10 Ways To Be A Content Mother

Contentment is HARD.  Satan eagerly waits for our weak moments to convince us our efforts as mothers aren't worth it.  He prowls, he waits, and he destroys our perceptions of our family and our self-worth simply with seeds of discontentment.  Being discontent shapes our view of our family's and can poison our minds and hearts.  

Discontentment is like admitting in your heart you don't like the path you are on, the path that God has chosen for you.  It's one thing to desire a better future, but you can't live in the future only the present.  No matter what your goals or desires, contentment in the present is incredibly important.

Women tend to set the tone in their home.  If Mama ain't happy ain't nobody happy.  So how exactly do we strive to be content?  Here are 10 simple ways to get you started.

10 Ways To Be A Content Mother

1) Allow God To Shape Your View of Motherhood

We must be in the Word of God and in prayer as often as possible as Mothers.  His Word is our source of strength and wisdom, and our prayers allow us to commune with the Great I AM.  There is nothing more powerful that we can do as mothers.  The wisdom of God's Word will help shape your expectations better than anything else ever can.

Before you get too depressed about not being able to spend as much time in the Word and in prayer as you'd like, keep in mind there will be seasons of motherhood where you simply will not have the time to spend in prayer like you would like.  It's hard to find quiet time with little children but making the effort is well worth is and will shape your whole method of mothering.

2) Manage Your Home The Way You Want To

When I first got married I desperately looked for the perfect way to run my home.  Home management binders, shining my sink, putting on my shoes, organized chore charts, and scheduling my minutes down to the half hour all became ways I tried to manage my home.  Do you know what all of those "methods" had in common   I hated them.

Don't feel like you need to live by someone else's chore list. I enjoy Freezer Cooking so that's a BIG way I save time and simplify cleaning in my home.  Other than that when I wake up in the morning I write a to-do list of the chores that need to get done.  No fancy schedules, no daily tasks, just a to-do list.  That's how I prefer to do things.  Life is to short to live by someone else's standards.

3) Don't Compare Yourself To Other Moms

Whether they're "real" friends, online friends, or virtual strangers don't compare yourself to others.  When you count someone else's blessings you're not counting your own.  Which brings us to..........

4) Turn Your Heart To One Of Gratitude

Look for God's blessings in everything.  Get into the habit of choosing thankfulness.  

5) Enjoy Your Children 

I realize there are extremely overwhelming moments in motherhood when you just don't feel like getting out the finger paints or play dough.  Try to take time every day however to truly enjoy your children.  There will be messes, chores will be put on hold, but this time is short.  

6) Pray The Serenity Prayer

God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
The courage to change the things I can,
And the wisdom to know the difference.

There will be things in life that simply cannot be changed, and there will be things that need to be changed.  Contentment begins in accepting which one is which.

7) Reach Out To Other Mothers

Be a cheerleader for other mom's in your life.  Make an effort to spend real time with other women who you can encourage and who can encourage you.  Even if it's once a month for coffee good fellowship refreshes the soul.

8) Tune Out The Teachings Of The World

Television tells us that romance is always exciting and children play happily in the other room while mom sips coffee and listens to a baby monitor.  Magazines define a homemaker's worth by their decorating and cooking abilities.  Whether it's the models in magazines, romance novels, or the stories on television, turn down the volume on things that will allow discontentment and negative thinking into your heart.

9) Seek Out Things That Encourage

The Bible should be our first source of comfort and encouragement, but there are fabulous resources out there that can uplift a discontent spirit.  Seek out the things that encourage contentment.

10) Choose Contentment

Ultimately contentment is a frame of mind that you often need to seek and choose.  Our lives can get over-whelming and hard, but we can choose contentment.

"Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee." Hebrews 13:5

If You're Blessed Here
Sign Up For Free Updates : )



Delivered by FeedBurner

You Might Enjoy, Choosing Thanks and Contentment

Just $.99 on Kindle

True Beauty, and a Shattered Self-Esteem

Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel;  But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.

