I LOVE This Blogpost (I wish I would've written it!)

Obviously if I had written it a few details would be changed! Like, instead of 8 boys (she has 9 now), 3 girls, 3 boys.

http://themarathonmom.com/keeping-our-childrens-hearts-what-its-all-about.htm

An "Out of the Blue" Gift

Gramma Bobber packed an "out of the blue" gift for us! Everything was blue and it was so much fun. There was even a pretty blue Ikea coffee mug and Blue Boy (Bachelor Button) flowers. It's her "thing" to give us goodie bags on our birthdays and we always love them. This theme of blue and it being out of the blue was so sweet. ;)

Our Passover Dinner

I really wish I had a picture of Cameron and Livi's face when they tried the bitter herbs! We all had a lot of fun with that. Derrick and Bailey pretended to go out and kill the passover lamb (Molly) and put "blood" on the doorposts (because we didn't want to lose Bailey ;) ), we all wore makeshift things to dress up, had roasted meat (Chicken, potatoes, and carrots for a kosher meal), boiled eggs, horseradish (bitter herbs), celery dipped in salt water, crackers (matzoh), Charoset-shredded apple, nut, and cinnamon/sugar mixture (symbolizing the mortar the Israelites used), olives (just because Cam and I like them), and wine (grape juice). Oh, and then we just threw in apple pie for dessert. It was a lot of fun!

Chocolate Gravy (and it happens to be gluten free)!

I made this for the kids this Good Friday morning. It's a great start to a wonderful day. Actually- weekend. Tonight we are having a Seder dinner as we try to do before every Easter. We will probably watch, "Passion of the Christ." Tomorrow we will go to cousin Sadie's birthday party and then come home to color Easter eggs with Lili and Pey. Sunday we will go to church, Derrick will preach the sermon (!), and then an Easter dinner at our house with family.

The kids really enjoyed the chocolate gravy! I couldn't believe even Bailey did as he is not big on sweets. Cameron saw Samantha's plate first and said, "I want some of what Samantha has on her plate! I love chocolate! It's...it's...it's the best food I've ever seen!" Wow, does he take after his mama with that. ;-) As you can see, Noah really enjoyed it too! He likes to stick his little foot (with his birthmark) on the top of his highchair tray.

Chocolate Gravy (Gluten-free)

4 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder
2 TBSP cornstarch
1 cup granulated sugar
1 1/2 cups whole milk
4 TBSP butter
1 TSP vanilla

In a medium sauce pan whisk together the dry ingredients.  Pour in the milk and whisk vigorously to combine.  Heat over medium-high until the mixture bubbles.  Turn heat down to medium and stir until mixture has thickened to a gravy consistency.  Remove from heat and stir in butter and vanilla.

~From gracefullyglutenfree.blogspot.com

http://beckythompson.com/2016/02/14/an-honest-valentine-for-my-husband/

http://beckythompson.com/2016/02/14/an-honest-valentine-for-my-husband/

http://beckythompson.com/2016/02/14/an-honest-valentine-for-my-husband/

http://beckythompson.com/2016/03/16/a-letter-to-my-children-about-the-future-of-our-nation/

Very Good Blog and Post

http://beckythompson.com/2016/03/21/beware-of-quicksand-how-one-strangers-comment-changed-my-marriage-forever/

Very Good Post and Reminder

From Ben and Jessa's blog:

http://theseewaldfamily.com/index.cfm?p=blog&id=2A6AA8E5-09C7-4DF0-99FD-8EFF4CE364A1

St. Patrick's Day

https://4littlefergusons.wordpress.com/

A Beautiful Story of Forgiveness and Grace

"Your most effective Ministry comes from your deepest hurts."

http://themarathonmom.com/surviving-infidelity.htm#comment-10541

Homeschooling Held Hostage by Heidi St. John

http://heidistjohn.com/homeschooling/homeschooling-held-hostage

Menu plan 3/7-3/13

Sunday-
Leftovers

Monday-
PW roast
Carrots
Cabbage
Mashed potatoes

Tuesday-
Slow Cooker Carrot Chicken (with cabbage)
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/8879/slow-cooker-carrot-chicken/
Cornbread

Wednesday-
Lemon Chicken (Make it Fast, Cook it Slow
Rice
Green beans with bacon

Thursday-
Cajun Boil

Friday- Takeout or pizza

Saturday-?

