Cleaning my toilet for the glory of God

I haven't posted in a really long time...Busy with our 7 kiddos and my new adventure of homeschooling! Before you think I'm amazing to be homeschooling 7 children...No...Only 3 of our 7 homeschool...and then out of those 3, only 2 are doing "real" school...My youngest just turned 4 and does "fun school"...Haha! Although I'd LOVE to homeschool all 7, being that we are a "blendy-fam", we just don't have that freedom...But, God is still so good.

Anyway, what made me want to blog today? Well, I was cleaning a gross nasty toilet...For God's glory! Hahaha! Well, not at first...At first I was pretty ticked actually about cleaning the gross nasty toilet! See, I was currently on one of my "Mom Strikes" when the toilet flooded over and because there was already a mess, the new mess added to the fun. Sigh...I wish I'd learn that going on my "Mom Strikes" don't help, but alas I never do! What is a "Mom Strike" you ask? Well, for me it means that I am throwing about a week long prideful silent temper tantrum where I sit on my high horse, do the bare minimum and make others feel guilty about not doing enough to help around the house...Lovely, right? See, the problem with this is that it doesn't help. What happens is that things start to pile up and just get gross and dirty and nasty. Eventually the fam starts to help...Not cause they love me and want to help me, but because they feel guilty and then begrudgingly assist...And because my silent temper tantrum has turned into more of an angry troll growling dance that scares them into submission!

I started off cleaning the toilet with these thoughts, "Ugh...Why am I the only one who cleans the bathrooms?! Why do they always clog the toilet?! Why don't they listen when I say not to use so much stinkin' dang toilet paper?! Why don't they help more?! Why?! Why?! Why?!"

All of a sudden...Boom...It hit me...Right in the heart..."Clean this toilet for the glory of God!"

I would like to say right then and there my attitude changed...Nope...Not me...I argued, "Ya right!"
Then again in my heart..."Clean this toilet as if you are cleaning it for God!"
"How?! I am soooo stinkin' mad!" I screamed...Inside my head of course, cause that would have been pretty awkward to yell that in the bathroom all by myself.

All of a sudden I felt my heart start to change...I became very emotional. I was mad because "they" didn't do enough for me. I threw temper tantrums because I felt entitled to something that "they" weren't giving. "They" are my family...The ones I love...The ones I have been gifted by God! "They" aren't the enemy...They are my heart!

I started thinking...When my little ones make messes, my husband doesn't help do the laundry, or my little guy uses too much toilet paper and causes a mini explosion...They are still my gift from God. Do they maliciously do what they do? Of course not. My younger kiddos will play and forget to pick up their toys...They will leave dirty socks on the living room floor...My husband and older kiddos will not want to help with laundry...or dishes...My family will make the toilet overflow from stuffing waaay too much toilet paper down...It's not because they want to purposely upset me or stress me out...It's cause they are not perfect...But, neither am I. How dare I throw prideful temper tantrums as if I am any better. God has chosen to love me unconditionally with all of my many many many faults, failures and imperfections! I will chose not to obsess over what my family doesn't do, but rather focus on, cherish and celebrate all they do!

My little 4 year old Bryanna loves to help make beds, load the silverware into the dishwasher, feed the puppy, and snuggle like crazy with her Mama!

My 6 year old Joshua loves to help me teach his 4 year old sister colors, shapes, letters and numbers. He likes helping me make meals and pour the soap into the washing machine. He is full of adventure and loves telling me stories he's made up before bed. He still holds my hand while falling to sleep.

My 8 year old Isabella is like my little shadow! She is always ready and waiting to be asked and eager to help with a task. She has such a servants heart and will often put others before herself. She enjoys going grocery shopping with me and running other errands. She loves helping with her younger brother and sister. She tries to keep all of the siblings united and at peace. You can expect her to request several quick snuggle sessions throughout the day...and she sure does love the Lord!

My 10 year old Grace is always wanting to be asked to help too...It doesn't matter how big or how small...She wants to help in anyway that she can! She is sensitive and loves to love and be loved!

My almost 12 year old Kaylie is such sweet company...She will sit with me while I'm working away in the kitchen and we'll have the best conversations about school, friends, music and God. She's a tough girl on the outside, but is tender and gentle at heart.

