Give the Poopy diapers to God?

You have heard the song; Everything you do for the glory of the Lord, who made us, because he made us....
Well I have been thinking about this alot.  We are commanded to do everything for Gods Glory.  Everything...Really???  What about vacuuming?  What about cooking supper?  OK...what about changing poopy diapers? EVERYTHING?  How does this work, I mean it's poop.  So that got me thinking (I know, watch out!), How can I make every little thing I do to be glorifying to the Lord.  So I made a list,  oh, how I love lists!
1. When I am vacuuming, simply pray for the little feet that cross the floor, pray for fun to be had on my stained carpet, pray that the new stains that will inevitable be placed on the carpet came from happy little boys.
2. While I am cooking supper, pray that the food would be well received (um...sometimes I am not the greatest cook), pray that table talk will be centered around God.  And pray that I don't burn the nutritional food that I am trying to make.  Pray that while I am cooking supper that my little one's will love one another in a way that will not make them scream and holler.
3. Poopy diapers... While I am cleaning up that wonderful poop.  I am praying that this little boy will grow up to be a true man of God.  That he will love the Lord with all of his being.  That he will make a Godly impression on his world.

I know this may seem a bit silly, but God wants every part of us, the good the bad and the poop!

Our Little Mason Jar

We have recently implemented a new thought in our house.  A great idea I found on Pinterest....which by the way I am soooo addicted to, Thanks Rachel! Anyway....We have started a blessing jar!  Each day we write on a piece of paper something that was really awesome for that day.  It could be anything....Mac and cheese for supper(I have little kids), to patience throughout the day, great reading time with Tyler, or a caring thoughtful husband. 
I love this little mason jar! When I pass it I get excited as to what fills it up.  The little things in a day that put a smile in our hearts. The little moments in a day that God blesses us with.  These are the things that are often looked over or forgotten.  I tend to remember the times when I yelled, or my kids were a mess in the store.  This little jar has changed my outlook.  I am looking for the great little moments.  The moments that need to fill the space in that little mason jar. 
This little mason jar has made me a better mom. I know it sounds weird, but really....  I now think about my actions, and pray more for patience.  I want more laughing in the day than discipline. 
Now we are counting our blessing's...but I am soon realizing that is a feat that is impossible!

Words for thought

Today I read Proverbs 18.  There is alot in this chapter that struck home with me.  Taming your tongue!!  

Here are a few verses that stuck out to me, from The Message.
Proverbs 18:6 The words of a fool start fights;
                       do him a favor and gag him.

Proverbs 18:8  Listening to gossip is like eating cheap candy;
                        Do you really want junk in your belly?

Proverbs 18:13 Answering before listening is both stupid and rude.

As I read this I couldn't help but think about all of the times that I gave out cheap candy to others, or that I accepted it as if it were a a gift.  When we are in a candy coated conversation how often do we get hyped up on sugar that we can't calm ourselves down and look at the damage our tongues create?

Lord, help me eat fruits and veggies!

So it's been awhile!!

It is has been a really long time since I posted last.  Alot has happened over the past several months.  To say the least it has been busy! Instead of playing catch up, I will start from where we are. 

Walker just turned 2! He had a fire truck birthday, with a  real live fire truck!! He wasn't really sure of it at first, but after a while he was climbing all over it. 

Carter is turning 3! He is going to have a John Deere party.  He is so excited.  That is all the boy can talk about.

Tyler is playing basketball.  He is quite good!! He got a basketball goal from Santa, and he loves playing with it.  He has his jump shot down!! 

As for Andy and I, we have just started our first small group.  He are so excited to see what god does with our group.  It is so cool to watch God use Andy for His glory.

Fasting

As we get closer to Peru, my travel buddies and I have decided to fast.  Each person took two days, so that someone will be fasting everyday until the day we leave.  I just finished my fast!  I am so excited to say that God does provide.  I prayed and He saw me through it.  I am grateful that I had that time to reflect and spend with Him. 

I am constantly reminded of God's love.  He is good, all of the time.  I was in the car with the kids, and just the right song came on.  It lifted my spirits and I praised Him.  I love that.  Tyler and Carter are even starting to sing the songs they hear.  Carter's favorite is 'Our God is Greater'.  It is so sweet to hear him sing it.  Of course that is the only part he knows, which makes it more sweet.  Tyler's favorite has a part that says 'Where you go I go, where you stay I stay'.  It is awesome, because he is asking questions about what the song means.  I am able to tell him more and more about Jesus. 

I pray that you are able to see God's love.  His beauty is all around us.

Stepping Back

Have you ever been in the middle of chaos (With the 3 boys, it pretty much happens everyday!)  I feel that I am constantly surrounded by noise all day long.  Sometimes it is joyful, sometimes it is not.  Today I was standing in the kitchen hearing nothing but noise and I stopped.   I stopped moving, talking.... Sometimes stopping is a gift.  Just being still in the middle of chaos is a gift.  Stepping back and looking at the situation.  I saw three boys playing together.  Not fighting, not yelling, not fussing, just playing.  Getting along with each other.  That's another gift.  It warmed my heart to see them like this.  I was able to see these silly boys in full peaceful joy.

I am glad that God gives us the ability to step back and watch what happens.  He knows how it will end.  We are here to enjoy the ride.  Stopping, and stepping back and realizing that what we have is good enough, as long as Jesus is in our hearts. 

Peru Here I Come!

O.K. so for a long time I have felt that God wanted me to do something bigger in my life.  Raising 3 boys is a lot, but I felt that God wanted me to spread His word somehow.  In the church bulletin I saw info about a Peru mission trip.  A trip that would have participants hiking the Andes Mountains and handing out Bibles in small villages.  Wow!! How cool would that be.  And, that was it.  I mentioned it to Andy, and he thought I was crazy.  So I went about my days being a mom.  I started reading my bible more and praying.  I started meditating in the Word and listening.  What an awesome experience that is.  The first few times I sat quiet and listened, I just kept hearing, "Be still and know that I am God". O.K. I thought, you are in control.  It took me a while to actually give control over to God.  But once I did He made it very clear that Peru was the trip for me.  Through Isaiah 43, I learned that He will protect me and equip me.  Have you let something go and given it to God?  Pray about that!