Five Minute Friday: Hands

Over at lisajobaker.com, the fabulous Lisa hosts a weekly blog party called Five Minute Friday.

The rules are simple:

1. She decides on a one-word writing prompt. This week it is "HANDS".
2. Bloggers everywhere set their timers for five minutes.
3. Our pens fly....can you hear the frantic scritchety-scratch? 
4. We publish our five-minute masterpiece & share with the world.

Hands.

The hands that raised me were

soft hands...
callused hands...
stained hands....
tender hands...
wise hands...
speaking hands...
hard hands...
but mostly, loving hands.

The hands I hold now are

soft hands...
pudgy hands...
dirty hands...
sticky hands...
inquisitive hands...
trusting hands...
innocent hands...
but mostly, loving hands.

The Hands that have always held me are

soft Hands...
protecting Hands...
patient Hands...
faithful Hands...
tender Hands...
kind Hands...
peirced Hands...
but always, loving Hands.

His Hands.

Sharing with... Essential Things, A Look at The Book, Beauty Observed, Nancherrow, Sandra Heska King Managing Your Blessings

15 Ways to Know You Are a Good Mom

We've all had them.

The times we feel overwhelmed, insufficient, incapable, stress paralyzed (thank you MNO for giving it a name!). The times we feel like utter failures as moms, wondering if we'll survive or if our kids will grow up severely damaged.

Here are 15 ways that, in my opinion, you can know you are a good mom. If you can't laugh or cry or relate with any of these, maybe you can be encouraged that you have it figured out a whole lot better than at least one mom out there!

 Enjoy!

You know you're a good mom when.....

1. You make a to-do list like this one:

• mow yard
• fold laundry
• vacuum
• clean toilet

But, at the end of your exhausting day, you realize nothing was crossed off, so you add to it the accomplishments of your day so you can feel better about your list.

• mow yard
• fold laundry
• vacuum
• clean toilet
• wipe boogers
• change 11 diapers
• swing the kids
• read them a book
• make PB&J for lunch
• again for snacks
• and for supper, because that's what they wanted today
• kiss boo-boos
• keep everyone alive

The last one is especially essential. I prefer doing it every day. PB&J helps accomplish that. *smile*

2. Your child gets stuck in the mud you told him to stay out of. Like, REALLY stuck. He can't move and is screaming for you to come rescue him. You do, but first you must calmly snap about five photos from different angles.

And you laugh.

3. You get called a pig and you take it as a compliment. Actual words from my daughter,

"Hey mom! You're the bestest mom ever! 

You know why? Cuz you eat my leftovers."

....thoughtful pause and slight giggle as she finished with, 

"You're kinda like a pig!"

4. You realize you only got one leg shaved and you've been walking around like that for 2 days...in shorts. You decide you're just getting in touch with your more primitive side.

5. You tell yourself, "My hair isn't messy. It's the humidity making it look like this." And you try to believe it. If that doesn't work you justify your wad of frizz with, "It's a messy bun. That's an actual hair style, you know."

6. Your first thought at seeing your 1 year old chomping on dog food is,

  "Oh. Well, its good for the dog. 

It must have some nutritional value, right?" 

Then you check yourself, have him spit it out, try to get him to swish and spit water, 

but it gets swallowed anyway.

7. You can handle a conversation at the dinner table where your children are sharing about squeezing chicken entrails till the poop came out. Then, without skipping a beat, they mentioned off-handedly that the dog ate his vomit that day. You listen interestedly and never gag because you've grown a stomach of iron.

8. You rename a recipe because of something your child said about it. In our family we have a delicious pasta and fruit salad smothered in poppy seed dressing. Due to all the poppy seeds, our oldest deemed it

"Fly Poop Salad".

YES. We call it that.  

9. You get to do 45 minutes of errands....ALONE.

But you're not sure how to handle it, because this freedom thing....its so strange....and quiet....and boy, did it fly by too fast. So for the last mile, you slow down to a whopping 10 mph, roll the windows down, crank the music, because loud is all you know and you're just trying to squeeze in a few more seconds.

