tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22728506414857038742024-03-04T23:32:40.104-08:00 UnsuperMommyWhen Imperfection is EnoughMaggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-53209667813634861982016-11-24T05:37:00.002-08:002016-11-24T05:37:51.075-08:00Thankfulness for his Faithfulness<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; font-weight: bold;">4 </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt;">One generation shall
commend your works to another,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt;">and shall declare your mighty acts.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; font-weight: bold;">5 </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt;">On the glorious
splendor of your majesty,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt;">and on your wondrous works, I will
meditate.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; font-weight: bold;">6 </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They shall speak
of the might of your awesome deeds,</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt;">and I will declare your greatness.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-family: Arial; font-size: 9.0pt; font-weight: bold;">7 </span><span style="background: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt;">They shall pour forth the
fame of your abundant goodness</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white; font-size: 10.0pt;"> </span><span style="background: white; font-size: 12.0pt;">and shall sing aloud of your
righteousness.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">Psalm 145:4-7</span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">This past year looks nothing like I expected. Through
all it's dramatic twists and unexpected blessings, I see the distinct
handprints of God's faithfulness. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">It's the time of year where we count our blessings. As
Christians we think of Thanksgiving as a time to be grateful for what God has
done for us. But that's not quite enough. We must proclaim God's abundance to
others. Because Psalm 145 exhorts us to share God's works, mighty acts, awesome
deeds, greatness, abundant goodness, and righteousness, I can't keep silent on
the works of God's faithfulness to me and my family in the past year. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">How God was Faithful in 2016 (an incomplete list):</span></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 12pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12pt;">He enabled me to finish writing
Unsupermommy. I was merely obedient to his calling; he was faithful to
bring it to completion. When I needed physical help he provided baby
sitters, grandmas, and a patient husband to support me. When I needed
wisdom, his Word was a ready supply. When I needed encouragement, he moved
in the hearts of others to speak. When I wanted to give up, he was
persistent. He was faithful.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt;">He
gave us the land. We're about to start building our farmhouse. My parent's
technically gave us the land, but they were simply instruments of grace in
our lives. Every piece of dividing off that land was met with a roadblock.
We simply couldn't have made it through without God's amazing
faithfulness. This blessing hasn't come in via the timeframe or plan we
expected, but it is coming. He provided a winding path around the
roadblocks of the county--one that was set in motion before my parents'
even owned this property. He was faithful.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt;">When
Wes was discontent and overworked at his previous job, God provided the
unexpected gift of a career advancement close to home. We have already
been so blessed by Wes' close proximity at Ridges so many times. When Wes
did the first interview for that job, they were so honest in telling him
they had two other internal candidates at the top of their list. But God
had other plans for that position. He was faithful. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
put our house on the market in May and sold it in two weeks to a buyer who
didn't want to move in until September. Who has ever even heard of such a
buyer? God was faithful.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt;">We
moved in with my in-laws, and it has been so different than we expected.
My MIL has only been at the house with us about 14 days in the 3 months we
have been here, which means I've been shouldering a load of cooking,
cleaning, and childcare that I did not expect. But he's been faithful in
that too. He gave Wes the wisdom to insist on a Y membership where I can
have some childcare and personal space. He has given me more patience and
helped me establish a new routine for a quieter afternoon, even if it
doesn't involve the alone quiet times we did at the old house. God has
been faithful.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 0px; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="background: white; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12.0pt;">I
was so afraid to reach out and ask people to write endorsements for
Unsupermommy, but God met me there again. I've been humbled by the caliber
of people willing to read my words and put their approval behind mine.
Unsupermommy will certainly reach more women with their endorsements. I
was afraid, but God was faithful. </span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">These six things are the big ones, friends, but there
are so many more. All of God's faithfulness in every day moments could never be
recounted. It would break the internet. That faithfulness must be whispered in
the moment to our friends, spouses, and children. Don't let a chance to tell
others about God's faithfulness pass you by. We are meant to proclaim it. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 12pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">Do this today. Tell someone, tell the world. Speak
boldly about God's blessing on your life. Proclaim his faithfulness. </span></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-612273482542170472016-11-09T08:50:00.000-08:002016-11-09T08:50:07.580-08:00How I survived 3 babies in 3 years<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
had 3 babies in just shy of 3 years. People often ask me how I did it. Here's
my secret: </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
didn't do it.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On
my own I couldn't even make it 5 minutes. I simply wasn't patient enough,
strong enough, rested enough, gracious enough, or loving enough. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wasn't enough for the task God gave me, which was
exactly his plan. Because he is abundantly enough, an<span style="background: white; color: #1d2129;">d he equipped me
with enough grace for every overwhelming moment of every exhausting day. All I
had to do was simply rely on him. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Reliance is the result of
relationship. If you feel today that you simply aren't enough for the job
you've been given, stop trying. Draw near to God, and be equipped with so much
more than just enough. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #1d2129; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let your inability become the
means to receiving God's all-sufficiency.</span></span></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-6714708862768373752016-11-07T08:48:00.000-08:002016-11-07T08:48:19.421-08:00In the Tending Season<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">I'm crazy about peaches. I like
to eat them whole, like an apple, leaning over the kitchen sink with the juice
dripping off my chin. I like them so much that I may sneak away while my kids
play in the other room to eat my peaches in secret. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">It's hard to love peaches though.
They're a fruit that requires faith. We invest in them when they are still
hard, hoping for them to ripen to sweetness. Believing in the tender perfection
that can burst forth if we catch them in that perfect moment. Sometimes that
moment never comes. Sometimes they were picked too early and never lose their
hardness or they were picked too late and the fruit has become mealy and
bitter.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">Peaches remind me of psalm 1:3,
"He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in
its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he
prospers." </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">Mommies, we may be firmly planted
trees, but we only bear fruit in season. If we try to force fruit during the
seasons of sowing, trimming, or abiding, from our sheer willpower to produce,
it may be mealy or hard. The tending seasons require faith and faithfulness.
We still do the work: water, weed, and prune. We move forward in obedience to
the tasks God sets before us, but there are seasons with little to no fruit. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="color: #1d2129; font-family: helvetica; font-size: 14.0pt; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="background: white;">Yet we hold fast in faith. We
believe that God is working--in us and in our little ones--as we invest with
hope, waiting for the moments of juicy sweetness, the ripe fruits. One day,
we'll get our peaches.</span></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-79018569865943657882016-11-04T08:46:00.000-07:002016-11-04T08:46:01.203-07:00Dating isn't an Extravagence<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"I know for me,
it's always you." - T.Swifty</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We're ditching the
kids tonight. Actually, we ditch them twice a month. It sounds extravagant,
doesn't it? For years I thought it was enough to manage one night a month,
which usually became one night every other month. After our second baby was
born our marriage hit its lowest low. Finally my husband grabbed me, unmet need
in his eyes, and told me that he needed to date me. Often. So I put my thinking
cap on and came back with twice a month. One night a month the kids would
sleepover with grandparents and another night we would get a babysitter. It was
the first time we had ever paid a babysitter. We always relied on grandparents
before that, and it just wasn't enough. Putting down money just to get out of
the house felt borderline frivolous--even a bit selfish--and at first I balked
at it. But I was wrong.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dating is worth
every penny, because it's loving my husband well.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loving him well is
loving my children well.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loving him well is
loving myself well.</span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Loving him well is
loving God well. </span></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Find a way, fellow
mommies, find a way. Get grandparents in on the game. Do a kid exchange with
another couple once a month. Skip a new shirt to pay for a babysitter. If you
are dating often enough that it feels extravagant, it's probably just enough.
Our most essential human relationship requires a little extravagance. </span></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-73677641854908548642016-11-01T08:44:00.003-07:002016-11-01T08:44:28.947-07:00God's Grace is Always Greater<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If
your motherhood load is 1, or 3, or 8 today, God's grace is greater than your
job. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If
you are pushing against the force of another week, God's grace is greater. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If
you woke up in a bad mood, God's grace is greater. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If
you can't break habitual sin, God's grace is greater.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If
you don't like your kids today, God's grace is greater.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If
you can't resist the lure of laziness, God's grace is greater.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If
you wish you had any other job right now, God's grace is greater.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 14pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.75in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">God's grace is sufficient enough for our tasks,
redeeming of our failings, transforming of our attitudes, and abundant enough
to always surpass our expectations. God's grace is always greater</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. </span></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; margin-left: .75in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-86910845248891780952016-10-05T08:59:00.000-07:002016-10-05T08:59:05.300-07:00The Advantages of Kids<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I often think back
on those blissful pre-kid days. The ones where I controlled my time, my body,
and even my mind. Those days are long gone, but in the rough-and-tumble trials
of parenthood, it helps to take a moment to remember that it's not without advantages.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The Advantages of Having Kids:</div>
<span style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt;"><ol>
<li>Those times when you
"can't get a babysitter:" It's the perfect excuse to skip any
social events you just don't want to attend: Your second cousin's second
wedding? I'm sure that night will prove impossible to find a babysitter.
That high school play you can't wait to miss? Sorry, all the grandmas are
busy that night.</li>
<li>Get to do all those awesome
kid activities again: slip n slides, trampolines, trips to the zoo,
amusement park rides, swimming pools, coloring books, and sports are all
socially acceptable again.</li>
<li>Reading your own books can be
categorized as setting a good example for your kids: It's true that kids
who see their parents reading, read more, so read away! Sit those kids
down with their own stack of books and declare it reading time for the
whole family!</li>
<li>Chores: two words: free
labor. Enough said.</li>
<li>The perfect excuse not to
clean: It's Saturday, and you really should clean your house. Outside the
sun is shining and the leaves are ablaze with fall. Never fear! Your kids
have to get outside! A trip to the orchard, zoo, park, or arboretum is
obviously in order. In fact, it's your job. Go ahead and neglect your
home. You've got a free ticket for fun! The weather is awful? No
problem--I'm sure your kids are dying to check out a Saturday afternoon
movie. Don't fret, you need some family time.</li>
<li>Stranger Sympathy: <span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">Oh, you
mean you have 3 kids? 6 kids? All boys? All girls? 2 under 2? 3 under 3?
