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The Twilight of Childhood

She wakes with an infectious smile that seems to chase away any lingering gloominess from my soul. She rests her head with ease in that little crook of my shoulder that always seems to fit no matter how she grows. She reminds me what goodness, and loveliness, and kindness feels like and she freely shares it with anyone fortunate enough to cross her path. She dreams of filling shelves at the book store with her writings and filling the stage with songs about her greatest love….Jesus.

Even though the twilight of her childhood is setting in she still clings to girlhood fiercely. She isn’t quite ready to let it go and I’m not quite ready to let her go. So for a moment I will relish in my little girl and all her little girl ways and I will keep loving her well. For these last few moments, I will be near, holding her hand as she dips her toes into adolescence, so when the sun sets for the last time on her childhood she will be ready to let go of me and pursue her own life with confidence. grace, tenderness, and passion. I pray that these gifts will be accepted well and would bring healing to a wounded world and hope to wounded souls.

But for now, I will enjoy her sleepy head on my shoulder with messy curls tickling my cheek. In a moment it will be over. Tonight she will say goodbye to ten and welcome eleven with great expectation…..just as she should.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

You can find me on Pinterest and YouTube!

Tags: adolescence, and a sprinkle of love, baking, baking with kids, believers, Bible, birthday, blessed, blessing, blog, blogger, budget friendly meals, burdened, cheap meals, child, childhood, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, christian blogger, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, cooking, cooking with kids, daughter, dinner, easy, easy dinner, easy recipes, economical meals, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, family friendly, family friendly meal, food, forgiveness, Freedom, fun, girlhood, God, grace, gratitude, growing up, heart, Heaven, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, home education, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, hope, housewife, husband, husband and wife, Jesus, jesus christ, Joy, kitchen, learning, life, Lord, love, mama, marriage, meal ministry, meal plan, meal planning, media, menu planning, mom, mother, motherhood, parenting, parents, peace, Pinterest, praise, prayer, precious, respect, Savior, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, simple recipes, sin, summer, teaching, transformation, trust, Truth, weary, wife, wisdom, Woman, women, youtube

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Categories Faith, Family, Homeschool

Take a Moment to Remember

25 May

I live with a constant reminder of how blessed I am to of been born and raised in a free country. It is an awesome responsibility to live in such a way that it is never in vain. I am so grateful for the brave men and women who headed the call and left what was familiar and comfortable for a life of upheaval and uncertainty. Today I pause with reflective prayer to honor those who gave their all…the fallen brave who courageously breathed their last breath defending the country and the people they so loved.

To the families who gather around a grave rather than a grill-my prayer is that our Heavenly Father will fill them with grace, peace, and healing. That they would find comfort in each other and that the sweet memories of their loved ones will sustain them until they are reunited in Heaven. Thank you, for your great sacrifice also!

Regardless of your feelings of the military, president, or war we are one family bonded by the American Flag and we should support our soldiers and let them know we appreciate them. A simple “Thank you for your service”, will really show that you stand united with them. Continue to pray for them, for their safety, for our safety, and for their families.

Pray for our wounded country. Pray that the Lord Jesus Christ will help us to turn our faces to Him once again and that He will Bless and unite us.

Thank you to our fallen, to our veterans, and to those serving……..it’s not in vain!

I will leave you with a quote I found.

“Only 2 defining forces have ever offered to die for you….Jesus Christ and the American Soldier. One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.”

~Author Unknown~

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Photo credit, Google Images

Tags: Air Force, and a sprinkle of love, armed forces, Army, believers, Bible, birthday, blessed, blessing, blog, blogger, bravery, burdened, celebrate, cheap meals, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, christian blogger, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, daughter, death, deployed, dinner, easy, easy dinner, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, family friendly, family friendly meal, flag, food, forgiveness, Freedom, fun, God, grace, gratitude, grieving, heart, Heaven, Heavenly Father, Holiday, Holy Spirit, home education, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, honor, hope, housewife, husband, husband and wife, Jesus, jesus christ, Joy, kitchen, learning, life, Lord, loss, love, mama, Marines, marriage, meal ministry, media, memorial, Memorial Day, military, mom, mother, motherhood, Navy, parenting, pause, peace, Pinterest, praise, prayer, precious, protect, recipe, recipes, reflect, remember, reserves, respect, Savior, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serve, serving, simple recipes, sin, summer, TAPS, teaching, transformation, trust, Truth, USA, War, weary, wife, wisdom, Woman, women