My 14 year old Jordan takes good care of his Mama! He is always helping me even without me asking...He seems to know just what it is that I need even before I do! He makes sure that I rest when needed and won't let me over do it. He is a wonderful big brother and spends special time with each of his younger siblings. He has a wonderful and witty sense of humor! He is creative and full of curiosity! He's very bright and enjoys teaching me new things he's learned and sharing his ideas. He has such a sensitive and compassionate heart for others. He has such a heart for the Lord...I pray God continues to draw him closer to Himself!

My almost 17 year old Victoria is my treasure! She is truly a mini-me...Haha! This girl can cook a meal, answer the phone, load the dishwasher, check her I-Pod...all at the very same time...and with a baby on her hip! She has spent many nights down with me in the basement laughing, listening to music, talking and getting laundry washed, folded and organized. She helps me with all 6 of her siblings and even babysits...without complaint! She even has plans after highschool to not move very far for college so that she can still help with her brothers and sisters! She has become one of my closest friends...God has been so gracious to me...I look forward to seeing the woman, wife, mother she becomes.

My husband Gary works so hard! God has blessed him with the ability to provide for our large family while I am able to stay home. He never complains that I don't do enough...Ever. He never complains that we don't have enough...Ever. He works all day long at work and then comes home and will sit and listen to me talk for almost an hour without taking a breath...Just to turn around and spend more time with the kiddos for about another hour or so. He helps me get dinner going and set out for our kiddos. He brings his Bible to the dinner table each night to make sure that we get our Family Devotion time together. Finally around 8:00 he rests...While also multi-tasking between working at home on the computer and playing dragons, building Lego castles, dancing with Barbies, wrestling, having tickle fights and listening to the kids talk about their day. The timer set on his IPhone reminds him that he needs to remind his wife to take her heart meds at 10:00pm. After the rest of his family goes to bed...He studies...The word of God. He is always learning and growing in Christ...and excited to share that with others. He is my best friend and the love of my life!

I will chose to think about these things they do and these things that make up who they are rather than what I feel they don't do. I will chose to clean my toilet and serve my family for the glory of God...Thanking Him and Praising Him for the gift of my family and their hearts to serve me with love!

What about the "gays"?

So, I've been asked this question...

"You're pro-life, right? You're a Christian, right? So, what would you do if there was a test to find out if the baby you're pregnant with is going to be gay? Would you have an abortion, because Christians hate gays, right?"

Wow...He really thought he stumped me with that one!

My response...

"First off, you're wrong...Christians do not hate "gays"...Or well, they shouldn't. If you meet a Christian who says they hate gays, then ask them if that is what Jesus would want of them? As a Christian you are to love as Christ has also loved us...You are to show love and compassion, mercy and grace towards your neighbor...Loving them as yourself...Even if they are "gays", as you say. Christ Himself doesn't hate "gays"...We are created in His image...Even the "gays". Now, do I agree with everything about their lifestyle...No, I do not...But are they worse off than me or you? No, they are not. Are you perfect? No. Do you need Christ as Savior? Yes. Do I need Christ? Yes. Do "gays" need Christ? Yes. His blood that was shed on the cross was for all...even the "gays".

Second, I said that I am PRO-LIFE...Pro-Life means just that...PRO-LIFE...That means ALL life! I do not pick and choose who should live and who should die...That's God's job...and last time I checked, I wasn't Him...Thank God for that! So, even though you think you got me with your "gotcha" question...You didn't. Because even if I found out that my baby was going to grow up to be gay, I would still celebrate his or her life growing inside of me...I would happily anticipate the birth of my little one and would welcomingly embrace them into this world! I would love and nurture him or her...always and forever! I would teach them of God, His love, His mercy, His only Son Christ Jesus and His saving grace! I would trust in the Lord my God with all my heart, soul, and might that His will be done in my child's life!"

The Gospel and Blueberry Pancakes

Joshy "helping" make blueberry pancakes

My sweet 3 year old Joshua has had a really rough week...Haha...Who am I kidding? He's had a really rough year! See, his darling little sister turned a year old this year and is now more of a "mover and a shaker" instead of just that cute little thing who sits in the bouncer, or swings in the swing, or is attached to mom. She can run, jump, and climb...and even attack when she decides that she wants whatever object Joshua seems to be holding! Joshua has even learned that her voice can get extremely ear piercingly loud when she doesn't get her way...Or when he's a little to physically aggressive. Poor Joshy...That little guy has more discipline action than cuddle action sometimes! Don't get me wrong...He's such a good big brother, and he truly adores his little sister...Unfortunately though, he also truly adores picking on her...A LOT! Which of course brings on the discipline!

