If It’s Monday….It’s Mama

 

 

 

“What Are You Waiting For”? 

God lays things on a Mama’s heart….and, if she is wise, she will listen and take them to Heart. 

God has been laying some things on my heart to share with you.  But, first He laid them on my heart to share with me.  Thoughts….things to consider….attempts to help me grow into a better Child of His.  I want to share them with you….in hopes of that same for you… 

This thought keeps coming to me….at all time of the day and night….in all places and for some reason, especially when I am in the shower or in the car…go figure.  I guess those are some of the few places where I actually have time alone to think and pray… 

Almost audibly, I can hear Him at times , “What Are You Waiting For”??? 

And, when I hear this…it is always with a LOT …..bunches….tons of question marks behind the question. 

                                         ?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? 

So here goes…. 

If you truly believe what your Great grandfather says and what your Mamaw is fond of quoting,

“Life is short if you live to be old”….then that means don’t just be aware of life’s shortness…. 

DO SOMETHING!! 

But “what” you ask? 

I cannot answer that for you.  Only HE can answer that for you.  

But, I can share what I have been doing… 

First,  I have offered my life to God in prayer…..in the car, in the shower, before bed, before meals, at the store, while waiting in the car, while sweeping the floor, while at work, while at church, at ballgames, while cooking dinner, while folding clothes…..(you get the point) 

I pray daily that God takes my life, forgives my past and uses my future to do His Will 

His Will 

His Will Be Done 

In my life 

My life 

Next, I have been praying that God would lay on my heart the “HEART” to do His Will

I pray He gives me concentrated focus….wisdom….insight…. 

Into His Plan…His Map…..His Will for the balance of my days. 

And finally, I have been waiting. 

Yes, waiting. 

Yes, you are right….I am not very patient at times.  I do not like to wait. 

But, a dear relative of mine told me… 

“Lesa, give God time…..wait on Him.  He will not leave you.  He will not forsake you.  In fact, He has already gone before you and whatever His will is for your life has been set…..victory is yours….but He gives it to you when He knows the time is right.” 

She spoke truth. 

So, I want to encourage you to do these things as I have been encouraged: 

One, start praying daily and often for God to make known His Will for your life.  I encourage you to use those words…”Lord, what is YOUR will for my life?”  Please show me. 

Second, ask other prayer warriors to pray that for you:  Ladder, me, your grandparents, relatives, friends. 

Third, wait….

Fourth, wait some more

Fifth…ask God to make clear when the waiting is to be over and the “action” should begin. 

That is what I leave with you this week.. 

Pray that God bring about a full reckoning in your life….. 

Pray for a “clear” letting go of the sin, bad, sad, hurtful and remove those things.

Pray for a “new” clarity on your future path 

He WILL answer you…. 

And, in the interim……. 

Keep praying…. 

At some point, He will lay His will on your heart. 

And, then….He will say, “Madison, it’s there…..I’ve laid it out for you” 

“WHAT are you waiting for?”  “You’ve prayed in faith for My will….here it is….Go “take” it”

And, what I find particularly wonderful about all of this…. 

He says in His Word that His plans are to prosper us… 

 

¹¹ For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.  Jeremiah 29:11

How awesome is that? 

He does not just plan for us….He plans to PROSPER us… 

Ready,

Set,

Go….. 

Get to praying…..and know that your Mama, who loves you with all of her heart, is praying right along with you...for you…. 

With Him…. 

Blessings,

ILYAOYMC,

Mama

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

If It’s Monday, It’s Mama……”Life is Short if You Live to be Old” 

Your Mamaw Betty McKenzie was fond of saying to her family…live your life fully and completely because “life is short if you live to be old”.  This was a saying she was passing down from her father Challie Pelphrey, to your father, to you….and even to me. 

Life IS short…..even if you live to be 100, it will go by fast….like a wink and a blink.

When you are young, you think you have all the time in the world, but even your “now” is not promised from God.  And, He tells you in His word,

“¹³ Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” ¹⁴ Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. ¹⁵ Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.”

Mamaw knew and was trying to teach this principal to her family…..you do not know what tomorrow may bring, so live each day…each moment to its fullest and always leave your life in the “will of God” for HE is the only one who knows what to make of your life.

Thank God!

Life is so very short if you live to be old….which is why God calls us to live a disciplined and orderly and focused life. 

