Truth | .....and a sprinkle of love

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Frogs and snails and all the Wonderful Things Little Boys are Made of

With an extra goodnight kiss he will roll over and easily fall asleep just like most nights. I will retreat upstairs and watch the clock and time will pass all too quickly. I will sit and think of precious thoughts like sweet baby breath on my neck, those far too early mornings rocking a well fed baby watching the sun rise, and that one book I read 3,000 times…..and I will think how I would give anything to just do that one more time.

Babies don’t keep and neither do kids. The years fly by, one quicker than the next and in the busyness you all of sudden think, “we are here, already?”.

I smile thinking of those first moments and years.

Tonight, in this dark room, I think of how he is now…smart and handsome as his daddy. Persistent, hard working, and loyal, character traits well beyond his years. He is a saver and a planner, so much so that his life is already planned. He is funny and goofy and his laugh brightens a room faster than the summer sun. He is brave even when he doesn’t feel it and he is always observing on how he can be his very best. He is kind, thoughtful, and tender hearted to those who are hurting or lacking. He would give you his meal, his favorite toy, or the shoes on his feet-he sure teaches me what it means to have a servant’s heart. He loves Jesus, soccer, chicken kabobs, chocolate fudge ice cream, his hero-daddy, his big sister’s, Ninja Turtles, but right now mostly his mama.

He is getting so tall but he still fits in all the crooks and spaces of my lap and even though these snuggles are getting far and few between when he finds me he knows it is all his. His sweet head resting on my shoulder I close my eyes as I rest my head against his,breathing in the sweet smell of little boy. Fleeting but lost in the moment for this will soon be just a tender memory.

Tonight as the clock quickly finds its way around a sweet little boy is dreaming sweet thoughts of presents and cake. For when he awakes he will be 7.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Come see what I am pinning!

Tags: and a sprinkle of love, babies, Bible, birth, birthday, blessed, blessing, blog, blogger, brave, busyness, cake, care, celebrate, childhood, children, christ, Christian, christian blogger, Christian mom, Christian woman, Encouragement, encouraging, eternal life, eternal value, family, fleeting, food, gentleness, Godly, happy, Holy Spirit, home, homemaker, housewife, Jesus, Joy, labor, lasting memories, laughter, learning, legacy, little boys, love, mama, man, marriage, memories, mom, mommy, mother, motherhood, parenthood, parenting, party, precious, raising children, raising Godly children, reflecting, reflection, scripture, seven, son, sweet, time, Truth, weary, wife, Woman, women

Comments 9 Comments
Categories Faith, Family

For the Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to Such as These

22 Jun

Tomorrow will mark my third year as a teacher for first and second graders at my church’s vacation Bible school. We see many faces walking through our doors, many familiar , and because we offer a free program, many new faces. For some, this will mark their first time in a church and others will learn that Jesus is more than just a derogatory expression. What an awesome responsibility this is. This week, 15 hours to be precise, to plant these precious life giving seeds in these precious little ones.

What I really love about this week is that while we are planting seeds in these little ones, the children are going home and sharing the stories, singing the songs, and sharing and practicing their memory verses. They are planting seeds in their own family, even if they don’t know it.

This marks the biggest and most important outreach event in our church every year. According to the current Barna study (2004) ” indicates that nearly half of all Americans who accept Jesus Christ as their savior do so before reaching the age of 13 (43%), and that two out of three born again Christians (64%) made that commitment to Christ before their 18th birthday.” In order to pull off such a big feat we need the whole village to participate.

Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these (Matthew 19:14).” Evangelizing to these little ones is imperative, not just for the children but for generations to come.

Would you please lift our churches up in prayer during the busy Vacation Bible School season?! Pray for leaders to have pure hearts and intentions as we disciple and lead little hearts to Jesus and pray for families to have tender receptive hearts as their children share with them scriptures and stories, and pray that many lives will be led to Christ.

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Come see what I am Pinning!

Image courtesy of [ digitalart] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.

Tags: and a sprinkle of love, believers, Bible, blessed, blessing, burdened, children, children's ministry, christ, Christian, Christian blog, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, church, church leaders, comfort, dad, disciple, easy, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, evangelism, everlasting life, faith, families, family, food, fun, God, gospels, gratitude, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, housewife, husband, Jesus, Joy, kingdom, leaders, life, Lord, love, Matthew, media, ministry, mom, motherhood, outreach, parenting, planting seeds, pray, prayer, precious, saved, scripture, Servant, servants heart, service, serving, songs, stories, teacher, teaching, transformation, trust, Truth, vacation Bible school, VBS, village, volunteers, weary, wife, Woman

Comments 5 Comments
Categories Faith, Family, Homeschool

Not a Cherished Daddy

15 Jun

I love reading all the beautiful tributes to all the wonderful father’s today. It really shows how important a “Daddy” is to his children. Let me speak from my heart for a minute.

