my investment

the beginning of the school year is a great time for me to start over with my goals.

seems to work better for me than the new year cliche.

i really try to spend some time thinking through & praying about my vision for our family, how our home will function, & aspects of my mothering technique that i really wish to improve on.

i am far from the mom i want to be. its like i can see her out there but she's out of my grasp many days. i wish i could erase words said out of anger or change patterns that started long ago. but the truth is , i have just today. each day is an opportunity for me to lean on the grace of the Lord , to parent intentionally. i'll probably never be a missionary or a famous entrepreneur. i won't be known around the world for my philanthropy.
but i do have four girls,
they are my mission field.
they are my investment.

this year i had four areas that came to my heart that i want to share with you

1~ peaceful responses.

i often times jump the gun with the girls instead of really listening to them. no surprise here, but that response can quickly lead to a defensive tone from them and sure enough, we're already off on the wrong foot early in a conversation.

i think i usually feel like there are a hundred things going through my head & i'm wanting to just get to the bottom line. but i'm praying this year that i slow down, give them the benefit of the doubt & really respond to them in a peaceful manner.

2~purposeful encouragement

while this sounds like a no brainer, i feel very compelled to make purposeful attempts that will build on the girls strengths. to come along side them & really lift them up. they are each at such a tender age. a time when the world & their peers can really beat 'em up. leave them feeling like they will never be enough, give enough, or do enough to succeed.

each of us has our own love language, the form in which when used we feel the most loved. we usually love others out of our own gift, but its so much more effective when we discover what another persons love language.

it can be physical touch,

words of affirmation, acts of service, or gifts. my goal is to study the girls & find what each of their language is &

"speak" it to them frequently.

3~ intentional engagement

this one really holds a special place in my heart.

my oldest, a high school junior will be out of the house in the blink of an eye. i'm well aware of the fact that my time with her is limited & i plan to be a good steward of the open window i have left.

the other three, figuratively speaking will be leaving the nest "right behind her'.

my goal is that both Dan & i are able to spend some time with each of them in a one on one setting. with four children, this can seem like a daunting task, not only logistically but even financially. intentional means i make the time in our schedule. when we're together i stay off the phone & not txt or chat with friends, just little things that let them know i am completely with them.

4~ journal daily prayers

i have a great silver leather journal, actually was a calender that my sweet man splurged on for me back in january. it has 5x7 page for each day. i chose to use this to journal thoughts & prayers for them on a daily basis.
again, i realize this sounds so simple, but making the commitment to write out daily what they're going through, a joy or achievement, something tender on their heart, whatever, helps bring these things to mind & helps me remember what's going on in their world.

I spend alot of time talking about parenting & most of the time about my inadequacies as a mom.
Our middle school program this year is teaching on characters in the bible that messed up & how God used them in amazing ways.
The Lord loves to take our areas of failure or humility and work through those very areas.


Our children are given to us for such a small time, they are ours to raise , to help shape & mold. But ultimately they belong to the Lord. I feel i will be accountable one day for my stewardship of them.
Although the goals I shared today are directly towards my children, I know the ultimate gift i can give them is to love & honor their dad. He is my number one, my best friend, my confidant.
Our relationship is of utmost importance. I know as mom's our days can be filled & usually overwhelmed by parenting responsibilities. But I am absolutely convinced, convicted, whatever you want to name, that our love relationship with our spouse needs to be our priority. When my children are grown up , moved on & starting families of their own, its so important to me that they will look back & see a strong foundation and commitment between Dan & I.

I hope my entry doesn't sound soap boxy or preachy. I want to wrap this up by sharing that honestly
my prayer today is that each of you that this blog reaches know how much He loves you.
right where you
regardless of your achievements or failures
regardless of how many times you've blown it
regardless of a failed marriage or a broken relationship with your family
he loves you

Romans 8.38-39
I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God