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Categories Faith, Family

I am my Beloved and My Beloved is Mine

23 May

12 years ago on a beautiful Colorado day I married my very best friend and the love of my life! I thought I couldn’t be any happier than I was at that moment but each year proves to be better than the last. We have been on such an adventure from births, deaths, illnesses, college, graduations, teenagers, moves, job changes, aging parents, and everything in between. With the constant changes of life, the one thing that has remained, is that we have clung to each other through all of it. We have grown from a couple of crazy love-struck kids to a couple who are weathering the storms and enjoying every rainbow together. We have learned to appreciate that each day together is a gift.

There is no one I would rather spend time with or journey this life with. I am so blessed to married to a man of honor and integrity! A man who puts his family first and works hard to give us a good life. He is a man that I adore, respect and love! Without the grace of God none of this would of been possible! I thank God for sustaining us and for constantly working on my heart as a wife. Happy Anniversary, Sunshine! Thank you for choosing me!

I would love to connect on Pinterest!

Tags: and a sprinkle of love, anniversary, baking, believers, Bible, birthday, blessed, blessing, blog, blogger, budget friendly meals, burdened, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, christian blogger, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, cooking, couple, daughter, easy, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, family friendly, family friendly meal, food, for better or worse, forgiveness, Freedom, fun, gift, God, grace, gratitude, Happy Anniversary, heart, Heaven, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, home education, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, honor, hope, housewife, husband, husband and wife, I am my Beloved, Jesus, jesus christ, Joy, kitchen, learning, life, Lord, love, mama, marriage, meal ministry, meal plan, meal planning, media, mom, mother, motherhood, parenting, peace, Pinterest, praise, prayer, precious, recipe, recipes, respect, Savior, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, simple recipes, sin, summer, teaching, transformation, trust, Truth, weary, wedding, wedding anniversary, wife, wife for life, wife's heart, wisdom, Woman, women

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Categories Faith, Family

To All the Mama’s……

10 May

To all the mama’s who do this alone, to all the mama’s who chose life, to all those mama’s who chose to give that life to another woman, to all those women who wake to feel the sting of empty arms, to al those mama’s who never felt life grow in their bodies but love the children who grew in their hearts just the same, to all those mama’s who stepped in to raise another woman’s child because they w…ere no longer able to, to all those mama’s who have angel babies, to all the mama’s who are caring for children with special needs, to all the ladies who don’t have the official title of mom but love just the same, and to all the people who think of their mama’s in heaven today………He sees you, sees every tear, and holds you in the palm of His hand. Today I honor you and pray that the love of God will bring you strength, comfort, and joy!

Happy Mother’s Day!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

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Photo credit:[ 89studio] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.

Tags: adoption, and a sprinkle of love, believers, Bible, birth, blessed, blessing, blog, blogger, burdened, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, christian blogger, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, cooking with kids, daughter, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, family friendly, food, forgiveness, foster parent, Freedom, fun, God, grace, gratitude, happt mother's day, heart, Heaven, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, home education, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, hope, housewife, husband, husband and wife, Jesus, jesus christ, Joy, kitchen, learning, life, Lord, love, loved one, mama, marriage, meal ministry, media, ministry of motherhood, mom, MOMSnext, MOPS, mother, mother's day, motherhood, parenting, peace, Pinterest, praise, prayer, precious, recipe, Savior, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, sin, spring, teaching, TTC