I want to talk to the men who might not be among the most cherished men today. You might have become a dad when you didn’t want to be one, maybe you were young, or it was just the heat of the moment, maybe you were dealing with addictions, and maybe just don’t want to have to deal with your child’s mom. Let me tell you how crucial your presence or lack thereof is to your children. A man can never truly be a man until he takes all the steps necessary to be a pivotal positive role model to his children. Yes, it is messy, expensive, hard work, and requires sacrifice but I promise you will never regret being that parent but you will always regret being the latter. It is never too late to take that first step toward reconciliation. The first steps are scary, uncertain, and sometimes filled with deep hurts but it shows great courage to be the man that can put his pride aside to pursue your children. It will take time but I promise with consistency and love healing can and will happen. Our children our suffering with the lack of positive father figures. Kids without dads are more likely to become addicts, teen parents, suffer from mental illness, and have higher rates of suicidal tendencies. We seem to make light of the importance of men in our culture and tend to portray you as incompetent, idiotic, sperm donors……you have an important, God given role in our society and it is up to you to live up to it and prove the naysayers wrong! Men, we need you to step up and become the strong, moral, respectful leaders and ladies we need to build up our boys and men to help them be all that God calls them to be. Ladies, if we spew negativity and bitterness toward men all the time our sons and husbands suffer leading to the further breakdown and disappearance of respectful men.

If this is you, please let me encourage you how important you are in the lives of your children and maybe it isn’t ideal but sometimes the most beautiful rainbows happen after the biggest storms. To all the ladies (I have been there), God sees all you have sacrificed, seen all the hard work, and has collected every silent tear that has fallen into your pillow (Psalm 56:8). Let me encourage you too, to keep an open receptive heart to your child’s father (without sacrificing safety, of course) and never speak poorly of the other parent in front of them. Good, bad, or otherwise your children will form their own opinion and will respect you even more for it……I promise! If you want to make the first step but need some guidance please message me and I will connect you to someone who can help. God bless all the daddies and all those mama’s who are pulling double duty!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Come see what I am Pinning!

“Image courtesy of [ponsulak] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.ponsulak

Tags: believers, Bible, bitterness, blessed, blessing, building up, burdened, care, celebrate, cherished daddy, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, dad, daddy, daughters, dead beat dad, divorce, easy, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, father, father and daughter, father and son, father's day, fatherhood, food, forgiveness, God, God given, gratitude, healing, homemaker, homemaking, honor, housewife, husband, importance of dad, integrity, Jesus, Joy, leader, Lord, love, man, media, men, moral, motherhood, negativity, non involved dad, open heart, parenthood, parenting, prayer, presence, pride, protecting, providing, reconcilliation, relationships, respect, role model, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, single mom, sons, stepping up, teaching, transformation, trust, Truth, weary, wife, Woman

Comments 7 Comments
Categories Faith, Family

Alison’s Story

14 Jun

Alison is my oldest child. She was born severely premature and has some cognitive delays along with Cerebral Palsy. Our church put on a special senior service for all our high school graduates. The families had the opportunity to put together a display of photos and academic, sport, etc. accomplishments. Our journey has looked different therefore trophies and other such accolades haven’t been a part of her life. Alison decided to share her story because it is her greatest accomplishment. Our display was a modest piece of tag board with some pictures and her story. I am so proud of her and her resilience and positive attitude, she is my hero! With a little help from mom…here is her story.

MY STORY

My name is Alison Jordyn. I was born October 31, 1995 at 7:51 PM. My mom is Rebecca and she was just 17 and 24 weeks pregnant when I was born. I weighed 1 pounds 12 Oz. I was born so premature that my eyes were still fused shut. My mom told me what a whirlwind of doctors and nurses there were, all working hard and fast to give me the best shot possible.

I had open heart surgery when I was only two weeks old weighing 1 pound 10 oz. From brain hemorrhages to dangerous blood infections I fought through each one becoming stronger each day. My mom told me that she should plan on me being in the hospital for at least 6-8 months but since I am stubborn (I get that from grandpa) I decided 2 1/2 months was long enough. One month and one day before my due date I was discharged weighing a hefty 4 pounds 7 oz.

When I was born they took my mom aside to prepare her for what life would be like for us. Because of the grade 4 brain hemorrhage she was told I would never walk, that I would never talk, and that I would be plagued with illness, allergies, and asthma. Fortunately, my mama has that same stubborn attitude as grandpa and me and never gave up hope.

I was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy when I was five months old. Two months later I rolled over for the first time. At ten months old I said my first word, “hi”. On December 28, 1997, I took my first steps and I never stopped moving! I am now 18 and still haven’t been plagued with illness, asthma, and allergies.