You must be SO busy. Let me get the door for you. You can go ahead in the
Target line. Your life must be so difficult.</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Yeah, all those things may be true, but it's
great to hear them, right? The world knows, this job ain't easy! Enjoy the
respect and admiration of strangers and friends alike!</span></li>
<li>The LOVE: Yeah, it's cheesy,
but kids love to love their parents. There's nothing quite like the
unprompted kiss on the cheek or sweet, unexpected "love you."
Parents get the benefit of that cute-as-a-button, pure-faced affection. It
might be hard work, but. That. love. It's worth wading through the waters
of sleepless nights and endless fights. Despite all our imperfect
parenting, those babies love us with all our their mighty, little hearts.
Don't ever forget it!</li>
</ol>
</span><ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I'm with you, having
kids is always hard work, BUT, it's not without it's benefits! Take a moment to
read an extra chapter today, shirk some cleaning for fun, or better yet, force
your kids to do it! You're a parent, you can. </div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-11111521440197763982016-09-27T08:51:00.004-07:002016-09-27T08:51:48.543-07:00Dear Angry Toddler: A Letter of Repentance <div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Angry Toddler,</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know that you
don't hate me. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know that you may
actually prefer to be naked and free. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I know that putting
on clothes may make you feel hindered and uncomfortable. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I also know that you
may just be grasping for control wherever you can find it.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Angry Toddler,</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm so sorry. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I get so angry when
you make my life less than easy. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I get so angry when
you won't just listen and obey me. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I get so angry when
I wonder if another mom could do this better than me. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I get so angry when
I wonder if after giving you all of myself, you don't even like me. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Angry Toddler,</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm sorry that you
see your anger reflected back in me. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are cut from the
same cloth. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are both carrying
the deepest need of serving the all-mighty me. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We are both sinners,
and we hurt each other daily. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Angry Toddler,</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Please forgive me. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">May the mercy I
constantly receive begin to flow over to you when you are angry. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">May I be an
instrument of Jesus in your times of need. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">May I set aside self
to servant-lead. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">May I lead you to
Jesus, and his mercy seat.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Angry Toddler,</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We have the same
need. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Jesus, forgive us
and take the lead. </b></span></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-41691811876520665132016-06-02T08:18:00.001-07:002016-06-02T10:36:47.797-07:00A Happy Birthday for Mom?<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Last Thursday was my
birthday. I turned 31--pretty awesome, right? Yeah, no need to congratulate me.
Since I became a mom almost five years ago, birthdays haven't been the best.
There's really nothing to look forward to, right? Unless my husband whisks me
away for an unexpected trip sans kiddos, a birthday is just another day of
work. The needs of my children don't vanish for the day so I can lay in bed all
day watching movies. Even my dreams of the perfect birthday have been
diminished to something as mediocre as watching movies!</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
If I get really
honest with myself, even before motherhood, birthdays were often a let down. I
have always expected to get everything I wanted on my birthday, and it pretty
much never happened. I think I cried at every birthday party I had as a kid,
usually because another child added "cha-cha-cha" to the birthday
song when I had specifically requested no "cha-cha-cha's," or
something equally horrifying. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Motherhood has only heightened the tension between
birthday expectations and birthday realities.</span> A day spent doing whatever
you want whenever you want with whoever you want when you're a mom…it's an
oxymoron. By definition, the majority of our lives as mothers is spent worrying
about what our little people want and need. For years this felt like a death
sentence on my birthday happiness, but not anymore. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
This year, I decided
to give myself a Happy Birthday by choosing to find happiness in whatever I
needed to do that day. To celebrate turning 31 I made breakfast, read my Bible,
went child shoe shopping and only managed to find 1 of 3 necessary pairs, changed
diapers, ate lunch with my boys and MIL at Panera, put a son down for a nap,
got a surprise gift of a kiss and an I Love You from my preschooler, helped a
toddler stay in his room during quiet time, packed for the cabin, let my sons
watch a TV show while at Noodles for dinner, entertained children in the car
for 3 hours, received gifts and ate cake and let my boys stay up way too late
once we arrived at the cabin, and even managed a few chapters of a book. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: calibri; font-size: 11pt;">It was an average
day of motherhood, but this quiet little life of mine is a gift. There's plenty
of happiness and celebration to be found in these little people I serve. It might not be everything I imagine I would want to do, but it could be enough. Enough to be a <i>Happy Birthday. </i></span>Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-12821689093733455752016-05-18T06:00:00.000-07:002016-05-18T06:00:39.726-07:00Why Not Getting What I Wanted was the Best Thing for Me<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
We put our house on
the market last week. As I prepared the house to list, I encountered countless
stories of quick sales. Apparently we are in a seller's market where houses on the market receive multiple offers in only a few days. I was delighted. I couldn't imagine keeping my house
"showing ready" for weeks with my 3 busy bodies. I was confident. We
have a pretty standout home; I knew it would sell quickly. We planned to be
out of the house except to sleep for the entire weekend. Then we had one
showing the entire weekend. One. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I'll admit it: I
tantrummed. I know why my kids do it--a little tantrum can feel really
good. I wallowed. I cried. I laughed with exasperation. This was not what I
expected.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Sunday
night God got to me. If you're new here, be prepared to hear me talk a lot
about what happens when life doesn't meet our expectations. New friends and
old, I didn't get what I expected and I'm not proud of my reaction. But I take this comfort: it didn't last all
that long. God really is getting to my heart on this. I'm quicker to turn back
from my disappointments than I was before. On Sunday night, he taught me a
little equation:</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
God's Sovereignty +
His Love for me = the Best for Me</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
It's kind of like a
proof in geometry. Remember proofs? I'm sorry if you hated math, just stick
with me<span style="font-weight: bold;">. If </span>God is sovereign<span style="font-weight: bold;">, and</span> he loves me<span style="font-weight: bold;">,
and</span> he works all things together for my good, <span style="font-weight: bold;">and</span> I didn't get what I wanted, <span style="font-weight: bold;">then</span>
not getting what I wanted was the best thing that could happen to me. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Do I know why this
was best for me? Nope. I once thought there was a perfect little lesson for
every disappointment. When I didn't get what I wanted, I aimed to discover the
lesson asap. Learning the lesson was my tool to motivate God to give me the
thing I wanted. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I know some of you
might be thinking, but she didn't lose a friend, a mother, a child. That silly non-geometry proof is too simple for my complicated and painful situation. I get it,
this is just a little, minor want of mine that I didn't get. Yet it's these little
things, these minor unfulfillments where we step up and trust God's equation, that weave
faith deep into the fabric of our hearts. Then when we walk through the
shadows, our faith may waver, but it will not fall. Not because we are
faithful, but because we know that He is. </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;">I'm glad I didn't get what I wanted, because I know it's God's best for me. I don't have a perfect lesson to tell you, I just have faith in a sovereign God who does what's best for me. </span></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-73283064130489210162016-04-18T05:00:00.000-07:002016-04-18T05:00:09.516-07:00We Decided to Sell our Forever House for an Old Dream<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
For a lot of people
who know me, and know me well, this is going to be a surprise. Five years ago,
we moved into our Forever Home. We couldn't believe how blessed we were to hit
the market at the perfect moment to buy the home we wanted to live in for the
rest of our lives. We unpacked and really settled in. We spent hours making the
style just right for us. We let our mothers pass along all of our childhood
boxes. We were here to stay. Forever.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Two and half years
ago, a few unrelated events got us thinking. Well, not really us, mostly my
husband. His dream, from his small-town childhood, was to own some land and
animals. I grew up on a family farm and loved the experience. We put that
dream aside when we realized how expensive it would be to make it a reality
while staying within the Minneapolis area. He was certainly a little more sad
about it than I was at the time. I got my dream home--my Forever Home--out of
the deal. I was content here, and he was working on it. But slowly life
circumstances got him dreaming again (I knew he was a dreamer when I married
him, so I shouldn't have been surprised). At first when he started talking
about a family farm again, I was 100% against it. I hate change. I love
financial security. I was in my Forever Home! </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Then we got pregnant
with our third boy and the family farm idea became significantly more
appealing. But the decision felt too monumental. I didn't have the resources to
make such a life-shifting, game-changing decision for our family. I
remembered that Wes and I had established guidelines, called core values, for how we would make
decisions for our family shortly after our
wedding. So we revisited our values, because we had chosen them before children
were in the picture. But they still made sense for how our family looked now,
so we didn't change them. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Our core
values are Glorifying God, Family Togetherness, Lifelong Learning, Hard Work,
and Hospitality. As we reviewed them, I was amazed by how a family farm could
help us achieve those goals for our family. Yes, we could have valued the same things in our current home, but we could see how a family farm would bring each
of our values to the forefront of our everyday life. Suddenly the decision
that felt overwhelming, scary, and complicated became simple. If God would
provide us a path toward a family farm, we would take it. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
About
two years ago, we started looking for land. It's been a hard search. I'll be
honest, I have high standards. My parents live on one of the most beautiful
pieces of property I had ever seen, full of collections of trees, spacious pastures, soft hills, and a serene pond. Ten acres of flat farm land just didn't
compare. We also struggled with location. I knew what it was like to live in
what everyone considered the boonies (my parents live just outside an
established suburb now, but it was certainly the country when I was a child). I wanted to protect my husband from an even longer commute. No matter how
hard we searched, we couldn't find the right place at the right price. It was
frustrating.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
When we
first began our search, we asked my parents if they would consider letting us
live on their land. They were flattered, but just not ready to tackle the
complications of that plan. But as we looked, my heart couldn't move on from
it. My connection to my childhood home, the farm I grew up on, only deepened. I
realized how much I wanted to not just have a family farm, but have it in that
place. It seemed silly to establish something new when my dad already needed
help managing his current farm. Why double up? So we asked them to reconsider.
Now my dad is a business man and a land developer and a slow thinker. But while
we prayed, God got his busy brain churning. I'm not sure how it all happened,
but I know it was God. Slowly but surely, my dad figured out a plan. It wasn't
going to be easy, but it could work. And the work would be worth it.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
So
friends, I'm so stinkin' excited to share that we are in the planning process
to build a new house on my parents' land. I can't believe the blessing of it.
