Our year started off with me being sick.  Not just pregnant sick, but pregnant with the flu and sinus infection sick.  To say I was miserable was an understatement, and my poor husband had to take time off of work just to care for the boys and I.  If we're being honest, I barely remember the beginning of the year unless it involved a trip to the doctor's office or pharmacy.  Then on January 19, 2015 our family welcomed Baby R into our midst.  He was a healthy, happy 7lbs 5oz and 20 inches long.

Since then, we have been adjusting to life as a family of five.  I'm fortunate that Baby R has a go with the flow demeanor (for the most part).  Our older boys have been adjusting as well as can be expected; in many ways better than expected.  Hubby and I are thankful my parents were able to come and help for the first six weeks as I recovered from my c-section and we all worked to get to know our newest addition.

As the dust starts to settle, and a fledgling routine emerges, I am working to SLOWLY add things back into my daily life - like blogging.  One of the first things I wove into my routine was bible study.  I have found it helpful to read my bible app during these crazy baby days.  My phone is easier to hold in one hand while nursing the baby, cuddling a preschooler, or helping our big kid.  The bible app I use (from YouVersion)  has different reading plans and I am working on two of them.

The first is called A Minute For Mommy, which helps me keep perspective as I adjust to having three earthly children.  The other is God, Sex And Your Marriage because years ago, we committed to keeping our marriage a priority in our lives and not letting work, kids, or even education become more important than our relationship to each other.  Only our relationship with Jesus Christ should come before our marriage, and when we do that we know everything else will fall right into place.

Thought For Today

I was raised around scouting and along the way I picked up a lot of outdoorsy skills.  One of those being how to navigate in a variety of circumstances.  Maybe you don't have a map and your compass is broken, how do you find your way?

You should have a general idea of the area you're in before you ever ventured out.  Then using the sun (or stars) you get your bearings - north, south, east, west.  From there, you can navigate in the general direction you need to go to reach a major road, town, or something of similar importance.  One thing you learn quickly is if you start walking in one direction, you will veer off course!  Humans for whatever reason can't stay on course no matter what we do.

Skeptical?  Close your eyes and try walking down the middle of a long hallway, eventually you'll bump into one of those walls.  Seasoned navigators will tell you to look at the horizon and pick a focal point; tree, mountain, some kind of landmark where you need to go.  If you keep your focus on that landmark, you will continue to walk in the right direction... even when you veer off course.

Our relationship with Jesus Christ is similar.  Keep your focus on the Lord, and everything else falls into place.  It's a biblical principle!

Proverbs 4:25 ESV 

Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you.

Hebrews 2:1 ESV

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it.

Psalm 119:105 ESV 

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Luke 12:31 ESV

Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things [verses 22-30] will be added to you.

Even in these crazy days, I know I only need to seek the word of my heavenly Father and everything will play out according to His will for my life.  I don't have to worry about making sure everything turns out "just right" because God is in the intricate details of everything in our lives.

Do I still have bad days?  Yes!  Do I get frustrated, angry, and lose my temper?  Of course!  Does my house stay clean, laundry folded and put away, dishes washed?  Not by a long shot.

It's about keeping perspective and knowing what my duties as a follower of Christ are.  The two main duties in this moment are being a help mate for the man God joined me with and the best mother I can to the boys God has chosen me to raise for Him.  The bible's focus should be my focus.  Being Pinterest perfect or embodying society's idea of the can-do mom is NOT IT.

I love knowing that God is not far away watching things play out, he's right here; within me ever since I accepted Jesus Christ's redemption.  Before Jesus, God was still closer than the air we breathe, just waiting for the day I let him come in.  If the devil is in the details, I'm glad to know that the one who defeated the devil is in charge of all my details!  

I'm starting to notice a one day on and one day off pattern with my reading.  Tonight I was able to do the devotional for my dear friend's baby shower.  I was so nervous because I'd  never done a devotional before like that, but it went well.  I didn't pass out, vomit, or cry so I'm calling it a win!  :)  She asked me for a copy of it so I guess she liked it too!   I really felt like it was an honor and blessing to have been asked to do that for my friend.  I love that family very much and I'm so excited that they added another sweet little human to the clan.