1 Peter 3:3-4

As I've shared before, these past three years have been a little rough for me self-esteem wise.  My hair has fallen out, I've had three back to back pregnancies, and my cystic acne is worse now than when I was a teenager.  It's been so easy to feel like a failure as a woman, and a failure as a wife.  I know I'm not the only insecure one out there.

For the past year I've slowly been working on a Biblical study of beauty, it's been hard but I'd like to share a little bit with you now.  I'd love to eventually make this a full book, but we'll see how it goes ; )

You walk down your hallway, and it catches your eye.  You’ve been avoiding it all day, but now there’s no ignoring it.  Walking over to your mirror you cautiously peer into its silver depths, and dislike hate what you see. 

Maybe it’s your round face, a stray eyebrow (as my mother calls them) above your lip, or a pimple in the worst possible place.  Maybe you see lumps and bumps under your clothes that weren’t there ten years ago, or maybe you’ve never liked your shape.  You might think your skin is too pale, or too dark, maybe it’s blotchy.  Perhaps you think your knees are too knobby and your calves too chubby.  It could be that you’re too short, or perhaps too tall.  Chances are when you look in the mirror there will be something that you don’t like.

You wonder how Narcissus couldn’t stop looking at his reflection, when the sight of yours makes want to run and hide.  After looking at yourself in the mirror your perfectly good day suddenly turns sour.  Gazing upon your reflection brings back insecurities from years past, and sometimes looking at it might even bring tears to your eyes.  You think about the women who keep sheets over their mirrors, and consider for a moment doing the same to yours.

Logically when I pass by the mirror I know that my body has done absolutely amazing things, chief of which is bringing 3 children into this world.  I can logically know I am healthy and have a lot to be incredibly grateful for; but there are times when I look in the mirror and it just hurts.  Taunts from the elementary schoolyard ring in my ears, jealousy of women I wish I looked like flares up, and in that moment I hate my 

reflection.

The truth is though, we are not the only ones who hate what we see in the mirror.  There is someone who in fact hates our reflections more than we ever could.   

That someone of course is Satan.

Lucifer was created as a beautiful Angel of light covered in precious stones.  And as beautiful as Lucifer was, he wasn’t made in God’s image, and was not His greatest creation.  Mankind however is both, and Satan hates it.

When Satan sees our reflections in the mirror, the chubby thighs, double chins, saggy backsides, extra weight, and minuscule imperfections that we hate so much, Satan hates too.  Satan however doesn’t hate our reflections because they don’t measure up to some Madison Avenue ideal.  No, Satan hates our reflections because every aspect reminds him of the Creator that he so vehemently detests.

Let that sink in a moment: Satan hates our reflections, because we remind him of God! 

We are made in God’s image.  We are His most precious creation.  When we look in the mirror and hate what we see, we detest something that was made after God’s own glorious, perfect image.

You deserve to see yourself as the beautiful creation, made after the image of God that you are.  That is how Satan sees you, and he hates it.  That is how we should see ourselves and celebrate it.

Imagine yourself free from insecurity.  Imagine never again getting intensely depressed when you look into the mirror.  Emboldened by this truth, set free from this plague, what does your walk with God look like?  Are you more effective in his service?  Are you able to draw from the Lord's strength or are you held back by insecurities?

You were made in the image of God, see it and celebrate it.

Share this post with all the beautiful women in your life!

If You're Blessed Here
Sign Up For Free Updates : )


Delivered by FeedBurner

Why I Stay at Home

Living on only one full-time income isn't always easy.  There are moments when I envy things that we'd be able to afford if we had two incomes, but just aren't in the budget right now.

Finances aside, staying at home with three little kids isn't always easy either.  There are days when I literally stare at the clock for the last 15 minutes until my husband get's home.  There are days when I'm so exhausted I literally take a nap the moment he comes from the door.

