Laurel Wreath’s Reflections

Please join me at CWO for my latest interview with Robin Jones Gunn.

Tags: Robin Jones Gunn

I will give you a hint about what I did yesterday =) It was nice to just stop, relax and swim. Summer is in full force in this household. One son is already up in Minnesota catching all the “big” fish, and my other two are in a competitive summer basketball league.

The rest of us are gearing up to travel to Minnesota at the end of this month. I know I have been kind of quiet around here. I think this summer is hitting me with my youngest turning double digits, my oldest entering high school, and my middle will officially turn a teenager at the beginning of Fall (Sept). It is a lot on one Mom’s heart. I find everything I do, or everything we do as a family I keep saying “four” more years until oldest may not be here. It is like this count down.

It seems like over night I went to “wishing we were just out of this stage” to “counting sadly until they move out and I have to let them fly.” Does it mean I am in a simi-mid life crisis, when I think what am I going to do when it is just hubby and me? Can you tell I like to have life organized, hehhee. God usually does not allow it. I would wrap myself around young kids all the time if I could.

On top of all this it seems what ever plans we (hubby and I) or me seem to make God has been using the ‘no’ word on me a lot lately. If I am honest I feel like a pouting two year old that wants to sit in the corner with her arms folded and lower lip stuck out. I know I need to get over myself, there are so many people who are struggling with things worse than I have it. I just need to turn on the news and read your precious blogs. Hence where the immature 2 year old attitude comes in. Have you ever been in a rut like that, you know you are in a rut, but are finding it difficult to shake?

Let me share some link love to posts that have really uplifted me this week, as I draw back and relax this summer, spend time with God, I praise God for you Godly women out there that inspire me, encourage me, and help me keep going. For that I say THANK YOU. I don’t think many of us will realize this side of heaven how much the words on your blog will have touched people’s lives. Have a great weekend!

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Grace Awakenings by Windows To My Soul

Angels Don’t Wear Cutoff Sweatpants by God’s Grace in Practice (oh this blesses my heart, this blogger has a sweet baby boy that needed to stay in the hospital longer and this post shows how Angels showed up in a mighty way and in different forms)

Normally I visit Nesting Place to view pretty, inspiring pictures, but I have to say as a fellow Mom of three boys I LOVED this post.

Last but not least, Scratchin’ the Surface did a series of what she believes. If you have a moment, grab some to drink and soak in these posts, they will bless you. Part One, Part two, Part three, Part four, and Part Five.

Tags: Family, Links, Relaxing

I had the wonderful opportunity of interviewing Vicki Courtney for Christian Women Online. I personally believe this is one of the most important interview I have conducted to date. Please Visit me here…

Tags: book review, Christian Women Online

What you did not know I was gone? Well I admit I had my posts predated, set to post this last week. I got to run away from home (sans kids and hubby) for a week to love on a new baby. I am now trying to find normalcy….BUT in the meantime look at the new edition of Christan Women Online.

Tags: Family

One way the Lord has been speaking to me lately is by quotes that I have come across either on the web or by reading. Easter is early this month (March 23rd). This month on my blog, leading up to Easter, I am going to share some of the quotes that I have been saving, ones that the Lord hit my heart with. And maybe it will do the same for you, first quote will be on Monday.

On an unrelated note, please visit me at CWO this month. I had the wonderful opportunity to interview Jeanette Windle, whose passion is the Colombia people. I not only LOVED her book, but I would love to get the word out concerning her ministry. I believe she has much of the same passion for Colombia as Shannon and Sophie now have for the Compassion International.

And basically the message is: we as Americans are blessed to be living here, but we must, must, must not be confined by our four walls and our neighborhood. We need the see the world in our vision as Christians.

I have new books listed under my Book Buzz column and Darlene did such a superb job on this month’s cover (I love the red color).

Click on the photo to visit me over there.

Please come visit me over here today.

(Mom click on the pretty picture and you will find me)

‘Tis the season to be jolly, Fa-La-La-La-
La-La-La-La-La… Or is it? Where does this holiday season find you?

Click here to read the rest…

Darlene has done another great job on this month’s December issue, be sure to stop by and visit. She has an exciting guest this month.

Also come visit me over here at Book Buzz . I can not tell you how much fun I am having, reading and reviewing books at CWO. Also just as a mention, once the month is over I have a list of past reviews under the tab BOOK REVIEWS here on my personal blog (located on the top bar). So whenever you might be looking for a good book, you can check these out.

Tags: CWO

“One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business, when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy.”~ Elisabeth Elliott

Well it is ironic that I just wrote a devotional on this very subject, but I will not repeat myself you will have to read it at Laced With Grace next Monday. (but I will add to it

Busyness is something I have struggled with and something the Lord has brought to my attention. Everything I have to do I consider important. It would not be on my list if it wasn’t. So where do I slow down? As much as my kids would love it, I can not tell the teachers “no we can not complete that project because we have other things to do at church.” Neither is eliminating my sons reading tutoring. Or cooking dinner each night, or making sure the laundry is caught up, grocery is bought, house picked up, etc… . Not to mention the busyness of the Holiday season. So where do I slow down Lord? How do you cut what is important?

The Lord stopped me in my tracks and showed me how to slow down. Much of it is attitude, but also I did not realize how burned out I was until I was sick over the Thanksgiving Holiday. The first thing the Lord had me do is sleep, sleep, sleep, sleep. I feel more refreshed than I have in awhile. Now he is showing me how to do what is important while not feeling so harried and hurried all the time. I am not totally there yet, it is a learning process, but in a strange way I am thankful I was sick and was stopped in my tracks before I burned myself out. Thank God he knows what I need even when I don’t.

Please visit To Motherhood And Beyond to read others take on this weeks quote.

Tags: Elisabeth Elliott, In Other Words

Please come visit me over here today.

(Mom click on the pretty picture and you will find me)

Tags: Internet Cafe