Lady and Sam love getting dressed up for the holidays… Really.
Dec28
Dec18
Stuff…
It’s that time of year when we purchase stuff for others, and they reciprocate. Most of the stuff we exchange are things we don’t really need, and sometimes, they are things we don’t even want. Thus the creation of the “wish lists” and gift cards.
My daughter is having a huge fund raiser tomorrow for her mission trip, and we are putting together silent auction baskets. I was overwhelmed by the amount of stuff I was able to collect around my own home to make these baskets complete. Stuff I’ve been given and purchased, and stuff I really had no trouble parting with.
Why do we collect so much stuff? Do I really need a closet full of small appliances? I’ve got enough craft supplies to keep a girl scout troop busy for years. I’m not even going to share how many pairs of black shoes I own…Really…
At this time of year when shopping is at it’s peak, I thought I’d risk a little political incorrectness, and share a top 10 list to keep in the back of your mind while shopping for others and for yourselves…
The top ten ways you might have too much stuff…
- Your neighbors call you to borrow random items…like purple construction paper and you have plenty.
- Your closet is bigger than an average bathroom…and it’s full
- You have rubbermaid in your investment portfolio… or you should.
- When pulling out Christmas stuff, you find bags of gifts from last year… and the year before.
- You have paths in room(s) through your stuff..
- When your garage is open on the weekends, people stop and try to shop.
- TLC is leaving you messages…
- You can go 3 weeks without doing the laundry and not run out of clean clothes.
- If something’s on sale, it’s a good deal no matter how many you already have…cause you can give it as a gift…
- You can make several beautiful silent auction baskets and never leave your house.
So, this time of year think twice before you buy… for others and for yourself. Be thoughtful and creative in your giving, and don’t 
just buy something for the sake of a package under the tree. The happiest people I know, have the least amount of stuff anyway. Really.
What was the best or worst gift you’ve ever received?
Dec11
Africa…Really?
My college student, and only daughter, will not be coming home this summer. She has applied, and has been accepted, into a program through Adventures in Missions. She will leave the first of June, for a 2-month mission trip in Swaziland, Africa. Really…
My kids are all service oriented, and have experienced missions on local and national levels, and one of them has served in Mexico for 2 weeks… but none have ever traveled so far and for so long. It is giving new meaning to “letting go” for me. I thought sending her to a dorm was hard! I think my, “Top Ten Ways You Know You Have a Child Going to College” list applies here for the most part… just substitute “college” for “Africa”, although I would add just a few…You know you have a kid going to Africa when…
- You dream of fund raising techniques …
- You spend excessive amounts of time googling common illnesses of the region. (not recommended)
- You get your own passport…just in case.
- Praying for safety has taken on a whole new meaning.
- You have mixed emotions of pride, humbleness, fear, and faith churning in your heart.
We have had a few folks ask why? Why Africa? There is so much need right here! Spending lots of money and time to travel to a place that has no hope seems crazy! The governments are never going to allow for real change, so why bother? Well, that’s all true, but the people suffering in those places with no hope are still people. One person can make a difference. One life can be changed and we believe that one life is worth it. Our faith tells us that Christ instructed his followers to take His message to the ends of the earth, even to the places that seem hopeless. So, those that are called, go… My daughter has been called, and wild horses couldn’t stop her.
I share this with you for a few reasons; first, I covet your prayers. For her, and those she will be ministering to… Then, for her step-dad, and me, but especially for her father. He carries enough worry for everyone. Secondly, I want to share this experience with you, because that’s what good bloggers do… and last, but not least, I want to give you the opportunity to support her financially. (Refer to item 1 of my list)
You can click here to donate through Adventures in Missions. She is going on the “Passport” mission and be sure to put Katie Moberly in the “Participant Full Name” space.
If you would like to know more about her, before you support her, here is her story in her own words…
Dear Family and Friends,
I hope you are all doing well.
I am writing you this letter to share what has been going on in my life, and the new adventure that God has laid before me.
Many of you know, two summers ago I went a mission trip to Charlotte, NC. I had several opportunities that summer to travel abroad, in which I was most excited, but as the time came for me to make my decision, I prayed that God would show me where He wanted me to go that summer and my friend invited me to spend a month in North Carolina. My heart was in Africa, so I wasn’t even worried about going to NC but God works in mysterious ways, and all of the doors leading me abroad shut, right in my face. So Charlotte was where I went. And that summer was the one that changed my life.
Walking along side the children I helped there made me realize my passion is in showing the unloved, that they are loved, and not only by me, but by the Creator.