Emotionally, physically, and financially, it's not always easy to be a stay at home mom.  So why the sacrifice?

Because........

Today I left the room for a moment and when I came back my 2 year old, who has up until recently barely tolerated her 9 month old baby brother, was tickling him.  They were both giggling hysterically.  And as she continued to tickle him, she said, "I love you," before they started crawling around and chasing each other.

I also watched as my 3 year old pretended to read the story of Esther from her toddler Bible.  She narrated the whole thing based on pictures.

My hearts melt for moments like these, and I remember why I make the sacrifice, and why I stay at home.

Will you learn along with me? Let's encourage one another.

I'd love for you to sign up for e-mail updates or follow me on Facebook.
And to see the lovely places where I link click here.  

It Doesn't Matter If You Spoil Your Kids Part 2

Yesterday I talked about the rash of “spoiling” posts I’ve seen lately, and  although valid how they might be causing some mothers to worry needlessly about their parenting.

Our greatest goal as a parent should not be immediate obedience by the time a child is 18 months, potty training by 2, no whining by 3, no yelling by 4 etc. Our greatest goal as a parent should be that our children will one day choose Christ as Lord and Savior and love Him with all their hearts.  Now is obedience an important key in this? Yes of course, but instead of stressing over whether or not our children are spoiled consider the following.

As a parent you have the ultimate source of wisdom, and it isn’t blog posts. God promises in his word that if we need wisdom all we need to do is ask and he will give it to us liberally without upbraiding (reproaching) us.  God will give you wisdom for your specific situation if you ask, period.  Will he sometimes use blog posts, maybe, but I think sometimes as Christian moms (and dads) we sometimes put too much emphasis on what other parent’s think rather than what the Word of God says on a particular issue.  Go to the Word, and go to God in prayer first, seek advice second. Oh, and then test the advice against scripture.

God desires your success as a parent even more than you do.  Remember how I said the true measure of parenting success is not that your child isn’t spoiled rather that they come to know salvation, well God desires your child’s salvation even more than you do!  It’s Gods will that none should perish but all should come into repentance.  When you ask God for help and wisdom in your parenting and pray for your children’s salvation you are praying in the will of God. And praying in the will of God is a powerful thing.

Ultimately spoiling your children doesn’t matter.  I can have the most well behaved child in the universe who is destined for hell as an adult if they don’t have Christ in their heart.   Whether they were spoiled at that point no longer matters. 

We don’t need to parent based on someone’s “your child might be spoiled…..” lists.  We can parent knowing, with full confidence that God will help us if we ask.  We can parent knowing ultimate wisdom is only a Bible page away.  We can parent out of a place of grace rather than regret or fear. 

Don’t stress if your child is defined as spoiled by an arbitrary list, they might be, but don’t stress about it.  Invite God to parent alongside you.  Pray like you’ve never prayed before.  Study the word as if you’re studying for the most important test of your life (in some ways you are).  Depend on his strength, not your own.  Ask him to work in spite of your faults and remove impurities.

Trust in Him with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding.  Depend on HIM!  The Bible isn’t lying when it says we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us. 

Know that God will help, because He will.

Will you learn along with me? Let's encourage one another.

I'd love for you to sign up for e-mail updates or follow me on Facebook.
And to see the lovely places where I link click here.  

How to Prioritize (And Encourage My Heart Link Up)

Consider Reading Proverbs 6:1-10 for a personal devotion today.

Managing every area of our life is a lot.  Doing it the way God desires is hard.  But that’s okay because God desires that we’re diligent workers.  Because He desires us to be diligent we can trust that he will help us to be diligent as well.  There will be seasons in your life where you will always be doing.

I LOVE writing and I LOVE blogging.  So for me even though I’m technically working, it’s something I love and enjoy.  Don’t let blogging consume your personal down-time unless you LOVE it.  God wants us to be diligent, but everyone needs a break.