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Categories Faith, Family

O Holy Night

24 Dec

~ O Holy Night~
“A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices for yonder breaks a new and glorious morn”. Hope, our great hope in Jesus Christ who came to the world in the most humble and lowly ways to be our sin bearer and to give us hope (Google Jesus and hope). When there seems to be nothing left to give, feel, or even take-we still have our hope in Christ and Christ alone. His mercies are new every single day! Amen!
“Chains shall He break,for the slave is our brother. And in His name all oppression shall cease”. He came to break the bondage of sin and Satan’s hold on us. There is a constant struggle of things that can hold us in bondage-grief, food, drugs, alcohol, p*rn, and just about anything else you can think of of this world. “For the slave is my brother” With Christ, you see a brother or sister in place where you might of just seen a prostitute, a drug addict, a beggar, a Muslim or Jew, or any other undesirable or different beliefed person we live among. To love them, so that even if they don’t seek or know Him, they will recognize Him in us.. Oppression of worldliness will no longer weigh me down in spirit and will cease to have any hold on my life.
Our Savior came to be the light of the world (John 8:12) and to save us from sin (Matthew 1:21). Rejoice with greatness and gladness that our Savior lives and our Savior brings with Him hope and life.

Merry Christmas. May you be filled with renewed wonder about the babe in the manger who came to live among us and die for us.
I leave you with a few versions of my favorite song-take a minute to really hear the lyrics and see how it resonates in your soul.
http://youtu.be/4Zh-yR0pbmU
http://youtu.be/lKSknasrE3k

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca

Image courtesy of [dan ] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Tags: addicts, Amen, and a sprinkle of love, believers, Bethlehem, Bible, Biblical, birth, birth of Jesus, blessed, blessing, bondage, burdened, celebration, child, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, Christmas, Christmas Eve, Christmas star, Christmas story, comfort, easy, education, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, father, food, free from sin, glory, glory to God, God, God made flesh, gratitude, holiness, holy, Holy Birth, Holy night, Holy Spirit, home education, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, hope, housewife, husband, husband and wife, Inn, Jesus, Joseph, Joy, king, King of Kings, light, Line of David, Lord, love, Luke, lyrics, majesty, mama, manger, Mary, Matthew, media, mercy, mom, mommy blog, mother, mother and daughter, motherhood, music, Nativity, O Holy Night, oppression, parent, parenthood, parenting, Pinterest, praise, prayer, Royalty, Savior, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, shoot of Jesse, sin, spirit, stable, teaching, transformation, Trinity, trust, Truth, values, virtues, weary, wife, wise men, Woman, wonder, world, worldliness, youtube

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Categories Faith, Family

Loving Every Age

14 Nov

As many of you know, I LOVE my birthday! It is a great time to reflect on the year past, to see where I was, where I am, and where I am going. Our culture reveres youth and anything over 30 as a has been. I disagree! I think we need to celebrate every year and thank God for the privilege of age and wisdom! Aging is inevitable. No matter how much you dwell on it, wish it away, or daydream of your younger years, they are not coming back. So celebrate! Be proud of your age and wear it to the glory of God! You never know when it will be your last, so make it memorable not only for you but for those who love you!

I am so grateful that 36 years ago today I was born! I am grateful for all the experiences, all the tears, all the laughter, for all the things that built endurance and character, and mostly for God’s faithfulness through it all! Today I celebrate and today I am so blessed that you made it a day I will treasure always!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca
age 36

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Tags: age, aging, and a sprinkle of love, believers, birthday, birthday parties, blessed, blessing, burdened, celebrate, character, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, christian blogger, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, faithfulness, family, food, glory to God, God, gratitude, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, housewife, husband, Jesus, Joy, Lord, love, media, memorable, motherhood, parenting, party, Pinterest, praise, prayer, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, teaching, transformation, trust, Truth, weary, wife, wisdom, Woman

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Categories Faith, Family

Another Beginning

20 Sep

In the early morning hours I sit here thanking the Lord for His sweet provisions. For the birds singing His praises as dawn breaks and overcomes darkness once again. For the brisk breeze sweeping away the last whisper of summer and ushering in autumn and the beauty of the colors of the falling leaves. For the quiet house and sweet sleeping faces still tucked in tight , safe and dreaming away, waiting for the first rays to dance upon their faces. For the blessing of another season to love, play, and worship. For breath, health, family, and friends. But mostly for a Savior who is present with me, reminding me that the day is new and so are His mercies. That yesterdays failures are todays testimonies. Another day, another chance, another beginning.