When I was in kindergarten my mom was taken aside again and told that I had learned all that I would ever learn. She told my mom that I was incapable of learning new things and maybe school wasn’t for me. That didn’t stop us! I have learned so much and I have accomplished and done more than anyone ever thought possible. We wish we remembered her name because we would like to send her a graduation announcement 🙂

My mom says that I am proof that God is still in the miracle business. With God, even the impossible becomes possible.

I know my accomplishments seem ordinary to most and that’s OK. I don’t have many earthly awards and that’s OK too. You see, my biggest accomplishment is that my life saved my mom’s life. God chose to use a sick little baby to save my mom from a life of addiction and instead led her into a life of salvation. Now that my mom knows Jesus my whole family knows Him. It’s pretty cool to think that I am the reason my whole family will go to heaven.

I am excited for what the future holds because I know the One who holds it. My future is bright and the opportunities are limitless and I look forward to seeing where my journey takes me……..because my story is just beginning!

Our display

Thanks for reading!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Come on over and see what I am pinning!

Tags: accomplishments, addiction, beginning, believers, Bible, birth, birth story, blessed, blessing, burdened, cerebral palsy, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, cognitive delays, comfort, daughter, determined, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, fighter, first steps, first words, food, future, God, graduate, graduation, gratitude, Heaven, high school, high school graduation, homemaker, homemaking, hope, housewife, husband, illness, Jesus, jesus christ, Joy, Knowing Jesus, life story, Lord, love, media, micro preemie, milestones, miracles, motherhood, parenting, parenting a preemie, parenting a special needs child, pemature baby, prayer, preemie, raising a special needs child, salvation, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, sick, special nedds, strong, teaching, teen mom, teenage parenting, transformation, trust, Truth, weary, wife, Woman

Comments 30 Comments
Categories Faith, Family

My Girl

4 Jun

On the verge of adolescents and all the things big girls like. Each year I thank God for another year and ask for just one more summer of playing barefoot in the grass, dandelion bouquets, girly shrieks as she runs and leaps through the sprinklers, watching a too big ice cream cone melt down her hand , pink bikes with glittery streamers blowing as she races her brother down the street, the first hints of summer sprinkled across her nose. The easiness of her laugh, the little hand that still finds it way into mine, and the angelic voice that drifts from the shower. The emergence of the missing printer paper that has been transformed into brilliant illustrated stories, the way she sits next to me on the couch with a tight hug around my arm and soft curls on my shoulder, and bare feet and nightgown at the breakfast table. The way I admire her heart for serving and her heart for the hurting and her love for Jesus.

I thank God for her innocence and that she has this precious time to be little even if it is for just a bit longer. I know that my bargaining for another summer is quickly coming to an end…. but not this summer. I will love her even bigger and cherish all her little girlness be it just a moment longer. My prayer is that she will continue to grow in beauty and grace and that when she can no longer be little she can continue to love life with just as much enthusiasm and joy.

What a gift she is to me and to the world. I am a blessed mama who kissed her 9 year old goodnight and will wake to a beautiful 10 year old!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Come see what I am Pinning!

Tags: 10, admire, adolescence, babies, beauty, believers, Bible, birthday, blessed, blessed mama, blessing, burdened, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, daughter, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, food, God, grace, gratitude, growing, growing up, heart, home education, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, housewife, husband, Jesus, Joy, laughter, little girl, Lord, love, media, motherhood, parenting, playing, prayer, precious, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, summer, teaching, teaching children to have a servants heart, transformation, treasures, trust, Truth, weary, wife, Woman

Comments 5 Comments
Categories Faith, Family

These Muffins are Bananas

31 May

*Updated*

Let me tell you, I fail miserably at banana bread. Burnt on the bottom, raw in the middle, deflated..I am not kidding! If there was a way to ruin it, I would. I have been on a mission to find the right combination of ingredients to yield a moist flavorful banana bread that cooks evenly throughout. After a lot of trial and error…. I got to mixing and……..Houston, we got ourselves a winner;) I am really excited to share this simple yet delicious recipe for chocolate chip banana muffins. Scroll down for printable recipe. Let’s get baking!

Printable Recipe

We would love to know what you’ve cookin’! Leave us a message or link in the coments and let us know. Thanks for visiting!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Let’s be Pinterest friends!

Tags: after school snacks, and a sprinkle of love, baking, baking for beginners, baking with kids, baking with mom, banana, banana bread, banana chocolate chip bread, banana chocolate chip muffins, banana muffins, believers, Bible, blessed, blessing, blogger, breakfast, burdened, children, chocolate, chocolate chip, christ, Christian, Christian blog, Christian Homemaker, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, cooking with kids, daughter, easy, easy muffin recipes, easy recipes, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, family friendly meal, family legacy, family recipes, food, God, gratitude, home bakers, home cooks, home education, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, housewife, husband, Jesus, Joy, Lord, love, meal ministry, meal plan, media, memories, mentor, menu planning, mother and daughter, mother and daughter baking, motherhood, parenting, prayer, printable recipes, proverbs 31, recipe, ripe bananas, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, simple recipes, snacks, soul food, teaching, Titus 2, transformation, trust, Truth, vlogger, weary, wife, Woman, women, women's ministry, youtube

Comments 2 Comments
Categories Food

As we Remember…..