Now, I have started my first year in college and have been given the opportunity to, once again, go to Africa, and more specifically Swaziland. And this time, the Lord as opened the door wider than ever. An organization called Adventures in Missions has welcomed me on a team traveling to South Africa, to help in an orphanage this summer for the months of June and July.
I applied for the program, had an interview, was accepted, paid my commitment fee, and now I am in need of your help.
First and foremost, your support in prayers is what I desire the most, but I am also in need of a little financial help. The total cost of my trip is $4,985. If you would like to support me, you can make a tax-deductible donation through the mail at: Adventures In Missions, PO Box 534470, Atlanta, GA 30353-447 and be sure put my name in the memo.
Thank you so much for your support, and I’m really excited to bring you along this new journey I’m stepping into!
Swaziland Bound,
Katie Moberly
Acts 1:8
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (NIV)
Have you had a child go off to Africa? How did you do?
Dec7
Merry Christmas/Happy Holidays?
This seems to be an on going debate this time of year. I’m a Merry Christmas person, because I am a Christian. This is the time of year designated for the celebration of the birth of Christ… for Christians. But it wasn’t always that way…
Christmas, in it’s earliest days, was many different things. It was a celebration of longer days for the Europeans, most commonly called the winter solstice. It was a perfect time to celebrate in Scandinavia because most cattle were slaughtered, so they would not have to be fed through the winter. Folks had plenty of meat and, in addition, most wine and beer made during the year was finally ready for drinking. The Germans were busy honoring their pagan god, Oden, during this time of year, huddling inside their homes in fear. In Rome, a holiday called Saturnalla, in honor of Saturn, the god of agriculture was underway. They kept busy for a month with eating, drinking and turning the Roman social order upside down. During this time they also celebrated Juvenalia, a feast honoring the children of Rome, as well as the birth of Mithra, the god of the unconquerable sun.
As far as Christianity had been concerned, the main holiday was Easter. Period. It wasn’t until the 4th century that the church decided to celebrate the birth of Christ. Even though it is 
most likely that Christ was born in the spring, Pope Julius I chose December 25th and it was first called the Feast of the Nativity.
By the middle ages, Christmas celebrations were primarily drunken, carnival-like parties, much like Mardi Gras. Finally, by the 17th century, religious reform moved in and changed the celebration drastically… temporarily. It was even cancelled for a time.
With the beginning of America, in 1620, Christmas was boycotted once again. It had gotten so bad, that the holiday was actually outlawed in Boston from 1659-1681. Then in 1828, NYC police responded to the first Christmas riot, which many think was the catalyst to reform of the celebration. It wasn’t declared a federal holiday until June 26, 1870. Over the next hundred years, Americans constructed their own Christmas traditions. It was built with bits and pieces of many other customs from many different cultures and time periods.
The bottom line is this; Christmas is an invented holiday, that means many different things to many different people. For the Christian, it is the chosen day to celebrate the birth of our Savior, as the story is told in the Holy Scriptures. For the Hebrew, it is Hanukkah. For the pagan, it’s the winter solstice. Greek and Russian cultures are celebrating the Epiphany or Three Kings Day, which is the day they believe the wise men found the manger. There are many other types of celebrations all around the globe… and around your neighborhood.
If Christians really want to keep Christ in Christmas, I think we should stop worrying about the well wishes of others and look at ourselves. Instead of rushing the stores at 3AM with ill intent to the person snatching the last Elmo, lets visibly practice patience, kindness, self control and gentleness. Instead of stressing through long to-do lists, let’s count every minute as a gift from God, and visibly demonstrate peace and joy. Giving should be 365 days a year, not just though the holidays. We should be donating clothes, food, and gifts frequently. Let’s invite friends, family, and neighbors, to dinner regularly. Send cookies to people just for fun a few times a year. Tip your service people well – all the time, whether they are good or not. Seriously.
The Word says, “All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” Acts 2:44-47
The Lord added to their numbers because of how they lived, which was different than everyone else. Being mad and offended is not being different. Being stressed and rushed and consumed with shopping and decorations, is not different. Christian’s can keep Christ in Christmas by being different – Galatians 5:22-23… Against such things there is no law…
Whatever your traditions are, stop worrying about what others are doing and saying and be at peace this holiday season… that is something I think we can all agree on. Really.
So, how do you celebrate on December 25th?
Merry Christmas.
Nov25
Black Friday.