The place I've felt the safest and happiest in the world is going to be my
place again. It's going to be the place I raise my boys up. The place I called
home will be the place they call home. My boys will get to build a farm not
just with their dad, but with their grandpa. How my heart overflows.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
When I
was a preschooler, I naively proclaimed I was never going to get married. I would just
live with my parents the rest of my life and take care of them. Well, friends,
that's not exactly how my life went. But I like to think that our new home will
allow me both my beautiful family and the opportunity to live in community with
my parents and care for them as they grow older. I'm going to have my cake
and eat it too. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
In all
seriousness, I feel like after the hardest season of my life, God is putting me
in a season of blessing. It's not a season of ease--there will be plenty of
work to do as I finish and promote my book, build our new house, help my
husband plan and establish the farm, all while raising 3 toddler/preschool
boys--but it is a season of blessing. God is so abundant in his gifts. I still
can hardly believe any of it. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
Now--does
anyone want to buy our (once was) Forever Home? I'm not kidding. It's gorgeous
and happy and totally available. I hope it blesses another family the way it
blessed us.</div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-45814811663387004412016-04-04T08:50:00.003-07:002016-04-04T08:50:28.243-07:00Dear Overwhelmed Mommy<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Overwhelmed
Mommy, I am praying for you. People say you will make it through this season,
but it sure doesn't feel like it. Today it feels like endless pressure and struggling to keep your head above the water.
</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Overwhelmed
Mommy, I am praying for you. Because seasons can feel like prisons or hospitals
or psych wards. Because suffering through with grit and determination isn't
enough. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Overwhelmed
Mommy, I am praying for you. Because I know that while you feel lonely, you
aren't ever alone. When you feel like you can't take another step, he is
waiting to carry you. When your own weakness never ends, his power begins. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Overwhelmed
Mommy, I am praying for you. Because this season will change you. Because
you'll never wish it again, but you won't wish it didn’t happen either. Because
God will use it to transform you. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Overwhelmed
Mommy, I am praying for you. That you will know Jesus better through your
suffering. That these endless hours of monotonous, exhausting work will be
where your relationship with the Timekeeper and World Builder becomes a
connection to your Abba father, your sustainer and helper.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Overwhelmed
Mommy, I am praying for you. Because I know God has endless strength to see you
through. Because his faithfulness never ends. I know these things because I
experienced them too. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14.6667px;">Dear Overwhelmed Mommy, I am praying for you. Because I have been you, and because many days I still am.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dear Overwhelmed
Mommy, may I pray for you? </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Leave a comment below or on my Facebook or
Instagram and I would love to pray for you by name this week. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I am praying:</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That your soul will
find rest in God alone: Psalm 62:1</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That you will set
your mind on the things of the Spirit and experience life and peace: Romans 8:6</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That you will
experience God's nearness by calling on him: Psalm 145:18</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">That you will
receive God's strength from your weakness: 2 Corinthians 12:9-10</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-42043536661802512192016-03-10T09:34:00.001-08:002016-03-10T10:30:59.916-08:00Redeeming My Deep Daughter Desire, Part 2<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I have always wanted
a daughter. To be honest, I hoped for two. I didn't have a sister growing up
and I thought it would be a neat experience to be a firsthand part of a
sister-dynamic. But I didn't get sisters, I got 3 boys. And I love those boys
in heart-spasm, overloading-kisses, embarassing-mom kind of way. I can't even
believe they are mine, and so cute and funny and endearing and wild and nuts,
and I get to have them. This desire for a daughter has nothing to do with them.
</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I believe that my
desire for a daughter is a beautiful thing. There's no shame in it. The desire
to mother a little sweet pea up into womanhood isn't wrong. But I let it get
really ugly. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I treasured the idea
of a daughter. I loved that desire so much that when I found out I was having a
third boy, and would probably never get my daughter, I got possessive about it.
I decided to put it in a little closet in my heart, tucked away from the light
of the Gospel. I didn't want God's sovereignty to touch it. Then I visited my
desire--a lot. I sat in that windowless closet with my beloved dreams and
refused God's light. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I know that God is
sovereign. I know that He is good. And I know that He loves me. But I just
didn't want to know those things about being daughterless. Because I thought
that if let the light of the Gospel into that dark little closet, God might try
to make me be ok with my loss, and I didn't want to be ok.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I was wrong about
the whole closet thing though. There are no closets in our hearts. We don't get
to push the Gospel out of one area and keep it everywhere else. The Holy Spirit
permeates us. If we start pushing him out of one place where we don't want to
be healed, we start losing his fruit everywhere else. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
When I wrote<a href="http://sojournerwords.blogspot.com/2015/02/lent-letting-go-of-my-daughter-desire.html"> that post about giving up my daughter desire for Lent</a>, it was because I knew I HAD
to do something. I had pushed the Gospel away and my heart had gotten dark. I
couldn't live like that anymore, because I knew the goodness of a
Gospel-drenched life. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So I gave it up,
mentally kicking and screaming, but unable to resist the siren-call of the Holy
Spirit any longer. Now a year later, I'm so glad God refused to leave me in
that darkness.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I still long for a
daughter. Honestly, there are usually tears once-a-month, occasionally a full
waterfall tear-fest, but more often a few drops during worship. I'm not even a
crier, but this is a deep grief for me. But now when the tears come, I'm not alone.
I once scoured the internet for women who would understand me, but I was
avoiding the God who searches and knows everything in me. I pushed him out when all He longed to do was swoop me into his arms and comfort my sorrow. Through the good news of the Gospel--that Jesus came to bind up the brokenhearted and
set the captives free, that can make my old pain into a new creation--my grief
has a purpose. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Now when I cry over
the loss of my dream, the Holy Spirit groans before God on my behalf and Jesus
intercedes at his right hand. They aren't petitioning for me to receive my
daughter, but that I would receive more of God through my loss. Because a
daughter doesn't give me life, Jesus already did that. Because a daughter isn't
the only way God can fulfill my calling to minister to women. Because a
daughter won't guarantee that I'll never feel lonely or left out. Because not
having a daughter doesn't mean I won't have a best friend. Because the purpose
of my life isn't motherhood. And because my desire for a daughter can still
serve a purpose, even if I never get one. Not having a daughter keeps me pursuing more of God, and that is the best gift my soul can receive.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So I may always be
sad, but I won't ever be alone. This grief doesn't have to be meaningless. May
it serve its slow sanctification, for my good and for his glory. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
"Sovereign" by Chris Tomlin</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
In your everlasting
arms</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
All the pieces of my
life</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
From beginning to
the end</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I can trust you</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
In your never
failing love</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
You work everything
for good</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
God whatever comes
my way</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I will trust you</div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-9035328448845558342016-02-13T05:00:00.000-08:002016-02-13T07:14:11.137-08:00Why is being a mom so HARD?<div style="border-width: 100%; direction: ltr;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.793in;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.793in;">
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
It's been one of
those really rough weeks. We've been sick for two weeks, none of us are down
and out anymore, but everyone is holding on to a little of something. I want to
blame the yuck of this week on the sickness, but I know that's not really it.
There's just something about sickness that brings out our sinness. Sickness
strips down our patched-up exteriors until the sin shines through a little
brighter and bolder than an average day. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Motherhood does the
same thing. It’s the combination of the physical, mental, and emotional needs
of my children that gets to me. The day-in, day-out grind of Mom Life that
leaves me stripped down to the base of who I am. I'll be honest, the base of
who I am is so ugly. This week I haven't been any semblance of the mom I want
to be. The pressure of my children's needs has pushed open the cracks I
constantly patch over. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The real problem
isn't that I've been angry mom, that I've yelled at my kids, that I've
retreated into a book when I should have played, that I've ignored, that I've
complained, that I've been lazy, or that I've been anxious. Those are all bad
and those are all sins. But if I work at those, I'm just putting a small patch
over the broken gaping hole. The real problem is what Brad Bigney calls
"the sin beneath the sin." It's the idol that I've set up on the
throne of my life. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
It boils down to
this: I do what I do (like all those ugly sins mentioned above) because I want
what I want (my idol).</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I've idolized all
kinds of things in my life, but lately my biggest idol is EASE. I've always
valued safety and boundaries and quiet space. Those are good, life-giving
things. But I don't get much of them as a mom. Over these past few weeks, the
systems I have set in place to give me those things has been completely
destroyed. Everything is uncomfortable, complicated, and difficult when I want
it to be easy and simple! <a href="http://sojournerwords.blogspot.com/2015/07/when-i-think-i-cant-manage-motherhood.html">I want motherhood to be manageable</a> by my own strength
and with minimal effort, but it never is. Mothering
littles is grueling physically, emotionally, and mentally. This makes me crave
ease and comfort to the extent that I look to them for my salvation. I cling to
the hope that once motherhood gets a little easier my life will be better. I
put my trust in physical comfort instead of the true source of rest. That's the
sin beneath the sin, the idol of my heart.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So many elements of
the mothering process are difficult, but it's really the spiritual stripping
down that makes life feel like a battle. It's impossible keep idols hidden and sins in check in the
challenges of motherhood. As we try to put out fires by our own strength, they
burn away all the pretense and pretend, leaving us hanging on to what we really
worship. Then our sins pour forth, as we fight and kick to hold onto the
last bits of our idol burning up in the fires of life. But if we toss the idols to the side, if we
give up those worthless hopes for momentary salvation and cling to Jesus, the
Author of Hope and the Giver of Salvation, the fire may surround us, but we
will not be consumed by it. Our strength will be renewed in Christ, the
unshakeable foundation. When Christ sits at our center, the impossible days or
rough seasons still come, but as our simple jars of clay crack, our Hope spills
out in gospel grace. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Paul David Tripp explains that we don't just suffer the difficulties life throws our way, we all suffer <b>how </b>we experience them. It's not just hard to be a mom because of the unending needs of our children. It's hard to be a mom because we suffer the ugliness of our exposed idols. Motherhood is downright impossible alone. That's why I'm heading into my weekend giving up the battle over all my little sins and resting in Christ's power to win the war for the throne of my heart. </div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-18411954792155853472016-02-12T05:00:00.000-08:002016-02-12T05:00:24.019-08:00Friday Friends #4<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It's another Friday. The weekend can't come soon enough for me this week! We are finally (almost) totally healthy here, but it's been almost two weeks and I feel worn down from the whole process. I know a lot of other moms are in the same boat out there, so if you're one of them, just feel a big ole hug from me to you. This will all be over. One day. Like next summer. ;) </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So if I called up my BFF right now, and we had 15 minutes to chat, what would I tell her?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>My house is a wreck.</b> It's always messy, but right now it's just a full on disaster zone. For some crazy reason, I decided to tackle cleaning out the baby toys and a few clothes while my kids were sick. Then I got sick and never got it finished and put up for sale online. Those unusual toys that the boys have been bored with for a year are suddenly everyone's favorite and now they are all over the house. Yikes! But I'm so behind on everything, it's like I'm just treading water in hopes we won't drown. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I'm in a bit of a funk.</b> I feel tired every afternoon even though I'm getting extra sleep at night since I stopped waking up before the kids when I got sick. Maybe my body is still fighting the strep and cold? I think it's time to drag my tired body out of bed and have some peace and quiet devotion time in the morning tomorrow though. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>I'm keeping a house plant alive right now, and it feels like hope every time I head to my kitchen sink to work. </b>Probably everyone should have a plant by their sink? Especially everyone who lives in a frozen tundra. </span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So I usually post on MWF, but I'll be a little off schedule for the next week or so. I haven't been able to write much since we all got strep, and I have a book meeting I need to prep for next week. I've also been missing my babysitter Wednesday mornings (which are AMAZING) for me to work on my book since we've been sick. Like I said before, I'm just behind in everything right now. But I'm making space for grace. I'm working on a follow up to my <a href="http://sojournerwords.blogspot.com/2015/02/lent-letting-go-of-my-daughter-desire.html">lent post from last year about giving up my daughter desire</a>, and I hope you'll see that sometime next week! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Now sound off in the comments here, Instagram, or Facebook with what you would tell your BFF if you had 15 minutes on the phone with her. </span></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-38211526456991641552016-02-08T07:34:00.000-08:002016-02-08T07:34:16.746-08:00How I study the Bible with Little Ones<div style="border-width: 100%; direction: ltr;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 7.5013in;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 7.5013in;">
<div style="border-width: 100%; direction: ltr;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.5951in;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.5951in;">
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is my process.