10. Your children come bounding out of the house, jumping up and down, wanting hugs, and expressing pure delight at seeing your face again. You feel a little guilt that your delight in seeing them doesn't quite match theirs. But your heart is full at such a grand welcome home after only 45 minutes.

11. You need a shower. BAD. So you lock all windows, deadbolt the doors, turn on cartoons, hand the kids a bag of cheese puffs and a huge community mug of lemonade. You dive in the shower, all while being sure you hear them escaping or a home invasion taking place. You're breathless as you barge out of the bathroom, clean and clothed in three minutes flat, just in time to see the last cheese puff being devoured and the 64oz mug slurped empty. Success! Now just wait for the sugar high.

You still didn't get that other leg shaved.

12. The kids are fighting. There's major exaggeration and self justification in their screams. You poke your head in the room and holler over the din, "Anyone kill their sister yet?" They freeze. Stone quiet for 1 second, as they process what they just heard. Then they erupt in gales of giggles and the day resumes peacefully.

13. Not only are you the only one who flushes the toilet, but you can also tell who has been there last. Let's just say....you know who's is who's. The mountain men of the 1800's called it "reading sign", don't you know.

(I could find no acceptable image for this one.) 

just saying

14. You tell your children they need to go to their rooms and that you don't want to see their beautiful faces or hear their lovely voices for 15 minutes. You set the timer for 17 minutes. Then you crumble to the living room floor, in the middle of all the messy and you bawl your eyes out. You glance at the timer. You have 8 minutes to get it together. So, you dry your eyes, wash your face, breathe a prayer, tell yourself you'll be alright and your kids will survive. Then you make the timer ding 5 minutes early because somehow seeing them is what you need right now.

They come running and you all have cuddle time on the couch.

15. You sneak into their room at night, push back the mound of messy hair, kiss their soft cheeks, in awe of God's beautiful creations, disbelieving He trusts you with them. You brush a tear off their cheek and realize it's your own.

So much is held in that one tear.....

Joy and awe at the sight of this perfect creature.
Sadness that she's growing so fast.
Terror at how the world will damage him.
Excitement at how He will impact the world through the child.
Relief at the promise of beautiful sleep awaiting you.

If you can relate to one, a few, or maybe all of the above, then in my opinion, you, my friend, are a VERY. GOOD. MOM.

Give yourself a break.

Your child loves you and thinks you are awesome.

In all the crazy of everyday life, your child is trying to tell you, "I love you for giving this mom thing your best shot. You're doing a VERY. (full stop) GOOD. (full stop) JOB. (full stop) at loving me." 

He just has a hard time expressing himself. 

He feels, but can't say.

She knows, but can't express with words.

So, they do it by pouncing on you, 
                        screaming excitement, 
                                  anger, and frustration at you, 

          because they know they're safe with you. 

They tackle you, 
             lay on you, 
                rub on you, 
                  tap on you till you go nuts, 
                     tug your clothes till they come off, 
                       repeat "mom, mom, mom" till you think the word has a hole worn through, making demands just to know that you're still holding them as a priority...

and you are.

Every time you fulfill their need or want to be loved, no matter how hard or annoying it is, you're doing it because YOU ARE A VERY GOOD MOM.

Don't be so hard on yourself.

Look for the beauty in the every day, in the imperfect, less than ideal....

because in that, you'll find the perfect. The beautiful. The blessing. The more-than-you-can-imagine.

Now go hug your kids and tell them you love them. They'll hug you back and tell you they love you, too.

Do it.

Because today is gonna be crazy, and you're gonna need the reminders.

FEATURED AT....

 

Sharing with....Essential Things, Missional Women, Christian Mommy Blogger, Beauty Observed, Nancherrow, Create With Joy, Sincerely, Paula, A Proverbs 31 Wife , Moms the Word, The Modest Mom

Soul Survivor, Women of Worship, What Joy is Mine, Looking at the Rays of Grace & Joy, Yes They Are All Ours, Make A Difference Monday, Cornerstone Confessions, Made to Mother, The Time-Warp Wife, Raising Homemakers, Juana Mikels, Our Life on a Budget, Enchanted Homeschooling Mom, Oh my Heartsie Girl, joyful homemaking think tank, Diamonds in the Rough, thrifty T's Treasures, Thank goodness its monday, Darling Downs Diaries

 

40 Prayers for my Husband: His Faith

"According to your faith

it will be done to you."