Now, Lil Miss Bryanna isn't so innocent...Oh no, She's a little stinker actually! She can be quite the bully, and she's not to shy to throw her weight around (yep, she's a chubster all right!) or her very loud screeching voice! Joshy will sometimes give in to her bully-ish temper tantrums just to keep her quiet...Yes, her pterodactyl like screaming is really that intimidating at times! But then once she's quiet...He'll retaliate and totally tick her off. This can make discipline rather fun at times...I'm trying to stop Bryanna's sinful temper tantrums...Joshua gives in to her sin...He then sins against her for sinning against him...And...So on...

Joshua finds himself in trouble often these days...But, more so this week...We have all been sick over here with a nasty summer cold...Joshua and Bryanna got it real bad...And, Bryanna's was even worse than Joshy's. Well, you know when kiddos are sick parents tend to spoil them a smidge...Or, maybe it's just me...Whatever, I was sick too...Don't judge me! Anyway...Lil Miss had such a terrible sore throat, very stuffy nose,  and a horrible cough that I really didn't want her to cry to hard. This is because when she'd cry it would really hurt her throat...which would make her cry harder, which would make her start to cough, which would hurt even more, more crying, more coughing, she'd start gagging on all the lovely flem and mucus, she'd start throwing up, snot was flying from her nose...You get the picture, right? Well, Joshy was constantly giving up his toys because he didn't want her to "barf". He'd say, "Oh no Bynna's gonna barf...Don't cry, don't cry Bynna." And then give her what ever she wanted. I tried so hard to help her and help him through all this "fun" stuff this week...Ugh...I just kept praying...A LOT...All...Day...Long...

I needed help...Then it smacked me like a brick to the face...I needed God's grace...Even during these difficult times, He loves me and I am His...His Holy Spirit is always with me...Guiding me.

Even when I'm running around like a stressed out chicken with it's head cut-off and going crazy with no patience...God's grace is sufficient...

I was trying so hard to do it all without Him...Totally unnecessary...I was exhausted! I immediately thanked Him for His love for me...And praised Him for the reminder of His faithfulness! 

Even when I ignore His presence and forget to ask Him for His much needed help...He lovingly sticks it out with me...even if it lands me flat on my tired face!

This morning we woke up late after a very long night...Joshua and Bryanna were both up very late with horrible coughs. I was cranky...They were cranky...The whole house quickly became cranky. I tried to get breakfast going which seemed impossible...To much crankiness! Breakfast was quickly turning into lunch. Then to top it all off...Bryanna starts to screech at the top of her sore little lungs...Joshy runs in to her and puts his arms around her..."Shhh Bynna, don't cry, please don't cry...you gonna barf." He then kisses her forehead, gives her another hug, gives her his beloved Bob the Builder book and Thomas the Train and smiles at her...He gave her his treasures "to make her smile" he said. He gave her grace...Did she deserve his treasures? No, quite the opposite really. Even though she was sick and hurting...Her heart was very angry and selfish...Joshua loved her anyway...He knew that she needed something...He wanted to help her. So, He gave up his own treasures for her happiness! He was so happy and pleased that he "made Bynna happy now!", and he proudly smiled at her! Joshua had so much joy in seeing that Bryanna found her joy in his act of love for her!

What a reminder of Jesus' own "act of love" for us, when He chose to die for on that cross! How merciful to take our punishment and very much deserved penalty upon Himself. He gave up His own life for us! How gracious of our Holy God to give us what we don't deserve by imputing His Son's righteousness on us...Seeing us as holy, beautiful, and fully completed in His Son Jesus Christ! Wow...What an amazing God I serve! And, to think that He finds joy in us when we find our joy in Him...Amazing!

Well...because Joshy isn't God, but just a totally depraved 3 year old...He snatched away the Thomas toy as soon as she stopped crying...*Sigh*...Oh well...But, instead of a long lecture on why he shouldn't do that and more discipline I instead took him into the kitchen after consoling Bryanna. He seemed a little confused as to why he wasn't in trouble. I hugged him asked him if he wanted to help me make blueberry pancakes...Of course he said yes! While we cooked...Well technically, I cooked and he made a mess...We also talked about Jesus. We talked about how thankful we are that He died for our sins...How thankful we are that He has forgiven us...How thankful we are that He loves us...Even when we sin. Joshy seemed pretty shocked that God still loves him even when he "does something bad". "God forgave you Joshy...When Jesus died on the cross, your sins died with Him...You are no longer "bad" in His eyes...When Jesus rose from the grave, You became alive with Him...You are alive in Christ! When God sees you, He sees a good Joshy, a sweet little dude. He is always with you...He will always love you...Even when you sin."
I gave him grace...God's grace...The Gospel...

