You are what you...play with?

A thought occurred to me this morning as I was picking up my daughter's toys.  We as parents (at least in the early years) determine what our children are "in to"...what kinds of toys they play with, what kind of shows they watch, etc.  It is MY fault my 21 month old son is addicted to Super Why (which is not a bad thing to like in my opinion), and why my now four-year-old loves Pillow Pets and Dream Lights.  I'M the one who turns the show on for him, and I'm the one who lets her watch those commercials OVER AND OVER AGAIN.  So we wonder as parents, when our children act like spoiled little Bratz (yes, that was on purpose) and go around acting like hooligans...we wonder why our children start dressing the way they do, and acting the way they do...and it all comes back to us.  So that made me really think hard about what I let my kids watch and play with...and let's just say changes are coming!  Just a thought to make you think!  They say You are what you eat...but you are also what you surround yourself with each and every day, sometimes without thinking! 

A Message to President Obama

Dear Mr. Obama,

I am not one of your supporters.  I did not vote for you.  I am not happy you won.

BUT...

You are the President.  While I may not agree with you, I will honor your position.  I will pray for you daily.

A verse that the Lord has put in my mind all day today is from Proverbs. "Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people."  I pray that you will find the Lord.  I pray that you will turn from the ways that are against Scriptures.

God blesses those who bless His name.  Please seek God as you lead MY country for the next four years.  Please stop allowing innocent lives to be taken by the millions.  Please do not allow the sin of homosexuality to be commonplace in our country.  Please do not allow terrorists to bring fear into our lives.

While I know that my hopes and prayers are probably not going to happen, I will not cease to pray for you and for our country.

I close with this quote by Alexis de Tocqueville: "I sought for the greatness and genius of America in her commodious harbors and her ample rivers - and it was not there . . . in her fertile fields and boundless forests and it was not there . . . in her rich mines and her vast world commerce - and it was not there . . . in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution - and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because she is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great."

Please help our country to become great again.  Seek God.  Turn from your ways.

Did I Do the Right Thing?

So it's been almost a month since I became a stay-at-home mom.  I must say, it has been a stressful month, but a good one!  We have been dealing with many MANY health problems, our oldest munchkin started school, and I have been trying to build my business. 

I recently read something that got me to thinking, and I had to ask myself this question:  Did I do the right thing?  Was I being selfish in quitting my job to stay home with my kids?  Was I putting too much responsibility on my husband to be the sole provider for our family?  Then the guilt came.  Maybe I WAS being selfish!  I mean, not all moms get the opportunity to stay home. I think that at least once in a working mom's heart has been the thought that they want to stay home with their kids.  What mom wouldn't?!  But they still work.  Should I be working?  Then I thought, I am working, what am I thinking!  I am working at raising my children to grow up to be respectable adults, to love God and serve Him.  I am working at not comparing my situation with other people's--they are not the same!  

Yes, we have hard times, but with careful planning and frugality, we always have what we need and we don't live paycheck to paycheck like we used to.  We don't get to go out and shop 'till we drop, or eat out every day, or buy expensive things we really don't need, but we are happy! And we cling to the promise given to us in Philippians, that God will supply all our needs according to His riches! As long as we are smart, follow His Word and live our lives the way he wants us to, He will bless us with what we need!  

So yes, I think I did do the right thing...and there are three major reasons I know I did: Caleb, Brianna, and Carter.  I wouldn't trade the world for them!  They mean so much to me, and I am so thankful that God has given me the opportunity to be more involved in the raising of my children.  I mean look at that face!  Who wouldn't want a buddy like this to hang out with every day?  Hebrews says that we should be content with such things as we have, and God is teaching me more and more each day to live life to the fullest, and be thankful for EVERYTHING He has given me!