~Mathew 9:29~

That's kind of a big statement. According to our faith, it will be done to us...

Today I pray for my husbands faith to be strengthened. I pray it will be maximized, for

"without faith it is impossible to please God,

because anyone who comes to Him

must believe that He exists and that

He rewards those who earnestly

seek Him."

~Hebrews 11:6~

Prayer #5. His Faith

Father, today give my husband an extra measure of  faith. I proclaim that my husband knows You exist. Strengthen the faith He has so that he will earnestly seek You in all does. 

May his faith not rest on man's wisdom but in Your great power. (1Cor.2:5) May He turn to You in all he does knowing You will reward those who earnestly seek You and not man. What is wise in man's eyes is not wise in Yours. Give him the faith to seek You first and then added faith to stand firmly upon Your promises, fully persuaded that You have the power to do exactly what you have said You will. (Romans4:21)

May he reflect on what You have already done, not forgetting Your great faithfulness to him. Through the promises You have kept may a greater faith be established in him.

When he asks anything in Your name help him not doubt You. (James1:6-7) Where there may be a tinge of doubt, further strengthen His belief in Your power, Your ways, Your ability and Your promises.

You are forever good, Jesus. You are forever faithful. You are the author of peace. Give my husband peace that passes all understanding when he does any and all things by faith.

May he not waver through unbelief regarding any of Your promises, but be strengthened in his faith and give all the glory to You. (Romans4:20) May his long faith filled life bring him to stand before You and courageously say "I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith." (2Tim.4:7) In Jesus' Name. Amen

  

Sharing With...Jenni Mullinix, 3-D Lessons for Life, Thoughtful Thursday, Essential Thing Devotions

40 Prayers for my Husband: His Talk

"He who guards his mouth

and his tongue

keeps himself from calamity."

~Proverbs 21:23~

The words we speak hold unimaginable power. They either ENcourage or DIScourage. Build up or tear down. Bring life or destruction....ultimately to ourselves. So, let's use words wisely and gently.

Today, I pray for the words that leave my husbands mouth, all the while remembering, this one is also for myself! *wink*

Prayer #4. His Talk

Father, words are powerful. They carry life and death, blessing and curses, peace or dissension.
We know "out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (Matt. 12:34) Make my husbands heart pure so that what comes out of his mouth is edifying to You.
Do not let unwholesome talk come out of his mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs. (Eph.4:29) Your Word has told us that there is more hope for a fool than a man who is hasty with his words. (Pr.29:20) So, when he feels like spewing out words that are not edifying to others, nudge his conscience. Halt the words before they ever reach his mind. Give him a gentle and patient spirit so that it will become nature to him to speak kindly.
Grow the desire in him to clearly think through his words before his speaks them. I command all negative thoughts away from his mind that could result in unwholesome talk to others or about others. I take a stand against all evil spirits that encourage cussing, harsh words, uncaring words or indifferent words. You have instructed us to  rid ourselves of "anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language" (Col.3:8) May he avoid godless chatter, knowing that doing so will only lead to more ungodliness. (2 Tim.2:16)
Instead of obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, convict him to speak in thanksgiving. (Eph.5:4) let his conversation  always be full of grace, seasoned with salt, always knowing how to answer everyone according to Your word. (Col. 4:6)
May the words of his mouth and the meditation of his heart be ever pleasing to You. (Ps.19:14) Amen.

"The heart of the righteous weighs it's answers,

but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil."

~Proverbs 15:28~

40 Prayers for my Husband: His Work

Today, I pray my husband will find a balance between workaholic-ism (is that a word? Must be because spell correct didn't frown at it! Yay!! A new word! that thrills my writer's heart!) and laziness. Neither are glorifying to God. Both ruin a man.

for the workaholic:

"Do no overwork to be rich;

because of your own understanding,

cease!

