Sunshine, Coffee, Rest.

If I could sit and drink a cup of coffee with you today, I would tell you that

RESTING... and ABIDING in Him...

that's not a shameful thing.

I was spending some time out at my mentor's house yesterday and we were talking about this very thing. How we, in today's world feel guilty, actual GUILT! when we take time off to rest and be lazy and slow down.

It's been a long time since I blogged. Honestly - I just didn't have the motivation, the 'want', or the time.  This season of life I have devoted myself to my boys... this is a new season of life for us, with Jaxon being in school, and I feel MORE THAN EVER that THEY are my mission field right now. But on top of that, I'm a yes girl - I say yes to almost everything that anyone asks me/us to do. I say yes to leading any kind of ministry group or heading up any kind of fundraising event, photographing pretty much any session, and volunteering at the gym and school.  I wear myself THIN and leave room for nothing other than serving, giving, and simply being on the go go go.

And you know what? None of those things are bad. I have passions. I love to lead things and organize events and polish my photography skills. But the dry season of life comes very quickly when you spend your time investing in others without taking the time to water yourself.

You can work at the church, serve the church, volunteer, and think about the church ... all without being with God.  And that's exactly what I needed to hear last week from a close friend of mine when I was talking to her about this exact thing.  All of those things are GREAT! And Christ calls us to serve each other and His church. But we need the time outside of these commitments to put into action what we talk a lot about ... loving our families, serving each other, reaching the lost.  We need the time to actually foster these relationships and put our words into action.

So today, I'm giving myself permission to rest.  I'm taking the time to be WITH God before I try to be FOR God.

Don't believe the lie that the world will fall apart when you take time for yourself.

And by the way - I'm totally preaching to myself today. Feel free to preach this back to me at any moment and time.

:)

S C H O O L Mom

Last week marked another big "milestone" for our family.

I have spent the last few months dreading this day... the one that I would become an official "school Mom" with an older kid, early morning routines, and soooo many anticipated tears (on my end)!

I think the anticipation of this day was so much worse than it actually happening... you know how that happens and your mind plays tricks on you?

I was afraid of the BIG school vs my little boy...
...the unknowns of who his friends would be and who his TEACHER would be!
...the insecurities
...and most of all, just letting go.

Letting go of my boy and trusting Jesus to protect and take care of him. So much easier said than done.

As we were walking to school the first day, out of the blue, Jaxon reached up and grabbed my hand. This isn't uncommon for him as he tends to hold my hand when we walk most places, but this time it felt different. He squeezed me harder than usual, looked up at me, and said "I love you soooo much, Mom."

Insert the tears!

It was complete reassurance for me. All of those years in the thick, in the hard parenting moments, that I spent worrying that I had done it all wrong... all of those fears were gone in that moment.

He's a confident boy. He's ready. And not only do I adore this boy, but he loves M E as well!

What an absolute honor it is to be a Mom.