What are you thankful for today? I would love to know.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Let’s be Pinterest friends!

Tags: and a sprinkle of love, beauty, beginnings, believers, Bible, blessed, blessing, blessings, blog, burdened, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, christian blogger, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, devotional, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, Fall, family, God, gratitude, heart, homemaker, homemaking, housewife, husband, Jesus, Joy, life, living, Lord, love, media, mercies, morning, morning prayer, motherhood, new beginnings, parenting, praise, prayer, provision, Savior, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, simple pleasures, summer, sunrise, teaching, testmony, thanful, thanksgiving, transformation, trust, Truth, weary, wife, Woman, worship

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Categories Faith, Family

Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Grocery Store

9 Aug

I found myself alone in the car today. I was feeling a little sorry for myself-Stressed at the first week chaos of homeschooling and all the little things that come up in life. I won’t lie, there were tears. Oh poor me tears. Self consuming tears. Selfish, life isn’t fair tears. But then, something funny happened. God showed up in a song and it changed my heart. A song I’ve heard a hundred times, but today the words came to life.

It got me thinking about how very blessed we are to live in a country where we are free (for now) to share our thoughts and opinions, to disagree, to think freely, to dress as we please, to go where we please, to eat what we please and to worship our God freely and openly without fear. This is normal life to us. We don’t really appreciate these freedoms until we are reminded that life isn’t so everywhere else.

I know many friends who came here seeking a safe place to lay their heads. Coming from places so volatile that all they can mutter about it is that they are blessed to be here. Perspective is the greatest humbler. So I will shout with joy to the Lord, all the earth (Psalm 100:1) and I will do it without fear, for I am a blessed American woman! Here is the song that changed my attitude http://youtu.be/_MbcYyOsF50
A prayer for you:
Thank you God for blessing me with being a woman, wife, and mother here in America. Thank you for the blessing of clean water, abundant food, education, and medicine regardless of money. Thank you God for the freedom to worship you wherever and whenever we choose- free from persecution. Lord, I pray for the people who live oppressed persecuted lives. For the people who live in fear and without hope. Lord, somehow someway touch them and deliver them from the bondage. With praise and thanksgiving to you, my mighty, loving King.

How is God working in your life? I would love to know.
~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~
Rebecca

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Tags: American, believers, Bible, blessed, blessing, bondage, burdened, children, christ, Christian, christian music, christianity, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, forgiveness, God, gratitude, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, homeschooling, housewife, humble, humbler, husband, Jesus, Joy, Lord, love, media, mother, motherhood, music, parenting, perspective, praise, prayer, scripture, Servant, serving, sin, songs, stress, stressed, teaching, transformation, trust, Truth, weary, wife, Woman

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Categories Faith, Family

Loving when you don’t Like

22 Jul

As a Christian, we get fired up to love like Jesus. There are sweet thoughts of loving and caring for God’s people with unconditional limitations. Let’s be honest, there are just some people that you just don’t like. I am guilty of this. Despite my best intentions, I just can’t get over it. How in the world am I supposed to love someone I just don’t like? It seems the two, liking and loving, should go hand in hand.

Usually, not liking someone stems from a past unresolved hurt. In our humanness we hold on to hurt and allow it to remain a raw wound on our soul. How do we begin the process of healing the hurt and learning to love like Jesus?

First, surrender it to the Lord. Matthew 5:44 says” Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” I know, easier said than done. Sometimes we hold onto it and practice in our head how revenge will be brought forth. We feel vindicated to store our hurts and disappointments in a chest that we can, from time to time, open and revisit like a treasured memory. It isn’t an easy or pretty process and God is OK with messy, be honest, He understands. The more time we spend with Him the better our perspective of people become and the easier it becomes to forgive.