I eluded to working on the devotional for a couple of weeks.  I had to spend a lot of time in my bible to figure out what it was I felt led to say.  Coincidentally, even though I don't really believe in coincidences, many of my scripture references were from Proverbs.  Why?  Because Proverbs is that part of the bible where the Word is trying to teach us the things we need to know in no uncertain terms.  No parables here, just face value "do this, not that, or else" statements.

I'm thankful for these reminders, because sometimes you just have to slap me in the face with it and tell me do this, not that, or else.  God knew that, he made me after all.

One week down!  :)  Have you been participating in the #lampandlight challenge too?  Are you feeling accomplished?

I didn't make it to church today.  I woke up in a lot of pain (back, legs, hips, etc.) and knew driving was going to be more than I could handle.  Thankfully my oldest boy facilitated a day for me to rest as much as possible and I'm incredibly thankful for it.  I know he has a really hard time having to take on so much responsibility when it comes to his little brother so when he's willing to step up, it means all the more to this Momma's heart.  Now if only our toddler was as willing to be kind and help out around the house!

Proverbs 17

It's hard for me to write on Proverbs because each chapter doesn't necessarily have a theme or a common thread running through it.  I do find it interesting through to flip through the pages I've read and see the things I've highlighted.  I mark the verses that struck a cord with me when I was reading through and my top picks are easily about parenting and relationships.  It makes sense for a stay at home mom right?  Sometimes those verses about relationships strike me because of my former career or even the relationships I've gained and lost over the years.  Sometimes I read through Proverbs and realize it's like God pointing at a specific moment saying "Yeah, that."

If you follow me on social media, you know I did my Day 5 reading pretty late.  The goal however, was to get it done and I did!  Proverbs 15, pictured below pre-highlighter.

Today was a busy one for me.  Not only did hubby and I mark our 12th anniversary today, we had a pool party that ended just an hour before a wedding!  I promised myself months ago this would be my last weekend to double up events.  From here on out, I only do one big event per day.  I'm glad I promised myself that because I'm only 19 weeks (5 months) and I find more and more things becoming a challenge.  I'm still embracing EVERY SINGLE DAY with our little "Cranberry", knowing that our child could be required of us at any time.  As Proverbs 16:1 says: We may make our plans, but God has the last word.

What about Day 3 you might ask?  Yeah, I fell off the wagon only three days in!  Every time I set my mind on reading, something happened that required my immediate attention.  (Dirty diapers wait for no wo-man!).  The wonderful thing about how I've structured my life is that I was still exposed to scripture throughout the day, so even when I'm running non stop, I still get hit with some scripture.

As you might have seen on the Facebook page, our friends lost their home and possessions in a fire yesterday.  I am fortunate to have never been through a fire, but I've been close enough to people who have to know the sense of loss is shattering.  Please be in prayer for this family as they work through the weeks and months to come.  Everyone was safe and they are staying with family nearby.  Our church family has rallied around them to try and meet as many needs as we can.  I ask that you lift them up today and ask God to respond to every need in abundance!  A fundraiser page has been set up and if you visit it,  you can see images of the damage the fire caused: http://www.gofundme.com/dzt0w4

For #lampandlight we're picking up where we left off; in Proverbs 14.  The last few days around here have been a test of our patience; so I was floored to read Homes are made by the wisdom of women, but are destroyed by foolishness.  Proverbs 14:1  First of all, I don't feel very wise most of the time.  I am so thankful that God has sent me so many friends who are wiser than I am.  Titus 2 talks about the older women teaching the younger women, and I'm thankful to have women in my life who will do just that.  I have reached out so many times with a need to be counseled in a Godly way.  Proverbs 14 hit several areas of my own foolishness over the years and I can see specific moments in my life where I have been on both sides of this verse - Wicked people bring about their own downfall by their evil deeds, but good people are protected by their integrity. Proverbs 14:32

I'm thankful that God has changed my heart and allowed me to learn lessons that have stuck with me over the years.