Today is Black Friday. The biggest shopping day of the year. I am sitting on my sofa, still in my pj’s and it’s after 2PM. I did get up around 9 this morning, but I cleaned the kitchen floor, did a load of laundry, vacuumed my bedroom, and the ceiling fan in my bathroom. I have also managed to read about 4 chapters in The Circle, by Ted Dekker, the 25th Proverb and Psalms 132-135. I’ve checked out Facebook this morning too. Many of my friends have been posting about shopping and all of the great deals and crowds. I’m not jealous.
There was a time in my life, when I planned my Christmas shopping and headed out before the sun. I’ve stood in lines holding 
toys and electronics for hours. I fondly remember applying for my Target card, while standing behind 200 other people, holding a hopping Tigger, that I almost didn’t get. It was a dive and grab, and I was victorious. My youngest son beamed with delight on Christmas morning, and we tolerated that bouncing, chatty Tigger for many, many hours, days and weeks after. I asked him if he remembered that Tigger today. He said, “no.” I wanted to yell, “Really?!? What!?! I almost committed assault and battery for that thing! I stood in line forEVER!” Really?? He said that he does remember the Thomas the Tank bike, that we purchased at 4:30AM at Zany Brainy in 2001. I only stood in line for about 45 minutes for that one. It was the bike he learned to ride, and I have scrapbook pages of the event in memorandum. I guess I should have taken a picture or two of that dang Tigger.
Several years ago, we started a new tradition at our house. We only give the kids 3 gifts. A gold, which represents a treasure they have wanted. A frankincense, which is something for their mind, and a myrrh, which is something for their body. We still hang the stockings, and fill them with fun things, in keeping with Christmas traditions. It has been AWESOME. Having 4 kids, I still must shop for 12 gifts, but there’s a defined point and a plan. When they tell me what they would like, it’s a short list. Also, by calling it what it is, it keeps the theme of the real meaning of the holiday in focus. I can usually get everything online too… Usually. Last year they couldn’t think of anything that they really wanted, so we adopted a few families in our community and put all of our resources there. We still surprised them with a treasure on Christmas morning, but it was more memorable to shop together, and deliver the gifts to those families than lots of gifts under the tree.
So, what did you do today? Are you finished your shopping already? I still have to get the 12… I wonder if it’s too late to go find a good deal?
Nov23
Wordless Wednesday…Unanswered Prayers from a little girls diary
With permission, taken from the pages of my daughter’s diary from 2003… 🙂
Nov21
Thanksgiving. Really.
I obviously don’t plan well. I posted on “gratitude” a month ago. If I listened to the blogging professionals, I would have mapped out my posts on the calendar. Oops. I’m just ahead of my time…. If you would like to read my post on Gratitude for this Thanksgiving holiday, here ya go: http://motmob.wordpress.com/2011/09/25/gratitude/
I do have plenty to be thankful for this year. I am really looking forward to having my 3 eldest off-spring back in the house. My daughter arrived last week, and has informed me that she “likes me more” now that she doesn’t live with me. Really. We have enjoyed some quality time shopping, painting and watching television. We’ve only had one tough conversation about laundry room etiquette, that didn’t go as well as I had planned. I’m hoping the boys don’t show up with all their dirty duds, or we will have to have a family meeting.
I’m not a big fan of the “slaving in the kitchen”, but I do it anyway. I am thankful for the abundance of food and a functioning kitchen to prepare it in. I’m pretty spoiled with a husband that tends to the turkey, and all of our side dishes are pretty easy…except for the sweet potato casserole. My favorite part of the day though, is when all of us are around the table. It makes all that cooking worth it. When the kids were young, we always made it a point to have dinner together as often as possible. As they got older, and got cars and jobs, it was more of a challenge, but we still managed a few nights a week. Now that most of them are on their own, it’s one of the things I miss the most.
I have so many blessings in my life. Here’s my top 10.
- My Salvation/Grace
- The Word
- My husband
- My children
- My family
- Friends
- Health
- Church
- Wisdom
- Provision
There’s so many more, but most fall under one of those categories.
So, what are you thankful for? What is your favorite part of the day?
Happy Thanksgiving!
Nov11
The Contest is Over…
The weight loss contest is finally over. I am happy and sad. I will miss the check-in’s and conference call updates, but then I’m glad I don’t have to check in or be on the phone for an hour every week. Sigh. Last night was the big finale. All 20 of us got to dress up and share totals with everyone, in front of our friends and families. We also waited with baited breath, for the announcing of the winners. Third, Second and First place. Obviously, I didn’t win, or the first sentence of this post would have been I WON!!… Which, technically, I did win, in that I lost weight, inches, and dropped 2 sizes. I learned healthy eating habits and found a surprising love of exercise. Cash and prizes would have been a nice end to this training, but not everyone gets a prize in this world, and that’s OK… I was truly happy for those that did win a prize, and I was blessed to have even been in the company of each contestant.