Intentionally planning our days and redeeming our time is imperative.  We’ve been studying our priorities this week in preparation for writing a schedule, one that can be flexible but provide guidance and structure for our days.

For me a rigid hour by hour schedule does not work in our home.  Babies get hungry, toddlers want snacks, kids need to go to the bathroom and need mom to read to them, all at times that don’t neatly fit within a perfect schedule.  What has worked for me however are prioritized lists.  I generally keep a list of Daily, weekly, monthly, and long term goals. I will occasionally break down my goals into morning, afternoon, and evening sections.

Either way today is the day to pray about and write your schedule or daily to do list.  What are your top priorities?

Link up below any encouraging posts, and visit some other blogs while your at it.  Kind comments always encourage the heart, and new subscribers make bloggers ecstatic : )

I'll also be doing something new, I'll be sharing some linked up posts on my Facebook page so more can be blessed.

Will you learn along with me? Let's encourage one another.

I'd love for you to sign up for e-mail updates or follow me on Facebook.
And to see the lovely places where I link click here.  

Keeping Home Like the Proverbs 31 Woman

As a personal devotional today consider reading Proverbs 31:10-31

Raise your hand if you feel intimidated by how industrious the "Proverbs 31" woman is. I wrote a blog post about how there was no way that the Proverbs 31 woman was perfect.  If you feel intimidated by this chapter in the Bible, you’ll enjoy reading my thoughts on the matter.  But today we’re going to look at how we can model our daily actions after her standards.

It’s clear from reading these 21 verses that the Proverbs 31 woman was very industrious and kept her home running smoothly, not only that but according to verse 24 she was a “work at home mom!”

Everyone’s standards of housekeeping are very different.  We are each in different phases of our life and each have different needs and desires.  But just because you have three children three and under (like yours truly) doesn’t mean you can use that as an excuse to completely neglect keeping your home.

Pray for wisdom in this matter.  Ask your husband what he wants to see in terms of your homemaking.  Does he want a made from scratch dinner every night and super clean bathrooms?  If that’s the case then make those your priorities.

My husband helps with many household chores, because he knows I am trying to be diligent with writing.  For us publishing is a joint vision, so he is serious about helping me.  But I still do the bulk of the housekeeping.  There’s no way I want his evenings to be spent doing dishes most nights.

When it comes to cleaning I don’t expect my house to look like a home décor magazine.  There is no way with three little kids running and crawling around that it’s a possibility.  My housekeeping priorities are to keep things safe, sanitary, and running.

So when I clean my floors get picked up first and child hazards are put in their proper places.  Since I have a crawler putting everything in his mouth I vacuum a lot.   Next, the kitchen and bathrooms are important to keep sanitary.  And finally in order to keep things running smoothly dishes and laundry need to be constantly done.

My windows, are typically streaky, my clutter baskets are typically full, and my cupboards and drawers aren’t exactly organized.  In this season, it doesn’t bother us. Occasionally I’ll empty a clutter basket or clean out a drawer, but quite frankly I don’t need to do those things to successfully manage my home.

When choosing your home priorities, base them on your family, yours and your husband’s preferences, and most importantly of all seek God in the matter.  God cares about you keeping your home, if he didn’t it wouldn’t be mentioned in scripture.

Sale Ends Monday April 28 2014, be sure to check out all the details!

Sign Up and For Lessons From Ivy's Free Newsletter  

And Get Instant Free Access To 5 eBooks

And Nearly 100 Pages of Free Printables

God's Plans are Better

"A man's heart devisith his way; but the Lord directeth his steps." 

Proverbs 16:9

There is a scene in the movie "Evan Almighty" (Which unlike Bruce Almighty I would recommend) where the main character, Evan, says to God (wonderfully played by Morgan Freeman I might add) "This wasn't in my plans!"  

Morgan Freeman then begins laughing and says, "Your plans?  Your plans!?" and continues laughing.