26 May

I live with a constant reminder of how blessed I am to of been born and raised in a free country. It is am 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.

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

Tags: Air Force, allegiance, American, and a sprinkle of love, armed forces, Army, believers, Bible, blessed, blessing, brave, burdened, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, courageous, death, easy, Encouragement, enlisted, Eternal Vaue, faith, fallen, fallen soldiers, family, flag, food, Freedom, freedom isn't free, God, God Bless the USA, gratitude, Heaven, Holiday, homemaker, homemaking, honor, housewife, husband, Jesus, jesus christ, Joy, Lord, love, Marines, media, Memorial Day, military, military spouse, motherhood, mourn, Navy, parenting, prayer, Proud to be an American, respect, salute, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, Soldiers, spouse, support, teaching, thank you, Thanks, transformation, Troops, trust, Truth, uniform, United States, United States Military, USA, veterans, War, weary, wife, Woman

Comments 4 Comments
Categories Faith, Family, Homeschool

Grace of God Brought us Here

24 May

11 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 and 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!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Come see what I am Pinning!

Tags: 11 years, and a sprinkle of love, anniversaries, anniversary, believers, Bible, blended family, blessed, blog. blogger, burdened, celebration, character, children, christ, Christian, Christian blog, Christian mom, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, easy, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, family life, food, glory to God, God, God's love, grace, Grace of God, gratitude, Heavenly Father, Holy Spirit, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, homeschooling, housewife, husband, husband and wife, integrity, Jesus, journey, Joy, life, Lord, love, man and wife, marriage, married, media, motherhood, parenting, peace, prayer, respect adore, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, teaching, transformation, trust, Truth, understanding, vlogger, weary, wedding, wife, wife after God's heart, Woman

Comments 8 Comments
Categories Faith, Family

Easy Peasy Cream Cheese Chocolate Pie

23 May

We just celebrated the Birthday of a pretty special guy and he usually always makes the same request. In lieu of cake he would much rather have this decadent (yet easy) dessert. Perfect no bake dessert for any occasion. Give it a try and let me know what you think!

Click on the link below for full recipe!

PRINTABLE RECIPE

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Come see what I am Pinning!

Tags: and a sprinkle of love, believers, Bible, birthday, blessed, blessed mama, blessing, blog, burdened, celebrations, children, chocolate, chocolate pie, christ, Christian, Christian blog, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, cream cheese, cream cheese pie, decadent desserts, dessert, easy, easy desserts, easy peasy, easy peasy chocolate cream cheese pie, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, family favorite recipes, food, food blog, God, gratitude, happy birthday, homemaker, homemaking, homeschool, homeschooling, housewife, husband, Jesus, Joy, legacy, Lord, love, meal planning, media, menu planning, mother daughter bonding, mother daughter time, motherhood, no bake, no bake dessert, no bake desserts, no bake pie, parenting, pie, prayer, precious, recipe blog, recipes, scripture, Servant, servants heart, service, serving, simple dessert, summer, summer recipes, teaching, transformation, trust, Truth, weary, wife, Woman, woman blogger, youtube

Comments 3 Comments
Categories Family, Food

Stay Tuned…….

21 May

I have some fun changes coming soon….so stay tuned!

~Be Blessed and be a Blessing~

Rebecca

Come see what I am Pinning.

“Image courtesy of [ Keattikorn] / FreeDigitalPhotos.net”.

Tags: and a sprinkle of love, baking, believers, Bible, blessed, blessing, bonding, burdened, children, christ, Christian, Christian mother, Christian wife, Christian woman, christianity, comfort, cooking, easy, eating, Encouragement, Eternal Vaue, faith, family, family favorite recipes, family friendly meal, family meals, food, God, good eats, gratitude, homemaker, homemaking, housewife, husband, husband and wife, Jesus, Joy, Lord, love, media, mother daughter, motherhood, parenting, Pinterest, prayer, recipes, scripture, Servant, servants heart, serving, teaching, transformation, trust, Truth, video, weary, wife, Woman, youtube

Comments 2 Comments
Categories Faith, Family, Food, Homeschool

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…..and a sprinkle of love

Frogs and snails and all the Wonderful Things Little Boys are Made of

For the Kingdom of Heaven Belongs to Such as These

Not a Cherished Daddy

Alison’s Story

My Girl

These Muffins are Bananas

As we Remember…..

Grace of God Brought us Here

Easy Peasy Cream Cheese Chocolate Pie

Stay Tuned…….

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