I will continue on this healthy journey, because I still have more to lose, and I just feel so much better! I love not getting winded while climbing stairs, and there’s much more of a selection of cute clothes in the smaller sizes. I feel better about myself when I eat healthy, but I will still visit a pizza buffet on occasion. It’s my personal belief that there’s one of those in Heaven anyway. Really.
Thank you to those that prayed for me. Thank you to all of my friends, that pushed me and walked with me. Changing life long habits is not an easy thing to do. It does take willpower, and discipline, but it also takes support and encouragement from those that care about you.
If you want to lose weight or just be healthier, and don’t know how to start, let me offer some advice.
- First, ask God for strength and self control. Realize your very breath comes from Him and He cares about your health.
- Consult with your doctor.
- Get an accountability partner, or group. Someone that you can share your measurements and weight with…weekly, and your struggles, daily. The company that sponsored the contest I was in is www.startwiththeinside.com
- Clean out your pantry of all junk food. If it’s there, you will eat it.
- I highly recommend keeping a food journal for a few weeks. There are many great, free, web sites that will calculate your foods for you. You will be shocked at what you eat! I used www.fitday.com
- Start walking. Go for 1 lap around the block, then work up to 2 and so on… Cardio baby.
- Start lifting weights. I started with 2 pounds and worked up to 10. There are lots of online resources for your weight training as well.
- Get enough rest! Sleep is very important to a healthy body.
- Drink lots of water! Avoid soda (even diet) and sugar.
- White breads are not your friend… go all wheat or go home.
- If you use food for comfort, stop. You must re-direct that need. Food is not lasting comfort anyway! My suggestion is to find comfort in Christ. He really can fill that need, if you just believe, and let Him.
After a few weeks of this, you will be surprised at what a difference it will make. If you can stick with it for 12 weeks, you will have really developed some new habits. If you do this, and then have a bad day, or a bad meal, don’t quit! Every day is a new day and a new beginning. Praise the Lord…
Don’t try another diet. If you can’t do something regularly for the rest of your life, it’s a waste of time and money. Weight loss is about life change, not dieting.
I know you already know all of this. Most people do. Taking the knowledge and turning it into action, is where we all struggle. I can testify to you though, that the effort will be worth it, and if I can do it… Anyone can. Really.
To read the beginning and middle of this journey visit – http://motmob.wordpress.com/2011/08/15/losing-weight and then see http://motmob.wordpress.com/2011/09/06/still-in-the-competition …. OR just click on the “weight loss” link on the left, under “blog topics”… 🙂
Are you struggling with weight loss? Tell me about it… I would love to encourage and pray for you!
Nov1
3 Empty Rooms
I’ve been a bad/sad mood lately. Well, I guess I should say that I’ve been fighting off a bad/sad mood. I’m normally a pretty happy kind of girl. My standard mode of operation when something troubling happens, is to get upset, vent, vent again, pray, repent, and then I’m usually over it. Just like that. I don’t dwell or ponder like I used to. (although Rob doesn’t always agree with this statement, so I might be in denial) It makes for a happier home when I don’t freak out on unsuspecting family members too, and I prefer a happy home… and denial.
So, I was trying to figure out where this bad/sad mood is coming from and I had few ideas. First and foremost, it’s the devil. He’s always to blame, so I will give him the credit where it’s due. I also think life as a Mother of four, self-employment, home-schooling, and being involved in youth sports, give ample opportunities for stress. Plus, I haven’t been to an all you can eat pizza buffet in 11 weeks…Seriously. With all of that driving me nuts regularly, I think I’ve narrowed it down to one new thing that has happened recently.
My second son moved out last weekend. I was pretty neutral about it, so I thought. Don’t get me wrong, I am very proud of him, and I know he can manage out in the world. 
He’s twenty-one years young and extremely responsible, for the most part. The thing is though, this is the third adult kid to go and do things their way, contrary to my recommendations. Really. I would think that sooner or later even one of my kids would go, “huh… wow… Mom is almost always right about stuff… Maybe I should try it the way she suggested?… Hmmmm. Yea!… I’m going to listen to my Mom!” (Sorry, I really walked down that dream road for a second…)
The funny thing about that is, I am the same way. I never listened. I did everything the hard way and it sucked. Life was hard and it didn’t have to be. That’s one of the downsides to being strong-willed. Do I have regrets? Well, no. I can’t, because then I wouldn’t be the person I am today. I am a living testimony of what God can do with a strong-willed life. (can I get an AMEN?)
It’s wanting that testimony for our own kids wherein the problem lies. The trials we go through is where our growth and character comes from. (Rom.:5:3-4) It’s usually when we are in the middle of a mess, that we cling to God the most. We are real quick to realize our need for Him at those times, instead of the times when life is all peachy and we are feeling self fulfilled. So, I’ve prayed every day for my kids to walk with God. I pray for them to have a love and desire for Him that exceeds all else in their lives. Even when we are the cause of our mess, can we truly appreciate a Savior, if we never feel the need for one? Can that come without trials? I don’t know. I really hope so.
I’m a big talker of faith, and I’ll be the first to share how God has worked things for good in my own life. I do live in grateful awe every single day that I am forgiven. It’s walking all of that out as a Mama where I trip sometimes. It makes the Word so real for me, as God tells us His way, out of His love for us, we continually do things our own way anyway.
Letting go, and having faith in God over our kids lives is not the easiest thing to do. I know He loves them even more than I can imange. I hate that God has no grand-children, but then on the other hand, I wouldn’t want it any other way.
If you have any advice for this mom with 3 empty bedrooms…. Please share.
Oct26
Where am I From?
I went to a blogging conference last weekend. http://www.thesitsgirls.com/ It was a little overwhelming, and exciting hanging out with a hundred other bloggers, and learning about things I didn’t even know existed. I had to really define my goal and reasons behind blabbering to all of you on a regular basis, and I think I did. I definitely have my work cut out for me if I truly desire to share my life, help others, and point toward God with my stories and experiences.
One of the break out sessions focused on writing. They gave us a template of the poem by George Ella Lyon, Where am I From. Wow. Several of the ladies filled theirs out in no time, and then shared them with us! I was only on line three by the time we were supposed to be done. I don’t know what that says about my creativity, but I was truly intimidated. Being the good mom that I am, I printed a copy of the template and gave it to my son to fill in as a writing assignment. He did it faster than me too. Really.
The session leaders suggested that we put our poems in our next blog, so, now that I finally finished mine, I am sharing. I asked my son if I could share his too, and he said, “I don’t care.” So here you go. A two for one from the Motmob.
From me:
I am from homemade clothes, from gardening, canning and religion.
I am from the single family home with the mattress, blankets & cuddles in front of the fireplace and corelle dishes that really do break.
I am from the strawberries that hide in the weeds, till my fingers ache.
I am from creativeness, sarcasm and the wringing of hands from Mom and Dad and Mommom Ruth.
I am from do it yourselves, the strong willed and the always right.
From Heaven is real and there’s never enough money.
I’m from Philadelphia and Ireland, beanie weenies, PB&J and mashed potatoes.
From the 500 Ford Galaxy that got pushed up the street at midnight for a moon lit drive on the beach and from being grounded for sneaking out and stealing the car.
From the ship yard, the seamstress, the lawyer and sunday school teacher.
I am from memories stored in boxes and albums, of every scrap of paper and photo from the past, that will be moved from attic to attic until there is nowhere left for them to go. I am Jennifer.
From our 13 year old son:
I am from blenders and cereal bowls from Imacs and Bibles.
I am from every kind of ball there is.
The cinnamon stick in every room.
I am from the 18 rose bushes. The cherry blossom tree whom long gone limbs I remember as if they were my own.
I’m from 3 gifts on Christmas and going out to lunch after church. I’m from Mom & Dad.
I’m from cleaning up a mess and leaving the dogs outside and from sneaking a cookie.
I’m from not wanting a gift from Santa, but from my parents and never swallowing my greens with water.
I’m from Jesus loves me this I know and from getting a back scratch.
I’m from Atlanta, Italy and Ireland, chicken puffs, green beans and Friday night pizza.
From my Dad getting hit with a high heel by his mom because he broke a china glass.
The bunny ears behind the head, the box of toys under my bed.
I’m from a great family who loves me and I love them, from baseball to ballet, my family is awesome.
After all my thinking about my life, I think this was a fun exercise after all. If you would like to do one yourself, here’s a link to a blank template: http://www.swva.net/fred1st/wif.htm and here’s a good one for your kids: http://www.scholastic.com/content/collateral_resources/pdf/t/Target_I_am_from%20poem.pdf OR you can share some of yourself on the comment section below…. I would love to see where you are from.