Sunday- ?

Lunch-
Mini pizzas ( From marathonmom.com-English muffins, tomato sauce, garlic, mozzarella *or other* cheese)

Snacks- Magic Cookie Bars

Motherhood is Application

http://www.desiringgod.org/articles/motherhood-is-application

The ABCs of Motherhood: A Baby Shower Devotion

My first baby shower devotion! ;-)
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The ABC’s of Motherhood

(Definitely not an exhaustive list!)

1.     Always point her to Him. Sing about Him, read about Him to her, and pray with her (and for her) to Him.

2.     Be a shining example to her of what it means to be a woman after God’s own heart. 1 Tim. 4:12, 15-16, Set an example...in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity...Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress.

A Little Girl Follows Me

A careful woman I ought to be;
a little girl follows me.
I do not dare to go astray,
for fear she'll go the selfsame way.
Not once can I escape her eyes;
whate'er she sees me do, she tries.
Like me, she says she's going to be
that little girl who follows me.
I must remember as I go
Through summer sun and winter snow,
I'm molding for the years to be
that little girl who follows me.
~Author Unknown 

3.     Cherish the moments because everyone that implores you to enjoy her- because it goes so fast- are utterly and completely speaking the truth.

4.     Discipline her in love knowing what a Godly woman of the past, Sarah Edwards, knew. That if a child is not brought to obey their parents, they will not be brought to obey God.

5.     Embrace the wonderful, messy life! There will be diapers to be changed, waking in the middle of the night, spilled milk, sticky hands, sand stuck in sandals…I know I don’t have to tell you it’s all worth it!

6.     Fall in love with itty bitty toes, chubby cheeks, and the way she delights in learning something new…

7.     Give her a love for reading by reading lots and lots of books!

8.     H is for Home.

A small child, after watching his house burn down, was quoted as saying, “We still have a home. We just don't have a house to put it in.” How perceptive of that child. Our home should be a trauma center for the whole family. We don't have to be perfect at home- just forgiven and forgiving. We can grow, we can make mistakes, we can shout for joy, we can cry, we can agree, and we can disagree. Home is a place where happy experiences occur. It's a shelter from the problems of the world, a place where love happens, acceptance is given, and security provided. Home offers a respite from the tragedies that seem to plague the world outside our door, as recounted on the newscasts. Within our four walls we can offer a place of peace.

~Quiet Moments for a Busy Mom's Soul by Emilie Barnes

9.     Ingredients for irresistible parenting are the fruit of the Spirit- love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control. And, of course, season it all with grace.

10.  Joy-filled mothers know that the joy of the Lord is their strength.

11. Keep a record of all the sweet and memorable things you don’t want to forget!

12.  Love her daddy well that she may see that “his heart safely trusts in you, that he would have no lack of gain, and you will do him good and not evil all the days of your life.” ~Proverbs 31:11-12

13. Make memories! Don’t waste your time or opportunities for special moments. We always think we’ll make history another day. The truth is we’re “writing it” right now! It is not “around the corner.” It is always THIS moment.

14. Never forget God loves her more than you do and see it as a glimpse of how much He must love and value you! Then you may start to “get it.”

15. Orchestrate special traditions for your family.

Noel Piper writes, “I’m praying that the traditions of our lives will be filled with the treasure that fills our heart on ‘everyday’ days and on ‘especially’ days…Why do traditions matter? When God entrusted a child to us, in an instant that baby became so intimately a part of us that we couldn’t picture life without him-ever. I couldn’t imagine what my chubby child would be when he grew up. But what I yearned for had little to do with his adult career. I longed that he be part of us forever-that he be God’s forever.”