How often do we come to God with our nice little Life to-do lists?  We tell God exactly where we see our future going, and how we're going to achieve our goals.

But it doesn't matter what our plans are, because God's plans for our life are so much better.  Perhaps a better prayer rather than telling God our goals is , "Lord direct my steps, help me accomplish that which you would have me do today.  Help me seek your plans and not my own."

It's the last day to enter in my giveaway for "How To Grow Your Blog And Manage Your Home."  Also if you have read any of my eBooks I would so appreciate you taking a moment to write a review on Amazon, particularly for "Honoring a Child Born To Heaven" and my husband's book "His Given Breath."

Will you learn along with me? Let's encourage one another.

I'd love for you to sign up for e-mail updates or follow me on Facebook.
And to see the lovely places where I link click here.  

You'll Never Be Good Enough

"You'll never be good enough"

"You'll never be a good enough wife, you'll never be pretty enough, you'll never be kind enough"

"You'll never be a good enough mom, you'll never be patient enough, you'll never be capable."

How often have those words been whispered in your heart?

I applied a lot of pressure on myself as a teenager, I was paranoid about grades, and paranoid that I'd never be able to afford college unless I had a full academic scholarship.  I was obsessed about keeping a 4.0

Then something happened my first semester of my Junior year, I got a "B."  

"A "B"!!!!!"

"How will I ever be able to achieve my life goals after getting a "B" in an Advanced Placement US history class?!  I'm ruined! Ruined!!!!!!"

Eventually I calmed down, and I realized something.  I realized that I wasn't perfect.

I know right? Hard to believe that I'm not perfect, isn't it?

We'll never be "good enough".  We can't be "good enough".  We'll always fall short no matter what we do.  We can reach, but we'll always fall short.

Give yourself grace when you fall short, because Christ already has.

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin.  If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness"

1 John 1:7-8

Will you learn along with me? Let's encourage one another.

I'd love for you to sign up for e-mail updates or follow me on Facebook.
And to see the lovely places where I link click here.  

Immodest Women are Mean

Posts In This Series
Modesty is Important
Is N*dity In Classic Art Okay (And Link Up)
Should Christians Wear Bathing Suits at All?
Immodest Women are Mean
Dressing Modestly Is....... (If you only read one post read this one)



So Yesterday I got a really mean comment, I mean really mean.  I've gotten rude comments before but this one went beyond attacking my belief system (that's fair game).  I've made the mistake of typing something in the heat of the moment before, but this comment was more than someone typing something in the heat of the moment it was calculated and cruel. It attacked me, my family, and my marriage.

The comment however did do one thing it underscored, why  I am doing this series.

Based on what this woman wrote I can only conclude she was a non-Christian.  Amid descriptive vulgarities, her comment came down to this:

"I wear my clothes (swimsuit) so men (like your husband) will lust after me."

This woman, however mean she was, get's it.  She understands that her clothing has the power to draw eyes and make men desire and lust after her, including other women's husbands!

Dressing this way to entice men is just plain mean.  It's mean to the men because the provocative dress is causing them to sin; and it's even meaner to their wives because their relationship is being robbed of purity and oneness when another person enters into her husband's thoughts.

Ladies, God doesn't want other men to sin when they look at you, and He doesn't want you to inadvertently be sinful because of what your wearing.  I truly believe if you earnestly seek this matter in prayer and study God will lead your modesty standards if you're willing to listen and change if needed.

I love long skirts and wear them most often but  I don't always wear them.  I'd like to think however  if God convicted my heart I would make the switch instantly.

We shouldn't choose our clothing to please men, we should choose it to please God.

I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

 In like manner also, that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety; not with broided hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array;

But (which becometh women professing godliness) with good works.

1 Timothy 2:8-10

This post didn't "go" where I wanted it to today so I'll be wrapping up my series on modesty next week, I hope you'll join me.