Sometimes I only get through 2 steps, sometimes I sit in all 4. It's not a list
to check off. It's a way I get my heart to realign to God every morning. It's
an invitation from my heart to his, an eager expectation for Him to speak to my
tired mind. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Read the daily entry in my
New Morning Mercies devotional by Paul David Tripp: I know, I know, I'm
not actually starting with reading the BIBLE, but let me be real with you.
My brain is a little fried. I'm not always ready to jump in deep into
theological exegesis. This time in my life, filled with physical demands
and emotional extremes, means I often need something pre-processed first.
Something to nudge my mind from the realm of my children and home into
discovery of God. This devotional is my momma bird, chewing up the truth
so I can digest it a little easier. I love New Morning Mercies because no
one mixes grace, truth, theology, and practicality quite so perfectly as
Paul David Tripp. I can't recommend it enough. You will get a peace of
spiritual meat, cut down to mom-brain simplicity and ready to chew on
throughout the day.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Read the scripture suggested
at the end of my New Morning Mercies devotional: Yep, that even means I'm
skipping around in the Bible and only reading short sections sometimes. ;)
Getting all wild and crazy like that. What I love about these passages is
that they aren't always obvious connections to the text. Figuring out how
the scripture relates to what I just read really gets my brain revving up
out of it's coma.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in 0in 0in 0.375in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A lot of days, I
stop here. Doing the above is always my main goal for morning devotions. When
I've done the two steps above, my brain has been jump-started into the Truth. I
can continue building throughout the day by abiding with God (future post to come
on how I do that!). But on a good day, I get to continue on. Here's what I do
when I have more time:</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Read and Study a portion of
the Bible I'm sitting in for this season: Here's where I get a little
deeper. Friends, I don't have time to really study a portion of the Bible
WELL in just one day or even just one week, but that doesn't mean I can't
do it. I just have to sit in one place in the Bible in little chunks of
time over a lot of days. These portions of the Bible become so dear and so
life-giving to me. I spent 7 months in Psalm 145 last year. I know Psalm
145. I love Psalm 145. Verses from Psalm 145 pop into my mind as I go
through my day. It has become a part of how I think and a truth that I
come back to over and over again. I know the God of Psalm 145. Isn't that
the real point of Bible Study anyway? I'm probably not learning anything
theologically groundbreaking, but God is speaking to me, right into the
grit of my life, and I'm learning how to know Him in all the small moments
of my day. Right now I'm camped out in Romans 8, and it's so good for this
season. I'm sure I'll be there (and possibly the surrounding chapters) for
quite some time.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Pray: Since I can pray
throughout my day, I schedule this last. Yes, the prayer time is always
more meaningful and deeper when I get to pray in stillness, but it's not
meaningless when done in chaos. Formal prayer is good, but staying
connected to the vine throughout my day is essential. So when I don't have
time to formally pray, I find snippets through the day for petition and
praise and simple connection.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Dear Friend, hear
this: I love Bible Study. I love booklets and questions and concordances and
digging in deep. But after Judah was born and I was drowning in
moment-by-moment living, I spent months paralyzed from starting anything
because I knew I could never finish it. I accidentally stumbled into my new
routine, and it's working for me. Find something that works for you. It can be
anything. Bible knowledge isn't the goal, receiving the Bread of Life is. Don't
not read the Bible because you can never finish a study. Find any way that
works for you, and do it. <b>Remember, God is God. He can use the littlest piece
of Himself to fill you up! </b>Come to His Word with an open heart and let the Holy
Spirit stand in the gap for you.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On those mornings when I can't find a spare moment to do any of this, I simply flip open my Bible on the counter and read one verse a few times as I make breakfast for my kids. That way I still get connected to God early. I don't walk through my day without having eaten my Bread of Life. One verse, read a few times, chewed over as go through my daily tasks, can work miracles!</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tired Mommies, we can be in the Bible. We can
be in a developing and fruitful relationship with our Creator and Sustainer. It
won't look like it did in our last season and it won't look like it will in the
next season, but I can promise you it will bear fruit. We don't need to do this
perfectly, we just need to do something. God wants to reach out to us, we just
have to open the connection of his Word. </span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-10878947304952296272016-02-05T08:00:00.000-08:002016-02-05T08:00:01.597-08:00Friday Friends #3<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hey Friday Friends! Sorry I missed you last week. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I fully intended to post, but then we got sick on vacation and I just couldn't bring myself to spend precious hours of healthy family vacation time on my computer. I know you'll forgive me. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If it's your first time here, check out my first post to find out why you're not a stalker if we are just acquaintances or if you don't know me at all! This is a safe space to reach out and be friends. I'd love to get to know you through comments here or on my Instagram or Facebook posts. Also, if you ever catch me LIVE on periscope, please feel free to comment! I love making my social places a conversation instead of me just listening to myself talk. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. Speaking of hearing myself talk, when I was a teacher I would tell my students I chose that profession just because I loved to hear myself talk. And since I still love to hear myself talk, I do periscope now. I'm kind of joking...but kind of not. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. The boys have been sick since coming back from Florida. I feel bad that they are sick, but it's actually been a nice transition back to home. We've been keeping things low-key and hanging around the house. I really missed the comfort of being in our cozy place! </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3. Our district started 2 hours late on Wednesday, which meant that Isaac missed school altogether. It was supposed to be his first day back after vacation (since Monday he was sick), so I told him it was closed for snow with a super sad and empathetic voice, expecting him to get really upset. He just said "no worries, mom." It was too cute. Isn't it great when your kids exceed your expectations? I was so proud of him for that reaction!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4. I'm taking Zander (2.5) and Judah (18 months) to an ECFE class for the first time together today. I'm excited to meet some new friends, but nervous about managing 2 boys (who are often jealous of each other) during circle time. Also, Judah's reaching that attachment stage hardcore, so we'll see how he does when Mommy leaves the room! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">5. Confession: I'm more excited about the homemade guacamole I'm making than the actual SuperBowl. I actually don't even know who is playing. Oops! My best guess is North Carolina and ??? no idea. Someone please enlighten me.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now all you have to do is share back! You can comment here, on my Friday Friends post on IG or Facebook, or even do your own Friday Friends post! Just use the hashtag #fridayfriendsmeetup if you take part on your own social media! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">P.S. The WEEKEND is coming. </span></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-33583004192504337972016-02-03T08:06:00.003-08:002016-02-03T08:14:45.258-08:00My God-Driven Publishing Journey Begins<div style="border-width: 100%; direction: ltr;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 7.5013in;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 7.5013in;">
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
<div style="border-width: 100%; direction: ltr;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.1625in;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 6.1625in;">
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
From him, through
him, and to him are all things. To Him be glory forever. Amen. Romans 11:36</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">From Him: </span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
It was November
2014. I had a 3-year-old, a 17-month-old, and a 3-month old. I was overwhelmed.
I was exhausted. I was suffering. I was stuck in the deep muck of failure. I
was failing at motherhood by the world's standards. I was failing at life by my
standards. I was failing at holiness by God's standards. I was so tired of
failure. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Then God told me the
most freeing news: I would always fail. I'm a sinner saved by grace, but I'm
still not perfect. No one is. Only God can be perfect. I didn't need to be
perfect. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11.0pt;">But he said to me, </span><span style="background: #fdfeff; color: #001320; font-size: 11.25pt;">“My grace is sufficient for you, for
my power is made perfect in weakness.”</span><span style="font-size: 11.0pt;"> Therefore
I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ
may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with
weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am
weak, then I am strong.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin-left: .375in; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
God didn't want me
to be a perfect mom, a perfect woman, or even a perfect Christian. If I was
perfect, I didn't need Him. Instead I should be content with weakness. My
weakness was a ticket to God's strength. When I feel competent in my roles as
mother, wife, and Christ-follower, I rely on my own strength (and always fail).