....For riches certainly make themselves wings;

they fly away like an eagle toward heaven.

~Proverbs 23:4-5~

for the lazy:

"If a man is lazy, the rafters sag;

if his hands are idle, the house leaks."

~Ecclesiastes 10:18~

"The sluggard's craving will be the death of him,

because his hands refuse to work."

~Proverbs 21:25~

Father, bless my husband's work. Help him find the perfect balance between working too hard provide for his family, and not being disciplined enough to take on his responsibility as provider of his home. On one hand, working too hard will result in burn out and neglect of his family, while on the other hand, being lazy will result in the ruin of himself and his family. I pray you will teach him the importance of balance between work and rest. I pray he will make it his ambition to lead a quiet and simple life so that his daily work may win the respect of outsiders. May he work with his own hands so that he will not grow dependant on anybody. (1 Thess. 4:11-12)

Lord, lead him to the work You would have him do. May he bring You into every aspect of his work. Where there is anything not glorifying to You, convict him and then supply him the courage to make the necessary changes. May he commit to you whatever he does, so his plans may succeed. (Pr. 16:3) May he "be strong and courageous, and do the work." May he not be afraid or discouraged, knowing You, the Lord God, are with him. You will not fail or forsake him. (1 Chr.28:20) May he do whatever You have him do with all his heart, as working for Yo and not for man. (Col.3:23)

Give my husband a sense of fulfillment from his work. One that can only come from being in complete submission to Your will. I know so much of who a man is, is tied up in his work. Where he is not in Your will lead Him to better. Help him to see past the dollar signs and rest secure in knowing that what You would have him do will provide over and abundantly beyond what he could ever imagine for his family. Give him peace and clear direction of Your plan for his life's work. "Nothing is better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot." (Ecc.3:22)

Father, I pray the people You bring into my husbands path through his work, will be of good reputation and report. Guide him away from anyone or anything that could harm his very livelihood. You guide the hearts of kings like a stream, (Pr.21:1) so I know You are capable of steering my husband away from bad business deals. May the people he works with be people of integrity, honesty and right standing with You, Father, always encouraging and strengthening my husbands walk with You.

Help me, also, encourage my husband in whatever You would have him do, not coming in the way of Your will. Give me words that will strengthen his courage to stand for You, saying what he needs to hear when he needs to hear it and not what I think he needs to hear, when I think he needs to hear them. Help me accept his work, knowing You are in control and will not bring us to ruin. You have promised hope and a future for us and our family; to prosper us and not to harm us. (Jer.29:11) I firmly hold on to that promise. May the words I speak affirm what he has already heard from You, always encouraging, never condemning.

Lead him, guide him and direct him, then surround him, encourage him and enable him to do his life's work humbly, willingly and thoroughly. Amen.

Sharing with....Jenni Mullinix, Graced Simplicity

40 Prayers for my Husband: His Walk

Today, I pray over my husbands walk. The way he chooses to go, his direction and focus. Prayerfully surrounding my husband with divine protection and direction is vital for his leadership in our family and marriage. So, without further ado,

Prayer #2. His Walk

Father, guide my husbands steps to walk in truth. Give him the courage to turn to right paths that lead to You and are led by You. May he be a man who has "learned to acclaim You, who walk in the light of Your presence" (Ps 89:15)
Father, I know You count blessed "the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers." (Ps 1:1) Today, convict and guide my husband away from any counsel that is not of You. Let him not take part in the activities of evil doers, but rather have the courage to walk away from temptations.
Lord, we know "He who walks with wise grows wise" (Pr.13:20) Send my husband along paths that will lead to relationships that help him grow wiser, more humble and stronger in You. I proclaim my husband to be a man who will do what You require of him; "to act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly" with You. (Micah 6:8)
Lord, Your commands are not grievous. You command us to walk in love. (2 John 6) Give my husband a heart gentle and loving to all he meets today, letting his love for You shine bright and true.
May he walk honestly and humbly, having a clear vision of the path You would have him go. Grant him clarity and courage when You instruct him in his paths. Father, you move the hearts of kings, so You will also move the heart of my king to walk and lead rightly, surely and lovingly.
Encourage him not only to walk in truth, but to do so quickly. Teach Him to seek Your guidance first and early, knowing You will never mislead. May my husband abide in Your tabernacle and dwell on Your holy hill as he "walks up rightly and works righteousness and speaks truth in his heart." (Ps 15:1-2)
May he always walk worthy of the calling of which he is called, with all lowliness and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with all people in love. (Eph. 4:1-2) Amen.

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It's coffee time!

Go here to take a virtual coffee break

for your homemaker's heart!

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40 Prayers for my Husband: His Wife

June.

Our anniversary month!

This year (2014) we will be married 7 whole years. We've decided that seems like a long time, yet somehow it was only yesterday we said our "I do's", or should I say, "Ja's"?*smile*

Here is us on our wedding day. So young.....so different.....so long ago....

Lots of changes have occurred in these 7 years. Here are big highlights of each year:

1. We got married. That's kind of a big deal. It was 3 weeks after my husband's father passed. Our oldest child was 6 months old, so we were thrown into marriage, parenting and a long season of grieving, all at the same time. Yikes!
2. We had child #2. Another daughter!
3. We left the Amish culture......wow. That was a thing. A really big thing.
4. We moved into our third home. This time to new community, new church and new job.
5. We moved out of state (from KS to IA) on faith and a prayer. Where we knew no one. New beginnings. New roots. LOTS of lonely. God was very present.
6. We had child #3. A long awaited son! We moved for the fifth time.
7. We started a new business. Again, in faith. God has blessed us richly through that obedience.

Year 8.....BRING IT!!! God is good!

Here is us today. Still young.....still different! *wink*....so very blessed....

In honor of our anniversary month, I will be posting daily prayers for my husband/our marriage for 40 days.

Prayer #1. His Wife, because praying for myself to be transformed needs to happen before I can effectively pray for him.

Father God, thank You for how far You have brought us. You have proven to be faithful. You have proven to be present. You have proven to be good. Oh, so good. My heart overflows with praise and thanksgiving for You.
Reflecting on these past years, I am convicted that I haven't always been the wife You designed me to be or the wife my husband needs. I confess the times I have been disrespectful in words, attitudes and deeds. I see them as You do: sin. Remove any bitterness, selfishness and impatience from my heart. In its place plant ready forgiveness, patience and the willingness to bear all things.
Make me kind, Lord. Make me gentle. Make me good. Keep the words of  my mouth and the meditation of my heart pleasing to You,(Ps.19:14) for out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.(Luke 6:45) Transform my heart into a gentle, grace extending one.
Make me faithful, Father. Not only in body, but also in word and deed. Make me the kind of wife my husband knows will not do or say anything to degrade or devalue him, no matter how I may feel. Renew my mind so that I can judge my words and actions based on Your truth and not just on my feelings. Let my husband know that I will bring him good and not evil all the days of my life. (Pr. 31:11)
I know my first and foremost ministry is to my husband. Remind me of this often throughout the day, seeking ways to bless my husband with my body, words and actions.
Transform me, Lord. Remind me to not expect my husband to fill me in ways only You can. Help me lay all expectations at Your feet. Help me accept him the way he is and not try to change him into what I want him to be. At the same time, I release him to You to mold and shape and grow into the man You created him to be: a man so much greater than I could ever hope to make him. 
Father, daily work in me to become the wife of my husbands dreams. One he can love easily, trust fully, laugh with, cry with and grow old with. Give him a new wife, and let it be me. Oh, Lord, let it be me. Totally transformed, fitting perfectly into the plan You have for his life and our marriage. Amen.

Sharing with.... A Proverbs 31 Wife. Soul Survivor, The Beauty in His Grip, Moms the Word, What Joy is Mine, The Modest Mom, Salt & Light, Chronicles of Grace, The Wellspring, She Lives Free, Women of Worship, Unite, Cornerstone Confession, Teaching What is Good, The Time-Warp Wife, Juana Mikels, Simply, Beth, Serving Joyfully, Jennifer Dukes Lee, Thoughtful Thursdays, Missional Women