It is a process we can’t do alone. John 15:4 says “Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.”. We need to cleave to His promises and we will be given the strength and grace necessary to forgive, heal and ultimately love.

It is a process and journey. Varying on the degree of hurt, it can be lengthy. Each journey begins with a single step-one foot in front of the other, stepping out in faith, along you go. a Maybe a few times you trip or wander off course but you keep at it, one step at a time.

Keep this in mind, Jesus didn’t command you to like, He commanded you to love (John 13:34). My brother’s and sister’s, I pray the Lord will help you through your journey of forgiveness and learning to love as Christ commanded. Sometimes hurts are so deep and raw you need to seek a professional. I urge you to seek a Christian therapist, pastor, or a mature trusted friend to help you along. Trust in God’s Divine Providence, and it will be you that is blessed.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Tags: Bible, blessing, burdened, care, christ, Christian, christianity, comfort, command, disappointments, Eternal Vaue, faith, forgiveness, forgiving, Freedom, God, healing, hurt, Jesus, journey, liking, love, loving, praise, prayer, scripture, transformation, Woman

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Categories Faith

Talking to our kids about Boston

9 Jul

This was something I wrote and shared on our MOPS blog right after the Boston bombing. My thoughts on talking to our children about such things–

It seems more and more we are having to be so deliberate to shield our children from never ending bad news. Shooting, war and now a bombing.

I still remember the morning more than a dozen years ago when I turned on the TV just in time to watch live as a plane took out the second tower. It was the first time I knew that I couldn’t hide the bad news from my then five year old, Alison. Minutes later my nightgown wearing barefoot daughter made her way sleepily to the living room. As she snuggled down deep next to me she knew that this morning was different. You don’t necessarily think when you are cradling your baby in your arms that one day you would have to explain evil to them. You are not prepared and I don’t think you can be. It is just one of those jump in head first and pray that what comes out is sufficient enough to be truthful and satisfying without ruining the innocence and wide eyed curiosity that only childhood can yield. How do you remind them the that here and now in my arms or at school or at grandma’s they are safe? I know we need to filter but most of the time it is unavoidable.

Several months ago. Another school shooting. This time it was Brouke’s turn to see what evil looks like. And now, an all American wholesome activity marred by destruction and devastation is plastered everywhere. The horror and destruction is all over the TV and on the lips of every adult.

It is a fine line and letting your kids steer your conversation will generally give you parameters to work with. Kids usually ask great questions and beyond what they ask is most of the time unnecessary. They will clue you in to what is in their heart and how much they can handle. With the little ones be selective, you don’t want to compromise their sense of safety. Older kids will be able to process more but all children will need extra love and reassurance. Speak scripture to them. Remind them not be worry or be anxious (Matthew 6:27) that God will deliver us from our fears (Psalm 34:4). Tell them that God will give them peace and that He is in control (Phillipians4:6-7). Remind them for every bad person their are thousands of good people. Let them get involved in making the world a better place by giving them opportunities to serve others and their community. It helps channel all their fears and gives them a sense of control over their environment. Mostly, trust your instincts. God gave you the children you have for a reason.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Tags: and a sprinkle of love, believers, Bible, blessed, blessing, blog, blogger, boston, burdened, catastrophe, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, christian blogger, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, conversation, daughter, easy, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, evil, faith, family, family friendly, forgiveness, Freedom, fun, God, grace, gratitude, heart, Heaven, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, home education, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, hope, housewife, husband, husband and wife, Jesus, jesus christ, Joy, learning, life, Lord, love, mama, marriage, media, mom, mother, motherhood, parenting, peace, Pinterest, praise, prayer, precious, safety, scripture, TV, violence

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Categories Faith, Family

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…..and a sprinkle of love

The Twilight of Childhood

Take a Moment to Remember

I am my Beloved and My Beloved is Mine

To All the Mama’s……

O Holy Night

Loving Every Age

Another Beginning

Something Funny Happened on the Way to the Grocery Store

Loving when you don’t Like

Talking to our kids about Boston

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