I've disabled commenting on these posts.....sigh some people, I've cried too much yesterday and today from personal attacks on my marriage and appearance.   I'm not playing the game any more.  It truly breaks my heart.  If this post has been a blessing to you since you can't comment would you mind sharing it via one of the buttons below?

Will you learn along with me? Let's encourage one another.

I'd love for you to sign up for e-mail updates or follow me on Facebook.
And to see the lovely places where I link click here.  

I'm Not a Perfect Mom

I had a moment this morning (more like a half hour) where I was vividly reminded that I'm not a perfect mom.

It's all a sham, I feel like I need to tell my husband to send back my mother's day presents he already gave me.  (2 very pretty flexi-clips by the way)

I'm not as patient as I should be, I'm not as slow to anger as I should be, and I certainly don't cherish those moments like I should.

But I can't expect that I will be perfect.  As much as I want to give my children perfection, as much as I wish they were always parented properly, I simply can't be that mother.

I have a choice, I can:

A) Drive myself crazy trying to be perfect and drown my sorrows in the potty training M&M's when I fail.
B) Hide on facebook while my children watch 10 hours of TV per day
or
C) Depend on the strength and wisdom of Christ.

Being a mother is hard.  Really hard.  I read an old yahoo news story yesterday about a mother who snapped and violently abused her baby, and I've known women in real life to be guilty of similar (and worse) crimes against their children.

A story like the one I read yesterday enrages me, but it also stirs up deep compassion within my heart.

I know the feeling of desperation, but I also know the author of ultimate hope.

I wish I could tell every mother in that moment of absolute desperation that they don't have to do it alone, that there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother, and that it's okay if they're not perfect because NO ONE is.

I wish sometimes there was someone there to remind me of the same thing.
I'd love to hear your thoughts and heart on this.

Will you learn along with me? Let's encourage one another.

I'd love for you to sign up for e-mail updates or follow me on Facebook.
And to see the lovely places where I link click here.  

Honoring A Child Born To Heaven

I've read studies that say nearly 1 in 3 pregnancies will end in miscarriage.  I know this is a pain a lot of women have dealt with.

This wasn't a book I planned on writing.  It just started coming together one day. Faster than anything else I've ever written in fact.

 I will be keeping it free for the month of May for Facebook fans and e-mail subscribers.
It will be available on kindle and in print later this week.

I wrote this book to share hope.  Please consider sharing this post in someway, because all of us know women who've gone through this pain.

Will you learn along with me? Let's encourage one another.

I'd love for you to sign up for e-mail updates or follow me on Facebook.
And to see the lovely places where I link click here.  

How To Be A Successful Mother

Before we get to "How to be a Successful Mother" I have an exciting announcement.

"Devotions For the First Few Days" is officially available in print!  You can buy it from Create Space right now or get it from Amazon  (great way to use those swagbuck's gift cards)

Order it now for Mother's Day, it's only $5.

Today and tomorrow are the last days to get your free ecopy of "Devotion For the First Few Days"  by subscribing, or becoming a Facebook fan (under the free eBooks tab)  But do have another free eBook for fans and subscribers.

If you've already read it if you would leave a review on Amazon for the Kindle or print copy  I would greatly appreciate it.

This devotion today is an excerpt from the book, hope you enjoy.  And please share this post if the book has been a blessing to you.

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9

What makes a successful Mother?  Is she the mother whose children become doctors and lawyers?  Or is she the woman who raises future homemakers like herself?  Or is a successful mother simply one whose children will one day contribute to society, and stay out of trouble? 

The most important mission of motherhood has nothing to do with our children’s future success in life and everything to do with their future relationship with God. We can have a thousand dreams for our children, but the most important one is that they one day know Christ as their personal Savior.  Everything else pales in comparison.

Proverbs 22:6 says that if we train up our children in the way they should go, when they are old, they will not depart from it.  This scripture, of course, begs the question: How do I know how to “train up my child”? Rather than make this a needless area of worry, we can rest assured of two things; God promises to give us wisdom if we ask (James 1:5), and it is God’s will that our children will one day come to know Christ as Savior (2 Peter 3:9).

The Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent, Creator of the Universe, cares about our children’s salvations and wants each and every one of them to know His Son as Savior. The fact that God so desperately wants your children to be His is a huge comfort and can give you extra faith and boldness when you pray for their salvation.  We can know beyond a shadow of a doubt that God desires our children’s salvation more than we ever possibly could.

Will you learn along with me? Let's encourage one another.

I'd love for you to sign up for e-mail updates or follow me on Facebook.
And to see the lovely places where I link click here.  

Encourage My Heart Link Up

Welcome back to another, Encourage My Heart Link-Up

Before I get to my favorite posts be sure to snag a copy of "Devotions For the First Few Days" by subscribing or becoming a fan on Facebook.

It will remain free until May 2nd.  Then it will be available in print (woo hoo!) or on Kindle.

So go get your free copy as soon as you link up, and be sure to let your mom friends know about the freebie.

One of my favorite links last week was my mother's.  She tells the tale of how my beagle escaped and she and my father came to the rescue.  

This post has some awesome ideas of saving money on homeschooling.

This post about avoiding the number 1 cause of divorce, is spot on.

And for some great ideas for service projects be sure to visit this post.

Now it's your turn, link up your encouraging posts.  

I'm not fussy about "rules" but I'd love for you to link back or become a fan as a simple thank you for hosting.

Will you learn along with me? Let's encourage one another.

I'd love for you to sign up for e-mail updates or follow me on Facebook.
And to see the lovely places where I link click here.  

Being a Mom is Great!!!!

Okay being a Mom is hard, but take a minute and think about why you LOVE it.

Leave a comment (or video response on YouTube if you're feeling particularly motivated)

And let me know why you like being a mom.

Will you learn along with me? Let's encourage one another.

I'd love for you to sign up for e-mail updates or follow me on Facebook.
And to see the lovely places where I link click here.  

How The Internet Almost Burned Down My House

The internet has the potential to give stay at home mom's crazy ideas, very crazy ideas.

Combine several of these ideas and you might just wind up with a small fire on your hands.

See below for my recipe for microwave biscuits (subscribers click the link to view)

Microwave Biscuits:

• Take half cooked dough from flaming oven place in three microwave safe bowls.
• Microwave each bowl separately for one minute.
• Disconnect internet to prevent any more crazy ideas and kitchen fires.

All we could do as a family was laugh.  We are so blessed it's not even funny : )

Will you learn along with me? Let's encourage one another.

I'd love for you to sign up for e-mail updates or follow me on Facebook.

Our Help is Coming (Psalm 121:2)

My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth.

Psalm 121:2 KJV

I read this post by Sarah Mae yesterday at "Stretching Into the Blue" and like so many of her posts it blessed me.  Particularly these sentences:

"Facebook statuses and blog posts where everyone's children are happy and cute an "hahahaha" are just the pretty side of the painting.  The art is beautiful, but creating it is messy, and time consuming, and painstaking."

These sentences so resonate with me because my primary ministry right now is motherhood.  There are moments when I am "serving" that all I can say is "Help me Lord!"  (And apparently I say that quite a bit because I've actually heard my oldest repeat this prayer when trying to get toys unstuck from various places, but that's a different blog post.)

Being a mother, wife, teacher, writer, church song-leader or whatever other hat I might be wearing at the moment is hard.  God didn't call us to easy cushy lives though.  God called us to serve and live for Him.

He called us to pursue his Kingdom, and die to self so that others may know him.  It should be our hearts cry and burden that we see people know Jesus.

But it's hard, serving is hard.  And whether we're serving our families, serving our churches, or serving on the foreign mission-field, IT'S HARD.

But our help comes.  And it comes from none other than the Creator of the universe Himself.  And as I struggle in the midst of my daily battles I lift mine eyes to the hills, and I see Him coming.