My husband and his friend have been working on moving furniture around the house all day.  Of course, I couldn't do anything to help move the furniture, but I did swoop in behind them to dust and run the vacuum.  It actually feels like we're getting ready for the baby now!  That's exciting all by itself.  Having more room in the house is a nice bonus too!  We monopolized on having help so I'm just now getting around to my #lampandlight reading.  Thankfully, the point is simply to read your bible each day - not the same time each day!  I don't think I could ever pull that off!

This evening I read Proverbs 13.  I'm not sure if it was just because mentally I'm exhausted, but I felt like it jumped around a bit. However, if you pay attention, many of the subjects in Proverbs are ones that we all struggle with on a regular basis: money, wisdom, raising children, dealing with dishonest people, etc.  The human condition is still very similar to the way it was thousands of years ago.  The technology has changed, cultures and laws have changed, but who people are at heart has not evolved.

God knew we were going to struggle - and likely with different things during different seasons in our life.  Two years ago, money was our family's #1 struggle.  Now, raising my children is probably my #2 struggle.  I'm thankful for a book like Proverbs to give me the wisdom, and reminders, I need to continue to seek after Christ!

Happy Labor Day!  I love that the first day of the scripture challenge falls on a holiday designed to be about rest and rejuvenation (not that everyone gets to rest or relax today, but a girl can dream).  God designed rest to be a part of our lives; it's that important.  God wasn't tired from spending six days bringing creation into existence, but he knew the importance of setting the example for us to rest and simply be still; ideally with him!

I mentioned in my earlier post that I have been working through the book of Proverbs.  Have you ever actually sat down just to read through Proverbs?  I know we reference it a lot in bible studies and speaking engagements; but I have gleaned so much from just reading through it!  Today's #lampandlight reading came out of Proverbs Chapter 12.

On Sunday evenings, a small group of women from our church meet to do a bible study together.  Each week our study leader prepares a lesson.  It could be anything from a special request, experiences we've had during the week, or simply what God has laid on her heart to discuss.  This week, she brought a vivid and telling lesson on the power of words to hurt us. This lesson compared the wounds words inflict and how to heal them to physical wounds and the first aid you would provide for them.

I was thinking about the September #lampandlight challenge.  What a wonderful way to start off the school year and mark the end of summer/beginning of fall!  If you don't remember what the scripture challenge is all about, click the image below to go to my friend Kristin's blog where she tells us all about the challenge!  She really is the mastermind behind this whole thing, but it's a movement I can totally get behind.

I know with the last scripture challenge we journeyed through Philippians and a few other bible books.  Recently, I have been working my way through Proverbs and I'll probably continue to do so.  I'm not sure if I am going to blog each day, but I'll definitely put my #lampandlight picture up on the God Still Speaks Facebook page.

I'm hoping as summer break ends and my oldest heads back to school, I'll be able to post more often than the once-a-week-to-ten-days that I've been doing.  I have some questions about what you would like to see this fall, so comment below and let me know your thoughts!

1) Should I do daily #lampandlight posts during September's challenge?
2) Would you like to see monthly updates about the pregnancy?
3) How often would you like to see new posts on God Still Speaks?
4) I'm open to your comments, suggestions, criticisms.... feel free!

Yesterday at church, I was approached by a friend.  She and I were chatting and she mentioned that she has been struggling with reading her bible and praying regularly.  If you've read this blog for any length of time, you know this is a struggle I understand heartily!  It's one I work on every single day.  Of course, I gave this friend my favorite bit of advice: BATHROOM TIME!  I said "Do you take your phone in the bathroom with you?"  Of course, we all know how she answered.  I encouraged her to spend that time in her bible or bible app.  If you read one verse or one book, just read it daily!

My house is abnormally quiet this morning for 7:30 am on a Wednesday.  Baby C's Momma is running a little late this morning, my big and little kid are still sound asleep, plus my poor husband hasn't quite come to grips with the fact that he has to get out of bed and go to class.  Meanwhile, I'm enjoying the sounds of nothing but my dryer running and my fingers on this keyboard.  The sickness that's been keeping away from the blog is finally subsiding thanks to the prescription my doctor gave me!  It's funny how different things are when you don't feel quite so ill all the time.  I'm thankful God led me toward a team of doctors who take very good care of me and have never dismissed a symptom or concern that I've had - not once in six years!

That was the title staring me in the face when I opened Galatians 6 (where I left off in my blogging the bible endeavor).  I have such a testimony unfolding about reaching out to your church family when you are in need and being supported prayerfully, lovingly all along the way.  I cannot wait to tell you about it, but that's another post for another day.  For now, let's conclude our walk through Galatians!

Ha ha ha.... this title is as random as I am today!  Our oldest had to be at school at 6:00 am so they could go on a field trip to some of the local caverns and what not.  Since hubby was up early to drop our explorer off, he let me sleep in!  WOO HOOO!!!  I rolled out of bed well rested but not really feeling all that motivated.  I spent some time Skyping with my friend who's six week old son will start visiting us three times a week while she's working.  Our toddler was NOT impressed with the fact that my friend was not Grandma, so then we Skyped with Grandma.

I had originally made a goal of getting out every day during summer break and I tried it out this week.  By the time I dragged my sore, exhausted body into bed last night I knew had to modify that plan quick!  Today I have no energy or motivation to do anything that doesn't require minimal energy expenditure! Before you start picturing me sitting in a chair covered in cheese puff dust I still have my big kid's rocket to finish for scouts tonight (he did most of it), a busy into-everything toddler to chase, and gobs of housework to be done...  I'm just doing it all much slower than usual.

Speaking of my kids - y'all pray for me.  I've been having a very hard time keeping my temper in check the last couple of weeks.  I'm sure it has a lot do to do with my due date coming up but my patience and self-control have flown the coop.  It's going to take a whole lot of divine intervention to get us all back to a good place.  I'm struggling and I'm finally willing to admit it, even though several of my friends already knew, thankfully they have found ways of delicately calling my bluff.

Welcome Baby Nolan!

First of all, congratulations to my friend Christa who welcomed son Nolan into the world yesterday!  Adelynn is officially a big sister in glory now!  I'm so excited for them to have their rainbow baby AND to have been a prayer warrior throughout her pregnancy (especially during the delivery).  It's an honor and a privilege I do not take lightly.  My heart is just bursting with joy for them!  My cup runneth over and is puddling on the floor.

Our Mystery News

No lamp and light today updates my friends, but if you are following along, today I read Isaiah 55-57.  Mondays and Tuesdays are our weekends (minus our oldest being at school for a good chunk of the day) so I spent it doing family-centered things.  We even got to spend a couple of hours, just the four of us, in our pool this afternoon being silly.  It was a long time coming and memories were made that will last a lifetime!  I hope that we never forget how to just be silly because I think it's even better medicine than just plain old laughter.

After a busy day, I slept HARD!!  The kind where you're asleep the instant you get comfortable and next thing you know it's well into the next morning.  Those kinds of sleep are rare for me, but I'm thankful that the kids were worn out too. Today isn't a normal Saturday since our roommate, who we've loved hosting, is moving out today.  It's bittersweet, but I'm focusing on the positives.  She's excited about the future and I'm looking forward to not having to be as mindful about what I'm wearing.  =D

Day 17| Isaiah 49-51

This morning's reading was about God comforting his people and calling them to do what he's asked them to.  Will I recognize that God will give me the strength to carry his message or will I decide I'm not able (which I'm not) and throw in the towel?  You know that phrase "God will never give you more than you can handle?"  THAT'S NOT TRUE!  God will give you more than you could ever handle on your own to make you aware of and dependent upon His strength, grace and mercy.

