Contemplations of a Mommy "Monk"

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29: 11- 13 This is one of those verses that makes it onto encouragment cards or even gets the highly honored name of "favorite verse." It's a verse that's so full of hope that we cling to it like a buoy in the stormy seas of life. Read the rest of my devotion at Laced with Grace today.

Let me introduce you to a wonderful book for any mother seeking to find God in the everyday moments of motherhood: In the everyday stretch and squeeze of motherhood, Tricia Goyer often feels smooshed by the demands of life. In Blue Like Play Dough, she shares her unlikely journey from rebellious, pregnant teen to busy wife and mom with big dreams of her own. As her story unfolds, Tricia realizes that God has more in store for her than she has ever imagined possible. Sure, life is messy and beset by doubts. But God keeps showing up in the most unlikely places–in a bowl of carrot soup, the umpteenth reading of Goodnight Moon, a woe-is me teen drama, or play dough in the hands of a child. In Tricia’s transparent account, you’ll find understanding, laughter, and strength for your own story. And in the daily push and pull, you’ll learn to recognize the loving hands of God at work in your life… and know He has something beautiful in mind. Read an excerpt: http://triciagoyer.com/cmsdocuments/...

So thankful this week for many things... God's voice through music (driving for 2 1/2 hours listening to worship music, hearing His whisper) through His never-changing Word (isn't amazing when stories about King Solomon, so well-known can still capture my attention and draw me closer to my God?) through His people (thankful for my husband and his ability to steady me when emotions swirl around).

It was a good thirty minutes past bedtime when I walked by my son's closed door and heard a sweet sound. "Waves of mercy, waves of grace..." he sang quietly to himself, not knowing he had an enraptured audience on the other side of the door. At the age of four, he is too old to have someone sing him lullabies as he snuggles into bed, so instead he has learned to sing himself to sleep. Come visit with me at Laced with Grace today as we talk about music.

Today, I get to tell you about one of my favorite authors and her newest release! Here's a note from Susan May Warren : Sometimes, do you feel like you just don’t fit in? You look around you and if anyone knew how difficult it was just to put yourself together, to smile when you feel completely overwhelmed, to even figure out what you were making for supper, they’d know what a mess you were. Maybe you totally relate to those words in 1 Peter – God’s elect, strangers and aliens in the world. Do you feel like when you look in the rear view mirror, all you see are your mistakes? Maybe not. But if so, then PJ is your gal. I wanted to write a story about the person in so many of us who just wants to get it right…but can’t seem to stay out of trouble. My friend and I have what we call the “stupid mouth” club…and we report our weekly foibles (usually on Monday, after Sunday church!). PJ is our charter member. She’s the girl that changes her mind, always hopes for t...

Today is the day to pour on the sugar, sweet and thick! :) Ha - it's not the kind of sugar you're thinking about though. Susan May Warren just had her new book published about PJ Sugar and she's encouraging us to get out there and start buying. If you like fiction that is fun, stories that are full of mystery and characters that remind you of yourself, you'll LOVE this book. Click on the button in the sidebar... "Get in trouble with PJ Sugar" Check it out!

These days, there are many women who are right in the middle of the stay-at-home vs. working mom debate. They do both! And because of that, they face unique challenges and blessings.I'm the first to admit that I thought working out of the home meant "easy" work. As I've discovered though, working at home can be full of challenges. Mary Byers has recently written a great book addressing many of these issues. Since I'm not an "entrepeneur," I shared the second half of the book with a few friends who are. They immediately appreciated some of Mary's ideas about how to simplify work at home. Making Work at Home Work shows moms how to develop an entrepreneurial mind-set without sacrificing their families. It covers important topics such as developing a successful business philosophy, balancing time between work and family, setting realistic goals, and handling the challenges of being both "Mommy" and "CEO" while running a profi...