The ONLY way to be disciplined and orderly and focused is to ASK God to make you that way and to accept his discipline when He answers us affirmatively.  We need to seek Him in all things…in the smallest details of our lives and in the largest details…

And, the good news is, when we do that….He WILL answer us!

That is why prayer is so important!  Prayer is our avenue not only for coming to know God personally, but it is also our avenue for seeking Him to guide our lives…to put us on the path He would have us to go.

So, as you continue your life….SEEK God’s will every day on everything….

Live your life on purpose and with focus on Him…and, on His direction.

This is not easy to do because life gets in our way….we get caught up in the business of doing things that we lose track of our ultimate goals.  That is one reason each January our family has written down personal goals.  Having them written down helps you achieve them….it increases the likelihood you will achieve them. 

It keeps you “aware”….

And, being aware is important.

I pray for you daily to be filled with intention…purposefully pursing God and His will for your life in real and positive ways so that you are able to achieve all the good that God has in store for you…so that you are not blinded by good intentions or way-laid by lack of focus.  But, that you are able to daily give your life to Him and ask Him to direct your every step.

Another saying your Mamaw had was, “it is just as it is”….meaning that you have to accept the truth of things and just move on.  Good things…bad things…your Mamaw had her share of them in her life time.  She told me on many occasions when I would share things with her, “Lesa…sweetie….it is just as it is and you just have to accept that and move on.”  This was actually sage advice.  Because one thing life would do to you if you let it is immobilize you with its stresses and strives.  Don’t do that!

Learn now that life “is just as it is” and move past it…..when you lose focus or go off path, get back on.  When you fall and stumble and fail…..give it over to God and get up…dust off your knees and get back on track.

Even now, as you are a college student, employee, daughter, sister, friend……ASK God daily for His direction.  Ask him often to guide your path…to lay out before you His will for the steps you take.  Because, WHEN you do that…when you seek Him with all of your heart, He will answer you…when you place your hope in Him….he will live out His Hopes for You….

Deuteronomy 4:29

"But if from there you seek the Lord your god, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul."

He, like a father with His child…waits upon us, wanting what is best for us….with but one requirement…that we seek Him…His will…His direction, for all the days of our lives.

When we do that…seek Him….we abide IN Him and when we abide IN Him is when we have the best life has to offer us….

So, as you pass your days….don ‘t just let them go by….be purposeful……

And, always remember your Mamaw Betty’s words….”Life is short if you live to be old”….make the most of every day, living daily in

God’s way…..

Blessings,

ILYAOYMC,

Mama

Hearts are to be Strengthened by One Another….

 

Ian and I have been visiting a church here in our home town for the past month and we have been blessed.  My friend, Ernie had invited me for over a year…I am not certain why we didn’t visit before now, but I am glad he kept inviting me….that he did not give up on us. 

Our first Sunday, we immediately were blessed by the warmth and kindness offered us from these new brothers and sisters.  It wasn’t just the normal “nice-ness” which members share with visitors.  They genuinely made us feel wanted, welcome and cared about that very first Sunday.   

We were drawn in…. 

It felt like a place which we might be able to call home. 

As I glanced around the sanctuary, beautifully lit by the sunshine out the picture windows in front of me, I had to smile….Beloved friends from more than twenty years sat in the spaces around me….Carol and Richard Anderson, Ernie and Karen Heavin, Bill and Rachel Wilson…Vince and Patti …familiar faces from a former church now joined here…all with hearts I knew to be kind and loving and tender. 

 

Further searching the room led me to two elders whose humble hearts were evident in the way they spoke God’s word and participated in the “church family” class discussion.  These appeared to be the kind of men one would feel comfortable sharing life’s struggles and life’s’ joys with.  Women of all ages shared the room, sweet sisters whose eyes held a kindness which comes from living life shared with one another. 

All ages appeared to be represented in this smallish church family….very similar to the size of church in which I grew up….maybe that explains the familiarity.  I am not sure…but, I know that I could feel God’s presence in that sanctuary in a way I have not felt for many, many years and it was good.