Instead I needed to give up the pursuit of being the best mom and focus my life
on filling up with God's grace. I've probably always known this truth, but
applied to my life as a mom, my mind was blown. All I needed to do was sit in
God's daily grace. I would fail at times, but I could retreat back to Him as my
savior instead of myself. <span style="font-weight: bold;">When I get motherhood
wrong, God gets EVERYTHING right</span>. In fact, He can use my failure as an
opportunity for me to receive more of Him. What Good News!</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
As this truth
started to reshape how I viewed motherhood, I couldn't believe that it took
three babies (in three years) for me to figure this out. I wanted to shout it
from the rooftops--Mommies of the World: we don't have to be perfect! What
sweet relief! I wanted everyone to know. I can remember one specific
middle-of-the-night feeding. I was scrolling through facebook, and I grew so
discouraged as I saw several friends with young babies who were obviously
struggling through the same painful failure I had experienced. I wondered why
there wasn't a book I could send to them. They needed help! Then God nudged me.
Maybe if there wasn't a book to point them to God's grace through the
complicated first year of a baby's life, someone needed to write it. Maybe that
someone was me. The idea seemed crazy. It was crazy. It is crazy. All of my
previous insecurity came pushing forward: I wasn't a Supermom. Women shouldn't
look to me for how to do motherhood. All I knew how to do was fail at all of
it. But then I realized I probably could write the book on failure, the book
that encouraged women to let go of all the expectations and embrace God's daily
grace for their imperfection. I could probably write that book. So I did. It's
called UnsuperMommy. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Through Him:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I wrote the book
mostly on my phone as I played with my children. It was the impossible task
that God wouldn't let me shake. I tried to quit so many times, but God would
inevitably push me back into it using unsuspecting friends and acquaintances
that convinced me this book was needed. Writing the book was a constant act of
God's grace. He transformed my own heart through writing it, and I pray that it
will one day be the means God uses to bring other mommy hearts into the shelter
of his grace.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I've always planned
to self-publish UnsuperMommy. I knew how much work it was to do a book
proposal, get an agent, rewrite the book proposal, and finally get a publisher.
My husband wanted me to pursue traditional publishing, but I just didn't have
it in me. One day I felt God nudging me, "But have you prayed about
it?" I hadn't. So I prayed, "God, if you want this book to be
traditionally published, you'll have to make a publisher reach out to me."
I laughed in my heart as I prayed. I knew it was a ridiculous prayer. I didn't
know anyone in the publishing industry and I didn't have a "k" after
the number of my followers on Instagram. But I prayed that ridiculous prayer,
and God answered it. Because He can do ANYTHING. When will I ever learn?</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Enter the magic of
social media: I had been trying the new app periscope out as a way to practice
public speaking. Periscope is the toastmasters of my generation! When I would
start streaming on periscope I felt like I needed to introduce myself. Before I
even realized it, I was sharing publicly that I was writing a book called
UnsuperMommy. Generally I was a bit embarrassed (and nervous that I wouldn't
finish) to announce that I was writing a book, so I had avoided sharing about
it on both Facebook and Instagram. But that magical Periscope, it just brings
out all the secrets! </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Here's where it gets
crazy: the day after I prayed what I thought was a silly, impossible prayer, I
got an unexpected message on Facebook from one of my teachers from Junior High.
He had seen a few of my periscopes (yep, the only place I talked about writing
a book) and Instagram and he thought he could help me with my book…because he
is the editorial director for a Christian publishing company called <a href="http://broadstreetpublishing.com/">BroadstreetPublishing</a>! I couldn't believe it. I probably read that message 10 times before
it started to sink it. We met and it was a perfect fit. A match literally made
in Heaven. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">To Him:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Now I'm signed to
publish my book with <a href="http://broadstreetpublishing.com/">Broadstreet Publishing</a> in 2017. Because God writes the
best stories. Because God gave me that teacher in that tiny Christian school so
many years ago. Because God brought me to the end of myself in motherhood.
Because God wouldn't let my mind rest without sharing how his Gospel applies to
the hardship of motherhood. Because God prompted me to pray. Because I did so
with only a mustard seed of faith. Because God directed me to be open on
Periscope about my calling. Because God gave David Sluka's wife a crazy 3
babies in 3 years mothering situation even more difficult than my own. Because
God can use something as trivial as social media to connect two people together
for His purpose. Because God is God over every little step along the way. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I need you all to
hear this: I didn't do anything. I obeyed God's calling by the grace of God
alone. Lord willing, I will continue to obey him. He has been responsible for
all the fruit so far. He alone will be the creator of all the fruit. I'm just
blessed to be a part of this.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
When you hear this
story, please don't think I'm special. I'm just stewarding a gift from God.
Please join with me in praying for UnsuperMommy to reach far beyond the limits
of my circle of influence to all the women God knows desperately need the truth
of the Gospel to free them from Super Mommy expectations. Pray that I remain
obedient to his calling among the pressure of daily life as a mom. Pray that
the fruit of UnsuperMommy is God's glory, not mine. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
If you want to
follow along with me on my journey, I'm @unsupermommy on Instagram, Periscope,
and Twitter. Soon I'll have unsupermommy.com up and running, but until then
you'll have to follow this humble blog to receive encouragement in embracing
imperfection to receive God's grace!</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-34880213680566607702016-02-01T07:56:00.000-08:002016-02-01T07:56:37.077-08:00Toddler Travel Tricks (You've Never Heard Before)<div style="border-width: 100%; direction: ltr;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 7.5013in;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 7.5013in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAwV7jCt6gV5aEFa5VtfxliV-KyxoEVU_wMdYfN-Kf77GAvCirIAjHXjGcbnlmxhyQx-5Rfy5_UOZHsauvKaCs_S0Xo9BrpfnGK5G1axPFiuXD-1Db6kL8vOcP9AbHe6ObaXMyrVv7VE/s1600/TODDLER.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitAwV7jCt6gV5aEFa5VtfxliV-KyxoEVU_wMdYfN-Kf77GAvCirIAjHXjGcbnlmxhyQx-5Rfy5_UOZHsauvKaCs_S0Xo9BrpfnGK5G1axPFiuXD-1Db6kL8vOcP9AbHe6ObaXMyrVv7VE/s1600/TODDLER.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Last week we went to
Florida with my parents and my brother's family. Between my brother's family
and ours we have 5 kids in the toddler and preschool range: 18 months, almost
2, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5. I've been to Florida for a week with a kid in tow every winter
for the last 5 years, and I'm just now getting the logistics figured out. I
thought I would compile a couple helpful hints for you that I haven't read on
other blogs.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in;">
</div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Don't bring baby
supplies with you. Order them on Amazon! </b>Did you know that you can have
packages delivered to your hotel and they will hold on to them for you? I've
sent diapers, wipes, baby food, and even toddler food packets this way. This
works best if you have Amazon Prime because you know exactly what day the items
will arrive, but it can be useful with the regular free shipping as well. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Want to kick it up a
notch? </span></span><b style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Try this money-saving trick: </b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Don't pay $50 in baggage fees to bring your
pack-n-play as a carry on, and don't pay the hotel $15/night to rent a
pack-n-play when you can buy one on Amazon for $40 and have it shipped directly
to the hotel you are staying at! Just drop it at the nearest Goodwill on your
drive to the airport or leave it in the hotel when you are done! Highchairs are
another great option to have shipped directly to your hotel to avoid the </span><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">exorbitant</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> fees the hotel will charge you per day.</span></span></li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Bring toys that
do double-duty: </b>You can imagine my surprise this year when the toys I brought
for the pool and the sand became their favorite in-room toys. I could have just brought a bag of sand toys and
they would have been perfectly content!</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Bring throw-away
toys: </b>Don't bring the best. Bring the neglected fast-food toys or the half-broken-on-their-last-leg toys. When there
isn't any other toys as options, the kids will be delighted. And if you lose
one, no big deal. Also, if you're like me and like to shop on vacation, toss
out the old toys when you leave and use the extra space in your bag for that
new pair of shoes you couldn't pass up. I also love to collect Chik-Fil-A or
dollar spot books for a couple months before a trip. They are super light and
offer a new reading experience that can be tossed before traveling home. What
could be more perfect?</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Use the hotel
toys:</b> Did you know that many pool areas keep pool and sand toys donated by
previous visitors? Call ahead to see if your hotel or resort has any toys on
hand before bringing loads of floaties for the pool or
buckets and shovels for the beach.</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Pack Less Stuff:
</b>The more stuff you put in your hotel room, the harder it is to keep it picked up. If you're traveling with kids, you're probably
going somewhere that has a target, walmart, grocery store, or pharmacy nearby.
You don't have to bring every item you might possibly need. If you do that, you
probably won't be able to find it in the mountain of your dirty clothes when
the moment of crisis hits. Stick with the basics. I always wish I had packed a
little less.</span></li>
<li style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Leave your
perfect vacation expectations at home:</b> My brother's friend once told him:
"Before you have kids, you go on vacation. After you have kids, you go on
a TRIP." My friends, that saying could not be more true. Our winter trips
are no longer about the old R&R. My husband and I wasted years of vacations striving to find pockets in our trip where we could take a nap, read a book, or
simply sit alone in the quiet. The pursuit of our own rest was fruitless, and left us disappointed and angry. This year we adjusted our expectations. We through rest and relaxation out the window. This year our goal was relationships! Despite both
of us going down for about 24 hours with the flu, we had a joyful and fun week
together as a family. It's amazing how simply adjusting an expectation led to
contentment with what we received. It was an imperfect week, but it was so, so
good.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px;">Got any other great tips to add? Share them in the comments! I love hearing what works well for other moms. Anyone else have plans to TRAVEL (not vacation this winter?). My husband and I are escaping on a cruise without the kids in a month and I'm looking forward to actually getting to rest on that trip!</span></span></div>
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-58778080429535938762016-01-22T08:00:00.000-08:002016-01-22T08:00:10.601-08:00Friday Friends #2<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Hey Friday Friends!</span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Every Friday I do a post of random items I would have to tell my BFF if she called me up right now. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you need to hear why you aren't a stalker for reading and responding to these, check out </span><a href="http://sojournerwords.blogspot.com/2016/01/friday-friendly-1.html" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">my first Friday Friends post</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> to feel all the warm fuzzies from me. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since I get lonely in motherhood, I'm going to share a bit of myself here and would LOVE if you responded with a few Friday Friend items to me in the comments here on the blog, Insta, or FB. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> You could even do your own Friday Friend post on your blog, IG, or FB and we'll meet up through the hashtag #fridayfriendsmeetup. Without further ado, here's my list:</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. I'm leaving for a week in Sanibel Island, Florida today! My parents will be there, and one of my brothers, his wife, and two girls. We'll have the following kid ages: 4.5, 3.5, 2.5, almost 2, and 1.5. Yup. Let the preschool/toddler adventures commence. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. The thing I'm most excited for in Florida is the FRUIT. The juxtaposition of that fresh sweet fruit against the canned stuff I've been living on is just perfection.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3. I've been potty-training my second son, Zander, for months and he's still only partially trained. Ugh. My firstborn was fully trained in two weeks. Isaac did it completely for the praise and the joy of pleasing Mommy (#peoplepleaserbenefits am I right?). This guy wants to be doing it, but just doesn't care if he does it all the way and I feel like we will NEVER move beyond this point. Every time he pees his pants (about once a day) I feel like it's my fault because I am not keeping as close track of when he might need to go as I did for my firstborn. Also, my 18-month-old, Judah, throws a fit every time I lock him out of the bathroom, but he just can't be there. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4. All the boys have been out of sorts for the past couple of weeks. Tons of fighting, including (oh joy!) the little guys have started fighting/pushing/kicking/hitting each other. So let's just go on vacation and share really close quarters for a week. Ahhh! Hoping maybe the warmer weather and outside fun will change their attitudes. We definitely need a reset.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">5. I LOVE podcasts. They are so perfect for moms. I love listening to them while I do the dishes or the laundry. The podcasts even make me look forward to those activities! I find that I'm more productive because I'm in a happier mood too. Just use the podcast app on your phone. PLEASE check out the Jamie Ivey Happy Hour podcast, especially the Jamie Nato episode. I'm going to go back and listen to it again because it was so super encouraging and real. I'll share more of my favorites here in the future!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Have a happy Friyay Friends! </span></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-12448325274087204642016-01-20T08:17:00.003-08:002016-01-20T08:23:54.589-08:00The Unexpected Fruit of a Survival Season<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<i><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How did you do it? </span></b></i></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I get asked that
question all the time. Mostly by parents freshly in the newborn stage of their
second or third child. Trying to learn the impossible juggle of managing
multiple needs. Why do they think I have the answer? Because when my second son
was only 5 months old, I became pregnant with my third. No, we didn't plan it
that way. Yes, we do know how it happens. When Judah was born my oldest was 3
days shy of turning 3 and my middle son was 13.5 months old. It. Was. Rough.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">First, you have to
know that I didn't do it beautifully. I was a mess. My house and my kids were a
mess. We watched more TV than I would care to admit. We didn't get out of our
pajamas a couple days a week. At one point I had to call a moratorium on play
dates. All I did was survive it. Nothing fancy. Nothing perfect. There were
countless tears and too many blowups amid the blowouts. I had to ask for my oldest
son's forgiveness several times a day. I thought I would never see it through.
That I would never be anything other than the angry, exhausted, barely-managing
mother. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I starved myself from God's Word for months before I came to my utter
end. He used an unexpected source, Instagram of all places, to encourage me
back into His Truth. I had become a spiritual baby again, and I needed some
spoon feeding. I'm so thankful for all the women on Instagram who constantly
put God's truth up to counteract the lies that fill our hearts. Then through an influence network class by Jess Connolly God encouraged me to learn to snack on his Word. I didn't have
the time or mental stamina for meals of his Word, but I began to snack
throughout my day and his Truth pulled me back into the shelter of His wings
among the storm of my life. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Eventually, I
learned to wake up with the attitude that my only expectation was that I walk
with Jesus that day. Even if no naps were managed, food came from a box,
diapers remained unchanged for far too long, and too much TV was consumed, but
I walked through it with Jesus, it was good. That's how I survived it. With
Jesus. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I came to the utter
end of myself and found Jesus. God let motherhood break me so I could
be rebuilt. Sometimes the only way to wholeness is to be completely broken. I
grew up in a Christian home, and I don't remember a time I didn't know Jesus,
but I never knew Him like this before. He sustained me not just day-by-day, but
moment-by-moment. It wasn't pretty and it wasn't perfect, but I did it. I
survived the fire. I came out refined. Less obsessed with my list but head full
of Jesus.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I sowed sorrow, exhaustion, failures, and inabilities and now I'm reaping faith like I've never known. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now that I know Him
like that--when I've walked with him through the rough ride of the external
while managing the awful of my own sin--I'll never be the same. Last week,
after grieving for the pain of the present and future trial of my uncle and his
family from his stroke, I was still able to clear the dishes, turn on some
music, and stand at my kitchen sink, arms stretched high and sing:
"rejoice. When you cry to him he hears your voice. In the midst of
suffering He will help you sing." Because I know that. I <span style="font-weight: bold;">know</span> that. I can rejoice because I know that
all roads belong to Him. I can rejoice because He never leaves me to myself. I
can rejoice because I have suffered and He heard my voice when my cry was only
a whisper hidden deep in the dry folds of my inner soul. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">He redeems the
imperfect, the simple, the subpar. His power flows through our weak and weary
frames. We just have to give up. Acknowledge that we can't do one minute of
motherhood without his power and his grace. When you reach the end of your
rope, He is the net. Fall into his redemption. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We can't survive
another minute without Him. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Sitting in the
loving arms of Jesus. That's how I do it. </b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">{If you're
struggling through life with a newborn, check out my friend Gina Zeidler's
latest blog for more encouragement. You are not alone: <a href="http://ginazeidler.com/2016/01/14/ending-my-challenging-motherhood-silence/">http://ginazeidler.com/2016/01/14/ending-my-challenging-motherhood-silence/</a></span></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-71598584466166438852016-01-18T08:00:00.000-08:002016-01-18T08:00:08.478-08:00The Purple-Haired Mommy<div style="border-width: 100%; direction: ltr;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 7.5013in;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 7.5013in;">
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
A lot of people are
curious about my purple hair. No, it was not in support of the Vikings
ill-fated playoff attempt. It wasn't about the new year or an attempt to
outwardly demonstrate some inward change. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The simple
explanation is that I wanted purple hair. 1. I love purple (this is not news).
2. I get easily bored with my hair, so when I'm in a growing out stage I often
experiment with color. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Here's the details:
it's Manic Panic brand in Purple Haze. It's semi-permanent color, so I wouldn't
be surprised if I lose most of it in the pool next week in Florida. You are
supposed to bleach all your hair before dyeing, but I wasn't up to that commitment
so I have a lot more vibrant color on my previously blonde ends than my dark
root area, and I like purple ombré effect it created. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>I wanted to dye my
hair purple for a long time, but a few things held me back:</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">My husband: For a long time I
assumed he would hate it, but when I finally really asked him and showed
him pictures, he was all for it. Isn't it fun with your spouse surprises
you? I always assume I know what his response will be, but I should
probably give him more opportunities to give his opinion before I assume I
know it. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">My Kids: Well, not so much my
kids as my status as a MOM. I felt like it wasn't motherly to have purple
hair.</span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">My Conservative Status: I'm a
Christian and a pretty conservative girl on top of that. As much as I
wanted to try purple hair, I didn't like the idea of people assuming I was
</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">alternative</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> instead of </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">conservative</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. </span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>Why did I do it
anyway?</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Because it's totally
me. As I looked in the mirror touching my newly purple locks, I told my husband
that my high-school self would be squealing and giving me high fives if she
could see me now. Because although I'm conservative, I'm a little wild too. I'm
a major rule and tradition follower, but I'm also a bit of a renegade. I
decided I didn't care if people thought I was alternative or the nanny instead
of the mom. I wanted to be ME more than I cared about what acquaintances or
strangers thought of me.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Because I want my
kids to know all of me. Not just the conservative, by-the-book mom, but also
the silly, fun, uninhibited mom too. The mom who comes up with crazy ideas and
follows through with them. I hope one day after I'm long gone, they'll tell
their kids or their grandkids that I was the kind of mom who died her hair purple. I don't have to be the mom who looks like all the other
moms to be a good mom to my boys. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
So here's to purple
hair. To letting every part of my personality influence my motherhood. To never
being too afraid of what other people think to be myself. To letting my kids
