How to Live Fully Alive in your Daily MOMents

A little girl lost high in the mountains with a frantic grandpa searching for her, constantly running to find her for three hours.  After his energy is depleted, his heart broken, and his soul spent, he has but one prayer,

"God, you can take everything I have, you can even take me, but please do not take my little girl."

The little girl was found miles up the mountain where the rescue helicopters were not hovering, where she shouldn't have been, where she shouldn't have been rescued.  But in God's infinite grace, she was found by a couple hiking in the woods.

After the little girl was returned to her grandpa, he did not scold.  He did not lecture.  He did not ground her for life.

He wrapped the little girl in his arms and said, "I love you."

And in the back of his mind, he heard a small whisper, "And I love you."

When this man was willing to give up his life, he truly started to live.

Ken Davis told this story to a roomful of women at the She Speaks Conference.  And in that moment, no one was worried about a book deal.  No one was thinking about her next speaking engagement.  All hearts were celebrating the return of one little girl. 

In the same way, God celebrates when we finally come home.

He called us his child in order that we might have life and have it abundantly here on earth.  That means we need to make this living thing worth it, ladies:

When we stop resenting and start forgiving.
When we stop comparing and start celebrating.
When we stop living a life of reaction and start making intentional choices of grace.

So this has spurred me on.  My days need to be more intentional than just a To- Do list. I need to know why I am doing it in order to give myself the accountability and perseverance to continue.

I need to know the hope I am trying to live in order to release myself from the tension of my life in everyday MOMents:

After being filled with the power of God I can:

*  Make a weekly meal list so that my stressed 5:00 whatdoyouwantfordinner meals are creative and healthy.

*  Replace my children's exasperation from lack of quality time into scheduled fun date nights with my kids.

*  Refresh myself from the stresses of today in order to be able to serve my husband in all ways...

*  Get out of bed to exchange sleeping for fully living because of a quiet time.

When you know the "So what?"  you will be more likely to stick with a goal.  

What one thing are you going to do this week and why will you do it?

And while you do it, listen for that little whisper, "I love you."  Not because you are doing it, but because you are His.

Am I ready?

My Dear Husband gave me a night to myself.

A night to write.

A night to get things done.

And this is where I sat:

He even took my children to my In-Laws to really give me peace and quiet.  

(The last time he tried to do this, I went to take a bath and I had one boy in the tub with me and one pooping right by me.  Not a very relaxing bath...)

So I wrote.

And tweeted.

And wrote.

And night came.

And I wrote some more.

And morning came.

And I wanted to write more, but they were home.  

Giggles and shouts.

And snuggles that I needed to have.  I hadn't had any bare tootsies in my cozy spot for a while...

But I wasn't ready.

I wanted to write more.

I wanted to get three loads of laundry done.

I wanted to clean up the pantry.

I wanted to organize my closet.

I wasn't ready.

And although I long for the day when I see my Jesus face to face....

Am I ready?

Have I met each day with the desire to show His love to everyone I meet?

Have I set aside time to be with my Lord in order to learn to love him more?

This is not just a list of "good enoughs."

I will never be good enough to get into Heaven.  That is what grace is for.  Jesus loving me,  

a sinner, enough to die for me.

In order to give me eternity.

In order to give me full life here on earth.

In order to make me ready.

I guess I am ready...

but my prayer is that everyday: 

He strengthens me more,

He teaches me more,

He uses me more.

And He continues to allow me to encourage others to be ready too!

Blessings,

Hopes for Infinity and Beyond

Well, Hello My Friends!

I have been off for a bit and I am so sorry about that!

I have been thinking a lot about goals and dreams. The fact is that I have my list of what I want to accomplish...a bucket list of sorts...but I am often reminded that God has a plan for my life that might not be exactly what I desire, but it is always best.

He promises that to us in Jeremiah 29:

"For I know the plans I have for you..plans to prosper you and give you peace."

So I write this list with
a little hesitancy,
a little humility ,
and a lot of humor!

Goals and Dreams For My Life

Top 25 Things that I Want To Do
Subject to change Daily...

1. Run a Marathon.
2. Go camping with all four of my children and husband.
3. Go to Disneyworld (again).
4. Clean out my closet.
5. See my children get married.
6. Go on a vacation with just my husband.
7. Go on a cruise with a fun couple we know.
8. See Wicked.... is it really that good?
9. Play drums for the GoGos (Some dreams I kept from my childhood...)
10. Write a book.
11. Love Jesus with everything I have.
12. Go to the beach.
13. Make a perfect Danish Layer Cake.
14. Grow more than just tomatoes in my garden.
15. See the Holy Lands.
16. Get up early to read the Bible for more than 21 days in a row.
( 'Cause doesn't it become a habit, then?)
17. Watch one of my children in a musical or play.
18. Finish a triathlon ( half or whole...I'm not choosy)
19. Speak to women about the changing love of Jesus.
20. Finish our Master Bathroom.
21. Teach my children to be confident and kind.
22. Write a Mother/Daughter Bible Study Book.
23. Read the whole Bible.
24. Teach a college course on anything.
25. See my children walking in the Truth.


Another goal is to write and encourage people so that everyone might be able to find a little joy in their lives - whether it is making cake pops with their child or going on a 16 hour in one day road trip only to come back 2 days later! And that is the purpose of this blog. To encourage joy in the midst of the daily events we all encounter. Whether it is something on our list, or just dropping the kids off at school, you can find joy and ways to share joy.

Because if you look at my list, in the whole realm of life, not a lot will be important. But a few are eternal. I would love to hear about a few of your dreams, hopes, or goals...

Blessings,
Angie