Contemplations of a Mommy "Monk"

At my writer's guild last month, a fellow writer shared a devotional based upon the great hymn, "His Eye Is On The Sparrow." I hummed along as she spoke and it occured to me that this song has deep meaning for me right now. Here are the lyrics: Why should I feel discouraged, why should the shadows come, Why should my heart be lonely, and long for heaven and home, When Jesus is my portion? My constant friend is He: His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. Refrain I sing because I’m happy, I sing because I’m free, For His eye is on the sparrow, And I know He watches me. “Let not your heart be troubled,” His tender word I hear, And resting on His goodness, I lose my doubts and fears; Though by the path He leadeth, but one step I may see; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me; His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He watches me. Refrain Whenever I am tempted, whenever clouds arise, When songs give ...

I noticed that over the past couple of weeks, my posting has been sporadic. I try to be honest on this little blog of mine and share what's going on in my life and how God's speaking to me. But sometimes my little inner struggles seem so petty, I don't want to bore people with them. I took on a new ministry position at church: Children's Ministry Director. I did purely out of obedience to God. I'm glad I've followed His leading and I'm excited to see what will follow, but it's required more time and planning and prayer than I had imagined. As I've stepped into the role, I've grown in my passion for the kids of our church and community. So, I've been busy strategizing for Children's Ministry and planning Vacation Bible School. In addition to that, I've been praying for a teaching job in the fall. Hiring for schools usually begins in the spring, so I've spent plenty of time getting my licensure all in order, creating a great resume,...

The eagles that soar above me on my afternoon walks give me an example to follow. Read more of my devotion at Laced with Grace...

It seems like it was just Thursday yesterday...so how did it get here again so fast? Some things I'm thankful for this week: *Barbeques, potato salad, watermelon and jello cake *Dinner out and a date night with my lifetime lover * Turtles, minnows and worms... *Bible Study - today was our last meeting for the year. Thanks ladies for a great study and for your sweet gifts of appreciation. *A husband who is sold out for Jesus. He's going to be speaking this weekend to the men of our church (and community) about maintaining sexual purity in an immoral society. *One first grade girl who braved the inside of a digestive system (a model at the children's museum) *Another little girl singing about dinosaurs "We will, we will STOMP you! Woo!" and four in the bed (complete with a nightcap) at her end of the year program *A God who never changes, who remains forever loving no matter what is going on

On Saturday, my little guy was out digging through his daddy's minnow bucket, soaking himself through and killing the minnows by carrying them around in the palm of his hand. Fish are his pals. The bucket of sparkling water was muddy by day's end. The boy smelled like a fish fry and looked like, well...a boy. Peanut butter smeared on his face, mud under his fingernails and shirt wet through up to his elbows. At the same time, his big sister was collecting bugs for her science project. A caterpillar sits in a big jar awaiting his moment of transformation and nearby lie water bugs , worms, and roly poly bugs. So, when I went for my morning walk and saw a quarter-sized turtle, I knew I had made a great discovery. Timmy the turtle now makes his home in an old fish tank - at least some of the time. The rest of the time, he can be found in Tupperware containers, in the PlaySchool plastic barn, in the kiddie pool, or in a pudgy little hand. Poor turtle. I thought I was rescuing him...

Last night, my husband and I enjoyed the new release in the Narnia series: "Prince Caspian." There were so many moments that caught my attention. Is God still around when we can't see Him? When He doesn't swoop in and rescue us? Can we have faith like the child Lucy, trusting in God's power even when it is unseen? What makes a good leader? Someone with experience or someone with a heart for the people? Or someone whose trust is completely in God and not in self? My favorite moment was when Prince Caspian sees Aslan for the first time. He says he doesn't feel ready to be the king. Aslan responds, "That's how I KNOW you are ready." The battles in this epic story are imaginary, but they represent the battles we face every day in this world. Battles for freedom and the hope of peace. I dedicate this song to the men and women who have fought for our country bravely, trusting in something, SomeOne bigger than themselves.

I was trying to have an adult conversation on the telephone and make some ministry plans. But, the kids kept interrupting my conversation with real and imagined needs. "I need a drink." "I need a snack." "My fish is dead," (he waves it in front of my face, dripping slime all over the carpet), "and I want to bury him in the garden." "I'm bleeding!!!" "So-and-so is riding her bike down the hill, can I go with her?" Is it urgent? "Yes - she's riding down the hill RIGHT NOW and it can't wait." Then, in walks Darth Vader in his snowmobiling helmet. I "hohhh" NEED "hohhh" YOU "hohhhh" Time to get off the phone. Grown-up conversations may need to wait for a little while longer. Darth Vader and his big sister with the bleeding lip NEED me. Sometimes I resent being needed so much, so often, so interminably. And right about then I hear a deep sign from the adult on the other end of th...