12:45 p.m. - My routine was different this morning.  I had to get the little kids up earlier so they would nap before we had to take big brother to a doctor's appointment.   I ran some errands and then met some sweet friends at the park to wear all our kiddos out.  Guess what that means?  No reading my bible over my morning coffee.  I was swigging coffee between putting on clothes, finding shoes, and fixing car seats

What's awesome is that now I'm lunching with God. The littles are asleep and the only sounds in the house are my dishwasher and dryer.  Perfect time to get in some love letters from my Savior before crazy part two kicks off in epic style!  Picture it - two littles, one big kid, one plus size adult in a two-door coupe!  It's a crazy life, but it's so much fun!

6:52 p.m. - Wouldn't you know I got one chapter read when hubby comes in and I get distracted by him.  Now it's dinner time and I'm just finishing up my bible reading.  Dedication comes in many forms.  By the way, I met up with Jon Jon and MommaBear today at the park.  He's doing really great and even gets to eat real food!  Looks better than he has in quite a while.  Pretty soon he's going to have a therapeutic brace to help his knee condition so he won't need to use a wheelchair or crutches anymore.  It's amazing to see all that prayer can do!

7:28 p.m. - One chapter left!! Must.... finish... reading....

I couldn't bring myself to blog yesterday.  I spent a lot of time talking with God and trying to figure out what the Biblical response to a particular situation was.  I haven't felt burdened like that in a very long time.  Thankfully, God always responds when you go looking for him and I found the words I needed to say to myself and to others.

I was able to end the day by watching my friend's precious 2 1/2 week old son for the night and it totally made up for the anguish of my morning.  Admittedly, sleeping on our couch (because our bedroom was far too cold for a baby) may not have been the epitome of luxury sleeping, it was great to have the opportunity to love on that little guy so his Momma could rest and heal.  I'd secretly like her to throw her back out more often - how terrible is that!?

Today, we're back to normal with the littles destroying the house (and attempting to destroy each other in the process).  I have my giant mug-o-coffee and am sitting down to do my reading for today.  I have been looking forward to these chapters since the beginning of the #lampandlight scripture challenge!   More than once, I have found verses that soothed and ache in my heart nothing of this world would satisfy.  I'm eager to be able to revisit them from a place of joy and peace rather than storms and brokenness.  

Day 15| Isaiah 43-45

I encourage you to read these chapters today.  There is so much to be gleaned from them that I fear I simply won't do them justice.  

..... And it doesn't help that the littles are on a rampage.  Intervention time, wish me luck!!

I have to thank my prayer warriors.  A few days ago I posted on Facebook that I was struggling with something and wasn't sure what God was calling me to do.  I posted this on my Facebook profile: "If you can see this please pick a number between 1 and 1,138 - go high or low. Then say a prayer for me. I'm wrestling with something tonight."

For each number my friends gave me, I read that page in my bible.  I felt like I need to bounce around and see what God had for me.  It felt great and I gleaned some real perspective from what I was reading.  I could tell my friends had been praying for me because I felt a clearer understanding of what I was supposed to do.  I made my decision that I was being called and now it's up to God to put the rest of the pieces into place.  Vague?  Yes.  I don't want to run around pretending like I know what God has in store for me.  I will wait patiently for the Lord's will and His perfect timing no matter what He has planned!

What a busy, wonderful, bittersweet weekend!  I didn't blog because we had so many things happening and I had to carefully use my minutes to meet my family's needs.  I did read my bible all weekend!  :)  It wasn't easy and on Saturday I think I only got one chapter read - but the point was to READ and I managed to at least do that.

Mother's Day is terribly bittersweet around here.  I have several friends and extended family members who have lost their mothers, some lost them quite young.  By nature of my own loss, I have befriended many women who have struggled with infertility, miscarriage, infant death, stillbirth... as you can imagine the level of grieving on Mother's Day is indescribable! I prayed for them on Mother's Day, that despite the sadness there would be incredibly sweet, comforting moments as well.  Laughter through the tears!