And, I confess…the singing brought me to tears.  There could not have been more than thirty people or so in that room, but these sweet brothers and sisters…they sang big…and deep….and with great heart.  When I closed my eyes and listened, I would have guessed there to be several hundred people’s voices singing….Of all the parts of worship available, it is the singing I enjoy most and which makes me feel most drawn to God.  It is my best avenue for worship.  I believe there is something precious and holy in the voices of the saints when they come together in songs of praises to our God.  It is as if HE is right there beside us….drawing Himself into our-selves through song and praise.

And, I felt that this day of worship with these new brothers and sisters. 

But, what most touched me about these new friends in Him was their humble grace.  

 

Grace…. 

Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people 

Prayer requests were laid out openly from this little family….praises were offered and we celebrated

Healings and savings and reconciliations were presented and we shared joy 

Hurts and sorrows and broken-nesses were laid bare before one another, and we shared hope. 

I can only imagine God in heaven smiling at the authentic sharing of hearts and hurts and hopes.  Most definitely was I able to see and feel and be a part of the diving love shared in this place….love bestowed freely on one another in such a sweet and Godly way. 

Precious 

And, for the first time, in a long time, I felt safe and cared for….just as I was…..just as I am. 

For all of these weeks, the discussions have been on love… 

What does love look like?

I am not certain I have the perfect answer for that question, but I do believe this… 

Love looks like the faces of the brothers and sisters at this home of worship.  And, my family and I have been gifted to be in their presence…. 

Jesus lives in hearts of this church family and we are blessed to have been welcomed to spend time with them. 

Blessings,

Lesa

 

 

If It’s Monday, It’s Mama…

 

“This World Is Not My Home”….

Madison….. 

There is a song which says to you what I want to share with you this week… 

This world is not my home

 I'm just a passing through

My treasures are laid up

Somewhere beyond the blue

The angels beckon me from heaven's open door

 

 

 

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

 

Oh Lord you know I have no friend like you

If heaven's not my home then Lord what will I do

The angels beckon me from heaven's open door

And I can't feel at home in this world anymore

Read more: HANK THOMPSON - THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME LYRICS

 

On my list of things I hope to teach you while I am on this earth….remembering this is in the top 10.   

This world….the good of it, the bad of it….

 

is NOT your home. 

The family you have been born into is a gift from God to help you through this world.  The friends you chose, the place you worship, your employer…..all are here to help you walk through this life. 

That is why it is important to be careful whom you chose to make a part of your life…..

That is why it is important to be careful where you seek to work

That is why it is important to be wise in who you chose to be-friend

 

However, more important than any of that is that is why it is important to remember whom you live for…. 

God cannot be where satan is. 

If you want to be a Godly woman, then you need to surround yourself with Godly people. 

Surround. 

There is no perfect surrounding of yourself.

 

But, what you can do is chose… 

Chose this day….chose every day to set the standard that God will be your center…..the heart of your temple, your body, your soul, your family… 

Baby….chose Him daily…..at times, chose him moment to moment, because ultimately HE is the only one who will be able to guide you in the way you should go… 

He will love you perfectly

He will stay with you perfectly

He will guide you perfectly

He will teach you perfectly

 

Noone else you will ever know will have His ability to do this for you….

 

Noone

 

Not even me, who was blessed to birth you, can help you find Him the way He can.

 

And, in that choosing, you need to remember…HIS ways are not our ways, not the world’s ways, not the “fair” ways…

 

But, His ways are the perfect ways…

 

And, the only way you can handle this knowing and understanding is to understand that  

As lovely as your life is, this life is not where your “home” is

As beautiful as your family, they are not where your spiritual home is

As wonderful as your job, your friends, your fun, they are not your home….

 

Home is and always be where God is…. 

So, as you traverse the roads in your life….as you make decisions….where to live, where to go to school, what to chose as a profession, which church to worship in, who to marry, how many children to ask for…and on and on…

 

Remember, it only will matter IF you remember

 

THIS world is not your Home

 

Home is where God is….

Blessings,

 

ILYAOYMC,

Mama

 

 

 

My Husband, Ian….In His Element….

I knew when I was only thirteen that hunting was important to my young-girl- crush, Ian.  At sixteen, I not only knew hunting was important to Ian, but I knew he was pretty caught up in the thrill of the hunt.  By eighteen, as a young woman, it was obvious to me that when Ian was in the woods, on the hunt....
                      he was in his element. 

 

As his wife of these past eighteen months, I have seen my husband lay aside his love of hunting to invest in our marriage and in our family.  No small gift from a man whose life has been enmeshed in all things out-of-doors.  Who lived, ate and breathed camouflage, weaponry and the thrill of the chase. 

So, when Todd, his friend in Christ and friend in life called Ian inviting him to go hunting, I was thrilled that he said “yes”.  For, I understand that while you can take the boy out of the woods, I also understand that if you do it for too long, you take away a part of that boy…and, I knew that it was this part of him that made me so in love with him…this manly, strong, brave hunter-man. 

When Ian called with his good news of the invite, I could hear the excitement in his voice as he asked my blessing on this weekend jaunt….it was without hesitation that I urged him to go… 

Go…hunt… 

Go….be a part of who God made you to be…one who loves sitting in the coolish early morning air, high off the ground in a deer stand, watching the sun rise and listening to the woods come to life…birds chirping, squirrels talking, deer wafting on the leaves.

And, he did.  

He excitedly dug out his well-packed hunting gear from numerous storage spots within our home, we made a trip to Wal-mart for the necessary hunting items and then made our way to Krogers to find Todd some Gluten-free bread…a gift of friendship in thanksgiving for this invite to the woods. 

Off he went, truck stored with all the requisites for a hunter expecting to not only track and glass deer, but for one who fully expected to kill and “bring it home” as well. 

I confess that I did text him a time or two or three….to see how he was doing, and he very sweetly and kindly responded, but I could tell that I was interrupting his “time with nature”…his “time with God”…so, I quickly learned to be quiet…. 

And then, it came….the message text to me… 

“Big Buck Down” 

Big Buck Down?   

I reply, “so, you killed a buck?”

His response, “yes, a BIG one”

Me, “how big?”

Him, “10 point” 

I don’t know a lot about hunting, but I do know that a ten point buck and a large one…is a GOOD thing…. 

Ian was thrilled….and, because this was important to him, it was important to me..

So, I thrilled along beside him…. 

When you are invited inside the joyful heart of a person, it is a precious gift.  Ian’s sharing this experience with me was a gift I will treasure always…he made me feel as if I were right there beside him on his hunting, sharing his thrill and joy and excitement. 

And, because he was thrilled and overjoyed and excited, I was as well.  And, so were all five of our kids.  Some celebrated in person, others via text encouragement.  All were a part of his great moment and I know it was precious to them that they were. 

The "at home" kids and I all met him at the door when he drove home, buck in the back of his truck and frankly, were amazed a his “kill”.  He had done well and we all grinned ear to ear with him. 

You see, Ian is a giver….a true, Godly giver.  He has given and given to us these past eighteen months in the type of giving which reaches deep into our souls and brings about healing…so, for us to be able to give back to him by celebrating with him was a precious experience.

We all met him outside….inspected the deer, photographed him with his deer, named the deer, felt the deer, questioned him about the deer, the hunt and then listened to Ian….in his element….as he described the hunt.

 

Family hunting moment.

Family sharing moment.

Family loving a man who gives so much to us and asks so little in return. 

That love returned by listening…and praising….and thrilling along with him. 

I rode with Ian as we took our buck to the meat packaging place and I confess, it was with great pride that my husband’s deer was the finest on the lot at that time. 

There’s a certain etiquette among hunters and it was neat to watch my husband in among his hunter/stranger turned hunter/friends.  Brothers of a kind…. 

Men young and old came by and checkout out Ian’s deer proclaiming it to be a “fine specimen” and expressing their admiration for his “score”.  Smiling now just thinking about their kind comments and gentlemanly behavior as they paid respect to a man who is obviously a fine hunter. 

Ian is that….in all areas of his life…. 

A gentleman

A hunter 

And, it has been a privilege and honor to share this first of our marriage hunting experience.  I pray that God bless us, as He has done so far, with many other opportunities to pay witness to not only God’s miracles of nature but to Ian’s life of humility and kindness and love. 

Our hunter-man, husband, Dad was in his element this weekend.

And, we were blessed to be witnesses. 

Blessed to be

Your wife,

Lesa

 

 

 

 

 

 

Facebook v Face-time with God

It has been over ten days since my husband, daughter and I have “deactivated” our Facebook pages.  We had been discussing deactivation for over a year…really, since last Christmas.  And, finally, we did it… 

We deactivated our Facebook accounts. 

It has been a good thing.  A really, really good  thing. 

I confess, at first, I really missed it.   

But, as each day passes, I don’t miss it. 

I have written more “snail mail” letters, made more phone calls and spent more time with others these past ten days…. 

I have spent more time in solitary prayer…in keeping up with my Bible daily readings and am ahead in our ladies’ church book club reading.

I confess that occasionally, I do have to “re-activate” it to get a person’s address or email or phone number, so I have had a few moments of “peeking” into what I have been missing…and, honestly, I have yet to see anything that I have really missed….and, in fact, it has actually been a protective blessing to miss some of the things I have…

What I have gained is this….

Peace of mind.

At a season in my life where peace has become a precious jewel, offered to me only through the grace of God, this gift of peace of mind is precious to my heart and soul.

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Facebook is a horrible thing…or even a bad thing.  In fact, it has many good purposes…keeping in touch with a daughter away at college, or cousins who live in another state or even dear friends who hold our hands in prayer…

But, truth be told, it does allow one to think out-wardly more simply and more in-wardly, less simply.

Reflection does not come as easily when I am intertwined elsewhere…

Reflection does come more simply when I am enmeshed with Him….when my first thought in the am is an arrow prayer to Him…and the last thought before I lay down my head is an arrow prayer back to Him.

So, as we continue our season of being “de-activated”, I am actually grateful for our family…and, it’s decision to put down the computer and to lift up one another.

We may be “de-activated” from Facebook, but we are being “re-activated” to life…

And, that is a good thing.

Blessings,

Lesa

 

 

 

 

If It’s Monday, It’s Mama……Living with “Child-like Wonder”

One of my favorite Bible verses is found in Matthew 18:3

“And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.”

I love this verse….clearly, our Heavenly Father places great value on the little ones of this life if he conditions our very entry into heaven on becoming like a little child.  Clearly, HE knows that if we can grow and maintain a child-like heart, we will grow and maintain a Godly Spirit because you can’t get much closer to heaven than when you are in child-like state.

I love this Holiday Season….Christmas in particular, because it brings out the little child in all of us…

When I remember our family’s Christmases, the tears come to my eyes….I clearly remember each of you and your brother’s first Christmases.  What a morning of magic and wonder as we watched our little babies (you were 8 months your first Christmas and your brothers were 7 months on their first Christmas) sitting under our Christmas tree’s twinkling lights….eyes are bright and shiny….hands clapping….laughter and giggles abounding!  Precious, precious.

 

What makes it even more precious is that Ian’s Daddy played Santa Claus for you at your Grammy and Poppy’s house for many Christmases….He was a part of your lives from early on and I cherish the photos we have each year of you and Herschell Young….Don’t you love how God plans things??  We didn’t know how precious those photos would become, but God did!!

Memories….sweet, sweet memories….memories which will carry us through all the days of our lives…

In many families, once the children are grown, the traditions they had leave as well…but, not in our family.  We will not only honor those past traditions (Christmas newsletter, lighting of the outdoor tree, Christmas music in November, drawing names, opening a gift on Christmas Eve, twinkle lights in your bedroom, and the list goes on and on…) but we are starting many new ones which will represent our new family….and, new family traditions…cutting down a live tree, lights on the big tree at the front of our house which all our neighbors enjoy, etc.  Things we will pass down to your children…and to your children’s children….our family’s legacy of remembering to become like little Children.

This year we are adding two new traditions….”Elf on the Shelf”….I am excited as we think up things our Elf, Mistletoe Jewel, will bring to our family…and another new addition…serving at the Women’s Shelter on Christmas Day.  I can think of no greater joy than to share our Christmas with those Mamas and young children who are alone, homeless and who need hugs and lovins.  What a great gift to our family to be the arms, and hands, and eyes of God to His children….I can already imagine the sweetness we will feel on Christmas day….in giving of ourselves…

You are and always have been a giver, Madison.  Even when you were little, you were a child who shared...toys when you were little, rides when you started to drive, your home when you became an adult.  You share yourself in very sweet and tender ways…

Like a little child…

I am so very proud of your child-like heart…it is one of my greatest delights to watch you live out your life…giving, sharing, hugging, loving on others.

While it is appropriate that you grow and mature and make wise decisions as you plan your life….it it equally important that you maintain that child-like heart whose desire it is to serve God andis children…remembering that God is Love and that children are the ultimate love-givers.

So, Baby….laugh, frolic….be joyful…

Sing, dance and make merry….

And celebrate this life God has given us…

And, always….always….always

“become like HIS little children…”

For it is in being His little child that you find the ultimate gift of Christmas…and life….

IN HIM…..

Blessings,

ILYAOYMC,

Mama

Sometimes, Your Children Lay Their Character Out For You To See….

 As a mother, I watch for things….about my children...For signs that they are growing Godly character… 

And, generally, I am not disappointed.   

It was easy to see evidence of God working in their lives when they were young and I had total control over their lives.  They were blanketed in all things Godly as best I could cover them….church was their family, neighbors were their 3^rd set of grandparents and friends were of the best kind. 

Harder it is since they have gotten older to have such an intimate influence because they are less in my presence and more in the presence of their friends.  Friends I don’t really get to choose or have much say about. 

I miss those young years when they had wonderful Godly teachers like Ms. Jana Callahan, where Veggie Tales was the main staple of their movie life and singing Bible Men 2 songs at a “Solid Rock Café” was the highlight of our days. 

I confess that at times, their behavior and decision making has grayed the hair on my head and stressed the beat of my heart.  At times, I have had a concerned “mother’s gut” and a worried mother’s spirit.

But, that happens less and less…. 

They are good kids…not because they are perfectly good, but because they have good hearts….His Heart 

I not only say this about them…I claim it! 

Because I have learned something important to all mothers… 

What I say, how I think, what I believe about my child makes all the difference.   

They way I view my babies will forever frame how they view themselves… 

I have never been a Mama who believed her children never did wrong…in fact, I was more likely to believe they could do wrong but prayed they didn’t.

 

As they are growing into adulthood, it becomes more and more clear to me that they are still very influenced by how I view them, how I treat them, how I support them….How I consider them as people.

They ask me, “Mama…do you think I am a good person?”  “Mama, do you think I can do this?” They say to me (often)….”Mama, listen to me….this is what I think…am I thinking right?” 

I have three very different children, but on any given day, one of them will seek out my thoughts about them…their behavior…their character….their decisions…how I view them, how their Ladder Dad views them…Every time they search out my thoughts, I am taken aback…..that they seem to care what I think. 

It’s humbling.

It’s moving.

It’s a responsibility I take very seriously. 

It melts my heart….and, I strive to give them my attention and focus in these little moments because I believe they really need my truth…my thoughts….and, that those thoughts I share should be based on HIS thoughts…HIS truths for it is in Him that they will see their real self reflected.   

These little mirror- moments when your child comes to you in hope they will see themselves reflected in your heart, your soul in a good and positive way. 

The responsibility on me in that moment to be the eyes of God reflecting back to my children is spirit-moving. 

Recently, and this is a smallish thing, but it matters….we have been working on teaching them to manage their finances.  God gives us much and expects us to do much with what He gives us.  God expects us to repay what we owe.  He expects us to take care of what we have.  He wants us to be good stewards….so, we have been working on this issue. 

 

  Madison pays off her car loan 

 Kenton buys new tires

 

 

                                                             Johnson repays Mama at the gym....then works out with her! 

 

As a result, Madison paid off her auto loan 17 months early, Kenton put new tires on his Jeep in response to our requirement prior to his buying his car and Johnson repaid a loan he took out last month. 

I am proud of them.  Not just because they are learning to manage their money, but also because they are learning to keep their word.   

If I borrow….I promise to pay…..and, pay timely. 

I love how excited each of them were to pay off their debts…..they each expressed relief to be out of debt, excitement to have accomplished such a feat and pride that they had honored their word!! 

Yes, maybe this is a smallish thing to the world, but it is a largish thing to the spirits of my children… 

There are other experiences which they are having which are growing their character….with each one, I am blessed to have a front row seat to their maturation…to the development of their character and their heart. 

And, I am grateful….to a God who has so blessed me with such precious children…children who while not perfect, are striving to grow in Him…. 

Children whom, at times, lay their character out for me to see… 

And, what I see is good. 

Blessings, 

Lesa