Later in the afternoon, Bryanna got all feisty on Joshua...AGAIN...Freaked out over some toy of his that she desperately wanted...He sacrificially gave it to her and smiled...He then stole it back about a minute later though...She started to cry...He told his heart to "be nice", gave it back to her, and then happily exclaimed for all to hear, "Jesus is alive...He loves me!"

Yep...He's still a work in progress...Haha...Aren't we all?
Though the toughest work of all will be to fully trust in the work that has already been done for us...

By this the love of God was manifested in us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world so that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins....~1 John 4:9-10

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
~Romans 5:8

We love, because He first loved us.
~1John 4:19

A Bouquet of Flowers...

Today while having breakfast with the kiddos, I stared at the beautiful bouquet of wild flowers my amazing husbando (no, this is not a typo...I call him husbando...and he's amazing!) picked for me the other day. As I sat there this overwhelming feeling of guilt came over me...I have been neglecting my Babe! Ugh...I hate when I do that!

See, for the past couple weeks...Hmmm...Ok, maybe a month...Alright fine, I'll be honest...It's probably been more like a year...or two...but, more these past couple weeks. Anyway, all the kiddos have been sick and I've had to go to the Dr's office waaaay more than anyone should ever have to in their whole entire lifetime, their schools are having their end of the school year activities, some of them are involved in sports or some other extra-curricular something...I've been busy...very busy...insanely busy...AND waaaay to busy to be a wife to my husbando!

I mean seriously, if there was a such thing as HPS (Husband Protective Services) then I'd be in huge amounts of trouble for neglecting him! I've been doing all the "serving" aspects of marriage...dishes, cooking, laundry, small talk...yadda-yadda...BUT, I haven't really stopped, took a breath, and spent any for real sincere time with him! Can you imagine if a parent did this to a child?!

Say we spent this kind of day with our children...
Wake up, give them breakfast, dress them, ignore them while we clean the house, give them a snack, ignore them some more, give them lunch, ignore them some more, nap time, wake up, give them a snack, ignore them some more, dinner time, ignore them some more, jammies on, go to bed...no hugs, no kisses, no playing, no talking, no enjoying them...

How awful that would be for your child! Do you agree? See, even though I would be providing them the "practical" things they needed, I would still be neglectful by withholding the essentials of our relationship as mother and child. My children NEED my affection...So does my husband!

It's understandable to be exhausted and exasperated after the stressful busy moments...But, be careful not to neglect your husband in it all. It's pretty stinkin' easy to do if you've got a guy like mine! Haha...Ok, that didn't sound so great...What I mean is...If you have a man who takes the neglect without complaint, it's pretty easy to go on ignoring him while tending to other "important" issues. He understands that right now since we have a house full of little ones, my affection is to be shared. But, that's the whole point...SHARED. It's very easy to get caught up in all the "other things" of life...Mothering, cleaning, cooking, church activities, school activities, after school activities, etc...But, I also need to set aside time for my husband...He is first and foremost my numero uno priority...After, of course my relationship with God. And, I'm not talking about giving him just five or ten minutes at the end of the day right before I collapse in exhaustion either. I'm talking about spending true quality time with him, making him feel loved and important to me. When he's my first priority, everything else...no matter how huge and stressful seems to go a lot easier! This is the way God has intended it to be...So, that's probably why!

Making the husbando #1 isn't all that easy...Haha...Again, didn't mean for this to sound bad! What I mean is...The "other important stuff" I have to take care of is A LOT of work! So, sometimes (who am I kidding, MANY times) he get's pushed waaaay back to the end of the line. The secret is to keep him at the front of the line in my heart and pray that God will help me. The reality is...I'm gonna fail...miserably! I always do...every day! The amazing truth though, is...Jesus Christ died for my neglectfulness...He died for the continuous amounts of times I ignore my husband and tend to other matters...He died for the times my heart attitude is cold towards my husband and I will make up excuses for the neglect such as, "I just have to much to do!" The good news is...When God sees me now...He sees me as His beautiful sinless Son Jesus Christ loving my husband the way He intended! What?! Yep, even when I fail...God sees me as if I am doing what I should be doing! What amazing grace! Doesn't that just karate chop ya in the heart?! Makes you wanna kick your butt in gear, doesn't it? Not because we are bound by The Law...But because we are saved by grace!