really know me, even my wild side and especially my imperfections. Here's to being a purple-haired UnsuperMommy.</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-62004368112757704122016-01-15T08:30:00.000-08:002016-01-15T14:15:15.292-08:00Friday Friends #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvArE-Lv2Y382JBXS6vDp7Z3fSN9ZxbOEoIlTIiktqBQUgh1DVkSWwDh_RCiTN4JFjHV1fe8H-bm2aEeZy1zGlhMvl6GGhVmf_0QV_jwvLNotEmgWFFySPoIhSA8BQFesyqWsq8RGM_A/s1600/IMG_6151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpvArE-Lv2Y382JBXS6vDp7Z3fSN9ZxbOEoIlTIiktqBQUgh1DVkSWwDh_RCiTN4JFjHV1fe8H-bm2aEeZy1zGlhMvl6GGhVmf_0QV_jwvLNotEmgWFFySPoIhSA8BQFesyqWsq8RGM_A/s320/IMG_6151.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
Hey Blog Friends!<br />
<br />
I'm attempting to post to my blog more regularly, so I wanted to start a special feature for Fridays. I may know you well, I may not know you in real life at all, or we may be in that acquaintance place where you might feel like a stalker checking out my blog. Let me first assure you, whether I know you well, a little, or not at all, there's no stalking here. This is my open book. I'm going to put my true self, struggles and triumphs and all onto this blog, and I'd love if you joined me for the ride. Get into the game by commenting here or on my <a href="http://www.instagram.com/unsupermommy">Instagram</a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/combsmaggie">Facebook</a> posts or catching me over on my <a href="http://www.persicope.tv/unsupermommy">periscope</a>! When people respond to something I blog about it makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.<br />
<br />
What's Friday Friendly going to be? A short blog where I share the kinds of tidbits that come up in conversations with all my real life friends. Imagine you are my best friend and you called me up because the kiddos are down for sleep and you just need a good chat. These Friday blogs will be me just sharing unfiltered me. I figure even if you are my real life best friend (you know who you are), we can't get a lot of chances to just chit-chat.<br />
<br />
The truth is, motherhood can feel really lonely. It can feel like no one really knows me because it's just impossible to maintain those long-hour, daily friendships like what I grew up enjoying. These posts will be an attempt to counteract that feeling. I want you to know me and I want to know you. I'd love if you shared a few random thoughts about your weekly experience in the blog comments or on my Insta or Facebook. Let's open up and get to know each other through the daily simple thoughts of life as young mothers. Enough explanation, here goes!<br />
<br />
<b>1. I'm a Woo: </b><br />
<br />
If you haven't done Strengthsfinder 2.0, I highly suggest it. I just retook the test to determine my strengths. It had been 5 years or so and my life has changed a LOT, so I thought maybe my strengths would look different in this season. I'm going to persicope and probably blog more about this in the coming weeks, but I want you to know I'm a Woo. Woo is short for "winning others over." Woo's thrive on building new relationships and getting to know people. Like I said before, don't think you are a stalker. I LOVE meeting new people or finding new connections with old acquaintances. Reach out, I'd love to make a connection with you. It gives me a natural high!<br />
<br />
<b>2. My 17-month-old fell out of his crib at 1 am the other night:</b><br />
<br />
I have never even seen him <b>try</b> to escape his crib, and he makes his first attempt in the middle of the night. I'm just crossing my fingers that it was a scary enough experience that he won't attempt it again any time soon. If he does, I may have to get one of those weird tent things for above his crib because he is definitely not ready for a big boy bed. He's probably my last baby, so I had been really hoping he would stick in his crib until maybe 2 and 1/2. He just flushed that pipe dream right down the toilet.<br />
<br />
<b>3. I'm all about bold lipstick these days:</b><br />
<b><br /></b>
When my mom taught me to wear makeup in Junior High, she stressed simple rosy lipstick, even though she always wore bright colors herself. I've been slowly working my way into fun lipstick colors for the past 3ish months and I'm loving it. I've always told my friends that putting on jewelry is the perfect way to fake that you put effort into your outfit, and I'm finding lipstick is the jewelry of makeup! I definitely don't put makeup on every day, but if I dab on a bold red in the car I look like I tried. It's a pretty amazing trick that takes about 15 seconds. My favorite colors right now are dark berry and cherry red. Lovely. Try it!<br />
<br />
<b>4.</b> <b>I'm already packing for our trip to Florida next Friday:</b><br />
<br />
That will seem early or right on time to some of you, but I feel WAY behind. Since we don't need our summer clothes in January in Minnesota, I usually pack for Florida at least two weeks in advance. Yes, I'm that crazy person.<br />
<br />
<b>5. I spend way too much mental energy on Curious George:</b> That program actually has pretty clever writing (especially the Halloween and Christmas specials), but some of it's assumptions drive me crazy. Why is George always at fault when the Man with the Yellow Hat is essentially letting a preschooler run around NYC on his own? Why does everyone George meets in NYC find it totally natural to see a monkey running around the city? How is he able to visit the Zoo without being accidentally locked in an exhibit? Oh George.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
I hope you know me a little better now. I'd love to know you better too! Comment below or on <a href="http://www.instagram.com/unsupermommy">Insta</a> or <a href="http://www.facebook.com/combsmaggie">FB</a> with a couple Friday Friendlies about yourself! I'd love to woo you into friendship with me.Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-59061770668946660192016-01-13T08:39:00.000-08:002016-01-13T08:39:09.761-08:00When Daddy Works Late<div style="border-width: 100%; direction: ltr;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 7.5013in;">
<div style="direction: ltr; margin-left: 0in; margin-top: 0in; width: 7.5013in;">
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My husband works
late about once a week. It can be rough. I dread that night. Often, he tells me
early in the week so I can plan around it, but there are times when the clock
hits 5 and I haven't heard from him all day and my heart just knows--he's going
to be late. Sigh. </span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Let me just pause
for a moment and give a major shoutout to single moms and military wives who do
night time all by themselves every night. You rock.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">My husband is
working late two nights this week. TWO nights. Since I know ahead of time, I
can plan my day to prepare for the crazy of dad-less dinner and bedtime. Here's
what I do:</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>1. Keep Dinner Simple: </b></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Obvious,
right? But I can't tell you how many times I've stubbornly stuck to a
"real dinner" rather than stay simple and do only food the kids love.
Avoid dinner battles like the plague on nights without Daddy. Tonight's dinner:
raviolis (not homemade, no way) and Costco pesto sauce. I also don't shy away
from calling up the grandparents to see what their dinner plans are and if
involve 3 overactive boys and 1 tired mom.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<b style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>2. Pace Myself:</b></span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Although
a mommy work day always lasts until bedtime (I won't even mention everything we
do after they go to bed), we're used to the reprieve of that Daddy Home moment
and all the help that comes after it. Dinner and bedtime are no easy feat, but
they are particularly hard when we're missing half of the tag-team.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">When
I'm used to running a 5k of motherhood every day, and suddenly get thrown into
a half-marathon, I must adjust my pace. When Daddy's working late, I give
myself extra breathing room throughout the day. I revert to rest-when
-they-rest, newborn-style living. Cross today's day off the top of my list and
write tomorrow's day there instead. Almost every goal I've set for myself can
wait. Better to maintain a rhythm of rest than become Volcano Mommy, spewing
angry mouthfuls of crushing criticism. I know enough about myself as a mom to
recognize when I just need rest. So they are asleep or on quiet time and I know
Dad's coming home late, I forget the task list and indulge: watch a tv show,
read a book, surf the internet, or even take a nap.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">When
they aren't resting I continue to maintain a slow pace for the day, forgetting
the unnecessary and just being Mom.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>3. Plan an extra treat:</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">Think
of something special for your kids and keep it in your back pocket for when the
breaking point comes. Then you just step back and yell over the chaos: I've got
_____ waiting! Think a trip to the playground, that book with flaps you have to
keep on top of the fridge so it doesn't get destroyed, a popsicle, or even a
bath. Today I have homemade chocolate chip cookies at the ready for when the
insanity breaks loose beyond my control.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>4. Do a Daddy Thing:</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">For
my 3 boys, it's wrestling, tickling, or Hide and Seek after dinner. I try to do
one of their favorite Dad-activities on nights he can't be home with them.
Because it's hard for them to not see Daddy too. Because my husband fills a
different role in their lives than I do. I can't replace Dad, but I can get
outside of my box and give them a small dose of what he offers them.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>5. Receive and Give Extra Grace:</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">I'm
going to get honest and say some days I nurse grudges against one or all of my
children. Because as much as I talk about giving space for failure in myself
and my kids, my default is always going to be expecting perfection of all of
us. When I know it's going to be a long day, I have to receive extra grace from
God and let it overflow to my kids. Pray for a supernatural filling of the Holy
Spirit. Repeat a simple Bible verse (I can do all things through him who
strengthens me, Phil 4:13). Play worship songs on my phone. He gives me new
grace for every new day. There's always enough on God's table to overflow into
my relationships with my kids, but I don't always eat everything He is
providing.</span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><b>When
Dad Gets Home:</b></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 11pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 11pt;">My husband got home just in time to tuck my oldest son in for the night. But no
matter when Wes gets home, even if it's a minute after I finish putting all the
boys to bed or shortly before I go to sleep, my attitude should be the same:
grateful. Because my man doesn't work late to make my life more difficult. He
doesn't work late to avoid his family. He works early mornings and late nights
to provide for our us. He works long hours to make certain his job is done right
for the good of the company and for the good of his family. And for that I'll
greet him with a kiss and a listening ear, not a list of my hard day.</span></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-58664901497434936432015-12-09T13:47:00.001-08:002015-12-09T13:47:49.946-08:00The Unsuper Mommy Advent: My Spiritual Anorexia<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic;">Please note that this is blog is not meant in any way
to be a discussion of physical anorexia.</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never
thirst." - John 6:35</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I am often my own
worst enemy. While my kids may provoke and stoke the fires of my sinful heart,
it is my own refusal to accept God that keeps it burning. I'm about to reveal
something ugly. It's one of those nasty sins that hides inside the mind. It's always
been laying just below the surface, but motherhood has pushed it to the
forefront. It's
spiritual anorexia. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Here's what happens:
A child wakes up early in the morning. He's needy and I'm tired. I grump around
the kitchen, cleaning up from previous night (because yeah, I often go to bed
with a dirty kitchen) or prepping breakfast. I ignore the slight tug of the
Holy Spirit to take a stolen moment to crack open the Bible sitting on my
counter. I tell myself I'll get to it. After breakfast. After Isaac goes to
school. After the little ones go down for afternoon nap. Always after. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
The kids are always
especially difficult on these days. There's an abundance of poopy diapers they
don’t want to lay still for, an unmanageable amount of tantrums, and outright
refusals to obey the simplest requests. I'm tired and I'm mad and I don't know
how to struggle through it. I walk by my Bible and shove it in the nearest
drawer in the name of a clean kitchen. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
No way am I going to
open that thing. I'm disgusted with my life. I had simple expectations for the
day: a few moments to myself in the morning, kids who eat the meals I struggle
to get to the table, kids that play happily with their abundance of toys, a
family that appreciates the gift of spending time together, boys who lay flat
for their diaper changes, little brothers that don’t protest shuttling in the
car to and from big brother's preschool, and obedience the first time I ask. I
don't even need all of these expectations met every day, just a majority of
them and I can be a happy, godly mom. It's the days that the unmet
expectations pile up that my spiritual anorexia creeps in.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Here's the deal:
when we work hard, we get hungry. Motherhood is hard work, and it makes us
spiritually hungry. Jesus is the bread of life for the spiritually hungry.
