate diaper bag, listening to unsolicited advice and number of days without a shower. For Mom Scouts new badges are always under development.I guess I shouldn't really worry about filling up my imaginary vest with badges or pins. I should relish the thought that God doesn't make mistakes and that I'm the mom he designed for my children. Besides, I think the Mom Scouts will issue new vests (completely empty) as we enter the pre-teen, teenage and college years. I can only wonder what badges I'll be earning then!

Prayer From a Mother's Heart
Dear God, raise my child to be a person willing to give of themselves for others.

So often I feel like I've got to be Supermom...waking up with a smile (even when the kids are up at 6:30am), serving balanced, healthy meals, arranging the perfect play dates, visiting every park within a 10 mile radius, hosting the parties that are talked about forever, reading 20 minutes to the kids (everyday), keeping the house so well stocked that we never run out of anything, making crafts/doing art at home...and then still finding time to be Superwife. No wonder I'm exhausted. I think, no, I know that I put these expectations on myself. I'm so achievement driven that I want every badge! And I want the extra pins. Somehow, I think that if I do it all...then I'm a better mom. Really, my kids just want a mom that will play with them...and they don't care if we have cereal for dinner. If I look back, with perspective, I can see how decorated I am. If I focus on the character of my little ones, I can let go of the sticky counters and crumb strewn floor. And God will give me the strength for each day.

If you'e a mom of young ones reading this...check out MOPS.

The Mayonnaise Jar and 2 Cups of Coffee

When things in your life seem almost too much to handle, when 24 hours in a day are not enough, remember the mayonnaise jar and the 2 cups of coffee.

A professor stood before his philosophy class and had some items in front of him. When the class began, he wordlessly picked up a very large and empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with golf balls. He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was. The professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles rolled into the open areas between the golf balls. He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was. The professor next picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up everything else. He asked once more if the jar was full. The students responded with an unanimous "yes." The professor then produced two cups of coffee from under the table and poured the entire contents into the jar effectively filling the empty space between the sand. The students laughed. "Now," said the professor as the laughter subsided, "I want you to recognize that this jar represents your life. The golf balls are the important things---God, your family, your children, your health, your friends and your favorite passions---and if everything else was lost and only they remained, your life would still be full. The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house and your car. The sand is everything else---the small stuff. "If you put the sand into the jar first," he continued, "there is no room for the pebbles or the golf balls. The same goes for life. If you spend all your time and energy on the small stuff you will never have room for the things that are important to you."Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Spend time with your parents. Visit with grandparents. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your spouse out to dinner. Play another 18. There will always be time to clean the house and fix the disposal. Take care of the golf balls first---the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand. "One of the students raised her hand and inquired what the coffee represented. The professor smiled and said, "I'm glad you asked."The coffee just shows you that no matter how full your life may seem, there's always room for a couple of cups of coffee with a friend.