16. Press on even on the hardest of days and remember to cry out to the Lord for help and strength and to lean into support from family and friends. Ann Voskamp writes,

“Relationships cost. It’s not that you aren’t going to blow it. It is what you do with it, when you do…Perhaps there’s something more powerful to experience than a perfect mother: the wonder of a committed Mother who simply humbles herself…No one gets it perfect. And that’s exactly why we sing Amazing Grace- and it really is! Motherhood does not require complete perfection and a Superman cape. It simply requires an imperfect commitment and the surprising humility of Christ.”

17. Quelch comparing yourself to other moms. When this happens, remember God gave your child the exact mother she needs.

18. Remember mama said there’d be days like this. There will be hard days. On days like that just do the next thing:

In Elizabeth Elliott’s book, “The Shaping of a Christian Family”

Doe the Nexte Thynge

"From an old English parsonage down by the sea

There came in the twilight a message to me;

Its quaint Saxon legend, deeply engraven,

Hath, it seems to me, teaching from Heaven.

And on through the doors the quiet words ring

Like a low inspiration: “DOE THE NEXTE THYNGE.”

Many a questioning, many a fear,

Many a doubt, hath its quieting here.

Moment by moment, let down from Heaven,

Time, opportunity, and guidance are given.

Fear not tomorrows, child of the King,

Trust them with Jesus, doe the nexte thynge.

Do it immediately, do it with prayer;

Do it reliantly, casting all care;

Do it with reverence, tracing His hand

Who placed it before thee with earnest command.

Stayed on Omnipotence, safe ‘neath His wing,

Leave all results, doe the nexte thynge

Jesus says, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34). 

Looking for Jesus, ever serener

19. See mothering this child as one of your greatest priveleges.

20. Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6

21. Unite with your husband on how you will raise this precious gift from above.

22. Veggietales and Vegetables. Familiarize yourself with Veggietales if you haven’t already. Oh, yeah, and the real vegetables. Don’t all children need vegetables?!

23.  Worth it.

I have thought of the  "costs" of having children. There’s the difficulty of pregnancy, pain in the birthing process, stubborn weight that does not want to come off, and other things along that line. I have discovered children are SO worth any cost we may have to go through. Any cost that may come through hopefully having them for the rest of our lives here Lordwilling and, even more so, I pray for all eternity. We pray their trust will be in Christ and they will all be the one and only thing  we take into eternity with us-people. They are worth every tear, every pain, every heartache, any inconvenience, anything we have to sacrifice, any loss of sleep, any lack of accomplishment, any mess they make, any embarrassment they may potentially bring, anything that may get broken on account of them, any event that has to be missed, any not being able to "keep up with the Jones'," any worry they cause, any anything not listed here. After having children I can say there has not been one single moment, truly, of their life when they were not worth it. Yes, they are worth it, always have been, and always will be. No. Matter. What.

24. EXperience the world through your child’s eyes. Everything is so new and exciting!

25. Your unconditional love will help your child know she is loved for who she is, not what she does. Just as there is nothing we can do to cause God to love us more or less.

26. Zoey. This one comes from Derrick. I asked him to help me out with this last one. Something beginning with z that has to do with motherhood. Almost immediately he said, “Zoey.” I was kind of puzzled. He said, “Zoey means life in Greek.” How fitting. Sarah is soon to give birth to Halle Mae, a new life.  So, I leave you with Psalm 139:

Psalm 139:13-16

27.   ¹³ For you formed my inward parts;
    you knitted me together in my mother's womb.
¹⁴ I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.^[a]
Wonderful are your works;
    my soul knows it very well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you,
when I was being made in secret,
    intricately woven in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed substance;
in your book were written, every one of them,
    the days that were formed for me,
    when as yet there was none of them.

Gifts of Grace

Gifts of Grace
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. 4 For as in one body we have many members,5 and the members do not all have the same function, 5 so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. 6 Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; 7 if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; 8 the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads,6 with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

John MacArthur's commentary notes:
"Every believer receives the exact gift and resources he needs to fulfill his role in the body of Christ...The emphasis in each list is not on believers identifying their gift perfectly, but on using the unique enablement God has given each. The fact that the two lists differ clearly implies the gifts are like a palette of basic colors, from which God selects to blend a unique hue for each disciple's life."