If I sit down and eat: a chapter here, a prayer there, worship music playing
when I can't find time for either, I get an energy reboot. I'm ready again to
face the work set before me. But there are so many days when I just refuse to
eat. Spiritual Anorexia.</div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<b>Two reasons I refuse
to eat:</b></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<ol style="direction: ltr; font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11pt; margin-bottom: 0in; margin-left: 0.375in; margin-top: 0in; unicode-bidi: embed;" type="1">
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;" value="1"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>A distorted image of myself:</b>
I have to admit, after so many failures at life by my power, part of me
still thinks I can handle this on my own. I've been a mom for four years,
I can handle one day of a napless child on my own strength, right? Oh, I
am so wrong. But sometimes my pride just will not accept that, despite the
outward sign of anger, I can't do motherhood all on my own. I buy into the lie that I don't need grace; I've got it all together. I see myself as so strong that I don't need spiritual food to be a good mom. </span></li>
<li style="margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 0; vertical-align: middle;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><b>My desire to control:</b> I don't
want to run to the Bible when my life is spinning out of control because I know what I will find there: the God who
is in control of everything. I refuse to swallow that bread because </span><span style="font-size: 11pt; font-weight: bold;">I want
control</span><span style="font-size: 11pt;">. I want
control over when I wake up in the morning. I want control over the
obedience of my children. I want control over what my family will eat that
day. When all my simple expectations go unmet, instead of admitting that
God's sovereignty might be trying to teach me something, I cling to the
last bit of control I have left: a prideful refusal to accept God's
sanctifying work.</span></li>
</ol>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
I'm cringing over
here just admitting this all to you. But maybe some of you are fellow Bible hiders. Fellow God ignorers. Fellow spiritual anorexics. Of course it's cliché,
but it starts with admitting there's a problem. God calls that confession. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
This advent, I'm
camped out in the "I am" statements of Jesus. First, God convicted me
of how quickly I refuse to eat the Bread of Life when my circumstances aren't
going my way. Then I moved on to "I am the Light of the World" and was
reminded of his forgiveness. This "I am" statement is tucked in the
midst of Jesus' teaching about judgment. When a prostitute is brought forward
to stone, Jesus charges the crowd "let him who is without sin among you be
the first to throw a stone" (John 8:7). As the crowd dissipates, Jesus--the only sinless one there--refuses to condemn the woman standing before him.
He tells the people, "You judge according to the flesh; I judge no
one" (John 8: 15). Later, Jesus tells a group of Jews who believe in him,
"So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed" (John 8:36). </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
Why does this matter
to a recovering spiritual anorexic? Because refusal to eat of the Bread of Life
is a nasty form of pride. I hate admitting it even exists in my heart. I like to pretend I'm avoiding God's Word because motherhood is just too busy. Oh friends, without the
work of Jesus, there is no hope for me. There isn't anything good in me--except
Jesus. He doesn't condemn me; He saves me. He shines light into my darkest
places. He spoon feeds me when I am doing all I can to avoid spiritual
nourishment. Every day the Holy Spirit is working hard at me, pushing me past
the limits of my abilities and into God's daily grace. The best part of about Jesus? He didn't just
grant me salvation thousands of years ago, but he is daily saving me from my
sinful self. He died on the cross, but he lives to intercede as my Great High
Priest (Hebrews 7:25). </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
If you are
struggling with spiritual anorexia, there's hope. Respond to the nudging of the
Holy Spirit. Feel the depth of your sin, then accept the immeasurable depth of
God's grace. Jesus is waiting with a meal for our souls. Let's eat. </div>
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div style="font-family: Calibri; font-size: 11.0pt; margin: 0in;">
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you
completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; he will
surely do it. - 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24</span></div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2272850641485703874.post-34311583759811062982015-11-30T12:32:00.002-08:002015-11-30T13:04:50.645-08:00The Unsuper Mommy Advent: neglecting tradition in favor of Just Jesus<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{2}" paraid="2093811722" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">I love a good tradition. My childhood was filled with countless traditions and rituals. Pancakes on Saturdays, </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">eating</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> lunch at the same</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> grimy pizza place on the way to our winter condo, </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">dinner out on </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Fridays, summer weekends at the cabin—my family loved a good rhythm. Once we did something twice, we didn't change </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">it. We</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> developed so many traditions that </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">my best friend wrote her senior thesis about us. December was license for our family's</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">tradition overload: sledding parties, bon-bon making, midnight ice-skating, hiding baby Jesus from the advent calendar, gingerbread houses, presents on Christmas eve, sleigh rides, a Christmas village, last-minute shopping for mom's gifts, Home Alone 2, steamed pudding, and even a New </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Years'</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Eve party. We packed it in, adding more </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">as we went along. It was fun, but frankly a bit exhausting. </span><span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{2}" paraid="2093811722" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{15}" paraid="1581993966" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">After I got married, we tried to develop our own traditions, but things fell a little flat just the two of us. I </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">ass</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">uaged</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> my guilt with promises to do more when we had kids. I have 3 little boys now, and we are starting to create a new Christmas rhythm. We are building favorite traditions and scrapping others as we </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">go. </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">As</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> a mom</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">, I</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> tend to get worked up and overworked trying to create magic for my</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> little ones. But there's no lasting </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">magic in</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> making candy cane wreaths or seeing Christmas lights. Perfectly-wrapped presents under a flawless tree are not a Christmas miracle.</span><span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{15}" paraid="1581993966" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{21}" paraid="713710332" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">The magic of Christmas is </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Jesus, fully God coming to earth as fully man. It's </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">the Word, Jesus, becoming flesh to dwell among us. The Christmas miracle is the Son of God coming to earth to take</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> all of our sin and shame so we can stand pure and sinless before God's righteousness</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">. </span><span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{21}" paraid="713710332" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{26}" paraid="771560824" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">This year, instead of stressing out about the perfect house, the perfect presents, and the perfect traditions, I want to stress to my children that a perfect God became a perfect </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">man to save them from all their imperfections. I'm not convinced that Christ cares </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">much about a holiday. He cares about us filling our souls with more about his goodness and letting the resulting joy overflow to our children. </span><span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{26}" paraid="771560824" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{30}" paraid="216852276" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Let's not hold our Christmas traditions as sacred. Let's not let little plans get in the way of God's big plan. I don't want our December to be focused on family fun. I want it to be more Jesus. I'm not getting rid of traditions, but I won't</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> let them overshadow what we are really celebrating: </span><span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{30}" paraid="216852276" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{33}" paraid="1018803683" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Just</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Jesus. </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{33}" paraid="1018803683" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Because we can't add to Him or take away from Him. And we don't need to.</span><span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{33}" paraid="1018803683" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{42}" paraid="813774413" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Here's my plan: every day of December, I'm going to seek to learn </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">more </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">about Jesus. Doesn't have to be a new idea, but I have to really learn it. </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">I'm going to dive into the Gospel</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> of John</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">and </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">camp out</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">on the "I AM</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">" statements of Jesus. Who better to tell us about Jesus than the only true expert? </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">I'm going to meditate on</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">each "I AM" statement for a few days, </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">and if that isn't enough</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">, I</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">'ll give myself the extra time I need.</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> There aren't specific rules, it's</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> just</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Jesus.</span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{356f436d-f278-4235-bc70-fac97b4e4d75}{42}" paraid="813774413" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{34e76d29-187e-495e-88b2-7b5f6f39eef1}{75}" paraid="1944808729" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">There will be failures. I'm not perfect at anything, and I certainly won't be perfect at this plan, as simple as it is. God doesn't need my perfection to work; He's got perfection in the bag. I'll give Him my humble best, and I know that He'll bless it. More of Him is always H</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">is will. </span><span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{34e76d29-187e-495e-88b2-7b5f6f39eef1}{75}" paraid="1944808729" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{87763ef5-90fa-475a-8cb0-d84a3b822924}{109}" paraid="1616520763" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">As</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">I </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">make space in the busy of Christmas traditions for more Jesus</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">, my</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">children will receive the</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> overflow </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">of my transformed heart</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">. I</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> think they'll see less </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">perfect-Christmas Mommy</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> and</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> m</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">ore Jesus. </span><span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{87763ef5-90fa-475a-8cb0-d84a3b822924}{109}" paraid="1616520763" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{34e76d29-187e-495e-88b2-7b5f6f39eef1}{233}" paraid="1903448859" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">I'll be checking back in here at least once a week with what </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">God is teaching me and posting shorter moments on Instagram using the hashtag #</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">justJesusadvent</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">. I'm sure there will be a couple periscopes involved too. Follow me @UnsuperMommy or friend me on </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"><span class="SpellingError SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: inherit; background-image: url(data:image/gif; background-position: 0% 100%; background-repeat: repeat-x; border-bottom-color: transparent; border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;">facebook</span></span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> if I don't know you yet!</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> I'd love to have a few friends join me in the simple goal to </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">know Jesus more this Advent. </span><span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{34e76d29-187e-495e-88b2-7b5f6f39eef1}{233}" paraid="1903448859" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{1db89d63-5356-44ae-9b21-e0b5451bb4e4}{230}" paraid="524620918" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">This isn't an Advent challenge to complete. It isn't a tradition to exalt. It's not a perfect plan. It's how </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">I'm trying to hold</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> Jesus high above the trappings of the season in my own home. </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Make</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> up your own plan or hang with me in the I AM statements, but don't slide through Christmas knowing more about shopping, baking, decorating, and hosting, without </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">receiving</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> the surpassing greatness of knowing more about Jesus.</span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US"> </span><span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">If you gain one thing this season, make it more of Jesus. </span><span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"> </span></div>
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{1db89d63-5356-44ae-9b21-e0b5451bb4e4}{230}" paraid="524620918" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="EOP SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: white; clear: both; cursor: text; direction: ltr; font-family: 'Segoe UI', Tahoma, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 8px; margin: 0px; overflow: visible; padding: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="Paragraph SCX105204287" paraeid="{e9afae22-4dfd-46ae-b100-58eca374057f}{252}" paraid="204715387" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; background-color: transparent; color: windowtext; font-size: 6pt; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre; word-wrap: break-word;" xml:lang="EN-US">
<span class="TextRun SCX105204287" style="-webkit-tap-highlight-color: transparent; -webkit-user-drag: none; -webkit-user-select: text; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 19px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; white-space: normal;" xml:lang="EN-US">Just Jesus. Anyone else in?</span></div>
</div>
Maggiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13885589567761501406noreply@blogger.com0