To stay up to date, and have access to my free e-book  Subscribe or  Like Lessons from Ivy 

And to see the lovely places where I link click here.  

Silent Ambassadors

I had a new life promised,

But I wouldn't let go,

So I ate cotton candy

At the midnight show.

It played out projections

That coaxed me away.

It told me that vessels

Weren't made out of clay.

There's no spinning wheel,

Not even a Potter;

Just wandering hunters

And oblivious fodder.

I stood from my seat,

Though only in mind,

And cried, "You're 

Metaphysically quite misaligned!"

My well-spoken words

Shook the theater with violence

(At least it would have

If I spoke more than silence).

CM Logan

I've got a little bit of writer's block at the moment.  This is a poem and artwork from my husband 



To stay up to date, and have access to my free e-book  Subscribe or  Like Lessons from Ivy 

Frumps to Pumps Book Review

I'm sure the novelty of doing vlogs will wear off eventually but at the moment I'm having fun with them : )

Here's my review of Sarah Mae's new book  Frumps to Pumps. (This is an affiliate link) 

Subscribers click on  the link to see the video.

And great news, she's offering it for free right now : ) So go and get Frumps to Pumps.

 

Note: This is not  KJV only book.  Normally I'm a little persnickity when it comes to this, but it's a book about getting dressed not fundamental doctrine, so I'll let it slide ; )

To stay up to date, and have access to my free e-book  Subscribe or  Like Lessons from Ivy 

And to see the lovely places where I link click here. 

How to Inexpensively Tap Maple Trees

Posts In Series
How To Tap Your Trees (It's easier than you think and it doesn't cost a lot of money)
"Maple Tree Projects" a free eBook of Tree related assignments for home-school or traditional classes.
How To Turn Sap Into Syrup
How To Can Maple Syrup


It's Tree Tapping Time Again, and it doesn't have to cost a bucket of money.  In fact tapping your own trees is the cheapest way to get real (oh so good) maple syrup.

When I informed my family and friends last year that I was going to tap my maple trees they all looked at me funny, like I was some sort of tree hugging hippie : ) They were probably even afraid that I might start voting democrat! Their funny looks disappeared however when I gave them cans of real Maple syrup.

Hippie Jokes aside, this week I'll share what I've learned from tapping my trees last year.

First you need to identify your trees.  Lucky me, I have three trees in my yard and one in my parent's yard perfect for tapping.

Second, you need to buy your supplies.  This is of course the most expensive part of tree tapping.  The cheapest way to tap your trees is to  buy the spiles and hooks and then use clean milk jugs to collect the sap. Amazon has  4 Spiles and Hooks with Step-by-Step Instructions for $16.95.  I was able to get my spiles from a local Mom and Pop hardware store for about the same price last year so you might want to call around if it's getting later in the season.

There are of course a lot of other accessories you could buy, but they aren't truly necessary, but some of them do make your job a little easier, particularly metal buckets.

Third It's time to tap your trees, you'll need a drill bit either 5/16th or 7/16th inches, I've used both.  Drill at a slightly upward angle, about 2 inches deep.  The exact measurements needed will be determined by the size of your spiles. Measure your trees to determine how many spiles it can safely take.

Finally it's time to boil your sap.  Unless you have a sugar shack (like my great-grandfather had) chances are you'll be doing it indoors.  Of course it's ideal to boil sap outdoors over a fire, but it isn't necessary.  I'll share what I learned about this tomorrow.


This is one of those projects perfect for homeschooling families, or families that just like a lot of pancakes.

I highly recommend visiting Tap My Trees if you're considering this project, they have a wealth of information available.

So who's with me?  Any other tree huggers? I mean tappers.  Leave me any questions you might have and I'll try to address them.

Click here to find out about my Free E-book "Maple Tree Projects".

2 Free eBooks For Subscribers

"The Value of a Praying Mother" &

"Maple Tree Projects"

   

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner