We rise early. In jammies. Grab coffee. Bibles. Notebooks. Highlighters and pens.

We pray.

We study.

We absorb.

Then we grab our computers and share with each other what life-giving truth we glean each morning.

Via email.

‘Cuz we live as far apart as South Dakota to Florida!

I’ve found it’s so important to have an accountability partner, or group to keep me in the Word each day. I know when I step away from my study … even for a few days, or weeks {ahem}, it begins to show in my attitude and character.

But having someone to check in with, to pray with, to learn and grow with … it keeps me accountable for being in the Word of God.

And as awesome as it is to have this accountability group of amazing women … even more {yes more!} awesomeness abounds when a larger “umbrella” group is found that encourages women to gather and hold each other up in the Word.

There are two of those groups I’d like to recommend; the first is Good Morning Girls and the second is Hello Mornings Challenge.

Both are basically groups of women that put together different studies, set a time frame to complete them {usually 12 weeks}, and encourage women to sign up and join in!

With either of these groups, you can join in the study they’ve picked out, or you can do your own study, but just chime in on the accountability part of it.

I participate in both Good Morning Girls and Hello Mornings … they’re different for different reasons, and I enjoy them both. I really encourage you to take a few minutes and explore each of them.

Right now with Hello Mornings, we’re doing a study called, “Love Like Him … Learn to Love Like Jesus.” We’re studying through 1 Corinthians 13 … and I think I’m even going to memorize it!

Anyway … I feel like I’m rambling. My purpose is just to encourage you to be sure you’re spending time in God’s Word … in His life-giving truth. And to encourage you to grab a friend {or two} and think about joining in one of the challenges above. If you decide not to join an organized study, at least grab a friend and make a commitment to be accountable to each other for being in God’s Word every day.

I promise … time in His Word is one thing you’ll never regret!

My sweet cranky-pants Hunter worked so very hard on beading a necklace for herself. You know when little hands painstakingly work each bead onto a string that wibbles and wobbles and frays? But she didn’t give up and reveled in her accomplishment as she asked me to tie the string for her. Just one last step and her necklace would be complete.

And then.

It slipped.

And tiny beads scattered all over the floor.

Her precious face and accomplishment fallen.

I immediately swooped her up and held her something fierce. I thought the closer I held her, the more I could absorb her pain. I repeatedly reassured her, “I’ll help you put it back together, I’ll help you. We’ll put it back together.”

And then God spoke.

“I’m holding you.

Tightly.

I’m trying to absorb your pain.

I’ll put it back together.”

Has something fallen apart in your world? Something you painstakingly and lovingly put your all into? Can I reassure you today that our God is holding you. He’s loving you. He’s trying to absorb your pain. And He WILL put you back together! Those are His promises.

“God makes love with grace upon grace, every moment a making of His love for us.”
Ann Voskamp, one thousand gifts, page 216

Every moment we are given is a gift of God’s making … a making of His great love for us. It’s up to us to pause and recognize the beauty in each moment. Are you counting?

392. date night with the teen
393. surprise Mother’s Day mail
394. the power of blue nail polish
395. hidden toads
396. Psalm 71:20-21
397. pain meds for the kid set
398. my girls encouraging others with scripture
399. the dog groomer
400. before bedtime family walks
401. salted caramel bars
402. freshly painted toes
403. freshly made bed
404. massage certificate from my girls
405. a massage
406. a card from a friend
407. a new Bible study
408. two weeks ’til school’s out!
409. how to miss a childhood {I’ll be reading this numerous times}
410. she knows I love her for who she is

How are you finding Joy? Are you seeing God in the small details of your life? Dare to join me in the Joy Dare?

{Dear Mothers}

Be completely humble and gentle, be patient, bearing with {your children} in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace …

Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave Himself for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

{Because dear mothers} it is God who works in you to will and to act according to His good purpose. {So mothers} do everything without complaining or arguing so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.

~ Ephesians 4:2-3, Ephesians 5:1-2 & Philippians 2:13-15

{A dear friend wanted me to be encouraged this Mother’s Day and sent these words along with a handmade necklace. Thank you Jess, you have definitely encouraged me!}

Happy Mother’s Day dear friends! Praying you are spoiled & blessed!

So you start with a few simple ingredients …

Press the cookie dough into each tin well; place a Reese’s on top of the cookie dough; pour prepared brownie batter on top of that; and bake at 350 for 18ish minutes.

YUM, right?! Okay, but be honest … are you thinking these are looking a little “off?” Just a little?

Yeah … cuz they were! I ended up with a Pinstrosity. The photo above shows the best of the best …

This is what the rest of them looked like.

I’m not quite sure what I did wrong. Anyone?

Regardless, I’m not gonna lie … the pairing of these ingredients didn’t keep me from nibbling on their yumminess. Ugly maybe, but tasty none-the-less.

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.
Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy.
Proverbs 31:8-9

I am convicted y’all! My heart strings have been pulled, leaving my heart wide open.

I’ve been following the stories of the Compassion International bloggers, and it’s kinda wrecked me up. They’re in Tanzania right now. Visiting, ministering, loving, and then sharing their stories with us.

Stories of how important it is for these children and their families to have sponsors. Stories of children waiting over a year for a sponsor. Stories of how much these children LOVE their sponsors. Stories of sponsors meeting their sponsored child.

Just 38.00 dollars a month. 38.00 can give hope, education, and a future to a child in need. But more importantly, sponsorship tells of Jesus’ love for them.

My heart is heavy for these beautiful, brown, and helpless children a world away from me. I’m doing what I can … spreading the word, urging you to sponsor a child, and urging you to spread the word. Won’t you?

My girl was so brave. I don’t think she had any idea what was about to hit her. But more of that goodness in a bit …

The primary focus of this writing is … motherhood. In light of my recent post on “quitting” … an experience I had in the hospital with Hunter kinda struck me to the core.

After surgery, I was brought into the recovery room where she was still completely out of it. An oxygen mask on her face, hooked up to monitors, an IV … the works. I stood next to her holding her limp and fragile hand. She would mumble in and out of her “anesthesia coma” and each time the nurse would assure her, “Your mommy’s right here. She’s right here.” And on cue, I’d get my face real close to hers, whisper her name and tell her mommy loves her.

Think about these words … “mommy’s right here.”

The world is as it should be because mommy is right here.

I haven’t hidden the fact that I’ve been struggling a bit. In life and in my parenting. My patience is at an all time low. And that’s putting it mildly. It seems every little thing sets me off. I’m at my limit and being tested constantly. I blow up. And immediately regret it. Welcome to parenting, huh? :)

But no matter how difficult I’ve been with these girls … and I’m the first to admit, I. have. been. difficult. They still love me. Unconditionally.

Sometimes I’m so worried I’m going to screw these kids up. I’m not spending enough time with them. I’m not loving enough. Caring enough. I don’t listen enough. I don’t put my phone down when I should {and pay attention to them}. I’m not disciplining correctly … or enough. I’m yelling too much. I’m impatient. All these things and self-doubt has really crept up on me lately.

But right there, in the hospital, it struck me … all they really want to know, now and forever, is that “mommy is right here.”

And girls … I promise you I am. I promise you I will be “right here” for you as long as I have breath. Thank you for your grace and thank you for loving me unconditionally … no matter what.

Whew. Okay! Anyone ready for some Huntie goodness?

Oh wait! First … do you Instagram? It’s kinda my new obsession. If you’d like to follow me, I’m tmstier. I also found this site … haven’t really played with it yet, but you can find me there! :)

So … sorry ’bout the photo dump here … but like I said, I’m a little obsessed with Instagram and I happen to be a little obsessed with my babygirl too!

So this is Hunter in the waiting room {at 6:00 am} before surgery.

She’s been admitted and given her “happy juice.”

The nurses brought her to a closet full of lovies … she picked a hedgehog.

Babygirl after surgery, trying to wake up.

Woken, and brought into her own room.

Green popsicle. “nuff said.

A setback. She wasn’t getting enough fluids and got
nauseous when they sat her up. They decided to keep
her a couple extra hours and pump a bag of fluids
into her.

Within an hour she was better and we made our way home.
After sleeping/resting/whining in my bed for a while,
we decided to get some fresh air with a walk.
Babygirl loves an opportunity to hop in the stroller.

After our walk, I got caught up in looking through the mail
while Hunter went outside. This is where I found her.
On the back patio …

Watching her sisters swim. Yeah, it kinda broke my heart too.

I was told her recovery would take a week. A week off of school.
She may not want to eat for a few days. She may be in pain.

When we got home from the hospital, this girl was ravenous
and craving goldfish and pretzels like a madwoman!

The morning after, she woke up raring to go! I seriously
contemplated sending her back to school in a few days.

And then …

My precious princess was secretly replaced with
Princess Cranky-Pants.

And it was not fun. At all.

We saw a ray of sunshine when she got some
notes from her friends at school!

This one might be a little naughty of me … but I couldn’t help it!
She would. not. give in to sleep! She was crankier than
crank and wouldn’t lay down. I got into bed and she
came and laid with me, but rolling around and ’round.
She climbed on top of me and fell asleep and
this is what I’ve been listening to for the last week …

When I was sure she was sleeping good, I rolled
her off me and let her snooze!

Finally yesterday afternoon she was feeling “a little good”
{her reply when you ask her how she’s feeling}
and so I took her into school for a half-day.
She was a bit wiped when she got home, but
I think it was good to get her back into
her routine a bit. We’ll see what today brings!

I love this little monkey! She’s tested me this past week … oh
how she’s tested me! But we also had quite a bit of fun
together … I love my babygirl and can’t wait for a
strep-free, ear infection-free summer! Woot!

The Lord has to break us down at the strongest part of our self-life
before He can have His own way of blessing with us.
one thousand gifts, page 138

That’s a profound statement, don’t you think? Let me boldly paraphrase for you … “God needs to hit us where it hurts in order for us to pay attention.” OUCH!

All I know is … I’ve been hit. And it hurts. And I’m paying attention.

Sure … I’d already been hit. Hard. And I built up all my defenses and weapons and was fighting the good fight. In the process, I sort of built up a resistance … going through the motions maybe?

I felt it a little. In my spirit.

Apparently God saw it big and decided to break down my immune system once more. You know … I really, really dislike when He does that! Like seriously? Isn’t there someone else He could pick on for a while?

For a few weeks there, I had a really hard time counting it all joy. Frankly … I didn’t wanna count it all joy!

But He found me in my fog. And as He does so well … He’s pulling me out of my fog. Slowly I emerge. And slowly I count once more.

356. homemade hummus
357. a snoring six year old
359. a zip line
360. reflection
362. a teen who offers to drive her sisters to school
365. a sweet girl with a blue mouth from eating popsicles all day
366. a yellow bucket of sunshine
367. the courage to speak truth
369. His mercies are new every morning
370. supernatural patience
371. grace
372. a fresh coat of paint
373. perspective
375. a humidifier
377. the trifecta
379. morning devotions outside
380. #10, just for me
381. boating
384. air head extremes
385. sacrifice in light of eternity
386. friends who remember
387. sleeping in
388. a last minute invite
389. an anniversary supermoon
390. late night runs for queso & chips and …
391. a teen who does the running!}

How are you finding Joy? Are you seeing God in the small details of your life? Dare to join me in the Joy Dare?

I was honored when dear, sweet Stefanie asked me to share some thoughts on motherhood for her May Madness – Celebrating the Gift of Motherhood series.

Now, y’all know how I adore and treasure my children, yes?

Well … in all honesty, the timing of her request came at difficult season in my parenting … one, quite honestly, that I’m still walking through. I’m weary and exhausted and that’s just the honest truth.

But in my moments of weakness and sacrifice, I’m reminded of a Savior who has laid before me an example of ministry and discipleship. One that I deeply desire to model to my girls. One … with His help, that I will model to my girls.

Join me as I share some very raw thoughts in this season of motherhood?