This morning as God brought this to my heart I was both saddened and thankful. So sad that I let my hubster down...Sad that he was ignored by the woman who is supposed to be his best friend. And thankful? Yes, thankful! I have such a wonderful husband...He's quite the understanding guy. What a sacrificial heart he has. Instead of huffing and puffing in anger...or wallowing in despair and throwing himself a much deserved pitty-party over his wife's neglectfulness...He instead picks her a bouquet of beautiful flowers! 

So thankful that The Holy Spirit opened up my heart and my eyes to my shortcomings today...I pray God helps me re-prioritize my days so that my husband isn't stuck with only getting my left over exhaustion at the end of the day.

I love you Gary!!! You are truly an amazing husbando...and you're mine!!!

Goofing around pretending to be cow-pokes 

The Messiah - Prophecy Fulfilled

Ok, So this movie may not be considered a "Block Buster"...But, what a great movie on showing Jesus Christ revealed as the Prophesied Messiah through Passover...

Legally Killing Our Children

An extremely dangerous proposal is lurking...The actual legalized killing of our children. I read a chilling article from Dr. Albert Mohler. Below I have included some excerpts from his blog...I will also include a link to read his post in full...


Now, an even more chilling development comes in the form of an article just published in the Journal of Medical Ethics. Professors Alberto Giubilini of the University of Milan and Francesca Minerva of the University of Melbourne and Oxford University, now argue for the morality and legalization of “after-birth abortion.”...

These authors do not hide their agenda. They are calling for the legal killing of newborn children...

Giubilini and Minerva now argue that newborn human infants lack the ability to anticipate the future, and thus that after-birth abortions should be permitted...

they prefer the term “after-birth abortion” to “infanticide” because their term makes clear the fact that the argument comes down to the fact that the birth of the child is not morally significant...

“The moral status of an infant is equivalent to that of a fetus in the sense that both lack the properties that justify the attribution of a right to life to an individual.”...

This is a straightforward argument for the permissibility of murdering newborn human infants...

Further, they go on to demonstrate the undiluted evil of their proposal by refusing even to set an upper limit on the permissible age of a child to be killed by “after-birth abortion.”...

“Abortions at an early stage are the best option, for both psychological and physical reasons. However, if a disease has not been detected during the pregnancy, if something went wrong during the delivery, or if economical, social, or psychological circumstances change such that taking care of the offspring becomes an unbearable burden on someone, then people should be given the chance of not being forced to do something they cannot afford.”...

A culture that grows accustomed to death in the womb will soon contemplate killing in the nursery.

Again, Please read this article in it's entirety here

My 5 year old's Theology...

Bella, my beautiful little 5 year old was singing along with the radio this morning as loudly as she possibly could...She suddenly stopped singing and says, "Mama wait, can you turn it off for a minute?" I turn the radio off and listen, because she obviously has something important to say if she's gonna ask me to turn off music...She's kinda like a music loving maniac!

"Mama this is a song about Jesus, right?"

"Yes Honey, it is."

"Well, I think God made this man's heart want to sing songs about Him."

"Hmmm...You do? Why is that?"

"Because he sinned before and then God made his heart new and clean and now he wants to sing songs about God instead of other stuff."

"I think you are probably right Sweetie."

"Ya, and I think God said to him that Jesus died for him and now he is forgiven, now he isn't having a dirty heart because he has a new heart, and his sins are all washed far away. God said to him that he is a new person and now he doesn't want to sing about stuff like playing games, or going to the park, or going grocery shopping, or singing about clothes. He just wants to only sing about God now because God said that He wants him to let all that sin go and be new and cleaned in his heart. So God helped him know all about Himself. And God said follow Me now. No more singing about all of that other stuff. Sing about Me now."

Wow...Was my only thought...I just couldn't even talk...

"Do you think that to Mama?"

"Honey, I do...I really do."

Then she said that I could turn the music back on and she jumped back into singing. Even though a different song was now playing...She knew the words...

"Where You go, I'll go
Where You stay, I'll stay
When You move, I'll move
I will follow You..."

~I Will Follow - by Chris Tomlin